scholar

Historical Fiction, it was written when I was either 14 or 15 so criticism... not so harsh okay? The story evolves over the time I wrote it. It's originally made into five parts but I just merged them. The ending was sadly a bit rushed and I never got around to re-writing it. When the story was scored by some people I knew it ranged from 7/10 - 8.5/10, I hope it's not too-too bad of a reading.

The Fall of the Ouchi



I am the daughter of Yoshtaka Ouchi, I was 12 years old, I don’t remember much of those years, and they seemed so bright. I enjoyed my father’s company. I had many friends in his business. One was Takafusa Sue or at least that’s what he was called then. I knew little to nothing of politics, I just loved hearing about the deeds of many men. I did not know how wrong I was.

In the year 1551, I think it was spring; my father was going through a building frenzy. He built extravagant Districts and built garrisons on the borders. I enjoyed watching the construction. It was made clear that I was not to talk to anyone about who I was, and where I live. I thought it dull. It wasn’t for 4 years that I realized it was for my own protection.

Later in the spring, a messenger from the Mouri, our beloved ally and subordinate, arrived. I do not recall his name, only that he wanted help in destroying the Sagara. My father gladly accepted. I should know, I was behind a curtain in the background. He left with due haste. Then I slipped out from behind the curtain and asked my father why the Mouri needed our help. His reply was kind and tender as always, “They are our allies, we need to protect and help our allies, if we don’t why would they help us?” With that I retired. When summer came, my father lead a campaign against the Akikuki, He defeated them swiftly Taking Akisuki Castle.

In the summer the Otomo came to ally with us. They were so small and insignificant, my father agreed. Little did he know he would regret that decision for the rest of his days. The Otomo then take a Sagara strong hold Hito Castle.

Harvest brought a great abundance of food to our lands. And we feasted most nights. An envoy from the Capital came by; I wasn’t allowed to see who he was. I wasn’t even told what he was doing here. He gave my father an honorary title. I did not know what.

Another one of the things I was allowed to do with my father is read in on what our spies on informants have gathered. It seems the Miyoshi has taken a Hoganji stronghold, eliminating them from the south. My father was surprised, he immediately sent a messenger to the Miyoshi, what the told the messenger to say is unknown to me even at this day. All I know is the following week the Miyoshi made an attempt on the Capital, however trough the clever planning of Yo****eru Ashikaga, the capital was defended.

Then winter came, it felt much like autumn in every way, but I hear strange tales of frozen water coming from the skies. When I ask if it was true, my father seemed displeased. I knew I must have said something wrong so I left him. One of his pages was there, a native of Hokkaido. He was killed later that day. I don’t know why, however I think it had something to do with frozen water. Soon the very next day reports of Otomo capturing most of Kyushu was starting to worry my father.

More and more he seemed distressed by events of Otomo, then The Otomo captured a food hold in Kyushu and Ichijo surrendered to the Otomo soon after. This I believe was in summer, when after much silence from our informants, we heard the Yo****eru has been attacked repeatable by both the Asakura, who claimed most of the north, and the Miyoshi who have had no success. The Hojo have eliminated The Ota and Satami. Finally my father could take no more, he attacked the Amago. Taking a few strong holds, and then destroyed the Sagara, latter I found out that we only helped the Mouri take those lands. Later I would much appreciate the Mouri, now however I started to fear them.

My father then listened in on the realms of other men. Yo****eru is still holding strong in the Capital even now in mid winter, he survived so many assaults. However the Otomo is getting more and more land, he attacks and defeats warlord after warlord, he soon unifies Kyushu and Shikoku leaving only the Ouchi alone and the Kono. The Miyoshi is now on its last legs. The Oda previously thought a fool by my father gained the support of Dosan Saito. He conquered most of the lands of Owari and to the south west; only Suzuki managed to stay free. My father sent Warukata Sue, previously known as Takafusa, my friend, as an envoy to Nobunaga. We came to offer gifts and an alliance; he accepted the alliance however refused the gifts. It was a sad site.

The Takeda and Hojo then went into a marriage alliance. We sent our regards to the Hojo, Ujiyasa accepted, Harunobu of the Takeda did not. Later we saw, the very next month Ujiyasa took all of the Satake and Imagawa.

The Miyoshi were conquered the very next month by The Otomo. We sent Warukata again to save the alliance, he gladly accepted. We then let our guard down. Soon we noticed that the Shimazu were still in Kyushu, this surprised me greatly having been told that the entirety of Kyushu belonged to Otomo Sorin. My father then hushed me saying he was too minor of a daimyo to matter. Latter the Shimazu attacked The Otomo, taking one fief. Sorin replied by whipping them off the face of the world.

n the Spring of 1553, my entire clan was gathered at Yamaguchi Palace. It was a joyous occasion, my elder sister, Chico, is going to be married to Takakage Mouri, the son of Monatori Mouri. Coming of the age of 18, she is supposed to be sent to the Mouri, However this year the wedding is at Yamaguchi. My father was over protective of his daughter, he took Takakoge to another room, supposedly to talk to him about Chico. Chico was a beautiful young lady, she had flowing long black hair, fair skin, deep brown eyes. She was just beautiful. I on the other hand, 14 now, was anything but that. My hair was a mess, my hands were caked hard by dirt. I was not the type of girl to be wed. I just didn’t really want to. My father and mother often scolded me harshly.

When I went to see my sister, I was stopped by Takayasa Niho. He is a man I greatly detested; he gave no whims to women. He especially despises me, if he was not good at his job I would tell me father to get rid of him. He told me that my sister was a married women and of another house now and I could not see her. This made me mad. I shouted these words at that man, “My sister and I are of the same mother and father, we carry the bonds of blood, you sir are nothing but a mindless peasant who my father lead into his home, and now you deny a member of his family presence with another of the same kin! You are the shame of all men!” I was slapped across the face, had I not have made such a ruckus I could have been killed, but luckily Motoharu Mouri stopped this man rather directly. He took his blade and shoved it through his back. I remember blood smear the floor, and carry on drapes. The rugs were forever stained red.


Takayasa fell to the floor in front of me. He was surprisingly still breathing. Motoharu would have finished him if it were not for me. I yelled “Stop!” as I said that men from all over came rushing in, soon someone tried an attempt on Motoharu’s life, it was my father. I rushed to stop him but he turned and knocked me to the floor. I lay unconscious for a week.

When I finally awoke it was the dead of night. I heard yelling in another room. I went to see who it was. When I left the room, I saw a dim light. There was a few guards near the entrance to the hallway, but I was quite enough to not let them notice. I looked through a curtain to see who was yelling. It was my father, and Mononari Mouri, I could barely hear what they were saying something about war… Although it was unmistakable that they were yelling at each other, but it was hard to hear what they were saying. Then I hear a scream from the room I just left. It was a nurse. “The Miss is Missing the Miss is Missing!!!!” she screeched. Immediately my father was running towards me, I moved out of site. He then went to the nurse, he grabbed her by her arms and yelled at her, I could not tell what exactly though. I held my head in my hands. I held tightly, eventually I blacked out.

I woke up with my father over me; I was not sure of how many days I was out this time. I asked my father what happened. He replied with a sigh, he put his large hand on my head and said, “Sorry my child, I…” I stared at him most peculiarly. He left latter on. I found no words to speak. When I asked my nurse how long have I been asleep, she said 4 weeks. “Four weeks…” “How!?” I yelled. "You had a fever, it was almost certain you would die..." said the nurse. I stared at her in disbelief but i felt ill. I went back to sleep.

Days passed, days turned into weeks and then into months… Finally half a year went by when I dared enter my father’s court. There had been news of Yo****eru’s Demise. He was the shogun for a multitude of years, he apparently lost in a sneak attack by the Otomo while he was mourning the loss of his son, Nobunao. He died in fire as his castle was burned to the ground. The Otomo was now considered a traitor by all except my Father and the Satake. Soon I grew the courage to ask my father about the Mouri, the reply I received shaped my life forever

Winter in my father’s court was miserable. It was cold, dull, and there was the occasional outburst from Harukata Sue, pleading for war. My father always replied with an “I’ll consider it...” look. Though close friends in childhood, Sue is getting more and more aggravated everyday. We have not gained a single territory in over 2 years. The Otomo have over 15. We are now dwarfed by their overwhelming power and authority. However we have maintained good relations with them. The Mouri on the other hand is another problem altogether.

6 years ago, about half a year after my sister was married to Takakage Mouri, I found out that my father wanted to kill Motoharu Mouri. Motoharu was then adopted into the Kikkawa Clan. Relations soured with them over the course of a month. Takayasa the man, who assaulted me, somehow survived being stabbed. He wanted revenge for his, how did he put it, “dishonor”. I however was glad he was stabbed, when I tried to explain my situation with my father, he rebuffed me. He even took his side! Also my sister’s husband changed his name to Takakage Kobayakawa. Latter on that very same year, Motonari’s son, Mouri Takamoto died. He blames the Otomo. When we tried to work out peace between the two, Motonari got angry. He broke off most of the ties all those except marrage.

However, all this would change in an instant. On the New Year, The Otomo came in droves, a sneak attack came at dawn. Before we knew it all of the Kyushu terratories were at seige. Takayasa Niho, the man who almost killed me, was defending at Tachibanayama Castle. We were hopless. My father immediately sent troops to relieve him.

That night, we received word that the troops sent to defend were routed. Having not even made it to help Takayasa. My father was worried, passing. Then Harukata Sue confronted my father. They were child hood friends, now there is nothing but bitter contempt. Sword in hand he walked to my father, taking his gesture I ran in front of him. The only thing I remember about that night was Harukata carring me. To where? At the time I did not know, all I did was drift back into a slumber.

The next day I awoke, I was in a lavashly collored room, however I did not know where. It had not beared even a slightly familier tone. I walked out of the room, barefoot, and in a night gown. I encountered a sleeping figure, just outside my room. It was Harukata Sue, then I remembered being carried by him.

I smiled at him, and walked quitley over him. When I found another room, I almost entered it. I heard something… It was My father’s voice, I turned and followed the voice. I soon came across a room where his voice was coming from. Instead of rushing in I listened. I heard mumbled voices, one was unmistacable my father. There was another voice, I did not know who was speaking, but he refered to my father as, Yoshiaki Otomo. I felt a tremble when I began to think of the name, it was an old name. A name my father long abandoned. Who would have known the name? Only my father, my “grandfather” and the mouri knew the name. Then I thought of the Otomo clan, lead by Sorin. Could that be the man behind the door. My heart raced.

Then someone tapped my shoulder, I looked back and saw a familiar face. I struggled to remember who he was. But he told me to go back to my room, I grudgingly obeyed, when I reached the door to my room I noticed harukata was not there. I asked the man where he was. He gave me a strange look and left me at my room. I pondered this for a moment, and then my thoughts drifted back to my father. I about to leave when Harukata entered my room. I asked why I was here, he did not reply. I asked him why my father was here, and he gave me a grim expression. He handed me a letter and left the room.

The letter read, “my dearest child, I am afraid I have had a falling out with your father. I am leaving today, by the time you read this letter I will either be escaping from this castle, or be caught and killed. Aparently Takayasa Niho has abandoned your father after the siege, he surrendered. I then confronted your father about this matter last night, he scolded me. He nearly killed me! However slander of a officer is punishable. I offered my head if it was false. Now he left to the mouri. He left you at the palace, I carried you there for fear of another attack. Once I brought you here, takayasa Niho came back to your father. Now he will never believe me, so it is now your decision to report this letter now, or leave me be. Sorry my child, I will never see you again.”

After reading the letter I fell down, crying. I kept true to my friend and never told, or at least not for 3 years. However my future was altered forever.

scholar

Four months passed since we moved into the Mouri lands. I repeatedly asked my father why we have moved here. He always gave a sorrowful expression. It was in the middle of spring when my father came to me with an important proposal.

He wanted me to acquaint myself with Motoharu Mouri. I found this surprising figuring Takafusa is intent on killing him. It must have been the fact that we are surrounded on all sides by the Otomo and Asakura. When I said I had already met Motoharu, my father looked at me. With a bewildered countenance, he asked when. When I said when Takayasa attacked me, he seemed to gather himself back to his normal self. I agreed on his proposal.

4 days latter I encountered Motoharu, formally dressed, he asked me for an audience. So I agreed. He led me to a grand voluptuous room. In the room there were 4 servants and 1 page. He asked me to sit down. I sat down on a finely woven mat. Only after he saw me comfortable did he sit as well. One of the maidens put down a cup in front of my. Another came with 2 boxes of tea. I chose the one on the left. Motoharu chose likewise. Then the page came in with hot water. He poured it into our cups. With steady hands not a single drop fell.

We chatted a bit. I waited for my tea to cool. Motoharu, though he came close to drinking, waited for me. I found my self effectuated with the aroma of the tea and the man across from me. Together we talked and talked. What seemed like minutes must have been hours for when I finally took a sip of my tea it was stone cold. When I looked around 3 of the maidens have left. Motoharu was the first to say its late. I could not believe him. It seemed like she had only been there for a little while.

Well, I was proven wrong for when I left his room, it was dark. The fullness of the moon gave light rivaling the sun. I found no trouble getting to my room. When I entered my room, I found a dark figure in the shadows. I was about to ask for help when he spoke. It was my father. He apparently was waiting for hours. He asked me all about my visit with Motoharu. I told him he was the perfect gentleman. My father seemed to disapprove of my visit taking so long. I could agree with him. Most would think it impossible for a noble man, and a nobleman’s daughter to stay together for over 8 hours and only talked.

After pelting me with questions for the better part of an hour he left me to my thoughts. I knew he was going to ask Motoharu about the meeting. I was sure our stories would be the same. So I went to bed, gathering my thoughts.

Early next morning my father came into my chamber. He seemed to have a great big grin on his face though he would never tell me admit it. He then said that I was to stay with the Mouri as he goes back to our native lands. I was at first shocked. I would never have thought of staying with the Mouri. I thought about it for a while. I knew that this was to ensure a loyalty to the Mouri. Much like the small boy that was in our lands. I think it was Terumoto Mouri the son of the diseased heir to the Mouri lands. After about 5 minutes of quite in room, I was the first to break the silence. I said I would be honored to stay with the Mouri. What else could I say, sorry father I like the Mouri but I’m not sure if I am willing to spend the next five years with them. I would later learn to love that decision,

The next year I will lose something more precious than anything that I have ever owned

Three months passed by. Being a virtual prisoner in the Mouri castle I was restricted to very unimportant areas. Besides Motoharu’s occasional visit, and the extremely infrequent visits of Motonari Mouri, I was alone. Well not entirely alone. I had the letters my father wrote to me every day without fail. And the single maiden I was left with. She was nice, fair, and pretty. She kept good company that is when there was no one around.

One day a letter from my father didn’t come. I was surprised; I had so been looking forward to another letter. Then another day passed and no letter came. Another, and another, now I was worried. I requested a chance to visit my father. I was most rudely rebuked from passage; in fact my restrictions became even more restricting.

After nearly a month without a single letter, one single man entered my room. I was surprised and nearly called for help. Then I recognized who it was, Harukata Sue. He was badly hurt. His arm was left limp on his left side. His face cut and bruised. He was dressed in armor, his ancestral armor. I tried to ask him what he was doing here; he only reached out his hand. It took me a moment to see that there was a piece of paper in his hand. I reached and took the paper from his hand. I was intent on it. It was covered in blood, and it seemed to be a letter. I could make out the creases and the seal. It was from my father. I was about to open it when I heard a crash.

Harukata Sue was on the floor, revealing a slash wound on his back. It was deep, almost cutting the bone of his spine. I shrieked. Immediately a guard came to my room. Then the maiden and more men soon followed her. Most feared the man, barely breathing on the floor. I cried for help. Not one ever approached the man. After nearly 20 minutes of crying for help, Takakage Kobayakawa came into the room. He was armed, sword tightened firmly on his side. He reached for his sword.

I shrieked in barely coherent language, No! He hand stayed from his blade. He looked at me most peculiarly. I could not look at him any longer, I just stared at my friend Harukata Sue. A man who was almost like a relative. He knew me since birth. And I knew him for as long as I could remember. Always a warm and compassionate man. I still shrieked for help. Finally another man came. He was adorned with the finest armor, and the most finest of blades. I recognized him. Motoharu Kikkawa.

I begged for his help. I cried for it. I demanded it. Instead, he drew his sword and approached Harukata. I feared he might try to kill the already near dead Harukata. I threw myself over the man. I wept over the near dead man. I cried. I cried for what seemed like forever. I even must have cried myself to sleep.

I awoke, I remembered only the horror of yesterday. Harukata was not on the ground, and I was in bed. I got up and raced towards the door with due haste. I entered the hallway. I raced down the palace corridors. I found myself in another chamber. I realized I was not supposed to be in this room. I quickly left the room. When I left I heard voices, small faint voices. I tried to find the source of the voices.

I tried to find it, everywhere I turned it got weaker. Soon I realized that the sound came from below. I was unaware of any basement or sub floor. I was on the first floor. I put my head to the ground to see if I could hear more. I heard faint barely coherent voices. I only got one phrase “going to die”. I shot up. And raced to my room, I tried to barricade myself in that room. I moved furniture and everything I could find to block the room’s entrance. I hear a voice, plain as day. It came from behind me, I turned and in the shadows there was a figure.

I turned and backed myself against the barricade I made. I blocked my only escape rout. The shadowy figure spoke again. This time I recognized the voice. It was Motoharu! I asked why he was here. Why he tried to kill Harukata. He simply gave silence. I pelted the man with more and more questions. Unleashing my rage with verbal tosses. Finally he spoke. He said a few words, very few. He told me that Harukata staged a coup with the Otomo. He killed your father and he was the one who nearly killed Harukata.

I called him a liar. I said Harukata and my father are childhood friends. They were almost like brothers he would never betray him. I then said that if any man ever betrayed my father it would be Takayasa. He was the traitor.

Motoharu then said he was the one who came and told us these events, how could he be lying when others backed his story. I asked who. He said he could vogue for the man. I was shocked. I could not believe his words. Motoharu then got up and moved close to me. He hugged me. Then he stood up and moved the barricade over away from the door. He left me alone in the dark room.

I lost my father. That is all I could say. I lost my home as well. I went to lied down. I had a dream, one that was quite unsettling. The Mouri mansion was in flames. Takayasa was standing in the mansion laughing. Sword him hand he walked to my chambers. Motoharu tried to stop him but was cut in half. I was petrified by Takayasa. He then stabbed me. I awoke covered in sweat.

I awoke to news that Harukata Sue committed seppuku. I looked at the ceiling. Tears filled my eyes. However I put up a strong face for my dead friend. I went to his funeral a day latter. Actually there would be no funeral if not I had convinced Motoharu to do it for me. I burned incense. I stayed at the funeral for 10 hours. Till the sun went down, and the men needed to burry him.

With the death of Harukata and my father I was left as an unimportant person in the Mouri mansion. I was no longer a threat. The only surviving Ouchi was a small boy. My brother in fact. Too young to even talk he was brought to me. I was not even aware that I had a brother. He did not have a name. I named him Harukata. Harukata Ouchi. Another even with the deaths. Motoharu Kikkawa made frequent visits. Soon everyday he came to my door. This continued for 4 long years. We fell in love.

Together we made visits to far off lands. I was called his mistress, yet nothing ever happened. He never touched me. I saw the lands of Shikoku when they were captured. The Mouri was now fighting back against the Otomo. We crushed most of their forces. In fact last month we finally annihilated them.

My brother has been granted control of my father’s palace. He is only 5 so he needs my guidance and that of Motoharu. Oh, I forgot to say that this is a tale from my eyes. I never once read that letter, the letter Harukata died to give me. The Ouchi have fallen and the Mouri are rising from the ashes. I forgot to tell you my name. It is Kiko, Kiko Kikkawa.

And so ends the Tale of the Ouchi. However the rise of the three houses of Mouri is another Tale.

Rosi

Hi Scholar, I read this the other day but forgot to comment on. Well the language is a bit inconsistent, okey-dokey in places, flows well in others, but since you were really young when you wrote this I suppose it's ok. If you were to rewrite it now it would flow a lot better I'm sure. I think the best part of this write-up is the story itself, it's pacy and has enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. And you seem to have captured the ambience of political intrigue well too.

So no, I don't think it is "too too bad", in fact quite the contrary.

P.S. Why is Japan suddenly so popular in historical fiction? Is it a new trend or been like that for a while?