A Mitsunari Night's Dream

Chapter Fifteen - The Calm

From the Military Notes of Ishida Mitsunari...

....

Personal comments:

One hundred and twenty breaths represents a very long period of time, I have discovered. Deployment of strategy postponed until I am able to discover a method of keeping Okatsu still. Consulted Nobunaga and received following suggestion. "Tie her up." Am not certain this was in jest. After leaving Nobunaga, I came across Hideyoshi, who stopped to help one of the maids carry a heavy vase. Hideyoshi believes in protecting the people, especially those he loves. I will take that idea from Hideyoshi this afternoon, as Okatsu needs protecting. I believe I have an idea, one that will be allow me to rescue her, and keep her still for, I hope, one hundred and twenty breaths.

Lady Mai is an excellent co-conspirator. Not only was she willing and able to help me with my strategy to prevent Okatsu from having to enter the silver mine, she suggested that I use the free afternoon to take Okatsu on something called a "date." Per Mai, a good date includes spending time together, going out for a meal or tea, finding activities you both enjoy together, and at the end of the "date," you might share a kiss.

I will kiss Okatsu today.

If she permits it.

I hope she permits it.

"Perhaps you and I should run off."

I wasn't sure I had heard him correctly. "Run off?" Did he mean just disappear for good? I've already done that once. "Hideyoshi and Nobunaga would be worried if we did that."

"For the afternoon. Explore the terrain around Genba. You would enjoy that, would you not?" He carried me over to where Moonlight was tied to a tree. Then with not much grace, plunked me onto her back. "I believe we are not far from Takayama. We could have tea in the castle town."

"What about your work?" The desire to spend more time in the sunlight warred with the responsibility to help Mitsunari.

"If we had stayed at the mine, I would not be working. We could ride to Takayama, explore, and still return before the others." Mitsunari was already turning his horse northward. Moonlight, who apparently had become very good friends with Mitsunari's horse, followed suit. I had been outvoted. But I was ok with that.

"On the condition that if Hideyoshi finds out, you tell him this was your idea." I was in enough trouble with the Azuchi housemother as it was.

"Hideyoshi would agree that it is good sometimes to get outside." He leaned across his horse and nudged me with his shoulder... then caught himself in a balance check. "He often reminds me to take care of myself and to take breaks outside."

"How long have you worked for Hideyoshi?" Mitsunari had a positive view of everyone, even the permanently grouchy Ieyasu, but his relationship with Hideyoshi seemed to be long-standing, and almost brotherly.

"You are asking me questions? Perhaps we could exchange answers to thirty-six questions." Before I could figure out where that non sequitur came from, he continued. "Over ten years. I was a temple page – because otherwise I was an unwanted second son. Lord Hideyoshi realized my skill with numbers and asked me to join him."