Onwards!

Nobunaga had a war meeting with his most trusted warlords in the small tent. Nagahide, Masahisa, Hideyoshi and Toshiie all came in one after another and gathered around the small desk. It was way to crowded for Harumi's liking so she decided to go outside and take a look around the camp.

"Where are you going?" Nobunaga asked while Harumi was about to exit their sleeping quarters. She turned around, annoyed. She assumed that Nobunaga would continue to nag her about leaving his side but when she looked at him she saw his concerned face. She felt ashamed that she thought so badly about him.

"I though that you might like some privacy and I just wanted to take a look around..." She explained.

"Okay, but take one of the guards with you. Even though we are in our own camp, you are the only woman and I don't want to slay one of my own men for laying a finger on you." He said with still a tense expression on his face. Harumi had no idea how to answer so she just nodded before leaving the tent. She walked around the camp accompanied by one of Nobunaga's personal guards. She noticed that it was a lot more organized than she had thought. Not half a day ago this was just a muddy field and now it was an well organized army camp.

"We attack tomorrow at dawn." Nobunaga said while they had their dinner. "I'll wake you but stay here. If you just stay in this tent nothing will happen to you, okay?"

"And where will you be?" Harumi asked. During the evening the mood of the camp shifted. When she had first arrived there was an easy going ambiance, of people readying their sleeping space, making food and normal stuff. It felt like a summer camp. But now... Now she could feel the tension in the air. People were sharpening their swords and spears. Checking their armor, praying for themselves and their comrades.

"I will be leading the troops." Nobunaga said as if it wasn't a big deal.

"Isn't that the most dangerous place to be?" Harumi asked scared.

"Yes, but it is also the place for a true leader." Nobunaga explained. "I am a man of honor, I send my people to battle myself. At the battle field you don't have a name, you are just a man, fighting shoulder to shoulder with your brothers." Harumi admired his conviction, how dangerously it might be.

"I couldn't look at my own reflection if countless of my men died while I was safe and far away. I an their leader and I will lead them to the depths of hell and back." Nobunaga continued. He was getting fired up.

"I understand." Harumi cut in. "But please be careful." Nobunaga gave her a surprised look. She had never said anything like that to him. That he should take care of himself as well as his men. Harumi was a bit shocked herself but the words had left her lips before she noticed. Though she was happy that she said it because that was how she felt. Since Nobunaga would be leading his troops there was a chance that he wouldn't return. It wasn't like her husband ment much to her or that she liked him or anything. But she didn't dislike him and cared for him. Her eyes began to sting when she thought about Nobunaga not returning.

"You better come back, even if it is in seven pieces." She said angrily while vicious wiping her moist eyes.

"Of course!" Nobunaga laughed while patting her head.

"Wake up." Someone shook Harumi vigorously to wake her. She shot up in a sitting position, trying to wake herself up faster.

"What's happening? How late is it? Where are we?" She asked half asleep.

"We're at the battle field. Get dressed. The Asakura clan planned a sneak attack and are attacking us right now." Nobunaga explained. Harumi's eyes grew big.

"Are they here?" She asked skared in a high pitch voice.

"No, they are at the field where we planned to attack them at dawn. You have nothing to worrie about." Nobunaga consulted her. "I just wanted you to know. Even though you are safe here, please be careful." He continued. For a moment he cupped her cheek and looked at her. Harumi couldn't tear her eyes away from his stare. It felt like Nobunaga wanted to say something but at the last second he changed his mind and went to his feet.

"There is a guard outside the tent. If you need anything, ask him. Do not, under any circumstances, leave the tent." He said before he turned his back to her and left her alone in the dark tent. His katana made a clinking sound every step he made when the sword bumped to his armor. Harumi sat in the middle of the futon for a few moments before the world around her found his way into her head. She heard yelling, people running and just overall mayhem outside. With shacking hands she stood and began to change into a dress.

At first Harumi had tried to keep herself distracted but that didn't really work. Sometimes the shouting was so loud she had the feeling they were wighting right outside the tent. She was to scared to actually go and take a look. She knew Nobunaga didn't want her to get hurt and he had been in many battles already so he probably knew what she should do best. And since he told her to stay put, that was what she did. The hours slowly moved past. It became lighter and lighter. She couldn't actually see the sun but if she had to guess it would be around 9 in the morning. In her time in this era she had learned to tell time by the sun. She didn't need a watch anymore, not that they had them...

Slowly but steadily the noice outside the tent died down. Now that the quietness returned Harumi got more at ease. She just hoped that Nobunaga would return fast. She hated the waiting but she knew she could do anything and would just be a hindrance to the rest. This morning when Nobunaga left, he had left some bread for her but she had already eaten that and she was getting hungry again. She sat on the futon, trying not to think about her hunger when the flap of the tent opened. Harumi turned around exited to see an hopefully unharmed Nobunaga again.

"KYAAA" She screamed when it wasn't Nobunaga stepping inside her tent. Looking at the colors of his uniform, she could tell that is was an enemy soldier. When she looked past him she saw the bloody corpse of the guard lying on the ground. The man was covered in blood and when he grinned at her Harumi noticed that he was missing most of his teeth.

"Well, well, well. We heard that Nobunaga brought his wife along, but we thought that it was just a rumor." The man said with an evil grin on his face. "You truly are a beauty. I got an order to take you hostage, but I think they wouldn't mind if I have a little taste for myself before I turn you in." The man continued while he unbuckled his belt.

"Get away grom me!" Harumi yelled while she slid to the back of the tent. She grabbed the oil lamp that was standing next to the futon and threw it at the man. He skillfully dodged the projectile. Her fighting and scared look seemed to enjoy him only home.

"Come here!" The man said while he leaped forwards. Harumi tried to evade his attack but he caught her.

"Get go of me!" She screamed while tears ran down her face. She tried to hit, punk, slap, scratch, push the man. Anything to get him off of her. He cursed while he tried to undo her obi. Luckily she was getting better in tying it herself so it was nice and secure. She bit his hand when he tried to open her kimono by yanking at the neckline.

"You bitch!" The man said angrily while he slapped her. Her cheek hurt like hell but she didn't give in. Trough her tears and the pain she tried to keep him away from herself to no avail. The man was way bigger and stronger than her and he was done playing around.

"NO!" She kept screaming while the man felt up en down her body.