The Beauty of the West: The Gold Route

Chapter Twenty-Two: Back to Business

Lord Ieyasu and I took our time getting dressed and slowly walked back to everyone else, hand in hand.

"Bout damn time!" Kanbe felt that he needed to shout when he saw us in the distance. By that time Sensei had left the area, and I wondered where she had gone, but not enough to go looking for her.

"Sorry, sorry, it was just a nice soak." I nervously laughed.

Kanbe and Motochika looked at each other, then back at us.

"If you say so." Motochika laughed.

"Where did Sensei go?" I asked,  looking around.

"She went to speak with our allies about taking down the Oda." Kanbe explained. "She was going to wait for you,  but she knew it was probably a lost cause. " he laughed.

"Oh..." Ieyasu covered his mouth, in an attempt to cover the how red he was turning. But we all saw it.

"I suppose I should get back to training..." I trailed off. The Oda were strong, and I planned on carrying my weight when it came to facing them.

"No you don't,  lass. You're going to get some rest, before you get sick." Motochika stopped me from finding Sensei to train more.

"But-- the Oda!" I protested but was cut off.

"The Oda will be there. You can pick training back up tomorrow. It's good to get all the rest you can." Kanbe added.

"I agree, My Lady." Ieyasu said as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder. "Could you imagine what  would happen if you had gotten sick? You'd have to stay behind because you can't fight to your best ability if you aren't feeling well. Then...you can't go to the festival with me."

"Okay..." I leaned against him for a brief moment, then kissed everyone on the cheek.

"Allow me to show you to my tent." Ieyasu grabbed my hand, and walked me to the field of tents nearby. Everyone in the forces had one,  be they in the Saica or Eastern Forces. Lord Ieyasu's tent was luxurious,  with lots of pillows everywhere, that  I was sure no one else had. Of course I felt bad,  but not bad enough to leave the tent and give everyone a pillow. I felt the exhaustion from recent events, fleeing the Oda, and as soon as I hit the pillows I was out like a light. Lord Ieyasu didn't stay with me, but i was sure everyone was near.

My dreams were pleasant. It felt so warm and wonderful after Ieyasu and I had connected the way we had that day, and the remaining warmth from the hot spring lingered in my body to relax me and keep me asleep.
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"Wake up, sleeping beauty!" I heard outside the tent, by Kanbe.  It would have been nicer if he had gently shaken me to wake me up,  but he didn't want to enter the tent for some reason.  It startled me, and I jolted awake.

"Okay, okay. What the hell." I rubbed my eyes and yawned before exiting the tent.  My hair was a mess, my clothes were also a mess. But I didn't care. I still felt wonderful from the day before.

"My lady,  good morning!" I was greeted by Ieyasu's smile. I would never get tired of his smile.  He brought my hand to his lips and placed a gentle kiss on it. "You look lovely this morning."

"Lovely?" Kanbe looked at me and crossed his arms. "Guess what they say is true, about love being blind."

I shot a cold stare at Kanbe before returning my gaze to Ieyasu.

"You will always be lovely to me." He caressed the side of my face.

"Thank you, My Lord." I smiled and placed my hand on his.

"The POINT of waking you up, (Y/N), was, believe it or not, to call you to a briefing with the Saica." Kanbe stated sarcastically. "Can you two love birds manage that?"

"Let me go freshen up." I said, as I grabbed a lock of my hair and attempted to brush it with my fingers, to no avail.

"We'll meet you there." Ieyasu smiled as I ran off to the Saica camp. It was the first time I had actually gone there, as I had been busy with missions since being there. I assumed the biggest tent belonged to Magoichi, and my things were there. I assumed right.

I brushed my hair and changed clothes quickly,  then headed to the main camp, where the meeting was taking place. All the leaders of the different armies were there, some I hadn't even met.

"Raven, thank you for joining us." Sensei called to me as I approached the group, and stood next to Ieyasu.  "Thank you all for remaining with us even though Sekigahara is no longer necessary." She continued.  "As we spoke about last night, we will instead be removing the remnants of the Oda clan from this earth, including Nobunaga Oda himself."

"You've already decided that you're going to fight them?....for me?" I asked.

"I've told them your story." Ieyasu held my hand. "We've all agreed. No one should have to go through what you did. And to keep it from happening to you, or anyone else for that matter,  they must be destroyed."

I wanted to cry.  These armies had allied with the East to fight for the country in Sekigahara. Now, they stuck around for my sake. I felt honored, and was very emotional about it.

"Besides, Lass some of us owe you that much. For clearing the air and reuniting us with old friends." Motochika pointed out.

"Or getting me out of harm's way, and out of those shackles." Kanbe added.

"Or brining honor to the Saica name. Sensei smirked.

"Or..." Ieyasu continued, "being exactly what I need."

"That said, we have a plan." Sensei handed me a map of Honno-Ji and the surrounding areas, as well as which squads would be assigned where. I looked it over.

Ieyasu was going to be on the front lines, right outside the gates to Honno-Ji,  near Kanegasaki. I really didn't like that he would be the first to deal with the Oda soldiers, but there wasn't a doubt in my mind that he had insisted on being there. I looked around the map and I was stationed nearby with a few other members of the faction as a sniper. That, I could  handle! And, before things got too chaotic, I could sneak a couple of peeks at my Lord!

Sensei was in the front lines too, as they were going to use explosives to blow down the gates, and set mine traps. Motochika and his men were going to be on the water with a ship,  much smaller than the one that was destroyed, but it was a ship no less. They were going to be armed with cannons and explosives of their own. And everyone in between would be engaged in weapon combat. Kanbe was in there. I wondered what kind of weapon he would use?

"Well, Raven,  what do you think?" Sensei asked.

"Yeahhhh that plan was made by yours truely." Kanbe boasted, smirking.

"It's a great plan." I smiled. "Thank you, everyone. Now.  Let's do this."