Chapter Nine

Nobunaga had no interest in putting his Lucky Charm further into harm's way. So Hiraya was placed under guard and ordered to remain at camp. She did consult with the warlords, well almost all of them, looking over numbers, terrain, maps and of course giving them direction for the battle to come. This last clashing of wills would leave Kenshin crippled on his main front leaving room and lots of opportunity for Nobunaga to land the killing blow.

That would be that.

Sitting on his horse, his soldiers in perfect rows before him, Nobunaga looked out over the field. It was muddy from the rains yesterday and the bodies of the fallen had yet to be cleared but with all the mud they blended in quite well. At least until you got up close. Hiraya had predicted a victory and he could see it now as he looked onto the field. Next to him was Hideyoshi sitting stoically and stone face din the saddle.

"Heard you were quite the asshole to the lass yesterday." Masamune growled from the left.

Hideyoshi remained silent.

Nobunaga looked over at him, "What did you tell her?"

"It does not matter my lord." He replied flatly, "I serve only you." And gave his horse a soft kick.

Like he'd down hundreds of times before Hideyoshi rode among the ranks, inspecting them, as they waited for the enemy to emerge from the forest on the opposite side.

Mitsunari pursed his lips and then said, "It's because of the curse more than the oath my lord."

Nobunaga frowned, "A curse?"

Mitsunari slowly nodded, "My lord never gets too close to anyone. He believes because of his lineage that he was cursed."

Mitsuhide leaned forward in the saddle to peer around Nobunaga, "Does this have anything to do with the girl from his village?"

"I suppose so." Mitsunari sighed, "She was a little like Hiraya-"

Ieyasu chuckled deeply, "No woman is like Hiraya."

Mitsunari shrugged a little in agreement. Nobunagas' horse shifted nervously in the mud.

"Damn it Hideyoshi." He watched his vassal make his way back towards the group, "You idiot block head."

"My lord?" Masamune asked peering over with his one eye.

"I may have pushed him too hard." He admitted, "I didn't expect him to take it out on Hiraya."

Hideyoshi reported, "The troops are in order, my lord, and the enemy is approaching."

"Very well. Take your positions!"

"Yes my lord!"

Hiraya held the tent flap aside as the guards carried in a heavy pot of hot water. She'd promised them not to make any trouble if they would just bring her some hot water and wash rags so she could bathe. They were happy to oblige as her trouble making skills were legendary.

The camp was silent.

Everyone had left.

Alone in the tent Hiraya stripped out of her clothes, dipped a rag into the hot water, and began to wash away the fever sweat and dirt. Gently she peeled away her dressings and found the wounds had been sewn shut. The thick black thread pulled and snagged at her skin slightly giving her goose bumps. Sitting on a bucket she took in the silence around her and washed away the grime to reveal the white skin beneath.

Anxiety and aching sadness were clawing their way around inside her chest like some demon sent to undo her. This wasn't normal for him. Hideyoshi was not a cruel man nor was he abusive in such ways as the men who regular the brothels.

He was humble and kind and thoughtful and caring.

But he was also full of fear.

From the beginning she understood his commitment to Nobunaga. She understood his faith in the warlord's vision and the sacrifice it would take to make it happen. Hideyoshi didn't want to take anyone down that path with him so he kept everyone at a "brotherly" arm's length…Except her. Hiraya was the only one closer to him than Nobunaga.

Still part of her was screaming inside. It was the part that was hurt. That part that had been the only whole piece left after all she had lost. It was a piece of her she had trusted him with. In her mind she could see his honey soft eyes….How they were rigid and dark, distant and unfeeling towards her.

How they looked down on her like a mighty beast sees a bug beneath their claws.

A cold shiver ran down her aching spine. The water in the pot was becoming steadily dirtier with every time she dipped the rag. But she was becoming lighter and cleaner with every passing stroke. Tears burned at her eyes so she wiped them away. The bandage on her palm scratched her eyelids.

Pulling her hand away she set the rag aside and undid the dirty bandage on her hand. The shuriken Victor had thrown had pierced her hand right through missing the tiny bones by some miracle. It too had been sewn shut leaving an angry, red, deep wound there. Pain bloomed up her arm whenever she used it and it limited her flexibility with it. Fighting on the battle field would be difficult now but it wasn't a death sentence.

Suddenly overtaken by sadness Hiraya lifted her gaze skywards trying to stop the advancing tears. The vision she had seen had been very clear…But could she do it? Her chest heaved as she tried to control the panic. Last thing she wanted was the guards to hear her weeping. The vision left her with a bitter taste in her mouth and the weight of the world on her shoulders.

"What a curse this thing is!" she spat.

"Indeed, Little Bird."