03 – Seize the Castle

Itoko started to think that she was taking advantage of Okui Castle's hospitality by accepting Aine's invitation to drink. However, after entering the ample kitchen and sitting among the cooks, their apprentices, the servers, the lord and lady's many attendants, she felt it made for a comfortable setting. Everyone was exceedingly kind and pleasantly vivacious. They created a wonderful environment that promoted complete, utter relaxation and plenty of fun.

Although, Itoko tried to resist the temptation of alcohol, as she was forbidden by her master to so much as taste it, she caught herself accepting a tiny, ceramic cup of sake from Aine, who carried the round, white jug of it with her as she found a seat beside her. The others were engaging in a plethora of lively, drunken activities: arm wrestling contests, drinking challenges, inappropriate gossip, and out-of-tune singing. There was a lot of singing.

Others offered her sake during varying intervals, but she politely refused them. She sat in one corner of the room, enjoying herself for the greater portion of the evening, but when Aine had gone off to bring more alcohol, Itoko had asked for a cup. Aine had teetered away, clumsily ambling through the large crowd of people. After the nightmare that had been her stay, Itoko had decided that it was a proper opportunity to indulge in alcohol.

Itoko could only stare at the clear, rippling liquid in her cup after receiving it. Aine set the bottle on the floor before rising to join a scandalous conversation about Lord Okui being fronted by his male attendant—a freckled man with a cocksure grin and pale blue eyes that she caught glimpsing in her direction on several occasions. Itoko assumed he was taken by Aine's delicate beauty, but he looked over twice after the blond girl joined his small crowd of people and Itoko checked her clothes for stains, as well as combed back a few loose strands of her silver hair, worried her somewhat sloppy appearance caught his attention.

"I think he likes you."

Itoko flushed after realizing Izuna had plopped down beside her. She never expected to see him there surrounded by a large portion of the kitchen staff, but he seemed to blend in, even though he seemed to be the only one dressed in black. A minute had not passed since he had taken Aine's seat when he was offered a drink.

Izuna glimpsed at her. "You don't think so?"

"I prefer not assume," said Itoko shyly. "I believe a person with such feelings would be honest about them."

"Not everyone is honest," answered Izuna.

"I know that."

"Why bring it up then?"

Itoko stared at the surface of her drink and set it down on the nearest table. "Because it isn't kind to make assumptions."

"You don't understand," said Izuna, leaning forward. "Look at him. He keeps looking at you. He's probably been at it since you first entered the room. Also, he's gotten a little keener since I sat down beside you. My reputation is probably a little threatening, plus, it doesn't help that all the alcohol in your system gave a bit of coloring to your cheeks, so you look flushed, as if my charm is working on you. He's waiting for me to leave. And when I do, he'll approach you. He'll introduce himself, offer you another drink, he'll smile, ask you about all the things you like, maybe you'll have something in common, he'll point it out to you, and the night won't end without him mentioning that he likes the color of your hair or that your eyes are really beautiful. And if he's piqued your interest enough, you'll humor him."

She blinked. "Humor him?"

Izuna laughed, patting her shoulder as he rose. "Yes, humor him, Terashima-san. Now, excuse me, I have somewhere to be."

Itoko watched him slip through the crowd, smiling at everyone that greeted him on his way out. As he did, the freckled attendant made his way to her after apologizing to the people surrounding him, most of the women were not shy about expressing their disappointment. Itoko felt incredibly nervous. Izuna's assumption was right.

"Hello, we haven't met," the attendant began, "I'm Takamura Seiki. Mind if I sit?"

"No, please, go ahead!" she said nervously. He stared at her and her nerves worsened. "Oh, my name is Terashima Itoko. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you, too. You're here temporarily, yes?"

"Yes."

"Do you want another drink?"

He must have noticed her half-empty cup.

Itoko stared at him a little dumbfounded. Izuna's words still fresh on her mind. "No, no, I'm okay. I think I've had enough."

"So, you make kimono?"

"I help. I'm only an apprentice."

"What do you do as a kimono maker's apprentice?" asked Seiki.

"Not much with my master," Itoko answered with a laugh. "He tends to do everything himself."

"And if he didn't, what would your job entail?"

"Mostly help with the stitching," answered Itoko. "More hands help finish jobs faster. Taking measurements, running errands—I mostly run errands. I buy the fabric." She was speaking too fast. She was too nervous. "But it must be interesting to be the attendant of a lord. Much more interesting than a kimono maker's apprentice."

Seiki smiled. "Not exactly, but it is demanding. Okui-sama that is." He laughed a little. Sheepishly. His cheeks flushed a slight pink that made her smile, though she swiftly recalled Izuna's comment on finding a reason to humor him. "It isn't to say I do not appreciate my job, I do enjoy it. The servant's quarters are nice, there is never a need for food, and the other employees are friendly."

"Of course," said Itoko. She suddenly became quite aware of him. She was conscious of him from the second he filled the seat beside her, Izuna had taken care of that with a monologue on what she should expect after being approached from him, but her new awareness of him made her more than a little nervous of his presence. "Of course. The atmosphere here is warm. Everyone has been very friendly towards me."

She tried not to think about Lady Kameko when she said that, but she had and of the sharp dagger that she had used to threaten her into a silence with which she had already burden herself without her violent insistence.

"Yes, yes, they are indeed."

"Uhm, how long have you been serving Okui-sama?" she asked, drinking to sooth her embarrassment.

"About ten years now," he answered.

"How old were you?" Itoko flushed, wondering if asking for his age was inappropriate. "I mean, you look very young."

He chuckled. "I arrived here when I was twelve with my mother. I was meant to work at the stables, but Okui-sama needed an attendant after his met with an unfortunate accident. Anyone could have been chosen, really, but I suppose I was just lucky."

"Oh, you mother works here?"

"She was Kameko-sama's nanny growing up."

"Was?"

"She passed away six years ago."

"I'm sorry," said Itoko, eyes downcast.

"It was quite some time ago," he told her. "What about you? How did you come to be a kimono maker's apprentice?"

"I used to work in a teahouse," she answered vaguely. She didn't like telling people the whole story because they were quick to assume what sort of job she had in such an establishment. "I was useless in my job and was constantly being yelled at for my mistakes. My master chanced upon the shop during one of his travels and offered me a job. I was elated by the opportunity, but I was quite useless at that as well."

"And your parents?"

"I don't remember them."

The briefest silence passed between them while the others in their surroundings continued to enjoying themselves in their drunken bubbles.

"I just ruined the mood, didn't I?" asked Seiki, covering his reddened face. "I apologize."

"No, no you don't need to apologize," she assured. She did agree, however, that the conversation grew heavier as it delved into their respective pasts, but she did not think the mood was ruined, nor did she want to stop talking to him unless he wanted to. She saw no reason for his apology.

Seiki faced her, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. His cheeks were bright red. "I'm very bad at making conversation."

"You're better at than I," said Itoko jokingly. "I never know where to start."

He laughed. "We should probably change the subject then and try again."

She nodded.

Like Izuna had told her, Seiki asked about the things she liked and they discovered that they were fond of a number of dishes as well as the writer of a discontinued series of books. When Itoko felt the dizziness of the alcohol begin to make her somnolent, Seiki offered to escort her back to her guest room.

Itoko shook her head, refusing politely. The last thing she wanted to do was steal him away from the party when there were others waiting to have their turn at conversing with him. "It's close by," she told him. "I can make it there well on my own, but thank you for offering."

With an understanding nod, he let her go. "Sleep well, Terashima-san."

Itoko slipped through the crowd and exited into the quiet hallway outside the kitchen. She walked towards her guest room, calmly teetering in her slightly inebriated state.

She started to hear voices the closer she was to her room and slowed down on instinct, reconsidering the path she had taken. She didn't want her presence to be a burden if someone in the connecting hallway was having a serious conversation, but she feared that if she turned down a different direction, she would end up lost. She wasn't quite as knowledgeable of the castle as she would have liked. Also, the Uchiha patrolling the place intimidated her.

Itoko braced herself as she prepared to walk across the hallway and kept her eyes forward, but as she started to cross, a familiar giggle reached her ears. Unconsciously, she looked at the pair of lovers standing in the threshold of the back entrance. She recognized the soft tumble of brown curls that fell across milky white skin and the sharp obsidian gaze that met hers in the brief seconds it had taken her to make it onto the other side.

It might have been a quick glimpse, but she had seen Lady Kameko canoodling with Uchiha Izuna once more. He noticed her, made eye contact with her as his lips moved against Lady Kameko's, and a shiver strummed down her spine. Her cheeks were enflamed.

Itoko made it to her guest room swiftly and sat with her back to the door, holding her chest as her heart drummed rampantly. She urged it to calm. Never had she ever experienced such a powerful reaction to having seen that sort of act.

She blamed the sake. That had to be the reason why her heard didn't stop pounding. There was no other explanation. All she needed to do was drink water, lay out the futon, change into her sleeping robe, and go to sleep. She repeated everything back to herself as she left the door to do it, though the image kept replaying in her mind of Izuna's eyes finding hers across the hall, so deep and black—never had such eyes existed to her.

Itoko had trouble waking up the following morning, but she had managed to drag herself out of bed to start her day. She decided never to drink again if drinking meant waking up with a pounding headache, a sudden sensitivity to bright light, and nausea.

The kitchen's workers laughed when she entered to have her breakfast and pointed out that she looked as though she had been dragged through the mud. She believed it. She felt as though she had been.

"Drink water, lots of it," she was told. "It'll help."

So, she drank as much as she could before Aine appeared with a message from Lady Kameko. "She wants you to take her measurements now."

The only thought that passed through Itoko's mind was "finally" because she was starting to miss home. She excitedly went to fetch her things and followed Aine upstairs to see Lady Kameko.

"How are you feeling?" asked Aine.

"I have a bit of a headache, but I'm okay," answered Itoko. "I've never had a real drink before."

"I almost feel bad about giving you that drink," Aine replied, sheepish.

"It's okay," she assured. "It was fun."

"Oh, but I saw you talking with Takamura-kun for most of the night," said Aine, elbowing her with a grin on her face. "I think he likes you."

"But we just met. Isn't it too early to say one likes a person?"

"Well, I do know that he thinks you're beautiful."

Itoko blushed, lowering her eyes to the floor. "That's silly."

"He's a good man," Aine told her. "You should go for it."

"Go for it?"

"Let him woo you."

Itoko shook her head. "I couldn't—"

"Do you have someone else back home?" asked Aine, her smile brimming with curiosity. "What is he like?"

"No, I don't have anyone," she replied. "I've just never thought about that."

Aine froze in the middle of the staircase. "About what?"

"About being with anyone."

Instead of acting shocked as others had reacted before her, Aine placed a hand on Itoko's shoulder and smiled. "There's nothing wrong with that. Everyone's different. You have to keep your priorities straight, right?"

Itoko nodded, smiling. She definitely wanted to be a kimono maker before she thought about starting a family. Even then, she wasn't sure if she wanted to start one. Maybe making beautiful kimono for her future customers would be enough. She didn't know. She felt too young to make decisions about the future, so she kept all options open.

Aine knocked on Lady Kameko's door and waited for her mistress to beckon them inside after the attendant announced to her that she had brought the kimono maker's apprentice to take her measurements. After being ushered in, Aine bowed politely and exited, sealing the doors behind her.

Lady Kameko was already standing and dressed down to the white robe she wore underneath her kimono, ready to get her measurements taken.

Itoko stood in Lady Kameko's presence feeling a little intimidated, her voice was quiet and polite as she said, "Thank you for seeing me today."

Lady Kameko huffed, nose in the air. Whatever looks she spared her were scathing, which made the experience doubly uncomfortable. "Hurry it up. I don't have time to waste."

"I'm sorry."

Frantically, Itoko rummaged through her bag, searching for her measuring tape among strips of sample fabric, needles in a kit, and spools of different colored thread. She panicked for a split instant, thinking she left it behind in the guest room, but found it poking between fabric samples.

She quickly drew it out and set her bag aside. She apologized before moving close to take the lady's measurements, sensing the woman's agitation increase in the terse silence.

Itoko would have tried to make small talk. She didn't have the presence her master did, who could get away with being quiet. It was hardly her intention to seem rude, but Lady Kameko made that difficult. She didn't feel the noblewoman wanted to speak to her in any setting, professional or not. As far as she knew, Lady Kameko wanted nothing to do with her. She already threatened to have her killed if she spread the word of her improper liaison with a shinobi. The same shinobi who later went onto arrange Itoko's meeting with Lady Kameko. Of that fact Itoko was certain. She saw them together last night after he promised to speak with her. She doubted Lady Kameko would see her if she hadn't been urged by someone that held some influence over her.

Izuna, she assumed, was only a charming influence. Nothing more, nothing less. He seemed talented at being a distraction.

She shook her head. She didn't want to jump to such conclusions. It was rude to be so assuming of a person, especially one she just met.

Itoko heard the sound of her bag slip, a few spools tumbling out from inside. She turned towards it, excusing herself with the lady as she did, and started to pick up her thread before it rolled out of sight when she clearly felt the ground shake. Her heart jolted in response.

"Was that a tremor?" asked Lady Kameko, visibly alarmed.

Itoko stood upright, her hands full. "I think it was."

Aine peered inside. "Lady Kameko, is everything okay? I felt a tremor?"

"The Uchiha shinobi are still posted around the castle, yes?"

Aine nodded. "We encountered plenty on the way here."

Itoko's heart drummed nervously. Did that tremor mean they were being attacked? Would they be safe here? Would the Uchiha clan be enough? She swallowed hard, her heartrate growing rampant.

"Good," said Lady Kameko, seeming to breathe a sigh of relief when an Uchiha shinobi pushed the doors apart fully, startling Aine. He entered with another three shinobi following suit.

Itoko recognized the first man to enter. He was the fearsome-looking male that had called out to Izuna when he had been talking to her yesterday afternoon. His long hair was held up in a short ponytail, his eyes dark like every Uchiha she had encounter during her stay, but unlike Izuna's which were normally filled with friendliness, his were narrowed, serious, and full of hostile conviction.

The room's ambience immediately soured when one shinobi grabbed Aine firmly by the wrist and another took Itoko as well, the remaining two—along with the one Itoko recalled—stopped Lady Kameko from running towards the door.

Itoko stared up at the Uchiha holding her, her heart jumped straight into her throat when he looked back with a glare that threatened trouble if she tried to run. She froze where she stood.

Lady Kameko glowered at the two fiercely. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Do not try to run," advised the fearsome male, "you will only make this harder for yourself."

"My father will hear of this!" threatened Lady Kameko. "You cannot do this!"

"Your father no longer has a say, this castle belongs to the Uchiha clan."

Lady Kameko was scandalized. "Where's Izuna?"

"That's none of your business," the other shinobi said, taking her by the wrist.

She jerked her hand back. "Unhand me!"

The fearsome shinobi grabbed the lady by her wrist this time and bent forward, hoisting her onto his shoulder like a bag of flour. She thrashed and shouted, demanding that she be taken to see Izuna, but her protests went on ignored as she was carried out of her room.

Itoko felt the shinobi holding her pull her forward as he began to walk, guiding her out the door. The other shinobi holding Aine followed close behind. Aine burst into tears and cried the entire way to the basement where they were discarded along with the rest of the staff. Lady Kameko was taken elsewhere. Itoko could still hear her shouting long after they were locked up.

As they sat in the dark, listening to the footsteps above them, fear spread between them. Itoko sat in the fetal position surrounded by most of the kitchen staff and asked herself not to cry.

She couldn't cry. Even though she wanted to very badly. Even though she was paralyzed by the fear of not knowing whether she or anyone else in the room would make it outside alive.

She was terrified. She wanted to go home.

Holding herself tightly, she heard a low creak above her followed by several snaps of wood, as if the wooden foundation was giving into the heaviness. Everyone around her jolted, their gazes snapping upward to the shadowed ceiling above their head when another tremor shook the castle violently making them all scream as they covered themselves with their arms.

As the shaking gained momentum, the ceiling above them gave out.

xl note: Whooop there it is! It is a little short, but I'm trying to get back into writing! I still haven't recovered from school yet. Is anyone still going through this? Finals ruined my life, but I got a 4.0 this semester~~ So, it paid off. XD

By the way, that fearsome-looking shinobi is actually Seijun. He was introduced in Kintsugi where no one really thinks he's scary. Actually, if you're a Kuronuma or Keigo, you don't really take Seijun seriously. Poor Seijun.

I apologize for the wait! More chapters to come! Cross your fingers!

Empress is next on my list~

I would like to thank all the new readers that added this story to their alert/favorites list. I appreciate it! Extra thanks to these lovely people: JustKeepSmilingRainbows, Unlimited Power, Libbeth, FlameCore, SilverRider09, blob80, Melissa Fairy, Guest (Thank you for reading and reviewing!), rabiosarabiosa, NotAndreea, torikai, and krooks16 for reviewing the previous chapter. (Edit 09/16 - Apologies to torikai because your name was erased when I was trying to bold it and it was left as 'b' and I never noticed!)

Thank you for reading! :D