Ch. 6: Change
Upon hearing the news that the rebel army leader was ill, Azuma’s complexion changed.
(Azuma…what is he thinking?)
I felt anxious as his expression grew much more grim than it had been before.
Azuma: “If we’re going to strike, now’s the time.”
OO: “Eh…?”
Azuma: “I said now’s the time to strike. We’re going into battle.”
OO: “But…!”
(Azuma… is that really what you want?)
OO: “I…I’m sure your retainers will understand if you just talk to them. Isn’t having a discussion better than needlessly shedding blood?”
I argued vehemently while unable to look at his sorrowful expression.
Azuma: “…”
He shook his head bitterly.
Azuma: “Even if I knew what to say…”
Yet in the shame I saw there, I could also see sorrow.
Azuma: “No.”
OO: “But…”
Azuma: “It’s no use. He’s the one who taught me that.”
His face now held a sense of irony as he ushered me towards a room.
Ch. 7: Injury
Azuma said he’d tell me about the man who had betrayed him, then took a deep breath.
Azuma: “The man who betrayed us and started the rebellion… is actually my father’s trusted friend. I used to look up to him when I was young.”
OO: “That’s so…”
My heart ached at hearing that.
Azuma: “He worked as my father’s right-hand man, unmatched in his devotion. He even taught me in all forms of martial combat, which led to my skill now. He was an exceptional man… My father and I both valued him… and respected him, but… even so, he started this rebellion…”
OO: “Azuma…”
Something tightened around my chest as I saw the sorrow on his face.
(To be betrayed by someone you trusted and were so close to …)
Without thinking, I reached out towards Azuma and…-.
OO: “Ah…”
He roughly grabbed my hand.
Azuma: “A woman like you…”
His brow furrowed and his eyes looked to be full of an intense grief, then…
Azuma: “Why is it…I always divulge my heart to you?”
He yanked my arm and pulled me into a tight embrace.
I could hear the sorrow and pain in his voice, as if it were tearing out of him.
(Azuma… you were in so much pain…)
I slowly wrapped my arms around his back.
Azuma: “I’m so pathetic…”
OO: “Can’t you… talk to him about it?”
Azuma: “Don’t be ridiculous. There’s no way he would talk to me.”
OO: “You haven’t been able to talk to him before, so isn’t there some value in trying? Maybe if you do…”
Azuma: “Do you really believe that?”
Slowly he loosened the embrace and looked directly at me.
His eyes were full of such a powerful sorrow that it felt as if it were slowly weighing down on me.
OO: “I do.”
His eyes seemed to waver, but then…-.
Azuma: “…alright. I’ll try.”
OO: “Alright…!”
Within that sadness, a sliver of hope shone through…-.
…
……
Having received the request for a meeting, we were headed towards where the rebel lord was.
OO: “It’s good that he at least had a place for us to meet.”
Azuma: “Don’t let your guard down. It could be a trap.”
OO: “…”
I knew I had asked for a huge favor in coming along…
Azuma: “…”
Azuma was on high alert, scrutinizing everything with frayed nerves.
(It doesn’t really feel like we’re going just to talk…)
As I thought that…-.
Azuma: “Get down!”
OO: “…!?”
Suddenly, Azuma pushed me down and moved to cover me.
An arrow stuck in the ground uncomfortably close to where we stood.
Guard: “Who’s there!?”
Azuma: “I’ve come to speak with your lord! Lower your weapons!!”
Guard: “You think I’d believe that!?”
At those words, Azuma clenched his teeth.
In that span of time, more arrows flew, and Azuma straightened up as if to retaliate when…-.
OO: “…!”
I felt a heavy, sharp pain in my shoulder and the shock of it caused me to fall back.
Azuma: “OO!?”
But before I could hit the ground, Azuma’s arm was firmly around me.
There was an explosion of pain and my shoulder felt like it was on fire.
Azuma: “Damnit, an arrow…!”
The words he breathed out held regret, then Azuma called out to his nearby retainer.
Azuma: “I’ll take her back to the castle immediately to get her treated. You make sure you get this to the lord. Do not fail me.”
Retainer: “Yessir.”
Azuma: “Damn! Peace really was off the table…!!”
Azuma’s voice shook with unbridled rage but gradually started to grow distant…-.
(No… don’t fight…-)
Eventually I lost consciousness.
Ch. 8: Conclusion
En route to meet with the rebel lord, I had been struck down by an arrow.
Since then, a few days had passed and now…
Azuma: “How are you feeling today?”
OO: “I can barely feel the pain anymore.”
Azuma supported my back as I slowly sat up.
I had been given the proper medical treatment right after being injured so it hadn’t been serious.
OO: “I have to hurry and get better so I can move again.”
Azuma: “You don’t have to do anything. Just let your body rest.”
OO: “But I’m useless, I can’t even stand up right now…”
Azuma: “…there’s no need. It’ll just be good for you to make a complete recovery as quickly as possible.”
OO: “Thank you. You’ve done so much for me…”
Azuma: “What are you talking about? When you think about it, this is all my fault for even inviting you to this country in the first place.”
OO: “But because of that I was able to meet you.”
Azuma’s eyes widened in surprise.
But almost immediately his expression turned gentle…
Azuma: “Hurry and get better.”
He looked at me with such love in his eyes.
(Azuma…)
I was worried about what was happening with the rebel lord, but I didn’t want to see that kindness on his face disappear, so I didn’t ask.
At that time…-.
Retainer: “Lord Azuma.”
There was a flurry of commotion outside the sliding doors as we heard one of the retainers speak.
Azuma: “What?”
Retainer: “The leader of the rebel army has come to meet with you Lord Azuma.”
Azuma: “What!?”
We looked at each other in surprise.
Azuma: “…”
Azuma’s eyes immediately turned sharp as steel.
OO: “Azuma…please let me go with you.”
Azuma: “No! Weren’t you just injured!?”
OO: “This time the situation is the other way around… and anyway, we’re meeting in the castle. Please…”
Azuma: “…”
His expression was fierce but…
Azuma: “Fine. But you aren’t to leave my side. Alright?”
He looked at me as I argued desperately, then, almost as if exasperated, he let out a sigh and agreed to my request.
…
……
Azuma and I entered the room, and the rebel lord bowed his head deeply.
Rebel Lord: “You have my thanks for agreeing to this meeting and being willing to speak with me.”
Tension dominated the room.
Azuma: “So sorry for making you come out here.”
Rebel Lord: “You haven’t changed… still as kind as ever.”
Saying as much, the rebel lord moved to pull something out and Azuma went on guard.
Azuma: “!”
What he brought out was a folded piece of paper and a small black box.
(What’s that…?)
Rebel Lord: “I successfully received your letter and the medicine.”
Azuma: “…I see.”
——————–
Azuma: “You make sure you get this to the lord. Do not fail me.”
——————–
(From before…!? It was medicine!)
Azuma gave a calm nod.
The rebel lord continued to speak, giving no indication of raising his head.
Rebel Lord: “Lord Azuma…I have wronged you. I went so far and did this to that young woman because I was anxious for my own self… why did I work to insight rebellion? Even if I do feel regret, it changes nothing. I do not ask for forgiveness for one such as myself, weak to greed, so if it is a beheading or the flames…-.”
Azuma: “I have no need for flowery words.”
Rebel Lord: “…”
Azuma: “Did you go so far because you desire this kingdom?”
Rebel Lord: “…after all this time, I don’t know.”
Azuma: “Have I… not been a dependable leader?”
Rebel Lord: “…compared with your father, I believed your heart was weak. And leaving you to handle the governmental affairs of a king… I could not agree to it. However now that you have done this to save me… I realize I simply did not truly understand what strength was. …please forgive me.”
Azuma: “Raise your head.”
Rebel Lord: “But…”
Azuma: “Raise your head!”
A deathly silence fell at Azuma’s angry roar.
Slowly, the rebel lord raised his head.
Azuma: “Your complexion looks good. Was the medicine effective?”
Rebel Lord: “…yes.”
Azuma: “Then you are to be banished at once.”
Rebel Lord: “!? B-but that kind of judgement is far too generous.”
Azuma: “You are not to set foot in this kingdom ever again. That is my judgement. You wanted this kingdom enough to betray me, so being unable to return to it is a severe enough punishment to me.”
Rebel Lord: “Lord Azuma…!”
Azuma: “…”
Azuma seemed as if he wanted to say something else, but in the end he held his tongue and turned away.
Azuma: “Let’s go OO.”
OO: “R-right.”
There were tears in the eyes of the feudal lord…-.
…
……
Then without exchanging another word, we went back.
We entered the room, and I moved to sit down when…-.
Azuma: “Will you betray me?”
Azuma suddenly posed that question to me.
OO: “…I wouldn’t.”
Azuma: “Would you betray me if I came to possess something great?”
OO: “Azuma… I could never betray you.”
Azuma: “I thought there was a possibility.”
He closed his eyes in pain.
Azuma: “I want to keep you held within my hands so you won’t betray me. I don’t want you to see or hear anything other than me, and keep everything you are sealed away. Those are the things I wish for…”
(Azuma…?)
His words were earnest and sad as he spoke, then he held me in an embrace.
And while we were like that…
Azuma: “You alone can’t betray me…”
I was pushed onto my back and as I lay there, Azuma stared down at me.
(Don’t make such a sorrowful face…)
Azuma: “Right now, I want to do any number of things to steal you away.”
OO: “Azuma…”
Azuma: “I was able to hold myself back from touching you… but I can’t anymore. I can do what I like to you. If I acted on that without a care for what you wanted… I could trap you here with a single arm. My hands, my legs, my entire body are larger than yours. Will you… be mine?”
OO: “…of course I will.”
(I can’t…say no.)
Having come into contact with this strong, brave person’s fragile heart, I felt as if I was about to cry.
I loved Azuma so much.
Azuma: “OO…”
Gentle, as if worried about aggravating my injury, Azuma’s fingers began to slide over my body.
END