Cherry Blossom | | Ikemen Sengoku | |

Chapter 7: Redemption

Y/N weakly opens her eyes as she slowly exhales. The sharp pain in her shoulder is still there the moment she gains consciousness. The light in the room blinds her eyes and it takes a moment before she could adjust back to the brightness in the room.

"I'm back?..." She mutters to herself as she realizes she is back in her room at Azuchi Castle.

"How are you doing? Y/N." Y/N's eyes follow the voice to see a stern face Hideyoshi with his arm crossed.

She didn't notice his presence. Y/N holds herself up with her right arm but winces in pain as the sharp pain hits her hard when her muscle is pulled.

"You shouldn't get up too soon. A few inches closer and you would be dead by now." Hideyoshi said, he had moved from his spot toward Y/N to hold her up.

"I-I'm sorry, Hideyoshi..." Y/N whispers, apologize to the fact that she had been hiding her gender from him.

"Save your apology to the right person. Though I am not sure if he will take it." Hideyoshi gently helps her lie back down on the soft futon.

"I'm not a spy, Hideyoshi." She looks up at the man with weak eyes.

"You are not, but it does not make you any less guilty now, Y/N." Hideyoshi repeats the words that Mitsuhide told her on that day. "Nobunaga-sama gave you a chance."

Y/N's gaze trails to the ceiling, mentally prepared herself for what will be coming.

"As soon as you can walk, you are summon to see him." Hideyoshi said before the maids enter with a tray in their hands.

"Thank you, Hideyoshi... I'll see him tomorrow." Y/N whispers before Hideyoshi stands up to leave.

The maids came to tend Y/N on her wound as well as help her with drinking the medicine. It is obvious to her that she is being well taken care of but it does not make her any less worried for what will be waiting for her tomorrow.

Morning arrives follows by cool breeze and the singing of morning birds. The cold weather is the signal of the arrival of Fall.

Y/N is greeted by two maids as soon as she opens her weak eyes. The two of them are on their knees, respectfully waiting for Y/N to request on what she needs.

"Good morning." She whispers, her voice showing more strength today compared to yesterday. "If you would like, can you help me get change?"

The two maids greet her with a bright smile and nod in unison. One of the maids pulls out a light blue kimono with pink sakura imprinted on them from the closet. It seems like the maids had filled her closet with several kimono. At the corner of the closet, there are still some yukata and men kimono folded neatly.

Y/N stood up as the maids finish putting on her kimono. They are being as gentle as they could so the wound on her shoulder wouldn't be disturb.

"Y/N-sama, how would you like to do your hair?" One of the maid said respectfully.

"Ah, it is fine, I won't be doing my hair. Thank you." She replies respectfully as she put her hair behind her ears. "And please you don't have to address me with honorifics."

"We cannot do that, Y/N -sama. For you had saved Nobuoki-sama's life." The other maid replies with respect.

"I see..." Y/N smiles slightly.

So it is true, the guilty remains innocent until s/he is proven guilty. And the law in this period of time, at Azuchi here, is Nobunaga.

She tries to take small steps but the pain in her shoulder is still as sharp as ever, it is taking a toll on her whole body. She makes it through the hall with her right hand on the wall, supporting her weight. As she slowly walks through the hall, struggling, the maids never left her side and she was greeted by many other maids and guards that passed her. Soon, she is at her destination, the stairs to Nobunaga's tenshu. The entrance alone is guarded by 10 soldiers and 5 maids sitting in a formal position on each side.