Malachi's POV

As I walked through the forest, I could sense his presence behind me. Even though I couldn't hear him, I knew he was there. Watching, following, and listening. But I didn't know why. Why would he go through the trouble of following me when I'd already said I was fine on my own? Did he want something?

Bringing my footsteps to a halt, I turned in the direction of his presence. "I know you're there. You can't hide from me." A few minutes after I'd called him out, he stepped from within the treeline. "I hope you know that you're wrong in your assumption that I'm from a village near here. Now, go along. I don't need any assistance."

"I know that. I've been waiting for you." He spoke. Waiting for me? Well, that certainly sounded strange. I gave him a weird look, not entirely sure what he meant.

Once we were deeper within the woods, he stopped and lowered his mask. "Do you recognize me now?" He asked. It took me a moment, but then I realized who he was. "Oh- you're that.. med-school student from the Honno-ji monument." "Post-graduate in physics, not medicine. But I'm glad you remember me. That makes things easier." he corrected.

"So.. You ended up here too? Why are you a ninja?" I asked. "It's easiest if I start from the beginning. My name is Sasuke. And just like you, I come from the present, or rather, the future." Sasuke slowly began to explain what had happened since our encounter at the stone monument.

Once he was finished, my head was spinning. I was sat down on a tree stump, looking up at him as he finished his long explanation. "So.. That lightning strike caused spacetime to warp around us and sent us into the past?" I asked, hoping I'd fully understood everything Sasuke had just told me.

Sasuke nodded, "Yes. That is a very simplified and condensed version of my current theory. We entered the wormhole at the same time. However, I arrived four years prior to you." He spoke, clearly beginning another long explanation. "In that time, I've learned that this Sengoku period, Japan's civil war, is different than the one we're familiar with."

Different? I was confused. Did something else besides my saving Nobunaga occur? I listened closely to Sasuke's second explanation, and according to him-

Just like what had happened to Nobunaga and I, Sasuke had arrived at the date of Kenshin Uesugi's historical death. But Sasuke's quick thinking and knowledge of modern medicine had ensured Kenshin's survival. So, it seems we're both dumbasses.

Now Kenshin, like Nobunaga, was alive. But they weren't the only ones. Shingen Takeda, the tall flirt on the cliffs, and Yoshimoto Imagawa, the effete art-lover, should have died too. And apparently, Ranmaru Mori, Nobunaga's beautiful page, was supposed to have died in Honno-ji alongside him. Yet I hadn't seen Ranmaru there.. At least, I don't think I did?

In this strange place and time, they, too, were alive when they shouldn't be. And it was all because both Sasuke and I are incredibly stupid.

"I can't believe it.. We.. Changed the past?" Sasuke nodded, confirming my fear. "To a degree. We're in an alternate Sengoku period, not the one we know from school. Because of fluctuations in spacetime, we're in a divergent timeline- one in which history will take a different course." Sasuke explained further.

Time travel, alternate histories, divergent timelines. It sounds like science fiction. But I know that it's not completely impossible. "I major in theoretical astrophysics at Kyoto University, specializing in wormholes and their potential for time travel. I'd conceived a method for predicting the conditions and patterns under which traversable wormholes might manifest. That's why I was at the stone monument that day. To verify my method."

I had already thought that people in this time were something else. But here I was, talking to a man who can apparently predict wormholes. I've certainly seen everything at this point. "I've been looking for you here, expecting you must have traveled back in time as I did. I hadn't conceived of the possibility that you would arrive four years later."

"So, this really isn't a dream then?" I asked, slightly nervous. "I suppose you could say it's a dream for me. I get to see the famous men and women of the Sengoku with my own eyes." I gave him a weird look, "You're strangely chipper about this."

"My parents were huge history buffs. I got my name from Sasuke Sarutobi, the legendary ninja who served Yukimura Sanada. Because that Sasuke is fictional, I've taken his 'place' in this time. That will help me keep my historical impact low." Sasuke, I think ensuring that THREE people who were supposed to die didn't die is a bigger impact on history than your NAME.

"And were your parents secretly ninja too? Or is that something you picked up while you were here?" I asked, unintentionally trying to tease him. "I studied that here. It seemed useful to acquire a marketable vocation." It was strange to me how quickly this man had adapted, going from an astrophysicist to a ninja in a mere four years.

As I shook off my shock, Sasuke held out his hand. "Right now, I'm employed with the men you saw earlier. Come with me. I promise I'll find a way to return us both to the present." Honestly, Sasuke is a bit of an odd one. But right now, he's my best bet at returning to the present.

I was about to take his hand, when suddenly- I heard the familiar voice of Hideyoshi Toyotomi. "Malachi! Where are you? Come out!" I heard the noise of quickly approaching horses and could immediately sense the presence of Hideyoshi and.. I think another man? Then I noticed Sasuke's expression turn grim. Without another word, he slipped into the shadows of the forest and out of my sight. Ugh! That asshole!

But there was no time to call out to Sasuke. Two men on horseback arrived, one of them being Hideyoshi. And dread immediately filled my entire being as I met his gaze.

Strangely, a smile rested on his face. "I searched the whole forest for you." But I didn't bother returning his smile, "You didn't have to." I wasn't in the mood to be kind or sympathetic. After all, he'd just scared away my ticket out of this hell hole.

But then, Hideyoshi's expression turned serious. "Hiding yourself from Lord Nobunaga for no reason whatsoever. How insolent can you get?" His displeasure was clear in his tone. Well, if he was going to be like that with me, I'd be like that right back. "No reason? He asked me to conquer the world with him and didn't look like he'd accept no for an answer! What was I supposed to do?" I spoke, a hiss-like tone to my voice.

The other man on horse laughed. "So, you're Malachi? A stalwart lass indeed. I've no doubt you're the woman who defied Lord Nobunaga." I glared at him, he had dark brown hair and blue eyes, or well, eye. The other was covered by an eyepatch. "And you are? Someone else I'm supposed to recognize?" I said, sarcasm evident in my tone.

The one-eyed man reached down for me. "I'd be pleased if you did, but now's not the best time to talk." "Hey! Let go of me!" Effortlessly, he swooped me up and placed me on his horse. Tucked almost snugly against his chest, I had a fine view of his domineering smile. "Masamune Date. Remember it, Malachi." He smirked.

"Just because you told me to, I will now purposely forget your name. Bitch." I rolled my eyes. Completely done with all these Warlords. Masamune hadn't seemed offended by what I'd said, rather he seemed amused, instead, I'd clearly offended Hideyoshi.

"Masamune is head of the noble Date family of Oshu. He's also allied with Lord Nobunaga, so show some respect and watch your strange language." If Hideyoshi thinks he'll impress me with that unnecessary bit of trivia, I have some lovely news for him. "Thanks for the introduction. But I genuinely do not care. May I be put down now?" I asked.

"Settle down. You'll spook the horse." Masamune warned me, "Oh fuck the horse! I'm pretty startled myself here. But Masamune only laughed, "Come to think of it, you do look a little startled." But that didn't stop him from urging his horse forward with a snap of the reins and a shout. Well, fuck. I think I just got kidnapped. The horse broke into a quick run, and I was left with two decisions. Cling to Masamune, or fall off.

"Don't lose her, Masamune." Hideyoshi warned. "I won't. Hold on tight, Malachi." "No! I refuse to go with you guys!" "Lord Nobunaga has already departed camp. He ordered you brought to him." Hideyoshi, who was riding alongside, seemed clearly unhappy with that order. I wasn't exactly pleased with it either. "We need to ride fast if we're gonna catch up. Don't fall off, now." Masamune spoke.

"What?! Where the fuck are you even taking me?" I complained in vain as Masamune spurred the horse faster. We rode through the night until we arrived at our destination. It was like a fortress, castle, and city all in one.

"We're here, Malachi. Azuchi Castle, home of the Oda forces." Masamune told me. I was slightly taken aback to see the real Azuchi Castle. After all, it'd been destroyed shortly after Nobunaga's death. "Don't show yourself to Lord Nobunaga with that expression. You look like a gaping frog." "And you look hideous with your unbearable personality, yet you still show your face to Nobunaga, don't you?"

Not giving Hideyoshi any room to respond, I continued on, "Besides, I haven't even agreed to see him, now have I?" Masamune let out a laugh, "So you're feisty and a morning person? I'll keep that in mind." Masamune's words spoken right into my ear reminded me of the fact that he was still holding me. "Anyway- We're here now, so, mind letting me go?"

But Masamune chuckled, "Actually, I think not. I'm pretty happy with you right here." "Well, I'm afraid that I'm not." Luckily for me, Hideyoshi came to my rescue. Sorta. "Masamune, our Lord Nobunaga has taken an interest in her. Keep your hands off her." But that didn't seem to deter Masamune. "Why does that matter? I like her too. Men don't thrive in the shadows of other men. In battle, or in love."

"Listen, you two-" Masamune's eyes shone with the delight of a tiger hunting prey. It made me a bit nervous but suddenly, I heard a voice speak. "Hideyoshi! Welcome back!" Turning to the series of excited calls, I saw a small group of women.

"Hideyoshi, over here!" "Oh, Masamune, you're dashing as ever! Who's your friend?" A crowd of waving and cheering women had lined up at the gate to welcome the two men back. I could hear Masamune chuckle from behind me, "How can you get this welcome every single time, Hideyoshi? Break a heart or two, will you?"

"What do you take me for?" Hideyoshi glared at him. I can't explain the temptation I had to resist in order to not call him an asshole again, right then and there. With a shrug, Hideyoshi dismounted his horse and walked toward the crowd of women. "I've told you there's no need to come all the way to the gate for me. What about your work?"

"I finished early so I could see you when you came back." "Hideyoshi, will you be staying long? I hope we'll have time to catch up." Hideyoshi gave them a smile, like, an actual warm smile. "Don't let me keep you waiting. I'll send a letter as soon as things settle down."

"Of course! Take as long as you need!" Still on Masamune's horse, I watched Hideyoshi, completely astonished. "So, he's just a massive sweetheart and not some ultra-stiff paranoiac?" I muttered. "That's how he normally is. I guess you're just special." Masamune replied.

Now, I was offended. "Wow. He's nice to everyone except me? That makes me feel the opposite of special. Actually wait- I saw how he treats Akechi. Fuck. I don't want to be put in the same boat as Akechi.." I muttered, completely annoyed. Masamune let out another annoying chuckle, "It goes both ways. There aren't many women who don't fall for Hideyoshi at first sight."

Then, he gave me a curious look. "So, who are you, really?" Eh? Just a normal person. By my own standards, of course. "Just a person who refused Nobunaga's offer to rule by his side and didn't fall for Hideyoshi at first sight because I have standards. Low standards, but standards nonetheless."

Yet, he didn't seem satisfied with that answer and slowly got closer, making me stiffen. Until I heard a familiar voice.