Butterflies

"Me? I'm nobody. I'm not skilled like Uchiha-san. I am not passionate like Haruno-san. I am not smart like Nara-san. I'm not as strong as Chouji-san. I'm not as collected as Aburame-san. Or as pretty as Yamanaka-san. I'm not as confident as Inuzuka-san. If anything, I'm like Hyuuga-san, socially awkward. Oh wait, no, she's just shy. The socially awkward one is me." OC! Team 7 remix!

Chapter 82 – Just one little country

8-8

"Aya, you need to calm down." Ino is begging me.

"Imouto-chan, really. You know she's right." Shikamaru's on her side.

"Please. Let's just go home." Even Chouji is against me in this.

"I reserve the right to kill anything that tries to attack us." I demand. I don't like that they're babying me, but… I can understand their concerns. We just essentially kidnapped their daimyo, in the eyes of this 'country'.

"… That's… fair…" Shikamaru's already calculating the route least likely to encounter anyone dumb enough to trouble me right now.

After I scalp the fallen's weapons, seal the –worthwhile– heads and unseal some chocolate, I nod. "Let's go."

8-8

Twenty minutes to get into the city. Most of the fricking night fighting my way out of it!

No. Scratch that. The sun's coming up! ALL NIGHT FIGHTING MY WAY OUT OF IT! I can't decide if I'm being lead in circles or not! But we've encountered dozens of roadblocks, hundreds of army personnel, and… well… lots of carnage gets left in our wake. Mostly my wake, because I'm still pretty pissed! But… that's not the point!

Yeah. You'd think that after dealing with the elite guard, people would be smart enough to just leave you the hell alone, right? No. Who does that? That's silly. No, you see the elite guard is merely decoration, and the run of the mill guards patrolling the city, those are the ones to look out for.

Uh huh. True story.

"Aya, really. You didn't have to break his arms." Ino complains.

"You suggested I let him walk away. He can walk away." I counter. She huffs, pouts and crosses her arms, but doesn't respond.

"You realise you've killed at least half their army." Shika-nii complains.

"They attacked. I defended with lethal accuracy." I defend.

"That might have something to do with you waving your sword and being covered in blood." Ino is once again on my case.

"Like they could see the blood in the dead of night! You know what? Whatever. If you guys would lead us hell out of this place!" I am in no mood! That last idiot got his blood all over my chocolate! Go bleed somewhere else!

8-8

Finally outside the city, finally away from the idiocy. Finally…

"Seriously?" I complain, smelling a long idiot stalking us from behind. I unsheathe my kodachis, wondering what convinces this chuunin level idiot that he will succeed where jounins have failed.

Having decided we're on to him, he attacks. Wakizashi in one hand, katana in the next.

Sniff.

He smells different than the others. And he's not wearing their uniform either. He's… dressed like Tagarashi from the movie Ronin. Standard komon kimono that guys used to wear all the time back before other styles were invented. Oh kami! Dressing like that is a thing in this day and age!? How old fashioned can you be!?

He has black hair kept up in a poofy ponytail, black, beady eyes. An elongated scar from his chin, curving up and well into his hairline. His hands are calloused to show he's trained long and hard with his blades. His chakra is vibrant and strong, yet calm and almost muted at the same time. Two conflicted states of being. He's overly emotional about something.

"Something on my face?" I ask, noticing his stare.

"I didn't expect a butcher to be so pretty." He almost sings as he speaks. Only, in a traditional Japanese, nasal, dying cat way. He was taught to speak that way.

"I didn't expect a simple mission to include a corrupt daimyo trying to kill my team and enslave me." I shove him back, knowing that will throw him for a loop. "Life's just fun like that."

He comes for another dual blade slash, but I block both attacks with ease. Sure, he puts some serious power into it, but using the speed of my shorter blades, the added weight of the Earth Fang Style, and enhancing my strength… and it's not that hard to counter.

"You are skilled, butcher."

"I am Aya, not 'butcher'. Why is it that no one has the common decency to call me by my name anymore?" He comes at me again, reinforcing his blades with neutral chakra. I block him just as easily, kicking his shin hard enough to make him wince, but not break skin or bone.

"… As in 'pattern'?"

"Logic." I counter. Yeah, 'Aya' can be spelled with like eight different kanji. 'Logic' happens to be the least commonly used, so no one ever guesses that first.

He sheathes his blades, grabbing the katana and its sheath. He assumes a stance. I don't recognize it, but I know what he's doing. Battoujutsu – attacks designed to draw the sword from its sheath in one, lightning fast attack.

As expected, he's on me before I can blink, trying to take my head in one fell swoop. He just never expected me to block. Or to trip him. Or to sit on his shoulders and grab him by the hair to pull his head back in place the sharp side of my kodachi against his throat.

"Reverse edged. Why? That's a defensive blade." He sounds more confused than upset.

"I'm a medic. And my team's defensive fighter. It fits." I explain seriously.

"Medics don't slaughter."

"Namiki medics do." I counter. "And the next idiot that tries to bed me against my will, will receive the same or worse."

To prove my point, I cut his arm with my kodachi and heal the cut almost instantly. "You… speak the truth."

"Gee, you think." I drone sarcastically. "Now buzz off. I've got these idiots complaining enough about the blood I've spilled."

I get off him, leaving him there in the dirt.

"You would let me live?"

"Did I stutter? Go back to Three Wolves, samurai." I sheathe my kodachis, annoyed beyond belief.

"Aya, chocolate." Chouji reminds me. I nod, unsealing a new bar and digging in.

"I am no samurai. Just a wandering ronin." He corrects, getting up and dusting himself off.

"Only samurai even use the term 'ronin'." I point out. His chakra still smells of snow and iron ore. No matter what he thinks, his being craves his homeland. I take a bite of my chocolate, enjoying the simple, almost understated sweetness of this one. I tend to store a bunch of different kinds so the flavouring never gets old.

"Unsweetened pure chocolate." I sigh, grateful that insanity is behind me.

"A samurai has honour. I have none." He says, his wooden shoes tapping the dirt as he trails behind us.

"That's nice." I intone, taking another bite. "Hey, Chou? You're my cuddle bunny later. Try to weasel out of it and I'm never going to forgive you."

"Only if you wash down first. I'm not getting all that blood on my clothes. Mom would kill me." He tries.

I shrug. "She'd understand if you tell her what happened. But I'll agree anyway. I feel icky."

"Why not take a break now then?" He suggests.

"No. I'm not washing down with a stalker behind us. I swear, ronins have no sense of self-preservation." I point out. Hoping the idiot just leaves. "Come on!"

I force them to pick up the pace. Both wanting to get back to Konoha quickly to tend to Tsuren, and just wanting to get away from the nutcase that is obviously intent on stalking me. I have the worst luck with guys these days.

8-8

Six hours later, we need to take a break, and the idiot is still fricking following us! "OI! I'm tempted to change my mind and kill you, you know! GO AWAY!"

"Saromi Yoshitoshi." Okay, that throws me for a loop.

"… What?"

"My name. Is Saromi Yoshitoshi." He gazes at me, his eyes soft and gentle. His chakra has settled, no longer churning with the emotions from before.

"You're point." I demand. I need to go, and I haven't had chocolate or a fight in hours! This is not the time to test my patience.

"It is common courtesy to introduce oneself by means of offering one's name, is it not?" He bows, gentle and gracious. There's an odd… grace about his movements that I didn't notice before.

"Are you flirting with me?"

"I wouldn't dare, Namiki-dono. Your consort would be most cross with me, I should think." 'Dono'… 'consort'? He thinks me royalty?

I blink.

…

I blink again.

…

"Shika-nii, did I just end up with another overly loyal stalker for life?"

"Why are you asking me that?" Shika-nii sounds annoyed.

"You usually figure out people quickly. Ino?"

"It seems that way." Ino is being useful at least.

"No. Just no. I have enough people like that in my life. Ino, you take this one!"

"My loyalty is not so frivolous as to be offered to one so easily."

"Saromi, is it?" He nods. "You just all but swore an oath to guard me so long as you breathe. I'm in no mood. And I certainly do not have the need."

"Namiki-dono, pl-"

"What did I just say?" I am not taking on another one! I have enough going on!

"I cannot. Though the words never passed these lips, the oath has long been made, Namiki-dono."

"I am not royalty, Saromi! I am not a daimyo. I am not even a good person!"

I so ignore three snorts.

"Your guards think otherwise. No matter how commonly they act with you, I sense their loyalty is no less than my own." He tries.

I am SOOOOOOOO not going to point out that I'd left my guards in Konoha, because then he'll… hmm… "Ah, but you seem to misunderstand, Saromi. You see, Shikamaru-nii here is the true royal. Heir to the Nara clan of Konoha. And currently without a guard of his own."

"You mix truth with lies, Namiki-dono. I thought it beneath you." He isn't impressed.

"I do no such thing. Every word is true." I challenge. "The fact is that this team is nothing but royalty. Yamanaka Ino, heir to the Yamanaka clan. Nara Shikamaru, heir to the Nara clan. Akimichi Chouji, heir to the Akimichi clan. And Sarutobi Asuma, head of the Sarutobi clan. Each is far more deserving of your loyalty." Anything is better than putting up with another one! I don't mind with Tsu and Tomi, because I know how to shake them when I need to, and I'm accustomed to having them around. They're good company.

I can tell this one will not be so easy to manipulate. And I don't want to pull more strings to get another one into Konoha so soon.

I have enough people to take care of these days!

"You think I should point out that she's the head of the Namiki clan?" Ino… I know where you sleep. I know where you bathe. I know where you work and train and shop. Are you sure you want to annoy me right now?

"… Have I offended you, my lady?"

"Saromi. Seriously. Shut it. Now." Chouji wraps his arms around my middle, his breath hot against my neck. "Chou…"

"Just until you calm down. We need to get moving soon, and you need to see to your needs." He whispers. There's at least some decent tree cover here, so I don't need to make a new hidey hole. "Just breathe."

I take a few deep breaths. My eyes closed to block out the insanity that once again found me. I swear, Kami-sama must be out there, watching, eating some heavenly popcorn and laughing their divine ass off at the life I lead.

8-8

We run until an hour after sunset. I still can't convince Saromi to buzz off. Ino's taken to teasing me, calling me 'your highness' and 'princess Aya', and more useless crap like that.

After we all see to our needs, I hand out dinner. As annoyed as I am, I'm also a medic, so I hand Saromi his dinner and a water bottle as well. I find myself noticing that he's undernourished and unhealthily pale. That annoys me, because now I want to scan him to see if he's in good health.

He notices how everyone is eating the bland looking bar, so he nods and decides to do the same. He doesn't like the taste of it, if the look on his face says anything. I sigh, wondering why I even bother to notice. I don't want another shadow! I don't need another shadow!

"You guys need your rest. I'll take watch." Asuma-san offers. Saromi seems shocked by that, almost as if he's discovering that up is down and down is up. After all, he's probably not used to the leader taking care of his subordinates, not on this level. I can't say for sure though – I don't know that much about samurai culture. Or even about other hidden villages. I just know that Konoha is like that. And that's why I love our village.

"Asuma-san, really, I'm not eve-"

"Medics don't take watch, Aya, you know that." He cuts me off. I roll my eyes, annoyed that every Konoha jounin is like that.

Whatever.

"Saromi, please stop staring at me. It makes me uncomfortable." I say, annoyed. He looks away, embarrassed. "I'm going for my wash down. I'm tired of the blood on me. Ino?"

"Co~oooooming." She sings, amused.

We head a bit further into the night, but I smell the others staying in the camp they're setting up. I unseal a change of clothes, two bottles of water and the scent-free soap I use on missions. It's annoying to a fault, but I love the feeling after a wash down. Even if it means half streaking in public like this.

After washing every inch of skin, washing my hair –with the same soap, but that's alright, it's a soap that's designed for it– and getting dressed again, we start heading back to camp. I feel almost human again, even if my flak jacket is still covered in blood and therefore sealed with the rest of my dirty clothes. I came prepared, with a peach furisode top. So I'm good.

Back at camp, I find Chouji waiting for me. He smiles, motioning me over. "Come, you need your rest." He tells me. I don't argue, at all. I'm tired. And annoyed. And confused what I Kami's name I'm going to do with Satomi. And wondering who in the heck named their child 'Yoshitoshi'!

Chouji lets me cuddle up in his lap, wrapping me in a blanket to stay warm – even though summer is coming closer, the nights are still chilly.

8-8

"You found another one, Namiki?" One of the guards asks, amused. "Every time you go out on a mission, I swear."

"Don't remind me. I'll take him to Senju-san to sort him out. His name's Saromi Yoshitoshi. Originally from the Land of Iron."

"Under Namiki protection, I take it?" The other guard asks, just as amused. I grumble, walking through without another word. "Careful, Namiki! Silence is almost always a yes with you!" He calls out after me, laughter in his tone even though he isn't actually laughing.

"Tsu, Tomi, I don't want to hear it." I intone, finding my usual shadows there waiting on me. They look seriously annoyed.

"A country." Tomi starts.

"I don't. Want. To hear it." I repeat.

"A country!? You go with Chouji's team to keep an eye on him and come back the conqueror of a country!?" She's not letting up, at all.

"Tomi, if I knew it would go down like that, I'd have brought a far more specialised team. I didn't because it shouldn't have happened. Now quit it."

"Aya. A country! You overthrow a country and you expect me to 'drop it'? SERIOUSLY!?" Tomi is not happy with me.

"Yes. I do. Because I have enough headaches coming my way. And how the heck did you even know?"

"Because Hokage-sama called for a meeting the second you get back. The Fire daimyo wants to meet the woman that overthrew the Land of This. Solo!"

"My hearing works just fine. You can stop shouting. And I didn't do it solo. Asuma-san and his team were helping me." I point out.

"Then why is it that the Land of That daimyo sent word to the Fire Daimyo and to Hokage-sama, wanting to thank the hero that finally conquered his nearest neighbour?"

"Stop exaggerating, Tomi. Seriously. It's not a big deal!" I try, knowing that I'm wasting my breath even as I say it.

"Uh huh. Let's see if you say the same thing when you enter the Council Chambers." I groan this time.

"I'm in no mood for the Council. Not today!" I grouse.

"Tough. That's what you get for-"

"Can it, Tomi!"

8-8

All the way to the Council Chambers, Hitomi keeps complaining about how I left her and Tsu behind. How I went to war without my faithful shadows. About how I even went and picked up another stray. Saromi bristles at that, but doesn't comment.

"There was a time you were a stray, Tomi." I remind her.

"And there will be a time when he won't be. For now, he's a stray." She doesn't back down. At all. I groan again.

"Whatever. Do me a favour. Collect the bounties for me." I unseal and hand her my bounties' scroll. "There's a dirty one in there. Sorry. And take some of the money and take Saromi shopping. I'm almost certain he has nothing more than the clothes on his back. The thought alone makes me cringe. And no, Hitomi, I don't care if you feel like shopping or not. This needs to happen. Bring Kin with you if it makes it less torturous, but he needs clothes. And Tsu, I'm going to need you stay here with me. Consider your lack of shopping punishment for not helping me when Tomi was on my case."

Both of them whimper pitifully. I grin, enjoying their reactions. "Make sure you bring him back here when you're done. I need to talk to Senju-san about him before he's officially allowed in our den. Understood?"

"Yes, ma'am." I nod, walking into the Chambers, already being bombarded by Naruto-nii and Kashi-nii and Momochi-san.

"A country?" Naru-nii's the one that starts.

"What? It was barely more than a city!" I defend, again!

"That's not the point. That still means you conquered a city, 'ttebayo!"

"That sounds more accurate than a country." I counter. "Look. The point is that there was no other option. He wouldn't stop just because we got away."

"So you conquered a country to defend other villages?" Momochi-san is NOT helping!

"I didn't conquer a country. Stop saying I did." I demand. "I defended myself when an obvious tyrant wanted to kill my teams and enslave me. Nothing more."

"A tyrant daimyo." I swat Naru-nii for that.

"Look. Just settle down, we can discuss details later. For now I need to relax. I have enough going on." I point out.

"Like Saromi?" Kashi-nii raises him only visible eyebrow.

"We'll talk about it later." I leave the 'with less curious ears about' unsaid. The three of them nod, settling down a bit.

8-8

"Thank you all for coming. You've no doubt heard about the recent mission to the Land of This and its… interesting outcome. Now, the Fire daimyo and the daimyo from the Land of That are both coming to Konoha within the week to meet the one responsible. In the meantime, I understand that the daimyo to the Land of This is currently in T&I's care?"

"That is correct, Senju-san." I say. I'd dropped his depraved backside down there myself. And I made sure to ask Mitarashi-san for a personal favour to break him herself the second they get the go-ahead from Senju-san.

"Right. Now, as I've yet to receive the mission report, there is no other news at this time."

"Hokage-sama, if I may?" Shimura, I'm not in the mood. At all. Seriously. Don't push me. Even after taking out most of my anger on their army, I've got more than enough pent us to take it out on you as well. "With your permission, I would hear this report as well. And seeing as the highest ranking of that team, and the one responsible are here…?"

"No." I refuse. "This isn't a political move, Shimura. This is a kunoichi defending herself, nothing more. Stop making mountains out of anthills."

"I disagree, Namiki. To overthrow a country, no matter how small, is very political. Just because there is also a humanitarian motive, doesn't excuse that." He counters smoothly.

"That's nice. But the answer is still no." I say.

"Hokage-sama, are you really going to allow Namiki-sama to get away with this?" One of the civilians tries.

"Get away with what? Refusing to give a mission's report to the council? Following protocol to the letter? What am I allowing her to get away with?" Senju-san demands. The man wisely shuts up. "No matter no much sense Danzo makes, the fact is and remains, this is a mission that was grossly mislabelled, once again. I believe an investigation is in order to uncover the reason why this is so common."

"… Actually… Hokage-sama… I'm pretty sure it's just Aya." Asuma-san points out. "She wasn't in the least surprised by any of it. Upset, yes, but not surprised."

"Heh, have you heard of the missions we got sent on? The reason they're so common now is because our Team stopped taking them all." Naru-nii points out. I shrug, not disagreeing with him.

"I would have to agree, Hokage-sama. Our team took the bulk of the mislabelled missions." Kashi-nii backs him up.

"I see. I still don't believe this should be allowable. Hatake, I want you to lead this investigation. Find out what's going on. And be as ruthless as you can." Senju-san demands.

"As you wish."

"Now. As for the other reason for this meeting. It would seem that…" Yeah, nothing important. Not to me. Are we done yet?

8-8

I go through the motions, explain Senju-san about Saromi, what little I know of him, and his oath. She nods, demanding that he be processed before anything else happens. I don't fight her. I don't want to. I bring him down to T&I myself, explain Ibiki the situation, and tell him that Saromi is in his care until he's satisfied.

With the official part done, FINALLY, I head home. I don't care that it's the middle of the day. I enter the bathroom and I start washing down so I can soak. I wash my hair, I get rid of the worst of that stupid… stupid mission.

I finally realise that the tub is empty. And I'm in no mood to fill it. So I just dry off and get dressed. I go down into Naruto-nii's old office, glad that it's still very much empty and clean. I go through the motions, summoning my six wolves.

"… Mama's still sleeping, Aya. Why is she still sleeping?" Tsuki asks, on the verge of freaking out.

I walk up, seeing Tsuren's laboured breathing. "She's fine, Tsuki. She's just recovering. That's why I summoned you guys here. I want to keep a close eye on her to make sure she's okay." I explain carefully. I then activate the Mystic Palm jutsu, scanning Tsuren from snout to tail. The blood clotted in her lung. She hasn't been coughing it up like I asked her to. "Tsuki, you remember Hana, right? I need you to go call her for me. Now please."

Hana enters the room not five minutes later, questions in her eyes. "Hana, please." I beg, looking to Tsuren.

Hana comes, scanning her to see what's wrong. "Ah… pretty rookie mistake. Canines don't cough up the blood. You have to take it out manually. It's alright, so long as our patient here allows me to, I can tend to her. I've dealt with canines all my life after all."

"… Please…" I beg, on the verge of tears.

"I'll take care of her, Aya. What I need for you to do in the meantime, is to get some really big pillows to keep her comfortable. Check in the Inuzuka Ninken Store, they'll have an idea how to help. You might also want something for the pups. They won't want to be far away from their mother. And she's going to need a few months to recover. At least."

"She's staying here." I say, finality in my tone. There's no way I'll allow her to go back to her den in this state! I should have…

No. Now's not the time. Focus!

"Pillows. Something for the pups. Anything else?"

"Soft foods. Chewing raw meats will be too much for her. I recommend a wet mix for now. Just until she gets her strength back. Same store. Explain the woman and she'll recommend the best bet."

"On it."

8-8

I buy four of the biggest pillows. We'll likely only need two, but I'd rather be cautious. I buy the canned… grrrrrr… dog food… the woman recommends. And enough of it as well, because Tsuren isn't just worth it, she needs it. Recovery plays havoc on so many things, and your energy output is one of them.

I buy five of the bigger pillows for the pups as well, to make sure they have something and don't feel left out. I know they'd rather sleep close to Tsuren. I know. But… I… there isn't much else I can do for them right now. As much as it pains me to admit that…

Anyway! After paying for everything and sealing it away, Tsu and Hitomi decide I need some R&R, but I turn them down. I need to get home. I need to get these thing to Tsuren. She…

Aya. Stop. Stop thinking. Do something! Move!

8-8

Back in Tsuren's room, I find Miwako helping with what little she can. Satsuma is here as well – Hana doesn't seem too bothered by either. I don't think I can handle dealing with them as well. I unseal everything I bought, carefully explain the pups that their mama is going to be alright, and that everyone from my pack is going to take super good care of her.

"Aya, can you make a sound barrier big enough and stable enough to lift her to put the pillows under her?" Hana asks.

"Of course." I say without having the think about it. I've made much bigger Barriers before, after all.

Snap!

I hover the Barrier up into the air, keeping Tsuren perfectly straight and as comfortable as the situation will allow. Hana flattens the pillow to the point it's like a hospital bed, I think she even uses a jutsu, but not one I know.

"Alright." She says, satisfied with her work. I lower the patient back down, nice and easy. "Perfect. I got out most of the clotted blood already. And I've been checking her for any other problems that might crop up. She's going to need some pretty intensive care, Aya. More than I can offer her right now."

"Hana, what are you suggesting?" I narrow my eyes at her, already afraid I know where this is going.

"I can help, Aya. I've dealt with wolves for years." Satsuma offers. I don't even acknowledge he's here.

"Aya, you might not like it, but I'm already swamped with those new patients and Tokara. Yes, the others are helping, but frankly you and I are still the only two the patients trust." She explains, sorrow in her tone. "Don't think about him… think about her. What she needs. He can offer that right now."

"Fine." I say, walking out of the room. I… I can't be here right now.

8-8

I spend the rest of the day doing what I do best when I get like this: training. Nonstop, full-tilt, training. Either the pain will stop, or I'll pass out. Something is bound to happen.

"Aya."

Not listening. Training. Training, not listening.

"Aya."

I kick my mud clone so hard that I turn some of the mud into dust. Having dispelled that last of them, I make twenty more. My chakra reserves dip dangerously low, but I haven't passed out, so I'm good!

"Stop."

Stop? I'm just warming up! I blaze through the clones, tearing through them with my bare hands, punching, kicking, breaking them over and over again. The scent of my blood is so mixed into the mud by now that I'm not even sure if I'm still bleeding, or if it's just old blood.

That's why I don't know who's here. I don't want to know. I'm in the Namiki backyard. I'm safe. The rest is static.

"Aya." A pair of strong, welcoming arms wrap around my middle. They hold me, try to stop me from falling apart. "She's safe. She's in good hands."

I… can't do this. I won't do this. Not now. No. I need… I need to get stronger! I need to train! I… I need to stop crying!

"You did everything you could. Now let us take it from here. Please."

I turn into the embrace, needing this hug like never before. The woman lets me bury my face in her bosom, her baby bump warm and welcoming.

"I don't… I don't know what to do anymore… what to think… what to feel… I'm just on tilt all the time. It's… it's too much. It's just all too much!" I cry into the woman's welcoming embrace.

She makes a low, sussing noise, telling me to let it all out. That there's no shame in being human. I… I don't even know if I should believe her or not, but I want to. I want to so bad that it hurts.

I want to believe that this isn't my fault. That Tsuren will be alright. That her pups won't have to grow up without her.

I want to believe that I did the right thing, that I saved more lives than I'd destroyed. That I'm a good person. I want to believe all of this so bad that I can barely breathe…

But am I? Am I a good person? Good people don't tend to topple governments or conquer countries. What am I…? What am I becoming…?

Just what is this twisted world I live in turning me into…?

8-8

End Chapter 82

8-8

A/N: And there we have it. Aya, unwittingly gives her mother the time of day, even if she's too messed up to even realise that. Remember how I said there were two more missions left? One down. Some broken bonds to halfway repair, some counselling, bringing Yoshitoshi (I swear, I find the weirdest names to call people sometimes) and Ikoku a bit more to the foreground... stuff still has to happen. Lots of stuff. Lots of happenings.

Oh, and by the way... there's still the little matter of that meeting with two daimyos. I wonder what that will lead to?