I woke up to find myself in an unfamiliar room.

'What happened?' I thought groggily.

"You're awake, Mister Zai?" A voice called out from my side.

I turned my head to see who it was and the towel that was on my forehead slid to the ground.

"Mitsue?" Everything that happened before I passed out came rushing back to me. "How long was I out for?"

"Not long, an hour and a half. I'll go call the Madam." Mitsue said as she took the towel and the basin of water, and left the room.

The door was opened again shortly after and Renji's mother and sister stepped into the room before taking a seat beside the futon I was laying in. Although one kept their hair in a bun and the other kept it down, the beautiful mother and daughter pair looked like a before and after photo sitting next to each other. They were the spitting image of each other with only age as the differentiator.

"Renji's not here, he's still performing his duties as a patrol officer." Madam Miyoshi said when she caught me glancing around. "How are you feeling?"

"Other than the injuries I already had worsening a little, I feel fine."

"That's good. It seems that they used some sort of sleeping agent on you."

"Thank you for saving me."

"It's not a problem at all. You and Junpei are practically family." She smiled before she put on a serious expression. "Now, I must to ask, do you have any idea what you have done for someone to send ninjas after you?"

"They were ninjas?"

"They were trying to hide it but their movements gave them away and that technique at the end was clearly a ninja technique."

"I don't know..."

"But I am rather curious about how you received those injuries, and about this case." She gestured at the case on the side.

"Uh..."

"I don't mean to put you on the spot. You don't have to answer if you do not wish to, since it seems the assailant's objective was capturing you, rather than securing the contents of the case. Forgive me to taking a glimpse." She covered her mouth with her hand to hide a mischievous smile.

'She did save my life.'

I took a deep breath before speaking.

"There are two reasons. One is that the hidden heir to the Sakamoto Clan happened to be my neighbour while I was growing up. And two, I'm the co-owner of the newly opened Dragon's Gate Casino. Between those two positions, I have been getting into a lot of...situations lately."

"And did you get that dangerous toy through these connections?"

When she saw my expression, she explained.

"Those ninja wouldn't be so careless as to alert others to their presence. Even if we hadn't arrived, I'm sure one of our neighbours would have showed up."

'That was what I was counting on. A neighbourhood full of nobles with their guards showing up.'

"Sorry about that." I chuckled nervously.

"It's fine, we won't tell. You made the right decision to call for help. But it sounds like you live quite an eventful life." Madam Miyoshi mused. "Renji has never mentioned any of this."

"Only Junpei knows about the casino, since we deal with his inn regularly."

"Then the ninjas, do you believe that their attempt to abscond with you is related to the two positions you mentioned?"

'Could the Matsumoto-gumi have figured out who I am? Or was it someone sent by Kuro's uncle?'

"I don't know."

"Hopefully, we'll determine their motive and affiliation once the kunoichi we captured is questioned."

"There is a possibility this could be another matter altoghther." Sumire spoke up.

"What do you mean, Sumire?"

"If those ninja made the attempt on any regular person, no one would have found out until someone reported a missing person."

"But Zai signaled and held out long enough for us to arrive. They probably weren't expecting such a tough capture, which means they most likely don't know much about Zai." Madam Miyoshi nodded.

"Yesterday, there was a notable missing persons case. The fiancee of the missing person reported his disappearance at noon, and by the afternoon, it had moved all the way up the chain to Seiichi's office."

"Your husband's?"

Sumire nodded. "There was a big commotion about it because the Capital sent word that they had dispatched an agent who is due to arrive in the next few days."

"You could be right. In any case, we'll find out in a few days." Madam Miyoshi said. "You must be tired, Zai. Should I sent a message to your elder sister that you will be staying here for the night?"

"I think I'm good to go home." I said.

"I can take him." Sumire said. "I should be heading home as well."

I was helped up and taken out to the front shortly after, where a carriage was waiting, complete with police escort.

"Come visit again, Sumire." Madam Miyoshi said before we boarded. "Even Zai drops by more often than you."

"I'll try, mother. Tell Renji I said hi."

We travelled in silence for awhile before she spoke up.

"I hope you don't mind if we make a short stop here?" She pointed at the dango shop we had stopped outside of on the way.

"I don't mind."

One of the guards escorting the carriage soon returned with two plates of dango before we continued towards the restaurant.

"We've met before haven't we?" Sumire asked. "I think I recall Renji attending an archery competition with his friends a little while back."

"We've met before that." I said, taking a bite of a piece of dango on the skewer.

"Really?"

"I actually remember meeting you and your husband when you weren't married yet. He asked me to deliver a plate of dango to you."

"I don't recall any moments like that." She tilted her head, trying to remember.

"There was another time where he was helping you practice archery in the forest."

"That!" Sumire suddenly yelped.

I gave her a look of confusion.

"Ahem, please forget you ever saw that." She said as she calmed herself down. "It was before my marriage, and it didn't work out with that man."

'It was another man?'

"It seems that we have arrived." She suddenly said, looking relieved to change the subject. "I'll tell some of the guards to keep watch for a few days."

"Thank you, Big Sister Sumire."

I left the carriage and entered the restaurant find Rahyou and his nephew, Hakuhyou, had visited and were chatting with Azu while enjoying a meal inside. I stopped at the office to drop off the case before heading out to the main room.

I had been seeing a lot of Rahyou at the restaurant lately, even when he didn't have deliveries for us.

'I wonder why? Does he like the food that much? Or is he's interested in someone?' I thought as I glanced at Azu and then at Nao who was walking our way.

"Zai!" I was greeted by Hakuhyou, who was playing with Kin.

"You were out pretty long." Azu said.

"I stopped by at Renji's place. His mom says hi."

"You guys are pretty busy here, huh?" Rahyou said.

"I guess Rin really did quit." Nao said as she stopped by.

"Why did she quit anyways?" Rahyou asked as he leaned in.

"We don't know." Azu said. "She just disappeared a few days ago. All she left was a note saying that she was quitting. I wonder if she found her sister?"

"It's going to be kind of lonely without her around." Nao said. "I hope she's doing well."

"I think she'll be fine, she was quite capable." I said.

"Capable, how?" Rahyou asked.

"You've been showing up a lot lately and you don't even order anything sometimes. Are you here to pick up girls?" Nao chided. "Because I'm only interested in handsome, rich, and strong samurai men. And you don't fit any of those."

"Not at all." Rahyou waved.

"Uncle Rahyou has big muscles." Hakukyou said.

"Well, I guess you do have some." She said as she eyed his large muscles. "But I bet you don't even know how to use those muscles in a fight."

"Hehe." Rahyou gave an awkward laugh as he scratched the back of his head.

"I'm watching you." Nao narrowed her eyes.

"Looks like we'll have to hire someone new, it'll be too much for you to handle." I said to Nao.

"I can tough it out for now. But it would help if you made one of those pizzas for dinner." Nao pleaded.

"Is it something as tasty as the hamburger?" Hakuhyou asked in excitement.

"Well, if you guys stick around long enough, you can find out. Nobu needs practice for the competition." I said.

"Have you guys decided on what to cook for the preliminary round?" Nao asked. "They asked for the restaurant's specialty, right?"

"We'll be making a chicken burger meal."

"Ohh, he'll be sure to pass the preliminary round with that."

"Gohei mentioned something about that." Rahyou said. "When is this cooking competition? Maybe I'll drop by and take it a look."

"Tomorrow."