Disclaimer: Hello again. Looks like I'm on a roll today. In fact there might be an update tonight, who knows? Ehem, all credit goes to Shingo Nanami and フクロウ.

喧嘩

A Fight

Part Five

Nobunaga x Kasane

"I apologize for my behavior back there Kasane-sama… Interfering like that was…"

"Ah, no, not at all!"

Just as they entered the brothel, Hanako frantically turned to Kasane with an apologetic expression.

Hanako gazed intently at Kasane's flustered form.

And as if she reached an epiphany, she took Kasane's hand once more.

"...Kasane-sama would like to put on some makeup?"

"...Eh?"

Kasane tilted her head at her suggestion.

"There, I'm done."

"Uwa…"

As Hanako held placed Kasane before a mirror, she applied makeup to her.

Kasane raised her voice in amazement.

For when she gazed upon the mirror, it seemed as if a different person was staring back.

"Even though I didn't put much makeup on you, there's certainly a huge difference, isn't there?"

Exactly as Hanako said, even with so little makeup on her skin and with her hair in a different style changed, the figure in the mirror didn't seemed to look like her usual self.

"I believe if Kasane-sama wears this kimono, it will suit you very well."

Hanako produced on of her many clothes to Kasane.

"After becoming beautiful, surely there's no mistaking that you're a woman, right?"*

Hanako reassured Kasane as she smiled.

Kasane shyly laughed in return.

"Kasane-sama had stated before that you aren't womanly, but once you do this, it's natural to become like a lady. Woman are these sort of creatures, you know?"

Indeed, Kasane thought the same.

Now that she had this appearance, somehow she felt as if she couldn't act like her unguarded self.

To think that dressing up could make her so conscious of herself; women are such mysterious beings.

"...I hate men… They throw away their lives for their honor and allegiances… and they selfishly leave the women who wait for them to come home."

"Hanako-san?"

"My father was like that. He left my mother and my younger self when he died in battle… I detest war."

"Hanako-san…"

"That's why there's no need for a girl like Kasane-sama to go to battle."

When Hanako expressed her honest self, Kasane felt her heart hurt.

This girl truly cares about her.

Even though they've only met for a little while, she wished that no harm would come in her way.

"...Thank you, Hanako-san."

Kasane gently smiled.

Seeing that smile, Hanako looked relieved and beamed back.

"My, you've dressed her up well."

"Mother."

Hanako's mother commented as she entered the room.

"Just in time, why not do the opening act with Hanako?"

Both Hanako and Kasane widened their eyes.

"Mother, Kasane-sama is our bodyguard. I believe it's best if she doesn't…"

"Well, it's not like she needs to take in a customer. Kasane-dono is is also a woman as well. It's when you show yourself to men and get praised for your appearance when you gain confidence, right?"

"Mother…"

"You just need to sit before the meal with Hanako. It's a waste to not let men see this form of yours."

She smiled. For a moment, Hanako and Kasane looked at each other and soon nodded at each other in agreement.

"If that's it then…"

TBC

*This kind of phrase got me confused for a while... scratch that I'm not even sure this sentence is correct. I hope it is though or it's close enough...

Whew, well onto the next chapter. Better finish this story before school starts!