Chapter 5: Imperial
-Imagawa Household. Morning.-
Fifteen imperial troops had gathered at the house of Imagawa Akira. There was loud chattering, laughter and shouts. For a simple bunch of fifteen, they made quite the racket. All had been kept in the lobby of the large household. Servants came in to serve them all kinds of enriched foods to suppress any anger or impatience. Even the servants exchanged glances with one another as if to ask whether or not these men were really part of the imperial army of the Emperor. It was hard to believe these men to be when their manners in Akira's household were so rude and unbecoming.
" Kika, Master hasn't returned yet...What are we going to do with this bunch?"
" We'll have to entertain them with food and sake as long as we can. Master Akira shouldn't be longer, Miroko."
Not even minutes later after the servants' conversation did Imagawa Akira finally arrive. The front doors to his household had been thrown open to reveal a fatigued and weary Akira. Behind him walked in a middle-aged woman. One of the servants had already recognized the woman to be Kiyoko's mother and rushed forth to take her belongings off her hand and carry them off to a guest room. Akira's eyes had darkened circles around them and were slightly puffy from his sorrow. Deep within those worn hollows, were angered and vengeful eyes of the most feared dragon. No words had to be spoken to these men before their yaps had shut and nothing but the sound of birds could be heard.Part of Akira's disheveled hair fell about his face, conjuring a rather demonic look. Seeing the speechless mens' faces, Akira took the advantage, stood straight and barked his orders with such a commanding voice that rattled the very walls of his home.
" YOU men, are to track down the route Kiyoko's kidnappers had taken! And believe me! I WILL have your heads if you are but a hair stray of the right course! She had been kidnapped mid-way down this road in the forest! We'll go into town for supplies and then we'll start from that spot in the forest! Do I make myself clear! MOVE OUT!"
" SIR YES SIR!"
The reckless bunch had quickly taken uniform march and left the house to mount their horses and move out. Akira turned to his future mother-in-law and softened his face for her as to not frighten the poor woman.
" I shall go with them of course. Please, make yourself at home in my household. Anything you need my servants will be glad to get it for you. Rest easy Kisagi-san, I shall find her no later then two weeks' time."
Akira turned about and walked out of the house to mount his own steed and lead the men into the city of Tokyo. The thundering of horses' hooves shook the ground as they galloped off down the dusty road. The jangling sound of armor and swords disappeared after some minutes. The servants took to Kisagi-san's sides and watch them leave as she did. Deep within her heart, Kiyoko's mother prayed for her daughter's safety and virtue.
Akira rode his horse hard, goading it on as fast as it would take him. The small group of men followed behind him loyally, trying their best to catch up. Akira had urged his horse to run so fast that now the feeling of the horses' feet on the ground couldn't be felt. It gave the impression the horse was flying down the road and with it, carried a soul of angst feelings. The rush of the wind chilled Akira's smooth cheeks. He had been fortunate for the Emperor to grant his request. Even if the Emperor hadn't, Akira would have gone out himself to scour the land of Japan to find Kiyoko. If it meant to risk his life, he would. Nothing was too far for him.
-Kamiya Dojo. Late Morning.-
Diru woke up in the room the girls had given him. The sun shone through his opened window with an ironic smile. How could the day be so happy when he was so depressed and full of distraught? The warm blanket baked him at a comfortable temperature. The comfort seduced him to stay in bed for a few more minutes and enjoy its feeling. Diru rested the back of his hand on his forehead to fine himself sweating. He looked away to the side, staring at the door into the room. There was only one wish Diru had. To return home to find his mother and sister there with smiling faces. It was all he could ever wish for at this moment. If he could just rewind time and start over...
"Diru-san?"
Diru's eyes had been staring into space so deeply that he hadn't notice the gorgeous woman walk in with steaming tea. Her vixen eyes and long black hair was the very symbol of shy beauty. A faint smile came to his face to welcome Takani Megumi. The woman knelt down beside him and showed him the hot green tea and some rice balls for him to eat. Diru sat up in his small bed and took the tea first, letting the warm liquid wash down his throat with a soothing feeling. This small moment took his mind off his sister and gave him a small token of knowing serenity and happiness.
" Thank you very much. I needed that."
" I bet you did, Diru. (giggles some then places a hand on his shoulder) You know, when you can't talk to Sano, you could talk to me or even Kaoru. Hmm, but it would be better to talk to me instead. (smiled and stood back up) Excuse me. I am making dumplings for lunch. I better see you out of this room and not sulking."
Diru let the easy-going Megumi leave the room and attend to her cooking. He took one of the rice balls into his hand and simply looked it over, admiring the simplicity of its making. A faint smile crept into his lips before he bit into the softness of the food, letting the taste take to his tongue.
-Enishi's household. Late afternoon.-
It had taken more time than Enishi had wished for the journey. The carriage was heading through a narrow path in a forest. Light ahead indicated the ends of the forest. The horses rushed through it and broke into full sunlight that pounded heat upon the carriage. Kiyoko slept in Tomoya's arms for a major duration of the ride. Ever since the incident last night with her scratching him, retaliating in such a way unexpected of her class, it gave Enishi time to think about what kind of measures of restraints he should use on her. The one room he planned to place her in had a window. The drop from that window was no more than two stories. When one was desperate for escape, people have been known to jump from five story buildings. He decided then he must chain her to the bed. Of course, there would be a servant to tend to her needs and unlock her when she had to use the restroom. He wasn't that inhumane as to deny a woman the rights to a bathroom. If she had been more reserved, he may have been open to allow her to wander his house. Enishi traced the scratches on his face again as he did last night. Certainly, they weren't enough to leave any kind of scar but did sting. He cocked a smile and knew it would be in his best interests to keep a watchful eye on her.
" Hm, it seems I am home."
It was another beach house as he had before but in the far Northern parts of Japan. He'd bought it far too long ago during his times of his Jinchuu Mafia. He'd long since forgotten about it until a week ago. Now, the carriage rattled up this house's driveway, the horses finally stopped and able to rest their exhausted lungs. Tomoya shook Kiyoko gently. Her eyelids slowly peeled themselves open. The man known as Yukishiro Enishi had gotten up and stepped out of the carriage. Immediately Kiyoko sat up and wondered where they were. When she looked out the carriage window, she saw the neverending horizon of nothing but crisp, blue ocean! Tomoya gave a slight chuckle near her ear as he leaned in over her shoulder.
" It's the ocean. We're in the far northern corner of Japan."
Kiyoko's eyes widened in fright. That meant they were many miles away from Tokyo and away from her family! Here, she was helpless and had to be dependent on these monsters! Tears brimmed the bottom of her eyes, her lips quavering with the fear of what kind of submission she had to give to these men.
" Come on. Let's not keep Enishi-sama waiting. He'll be furious."
Both exited the carriage to see Enishi waiting for them on the porch of his Western styled house. Once Tomoya and Kiyoko started up the few steps, a whip cracked. Kiyoko turned around so sharply to see the carriage tottering off. Once the horses reached the edge of the forest, Kiyoko turned around to see Enishi glaring at her with anger. What had she done? Kiyoko tucked her chin instinctively, showing the submission she was abiding to. Enishi opened the door and let Tomoya in first. Kiyoko hesitated a step to enter the house...thinking that maybe if she turned around now...maybe she could...
" GET BACK HERE!"
Kiyoko had jumped off the porch and hiked her kimono up, running as fast as she could towards the woods. It wasn't long before Enishi caught up to her and grabbed her around her tiny waist roughly, pulling her back. Kiyoko turned around in his arms to see his hand raised, the back of his hand coming down. The adrenaline kicked in and the hand seemed to come closer and closer and closer...hearing her own heartbeat in her ears. Kiyoko squinted her eyes shut and cringed up, ready to take the slap...nothing. Kiyoko opened one eye to see Enishi's hand no more than an inch from her cheek. What stopped him? He let her go and grabbed her hand, dragging her back to the house.
" If you try that again, Kiyoko, I swear on my grave that I'll kill you!"
Tomoya watched empathically at the speculation. Kiyoko resisted against Enishi's strength, but was obviously no match. It was foolish to have tried running away in plain sight like she did. What was she thinking to pull a stunt like that? A foolish woman she was indeed. Tomoya stepped aside to let Enishi enter the doorway while pulling along the struggling Kiyoko. Tomoya kept his laughter in, hiding the smile with the sleeve of his own kimono as Kiyoko was giving Enishi a hard time getting her up the staircase. Enishi uttered a few words, whipped around and bent down. he slung Kiyoko over his shoulder and turned, heading upstairs with much ease. Kiyoko pounded her little fists on his muscular back, hollering and crying like a child.
" (Speaking to himself) You'd better calm down, little girl...in this house, Enishi's word is law. Whoever disobeys is punished by his ideal of righteous punishment."
Tomoya gave the commotion no thought as he settled himself down on a soft, Western couch and began to doze. In all truth, sleeping in a carriage like that was the most uncomfortable way to go about gaining rest.