Disclaimer: All credit goes to Shingo Nanami and フクロウ. Enjoy.

君と帰ろう

Returning With You

Part One

Kasane x Ikeda

"Huh? Ikeda-san?"

Cluelessly, Kasane called out to Ikeda, while he inwardly clicked his tongue when he realized that the troublesome one has arrived.

The festival went on its merry way as if the uproar from the three spies had never happened.

With the festival settling down, everyone took the advantage to look around at the different stalls and all around were the noise of singing and dancing.

"To think that Ikeda-san is just sitting down and watching the festival in this dark place… You're not going to mingle in?"

"I've never been good with lively places…."

On normal circumstances he would have stayed back at the castle, however a certain tyrant had unwelcomely suggested, "How about you take a break." and so he unwillingly came out.

It can't be helped, he might as well act as Nobunaga's guard and wait at his side… is what he thought, but that lord had said, "You always give too many complaints so don't you dare come back until the festival is over." and chased him away.

Right now their lord was relaxing at that exclusively reserved spot.

….In that woman's garb.

It seems that Nobunaga knew he was going to reprove him for teasing the townsmen with that costume.

In any case, as the number of people increased, he retreated away from the lighting of the road to a nearby tree where he was currently leaning on. If any passersby were to see him, he would seem unorthodox and strange.

"...That reminds me, what happened to the other three?"

Realizing now that the usual group of men were not at her side, he inquired her.

"Ahh…. Nouhime-sama and the others are all with Tono-sama at the moment. Actually, I sneaked out just now."

"Sneaked out?"

"Cause I wanted to look around the festival a little more… It seemed like everyone was going to go back to the castle after the banquet after all."

"Ha…."

Unable to find words to respond to her, he ambiguously chimed in.

"Even so for a lone woman to walk alone at night like this…"

Because there is a festival, stupid people come out into the open.

There are even outrageous fellows who would take advantage of merry young maidens.

For a woman to walk all alone in this place was extremely dangerous.

"Eh~ I'll be fine. Ikeda-san is quite a worrywart."

As if she had no clue of the impending crisis she was in, Kasane loosely smile.

….Goodness, just what kind world did this girl come from?

Surely it was some peaceful place where he would never comprehend.

"I shall escort you back to everyone."

"Heh!?"

As he stopped leaning against the tree, he walked towards Kasane.

It would be too dangerous to leave this girl all by herself.

Casting a sideway glance to Kasane, who seemed unwilling to lose, Ikeda set foot into the crowd.

"...Kusanagi-dono."

With the situation under his control, Kasane resigned to herself as she followed after him.

TBC

Sorry for the late update there were many... complications basically with me and some really idiotic people. This is quite a short chapter, so I apologize, however the next chapter will be up very soon. Until then, I hope everyone had a better day than I did.