Chapter 4

The man that was once warlord and leader of the Oda clan lay dying. A feral virus had struck the lower Owari province like wildfire. The old and young perished quickly who caught it, and the remainder were left to wheeze their last breaths on sweat-soaked beds. The doctors tried to contain the disease but to little effect. In the end Lower Owari was forced to subjugate a quarantine, but too late for the Oda clan.

He panted under the bed cloth, pin-pricks of sweat standing out on his face.

'…water…'

A togi gently raised his head from the pillow and dripped a cup to his lips. He sucked gratefully as the liquid slid down his grated and worn throat. She rested his head back on the pillow. Moments later and he was blearily aware of a wet cloth wiping across his brow. He moaned. The togi whispered sweetly to him words of comfort.

The virus had hit the Oda leader hard. His body was weak and his mind numbed from fever. It had passed somehow through his protectorate special Goei. Passing through the ranks of men under Oda Nobuhide's control. His need for protection had unfortunately been his undoing.

He drifted in and out for a while in his delirium. Twisting the covers about him as he murmured and fought the fever. He dreamed of control of all the provinces and of his many sons. He dreamed of his life and mewled much like an infant when he dreamt of being run through with a sword by none other then Imagawa Yoshimoto, Daimyo of Suruga province. He was not even aware as he soaked the bed sheets lower down.

A warm hand pressed against his head, lifting it.

'Drink,' a voice spoke. Still fuelled by illness he obeyed the voice willingly and unconsciously. Some part way back in his mind told him this did not taste like water and another part inferred it was just medicine. All he could actively think of though was how thirsty he was. The hand drifted away with the person attached to it and Oda Nobuhide was lost in his dream state once more.

Two days later and the once Oda clan leader, Oda Nobuhide was dead. The infection was deemed the cause, but no-one knew of the poison that coursed through his veins in those last days.

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[I Three months later…[/I

'Daimyo, I bring word on the location of Oda Nobuhide's heir. Our ninja sources confirm the accuracy of this information that he is hiding out at his own Anjo castle.'

Imagawa Yoshimoto rubbed his chin at the news he had been waiting for. Since the death of the former leader Oda Nobuhide in the brief flourish of disease, his sons were left to battle for the leadership of the Oda clan in his wake. Yoshimoto had been patiently waiting for a position to open. Now that the eldest son had settled in Anjo on a more permanent basis, it was a perfect time to surround the walls and lay siege whilst Oda Nobuhiro was trapped inside. His movement in the province had been a heavily guarded secret.

'Go and fetch me General Taigen Sessai.'

The servant scurried to retrieve the General-Monk who also happened to be Yoshimoto's uncle. Imagawa Yoshimoto trusted his uncle, and thought very highly of his battle strategies and skill.

'Daimyo, watakushi gozen korede.' Taigen Sessai took his position in front of Yoshimoto on the mat that the servant had recently vacated.

Refusing to rush as was his habit, the Daimyo waited before he gave the order. The General-Monk took the pause in his stride.

'A fortuitous moment has availed itself to us. I want you to gather my armies and head toward Anjo Castle. Oda Nobuhiro is holed up there and believes himself safe from my eye. Time is of the essence for us to further decimate their fractured unity. Go posthaste. I trust in your judgment and give you my full blessing to take who and what you need.

'Hai.' The General-Monk did not need any further encouragement. He was absolutely faithful to the Imagawa clan and would do anything that was asked by the Daimyo, who just so happened to be his nephew.

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[I Five Months later….[/I

The youthful Oda Nobunaga was frustrated with this latest state of affairs. Not only had he been usurped by his older brother as head of the Oda clan, now that selfsame brother had got himself trapped and at the mercy at one of Imagawa's best Generals.

The fractious situation since the death of his father had left the Oda clan unsettled, and now there was this to compound the rumours of the slipping power of the clan.

The messenger that had brought the news to the warlord attempted to remain impassive at the stormy look of the man before him, but found it rather hard. Oda Nobunaga was known for his temper and had killed many an unlucky individual that had particularly irked him.

'Tell me, what is the Daimyo's proposition?'

The messenger almost jumped out of his skin. 'He requests an exchange. As there is a stalemate between his forces and the Oda forces, he wishes to make a deal. He will order General Taigen to fall back from Anjo castle and in return he requests that Matsudaira's heir is given back.'

Nobunaga was almost tempted to laugh at this. The child was of little benefit to him; in fact, the boy had proved an entirely useless captive. Matsudaira had refused to change allegiances for the life of his son in the wake of the kidnapping. The boy was more then acceptable.

'Denrei, you may tell Imagawa this. The boy shall be returned in good stead, once the armies have fully retreated. I will not release him until then. I have men watching as we speak; I will know when they have disbanded. Only' once it is assured will I stand to my own vow. I will send with you my written oath. Now go and wait for one of my men to give you this, then you must go posthaste.

If all that was required to prevent Oda Nobuhiro from committing seppuku was the return of one useless hostage, then so be it. It meant of course that Oda Nobunaga would have to wait patiently for his time to take over the clan but he knew, that the time would come soon. Oda Nobuhiro was an illegitimate son of Nobihide, making his leadership quite tenuous.

'Tanaka, bring me my papers. I have a message that needs to be delivered.'

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[I Two Months later…[/I

'We cannot hold out forever, Tazanuki. I fear that my time is inevitably up. I am all but undone.'

Slouched on a zabuton, Oda Nobuhiro was accepting his fate. He had been cornered like a mouse by the Imagawa army. The fight was at a stalemate but the confidence of his men was slipping and that could soon lead to desertion. Nobuhiro was all out of choices bar one option. It was only a matter of when.

Tazanaki Hisashi stood by his lord's side. He was the man Oda trusted most to be his

Kaishakunin. However, under the circumstances Nobuhiro would and should not be granted that honour. A kaishakunin's duty was to perform decapitation during seppuku, to make death as swift as possible. Being under siege and immobile was a disgrace. Such a disgrace would deny the warlord the peace of such a quick end. Tazanaki Hisashi was there more for the Clan leader's hope of getting out of the mess he was in. Tazanaki was a good confidante as well as a good kaishakunin.

'It is time, I feel, that a good meal is in order. Don't you think so, Tazanaki?'

The aide knew exactly what the warlord was asking. A final meal before a final act. Should he or shouldn't he? Tazanaki could only give his leader one answer.

'I shall make it ready, Mikoto.'

Nobuhiro sighed as his aide left. So this would be the way his short tenure as Oda clan leader would end. Dishonourable seppuku. He placed his hands in his lap. Oda Nobuhiro would not show fear. It was the way of his life. Patiently he awaited the return of his aide, refusing to budge from his position. Here he would die.

'Mikoto! Mikoto!'

A messenger came rushing in with Tazanaki on his heels. Oda Nobuhiro recognised the messenger as one of Tazanaki's brothers. This, and the fact that Tazanaki did not kill him for entering a private domain, brought the warlord to attention, avid.

'Kneel. Tell me what you bring with such energy.'

Breathless, the messenger did as he was told. He was carefully watched. The messenger tried to catch his breath as he looked into the warlord's eyes.

'I bring news from Oda Nobunaga. A deal has been struck with the Imagawa clan and their forces are pulling back even now.'

Alight with relief, Nobuhiro leaned in closer.

'Tell me more…'

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The young child sat terrified in a corner surrounded by Goei. His hokannin, Oda Nobuhide, was long gone. He was no longer under the man's protection but rather at the mercy of Oda Nobunaga, second born of the former Oda leader. Oda Nobuhide had treated young Matsudaira Takechiyo very well when he had lived;Takechiyo was not sure about the younger. Nobunaga was not a caring man. He was aloof and had no such time for a child.

Matsudaira knew the Goei would slit his throat should the untoward happen. He had no presumptions even at his tender age what his purpose was. Being a child in a great war between provinces, he was forced to grow up quickly.

Tears careened down his face. He missed his parents. They would have hugged him and told him everything was all right, that they would protect him. They were strong. Takechiyo missed them terribly and he missed his childhood. Surrounded by war, he was not the little boy he once was.

Takechiyo roughly wiped away his tears. His parents were not there to comfort him, so he must be strong. He must be a man now. He should not show weakness.

'You're all going to die!' He screeched at the Goei. Not one man bothered to look his way. He frowned at the men's backs and crossed his feet and arms. They were like statues to his plight. With little to do, Takechiyo soon found himself drifting off to sleep with tears still unshod in his eye.

'Takechiyo… Takechiyo…'

The boy startled but did not wake from his slumber.

'Takechiyo, musuko. Daijoubu desu.

'Chichisan?' he uttered.

'Hai, Takechiyo. Do not cry, my musuko. You will be safe. Great things are yours to achieve.'

'Nani?'

'You will become a man of great importance one day. Do not fear what is now and be strong for what is to become.'

'I miss you chichisan. When will I see you again?'

But the ghost in the child's dream was silent, and quickly the presence was gone as Takechiyo was roughly shook from his slumber. He looked blearily into the eyes of a stranger. The returning gaze was harsh and without pity.

'Get up, kodomo. You have been liberated.'

Togi - nurse

Goei - guard

Watakushi gozen korede - I am here (This may be inaccurate syntax)

Watakushi is very formal for I.

Hai - Yes/O.K/alright/I agree/certainly etc…

Denrei - messenger/runner

Zebuton - cushion

Kaishakunin - Secondary that decapitates anyone committing Seppuku. Insuring a quick death. Only for those who commit Seppuku under honourable circumstances.

Hokannin - Guardian

Musuki - son

Daijoubu desu - It is alright

Nani - what? Excuse me? Huh? Etc…

Kodomo - child