Samurai Warriors: The Crimson Sun and the Celestial Moon
Chapter Six: Akira the Bad, the Brave, and the Bold.
"There they are!" said Hikaru pointing at the traveling Takeda Army. Akira and Hikaru rode up to Shingen. "My lord, we've completed our task," said Akira. Shingen nodded. "Where is your sister?" he asked. "She's gone to Ueda to meet up with Lord Yukimura. We do not know why, but they'll meet up with us at Azuchi," Hikaru informed his lord. "Ah..." Shingen said softly. He smiled and rode off. "Argh," groaned Akira. "Akira, are you alright?" Hikaru asked. Akira was clutching onto his wound. "I'm fine, it's just a little pain," he said.
Meanwhile, the sun pierced through the window. Kunoichi sat up and stretched her arms. "Looks like the skies are finally cleared," she said softly, "nothing like the crimson sun that brings a smile to your face." She looked to her left and saw Yukimura's eyes opening. "Morning Lord Yukimura!" she said out loud. He rubbed his eyes, "Did have a good night sleep?" He stood up but slowly. "Did I fall asleep on your lap?!" she said noticing Yukimura's leg was probably asleep. He nodded and laughed. "Whoops!" she giggled, "sorry Lord Yukimura." "We have to hurry and head to Azuchi, correct?" he asked Kunoichi changing the subject. She nodded, "Okay let's get going!"
Yukimura and Kunoichi mounted on their horses and set out to Azuchi. After a few hours they saw a man on his horse traveling the same direction. It was Keiji Maeda. He turned and noticed Yukimura and Kunoichi. "Be on the guard," ordered Yukimura. Kunoichi nodded. "So, traveling I see. Where's your army?" Keiji asked. "We are meeting up with our lord," said Yukimura, "let us be on our way Kunoichi." Keiji block their way. "Heading for Azuchi I see. Going against Nobunaga, I'm heading there myself..." Keiji started talking. "You're going to help Nobunaga or what?" Kunoichi asked him. "Well, I haven't decided. Honestly, ever since Nagashino I got to thinking," Keiji rambled on, "I'm meant to be on the battlefield. Just...there's no challenge, especially if I'm allied with a demon. Then every challenge would be too easy...I'm thinking of a new employment...or perhaps on my own." Kunoichi looked at Yukimura. "Perhaps you can travel with us? Go against the demon lord yourself, quite a challenge if you ask me," suggest Yukimura. "Nice offer, an alliance with the Tiger of Kai? I'll sleep on it..." said Keiji and rode off leaving the two confused. "Umm, shall we proceed?" said Yukimura.
Meanwhile at Azuchi,
"So the Takeda are heading here?" said Nobunaga, "This is most interesting." Nobunaga stepped out side the balcony of his castle. "Even if you succeed in driving me out of my own castle, I promise you, it will not be over quite yet..."
The Takeda settled outside of Azuchi. "Preparations are almost complete my lord," said a messenger. Shingen nodded and looked at Hikaru and Akira. "I believe Yukimura and Kunoichi should be here any minute," he said, "be ready for battle you two." "Yes my lord," said the brothers. Akira headed for a nearby stream. He started to feel a bit dizzy so he washed his face. "Hello, hello!" said a voice. Akira looked up but he squinted due to the sun in his eyes. "Brother, is that such a face to greet your little sister?" Kunoichi giggled and mounted off her horse. "You're not looking so great, not your usual mean looking self," she said to him. "I'm fine," said Akira and left. "Ouch, what's with him?" she asked. "Kunoichi, check in with the lord that we have arrived," said Yukimura. "Okay you're the boss," she said and ran off.
"Yukimura's forces will take the front gates, everyone else attack the west gate," Shingen command the Takeda. The Siege of Azuchi was underway, the Takeda against the Oda. "Attack!" Yukimura commanded his troops. They charged into the front gates knocking everyone that blocked their path. Akira and Hikaru went ahead to take out any muskets or archers the Oda might of set up. Kunoichi was fighting by Yukimura making sure he wasn't getting into trouble. The front assult took out a good portion of the Oda. "It's like they're not even trying," Yukimura said to himself. A messenger came running to Yukimura, "Lord Yukimura, the Takeda can't get through the west gate. It appears the Uesugi Army has arrived west of Azuchi and is fighting both the Oda and the Takeda." "What?!" said Yukimura. Yukimura told another member of the Takeda Calvary to take over the front assault. "Kunoichi, we are heading to the west gate, gather your brothers," ordered Yukimura. "Gotcha," she said and headed off.
Yukimura headed westward and saw the Uesugi attacking the Takeda. Shingen rode up to Yukimura. "He picked a good time to fight didn't he?" said Shingen. "My lord, what do we do now?" Yukimura asked. "Take down Kenshin and make him retreat. Let the front assault handle the Oda for now. Nobunaga won't strike just yet..." he said. Yukimura began attacking the Uesugi. He could see Kenshin in the distance. "He only has a small army yet he's attacking both sides?" thought Yukimura. A few shadows ran along the Azuchi walls, this caught Yukimura's eye. It was his ninjas and they are heading toward Kenshin. "Oh Mister Kenshin," said Kunoichi as she appeared from the shadows and tried to strike Kenshin but missed. "Pitiful ninja," said Kenshin, "stay out of my way." Kenshin was occupied with the sibling trio. The Takeda took out most of the Uesugi Army. "I see..." said Kenshin. Shingen rode up to the crowd and cued the trio to stop attacking. "You will keep your promise will you not Kenshin?" he said to Kenshin. Kenshin nodded and rode off. "Okay...let's just take care of the Oda," said Kunoichi.
The front assault took out all of their enemies. The Oda began to retreat. It turns out the Uesugi took out another good portion of the Oda Army in the west. "Nobunaga has retreated into the castle," said Shingen, "Yukimura, you and your ninjas will infiltrate Azuchi Castle. The Takeda will wait for your return." Yukimura went to gather his ninjas. Akira kneeled on one knee clutching his arm once again. "Akira, you do not look so well. Perhaps you should stay back," suggest Yukimura. "I'm-""Don't say 'I'm fine', because you're not brother. Just stay back and relax, we got this cat in the bag," Kunoichi interrupted Akira. He couldn't argue anymore, a few nurses came and helped Akira into a tent.
Yukimura, Kunoichi, and Hikaru headed into Azuchi Castle. "Let's finished this," said Yukimura. They dodged the traps and ascended the stairs. They reached the very end only to find no one. "Hello?" echoed Kunoichi. They searched to room but still nothing. "Nobunaga left," said Yukimura. "Let's go," said Hikaru. As they ascended down the stairs, Kunoichi stepped on something thin that snapped. "Huh?" she said as she stopped. She picked it up, it was an arrow. "The designs look familiar...Oh well," she dropped it and left the castle. Yukimura, Kunoichi, and Hikaru united with the Takeda. "Nobunaga has retreated out of Azuchi Castle, my lord," Yukimura reported to Shingen. "Very well, we will have a meeting tonight to discuss our next move," said Shingen, "I'll have someone pick you up, now return to your ninjas Yukimura."
Kunoichi looked at Hikaru. "Let's see how Akira is doing," she suggested. Kunoichi and Hikaru looked around for Akira's tent. A nurse came out of one of the tents and walked up to them. "The ninja we took in earlier today has fallen very ill," said the nurse, "we don't understand how. Nothing we have can treat him at the current moment, I'm sorry." Kunoichi and Hikaru went into the tent to find Akira looking very weak and ill. "Brother, what happen?" asked Hikaru. Akira shook his head. "I'm fine..." "Brother, are you going to be okay?" Kunoichi asked. Akira slowly closed his eyes. "Death waits at the corner...brother, sister...please take care of Lord Yukimura...let your story...write itself out..." The nurse came in the tent. "I'm sorry..." said the nurse as she covered the blanket over Akira's body. Kunoichi walked out the tent and saw Yukimura about to walk in. "Kunoichi?" he asked but she didn't hear him. Yukimura walked in the tent and heard the news from Hikaru. Yukimura walked out of the tent and caught up with Kunoichi, "I heard the news about Akira...I'm sorry. Are you alright?" She looked at him and smiled, "I'm fine," she said, "You worry way too much Lord Yukimura, you're going to get stressed like that." She giggled and left. Yukimura sighed, "She doesn't open up much does she? Well, do as you will Kunoichi..."
CyNdAi'S NoTeS: Akira and Shinji are gone, but Kunoichi acts like nothing happen. Talk about living in denial...haha j/p. So what's going to happen next? Now only the Tokugawa and the Oda are at large. In the next chapter, 'What Best Friends Are For', we finally get a showdown Kunoichi and Yukimura's been waiting for! Check it out! (Thanks for the reviews guys! I'll keep the cup of tea idea in mind! LoL)