Finally, he was alone with Saru in the hallway. They walked in silence. When they finally got to the door of her room, he opened it for her. “Here is your room. I hope that you like it.” Inside, the room was as plush as the other ones, with furniture made of imported ebony and bed linens of the finest silk. Still, Saru felt that she should have received the larger room that was given to his mother.
Not wanting to butt heads on their very first conversation here, she kept silent about it. Instead, she said, “Aren't you going to come in?” She waved her hand slightly at the room beyond.
“I cannot, unfortunately,” he told her politely. “I have important matters that I must attend to this evening.”
Her face clouded with ire. “I have just traveled all this way and you cannot spend time with me? I am to be your wife, Akio.”
He stood up straight. “I know this, Saru,” he said. “But there are things that are in motion currently that I must focus on. We shall spend time together, however, I promise.”
“You are going to her, aren't you?” she said, crossing her arms.
Akio's eyebrows raised and he paused. “Saru,” he said, “there are issues that I will deal with as the shogun now that you are not to know about. We are not yet married, and my whereabouts are none of your concern. However, if you continue this attitude toward me, the marriage may be postponed... or put off completely. I shall not be treated as a second class person in my home. Do not forget this.” He turned and walked away, leaving her seething in the doorway. He heard her slam the door behind him as he rounded the corner and knew that he was in for trouble with her.
As he walked down the hallway, a servant ran up to catch him. “My lord,” the servant said, out of breath, “Uba wishes to speak to you in private.”
“Tell her that I shall see her tomorrow. We’ll have plenty of time to talk.”
The servant shook her head. “She said that this is an extremely urgent matter and she needs to speak with you right away.”
Should he feel worried? Knowing the little girl, she would never insist if this wasn’t bad. Picking up his pace, Akio followed the servant back to Uba's room. She was seated at the table, writing something as he entered.
“Akio!” she said, looking up for a moment. “I am so glad that you came.”
“What is wrong?” he asked, kneeling down beside her. “Tell me.”
Tears sprang to her eyes as she continued to write. “I have information for you that you must know about to keep yourself safe.”
His eyebrows shot up on his forehead. “To keep me safe?” he repeated. “Safe from whom?”
“From my sister,” she said.
He glanced down at the paper she was writing on. It was a complete retelling of the conversation that she had overheard between her mother and Saru before they left to come here. His eyes grew wider as he read, and his blood started to boil. This would be something he would have to deal with delicately as Saru's father was a powerful man back in his home city – a man whose name was on the list for daimyo.
***
Ratnakar gathered up all of the information that his subordinates brought back to him. He had it compiled into several scrolls for Suenaka and was waiting in the chapel when the daimyo came to collect it.
“I understand that you have information for me? Information that I asked for?” Suenaka said as he approached where Ratnakar sat.
The young man nodded but held to the scrolls. “Yes, I do,” he said. “But the price has changed.”
Suenaka had to squeeze his toes until they went numb not to explode. “Changed? Have I not provided everything that I said I would? Are you not safe here from political harm in your borrowed monastery?”
Ratnakar nodded. “You have and I am.” He tapped the scrolls against his thigh, and then brought them close to a few lit candles, showing that he could easily burn the information if he so desired.
Suenaka sat down on a pew next to him. “All right,” he said, “let’s cut down to the chase. What do you want now?”
“I want your word, in writing, that when this is over, I shall become daimyo here,” Ratnakar said with a wicked grin.
“My, you are a cunning one, aren't you?” Suenaka said. “I assume that you have these papers drawn up already?”
Ratnakar motioned for one of his men to bring over another scroll. Suenaka looked through the written words stating that once he was shogun, he would promote Ratnakar to daimyo. He signed the paper with the ink and brush that the other man held. After he was finished, Ratnakar had the same man take the scroll away for safekeeping.
“Now then,” Suenaka said, “my information?”
Ratnakar handed over the two scrolls and stood up. “I trust that you know what to do with all of that.”
Suenaka nodded as he hurriedly read through them. He didn't even realize that Ratnakar had left the chapel until he had finished. He grinned like a lunatic. He had all the material he needed now to use against Akio, and after the celebration he would launch his challenge for the seat.
He headed back to his horse, waiting for him in the courtyard along with his men. From the door of the infirmary, Asas watched him leave the monastery. He had heard enough of what was going on to know that this would not end well for Suenaka or Ratnakar. He prayed that there weren't too many innocents who would be harmed in their power struggle.
Chapter Fourteen
The emperor sat in his chambers in the shogun's compound, reading one of his favorite books—the tale of a young geisha. A knock at the door pulled him from the poetry of the words. “Yes, what?” he said, letting one of his servants open the door. It was Akio. He rose and greeted the other man warmly, first with a bow and then with a hug as the door was shut behind them.
Akio entered immediately. He began to tell the emperor what he had learned about the daimyo from the next large city over as well as his plot to challenge him and remove him from the shogun seat.
The emperor was quiet for a moment. “And you risk your own knowledge by coming here to tell me?” the emperor said. “What if I am a part of this plot to get rid of you?”
“If I am to be honest, I have contemplated this possibility,” Akio said. “But I do not feel that you are.”
The emperor stood for a moment, staring at Akio. Then he smiled. “Well, what do you intend to do about this problem?”
Akio laid out part of his plan, not asking for permission but telling the emperor what would happen. He wanted to remove the daimyo. The emperor sat down and watched Akio as he spoke. After Akio was finished, Moriyasu said, “And when do you propose to do this?”
Akio had left out that the daimyo was aiming for a challenge the day after the celebration. “After the festivities. There is no reason to spoil the wonderful time that you have planned with this.”
The emperor smiled. “I feel that is completely acceptable.”
Bowing deeply, Akio said, “I am glad that you agree with me. I shall leave you to your books for the evening then, and see you tomorrow for the celebration.”
“Yes,” the emperor said, “I shall see you then.”
After Akio left, the emperor motioned for one of his servants and had the servant take a letter to be delivered immediately.
***
Nana was walking through the hallways of the large estate, enjoying the sights everywhere she looked. However, she had also gotten lost in that maze of rooms and corridors. She found herself in a small, warm kitchen and was about to turn and head back out the door when a voice caught her.
“I assume you are the mother of Akio?” a man's voice came from the darkened area of the kitchen.
She spun around quickly, the voice startling her. “I... I am,” she said. “I am Ide Nana.” She bowed, unsure of who she was speaking to.
From the darkness emerged a man, fat but elegant, handsome in an older, distinguished way. He bowed to her as he approached. “Akio failed to tell me his mother was so beautiful
,” he said as he lifted her hand and kissed it.
Blushing, she giggled. She hadn't giggled like that since she had been courting Akio's father when she was so much younger.
“Please,” the man said, “won't you sit and have some tea with me?”
“Tea sounds wonderful.” She took a seat on one of the ornate pillows at the small table. The man served her, which she found fascinating. As she watched him, she realized that he was someone who was used to getting his own way. Someone who was very powerful. “Can I ask the name of the man serving me tea?” she asked politely.
“Oh, why I am so sorry!” he said, placing the tea pot back on the table and bowing again to her. “I am Shigenoi Kuninaka,” he said, once again taking her hand lightly. “I am... was... the shogun here. And, I wish to enjoy tea and the company of a beautiful woman.”
***
Kiso had been digging into this Asai and who she truly was. Something about the woman's presence bothered her. She knew that she had heard the name before, but not in a good way. Deep inside her gut, she knew that she was extremely dangerous.
Kiso arrived at the tavern where Mika lived and went inside. Men everywhere were singing, yelling, laughing and drinking as usual. However, a few grew quieter as she entered. She ordered an ale and went to a table at the back of the place. Apparently, Mika was busy.
She drank her ale and poured through her memories as where she had heard this name before. So lost in thought, she didn't even realize that another woman had come up to her table.
“Kiso?” the woman inquired. Kiso nodded. “Mika is currently engaged with a customer, but she should be out shortly.” Kiso nodded again and saw that the woman was one of the older ladies here.
“Wait, wait just a moment,” Kiso asked her. “Sit with me.” The woman bowed and sat with Kiso. “You've been here a long time, am I correct?” Kiso asked.
“I have been here over twenty years.”
Kiso was surprised. “That is a very long time to work in one place.”
The woman averted her eyes. “I own the place,” she replied. “I am Miyoshi Kanano.”
“It is very nice to meet you, Miyoshi Kanano,” Kiso said. “Maybe you can help me with something then.”
The other woman smiled and relaxed slightly. “Sure, Kiso, I will do whatever I can.”
Kiso took a sip of her ale, then she leaned forward slightly. “Tell me, are you good with faces and names of those who come here?”
“I don't forget faces or names,” Kanano said. “In my business, it pays to know my clientele and more.”
“So maybe you know of an extraordinarily beautiful woman who wears the clothing of a warrior named Asai?” Kiso asked.
Kanano thought for a moment. “The only girl I know that fits that description is Asai Furi.” Kiso's face went white. “I assume you have heard of her,” Kanano said.
Kiso nodded and took another sip of her ale. “Unfortunately, I have.” She was quiet for a moment. “This is not a good sign.”
“Is there anything I can help with?” Kanano said. “We can be on the lookout if she appears in here or around town?”
“Well, she's already here.” Kiso said. “And being held – willingly – in the compound.”
Kanano was surprised at this news. “Then you are correct. This is not a good sign.”
Kiso drained the rest of her drink and told Kanano that she had to get back to the compound immediately. “Would you please give my regards to Mika and tell her I will be back as soon as I can?” Kanano said she would.
Heading out of the tavern, a bit of conversation caught Kiso's ear. It seemed that a few of the men in town were already talking about taking down the new shogun. She paused at the door, appearing to look out into the street while she listened in, learning all she could before she was noticed. Finally, a couple of the girls came down to take the men up to their rooms and their conversation ended.
She headed out the door into the darkened street. Taking in a deep breath of cool evening air, she let it out slowly, trying to steady herself. What a mess all of this was turning out to be. She just hoped that she could help Akio stay strong and survive all of it.
***
The monastery was quiet, shrouded in the evening air. Asas wandered around the courtyard, his eyes sadly falling on the burnt area where the bodies of his monks had been incinerated. He wished that things could have been different with the boy, but he had known, deep inside, from the very beginning, that Ratnakar found himself on a destructive path.
A noise caught his attention and he slipped back into the shadows. Three men on horseback were let in the large gates. Asas immediately recognized one as the man who'd been here several times over the last week, Suenaka, the daimyo.
Careful to stay hidden, Asas followed Suenaka toward the chapel and let himself in through a side door. He positioned himself at the far back of the chapel, next to a large stone pillar, hoping he could still overhear what would be said. Suenaka went to a pew toward the middle and sat down. Only a few minutes went by and Ratnakar made his entrance at the far end and headed to where the daimyo sat.
“To what do I owe this pleasure?” Ratnakar said as he sat across from the other man.
Suenaka cleared his throat. “As you know, thanks to your assistance, I am going to make a play to have Akio removed by challenge from his new position. I have already sent the information to the emperor and am awaiting his word. However, in case things do not go my way – as the emperor is merely a puppet – I am planning to attack the shogun the day after his celebration and take him out by force if necessary.”
“Why tell me this?”
“Because I want you and your men to be a part of this force. You have some in your group who are stealthy and can easily get into places faster than my large group can. They could get in and open the large gates to allow my force in,” Suenaka said. He'd apparently given this a lot of thought.
However, Ratnakar wasn't sure about this part of the plan. “So, I am to put my people at risk to allow yours easier passage for a war that I do not care about? Is that what you propose?”
“You should care,” Suenaka said. “When I am successful, you shall become daimyo. That should be enough to keep you concerned if I am to lose.”
“Yet, you are so confident in your own plans and abilities,” Ratnakar reminded him. “If you are that confident, then you do not need me – or my men.” He was beginning to feel extremely uneasy about this whole deal. He did not want to endanger his fellow comrades for this fool, whom he did not trust. He had heard so many stories and rumors about Suenaka's dealings with the locals and knew how they hated and feared him.
Suenaka stood up. “If you do not help, do not expect anything from me when I take over as shogun.”
Ratnakar got to his feet and faced him squarely. “When you take over as shogun, you will promote me as you have already signed in writing.” He pointed a finger at the daimyo. “Or you shall not be shogun long. That’s one promise I can make.”
The other man's face turned a deep red. “You dare to threaten me, boy?” he said in a screech. “I cannot believe you stand here, straight faced, and lay out idle threats.”
“There was no idle threat there, I assure you,” Ratnakar said calmly. “No threat intended at all. If you took it that way, then that is your own problem.”
Both men stood there, face to face, neither backing down. Asas worried that there would be bloodshed right here in the chapel. Finally, Suenaka waved his hand. “I am done with you.” He turned and headed to the door. “I hope that you come through and change your mind so I do not have to remove you as well.”
The daimyo left and let the chapel door slam behind him. Ratnakar stood in the center of the room a moment longer before he too left. Once the chapel was quiet, Asas processed what he had just learned. A plot to take down the new shogun that Ratnakar was involved in. He wiped is face with his hands. He could not believe the boy would
be this stupid.
As quietly as he could, he exited the chapel through the same side door and made his way around to the outsides of the monastery. He walked along the stone wall for a moment and then remembered the place Ratnakar used to escape through… oh so long ago, it seemed.
He was surprised that he found the spot so quickly. Even though his men had closed it up, Asas felt that he could easily undo the masonry there. He worked quickly and as quietly as possible, well into the late night, but finally had the hole large enough for him to pass through. He took one last look around at his dear monastery and crawled through the hole.
***
After Kiso had relayed her newfound information to Akio, the shogun had Asai brought up to face him. The woman had not been asleep, as if she knew that he would be ready to finally meet with her that very night.
She walked quietly with the guards into the same room where she had met with Akio before. “I assume that you now know what you needed to know?” she said.
Akio was silent for a moment, studying her. Finally, he said, “I know who you are, yes.”
“And who am I?”
“You are Asai Furi, notorious assassin, trusted confidant of Ratnakar,” Kiso replied.
Furi bowed to them both. “I am the first two, but not the third,” she said.
“So you stand here and tell me that you are not close to Ratnakar?” Akio said, his face wrinkling slightly.
“I was,” she said. “I am no longer.”
“And why is that?” Kiso said, taking a step forward. “So you can lie and say you are not to get in here? To get near the shogun? To assassinate him now so someone else, possibly your own little Ratnakar, can take over.”
Furi let out a small laugh. “Oh, on the contrary,” she said. “I come here for the opposite reason. I come here to help you.”
Samurai 2.0 - Destiny: A Harem Fantasy Adventure Page 19