Ruins

The second day of travel and training was harder, but eventually after our second rest and meal, I convinced Masamune to do one more session with me and landed two blows before he took me down. At this point I am sufficient enough to postpone another kidnapping long enough for someone to come help, the practice shots I've got in with the gun proves my aim, once adjusted for the gun's movement, is more than adequate. When we finally spar with the katana I was able to beat my sensei after only two defeats.

We arrive at my village tomorrow evening and my sensei believes I'm skilled enough to defend myself long enough for assistance to arrive. It's not my end goal, but for only two days of training, the men seem impressed. They also seem to be forgetting that I've been dancing nearly my entire life, and many of the dance movements I learned were based off of the movements used for these types of fighting, I even recognize movements for the katana from dances I've done.

At the meal this second night there were some grumbling from the men that they were disappointed they haven't seen me dance or sing yet on our journey. I offered to but Nobunaga did not approve. He told the men that "when the time is right they would get to see and hear the Devil's songbird again, but for now we all need to stay rested, alert, and focused."

After our meal Masamune agreed to spar again with the katana. I was quickly falling in love with this weapon. It feels like an extension of my body. Masamune believes that part of the reason I'm so effective with this weapon is the relationship I have to it. After practice he walked back to the tent with me. "Tomorrow... I won't have this kind of time to train with you... I'll be going ahead with the scouting party. I'm sure one of your men will be willing to spare with you though. If Toyotomi can see through your feminine charm he can be— terrifying with a blade. I doubt he'll get there with you though. Nobunaga won't be available either... nor will Mitsunari..." he sounds frustrated.

"Is Ieyasu not skilled with a Katana?" I ask, genuinely curious about what combat styles the prickly healer uses in battle.

Masamune rubs his forehead with a sigh. "He is skilled with a blade, but I wouldn't dream of allowing the two of you to spar."

"Why?"

He laughs. "It would never end. He fights like you. The blade is merely an extension of him and he's truly graceful. He's only ever been cut by one person..." his expression goes dark.

"Who?"

He looks up at me, anger flooding his features. "Mitsuhide."

We let the rest of the conversation fall away. I'm too exhausted right now to discuss the emotional toll that albino kitsune's betrayal has had on these men. When I enter the tent I crawl into the futon and drift into sleep.

I was woken up by the gentle tugging at my clothing. When I opened my eyes I saw both of my warlords there, unwrapping me from my attire. "What is this?" I ask groggily.

Nobunaga speaks slow and low. "I summoned him here to discuss what his scouts have reported back with." They both smile warmer than I've seen all day.

"That's right." Hideyoshi sounds excited. "And while we were trying to discuss such important things we were continuously distracted by the fact that you are sleeping in all of this day time attire after a long day of travel and training." They finally loosen the obi and a sense of relief washes through my ribs. As they continue to part the layers of my outfit I sit up and let the fabrics fall off my upper body and slide my arms out. That's when I notice the pitter patter from outside. "When did it start raining?" I ask before falling back to the blankets and lifting my hips for them to remove all of the fabrics.

Hideyoshi answers as Nobunaga brings his mouth to one breast and his hand to the other. "Not too long ago, it sounds like it is getting worse by the minute."

I whine my words as Nobunaga pinches and rolls the nipple in his hand and his tongue flicks the other. "Then you should stay. You could get sick if you get too wet." He smiles before kissing me.

Nobunaga's other hand moves South from the mounds he's been working on and as he glides a finger across me he smiles and speaks still pressed against my breast. "Speaking of wet."

Hideyoshi moves down and begins to kiss and lick. His hum against the sensitive nub causes my hips to rise and fall with my first real moan. I look down at them. "Should I try to hide my moans?" I ask innocently.

Nobunaga comes up to my face. "Let them hear. I can't stand being apart from you two any longer."

Hideyoshi looks up from his meal. "Nobu, we should be gentle with her. She's been training so hard she fell asleep in her clothes." Nobunaga nodded in agreement before turning back to me and speaks in a kind tone. "Let us do all of the work." I bite my lip as I nod in response.

We were curled up in a sweaty mess afterwards as they sprinkled kisses on my body along with whispers of "beautiful," "good job," and "thank you."

The storm outside really did pick up while they were making my body spasm and crash under their work.

I lay flat on my back as they each curl around either side of me. Nobunaga wants more kisses and claims them from my lips. Hideyoshi seems satisfied with cuddling my warm body until he notices Nobunaga still kissing me. "Nobu! Let her rest." He sounds like his normal mothering self which makes Nobunaga and I chuckle.

I run my hand through his honey colored hair. "Thank you for wanting what is best for me Hide. Maybe you could give him what he needs right now?"

"No." Nobunaga sounds serious. "I'm sorry. It's just—" he sits up. "I have this odd feeling about tomorrow..." Hideyoshi and I both sit up as he continues. "I just feel like I need to hold on to Rina more fiercely right now."

Hideyoshi kisses my shoulder before speaking. "The storm sounds like it is easing. I should go back to my tent."

"Please don't." Nobunaga looks down, his eyes are closed as he tries to process his thoughts. "I'd like to hold both of you." I turned into Nobunaga and so did Hideyoshi. Once he had his arms around us I leaned up for a kiss. I can feel his worry now as he tenderly presses his lips to mine.

When we wake up the next morning Hideyoshi is already gone but there is a note where he had been. Nobunaga read it aloud.

"Whatever today, tomorrow, or the future has in store for us, we will face it together."

After reading the note Nobunaga rolled on top of me. "Together." He brushes his nose to mine and I giggle before repeater the word and sealing it all with a kiss.

Nobunaga had me ride with him again during the first leg. I sat side-saddle so I could look at him better. "Nobu—" I whisper. The corners of his mouth turn up slightly as I continue. "Are you proud of me?"

He looks down at me with lowered brows. "I'm proud of the work you've been putting into your training. Although I did miss your fervor in bed the last two nights." A soft smile begins to grow on my face.

I bring a hand to his cheek as he looks back up to the path. "I've enjoyed the way you've spoiled me these last two days though." He slightly leans into my hand.

"We will be sure to keep that in mind." He smirks before leaning forward to kiss me.

During our rest I tried to convince Ieyasu to spar with me, but he refused, saying he had too much other work to do to "play" with me and glares until I left. Since no one will spar with me I decide to walk to the river, just upstream from where they are letting the horses drink. I sit in the shade of the trees by the water after taking a drink and splashing my face. Listening to the rushing water quickly pulls me into a rest.

The sun is low, the sky is a deep orange that looks almost red as it reflect on the lake at the west side of my village. I'm sitting on the gazebo at the end of the bridge, the one my sisters and I would sneak up to at night in the summer to swim naked in the moonlight. A goban is in front of me and as the pieces fade into existence the game is not in my favor.

My father's voice appears before his body. "How will you turn things around in your favor?" He is in front of me wearing is usual black and grey attire. His long hair is completely down, as if he is ready to retire for the evening. His normally calm and well rested featured look exhausted.

"Papa, are you sick?" I reach for his hand that is rested on the table but when I would have reached him my hand passes through to the table and I gasp.

"It's your turn Rina. How are you going to win?" He is unfazed by the fact that we cannot touch.

I search the goban board carefully weighing all of my options. "I only see one way to win, but it's risky, it requires great sacrifice."

A strong gust of wind blows through the gazebo out towards the water just as I look up from the board. My father smiles as the wind starts to blow pieces of him out over the water. Tears begin to spill from my eyes as I watch him disappearing piece by piece.

I'm awoken by one of my guards. "Lady Oda, the party is preparing to head out again."

As we get closer to our destination a few scouts meet Nobunaga and report what they've found. Shortly after he has me ride by his side. When we enter the trees that surround my village I'm not filled with the familiar comfort I thought it would bring me. Something feels off, something smells off. Nobunaga must sense my discomfort because he reaches for my hand. "The scouts that went ahead report that it's—" both of our attention snaps to the movement we hear and I suck in a sharp breath as I try to decide if what I'm seeing is real and squeeze his hand.

White feathers. White, glowing peacock feathers retreating from us towards my village, just like in my dream. I quickly pull my hand from Nobunaga's and and urge my horse to chase. I ignore Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and all others yelling for me to wait in pursuit of those white feathers.

I urge my horse faster, trying to see more of the bird those glowing feathers belong to. Just when I think I see some of its body I am exiting the trees to see my childhood home and quickly dismount.

I've been gone for over a year. Over the last three days I've been trying to stop myself from envisioning the village the way it was when I left. Before I joined Nobunaga it was a slowly growing fishing village. Other than the ornate temples and the large house where I grew up, the village is made up of simple homes. Compared to Azuchi this place is small. It was small. Now as I look out over the village it is in ruins.

Only the temple and my family's house are left standing. All of the simple houses and businesses that lined the streets are piles of burnt rubble. My vision is blurry from the tears in my eyes as I look over all of the destruction. As the first tears leave my eyes and my vision clears for a moment I notice the bodies. There are trails of blood, and I see that some of Nobunaga's men are already down there moving the bodies, but the streets are still lined with the bloody and burned corpses of my people.

As my scream of agony pierces the air my knees buckle. Before I hit the ground Nobunaga is there to catch me and my vision goes dark.