Tears welled in her green eyes, ruefully grinning lips trembling as she haltingly pronounces that she cannot accept his courtship, and Uzumaki Kuzuri stares helplessly as Ryoko silently cried through her explanation.
"Kuzuri, I swore my services to Maiha no Miya several years ago, before Kaien-sama came back and took over. I no longer have the ability to accept your suit because of this. Maiha-hime is my liege-lady, and until she releases me from my oath, you must have her permission in order to court me."
Kuzuri couldn't help but pale at Ryoko's explanation, despite his relief that she wasn't refusing his suit because she didn't want him. But the idea that he would need to face Maiha no Miya… he felt like a particularly unlucky animal, one that had accidentally tumbled into a tar pit. Shakily, he ran his hand through his hair, trying to let the sensation of the short bristles distract him from the rising dread at the thought that he would have to abase himself before one of the most terrifying females in the clan in order to beg a boon from her.
Ryoko gave him a weary grin at seeing his nervous habit resurface, well aware of how he viewed the princess, and he returned it with his own wry, apologetic smile.
"In order to avoid this, I had planned on asking Maiha-hime if I might seek your hand, since it wouldn't go against my vows, and because I know that-"
She halted abruptly, rage filling her face as green eyes flashed in the coldest manner, completely unwilling to voice it; the surge of affection for her that generated nearly had him tearing up. He still couldn't believe that he, with all his issues and flaws, had managed to catch her attention, but things like this proved that his heart hadn't chosen wrongly. But Ryoko quickly regained her footing and continued before he could voice his feelings and distract them.
"But I can't do that now. Now that you've asked me first, you must ask Maiha-hime yourself, least I face accusations of trying to circumvent my oaths or you face reprimands from the ruling line for overstepping your bounds."
Kuzuri frowns, teeth worrying at his lower lip, because he hadn't thought that their actions could be seen that way, and certainly not by Kaien of all people. They had been close comrades, perhaps even friends, for a long, long time. He was the man that had helped him come to terms with his trauma in between the raids and fighting; even if Kuzuri had never been able to bring himself to confide in Kaien the details behind his issues. But that same man was their clan's lord and master in all but name nowadays. Kaien personally might not find it a big deal nor take issue with this, but Kaien-sama might.
Kuzuri absentmindedly licked his lower lip as he tasted blood, and decided that getting a lay of the land before trying to create a plan of attack for how he would approach Maiha no Miya wouldn't be a bad move.
Now when was Kaien officially done with work again?
Kaien groaned with muted pain as he rolled his shoulders and stretched, feeling like an old pain with how stiff and achy his body was. He was not meant for this kind of work, sitting behind a desk endlessly slaving over paperwork with an agonizingly careful eye. He was meant to be an ambassador to their allies and friends outside the clan, a liaison to their clients, and a negotiator when dealing with anyone who didn't fit into those categories.
Kaien heaved a sigh, hating where his thoughts led him. Because he couldn't, could never be what he was meant to be; his brother's right-hand man. Gods, what a mess…
He was drawn from that morose line of thought when a sharp, familiar pattern of rapping announced a visitor. Kaien heaved himself to his feet, curious as to why Kuzuri would want to visit so late. He opened the door, a small grin on his face at the thought of spending some quality time with a good comrade, "Kuzuri, this is a surprise-" Kaien's welcome came to an abrupt halt halfway through what he was going to say as he got an eyeful of what Kuzuri was carrying; plum wine and honey baiju. This was no casual visit.
"That's some potent liquid bribery you're carrying there Kuzuri. If I recall correctly – and I know I do because I was there when you claimed these as part of your pay – these vintages and brands aren't available anymore. Haven't been in some time in fact."
Kuzuri gave a nervous laugh, his skin reddening, arms twitching like he wanted to run his hands through his hair. Kaien's eyes narrowed at the sign of that combination of nervous ticks. This was even bigger than he had thought. Just what the hell was Kuzuri trying to pull him into?
"What the hell have you gotten yourself into Kuzuri that you're all but throwing these priceless drinks at my feet?"
"Uh… I, ah, want to court Ryoko."
Kaien blinked once. Twice. And tried to regather his thoughts after that unexpected explosive tag. Leaping for a chance to think about this brewing disaster Kaien took a different path.
"I didn't even know you were thinking about seeing Ryoko seriously. Or at all, really. You'd think that'd be something you'd tell your comrade, instead of suddenly springing on him you want to court Uzumaki Ryoko."
"Well, I've been interested for years, but it's only within the last two that I've been home long enough to see if she was interested too or if we could work together."
"Aren't you rushing this a little? It's only been two years. Hell, not even that when you take into account that you've gone on Ransom Runs and got hired as a bounty hunter to take down that Kaguya that was giving the Water Daimyo so much trouble. You do know we Uzumaki usually take at least five years before deciding to give courting a try right? Barring an arranged marriage of course."
Kuzuri's sheepish grin strained as Kaien kept nattering on, even though his complaints came straight from the heart. Kuzuri, and presumably Ryoko, had completely ignored the unspoken rules their clan ran on when it came to personal relations. Even though Kaien knew both of them were very private individuals due their pasts, this was a little beyond the pale. He couldn't help but feel slighted, and god alone knew how Maiha–
Kaien could feel the blood drain from his face at that thought. Maiha would take this very, very poorly, and Mito would be at least as bad (for once) because this involved Ryoko.
"You want my help with my sisters, don't you."
Kaien didn't even bother to keep the accusation from his voice, because this was a dirty move.
Kuzuri had purposefully sought him out after a long day at work, when he was exhausted and unlikely to be thinking straight. He had brought substantial bribery, picking Kaien's favorite alcohols as his bribe because he knew, with the stress of the job, he would dearly want some relaxation. He knew Kaien regarded him as a trusted comrade, perhaps even a friend, and would be disinclined to turn him away when the man did honestly need his help. And he had made sure to come to Kaien, the man, and not his clan head.
Kaien wanted to damn himself, because even as Kuzuri reluctantly nodded, he knew he'd be involving himself in spite of the fact Kuzuri had used dirty tactics to get his help. He was a sucker, weak to the idea that Ryoko could make his friend happy, even after his trauma, and vice versa.
"You are so fucking lucky you're my comrade Kuzuri. Get your ass in here and give me my alcohol. I'm damn well going to earn these drinks helping your sorry behind, and you're not getting so much as a drop for putting me into this position."
He could visibly see Kuzuri relax as he eagerly hustled into his living room, clearly desperate to get out of the open. Kaien barked a laugh filled with schadenfreude. He would be afraid of someone listening in and reporting back to Maiha or Mito too.
A/N:I'm sorry this took so long, but Kuzuri was next up and DIDN'T WANT TO BE WRITTEN. So I finally decided "Screw it," stuck Kaien in there as a break from my pattern, and chopped off at least 2/3 of the pre-planned chapter in favor of shuffling it off to the next one.