Chapter Twenty

Within Inabayama Castle, Mitsuhide was deep in a meeting with Saito Dousan, talking about skirmishes along the border by the Oda. I did not worry too much about this news as it was only to start off as skirmishes in the beginning. It was later on as the years went by that the bigger conflicts would occur. The next big battle would be the Battle of Kanoguchi against Oda Nobuhide. Thankfully, Dousan would win that one, or should win that one at least if everything still followed the proper flow of time.

It was beginning to become more difficult now since I had lost confidence after certain things were not going according to plan. I had not given up however. In an age where war was common and provinces warred on our very doorsteps, letting my guard down could mean instant and unpredictable death. There was no time to bury my head in the sand and hope my problems would disappear. Having Mitsuhide's support and friendship reminded me of the strength I already had. He had been there to comfort me, even if they were just words and he had no idea of the task I had ahead of me nor his own future of war. I took his words as one would rely on a promise, on an oath. I had already made this oath to him, and now, he had returned the favour.

Regardless of what was going to happen in the future, I had decided in my heart one thing which had become as solid as rock.

I would protect him.

"There are other things of mine you protect, besides my life. And most of these things are not visible nor obvious to see."

Warmth bubbled in my chest as I thought back on his words.

I sat back against the trunk of a great tree, just down the hill from the grounds of Inabayama Castle. Part of it was to escape the demanding attention of attendants, Miyoshino-hime, and Nou-hime. Mitsuhide and I were staying the night at the Castle, therefore they would have plenty of my attention then. But until such time, I wished to be alone as I directed some of my newfound resolve – tentative though it was – to something I had been avoiding for some time.

The wind had died down, as it often did towards the end of a day sometimes. The birdsong was loud, mingled with the distant hum of the town below, and the castle above just a few dozen metres away. The outer wall blocked much of the sounds of the castle, but not all. Likewise the canopy of the trees seemed to accentuate the music of the birdsong.

Combined, they made a form of white noise which allowed me to drift off into my own thoughts, to focus on prying with the Sight. I did not close my eyes, as I found it easier in this sense to keep them open to watch the trees and to hear the woods. The birds tweeted and sang, and the soldiers chatted in the distance. What faint breeze there was, moved the branches in slow and lethargic sways. The branches clacked against each other, the trunks groaned softly, and the leaves whispered between the birds as they flapped from one tree to the other.

Old and mighty, it was as if even the trees sometimes hummed their thoughts as the young life of birds and humans and squirrels rushed by them, living and dying, in the same way the sun rose and sank through the sky, watching.

Sound took a strange affect in my ears, of which I did not fight, and chose to sink into it. It enveloped me, like a great dome. All of the voices were combined, as if all as one, yet simultaneously, they were all separate, sometimes louder than others, or gentler, all speaking the voice of nature, of life. It was everywhere, yet also within, as if I could become a part of it if I sat long enough. I could see myself melding with the roots of the trees as the leaves became my new and ancient skin. Icy green eyes would still watch from within.

Those eyes watched how the rays of sunlight streamed through the canopy, freshening the green of the leaves, making rich the trunks in their hues of brown and highlighting their creases for all to see their age and wisdom. Flashes of colour splashed through the woods as the wings of birds caught the sunlight. A squirrel enjoyed its warmth as it fussed with an acorn on a branch above me.

I could see, or imagine, the acorn slipping from its paws and the rodent watching it fall, debating whether or not to go down to fetch it when it landed. Except it would land on the head of a hiding human below, catching the squirrel by surprise for not noticing the human there in the first place.

Whether they were the squirrel's actual thoughts or feelings, or my imaginings, I found them very humorous. If one allowed it, they could read an animal or creature as well as they could read the emotion from a person's face. Anyone with a beloved pet whom they connected with could agree.

I laughed to myself, bringing myself back to my present reality. The sounds and sights became sharper again, and I almost missed my wanderings, for they were like dreams.

Something landed on my head and I flinched. It bounced down to land beside me and I looked at it.

An acorn.

Slowly, I picked it up, and stared at it for a few moments, but gently turning my head up and, there between the branches, was the squirrel, watching me with beady black eyes.

I sighed, my shoulders falling in silence.

Who would have thought it was that easy to See. . .

The squirrel scampered away, rustling the leaves as it leapt and bound between its worlds of swaying branches and curtains of leaves. I watched the squirrel leave. Even when it was far beyond my eyesight and hearing, I still gazed after the direction it went.

Only a small portion of me felt pleased by my achievement. Perhaps back in my original time, I would have been amazed and proud, as it was a link back to nature and the old magics, away from modern technology and its stinking pollution.

However, instead, I felt a grim acceptance. Because the truth was, I had done this before, multiple times as a child. After moving onto secondary school, the ability began to fade into the recesses of my mind as the demands of academia took precedence. There it stayed, and never returned to such vividness even when I asked it to. It had never fully gone away however. It was always there, even faintly, having saved me from a few close calls involving cars. Mostly though, it was just in the dreams where it was much clearer and further into the future by up to a couple of months.

But what I had done just now, had never been so clear and vivid, nor so accurate before. I did wonder if being surrounded by myth and legend had somehow heightened the already existing ability. As a child, I was far more in-tune with nature. Childhood was filled with innocence and purity. Yet come adolescence in the modern world, society pushed nature and its calls away, replacing it with the demand of the system.

Here however, the factories, the vehicles and fumes of pollution was non-existent, especially here in the Far East. Nature, and all of Her natural powers were far more potent.

The Superiors new that. They somehow knew I could still See, and could See much better surrounded by the nature of the world in the 1500s. I wondered if I could do it again, right now.

I hesitated however. In the past I had never tried it more than once a day. Sometimes I could See and feel nothing for months before the next connection came. It was almost as if it reminded me that I was greedy by wishing to See more. It was against the natural laws. There was always a price to be paid in return.

"One should never tempt fate," I whispered to myself, quoting my father and shutting my eyes for a moment. I felt very tired.

"Cousin Osamu!"

I heard the call before I heard the little sound of feet belonging to a ten-year-old girl. Opening my eyes, I turned to glance to my side. Nou was making her way through the tufts of grass between the trees, Akito Kenji trailing her like a patient minder. Kenji was not even supposed to be guarding Nou, but she seemed to have taken a liking to him early on, and after introducing her to conkers, she had insisted on playing with Kenji in my absence.

"Cousin Osamu, I was looking for you," Nou huffed as she approached, struggling on the surface ground with her sandals.

I glanced over her shoulder at Kenji. He smiled and bowed his head, half in greeting and half in apology, but also partly with humour, as if acknowledging Nou's behaviour as being a lost cause and chose to just find entertainment in it instead.

"Nou-hime. Akito," I greeted. "Is it time for me to go back?"

"Yes, I want to show you something. Akito-san, tell her." Nou had a look of eagerness in her eyes, despite her usual haughty tone. She definitely knew she was a Lady, but she still enjoyed the company and attention of those whom she deemed worthy of her own company.

Such a little princess, I mused and stood.

I lost my balance, and found myself back on the ground having fallen over. My vision swam dizzyingly.

"Cousin Osamu!"

"Osamu-sama?"

The two voices were suddenly concerned and much closer. I blinked the swirls from my vision and pushed myself back into a sitting position, trying to focus on Nou and Kenji. They peered at me with worry.

"Cousin Osamu, what's wrong?" Nou demanded, though the confusion tinted with worry was there.

"Osamu-sama, are you well? Should I fetch someone?" Kenji asked.

I shook my head, now feeling embarrassed as my initial dizzy spell faded away. "I am fine. I just stood up too fast."

Nou looked puzzled as she tilted her head. "Stood up too fast? Why would that make you fall over when you did not trip over anything?"

Oh Nou-hime. I can't tell if you're saying that on purpose to make me feel like an idiot, or whether you're just simply as ignorant as a normal child.

I smiled at her as I stood, using the tree to steady my rise again. "It is a woman thing, Nou-hime. Women have more . . . delicate blood. So women become dizzy easier than men. You may notice it as you grow older and bigger."

It was the easiest explanation I could give to her about women generally being anaemic. How could I describe the science of lack of iron in haemoglobin and therefore lack of oxygen in a woman's body? Using the 'delicate' description was the closest I could come up with.

Then again, saying that, Nou was half Oni, so she may not be affected by it like a normal human woman would be.

I put it to the side, and walked back to the castle with the two of them, still feeling embarrassed from falling over in front of both of them. But also I did wonder to myself why I lost my balance so badly. If I did rise too quickly and felt dizzy, I – like most people – would simply sway and blink away the blurriness. There was once I had half fallen, and that was waking up one morning for school when I had been extremely tired and landed on my knees when my legs gave way. But I had never fallen over entirely, like now. It was bizarre. Aside from feeling a little tired, I otherwise felt fine.

Shrugging to myself, I let the thought die out. It wasn't important.

Xxxxx

After a long meeting with Saito Dousan, then dinner, and another meeting, Mitsuhide finally had what was left of the evening to himself. There was much to think about. He was aware of the boarder skirmishes happening, and so far things seemed to be holding steadily. However, there were discussions on the possibility of Mitsuhide and Aki being deployed if reinforcements were needed. For now though, it appeared Dousan preferred to keep Mitsuhide behind the lines to administrate the province as usual to keep order and stability. It was a sound argument. Mitsuhide shuddered at the thought of what the state of affairs would look like in his absence, as it did during the winter months.

As he walked through the castle, he wondered about the Oda, and how aware they were of their blood and heritage and of therefore the supernatural politics occurring behind the scenes of human politics. Were their attacks along the boarder as simple as testing defences for a later attempt at taking the land? Or was it more secretive? Was it a test to see if they could get close to Mitsuhide and to challenge him now while he was still young?

Eighteen was the mark. Upon that date, Mitsuhide would become the clan chief, but would also announce his presence throughout the world of demons and spirits. There, he would come into his own as the next Emperor of his race upon his throne in Yomi. It was an unforgiving place, and he was young. Therefore he could not afford mistakes. Yomi and Izumo were loyal to the bloodline, but that did not mean they would be equally as loyal to him as the individual.

Therefore he knew there were high expectations of which he had to meet. He had to establish his authority on that day and take it with a steel grip. Opposing factions could not be allowed to interfere.

His relatives the Toki, although they had retreated from the world of humans, had returned to Yomi and Izumo, where they prepared with his family on this side for the coronation.

It was a feeling of both terror, and exhilaration. It was what he had been born for. This was his identity. It was who he was, and he knew deep down he could do it. Yet at the same time, he would be lying if he said it did not make him terrified.

He debated on the prospects of his future, which was suddenly coming along remarkably quickly.

A trickle of conversation pulled his thoughts back to the present however, and he turned his head in the direction of voices. They were hushed, suspicious, and Mitsuhide paused to listen. They were a group of lesser Lords who were staying in the castle at the time. There were three of them, Mitsuhide recalled from dinner. They paid him respects, and vice versa, but beyond that, Mitsuhide engaged little with them. They had been more curious about Aki. They spoke to her in the beginning, baffled by her role as both male and female. Before turning to their inner circles. Mitsuhide did not miss the snide looks they cast her, disapproving of the fact she was labelled as a samurai because she was a woman.

"They're saying Yoshitatsu is not the legitimate son of Saito Dousan."

"Eh? Really? Where did you hear that?"

"I heard from a maid who heard from another who used to work here eighteen years ago. She's gone now, but apparently Yoshitatsu was born only after seven months."

"Seven months?" One of them exclaimed, before lowering his voice again. "A baby born that early should've died after birth."

"But they say he'd been born at full size, which has people believe he may have been fathered by someone else before Miyoshino-hime became Saito-sama's wife."

"Do we know who the father may have actually been?"

"I couldn't say. Could be anyone. They are even saying it might be Toki Yorinari."

"Now that would be a scandal, wouldn't it? He was exiled in disgrace."

"You think it could be him? Seems unlikely. He seemed like such a weak fellow. Yoshitatsu is quite capable of brutality by comparison. Have you seen him in battle? He takes after Saito-sama quite a lot."

"Who can tell? But the point I'm trying to make, gentlemen, is that if Yoshitatsu is not the Lord of Mino's legitimate son, then he won't be labelled as the next chief when the time comes."

"Does Saito Dousan know?"

"Hard to tell at this stage. But I did raise the possibility to him – subtly – and even though he waved it away, he looked quite bothered by it."

"Well my fellow Lords. It appears we will need to monitor the situation closely. It might be a chance for us to gain greater powers and authority if we play our cards right."

"Here, here."

Mitsuhide frowned, disengaging from them as they returned to their drinking. Now, that was a worrying discussion to have heard. It was secret and hidden knowledge. In truth Yoshitatsu was indeed the son of Toki Yorinari. But no one was meant to know as such. The timing had been very inconvenient throughout the whole ordeal in the past, so Mitsuhide had been told by his mother and uncles. Miyoshino had already been two months pregnant when she had been given to Saito Dousan to appease relations. The timing was close enough however that when initial suspicions had arisen, they had been stamped out, favouring how fortune smiled upon Dousan and how his first son was strong enough to live despite being 'premature'.

Yoshitatsu's appearance took more after his mother as well, another reason for how suspicions were not raised, and having Dousan as his father figure, his behaviour followed the strongest male role model available.

But if these rumours from eighteen years ago were beginning to resurface, then it bode ill for Dousan and Yoshitatsu. Last thing anyone wanted was for both men to now start questioning legitimacy at a time when allies had to be kept close and enemies had to be watched. The last big conflict Mino suffered was the civil war between the Toki and Saito. Mitsuhide had been too young to partake in that conflict at the time.

Now however, he would be expected to lead and command.

Despite his expertise in combat he had not yet taken part in full-scale battles. The skirmishes he had foughtwere minor by comparison to the last civil war. He had studied thoroughly the ways of war and battle. But, it was all still just theory for now.

In actuality, despite Aki's heartfelt confession of how inferior she felt compared to him in her ability to fight and protect and to earn and keep her place in the family, she was far more experienced and skilled in battlefield warfare and castle invasions.

Mitsuhide was probably the only man alive who actually felt proud of that fact. In no way had Aki ever brought shame on the family. Most – like the minor gossiping Lords – could not stand nor accept the fact some women could fight and think in military terms.

On the contrary, the thought of Aki fighting and defending him did bother him. Not because she was a woman who could fight, but more in the sense that Mitsuhide had never really paid her back for saving his life in the past, twice. It felt wrong, because he was a man, yet he had never been given the chance to demonstrate and prove he could protect her in the same way she could protect him. She was, in every sense, still in fact his superior and senior. She was older, and therefore had greater life experience and he would never be able to catch that up. Likewise she clearly had an education which he could also never match.

However, at least in warfare, he may be able to best her. It was perhaps a healthy level of competition, but also just to prove that he was strong enough to protect her in the future.

Mitsuhide continued through the castle towards an upstairs garden viewing veranda to speak to Aki. She had taken a message for both of them which had arrived from outside. He did not catch who from though.

In the mean time, he tucked away the hidden conversation he heard to a deeper part of his mind for future analysis and observation. It was a delicate matter, and one which would have to be handled equally delicately.

When he arrived at the room, it was silent within. He could hear her breathing however and the lamps were still lit. Most likely she was reading or viewing the garden. He knocked gently on the wood of the screen door.

"Aki. I am coming in," he said as he slid the door open.

The opposite screen was open to the garden and night sky. Aki was sat on the tatami, facing the openness. She held something within her hands which rested on her lap, seemingly lost in thought. However, as Mitsuhide had slid the screen open, the sound of it made her jump, as if she had not been expecting it, and her head whipped behind her with alarm.

For a moment, Mitsuhide thought her eyes had changed colour, to an eerie, glowing icy green. He blinked, and it was gone. Had he just imagined it?

Aki's expression of alarm smoothed as she sighed in relief. "You scared me, Mitsuhide-sama. I thought you would have knocked on the screen first."

Mitsuhide stepped in, peering at her oddly as he slid the screen shut behind him. "Idid knock. What were you thinking about to have you so absorbed?"

"I . . ." she trailed off and her face went pale for a moment. She looked down, as if suddenly really tired and she took a deep breath, blinking heavily.

Concern swept through Mitsuhide and he knelt down in front of her, suddenly reminded by her illness over the winter. Kenji had approached him in private earlier asking if Aki was well. It was an unexpected question and Mitsuhide dismissed it without a second thought. Of course Aki was well.

But now, he suddenly wondered why Kenji had asked him in the first place and whether it was related to why she suddenly sagged now.

Mitsuhide placed the back of his hand against her forehead to see if she had a fever. "Aki. Are you alright?"

She pushed his hand away and rubbed her eyes with the other, laughing sheepishly. "I am fine. Just tired. I think it's being around Nou-hime. She can be quite demanding." The colour returned to her face. Mitsuhide was not convinced. His cousin was indeed a very demanding girl, and Aki had managed that just fine in the past.

Then again, even back then she had often complained afterwards about how tired she was. And her face had returned to a normal colour as well.

Mitsuhide sat back, thoughtful. It probably was nothing. Aki was sound in her knowledge of the body. If she said she was fine, then she most likely was.

She said that last time though, and ended up getting attacked in a back alley and had to be rescued by Chigusa, he thought unhappily.

He changed the topic. "So what was the message?"

Aki handed him the bamboo tube she had been holding. Mitsuhide took it and opened the lid, sliding out the parchment within.

"It is a letter from Tsumaki Norihiro," Aki said, "asking if we would do them the honour of paying them a visit before we return home."

It was the first time Aki had ever called their castle 'home', Mitsuhide noted. It made him glad to hear it as he scanned the letter. Indeed, the letter was addressed to both of them from the Tsumaki chief, extending an invitation to visit for dinner and to stay the night, before returning to Tara Castle in the morning.

Mitsuhide thought back to his first meeting with the Lord. He was noble in character and remarkably easy-going. His eldest daughter was the same. A plain girl, as Mitsuhide recalled, but with a gentle character. Not a shred of malice nor sly thought within her. She would be fifteen now. Marriable age.

Mitsuhide's thoughts took a sudden turn as he considered Norihiro's possible reason for his invitation. Could it be to offer one of his daughters to Mitsuhide for marriage? Having the Tsumaki as solid allies would certainly be convenient, and vice versa on their side. And Mitsuhide liked the man as well.

But marriage?

Why am I feeling so reluctant all of a sudden? He thought.

He looked back up to Aki, seeking her verdict. Perhaps he was overthinking it.

"Do we have time in our itinerary for a visit?" He asked, glancing back down at the invitation.

"I think, we probably do. The Tsumaki residence is closer to Inabayama Castle than it is to Tara Castle."

Mitsuhide found himself unsure as to whether to go or not. The travel would not be an issue, and to pay a visit would reaffirm the friendship between the two families. To decline would be very rude, and it was not in Mitsuhide's mind to be rude. However, he also did not want to face a possibility of a marriage proposition. It was not that he did not want to get married, because that was untrue. He did want to get married at some point, but it had to be to the right woman. Being around Aki had taught him the value of relationships.

"What do you think? Should we accept?" He poised the question to her.

Her eyebrows shot up and she blinked. "Why are you asking me? I cannot make that decision. This is something for you to decide." She held up her hands in defence and said warily, "You are the Lord here. I am the retainer."

"A retainer often has better ideas than their Lord, especially when it comes to visits which were not part of an original plan and can affect their Lord's safety."

Aki pressed her lips into a thin line as she realised he had twisted the question against her. He himself was surprised by Aki's lack of her usual enthusiasm. She had been extremely encouraging of developing their relationship with the Tsuamki family until quite recently.

She took a deep breath. "Tsumaki Norihiro is an honourable man. It would be rude to refuse. Men such as he are rare, and honourable allies are difficult to come by," she said carefully, surprising him again by her continued support for the family of Tsumaki. What had changed?

It also meant Mitsuhide had to agree. He nodded slowly. "Very well. Can you write a letter and send it back to Tara Castle, explaining our return will be delayed by a day or two?"

Aki bowed her head. "Of course, Mitsuhide-sama." She stood, still unable to drop the honorific.

Mitsuhide caught her wrist. That same jolt of energy went through him upon the skin contact. "Aki . . . is everything alright?"

Startled, she withdrew her hand instantly and clasped them. "Don't be silly, Mitsuhide-sama. What makes you think that?"

Mitsuhide stayed seated. Somehow he felt if he stood it would startle her even more.

"You have been behaving strangely all day today." He avoided mentioning Kenji, but held her gaze.

In the end, her tight expression softened. "It is fine. I am well. I just had a troubling dream last night. That is all."

Mitsuhide frowned. Her dreams were never to be taken lightly. "Do you want to tell me about it?"

She smiled and shook her head. "I am still trying to make sense of it. Until then, even if I wished to speak to you of it, it would come out as garbled nonsense. Now, go to bed. You have had quite a full day today and you will need the rest."

Mitsuhide sighed. "Very well. I shall return to my rooms. Do not take too long to deliver the message. I will see you in the morning."

Aki's smile remained and she bowed. "Goodnight then . . . Mitsuhide," she said softly.

Hearing her say his name without the title sent a flutter of warmth through him, and a joy spread through his bones, touching his face as he returned the smile.

It may have only been once during their private conversation, but that one time lifted his entire mood. He forgot about his initial concern for her. He forgot about the Lords and their threatening gossip. He forgot about the discussions of conflict he had with Dousan concerning the boarder.

Mitsuhide felt peaceful, and it was as if the moon herself glowed with approval in the night sky.

Xxxxx

The next day from when we received the invitation, we arrived at the Tsumaki residence. Norihiro himself awaited us in the courtyard and greeted us with great cheer.

"Akechi Mitsuhide-sama! Osamu-sama! I am delighted you could make it."

He really was a good man, and I could not help but greet him as equally cheerfully.

"I had been thinking of paying you a visit all winter. It is only now that we have been able to spare the time," I replied to him.

He looks ever so pleased that we accepted his invitation, I thought, finally pushing away some doubts and worries and replacing them with positivity. It was always nice to see when someone was happy to see you.

I dismounted Mana as Mitsuhide dismounted Riku and took the reins of both horses to give to the stable master waiting close by.

"It was an honour to receive your invitation, Tsumaki-sama," Mitsuhide greeted with a bow.

"The honour is mine. Now please, both of you must come in for some tea," Norihiro said, beckoning.

Therefore both of us entered the residence, leaving our sandals by the veranda.

"I trust you had a good winter?" Mitsuhide enquired as we walked along the corridor. It was much quieter compared to a castle. Understandably given the size differences. It was nice, because here I could hear the birds better, even from within the walls, as opposed to the sounds of servants and maids bustling about to keep a castle in shape.

"A rather uneventful one, therefore the same as many previous winters. Yourselves? I understand Yamagishi-sama and his noble daughter stayed with you this winter?"

"They did. It had been a while since we had last seen my mother's family, and therefore we invited them to stay with us," Mitsuhide said.

"Indeed family are extremely important," Norihiro agreed. "I have also kept mine close this winter." We came to a stop in front of some screens where the natural light was bright on the other side. "You must forgive my wife's absence. This winter gone has been harsh on her health, therefore she is resting in selcusion."

Mitsuhide nodded in understanding, glancing at me briefly. "This winter has been harsh on quite a few individuals."

I knew what he meant, as a reminder of my own illness. Mine however, had been self-inflicted. I doubted Lady Tsumaki had been as foolish. Given the delicate disposition of Hiroko however, it was likely inherited from the mother. There had been nothing in my research during my teens about Hiroko's mother, and so this was now all guess work and intuition.

"Do not worry. We will not take offence over your wife's absence," Mitsuhide said reassuringly. "If we had known we could have brought some medicines and remedies to aid her health. Alas, all we can do for now is send her our well wishes. But rest assured, as soon as I return to my castle, I shall have someone send our family remedies. They helped Osamu's own recovery."

Norihiro's eyebrows rose. "Osamu-sama had been unwell during the cold weather?"

I bowed my head. "Sadly, yes. This winter decided my luck had run out, it seemed. Nevertheless, the Akechi family remedies worked extremely well. I would certainly recommend them for your wife."

"Then I shall take them with gratitude over such kindness." Norihiro then slid open the screen, revealing a viewing room which was open to a garden, where a single cherry blossom tree in the middle was still in bloom over a pond. It must have been a late bloomer, as most of the blossoms in this region had finished flowering a week or two ago.

Cushions had been laid out for the three of us to sit. A fourth person was already in the room, making tea.

She glanced up, and I recognised her instantly. She had grown a bit more since I last saw her, having filled out a bit more into shape. She was still very thin though, and her skin was dusted with make-up. It made her look very attractive, but not in the obvious sense. Hers was a more gentle and subtle beauty if one knew how to look.

As soon as she glanced up at both Mitsuhide and I, she quickly brought her gaze back down, her cheeks flushing and her posture shrinking in nervousness and she bowed, touching her brow to the tatami.

"You remember my eldest daughter, Hiroko," Norihiro said when we were seated.

"Of course," Mitsuhide said. "How could we forget?"

"Please, daughter. You may sit up now," Norihiro said, giving her permission to rise again. She kept her eyes downcast, clearly nervous.

"I am honoured the Akechi Lord and Lady remember me," she replied, her words wavering in the beginning. I had a moment of being reminded of my best friend in England. She too was of such a nervous and anxious disposition. I had been one of the few people she trusted. Everyone else had the tendency to stab her in the back.

I was overcome by a sense of sympathy and empathy for Hiroko. Her anxiety was perhaps due to the scars on her face. Records had definitely made that mark clear. It was perhaps something I could relate to, given my own scars, even though mine were from acne and hers from smallpox.

"You have grown since we last saw you, Hiroko-hime," Mitsuhide noted.

Hiroko glanced at him tentatively.

"You have both grown over the last year, to be honest," I decided to speak, my tone light, but focused more on Hiroko to hopefully make her feel more at ease. "You have grown into quite a fine young woman, Hiroko-hime. You must be pleased, Tsumaki-sama, to have such a fine daughter."

"Aha, indeed I am," Norihiro agreed. "And she is very skilled as well in all that a noble woman should know and study."

As if it were a silent instruction, Hiroko returned to whisking the tea powder. And whether it was intended or not, I felt a hint at something else.

Hiroko may not be a beauty like Chigusa, but Hiroko was gentle, and therefore submissive, which made an ideal wife. And a wife of noble heritage would also have to be knowledgeable in the tea ceremony, poetry and literature, calligraphy and sewing.

This visit I had Seen when the message was received at Inabayama Castle, and I knew Norihiro would ask Mitsuhide during this visit if he would take Hiroko as his wife.

However, I had not Seen the answer. My body turned chilly and my abdomen clenched. Regardless of how, the question would be asked during this visit, and much of the future hinged on Mitsuhide's answer. I knew what the answer should be, yet unlike last year, where I was filled with giddiness at the prospect, I was now filled with dread. Because Mitsuhide marrying anyone would take him away from our friendship, and while I would still serve, our relationship would not be the same.

It was a selfish thought, and I despised myself for thinking something so selfish and immature. No matter how much my mind tried to beat it into submission however, the pit remained.

Mitsuhide and Norihiro were talking between them, which left me to reign in my control. I tried to focus on the positives. The Tsumakis were a noble family, similarly ranked to the Akechi (in the human sense of course), therefore it would be a reasonable alliance. Norihiro himself was a decent and honourable man, and Hiroko was a gentle girl whom I had also interacted with enough to become some form of friends with. There was very little chance of having any problems.

It was an ideal match.

Hiroko finished whisking the tea and the bitter matcha was passed around. It was a pure brew, of which Mitsuhide commented on, earning a slight flush to Hiroko's face. I glanced at Norihiro, noting his subtle smile as he watched the two of them.

Upon noticing Norihiro's expression, it reaffirmed my prediction. I closed my eyes briefly, taking a deep breath, and expelling it out slowly and silently. What I had read in history may have all been correct, except certain dates and figures may have been confused and muddled as the centuries passed. The future was still set in stone however.

Or so it appeared.

Mitsuhide and Norihiro led the conversation for that portion of the afternoon. I chipped in more than I expected, and Hiroko spoke when spoken to, demonstrating the perfect kind of behaviour one would expect from a woman of noble upbringing – disciplined, and knowing her place in front of those who were her senior.

When the tea was finished, Norihiro took us on a tour around the residence. Beautiful grounds they were, for they were quaint, and it somehow matched the family so accurately. I felt a great deal of guilt upon my reluctance of the marriage proposal prospect. This family really was the perfect kind to unite with the Akechi, and Hiroko herself would be a perfect match for Mitsuhide. It was something I had accepted right at the beginning from when I first started my research into Mitsuhide as a teenager myself. And it was something I was going to have to accept now.

Some young voices caught my attention, and I glanced back towards the residence, to find two young girls trying to steal a peak through a slit in the screen they had opened. They looked twelve and nine, sisters. Hiroko also noticed, and she inhaled sharply. The three of them were sisters, and to see the two youngers behaving excitedly was an embarrassment to Hiroko, and would be to Norihiro, when he noticed.

However, seeing their curious faces desperate to take a look at the visitors, I could not help but smile and wave in return. It was nice to see children behave like curious children, especially when they were quite happy to also make eye-contact with me without running away. Made me feel somewhat normal again.

The two girls blushed and their eyes widened, giggling. They did not realise they had nudged the screen wider and took a near tumble out onto the veranda, tripping over one another.

The sound of the tumble finally drew Norihiro's attention and he scowled. "What are you two doing?" he snapped as the two girls scrambled back inside, slamming the screen shut.

"Forgive them and myself, Akechi-sama, Osamu-sama. I have not disciplined them well enough," Norihiro apologised, bowing his head.

"It is all well," I said soothingly. "It was probably my fault. I smiled and waved at them from a distance. Do not be too harsh on them, Tsumaki-sama. Perhaps, if Hiroko-hime could do me the honour of introducing me to your sisters? We could allow the men to talk between them."

I glanced at Mitsuhide, who's expression had softened and nodded slightly in agreement. Norihiro debated internally for a moment, before he then agreed. Therefore Hiroko led me back into the residence, where I was then able to bond with the young woman without the restrictions and influence of men. I did like Hiroko. If she was to be the one for Mitsuhide, then I had to also ensure I was happy with her, otherwise I knew my coming days would be filled with nothing but misery, and jealousy, on both sides. On my side, the jealousy would be the fact that a wife would create a rift in the friendship between Mitsuhide and I. On her side, it would be the fact that Mitsuhide's most common company, besides the wife, would be me as his retainer, and it would not go unnoticed that I was a woman who would most likely still be spending more time with him than others, purely due to the nature of my post.

Therefore if I could develop the friendship between Hiroko and I further, it would make both of our lives infinitely easier in the future.

After the evening meal had been cleaned away, Mitsuhide and Norihiro sat next to each other, sipping sake. The sunlight was waning as it set over the horizon. There was still light however, and Aki, Hiroko, and the two younger sisters, Junko and Kaiya, were out at the far end of the garden, still dressed in their formal attire.

Hiroko was trying to show Aki something while Junko and Kaiya dashed around the two of them, laughing as they played and simultaneously fought for Aki's attention. It was refreshing, reminding Mitsuhide of when Aki often played with the children and youth of the town. She always had interesting games for them to experiment with.

"I must confess, Mitsuhide-sama," Norihiro began. "I did not expect my girls to get along so well with Osamu-sama. I have never seen them so lively and charmed. You have a very unique retainer."

Mitsuhide smiled. "Osamu is certainly not what you would expect. She is quite odd indeed."

Norihiro grunted awkwardly, not wanting to voice any agreement in case he caused offence by saying Aki was indeed odd. "Nevertheless," he said, "I am glad Osamu-sama is able to entertain them. I have not seen the three of them this lively for a long time. With my wife's disposition, she is rarely able to spend time with all three of them together."

Mitsuhide watched them. "I am sorry for your wife's health. However, it appears that all three of your daughters have her bearing. I see a goodness in all three of them, particularly your eldest, as is expected of the eldest daughter or son of a family."

Norihiro sighed. "Alas, we have not been fortunate enough to bear a son, which puts the success and future of my family into a somewhat problematic situation. Mitsuhide-sama, what do you think of Hiroko?"

For the entirety of the day, Mitsuhide's visit to the Tsumaki residence had been extremely welcoming. There were some parts where Mitsuhide thought he picked up on something unusual, but had dismissed it as nothing, hoping it was not what he had predicted last night. Much of Norihiro's conversation, or attention, had been focused on Hiroko, upon praising her good nature, her submissiveness and ability to perform as a noblewoman from her tea ceremony, ability to sew and cook, paint and read.

He did wonder why Aki had been strangely distant from him today. They often said women were always quicker at picking up these things. Because now, he also caught on to the sudden possibility Norihiro may make an offer of marriage. Mitsuhide and Hiroko were of similar ages. They both had good temperaments, and given previous family history, the Tsumaki had served the Toki as the Akechi did.

Mitsuhide turned his attention to Hiroko. A plain and scarred face she possessed, but it was transformed into something Mitsuhide did consider beautiful as her expression was soft with the gentleness at heart.

"A kind elderly woman once told me this. She said that sometimes it doesn't matter how someone looks. If their heart is beautiful, then they will always look beautiful, regardless of their physical appearance."

Aki's words echoed in his memory, and they were true. And in that sense, Hiroko had a beauty which could match Chigusa herself.

However, Mitsuhide felt nothing for either Chigusa nor Hiroko.

"Fate determines one partner to the soul for eternity. Some come sooner than others, and some came later than others. But we are all promised that one special person. And you will know it in here, when you meet that person."

Those were Aki's words to Chigusa.

"Hiroko-hime is indeed kind and gentle, and the beauty of her heart shows clearly. She has not changed between our first meeting last year, and this one this evening, aside from having matured physically," Mitsuhide praised.

He felt a swell of relief from within Norihiro, but the sudden increased heartbeat indicated a moment of nervousness and tension which was not visible on the outside.

"Mitsuhide-sama, I have a request. Would you consider taking my eldest as your wife? Without sons, I must place my hopes in a good union for my daughters. I understand that Hiroko may not be the most physically beautiful woman available, and I am willing to offer you one of my other daughters when they become of age. You are a good man, Mitsuhide-sama, and I would be honoured if you will accept."

Although Mitsuhide did not show it, his abdomen clenched with sudden panic, and ironically, the first thing he thought of, was how Aki must have felt when Chigusa had confessed her feelings. In the same way Aki had answered with stunned silence, so did Mitsuhide.

He looked to her, trying to think of how she had handled the situation so he may do the same. Aki was speaking to Hiroko and explaining something to her, and Hiroko listened intently. Meanwhile, the two younger sisters tugged on Aki's kimono for her attention, arguing between them over who would be able to show her first the perfectly round pebbles they had found upon Aki's request for a game she was going to teach them.

Aki was struggling to divide her attention, and Hiroko began to look annoyed over her sisters' impatience. In an attempt to advert a three-sister argument, Aki quickly turned her attention to the two younger daughters, collected their pebbles with a compliment of great enthusiasm, and told them to now find some stray twigs. Junko and Kaiya ran off, allowing Aki to breathe again, and carry on with whatever she was talking about to Hiroko, who also now looked much happier.

Watching Aki make that sigh, it reminded Mitsuhide to breathe. It allowed him to think, and made him realise there was no need to panic, because either way, he could not marry Hiroko. He was Oni. The Tsumaki were mortal humans. Such a union was impossible purely due to blood and family alone. Especially for his family, they would never allow him to marry a mortal human, even if that human was the daughter of the Shogun himself. There was no connection between their worlds.

But how could he tell Norihiro that? There was already the expectation Mitsuhide would marry a Pureblood. It was what had been anticipated upon his birth.

Mitsuhide realised that was the answer. He just hoped he could say it in a way to not cause the head of the Tsumaki family any offence.

Therefore Mitsuhide turned to face Norihiro and bowed low, touching his brow to the tatami in respect.

"I thank you for your most generous offer, Norihiro-sama. Hiroko-hime is an ideal wife for the most noblest of men," Mitsuhide said carefully. "However, I am already destined to a match decided by my family upon my birth."

There was a moment of silence. "You are already betrothed?" Norihiro asked, astonished. Mitsuhide hid his cringe and remained bowed.

"I am." It was not entirely the truth, but it was also not a complete lie. "My family are very private and we do not speak of it outside the household."

"But you are seventeen. You must have received many offers from beyond your castle walls, for society does not know of this union."

"On the contrary, this is in fact the first offer I have been given." Now that Mitsuhide thought about it, it was indeed odd how he had not received any offers from outside. Mitsuhide licked his lips to continue. "I apologise for my family's discretion, my Lord. However," Mitsuhide sat back up. "I know of noble families like my own whom would benefit as greatly as you shall from a union between their houses and yours. Please allow me to make amends by arranging these. I assure you, your daughters will have the most ideal husbands." Mitsuhide bowed down again, and remained there as the silence stretched on. He listened to the sound Norihiro's breathing and heartbeat. They were agitated, surprised and struggling to understand what had happened. Meanwhile the rest of the residence carried on blissfully normally, and the four women and girls outside interacted between them.

"Yes, ok good. Now you gently throw you pebble into the ring, and see if you can knock out mine. No, not like – oh! You got it!" Aki exclaimed.

"I did it! I knocked it out!" Kaiya squealed in delight

"That's not fair!" Junko groaned in misery, and Hiroko hummed in thought.

Mitsuhide focused on Aki's voice. It helped calm him. If she was fine, then all was well, even if he himself was dealing with a very unusual scenario at the present time.

Norihiro grunted. "You may sit up, Mitsuhide-sama."

Mitsuhide did so. "Does Norihiro-sama require more time to consider my proposal?"

Norihiro shook his head. "While I am disappointed you have refused my offer, I am pleased that you will help my daughters find matches in the near future. I trust you will hold to your word?" The last utterance was not really a question, judging from its firm tone. Norihiro was well justified in it, for a young man old enough to be his son had just refused him an offer of marriage.

Nevertheless, Mitsuhide replied just as firmly. "You have my word, Norihiro-sama."

Norihiro exhaled heavily and poured some more sake for both Mitsuhide and himself. "I will admit, you would have made an ideal son-in-law. However, I trust your judgement, as do so many others. Therefore if you are able to find husbands for all three of my daughters, then I shall be a very happy father indeed. So let us drink. I may not have achieved what I initially wanted, but I have gained something equally advantageous. To my daughters' marriages."

The two raised their glasses and drank their fill, and their conversation returned to more mundane topics. As they talked and drank, Mitsuhide's eyes continued to be drawn back to the four in the garden. A servant had brought them lamps as the sun's light weakened further over the trees and the chill began to return to the air, yet the four girls seemed completely unaware. They were enjoying themselves. There, the three sisters were just children again, and looked to Aki as a female figure like a motherly older sister they never had, but had discovered they probably should have had.

Aki will make a good mother one day, Mitsuhide found himself thinking.

It would be impossible however. For as long as she served Mitsuhide, she could never be allowed to marry. Even if she did marry, any man here would be unsuitable for her, for she was a samurai, yet also of a different world and upbringing, possessing knowledge that baffled even the few Purebloods who came into contact her, with abilities of her own which made her as supernatural as Mitsuhide's own kind. Even her appearance had frozen in age. Whether she was immortal or not, none could tell for now. But certainly appeared it.

As he thought about it, with all of these factors combined, the best possible match for Aki would be Mitsuhide himself. Even Ichirou had picked up on that last part before he started choking.

And so he came to a realisation, of which the surprising thing was that it was not surprising at all, in the end. Because it all made sense, and most of all, as Aki had said, he felt it – in his heart.

Nothing had ever before been so certain in his life.

I think . . . I want to take Aki as my wife, Mitsuhide resolved.