New Duty
(Nozomi – Afternoon after speaking to Lady Minami and Tsuki)
"How do you think she will take it?" Nozomi heard Tsuki ask as the pair were following Lady Minami down the hall to find Kotori, the older woman looked drained.
"It's not her I'm worried about."
"Who is?"
"Umi, she's dedicated her life to protecting the Minami clan and Kotori especially." Nozomi sighed "She is not going will to take it well."
"So what do we do?"
"I have an idea, I'm just not certain it will work."
(Umi)
"Mercy." Honoka whined having lost again.
"Would you like a hand up Lady Honoka?" Umi said offering a hand to the ginger.
"Thank you." Honoka groaned, as she pulled the ginger up to her feet the pair heard Tsubasa and Kotori carrying Saki walking towards them.
"Are you two, ok?" Kotori asked as she reached the pair.
"I'm fine, only my pride was hurt." Honoka smiled.
"Aw, well I have the answer for that." Tsubasa said before placing a kiss on the ginger's cheek and whispering in the gingers ear something that made the ginger blush.
Umi remained quiet as she looked at Kotori, the ashen girl had been unusually quiet since last night, she had insisted that nothing was wrong but Umi knew better, she could tell by the look in her eyes that something was weighing on Kotori's shoulders.
Umi lightly clenched her teeth 'What's wrong Kotori?' Umi thought to herself.
"Umi?" Kotori said breaking the ronin out of her pondering.
"I'm fine thank you Lady Kotori." Umi smiled though she still felt uneasy, pondering how to bring up what was bothering Kotori "Is…?"
"Lady's!" everyone heard Nozomi say as she appeared with Tsuki and Lady Minami "We have something to discuss."
"What is it?" Honoka asked.
"We need a word with Kotori." Lady Minami said in a quiet voice and Umi thought the older woman had aged ten years.
Umi was about to speak but Kotori stopped her by handing Saki over to the Ronin with the little Sonoda moaning "Sorry little one, but I need to go for a bit, I won't be long." Kotori whispered before looking at Umi with a resigned look before walking over to the other women.
"What's going on Umi?" Tsubasa asked once Kotori was out of ear shot.
"I wish I knew Lady Tsubasa." Umi said before looking down at Saki, who had clung on to Umi's clothes tightly "She'll be ok." Umi whispered to her niece before placing a kiss on the girl's head, which seemed to settle her a little.
"It's a little bit of a personal matter." Tsuki said quietly.
"How so?" Honoka asked with a concerned look.
"It's not my place to say, but you'll find out soon, I promise."
(Kotori)
Once away from the others Kotori saw her mother look out over at those in the middle of the courtyard Kotori followed her mother's gaze and saw her looking at Umi and Saki "How are they?" Kotori heard her mother ask quietly.
"They are fine." Kotori said with a smile before turning to look at her mum "Is that what you wished to talk to me about?" Kotori asked though she could guess it wasn't from the look on her mother's face.
"Nozomi told me what you said to her Kotori." Lady Minami said quietly.
Kotori looked over to the twin tailed girl who simply nodded, Kotori closed her eyes and took a moment to ready herself for an argument before speaking "I see." Kotori said quietly looking back at her mother.
"Are you absolutely sure that's what you want?" Lady Minami asked.
Kotori let out a sigh before turning back to the courtyard where everyone was watching the three from, the ashen girl's eyes fell on Umi holding her niece in her arms who was trying to grab the ends of the head band she had made on the blunettes head, Kotori smiled as she felt a longing in her heart and her shoulders slumped as an invisible weight pushed down on them "Yes."
"You do realise just because your father…"
"It's not about papa." Kotori growled before taking a breath to calm down before speaking again "This title has already been too high a price for me to accept." Kotori said to look at Umi again who was whispering to Saki, as she did the ashen girl felt a swelling of guilt in her stomach and her eyes stung slightly "And every price paid has made the weight of that title heavier, I can't take the weight anymore and I don't want anyone else to be hurt, not for me."
Kotori heard her mom let out a sigh before she felt her mum warp her up in a hug, something the woman hadn't done in ages "Ok, if that's what you really wish, then that is what we will do."
"Thank you, mama." Kotori said returning the hug, enjoying her mother's warmth for a moment before asking "So what happens now then?"
"Tsuki has already agreed to take over." Nozomi said with a smile "You mother will stay on for a bit after this is all over, till things are settled down."
"Then I will quietly stand down and Tsuki will take over."
Kotori felt a sense of relief at the plan before she felt a sense of worry at no mention of her future "And…?"
"I have a plan for that." Nozomi said "If you would like to hear it."
"Ok."
(Umi)
Umi felt her trepidation grow with each step Kotori, Lady Minami and Nozomi took away from those in the courtyard, then Umi saw Lady Minami and Kotori look towards her, before turning away again and begin speaking.
'Did I do something wrong?' the ronin wondered as the ashen girl looked at her again with smile that Umi could see was sad even from distance, before turning back to her mother again.
Then Saki started to wriggle a little in Umi's arms "Sorry little one." Umi whispered, guessing her niece could feel her worry and it was upsetting the little girl, it was only this distraction of Saki in her arms and the knowledge that Tsuki and Honoka would likely stop her that kept her in place.
Umi did feel some small relief when she looked back up and saw Kotori and her mum embracing, even so, her fear didn't ebb away.
"Umi?"
"Yes, Lady Tsuki? The ronin asked as she turned to the dark-haired girl.
"Where did you get that headband?"
"Oh, Kotori made it for me." Umi muttered turning her attention back to the other side of the courtyard.
"Umi?" Tsuki said again "How about we go sit down over there?" Saki said pointing to the other side of the courtyard "It might be better for Saki while we wait, they are going to be a little while."
"Sounds like a good idea." Tsubasa said with a smile, as she led Honoka in that direction.
Umi gave one last look at Kotori, who was still talking to her mum and Nozomi, before walking over to other side of the courtyard. Once sat down Umi quietly watched the three intently as they talked and Umi tried to guess what was being said by how they acted.
After what felt like an eternity to the ronin, the three seemed to conclude their talk and began to walk to them, once they started to walk Umi stood instantly getting a small moan from Saki.
"Sorry." Umi whispered to her niece as Kotori reached them.
"Aw, was aunty Umi a little too fast for you little one." Kotori cooed to Saki as she took the little girl from Umi's arms with a smile and getting a smile from the younger Sonoda in turn. The blunette could see Lady Minami give a small smile at the sight before it dropped.
"I suppose you wish to know what was going on." Nozomi said speaking what was in everyone's mind "Well this will be revealed to everyone in a meeting later today but you all might as well hear it now."
"Hear what?" Honoka asked only for Nozomi to turn to Lady Minami in response.
"As you all know, my husband disowned Kotori as heir of our family," the group saw Lady Minami take a deep breath before speaking again "And after much discussion and deliberation we've decided that Kotori will no longer be the heir of clan Minami."
"What?!" Umi heard Honoka shout to her side. Umi herself was shocked still and silent at the announcement, as her honour and the mystery voice started to argue in her head.
'So you failed even more then you thought, you cost Kotori her birth right.' Her honour shouted venomously.
'Stop it!' The mystery voice countered 'We don't know all the facts.'
'The only fact that matters is Umi lost Kotori the title.'
"What does that mean?" Tsubasa asked.
Umi clenched her jaw and fists as she tried to focus on what everyone else was saying instead of the argument the two voices were having inside her mind, though the blunette could feel the pressure in her skull grow with each word.
"Once Kira is dealt with, I will rule for a short time, then I will step aside for my new successor." Lady Minami explained.
"And who is that?"
Lady Minami and Nozomi's gaze turned to Tsuki who stood silently and uncomfortably at the gazes from the others.
"Yes, I will be the new heir." Tsuki said nervously.
"As a Minami?" Honoka asked.
"No." Lady Minami muttered "She will also not be taking the Minami name; she will be keeping the Watanabe name."
"But why can't Kotori stay as the heir?" Honoka asked.
"Kotori said she doesn't want the title anymore and is willing to give it up to Tsuki" Nozomi said quietly.
Umi turned to face the ashen girl who had been quietly holding Saki the whole time "It's true." Kotori said quietly "I don't want the title anymore."
'So it has nothing to do with Umi, its Kotori's choice.' The mystery voice said, breaking through the block Umi had tried to put up as she felt her heart sink at the words.
'She wouldn't be making this decision if she hadn't failed.'
"Then Tsuki is your new successor then?" Tsubasa asked, bring Umi back to the conversation at hand.
"Yes." Lady Minami said sadly.
'New successor.' Umi heard her honour growled in her mind and her fists tightened further, then a new thought hit her and a sense of worry washed over her "What about Kotori?!" Umi shouted out suddenly.
Everyone looked at her a moment of stunned surprise, leaving the blunette confused a moment before Nozomi smiled at her "Don't worry Umi, even if she's not the heir, Kotori is still in danger so your duty to protect her still stands."
"But what about after the wars done?" Umi asked fearfully "What happens then?"
"Once this war is done, Kotori will be in your care from then on." Lady Minami responded with a small smile.
Umi looked at the older woman with surprise as her honour shouted in her head 'Refuse, you failed that duty before.'
'But it's an order from her Daimyo.' The mystery voice counters.
'She'll only fail at it again.'
'Stop it both of you!' Umi shouted in her head having had enough of the two voices shouting in her head and the headache they were causing her, even if she hadn't been focused on them.
"Why?" Umi whispered as she dropped her head slightly "I failed to stop Kira before I'm respon…"
"No you're not," Lady Minami said firmly "No one who knows you blames you; you were taken unaware, we all were."
Lady Minami silently walked over to the blunette and gently place her hands on the ronin's shoulder "Umi, your family has protected mine for generations and with everything that has happened and the pain I've caused you and your family, I know I have no right to ask you, but I'm asking, begging that you protect my daughter, I can't think of anyone better."
"But…"
"Umi, Tsuki is the new heir and she will be keeping the Watanabe name." Lady Minami said quietly and Umi thought the older woman looked defeated and older, though with a sense of relief "This means Kotori is the last Minami and you swore to protect the Minami's did you not."
"I did."
"Then please, protect the last of the Minami's, protect Kotori."
Before Umi could speak she heard Kotori say her name, the ronin turned to look at the ashen girl "Umi…Onigai."
'You failed at it before.' Umi heard her honour yell, as her heart twisted.
'She didn't.'
'She wasn't there…'
'That was because she was following an order, she can't be blamed for…
'Enough!' Umi shouted in her head before turning back to look at Lady Minami "Are you sure you want me?"
"Yes, there is no one I trust, or that I want more to protect Kotori."
"Then I swear on my life I will not let anything happen to Lady Kotori as long as I draw breath." Umi said though her heart felt heavy and empty as the words left her throat.
"Thank you Umi." Lady Mianmi said as she gave the blunette a smile though with a hint of sadness in her eyes before letting go of Umi's shoulders and walking over to Kotori.
Lady Minami gave Kotori a kiss on her forehead before she gently placed a hand on top on Saki's head "I hope you can forgive me for all the pain your family has suffered." Lady Minami whispered, though Umi wasn't sure she was speaking to Saki for some reason.
"Honoka, Tsubasa, Tsuki, would you mind telling everyone to gather in the main chamber." Nozomi spoke quietly "And remember don't tell anyone about this conversation, they will be told later today, understood." Nozomi smiled as she moved her fingers.
As the three were leaving Lady Minami gave Kotori a kiss on her forehead before walking off "Thank you again Umi." Lady Minami whispered as she passed Umi.
"My Lady." Umi said with a small quiet bow, her mind still unsure on everything.
Once everyone was gone Umi felt Kotori place a hand on Umi's shoulder, the blunette turned to see Kotori with a relieved smile, Umi was thankful that her honour seemed to be muted again and the mystery voice was silent to as she thought her head was about to burst, though her heartbeat increased.
"I guess I'm in your care now." Kotori said quietly with a smile.
"Yes." Umi whispered, though she still felt tears starting to form in her eyes and a pang of guilt in her heart "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For losing you the title, I…"
Umi's words were cut off by Kotori moving her hand from her shoulder to the back of her head, Kotori brought the ronin's head down and rested her forehead to the blunettes, while careful not to squish Saki as the two moved closer together.
"You didn't lose me the title; I gave it up of my own free will." Kotori whispered as she scratched the back of the blunettes head "So please don't blame yourself for this, this was all on me."
"But…"
"Umi…Onigai." Kotori whispered.
Umi could feel the ashen girl's breath tickle her lips, this coupled with the scratching Kotori was doing on the back of blunettes neck sapped all her resolve "You're unfair." Umi sighed, only to feel a small hand grab her clothes and pressure on her shoulder, Umi glanced down to see Saki resting her head on her shoulder with a small smile "Both of you." Umi added, still feeling uneasy.
"Sorry." Kotori said as she carried on scratching the back of Umi's head.