Negotiations (2)
(Nozomi – Morning)
"Nozomi," Mari bowed before entering the room "the meeting is set for the evening, is that alright with you?"
"Yes, perfectly."
"Is everything in place?" Mari asked after glancing back into the hallway.
"As it can be."
"Can be, how do you mean?"
"I've spoken to Umi about this, the decision is up to her now."
"I see." Mari sighed looking up at the ceiling.
"Does your mother know Umi is alive and here?"
"No, only thing she knows is what you told her in the letters."
"You do know once your mother knows Tsuki's the new heir she might try and get a deal between the two of you?"
"I doubt it." Mari smiled "Even adopted, Tsuki isn't of high enough standing for my mother's liking, so as far as she's aware Kotori is the only option for her."
"That is good to hear."
(Eli)
"We could really do with Nico." Eli sighed as she looked at the battlements and the deep and wide moat.
"Well we don't have her and I think even she would have trouble with this one." Yukiho said as she leaned on some of the battlements.
"Yeah, I think she could have helped design the castle, single way in, exposed, it's the perfect fortress."
"Nothing's prefect."
"Even my sister?" Eli said given the redhead a small glare.
"Erm…I didn't…"
"I'm joking Yukiho, am I really that scary?"
"Only when it comes to your sister."
"Sorry, how are your wounds doing by the way?"
"I'll recover, I'm more concerned about this castle, Rin's holding the bridge down but she's only got so many troops, if Kira forces the bridge or worse finds the ford, we are going to be caught between two armies."
"Don't worry I'm sure Nozomi has a plan."
"I don't doubt that I'm just worried if she will be able to carry it out before Kira does something to stop it."
(Umi – Evening)
"It was nice of Tsubasa to agree to watch Saki for us." Kotori said as the pair walked to the meeting chamber.
"Yeah, it was." Umi mumbled, her mind still on her decision that was fast approaching.
"Are you ok Umi?"
"I'm fine, I was just thinking on something?" Umi replied quietly.
"Not those voices again?" Kotori said with a pout.
"Not really, this is on me." Umi sighed.
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"No, no, this one I have to do myself."
"Umi!" Kotori shouted with a pout.
"I'll be ok really." Umi said with a smile to try and reassure the ashen girl.
"Can you at least tell me what it is?"
Umi bit her bottom lip in thought 'There is no need to mention something that might not come up.' Umi thought to herself.
'She might like it though.'
'She shouldn't.'
"Umi?" Kotori's voice broke through the blunettes musings.
'I suppose it wouldn't hurt to tell her something.' Umi thought to herself before speaking "I can't tell you everything right now, but I was asked to do something by Lady Minami and Tojo in case these negotiations go a certain way."
"What is it?"
"I can't say that yet, but I'll tell you after these negotiations are over, I promise."
Kotori sighed before she rested her head on the ronin's chest a moment "You promise?"
"I promise."
"And you promise you won't have to leave me?" Kotori said and the ronin could catch a small tremble to the ashen girl's voice.
"I promise, I'm never leaving you again."
"Ok." Kotori sighed.
The pair walked in silence for the rest of the way to the meeting chamber, once there they saw Lady Minami, Nozomi and Tsuki waiting for the pair, Umi caught Nozomi staring at her with a questioning look, Umi took a deep breath before nodding to the twin-tailed girl who gave a small smile in response.
'No going back now.'
Just then the doors to the chamber opened to reveal Kanan who quietly motioned for the five to enter the chamber with Mari, Chika and Lady Ohara sitting at the far end. As Umi entered she kept an eye on Kanan, the ronin still unsure how much she could trust the other girl around Kotori, though the handmaid didn't seem to have her Tantō in her sleeve.
'Or at least she's got better at hiding it.'
"Hello ladies, I hope you are doing well." Lady Ohara smiled as the five entered. The smile made Umi's skin crawl for an unknown reason, she was gripped by a sudden urge to grab a weapon and escort Kotori out the chamber and even out the castle but managed to refrain herself.
"We are doing well." Lady Minami replied, "I hope you don't mind Tsuki and my daughter's guard joining us."
"Of course Tsuki is welcome," Lady Ohara replied before glancing over to Umi, "Though I do wonder about the guard is she really necessary?"
'Guess she doesn't recognise me.' Umi thought to herself, glancing around the room she could see Mari knew from the look she was giving the blunette, Chika seemed to trying to work it out like she knew she should know, but couldn't place who Umi was.
"Forgive us," Nozomi answered "But given the circumstances we felt it best and her guard insists on never leaving her side."
"I see, I wish I had someone as dependable around my daughter." Lady Ohara said glaring at Kanan before turning back to the group "Please sit."
As the five sat down Umi could see Nozomi smile out the corner of her eye and could see Mari smile in return.
"So you wish for me to commit my forces to aid you in defeating Kira?" Lady Ohara asked with a grin as the five sat down in front of her.
"Yes, that is the case." Nozomi replied.
"I'm sure you are aware Kira has been making overtures to us as well." Lady Ohara said with a smile.
Umi got the impression that the blonde was trying make Nozomi and Lady Minami nervous, Umi could see a tiny twitch of Lady Minami's lips, a sign Umi knew to mean the older woman was nervous.
"I see," Nozomi said as she seemed to remain unfazed by the remark "And are you inclined to accept his offer?"
"No, man wants Mari to marry his nephew." Lady Ohara spat "I'll give him credit the man has ambition but I'd rather burn my lands to dust than consider that offer."
"What about our offer?" Lady Minami asked.
"To join you in an alliance to defeat Kira?" Lady Ohara scowled "More tempting but still has some sticking points."
"What sticking points?" Tsuki asked.
"Compensation, for previous insults and attacks." Lady Ohara smiled a smile that made Umi's skin crawl "We sort that matter out and I'll be more than happy to indulge your request."
"What sort of compensation are you thinking of?" Nozomi asked and Umi could feel a heaviness to the question.
"I think you have an idea what kind of compensation I mean."
"You want a marriage deal?" Nozomi asked, though Umi got an idea from the twin-tailed girls tone she already knew the answer and from the corner of her eye the blunette could see Lady Minami knew to.
"Yes, indeed." Lady Ohara smiled "I would like to marry your heir Kotori to my heir Mari."
Umi felt her blood run cold at the suggestion and then run hotter than the sun at the smile on Lady Ohara's face and she wasn't the only one, she could see Kanan clench her fists and Mari scowling.
"Kira is a threat to both our lands, not to mention our friends and you want to play politics!" Chika shouted, catching everyone off guard.
"Quiet Chika, or need I remind you…"
"It's an irrelevant idea." Lady Minami spoke up.
"Oh, how so?"
"Kotori is not my heir anymore, she has decided to step down as the heir and renounce her claim, Tsuki is my heir now."
"What?"
"It's true," Tsuki said calm yet firmly "we made the decision and declaration before we journeyed here."
"So you're the new heir to Minami clan then?"
"No, I am keeping the Watanabe name, Lady Minami is to be the last Minami, that name is too tarnished from my uncle and Kira's actions."
Umi could see Lady Ohara scowl at the declaration, before a worrying smile appeared on the older blonde's face "Well, it's not totally irrelevant, I still need a partner for Mari and you can still use Kotori for a political gain, so she can still marry Mari."
"You would marry your daughter off to someone with no land or title?" Lady Minami asked confused and horrified.
"She would have if she married Mari." Lady Ohara smirked "So what do you say?"
Umi could hear both voices about to raise up in a shouting match on what she should do again but one looks over at Kotori's horrified face hardened Umi's resolve to her decision.
'Enough!' Umi shouted in her head silencing both voices as she stood up resolutely "I'm sorry Lady Ohara, but Kotori already has a marriage partner, me!"
"You lie!" Lady Ohara shouted.
"I am not."
"Why would you hand her daughter off to same lowly Ronin bodyguard?" Lady Ohara growled at Lady Minami.
"She isn't a lowly Ronin." Lady Minami smiled.
"Perhaps it would be better if you reintroduced yourself." Nozomi smiled.
All eyes in the room turned back to Umi who took a silent breath before speaking "You might know me nowadays Tsunami, but before I became a Ronin, I was Umi Sonoda, protector of Kotori Minami and her betrothed."
"Umi Sonoda is dead."
"No, that was deception on my part." Nozomi answered "I convinced Umi that she should announce her death so Kira would not come after her till she could restore her honour."
"It's true, I apologise for the deception Lady Ohara, but I am Umi Sonoda and Kotori is to be my betrothed once more or more accurately we aim to fulfil the original betrothals."
"Seems the Sonoda's have developed a habit of ruining engagements." Lady Ohara growled as she finally seemed to recognize Umi.
"Pardon?" Nozomi asked.
"Among Kira's latest writings to me was this letter and seeing as Umi is here, seems like the perfect time to reveal it."
"Reveal what?"
"Reveal that Kotori wasn't Lord Minami's only child." Lady Ohara said passing the letter to Nozomi.