Oda Nobuna no Yabou - Volume 4 - Chapter 3

Chapter 3 : Mitsuhide's trial 

Part 1 

Deep in the night. 

In the extremely dark wilderness. 

There were *Ding Dang* sounds of soldiers moving about coming from everywhere. 

"....Damn, I can no longer distinguish which direction I'm heading....." 

Sagara Yoshiharu was using a sword as a walking stick, trudging through the wilderness based on his instinct. 

At the time he had fallen for Tsuchimikado's trap at Mizusaka Ridge, Yoshiharu should have been blown to pieces. 

To save the last few lives of the back troops, Yoshiharu should have used his own life as a sacrifice. 

But, 

Though Yoshiharu had wanted to sacrifice himself for his companions, in the end he wanted to live on no matter what. 

Images of Nobuna crying flashed through his mind. 

Inuchiyo, 

Katsuie, Nagahide. 

Juubei, Motoyasu, Goemon. 

And Hanbei who was waiting for his return in Kyoto, Nene too... 

I might be trapped in this sengoku era forever, never to see my family again. 

But even so..... There are people here who will cry for me, people who wished that I had lived on. 

If I give up here, those comrades who died in the 'Retreat of Kanegasaki' for Nobuna and me will scold me. 

Since I have declared to change Nobuna's fate, 

Since I have decided to fulfill Nobuna's dreams. 

Then, even if he had to crawl back, he must live on. 

These were his true feelings. 

Even if he was being willful, he wanted to go through with both feelings of his. 

"I'm a man full of desires; I won't give anything up." 

He considered his back troops his comrades; they must all live. 

At that time, Hanzou had appeared behind Yoshiharu and whispered to him the last strategy. 

They would make use of the trick, "Finely Hidden." 

It was a trick that Yoshiharu had not even heard of, but since it was suggested by the seasoned ninja, Hanzou, 

Yoshiharu agreed without much thinking. 

Then, Hanzou shouted. 

"If that's the case, go die now, Sagara Yoshiharu." 

Ninja skill, "Finely Hidden" was such a trick. 

During the time Hanzou opened up his smokescreen to block the vision of everyone, he made an exchange with Sagara Yoshiharu and his "substitute." 

The real Sagara Yoshiharu was hidden in a hole that the ninja squad dug on the spot. 

And that substitute was, yes, Zenki. 

After Zenki wore Yoshiharu's armor, he changed his looks and became Yoshiharu. 

At almost the same time the ninja squad led by Hanzou and Zenki completed their preparations, Tsuchimikado, who appeared deep in the valley blew away the smokescreen. 

And just as everyone's vision recovered, the exchange was finally completed. 

What happened later was what Akechi Mitsuhide, Inuchiyo and Motoyasu saw as they come to rescue Yoshiharu. 

For his comrades in the back troops, the substitute Zenki was blown to pieces. 

Because the bomb was specially created by Hanzou, the substitute was blown to fine pieces and the trick wasn't discovered. 

This is the trick, "Finely Hidden". 

The real last resort. 

If Tsuchimikado discovered any clues, the whole plan would go under, or after the substitute was killed, it is a possibility that Tsuchimikado will ignore the promise and continue killing the back troops. 

Even if Tsuchimikado did what he promised, the soldiers who were hunting escapees may surround the warriors to capture them. 

Hanzou and the ninja squad had planned to dig Yoshiharu out after Tsuchimikado left and once again escort him back to Kyoto. 

But, Yoshiharu who was waiting underground did not see Hanzou returning for him. 

"Something must have happened." 

Using the protection of nightfall, Yoshiharu crawled out by himself, took a set of armor from a fallen comrade and started to walk back to Kyoto. 

Whether it was good luck that the appearance of Juubei Mitsuhide diverted Tsuchimikado and kept him from discovering the trick, or bad luck that Hanzou placed the escorting of Motoyasu as the foremost priority, Yoshiharu did not yet know. 

Correct, it was because Matsudaira Motoyasu had come to Mizusaka Ridge alone, not leading any troops, so Hanzou, focused on protecting his master, abandoned the buried Yoshiharu. 

Because they were in the midst of enemy's ranks, Hanzou did not say anything about the trick to Motoyasu, and when she heard of it, they were already back in Kyoto. 

But, this too was not known to Yoshiharu since he was in the ground. 

Obviously, the thing about Mitsuhide who had fallen into the crack, the shaken Inuchiyo who had reported that Yoshiharu was dead, the thing about Nobuna who had become Hisahide's puppet and gave the crazy order to "Burn Mount Hiei", Yoshiharu knew nothing of all of these. 

No matter what, I must use these two legs of mine and make it back to Kyoto. 

Having made such a resolve, Yoshiharu started his nightmarish escape. 

His stomach growled, and his throat was parched. His whole body was heavy like he was carrying lead. 

But even so, Yoshiharu did not stop walking. 

There is a place he must go. 

If he fell right here, what would Nobuna's fate become...? 

I can't die yet. 

With the last of his strength, he crawled forward to avoid the escapee hunting squads. 

Countless times, they almost discovered him. 

There were also countless cuts on his body. 

Just as he couldn't even see where he was anymore, 

It started raining. 

The escapee hunting squads started to narrow down their searching areas. 

"There! Right there!" 

"Ahh, he looks kinda weird, it must be a famous warrior!" 

"We can get a great reward from Asai-sama!" 

Yoshiharu dragged his numb legs and ran in the mud. 

No words of discouragement were said, and his eyes were still filled with hope. Anyone would have sunk into despair at such a situation, but Yoshiharu thought only of surviving. 

And that which supported Yoshiharu was... 

"Nobuna.... Nobuna, wait for me, I can't die at such a place. I'm not called 'Dodgeball Sagara' for nothing! Run, run, hurry and run!" 

If I die here, what will Nobuna think? 

I can't let that fellow experience such a thing. 

If it's that fellow, she will say she can't forgive me, but her heart will still be sad for me. 

Most likely. 

No, definitely... she will feel sad. 

It must be so. 

So, 

So, I must live on. 

Ahhh, damn. 

Why is my mind full of that girl? 

I can't see anything in front of me anymore. 

Can't see my legs either. 

Somehow, there is only Nobuna's face in my mind. 

Don't tell me, I... 

like that girl.... 

Somehow, without me noticing... I have fallen in love with her...? 

That girl will never be together with me. She is the girl that was closest and furthest from me. 

But, it's a fact that I like her, there's no helping it. 

Because of this... 

Because of this, I want to see her again. 

"No! Nono! It's not like that! I... Yeah, I'm just too tired! It's just because of fatigue and fear, my mind is a mess now. A totally not cute boyish girl like her appearing at such a time in my mind is just to increase my fury. I must, after returning, get the reward... That girl's kiss, I'm taking it now, that liar who always goes back on her promises of rewards, I will not let you escape this time! Clean your lips and wait, Nobuna!” 

pant* 

drip* 

Ouch* 

His back... seems to be hit by an arrow. 

"...The dodge ball Sagara was actually... Damn it, I must have been distracted by Nobuna... Damn it, I must ask that girl to increase the reward..." 

Yoshiharu slowly falls forward into the mud, as in his heart he was thinking... 

His vision, and the feelings of his limbs, was fading away... 

Kyoto... 

Kyoto... I.. want to return... 

They were his last words... 

"Nene...... I'm sorry.... I can't return to your side already......." 

Why was it that, even though that god-sister was always disturbing him and interrupting his flirting with girls, at the end, he apologized to her without thinking. 

Yoshiharu finally noticed. 

So it's like this. 

I... in this world... I already have a family here... 

So, to be able for me to put in effort till now... 

"Nene, I, will return... to you...." 

Sagara Yoshiharu's heart stopped beating... 

Part 2 

"...Unbelievable, gorillas are different from normal people. They are agile and the mountains are their hometown. No, mountains are where they breed and live. How can that bastard die in the mountains?" 

The warrior holding onto Yoshiharu's nearly finished fate was...... 

Yes, she was Akechi Juubei Mitsuhide. 

Mitsuhide, whose situation everyone thought was hopeless and had given up as she had fallen into the deep crack with her horse, seems to have been protected by the heavens. Now, she was in the wilderness of western Omi alone looking for Sagara Yoshiharu. 

It's true that at that time, Mitsuhide, who had lost her calmness, did not notice the peculiarity ahead and had fallen into the huge crack that Tsuchimikado prepared. 

But... 

As if it was possessed, Mitsuhide's horse struggled with all its strength to hold on to the walls of the crack. 

Like "Heaven's will" forbidding Mitsuhide to die and thus controlling the horse. 

The horse's stunning actions protected Mitsuhide, as she pulled out her sword just before the horse's strength was exhausted and jumped up from the horse. 

And then, forcing the blade deep into an opening between the rocks, she halted her fall. 

This was a miracle that can only be achieved by Mitsuhide's remarkable reflexes. 

At that time, the strong impact had dislocated Mitsuhide's shoulder, but she did not give up as she pulled another sword to use like an ice axe. Using just her left hand, she climbed step by step towards the top that she couldn't even see, and when she finally returned to the valley, Motoyasu and the rest were gone, and Yoshiharu had already crawled out of the ground and retreated himself. 

The smart Mitsuhide found the hole that Yoshiharu hid in and discovered the trick. 

"This is a substituting trick done by both Hanzou and Zenki. Senpai is still alive!" 

But Matsudaira-dono and Maeda-dono were different from this smart Mitsuhide. They were all but hopeless idiots, in fact, so they must have not found out that Senpai was in the ground and had returned to Kyoto like this. 

But, that ninja who resorted to any means to complete his mission sure was a cold one. 

To protect his own master, Hattori Hanzou abandoned Sagara-senpai and me who had fallen into the crack without hesitation. 

"Now, the only one who can save Sagara-senpai is me, Juubei Mitsuhide... That bastard, whose only good point is his eloquence, will never be able to return to Kyoto himself!" 

After forcing her shoulder back into place, Mitsuhide started the search for Sagara Yoshiharu. 

And then, 

Finally, she found him. 

Sagara Yoshiharu, who was deep in the bushes, had fallen face first into the mud. 

His hand, seemingly wishing for something, was reaching out towards Kyoto. 

"Sagara-senpai, till when do you plan to sleep? Hurry and get up!" 

Mitsuhide with a gleeful face "With this, Gorilla-senpai will owe me a huge debt, hurray!" lifts Yoshiharu up while smiling. 

But, Yoshiharu's eyes did not open. 

"Because he is a monkey, so he can't wake up easily once he's asleep. What is this about, it's me, senpai, Oda clan's smartest, Juubei Mitsuhide!" 

...... 

"Uhh, there isn't any reaction, just like a corpse." 

Piak*X3 

Slapping him a few times, Yoshiharu still does not move. 

"...Don...Don't tell me...?" 

It was only then that Mitsuhide found an arrow embedded in his back, 

and hurriedly removed it, 

Fortunately, the arrow did not hurt his lungs. 

This... wasn't a fatal wound... 

"With only this....? That's pathetic, Sagara-senpai... Senpai?" 

Mitsuhide, who did not notice the atmosphere, finally saw it. 

Sagara Yoshiharu whose eyes were tightly shut had no breath. 

In an instant, Mitsuhide turned pale. 

"....Wait....!? Gorilla!? S...Sh...Shit....!" 

Putting her ear onto Yoshiharu's chest... 

"Heartbeat... is gone too!" 

His body had not turned stiff, 

He should be dead quite recently, there is still hope. 

But, Yoshiharu is basically right before hell's gates. 

"Wh...Wh...Why did you die while I'm mumbling to myself? If you die like this, won't it seem to be my fault!? Uwahh... Uwahhh... Uwahhhhhhhhh!" 

Mitsuhide took a few deep breaths and began to recall her moderate medical knowledge, trying her best to think of ways... 

Wait! 

I...I...I...I...It's all finished if I panic now! Calm down, calm down, calm down!" 

If I...I...I...I...I don't save him immediately, Gorilla will really be a corpse forever! 

"His heart had j...ju...jus...just stopped! I...I...It...It's lucky that you were found by me Mitsuhide, s...so...so...so... it's possible to revive him!" 

Umm, the way to save a soldier that has collapse on the battlefield... 

I...I...I...I...I see. 

Air... To inject air straight into the lungs... 

A...An...And then, do a few hits onto the chest area, to let the heart beat again! 

Here, here! 

Mitsuhide send a straight punch to Yoshiharu's chest without thinking. 

"Huh? If this strongest warrior Mitsuhide was serious, Gorilla's ribcage, and heart will all be pierced! Ahhh, if so, if so, won't it look like I, Mitsuhide am the one who killed Senpai!? Before anyone sees anything, please come back to me. *Knock* *Knock* *Knock* *Knock*". 

The heart massage should be enough like this, as expected, air is what is lacking, I must inject air into his lungs.... 

"....If that's the case, to do that, to inject air, I...I...I...I remembered it to be......" 

I've remembered. 

I can do it! Laughing and putting on a victory pose, Mitsuhide suddenly shouted "Ahhhh" as her eyes became wet and she started trembling... 

"C...Ca...Ca...Can't it be done without the kissssssss!? Ahhhhhh!" 

If she didn't do the CPR soon, Yoshiharu would really be beyond help, Mitsuhide realized. 

"S...S...St...Stop joking! I, Mitsuhide... I... I... am a perfect female warrior comprised of both looks and talent, w...wh...why must I let this Saru take my first kiss!? Though it's because of CPR and this won't count as a kiss, but, but to let this Gorilla be my first kiss target, no way......!" 

As Mitsuhide was blushing, with tears flowing all over her face and struggling, Yoshiharu's remaining time was slowly running out. 

Yoshiharu's sleeping face, no it's a dying face, nono, Senpai isn't dead yet, so it should be a sleeping face... 

Anyway, upon seeing Yoshiharu's face, Mitsuhide finally decided. 

"You...useless gorilla! Compensate me properly once you wake up!" 

No, wait, if I don't brush my teeth, my mouth stinks... Mitsuhide's mouth definitely stinks now... Ahh, if I had known this, I would not have eaten so much of Tennoujiya's specialty miso takoyaki. It's all that glum faced Tsuda Soukyu's fault for saying "These takoyaki can't sell at all.", how can those delicious miso takoyaki not be selling at all!? 

Ahh, I'm escaping from the fact that I need to kiss Gorilla! 

"Ahh, Ahh! Enough! Here goes....! Uhh, Uhhhhh!" 

Though she hates it to the point of almost crying, and had in fact begun to shed many tears, she wouldn't be Mitsuhide if she abandoned her comrade now. 

"....At Kiyomizu temple, Sagara-senpai saved my life, this time, let me, Mitsuhide save Senpai's" 

Hiss* 

With a blushing red face, Mitsuhide inhaled a deep breath and force her cute lips onto Yoshiharu's lips. 

"....Um....Ummm....Ummmm." 

To not let any air leak out, her lips overlapped Yoshiharu's tightly as she sent air to his lungs. 

Of course, though she really hated it, she did not forget to pinch Yoshiharu's nose. 

Mitsuhide's breath had a mildly sweet scent, totally void of any stench of takoyaki. 

But, without any preparation, the stench of Yoshiharu's mouth flew into Mitsuhide's nostrils and Mitsuhide was struck dizzy by it. 

Finally, she had sent all the air in her lungs into Yoshiharu's mouth... but, 

"....It...It didn't work? Yo...You want more...? Uhh, Uhhh... Hum...Humiliating... I... I might die first....." 

You bastard! Not just my first kiss, but you plan to take even my second kiss!? 

.... 

No, even my third kiss..... 

... 

Uhhh, it's the fourth time now. I Mitsuhide, am already dirtied, I can't face Nobuna-sama now..... 

... 

A total of five times, Mitsuhide did CPR to Yoshiharu while crying. 

Once she had decided on something, she would finish it earnestly. That at least was a good point of Akechi Juubei Mitsuhide. 

After the 5 sessions of CPR ended, 

"Uhh... *Cough* *Cough**Cough**Cough**Cough* 

Yoshiharu suddenly coughs violently. 

His heart started beating again. 

"I did it.... There is nothing that this clever Juubei Mitsuhide can't do! See Nobuna-sama, I, Mitsuhide will definitely bring Saru back! Ahhh... My mind is full of Nobuna-sama giving me compliments and praises. Mitsuhide is so happy now!" 

Cough* *Cough**Cough**Cough** 

"Anyway, Gorilla, hurry and get up, how long do you plan to dilly-dally!?" 

"...Uhh...Uhh...Uhh..." 

Mitsuhide placed her wide forehead onto Yoshiharu's forehead. 

"Ahh... it's hot!" 

And then, she put her ears onto Yoshiharu's chest again. 

Bathump... 

"....The heartbeat... is weak, too weak. It's almost like it will stop at anytime. Senpai must have exhausted himself too much when retreating... If this goes on...." 

The season had completely shifted into winter now. 

And it was already deep in the night. 

And it was still raining in the forest. 

The cold air of the mountains and rain droplets were slowly taking away the body temperature of the collapsed and exhausted Yoshiharu. 

"Ahhh, enough, the situation is going from bad to worse, but this smart Mitsuhide is a super genius capable of anything! At this time, all we need to do is to use the same methods as those who have met with mishaps while climbing mountains. So as to say, all I need to do is to maintain Senpai's body heat!" 

Though she said that, if she raised a fire, she might be discovered by those escapee hunting squads.... 

And to raise a fire in the rain isn't a simple matter anyways. 

Mitsuhide looked at her surroundings and discovered a narrow cave. 

"If we hide in it, we can get shelter and it will definitely be warmer than outside."" 

Uhhh.... Carrying the moaning Yoshiharu on her back, Mitsuhide walked towards the cave. 

Though the opening was narrow, it was quite wide inside. 

With a high ceiling, countless rocks supported the cave. 

This was a work that would require thousands, tens of thousands of years. 

There was a rumor of "Life of 20 years" in this chaotic sengoku era. 

But this cave was slowly formed through long ages, years that humans could never even hope to live through. 

In front of them, the quarrels between humans are minuscule. 

Mitsuhide who looked upon this wonder put her palms together and prayed, "I wish that Nobuna-sama can end this chaotic era earlier." 

And then, she remembered, "Oh my god, I've forgotten about Gorilla." 

"Geez, what a troublesome senpai." 

Saying it angrily, Mitsuhide allowed Yoshiharu to lie at her side as she gathered a few twigs to raise a fire. 

"Hmph, with this, I have returned the debt at Kiyomizu temple, senpai! This won't be discovered easily, hurry and recover your strength!" 

But, 

Yoshiharu who had yet to wake up, moaned with tightly closed lips. 

"....Cold...." 

And then repeating this word... 

Mitsuhide who was sitting beside Yoshiharu sighed. 

"Looks like just raising a fire isn't enough, ca...can't be helped. I have no choice but to use the method to revive a freezing companion during mountain mishaps." 

Mitsuhide breathe in deeply as she started to strip off her armor. 

"G...Geez, Gorilla is really lucky. You... If you had not met this clever Juubei Mitsuhide, you would definitely be pig's food now." 

Mitsuhide... 

Had stripped off all the clothes she was wearing. 

The moonlight that seeped into the cave, revealed the naked body of the embarrassed Mitsuhide. 

The young and beautiful body. 

If this cave is a wonder that was born naturally, then the beautiful body of this girl is the real mystery of a miracle being born naturally. 

This utterly beautiful girl lowered her head reflexively. 

Mitsuhide is so embarrassed now that she wants to commit seppuku. 

But... to save Yoshiharu now, she had to warm him up through skin contact. 

At Kiyomizu temple, Sagara Yoshiharu and Nobuna, together had saved my life. 

No, not just my life. 

Her heart, which had lost control and was only a puppet for Matsunaga Danjo Hisahide, had been saved as well. 

"Please, Juubei. If you live through this but ever fear you are losing your way, think about this blood soaked Kiyomizu temple! Burn into your memory Nobuna's silhouette up there, firing shot after shot to save you...!" 

In that Kiyomizu temple alight with flames, Sagara Yoshiharu's tear filled eyes seemed to want to transmit something as he shouted. 

At that time, in the eyes of Yoshiharu, who was putting on a forced expression to looking at me, 

Sadness, fury, and friendship; and I thought it to be strange. It made me ask "why?", that sad expression that the normally cheerful Yoshiharu gave me for the first time. 

Why did Senpai look at me with such a sad expression? 

At that time, Mitsuhide's heart was pierced by that sad expression. 

The feelings that erupted from her heart were hard to be suppressed. 

Why? 

Just why? 

What is it that Senpai wanted to tell me....? 

Mitsuhide would never let Yoshiharu die before she solved that mystery. 

No, maybe... 

Maybe it's not just that he doesn't want me to die, 

But wants me to live on properly... 

"....Sagara-senpai, tonight, let Mitsuhide warm Senpai's body." 

Mitsuhide stripped off Yoshiharu's clothes and tightly hugged the shivering and naked Yoshiharu's chest. 

Part 3 

It was cold. 

Skin that was so cold that it felt like a corpse. 

His back, and hands had countless wounds. 

Just what kind of a cruel and violent battle was that Retreat at Kanegasaki...? 

"Always... Always pushing himself so hard and being reduced to tatters... Senpai..." 

Massaging Yoshiharu's back, Mitsuhide used her own thighs to overlap with Yoshiharu's, just a little bit more, as she tried her best to transmit her own body heat to Yoshiharu through their skin. 

"....Mama...?" 

Yoshiharu dreamily said. 

Mitsuhide discovered, Senpai was dreaming. 

".....Good.... I, have finally returned... Mama." 

Mitsuhide silently caressed Yoshiharu's hair. 

"....I had a terrible, terrible dream... I... slipped into the sengoku era... Though I did have lots of fun... But in the end, I was tasked with protecting the rear of a defeated army... and was chased by those escapee hunting squads... and had died... alone... Terrible dream." 

He cried. 

The man who always said, "I am Sagara Yoshiharu, who loves all girls in the world.", and had always put on a strong front, never showing a weak side. That Yoshiharu was currently weeping in Mitsuhide's bosom like a small child. 

"....I, had tried my best... I did... I had someone I liked, and I wanted to protect her. For her, even if I was forcing it, I would do everything I could... But, I, wasn't able to do it in the end... But, I'm just a high school student. Battles, I can't... When my comrades die one by one in front of me, and when I had to kill enemies I had no hatred for, and when bullets are flying..." 

"....It's gonna be alright, Yoshiharu. Mama is here, I'm right here. The terrible dream is already over, just act like a spoilt child as you wish." 

Mitsuhide used a voice full of maternal instincts and said. 

"....Mama, it's scary... I want to go home... Want to see my friends, want to go to school, want to, see Mama..." 

"Geez, Yoshiharu really is a coward. Seems like he is really from a peaceful future, but you have already tried your best Yoshiharu, your very best... He is a courageous and strong child." 

Her two hands hugging Yoshiharu's head tightly, plunging his face deeply into the pure breasts of hers that had never been touched by a man. 

"....Mama..." 

I could feel that Yoshiharu's face is becoming much more relaxed. 

Yoshiharu came from the future. The Japan of the future was a totally different world compared to this sengoku era, and had not experienced war for more than 10 years. The whole world was filled with peace, and of course, battles had not disappeared in the world, but like what Yoshiharu once said, in his world, everyone was trying their best to maintain the peace. 

So neither Yoshiharu nor his parents had any knowledge of fighting. 

For the first time, Mitsuhide thought, "Maybe it's really like this." and believed what Yoshiharu said. 

This country, in the far future, is a country without war. 

Yoshiharu had came over from that far, far away world, and, in this sengoku era that had nothing to do with him, for the sake of everyone's happiness, and to end the battles of this world, he had been fighting until now. 

Mitsuhide wondered, if the situation was reversed, would she work as hard as Yoshiharu? Would she hold back the tears and the complaints, and keep moving forwards while looking ahead....? Maybe instead, she would collapse from fear in a corner, crying and shivering. 

"....Yoshiharu, is great, is a really great child, Mama will definitely praise Yoshiharu too." 

With that, she thought she could see the sleeping Yoshiharu reveal a light smile. 

"Yoshiharu, you don't want to return to the dream world? And... once again, try your best in the dream world?" 

"....Ahh... I will work hard, Mama. I, had a promise with that person, so... I will try my best." 

"What a great child." 

Slowly, Yoshiharu's body heat began to return. 

The thumping of his heart was directly transmitted to Mitsuhide through the skin contact. 

Like finally surpassing a mountain top... Mitsuhide who had relaxed finally noticed. 

"...I've become strange, my heart... thump, thump, thump is beating non-stop." 

Mitsuhide's embarrassment returned immediately. 

EHHHHH!? 

HUGGING WITH A GUY, N...NA...NAK...NAKED...!? 

Th...This fellow, why is he sleeping on my breast so soundly!? 

"Ah, Ahhhhh, th...th...thi... What is this, you're bothering me, hurry and let go of me…! Mitsuhide's cute breast aren't meant to be slept on by some gorilla like you!" 

Panicking and covering herself with a shirt, Mitsuhide pushed Yoshiharu's head away from her violently. 

"....Mama...It's cold." 

"You are actually awake, right?" Mitsuhide didn't think twice as she roared like a Kansai person. 

"W...Wh...Who is peeking!? Ahh, this is a misunderstanding, Nobuna-sama. If you said, 'So Juubei, you like this Saru~ After picking up Saru who had fainted, you started mumbling to yourself and treated him like he's yours! Yucks, are you a pervert!?' and starts despising me, if that really happens, then I, Mitsuhide can only choose to commit seppuku.” 

I have to get away from this fellow as soon as possible. 

"....Mama...It's cold." 

"Yes, Yes, Yes, I know! Just a while longer!" 

“To have such a thing happening to me, what bad luck." 

Once she thought that the other party was this gorilla, she became so embarrassed. Mitsuhide thought to herself, "This fellow doesn't even have 1% of the human genes, he is a total monkey, monkey, monkey!" but her body was still hot. 

"Now that I think of it, at such a time and in such a place, no one will be peeking on us." 

Because she felt so embarrassed from hugging Saru, she can't sleep... In her heart, Mitsuhide was blaming Yoshiharu non-stop as she tightens her arms while hugging Yoshiharu and becoming more and more grumpy. 

"Ah... Enough of this! Hanzou! Hurry and help!" 

But, actually, there were people close to the opening of the cave. Those people gathered after seeing footprints. They were escapee hunting squads. 

They numbered over a hundred. 

One by one, they gathered at the entrance. 

"Ehhh, what's with these people, just go off like this, please return to wherever you came from!" 

"Seems like I have to finish them off.... Ahh, I've forgotten my sword!" Mitsuhide tensed up. 

From the escapee hunting squad, a voice spoke out. 

"So suspicious... Don't tell me, they are Oda army's warriors acting like lovers?" 

Eh!? 

We've been discovered!? 

Mitsuhide had no choice but to put on a "Lovers meeting secretly" play. 

Hugging the still sleeping Yoshiharu tightly with both her hands, 

Umm... Lovers... Lovers meeting secretly... Are there any lines I can use!? 

Anyway, I, Juubei Mitsuhide, before having an affair, I had no experience in love at all! H..H...He...Here, I had to use Tales of G...Ge...Ge...Genji those illicit picture books as reference, ahhh, anything is okay, I must say something! 

"Umm, Sagaramaru-sama, Mitsuko, has always admired Sagaramaru-sama!" 

There wasn't even aliases, as expected from the careless Mitsuhide. 

The movements of the soldiers had stopped. 

A little more! 

"U...Um, though I have been scolding you, Saru, idiot, useless, but Senpai... Mit... I Mitsuko has always admired Sagaramaru...Umm..." 

Mitsuhide was talking to herself, and the guy did not say anything. 

"What, is that a monkey play or what?" 

Those words... 

Uhh.... 

Mitsuhide was shocked... 

"Wh...Wh...Who is the monkey? If anyone's a monkey, it should be Sagara-senpai, no, it definitely is! Ahhh, to think that Mitsuhide is treated the same as this gorilla, ahh, all had come to an end." 

At the same time she kissed Yoshiharu's face, unknowingly words came out from Mitsuhide's throat. 

"....Senpai, that expression at Kiyomizu temple, that sad expression, just what did Senpai want to tell me!? I, have been thinking about Senpai unknowingly from then on! The one that Senpai wants to protect, and loves, just who is it? It should be Hime-sama, right? Or, Um, maybe Senpai, wants to.. after knowing about my fate, wants to tell me about that sad fate....? Because knowing that I have such a sad future... and, wanting to protect me... Senpai, is that what you wanted to tell me?" 

WH...WH...WHA...WHAT THE HELL AM I TALKING ABOUT!? 

Though she wants to stop, though they are in a situation where they could be killed anytime, every cell in Mitsuhide's body seems refuse her control... 

"Senpai, save me! I, can't see anything else once I'm fixated on something! I'm easy to be fooled, and don't notice the atmosphere, I will definitely meet with lots of failures in the future! Please, please teach me, keep me from turning into a bad child suddenly..." 

Uwahhhh, this isn't the normal things that this smart Juubei would say!!! 

Though her senses were shouting, "NO!!!", her body was filled with unstoppable feelings. 

"Senpai, during the time at Kiyomizu temple, maybe from then on... towards Sagara-senpai... I have fallen in love with you..." 

That sad expression, It was the first time... for me... 

Senpai, who was always energetic to the point of troubling others, just what could be the thing that was hidden in his heart... He must have known something, and was hurt by it. 

I, want to heal and calm Senpai who had continued to fight with this unspeakable sadness. 

In the place of Senpai Oka-sama that he could not meet. 

... 

Huh? 

She felt a stare... 

"....Umm, Juubei-chan, what have you been mumbling about from just now...? Ah, don't tell me you are punishing me? Is this one of the '72 methods of bullying'?" 

EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH? 

Whhhhhy did you wake you, you ero-saruuuuuuuu!? 

Mitsuhide was overcome by an urge to suffocate Yoshiharu, but due to this lovers play that she had to put on, she fell into Yoshiharu's chest and cried. 

"Wait, what is going on, don't move around, what if I become excited? Do...Don...Don...Don't tell me you are serious? N...N...No...No matter what, I'm a healthy high school student, if this goes on, I will lose control!" 

"Huh? W...Wh...Wh...What the hell are you talking about? H...Ho...How can I...I...I, Mitsuhide say such mushy things to an ero-saru like you! Though if you cried and proposed to me on your knees, 'I like you, please marry me', it's not like I can't consider it for a moment, but the situation now is totally different!" 

"Anyway, why must I be the one who proposes to Juubei-chan? No matter what, if you don't let go of me now, things are going to be terrible. I'm telling you now, I'm very tired, but it's separate from my will. Guys who feel the threat of death will want to leave descendants due to instinct, so please...." 

"So...So it's like this! It was all just an act! Like this, due to acting, so no matter what I said, they are lies and have nothing to do with anything. What I said just now were ALL lies!" 

"Wait, breasts, your breasts are squeezing me! Why are you leaning on me!? Uwahhh, Juubei-chan is broken!? Goemon, save meeeeeee!" 

"Ahhh, Sagara-senpai! W...Wh...What is going on, just now, there was something hot, and stiff on my tummy, just what is......" 

"Nothing! It's nothing!" 

"A...An...Anyway, just continue acting! From now on, what was said are all lies, forget them after listening! Juubei likes Senpai! Senpai is so suitable to that tragic battle! I just want to see your smiling face! As long as it's something I can do, I will do everything for Senpai! If it's Sagara Yoshiharu-senpai, Akechi Juubei Mitsuhide is willing to be an obedient child!" 

... 

... 

Ah... 

It's over... 

Wanting to say out the words in her mind, she said out the full name on impulse. 

Noooo, as expected, Mitsuhide is a straightforward child that has nothing to do with lying and acting! 

Anyway, 

This isn't the time to stick out the tongue and put on a cute smile. 

"Wahh, this can't be! That woman is Akechi Mitsuhide!" 

"Then that Sagara-senpai... As expected..." 

"Sagara Yoshiharu!" 

The soldiers rushed into the cave in an instant. 

"It's...It's all over!" 

"So that's it, that's what was happening! To not let these soldiers find out, we are acting lovers... I thought for a moment...." 

"Wait Gorilla! Why did you sink your head into my breasts again! That's too rude! Anyway, hurry and get up!" 

But, Yoshiharu who was too exhausted was still unable to get up. 

"...S...Sorry, but it seems like my strength has not returned... Only that area is full of spirit..." 

"Ahhh, enough! What a useless Gorilla! You are really a monkey, a useless monkey!" 

"....That's embarrassing." 

Her two swords were both broken when she had climbed up the crack. 

"Damn it, if this goes on...!" 

"Sagara-senpai, leave this to me!" 

Mitsuhide and Yoshiharu are in a crisis. 

Mitsuhide had decided. 

Even if it's bare fists, she must protect Senpai, as long as there is still a breath left, she must not let Sagara-senpai suffer anymore injury. 

"Bastards! Listen, I'm the descendant of Tsuchizaki Gen, Akechi Juubei Mitsuhide, Koretou Hyuga no Kami!" 

Wearing the shirt on her shoulder, Akechi Mitsuhide stood up. 

Her heart was naught of fear, and was filled with the thought of protecting Sagara Yoshiharu. 

The soldiers were all stunned by Mitsuhide's resolve, and Sagara Yoshiharu's eyes were also attracted by Mitsuhide's courageous look. 

Different from Nobuna who shines like a bright sun, Mitsuhide's beauty is as calm and quiet as the moon. A beauty unable to be compared, the firm will that was hidden inside this beauty would not lose to Nobuna. Yoshiharu can feel instinctively, Mitsuhide warming his body, saying such embarrassing things, those weren't for praises or rewards. 

This fellow, even that twisted Nobuna was able to acknowledge her and name her as her successor. 

She was indeed... remarkable. 

"...Like a fairy that had materialize in the real world....." 

"Wait, we don't know whether it's the real Juubei Mitsuhide and Sagara Yoshiharu, it might be a trap! Everyone, be careful!" shouted a leaderly man from the squad, and that voice, he seemed to have heard it before. 

"Roger!" 

They were swinging axes, chains and swords. 

Those weapons are all swinging around, almost as if they are thirsting for Mitsuhide's flesh. 

"Hurry and run, Juubei-chan, don't care about me!" 

But Mitsuhide had put on a stance, refusing to retreat even a step. 

With the skills of the Kashima Shinto style, this female warrior of unlimited talent and courage would not lose out even during a fist fight. 

"I am asking the heavens now. If I follow my fate.... if the meeting between I, Mitsuhide and Sagara Yoshiharu was to end like this, just another sad fate of the sengoku era, then we will not die here! Our meeting, whether it's right or wrong, heavens, please give me an answer!" 

But, at this time. 

The right shoulder that should have been relocated let out a feeling of pain. 

Her right hand could no longer move. 

Mitsuhide, made her resolve to die.