Taste

The Plan

Mitsuhide's fingers traced long, smooth lines over the seams on her shoulder. The Chatelaine was not a short woman–in fact, she was taller than most–but she felt so small in his arms.

He wrapped her closer against his chest and leaned back his head before deciding he was hardly content like that. No. Looking at her in the morning light filled him with emotions so deep and full that he wanted to yell until his lungs gave out. Tangling a hand into her hair, he combed out the locks with her fingers and waited, patiently, for her to wake. He could see her collarbone peeking from under the fabric. Mitsuhide made no attempt to cover her.

He hadn't seen all of her, yet. He'd resolved that he had no interest in rushing her. No, he could be patient, taking the long, slow months to slowly unwind her from her protective shell, savoring each step along the way. But sometimes–like now–the hunger to have all of her, to see more, to run every inch of her skin under his hands and lips reared.

But he was a patient man, and he could wait.

She roused, blinking at him. He chuckled and brushed under her eyes. "Good morning."

"Morning." She stretched around him, sliding her leg between his. He sighed. "You look awake."

"That is what one who is not asleep looks."

"Ass."

He grinned back at her and ran his cool fingertip along the edge of her nose. "I'm wanted for an audience. You were asked to attend as well."

Her face bloomed red. "When did you find that out?"

"One of my retainers informed me not long ago."

She wriggled with shame, but he just laughed coolly. "Fear not, Princess. I don't think he saw you."

"Well, that's great." She grumbled, hiding her face in his chest. "Okay. Well, we can't keep Nobunaga waiting."

By the time all the warlords had arrived in the audience hall, it was quickly made plain why the Chatelaine was attending.

"We interrupted some intelligence two days ago," Mitsunari was to the point and efficient, placing the letter down before him. "That suggests the Chatelaine is the new target for Kennyo."

"What?" She turned white. "Why?"

"Because they have assumed you are Nobunaga's concubine. That makes you a target."

She grumbled in her native tongue, then added, "Why does everyone think that?"

"How intent are they on capturing her?" Mitsuhide did his best to sound even and nonchalant. As it stood, no one knew his involvement with her, and he was tempted to keep it that way.

"They've devoted some resources. It appears they consider this a very serious option."

"Hm." He cupped his chin in a hand.

"Furthermore, the letter suggests that they've planted a spy in the castle. We are currently going through our servants, but as it stands, Azuchi may not be the safest place to keep her." Mitsunari concluded his report, removing his glasses.

"I won't permit anyone to remove my lucky charm from me," Nobunaga announced. "It may be that she has to stay in my tenshu."

No. Mitsuhide's whole body went cold, the words bubbling up before he could stop them. "If I may, that is not the best idea."

"And why not?" All eyes were on him.

"Why, wouldn't that only fuel the speculation?" His mind worked frantically, coming up with reasons and meaning and anything, frankly, to keep her from Nobunaga. His lord's interest in the Chatelaine was not a myth. "No, it's best to remove her, as if you cast her from your sight. Perhaps send her to live with one of us?"

"If he's casting her from his sight, it doesn't feel likely that any of us would take her," Ieyasu contributed with a sigh. "Though that makes sense. If she has fallen out of favor, she is no longer of interest to Kennyo."

"Don't I get a say in this?" The Chatelaine protested. "Where would I be sent?"

Mitsuhide cursed himself. Ieyasu was right. She wouldn't be with them if she'd fallen out of favor, and it was the only plan they had. Quickly, he scanned through his list of contacts and found them wanting. There was no one, no one he could trust with his most precious person.

Except...

Of all the damnable ideas.

Mitsuhide swallowed his misgivings and fixed the usual, snaky grin on his lips. "I've a thought, my lord, if you'll permit me. We should send her to our new allies at Kasugayama."