Chapter 5 Tit for Tat 2-2 (46) Chapter 2 Tit for Tat 2-2 Lord? This old man is Takeda Nobutora, the brutal killing machine? Sakura’s sense of relief was gone instantly when she realized this fact. In the Sengoku period of Japan, Nobutora was rumored to enjoy killing as a sport. How was it that she happened to go into his room when he happened to be back? Cold sweat drenched her back, she could feel her clothes sticking to her body, but she couldn’t fight, who knew how many more people were outside; if she fought without knowing, she’d only be overwhelmed. “Tell me who you are! Who ordered you here? Shinano or Sagami?” Nobutora frowned and pressed in on her, his gaze was that of a predator planning to destroy his prey. “Mother sent her to me.” A familiar voice made Sakura look toward the newcomer, yes, Harunobu just walked into the room. Harunobu went toward his father, his gaze not looking at her. He bowed and said, “Father, forgive me for my offense. This girl’s name is Sakura, she’s a maid mother has sent me. Mother forgot something at my place when she last visited and I sent her to deliver it. I think Sakura is not familiar with our Tsutsujigasaki estat e, so she misstepped. I hope she didn’t commit a lethal offense, please allow me to take her away.” “Really?” Nobutora looked at his son with doubt, his gaze sharp and cold. “I think you just want to be my enemy. Why not grab her and go? Why beg? You and your mother are all the same, agreeing with everything, but plotting something else.” They were father and son, but also born enemies, just like the history books wrote. Sakura forgot the situation she was in and the swords pointed at her, she just wanted to see Nobutora and Harunobu arguing live. This was better than any movie. Too bad the earthquake didn’t let her time-travel with her Panasonic digital recorder, she missed it even now. Harunobu looked at his father’s pale face and smiled bitterly. “Taking a maid away is not hard when I can give up my inheritance. Father, you may think this was weak, I think this is just manners.” Wow, this dialogue was so cool. Sakura was obsessed with watching the exchange. So she has time-traveled to enable Harunobu to save her, if history were to keep going the same way, would this scene also be included? As she watched Harunobu march toward her, with his back facing his father, any fear and thoughts of going back to her modern times dissipated. “Damn it.” Nobutora huffed, and the curse came to Sakura. Sakura woke up from her stupor just as Nobutora’s sword swung and headed toward Harunobu’s back. “Watch out!” Harunobu seemed to know his father would ambush him from the back, but he didn’t duck. Sakura crouched down, before the two samurai could react, she held onto Harunobu’s waist and rolled on the floor. Nobutora’s sword hit something with a “clang,” surprising Sakura, who was covered by Harunobu. Was that the dragon horn stone? So Harunobu had taken out the rock, blocking his father’s attack, while shielding her body with his. Nob utora’s face looked frozen, his hands holding the sword shook, and his facial muscles also twitched. “Lord!” The two samurai ignored them as they picked up the collapsed Nobutora. Is he kidding? Using her precious rock to block the sword? Sakura pushed aside Harunobu to get the fallen rock, and to get out of this dangerous room, but he was faster, he held onto the rock and gripped her sleeve, while rolling his eyes. The scuffle came and went. Soon, Sakura followed Harunobu to the inner court and reported everything to Madam Ooi, to which the madam showed no visible emotion, just an anxiety in her eyes. Thinking of what Harunobu said when they left Nobutora’s residence, Sakura felt sorry, she bowed and promised madam that she’d follow rules from now on and stay out of trouble. “What, you’re not asking about the rock anymore? Are you feeling sorry for me, someone hated by his father?” Harunobu grinned and asked her as they left the madam’s residence. Sakura turned up her mouth. “Who says I don’t want my rock back? I just thought keeping the rock with the madam is better than with you. I know what’s right and wrong. I appreciate how you saved me today, but that doesn’t mean you can --” “I can what?” Harunobu smiled evilly as he wrapped her in his arms. “You were the one who rolled on the floor with me at my father’s. If I allowed your wanton behavior, you’re meant to be my woman. Oh, I forgot to say that I already told mother that you’re now transferred to work for me. Starting today, you’ll be in the outer court.” “You planned this?” “Sun Tzu said, to be a soldier is to be devious. You’re too naive to play games with me.” Pfft! Sakura almost kicked him as he walked off humming a Japanese tune. Takeda Harunobu, how dare you ruin our amazing book of Chinese wisdom, the Art of War...