Yet, he didn't seem satisfied with that answer and slowly got closer, making me stiffen. Until I heard a familiar voice.
Malachi's POV
"Welcome back, Lord Hideyoshi, Lord Masamune." It was Mitsunari, and stood next to him was a petite young man with blonde hair and vibrant green eyes. I immediately made the assumption that Mitsunari had returned alongside Nobunaga. Yet I didn't recognize the man next to him. As for Nobunaga's whereabouts, I was positive he must've been waiting in the castle keep.
Masamune, seeing Mitsunari and the young man up ahead, turned to me and smiled. "Even Ieyasu came out to say hi. That's rare." My eyes widened a bit, "Ieyasu? Ieyasu Tokugawa is here..?" I muttered. Masamune nodded, "Right there, actually. He's the sourpuss next to Mitsunari. You should take this chance to say hi."
I would've preferred not to, but Masamune helped me off the horse and led me by hand through Hideyoshi's throng of admirers. We stopped at the gate where Mitsunari, and the man who was supposedly Ieyasu Tokugawa stood waiting. "I've been expecting your arrival, Lady Malachi." Mitsunari's smile was like ice cream on a hot day. But I had more important things to think about.
"Mitsunari, I don't have anything further to say to Nobunaga-" I began, but was interrupted. "She looks pitiful." Ieyasu talked right over me, delivering his harsh assessment with a disapproving frown. "You're Malachi?"
"Yes. So, wow, you're Ieyasu?" "What if I am?" "What if you are, what?" Ieyasu kept his ice cold eyes fixed on me. I glared back, "Who would've thought that the Ieyasu Tokugawa was such a dick?" I muttered, barely loud enough to be heard.
Ieyasu was pretty, almost like a doll. Which, honestly, only made his insufferable attitude even worse. Behind me, I suddenly heard Hideyoshi speak in a warm and gentle tone, with a smile to match. "Ieyasu, that's no way to greet someone. Can't you give them a smile at least?"
"Can he? I'm not sure I've ever seen him do it. What does your smile look like, Ieyasu?" Masamune asked, a slight teasing tone resided in his words. "Why is that important?" "Don't be unsociable. You need to let loose. Learn to smile and laugh." Hideyoshi reprimanded him.
"Like you're one to talk." I muttered. The once remotely cheerful aura had turned to a more.. cold one at my words. Silence fell over all of us, as if they'd been taken aback by what I said. "Mind speaking up, Malachi?" Hideyoshi asked me. "I said. As if you're one to talk, Hideyoshi." "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You're reprimanding Ieyasu for being unsociable? You're the same man who's been on edge around me, being rude, since we met. Hell, you couldn't even get my name right." I glared at him. Silence fell over once more, until Mitsunari interrupted with a cheerful smile. "Everyone? Shall we save the happy reunion until after our new arrivals get some rest?"
I wouldn't exactly call what had just occurred 'happy', but I guess that was Mitsunari's way of attempting to break the ice. "Lady Malachi, the room you'll be staying in is already prepared. Please, get some rest. You seem awfully upset after being awake all night." Mitsunari smiled. I wanted to snap, I really did. But I decided not to, for his sake. It wasn't Mitsunari's fault that Hideyoshi was unbearable.
Meanwhile, in the castle town below- "I didn't expect this to be such a cheerful place." Yuki looked around, taking stock of the prosperous town. "Now where has Sasuke gone? I haven't heard from him since yesterday." Yuki glanced around, an annoyed look rested on his face. "Well, I'm sure he's fine." He let out a sigh of defeat.
Yuki turned toward the main keep of Azuchi Castle. Determination, stained with vengeance had formed a bloody pool in his youthful eyes. "Justice is coming. I hope you're prepared, Nobunaga." He muttered, only loud enough for the wind to listen.
Within the castle, Mitsunari had led me to a spacious and comfortable looking room. "Lady Malachi, this room is yours to use as you like. I hope it's enough for you." He smiled sweetly. "It's more than enough, it's almost too much. And please, just call me Malachi." I told him, feeling a bit uncomfortable at being constantly referred to as 'lady'.
"But you're a lady, and Lord Nobunaga's savior. I couldn't possibly." "It's really fine. I'm not used to titles and fancy treatment, and I don't need them." I argued. "Then I agree on the condition that you stay as familiar with me. Is that all right, Malachi?" For the first time in what felt like years, I smiled. "That's perfect, Mitsunari." But it wasn't like I could say no to him.
"Thank you. Now, take your leisure. Someone will come to fetch you soon." Smiling politely, Mitsunari left the room and closed the door behind him. After he left, I let out a sigh. There had been no sign of Sasuke since last night, and now, I wasn't entirely sure of what to do.
I quietly sank to the floor and emptied the contents of my bag before me. There was "A Traveler's Guide to Japan's Hottest Warlords," my cellphone, house keys, makeup bag, sewing kit, sketch book, and a bottle of pills. As I glanced at the sketch book, I let out a sigh. I had been so excited about starting my dream job. And yet, here I was. Stuck in the past.
I let out a long sigh, when suddenly, I could sense the presence of someone nearby. And I heard a "tock" sound from above. Someone was in the ceiling. I sharply looked up towards the ceiling, just in time to see a panel slide open and a familiar face appear there.
"Excuse me, Malachi. I'm not bothering you, am I?" I looked at him in shock. "Sasuke? Not at all. Did you follow me here?" Sasuke nodded, "Yes. I hid myself when those men arrived and followed your trail." I let out a sigh of relief, "I'm so glad you did." Sasuke jumped down from the ceiling, landing silently. He pulled down his mask.
"In watching you, I've pieced together much of what happened. You've gotten yourself into some trouble." I sighed and nodded, "Don't need to tell me twice." But, he smiled, "There's trouble, and then there's Trouble. That said, I forgot to tell you something important back in the forest." Oh god, please let it be good news.
"I mentioned I was researching a way for us to get home? Recently, I was able to confirm that the wormhole opens here at fixed periods." "And that means?" "Please, keep your voice down. I'm not supposed to be here, and it would be bad if I were caught." He whispered. I nodded, not having realized how loud my voice had gotten.
"I'll be concise. The next wormhole will provide our way home. Leaving the rationale behind its recurrence aside, according to my data.. The next traversable wormhole will appear in three months. I'm calculating its location, but chances are that if we make contact with it, we'll return to the present." He explained. I nodded in understanding.
"I'm just pleased that there's a way back." I told him. "However, it's best if you spend these next three months here." What. Are you kidding me? I was taken aback at first, but then realized what he meant. "It's because of Nobunaga, isn't it? He'll most likely send Hideyoshi to track me down once more, huh?" Sasuke nodded.
"Nobunaga and his men seem rather fond of you. I doubt they'll let you go that easily." I nodded in understanding, however, Sasuke had one more warning for me.
"One more thing. Don't get deeply involved with the people of this time." "Deeply involved? Sasuke, I'm going to be in close contact with them for three months." I began to argue, but he spoke again, this time, being more specific. "That is to say, don't fall in love. It might cloud your desire to return to the future."
"Sasuke, have you spoken to any of these people? I doubt I'll be falling in love any time soon." He didn't seem to believe me, but he nodded anyway. "I recommend you keep the fact that you came from the present a secret too." "Mmhmm. Not that any of them would believe it." I was suddenly grateful that both Nobunaga and Mitsunari thought I was just delusional earlier.
"My employer is in the city below and I'm staying with him. I'll be able to come to your aid quickly." "Your employer? What are you here for-" But my question remained unanswered as both Sasuke and I looked quickly towards the door. I could sense someone was there, and it was clear that he'd noticed them too. "We'll speak more later. Farewell." And with that, Sasuke was gone.