Chapter Ten

The day had been long. Too long for only one man to command such an army. Kenshin, unexpectedly, had taken leave during the battle leaving Shingen in charge. There were injuries but no had died and neither side had given an inch on the field. Shingen was at the lead heading back towards camp. Everyone was weary and beaten down. Happy for the end of the day.

"GAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The sound echoing through the forest scared the birds from the tree tops. It stalled the men in their march and made The Tiger of Kais' blood turn to ice.

"Yukimura!" he called back, "I'm going on ahead!"

"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"Lead the men to camp!" he took off at a full gallop.

"WHAT?!"

The scout trembled as he bowed lower, groveling really, before Nobunaga, "Toshi and Mayoto are missing." His mouth was suddenly dry, "Mistress Hiraya is missing as well."

The sun had set in the west turning the sky a dark sapphire. Only moments ago had they made it back to camp.

"Maybe she ran away…?" Mitsunari put in hopefully.

The fact that the guards had all gone missing along with Hiraya too did not bode well. Everyone in camp knew what it meant but they were all hoping that it wasn't what it was. Especially Hideyoshi.

Ieyasu snickered, "She ran away with the guards too I suppose?"

"I'd run away if I was the lass." Masamune growled.

Hideyoshi, who was standing next to him, elbowed the One Eyed Dragon in the ribs. The pain dropped him to the ground.

"Way to go asshole!" Mitsuhide snapped.

"Lord Nobunaga!" a soldier approached quickly and breathless, "Mayoto and Toshis' bodies are over there!" he pointed towards some bushes, "Their throats were cut!"

Nobunaga grimaced and pinched the bridge of his nose, "Son of a bitch….."

Kenshin sat motionless illuminated by the fire at his feet. The chill of the night air had settled upon the camp, the stars had emerged to grace the world, but the men were full of energy and zeal. They kept their distance from this place. A place he'd staked out at the center of camp and made perfect just for her. Lifting his gaze from the fire he looked across its licking flames to his prize.

The Bitch of Oda Nobunaga.

When he'd been informed he'd left the field. When he'd arrived at camp the creature Sasuke had dragged before him, naked, gaged and bound like a sacrifice, was the very same girl who had taken his eye all those years ago.

Seeing such a presentation had given him a sick, twisted thrill.

"You have cost me much." He growled at her.

He'd strung her up by chain and shackle and collar to a sparring post. Making sure to shackle her ankles together tightly behind the sparing post ensured a painfully wait as well as prevented her from standing. On her cheek, fresh and wet with blood, he'd branded his crest into her flesh.

It was beautiful.

"Now you will watch as I destroy everything you love."

Reaching towards the fire he withdrew a poker. Its tip was red hot, molten orange. Getting to his feet, ignoring the partying of his men around him, he walked around the fire the poker smoking against the cold night air. Lifting the heated metal high above his head-

"Everything you've lost-"her eyes shot open, "is because of yourself."

He froze, hesitated, for a second as she met his gaze. Her eyes were clear.

"You have been tainted by Death itself and are becoming it with every stroke of your sword. There is no redemption for you now."

Infuriated by her words he brought down the poker and bluntly broke into her flesh.

Shingen lay in his cot staring at the tent ceiling above him. Camp was still, silent, as the men had fallen into a drunken sleep and only the night patrols remained active. He listened to their footsteps as they passed by. The sounds of Kenshin torturing that girl were fresh in his ears.

Unable to sleep he thought on what he saw yesterday and felt more than disturbed in his gut. Kenshin had lashed and beaten and bludgeoned his prized captive into a bloody mess. Such an act, especially against a woman, left a bad taste in Shingens' mouth. The only reason he'd joined forces with Kenshin was because they had a common goal. They had wanted to preserve tradition and peace by stopping Nobunaga.

When had that changed?

Shingen knew Kenshin wanted revenge for losing his eye but…Looking across the tent he eyed his vassal Yukimura. He was asleep. Quietly Shingen sat up and stared blankly into the darkness around him.

The girl had led him straight to Kennyo that day. She hadn't lied and she could've easily done so. Shingen had found his old friend in a cave and had one more day gone by he would've surely died. It had hurt him immensely when he'd thought the rumors of Kennyo's death were true and he had hated that girl for a long time because it was by her hand that he had perished but now…Now because of her he had hope. And so did Kennyo who was safe in Kai recovering.

This wasn't right.

Getting to his feet Shingen slipped outside. The night was biting cold making his breath fog the air. Winter was fast approaching now. Making his way through camp, frozen grass crunching softly under foot, he stopped by a water bucket and collected some in a ladle. All through the grounds fires were stoked, staving off the frost and cold, and the men were sleeping heavily.

But there were no fires near her.

She was left to shiver and freeze.

As he got closer he could see in the moonlight that her lips were blue. Dried blood detailed the horrifying path of pain Kenshin had made and not even her face had been spared from his wrath. Deep wounds, gashes and burnt stabs were evident. The grass around her was bloodied and with the frost on it the crimson color shimmered in a disturbing beauty.

He knelt down to offer her the water-

"Please….."she breathed through chattering teeth, "if that's poison don't give it to me." She lifted her head shakily, "The last time wasn't that great."

Her voice was raspy, wearied from all her screaming but her eyes were crisp and clear.

Shingen shook his head, "No. Its only water. Drink some, please."

She didn't fight but she didn't accept either. Instead she let her head drop putting pressure on the heavy metal collar around her neck. Shingen reached down and gently lifted her chin so that she was looking at him. He took a drink from the ladle and offered her some. For only a second she hesitated but them she greedily drank the spoon empty.

With a gasp she asked, "Did you find Kennyo?"

"Yes." He nodded, "He was where you said. Thank you. I owe you so much."

She snorted and smiled, drawing new blood from her split lip, but didn't try to bargain. Again she leaned against the chain exhausted from the effort of staying upright.

"How did you know he was there?"

Hiraya sighed, "I can tell you but you won't believe me. Nobody ever does."

"Is it true then? Are you a witch?"

"Far from it." She yawned and shifted her hips against the ache from kneeling, "If you come here, just put your forehead to mine, I can show you and you can judge for yourself."

Morning hadn't come fast enough.

Anxiously the warlords and the Oda army took to the front lines. The field was upturned, muddy, littered with broken bodies and weapons. On the far side the Uesugi-Takeda forces waited calmly. Calmer than usual.

Mitsunari scanned the lines, "I don't see Hiraya."

It had been two days since her disappearance making the men antsy as to her condition. They doubted it would be good if she was even still alive. Nobunaga was betting that Kenshin wouldn't be dumb enough to kill a prize negotiating piece.

But with Kenshin you never knew.

A wave of nervousness rumbled through the opposing army as the sun rose over the mountains in the east and the first rays of light touched the earth between the two armies. The Uesugi-Takeda army abruptly parted as the God of War made his way to the front lines. It wasn't until he turned sideways that they saw Hiraya being yanked by a chain behind him.

"Hiraya." Mitsunari gasped.

Nobunaga clenched his jaw tight.

"Lass!" Masamune called.

Hideyoshi gripped his horses reigns tightly, digging his nails into the heel of his palms, and drew blood.

Hiraya was naked and bloodied. Her hands were bound behind her back and heavy chains sloshed through the mud between her ankles.

She cried out, "IT'S A TRAP!"

Kenshin yanked the chain, sending Hiraya stumbling back, and kicked her in the back of the head. The kick sent her face first into the mud and a roar of laughter rolled through the army. Mitsuhide and Hideyoshi drew their swords-

"Don't." Mitsunari ordered.

Again Kenshin yanked on Hiraya's collar, eliciting a scream of pain from her throat, and brought her up to her knees.

"What now, Nobunaga?" Kenshin called, "We have your witch! You should surrender now!"

The Oda army, which had stood quietly up until now, roared like an angry dragon. The enemy army staggered back a few steps. Nobunaga looked left and right at his vassals and soldiers and he saw it clearly on their faces and heard it in their voices.

Anger.

Rage.

Hatred.

Bloodlust against those to assault their beloved sister-in-arms.

"NO!" Nobunaga thundered; his horse stomped the mud as if punctuating his master's command.

Kenshin drew his sword-Hideyoshi broke the line charging towards Hiraya-grabbed the girls blood caked hair and stretched her neck out. Kenshins army roared like thunder. Kenshin sliced her hair and both armies charged into the battlefield.