Romance Fan Fiction ❯ Love Brings Betrayal ❯ Chapter 20 ( Chapter 20 )

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 20

Two Weeks Later

 

Hideyoshi's troops pushed forward. They were on a race to revenge. Hideyoshi could never forgive Mitsuhide for betraying Lord Nobunaga. While they had been friends, they were never close friends. They were at their cores, rivals from the start. Hideyoshi had been a good warrior and friend to Lord Nobunaga. Then Mitsuhide had shown up. He and Lord Nobunaga became friends, brothers even. Mitsuhide had had more favor than he did.

 

But now it was different. Now Hideyoshi would make sure Mitsuhide paid for his betrayal. Hideyoshi was even more surprised when Lady Oichi sided with him. She hated him he thought. But I guess deep down she loved her brother. And when Mitsuhide betrayed him, he had lost Oichi's trust and respect.

 

Hideyoshi rode with vigor. He wanted blood. He would avenge Lord Nobunaga. He didn't care that Mitsuhide hadn't killed him. He just wanted revenge on the man that would have killed him. Magoichi had agreed to fight against Mitsuhide. So as far as Hideyoshi was concerned Magoichi was not to blame. Lord Nobunaga might still be alive if Mitsuhide hadn't rebelled.

 

In the middle of Hideyoshi's army rode his three most trusted retainers: Kiyomasa, Masanori, and Mitsunari Ishida. Mitsunari watched Hideyoshi closely. He was riding too fast. Too hard. The horse would collapse if he didn't slow down.

 

“Faster! The time is now!” Hideyoshi's call fell over the army.

 

Suddenly Nene rode up beside Kiyomasa and Masanori. They gasped and simultaneously said, “Oh! Lady Nene! What are you doing here?”

 

“Kiyomasa, Masanori, I want you to be careful out there, okay? And look after Hideyoshi.”

 

“Yes Lady Nene,” replied the boys.

She looked past them at Mitsunari, “You too Mitsunari.”

 

He rolled his eyes, “You don't need to tell me.” He galloped ahead next to Hideyoshi.

 

Nene, Kiyomasa, and Masanori watched after him. Nene huffed, “Hmm... what an attitude.”

 

Mitsunari rode up beside Hideyoshi watching him even more carefully. Nene had said keep an eye on him, which he had already been doing. She got on Mitsunari's last nerve. She annoyed him to the very core of his soul. But she loved Hideyoshi, and she was his Lord's Lady. He still had to respect her... sometimes.

 

Mitsunari looked behind him and saw the horse that Nene was riding was now unattended.

 

Then, suddenly Hideyoshi's horse began to huff and puff harder than normal.

 

Hideyoshi's horse rears and falls forward, “Whoa!”

 

Mitsunari grabs Hideyoshi by the back of his armor and throws him up onto the unattended horse. He looks at him, “Lord Hideyoshi.”

 

“Thanks, Mitsunari,” he pauses, “Nobunaga would demand blood, so blood we will spill.”

 

***

Owari Castle

 

Mitsuhide was sitting in Nobunaga's old throne. Nohime sat next to him on her throne. Her hands were folded in her lap. Mitsuhide was about to make an announcement to the people of Nobunaga's land. Villagers and soldiers alike had gathered in the town square to listen to him.

 

“I, Mitsuhide Akechi, have decided to take control of Lord Nobunaga's land. I will unite all Japan and under my rule all of the suffering will end. I will not allow anymore innocent people of Japan to suffer,” he paused and took a deep breath, “And Lady Nohime will rule beside me. We will marry within the week. It will be a public wedding so that all of you, my people, can witness it. You are now under my protection. You are my family now.”

 

The people applauded him. It seemed they had faith in him or they were just happy that Lord Nobunaga was no longer their overlord.

 

Mitsuhide led Nohime away from the main square in the village around the castle. He climbed onto his horse and sat her on his lap. They rode back to the castle quietly.

 

Finally Nohime couldn't take the silence, “You did really well speaking to them.”

 

“Thank you. I just wish I felt better about it.”

 

She smiled and brushed a strand of hair out of his eyes, “Everything will fall in your favor. Even if there are some that will stand against you, it will fall in your favor. I know it will.”

 

***

Toyotomi Temporary Camp

 

“So Mitsuhide and Nohime are getting married huh?”

 

“That's what the rumors say. He announced to the public that they would all be invited to the wedding.”

 

Hideyoshi looked across the tent at Magoichi, “Well... I guess they got their wish.”

 

“They wanted to be together and I helped them.”

 

“Not intentionally.”

“Even so. You know toward the end I hated Nobunaga. I'm glad I killed him. But it just made things worse. But it made things better for Mitsuhide and Nohime. Now they can be happy.”

 

“No... Mitsuhide will pay. I do not want him happy. I will do whatever it takes to destroy his happiness.”

 

“So what, you'd kill his daughter? Would you even try to go and kill Nohime?”

 

“I'm not sure if I could kill either of them. Gracia is an innocent and she's your friend. And well, Lady Nohime was Nobunaga's wife. And call me crazy but I think she could kick my butt.”

 

Magoichi laughed softly, “Yah... she could definitely kick your ass. She'd probably cut off that monkey tail of yours while she was kickin your ass too!”

 

“Ah, Magoichi, ever the same in some ways.”

 

“Well of course I am. I'm always gonna have my legendary taste for women. That is one thing that will never die my friend.”

 

Hideyoshi laughed, “Thanks for making me laugh Magoichi.”

 

“Don't mention it. What else are friends for,” he put his arm around Hideyoshi's shoulders.

 

They smiled. Hideyoshi stepped back and walked over to a map in the center of his tent, “Now, lets plan us a battle that Mitsuhide will never forget.”

 

“Alright, but I'm still not at ease on this whole `Mitsuhide is innocent but let's kill him anyway' thing.”

 

“Trust me Magoichi. This needs to be done. I won't let Japan fall into the hands of a traitor.”

 

“Alright then, lets plan a battle that will make history.”