The Beauty of the West: The Gold Route

Chapter Twenty Eight: Unexpected Company

The news spread like wildfire throughout Japan that Lord Ieyasu and I would be married within the next year. Planning the day wasn't easy, but I was determined to get it done.

We sent invites to all the armies who aided us in the fight against the Oda, as they were also our friends. I couldn't imagine myself getting married without them.

We set the date , picked a location, sent the invites...now all that was left was for me to pick a dress. I wasn't worried about it yet, as I had time to find one or design one that someone could make come to life. There were alot of things I was unsure of. But in the end, I was sure that I wanted to marry Lord Ieyasu.
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A few days before the wedding, Lord Ieyasu and I went on a walk in the town. He brought me to the market he  brought me to when I first came to Mikawa. I guess we were just revisiting old memories.

"Remember being here, (Y/N)?" Lord Ieyasu asked me.

Of course I remembered. How could I forget making a fool of myself thinking that Lord Ieyasu wanted to poison me?

"I do." I smiled.

"I'll be right back." he ran off. I sat there at the same table we sat at then, and waited for his return. While I waited I breathed deep and closed my eyes so I could bask in the sun. When I first came to Mikawa, I wouldn't have ever felt comfortable just closing my eyes and sitting there. Oh, how far I had come. How different I was now. I had no worries, no tourmentors, and the love of my life by my side.

Lord Ieyasu returned to the table I with a few things for lunch; the same things he gave me at first. He sat down next to me and used chopsticks to feed me a cucumber. I laughed as I took the bite. He smiled widely at me, before his expression just dropped. I had never seen him make that face; one of resentment. At first, I thought he was looking at me.

"um...My Lord?" I called softly, but then I looked behind me. "Mitsunari??"

He was standing behind me with something in his arms.

"You have some nerve showing your face here after what you pulled." Lord Ieyasu crossed his arms.

"I won't be staying long." Mitsunari scoffed, and sat down across from us.

"Then...why have you come here?" I asked, holding Lord Ieyasu's hand.

"I hear you are to be married. I came to say congratulations, nothing more."

"Really. All the way from Osaka?" Lord Ieyasu asked. "Or are you trying to take (Y/N) with you again?"

"I am not here to fight. (Y/N)...she made her choice. And as much as it pains me to say, she is happy here with you. I will not interfere." He placed the cloth-wrapped item he was holding on the table. Lord Ieyasu and I looked at eachoter, then back at Mitsunari.

I could tell that Lord Ieyasu was still upset over what Mitsunari did back in Honno-Ji. I mean, I wasn't too proud of what he did either. He used Lord Ieyasu and then threw him away when he didn't need him anymore. It was almost shameful, that he did it in the Toyotomi name; my name.

I opened the cloth. In it, was a painting of Lord Ieyasu and I, on the night of the fireworks. When he held me, and gave me the braclet.

"Were you there??" I asked.

"No. But someone in town was trying to sell it, so on my way in, I bought it." He explained.

"Wow..." I was speechless. "I love it so much."

"It is a nice gift. Thank you, Mitsunari." Lord Ieyasu seemed like he didn't want to say thank you, but it was a nice gift and he had to give credit where credit was due.

"Don't thank me. This is the least I could do to start making up for things. I heard about what happened in Honno-Ji. I regret...not being there to help." he stood up. "Now, I will take my leave. Expect to hear from me in the future."

Lord Ieyasu and I were silent as we watched him walk away.

"That was strange..." I laughed nervously.

"Mitsunari was never one to act normal..." Lord Ieyasu laughed too. "But it was also surprising. I guess you have that affect on people. He seems to have control of his temper now, and it's because he wanted to see you, knowing he couldn't have you. That, My Lady, is growth if I ever saw it." he continued to laugh.

"I see!" I laughed with him.

"Now...Let's finish lunch, and get back home. We need to find a place to hang this."

"Yes, My Lord!" I smiled.

He wouldn't let me feed myself, either. When I told him that I was capable, he only smiled and told me that whenever we went out to eat at the market, he would always want to feed me with his own chopsticks. I pretended to protest , but I actually really thought it was cute.