Disclaimer: Whew just in time. Well it's the eve of New Years in my time zone so Happy Early New Years Day! I hope 2017 will be a better year for everyone. As always all credit goes to Shingou Nanami and フクロウ。Enjoy!

懐妊

Expecting

Kasane x Nobunaga

Part Four

ーーーーThe steady advance of the Oda Army was nothing short but incredible.

Cutting down foes left and right, Nobunaga himself had slipped into the enemy's headquarters and had taken the general's head.

It seems his bravery of that time would make him the hero in the soldier's conversations later on.

He might fit in the description of a man that other men can fall in love with.

After the battle, Nobunaga returned and took Kasane back to the castle.

Kasane's pregnancy had already been notified and it went without saying that Nouhime was filled with joy at the news.

Nouhime happily exclaimed, "Kasane, you've done well!" as she embraced and ruffled Kasane's head.

However, on the other hand Nobunaga's mood took a nosedive, as if he found it unpleasant that she stole his line.

In the end, possible from all the chaos, Kasane wasn't able to exchange words with Nobunaga and had to settle down in her room.

After returning to the castle, she was bombarded with lectures of her carelessness from her close acquaintances.

That she didn't think this through.

That was too rash.

Why she didn't tell them the news… so on and so forth.

Mentally exhausted, Kasane could only fall onto her futon.

...Indeed, she might have been overly optimistic.

It has only been one week since she learned about the child in her womb.

At first she thought of her condition to be just a cold.

But she was wrong.

At the moment she was told that she was pregnant, she felt happiness.

It was her lord's child and she loved children.

But, it's also true to she felt a loss at what to do.

She was still a high school student, and she…. had a place that she needed to return to.

Above all, she was scared of Nobunaga's reaction.

After all with Nobunaga, you wouldn't possibly think that he liked children.

...If he knew that she was pregnant, what would he think?

It was unbearably frightening to think that he would believe to her be a nuisance.

(...That reminds me, I haven't talked to Tono-sama...)

It has been already two days since the battle, but she was told to be shut in her room in order to rest.

He was busy in various ways after the battle so it seems that he couldn't afford time to visit her.

….The news of her having a baby has already spread too….

Surely he had to deal with Sado-san or Shibata-san or the other hassling retainers about this.

Thinking about this made her heart painfully ache.

Enduring this pain, she buried her head into her futon.

Just the thought of Nobunaga being harassed because of her fault made her feel terribly distressed, and sad, and pathetic.

The idea that he found her a bother floated into her mind, and in spite of herself tears began to blur her vision.

What should she do, what should she do.

If he told her that he didn't want the child.

Those thoughts only made her increasingly more afraid.

She could not get rid of the frightening delusion of him abandoning her.

(...If… Tono-sama does not want the child… then I should leave this castle...)

Kasane was genuinely happy when she found out that she was pregnant with Nobunaga's child.

Although she did feel anxious, the child of the man she loved was inside of her.

It was a woman's instinct to feel joy from this.

But if Nobunaga only found her and the existence of this child an inconvenience.

(I shall leave this castle...)

Leave this castle and do whatever it takes to protect this child.

Kasane believed that she could no longer return to her original world.

That's why she shall protect this child and survive.

She determinedly made up her mind.

But then she heard footsteps slowly coming down from the hall.

Familiar footsteps.

The floorboards squeaked from the weight of each step giving off a somewhat authoritarian presence.

The footsteps stopped before her room.

She can see the shadow reflected on the shoji door.

Knowing only one person who could be standing at the door, Kasane inadvertently covered her face under the covers of her bed.

"...I'm coming in."

A deep voice resounded.

That voice she was so accustomed to hearing.

She heard the door slide quietly open and felt the presence enter her room.

"I know you're awake."

Kasane clenched her hands over the covers at the voice.

She was scared, but she had to face this problem.

Resigning herself, Kasane slowly raised herself up from the futon and gazed at the person before her.

A long-haired man.

A beautiful person with crimson eyes.

A person who can attract and captivate people.

"How's your health."

"Un…"

Saying this, Kasane shifted her position into a seiza.

Nobunaga settled himself into a cross-legged position next to her bed.

"...Since when did you learn you were with child."

"...About a week ago…"

Nobunaga gave her a confounded look at her answer.

His gaze hurt so much, Kasane tightened both of her fists on her knees.

"Why didn't you say anything."

"..."

Kasane found herself unable to answer those prickling words.

"I'm… so-rry."

"Why are you apologizing?"

"I-I'-m, s-sor…"

At last, tears overflowed her eyes from Nobunaga's question.

Nobunaga was startled by her sudden outburst.

"I'm sorry… I'-m… sorr…"

Watching the tears dropped down her face like big splotches of raindrops as Kasane apologized, Nobunaga let out a heavy sigh.

"Calm down."

Pulling her head to his chest, he patted her head.

Calmed down by his heartbeat and warmth, she felt the tears subside.

"...Why didn't you tell me that you were with child?"

"..."

Kasane hide her face at his question.

And after making up her mind, she raised her face to look at Nobunaga.

"...I thought…. Tono-sama… would see me…. as a burden..."

"Burden?"

Nobunaga raised a brow at her words.

"Because… Tono-sama seems to hate kids… so I thought if I were to say that I'm pregnant, then you would h-hate me..."

Kasane seemed to be on the edge of tears again but she desperately held them back.

Nobunaga's eyes narrowed at those words, his gripped around her tightened.

"So you're saying that you'll leave me now?"

"To-tono-sama…"

His sharp eyes glinted a strong light; Kasane sharply inhaled under his penetrating gaze.

"The child and you are mine as long as I live. I won't forgive you if you dare separate from me…!"

Kasane's eyes grew wide at his strong tone."

"Tono, sama… Ca-can I give birth…. to this child?"

"Why are you saying that now?"

Nobunaga frowned, it seemed that he didn't understand what she meant.

"Because! I thought… Tono-sama… didn't want… a child…."

As Kasane's eyes welled up once more, Nobunaga frantically patted her back to calm her down.

His then began to speak, his words came out to pacify her.

"It's true that I hate brats."

Kasane's shoulders shivered at those words.

"...However this is our child, you know? Of course it's a given."

"Tono-sama…"

Hearing those words, Kasane clinged closer to Nobunaga.

Nobunaga continued to stroke her head.

His touch was just so gentle, Kasane strengthened her hold in his embrace.

"However, I still find it unacceptable that I wasn't notified."

His tone suddenly became harsh, Kasane's body shrank.

"I'm sorry…"

"In addition, Onou said that before me."

An unpleasant atmosphere hovered over Nobunaga.

Kasane widened her eyes at the the prominent flip in Nobunaga's mood.

"Eh, eh? W-what she said?"

Having no idea what he was referring to she made a puzzle expression and blankly glanced up at him.

While he gave her a sideways glance, Nobunaga muttered complaints to himself things like "Why she she have to steal my lines" or "She didn't need to embrace you like that" unpleasantly under his breath.

Kasane could only tilt her head in confusion at Nobunaga's strange behaviour.

Dissatisfied by something, Nobunaga then met her gaze.

"Kasane."

Nobunaga's voice.

His gentle voice brought her to bring up her face.

She found herself staring at the peaceful smile of Nobunaga.

Kasane found herself captivated by that smile.

"...You did well!"

Nobunaga happily exclaimed as he roughly tousled her head, Kasane couldn't help but also smile with everlasting joy.

Afterwards Kasane safely gave birth to a boy and Nobunaga grandly opened a large banquet to celebrate the birth of his heir for three days and three nights, but that is a story for another time.

Now then this story is now over. I hoped everyone enjoyed this story. But after this there's only one more story left to translate. Hopefully I can get those down next week or so. But man... I spent about two years on this collection of stories. Time sure runs by quickly! So until next time, I hope everyone has a safe and restful week and new year ahead of them!