Warning: This is based off a manga called Sengoku Strays. If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend that you do! I don't own anything but my OC, and I will probably end up using artistic license to butcher Japanese history, so I would just like to apologize in advance, and I don't mean to offend anyone!

[Narration]

{setting/stage directions}

"Speech."

'Thoughts.'

"English speech."

—¡–!–¡–!–¡— Scene shift/passage of time.

A whole line of text like this without quotes is a written letter or something similar.

WORDS IN ALL CAPS AND NO QUOTATION MARKS ARE SOUND EFFECTS.

Flashbacks and changes in POV will be labeled.

Unless stated otherwise, the POV will be third person omniscient.

If you ever have any questions, please feel free to ask.

{Kiyosu Castle}

"Lord Nobutomo! Lord Nobuyasu!" One of the Kiyosu soldiers said as he knelt before the two lords. All of them were dressed in armor and ready for battle. "The forces invading Nobunaga's territory are attacking strong, and are expected to take the Fukada and Matsuba Castles shortly!"

"I see." Nobutomo said.

"—What incredible strength. Just what you'd expect from Mino's soldiers. To take those castles so easily...!" Nobuyasu said.

"Lord Nobuyasu. It seems the troops commanded by Yoshitatsu have already advanced to the border... hm—Nobunaga will send his troops from Nagoya tomorrow morning... in order to regain the castles we've taken. What happens next is crucial. For Kiyosu, Iwakura... and... Lord Yoshitatsu's soldiers from Mino—I wonder how they'll fare against them..." Nobutomo said. "You'll show us what you can do, won't you...!?" He said, thinking about the two young lords, Yoshitatsu and Nobunaga.

—¡–!–¡–!–¡—

{Nagoya Castle}

"Do you need help getting yourself armor, Kasane?" Gorouza asked as he sat and sipped his tea. Gorouza had already completed his preparations for the battle tomorrow, so he had decided to check on the girls, but Nouhime and Kasane said that Ayako had gone off somewhere with Nobunaga.

"Thanks Gorouza, but I've got it covered. Nouhime said that I could use hers since she isn't going." Kasane said, smiling. Nouhime smiled wryly.

"It's the least I could do." Nouhime said.

"But I wonder what Ayako's going to do for armor..." Kasane said thoughtfully.

"Hmph, there's no need for you to be concerned about that." Nobunaga said as he stepped into the room with Ayako. Gorouza and Nouhime noticed that he was holding his arm around Ayako's shoulder rather possessively, and Ayako was blushing. They smiled, while Kasane looked confused.

"Eh? Then you already have armor, Ayako?" Kasane asked.

"No, but..." Ayako said, realizing that she hadn't actually asked to borrow any armor yet.

"What kind of man wouldn't provide for his bride." Nobunaga said bluntly, smirking when Ayako's blush deepened and she smiled shyly at the others. Kasane gave them a blank stare.

"... Huh?" Kasane asked, tilting her head to the side.

"Congratulations, my Lord, Ayako!" Gorouza said, smiling.

"Hmph, it's about time! Looks like I have a new 'little sister'. When are you planning on having the wedding?" Nouhime asked, smiling.

"Eh!?" Kasane yelled, shocked when she realized what was going on. "Ayako you're getting m-m-married!?" Ayako blushed and nodded as she smiled happily, looking every bit the part of a blushing bride. She was positively radiant with happiness.

"Yes, we're having the ceremony right after this battle is over." Ayako said shyly but happily, while Nobunaga was grinning smugly and radiating pride and happiness. He hadn't really left any room for argument on that since it was his condition for having to wait so long to hear Ayako's confession.

"B-But you're still in high school! What about your uncle!?" Kasane asked, shocked. Unlike the others, she hadn't seen this coming at all. Ayako smiled a little sadly at the thought of her uncle, but she recovered quickly.

"I regret not being able to let him know that I'm okay, but he'd understand if I could tell him. Besides, he was always teasing me that I'd never get married, so it serves him right!" Ayako said. Kasane sweat dropped. What was wrong with the adults in Ayako's family?

"I-I see... well, as long as you're happy..." Kasane said, smiling wryly.

"Thanks!" Ayako said, smiling brightly. "I'd ask you to be my bridesmaid, but I don't know that much about how Japanese weddings work." She said, smiling apologetically.

"You'd ask me to be your bridesmaid!?" Kasane asked excitedly, feeling honored.

"Well, of course. We're friends, aren't we?" Ayako said, smiling.

"Ayako!" Kasane cried, touched as she launched herself at her friend. "!?" Kasane said, surprised when Nobunaga stuck his other hand out and stopped her from coming any closer by holding her head and keeping her at arms length. Ayako, Gorouza and Nouhime sweat dropped. Nobunaga really didn't want to share her at all, did he. At least Nobunaga was being nice and using his hand instead of his foot to stop Kasane, since she was Ayako's friend.

—¡–!–¡–!–¡—

{Later that evening}

"Hey, is it true you're going to be our lord's second wife!?" Kuranosuke demanded as he barged into the kitchen where Gorouza and Ayako were cooking supper. Kasane was staying with Nouhime at the moment.

"Yep." Ayako said excitedly, smiling so radiantly, it would revive an entire field of wilted crops. Kuranosuke shielded his eyes against her blinding radiance.

"Wow~! Congratulations Ayako! You're going to be 'our Lady' soon!" Inuchiyo said excitedly, smiling at her. Ayako blushed shyly as she smiled.

"Oh, cut it out Inuchiyo, I'll still be me. We're friends, you guys don't have to change how you address me." Ayako said.

"Hmph, got that right. 'Onihime' is good enough for that weirdo." Kuranosuke muttered.

"—Except for that one over there. I'll make a special exception for you, Kuranosuke." Ayako said, a vein mark throbbing on her forehead as she smiled.

"There's no way I'll ever accept someone like you becoming a 'Lady'!" Kuranosuke said stubbornly.

"Well, whether you accept it or not, our lord has already accepted her, and sent out a formal announcement." Gorouza said, smiling as he stirred the pot. Kuranosuke went blue with shock.

"F-Formal announcement...!?" Kuranosuke stuttered, going blue with shock. That meant this brat really was going to marry Nobunaga... and he had just insulted her! His head could roll for this.

"Wow, he moves fast, huh." Ayako said thoughtfully as she continued chopping the vegetables. Gorouza smiled. Knowing Nobunaga, he had probably already had the announcement letters written up some time ago, and had just been waiting for the day he could send them out.

—¡–!–¡–!–¡—

{Early morning, the next day—Nagoya Castle}

"Will you really be fine in that outfit?" Nouhime asked Kasane. "Though you are wearing chainmail under that." Kasane was still wearing her school uniform, but she was wearing Nouhime's arm guards and chainmail underneath it. She also had the sword that Nobunaga had given to her.

"Yeah! I'm pumped! Thanks for letting me borrow all this stuff, Lady Nouhime!" Kasane said.

"Ready to go, Kasane?" Ayako asked as she walked up to them.

"Yeah, let's—! Ayako!?" Kasane asked, surprised when she turned around to see a woman wearing light armor and a red oni mask. It looked a lot like a kabuki mask, but it was made out of metal, like most faceplates of the time. The oni's horns and teeth were ceramic, though. Since she really didn't want to endanger Eishi, and trying to fight from on top of a horse would just cramp her style, Ayako had bargained with Nobunaga that if he let her leave Eishi at the castle where he'd be safe, then she would wear more than just chainmail for protection.

"Yep, it's me. Nobunaga's idea... I never should've joked with him about turning me into his mascot." Ayako said, sweat dropping.

"Hmm... I'm surprised he isn't still making you wear that haori." Nouhime said. "But, that mask and armor help you look really intimidating." She said, smiling in approval.

"Yeah... actually, he is, I just wanted to show you guys what I look like without." Ayako said as she pulled the haori out from behind her back and put it on. "See, with this on, I look like a little kid dressed up for Halloween, right, Kasane?"

"Haha, you're right...!" Kasane said, smiling wryly.

"What's 'Halloween'?" Nouhime asked curiously. She thought it sounded like something rather interesting. Ayako smiled and laughed.

"It's my favorite holiday, other than Christmas! I'll tell you all about it when we get back. We've go to go before the others leave us behind. " Ayako said. Nouhime smiled wryly. It was going to kill her to have to wait that long to find out.

"Oh, Alright, come back safely!" Nouhime called after the two girls as they ran off to join the others.

"Yeah! Take care!" Kasane called over her shoulder.

"Thanks for holding down the fort, Nouhime!" Ayako said.

—¡–!–¡–!–¡—

Nobunaga's cape rustled in the wind as he sat atop his horse, surveying his troops. Everyone was present, except for the two girls. He frowned slightly. He hadn't missed it when Ayako had taken off the haori right before she slipped off to get Kasane. She'd better be wearing it when she came back. Nobunaga furrowed his brow slightly in irritation. Ayako didn't realize it, but lately she'd been getting prettier and prettier, and he wasn't the only one who had noticed. He had already seen a few of the other men checking her out, even though she was wearing armor.

"Nobunaga!" Ayako called out to him, snapping the young lord out of his thoughts. He stared down at her. Ayako had brought Kasane with her, but more importantly, Ayako was wearing his haori again.

'Good. I'd hate to have to shoot someone...' Nobunaga thought. His army was small enough as it was. Ayako sweat dropped and smiled wryly when she sensed Nobunaga's bloodthirsty aura starting to calm down. She was starting to realize how easy it was for him to get jealous... maybe it would be better for all concerned if she just never took the haori off again...