Chapter #5 - Answers

Sengoku-era, Japan, Atsuta-shrine

”Daughter of Oda, do you believe in spiritual forces that surround us or the namban deities?” Was the first question I was asked when the head priestess arrived and I replied: ”I find anything I can't see or touch hard to believe. And even if such things existed, I'd make sure to rule over them when my dream comes to its end.” It may sound like I am flaunting or something, but I do really feel like it is wrong to try and rely to things we can not prove that they even exist.
For some reason hime-sama smiled after this, didn't I just kind of insult everything she stands for? But that's just how I am.
”Daughter of Oda, that's exactly the reason why I called you here.” She said, still smiling, ”around two moon cycles ago I had a vision in my dreams thta I felt held much importance to your dream of unification.” I got confused, didn't I just tell her that I do not believe in such superstitions? Even still, she continued.
”It doesn't really matter what you think, Daughter of Oda just listen for now. It also concerns your two new [Generals] that are no longer of this world.”
”You are speaking of Inuchiyo and Saru, are you? Word sure travels fast, de gozaru.” I replied, before even realising the last part of her sentece fully. After repeating what she said in my head couple of times, I felt a shiver travel up my spine.
”High priestess, what do you mean ”no longer of this world”? You mean Inuchiyos illness was lethal and it spread to Saru? But she was fine when we met after our last skirmish.” I started to panic, at first because of the dread that a possible outbreak of lethal illness and then just the realisation that I lost someone I started to trust and had chosen to become my retainers after they tried so hard to prove themselves to me. My feelings may be showing outwards, since the head priestess giggled, waved her hand at me and said with a voice that didn't really suit her, her dialect also changed for some reason:
”Nah, they aren't dead you know.” the scene in front of me pretty much crushed everything I knew about miko and the head priestess. But I think she was trying to loosen the atmosphere.
”What do you mean?” I ask after sighing loundly. At least it is good to hear that they are not ill.
”Exactly what I meant, but listen to me first daughter of Oda.” the other miko around bring us more tea and she continued:
”As you know, we onmyoji practitioners are fairly observant to changes in anything spiritual. You may also know about the concept of dragon veins¹ flowing through the earth.” I nod to this, even if I myself do not believe in such a things nor do I practice onmyoji arts, I've heard about how they work from scholars and monks who've been around me since I was little.
”There has been a concentration of spiritual activity in Owari, and right after we noticed this my visions got more clear. Around one month later you started having success with your conquest, but that was not all because of yourself, wasn't it?” I agreed, yeah I did start preparing to fulfill my dream after my father died and everyone started calling me the ”great fool of Owari” because they didn't understand me. But I've only managed minor victories and never really got any land under my name until recently when Inuchiyo came up with the plan to negotiate with Saitou Dousan and Saru dealt with Nobuyuki.
”But that doesn't explain what you meant with Inuchiyo and Saru not being in this world any more.” I said after nodding to my agreement and deciding that it would be good to actually get to the point. My impatience was getting close to the point where I was not able to control myself anymore. It truly is weird, they haven't been my retainers for that long but they still feel just as close as Riku and Machiyo, who've been with me since I was a kid.

”I am not the one to explain the whole truth to you even if you ask, daughter of Oda. That task falls to the one called Itori when she returns with your monkey². But I can tell you that for the next thirty days you shouldn't do anything too rash. You are smart enough to play defensive game, but when it comes to offence your thinking is too over-the-top and hard to execute without help. You will fail. You have capable retainers, but they are not enough. You need to have more people by your side for you to fulfill your dream. I repeat: Do not do anything rash or you will regret it.” After she said that she stood up and left the room without any other words. In the end I didn't learn anything about Inuchiyo or Saru and when I opened my mouth miko in the room chase us away. I don't know if Riku or Machiyo said anything at all during this whole thing, but they seemed to be totally at lost and Riku was half shouting at miko about not being respectful enough.

”Riku, Machiyo, when we get back I want you to figure out the whereabouts of Saru and Inuchiyo. I have a bad feeling about this.”
”Yes, my lord!” Said Riku immediately, still looking shaken but snapped immediately back to it. Machiyo had reverted from the confusion to looking actually worried.
”That priestess didn't tell us everything and I am sure they know more than they let us into. They didn't even describe what kinds of visions she had seen. Are you sure you should take this so lightly?” I can understand her worry, but:
”My name is Oda Nobunaga and I will not let illogical things like spirits and magic stop me when I hear that my retainers aren't close to me anymore. I am willing to fight in thousand wars if it is to bring back those I myself have chosen and I will do everything in my power to achieve that.” I take pride in my ability of being able to read people and figure out their nature and how much they can help me with my dream and those two, even though I don't want to admit it, just like the high priestess said: I need at least those two with their outside-the-box thinking with me.

”I will personally search from the Nagoya, Riku you ride with a search party to nearby towns and villages and Machiyo, find more people to serve directly under me. Do not leave a single stone unturned, I trust in both of you!”
[Yes, my lord!]
Afterwards I met their eyes and they both smiled at me.
This is Oda Nobunaga-sama that we follow, they thought.

Present Day, Japan, Kyoto

Man, I can't sleep, I think, forcing myself up from my bed. It has only been a full month since I last saw my parents or slept in my own room, but my body seems to have gotten used to futons. Well, that kind of thing happens, especially to myself who tends to get stuck to one place and leaving it will make following nights a pain to deal with.
I leave my room and start heading to kitchen to get something for a drink, but when I get to the guest room door I stop myself and peek inside. The sight makes me smile, our two guests about 450 years from the past are sleeping there and their faces look way more contempt than what I've seen before. Girl around my age is hugging another one sleeping next to her, drooling and with her belly exposed while the other one, tiny in build and a long black hair covering her face looking like a roll of sushi with a blanket around her.
”You know, no one could guess that you do not belong to this time period.” I say quietly and close the door and return to my original objective, which is acquiring something caffeinated to drink so I can stay up for the rest of the night.
When I arrive at the living room, I glance at the digital clock next to the television.
”Apparently I managed to sleep some after all, even if it didn't feel like so it is almost morning.” My habit of speaking out loud my thoughts when I am at home has at least returned, not that it is a particularly useful one, rather I'd not do it at all as I tend to annoy my parents when I can't keep my mouth shut during the day.
My mom is already at kitchen cutting some vegetables for a breakfast, that's her habit so it is not really that surprising to find her here this early. She always prepares for breakfast and lunch super early, being a teacher and all. At first she looks surprised when I arrive, but then smiles and starts pouring water in a coffee maker. I really do not have a preference between coffee and tea, but I like to start my mornings with coffee as well as drink black canned ones when I feel thirsty and am walking around town.
”Good morning Sana!” my mother is usually the first one to open her mouth when she spots that the others livingin the apartment have woken up. I usually just wait for her to give her morning greetings before I reply to her, I think that makes her happy.
”Morning mom.”
”I haven't started breakfast properly yet, just have something to snack on if you feel like you won't be going back to bed.” Even after a full month of not seeing me, she still feels like she reads my mind.
”Thanks.” I nonchalantly reply and head towards fridge, snatching couple of pieces of cucumber from a plate that mom has been piling them up on the way. From the fridge itself I find some pre-packaged yakisoba bread³ and juice. Nothing much else catches my eye, so I pick the aftermentioned products from the shelves and head to the table, mom hands me a glass.
”Coffee is ready soon, do not drink too much juice.” She finishes preparing the vegetables for breakfast while I munch on the bread, soon she joins me with a cup of hot coffee for both of us.

”How long I was asleep? I feel like I didn't get any rest.” I ask my mom while drinking my coffee, the bitter liquid seems to refresh me and realize how much I missed my morning coffees that mom prepared for me.
”Well, you didn't make any noise you usually do pretty much right after you entered your room last night.” She says, smiling. ”And when I checked up on you couple of hours ago, you were fast asleep and hugging your pillow. Should I have had you sleep in the guest room with those two? They seemed to be really close, even while sleeping.” She smiles at me and I steal a cucumber from her plate. My parents love to tease me, no matter what the topic is, they always figure out ways to pull something light like this. So annoying! I think, but can't help but smile for that.
”Well, we kinda slept in the same room for the last month or so. Even I do not know how we got so close that fast, it was like pulling events from some dumb manga.” I couldn't help but giggle at theabsurdity of the situation now that I think about it. I've never been a social person, I've never really stood out much, I don't even think I've ever had someone so close I could call them truly my close friends.
”It is your style to distance yourself from others, but in this world certain types of people just automatically get together and somehow things tend to work. As a teacher I've seen the most quiet and shy student who shut the most loud and active troublemaker up and now they're dating. I've also seen a group of people with same kind of nature as you form clubs and go to hobbies together. It doesn't matter if you are total opposites or have exactly the same interests, if something inside you just resonates with others you're naturally able to get along.” She pours herself a new cup of coffee while giving me advice even when I didn't ask for it, that's the trait I like my mother the most. She always has the right words ready to make questions in my head seem simpler to answer and as a result it feels like I can talk to her about anything.

”I was thinking about visiting the police today and seeing if I can get the stuff they confiscated from you guys back. I do not know where you did get them, but I don't think we need to get you sued because you were carrying replica weaponry around with you.” Said mom dreamily after a while as we continued chatting. I do not know where she heard about police confiscating the weapons of Toukichirou and Goemon, but yeah I think it is a good idea to try and get them back. Worst case scenario we could get sued or fined because we appeared in public with actual bladed weapons, albeit we were unconcious but it still is problematic.
”I just tell them that you took them from my study before you disappeared. Because of the state you were found in, I think that should work.” She smiled mischievously. My moms study was full of Sengoku-era stuff, including replica weaponry but unlike the ones confiscated those are mostly wood or plastic. Still, my mom knows how to be convincing when she wants to.
”So you have me to bite a bullet for this?” I ask jokingly and puff my cheeks.
”Well, if you want to pay fines I am totally OK with that, but just so that you know, you won't be getting any allowance until those are paid off.” She replies and I immediately reply with over-the-top dramatic voice:
”Please do get them back, I've been away for a month there are too many things I need to buy!” After this we both laugh and from behind a pair of hands grabs my shoulders accompanied by a chuckle causing me to jump:
”Please do not do anything illegal or I will freeze the allowance for both of you.” My oyaji had appeared behind me and was smirking at us.
[But dad!] we both reply to him at the same time and pout, he chuckles once again and mom says:
”Good morning to you too, I start preparing breakfast soon. I didn't even notice how the time had flied!” I check the clock on a wall and truly, it was almost nine in the morning already, the coffee in my cup had became cold. I was told to go and wake our guests up, so I put my coffee mug in a sink and went to the guest room door, knocking on it loudly this time and saying:
”If the noise I made with my mom earlier didn't wake you guys up, you should do so now as breakfast is ready soon.” After which I open the door and go in. Kinohsita Toukichirou and Ichikawa Goemon are both still asleep and I question how they were able to sleep after all the sound that came from me and my mom chatting and laughing just the other side of the wall. ”Cover your stomach, you catch cold.” I say while being annoyed and poke the cheeks of the older girl who doesn't have a very dignified sleeping posture. She tries to swat my hand away and groans but I still continue poking her and talking at the same time.
”You two really could go for just spoiled teenagers of this era, you know.” Not that I am the one to talk, usually I am the one my parents have to wake up in the morning.
Goemon, a loli girl who could go for some rich princess just for looks alone opens her eyes and tries to rub them, but because she is rolled inside a blanket and hugged by Toukichirou the task proves tad problematic.
”Itori-dono, good morning, nin~! Do you think that you could help me free my hands? It is a disgrace for a ninja to get trapped like this, nin~nin.” She frowns. Toukichirou has a tendency to have truly spectacular ways to show affection towards her. I sigh and climb on the bed to try and free our small built friend from the death grip of the other girl.
”Noo~! Just a while more~.” Toukichirou says sleepily, I karate chop her on the head.
”If you are awake, then get up. I don't want Goemon be so traumatized that she can't sleep any more.” Smirking she releases the poor soul from an overnight hug and sits up.
”I could get used to this.” She says and stretches, almost punching me to face in progress.
”Me too, I've never seen such soft bedding, nin~.” Said Goemon who had escaped her prison of fabric and who was finally able to rub her sleepy eyes. The sight was super cute, I think it was good that Toukichirou was having a good look around the room at the moment or I may have needed to stop another one of her assaults towards the girl.
”As I said, the breakfast will be ready soon. Take a shower or something and go to living room.” I say, climbing up from the bed. When I look at the two they look confused and I sigh, of course they've only used baths and not showers. Well, I wonder how we'll get through this.

After procuring some towels for us, I lead the two of them to bathroom. I don't think they got a good look in here last night when we arrived so now they just stood there in their underwear gaping at pretty much everything around them.
”I probably need to teach you how to use toilet too.” I say, giving up my hopes of making things easy for myself.
”Unless either of you has to go I think we should just deal with the shower first.” I point at the bath tub that has a shower attached to it. I take of my clothes and climb in and start explaining about how to change the temperature and the pressure of water coming out of the showerhead. I also explain liquid soaps as all I used when I was at Sengoku-era were the solid soap blocks, so I wasn't sure if the more conventional product was invented yet.
Luckily they seemed to understand how things worked. Well, the shower isn't the most complicated of household wonders in this era so that wasn't too much of a trouble. They seemed to be impressed about not needing to heat the water for a bath and how simple it had become to clean oneself. Taking showers took a while as the tub was small and everyone pretty much had to wait for their turns, so while Goemon was washing her hair I was explaining the modern wonder of toilet to Toukichirou. I thanked whatever high forces I could think of for the fact that the toilets of squatting varieties⁴ were only present in some onsen⁵ and inns at this era. Luckily that neither required nothing but the explanation of buttons and how to actually sit on it, which was way more embarrassing than I thought, but after that was over with and Toukichirou went to wash herself, I helped to dry Goemon up and we left the bathroom and join my parents at the living room.

Sengoku-era, Japan, Nagoya

The situation with Inuchiyo and Saru was concerning, but I couldn't allocate all my time for search. I had sent town guards to go through houses and do a thorough search of the house where they were staying, but not a trace of them could be found. Apparently the place looked like no one had lived there in months, which didn't make any sense. After searching the town and castle for a day and a half my attention was required and I had to stop personally asking around. Now I only had to trust Riku who was doing search outside Nagoya and the guards who were still checking the remaining establishments in the town.

What required my attention was the arrival of Saitou Dousans retainer called Akechi Mitsuhide. She was sent here from a battlefield where Viper was fighting against her own daughter. Apparently Saitou Yoshitatsu wasn't all that keen on losing Mino without a war thanks to the agreement we arrived some time ago with Dousan, who now had became my stepmother in name. The reason why Mitsuhide is here is because Dousan said that she'd send one of her daughters to officially welcome Nobunaga to family and for her to become the sister for her. Mitsuhide was escorting the daughter to Nagoya and bring a message from the battle.
”To my daughter, Oda Nobunaga. To welcome you in a family as your stepmother I will allow my true-to-blood daughter Nohime⁶ to become a sister to you. May she bring you joy and help like she has brought to me.” Mitsuhide said slowly keeping her gaze to a floor. Then from a group of warriors that came with her a norimono⁸ carried by six soldiers was brought to me and a small girl, probably around eight-or-so years old descented and bowed.
Mitsuhide said to me:
”She can't speak Oda-dono, it is a shame. She can communicate via brush and by touching your hands though.” She told me and the little girl smiled. I pitied her, but because she was my sister now, I decided to love her as one. After losing my father and when my mother started to treat me like dirt I didn't want to lose anyone who was even close to family for me, so I smiled back at her and approached the tiny being. Mitsuhide stood back.

”I welcome you daughter of Saitou. May we grow close as sisters and brighten each others lives. You are now my family and I will see that all the needs for my family members are met with all their expectations. If you need anything don't hesitate to ask.” I said to my new imouto and she beamed at me, grabbed my hand and squeezed it. Then she took a step back and made drawing motions with her hands, I instructed some guards to get a brush and some paper for her. While this was going on, she went to explore the room and I returned to Mitsuhide.
”How is the Viper? Why didn't she come by herself?”
”Master Dousan, as I explained, is currently stuck in a war with her eldest daughter.” Then I noticed large beads of tears in Mitsuhides eyes, silencing a sniffle she continued:
”She sent us here because the situation is at the battlefield is pretty desperate. Both sides are losing forces fast but the age of master Dousan is taking its toll. She hasn't been home in days and hasn't had a chance to rest and Saitou Yoshitatsu-sama keeps sending assassin's for her head.” She started trembling and I opened my mouth:
”I can send reinf-”
”You can't!” She snapped at me, now visibly crying.
”Master Dousan told me that there is no reason to send help for her. I quote: [I am the only one who can talk any sense to my thick-headed daughter, if there are interruptions from Nobunagas side it will just be a bother. She should concentrate on her own efforts to fulfill the dream of both of us.]” She didn't seem to draw any breath while saying that, so now her tear-stained face was beet-red and she was trembling even more, it took a while before she could continue.
”That's why you absolutely must not send any troops there. You know how brideful she can be, worst case she'll return Mino to her daughter and perform a harakiri to atone for not being able to stop her child by herself.” She shakes her head, looking defeated but I can't stay quiet.
”That old bag!” I half shout, which causes Nohime who returned with freshly inked brush and paper to us to jump.
”I will not allow her to go back in her word by returning Mino now that I've finally taken first step in the dream of unification! I will also not allow her to take her own life or to die by someone elses hand now that she is my stepmother.” I declare and Mitsuhide looks shocked. ”How long do you think Viper will last with her forces?”
”Master Dousan has food and troops to last a little over month. Are you sure you want to do this, Oda-dono? You will be going against the word of master Dousan, you must be prepared for consequences.” She sounds unwilling to accept my decision, but her tears have dried out and her expression returned to what I expected from a retainer of Dousan. You expected me to do this, didn't you? I think to myself and grin.
”A month huh?” I recall the words of the high priestess in Atsuta-shrine. Do not do anything rash by yourself, you need people around you!
”Bring it on, let's see if superstitions can trump over the Oda clan! When month is over, if the war hasn't changed its outcome I will go and save Saitou Dousan. That is the decision by the head of the clan, Oda Nobunaga!” I feel like I need to be able to make decisions like these and to be honest I would love to just gather my forces and head to Vipers aid, but my troops are thinned by having most of them accompany Riku and Machiyo, in month either of them should return and that will allow me to send reinforcements large enough to crush Saitou Yoshitatsu.

I look at my side to Nohime, she is holding a piece of paper with words: ”Onee-sama, you are shining right now.” The warm feeling spreads through my entire body and I pet the little girls head. ”Thank you.” I sincerely tell her and my mouth turns into a smile that probably shows how much effect this little wordless expression meant to me. Even Mitsuhide can't help but scratch her cheek and shrug.
”Well, what else can I say. Sorry master Dousan, this Mitsuhide couldn't stop the fool of Owari.” she laughs meekly and then continues:
”This Akechi 'Juubei' Mitsuhide will offer myself to Oda Nobunaga-sama as an retainer orderedto do so by 'The Viper of Mino' Saitou Dousan-dono. I hope I can be of service.” Then even she smiles, such a radiant face. I feel like I made some right decisions today!
After a while I arrange it so that Mitsuhide will look after Oihime as I have to deal with sending messengers to Riku and Machiyo and get them up to date with the situation. I feel uneasy for leaving Viper on her own antics for a month, but I feel like I need to see what will happen even if it is risky. Inuchiyo, Saru, where are you?

Present day, Japan, Kyoto

I was told by dad that I probably should stay away from the school for couple of days more just because things haven't settled properly yet and so, we had a free afternoon. My father had left to arrange some paperwork concerning Toukichirou and Goemon and mom apparently left to the police station for stuff that was confiscated from us. I had planned to spend a quiet day inside watching TV and playing games, but because of my two overly curious friends that really wasn't possible. They wanted to know about anything and everything, so I suggested that we'd have a stroll around neighbourhood, my parents had left us some spending money any ways and I didn't want these two running around causing trouble by themselves. Yeah, they are mature enough to figure things out by themselves, but I still felt like they did not know enough about how society and world works in this era to be let out without someone accompanying them.
”So, anything specific you want to do? I have some things I need to get, but we can do that later.” I ask from Toukichirou who happens to stand next to me when we leave the apartment. Goemon already disappeared somewhere, probably beelined to elevator the moment the door opened, after being so nervous about the thing when we first came here, now she was more excited about it that she knew how it worked. She shrugged:
”I want to know pretty much about whatever I possibly can. This era is so full of stuff and I feel like after a day I've already gathered way more knowledge than what I ever could've gotten from namban missionaries that came to Japan in my era.” It was funny and nerving to hear her talking about ”my era”. I still thought that they should be able to return somehow, but the fact that neither of them showed any intentions to do so made me feel conflicted, yeah I had accepted the fact that I had travelled to past, but I was sure I could return home because when one approached things logically: ”When you get in, you will get out. There is always an entrance and exit to a box.” Was one of the first thoughts I had when my situation dawned at me. But neither of the girls with me were talked about their home after we first talked about it in the hospital, before this that is.
”Aren't you concerned at all about your situation?” I sigh and quietly blurt my thougts out without realising it. Toukichirou just looks at me and grins.
”You came to my time and you left my time, I am sure that works other way around too. I just want to take in everything I can and experience the future I can never experience otherwise. I mean, I would be over 460 years old if I lived this long!” She laughs and heads to the elevator herself. Yeah, I'm an idiot. What makes me think that they do not think like I did? I never mentioned about my will to return to anyone when I was there either, so it isn't surprising that they're not making a scene about it. I scratch my temple and head to where two girls disappeared to. I still feel conflicted, but at least that confirmed that I do not need to worry about their mental state at the moment.

We left the building after riding elevator up and down for a while. When it comes to new things both of them act like kids, how troublesome.
Because neither of them had anything specific they wanted to check out, I decided to visit the Animate⁹ store and the local arcade. I didn't really have anything to buy, but I wanted to get at least something to celebrate returning back to my time. These kinds of normal days without warmongering are the best.
Now that I think about it, the store is pretty close to where I was before I got transported to Sengoku-era, I remember just about leaving it and then blacking out a while later.
I did wonder about possible connections with that and my time travel for a moment, but then we arrived to the entrance of a subway station which led to my first actually challenging moment in modern day trying to teach my two Sengoku friends. I bought some tickets for three of us and after a bit of confusion with entry gates we got to the platform, where I spent the time before train arriving to explain how trains work and what to expect from such a method of travel. The platform was quite full, so it took a bit to have them keep their attention at me and not just run away bothering businessmen waiting to get to work after a night of drinking and pachinko¹¹.
When the train finally arrived and we got on, I pushed the two of them on a seat and sat down next to them. Some men in suits shot annoyed glances at us, like saying ”Kids these days have no manners at all.” or something else that is really clichéd. I shrugged at them, but I was not risking trouble of, mostly Goemon, getting groped at in the sea of people. Perverts¹² have been more common in subways lately, I remember hearing horror stories during class last month.
To be honest, I am not too worried about Goemon or Toukichirou, but the poor guy who decides to make the mistake of trying to fondle these two who could probably wrestle a bear even though they don't look like so.

Even though we were mostly underground, the speed the subway travelled and lights and other small details kept the attention of Goemon and Toukichirou for the pretty much the whole trip. From my place to Kawaramachi station takes only around 15 minutes, but that was plenty of culture shock to them, which led to them going on and on about their amazement involving subways and when I explained about actual trains that move even faster for long distances they looked quite impressed.
The trip from station to Kyoto branch Animate-store was not too long, but there still was stuff to see and for reason one of these things was McDonald's we passed by. Both of my friends spent a good amount of time staring at the advertisements on the window and visibly drooling. I denied the grease filled heaven from them for now.
It took around thirty minutes to get to the actual store because Toukichirou and Goemon kept stopping to stare at pretty much every window that had something on display, but when we finally arrived at the Animate I was able to relax a bit. In enclosed store they could not get too far and there is enough stuff for them to see so they will be preoccupied while I do my own shopping for the manga and such that I missed last month.
The store itself is quite small for an Animate-brand, but it still looks just as over-the-top as the main branch complex in Akiba¹², there are tons of monitors around playing the PV's¹³ for the upcoming anime, trailers for games and advertisements for new publications. Shelves are full of stuff and it is actually quite cramped even wihtout many people in there, I guess that it is thanks for taking a break from school that we're not suffocating here right now. I quickly find the publications I wanted to get and head to register to pay for them and after that I sit to a bench near some vending machines close to the entrance to wait until Goemon and Toukichirou have finished their adventures between the lines of shelves. Around fifteen minutes later Goemon appears in front of me with some manga and what looks like doujinshi¹⁴ and sat next to me with them and looking flushed.
”Itori-dono, literature in this era is scary, nin~.” She says to me and I tilt my head, confused to which she replies:
”The way how love is explained is so much more straightforward than the overly romanticized from the era I come from, nin~. Tale of Genji¹⁵ has nothing to this!” I sigh and take a peek to her haul. She is carrying some slice-of-life shoujo manga¹⁶ with her, to be honest I am a bit surprised about that is it kind of clashes with my image of ninjas but to be honest this spoiled little princess really doesn't remind you of a ninja at all. Well, what I am to judge if those caught her interest. Then I notice the doujinshi she was carrying and pretty much immediately confiscate them.
”Yeah, you shouldn't probably believe what is written in these. Plus, these are really not meant for minors to read.” I try to hide my blushing. She had gone to the back of the store to R-18 section with adult-themed indie products of a popular anime. Probably should've expected something like this to happen.
”The manga you can get, but if you want to check doujinshi out, you probably should buy them from the front of the store.” I feel like I saved some hassle involving my parents if she brought hentai¹⁷ doujinshi home. The manga was fairly tame and I knew it was popular with girls in my class too, from what I knew it was just some clichéd story where the protagonist falls in love with mysterious girl and they try to build their relationship from the ground up. Not really my style of publication, but as I said, if Goemon finds it interesting I see no reason to stop her from buying them. I instruct her how money works in this era and give her share to her from the money my parents left us and she leaves to check the shelves closer to the entrance. Now that I think about it, how did the register let her pass without paying and still carrying all that stuff? It doesn't take long when both of them have joined me, Toukichirou came to get the money to pay for her stuff and soon returned with Goemon. To my surprise she didn't seem to be carrying anything after coming out of the store though.
”In the end you didn't buy anything? I thought you'd be all over the place with some stuff in here.” I ask her when we start walking away and to my surprise she blushes like Goemon did earlier and I start to wonder if she went to the ”forbidden world” too. I tilt my head again in confusion.
”It is not like I did not buy anything at all.” She says quietly and averts her eyes.
”So, what are you hiding? I do not want to get in trouble for the stuff you bought.” Of course she doesn't know what could cause me to get in trouble unless Goemon informed her. She keeps being distant with the matter and I grow worried.
”It's not like you have any reason to hide your purchases. And I really would not want to rely on threats with something as insignificant as this one.” I try to sound stern, but I feel like it doesn't really have any effect. I am not the most convincing when it comes to stuff like this, am I? This is proven by Toukichirou blushing even more and muttering something that I can't really hear, so I decide to go from words to acts and say:
”Goemon, is it allright if you sleep in my room tonight?” girl in question looks confused, but Toukichirou immediately takes something from under her shirt, it turns out to be a light novel¹⁸ and to my surprise, a plush toy of a Chocobo¹⁹ from Final Fantasy. I guess she hadn't had much time to play the game after Goemon appeared. But the novel was something that surprised me, it was a shoujo-ai²⁰ story aimed at male audiences, I didn't really think anything about it other than just like with Goemon and her choices, that didn't really match my image with Toukichirou either.
”I see no reason why you would've hidden those.” I say and scratch my temple.
”Oh well, now that that's dealt with we probably should eat something, yes? Also, I still think Goemon is safer in my room, but there really is no space in there so I just have to trust that I do not need to do a rescue mission in the middle of the night.” I say jokingly and Toukichirou grins, looking relieved.

On our way back to check out the McDonald's they were so interested in we take some shortcuts via couple of back streets. I've visited here so often that I pretty much know these parts like the back of my hand so I feel like saving a minute or two every time I can, plus around there there is pretty much nothing else but trash cans and manholes so the excitement levels of my friends stay fairly low.
When making way to the fast food place we pass by the Tenman-gu Shrine, my companions check in from the gates but I don't really feel like going in so I promise we'll come back at later date, but when we are just about leaving I got called from behind.
”Itori Sana-dono and Kinoshita Toukichirou-dono, also known as Inuchiyo and Saru by the daughter of Oda, I pressume?” We stop to our tracks and turn around, just to see a miko standing there. I really can't make anything special out of her. She is wearing the traditional miko garb and is really pretty. If I had to compare her to something, it would probably be the Yuki-Onna²¹ she really seems like it would start snowing around her at any moment, but that's that.
”What did you just say?” I ask while looking at her straight in the eyes, her expression stays like it is frozen in time and she answers with voice without any emotion in it.
”I have something to talk to you about, please come in the shrine. Everything else can wait.”
We look at each other and follow her. What the hell is going on? How does she know about us, both of my companions look confused as well.
”How does she-?” Toukichirou asks and Goemon interrupts, looking pouty:
”But what about me, nin~?”
Well, I am fairly sure we all have our questions, but those can wait until we get inside. I am sure we get at least some answers. Especially since she knew something she was not supposed to, which made me even more curious. Taking a step in the gates it felt like something unlocked somewhere and that I really didn't want to hear what I was about to hear.
But to hear the name of Nobunaga in this context and to hear ”Itori Sana” as Inuchiyo and not Toshiee Maeda who he was supposed to be. There has to be a connection. I will figure this out, if not for myself but at least for Toukichirou and Goemon so they can return to their time. I think and take a deep breath.
”We'll see what's to come.” I say and both of my companions nod. Our questions were about to be answered with intrest, that's for sure!

When we got inside, the miko was already sitting in the middle of a large, wood padded room with only the door leading out of the shrine shedding some natural light in after it was opened. All other light was coming from multiple candles that dotted the floor. Some chairs were pointed out and we sat down.
”I do not have much time, so I will not be listening to your questions or allowing you to talk.” She said immediately after we did so.
”I just have you to know that this is very important. I already had a conversation with the daughter of Oda and just using dragon veins to communicate with you is proving very difficult. You need to be prepared as what you are going to hear will be changing your life to more hectic and dangerous than you probably expected. Month ago you got sent back in time to what you call ”the past” and couple of days ago you returned to the ”future”. I have you know that this will not be the last time as you are still needed to finish what you started and to support daughter of Oda.” She takes a deep breath and states:
”I will now explain the conditions and why you have no choices but to accept them as you will be going back, no matter if you want it or not.”

Cold sweat started forming at my back and I swallowed. This really didn't sound like something I wanted to hear. Even Toukichirou and Goemon looked worried. I understood even less than what I did back outside when we were first called in. I knew nothing about why I was sent back in time or why I was able to return here. I did not know how I had affected Nobunagas plans for unification or what was going on back there. But something I knew for a fact, this woman had the answers and I got nothing by not listening, so I fixed my posture and nodded:
”Please, tell me what you know.” And for the briefest moment, a smile appeared on her face, but it felt really cold and distant. I did not like this miko at all.
”Well then, let's begin!”
And thus, some knots started to unravel and I found myself in a mess that I never expected to be in. Time to start resolving it, time to actually figure out what to do in the future, especially if it concerns me and the past. That's my decision.
”Well then, let's begin!” She said, clearing her throat

”As I told you, I have not much time left in this era, so I'll be brief.” The miko continued after hearing what I said, ”to put things simply: Until Oda Nobunagas purpose is cleared to one way or another you will be returning to that time every 30 days or so. Your purpose is to aid her in her conquest and bring her dream to the end, no matter how.” She stared us with face void of all emotion and really creeped me out. I turned my head to see Toukichirou just staring at her with her mouth wide open and Goemon just swaying back and forth like she needed to go to bathroom very badly.
”Wh-” I started, but she interrupted.
”I told you, I have no time to answer your questions. I will explain the situation and when the time comes you will return to your past.” I almost jumped from the shock. Her voice turned to almost banshee-like shriek and her face distorted.
”The art of onmyoji is long dead, it was diminishing quickly during the time of Oda too thanks to namban missionaries and Christianity spreading fast to large port towns, but some of us still were able to monitor dragon veins and use their power to bring spirits to the aid for whoever needed them. Unfortunate to you, you were pulled to our time as a byproduct of something like an old promise, a pact or a pledge. That was the moment where you became Maeda Toshiie, also known as Inuchiyo and Oda Nobunagas childhood friend without her knowing about that.” She took a breath and switched her eyes towards Toukichirou.

”It was also lucky that it was this girl who was the first one who found you. It would have been really bad if you ended up in Imagawa Yoshimotos camp instead. For that, even though you only had luck to thank for meeting this girl, I thank you for supporting her and acting as her companion.” It was kind of a surprise to all of us hearing this miko actually compliment Toukichirou for some reason, again we tried to open our mouths but we were cut short.
”My time here is at the end, you have three weeks until next time you get transported. You may want to gather supplies and form some kind of a plan.” She started to look translucent, like a ghost from a video game or something like that and when she spoke the voice was distant and empty.
”Just so that you can form something in that head of yours: Saitou Dousans time is coming close, she is currently being sieged by her daughter Saitou Yoshitatsu. She has one full month at most before the siege breaks and she has to fight until the end. I told the daughter of Oda that she is to sit tight and not do anything for 30 days. Now, how will you react to that challange?” After that her body disappeared completely and I was just rubbing my eyes like after a really bad nights sleep, asking from my companions about the reality of the situation. Goemon answered, looking jumpy.
”Well, I think it is good that me and Kinoshita-dono can get back to our own time, nin~. But I do not think that you should be roped in this Itori-dono. She didn't allow us to say anything and just overloaded our minds with information and if it is to be believed, we really have no choice in the matter. I think that is really unfair when it comes to Itori-donos freedom, nin~nin.” I smiled at my ninja friend, the fact that she was concerned about my well being was heartwarming. Toukichirou agreed.
”Yeah, if someone were to sent back, it would be us not you Sana-chan. But because that is not the case, next thing we should figure out is a plan. What should we do AFTER we get sent back? Also, what was that about the Viper?” I knew what Saitou Dousan was going through and I also knew the end result according to our history: Saitou Dousan would be killed by his son and afterwards Nobunaga would do one of his most well known sieges to capture Mino by force and win.
But this history can be different and I really do not know what to expect, even this 30 day siege is something that was never mentioned in history books. I would need to rack my brain about how to approach this. It may sound sad, but the best option may be to have history go its way and Saitou Dousan to die in a war against her daughter. That in our history solidified Nobunagas nickname as ”the demon” and I don't want that girl to get to that point. I don't want her to become a demon. I want her to be the innovator who goes forward with only her ambition filling her head. If she becomes warmonger who kills her friends and family without a second tought, it will be insanely difficult to actually support her. That may also lead to one of her most trusted advisors and teachers committing suicide to bring her back.
At least that's how it worked when it came to our history.

So what to do? Do I try to change the history and try to save Saitou Dousan, or do I let everything go the way history has already taught me. Both options are intimidating by their own rights and I do not like it. I need to make a decision and make it count! That's pretty much what that creepy miko-ghost-lady told us right now and if I do not have a say in the situation I better see this whole thing through. I will make sure that Nobunagas tenka fubu¹ completes and the Japan is unified! I don't know how long that'll take but it is not like I do anything productive with my time any ways and I've grown to like lots of people of that era and they've been good to me. Things will work out somehow!  

Afterword

Oh man! Writing this chapter was a journey! The thing I noticed first was that writing about modern day is actually incredibly tough for me and it is something I really want to get better at! 

Another thing is that trying to bring out the characters now that they've been transferred to modern day is also way more difficult than have them swing swords and spears around, rather than have "normal" conversations. Again, I quirk I want to get better at. 

But still, I do really enjoy having my characters from Sengoku-era hang out in the modern day, even though it is not the whole point of this story, it still is an important part of it! 

One thing is sure: Most of the events in this novel will be happening in Sengoku-era! I still try to jump back and forth between Sana and Nobunaga to keep both worlds alive and moving~

I messed up a lot with numbering the notes in this chapter and even if it sounds super lazy: I can't be bothered to fix them. I mentioned missing and duplicate note numbers below! Sorry for inconvenience~

Notes:

1.  Dragon Veins are a term that comes from onmyoji practice, from what I understood they are kind of channels that go under ground all over the earth and provide sustenance and kind of "streetlights" to spirits and ghosts, as well as practitioners of onmyoji, which allows them to do their excorsism rituals and magic.
2. I already explained the connection between the nickname in previous chapters, but she is refering to Toukichirou.
3. Yakisoba are a style of noodle dish. It has noodles, vegetables and meat in it with thick sweet sauce. Yakisoba bread is a bread with yakisoba as a filling, very popular as a school lunch and it comes often prepackaged from convenience store.
4.  Pretty much a hole in a ground, you squat over it. Those kinds of toilets can still be found in some Japanese inns that follow traditional style.
5. Onsen = hot spring (resort). In this case she is refering to a facility built in a proximity of natural hot spring. Such resorts involve hot spring bathhouses and inns.
6. As explained in the text, Nohime was Saitou Dousans daughter. Following our history, he gave her to Oda Nobunaga as a wife after Nobunaga convinced him of his ambition. 
7. ...err, I managed to skip note #7. Sorry about that!
8. Norimono is one of those things that you may have seen in documentaries. They're meant for high ranking officers and royalty to be able to travel around without commoners being able to see their face. They're pretty much "mobile throne rooms" that are carried by four men, holding the structure up. The structure itself is usually very extravagant, gold and silver are often used just to make it look pretty. 
9. Animate is a huge brand of stores in Japan, they mostly sell gaming and anime goods, like figurines and such.
10. ...I don't understand how I manage to skip so many of these numbers.
11. Pachinko is a Japanese gambling game, where you drop small metal balls from top of a vertical gaming board and try to hit holes with point values on them.
12. Unfortunately, this can happen anywhere, but in Japan especially in trains it isn't too uncommon for young girls to get groped and harassed. More often than not they are just accidents that happen because Japanese trains tend to be so full that you barely can breath in them during rush hour, and some people use it as a cover. I felt like making a note about it as the context may not come clear to everyone!
    12. (Akiba) And this time I have the same number twice? Man, numbers are hard!
    Akiba stands for "Akihabara" a HUGE "electric district" in Tokyo that has became popular for the multitude of stores that sell electric appliances, but also for the huge amount of Maid Cafés and stores aimed for people who like anime, manga and games.
13. PV = Promotional Video, a video often accompanied when advertising new anime or game in Japan.
14. Doujinshi = "Fan production", A fan made comic or an art book anyone can make and publish in Japan. More often than not they are of erotic nature involving creators favourite characters.
15. Tale of Genji = An old, even before the Sengoku Era, written story about a womanizer called Genji. The story is incredibly popular and by the standards of ages past, incredibly graphic.
16. Shoujo manga = manga aimed for young girls. Usually involving either high school life or otherwise romantic settings with comedic twist. Also lots of pretty boys.
17. Hentai = as a word it stands for "pervert" or "weirdo", but in context like this hentai is a genre of manga and anime that has pornographic material.
18. Light Novel: A novel from authors that do not want to draw or write manga, but want to aim their work for the same kind of audience. I presonally like that format!
19. Think of a bright yellow ostritch or chicken. It is a monster that works as a mount in Final Fantasy -games.
20.  Shoujo-ai: A genre of anime and manga, meaning "girls love". Usually publications that involve girls having crushes to each other, but not quite to the yuri (lesibian) material.
21. Yuki-Onna: A yokai (demon, spirit or a ghost) of asian mythology. Can be compared to Jack Frost that we know here in west. A woman that rules over winter and cold. Eats children, has her way with men and kills them afterwards. Can only birth females and is incredibly beautiful. There is more to her, but I'd have to write an essay for that.
    When comparing someone to Yuki-Onna, it can refer either to their cold personality or to the fact that they are completely expressionless.

Chapter #4 - And back

Sengoku-period, Japan, Atsuta-shrine

”Hime-sama! We just got a word that the Viper has relieved Mino to the daughter of Oda, things seem to be going like in your vision. Should we send a messenger to Oda to inform her about what's to come?” Two miko can be heard talking while tending to their duties at the Atsuta-shrine. One is small and meek-looking, always cowering a little and other one has more height, gentle look and clouded eyes. Without any change in latters expression, she says something that makes a small smile appear on formers face and she totters away.

Sengoku-period, Japan, Nagoya castle town

When I open my eyes I feel sharp pain somewhere around my temple and when I try to move my legs and arms it is like they're made from lead or dipped into a bowl of concrete. Turning my head I see my newest companion, tiny ninja girl called Goemon bustling around with a vat of water and a wet cloth, I try to open my mouth but all I can manage is some kind of weird groan, that catches the attention of the girl running around me and she immediately arrives next to me. For some reason she is wearing the shirt I wore when I came to this period instead of her usual black ninja-attire.
”You shouldn't try to move, nin~.” She says to me, clear worry in her voice. ”You and Toukichirou-dono got summoned to castle to meet Oda-dono, nin~. But seeing how you were tossing and turning and drenched in sweat last night, Toukichirou-dono asked me to look after you and said that she'd explain the situation to Oda-dono, nin~.” After this she supports my upper body to sitting position with some cloth towels and pillows, helps me to undress and starts to wipe sweat from my back with the towel she was carrying.
”Toukichirou-dono got barely a wink of sleep because she was looking after you, when I arrived it looked like she was ready to collapse at any moment, nin~.”
I didn't really pay much attention to what she was saying, pretty much only thing in my mind was identifying what I had caught. During this era the research for medicine wasn't to the point it is in the time where I am from, so actually serious illnesses ran rampant and there really were no vaccine for them, lowering the life expectancy around this period to very low, not many people lived to be over 50. Of course I've gotten mandatory vaccination against the modern mutations of these diseases, but who can tell if they work against the viruses and germs 450 years to the past.

That's pretty much all I can think before groaning from a spiking pain behind my temple. I need to do something to my headache, so I gesture to Goemon so that she'd fetch my bag for me. I should at least have some aspirin or something somewhere in there. The girl stops her backwashing and retrieves the bag I carry with me, I have not allowed Goemon to look inside and after she came to the house I've also denied Toukichirou her delvings into games.
I open one of the side pockets and rummage through it, finding a small plastic bag with bandages and some over-the-counter medicine, like cough drops, skin lotion, tiny bottle of disinfectant and some triangular pouches of aspirin, the sight makes me very happy. I knew I've gotten into a habit of carrying these around, I even remember pondering if I should get an actual first aid kit so that I'd be prepared to pretty much everything.
I rip the corner of the pouch and pour the contents on my tongue, can't say I enjoy this taste. Afterwards I down it with some water Goemon had prepared for me at some point and settle down to my state of helpnesness again. I hear Goemon questioning the contents of the pouch and my bag, but as I can't answer I just shake my head a bit. Seeing this she apparently decides that questions can come later and she should just take care of me the best she can and resumes her activity of cleaning my body from sweat. I don't know if it is the aspirin or the care Goemon showed to me, but I feel like I can at least think clearly again and start recognizing sounds and voices around me. I don't think this is more than just a really nasty flu or some kind of food poisoning, examining my arms or legs do not reveal any rashes or scarring or other kinds of skin damage usually involved in more serious illnesses. Of course those won't just appear overnight, but that's how I calm myself down at least. After a while and feeling like I've been dumped into a bath with wet teddy bears because Goemon going a bit overboard with her care, I sigh and get back to lying down. Goemon informs me that she is going to produce something to eat and that I should try to sleep, in my mind I agree to the latter idea with my whole heart but to the former I can't help but worry if I get some herbal leaves or roots brought in front of me because Goemon thinks that those'll do good for me.
The thought of this questionable future of sustenance makes me smile a bit and I close my eyes.

I dream of a night with bright moon, a full moon to be exact. I look around and time seems to be stopped, everywhere colors just seem blurred and bleeding from the scenery to create something that looks like I am standing in Edward Munch's¹ painting. I try to figure out where my companions are and slowly the face of Toukichirou appears in front of me, she has her trademark grin on her face, but I can see tears at the corner of her eyes, looking even closer notice that she doesn't seem to have a visible body, but something like a shadow or a swirl of dust or something like that. The sight makes me sad. One after other people I know from this era start to pop out the same way, distorted but their faces. Everyone is smiling with tears flowing down their faces. It makes me want to cry too.
I look up to the moon, it has turned to bright red and seems to be shedding something towards earth. Liquid-like matter gets ever closer to the earth, and the moment it touches the ground, everything around me turns into a sea of viscous red liquid that is undoubtedly blood. The faces of Toukichirou and Goemon get closer to me, but when the liquid reaches Nagahide-san, Shibata-san and Nobunaga-dono, the faces I see turn grotesque, filled with anguish, pain and loss and when they open their mouths to scream, everything fades to black and I can not see anything else, I just remember Toukichirous and Goemons faces getting really close to mine, still smiling.

”I have no idea what she is going through right now, her physical condition, outside looking anguished, doesn't seem to indicate anything too serious.” A male doctor sent by Oda-clan is filling me in about the state of my companion who is lying in front of me, tears in her eyes, tossing, turning and sweating like possessed. I hope no one actually gets the impression of her being possessed, I could go without the fuss that it would cause.
”Kinoshita-san, I will be visiting her daily, you should continue with your duties for Oda-dono. She will get the best care I can offer.”
”And I am here too, nin~” Said the cute little ninja living with us, who just now had stopped her loud sobbing that had been accompanied us as noise in the background while doctor went through Sana-chans body. Pretty much the only reason why we even were here was because Goemon stormed Nagoya castle where I was meeting with Oda Nobunaga and discussing how to proceed with her unification plans. I had already told her that my companion was ill, but at some point they brough panicking Goemon in front of us and after hearing from her that Sana-chans situation got worse, Nobunaga-dono dispatched a doctor and relieved me to go with him: ”I gave Inuchiyo the task of being with Saru all the time, at the moment it works other way around too. Go to her and return later with a report telling how she fares.”, she said to me before I left and sent me and Goemon off with a smile only she could give.

When we arrived to our lodgings, Sana-chan was lying there, still sweating a river and had fallen of her futon. Doctor scolded Goemon telling her that rather than leaving Sana-chan here alone, she should've called for guards stationed nearby and told them that one of the Oda Nobunaga-donos retainers had fallen ill. They've been informed about retainers living around this area last night so they would've without a doubt sent a message to castle after confirming the situation. That caused Goemons sobs turn into more audible ones, I wanted to hug her and tell her she did fine.

After the doctor left, I and Goemon were left with Sana-chan to make her as comfortable as possible. Goemon barely left the side of her and I was preparing some food, something had been bothering me for a while and I asked Goemon:
”Hey, Goemon-chan?”
”Nin~?”
”Why are you wearing Sana-chans clothes?”
”A ninja hides her identity when working in public, nin~”
”In other words, you got curious and wanted to try them out.” I say and can't help but giggle. I've done that a lot lately. Being in this situation somewhat calms my nerves and makes me feel easy, it has been so ever since I first got acquinted with Sana-chan. After hearing my reply, Goemon visibly blushes and answers:
”These are very comfortable, nin~.”
”Those are way too large for you, and you're only wearing the top piece, do you have anything to cover your legs?”
”The bottom piece didn't stay on, so I thought I'd wear this like a yukata, nin~.” I smile at her and throw her a mochi that Sana-chan brought when we returned from the meeting with Saitou Dousan last night. The atmosphere seems to have calmed down with our banter and even though we still were worried, neither of us showed it as much and everything seemed to return how they usually were, outside Sana-chan being ill.

While Goemon was munching on her mochi and the water was waiting to boil I started to write a letter to Nobunaga-dono as to inform her about Sana-chans current situation. I've never been good at things like these and I've never learned how to write difficult, polite sounding words² so when I finished Goemon had eaten her snack and was drooping over Sana-chans body, trying to not fall asleep and the water had begun to boil. Smiling at Goemon, who really looked like she could go for a nap I returned to preparing food. It was just plain rice and dried fish with miso again, but it tastes good and we have no money to buy luxury things like meat or spices any ways at the moment.

After finishing our meals, Sana-chan still hadn't woken up. I added a line to the letter addressed to Nobunaga-dono and gave it to one of the guards to be delivered to castle as soon as possible. After I got saluted in a manner I've not gotten used to, the guardsman left and I returned inside. Goemon had fallen asleep on her futon next to Sana-chan, about which I really didn't blame her.
”Now then.” I say to myself and head towards the corner of the room. The only table we have is actually quite messy, the top is filled paper I've not seen around here. It is thick and has lines going across it, forming a grid. These papers are something that Sana-chan was staring at fairly intently before the meeting with Saitou Dousan was decided. I slam my hands together and think ”sorry, Sana-chan” quietly in my mind and start going through things on this table.

I knew Sana-chan was from the future, at this point it would've made no sense to try and deny that after seeing so many things I've never seen before. I was only one who knew about this, I think it is better for the fewer people to know, rather than go around announcing her being from future and being beheaded for being a lunatic. I just can't help myself, these papers may reveal things that help Nobunaga-dono with her quest of unification and I want to help her as much as possible.
The contents of these papers were what I was not expecting, lists about things one would need for living and how much one would need to earn to be able to have a good life, some of the papers were just filled with lines and numbers and symbols I do not recognize and others had detailed information about food ingredients she'd want to acquire.

But couple of pieces caught my attention, first one was detailing the encounter before meeting Saitou Dousan:
”Dousan wants to test Nobunaga → Teach morse code to Goemon → Make sure Nobunaga doesn't get ambushed → Have Toukichirou intimidate and surprise Dousan with her information.”
This was pretty much how things went, there were some words³ there I did not understand, but apparently these were the simplified plans that Sana-chan came up for the meeting with Dousan. Intriqued, I look through the next piece of paper gasp from surprise:
”Oda Nobuyukis last revolt (MUST BE STOPPED PEACEFULLY!), Katsuie will be with her → psychological warfare? → Make sure that Nobunaga doesn't kill Nobuyuki, Katsuie should be safe. → Hope for the best, stop Nobunaga from becoming a demon.”
Again, words that I do not understand, but the ones I do are alarming. I heard at the castle that Nobuyuki-dono tends to start revolt wars every time she gets discontent about something involving Nobunaga-dono. But what does Sana-chan mean by ”the last revolt” and such.
”So, what are you going to do, nin~?” A shiver creeps up my spine and I notice Goemon standing behind me. I gasp and drop papers from my hand, while she looks at me, looking very serious, I am sorry Goemon-chan!
Before I actually manage to say anything, she smiles at me and says:
”Actually, I went through these papers too, nin~. I've kept my promise and not peeked into that fabric container of hers, but these papers just were on the plain view so I couldn't help it, nin~nin~” After this she mimics my actions earlier and slaps her hands together, I am confused, but soo return her smile.
”Well, I guess we both have a scolding waiting for us later?” Goemon-chan gives me her super sweet smile and begins re-checking the papers in case we missed something. I can't believe this girl is already fourteen. I continue speaking to Goemon:
”There are words I do not understand, and even if we showed this to Nobunaga-dono, I bet she can't make out much of this either. I know that this is about Nobuyuki-dono revolting, but when will it happen and how was Sana-chan prepared to deal with it, with her in that state we really can't ask.” I look at my ill comrade and sigh. Goemon-chan instead looks at me and asks question that I've known she'd ask at some point:
”Itori-dono isn't from here, isn't she?”
”Sorry Goemon-chan, I've already stepped out of the line too much by going through her stuff without permission. I'd lie if I said I didn't know the truth, but I want her to be the one to tell you of her origins, not me.” After this I smile at her and she nods.
”Then I will ask her when she wakes up, nin~!” She gives me a cheerful smile and we return to the papers.

After a while and when it seems like there isn't much more in there outside what we've already uncovered as the rest of the papers are pretty much empty, outside the grid that they all have, we decide to talk about how to inform Nobunaga about the situation, but do not really reach any conclusion, which makes me annoyed so I decide to vent it a bit by going to carry some water for bath and heating it.
After being on my task for a while, Goemon-chan stops me, with a paper on her hand, telling that it had fallen from the table on the floor. It had a picture of an Oda-clan warrior on a horse, waving an Oda-clan flag on top of a razed castle. Underneath the picture was a text: ”Nobunaga is the only one fit to lead!” In very beautiful strokes. The paper also was more like what I had used before, but the tool that picture was drawn with wasn't a brush, it was not a quill either, probably one of the Sana-chans ”future tools”. I didn't really understand it, but it was certain that Sana-chan had used a lot of time to this. Some parts were smudged and there were small rips here and there.
”This was attached to it, nin~” Said Goemon, handing another piece of paper to me:
”Instruct Toukichirou to show this picture to Nobunaga and have her hire an artist to mass-produce something similar → When Nobuyuki revolts, have them delivered to castle where Nobuyuki resides and spread them everywhere → Have soldiers chant for their loyalty to Nobunaga when they surround the castle and Nobuyukis troops. Nobuyuki is more weak willed than Nobunaga and we can use the loyalty of Shibata to our advantage, she will without a doubt turn to our side because she doesn't want to be stuck between a rock and a hard place with a mindset like that.”
The note was written so that even Toukichirou and Goemon understood it, maybe Sana-chan planned to either refer this to Nobunaga-dono or to me or Goemon and do her own part some other way. I still did not understand what pictures like these would actually help, but Sana-chans plans have always more or less worked perfectly so far, so I saw no reason to not believe in her this time either, especially since she was in that bad of a shape.
I sat on seiza next to Sana-chan, who looked like she was in pain and brushed her hair out of her face and wiped sweat off her forehead.
”Goemon-chan, will you help me in place of Sana-chan this time?” I asked, still looking at my companions sleeping face.
”That's given, nin~. You two are my masters and I follow you everywhere, no matter if you wanted it or not, nin~nin~.” She said, placing her own hand on Sana-chans head. The scene was like we were making a vow in front of her. With all the seriousness we had in our voices, I couldn't help but laugh and Goemon-chan joined me, even Sana-chan seemed like she got a momentary lapse of relief, having her lips curve slightly. I don't know if she heard us, but that warmed my heart as I prepared to leave for the castle.

I think I heard Toukichirou and Goemon laugh somewhere far into the distance, does that mean I am not dead yet? That's good.
In this blackness that surrounds me, a cheerful sound like that was like a drop of light, it made me feel happy. Hopefully I can see everyone again soon.

The next few days flew past very quickly. I delivered the picture and instructions Sana-chan planned to give me to Nobunaga-dono, who after going through them accepted to follow through with surprisingly few questions, I was also fairly sure that I saw straight up relief on her face after she figured the plan out. I decided to leave that other note back to our lodgings as it called Nobunaga-dono a demon and had words even I didn't understand, so I thought it would be better to not Nobunaga-dono see that. After that me and Goemon pretty much took turns looking after Sana-chan, dealing with the doctor that visited us and the pictures artists around the kingdom drew. Because they didn't have the tools Sana-chan has the pictures were more like I was used to, very beautiful brush works with same kind of calligraphy Sana-chan had used written on and around them, only difference was that they were painted on paper, that was stacked and glued together and not canvas like usually. After a week we had around five hundred or so pictures finished by multiple people, I was not sure how many we needed, but I was starting to think that this was more than enough.

One evening I was with Nagahide-sama and Nobunaga-dono in a tea room conversing about what is going to happen when a courier arrived, informing Nobunaga about Nobuyuki-dono holing herself up in Suemori Castle and revolting about the main family. Shibata Katsuie apparently had joined up with him, as the main family had made her the guardian of Oda Nobuyuki when she still was young, so Shibata-sama didn't really have any choice in it and is now roped into this revolt war.
”This is the moment we've been waiting for my lord.” I say the moment courier leaves. ”I suggest you dispatch couriers to Suemori and ask them to spread the pictures prepared to people living around there, to soldiers and inns too. I also have Goemon-chan sneak in and have her spread them around too, closer to the people in charge. We really have no time to lose, we have to get these through before Nobuyuki-dono manages to gather her army and start marching.”
Nobunaga-sama nodded and put the word out. She was acting like a leader and way stronger than she actually looks like. It is amazing how much strenght and spirit that small body held in.
When Nobunaga-sama left the room, I begun conversing with Nagahide-sama.
”I trust Sana-chan, I just wish that she was the one who explained all these things. If I make mistakes in what she had planned, this all may fall apart. Do you think I did the right thing, Nagahide-sama?” She smiled at me, the usual warm smile on her face felt really good.
”I think it is good for you to make some decisions yourself and not just rely on Itori-dono too much. She has wits and will to grasp the stars, but your approach on things is really important too. I've been with Nobunaga-sama since she was small and I know that she'd do anything available to not having to go into war with her siblings.” She sighed, like remembering something from long time ago.
”I doubt we get through this without any kinds of hitches, but I trust you to keep Nobunaga-sama on the proper road when the time comes.” What she said made my insides churn. I felt so much pressure from responsibility, but I had to get used to it. I had to show everyone, Nobunaga-dono, her retainers, Goemon-chan and Sana-chan that their trust towards me is not misplaced!

Goemon returned from her mission couple of days later and at the same time Nobunaga-dono was preparing to march fer forces towards Suemori Castle to besiege and surround it. I had suggested about making the first move, as it will be easier to fulfill the instructions I was given by Sana-chan if Nobuyuki-dono is still in the castle with her forces and has to fight a defensive battle, instead of an offensive one. Nobunaga-dono agreed with this and started mobilizing her forces. I told that I'd wait for Goemon-chan to return, but if she hadn't done by the end of the week Nobunaga-donos forces could go ahead and we'd catch up.
But as I mentioned, it was only couple of days and Goemon returned, after resting for a while and leaving her to take care of Sana-chan, I left for the Nobunaga-dono and prepared mentally to the task ahead.
We left when it was still dark. Suemori Castle wasn't too far, but still there was a good four to five hours of marching before we would arrive. I wanted to be able to surround the castle by the dawn so that the plan would have most effective results.
When we arrived everything was set up by my orders. It felt so pressuring that I was about to faint. I was given an insane amount of forces under my command for this, there were at least four or five thousand heads in the army, where as Nobuyuki-dono at most has two thousand men, so even if it goes to the war, we have an overwhelming advantage.
I had the Oda Forces immediately surround the castle, lord Nobunaga and Nagahide-sama overlooked the situation from a hill further back with a small force to give backup to us if need be and when everything was set up I gave the signal.

A booming voice left the Oda forces, chanting the name of Oda Nobunaga and words written on those pictures we sent to this castle some days earlier, even I started shouting. Soon the gates of castle opened and Oda Nobuyukis forces poured out to take defensive positions with Shibata Katsuie as their head. Nobuyuki forces seemed confused, some put their hands in the saddle pouches they had on their horses and pulled out wrinkled pictures of an Oda warrior inside and stared at them, not really knowing how to react.
We didn't stop at this sight, we just stood our ground and kept chanting, brandishing our weapons and making as much noise as possible. It was like someone was firing cannons in a thunderstorm. I could feel the ground tremor underneath my feet.

I stepped forward, towards Shibata Katsuie, who clenched her spear, I kept my distance and just kept chanting, straight at her, not removing my eyes from hers. Her expression showed clear confusion and discomfort. The shouting had been going on for hours now and even I was starting to wonder if this was working, but looking around the opposing forces, I was starting to notice that even amidst their ranks some soldiers were opening and closing their mouths in the rhytm of the chants of Nobunaga forces and soon the noise had grown to much, much louder with Nobuyuki soldiers, their morale in the mud and wills broken decided that their chances of survival would be better with the Nobunaga troops.
Turning their backs to their supposed enemies, even they had joined the chants and the more this happened, the more pained was the look on Shibata-samas face and then she walked to me, with tears in her eyes, stood to my side and turned towards Suemori castle and started chating the name of Oda Nobunaga with her loud and clear voice she so rarely let anyone hear.

It didn't take even an hour until the last stragglers who retreated inside the castle after their general had joined forces with enemies returned with a word from the castle that the aides of Oda Nobuyuki and Oda Nobuyuki herself will give up Suemori Castle and surrender to the forces of Oda Nobunaga-dono. That I took as a cue to send some forces in to capture the young Oda and bring her to Nagoya to be heard. In the end, decision what to do with her was with Oda Nobunaga and I had a bad feeling about this. Especially since Sana-chan had left such an ominous warning in her notes: ”Do not let Oda Nobunaga become a demon” was what it said.

I opened my eyes and sat up, my body feels light and I feel like I haven't eaten anything in ages. I stand up and start tottering in a random direction in hopes of finding a fridge and something to snack on. I don't get too far when I hear a loud gasp and feel someone hugging me around my stomach and saying something. I am so hungry that I really don't care and try to shake the pest away.
”Itori-dono, you need to lie down! You haven't been well for so long, nin~! To suddenly stand up and start walking around is no good, at least wait until the doctor gets here, nin~!”
The source of voice doesn't yield and I look down to see a small girl in a t-shirt that is way too large for her, the sight is actually kind of sweet. I sigh and let her guide myself to a seat. I ask if I can wash my face and she brought me a vat full of cold water that I splash on myself. Then, after finally waking up properly I take a look around me and start remembering things.
”Oh.” I say.
”Good morning, Goemon, what's the situation?”
”I am angry at you Itori-dono, why are you acting like nothing happened?” says the small girl, pouting, ”does it hurt anywhere, nin~? You were quite ill.”
”I was sick? I feel like I just had a good nights rest. You saying that I was out of comission for a while?” I ask, looking confused and Goemon shows clear desperation on her face.
”Maybe we really should wait for the doctor, but I do not want to lie you down again, nin~. I don't want you to fall asleep and then not wake up again.” She says, still pouting but I can hear a tinge of fear in her voice. What the hell happened to me? Didn't we just last night come from the meeting with Saitou Dousan?
”Toukichirou's at the castle with Nobunaga now?”
”Nope Itori-dono, she is at war with Oda Nobuyuki-dono, nin~. While you were ill, we found your papers describing the situation and Kinoshita-dono took it to her to see that your plans come true. She has been in talks with many artists and sending pictures to Suemori ever since, nin~nin.” I feel shocked, I've been sleeping for God knows how long and Toukichirou decided to try her hand at propaganda posters in Sengoku-period without knowing their true purpose? I sigh.
”How did Nobunaga react?”
”She accepted the plan surprisingly easily, apparently, nin~. She pretty much gave Kinoshita-dono free reign with this plan, she really doesn't want to fight her siblings, nin~.”
Well, that makes sense. Who in their right mind would want to kill their siblings? Unfortunately in my history Nobunaga killed her younger brother after this situation and turned into a emotionless machine that killed pretty much everyone who opposed him, no matter if friends of family.
”I need to see Nobunaga, now.” I say to Goemon, who shakes her head.
”I will not let you leave the house Itori-dono, nin~.” I sigh and pray in my mind that Toukichirou shows up the wits and will of the one I know from my history and is able to pull this one through. I've been out of it from the beginning, outside of making some rough plans, it is Toukichirou who decided how to decipher them and how to deal with the situation and I trust that she will return victorious, in one way or another.
”Hey Goemon-chan we have anything to eat? I feel like I've had nothing in days.” After which she smiles and brings a bowl of rice, miso and fish with some bread in front of me. I kindly accept the offer and start eating.
”Don't think that you two have escaped a scolding yet by the way.” I say in between mouthfuls of rice, Goemon turns to me and looks apologetic.
”Especially you, don't you think you should ask permission before wearing someone elses clothes.” I say, smiling at Goemons current outfit, which is pretty much the t-shirt I had under my school uniform when I arrived, tied with a sash to look like a yukata or kimono. Funnily enough it was long enough for her to wear it like that. After hearing that she blushed, and I wonder if this girl is actually a ninja at all.

When we return to Nagoya, I have no time to visit my lodgings to check on Goemon-chan and Sana-chan as my presence is required with other retainers when Nobunaga-dono is hearing Nobuyuki-dono about her treason and deciding for what kind of punishment she should receive. When looking at the situation and how long she has apparently done these small skirmishes, she'd lose her head without a doubt, or has to perform a harakiri.
”Do not let Nobunaga become a demon.” I start to see what those words stand for, but how should I deal with this. If I speak too much out of the line, it is my head that will roll as well as Nobuyuki-donos. I decide to ask Nagahide-sama who is riding back with me:
”As I told you earlier, Nobunaga-sama doesn't want to fight her siblings. She also doesn't want to kill them either. Yeah, siblings do quarrel every once in a while, but she still wants to act like a aneue⁴ she is. During this evenings hearing she may want to put on a tough look. I've never been able to break it down and only been there to calm down the storm in her afterwards. I believe that you are able to make sure it doesn't get that far. My advice would be just to speak up your mind, I promise to make sure it has no dire consequence against you. Nobunaga-sama isn't like that who'd punish you for speaking up anyways.”
”But Nagahide-sama, I've never been good at speaking. I rather my acts speak for me rather than words. What should I say? I feel so lost right now. Even Sana-chan warned in her notes: ”Do not let Nobunaga become a demon”.” I finally feel the pressure and responsibility in me and the corners of my eyes start to moisten, after which Nagahide-samas expression becomes even more warm and motherly.
”I am not sure how Itori-dono saw this happening, but I am sure what she ment about those words is that Nobunaga-sama shouldn't become a demon who slays her own kin. There are people in this world who do so to make sure that they get the spot as daimyo in place of the head of the family, but those people always end becoming borderline mad and warmongering. Itori-dono doesn't want to see Nobunaga-sama become like that.” she smiles, and her expression changes into somewhat mischievous one, I didn't know she had that kind of expression in store too. I am shocked. She hands me a folded fan, when I open it, it isn't made of silk or steel but wood. It also has word ”punishment” written on it. Then Nagahide-sama starts riding away and says one last thing:
”You said you like to have your actions speak rather than words, maybe you can figure something out. Keep that as a charm.” She raises her hand as to wave before heading towards the back of the army to check for Nobuyuki-dono and her retainers, as well as Shibata Katsuie who are being escorted towards Nagoya.
”A charm?” I say to myself and look at the fan with very ominous words.

When we get back to the castle, we are immediately asked to go to the throne room and wait for the criminals to be brought in front of the lord Oda Nobunaga, so that's what we do.
In the throne room are just me, Nagahide Niwa, some ministers I've only seen in passing and Oda Nobunaga, who looks conflicted. After which some guards bring in Shibata Katsuie and Oda Nobuyuki, Katsuie looks like she is going to die from her inner conflict alone and Nobuyuki, small in stature like Nobunaga-dono, but with much paler skin and brown hair that is only tinted towards red.
Before anyone manages to open their mouths, Shibata Katsuie says:
”My lord, I've acted against your will and even betrayed Oda Nobuyuki-dono that I'm supposed to be guarding in place of your father. I was supposed to die on the battlefield and here I still am. Please give me a blade or take my head.”
I totally had forgotten about that case too, this is a problem. I do not want any heads to roll tonight if possible and just as I am about to open my mouth, Nobunaga speaks:
”I need you Riku. I need you in my dream of the unification of Japan. You've always been loyal and I feel like you're in this situation because of unfortunate circumstances. If you feel guilt and shame, then learn to live with those feelings and finally leave them behind you. Stand by me and give me your strenght once again. That's all I am asking. De gozaru.”
She reverted back to her ”De gozaru” way of speaking, like the first time we met her. What could trigger those patterns of speech I wonder. But any ways, it seems like Sana-chan predicted, Shibata-sama should be safe with this.

With Shibata-sama leaving the room, only Oda Nobuyuki was left. When everyones gazes turned towards this small girl, Nobunagas eyes were full of pity and sadness. I was pretty much able to see the inner struggles going on inside her.
”Nobuyuki, you've revolted against me multiple times, de gozaru. You do not agree with me being the head of the family, you've told me that many times, but I am not planning to give this spot up until my dream is fulfilled.” Despite how she looked at this situation, her voice was still strong and clear, it was actually kind of impressive.
”I've had people perform harakiri when they've revolted against me once, but I wanted you to understand. I wanted to be with you!” I saw tears in her eyes and right afterwards it seemed like her vision clouded, she was about to step over the line that allowed her to distinguish people between friends and family and enemies.
”I have you executed today, to show respect to Oda-clan and you as my sister, I myself will be the one who takes your head. Please step forward.” She was pulling her katana from its sheath and Nobuyuki was brought forward. I had to act now or things were to get messy. Nagahide-sama shot me a look of encouragement and I stepped forward, grabbing the now revealed blade with my bare hand, which caused pain and bleeding on my palm. Well, that was rash.
”Saru, what is the meaning of this?” Nobunaga-dono asked, cloudiness disappeared from her eyes and her expression turned into straight on surprise. I removed my hand from the blade and looked straight into the eyes of the person I admire the most.
”Nobunaga-dono. Before we continue, let me ask one question: Do you really want to kill your imouto⁵? Do you want to break the family apart over trivial quarrels between siblings?
”I have to!” She was now shouting, with big beads of tears dropping from her eyes. ”How else would I stop the future rebellions and such! I have to show people that I do not fear to take drastic measures to finish my dream!” To what I pretty much shout back:
”If another rebellion happens, we will stop it! I will stop it, no matter what! So please Nobunaga-sama, do not become a demon who slaughters her own friends and family!! There must be a better way to punish her, something that doesn't require any heads to roll!” by reflex I pull the wooden fan from my waist and the moment Nobunaga sets her eyes on it, she pales and starts stuttering and her sobs get louder.
”Of course I do not want to kill my sister!” She yells as loud as she can and pretty much every single person in the room get a start, ”who in their right mind would like killing their own imouto?” She quiets down her voice and asks the question I've already heard before. I answer:
”That's pretty much all I wanted to hear, I know you can make the right decision, Nobunaga-dono.”

Oda Nobuyuki who sits in front of us in seiza⁶ and in white robe⁷ and who has been quiet this whole time, outside of some sobs here and there, now speaks: ”Aneue, I've reflected everything I've done and regret my actions immensively. I wish to help you with your dream, even if it means leaving the clan behind. I will take a new name and give my life to only you. So I am ready to accept any punishment, but please do not kill me and even if you do, save my men and ministers, they were only following my whims and deserve better by working under you.” After hearing that Nobunaga sighs heavily and looks upward, towards the tall ceiling of the throne room:
”I have you take the family name of Tsuda, who are relatives to Oda-clan. I have you swear wealthy to the main Oda house and I leave the physical punishment to Saru and Machiyo. Make good use of that fan.” I really didn't understand what she meant about the fan part, but she wiped her tears and smiled very brightly, while looking at me. It made me feel like I've finally managed to show a part of myself and what I can do to all the people in here. Thank you, Sana-chan, I hope you're already better when I get home so I can tell you about all this!
After this I and Nagahide-sama took Nobuyuki with us and I gave the fan back. It seems that the fan was familiar to Nobunaga-dono from her youth, at least that's what I could guess after seeing her reaction during the hearing and feeling pity towards tiny Nobuyuki-dono, who after about fifteen minutes left the room holding her buttocks and tears in her eyes. I need to remind myself to never anger Nagahide-sama too much, even one slap from that fan looked painful.

I was about to leave the castle, when I heard Nobunaga-dono call me from behind:
”Saru, you have been a huge help this last week. I sincerely thank you, de gozaru.”
”It was nothing my lord, Sana-chan helped a lot with her plans.”
”I truly hope that she wakes up soon, the doctor doesn't know if there is much more he can do to make her feel any better.”
”I trust in Sana-chan, she will wake up very soon. And Goemon-chan is there with her, I have no reason to worry.”
”I admire the way you trust each other, maybe we can get to the same level of trust one day? De gozaru.”
”I already trust you and your judgement my lord, and if I ever see you stray from the path that paved that trust, I will be sure to pull you back, just like today!” I say with my voice full of pride and Nobunaga laughs, such a serene voice, I could listen to that for eternity.
But why has she reverted back to using ”De gozaru” again, that's a mystery.
”Do you have anything you wish Saru?” She asks me, smiling.
”Not really my lord, if something I would like to have a family as both my parents have already died and I do not have siblings.” I kind of blurt out, maybe I am bit jealous to Nobunaga-dono and after seeing how much she cared for her imouto.
”Yeah, I really would like an imouto of my own.” I say longingly, without even really meaning it, to which Nobunaga-dono replies: ”De gozaru, I see.” Gives me last smile, and urges me to leave to Sana-chan. I truly feel confused and embarassed because I went and blurted out such nonsense.

I am happy that Nobunaga-dono praised me, and when I get back home I see even more things that make me even more joyful. Sana-chan has woken up and is now sitting down, chatting with Goemon-chan who is happily nibbling away on mochi, again I can't but wonder about that girls age.
”Oh, welcome back Toukichirou, what an eventful week it has been I assume?” She doesn't smile any differently than usual, she replies like she'd just been here normally waiting for me to return and not writhing in pain in bed. It is kind of a surreal to think her act that way, but I do not pay it not much attention. I just go at her, give her a chop on top of head and then hug her tightly:
”What's with you collapsing all the time and making people worry? Don't you think that we have nothing better to do than look after you?” I say and grin. It is good to have her back. She looks confused and returns my smile, after which I get my own head knocked by a ladle and then I and Goemon-chan get scolded by going through her stuff without asking for a permission. It isn't very convincing when she is smiling the way she is while giving us a lecture I think.
I look outside the window, full moon is rising up, it seems that I was at the castle until quite late.

After Toukichirou returned from the castle, I felt happy that everything went over quite smoothly. I never expected Nobunaga to give Nobuyuki spanking as a punishment. Nagahide-san also sounds quite a sadist when I was listening to Toukichirous explanation on how the punishment went. I think I got shivers of some sort, I do not want to make Nagahide-san angry.
After chatting for a while and having a late meal, we decided to take a bath as the water was already heated up for today. The bathtime went over the usual antics of me trying to protect Goemon from the assaults of Toukichirou who was ”running out of her Goemon-energy.” I gave her a chop on top of a head and she quieted down. When we finally went to bed, I could've sworn that the futons were moved closer together. Well, no matter.
From my futon I glanced out of the window, it looked to be around midnight with full moon pretty much on its peak. The light was flowing in from the window and when Goemon and Toukichirou crawled under their futons, I felt that both of them had grabbed my hands each side. It was actually kind of uncomfortble to lie on my back, without being able to move my arms, but I allowed it. Apparently I've been asleep for around a week and they must've felt like I never get up again. If it is just this one night it is fine.
Now that I think of it, hasn't it been around month since I first came to this era?
After this, I black out.

Present day, Japan, Kyoto

”Hey call an ambulance!”
”There are people here!”
”They do look unconcious, have they drank too much?”
”They do look underage though.”
”What's with their clothes? Cosplay⁸?”
”Where is that ambulance?”

After I woke up, it didn't feel like I was sleeping on a futon, when I was moving around I could hear something like paper moving under me. I also was able to smell chlorine and disinfectants, a hospital? Something was not right.
My eyes pretty much open instantly and I notice that I am at modern hospital room, I can see electric lights, I am sleeping in electrically controlled hospital bed and there is an TV above me. There are all kinds of wires taped on my body and I have a tube going in my arm. After being away from all the electric marvels for month, I'd think it would be easy to return to present day, but now I just have questions popping in my head: ”How I got back here and why am I in the hospital?” Is the first one that pops in my head, but it is quickly replaced by desperation and I pretty much shout: ”Toukichirou? Goemon-chan? Are you here?” it takes about two seconds for a nurse to get in from behind the curtain around my bed and start asking questions, but I didn't care. I wanted answers and make sure that I really returned alone, the thought actually stung fairly hard. The nurse took hold of my shoulders as I was trying to stand up to go and check the place out, in my mind I was calling for my friends who've been with me for the last month to answer me, the sudden emptiness when they were just holding my hands when falling asleep last night hurt so bad, I felt my eyes moisten and throat dry out. The nurse was still going on about something, but then I heard a familiar tone behind all the noise around me:
”Can you please calm down so I don't have to knock you down?”
”Itori-dono, we're both here, nin~.” I seem to have forgotten how to breath as the nurse was finally able to ease me back to the bed. When I got my glasses back on my head and saw awkwardly smiling nurse trying to calm me down and saying that I should settle down and that my friends were both ok.

It took about fifteen minutes for the hospital staff to decide that I had calmed down enough, they opened the curtain to both sides of my bed and here were two girls from Sengoku-period donned in hospital gowns with open backs and having same kinds of electrodes stuck in them as I did. They both seemed confused, but unharmed. They also seemed like they didn't dare to move because of the weird situation they were in, but after seeing me they smiled and Toukichirou said something about looking like we were attacked by an octopus with very thin tentacles. At some point a doctor came to check my condition and told that for some reason police was here to ask me some questions and about an hour later, after we got some food in front of us couple of detectives approached my bed I was lying down. Toukichirou and Goemon had fallen asleep so I didn't dare wake them up. The information overload must have been quite severe, I had to make sure to ease them in this world as it seems that they were pulled here with me.

”Itori Sana-kun, I assume? How do you fare, do you think you could answer to couple of questions for us?” Said a pleasant looking plump detective who first talked to me and introduced himself as Detective Date Koujirou.
”But you can call me ”Washi” like everyone at the prefecture do.” He said and laughed merrily, for some reason this guy reminded me of Santa Claus. He didn't seem like he had any ill will, so I nodded.
”People have been worried you know, apparently your school staff has been in a minor panic for the last month and your parents have been looking you with dogs and cats and eagles⁹ in this case.” He laughed again at his own joke.
I could go with the ”I lost my memory” -thing again, but I doubt that'll work at this point so I took the reckless approach and:
”I got sent to Sengoku-era Japan and have been living there for the last month.” The detectives looked worried and scribbled something down.
”I see.” Said Washi, he didn't look like he believed me, I don't blame him.
”Can you tell me who these two who were with you when you were found are then?” asked the young female detective who accompanied Washi.
”Kinoshita Toukichirou and Ichikawa Goemon, I've been living with them for this last month..” they again seemed really confused and scribbled something down.
I saw no reason to lie, but I also knew that there was no way they'd believe me, so I chose the route which had less likely not too troublesome outcome, at worst they'd have a doctor to take a look at my mental state and that's about it.
”So, where are these two from? Where did you stay?” asked Washi.
”Close to Nagoya castle, we had a small house arranged for us.”
”By whom?”
”Oda Nobunaga.” This time they didn't even try to hide their disbelief, sighed and finally said.
”We would like to do some tests to you with the help of these doctors here, have you done any hard drugs or drank alcohol lately?”
”Nope, not to my knowledge.”
”Do you have anything against testing those? If you're not lying then there is no need to deny the test, right?” Washi said, smiling and having the jolly feeling flow out of him towards me. He was just worried. Also the suspicion of drugs or alcohol wasn't too surprising. I accepted to take the tests.
After this they asked doctors to wake my two friends up so they could question them but the nurses denied detectives saying that those two were incredibly exhausted and haven't had anything to eat yet so they could come back next day if they still wanted to ask questions.
Washi nodded and smiled warmly back at me. I was happy that I wasn't instantly carried to a room with padded walls and relaxed a bit.
”Itori-kun, if you remember anything else, please tell it to doctors. We will come back tomorrow to check on you guys too so we can chat even then if you feel like it.” He waved his hand and the detectives left hospital. I inqured the doctors about my stuff, apparently my bag was found close by so they gave it to me. I checked its contents and nothing seemed to be missing. Also some stuff like the tea set we had in our lodgings and Sengoku-era money were scattered about, some of the cups were broken but the ambulance staff had still collected them with them. Apparently weapons of Goemon and Toukichirou were also close by, but those were with the police. I just hoped that we wouldn't get into a trouble because of those. All in all, stuff from the room we were in was pulled in with us. I still wasn't able to make any sense in the logic behind me coming back here, nor how I got to Sengoku-era in the first place. Well, we'd discuss about it with Toukichirou and Goemon when we got out of here.

I took a nap and later people from my school, like classmates and even some teachers visited me. They seemed really glad that I was safe and sound. Toukichirou and Goemon woke up at some point and rather than shocked about the new situation were incredibly curious about everything, they asked questions from everyone from nurses to my visitors and espicially Toukichirou was asking to get to eat more of hospital food, nurses were happy that both of them were so energetic. Later that evening my parents arrived and pretty much the moment they saw me, mom throw herself at me, weeping and repeating how happy she was about my safety. My father also seemed happy and when I introduced Toukichirou and Goemon he muttered under his breath about his dissatisfaction of the parents who name the young girls as Sengoku warlords, such ungirly names. But he seemed to accept both of them and my parents showered them in thanks for looking after me while I had disappeared. They really didn't know how to answer, but looked happy about being praised.

My parents didn't really ask any questions about where I had been or what had happened to me, they just wanted to take me back home as quickly as possible. I told them about Toukichirou and Goemon not being able to return to home and that I would like for them to be able to live with us until something else was figured out.
”Care to explain the situation then?” Asked my father, and surprisingly it was Goemon who opened her mouth first:
”We come from Nagoya, but that's all we remember, nin~.”
That was the same cover-up story about losing their memory that I used when I arrived, well if anyone was able to keep a poker face with a lie like that, it would be Goemon and Toukichirou, just brushing everything away with a smile it was hard to argue against them.
”Yeah oyaji¹⁰, maybe there are already missing person search going on in Nagoya, so could they stay with us until that is resolved. I would feel bad for them to get carried into an orphanage or something. Plus they are really close to me, I wouldn't want to separate from them. You can ask the nurses how I acted when I first woke up in here.”
”Yeah, she was about to roll over the doctor trying to clam her down.” Said Toukichirou giggling. Even my mother looked worried.
”Dear, if they really do not remember about their families, maybe we should let them stay over. They also seem to treasure Sana and they looked after her when she was missing. I feel like it is the least we could do to pay them back.” My heart made a backflip, thank you very much mom! Dad chuckled:
”Well, when it four pretty ladies against just one old me I guess there is nothing much I can say. I talk to doctors about this and I am sure everything will turn out just fine.” Well, that was that dealt with, now to figure out when we get out of here and how to deal with the information overload that is waiting for these two Sengoku-era girls when they step out of their beds. Luckily they asked so many questions about totally normal things that their story about losing their memories really seemed to go through everyone. I guess it is easier for me to look back than for them to look forward when it comes to things like these.

We chatted with my parents for couple of hours before they left, doctors wanted to keep us here until tomorrow because the detectives were going to visit and they wanted to do the drug tests and such, so my parents left and we were finally alone.
Goemon was first to speak.
”Itori-sama, where is this? I've gotten some answers from people around me, but I still find it hard to believe, nin~.”
”Well, apparently this happened before I was able to tell you the truth. Welcome to 450 years into future and to Kyoto.” Goemon looked shocked and Toukichirou laughed.
”Well, if you traveled back in time, I guess it is our turn to travel into future. Still, how did this happen?”
”Beats me, I am just as clueless as when I arrived to your time.”
”Itori-dono is from the future? No wonder she knew so much! This is exciting, nin~nin~!”
”You two seem way less shocked than I expected you to, aren't you worried that you won't get back?” I laughed at their reactions, but still asked the question I felt like needed to be asked.
”You know, situations like these just don't happen. And if we got here, there must be a way to get back. And Sana-chan is here with us, if we'd pop in here alone I guess the story would be different, but we have someone we know and who we trust with us here, there is no need to worry.” Toukichirou grinned from a bed next to me, I smiled back. What a positively thinking miracle this girl is, people should take couple of pages from her book.
”Even if this is hard to believe, I must, because all this is happening in front of my eyes, nin~. And I already vowed to follow Itori-dono and Kinoshita-dono to the ends of the earth, so going to future isn't a big deal, nin~nin~!” added Goemon and smiled too. I wanted to hug both of them, I felt blessed.
”But these little tentacle-like things are inconvenient. I feel like I haven't moved my body at all.” Said Toukichirou while examining her body. She had already asked about them earlier from the nurses and they said that it is ok to move as long as she doesn't disconnect them, but apparently she felt still unsure about this whole ”disconnecting” thing and decided to stay as still as possible. I showed her that you can pretty much move freely, even though the cords will get in your way every now and then. She seemed relieved.
”I want to see future Japan, nin~!” Said Goemon and looked like she was about to leap off the bed, I told her to stay put as we'd get into trouble if we just ran off from the hospital, we'd get out next day and I'd teach them things. Goemon started pouting and said that she needed to move her body or she'd wither, I laughed.

It already was late and even though the two young samurai had been sleeping for most of the day, they spent so much energy in exploring their bedside and talking to people that they quickly nodded off. I also, even after taking a nap earlier felt tired. But I was trying to piece together things about this thing that happened to me, apparently time still was going on in present day while I was at Sengoku-era, meaning that I was a missing person for a month, so that means that time will probably keep going back there also. That could be a problem because thanks to me, history in that world had already been messed up for quite a bit, well not much I can do to it now.
Second, I was there for about a month and got transferred at the night of full moon, but when I got there I remember it being midday in present day, so I don't think moon phases have anything to do with this, so other than the time period of ”month” tied together me being here and there. I need to keep that in the back of my head. Third, stuff in the room we were got pretty much all transferred here. But when I got sent to Sengoku-era, only my bag was with me. To my knowledge no other people got there with me.
The more I thought about this the more confused I got and it made my head hurt. I'll have to take some paper and pencils and try to fit all the pieces together when I get home.
After these thoughts I closed my eyes and fell properly asleep for the first time after returning to present day.

Sengoku-era, Japan, Nagoya Castle

”Lord Nobunaga, there is a messenger from Atsuta-shrine head priestess, apparently it is something very important.” One of the guards told me this when I was preparing to sleep after the day. It is unusual for a messenger to arrive this late and even more so for it to come from the head priestess of Atsuta-shrine. I return to the throne room and receive the courier.

”To the daughter of Oda
Please leave for Atsuta-shrine as soon as possible, I have something important to talk about. It concerns your dream of unification and your new retainers.
You will be denied much if you won't reply. It is about your future as well as the future of your retainers.”

I do not believe in Gods or Buddhas, but I still respect the world of one in such high position, I inform Machiyo and Riku about the contents of the letter and we head out with night covering our trip. Machiyo told that she had a bad feeling about this, seeing how neither Saru nor Inuchiyo weren't present today in the meetings. Maybe Inuchiyo had gotten so ill that she won't wake up again? That truly worried me. I urged the horse to run faster.

Present day, Japan, Kyoto

Even when hospital beds tend to be uncomfortble, after sleeping month on just a futon I felt like I had been floating on top of clouds after I woke up. Toukichirou and Goemon were already up and they had the monitoring equipment taken off them. Goemon had tears in the corners of her eyes when she greeted me after I sit up:
”That was horrible, nin~! It really hurt when they took those off!” She looked even more like an elementary schooler after her first injection, but at least they were able to walk around now, not that either of them had left the bed yet. I pressed the nurse call button that was located at the back of my bed and a nurse came pretty much immediately and after checking something from her notes, she also took the cords off me. Yeah, ripping the glued electrodes of hurt and they left red marks all over my body. Only Toukichirou seemed fine.
”That felt like peeling leeches¹¹ of your skin after they started sucking your blood, did those things have similar purpose?” I sighed and ignored her. Then I suggested we'd take a stroll and get something to eat, both of them agreed heartily. They clearly wanted to see more.
We were given slippers and I started guiding my companions towards the hospital cafeteria.
I had been here couple of times before, mostly for general checkups. This hospital wasn't too far from my place so it would've not been hard to do some exploring outside the place, but because we were to expect the detectives to return and I still had tests to do, it probably would've been a bad idea to just disappear from the hospital.
Goemon and Toukichirou were like sponges, they absorbed and saved every sight, sound and smell in their brains and especially Toukichirou stopped frequently to chat with nurses and patients who welcomed the energetic young girls chats to cheer their morning up.
It was about fifteen minutes of exploring later until we got to the cafeteria, and this time both of them gasped from surprise. The scents were so much different than what Sengoku-era had and they probably had no idea how everything worked. It was little bit troublesome to try and explain how the food tickets¹² that the nurses gave us worked and then they spent way longer than any normal person just deciding what they wanted to eat. While they were deciding I noticed couple of familiar faces: The detectives were at the cafeteria with cups of coffee in front of them, I waved towards the two and Washi answered with a hearty smile and beckoning us to join them.

When we finally had some bread and juice, we joined the detectives Toukichirou and Goemon introduced themselves and were way too polite, which made me feel awkward, but Washi and the other detective just laughed it off as kids being energetic. They then asked Toukichirou and Goemon the same questions and when Washi heard their names from themselves he furrowed his brow and had pretty much the same pitying reaction as my oyaji had. That made me smile.
In the end even they accepted to take the drug tests, even though they didn't really have any idea why and what those were, but after Washis explanation and their meek expression after hearing about urine samples they decided to drop the subject and accept their fates. Afterwards I told Washi about taking the two in to my place until their situation clears up and apparently Washis superiors had already sent a word to Nagoya branch office to inquire about two missing kids in the area. Of course there weren't any with their names, but that's just what I wanted.
”Well, I am sure their names pop up somewhere. They're quite unique after all!” Washi laughed his hearty laugh and patted the shoulder of Toukichirou who was sitting next to him.

Later afternoon were the drug tests, we got our blood samples taken, both which horrified Goemon and Toukichirou and they really didn't know how to react about their blood being taken. I took a chance and used leeches as an excuse.
Then came the urine samples that actually went fairly well, outside of Toukichirou and Goemon looking really embarassed afterwards, I told them that in modern day those are just normal procedures and only trained doctors saw those, so there was no need for such a feeling.

After the tests were over, my parents came to pick us up, Goemon was again like an elementary schooler heading to class trip and Toukichirou was surprisingly meek when she was with my parents. Was she not good with adults or was there something else behind that? Now that I think about it I do not know much about her family.
Apparently my parents didn't come by car, not surprising as the hospital is close to my place. This was also a good chance to explain the common things like nowadays, like transit and architecture.
First time we arrived outside, Goemon who was chattering away this whole time immediately shut up and Toukichirou looked astonished. Again, not too surprising. Everywhere you looked were tall business skyscrapers and concrete buildings. Even the hospital was quite large. There were cars parked everywhere and even planes which left from Kyoto international airport were seen flying overhead. Goemon grabbed into my hand and Toukichirou for some reason got closer to my mother, who gently pet her head. I had into changed my school uniform I had with me, Goemon still had my shirt on and Toukichirou was wearing her yukata.
”You know, I think you two could use some clothes.” Said my mother, she truly is a great person. Always thinking of others, no matter what the situation.

With all said and done, we started walking towards a shopping mall close by and while walking I explained to both of them about stuff we had seen. I used the classic ”horseless carriage” explanation about cars and promised to show that they weren't dangerous at some point, I thaught them about how to move in a city so they do not get overrun and other basic stuff like that. I didn't want to have them take in too much information in a short period, so after making sure they won't die by randomly running in the middle of a highway I turned the conversation to a small talk with my parents and them. Goemon, still holding on my hand didn't look like she was only two years younger than I and Toukichirou walking quietly next to my mother was a scene I never expected to witness. My father chuckled:
”You know, if you have Sana teach you about all the normal things again your memory may never return, that girl is such an airhead some times that she'd forget her head home if it wasn't stuck on top of her neck.” I pouted at that, ”baka¹³ oyaji~.” I replied and everyone laughed, my father was always so good at making the mood less tense in situations like these. Even Toukichirou started asking questions from my mother and Goemon, acting like an elementary schooler again rand ahead of us for couple of steps.

We arrived at the shopping mall, and needless to say Toukichirou and Goemon were again speechless, it didn't take too long to get used to their cluelessness and even my parents started to teach them things so that I didn't have to bear the brunt of the load. Goemon again appeared next to me and we followed my parents to a clothing store at the first floor. That took quite a while because of the flood of the questions two Sengoku-era girls kept asking and wanting to check everything out, but once inside they were like kids in a candy store, going from clothing rack to another, I stayed with my father near the entrance and my mom went to help them choose outfits for themselves.
”Quite an energetic bunch are they?” he chuckled, ”they almost feel like you suddenly got sisters, I think your mom got the same vibes from them.” I smiled, only my father would use a word like vibes nowadays, he is so embarrassing.
”I think of them as family, we were together for the last month you know.”
”I think that is a long story, so we probably shouldn't talk about it right now, lets just get you three settled back to normal life first, then we can take all the time we need to discuss what happened to you.” He seemed worried, but I really appreciated the thought. I leaned on my fathers shoulder and sincerely thanked him.
”Whoa, where did that come from?” My dad chuckled again and pet my head, I missed my father so much. I couldn't help but cry silently. I am sure my father noticed that as he kept caressing my head and talking calmly about all the things we would do after we got home and returned to normal life. The thought made me happy, I wanted to include Toukichirou and Goemon to that life too, but I knew that they did not belong here and I had to figure out some way to return them to their time, but for now, let's enjoy it all we can! That's what I decided.

It took a while, but finally my two friends had chosen the outfits of their liking. I expected Toukichirou to go wild with colors, but she had a grey tank top and white skirt and a plain denim jacket, but surprisingly it suited this new meek Toukichirou quite well, she had became this classic ”class representative” -character you see in manga, it was actually quite funny. Goemon on the other hand had pretty much the same t-shirt on as she had before, but now it was the correct size and she had some shorts to go with it. I couldn't help to think that mom deliberately made her look even more like an elementary schooler. But what surprised me the most was how happy both of them looked, they were pretty much radiating in their new outfits and my mom beamed at them.
”Such sweet girls, I kept insisting that they'd wear something flashier as they're so pretty, but they said they liked what they have on now so what was I to say to that.” said Mom and the two in question blushed.
”These feel easy to move in.” Said Toukichirou and I smiled, yeah, you can't rid a tiger from its stripes. Still going for practicality.
”I liked the clothes Itori-dono was wearing, I wanted something similar, nin~.” Said Goemon, it warmed my heart to be looked up as some kind of role model. I also blushed a bit because of what Goemon said and my father laughed: ”So you are ”Itori-dono” now, so would your highness want some ice cream or something to celebrate your release from the clutches of the doctors?” I laughed and hit my father on arm.

We stopped at an ice cream parlor next door to our apartment, my two friends had never had ice cream so they were extatic about the sweetness and gobbled their portions down without a second thought, which caused me some wicked joy as they got a minor headache from eating something so cold so fast and I was able to tease them because of that.
Afterwards we arrived to front of the apartment complex I lived in. It was a higher-middle class building with ten floors and we lived on the eight one. My family wasn't too poor so we were able to live fairly comfortably. My father was the one who hooked me on tinkering, he did some robotics stuff that I wasn't too sure about, but every time he got a job it paid fairly well. He also taught me how to make lights flash with circuit boards and such and thus it became my hobby very early on and I plan to follow my father when I finish schooling, my mother teaches history in university and is pretty much just as big Sengoku-era geek as I am, we always compete with our little collections of figures and little trinkets, I find it really fun and enjoyable.
But yeah, when we arrived and went inside the first thing Toukichirou asked was something about buildings standing up so tall and it took father a good five minutes of explaining before she was satisfied. Second period of explanation came when we had to get on the elevator and Goemon didn't feel safe in a small metal box, but she calmed down after being explained everything by me and my mother.

”Well, until your situation clears up, I guess we can say: Welcome home.” said my father, chuckling while holding the door to our apartment open. It was spacious middle-class apartment with two bedrooms, a guest room, livingroom, kitchen and a bathroom with a tub. It also had a balcony overlooking the city. Oyaji immediately went to set the guest room to be suitable for our two new residents and mom started bustling in the kitchen for dinner. Goemon and Toukichirou started exploring the house and I sat on the livingroom sofa and sighed. I missed home and I am glad to be back, but I also have the feeling that I want to go back to Sengoku-era as there is so much that I feel like needs to be done. I wasn't even say goodbyes to Nagahide-san or Nobunaga-dono and I wanted to try to make a living in that era and so many other things. But isn't it still better to be back, I wonder?
I still am really glad the two that came with me were able to adapt into their situation fairly well. Of course there will be questions and problems coming on to line, but we will deal with them later. I also think I should at least try to explain the situation to my parents at some point, they may not believe me, but if Toukichirou and Goemon are with me it may have some effect.

Later we ate some beef stew my mother had made. Goemon and Toukichirou were extatic about the flavours that were so expensive at their times that they just kept asking for more. The scene made me happy and I couldn't help but smile. My dad noticed that and said:
”It's been a while since you've had a smile this sincere on your face.” He then smiled and announced while raising his glass, ”welcome home you three! Now, eat as much as you can, moms beef stew is the best!”
And so, the evening went on, I taught both of them about television and we chatted for a while while watching some movies before mom urged us to go to bed. I went to guest room with the two of them and laughed at their reaction of an actual bed. Compared to hospitals own, which already was an improvement of just futon, this must've felt way more luxurious than what they never imagined being able to use. And while sitting at the edge of the bed and chatting with my two friends, it was truly hard to believe that one of them was a future unifier of Japan and another one was a ninja running away from her clan and possibly assassinating the former. I stood up, smiling and said the good nights and went to my own room. It was pretty much just as I remembered it being, nothing had been touched except that my mom apparently has been keeping it clean. Well, I wasn't able to give that much thought because as soon as my head hit my pillow, I drifted to a sweet slumber, I truly had missed this feeling.

Sengoku-era, Japan, Atsuta-shrine

”Nobunaga-sama, wait a moment!” Riku called from behind me, I had arrived at the shrine and they were still a bit behind me, I didn't feel like waiting, that letter was really ominous and I wanted answers, but it would be bad if I went in alone in case of a trap. So I climbed down from the horse and waited for Riku and Machiyo to do the same, after which we walked through the shrine gates. Pretty much right after that a miko approached us, urging us to follow. She was very quick on her feet, we were almost running after her and when we arrived at the large ceremony room at the back of the shrine, a voice came from somewhere:
”This may take a while, I suggest you sit down and have some tea, daughter of Oda and her retainers.”
And thus begun the night that I expected to leave with more questions than answers. Even Machiyo, who usually was so level headed looked troubled. I truly have no idea what this is about and I hope my worries are for naught.

Writers notes:

1. I am quite sure you've heard about Munch before. He is a Norwegian painter born in 1863 and his most well known painting is ”The Scream” (1893)
2. Toukichirou coming from a farmer family was never taught the proper etiquette required to do any actual presentation of herself or her people. That was actually quite common back in the day.
   
3. The kanji (Japanese writing method where one symbol stands for a whole word. Unlike hiragana and katakana you use like alphabet, kanji is used with them to make sentences cleaner and shorter.) Sana uses in her notes include some terms that make sense to us in the modern terminology, but are hard to understand back in Sengoku-era. It may be hard to understand via English text, but that's the gist.
   
4. Aneue = very polite way to refer big sister
   
5. Little sister
   
6. Style of sitting that is seen very polite. You sit on your shins, in my experience it gets very painful if you do it for long periods at once and your legs tend to fall asleep. A big problem when doing stuff like playing go or shogi (board games that require you to do so) or drinking tea in official servings. Criminals also were made to sit in seiza to show respect to the one who is judging them. As a side note, sitting cross legged or changing your position while sitting on seiza is seen as extremely impolite.
   
7. Back in the day if you were made to perform seppuku, you were to wear white clothes. It has something to do with the amount and color of the blood it gets stained with, but I actually wasn't able to find much about the reason itself. That's just how those things worked back in the day.
   
8. Costume play, you dress up as an anime, game or movie character. Often seen in conventions and other such events. People tend to take this very seriously. I respect cosplayers greatly. The amount of dedication they put to their hobby is kind of amazing!
   
9. He made a pun of his nickname. Washi (鷲) stands for eagle.
   
10. Oyaji stands for ”old man”, but is used for overly familiar way of talking to your father or someone in the similar status.
    
11. Refers to way of treating illnesses by having leeches suck the blood from the infected area. I am not sure if there actually are any records of this working, but it is still being done in some beauty salons and such.
    
12. In some schools you buy a bundle of lunch tickets at the start of the year and use those in exchange for lunch.
    
13. Baka stands for ”an idiot”, but in this context it is used as affectionate and teasing way, closer to ”You jerk” or something like that. Man, Sana and her father have such a close relationship, I am jealous!
    

Afterword:

Man, this was probably my favourite chapter to write. I was waiting so much to actually be able to bring our heroine back to the future (Haha! Here we could make a pun about certain movies, but let's skip that!). I played with multiple different scenarios and thought a lot who to bring with her and ended up with Toukichirou and Goemon, I was planning to keep them in Sengoku-era for a while longer and stick them with another character that I have yet to introduce, but she'll have to wait. I've been writing chapter 5 all this time and I have to say, it is REALLY hard to write about the current time period and make it interesting. Even with guests from the past it is hard to just go ”Yeah, I need to explain all the normal things to them.” all the time and I kinda fell to that. I will try and mix little illogicalities to the scenes where we are not in Sengoku-era, so bear with me! I try my hardest to figure things out as I go and try to bring my vision to daylight!
Well, that's about that. I had a blast writing this one and I hope you enjoy it too!



Now a bit about how I will be working with these chapters. When fixing C1 I noticed that it is actually incredibly hard for me to work with multiple files at once. I am quite proud of my skills of multitasking, but for some reason reading multiple things that are almost identical to each other just messes with my head, so it has been very slow. Because of that I will keep releasing these ”raw” and non-proofread versions to blog as I write them and keep fixing the old chapters as I finish with the proofread versions and fix all the errors my proofreaders point out. I think that'll help me as a writer and you guys can get the chapters in more rapid pace as you don't have to wait for me to fumble through my own text.
Maybe at some point I actually get used to working like that and I can start releasing fixed chapters the moment they arrive in my email, but for now: Let's do it this way!



Oh yeah, we do have a twitter account now! It is kind of barebones at the moment because I haven't dared to ask my illustrators for twitter avatars and such because of the workload I want to deal with first, but I will be announcing new chapters and everything else related to the novel in there! So go and check @SengokuAndBack at twitter if you want to keep in touch! Don't worry, the egg will hatch sooner rather than later.



Now, 'till the next time!



Kim