Sakon had to bite his lip not to laugh when his lord's voice that had been reporting so confidently moments ago, softened helplessly right after Lord Hideyoshi's suggestion.

'W-what do you mean you "order" me? Is it actually possible to… "order" anything like that?' he said, utterly confused.

Lord Hideyoshi, who was standing right in front of them, raised his eyebrow pointedly. It seemed like he had been imitating his late lord, Oda Nobunaga. Sakon had had a chance to see the man just once but had been impressed so much he couldn't ignore the similarity.

'Why not, should I ask?' said Lord Hideyoshi, his voice insightful and overpowering. He did repeat after Nobunaga, even in his overacting. 'You've just regained your energy and I have every confidence in you needing special care right now… even with you being totally against it.'

Sakon could see his lord drooping a little before responding quietly, 'I just thought one should visit hot springs exclusively in cases when they have sincere intention to do so, Lord Hideyoshi.'

'But can one certainly name the difference between cases when the aforementioned intention exists, or lacks? Besides… am I to believe that my closest retainer denies my intentions of the scope his own intentions belong to?' Lord Hideyoshi flicked his fan open, and waved it through the air. 'Isn't it true that one's life's too short to wait until their passion gets powerful enough to make them act?' One more flick closed the performance — Lord Hideyoshi returned to his dais and grumbled, 'All in all, you're my retainer, so could you please obey my orders? You are going to the hot springs, period. Oh, yes, I've almost forgot. Sakon will accompany you.'

After that, Lord Hideyoshi started to fan himself casually, and Sakon felt jealous. He couldn't help feeling: it was too hot. That said, it was the end of the summer that made hot springs the best excuse ever. Well, leaving aside apparently unconvincing attempts to act the King of Hell.

While Sakon was thinking, his lord managed to gain his senses at last. After that, he glanced back over his shoulder in an extremely fleeting but such a desperate way that Sakon doubted if Lord Hideyoshi really knew what they were going to… and… if Sakon himself could…

'Lord Hideyoshi,' Sakon really could feel how much effort it took his lord to repress feelings growing inside him. 'The springs are yours. Who could be bold enough to visit them on their own?'

'Yes, they are mine, so it's me who can allow you such boldness!' Lord Hideyoshi threw up his hands. 'If I can't allow it to my most precious retainer… then why do they exist at all?'

'Okay, but… what the hell is Sakon supposed to do there? Can't I manage it on my own?'

Sakon, of course, had expected his lord to protest and also to compensate indignation that in no case could he direct at Lord Hideyoshi. Sakon had expected it… but was upset by his lord's rudeness anyway. 'What the hell…' Sakon couldn't really remember last time his lord had spoken like that. Well, maybe, during the siege of Oshi, after worries and local water had destroyed his digestion?

It felt like blessing when Lord Hideyoshi looked at them enthusiastically and, definitely confident in the success of his plan, extinguished such awful impression at least partially.

'He's supposed to rest even more arduously, since he was nursing you while you were ill. He was doing it despite the fact that, when ill, you're much meaner than usual,' Lord Hideyoshi explained calmly. 'That's just for one. And for two…' he clenched his fist, flicking his fan close, 'I can imagine how you're going to "rest", should we leave you there alone! So, Sakon, I give you one personal order. Look after your lord so that he'd rest diligently! I'm looking forward to a duly report upon your return! And don't you dare disappoint me!'

Fortunately, Sakon's lord wasn't going to keep protesting. Or, he was just too shocked with his personal time and space being managed without asking. So, the only thing he did was that he absolutely refused to stay at the springs for more than one day. Lord Hideyoshi suddenly conceded, although it had seemed before that he wouldn't have done it. Sakon could do nothing except for accepting all the conditions imposed on him since he still couldn't really understand at what extent and in what circumstances his lord was allowed some sort of boldness, forgivable just for his overall devotion to Toyotomi.

What Sakon could understand was his relationship with his own lord. So, he prohibited himself to provoke any doubt concerning his obedience. His lord's behaviour, actually, corresponded with such intentions: he spent the rest of the day pretending Sakon did not exist and sitting in his chambers. One could think he was preparing for the journey, while Sakon knew his lord was struggling to do as much work as possible, so that he wouldn't have to make up for his journey afterwards.

Sakon didn't want to provoke his lord so much he actually outdid himself. Next day, at the dawn, when both of them left the residence and their horses slowly turned onto the path that was eagerly absorbing morning freshness, his lord at last blurted out, 'You're too quiet not to cause suspicion, since the very time Lord Hideyoshi pronounced his order. You are planning something once again, aren't you?'

He emphasized the words 'once again' in quite a threatening way, which made Sakon gulp. However, he was prepared with the answer and said firmly, 'He was no one else but Lord Hideyoshi who came up with the idea to send you to the hot springs.'

His lord rode a bit faster to be able to look right into Sakon's face. Then, he turned away and snorted, 'Just you look at him. How is it that his words are completely true?'

Sakon felt his throat go dry, not because the weather was hot… but because his lord's steadfast look was hot enough to burn down.

'How do you know if I tell lies?' Sakon dared to ask a little bit hoarsely, looking at his lord's back covered with a scarlet kosode. Anticipating heat, he tied his hair high, so…

Sakon felt extremely bad and wanted to slap himself when his eyesight started getting drawn to the part where one was forbidden to look at.

"Keep your eyes on the road. On the road, you fool!"

'I just can see it,' luckily, came a distracting answer.

So Sakon couldn't help chuckling, 'What do you see exactly?'

But awe enveloped his heart as soon as his lord looked over his shoulder, his gaze glowing in a foxlike manner.

'That's for you to guess,' he said dismissively. Nonetheless, he grew totally serious when he turned away. 'I'd prefer to keep the secret, for you not to use it against me.'

'What's good about the strategist who can't deceive?' said Sakon thoughtfully after catching up to his lord.

The latter turned his eyes to the trees on the left.

'There's nothing good about the strategist who can — and, most importantly, dares to — deceive his superior.'

This neutral comment was too much like an accusation, so Sakon felt his cheekbones burning with uncontrolled shame. His lord had already guessed — he just hadn't been able not to — that Sakon and Lord Hideyoshi had a plan. He also knew that both had his best interests at heart but for some reason didn't want to accept their desire to help.

Nevertheless, Sakon didn't have time to answer since his lord decided that the conversation was over with him having the last word, and rode at a quicker pace.

The inn embraced both with shadows that didn't really help but allowed to put off their sugegasa at last. As they had been riding, the sun had woken up completely and had enough time to tire both of them. So, Sakon was sure his lord was glad he was going to take a bath, though he would have never admitted it. Sakon even dared to think that his lord was, in fact, grateful for the opportunity.

But he, nonetheless, shut himself in chambers he was supposed to spend a night in, and it seemed he wouldn't go out till he was sure no one was going to accompany him in the springs — obviously, being too tired of waiting. Sakon, who anticipated it, started waiting patiently at his lord's door, faithful to the part of the plan he was responsible for. So, his lord did go out, dressed in yukata[1].

It didn't surprise Sakon when his lord rolled his eyes. Even more — he did it in a charmingly ridiculous manner, as soon as their glances met.

'You've made me rest, so let me at least do it alone,' he muttered, with his arms folded upon his chest.

'I was ordered to keep an eye on you, you know,' Sakon shrugged, pretending innocent, but felt tense as soon as his lord stared at him.

'Is it me who really needs to be kept an eye on here?' he almost whispered.

Fortunately, he didn't keep on protesting again… but it didn't mean he was going to like someone else's company, of course. Actually, he was not going, considering how fast he was walking towards the bath; how furiously he was untying his motoyui[2] and then — obi[3], preparing to wash before bathing in the springs.

Sakon, who was doing the same, chuckled quietly and decided to look away, just in case.

However, he barely had time to lower his yukata before he felt the gaze directed at him, just between his shoulder blades. So, Sakon looked back before he realized it.

Their eyes met — and, for some reason, it didn't seem a coincidence that his lord at first froze and then crossed his arms hastily, as if to wrap his partly lowered yukata back around his body. He glanced across Sakon's left cheek, then looked at his chest… and turned away.

'So, it's not just your face that is scarred,' his lord explained, so timidly it was suspicious.

To his own surprise, Sakon felt a bit more confident.

'That's what my lot is — my head working as actively as other parts of my body on the battlefield,' he chuckled in the friendliest manner possible as he folded his yukata.

In the meantime, his lord scowled at someone invisible beside him.

'Reproaching me, aren't you?'

'Not at all, my lord. On the contrary, I admire how faithfully you can, unlike me, concentrate on just one and certainly important thing.' Sakon waited for doubtful 'um-hum' before adding, 'Concerning my back, let me be honest. I had to escape from the enemy. It was long ago but… seems like I'm alive thanks to it, so now I can serve y—'

Evidently helpless, Sakon's lord dropped his hands, forcing him to trail off. However, he didn't say anything and just kept on taking off his clothes, so that Sakon had to divert his attention to… at least anything.

Sakon was genuinely puzzled at first with the embarrassment he felt about his lord's completely innocent actions.

"I have seen naked men before…"

But then it occurred to him — despite his years of service, Sakon had never seen his lord like this before, while now the latter was necessitated to expose himself, with this circumstance only multiplying general awkwardness of what was happening. The same awkwardness and necessity were associated with Sakon embracing his lord that very day… It was the fact that it was not just anyone but his lord… who, on top of everything else, was a handsome — somewhat to a fault — man, that made it even more alarming…

"What am I actually thinking about?" Sakon was reproaching himself silently all the time they were both cleaning off, looking strictly in opposite directions out of respect to some tacit agreement. Again and again, Sakon couldn't help thinking about what had been happening to his heart, on the way here as well, with him just being afraid of guessing what such unusual emotions could actually hint at… Fortunately, the storm in his chest had settled down by the time when Sakon, his clothes on and his hair tied with motoyui again, dared at last to look at his lord who was ready as well.

Cicadas were screaming in the evening garden, and Sakon, both soothed and irritated with the sound, couldn't quite see through their real intentions. As for his lord, something obviously bothered him; something completely irrelevant to both the cicadas and a canopy of the garden plants, which he didn't even look at, and the warm water both immersed themselves in after they, out of respect to some tacit agreement again, had left their clothes on stones which were separated by distance decent enough for both of them to feel comfortable. This utterly irrelevant and, as it seemed now, irrepressible anxiety had been reflected in how tense his lord's back and shoulders had been all the way here, along the stone path. It was reflected in how tense they were now, despite several quiet minutes spent in water. Sakon's lord kept his distance, his whole body mostly turned away, so it was quite audacious to look at him that shamelessly. But Sakon thought it was necessary to start implementing the plan he'd devised together with Lord Hideyoshi. The plan that Lord Hideyoshi suggested to implement at the hot springs, this place perfectly fitting for their goal.

Sakon took advantage of his lord reaching for a tenugui[4] soaked in cold water and got just a bit closer to him, as quietly as possible.

'You need to relax, my lord…'

The latter almost screamed; almost dropped his tenugui straight into the water — but right then, took a swing at Sakon angrily, 'How dare you sneak up on me?!'

Sakon laughed and, though he knew his lord wouldn't beat him, pretended to be scared and covered his head with hands, 'Have mercy, my lord! Let me explain myself!'

His lord froze for a while but then turned away. Confused, he put his tenugui on his head and said a bit haltingly, 'Y-you don't actually need to explain anything.'

He wasn't going to elaborate, so both kept quiet for some time again — but Sakon decided to break the silence as soon as possible, 'What is it that's bothering you that much, my lord? Is there any way to distract you, at least for a while?'

A heavy sigh indicated that no, there wasn't.

'How can I afford to distract when I am responsible for the survey of newly attained lands once more?'

Deliberately, Sakon sighed, too, as if saying, 'I can understand you much better than you think.'

'I'd say it's not the survey itself that worries you that much… You've been mastering it for so many years, after all. So, it must take you extra effort not to manage it now.'

It wasn't that Sakon dared to assume his lord's recreation had to include discussing his work. However, he hoped to use the survey as a thread he could tug in order to expose the deep anxiety Lord Hideyoshi had mentioned cursorily; the fear Sakon's lord suppressed persistently with his overworking. Because his lord seemed unable to see anything beyond his work until this tangle was undone.

In the meantime, Sakon's lord shifted, so at least the right side of his body could be seen now. His copper hair mostly hid his face but Sakon could notice the slight blush trying to touch his cheekbones… with the cause of it just being the warmth of the spring, of course. Sakon was more than sure his own face was red, too.

Was it actually necessary to proceed to drinking next?..

'You've guessed it right. Mostly, it is not about the survey,' Sakon's lord said slowly at last, as if weighing his every word on his tongue. After that, however, he lifted his palms just above the water and started talking really fast, 'I'm afraid of not managing it anyway.'

Almost instinctively, Sakon realized his lord was going to turn away again to hide his confusion, so he hastened to stop him with reckless, 'Because of Tokugawa Ieyasu?'

The water splashed in an angry manner; Sakon's lord grumbled arrogantly, 'Is there anyone more irritating?' and turned away pointedly.

Sakon couldn't help sighing in frustration. Suddenly, he wanted to take his own tenugui and slap his own head at least…

'My lord,' Sakon called carefully, speaking in a voice as guilty as possible. There was no answer, so he repeated quite anxiously, 'My lord?'

His lord stubbornly refused to answer; obviously, he needed time to overcome his anger. So Sakon gave up to let him calm down… but, despite the call of his own reason, just couldn't take his eyes off him. Before he knew it, Sakon glanced at his lord's strong shoulders covered with warm waterdrops, and shortened the distance between them by half, as noiseless as possible. He felt how the twilight embracing the reality was awakening recklessness in him; he raised his eyes a bit; he looked, at last, at the spot he'd desperately stopped himself from looking at along the way here… but in fact desperately wanted to look at…

"No, I mustn't… It's so inappropriate…' helpless, Sakon squeezed his eyes shut.

And… grabbed his lord's shoulders before he could realize what he was actually doing.

Of course, the latter froze at first, again, since he obviously had anticipated any scenario except for that one. Of course, he stiffened even more afterwards, threatening to ruin the — not that elaborate but anyway — strategy devised by Sakon and Lord Hideyoshi. And finally, Sakon's lord, of course, was going to avoid having to throw off someone else's hands himself, so he just said menacingly, 'Well, now you have to explain yourself.' After a short but almost deadly moment of silence, he added, 'You have my undivided attention.'

Sakon was even surprised how quickly, as if on its own, his mind had found a solution. As if that very mind had started working twice as hard as usual thanks to the seemingly open death threat from his lord, so it had felt like on the real battlefield and begun to suggest breath-taking, intricate turns and twists aimed at survival… and maybe remaining unharmed, at least mostly. Anyway, Sakon gripped his lord's shoulders even tighter, as if he had planned it like that all along. Then, he spoke as sorrowfully as possible to evoke sympathy, 'You should understand me, my lord. Lord Hideyoshi himself told me to make sure nothing distracts you from resting. Meanwhile, what are you doing? Right, talking about your survey again. Is it a good way to relax?' He leaned a bit forward and spoke a bit more softly about the 'true reason' behind his actions, 'You write a lot. So, your back, shoulders and neck are affected the most. You'd never ask for such a favour yourself but it is your right-hand man's responsibility to guess, isn't it? So, am I wrong? Just one word from you is enough for me to withdraw.'

Sakon almost blushed as he realized the solution suggested by his mind had been implemented not as elegantly as he had imagined. Nonetheless, he had at least managed to keep his voice as casual as possible, which was a good reason to be proud of himself. No, the initial plan had not involved touch, especially during its first stage… especially by Sakon. But, to be fair, the small talk facilitated by the warm water, which had been planned, had not really worked out. Sakon had had to save the day quickly; he had gotten the chance. Yes, he had gotten it in a totally shameful way — but he had! It did not matter now Sakon had had to save the day because he had spoiled it in the first place…

His lord's shoulders had grown completely stiff by now, so he tightened his grip even more, as if trying to showcase his skill, and began to wait for a response in awe. His mind was feverishly darting from 'he won't suspect a thing but he'll probably kill me' to 'of course he will suspect — and of course he will kill me!'… it turned towards 'I'd rather prefer him killing me than keeping quiet like that!' when Sakon's lord suddenly said most quiet and almost impossible words, 'You… guessed it right.' Then, after one more, now almost unbearable moment of silence, he added, 'That said… do you really think I deserve such thoughtfulness? Or… are you just following Lord Hideyoshi's secret order?'

Sakon almost staggered as he realized the reason it had taken so long for his lord to answer had not been him trying to suppress his anger, or savor it… but to find the right words. Sakon had to bow his head for a while in order to deal with tremendous relief. Despite that, he managed to say as if nothing troubled him, 'The initiative is mine, and mine only. So, shall I?'

For a moment, he suddenly wanted his lord to refuse. Still as a rock, he nonetheless refused to protest.

So, Sakon licked his lips, suddenly dry, and began really subtly, just to try it. His palms slid over his lord's shoulders — up… and down… and then — towards his shoulder blades…

His hands withdrew immediately as soon as his lord made a sound that was too ambiguous to define it clearly. As Sakon realized the sound was quite similar to a sneeze, he asked, genuinely concerned, 'You aren't cold, are you?'

He moved forward a bit, attempting to look at his lord's profile at least, but the latter turned away really fast. The only thing Sakon had been able to see was his lord pressing his palm to his lips.

'Not at all,' he muffled. 'I just—' his shoulders trembled a bit, 'I just didn't know my body's… "suffering" that much.'

Sakon relaxed immediately — and chuckled in a knowing manner.

'One can't realize it till they stop overworking,' he said good-naturedly — and started rubbing his lord's shoulders almost confidently. The latter had to lower his palm but he looked nowhere else but ahead, as if afraid of even hinting at his real emotions.

"Well, it's so like him," Sakon chuckled quietly. He tried hard not to think about how his lord's soft wet skin felt; not to notice how his lord was gradually overcoming his shyness, eventually daring to tilt his head a bit, exposing his neck, apparently stiff. Sakon tried as hard as he could not to contemplate the fact that their tactile contact for today exceeded any of it accumulated through last several years; that never had they been as close to each other as now, except the day when Sakon had embraced him. He desperately tried to forget about how his body, mind and soul had reacted that day… to distract from his lord's breath that was adjusting to rhythmical moves; from him more and more carelessly opening his chest and, probably, closing his eyes, completely trustful… not to imagine how pleasant it could be to approach him, chest pressed to back; lips pressed to neck — so conveniently exposed…

Sakon's body almost arched as he got scared of how his eyesight went dark; his hand, still above his lord's shoulder, flinched awkwardly… accidentally touching the back of his lord's neck.

It seemed like the wind blew his lord away. He gasped; he almost screamed in utter horror, as if a venomous snake had been put on his neck. Involuntarily, he turned around and looked at Sakon — still utterly horrified, desperately pressing his palm to his nape and… blushing… goodness, as a youth whose first kiss had just been stolen… apparently unable to find words at least to swear.

'You— you—' his lips were trembling, and Sakon was going to admit the worst; to tell the truth that could devoid him of any further opportunity to serve the only lord who truly deserved it, forever… But then his lord's eyes lit up; he growled, 'It tickles, you fool!' and splashed water into Sakon's chest.

Sakon couldn't help shutting his eyes. Then, he looked at the disturbed water before him, pressed his palm to his forehead, and realized he could not choose what he preferred better — to cry or to laugh.

'It was an accident, my lord. My hand slipped, unaccustomed. I swear,' Sakon still could not believe his lord had not realized the truth, so it seemed like someone else was saying these words. On the other hand, was there any chance his lord would get it?.. As a man, he was not supposed feel attracted to other men… He must have attributed the incident to anything except for the truth… while Sakon felt really strange — for the first time in his whole life… so that heaven only knew how to respond…

'Your words are true,' the answer was short but firm, and certainly distracting. It gave Sakon a start that his lord, so much like on the way here, was looking at him attentively, with his palm already lowered, his face nothing short of indifferent. As if nothing had actually happened right now. 'Well, thank you anyway,' he shrugged, a bit awkwardly, hinting that he needed no more help in dealing with his 'suffering.' 'It was nice to see it's not only your weapon you can handle.'

The words felt liberating. So, both could relax in the water at last. Sakon's lord was sitting at some distance and looking away too absent-mindedly to guess, even vaguely, what he was thinking about. That said, it was clear he was not thinking about the survey. Sakon took advantage of the silence between them to check with the plan he had devised with Lord Hideyoshi's help.

The implementation, in fact, was turning out quite successful so far. With some steps away, yes, but not that risky… at least mostly. Sakon definitely had to do something about his lord's unintended attractiveness… but the fact that the next stages of the plan did not involve nakedness and any factors increasing the likelihood of tactile contact — at least between the two of them — seemed enough. Well, added to these could be staying just a bit more vigilant… especially at the moment when his lord's face would start blushing… and he would be much less vigilant himself…

"It's not the way for one man to desire another," Sakon hastened to think, compelling himself to forget about any hope for their relationship to go beyond the 'lord and his retainer' frame.

On the other hand, Sakon could hope that now, after the first step had been taken, the rest of the plan would not require significant effort.

[1] Yukata — light cotton garment.

[2] Motoyui — cord for tying hair.

[3] Obi — sash.

[4] Tenugui — thin cotton hand towel.