Disclaimer: All credit goes to Shingo Nanami and フクロウ. We are now at the halfway mark! Yay! Well then, let's begin this chapter shall we?

喧嘩

A Fight

Part Four

Nobunaga x Kasane

"Kasane-sama is such a hard worker."

"No, no I have to earn my keep, so this should be expected."

It has been one week since she began living at the brothel.

However, Kasane wasn't just guarding the shop, but also cleaning, doing laundry, chopping wood and helping every other trivial chore at her spare time.

After observing the committed girl for an entire week, most of the prostitutes became close to her.

As Kasane chopped wood, she rested her tired arms as she wiped away the thin sweat from her head. She widely smiled.

Back with Nobunaga, she did all the trivial chores, but her treatment here was different.

The more she worked to earn her keep, she would be greeted with faces of surprise, which would then turn into smiles and compliments of 'you're such a hard worker'.

For Kasane, that was quite new to her.

It may just be because she was never complimented by that lord, but she was actually really happy to be praised by a third party.

That's why did she her best to work hard and no chore was a bother to her.

In the beginning, she was worried that she wouldn't get used to the place, but when Kasane came out of her shell, she found that everyone was nice.

If she wasn't sensitive to others, surely she couldn't work like this.

"Kasane-dono, would you like to rest for a moment?"

"Ah, yes!"

Just after Kasane split through the wood, Hanako's mother prepared tea and a sweet snack for her.

This was also another thing she wasn't accustomed to.

Lately, after arriving to this era, she rarely gets the chance to eat any sweets.

However, the proprietress here is very sensible and prepares these snacks for her.

One week before, just at the same time she arrived at the brothel, she took a bite in a dango in a while. When she said it was delicious, she was filled with so much emotion that tears unconsciously formed in her eyes.

Living in a place that is occupied only by women, Kasane felt a sense of tranquility in her heart.

There were maids in Nobunaga's castle, but as she worked as a soldier, she rarely associated herself with them.

What really shocked her then was that women didn't cook in the kitchen; it seems that a warrior apprentice must solely focus on their own needs.

The maids are the foundation. The don't get involved with underlying soldiers and their sole job was to take personally care of the lord's rooms, the senior vassals, and surround samurai families.

Meanwhile as the weird girl in the castle, Kasane was neglected by the maids and never had the perfect opportunity to connect with them.

With many young male soldiers who are the same age of her, she somehow was able to create friends after that battle practice*; but compared to her female counterparts, she spent many days indifferent to them.

(As I thought, this atmosphere… is soothing)

There are certainly times when the same gendered people can only understand each other.

And because she was around people who were the same gender as her, she felt herself loosen and become calm in these events.

It was not like she was dissatisfied with her previous friends and acquaintances, but as she thought, just like in high school there were things that they girls could talk and understand. She felt a an upsurge of emotion to talk about trifle things.

"Kasane-sama."

"Wah!"

Feeling a sudden tap on her shoulder, Kasane turned around in shock. Behind her was Hanako, who smiled.

Though the reason maybe because she had met Hanako first, during this entire week she has bonded well with this girl the best.

Kasane doesn't know why Hanako is so fond of her, but they often together, and when they happen to meet up, she would join in and help Kasane with her chores.

(However… Once I get a look at her… she has a really beautiful face…)

Kasane blankly gazed at Hanako.

It was as if Hanako herself was a flower and also long as she existed the place would also become vibrant.

After listening to different conversations during the past week, she had learned that Hanako has never taken in a customer.

Hanako's position was to exclusively dance or play the koto in order to keep things lively in the banquet hall.

So that's where Kasane stood to guard, she was asked many times to check how things were outside of the banquet hall.

"Have you gotten used to this place, Kasane-sama?"

"Un, well… as long as the voices are loud at night…"

Kasane said as she blushed and wryly smiled.

The only thing that dissatisfied her were the thin walls that allowed her to hear the occasional voices of the prostitutes during the night.

But it wasn't like she was putting up with it, it was more like she didn't want to hear it since she felt bad listening to it.

(Everyone is used to it, so it's nothing that big, still...)

"Well… It is difficult for those who never came to a brothel before."

Hanako reassured Kasane with a wry smile of her own.

"...It would be nice if Kasane-sama stayed here like this for now on…"

"Hanako-san…"

As Hanako wistfully muttered those words, Kasane's eyes grew round.

"Kasane-dono."

At that moment, one of the prostitutes called out to her.

"What's wrong?"

Kasane tilted her head.

The lady gave her an apprehensive and gloomy look.

"There's a man who asked to meet Kasane-dono."

"Heh?"

"I-Ikeda-san!?"

Just as she spotted her unexpected guest, Kasane's eyes widened.

To think her visitor would be that unsociable Ikeda.

"Ikeda-san… Why are you here!? No, how did you…"

"Kusanagi-dono."

In a chaotic state, Kasane's eyes swam round and round; Ikeda took her hand.

"W-what are you doing, Ikeda-san.."

"Please come back."

Kasane resisted from his grip, but stopped when she heard his words.

"I'm sure you are not unaware what kind of place this is."

"W-why…"

Ikeda has never spoke this intensely before, so she shrank down and looked up at him.

"...After you left the castle, to be frank, I cannot look at the current state Nobunaga-sama is in."

Kasane's eyes widened even more.

"That person always has that kind of temperament, therefore he would never say it outloud, however…. It is clear that he worries for you."

"...That Tono-sama? You're joking~."

Unable to believe it she let out a dry laugh.

For that young man to worry about others is impossible.

"No, ever since Kusanagi-dono has left the castle, that person has been a horrible mood. He strikes anything that's in his way…. To be frank, it is quite a nuisance."

She was quite shocked at his merciless conduct towards Nobunaga. He must be that tired of Nobunaga's behavior.

"Everyone at the castle is also worried about you… Especially those three."

"..."

Kasane kept silent. She felt a small ache coming from her chest.

He silently looked down at the mute girl.

"...In addition… when you are not around, the castle is… terribly bleak."

She raised her head.

Ikeda looked at little awkward and averted his gaze from hers.

"Please come back, Kusanagi-dono. That is the wish from everyone back at the castle. I will do my best to convince Nobunaga-sama."

Kasane shook at his sincere works.

If she takes that hand, she will return back to the castle.

If she does that, she'll meet everyone again.

The back of a certain young man enters her mind.

...That person has no need for her.

"I'm… sorry."

She pulled her hand away from his.

"Kusanagi-dono-"

Ikeda incredulously raised his voice.

"Kasane-sama has stated she doesn't wanted to return!"

Ikeda turned to the abrupt, unknown voice.

"Hanako-san?"

Kasane's eyes widened at the sudden interception of Hanako.

"...I have heard everything. It seems your lord has given this girl, Kasane-sama, horrible treatment."

Kasane gazed at her in shock at the aversive tone she used.

"Kasane-sama is only a girl! Someone who should never enter the field of battle, just a girl! Are you implying that Kasane-sama must return to the battlefield...!?"

Hanako edged up to Ikeda and cried out in a rare, primitive tone.

Hearing those biting words, Ikeda found himself at a loss for words.

"Ha-Hanako-san."

"Kasane-sama, there's no need to listen to this! Let us go back inside."

Hanako grabbed Kasane's hand and pulled her away from Ikeda.

Ikeda silently watched the two women retreat and eventually left.

TBC

*Chapter 5

I believe I can get the fifth chapter in by tonight. Maybe. Hopefully. I hope everyone has a wonderful day!