Silvermoonarisato: Glad you like it ^^ moga-moga anda juga menyukai chapter ini...mungkin TT^TT...

Pyromystic: Wokey, sekarang ini aku update XDD review anda udah aku reply kan ^^

We're back with another chapter of Eternal Reverie XDD although truth to be told...I'm running out of idea TT^TT and if that continues, I'm afraid after this arc the series would be on a state of hiatus nuked

Anyway, this chap is short because there's not a lot of ideas for this particular chapter but I do hope you will be able to enjoy it...maybe

I have to warned you about several characters death in this chap, all from the Takeda side. It's only for minor chara though, so I don't think you guys would be to sad from it =.=a killed

Happy reading ^^

Yukimura could see the Oda-Tokugawa main camp in the distance from the Takeda main camp. His right hand wielded his spear as he waited for the upcoming battle in anticipation. The red-clad warrior main concern is Shingen's final warning to his vassals. Shingen Takeda may had a jolly sense of humor, but the Tiger of Kai never joked when he warned someone of a potential threat. Now that Katsuyori had decided to ignored his father and ordered a direct assault, some of the vassals ate more than usual because they somehow felt that it could be their final meal. Yukimura heard a rumbling noise coming from behind, and he looked up to see that the storm clouds almost covered the entire sky above the battlefield.

"If we waited for it, the rain might fall and renders the Oda guns useless."

Yukimura turned around as Sakon Shima, the Ronin of Yamato who had served Shingen, approaching him with his broadsword resting over his shoulder. "Have you talked to Katsuyori-sama about that ?" Yukimura asked.

Sakon sighed. "I did, but Katsuyori is way too stubborn to listen," he replied, "He might be Shingen's son, but he didn't inherited his father's brilliance and sense of humor."

Yukimura looked back at the camp in the distance. "Sakon-san, do you think that we would have a chance in victory ?" he asked, "Oyakata-sama said that we must wait, could he was referring to the rain ?"

"He might, but then again, sometimes the meaning of his words can't always be understand that easily," Sakon said, "If Kunoichi's source were telling her the truth, then you will be facing a lot of bullets that are flying towards you."

Yukimura sighed. "Do you have a strategy for this ? One that might convince Katsuyori-sama ?"

"I'm afraid not," Sakon said before he turned to leave, "But my advice is that you should circle around the volleys, that way you might have a chance to break their ranks."

After Sakon left, Yukimura turned his attention back to the Oda-Tokugawa main camp. The steep banks of Rengogawa would slow the cavalry down, which would make circling around the enemy's volleys alive to be almost impossible. Nevertheless, Yukimura felt that if his fate was to die, then he would at least die with honor and pride.

"You mortals of warriors rank is quite fond of the concept of the so-called 'honorable death' aren't you ?"

Surprised, Yukimura looked around to find the mysterious speaker, but he weren't able to see him. "But oh well, I supposed having a reckless, short-tempered bonehead for a leader could do that to anyone, ahahahahaha~~~!"

The laughter echoed through the forest in front of Yukimura, so he went there to find the source of the voices. After cautiously passing through several trees in anticipation of an enemy spies, Yukimura haven't been able to find him yet. That is, until the one he's looking for spoke right above him. "If you want to be good at hide-and-seek, you should try to look up once in a while."

Yukimura does that, and finds a man, dressed in black-and-white, casually sat on the thick branch above while leaning against the trunk of the tree. The man, none other than Kikuchiyo himself, had a stick of dango in his black gloved right hand hand. "Who are you ?" Yukimura asked as he tightened his grip on his spear.

Kikuchiyo sat upright on the branch after finishing his dango and threw the stick away. "I am the great king of trickster, Chesster !" Kikuchiyo said with pride and exaggerated tone before he switched into his normal voice, "But since everyone call me Kikuchiyo, you might as well call me by that name."

Kikuchiyo then leaned back, causing him to fell off the branch backwards. He then somersault in midair with the intention to land safely and in a cool fashion, at least that's what he think. However, he failed miserably as he crashed on the ground face first. As Kikuchiyo lie face-down on the ground, Yukimura wondered whether he was dead or alive. A awkward, silent moment passed away before Kikuchiyo sprung back up, stood straight, wiped the dirt on his face, and act as if that was never happened.

"For a man who is about to march into a potential suicide mission, you don't look like a man who is about to march into a potential suicide mission," Kikuchiyo asked, deliberately repeating the same words twice, "Do you believe that you would survive battle ?"

Yukimura were quite confused by the jester's question, but he answered it anyway. "I don't know, but I were to die, then I would at least die an honorable death."

Kikuchiyo rolled his eyes. "You people have serious issue about appreciating the wonderful thing called 'life', aren't you ?" he sarcastically asked.

"Why do you ask that question, Kikuchiyo-san ?"

"To make sense of everything in this conflicts and to satisfy my own curiosity," But so far, all of you guys have a reason for waging war that are even stranger than I am."

Kikuchiyo turned and left. "If you want to live, then you shall live. If you want to die, then just roll up and die. Some of us only live once, so you should do things that are actually useful to you and anyone else," he said, "Like playing Onigokko ! Now that is a productive hobby !"

"Wait!"

Yukimura chased after Kikuchiyo, but as soon as he turned around a tree, Kikuchiyo was nowhere in sight. 'Who was that man ? What did he want ?' Yukimura pondered.

"Yukimura-sama !"

Kunoichi dropped down behind Yukimura just as he was turning around. "What is it Kunoichi ?" Yukimura asked.

"Katsuyori-sama kept screaming for everyone to get ready to attack, and Yukimura-sama is the only one who aren't getting ready."

"I see, thank you for reminding me, Kunoichi."

Yukimura walked back into the Takeda main camp with Kunoichi beside him. "Yukimura-sama ?" Kunoichi began.

"What's wrong ?"

"It's nothing...but...do you really have to go ? I mean, Sakon-san is staying behind to defend that bonehead Katsuyori-sama, so why can't you ?"

"Because I am a warrior of the Sanada clan. I must show the enemy the honor and might of the Sanada with my spear."

"But what if you get killed ?"

Yukimura smiled before he patted Kunoichi's hair. "Don't worry, I can't be killed that easily," Yukimura said before he went and mounted his horse to join his comrade. With a battle cry, the Takeda cavalry rode on to battle. As the cavalry left, Kunoichi silently pray for Yukimura's safety...

– – –

Behind the stream of Rengogawa, the Teppogumi ashigaru lined up behind the wooden stockades with their rifles aimed at the banks where the Takeda would charged from. Pikemen stationed between the gap of each wooden stockades to prevent enemies from breaking through in case they survived the volleys. Renowned warriors also stationed to prevent their enemies from breaking through. Ranmaru Mori and Mitsuhide Akechi were positioned at the south end of the stockades, while Ina and Tadakatsu Honda positioned themselves at the center of the stockades, and Kanbei on the north end. Positioned behind the rifles unit is some other officers to further strengthen the defensive formation like Hideyoshi Hashiba, Toshiie Maeda, Katsuie Shibata, and some other renowned vassals.

Directly in front of the camp is Nobunaga Oda and Ieyasu Tokugawa, both were mounted on their respective horses, with Nohime and Gracia near them. Both ladies were prevented from joining in the battle for it might brought harm to them, much to Gracia's chagrin. The young girl wanted to join her father and Ranmaru in battle, but Mitsuhide asked her to stay behind for her safety. In the end, Gracia agreed and follow her father's wish after Ranmaru had told her to not participate as well.

The other one who stayed behind at the camp is Yin Long. The immortal stood not far from Nobunaga as his purple eyes watched the battlefield. Hearing the news that the Takeda had resort into a direct, full-frontal cavalry charge, Yin Long knew that they wouldn't stand a chance against the tactics that Nobunaga used. He wanted to help, but he had promised to remain neutral until the battle is over. For now, all he could do is watch. Mounted on top of his beloved horse, Matsukaze, Keiji went beside Yin Long. "Hey kid ! Are you okay ?" Keiji asked.

Yin Long looked up at Keiji, before he returned his attention back to the field. "I'm fine, Keiji-dono."

"You looked worried, is it about your friends at the Takeda ?"

Yin Long sighed. "I don't exactly had any friends at the Takeda, but you could say that," he said, "the formation used by Nobunaga would ensure a rotating volleys of fire, and that would means that the Takeda won't be able to fight back."

"Well, I don't like this either," Keiji said as he rested his spear over his shoulder, "I can't go fight the enemy head the head with all of those rifles around, and I haven't been able to go wild yesterday so you could say that I'm bored."

Yin Long rolled his eyes. "You're quite the wild man, Keiji-dono."

Keiji laughed. "What can I say ? It is in my nature !"

Yin Long were able to smiled, but his expression return to his usual, disinterested look. However, the light in his eyes betrayed the expression of someone who is content with their situation. Yin Long then closed his eyes, as battle cries of the brave men of the Takeda can be heard coming. The ground shook and the wind blew fiercer as they came charging towards the Oda camp. Soon, the banks of Rengogawa were filled with the crimson color of the Takeda. Despite being -somewhat- safe behind the stockades, the Oda-Tokugawa riflemen were quite intimidated, but they managed to shook it off. Seeing the oncoming army, Nobunaga's only reaction is to chuckled. Whether he was either nervous or happy, no one knew for sure.

The first wave of the Takeda which were mostly comprised of footmen with some cavalry charged forth. The ashigaru charged with their weapons, whether it be a sword or a spear, towards the camp with the cavalry right behind them. As they were halfway to the stockades, they were forced to slow down when they crossed Rengogawa. The stream is narrow and shallow, but it is enough to slow them down considerably, especially on the mounted unit. Nobunaga then uttered the words that sealed their fate.

"Open fire."

The riflemen simultaneously opened fire, decimating most of the charging unit in one volley. Most of them still standing as they continued their charged undettered, even when facing death itself. Their shouted their battle cries as they charged while the riflemen reloads. However, they never expected that right after the first volley, a second volley quickly unleashed upon them. The Takeda soldiers quickly fell under fires. Their famous cavalry also doesn't stand a chance as they either shot to death, fall from their horses, or even both.

Nobunaga already anticipated the long reload time of the rifle. Each group of riflemen were comprised of six rows. The two rows in the back reloads, while the two rows in the middle waits for the front two rows to fire. The second row from the front stood while the front row partially knelt as both rows aimed their rifles at their enemies. This formation allows for a non-stop rotating volleys of fire that rained down upon the enemy.

The first wave failed, most of them were completely decimated although some remained standing. However, that didn't deter the second wave, led by Masakage Yamagata, Masatoyo Naito, and several others brave vassals of the Takeda, from charging in.

The Takeda "Red Fire Unit", named for Yamagata Masakage and his men who wore a bright, crimson armors, charged at the enemy in a fish scale formation with Masakage leading the charge. The crimson cavalry slowly fell one by one, but they remained undeterred as they made their way to the camp. Masakage spotted Tadakatsu as he gets near the center, and prepare for a battle. "For the glory of the Takeda !" Masakage exclaimed as he raised his spear.

"Urgh !"

Unfortunately, a bullet went through his shoulder while several others manage to kill his horse. As Masakage fall, his men continued to charge...only to be eliminated by the next volley. Beaten and wounded, Masakage stood again as the riflemen open fire at him. Several bullets pierced through his body, but he remained standing. Masakage looked heavenwards with a sorrowful expression.

"Has the gods forsaken the Takeda ?" Masakage lamented before the next volley end his life. His lifeless body fall into the cold water of Rengogawa.

On the other side, Masatoyo Naito and his men struggled to circled around the center to the north. Soon, only some of his men remained as Masatoyo finally reached the north. "This is it, this is my chance !"

Masatoyo's hope were crushed when one of Kanbei's orb rammed into him. Masatoyo were knocked off his horse while his men were eliminated by another volley. Masatoyo struggled to stand as he stab his sword in order to support him. He then saw several rifles aimed at him while Kanbei stood beside them, staring at Masatoyo with cold, remorseless eyes. "Is this the end of the Takeda ?" Masatoyo asked before he was gunned down.

The elderly Nobuharu Baba, or also known as Nobufusa, managed to evaded the volleys as he charged through the south. However, Ranmaru's blade prevented him from getting any further as the youth knocked him down from his horse. Nobuharu managed to land safely before he fight Ranmaru and Mitsuhide. The veteran vassal of the Takeda put up a brave fight, but he soon finds himself overwhelmed by Mitsuhide and Ranmaru. Ranmaru shattered Nobuharu's defense before he slashed the elder with an overhead swing. Nobuharu dropped his sword as he fell to his knew, dying from the blow. "Long live...the Takeda..." Nobuharu said before he passed away.

Other warriors of the Takeda soon fall. Nobutsuna Sanada, Shigetsugu Yonekura, Nobuzane Takeda, Masatane Hara, and many others were dead either by being shot or by being defeated by the officers. Nevertheless, only some of them managed to reached the stockades, but none managed to penetrate the defenses.

– – –

Yin Long opened his eyes to see that the stream and the land behind it were covered with the fallen Takeda. There were some that still alive, only to be gunned down by the next volley. Yin Long looked down, hoping that no one noticed his sorrowful expression. There is two things that Yin Long respected and admired in war, and that is the strategy and the honor of those participating in the war. However, the rifles doesn't have an honor. They distanced their user with their enemies, and as a result there were no direct confrontation between each sides. They gave no chance for their opponent to defend themselves for the bullets travel fast and merciless. Yin Long never really liked long-ranged battle, preferring on a simple yet delicate, close-ranged tactics.

"If you asked me, this battle is quite one-sided," Keiji said, "The Takeda guys barely able to put up a fight."

Yin Long scoffed. "Battle ? What battle ? This isn't a battle, it's a massacre !"

Keiji looked at the boy beside him. With Keiji mounted on top of Matsukaze, they towered over Yin Long. Then again, Yin Long is already vertically challenged. "So what are you going to do about it ?" Keiji asked.

Yin Long sighed. "I can't do anything for now. I already stated that I am neutral in this conflict, so I can't do anything before the battle end," he stated, "I just hope that there are still some people that I could save..."

"Soo...if you have the chance, you would rescue them ?"

"I will, but unfortunately there is not much that I could do by myself..."

Keiji chuckled. "Well, when the time comes you must remember to do as you said you would," Keiji said.

As Yin Long looked back at the battlefield, he can't help but to remember Kikuchiyo's words when he noticed the crimson armors of the Takeda that covered the land along with some of their blood.

the land will turned a crimson shade before the rain washed the paints away

– – –

Yukimura were approaching the battlefield with the third and final wave. He were surprised that even after two consecutive wave of attack, the Oda-Tokugawa's formation were broken. It means, none of the warriors managed to break their ranks. It also meant that his uncle, Nobutsuna Sanada, didn't make it through. 'There is not time to grieve, I must put an end to this !' Yukimura thought.

"Let's go ! Show them the power of the Takeda !"

Upon Yukimura's order, the third wave charged. Yukimura himself joined in on the charge as he rode his horse in full speed. Bullets greet the Takeda unit's upon their arrival, but Yukimura is determined to end this battle as he kept on going. He skillfully maneuvered his horse to dodged the bullets while simultaneously twirling and swinging his spear to deflected the bullets that were coming at him. 'Almost there !' Yukimura thought as he spotted the river.

Then, a bullet hit it's mark on Yukimura's horse, then another one ends it's life. The horse suddenly reared, causing a surprised Yukimura to loose his grip on his spear before he was thrown off from his horse. The last thing he saw was the ground coming towards him and then there was-

Nothing...

So this chap is short...and not to mention it ends with a cliffhanger =.=a...

What about Yukimura ? What will happened to him ? Those who knew history and play the game might know his fate, but then again...this fic aren't exactly following the history, isn't it ? XDDD Killed by Yukimura fans

Onigokko: It's the Japanese version of the game Tag. Don't ask me why on earth I write that up, I just need something that is completely out of topic =_= Nuked

I can't promise you that the next next chap would be longer than this one, and as a matter of fact, I'm not sure I could write a longer chap anymore =.=a

Anyway~~ I hope you enjoy this chap ^^

See you next week and don't forget to review XDDD