The Beauty of the West: The Gold Route

Chapter Eighteen: Kanegasaki Nightmare Part 2

(Y/N)'s POV:

I was lucky enough to sneak past some of the guards on duty, at first. But when the Oda men heard news that I had escaped, everyone was looking for me. It made it harder to make my way out of Honno-Ji. Sneaking around in the shadows was easy, but scary. I only had one gun with me after all. Would I make it out of Honno-Ji alive again?

"There she is!" I heard someone yell. I had no idea how anyone saw me, as I stuck to the shadows, but I needed to get out of there, fast!

I ran, they pursued. I didn't know where to hide, as everyone was alerted. My feet were so cold..

I felt a hand grab me, and another cover my mouth. Quickly, I had disappeared from the people following me.

"Shh! Lass you're safe. " It was Motochika. I had no idea how he got there, but I wasn't complaining. He pulled me aside in a hidden corner where the Oda men overlooked. As soon as the mob passed, I sighed a sigh of relief.

"Captain! " I embraced him tightly, which took him by surprise. "How did you know I was here?"

"That's a story you'll find hard to believe. It should wait till we are in a safer place to discuss. "

"Okay." I agreed.

"Here." He untied the jacket around his waist and flung it around my shoulders. "This should help keep you warm. Tis a shameful deed, these men have committed. "

"Thank you Captain. This is nothing compared to the life I lived with them before. "

"Aye. But we will talk about that later. We must get back to my ship and fire the signal cannon."

"Yes Captain." I took a step to follow him, but collapsed. My legs were officially numb.

Captain Chosokabe looked at my legs, and had seen that they were turning purple. Without a word, he scooped me up, and carried me to the exit.

He made it back to his ship with ease. Kanbe and Tadakatsu were there with back up troops in case things got ugly. Motochika, Lord Ieyasu, and Lord Mitsunari felt it would have been easier to make it in and out if they went in stealth. They weren't wrong.

The ship was hidden out of sight,  until the captain lit the signal cannon.

"So,  now that we are out of harm's way,  there's something you need to know. " Motochika grinned.

"And what's that,  captain? " I asked.

"Ieyasu and the Dark King.. They're here. "

"Together?? " I asked, shocked.

"You were taken from Osaka by Oda himself,  and brought here.  And since the Dark King has no allies,  he turned to Ieyasu for help. You... Who are you to him? " Kanbe asked.

"Lord Mitsunari.. Did he explain anything?" I asked in return.

"He mentioned nothing to us, but may have talked to Ieyasu. But that aside, the Dark King's pride'd keep the lad from asking for help,  especially from Ieyasu. You must mean something to him for him to go to such lengths... "

"Nothing gets past you,  Captain... " I laughed nervously. " As you know I was sent there to spy on him.  But it felt... Wrong.  Upon further investigation... My name... "

"Motochika!! Get ready to go!" I saw Lord Ieyasu and Lord Mitsunari running down the path to get to the ship.  They were being chased by what was left of the army,  and didn't care to stay and kill off every one of them,  though it was a good idea to do so.

"Get ready to fire! " We heard one of the men in the distance,  speaking for the other men who took it upon themselves to bring cannons to chase us down. We couldn't stop them.  The blasts put holes in the side of the ship and it began to sink. Cornered,  we had no other choice but to stay aboard,  as the Oda had land blocked.