3RD PERSON POV

One night, in the sylvan outskirts of Azuchi. Kennyo was in his hut until one of his men told him the recent events in both Azuchi and Echigo.

"The mad god is in an alliance with the Devil King? how can this be?"

Kennyo clenched a shaking fist as his subordinate brought him the news. 

"I was relying on Kenshin's bloodlust to reduce Nobunaga's strength! Tell me. what caused the God of War to have a change of heart?"

"They say he's fallen in love with a princess of the Oda, Abbot."

"That can't be. The God of War hates women."

"But they've been seen together. It's rumoured all through Kasugayama."

"Of all the people to fall in love with, it was a girl from the Oda clan? This couldn't be worse for us."

Frowning, Kennyo began to think out loud.

Did Nobunaga give her to him as a hostage to secure their alliance? That's exactly the kind of manipulative act that I'd expect of that arrogant devil."

"What should we do, Abbot? if this continues, they may form a permanent alliance."

"We'll have to make sure that never happens."

Kennyo told his subordinate as his eyes remained dark in the orange candlelight.

***

ALEXIS' POV

"This is the perfect weather, isn't it?"

"Is that why you wanted to come back here?"

"Yeah, I wanted to see this place in the daylight. It was beautiful at night, of course."

I drew in a deep breath of fresh air, scent by flowers and smiled back at Kenshin.

We were in the wildflower field just outside the castle. The same one he'd taken me moon-viewing to. 

"I had no idea there were this many flowers! they go on forever."

'I wonder if it's freedom that makes the field seem so much more beautiful?'

I thought to myself as I stared at the horizon while Sora was busy running through the flower field and chasing after butterflies. 

"It's true. You can see so much more in the light."

But, Kenshin wasn't looking at the flowers as he spoke. 

"I thought you were enchanting in the moonlight, but, you're even more beautiful now. "

"Well, I'm pretty sure I haven't changed, but thank you," I spoke with a small hint of blush on my cheeks.

"All I saw that night was you, and the chance to have you to myself."

'We both see things differently now that we're together.'

I smiled after he gave me that compliment before I spoke up.

"Shingen hasn't been here to give lessons so, how did you come to sound so sweet?"

"It seems I can only say what's in my heart around you."

'Kenshin's become a huge romantic now that he feels safer with me.'

I thought to myself as Kenshin caressed my cheek which made my heart fluttered at the tenderness of that touch. 

"I'm going to water the house. Stay here?"

"Of course, Sora will keep me company, won't you boy?"

Sora barked in response before running back to me. Kenshin led the horse away. I relaxed among the flowers, watching until he was out of sight. Just then, a purple flower caught my eye. 

'Oh, that's lovely...'

I pulled my hand back just in time after realising it was a thistle, covered in nasty looking thorns. 

'Phew, that was close! I wouldn't want Kenshin to raze this whole field!'

I was able to laugh about it now because he no longer reacted so dramatically if I had a minor injury. 

'He's still possessive of me but, in a good way. He's very good to me. I didn't think life in the waring states could BE this peaceful.'

I remembered there was only about two more weeks until the wormhole's arrival. It's coming no longer had dire importance to me. 

'Two and a half months ago, I hated this place and I hated the idea of moving to Kyoto. I was miserable every day. It didn't feel right being with my friends or performing with them like we used to but, now...I feel like I'm home. I can forget about that silly date. It will be a day like any other. One of many in my new life with Kenshin.'

I spotted a pale blossom in the grass. I smiled when I recognised it and Sora wagged his tail happily when he noticed it too.

'That's the same type as the flower Kenshin gave me.'

The original flower had wilted not long after I'd gotten back, but the memories of it remained. Suddenly, Sora started growling loudly and then I turned to look at him.

"What is it Sora?" 

I asked him before I heard soft footsteps rustling in the grass as someone approached. The field had been empty when we arrived. I had no doubts in my mind it was Kenshin but, from the way Sora was growling and how I didn't hear his horse, I was wrong. When I looked up, I saw a stranger. A young man with loose hair and no smile. 

"Are you Alexis?"

'I don't like the way you're asking that question, so no answer for you!'

I thought to myself as my 'stranger danger' alarm bell was going off in my head. I stood up and I was prepared to run. 

"I'm sorry about this. This is the only way we'll get our revenge."

Sora got in front of me protectively and he started barking and growling at the man.

'I was right. He's bad news!!'

He unsheathed a blade, it's edge gleaming in the bright sunlight. I spun on my heel and ran as he lifted the sword. In the corner of my eye, I saw the blade come careening toward me. Sora tried to stop him but, he kicked Sora in the face and he whimpered in pain. The stranger turned towards me again and he once again lifted his sword to strike. I threw myself down to avoid it but...it wasn't pain I felt. It was fire. It felt like someone had torn me in two and seared the wound afterwards. 

'It...it hurts...'

Something crept along my back, warm and slick. My blood. I was bleeding all over the white flowers. 

'I'm scared...I'm so scared...'

I grabbed my bloody shoulder. It only burned more. I wanted to curl into a ball until all the pain went away.

'Why can't I run...?'

My body was rejecting ever command. All I could do was look up weakly as the sword with blood on it rose once more. Sora charged at him and right before the man can stab me, he leapt into the air and bit his arm. The stranger shouted in pain and then I shouted.

"Kenshin...KENSHIN!!"

I screamed his name with everything I had. 

"Alexis!!"

'Thank god, he's here...'

Through my tears, I saw him stand heroically before me. The other man managed to shake Sora off his arm before he turned towards Kenshin.

"How dare you hurt her!"

Kenshin shouted before he and the man fought. I'd never seen such fury wielded so elegantly. My attacker slumped to the ground. 

'I knew Kenshin would protect me...and Sora too...'

I tried to get up but, all I seemed to do was fall further and further down. Everything was going dark. I heard Sora whining and howling before I heard Kenshin shout.

"Alexis! Alexis!! open your eyes! Please, open your eyes!"

"...K-Kenshin. I'm..."

I opened them like he said, but everything I saw seemed to be at the end of a long tunnel. There was Kenshin. The sky behind him. So blue. So bright. The sunlight was reflected in the tears of his beautiful eyes. 

"Please! ...Please, Alexis!"

'I'm all right. It's going to be fine, see? I'm not even hurt that badly. Sorry to worry you...It's a lie. But I have to tell him that. I have to let him know I'll be all right, so he won't be scared.'

I tried to lift my arms to put them around him. To hold him, like I promised I would.

"...Don't be scared, okay?'

But they fell as consciousness left me and everything became dark and silent.

***

3RD PERSON POV

Kenshin returned to Kasugayama with Alexis, wounded and unconscious. He cradled her in his arms. She was treated immediately and lay resting in his bed. He sat beside her, her blood on him as a reminder. 

"Lord Kenshin, may I come in?"

"...Yes."

All the regret that Kenshin couldn't express were clear on Sasuke's face as he looked at his bandaged friend. 

"Is she-"

"She's going to survive. She's suffering blood loss and a fever from the shock."

Strangely, the words seemed to come without emotion. Sora whined as he laid next to his best friend while having his head resting on her stomach with a sad look on his face.

"Lord Kenshin, would you like-"

"Report, Sasuke."

Kenshin's eyes were frozen over. There were no pleasantries for this situation.

"Yes, my Lord. We found the man who attacked Alexis where you said. He's under arrest as you ordered. We've kept him alive...I'm impressed that you managed that, given the circumstances."

"You have no idea how much I wanted to kill him...but, if he died there, he couldn't tell us who sent him, could he?"

Kenshin smiled grimly, perhaps contemplating the pleasure it would have given him to end the man. Sasuke tried his best to ignore that look and continued as calmly as he could. 

"In any case, we got him to confess everything. We know who was responsible. It was Kennyo."

"Kennyo wanted Alexis killed?" Kenshin asked Sasuke.

"He must have wanted to ruin my alliance with Nobunaga."

"I believe you are correct. What are you going to do, Lord Kenshin?"

"Obviously, I'm going to kill Kennyo. Then, when I'm done with him..."

Kenshin looked up but, he didn't seem to be perceiving the same world as Sasuke did. Sasuke could only watch, knowing he was unable to stop the coming change.

Meanwhile, the news of the assassin's failure reached Kennyo immediately. 

"How hard can it be to kill one girl? This has ruined everything. Kenshin will be coming for me now, I assume."

"Yes, Abbot. They're aiming for war as we speak."

"I face a war on two fronts, worse than what I could have seen before."

Kennyo's subordinate nervously spoke up.

"Abbot, perhaps not. There's something else you should know. I don't know why, but...Uesugi Kenshin wrote to the Oda, ending his alliance with them. Word came just as I was departing."

"He did? why?"

Back in Azuchi Castle, the news reached Nobunaga and the other as well. They were all gathered in the audience chamber to discuss Kenshin's sudden breaking of their alliance. 

"He just agreed to the truce! Why in the eight hells is he now breaking it?!" Hideyoshi shouted furiously.

"Clearly, he wishes to resume his war with us after he's done with Kennyo. One of my spies brought me further news. Kenshin has apparently declared his intent to conquer the whole land," Mitsuhide explained 

"Does he think he's Nobunaga now? Kenshin's always been known as a nutcase, but not an ambitious one," Ieyasu spoke up.

"No, this is a change for him. But his decision, sudden as it may be, has his vassals' backing. They've been wanting this for some time."

"If he aims to disrupt my plans for unification, that will be a problem."

Nobunaga spoke as he looked over his warlords. 

"If it wasn't the God of War, I wouldn't be worried but, he has clout with the remnants of the shogunate's court as well. This will only throw the land further into chaos."

Everyone silently absorbed what Nobunaga had said. Finally, Masamune spoke.

"The God of War isn't himself. He's going to these lengths because Alexis was injured? Guys' got some hang-ups."

Mitsunari had no quip to answer Masamune's, only concern. 

"Is Alexis all right? I'm worried about her."