The Crane meets the Rose's thorns
I don't own any copyrighted material, except my own OC's: anyone else's OC's will be acknowledged in their introduction chapter
Days turned to weeks as the group waited for news of their fate. Under normal circumstances, this would be a long and drawn out wait, but to those bound in a cell it was practically torture. Cao calmly waited, doing various exercises, reading various books, and writing various journal entries on things that had happened. Testuo had somewhat calmed down, though not by much, and conceded himself to endless exercise to keep himself fit. The girls simply talked amongst themselves, read books and tried to keep their spirits up.
After weeks and bordering on a month, a messenger arrived and handed Cao a scroll. On it was the seal of the Crane clan, indicating its importance. He slowly and carefully broke the seal and unfurled the paper. He then slowly and carefully read the message, making sure he couldn't misunderstand anything written on it.
"No way. They actually did it." Cao muttered
"What are you on about this time?" Testuo asked, head down in what passes as a pillow in prison
"They have approved my status as daimyo of a vassal family. I am to be a member of the Yasuki family." Cao said, still in shock
"And what happens to us? Going to leave us in here to join your friends?" Testuo said bitterly
"No. I'm going to bring you guys with me. Well if you want that. I recognize that you guys will still be less than trusting to me for no telling you about my mission." Cao said as he stood up and walked towards the cell door
"First respectable thing you've said all month." Testuo said, taking his head out from his "pillow"
"Are you done being bitter, even after a month?" Cao asked
"Depends on if your genuine or not. Cause after the shit you've pulled, I can't trust anything you say as sincere. Any honorable samurai in their right mind wouldn't trust you." Testuo said, finally looking at Cao after a month
"Testuo your being too harsh on him. He had a reason for it." Velvet said, trying to keep some level of civility and peace
"A dishonorable reason." Testuo corrected
"Am I going to get a chance to explain myself or are you going to bitch all day?" Cao asked impatiently
"Very well Cao-sama. Proceed." Testuo replied, a hint of venom in his voice with him saying sama
"Any and all ill will felt by all of you is justified. I wanted to tell you all so many times, but I was given a duty by a superior. Though it was dishonorable work, by the tenet of bushido I had to do it. Now however I need you all. Admittingly if you don't agree to come with me you guys aren't going to get out of here, but that was a condition set by my superiors. I need you guys to join me and be the first members of my samurai family." Cao explained, and he sighed as he tried to control the upswelling of emotion he hid for those many months
"So, we either join you or we rot in here? What a fun choice." Testuo said sarcastically
"I wish there was another way Testuo. I really wish there was. But this time I have no control over this. They did not consult me, and they made this decision without me. I really do wish there was another way, but this is the hand that fate has dealt us." Cao said, his voice hitching a bit, and Velvet can see he's trying to prevent himself from crying
Soon both Testuo and Ruby also realize that despite everything they have said to him and their feelings towards him since being locked up, he still remained loyal to them. At this realization, the three began to think about their options. Really there was only one option. It all came down to how much they could forgive and or tolerate Cao moving forward.
"I'll join you Cao." Velvet said after a minute of silence
"Velvet?" Testuo asked in shock
"Testuo do you really want to be so petty that you'll stay in jail cause of your feelings?" Velvet asked
"I can live with that choice if I must." Testuo responded simply
"That's not what I asked. Do you want to stay here over this?" Velvet asked just as simply, forcing him now to answer
"No. I guess not." Testuo said somewhat sheepishly
"Have you made up your mind Testuo?" Cao asked
"Fine. I'll join you. But if you do anything else behind my back like that, it's over for you." Testuo said sternly, fires of rage burning in his eyes as he says that
"What about you Ruby? You've been awfully quiet." Cao said softly, looking over as his girlfriend
"Can we talk in private?" Ruby said softly, and at that the guards lead the two into the interrogation room
"Ruby talk to me. What's wrong?" Cao asked
"When I came to you. Were you faking the anger and frustration you had? Did you use me as part of this scheme?" Ruby asked, lips quivering as she tried not to cry
"No, I didn't Ruby. That was never the plan." Cao said as he pulled her into a hug
"What did you mean?" Ruby asked, looking up at him into his eyes
"Ruby, smuggling you out with the gaijin pepper would have and made my job a hell of a lot harder. It also added even more risk. If I got caught with you and the pepper, then I would be thoroughly screwed. I had no intention of using you. Back then I just wanted to get out as fast as possible. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you about this, but I hope someday you can forgive me." Cao said, continuing to hold her close
"I forgive you Cao, but I owe you an apology. I shouldn't have done that to you." Ruby replied, finally hugging him
"Its okay Ruby. Its in the past. Let's go." Cao said before letting her go and standing up
"Go where?" Ruby asked, standing up with him
"We have to go to Shiro Doji. We are to be sworn in as the Caowei family." Cao explained
"How did they come up with that name?" Ruby asked
"Vassal family's use the founders first name as the name of the family. However, I do not want to be called Cao Cao for the rest of my life, so I added Wei to show my allegiance and loyalty to the Wei empire." Cao explained
"Cao Cao?" Ruby asked with a chuckle
"Ruby if you start calling me that, your going back in that cell." Cao said bluntly and with a hint of annoyance
"Easy Cao. I'm yanking your chain. I think it's a great name." Ruby said with a smile, and kissed his cheek
"Alright. Let's get our stuff and get going. We need to make for Kyuden Doji for the announcement ceremony." Cao said as he walked out, and ruby was close to follow
2 weeks later: Doji lands near Kyuden Doji
Capital cities for samurai families were among the largest and most spectacular of all urban centers. Even among this group, Kyuden Doji remained one of the oldest, richest and splendid of all. Other names for it were Esteemed Palaces of the Crane or simply Doji Palace. Situated along the on a towering cliff, it stood defiant of the raw power and ferocity of the great ocean. It was so massive it spills down the mountain slope. The keep itself was second to the Wei's emperors in size and splendor. As they approached it, the group of four remained in a state of permanent awe.
As their carriage rolled through the gates, the city bustled with activity they had never seen before. Merchant's, craftsmen, and government workers bustled through the numerous buildings and streets nonstop. Guards patrolled endlessly in their vigil against unrest and crime. As they began the incline towards the keep, Cao held Ruby's hand. It was shaking the whole time due to how nervous he was.
"Its okay Cao." Ruby said as she held his hand tight
"I know. I'm just nervous. This is something I never thought would happen… and now it is." Cao said with a heavy sigh to try and clear his head
"I know you will do well." Ruby replied with a smile
"Depends on what the duty of his family is. It must be something important. They don't create vassal families willy nilly." Testuo explained
"Whatever it is, I know we can do it." Ruby said with a smile
"Alright people. Show time. We are about to reach the keep." Cao said as the carriage slowly stopped
They filed out of the carriage orderly and politely before entering. Guards stood at both sides of them in a line at attention. Each wore blue heavy armor and yari spears. At the end of a large and richly decorated hall was a raised dais with a large host of crane officials. Center of all of them was the clan champion, Doji Hotaru. A young yet beautiful woman, with long white hair, fair skin, and fine features. Her blue eyes looked over the four that walked towards her, and the party bowed respectfully to such a powerful individual.
"Greetings Cao. As the foremost descendant of lady Doji, it is wonderful news to see a lost desendant has been found. And even greater news to hear that lord hida's bloodline has survived as well." She said as she looked over the four, like a tailor looks over cloth
"It came as a great surprise to me Hotaru-sama, but I will strive to live up to the expectations of both of the kami who's blood flows through my veins." Cao said, doing his best to hide his nervousness
"There is poetic coincidence that you have both of their blood inside you. They were the last two kami to die." Hotaru replied
"Forgive me lord Hotaru, but I did not know that." Cao said, kicking himself internally for not researching the kami and their history more before hand
"Lord Hida was the second last to die. When Lady Doji heard of the news a day later, she became overcome with grief. She then flung herself to her death on the very cliff that Kyuden Doji sits." She answered, the last bit holding a hint of pride in her voice
"Then in their memory I swear my service and eternal loyalty to the emperor and the crane." Cao said confidently
"With the power invested in me by the kami and the emperor, I declare you the founding member of the Caowei family.
"With the power invested in me by the kami and the emperor, I declare you the founding member of the Caowei family, under the Yasuki family. From this day forward, you serve your family, clan and the emperor wholly and utterly." Hotaru would boom for all to hear
At this Cao and company stood up and were escorted out of the main hall to show them where they would be staying. After leaving Ruby in the room, Cao left to go meet with the Daymio of the Yasuki family. He had seen him at the ceremony, but only briefly. After the servant he was following brought him to the room, they open the door for him, bowed and left.
"Come in come in Young one." A surprisingly jovial voice said from inside
This caught Cao off guard, but nevertheless followed the voices order. He entered and before him sat at a table was what he assumed to be Yasuki Taka, the daymio of his patron family. He was very short, not even reaching 5 feet, yet has a stout and wide body for his height. He had a wide face and head with sharp cheekbones and a pronounced sharp chin. Two brown eyes looked him over and soon a very large smile, one that caused creases in the sides of his face, to greet Cao as he bowed and sat at the mat on the other side of the table.
"It is an honor to finally meet you Taka-sama." He said
"Oh please, none of the honorifics here. This is a happy and momentous occasion. One with apply merchantable opportunities." He said as he waved off Cao's formality with stunning ease for a man with such a high position
"Of course, Taka. Now what is it you wished to speak with me about?" Cao asked
"To discuss the most important thing a samurai family must have, aside from loyalty of course, their duty to the patron family and clan." Taka said simply, his smile never leaving his face
"And what is it that is my duty?" Cao asked
"The very same thing that brought you this far my dear man." Taka said somewhat cryptically
It took Cao a moment, but it hit him. The thing that got him into the scales of the carp, meet Ruby and his friends, and embark on a journey thousands of miles north. The thing he wanted to finally get away from in his new life. Now it was the very same thing he would now have to do for the rest of his life.
"Smuggling." Cao said in dull surprise
Terribly sorry it took me so long to get this one out. Between holiday travel, fixing up the apartment and boatloads of nonsense at work, it was hard to write this one. Now however the journey arc of this story is over, and a new arc will begin. And what of the second group hunting Cao down? Don't worry, they will appear later, but I will not do the wonky nonsense of back and forth storytelling. Always found that frustrating and confusing myself. Anyways, thank you all who are reading this, and have a good day.