A/N: Alright! Back again with another chapter! Like I've said before, this chapter might be utterly shorter and might be filled with only less important fillers. But trust me, I would try my best!
Okay, I want to reply a little (but important to me) review from RosyMiranto18. Well, I'm really flattered about that, and yes, I agree that Takakage's becoming quite a tsukkomi and Motoharu's becoming like boke. Oh and I'll be waiting for your visit, the man of Shimizu.
Yes, I'm a male. You can see it in my profile, actually. There you could see that I'm not like many authors who have the necessary talents and helping materials (like the literature background, hobby, or something like that). I started with a non-literature background and writing is not my best hobby, so writing is quite challenging (but fun) to me.
Oh, and for Scarlet 'n Blossom-sensei (*eh*), Glad you liked the story, and don't worry about your English. We're all still learning, and the best way of learning is to try to speak and write it occasionally.
Oh, I lied. Yes it's true that this chapter will be quite short. But this will be filled with so much romance fluff between our two young adults. I obviously put this chapter because of two reasons: First, Valentine's Day is approaching and Second, I can't put the journey and the meet on this chapter since it would be very long and the chapter will lose focus
Okay, without further ado, Here's Chapter 7
Chapter 7: To My Future Wife
Munekatsu walked back into the castle, towards Hana's room to check on his son, only to find that the room is empty.
"Huh, where are they?" He thought.
"Are you looking for Lady Hana, Munekatsu-sama?" A voice came out from his right. He looked right to see his ally walking towards him.
"Well, no, I'm looking for my son," Munekatsu said.
"Then, why do you search Hana's room then? Your son's probably at his room." The man replied.
"Ah, Muneharu, I forgot that you came here very recently, so you probably haven't known about our last battle."
"No...no, I've known about it, I also have known that your son was taking care of Hana while she recuperates. Besides, I'm just kidding. Last time I saw him was when Hana and he went together into the medical room." Muneharu replied.
"Oh, alright then, Thank you, Muneharu." Munekatsu replied.
"You're welcome." Muneharu replied. "You know, Munekatsu?"
"Hm?" Munekatsu stopped for a while.
"I'm actually jealous of you."
"Why?"
"You Nomi warriors were so lucky, I've heard from Terumoto-sama that your family will raise in rank as a Mōri branch family by your son's marriage with Takakage-sama's daughter." Muneharu pouted.
"What do you mean by "raise in rank?"" Munekatsu was confused.
"You don't get it? Your son will be married to Motonari-sama's granddaughter herself! You'll be inheriting a power as a close branch of the Mōri, you know." Muneharu replied.
"Well I never thought that far, and I don't care about that, either." Munekatsu replied. "I don't care if the Nomi will raise in rank or such things like that. The most important thing is that we're all one big family to the Mōri. I don't care which clan you are from, Mōri, Kobayakawa, Kikkawa, or Shimizu, just like you, we're still part of the Mōri and always will be."
"B...But..."
"Stop talking this nonsense, Muneharu. You need to look upon ourselves not vertically as in ranks, but horizontally, as in our oath of family under Mōri." Munekatsu replied.
"S...Sir." the Shimizu clan head replied.
"Now, excuse me. I need to go to the medical room to see my son." Munekatsu said as he made his way to the medical room.
A few moments later
Munekatsu finally made his way to the medical room. There he saw his son being treated by Hana, with a little help from Lady Toida and Lady Gōryu.
"Hi, father!" Nagachika greeted.
"Um, Nagachika, how was your wound?" Munekatsu asked bluntly.
"Well, I think it's getting much better, but Hana-dono didn't believe me." Nagachika pouted.
"Hey!" Hana snapped.
"Nagachika's wound is still quite dangerous, but it's much better than before." Lady Gōryu said. "Hana knew this and was quite eager to cure him."
"And I think Nagachika didn't regret being treated like this, if you know what I mean..." Lady Toida smirked.
"Mother, please..." Hana blushed in embarrassment.
"Well, that's quite fascinating to hear." Munekatsu giggled too. "Oh, forget about it. Nagachika, if you have the time, could I talk to you as soon as possible?"
"Uh...okay, father. I'll meet you as soon as Hana finished."
"Alright then. I'll be waiting in our room."
Another few moments later, Hana finished in curing Nagachika and Nagachika went into his room to see his father.
"Is there something you want to tell me, father?"
"Well, I want to tell you that tomorrow we'll be leaving for Kantō." Munekatsu said, earning a wide-eyed shock from his son.
"W...Wait, tomorrow, as in "tomorrow"?"
"Yes, tomorrow, why do you ask?"
"Er..." Nagachika paused for a bit, "You should've told me much earlier, father."
"Why? Did you plan on something with Hana?" Munekatsu teased.
"N...No...of course not!" Nagachika waved his hands, showing evasion. "It's just, well,.. I haven't readied myself..."
"Readying yourself for what?" Munekatsu asked. Confusion rose in him for his son's weirdness.
"E...Er...I mean, what do I have to say to Lady Hayakawa that I had utterly known about her secret?"
"Relax, you won't have to tell her, as she will find out about it herself." Munekatsu said. "Anyway, I know you're lying, there's something else, another reason why you were shocked on this news." Munekatsu said.
"Ah..." Nagachika said. "Seems like I can't hide anything from you, father. I guess, I felt a bit worried about Hana, when we left for Kantō. I mean, I was her guardian, and I must protect her anytime."
"Just that, really?"
"Er...yes...I guess." Nagachika said.
"Well, in that case, what if I told you about the reason we're leaving for Kantō?"
"Huh? Why?"
"First of all, we need to make an apology to the Hōjō clan for not present during Takeda's invasion to Odawara."
"W...Wait, so Takeda invaded Odawara? When?"
"The same time we went for Tatarahama." Munekatsu said. "The Hōjō family survived. But, not for the townsfolk."
"O...Oh my god!" Nagachika frowned. "How many times had they been invaded already? And isn't Takeda in an alliance with Hōjō and Imagawa?"
"You're right. That's why Takakage-sama was so furious when he heard about this. He knew the Takeda can't be trusted." Munekatsu explained.
"I can't believe it. I should've known I can't put faith in them." Nagachika said with anger.
"Now, now, save the anger for other time." Munekatsu said. "The second reason for our journey tomorrow is much more breathtaking."
"Huh?"
"We're going to meet up with Lady Hayakawa herself at Odawara Castle. Takakage-sama had sent about 3 letters for her."
"That's nothing breathtaking. We're just acting as a messenger, right?"
"Well, yes, if all 3 letters were really including Takakage-sama and Lady Hayakawa herself." Munekatsu said. "One of the letters, on the other hand, was one of the most important that also includes us."
"What do you mean that includes us?" Nagachika asked.
"One of the letters was filled with an agreement that you were going to be wed to Hana herself." Munekatsu said with a smile.
It didn't need a clever to point out that Nagachika was fully surprised with the commotion. And at the same time, blush formed again on his cheeks.
"What's wrong? You liked it, didn't you?" Munekatsu asked.
"E...Er...I..." Nagachika stammered. 'How can I explain this to Hana?' he thought.
"Just admit it, we can't cancel it outright even if you don't like it." Munekatsu teased.
"Well, I...I guess, I..."
"Okay, you don't have to answer it, your expression had answered it for you." Munekatsu said. "So, be ready and pack your needed belongings, and...um...you can have a little chat with your future wife, if you want, probably saying your goodbye before we left for Kantō."
"Oh, shut up, father." Nagachika pouted, but soon it was turned into a smile.
Later that Dusk
Hana was sitting under the Sakura tree in the castle garden, looking at the beautiful sunset. It was her usual activity before dinner time, enjoying the beauty of the nature which she was lucky enough to see.
She enjoyed the warmth, the sound of leaves, the chirps of birds, and a lot other stuffs she could hear, including a continuous set of footsteps.
Wait, footsteps?
Hana looked around her and noticed someone was approaching her.
"Is it dinner time already?" Hana asked loudly to the approaching person.
"No, it isn't, I think." She heard a familiar reply.
She turned around to see a young warrior approaching her. "Oh, it's you, Nagachika. I thought it was my father or mother calling me for dinner."
"Well, dinner will soon be served, don't worry." Nagachika said. "Mind if I join you?"
"For what?"
"Enjoying the sunset." Nagachika replied.
"Yeesh...how do you know that I'm enjoying the sunset?" Hana asked.
"Isn't it very obvious? You did it everyday."
"So you stalked on me every day?" Hana asked. "Help! A stalker!"
"W...Wait a minute, I d..."
"Just kidding." Hana said. "I know everyone knew I did this every dusk."
"Oh." Nagachika said. "May I sit here?"
"Why not?" Hana replied.
Nagachika then took a seat near Hana, enjoying the same sunset.
"Mm...isn't the sunset beautiful?"
"You're right. That's why I watched it everyday." Hana replied innocently.
'Okay, now why did I ask that? Stupid...'Nagachika thought.
"Well, looking at it, my eyes were getting bleary." Nagachika said. "Aren't your eyes too?"
"Well, considering that. Yes, almost everytime I ended up falling asleep, but usually my mother's call was loud enough to wake me up." Hana replied.
"I definitely agree with that." Nagachika chuckled.
They looked up on the sunset again. Time passed and Nagachika's eyes were getting bleary.
"I guess, I need to go..." Nagachika said before realizing then Hana had already fallen asleep, and what he hadn't expected is that her right hand was holding his left one, and dammit her grip is so strong.
'What did Takakage-sama feed her?'
He slowly tried escaping her grip slowly by loosening her grip. Just as he was almost done, her left hand suddenly gripped his hand too.
'What the...oh crap.'
With the two hands gripping his hand, Hana's head had no choice but to lean onto Nagachika's shoulder, immobilizing him in an instant.
'Great, now I'm stuck here, and I've got no chance to talk about me leaving tomorrow.' Nagachika murmured.
Slowly he tried to endure it, but with bleary eyes, he had no other choice but to let the slumber overtake him.
Later that night.
Nagachika opened his eyes, waking up from the slumber. It's getting very dark outside, only a little ray of light from the moon shone above the garden.
He looked at his left, at his future wife (if Hayakawa agreed, anyway), which was still in a slumber. Damn she's still beautiful when she's sleeping.
While he wanted to stay for a longer time there, together. He knew very well that it's quite dangerous outside the castle. So he did what he had ever did before, but in another way.
He gently loosened Hana's grip on him, putting his left arm under her upper back, and her right arm under her knees. He started to stand up, carrying Hana bridal style into the castle, ignoring the pain that build up from the injury on his left arm, walking into Hana's room., and put her on her futon.
He had no idea how it was done, but as soon as he put her on her bed, he leaned onto her, and gently putting his lips on her forehead, giving quite a peck, and then whispered in her ear.
"I'm going to leave tomorrow for quite a time. I know you can't hear me, but at least I could tell you. Before I go, I want to thank you for everything you have done to me. Had I not met you, I don't know why I could live.
I will be back after some time. Please take care of yourself and don't weep for me, just pray that I could make it safely there and back.
Oh, and one more thing. I...I've been so sorry to hide it from you, but I just want to say that I cared for you too much, more than I should have done, and for you to care so much for me, that makes me very, very happy.
So, Hana, sleep tight, and put it in your heart, that I've already fallen for you since then, and I don't ever want something bad happen to you because of me."
Nagachika stood up, ready to leave for his room.
He didn't notice that Hana's face had shown a smile, and her face was getting red.
A/N: Aaaaand yeah, a hell of romance. I really should've put "Romance" in the Genre. Like you have seen, I sucked at romances even though I already made it heck a lot of times. I don't know, probably because I am a guy with no experiences on relationships? Whatever!
Please Read&Review, and the rules are still the same!