juju2493 - Tumblr blog

juju2493 · 1 year

Text

Second Chance Love Ch. 7

Chapter 7

Ava found herself sitting in between Mitsuhide and Ieyasu in one of the spare rooms of the castle. They were interviewing midwives. Ava couldn’t help but to keep looking down at her hands during the interview process. It felt so strange to have to interview midwives instead of back home meeting with a doctor…it felt even crueler that Hideyoshi wasn’t beside her.

Mitsuhide took notice of Ava’s behavior. He always took notice of everything, but he paid especially close attention to her. She seemed down, but also jumpy…especially jumpy when they brought up questions involving the midwives’ success rates if both mother and child living.

After what felt like the hundredth midwife to Ava, Mitsuhide was speaking up. “I think we should call an end to the interviews for today.” He said. “Come little mouse.”

“Where are you planning on taking me?” Ava asked him, looking at him suspiciously.

“I thought perhaps we could go out for a bite to eat. We do have to keep you and the little one fed.” Mitsuhide reminded her.

“Well…food does sound nice.” Ava agreed. She was then looking over at Ieyasu. “You want to come with us?” She felt it was rude not to invite him. He had been helping with trying to find a midwife just as much as Mitsuhide had been.

Before Ieyasu could respond, Masamune was bursting in the room, his signature grin on his face. “Taking a break?” He asked.

“Yes, I was just about to take Ava into town to get something at one of the tea houses.” Mitsuhide answered.

Masamune nodded. “As you should.” He was then going over to Ieyasu and pulling him into a headlock. “And you’re coming with me. We haven’t had a good round of practice in a while.”

“Hey, let me go. You could just ask me to train with you like a normal person.” Ieyasu grumbled even as Masamune began to drag him off.

“Yeah, but you’d just tell me no. So I have to drag you off.” Masamune replied before the two disappeared.

Ava let out a small laugh. She was amused by Masamune and his antics.

Mitsuhide smiled. The sound of her laughter was like music. Even if it was a small laugh. He cherished the sound. Laughter meant happiness and healing. “I am glad to hear your laughter once again, little mouse.” He spoke aloud.

Ava turned to him, noticing how tender the look in his eyes was. She felt her cheek reddening. “Well…Masamune and Ieyasu are always entertaining. They’re like a comedy team.” She replied.

Mitsuhide was quickly turning his back to Ava and clearing his throat. “Yes…well come little mouse.” He informed her, his words short and clipped.

Ava followed him, her brow furrowed in confusion. There had been no teasing comment from Mitsuhide and if she was not mistaken…she thought she had seen a faint flush to his cheeks.

Ava caught up to Mitsuhide and tried to look at his face. Whatever she had thought she’d seen must have quickly cleared up for now his teasing smile was in place. “Do you like my face, little one?”

Ava frowned. “I just…thought I’d…seen something.” She replied.

Mitsuhide was grinning devilishly as he came to a stop, turning to fully face Ava, his fingers going beneath her chin and tilting her face up so that her eyes met his. “Now, no need to be shy little mouse. If you like my face feel free to look at it all you wish. Maybe you’ll catch a glimpse of whatever you thought you saw.” Teasing her like this was easier.

Ava wrenched her chin from his hand and then shoved him back. “Oh, just stop it!” She was then marching on out from the castle, her cheeks pink and her brows knit together in frustration.

Mitsuhide chuckled as his long legs allowed him to quickly catch up to her. He was happy to get these reactions from her. Her fire was one of the things he loved about her. He was glad to see it returning. “Such strength you are showing.” He told her his tone teasing, though his words were the truth. “Able to shove me back like that.”

“Oh like you couldn’t have stopped me.” Ava replied, not looking at him. “No need to patronize me.”

“Think whatever you like, little mouse.” Mitsuhide replied, patting her shoulder.

Ava shrugged him off. “Can we just go eat? I’m freaking hungry. I’m growing another person you know.”

“Then let us get you some nourishment.” Mitsuhide replied, directing her to a tea house. It was one they had been to previously. They sat down, Mitsuhide taking the seat across from Ava. “Have whatever you like, little mouse.”

“I will.” She replied, fixing a glare at him before proceeding to order one of everything on the menu.

Mitsuhide chuckled, but was happy to pay such a bill. He was rather excited that her appetite was coming back. “I see your stomach must be feeling just fine today.”

Ava fought the urge to stick out her tongue at him. “You did say anything…and it all sounded good.”

Mitsuhide gave her a genuinely warm smile. “Then I am more than happy to make sure you are well fed.”

“I thought that was Masamune’s job.” Ava quipped.

“It may be his job with cooking for you, but it doesn’t mean he is the only one that can feed you.” Mitsuhide remarked.

The food was soon arriving, their little table being completely filled. Ava quickly began to dig into the food. Mitsuhide just sat there, happily watching her enjoy stuffing her cheeks. She was definitely seeming to return to her normal self and he was rather happy to see it.

“Do I have some food on my face?” Ava asked after a moment.

“No, why would you ask that, little mouse?” Mitsuhide replied.

“Because, you’re staring.” She answered. “Perhaps you’re the one who likes my face.” She decided to tease him.

Mitsuhide chuckled. He enjoyed their back and forth. “I was just thinking how much you really do look like a little mouse.” He teased. And how utterly adorable you are. He added mentally.

Ava made a face at him, but then went back to eating. “You know…I may have ordered all of this…and I may be eating for two… but there’s no way I can eat all of this by myself. You should eat something too.”

“But I am not hungry.” Mitsuhide replied.

“How can you not be hungry?” Ava asked. “It’s been just as long since your last meal as it has been mine.”

“As you mentioned however, you are eating for two. I am not.” Mitsuhide countered.

“Okay, but, not all of this food is stuff you eat because you’re hungry. Some of it you eat just for the enjoyment of the food. Just for the flavor.” Ava went on.

“Hmm…eating food for enjoyment.” Mitsuhide pondered. “One would have to be able to taste food for that to happen.”

Ava blinked. “You…you can’t taste? Well that would explain…your eating habits at the banquets.”

“But do not let that stop you from enjoying your meal.” Mitsuhide told her. “I am just glad to see you more relaxed now.”

Ava frowned. “You should still eat some of this. If nothing else, it doesn’t go to waste.”

“Alright.” Mitsuhide told her, before picking up chopsticks and going to take a bite of some of the food.

“But…what do you mean by you’re glad to see me more relaxed?” She asked. “Was I that obvious?”

“You did cringe quite often in the interviews.” Mitsuhide told her. “Did these questions we were asking never occur to you?”

Ava sighed as she set her chopsticks aside. She took a sip of her tea before answering. “It’s just… in my hometown…things are…different…a lot different.” She explained. “Those things are… they’re not things most pregnant women worry about.”

Mitsuhide blinked. He knew Ava was not capable of lying… yet how could a pregnant woman not have to worry about the potential death of herself or the child? Or both? Those were concerns for many of the women in these times. “Perhaps one of these days, you’ll have to tell me more about your hometown. Like where it is.” He spoke. With as open as Ava was, there was still a great mystery as to where she had come from. She clearly came from some place much more peaceful than what he was used to. She’d clearly never had to lie and deceive… and yet she kept this one secret.

Ava looked at him a moment. “You mean…you didn’t read…that letter? The one you made sure… HE got.”

“That was never my place.” Mitsuhide replied. “Only to ensure he got it before you had a chance to truly disappear.”

“Well…maybe one day I’ll tell you.” Ava replied, still shocked that he hadn’t read the letter.

Mitsuhide smiled. “I look forward to one day then.” Normally, he would have pressed for such details…but with Ava he wouldn’t pry her secrets from her. He would only help her and hope that one day would come.

“Is that why you brought me here?” Ava asked after a moment.

“Hmm?” Mitsuhide replied.

“To let me have a break.” Ava clarified. “You…you could sense that I was having a hard time…during the interviews.”

“Sometimes one needs a break.” Mitsuhide replied.

“Well…thank you.” Ava told him. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”

“Just keeping Lord Nobunaga’s lucky charm in good spirits and good health.” He told her.

Ava nodded. “Well, whatever your reasons…still thank you.”

The pair sat and talked for a while. Ava eating most of the food and Mitsuhide even eating a few of the items as well. They were then returning to the castle. They were surprised when they saw an exhausted Ieyasu was talking to a young woman at the gate.

As they approached, they could hear the woman speaking. “I was told the Princess needed a midwife and I came here to apply for the job.”

“We ended things for the day. You can come back tomorrow.” Ieyasu told the woman.

“Look, I am not leaving until I see the Princess and have a chance to be her midwife. I want to make sure she is safe and well cared for. I want to help her.” The woman replied.

“Well, I am here so we might as well talk to you.” Ava said, something intriguing her about this woman. She appeared to be around the same age as Ava, with long dark hair she wore up in a simple ponytail and green eyes.

The woman smiled. She then seemed as if she was remembering herself and bowed. “I am honored to meet you Princess. My name is Akari and I would be honored if I could be your midwife.”

The group was soon sitting in the empty hall they had been in earlier. “So, what is your background?” Mistuhide asked.

“I have been a midwife for about the last ten years. I learned under my mother from the time I was a young girl.” Akari answered. “And not only did she teach me about properly caring for a woman during pregnancy and birth, but also supporting the mother after birth.”

Ava perked up. Akari was the first woman to mention such a thing. “Really?” She asked.

Akari nodded. “Yes, she taught me that some women can get rather melancholy after giving birth. She also taught me how to look out and protect the new mothers from infections.”

“Are you open to working under anyone else in caring for Ava?” Ieyasu asked.

Akari nodded. “Yes, I would consider it an honor to work under you Lord Ieyasu.”

“I didn’t say it would be me…” Ieyasu grumbled.

Akari smiled. “I just assumed since you are here now.”

Ieyasu seemed to grumble unintelligibly, but just nodded. Mitsuhide was fighting off a chuckle, though his eyes were looking over Akari, as if appraising her. “What makes you believe you are fit to treat our dear Princess?” He asked.

“As I’ve already said, I know how to care for her not only during pregnancy, but after as well.” Akari answered. “And I have not lost a mother or child.”

“Really?” Mitsuhide asked.

Akari nodded. “That’s right.”

“I like her.” Ava declared. She was then looking at Akari. “You’re my midwife.”

“Wait just a second, you can’t…” Ieyasu began.

Ava looked over at him. “But I like her…and I am the one having the baby.”

“If our little mouse is comfortable with her, then this is who we should choose.” Mitsuhide agreed…naturally he would be checking further into Akari’s background. But for now… he would just keep an eye on the midwife and be sure she truly kept Ava and her child safe.

15 notes · View notes