Author's Note: This chapter is probably among those I'm least proud of, so please bear with it, and I apologise for any OOC there may be.
Chapter Thirty-One: Today's Love and Yesterday's
The knock on my door came at about ten at night, Ieyasu slipping in at my low grunt. It was his laughing that made me turn around though, "I sneak into the alcohol stores, get the guards on this level drunk, risk Lord Hanbei being in his study, and you're sitting there, nose in a book."
Rolling my eyes, I set down the small tome, getting up from the armchair to greet him, "You expected any different?"
"No," He admitted, setting down his empty flask. As he came closer to me, my leg gave out once again, making my body buckle. Swearing as I fell, I didn't realise my descent had halted until Ieyasu was gently tugging me back to my feet smiling the entire time, "Where would you be without me?"
I pretended to think for a second, "Facing down the giant axe of the Tiger of Kai?"
Still smiling down at me, Ieyasu began leaning towards me, "I have missed you so much."
Suddenly realising his intentions, I moved my head away, feeling his lips graze my cheek a little. When I dared to face him again, his eyes were filled with hurt, staring down at me in questioning. "I thought you were dead. How did you survive Akechi's attack?" Pulling away for now, Ieyasu helped me sit back down, silently indicating that this would be a long story.
As he stepped away, his hands slid over mine, revealing none of the calluses or blisters he used to possess from his spear training. I knew for a fact that mine were home to a few small blisters from my own weapon, so the contrast was especially jarring.
Not taking a seat himself, Ieyasu hummed slightly, as though wondering where to begin. "After betraying Oda, I knew it wouldn't be long until there was some kind of retribution, especially after I heard of your own banishment." Clearing his throat, he was acting as though I was supposed to react to his words, but he picked the tale back up when I didn't move, "I had no idea that one of my previous actions would save me. You of course know about the ninja villages and what Oda did to them. Well, the remaining shadows of Iga asked me for help in return for serving me. I accepted."
My mouth dropped, "If Oda had found out…"
"I would have done it regardless. They were all loyal, far more than half of the samurai I know. Their leader insisted on me going into hiding while he took my place. Barely a day after I left, Akechi paid his visit."
"He killed your body double." I whispered, leaning back in my seat. And I had thought today was confusing enough.
Nodding solemnly, Ieyasu wiped his hand down his face, "His name was Hattori Hanzo." He didn't notice me freeze suddenly, for which I was very grateful; "It's his name that reminds me why I'm here, why I'm still alive. Because he had a family, one that he chose, one linked by bonds, Sayomi. And if making sure that a bond like that is never broken again means that I have to make a deal with the devil, then so be it."
Finishing his speech there, he took a breath, finally taking a seat for himself, "So that's how I survived. Now how about you? Every report that I heard indicated that you and Ranmaru had died at Honno-Ji with Akechi."
"I had a choice, and I made it."
Spotting his head quirk in questioning, I elaborated, giving him the account of things, not quite blow for blow, but close enough to it that by the time I was at Lord Takeda's part in the story, Ieyasu was shaking his head. "I should have agreed to turn against Oda when Lord Shingen offered us the chance."
I raised an eyebrow, "Could you see me taking that news well?"
"Maybe not. What happened at Honno-Ji?" This time when I spoke, Ieyasu was the one that froze, especially whenever Master Katakura's name came up. Like a fool, I let it go over my head, priming myself for what we were both waiting for.
As always, he was patient, and my voice remained neutral, but when my throat produced Hanzo's name, it caught on the sound, something his ears didn't miss. "So you settled well into that life?" Ieyasu asked, equally as neutral. All the same, there was danger lacing his words, something I never expected to hear from him.
Against Nohime's voice screaming at me not to, I went straight on the defensive, "Yes I have. I'm teaching the younger children how to read."
"That does seem like it would suit you. But I can't imagine you giving up your sword for it."
"We must cherish and protect the peace while it lasts. Every samurai should do his or her part."
"Then why live as a peasant? Why not fight to keep the peace? Or has your love for this man altered your view completely?"
Standing up, I snatched the book away, moving to put it back on the shelf. Not stirring from his own seat, Ieyasu simply hung his head, "You've changed."
"We both have." I whispered, not turning from the books.
"When Lord Hanbei told me who you really were, I expected that things would return to…to how they were before. That I would finally be able to make good on my promise to you." Still facing away, I heard Ieyasu open my door and close it again, listening to his footsteps fade before I fell to my knees, clutching my face.
My one hope of an ally, pushed away so that I could sooth the pride that he'd poked at. "Sayomi you fool." I murmured, tugging at my hair, wincing at the pain it brought. No matter how I looked at it, through my own actions and my mouth, I was once again alone.
My hand throbs as I swing across the branches, and I know that if I take off my glove, the cut still won't have healed. In fact, the friction from all the climbing has most likely made it worse.
Gauging the distance between this branch and the next, I swear softly, pulling myself up to search for a different route. Back home, Saburo was probably still huffing about being left behind, and Mizu was probably pacing, maybe stopping sometimes to check on the kids.
The three of them had just burst in while I had been explaining to the Elder why I had five ninjas from a rival clan tied up. Once the field had been inspected, and Ranmaru's shattered bow collected, Nobu had had to keep me back from punching the five to death, until one of them had finally screamed that Sayomi had been taken to Osaka Castle. The Elder had thankfully condoned the mission within seconds, allowing me to be on her trail before the sun had risen.
Takenaka is sly and covers more ground than anybody can track without aid. But his mistake in leaving the ninja team behind means that I know where his prisoner is, or at least where I will find a clue. Osaka Castle claims to be ninja-proof, but there is nowhere that does not have secrets, that cannot keep out those who wish to enter.
Shooting off again, I wince at the sudden burst of pain emanating from my palm. If I am to find a way into Osaka Castle, I hope that it won't require both of my hands.
Hanzo Kobayashi, aged 19