Disclaimer: Phew! It's been a while. Trust me, college is something that should not be reckoned with. Once you unpack your stuff and look out for books, suddenly classes start and you're slapped with projects. Ehem, all credit goes to Shingo Nanami and フクロウ. It's a little late, but enjoy!

勝負

Battle

Kasane x Nobunaga

Part Two

(Why do we have to do this...)

Kuranosuke gloomily thought to himself.

After the incident, Nobunaga unexpectedly gave him a suggestion then brought Kasane and him out to the open space of the castle and then handed him a wooden sword to which he then took a wooden sword for himself to face Kuranosuke.

It was only a simple one-point match, but his opponent was his lord.

Usually he would be experienced from such practices, but his opponents were always his underlings.

This was different than simple practices with young people of his rank.

"What's wrong? You're not in your proper stance."

Nobunaga urged Kuranosuke.

Kuranosuke hurriedly took his stance.

(But why would my lord suddenly ask for a spar...)

True, he had plenty of memories of fighting against him when they were young.

But that was when they were only youths.

In the first place, since Nobunaga became the head leader of the Oda family, he never once attempted to do something as dreaded as this.

In fact for this lord, who at a young age was nearly unbeatable, to issue a match as coarse excuse for exercise wasn't necessary.

(Besides… why did he detain that idiot girl here?)

Just before this he decided to send her off, telling her that she will become a nuisance, but Nobunaga stopped her.

He intentionally stopped her from leaving.

What is he thinking? Kuranosuke was puzzled over Nobunaga's infinitely erratic behavior.

"I'll leave the first move to you. Come at me… seriously."

"Y-yes!"

Encouraged by him, Kuranosuke raised his sword to take Nobunaga's arm.

However, Nobunaga easily used Kuranosuke's hesitation to block the attack.

"...Are you enamoured with that woman?"

"...!? Wha?!"

Kuranosuke widened his eyes from Nobunaga's whisper.

"I-I-I-i-i-I'm not… not to that idiot woman…"

Enamoured meant falling in love.

He was attracted to that foolish idiot woman?

Totally impossible.*

"...Then if I win this match, you won't mind if I call her to my chambers."

"Wha-...!?"

As Nobunaga dropped the bombshell, Kuranosuke became even more astonished.

Since Kasane couldn't hear their conversation, she only gave them a worried gaze as she felt the unusual atmosphere going on between the two men.

"That… idiot woman… to your chambers…?!"

"...If you win, then I will take back my invitation."

"..."

Calling a girl to someone's sleeping chambers.

He wasn't an ignorant child to not understand the meaning of those words.

Nobunaga was the lord of one country, it wouldn't be strange of him to have a woman sleep with him.

In fact, in order to have many children, it was a common for men to take in mistresses.

It wasn't something that was significant to him nor did it provoke him at all.

Just for what reason did this lord have to take interest into this unruly idiot woman and call her to his chambers?

He had no interest in that.

For that woman to with his lord… It was not of his concern that she would be some man's mistress.

That's right, why should he care.

"My lord…"

Kuranosuke solemnly opened his mouth.

Nobunaga silently gazed down at him.

CLANK! Kuranosuke broke away from Nobunaga's sword and backed off into a small distance away.

"..."

"...I-if my lord were to make a move on a servant girl, the name of the Oda clan will fall! T-this Narimasa, if I may be daring, shall prevent that from happening…! !"**

"..."

In a fast-paced voice, Kuranosuke yelled out his 'justifiable' cause. Nobunaga faintly snorted at that.

"Then take a point off this Nobunaga."

Nobunaga regained his position and pointed his sword Kuranosuke.

Kuranosuke sprinted towards him.

Nobunaga moved his hand to block Kuranouske's attack, slashing down his sword downward.

Waiting for Nobunaga to leave that opening, Kuranosuke then, this time without hesitation, raised his sword to hit Nobunaga's side.

-Got him…!

Anticipating victory, he relaxed a little.

Nobunaga faintly smirked as he quickly turned his body and aimed at Kuranosuke's back.

With one hand, he kept the sword at Kuranosuke's neck, which was lowered it to the ground.

"...Kuh….!"

"...Hmph."

"Ku-kuranosuke-san!"

His face was planted into the ground.

Kuranosuke grimaced at from the lack of air and managed to look up at Nobunaga.

Nobunaga then took Kuranosuke's sword, which was stuck into the ground because its owner, and lightly hit Kuranosuke's head.

"One point at the head… It's my win."

Jeered by Nobunaga, Kuranosuke sent him a rare glare, something that he wouldn't dare show him in regular situations.

Nobunaga took great pleasure looking down at Kuranosuke's great frustration and finally pulled away his hand*** to kept him down.

In an offhanded manner, Kuranosuke wiped away the sand as he continued to stare at Nobunaga.

Kasane hurriedly ran up to Kuranosuke.

"Are you alright!? Kuranosuke-san…"

"...! Shut up! Leave me alone! !"

Although Kasane worriedly called up to him, Kuranosuke pushed away her consideration for his welfare.

How shameful.

Shameful that she lost to Nobunaga.

The fact that he also vented at Kasane due to his vexation.

He found himself so pitiful, so wretched that all of his irritation came out.

"Woman."

"Y-yes?"

Hearing his voice, Kasane widened her eyes at gazed at him.

"The wager. Come to my chambers tonight."

"! !"

"W-wager…?"

Kuranosuke jolted at Nobunaga's orders while Kasane confusingly frowned, wondering what was he talking about.

Without any explanation or any kind of words, Nobunaga immediately turned his heel and left to his room.

TBC

*Here he said 'Shindemo arienai' so even if he died, the truth is that he's not in love with her. lol such a tsundere.

**He speaks really formally here.

***I believe it's the one that has the sword pointing at his neck

I hoped everyone enjoyed this chapter. A little bit of action here. Ahahaha. I have no clue when I will have time to work on the next chapter, but I will do it as soon as I can. So until then, I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable day!