Chapter 3

After three days of travel we arrived in Lord Tae Jun's territory. We were greeted at the castle gates by Lord Tae Jun, a group of attendants, and a woman who appeared to be his wife, as she stood beside him.

"Welcome!" He greeted us with a warm smile and a deep bow of respect. He was a tall slender man who appeared to be just a few years older than myself. He had dark hair and ocean blue eyes.

We dismounted our horses, and attendants from his stables were taking them as more attendants came to take our bags. The three of us walked up together and returned the bow.

"Thank you for the warm welcome." Hideyoshi replied.

"It is my honor to have you here, Lord Hideyoshi, Lord Mitsuhide." Tae Jun said, looking at each of the men in turn. Then he turned that disarming smile on me. "And a special welcome to you, Princess Ava."

"Thank you, I am happy to be here." I replied, bowing once again.

"I'd like you all to meet my wife, Lady Hinata." He said, gesturing to the woman standing beside him.

She smiled as she bowed to us. "Welcome, I am pleased to meet you all and welcome you." She greeted us.

I couldn't help but to admire how beautiful Lady Hinata was. Her hair fell to her waist in warm wavy auburn locks. She had the most striking green eyes I had ever seen. Her skin was flawless. While I didn't swing that way, I could easily see she was gorgeous. And her clothes! Oh they were the most beautiful I had ever seen and in the most exquisite colors and fabrics!

I really hope I get to talk with her! I thought. I'd love to know where she gets the fabric for her clothes and who designed her outfits.

We were then led inside Lord Tae Jun's castle and shown to our rooms. The room we were led to was a large common area for sitting and possibly even eating. There were several doors off of the room, leading to our bedrooms and a couple of rooms for bathing.

Lord Tae Jun had informed us that we were welcome to freshen up and rest from our travels for a spell and then we would be able to join him for dinner. I had gone into one of the bathing areas to take a quick bath to wash the dust from travel off. Once I had finished, I wrapped up in a robe and then went into the room where all of my things were and began to get ready.

I sat in front of a mirror and began to try to fix my hair. I was having some difficulty with getting it just right, when Mitsuhide came in. Naturally he was dressed and ready. "Having troubles, my dear?" He asked, coming to sit behind me.

"Maybe...a little." I confessed.

Mitsuhide chuckled and took my brush and comb from me. He brushed my hair out and then began to comb through it with his fingers. Why does this feel so damn good? I thought as I felt the tension I hadn't even known I'd been carrying begin to leave my body.

I glanced in the mirror as Mitsuhide continued to work on my hair. His eyes were focused, but held a tender gentle look there. He combed my hair up, styling it beautifully and then placing the blue bell flower hair pin he had gifted me in it.

"Now turn this way." He instructed.

I complied and turned to face him. Mitsuhide gently kissed my lips before taking and placing a bit of rouge on them and some light makeup around my eyes. Once my hair and makeup were finished, Mitsuhide helped me into my princess robes. I was then looking at my reflection in the mirror, not recognizing myself.

"So, do I look like a princess?" I asked.

"Only the most beautiful one." He answered, taking my hand and lifting it to place a kiss on the back.

We stood there a moment, our gazes locked on each other, my hand still in his, still at his lips. "Ahem."

I jumped slightly at that sound, having not even heard the door open. Hideyoshi stood there, giving us one of his classic scolding looks.

"What is it, Mother?" Mitsuhide asked, looking at Hideyoshi almost in annoyance.

Hideyoshi glared at him. "Need I remind you two we are here as representatives of our lord? Have some propriety and decency."

I felt my cheeks blazing as bright as the sun.

"We have both." Mitsuhide countered. "I was merely helping my lovely bride get ready and relax. We can't have her be a tangle of nerves for the meeting."

"Just behave." Hideyoshi lectured us before we all left to join Lord Tae Jun and Lady Hinata for dinner.

In Echigo...

Sasuke sat in the tallest watch tower in Kasaugyama castle. He held a spiral bound notebook in his hands and a pencil, two of the only modern possessions he still held. He kept looking up at the sky every few moments and then writing something down, the light of the full moon providing him enough light to see.

"I knew I would find you up here."

Sasuke looked up from his notebook at the sound of his friend's voice. "Is something up, Yukimura?' He asked.

"Lord Shingen and Lord Kenshin are calling a council." Yukimura answered.

"This late?" Sasuke asked.

"Yeah, let's go."

Sasuke nodded and then tucked his notebook and pencil away. He had finished his calculations and was glad to see that though there was another wormhole appearing, that it was nowhere near himself or Ava. It would be manifesting around a port town in three days time.

Once they were inside the council room, Shingen was sharing a report from his Mitsumono. "So, what's the big news?" Yukimura asked.

"We received word that the Oda forces are acquiring another ally." Shingen answered. "Lord Tae Jun is allying himself with the Devil King."

"We know this for certain?" Kenshin asked. Though Tae Jun didn't have military might, he had great influence and access to trade through his port cities.

"Yes, Nobunaga has even sent both his right and left hand to Tae-Jun's territory to form an alliance. The report also says that he's sent the princess along as well." Shingen answered.

Sasuke had to keep himself from jumping at this news. "How long are they going to be there?" Sasuke asked.

"They arrived today and will be there for a week working on negotiations." Shingen answered.

There was more discussion and then Sasuke was returning to his room. He pulled out his notebook and double checked his calculations. "This isn't good." He said.

"What's bothering you?" Yukimura asked. "You've been acting weird since Lord Shingen mentioned that Ava was with that Kitsune and Nobunaga's right hand man."

"I can't really explain." Sasuke answered. "But I have to go and get them out of there."

"Do you believe Ava is in danger?' Yoshimoto came in to ask. "I too noticed your change in expression when Ava was mentioned."

"Not really danger." Sasuke answered. "It's complicated, but I have to go and get her to leave Lord Tae-Jun's domain quickly."

"So, you're just going to leave and not say anything to Lord Kenshin? You know he'll get stab happy." Yukimura said.

"I was hoping I could get my BFF to cover for me." Sasuke replied, looking at Yukimura pointedly.

Yukimura looked at Sasuke and saw the determination in his face.

"I'll cover for you, Sasuke." Yoshimoto said. "If this is something for Ava, I want to help and I think you need to take Yukimura with you. I will cover for you both."

"Good because I was going to tell him I wasn't letting him leave alone." Yukimura agreed.

"Thank you, Yoshimoto."

Sasuke and Yukimura packed a few things and then departed Echigo quickly. t would take some hard riding, but Sasuke knew that they could make it. He just really hoped that they could make it in time.