ALEXIS' POV

After Sasuke's return, I was pleased to see him but, Kenshin decided to draw his sword and threaten to kill him!

"Die."

'That's not, "I missed you!"'

I shouted in my head before the blade came careening for Sasuke.

"I barely escaped death once, and now you're ordering me to die. Today's been a busy day."

Sasuke didn't flinch, drawing the sword on his back to block Kenshin.

"I'm only killing you because you died without my permission."

"But, I didn't die. Despite attempts."

"Shut up! if you ever make anyone think you died every again, I'll kill you."

Sora whimpered in fear when we saw the two of them go at each other. I sweatdropped a little and I asked them.

"Um, are you two...okay?"

Kenshin broke from Sasuke and sheathed his sword, though I sensed he was still frustrated.

"I'm sorry if this is coming as a surprise, Alexis,"Sasuke came over to me, whispering confidently. "This is just how Kenshin shows affection to his employees."

"Uh-huh. Well, I hope he offers good medical coverage."

'He may look like winter-personified but his passion runs hot and deep when it's someone he cares about.'

"What are you two whispering about?" Kenshin asked us.

"We're done."

Leaving the question unanswered, Sasuke pulled down his mask.

"I'm pleased I was able to return to you, Lord Kenshin.

'Sasuke really cares about Kenshin.'

The mood shifted to a formal one as Sasuke bowed low.

"And I'm sorry for being late. Thank you for staying up for me."

"You're too late."

Still sounding a little sullen, Kenshin's mood had plainly improved.

"I'll give you more training as soon as we return to Kasugayma."

"No, thank you. I'm all trained up. Furthermore, there was a reason I was late. While I was escaping, I overhead some interesting information and stopped by the Oda camp to spy."

'He did?!'

I was surprised when Sasuke said this and then Kenshin told him.

"You should've said so sooner."

I felt a knot of apprehension as Sasuke began to explain.

"Mitsuhide Akechi had just delivered the news. They've learned who was behind the attempt on Nobunaga Oda's life.

'Then, they found the assassin from Honno-Ji!'

I thought to myself as I remembered that night.

"Who is it?" Kenshin asked Sasuke. 

"The former abbot of Hongan-Ji, Kennyo."

"That merciless monk who carries a concealed blade?"

"Kennyo..."

I mumbled and then I remembered the night when I arrived here. Sora also remembered that name as he growled a little.

'I knew there was a monk in that temple and also I had a feeling there was a chance it could've been him! He was very suspicious when I met him, it's no wonder Sora went on the defence.'

"He's held a grudge against Nobunaga since he was defeated and driven out of his temple," Kenshin spoke up.

"The Oda believe that's his motive. He's amassed an army of warrior monks close to Azuchi," Sasuke explained to us.

"Choosing war only after his attempt at assassination failed? I'm not impressed," Kenshin spoke with a small frown on his face.

'So that means the Oda forces are facing another war, right after this one? sheesh, must not be easy being the devil King who's made too many enemies.'

I thought to myself before Kenshin spoke up.

"I'd say let him invade Azuchi and take his revenge, but in this case... Sasuke, how are Nobunaga and Mitsunari planning to respond?"

"Just as you're thinking they will, Lord Kenshin. The Oda are withdrawing from this battle to prepare for Kennyo's attack."

'Will they be able to? If so, that could put this whole war on hold, right?'

"I knew it," Kenshin mumbled.

"What about this war? Does that mean both sides will stop fighting?" I asked him.

"There'll be a skirmish or two, but only to slow my soldiers down and cover their retreat. ...Which will be boring. Curse Kennyo for ruining my war," Kenshin let out a grunt of disapproval.

'I'm honestly relieved Kenshin and Nobunaga won't be fighting. But Nobunaga and the others have to go right into battle again.'

I thought to myself as Nobunaga and Mitsunari's faces popped into my head.

"I've made my report."

Sasuke focused his gaze on me.

"Can I hear what Alexis is doing here now?"

"Yeah, you probably want an explanation-"

"She was wandering through the battlefield when I found her."

Kenshin interrupted me and I said to Sasuke.

"Actually, I left Azuchi two days ago and I was planning to get away from there after hearing Kenshin's plans to invade Azuchi. Well, that and the warrior family's boss was driving me crazy. He kept telling me to scale back my performances but, there was no way I was gonna do that, those performances pay me way better than he did. Long story short, I quit my job, I left Azuchi and I was planning to go to one of the villages in Echigo."

Kenshin looked at me surprised when I told him this.

"Then what were you doing on the battlefield?"

"I took a wrong turn when I was trying to avoid the fight but, unfortunately,  my horse got injured and threw me off her back. I didn't know what I was gonna do until Kenshin showed up when he did."

"I see. You've had a distressing day."

"Ugh, tell me about..." I mumbled.

"Since tomorrow barely qualifies as a battle, there's no point in strategizing tonight. I'm going to sleep," Kenshin spoke as if that was a bad thing.

"Alexis, come along. I'll show you your tent."

"Thank you, Kenshin."

Just as I was about to follow him, Sasuke called out to me.

"Before you two go, I'd like to ask Alexis something."

"What is it?"

"It's something very important."

'Future important?'

I thought to myself before he leaned in to whisper.

"When I got back, I thought I saw you and Kenshin sitting pretty close. That wasn't my imagination, was it?"

'It wasn't your imagination. It wouldn't really be your business either, but the fact is-'

"Okay, I can explain. You know that thing you do at a sports meet? When everyone huddles together to show camaraderie?"

"No, I've spent most of my life avoiding sports meets."

"Okay well, that's all right. It isn't that similar anyway."

'What a weird direction this conversation took.'

I remembered how close I felt to Kenshin when we sat together. It had been such a precious moment.

'Sometimes, in moments of tragedy, you do bond with a stranger. And yet, he didn't feel like a stranger. I'm not saying it was romantic like Sasuke's suggesting.'

"...You two."

Kenshin finally chimed in our too extended conversation.

"How long are you going to keep me waiting?"

"I'm sorry, we'll talk later Alexis."

'Or maybe not, because I'm glad to get out of that conversation.'

Kenshin, Sasuke and I headed toward the tents. Once we got to the tents, Sasuke said to us.

"I'll see you two in the morning."

"Good night."

Sasuke left the two of us, ducking into his tent. Before Kenshin led me to his tent, we did notice some of the Uesugi soldiers looking at me and then Kenshin shouted at them.

"Why are you lot still up!?"

The Uesugi soldiers looked at him in fear before scrambling back to their posts and their tents. We headed to one of the tents and I noticed Kenshin was being quiet.

'Kenshin's been awfully quiet. I wonder if he's still disappointed about tomorrow's battle?'

"What were you two talking about?"

"Me and Sasuke?"

Kenshin's expression didn't reveal interest or curiosity.

"He said it was very important. Then I saw you look flustered. What did he tell you?"

"Nothing important, it turns out. He had something he wanted to ask me."

I couldn't see any reason not to share the story with Kenshin.

"He wondered why you and I were sitting so close when he returned. I was telling him it wasn't what if looked like."

"Is that all?"

'Exactly what was Kenshin thinking happened?'

"That sounds beyond trivial. Which is fine. It was."

'What? Did Kenshin really see the whole evening as trivial? Oh man, I thought we were really connecting there. Guess not.'

The thought made me feel the night's chill once more. Made me lonely.

"Why were you interested?"

"I wasn't. I just felt like asking."

"That's not an answer. Come on. Dig a little. What were you thinking?"

"Fine. It bothered me that you Sasuke seemed so close."

'That's not...jealously, is it?'

Kenshin frowned, his eyes searching my face, as though to gauge something.

"You're too friendly with each other. Honno-Ji wasn't the first time you two met, was it?"

"Well, I may have seen him in passing, when I was moving to Kyoto with my parents."

'Seriously, since we spoke maybe three words to each other. But we share a common past in the future.'

"We speak a similar dialect, as you may have noticed. And he's been kind to me. So we became friends," I explained to Kenshin.

"It doesn't take time to become close if two people are compatible."

"Don't look at me. I wouldn't know."

"Really? because I think you might, I see you and me as compatible."

"You do? why?"

"Because I've only met you a few times, but I feel connected to you. I keep thinking I'd like the chance to get to know you better."

He didn't reply.

'But if our getting closer is only in my head, then all this is pointless.'

"What do you think about us? Do you think I'm wrong?"

"No, I don't think you're wrong."

'That's a relief.'

His answer had been halting, but it hadn't been a lie. Perhaps the delay had been him searching his feelings and there was nothing wrong with that. Eventually, Kenshin and I stopped in front of an empty tent.

"This is far enough away from the other soldiers that they shouldn't bother you. If anything happens, tell the guards to call me."

"Thank you again for everything."

"I should thank you."

"For what?"

"If it wasn't for you, I would have given up on Sasuke or fallen apart while waiting."

"I might have too."

"I thought because you were a woman, you'd be frail and naive. But your naivete, what I thought was naivete, proved to be strength.

'He's changed his mind about me.'

Those heterochromatic eyes were looking straight at me, seeing me. There was a flame flickering in them. Impossibly, I felt it warm my heart.

"You saved me tonight, Alexis. Don't ever forget that. I'm grateful for you."

'I never expected this acknowledgement from him. Is that why it feels so good?'

"You're welcome."

Kenshin murmured something soft in response and smiled. That beautiful look on his face followed me inside my tent.

"Sleep well, Alexis."

"You too, Kenshin."

Then he left, and I was alone.

'What a day.'

I'd been frightened for most of it, but now, even with everything going on, I felt a sense of calm.

'I think that's due to Kenshin.'

There would be skirmishes tomorrow. A war after that, but Sasuke was safe and Kenshin had been sweet. I put down my guitar case and I got into the bedroll. Sora laid next to me and I patted his fur.

"Goodnight Sora, see you in the morning, buddy."

Sora yawned a little before we both fell asleep.

3RD PERSON POV

Meanwhile, the Oda camp was not having an easy night. Nobunaga looked at Mitsunari and he asked him.

"Mitsunari, are you sure your men saw Alexis on the battlefield?"

"...Yes, my Lord."

Mitsunari hid his distress with a bowed head.

"I'm sorry, my Lord. We tried to get to her but, we were not expecting Uesugi soldiers to attack us before we retreated."

"You are not solely to blame. None of us saw Kenshin's attack coming. But, how could she have left the battlefield? We found her horse. She can't have walked far. Continue the search into the night and find her before the retreat tomorrow, at all costs."

"Yes, my Lord."

A single soldier approached the two.

"My apologies, my Lords. May I speak?"

"Yes, what is it?"

Nobunaga asked the solider and then he gave his report to Nobunaga and Mitsunari.

"I have information about Lady Alexis' possible whereabouts."

"Has someone seen her?"

"Yes, my lords. Several soldiers report seeing her riding on the back of Kenshin Uesugi's horse."

The news affected Nobunaga and Mitsunari both.

"On the God of War's steed? Then she's been taken prisoner?"

"We don't know, my Lord. However, that's all I can think if she was riding with that woman-hater."

Mitsunari then spoke up.

"If she's become his prisoner, we must rescue her no matter the cost."

"We'll need a plan quickly. Come with me, Mitsunari."

Nobunaga and Mitsunari returned to the main camp in silence.