ALEXIS'S POV

Everything felt fuzzy and I still felt a bit dizzy but, as I slowly opened my eyes, I heard Sora barking at me and he was tugging on my sleeve and licking my face. I opened my eyes and I sat up from the ground and I rubbed the back of my head.

"Oh, my head...what the hell happened?"

Sora barked at me again and he started tugging on my sleeve again, like if he was telling me to get moving. I started to smell smoke and that was when I realised that I wasn't outside anymore but, I was inside of some kind of building and it was on fire. I quickly covered my mouth and I thought to myself.

'What the frig!! this place is on fire?! I gotta get the hell out of here! where's that man in the lab coat gone to?!'

I looked around to keep an eye out for the man in the lab coat but, he was nowhere to be seen until I spotted a man wearing a suit of Japanese armour asleep on the floor.

'What the hell?! who sleeps through a burning temple?!'

I shouted in my head before I saw another man wearing, holding some kind of walking stick and he approached the sleeping man who was about to wake up. I knew I had to do something so I rushed over to him and I shouted.

"Wake up! Come on, wake up!" I patted his face to try and wake him up.

"Ugh...who are you?"

"No time for introductions! Come on get up!"

Sora tugged on the man's sleeve as I helped him onto his feet. I grabbed the man's hand and made a run for it. Sora led the way as we looked for a way out of this place. We managed to make it out of there in time and I fell to my knees while coughing. Sora looked at me worried and whimpered a little.

"It's all right, buddy, I'm ok...just give me five minutes."

I said while getting my air back. The man I saved looked at the burning temple behind us and he frowned a little.

"To think they would manage to kill all the guards and come this close..."

I glanced at the man who I saved and then he said to me.

"It seems I owe you my life. You may be some girl the monks sunk in for entertainment, but, you have my thanks."

'What a weird guy...but still, his handsome looks make up for it.'

I stood up from the ground and I wiped the dust off my knees.

"Well, I did what anybody would do in that situation, I couldn't let you burnt to a crisp while my friend and I make a run for it."

"Your friend? where and who is she?"

"You mean HE is right here," I said as I pointed at Sora.

Sora whimpered while tilting his head to the side.

"Seriously? your friend is a dog?"

"Hahahaha!! what's with that reaction? you make it sound like you've never seen a woman being friends with a dog before."

"No, that's not why I reacted like that, I just wasn't expecting your friend to be a dog, it took me by surprise."

"I guess that's true."

The man looked at me up and down with a curious look in his eyes and I asked him.

"Can I ask you something, who are you?"

"You saved my life without knowing who I am? I thought you did it only for a reward."

"No, not really, the truth is I'm originally from North America so I don't know much about Japan, I only moved here a few weeks ago."

"Very well, I shall tell you. I am lord of the Azuchi Castle and Daimyo of Owari, Oda Nobunaga and I am the one who is going to unify this country."

I stood there with a shocked expression on my face when I heard that name because, during my Japanese history class, I learnt that Nobunaga was supposed to have killed himself in Honno-Ji temple and I had no idea that he was the one who I saved.

'Oda Nobunaga?! no frigging way! did I really get sent back to the time when Nobunaga was supposed to have died?!'

I glanced at the gate to the temple to confirm that I wasn't imagining things and the sign said Honno-Ji temple. I looked back at Nobunaga and I asked him while pinching my arm.

"This might be a stupid question but, what year is this?"

"1582, why are you pinching yourself?"

"Oh, I just making sure I wasn't dreaming, I honestly didn't expect to save someone important like you from the fire, oh where are my manners?"

I bowed to Nobunaga and I said to him.

"Forgive me for not realising who you were earlier, Nobunaga-sama. My name is Fujimoto Alexis and this Sora, my Alaskan husky."

Sora bowed too while wagging his tail. Nobunaga seemed impressed with my manners and then he offered his hand to me.

"You two don't need to bow to me."

I took Nobunaga's hand and then he helped me onto my feet and he smirked at me.

"Alexis huh? that's a nice name."

"Arigato, Nobunaga-sama."

I said with a smile and then Sora got in between us and then he started barking at Nobunaga.

"Hey! why are you barking me?"

"Hahahaha!! gomen, Sora doesn't take to strangers that well and he tends to get very overprotective of me sometimes."

"I see, but, I'm not a stranger now."

Nobunaga said as he let Sora sniff his hand and then he pats his head making Sora wag his tail and then he rolled onto his back so Nobunaga could give him a belly rub. Nobunaga chuckled and he said to me while scratching Sora's belly.

"One minute he's protective and angry and then he's like this?"

"Sora tends to decide whether someone I meet is OK, him showing you his belly, which I like to call the puppy hug, is a sign that he likes you, for now."

"And what if he doesn't like me?"

"He'll growl and show you his teeth, it's his way of saying 'Get away from my master!' or 'Stay away from me or I will bite you in the bum!'"

Nobunaga laughed when I said sarcastically this.

"You really are an interesting woman, Alexis."

"Arigato, Nobunaga-sama," I spoke with a smile. 

Just then, we saw a group of men coming towards us and the leader shouted.

"Nobunaga-sama!"

Nobunaga looked at the newcomers after standing up from the ground and giving Sora a belly rub. He asked their leader.

"Mitsunari?"

"I came on orders from Hideyoshi-sama. I am glad you're safe..."

The man looked at me while I innocently waved at him.

"Who is this woman? I saw you leaving Honno-Ji together but..."

"I don't know who she is but she and her companion woke me up and saw me to safety."

I looked at the man and I said to him.

"My name is Alexis and this is Sora."

Sora barked happily at the man. The man smiled at me and he said to me.

"It's nice to meet you Lady Alexis, I'm Ishida Mitsunari, I serve at the side of Lord Hideyoshi, the right hand of Lord Nobunaga."

Mitsunari said as he bowed politely to me.

"You're welcome."

"But, why were you and your friend at Honno-Ji? you don't look like a nun."

"Well, Sora and I were taking a walk so we can get used to our new home here in Kyoto, since my parents were originally from here before moving to Canada, anyway, by the time we realised it had gotten dark we decided to rest at Honno-Ji but then, Sora started acting up and he was trying to wake me up. Once I realised the place was on fire we made a run for it and that's when we found Nobunaga-sama sleeping through the fire. However, I did spot someone in the flames and he had a sword with him too, luckily Sora and I managed to get to Nobunaga-sama in time before the flames got worse."

"I see, you poor thing, you must have had it rough."

"You said you saw someone in the fire and he attempted to take my life, do you know who it was?" Nobunaga asked me.

"Gomen, I don't know who he was but, now that I think about it, he might have been a monk but, it was hard to tell from the flames. It happened so fast."

"I guess that's true, anyway, my subordinate will give you some clothes to change into once we set up camp."

"Huh?"

I glanced down at myself and he was right, my clothes were covered in burns and sot from the fire.

"Oh man, call me stupid but, I didn't notice until now, and this was my favourite shirt as well."

"Don't worry, Alexis-sama, we'll give you a change of clothes, come on."

Mitsunari led me and Sora to a campsite. Sora was being protective of me as we headed to the camp. Mitsunari gave me a change of clothes and he said to me.

"Here you go, please change into these."

"Arigato, wait here Sora."

Sora barked in response and then he stood guard of the entrance of the tent where I was getting changed into my new kimono. It felt weird wearing a kimono since this was my first time wearing one. I stepped outside of the tent and I asked Mitsunari.

"Hey Mitsunari, can help me tighten this sash for me?"

"Sure."

Mitsunari fixed the sash and he made sure it was tight enough and he said to me.

"How's that?"

"That's better, arigato."

Mitsunari looked at me up and down and he said to me.

"That kimono suits you."

"Arigato, to be honest, this is actually the first time I wore one of these."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I was born and raised in Canada so, we didn't have these back in Ontario."

"I see."

Sora stood in front of me protectively and he growled at Mitsuanri.

"Whoa! hey! what did I do?!"

"Sora! stop it!"

I shouted at Sora and he whimpered.

"I'm sorry about that Mitsunari, Sora gets a bit protective of me."

"That's OK, here you go, some freshwater for the both of you."

Mitsunari gave me a drink of water and he slowly slides the bowl of water for Sora since he was a little worried Sora might growl at him again. Sora didn't waste any time drinking the water.

"Sheesh, Sora, take it easy."

I said to him but he wasn't listening. I sighed a little and I took a sip of the water that Mitsunari gave me and then someone else entered the camp.

"My Lord I see you are well."

"Mitsuhide?"

Nobunaga called the newcomer and I realised who he is.

'Mitsuhide? wait, now I remember, Mitsuhide Akechi is the person who betrayed Nobunaga and started this whole incident.'

"I hurried here when I heard about the attack, but it seems there was nothing for me to worry about."

"You, worry? Don't make me laugh. I've never even seen you sweat."

As I watched Nobunaga smile at the man I knew as his betrayer, another person burst through the curtain.

"Lord Nobunaga! Are you injured?"

"Hideyoshi, the only injury I suffered is to my pride in letting my assailant escape."

"I see."

I looked at Hideyoshi and I spoke up.

"Hideyoshi Toyotomi...?"

"Aren't we outspoken? Have we met?"

'Oops, I didn't mean to say that out loud.'

I thought to myself when Hideyoshi glared at me. Nobunaga then spoke up.

"Leave her be. Her name is Alexis. Oh yes, and she saved my life."

Mitsuhide looked at me and he asked me.

"You saved Nobunaga's life...? And you're such a slender thing. But it appears your courage makes up for it."

Mitsuhide smiled at me and I sweatdropped a little. Sora growled at Mitsuhide loudly with his ears back and teeth showing. Mitsuhide looked at Sora surprised.

"Whoa, that's some watchdog you got there."

Mitsuhide said with a smirk but, Sora barked and growled loudly at him. Mitushide backed away a little and he said to me.

"He really doesn't like me does he?"

"Of course he doesn't."

I mumbled as Sora stopped growling but he continued to glare at Mitsuhide. Hideyoshi looked at Mitsuhide and he said to him.

"Mitsuhide, what are you doing here?"

"I was wondering the same thing. I didn't know you were in Kyoto. What about the campaign?"

"When I heard about the threat of Nobunaga-sama's life, I dropped everything to come here, but, I never heard anything about you being in Kyoto.

"Are you implying something?"

"Can you swear before our lord you weren't plotting anything?"

Mitsuhide didn't answer him. The two locked eyes, tension filling the space between them.

'Looks like Hideyoshi is already suspicious that Mitsuhide is responsible for the attack."

I thought to myself as a cold sweat ran down the side of my head as the tension got worse between the two of them. Mituhide smiled at Hideyoshi and he said to him.

"All men have secrets in these chaotic times. Are you saying you act with no ambition of your own?"

"Stop being evasive. Confess."

Hideyoshi's eyes flared. He gripped his sword, ready to draw.

"If I find out you played any part in this attack on our Lord, Mitsuhide, I'll show you no mercy."

"Wait! hold on a second! it wasn't him!"

"What?"

Both men looked confused when I shouted this and I thought to myself.

'I've always been told to keep my nose out of people's business but, I don't want to see bloodshed either.'

"I caught a glimpse of the man who attacked Lord Nobunaga but, the drape of his clothes was all wrong."

'Plus Mitsuhide is spotless. I don't know who it was, but Mitsuhide wasn't in that temple.'

Hideyoshi glared at me and he said to me.

"Alexis was it? Stay out of this. We'll settle things with you later, and learn why you've schemed to get so close to Nobunaga-sama."

"Huh?! what exactly are you trying to accuse me of, Monkey?!"

Sora growled and barked at Hideyoshi when he said this to me.

"Gah! easy boy!"

Sora slowly stalked towards him and I said to Sora.

"Sora! enough!"

Sora stopped growling and then he sat next to me. 

"Sorry about that, Sora tends to get a bit protective of me."

"How do we know that he won't attack our Lord like an aggressive animal?"

"Sora is not aggressive! you take that back!!"

Sora growled in response until Nobunaga finally spoke up.

"That's enough you two."

We looked at Nobunaga and he continued, "Hideyoshi, regardless of what brings Mitsuhide here, I am alive and well."

"My apologies, my Lord."

Hideyoshi immediately let go of his sword, his hand relaxing somewhat. I sighed in relief and I thought to myself.

'It's no wonder Hideyoshi is known to be Nobunaga's most trusted vassals, he's very protective of Nobunaga. Hmpf, that's exactly like Sora being protective of me.'

"Hideyoshi, Mitsuhide, leave us. I have something to discuss with Alexis."

"With me?"

I asked as Hideyoshi and Mitsuhide stepped aside as Nobunaga approached me.

"Your story about being at Honno-Ji temple and from a different country aside, you saved my life. I'm intrigued by you. You're a woman who carries fortune's favour, of that I'm certain."

"No need to got that far my lord, besides, I was just there at the right place and at the right time."

My eyes widened when Nobunaga slipped one arm around my waist, drawing me possessively toward him.

"How would you like to rule the world at my side?"

"......Huh?"