• 1-There Is No Such Place
• 2-Two
• 3-Three
• 4-Four

There Is No Such Place

One

“Naoe Nobutsuna-dono?”

My eyes narrowed at being addressed like this from a mere messenger. Instead of answering at one I gave the one who had spoken to me a quick once-over. He was wearing the modest armor of a common soldier. There were no insignia of rank or birth to be seen anywhere. His face was hidden by a helmet that he obviously didn’t feel inclined to take off. He hadn’t introduced himself, either. Instead he had asked for me to affirm my identity. He hadn’t even undertaken the trouble of dismounting his horse!

“I am,” I finally said after a pause long enough to get the impertinence of how he was carrying himself across.

At that answer he gracefully sprang from the saddle, bowed and extended a tiny scroll to me. Seriously, what were they teaching today’s youth about the proper attitude towards superiors? From up close I realized that I was indeed dealing with a very young one. His eyes were at the level of my chin. They were fearless and curious and all that was visible of his face.

“Uesugi Kagetora sent you this,” he informed me.

Irritably, I turned my attention toward the scroll which as I saw now indeed bore the Uesugi family crest. I frowned. Of course, I knew of the youngest son of Hojo Ujiyasu who had been given to our Lord Uesugi Kenshin as a hostage in the wake of the peace settlement between the two clans. Also, I was aware of Hojo Ujihide formally having become Kenshin-kou’s son by adoption. But although Kagetora – as Kenshin-kou had named him – had been living with the Uesugi for over a year now, I had yet to meet him in person. Despite our peace contract with the Hojo, we had been at war constantly during the last years. It wasn’t unusual for my father Sanetsuna and myself not to see our home of Echigo for several months in a row.

It was however unusual for us to take over the job scouts on enemy territory. Several of my men had complained that this was a task hardly worthy of samurai, but I was having none of it. We were to serve Kenshin-kou however he saw fit. If he wanted us to observe Oda territory and otherwise lie low, that was what we would do. I knew he had his reasons. Even if it bugged me beyond belief to keep out of the battles which were being fought a day’s ride from where we were staying.

But now there was this note: short, firm and professional. Kagetora informed me in an unadorned handwriting that certain steps were to be undertaken to secure the right flank of Kenshin-kou’s army which was marching against Oda. He further let me know that the one who had brought me this letter knew the rest.

Still lost in contemplation of this note and what on earth Kenshin-kou’s adopted son could be thinking to send a message this cryptic and entrust it to this rude youth, I heard a sharp and quickly stifled gasp from one of my men behind me. I looked up to see that the messenger had taken off his helmet. For a moment I forgot what I had wanted to say.

The face revealed belonged to a lad clearly under twenty – oval, with high cheekbones and a slender nose. The skin was so light and unblemished that it seemed to glow in the dim light of the forest. His almond-shaped eyes under the strong, black brows were dark and pensive.

“Kagetora-dono sent a single man with a mission this crucial?” I asked when I found my voice again.

“He chose to since it is easier for a single person to go unnoticed,” the boy replied calmly. If he was aware of his effect on us, he didn’t show it. “And what he wants to be done doesn’t require a lot of manpower so he decided that a small unit like yours would suffice.”

“It wasn’t possible for him to oversee the mission himself?”

The boy shrugged. “Kagetora was ordered by Kenshin-kou to stay at Echigo for the time being, but understandably he still wishes to be of help. He sent me because he trusts me to explain the necessary to you.”

“You are welcome to. Apart from that, I really don’t think it’s appropriate for you to speak of him in such a disrespectful manner.”

He blinked. “Whatever do you mean?”

“Did no one ever teach you to use an honorific when you’re talking about your lord?” I scolded.

He was silent for a moment. “I assure you, I didn’t mean disrespect by that. He and I go way back, that’s all. We’re the same age and grew up together at his brother’s court in Odawara. Actually,” a brief smile enlightened his features, “no one could have more interest in Kagetora-dono getting the respect he deserves than I do.”

I shook my head, trying to convince myself that I wasn’t indulging him because of the radiance of this smile. “Do you have a name, too, messenger?”

“Certainly,” he said in a tone that implied his considering me to be a bit on the slow side. “It’s Saburou.”

-

So far the evening had turned out to be quite interesting. After being out in the field for months without as much as a minor diversion, I found myself unable to state which fascinated me most: suddenly being called on by Kenshin-kou’s adoptive son, the prospect of being able to contribute to the victory – or the unusual deliverer of the message.

I wasn’t sure I liked his being here, though. I noticed how the eyes of several of my men were glued to him. They hadn’t seen, far less had a woman in a number of months now, and it worried me a bit. I could perfectly do without them savaging the boy or fighting each other for his graces, thank you very much.

But in all honesty, I couldn’t blame them – I could hardly avert my gaze from the slender figure with the translucent skin walking next to me either. It was quite courageous of Saburou to come here all alone. He didn’t seem the overly obedient type, so I concluded he must have come out of devotion for his lord. I decided to keep him as close to me as possible to avoid any unpleasant incidents.

My father looked up from cleaning his sword when we entered his tent.

“Father,” I said after we had bowed to him, “we’ve received word from Echigo.” I handed him Kagetora-dono’s letter which he read intently.

Nodding, he looked at Saburou. “What is your name?”

I had to bite back a laugh when I saw how my father’s eyes, too, hang on Saburo for just a second too long. Again, the boy didn’t indicate that he had noticed the attention.
No, I thought to myself, this kind of bravado cannot be real. He noticed. He’s just too clever to reveal any insecurities.

Saburou introduced himself again and at my father’s hint explained his lord’s plans to us in great detail and with an eagerness as if he had thought them up himself. What he had to say was impressive – revealing the kind of intelligence that makes you think when confronted with it: why the heck didn’t I think of that? – still I found myself drawn to the gestures of his hands and the quick, lightning-like flashes of his eyes as they flickered between my father and me. I didn’t exactly miss what he was speaking about, but his appearance proved a great distraction. It irritated me.

When he had finished, my father smiled. “It seems Kenshin-kou adopted a military genius.”

Saburou’s face lit up.

My father was turning the letter around in his hands. “His tactical skills could be of great use to our armies. Maybe Kenshin-kou will reconsider leaving him at home next time.”

“I daresay it is what my lord hopes for,” Saburou answered lithely.

“It was a wise move of his to lay matters into your hands.” My father shook his head. “I wish I had servants that always understand so clearly what I’m trying to tell them.”

A smile tugged at Saburou’s lips but he said nothing.

-

After announcing to my men that we were heading for the borderland first thing tomorrow, I fetched something to eat for myself and Saburou and showed him the place where he would sleep. He had wisely kept himself in the background when I had addressed my officers. Following me around the small camp, he gave the perfect picture of an obedient

I felt like teasing him a bit. “You are one of Kagetora-dono’s servants, then?”

The youth hesitated almost unnoticeably. “Yes.”

I fought to keep my mien straight. “Then you can answer me a question that has been occupying me for quite some time.”

“…Yes?”

“Is he indeed as handsome as everyone says?”

Saburou froze, something akin to anger flickered across his face. “I suppose he is not completely unfortunate-looking,” he bit out.

What a thing to say about one’s lord! I suppressed a laugh. Secretly, I thought his reaction intriguing. Not only did he reveal the true strength of his temper for the split of a second but also it implied that this kind of topic made him uncomfortable. Maybe he even harbored a bit of jealousy for his young lord who allegedly possessed the beauty to stop people dead in their tracks.

I tried to imagine what it must mean for Saburou to hear this kind of sentiment time and again. Considering Saburou’s own appearance, it seemed a superfluous but strangely endearing emotion to be envious of somebody else’s looks or the attention they brought to their owner. It made the elfin creature by my side more human. So did his ability to let himself be taunted.

As for me, I had rarely felt the urge to push someone’s buttons, but now I had to restrain myself not to pursue the subject any further and see what other reactions I might coax out of him.

What’s the matter with me, I thought as we settled down for the night. I had encountered beautiful people before. Even if none of them had had a face that could make you believe in love at first sight. But there was something else about this boy, something really intriguing – a will-force as cold and unfaltering as sword-steel.

Oh, he hid it quite well and the better for him as it was absolutely intolerable in a peasant’s son turned servant. However, I easily recognized this trait in others because I, too, possessed it. And just like Saburou, I had learned to hide it from my superiors for I knew it would only get me into trouble otherwise. As a result, it had never been measured against somebody else’s.

Until today, I thought, looking over to where I knew Saburou was sleeping. I’d be damned if I had ever expected a pretty underling to provide me with the possibility, but…

Here was my challenge now.

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