Warning: This is based off a manga called Sengoku Strays. If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend that you do! I don't own anything but my OC, and I will probably end up using artistic license to butcher Japanese history, so I would just like to apologize in advance, and I don't mean to offend anyone!

[Narration]

{setting/stage directions}

"Speech."

'Thoughts.'

"English speech."

—¡–!–¡–!–¡— Scene shift/passage of time.

A whole line of text like this without quotes is a written letter or something similar.

WORDS IN ALL CAPS AND NO QUOTATION MARKS ARE SOUND EFFECTS.

Flashbacks and changes in POV will be labeled.

Unless stated otherwise, the POV will be third person omniscient.

If you ever have any questions, please feel free to ask.

Previously:

"—My Lord! The Kiyosu forces cut off by the bridge... will soon be here by an alternate route!" One of Nobunaga's soldiers ran up and reported to the young lord. "At this rate... the enemy will encircle us...!" He said as the rest of their army rejoined them.

—¡–!–¡–!–¡—

"Lord Yoshitatsu's troops are our strongest forces, equipped with the most modern guns and armor. They won't be well enough prepared to hold out against them...!" Nobutomo said as he and Nobuyasu lead the Kiyosu army to meet up with Yoshitatsu's troops. "—We're winning! Finally, We're going to beat Nobunaga!"

"Second round, ready!" Yoshitatsu ordered. 'How will you get out of this, Kazusanosuke Nobunaga...!?' He wondered as he and Nobunaga stared each other down.

"Brother...!" Nobuyuki said nervously as he glanced at Nobunaga, hoping his brother would have some kind of amazing plan to save them all, like always.

"—..." Nobunaga said as he stared ahead at the enemy. He glanced down at Ayako, who was still sitting in front of him on his horse, and glaring at Yoshitatsu for how his troops had shot Eishi and many of their comrades. Nobunaga could hear Gorouza and the others approaching. He glanced back at them.

"My Lord!" Kasane yelled as she and the three guys came running over. Nobunaga closed his eyes briefly, his decision made. He placed his hand on top of Ayako's head as he opened his eyes.

"... Everyone... Strip out of your armor at once!" Nobunaga ordered as he removed Ayako's mask and saw the stunned expression on her face, just like the ones the rest of his shocked soldiers were wearing.

"!?" Ayako said, shocked.

"Why... would we discard our equipment...!?" One of the soldiers asked, startled, as the soldiers began talking nervously amongst themselves.

"My Lord, what are you thinking!?" Kasane asked urgently. Ayako stared up into Nobunaga's eyes, and her heart throbbed painfully when she realized his intentions.

"No..." Ayako pleaded softly as she grabbed his wrist.

"Hmph, I've made up my mind—" Nobunaga said, avoiding her gaze. He knew she had already figured out what his next words would be, and he hated that it was causing her pain—but he was not going to let any more harm come to her or his strange 'family.' He would do what he had to protect them. "Gorouza... help Ayako down from my horse. I... will be going out alone!" Nobunaga declared, determined to end this bloody battle.

"—Like hell you are!" Ayako yelled, angry and determined, as she clung to Nobunaga when Gorouza came over to help her down. She was not letting him go out there alone!

"My Lord! Ayako is right, we cannot allow you to face such an enemy alo—!" Gorouza said. He froze mid-sentence, shocked, as Nobunaga pulled Ayako into a deep and passionate kiss. Ayako was too stunned to react. You know how people often say that they see fire works when they kiss? Well, in this case—it was the freaking 4th of July! For a girl who was finally getting her first kiss, it was pretty overwhelming... in an awesome way. However, just as Ayako relaxed, closed her eyes, and started to return the kiss, she felt a sharp pressure in the back of her neck, and her vision quickly faded to black as she lost consciousness.

Author's note:

Now that I've caught up to where the manga was last updated, I've decided to include a few one-shots of Ayako's early days in the Sengoku era, and then I'm going to continue the story in my own way... I hope I don't ruin it, but whatever ^_^; I hope you guys continue to enjoy the story!