The Beauty of the West: The Gold Route

Chapter Seventeen: Kanegasaki Nightmare Part 1

There was a commotion in the Osaka castle courtyard that Lord Mitsunari and I didn't expect. It sounded like guns, but they weren't Sensei's.

The two of us jumped to our feet and sped to look out in the direction of the firing. There was what looked like a quarter of an army at most.

Lord Mitsunari reached for his sword without saying a word, and headed towards the castle's entrance.

"My Lord? " I asked.

"This is all that's left of the Toyotomi name. It was left to me to protect and I will, with my life. " He replied. I readied my guns and followed him.

I was only supposed to spy on Lord Mitsunari to get the upper hand. Who knew I'd be fighting a mini battle while I was there?

While Lord Mitsunari decided to face the men head on, I was more stealthy about it. While he attacked the men in the courtyard with no warning, I covered him with a sniper rifle. We took out almost the entire invading forces that way.

I felt something on the back of my neck. Something cold, like metal. I took my eyes off Lord Mitsunari to look behind me. There was a man behind me. I froze in place.

"I heard from someone that you were here. " His deep voice unforgettable, sent a shock through my body and I didn't know what to do. I never thought I would see him again after Lord Ieyasu saved me-- Nobunaga Oda.

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I woke up some place dark. I didn't even know I was sleeping. When I finally gained lucidity, I recalled coming face to face with the Demon King, and that's the last thing I remembered. I stood up and tried to move, but my legs were shackled to the floor.

"It's no use, you're stuck there! " A man outside the room I was in laughed.

"Where the hell am I?! " I screamed.

"Don't tell me you've forgotten us, your highness. " He mocked me. "You're back in Honno-Ji. Where you belong. "

I felt a piece of me grow cold. Could I have been in Honno-Ji like that man said?

"Why did you bring me here?? "

"We heard from someone that you went back home. You are Oda property, don't you remember? Hope that small taste of freedom didn't get to you. You won't be leaving here again. "

It was the saica way to gather information before making a move. Not only was I a Toyotomi, I was a Saica, and I knew their ways. I needed to calm myself, but it was easier said than done.

I was different from the last time I was there. I was trained in many ways now. I could probably put up a hell of a fight. I wasn't that helpless girl anymore. I was a warrior.

I pulled a pin from my hair and began to pick the locks. From there, I opened the door and didn't hesitate to kill the man guarding it. I then snatched his gun, as I woke up unarmed. When I got out to the light I had also seen that I was stripped of my clothes, wearing nothing but my undergarments. These people were still the same disgusting people.

Good thing I knew my way around, from having been there for as long as I had. But my feet grew colder and colder with each step I took. I could only think to run faster, for if my feet grew numb I couldn't run anymore.

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(Mitsunari's POV):

One moment, (Y/N) was helping me fight off the intruders with the skills she had acquired through Saica. The next moment there was silence; no more sounds of gunshots, everyone had instantly vanished, including (Y/N). When I looked up to where she had stationed herself to aid me, I caught a faint glimpse of that man, the Demon King before everyone was gone. He grabbed her, but she didn't fight. I could not grasp the reason behind her apparent inability to strike him for touching her.

I was once again alone. No one stood at my side. My allies had either abandoned the war, or had even joined Ieyasu. My skills were great, my wisdom passed down from Lord Hideyoshi... But I knew I was no match for the rotting Oda army. There was one man, who had the man power to take him down. I felt ashamed that I would be in a position to ask for his help; but it was for (Y/N). I made my way to the stables to retrieve a horse. I prepared to travel East.

Ieyasu's POV:

While (Y/N) was away the Eastern forces gained a few more allies. Just a few people that didn't necessarily agree with me, but they absolutely didn't want the West to win. I gained the new bonds through the Maeda clan, and a man named Yoshiaki Mogami. Their numbers were many.

All we could do was wait for (Y/N)'s return in the meantime, and ready our nerves for Sekigahara. But I felt something was off. I felt scared for her. Not because of Mitsunari. Perhaps it was because I loved her.

I tried to get my mind off it, trying to convince myself that I was only being paranoid. But I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. As I stared into the distance in the direction I last saw her, I weighed the option to travel to Osaka. I'd run if I had to.

"My Lord! A horse has been spotted a few miles away! " I heard one of the lookouts call down to me.

My heart skipped a beat. Finally she had returned to me. I was going to hold her and tell her how much she worried me. I was going to tell her I was happy that she was safe. I was going to tell her how happy she made me. I couldn't wait till the summer festival. I needed to tell her now.

Upon arrival at our gates, I was given the news that the rider on horseback approaching Mikawa was not (Y/N). My heart sank. However it was someone unexpected. My troops escorted him in.

"Mitsunari.. " To say I was surprised was an understatement. What in the world made Mitsunari think to travel here, especially because he was unaccompanied?

"I regret to come to you with this... But I have no choice. " He gritted his teeth. "(Y/N), the one you sent to spy on me is in trouble. She was taken by.. The Oda. "

"The Oda? Surely you don't mean the Demon King. He has been dead for a while! "

"DO YOU TAKE ME FOR A MAN THAT WOULD JEST ABOUT SUCH A THING!!" he yelled.

"No.. You're right, I apologize. "

"I have cast aside my pride..my loathing and absolute hatred for the crimes you've committed to come here. I would have chased them, but I am one man. Do not make me shame my Lord's name by asking you for your help again.

"Answer me this, Dark King. Why did you travel here for (Y/N)'s sake? Who is she to you? "

"She is all I have left. The last of the Toyotomi."

His answer shocked me almost as much as his presence had.

"And... You're sure about this??"

"I'm sure. Now why are we wasting time here?! Who knows what those BASTARDS are doing to her?! "

"You are right, Mitsunari. Let us be off, and waste no more time. "

I tried to keep Mitsunari calm. But that was never an easy task to begin with. I was sure to take a few more people with us, so that we weren't so outnumbered. It was, after all, the reason Mitsunari came to me. I took Kanbe, Motochika, and Tadakatsu, along with some of our troops.

For the first time in a long time I felt anger. I was always one to forgive and strengthen the bond rather than throw it away. Although I used to fight for Lord Nobunaga... This bond would never be repaired. After taking (Y/N), consider that bond severed!