A Song for the Devil

Trust

Standing at the bottom of the steps of the temple in Honnoji as the rain pours down next to Hideyoshi, the last week and half flashes through my mind along with the lightning that fills the sky above us.

Neither Hideyoshi or Nobunaga have told me what they experienced with the phoenix, and so I kept what I could a secret as well and they didn't know about the baby.

The simple explanation given to everyone else who wondered what happened to my appearance went something like "the shock and grief of seeing the destruction of her village." Although it makes no sense, almost no one questions it further.

Before splitting from the main group to head South towards Honnoji I asked to train with Masamune. After several hours the one eyed dragon could not be found training me, he was resting on a nearby tree trying to catch his breath after sending two of his men in to continue sparing with me. I'm much faster now, but there's something else different about me that I didn't realize until I overheard Nobunaga and Masamune discussing my training on the side.

Nobunaga's usually stern voice with his men was slightly softer since the encounter with the phoenix. "Is she too much for you now Date?"

"It seems so... but I have a feeling it's not a fair comparison." Masamune huffs before continuing. "She is definitely faster after her... shock was it? She isn't that much stronger though, however, it's her stamina that puts me in an unfair advantage."

"What do you mean Masamune?" Nobunaga sounded tense at his vassals poorly veiled investigation.

"Look at her. I spared with her for at least two if not three hours and am soaked in sweat, those men jumped in after me— an hour ago and I don't see a single drop of perspiration on her brow." After that they walked too far away for me to hear the rest of their discussion.

The last conversation with Masamune before we went our separate ways for battle was when he came to help me mount my horse. "Nobunaga told me what you did." He looked angry. "As your sensei I should be yelling at you for being so reckless with your life..." his expression softened as he continued. "As your— as your comrade and friend... I don't know if I will ever be able to repay you..."

I reached down and grabbed his hand. "Helping us win this war and not dying while doing so would be a start."

He squeezed my hand and smiled. "Go take care of that traitorous kitsune in Honnoji and I promise to have the green eyed snake waiting to be gutted by your katana." When he released my hand and walked away I felt a pain in my heart. Our mission wasn't to kill Mitsuhide, it was to make him believe that he is winning when he rejoins Kenshin in the North. How disappointed will Masamune be when he sees a prideful albino traitor riding into battle? Will he be so shocked he is wounded or will the sight of his old friend enrage him and bring him even more lust for vengeance?

The first night on the way to Honnoji, after the guards change for the night Nobunaga found me in our tent. We hadn't had a moment alone in days that felt like months and now, after everything that happened in my village, everything we are heading towards, there was no hesitation when he entered the tent. He came to me and pulled my face to his with furious and desperate kisses as he ripped my clothes from my body, I will miss that orange kimono. His touch was ravenous as he brought me to the futon and pushed two of his rough fingers inside of me and his tongue explored my mouth. After a few moments of back arching moans into his mouth he pulled away. "Let's see if you have the same stamina in bed as you did in your training." He smirks as he pulls his fingers out and pushes his length into me in one swift movement that brings out a pleased whine from me.

His lips leave mine as he moves inside of me and pants next to my ear and my hands reach and dig into his back. "Nobu." I growl and lift one of my hips and push him until I am on top and begin rocking my hips and bringing him as deep as I can and pulling him out just before the tip of his spear. His hands grip my hips, and I know I have him close when his grip tightens and his eyes squeeze shut. He groans my name through grit teeth as he releases and I continue to ride him through it.