Chapter 10
Of course, I remember him
As Ayaka suggested, she and Thoma took advantage of Commissioner Hiiragi's departure to travel with him, his men, and the Tenryou guards to Inazuma. Altogether they formed a large and striking cortege, one any raider would think twice about doing something crazy with.
Ayaka had to go riding. A Tenryou commission soldier very kindly gave her his horse while he would continue on foot. At first, she tried to refuse, but she didn't want to be rude and despise the soldier's kindness. Maybe she'd only take it for a while.
"Are you sure you don't want us to switch and ride the palanquin for a bit, Ayaka?" Chisato suggested, whose transport was being carried by two Hiiragi Clan guards. She leaned out, pushing aside the curtain.
"No, don't worry, Chisato," Ayaka replied with a good-natured smile from her steed. "I don't mind riding or walking at all."
Chisato sighed heavily with some regret.
"You make me feel guilty for not having such a good physical condition and depending on others to be able to travel such long distances…"
"Don't say that, Miss Chisato!" the soldier at the front of the palanquin exclaimed quickly, turning to look at her over his shoulder. "It's no problem for us to help you, really!"
Chisato smiled slightly at him upon hearing his words.
"Always so attentive, Shinnojou; thank you," the noblewoman replied gently, and a slight blush crept onto the young soldier's cheeks. "At least it's a nice day, right?"
"Yes, the weather is nice," Ayaka replied with a subtle nod.
Chisato settled back inside the palanquin and hid behind its curtain. Ayaka let out a small sigh of relief. She wasn't sure she could have kept up with her if Chisato wanted to talk more. It was a bit exhausting being around all these people and pretending everything was normal when it wasn't. Inside she felt anxiety that made her heart race. But she had to stand her ground and not let anyone find out.
Although, of course, it was already a little late because someone had already noticed from the moment she had gone to ask authorization for that trip.
"Lady Ayaka," she suddenly heard Thoma's voice pronounce next to her, making her jump a little. Turning to her right side, she spotted the servant walking alongside the horse. He carried his spear on his back and his travel bag on one shoulder. Despite the load, he walked normally and at the horse's pace.
"Thoma, is something wrong?" the young Kamisato murmured slowly, smiling nonchalantly at him.
"No, actually," Thoma denied, shaking his head. Then he took a quick look at the rest of the people around them, ensuring no one was close enough before commenting on what he really wanted to say. "I don't want to be too intrusive, but we both know that the festival business we went to last time was successfully concluded."
"Well..." Ayaka muttered nervously, turning away. Her fingers tightened on the reins.
"Under other circumstances, I'd guess it's one of those other things you've been working on lately," the servant cautiously said. "But that wouldn't explain your reluctance to have me come with you… unless this is something that overwhelms your trust in me."
"It's not because of that! I promise you!" Ayaka hurried to clarify, perhaps raising her voice a little too much.
She quickly brought a hand to her mouth to cover it, embarrassed by her outburst. She looked around, and no one seemed to have noticed it or was disturbed. She breathed slowly, trying to calm down and respond to her friend more serenely.
"It's not about that other matter, either," she clarified in a low, serious tone. "I promise I'll tell you when we're alone in Komore if you promise not to say anything to my brother."
"You know you can count on my discretion, milady," Thoma answered without hesitation. "But if it is something that I think Lord Ayato should know…"
"It's nothing to bother my brother about," Ayaka quickly denied. "I assure you that it is a merely personal matter..."
Thoma seemed even more intrigued after hearing that explanation. It definitely must be difficult for him to imagine Kamisato Ayaka with a "merely personal matter."
"Oka," Thoma replied after a few thoughtful seconds. "Whatever it is, you know you can count on me."
Ayaka responded with a slight nod and turned her attention back to the road. That would buy her a few hours, but she would have to tell him everything when the time came. She sincerely hoped that the friend in Thoma would surpass the servant and could understand her.
Traveling in great numbers gave travelers greater security but made the journey a little slower. After a few hours of walking, plus a couple of rest, the group arrived at Hanamizaka, on the outskirts of Inazuma, approximately in the middle of the afternoon of that day. Luckily there were no unpleasant incidents along the way, and no raiding ronin ventured to interfere with their passage. Ayaka thought that maybe it would have been a good thing if it happened at a certain point. Perhaps Katsumoto could have come forward himself, saving time searching.
But anyway, there was no point in thinking about that anymore. Ayaka had to focus on what she would do next.
"I think we parted here, commissioner," she said gently to Hiiragi Shinsuke, offering him a bow of gratitude. "Thank you for letting us travel with you, and I hope your meeting with Commissioner Kujou goes well."
"It was a pleasure escorting you, Ayaka," Commissioner Hiiragi replied from his horse in the same way. "And good luck with your unfinished business."
After proper farewells, the commissioner and the guards began to move deeper into the city. At the same time, Ayaka and Thoma watched them from their position.
Before she strayed too far, Chisato peeked out from inside her palanquin again, waving a hand in the air to get the young Kamisato's attention.
"See you one of these days, Ayaka," she said forcefully. "To go out to dinner or go shopping!"
"Yes, that would be nice," Ayaka replied with moderate enthusiasm, waving a hand in farewell as well, though in a much more restrained manner.
When the party had gotten far enough away, Ayaka lowered her hand again and stopped smiling in the same forced way she had been using for much of the trip. Alone now, she glanced sideways at Thoma. He looked back at her thoughtfully, waiting to hear her next instruction.
"Let's go to the tea house, Thoma," Ayaka instructed him slowly, beginning to walk towards the main street as well. "There, we can talk as I promised."
Thoma didn't object at all and just followed her silently.
The workers at the Komore Tea House were also surprised to see Ayaka so soon back in Inazuma. But that did not prevent them from receiving her with the same decorum and joy as on all her visits. And, more importantly to Ayaka, they didn't ask any questions either.
Ayaka asked if they would please prepare her private room so she could talk to Thoma alone. This one was ideal for delicate conversations due to its unique architecture. You'd have to have a ninja's keen hearing to hear what was said inside. Even then, you were likely to miss a few details. Ayaka also asked to bring them two teas and two dishes of Udon to eat and rest after the trip. They waited until the waitress came back with the order to speak, so they wouldn't be interrupted.
"Thank you very much," Ayaka murmured gently to the young woman.
"To serve you, milady," she replied with her head bowed and immediately walked back into the hallway, carefully closing the door. And at that moment, they were finally totally isolated.
Thoma immediately took the plate of Udon; he was actually quite hungry. Ayaka just took a few sips of her tea, hoping the warmth would somehow calm the butterflies in her stomach. It worked up to a point.
When she finally felt calm enough, she put down her cop and immediately went to her bag. She was grateful that Thoma hadn't been urging her to talk, and it was possible that if she didn't bring it up, he wouldn't either; such was the trustworthy and loyal master of the Kamisato's house.
"Do you remember what you told me yesterday about a group of ronin assaulting people on the road?" Ayaka commented as she checked and searched for something in the bag. It didn't take her long to find it, placing it right on the low table they were both sitting in front of. "The Tenryou guards who came this morning brought some pamphlets of the suspects. Among them was this one."
Ayaka slid the poster across the table towards Thoma, so he could take a closer look. The servant looked at it a little confused and took it in his hands to examine it better. Of course, at first, it didn't say anything to him. It was just a portrait of a man, his description and crimes; nothing extraordinary. But of course, Ayaka had much more to explain.
"That man… I know him. His name is Katsumoto. He was a swordsman in the service of the Kaedehara clan."
"Kaedehara?" Thoma uttered in surprise, looking up from the poster.
"I met him as a child on the occasions when I went to train at the Kaedehara dojo. They said he was the best, and I certainly remember that he was very good with a sword. But if it's him, it would mean that after what happened… he ended up becoming a ronin who attacks travelers. Doesn't that seem like a terrible fate for such an exceptional samurai?"
"If it really is him," Thoma commented, obviously with reservations, placing the pamphlet back on the table. "Yesterday when you ran out, were you looking for him?"
Ayaka was a bit shocked at the quick deduction. Apparently, in his mind, he had concluded that her strange behavior yesterday must be somehow related to her strange behavior today. And he was partly right, although not exactly as he thought.
"No…" Ayaka replied, shaking her head slowly. "Actually… I thought I saw Kazuha in the crowd."
Thoma's face filled with astonishment.
"Are you talking about... Kaedehara Kazuha?"
Ayaka nodded.
That was a name the young servant hadn't heard in a long time. The boy who was Lady Ayaka's friend and fiancé until her brother was forced to break off that relationship. Thoma's memories of this person were not as vivid as his mistress's. Still, he remembered at least the most important parts of that painful incident.
"Then I thought it was my imagination," Ayaka added more serenely. "But if Katsumoto is around, maybe that wasn't the case. Maybe he's traveling with him, perhaps they're both ronin, or at least maybe Katsumoto knows where I can find him."
"And why do you want to know the location of that boy?" Thoma asked, a little lost. "Eight or ten years have passed. I didn't even know you remembered him."
Ayaka fell silent and lowered her gaze, suddenly turning dejected.
Thoma was taken aback by this sudden change. Had he said something wrong?
"Milady?" he murmured slowly in a cautious voice.
The young Kamisato continued in silence. Her eyes were fixed on the steaming, opaque liquid in her cup, rocking slightly inside it. Her fingers pressed a little against the fabric of her skirt that covered her legs.
Thoma was right about something. She hadn't mentioned Kazuha at all in those last eight years. But it wasn't because Ayaka didn't think about him or because she didn't remember him, quite the contrary. To a greater or lesser extent, that boy who was her great childhood friend had always been around her mind, more than she would dare to accept. If she had forced herself not to express such thoughts openly during that time, it was more so as not to bother her brother and fulfill her duty as a Kamisato and her perfect image as the Heron Princess...
"Of course, I remember him," she murmured slowly. "Kazuha was… my friend; a great friend, and also…" She stopped abruptly, biting his lower lip a little. When she spoke again, she preferred not to finish the previous sentence. "Still, when my brother broke off the engagement, I was never allowed to see him again. Then the thing with his family happened, and he just disappeared. I was never able to talk to him or ask him anything, nor did I have any explanation from him."
"Explanation of what?" Thoma asked, still looking puzzled.
"If… it was all a lie, if it was really all part of a plan, if it was all really about the money… And if our friendship and… the things he told me and promised me weren't sincere."
Although she tried to keep her voice steady, it was clear to Thoma that there was a deep feeling, wanting to explode at the slightest agitation.
He hadn't seen such a profound emotional reaction from her mistress for... a few years, in fact; eight, at least. And except for that occasion that he remembered, and that in fact was related to the topic they were discussing, since she was a child, the youngest of the Kamisatos had always been such a calm and focused person. He would never have imagined that she kept a feeling like that inside her chest.
But, what was it exactly? Resentment towards her brother? Towards the Kaedehara boy? Towards him even? Or maybe it was a very different feeling?
"Lady Ayaka," Thoma murmured in a clear, calm voice. "Back then, you were both just kids. I won't condone young Kaedehara's actions, but he likely didn't even know his uncle's plans. And even if it did, there wasn't much he could say or do to oppose it."
Ayaka closed her eyes for a few moments and breathed slowly through her nose. Gradually her mind cleared, and she managed to get over that little outburst to speak more calmly.
"I know," the Kamisato replied confidently, "and it probably was like that. But I need to hear it from him. And on top of that…" She lowered her gaze again. Her fingers continued to move nervously over her skirt. "Also… I want to see him again. I've been thinking about him a lot lately, and when I thought I saw him yesterday... my heart raced so fast that..."
Again, she fell silent before finishing her sentence.
"I know maybe I'm idealizing the boy from my memories," she suddenly murmured into the air, sounding more like a comment to herself than to her companion. "You said it yourself; we were just kids. Ten years have passed since we met; eight since the last time I saw him… He may not be the person I remember at all. Still, I'd like to see it again at least once, to know he's okay..."
"And getting those answers you mentioned a while ago," Thoma added, to which Ayaka simply nodded in confirmation. "And do you really think that finding this man will help you find his whereabouts?" he questioned later, returning his attention to the poster on the table.
"That's my only clue at the moment. If it doesn't lead to anything, I'll forget it. But if Katsumoto really is around, I want to at least try to talk to him. I know that asking you not to talk about this to my brother is too much. But you know better than anyone that he has always been very upset about what happened with the Kaedehara family. Just give me a couple of days to do this. You can freely tell him about this when we get back home, whatever the outcome."
Thoma sighed heavily and took a few moments to reflect on the whole thing. It was not the first time he had to be Ayaka's henchman in some action that Ayato would indeed not like. Like the matter they had with Yoimiya and Masakatsu. But as Ayaka rightly said, what had happened with the Kaedeharas years ago, when Ayato was still young and new to the leadership position, was a touchy subject for him. Though he didn't say it outright, Thoma knew that this was an embarrassing rookie mistake; one that would no longer occur to him in the present.
But on top of that, it seemed to be something very important to Ayaka. Not to the clan, not to the Yashiro commission, and not to Inazuma; important to her. And that was quite rare for it to happen.
"I think we could ask the people if anyone has seen this man, Katsumoto," he concluded after finishing his deliberations, making Ayaka's face shine with emotion. "But milady, if he really has become a ronin who robs the travelers, trying to find him on our own could be risky."
"Katsumoto was an honorable samurai. And when I was a child, he always treated me well."
"Eight years have passed. As you mentioned, neither he nor young Kazuha may be the same people you remember."
Ayaka pondered that idea for a few moments. Of course, it wasn't something that hadn't crossed her mind. She knew that there was a possibility that Katsumoto was not as trustworthy as she remembered. Still, she chose to believe in him and give him a vote of confidence.
But, just in case…
Ayaka stood up and inched towards a side cabinet in the room, its two doors concealing its contents. But Ayaka knew well what was there; that was her private room in Komore, after all.
The doors slid open, revealing a gleaming katana sword in a blue sheath, resting neatly on its wooden stand, and waiting for its owner.
"I know," Ayaka responded to Thoma's last comment. And without further ado, she took the sword with one hand and fastened it to her waist.
Later that day, as the sun was starting to set again, the wandering samurai Tomo went back to the same tea shop on the road from the day before. This time, it was relatively more crowded; if three people could be called crowded. But among those three, he quickly distinguished his new friend's back; contact for illicit transactions, as he had been told yesterday. Apparently, he had been there for a while now, for even on that occasion he allowed himself to order tea.
Tomo walked over to the bench, sitting right behind him, similar to how they had done last time.
"Do I have to ask you about the jasmine tea, or are we past that stage?" Tomo asked with a harsh ironic tone.
"You're late," the other man replied sternly.
"You said the same time as yesterday, but yesterday you were elegantly late. So I assumed you meant your time."
It was hard to tell if he was serious or not, but his listener didn't seem to mind trying to figure it out just yet.
"Where is the other guy?"
"Looking for a pretty girl to snuggle him up, taking advantage of the fact that he hasn't been here for a long time," answered Tomo with a very noticeable joking tone, which apparently wasn't amused by his new friend either. "Actually, he's out there making sure no one is snooping around."
Tomo pointed his thumb in the direction of the tea shop. When the intermediary turned that way, at first he didn't notice anything. But looking a little further, he managed to make out the figure of Kazuha, standing to one side of the small wooden hut, hidden in the shadow of it, and covered in his cloak and kasa, but with his crimson eyes fixed on the surroundings.
"How cautious."
"You never know when some mean thugs might be prowling around here," Tomo added nonchalantly. "So, do you have any good news for me?"
"So it seems. Master Masakatsu accepted the request from the Divine Priestess. But it will take a few days to get everything ready. The delivery would be estimated to take place within a week, during the Spring Festival."
"Festival?" Tomo muttered slowly, a little puzzled. Would there be a festival on those days? No one informed him… although he wouldn't know who in theory could have told him, in reality.
"The city will be full of people, and the Tenryou guard will be busy maintaining order," the man added. "We will meet the day before right here to tell you the exact place and time for delivery."
"I'll be waiting impatiently for that moment."
The contact got up at that moment and began to walk towards the road with a quick step.
"Tell your friend not to follow me," he said harshly to his listener as he passed him. "If you get too involved in this, there will be no deal. Understood?"
"As clear as river water," answered Tomo without looking at him, pretending his words were not meant for him.
Once he was far enough down the path, Kazuha left his location and approached his partner. He had already stood up by the time he reached him, and both began to walk away, side by side.
"Any sign of our friends?" Thomas asked curiously.
"None," Kazuha answered, shaking his head. "But that doesn't mean they're not close. Did you warn that guy about the ronin?"
"With the nervous and distrustful he is right now? If I had told him we had a little problem with a group of ronin raiders hot on our heels, he would have been able to cancel the entire sale."
"Maybe it would be better if he did," Kazuha pointed out somewhat sharply. "Katsumoto looked so furious and erratic last night that I can't predict what he'll do. And he already knows, or at least suspects, that we are here to make some kind of transaction. If he didn't try anything today, maybe he'll be on the delivery day."
"I know, I know," Tomo muttered heavily, rubbing his hair a little with one hand. "Good thing we have a few days before that. Maybe we can find them at that time and Deal with them."
"Deal with them in what way?" Kazuha questioned skeptically, looking at him askance. "Handing them over to the Tenryou commission? They'll take our visions from us before they go after them."
"There are... other ways to deal with this problem…" Tomo whispered with sudden and unusual seriousness.
Kazuha was slightly startled upon hearing such words. Despite being so few, on the whole, they told him enough. And, in a way, it didn't take him too much by surprise either. He knew in advance that this could be a possibility.
"I don't much like that alternative either, and you know it," Tomo added, immediately sensing the discomfort he had caused in him. "I know they were your friends, and you feel guilty for what happened. That's why I wouldn't ask you to help me do it, or even be present. But the mission for which I am here is very important and delicate, and I cannot risk it. I know you understand."
Kazuha didn't reply directly, but... yeah, he did understand. However, his greatest wish was not to have to come to that.
"But let's not think about that for now, shall we?" Tomo suddenly exclaimed in a much more jovial tone, allowing himself to playfully press Kazuha's head a little on his kasa, perhaps as a way to lighten the air. "Let's head to the city before it gets any darker," he added, beginning to walk faster.
"To the city?" Kazuha mumbled, confused, adjusting his hat again. "To what?"
"I need to make a request to the Adventurers' Guild," Tomo explained, now walking a few steps ahead of his companion. "I want to send a message to Kokomi to tell her that her proposal was accepted and about the mysterious benefactor; I'm sure that will interest her. And by the way, I will send her money back; as long as I have it in my hands, it will be a temptation, not only for thieves."
"And why the Adventurer's Guild?" Kazuha mumbled a little unsurely. His footsteps had also become hesitant as if his feet refused to go any further in the direction they were going.
"It is not obvious? Given the long-distance, the short time, and the importance and discreteness of the assignment, entrusting it to an adventurer is the best option. And we have the advantage that the main headquarters in Inazuma are right in the city. These people are practically mercenaries, and expensive. But they are efficient, and they know their job."
Turning at that moment to look at his friend over his shoulder, he realized with some surprise that Kazuha had fallen far behind.
"What's happening?" Tomo muttered curiously. "Ah, I know… You don't want to go to the city because you're afraid of meeting Ms. Kamisato again, right?" He indicated with a mischievous tone and a cunning smile on his lips.
Kazuha hissed in slight annoyance and immediately began to walk faster, even passing him.
"I'm beginning to wonder why I told you about her," he blurted out as a simple thought out loud.
"Because I'm your best friend, obviously," Tomo answered jokingly and quickly hurried to catch up.
Author's Notes:
Do you think Ayaka's desire to search for a gang of raiders herself is reckless? Well, let's remember that she does something very similar in her mission, going herself to look for those who had stolen the fabrics, and she kicked their butts. So it is evident that she is a girl who is not afraid of danger.
Very well, my friends, we are approaching the expected moment very soon. I'm sure some think I'm scamming you, and Kazuha and Ayaka will never meet, but it's not like that! Keep reading that meeting is almost happening. And that's where the real fun begins.