Chapter 7
Mego was nearly asleep when she heard the floor boards creaking outside the hut. She didn't move a muscle till she heard the sound of someone walking around the room. Mego slowly reached for her knife that she'd kept beneath her pillow ever since she was abducted. When she saw the intruder's arm cross over her face holding what appeared to be a cloth, she made her move.
She grabbed his arm and pulled it forward, catching the intruder off balance. She twisted his wrist and flipped it around, smashed her knee down hard on the outstretched arm across his back, and bent to point her knife at the invader's throat.
She blinked as she recognized him up close. "Takumi-dono? What are you doing?" Mego said releasing the intruder.
Takumi recovered, rubbing his wrist, and bowed deeply. "Saving you, my lady."
"Saving me? What are you talking about?" Mego asked, staring at him, confused.
"There is only one reason the One-Eyed Dragon would have left in the manner he did. You promised to be his wife. Your illustrious father made his wishes clear on this. He did not wish for you to be unhappily married to him two years ago and he most certainly would not want it now. I promised him I would keep you safe, and make sure you lived a happy life. I am only following his instructions."
Mego knelt down in front of Takumi and placed her hand on his chin so he had to look her in the eyes. She spoke softly and carefully to him. "Master Takumi you have done a fine job protecting me these two years, and I thank you for that. But it is time now that I choose my own path." Takumi made motions to protest but Mego placed her index finger on his lips. "This is my decision Master Takumi, no one else's."
She got up and walked toward the door and stood there in quiet contemplation she then started talking again. "He never believed you or my father, he never wanted it to be true."
"I know, my lady." Takumi answered his voice cracking.
She turned toward him again he was still bowed on the ground "He has been devoted to me even after all of that. What other lord wouldn't have just cut off my head and been done with it?"
"None, that I know of my lady." Takumi answered finally looking up at her.
"Then don't you think that is a man worth supporting?" She stared back to the night wrapping her arms around her and whispered to herself, "A man worth loving?"
"My lady, I am sorry. I see now the folly of my actions I will leave you now. Please forgive me." Takumi bowed and left Mego alone in the hut. She went back to sleep knowing her decision was the right one.
o o o
Dawn had barely broken over the mountains, as Mego walked toward the stable. Takumi was there, waiting for her. "Are you truly certain this is what you want, my lady?" Takumi asked with a concerned look on his face, remembering the conversation they had the night before.
"I am sure, Master Takumi. It is what should have happened years ago," she said, a smile of calm serenity on her lips.
"We will wait here for your word, then." Takumi let her go.
She rode alone toward the Date encampment. It was still early enough that the warmth of the sun had not burned off the morning mist. Nearing the perimeter Mego gave a simple signal before she got too close, lest some overly-enthusiastic guard mistake her advance and she receive an arrow for her trouble.
The troops in the Date camp were just waking up and packing. Each turned their heads to look as the gorgeous woman riding through their camp toward the main tent. Traveling slowly through the lifting fog, she seemed like some sort of otherworldly apparition of beauty. As she got closer, the steed's heavy brown coat and her own periwinkle kimono came into focus and made her seem less ephemeral, but no less beautiful.
When Mego reached the main tent she dismounted and was met by a familiar voice.
"Mego-himesama!"
She turned. "Shigezane-dono," she greeted him with a polite bow.
Date's cousin stared and said slowly, "If Kojuro hadn't said so, I would have not thought it possible…"
Mego smiled at him and answered, "I know, Shigezane. Is he…"
"Shigezane, you ass, where are you?! And what the hell did you do to my damned tent?!" Masamune's voice boomed over the quiet camp. He flew out of his tent holding a leather-bound journal only to be faced with a petrified Shigezane and a giggling Mego.
Masamune noticed Mego right away, a sight that gave him pause for a moment. Finally, he spoke. "Mego, I did not expect you so early. Are you alone?" She nodded. "Come inside," he said motioning to the tent. When she was inside the tent, he turned to Shigezane. "We will talk about it later." Shigezane gulped.
The tent was small, made smaller by paper and various maps strewn across the floor. "Please sit," he said and Mego obeyed.
"I take it you made your decision?" he asked, a hopeful tone betraying his casual air.
"I have," she replied. Masamune blinked and leaned in closer, hastening her response. "I will return with you to Oshuu."
Masamune smiled. "I will send men for your things," he said.
"I do not have much here," she said, furrowing her brow and staring down at her hands.
"What is wrong, Mego?" he said, kneeling in front of her. "If you do not want-"
"It's not that," she interrupted, "It's my men. What will happen to them?" She asked.
Masamune looked at her and cocked his head "Those who wish may join me, and those who do not may be free to carve out their own existence, I was not lying to you Mego. I will keep your people safe."
Mego felt foolish when he responded. Of course he would keep his word. She nodded "can I ask you a question?" she said still looking at her hands.
"You just did." He said blinking.
She smiled at his answer then continued "How did you know the body wasn't me?"
"What? That? That was easy." Masamune smiled. He grabbed her hands and looked at them. "The hand." Mego looked up at him in confusion. "When Shigezane was carrying the body a hand slipped out. I would recognize your hand anywhere, Mego, and that hand wasn't yours. But no one would listen! They all thought I was insane with grief. I must admit that after a little while even I started to think I was going crazy."
Mego smiled at Masamune. She touched his face and kissed him, a kiss he passionately returned. And he held her close, promising to himself to never doubt himself again.
I wish to thank everyone who was kind enough to read my very first Fanfic. And Thank you to the people who commented. If you have any suggestions please feel free to write them. Thank you again for taking the time to read my story.