Cherry Blossom | | Ikemen Sengoku | |

Chapter 25 Nobunaga's Goal

Nobunaga's fierce gaze makes she realizes the danger her words had just brought upon her again.

Nobunaga parts his lips away from hers barely a centimeter away, their hot lips grazing each other's. Hot breathes exchange by one another. His eyes locked with hers, his hand trails from her cheeks to her chin.

This time, Y/N could see the glints of desires behind his beautiful orbs.

"How dumb can you be...." Nobunaga mutters with his ragged voice.

Without another word, Nobunaga places his lips on hers again.

"Mm--!" This time, she finds herself giving in to him.

His kiss this time is more forceful, strong and passionate, as if he is putting all of his emotions in it. Emotions that he has no words for.

He felt frustrated, angry. Not at the fact he let his enemy invade his castle. But the fact that they could have killed her if he was a second late. That thought alone, strangely had made him unable to hold himself back with her. The feelings he had been denying and kept in the back of his mind, are now controlling him.

At this moment, he only sees her. He needs to feel her, to ensure himself she is safe and alive.

Lives in this chaotic world are too fragile. One second later and a person could be gone. Nobunaga understands that more than she could ever does.

"Nobunaga..." She pants heavily in between small breathes.

His emotions were driving him uncontrollably. Nobunaga's hand that had been holding her wrist make itself to her hand, locking his fingers with hers.

The way they kiss mesmerize her mind in a non-ending cycle. Her free hand places itself on his upper arm. She can feel the strong muscular arm under the light fabric as she grips onto his kimono.

He starts to take more domination. He nibbles on her bottom lip to which makes she responds with a soft moan. He slips his tongue in as if he is exploring his own territory.

The man that didn't hesitate to kill her nor his accomplice, yet unknowingly why, protected her life regardless to his own safety. She doesn't understand why he did what he did, but the image of his concerns and worries flashed back in her mind and it fills her heart with a strange, soothing warmth. It tugs at her heartstring.

She can't help but feel safe and protected in his arms.

After they parted their lips away, both of them look at each other in silence. Time seems to stand still in this affectionate moment.

"I..." Y/N mutters, still dazzled by the kiss.

She had never been kissed or kiss like that before. The world seemed to disappear around her.

"So..." A mischievous smirk forms on his lips. "Shall we talk?"

Nobunaga holds himself up, leaving the stunned and blushing Y/N still laying stunned on the tatami mat. His hand rests on his knee as he looks down at the woman still lying on the floor, confused.

"Y-you..." Her face is redder than before, heat creeps up on her cheeks.

Nobunaga laughs delightfully despite Y/N's glaring intently at him. He doesn't remember when was the last time he had a genuine good laugh.

Though she is confused and frustrated with Nobunaga's indifferent attitude after he kissed her, she couldn't help but stare at him. It is the first time she gets to see Nobunaga this way. Like a care free young boy who does not have any care of the world. As if he had taken off the mask of the leader he always has on. As if he has taken off all the burdens and problems he has on his shoulders

"Ask." Nobunaga regains his composure but that wide smile is still visible on him.

"What was that all about?" The feeling of his kiss still lingers on her lips like a warm sunray.

"Hideyoshi had been asking me random questions about Ranmaru. And I got some weird eyes lately from my generals as well." He covers his eyes with the palm of his hand.

Y/N suddenly recalls that in history text, it says that people believed Ranmaru to be Nobunaga's lover during this period of time. She wonders if this is the start of that. If it is, then she is involved and is the creator of this rumor that marked in history texts...

"What do you think I do to the ones that damage my image and reputation?" His eye glares through the crack of his fingers, sending chill down her spine.

"What is your goal?" Y/N quickly avoids his eyes and changes the topic with her nervous tone.

As much as she wants to hear him explains why he just kissed her, it is not a good time to ask about it.

Little did she know, Nobunaga had easily succeeded in avoiding answering her question. Because he knows he does not have the answers to what she wants to ask him. He has no words for his feelings. So for now, he can at least tell her what is his goal.

Nobunaga leans back in his seat.

"My goal." Nobunaga looks outside to his balcony, to the dark clear sky. "Is to unify Japan. And make it into a bigger country than it is now."

The moonlight shines onto the young man, manifesting his flawless feature majestically. Fitting of a powerful, supreme leader.

"I'll unify this country, abolish the rigid class system and restrictive laws, setting the people free." His eyes fill with ambitions and there is a glimmer of softness and happiness as he speaks about his goal.

"Unify this country..." Y/N repeats his words, as if it is a gentle reminder to herself that he is indeed the 1st great unifier of Japan. "So you can rule a whole country?"

"No, that's merely a vague concept." Nobunaga slightly chuckles. "I don't plan to stop after I unify Japan."

A small smile forms on his lips.

"I want other countries to see us as much more than a small island."

The cold night breeze brushes past them, gently cooling off the heat they felt a moment ago.

"And how are you planning to do that? Fight and conquer?" The word slips out from her lips like poison, dry to her throat, but she needs to know.

To her surprise, Nobunaga stares into the distant, as if he could see the future he speaks of before him. He has not the eyes of the dreamer, but the achiever.

"We'll expand our trade system across the globe. It will become a vital core in every part of the world." He answers her.

That's right. Nobunaga does not want to rely on simply conquering territories with forces. His ambition is much greater than that. But like Y/N, many failed to see that great picture except for his close retainers.

"Japan will grow rapidly as a country, becoming strong and powerful enough to stand up against all others."

Y/N sits there at a loss of words. She is captivated by his ambitious goal. His charisma that attract devotees and fostered loyalties in his retainers are not because he is a genius in art of war and political, but because of his ideal and conviction. Hideyoshi had mentioned it before; without ideal, principle and conviction, Nobunaga would not be a leader he is today.

Nobunaga is not just killing for a small, simple dream like domination. His dream is much, much bigger than that. Much bigger than she could have ever imagined. Why couldn't she see it before? He is the 1st of the 3 great unifiers. It is not a title that was given to someone by the annals of history merely because that person declared he will unify Japan. Actions, devotions, and sacrifices were exchanged for that.

But even so, never could an average modernized woman like her be able to ever imagine the greatness in his ambition.

"And with this, sacrifices are necessary." Nobunaga lowers his gaze. "To carry on the wishes of the sacrifices that were entrusted to me, I won't stop until we succeed."

The young leader is still gazing out the balcony, but it is as if he is staring at nothing in particular but the memories of the fallen ones. His eyes are illuminating through the darkness with its angelic soft light.