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

お仕事

Work

Part One

Nobunaga(?) → Kasane x Ikeda

"...Are you ordering me to go that that overlord who resides at the Owari border?"

"That's right. Lately it has reached to my ears that idiotic overload whom I entrusted territory to has been well occupied with overtaxing his citizens to gain profit for his own debaucheries. ...I will need you, Katsusaburou, to check if this is true."

"... Are you telling me to go there?"

Ikeda unusually frowned as if he was reluctant to follow Nobunaga's instructions.

For he a reason for harboring such a complaint.

The territory at the border of Owari was definitely not a place you can say is safe. However, that wasn't his reason for not wanting to go over there.

Though it was not all peaceful and orderly there, because it was at the border of the country, it was accessible to many merchants making it quite affluent than poor. Many of the rich reside in that territory.

However, where there are humans, beguilement is always born.

And those things were always found in towns like these.

"In that red-light district…."

That's right, the reason for Ikeda's reluctance was because such merchants and clients would linger in those districts.

He wouldn't say that the red-light district is bad in itself.

That was also one of means in which women can use to survive in this era.

However, for a man like him, it was a pain to go to such an extravagant place.

At an age way passed his genpuku, it was not like he didn't know women but rather that his character was not suited for those kinds of things.*

It was troublesome to deal with each and every woman who pulled at his sleeve, so if possible Ikeda wished to do other work than go to that place.

"Why don't you let the informant Toukichirou go in my stead?"

"That is spying at a different castle right now."

Nobunaga easily broke off his only escape route.

Placing his head in his hand, Ikeda deeply sighed.

"... I wouldn't mind for you to send two, three days there if it's to help complete your work?

"..."

Even though this lord knew that he avoided this kind of work, he would ensure to give out an imperial command.

That pleasant smile spread across his face gives it all out.

If he's going to use such a move, then he'll just make his idea come true.

"...Understood."

"...Hou."

Taken off by Ikeda's acceptance, who was plainly reluctant moments before, Nobunaga watched his retainer with half-opened eyes.

"In return, may I have one of the maids to accompany me?"

"A maid?"

Nobunaga's eyes grew round at Ikeda's unusual request.

"Yes. As my lord understand, I am rather uncomfortable in those kinds of districts. Therefore, I would like one of the maids as an attendant. If I have a companion, surely women there won't forcibly pull at my sleeves."

"... Very well. Then I shall let one of the women here accom-..."

"...Kusanagi Kasane."

Interrupting Nobunaga, Ikeda blankly mutter out loud.

"...What?"

"I would like to have Kusanagi Kasane be my companion for the duration of this mission."

"..."

Nobunaga frowned at those words.

"That girl is skilled in the way of the sword, therefore if anything happens during the journey she will not slow me down."

"..."

"Such a man like yourself surely wouldn't be personally against such a request, right?"

Hearing those in such belligerent tones, Nobunaga lighted one eyebrow.

Though this maybe a light form of harassment, Ikeda managed to completely trip him up.

"...Do what you like."

Scowling, Nobunaga spat out those words.

Observing his reaction, with an unchanging sullen look, Ikeda lowered his head.

"My lord's considerate offer of two, three days of duration to work on this case…. I gratefully accept it."

Saying that Ikeda faintly smiled in triumph.

"Eh? Me and Ikeda?"

Kasane widened her eyes at the strand news.

"I believe our lord has accepted it, but I believed it would have been best to ask the person first directly.."

"Ah, then it must be what Tono-sama said before."

"Our lord has?"

"Somehow he just came to me and said, '...Woman, accompany Ikeda.' and then went off right after that. So that's what he meant."

As Kasane recited Nobunaga's lines, she made a frowning face like Nobunaga and lowered her tone to mimic his voice.

"Was our lord in a bad mood?"

"Yes, somehow it seemed even worse… Do you happen to know what had happened?"

Kasane curiously replied back.

As if content, Ikeda shrugged his shoulders.

"That person is sure easy to understand…"

"?"

As Ikeda, who understood everything, said Kasane just tilted her head in confusion.

"Then, I'll be off now!"

At the castle gate, Kasane announced to the three idiots as she carried her belongings/

Hearing that this job may require to stay over, she made sure to pack in necessary things.

It can't be helped that it was slightly heavy.

"Kasane-dono, you haven't forgotten anything?"

"Nope! I'm alright!"

Knowing from the fact that she checked it numerous times, Kasane puffed out her chest in confidence.

"Don't go causing trouble, idiot woman."

"Be careful, Katane!"

"I'll be fine!"

Kasane happily smile at the three who worried after her.

"Kusanagi-dono, soon…"

"Ah, y-yes! Well then, I'll be going now! !"

Running up to Ikeda, Kasane left the trio and gave a large wave.

"...Somehow this is an odd pairing."

Kuranosuke muttered as he saw the two of them leaving in the far distance.

"Not only that, Katsusaburou was the one who requested this."

Gorouza replied back.

"Our lord was also in a really bad mood too…"

Inuchiyo bowed his head. After saying that the two's outing for work was decided, Nobunaga's mood took a turn for the worse.

Though he didn't come to see them off, Tenrou was there watching them on top of the castle gate.**

"Well, it's that Katsusaburou and Kasane-dono after all. I don't believe they will run into any trouble…"

Gorouza softly murmured.

"Huh? We're riding a horse?"

"...You actually believed that we were going to walk all the way carrying this?"

"Eh? Ahaha…"

Hearing her dry laugh, Ikeda left out a blatant sigh.

"We aren't couriers, of course we'll be traveling by horse to reach our destination. ...Does Kusanagi-dono have any experience in equestrianism?

"U~n…. when I was little I rode one at a ranch… but alone is a bit…."

As Kasane answered, Ikeda carefully tied his and Kasane's load onto the horse, making sure that it wouldn't fall.

"Kusanagi-dono."

"Uwah?!"

Ikeda lifted her up and placed her on the horse.

Having no prior warning, Kasane let out a surprised yelp.

Right after he placed her into position, Ikeda climbed afterward with ease.

Sitting before her, he took the reins in his hand.

"Two people riding…."

Kasane's eyes twinkled with glee.

Just how many years since she rode a horse?

At this height, she was impressed by the view.

"Just to be sure that you don't fall when we move, please make sure to hold on tightly,"

"Where?"

"...Where else would you grab other than me?"

Ikeda gave her a dumbfounded gaze.

Kasane withered with a sigh.

"...Sorry."

"...Let's hurry on."

As Ikeda pulled the reins lightly, the horse softly began to move forward.

TBC

*元服 (genpuku) a ceremony to celebrate someone's coming of age.

**I got a little confused here as the 'he' could be referring to Tenrou or Nobunaga. If the 'he' is Tenrou then the sentence is fine as is. If the 'he' is Nobunaga then he must have had either driven the poor bird away or sent Tenrou there to watch in his stead.

I had a bunch of Silver Spoon vibes with the horse scene. And it sure doesn't help when I remembered that Kasane is from Hokkaido like Hachiken and the others. XD. But well, I hope everyone enjoyed the 'sibling fight' between Nobunaga and Ikeda back there. Hahaha. Well then, the next chapter should be up by tomorrow so I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable day!