Negotiations
(Mari – Same day Umi woke up from her nightmare)
"Is she away?" Mari asked as she saw a boat being rowed off into the distance separating the Ohara Lands and Minami lands.
"Yes, she just set off." Chika sighed from the docks in front of Mari "I'm surprised you sent Kanan." The ginger said turning to face the blonde.
"It wasn't up to me." Mari said not taking her eyes off the shrinking sight of the boat in the distance "Mama wasn't going to send someone she felt was important, so they can't be used as a hostage in case they are captured." Mari growl clenching her fists her mother's words in her ears 'I don't care, I've made my choice and she's going.'
"Why are we even talking to Kira?" Chika said with a huff.
"Because he's got the advantage, the Minami's army is in bits and mama's only plan if negotiations fail is to try and rush north quickly and take the bridge."
"That's a pretty shallow plan."
"I know that why she's using negotiation first."
"Why don't we go to the Tojo clan, together we could easy outnumber him." Chika asked.
"Nozomi's still on somewhat friendly terms with the Minami's, but Mama is still angry at the Minami's for that raid they launched and given the Minami's situation the last we had any solid word from them, she wasn't in the mood to help right now."
"So she's being petty." Chika growled.
"Yes, that's mama."
'Please come back safe.' Mair thought as she felt a bit of her heart being pulled in the direction Kanan was going.
"Why can't we try to rescue Yo by boat anyway?" Chika asked.
"For the same reasons we couldn't send supplies by boat to, there is only one and it's too small, plus the boats from Yo's castle."
(Kanan – Same day one hour later)
'I'm sorry we couldn't help Yo.' Kanan sighed in her head as she rode on the boat across the lake to Yo's castle, she was thankful the castle was undamaged but the blunette still felt a burning anger that they couldn't do anything.
"Damn you Lady Minami, why the hell didn't you tell us?" Kanan growled as the peer attached to Yo's castle came into view 'Just as well Yo only has one boat, otherwise we'd have to worry about an attack from the river as well as land.'
Kanan took a deep breath to compose herself as the boat reached the dock making sure the Tanto dagger she had hidden in her sleeve was ready, once the boat was secured on the dock Kanan stepped off the boat.
"Miss Matsuura," Kanan turned and saw a young soldier bowing towards her "I hope your trip was good one."
"It was tolerable." Kanan replied quietly "Can you show me to Kira…"
"Lord Kira, Miss Matsuura." The soldier interrupted.
"I respect that is what you call him, but I am not you, now show me to Kira, I would like to get this over with."
The soldier bowed and began to walk back to the castle, Kanan quietly followed him through the castle. The blunette had been to the castle before and it had always felt warm and welcoming but not it felt cold to her.
As Kanan neared the central chamber the sound of a raised voice reached her ears which caused both her and her escort to stop in their tracks.
"How the hell do you lose track of them?" Came a male's voice.
"They were driven off," came a second voice "They managed to track them to the Tojo lands at then they were driven off."
"Do you have any more information for me nephew?" the first voice asked.
"Yes, the Todo's have fallen, Sakura has crossed the bridge and is heading for the Koizumi's land." The second voice said sounding triumphant.
"And the Sakurauchi's?"
"From what I last heard the forces that crushed the Todo's were heading to reinforce the forces at the Sakurauchi's."
"So we don't have Lady Sakurauchi or the other Watanabe then." The first voice said sounding tired as Kanan and her escort walked to the open entrance of the chamber.
"My lord's." the soldier announced to the two men in the chamber who were looking over a map, one of the men Kanan recognised as Kira.
"What is it?" said the owner of the second voice, a young man in purple armour and dark brown hair who Kanan guessed was Kira's nephew, given how much he looked a lot like his uncle in size and stature, both had well-kept brown hair, though Kira's was hair now had grey hairs beginning to appear, the biggest difference was that Kira's nephew had a scar that ran up his left cheek which ran up to his eye.
"Pardon the intrusion, but Lady Ohara's messenger has arrived." The soldier announced and Kanan took a step forward and bowed her head
"I'm Lady Mari Ohara's handmaiden, Kanan Matsuura." Kanan announced with a bow, one hand on the draft treaty from Lady Ohara and her other hand wrapping around her tanto's grip.
"Ryuzo." Kira said gesturing to his nephew to take the treaty "How is Lady Ohara?" Kira asked while his nephew walked up to the blunette.
"She is fine sir." Kanan said with a slight growl as she handed over the document, her grip on her tanto tightening as Ryuzo came close.
"Good, I hope your journey was pleasant." Kira replied as he took the treaty from his nephew "This might take a while to read, would you care for some refreshment?"
"Thank you but no, however if it is possible Lady Ohara requested I check on the wellbeing of Ladies Watanabe and Kurosawa while I am here."
"Really and why would she be interested in that?" Kira asked his brow raised and a slight scowl on his lips.
"I believe Lady Ohara made mention of them in the treaty sir." Kanan said with a small degree of joy at the scowl on Kira's lips.
"I see," Kira said with a hint of a growl before shouting "Very well, guard!"
Kanan got ready to pull the tanto, concerned about Kira's next command.
"My Lord." said the soldier that had escorted Kanan to the chamber.
"Miss Matsuura here needs to see our guests would you kindly show her the way while I read this." Kira commanded before turning to Kanan "Once I'm done, I will send for you."
"Sir." Kanan bowed.
"This way my Lady." The soldier gestured.
(Kira – Just after Kanan left)
"Why do you not just take that woman hostage and force the Ohara's hand?" Ryuzo asked. As Kira began to read.
"Lady Ohara is not a fool and she does not like us, she wouldn't have sent someone to us that she actually cared for, holding her to ransom would be pointless."
"Well if she serves Lady Ohara's daughter and the rumours are true, then the daughter would likely give the whole land over to get her back."
"I'm sure Lady Ohara has thought of that, she'd likely use that a pretext for war, a war we couldn't win."
"Why wouldn't we win?"
"First, we have not secured all the other bank, second, we won our war with Lady Minami because we had surprise and blitzed the campaign and she rushed, Lady Ohara might only have a third of our numbers but we wouldn't have surprise and she would be prepared and third the Ohara's are still on friendly terms with the Tojo's and the Tojo's hate us, so we would have to cover the east as well as the south and together they are a match for us." Kira sighed "That is if the Tojo's haven't decided to go to war already."
"Tell your spies to keep a keen eye out in case the Tojo's make contact with the Ohara's." Kira said with a cough.
"Then what uncle?"
"We will decide from there."
(Yo – Cells)
"Riko?" Yo said confused as she saw the red head standing before her with a smile.
"Yo." The redhead said with a smile as she rested a hand on the ashen girl's shoulder "Wake up."
"Huh?"
"Wake up Yo."
Yo squinted as her eyes opened to sunlight, as her eyes adjusted to the light, she could see faint red hair above her "Riko?"
"No, Yo it's me, Ruby." The younger girl said surprised.
Yo blinked true enough Ruby's face became clear "Sorry Ruby, I was dreaming." Yo said trying to hide her disappointment.
"It's ok, do you want me to help you to the wall again?"
"If you wouldn't mind."
Yo let out a hiss as Ruby helped her to the wall so she could sit up straight, her injured leg still burning.
"Sorry." Ruby said sadly.
"Its fine." Yo groaned 'At least it's going down, unless I need to move.' Yo thought as she looked at her injured leg, her attention was then caught by the sound of footsteps approaching the group 'Great, Kira come to try again.' Yo groaned in her head, wishing the man would just leave her alone.
Yo lazily turned to look through the gate to face the entrance "Kanan!?" Yo said in surprise to see the blunette enter the chamber as Ruby rushed up to the gate a mix of surprise, worry and hope on her face.
"Would you mind leaving us?" Kanan asked the soldier standing by the doorway, who looked at the gate and then back to Kanan before bowing and leaving them alone sliding the door closed as he left.
"What are you doing here?" Yo asked happy to see a friendly face for once as the blunette sat in front of the gate.
"Business for Lady Ohara." Kanan sighed "How are you two doing?"
"We've been better." Yo sighed.
"I'm sorry we couldn't help." Kanan said sadly "But Lady Ohara is still angry over the raid and it all happened so fast, wait where's Dia?" the blunette asked noticing the girl's absence.
"Kira's got her stuck in an army with his daughter." Yo said noticing Ruby looking at the floor.
"I'm sure she'll be fine Ruby." Kanan said reaching through the bars and squeezing the redhead's shoulder.
"Thanks." Ruby replied quietly.
"What's this business you're on?" Yo asked hoping to change the subject.
Kanan let out a sigh before replying "Lady Ohara is in negotiations with Kira, I'm here to deliver her response to Kira's offer."
"Is she likely to accept it?" Ruby asked.
"No, I don't think so." Kanan said with a reassuring smile "Lady Ohara might be mad at the Minami's but she hates Kira far more, besides, she's already made one condition that's a sticking point on purpose."
"What condition?" Yo asked confused.
"One of her terms is that you two have to be released into our custody."
"Why would she put that in, Kira's not going to go for that?" Yo responded, "Heck what's to stop him invading you in response!"
"Because Kira's army is still mopping up, plus the Tojo's are still friendly with us and we both hate Kira and he knows if he tries, he's got to fight both of use from two directions, he's only got twenty thousand troops…"
"Thirty." Yo interrupted "He's got thirty thousand, he brought in a load of mercenaries and Sōhei."
"How did he get them?"
"I have no idea." Yo groaned, despondent "All we've heard is rumours and whatever Sakura boasted to us about and Kira threatened us with, I don't suppose you have you heard anything?"
"About what?"
"Anything, are the others safe, do you know where they are?" Yo said both fearful and hopeful of the answer 'Please don't be bad.'
"I don't have a lot to tell." Kanan said sadly.
"We'll take what we can get." Yo said desperate.
Yo saw Kanan turn to look at the entrance for a second before speaking "Well as I entered, I did hear Kira talking to his nephew, he said Sakura was leading a force to the Koizumi lands," Yo glanced over and saw Ruby's head bow slightly before Kanan carried on "Riko's still holding from what they said."
Yo felt her heart fly with joy at the news and a smile started to appear on her face but it soon dropped as the blunnete carried on "But also heard the Todo's fell and those forces were heading for Riko."
Yo felt her heart crash down to earth with worry at Kanan's words 'Riko's got even more troops heading for her!' Yo screamed in her head as she gritted her teeth hard as she tried to hit her worry.
"I'm sorry, I wish I had more and better news to share." Kanan said with her head bowed.
"It's fine." Yo said shakily "Riko's a clear girl, she won't be taken down that easy and she'll think of something." Yo said trying to sound hopeful, though mostly for her own benefit then anyone else's.
"She'll be fine Yo." Kanan said quietly, Yo was thankful for her friends attempt to ease her worry but it didn't help 'Please be ok.' Yo said as her eyes stung.
"Miss!" came the voice of the soldier Kanan had entered with "Lord Kira wishes to see you."
"I'm sorry, I need to go, it was good to see you two."
"You to." Yo said quietly. Once she heard the door to the chamber close, she the ashen girl let out a shaky breath and she bottom lip wobbled before she snapped her jaw shut.
"Riko will be ok Yo." Ruby spoke quietly.
Yo glanced up and saw Ruby's concerned face "Thanks, so will Dia."
(Kanan – Night-time same day she met with Kira)
Kanan let out as she felt the breeze blow past her 'I know why we had to be here, but I think Lady Ohara is enjoying this a little bit.' Kanan thought to herself.
"How did it go?" the blunette heard a voice ask to her side, turning Kanan saw Chika looking at her with concern.
"As expected, Kira didn't go for the deal because of the condition that said Ruby and Yo had to be given over to us, he also gave me a message to give to Lady Ohara."
"I see." Chika said with sigh "What's Mari's mother planning?"
"She's sitting on the fence for now, she wanted to know what the Tojo's are doing." Mari said as she walked up to the pair.
"She does know once he's done with the Minami lands, he's going to try for us?" Chika growled.
"She does, but her pride means she won't help the Minami's." Mari sighed.
"So she's self-sabotaging, if she doesn't help them, we'll be next to be attacked."
"I know, she's hoping the Tojo's might come to our aid in that situation."
"Argh!" Chika said grabbing her hair "This is so annoying!"
"We agree with you Chika, but we can't help it right now." Kanan said "Look, its late why don't you turn in for the night."
Chika sighed before accepting the blunettes idea and walking away, once the ginger was gone Kanan felt a tip on her shoulder, spinning around she felt a pair of arms warp themselves around her and blonde hair fill her view.
"I'm sorry we had to be here for this." Mari said quietly.
"Its fine, it had to be here." Kanan said quietly.
"I know, but I still wish we could be somewhere else."
"Me too."
(Kira – Same time)
"I must commend the samurai you have Lady Minami; they are resourceful, determined and loyal I will give them that." Kira said out loud as he sat in a garden "It's a shame, you didn't find me sooner father."