Ten Things I Hate About Mitsuhide

Chapter 31: Gacha 4 - Mitsuhide POV - Unasked

"Do not delay your return. With the resurrection of Motonari, it is imperative that all of my vassals be prepared for the next battle." Nobunaga clapped his hand on Mitsuhide's shoulder. Mitsuhide knew this was an acknowledgement, in fact, praise of the work he had performed thus far. That hand, and the light squeeze said, 'thank you for your loyalty, I am glad you are at my side.'

Despite the praise, he was aware that they were still only at the beginning of the long battle for unification. Nobunaga had just ordered him back to Azuchi, but Mitsuhide had already known that his time in Sakai had come to an end. There was nothing left to be accomplished here that could not also be accomplished in Azuchi. Yet, even with that knowledge, he risked looking toward the deck where Katsu was carefully organizing their supplies. How would she feel about leaving Sakai with her mission unfulfilled?

Nobunaga followed the direction of his gaze. "An interesting woman, this 'Kaya.' Several months ago, a youth by the name of Katsu helped translate a conversation between a Nanban merchant and myself. At the time, I offered, er, him a place in Azuchi. Please inform... Katsu... that this offer is still available." Though Nobunaga didn't directly state that there would also be a place available in his bed, Mitsuhide knew that subsequent offer would be made to Katsu in due time.

Not letting his internal rejection of that idea show on his face, Mitsuhide simply nodded. "I will relay the information to Katsu. I have agreed to help her locate her missing father, though, as my lord wishes, I would be able to oversee that process from Azuchi."

"Good. I like her." Mai leaned into Hideyoshi's embrace... in fact she'd hardly left it since they'd been rescued. "It will be nice to have another woman around."

"Dear me, is living with Azuchi's housemistress not enough for you, Mouse?" Mitsuhide included Hideyoshi in the teasing tone he rarely dared use with Nobunaga, and had the reward of seeing a faint blush on the man's face.

"We can indeed prepare quarters for her in the castle. That is, my friend, if you can catch her." Hideyoshi lobbed that teasing tone right back at him, and gestured to the docks, where Katsu was currently dashing away from the ship.

"Catching her is simple enough. Bringing her to Azuchi in one piece after that, is not something I can promise." With a quick bow to them all, Mitsuhide took off after the brat. Odds were less that she was running away, and more that she had seen someone suspicious and gone in pursuit without thinking. Motonari?

Would she never learn to think before acting?

Keeping an eye on his wayward charge, Mitsuhide soon gave up trying to melt invisibly into the crowd, hoping that at the end of the chase, he would not find Katsu again in danger. Motonari would be less than friendly after she destroyed his fort. For that matter, Mitsuhide was not eager to spend another month searching for a missing person if the pirate-lord decided to take her prisoner again in revenge.

Nor would Nobunaga be as understanding when the missing person was not one of his generals or an Oda Princess. He would likely tell Mitsuhide to return to Azuchi at once and forget about Katsu and... that...

Thankfully was not a decision he need to make.

This time.

Katsu was standing in the middle of the crowded market, looking around in all directions. Whoever she had been following – and it was now clear she had been doing just that – had disappeared.

Mitsuhide put his arm around her and ushered her into an alley, away from curious minds. "Is it beyond your ability to stay in one place for any amount of time longer than a heartbeat?" Rhetorical question, for obviously not.