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Chapter 2_

The lord was taken to the next castle that was under his control. Hanzo had, said to calm the worried Demon King's wife, that his beloved husband only needed rest. He was placed in his room and no one was allowed in there. Mitsuhide was also placed in a room but his room wasn't as guarded as the Lord's. I would go and tend to Mitsuhide as he was cleaned and his bandages were changed; he was still unconscious.

"He should remain this way for at least a week till his body is able to cure the cut." Hanzo told me as he continued to clean the wound made by Lord Nobunaga during their final battle in Honnoji. "The Demon King was holding back during the fight otherwise he shouldn't be alive."

"My Lord knew Mitsuhide had made a mistake and that his decision was made too quickly therefore irrational. He acted because of his heart thus his mind was not right as to think that he should oppose the Demon King."

"The Lord said that?" Hanzo asked as he covered up the wounded samurai.

"Yes…"

"His fever has gone down." The ninja placed the wet towel on Mitsuhide's forehead and walked to the sliding door he opened it and stepped outside.

I looked at the resting form in the futon and saw that the color was slowly coming back to his face. He had made good progress and Hanzo had showed me how to take care of the wounded and sick.

"You are in charge of making sure Lord Mitsuhide is brought back to a stable health." Lady Noh had told me five days ago, the night we were first settling to the new castle. Ever since that day I haven't seen nor heard my Lord's voice. Lady Noh or Hanzo would tell me some orders that the Lord had for me.

Even though I was not allowed in the room Monkey was. The foolish Monkey and Ieyasu were only allowed in there. I waited outside his room in the long hallway that overlooked the garden.

The door slid open and the Monkey came out.

"Mitsunari. Sakon." His stern voice that was often just preserved to give orders startled me from my thoughts.

"Lord Hideyoshi?" Both his retainers said in unison.

"Lord Nobunaga has given orders to start to rebuild the Temple in Honnoji. You are the architect Mitsunari, you lead. Sakon you are to make sure the supplies are delivered there in time and that everything is running smoothly." I kept my head down hearing the Monkey act all high and mighty. As his retainers left Hideyoshi looked down and saw me. "The Lord is worry about you. He said that last time is remembered you were hurt during the battle yet he hasn't given you time to rest."

"I am fine. Is the Lord getting better?"

"Oh he is getting better alright… if he can scream out orders he is much better than better he is perfectly healed. It's just the dislocated shoulder and some slashed wounds he is healing from."

"Shoulder?"

"Of course… I still don't know how he was able to carry Mitsuhide from the ruins to the field with a dislocated shoulder. That's dedication. That bastard of Mitsuhide is just lucky the Lord values him so much otherwise he would be dead by now." Hideyoshi looked at the door that led to the Lord's room and he vowed to me and then left.

Maybe he wasn't that foolish. He knows how to think.

I stayed in the hallway still guarding the door. As I once again got lost in my thoughts thinking of how was Mitsuhide's army able to get past my defense to get to the Lord, I didn't noticed the door slide open.

"What are you thinking of Ranmaru?" That voice, so calm when speaking my name. There was always a hint of authority even though he didn't mean it but it was there as well as an unusual sound of serenity his deep voice rarely held. I looked up and saw my Lord for the first time in 6 days now.

He stood on the door of his room. His left arm stretched to hold the frame of his door as his right arm was in a sling. He wasn't wearing his armor which was a bit out of ordinary but I guess it came with the recovery stage he was in. His purple and white kimono made him look different at least a little less bigger and dangerous that he usually does when in his armor.

"You look tired Ranmaru…" He approached me and I was surprise to see him actually sit by me.

"My Lord is there anything you need?"

He was quiet looking at the garden, "… Some tea."

"Yes, milord." I stood up and vowed then walked away.

When I came back with a tray of tea I didn't find him in the spot where I left him.

"I'm over here Ranmaru." I turned around and saw the Lord in the Washitsuthat contained only a small table for the tea. I walked over and began to serve his tea. He rolled up the scroll and watched me as I poured his tea careful not to spill any. "How is Mitsuhide? I should of placed someone else to watch over his recovery so that you can recover too but I felt that I can only trust you without the fear of someone killing him for his betrayal."

"You can trust me my Lord."

"I know I can Ranmaru… That's why I placed you to that task." He told me as he took a sip from his tea. His piercing eyes were looking at the garden lost in his own thought. "I would want for you to keep looking after Mitsuhide to make sure he gets better and that he doesn't try anything rash again."

"Yes, milord." I vowed as I received his orders from himself personally. I heard the footsteps that I knew belong to Lady Noh.

"My love what are you doing outside your room?" She asked as she saw him drinking his tea.

He smiled still looking ahead. "Just needed some fresh air and to talk to Ranmaru."

I finally saw his eyes after all this days and not like before they were not red of tears but they were almost empty of emotion. He was making a better recovery.