A Song for the Devil

Show Me

Unlike the wedding that I had envisioned my entire life, I requested things be kept private and to a minimal. I was officially announced as the first wife of Nobunaga Oda three weeks after my final answer to Nobunaga was given. My things were brought to the tenshu where he stayed and where I would be staying from now on unless he decides he prefers the company of another over me in the future, or I suppose if I tire of him.

My stomach was in knots thinking about this night. The marriage had to be consummated or it wouldn't be considered legitimate, but the thought of intercourse sent unpleasant shivers throughout my body.

I was on the balcony of the Tenshu looking out over Azuchi and all of it's people celebrating their Lord's wedding day with their own parties, their own small fireworks and songs burst beneath me and when I looked up to deep blue sky painted with stars and a full moon I lost myself in its beauty.

I was lost in those thoughts when Nobunaga came out onto the balcony, two cups in his hands.

He extended his arm out to offer me the cup and I slightly jumped away from him. "I'm sorry." We both said at the same time causing us both to blush ever so slightly.

"Thank you." I bowed as I took the cup of sake from him and drank it distractedly without waiting for him. A small, bitter laugh escaped him as he watched me stare back out at his kingdom.

"Rina." He reached for my chin and all I could see is Kenshin roughly holding my face and I jerked away again and walked into the Tenshu.

"Rina." He was being gentle as he followed me and silence and stillness took him over as I began to unwrap my white and gold kimono.

"Let's get this over with." I whispered as the kimono fell from my shoulders and were caught by the inner crook of my elbow.

He sighed sat on the ground at his desk. "I may own your body now, but if that's all you're going to offer me then go to sleep without my touch." He pulled a scroll and began reading it with a scowl on his face.

"You will lay claim to my body tonight otherwise this union is nullified." I climbed onto the futon with my kimono untied but still covering everything.

"Neither one is us are untouched. If I say we consummated no one will doubt me anymore than if I bed you like this. You'll remain resistant, or worse, you'll become more resistant to my touches. People will begin to question wether or not I'm the—what was it you called me before? Carnal hedonist?"

"Exceptional" I mumbled.

"Hmm oh yes. That was it. You said I was an exceptional hedonist. I can't have you destroying such a reputation about me now can I?" His eyes never left his paperwork and he sounded bored.

I rose to my knees and sat on my ankle. "Those are only rumors." I mumbled again.

"I thought I told you to rest." He looked up from his reading.

I felt embarrassed, which I'm certain was his goal, for making him feel rejected. I looked down at the futon in front of me. "I have no lovely or pleasurable experiences to draw from for this. I only have nightmares that I'm fighting back when you touch me with that intent—"

The glare stopped me in my tracks. His red eyes full of anger. "Don't confuse my desire to be with you for what those men did ever again."

I bit my lip as I looked back up at him. He shifted under my gaze. "Do you have it in you to show me how you differ?" I was still nervous, but he had pulled me out of hell, he was still choosing me for his first wife despite everything I had put him through already, and I was going to tempt my luck with him again.