It?s a sunny afternoon. Akechi lies on the grassy banks of Lake Biwa, mentally going over the plans in his head. Soon, he and an army of 13,000 men would advance on Oda Nobunaga. But when would be the perfect time to strike? In Takamatsu? What about Kai? Or Shinano?
Footsteps pound on the paths outside. Akechi lifts one lazy eye, catching sight of the doctor of Sakamoto Castle. He sits up.
?What?s wrong??
?It?s horrible, Sir!? The doctor pauses for breath, doubling over. ?Tokugawa Ieyasu is tearing down the doors of Sakamoto-jo as we speak!?
?Tokugawa!??
Akechi is on his feet in seconds. He reaches for the reigns of his horse. ?Tell me everything. And hurry.?
?There was concern when you didn?t show up at Takamatsu,? the doctor says, ?so Oda Nobunaga sent Tokugawa Ieyasu over here with an army of 10,000 men.?
Akechi grits his teeth. ?I knew we should have slain Tokugawa when we had the chance in 1560.?
?So what are we going to do?? the doctor asks.
?There comes a time in every great man?s life when he has to stand up for what he believes in and, in the instance that he fails, he must accept his death and die with dignity,? Akechi says, ?but this isn?t one of those times.?
The horse races off along the banks of the river, leaving the doctor and Sakamoto Castle behind him as he heads towards the forest. When Akechi looks back over his shoulder he can see smoke rising from beyond the walls of his precious castle.
He disappears into the trees. But the horse hesitates and Akechi freezes.
KarlaKGB is leant against a tree, arms folded over his chest. ?I knew you would run. You always were a coward, Mitsuhide.?
?Don?t call me that. It?s not like we?re friends.?
?Oh??
KarlaKGB smirks and draws his sword. ?If we?re not friends then I won?t have any problem killing you.?
Akechi descends from his horse. ?Now hold on a moment. That isn?t necessary.?
?I?ll be the first to admit that I?m not Oda Nobunaga?s biggest supporter. He makes decisions I can?t agree with,?
KarlaKGB says, ?but I know where my loyalties lie - and I?d give my life to protect the integrity of the Oda Clan.?
Akechi makes the first move, which
KarlaKGB parries almost effortlessly. They sweat profusely and fight late into the evening. The following moring, both of their corpses are discovered by Sakamoto Castle?s castellan.
Akechi Mitsuhide (aka.
Farobi) ran and hid when he should have defended himself.
KarlaKGB the
Bushi died fighting for a cause he believed in.
Day 3 will end 11pm GMT (6pm EST) Monday 19th May.