[IC] Nobunaga no ikari - Wrath of Nobunaga

[CorruptedShadow]

Japan, Edo
The season was spring...the cherry blossoms were beginning to bloom. The sun shone beautifully and there was a nice breeze that traveled over the land. Inside the city of Edo, the people were using the days excellent weather to their full advantage. Merchants were out and about selling goods, musicians played traditional music with shamisens and other instruments, workers were travelling left and right carrying heavy loads over their shoulders, children played in the street, and the Samurai were patrolling around to keep the city peaceful and in line. Up on the hill of Edo stood the towering castle, where Lord Nobunaga resided in. His courtyard was lavish and grand, the courtyard filled with the beauties of nature It was the perfect day...

Masamune had finished with carrying a large wooden pole for an older male, a peasant worker obviously, and waved off his thanks telling him it was no big deal. Wiping the sweat from his face, he remembered how Nobunaga had specifically told him to meet in the castle for an important council meeting for the Generals. He was busy though, helping around the streets to those who worked hard. Seeing a small group of children run past him made him smile as he rested his hand on his katana's sheath. "Ignorance is bliss, I suppose." Sighing out and scratching the back of his head, Masamune continued on and ended up passing by a nearby inn, where Oda clan samurai and ashigaru were celebrating in their most recent victory at Okehazama, where they crushed Imagawa Yoshimoto.

This kind of celebration was a disgust to him, for a Samurai had to be always ready for battle. The fact that they were drinking merrily pissed him off so much that he had to calm his wits and walk outside of the cities gates and down a dirt path outside of the city walls to find some peace in a nearby garden. He always tended this garden, watching out for it and checking for it's any needs. He sat on a rock next to a small stream and smiled, feeling content. With that, he took off his eyepatch and set it to his side under his hand....and breathed in the fresh air.

[Nytem4re]

Yorimasa sat in utter concentration as the last newly converted citizen of Edo left, enlightened by the teachings he had learned from his masters. It was nice seeing his fellow brothers and sisters enlightened in the way of Nirvana. The common folk needed hope, guidance, reassurance that finding nirvana was the next step to true happiness. But, alas, even with his benevolent goals, the Samurai of the Edo Clan glanced his way with looks of distrust, and maybe even hatred. The Edo had even posted a few samurai to make sure he wasn't inciting rebellion. The Buddhist teachings did renounce the lavish life of the shogun and his generals. There had been revolts in the past led by Buddhist monks that led to the dethroning of a shogun. But Yorimasa had no intention of doing so. Civil war would disrupt the peace of the individual and community. Not to mention the large loss of life on both sides.

Yorimasa would simply preach for as long as the people were willing to listen. When there was someone else who was able to recite his teachings, he would leave the city as it was when he entered.

But that day was far off. Perhaps a year or so and a disciple would be studious enough to be able to preach all the Buddhist teachings in the city. For now, he would abide his time.

Breaking out of his meditative trance, he placed his Nodachi over his shoulder, and picked up his Naginata. Perhaps a walk would ease his minds of the troubles that lay ahead. Sliding the door open, the sunlight poured into the normally dark building, and a few peasants passing by greeted him respectfully.

The Cherry Blossoms were just starting to bloom, signaling new life. The fresh air was gentle on his lungs, and he passed quietly through the streets, just taking in the sights of the bustling street life of Edo. It was nice to see normality once in a while. The warrior monk quietly walked the streets, stopping once in a while to take a closer look at something. It was unsettling to the citzens, but, he was a monk, so they left him to his own devices.

[Hirothelegend]

Oda Nobunaga/ Akechi Mitsuhide
Nobunaga was sitting in his chair laying his head on his hand for which that elbow was on the table. Using his other hand he had been tapping the desk waiting for Masamune to come. "I'd sworn I had made it clear this was important! Another nearby village needs to be taken to further enhance our progress uniting Japan!" He said finally slamming his fist on the table standing up. Mitsuhide immediately bowed. "But Lord, isn't there any way we could just negotiate with the village? I'm sure bloodshed isn't needed..." Mitsuhide said still bowing. Nobunaga looked down at Mitsuhide. "I'm sorry, but my popularity has already gotten to the point of no negotiation, I don't see why however... Uniting Japan under my control will finally bring some kind of peace to this land!" He had said. Mitsuhide stood up. "Right my Lord..." They then proceed to wait patiently for Masamune.

[ReaptheMusic]

Misako and Kichiro Hideniyo walked the path together into Edo, Kichiro every now and again glancing over at his younger sister donned into a disguise. Kichiro, as a prince, was not as out in the open as his sister and fell more into the shadows as a Shinobi must despite being honorable as a male in the family. The only reason his sister was 'celebrated' however was to find her a suitor. Which, had worked naturally. It wouldn't be long till he married his own betrothed afterall. "I don't like the thought of you performing this task alone." He murmured softly as they walked side by side.
"Would you prefer to stuff a brazier and accompany me as a Governess, Kichiro?" Misako asked him, her eyes ahead and hands tucked into the folds of her kimono. Kichiro grimaced and sighed.
"That is not what I meant." He muttered, his little sister had always been a little spitfire.
"I know." Misako smiled softly, her painted lips parting softly to giggle. "I bet you'd look good in a Hikizuri."
"I'm not about to cross dress."
"Think of it like playing dress-up if you're so worried about me!"
"Shut up! I take it back!" Kichiro was irritated so, satisfied, Misako smirked and kept on in silence. The road continued for another mile, both of them in good-natured silence before they came upon the gates of Edo. They stopped outside the gate and turned to each other. "You know what to do, right?" Kichiro asked, all jokes aside now. Misako noded.
"Yes..." The intel that Nobunaga Oda had taken refuge in Edo, where he could boast of his treacherous reapings of destroying the nation had spread like wildfire in the Hideniyo clan. Her orders were simple. Find him. Kill him. And do whatever measures necessary. Her arranged marriage would be set up when she returned, harboring her Hero of the Hideniyo Clan... of Japan... Misako closed her eyes, only imagining the possibilities... how proud her father would be of her... and maybe... she could be the heiress to the Hideniyo throne, not her brothers.
"Then you know what to do." Kichiros words snapped her out of her reverie. "I will be watching, from afar... be careful little sister." He gently nodded his head to her and went inside, just ahead of her. Misako watched him go and sighed, closing her eyes. Once he was within she walked through the gates as well. Beneath her kimono, her Shinobi attire brushed silently against the colorful fabric. A Hero of the Hideniyo Clan... A hero. Thats what she would be. The honor. The glory. The legacy...
All it would cost is one human life.

[CorruptedShadow]

Masamune kneel'd down at the small stream in front of him and touch the water, feeling the cool liquid touch his hands. He smiled and looked up to where the stream was coming from...a pond. Inside were some koi fish that had been swimming around, circling about trying to find food. He sighed out, turned, and began to walk out of the garden through some bamboo. "I suppose it is time for me to meet up with Nobunaga." He scratched the back of his head quietly, sighing out a bit. "He doesn't like it when I keep him waiting." Masamune then proceeded to walk back into Edo, through the streets, and up to castle steps.

The steps were eerily quiet and inside the courtyard, nobody was present. He stood there silently, looking at the cherry blossom. "Why are the castle grounds deprived of guards...." He said silently, his alert being up a bit. He never did like peace and quiet, unless of course it was during his gardening or painting.