Disclaimer: I've been looking forward to this chapter. You have no clue how long it took me to patiently wait to translate this chapter. At long last, at long last I can finally upload this chapter. All credit goes to Shingo Nanami and フクロウ. Here's the second part. Enjoy.

Warning: Remember there are spoilers from vol. 11-12. Plus this chapter is a tiny bit dark. Therefore proceed with caution!

願わくば

If He Wished

Kasane x Nobunaga

Part Two

"Since that incident with Nobuyuki-sama, Nobunaga-sama's been keeping that idiot woman by his side more often."

The three idiots gathered together in the garden, that's when Kuranosuke suddenly brought this up.

Gorouza loosely smiled at those words.

"Kasane-dono's smile makes everyone feel spirited after all. Even though Nobunaga-sama hides it well, I'm certain he's been feeling down since Nobuyuki-sama left us. He must feel at ease when Kasane-dono is at his side."

"Even then. Don't you think that he's abnormally close to her nowadays? Before she was usually with us, but now she follows around our lord like shadow."

"My lord's hogging Katane~! I haven't played with Katane lately!"

Inuchiyo yelled out loud.

Nowadays it was a common sight to see Nobunaga at Kasane's side.

Though it might be natural because he assigned her as his mediator, but even then he assigned her other kinds of work so recently she's been hanging around him more than them now.

"...The fight with Nobuyuki-sama and the achievement of victory, the one who quieted our lord's heart when he assigned Nobuyuki's capital punishment and the one who helped pulled us safely out of this hopeless situation was… Quite honestly Kasane's work was big."

"..."

Gorouza quietly commented.

Surely Nobuyuki, who wouldn't have submitted himself to his mistake, and Nobunaga, who wouldn't voice his real feelings, would have surely killed gone to kill each other.

And even after Kasane reasoned with Nobuyuki, Nobunaga would have still carried out his little brother's execution.

However, the one who took control of this horrible situation was that girl ーー... Kasane.

If it weren't for her words Nobunaga himself would have killed his brother and closed off his heart.

"Had Kasane-dono not intervened with the Imagawa army's sudden raid while we were preoccupied with Nobuyuki-sama's army, we wouldn't be here today. Not only that, the one who moved Nobunaga-sama's heart, who threw away his self for the sake of the clan, was Kasane-dono. If she weren't there, even if we had a chance of winning, our lord would have killed his own heart and ordered for Nobuyuki-sama's execution and suffer through the regret of killing his own brother… We wouldn't have the current lord now… Even though we were there at our lord's side, surely we couldn't do anything. When I think of that, I truly believe Kasane's work played a big role in this battle. It's no wonder why our lord wishes for Kasane-dono to be at his side."

Kasane's role back there was a big one.

Because she was there, both Nobuyuki and Nobunaga were saved.

It was such an achievement; that itself wasn't an exaggeration.

The country, hanging in the balance of a civil war, was saved by just one young girl.

"...Indeed. The one who merited from this battle the most has to go to that idiot woman…"

"I'm relieved my lord didn't have to make a sad face anymore…"

Inuchiyo and Kuranosuke both agreed.

Even the most perverse Kuranosuke approved of Kasane's activities.

"...We've known our lord since he was little and have served him since then. However, it suddenly came to me. That the only person who can understand and support the current lord is Kasane-dono."

Rather than them, who have served our lord since his youth, it was Kasane-who understood his deep, hidden* heart.

This wasn't only applied to Nobunaga.

Kasane also looked past Nobuyuki's concealed self and believed in his true intention.

Though her heart is simple-minded, she managed to put an end to the terrible feud between the two brothers.

"Out of all the members of this clan it is that girl, only a slight acquaintance compared to us vassals, who understands our lord the most… Well that doesn't sit well with me but… I'm also convinced by this..."

So far Kasane and Nobunaga saw each other eye to eye in many of their opinions.

And unlike them, she could see the faraway, futuristic world that Nobunaga envisioned.

"Unlike you guys, Kusanagi-dono follows our lord through pure instinct after all."

"Katsusaburo."

Ikeda suddenly appeared.

The three idiots all glanced over at Ikeda.

Ikeda then continued his words.

"...That girl is pure. I've always wondered how such a person managed to grow to be so straightforward and single-minded… it's as if she's a pure white cloth. That sort of person… never existed around us, especially around my lord. Surely we'll never meet such an individual in the future. That's how rare that girl is."

"True, we wouldn't be able to find another person like her again."

They've already met all sorts of people.

However they've never seen another person as naive and sincere as that girl.

There was no other person who unconditionally believed in people, who believed in comradery, who believed in love more than her.

This country was a world where blood-related brothers would either kill or be killed.

Nobuyuki and Yoshitatsu** were the prime example of that.

In order to understand the significance of their existence, they aimed out to kill the person related by their blood.

"...Even so, it's regrettable."

"What?"

Ikeda exhaled a small sigh as he said those words.

Narrowing his sharp eyes, he softly began again.

"...She will one day leave the Oda clan. And she plans to return back to her family. However, the current Oda clan, now revolved around that girl, we cannot even think of losing her now."

"..."

If you were to put everything that was said earlier together, Kasane's existence was essential to the Oda clan.

The girl of unknown origins pulled everyone together and stood in the middle of everything.

Nobunaga was the same.***

She saved his position as the lord of the country many times.

Both his emotions and his life.

"...Katane is going back to that weird world one day…?"

Inuchiyo drooped down and created a sorrowful face and he muttered this.

The strange spectacle they saw before.

There existed a world totally unlike theirs.

I came from another worldー…

That's why I wish to definitely return back to my familyー...

That was Kasane's first and unshakeable wish, in order words, her goal.

For Kasane, she might only see herself as a parasite to this clan.

In order to continue living, until the day she will be able to return home, she did her best everyday to work with everyone in the Oda clan.

Kasane wholeheartedly always told them this.

"B-but. Hasn't it been already a long time since she came here? Surely her family is already…"****

"Had she been a woman who held contempt towards her family, she wouldn't have become a center figure amongst us. Not matter how many decades may pass, she would definitely return to her loving family. ...Because she holds such deep love, everyone can't help but become attracted to her."

As Kuranosuke hesitantly began, Ikeda calmly pressed him.

That's right, Kasane loved her family from the bottom of her heart.

That's why she believed in the bond between family.

No matter what happens, Kasane would never give up on returning back to her family.

And when that time comes, she would absolutely pick her family above them.

That was absolute.

"...I can't come to terms with that! If she leaves, we might never get to see her again, you know? Can we really sit back and silently send Kasane-dono back!? That's…"

He understood in his mind.

Kasane's wish was only that.

Because of that cause she recklessly did her best everyday.

But, she has now become their beloved friend, their family.

They've shared both joy and sorrow, protected each other's backs; she was a dear and precious girl.

It wasn't that 'they will one day meet again'.

No, it was 'they will never meet again' if she left.

"...It's not like there isn't a way to keep her here."

"What!?"

"What is it…!?"

They didn't miss out Ikeda's slightly dark tone.

Everyone unconsciously leaned forward, wondering what was method Ikeda was implying at.

"This is the girl who treasures the bond between family above all else. Then she would create a new family here. That's all."

"A new family?"

They all tilted their heads.

"That's right, someone should take her into their household*5, make a child, then surely that kind-hearted girl wouldn't leave this castle."

"Wha-...!?"

Everyone lost words to say at Ikeda's sudden suggestion.

At this age they knew the meaning behind the word 'household'.

True, Kasane treasured bonds above all.

If one was to marry her and have her give birth to a child, it would be harder for her to leave as she prioritized family love.

"...Still, this is the girl that thinks about her family the most. I'm certain she has no plan to marry anyone here. Even if our acquaintances chased after that girl, she wouldn't return their feelings."

"Th-then what can we do!?"

For a moment a light seemed to shine in his mind; after all Kasane's heart was still one.

That Kasane, she couldn't possibly handle that irresponsible action.

"...I'm fine becoming the devil."

"Ha?"

As Kuranosuke heard Ikeda's mutters, he raised his voice immediately in response.

"I'm fine making her pregnant. Surely she'll resist at first, but as long as she wishes to keep herself and the child alive, she wouldn't act rashly. She would then come to realize that her only path is to stay at my side."

"...!? Katsusaburo! Don't tell me you plan to violate Kasane-dono! ! ?"

Hearing such an outrageous plan from Ikeda, everyone lost their cool.

It the possible worst thing the man in front of them suggested that they do to a woman; to that pure girl.

"...You're all too soft so I'm sure you couldn't possibly do that. For me, it's my entire duty to support the Oda clan. Kusanagi-dono's existence is now essential for this family…. In order to make her remain here, I'll do anything, even become a demon, to make that happen."

"Still…! That's too cruel to make Kasane-dono…"

"I don't care if she'll hate me. If I don't make my move now that girl will unhesitantly leave this castle. When that time comes, it'll already be too late!"

Ikeda unusually said this in a strong tone.

They swallowed in those words.

Kasane will leave.

And the only way to stop her was to commit a horrible deed.

"That's not the problem here!"

The one who cried out was Kuranosuke.

Once they turned their attention to him, they could see the terribly enraged look in his eyes as he glared over to Ikeda, dangerously coming close to him at a fast pace before grabbing onto his collar.

"That person, for the sake of this Oda clan, for our sake, she risked her existence and made it all this way just holding onto her dear life…!"

Everyone became silent at his words.

In cry that came from the pit of his stomach, Kuranosuke continued on.

"Of course, if this continues on that person will one day return back to her world… However, even if it's for the sake of this clan, aren't you just spitting out some nice excuses just so it fits our convenience! ! ?"

That's right, in the end, they were only forcing Kasane to their convenient terms.

Because it troubled them that she would disappear, they'll make it so that she couldn't escape.

They didn't need to shut her in jail nor chain her in shackles to have her restricted here.

By taking advantage of her gentle and sweet nature, they would bind the chain called 'child' to her.

"You might have it good. After violating her, she'll have to give birth to that child. And of course her only choice is to become your wife. To begin with, you, fancied her anyway. No one will blame you if you do it, for you that's unexpectedly justifiable, huh…. But listen up! After all this time, no matter how dirty she became or how many cuts and bruises she received or how many painful moments she lived through…. To that girl who desperately did her best for the sake of this castle-!"

"...Kuranosuke."

Slowly Kuranosuke's expression turned from anger to sorrow.

Of course Kuranosuke also didn't wish for Kasane's disappearance.

His true wish was for her to remain in this castle.

However for Kuranosuke, who's seen all her efforts up close since she came here, couldn't come to accept Ikeda's suggestion.

"Aren't we just betraying her in the worst possible way….?"

Finishing with that, the Kuranosuke tiredly released Ikeda's collar.

Unable to continue on the disconsolate discussion, everyone from then on said no more.

TBC

*he never showed his true self to others

**If you've forgotten, this is Nouhime's brother. The guy who killed Dousan.

***Same as 'everyone', he was also pulled towards her influence.

****Kuranosuke is implying that her goal might have lessened. Maybe her goal to go back to her family isn't as important anymore.

*5 Pretty much marriage.

Well, what are your reactions to this story? Are you all wondering how this story will end?

What I really loved in this chapter was the tense nature of the conversation and the intensity of Kuranosuke's speech. Oh how I wish I could have you all feel the ferocity of Kuranosuke's words in the actual language. I could hear his VA speaking in my mind! Ahahah... Indeed, Kasane played a huge role in those volumes, so I was happy to read フクロウ's story revolving around this case. Kasane became an essential part to the Oda family, so back then I wondered what they're going to when she's gone.

Now then, I shall upload the last two chapters next week. So until then I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable week!