Volume 8 Chapter 2 Part 4 (2/2)
The two walked down paths impossible to navigate without a guide, then arrived in front of one of the largest residences.
The gate guard hurriedly came towards them, but thanks to Karin they could pa.s.s without a hitch.
The guard seemed more surprised at Karin's sudden return than s.h.i.+n's presence though.
”I apologize for the disturbance.”
”Please don't, the guards seemed overjoyed too. They must love you and respect you.”
”That's right! Our lady is kind to everybody, all the va.s.sals love her.”
s.h.i.+n's words were answered with pride by Midou Chiyo, a woman serving the Saegusa house. She was Karin's caretaker, and undoubtedly the happiest person to see Karin return.
”Enough about me, where is father?”
”He is already waiting inside the residence.”
”Thank you. Sir s.h.i.+n, I ask you to join me for a brief introduction.”
”Understood.”
s.h.i.+n and Karin entered the residence, led by Chiyo.
”Our lady Karin and sir s.h.i.+n have arrived.”
Chiyo announced their arrival in front of the room's sliding doors.
After hearing the response Chiyo opened the doors, showing a man sitting cross-legged in the center of the room and a woman at his side.
The man had a large and muscular physique, which clearly showed through his kimono. A man shaped like a rugged boulder, or so s.h.i.+n thought. The woman was sitting next to him with a proper posture, smiling gently. She was of short stature herself, but next to the man she looked even smaller.
”Father, mother, I have returned.”
”Welcome back. I have heard what happened to a degree. It appears you found what you were looking for.”
”Yes, now we only have to wait for the medicine to be made.”
The man Karin called father exchanged brief words with her, then turned towards s.h.i.+n.
”I apologize for the wait. I am the 3rd head of the Saegusa house, Saegusa Kuyou. This is my wife, Kayo.”
”My name is s.h.i.+n. This is Yuzuha, we are bound by a contract.”
”Kuu!”
s.h.i.+n sat in proper posture next to Karin and introduced himself. Yuzuha was sitting on a cus.h.i.+on next to him.
”I was told you lent your aid to our daughter and lady Kanade in their search. Also that you attempted to leave without accepting any reward. You are aware of what lady Kanade was searching for, weren't you?”
”Only that it was an ingredient for her lady sister's medicine.”
”Indeed. The results are yet to come, but if Lady Haruna were to be healed, we would owe you a great debt. But even if it were not so, to save others from peril for nothingthat spirit is something I admire. You are welcome to stay in our residence not just one day, but for a brief period if you please.”
”Thank you very much.”
”Father, sir s.h.i.+n has saved mine and lady Kanade's life, and”
”I am coming in!!”
The brief greeting between s.h.i.+n and Kuyou ended, and just as Karin was about to explain in detail what happened, suddenly Kanade opened the sliding doors and came inside.
”.lady Kanade. I thought you headed to the residence?”
”I gave the Dead Snake Gra.s.s to the concocter. There is nothing more for me to do. I wanted to tell my sister that we have all ingredients for the medicine, but we cannot be sure until we see it is really effectivefather is busy in some meeting, so I came here first.”
”Lady Kanade. I understand your worry, but please do calm down.”
Kuyou said that she was not acting properly for a Kujou lady, but Kanade pouted and retorted.
”I cannot help this. At least between us, please forgive my behavior.”
Kanade's worry wouldn't disappear unless the medicine showed to be effective and her sister healed after all.
Kuyou understood her feelings and did not reproach her further.
”Anyway, what were you talking about?”
”I was going to ask about sir s.h.i.+n. There was a bit of a commotion before you entered the castle it seems.”
”I have learned the reason why the atmosphere within the castle is not good. It is no wonder that s.h.i.+n would be viewed with suspicion.”
Kanade had heard from Kankurou what happened as they headed together to the castle.
”Father, Milady, I still have not heard about that. Could you please inform me?”
”Hmm, I see.”
”Ehm, I apologize for interrupting, but is it alright for me to listen to such circ.u.mstances?”
s.h.i.+n interjected while Kuyou was speaking. He felt that it was not something for an outsider to hear.
”That is quite all right, it is nothing more than a rumor after all. People speak about this throughout the castle town. It is but a rumor concerning suspicious movements of the Yaejima house, rulers of the west. Originally we have fought for the rule over Hinomoto: no matter the credibility of the rumor, or lack thereof, people cannot help but be worried. However, as far as I know, the current head of the Yaejima family is close friends with lord Kujou Tadahisa, head of the Kujou family and lady Kanade's father. I very much doubt that the rumor is true.”
”If something was going on, it could be the Ichinose.”
After Kuyou spoke, Kayo partic.i.p.ated in the conversation for the first time.
”The Ichinose?”
”That family has always been very concerned with the changes in balance of power between east and west, until a while ago they were talking about the unification of Hinomoto after all. About the succession matter too, they even went as far as saying that since Karin isn't here, she should be removed, you know? Truly, nothing but disrespectful!”
”Mother, please calm down. But I understand, so that's what happened.”
Karin calmed down the irritated Kayo and nodded in understanding of the situation.
Apparently Tos.h.i.+ro had suspected s.h.i.+n of being sent by the Ichinose.
”Well, it's not like they've done anything yet. There are nothing but rumors at the moment, so we are gathering information. By the way, I personally am more interested in s.h.i.+n, can you tell me more about your journey?”
”Well”
”Of course. We met for the first time on a s.h.i.+p, while we were heading back to Hinomoto.”
Kayo changed the subject, expressing high interest in s.h.i.+n.
As he was thinking about how to respond, Kanade antic.i.p.ated him by narrating how they first met.
”-then he saved us when we fell into the seaby the way, what was the thing he did that time?”
”What thing, exactly?”
”Karin, he was kissing you and fondling your b.r.e.a.s.t.s, was he not?”
”W-what!? Sir s.h.i.+n!! What did you do to me while I was unconscious!?”
Kanade's words caused Karin to spring up and cover her chest with her arms. She quickly moved away from him towards the wall, using a cus.h.i.+on as protection.
”Ooh, do let us know more.”
”Yes, that is indeed very interesting.”
At the same time, Kuyou unleashed a powerful aura of intimidation, while Kayo's smile completely left her lips. s.h.i.+n's expression became stiff under the influence of a pressure ignoring levels and stats.
”No no no it's not what it seems! I acted like that as I feared that lady Karin's breath and pulse had stopped! I a.s.sure you I was not thinking of anything improper!! Lady Kanade, please do not use words that could be misunderstood!!”
s.h.i.+n tried desperately to defend himself from the damage caused by Kanade's explosive words.
s.h.i.+n explained how the kiss was to re-start Karin's stopped breathing and he wasn't fondling her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, but using cardiac ma.s.sage to make her heart beat again, recalling the limited knowledge he could muster.
That's how terrifying Kuyou and Kayo's atmosphere appeared to s.h.i.+n. This was what they called ”irrational fear”, probably.
”Hmm, so it was all to save my daughter, is that so?”
”Exactly. These actions are to be performed as quickly as possible. I am not a true expert, but I thought that there was no time to think about that. I a.s.sure you, I absolutely a.s.sure you that I had nothing improper in mind.”
”I vouch for him as well. I woke up first, and remember how s.h.i.+n was desperately trying to help Karin.”
s.h.i.+n told Kanade ”Say that first, will you!?” in his mind, but he refrained from voicing his thoughts in front of Kuyou and his consort.
”In that case, I must give my thanks to sir s.h.i.+n then. If it weren't for you, both my daughter and lady Kanade would have drowned in that storm.”
”I am just glad the circ.u.mstances are clear now.”
s.h.i.+n, freed from the parents' intimidating aura, wiped cold sweat from his forehead. Their presence was even more overwhelming than a boss monster.
Karin, who had moved away from s.h.i.+n, sat back next to him after hearing his explanation. Her face was bright red.
After that they talked about how they climbed Mt. Fuji and arrived back at the castle, when Chiyo came in to announce that Kanade's entourage had arrived to pick her up.
”The meeting is finally over then. I shall go now. I will see you tomorrow.”
Kanade said so and returned to the castle. She had arrived suddenly, dropped a powerful bomb and caused a commotion, so after her departure the residence felt extremely quiet.
”Well, we have talked long enough. Let us offer you a meal.”
After dinner, s.h.i.+n was informed that the bath was ready, so he went to the bathroom as instructed.
After s.h.i.+n left for the bath, Kuyou, Kayo and Karin remained in the residence to talk.
”In any case, was there really a person like the one Lady Kanade described on top of Mt. Fuji?”
”Yes. I believe that if they did not just match their skills, but fought to the end, only sir s.h.i.+n would have survived. He called the giant snake ”Eight-Headed Orochi”, but I do not know the woman's ident.i.ty. To be honest, I am not sure if she was human or not.”
The tone of the conversation was now completely serious. Kuyou himself could not neglect to ask about important information such as what the Mt. Fuji mists were hiding after all.
”The monster legends say devoured entire countries, and a girl who tamed itif they will not leave the mists, I a.s.sume it will be wise for us not to bother them either. I think lord Tadahisa will summon you tomorrow: be sure to let him know as well.”
”I will.”
Kuyou, in the role of head of the house, gave Karin specific orders.
Even now there were people attempting to enter the mists, albeit few. If, by chance, they reached the peak and instigated those dwelling on it, there was the possibility to cause ma.s.sive damage and casualties.
Kuyou was sure that Tadahisa would understand the risk after hearing about the journey from Kanade, but he opted for added safety.
”Are the difficult topics finally over?”
”They are. Today was quite a surprising day though.”
”That's true. To think that Karin would bring a man in the house! And that they even kissed already.”
”M-mother! Please do not bring that up again!”
Karin hurriedly tried to put a stop to the return of that embarra.s.sing topic.
”But isn't it very important? With you away from Hinomoto, I had to refuse all invitations of marriage interviews. Isn't it time to think about settling down? So, what do you think of sir s.h.i.+n? He seems polite, and is quite able with the sword too, isn't he? I don't think he would be a bad marriage prospect.”
”Hmgh!! That is all too sudden to talk about!!”
”T-that's right! We barely know each other too!”
Both father and daughter objected to Kayo's sudden marriage talk.
Kuyou was simply against the idea, but Karin's words seemed to suggest that things could be different if they came to know each other better.
”You don't seem to be totally opposed to it, are you. I see we need to know more about sir s.h.i.+n.”
”Mother! I beg of you, please do not do anything weird!”
”Kayo! M-marriage! It's too early!”
Such conversations continued in the residence while s.h.i.+n was in the bath.