A Talk About Family

Nora sat while leaning against entrance of her room wearing a white kimono with her hair down that faced the koi pond in the gardens. It had been a couple days since her her brutal attack but lucky she had survived thanks to the spring Oda brought her which turned out had healing properties so she was healing at a faster rate but still sore and somewhat weak.

Her memories of her attack where fuzzy and every time she tried remember who the perpetrator was it always come to blank like something was putting a block on it. Oda told her it was assassin of the clan that was the enemy's of his, The Matsudara clan but the blonde wasn't so sure if that was true but during the time they lived in it seemed everyone was becoming a enemy of everyone.

" Are you feeling well?" A familiar voice twirling the umbrella called to Nora.

The blonde turned to see her good friend Okuni walking over to her making her smile" A bit sore...but I'll live" she told her softly.

Nora then brought her gaze down to the wooden porch, she said she was Fine but in reality she was still quiet shaken about her the incident....she remembered the pain and the fear she felt.

Nora then brought her gaze back to the other girl who now sitting next to her" How have you been ?" she asked her changing the subject.

Besides the attack another thing has been lingering on Nora's mind for the last couple days and that was that the Demon Lord wanted to ask Empoper yo make her his wife and Lady Oda of the Oda clan, not only that but also he wanted her to give him childern. It was then the blonde saw just how deeply he felt for her, she saw his vulnerable side and when he told her about his parents and most immportantly his son.

"Will you be ready to have this burden placed on yourself? To Become a Daimyo's wife and progress his bloodline" Okuni spoke seriously staring at Nora hardening her gaze.

Nora eyes widened that Okuni knew about this information, making her close her eyes and sighed deeply. She couldn't really surprised do how informative her friend was and no doubt the others in the Oda clan will soon find out as well.

" I do admit I do have concerns Okuni...." Her eyes trailed to the koi pond she favored" But I believe if I do I might be able to calm his madness...I honestly do believe he does want what's best for his country but

the path he has chosen is cloaked in darkness and ruthless brutality" Nora said softly.

Okuni nodded understanding what she was explaining "I won't lie Nora, I can't support him any longer. Soon I'll be leaving to Izumo to finish a few duties that need me" she twirled her umbrella with a glint in her eye.

Nora nodded back to her" I understand...and I do t blame you...." Nora said quietly as she closed her eyes softly feeling tears run down them" Oh my God Okuni...I think...I think I've fallen in love with the devil..." Nora held back a sob with her hand as she bent over and lowered herself slowly too her knees.

" I-I know what he is...and see what's he done...but I love him..." she sobbed quietly" I don't know why...but I do..." she cried softly as her hands gripped her kimono tightly.

"Than if you do love him be his equal, be the opposite of what he is convince him to be human and if he does take over Japan be the ruling Emperess that the peasants want and show them not to be frightened by you or your retainer's" Okuni stood up taking Nora's hand squeezing it tight "You are stronger than you realize you just haven't found it yet" she smiled at the blonde woman.

Nora slowly smiled at this but then it quickly faded away when she thought about her attack" But not strong enough to fight off assassin apparently..." the blonde said depressiongly.

"That's because you didn't suspect it to happen assassin's can do that, assassin's are people who kill quiet this one was sloppy because he could've slit your throat and leave, but no he or she wanted to make you as a message to the Oda clan" she turned around.

"Nora you can't let one mistake take you apart you have to learn from it and remember your experiences it's how you survive and how you learn" Okuni glanced behind her smiling one more time leaving Nora inside the garden humming to herself.

Nora took what Okuni said to heart and walked around the garden deep in her thoughts but soon spotted Hideyoshi and this time he was a golden monkey again.

Nora became concerned at this and went over to the tree he was hanging out in " Why are you in this form?" she asked him.

"For not polishing the sandals enough" he mumbled turning his head away in shame, his tail twitch in anxiety "I'm not good enough" he spoke.

Nora frowned hard at this " That's not true" she told him sternly as she moved to the other side of the tree to look at him" I swear Nobunaga acts like a child most times" Nora grumbled in irritation.

" You are good enough Hideyoshi....probably one the most capable of Nobunaga soilders" Nora reassured him.

Nora gaze then softened a bit" I haven't seen you since I got attacked couple days ago...why haven't you come to see me?" she asked softly.

He glanced at her beautiful face for a moment before returning to his previous staring at the branch "I was sent to hunt down the assassin that attacked you by then the bastard had vanished, my Lord sent me to Ieyasu Tokugawa to seek his aid than Kenshin Uesugi for aid were planning an army to invade the Matsudara clan" he explained"And mostly..." He looked at his hand "I was afraid you wouldn't want to see me thinking I failed to save you in time from the monster who almost killed you" his voice almost broke.

Nora looked at him sadly at this " Hideyoshi...that wasn't your fault..." she tried to convince him as she got closer to the tree.

Nora tried to climb up to the branch he was on but soon hissed in pain and planted her self back down in the grass having forgot she was still recovering making Hideyoshi concerned.

He jumped down picking her up gently in his arms "please be careful Nora I don't want you to hurt yourself more than you already have" he spoke in concern of her health.

Nora looked at Hideyoshi and smiled at him " I forgot how cute you monkey form was Hideyoshi" she said as she stroked his head.

He hooted softly his tail twitched in excitement "Stop that Nora I get to excited" he blushed in embarrassement.

Nora just laughed warmly at this " alright alright" the blonde said as she laughed. The monkey man then proceeded to carrying the young girl back inside the palace.

During the hallway walk they spotted a familiar man that use to live in Yoshimotos palace"Ieyasu Tokugawa?" Nora questioned seeing the man lean against the wall.

The older man looked at Nora and then towards Hideyoshi in his monkey form.

"Don't look surprised girl yes I joined Nobunaga, it was the only way I can live after he crushed the Imagawa forces" he said staring at the girl as if he was staring through her soul Hideyoshi gulped nervously hooting nervously.

Nora felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze and turned his eyes away from him away him as he tried to read her. Hideyoshi wasn't wrong the man had a calculated gaze that can make you nervous it's no wonder he was ranked as commander from Yoshimoto because of his tactics and skills.

" It's just I'm surprised you didn't join one Oda's enemies my Lord" Nora told him simply.

Ieyasu closed his eyes for a second before opening them "I'm not recluse or paranoid like the Matsudara or the Azai or even the Ikko Ikki I want peace to be the one goal to end this 600 war I want Foreigner's to be welcome to this land not shunned or executed" he spoke firmly.

Nora was stunned at Ieyasu told her, due to her only had heard this same wish from one other person which was Oda" I agree entirely Lord Tokugawa...this senseless bloodshed needs to stop" She said with her green eyes showing determination.

A ghost of a smile crept on his face "I knew there was something good about you."

Nora was surprised at this statement but then smiled at the older man" And I knew Hideyoshi was right about you being a good man" she told him.

Just then the Lord of Honnoji himself appeared behind the renowned strategist.

"Welcome Tanuki" he chuckled.

Ieyasu groaned when Oda called him this, Nora raised a eye brow remebeting that Yoshimoto called him this as well.

" Nobunaga your not a boy anymore could you please not call me that" Ieyasu said in experation as he turned around to look at him.

"And your barely older than me Tanuki the meeting is happening soon and my retainer's need your advice" he smirked.

Ieyasu rubbed his eyes" It seems my services are never not needed these days" The older man said as he walked past Oda.

" Tanuki?.." Nora said out loud in confusion.

Hideyoshi tried to keep his chuckling in.

Oda then brought his gaze towards Nora" Its his spirit animal and at times he reminds me of one like how I see Hideyoshi as the monkey" Oda stared at Hideyoshi.

" I see" Nora said as she watched Ieyasu walk away" Now it makes sense why Yoshimoto called him that back then."

Nora gaze then became solemn when she turned it back to the Demon Lord " I need to talk to you..." she said softly.

Hideyoshi put Nora down so she could walk over to his Lord.Oda looked at The blonde with deep affection as she walked over to him she stopped when she was close enough to him allowing him to run his hand through her blonde locks.

"Is there something you wish to ask of me?" he asked.

" yes...it's about the "important events" that are going to come up" Nora told him quietly.

Oda figured out what what she talking about right away, he knew they would have to talk more about the marriage and figured she had questions of her own.

"What's on your mind love?" He spoke in English as he led her to walk down the hall with him.

Nora sighed deeply" When will you have to go to see Emporer No-Gaara about the marriage request?..." Nora turned her head to look at him with eyes of concern" I'm worried about how he will react when you say you want to make a frogiener Lady of the Oda clan... And how your mother will react.."Nora said quietly.

Oda stopped walking at this so he could turn around face her"I will have my blessing to marry you even the Emperor himself cannot refuse what it can offer to this land, I don't care what my mother thinks she'll come eventually though she will bite her tongue" he said.

Nora raised a eyebrow at this " You make it sound like you mother is very" opinionated"Nora put it lightly.

"We haven't spoke when my father passed" he spoke.

Nora gaze turned solemn" Let me geuss...she didn't agree how you wanted to rule the clan..." Nora said softly.

"That and she didn't like how I wanted to break away from tradition that was how I killed my brother" he looked solemn reminding the death of his older brother.

Nora eyes widened in shock at this" I-I didn't know you had a brother..."Nora said quietly" Not even your sister mentioned him.."The blonde treaded carefully for what she asked the Demon next" Did you...Did you hate your brother?..." she asked queitly.

"Oichi was very young, she was a baby when I killed him" he closed his eyes "I never hated him...he wanted to keep our father's tradition alive and he sought out to make himself the heir of the Oda clan to drive us in the dust like the other clans have, so I had no choice but to kill him and take over as the heir of my clan" he explained thoroughly.

Nora looked at him sadly at this , she could tell killing his brother was the hardest thing he ever did.

" I'm also concerned about you son....we are going to get married...and most likely have childern soon...I dont..." She took a breath trying " I don't want him to be left out or neglected and I know you want him to part your life as well..." Nora told him.

Nora knew he cared deeply for his son even though it seemed they where estranged, she saw it in Oda's eyes the day he told her about him.

" Your son....what's his name?" She asked him softly.

" Katsunaga...." he told her quietly.

"I would like to meet him...and your mother" Nora told him softly with a smile.

Oda laughed lightly at this " You going to regert wanting to meet my mother."