A Song for the Devil

Miracle Water

Nobunaga ignored all of my protests as he carried me to the room we would be staying in. When he layers me down on the futon I didn't have a moment before he was climbing on top of me, kissing my chest while working to untie the red and gold obi around my waist.  "You must be sore from the ride. Let me sooth your body." He said as he sat up to pull the obi away and begin parting the fabric of my kimono.

"Isn't that what the hot springs are supposed to do?" I asked before he lifted fabric and unveiled my breasts.

"I don't know if the waters here are up to the task of soothing the shoulders that carrie these." He said as he pulled away the fabric. I giggled at his words which made him smile. "I love it when you do that. It's like chimes in the wind before a storm." He said with gentle eyes.

I reached up to begin undressing him. He moved to allow me to sit up and kiss him. "Nobu—" I moaned in his ear. "I really would like to use the hot spring."

He grumbled. "As would I. But the hours without you next me on this ride has created a great need for you."

I rubbed my nose against his. "Who said anything about leaving your side? Let's enjoy the waters and let our sore muscles ease, and then we stay up all night playing whatever games you want."

"We will play Go then. And who ever loses— has to—" he rubbed his chin with his forefinger as he thought and a playful smile spread across his lips. "The loser must do whatever the other requests." His eyes flicker with mischief when he speaks of his wager.

"Deal. As long as we also eat and drink somewhere in there." I kissed him before rising and leading him to wash ourselves.

At the end he of the water he picked me up, one arm under my knees and the other behind my shoulders and I instinctually wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed the curve where it meets his shoulders. He  let my legs go, once he sat against the edge, his arm around my shoulder relaxed but he still cradled me next to him. I rest my head back against his arm and let the waters pull the tension from my limbs and slowly begin sinking into near meditation.

His words are smooth and thick with admiration. "I should commission a painting of your face like this." His comment brings smile to my already warm face from the water. He was satisfied that I was close enough to him and relaxed enough to lift his other arm on the ledge and leaned his own head back and allow his body to relax a bit.

After awhile I leaned in to rest my head on his shoulder and I noticed a large scar on his chest. "How did you get this?" I asked, pulling him out of his relaxed day dreaming as I traced the scar with a finger.

His eyes darkened. "My brother." His voice was low and angry.

"Tell me the story." I said as I adjust onto his lap, bringing my legs to either side of him. "You know the story of my scars. Tell me one of yours." I persuade.

A low chuckle grew from his chest. "When I was just beginning this entire campaign to unify Japan, my council was small. My older brother and Mitsuhide. I trusted them both completely. Soon after gaining Hideyoshi he came to me to tell me of my brother's betrayal—"  His brows knit as he struggled to communicate his emotions. "We met on the battle field. He was a very skilled fighter— he trained me— " his eyes dropped to the water between us. 

"You had to cut him down..." I whispered as I ran my finger down the scar again.

"Yes." His eyes lifted again, straight ahead and cold over my shoulder. I reached for his face to lead his gaze to me. I spoke in a gentle and understanding tone. "Some dreams require great sacrifices." I pulled him into a kiss.

He picked me up, my limbs wrapped around him as he held my thighs and stood to exit the water. "I'm not sure I deserve you." He said in the space before another kiss.