Welcome to Gaia! ::

Mitsuhide awoke to find himself in a stately room. Looking around he was a little surprised to be alive at all. The paper doors opened slightly and a girls head poked in. noting that he was awake she blushed and disappeared behind the door. Waiting for something to happen Mitsu better acquainted himself with his surroundings. Gold and emerald tiling was everywhere. Rich dark green carpets cover the floors and hangings of golden dragons forming the words of ancient wisdom lined the walls.

Almost like a sudden gust of wind the girl returned with a dozen others. With out a sound they ushered his to a bath. Bathing him with oils and scrubbing him clean with deft precision. Realizing that they must be servants he allowed the soundless girls to do their work with out disturbing them. They were beautiful, but Mitsuhide adhered to his code. His code demanded respect for women and servants. As he left the baths the girls clothed him in a rich purple robes. Just as they finished a dark presence filled the room. The girls fled like doves before a hungry cat.

His mother entered the room. Wearing her full ceremonial armor she was a sight to behold. The armor was a master work. Gold plates of armor over blue silk padding spun by giant spiders and woven by the the finest tengu weavers. She was a walking goddess of battle in the flesh. "Mitsuhide. Son. The Empress awaits your oath of loyalty. In her presence act with the up most respect. Assume your true from at all times. Speak only when asked or at your own peril. "

Mistuhide nodded in assent. The floor boards creaked as he suddenly put on a hundred pounds of muscle. His Skin turned a deep black while his hair shaded to a deep crimson. As two mighty horns grew from his brow A blood red third eye opened in the center of his forehead." As you say Shogun."

Following his mother through several passageways resembling the room he had been in they came to a heavily guarded room. As the guards let them pass Mitsu was instructed to kneel in the center of the room with his eyes downcast. The empress was anounced and he was called to pledge his oath yet again. As he recited the words he caught his first glimpse at the Empress in his third eye.

In the cursed orb he could see a scaled nine foot tall cross between a human and a dragon. Great antlers brushed the sealing and hair and tentacles sprouted from her head to fall all around her like rivers. Her green and gold scales reflected a light that was not of this world. The sheer magical power reflecting off her was awe inspiring. Then the frighteningly beautiful thing spoke in a voice filled with a thousand chiming bells. " Rise my new lord."

What his human eyes beheld was far less impressive. The empress appeared fully human. Silky black hair and deep green eyes framed a face of porcelain skin. Her rich green robe reviled a body that was motherly yet young at the same time. Flawless beauty that could make a man kill thousands to just look upon her, but still just human. Yet the voice was the same when she asked the question that would shape Mitsuhide's life. " Why did you do so much to get here? "

" You Eternal Light. I did it because of a vision that came to both I and my closest adviser. We saw a world without people such as us. By us I mean the non-humans that make up most of Nippon. Before you correct me I am including even those with a drop of blood inhuman. " She held a hand up at this. " Troubling words indeed my child. Did the vision give a solution?" With a deadly serous face Mitsu told her of his two fates. " Yet you rejected both. Did you not? So what will you do now? " She asked with an insightful smile. " Yes Your Light. If you would see fit I would like to take my People to the mainland to crush the enemy now while it is weak. We would expand the empire and at the same time liberate our kin on the mainland."

The glorious creature in his third eye sized him up for a moment. " You would go so far? Fight the powerful Empire of the main land with so few? Why?" Now it was the Oni lords turn to smile. " It's the reason I was born." She though on this for a moment. " Very well if the Shogun thinks it wise then you shall see battle. " With out a word the Shogun nodded her head.

The Oni left a week later with several regiments of troops. Their boats sailed into the setting sun. The cries of Nippon Banzai could be heard for days afterward.

( wow so much writing for just a meeting. ow)