Romance Fan Fiction ❯ Love Brings Betrayal ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )

DISCLAIMER: All Main Characters In This Story Belong To Koei Games. All Characters In This Story Are From The Game Samurai Warriors By Koei Games.

 

 

Chapter 1 ~ 1580, Owari

 

Nobunaga stood on his castle balcony, watching for the army that would bring a “prize” that he himself deemed worthy of the “Demon King”. He smirked. He loved that title. The title was meant to be feared. He was meant to be feared.

 

*The sound of horse's running and soldiers marching*

 

Nobunaga smiled happily, a rare smile, his “prize” was here at last.

 

 

*FLASHBACK* ~ Inside a royal carriage

 

“Nohime be reasonable daughter, Nobunaga will make a fine husband for you.”

 

Nohime turned her head sharply and glared at her father. The beads of her hair decoration swayed as she moved. The butterfly in the middle of the decoration was unmoved.

 

“That's not the point. The point is that you lied to me. You promised me that you would never make me marry for political gain. You promised that I could marry whomever I wished. You lied.”

 

“You were a child then. And yes I did promise. But Nobunaga will soon be shÅgun of all Japan. He will rule over all it.”

 

“If he isn't killed in battle. He has much opposition. They do not wish him to rule.”

 

“But he will. They will never dare to oppose him once you two are married. He will be even more powerful. And when he rules, you will be by his side.”

 

 

*END FLASHBACK*

 

// I can't believe I have to do this. I know Lord Nobunaga has the means to care for me, but... this takes away what little options I already had. And for what? To help my father gain status politically among the other warriors of Japan. Imagine. Yorshikaga Sufu, father-in-law of the “Demon King”. He'll be feared as much as Lord Nobunaga. That's what he wants. That's all he's ever wanted. To be feared. No one will dare challenge them. //

 

The carriage pulled to a smooth stop inside steep castle walls.

 

“My daughter, we have arrived. Make sure you are completely ready for Lord Nobunaga,” he smiled as if he were the “giddy” bride.

 

“I'm as ready as I will ever be. That I can promise you.”

 

 

***

“Mitsuhide?”

 

Mitsuhide Akechi, Nobunaga's loyal retainer, looked up from his kneeling position, “My Lord?”

 

“Why do you think that I chose Nohime out of all the princesses in all of Japan?”

 

“I would not know my Lord. I have never seen Princess Nohime.”

 

“I chose her for numerous reasons.”

 

Nobunaga watched as a carriage pulled to a stop at the North entrance to his castle. He looked over his shoulder at Mitsuhide, “Come Mitsuhide, and look at my bride.”

 

Mitsuhide walked slowly to the balcony to stand next to his Lord. Mitsuhide was known far and wide for his sword skills. He was Nobunaga's loyal retainer, and had been since they first met. It seemed so long ago. He had only been seventeen then, now he was thirty-one. So long ago it seemed. But it was still fresh in his mind.

 

*FLASHBACK* ~ Okehazama 1560

 

A cloaked figure is walking in the rain through the woods on a dirt road. He distantly hears the sound of horse hoofs running wildly. He also notices that there is another army down the hillside under him. When the running horses are directly behind him he stops and they rush by him at a desperate pace. // Oda troops. //

 

More soldiers on horseback pass him. // Why so few to confront such a large army? //

 

A rider in black armor looks down at him and they lock eyes. Time seems to stand still as the rider passes him. Finally the small Oda Army had passed. And they were headed for the large, but unsuspecting Imagawa Army.

 

“Does he truly intend to win this battle? This fool has lost all focus. He acts entirely on reckless desire!”

 

On the battlefield the rider that had locked eyes with the cloaked figure was tearing his way easily through the many Imagawa soldiers. He twirled and cut down three men at once, killing them instantly.

 

The figure watches in awe, “No... he has not lost his focus. No! He is indeed very clever. The Imagawa are the ones being lured out. Nobunaga is using this merely as a stage to demonstrate how powerful he is.

 

The cloaked figure removes his hood and watches more intensely, “This man has set out to rule... the world.”

 

The now uncloaked figure watches as the man in black armor tears through enemy after enemy, “Nobunaga... Oda. He may be the one... that I seek.”

 

The battle is over and Nobunaga looks over at the uncloaked figure and says in a calm and haunting voice, “Then come... Mitsuhide.”

 

*END FLASHBACK*

 

Mitsuhide looked over the balcony at the carriage and watched as a woman was led out of the carriage as if she were made completely of glass. She was beautiful. Long, thick black hair was pulled up into a headdress of a butterfly. Her kimono however, left little to the imagination.

 

There were blue feathers around her collar. More than the swells of her breasts were visible, just enough to tease. The kimono parted at the apex of her thighs and left one leg completely uncovered and the other fully covered. She had what looked like a snake decoration swirling around the uncovered leg.

 

Even dressed as that she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She looked like what she was. No mistaking her for a harlot even dressed as she was. She carried herself well.

 

“There she is Mitsuhide.”

 

“She's beautiful my Lord.”

 

“Yes. She is. It is one reason I chose her.”

 

“Is that the only reason my Lord?”

 

“No. She is also a skilled combatant.”

 

“Is she? She doesn't look like the type of princess that would be engaged in war.”

 

“Looks can be deceiving Mitsuhide. In battle is when I first laid my eyes on her. I was allied with her father in this battle. She was so innocent looking. I thought she was looking for her father. That she had rushed on the battlefield blindly.

 

Enemy soldiers surrounded her. And I ran to help her escape. Then, suddenly, surprisingly, the enemy was gone. I watched them all fly through the air above my head. I looked at her and she was smiling deviously. On her hands were claws. Claws as long as her body made of hard metal and painted gold. She had hid them in the sleeves of her kimono.”

“A skilled warrior princess.”

 

“She is truly a bride worthy of the Demon King,” he paused, “Come Mitsuhide, we must meet my bride Nohime.”