Flashback: A couple of days ago, Odani Castle

There was a terrible surprise in store for Oichi. Her brother, Nobunaga, had violated his pledge to her husband, Nagamasa, and turned his troops against an ally of the Azai, the Asakura. Her family was split in two, with one group seeking to honor the pact with Nobunaga and the other that wished to aid the Asakura. This made Oichi feel all twisted inside. Her duty to her brother and her love for her husband, she didn't know which path to follow, for following one half of her heart would be like betraying the other half.

"If lord Asakura is slain by my brother-in-law, the world will know no peace…" said Nagamasa, as he was talking with both his peers and his wife. His voice was firm and powerful with determination. "Therefore, I will aid lord Asakura by attacking the Oda, and we'll take control of the country from Nobunaga. With these hands, I will plant the seeds of peace and fraternity." He turned to his wife, who looked at the floor with depressed eyes. "Oichi…your rightful place is with the Oda..." said Nagamasa, as it tore his heart apart to say that.

Oichi's eyes widened with shock as her husband had said that. His words struck her heart as if he had struck her there. It took all of her strength to fight back the oncoming tears. "When the time had come for you, and I, and your brother to live together in harmony, I will send for you," said Nagamasa to Oichi, as she looked up into his eyes. "Lord Nagamasa…" said Oichi. Her heart felt heavy. It was at that moment when she remembered laughing innocently with a certain someone. "I mustn't cry…I must remain positive…" whispered Oichi to herself. Stay positive-those words echoed through her mind as she recalled that someone who spoke them. It was that memory that poured courage into her.

"This is our bond," said Oichi to Nagamasa, as she stood firm and looked at her husband. "From now on, I want to be that touchstone between you, my brother, and everyone. Nagamasa, I am an Oda no longer. From now on, we shall walk the same path!" Nagamasa was taken aback a bit by her words.

"I understand…" said Nagamasa.

End flashback

"I believe in you, Lord Nagamasa…" said Oichi. It was night in Nagamasa's camp. Fires were blazing as soldiers hustled about. Nagamasa nodded and announced his determination to create a land in which everyone can live in harmony. He didn't seem to have any sadness in his heart, but Oichi knew that this wasn't true. When she saw Nagamasa smile, she felt like she should follow his lead. She smiled bravely and Nagamasa smiled back.

The next morning, the Azai-Asakura Army stood at Anegawa, something Nobunaga had anticipated. The Oda was ready and the battle was about to begin. Hiro stood up front as he looked at Oichi. He knew what the objective was, but the outcome was what would tear him apart. He remembered Nobunaga's strategy as to destroy the Azai: to lure them to Anegawa, observe and charge them from the flank. Surely, Nobunaga wanted to kill them, but Hiro had his own plan. "I can't kill Nagamasa…I don't want to sadden Oichi even more…"

The two armies clashed. Hiro ran in, slashing anyone who got in his way. His first mission was to stop Oichi from attacking. "I have no choice….I have to stop her in order for this to work…" thought Hiro as he ran to the center of the battlefield. "But I can't let Nobunaga or anyone else know about this…" He continued taking out those who were getting in his way. As he made his way to the bridge, two officers stood in his, challenging Hiro. "I don't have time for this…" said Hiro, The two officers charged, only to be stopped by Hideyoshi.

"Go! Oichi's up ahead!" said Hideyoshi. Hiro was shocked at first, and then nodded in agreement. He then sheathed his sword and ran to up the bridge, leaving Hideyoshi to take care of the two officers. With the morale of the Azai-Asakura Army due to the firm ambition of Nobunaga and the might of his army, Hiro's plan was working. He soon found himself face-to-face with Oichi. The two looked at each other, with neither having the will to fight each other.

"Why? Why is it that you must fight?" asked Oichi to Hiro, as she struggled to push back the tears in her eyes.

"I don't have a choice…" was all Hiro could say.

"You're wrong! You do have a choice!" yelled Oichi. "You've always had a choice!" It was at that moment, that Hiro quickly knocked Oichi out by hitting her in the stomach with the hilt of his blade. As she fell into his chest, she heard Hiro say something before she lost consciousness. "I fight for you…" He took her into his arms and carried her. "I'm sorry….but this was the only way…" said Hiro. He then stepped off the bridge and hid the unconscious girl under a tree. He turned towards the enemy main camp and started running towards. "This'll all be over by the time you wake up."

"RETREAT!" yelled several of the officers of the Azai-Asakura soldiers scrambled around, panicing as the ran back to the base. Hiro kept on running to the enemy main camp to confront Nagamasa, passing the panicing soldiers as if they were nothing. 'I have to at least talk him out of this...' thought Hiro to himself as he found himself face-to-face with Nagamasa, himself.

"Why? Why must we fight?" said Hiro to Nagamasa, with resolve in his voice. "There is no meaning in fighting!"

"We fight to survive...We fight for peace..." replied Nagamasa, with an equal amount of justice in his voice compared to Hiro's. "I fight to create my vision of a land of peace, and I will end Nobunaga's reign in order to achieve it."

Hiro sensed that Nagamasa wouldn't back from this fight. "The time for talk is over..." said Nagamasa to Hiro. "It's time to end this..." He grabbed his lance and looked as if he was about. I held my blade firm in hand, ready to defend myself.

"Don't do this Nagamasa...There's no way you can win this..." said Hiro. Nagamasa readied himself and charged at Hiro, who raised his blade in defense. 'Damn it...' thought Hiro, as their blades clashed.

Meanwhile, Oichi managed to regain consciousness. She placed her hands on the tree, using it to push herself to her feet. She watched as she saw soldiers with torches approaching the main camp. "Nagamasa!" thought Oichi to herself, as she ran towards the main camp. She wobbled a bit a first, but regained her composure. "I can't let him die!" She ran as fast as she could and managed to make it to the main camp. It was there that she saw her husband charge at Hiro. "STOP!" screamed Oichi.

Hearing her voice, Nagamasa stopped midway through his attack on Hiro, who looked in awe at Oichi. "Oichi..." said Nagamasa. All of a sudden, smoke started rising from outside. Nobunaga's soldiers were setting the place ablaze. Nagamasa turned towards Hiro and then at Oichi, knowing what must be done. By now, Nobunaga already slain Lord Asakura and Odani Castle is already destroyed.

"Oichi, you must return to the Oda..." said Nagamasa. His words shocked both Oichi and Hiro. Oichi glared at him, with tears threatening to fall, but she was doing her best to fight them back.

"No! Never!" said Oichi to Nagamasa. Hiro was hurt a bit by this, but wiped it off. "Why do you send me away? Didn't you say that we would go together?" The tears that were threatening to fall, started slipping through Oichi's eyes. "I can't just leave you here to die while I escape. I refuse!"

Nagamasa was taken aback. He didn't want to say this, but he wanted to make her happy. "You mustn't worry about me..." said Nagamasa to Oichi. "I will not fall. Trust me. I shall return for you, Oichi." He took her hands in his and looked into her eyes. "I will return when this war is over and my vision of a peaceful world is created."

"Liar" was written all over Oichi's lips.

"I have one request. Look after our daughters, Oichi..." said Nagamasa, as three little girls walked up from behind Nagamasa.

Oichi tried telling herself to remain positive, have faith, and believe Nagamasa, She nodded and Nagamasa smiled. He let go of her hands and Oichi, taking hold of her daughters, made her way towards Hiro, who had a saddened look on his face before wiping it off. "Are you alright?" asked Hiro to Oichi, filled with worry. Oichi turned to Hiro with a smile, which was obviously fake, and nodded in response.

"I'll be fine...because now I have something to protect..." said Oichi to Hiro, looking at her daughters. She turned to Hiro. "Let's return to the Oda..." She turned back to her daughters. "Come Chacha, Ohatsu, and Ogo...We must leave our home for a while..." She took the hands of her daughters and led them out of the blazing building, with Nagamasa watching. Hiro turned towards Nagamasa.

"I must not fail. If I do, then everything I said would've been a lie..." said Nagamasa to Hiro.

"That's not true. Your bond is stronger than that." said Hiro, with a strong voice. Nagamasa nodded and walked towards the flames, leaving Hiro alone. "Damn it..." said Hiro to himself. He didn't want it to come down to this. He even tried to prevent it, but it all blew in his face. Tears flowed down his face, and wouldn't stop. This would be one victory that would haunt him for the rest of his life. "This wasn't how it was supposed to be..."

A few days had passed and Nagamasa was no more, along with the rest of the Azai. Hiro blamed himself for this, along with Oichi's sadness. He walked through the castle and reminisced through all the memories. Without paying attention, he soon found himself in front of Oichi's room. "I might as well try and make an effort..." thought Hiro to himself. He opened the door and found Katsuie with Oichi. The three daughters were elsewhere in the castle.

"Thank you for looking after us, Katsuie." said Oichi, with Katsuie nodding in response.

"You are my lord's younger sister. It's only natural..." said Katsuie, as turned to leave. Oichi then turned her eyes to Hiro.

"Hiro...You always told me to stay positive." said Oichi to Hiro, who nodded. "Because of you, I feel that I can always move forward no matter what happens. I have my daughters and there is nothing more precious...I will look ahead no matter what." Hiro smiled a bit, as Oichi seemed to make progress in cheering up. "I don't know what surprises this world has in store for us, but I won't give up...I 'll face whatever challenge comes my way." Hiro nodded and smiled.

"And I'll be your shield in face of those challenges..." said Hiro, which caused Oichi to smile. She soon saw a flash of Nagamasa's face as she looked at Hiro, who turned to leave. Oichi grabbed his hand before he left. Hiro looked into Oichi's eyes and smiled. He spent the rest of the night with Oichi, with thoughts of happiness.

Unfortunately, happiness wasn't for ever. A few days had passed and someone had betrayed Nobunaga and killed him. That someone was Mitsuhide Akechi. Once again, Hiro set off to battle with his former comrade. "I'll be back, Oichi...I promise..." said Hiro, as he looked her in the eyes. Oichi smiled and nodded. "Come back safely..." With that said, Hiro walked off towards to the traitor.

To be continued...