19 Chapter Eighteen: When Surprises Come

When she stepped out, all she had were even more questions than answers. There was almost no certainty, at least to what she should truly trust and do.

The only thing she was never fully unsure about was that the province was under much danger. And threat all at the same time. Yet, all she could think of was how she needed to find a way out of it. Even without any form of complete answer or true knowledge but she knew Kaede will never have lied to her.

About something like this, if she truly didn't have any intentions to help her she will have kept quiet. If it was a rumor, she will have been led on a pointless chase for a person whose very existence have been doubted. Even without it, she will have chosen to give it a shot in the first place. But she will not have kept her hopes up.

In this case, Kaede had never been the one to push it to unrealistic expectations. When she first left for herem Kaede had told her of the possibility that it could not be. Choosing to help her plan another escape instead, another chance because her mother was unlikely to have let her go. Regardless of how dire the situation was, and when she was about to convince her mother.

She had made her point to at least try to do so, but not without a contingency plan.

That had been something that she knew when it came to Kaede. She was honest, even about her vices. Plenty of them, and the many times she smuggled them even though she was facing being dismissed from the household.

Although it never made sense to her how she could be like this, even when the consequences were dire. Most servants followed them, because of fear of losing it. They were depending on the income in the first place. Kaede never seemed to share that trouble.

Sachiko assumed that it had been because she was masking it, or because she was earning it to pass time or were considered a disgrace by her family. And a reason why she never asked deeper as to the girl and who she was, other than the one time where she admitted that she was an orphan.

"So, what did she tell you?"

"To head to Fukusei." Whether she will reveal about the information Kaede shared with her, Sachiko hesitated. The woman often played neutrally, pushing her to find the answers other than the one time. Even if it seemed that she was solving neither, and throwing her off with a possible murderer.

"Are you seeking why he died, or to save your brother first?" Masaki remained by the side of the garden, as he was reading at that point. Not knowing that his sister had returned.

Although finding out why her father died could have helped her understand why, and whether she had additional enemies. But the latter was more pressing, at least without time.

"Don't underestimate her, that woman is also securing the legacy for her own son." Suzumi looked at her, making Sachiko doubt that as well. That her own mother had not been idly sitting by for so long. "Besides, she managed to persuade the Shogun to have her there, and this is a city where tongue wags upon such news. All sorts of slander and rumors will have been told about her."

This was something that few seemed to acknowledge. Although she had been unable to understand her in the least, although her mother largely left her alone. Alone to do as she wished, never really intruding on her. Although she refused to let her out at all.

"So, I should?"

"That's your call." She turned around later.

If she was curious, she will have went to find out. If she was more concerned about her own family's fortunes, that will have been something that she will have prioritised.

But neither family had made their intentions clear, at the very least. None had made their stand but have never said a word about aid. At least when she saw it now. She had been useless in trying to form alliances.

"You didn't offend any family, or lead them to think that you're desperate for aid. Something which I doubt few could do so if put in such a situation." Whether she was inexperienced, young and easily led away. She did know that they existed, but lacking the charm needed to convince them to join her. To support her own brother.

"What if I do feel that I need those answers first?"

"If you seek them, you might be unable to head back."

"It's not as though I have anything else to lose in the first place. Or even anything that will affect me any longer." Remembering what Sasaki told her, once she went into the world he ruled and managed there was no way out. But he said it in such a way that applied to him.

"Then, so shall it be." She decided on it at last. On the route she will have went into at the last point in her life.

While Masaki came to her, holding a letter. "Chichiue has replied."

Sachiko blinked her eyes, knowing that it will have been impossible. Their father had a funeral, his body was confirmed. Even if it had been severely decomposed, his body had been dressed in the same clothes, There was almost no uncertainty at all.

She had seen the rotting corpse, and vomited afterwards. Because of her own disbelief. Just how in the name of the gods was this possible. She took the letter, reading it for herself. Asking for Masaki to visit Fukusei, with Suzumi staring at it as well. With the same expression on her face.

It seems that it wasn't a dilemma now, but a certainty. The city where he was last seen, and at the same time disappeared off the port.

Kazuho looked at the old pendant he once held. While Yuki hovered over him, continuously looking at the jewellery. It had been something which she rarely saw, and he never took it out in the least. He indulged her, by no keeping it in his pocket at this time. Which was largely useless by the end of it.

It never belonged with him, and neither had he ever bothered to tinker with it. He was not an inventor by any means; and this was a very personal momento to her. If anything, he was going to take care of it. No matter how hard it was for him.

Even if he knew that behind this pendant, had a small compartment. Which he never had the key towards either, but never wanted to figure out what it was.

"There has to be something else behind that locket." Wondering just what made her so convinced that it will have existed beforehand, unless she knew about the design. But he was still curious. "Why are you so certain?"

"Well, I have something similar to it. It was used to contain personal family secrets." Then what sense will it make to have to look into that if it was a private family affair. Or something that she didn't want known. Although a young girl might not have been privy to such secrets, but it doesn't give him the right to look into it either.

"Then why will it make sense that I pry into it."

"It should help at the very least." To understand her family, but what good will it provide. She admitted that she knew next to nothing about this at all, other than it had been a very important heirloom.

"No." He denied that idea. He was not above doing that, but to his best friend it was not nice to do so.

Yuki didn't suggest any further. As she looked at it, prodding slightly at the keyhole. "But this isn't done locally, it seemed to have been added on later, as a further modification." Although he was unable to think about the possibility of this.

He was no craftsman, although he knew how tricky will that have to be. Modification to an existing and rather old piece required some tinkering first, before it could be done. And it could not be in the original piece, as time will have worn it down. Fragile, that most antiquities were worn for tradition and as a display of wealth. But it was rarely used regularly, because of how tricky it had been. At least in its usage.

"Aniue, someone is looking for you." It was a messenger. As odd as that was.

He opened the letter.

Hello,

I just wanted to tell you that I'm coming within a few days at Fukusei, and is going to meet with my cousin first. But I'll like that rematch you owe me from a week ago, also if I don't see you, I will consider some trinkets and souvenirs at your expense. My cousins said they ran an inn, and my aunt has died. And it seems popular and profitable while they are finding me in Fukusei.

With regards,

Your Loving Best Rival

He closed it. While tearing it into a thousand pieces, with Shinrou chuckling at the side.

"Is it her?" Masami asked.

"Yes."

Yuki grinned. With a chance to have another person to talk to, she was anticipating with. While he gave a shudder for those two were often the worst, although Yuki was milder.

"By the way, who's the cousin she mentioned?" Masami asked.

He shrugged his shoulders, she mentioned that they were a family with odd ties and relations. And that she wasn't too sure since she hasn't been in contact with her aunt for a while, who had married here.

"But what choice do I even have?"

"Just admit it, you're missing her." Shinrou put his hand around his shoulder.

Apart from being the only person who could keep up with him, both in mind and wit. Although she was far less diplomatic and a lot more honest. He glared at the man, taking him off his shoulder.

"Can I follow you?"

"Yes."

"I demand that I join." Yuki added in, he sighed.

"I'll just stay here, to give them the impression that we have not moved." Since they haven't even been here for a month yet, and a reason why they bought it as opposed to just renting. They weren't even certain when they could have found her within a limited timeframe at times.

"So, when are we leaving?" Yuki looked at the boy.

He sighed. "Tomorrow."

Well, he wasn't even sure whether he could find her. This was a far longer journey than he himself has anticipated, but he had no wishes to do anything else for now. Not when someone else was trying to throw his finances into jeopardy, except far more shrewd in her ways than Yuki ever was.