Precious Memories of the Past

It is raining hard today with the clouds covering the sky and Lord Nobunaga's palace is quiet except with the sounds of raindrops hitting the building. Kenshin, Hideyoshi and her new pet bunny she got from the hunting naming it Shiroi kawaī (for White Cute), Kawaii to not confuse the name for the rabbit and the dog, and Shiro are sitting on the wooden path and staring outside seeing the rain and the red flowers.

"So boring." Hideyoshi yawned.

"You're suppose to pass these days lost in the deepest of thoughts." Shiro pointed out, confusing the blonde.

"I believe what he means to say is that you should try using your imagination to occupy yourself from the rain, that I do." Kenshin translated.

"But I'm too bored to even imagine swimming in ice-cream, please help me!" Hideyoshi whined.

"And you realize you're an idiot. Have you no idea of what it means to be Japanese?" Shiro asked, annoy of this girl.

"Um, no… not really, I guess. I never really thought about it before." Hideyoshi chuckled.

"I think it's something you'll eventually understand the older you get, but it's nothing serious to think about." Kenshin said.

"Oh, is that so?" Hideyoshi wondered what she would understand on what it means to be Japanese.

"Well, I think I'm going to see how Akechi is doing on this rainy day." Kenshin said walking away.

"In that case, I'm going to see of the Lord wants to do anything today." Hideyoshi suggested getting the see Nobunaga with Kawaii following behind her.

"Guess I'll just stay here mediation." Shiroi said as he starts channeling his inner mind.

(With Akechi)

Akechi is seen in her quarter doing some paperwork and reports on the journey of collecting the Crimson Armor pieces so far, then she stops writing and slide open the door seeing the rain pouring down hard on the land thinking of a memory what reminded her of the rain.

"It was raining back then, wasn't it?" Akechi asked herself.

"What was back then?" Kenshin asked, getting the ninja girl's attention.

"Kenshin, what brings you here?" Akechi wondered.

"Just wanted to check on how are you doing on this rainy day, that I have." Kenshin answered.

"Well, I was just thinking about the day I first met Lord Nobunaga." Akechi said looking back at the rain.

"I'm very curious to know, would you mind telling me the story please." Kenshin asked as he sat down.

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt, very well." Akechi agreed as she sat next to him.

(Flashback, Years Ago)

"It was years ago, raining on a day like today that I first met my lord. Those days are still burned into my memory. It was when I was serving Kubou-sama in the capital." Akechi started the story.

A slightly younger Akechi is seen in a different outfit carrying books under her arms and staring at the rain, wondering if it's going to stop anytime soon.

Then she heard a grunting sound coming from the other building, she decided to go see what's all the noise is about.

"What's going on here?" Akechi asked walking in.

"On, Akechi-sama. Actually, we're trying to do something to relieve our boredom from this long rain." A female servant showed two women going against each other in a sumo wrestling game.

One of the women is an interesting and familiar long red-haired woman who0 easily defeated her opponent with one strike of her palm.

"Which of you is next? Will no one else dare to challenge Nobunaga?" Nobunaga taunted the other women to come fight her.

Three other women decided to challenge her, and Nobunaga dares them to come at her all at once, they charge for a tackle, but Nobunaga easily defeated them with little effort.

"Who is she?" Akechi asked.

"She's the Lord of Owari." The Servant girl answered shock to Akechi.

"Are we done? Is there no one else to entertain me? No one?" Nobunaga asked as most of the servant girls are nervous and scared of the Lord's strength.

Nobunaga's eyes then made contact with Akechi's sensing that she is not like the other women she fought so far.

"You, wrestle with me." Nobunaga ordered.

Akechi knew better than to refuse an order from a Lord, especially one like Nobunaga and can also tell that she would be punish if she holds herself back as well.

The two get into position, waited for the servant referee to start the match.

"Okay, ready… set… and GO!" She announced.

Both Nobunaga and Akechi charge at each other and grabbing around their waist entering into a power struggle, this is a surprise for Nobunaga feeling this woman's strength and lasting longer than the others meaning she must've been hard as well. Just as Akechi was about to make a move to get Nobunaga off balance, the Lord act quicker and knock her down on the floor winning the match.

"Not bad." Nobunaga commented with a smile.

"What is your hand?" Nobunaga asked offering her hand to help Akechi get up.

"Akechi… Mitsuhide… Nice job." Akechi said, impress of Nobunaga's strength.

"Mitsuhide." Nobunaga smiled while taking her smoke pipe in her mouth. This made Akechi blush for some reason.

Days later, Akechi is seen in her quarter doing some paperwork as usual.

"Mitsuhide!" Nobunaga shouted as she opens the door.

"What is it you want, Oda-dono?" Akechi asked as she put down her quill.

"Wanna go on a trip?" Nobunaga offered.

"Thank you, but no." Akechi turned down the offer.

"What, how come?" Nobunaga slide open both doors bring in the bright sunlight as Akechi is blinded for a second.

"If you stay inside on a day like this, you'll get moldy." Nobunaga pointed out.

"I have things to do, go on without me." Akechi said, getting back to her paperwork.

"I take it Lord Nobunaga wouldn't take no for an answer so easily just like now." Kenshin chuckled.

"Yes, the Lord was stubborn of not letting me do my work in peace." Akechi smiled.

Nobunaga then takes the paper when Akechi was still writing on it much to her shock.

"What are you doing? Give that back, that belongs to Kubou-sama!" Akechi demanded.

"If you want it back, stop whining and follow me. This way." Nobunaga walked away with the paper. The two are now riding on their horses through the path of the forest.

"Mitsuhide, you care too much about stupid stuff. You need to enjoy yourself more. Once in a while, you should get out, enjoy the fresh air, and let the glorious sunshine down on you. It's too nice of a day to be inside." Nobunaga advised keeping your body active and have some fun as well.

Nobunaga and Akechi arrives at a little rushing river that is swallow for their feet to be under water, the Lord sets in looking around to see if there are any fishes swimming by while Akechi just stare at her wondering how can a Lord act so carefree like a child.

"Hey, Mitsuhide!" Nobunaga called out, snapping the purple-haired out of her thoughts.

"The river water's still a bit chilly. Here's a present for you." Nobunaga hold up a hand with a lively fish scaring Akechi.

"Do you dislike fish, Mitsuhide?" Nobunaga asked laughing a bit.

"No, that's not it…" Akechi said as she rather like cooked dead fish than a live one.

"Alright, next. Follow me, Mitsuhide!" Nobunaga threw the fish back into the river and walk away.

Akechi follow Nobunaga, not that she had any choice to refuse, and they went to a brush of berries eating some as she enjoys them and gasp when Nobunaga most of hers eating while getting berry juice over her lips. AKechi couldn't help but smile seeing how funny Nobunaga looks right now.

"I'd heard all of the rumors, but Nobunaga was even wilder than I ever could have imagined."

Nobunaga take Akechi along to enjoy the day like climbing trees, carrying her through a log path much to the latter's embarrassment, and helping some villagers with the field though Akechi isn't doing so well on the job. Even taking a break as the villagers offer some food to them and tea.

"Why must I be the one to suffer through this? I didn't understand it back then." Akechi said.

"Nobunaga probably wanted to teach you that there is more to life than doing paperwork and feeling alive through each day." Kenshin pointed out.

"Yeah, that's actually better than what I would've thought." Akechi sighed happy.

Akechi is seen making tea with Nobunaga sitting next to her waiting patiently, she finishes and present it to the lord.

"Here you go, please enjoy." Akechi bowed, then got surprise seeing Nobunaga gulping down the whole cup of tea.

"Nobunaga-sama, that's not how you drink that." Akechi exclaimed.

"Don't whine, you're too by-the-book, you know that? It's a real pain in the butt, sometimes." Nobunaga stated and finish drinking the tea.

"Mitsuhide, I return to Owari tomorrow morning." Nobunaga informed.

Akechi gasps of the news and became sad of the woman she was starting to get to know more is leaving so soon, she wanted to be with Nobunaga more and have more of these experience in life with her too.

"Mitsuhide, would you please help me?" Nobunaga asked for assistants shocking Akechi and grabs her by the shoulders.

"I want to conquer this land! For that, I'll need your wisdom and talent, and all those wonderful things about you." Nobunaga believed with Akechi's help; she'll be able to become a worthy conqueror of Japane.

Akechi was shocked that Nobunaga would ask to help her with such an ambitious goal.

"My lord offered water to a patched life. How happy I was then, even happy today."

(Flashback End)

"I remember it as if it were yesterday." Akechi smiled looking up at the rain.

"Wow, it must've been a great day when Lord Nobunaga asked you to help her, that it was." Kenshin commented.

"Yes, I'm certain that my lord said those words to and me alone." Akechi believed.

"I can see you're very determined to see her goals become a reality by her side, but I think you might be too obese with it." Kenshin stated.

"Huh, why would you think that?" Akechi asked.

"I've notices how you look at Hideyoshi and me spending time with Lady Nobunaga more than she does with you, but I can assure you that you're very important to our lord, that you are." Kenshin said.

"Remember, we're both from another world and may have no way of getting back home. Which is why we will always turn to Nobunaga and you for help with anything in this world, we are very grateful that you took us in when we have nowhere else to go and promise to do our very best to help you all as well." Kenshin bowed respectfully.

This caught Akechi off guard that this "man" from another world is showing this much respect to her even though have only known each other for some time now, he even saw through her jealous and assure her that Nobunaga still sees her as an important alley. Now this made the ninja woman feel bad about thinking ill thoughts about them and maybe jump to the conclusion of being replaced by one of them, but she can tell in Kenhin's words and his eyes that he's just a nice person who wants to help others the best he can. Maybe she'll try to get to know them more and be a little more friendly to Hideyoshi as well.

"Well then, how about we spare for a bit?" Akechi suggested getting her wooden swords.

"But won't we catch a cold?" Kenshin asked.

"I'm sure it'll be fine as long as we don't stay out for too long." Akechi said.

Kenshin and Akechi then spare each other with their wooden swords doing some basic swings to some of the advances, Kenshin stop seeing someone walking up to them and Akechi stop as well.

"Masamune-dono." Akechi said.

"Hello, I see you're taking a stroll through the rain, that you are." Kenshin greeted.

"I am, and it looks like you're collecting that armor quickly. I'm really glad to see that." Date complimented on their hard work.

"It's thanks to your information that we were able to." Akechi said.

"Oh, so you're the one who knows where the Crimson Armor pieces are then." Kenshin surprised.

"I have my way of knowing where they are, but even if you know where the Crimson Armor is without my help, acquiring is isn't easy." Date said as she practices her sword swinging.

"That is true… by the way, I've been wanting to ask you." Akechi said.

"What is it?" Date asked

"I don't understand why you do not take the Armor for yourself." Akech asked, wondering about that for a while.

"Perhaps is because she doesn't feel like wanting the armor at all or conquering the land as well." Kenshin guessed, earning a chuckle from Date.

"You're right on the money there. To be honest, I really don't have any talent for war, and I'm not much of a warrior. And I believe Nobunaga-dono alone is worthy to wear the Armor." Date explained her reason.

"I see, I agree that there's no one but her can wear the armor." Akechi agreed.

"I'm so envious of you, Nobunaga trust you completely with her life." Date commented, making Akechi smiles and turn to Kenshin.

"What about you, Kenshin, do you have the same faith in Nobunaga to conquer this land?" Date asked.

"I never really thought about conquering things much as a land, but I saw through Nobunaga's eyes the flaming heart of a warrior with compassion and seeing others as their potential allies. Lady Nobunaga wants to rule Japan to bring peace for the people and live a happy life throughout the ages, she treats everyone equally proud like with Akechi as her right-hand and never misuses others." Kenshin believed.

"That's quite true, despite her wild nature, Lord Nobunaga would never let herself harm anyone unless they make a foolish choice of becoming her enemies. As I'll also do my best for her to gather all the pieces of the Crimson Armor!" Akechi determined with a proud smile.

"If it's not too much to ask, I would prefer that you don't give up yourself on this goal." Kenshin said, confusing Akechi and Date.

"Remember that Lord Nobunaga trust you with her life, so if you were to die before her goal is achieved then that would make her really sad, that she would. Life is precious and it's not to be tamper lightly, me and Hideyoshi would also be sad if you were to die before us." Kenshin pointed out while holding Akechi's hand making her blush.

"Uh, y-yes, of course, I intend on seeing my Lord's dream realizes with my own eyes." Akechi stated.

"That's good to hear." Kenshin smiled and Date look at him with a surprise look on her face.

Suddenly the ground shook and the water from the little pound burst up as Nobunaga holding Hideyoshi in her arms jump out and land near them.

"What the… Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, where did you two come from?" Kenshin gasped.

"Hahaha, it was crazy day for us." Hideyoshi laughed.

"Oh dear, I'll go tell the servants to get you both something warm and some dry clothes too." Kenshin said.

"Very well, we'll be waiting in the main hall." Nobunaga nodded, offering Akechi and Date to join them as well.

Along the way, Kenshin's face becomes serious.

"So, it just as I thought." Kenshin said.

(Moments Ago)

When the water burst getting Akechi and Date's attention, Kenshin quickly used this distraction to pickpocket Date and gasps upon finding an actual cellphone like Hideyoshi's, quickly putting it back inside before seeing Nobunaga and Hideyoshi arriving at the scene.

(Present)

"That phone and her uncanny resembles, there's not doubt about it. Date Masamune… is really Date-Sensei from our present day, but the question is why has she come here and what is her intention?" Kenshin wondered, determine to find out the answer soon as a thunderbolt strikes down.


KO a new chapter is done and hope you all enjoy it!

Kenshin has discovered two important things on this rainy: one was finding out how Akechi and Nobunaga met and how she decided to help her conquer Japan, the second one was learning the true identity of Date Masamune is the school teacher back in the modern world. The young swordsman is gonna have to prepare him for when the truth about Date and this other man Shishio as well.

KO comment, favorite, and follow through of how this story will go!