It was almost sunrise when a horseman came to collect Miko for the warlord Oda Nobunaga wanted an audience. She rode beside the messenger with empty eyes. It was time to pay the price.
As she dropped from her horse with the help of the messenger, she was discretely pulled into the big tent, where Nobunaga waited, studying a big map on the table in front of him. Miko never had seen a map before. He was still armored, even that late. He had very fine factions despite the monster he was considered to be.
“Miko, right?” He asked, without looking at her.
“Yes sir. I am Miko”
Nobunaga nodded.
Wearing the higanbana kimono, she approached, trying to compensate for her fear.
“You are very passionate about your work, studying still this late,” She said with a gentle smile.
He smiled, appreciating the compliment and finally looking at her.
“So are you, coming so late to please an old man’s whims. Come, take a look”
Miko hesitated but wouldn’t lose composure. She approached even more, beside him.
Oda looked at her with interest and then started laughing at her manners.
“Rumors came this way too, yes? Do you think I am going to make you my consort?”
Miko was startled by the sudden flush of honesty of the warlord. Her mind struggled to find a proper way to answer.
“S-sir… I…”
Oda made a negative sign, waving his hands.
“With that look, you gave me at the play, believe me. I would have much more trouble with you than unifying this thing.” Oda said, pointing at the map.
“What is it? I have never seen something like it” She answered, now a little relieved, trying to figure out the strange forms. “Is it some sort of art?”
“In a way. This is a map, young Miko. Of Japan… our homeland”
“It seems… so little like this” Miko approached her hand, caressing the figures of the multiple islands. “So… you are not a cruel warlord that goes around taking women?” She dared, perhaps taking on the honesty of the warlord.
“Never. That’s way too much work. Too much work”
They both laughed. But still, he was a warlord.
“Why must you go through our country, waging war? You seem like a good man.”
“It's true. War is a costly thing. Men and women lose what is most dear to them. But you must use strength to make peace. Like you did with the dragon. How many lives do you think the sword maiden saved by giving her own? All my men believe the same. So I wanted to thank you for reminding them, among so many horrors we have seen”
“What dragon are you trying to slay?” Miko dared once again. She were thinking in a monster all this time. His honesty just made her want to keep pushing.
The warlord took a moment. He had to identify a feeling he had seen in so many faces. Faces of people he felt like he had to kill to use power properly.
“Greed. It is like fire, it spreads.” He placed the hand on the map, softly. “It needs to stop or it will never end. War that is. It will only take another form some other day. To end all wars you must create a world that helps everyone out and not just yourself. Why would anyone fight you when they have everything they need? Yet some want more and care not for what is right. Laws are necessary. To all”
Miko stared at him. She jiggled to find he had found yet another admirer in her.
“You are indeed a passionate man!”
“Not bad for an old man, huh?” He laughed.
Nobunaga had spent a lot of time without talking to any smart women. War does that, It takes people apart from what is beautiful in the world, like conversation.
Still, to not feed any ill rumor about the geisha he sended on her way after a while.
A worried Mother received her thoroughly examining her as she dropped from the horse.
Miko calmed her down.
“He is a good man, Mother. A very good man”
Relieved, the old geisha held the younger one in her arms, gladly.
“You must go to Shinozuke. He had to be kept imprisoned in his manor so he wouldn’t do anything stupid! Go, go!”
Miko smiled saying her goodbyes and hurried towards the manor. The guards outside were amazed to see her well and sound. Knowing of the dread the prince was going through, they also hurried her inside, almost scorting her towards the ample garden, and the beautifully stone-covered floor.
There, a young man waited, eyes red with sorrow and impotence. His brown eyes were wide, without believing her beloved hadn’t been torn apart from him.
“Am I dreaming?” He whispered
Heartbroken by his terrible state, Miko threw herself in his arms, weeping happily.
“No… no, I am here, my love”
And so they held for long minutes. Recovering peace in his heart, the young former prince felt like he could sleep right there with her dearest in his arms. Miko felt her heart lighter. She had faced her dragon in so many shapes that single day she knew, she would never be the same.
Images from pixabay
@marilour
