Chapter Two: Lord of Mino
Ranmaru was running errands a few days after the incident with Nobunaga for the castle out in the city by himself, a basket full of items slung over his arm as he walked. He was wearing the beautiful kimono that Nobunaga had given him with pride – though digging about in it for his purse of yen – as he walked and accidentally bumped into a group of four noblemen talking in a group, being knocked back onto his rump and his basket being flung from his hand as one of them retaliated angrily.
"Watch where you're going, servant boy! Next time you'll suffer much worse than a knock down!" he hissed. Ranmaru looked up at him with fearful puppy eyes and scurried into a low bow at his feet, begging for his forgiveness.
A little ways away, several other noblemen heard the commotion and turned or walked over to see what was going on. The men from the original group started chortling as they surrounded Ranmaru, one of them reaching down and grabbing him by his ponytail, forcing his head up and back painfully as he bit back a cry of agony, biting his lip.
"Look at him, he looks like a woman!"
"Awful pretty for a servant boy. Whose are you?" one sneered in his ear.
"I – I – I am a servant of Nobunaga – Sama! Please, let me go!" Ranmaru pleaded.
A few stands down, a tall man with waist-length black hair and purple and silver armor walked out into the street, hearing the commotion. He looked down in the direction of the ever growing crowd and placed a hand on his scabbard as he narrowed his eyes, walking over. "What is going on? What's all the noise about?" he asked, worming his way into mob.
Ranmaru looked at the man in the purple out of the corner of his eyes as he tried to remain composed in his predicament. "Please, help me…!"
"Don't you talk to the Lord of Mino like - -!" said one of the noblemen when a katana was placed under his chin, forcing him to look at the man in purple.
"Let him go. Now, before I slit your throat and get your blood all over Lord Nobunaga's nice clean streets."
The noblemen swiftly released Ranmaru and shoved him so that he fell face first onto the ground at the samurai's feet, awaiting a punishment that was sure to come…
But instead, his hand was touched and he was slowly helped up by the stranger, Ranmaru being careful to avoid his eyes as he bowed low. "T-Thank you, sir. I cannot express how grateful I am!"
The man in purple merely chuckled, a warm, melodious sound. "No need to thank me; I saw you were in trouble and I did what I thought was right. I'm just glad you're not hurt. What's you're name?"
Ranmaru felt his cheeks burn in the cool winter air and he tried to keep his eyes down. "M-Mori Ranmaru, sir. I serve the Oda…"
"I am Akechi Mitsuhide, Lord of Mino. I've come to speak with your master, Oda Nobunaga."
Ranmaru said Mitsuhide's name in his head over and over again, touching his lips lightly as he did so. It was a good name…and it had a nice ring to it when he said it.
"Yes, of course, Mitsuhide – Sama. I can show you the way to the castle if you wish…" Ranmaru said after he had picked up all of the items that had fallen out of his basket and replaced it on his arm. Mitsuhide smiled.
"I would be honored if you would," he said as he fell into step with Ranmaru. The teenager was ecstatic; since the nobleman was walking with him, it gave him more time to look over his savior.
His hair was long, dark and silky-looking, catching the sunlight and shimmering like dark water as it waved behind him slightly in the soft breeze. His face was smooth and rounded with a slightly pointed chin, his features refined and almost perfect. His dark eyes were soulful and warm, like his kind voice. He was nicely built, thin yet muscled, and taller than the average man of the times.
He didn't walk quite like a man of status, but also not like a commoner, almost as though he had found a way to fit in comfortably with his surroundings. Had Ranmaru not known that Mitsuhide was a nobleman, he would've thought he was just a skilled samurai.
After leading Mitsuhide into the castle, they parted ways: Ranmaru had chores to finish with the other servants, and Mitsuhide was accompanied by another servant to Nobunaga's quarters. Shortly after unloading his basket, he was summoned to have tea with the two.
Nobunaga, who was looking rather sour, immediately brightened once Ranmaru entered the room, motioning for him to sit down next to him and across from Mitsuhide. The nobleman blinked at his presence, then nodded his head once in greeting as Ranmaru bowed his.
"So, Mitsuhide – Sama, what can I do for the Lord of Mino?" Nobunaga asked loftily as Ranmaru poured the tea.
"I've noted that you want to start a revolution, correct?" Mitsuhide asked carefully. Nobunaga nodded a few times.
"Correct."
"I was hoping I could join you, if I may." Nobunaga tilted his head back and thought for a moment, as though weighing his possibilities. After a tense moment, the answer came.
"I could use another good warrior, I suppose. I see no immediate threat. Welcome to the Oda Army, Mitsuhide – Sama. Now, let us discuss our plans…"
As the two talked over the battle plans, Ranmaru continued to gaze across the low table at the nobleman almost obsessively. Before long, though, Nobunaga was ushering him into his bedroom and sliding the door closed, leaving him by himself in the bedroom.
He settled down next to the bedroll and continued to think about Mitsuhide as he slowly drifted off to sleep.
