Note: This chapter has a LOT more cussing than usual! Also, Yoshiaki being horrible towards women and people in general because he sucks.
Malachi's POV
Near the edge of town, I got to see 'our' stage for the very first time. Our 'fellow performers' were busily scurrying around the place. "An impressive venue." Mitsuhide commented. "Our patron went all out for us! It's no surprise. Because for everyone here, this is the performance of a lifetime!" Kamekichi explained, a big and happy smile on his face. And.. 'Our patron' is the daimyo of this territory. The one that may be plotting to rebel against Nobunaga.
"This'll be our biggest performance yet, so if you'd like to help us hammer out the details, Mitsu, we'd appreciate it." Kamekichi asked, turning towards the white-haired man. "It would be my pleasure." Suddenly, Kamekichi turned his attention on me. "Miss Malachi, would you like to join our dancers and demonstrate what you can do on stage?" I felt my panic increasing. Sure, Mitsuhide had taught me enough to get by, but I did NOT want to embarrass myself here!
A few lessons on the road didn't prepare me to show off to the troupe one bit. Let alone on stage the big day of the performance for that matter! "Erm.. You know.. I'm uh.. Not feeling my best at the moment.." I tried to come up with an excuse, or anything, but luckily for me, Mitsuhide came to my rescue. Sort of.. He tugged me into his arms, as if trying to play the role of my hero. A.. faux hero for that matter. "As much as we appreciate the gracious opportunity, my wife is still an apprentice, you see." Mitsuhide explained.
"We can put her in the back if she'd be more comfortable there. Speaking of comfy, you two sure do love each other." Kamekichi commented. "..Yes, well, we are newlyweds." Kamekichi burst out into a full-bellied laugh while Mitsuhide leaned in, touching his cheek to mine. "Malachi, don't tell me you're blushing? There's nothing to be embarrassed about." Mitsuhide smirked. I gave him a glare in return, "Aw.. Mitsu.. There's everything to be embarrassed about with you."
I knew that there was nothing truly between Mitsuhide and I. And the blushing? That was.. Well, Mitsuhide getting too close to me.
"We're joining the troupe as a married couple. Now then, back to 'being in character.'" "I hope to be a good husband to you, Malachi."
If this wasn't the definition of a whirlwind romance, then I didn't know what was. We met only a month ago, back when I still believed he was Nobunaga's assassin. And last week? We announced our fake engagement which I only went along with to give myself more time to determine if he was still a threat or not. Frustrated, I drew myself out of my thoughts to listen as Kamekichi introduced us.
"We're glad to have you two!" One of the musicians spoke. "It's only until the festival, but we're happy to be here." Mitsuhide easily moved around the camp as if we were still in Azuchi, discussing war and politics. But here? All talk was nothing but friendly. Mitsuhide was as well. With how much engagement he put in, Mitsuhide looked like a real traveling performer. I knew I didn't have to worry about his cover, he was practically flawless.
Suddenly, his friendly smile dropped as he was talking to the musician. "Oh dear, did something happen to your leg?" "Yeah.. caught a stray arrow as we were fleeing battle. Good thing I'm not a dancer, 'cause I won't be walking on it again." "..I'm sorry to hear that. If you ever need a hand getting around stage or otherwise, just call me." One of the dancers gave a small smile as Mitsuhide's sudden kindness, "Better be careful you don't show those good looks off to everyone or you'll be breaking hearts during the show!"
I can't explain the urge I felt to just say that if anyone in the crowd wanted him, they could have him. Mitsuhide merely laughed in response, "No more than you, certainly! I've never seen a better looking troupe of performers!" "And what about their boss, huh?" Kamekichi intercepted. "..Why? Didn't they get their good looks from you?" "Hahaha! Good one! No wonder you're a performer, Mitsu!" Laughter and smiles easily bloomed around Mitsuhide.
It felt.. strange. Back in Azuchi, people seemed fearful and discomforted by his presence. Here, he blended right in and people seemed to thoroughly enjoy his company. I had done some research about the traveling performers of this period before we left, to help prepare for my role. A lot of entertainers were from the lower classes or lost their livelihoods due to the destruction of war. They weren't welcome or accepted anywhere else.
This kind of occupation was the only way they could survive here. It became crystal clear to me just how desperate and cruel a thing such as 'status' was. Despite that, Mitsuhide didn't bat a single eyelash at the thought of treating them as equals. Oh, wait.. That's right.. Didn't one of the samurai from before say Mitsuhide came from the lower classes? ..So he started among people like this. And he worked his way up to become a powerful warlord.
Somehow, I can easily see him doing that. Mitsuhide's got an amazing talent of being able to sneak his way into your confidence. But, I was glad for his chaotic neutral abilities, thanks to him, we easily found ourselves at home with the troupe. And the funniest part? I sometimes found myself forgetting that we were 'pretending' to be married.. After a round of conversation, Kamekichi turned to us.
"Normally, we camp out where the land will have us, but our patron's rented an inn for us this time. You two will have your space, don't worry! I've already sent your things ahead." Kamekichi explained. "We appreciate it." Mitsuhide smiled in return. I already knew that judging from how Kamekichi believed we were married, that we'd be sharing a room..
And I was correct. It was a room for newlyweds. One bed as well, fan-fucking-tastic. We had slept on our own during the trip here, which I was grateful for. However, this setup, leaves NO privacy. "For last minute additions, we've been given quite the warm welcome. I believe we've joined a good troupe, Malachi." Mitsuhide commented, a smirk on his face. I rolled my eyes, and replied sarcastically- "Yeah. They're so 'thoughtful', making us share a bed.." "Do not fret. The futon is yours."
"Ah- No. You take the futon. I'll see about a seperate room." I replied without thinking. "Then I'll join you in that seperate room." "Wha- Ah, right. Not gonna let me out of sight.. But! We are NOT sleeping together." "Why not? We're married, aren't we?" "..A FAKE marriage! After a FAKE engagement! There's no reason we even have to act married in private, Mitsu!" Rubbing my forehead to push away my frustration, I sighed. "Whatever. I'm going to go talk to the innkeeper."
I found myself rambling off silly things. As if my brain was busy locked in a fierce battle with my heart for control of my voice. Mitsuhide smiled, "..I've been rejected again, it seems." It wasn't his normal smile. His normal smile had never made me feel a pang of sympathy like this. Was he.. actually sad? It had to be the stage makeup. Or the shadows of the room. There's no way I was actually seeing Mitsuhide..forlorn.. Right?
I had just told him that we didn't need to act like we were married. So.. Why is he still acting? He IS acting, right? It felt as if there was a lump in my throat. I didn't want to think about what it meant if Mitsuhide wasn't acting. That was way too.. complicated. "..Why are you saying that? Isn't that only something you'd say to someone you like? You don't like me so.. Cut it out." Mitsuhide looked at me in silence.
"..Stop pretending to be married to me! Stop acting like some ideal.. some sweet, loving husband! You're going to drive me insane!" Mitsuhide was too good at lying. At teasing me. I felt as if I could spend forever shaking my head at him, and smiling, and.. dreaming.. "Malachi.." Fuck. I'm crying, aren't I? I tried to blink, but the hot tears filling my eyes were almost too much. "..I've gone too far, it seems." Mitsuhide clasped his hand over my cheek; his voice tender and.. apologetic. He pressed a kiss to my lashes. "I'll be with the troupe. Come find me when you're done with the innkeeper." Mitsuhide brushed a lock of hair behind my ear and turned to go.
Moments like these ones were the reason.. "..This right here? That's exactly why I fucking hate you." "And that is why I find you unbearably precious." "..UGH! Just.. go." I grabbed a nearby hand towel and threw it at him. But it just bounced harmlessly off the door as he closed it behind him. Alone, I sank to the floor and covered my eyes with my hands. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him! I hate him.. So much..
Love and Hate. Two sides of the same coin, can't have one without the other. Well, this coin only had a single side. I would scratch the other out if I had to. Because.. Because!
I waited until you could no longer tell that I'd been crying to rejoin with the troupe. Everyone was excited about something when I returned. It seemed like someone was up on stage. It was hard to see through the dense crowd though. A large group of townspeople had come out to watch as well. Finally, I saw them. Three men, dressed in the richest fashions this period could offer. It was difficult to make anything else out about them though.
"Here, Malachi." Mitsuhide had found me, and guided me back to his place beside Kamekichi. Wow. Someone sure looks like we didn't just have a VERY tearful exchange in our room. Oh well.. That's Mitsuhide Akechi for you. He'll make you cry and then act as if nothing ever happened. If he was going to wear his serious face, then so would I. "..So uh.. What's going on?" "Our patron has come to observe the stage. And he brought a very important guest." Mitsuhide explained.
An important guest? "Not JUST important! It's a miracle people like us are getting the chance to even see him in person!" Kamekichi interrupted. "Ah- Alright.. Who is it, then?" "..W-well.. We don't know, exactly. We've just heard that he's very important. This whole festival is being held in his honor!" Kamekichi explained. Sounds a bit like Nobunaga.. But it can't be. So who else could it be? "I'd like to see if I can get a better look." "I'll go with you." Mitsuhide offered. "Be careful of the crowds!"
With Mitsuhide's assistance, we maneuvered through the cluster until we were close enough to get a good look up at the stage. One of the men, dressed to impress, easily led the conversation, gesturing around. He was obviously the daimyo. I couldn't make out the specifics of what he was saying, but he seemed to be explaining the upcoming festival. But.. I don't know. He looked more like someone's proud uncle rather than a guy plotting a bloody rebellion. Just then, he seemed to notice me, of all people. Or maybe he was looking at someone behind me?
Regardless, he turned his focus to the man standing in the center of it all. And I felt a sense of terror come over me as I looked at him too. It was a feeling of when something was really wrong and you could just feel it. I got that exact same sense from this guy. The way he's looking at everyone.. Almost as if he saw them as nothing but vermin beneath his feet. I turned away with a small shiver. That's when I noticed Mitsuhide. He was staring directly at the shark-eyed man. Did he perhaps recognize him?
I was going to ask, when I suddenly recognized the quiet, third member of their little fancy party. It was the same striking appearance of Yoshimoto Imagawa. What the hell is he doing here? Isn't he an ally of Sasuke's? Then.. Wouldn't that mean he's an ally of the Uesugi-Takeda alliance? Shouldn't he be with them or in Echigo? Unless he's here BECAUSE of the alliance. But.. no. Pretty sure we would've heard something about Kenshin and Shingen in correlation to this region.
I turned to tell Mitsuhide, but he was nowhere to be found. "Mitsuhi.. Mitsu? Mitsu!" "Hey, Malachi!" Kamekichi called out to me. He came through the crowd, a big friendly smile on his face. "Mitsu said to tell you he had some last minute shopping to do before the market shut down." "Oh.. Yes. Thank you." Thanks for letting me know that he slipped away for information, that is.
I guess that now we're out of Oda territory, Mitsuhide didn't need to worry about watching me so closely. But still. I was furious that he told Kamekichi to tell me instead of saying something when I was RIGHT HERE! Unless.. He felt bad about what happened back in our room. "The rest of us will be filtering on back to the inn soon if you'd like to go ahead and rest?" Kamekichi suggested. I gave Kamekichi a small smile, "I think I might." "The show's the night after tomorrow. So make sure you're ready to dance your heart out at practice in the morning." "Ah.. I'll.. Give it my all!"
I couldn't help but think that I may have been a little too harsh with Mitsuhide at the inn. Now I was really wishing I hadn't told him that I hated him. Because it wasn't even true.. It was because that I couldn't bring myself to hate him that I kept running into problems. Maybe I need to get better at shaking his jokes off. Have fun with them, maybe even play along. Maybe when he returns, I'll even greet him with a 'Welcome home, dear!' That would be funny..
I started on the path back to the inn. "You there, woman! Halt!" I could hear a voice call from behind me. I was tempted to just ignore it. I don't like being addressed as 'woman!' whether I'm pretending to be one or not. Nor do I appreciate being told to 'halt' as if I'm some criminal. Sighing, I turned around to see a well-adorned warrior racing my way. "You were just at the stage, were you not?" "Yes.. What about it?"
"A certain nobleman saw you and wishes to invite you to tea." Well, that's certainly suspicious. "Come along." "Sorry, I'm a bit busy right now-" The warrior grabbed my wrist, "Is that a refusal, dancer? Come along!" He began to drag me. I knew I could fight back. But a dancer with self-defense training may raise some suspicion. I have to be cautious here. Especially since this man carries a sword. I let out a small sigh, "You can let go. I'll follow you." "Heh. You should have agreed in the first place." The haughty warrior loosened his grip on my wrist.
Hold on! Back at the stage.. An invitation to tea.. This 'certain nobleman'.. Could it be Yoshimoto? It had to have been! Right? No one else would have any reason to call me out. And.. Yoshimoto could be a good source of information on the daimyo here and his plans. I think it'd also be good to know what the fuck he's doing here. "Well? Lead on!" "..Uh. Very well.." The warrior grew confused as I urged him on. This could be a good opportunity.. But I still need to remain cautious.
I don't exactly like the idea of going alone. But this guy would've just dragged me screaming if I resisted. Could also be a neat little surprise for Mitsuhide if I figure something new out.. As long as I'm able to get back in good time, of course! I'm a little worried that I've got no way of telling him where I am.
"The girl has arrived, at last." He's.. not Yoshimoto, oh fuck. In fact, it looked like a gathering of everyone EXCEPT Yoshimoto. Even shark-eyes was here. "What are you standing there for? Greet Lord Yoshiaki." The daimyo demanded. "Uhm.. Good.. Evening?" Yoshiaki, as he was referred to, sat there, drinking. He didn't lift his eyes at my arrival or look at me when I spoke. I know he's supposedly VIP but this is just a new level of rude. All right.. This is a bit unpleasant. If Yoshimoto's not here, what the fuck do these two want with me?
The daimyo had a creep smile as he looked me up and down- multiple times. Ew. He quickly switched from proud uncle to creepy uncle. "So.. Judging from how this one is looking at me-" I pointed at daimyo, "The tea is a lie?" The daimyo suddenly laughed, "This one's not as naive as she looked." His grin was wide as he laughed at his own unfunny comment. "I am granting you the privilege of being Lord Yoshiaki's bed companion this evening."
..Excuse me? Am I really being told to have sex with this guy right now? I don't think there was a single NOT gross thing in what the daimyo just said. "What do you think, my lord? Will she be sufficient for a night's pleasure?" Finally, Yoshiaki spoke. "..Perhaps." FUCK. I WANTED HIM TO SAY NO. "She will need a bath and some...suitable clothes, of course. But I think we can make this meager dancer presentable. ..Anything's possible." Seriously, who the fuck is this guy?
"If you are able to please the illustrious Lord Yoshiaki, woman, you will be well rewarded. The others we've gathered from town have failed, but they all lacked the proper grace and courtesy." The daimyo gave me another look over, "You may look.. flat. But you just might do." Yoshiaki suddenly narrowed his eyes, almost looking furious. At the daimyo's faintest praise, Yoshiaki finally looked at me. His gaze was harsh, almost as if I were nothing more than trash in his eyes. I don't think I've ever felt MORE insulted by a look before.
"Hold on. You really think you can insult me, talk about me to my face like that, and then order me into someone's bed as if I'm some sort of slut?!" I glared at the daimyo. "..What..?" "The fact that you've done this to multiple people other than just me is so repulsive! Women aren't fucking objects!" "Do you know in whose presence you dare raise your voice?!" I took one last glance at Yoshiaki. Yeah, I didn't fucking care. Then I looked back at the daimyo. "Don't know and don't fucking care. If someone needs to be his night's pleasure so badly, why don't you just do it?" I felt myself shaking with anger as I stood up straight. If these over-dressed asswhipes thought they could keep me here and order me around, I'd give them a taste of what Mitsuhide taught me. But-
"I am done. Send this one away." They didn't try to stop me, it was as if Yoshiaki hadn't even heard my words. "B-but, my lord, if she insulted you, we can-" "Do not mistake me for being offended by the baseless mewling of some dirty flea. It is simply that I will not defile myself by having relations with this creature."
"Oh?! Creature?! As if you're the most pleasant thing here, you misogynistic cunt!" Yoshiaki continued ignoring me, taking another sip of his drink. "Such low-born, valueless chaff has not the right to taste the sake that has touched my lips." A sadistic smile graced his lips. Ugh, good. As if I'm even old enough to drink. "Not that a woman can possess value." That one.. Is what pushed me over the edge.
"You think all women- you think everyone born outside your fucking outdated classifications of 'nobility' have no value?!" "..Is it still making noise?" I felt something snap inside me. He didn't even see me as human.. Not that it bothered me. But I couldn't stand by and watch him treat others like that. "Take it away." Yoshiaki demanded. "HA! Think you can order me around? Alright, that's fine. I'll leave. Wasn't interested in sucking your baby dick anyway so keep it in your pants, asshole." And with that, I left.
I don't entirely remember how I found my way back. I just walked. It felt as if I knew that if I stopped, the small strands holding me together would snap. "Malachi! There you are!" Mitsuhide ran up to me, clasping my shoulders. That's when I realized just how cold I was and realized I must've been walking for awhile. "I've been searching everywhere for you! Where have you-? ..Malachi?" I blinked a few times until Mitsuhide fully focused in my vision. "What happened to you?" ..Me?
Slowly, Mitsuhide coaxed me back to reality. The concern in his eyes, warmth in his hands, panic in his voice.. I could look at him. I could feel him. I could speak.. "Mitsu..hide.. I just.. I got back from- I.." My voice was shaky as I tried to speak, and that's when the dam broke and tears began pouring down my face. Without a single word, Mitsuhide pulled me into a tight embrace. He gently caressed my back as I felt the tears worsen. I just couldn't get over it.. Nothing. Not a single word I'd said affected that bastard! 'It.' He called me 'it.' Why did that fucking piss me off so much coming from him?! I usually didn't care!
No one should EVER be treated like that. But in that disgusting room full of posh assholes, they stripped EVERYONE of value and dignity.. Down to basically nothing. And they wouldn't even dangle the possibility of worth before you. In their cold eyes, none of that was achievable. The worst part.. I felt it. At the end, I felt as if I was losing what I knew could never be taken from me. He was wrong though. Just some stuck-up, sadistic, sociopathic ass that thinks status is all that matters! I fucking hate that..so much!
"..Malachi.." Mitsuhide whispered. When I had nearly everything taken from me.. It was my husband, my awful, teasing, problematic faux husband- who had searched for me until he ran out of breath. No lie he could try to tell would take away that powerful truth. "Let us get you home. You can tell me everything there. I can't leave my dearest out here to cry.."
Mitsuhide held me and gave me water until I could finally speak. The inn had fallen silent by the time I calmed down and told Mitsuhide everything. "I see." He frowned. Mitsuhide had cast no judgment. He just listened quietly; even as I stuttered and hiccupped through my miserable tale. "..I.. I've never had someone speak to me like that before.." Mitsuhide's eyes widened, "Never?" I shook my head as I sat still in his tender embrace, gently patting my back in warm circles. "Even when people would act as if I was stupid because I'm female.. I never let it get to me." My voice was dry and cracked as I concentrated on the reassuring presence of his hand, continuing. "..In my time, we've got entitled and self-obsorbed assholes too, but most people acknowledge that they're wrong and stand up to them."
"I'm glad you lived in better times than these." "It's quite the difference. And I absolutely hate that I couldn't even properly defend myself while he treated me as less than the dirt beneath his foot." Mitshide gently brushed the hair away from my face. "But.. I knew there was nothing I could say that would get through to him. That's what I can't get over.." My eyes felt hot and itchy again, shit. But every time the tears started to spill over again, Mitsuhide would gently brush them away with a small towel. "They're wrong. I KNOW they're wrong. But they have all the power here.. There's literally nothing I could do to make them see me as a person."
"Malachi, that is-" "..Yet so many people in this world get stepped on like that every single day, with no more recourse than even I had." When I finished, Mitsuhide remained silent, his eyes slightly widened. It hadn't fully sunk in yet that, with very little exception, most people in this time were treated in such a way. And everyone just accepted it.. Is that why my mother was so adamant about her teachings..?
No one dared to say anything negative as Yoshiaki looked down on them from up on stage. The troupe was full of good people. The town was too. Yet they were putting on this show for him, a 'special guest.' And that special guest didn't think of any of us as people. "It's not fair to anyone.." Mitsuhide suddenly smiled, "After a world-shattering experience, your heart still goes out to others, doesn't it?" Mitsuhide hugged me closer. My tear-stained cheek was flush against his cool skin.
"I've always held that there is no such thing as purely right or purely wrong. But, Malachi- Everything you've said, including your rage, is right." ..Does he actually feel that way? "You don't need to accept other people's judgments, regardless of how powerful they might be. Everyone has a different point of view." Mitsuhide smiled as he continued, "Those noblemen have theirs, and Lord Nobunaga has his. Even Hideyoshi, with his somewhat insufferable opinions." That brought a small smile to my face. "You know what is right to you. Don't you?" Letting out a small sigh, I replied- "..I do."
I believed- regardless of what time I found myself in- that taking one's life was wrong. I believed that you shouldn't judge one's worth on any basis except their actions and the content of their heart. I know that others won't always agree. I know that I may find myself in places where people will argue I'm wrong. I remembered that first battle.. Mitsuhide shooting the enemy general. The sound of the gun, the look in his eyes. I know that my beliefs may waver at times.
I remembered the first time I held the trigger. The way I felt power over life and death coursing through me. How I hated it. But that doesn't mean I've thrown away my beliefs and morals.
"Never thank someone for taking a life. I killed a man so that we might live. Did we come out unharmed, or do you find yourself changed by what you saw? Are our two lives worth more than his one? How many lives depended upon his?"
Mitsuhide had been the one to remind me exactly why I'd come to value my beliefs in the first place. Why they were so important to me. Even if they were formed in a more peaceful time. This would not be the place that broke them. They were mine to keep, and mine to make stronger.
"In a way, this world is a battlefield of ideals. We do not know, day to day, who will come out on top. But- That does not give anyone the right to negate yours." I silently breathed in his words as I let them fill my mind. "..Well, I refuse to cry if that happens, that's for sure. I don't want to give anyone that kind of pleasure." That and.. I knew that in someway, I'd have Mitsuhide by my side. I wanted to believe in myself. I wanted to be someone others could trust.
"There you are. You're very strong, you know." Mitsuhide smiled, whispering to me sweetly and patting my head as he did. I used to think he did this to mock me, and he does still sound a bit patronizing but- I needed this right now. "Hey.. Don't be trying to make me cry right after I swore not to." "If you cannot show weakness to your husband, who can you show it to? You can cry safely whenever you're with me."
I smile slowly dropped down, "..Safe.." Somehow, Mitsuhide's gaze had melted the barriers to my heart. And the first thing he did upon gaining access to the most vulnerable part of me was to slowly begin healing it.. I had tried to keep a 'safe' distance since learning about his treachery. But the distance in which I felt safest at was in his arms. I rolled my eyes, "There you go, calling yourself my husband again. Really sounds like you have ulterior motives but.. I hope that doesn't mean everything else you said was a lie?"
"And why is that?" "Because.. I want to believe in what you said. I don't want to cautiously decide to trust it only to get told it was a lie later. Even with what I know, I've somehow held onto this version in my head that I think is good and I trust him more than anyone else.." If the two parts didn't match, well go ahead and call me crazy. But I chose to side with the 'good' Mitsuhide rather than the 'bad'. For a moment, Mitsuhide seemed ready to say something. But it disappeared as Mitsuhide's pale golden eyes softened and he whispered, "You should get some rest."
Ah. No answers? Should've seen that one coming. Mitsuhide gently lifted me and tucked me into the bed. He then stayed by my side, tear-stained towel at the ready to dry the last of my tears. The towel had gotten cool because of all the tears. But.. Mitsuhide's hands were always cool too. "Good night, Malachi. Pleasant dreams." "Good night to you too, Mitsuhide. Also- ..Thank you." Mitsuhide simply smiled.
Seeing no more tears, he set the towel down. Then he lightly brushed my eyelids closed, his hand resting comfortably and cool over my red and puffy face. I.. I like this. More than I should.. I felt.. Safe, and comfortable with Mitsuhide around. Safe with him, I fell into a peaceful sleep.
Third POV
Mitsuhide watched over Malachi while she slept, unresting. Suddenly, a dangerous smirk crept its way onto his lips. "..I hope they are aware, they've incurred a great and very dangerous debt by making my wife cry.." His burnished yellow eyes appeared to burn almost like ghostly foxfire in the shadow..
