~~~

Trees, trees, trees, trees, more trees, the same type of trees, infinite trees, sleep and you’ll still see them trees, what sky, what are you talking about trees…

Atta Noe dissipated her face-construct into soothing purple vapour and swirled to the side of the palanquin window, trying to remind herself that there couldn’t be much more of this hell-scape left.

A day’s travel from Kōfu to Sunpu, with one and a quarter already passed. Apparently, they’d taken the longer, scenic route on Shingen’s command, that’s why it was taking so long, but now they were on the final stretch and Sunpu Castle would be greeting them soon.

Well, it better be.

In no way could she tolerate another night of drunken ashigaru thugs tapping on her box, telling her to come out and perform for them.

Idiot foot soldiers…they actually thought she was a real woman…a senior advisor to Shingen who, for some reason, chose to sleep inside a box. And that she would demean herself to such a base level as to stand in front of their little fire and slowly peel away her yukata.

Gods…it was exhausting.

There were times when she thought, forget the rules, Noe, just unleash your true form and let the little wretches cower in fear, make them show me the true deference I deserve…

‘That’s an interesting shape,’ said a gravelly voice next to her.

Great. The cowering mouse wanted to chat again.

‘Does it ever make you tired to hold it together like that? Or is it the human form that is difficult to maintain?’

Atta Noe swirled in small spirals, going through her list again. The ashigaru. The idiot boy. The annoying ryokan girl. The annoying ryokan owner. That caustic gus usso wretch. Atta Ka Yukio. Shingen. And this clownish coward father of his who allowed himself to be-…

‘Can you hear me, child?’

The words filtered through and her natural lilac deepened to a dark violet, the momentary urge to slide through her travel companion’s neck suppressed…somehow.

‘I was resting,’ she said, reforming the Japanese face assigned to her pre-portal that evidently made these particular humans more comfortable.

‘When there is such beauty outside? A strange choice.’ Shingen’s father turned to the window on his side and tapped the wooden frame. ‘Do you see the uniform shape of the trees, the regimented way they line the road? That must be artificial, you think, but no…it is their own arrangement.’

‘In truth, it all appears like a blur to me.’

‘The artistry of nature. Perhaps this is lost on your kind. Or you find beauty in other things. If that is the case, then it is a sad loss. I, myself, am looking forward to spending time by the sea, observing forces more powerful than we can ever hope to be. Did you know Sunpu has the longest beach in the entire province?’

‘You speak like a painter.’

‘Ha, an astute observation.’

‘If I were you, I’d be thinking of ways to get Lord Imagawa on side, give you a chance to reclaim your title, your power.’

‘Yes, I can see why my son likes you.’

‘Undoubtedly, I can feel nothing but his admiration,’ she replied, gesturing at the palanquin containing them both.

‘Ha, my child. It is only a temporary cage. Perhaps, even a test for you to rise to.’ Shingen’s father reached out for her hand and stroked the back of it. ‘Yes, I can see in those tempestuous purple eyes that you’re already scheming a way forward. An alliance with Imagawa, a study of his sons, the potential push towards Owari and the Oba Clan…it is not a complex game at its core.’

Atta Noe pulled her hand away…then swished it into mist form, mildly annoyed that she hadn’t done that to begin with.

‘For me though, it is the temple by the sea. No more machinations and meaningless wars, just a sedate appreciation of nature’s magnificent forms. Until the day it sweeps my own ashes up into its bosom.’

The last words trailed off out the window and Shingen’s father went with them, lost to the lines of lines of obedient trees.

If she were capable of projectile vomiting, Atta Noe would’ve done it, right there on the palanquin floor. What the hell had happened to this man? A year ago, he was the daimyō of Kai province, a commander of troops, inept lover of countless concubines and teenage fanboys…and now…he was fantasising about sitting on a chair, watching the tide come in.

The sense of confusion turned again into disgust, so much so that she felt compelled to slip her left arm round the back of the beaten man’s neck and switch to mist particles, which she duly did, letting the lilac hover next to the slightly saggy skin at the side of his throat and…

One swift move and his head would come toppling off.

Or balance for a few seconds and then topple off.

In her experience, it varied, depending on speed of slice, level of victim awareness, wind speed, wind direction, vein strength etc.

Gods, it was so tempting…like a mercy killing. But that was her description and it was pretty clear that Shingen wouldn’t see it the same way. Not with that snake Yukio Ka whispering in his ear.

Talentless snake too.

Twelve years to her one and a half and where was he? One place above her on the ladder and still advising alliances with every clan in the country. Following home rules like a good little slave. Penalising her for having the guts to do something different, something fresh. In what dimension did that make sense?

There was a noise outside, horses whining about something, followed by an order from a stranger’s voice to stop.

Re-constructing her arm and pulling it away from the coward’s neck, Atta Noe poked her head out of the window and looked ahead along the road.

An ambush? She wondered briefly, seeing a line of dishevelled ashigaru flanking two higher ranking men on horseback…two quite young-looking men…one in armour and helmet, the other not…then re-assessing when she spotted the creased yellow octopus Sigel on a poorly-raised banner.

‘Ah, they bothered to send a greeting party,’ said Shingen’s father, opening the door of the palanquin and stepping carefully out onto the dirt. ‘Good to see respect is still valued in some places.’

‘Back inside,’ shouted the armoured man on horseback, the same voice who’d ordered the palanquin to stop.

‘Tell me,’ said Shingen’s father, ignoring the blunt command, ‘are you one of the Imagawa boys I’ve been hearing so much about? You certainly look the part, up on that horse, barely of age, dressed in a very-…’

The man, who couldn’t have been much older than twenty, if that, spat on the ground and dismounted, walking with great purpose over to the former daimyō and seizing him by the dōbuku sleeve. ‘Back inside,’ he repeated, guiding his catch back to the palanquin door.

‘This is not protocol,’ complained Shingen’s father when he was back inside, but the man didn’t seem to care, looking past him towards Atta Noe.

‘Your guard has been relieved. From this point on, Lord Sakai will escort you.’

‘A retainer…’ said Atta Noe, running a finger down her hair. ‘A young, assertive one too.’

‘Assuming no delays, we will arrive in Nishio before midnight.’

‘Sunpu, you mean?’

‘There, at the behest of Lord Shingen, you will stay as a temporary guest and, if required, offer service as an advisor to the Sakai Clan.’

Atta Noe heard the words and did the calculations and then slumped back in her seat, muttering, ‘Yukio Ka…’ to the palanquin roof.

‘Nishio? Ah, a little irregular, but still next to the sea. As long as-…’ Shingen’s father stopped and did a double take, literally using his hands to frame the retainer in one shot. ‘Wait…Tadachika? Is that you? Wah, it is, isn’t it? I thought you were still a little boy...’

The retainer neither confirmed or denied the name, he simply stared with utter contempt at the man in front of him. Then turned and gave a signal to the other horse rider, who, in turn, yelled at the ashigaru to take the box.

‘Be careful with that…’ said Atta Noe, poking out of her side of the window and watching four ashigaru walk by, one of them with his hand inside his yukata at crotch level. ‘Don’t let that one touch it…he’s fondling himself.’

‘Ignore the witch,’ shouted Tadachika, walking round the palanquin to her side.

‘Advisor,’ Atta Noe replied quickly, waiting until he was close enough to see the lilac glow of her eyes before continuing. ‘To the boss of your boss.’

The Sakai retainer stared at her, running his eyes up and down her yukata, then slowly reached out a gloved hand and gripped her chin.

Out of instinct, Atta Noe morphed into mist form, her chin drifting away in Tadachika’s hand.

‘Ah, there it is…’ he muttered, reaching into the particles and swaying his hand from side to side.

Cut it off.

Just a low rank retainer. Kōke wastrel. Dressed for battle when there’s no battle.

Cut it off.

Cut it all off.

The stupid smug head too.

Before she could turn thoughts into slaughter, a shout of cursed pain rang out, one of the ashigaru clutching his wrist and kicking the box in retaliation.

‘Fucking stupid wooden…thing.’

The ashigaru moved to kick it again, but was pulled back by the collar and struck to the ground.

‘It is not a piece of junk,’ shouted the man from the other horse, the red cloth tied around his neck possibly indicating a general of some kind. ‘Treat it with the utmost respect.’

‘The edge of it cut me…’ moaned the ashigaru, trying to stand up and getting smacked back down again.

‘Respect and caution. Do you understand?’

The ashigaru nodded, making half a move to stand up again and then crawling backwards instead, beyond the range of a third strike.

‘It’s only a dent, Gen’ichi,’ said Tadachika, walking over to examine the damage to the box. ‘As long as the lid still shuts.’

The man, whose full name was in fact Gen’ichiro, opened his mouth to respond…then thought better of it. Then counter-thought and responded. ‘This box is ours to safeguard, as is our guest. We should treat them both with the deference they deserve.’

‘You and your whimsy,’ muttered the Sakai retainer, walking past and slapping Gen’ichiro on the shoulder. ‘Come, let’s try and make it home by nightfall. I have no desire to camp outdoors with these degenerates.’

The ashigaru laughed, clearly used to such remarks, and picked up the carrying pole, while Gen’ichiro trudged back to his horse, turning to check a few times on the status of the box.

As he passed by the palanquin window, Atta Noe leaned forward and rested her face against the frame, waiting for him to glance left.

But he didn’t indulge her, he merely kept walking, as if she were nothing but a stable boy.

‘Gen’ichi,’ she called after him, provoking a stop and a half turn. ‘Your care is noted and appreciated.’

Staring at the palanquin wheel, or the dirt next to it, he bowed his head, telling her in a blank voice that it was his duty, then continued on to his horse.

Intriguing, Atta Noe thought, receding into the palanquin, her face dispersing into the more comfortable mist form.

‘They all grow up so insolent,’ muttered Shingen’s father, more to the window than to her. ‘Even the chubby, adorable ones.’