A Song for the Devil

A Storm on the Horizon

I do love him. I somehow fell in love with someone who had neglected our engagement for a year, allowed me to be stolen from his encampment, took over two months to find me, and not by his own skill or forces. Yet what I had thought would be a marriage for political  duties from the start has turned into something I wasn't prepared for. He loves me because he saw something, he saw potential. He had a feeling that I would rise from the ashes that his enemy had turned me into and that process is happening now, in front of his eyes and in that process is where I found him as well.

We walked arm in arm down the steps and through the halls in our black kimonos with gold and red accents. My attire complimented his, how appropriate for a newly wed couple. It had only been one night and I can already feel myself becoming the devil queen he needs by his side.

He asked me to sit by his side on our walk to the council room, but I was able to convince him that it would be best if I sat in the back to remove the temptation to touch me, but somewhere he could still glance at me when he wanted.

When we entered I was met with a room of some of the most powerful men in Japan, and I felt oddly comfortable. I was greeted first by Mitsunari with his angelic smile and kind amethyst eyes. "It's nice to see you here lady Oda. How is married life treating you?" The innocence of his question was met with snickering laughter from Mitsuhide and
Masamune and a peevish eye roll from Ieyasu. He looked concerned by their response and the stifled blush on my face. "Did I say something inappropriate?" He asked. Masamune,  with his signature flirty smile and sparkle in his remaining eye, slung his arm around Mitsunari's shoulders. "How about I explain it to you later over lots of sake and we leave our queen to settle into the room where she can gaze upon her husband in awe of the handsome devil."

I delicately made my way around the room without bumping into anyone and took my place. I had a full view of Nobunaga at the head of the room with Hideyoshi on his right and Mitsuhide on his left.

I couldn't help but conjure up the list in my mind when I saw Hideyoshi. All of the vassals were on that list. All but one: Hideyoshi Toyotomi. When I asked Nobunaga to tell me which of them had warm his bed there was one. It came as no surprise that Masamune Date was it. "It was — an interesting experiment. but asking such a fierce and passionate man to bend to my whims quickly lost its appeal." Was Nobunaga's explanation. Apparently it didn't get much further than rough kissing before deciding to end things and ask that a handmaiden lay in the bed with him.

We took our places and I was disinterested in the initial reports. Everyone saying that the regions to the East, South and West were generally peaceful. I resisted the urge to doze off long enough for them to begin discussing the North.

"The dragon has taken a bride.There are rumblings and rumors that said Dragon to the north is spreading distrust in the intentions of the Oda and is rebuilding an army." Mitsuhide reported.

So Kenshin is not laying down and submitting to his defeat. I could have predicted that. He never struck me as someone who would roll over in defeat unless it was into his grave.

My eyes had shot to Nobunaga at the mention of the dragon and were fixed upon my husband. There was a slight smile on his face and as he spoke his eyes found mine. "If this is the opening then we take it and this time the Dragon dies." The fire in both of our eyes seemed palpable and I could tell that the rest of the room noticed by the shifting of their bodies and eyes. "By my hand."

"My Lord—" Hideyoshi spoke cautiously.

The violet angel sitting near me spoke up. "This is not the opening you've been waiting for since your wife's return from Echigo. We have no proof of an army. His forces were demolished during our last fight. Where could he possibly get more men? We need more proof before a move like that is made. If action is taken now word would spread to other regions and could trigger revolt." Mitsunari was calm and collected as he read through his notes with his glasses slid half way down his nose. I felt an angry hear rising in me as part of my dream began to retreat from my grasp again.

My focus fell to the floor as I tried to hid my clenched jaw. I heard the smooth and low voice of Masamune beside me. "I'm sorry song bird. He's right. But as soon as that door cracks open, you know I'm the first one to burst through it."

I focused all the tension in my face to my hands before raising to look in his one blue eye. A well trained fake smile to hide my frustration replaced the clenched jaw and wrinkle nose. "Not if I beat you to it." I turned back to Nobunaga who looked suddenly less interested in the conversation of the war counsel. In my peripheral vision I could see Masamune shift most likely to suppress laughter at my words.

When the session ended I waited for Nobunaga. He was in deep conversation with Hideyoshi who looked like he was talking my husband down from a ledge.

"Rina." Nobunaga motioned for me to come to him while still listening to Hideyoshi.

The brown haired mothering monkey smiled at me as I came to his lord's side. "Lady Oda." He bowed. "You look lovely."

I bowed in response before Nobunaga reached out to pull me close to him. Hideyoshi's eyes shifted away from us for a moment to return to Nobunaga when he spoke. His eyes curious and hopeful. "Hideyoshi has offered to watch over and run Azuchi for a week. He's also arranged to have a nearby hot spring cleared and guarded for us to stay?" I'm coming to realize and possibly admire that my devilishly handsome husband not only bends questions into statements, but also turns statements into questions.

"What if something changes with the North?" I ask with furrowed brows fixed to Hideyoshi.

"Nothing drastic will happen in a week." Hideyoshi reassured.

"If it does change you will send a page as soon as you hear."  I looked at Hideyoshi with a stern glare that rivaled the one he used to admonish Nobunaga for eating too many sweets.

"Of course." He smiled. "Please. Take a reprieve to celebrate your union."

Nobunaga patted his friend on the shoulder. "And maybe by the time we return we can celebrate you choosing a bride." Nobunaga laughed, not seeing Hideyoshi's pained and longing eyes fixed on Nobunaga. I saw it and he noticed that I saw it.

How many times had he looked at my husband that way before this moment? Is this why he is stalling on picking a bride? Is this why he looks out for Nobunaga as fiercely as he does?

Hideyoshi let panic pass over his expression for a brief moment as he saw how my mind was spinning. We both faked small laughs when Nobunaga returned to the conversation.

"Let's leave tonight? I'll have Misayo pack our things right away and you dear husband go check on the horses." I patted my hand on his chest and rested it there trying to not look too possessive of him.

"I need to discuss some things with Mitsuhide and Mitsunari first. I'll meet you when in the tenshu when I'm finished and we can share a meal before heading out." Nobunaga grabbed my hand and kissed my palm before rubbing it on his cheek. "Try not to miss me too much?" He asked with that signature glint of mischief in his eyes. His theatrics were rubbing off on me as I replied. "The kiss on my hand should sustain me for a few hours." I inwardly cringed at this show of overt affection in front of Hideyoshi.

As soon as Nobunaga left I turned to Hideyoshi and we were locked on to each other. My heart racing. Staff and other warlords were shuffling around outside the open door of the audience room. This isn't private enough.

I took his wrist and began walking out of the room. Before we even reached the open door he pulled himself out of my grasp. "I will follow without your pull." Were his last words before we exited out into the hall and walked briskly towards one of the back gardens that had a tea house.