*One only tires*
*And can only know true fear*
*When they are in love*
Chapter 7 – Celestia's Verdict
=Canterlot Castle, Main Gate=
(Celestia's PoV)
/watch?v=1vqCbb-xr6w
"How long has she been sitting there?" She asked the guard as The Doctor yawned behind her.
"All night your majesty." He said as they all stared at the mare right outside the gate.
A few minutes ago she and her sister had raised and lowered the sun and moon, but had spent the entire night doing other things. First Celestia made sure that the poison inside Luna had been removed, a task their best healer had spent hours performing, and only just succeeded as the time drew near to end the night. The next thing they did was ascertain what happened during the night, something The Doctor had to explain and investigate because of how things had gone in the cell down in the dungeon.
At some point, he said, the guards who were standing guard over Aketoki's cell had been knocked out by poison, a different type only designed to put them to sleep, and a very short one at that. Once they were asleep his door had been blasted open by four simultaneous explosions along the door's hinges. He then made his escape and went somewhere in the city, where he was discovered by the palace guards, surrounded by three dead ponies in the garbs of Ninja, and a mare in similar armor to his own.
At the same time as Aketoki was making his escape, two ninja ponies infiltrated the gardens where Luna was admiring the flowers in the moonlight. She was then ambushed, attacked, and forced to flee back into the palace while her two guards fought off the ninja to protect and buy her time. When they attempted to follow Luna inside, one of them was surrounded as guards flooded in to rescue Luna. After they attempted to flee in the cover of smoke and failed to do so, one of the ninja fled while the other remained surrounded. Unable to escape, and not wanting to allow himself to be captured and interrogated, the ninja took his own life before the palace guards could restrain him.
The ninja themselves were identified in the palace morgue, a room rarely used and almost never having any occupants. Celestia was told that they identical to Aketoki and Hogeki in terms of looks, with cutie marks on both sides of their faces. The cutie marks identified them as either belonging to the same family, or the trade that the worked, however without knowledge from the ninja themselves, it was pure speculation.
Celestia had apologized that morning to her lifelong friend for putting him through his paces.
The Doctor had spent the entire night learning everything he could, investigating and deducing what was going on. He also acted as a translator to interrogate Aketoki with Celestia.
They learned that Aketoki was indeed aided with the help of ninja ponies; however he insisted that they were not serving him. He told them the blade, though belonging to him, was merely with them by sheer coincidence and that this was all a ploy by Hogeki to frame him. He did admit to killing three ninja ponies in Canterlot, however there were no proof that these ninja were serving Hogeki, and without that proof his word alone was worthless.
He stated that the reason he fled the palace and escaped from his cell, despite his insistence that he was innocent in the involvement, was because they lied to him about having located his lover, Hanayo Kusaji. They told him their master had her and he wanted Aketoki to witness her becoming his personally, and this was what drove his actions to flee the palace. However, nopony heard anything of the sort and nopony was awake that night to witness the fight, so without proof his word was worthless.
When asked why he sent the ninja after Luna, he swore that he did not threaten her and insisted that the ninja were not serving him. He said it was dishonorable for any samurai to strike or threaten a female, especially one of royal status. Celestia might have believed him before that night, but now she didn't know what to think about samurai honor, and if it could be trusted.
The only thing that even gave Celestia and Luna any reason to keep from turning him over to Hogeki or imprisoning him for the rest of his life in the dungeon was the way he surrendered himself to her guards. They told her that he removed his armor, allowed them to place metal cuffs on his legs, and escort him back to the palace when he could have easily fled Canterlot. A fact he told them when he was interrogated.
At their request, The Doctor was asked but couldn't find any proof to contradict or confirm Aketoki's story, and this only meant that his situation was becoming more and more bleak.
Still, he did raise one question that morning she, he, and Luna finished their contemplations about what to do with Aketoki. "What about this Hanayo character and what's her side of the story still?" He asked before Celestia and Luna prepared to perform their duties. "We haven't heard from her yet, and if this mare your guards reported there is this Hanayo, she can tell us a few things we don't know yet."
Which is what brought Celestia outside with her guards and a tired Doctor. All night she was hearing a strange music coming from outside the palace, but paid it no mind as she was having too much to think about to give it her attention. Now that she was outside and looking in amazement as the gate guards surrounded this mare, lances pointed at her from behind the gate and on the other side.
The mare, a light grey pony with dark brown mane and tail, was sitting in front of the gate apparently fast asleep. She had her head bent and moving up and down, ever so slightly, taking deep breaths every few seconds. She wore similar armor that Aketoki wore, although hers was lighter and much more flexible than Aketoki's was. Beside her was a long spear with a curved blade similar to that of the katana belonging to Aketoki, but it was of slightly smaller size, but it increased the length of the spear to three times what her guards were using. She was extraordinary for a mare, beautiful for any other stallion to look at, however it wasn't her extraordinary appearance that amazed Celestia, it was the fact that even though she seemed to be sleeping, she was still playing an instrument using her unicorn powers.
It wasn't any kind of 'song' that she was familiar with, in fact it didn't even sound like a song now that she was listening to it. The small needles playing the strings were just plucking them every few seconds, just so that some kind of sound was made every time. Apparently in her sleep she wasn't controlling the needles too well, and just letting her will keep the instrument playing.
"Has she been doing this all night?" She asked as the mare continued to sleep, oblivious to the company around her.
"Yes your majesty, she has been doing this all night." The same guard said. "She has been playing that instrument ever since we barred her from entering. A few guards came out to watch over the gate during the night, and ever since they left hours ago she's been this way."
"She must have been asleep all night sitting like this." Celestia commented as she returned her attention to the mare. "Poor thing… sleeping all night while playing that instrument with such weak magic, it must be torture for her to keep going all this time without stopping."
"I don't know she looks okay to me." The Doctor said cheerfully. "But the only way we'll know who she is and how she's feeling is to wake her up and invite her in for tea."
"I don't know about tea Doctor, but we do need to speak to her." Celetia said. "Open the gate."
The guards nodded and moments later the gate rattled open, but still the mare slept as though nothing were happening. Celestia was about to wake up the mare but, very cautious now after her recent encounters with these 'Sengoku Ponies', decided to let one who was more proficient at protecting himself go first. "Doctor would you please wake her up?" She asked him.
"Don't want to risk your guards eh?" He said with a smirk, nodding as he stepped forward to wake the mare up.
(The Doctor's PoV)
"Yoohoo, Miss Sengoku mare… you awake?" He asked, taking one hoof and tentatively going to tap hr shoulder.
Her reaction was instantaneous, she snapped her eyes open, grabbed her Naginata, swung it blade first towards his face, and stopped just short of his eyeball. "Touch me and you die…" She said calmly, not even noticing the reaction of Celestia's guards around her.
As soon as the mare swung her weapon all of them pointed spears at her, while others pushed Celestia's elite guards formed a wall in front of her, shields and spears pointing at the mare.
"I'm guessing you don't want us to wake you up, or were you awake the whole time?" The Doctor asked, translating into her language as he stared at both the stern look of defiance in her eye and the blade barely an inch in front of his eye.
"I don't want any other male touching me besides the one I choose." She said, still not looking away from him.
"So you mean nopony besides Aketoki is allowed to touch you, at least in terms of the stallions of Equestria?" He said cheerfully. "I must say, you play harder to get then Derpy on Muffin Monday!"
At Aketoki's name she lost her stern look and changed into that of worry. "Is he alright… is he still…" She said, and through her words The Doctor could tell that she had stayed out here playing music for one reason.
If she wanted to see her Aketoki again, and she looked ready to wait until half of Canterlot Palace came out, then she would wait as long as necessary. Even if she had to wait until Celestia herself came out to ask why she was out here, she would do so just to see Aketoki once again.
"You care about him don't you?" He asked.
"DOCTOR!" A voice shouted in the distance.
It was the worried cry of his wife Derpy, who had just left the palace to join him after breakfast. The Doctor couldn't turn to see her but he could tell that she was frantic, and by her grunts, trying to get through the wall of guards to reach him.
"Ditzy please stay back, this is a delicate situation." Celestia said.
"Delicate, my husband's got a spear thing pointing at him, do something Princess!" Derpy shouted.
While his wife was worrying her head off about his safety, he was trying to figure out what he could about this mare before Celestia had him translating again. "So, can you tell us your name?" He asked. "I'll tell you how Aketoki is if you at least tell me your name."
"My name is Hanayo, Hanayo Kusaji."She said.
The Doctor nodded as he replied. "He's currently in the palace dungeon, awaiting Princess Celestia's verdict as to what his fate will be." He said. "He's alive and well, but his situation isn't very hopeful with how the evidence looks against him."
"He's under arrest, for what crime?" She asked.
"This really isn't the best place to talk about such questions." He said. "So… how about you point the pointy stick away from my eye and we can go inside to talk."
Hanayo nodded and pulled the Naginata away, but still kept it very close to her, before bowing respectfully to him. "I apologize for my behavior, but even if your intentions are without harm, I will not allow you or any other male besides Aketoki to touch me." She said respectfully.
"No problem, I get that all the time… well being threatened by mares I mean, not that last part you said." He said jokingly, causing Hanayo to look confused at him. "Okay Tia, problem solved, she just doesn't want any stallion touching her!"
"Alright, everypony at ease!" Celestia declared, and every one of her guards raised their spears in accordance to her order.
Once the spears were raised, Derpy ran through all the guards and to his side, giving him a hug and causing him to blush. "Please Derpy… not in front of Celestia and her guards…" He said, thoroughly embarrassed.
While The Doctor was busy blushing at his wife's show of affection and worry over her husband's safety, Hanayo showed the first signs of sadness so deep, it would have rivaled The Doctor's. While he was busy comforting and assuring his wife he was fine and unharmed, she looked down at the ground and held one of her own hooves.
(Celestia's PoV)
Once they were finished, they all went back into the palace, but only after Hanayo relinquished her Naginata. She wasn't happy about relinquishing her weapon, but once informed she would be permitted to see Aketoki after a brief questioning, she relented and allowed one of Celestia's palace guards to take her weapon.
After a while they were in the throne room, joined by Luna and her guards when Celestia asked The Doctor to once more translate for her after a brief conversation with him. "What did you learn from her Doctor?" She asked him.
"Quite a bit, she's very skilled and a very light sleeper." He said. "She was able to stop her blade just short of killing me, something very few can do even with training. I almost couldn't keep up with her, and that's not the half of it. She clearly is worried about Aketoki's safety, she's only willing to go along with us because she wants to make sure he's safe and won't settle for anything short of seeing him with her own eyes."
Celestia nodded and looked at the mare Hanayo, who was sitting with her hooves in front of her. "Tell us why you have come to Canterlot?" She said, and listened to The Doctor's translations.
"I came here looking for my beloved, Aketoki Nimaji." She said. "We were separated before arriving in this strange land, and for over three weeks I have been searching far and wide for him."
-Well this information coincides with Aketoki's story of searching for three weeks for Hanayo.- Celestia thought. "Alright, so what were you doing here in Canterlot last night?"
"I was looking for Aketoki, anywhere I could." She said. "I was told I would find him here, thanks to the aid of some very kind locals. I heard the sound of blades clashing as I wandered the streets, and ran quickly to investigate the source. When I saw Aketoki was facing off against those three ninja, I acted to protect my love's life."
"You acted to protect Aketoki's life… by murdering three ponies in my kingdom?" Celestia asked.
Hanayo didn't look up at these words; she merely nodded her head in acceptance. "Yes, they were threatening him and I reacted instantly to protect him." She said. "However it was not a murder, I acted in according to law when it concerns the protection of those I wish to protect. I killed two of the ninja, the first instantly with my Naginata's first strike, and the second one fell before he could flee, and Aketoki…"
"It matters not the reason why or what for, you murdered three ponies in the streets of our kingdom!" Luna shouted before The Doctor could finish translating. "We do not care how you performed this evil deed. There is no excuse you could give that would absolve you and Aketoki of the crimes you committed in our kingdom!"
"Indeed, but I am still curious as to why you would kill these ponies in our streets." Celestia asked, after she calmed down Luna with a look.
There was a bit of silence before Hanayo responded. "They were after his life… that's the only reason I need to slay any who threaten my Aketoki."
-That doesn't add up… The Doctor said ninja who often served were provided weapons by the ones who they serve.- She thought. "Why would those who worked for him, threaten his life after they helped him flee?" Celestia asked now.
"They don't serve him; Aketoki would never hire such assassins!" Hanayo shouted instantly.
Without a word to her guards, Luna looked over at Hawk who stepped forward and laid the blade with Aketoki's clan symbol embedded into the steel. "Then explain this!" Luna declared. "This weapon was used by those ninja last night to attack our self and our guards while we toured the gardens outside! It almost cost us the life of one of our guards, and it came very close to ending my own."
"Indeed, not only was this blade discovered in the hooves of the dead pony that attacked my sister, it was also discovered that these ninja broke Aketoki out of his cell at the same time as this attack was going on." Celstia declared. "At the same time she was under attack, these ninja were infiltrating and breaking Aketoki from his cell down below. Once his cell was broken, the remaining ninja fled the palace with him following them, only one was left behind. Before he could be captured and questioned, he took his own life, but he left this blade behind. Thanks to a reliable source that I have grown to depend on and has never failed me before, I know that ninja are often supplied weapons by the clans they serve."
Hanayo only stared at the blade, a look of fear on her face as she stared at the symbol on the short sword's blade. Her response was slow in coming, and when she did, Celestia sensed the worry in her voice. "This is Aketoki's second sword… but I implore you to listen to my words, and believe me when I say that they are the truth." She said bowing to them as low as her head would allow her. "These ninja did NOT serve Aketoki… they do not serve him, he is innocent. He would never harm or threaten a female of any status; he would sooner commit Seppuku before he even considered performing such an act!"
They all watched before a guard entered and quickly made his way towards Celestia and her sister. After a hurried apology he whispered into her ear, "Your majesty, the samurai from yesterday has returned and is waiting outside the gate." He said. "Do we allow him entry?"
Celestia nodded in response. "Also make sure to take his swords like yesterday, I'm sure he'll understand the gesture."
He nodded and quickly left the room.
"Hanayo, I'm afraid your word alone is not enough to absolve Aketoki." Celestia said. "I must base my verdict on all information I can gain. If you could name the one these ninja serve, it may help Aketoki's case."
"Hogeki Ninman!" She replied the instant The Doctor translated. "They served Hogeki Ninman!"
She raised her eyebrows at this outburst. –Hogeki Ninman… I know he wanted to execute Aketoki yesterday, but why would he send these assassins to free him and then kill him, as well as attack Luna?- She thought. –It doesn't make any sense… Aketoki's already imprisoned, why go through all that trouble just to 'try' and kill him, instead of awaiting word from Hanayo? Unless…-
She looked over at The Doctor who looked deep in thought as well. –Unless of course that was his goal… to make it look like Aketoki was the one behind the attacks and his escape. Yet if that's the case where's the proof that these ninja served Hogeki? All the evidence of what we learned points to Aketoki being the one behind it all, and Hogeki an upholder of whatever insane laws these ponies abide by. Ugh this is even more of a headache than anything else The Doctor has brought to my kingdom!-
A few minutes later several guards entered the throne room with Hogeki Ninman behind them. He smirked as he walked forward, looking at Hanayo seated before Celestia and Luna. Once he was at level with Hanayo, he sat down a few feet from her and looked up at the two princesses, while she glared at him with anger and worry. "Greetings Princess Celestia and Luna, I have come once again as promised, to speak to you of the matter we were discussing yesterday." He declared, once The Doctor translated again.
"Greetings Hogeki Ninman, you are just in time to answer a few questions that have just arisen." Celestia stated calmly, looking at Hogeki's face for any reaction. "As you can see, Hanayo Kusaji has arrived much earlier than either of us anticipated."
"Which is good." He said with a look of pleasure as he glanced at Hanayo's face. "Once our business is concluded, Hanayo and I can return home and finally be married as we should have been before."
"I WOULD SOONER DIE THEN BECOME YOUR WIFE!" Hanayo shouted angrily, standing up and glaring at Hogeki.
All of the guards lowered their spears and lances at Hanayo, who ignored them and continued to glare at Hogeki. Hogeki however remained as calm as ever, in fact he smirked at the sight of all the guards pointing their weapons at her. "Hanayo please, be seated… this outburst will not help you or Aketoki." Luna said calmly, but she looked surprised at Hanayo's response as much as Celestia did.
After a few minutes Hanayo slowly returned to her previous position, and all the guards eased up again. –Well… at least we've confirmed that Hanayo wasn't abducted against her will.- Celestia said as she noted the mare's reaction. –But still… she can't just run away from her marriage… according to her own laws she's supposed to be Hogeki's. So now what do I do…-
Luna looked over at Celestia and nodded, Celestia nodded in response, knowing it was Luna's turn to question them. "Now that you both are here, and with the recent activities of last night, perhaps you can answer some questions Hogeki." She asked, to which Hogeki bowed his head.
"I will answer whatever question I can." He said kindly.
"Last night several ponies garbed in dark attire attempted to kill us and our guards." Luna declared. "We believe these ninja were supporting Aketoki and aiding in his escape, however just now Hanayo declared that they were serving you? Can you explain why she would make such an accusation?"
Hogeki remained calm as he gave his reply. "All I can say is that I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about, and as for the accusations of hiring ninja to break Aketoki out and attack you, why would I take such actions?" He said. "Aketoki was firmly behind bars, I would not have minded if he rotted there for the rest of his life, as long as I could locate Hanayo and return home with her. Also why would I dare attack an unarmed female, especially when she is of royal status? I have no harmful intentions to you or your sister; I merely want to ensure justice is served whatever form it takes, nothing more."
-Quite the silver tongue he has…- Celestia thought as she listened to his speech. "So you're saying Hanayo's accusations are false?"
Hogeki nodded. "Yes, I have no idea why she would make such an accusation against her future husband." He said.
"You are not my husband Hogeki!" Hanayo said quietly. "You are a dishonorable samurai who uses trickery to get his way! I would never allow myself to marry you!"
"And yet you are due to become my wife as soon as we return home." Hogeki replied.
"Not if I have anything to say about it!" Hanayo shot back.
"Enough, both of you!" Luna declared. "We can see that this is an issue you must resolve yourselves, but for now still your tongues and only answer our questions!"
A few moments passed before Celestia finally raised the question that would determine her verdict. "Hanayo Kusaji, can you provide any proof that Aketoki Nimaji was not behind these attacks, and was not the one who planned his escape from Canterlot Castle?"
The silence from Hanayo lasted for several minutes, before she started to remove the armor on her hooves. She removed the armor and pulled back the sleeve of her clothing, revealing a gash that was in the first stages of healing. "This wound was given to me by the same ninja that attacked you and my Aketoki." She declared, pointing at the wound. "I was attacked the night before last, by two ninja serving Hogeki Ninman. They were ordered to retrieve me and bring me to him; I was only spared such capture with the help of Sparkler-San, Applejack-San, and Rainbow Dash-San, three locals who intervened before they could finish their mission. Aketoki loves me, and would never harm me no matter what the reason."
She replaced the sleeve before staring at Celestia and Luna with a desperate but determined look in her eyes. "Aketoki has already won my heart… he does not need to stoop to such low tactics to bring me to him. I would gladly walk atop fire, just to hold him close to me. He did not break out of prison to find me, he did not attack you and you guards. He is innocent!"
Hogeki scowled at these words before directing his words at Hanayo. "Even if you say I sent these ninja, you still have no proof that I hired them. All I have to say, which I already have said, is that I have no idea what you are talking about. So I'll ask the same question the Princess proposed to you, do you have proof that these ninja were serving me as you claimed they were?"
Hanayo shifted her eyes desperately back and forth, clearly trying to find an answer.
As the minutes passed, The Doctor rubbed his throat before walking over to Celestia to whisper something in her ears. She nodded in understanding and looked over at Hogeki with a smile. "My advisor has given me something to ask you Hogeki." She said calmly. "Can you provide any proof that these ninja were not indeed serving you?"
This question clearly caught Hogeki off guard, as he blinked in surprise at the question. "Well… all I can say is that… I cannot provide any proof at this time that these ninja were not serving me." He said. "All I can say is that, once again, for what reason would I want to carry out such actions against you and others… like I said before?"
-Aha… got you.- Celestia thought. "So neither of you can provide solid evidence to either persuade or dissuade me from believing one of you over the other. Which begs the question of what am I to do?"
They both remained silent as Celestia got up and walked toward both Hanayo and Hogeki. "On one hoof, I must punish Aketoki for injuring my guards, but at the same time it was an accident, and while he did severely wound them, no ponies were killed." She said to them both. "Last night Aketoki and Hanayo killed three ponies within my kingdom. However these ponies were not subjects under my rule, and therefore do not fall under my law. Also, based on your testimony Hanayo, as well as Aketoki's accounts of the fighting last night, it's clear that these ninja were the first ones to attack, so on one side you both were merely defending yourselves the only way you could. Aketoki surrendered himself without hesitation, and insisted that he did not mean to harm my guards; it was after all a mistake in identity when he first met Luna's guards. He offered to kill himself when he found out; an act that I feel instantly absolves him of punishment, for he was willing to suffer such punishment to apologize for his crime."
She began pacing back and forth as she reached her verdict. "I am afraid that… I cannot punish Aketoki and Hanayo through my kingdom's laws. It is not that I don't want to, but there are simply no laws in my kingdom that were created for this… situation that you have created. The only way you can be judged now are by the laws that you both belong to… the laws of your culture."
She stopped pacing and looked over at Hanayo. "Tell me Hanayo, if I were to allow Hogeki to take you away with him, what would your reaction be?" She asked.
The instant The Doctor translated, Hanayo reached into her the folds of her clothes, pulled a dagger, unsheathed it, and pointed the blade's edge to her neck before any pony in the room could react. "I'll take my own life, before I even allow Hogeki to touch me…" She said, after The Doctor translated again.
Celestia stared at Hanayo's reaction to her question, but was still more surprised at how this mare had snuck a dagger into the throne room without any of them knowing. –Then again we didn't actually check her…- She thought.
She nodded and went back to the throne, sat down and looked back at Hanayo, who had sheathed the dagger and hid it once more in the folds of her clothes. "So tell me Hanayo, how do you want to resolve this issue you, Hogeki, and Aketoki have caused?" She said. "It is clear that you don't want to go with Hogeki, but he is still your legal husband, yet because you are not native to my kingdom I cannot help your situation lawfully. So how do want to resolve this particular issue?"
There was silence in the throne room for several minutes before Hanayo and Hogeki started talking again, but this time to each other.
(Hanayo's PoV)
"No matter what you say Hogeki, I will never be yours!" She said to him. "They may not see you for who you really are, but I know what type of Samurai you are!"
"Still your tongue Hanayo, lest you incite me to clip it from you and forget our marriage." He growled back. "You are lucky I still care enough about you to want to give you a place at my side! Had your father known the truth, he would have had me kill you as well as Aketoki. Leaving Takasaki the way you did, you are lucky I kept quiet and said you were abducted, your father would have disowned you and you would now be considered less than a Ronin!"
"What my father wants is the chance to gain higher status; he does not really care for the future of our clan!" She shot back. "I am the Kusaji's Flower of the Moon, last descendent in my line of Onna-bugeisha, and no matter what may happen I will and still have my personal honor to uphold. I will not allow one who has no honor to lay any claim to me without any fight!"
"That personal honor is all you have Hanayo-San, you threw away any rights you had under your clan the moment you fled Takasaki with Aketoki's aid." He said. "I should have killed you back at the border of Kai, but I spared you… and do you know why?"
"By all means explain your wisdom then Hogeki, but nothing you say will change my mind about you!" She snarled, not caring what reasons he had for wanting to spare her. "I don't mind dying right now as long as I can die alongside Aketoki!"
"I wanted to spare you because I loved you Hanayo, despite how you were with Aketoki I loved you deeply." He said gently. "That's why I lied to your father and withheld the truth, but fleeing the way you did… how else was I to act?"
"You could have let us go…" She said, not caring for his pointless confession. "Aketoki would have let us go had it been you I was fleeing with. Aketoki loves me greatly, and only wants what's best for me. That's why he went through and helped me flee Takasaki with him; he's not selfish like you, trying to tie me to him when I clearly don't want to be!"
"Doctor can you translate for us please?" The Princess Celestia said, but Hanayo couldn't understand a word without her translator.
"I'd rather not translate what their saying Tia, this is a bit of a private conversation by the sounds of it." The translator said back to her.
"Hanayo I am giving you a chance at redemption, despite what you think I DO care a great deal for you!" Hogeki said. "Just forget Aketoki and leave him be, come back with me and I promise you a much brighter future than anything you could have had with Aketoki. I'll allow Aketoki to remain imprisoned here, alive, and I'll do everything I can to make you happy when we return!"
"Nothing your silver tongue can say will change my mind; as long as Aketoki is here then so will I remain!"
Hogeki's eyes stared at her angrily, and she knew that had she not been armed, he might have struck at her just to silence her insulting mouth. He could if he wanted to, because of her actions in fleeing Takasaki, she had no right to resist anything he did to her, whether it be hitting her or assaulting her. The only reason he did not, was because she was armed, and perhaps because he 'cared' about her deep down.
But that didn't change the fact that he was very angry at her.
"I'll only tell you this one last time… become mine Hanayo Kusaji and return home to Takasaki with me." He growled. "You are my wife by marriage rights; do not go against the traditions of our ancestors."
"If you want me so badly then prove it to me!" She declared, rising to her hooves and pointing at him. "Defeat Aketoki in combat, fair and square, one on one, no traps or deceptions like a true Samurai! It will be a duel between you and him to prove who is worthy of my love. The winner will become my husband, and the loser will die. Defeat him and I will no longer resist or fight against you!"
Hanayo expected him to look nervous, even hesitate with her proclamation, but instead he nodded instantly and smirked. "Very well, in the morning have him meet me north of this palace, near a strand of woods." He said confidently. "I'll be waiting for him there. The winner will return here for you, which I guarantee will be me."
"Very well… and when Aketoki wins… I will no longer have to fear your shadow over us ever again!" She shot at him just as confidently.
Hogeki laughed as he turned to face the royal sisters before them. "IF… he wins, IF…" He chuckled.
That one word was the only thing it took to shake her confidence. All he had to do was say that one word, and Hanayo's courage in Aketoki winning this duel was shaken.
-If… if he loses…- She thought.