-- Loss --

[silk_in_ebony]

[Heavily tired and somewhat distressed voice.]

Unforgiving, yet forgiveness is not something I ask for. I bear what I must, but I do not and shall not regret.

We were... like a family, but...

[A sigh.]

I hope you slept better than I, City.

Comments

[pinkikemenhero]

It seems many others have been experiencing nightmares these past few nights..

[silk_in_ebony]

Indeed, and they seem to be as brutal as a nightmare can possibly be to one.

[foxy_physician]

[Megumi awakes, immediately alert to her surroundings. Something is wrong--her senses are tingling, and she knows that her husband is distressed.]

[She glances at Mitsuhide, who is beside her. He looks very tired, and her heart immediately stills with worry.]

Mitsuhide . . .

[She reaches out to cup his cheek.]

There are shadows in your eyes . . .

[A bite to her lip.]

Sleep did not bring rest?

[silk_in_ebony]

[He shakes his head.]

No. Nightmares plagues me, making the fire burn once more. I saw them die, but... then they came back, and...

[Mitsuhide bites his lip. No, he can't think on it. Ranmaru asking 'why? why do you do this, Lord Mitsuhide?' Nouhime's accusations that Mitsuhide had took the life that only she had a right to. Nobunaga's laughter... and their faces were all burnt, their bodies...]

[A sharp intake of breath, and he closes his eyes shut.]

I do not wish to dwell on it.

[foxy_physician]

[Megumi bites her lip, keeping her silence a moment. She, too, refused to speak of her past to Ken-san when he first asked, so she understands her husband now. If there is anyone who understands him, it is her.]

[Fire . . .]

[She, too, has memories of an inferno, wiping away everything she knew and loved . . .]

Mitsuhide . . .

[She draws him into her arms, holding him close, reassuring him of her presence, her love.]

I'm here, my love.

We will not dwell on it, if you do not wish to speak of it.

[Her voice is soft, soothing, and she smoothes his hair gently.]

I'm here. Focus on me, anata. I'm here.

[silk_in_ebony]

[Avoiding it, not letting it out, a part of him knows that will just cause it to hurt more and more, but he cannot bare to let himself think too much of it just now.]

[No regrets. He did what was best for the land, for the people. Nobunaga would have destroyed the present for the sake of the future, and he could not allow that.]

[But to do so, he'd...]

Thank you, love.

[He leans into her and sighs lightly.]

Let us talk of other things for now...