Waz up, everyone? This is VaLente Spada, finally here with the next update of Legacy. So sorry it took this long...between my ex-gf hounding me, my PS3 getting the yellow light of death, and several exams for my college classes throughout the last 2 weeks, I just haven't had much time at all for story writing.

But without further ado, here is the newest chapter of Legacy!


Text Key:

"speech"

'thought'

"enraged or spiritually empowered speech"

*sound effect*

*loud sound effect*

(author comments)

-{[scene heading]}-

flashbacks & emphasized wording

narration and song lyrics


(Last time, on Legacy...)

-{[with Kizami & Hideaki]}-

Flashing in front of Hideaki's path and giving his pot a hard kick, he sent him flying into a harsh impact against Karasu Castle's front gate.

'Oooooowwwwww...that really hurt...' Hideaki whined mentally, only to turn and see Kizami speeding after him like a bullet. "AAAHH! Hey, it's me, guards! Let me in, let me in!" he ordered frantically, the gates opening just quickly enough for him to make a successful getaway.

Reaching the open gates a few seconds later, Kizami could only stand still, mouth slightly agape at what he was seeing.

'I-is that seriously...a giant pot?!'

-{[with Oichi & Magoichi]}-

Upon reaching the path's wide-open peak, they found Tenkai waiting for them, the dark atmosphere and large scythe upon her back making her appear as though she were the grim reaper in all its deathly glory.

"I know what you've come here to ask...you wish to know more about me. You want to find out...who I am...and what I'm looking for." she said mysteriously, brandishing her weapon threateningly towards Magoichi and Oichi, who responded in kind. "I am Tenkai...the Goddess of Death! And I shall answer all your questions!" she declared, descending into a maniacal laughter.

Everything together about the woman caused a sudden thought to enter Oichi's mind...

'This terrible laughter in the face of battle...wielding a scythe as a weapon...and harboring an interest in Taka-kun...could it really be you...Mitsuhide?'

(And now...)


Though Kizami is having quite the humorous encounter with Hideaki, Magoichi and Oichi cannot say the same as the mysterious Tenkai appears to have suddenly lost her cordiality for some inexplicable reason...

Can the Kyoshi no Taka settle his dispute with the Gurume Ippan in time to help the two battlefield beauties in what may become the fight of their lives...?


-{[new story intro]}-

play "No Way Back" by Hisayoshi Suganuma (Dynasty Warriors 8 - Jiang Wei's image song)

*instrumental intro*

(the scene starts with a view of a luscious green field at sunrise, heat waves distorting the screen; as the drums start, a fully-armed Kizami walks into view from behind the camera, his back to the screen as his cloak billows in the wind and the title card appears)

Sengoku Basara: Legacy of the Dai Rokuten

(the title card flies into the screen as the scene fades out in a flash of white)

Nobashita kono te wa kokuu o tsukamu,

(we see a lateral view of Kizami standing tall, his arms crossed as he peers into the distance with an unwavering gaze, a breeze wafting through his hair)

Soredemo ten o aogi toikaketeiru,

(the screen zooms in on his face, a smile forming as grayed-out images of a beaming Oichi embracing him tightly and a smirking Magoichi draping an arm over his shoulder pan along the screen next to him)

"Shinjita kono michi wa tadashikatta no ka?"

(he snaps from his revelry as several enemy soldiers attack him, the heir unsheathing his blade and striking back with deadly precision, only to look forward and see an entire army heading his way)

Unazuku you ni, kaze ga fuita...

(he turns back just as a large Oda cavalry led by Magoichi and Oichi arrive behind him, Kizami grinning as the latter reaches out and pulls him up to his steed, all of them charging forward)

Kono ude ni takusareta yuruginaki shimei kakaete,

(the horse riders race forth at full speed, tearing into the enemy force with ease as they hack and slash their way right through using their respective weaponry, coming to a stop after defeating them)

Susumitsudzukeyou misueta saki e...no way back!

(they are met by a battle-ready Masamune and Yukimura, with a new face emerging between them...Keiji Maeda; Kizami, Magoichi, and Oichi jump from their perches and hit the ground running towards their opponents, who respond in kind)

*instrumental outro*

(as the song winds to a close, the screen freeze-frames on a panoramic rear view of the heir and his confidants rushing towards their adversaries, hazy images of Mitsuhide's and Nobunaga's visages appearing in the skies above)

-{[intro end]}-


-{[Karasu Castle; mountaintop]}-

(play Tenkai's theme from Sengoku Basara 3)

"Hmph...and here I thought we were just going to talk, Tenkai-san." Magoichi remarked, her pistols pointed directly at her newfound enemy.

"Come now, Magoichi. Talking is so boring. A fight to the death is much more...satisfying." Tenkai answered with a sensual purr in her voice that caught Oichi's attention.

"Just who are you, Tenkai-san?" Oichi asked, readying her naginata.

"I am exactly whom I claim to be, Akuryo Kuin. Now, enough chatter!" the scythe-wielder exclaimed, rushing forward.

Magoichi backpedaled as Oichi met Tenkai's charge head-on and clashed her blade with hers, the two immediately becoming locked in a power struggle as sparks flew from their weapons. The stalemate was quickly ended, however, when Oichi separated her naginata and pushed Tenkai back with a dual-handed strike.

Magoichi took the opportunity to fire several bullets from her twin pistols, but this was rebuffed when Tenkai regained her balance and spun her scythe defensively in front of her, deflecting the projectiles. The female 'monk' then dashed at the Saika leader with surprising speed, Oichi hot on her tail, as she aimed a decapitating slash at Magoichi.

The gun-wielding woman, knowing her armor was still weakened from earlier, didn't try to block and instead bent herself backwards under the attack, the tip of the scythe just barely missing her beautiful face as she aimed a shot right at Tenkai's forehead. Unfortunately, she was instead forced to raise her arms to block an incoming downward stab with her pistols, the tip of Tenkai's blade inching ever closer to her neck…

…that is, until Oichi forced Tenkai back with a powerful swipe of her again-singled weapon. The Demon Queen pressed forward with several strikes in rapid succession, all of which were blocked or redirected by a rather skillful Tenkai.

The silver-haired woman responded with a wide swing of her own, forcing Oichi to block at her midsection to avoid being bisected. Tenkai was undeterred when Oichi spun her blade around to break the weapon lock as she used the force of the redirected attack to launch another strike from the other side, which Oichi only just managed to dodge.

Taking the opportunity, Tenkai went for a harsh attack towards Oichi's shoulder, but was held back when Magoichi jumped clear above Oichi's head with a fiery charged bullet already primed to be shot. Tenkai only had enough time to raise her blade in defense before the explosive bullet reached her, its force sending her skidding back along the ground towards the edge of the peak. Righting herself, she looked up only to see both Oichi and Magoichi charging her at once. The woman giggled darkly in anticipation of the continued fight and met their assault with an even greater fervor.

The scythe-user was the first to attack, a quick diagonal slash aiming for both of her adversaries, only for them to simultaneously block and hold the blade in a lock as Magoichi fired a shot at her face with her second magnum.

Tenkai tilted her head to dodge it, though several hair strands were nicked off by the speeding bullet, and pushed both her foes back with a hard thrust of her weapon. Magoichi swiftly returned the attack with several shots followed boldly by a jumping roundhouse kick. Unable to fully stop the combination, Tenkai got a small cut across her face from one of the bullets and took the brunt force of the powerful kick, stumbling backwards as her mask fell from her face, revealing a nearly gray skin tone and supple, dark-purple lips.

Oichi could only look at the woman in shock, coming to the astonishing realization that her thought from before the fight had started…

…was correct.

"So it is you. It has been a long time…Mitsuhide."


-{[meanwhile, with Kizami]}-

(play Hideaki Kobayakawa's theme from Sengoku Basara 3)

"I…do not…believe this." Kizami said, walking forward at a sedate pace.

Just outside of Karasu's main castle was a huge pot, copious amounts of steam rising from it as a cooking fire burned beneath. The Serrate Hawk could easily smell the food inside…it was quite literally a giant bowl of stew. And sitting atop it was none other than Hideaki, enjoying a freshly hot-cooked meal in blissful disregard towards anything happening below.

"Good grief…" Kizami remarked with an exasperated sigh as several Oda guards arrived.

"Kizami-sama, what is-…is that a giant pot?" one of the soldiers asked, looking at the large structure in bewilderment.

"Yes. Yes it is. Would you please help me cut off the cooking fire? I need to have some words with my 'otouto'." Kizami lightly ordered, the men nodding and setting off towards the various locations.

Kizami himself chose the 'hotspot' directly ahead of him, seeing a rather tall trooper tending to this portion of the flame with a large fan. The soldier appeared quite focused on his task, as he didn't even notice Kizami's approach. The Oda heir slightly knelt next to him, feigning a heightened interest.

"Hello there. Seems like you're working rather hard." he said, the man glancing in his direction for a second at the unfamiliar voice and turning back after realizing who he was.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Kizami-dono. Hideaki-sama has informed us of your coming." he responded, resuming his work.

"Is that why he has you tending the flames here?" Kizami asked, willing to be somewhat lenient towards Hideaki if this was only done for the occasion.

"No, Hideaki-sama always has three men on this job at all times so he can have a meal whenever he wants. Strange, yes…but it is our job to keep our lord happy." the man answered, Kizami shaking his head in reawakened irritation, all thoughts of mercy now completely out the window.

'Oh, Hideaki…constantly wasting manpower, however little, on this contraption? Ridiculous!' Kizami thought as he rose back to his full height. "Well…I have a better idea." he stated, starting to draw his sword.

"What's that, Ki-urgh!" the guard started before Kizami whacked the back of his neck nice and hard with the blunt edge of his sword, sending him hurtling into unconsciousness.

"Take some time off. I recommend at least a week." Kizami answered, shaking his head in slight amusement and heading over to the other spots were the flames being fanned.

Hideaki, humming contently and eating his food, was surprised when the steam gradually began to disappear and the bubbles in the broth stopped appearing. Looking down over the edge of the pot, he saw to his horror that Kizami and his guards had knocked out the soldiers who were keeping the cooking flames going.

"AAAH! No, the fire!" he yelled, catching the attention of those on ground level as they looked up at him. The Gourmet General stood up to his feet, giving Kizami a surprisingly heated glare. "Rrrrgh…hey aniki, you just ruined my dinner!" he yelled as he jumped…into the giant bowl of stew and reemerged on ground level from what was apparently a secret passageway.

"That's it! No one messes with my food and gets away with it, not even you, aniki! Now I'm really mad!" he declared, his face literally red as he stomped his feet against the ground in what looked more to Kizami (and everyone else) like a child's temper tantrum.

Kizami chuckled with mirth and cracked his knuckles in anticipation as Hideaki charged straight at him like a young bull. The soldiers standing near the Oda heir couldn't help but picture a certain demon king's visage within Kizami's rapidly growing grin.


-{[a couple minutes later]}-

"So, you learned your lesson yet, otouto?" Kizami inquired, his arms crossed as he stood over a very much battered and bruised Hideaki.

"Yesh..." Hideaki muffled out through a rather swelled face which was also down against the ground.

"Good. Just don't be so food-crazy and our alliance will go without a hitch, alright?" Kizami asked, picking up the hapless leader and helping him to stand on his own two feet.

"Uh-huh..." Hideaki answered lowly, wincing as he touched his hurting face. "Owww...did you have to hit so hard, aniki?"

"Oh don't whine, Hideaki. Trust me, you got off easy. I did only use my fists, after all." Kizami remarked, Hideaki blanching at the thought of facing the Oda leader when using his weapons. The Gourmet General didn't know which to be more afraid of, the gun or the sword.

"Y-yeah..." he stuttered out, resisting the urge to tremble when Kizami draped an arm over his shoulder and started to lead them back to where the whole fiasco had started.

"Now then, let's go meet up with our respective retainers so we can finalize the pact and put this little mess behind us." Kizami said, Hideaki giving a small smile in response.

Everything seemed to be okay until Kizami suddenly cried out in pain, falling to one knee and clenching both his arms near his shoulders.

"A-aniki! Are you okay?!" a worried Hideaki asked, Kizami wordlessly nodding and slowly rising back to his feet.

"Y-yeah...I'm alright. But that was...a feeling I haven't felt so strongly since...!" he trailed off, his senses directing him towards a mountain in the distance where darkened clouds were gathering...


-{[with the three women]}-

(play "Uninvited Guest" - Dynasty Warriors 8)

Tenkai let out a howling laugh, not even making an attempt to deny Oichi's conclusion as to her identity. Settling down after a few minutes, she gave the other two women a decisively condescending sneer. "Well, well...Oichi and Magoichi...long time, no see." she spoke in a voice that was now very familiar to the Demon Queen and Saika leader.

Magoichi almost dropped her own firearms in shock at the revelation...she could barely fathom how this was possible, but the truth was right in front of her...this woman was indeed Mitsuhide Akechi! "How the hell are you still alive...?! Last I heard, Masamune's 'right eye' left you to burn at Honno-ji."

"Ah, yes...Kojuro Katakura, correct? Kukuku, all I'll say is that he was a fool to not ensure my demise. It'll take plenty more than some burning wood and metal to keep me down for good. Oh, if only Nobunaga-sama had shared the same fate as I..." she trailed off wistfully, thinking of the possibilities.

"The world is far better off with Nobunaga dead and ashes." Magoichi remarked, garnering a quick glare from Ten-...Mitsuhide before a dark smirk emerged upon her visage.

"Oh? And is dear Kiza-chan any better as a replacement for him?" Akechi asked, having to shift her head to dodge a bullet immediately afterward.

"Don't you dare compare my otouto to that monster!" Saika yelled, both guns pointed directly at Mitsuhide.

"Oh? And why not? They are not truly so different. Nobunaga-sama sought absolute power...Kiza-chan desires peace. Opposite goals, yes...but the way in which they go about them shall eventually become the same. Kiza-chan knows full well there are people in this world who'll never agree with his wants, no matter the amount or quality of persuasion, charisma, or diplomacy. That is why he went to you, Magoichi. That is why he has come to Hideaki now. He seeks to expand his army. No so-called 'peace' is permanent unless it is done through subjugation...and annihilation." Mitsuhide enumerated.

"That isn't peace. It is tyranny." Magoichi retorted, neither she nor Mitsuhide noticing Oichi's expression darkening with each passing second during the latter's oration.

"But it is peaceful, is it not? None would dare usurp his position if he put them all down in force." the silver-haired woman responded.

"Ieyasu rebelled against Hideyoshi because he tried to rule with force. Nearly the entire land banded together against Nobunaga because he tried to rule with force! Mere destruction and subjugation will do no favors for anyone, including the destroyer. Otouto would never even entertain the notion of leading with an iron fist." Magoichi answered back, Mitsuhide shaking her head.

"Kizami Kurotaka is the heir to Nobunaga-sama. That honor would be given to no one who did not carry the spirit of ruthlessness in them, someone without the capacity to blacken his heart and eliminate anyone who stands in his way! I have witnessed it within him for myself, I know for a fact he is worthy! Even as a child, he could slaughter dozens of 'innocent' peasants without batting an eye or showing a single hint of foolish regret! I could see it in his eyes, the dark light of his veiled black heart finally shining forth, revealing his true nature! And I take great pleasure in knowing that the dearly departed Nobunaga-sama shall find solace in the afterlife, knowing that his son will one day follow in his footsteps and finish what he began all those years ago!" Mitsuhide declared, her voice gradually becoming more and more hysterical.

"NO!" Oichi suddenly screamed, leveling Mitsuhide with a glare so fierce, even she had to take a short pause. "You are wrong! Taka-kun would never be like that! He is kind and caring, always making sure not to take advantage of anyone. He never resorts to a show of force unless absolutely necessary! Taka-kun is not the same person as Nii-sama!"

"Tsk, tsk. Oh, Oichi, you allow your feelings for Kiza-chan to blind you so...and same goes for you as well, Magoichi." Mitsuhide answered, the Saika leader giving her a look of scrutiny.

"What are you talking about?" she inquired, looking right at Mitsuhide.

"As if you don't know what I'm getting at. Were you not almost always with him when he wasn't with Oichi?"

"...by his choice, not mine. What does that have to do with this, anyway?"

"Plenty. It's not like you couldn't have just forced him to leave you alone...or perhaps it was. I bet when he would look at you with those precious amber eyes and cute little smile, you just couldn't say no to him, could you?" Akechi asked, delicately holding a hand to her cheek as if in blissful remembrance.

"Stop beating around the bush and just tell me what the hell you're playing at, Mitsuhide-teme!" Magoichi demanded, tiring of her games.

"My, my...you truly don't see it, do you? Goodness...a blind Demon Queen and a deluded Saika leader. I can't possibly figure as to how Kiza-chan can stand either of you." Magoichi glared hotly at her and was about to respond once again, but was cut off by Oichi.

"The only blind and deluded woman here is you, Mitsuhide! You only see Taka-kun for his strength and connection to Nii-sama, assuming that he'll become the same as his adoptive father just like so many others in this land! It's exactly because Magoichi-san and I care for him that we can see his true self, and you cannot. You've never seen him stare at his own hands as if they could never be washed clean...you've never seen him silently cry all through the night, suffering from nightmares of those he was forced to kill! You know nothing about him!" she declared, glowering at Mitsuhide, who only giggled derisively in response.

"Oh, I believe I know plenty about him, especially since I-" she started, but was cut off by Magoichi.

"Don't you dare say it..." the Saika commander said, her hands tightening around her pistols and teeth starting to clench in rapidly growing anger.

"Say what, Magoichi-san? What is Mitsuhide speaking of?" Oichi asked, turning to Magoichi with a confused expression.

"She hasn't told you, Oichi? How mean of you, Magoichi...not informing her of how I nearly made Kiza-chan a man." Mitsuhide stated with a mock pout on her face.

"Wha-...what?!" Oichi stuttered out in shock, looking to Magoichi with widened eyes.

"Oichi-san, this...woman...tried to rape Kizami when he was only a young boy!" Magoichi got out, her eyes clenching shut at the returning memories of his pained tears and heart-wrenching screams.

"Sh-...she...?!" Oichi said almost breathlessly, gasping in horror at the thought.

"Now, now...I wouldn't call it that since he was definitely going to enjoy it. But of course, a certain jealous surrogate sister of his just had to interfere." Mitsuhide remarked, casting a devilish smirk towards Magoichi.

"Why the hell would I be envious of you for that, you disgusting monster! Do you even realize what you did to him?!" Saika roared, shooting twin bullets at Mitsuhide, which she deflected.

"I was merely going to give him the most pleasurable experience of his young life. Sure, I may have cut him up a little, but he outwardly cast no blame towards me for that. He never even attempted payback or anything else of the sort. Such a kind and gentle soul he pretended to be. I could've just fallen in love with him...and had him implant his seed into me over and over agai-" she cut herself off as she raised her blade to block an enraged Magoichi, who had charged at her and was only inches away from bashing her skull in.

"He nearly lost both his arms because of those kami-damned scythes of yours!" she responded angrily, kicking off of Mitsuhide's weapon and landing back at her initial position. "The doctor said it was practically a miracle he was ever able to fight again!"

"But he turned out just fine after that, did he not? You should have more faith in our Kiza-chan, Magoichi. He's quite durable." Akechi retorted, keeping her blade at the ready.

"Otouto is most certainly not yours, and he never will be!"

"Hmph...you shouldn't take things so personally. It's quite unbecoming of a leader." Mitsuhide said, her lips curling downward into a noticeable frown.

"You're sure one to talk...trying to force yourself upon on a 14-year-old boy. What dignity as a woman can you possibly claim to have?" Magoichi shot back, Mitsuhide's brows furrowing at the insult.

As the two continued, Oichi again went silent and unnoticed as her mind nearly blanked out the revelation of what she'd heard...

'...rape...Taka-kun...she tried to...rape...my Taka-kun...! That was why...I thought I'd lost him! Even after he recovered, he wouldn't say a word to me for so long...he would only look away and hold his arms. Not knowing what it was hurt almost as badly as him avoiding me...I thought I'd done something wrong...but it wasn't my fault...it was hers! She tried to commit such a foul act...! She hurt him so! After all this time...I finally know what happened to him! And now...I can make her pay…!' she thought, her inner musings turning dark as she tightened her grip heavily upon her naginata...


-{[with Kizami & Hideaki]}-

Reaching their initial position from before the grand chase started, the two surrogate brothers were surprised to see no one there.

"Hello? Tenkai-sama? Where are you?" Hideaki asked, looking around but seeing no trace of them. "Aniki, do you know where they went?" he asked Kizami, who only turned towards the beginning of the mountain path.

'Something's wrong here…and this road should lead me to what it is.' Kizami thought to himself, unconsciously rubbing his arms and wordlessly starting along the beaten path with guards in tow.

"Aniki? Aniki, wait for me!" Hideaki called out, hurrying after him.


-{[mountain peak]}-

It looked like things were about to go to hell in a hand basket.

Oichi, enraged at the revelation of what Mitsuhide had nearly done to Kizami and how the woman seemed to be proud of herself for it, brandished her weapon threateningly towards the scythe-wielding woman and glared at her with all the negative feelings she could muster into a single facial expression. Her eyes had already gone a stark pink, and the identically-colored aura burst into existence around her form as her shadow expanded and pooled beneath her.

Magoichi, though wary of Oichi's power, was equally angered, aiming her firearms as crimson-red energy began to emerge around her form and her hair and waistline cloak tousled in an unseen wind.

And Mitsuhide, although her weapon was primed and ready for battle…was laughing at the two beauties. "Honestly, you two…getting so worked up over something that happened so long ago. What would Kiza-chan think if he saw you like this?"

"Silence! I will not entertain the silver tongue of one such as you! How dare you attempt that foul deed with Taka-kun!" Oichi raged, her voice distorted with a nearly demonic undertone.

"Oh, I dared, Oichi. I most definitely dared. And if not for the bullet witch next to you, I would've had him screaming my name in minutes." Mitsuhide responded, her visage bleeding into a dark glee.

"The only screaming you'll be hearing is your own as you're being sent back to the underworld, Mitsuhide!" Magoichi declared, she and Oichi shooting forth towards the silver-haired woman.


-{[mountain path]}-

Hideaki was clinging to Kizami's arm, shivering in fear at the desolate atmosphere. "A-a-aniki…y-you sure th-this i-is the right w-way?" he stuttered out, looking around with trepidation at the persisting purple fog which eventually turned to a jade mist as they continued onward.

"Positive." Kizami answered. He would have continued speaking, if not for one of his guards suddenly crying out in fearful surprise…

"K-Kizami-sama! Our armor is rusting!"

The heir turned to him with a shocked expression before looking down at his armor, where brown spots were rapidly emerging upon it. He narrowed his eyes as he looked up towards the mountaintop. 'Corrosive incense…and there's only one individual I know who makes it.' "We need to hurry, everyone. Come on!" he ordered as he and the others increased their travel speed.


-{[Magoichi & Oichi vs. Mitsuhide]}-

(play "Good Manners & Customs" – Guilty Gear XX N.Y. Vocal Edition)

*instrumental intro*

The sheer impact of the Demon Queen and Saika leader's combined initial attack nearly knocked Mitsuhide clear from the mountain they were atop. As it was, she only saved herself by hanging from her scythe, a position she jumped from to land behind them and charge forward.

Rusty sword in me, sacrifice my flesh,
Majesty delivered my soul into deadly pains of hell.

Oichi quickly met her assault, the two clashing just as they did with their initial encounter. But unlike last time, a shadow hand emerged from between them and tried to grab Mitsuhide by her head.

Holy ash on you, sacrifice my fate,
Lord Majesty redeems your heart from the bottom of the deep abyss!

Akechi released the weapon lock and backpedaled to avoid the hand only to be set upon by a vengeful Magoichi, who attacked with her Magnum spin and fired several shots in rapid succession.

Stand by my grave, mercy on you, do not forsake the crisis of mankind.
My soul, everlasting fire, pray "Kyrie eleison". Oh!

Deflecting all but one bullet which left another cut across her cheek, Mitsuhide responded with a 360 spinning slash that sent a green-colored copy of her scythe screaming towards her charging opponents.

Hear my prayer, offer my flesh, lord…merciful goodness, grant restless rage.
Hear my prayer, offer my flesh, lord…merciful goodness, grant restless rage.

Magoichi flipped forward over the strike, her fingers just barely grazing the blade's shaft as she hit the ground running. Oichi sent a shadow hand to smash the attack against the ground, the green energy disintegrating as she followed close behind Magoichi.

*instrumental bridge*

It was about this time that Kizami and Hideaki finally arrived at the mountaintop, Hideaki nearly going completely pale at the almost palpable feelings of ardent anger and rage permeating the air.

"…A-…Aniki…? What's happening…? Why are they fighting?" the Gourmet General inquired.

But Kizami didn't answer, only staring at the three battling beauties with wide eyes before tightly clenching them shut as he held his arms and grit his teeth, a deep phantom pain flashing forth from deep within.

Eternal flame in me, grant me superior soul,
Majesty delivered my soul into endless sins of hell.
Sacred blood on you, grant me superior heart,
Lord Majesty redeems your heart from the dark flare of death!

Now Oichi again took the role of aggression, shadow wings forming behind her as she rose into the air and darted towards Mitsuhide with a powerful slash. Her target tried to catch the blow and pin her naginata against the ground, but was thwarted when Oichi separated her weapon in two and caught Akechi with a slash across the top of her chest and dangerously close to her neck, making her stumble back a few steps.

Stand by my cross, mercy on you, do not forsake the crisis of mankind.
My soul, everlasting love, seek sanctuary. Oh!

"What's the matter, Oichi? Angry that I nearly got a taste of Kiza-chan before you could?" Mitsuhide taunted, smashing the blade of her scythe against the ground. The impact jump-started a short burst of green energy, forcing Oichi to temporarily back off.

Hear my prayer, offer my mind, lord…merciful goodness, grant eternal bliss.
Hear my prayer, offer my mind, lord…merciful goodness, grant eternal rest.

Mitsuhide jumped when two shadow hands tried to crush her between them, but this only allowed Magoichi to nail her with a powerful aerial roundhouse, sending her crashing back to earth. In the face of yet another charge from the two, she quickly got back to her feet, raising her scythe high towards the skies.

*instrumental break*

Magoichi halted in her charge, wary as a black aura accented by what looked to be thick smoke emerged around Mitsuhide's form. But Oichi continued onward regardless, readying her blade as her own aura lanced outward.

"Let the souls disappear into the night!" Mitsuhide cried with a loud spiritual echo, dashing forward with the speed of a flying specter.

"Come together and witness my dream!" Oichi called out with the same intensity, rushing to counter Mitsuhide's attack.


Basara Clash – Oichi vs. Mitsuhide


Their respective energies met with a resounding 'crash', denting the earth beneath them as they began their assaults.

Stand by my cross, mercy on you, do not forsake the crisis of mankind.
My soul, everlasting love, seek sanctuary. Oh!

Oichi, a look of pure concentration and womanly fury upon her visage, blitzed Mitsuhide with a barrage of strikes that held a deadly grace, the Demon Queen seeming to dance around her enemy as she spun, twirled, and twisted her form to maximize the damage output from her slashes.

H
ear my prayer, offer my mind, lord…merciful goodness, grant eternal bliss.
H
ear my prayer, offer my mind, lord…merciful goodness, grant eternal rest!

Mitsuhide, in stark contrast, attacked with a relatively static flow, her body slowly striding forward as she slashed almost robotically with only her limbs actually moving. She faced straight ahead with a mostly blank look on her face other than a tooth-filled grin.

*instrumental outro*

Magoichi, Kizami, and Hideaki watched with astonishment as Mitsuhide, though stopping several of Oichi's strikes, seemed to ignore the damage her own body was suffering, continuing her slow, steady attack even as her upper body was starting to bleed profusely from numerous wounds.

Just as Mitsuhide managed to hit Oichi with a slash across her stomach, the Akuryo Kuin added the finishing touch to her technique.

"Open, abyss…into the mouth of hell." she spoke darkly, a shadow hand forming around her naginata as she caught Mitsuhide across her chest with a wide swing, blowing her backwards and sending her into a roll that ended with her body slumped over at Kizami's feet.

(end song)


Clash End – Victor: Oichi


The three women's respective auras dissipated, the fight appearing to have been decisively concluded.

Looking down at Mitsuhide's prone from, Kizami saw a green ball of energy flow into her body, several of her injuries and two of the four deep gashes along the front of her body rapidly healing themselves. He watched in silence as her eyes slowly fluttered open and she turned to look up at him.

"K-...Kizami-dono...please, help me. Those two...I don't know what's gotten into them. Look...they...they tried to kill me...! I beg of you...protect me!" she pleaded with the Oda leader, who gave no immediate response.

After a long moment, he looked to Oichi and Magoichi, studying them for a minute. Their expression...their body language...their current physical state...these things would tell a thousand times more information than mere words. But just as the two beauties were starting to worry that he may actually believe Mitsuhide's words, Kizami gave them a quick smile and nod. He knew they were in the right...as he knew exactly who the woman below him was...and what kind of person she was.

"You honestly think...that you can turn me against them...Mitsuhide Akechi?" he spoke curtly, leveling his pistol at Akechi's forehead. "You must truly think me a fool."

"Hehe...can't blame a woman for trying." she responded with a derisive chuckle, staggering back to her feet as Kizami kept his gun trained upon her. "It's such a pleasure to see you again, Kiza-chan. My, how you've grown. You look absolutely...delicious." she said lecherously with a sensual lick of her lips.

"The only things you'll receive from me are a bullet between the eyes and a blade rammed down your throat if you attempt anything like what you tried to do before." he stated coldly, Magoichi and Oichi heading over to him and standing protectively on either side.

"Ooh, someone likes it rough. My kind of man." Mitsuhide remarked with a wink, receiving only a stern coldness in response.

"Why is it you still roam this plane, Mitsuhide?" Kizami inquired.

"I'll tell you what I told your two wenches standing there with you...who says I ever died in the first place?" Mitsuhide answered, Magoichi and Oichi glaring at her for the off-hand comment.

"I do...because there was no trace of you when I returned to Honno-ji only minutes after the final explosion." the heir retorted, Mitsuhide giggling in condescension.

"And you only trusted what you saw with your human eye. Now I know Nobunaga-sama taught you better than that, Kiza-chan." she said with a wag of her index finger, as if chastising a child.

"U-um...Tenkai-sama?" a meek voice called out from behind Kizami, Mitsuhide tilting her body to see that it was Hideaki who had spoken. "Um...why do Aniki and his friends seem to not like you so much, and...why do they keep calling you 'Mitsuhide'?

"Because Mitsuhide is my real name, you buffoon. Now stay back there and cower like the feeble individual you are." she said with a biting glare towards him, shutting him up rather quickly.

"You still haven't answered my question...why are you here?" Kizami repeated, Mitsuhide turning back to him with a deceptively loving smile.

"Why, I'm here for you, of course. My dear Kizami..." she started, suddenly appearing in front of Kizami before anyone could react, placing a gentle hand on his cheek.

Something within Kizami seemed to trigger at the contact, as he unconsciously leaned into her touch for a fraction of a second before regaining himself, harshly smacking her hand away and viciously backhanding her with his firearm.

"Stay the hell away from me!" Kizami yelled, breathing heavily as she mock pouted at him, holding a hand to the growing welt on her face.

"Oh, you're so cruel, Kiza-chan...just like your father." Mitsuhide said with a snide grin.

Kizami gave her a vehement glare and belted her once again, knocking her to the ground and holding the tip of his sword at her neck. At this point, Hideaki was trembling in terror at how his 'aniki' was acting and even Magoichi and Oichi were starting to become concerned at the level of sheer malice he was exhibiting.

"Taka-kun...?" Oichi tentatively called to him, but as he snapped his head back to face her, the sight of a glowering yellow eye with a slitted pupil stunned her into silence.

Turning back to Mitsuhide, Kizami's growing rage was nearing its peak, a cold fury upon his visage. Unbeknownst to him, Akechi saw something within his eyes that even he didn't realize had occurred.

It was only for a split-second. It could've been a trick of the light...it could've been a figment of her own twisted mind, something borne from her attraction towards Kizami and adoration of his 'father'...but for that short amount of time...

...she saw Kizami's eyes change...into his eyes.

And she smiled.

She smiled a smile that spoke of untold malevolent intent and fervent reverence. "So...it has already come this far. Kukukuku, excellent...!" she exclaimed mysteriously, rising back to a standing position with a marionette-like gait.

"What...? What are you talking about?" he asked, reeling back in shock as all of her remaining wounds suddenly began to heal with a simultaneous chorus of hisses.

"Heheh...it shall all become clear to you soon enough, Kiza-chan." she responded, deliberately walking backwards towards the edge of the peak. "The resurrection is in motion. Farewell to you all. I assure you, we'll meet again soon." she said just before allowing herself to fall back over the edge.

Kizami rushed up to where she had been and looked down...but she was nowhere to be found. His eyes and demeanor returned to their natural states as he finally relaxed himself.

"Otouto, are you alright?" Magoichi asked, walking up to him along with Oichi and Hideaki.

"Y-yeah...I'm okay, Mago-nee. Sorry about all this...you and Oichi-chan had quite the battle." Kizami said.

"It's okay, Taka-kun...she will never harm you ever again." Oichi declared, wrapping her arms tightly around Kizami's midsection, Magoichi gently placing a hand on his shoulder and nodding in agreement.

"She told you about what she did, huh?" Kizami asked, Oichi nodding in confirmation as her breath hitched from barely withheld tears. "I suppose you were bound to find out sooner or later...I'd have told you myself, but...even after so long, it still pains me to think of it." he continued, resisting the urge to again rub his old wounds.

"Then don't. Leave the past buried and move onward, otouto. That is what you must do." Magoichi stated, Kizami giving her a slow nod of affirmation before turning to Hideaki, who was looking solemnly down from where Mitsuhide had vanished.

"She could make decisions. She was always so confident in herself...seeing her like that helped me gain some confidence of my own. She could inspire my men with words alone...but was all of that just a lie?" Hideaki ranted, quite depressed over the matter.

"Perhaps...perhaps not. Come on, Hideaki. As we finalize our order of business, I'll tell you all about whom Tenkai truly was." Kizami said, curling an arm around Oichi's form and placing a brotherly hand on Hideaki's shoulder as everyone began the long trek back to Karasu Castle.

-{[end]}-


-{[new story outro]}-

play "Heart of Steel" by Hiroki Takahashi (Dynasty Warriors 8 - Jia Chong's image song)

*instrumental intro*

(it is nighttime; Kizami sits alone in a desolate plain, staring into the shining stars and moon above; as the drums begin, he slowly rises to a standing position and turns to stare into the camera blankly, all but his head and shoulders enshrouded within shadow)

Hikari aru tokoro ni wa...kage.

(he begins walking towards an unknown destination, a glazed look in his eyes as if lost in thought; the camera follows him from several shifting angles)

Tenchi sasaeru shita ni...naraku.

(he pays no heed to several passing guards as they bow to him, continuing to robotically walk forward along a beaten path with seemingly no end in sight)

Hana o hagakumu tsuchikure, hiraku toki o yume miteiru...

(his eyes clench shut as all but his form is suddenly enveloped in total darkness, holding both hands to his head as images of Mitsuhide appear in hot flashes across the blackened scape)

You're light, ame ga furisosogi, yagate umi ni naru you ni,

(he opens his eyes only to find himself in front of the burning Honno-ji temple; looking around in apprehension, he rushes inside, the flames alighting his visage as they lick at his heels)

Ten wa ano utsuwa ni sosoida.

(reaching the main chamber, his eyes widen in horror as he sees Oichi, Magoichi, and Katsuie sprawled along the floor, their bodies covered with bloody wounds)

I'm shade, me o irareru you na, ano kageyaki no mabushisa,

(he tries to help them, but they only shift away from him, giving him dark looks of suspicion and betrayal)

Itsuka terasu darou kono sekai.

(shocked and unnerved, Kizami looks forward and sees Nobunaga with his back to him; the heir brandishes his pistol and calls out to his 'father', only to drop his gun to the ground with a clatter when 'Nobunaga' turns to face him)

Soshite ugomeku ware wa kage.

(the Dai Rokuten's maliciously grinning face is not that of Nobunaga...but of Kizami himself)

*instrumental outro*

(the scene switches to Kizami waking up with a jerk amidst his bedchambers, his body sweating profusely; he looks over and sees an unharmed Oichi slumbering peacefully next to him, the sight calming him as he settles down and his body again becomes still, closing his eyes...only for them to snap back open, their color a bloody crimson)

-{[outro end]}-


Notes

And another one finally bites the dust! Hope you readers liked the new intro and outro.

Oddly enough, the original fight with Tenkai/Mitsuhide was going to be between her and Kizami, but I felt I hadn't given the ladies enough fight time up to that point. Anyways, here are the territory and force listings.

Territory:

Oda – Oumi (Kanegasaki), Koya (Saika Stronghold), Yamashiro (Karasu Castle)
Nanbu – North Mutsu (Mt. Osore)
Date – Oshu (Ryu Kyoso)
Mogami – South Mutsu (Hasedo Castle)
Satake – Dewa (Kubota)
Utsunomiya – Hitachi (Kannagawa)
Uesugi – Echigo (Kawanakajima)
Takeda – Kai (Ueda Castle)
Hojo – Sagami (Odawara Castle)
Anegakoji – Echizen (Kaerikumo Castle)
Maeda – Etchu (Tetorigawa)
Tokugawa – Mikawa (Mikatagahara)
Amago – Harima (Gassantoda Castle)
Mori – Aki (Itsukushima)
Chosokabe – Tosa (Nakatomigawa)
Iyokono – Iyo (Noshima)
Kuroda – Hizen (Ishigakibaru)
Otomo – Chikuzen (Hetsugigawa)
Shimazu – Kyushu (Mimikawa)
Oda – Oumi (Kanegasaki)
Toyotomi – Settsu (Osaka Castle)

Forces:

Mitsunari – Toyotomi
Ieyasu – Tokugawa
Kizami – Oda, Saika, Kobayakawa

Don't worry about it seeming as though Kizami and the Oda are the only ones gathering power...other forces will start to make their moves in the coming chapters.

The next chapter will chronicle a period of respite for the Oda and Saika forces and give a look into how Katsuie has been since Ieyasu took him to be healed.

Until then, this is VaLente Spada, signing off! See ya later!