Disclaimer:

Current bank account balance: $0.00 (tells you a lot, doesn't it...)

Note: Do not have to read first part if not. Not necessary.


May 23, 1910

Today was the day of the ceremony of advancing Sohma Kaoru as Duke of Suffolk. Most people within the Sohma lands were excited. Especially the poor ones. Who knows what type of wealth would be flowing to their direction, when the nobles are so happy? But first, there has to a lot of chaos.

At the crack of dawn, everyone within the household was already hustling around, running here and there. Everything must be prepared for said ceremony. It was a huge event. But with big celebrations, there's bound to be a lot of confusion.

"Did you see those maids? They're suppose to get ready soon."

"Hey, where's the last batch of guards? They are needed…"

"Is there enough sake?"

"Oh dear, did anyone see the kimonos?"

Finally, everything is done. The ceremony has started.

Kaoru is standing at the head of the whole progression, wearing a kimono that has the Sohma's family crest. The kimono itself was black, and there's a dragon flying around it.

Behind him, there's Akito. She was wearing a kimono that's black, with the family symbol as well. Her kimono was decorated like her son's, except in a more feminine style, and the dragons were silver. Her hair was set up, for this special occasion. It was done in a pattern, and the hairpin is the Kanoko Dome. The shape was butterflies instead a round domed shape, and there were all sorts of semi-precious stones.

Beside Akito, was Kisa, Kaoru's sister and heir. She was wearing a kimono that was less elaborate than both of them. It was a black one, but the patterns were far simpler. Same with her jewellery. Her hairpin was mostly blue, with some silver butterflies decorating it.

After them, came the courtiers, and advisors of the duke. Then some ladies and certain members of the household were allowed. The rest just made sure that the ceremony runs smoothly.

Once up the platform, there is someone reading from a long sheet of paper. On Kaoru's titles, his duties, etc. etc. Most people didn't even bother to the words, and just stared ahead, at the magnificent wealth. Akito and Kisa stood on each side of Kaoru.

The droning finally finished, and it was time for the entertainments. Dancers came up and started moving gracefully, musicians striking their instruments. Colours and bodies were swirling gracefully. Flashes of green, blue, purple, pink, red, yellow, orange could be seen. The music carried everyone's sorrows away.

Akito was staring ahead. The ceremony has been successful. One thing for sure, they had wasted a lot of money. But it was worth it, letting everyone know who the true master is. She knows that everyone will love her for today, but they'll turn their backs if you don't give them an image, saying that you'll protect them, and make them rich. It was not easy.

She turned her head, and caught Ren staring at her. Ren's glare was full of hatred. She smiled. Another reason why she's so happy. Everyone has been cheering for Kaoru, all shouting 'God bless you' to her. No one was paying anymore attention to Ren, and her two bastards. They're of the past. She smiled, and felt very tempted to creep to Ren's ear, and whisper, 'You want to fight back, don't you? Don't you wish that this was all yours?'

Ren watched Akito's ghost of a smile, hatred burning within her. This was supposed to be all hers, all hers. She was suppose to enjoy that honour as Dowager Duchess, and it was suppose to be her son that's the center of attention. Instead, she was cramped with another 20 ladies, at some stupid table. Damn them and all of their high pitched annoying voices. Oh, how she longed for those old days.

'Listen, Akito. I will get back. I will not sit and admit defeat. Just you watch. Someday, if not me or my sons, my bloodline will come back and revenge to all of you. All of the Sohmas!' She swore under her breath, and swallowed her pride. Her day will come, she knows it. She just has to be patient.

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December 18, 1913

"And so, in conclusion, have everything set up in case of said storm. Financial matters can be observed later. Everyone is dismissed." Akito watched as all the men filed out of her main room.

It's been over 3 years since she has started her duties as a Duke for her son. Still receiving training, he is still stuck with his tutors. She has been making all decisions for her son. It has been a very stressful job, with everyone yelling nonsense at her all the time. Some complaint of this tenant, a petty thief found over here, some land has been stolen; someone's wife has committed adultery. She has to look at all this stuff, in addition to advice the royal family. It is so tiring and annoying sometimes.

As for Kisa, his heir has been located at another house. As Duke, Kaoru has to be with his mother at all times. But Kisa is spared from all those burdens, and is allowed to live somewhere else. Her daughter would come and visit her next week, and she'll take a look at her education.

She sighed as she called for one of her maids to grab her some tea, and then she would continue with her paperwork. Ever since taking on this burden, the household didn't need have half as many people, since there was no one to entertain. Many of them tried continue staying, and those arguments would eventually have to be settled as well. She was not up for such a task right now.

"Your Grace, Yoshiro wants to see you." A maid announced respectfully.

"Tell him to come in…" Her voice has gotten a lot more relaxed, and by the tones of it, she sounds pleased that he has arrived.

"Good afternoon, Your Grace. I always find it soothing before your presence, and yet fearful, since you are a goddess." He bowed lowly before her, and she managed the tiniest of smiles.

Yoshiro, the man that has cleaved to her after Shigure's death, has become her most trusted advisor. He knows many secrets, and does a lot of 'odd jobs' for Akito, and is her favourite. Just like Junko in the past, but a lot more powerful, since he could play in politics and just the household quarrel.

"And good afternoon to you. You are becoming a very well known person, due to your sweet tongue. I daresay that most of your honours, you have gotten them with your words, not your abilities." She scolded him, but he could see through her. She was mocking him.

"Oh, but Your Grace, indeed it is true. You are like a goddess, and all my honours have been won through your commands. Are you trying to admit that you're falling for my words? I am wounded at such a thought" He decided to play with her, and looked hurt. He placed his hand at where his heart is.

Light laughter filled the room, as Akito motioned for him to sit down. He allowed a smile to escape, before talking about business.

"So as usual, nothing is happening, right?" She asked casually.

"Nothing more than usual. Everything there is going well, and it is rather dull. I assure, all my spies have sworn their lives to you, that nothing is happening, and nothing will happen for a long while." He looked serious.

"Of course, and your other business?" She looked at him, waiting for an answer. He pulled out several pieces of paper, and handed it to her.

"See for yourself, Lady Akito. These are their demands for a betrothal. I would think that it is an insult that I didn't even bother to talk with them." He said something else, but Akito's eyes were already absorbed by the words on the paper.

"What…What do they think they are? My son is a Duke, the Sohmas is one of the greatest families in the kingdom, and they want requirements such as these ones? They want us to not merge their lands, and to give their daughter said freedom, and the right to be her own free person. Along with such a small dowry! This isn't even an insult! Its plain ignorance. Just because he is a minor, and hasn't established his title as Duke for very long, it doesn't allow them to play with us like this. I will die before anyone will agree to these said demands!" The papers in her hand were tightly grasped, and it was getting really crinkled. Her knuckles were already white, her face full of colours. Her breath going shallower, raspier again.

"My lady, are you alright?" Yoshiro rushed forward to aid Akito, but she pushed him away.

"What shall I do? What can I do? These fools, what do they think they are? They make demands with us! That is such a joke, that all their dignity shall be lost if this gets out." She was muttering to herself, eyes suspicious, and her head doing calculations. Her head suddenly snapped up.

"Yoshiro! Go to the Takeda family once again, and tell them that if they don't agree to the terms that I have made, there will be a war. And tell them that it is foolish fighting a family such as the Sohmas. Go immediately. Those fools will be sorry. Take a small portion of our soldiers with you. I do not want them mocking us for saying that we have no power."

"Of course, my lady Akito. At once." And he slipped out of the room, leaving Akito with a fresh headache, and a determination to break down the family.

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January 4, 1914

"See, my lord. Just as I had predicted. If you are seeking an alliance with Akito, she will want to take over your family. If you don't prepare yourself, she will either do it by marriage, or force. Either way, she will end up taking over everything that the Takeda family has worked so hard for, and calls it as the Sohma's grace." Ren was talking smoothly to the Earl of Pembroke, trying to get him to change his mind.

The earl was thinking, trying to see if there was any truth with what Ren had said. It was true that Akito has felt insulted at their demands, just as Ren told him she would. But what could he do, for the Sohmas were such a powerful family? They could just ask for the marriage through the royal family, and there's no way that the Takeda family could back off. And all that the family has been working for generations!

"My lord, I can see what you are troubled by. You are worried that you have no power to protect the family's future, since they have connections with the royal family." Ren started, and the earl stared back at her in amazement. How did she know?

"Oh, I can only imagine why you would be like this. I have served under Akito before, and everyone knows of her ambitious ways and her strong will. She is willing to do anything to meet her goals, including some less honourable things that I won't mention. Do not fear. I have a plan for you, my lord." She paused for a second to take a sip of tea, and the earl stared at her eagerly, waiting for more.

"All you need to do is find someone good enough for your daughter to marry. Not someone's ranks that might as be the same as your family's, for they will take away your land. You should find someone that is well learnt, and is ambitious to help you advance the family further. I can assure you, my son would be---"

He quietly slammed the table, suddenly understanding why Kimaru Ren would care for his family. It was for her own ambitions! She was just like Akito!

"Thank you for your kindness and concern in the Takeda family. We are forever indebt to you. However, I think as the head of the family, and earl of Pembroke, I am sure that I can find another male suitable for my daughter. Here is the reward that I had promised you." He tossed her a heavy sack of gold, and then motioned for a servant to come fourth.

"Please lead Lady Ren out of the house. She needs to leave now. Thank you. I hope to see you soon again. God bless you." Then his servant came upon her, and he left the sitting room.

Knowing that she lost, she took the sack of gold, and walked out.

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January 5, 1914

"Where is Eiko? I want my lunch now!" A young boy of 8 with black hair, and coal black eyes, was walking in circles within a tiny garden. He has been hollering for 15 minutes, but the servants only stared at him with pity, or told him that they haven't seen her yet.

"Finally, I found you. Where is my lunch, I am so hungry!" Hikaru asked, looking eagerly at the young maid for his food.

"Sorry, Master. Have to wait for the food. Go wait in your room; I'll deliver to you once it's made. Get out of here now. You're bothering us." She replied in a tone that was definitely less than polite, and brushed him away. He was left alone in the kitchen, since Eiko walked out again. He stared longingly, and went back to his room.

Almost an hour has past, and finally Eiko showed up with whatever should have been his lunch, slamming it in front of him. It consisted of a tiny bowl of rice, some miso soup, and some shrivelled up vegetables. Masao's eyes grew twice their size, and he tried stopping the maid before she walked away.

"Eiko! Why is my food like this?" He stared sadly at her, but she didn't feel pity for him. She just gave him a blank stare, than left the room. He wanted to throw a fit, but what could he do. Tears choked him, and he started to eat his lunch quietly, sniffing the whole time.

Ren entered her son's room. The meeting had not gone like she had wanted to. However, she did have to laugh at that stupid fool of an earl. Took him long enough to realize why she was helping him in the first place.

She noticed her son hunched in a corner, and spoke sharply to him. "What are you doing, moping in a corner? You should hold dignity for yourself!" The voice scared Masao, and he looked up.

"Mother! Why are we living like this? Why? We used to have a good life, with servants all helping us! Why am I living a life like this now, being insulted, and everyone acted as if we barely exist! Eiko used to be so kind, now she's all rude. Look at what she gave me for lunch, and she just delivered it. It's already all cold! Mother!" He shouted, while tears poured down his face. He didn't care anymore, about how those lectures his mother gave him about being graceful and untouchable. He didn't care.

Ren took a look at what her son was pointing to, and wanted to rip off that stupid Eiko's head. Those fools. They used to hang onto every work that she said, and now none of them bothered to stay to serve her. She will make them pay! Once she can make an alliance, she will make everyone remember who she is.

"Come here, Masao. Come, don't cry now." She held out her arms, and the little child ran into her arms. She grimaced at the weight of her son, how heavy was he? How disturbing. It's all for the future, she assured herself, think about the future.

"Listen, it's not their fault. It's your father's fault. No, it isn't. There was a woman controlling your father that forced him to give everything to her. Now her son sits in the place that you should be sitting at, and has told people to be disrespectful like that. If they didn't, we would die. They're trying to save us." He stopped crying, and hanged on to every word that she was saying, coaxing him. Ren was surprised at herself, how did she come up with such gentleness?

"Anyways, the only way to make sure that they will be loyal, and not fear for their lives again, is to defeat that woman. Listen, we will wait now. But once you're old enough, you must go back to where we came from, to defeat your evil brother that's sitting at your place right now. He is a monster that's harming everyone, and everyone wants you to go back. But you must be patient."

He nodded eagerly, and said "Of course mother. I must save the people from an evil monster."

"Yes dear, you must. He is eating up everyone that he could get his eyes on, and he is the reason why we're living like this. Remember, be patient. Once you've grown, and have gathered enough power, you can go and defeat him. You will get the respect that you'll deserve, and save everyone. Can you do that?" She gave him a questioning word, and another nod.

"Of course, I will. I shall take care in my studies, so that I can someday defeat this monster. I will defeat him, and restore everyone back to its proper nature. I will." His eyes were no longer filled with tears, nor were they filled with that enchantment. It was filled with anger, a need to dominate, blood thirsty. It gave all promise of wanting to go fight and get what he should deserve.

"Good. Remember, be patient. Your day will come. Good." Ren murmured, although it was to assure herself more than her son.

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January 7, 1914

"Good morning, my lord. I am glad to see you in such good health." Yoshiro smiled at the earl that was sitting at the center of the hall.

"And good to see you as well. How are His Grace and Her Grace? Are they in good health as well?" The earl smiled politely, although knowing that the arguments will begin soon.

"Of course they are. And they thank you for caring so much. My Lady Akito sends her blessing for the whole Takeda family, and wishes it to be well. She believes that it can blossom into something wonderful, and serve our empire? Do you think so?"

"I thank Lady Akito for her concern, and it is also my wish to see the Takeda family blossom."

"We all know that. But can you right now? You are rather losing funds, and your earldom has less land and importance these days now, you think not? Why not go seek an alliance with a family that can protect you?" Already down to business. The earl was taken back. He never knew that Yoshiro was so quick, and so grave for these matters. He usually played with words.

"And we are seeking for one. I thank the lady Akito for such precious advice, but why is she interested in what alliance that we make?" He hopes that they wouldn't go to the topic so soon. There was only one way out of it.

"That is why we're here. To help you. The Sohma family is more than enough to support your earldom, and your family. Now that we have also extended ourselves in the business world so much more quickly, you cannot find a better alliance. Why not consider it?" Yoshiro gave a small smile, gazing at the earl like a hawk gazing at its next meal.

"We would be delighted. It is just that for an alliance, it must mean marriage. And we have already made terms. As long as Her Grace is able to follow such terms, the alliance will be made." The earl gave an answer of something in between. Thank god.

"And an alliance with Kimaru Ren is going to help you?" His eyes went deadly cold. Like ice. The earl paled immediately.

"We….we never thought about that? What gave you such a notion?" The earl tried waving it off, but it was no use.

"I know what I know. Does it matter? So, you think an alliance is with a failed family is going to work? Do you think that Kimaru Ren and her bastards are going to help you advance the Takeda family? Or are you so stupid, that you never notice that they were just using whatever influential powers you have?" The earl was too shocked, that he only stuttered. Yoshiro got bored.

"Well than, I take it as that there's no point in this conversation anymore. I have come strictly out of business, and since you do not need our protection, than I'm leaving. And oh, here's a letter that Her Grace wanted to give to you. Consider as a sign of gratitude." His words were deathly, but his smile was charming. He carelessly dropped the letter, and left he room.

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February 15, 1914

Sohma Kaoru was scared. His mother, commander of all things, was watching him take his lessons. There was going to be a painful lecture afterwards.

"Excuse me, Your Grace? Your Grace?" His tutor broke his train of thoughts, and he felt his mother's eyes boring through him. He gulped.

"Yes?" He asked in a squeaky voice, hoping that his mother hadn't paid attention, or became nicer.

"Stop. Kaoru." No such luck. Might as well get it over with.

"Your Grace, Yoshiro has important business that he wants to see you right now. I am sorry, but…" Kaoru thanked the gods. Thank god Yoshiro came back. He's the only one that could save him from such long tiring gruesome lessons. Why couldn't he stay near the Honke all the time?

Kaoru walked up quietly, but his mother's voice came. "Don't' leave. It's time you take notice of your lands."

"Yes, ma'am." He stood beside her politely, and paste a smile on his face. On the inside, he was fuming. Couldn't he be released, just for an hour? It's not like he cares about what business decision that they make, or how many men the send to help with some sort of disaster.

Yoshiro rushed in without anyone telling him to, and dropped down to his knees.

"Your Grace. I have come with urgent news. I am sorry to trouble you with such news, but the Takeda family is not willing. They will not bend. Furthermore, to my spies' reports, they might be making an alliance with Kimaru Ren."

Kaoru watched as his mother's elegant and mysterious features twisted, and morph into something that was ugly. Like an old witch. He gulped. The fury of his mother, what a storm it will ring.

"He is a fool! I swear, he is mad. Not an alliance with us, but one with someone as weak as Ren! Does he plan to open a harem? Why would he want Ren with him? Is that bitch starting her lustful ways again? And I thought I had been so kind to spare her! Is the earl mad? Why would he want someone like Ren? I can give him much more, and he chooses her? And I thought your spies assured you nothing was brewing down at where the bitch is living?"

"I'm sorry, Your Grace, it is just that, I heard about it myself. All the spies indeed didn't know what Ren was planning. Kill me; I am the one that has not completed the duty."

"Kill you, kill you? All the blood in the world won't help. You think of yourself so highly? I can take your head down as easily as I have given you everything! Of course you should be blamed, who else should take it for you? And I think that I should take care of Ren's business from now on. I can see who is capable, and how is not."

"Yes, Your Grace, I'm sorry to fail you." He was not pleased with such arrangements, but he didn't dare argue. Even though he was so favoured, she was the master. HE had to not overachieve himself. Enemies were already plotting everywhere.

"Did you give him the letter?" She spoke coldly. Kaoru stared at amazement. So this was how his mother deals with people, and his subjects. He had a sudden fascination; he wanted to scream like this someday as well.

"Yes, Your Grace. I did not fail you in that." He continued looking at the ground, hoping that her anger should simmer down soon.

"If you did, than I would kill you this instant. Anyways, the promises that I make are not empty. We will declare war on them, once the weather is much warmer. Assemble all the men, and train them. Thank god that you had came up with some idea to train them all the time, even though nothing went on."

"Of course, my lady."

"Send them an official document later. We will be declaring war on the Earl of Pembroke, and the Takeda family."


Author's rambling corner: Sorry...umm...for not updating sooner. Yeah, not much else to say, other than that there's some sort of stuff brewing for both parties. And now a kid is invovled as well. He will play a large role later. Keep in mind about how he reacts to Ren's statements, and what environment changes he went through. Other than that, not much to say this time. Thank you, people.

Oh, some useless knowledge I found on wikipedia about the people's clothing in the ceremony. Like the hairstyles, I got it from there.

Kanoko Dome- domed shaped hairstyle with heavily jewelled accessories. Could be gold, silver, coral, jade, etc. General shape is round, but butterflies are rather popular as well.

The seasonal 'theme' for May was blue and silver butterflies.

Finally, the ceremony, I totally made it up. Its just a little transitional piece, and with some details showered here and there. Trust me, in real life, there would be nothing like that. But still, why not make some stuff out of it?

Next update: No idea. Busy schedule. School is over on Aug. 9. Still so many days away.-sobs-