"..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."

Malachi's POV

I couldn't believe my ears. Mitsuhide's in Kyoto? I stared at Nobunaga in shock, "You know where he is?! I thought he got away unseen." "Someone saw him." Masamune interjected, "..Got really close to catching him too, but he got away.." Masamune shrugged with an open smile on his lips. I narrowed my eyes at the one-eyed man, "Would that person happen to be you, Masamune?" Masamune nodded, his smile never faltering. "That's right. And he told me before he left-"

"In the name of my liege, I swear to put an end to Nobunaga's life." Masamune stared in dumbfounded surprise as Mitsuhide's horse reared up- "You should chase after me, Masamune, if you can."

With how well Masamune painted the scene, I could almost see it clearly. With how quick my heart began to beat, I felt almost sick. Did Mitsuhide really swear to put an end to Nobunaga's life? But then, a different realization struck me. "Who is this 'liege' Mitsuhide mentioned?" But rather than answering my question, Hideyoshi only told me- "We'll get to that."

Then he continued speaking, "We all know, thanks to Malachi and a certain knobhead, a rebellion in the east was preemptively put down. However, the Imperial Court in Kyoto still believes the false rumor that a collective planned to strike Lord Nobunaga down. The minor rebellions occurring in Echigo right now are likely giving that rumor the appearance of weight." Hideyoshi explained. "..I think I remember that. Weren't Nobunaga and Mitsuhide supposed to go to Kyoto?" I asked.

Hideyoshi nodded, "Yes. Because the damned court can't be bothered to look into problems themselves without pulling us away from our jobs. Ahem.." Hideyoshi took a deep breath, seemingly trying to calm his anger. "Before that could happen, Mitsuhide was, err, accused of conspiring with Kennyo against Lord Nobunaga. And now he's escaped." Hideyoshi's eyes closed before he continued, then they opened, sharply narrowed. "Our lord thinks that all of this is connected."

Everything's connected? The rebellion, the summons, even Mitsuhide's confession? "Those small-time daimyo are living the high life. They won't rise from their comfy seats unless someone bigger tells them to. And for them to do so all at once? The very moment Kyoto deigns to ask what we're up to..?" Masamune explained, frowning. I nodded, "Certainly sounds suspicious.." Then, Masamune's frown turned to a smile, "Our enemy wasn't interested in breaking us apart with poorly planned rebellions. Their goal is to lure Lord Nobunaga to Kyoto."

But what do they even plan to do to Nobunaga once he's in Kyoto? Have some half-assed noble tell him that he's fired? Nobunaga silently nodded his agreement. But I could tell there was something they weren't saying, something they were keeping hidden from me. That's when I felt Hideyoshi place a hand on my shoulder. "Lord Nobunaga can't bring an army with him into Kyoto. It would be seen as a declaration of war against the Imperial Court. ..And the unification we've sought would be set back another miserable, chaotic hundred years." Hideyoshi paused, taking another deep breath.

"He'll be allowed to travel with only the normal complement of retainers- which isn't many." Then, Hideyoshi's expression turned to another deeply upset frown. "Meanwhile, that idiot is loose with valuable information on every key figure in the Oda forces." By the way Hideyoshi spoke, I could easily tell what he meant. I was putting the pieces together, and I wasn't liking the picture I saw. But one detail was missing. How on Earth does this involve me?

"So.. Let's see if I have this straight. Someone wants to lure Nobunaga out of Azuchi, and they clearly want him to be as unguarded as possible." The three men nodded at my words, "But you also think.. That Mitsuhide is working for this someone?" Nobunaga's expression remained flat as he lightly tilted his head, "You may speak plainly. Some scoundrel wishes to assassinate me and Mitsuhide is working with them."

I wasn't trying to be courteous so much as I was secretly hoping that WASN'T the case. Learn to better read people. "I'm impressed with the lass! Listening to her, it sounds like Mitsuhide's lessons paid off." Masamune laughed, only to be scolded by Hideyoshi. "This isn't a laughing matter, Masamune."

It seems someone's cast a big net to catch- sorry, to kill- Nobunaga. And Mitsuhide is working with them.. I didn't want to believe what I was hearing. But my gut told me it was the truth. "I don't suppose you can just tell the Imperial Court to fuck off, can you?" Hideyoshi shook his head, "I thought of something similar. However-" His expression was weary with stress, and it was drawn with clear anxiety as he looked at Nobunaga. "..Trap or not, I will let nothing interfere with my ambition. The court holds no true power. But they retain their authority in the eyes of the people. If they are uneasy, the populace becomes uneasy. Then, the unification I've sought will fail." Was all Nobunaga said. Hideyoshi nodded in agreement, frowning, "It's as my lord says."

Nobunaga's only going so he can put the people at ease. As much as I hate him, even I can admit that's noble of him to do. I can also see why not even Hideyoshi can bring himself to stop Nobunaga. "That is why we must respond to the summons, regardless of how dangerous it may be. If anyone dares make an attempt on my lord's life, I will throw away my own to protect him!" Hideyoshi announced boldly. But Nobunaga narrowed his eyes at him, "I do not need protection from someone whose life is so valueless to them they would throw it away. You are to live, Hideyoshi." "..Y..yes, my lord."

With that heavy exchange still lingering, Masamune began to elaborate on the threats we still faced. "The culprit's likely to be aware that Lord Nobunaga knows Kyoto is a trap. Probably planned for that. I'm betting they wanted Mitsuhide just to anticipate our lord's every move. They're a crafty one." Masamune explained, an amused smile on his lips. But I could certainly see what he meant. After all, whoever we were dealing with is crafty enough to recruit Mitsuhide of all people to assassinate Nobunaga.

But wait. There's one more thing that doesn't add up. Mitsuhide was imprisoned because he admitted to being in league with Kennyo. Not because he actually was in league with Kennyo! I lightly lifted a hand and pressed my index finger underneath my chin, "Hang on a minute. With this new information brought to light.. Doesn't that mean Mitsuhide's not actually working with Kennyo?" Both Hideyoshi and Masamune turned away, yet I continued-

"It's all too suspicious, isn't it? As if Mitsuhide truly wanted us to think he was. But that's exactly why he-" Nobunaga cut me off, "Of course Mitsuhide isn't working with Kennyo. They forced Kennyo's agent to accuse him in order to conceal who Mitsuhide had truly allied himself with. As for who that is.. You have met him once before."

I lightly rolled my eyes at Nobunaga, "You have to be more specific than that, I've met a lot of strange men. If it's not Kennyo, then it's either someone from the Uesugi-Takeda alliance or.." I trailed off, "..Yoshiaki Ashikaga.." I muttered the name. Feeling almost disgusted to even speak his name. Nobunaga nodded, "It is Yoshiaki Ashikaga, that is the man Mitsuhide has sold his allegiance to."