Sengoku Night Blood [Nozomi] Drabbles

Lost Child [8]

"Do you want to go with me?" Yukimura offered to take me with him to the village.

I didn't mind. But their town was pretty interesting. Despite this place not being as modern as back in my world, it gives a feel of what Japan should have looked like in the past.

"Ah, Yukimura-sama! Are you walking around with your beautiful future wife again?"

"Here Yukimura-sama! Have another set of dangos for you and your future wife."

Many of the villagers commented about us being together again. It was to the point where Yukimura and I decided to eat the dangos closeby the village but just enough to avoid the jokes.

"How many times is everyone going around with that joke?" Yukimura frowned, while wearing a look of regret.

"Sorry, is it because I'm here?" I mean they're mainly teasing him because of me isn't it?

"No! It's not that!" The instant I uttered those words, Yukimura quickly denied it. He focused his gaze elsewhere upon seeing my worried face. "They just like to tease me since I'm usually patrolling with Nii-chan and the others."

"Oh." But I'm pretty sure it's because of me. Still calling me beautiful?

Yuzuki is much more prettier than I am. No one would want to marry a short haired crybaby.

"Besides I think Yukimura-san deserves someone better than me." I admitted, "I'm horrible at sewing, a crybaby, quiet, and..."

"You're not." Yukimura's words snapped me out. I glanced over to see a serious expression on his face. "You saved not only my life, but also the people within the Sanada Territory if it wasn't for your help."

"But that was only thanks to my blood." It wasn't actually me doing anything. Just because my blood is special doesn't change the fact that I'm pretty much not helpful to them.

Yukimura shook his head. "No."

"You-" Right when Yukimura was going to say something, I felt my hand being tugged. Turning around to see...I found a little girl on the verge of tears.

"Onee-chan...I can't find my mommy."

...

"Onee-chan...I can't find my mommy." A little girl was holding onto Nozomi's hand. I was going go cheer the girl up, when Nozomi got something out.

It was a small cloth. Nozomi got closer to the girl and used the cloth to wipe the girl's face. "Now now...a pretty little girl like you shouldn't cry."

The little girl soon calmed down upon hearing Nozomi's voice. "O-Okay..."

"Do you want a dango?" Nozomi took one of the uneaten dango skewers and offered it to the girl.

The girl gladly accepted it. "Thank you, Onee-chan!"

I watched in silence, seeing Nozomi take care of the little girl...it almost seemed like she was a mother.
...
...
...
...
I began to sweat nervously at what I just mentioned.

I-It's not like Nozomi will be my wife. I'm just stating that she'll be a good mother...!

Wait, I just saw one of men from village grinning.

I gulped, trying to ignore their watchful gaze and returned my focus back to Nozomi.

Nozomi gave the girl a small smile before patting the young girl's head. "Can you tell me your name?"

"It's Midori."

...

We spent the whole day asking around the village together, and by the time it hit sundown...we finally managed to find Midori's mother.

"Thank you so much, Yukimura-sama. I owe you and your future wife's for bringing Midori back to me." Midori and her mother left before Yukimura could correct them.

"Again, whose been telling everyone that we're getting married?!" Yukimura groaned, "Those guys really like to joke around."

"Hehe..." Yukimura frowned upon seeing me laugh at his misery. "But I'm glad that we managed to find Midori's mother in time."

"That's right, but you know." Yukimura turned to me, wearing a smile on his face. "You really know how to handle children."

"Do I?" I blinked, unsure if that was true. "I just did something my older cousin used to do."

"After all I was a crybaby back then." I used to cling to Yuzuki all the time. "So I can understand how Midori-chan feels when it comes to being alone."

I didn't notice, but Yukimura flinched the moment I said alone.

"But Nozomi...Midori is an example of how helpful you are."

"Huh?"

"You've managed to help reunite a family together with me. Not only that-" Yukimura held out his pinky towards me. "Let's make another promise."

"Another? For what?" The last time we made a pinky promise was back at the forest. When I almost got attacked by a Yakuma while helping Imari find clues regarding Hime-miko. Yukimura scolded me for leaving the territory, but made me promise him to never leave the territory grounds alone.

"To not say that you're alone or useless." I was stunned upon hearing Yukimura say that. "No matter what negative things you say about yourself, all I see and hear right now is a girl named Nozomi who strives to help all of us."

"You're quiet and a bit clumsy at times, but you always ask to help everyone at the Sanada Territory. Nobuyuki, Sasuke, Saizo, Kamanosuke, and I can never be more grateful to have you here. Even if you didn't have special blood...I'm glad that I met you."

He gently took my left hand and linked his right pinky around mine.

"So please promise me...don't look down on yourself."

'Yukimura-san...' I almost wanted to cry right there. The only other person who ever said that to me was Yuzuki and my family. But for Yukimura to say this...it brings a warm feeling.

I nodded. "I promise."