Romance Fan Fiction ❯ Love Brings Betrayal ❯ Chapter 13 ( Chapter 13 )

DISCLAIMER: All Main Characters In This Story Belong To Koei Games. All Characters In This Story Are From The Game Samurai Warriors By Koei Games.

 

 

 

Chapter 13

 

Nene sat in Oichi's chambers silently. “Nene it will be alright. I promise.”

 

“Oh I hope you're right Oichi. I just couldn't bear it if something happened to my dear Hideyoshi! And poor Magoichi. Oh, my Hideyoshi must feel awful!”

 

Nohime stood by the balcony barely listening to Nene and the other girls. From Oichi's balcony she could see the training fields and she was watching Mitsuhide and some other man she hadn't met yet. The man seemed to be wielding an iron fan. How odd, but it seemed to be a good weapon. He used it well. However... as Nohime watched him she realized that while he used the fan well... it was slow. She could easily slit him open with her claws. And Mitsuhide could easily cut him down.

 

“Nene, I'm sorry for interrupting your worrying about Hideyoshi but who is that man down there with the fan?”

 

Nene walked over to the balcony and looked down, “Oh! That's Mitsunari Ishida. My beloved Hideyoshi's retainer. He's kinda sour in personality. But I think of him as my own child and I punish him when necessary and I kiss all the booboos when needed.”

 

Oichi and Gracia giggled. “You are very motherly Nene.”

 

“Oh I'm sure when you start having children of your own you'll be motherly too Lady Nohime.”

“I do not know about that. I am... more a warrior than a mother. You seem to have both qualities down perfectly. And so do you Oichi.”

 

“Why, thank you Lady Nohime.”

 

“Yes, yes.”

 

“Lady Nohime you seem very agitated tonight. Is it because of my brother's actions?”

 

Nohime's eyes narrowed, “That's part of it.”

 

“Well then what is the other part?”

 

“None of your business Oichi. It does not concern any of you.”

 

Nohime walked out of Oichi's chambers angrily. The girls watched her with shock, “Well that was kind of rude.”

 

“I agree Oichi.”

 

“Well we can't blame all of it on her. She said something was bothering her and part of it is because of her husband. I would be kinda angry too.”

 

“Perhaps you are right Gracia. But all I asked was a simple question.”

 

“Well maybe it hurts her too much to talk about what's bothering her. Maybe it's really personal and she didn't want any of us to ask about it ever. And maybe that's why she was so harsh.”

 

“Maybe... but I think there is more to it than that. She seemed like she was lying or hiding something. I saw it in her eyes. But I will not fret over asking her. If it is something she wants said it will get said. And if not she will kill anyone who spills it. I know she will.”

 

***

Magoichi walked around the scattered remains of his home. He was heartbroken. He was enraged. He was devastated. And he wanted the evil blood of Nobunaga Oda. And he would avenge his home and every other innocent that had suffered from the `Demon King'.

***

Hideyoshi staggered into the castle. Servants whispered and he ignored them. He wobbled up the stairs as fast as he could. As long as he got to his chambers, he'd be safe and okay.

 

He opened his chamber doors to find Nene sitting on an orange floor pillow. She was looking at the door. Waiting. Waiting for him. He smiled at her weakly, “Nene...”

 

She scrambled up and ran to him desperately. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed herself against him. // He's safe. //

 

Hideyoshi pulled her back a little, “Nene, Magoichi... needs some time away. From everyone. I'm not sure what he's going to do. But I do know that it probably won't be good.”

 

“I know Hideyoshi. To tell you the truth though... I was more worried about you. I was so scared that Magoichi would hurt you. I'm so glad you're safe my dear,” she snuggled deeper into his embrace. She tilted her head up, “Hideyoshi, you know that if he does something stupid, the way children do, we will be there to catch him before he falls to far.”

 

Hideyoshi hugged her to him, “Oh Nene, I love you.”

 

***

Mitsuhide walked through the gardens of the palace alone. He needed to be alone. He felt... he didn't know what he was feeling. He felt a mixture of disgust and guilt. He was disgusted with himself. All he had ever wanted was a world without war. He had thought that Lord Nobunaga would be the one to achieve that. But so far all that had come from his conquests were more war and slaughter. Mitsuhide didn't believe in the slaughter of innocents.

And yet he had been part of the attack on Magoichi's village.

 

He had cut down an innocent peasant. A man that only worked for what he needed to survive; food and clothing for himself and his family. Lord Nobunaga had ordered that no one be left alive. Mitsuhide had helped make sure of that. He still couldn't get the image of all the slaughter he had witnessed today out of his head. He had stood among them, just looking at them. The image was still so clear.

 

*FLASHBACK*

 

Ravens, birds of death, flew all around the destroyed village. Cawing and crowing. Mitsuhide stood among the fallen peasants looking at every single body.

 

“So this a land without war... There is no struggle now... Huh. I made sure of that.”

 

He looks at the moon. So orange and red. A blood moon. The sky was so dark, no stars. He drops his sword to the ground.

 

“What... what was I thinking...”

 

*END FLASHBACK*

 

What had he been thinking? He didn't know. All he knew now was that he was having second thoughts about his place here with Lord Nobunaga. Maybe... this wasn't the right path. Maybe Lord Nobunaga wasn't as wondrous as he had thought. He didn't know for sure. He was confused. So confused. What should he do?

 

***

Nohime watched Mitsuhide from her balcony. He looked so deep in thought. She had heard he had helped in the attack on the Saika Village. She frowned. Was he feeling regretful? He looked it. She had come to know him well. She knew every single facial expression he made.

 

His soft smile meant he was pleased and happy. His raised eyebrow meant curiosity. His cheeks always mottled red when he exerted himself or got a little embarrassed. She giggled. He was so cute when he got embarrassed or flustered. Her favorite expression was when they made love. His eyes were so bright and full of love. She realized that now. It was love she had seen in his eyes. She had never seen him angry. But she imagined his anger expression was as deadly as she was.

 

Nohime felt compelled to go down and comfort him. She climbed over the balcony and jumped down the few stories. The drop would be nothing to her. She landed easily in a crouched position behind Mitsuhide. He had heard her land and quickly had turned and drew his katana.

 

He relaxed when he saw it was her, “Lady Nohime, you shouldn't sneak up on someone like that.”

 

“Forgive me Mitsuhide. I saw you down here and you looked so sad. I had to see what was bothering you.”

 

He turned away, “It is nothing for you to worry about.”

 

“I don't believe you.”

 

He chuckled, “You know me too well Nohime.”

 

“Well you are the man I love. I should know you quite well.”

 

Mitsuhide sighed, “If only our love could live.”

 

“It does live. It will always live. It is but dormant,” he smiled at her, “That it is.” They shared a small smile and Nohime brushed the back of her hand across his cheek. He held her hand to his face and there he placed a gentle kiss.

 

Neither of them even noticed that they were being watched.

 

***

Nobunaga watched from the balcony that Nohime had jumped from. He had seen her jump off and ran to the balcony to see why she had jumped. Then he saw her walk over to Mitsuhide. He had smiled seeing that she wanted to comfort him. He had been quite shaken after the attack on the Saika.

 

His smiling had stopped after he heard Nohime tell Mitsuhide that she loved him. Then he heard Mitsuhide profess love for her as well. How had he missed it? Oh, he knew. He had practically thrown her into Mitsuhide's arms. He had made him stay with her at all times. Protecting her. Keeping her company. Befriending her. Loving her. When instead he should have done those things. But no. He put Japan first.

 

Nobunaga turned away from the scene. It was his fault in reality. But his feeling of guilt passed when Nohime had laid her hand on Mitsuhide's cheek and he in turn kissed it. What had they done together besides fall in love? He was going to find out somehow. And when he did... he'd make them pay.

 

***

“Nohime... I am unsure of how to say this. After today's attack... I... I am having thoughts of uncertainty about Lord Nobunaga.”

 

“You believe his methods are unethical?”

 

“Yes. Today... I killed so many men. Men that were not warriors. All they did was work for what they needed. Shelter, clothes, food. One begged me for his life. And do you know what I said?”

 

Nohime turned her midnight eyes up to his tortured expression, “I looked at him and in a solemn voice I said `To oppose Lord Nobunaga is to oppose Heaven itself... therefore... it is only fitting that you should die.' That is what I said to him before I cut him down.”

 

“Mitsuhide... it will be okay. You are not the only one having those feelings. I am disgusted with Lord Nobunaga. In more ways than one. All of the pain and suffering he is causing to achieve peace,” she paused, “Mitsuhide, perhaps you need to take time away to think?”

 

“Perhaps. But you and I both may be needed later in the week. Lord Nobunaga is sending Hideyoshi and Katsuie Shibata out to attack the Uesugi and their leader Kenshin. The Uesugi are powerful. We may be called to reinforce them.”

 

“I see. And where is this battle?”

 

“Tedorigawa.”

 

“Well hopefully Hideyoshi and Katsuie can handle it.”

 

“We shall see.”