Down with a Fever During the Travel
It is another beautiful day in the feudal Japan as Kenshin is walking through the path of the forest with Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Akechi by his side. The red-haired ruler seems to be enjoying the journey the most as she is walking very closely to Kenshin holding his hand, and a butterfly lands on her smoke pipe making her giggle.
"You seem to be having lots of fun, my lord." Hideyoshi noticed.
"Yes, journeys are splendid things. They rouse the hearts, especially sending with the one you love." Nobunaga leaned onto Kenshin making him blush.
"I still cannot believe you allowed this man to… to… you know what I'm trying to say." Akechi grunted as her mouth refused to say a certain word out loud.
"Yeah, I was really surprised when you did that whole announcement back at the palace." Hideyoshi said scratching her blushing cheeks a little.
(Hours Ago)
"Listen up, everyone!" Nobunaga shouted as all her warriors and attendants have gathered and Kenshin is right next to her.
"Kenshin have made love with me, and we have become lovers! From this day forth, you will treat as a lord as you do with me for, he is to be wedded in the coming future!" Nobunaga announced.
"WHAAAAAAAT?!" Everyone gasped.
"No, this cannot be…" Akechi fell on her knees and her colors went white.
"No way, Kenshin and the Lord… they did this and that…" Hideyoshi's face turned three shades of red upon imaging what those two did.
"Oh my, I wasn't expecting this." Date shocked.
"Hey kid, how do you think the other Feudal Lords will react to this?" Shiro asked Hideyoshi curiously.
"Hold on, wedded?!" Kenshin gasped as he is suddenly pulled into a one-arm hug by Nobunaga, and she kiss him on the lips in front of everyone.
"No fair, I wanted to be his first…" Hideyoshi winced, biting on her shirt.
"Looks like you got your work cut out for you, Kenshin." Shiro said.
(Present)
"You didn't have to make it sound like a big deal, Lord Nobunaga." Kenshin stated.
"Come now, Kenshin. No need for the formality, just call me Nobunaga." Nobunaga smiled.
"O-Okay." Kenshin blushed a bit.
"So, my lord, why exactly are we walking to the three remain Crimson Armor pieces instead of taking the horse that Akechi prepared us for the trip?" Hideyoshi asked.
"I've been wondering about that myself." Akechi said.
"There are things you can't see from horseback." Nobunaga answered.
"Things you can't see?" Kenshin wondered.
"The lands I will conquer as far as the eye can see. You will never broaden your horizons by only looking down from the castle." Nobunaga explained.
"Such wise words." Kenshin impressed.
"That's amazing, my Lord!" Hideyoshi amazed.
"This isn't the time for happiness, you two. Even as we speak, they may be massing their armies against us." Akechi pointed out.
"We know you are worried for the worse, that you are. But you should remember what Date told us before we left." Kenshin remembered.
(Flashback)
"Mouri, Ootomo, and Chousokable of Saigoku possess the remaining three pieces of the Crimson Armor. Each of them is a valiant warrior but has little interest in conquest. Depending on your negotiating skill, they may simply hand over the armor." Date informed to Nobunaga and the others in her throne room.
(Flashback End)
"Yeah, I remember all that." Hideyoshi nodded.
"But…" Akechi still worried.
"Don't worry, Mitsuhide. It would be rude of us to go without allowing the three of them time to greet us. And…" Nobunaga stopped which the others did as the butterfly flew off.
"If I am unable to get my hands on that Armor, it just means what I wasn't worthy of it. Understand." Nobunaga stated.
"Okay, then let's go guys!" Hideyoshi pumped up for this.
"Just don't push yourself too hard, Saigoku is a long way about a day walk from here." Kenshin warned shocking the blonde schoolgirl.
"Damn it, you guys are WAY too tough!" Hideyoshi complained.
(Later)
The group have arrived in a town full of lively women all around going about their own business and such, Kenshin suggest they rest up here for the night which Nobunaga agrees and Hideyoshi became very happy that she burst to the dumpling shop.
"If guess Hideyoshi becomes that active when it comes to food, that she is." Kenshin chuckled.
"How ridiculous can she be?" Akechi annoyed.
"Excuse me, some dumplings and tea for four please!" Hideyoshi called out.
"Coming right up! Oh, are you a samurai?" The dumpling shop woman asked.
Before Hideyoshi could answer, Akechi shoved her a little.
"Indeed, we are, peasant. Now, fierce your eyes on the Great Nobunaga Oda herself." Akechi introduced as her Lord came into view.
"Greetings." Nobunaga waved hello.
Suddenly all the villagers around who heard what the red hair woman's name is, they started to become scared which is a surprise to Kenshin and the girls.
"That's not the reaction I was expecting." Hideyoshi confused.
"Excuse me, why are you scared of Lady Nobunaga?" Kenshin asked the villagers.
"So, it is Nobunaga Oda, the Cannibal of Owari! Hide the children, she'll eat them!" The women villagers all panicked and hide in their houses along with their children.
"Why did they all leave?" Hideyoshi confused more.
"I believe one of them called Lady Nobunaga a cannibal and something about eating children." Kenshin said.
"What nonsense is this?" Nobunaga asked, feeling offended by this.
"Let me see if I can find out why." Kenshin said before walking up to the attendant woman.
"Excuse me, miss, but would you mind telling me why everyone is hiding from Lady Nobunaga?" Kenshin asked with a gentle tone.
"Th-There's a rumor that Oda Nobunaga of Owari, takes people's babies and devours them!" The woman scared answer shocking the others.
"Woman, couldn't you have tell that the rumor is clearly false! Who dare spread such ridiculous rumor of my Lord!" Akechi demanded.
"A-A samurai called Akechi Mitsuhide. Everyone on the road, from here to Saigoku, is talking about the evil Nobunaga!" The dumpling shop woman answered causing Akechi to gasp.
"Mitsuhide… What the hell is this about?" Nobunaga asked with an angry scary face.
"Easy Nobunaga, I'm sure Akechi didn't spread those rumors herself, that I'm sure." Kenshin calmed his girlfriend down.
"Miss, could we by any chance take some dumplings to go please?" Kenshin asked.
Kenshin and the girls have left the village while eating some dumpling he managed to get the woman to give them only if Nobunaga would leave immediately.
"Akechi, when what I can tell you tried spreading good words about Nobunaga, is that right?" Kenshin asked.
"Of course, I would! In fact, I remember clearly of what I said to my soldiers." Akechi stated.
"And what did you tell them?" Hideyoshi asked.
"I told them exactly this: Nobunaga-sama is not only a strong leader, but she has a kind heart as well. When Nobunaga-sama comes, the Owari people ask her to pat their children and babies' heads. She ask for the children to come like a gentle mother." Akechi explained.
"I don't remember doing that with my people." Nobunaga said.
"She probably just wants everyone to think you're friendly to children." Hideyoshi guessed.
"And you also put your name in it so the people would know who is spreading the rumor." Kenshin figured out.
"Yes, but I don't understand how the kind words I've spread could turn into something of a cannibal?" Akechi exclaimed.
"What do you think, Hideyoshi?" Kenshin asked.
"Well, someone must've also heard the rumor but didn't hear it right mixing up some of the words in those lines with others causing the nice rumors Akerin tried to spread turned into a bad gossip about our lord." Hideyoshi figured such as the teenage gossip back home.
"Then my plan backfired by some mishearing!" Akechi cried.
"It can't be helped, if we can't stay in the town then we'll have to continue on through the mountains." Nobunaga stated.
"Well, at least we got some dumplings." Hideyoshi sobbed a bit and took a bite on another dumpling.
And so, the four warriors have traveled far and wide through the forest and they even climbed over a mountain which frightened Hideyoshi of how high they were though Kenshin offered to help her climb down.
Finally, they arrive at a holy shrine where they decided to rest for the day and ask the old priestess to let them stay for a while.
"We thank you for hospitably, your holiness. I promise we would treat your home with care." Kenshin thanked as he and the girls prayed with the old priestess.
"Oh, you're welcome. By the way, your scar is a cross, yes?" The old priestess asked.
"Yes, it is. I got it since my training days in the art of swordsmanship when I was a little boy, that I did." Kenshin explained.
"Is that so? I seem to recall a warrior who came here asked about a warrior with a cross-shape scar." The old priestess mentioned.
Kenshin got curious of this new info about a warrior asking around him, probably the other mysterious male warrior as there aren't many people who knows about him being male.
"Kenshin, Kenshin!" Nobunaga yelled getting her lover's attention.
"Oh, did you say something?" Kenshin asked.
"Yes, we just found out there's an outdoor hot spring and we're about to go in for soak." Nobunaga answered as she grabs his arm.
"Oh, well, that's nice. Wait a minute…!" Kenshin realized, but it was too late as Nobunaga drags him to the hot spring.
Kenshin is now naked, sitting in the warm water with the girls who are also naked with his eyes close trying not to be a pervert.
"What's the matter, Kenshin?" Nobunaga asked.
"Forgive me, Nobunaga, it just a little embarrassing to be together naked even though we've d-done it before." Kenshin confessed.
"I must admit, I too started to feel a little embarrass, but I also feel relieve to have you with me." Nobunaga smiled which made Kenshin smile and open his eyes, just a little though.
"(Damn you, Kenshin! I can't believe you have the honor of being by Lord Nobunaga's side like this, all against her beautiful body with your strong and stunning body… Wait, what?!)" Akechi thought gasped that she actually complimented Kenshin's body causing her face, and body to turn red.
"Hideyoshi Jump!" Hideyoshi jumped into the hot spring making a big splash and swims around fun.
"I'm worry for Hideyoshi enjoying this too much." Kenshin concerned.
"It's amazing that she manages to travel with us this far." Akechi said sarcastically.
"She earned this as we all did, so let's enjoy ourselves." Nobunaga smiled hugging Kenshin into her breasts.
(Later)
"Oh dear…" Kenshin worried.
Kenshin, Nobunaga, and Akechi are looking over Hideyohsi who has gotten herself sick and sleeping in the futon.
"She spent in the hot spring longer than us." Kenshin said.
"This girl should have been more careful with herself." Akechi said.
"It was an exhausting day, and very hard walk. Looks like our travels caught up with her." Nobunaga figured.
"Don't it just a little cold. I just need a medicine pill and I'll be good as new." Hideyosho proclaimed.
"But Hideyoshi, such medicines haven't been invented in this era, that it hasn't." Kenshin reminded her.
"Oh yeah, I keep forgetting about that." Hideyoshi cried.
"Here, a cold towel should cool you down a bit." Kenshin placed the towel on Hideyoshi's forehead.
"Guess it's a good thing we decided to stay here for the night. Hopefully, her cold will be better by morning." Nobunaga hoped.
The sun has set into the horizon turning the sky dark for nighttime and Hideyoshi's condition is still bad.
"I'm scared, I might not make it." Hideyoshi said.
"Fear not, Hideyoshi. You'll get through this, that you will." Kenshin believed in Hideyoshi.
"He's right, they say the illness comes from the spirit and yours is the greatest quality about yourself." Nobunaga complimented.
"Aw, thank you." Hideyoshi thanked.
"Now rest well, and hope that tomorrow we can all walk together great." Kenshin smiled and turns to Akechi.
"Why don't you get some rest too, Akechi. We can't run the risk of you getting sick too." Kenshin suggested.
"He's right, make sure you're healthy and strong in the morning." Nobunaga grinned.
Akechi started blushing from not just the kind words from Nobunaga, but also from Kenshin too seeing his gentle smile looking at her as she giggles with her cheeks blushing and offer to get some more hot water for Hideyoshi before going to sleep.
Then the old priestess came in showing them tiny objects to them which Kenshin quickly recognize.
"These are medicine pills from my world!" Kenshin surprised.
"Where did you get this?" Nobunaga asked the old priestess.
"A samurai traveling through our village came to me asking for directions. When I explained that your companion was ill, she said that she had some good medicine from overseas, she gave this to us for its healing powers." The old priestess explained.
"Is there any chance I could speak to this samurai right now?" Kenshin asked.
"No possible, I'm afraid. She explained that it was a gift and she departed." She answered.
"She's already gone then, what a strange person." Nobunaga commented.
"(It could be Date-Sensei, she's the only one who could have the knowledge of the modern medicine because she is also from that same world as me and Hideyoshi. Yet I haven't been able to figure out what could she be planning.)" Kenshin thought.
"But the rumors I'd heard were not even close to correct." The old priestess said getting their attention.
"I'd heard you were a terrifying woman, who ate the flesh of babies without any remorse." The old priestess mentioned.
"Oh, that rumor was originally attended to be good words of Lady Nobunaga, but some people misheard it the wrong way." Kenshin explained.
"I see. Some things must be told or will never be known. Others will never be known, even when told." The old priestess said.
"The world sure is interesting." Nobunaga commented.
"You all have a good evening." The old priestess smiled and left the room.
"Kenshin… Kenshin…" Hideyoshi talked in her sleep feverish.
"Hang on, Hideyoshi. You'll be better soon." Kenshin promised as he held her up.
"Yes, here take his medicine." Nobunaga showed Hideyoshi the medicine, but her eyes are barely open to see.
"I don't think she'll be able to take the medicine on her own, that she won't." Kenshin feared.
"Then perhaps you should help her with that." Nobunaga tasked her beloved to heal Hideyoshi.
"I do know one way; I just hope she doesn't mind." Kenshin took the pill putting it in his mouth and sip some water.
"(Here goes nothing.)" Kenshin thought and leaned towards Hideyoshi's face, kissing her right on the lips to put the medicine inside her mouth making her swallow it.
"My lord, I have brought some water for…" Akechi's eyes widen of shock upon seeing Kenshin kissing Hideyoshi on the lips and Nobunaga is watching this with a smile on her face.
Akechi just left without saying a word and without them noticing her as she walks into the trees a little and drop the bucket of water.
"W-Why…? Why is my chest feeling this tight, and my heart won't stop pound either? Was it because of what I just saw?" Akechi asked herself, remembering the scene clear in her head.
"And Lord Nobunaga was watching all of that, does that mean she also intent on making Hideyoshi her lover too, and why wasn't it me that Kenshin kiss?" Akechi asked, then she realize what she just said.
"Wait, why am I thinking about Kenshin of all things! I couldn't have fallen for the otherworlder, I can't, I can't, I can't!" Akechi banged her forehead against a tree before finally deciding to go to her room.
(Morning)
"Aw, what a good morning." Hideyoshi stretched her arms and saw Nobunaga and Kenshin are up as well.
"Good morning, Hideyoshi." Nobunaga greeted.
"Good morning, my Lord." Hideyoshi greeted back and got surprised when Nobunaga pressed their foreheads onto each other.
"Aw, your fever has gone down. That's good." Nobunaga relieved.
"Hey, I had a weird dream that Kenshin kissed me on the lips." Hideyoshi mentioned causing Kenshin to flinch with his face turning red.
"Oh, that was no dream." Nobunaga said.
"HUH?!" Hideyoshi gasped blushing like crazy too.
KO a new chapter is done and hope you all enjoy it!
The journey was long and hard to Kenshin's group as some women in villages along the way were afraid of Nobunaga because of the false rumor that was spread and Hideyoshi got a cold from spending in the hot spring for too long. Kenshin also had to give Hideyoshi the medicine through lip exchanges which may spark her love for him more and Akechi is starting to notice a strange feeling she has for Kenshin too.
KO comment, favorite, and follow through of how this story will go!
