ALEX'S POV

After being introduced as the new chatelaine, Mitsunari showed me around the castle so I could get used to my surroundings and learning new scents from everyone. As he was showing me around, we got to the training area where we saw Masamune training with his swords.

"This is the training hall, this is where we train and where some of my soldiers train as well but, you don't really need to be told that do you?"

"Nope, just the scent of sweaty men is more than enough to tell me that."

"Scent?"

"I have sharper senses of smell than you."

"I see," Mitsunari sounded impressed when I said this.

Just then, Masamune spotted us and then he smirked at me after sheathing his swords.

"Hey you two, I see you decided to come back to Azuchi."

"It's not like I had anywhere else to go, besides, I needed a place to live and work."

"It's about time you came to your senses, little weasel."

"Will you stop calling me little weasel? I don't like that nickname, it makes me sound evil."

"All right, how about little kitten?"

"No way in hell, I hate cats."

"You do?" Masamune and Mitsunari asked me in a surprised tone.

"Yeah, they're nasty little furballs and they always attack me whenever I try to walk by them."

"*Chuckles* that's your excuse?" Masamune asked me.

"I'm not kidding! it's the truth!"

"Okay, okay, I believe you, then what would you like me to call you?"

"Well, some of my friends used to call me the lone wolf."

"Lone wolf sounds serious but, I suppose little wolf will suit you."

"That's more like it."

I spoke with a smile. Mitsunari chuckled a little and then he said to me.

"Anyway, Lady Alex, shall we continue with the tour?"

"You know, you don't have to be so formal around me, you can just call me Alex."

"But, you're Lord Nobunaga's saviour, I couldn't possibly-"

"It's all right, besides, I'm not used to being so formal, unlike a certain someone I used to know."

I mumbled the last part when Dominic's face appeared in my mind. I heard Shadow whimpering sadly and I sweatdropped a little.

"Sorry, Shadow."

"You're showing her around?" Masamune asked Mitsunari.

"Yes, Lord Nobunaga asked me to show her around the castle since she's new around here and speaking of which, shall we continue with the tour?"

"Sounds good to me, see you later."

I said to Masamune before following after Mitsunari. After showing me around the castle, Mitsunari decided to show me around town. 

"Wow, there are so many people here!"

"Yes, thanks to Lord Nobunaga's trade policies. With no restrictions on the flow of goods and people, you can find anything you'd like in Azuchi."

"I see, I guess he the Devil does have a soft spot after all."

I said as I looked around. I was impressed that Nobunaga had created this lively medieval metropolis. 

"Oh, Lord Mitsunari, is that you?" A merchant called out to him.

"I'm glad to see you. I was just about to send a messenger your way."

"Good day, is there something you needed from me?"

"I heard information from some of the other merchants and knew you'd want to hear it. Lately, the Uesugi clan has been buying up large quantities of rice."

"That's very telling."

My helpful guardian angel once more became a warlord, intent on his stewardship.

"I'd like to hear more about that, but, unfortunately-"

He didn't say as much but, Mitsunari was turning him down for me. 

'Oh boy, if this is about the war, it's gotta be way more important than my tour.'

"It's all right, Mitsunari. I'll be fine on my own."

"Are you certain, Alex?"

"Yeah, and I know my way back to the castle, thanks to you."

"I'm sorry I couldn't show you more. I promise to make it up to you. Here's some money if you see anything you wish to buy."

He handed me a heavy bag of coins. It seemed more than enough, judging by what I'd seen.

"You shouldn't. I don't have any way to pay you back."

"There's no need to pay me back. You are our chatelaine. Learning about Azuchi is part of your job. I find the best way to do that is to do more than observe, it is to try the food and the products for yourself. This isn't pocket money as much as it's living expenses to help you as you learn."

"Well, I suppose you're right, however, I'll return any change to you tonight."

"I'd be happy if you used all of it, as long as you enjoyed yourself. Just don't stay out too late. I worry about your safety, a woman walking alone at night."

"*Chuckle* I can take care of myself, so try not to worry too much. I love a nighttime walk considering the fact that I'm a bit of a nocturnal animal."

Mitsunari looked at me surprised as I waved bye to him. As I walked through the town, I checked out all different kinds of stalls and then I came across one that was selling sugar candy. I was in luck since there was one bag of them left.

"I'm in luck," I mumbled before approaching the merchant.

"Excuse me, I'd like to purchase this bag of sugar candy."

"Of course, here you go."

I paid the merchant and I tucked the bag of sugar candy in my kimono. I continued to look around town until the scent of food caught my attention. I sniffed the air and it led me to a restaurant called 'Shiki'.

"*Whines* Alex stop standing there! get some food in your belly!"

"I'm already on it, Shadow."

I told her with a small smile on my face. I pushed past the curtain and stepped inside. 

"Welcome to Shiki. Take any seat available."

"Thanks, this place has a nice name."

The friendly owner told me his wife had chosen it. It was named for the four seasons. Fittingly, the menu was seasonal. It would have to be in this period, by necessity. I ordered tempura udon along with a drink of water and I was ready to tuck in. I tried the tempura and it was delicious.

"It's good, be sure to give my compliments to the chef."

"Thank you, miss. I will," The waitress told me before heading back to work.

As I was about to get back to eating my food, I heard someone shouting.

"This place is a dive!"

I nearly choked on my noodles when I heard that loud voice.

'Yikes, sounds like someone was raised in a barn.'

I thought to myself as I looked at the source of the yelling. I saw a pair of men, wearing worn and patched clothes and that tells me they were likely ronin.

Ronin 2: "You gonna pays us to eat this slop, old man? Cause we sure ain't paying you."

Owner: "Customers, if there's a problem, we can talk about it..."

They backed the old owner against the bar, cornering him. My eyes widen in shock and I thought to myself.

'What do they think they're doing? They're going too far!'

Ronin 1: "We ain't interested in hearing any yapping, old man!"

One of them hit the owner, who slid to the floor. He lay there, groaning. I frowned and I stood up onto my feet.

"Are you OK?!"

I hurried to the side of the old man, who clutched his stomach, obviously in pain. He tried to hide it, for my sake.

"O-oh, yes. I'm fine. G-go on...don't worry about me..."

Ronin 1: "Scram, woman. This is no business of yours."

I glared at the Ronin and I said to them.

"And you no longer have business with this man, so stop."

Ronin 1: "You want to fight us, girlie?"

Shadow growled in excitement when he said this. I smirked at him and I stood up from the ground.

"Normally, I'm not the type of person to get violent but, since you attacked this old man for no goddamn reason..."

I cracked my knuckles with a smirk plastered on my face.

"I'll be sure to make you pay for interrupting my lunch and for hurting him in the first place."

 "Wait! don't-" The owner shouted at me but, it was already too late the beating had begun.

Bonk! Bam! Crash! Bonk! (A/n really bad sound effects here.)

"OW!!!" The two ronin shouted in pain.

I wiped my hands and the two ronin had two large bums on their heads and they were beaten up badly with bruises and bloody noses. 

Ronin 1: "Ow...my head..."

Ronin 2: "How can one little girl beat us...?"

The two ronin groaned in pain. The owner and the waiters were shocked when they saw me beating the crap out of the two ronin. I glared at the two ronin and I told them.

"Cross paths with me again and I won't go easy on you two again! now if you don't want another beating from me, I suggest you pay this nice man for your food including the damage you two caused as well!"

"All right! all right! have mercy!" One of the ronin told me before throwing a bag of coins at the old man.

"That's more like it, now do me a favour, take your sorry asses out of this place, NOW!!!"

I yelled angrily while showing my dark and scary aura. The ronin looked at me in fear and they ran for their lives.

"And don't let me catch you two causing trouble around here again!"

I shouted at them after running away from me. The owner smiled at me and he held my hands with a smile on his face.

"Thank so you much, miss! you saved me!"

"Don't worry about it, I was glad I was able to help besides, I can't stand guys like them."

"As my way of saying thanks, the meal is on the house and also..."

The owner went in the back and he came back with a bottle of sake.

"This is one of our best sake that you can get your hands on, this is also on the house as well."

"I couldn't possibly take this."

"You have to! it's the least I can do."

"All right, how can I say no to a bottle of alcohol?"

I said as I took the bottle from him. I waved bye to the shop owner and I continued to explore the town.

3RD PERSON POV

As Alex continued to explore her new surroundings, a certain War God watched the whole scene while drinking his sake. This man was Uesugi Kenshin and in a way, he was impressed when he saw Alex take care of the Ronin.

"That woman...who is she?" Kenshin mumbled after watching her fight.

After finishing his drink, Kenshin left to find Sasuke and the others. He got back to the inn where he was staying and once he got back, he told Shingen, Yukimura and Sasuke what he saw. Sasuke was shocked when he heard this and then Shingen asked him.

"Sasuke, is there something wrong?"

"It's just...that woman you told us about, it might be Alex."

"Alex?" Kenshin asked Sasuke.

Shingen then remembered who she was and he smiled a little.

"Oh, that beautiful girl who we met on the cliff, I remember her."

"What?! Seriously?! that woman who nearly killed herself from running away from bandits is here in Azuchi and she can fight?!"

"But, I've known Alex since we were kids, sure she was strong whenever she stood up to those bullies for me but, I don't remember her being that strong before."

Sasuke knew that something didn't feel right when Kenshin told him what he saw. He stood up from the floor and he said to Yukimura and his bosses.

"I'm going out for a little while, I'll be back soon."

Sasuke left the inn and he headed to Azuchi where he was able to track Alex down after leaving her in the forest. Back with Alex, she got back to the castle and she was now in her room checking out some of the items that she bought today.

ALEX'S POV

I looked at the rouge that I had bought today and I decided to try it out. I got my hand mirror and applied the pink rouge on my lips. I looked at my reflection and I was surprised that it suited me.

"Hmpf, I never thought I'd see the day when you wear makeup," Shadow commented.

"It's only the one time, Shadow. Besides, is it bad for me to try it out? I mean Ayame did suggest to wear makeup and impress Dominic."

"But, that plan backfired, remember? you flat out refused and not to mention...Dominic and Zeus weren't our mates..."

I lowered my gaze sadly and I sighed a little.

"I know..." I mumbled quietly.

'Still, I wonder what's happening in the future right now? Are Dominic and Josh still alive? if so, Moon Goddess...please watch out for them.'

I prayed quietly and then I heard something from the ceiling. I looked up and then a familiar face appeared.

"Sasuke?!"

"Shh! keep it down."

Sasuke hushed me before landing softly onto the ground. He sat across from me and he said to me.

"I'm not exactly welcomed here in Azuchi, so try and keep your voice down."

"Sorry about that, anyway, are you here to tell me the good news? did you find a way for us to get home?"

"I did...hm? is that rouge on your lips?"

I blushed bright red and I quickly wiped away the rouge from my lips and I told him.

"It's not what you think! now, tell me, when's the next wormhole going to appear?"

"Oh right, according to my calculations, the next wormhole is going to appear in three months and it might appear in Kyoto, same place when you first arrived here."

"Three months?! why can't it be a month?"

"Don't panic, it won't even be that long, besides, you went through worse as far as I can tell."

"I see...well, I suppose you're right."

"And by the way, don't get too close to the warlords, if you fall in love with one of them it'll cloud your judgement to return home."

"Don't worry, I'm not going to fall in love besides, none of the warlords have gotten my attention."

"I see, by the way, there's also one more thing that I wanted to ask you."

"What's that?"

"I heard from Lord Kenshin that you fought against two ronin, all by yourself."

"And?"

"Well, it got me thinking when we were kids you were never the type to resort to violence unless it was necessary and..."

Sasuke glanced at my fists and he noticed the bruises and the red marks on my knuckles which were already healing.

"Your knuckles don't look red and sore, Alex, is there something you want to tell me?"

"Tell you what? there's nothing going on with me and if there was, I wouldn't tell you."

Sasuke looked at me surprised but, I can tell he still knows there something not right with me.

"All right but, remember, we were old friends and you can tell me anything."

"I know, I know and thanks again Sasuke, it's good to have a friend again."

I said as I pictured Dominic, Josh and some of my friends from the pack.

"Alex, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, just old memories popping into my head."

"I see," Sasuke spoke with a relieved smile.

Just then, I smelt a familiar scent and it was Hideyoshi.

"Uh-oh, Sasuke, you better scram."

"Huh?" Sasuke looked at the sliding doors when he heard someone coming.

Sasuke looked at me surprised and he asked me.

"Alex, how did you-"

"Don't ask questions! go!"

I said as I opened the window and then Sasuke left. I sat back down and then Hideyoshi spoke up.

"Alexandra, can I come in?"

"*Sighs* what do you want?" I asked in an annoyed tone as I brushed my hair.

Hideyoshi opened the sliding doors and he then said to me.

"Some greeting that was, anyway, if you're not too busy, I'd like to ask you more questions about the Honno-Ji incident and yourself."

"Ugh, can we do this tomorrow? I've escaped from a burning temple, running away from you and Masamune, finding a way back here and I recently got back from exploring the town, I'm exhausted!"

"It won't take long."

"Sorry, no can do."

I said as I pushed Hideyoshi out of my room and I told him.

"We can do this tomorrow, right now, I need my beauty sleep, bye-bye."

I closed the sliding doors and I sighed in exhaustion.

"You know something, a good night's rest will do us some good, especially after last night's events."

"I couldn't agree with you more, Shadow."

I got changed into my night clothes and I slipped into the futon and I fell asleep immediately.

HIDEYOSHI'S POV

I was surprised and angry after she had thrown me out of her room. Masamune chuckled at me and he said to me.

"Tough luck, Hideyoshi."

"It's not funny, Masamune!"

"Look, give the lass a break, she just got here and she hadn't gotten any sleep until now, just leave it until tomorrow and then she might be willing to answer your questions, all right?"

"*Sighs* now you're starting to sound like her."

I grumbled before walking away from her bedroom.

ALEX'S POV

Before I fell asleep, I heard Hideyoshi and Masamune talking about me and I frowned a little.

'Oh boy, this is gonna be hard for the next three months in the Sengoku.'