Walker of Time (Book One)

by Ayyarin

Annie - a young researcher - is swept away from her modern day life into the Sengoku period. There, she decides to use her knowledge of that time period to guide Mitsuhide through his life that will come to pass, giving him the advantage in the events to come. However, can she guide him towards the tragic death that waits for him at the end when realises that she loves him?

27. Chapter 27

A/N: Longest chapter so far, I think. If anyone still reads this, enjoy :)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

2 weeks after the battle;

Omi-no-Kata held my left upper arm while my right hand leaned on the cane. It was a slow process, making my way through the castle to the front courtyard, where Mitsuhide and some other Akechi officers were preparing for our departure to return to Tara Castle.

Yoshitatsu was there, including Nou who held a package in her hands. Even Dousan was there, booming out orders about who should be where in the convoy. There was a lot of noise and activity, and very quickly I tuned it all out. I felt I did not have the energy to pay attention, as I would have done in the past. It was usually me who was the one organising the convoy to return to Tara Castle, but today, I was far from capable of doing so.

Even though I had shed my tears and released my fear, grief and panic in front of Mitsuhide and Omi-no-Kata, I now felt drained and numb, as if everything that had made me who I was, also left with the tears and energy spent in trying to stay alive and heal.

While I observed what went on around me, it was as if I watched through misted glass. Even though I heard what was said, it sounded as if it were from far away, an echo on a distant mountain, too far for me to take active notice.

"Do not worry, Osamu," Dousan said in his booming voice. "Even if you cannot hold a katana again, you can still wield a shorter wakizashi or a ninjato. Your skills are too valuable to go to waste."

I nodded. "Thank you for your reassurance, Saito-sama."

"I wish you a speedy recovery, Osamu-san, and the best health," Yoshitatsu said. "And I really mean that. I hope you will rejoin us soon."

I nodded again.

"Cousin Osamu," Nou said, looking at the package in her hands. "I made some sweets for you. I hope they will make you feel better. I know you cannot carry it right now, so I will give it to cousin Mitsuhide to hold for you."

I nodded, but this time with a little smile at the gesture as the warmth of it cleared some of the numbness.

It was then Omi-no-Kata's turn to bid me farewell. "Winter is long, which will give you time to heal, both physically and mentally," she said. "I do hope to see you well in the spring, and filled with life." She placed her hand delicately against my cheek. "But do not rush your recovery. Take your time. Mitsuhide will ensure that no harm comes to you and that you recover comfortably."

While I did not feel her words as strongly as I would have before, I still felt them slightly, and they were reassuring and warming.

"Thank you, Miyoshino," I whispered. And I really was. I owed my life to her, and Mitsuhide and Ishida. Omi-no-Kata and Ishida repaired my body, while Mitsuhide saved my spirit. Even if one of them had not been there, I would not be here anymore.

I would thank them all formally one day, but now, I needed to rest. I needed to return to Tara Castle.

And so we did.

X

Early December; 1545

"So, still nothing?" Ichirou asked as the two young men strolled through the town.

Mitsuhide shook his head. "Nothing. She has not put any weight back on since we came back. It has stinted her physical recovery. And she barely utters a few words together in a sentence."

Ichirou frowned. "Well, Osamu did nearly die. It was the same with Taka. After he nearly drowned, he was quiet for weeks, months actually, after that. But with the support of his friends and family and the community, he made a full recovery. He's still petrified of the water though. Maybe Osamu could give him some swimming lessons, like she did when you were a boy. You're a better swimmer now than anyone in this town, besides Osamu of course."

Mitsuhide remembered Taka's incident well. He exhaled heavily, crossing his arms to tuck his hands within his deep sleeves.

"Osamu's family are not here," Mitsuhide said grimly. "It is what she misses most. I think the whole experience made her realise – or remember, rather – that they are not here. She always spoke fondly of them, and her strength came from them. Without them here, her source of strength is also gone."

"Weird to imagine Osamu's family, or that she even had one, or has one," Ichirou mused, scratching his head in thought. "Given she came through a veil in the lake, I think we all forget that she also has a mother and father and that she is a daughter. I heard the accounts from the samurai who were at the battle. I am sure none of it was exaggerated and I am pretty sure she is definitely a water spirit with inhuman combat prowess. In fact, I'm pretty sure she's immortal because she hasn't aged a day since I first saw her face as a boy myself."

"Would it matter if she were a supernatural entity?"

"No, of course not," Ichirou said. "There are as many good supernatural entities as there are bad ones. But my point is, I think we all forget that Osamu is also a person, and quite a vulnerable one, because she portrays herself as so strong to everyone. The town looks on her as a deity, but she is also human at the end of the day."

Mitsuhide looked up at the sky. It was white with cloud and heavy with snow. It did not fall yet though, not quite cold enough. But Mitsuhide could smell it in the air. It would snow tonight most likely. The streets were still partially white from the last batch of snow which fell last week.

"I wish there was a way I could bring them here," Mitsuhide said, more to himself than to Ichirou.

Ichirou tilted his head dubiously to the side. "Well, I think it was long established that there is no portal in the lake going back to wherever it was the Osamu came from. So I'm afraid, my friend, that you cannot. But . . . you guys are also her family. You especially have been her family for nearly the last decade."

Mitsuhide smiled slightly, but it was a bitter one of envy. "An adoptive family cannot replace one's real family. The love will always be different."

"Different, yes, but not weaker. Not yours." Ichirou stopped and looked up at Mitsuhide, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Mitsuhide, please answer me this. I think I already know the answer, but I need to hear it from you directly. Do you love her? And I do not mean familiar love nor the platonic love of friendship. I mean romantic love."

Mitsuhide raised his eyebrows. For all of Ichirou's foolhardiness sometimes, he also had a great deal of sense and good advice. He was a good friend, his best one.

Meeting Ichirou's eyes, he recalled the first time they both realised the possible direction of Mitsuhide's heart. It surprised Ichirou enough to almost choke him to death. Aki had saved his life as well.

Back then, and up until quite recently, Mitsuhide wanted to keep his feelings silent, unsure as to whether what he felt was true and whether there was any possibility Aki could return them. He had not been too sure on how others would take it, or whether Aki could be considered his equal by himself and others.

So much had changed since that first realisation.

Mitsuhide matched Ichirou's gaze with a steadiness as unwavering as a mountain.

"Yes, I do."

Ichirou held onto Mitsuhide's shoulder for a moment longer, seeking something in his eyes. Ichirou then chuckled softly. "I know," he sighed. "You had the same look in your face at the restaurant as what I felt when I realised I wanted to marry Aimi. Look, I'm going to give you some advice."

"You? Giving me advice?" Mitsuhide said, amused.

"I know, strange isn't it," Ichirou laughed. "But given I am now a married man, I think I have some more experience and seniority for once in this field than you. The fact remains that Osamu's parents will never be here, and that, I imagine, has left an enormous hole in her heart, made more prominent by her near-death experience and defeat on the battlefield. Most women are extremely close to their family, and without their family, a lot of them fall apart, as Osamu has done so. Unfortunately, Osamu's parents cannot be here to fill the void. But you can. That is why a husband and wife, lovers, are called two halves of whole. They complete the other and fill the missing and empty gaps.

"Now, I cannot see any reason for you both to not get married. So I can't imagine your mother or uncles coming up with a good reason to say no. In fact, it would start sounding suspicious if you did not get married. Everyone knows how you came to the battle to save her, no armour at all, and killed the giant as if it were nothing, especially when no one else could even get close nor match the beast aside from Osamu herself. Honestly, I could not think of a better match. Though to be honest, she is incredibly lucky to have your heart. Does she know? Does she love you back?"

Mitsuhide looked away, and they began to walk again.

"What?" Ichirou asked.

Mitsuhide exhaled softly. "I do not know," he said truthfully. "There was a moment while Ishida-isha and I were treating her at the camp. I was speaking to her to distract her from the pain of the arrow, and I told her there was a reason why I rejected Tsumaki-sama's offer to marry his eldest daughter to me."

"Wait, did you tell her then?"

"No, I only implied it. But . . . she did realise my feelings for her then. That was unmistakable. And . . . I felt the same in return from her."

"Good! Otherwise I would have had to knock some sense into her! How she has managed to be around you this long and not fall in love with you all this time is beyond me."

"Sadly, it is not as simple as that," Mitsuhide murmured. "I cannot feel her heart at all now. I find myself questioning myself, wondering if what I had detected back then was nothing more than my imaginings."

"Even if they were imaginings, would that stop you?"

"No," Mitsuhide answered before he had thought about it.

So Ichirou clapped him on the back with a grin. "There's my man. So it's settled, you fill the void and win her heart, and I'll come to your wedding as your best man. Make it soon though so you can have children that will grow up with mine. Aimi is expecting, you know?"

Mitsuhide was stunned by everything Ichirou said and how easily he said the impossible. His mind was still grappling on how to bring Aki back to her usual self, when Ichirou's latest statement caught him by even more surprise.

"What? No I don't know!" Mitsuhide exclaimed, relieved to be changing the topic away from him and his problems with the heart, to focusing on Ichirou.

"Well, now you do."

"Since when did you find out?"

"Well, she missed her cycle in October, and has continued to do so since then. But we could not find the right time to announce it as we wanted to tell both you and Osamu together. But Osamu is, of course, not in the best health. It seemed inappropriate to announce it."

"You silly fool," Mitsuhide criticised, cuffing Ichirou behind the head. "News like that would have delighted everyone, especially Osamu. Nevermind, I will tell her when I go back. I just cannot believe you did not tell me until now. How haughty do you think I am?"

Ichirou's eyes widened. "I am not answering that."

Mitsuhide shook his head with disbelief, but he smiled and it was his turn to clap Ichirou on the back. "Well, an enormous congratulations to you both from myself and my family. I cannot wait to meet it when it's born. Are you excited?"

"Definitely. But more terrified I think is the correct term."

"Sounds fair. You seem too irresponsible to be a father just yet," Mitsuhide agreed.

"Hey! That's mean!"

"But they do say that the arrival of a baby does change a lot of things and sometimes makes a man out of a boy. So there is hope for you yet, Ichirou."

Ichirou sniffed.

"But on a more serious note, if you need any help, you know where to find me. The castle is always open to you."

Ichirou looked at him, and smiled again. "I know, and thank you, truly."

The two of them walked through the town. Despite the cold weather and old snow, plus the promise of new snow, people were still out and about. Food stalls were full and traders were desperate to sell their wares to make enough money which would feed them and their families through the rest of the winter months.

One of the stalls caught Mitsuhide's attention however.

"Were you in charge of securing permits for traders in the town this winter?" Ichirou asked, noting what had caught Mitsuhide's eyes.

"Not this time, no," Mitsuhide said. "But is that . . .?"

"A trader from the Middle Kingdom? Yes it is," Ichirou said excitedly. "He has quite a lot of wares. I bought a jade hairpin from him for Aimi as a gift when we found out she was expecting. Come, let us have a look."

Mitsuhide followed, surprised that his uncle did not tell him a Chinese trader was in the town. Usually they were in Inabayama as that was the capital town of the province. One had never come to Tara though, at least not in Mitsuhide's time.

Therefore he was very curious and interested as he approached the stall. It was run by an old man with a slightly kyphotic back, and long white hair with an equally long white beard and even eyebrows. He was an eidetic image of an old Taoist immortal who would ride the skies on a cloud.

The trader wore a thick grey hanfu with a coat, and encouraged curious customers who walked by who stopped to take a look. Mitsuhide observed him tending to the customers. The old man spoke very good Japanese and his polite and humble mannerisms were very similar to the Japanese people as well, but the difference was when a customer left – either empty-handed or having made a purchase – the old man bowed in thanks with his raised hands clasped in front of him by loosely wrapping one hand over his closed fist.

The old man found Mitsuhide's eyes, and Mitsuhide noted a remarkable intelligence and wisdom in those dark eyes, despite the elder's incredibly humble clothing and posture. And Mitsuhide thought he detected something else.

A tingle of magic?

"Young masters, can I interest you both in some of my wares?" The trader greeted kindly.

"Yes!" Ichirou exclaimed, breaking the connection Mitsuhide and the old man had so quickly that Mitsuhide wondered if he had felt what he had felt at all.

"Ah, the young man who's wife is expecting," the old man recognised.

"You remember me?" Ichirou asked, sounding please.

"I may be an old man, but I have good memory." He looked at Mitsuhide again then. Ichirou saw and remembered his manners.

"This is Akechi Mitsuhide-sama," Ichirou introduced. "Soon to be chief of the Akechi Clan."

"That explains your handsomely noble and strong bearing," the old man praised and bowed. "I am Yue Lao of the Middle Kingdom. I have been lucky enough to come this far enough inland before the heavy snows arrived."

Mitsuhide's first impression of the old man was a good one. In fact, he found himself liking the trader already.

"You have been very lucky against the snow," Mitsuhide agreed. "And I am surprised. Traders from the Middle Kingdom have never come to us beyond Inabayama."

"Mitsuhide," Ichirou called. "Look at these. He sells near enough everything. He's got silks, jewellery, teas and medicines." Ichirou looked at the medicines and hummed in thought. "Mister, have you got anything that could help my wife with her morning sickness?"

The old man scanned his jars of roots and plants. "Indeed I do. I can begin preparing a concoction. But I must warn you, it will not come cheap."

Ichirou looked expectantly at Mitsuhide. Mitsuhide rolled his eyes.

"Fine," he sighed. "I did give you my word after all."

Ichirou grinned. "You will make a well-loved and benevolent chief of the town and clan."

I know, Mitsuhide thought flatly, but took out the money nonetheless. It was not cheap, which was expected given they were exotic ingredients. Hence why Ichirou asked Mitsuhide in the first place.

As the old man, Yue Lao, carefully weighed out the specific roots and herbs and talked Ichirou through the process of boiling and drinking them, Mitsuhide did a slow turn about the travelling cart.

Yue Lao had a small selection of many items. Indeed he had silks, of which the Chinese were famous for having the most superior and being the originators of such material. He had jewellery of fine jades, some a deep and rich green, ranging lighter until they were as white as snow and cloud. The designs were similar to what Mitsuhide saw in other shops, but there were slight differences which fascinated him. Yue Lao also had medicinal herbs, which reminded Mitsuhide of an apothecary, and teas.

"Is there anything I can interest you in, My Lord?" Yue Lao asked after he finished with Ichirou. Ichirou held a large case of light wood which would be separated inside into compartments to house the medicines individually. Mitsuhide scowled at his friend slightly. The box was an additional price. Couldn't have Ichirou had the sense to bring a basket if he had planned on buying so much?

"Perhaps some tea? This is called Tieguanyin. It is prized for its deep green colour like jade, and its refreshing taste and aroma," Yue Lao suggested, holding out a small box the size of his palm.

Mitsuhide leaned down to inhale, and indeed it was a very pleasant scent. He looked at the old trader curiously.

"You speak very good Japanese," Mitsuhide commented before he agreed to make any sort of purchase himself. "How did you learn?"

Yue Lao lowered his hands, but did not put the tea box away yet. "Ah," he said joyously. "I am an old man and I have travelled far and wide. I have come to trade in Japan many times over my lifetime, and learnt the language over the years. Your written language is the same as ours, but your spoken language is a bit different."

Mitsuhide had a thought as he watched and listened to the kindly old man. He wondered if Aki would be interested in meeting him, for she had never met someone from the Middle Kingdom while she had been here. Perhaps, seeing and speaking to someone from her other homeland would brighten her spirits.

"I will take the tea," Mitsuhide said, and Yue Lao nodded in humble thanks. "Will you be here tomorrow?"

Yue Lao nodded. "Yes, my Lord. I will be here until Spring melts the snow and clears the roads."

Mitsuhide subtly nodded to himself. "I will return tomorrow with someone who will be very interested in meeting you."

Yue Lao smiled again and bowed his head. "I will be very honoured, my Lord."

Mitsuhide and Ichirou bid the old man goodbye, and Mitsuhide walked with Ichirou back to his house, where Aimi was waiting for her husband. Mitsuhide then bid them both goodnight, and carried on back to the castle in a pleasant mood.

This time, he took over from Yuko who usually brought Aki's tea, and Mitsuhide did so instead, having prepared the Tieguanyin. The aroma was not as bitter as their local teas, and he both wondered and hoped it would draw out a different response from Aki, besides a cold and distant thanks.

He paused outside her room, listening briefly before he tapped on the wooden screen. "Aki, it is me."

"Come in," she replied, her voice tired and raspy.

When he slid open the door, he found her sitting at the table on a cushion, reading her notebook which she had brought with her from her time. She looked very small, sitting there. The kimono sagged on her frame, her face was uncomfortably thin, and the vibrant presence she so often projected was gone.

She looked up at him when he entered, and she made an effort to smile and straighten herself before she bowed her head. Her smile still contained some of her previous warmth, but it was lacking and barely touched her eyes.

"Reading your notebook again?" Mitsuhide asked.

Aki looked back down at her notebook. She nodded. "It keeps the language alive in my head," she whispered.

Mitsuhide gazed at her for a moment. It was painful to see her diminished. He could not bring anything of her English heritage to her to make her feel at home, but the Middle Kingdom was much closer and easily accessible by comparison. And if this could help her regain some of her self, he was willing to try it. He thought of Ichirou's words, about being the one to fill the void of Aki's heart. The more he thought about it, the stronger his desire became.

"I discovered a new tea today which I have bought for you to try," he said optimistically, balancing the tray with the tea mug perfectly. He knelt down next to Aki and held the mug out to her.

Her dull eyes flickered to it, and she reached out after a pause, as if debating whether or not she had the energy to do something so simple. Her hands shook, and so Mitsuhide kept one hand on the mug to help steady it. Doing this had become something akin to a routine now. But what surprised him was how much he found joy in helping her with something so little. Perhaps Ishida was right when he suggested in private – after Aki had been stabilised – to study medicine.

Aki inhaled the steam of the tea as she brought it closer. She hesitated, and inhaled again. A puzzled frown creased her brow, along with a flicker of recognition. It was so different to the recent bland expression which never seemed to change in her face.

She took a tentative sip, then another, and then allowed Mitsuhide to lower the cup. Aki blinked, looked at the mug and tilted her head in thought.

"What are you thinking?" Mitsuhide asked, burning to know what had cracked the ice which had previously surrounded her.

"I recognise that tea," she said slowly, sounding baffled.

Her statement surprised Mitsuhide. What were the chances of that?

She placed a hand against her side where the arrow wound was healing, and leaned towards the mug with a controlled wince. It was something she did often now when she made any changes to her posture, as if her hand could somehow stabilise and control the internal ache and existing pain.

Therefore Mitsuhide was quick enough to catch her shoulder to push her back to her previous posture, and brought the tea closer to her face again, where she inhaled it again and then took another sip.

"It's Tieguanyin," she realised. "It used to be one of my favourites." Aki finally looked at him, and the haze which had clouded her gaze, cleared somewhat, and some strength returned to her voice as the awareness also came back. "This is a Chinese tea. How did you get it?"

Mitsuhide snorted softly and smiled, sitting back and placed the mug down on her desk. "I am astounded you know it. It's almost a coincidence. I bought it from a trader in town who is from the Middle Kingdom."

Aki's eyes widened. "From the Middle Kingdom? Here?" A sense of excitement and urgency tinted her tone despite her rasping voice.

"I was surprised as well. Chinese traders only trade in Inabayama in this province. But this one came here instead. He was a very kindly old man, selling wares of silks, jewellery, medicines and teas." Mitsuhide recalled, while watching Aki's reaction carefully. There was a sense of longing for familiarity, and her expression almost looked pained because of it. Therefore Mitsuhide knew exactly what to do.

"I think you will be very interested in meeting him. He says he will be in the town until Spring," Mitsuhide suggested.

Aki inhaled sharply, and that too, made her wince, but she ignored it this time and nodded with an enthusiasm he had not seen since before the battle. His heart fluttered, realising that his hunch was right, that he knew how to make her happy again.

"I will take you tomorrow, but," he said sternly, "You must promise to start eating again. Yuko has informed me you have not touched anything today, again. So I will ask her to bring your dinner, and I will not be leaving this room until you have eaten it. Only then will I take you to see the trader tomorrow."

Aki blanched, her expression falling. A hundred thoughts crossed her face, before she looked down at her hands, which had become skinny and almost gnarled.

"Your wounds should have healed for the most part by now," Mitsuhide said critically. "But you have not been eating well since the battle and as a result, your body is weak and does not have enough nutrients nor energy to make the full recovery. We are very worried about you, Aki. I am worried about you. Please eat something, for my sake at least."

Aki bowed her head in shame. "I am sorry, Mitsuhide."

Mitsuhide sighed. "Look at me, Aki."

Tentatively, she did.

"If you want to apologise to me, then eat. That will be the best apology I can ask for," he said kindly.

Her expression cracked with emotion, but then she smiled, and it was a smile which reached her eyes. She nodded. "Alright," she agreed. "But, small portions. I think my stomach may have shrunk."

Mitsuhide's smile grew wider. This was the first time she had spoken this much in such a long while. It was a relief to his heart, which grew steadier again with Aki's returning awareness and interaction.

It made Mitsuhide realise that Aki's strength was indeed his strength, and vice versa. Ichirou was right, ironically enough. Maybe Mitsuhide could be the one to fill the void.

X

The following morning, I woke up looking forward to the day. I had forgotten how it felt, to wake up and actually feel awake. When I walked out to the front courtyard, it was as if I saw daylight for the first time, squinting against the brightness of the sky blanketed by white cloud. The air was so sharp, so crisp and fresh. It stung my sinuses, as if the chill of winter greeted me bitterly for having ignored it for so long.

I welcomed it. Too long had I sat in limbo, wallowing in my grief and self-pity. The world was still here, carrying on as it always had. My defeat in battle had happened and was now in the past. My wounds were a stark reminder of the dangers of the time era I lived in. Even though my blood family were not here to help me through it, I was reminded yesterday that a connection to them still existed, through China. It was a connection which reignited like sudden a roaring fire.

Mitsuhide was the one who helped me remember.

"Aki?"

I turned, still squinting against the light. Mitsuhide had come around the corner along the veranda, and he looked surprised to see me.

I bowed my head instinctively upon greeting. It helped to let standard procedure take the lead, for my heart suddenly fluttered like a butterflies wings when I saw him. I owed everything to this man, and the love I now felt for him was unmistakeable. My blood family were not here, but Mitsuhide was, and he filled the void no other could. The swelling gratitude I felt for him was enough to feel like I could explode, or float into the sky and never be able to make it back down to my feet.

Mitsuhide did not need to be there for me. He was my Lord. And he owed me nothing. Yet he had been with me every step of the way, and my fondness for him was so overwhelming I wished I could wrap my arms around him and truly embrace him and say thanks.

"I did not think you would be up yet," he said lightly, though his next question was stern. "Have you had breakfast?"

"Yes, I did actually," I said, trying to bring some lightness back to my voice again, along with some humour. "I even asked Yuko to leave the tray there in case you needed proof."

Mitsuhide tilted his head, his eyes analysing, before he then smirked and chuckled softly. "I do not need to see it. I can hear the energy returning in your voice, and that is all the proof I need."

His laugh was like music to my ears, and his smile was brighter and warmer than any sunlight. I felt myself flushing at the joy it brought me, to see and hear him happy and relieved.

"I am very excited to go into the town today," I admitted. "To know that there is someone of my kin so close to talk to, well, it feels like I am going home somehow."

Mitsuhide exhaled softly. "I am glad. I only wish this had happened sooner. No matter, at least you can meet him today. Akito is currently arranging a palanquin carry you, as I do not want you to walk such a distance while you are recovering your strength, and I am a bit worried about you sitting atop a horse again –"

"I will prefer the horse," I interrupted him with a grimace.

He paused, frowning.

"Even though I have managed to eat this morning," I explained, "my stomach is not used to receiving a meal again and I feel a bit unwell because of it. The motion of the palanquin swinging will make it worse."

"But the motion of a horse walking will be similar, and it will aggravate your chest wound," Mitsuhide retorted with equal logic, raising an eyebrow at me as if to say he was not convinced by any difference in the transport.

"You are right," I agreed. "But atop a horse I can see where I am going and the breeze in my face will help."

It was like when I used to ride in cars. Being in the back often made me feel sick, but at the front with the window open, I never had that problem. Same with being on a ferry, especially on the crossing between Liverpool and the Isle of Man when we used to visit my mother's friend. The Irish Sea was unforgiving on most journeys, and being inside while the boat was rocking up and down, unable to tell where the horizon was, made for some of my most unpleasant travel experiences. But the wind on my face always helped, or seeing directly where I was going.

"Please believe me on this," I asked gently, but I did have another concern and I looked down, feeling my face burn. "Just . . . can you stay close in case I do have a problem with my balance?"

I was embarrassed to ask him. It was a very real concern, and not one I wanted to admit. But Mitsuhide was the only one I felt comfortable asking, yet at the same time I wished I could ask someone else, purely because of my newfound feelings for him and being in such close proximity to him heightened all of my senses so much that it made me feel dizzy.

I wondered if he could hear how my heart raced, and how he took it. He had vaguely confessed his feelings for me on the operating table, and I remembered it very clearly, despite the situation at the time. But what if his feelings had changed? What if he only said that because it was in the heat of the moment with the adrenaline pumping? What if – now that some time had passed – his words did not mean anything and he wanted to take them back?

"Very well." Mitsuhide nodded. "You can ride Riku."

I bowed my head in relief. "Thank you."

"Aki."

I looked up at him again.

"I . . ." he trailed off, then shut his eyes for a moment and shook his head with a grimace. He recovered quickly. "I will be walking next to you. So I will catch you if you do lose your balance atop Riku's back."

"I will try to retain my balance to preserve both our dignities," I said, wondering what made him pause.

He smiled. "I will inform Akito of the change in plans then. I will send for you when we are ready."

I nodded. "Alright."

I stepped out of the way for Mitsuhide to pass, and I found myself watching his back until he was out of sight. It might have been the trick of my imagination, but I thought I had detected the same awkwardness and butterflies from him when he paused, as what I was feeling from simply standing in front of him.

X

Mitsuhide was stroking Riku's neck and gently murmuring to his stallion when Aki came outside with Kenji. Mitsuhide was fully aware of the new dynamic between the two of them regarding Kenji acting now officially as Aki's retainer at all times, not just on the battlefield. It was a reasonable exchange, and Mitsuhide was relieved Aki had not given Kenji permission to commit seppuku. Kenji was too valuable to lose, and this way, Kenji had a second opportunity to prove himself, and retain his honour.

"Are you certain you do not want the palanquin, Osamu-sama?" Kenji asked, still sounding reluctant.

"I am certain," Aki answered. "Feeling nauseous is one thing I desperately want to avoid. Additionally, using a palanquin would create a large party of people. This way, it is just us three. I can feel less guilty bothering two of you than four of you."

Kenji grunted, but did not argue. He knew Aki's temperament almost as well as Mitsuhide, and it was a reasonable argument.

"She is a stubborn one, isn't she?" Mitsuhide mused quietly to Riku. The horse turned his head eagerly to watch Aki approach. Her face brightened to see the horse.

"Hello Riku," she greeted as she arrived, reaching out to touch him and Riku moved his face to meet her palm. "I have not seen you in a while."

Riku replied by nibbling on the top of her head. Mitsuhide chose not to tell Aki of how close Riku had come close to passing away after the ride to the border. Aki blamed herself for Mana's death, and no doubt would do the same with Riku.

"It is good to see you lively again, Osamu-sama," Kenji noted, sounding pleased.

Aki straightened her hair back down with her right hand, her left still wrapped in bandages, but no longer splinted. Kenji had suggested she use one of the children's training bracers, and it worked well.

Aki looked between the saddle and the stirrup closest to her, realising she may have made a mistake in asking for the horse instead of the palanquin. Her eyes were calculating, thinking of how to get up in a way that worked within her limitations. She most likely would have done it as well, like she did in Inabayama, before she then fainted and wounded her head.

Mitsuhide was not going to take that chance again.

"Aki, turn around," he instructed.

"Hm?" She turned to face him, confused.

He lifted her carefully up onto Riku's back, placing his hands around the sides of her torso beneath her axilla, so he was no where close to the arrow site. She was very light when he lifted her onto Riku's back. Aki was light to him regardless, but was even lighter since the battle and her weight dropped.

Besides the battle and her early stages of her recovery from Death, it was the first time Mitsuhide had held her again, and without the adrenaline rush of racing against time and fighting primal powers, his own personal and masculine feelings took unexpected prominence at the forefront of his mind.

His heart skipped a beat, his head felt too light, his stomach felt like it was filled with butterflies. It was so easy to hold her, and he could so easily embrace her. He wanted to embrace her, to wrap his arms around her and inhale her sent and taste her lips. His body flushed with heat. The urge was so powerful, he almost lost control of himself.

The surprise of him lifting Aki onto Riku's back caused her to gasp in shock, and her gasp, mingled with the twinge of pain from the sharp inhalation, snapped Mitsuhide back in control.

She held onto his forearms to steady herself and to come to terms with what had happened. Riku remained patiently stable underneath.

"My apologies, Aki. I did not ask you because you would have said no and tried to climb up yourself, and fallen as a result of it," Mitsuhide said, looking into her eyes. He concealed his other reason for taking her by surprise, and while he was slightly apologetic, he was secretly pleased by the flush of pink which touched her pale face, the dilation of her pupils as she looked at him, and the quickening of her own heart.

She blinked. "Um . . ." She hedged awkwardly, looking away. Tentatively, she let go of his arms, and with her right hand, took a handful of Riku's mane, and with her other, she touched it gently against her forehead, exhaling slowly.

"No," she said, looking down at Riku's mane. "You were right. I would have done exactly that. Thank you."

They set off, with Mitsuhide walking on the side Aki faced, and Kenji on the other. Mitsuhide kept one hand on the rein to lead the horse, and spent the first few minutes trying to gather his own thoughts which were still scattered.

Whether Kenji noticed the spark between them or not, Kenji filled the nervous silence with small talk, lightly mentioning to Aki how the town and the people had been, how many of them had been praying for her speedy recovery and looked forward to seeing her soon.

It helped, and Aki eventually spoke first.

"How are Ichirou and Chiyo?" She asked.

Mitsuhide glanced up at her. Her face was bright again, though cautious, and when his eyes met hers, she blinked, as if realising who she was looking at and quickly looked away again. Her heart fluttered a little faster again and her cheeks flushed.

Her reaction delighted him, more than he thought possible, especially after the weeks of coldness and distance she had projected. He had slightly better control over his reactions than Aki however, and kept his delight private.

"They are both well. Ichirou is expecting his first child," Mitsuhide told her.

Aki's eyes shot back to him. "Ichirou is expecting his first child? Why did no one tell me?" Aki exclaimed, her eyes wide. Her voice was still subdued compared to what it used to be, but the spirit in her voice had returned.

"I only found out yesterday myself," Mitsuhide defended himself, but smiled to hear her reaction. "His wife became pregnant in October."

"Three months along then," Aki said thoughtfully. "No wonder they did not mention it. It is still early days. And especially as a first pregnancy, anything could happen." Then muttering under her breath, "I can't believe Ichirou didn't tell me. Arsehole. If I ever get my strength back, I'm going to kick him up the bum."

Mitsuhide chuckled softly. This was the Aki he knew.

"We must congratulate them and bring them a gift," she said, suddenly sounding worried. "Oh I have been a terrible friend. Spending all this time shut away from reality, when something wonderful has happened."

"I have already congratulated them on behalf of the castle. As for a gift, we can work on that this week. I too feel like a fool of a friend for not having prepared anything, nor even known about it, until recently. Courtesy of Ichirou being Ichirou. If you did want to kick him, you have my blessing."

Aki laughed slightly. It was all she could manage without the ache being too great in her chest. But it was a good sound to hear nonetheless.

They talked about Ichirou and Aimi for the rest of the walk in to town, and Kenji assured them he would find an appropriate gift. As they walked into the town, the towns' people realised it was Aki whom Mitsuhide escorted, many having not fully recognised her due to her thinness, simple attire and having just left her hair lose.

In no way had Aki lost her beauty at all. But her tired expression and sickly pale skin took away the usual vibrancy she projected. It was a realisation of how people recognised her through her unique presence rather than her appearance.

There were many greetings and blessings and many smiles and shouts of welcome. Mitsuhide encompassed his calming presence over Riku to ensure his horse stayed at ease with the gradual influx of people. Kenji kept the perimeter on one side while Mitsuhide maintained the other. Aki smiled and greeted them in return, but it was not long before he heard the strain in her voice from having to project further to make others hear her. Despite her smile and vibrancy returning, this was her first day out, and in no way had Aki actually made a full recovery yet, not even by half.

"Osamu-sama is still recovering," Kenji said out-loud. "While we are all overjoyed to see her out again, please keep your distance for now and send any blessings to her at the castle."

Aki cast Kenji a quick but thankful glance.

The people suddenly seemed to understand, and politely stepped back. Mitsuhide heard many of the women murmur amongst themselves of how much weight Aki had lost and how fatigued she appeared, and they agreed to go home and make elixirs and soups of rejuvenation to bring for her at the castle.

Mitsuhide felt pleased to both hear and see how much the people of the town and region had come to love her. None would object to having Aki as the Lady of Mino beside him.

He guided Riku down the high-street, and then brought Riku to a stop just short of Yue Lao's store, which had Aki's intense attention. Mitsuhide could sense how she tensed, and excited but nervous urgency strained her muscles. Yue Lao saw them and grinned with a bow.

"Aki," Mitsuhide said softly. "I am going to bring you down."

Aki's eyes flashed to him and another blush touched her face after she paused. Then, she pressed her lips into a fine line and nodded.

He was quick and subtle, with a grace that no human could match. After the first time and the unexpected surprise it stirred in both of them, Mitsuhide had more caution. Her closeness did not lessen the urge and intensity of his feelings, despite being better mentally prepared. However, he was able to analyse it better this time.

Aki did not let go of him at first once her feet were on the ground, her head slightly bowed and he felt her sag slightly.

"Aki?" He asked softly. He never fully realised it before, but she smelt slightly sweet, floral almost, like flowers. It was a stark contrast to the metallic tang of blood which had followed her for the last couple of months. With the change in her attitude and mind, her smell had also changed, back to her familiar scent, which only now Mitsuhide realised was delicately pleasant.

She took a few slow breaths before she raised her head and stepped back, carefully letting go. "I am fine," she breathed. "Just a little dizzy. But it has passed now . . . Thank you."

Aki did not look up at him as she said the last part, but her tone and posture were both shy and genuine, the former of which he had never seen in her before in this context. It was another strange reminder that Aki was a girl behind the female samurai she was. Similar to how Aki saw Mitsuhide as an individual, minus the titles and blood, Mitsuhide could also see and say the same of Aki.

Mitsuhide cleared his throat, and looked towards Yue Lao, whom he indicated Aki to come with him to meet. Despite her control, Mitsuhide heard the quickening of her heart for a different reason now.

"Akechi-sama," Yue Lao greeted with a bow. "I am delighted to see you have come to visit my store again."

Mitsuhide smiled. "Indeed. I wanted to introduce you to a member of my family. This is Akechi Osamu." He looked to Aki, and beckoned her softly. "However, she also bears another name which she will tell you herself."

Yue Lao watched her with an open and expectant expression. "It is my pleasure to meet such a beautiful and unique-looking young woman." He bowed to her with as much reverence as he had to Mitsuhide.

She opened her mouth, hesitated, and then spoke.

Yue Lao's eyes widened with shock and surprise, followed by immense curiosity and delight as she spoke in her mother's tongue. The only words Mitsuhide understood were hello and her Chinese name. The rest, were a mystery.

Yue Lao smiled wide and clasped his hands in front of him and bowed again. He returned her words in the same language, and it was Aki's turn for her eyes to widen with shock and surprise. Her eyes brimmed with unexpected tears and she blinked hard to try and push them back. They were tears of joy however, and her smile was brighter than anything Mitsuhide had ever seen in a long time.

They exchanged dialogues, enthusiastic from Aki's side, and curiously delighted from Yue Lao's side. It was like watching a young woman be reunited with her grandfather.

Questions were being asked from both people, and Mitsuhide wondered what was being said. He made an obvious decision while listening to both of them to learn the language. The Middle Kingdom were their neighbours after all. There would be an immense amount of benefits to learning the language, besides connecting with Aki's blood and heritage. She was not Japanese in the slightest, but she spoke their language as well as their scholars now, and had adopted the Japanese way as her way of life.

He then said something, of which Aki shook her head and then waved her hands as he turned as if to look for something. He waved a dismissive hand back at her, sounding very insistent, and Aki sighed, giving up.

"Oh, my apologies, Mitsuhide-sama," Aki suddenly said, turning to him and bowing her head slightly in apology. "I got carried away. I should be interpreting the conversation. I introduced myself to him, and he asked me how do I know how to speak Mandarin, in addition to where I am from as I look a bit different. I told him I was of mixed heritage and said my mother is from the Middle Kingdom." As she caught Mitsuhide up to speed, he watched Yue Lao from his peripherals fetch a stool. He realised that was probably what the last bit of dialogue was about, Yue Lao fetching a stool for Aki to sit as she looked tired, despite the spark in her eyes.

"Do not worry about translating," Mitsuhide said. "I trust you enough not to be plotting behind my back in a language I cannot speak," he said more subtly with a smirk.

She frowned. But it was a playful one to play along with his comment.

"But I am serious about not needing to translate. You can tell me about it later when your voice recovers again after this interaction."

It was as if Mitsuhide reminded her of how tired she still felt, and relief flickered in her eyes as the saw Yue Lao come back around from the cart with the stool.

Mitsuhide approved as Yue Lao sat the wooden stool down.

He said something, with the motion for Aki to sit. She glanced at Mitsuhide, seeking permission first before she even considered sitting, as she was still of the mind that she was Mitsuhide's retainer, therefore she was meant to stand, while Mitsuhide sat.

"Sit, Aki," Mitsuhide murmured with a nod.

"My Lord, allow me to also fetch you a stool," Yue Lao said in Japanese again, already beginning to turn around to look behind his cart for another one.

Mitsuhide held up his hand with a single shake of his head. "Thank you, but no. I am fine. Please sit yourself."

"You are very kind, Akechi-sama." Therefore Yue Lao sat down. He and Aki began to talk again. A word kept being said which Mitsuhide wondered what it meant.

"I think this is the most lively I have seen Osamu-sama since her return from Inabayama," Kenji noted in a lower tone so their voices did not interrupt the interesting conversation being had between Aki and Yue Lao. "I had no idea she could speak Mandarin. I have been very ignorant."

"Neither did I, until the summer just gone," Mitsuhide admitted. "She has kept it quite private, and probably for good reason as even though I cannot understand what is being said, I can tell her grasp of the language is rusty and perhaps needs practice again."

"A woman of many secrets as well as talents," Kenji mused.

Mitsuhide smiled a knowing smile. "Certainly talents. Though I doubt her secrets are that secret to her. It is more in that she simply has never had to mention them before."

"I wonder how she knows Mandarin? She is a water spirit, but where from? Unless she came to us the Heavens of the Middle Kingdom and somehow lost her memory in the transition?" Kenji wondered. "What is a Chinese deity doing here?"

It was a curious thought, to think of Aki as a Chinese deity.

"Sometimes it is best not to know," Mitsuhide said, his voice was light, but there was an undertone of sharp and warning steel beneath. "She has been of the Akechi family for many years, has fought for us and even died for us. Regardless of her origin, she is of this family and that is all which matters."

Kenji bowed his head immediately. "Of course, Mitsuhide-sama. I will mind my business. Osamu-sama is loyal to the Akechi, that is clear as day. Nothing else is important by comparison."

After another five minutes of conversation between Aki and Yue Lao, Aki's rasp eventually became too much that she had to stop with a pained grimace and subconsciously put her hand to her chest, as if to caress the discomforting burn her lungs caused her.

This was Aki's limit, and Mitsuhide felt her frustration and sadness. He turned to Yue Lao. "I am afraid we will have to bring this encounter to a close. Osamu is still recovering from an injury, therefore her energy is limited."

Yue Lao looked towards him and nodded in understanding. "I suspected as much. I will have to let you go then. But allow me to give you a prescription to take with you, no charge."

Aki's eyes widened. Mitsuhide frowned. "No, please. I could not possibly take it without paying you."

Yue Lao snorted. "You must take it. It is my gift to you, Hai Ting. I never thought I would meet another from the Middle Kingdom settled so far inland in to Japan, and as a Lady no less. It has been my pleasure, and I hope to have many more conversations with you this winter. Therefore please accept this as my token."

Yue Lao got up from his stool and went over to his stores, not taking no for an answer. Mitsuhide was grateful to the old man for his kindness and generosity, and Yue Lao sounded as genuine as Aki looked. He also appeared very determined, therefore Mitsuhide did not argue, and asked Kenji to take the package while Mitsuhide lifted Aki back onto his horse.

When Yue Lao came back and handed the small package to Kenji to take, he bowed to both of the men.

"Thank you for coming to visit my store again," Yue Lao said. "You have brightened this old man's day more than the sun. And Hai Ting," he then said something in Mandarin again, and Aki smiled warmly and bowed her head with a nod, making the same motion with her two hands, by clasping both her hands gently together.

"Xie xie," she said.

The corners old man's eyes wrinkled fondly with his smile, and he watched them leave while stroking his beard in thought. The party of three left to go back to the castle with mixed feelings.

Mitsuhide replayed the foreign conversation in his head, over and over again as they walked back, trying to understand why one repeated word sounded so familiar.

They walked past a young woman with a young toddler who caught his attention on a whim. The boy reach up to take the woman's hand.

"Haha-ue," the toddler said, trying to catch her attention.

"Niang."

Mitsuhide's eyes widened, recalling the vision in Death which had been in his thoughts ever since. The boy had called Aki by that name. And Aki had said that name on multiple occasions with Yue Lao.

"There was a word you both said often while talking to Yue Lao," Mitsuhide began, trying to mask the sudden flutter of his heart. "What does 'Niang' mean?"

Did it meant what he thought it meant? Because if it did, it not so much as changed everything, but it confirmed everything.

Aki smiled. "It means 'mother'. Well, it is the formal term for 'mother', used more often in the north of the Middle Kingdom." Her voice was barely audible, having worn thin and tired from her previous conversation with Yue Lao, and a normal person would not have been able to hear her. But she knew that, and she also knew Mitsuhide was the only one who could still hear her no matter how quiet she became. "We spoke a lot about my mother and which province she was from. She is from the southern half of the Middle Kingdom, and there they use your standard 'ma ma'. It is quite tricky sometimes because I grew up listening to her dialect, which is a bit different from pure Mandarin . . ."

Mitsuhide did not hear the rest. He looked back towards the boy in the street with his mother, staring in disbelief.

Niang meant mother. The boy in the vision called Aki his mother.

In a striking flash, Mitsuhide suddenly understood and realised why the two children in the vision wore a combination of cultures in their attire, why they had been so familiar to him, why he recognised them, trusted them, and why they bore both his presence and Aki's.

They had the faces of both Aki and himself combined. Because they were of both bloods.

Heaven above . . . He thought. They are my future children. They are OUR future children!

The realisation was so shocking, it was as if he had been struck by lightning and he came to an abrupt halt.

Aki and Kenji called to him but he did not hear, nor did he feel Riku nudge his shoulder with his nose.

His children . . . the girl and boy were his and Aki's children. The entire vision was crystal clear in his mind's eye, and their words echoed in his ears.

"We will not be here without you two," the little boy had said.

"Her Sight summoned us to catch her, to hold her, until you came," the girl had said. "You will meet us soon, in the future."

Their riddled words suddenly made sense. Neither of them could exist without Mitsuhide and Aki. They did not exist yet, but they would do in the future, and the future and time was the realm of Aki's abilities. They were a vision of the future but also the present, a vision Aki summoned, but only Mitsuhide had Seen. It was a vision which was as solid as stone, even if it was not real yet. However, it would be, because Mitsuhide planned on making Aki his wife, and he trusted his heart that Aki felt the same as he. The two children were proof of that love which had overcome the trials ahead. They were the children of the Emperor of Yomi and the Seer from another world.

Gooseflesh rose along Mitsuhide's skin from the sheer awe of what he had come to comprehend. He laughed, for his heart soared higher than the stars. It was an incredible realisation, and all the doubt and worry in his heart dissolved away like dissipating smoke. Even if it may take Aki some time to feel the same as him if she did not at the present, he knew that she would come to feel the same soon. Mitsuhide could not describe how he knew, but he felt it in his very bones. Never in his life had he been so certain about anything.

Yet with Aki, he did. Because she was his other half.

"Mitsuhide-sama?" Kenji asked, on-guard at first from Mitsuhide's abrupt halt, but now curious by Mitsuhide's sudden laughter.

Mitsuhide shook his head. "At ease, Akito. I just realised something."

Kenji and Aki shared a baffled glance, expecting Mitsuhide to share his thoughts, except he did not. Instead, he stroked Riku's nose, apologising to his horse for stopping, and then carried on walking back to the castle, mulling over his epiphany.

X

That evening, despite feeling exhausted, I felt alive for the first time in months. The day's events replayed through my head over and over. And I trembled.

I was so overjoyed by my conversation with Yue Lao, to speak to someone who was Chinese, like me, in a foreign land where foreigners were rare, if there were any at all which passed by. Speaking to him felt like being reunited with my family. To be able to converse in Mandarin, to speak of China, and my mother, was so freeing, so liberating, and so wonderful. My body and mind brimmed with joy, to know that Yue Lao would be here all winter and I was welcome to see and speak with him whenever I wished.

I could not wait to go into town again to talk more. Even the limitations of my lungs and breath could not dampen the joy I felt. I took his medicine with my food, and had decided I would make a speedy recovery, one way or the other. My mind buzzed with the determination and nervous energy which now filled my body to become proactive again. The fire of my will had been reignited, and at last, I felt like myself again, even if it was just in my mindset.

It was Mitsuhide who had restored it. In the same way he had restored my spirit back to my body, he had now restored my will and resolve. He had known exactly what to do and how to do it. And all the while, he never claimed credit, never demanded a thanks, never showed arrogance over his wisdom and power. Mitsuhide had been gentle and patient the entire way. He had thought of everything, even to the point of anticipating me trying to climb a horse despite it being impossible.

My heart ached beyond anything I had ever felt, dulling the pain of my wound by comparison. The ache was the source of my tremble. It overflowed with my emotions which I most definitely could not hide from myself. Not anymore.

The way he lifted me onto the horse and brought me back down, the way he spoke to me, the way he looked at me, was impossible to ignore. My heart raced so fast, and so strong, as if it had been trying to break out from my chest, to go to him, because it now belonged to him, not me.

It still felt like that now.

I love him, I thought, silently admitting it to myself at long last. I love him, but I can never tell him that.

I squeezed my eyes shut. I wished I could. I wished I could tell him so many things, that he was such a good man, so kind and conscientious, so thoughtful, so handsome, and so strong.

It took some time to realise, but after he saved me on the battlefield, I realised he was no longer a boy. He had grown into a man. He had caught up with me, who had never aged since coming to this world. It was impossible for me to go back to how things used to be. I could never see him as a boy again, because he was not.

However, I could never mention any of this. He was a Pureblood Oni, an Imperial one. Even if he felt the same as me – which I struggled to believe – he could never admit it either, for he would have to marry someone of an equivalent to him. I could never come into that picture.

It was heartbreaking. And no amount of comforting thoughts could quell the pain in my heart over the reality.

But, regardless of that tragic realism, I still felt resolve. I would never be able to show romantic love, but I still wanted to show him how much he meant to me after what he did for me today.

Therefore I searched for him through the castle, trying to swallow the anxiety felt upon my newfound realisation. It was the kind of feeling which left me breathless, which squeezed my chest more than it already ached. It was the sort which flushed my body with heat and yet a cold sweat, it weakened my legs to the point they felt like jelly and could collapse at any point.

I eventually found him in the garden, towards the back, standing beneath a bare tree watching the coy fish swim lazily in the pond. He looked distracted, so much so that he did not react to my approach until I was almost upon him.

Mitsuhide turned to me. "Aki," he said, sounding mildly surprised. "I thought you would be asleep by now. You have had a busy day."

The way the castle's firelight glow reflected off his skin took my breath away, and for a moment, I forgot why I was here. All I could think was how did he become so handsome without me noticing until now?

"What is the matter? Do I have something on me?" He asked lightly, noticing me staring but was courteous enough to pretend otherwise by glancing down at himself.

I shook my head. "No. Forgive me. I . . . I wanted to say something to you, and to show you how grateful I am for today," I stammered quietly, my throat closing up from nerves.

Mitsuhide was quiet for a moment. "Aki," he said softly. "You do not need to say anything. I am just glad it has brought a smile back to your face, and to see the spark return to your eyes."

I took a small, but sharp inhalation, feeling my heart race, and shook my head. "Please, just . . . can you close your eyes for a moment?"

He stared at me, with an unreadable expression. But then, Mitsuhide did close his eyes, showing complete trust in me, and I felt the wave of love again, more powerful than before.

I approached him, tentatively reaching out with shaking hands. My arms slid beneath his, and around his back, where I hugged him.

Mitsuhide gasped, freezing where he was.

I shut my eyes tight, resting my cheek against his shoulder. His body was sturdy and strong. He was warm, and I felt the same sense of safety fall over me as the times he had supported me during my recovery. I inhaled his scent, sending my head into a dizzying spin of forbidden bliss and reassurance.

"Forgive me for being so forward. This is how only the closest friends and family show their love and appreciation to each other amongst my own friends and family from my time," I said quietly. "And so, I just wanted to say, thank you, for everything, Mitsuhide. I wanted to hug you now, because it may be the only chance I get to show you how much you have meant to me, and will always mean to me. I cannot do this after your coronation, and certainly not after you are married, so –"

Mitsuhide's arms – which had been frozen by his side, came around me, and he hugged me to him, silencing the rest of what I was going to say. He was gentle, yet behind the gentleness, I felt strength, strength which physically pulled me to him, carefully pressing my body to his.

These were the arms which had killed my attacker. These were the arms which had protected and saved me.

He did not say anything. He held me in his arms, bowing his head next to mine and turned his face to my neck. I shivered from his closeness. Mitsuhide inhaled deeply and slowly, as if he had been starved of air and now breathed a sigh of relief which melted through his entire body.

It was the kind of relief I also felt being in his arms, of embracing him. I could not physically say I loved him, but at least by hugging him, of being the first to be so forward when before I had been so reserved and refined in my behaviour, I could show him I did love him.

How he would interpret it would be up to him. But all I wanted was for him to know how much he meant to me, and it brought me no amount of joy to feel him return my embrace. It was almost sinful. I wanted to stay like this forever, to experience his warmth around me, to feel the strength of his arms and to feel his body against mine, even if it was just a hug.

I squeezed him as tight as I could manage – which was not much – without my wrist and chest throbbing, before I finally let go. It felt as if I lost half of myself when my arms and his slipped back to our sides. I felt empty without him. My face burned, and I found myself unable to look at him. My heart raced so much I was sure he heard it.

I wet my lips, for my mouth had gone dry, and cleared my throat. "I may not be able to hold a katana again in the future, but I will try to become strong again, so I can always stand by your side. You have given me the strength and determination to try and overcome my limitations. So, I will learn to master the wakazashi and ninjato. I am still a member of this family and I will do my best to not be a burden to you. Therefore, will you teach me?"

Mitsuhide exhaled and shut his eyes for a moment. He chuckled softly to himself, but it was a bitter sound.

"Yoshitatsu and Dousan-sama are both correct in saying you are too valuable to lose from the battlefield," he said. "However, in all truthfulness, I wish that you would never take to the battlefield again. I came too close to losing you last time, and the thought of you coming close to a situation like that again, terrifies me."

I blinked in dismay. At first, I thought he was going to say I was too weak for the battlefield, that I had embarrassed him by being defeated in combat. But it was not that at all. A bubble of joy swelled within my heart, to hear his honesty, that he was as afraid of losing me as I was of losing him.

"However, I know you. I know you would despise the thought of being tucked away, to feel useless, like a flower kept on display," he continued. "Therefore yes, I will teach you. However, I want something in return."

My eyes widened. "Anything," I blurted out before I could think. I cursed myself afterwards. But then I quickly considered how reasonable he was. I took a deep breath to calm my heart.

"Closer to my coronation, there is a question I will ask you, and, I hope, that you will do me the honour of agreeing to it."

I tilted my head curiously. A question? Closer to the coronation? Would it be to accompany him, even though I was a human? Would it be to See ahead if any sabotaging dangers awaited during the ceremony?

I could not think of anything else.

"Alright . . . Do I need to prepare for this? Or will you give no clues at all?" I asked slowly.

He smiled, his eyes twinkling in the candlelight of the castle. "It is a simple question, yet a great one, which only requires one word as your answer."

I looked down, frowning. "Sounds simple and complicated at the same time," I muttered.

"Just a matter of perspective," Mitsuhide said lightly.

I looked back up at him. The change of looking at at dark ground in the night to his face illuminated by light, stung my eyes from the change in lighting again, and I squinted, realising how tired I was now that my metaphorical shoulders felt so much lighter by being able to silently confess my feelings through that one hug.

"Now go to bed," Mitsuhide instructed gently, seeing the same tiredness. "You have had a very different day compared to your recent ones. Sleep and rest. We will start some light exercises tomorrow to view your current limits, and build from there."

I nodded, and bowed low. It was a mistake as it sent a twinge through my lower lungs. I winced, but I resisted my automatic response of pressing my hand to the wound site to stabilise the pain.

"Goodnight, Mitsuhide," I said after a momentary pause to make sure the twinge did not come into my voice.

"Goodnight, Aki," he said in return, nodding his head to me. I returned to my room, feeling as if I was floating, and that night, I finally slept deeply, undisturbed by nightmares from the battle.