Not one of your brothersâŚ
Another oldie but a goodieâŚ
She was so over the day. Nothing seemed like it was going to go well. First, the vase broke. Then she spilled Nobunagaâs sake all over his tray for lunch. She then proceeded to stab herself at least 20 times with the needle as she tried to sew something back on but when it was finished, she noticed the whole seem was crooked. She threw her hands up in frustration, and all she could do was hope for a few minutes of quiet somewhere. She was afraid that her bad luck would follow her to her room, so she continued on a footpath out of the gardens. It was now just before sunset where the sky is still blue but also grey. She had never traveled on this path before. She knew she couldnât go very far she just needed a small bit to walk off the bad day. Before she knew it, she was looking at what looked like another garden from the castle, but it was forgotten and overgrown. She looked within the hip-high walls and saw a small bench. She found the entrance and made her way to the seat enjoying the wildness of the flowers. She watched them sway back and forth and the soft scent that hung on the early fall air. She closed her eyes and just breathed in and out. She had no realization that the time had really gotten away from her but when she opened her eyes the last rays of the golden sun were dying. It was dark. The path she took was simple to get back to the castle as she wasnât all that far away. She just had no desire to go back even now. She also doubted anyone would miss her today. She closed her eyes again and just continued to breathe in and out slowly.
The evening war counsel had just ended when the warlords all filed out to head home for the evening when the noticed a few of the staff looking horrified and confused. Hideyoshi had walked over to talk with them as the other just stopped and watched. Hideyoshiâs face showed signs of concern, then worry, then panic. The other warlords started to feel it in the air as well. Nobunaga walked out to see why everyone was still here. âHideyoshi what is going on?â, he asked in his imperious tone.
âThe princess, my lord, she is gone,â Hideyoshi replied now letting his fear show.
âWhat?â, was the reply not only from Nobunaga but the other four men who were waiting around.
âIt seems the princess had an awful day. So she went for a walk in the afternoon and hadnât been seen since.â, Hideyoshi was trying his hardest just to state things and remain calm. He wasnât doing a good job.
âMasamune, you and Ieyasu go into town and see if you can find her. Hideyoshi, you and Mitsunari walk to the forest beyond town see if anyone saw her.â, Nobunaga was good at keeping a clear head at times like these.
âWhat shall I do my lord?â,Mitsuhide asked.
âDo whatever you normally do, just find her.â Nobunaga spoke out,â You watch her the closest and you who has all your own allies, you should be the one to find her.â He smiled at his own words, and he started to go to his room in the tensu,âBring her back Mitsuhide or you will regret it for the rest of your life.â
âDid you truly just threaten me, my lord.â
âNo I didnât but its a feeling.â
Mitsuhide the least trusted person in the Oda forces now watched his lord walk away from him. Did he know? He knew that he watched her, he did much more then he should. What else did his lord know? He shook his head and wandered off to her favorite place, the garden. She would often sit and just watch as everything happened around her. It happened to be one of his favorite places as well. She would have gone this way if she was bothered by something. She would need to, he thought. He stopped and asked in of the guard if he had seen the Princess that afternoon and of course the guard replied he had and pointed to which way she had walked. He began his trek to follow her, and he hoped she hadnât found herself in any trouble.
She now opened her eyes to the darkness surrounding her. Usually, she would be scared, but tonight she welcomed it like an old friend. This time instead of closing her eyes she looked upwards at the sky and just sat there watching the sky and stars. It was so vast and clear unlike in modern times. She was lost again in her own thoughts while staring upwards.
He rounded the path and saw her sitting in an old forgotten garden. She had her head tilted toward the sky. He hoped nothing was seriously wrong with her, but she sat still, so very still. He almost didnât want to go over there because of how still she was. He was scared. If something had happened to her, he honestly didnât know what he would do. The monster would be unleashed that is for sure. He walked closer slowly when he heard her breath. That sound was glorious at that moment. âPrincess?â,He asked into the night.
âWhat are you doing out here Mitsuhide? Plotting again?â, she replied.
âI was looking for you.â He calmly stated.
âWhy? Why would you care if I disappeared? Or are you just following orders?â,she huffed out.
âI would care, surprisingly if you disappeared. You are the closest thing I have to a pet.â He answered back knowing this was a familiar game he played. He really would care if she disappeared, he didnât know why but he knew he would care genuinely.
âA pet huh?â, she nearly screamed, âI am not somebodyâs stupid pet!â
Taken back by her anger and her words he looked to see tears streaming down her face. He moved closer to sit beside her. âOh, my sweet dear princess.â He reached out to her face as she sat there stunned. The tears were still flowing, but she had a look of pure confusion in her eyes.
âWhat?â, she managed to choke out.
He was still wiping the tears away as he put his finger to her lips. âShh, my princess.â He just put one arm around her and began to look up at the night sky too.
They sat there for awhile quietly looking at the stars when she turned to him,â You are not being like yourself Mitsuhide.â
âYou normally tease and or mentally devour anyone who shows the slightest weakness. Youâre not tonight why?â
âI didnât understand it myself, Princess. He was right though if I hadnât found you, I would have ever well not existed.â
âWait what?â, she asked.
âYes indeed.â, he replied.
âNow youâre just confusing me. Who said what? And why are you nice?â
âNobunaga said I needed to find you. He was right. I did need to find you. As far as being nice to you. Well, that is a different story for another time.â He said with his snake-like smile. Surprisingly she just accepted his words and sighed.
âDo we have to go back now?â
âNo, we do not. Youâre safe. Thatâs all that matters.â
âGood. I am not ready to go back.â She replied. She then placed her head against his arm. He then moved her closer by removing that arm and putting it around her drawing her closer to him so she wouldnât be cold and she could relax against him. She did. Soon her breathing was but steady.
âDo you want to talk about it?â, he asked in a soft voice.
âI had a bad day.â,she quickly replied.
âA bad day can take a lot out of a person,â he softly said.âIf you want to talk, I can listen. If you want to sit here, we can.â
She glanced up at him. She had never seen him like this. It did confuse her but only because this was so unlike him. When he said she was like a pet, she lost control of everything, but that was his usual self. He teased her, and he played with words but the tender side of him she didnât know.âIt started like thisâŚâŚâ and she went on to describe the day. He didnât laugh or make any teasing comments he sat there with his head up to the sky listening to every word she said.
âThatâs not the real reason you are so upset, is it?â, he asked as he turned from looking at the heavens to look at something even more beautiful.
âI guess not,â she said with a humph,âI miss before. I guess that didnât hit me until you just said that.â
âTell me about it.â, He said. He never thought too much of her life before, he didnât seem to care about it but when she would let something slip her face would become even more radiant.
âOh. You had a family.â He said surprised at that. He could see her with children surrounding her, a man so unlike himself holding her tight. He nearly broke him as he saw that in his mindâs eye.
âYeah, my parents and I were close. I have a sister as well.â, she said softly.
âNot a husband?â, he asked.
âNo husband.â She chuckled to herself.
He took a deep breath in and held it. She has no attachments. He felt lighter than air at that moment.
âI truly am sorry Princess about the loss of that family. However, you can have a new family here if you wish it.â He said looking down at her.
âYou can have many brothers.â He smiled,âThey are all very fond of you.â
âBrothers huh? I never had brothers before.â She smiled back. âSo I would trade my family in The future for six brothers?â
âNo my dear princess not six,â he hastened to say.
âOh, not six?â, she looked up at him.
âNo my princess not six, only five would be your brothers.â He said softly.
âWhat would the sixth one be then?â, she whispered back.
âSo much more than your brother.â He said.
She smiled at that. She began to feel the night air as it was cool and getting cooler by the minute.
âI think we should go back to the castle now. You said the others were also looking for me.â She hesitantly said.
âIf that is your desire.â He said softly. He stood up and offered his hands to help her up. Gently he pulled and caught her in his arms. â Just so you understand.â He whispered right before his lips touched hers. After five minutes or so they were on the path leading back to the castle. Her lips still burned with the touch of his lips. They walked at her pace and held hands. When they got to the castle proper, he motioned to a page to take a message to Nobunaga that the princess was home and in her room.
He walked her to her door. She looked up at him and then turned to step into her room as he was going to turn away, he felt a hand on his sleeve gently tugging him over the threshold. He looked at her with questions in his eyes.
âI donât want to be alone right now, and I donât want one of my brothers.â She smiled at him.
âDo you know what you are asking?â, he said softly.
âNo, not really. I am tired. I want to sleep. I donât want to be alone either.â
âPrincess as long as you know and understand I will stay.â
She turned down the futon and lowered the lantern. He was staring at her after she had changed into a sleeping kimono. She had handed him one as well. He wondered why she had a sleeping kimono for a man. âI made it for you.â Was her reply. He lowered himself onto the futon next to her, and under the covers, she had moved closer to him. He took her in his arms as she fell quickly into dreams. He smiled to himself at all the new feelings that had emerged tonight. She would be his. He knew it, and with that, he surrendered himself into sleep as well.
Later that night the door to her room slid just enough so Nobunaga could see in. He smiled to himself with the knowledge he was right. He shut the door and walked away smiling the whole way brightly.
