Six Months...OMG...it's already more than six months since I updated this story. Sorry for the extreme delay. I'm still alive! I'm just having a hard time coping with my business.
So, this might be the last chapter I write before I move out to Germany, but that doesn't mean I will not update this story in the future. Only then it might be harder for me to update there.
As for the reviews:
RosyMiranto18: No, Nobuteru didn't survive since I think I had written that both have been slain. Or maybe if I forgot to put about it, I'll edit the chapter later on.
Yeah, I agree...a secret out after 33 years. I personally could be extremely affected...I could understand how they feel.
It's just a little hint. But Lady Toida knows that sooner or later, Tadayasu will figure out Hana's lineage by himself, and she aimed to let him figure out before Hayakawa-donoentered the household so that Tadayasu won't be surprised. Moreover, Lady Toida wanted to know about Tadayasu's reaction, which looks like going to the right way.
Oh, and Yuu-kun said hi to you too!
Thanks for the review!
Scarlet 'n Blossom:That's Tadayasu Nomi for you.
Oh, about Chie and Yuu...Scarlet-donois right, it was too quick for proposal. However, lucky for you, this chapter also contains some of their early interactions.
Thanks for the review!
So now, let's zip to the chapter!
Disclaimer: Aki Kimura, Natsuko Kimura and Asuka Reiki belongs to RosyMiranto18, Suzu Shiraishi belongs to Scarlet 'n Blossom, other OCs belong to me. (IDK if Senmaru is Scarlet 'n Blossom's or actually Canon). Some plots are taken from "Bell of the White Hare" by Scarlet 'n Blossom
Chapter 25- A Successful Negotiation, A Failed Negotiation
-Nagachika's PoV-
"I-Irobe-san?"
My eyes didn't deceive me, the guy standing in front of me was the same guy that had rescued Chie at our last battle of Komaki-Nagakute.
Dressed in an informal white clothes, he just appeared right here, in Aki. He casually just appeared before us and so it would be explainable if we just find ourselves gaping at the said young'n.
"What? Is my hair a mess or something?" The guy asked, probably trying to kill the tenseness that appeared right around us.
"No, not that. It's just, why did you come here? Aren't you supposed to be with your lord and the Uesugi-s?"
The black-haired guy kept smiling, like he didn't even care about my questions.
"Actually, I came for two reasons."
Oh, seems like he did acknowledge my question after all.
"The first, I brought news from Oosaka that Ieyasu Tokugawa had accepted the peace treaty from Lord Hideyoshi, which means Tokugawa Army had allied with Hideyoshi."
"Well, that's good to hear. With that we won't have to oppose that tricky army anymore, I think." I said. "And, what's the second reason? Don't tell me this has something to do with the girl you saved from our last battle.
"U...Um...That's...well..." Irobe-san's face started to turn red on my accusation. So I was right, his arrival here has something to do with Chie.
"Relax, it's not like I'm going to kill you just yet. I'm just wondering myself. But, are you sure it will be a great idea?"
"And, what do you mean?"
"I mean, Chie was unconscious when you rescued her, and she had been like that even after we went back to Aki. Don't you think that she won't recognize you?"
"I guess, you got me there." he replied. "But, even so, I felt really guilty if I just left her before she recovered, I felt almost like I'm abandoning her."
"That means you didn't trust us for curing her?" I asked.
"Eh, no, of course not."
"Haha...jodan-dayo." I laughed. "Oh well, in short, you wanted to see how Chie is doing, didn't you?"
The guy nodded. Looking at his determination like this, even crossing the land and sea just to meet her, I guess, either he really is a responsible and gullible person, or he already saw Chie as something else.
Or maybe both...
Well I'm not Chie's father or brother or any of her close family, so I have no right to stop him from meeting Chie, though, I guess as one of Chie's closest friends (we're far cousins outright, actually), I can't just leave him be. Chie's a special case outright, and so I won't risk her getting hurt or something like that.
For now, I guess I should grant him his wishes, then, let's see what happens.
"Then, let me ask you something."
"Sure, Nomi-dono. What is it?"
"Can you cope with a special case...like..."
-On a Ship en route Oosaka-
There are two horses visible on a long path from the direction of Kyoto to the direction of Oosaka.
On one of themwas a familiar young man who had been known as a genius prodigy. Known as the "Shikoku no Tensai", the guy hopped onto the horseto meet his lord.
But he wasn't alone. Together with him was a young lady who he had met from Kyoto. It was a sudden meeting while the guy, known as Aki Kimura, stopped for a few days stay at the city, almost drinking his despair off.
What happened at that time, really?
-Flashback-
Aki Kimura left the island of Shikoku, to a city known as Kyoto, in despair. His negotiation with his old friend and the daimyou of Tosa, Motochika Chousokabe, as a representative to Hideyoshi, was turning into the negative result.
Or, using a little harsher language, the negotiation has failed. Motochika rejected Aki's proposal of surrendering to Hideyoshi, and choose not to join up with him.
That result was actually very expected by the genius prodigy, and yet even if he had known, he still couldn't contain the guilt that built up in his body, like debris and sand which slowly turning into a scar that stings his body whole.
As a result, when he stayed in Kyoto, he can't help but not thinking things quite rationally, and by the day before his journey back, he tried to drink himself out of his guilty conscience, which didn't go unnoticed by a certain lady which was on the scene at the moment.
Just at the moment before he even took the cup, one hand stopped him from doing so.
"It looks like something's troubling you, no?" A lady, whose hand prevented Aki from the regretful decision, talked to him. "Sake is not a way out for your troubles, Sir."
Aki felt the sudden surge of stopping power and faced the person who stopped him.
"Thank you for your concern, madam, I'm sorry to be rude, but I wonder if I could as well know about you?"
The lady released her hand from Aki's, and politely introduced herself.
"Watashi no namae wa Reiki Asuka-desu. (My name is Asuka Reiki.)"
"My name is Aki Kimura. Hajimemashite, Reiki-san." Aki politely replied with his own introduction.
"Hajimemashite, Kimura-dono." Asuka replied, while noticing the badge and Aki's outfit. "Looking at your uniform and the fact that there's a Hashiba flag passing by Kyōto, I was intrigued. So you should've been a member of his forces. Oh, and it seemed to me that you're just travelled far, and looks unsatisfied, am I right?"
Aki didn't respond, as he was astonished on how the young woman actually knew all about what happened to him at the moment. The said young woman called on the waiter, requesting him to swap Aki's sake with some warm tea for themselves, and sat just next to the young prodigy.
"Well, you're simply right. That pretty much covers it."
"I wonder if I could do anything to lighten your load? You really need some help."
That sentence stopped Aki from sipping his tea, and glanced at the young woman for awhile, curious at her offer. "Are you seriously saying that, even to a guy you had really just met?"
Asuka shrugged. "Well, it has come out from my mouth so I really mean it, since I won't say anything I don't want. Moreover, it looks like I'm attracted to you."
That sentence made Aki blush for a bit, although he tried his best to hide it. However his face turned serious again as he also folded his arms in front of him. "Then, can I request something to you?"
"Sure, what do you want?"
"I want you to accompany me to Ōsaka, there's something I want you to help me with."
-End Flashback-
"You look quite distressed." Asuka said as they rested the horse for a while. "You need to calm down, Kimura-san."
"I was just worried, about what I should say to Lord Hideyoshi. I had volunteered myself, and he had trusted me, and look what the result is."
"In this chaotic times, you might not be sure about anything. And don't worry, I'm sure a failed negotiation won't just exterminate you. You need to think much more positive onward." Asuka said, holding Aki's hands and smiled onto him. "Though, I could think of the real "punishment" by your Lord.
"But,didn't you say..."
"No,not for you, but for your friend at Shikoku." Asuka said. "Hideyoshi's name and prestige had been known throughout the land, that includes the alliance with Ieyasu Tokugawa and the big portion of this Land they had conquered. The fact that you had been sent to Shikoku, and still being turned down on the negotiation, it would be possible that Hideyoshi will send a big battalion to conquer your friend's land."
"That's pretty logical." Aki said.
"Well it's easy just to think about that." Asuka replied. "Anyway, while waiting for us to reach the destination, can I ask you something?"
"Hm?"
"Can you tell me more about the person you want me to take care?"
-Back to the Mouri's Place-
"Chie, I'm going in." Hana called as she opened the door and the curtains to Chie's room. Inside was Chie, sitting on the bed, still covered in her clothes but some are covered in bandages, especially the stomach and waist part.
Chie just smiled, but her face changed into a confused one as she saw an unfamiliar person's face with them. "Who's that?" she gestured.
"Well, this guy is..."
"Wait, if it is okay, let me introduce myself." Yuu suddenly stopped her, then tried to approach Chie's hand. Of course since Chie didn't know about this man, then she hid her hands behind her back.
Nagachika knew what Yuu was trying to do. "It's okay, Chie. He's not our enemy." Nagachika assured her. Hearing this, Chie finally let Yuu took her hand. And so he began to write down his name.
"The name is Yuukita Irobe, you can call me Yuu in short. Nice to meet you, Kikkawa-dono"
Hana couldn't miss the sudden smile and a faint blush Chie was showing, and she also saw that Chie began to respond.
"Chie Kikkawa. Nice to meet you, Irobe-sama"
"I don't get it." Hana said. "Why didn't Yuu introduced himself normally to Chie?"
"I don't know about his real intention. But I think that was a form of respect." Nagachika explained. "Yuu had just known that Chie is mute, and he knew he didn't. However, just talking to her directly as a stranger while knowing her disability was very impolite, that means he didn't respect her. By trying to adapt himself with her muteness, he respected her and wanted to adapt himself so Chie wouldn't feel marginalized."
"Ah, I got it." Hana said. "But, to think that this Irobe guy would do something this far..."
"I assume you actually know what can be possible out of this scenario, haven't you?"
Hana's face showed a smirk, before leaning in to Nagachika's ear.
"Let's leave the two of them for now."
"Maybe that's too quick. For now just keep them under our supervision. You can prank on them much later." Nagachika said.
And the two just keep watching Yuu and Chie exchanging chats with the write-in-hand method for quite a long time.
-Oosaka-
Back in Oosaka, Aki and his newly-found friend, Asuka, had just arrived. Of course, being a doting and childish sister, Natsuko had already waited for her brother's arrival at the gates of the city.
"I'm back!"
"Okaerinasai, onii-chan!" come a such usual, familiar, and of course childishly-toned greetings from the childish young woman (hehe, spare me, Natsuko XD). "I've been waiting for too long, and days were getting boring here without you, onii-chan. Let's go somewhere or play with Suzu-chan!"
"You know very much that I'm tired, Natsuko." Aki replied. "Now, can you just let me meet Hideyoshi-sama then let me take a rest?"
"But...but..."
"I know how your brother feels like now, Aki's little sister. He was just after a very long journey back and forth, and what he needs more right now is some well-taken rest. Why don't you just let him be and probably play with me?"
"It's Natsuko, miss...Eh?" Natsuko's eyes darted from her brother towards the lady that had accompanied her brother. Her voice sounded soft and radiated kindness. Though, that doesn't hide the fact that Natsuko is utterly surprised.
"C...Chotto matte kudasai! Omae wa dare?What do you want with my brother?"
Asuka just chuckled at Natsuko's sudden burst. Discarding the fact that the young lady just burst out rudely at her, she knew why Natsuko asked like that. After all, who won't be surprised if his/her relative was going out somewhere alone and suddenly went back with another person without him/her knowing who the person is.
"Calm down, Natsuko-chan." Asuka replied. "I'm Reiki Asuka, I'm just a common civilian of Kyoto, and I came here because your brother wanted me to. Nice to meet you, Natsuko-chan."
"A..Aa..." Natsuko was surprised. "It's not like brother to bring back a girl here, let alone the fact that he wanted to...Don't tell me...he...and you..."
Asuka stayed calm, even though she knew very well what Natsuko had implied. "We might not go that far yet. For now, I hope we could just get along well."
Natsuko still had thousands of questions regarding this new face, but maybe she could save it for later. After all she can't be too annoying...
"Maybe if you could help me, could you accompany your brother and I to Lord Hideyoshi's place?"
-Toudou Residence-
"Here's your tea." A soft, fragile voice was heard by the cold, stoic Toudou family member of the residence.
"Ah, Thank You, Suzu." he replied. "Well, I'm not implying anything bad, but we're not on the tea ceremony again. You don't have to be so rigid."
"Ah...S...Sumimasen, Takatora-sama" Suzu said. "It's just, Sen no Rikyuu was so strict that his teachings just stuck inside my head."
"Point taken. I'm not blaming anyone, not even you of course. I just want you to relax for a bit..."
"I should have said the same for you." Suzu said, chuckling, as she knew how "unique" his husband's personality when it comes to "relax", because she knew Takatora is worse than her.
"Hmph." Takatora mocked a glare before sipping the tea his wife had made him.
"I heard that Kimura-sanhad come back from Shikoku."
"Yeah, I know that." The ever-stoic person replied nonchalantly.
"Natsuko told me that he came back with a young lady, and he didn't look happy, I wonder..."
Takatora just put the cup back and looked at his front, then downwards. His mind clearly was processing something.
"Should we go visit..."
"It would be better if we didn't." Takatora said. "Kimura has just been exhausted after that journey so just let him rest. Moreover..."
Takatora stood up, which confused his wife near him.
"Moreover?"
"I might as well be ready for another battle."
"Eh...Ehh?" Suzu was surprised by the statement given by her husband. "W...Why?"
"If Kimura doesn't look happy after that negotiation, that can only mean the negotiation has failed, and since Lord Hideyoshi was trying to unite this land, then...I know you're smart enough to deduce it by yourself."
Suzu came to a realization and nodded. "I got it."
"Mom! Dad! How was this?" A child's voice emerged from their back. The two turned to see a kid holding a kind of fine works on his hand. It was not very good, but not bad either. To be honest, it is pretty good for a kid his age.
"Wow, that's pretty good, Senmaru!" Suzu exclaimed happily.
"Thanks Mom, but I think I messed up here." The kid known as Senmaru replied.
Suzu just approached and petted him. "Here, let me help you," and proceeded to help him with the crafting.
Takatora, looking at the sudden turn of events, just huffed, and, with an almost invisible smile, joined the family session.
-At the same time, at Hideyoshi's-
"So, i...it seems like it's not...ouch...that easy." Hideyoshi said, still wincing in pain after a sudden hit by his wife Nene, since he somehow tried to woo the newcomer lady that came with the young prodigy.
"I know, I'm sorry I failed you. And to think I should have been convincing enough for this task...to be self-esteemed enough..."
"You had done your very best, Aki. I know it." Asuka tried to comfort him.
"The girl's right, Aki. It's not your fault that he declined our offer. It was their choice after all." Hideyoshi added. "But if this was the case, we all know the measures I had to take, right?"
Aki frowned, since he knew about this.
"I know you can't hold this, Aki. But, to quell the chaos of the land, we have no choice but to ensure the union under us. I want you to take your most comfortable rest. When the time comes..."
The sentence was a harsh music to Aki's ear, but he knew there's no other way.
"We will launch a campaign against Shikoku, and we'll take it under our banner."
-To Be Continued-
Alright. That's it for dis chapter! I hope it doesn't suck!
Please R&R! Constructive Reviews and Critics are appreciated while flames are prohibited.
Thank you and see you soon!
Kage
P.S: I am now actually more active in Wattpad, in the Mobile Legends fandom. You could add me at Hayashinkage17 there in Wattpad. See you there too! Me and my two other counterparts are waiting for you there!