Malachi's POV

"There is something urgent I need you to investigate, Mitsuhide." Nobunaga spoke. "I am yours to command, my liege." Mitsuhide replied calmly, a smile resting on his features. No wonder Nobunaga didn't suspect him of treachery.. "We've received word of a rebellion brewing in a small territory to the west. What's worrisome is their proximity to the Mouri, with whom we just made peace." Hideyoshi explained.

The Mouri in the west? That must be the Mouri Clan.. Famously led by the deceased Motonari Mouri. The names and places from Mitsuhide's lectures came back to me with frightening clarity. He'd been a good teacher.. "Tell me more." Mitsuhide prompted. The Oda's control ended at Chugoku, a place where the Mouri held power. Our problematic area was a small region bordering both territories. For a border province, it saw very little traffic. Especially after the peace agreement. But now, it was a hotbed of activity.

"Their leader is a man of no ability, nor has he the military or economic resources to pose a threat." "..But he is high ranking nobility, yes?" Mitsuhide asked. Hideyoshi nodded, "That's right." So.. These people are trying to get in good with a well-connected Daimyo? If they have access to everything he lacks, this could turn out bad. And if that somehow involves the Mouri's Chugoku- everything from Hyogo prefecture on over- that gives them the seaports. Double bad.

I could remember just how confused I'd been in the first few war councils I was forced to attend. Now, thanks to Mitsuhide, I was able to follow everything. "This change in activity is suspicious. Mitsuhide, confirm what they are up to with your own eyes and report back to me." Nobunaga commanded. Mitsuhide nodded respectfully, "I understand, my lord. I will return with the information you request. Why, I was looking forward to taking a brief excursion while Echigo cooled their heels."

Suddenly, Mitsuhide turned to me. "Malachi, ready yourself for a long trip." "Ah. I'm being dragged through this bullshit too?" Mitsuhide smiled, "Of course. I can't bear to be apart from you for even a moment." Ah, of course. How else will he keep his eye on me? I guess my only available responses are 'Yes' and 'Right away!' Fucking bitch..

A long journey awaits ahead. With no one but me and Mitsuhide. It was hard to tell whether the chemical and emotional build up inside me was nervousness or excitement. "Hold it! This is an assignment, Mitsuhide! Furthermore, I just told you not to get Malachi wrapped up in your dangerous nonsense." Hideyoshi interrupted. "Did you? I must have forgotten." "You..you..you..you..!" "Hideyoshi, Mitsuhide will do as he will. So let him." "But in this case-!" Hideyoshi tried to argue, "Enough." But Nobunaga forced him to back down. "..My apologies for speaking out of turn, my lord."

"Mitsuhide, Hideyoshi. You are dismissed. Malachi, I wish to have a word with you." Nobunaga commanded. "Oh fuck-" "My lord, as Malachi's aspiring groom, I would like to request permission to sit in." Did.. Did he really just call himself that? "Mitsuhide. You are dismissed." "..As my lord commands." Huh. He backed down almost instantly.. Interesting.. It was clear that to both of them, Nobunaga was an authority not to be questioned or argued with. Not that I shared that same mentality.

The door closed behind them and suddenly, I felt my nerves crawling along my back. This felt like my nightmare. Alone in a room with Nobunaga Oda.. What on Earth does he want? "Malachi." Forcing my best believable smile, I turned to him. "..Yes?" "How do you judge Mitsuhide?" "What do I think of him, you mean?" Nobunaga reclined in that same relaxed pose. One glance and it was easy to tell that it'd been calculated in a way not to put anyone at ease.

His eyes also made it clear that not a single lie or a hint of deceit would go undetected. "..I don't know what exactly to think of Mitsuhide. My opinion changes everyday. He lies, he's teasing. He makes me mad enough to hit him and call him a dick while also sad enough to cry. I know it sounds bad but-" "Continue." Nobunaga prompted. I sighed, feeling my face flush pink at my next choice of words. "I.. I guess.. I like him. I suppose you could even call it love but.. I don't know if I'm ready to act on it." "I see."

I realized a bit too late that I just told a man, the same one who asked me to marry him not too long ago, of my feelings for another man. The same man who happened to be this one's left-hand.. But.. I'm supposed to tell him the truth. Not lying for the sake of the arrangement. So.. I guess it's true? I was almost certain I had found myself in the 'living hell' that supposedly followed falling in love with Mitsuhide. Not that it mattered. I was on my way back to the present within two months. Mitsuhide knew that as well. Even if I wanted to, I could never be with him. As it went against everything I was raised upon..

There was no way I could form a real relationship with Mitsuhide. Not with a set end date at the very least. Joke around and say we were together. But not love, no fooling around, none of it. I couldn't allow myself to be dirtied by this mortal man.. No matter how irresistible the urge may be.

"Lift your head, Malachi." Nobunaga touched a folding fan beneath my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. I don't think I've ever seen such a forceful gaze in my life.. "Malachi, I entrust Mitsuhide to you." "You entrust him to..?" "That is all. You are dismissed." I bit my tongue and stood up. I hated that Nobunaga still thought he could order me around as if I was one of his vassals. But.. I wasn't in the mood to argue.

However, one thing remained strange to me. I can imagine Nobunaga being concerned for his left-hand man. But why entrust him to me? I'm not a warrior, or even a guardian. I exited into the hallway, still pondering the words I'd heard. Mitsuhide was waiting for me, as was Hideyoshi. Neither of them said anything, not to me, not to each other. The air certainly felt thick with tension. They both stood as opposite sides of the hallway, similar to that of pillars, unmoving, yet somehow at odds.

They.. They weren't waiting here the whole time I was talking to Nobunaga, were they? "There you are, Malachi. We should begin packing for our trip." Mitsuhide smiled. "Wait one moment, Mitsuhide." Hideyoshi interrupted. "You know what they say about pushy men, Hideyoshi." "Joke if you want, but I have to say this much- At this point, if you're planning something devious, I don't care. You don't need to explain yourself to me." Mitsuhide stood, completely expressionless. "And say, for the sake of argument, you do betray our lord. I don't care about that either. I'll kill you and that's that. ..There's just one thing I can't allow."

Hideyoshi took one glance at me, then narrowed his gaze on Mitsuhide. "Don't you dare betray Malachi." I silently stared at Mitsuhide for his response. He said nothing, only giving a slight smile in response. Then he put his arm around me and we began walking off. As we left though, I noticed Mitsuhide softly raising his hand as if to give Hideyoshi a quiet goodbye.