Disclaimer: All credit goes to Shingo Nanami and フクロウ. Sorry for the wait, here's part two. Enjoy.

噂

Rumor

Part Two

Kasane x Nobunaga

"Aniue, the whole castle is now filled with that imprudent rumor."

Hearing Nobuyuki speak in that unusually aggressive tone, Nobunaga rested his hand under his chin.

"You mean the rumor about that woman"

According to Nobuyuki the rumor on how he brought that woman to his room and left a mark on her neck was now floating around in the castle.

He intentionally let the rumors spread and even made sure to leave the mark at a noticeable place so that it may confirm and serve its purpose with the gossipers.

As it has reached Nobuyuki's ears, it seemed his plan was a success.

"Surely you haven't laid hands on a young and naive girl, right?"

"Rumors are rumors."

To Nobunyuki's question, Nobunaga lightly retorted.

"I had heard that it was Aniue who helped spread the word."

"You shouldn't say worthless things today, Nobuyuki."

Being abnormally harassed by Nobuyuki, Nobunaga felt exhausted.

Usually he would accept a two word answer, but today he was awfully persistent.

"No matter how Aniue thought about this, to spread rumor like this only makes Kasane-dono pitiful."

'Thought about it', so that means he's already aware why he intentionally left the mark on the girl and spread those rumors.

He's aware of it, yet he still acts like this?

"...What? For you to defy me like this and take side of that woman. Don't tell me you've fallen for her."

Nobuyuki's face tinged slightly red at those words.

It seemed Nobuyuki and that girl became acquainted with one another when she and the three idiots went out for work.*

Though he doesn't know much details, it seems that they meet regularly and are friendly enough to hold long conversations.

"I-I didn't come here to talk about such indecent feelings! I-I was talking about morals!"

"Hmph…"

In response to his naive younger brother, Nobunaga uninterestingly snorted.

Though it may not be sensual love, Nobuyuki was still rather interested in that girl.

"Ikeda, I'm sure you also have something to say to Aniue."

Nobuyuki demanded another opinion from the man who remained silent at his side during this entire conversation.

"...You're right. If I have the privilege of saying it."

Ikeda opened his mouth for the first time.

"Why did my lord go his way to spread rumors when you could have made it true instead."

"Ikeda!? What are you…"

"..."

Nobuyuki glared at Ikeda's unexpected answer.

With half-closed eyes, Nobunaga turned his attention to Ikeda.

"My lord, you knew that we would lecture you like this, yet you still went out your way to spread such rumors in order to protect that girl. Instead of spreading false gossip, you should had just made her your actual mistress."

As he arranged his statement plainly out in view, Nobuyuki's mouth dropped wide open.

"Are you implying that I have feelings toward that woman?"

"If not, you wouldn't have taken her under your care and went your way to spread such things."

At that deadpan yet very confident tone, Nobunaga wrinkled his brow.

"You talk as if you know everything. In the first place, you are the ones who don't want any commoners in our lineage."

"I haven't ever objected to that. If we take your relationship with Kichou-sama into account, having one or two mistress should be fine."

Nobunaga unpleasantly twitched as his brow raised.

"Watch your tongue. You had no right to bring Kichou into this."

"Then why don't you and Kichou-sama give use one or two heirs already."

"..."

Nobunaga kept silent.

Nobunaga's legal wife Kichou was the the daughter of Saito Dousan who came to marry him at the age of 16.

However, Nobunaga and Kichou were on terms where they didn't share the same bed.**

Noh-hime disliked boorish samurai like Nobunaga and Nobunaga saw her only as a hostage, nothing more.

Usually a child should have been born during these years, however the relationship between Noh-hime and Nobunaga never improved so it had been said that expecting an heir from them was hopeless.

"My lord seems to only believe that ruling the country your only job, so if you would allow me to say this, a lord's main purpose is to provide an excellent heir for the family. Am I clear?"

"What are…"

"However, I believe conceiving an heir from Kichou-sama would be difficult for you, therefore it might be best to marry a concubine that you are interested in. Fortunately that girl is healthy so surely a splendid child would be born."

Nobunaga swiftly stood up and pointed his blade at Ikeda.

"Aniue?!"

However, undaunted by the blade that was pointed right into his face, Ikeda continued.

"Surely my lords wishes to have her at your side. However you fear that she will one day leave, so you didn't have the courage to lay hands on her, am I wrong?"

"...Do you want to be cut down."

Nobunaga menacingly glared down at Ikeda.

"It seems I've hit the mark. Then by all means, even by force, make her pregnant and have her give birth. She is an affectionate girl. She wouldn't be able to abandon her child and go back to her homeland if that happens." ***

Unable to bear Ikeda's words, Nobunaga swung down his sword, just grazing his target. The rough mark where the sword mercilessly cut through the tatami mat could be plainly seen.

"Sooner or later, a man who would like to marry that girl will arrive. By then, it would be too late to regret anything."

"..."

Though Nobunaga still sent him glares filled with bloodlust, he then suddenly passed Nobuyuki and Ikeda and approached the door behind them.

"A-aniue?"

Utterly stunned, Nobuyuki called out to Nobunaga.

However, Nobunaga ignored Nobuyuki and proceeded to leave the room.

"So he ran away."

"..."

After Ikeda silently watched Nobunaga leave, he let out a deep sigh. It was always a bad habit of Nobunaga to either rage or run off somewhere when things become inconvenient

"Ikeda, do you believe that Aniue is in love with Kasane-dono?"

Ikeda shrugged at Nobunaga's sudden question.

"Who knows… However it is true that our lord is interested in that girl."

Without another word, Nobuyuki once more gazed out in the direction where Nobunaga left.

TBC

*Referring to Chapter 7

**Urgh it was hard to translate this. Pretty much this just sums up that they are not interested in each other / not on really buddy buddy terms.

***Here I settled for affectionate, however what Ikeda meant was that Kasane is a girl who easily gets attached to others. Hence she wouldn't have the heart to leave if there is a reason that would force her to stay behind.

I really enjoyed this story especially with the parallels between Kasane and Nobunaga who are both pressured to settle down. Living in the old days in pretty tough after all... The last chapter should be up by tomorrow. Sorry for the wait and I hope everyone has a nice day!