Shards of Time: Nobunaga's Campaign

Somehow I'm still troubled. I know what I have to do but if I were to give myself to Nobunaga, I'd want him to feel the same way I feel. I'm guessing there won't be a chance for me to go back to my own time period so I have to live my life here. The thing is I'm here for a reason. And that's to help Nobunaga. AHH! My modern ideals don't fit well here.

When I turned the corner, I bumped into someone causing me to fall over. I was so distracted that I didn't notice.

"I'm sorry." I said while rubbing my nose. I opened my eyes and saw Nobunaga towering over me. He held out his hand and I took it. He pulled me up and I stood there looking down.

"You've been troublesome today." He said. I didn't meet his gaze. His voice held no emotion. It was monotonous at best.

"I'm sorry. I'll go back to the Tenshu." I said. I walked away but he pulled me back.

"What?" I asked. He didn't answer. He held on to my arm and pulled me in to an empty room. He pinned me between his arms.

"If you pulled me here to tease me, let me go. I don't want to play games with you." I said. I looked into his eyes and I saw something different. His gaze was intense that I couldn't look away.

"I don't understand…" he said. I'm the one who doesn't understand what's happening. He looked into my eyes and I could see he was uncomfortable.

"When you turn away from me, I get a feeling of uneasiness. I don't understand why I feel this way." He said. I could tell it was really bothering him. Does that mean…?

"Nobunaga, how… do you really feel about me?" I asked. Our eyes met and the intensity of his gaze made it difficult for me to turn away.

"I feel warm when I'm with you. It's as if everything I've done in the past could be forgiven." He said. I was trembling. It wasn't just me that was feeling this way. He was confused of his own emotions.

"Nō, don't ever turn away from me again." He pulled me in for an embrace. I could feel his sincerity. I can finally decide what to do. Now that I know Nobunaga and I feel the same way. I don't need to be wary of him anymore.

"Nobunaga…" I said. He loosened his grip on me. I cupped his face in my hands and planted a soft kiss on his lips. His arms found their way around my waist and he pulled me in tighter. I pulled away from him and looked into his eyes.

"I'll stay by your side." I said. A small smile had made its way into Nobunaga's lips.

After what happened between the two of us, we head on back to the Tenshu. Nobunaga said he has something to tell me. When we arrived, I sat down on the bed.

"Tomorrow morning, we're headed to a town near the outskirts of Owari. We have something to discuss with the local daimyo. I want you to come with us." He said. I nodded and he sat next to me.

"Does it involve your campaign?" I asked. He looked at me and nodded. I rested my head on his shoulder.

"I don't think I've ever seen this side of you." He said. I propped my head back and looked at him.

"Then you are fortunate. This is a side of me that only people I care about will ever get to see." I said with a smile. Nobunaga asked me to prepare a few of my things to bring with me since we'll probably be staying for the night. I agreed and went on to pack a few piece of clothing. I decided to bring the shinobi outfit with me. It might come in handy.

Morning came and I went to the courtyard after breakfast. Nobunaga and Masahide were with another man I've never seen before. When I got close to them, the man turned to look at me. I noticed that he had an eye-patch covering his right eye.

"Lady Nō, this Date Masamune; he has forged an alliance with the Oda forces. He will be accompanying us." Masahide said. Masamune bowed at me.

"It is an honor to meet the Lady of Oda." He said. I didn't know Masamune would be this young-looking considering he is older than Nobunaga and Masahide.

"It is my pleasure." I said. Nobunaga offered his hand and helped me mount my horse. When we were set, we went on our way. The town was a good distance from the castle. The sun was about to set when we arrived.

"Lord Nobunaga, welcome. Please come in." We were greeted by a stout old man by the entrance of the town. He led us to what appears to be his house.

"You stay in our room." Nobunaga said. I nodded and went to the room. The moment I set foot in this town, I felt something was wrong. Have I read something about this town before? I tried to recall as much as I could. Suddenly, I heard footsteps outside the room. Seems like I'm being guarded; but why?

I suddenly remembered what happened in this town. This is an assassination attempt. I have to save Nobunaga. But how do I leave this room without getting caught? I got the idea to wear my shinobi outfit and sneak out through the window.

"Make sure the Lady is inside the room. Don't let her out." I heard them whispering. I can't put on the outfit. One of the guards entered my room. I pretended to act scared.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. The guard looked menacing. He didn't answer me. He just stood by the door. I have no choice but to knock him out if I want to leave this room and save Nobunaga. I pretended to choke. I was fake coughing until I got his attention.

"What's wrong with you?" He asked. I didn't answer but I kept on coughing. He walked towards me, letting his guard down. When he tried to put his hand on my shoulder, I pulled him down until he knelt in front of me. I stood up and hit the back of his neck. He was unconscious in an instant.

I changed my clothes and left through the window. There were panels on the roof. It was a small opening but I had to squeeze myself in. I crawled through until I heard voices underneath. This must be the room where Nobunaga and the others are.

"Do you agree to our conditions, daimyo?" Masahide asked. The daimyo didn't answer.

"We have no time to waste. If you do not agree, we have other options to make you agree." Nobunaga said. The daimyo has been quiet for a while. He must be trying to signal the attack. I opened the panel and jumped down.

Nobunaga and the others had planned to take over this town as part of Nobunaga's plan of unification. This town was the last one of the Owari Province that has not been under the Oda forces. Nobunaga had noticed that the air was unsettling. Masahide and Masamune had felt it too.

Suddenly, a kunai flew directly at Nobunaga. Just then, someone dropped down from the ceiling and deflected the kunai. Nobunaga, Masahide and Masamune stood on their feet; hands on their sword ready to draw them out.

"This is an assassination attempt." Nobunaga declared. The daimyo grew frightened but he continued to attack. Nō pulled out her dagger and blocked the daimyo's attack.

"Who are you?" The daimyo asked the ninja. Nō didn't answer fearing that Nobunaga would hear her voice and recognize her. The daimyo's men entered the room and everyone was in a full-out battle. Nō had faith in the others when it came to swordsmanship. She was distracted for just a few seconds and the daimyo managed to stab her side.

"Die!" The daimyo shouted. Nō wasn't just about to give up. Even though she had a dagger inside her, she managed to slit the daimyo's throat. When the daimyo fell, she pulled out the dagger from her side and dropped it on the floor.

"Who are you?" Masahide asked. Nō realized that they had fought off the other attackers; she didn't have time to answer. She knew that Nobunaga would be looking for her. She retreated through the ceiling. Knowing she can't go back to the room, she decided to make it look like she was chased outside. She knocked out a guard by the forest behind the house and dragged him. Nō removed the outfit; she still had her nightwear underneath the disguise.

She ripped the part of her clothes to make it look like she was stabbed. Meanwhile, Nobunaga realized that Nō was alone, he immediately ran to her room. When he opened the door, Nō was nowhere in sight. There was only an unconscious guard inside the room.

"Find her!" He ordered. Nō was losing too much blood. She leaned from tree to tree to keep herself up. She walked back to the house so they would find her.

"Milady!" Nō looked up and saw Masahide running towards her. She clutched her wound tight to prevent even more blood loss. Her vision was starting to blur. Her knees gave out and she was kneeling on the grass.

My wound is too deep. I need to stop the bleeding before I pass out. Masahide helped me up. Just then, Nobunaga appeared in front of me. He didn't say a word. He carried me back inside. His face held anger in them.

"Nobunaga…" I said. He looked at me and his expression softened. He placed me down on the bed and a doctor immediately checked my wound. My vision turned black before I knew it.

When I woke up, the sun was already up. I sat up but immediately felt pain on my side. That's right, I was injured last night. I forced myself to stand up regardless of the pain. Suddenly, the door flew open and I looked up to see who it was.

"Milady, you're awake." It was Masahide. He must've come here to check on me.

"What happened, Masahide?" I asked. He knelt down in front of me before he answered.

"The daimyo attempted to kill us all last night but luckily a ninja saved Lord Nobunaga before the daimyo could hurt him." He explained. So he doesn't suspect me at all.

"A ninja?" I pretended to act scared.

"Yes, but it wasn't like the ones from your wedding. He killed the daimyo and then left. We were ordered to find him and find out his purpose." Masahide added. I breathe a sigh of relief.

"What about you milady? Do you remember what happened to you last night?" Masahide asked.

"I was in the room when I noticed that I was being guarded. I felt something wrong and then they tried to kill me. I managed to knock out one guard so I ran out into the garden where another guard was waiting. He stabbed me but I managed to push him and he hit his head and lost consciousness." I explained. Masahide looked relieved.

"It was a good thing we found you. I've never seen Lord Nobunaga so upset." He said. My ears perked when I heard Nobunaga's name.

"What did he do?" I asked. Masahide looked away.

"I'll tell him that you are awake." He said before turning his back on me and leaving the room. I stayed in bed waiting for Nobunaga. The door flew open and Nobunaga came inside the room.

"Nōhime…" He said. It was the first time I heard him say my name like that. His eyes were icy. It felt like he lost all his emotions and is left as a husk. I tried to sit up but he stopped me.

"Stay down." He said. The tone of his voice is monotonous. I didn't listen to him. I sat up and held out my hand. He took it and he sat next to me. I noticed what seemed to be a spot of blood on his cheek. I smeared it with my fingers and it left a reddish stain.

"Nobunaga… Is this blood?" I asked. He looked at me with a cold expression.

"Yes." He answered. Panic grew inside me.

"Did you get hurt?" I asked. He shook his head. Then that could only mean… He must've killed the daimyo's accomplices. I know my moral code doesn't apply to this time period. There's no need for me to be shocked. I've already killed two people ever since I woke up here in this period.

"Are you okay?" I asked. I put my hand up to his cheek and I looked him in the eye. His cold icy expression suddenly melted away.

"I never should've left you." He said. I could feel the sincerity of his words. If Nobunaga hadn't left me, I wouldn't have found out about the assassination attempt.

"It's no use dwelling in the past. I'm happy that you are unharmed." I said. I rested my head on his chest. I put my ear to his chest and listened to his heartbeat. As long as you're alive, I won't die.

Nobunaga left afterwards to settle with the townspeople. From this day on, this town is under the Oda forces. He successfully united the Owari Province under his rule. Now Nobunaga will need to campaign all throughout Japan. It won't be easy.

We were on our way back to our castle. I was sitting in front of Nobunaga on the same horse. He insisted I ride with him since I'm still injured. I'm not even complaining about it.

"Nō, we'll be moving to another castle. I have ordered my men to have it built the moment I became the daimyo of this province." He said. I looked at him and smiled. We'll be moving to Azuchi castle. I'm so excited. I couldn't clearly hide my excitement.

When we arrived back at the castle, we were greeted by a group of soldiers at the entrance. Nobunaga helped me dismount the horse. The soldiers took the horses to the stables. Masahide and Masamune were discussing something and I just realized that Nobunaga hadn't let go of my hand. While walking, I heard gossips from Nobunaga's vassals.

"The lord must really love the lady. I've never seen him care for someone so deeply."

"I agree. But wouldn't it be dangerous for the lady?"

"What do you mean?"

"If the lord's enemies find out that he favors the lady, they might try to take her to get to our lord." I sudden rush of fear washed over me. As much as I hate to agree, they're right. When we arrived at the Tenshu, I grabbed Nobunaga's arm and pulled him close to me.

"Nō…" Nobunaga spoke but I cut him off.

"I need to tell you something." I said. We sat down on the bed.

"Have you heard what your vassals are saying about us?" I asked. He smirked.

"Of course. They can clearly see how I treat you. You are my wife after all." He said confidently.

"But aren't you afraid?" I asked. He looked at me with a confused expression.

"Afraid of what?" He asked.

"If your enemies find out about me, won't they try to hurt me to get to you?" I asked. He looked serious.

"As long as I'm here, no one would dare hurt you. You belong to me. I won't let anyone try to hurt you." He said. This side of him, he never shows it to anyone. I'm glad he trusts me enough to show me this side of him. I cupped his face in my hands. I pulled him in for a kiss. His soft lips gently touching mine. He deepened the kiss and I wrapped my arms around his neck. I pulled away for a moment to look at him.

I think I've fallen for you Nobunaga.