Sachiko waited outside the house, while waiting for the woman her father mentioned. Her name was Suzumi and was busy supervising the cleaning of her house. Giving Sachiko the perfect chance. Right now it was not suitable for her to step in, waiting would be better. She didn’t need rumors to arise about her, since her father had planted her here to keep an eye on things.

The woman had been of average height, her hair long and tied neatly into a bun. She was not old, perhaps being thirty at most. She was dressed in a kimono with only small patterns, enough to signify her status over other maids. Kaede was beside her, also choosing the same. The weather had been colder and she was passed a kimono of this because she had been her personal handmaid.

“Are you sure we should wait?”

“It’s better this way since I need to speak to her privately.” Mostly decorating it for mourning since her father had been declared dead. The body had not been found of him or the crew and there was a large storm. It also had been a full month since the incident; many would rightly assume that he perished. And the situation of Senwari was in a deadlock. It was expected for the Shogun to release him.

But the man was not likely to do so without having another hostage. To him, an unmarried sister would suffice as well. Since they needed the agreement of the Shogun and the clan head for a marriage. Without it they were expected to remain unmarried.

It would come soon enough. “Anything you wish for, Sachiko-hime?” She would keep her head down, in accordance to the respect that was shown to her.

“I would like to have a talk with you.” Even as she had went up in that instant. “It’s something personal.” She was without her mother, but many would expect a daughter to be well versed in running a household. Thus, it was not unusual for her to ask the head maid.

They would head inside to a room. One where it was used to entertaining guests. “Bring some tea.” Kaede would nod before leaving and grabbing it. Even as she didn’t like it one bit.

“I thought you didn’t like it.” She looked at him. Even as Kaede would remain out the door, perhaps awaiting for the next orders or a change in them. And perhaps suggesting that it was something of a signal that she was someone she could trust. It was not something many would have paid any attention to. “Tono-sama had specified it for you.”

“So, you don’t mind if I were to swap it for coffee beans?” She asked. Although knowing that it was perhaps something her father used to tell her that this was the woman she should be seeking for.

“I like it sometimes .”

“Kaede, change it to coffee instead.” The girl nodded at the doorstep, before she left. Even as the woman would raise her eyebrow at it. It was unusual, since Kaede was not someone her father had asked to take care of her.

“I picked her.” It would do little in assuring as she has not proved that she could judge people well. But so far Kaede had given her little cause to doubt so. Only after a short amount of time had passed did they begin the conversation.

“What did my father intend for me to know?” She asked. She could frame it as a curious answer, perhaps to know more. He had stopped by here before he left for the ship on Okiban and before he would disappear.

“Plenty of things.” Even as she would take the chance to look out. Before glancing back. Sachiko knew the reason why. “But it can wait until the coffee arrives.”

“You think Kaede might be a spy?”

“It pays to be careful.” She agreed to it too. “So far, she is incredibly observant.” But there was none of that. Sachiko had known Kaede, who grew up in Fukusei but needed to find employment to earn money for her family. And that even this was meant to dodge the eyes of many.

It was a quick wait before Kaede came back with a full pot. She poured it quickly for each of them. Sachiko took it up once Kaede was done. Even as she looked at her when they finished a sip.

“Close the door and leave would you?” Kaede would nod before closing it, with only the two of them here. This was where they would begin.

“Any reason why you have chosen to come here?”

“Haha thinks it’s time to think about marriage, and Masaki would need to head back to Senwari.” The woman was aware of what this would have meant. “So, I made the trip to Okiban.”

“So, I expect that you would be writing letters to many of the clans?” The woman would ask.

“I would need some help with that as I’m no longer familiar with the place. And whether are there any clans who have expressed an interest in talking with my brother.” It was something that many would assume that she was trying to help her family; cementing a sound alliance. In terms of it, she was eligible to marry into the Shogunate. She had enough connections, and the heir to the Shogun was a young man with no attachments. Or to marry to a feudal lord which would bring her family many advantages.

Although Sachiko was interested in neither. This was merely a ploy for her to see which clans were likely to ally with them, and how she can use it to the Saitou clan’s advantage. “There are many families who have expressed an interest, although not all make it to the table of wakatono. He doesn’t need rumors about him plotting, no matter how many would say that it is difficult to believe a young boy was capable of something like this and turn it around to accuse the clan as conspirators.”

It was easy enough, since it had happened before. The previous Shogun’s assassination had been blamed on his wife, and as such barred his own son from being able to take control. Even as the current Shogun— his brother— did not participate, there were still rumors about his involvement. But above all, was the precedence. This could be turned around and blamed on her mother’s head and perhaps even hers. And the consequences could be terrible for the clan.

Even if it was a young boy of no more than fourteen. This rumors would impact him badly and would raise the suspicion. She knew her father must have had handed her much control, but this was far more than she expected. “The main clans who have inquired have been the Sasaki and the Satou. Those will make our best allies.”

“What of the other clans?”

“Not much have been heard from them. The occasional invitation, but nothing to suggest interest in our clan.” She knew why it had happened, mostly because of the lack of a clear leader. Her father managed to find alliances easy, and with his disappearance it was not difficult to expect desertion. Especially if the future leader is not a man, he wasn’t a boy but he wasn’t fully able to lead either.

“Can you pass me those letters?” Sachiko would ask.

“Of course, hime-sama.” Even as she stood up, knowing that this was all she needed to do for now. The letters could be more clearly handled later. She went out, to find Kaede sitting on the edge and drinking some sake. She raised her bottle to her master.

Sachiko would return it with a smile before taking the chance to go forward, knowing that Kaede was unlikely to be listening in. She had told Kaede a little of her own plans, to many it would seem like the wishful thinking of a girl. A girl who had never hoped to marry, and hoped to leave the confines of her life she start somewhere else.

And taking the steps needed to ensure that freedom. Regardless of what she would be paying for it in the end. She had done all she could in such a situation, there was little else she could do now except wait for Suzumi to bring her the list so that she could assess her options

Kazuho had known just how difficult it would be to find the boy. It had been a full two hours of standing and it being almost early evening which convinced Yuki and Masami to eat something. He expected it, even as he asked around. There was none who could give him a straight answer.

Most would kindly ignore him, while some would laugh at his face once he brought up the check. Something that was lost here was unlikely to be recovered. But Kazuho had not wanted to pay back the money in full, knowing that whoever it was may have taken the money out. He had went to the bank first to see whether it was gone. So far it wasn’t.

Which was the only good thing as they had not made progress in finding who stole the check. While Yuki had committed herself to see as much of Okiban that was possible in one afternoon, even as they were busy trying to find out more about the missing check. Only to have it turn up with little, and feeling that they would probably eat before heading back to the house. There just wasn’t another option for something like this.