Winning the battle of Kagawa with the fewest losses, Harun.o.bu told his generals the success should also be credited to Sakura. Before darkness fell, all the family officers were toasting in the camp to celebrate their success, and even the drizzle outside could not dampen their fervor.

n.o.body spoke of her company being a mistake again. But Sakura was certain that they were still treating her as Harun.o.bu’s woman, instead of acknowledging her contributions to the battle. Anyway, she didn’t care about this. The only thing she wanted was to leave Tsutsujigasaki. Since she had reached her goal, the rest was not important. Besides, since they were treating her as his woman, it might prove safer for her.

Ooi Sadataka was captured, so the families of the soldiers were useless. Sakura helped Harun.o.bu comfort and release them. She already knew that Murakami and Ogasawara would come to support Ooi Sadataka, so she persuaded Kai to retreat as soon as possible.

“Sakura, I want to go to Suwa first on the way home. Let n.o.bus.h.i.+ge bring you back.”

“No, I want to follow you to Suwa.”

Sakura didn’t want to go back so soon. This was the first time in this era that she had the chance to move so far. She rediscovered the fun of climbing mountains that she’d enjoyed in the modern age. If Harun.o.bu was not the master of Kai, maybe she would seduce him into running away with her and traveling the whole of j.a.pan.

When they arrived in Suwa, it was the end of the year. Sakura liked the snowy weather. If she was still in Guangdong, she wouldn’t have the chance to see real snow. The snowflakes fell gently on the icy Lake Suwa, the whole world turning white. Looking around at the woods, Suwa was like a fairyland. However, thinking of Yiu’s unhappy face made her feel a little grieved.

“Harun.o.bu, what’s the ice on the lake that was directing to the opposite side like waves?”

“The Suwa people say it’s a G.o.d’s pa.s.sage. I remember coming here with my father in my childhood. Sakura, it seems as though you like snow and ice very much; didn’t you have snow in Kawanakajima?”

“Eh, I think I like the G.o.d’s pa.s.sage, indeed.” She didn’t want to explain more. Or he would find out it wasn’t her hometown at all. “Why did you want to come to Suwa before going back? I thought that you would bring Yiu here. She told me she was frightened by Madam Sanjō and she was so eager to move back to Suwa to live.”

“The rebuild of Suwa is going well. Hearing you mention this, I think I should care about Yiu. But it can’t be a rushed work. Let me expand Kai’s territory first, until this place changes totally, and thus Yiu can move back and have a more peaceful life.”

“Do you mean, you want to conquer more areas of s.h.i.+nano?”

“Yes, we will continue to chase the enemy, giving them no time to take a breath. This is the way to win the war.”

“You’d better get some a rest. I don’t want you to become a casualty of war.” Sakura curled her lips and gave him a meaningful look.

The young Takeda s.h.i.+ngen from history was so eager to conquer s.h.i.+nano that he made a big mistake that had some of his most important officers die as a result. Besides, s.h.i.+nano had turned into a land of blood and death. She didn’t want her Harun.o.bu to follow this storyline.

Staying in the city of Suwa that night, Sakura lost sleep as she thought about the measures she had to take to keep herself safe in this chaotic world. She must delay Harun.o.bu’s plan to conquer Murakami and Ogasawara.

She sighed and turned her face toward the wall. Suddenly an arm circled her waist from behind. Her body trembled, and she turned back to find him in her room. Why was he making this sly advance again?

“Hey, you promised me not to touch me. If you break your oath, I will fight back,” she said in a low voice, her anger quelled.

“I would like it if you fight back.” He held her more tightly.

“Look at your sick interest!” Sakura turned back, trying to hit him. But Harun.o.bu was already prepared, and kissed her when she turned her face to him.

Gos.h.!.+ She didn’t have any energy to struggle. Her eyes opened wildly, and her temperature was also going up. His pa.s.sionate kiss had her out of breath. The feeling between them became hotter. If it had been someone else, she bet they would’ve surrendered already, but Sakura was so surprised that even her eyes were still open.

His hands were moving down from her face, and a later, Sakura’s yukata was already untied. The next minute, they two would both be naked, but at this moment, Sakura suddenly shouted out with a painful cry. This cry scared Harun.o.bu and he bounced up from the tatami.

“d.a.m.n you!”

“Sorry, I’m having a stomach spasm. When I am nervous, this illness rears its ugly head. Oh, my goodness, what an ache!” Sakura took the quilt to cover her belly, pretending she was ill. She felt so lucky that Harun.o.bu stopped at this moment.