Chapter Twenty-Nine
The next day was awful. I slept poorly that night, and throughout the day, my mind was incredibly distracted by the impossible turn of events of yesterday evening. It rolled in my head, turning over and over again. The ambush and deal made by the Akechi's enemy took a minor backseat in my list of priorities. Instead, I was focused on a far bigger issue which demanded my full attention.
Mitsuhide proposed marriage, to me, of all people.
I kept wondering if I had imagined it, because surely none of what happened yesterday evening could have been true. I was stunned, and I wanted to be overjoyed, in fact, I was overjoyed. But I kept it at bay, wary and cautious.
It was extremely difficult to believe that the Heir of the Oni, the most powerful Oni in the land, of Royal blood, had fallen in love with me. I could well believe myself – against my better judgement – falling in love with such an entity. Yet, to have it the other way around as well? For it to be . . . mutual, was unthinkable.
Why?
It was one of the many questions I realised I wanted to ask Mitsuhide. He was supposed to take another Pureblood Oni to be his wife. But instead, he somehow chose me, a mortal.
My heart fluttered with butterflies. It was both an amazing sensation, and a dreadful feeling. It was amazing because it made me feel loved, that I was worthy enough, beautiful and strong enough to be loved by such an individual.
Yet it was also dreadful, because there were customs and traditions to follow. Regardless of how happy I felt now, I knew my heart would get broken one way or the other because ancient laws dictated it. There was no way his family could accept this. As a Pureblood family, they would have chosen a Pureblood for him to marry. I was of no blood and no standing, aside from the reputation I built for myself. I was not as beautiful as someone like Chigusa, nor as strong as the Oni of their world. I had no political influence here, in addition to being older than Mitsuhide, which was an enormous issue in my mind and heart. Yes, I was frozen at eighteen, I had not aged in the slightest. But in terms of my life experience and mentality, I was indeed older.
These were thoughts which rotated through my mind like lightning on a looped repeat. I could not focus on any work today at all, and my senses were painfully aware of Mitsuhide's presence around the castle. When he walked past my room, I tensed, listening with searing clarity to his footsteps and his voice. When I saw him, I froze up, with my heart in my throat, rendering me speechless. When he approached me, I wanted to turn around and bolt away, as if his presence were like a physical force which if I allowed myself in, would not be able to escape.
I found myself shivering, all day. It took me a while to realise that it was not the cold of winter which made me shiver. This was the kind of shiver which came from the very core of the body, it was a gnawing ache which clutched my insides. It was the shiver which came from the apprehension before a battle.
I shut my eyes and sighed. I knew this feeling, but it was strange, as it was mingled with the forbidden and cautious joy of growing love. I used my logical argument of why such a marriage could not work, because it was the easiest way to hide from the source of this inner shiver.
This terror.
The idea, the reality, of Mitsuhide giving me his heart, of receiving his love, absolutely terrified me, more than any battle ever had.
Mitsuhide was still young, yet he already carried such force of presence and power. Once he ascended, he would be something even more. How could someone like him possibly choose me? Surely it had to be a mistake. I was very comfortable being his friend, and had every confidence in the world in that role. But as a partner? As a wife, to Mitsuhide? To be his choice? I was not worthy.
The fear was unbelievable.
In the end, I could not stand it, therefore I went to find him. I stood outside the screen to his study, and knocked gently on the wood.
"Mitsuhide-sama. It's me."
"Come in," he replied. Hearing his voice sent another shiver – of forbidden pleasure – down my back and I had to grit my teeth to maintain some level of control over my body's reaction.
With a sharp breath, I entered his study. He sat at his desk next to the open screen leading onto the veranda into the garden. The scrolls were stacked neatly, and he appeared to be half way through his administrative work.
He looked up and me and smiled slightly. But the greatest change were in his eyes, which showed a greater warmth than his smile.
"Aki, how can I help you?" He maintained a calm demeanour, quite different from his impulsive actions yesterday. I was not too sure if he was staying subdued now for my own benefit, or whether it was just because he was a professional at this moment in time while he worked.
Regardless, I was relieved.
Although, I hated to admit it, but I did also feel slightly disappointed. Had he been fooling me in the first place? Like a joke?
I shut the thought out, cursing myself for feeling like I wanted the cherry in addition to the icing on the cake.
Selfish fool! I criticised myself.
I took a calming breath first.
"Mitsuhide-sama. We need to talk about what happened yesterday evening. But not here. As much as I respect my adoptive mother and uncles, this is something I rather they did not hear."
He held my gaze for a moment longer, before he turned his eyes back down to his work and continued to write with the steady strokes of the brush.
"I know you must have a great deal of questions," he said softly. "And I want you to know that you have nothing to fear. But I will respect your request. Just allow me to finish my work, and then we can talk away from the castle."
It was not the words, but his tones, which triggered an unexpected lump of emotion in my throat. I was terrified of him right now, but he was so gentle, so understanding, so good in his heart.
How could Akechi Mitsuhide love me?
I cleared my throat and bowed from where I stood. "Thank you, Mitsuhide-sama. I will be on the outskirts of town."
I left the room swiftly without looking at him. I felt like how I did when I had my first crush in school, except this was ten times stronger, because this was far more real, far more solid, as if fate had tied a string between my spirit and his, and despite my denial, my instinct knew this was right. And that was the most frightening of all.
X
Once Aki had left the room, Mitsuhide put down his brush and clasped his hands over his laps. Although he said nothing, his hands were shaking.
He had been so sure last night, so sure of everything he had said, and of what he had heard. His heart was alight with the joy of hearing and knowing that Aki loved him back. However, her approach to him just now brought fear to his heart, like the touch of an icy blade, making him feel vulnerable in a way he could never have imagined.
Was she going to rescind her love?
The thought of losing it, when he had only just got it, was frightening. He wanted no one else but Aki. But what if he was not good enough for her? Because it was ironic. She pointed out quite clearly how inferior she felt to him. He was of Ancient Royal blood. He was a prince of great power. She believed she was not good enough.
You silly woman, he thought, shaking his head.
Next to her, even he – Heir of the Oni – felt beneath her. She was unique. No one could compare to her. She possessed a beauty unlike any other. Her intellect was unrivalled. She was a woman who wielded a sword and took to the battlefield, a woman of supernatural abilities and origin as well, like a deity descended from a Heaven of the Middle Kingdom. Yet also a woman who gave herself to the people, and above all else, treated Mitsuhide as a person. She smiled at him, frowned at him, laughed with him, and even shouted at him.
Aki made him feel so alive. No one else in the entire world could do the same.
He was afraid she may say no. But even with that doubt, there was still the iron-clad certainty of knowing and sensing Aki was meant for Mitsuhide, and he was meant for her.
Being in love made him afraid despite the confidence he displayed last night. It also made him realise something, that perhaps, Aki too, was also afraid. His proposal and announcement took her by such surprise she did not utter a single word after they returned to the castle.
In that sense, Mitsuhide wanted to laugh to himself despite the shaking of fear he felt in his core. Why was she so surprised? Who else could possibly earn his heart? Aki had set the bar so high that not even a Superior could draw his gaze away.
Mitsuhide sighed, rubbed his hands, and continued his work.
Once he had finished, he rolled the scrolls and packed them and his brushes and ink away. Mitsuhide put on a warmer haori for appearances, before he left the castle and walked into the town.
The town bustled, despite the thick blanket of snow and the chill in the air. Smells of food wafted from the shops and children played in the snow, throwing snowballs at each other. It brought back fond memories. It seemed like all of his best memories happened during the winter.
Mitsuhide was drawn to Yue Lao's store cart along his walk, and the old man beamed at him upon his approach.
"Akechi-sama," Yue Lao greeted cheerily with a bow. "It is good to see you. If you are looking for HaiTing, she headed north west out of town."
Mitsuhide smiled. He already knew where Aki had gone, but wanted to ask anyway. "How do you know I am looking for her?"
Yue Lao's smile widened and he batted his hands. "I am an old man. I have lived long enough to notice these things." He then came closer and whispered, "You made a good choice, My Lord, and so has she. Although HaiTing will not admit it out of respect for you."
Mitsuhide liked Yue Lao. He was like a kindly grandfather who was open-minded and said things how it was, without fear of repercussion. The old man was honest, and homely, like a typical grandfather in most families, one which Mitsuhide never had. And this old man saw the spark between Mitsuhide and Aki and needed no encouragement in deciphering what lay underneath.
Mitsuhide exhaled softly. "Perhaps you can give me some advice then."
Yue Lao looked at him, with a surprisingly clear gaze which would have been overlooked by most from his kindly face. But Mitsuhide was also clear and sharp. Nothing missed his eyes.
"Come, let me pour you some tea," Yue Lao offered and ushered Mitsuhide to sit down behind the cart on some boxes stacked to make stools and a table. The old man brought out a simple, but lovely tea tray, complete with cups and teapot to steep.
"What is on your mind, young Lord?" Yue Lao mused as he poured hot water over the tea leaves.
"Is she too afraid to admit what she feels? Or have I misread her entirely?" Mitsuhide asked softly.
"You have not misread her, and she has not misread you either. The only difference is she has more fear in advancing further." Yue Lao said. "During our conversations, she speaks extremely highly of you. But because the relationship between you both has been the friendship of Lord and retainer for so long, it may be difficult for her to come to grips with something more evolved than that. Although, it does baffle me," he chuckled. "What did she expect? She is a beautiful young woman. You are a handsome young man. The attraction is inevitable."
Mitsuhide perked up. "She speaks of me?" His heart fluttered.
"More even than that of her mother, father and sister," Yue Lao hummed as he handed Mitsuhide some freshly poured tea. "I do not think she realises how much, and I think that says quite a lot, without the obvious having to be said."
Mitsuhide took the little tea cup in both hands and inhaled the scent of the rich black tea. It was a warming, woody scent. And when he sipped it, the warmth spread through his body.
"I want to pursue this, but I am not entirely sure how," Mitsuhide admitted. "For others, I imagine it would be simple, but Aki is not a standard woman."
Yue Lao laughed. "No, she is not. But neither are you a standard man." There was a twinkle in his eyes. "But because of that, you will find it easier than you fear. There is something between you both. I sensed it the first time I saw you and HaiTing together. It is a connection and unspoken bond. There is a sense of balance and equality, an understanding between the two of you of which I have seldom had the pleasure of witnessing in my long years. Therefore, Akechi-sama, I do not think you have to worry. Because you both understand each other, there will always be a way through the fog. Follow the flow, follow the way of the water, and it will take you to where you must go."
"But will Aki be there at the end of the river?" Mitsuhide asked, thinking of Yue Lao's words. There was a feeling to them, a strange sensation, as if he did feel the flow of water around him, gently guiding him. There was a sense of serenity and peace, of balance and harmony.
"She is right there with you," Yue Lao answered, pouring another cup of tea. "You are more aware of your heart than she is, and she is more aware of the Watercourse Way than you are. As a result, both of you will find yourselves on the same path, because both have the same destination. Only the manner in understanding the journey is different, intertwined together as you are."
Mitsuhide watched the water passing from the steeping bowl to his cup. "The Watercourse Way . . . is Taoism?"
Yue Lao tilted his head to the side. "I did not think Taoism had much influence here in Japan, unlike Buddhism. Was it HaiTing who introduced it to you?"
Mitsuhide smiled. "Indeed it was."
Yue Lao stroked his beard. "If you are interested, whenever you have time, you can debate philosophy with me. I am sure I can provide you with some varying perspectives."
"I would like that," Mitsuhide said warmly, handing his cup back, and Yue Lao poured more tea.
The two of them spoke for some time, and they did speak of philosophy, and how it was intertwined with the concept and feeling of love between two partners who respected each other as equals. It was a refreshing conversation. And by the time it came to an end, Mitsuhide had a far clearer idea of what he was going to say to Aki.
"Thank you, for taking the time to speak with me, Yue Lao."
"You are most welcome, Akechi-sama. And thank you for speaking to this old man. Before you go, I wish to give you something."
"Oh, that really will not be necessary," Mitsuhide held up his hand apologetically as he stood.
"It is only a little something," Yue Lao said as he pulled out a tiny box of delicately carved ivory from within his sleeves. Its detail was exquisite, finer than anything Mitsuhide had ever seen, and his eyes widened slightly.
Yue Lao opened the box and pulled out some red string and waved for Mitsuhide to hold out his hand. "It is just some red string. But it will bring you good luck in your endeavours." Yue Lao tied the simple red string around Mitsuhide's left wrist, and as the old man did so, Mitsuhide felt another twinge of magic, the same kind he felt when he first made eye contact with Yue Lao at the start of winter.
It alerted Mitsuhide, and for a moment, he wondered if Yue Lao was more than he appeared.
The twinge disappeared as quickly as it came, yet a slight tingle lingered on the red string which was now tied around his wrist. It was a feeling of connection, of something binding, but it was not unpleasant, because it was a feeling which solidified his feelings for Aki and his intentions of becoming her husband in future.
Mitsuhide looked at the string, analysing the subtle magic, and he almost thought it glowed crimson. But when he blinked, it was gone. His eyes flashed to Yue Lao, who just smiled at him with a satisfied nod to see the string around Mitsuhide's wrist.
Perhaps I am overthinking it, Mitsuhide wondered. I definitely felt magic, perhaps even his own. He is a philosopher behind his trading, and philosophers have a greater connection to the magics of the universe than they sometimes realise.
Mitsuhide decided he would keep his ponderings to himself, but would continue to feel out the flickers of magic the old man produced, whether Yue Lao was aware of it or not.
Therefore Mitsuhide bowed, and kindly bid Yue Lao good day.
x
The silver cold light of the winter sun was waning as the orb sat above the horizon of late afternoon. I found myself next to the lake of my origin instead of the town like I originally said. Somehow, coming back to the lake was fitting. It had huge significance in my life, as it brought me to this time era and it brought me to Mitsuhide. Here was where we first met, where I saved his life and our relationship of Lord and retainer, and friendship, had begun.
Would it also be symbolic of another development? Or the ending of something which had only just begun to bud?
I tapped my foot along the edges of the frozen lake, an old habit while my mind tried to process the multitude of feelings which had popped out of the sky and landed on my shoulders like the weight of a mountain.
The crunch of the ice was soothing, and the quiet of the air, muffled by the snow, dampened noise, to envelope the area in a winter wonderland of just myself. It was as if the feel of winter called my name, a faint whisper, to lull me into the embrace of its chill.
I missed figure-skating. I did not have any blades beneath my shoes, but I just took one step out onto ice nevertheless. It felt good, somehow, to be back out onto the ice.
For a moment, I forgot about the turmoil of my heart. I stood there, just on the edges of the lake atop the ice, feeling strangely at peace.
"Aki."
My heart quickened. Mitsuhide had arrived. But the chill helped dampen the sudden panic in my chest.
Carefully, I stepped off the ice and back onto the snow of the bank. Mitsuhide came up to me, shaking his head.
"Why were you standing on the ice? What if it cracked and you fell through?"
"It's fine. It is shallow along the edges. You and I know this lake very well," I reassured him, waving my arm out to the lake and glanced back at him.
He looked at me.
The heat rushed to my face again and I groaned internally with embarrassment. His stare made me feel as if I stood naked before him, for it was only his gaze which saw me as a whole, through to my very core. There was nothing I could hide from him.
My trembling came back with renewed vigour.
"Are you cold? Here, use my haori on top of yours," Mitsuhide noted, and started to slip his haori off.
"No, no, no, it's not the cold," I said hastily, grabbing his shoulders without thinking so he could not remove his haori. The close proximity set my senses on fire, and I let go as quickly. My mind was a babbling mess and I struggled to reign myself back under control.
I looked away from Mitsuhide for a second and inhaled deeply, drawing in the freezing air of winter to cool my heart and mind, and gave myself to the essence of winter in return, so the shivering stopped as I imagined myself becoming as cold as the temperature around me.
It was a trick I learnt back in England as a method of being able to ignore the cold through sheer force of will and mind, to force the mind and body to connect with the essence of winter. It then also became a technique I utilised a lot to calm my temper.
In this sense, it calmed something quite different – the heat of love.
It made it bearable, something I could process, something I could feel without becoming overwhelmed by it.
Mitsuhide watched me carefully, but once I had calmed myself, he opened up first. "I imagine you have a lot on your mind after my proposal yesterday. And I know you have questions. Therefore, please, ask me. Ask me anything. To you, I will always be truthful."
I felt my expression fall. I most certainly was not worthy of such a man.
I sighed. "I just want to know why. Why did you choose me? You are the Heir of the Oni. You are meant to marry a Pureblood of similar standing. The Akechi clan would never allow such a union between you and I. You are immortal. I am mortal. As I said to you last night, I have nothing to offer you. No political gain, nor an advantageous family to bring with me to form an alliance with you. I have just myself, which is not enough. And additionally, you are still young. This may be a phase, a first love as it were, but not the one you are destined to be with. I am truly honoured and happy that I could be your romantic interest at this time, for I never thought I could be as such to anyone. But you have proven me wrong yet again."
Mitsuhide looked away and shut his eyes for a moment. He exhaled softly, before turning back to me again. He took a step towards me and reached out.
Instinctively, I stepped back.
"You are afraid of me?" His voice was pained.
I was mortified. "No! . . . Yes . . . well, I don't know! I don't know what to think or feel at the moment. As much as your proposal has stunned, honoured and brought joy to me, it has also terrified me, because of who you really are. I am nothing next to you. The idea of having the love and attention of a man so powerful and great, is – in all honesty – absolutely terrifying. It is easier for me to run away, and pretend this never happened."
It was his turn to sigh. He ignored my flinch and pulled me into his arms and embraced me gently. My heart hammered in my chest.
"I will never, ever, hurt you. But I think I understand your fear," he said quietly above my head. "And in truth, I can say I feel the same. When I confessed to you, I was terrified of rejection, because you are so unique, no one can compare. You are like the blinding sun in the sky, while all others are just stars in the background. You feel far beyond my station, and yet I cannot bear the thought of you being with anyone else except me. It is a selfish wish, but it is one which has been with me ever since I was a boy. But now that I am older, now that I am a man, I want you to be my wife. The thought of you being with anyone else, brings such a burn of jealousy, and I hate it.
"Ironically, in the same way my love for you terrifies you because of my rank and influence, hearing of your love for me also terrifies me for the same reasons. You are the equivalent of a foreign deity who came to me from another time. You have an intelligence I can never hope to match, and a power of your own which could actually be the only rival to mine. You are the kindest woman I have ever known, but you are also not afraid to show me your temper. You treat me as Mitsuhide first, a Lord second, and an Imperial Oni third. No one else but you does that."
My trembling returned, and tentatively, I wrapped my arms around him, as if holding onto him could help steady the vulnerability I felt.
And it did.
"Ichirou treats you as Mitsuhide first as well," I said, trying to smile to disguise the crack in my voice.
"Yes, but Ichirou is a man, and I am afraid I am not attracted to men in that way," he chuckled. It was a sound which eased so much from my mind.
"But, Aki, listen to me," he continued. "My mother and uncles support my decision."
I stiffened. "Pardon?"
"They have given me their blessing."
"How?" I asked, astounded. "I thought of all the people, they would most certainly say no."
"I presented a very logical argument to them."
". . . Can you tell me what it was?"
I felt his arms tighten slightly. "I would prefer not, as my own reasons for choosing you had nothing to do with the ruling argument I presented to my family. My reasons are that of my heart. But my family and those beyond would expect one related further to political gain and power, and that is what I stated."
"But I just said, I have nothing to offer," I said with a grimace.
"On the contrary, you have much to offer. In summary, your growing talents as a Seer are a great advantage to the Akechi in multiple ways. Even the Elders and Ancients of Yomi would find it difficult to deny. Blood is of little consequence now, given your lack of ageing and your ability to hold your ground against one of us. It would not be long before the spiritual realm see you as one of our own, rather than a human. Therefore, as you can see, there is nothing for you to concern yourself regarding what influence and power you can bring. Even our enemies have realised the same." His voice grew colder. "It was why they sent assassins against you, and when that failed, they tried to bribe you."
I listened. Although he did not elaborate fully on the argument he presented to his family, the summarised reason was very logical, and I expanded on it myself.
A Seer, someone who could see the future, had a lot of power, for that person could sway the events of the future and tailor them to how the Seer wished.
Time should never be tampered though, I thought with a frown. Unless that is what the Superiors wanted me to do? I still don't know.
The logic Mitsuhide presented was flawless. It was ridiculously simple. I felt my escape routes disappearing and I felt the panic because of it. Yet my heart chided myself. Why was I still trying to convince my brain that this could not work, when clearly Mitsuhide had already thought of the most important avenues and secured them?
"I am much older than you, Mitsuhide," I murmured.
"And that worries you?" He murmured back.
"Yes. I still hold to the traditional values of an older husband, if I ever was to be married," I admitted with a grim sigh.
"Not for long," he replied. "You are frozen in time. I am not. If you are worried of physical appearance, I will still age to a certain point, and I will look older than you come ten years time. And perhaps, that is what is best, for despite the blessing I have received, I am held back by time. I require more time to ensure that taking you as my wife is accepted by the majority, for even I will not be able to change minds in the space of one day, in the same way that I cannot ask you for an answer when I know you are not ready." Mitsuhide pulled back, but cupped my face in his hands. "I just want you to know, that I will sort everything out. Everything will be arranged, and the most difficult hurdles have already been crossed. I will protect you from all of your fears. Therefore, I will wait as long as it takes for your answer, even if it is no. Just know, that regardless of your answer, I will accept no one else."
My expression twisted, a mixture of a smile and tears. My heart swelled with feeling, but the tension in my chest and chaos of my mind, finally flowed away as I reached my epiphany with Mitsuhide's reassurance and promise. I took his hands from my face, but kept his hands in mine.
"I do not want to say no," I confessed quietly. "But I do require time to reach the other answer. In ten years, ask me again, and I will have the answer you seek. Because despite my slip of the tongue last night, what I said was true, in that I have come to love you."
And after a moment's hesitation, I leaned forward, and kissed him on the cheek. It made him gasp.
When I looked up into his face, his eyes were the softest I had ever seen, deep with immense patience, and joy. As controlled as it was, his smile was beautiful, and he embraced me again.
"I will hold you to your word," he whispered.
"As surely as I will hold you to yours," I breathed, returning his embrace.
X
Mitsuhide lingered a second longer in the dark, listening to Aki's breathing as she slept from where he stood by the ajar screen. Their conversation today replayed in his memory, and the sweetest warmth swirled within his heart. He wished he could go to her now, lie down next to her, and bring her into his embrace, where it felt so natural to have her in his arms. It was as if she were physically designed to fit perfectly against his frame.
The lick of desire stroked his spine, sending a shiver down his body. He had seen her in full kimono and make-up many times before, and she was stunning on all of those occasions, and even when she was drenched in sweat in their training attire, she was still pretty. But when Mitsuhide found her by the lake this afternoon, she looked otherworldly. She was breathtakingly beautiful, as if she had somehow become a spirit of winter. She bore an ethereal presence, one which Mitsuhide was certain he sensed, in the same way he saw the faintest twinges of her icy green aura when she stood over the ice. It was as if . . . as if the essence of winter whispered around her, was drawn to her.
Mitsuhide could not quite understand what it meant just yet, or whether Aki had been aware of how she was inadvertently channelling the magical essence of the cold for it to react with her aura. However, it was becoming clear that her abilities were growing stronger. And the stronger it became, the more ethereal she began to feel.
He was sure, when ten years passed, there would be no opposition from Yomi if her gift continued to grow.
Mitsuhide pressed his hand against his heart. It may have physically been within his body, but spiritually, it now rested within Aki. Their promise was sealed by their word and honour, neither of which would break, for both Mitsuhide and Aki were honourable. He was certain his decision would never change, and now, he also felt Aki's feelings in return. He felt he already knew her answer, and that she did too. She just needed the time to fully accept it.
"Come, Mitsuhide," his uncle, Mitsuhisa said as he finally arrived at the veranda.
Mitsuhide let his gaze linger on Aki's resting form for a moment longer, before he tightened his grip on his katana, and slid the screen shut.
"Let us go," Mitsuhide said. "My business in Yomi will not take long."
Mitsuhisa nodded, and the two leapt into the night, transforming as they did so. They summoned the ghost carriage to ferry them across the veil and into the haunted realm of Yomi. Mitsuhide felt power surge through him upon entry to the realm he would govern as Emperor within a few months, for this was his realm. It was an extension of his senses. He drew power from the realm, and the realm drew power from him. They were one and the same.
In Yomi, his inner demon emerged. He was still Mitsuhide, but the cruelty of his nature became more prominent. His heart was colder here. His thoughts were crueller. His kindness was balanced better by the harshness of discipline and the unforgiving nature of Yomi itself.
What he felt, was strengthened. His power was greater. His love for Aki was greater. His hatred for her assassins was greater.
Last night, once Aki had gone to bed, Mitsuhide and Mitsuhisa followed the trail of the three Oni who came to tempt Aki away. It led them to the boarder with Owari, confirming Mitsuhide's fears that Aki was now a target to his Oda rivals.
Mitsuhide and Mitsuhisa went to Yomi after that, and instructed spies to discover information on how true or false the words were which were spoken to Aki, for there were two points of concern. One, was of the threat there would be an attack during the coronation. This, the Akechi family were already aware, and was an ongoing investigation. The other however, was of the Oda's interest in Aki and what they intended if they decided to turn away from assassinating her.
Mitsuhide was not going to take any chances. He was not worried regarding his coronation and ascension, as he had the majority and all was set accepting him onto the throne. The majority were there to defend him.
But who was there to defend Aki?
Only him and his family. And during his coronation, none of them would be at the castle to defend it, except Aki herself. She could defend against humans. She had more than enough leadership skills to thwart an attack and keep the town safe, or fight against human assassins. But not against Oni assassins. She picked up wielding the ninjato and wakazashi quickly, but her skills in it were nothing like her years of expertise in wielding the katana. Aki's Seeing abilities would help only to a point.
If she were attacked by Oni during the coronation, she would lose.
Mitsuhide had no intention of letting this matter go. He promised to protect her, and he would keep his word, even if it meant turning into a monster.