Making a God of War (Uesugi: Legednary, Domination)

[Maltz]

Ashina Yaya (蘆名夜也)
Born in 1525 (currently 20 years old). The daughter of Ashina Morikiyo. She is referred to as "the most beautiful woman in northeastern Japan". However, other than being beautiful, she is an average girl in everything else.

***

Yamamura Sadako: (Wow, she is pretty.) "Greetings, Miss Yaya. I am Yamamura Sadako. Please just call me sister Sadako "
Ashina Yaya: "Greetings, sister Sadako. What is this Beauty Pageant in Kyoto?"

Sadako: "The Emperor wishes to hold a special Beauty Peagent contest across Japan. I am leading a group of special comissioners who are in charge of promoting the event and collecting registrations from qualified ladies. The conditions are: Age 16 and olrder, good look, good talents, good personality, no bad habits, no criminal records, never married, and never had a child without marriage. How about Miss Yaya join the contest, too? The transportation to and from Kyoto and accomodations will be fully reinbursed. Should you win the contest, you can expect to marry at least a level-3 ranked high officer, maybe even the next Emperor!"

Yaya: "Thank you, sister Sadako. May I be honest with you? I am actually an average girl who happens to have a popular look. But deep in my heart I know I am far worse comapred to many other girls. Some girls are prudent, but I frequently go on a shopping spree. Some girls are cunning, but I frequently draw blanks and have no idea of what people talk about. Some girls are polite, but I speak my mind without thinking and frequently cause awkward situations. I know I don't have a chance in this competition... Now I am 20 years old, so I just want to find a reliable man to settle down. I cannot dream about being the wife of a high officer or even the Queen of Japan."

Sadako: "How humble Miss Yaya is. To tell the truth, I have seen many bad girls, the greedy, the shrewish, the ambitious... they are everywhere. That's why the divorce rate climbs so high... to 2% now. The men are not better! Many hold no manner, no ideal, no determination, no respect for wives... that's why I expelled my useless huband!"

Yaya: "What a determination! Does sister Sadako have any recommendation for picking the right husband? I heard there are some emissaries here in Kurakawa Castle. Maybe my father will pick one of their daimyos..."

Sadako: "I think the best husband is one who not only holds an good ideal, but also follows it in his every step. Didn't the Buddha say "matching the goal and the way is greatness"? This kind of man would be the most reliable."

Yaya: "Yes. But now we are deep in the wars. Men all swallow their promises, especially those who are attracted to physical beauty, for they cannot imagine what beauty will turn into after 20 years. All they care about is young women's body. There is an old Chinese saying that "beauty brings disaster". Is my beauty a curse to me? Am I destined to marry a man who only cares about fortune and poessession?"

Ashina Yaya weeps in the arms of Yamamura Sadako.

Sadako: "Yes. If I could travel back to the past, I would never have married that bastard... he had an affair with our housemaid! What an a*ole! I shall curse him! Curse him! He will die a horrible death in SEVEN DAYS!"

Yaya: " What a terrible curse from sister Sadako..."
Sadako: "Oh yeah. Did Yaya hear about the new clan lord of Echigo, Nagao Kagetora?"

Yaya: "The news just reached Fukushima a few days ago - he defeated his elder brother's army, right? If a man can disregard the order of brothers, this Kagetora must be just one of those terrible men out there?"

Sadako: "Actually he is not... I have a younger sister Maoko, who works in Echigo. She tells me that Nagao Kagetora is a great person. He was elected by his clan officers to replace his incompetent brother. Kagetora aims to become a righteous model in Sengoku Jidai. He is honest, selfless, considerate, observative, couragerous, and he likes to listen to criticisms. Rumor says that he is the avatar of Bishamonten, the god of war!"

Yaya: "Wow. Sounds like a rare breed! If what sister Sadako says is true... but then I am just a mortal with all kinds of weakness. How can I match to this deity-like man? And the Bishamonten would not bother thinking about getting married..."

Sadako: "Yeah... "Maybe the rumor is a little exaggerating. If Miss Yaya is interested, isn't Echigo right beside Fukushima? It is easy to see whether the rumor about Nagao Kagetora is true. I am getting back to Kyoto through Echigo anyway. We can travel together to Kasugayama Castle. My sister Maoko will accomodate you from there."

Yaya: "Thank you so much! I am 20 years old, so I do not have to report my trips to father anymore..."