Disclaimer: All credit goes to Nanami Shingo and フクロウ. The year is almost over! Yay! Hopefully I would be able to post the last chapter for this story by tomorrow. For now, enjoy this chapter.

約束

Promise

Part Three

Kasane x Nobunaga

"Damn. Everyone's easily moved by that woman's kindness…. Who do they think their master is?"

Unable to hold in the rage within himself, Nobunaga cursed out loud. As that was still not enough to settle his mind, he kicked a nearby stone.

"I have to be strong. I will one day inherit the Oda family and become stronger than anyone else, I have to be their master."

It irritated him.

His vassals who look to him with respect should not get attached to anyone else. From there on it always has to be him. They are not permitted go beyond that point with others.

So annoying. To think that foolishly laughing woman, even for an instant, robbed him of that standing. In the depths of his heart, he felt deeply infuriated.

"...Oh so you're just mad?"

"! ! !"

Hearing a voice, he turned around.

Standing there was that strange woman.

Why is she, here?

"I thought you'd be here."

The woman chuckled and came closer to his side.

No one was supposed to know this place; this was actually secret hideout that only he knew.

Only he comes to this place, he didn't even tell the others about it.

This was a place where he would always come when he wanted to be by himself.

And so, why is this person…?

"Tono-sama… No, that's wrong, that's wrong. Kippoushi-kun, you always come here when you're feeling down, right?"

"Why would someone like you know about this location!? Just to let you know, I haven't told anyone about this place!"

He has never told anyone about this hideout.

After maneuvering through the complicated network of animal trails you will find a place shaped from a corner of a moat. There was a small beautiful pond and blooming cherry blossoms. It was truly a seclusive place just for himself.

Discovering no signs of anyone setting foot in that place, he was quite delighted by this finding. He resolved to keep the location to himself for life. It'll be wasteful to tell anyone about this.

...If he ever does tell anyone about this place, surely it will be someone whom he sincerely holds high regards to.

That is what he decided so, even though he kept this area a secret, why is this woman here?

"'Why?', you were the one who told me-...Never mind, sorry forget what I just said!"

Tono-sama once dragged her here before, and she knew that he would go to that place when he was feeling down. However, the little master shouldn't know about this yet so Kasane frantically glossed it over.

"...Um, I'm sorry?"

"Why are apologizing."

This woman didn't need to apologize to him at all.

She protected him and the others and so they thanked her for that.

Unlike her appearance, this woman is strong.

Out of all of the adults he've seen so far, she is possibly the strongest.

That's why those guys respected this woman.

I am stronger than them.

But, sure enough, he is still a child; he is no match to an adult.

He knew well enough that if that woman didn't save them, the concluding situation would have been exceedingly ugly.

"You felt jealous that I was taking everyone away from you, right?"

"Who was!?"

Bullseye, he felt his face flush hot red.

Seeing those guys shift their attitude like that for the first made him unpleasant.

Shamefully he took out his anger on the woman. He was so mortified that of his lack of strength to fight against adults.

"...It's fine, you know? Everyone loves Tono-sama more than me after all."

"..."

Kasane took a seat next to him and gently caressed his head.

"I'm not a lord yet."

"Ah, that's right. Sorry. It's hard to break old habits."

The woman dryly laughed. What the woman said was incomprehensible, well, not that he cared.

"Ah, here."

"...Dango?"

The woman opened a parcel and offered the dango to him.

"The money that those people dropped, though I do feel bad, I used it. Did you know, if you eat sweet foods you'll calm down?"

She said while smiling,

As if in shock he watched her intently for a moment and took the sweet and bit into it.

"Hmph. It doesn't seem to have poison anyway."

"That's right, that's right. It'll be a waste if no one eats it."

The woman also took a bite.

Somehow the dango tasted awfully sweeter than usual.

Were dangos supposed to be this saccharine?

It was so sweet, his face was burning up.

Why was his heart beating so noisily?

….Somehow it's strange.

"...Are you alright now? Everyone is worried about you, you know? Let's go back?"

The woman's voice was so gentle, it was full of benevolence.

This gentle caress, not even his own mother treated him this way.

What is this woman. Why is she so nice to him?

From her touch, he felt as if her warmth was reaching out to him.

….Somehow, he felt strange.

"...How did you know I was here."

"Ahaha. It must have been intuition, just a hunch!"

The woman quickly glossed over it, but somehow he felt that it was a lie.

Without hesitation, she lovingly took his hand and lead him back to the others.

"...Waka!"

"Thank goodness!"

Everyone had gathered back together and happily celebrated his return.

It may be from their desperate search for him that their breath were ragged and their bodies were dirtied from looking all over the place.

"See?"

The woman grinned.

Everyone was this worried about you, see? To which Nobunaga huffed and scowled.

"Where in the world have you been!?"

"Hmph, someplace other than here."

He standoffishly turned away.

Everyone were all relieved that, for now, he was safe.

"You have helped us so many times… How can we repay you… The least we can do is escort you back to the castle later to show our gratitude…"

"Little kids shouldn't need to think about things like repayment!"

Kasane laughed.

Finding her smile to be really lovely, all the younger boys' hearts skipped a beat.

"Woman, though I hate to admit it, it's true that we have been under your care. Come to my castle! As long as I permit it, my castle's retainers will treat you with the utmost courtesy."

"You really don't need to do this."

Nobunaga, however, didn't seem to accept her answer.

"What happened to your companions? Where are they?"

"...Well I might never see them again…"

Kasane had not the slightest idea of how to return back to that time.

Truthfully, she did not know if she could even return back to their normal time.

She might have to live in this time from now on.

And she had no idea what she's going to do if that's the case.

...She might as well got to town and look for a job as a bodyguard or something.

"If you don't have a place to stay, then come to my castle."

Everyone followed up and agreed to Nobunaga's words.

"That's right! If you're this skilled then even Nobuhide-sama will welcome you!"

"...That might be a good idea. Surely if you explain the circumstances, Nobuhide-sama will not obstruct us."

"You are very strong! The big lord will be really happy for sure!"

"T-that's right! I-if that's the case then we can always see each other…!"

Everyone… Even when they're so small kindness and warmth hasn't changed over the years. Kasane's chest burst with happiness.

...What should she do? If she can't go back she should go back their care once more. Her heart quivered.

"To work as a soldier again… huh. Well that might not be bad."

Protecting this tiny master; that has its own advantages she had no denying in that.

"A soldier? You must be joking."

Nobunaga's eyes narrowed.

Hearing that response, everyone curiously turned to look at him.

"Woman, become my wife!"

"... W-whhhhaaaaaaaattt!?

The others were also struck dumb with astonishment.

Still, Nobunaga continued.

"That's right. Yes. You just need to be my legal wife! That's what I've decided now!"

"W-wh-wh-wh-wh-what are you talking about? You're not even 10 years old, aren't you…"

"It's not strange for someone of my age to take in a wife. I like you. Become my woman!" *

This adorable narration suddenly turned into an outrageous development which made her freeze for a short while.

...To think that Nobunaga would spout out these kinds of words.

Ah, it must be that. The kind of situation where a boy gets a crush on the gentle, older sisterly girl. Anyway does Nobunaga's 'love' really love? For the time being she feels that she had gained his interest.

She wondered if he even knew what marriage was about.

On the other hand, after all as he is this small, Nobunaga was just so adorable when saying those things.

Kasane crouched down to meet his gaze.

"Thanks. I feel really happy."

"That's right! You should feel honored!"

"Still, I believe Tono-sama is still too young to think about marriage. However, when Tono-sama becomes bigger, and still thinks that way, then I shall think about it."

Upon her unexpected words, Nobunaga raised his voice in indignation.

"I-I'm not small! I am the man who is going to be the next leader of the Oda clan! One day I will unify Owari and I will protect you from then on!"

Kasane chuckled at Nobunaga's desperate attempt to strongly persist in this dispute.

What to do? Tono-sama was just so adorable. If it's this lovable Tono-sama, then she won't have a problem marrying him. However, this was something akin to the measles. As he becomes an adult, he will forget this transient memory.

"...So you're saying the current me is unsuitable for you."

"Eh? No, that's not what I meant…"

Unsuitable? It's not like that at all.

Actually she was the one who wasn't suitable for the adult Nobunaga.

Though those two may be a couple in name, Tono-sama was well off with a strong and beautiful lady like Nouhime.

"Very well. From now on, I will become this world's number one man! When I grow up and conquer this world, I will propose to you once more! By then, you better become my wife! I'll take no complaints!"

They way Nobunaga pointed his finger and boldly declared like that was absolutely charming.

Without thinking her cheeks melted and replied, "Alright." without a second thought.

"I'm serious! I'm absolutely serious here! That's why you better not become any other guy's possession!"

"Yes, yes."

"It's a promise!"

Nobunaga said as he made her pinky promise with him.** He's so small that's he's so endearing.

After exchanging promises, Kasane checked to see if he was satisfied. Seeing that he was, she felt the same.

Though this promise would surely be forgotten by the time he grows up, she was genuinely happy.

"Now that we've got that settled down, let's get back to the castle! I have to explain this to my father after all."

In a merry tone, Nobunaga hurried along the path.

The others, who were still dumbfounded by the turn of events, shook out of their stupor and hurried after him.

When they reach the castle, Tono-sama will surely tell Nobuhide-san about their promise they've exchanged earlier, but she'll tell him everything and ask him to ignore it.

Anyway there was a huge difference in the the past and the present circumstances in the castle. It would be nice if she were to get along with everyone as a family, Kasane thought as she began to follow them.

"Ouch."

At the same time, with a shock she felt as if an electric current ran down from the sword in her hand. Just as she looked at her clenched hands, the blue light once more enveloped her.

"That's right, woman! I still haven't hear your name…"

Realizing that he hasn't heard her name, he turned around.

"...Woman?"

The figure of the woman who should have been standing in the area was nowhere to be found.

TBC

* Here it's not really that he says the kind of 'I love you' line but rather 'I like you because you've caught my interest/curiosity'.

** As cute as the pinky ceremony goes, the song is pretty morbid. (lol)

Well then, I hoped you enjoyed this chapter and have a safe and enjoyable day.