caughtinanetwork | [073] - [Video/Dream/Interactive]

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[073] - [Video/Dream/Interactive]

[Mitsuhide's dream is filled with fire.]

[Traditional Japanese buildings surround anyone who find themselves in said dream, apparently burning, though they remain intact and undamaged somehow. Both within these buildings and outside of them soldiers are fighting; for the most part their faces are oddly blurred, but their armour is distinct, as are the banners some of them bear.]

[Anyone with a passing knowledge of Japanese history might recognise the crests those banners bear; they are the symbols of the Akechi, Chōsokabe or Oda clans. It's obvious that the former two are fighting men of the latter. Only the Akechi banners show any symptoms of being affected by the flames; they are scorched at the edges, and, perhaps, somewhat faded?]

[Somewhere amongst the buildings, and at the heart of the dream, there is a duel going on.]

[One of the participants is Mitsuhide himself. He looks tired, distraught; there is soot on his face and smears of blood on his armour and sword. His usually neat ponytail has been partially unbound and he is currently on his knees, hands still clutching his sword. Opposing him is a tall, dark figure clad in black and purple, the Oda crest visible on his chest.]

[It is Oda Nobunaga, the Demon King.]

[This dream was born from a memory, and thus is set in Honnouji. The memory has been twisted, however, and progressed past the point where Mitsuhide defeated his former Lord and struck him down. Nobunaga thus has a huge wound right where his heart should be, the armour there shattered, and it is bleeding profusely. It does not seem to bother Nobunaga, however. Indeed, he is laughing in a somewhat disturbing manner, apparently deeply amused about something.]

Lord Nobunaga... I... [Mitsuhide speaks, his voice reflecting just how upset and confused he is.] I don't understand...

[That only causes Nobunaga to laugh again.]

No, Mitsuhide. [He says.] You do understand.

[It begins to rain, then. Heavily. This is the influence of another, connected memory, and so the rain does not affect the fire all around. Neither Mitsuhide or Nobunaga react to it, either.]

[What now?]

[OOC: Mitsuhide will not recognise anyone he's met in Vat here (at least not at first); only Hideyoshi and Motochika (canonmate version) will be identified. Those who step into the dream will suddenly find themselves in traditional Japanese armour! Those who don't are welcome to reply, and will get a response from Mitsuhide after he's woken up. Have fun! ♥]

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[ it doesn't dawn on her very easily that she's actually inside of Mitsuhide's dream ... all she knows is that she's in unfamiliar clothing and she's in an unfamiliar setting.

that guy over there, though ... he's familiar. she knows him. quite well, in fact. and the fact that he's in such a shape right now makes her heart drop into her stomach. without thinking, she immediately rushes over to his side. ]

Mitsuhide!

[ something about this seems familiar. she looks around ... this is familiar, but she knows she hasn't experienced it herself. how was this so familiar? ]

[This dream is made from a memory, and thus, Mitsuhide does not recognise those he met in Vatheon. Kohaku is no exception.]

[But...]

[It's still a dream, and his unconscious mind has not forgotten her. She has a certain role in his life, now, and thus the dream shifts and wraps around her. Makes her a place that fits that role.]

[It is not drawn from any of his memories; whether he had siblings or not back home irrelevant. Right now, Mitsuhide shifts his gaze to her; for a moment he frowns, confused, before parting his lips and shaking his head. There is a confused kind of recognition there as he looks her up and down, taking in the violet kimono she now wears.]

No... you should not be here...

[Nobunaga laughs, and strikes out; Mitsuhide has to roll and shakily gets to his feet again, on his guard. Rain drips down his face.]

You are... sister. No, my sister should not be here. You must leave. You must not be affected by this.

[He looks back at Nobunaga, sorrow in his gaze.]

Go, before it burns you too...

[ something about the fact that he called her his sister just made her stop and stare at him for several moments ... and then she got a hold of herself again and shook her head. ]

Mitsuhide, I'm not leaving you here!

[ it was now starting to dawn on her what was going on. Mitsuhide had told her about this before, and with all of the dreams going insane all over Vatheon ... this had to be another of them. a memory within a nightmare ... like what she and Shing had gone through.

she had to wake him up. somehow. it was the best thing to do right now. but she knew ... she knew Mitsuhide wouldn't leave this place without the right reasoning. not yet. there was still something to accomplish, wasn't there?

she looked over toward 'Nobunaga.' the man was so injured, it was a wonder he was still standing to begin with. something seemed ... off. ]

... is that Nobunaga?

You have to! I do not want you hurt. Not for me.

[He sighs, deeply, and looks back to his former Lord.]

Lord Nobunaga, yes...

[Said Demon King strikes, and again, and again; Mitsuhide can only block, parry and strike back as best he can. This is, surprisingly, very well. Considering this dream is a reflection of his sorrows, fears and guilt, one might have expected his dream-self to find fighting back hard.]

My friend. [Nobunaga speaks again. Kohaku may recognise some of these words; they are words from a memory, and thus sound almost like an echo.] I forgive you.

[And there is more laughter. Mitsuhide cringes, but continues to fight.]

[ hearing about this and actually seeing it for herself are two different things; Kohaku would be lying if she said this wasn't terrifying in some way. her own nightmare with Shing had been terrifying, but at least she didn't have to feel like she was really living it again ... she had just been reminded of it.

this, however. this was something different entirely. this was frightening. above all of that, though, she knew that none of this was real; it might have felt real, but it wasn't. it couldn't be.

the tricky part was getting Mitsuhide to see that for himself, and wake up. she had to make it happen somehow. ]

Mitsuhide ...

[ she shook her head, taking a step toward the two again. ]

Mitsuhide, this isn't happening! Not really!

[ probably not the best thing to say, but it was the first thing that came to mind. ]

I-I mean, this happened once, I know that much. But right now, this is all in the past! It's not really happening!

[ her instinct, regardless of what she knew, was that she wanted to help him. she wanted to fight alongside him. Elrond wasn't with her, though ... she looked around for anything else she could possibly use to help. ]

[Mitsuhide does not understand that, of course. Part of him acknowledges that something isn't right, but he hardly has time to think about that... and the dream quickly pushes such feelings away.]

[There is only smoke, rain, blood on his hands, the clash of steel and Lord Nobunaga before him.

Please!

[He calls out to her as he continues to fight.]

Go... whatever this is, you should not... ha!

[He has to pause mid-sentence as his blade slides into its sheath and he swiftly pulls it out again, executing a powerful from-the draw-attack and causing Nobunaga to stumble back (he's still laughing).]

Should not... suffer it for me!

Edited (HTML fail ;;) 2012-05-11 20:44 (UTC)

I've already told you, I'm not leaving!

[ She needs a weapon. Elrond or no, she needs to help him out, or this will never end. She frantically searches around for one, finding a sword from a fallen soldier and taking it into her hands. It's heavy, and Kohaku is most definitely not apt at using one of these ...

As she looks at the sight before her, though, she knows she can't just stand around. Something had to be done. So, with a grunt as she lifted the sword and secured it into her hands, she moved toward Nobunaga and made an attempt at a strike.

Not a very good one, admittedly. She was sure to fail. ]

[Motochika is not surprised to see Honnōji in Mitsuhide's dream. They are drawing close to that time of year again, when shadows take residence in Mitsuhide's eyes and suffocate Mitsuhide's heart.

He wonders if Mitsuhide will ever stop reliving this fateful night.

Motochika finds that he remembers the path through the flame-coated (unburnt) temple easily enough -- he moves through the crowds of clashing soldiers with one goal in mind. He knows all too well where he shall find his errant lover.

The sudden onset of heavy rain is strange indeed, but Motochika does not stop to ponder it. He is almost there.

Nobunaga is a gruesome sight -- but also only a shade of the dead and so he spares the gory warlord no more than a passing glance. It is Mitsuhide, kneeling and broken in spirit, who demands his attention.

He interposes himself between Mitsuhide and Nobunaga and extends a hand to the younger samurai.]

It is over, Mitsuhide. Come.

Lord Motochika?

[Raw pain fills Mitsuhide's expression, and he stands up. For a moment, Nobunaga's image become faded, indistinct, and the rain grows heavier still.]

You... you are dead...

[The samurai lowers his sword. Memories of Yamazaki have invaded this dream of Honnouji, blending the two battles together in certain ways.]

I was with you. But still... you died.

[Motochika has not forgotten their first days in Vatheon, when Mitsuhide wore that same fresh pain. He has never liked to see Mitsuhide suffer so deeply. Yet this is a dream, so perhaps he can influence it by calling upon better memories.]

Our red string cannot be severed.

[He moves his extended hand to touch Mitsuhide's shoulder.]

Let us leave this place together.

[Mitsuhide wants that to be true, even if Motochika is dead. He does not want to be without him. Not now, not ever. Looking over Motochika in silence for a moment, he eventually says:]

I don't want to let go.

[Nobunaga's form, still indistinct, begins to circle around them at this. Motochika is no longer between Mitsuhide and the dream image of his former Lord.]

Foolish... [It says, voice sounding much like an echo.] All those bound to the past must perish...

[Mitsuhide visibly cringes, looks away from both Motochika and Lord Nobunaga. He is shaking.]

But I... I don't deserve it...

Don't turn from me, Mitsuhide.

[Motochika says, strong, soothing. He does not miss how Mitsuhide shakes.]

I will not let you walk this path alone. Do you understand?

[He will resort to more drastic methods, if he must.]

[Mitsuhide's head remains bowed.]

I... I don't...

[This is a dream of Mitsuhide's darker memories, his doubts, his fears and guilt. They colour the nightmare, give it direction and take hold of Mitsuhide's dream self.]

[Fighting against those feelings is a challenge here. Where he is exposed and awash in raw pain, separated from hope and that small part of himself that is learning self-forgiveness by the rain and fire all around.]

[Had this been a regular dream, out of reach of other people, it would have remained that way until he awoke.]

Lord Motochika...

[Nobunaga laughs, then, and steps closer. He is becoming distinct once more.]

All must perish [Says the vision.] The world will move on...

[Perhaps he is taking a risk in trusting that Mitsuhide's mind will not harm him, nightmare in full swing. Who knows what the consequences would be.

(He has always trusted Mitsuhide at his back.)

Regardless, Motochika moves to stand in front of Mitsuhide. He steps in and dips, plants his shoulder in the right position and takes hold, simply hefting his lover over his shoulder before straightening.

He begins to walk.]

We survivors choose which legacies we carry into the future. Leave this desolation behind. Hope, Mitsuhide.

[It is sorrow that surrounds Motochika within Mitsuhide's nightmares. Loss once experienced, and the fear of a loss that might come again; there is therefore no risk to Motochika here.]

[So, therefore, Nobunaga's shade merely follows them slowly. Laughter echoes in the air, along with whispered words that are memories of what he had said to Mitsuhide long ago.]

[As for Mitsuhide himself, he does not struggle, merely hanging limp over Motochika's shoulder. Around them, the fire is actually beginning to retreat and disappear, only to be replaced by yet heavier rain. Beneath Motochika's feet the ground is becoming less like stone and more like mud. The ground is sloping upwards.]

Hope...

[His voice is quiet, pained.]

How?

[Chibi actually has a canon armor costume that matches this bug here that would be perfect for this, but there doesn't seem to be a screenshot of it on this whole, wide internet. LET US USE OUR VAST IMAGINATIONS, HMM? (sob)

--

Regardless of any danger, of any sense that this might not be his fight to interfere in, there is no hesitation as Chibiterasu rushes to Mitsuhide's side. Something is wrong here, really wrong, and he's not just going to sit back and watch!]

Grr... Arf!

[Mitsuhide's eyes are drawn to the pup, for a moment. He does not recognise him, of course, but his gaze softens briefly.]

Oh..? An innocent... you should leave... please, don't get hurt...

[He is distracted by Chibiterasu's presence for only a handful of seconds, however, because Nobunaga resumes the fight then. Mitsuhide has to roll to avoid his former Lord's attack, and stands up again. The grip on his sword is tight, but he is obviously shaking.]

I forgive you... [Says Nobunaga; he laughs again afterwards. Mitsuhide's eyes widen; he looks more confused than ever. What..? Why would he... it makes no sense. Especially considering Nobunaga does not stop attacking. The Demon King's sword burns with a purple fire as he strikes at Mitsuhide, again and again. The young samurai is forced to simply block the attacks, for the moment. His confusion has sent him off balance, making it hard to focus.]

[Chibi wastes no time in striking at Nobunaga with his own sword once he catches up, hoping to at least counter some of the blows Mitsuhide is taking and allow him to fall back.]

[This... astounds Mitsuhide, even in his dream. His mind has a hard time fitting Chibi into the dream like this, as a warrior, as a protector. For a moment he is silent and still, unable to process this; it's a good thing that Chibi is currently taking up Nobunaga's attention.]

You...

[Eventually it simply gives up, allowing Mitsuhide some level of recognition.]

Little one? I... please. You don't need to do this. This is my sin, I...

[The mention of that word is enough to shift the attentions of Nobunaga's dream-self back to Mitsuhide. He strikes out, and Mitsuhide dodges; he attacks himself, but is also blocked.]

You do understand why.

[Nobunaga's voice echoes with laughter.]

Woof! [Chibi would like nothing more than to wipe that smug grin off Nobunaga's face. He isn't really listening to words about sins or punishments because he doesn't care- he sees his friend getting hurt, and he's going to protect him.

Chibi won't let Nobunaga concentrate solely on Mitsuhide for long if he can help it, already delivering another strike in an attempt to draw the attention back to himself. If we're gonna beat this guy, we have to do it together! Come on, Mitsuhide!]

[Suddenly finding himself in a full armor made of steel and leather, Gorthan immediately thought he had been connected to the Eracolator once again, and was now reliving one of Zartas' epic battles.

But one look around himself sufficed for him to realize that... he was in the middle of an epic battle, alright, but it was not one that involved the Empire.

... A battle between Earthlings?

He recognized Mitsuhide... and surprisingly, Nobunaga, too. That figure had appeared very briefly, when Mitsuhide was affected by a curse that made thoughts visible.

So this dream... It's the night of Mitsuhide's betrayal, isn't it? But it is obviously a memory warped by the many dark entities that inhabit the soul of one able to feel emotions.

Gorthan's fists clench at his sides. This would not affect him so much, were it not for the fact that a similar night has existed in his life.

He steps up, yelling his completely improvised speech.]

Do not let him taunt you, Mitsuhide! This Ter'vaal has ended, and you are the victor! The Lord you served now belongs to the past, which you must leave behind yourself as you lead your people into a new future!

[This stranger is odd enough to draw Mitsuhide's attention, even during such a moment. He looks over.]

Ter'vaal? Who...

[His attention is brought back to Nobunaga very swiftly. An attack from the Demon King means Mitsuhide has to roll over, has to stand up and defend himself.]

I wait waiting to be betrayed... [Says Nobunaga's shadow, swinging his blade and smiling darkly all the while.] You did not disappoint me. I name you my friend...

[Mitsuhide's eyes widen, even as he blocks the attacks. His sword eventually clashes with Nobunaga's own, resulting in a deadlock. Pushing all of his strength into it, attempting to send the now-laughing Nobunaga back, Mitsuhide is nonetheless shaking.]

[He is confused, he is lost. He does not know what to do.]

Mitsuhide! Do not listen to him! You no longer have any business with this unworthy, empty shell of a man! History has spoken. You are your land's Warrior King!

[Gorthan is wielding a spear, and he raises it high in the air as he shouts the epithet that belongs to him... and now to Mitsuhide as well.

The title coined by Zartas is probably not one that Mitsuhide would like. But regardless of what the title itself is, Gorthan bestowing it on someone is a sign of the highest praise.

That said, he charges forward in support of Mitsuhide, preparing to hit Nobunaga from the side. The front of his body, leaning forward, is massive and powerful, but his feet, webbed as they may be, are quick and agile. As he runs, he channels his energy into a roaring yell.]

[This is an odd enough situation to startle Mitsuhide. His sword arm grows still for a moment as he watches, skin gone even paler than usual.]

[Warrior King..?]

[His confusion registers in the dream; Nobunaga becomes less distinct for a moment, and is actually thrown back by Gorthan's spectacular attack. Not that this seems to bother the Demon King at all. He simply does as he has done much in this dream, and laughs.]

Honour is meaningless. [Nobunaga rights himself, stands tall again.] Cast it aside, and fight!

[Given time to steady himself, Mitsuhide assumes a stance again and waits. That confusion in his eyes does not fade, nor does that sorrow, but no matter what he continues to fight.]

[He always has.]

[Just before he attempts to hit Nobunaga, Gorthan casts a brief, but intense glance at Mitsuhide.]

Let's do this together, Mitsuhide! POWER AND MIGHT!

[And with that, as Gorthan yells the battle cry coined by Zartas and adopted by all of Evron, he will attempt to strike at Nobunaga with his spear.]

[[OOC: Tag written listening to this. orz ]]

[When she realised it, she was unsure how it had happened. But when she became aware, she realised that instead of her rapier in one hand, she had a wakizashi in two. Her clothes were of the traditional variety and she had just cut down a soldier who had attempted to attack her.

She recognised the scenario. Mitsuru had seen enough reconstructions of it in school. This was Honnou-ji. And the implications were terrifying.]

Lord Akechi!

[The rain falls heavily, but there are other matters at hand to deal with.]

Please, it is not safe.

[Nobunaga attempts a strike again; Mitsuhide manages to avoid the attack, and gets on his feet. His stance is strong, but there is clear uncertainty in his eyes as he watches Nobunaga. The Demon King is smiling, apparently enjoying himself greatly.]

[It is only then that looks to Mitsuru. To him, she is a warrior from his army. He looks guilty, pained, to look upon her right now.]

I know. But I cannot leave...

[This is one battle he cannot escape from. Nor is it right that he should. This is his responsibility, his sin.]

You, however, should go. You need not suffer. Not for me.

[He looks back at his former Lord; they begin to circle one another.]

You can see his eyes surely!

[There was something swelling in his heart, a fierce and ferocious pride from wanting to protect someone of Akechi Mitsuhide's position. Most people would turn away, but she recognised that same warrior spirit in him. She didn't want it extinguished, this dream was no mere dream but a nightmare. But the consequences would surely carry over into the waking world. Surely.]

There's nothing human left in them! Lord Akechi please!!

[Nothing human? That gives Mitsuhide pause, for a few moments.]

It's Lord Nobunaga.

[His attention is dragged back to the Demon King when he has to raise his sword to block an attack. He is still fighting; he has always been fighting, in a way. Struggling with himself, his guilt... and his confusion.]

[Nothing that Lord Nobunaga said, that night in Honnouji, made sense. It still doesn't.]

He is... I...

[Managing to push Nobunaga away, Mitsuhide strikes back. His attack actually hits, piercing yet another patch of his former Lord's body armour. Nobunaga simply laughs, however, clearly unaffected.]

Is that all, Mitsuhide? [He says, amused.] Come. Show your true worth to Nobunaga...

Edited 2012-05-04 19:04 (UTC)

He is the Demon King!

[The rain falls heavier still on Mitsuru, her vision becoming blurrier as she tries her hardest to focus. Her blade is cleansed of the blood that was once on it, but she fears that the blood will never wash off Mitsuhide's. She frowns at Nobunaga's words, she would not quake, she would not fear, she would stand by and stand proud...]

You have repented enough, surely!

[She knew how much Honnoji and Yamazaki had affected the samurai but there was no reason for him to live in it again.]

The Demon Lord is but a phantasm...

[It's raining again. No, it's the same rain.

Hideyoshi stands, head tilted back, staring upwards at the clouds and the shadows of fire across the sky. This is a dream, of course. He knows that this is a dream, because he never was at Honno-ji - he was hundreds of leagues away at the time, far in the West, wasting time and effort fighting against the Mori when he should have been here, at the only place in all Japan that mattered at the time. Eleven days, but they were eleven days too many.

So this is how it was, or at least how Mitsuhide remembers it having been. A nightmare of fire and blood. Mitsuhide's nightmare. Serves you right, he thinks savagely, and then mutters those words, speaks them more and more loudly. "Serves you right, serves you right!"

But it's only a dream, it's the past and it's over and there's never been anything for him to look back at.

He closes his hand tightly about his staff until his fingers are white and bloodless and holds his head up, golden sunburst and all, and breathes in sharply and walks. He'll walk away from here and wake. Yes. He refuses to stop, even when the duel catches his eye - not nearly far away enough, near enough to barrel into and tip the scales. No, he will not stop, he won't -

It's only a dream. Mitsuhide's nightmare. Not his.]

[There are touches of Yamazaki in this dream too, and so it embraces Hideyoshi easily. Perhaps he notices that around him, there seem to be Toyotomi flags now... perhaps he notices that patches of the ground are wet and muddy rather than cracked stone.]

[Regardless, Mitsuhide currently sees nothing but his former Lord towering over him, dark and imposing. There is a smile on Nobunaga's face...]

I forgive you. [Nobunaga's voice is like an echo, but perfectly audible no matter how close or how far away you are.] I name you my friend.

[He follows up with a laugh, swinging his blade at Mitsuhide again; the young samurai has to roll in order to avoid the attack, and gets to this feet. He looks astonished, however, more confused than before.]

[The fire burns more intently. The rain pours more heavily.]

Why? [Mitsuhide even sounds shaken, the only part of him that seems strong and still being the hands clutching his blade.] Why... Lord Nobunaga... that's... that's not...

[And then the duel begins again in earnest, Mitsuhide's white blade clashing with Nobunaga's demonic one. Its purple aura burns brightly even amongst the flames.]

No. It isn't his nightmare, isn't his, and Hideyoshi doesn't let himself wander. Not even when the flags appear. He walks in absolute, cold focus, face a mask. No looking, no talking. There is only forward for him, if he ever wants to get anywhere at all.

It's a dream. It won't do anyone any good to stop and try to steal a look at Nobunaga's face.

But the voice - that does catch up with and halt him, a jerking halt, half-stumbling in the mud. His mind seems to snap back into the scene that he was pushing and kicking away from. He glances back at the duel scene. Nobunaga's voice reverberates in his bones, lights a rage in him that he had never known before Yamazaki, that he still barely recognizes as his own. His short, scrawny form should not have room to contain so much anger. His lord's words -

This is Mitsuhide's dream. Here he could dream as he pleases - that Nobunaga forgives him, understands him. But I never will. Never.

He steps off his set path and comes running to Nobunaga's side. This is the past, it's too late to change anything, but then Mitsuhide is still here.]

My lord! [he's calling out despite himself.] Please - fall back, let me - !"

[Nobunaga's dream-self responds almost instantly... and it is not in the way Hideyoshi is likely expecting.]

[He turns around and lashes out, attacking Hideyoshi in the same way he had been attacking Mitsuhide. Mitsuhide gasps, startled, and steps back, guard still up. He does not seem surprised to see Hideyoshi, considering the threads of Yamazaki present here, but Nobunaga attacking one of the most devoted of his retainers?]

Lord Nobunaga! [It is almost screamed.] Why? Why would you? Why did you?

[Nobunaga laughs.]

You know, Mitsuhide. [He says, turning his attention back to the dark-haired man.] You have always known. Come... embrace that knowledge...

Edited 2012-05-04 13:25 (UTC)

Lord Nobunaga!

[No - this is not what Hideyoshi expects at all, and not even instinct is enough to move him to check the blow. He stands there dumbly and takes it, and Nobunaga's sword stabs deep, it strike sending him stumbling back as his own weapon falls from his hands. It's only a dream, so why does it still hurt?

He coughs, sways where he stands. Nobunaga is already turning away from him again, toward Mitsuhide. This is Mitsuhide's dream, nothing here is obligated to make sense, nothing ought to be as it is in reality. Except that it is real, this is real, he's really gone, really. And he can't change the past, he can't do anything. He topples forward, on hands and knees in the bloody mud.]

I'm sorry - [he chokes. More blood rises in the back of his throat, and he feels so small and weak and wretched.] I'm sorry - Lord Nobunaga - I'm sorry I wasn't there, I'm sorry, I'm sorry -

[ Everything was changing.

Gracia looks up at the sky, and the rain is all too familiar. It was acid on her skin. It burns her eyes, it was much too real to be just a dream. Or a nightmare. Or a memory.

Maybe it was all of the above.

She ignores the different attire and the soldiers clashing swords. She was fazed at the beginning, worry clogging up her senses, but as she moves closer and closer to the heart of the battlefield, she knew exactly where she was. And while the fire sizzled beyond reason, Gracia wasn't quite sure if it was the heat from the flames that made it difficult to breathe, or something more painful entirely. She reaches out, pushing her way into the darkness, willing herself to be the brightest she could be. Gracia feels him, and she's stepping into a room littered with broken glass. She winces at the pounding on her feet, the drips of blood staining her porcelain skin, but she ignores them. She ignores the fighting, she ignores the screams, she ignores it because she has to help him.

He called her his sun, once. His precious jewel. She would protect him. She would bring the light to him, whether he wanted it or not.

At last, she makes her way to them. And Gracia's eyes are wider than they ever were. The shards on her feet were so deeply embedded that she feels like screaming. So she did. She runs and trips, but the mud does not stop her from moving across the battlefield like a maniac. She screams again, with one arm outstretched, and maybe one arm to grab him is enough to save him too... ]

Father!

[ She stops a few meters away from the two figures that have blessed and haunted her sleepless nights. Her expression did not betray her emotions. It was a horrifying sight. It was all too cruel. All he wanted was a gentle land, a peaceful Japan where no one had to fight. Nobunaga did not deliver. Why was it wrong? Why did no one help them?

Everything was changing.

Gracia feels as if she can't keep up.

She never could. ]

['Father.']

[Mitsuhide, in this dream of memories, cannot recognise Gracia as his child. In his world he had never had a marriage, nevermind a daughter of his own, so in a dream of that time there is no room for a 'daughter.' That does not mean the feelings he has for her as a father, born and grown in Vatheon, do not affect the dream. Because they do.]

[Mitsuhide glances round at her and frowns; he is confused. Nobunaga himself does not spare her a glance, his dark, amused gaze fixed on Mitsuhide still.]

Who..? [Mitsuhide says, voice cracked and low.] You shouldn't be here, child...

[Nobunaga raises his blade. He strikes. Mitsuhide looks back, rolls, stand on his feet. He attacks back, and his sword clashes with Nobunaga's.]

[At the exact moment of the clash, Gracia might well begin to feel something pulling her back. A force without physical presence, which is nevertheless very strong.]

[ Who? Child? Gracia shakes her head, and she finds herself shocked to see them continuing fighting. Blood was dripping from Nobunaga's chest, empty and absent of a beating, gentle heart. A dream, that was what this all was. A dream. A nightmare. Gracia wipes her face with a dirtied sleeve and she feels her feet move on their own. She hears the soft clacking of heels against muddy grounds, eventually moving towards the solid, arid, ruined temple floors that surround her father and his Demon.

She definitely feels the pull. Gracia lets out a surprised sound, and she stumbles after the impact. But still, she watches them fight. She watches his struggle, she watches the pain that surrounds his very being. How could he not want her to help him? All those times he's told her, all those lectures she's received...she couldn't fathom it. Gracia held him so dear, he was her world. And to witness his worst moment, first hand?

Gracia reaches out again, taking a few sure yet shaky steps forward. She won't admit it out loud, but even in a nightmare, Nobunaga still frightened her. ]

Father, please. It's me, it's Tama...[ She takes yet another step forward. It was difficult to move, for one reason or another. ] Please, I'll fight with you.

[The deadlock is broken when Mitsuhide manages to send Nobunaga stumbling back. He spares Gracia another look, confusion and hurt ever present in his gaze.]

[How...]

I don't have...

[Nobunaga steps forward again, interrupting Mitsuhide with a blast of dark energy. It throws Mitsuhide back rather dramatically, sending him right into the side of a building. His reaction to this is loud, a pained cry. Nobunaga laughs in response.]

[And now something else happens. There was no smoke before, the fire apparently burning clean, but there is smoke now. It is not intense at first, but gradually begins to thicken, obscuring the view of anyone who might be trapped in the dream.]

[Meanwhile, the pull on Gracia does not weaken. It only grows stronger.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[073] - [Video/Dream/Interactive]

dream interaction;

dream interaction;

dream interaction;

dream interaction;

dream interaction;

dream interaction;

dream interaction;

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erryday dream shufflin'

you are tagging those dreams LIKE A BOSS

s l o w l y (sob)

I am super slow too, so I CANNOT JUDGE BB o7

I'm so grateful ;_;

Is there room for one alien conqueror in this dream?

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in the dream!

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I guess you could say Mitsuhide did an Adele. Because he Set Fire to the Rain. /HORATIO.GIF

....TERRIBLE BB TERRIBLE XD

IT MADE YOU GIGGLE, ADMIT IT

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