Past which resulted in the present
Chapter 1
Jeanne walked on the castle's halls. She tried to find Nobunaga because Jeanne wanted to ask would Nobunaga teach her more about the eastern swordmanship. Because Nobunaga wasn't using his giant war armor, The Fool, he must be somewhere else in the castle.
Jeanne was just going to pass the kitchen when something very fast rushed out of the kitchen. Jeanne gasped and jumped backwards for surprise. She only saw flash of reddish brown color which disappeared behind the corner just when very angry chef rushed out of the kitchen. "Where it is?!" the chef yelled angrily and noticed Jeanne: "Where did it go?!" "Well..." Jeanne started but the chef interrupted rudely: "Whatever. I have more important things to do than run after some thiefing beasts." The chef returned in the kitchen but Jeanne heard some very worrisome words, like "little beast" and "furhat". Jeanne became worried for these words and decided that swordmanship will wait. This is the thing that must talk about with Hideyoshi or else... Jeanne turned and ran to search Hideyoshi.
"Hideyoshi!" Jeanne said while knocking on the door of Hideyoshi's room: "It's me, Ranmaru. Are you there?"
"Ranmaru! Come in!" Hideyoshi's voice said from the room. Jeanne opened the door and entered in the room. Hideyoshi was sitting with a bag on the floor and looked like he was packing. "There is something important I must talk wwith you," Jeanne said after she closed the door. Hideyoshi gave a-charming-smile-in-his-opinion and said: "Is it so important that it can't wait to this evening?" Jeanne snorted and placed her hands on her hips. "Don't misunderstand, Hideyoshi. It's about Asahiko," Jeanne said strictly. Hideyoshi's smile disappeared and he glanced at his futon with question: "Asahiko?"
When hearing its name the small, reddish brown and three tailed kitsune fox sat up on the Hideyoshi's futon, where it lay a moment ago, and tilted its head with questioning look. "That's right," Jeanne said: "Asahiko was stealing food for the kitchen again." Hideyoshi chuckled and scratched behind of the kitsune's ear: "She likes tofu." Like it want confirm the young man's words, kitsune licked its lips. "Seriously, Hideyoshi!" Jeanne snapped: "This isn't a joke! The chef is furious. I heard that he threatened to turn Asahiko into furhat!"
Hideyoshi flinched and turned to stare at Jeanne: "What? That guy doesn't lay even one finger on Asahiko! I will make him regret it if he even think it!" Jeanne sighed and reached her hand to pet Asahiko. "I know what you think. But it would be safer if you would make Asahiko stop stealing for the kitchen," Jeanne said while the kitsune climbed in the her lap: "I understand your reason to steal food to orphaned children but Asahiko steals food only for itself. It must end, Hideyoshi."
Asahiko itself wasn't interested about humans talk. It licked Jeanne's left hand while Jeanne scratched the kitsune with her right hand.
Hideyoshi just snorted and continued packing. "Are you going somewhere?" Jeanne asked. Hideyoshi stopped packing, sighed and turned to look Jeanne with hint of sadness: "I must go to my former home village. The day after tomorrow... is the anniversary of Asahi's death." "R-really? The day after tomorrow?" Jeanne asked carefully. Hideyoshi nodded without saying anything.
"Nobunaga and Mitsuhide, do they know?" Jeanne asked. "Yes, they know. Nobu-sama gave me his permission to go to my home village every year," Hideyoshi told: "It will took 3 days, at most 4 days depending on the time." Suddenly his face lighten up and he turned to face Jeanne: "Hey Ranmaru! Would you like go with me?" "What?" Jeanne asked with surprise. "Yes! You would see my home village and a little bit more about the Star of East. It wouldn't take more than 3 days," Hideyoshi said and tilted his head: "Nobu-sama and Mitsu can take care for thing here. Pleeaseee, Ranmaru."
"Umm..." Jeanne said unsurely and started to think. Jeanne was still a novice with swords so she wasn't very strong with self-defense without hers giant war armor. But Hideyoshi was one of those few people who Jeanne can call as her friends. Moreover, he really cared for those street children... "Fine. If Nobunaga give his permission, I will go with you," Jeanne said. "Great! I will see you with winghorses tomorrow morning!" Hideyoshi said with smile. Jeanne nodded, placed Asahiko on the floor and left Hideyoshi's room to search Nobunaga.
[flashback]
Young Hideyoshi stood in front of the graves od his mother and sister Asahi and rubbed his eyes. Everybody in the village will leave the village because the ground was poor and nutrientless and here was nothing to feed villagers. "Mother... Asahi... I must leave because we don't have food here. Hinata said that we will find a better home for us. I hope that we really find something like that..." Hideyoshi said when woman's voice interrupted him. "Hideyoshi! We are leaving." The voice belonged to Hinata, the woman who took care for Hideyoshi, Asahi and the village's others orphans. Hideyoshi glanced quickly at graves: "Don't worry. When I'm big and strong, I will come back. I promise." After these words Hideyoshi ran to Hinata and other childrens.
[flashback end]