After Taizo's visit last evening, I had a little trouble sleeping. Part of it was over what I'll be doing today, another part because of the trouble working as Raiko has put me in, and the biggest part because of the extremely unlikely possibility that Taizo could actually sense whoever is watching me. However unlikely, he's the first real chance at finding out what it is, and now with everything I've done in the royal city and those two Gentle Fist strikes, one way or another he probably won't be around long enough to help.
"Thinking about Sho?"
"Of course," I say. I continue combing my hair as Lady Sorano's servant tie the sash on her kimono. Not having slept much, I'm already in mine, the scroll with my belonging in it safely tucked away out of sight.
"What drew you to him?" Lady Sorano's servant asks, separating a section of hair to begin combing.
"He's serious without being too stuffy," I lie. Though he's nice, Sho is a bit too dull for me. "And, well… he's handsome, too." Lady Sorano gives a snort of laughter, and her servant(whose name is Nonami, I finally learned the other day) giggles.
"It's been ages since the last time Sho had a girlfriend, Ruza, so go easy on him," Lady Sorano says. "He might need a little more practice with kissing."
More like a lot; even out of the very few that I've had I'd put that awful mistake with Sho down at the bottom of the list and leave it there forever, unless by some evil twist of fate Sho got drunk and kissed me again. Lady Sorano smirks when she sees my face, and I have to look away and focus on my hair. I decided Ruza would wear it up today, in simple bun. As Lady Sorano and Nonami suggest various things for Sho and I to do together(none of which I'll write down here in my journal, I don't need those mental images again thank you very much), I think of the exit route I planned with Yusei. I won't be going out the way I come in, so I can't set it up as we go there, which I think is the biggest weakness to the whole thing- because if we get caught on the way out, it's all over and all of our work is for nothing.
After Nonami is finished with Lady Sorano's hair, the time to leave for the throne room is near, so we decide to go ahead and meet with the daimyo in the council room behind it a little early. There are a few flights of stairs to manage, down towards the center of the first floor. Lady Sorano becomes quiet, focusing on something far away, and once again a feel a pin prick of regret for what I'm going to do.
When we get to the council room, the daimyo is already there with a couple of his advisors. "Ah, Sorano, and Miss Hirawa. Good morning."
"Good morning, father."
"You'll be joining us today, Miss Hirawa?"
"Out in the hall, yes. I thought it would be good to observe Lady Sorano here today."
"Ah, I see. Well, these frequent Summer sessions tend to be tedious, so I hope you are prepared to sit for a good while."
"I am, my lord." I smile, and give Lady Sorano a smug look. She frowns at me for a second before turning to the daimyo.
"Father, will the new owners of Mr. Taniguchi's be here today?"
"I think they mentioned they would be coming, yes. Jun was a good friend of Taizo's, so I'll see if some new kind of agreement can be reached." Though no one brings up what happened to Yotsuki, I can see that they're thinking of it. One of the daimyo's advisors looks at his watch, then clears his throat.
"Around ten minutes, my lord. I think we should head in now." The daimyo nods, and one of the advisers opens the door for him. I smile at Lady Sorano as I head out into the hall, and take my seat among the chairs that have been brought out. There are a few large chairs set to the sides of the throne, and the daimyo's advisers take their seats. Several people are already seated back in the hall, and I take a place at the back near the doors. More come in, mostly affluent traders and a few people who look as if they scrambled to find their best clothes. More and more people come in, until all the seats are taken and a group of people are standing at the open doors.
The first issue brought forwards comes from a man who is a trader working on and around the coast. From what I hear he has a large amount of business dealing with fish, importing and exporting. "And the trade routes?"
"Becoming clogged with smaller boats, my lord."
"How would rerouting the shipping lanes work?" Asks Lady Sorano.
"Well, they're already direct enough, my lady."
"For the smaller boats, I mean. Maybe making their routes close to shore more circuitous during these busier months?"
"What size boats, my lady?"
"Forgive me for not knowing the boat names, but I was thinking the ones that take at most a few men to crew."
"Those boats make up the majority of the ones on the water," One of the daimyo's advisors puts in.
"Away from the ports, where it's harder for the larger ships and barges to maneuver, is what I think Lady Sorano might have meant," Another of the daimyo's advisors says.
The advisors and the fish trader begin talking about currents and narrowing down the exact boat size, and on and on and about other things like permits and fees for said smaller boats and what these boats might be hauling besides fish. Eventually they come to one of those "that sounds good, let's fine tune it and write it down later" kind of agreements, and the fish trader sits back down. A glance at the door reveals that a few more people are hovering around it. I sigh, and turn back towards the throne…
When the daimyo said the Summer sessions of court were tedious, he wasn't kidding. Aside from the amount of people, it seemed like the main thing on everyone's minds is money, money, money. Traders and businessmen whose routes and services were interrupted or endangered by the ninja war are out in full force today, and I find their pleas for aid a bit annoying- us ninja have a bit of time in the spotlight and this is what we get for it? And besides that, it's not like the war was terribly long, either. A few times I catch Lady Sorano looking my way, but I try to avoid her gaze, especially once I look back and see that the doors are now closed.
The gentleman sitting to my left has a list of points to bring up on a bit of paper, and he's silently reciting some kind of monologue to himself. "Excuse me sir, but I wasn't keeping track of the way here, and… um would you happen to know what direction the bathrooms are in?"
The man glances between me and his notes, then apparently decides I'm real and leans over to whisper, "I've not been to any part of the palace besides this one, but I'd assume they're by the kitchens or washrooms, for the servants." He looks back up at the daimyo and adds, "With how long this is going on, a trip there might be needed to break up the monotony." I silently nod in agreement, and step out to leave the room as quietly as I can. There's a semicircle of red velvet ropes blocking off the door to the hall, and I hop over, and walk off as fast as I can without running. The way to the palace entrance is clear, but I think it's close to the lunch break, and I need to hurry.
"Just a bit of fresh air," I say to the guards. Having made the hand seals inside where no one was watching, I raise my arms up as if stretching to begin the Rainmaker Jutsu. I'm not looking to cover the whole palace grounds, that way the downpour can be intense enough to persuade the guards at the door to head inside to take their lunch early.
"It's happening again," I hear one say.
"And it's in about twenty minutes, right?"
"Yeah; they probably won't mind us stepping inside like last time." I try to direct the rain towards the guards and I, and one of them utters a swear word I thought only us ninja knew. "Enjoy your fresh air, miss." The guards retreat to inside the door, and I see Yusei and his men in their disguises coming in at the main gate. They pop open their umbrellas and hurry my way, and they can't get over here fast enough.
"Court's in session, miss?"
"Yes, let's come in out of the rain!" I let go of the Rainmaker Jutsu, and begin the Chakra Sensing Technique as we step inside. "Almost time for the lunch break," I whisper to Yusei as his men take care of the door guards. "We'll have to hurry." At the first turn I make use of the Optic Delusory genjutsu, projecting the appearance of a dead end. I can sense people in the area of the kitchen rushing about, and a few people moving towards the throne room. Almost running, I think we'll make it to the halls before them, but it's close.
Finally, after covering the hallway junctions with the Optic Delusory genjutsu and getting increasingly anxious, we make it back to the throne room. "You ready?"
"As ready as you can be for something like this. Wait a minute before you come in…" Yusei nods, and I do my best to come back in quietly. A few people at the back notice me, but not too many, as there is a discussion between some nobleman and the daimyo's advisors going on.
"-And I think it's only proper that this relationship be strengthened."
"True, but there a couple zoning issues to consider," One of the daimyo's advisors says. This particular one has objected to or pointed out flaws in many of the issues that were brought up while I was here; almost everything, actually. "It's not the business itself that's the matter, it's the tradition of Kagura Street that many people, myself included, would object to being tampered with."
"I think a bit of change on the street would be in order, considering the fate of the previous owner," The nobleman says. Wait, previous owner? Oh, no... Well, if this conversation is going to be happening, right now is the best time.
"Again, true, but from the perspective of a consumer headed to Kagura Street, a love inn is not the thing that would maintain the dignified experience the street is known for."
"As you say, 'again, true-' but from the perspective of a loving spouse, it is the perfect compliment to a wonderful evening away from the tedium of home life. Surely you have no objection to that?"
"I have objections to businesses overstepping the zoning restrictions of this city, especially where Kagura Street is concerned. You are well aware of the proper place for businesses such as yours, and if I may say so, the former location of the bar is not the proper place-" At that point, Yusei and his men loudly bang open the doors. Everything stops for a moment, and I do my best to look surprised. "What's the meaning of this interruption? I would like to resolve the current issue before the lunch break."
There is a loud murmur of agreement, which Yusei ignores. "Don't worry, I'll not be here for long. All that I've come to do is to simply present a gift to the daimyo." Yusei takes out a small scroll- the very same one Ibiki gave me, containing the information on Taizo's criminal network. "May I approach?" The advisor arguing against the nobleman's love inn is already standing, and he meets Yusei at the front row of the assembly. He hands the scroll to the daimyo with a very quick bow, and then takes his seat.
"Is that all?"
"Just briefly, I would like for the scroll to be read." The daimyo unrolls it, and his expression sours as his eyes move over it. "Do any of those men and places have familiar names?"
"...Yes, but I do not appreciate such insinuations being brought up, and in such a brazen manner."
"May I see it, father?" My heart stops for a second, and with a shrug, the daimyo passes the scroll to Lady Sorano.
"Your gift has been received- now if you would, please leave my court."
"No."
"I beg your pardon? 'No'?"
"No. You see, those are not insinuations or slander I handed you, they are truth. We are all aware of how you have led this nation, and though I have irreconcilable differences with your rule, there is one man who I would less like to see on your throne."
"I am conscious of the fact that I have detractors," The daimyo says calmly. "Perhaps if you would be willing to wait and return after the recess, I would be willing to hear about this other man you speak of."
"No. I would wager that not everyone in this room is aware of who the man that called himself Jun Taniguchi really was, but they know damn well who they should ask." The room is deathly silent, and Yusei continues. "That piece of gutter trash had my father- a man far greater than himself or you- executed for fear of being exposed."
"...The matter will be looked into, now: please, stand down and leave the room."
Yusei ignores the daimyo and turns to Lady Sorano, who has let the scroll drop to her lap as she stares blankly at the floor. "Sorano, tell me: you idolize your father as some hero, don't you? How would you feel if some petty drug lord had him assassinated? How would you feel if the only man who could advance the Land of Fire was murdered right in front of your eyes?!"
"That is ENOUGH!" The same advisor is standing again, pointing to Yusei. "Where are the guards? Have this man taken away!"
"I could have you executed for the things you have said here," The daimyo says. "But I am not the kind of tyrant you seem to think I am, and as such, will not."
"I don't think you are a tyrant. I don't think you are anything, and that is my problem with you- you have all the wealth and beauty of our country at hand, and all you do is sit on it and watch the Land of Fire be run, like it's some kind of theater act!" Yusei draws the prop knife, and the room immediately flies into a panic. "I'm not after your life today Soriranashi, but only blood can pay for blood." Yusei's men grab me, and I pretend to struggle against them.
"NO!" Lady Sorano cries, standing up. "Let her go!"
"I'm afraid I can't do that," Yusei says as he walks behind me. He slams the prop knife into my back, the blade collapsing back into the hilt. I gasp and feign struggling for air, and one last time, I look Lady Sorano in the eyes. Seeing the look on her face, I almost feel like the knife in my back is real, and a moment later Yusei's men drag me out of the room. They take one of the short poles the red velvet rope was hanging from and slide it between the door handles, and right after that we take off running. Only at the front door of the palace do we stop to catch our breath. "Well?"
"Sorano will never forgive or forget you," I tell Yusei.
"That's to be expected." Yusei closes his eyes and takes a few deep breaths, then takes out a pouch from his belt. "Here. It's all I could come with given the time I had once you told me, but-"
"Keep it. The daimyo paid me well enough."
"You would rather have his money than mine?"
"It's money I earned honestly."
"You are impossible," Yusei says, shaking his head. "Well then. I suppose this is where we say goodbye." I nod, and before Yusei can say anything else, I shift the Transformation Jutsu to take the appearance of one of the daimyo's advisors, and leave the palace. Once I'm out of the walls on the palace grounds and into a nearby alley I let the Transformation Jutsu drop completely, and take off running for Konoha as fast as I can. If I never come back to this city, it will be too soon.