Akechi Mitsuhide Karen Aijo/Bond Story

*He defeats Oda Nobunaga in the Honnoji Incident and rules over the nation for a time until he's defeated by Hashiba Hideyoshi in the Battle of Yamazaki. The reason why Mitsuhide raised a rebellion is still unknown to this day. From "Sengoku Legend."*

* Chapter 1
* Chapter 2
* Bond Level 15 Talk
* Bond Level 30 Talk

Enigmatic General

 **Karen:**"On June 2, 1582, Oda Nobunaga's vassal, Akechi Mitsuhide, started a rebellion at Honnoji."

 **Karen:**"The Akechi army struck and surrounded Nobunaga in his sleep. Realizing that he couldn't escape, Nobunaga set fire to the temple and committed suicide."

 **Karen:**"Why did Mitsuhide start a rebellion? This is the biggest enigma in the Sengoku period. The truth behind the Honnoji Incident is still shrouded in mystery till this day..."

 **Karen:**Hmm...

 **Karen:**I borrowed the materials Jun-Jun and Mahiru-chan recommended, but nothing is sinking in.

 **Karen:**There are so many different Mitsuhide-san written by different people that I don't know which one to base mine on...

 **Karen:**You can call Mitsuhide-san elusive or mysterious... I still don't know what kind of person he was.

 **Karen:**Act 5 of "Sengoku Legend" is my performance with Hikari-chan. Nobunaga-san waits for Mitsuhide-san in the burning Honnoji...

 **Karen:**I wonder if Hikari-chan is having trouble with her role too?

 **Karen:**Hmm... All right! Let's go ask Hikari-chan...

 **Karen:**......

 **Karen:**No... That's a non, non.

 **Karen:**Asking Hikari-chan for advice should be my last resort after I've thought long and hard about it and still can't come up with anything...

 **Karen:**Until then, I'll keep mulling over it by myself, because Hikari-chan is playing the role of my enemy.

 **Karen:**And I'm Mitsuhide-san!

 **Karen:**None of these Mitsuhide-san feel right.

 **Maya:**Are those reference materials for Akechi Mitsuhide?

 **Karen:**Oh, hi, Tendo-san. Yeah. I'm reading the stuff people recommended to me.

 **Maya:**Literature on the truth behind the Honnoji Incident? Looks interesting.

 **Karen:**I've read everything from cover to cover, but none of them feel right.

 **Maya:**Mitsuhide is full of mysteries, so it might be difficult to analyze his character through reference materials.

 **Karen:**I suppose you're right. I've read so much, but nothing is sticking.

 **Maya:**Then how about going back to the script for a change?

 **Karen:**Huh?

 **Maya:**The script carries a lot of hints for playing a role. When you read the script, what kind of person did Mitsuhide feel like to you?

 **Karen:**Well... The Mitsuhide-san I saw... At first, I thought he was a coward.

 **Maya:**Why?

 **Karen:**Because he was trembling in front of Nobunaga-san. He was probably still hesitant about starting a rebellion against his lord.

 **Maya:**Why is that?

 **Karen:**Because Nobunaga-san was the one who gave him, a ronin, a castle. Mitsuhide-san worked so, so hard for Nobunaga-san.

 **Karen:**But before he knew it, Nobunaga-san had changed. Nobunaga-san started doing terrible things, so he could rule the nation.

 **Karen:**If he doesn't stop Nobunaga-san now, the nation will be ruined... That's what helped Mitsuhide-san make up his mind.

 **Karen:**He didn't want to see an even more cold-blooded Nobunaga-san.

 **Maya:**...Looks like you have your answer already.

 **Karen:**Huh...?

 **Maya:**The Mitsuhide you talk about is always watching Nobunaga.

 **Maya:**Which means Kagura-san probably holds the key to your role.

 **Karen:**Hikari-chan?

 **Maya:**If you know Kagura-san's Nobunaga, then you will see which direction you need to take your role in.

 **Karen:**I see... I thought since Hikari-chan and I are enemies, it would be better to not talk to each other... But I guess not.

 **Karen:**I should be talking to her more! Because Mitsuhide-san has always been chasing after Nobunaga-san!

 **Karen:**Thanks, Tendo-san! I'll go talk to Hikari-chan!

 **Maya:**She should be practicing by herself in the rehearsal room.

 **Karen:**Thank you! See you later!

 **Maya:**Heh heh. It looks like humanity was shown to the rival.

 **Maya:**I should rehearse with Saijo-san, so that we won't lose to their Honnoji Incident.

Mitsuhide and Nobunaga

 **Hikari:****(Oda Nobunaga)**
"Listen, Mitsuhide. As the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven, this carnage is for the sake of the nation. So I can put an end to these chaotic times..."

 **Hikari:****(Oda Nobunaga)**
"It is my duty to defeat the evil and bring peace to this nation."

 **Hikari:**...No. This is the same Nobunaga in everyone's mind.

 **Hikari:**The cruel and ruthless Demon King... No matter how many times I try, Nobunaga's violent image overshadows everything.

 **Hikari:**I need to find the Nobunaga that only I can be...

 **Karen:**Student Number 1. Karen Aijo is here!

 **Hikari:**Karen...

 **Karen:**Hikari-chan... I need your advice on something.

 **Hikari:**Advice?

 **Karen:**It's about my role.

 **Hikari:**But we're enemies, so...

 **Karen:**Yes. That's why I also thought it'd be better if we didn't discuss it...

 **Karen:**But the Mitsuhide I want to play won't... line up?... without your Nobunaga-san.

 **Hikari:**You mean it won't be complete.

 **Karen:**Yes. It won't be complete!

 **Karen:**Mitsuhide-san has always been chasing after Nobunaga-san! That's why I think he's been influenced. His personality, actions, way of thinking – everything!

 **Hikari:**......

 **Karen:**Hikari-chan?

 **Hikari:**What's your impression of Nobunaga?

 **Karen:**Huh?

 **Hikari:**How do you see him?

 **Karen:**Well...

 **Hikari:**Is he a cruel and heartless Demon King? Or a hero who starts a new era?

 **Karen:**Hmm... I suppose he gives me a more gentle feeling.

 **Hikari:**Gentle?

 **Karen:**Yeah. The Nobunaga-san in "Sengoku Legend" was trying to create a stronger nation. And it wasn't for himself, but for everyone's sake.

 **Karen:**I feel like he pretended to be a Demon King to put an end to the chaotic times and unify the nation.

 **Hikari:**He pretended...

 **Karen:**He doesn't care if he's hated, as long as it's for the greater good of the people. It must've been really tough on him.

 **Karen:**But he had to keep up the pretense. Even if no one understands him... For everyone's sake.

 **Hikari:**......

 **Karen:**That's why I think Nobunaga-san is actually a really kind person!

 **Hikari:**...Yes.

 **Hikari:**Thanks, Karen. I can kind of see the Nobunaga I want to portray now.

 **Karen:**Really?! I'm glad!!

 **Karen:**Now what about Mitsuhide-san? What do you think about him?

 **Hikari:**I think...

 **Hikari:**I think rather than being fueled by revenge, he actually really loved and admired Nobunaga. That's why he tried to stop him.

 **Karen:**And started the Honnoji Incident?

 **Hikari:**Yeah. Because he didn't want to see Nobunaga change even more.

 **Hikari:**Nobunaga and Mitsuhide were very strongly aware of one another...

 **Karen:**But a misunderstanding happened somewhere.

 **Hikari:**If they had talked over things more, then the Honnoji Incident could've been avoided.

 **Karen:**There are no ifs in history, but there could have been a future where they aimed to control the nation together hand in hand.

 **Hikari:**Yeah.

 **Karen:**I'm glad I talked to you. I feel like I understand Mitsuhide-san better now.

 **Hikari:**Karen, let's do it.

 **Karen:**Okay! \*inhale\*

***"I wish to be here with my lord..."***

***"Then let's act out our ending."***

***"With the burning Honnoji as my stage... How satisfying."***

**Karen & Hikari:**"Onward!"

 **Karen:**There are over fifty theories on the truth behind the Honnoji Incident! Why are there so many!?

 **Karen:**My Mitsuhide-san didn't start the Honnoji Incident for revenge, but to stop Nobunaga-san.

 **Karen:**When the person you admire starts going down the path of evil in order to rule the nation... If it were me, I wouldn't be able to stand it.

 **Karen:**That's why he risks his life to stop Nobunaga-san! Even if it ends them...