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"Interrogation"

part 2: Kasugayama Route Ikemen Sengoku (Dec. 2019) See Masterlist Characters: Kenshin, Yukimura, Sasuke, Hideyoshi, and Mai Disclaimer: Ikemen Sengoku Characters belong to Cybird Word Count: 2300 WARNINGS: May contain violence, hostage and abuse triggering content, and other mature content. 18+

“Sasuke. Please explain why this woman is in Azuchi after you helped her the night of Honno-ji.” Kenshin spoke decisively but didn’t even spare a glance for his ninja. Instead he watched Mai like a cat observing a rodent.

“Lord Kenshin, this is Mai. She was on a pilgrimage to Azuchi because she has a job working for a warrior family here.”

“Working for a warrior family or joining them?” Yuki snarked.

“I said I was sorry Yuki. I seriously-“

“If you think I’m going to forgive your tendency of tackling and attacking people, boar woman, you’ve-”

“Call me that one more time and I’ll kick you and mean it!” She warned.

“I’d like to see you try it.” Yuki glared.

“Yukimura it is usually protocol to remember someone’s name especially if a friend of yours introduces them to you. Isn’t that right Lord Kenshin?”

“Why would I bother to remember the name of a suspicious woman when I can just kill her?” Kenshin asked his cold eyes holding her captive.

“There will be no killing my friend either, Lord Kenshin!” Sasuke intervened actually moving to stand between her and his liege lord. Obviously he seemed the more viable threat in Sasuke’s eyes. “Mai is my friend. She speaks a similar dialect as I do and we discovered we come from the same region. I’ve been trying to help her settle in here. She’s been kind enough not to say anything about us sneaking around enemy territory. She has my trust and Yuki’s also. Right Yuki?”

“I trust her mouth if not her feet.” Yuki admitted.

“I said I was sorry.” Mai sighed. “Seriously, two ronin just tried to beat a guy up. Things like that don’t usually happen on my lunch break! All my self-defense instincts are on overload.”

“She speaks the truth.” Kenshin said but he still seemed skeptical. “Very well. Swear on your life that you will not betray us to Lord Nobunaga or any of his subordinates. If you break your vow your life will be forfeit to me.”

Mai gasped. Her life? Man these guys took promises seriously. She glanced at Sasuke who seemed at a loss for what to say to his sword-happy liege.

Suddenly Kenshin’s sword was at her throat. “Your oath, woman, or I take your head.”

She stared into those ice cold eyes. One green one blue yet both otherworldly.

“Lord Kenshin-” Sasuke started to object.

“I swear I will not betray you.” She spoke the words he asked for and she meant them. She had no intention of betraying Sasuke or the other’s to the Oda forces. It wasn’t her place to start the war prematurely. Also having war break out in the middle of Azuchi would have consequences she did not want to think about. .“I won’t reveal that you were in Azuchi. Not to your enemies or anyone else.”

“Very well.” Kenshin sheathed his sword. “Sasuke I’ll be at your safe house. See to her arm before sending her away.”

With that Kenshin disappeared around the corner into the streets. Mai couldn’t help a relieved sigh.

That was one warlord who was far too sword happy for her liking.

“I’m sorry Mai.” Sasuke spoke sheepishly, “I’ve tried to convince him that threatening the lives of strangers does not leave a good impression.”

“Threatening the lives of allies doesn’t either yet he continues to do it on a regular basis.” Yuki grimaced as he got to his feet. “As pleasant as this visit has been, boar woman, I think I’m going to take my leave.”

She glared at him. Then she noticed the weary sigh that escaped Sasuke and decided to cut her favorite ninja a break. “I really am sorry Yuki. I need to head home for today but some other time could I please treat you to lunch or something as an apology? I really really did not mean to attack you on the second day I’ve known you.”

Yuki paused his departure and glanced at Sasuke who shrugged.

“Fine. Meet me tomorrow at mid-day at my booth. The afternoons are usually slow anyway.”

“Ok! I’ll be there!” She sighed with relief.

“No kicking anyone though. Got it?”

“I swear! I will take the entire day off from kicking people.”

“Good. See you later Sasuke.”

With that Yukimura disappeared down the ally. Sasuke drew closer and lifted her injured arm to inspect it.

Oh yeah, Kenshin ordered him to do this. She hadn’t expected Kenshin to recall she was injured during that scuffle. That he would ask his own ninja to check on her, however, was almost as confusing as the rest of the experience. “It looks like the muscles have been strained but nothing serious. It will likely bother you for several days however. I’d rest it as much as possible so it can heal properly.”

After that observation Sasuke took out a salve to apply to the swollen part of her wrist and elbow.

“Thank you for helping me Sasuke.”

“After my liege lord threatened to kill you? It’s the least I can do. I really am sorry about him. He isn’t normally so-”

“Stabby?”

“Aggressive. At least not when it comes to women. Usually he acts like they are invisible or interacts with them as little as humanly possible.”

“He doesn’t like women?” She asked.

“More like he doesn’t acknowledge their existence. So that he noticed you and remembered who you were?” Sasuke shrugged, “I’m just really surprised.”

“Sasuke…are you safe working for Kenshin?” She asked hesitantly. She felt like she was trying to offer an abuse victim an opportunity to ask for help.

“Safe wouldn’t be the term I’d use. However, despite the impression he just gave you Kenshin is actually very strict as far as his code of ethics. He would never act dishonorably towards a subordinate. Also, he would never intentionally harm someone weaker than himself outside of battle. He does often express affection in odd ways. However, I wouldn’t be the ninja I am today without him.”

Despite his tranquil demeaner Sasuke spoke rather emphatically of his Lord’s good qualities. Someone who had earned Sasuke’s trust had to have his good points-right? Mai decided if she ever ran into Kenshin again she’d make an effort to not set him off. Hopefully then she might see some of the better points Sasuke saw in him.

After Sasuke walked her back to the outskirts of the castle Mai hurried inside. Hideyoshi was expecting her to return with the special candy he had asked her to pick up as a surprise for Lord Nobunaga.

Hideyoshi’s dark expression, however, was not the greeting she had hoped for.

“I take it I’m late?”

“Not just late, Mai, I’d say especially late. It is nearly dark and you left before lunchtime.” Hideyoshi scolded her. “I don’t mind if you window shop a bit while you are out on an errand but making me worry something happened to you like this is unacceptable.”

“I am so sorry I worried you. I truly did not intend to take so long.” She even bowed to him apologetically. The last thing she needed was another warlord angry at her today. “Azuchi is so much larger than I realized and it took me much longer to get back than I though it would. I promise I will be much more conscientious about returning early enough not to worry you again.”

“Were you able to pickup Lord Nobunaga’s candy like I asked?” Hideyoshi seemed to accept the apology at least.

“I did! Here.” She handed over the bag of konpeito she’d found at the shop Hideyoshi had asked her to visit. “I was also able to find the sewing items I needed at the shop you told me about.”

“I’m glad to hear it. Now, I was wondering if you’d be interested in doing some repair work on a Haori Coat for Lord Nobunaga?”

“What?!” Mai was really surprised especially because Hideyoshi had still seemed so suspicious of her.

She’d been doing her best to earn her trust but if a poison needle were to show up in his coat Hideyoshi would be most likely to blame her! “Are you sure you trust me to do that?”

Hideyoshi actually laughed at her incredulous response. “Of course I would. It is a small repair and I felt it might give you an opportunity to show him some gratitude for giving you a place here in Azuchi.”

Mai blushed. She really hadn’t been able to show much gratitude to Lord Nobunaga. Well not in the way he expected her too. She’d dodged his attention whenever she could. He seemed to be reluctant to enjoy her company against her will and Mai was relieved about that. Still how do you show gratitude to a guy who gave you food shelter protection and a job?!

“I’d be grateful for the opportunity Hideyoshi. Please let me know if there is any thing else—er—sewing-wise I can do for Lord Nobunaga. I would be happy to express my gratitude to him in that manner.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Now get some rest. I’m sure you’ve had a long day. I left a tray of food in your room so you wouldn’t go hungry.”

“I-you did?”

“Well a spy can’t really be interrogated if she dies before I find out who she works for.”

Mai gasped. Did he really think that?!!

Hideyoshi’s laughter made her turn an even brighter red than before and she wanted to scamper off to her room to hide. Instead she braced herself and bowed to him again.

“You have been especially patient and accommodating Lord Hideyoshi. I am so sorry to be such a burden. If there is any way I can ever thank you—”

She broke off when Hideyoshi used his fingers to tip her chin upward prompting her to stand up straight.

“I appreciate the gratitude Mai, but there’s no need to bow to me. I’m happy to do it and I’d be happy just to hear you say thank you.”

She looked up into his handsome face and her heart seemed to be climbing up her throat making it difficult to speak. Seriously she’d been around way too many attractive warlords lately.

They did go into battle sometimes right? Shouldn’t they come home a little marred afterward or at least significantly less perfect? She thought of Lord Masamune’s eyepatch and the hallway immediately felt warmer. Okay even if Hideyoshi and the others lost a finger or an ear or something they’d still probably be outstandingly hot. It was a lost cause to wish that her heart could spend a few peaceful moments in the Sengoku Era not overacting to one handsome man or another.

“Thank you Lord Hideyoshi.” She said.

He smiled and she was once again reminded of why he was possibly the most eligible bachelor in Azuchi.

“You’re very welcome Mai. Here is the parcel with Lord Nobunaga’s coat. Just get it back to me when you’re finished ok?”

“Okay.”

“Goodnight!”

“Goodnight, Lord Hideyoshi.”

Mai watched him disappear down the hallway before heading for her room. Inside she found the food he had left for her and scarfed it down hungrily. She then opened the parcel that held Lord Nobunaga’s Haori to inspect what needed repaired.

She knew Hideyoshi meant what he said about her gratitude. For him a simple thank you was sufficient.

Yet she couldn’t help feeling like she somehow still wanted to show him she was grateful. So instead of going to bed she lit some extra candles and began to work on repairing the coat.

As she did Kenshin’s words from that afternoon came back to her.

"Don't cut yourself. The edges will be sharp."

She paused mid-stitch realizing how kind he had actually been to her. He had helped her pick up the pieces of the shattered bowl. Commanded Sasuke to check her arm—

Yet before all that he had saved her life.

Kenshin Uesugi had saved her.

What would have happened with those two ronin if he hadn’t intervened? She might have escaped, yes, but Kenshin had stopped them. She had only had the power to intervene. He had the power to change what was happening and chose too.

“I didn’t thank him. I didn’t even think…”

The realization stung and she was suddenly so angry with herself.

She continued sewing trying to come up with some way to express her gratitude to Kenshin for saving her. He didn’t like women so asking him to a tea house like she had Yuki would likely be more torturous than—

Yuki!! She was supposed to see Yuki tomorrow!!

Mai was suddenly very excited.

She could ask Yuki what she could do to thank lord Kenshin for saving her! Of course if he didn’t have any ideas she could always have him lead her to Sasuke and her ceiling ninja would certainly have a brilliant idea!

The idea made her especially happy and she began humming unconsciously as she continued to mend Lord Nobunaga’s coat.

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