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« So, is there anything more that would please my adorable little mouse today ? Order and I shall oblige. »
I roll my eyes with a smile, accustomed to his teasing by now. I’m so happy we decided to take a walk together in the city of Azuchi today. The weather is exceptionally sunny, even though spring isn’t quite there yet, and I can still feel the fresh winter breeze on my cheeks as we walk hand in hand.
« I think I did enough shopping for today. » I tell Mitsuhide, gesturing to the packets he’s holding in his other hand. Besides, I don’t think you could carry much more. »
« I could, » he objects kindly, « but that would make me let go of your hand, and what a tragedy would that be. »
« I still don’t understand why you insisted on carrying my purchases yourself. We could have them delivered to the castle as usual. »
He’s lucky I didn’t go wild on any fabric roll, or he would have been in trouble. I chuckle a little to myself as I imagine Akechi Mitsuhide, the kitsune left-hand-man of the powerful Oda Nobunaga walking the streets trying to juggle and balance entire rolls of fabric while holding my hand. He doesn’t fail to notice my amusement, but doesn’t ask about it. He’s cunning enough, and knows me well enough, to have been able to follow my thought process to that mental image.
« I’m lucky indeed you only wanted haberdashery trinkets. » he smirks « but I remember clearly you telling me that ‘shopping dates’ were a common activity in your time period. »
« So you wanted to live that experience ? »
« By understanding your time, I get to know more about who you are and why you are the way you are. And discovering you, in any way, is my favourite pastime, as you should know. »
My cheeks flush a little at the barely veiled implications about discovering me, and he brings our entwined hands to my face to feel the hotness of it. His fingers are especially cold today, even more than usual, but somehow, it feels nice. It makes me cool down instead of letting my thoughts wander to places of wonders, which would be a lot better to have in our bedroom rather than in the middle of the street.
« Your cheeks are quite hot. » he commented « I dare to hope the wind isn’t causing you frostbite. Should we make a stop in your favourite tea house for a comforting cup of tea ? »
« You’re reading my mind. » I smile enthusiastically.
« If I was » he whispers in my ear « It’s not to a tea house I’d bring you… »
Now, I am completely red in the face.
« If you weren’t, you wouldn’t tease me like that ! »
« I don’t need to read your mind, little mouse. » he escapes a bark of laughter « it’s written all over your delicious face. »
I make a sulky pout, knowing damn well that I could never win against him in a battle of wit. Oh, he can goad all he wants now, I’ll have my revenge when we get back to the manor.
« Hey, you’re the kitsune, aren’t you ? »
We turn around to see who decided to interrupt our date, and find a man looking at Mistuhide with clear contempt. He doesn’t look like a ronin looking for trouble, but rather like a retainer.
« And you are ? » asks Mitsuhide politely.
« Loyal to the Oda. »
That didn’t answer the question, but it made his intentions clear. Although Mitsuhide and I have been used to it by now, looks of contempt are often following him around for being a traitor. He never tried to explain that his alliance with the despicable and disgusting wannabe-shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki was all a ploy to unveil a larger treason and that he was never serious. Instead, he encouraged the narrative in the Oda ranks that he came back begging Nobunaga to take him back when his plan to overthrow him plummeted, and that Nobunaga, in his great magnanimity, agreed to pardon him.
I felt it was unfair, at first. But he explained that enemies of the Oda would be delighted to know that a general so close to Nobunaga committed treason once already, and that it was acknowledged. It meant that they could try to approach him to make him betray again, as if he was just waiting for a new opportunity. ‘Once a traitor, always a traitor’, as the saying goes.
It was his line of work. I learned it through the time we spent together, and although I was sometimes sad that he was so misunderstood, always veiled in shadows, a selfish part of me was full of pride to know that no one but me knew his true, gentle character. He was my secret. And my job was to keep it safe, and let him act the ‘bad-guy part’ in public.
« Delighted to meet you. » Mitsuhide nods before he grips my hand tighter « Now, if you don’t mind, we are quite busy… »
He tries to turn around and put a halt to this unpleasant conversation, but the retainer grabs him by the shoulder and yanks him back, which causes our hands to part.
« Hey ! » I protest « We’re not interested in talking to you ! »
Well, so long for leaving Mitsuhide to deal with what he sowed himself. Even though I know I should stay out of this, I can’t let him be bullied in front of me for something he’s innocent of, and say nothing. It’s just not ‘me’.
« Shut up, chatelaine. » he says « This doesn’t concern you. »
« It does, actually ! » I put my fists on my hips « Nobunaga pardoned him, end of topic ! And you’re coming at us out of nowhere, all about justice that doesn’t even need to be talked about ! »
« That fox can fool Nobunaga, but not me ! »
« Oh so you’re doubting your own lord’s judgement, now ?! » I continue, « Way to go for someone who thinks so highly of his so-called loyalty ! »
« It’s not worth it. » Mitsuhide says with a look of contempt in the retainer’s direction « Let’s go. »
« You don’t get to talk to me like that, woman ! » The retainer pulls his sword from his scabbard.
Mitsuhide pulls me behind him, but with his other hand full with my packets, he isn’t as quick to unsheathe than usual, and the retainer takes that opportunity to slash him across his defenseless chest.
« Guh! »
« Mitsuhide ! » I call.
My yell seems to make the retainer come back to his senses, then he blinks a few times and turns white in the face when he realizes he just assaulted one of the closest warlords of Nobunaga and that repercussions would undoubtedly come his way.
« I… I should go… » he mutters.
« Get some help ! » I yell in his direction, wrapping my arms around Mitsuhide.
« Miss, I’ll take him back to his manor. »
I didn’t know when that happened, but Kyubei, Mitsuhide’s loyal vassal, is suddenly by my side. If only he arrived a little earlier…
« I don’t want to leave him… » I cry.
« We need medical supplies. » he says « I will also send word to lord Ieyasu. I know you helped on the battlefield before. You could help him, but you need to get the supplies first. »
His words make a lot of sense, but leaving him…
« Don’t worry… » says Mitsuhide, grimacing in pain « I’m not gonna die while you’re gone. »
« You’re not gonna die AT ALL, you idiot ! »
« Not with a pretty nurse like you, I’m sure I won’t. » he smiles before his eyes lose their spark and he falls unconscious.
« Mitsuhide ! » I call.
I want to shake him up, but the bloodstain is still growing on his chest. Full of adrenaline, I run the other way to find a fabric I can easily make bandages with, and of sufficient length to wrap tightly around his torso. When I come back to the manor, Ieyasu is already there.
« Is he alright ? » I ask in a panic.
« I made a salve that will purify the wound. » He gives me a little pot of paste « He’s grunting but doesn’t seem hot, he might escape the fever if we clean the wound now and apply the medicine. It doesn’t look too deep, fortunately, but you might need to sew if you believe it’s clean enough. »
Thank you, Ieyasu… » I let out a deep breath « I’ll get to work immediately. »
« Do you need me to help you ? »
« No. » I shake my head with a smile « It’s… my fault it happened… »
« I don’t think it’s true. And I don’t think he thinks so, either. » He averts his eyes « You’re a hothead who jumps in the fray whatever the situation, and we all know it. We deal with it. I’d bet it’s what he finds endearing in you. »
« Thank you…? » I say, not sure it was a compliment.
« Go see him. He needs you. »
« Yes… Thank you again for the salve… »
I penetrate Mitsuhide’s room and find him lying on his futon, still in his spoiled clothes. He looks asleep. Kyubei comes in shortly after me, with hot water, washcloths and a bar of soap, and helps me undress him before he leaves me alone to clean him up.
I remove the fortune bandage that was done to stop the immediate bleeding and clean the dried blood. As soon as the compress is off, new blood comes gushing out the open wound. Ieyasu was right, I might have to sew him up… but the cut wasn’t that deep, if we manage to keep it from getting infected, it might not be life-threatening.
« Here’s my… little mouse… »
Mitsuhide has his eyes open and a mocking smile on his lips.
« Don’t talk, just rest. » I whisper while passing the wet cloth on his chest « I’ll take care of you. »
« How fortunate I am… »
« I wouldn’t call you fortunate… » I purse my lips, looking at the damages.
« Well, I do have the… chatelaine of Azuchi castle, pride of the Oda… acting as my private nurse… »
« Stop saying nonsense, please. » I scold, aware of how his sentences were chopped because of the difficulty he has to breathe properly. « If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t be in this situation in the first place. »
« He was looking… for trouble long before… you stepped in… »
« I said stop. »
Mitsuhide smirks mockingly, but doesn't push the conversation further while I use the soap to clean up the wound. Soon, I can hear his breath steady and I figure he fell back asleep. I feel a little hesitant to apply the salve Ieyasu made, afraid that the cold contact could wake him up, but I still go ahead. In any case, I’ll have to bandage him again afterwards and he will undoubtedly wake up for that.
When the paste has dried up, as if it was plaster holding him together, I call Kyubei to help me hold him up so I could bandage his chest tightly with the fabric I bought. Mitsuhide wakes up as expected, but lets us work in peace and falls back into slumber as soon as we lay him down. He must be exhausted… I decided to bring some of my current sewing work next to his futon so I can keep watching over him until he wakes up again.
It’s quiet, incredibly quiet. The only thing I can hear is my lover’s ragged breath, sometimes easing down, then coming back in full force. My eyelids also feel heavy and I struggle to stay focused on my needlework. Eventually, I bring a futon next to his, still refusing to leave his side, and lay on it, letting my hand wander on his cheeks and forehead, in order to check his body temperature.
« Please, please, don’t stop fighting… » I whisper before I join him into slumber.
In the morning, I open my eyes and meet Mitsuhide’s. He’s smiling and doesn’t seem to be sweating.
« How are you feeling ? » I ask.
« Did you stay awake throughout the night to watch over me ? »
« I did. Well, I tried. I had to sleep at some point, but… I’d say most of the night, if I’m being honest. You didn’t answer my question. »
« The best nurse there is. » he shakes his head with a satisfied smile « Thank to your excellent care, I feel much better now. In fact, I could take you on another date right this minute. »
« You don’t move an inch ! » I warn, putting my hand on his shoulders « you need rest and your wounds need to close. It’s gonna take time, but you’re not allowed out of bed ! »
« My, this adorable nurse turned demon so fast. »
« I’m not joking. »
« I know. » he sighs « I won’t get up. »
He sinks into his futon and grabs my hand with a smile, putting it on his cheek as if asking to be petted. I keep sending him a nasty glare, just to make sure he understands I’m not joking, but it soon cracks into a smile. He knows how to make a terribly stressful situation into a bonding moment, I give him that.
« When it’s over, I’ll bring you on another date. » he whispers « and this time, we’ll end it with that teashop you particularly affectionate. »
« Deal. » I move my hand to his mane to weave my fingers there and massage him « but no more shopping date. »
« Why not ? » he frowns « What if I want to pamper you ? »
« I meant no more carrying my things around. » I specify « I’ll carry them myself, or have them delivered. »
« Reasonable enough. » he nods « I agree I don’t want to spend all my days in bed like today. Or, if I do, I’d rather be tucked in with you. »
« Well first, I’ll change your bandage since you’re awake, and bring you something to eat. » I chuckle « I know I said ‘lie down and don’t move !’ but I’m gonna need you to straighten up for that, if you feel like you can, of course… I can ask Kyubei to help me, if you prefer… »
« I’m not incapacitated… » he grumbles, sitting up.
« Well, you did get slashed across the chest. »
« It’s not that deep… »
I don’t answer and start unwrapping him before I clean the wound again just like yesterday. It doesn’t look great to be honest, but at least it doesn’t look like it’s infected. Once I’m done, I plaster back some of the salve Ieyasu made and actually finish the container. I’ll ask some more from him next time I see him.
That done, I wrap a new fabric around his waist and stand up.
« I’ll bring you some food… »
« Someone said food ? » I hear behind me.
Masamune has come in and I haven't even realized. He’s carrying a tray and lays it near Mitsuhide.
« Nutricious rice porridge is a must for recovery, but since you’re more injured than sick, I added some extra like pickles and fried tofu. »
« You know I don’t care. » grumbles Mitsuhide.
« And I know you’ll eat it all, all the same ! »
« Masamune’s right, Mitsuhide ! » I add « Food gives strength and helps you heal ! »
He keeps grumbling, but when I bring a spoonful of porridge in front of his eyes, his eyes soften.
« Well, I didn’t think I was going to be spoonfed. »
« If that makes you eat… » I laugh a little.
« I don’t care for the food, it’s all tasteless to me, but when you’re the one feeding me, it’s quite the experience enrichment. »
« I’ll never understand how you can’t care… » Now it’s Masamune’s time to grumble. « Food is one of the greatest pleasures in life. »
« Especially coming from such a good cook ! » I add « thanks again, Masamune. »
Mitsuhide purses his lips and I wonder for a second if he’s gonna make a witty comment, but he just opens his mouth for the spoon. After he swallows, he talks again.
« Thank you, Masamune. » he says, with a somewhat distant look on his face « Now, if you don’t mind, I’d rather not have an audience. »
« No prob’. » Masamune stands up and stretches his arms a little before he makes his way to the door. « I trust the lass will take good care of you. »
« On that, we are in agreement. » Mitsuhide replies.
Once Masamune’s gone, he reports his attention on me and the food, and let me feed him until every dish is empty. Then, he lays back on the futon.
« I guess you’re going to tell me I need rest, now. »
« Bingo. » I chuckle, tucking him in « The more you cooperate, the faster we can be together again. »
« Then I don’t have much choice. » his cold fingers brush on my cheek and I slightly turn my head to kiss them. "Before that, though, would you mind sending Kyubei in ? I had some meetings and work to take care of and unfortunately, this will befall him. »
« Sure. » I nod « I don’t think he minds, honestly. Everyone’s looking forward to your recovery. »
« Then I’ll be the most obedient patient you ever had. »
As I close the door and let Kyubei in, I bring my hands to my chest and draw a long sigh. I love him so much it’s hard not to worry, but he seems already in better shape. I just have to believe in him to get better and believe in me, to nurse him back to health.