Disclaimer: If I owned it, why would I be writing this instead of making it an extra storyline in accordance to Mitsunari and Ginchiyo?
In Sawayama, things were a mess when news came that Mitsunari and Ginchiyo were returning, by escort of Shura and Seira. The one who had been managing the castle for the past week, had been Yoshimasa Koide, and he handed authority back to Mitsunari as soon as the latter returned.
Mitsunari turned to the scrolls received in the span of their absence. One was addressed to Ginchiyo, and two were for himself. He opened his, languidly summoning Ginchiyo at the same time. A smile twitched at his lips as he read the first letter.
'Lord Mitsunari,
If you're reading this, it means you're back from Harima. I'm writing this to ask some time off in the near future, I need to return to my home and speak with my clan's elders about marrying Kensei.
Kazerou'
He placed the letter aside, intending to write his reply after reading the other letter. This one made him scowl outright.
'Lord Mitsunari,
A month ago, the elders instructed you to find a lady to marry, or we would take this matter into our hands. Have you done so? If you haven't, we will ask you to marry the daughter of your late distant relative.
Koshi Ishida'
Mitsunari scowled at this. 'How irritating...' He never intended to marry in the midst of his conquest of the land, despite the elders' frequent nagging. He glared at Ginchiyo, when she entered, and was faintly amused when she glared back.
"What did I do to earn a glare the moment I walk in?" She shot at him.
Mitsunari passed her her letter, and she opened it to read silently. She sat down with a scowl that rivaled Mitsunari's, when she finished. "They're asking me to marry some distant relative of mine. Read this." She placed the letter on the table.
Mitsunari raised an eyebrow as he read it.
'Lady Ginchiyo,
Do you still remember the meeting a month ago? If you fail to reply us with a name, you will marry the second son of a distant relative, a month from now.
Denji Tachibana'
"Your family doesn't waste any time. Even the date is provided." Mitsunari handed her the letter.
"All that means is that I will be suffering one month from now." Ginchiyo sighed, dropping her gaze to the letter from Kazerou.
"Three weeks."
"What?" Ginchiyo looked up in surprise.
This letter is dated from five days ago. And, it takes time to send letters from Kyushu to Sawayama. About two days."
Ginchiyo groaned slightly at that. She honestly didn't want to get married. And definitely not to some unknown cousin of hers.
- - -
The next week passed uneventfully. Ginchiyo and Mitsunari worked as usual, but with an added sigh from time to time. Everyone was curious, but everyone was either too subtle, or wasn't daring enough, to question their depressed moods. Except one person.
"Lady Ginchiyo? Why are you so depressed?" Hiaki cocked his head.
Ginchiyo shot him a half-hearted glare that had more effect than a drawn sword. Hiaki drew back a step, but didn't draw back his question. Giving up, Ginchiyo replied, "It's nothing. I just have an event going on that I'm not really looking forward to..."
"Oh? Can you tell me?"
"... I'm getting married."
Hiaki jerked in surprise, his eyes wide. "Eh? Who's the lucky guy?"
"I don't know. All I do know is that he's the second son of some distant relative of mine." She smiled slightly. Talking to Hiaki had helped. "Thanks, Hiaki. I feel much better now."
Hiaki walked away, a slight smile on his lips. "Anytime, Lady Ginchiyo. Anytime at all." Ginchiyo looked down at the documents in her hand, she should be delivering those to Mitsunari.
A/N: Chapter seven's my favourite, but this one rates pretty high too. Enjoy the double chapter update, folks.
Just a question, out of all the OCs I introduced, who's your favourite? No harm asking this, I hope.
