Samurai 2.0 - Destiny: A Harem Fantasy Adventure

by April O'Malley

  Kiso stood and hugged Mika. She kissed the other woman lightly on the lips and produced a small vial from the folds of her sleeve. “Oh, that won't be a problem.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  After the better part of a week, Akio felt exhausted. The emperor and he had spent almost all day, every day together. They trained, they ate, they went through laws and other writings in the shogun's house, they ate more, they laughed, they drank. It was truly a week that Akio would never forget. He was surprised at how much he and the emperor were alike and how much he had come to like the other man. He felt that even though they were both extremely young in their positions, they both could bring great change to the lands.

  Akio was lying back on his bed, his hands behind his head, deep in thought. Seki's voice brought him back to the now. “Husband,” she said in his ear, “where are you right now?”

  He rolled to his right so he could face her. “I am so sorry, Seki. You deserve my full attention.” He kissed her lightly. “I was just thinking over everything that has gone on this week. It was intense.”

  She smiled and stroked his face. “Yes, you have had a busy week. Are you ready for the celebration tomorrow?”

  He smiled back at her. “I think so. I need a fun distraction from all of this work.”

  Kissing him harder, she whispered, “I've got a fun distraction for you.” Before they could go any further, a knock at the door stopped them.

  “Yes?” Akio said. The door slid open and Kiso stood there, an odd expression on her face.

  “My lord,” she said, formally bowing, “I'm sorry to disturb you, but there is news that has arrived from your home town and some other, ah, troubling information that we need to discuss.”

  Akio sat up and straightened his clothing. “Well, you can tell me, go ahead.”

  Kiso looked uncomfortable. “Ah, I don't think this is the place,” she said, flicking her eyes to Seki. “I think this is better for the war room.”

  Akio frowned. “I don't understand what is so important that you can't tell me now.” He stood up. “Is there news from my mother?”

  Kiso nodded. “Yes and other business from town.”

  “Okay, well what then?” he demanded, getting angry at her for not coming out with it already. “Tell me, Kiso. My patience is fading. Is my mother fine?”

  Again, she nodded. “Yes, she is coming to visit with Satomi.”

  “Well that is excellent news. What else from home?”

  Seki was aware of the tension in the air and realized that there were things that Kiso did not feel she should hear. She began to get up and move toward the door. “I can go, Akio. I will see you later.”

  “No,” Akio said, catching her wrist. “You can stay. It is not a problem. News from my home town should not ever be a problem.”

  Kiso looked extremely uncomfortable at this point of being pushed about the news. Finally, Akio raised his voice and yelled at her to tell him what the hell was going on. She screwed her face into a tight, rigid stare. “Fine,” she said. “Arima Saru will also arrive with your mother.”

  Akio paused, his face going white.

  Seki frowned. “Who is that?”

  Akio wasn't sure what to say yet. He had actually forgotten about Saru and his mother's plans for them to wed.

  When Akio didn't answer, Kiso looked at Seki. “Saru is the woman that he was to marry upon returning home before you came along.”

  Seki let out a small noise of surprise. “Oh.”

  Kiso continued, “His mother arranged for them to be married before we left. The ceremony was to take place next week; however, things have now changed. Haven't they, Akio?”

  “Shut up!” Akio screamed at Kiso, throwing a book toward the door. “That is enough!” He shot a look of pure daggers at Kiso. “Get out of here. I will meet you in the war room in ten minutes. You can tell me the rest then.”

  “You demanded that I tell you, remember that,” Kiso said. Then she spun on her heel and walked away, leaving the door open.

  Akio went to Seki and put his arms around her. She was rigid at his touch. “Seki...” he started to speak.

  She put a finger to his lips. “Is it true?”

  He nodded. “I should have told you, but truthfully... I forgot about it.” He cupped her chin in his hand and raised her face to his. “After meeting you, I knew that you were all I ever wanted.”

  “But you still are to marry this Saru?” she asked.

  He wasn't sure. “I... I truthfully don't know,” he said. “If I do not, it shall shame her house completely. If I do, I risk losing you.”

  She threw her arms around him. “You will never lose me, my love.”

  Akio leaned down and kissed her with passion. That one kiss turned into more, which turned into hands roaming all over each other. Within just a moment or two, they had returned to the bed. Clothing was quickly pulled to one side, and Akio and Seki were one once more.

  Her moans and sounds of pleasure reached down the hallway where Kiso waited for Akio to emerge from his room. Each sound drove another dagger into Kiso's heart and she finally could handle no more. She turned and stalked toward the war room, slamming the door behind her.

  After about ten minutes, Akio appeared in the door of the war room. Kiso was seated at the massive table, looking out over the gardens through the windows. She didn't even acknowledge his presence.

  “Was that necessary?” he asked her.

  Without turning, she replied, “Was what you did necessary?”

  “What I did!” he said with a laugh. “What are you talking about?”

  “You felt the need to make love to her with me waiting in the hallway?” she spat. “Maybe you could shove it more into my face.”

  His face wrinkled into a weird frown. “I... Kiso... I'm not sure what it is you want me to do or say. I'll remind you, I asked for your hand.”

  “You’ve said that a thousand times already, I get it.” She turned to face him. “And, yes, it was necessary. You pushed me to tell you, even though I tried to make it clear it was a conversation better left for this room.”

  Akio sat down. “Okay, okay,” he said, “you are right. You did try to warn me.” He rubbed his hands over his face. “So what is the other news from home that you have?”

  “The other news is that you need to choose a new daimyo to take your place. If you do not, there will be a power struggle at home that you'll then have to attend to. You need to make a decision quickly. There is already talk of a few men simply taking the position because they feel you are weak, too weak to be the shogun.”

  His face turned from confused at Kiso's behavior to pure rage. “Oh, do they?” he said. “I shall show them who is weak.” Kiso pushed a list of names across the table to him.

  “Here is a list of well-suited candidates for the position who I feel are loyal to you.”

  He looked through the list. “I'll have an answer for you by morning.” She nodded. “What other news is it that you spoke of?”

  She sat back slightly in her chair. “I have found that the local daimyo, Suenaka, the one we met when we arrested Atagi.” She paused as he nodded. “He has been scouting information about you. He has hired mercenaries to find any and all information that he can use against you to take over the shogun position.”

  This news angered Akio to no end. He stood up and paced along the room. “And you are sure of this?”

  “I am positive. I have heard it with my own ears straight from these men's mouths.” Akio looked carefully at his friend. He wasn't sure he wanted to know how she had found this information out.

  “So, uh, who is it that is overseeing these men?” he asked, looking away from her face. “Surely it is not the daimyo himself.”

  Kiso shook her head. “You are correct. It is a man named Ratnakar,” she said. “He is the one who took over the monastery that we had heard about. Apparently, he is someone to be watched.”

&n
bsp; “Ratnakar.” He rolled the name over in his mouth a few times. “Interesting.” He paced again lightly. “Do you know how much they’ve found out?”

  “I believe that I have a grasp on what they know and what type of intel they seek,” she said. “They know about your mother, your father's murder and that you hold Atagi here in the jail. They also know about Saru.” She paused. “How, I ignore.” Then she continued, “They also know about your sword.”

  He stopped pacing. “My sword?” He was surprised. “What about it?”

  “They all have been told it has special powers and that you are a man to be feared when you wield it.”

  Akio rubbed his chin. “Interesting. Maybe we can use that to our advantage.”

  “Maybe so,” she replied with a smile.

  The two continued to talk about what the men had learned and what they were asking. Forming a plan in his mind, Akio finally let it loose to see what Kiso thought about it. She grinned wickedly. “I think that is perfect,” she said.

  Before they could get too much further with their idea, there was a knock at the door.

  “Yes?” Akio said. “Come in.”

  One of his generals entered. “Ah, my lord,” he said, unsure of himself, “there is someone here to see you. She says that it's of great importance.”

  “She?”

  “Yes, sir. She insists on seeing you immediately.”

  Laughing lightly, Akio said, “Well, I cannot just allow anyone at all to come and demand to see me and get their way. Tell her to wait until morning. I’m busy here.”

  The general stood still. “She told me that you would say that and to indicate she is from Ratnakar's camp. She said you would know what that meant.”

  Both Kiso and Akio's heads snapped up to the man with utter surprise on their faces. “Show her into the inner sitting room,” Akio said. “I shall be right there.”

  The general bowed and then left, closing the door behind him. Akio turned to Kiso. “What are the odds of this happening?” he asked, and she shrugged. “Do not leave my side while she is here,” he told Kiso. “I do not trust anyone from this traitor's camp.”

  “Neither do I,” Kiso said. “I shall order up multiple guards to block her should anything go wrong and she attempt to escape.”

  “Yes. Do so immediately. Then meet me back here.”

  Kiso left and Akio was alone with his thoughts. He was amazed and dismayed at the sudden secret attack upon him but knew that it shouldn't be unexpected. He began to formulate a plan that would help him quickly remove Usami Suenaka from his seat, place someone who would be loyal to him and clean up the corrupt mess that his lands had become. But he knew that it would be a challenge. Even with the help of the fire soul.

  He rang for a servant and told him that he needed a letter delivered immediately to his home town. The servant bowed and went to find his fastest courier. While he waited, Akio wrote out a short letter. When the courier arrived, he sent the man and the letter on their way. Pleased with the direction that he planned to take things, he was ready when Kiso returned.

  “I have stationed some of your best guards throughout the compound,” she told him. “I have also alerted the emperor's guards that there is a plot afoot to remove you.”

  He was surprised at this. “I am curious what the emperor will think of this when he learns about it.”

  “What makes you think he doesn't already know?”

  Akio contemplated this option. “In my gut, I do not feel that he was someone to put this into motion, if that's what you are insinuating, Kiso.”

  “Oh, no,” she said, “that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying, what if he already knows and is doing nothing to stop it?”

  “Then I shall deal with that when the time comes,” he told her. “First things first. For now, let's deal with this woman.”

  He rose from his chair and the two headed to the room where the stranger awaited. As they entered, Akio was immediately taken with how beautiful she was. She stood close to the center of the room, dressed in white garb befitting a ninja more than a lady.

  “I am Ide Akio,” he said as he sat. “You wished to see me?”

  She bowed deeply. “I am blessed that you decided to grant my request, thank you.”

  “Do not be so thankful yet,” he said. “I am told you are from the camp of this Ratnakar? What do you want?”

  She smiled sweetly. “I am from his camp,” she began. “However, I come to you to offer help.”

  “And what help is it you offer, woman?” Kiso spat.

  The stranger's luring eyes swept toward Kiso. “Ah, the beautiful warrior Kiso,” she said. “I have also come to speak with you and bask in your splendor.” She bowed deeply to Kiso as well.

  Kiso's eyes narrowed. “You'd better get on with it,” Kiso told the woman as she fingered the hilt of her sword.

  The woman smiled. “I am Asai,” she said with another slight bow. “I have been... stuck... in the camp of Ratnakar for some time now. I was brought there by another, one that you have in your custody, Atagi. He forced me to join Ratnakar as a woman of pleasure.”

  Akio and Kiso held straight faces as the woman spoke about her time with Ratnakar and the things that he and his men had presumably done. She also told them a small bit of the plan for gathering information about Akio and how they intended to use it against him. She told him that Suenaka was going to try and make a challenge for shogun right after the celebration that was to happen in a few days.

  “And what is it you expect in return for this information?” Akio said when she was finished.

  “I simply ask for asylum,” she said, bowing her head lightly. “I cannot stay in Ratnakar's camp and watch him act with impunity any longer. Someone needs to put a stop to him.”

  “And you feel that person is the shogun?” Kiso asked, and Asai nodded.

  “I will consider your offer,” Akio said, standing up. “Until morning, you shall stay in one of our cells and I will reflect on your fate.”

  Asai bowed and allowed three of his soldiers to lead her out of the room.

  “So, what do you think?” Akio asked his trusted friend.

  “I am not sure,” Kiso said. “I don't trust her. And something about her is very familiar to me. I must do some digging into who she truly is.”

  “Agreed,” Akio said. “See what you can find out and come to me when you do.” He stood up and stretched. “I am going to retire for the night. Tomorrow is a big day.”

  “I'll see you in the morning then,” Kiso said and headed out of the room.

  Akio lifted his eyes to the ceiling and let out a deep breath. He was still in a bit of shock at being in this position so fast. He hoped that he had the mental and physical strength for all that was to come.

  ***

  The procession arrived at the shogun's compound without any pomp or circumstance. While Nana and Satomi were just fine with this, Saru was not.

  “Should he not have been here waiting for me to arrive?” she asked Nana. “What have you taught your son?”

  Nana's face closed at the girl's harsh words. She poised herself before she spoke. “I suggest that you listen carefully,” she said, leaning slightly toward the girl. “You are never to demand information or answer from me again, do you understand?” The girl nodded with an angry look across her face. “I have taught my son well and he has done well for himself. The only reason that he keeps his promise to marry you is due to his duty to your family – not to you. If he were to refuse you now, it would bring great shame on your house and he does not wish to do this. Keep this in mind as you decide how to speak to me, Saru.”

  The girl crossed her arms across her chest and stared out the window of the carriage. Her younger sister sat next to her, peering out the other window, a smile on her face. She was thankful that she had made such an impression on Akio that he specifically asked for her to accompany his mother and Saru here to the compound. She neede
d to warn him about Saru and what she was planning.

  The carriage arrived at the compound and several servants rushed out to greet them and see them inside. As they entered the massive building, Nana was thrilled to find Akio waiting for them. She threw her arms around her son and held him tight for a few moments.

  “Oh Akio!” she said. “How much you have changed my son!”

  “For the better, I hope, mother.” He laughed and made his rounds to the other women in the group. He embraced Satomi and greeted her as he would a grandmother. Then he hugged Uba and told her that there were many amazing teachers here for her to learn under and that he had already prearranged for her to take lessons with several of them. Then, he faced Saru. He bowed to her formally. “It is good to see you again, Saru.”

  She bowed back to him and smiled. She dared not say a word because she was still mad at the fact that he married someone else before her.

  “Come,” he said, “I'll show you to your rooms.” He led the group down the hallways, pointing out the beautiful tapestries, sculptures and works of art. As they neared the first room, he said, “Uba, this room is yours and I hope that you like it.” He opened the door for her, revealing an exquisite room already set with a low table, paint, brushes and other supplies. “Plus, there are other women here who will be your friends and show you all around the compound and the city tomorrow if you wish.”

  “Oh, thank you so much!” she said, hugging him tightly. “This is perfect.” She entered and flung herself on the bed happily.

  “I will send a servant around shortly to help you with anything else you might want, Uba. Just say the word and it's yours.” He shut the door as she lay there, smiling.

  The next room belonged to Satomi and she was very pleased with the luxury of her own room. He told her that a servant would be by shortly to tend to her needs as well. Next was his mother's room, which was the largest and most lavish that he could find. She was so impressed that she was worried that the room was too much. “Nothing is too good for my mother,” he told her. A servant appeared and he sent the woman in to show his mother all around the compound and to look after her.