Summary: Kaze Clan leader Ichihoshi Kazuo is out for revenge on one, Shinomori Aoshi. Why? Let's just say he's got some issues with his ego…
Winds of Change: Prologue
Kazuo Ichihoshi was furious. Scratch that: he was livid with rage. His hoarse bellows echoed through the large mansion, making his servants cower in fear.
"I want you to find him then, damnit!"
"But, we don't know where he i--."
"Why the hell do you think I waste all that money hiring thugs? Use them, for god's sake!"
The man standing nervously near the door bowed, backing out and closing the wooden doors quickly. Kazuo's voice echoed after him:
"Bring my sister to me, and make sure you scour all of Yokohama before you even think of coming back here to report!"
The man didn't even bother to reply as he jogged down the plush, carpeted hallway. Standing before two large oaken doors, he knocked timidly, the sound reverberating loudly. A soft voice came from inside.
"Come in, the door's unlocked."
He gulped a little as he opened the doors, and stepped inside quickly, not bothering to close them. The young woman sitting behind a Western-styled desk looked up at him, her dark hair messy and out of place. He could not help staring for a little bit, enjoying the pretty sight that she made, but when she started speaking again, he jumped in place. If Ichihoshi-sama found out that he was ogling his sister, he was as good as dead.
"Taka, I asked you a question. What does my brother want?"
"Oh, yes. I'm very sorry, Tomiko-sama. Yamada Kiyoshi and his younger sister have left the clan. There was a note in his room, saying that he has…deserted. Your brother wants you in his room as well."
Hikari and Kiyoshi have left the clan? Oh no…Aniki will kill them if he finds them. And if he finds out about…
Tomiko shook her head unconsciously, trying to rid herself of those uncomfortable thoughts. That was the last thing she needed however, for her brother to find out about that night that he was in Tokyo on business, and left them in the mansion…he would make Kiyoshi's death even more painful if he found out. Tomiko frowned as she thought about this, forgetting that Taka was still standing uncomfortably in the doorway.
"Tomiko-sama?" His voice brought her back to reality.
"Oh yes, tell my brother that I'm coming."
Taka bowed and left the room, jogging down the stairs and slipping out into the night. He did not tell Kazuo that his sister was coming, he would sense her before she even made it halfway to his room.
Now as Tomiko walked down the long hallway to her brother's room, she clenched her hands. Kiyoshi did not matter…no, not anymore. It was Hikari she was worried about…that poor little girl, to be caught up in all of this! She knocked on her brother's door, and then slipped inside, shutting the door as she did.
"You wanted to see me, Aniki?"
Kazuo looked up from his own desk, smiling as he saw his younger sister's dishabille. In a moment, his angry mood was dispelled as he thought of how pretty his sister was. So much like their mother…
"I have a job for you, Tomiko-chan. I think you know about Yamada's unfortunate…leave-taking."
"Hai, Aniki. What is it you want me to do?"
"Listen carefully, now…"