"Are you sure this is wise, Lady Malachi?" Ranmaru asked, his voice uncertain. I stood, facing the building in front of me, but kept my head turned to face the young man standing beside me. "Right now, our only connection to Mitsuhide is what he left behind. Our only option is to hope that he left something good in Akechi Manor."
Malachi's POV
"But err.. Let's pray the guards who ransacked his place last night left something. Otherwise, we can always help Kyubei with cleaning up." Ranmaru suddenly averted his gaze, "Lady Malachi, you're too sweet, you know that?" After having walked through the city, I saw the effects of what last night's escape had on the people. Everyone was on edge.
But of all people, I hadn't expected Ranmaru to join me on my search. "You know, Ranmaru, you don't have to do this with me if you don't want to." "No, I'm happy to come with you. I need to figure out what he's thinking too.." The young boy suddenly averted his stormy gray gaze, "Not that I don't think we'll find a few skeletons buried under the floorboards- But.. I want to believe that, no matter what he's done, he's not a traitor. I guess I just.. hate the idea of betrayal."
Hearing that from Ranmaru felt.. strange. The more and more time I found myself spending with him, the more familiar he seemed. But I couldn't quite place my finger on it..
Kyubei met us at the entrance, a smile immediately forming on his face. "Is that-?" His gaze seemed to be stuck on me, out of all things. As if there was something unusual about me. Well, there was. But, it wasn't visible on the surface. "Hmm? Is.. what?" Kyubei shook his head, "..No, it's nothing. You're both welcome here. Feel free to explore the manor and its premises as you like."
With Kyubei's permission granted, Ranmaru gave him a bright smile. "Thanks a bunch!" As he led the two of us inside, Kyubei filled us in on the state of Mitsuhide's household. During an investigation that followed shortly after his imprisonment, it was decided that Mitsuhide had acted alone. His retainers were deemed innocent. None of them had a clue as to what to do in Mitsuhide's absence though. And as a result, the manor continued on in this half-hearted state.
"..We're deeply sorry for everything. If you require any assistance in cleaning up, we're happy to lend a hand." I offered, but Kyubei only raised a hand and shook his head. "I've taken care of the cleaning. If there's anything of Lord Mitsuhide's you would like to look at, please, go ahead." "Are you suuure? There's got to be a ton of secret stuff in here he wouldn't want anyone to see." Ranmaru commented. God, he couldn't be more obvious..
Kyubei only stared at the younger man with a blank expression, "I have no idea what you could be talking about." He suddenly smiled, though it felt a little too wide. So it seems if there was anything of value here, it's long gone now. "Even if there are no secrets, there may just be something that serves as a clue. There's no harm in looking around, is there?" I suggested.
"You hear that, Lord Mitsuhide?! We'll turn this place upside down until we find what you've been hiding!" "..Ranmaru, please don't."
"Nothing! Absolutely nothing!" Ranmaru let out an exasperated sigh. "My expectations were pretty low.." I had known this wouldn't be easy. Not with Mitsuhide, at least. His room was entirely pristine. There wasn't a letter or document or hell, even a scrap of paper left behind! We had also searched his other rooms. They were devoid of any hint about his pastimes, let alone any hint to his potential whereabouts.
"No calendars with special dates, no memos to his vassals, no reminders to himself. He got rid of everything!" Ranmaru complained, his disappointment clear. But then, something struck me. "That's an interesting point. Why would he get rid of everything? His shopping lists certainly can't be full of secrets. But because there's nothing.. All you can do is turn a suspicious eye to everything." I explained.
"I think, Lady Malachi, that may have been his goal.." Huh. That's an even more interesting point. "Ooh, I'm Mitsuhide, the scary traitor who threatens nice pages! Even my groceries are secret! Can't trust me now, can you?!" Ranmaru mimicked. I had to stifle an amused laugh. "I get it now. It's almost like he's advertising his treachery."
It was just like how he let rumors about him fester, how he had confessed immediately upon capture but then staged that dramatic jailbreak. These were all things no real traitor would want. But they were certainly things you might do if it was important for everyone to THINK you're the bad guy. It became apparent that his goal all along had been to convince everyone in Azuchi of his treason. ..To cover for what, exactly?
We'd found nothing concrete. But with this new found revelation, I felt sure that we were getting closer and closer to Mitsuhide himself. "Well, I think that's all we're going to find. Let's buy some sweet dumplings and have a snack instead! We can bring some back for Kyubei too, as thanks for letting us rifle through the place!" Ranmaru smiled. "Alright. I'll go with you-" "I'll get them! You stay here and rest, Lady Malachi!"
Ranmaru quickly bounced up to his feet and sprung out the door. He was certainly ever a source of energy. Ranmaru certainly was very agile. I suppose being Nobunaga's page keeps him in good shape. But soon after Ranmaru left, Kyubei quietly entered. "Lady Malachi, do you have a moment?" "..I'm no lady. But of course."
Kyubei led me out to the garden, where I saw a familiar face. "Oh. It's Chimaki." As I sat down on the veranda, the ever so graceful albino fox came over and nuzzled her nose against my leg. "How cute.." I muttered. "It seems she missed you. She's never been that close to any of us." Kyubei gave me a wry smile and took a seat next to me. I turned my attention away from the fox and to the man sitting next to me.
"So, what was it that you wanted to discuss?" A moment of silence followed, until Kyubei finally spoke. "..That hair ornament looks good on you." It had just struck me that I was still wearing it. The beautiful pale blue bellflower that Mitsuhide had pinned in my hair. "I was the one who delivered it to Lord Mitsuhide while he was imprisoned." Kyubei explained. "What? Really?" "I asked if he needed anything before he left. He said there was only one thing he absolutely needed to get.."
I completely ignored Kyubei's admission that he had known about Mitsuhide's escape in advance, but rather, I felt happy. If his torturers weren't going to play fair, at least Mitsuhide had Kyubei there for him. "My lord actually prepared that gift for you before your trip to the western border. I believe it was his intent to give it to you upon your return to Azuchi." Mitsuhide had planned to give this to me that long ago?
Finally, Kyubei met my gaze. "Are you aware that the blue bellflower is the Akechi Clan's crest? That flower is very meaningful to his family." "..Do you mind telling me more?" Kyubei nodded, and continued. "It is said his ancestor decorated his helmet with a single blue bellflower and it won him a battle where all hope seemed lost. An Akechi gives you a bellflower to pray for you. To wish for your victory, regardless of what trials you face."
'A prayer?' "You are so important to him, my lady. More than any soul in this world has ever been." Kyubei looked out into the garden once he finished. The greenery was vibrant from the aftermath of last night's sudden intense shower. My heart felt too heavy to speak.. It felt as if I should've been the one to give Mitsuhide this flower.
I suddenly remembered his smile before his departure last night. He was the one going to fight. And he was going alone, nonetheless. But I had also been fighting, hadn't I..? Fighting since I was thirteen years old.. Fighting since I arrived here to live and return to the present.. Mitsuhide knew about the second half of that, which is why he thought it necessary to teach me what I needed to know, to face my fears while also not losing myself.
Even now, he was trying to tell me that I could do this. I had the tools necessary at my disposal to survive this cruel yet awfully kind world. I could even live on here if I wanted.
"..Kyubei, thank you for telling me that.." I muttered. "Not at all, my lady." Suddenly, the moment was ruined by the loud interruption from Ranmaru announcing his return. "I'm baaack!" But his expression faltered once his gaze landed on me, "..Lady Malachi, why are you crying?! Kyubei, you didn't say something mean to her, did you?!" "N..No. It's not his fault." Despite my insistence, Ranmaru still glared at Kyubei. "I'm not giving a sweet dumpling to anyone who makes Lady Malachi cry, you know!"
Kyubei, feigning his disappointment, turned to me and spoke- "I would be devastated. Lady Malachi, perhaps I could ask you to stop crying for my sake?" A laugh escaped my throat as I gently wiped away my tears, "Yes, of course. You should get to have a dumpling, Kyubei." "Heyyy! Stop teaming up just to get at my dumplings!" We all had a good laugh in the garden that day.
And someday, I could only hope that Mitsuhide could enjoy a moment like this with us too. He deserved to be in the sunlight, where the last few drops of dew would be drying from the grass. ..He deserved to join them in their laughter. To look fondly upon Chimaki as she stretched, curled up, and fell asleep.
But as I found out later that very night.. That sort of gentle peace was not to last. Not for any of us.
"..You wanted to see me, Nobunaga?" I spoke as I entered the tenshu. Not only was I greeted by the man who'd summoned me, I was also greeted by a stony-faced Hideyoshi and Masamune, who wore a strangely amused grin. "Tomorrow, Hideyoshi and I will depart for the capital. Malachi, you will go with us." Nobunaga informed me. I blinked, this was certainly sudden. But also apparently an order. Suddenly, a dangerous grin formed on Nobunaga's face.
"..You will go if you wish to see the slippery kitsune who betrayed the Oda forces, that is."
