Chapter Two

To say Hideyoshi was angry was an understatement.

He stormed through the boat, pushing people aside as he stomped down the steps, heading for Nene's room.

When he finally made it to Nene's room, he banged on the door, startling her from her sleep.

"Nene! Nene!" he yelled.

The ninja stirred in her sleep, her figure turning to all the noise outside her door while snapping awake.

"Hmm? Are we there yet?" she asked, her brown eyes slightly opening, squinting to the sunlight around her.

She jumped up from her bed, sleep all gone, and began to change into her golden leotard, until Hideyoshi spoke.

"Nene, my love. Didn't I ask you to send for Chacha?"

Kiyomasa opened his door and peeked through, keeping his eyes on the angry Hideyoshi.

Masanori and Mitsunari also looked on.

Nene stopped in the middle of dressing when she stared at the door in confusion.

"That's what the whole commotion was about?" she asked herself.

"Nene! Don't ignore me!" Hideyoshi yelled.

"My lord-" Kiyomasa started, and began to walk out of the room, his topless body glistening with the sweat of an early morning workout.

"Kiyomasa, you idiot." Mitsunari said, slamming his door.

Masanori only wanted to watch.

When Kiyomasa approached Hideyoshi, the monkey growled at him and said,"She's not responding, will you go in there and-"

The door opened.

"Lord Hideyoshi, I apologize for not answering, I was changing."

Kiyomasa frowned. She shouldn't have to explain herself.

Her eyes went from the angry Hideyoshi, to the sweet Kiyomasa and her eyes lit up.

Kiyomasa returned the stare, slight red coloring on his cheeks. But he coughed to combat it, so Hideyoshi wouldn't notice.

"You didn't send for Chacha, did you, Nene?" he asked.

She almost glared at him.

"My lord..." her voice was sweet, yet held a tone of bitterness inside.

Kiyomasa only hoped he wouldn't notice that either.

"I did send for Lady Chacha. Perhaps the message simply didn't reach her. I left her clothes and food before we left for this journey, so is she still taken care of." Nene spoke, in a defeated tone.

Kiyomasa could see right through the lie. He only hoped that Hideyoshi couldn't see how transparent she was.

Smiling, Hideyoshi kissed Nene softly on the cheek, and walked away, whistling a tune, as Nene sighed and held herself at her doorway.

Kiyomasa coughed to get her attention.

She jumped up and looked genuinely surprised when she noticed Kiyomasa there.

"I'm sorry you had to see all that."

Her voice was quiet and devoid of emotion. Just the thought of it killed Kiyomasa.

He lost his voice, all he could do was watch as Nene went back into her room.

But before she could close the door, he entered.

And locked the door behind him.

He could only watch in awe at that tight body as she bent over in that skimpy gold leotard.

Though it looked like she was having trouble tying her leg straps together.

"Kiyomasa? I hate to be a bother, but can you help me?"

His eyes grew wide. So she knew that he entered.

"Of course. What do you need, Lady Nene?"

Then he smacked himself. Like he didn't know. Like he hasn't been watching her.

"I just need you to tie this for me. I'm going on a secret mission again tonight, so I have to make sure everything is perfect."

Slowly, Kiyomasa walked to her, palms shaking. It's not that he's never touched her before; he's hugged her plenty of times when he was younger.

But now, he had fallen completely in love with Nene.

And his palms were shaking in fright and anticipation of touching those gorgeous legs.

He bent down in front of her, forgetting that he was only in a pair of sleeping shorts, and ran his hand up her thigh, looking for the end of her strap.

His hand was completely on fire, and he had to stop himself from feeling the smooth flesh.

Nene followed his fingers as she grabbed into his bare shoulders for leverage.

If only she could feel how wonderfully intimate this scene was.

And yet, he was only helping her.

Then why did it feel so sinful?

"I..I'm sorry to trouble you so, Kiyomasa." she whispered, swallowing thickly.

She wondered if he could hear her heart thumping through her chest.

It was only help.

Why did it feel like pleasure?

Hands that killed tigers. Now they gave her life.

He swallowed thickly as well, tying her straps. He couldn't help but trace the curvature of her hips with his eyes, imprinting in his mind.

"It's no trouble, Lady Nene. I will always be here to help you."

His words through the silent room, hitting the walls and ricochetting into her heart.

"Any woman would be so happy to have you. You're so kind."

He blushed.

"Any lucky woman.." she whispered.

Kiyomasa's ears perked, and he pretended he didn't hear a thing.

When he was finished, she smiled and squeezed his shoulder as if to say thank you.

Then admired her outfit in the mirror.

Stunning couldn't even describe it.

Kiyomasa just couldn't find the right words, he was left breathless.

Wordlessly, she sat on her bed, kicking her feet out, as if to combat the awkward silence.

"So..you say you're going on a secret mission?" Kiyomasa asked, clearing his throat.

"Yes. Lord Hideyoshi asked me to scout the premises and give a report back, so we know what to look for at Odawara." she replied.

He could curse Hideyoshi a thousand times. Damn him for sending his wife into danger like this!

"You don't like the plan?" she asked.

"Hmm? What gives you that idea?" he asked, flustered.

"You're scowling." she said,"remember what I said about making faces like that? It'll get stuck if you're not careful!"

He laughed, causing her to laugh, too, and she watched his muscles vibrate and expand as he laughed again.

Then he grew serious. "I don't like the idea of you going out there alone."

"You needn't worry about me. I'm a highly skilled ninja, it's nothing I can't handle." she said, waiving her hand dismissively.

"But.."

"No buts, Kiyomasa Kato." she scolded.

Kiyomasa flinched like he had just been punished.

"I'd do anything for him." she said, as the two walked to the deck.

There, they found the Tachibana's overlooking the sights, with Muneshige wrapping his arms around his beloved wife, and Ginchiyo blushing and trying to pull his arms off.

Motochika was slumped on a bench wearing his shamisen and surrounded by bottles of alcohol, smelling like a bad hangover.

Around his wrist, he wore Mitsuhide's hair tie, even that was slightly untied.

But even in his sleep, his fingers twitched, and he still played a song.

"How long till landfall?" Muneshige asked when he noticed Kiyomasa and Nene walking around.

By now, Ginchiyo stopped questioning her fashion sense.

Muneshige eyed Kiyomasa's legs and upperwear-a long short-sleeved shirt-"looks like you just got up."

"Lord Hideyoshi's incessant screaming woke me up and I couldn't get back to sleep. Not to worry, we'll be there within the next hour or two."

Muneshige nodded, happy with the reply, when he ran back to Ginchiyo, after noticing how close Yoshihiro Shimazu was standing next to her.

"If we have that much time, I could always make lunch for everyone." Nene said, turning to walk back downstairs.

But Kiyomasa grabbed her arm, stoping her. She looks at his hand as if it were burning her, and he quickly let go.

You could cut the tension with a knife..

"Take a breather, let the maids do it. Relax." he said,"besides.."

They walked to a bench, over looking the ocean,"..you need to save up all your energy for your night mission."

Not that he still liked the idea. He hated the idea of Nene putting herself in danger.

And not to mention that crazy Fuma ninja running around.

"I didn't think I'd find myself lectured by you. Perhaps you're right." she said, crossing her left leg on top of her right.

She quickly switched it, and kicked her feet out again.

To say she was nervous would have been an understatement. But she was a ninja, a ninja of the Toyotomi, a ninja for her husband. She couldn't be nervous.

Not anymore.

Two hours had passed like a blur. She ate and prayed. Meditated in between.

She was ready.

Heart pounding in anticipation, she stood at the edge of the boat, readying her body to launch herself into the night.

All she needed to hear were those words.

"Land ho!"

And all Kiyomasa could do was pray for a safe return.