The Beauty of the West: The Gold Route

Chapter Twenty Three: Preparing for Honno-Ji

No matter how many times I looked through the plan, I couldn't find a single fault in it. Kanbe was really good at what he did when it came to strategy. He easily found everyone's strengths and applied them into the ultimate plan to take down Honno-Ji.

The next few days were spent readying our troops and, those of us who were nervous, readying our nerves.

To be honest...I didn't want to go back there. I lucked out when Ieyasu found me, and then lucked out a second time when he, Kanbe, Motochika, Tadakatsu and Mitsunari got me out of there. Escaping the second time could have killed us. I was scared to go back, even though I had so much support, and the skill I needed to take care of myself and others.

The breezes in the cliffs felt so nice. I spent a moment alone just breathing in the fresh air and trying to calm down. I sat and looked at the clear sky, then closed my eyes to bask in the warmth of the sun.

"My lady? Are you alright?" Lord Ieyasu had joined me after a while.

"I am...just fine, My Lord." I sighed. I didn't open my eyes to look at him. Instead I just listened to the sound of his voice. It was calming.

"May I join you?"

"Of course!" It was then that I opened my eyes. I knew he was just trying to be proper, but there would never, in a million years, be a time that I wouldn't want him near me.

"This is it, huh?" He sat next to me and held my hand. "Finally we will be rid of them for good. I'm excited to do my part!"

"Yes. They will be gone for good..." I tried to smile.

"Does something trouble you, My Lady?"

"I'm scared, My Lord. I don't want to go back there."

"I know." He wrapped his arm around me. "But I need you to cover me from above. I can only be strong if you are." He kissed the top of my head. "I'm a sense...I am putting my life in your hands, and I need you. This is the last time we will need to fight like this. Can you do It? For me?"

Of course I wasn't going to say no, when he put it like that.

"I will, My Lord. You can count on me."

"I knew I could." He smiled. "And then, when this is all over...the Summer festival will be just around the corner. You will still go with me, won't you?"

Everytime he asked, I could tell that there was an uncertainty in the way he talked. Like I would just suddenly change my mind.

"Yes, My Lord. I will go with you." I smiled. It was a small, weak smile, but it was a smile nonetheless.

Once again, Lord Ieyasu had made me look forward to something once I made it through the mess to come. He was just so good at making me see the brighter side of things.

"Oh you know what we forgot?" He suddenly remembered.

"What's that, My Lord?"

"I told you before you left to Osaka that I would take you for tea when you returned." He smiled. "But unfortunately...since we will be moving out soon, we don't have time to go. But My Lady, would you still join me?"

"Sure. I'll get a kettle for us." I returned the smile. "And it's okay that we didn't go. I mean...the hot spring was a pretty good replacement." I giggled. He blushed a little.

I left momentarily, and then came back with a tea kettle and cups. I poured us each a cup.

"I hope...we will always have time for tea like this in the future." He took a sip and smiled at me. It was such a gentle smile, and it made me relax. He had that kind of power over me.

"We will make time." I assured. The tea was refreshing. And, though it was only an insignificant moment, I didn't want it to end.

I leaned on Lord Ieyasu's shoulder, not worrying about what was to come. All I thought about was him, and his smile. That, for the moment, was enough for me.
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Everyone seemed ready to go, by days end. Sensei called me to her before bed though, and wanted me to practice with the sniper rifle. I was already awesome, but there was no harm in practicing anyway, since that skill could have been the difference between life and death for My Lord.

"So. You and that turkey are an item now, huh?" Sensei asked, as I loaded my gun and looked through a scope at some targets she had planted a few miles out.

"I guess so!" I laughed.

"What does the Dark King think of that?"

"He still hates Lord Ieyasu. That's okay, I'm not going back to Osaka anyway. "

"I see. You've given up the Toyotomi then, have you?"

"Yep. I'm a Saica." I stated, and looked at her for a brief second. I thought I could see tears in her eyes through that smirk, but I wasn't going to call attention to it. "Is that okay? I'm sorry I didn't ask first, but I had to tell Lord Mitsunari something. "

"It is an honor." She said. "You told Mitsunari huh? I bet he wasn't happy to hear you say that."

"Oh he was pissed." I chuckled and hit a target dead on. "Oh well. He can stay Lord Hideyoshi's royal ass kisser for all I care. He didn't believe me when I told him what happened anyway. "

"Sounds like him..."

"Sensei, do you um...approve of Lord Ieyasu and me?" I shot another target.

"Well I approve of him, alot more than I would Mitsunari. "

"And that's good enough for now." I smiled and shot again.

"When we return from this, are you planning to remain with the faction? Or will you return to Mikawa with Ieyasu?" She had every right to ask. Mikawa and the Saica territory were not places I could just travel back and fourth from.

"I am...unsure. The deal was that you would help Lord Ieyasu if you could have me for the faction right? Doesn't that mean I have to stay?"

"I wonder, however. When we kill off Oda and his men, will there even be a need for a faction of mercenaries?"

"I suppose not." I thought. But didn't linger on it for long. It was quiet after that.

I completed my practice, perfectly. However I felt like Sensei just wanted to talk with me, and "practice" was was just what she called it.

I returned to Lord Ieyasu's tent, hoping that he wasn't asleep, as it had gotten late during practice.

"My Lord?" I whispered. "Can I come in?"

Lord Ieyasu was awake. He quietly poked his head out and pulled on my wrist to lead me inside.

"How was practice?" He asked, lighting a small candle in his tent.

"Perfect, what did you expect?" I giggled.

"Im glad to hear. And thank you for returning to me, I thought you would go back to your main camp."

"Actually, since tomorrow is a big day, I was hoping...may I sleep next to you tonight?"

"It would be a pleasure." He smiled. "To be honest, I was hoping you'd ask. You know...just in case things don't go according to plan tomorrow."

I got what he was hinting at. I didn't want to think about it. I just leaned into his embrace, and lay down with him. He gave me a final kiss goodnight and wished me sweet dreams.