Uncomfortable
(Kanan)
"Where is your mother, Lady Mari?" Kanan asked as she saw the party arrive at the castle.
"She said she had urgent business to attend to." Mari sighed.
"I somehow don't believe her." Chika grumbled.
"Me either, I suspect she's giving Lady Minami a snub."
Kanan felt that Mari was correct in her suspicions "Even so we should still try and be cordial," Kanan said before adding in a mummer "Even if our Lady is not."
"Yes, your right Kanan." Mari sighed before she smiled.
(Nozomi)
"Welcome my Ladies," Nozomi heard Kanan say as she dismounted her horse.
"Mari, Chika, Kanan, I'm glad to see you three are well." Nozomi smiled, though there was a glaring person that was absent from their welcoming party "Is Lady Ohara not here?"
"My mother is unfortunately detained," Mari said with a clearly forced smile "She sends her apologies and assurance she will see you in two days."
'This is not a good start.' Nozomi thought.
"I see." Lady Minami said clearly thinking the same as the twin tailed girl.
"My Ladies, I have seen to your accommodation," Kanan said once everyone was assembled before the trio "I hope my former home will be welcoming to you."
'So it's true then.' Nozomi thought as she walked through the halls.
(Eli)
"Make sure everyone gets some rest, we'll approach the castle tonight and by morning Ryuzo and his troops will be under siege." Eli sighed.
'And hopefully Alisa and Yukiho are ok.' Eli added in her mind.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sudden sound of a scout entering the tent "Pardon me Lady Ayase, but we found something we feel you should know."
"What is it?"
"It would be better if you saw yourself."
"Ok, show me." Eli said trying to hide a slight sigh of frustration as she followed the soldier.
(Rin)
"Lady Rin, the scouts have completed their search of the castle and found nothing."
"Thank you, Maru." Rin said forcing a smile "Can you make sure the defences at the bridge are secure for me, I need to check the castle for something."
"Of course." Hanamaru said with a bow before leaving the tent.
"Why did it have to be me in charge." Rin groaned once she was alone before she stood up and left her tent and walked up to Umi's old castle alone.
"You always did have an impressive castle Umi." the ginger said as paused at the front gate of the castle, Rin could see the walls though having not been properly maintained were still in good condition as was the gates, the mount and bridge, it still looked resplendent and imposing to the ginger, as it had always been when the ginger had seen it from time to time.
"I'm glad I never had to siege this place, maybe that's why Kira wanted you gone so he didn't have to." Rin pondered aloud before she walked through the open front gate.
Slowly the ginger walked through the castle silently, the castle felt odd to the ginger, it seemed almost a contradiction, it looked the same welcoming and inviting like it had in the past, but it also felt cold and off it almost seemed like the castle was lonely.
Once she entered the keep Rin saw the two old Sakura tree's that Umi had planted near the entrance, just beginning to bloom, as opposed to the rest of the castle this part it kept its warm feeling.
Rin stood between the tree a moment and closed her eyes, she felt she could almost forget the war was happening for a fleeting moment.
"Rin?" came a gentle voice from behind the ginger.
"Kayo-Chin, what are you doing here?"
"I could ask the same thing are you alright?"
"I just needed some time."
"You still worrying about being in command?"
"A little."
"It's rather beautiful up here don't you think?" the brunette said as she looked at the Sakura trees.
"Yes, it is, though I never understood why Umi had them planted here." Rin said as she looked at the tree too.
"Kotori said it was to do with something special in their past."
"I see." Rin said as her mood dropped further.
"Rin, what's wrong?"
Rin sighed taking one final look at the tree before turning to the brunette "Nozomi gave me secret orders before we left."
"What orders?"
"She ordered me to make sure Umi's castle can't be used by Kira, in case we are pushed back from here."
"Can't be used, you mean destroy it?" Hanayo asked quietly with a look of shock.
"No, nothing so drastic, she wants me to destroy the gates."
"I see, does Umi know?"
"No, Nozomi said she'd tell her when they got to the Ohara's."
"If Nozomi asked you to do it, we don't really have a choice."
"I know, but it feels wrong, doing this to a friend's home."
Hanayo brought the ginger into a gentle hug before whispering "I understand how you feel, but I suspect Umi would do this to for the right reason."
"Kotori."
"Exactly, so don't worry about Umi, I'm sure she won't be mad at you for this."
"I know I still feel bad though."
"I know, but we are in a situation where we need to do this." Hanayo whispered before she kissed the ginger on the cheek.
"I'm not sure I could be in command without you Kiyo-chin."
"I'm not sure I could have handled this war without you Rin, we all need help and we are lovers now, so if you need me just ask."
"Thanks, Nya"
"Anytime, look we don't need to deal with the gates today, how about we rest up and do this tomorrow ok?"
"Ok."
(Mari)
"Excuse me, Lady Nozomi?" Mari said as she entered the twin-tailed girls chamber "Is it possible to talk?"
"Nozomi, please and of course." The daimyo smiled.
"Thank you." Mari said as she entered the chamber and sat in front of Nozomi "And again apologies for the welcome."
"Its fine, though not a great start to our negotiations, so what is it you wished to talk about?"
"The negotiations, actually."
"Oh?"
"I suspect my mother…"
"Wants a marriage deal as part of the alliance?"
"Yes, how did you know?"
"It was a guess and fear we have as well."
"Well no disrespect to Kotori but I'm not interested."
"I'm sure she would be more relieved to hear that then anything." Nozomi smiled "And you need not worry, I have an idea to handle that outcome."
"What is it?"
(Kotori)
"What's up Umi?" Kotori asked as she sat with Saki in her arms, the blunette had been glancing at the entrance to their chamber from time to time and seemed to be on edge slightly.
"It's miss Kanan." Umi said her eyes going to the doorway again.
"You mean her drop in standing?" Kotori asked, that revelation had been a surprise to the ashen girl.
"No, I had heard rumours in the Tojo lands that something like this had happened to Kanan, it's that she was carrying a blade while she escorted us."
"What?"
"I caught a glimpse at the pommel when she led us here." Umi said before turning back to the ashen girl "It makes me uneasy having someone hiding a blade so close."
"You weren't worried about Nico though."
"I know where Nico's loyalties lay, I'm not so sure with Kanan."
"Why?"
"According to rumour, Kanan's family tried to rebel against the Ohara's but Kanan stayed on the Ohara side, which says she's loyal to the Ohara above all and we aren't sure of what lady Ohara intends or where her loyalties lay."
At this Saki let out a whine "Aw it's ok Saki, aunty Umi won't let anything happen to us, she'll protect us," Kotori said giving the little Sonoda a light cuddle "Won't you Umi?"
"Of course." Umi said before smiling and gently holding on to Saki's hand which made the little girl smile. "I'll protect both of you with all I have." Umi said before kissing the little blunette on the head.
"Thanks Umi." Kotori smiled "Though I don't think we have to worry about Kanan though, I think she's more loyal to Mari then her mother and Mari seems to be on good terms with us."
"Maybe you right but I can't help but be uneasy."
"Don't be, Mama and Nozomi wouldn't have brought us here if they thought there was a credible threat to us here."
"I know but…"
Fortunately Umi was interrupted by Saki moaning and reaching out for Umi "Aw you want a hug from your aunty, here you go." The ashen girl said handing the little blunette into Umi's arms.
'I wonder if those voices are talking to her again.' Kotori thought herself as she watched Umi gently rock Saki to sleep with the ashen girl watching on as the blunette let out a small smile.