I still don't own Sengoku Basara.


Interlude


A rap on the screen made Sayomi stop, her eyes darting upwards to acknowledge the maid standing there, "I apologise for interrupting my Lady."

"Not at all. What is it Nami?"

"You asked to be alerted when your husband's regiment sent to Edo returned here."

Getting to her feet hurriedly, Sayomi cast an apologetic look at Ryota before continuing to speak, "My husband? Hotaka and Teruko?"

"Safe and at the head, my Lady. The messenger says your husband is staying on for a little while longer." Visible relief came across Sayomi's face, and without even looking at Ryota, who was quietly packing away his writing gear, hurried out of the room, forcing Nami to jog to match her speed.

Smiling to himself as he reached for his spare brush, Ryota suddenly found his fingers covered by another set, Kotori's hand pulling away just as fast.

Unwilling to face the awkwardness their silence would bring if they allowed it to continue, he quietly cleared his throat, "Is this the same husband she was threatening to castrate when I arrived?"

"Yes." Kotori giggled quietly, moving the same hand to cover her mouth. "He and my elder brother were called away to Edo to attend to something there." She turned thoughtful, "Then again, it could also have been to keep him safe until Mother did agree."

Humming, Ryota packed the ink stone away, tucking it into his satchel before getting to his feet. Bowing low to Kotori, he began to head for the door, before her voice pulled him back, "I forgot to ask before, do you know which room was set aside for you?"

"I was under the impression that my guide and I would be spending the night in an inn in town."

Raising a critical eyebrow, Kotori crossed her arms, and despite the longer hair, she truly channelled her mother for a few seconds, "As if. The people in town are more curious about my mother than your money, which is saying something." Standing, she waved an arm at the door, expecting him to follow as she took the lead.

Following bemusedly, Ryota kept a careful eye on where they were going, attempting to map out the house before Kotori finally stopped in front of a door, opening it and standing to the side so he could look in. It looked cosy enough, with the back wall decorated with a hunting scene, the samurai creeping around the forest, not noticing the yellow eyes of the tiger watching them from above.

Looking at him expectantly, Kotori's face slowly began to fall, "It's…this is nice." He finally whispered, looking around. "It looks like my big brother's room at home."

At her nod, Ryota took the first step inside, just as Yumiko and Isamu came running up, grabbing their sister's arms, "Come on Momo, Hotaka and Teruko are back!"

"Yeah, they might have presents!" Isamu cheered, already beginning to tug her along. Mouthing an apology at Ryota, Kotori gave up her mild resistance, slipping her hands properly into her siblings'. Watching them leave, the writer's son managed to keep his smile on for a bit longer, but felt it slip, settling instead for setting the writing kit on the nearby table. With them sitting there, he could almost convince himself that he was just snooping in his brother's room.


Hotaka was everything his mother wasn't, he was made from a stronger build and he had lighter hair that fanned around his face when he freed it from the tie. Barely two seconds after he and his mother parted, Isamu leapt onto him, wrapping his arms firmly around his waist. "Sorry little man, I've got nothing on me."

"Aw, you're boring!" Isamu pouted, stomping away and letting his sisters take his place. While he ruffled their hair affectionately, Isamu moved to bother the woman standing by the horses, receiving a playful shove in return. She was taller than Hotaka seemed to be, with darker hair tied tightly in a ponytail.

When she realised she was being watched, Teruko looked up and found Ryota almost instantly, her gaze turning stern.

Ignoring this, Hotaka looked at the saddlebags, which sent Yumiko and Isamu running, each clamouring to get their treats first.

Smirking at their antics, Sayomi noticed Ryota hanging back slightly, gesturing him to come closer with her head, "Hotaka, Teruko, this is Ryota, the reason that imp is currently hiding behind our friend."

"With the colourful threats you gave him before we left, is it any wonder?" Taking the sharp cuff on his ear with a grin, Hotaka sheepishly bowed, and then shook Ryota's hand. "Hattori Hotaka, at your service."

Teruko also nodded, settling for a more curt bow before speaking, "Isobe Teruko."

"I thought your last name was Hiroto, my Lady?" Ryota asked before he could stop himself.

Luckily Sayomi took it in stride, pointedly ignoring the red dotting her cheeks, "That's an example of my, how does Mizu put it, pig-headed stubbornness. Although Shogun Tokugawa was kind enough to bestow my husband with a new surname, I prefer to keep my own father's name. And Teruko prefers her father's name."

Slowly nodding along, Ryota gave the back of his neck a quick rub, silently begging the awkwardness of the moment to end. Nibbling on her lip next to him, Kotori finally cleared her throat, "Hotaka, did you bring me that bird you mentioned in your letter?"

"Ah, I'm afraid it had already been sold Momo, sorry." At her slightly deflated look, Hotaka quickly waved his hand towards Teruko, who grabbed something from the saddle, "But I managed to find this little beauty."

Looking up in surprise, Kotori only just grabbed the cage before Hotaka dropped it in his haste. Parting the curtains covering it, she and Ryota were met by the brilliant orange feathers of the bird as it hopped around, tilting his head as he inspected them. "A komadori, he's beautiful!" Kotori breathed, inspecting him from all angles.

"And peace returns to my family." Sayomi rolled her eyes, "I think Ryota; we had better leave off until tomorrow." They all glanced towards the horse, where Yumiko and Isamu were inspecting their boxes, chirping happily at the sweets, "Otherwise I'm not going to have enough energy to chase them down to go to bed."

"Sorry Mother."

"You'd better be. Next time warn me that you're giving them sweets beforehand, please?"