Duty, Command, Responsibility
(Umi)
"What is it you wished to speak about Lady Tsuki?" Umi asked as the pair reached one of the gardens.
"It's about the change in succession." Tsuki said sitting down on the edge of the garden "I…"
"You need not worry yourself Lady Tsuki, I will not cause you any issue in terms of the succession," Umi sighed "You are a relative and are eligible to take the title, so I will serve you as loyally as I would the Minami's."
Despite the honesty in her words Umi couldn't help but feel a tear threaten to escape or a burning anger in her chest.
"That's good, but it wasn't what I was going to ask first."
"Then what were you going to ask Lady Tsuki?"
"I want to know how you are doing with Kotori standing down?"
"I'm not sure." Umi muttered sitting down next to Tsuki and pinching her nose "For generations my family served the Minami's and for generations we protected them and now I have the ignominy of being the Sonoda who sees their line end."
'And it's your fault.' Her honour shouted.
'No it wasn't, she was tricked.' The mystery voice countered.
"Why did you not take up the name?" Umi asked trying to ignore the voices.
"After you left Kira started ruffling a lot of feathers, lords and commonfolk alike when Kira said a minor samurai was acting suspicious, he was locked up on my uncle's orders without question, Kira said an area was withholding taxes, uncle gave Kira permission to take a band of his growling force of mercenaries and off he rode to extort people." Tskui sighed as she looked up to the sky "And when people spoke up to question this my uncle only defended him, said all those who questioned Kira questioned him and he would have their heads if they questioned him again and so all we could do is keep our heads down and try and not do something to tip Kira off to come after us."
Umi could feel her frustration and anger at herself grow as the other girl talked 'If only I hadn't left Kotori alone.' The Ronin growled in her head.
"My uncle was blamed for many of Kira's actions rightly and wrongly, people are angry at him for what he's caused and allowed to happen, I didn't take the name because its forever polluted with what my uncle did and now Kira's actions to as he's hailing himself my uncles successor, now I'm taking over I wanted to show people I would not do what my uncle or Kira have done, that my rule would be the start of a better time for all of us."
'And you allowed all of this to happen.' Umi's honour murmured in the back of her head "Except Kotori."
"She has you back, I'd say that's better for her, wouldn't you?"
"No, I wouldn't."
"Why?"
"Because I didn't stop Kira from attacking Kotori five years ago, if I had none of this would have happened."
"Didn't my uncle send you away at the time?"
"Yes, he did, but I should have suspected something and done something…"
"It wouldn't have made any difference." Tsuki sighed "Kira needed Kotori out the way and to do that he needed you out the way, if he hadn't got rid of you then he would have found another way, one that might have led to you and Kotori dying."
"But…"
"Uncle was besotted with Kira for some reason, none of us could have got through to him and neither could you had you tried, this was always going to happen, in some way, what happened to you actually helped, it showed us how much control Kira had over Uncle and it galvanized us all to do something, so we began planning for the storm to come."
"Still I cost her the title."
"She doesn't need a title to be happy Umi, she needs you and you need her."
"It's not that simple."
"How so?"
"I'm shamed, because of what happened, I don't have a right to be by Kotori's side."
"I think that's Kotori's choice and I think she's made it." Tsuki smiled "Besides now she has no title, no security, no home other then you."
"Couldn't you let her stay at her old home?" Umi asked.
"Funny, I thought that's what we are doing by leaving Kotori in your care." Tsuki smiled before standing up and making to leave.
"Lady Tsuki…"
"It's late, head back to your girls and get some sleep Umi, we have long day tomorrow." Tsuki said leaving the Ronin alone with her thoughts.
'Why did this all happen?' Umi thought to herself.
(Rin and Hanayo)
"Rin, relax." Hanayo said as she sat behind the ginger wrapping her arms around Rin's waist.
"I can't Kayo-Chin." Rin groaned as she pinched her nose.
"You'll be fine, Maki and Nozomi wouldn't have picked you if they didn't think you could do it."
"Yeah, only after Maki decided she wasn't going."
"They wanted you to go too Rin, which means you might have had to command the army in case something bad happened, they think you're ready, as do I."
"You're just saying that because you're not coming."
"Yes I am."
"What?" Rin said as she turned her head to face the brunette, confused "I thought you were going to Nozomi."
"No, she never mentioned me coming and I wouldn't go with them if it wasn't with you."
"But Kayo-chin, it's dangerous." Rin said fully turning to face Hanayo.
"We are at war Rin, everything in dangerous right now."
"Yes, but this is really dangerous, we are expecting to be attacked while there!"
"But Nico's taking Maki along with her on a dangerous mission."
"That's different."
"How?"
"I'm not in love with Nico and Maki, I'm in love with you and I don't want to see you get hurt being around me in a dangerous place, please just go with Nozomi."
"No."
"But…!"
"I said no!" Hanayo shout, surprising them both a moment before the brunette continued "I've seen you ride off three times and leave me behind, I can't do it a fourth time Rin, my heart won't stand it."
Hanayo cupped the gingers cheeks and looked Rin right in the eye "Rin, we grew up together, we've been through this war together, I love you with all my heart and I want to live the rest of my life with you and if that means I have to go into danger to do it I will, I'm not being separated from you again I'm coming with you."
"Kayo-chin…"
"What do I have to fear with you around, as long as you're near I know you'll keep me safe, so please let me help you with this, even if it's just moral support, please."
Rin tried to muster up a counter but as she did the ginger looked deep into Hanayo's eye's and could see the determination in the brunette's eyes, Rin stayed silent a moment before she surrendered "Ok, if you're sure you want to come then fine, but I'm not happy about it."
"I know and I know it will be dangerous and I won't pretend I'm not scared, but I'm more scared of losing you." Hanayo said pulling the ginger into a hug and patted on Rin on the head "Does this make you feel better?"
"Yes, Nya." Rin purred as she nuzzled into the brunette.
The pair stayed in the embrace a few moments enjoying the others company till they heard a voice coming from the door "Lady Koizumi, Lady Hoshizora, its Hanamaru, may I see you two?"
The pair broke apart, a sense of longing hanging over them as they did "Yes, come in."
"Apologies for interrupting." Hanamaru said bowing as she entered.
"Its fine." Hanayo smiled "So what is it you wished to speak to us about?"
"Unless I'm mistaken, you two are heading to the bridge near Umi's castle aren't you Zura?"
"Yes, we are."
"Then would you allow me to come with you two?"
"I thought you were going with Maki and Nico?" Rin asked with raised a brow.
"No, I'm not suited to the task of sneaking into a castle and I'm not one for politics." Hanamaru smiled "So would you mind me coming with you?"
"No, we'd be happy if you came along." Hanayo smiled "Wouldn't we Rin?"
"Of course." Rin said with a smile, though Hanayo saw Rin looked a little more uncomfortable.
"Thank you, my ladies." Hanamaru smiled with bow before standing up "Unless there is anything else I will leave you two in peace, goodnight."
Once the Sōhei had left them Hanayo turned to Rin "Relax Rin, we'll be fine."
"I'm trying, can I have another hug."
"Of course." Hanayo said opening her arms for the ginger.
(Umi and Kotori)
'My girls.' Umi thought to herself as she walked towards her chamber 'You make it sound like Kotori and Saki are my wife and child.' As that thought passed through Umi's head, the ronin felt her heart chip slightly and made the blunette paused at the door to the chamber.
After the Umi took a breath to compose herself before opening the door to the chamber to be greed with Kotori whispering to Saki, only to stop and smile when the ashen girl saw the blunette enter the chamber "She's back Saki." Kotori whispered to the young girl.
"Shouldn't you have put Saki to bed?" Umi asked as Kotori walked towards the ronin.
"Someone wanted a hug from their aunty before going to bed." Kotori smile as she handed the little blunette over.
Umi smiled as she heard Saki coo as she was placed in her arms "Were you being a little bit needy tonight?" Umi whispered as she moved to kneel next to Saki's cot.
"I think she just missed you, didn't you Saki?" Kotori smiled kneeling on Umi's left as Saki cooed in response.
"I missed you to." Umi whispered.
Kotori watched with a smile as she watched Umi gently rocking Saki in her arms 'I wish you two could have been doing this in happier times.' Kotori thought to herself.
Eventually the pair heard the little Sonoda snoring and Umi moved to place Saki in the cot, place a small kiss in the little blunettes head "Good night." Umi whispered.
"Good night little one."
The pair watched Saki sleeping peacefully for a moment before Kotori laid her head on Umi's shoulder "Do you hate me for it?" Kotori asked quietly trying not to wake Saki.
"What do you mean?" Umi asked surprised, trying to ignore the slight quickening of her heart caused by the contact.
"Giving up the title."
"I told you I could never hate you, Kotori." Umi whispered 'Why would you it's your fault.' Her honour growled, though Umi noticed it seemed quieter than normal.
Kotori could feel Umi stiffen "Do you hate yourself for me giving up the title?" Kotori asked.
"I…" Umi began only to be cut off by the ashen girl wrapping an arm around her waist.
"Please don't," Kotori pleaded, having guessed the answer "I hate seeing you blame yourself for everything." Kotori said with tears in her "I can't take seeing you blame yourself for what happened when it wasn't your fault."
"But…" Umi began but was silenced by the ashen girl's finger on her lip and looking up at her with her golden eyes.
"This wasn't your fault Umi, it was mine." Kotori said firmly.
'But it was!' Umi honour said in a muffled shout.
'Umi does not need to take responsibility for every choice Kotori makes.'
'But she is responsible for putting…'
'Shut up!' Umi yelled in her head as she brought her right hand that wasn't next to Kotori up to hold her head, unable to take the arguing any longer.
"Umi?" Kotori's voice broke through the blunettes internal argument "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing Kotori."
"It's not nothing Umi, we used to tell each other anything, help each other when we needed it, don't shut me out, don't you trust me?" Kotori asked feeling her heart sink at the thought.
"Of course I trust you Kotori."
"Then tell me what's wrong." Kotori pleaded.
"Kotori…
"Umi…Onigai."
'You're really unfair.' Umi groaned in her mind closing her eyes a moment before opening them.
"I don't know." Umi muttered truthfully "I feel like I'm being torn apart inside, like something wants to rip its way out of me, I have these two voices shouting at me in the head trying to pull me in all sorts of directions."
"Because of what I did?"
"No, they've been there for a while."
Umi felt the ashen girl move her head off her shoulder, the brief moment of longing she felt at the separation was immediately replaced by a shiver that ran down her spine as she felt Kotori lean in close to her left ear and whisper "Hey, leave my little Samurai alone."
"Did that help?" Kotori asked with a smile as she placed her head gently back on the blunettes shoulder.
"No, but thanks for trying." Umi said with a smile while trying to put out the fires her cheeks had become.
The pair stayed in silence a moment content to just enjoy each other's presence for a little while till Kotori decided to break it.
"I know you said you'd feel dishonoured if I gave up the title because you made me, but you didn't, nothing made me give up the title but my own failures, that had nothing to do with what you did, I falsely accused you of something you'd never do and then hid away from everyone because I was scared, I don't deserve the title anymore and I don't want it either, so let me take responsibility for my own actions."
'Actions she wouldn't have to take if you hadn't failed!' Umi's honour said in a muffled yell.
'She didn't fail she was deceived.'
'And she failed…
'Enough!' Umi yelled in her head before giving the ashen girl an answer "As you wish Kotori, I just wish it didn't have to be this way."
"Me too." Kotori said quietly closing her eyes.
Umi could feel Kotori tremble slightly, the blunette knew that it meant the ashen girl was scared and was trying to hide it, each tiny tremble the blunette felt was like a punch to her heart.
"I know I've said it before but I promise I won't leave you alone again." Umi whispered trying to settle Kotori, while unknowingly wrapping her own arm around the ashen girl.
"Thank you Umi."
"Anytime Kotori."