Part I: Battle at Anegawa
The fires of war blazed bright that night. Anegawa was not the same once the sun had set. Of course, Lord Nagamasa had fallen upon his knees into the bright waters now painted orange with the changing horizon, and after short conference, he had hid himself in a castle not to far off from where the Oda army was camped.
It was too obvious...you knew that his rear guard would ambush us at the allied camp southern gate. We all yearned now for battle and this new bout was nothing more than a warm-up for what was soon to come.
Cries for mercy range, bodies broke; women mourned for their dead as blood dripped from the very tip of my fan, and yet-
"I shouldn't expect so much. "
Mitsunari ignored the clash of steel-on-steel as he stood in the middle of a small pit- left by his savage blows- transfixed by the scene that play out before him. A samurai with dark hair, clad in purple and silver armor, slashed through thirteen rogues, his back pressed firmly against a demon-of-a-man who wore raven feathers about his neck like a fine collar. This demon was Lord Nobunaga and his sword burned blue with a lust for peasant blood. The one behind him was Mitsuhide Akechi, the most honorable of men, yet, he was so strange.
There are secrets yet to be revealed. I wish I could read you...
"I watch you move and I count your steps. You do not walk through their ranks, but glide, and you dance about their blood as it rains down from the heavens like cherry blossoms in spring." Mitsunari mused, "I have worked so hard to get here. I have thrown myself into the worst of it all...and yet...you only have eyes for your Lord. Look at me, just once. Let me know that it was destiny (fate at work) that led you to this army, and me to you-"
A body struggled from behind him and Mitsunari turned with his fan open to strike. A reserve officer somewhere in the brush then took aim with his spear, launching it towards the Oda. Mitsuhide turned to face this threat, the spear having been launched before and the samurai had no time to block.
"Mitsuhide!"
The roar from the currents running through Anegawa drowned out Mitsunari's cry as he dashed forward with his folding fan outstretched and open. The spear cut right through the thick fabric a- ways in before Mitsunari was able to snap it shut and twirl it back to let it hang limply at his side once more. Now all was silent as Mitsunari stood there, Mitsuhide staring him down with a confused yet thankful look on his face.
"I-" Mitsunari began. His face was pale and covered in a cold sweat.
"Mitsunari, you make an old monkey proud!" Lord Hideyoshi chimed in as he ran over and patted Mitsunari on the back. Hideyoshi was third in command to the Oda army and he wanted very much to please his master so that he may be great among his own clan (the Toyotomi) once Lord Nobunaga had taken over Japan. Of course, that wasn't to say that these same visuals weren't shared by his wife (Nene) as well.
"Hm...an exceptional warrior." Lord Nobunaga mumbled with no emotion. He was not the greatest when it came to boosting one's self-esteem. Then again, nothing could build up Mitsunari's hopes. He was naturally the depressed type. Now Mitsunari glanced at Mitsuhide with a pleading look playing across his face. "I shall take note of your ability." Mitsuhide smiled as he walked off. Mitsunari felt insulted. There was no 'thank you', not even a slight bow!
But, he smiled, and that was a plus.
"Where to next? "
-the question was a dull one, but if he was going to impress a certain 'someone'.
"That would depend on Nagamasa." Mitsuhide replied, "He fights for love, then gives up his wife so that he may flee. Lady Oichi will meet us up at Odani in the morning, then we will attack at noon."
"Any final words that you wish to share on today's events Mitsunari?" Hideyoshi smiled in his immature fashion. Mitsunari sighed, "I do not take pride in the lives lost this day-"
Oichi I know how you feel...I had hopes of a love too. But where you have failed, I shall prevail...I must! Even if it costs me my honor in the end!
Part II: Subtle Conference (settled w/ Blood)
I remember the first time I saw him. The rain was pouring hard over the land of chaos which we call Japan. Just a little over 100 men rode past me as I walked through the mud, longing for a purpose...
His horse galloped on past me and I turned my head, and the Oda glanced back and kept looking from behind as he pulled forward to the battlefield. " Oda troops..." I muttered to myself, " But why so few? That man...Nobunaga Oda is a fool, driven by the need for power. He is a man of lust and of greed-"
Then I stopped. No...that wasn't true at all. The fact that he rode with such a small army made him brilliant. He rode in to battle as such just to instill fear and prove his true strength. This man had his sights set not only on Japan, his mind was set...on the world. And at that moment, I tossed off my hat, and I knew that Lord Nobunaga was the one I had been searching for.
Nobunaga: "Then come Mitsuhide, "
Mitsuhide smiled faintly against the tiny lanterns that flickered throughout the allied camp. He rarely looked back into his past and he suddenly decided to flip through to when he was being introduced to the 'second rate' officers. That was the day he had first met that depressing man: Mitsunari Ishida. "He's my finest man! " Hideyoshi laughed proudly. Mitsuhide crinkled his nose. That fiery red hair irked him to no end and that golden headband gleamed in the summer sun, blinding him. This warrior seemed to be that of a 'material' man with those cherry blossoms embroidered into his black pillow pants, all to match that pink robe as Mitsunari's amber eyes shone with curiosity.
"He looks like a woman...can he fight any better?" that, of course, was a very wrong move. Mitsunari glared as he grabbed out his fan and lunged forward with bent legs as to launch himself halfway through the dash for that extra speed for the strike. In a sense, Mitsuhide had been able to read his move and had managed to block.
But just barely...
Hideyoshi then stepped in between the two and held Mitsunari back, "Now, now- play nicely children. " he tried to laugh through gritted teeth (as he tried to keep a hold of the struggling Mitsunari). "Fine, I'll back off for now Mitsuhide-" Mitsunari mumbled in his usual mono-tone as he pulled away gently from Hideyoshi's firm grip, " But remember, honor always wins, it is inevitable. "
Although Mitsuhide had sneered and had walked away so many months before, he never doubted Mitsunari's words; and now the past seemed to be catching up to him (Mitsuhide) as he remembered how Mitsunari had saved his life so many hours before.
"Those eyes...that look that he gave me seemed so frail coming from such a powerful officer."
His gloves tightened on his sword hilt, "I must not find myself in another position such as today. I must become stronger if I am to protect the Oda. For him, I will gladly put my life on the line! "
Mitsunari Ishida just shook his head as he listened from the shadows.
What little bit of light the rising Sun had to offer the exhausted soldiers of Nobunaga's Army-was enough to catch Mitsunari's eyes as he grumbled against a waking that was inevitable as the trumpets began to sound. The sky outside was a bright pink reminder of the bloodshed that was soon to come, once they had crossed the neighboring valleys into Azai territory. Mitsunari nudged his guard- Kikyo. She swatted at him with the leather sheath from her ankle knife and he just laughed as he stood and walked outside, allowing the clouds to cast shadows over his pale chest.
As he stood and stretched, he read off the names in his head- the names of his enemies...the people he would destroy: Nagamasa, Yoshikage, Masazumi, Sadayuki, Naoyori, Tsunachik, Keijun, Kangetakata, Nagashigo, and Kageakira of the Askura-Azai. The secondmost powerful army to fight for their land, and one that would fall short in history with this nights' battle.
"Don't waste your breath with Lord Nagamasa-" Mitsuhide stated as he walked forth from his tent. Fully dressed in his palid armor, his blade swinging lightly at his side. Even when up against a coward, he was formal enough to stick to pretenses. Mitsunari just grumbled as he watched the sun play off Mitsuhide's raven-black hair, "And why is that?"
"Isn't it obvious whom the kill should go to?" Mitsuhide grinned as he paced about as if trying to corner his prey, "Oichi was to be Nagamasa's wife, and he tried to turn her against her own brother, claiming that he loved her. So to just give her up and hide away in some castle...he is far from Prince Charming. "
"Like you'd know anything about that- " Mitsunari spat in his normal mono tone. Mitsuhide merely chuckled as he sighed, "The orders were issued this morning and you are to take the band that is to be placed between the main and Allied camps. Hideyoshi has a plan, and in order to get his architects to Mt. Yamada, you need to be cooperative and leave Lord Nagamasa to the Oda. "
Mitsunari kicked at a stone, trying to calm himself as he mumbled, "You really hate me don't you? I save your life and you hate the feeling of being indebted. Say there is a surprise attack on the camps...what am I to do? Just wave as Nagamasa rides by and destroys our forces?! I think not..."
"That won't happen..." Mitsuhide cut in, "Lord Nagamasa has encaged himself in the Main ward which has been sealed and only the defense captains of the other wards have the keys, along with some outer forces."
"That's as far as you know..." Mitsunari shook his head, "It is merely an assumption. Though logical, it may not be credible or true. "
Now the wind began to blow from the north and it made Mitsuhide's hair fly up, like a dark flame licking at the sky, threatening to burn down Heaven itself. Even the expression that played across the samurai's face matched the demonic theory. Knowing that he couldn't argue, Mitsuhide turned to walk away as he hissed through gritted teeth, "Whether I am indebted to you or not...you have your orders."
Now as he watched Mitsuhide walk away defeated, the small bit of humor from this morning now rose again in Mitsunari as he whispered, " God, I love it when you're angry-" before he too, turned on his heel to get ready.
The fields were covered in small diamonds that of which was the dew that had settled as the daylight came pouring over Mt. Yamada. Soldiers trudged over the damp ground with ease, as they planned on an easy victory today at Odani Castle. Mitsuhide rode along on his Ink Stone- a brilliant dark brown horse (so dark it could be black), with its olive fringes hanging over its leather saddle which fit right along with Mitsuhide's steel armor. He trotted now, finally at ease with his own mind after that little debate with Mitsunari , " Speak of the devil- " he muttered, as sure enough, there came the fiery haired warrior, matching the ink stone's pace with his Pale Cloud. The brilliant white horse seemed to glow with a brilliant red aura from the sun that was rising behind it- the air from its nostrils turning into a fine mist that carried up into the air. The saddle was barely noticeable for the horse was much too stunning- one would not think this fine beast could make much of a war horse, "It suits you..." Mitsuhide finally smiled as he gave a nod to Mitsunari's mount, "Such a fine horse for the lovely lady."
Mitsunari gave a snort in response as he was ahead now, but Mitsuhide only followed, "Was that a look of hatred spread out upon your face? I'd say it's a relief from the expression you gave me the other day at Anegawa."
Mitsunari now glanced up and his face was instantly smoothed over, though his eyes showed panic, a fear of some kind unknown to Mitsuhide. " I don't know what you're talking about. " Mitsunari mumbled, " I was merely concerned thinking that I had not made it in time. It would have been a shame for a man with such skill as you to have fallen by the spear of a dying man. "
Now it was Mitsuhide's turn to snort as he pulled back a ways as to end such a conversation, "You argue your points well, but that doesn't change what must be done today. " Mitsunari merely gave a nod, " Sure,sure. "
It was noon by the time, Odani came into view, with its wards winding up the mountain, paved in brilliant stone- the land was green, and all seemed so peaceful here though the surrounding village now remain silent and unbothered. "He must have evacuated them-" Hideyoshi noted to the Oda as the officers strode to the main entrance of the village, which was now their main camp. " -Or killed them. " Mitsunari mumbled as he rode about the area, and scouted ahead to the wards, knowing that this was where he would wait.
The reserved captains took their places as the supplies were laid out and the engineers set out for the way up Mt. Yamada. Oichi took her position at the Allied Camp and on the way, patted Mitsunari on the shoulder, "I do apologize for what I have done...but Nagamasa was my love. After seeing you in action the other day, it was I who requested you here, for if my husband were to come riding out...I-I'm not so sure if I could make myself slay him." with these words, she gripped her cup and ball so tightly, that her naturally pale hands became solid white like marble. Now she looked up at Mitsunari her eyes hinting concern, desperation may have been a better term, "You won't hesitate in killing him will you? When the final battle comes? "
Mitsunari stared long and hard at Oichi before nodding as he mumbled, "I will do what I can to stop him before he makes it to you. I don't hesitate in killing when my reason is justified- I hope that answers your question my lady. " his droning tone must have been so solid and boring that it held authority and was quite convincing, for Oichi brought a hand up to pat his own as she smiled, "Thank you- "
Now were this any other time, and were he any other man, he would have found such contact uplifting and her innocent smile would have sent a tremble of delight through his body...but now was not that time, and he was not that man. Up there with the Oda sat the one person he was out to impress, the one person he was confident would win this world over and they could remake it together- bend the rules, create a paradise.
Mitsuhide rode up beside the Oda who had ditched his own horse and was now planning to go on foot, " So what is the strategy my Lord? " he asked without the slightest glance. Nobunaga let out a small chuckle, "Strategy? What strategy? We know of the keys so we merely need to go get them. Hideyoshi will be traveling with his men and will join us up at the Castle shortly after he has completed his own task- our strategy is to manage our time, let's make this quick. "
Mitsuhide gave a stiff nod at such a simple plan-of-action and it made him think back on Mitsunari's previous words: Logical but not credible- though he did his best to get rid of the memory. He had, had enough of that man and he was hoping that today would be the day that he paid off his open debt. "Mitsuhide?"
Now the samurai turned and Nobunaga was staring at him confused though no concern was spread across his face as he muttered, "It's not like you to fade out in thought like that."
"-it's nothing my Lord." Mitsuhide cut in as the war horns blew. It was time!
With a loud battle cry the Oda's army shook their weapons and rattled what little armor they had been given. Give or two a few minutes past, within ten minutes, that cry was returned as the Azai passed over the boarder to their camp. Mitsunari watched in disbelief as he whispered to himself, "A direct assault on the camp? This cannot be right..."
But, Mitsuhide was amused and convinced at what he saw, "So, wanting to end this right here and now? I see how you are Nagamasa- hide up there all you want while I destroy your army!" and it was then and there that the Oda pointed his finger and yelled, "Attack!" and he took off in a full run with his blade drawn.
Mitsuhide was second to go and Mitsunari stayed glued in place, following his orders as she watched the trail that led to the Allied Camp. He could hear them coming from the back way, the Azai wouldn't all just clump in one place. He knew his place, ' But what if it is him...? ' Mitsunari thought before he looked down the trail which led to Oichi. "I'm sorry Mitsuhide." he sighed, "But I cannot do this- " and he took off from his post on foot, down the long dirt trail going to the Allied Camp. Mitsuhide turned for a split second to watch a flash of pink disappear past their camp flags and he hissed between his teeth, "What is he doing?!"
Mitsunari raced down the path with his fan draw until he came to small fork. He knew that something had to be wrong for there was no-one to be seen or heard. His archer came up behind him and she was just as dazed as he was, "My lord..." she began, but he held up his hand to silence her. Taking a few steps forward that's when he heard the rumbling. Very deep and getting louder as he looked around in a panic. It wasn't coming from around him at all! It was coming from-
Kikyo then let out a cry as blades shot up and managed to graze her shoulder and the right side of her face. She fell to the ground and cried out as she gripped at her wounds, trying to stop the blood that was pouring out from them, "Kikyo!" Mitsunari cried as he tried running to her. The same blades as before then came at Mitsunari, only this time, there was a person attached. So that was it...the Azai had the bomber ninja's which were burrowers as well. Mitsunari was enraged as he swung viciously at the small man, "Damn you!" he cursed as he managed to get a good hit and it sent the bomber flying into the nearest set of shrubs.
A bomb from the ninja's pack must have hit wrong which triggered the reaction, but with a loud boom, a cloud of smoke and fire erupted from inside the bushes and shuffling could be heard as men from the Azai dashed out trying to bat out the flames covering their body and burning away their flesh. 'So they were hiding all along, I should have known-' Mitsunari began as he dashed to Kiyo and whistled for his Pale Horse. Known for its loyalty to its master, within a matter of minutes the galloping could be heard and there it stood, trickles of blood here and there, "The Camp..." Mitsunari immediately thought as he pushed Kikyo up on the saddle, throwing his coat over her. He whispered to his horse, "Take her to a medic and if not, then take her somewhere safe now GO! " he yelled, and the horse was off.
A faint laughter could then be heard, "Brilliant show pink warrior, but worry not of your Camp." And then a man from the brush stepped out holding a long-spear, "I shall be your opponent."
The man was taller than Mitsunari; he was also much bulkier with muscle. He was hidden behind heavy armor and a spike helmet that gave him the appearance of a bronze demon of sorts. Behind the shadow of this mask, the man's eyes glowed a bright topaz color and he grinned, "Scared little man?"
Mitsunari merely shook his head and spread his fan wide as he leaned back ready for a charge, "Not really. You are going to be easy enough, they say that it's all brawn no brains right? "
The man growled as he began to run, swinging his spear wildly, "Do you even know who I am?!"
"Don't really care-" Mitsunari began as he ran and grabbed hold of the warrior's spear right below the blade. A very tricky maneuver, but the man's moves were made so slow, that it was easy enough to duck in time as to not get spliced right under his neck. The man swung his spear harder and launched Mitsunari up into the air- "You may fly like a bird..." he yelled, "But eventually you will fall like a sack of potatoes and I'll be there to cut you up!"
"How simplistic of you-" Mitsunari cooed as he threw a dagger from where he floated for the time being. The warrior dodged it with ease, but his mind was so set on the dagger, that he did not see that Mitsunari had been falling right above him. The warrior had time enough to look up before he felt that familiar sting across his neck and his eyes rolled back into his head as he dropped dead in a pool of his own neck blood. "I told you that it was easy enough." Mitsunari sighed as he wiped the dead man's blood from his cheek and he looked around. He was no longer alone, for this army of one man had grown into several, possibly thirty or forty well-trained samurai and spearmen, " Oh my. You just don't wanna give in do you?" he asked as he pat his fan on his palm.
Suddenly Mitsunari's eyes were no longer glazed over with that bored look on them. His eyes were squinted and his face was crinkled into a demonic smile as he could envision the warm blood against him and the cry of the men as their bodies fell at his feet- he had to do this and do it quick so that he could go back and help at the camp, " Come on now...don't be shy. It won't hurt I promise-" and then with a demonic cackle never before heard coming from him, he charged into the crowd.
TO BE CONTINUED!
