Summary: What went so wrong between them? It had begun with love, but it ends with misery and confusion. The women of Koei reflect upon their relationships with the men they married. Newest"I believed we were destined to spend our lives together, that this marriage would bring joy to all who saw it. I never thought I would lose him to the fires of my brother's ambitions." Oichi mourns the love she knew, and recalls fires that burned her life.
Disclaimer: Iza no mines.
Queen's Quornor: So now that I've mined the Dynasty Warriors marriages for the most tragic situations, I think it's time I turn my attention to those of the Samurai Warriors. Of course this means I'm going to begin this group with the most tragic of all the romances, that of Nagamasa and Oichi. I always feel so sorry for this couple; I mean, whether in history or in game settings (regarding both SW and Capcom's Sengoku Basara), Nagamasa is THE poster boy for no-win situations, and Oichi is always a tragic and virtually helpless figure. There are some pretty heart-wrenching stories within the Koei lineup, and this is the Grand Poobah of Tearjerkers. So I wanted to make this chapter honor the two of them, and combine both the fact and the fiction rather than picking one or the other. I have a huge amount of respect for Nagamasa, and the last thing I want to do is dishonor his memory. So I'll take it somewhat easy with the angst here, but it's still going to be sad. I mean, this is an angst/drama series. Happy endings have no place here. Besides, I wanted to do something with the motif of burning buildings that patterns Oichi's adult life. It's pretty ironic that she, her brother, and both of her husbands died in flames.
Nagamasa and Oichi
The fire burns.
I stare into the hearth, tracing the curling tongues of crimson light as they dance and leap, attempting to discern the exact moment each flame separates from the whole and dies. I am trying to lose myself in the fire. I do not want to think of tomorrow. I only wish to consider the past.
Fire has always fascinated me. Since I was a small child I have enjoyed watching it burn, reveling in the warmth and light it conjures. I have never feared it, although I learned to respect it. Fire brings life, and it destroys life. It is the most powerful of forces, and it has always had a place in my life. It has been there during the sweetest moments, and it has seared my soul with that which it has taken from me.
My brother. My home. My husband.
Perhaps it will someday claim my life as well.
Fire has played a role in the past years most prominently. When I was young, I was only familiar with the fireplace, but as I grew, I realized fire can reside beyond the hearth. I came to this understanding in my twentieth year, when my brother came to me and announced that he had chosen a husband for me. I saw the fires leaping in his eyes, and realized that his ambitions had sparked and caught. He always harbored great plans for this country, but never had I been exposed to their intensity. I had been certain that he would send me to wed one of his retainers, to strengthen ties between our family and that of a vassal's. Hearing that I was to be given to the Azai clan, as part of an alliance, was a rather unexpected turn of events. But I had little choice, and so I was sent to Omi, away from my brother and his burning spirit.
My lord Nagamasa also had a fiery soul, but his was a flame of a different sort. He was warm and welcoming, a fire of creation rather than destruction. The light in his eyes warmed my soul and lit my heart, and I came to believe that I could sit beside him and bask in the sheer comfort of his presence, much like the hearth-fires I had always enjoyed. His kindness was a soothing presence, unlike the stirring, uneasy aura elicited by my brother. I no longer felt as though I must watch my every word and action, that I could simply be Oichi rather than the Sister of the Demon King or the Daughter of the Oda. All my lord expected from me was that I remain at his side and bear his children. It was refreshing, and I lost myself in the fires of his love as he reveled in mine.
But as much as he loved me, his honor came above all else. I did not believe that my brother would break the alliance he had fostered with my new family, so it came as a chilling shock when the scouts reported that the Oda were attacking the Asakura, long-time allies of the Azai. I remember the torment suffered by my lord Nagamasa, how he would pace in the night as he weighed his obligations and attempted to justify siding with one over the other. An honorable man such as my husband would consider it unthinkable to betray his allies, and he was bound to both sides of the brewing conflict. I tried to remain out of his sight as much as I could, not wanting him to make his decision based solely on his love for me. I hid in the shadows and prayed that he would make the right choice, whatever that path might be. I comforted myself with our children and spent my time with them, knowing that he would never do anything to place them in jeopardy. My lord adored his offspring fiercely, and any action that might harm them was utterly beyond him. I sat with them by the hearth and told stories and played games, keeping them calm so they would not realize their father's struggle.
When he sided with the Asakura, I dreamed of flames. I remember falling asleep in his arms after he told me of his decision, and then my mind was consumed with scarlet fingers. I walked within the blaze, feeling it sear my flesh and roast my heart, and as the walls of my surroundings crumbled around me in a fiery shower, I awoke. My lord had sensed my turmoil and attempted to awaken me, but according to him I would not respond. He could only hold me when I finally came to, and I clung to him in return, unable to give voice to my visions. The light of his love soothed me back into a dreamless sleep, but still I remained uneasy. When he rode to Anegawa, the feeling remained, even though I told myself repeatedly that he was a mighty warrior and skilled leader, fully capable of standing against my brother.
When I stood outside Odani Castle with my three daughters, watching my home burn against a crimson sky, I finally realized that my dream had been a true vision. My home and my love, my very heart, had been devoured by the flames of my brother's ambition.
I keenly remember the pain of our family's parting. My lord did not wish for us to die in the castle, and we both knew he would not be allowed to leave. My brother's vengeance was terrible and merciless; he would never have allowed the chance for my lord Nagamasa to survive and rise against him in the name of justice. He would have slain our son as well, but we had already sent Manpukumaru far away, to live in secrecy. My lord entrusted him to some of the most trusted servants of the Azai clan, with instructions to take him as far as possible from my brother's reach. All of us wept when they departed, for we knew we would never see him again. It would be the last time I would hold that tiny baby as my son, and my lord knew that he would likely perish before they met again. Our daughters clustered around us, weeping, but they understood why we were sending their little brother away. Our servants promised to raise him to be a brave man, and to always uphold his honor as the son of Azai Nagamasa.
That was the first time I ever saw my lord shed tears.
The second, and final, occasion was when he said good-bye to me and our daughters. I remember them embracing their father with all their strength as he held them close, kissing their heads and telling them to be good. They swore to always remember their honor as his daughters, and make him proud to have been their father. Then he took me in his arms and squeezed me until I could not breathe, burying his face against my hair and apologizing for not upholding his duties as my husband and my brother's ally. I clung to him and told him that he had done nothing wrong, that his honor remained intact. He then whispered that he was sorry we could not spend the remainder of our lives together, and kissed me. We exchanged our love one last time, and then the four of us walked out of Odani Castle and beyond the battle lines.
Lords Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Shibata Katsuie both expressed sympathy for our loss, and truly regretted that my lord husband must die. My brother, by stark contrast, showed little emotion as we approached him. When I greeted him, he rose from his chair and came to me, forcing me to turn around and face the castle. My daughters shrank from him, but they did not flee. My brother told me that I would watch as my previous life burned, so I could understand what my husband's loyalty had cost. He kept his hand at the back of my neck so I could not turn away. I could only watch as the flames covered my home, killing all who remained within.
Never have tears burned so hot against a woman's skin.
After we returned to Owari, my daughters and I were placed in relative seclusion. We were given comfortable rooms and servants to tend to our needs, but my brother kept us hidden. We received the occasional visitors, and precious few of them. The only consistent visitor was my nephew Nobutaka, who enjoyed spending quiet moments with me. My brother's wives and concubines avoided us, and he rarely bothered to come speak with me. The only command he gave us was to relinquish our kimonos when we arrived, after providing replacements. I learned from the servants' gossip that he had those kimonos, gifts from my lord Nagamasa to his wife and daughters, burned. He wanted to completely erase my husband's presence from our lives, so that we were in no way bound to the legacy of the Azai. My brother wanted us to be entirely Oda, as if the Azai had never existed.
I managed to preserve a comb Lord Nagamasa gave me. I keep it hidden safely in a box, and only occasionally take it out to look at it. Even after my brother's death, I have kept this small memento of my husband's love a secret.
My brother eventually used our isolation to steal one more precious thing from my life. He repeatedly questioned me as to the whereabouts of my son, Manpukumaru. I refused to divulge the information, fearing what he might do with that knowledge were he to find out where the servants had taken him. After some time, he swore that he only wanted to take my son into his care, to raise him as his own. I was wary of his intentions, but the desire to see and hold my son again overwhelmed me, and so I told him where he had been secreted. I awaited his arrival with great anticipation, but my brother never left Owari. Instead, he sent Lord Hideyoshi out to retrieve Manpukumaru. Still I waited, and after many weeks the Monkey finally returned. When I asked my brother when I could see my son, he told me that Manpukumaru had died of illness not long after Odani's fall. I spent a month grieving, not only for my son but also for myself. I know my brother lied about his death. Not that my son is dead, but the manner in which his life ended. My son was a strong, healthy baby, and I am sure that he would rarely have fallen ill. His sisters have only gotten sick a handful of times during their lives, and in the time he was with me, Manpukumaru was no exception.
My brother commanded Lord Hideyoshi to kill my son. I am sure of it.
Now my lord Nagamasa's blood flows only in our daughters, as does his honor.
Following my brother's betrayal, I returned to my previous spot beside the hearth. I spent many hours tending the fires, watching them dance and twist and leap. My daughters attempted to raise my spirits, but I could not bring myself to smile. For a time, I lost myself in the flames.
My stupor was only lifted when word arrived that my brother had been slain at Honnoji.
How ironic that a man whose eyes burned with such ambition would be consumed in their flames, just as my husband had been.
Nine years living only for the fire, unaware of how the political climate was changing. I realize that it was foolish to have lost myself so completely, but at the time I was incapable of more. My grief overwhelmed me and blinded me to the lives around me, including those of my precious daughters. They were the ones who informed me of my brother's assassination, and of Lord Mitsuhide's betrayal. As Lord Nobunaga's sister, I was expected to grieve for him. I was expected to curse his murderer's name, to keen so every soul within Azuchi Castle could hear my pain. But I could only remember his cruelty, his part in the deaths of my husband and son. My mind swirled with memories of his forcing me to witness the Azai's destruction.
I was unable to grieve for my brother.
If anything, in the depths of my heart, I praised Lord Mitsuhide for avenging the life and love I had lost.
I am unsure why my brother never selected another husband for me after my lord Nagamasa's death. I was one of his greatest pawns, and he kept me hidden, out of play. I remained quiet for years, hoping to spend the remainder of my life in solitary widowhood, but my nephew Nobutaka had other plans. He and his elder brother, Nobukatsu, were vying for control of the Oda clan and he needed an edge in the struggle. There were a number of generals who could be swayed either way, and the greatest of them was Lord Katsuie. He was one of the finest generals to have served my brother, and as Nobukatsu already had the brilliant Monkey on his side, Nobutaka was depending on the Devil Shibata to swing the balance in his favor. So to assure his loyalty, he selected a bride for him. I had thought that one of my daughters would be chosen, as they were all beautiful and unwed. But when he came to me with his decision, I was shocked to discover the identity of Lord Katsuie's bride.
It was me.
I had always known that Lord Katsuie was fond of me, and it seemed that my nephew was aware of that fact as well. So he offered my hand in exchange for his allegiance, and Lord Katsuie accepted. I went to the altar with my mind blank, not allowing myself to think of the last time I had made this journey. I allowed no emotion to show, and I was praised for my composure under such circumstances. I did not express myself until I was ensconced within my new husband's house, after my servants departed so I could prepare myself for the marriage bed. I forced myself to swallow my tears so none would realize I had cried.
Lord Katsuie did not expect anything of me. When he came to me, he explained that he did not wish for me to do anything if I was unwilling. He would not force me to lay with him, nor was he seeking to get an heir on me. He only wanted me to be comfortable and content, since he continued to feel guilt over the circumstances surrounding my previous husband's death. He did not particularly like my lord Nagamasa, but he did respect him as a warrior and as a man of honor. He felt that my lord should have died on the battlefield, not in his castle. My lord's death was an honorable one, but it was not the end he deserved. So while he was happy to have me for his wife, he did not want me to be unhappy.
I think he also did not want to consummate our union because of his feelings for me. Lord Katsuie had always treated me as though I were a delicate porcelain doll, something to admire and cherish but not touch. I think he enjoyed the idea of being my protector, of having me beneath his roof, but he did not trust himself to become my husband in more than name. The fires of possession burned low in him, and the heat of lust was buried in charred embers. His blaze was that of a candle, small and illuminating, with little warmth. Our marriage was to remain a chaste one, for which I was grateful. After the passion I shared with Lord Nagamasa, the sweetness of his embrace, submitting to another man would have been nigh unbearable.
So we share a home, but we do not share a bed. Lord Katsuie keeps to his quarters, and I to mine. My daughters remain between us, slowly accepting him as their stepfather while cherishing the memories of their true father.
But content as we are in this arrangement, I fear the roaring flames of ambition will come again. Lord Hideyoshi and Lord Katsuie remain at odds, struggling to decide who will inherit the legacy of the Oda. The Monkey has many young, talented officers who serve him loyally, and of course there is his exceptional wife, the Lady Nene. She adores her husband just as I loved my lord Nagamasa, and so I know she will support him to the death. She is the definition of a true wife, one who all but worships her husband and remains at his side in all things, yet retains the independence to punish him when he strays to other women. She has been known to leave him to accomplish various missions in his name, and even to follow after him when he tells her to remain in their home, away from the battlefield.
Lord Katsuie has lost several officers to Lord Hideyoshi, including his follower Lord Toshiie. Now he has only himself and his powerless wife to support his position, as far as notable officers go. I cannot see how this brewing conflict could possibly end in our favor. Soon the army will march, and all will be decided.
I retain ownership of my lord Nagamasa's territories through my first marriage. I was holding Omi in reserve for my son, but he is no more. I would like to find a worthy successor, a man of honor, to inherit the land before I die. Perhaps there is someone within the Monkey's ranks who will catch my attention and thus gain the title, someone who was born in Omi. I am unsure, but I would not see my lord's homeland fall beneath the jurisdiction of one without honor. It is the last thing he would have wanted.
I am tired of being in a deadlock with the fires that spread across men's hearts and consume the land. This time, whatever happens, I want to face the flames that took my husband and my brother. If I survive, then I will be all the stronger. But I doubt that I shall survive this confrontation. I may not love Lord Katsuie, but I will not abandon him to the blaze as I did my lord Nagamasa. That is not the way of a true wife.
Let the fires burn.
