Hiro was walking with Hideyoshi on the streets of Mino, talking about women and how complex they can be. After watching the way Oichi reacted when Hiro said, Hideyoshi took it upon himself to talk some sense into him and explain to him about women's feelings. He also told him how scary they can be, considering he was married to woman that has the ability to instill fear in him, despite her innocence. This reminded Hiro of a childhood friend that he also feared because of her brute strength. After shaking the fear off, the two laughed a bit and continued walking.

"And that is why women are complex beings." said Hideyoshi to Hiro, smirking.

"Wow...I never knew you knew so much about women..." replied Hiro, with a hint of sarcasm. "How many women have you been with to obtain this information? Maybe I should tell Nene."

After hearing that, Hideyoshi pounded Hiro on the head comically. "Don't even joke about stuff like that!" said Hideyoshi, with fear and anger in his voice. "Nene is my wife and I don't want her knowing..." He then looked around, fearing that his wife might be around. All of a sudden, Hideyoshi was thwacked into the air from behind by a strange woman who happened to be his wife.

"Are you okay?" asked Nene to Hiro, with a motherly attitude, after seeing Hideyoshi pound him on the head. Hiro nodded in response, as well as sweatdropping. "That husband of mine can be such a bully!" She then ran towards Hideyoshi, who was lying on the ground.

'Is that why she's mad? I hope she didn't hear what I said after that...' thought Hiro to himself, as he watched Nene go to Hideyoshi.

"So...pounding on kids younger then you, huh?" said Nene, with motherly anger in her voice. Hideyoshi twitched a bit as he saw the anger in his wife's eyes. "YOU BULLY!" She then grabbed Hideyoshi be the back of his shirt and started dragging him back to their home. "When we get home, I'm gonna make you clean to entire alone with your own bare hands as punishment!"

"NOOO!" screamed Hideyoshi, as Nene kept on dragging him. Hiro chuckled a bit at what just happened. He then wandered the town alone, getting enough time to think to himself.

'I wonder how Oichi is doing...' thought Hiro, as he remembered the sadness he saw in Oichi's eyes. The look of those eyes hurt him a bit. In fact, just the thought of seeing Oichi sad in general hurt him. 'I guess she wanted to hear those words from me...but the thing is, I just can't.' He looked around Mino and saw people being happy: husbands and wives with their children, and kids playing around. 'If I did tell her, it could cause rift between us if it never works. And I want to stay her friend, but...' He then thought about the consequences of not telling her. 'If I don't tell her, I could lose her forever. What the hell am I supposed to do?'

Time seemed frozen as Hiro stood still in Mino. He then remembered some of the words Hideyoshi had told him: to tell Oichi how he felt about her before it's too late. Take the risk and embrace to pain if you get rejected.

Hiro took a deep breath and decided to make his way back to the castle.

Meanwhile, back at the castle, Oichi sat alone in her room, thinking about the things that had just happened. 'So I'm to be married to Nagamasa in order to forge the alliance between the Oda and the Azai...What about my own decision?' thought Oichi to herself. She barely knew Nagamasa and all of a sudden she had to marry him. Feeling her tears coming, Oichi wiped them off with her forearm. 'I have to do it...for my family...' As she stood up, Hiro had just entered. An awkward silence filled the air as the two looked at each other.

"Hiro..." said Oichi. "I have something to tell you..."

"As do I, but you first..."

Oichi's eyes looked saddened for a moment, with Hiro noticing once again. "This is something that just occured and I want to talk to you about it." said Oichi to Hiro, knowing that he wouldn't like the news at all. She struggled for a bit, but Hiro motioned for her to continue. " In order to officially build the alliance between the Azai and the Oda, it has been decided that I must marry into the Azai." A look of sadness was in her eyes, but what deepened the pain was the look on Hiro's face.

His eyes were widened with shock and his heart felt like it was torn out by fate. He felt his tears about to fall, but forcefully pushed them back in. "What should I do?" asked Oichi to Hiro, who wiped off the pained look and tried to remain calm.

He didn't want her to go and get married, but if it was for the good of the Oda clan, then he had no say. "You don't have a choice, do you?" asked Hiro to Oichi, no matter how much it pained him to ask.

Oichi nodded in response. She looked like she was about to cry. "I don't. If it's for my brother...It can't be helped. As an Oda, it's my duty to fulfill." said Oichi to Hiro. "But, no matter how firm it is, I still have my doubts about this..." Hiro was filled with a little hope after hearing that. Maybe he has a chance after all? "What sort of man is Nagamasa?" asked Oichi. No chance at all. Hiro looked at Oichi's sad eyes. He walked up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder, ignoring the pain.

"He surely is a good person...if he has you..." said Hiro, with a fake smile.

"I hope so..." said Oichi, as she attempted to smile back. "But there are terrible rumors. I heard he grabbed power from his father out of greed to become lord..." This got Hiro worried, but kept it hidden with his fake smile. "But I have no choice. I can't escape destiny."

"Find something positive in the situation. It always works for me." said Hiro, half-lying.

"You're right...Why wallow in self-pity? I'd only make myself miserable." said Oichi. Hiro nodded and the two looked at each other, before Hiro left.

"Damn it..." whispered Hiro to himself.

The next day, Oichi was sent to the Azai to get to know her husband, with Hiro as her escort. The two really hit it off as they talked about the rumors they heard. Seeing Oichi smile, brought happiness to Hiro, but it was also hurting him. He walked up to them. "Nagamasa seems like a fine person." said Hiro. Oichi turned to Hiro with a smile. "Yes, he does leave one with a good impression."

"I'm the luckiest man in the world to be blessed with a woman of such beauty!" said Nagamasa, which flattered Oichi, who was blushing as well. "As your wife, I will devote myself to you..." With that said, it felt like a gunshot to Hiro's heart, but he managed to hide it well. "Welcome to the Azai, Oichi."

After a few hours, Oichi and Hiro talked about how relieved she was about Nagamasa. Hiro smiled and left after Oichi told him that he was welcome to come visit the Azai. After stepping out of the castle grounds, Hiro finally broke down. "Dammit...I'm too late...If only I wasn't so stupid..." thought Hiro, as the tears kept on falling from his face. Oichi looked from a window and watched with a pained look in her eyes. "Hiro..."

A few years had passed and Hiro chose not to move on at all, he only visited the Azai a few times through meetings instead of just visiting. This caused a rift in his seemingly strong friendship with Oichi. In reality, he still had those strong feelings for her. He sat in his room, until a call for battle came within reach. Hiro went with a few soldiers to the main camp at Anegawa. The Azai had betrayed the Oda after rescuing the Asakura, who had a strong relationship with the Azai. After hearing the briefing, Hiro set off to battle, no matter how much it would hurt him to battle against Oichi.

'I have no choice. I'm sorry...Oichi...'

To be continued...