Ten Things I Hate About Mitsuhide

Chapter 24 - Bellflower

Somehow I knew it would be you who betrayed me, Kaya.

From Mitsuhide's townhouse in Sakai to a pirate ship in the middle of the Japan sea in one day. Basically, I had traded one 'prison' for another.

Unsure of my allegiance, Motonari had taken away my dagger, scooped me up with Mitsuhide, and brought me on board his ship. I owed my captivity to the fact that I was considered less of a threat on board this ship as opposed to being left in Sakai as a potential witness. 'Kaya' was a loose end, able to tell Oda forces what had happened. Or tell them that he was using one of the Nanban carracks, rather than one of his clan's warships.

As I was led to my quarters, I'd heard Motonari tell his men to chain Mitsuhide up in the brig.

At least I was being spared incarceration with a man who probably hated me right now. I was given a room with a bed – a European bed, not a futon. There was even a porthole, possibly big enough for me to wiggle through, but when I looked out, all I saw was ocean, so it was pointless to try to escape.

Somehow I knew it would be you who betrayed me, Kaya.

'Yeah, well, don't threaten to kill a kid then, dude. Our contract didn't say anything about murder, especially of a civilian. You should know me better than that. I risked my life for Hiko once already. Of course I would do it again.'

Unfortunately the imaginary Mitsuhide in my head didn't have that teasing grin or those wicked sideways glances. No. Instead, I had his last words to me on endless repeat.

Somehow I knew it would be you who betrayed me, Kaya.

That look on his face. It had been pure ice. Lord help me if he ever escaped from the brig, because I'd probably be near the top of his hit list. With a bullet, as they say.

Ugh. I paced the smallish room, wondering what I should do next. Would Motonari set me free once we reached our next destination? Otherwise, would I be held with Mitsuhide and his friends? Maybe I could convince the pirate to drop me off somewhere.

Where would I go though? Mai and Hideyoshi were still the only link (tenuous as it was) I had to Aki. If he had also somehow gotten swept up in this, then I was better off sticking with Motonari and his crew. At least if he was being held captive with them, I would complete the finding part of my mission and move on somehow to the rescue aspect. In that, I could be making headway toward my goal.

Somehow I knew it would be you who betrayed me, Kaya.

Kaya. Guess I was demoted from "Brat." I shook my head, trying to rid the echo of his voice from it, and the bellflowers on my hairsticks tickled the top of my earlobe.

Somehow I knew it would be you who betrayed me, Kaya.

...Kaya.

Kaya.

Wait...

Son of a bi-

There was an abrupt knock on the door. "You better be decent wench, I'm coming in."

Wench? Really?

That was the only warning I got before the door swung open and Motonari strode in. He'd traded his merchant silks for captain's gear, and the ingratiating smile for a fierce scowl.

I shrank back against the wall, doing my best to look terrified. Instinct told me was that I would be safest if Motonari continued to view me as a concubine Mitsuhide purchased at the slave market. If he didn't see me as a threat, I would have more options. And more freedom.