Chapter 11

Nobunaga and the others after Ava and Suki had left the room...

"Did...did that really just happen?" Hideyoshi asked, blinking in surprise.

"Yes it did." Nobunaga answered. Though he had to admit he was quite curious as to how Ava's sister had arrived here from in the future. Ava had admitted that even in the future time travel was considered just a fanciful notion.

"I didn't even know she had a sister." Ieyasu said.

"She mentioned her to me a few nights ago." Nobunaga answered.

"That's why you asked her name." Hideyoshi said.

Nobunaga nodded. It was then that the door to the hall was opening and Mitsuhide was walking in.

He looked around the room at the rather stunned faces of his allies. "Are you all stunned to see me back already or have I missed something?" He asked.

"What news have you brought?" Nobunaga asked, ignoring Mitsuhide's question.

"Of course." Mitsuhide replied. "The poison was brought in by pirates. I have not confirmed who their captain is however, but I am close. I have Kyubi working on it, as I was beginning to be recognized."

"You believe it was the pirate captain who gave the orders for the poisoning?" Nobunaga asked.

Mitsuhide nodded. "Yes, I am not sure, but I believe he is someone more than just a normal pirate."

"I see." Nobunaga replied. "The most worst appear to be getting in on this."

"Now, may I ask what I missed once again?" Mitsuhide asked.

"We all just met Ava's sister." Hideyoshi answered.

Mitsuhide's eyes widened. "There are two of them?" He asked. "My, my."

"She came to the gates bravely demanding to see Ava. We were in the middle of questioning her when Ava walked in and confirmed that she was who she claimed to be." Nobunaga explained.

"I see."

"And it appears she knows nothing." Masamune said. "She told us she had been informed Ava was here living under Nobunaga's protection."

Mitsuhide let out an amused chuckle. "That's not entirely wrong...though you could just end the thought at living under Nobunaga."

Masamune laughed. "Probably more accurate."

"Enough." Nobunaga said.

"They have been talking some time now." Ieyasu observed.

"Yes, they have." Nobunaga agreed.

"Ava and her sister?" Mitsuhide asked.

All of the war lords were curious as to what was going on. Without a word, Nobunaga stood up and headed for the door. He had a feeling he knew where Ava had taken her sister and headed in the direction of Ava's old room. The other war lords soon followed him, all curious.

When they got to the door, they could hear Suki's voice rising. "So wait...you...you had a chance to come home and you didn't take it?" She asked, clearly furious.

"I know it seems bad, but...I couldn't leave him." Ava answered. "I...from what I thought...if I returned I'd never be able to return here. And I couldn't stand that thought."

Suki's voice rose even louder at this point. "But you could stand to never see me again?! To leave me worrying and wondering?! Never knowing if you were okay?! Never knowing where you were or what happened to you?! Thinking the worst?!"

"I'm sorry." Ava replied. "I never meant to hurt you."

"I just...I can't believe you would do that! I mean you chose to let me wonder about you for the rest of my life all for some guy?!"

Hideyoshi was about to go in and correct Suki. Nobunaga placed a hand on his shoulder to hold him back.

"I know it must seem that way..." Ava began, but Suki wouldn't let her continue.

"Well it clearly is that way! You chose some guy over your family!"

"He's not just some guy!" Ava shouted back.

"Oh that's right, you had to go and pick Nobunaga Oda! The freaking Devil King of the Sixth Heaven! He who kills the bird that does not sing! You gave up everything and turned your back on your family!"

"I fell in love and had to make a choice! I went with the one where I stayed with the man I love! I am sorry that you feel hurt by that! If you can get over your hurt and look at how happy I am and be happy for me, you are welcome to stay here for however long you want, but if you can't get over your hurt...then you can just...you can go to hell!" Ava shouted at her sister.

Nobunaga and the others were quite surprised by the anger in Ava's voice. They never would have thought she would tell someone to go to hell.

Ava...

"Then you can just...you can go to hell!" I shouted at my sister, her having provoked my anger. I was then stomping out the door.

When I stepped out in the hall, I found Nobunaga and the other war lords standing there, trying to act all casual. "How...how long have you been standing here?" I asked.

"Not long." Nobunaga answered.

I eyed my husband and the others suspiciously. "You were all listening." I accused.

"We were walking by and heard shouting." Nobunaga replied. "We were concerned."

"Uh-huh." I replied, crossing my arms. I was hardly ever cross with Nobunaga anymore, but I felt that way now. I didn't know if it was my anger carrying over with my sister or my pregnancy hormones, or a combination. "I need to be alone." I said and then stomped off towards the gardens.

I made my way to a nice tree and sat down beneath the shade of it. All of my emotions welled up and began to spill from my eyes. I didn't know who I was more upset with Suki, or Nobunaga and the others, or myself for getting so mad in the first place.

"I heard you had an eventful day."

I looked up to see Asuna approaching me. She had a handkerchief in her hand which she offered to me.

"Thank you." I said, taking it and dabbing at my eyes.

Suki...

Suki sat in what was now her room, stewing over the conversation she'd just had with Ava. It wasn't the first time they had fought, nor the first time Ava had told her to go to hell. But they had just been reunited and they were already fighting.

Suki sighed. "Why can't I ever control mouth around her?" She muttered.

There was a knock on the door just then and then it slid open. Nobunaga was then walking in.

Great, the man who stole my sister. Suki couldn't help but to think.

"May I speak with you, Suki?" He asked.

"It's your castle." Suki replied. "And apparently my sister is yours, too."

"Only because she chooses to be." Nobunaga answered.

"Yeah, sure like you gave her much of a choice with that bet. Using it to seduce her." Suki spat at him.

"That is how it started out." Nobunaga replied. "A mere distraction...but in the end it was Ava who conquered me."

"You expect me to believe that?" Suki replied.

"It is the truth whether you believe it or not." Nobunaga said. "I love Ava and as long as she wished to stay by my side, I will devote myself to her."

Suki eyed him. "She said you know the truth about where we're from?"

"I do." Nobunaga replied.

"And...you believed her?"

"Not at first, but when she presented me proof, I could not deny it." Nobunaga answered.

Suki didn't like the fact that Nobunaga didn't seem as terrifying as she had expected. He definitely carried an air of power and there was something that was cold in his manner. And yet he had come here to talk to her, all because of...Ava.

Nobunaga sighed. "Ava, was just telling me the other day about you and about missing you. Clearly you missed her or else you wouldn't have been searching for her. You are welcome to stay in the castle as long as you like...I would appreciate you not continuing to upset my wife though and for you two to make up. There will be a banquet tonight in the main hall. I will have one of the maids come and get you when it is time." He was then leaving.

Suki let out an angry huff. "Ava is the one who abandoned me." She muttered.

Ava later in the day...

After talking with Asuna, I had decided to go and take a bath. I was still incredibly pissed off with my sister. I just can't believe what she said...or that she would think that about me. I know it must seem that way, but that's just not it. I wish I could make her understand.

It was then that I heard the door to the bath sliding open and footsteps. Familiar footsteps. I looked up to see Nobunaga having entered the room. And then there was my husband and the other warlords listening in to me and my sister.

"Are you still angry with me?" He asked, surprising me at not removing his robe and joining me.

"Maybe." I answered.

"Then allow me to apologize to you." He said. He was then removing his robes and stepping into the bath and wading over to me.

"I didn't say you coud join me."

Nobunaga gave me a cheeky grin. "It is my private bath." He countered. "Besides, how am I supposed to properly make it up to you if I am not in here with you."

My anger with him was already beginning to waver. Dammit. I crossed my arms over my chest and turned my head to the side.

He lifted a hand and placed it beneath my chin and coaxed my eyes up to his. He then ran his thumb over my lower lip. "Your eyes tell me your resolve to stay angry with me is already crumbling." He said with a smile.

My thoughts were threatening to turn to mush. Dammit, no be angry! I scolded myself. "You...you and the others were listening in." I said.

"I was a little curious as to how things were going." Nobunaga replied. "I am sorry that it upset you, but I am glad that I know."

I sighed. While my talk with Asuna had helped me to feel a bit better. What I really wanted was to be in Nobunaga's comforting and warm embrace.

Nobunaga then did exactly as I really wanted. He was removing his hand from my chin and wrapping his arms around me, pulling me against his chest. "I love you." He told me.

I smiled and leaned into his embrace. "And I love you."

I felt his lips brush the top of my head. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah." I answered with a sigh. "Suki has always been able to get under my skin like no one else...I love her and wouldn't want anything to happen to her, but I also can't stand her sometimes...and I imagine she thinks the same of me at times."

"Is this how siblings are in the future?" Nobunaga asked me.

I nodded. "It is typical. We fight like we hate each other, but it's because we actually really do love each other." I answered.

"Hmm...sounds much more frustrating than simply just killing your sibling." Nobunaga replied, reminding me that he had had to kill his own brother.

"It is frustrating...but I still love her."

"I know." Nobunaga said. "Now, we need to finish this bath. We have a banquet tonight."

"We do? Since when?" I asked.

"Mitsuhide has returned, as I am sure you saw. Though he has not found the culprit, he is close and believes his vassal Kyubi will be able to find the truth." Nobunaga replied. "Besides, I think it would be good for you...plus Masamune is cooking all of your favorites."

"Well...I guess it does sound nice." I agreed. "And if he is going to all the trouble to make my favorites."

Nobunaga smiled at me. "That's more like it." He was then pulling me in for a kiss.