Chapter 23
It will be fun
The bustle outside the tea house was caused by a young woman in the company of two guards clad in purple armor and armed with spears. But these were not guards from the Tenryou commission as Kazuha and Tomo had feared. And that young woman was not just any person, as she was Lady Chisato of the Hiiragi clan. And that little clash of words that was taking place was because their intentions to enter the establishment were entirely frustrated by Kozue, who had stood firm in front of the door, blocking their way.
"What do you mean I can't get in?" Chisato questioned, equally confused and annoyed.
"I don't know what words could put it more clearly, my lady," Kozue answered in a firm and nearly sarcastic tone which was somewhat disrespectful from the perspective of her three listeners. "As I already told you, no one can enter this establishment without authorization. So you should go now."
"But what a rude woman!" one of the guards exclaimed with evident anger, taking his spear firmly in front of him. "Don't you know who you're talking to...?!"
"Shinnojou, calm down," Chisato said, raising an arm in front of the guard to signal him to desist from any hostile action he was thinking of. A little embarrassed, the man lowered his head and stepped back.
Chisato took a deep breath, trying to calm her own mood, which was not far from her companion's. When she felt calmer, she stood firm in front of Kozue, looked her straight in the eye, and spoke as calmly as possible:
"Listen, there's obviously a misunderstanding. Let's start over, okay? I'm Hiiragi Chisato, from the Hiiragi Clan of the Kanjou Commission. I'm looking for Kamisato Ayaka, and the people told me I could find her here. Would you be so kind as to tell me if she is in this establishment or not?"
"I can't give you that information without authorization," Kozue replied quickly and without hesitation, "no matter if you are from the Kanjou Commission or wherever. So you should go, now," she snapped, crossing her arms.
"What's your problem?!" Chisato exclaimed, not managing to keep her voice at a safe volume for now. "That is no way to treat a person, whatever clan they are. I demand to speak to the owner right now!"
"As you wish," Kozue replied nonchalantly, shrugging. "But it still won't help you much. He is a dog, after all."
"And you even call your own boss dog," Chisato muttered with distaste. "Who the hell are you to…?"
The main door at Kozue's back was opened carefully at that moment, immediately catching the attention of both women and the two guards. Kamisato Ayaka's distinctive round face with large blue eyes looked out, and her mere presence was enough for the humor to calm down from one second to another.
"Kozue, is everything alright?" the young Kamisato inquired, taking a step outside. She quickly recognized the person in front of the teahouse clerk as she approached. "Ah, Chisato…" she whispered, somewhat surprised.
"Ayaka, I finally found you," Chisato muttered with some relief. "I was looking for you, but this woman didn't want to help me at all."
While she shot that accusation, Chisato stared at Kozue, making it quite clear who she was talking about.
"I was only doing my duty, Lady Kamisato," the woman in the purple kimono apologized.
"I know, Kozue, don't worry," Ayaka was quick to point out. Then she moved to stand in front of her, almost serving as a shield between the gatekeeper and the daughter of the Hiiragi clan. "Please forgive her, Chisato. Kozue just tries to take the best care of who comes in and who leaves this site."
"And why so much security exactly?" The young Hiiragi inquired, raising her eyes to take a general look at the facade of that building. "Someone told me that you usually stay at this place when you're here in Inazuma, but… is it a tea house or an inn?"
"You could say a bit of both," Ayaka answered simply, but before she could ask more about it, she switched to the main topic. "Were you looking for me for something special, Chisato?"
"Yes, I need to talk to you about something important."
"Important?" Ayaka muttered, surprised.
Had something happened yesterday with the meeting between Commissioner Kanjou and Commissioner Tenryou? The motives they supposedly had for that meeting were already suspicious. Had Chisato perhaps heard something she should have known?
Ayaka began to feel a mixture of curiosity but also a concern. The latter for various reasons, including the two people she was hiding at the time.
"I understand," Ayaka agreed slowly, apparently calm in her voice. "Why don't you have a seat at one of the tables out here? I'll be back in a moment as soon as I'm done getting dressed."
"Okay," Chisato replied, feeling a little unsure. "But can't it be a table inside?"
"No, because they are remodeling. That is why access is so restricted. But don't worry, make yourself comfortable, and in a second, I'll return."
And again, before Chisato could say more, Ayaka abruptly turned back to Kozue.
"Kozue, can you ask for tea for Ms. Hiiragi and her guards? On my account, please."
"As you order," the woman replied, nodding respectfully. And right after that, they both started walking towards the interior of the establishment, leaving Chisato behind with whatever other comments she wanted to say.
"I guess I have no choice," Hiiragi murmured, slightly sullen. She headed for one of the establishment's outside tables, just as she had been instructed.
"I didn't mean to be rude," Kozue apologized once they were inside the tea house. "I just considered that you wouldn't want anyone unknown to come in, having your two guests..."
"Don't worry, Kozue," Ayaka replied quickly, smiling kindly at her. "You did the right thing, thanks. Just ask for tea for Miss Hiiragi, please."
Kozue responded to her prompting with a slight bow and then hurried to carry out the order.
Alone now, Ayaka allowed herself to relax a bit and let her almost perpetual facade of calm and demeanor fade just a little. Thanks to the Archons, it wasn't the Tenryou Commission, and Chisato was ultimately a more straightforward person to deal with. But it caused her some concern to know what this important topic she wanted to talk to her was about. It would be best to attend to her as soon as possible instead of making assumptions.
A little more recovered, Ayaka walked towards the hall where Kazuha, Tomo, and Thoma were still waiting. Seeing her in the doorway, the three of them turned to look at her with urgent anticipation.
"There's nothing to worry about," she replied calmly. "It's just a… acquaintance who came to talk about something with me."
"Acquaintance?" Thoma mumbled, a little confused. Evidently, he couldn't think of who that acquaintance person could be at first glance.
"I'll attend to her. But please, don't come out until I tell you to, okay?"
"Whatever you say, Miss Kamisato," Tomo nodded in response.
Before going to get dressed as she said she would, Ayaka turned to Kazuha, overseeing him. What she wanted to say must somehow be clearly written on her face because without her having to say a word, the Kadehara boy commented after a few seconds:
"I'll keep waiting here for you. Don't worry."
Ayaka nodded, smiled slightly at him, and headed towards the stairs.
That little exchange of glances had not gone unnoticed by Tomo or Thoma. Neither said anything, although their faces showed that each had their own opinion on the matter.
Ayaka quickly changed into her everyday attire, being supported by two of the tea house waitresses to make it faster. Perhaps some would think it would not have been necessary to change since Chisato was also dressed more casually, with a blue and pink kimono. But one of the lessons she had learned as a member of the Yashiro commission, and especially as a Kamisato, was that appearance, mannerisms, what was done and said… it all means something in politics. And although that might seem like a casual conversation between friends (or rather acquaintances, as she had told Thoma and the others), Ayaka knew that everything that involved the clans of the Tri-Commission was undoubtedly political.
When Ayaka walked outside the tea house again, Chisato was already sitting at her table with a steaming cup of tea in front of her. There was one additional cup on the same table, for her for sure. The two guards accompanying the young Hiiragi had also sat at another table, although quite close to their mistress.
"Sorry for the delay, Chisato," Ayaka excused herself, taking a seat in front of her, right at the stand with the cup alone.
"No problem," Chisato murmured a little distractedly while taking a small sip from her cup. This one seemed to be almost wholly capturing her attention at the moment. "Hey, is this my imagination, or is it the same tea you serve at the Kamisato Estate?"
"Probably yes."
Chisato raised her eyes once more to take a look at the building. Something of real fascination accompanied her bright eyes.
"So, this is one of Kamisato's businesses? It must give you a good income because they serve excellent tea. But perhaps you would be better off if you change some of their staff."
Ayaka just smiled politely at her comment. Perhaps Chisato wouldn't speak so poorly of Kozue if she knew what she was capable of, either with her bare hands or with a sword.
"What did you need to talk to me about?" the Kamisato girl asked without much further ado. "Did something happen with the Tenryou commission?"
"You could say so," Chisato sighed, expressing quite a bit of anguish. This made Ayaka even more alert, but she tried to cover it up by subtly drinking from her cup. "Do you remember that yesterday I mentioned if we could maybe spend the afternoon together, take a walk or go shopping?"
Ayaka blinked a couple of times, totally lost, as she didn't see where that sudden question came from.
"Yes…"
"Tell me you're available to do it," Chisato exclaimed, clasping her hands in front of her in entreaty. "Please, please!"
The abrupt turn their conversation took affected the almost perpetual Ayaka's mask of serenity, far away from the type of issue she thought they would deal with.
"Is that the... important thing you wanted to talk to me...?" Ayaka muttered slowly, trying not to make her impression so obvious.
"Before you jump to any conclusion, let me explain myself first," Chisato stated, holding her hands out in front of her. And Ayaka was definitely eager to hear such an explanation.
Chisato sat up straight in her seat, cleared her throat, and without further delay, began to speak:
"You see, yesterday we stayed at the Tenryou Commission headquarters. While my father had his meeting with the commissioner, I was drinking some tea, hoping to talk to Kamaji, when...
A day ago…
Just as Chisato had said, the afternoon of the previous day, she was in a room at the Tenryou headquarters, alone while having a cup of tea (much less appetizing than the one she had in Komore). She had asked one of her guards to go tell Kujou Kamaji that she was there and that she would wait for him to be able to... talk. But several minutes of waiting passed, and the person she was waiting for still did not appear.
Couldn't they have given him her message? Should she better go find him herself? Roaming around the Tenryou commission headquarters corners by herself was definitely not her first choice. But if Kamaji didn't show up, she probably had no other way.
She was already planning how to get out of that room and sneak discreetly through the corridors when she heard the door slide carefully to the side. Chisato's heart leaped for joy, and her entire body actually gave another literal leap, standing up.
"Kamaji…!" She smiled, looking towards the door. However, it didn't take her long to recognize that the person there was not who she expected.
"Ah, no," a clearly confused Kujou Sara muttered, standing in the doorway. "It's me."
"Oh, Sara," Chisato murmured, embarrassed by her sudden outburst. She quickly sat back down and twirled her hair a bit with her fingers. "Hi, good afternoon."
"Good afternoon, Ms. Hiiragi," The Commission Tenryou General greeted with almost martial firmness, closing the door behind her and approaching the low table where Chisato was sitting. "Commissioner Hiiragi told me you were here and suggested that I should come to say hello and… catch up." She then stood at attention just in front of the table, with her arms behind her back. "So here I am."
"Oh well… thanks," Chisato murmured a little hesitantly. "Would you like to... sit with me for a while?"
A small gesture on Sara's face made it clear that she had not expected such an invitation.
"I guess so," she answered curtly and quickly sat down at the table in front of her guest. Even sitting up, she kept her back straight and her gaze hard. She seemed never to be able to get out of her military role.
"It's… nice to see you after so long, Sara," Chisato stated, giving a half-smile.
"Yes... very nice..." answered the tengu, who, although she tried to keep her voice stable, her awkwardness was noticeable; a sentiment that Chisato shared.
That awkwardness only worsened when for the next minute, neither spoke a word. Chisato just drank lightly from her cup, and Sara surreptitiously looked away. The young woman from Ritou found the idea of sneaking alone through the corridors of the headquarters more and more attractive compared to staying there for much longer.
Perhaps it would be difficult for some outsiders to believe it. Still, despite being theoretically daughters of two of the most important clans of Inazuma… both didn't treat each other much. Actually, the most correct thing would be to say that they didn't treat each other at all.
Sara had always been a little different girl. And not because she was a tengu or because she was adopted (which might well be something to do with that), but she never seemed entirely interested in the same things that she and the other daughters of the important clans were interested in. She had always had more affinity with the boys in a certain way, although Chisato was not aware she could get along better with them.
"Are you waiting for my brother?" Sara asked suddenly, making Chisato flinch a little at the sudden question. "Is there anything you need to review with him?"
Chisato stammered hesitantly. It would be silly to pretend she didn't know what she was talking about, considering she had practically screamed Kamaji's name the moment Sara entered.
"Ah, no… no… I just wanted to say hello, you know… To know how he is."
"It may take a while," the general pointed out, apparently not noticing her companion's suspicious reactions. "He's in a meeting with Commissioner Hiiragi and my father."
"I understand. I'll wait then," Chisato answered, sipping quickly from her cup. And before Sara could think to ask anything else, she hastily changed the subject. "And… how have you been, Sara?"
"Very busy."
"Oh."
"Several situations have required my attention and from the commission in general. Surely you've already heard about the incident with the fishermen in Yashiori, right?"
"Oh, yeah. My father has been complaining about how they have paralyzed the trade routes because of that problem."
"Exactly. Also, there will be a festival soon, and the city's security has to be reinforced."
"Oh, sure, I've heard about it before. In fact, Ayaka is here in Inazuma attending to matters of that festival."
"Ayaka?" Sara muttered slowly, her brow wrinkling a little. "Oh, you mean Miss Kamisato. Yeah, I think I saw her yesterday."
Specifically, Sara had seen her while she and her men had tried to subdue that man with the Pyro vision at the entrance to the city who refused to give it up. It seemed for a moment that she was going to try to get in the way of their work, but in the end, the Kamisato had stepped aside to allow them to finish the matter.
It was very much proper for the Yashiro commission to always care about the welfare of the people, even those who broke the decrees of the Almighty Shogun. But there was nothing to reproach them with; that was their duty, after all.
"We traveled together this morning from her Estate," Chisato explained next. "In fact, we agreed to maybe go out one of these days to walk around the city."
"Walk around?"
"Yes, you know. A girls' afternoon, just to relax a little."
"I get it…" Sara muttered slowly, though it seemed that she really didn't quite understand deep down.
A while more silence followed, in which Chisato watched Sara surreptitiously. The general had turned thoughtfully to one side, apparently thinking a little about those last words.
The young Hiiragi lady began to question if it had been a good idea to have mentioned that girls' afternoon in front of her. After all… Sara was a girl too, wasn't she? But she wasn't interested in that sort of thing, plus she was very busy like she just said.
But as Ayaka would think the following day when Chisato showed up in Komore to talk to her, everything involving the three clans was politics, and everything said or done had a reason and a consequence. And the fact that the daughters of the Kamisato and Hiiragi clans met without inviting the daughter of the Kujou clan could be considered an insult on different levels...
Maybe she was exaggerating, but it was still better not to leave any loose ends. She was sure Sara would say no anyway.
"Would you… like to join us?" Chisato asked suddenly, clearly taking her listener by surprise.
"Me?" Sara exclaimed, clearly perplexed. Her mouth opened in an attempt to reply to something else, but she couldn't get anything out at all.
"Sorry, what a fool I am," Chisato laughed nonchalantly. "If you just told me that you are very busy."
"Yes, very, very busy," Sara repeated briskly.
"Oh, so bad. It would have been fun to hang out together, the three of us like when we were kids, don't you think?
If by "hang out together," she meant when their parents left them alone in a room while they managed the business of the Tri-Commission, assuming they would have a good time together just because they were girls, but in reality they ended up quite bored.
Anyway, with that, Chisato had delivered. She had had the courtesy to invite her and did what was expected of her. Her father would be proud.
However, there was one thing Chisato hadn't counted on: General Kujou Sara's tendency to obey and please. She had always been raised to not be a nuisance and that her actions must not harm or affect others, especially members of her family or other important clans. And the fact that Hiiragi Chisato was disappointed (from her perspective) that she declined her invitation made that intrinsic part of Sara willing to please despite everything, wake up and jump like an alarm.
Sara's gloved fingers drummed nervously on the table. And after a few seconds of meditation, she abruptly pronounced:
"Maybe… I could take a couple of hours off one of these days."
Chisato jumped, almost as if some ghost had jumped out behind her.
"Really…?" she muttered incredulously. "I mean, great! That would be... fun."
"Yes, very fun…" Sara muttered next, making a forced attempt of a smile. Chisato responded in exactly the same way, both trying to somehow hide what they were really thinking and feeling at that moment.
It was all politics, after all...
Present time…
"And then we spent about twenty minutes in silence until she left to attend to her chores," Chisato finished her story, noting that she was quite exasperated as she did so. "It was so awkward. I have never known how to treat her. She's so, so... serious..."
Chisato actually had a few other words in mind to describe General Tenryou, but that seemed the most orthodox.
For her part, Ayaka was a bit confused about how to feel about everything she had just heard. A portion of her, of which she wasn't entirely proud, watched it all in a particular humorous way. Only Chisato could get into something like that and make it bigger trying to figure it out.
"Kujou Sara can be a bit intimidating," the young Kamisato pointed out in a cautious voice, "but she is actually a very kind and helpful person. She likely agreed to go out with you because she didn't want to disappoint you."
"And I only invited her because I didn't want to be rude!" snapped Chisato, quickly covering her mouth as she realized she had raised her voice too high. "I'm sorry… But don't tell it to her, please."
"I won't say anything, don't worry."
"But you have to come with me, please. I can't even have a smooth conversation with that woman; how will I spend the whole afternoon with her? I wouldn't even know where to take her."
"I don't really know her that well either," Ayaka stated, feeling slightly nervous at the thought. We've only exchanged words a few times in the last couple of years, and always over Yashiro Commission business."
"But at least you know her better than I do. Also, you are much more versatile with words, and you are a better mediator. When we were kids, I remember that you were always the one who made the three of us get along better."
Ayaka fell silent upon hearing that statement. Was that how Chisato remembered that? Well, she differed a bit. Of course, Ayaka was very aware of those afternoons when the three would spend time together, play with dolls, have tea, or whatever their parents thought that three girls alone would do. They surely imagined that the three of them could be good friends in their minds. But the reality was that they had never come close to it.
Even though she accepted that she had a good relationship with Chisato, Ayaka knew that it was a bit of the same political game that both of them had learned to play as children. She used to see Chisato at most twice a year. They could sit, drink tea, and chat on casual topics, but little more than that. Ayaka would never dare to completely drop her mask of serenity and temperance before her, nor would she simply share her intimate secrets with her. And with Sara… well, she was an even more remote case.
The reality was that since she was a child, Ayaka had never felt attached to either of them. And if Chisato thought that she was in some way responsible for making the three of them get along better, it was possible because of the instructions her mother, her father, and later her brother gave her on how to behave, how to maintain etiquette, and how to make the person in front of you feel comfortable. But that wasn't friendship; it was pure appearance. Even now, in this conversation they were having, it was still more of the same.
Perhaps in part, that is why she longed so much for those moments she spent with Kazuha as children. Even before he ceased to be noble, the Kaedehara boy seemed not to care at all about this game of politics, appearances, pretending to be something he wasn't, or taking care of what he said or did. When the two of them were alone, neither had to pretend or act to make the other feel comfortable; it was something that happened naturally. If maybe Ayaka had been a little more like him, maybe she would have forged a more sincere friendship with Chisato or even Sara. But it was too late for that… or wasn't it?
"Please, please," Chisato insisted, clasping her hands in front of her again in a plea. "Don't leave me alone with this. I know Sara and I will never be able to be friends or anything, but I also don't want her to hate me if Kamaji and I ever move forward. I even wish I had her on my side. Do you understand me…?"
Ayaka was silent for a few seconds, quickly considering how to respond. If she was frank, she had little more desire than Chisato herself to get involved in it. But giving the only daughter of the Hiiragi clan a resounding no, especially after being asked so intensely, would be perceived as disrespectful on her part. And it didn't matter if Chisato said it didn't matter.
Sooner or later, Chisato or whoever she married would take the lead with the Kanjou commission. And if that person ended up being Kujou Kamaji, as Chisato so desired, it would put the Kamisato clan at a relative disadvantage. So it was Ayaka's responsibility to have the best possible relationship with both families.
Indeed, it was all politics...
"I understand," Ayaka answered with a carefree smile. Okay, the three of us can hang out for a bit. But…" She turned her attention to the teahouse, imagining for a moment that her eyes could somehow see into it. "Today, I have some… business that I have to take care of. Could it be maybe tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow is perfect," Chisato exclaimed with fervent glee. "Thank you, Ayaka. I owe you one."
"No, don't say that," the young Kamisato murmured, smiling more broadly, not reflecting her true feelings at all. "It sure will be fun..."
Author's Notes:
It took me a little time, but well here we have a new chapter, where we see that conversation between Chisato and Sara that was pending in Chapter 17. Let's see how their girls' outing goes, but for now, as Ayaka rightly mentioned, there are other matters for her to take care of.