The Beauty of the West: The Gold Route

Chapter Fourteen: Awakening

After I was given the new mission I was in no hurry to get moving,  though I was supposed to make haste.  I wanted to be where everyone else was,  not on a lonely solo mission.  I took my time getting ready and getting my supplies and horse ready. Lord Ieyasu must have sensed that I didn't want to go,  but he couldn't really do anything about it since it was a direct order from Sensei. So,  he tried to cheer me up.

"My Lady,  I have an idea. " He started cheerfully.  "When you get back,  let's go for some tea. What do you say? "

"I'd love to. " I smiled a little.

"That smile suits you. " He returned the smile,  which made me blush and smile more.  I loved how his smile was so contageous.  I also loved that he alone had the power to make me excited to come back from my mission.

I mounted my horse.  Though I could do it alone,  Lord Ieyasu insisted on helping me up there.  He held my hand for a moment longer,  placing a small kiss on it,  before letting go.

"As I said.. I wish you safe travels. Please come back to me-- I mean us-- unharmed. "

"I am your mercenary, My Lord.  Since you asked,  I will take heed. " I tried to turn away from him to hide my blush.  I wanted to go and get myself out of that embarrassing situation,  but on the other hand,  I had never felt something like it and wanted to know more.

I made my way to Osaka from the East. It was a long way,  since it was on the other side of Japan,  residing in the West. My horse ran all night to get there,  and we arrived when the full moon was in the middle of the sky. Looking down at the castle,  it was silent and still as if everyone had packed up and left in the middle of the night.

In a way,  I felt drawn to the castle. I had never been there,  but I felt like I was returning.  Maybe I was thinking of an old dream I had--but I couldn't recall the dream.

I was to spy on the troops there,  but it looked like no one was home.  Was Lord Mitsunari even there? If he wasn't,  I wouldn't have to waste my time spying; but I wanted to go in and have a look,  regardless.

I had my horse take me closer to the castle gates,  and then tied his reigns to a nearby tree in the dark so no one would find him. There were no soldiers around,  no one guarding the gate. If the east were to plan an invasion at that very moment,  the West would have been sitting ducks. I wondered,  what the heck was going on?

The gate,  being unguarded and unlocked,  I decided to let myself in.  I was careful and expected an ambush. I readied myself for such,  however... It was as quiet on the inside as it looked on the outside. 

I ventured slowly further within the castle grounds,  taking in the scenery on my way in.  I felt more and more breathless,  the further I went in,  and I couldn't explain why.  I swore,  though,  for a split second in the corner of my eye I saw a group of people making their way towards the gate to leave. When I looked in that direction,  there was nothing there.  It gave me the chills.  Was this place haunted?

I looked ahead of me,  and there was the entrance to the castle itself... On top of a ton of stairs.  After training with Sensei,  I found that cardio was not my strong point.

"Damn it... I left my damn horse. " I cursed under my breath and proceeded to climb the stairs.

With every step I took,  my heart beat a little bit faster,  and I began to hold my breath without even realizing it.

The sound of rushing water was getting closer.  I saw waterfalls on each side of the stairs at the top.  It was beautiful,  but my thoughts we're too occupied with other things to care about some water. Before I knew it in was at the front door. I felt like I didn't need to knock,  for whatever reason.  I felt that it was okay if I just let myself in--I did.