Chapter Thirty: Things get complicated

When Kazuho found himself staring at the sign above him, he knew that it was not all but nice. Especially given that he had never been one who had believed it with much faith in the first place. But he doubted that the best fortune tellers were accurate, and some could even be spies. It was easy, as these people were privy to secrets that few other will know and their fortune could only be seen by it. Even then, he was a little doubtful of how real they were.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?"

Hajime was right to have said so, even though Shino kept her own mind about it. Both of them were similar, thinking that such things were not anything to really trust too much into. However this was a man who predicted the Shogun's death, seven years before. Just a month before it happened as he was looking to reform the city. To at least do more to ensure that it was safe to remain as it was, rather than anything else.

"Well, he is the one who is wasting his money so it is up to him." Shino stood beside Hajime as he continued to stare. He still kept the eyepatch, while she had abandoned the copious amount of rogue. Even her lips was not painted, merely having her hair loose below her waist. Hajime still kept the mask, although choosing to wear something brighter.

But he knew that this was famed for more than a decade. So much that he no longer took clients based on what they charged, but rather how desperate they were. The more so, the more likely he will listen. And sometimes adding in a Samurai or two to acquire more revenue. But his most favored customer was the Shogun, the previous Shogun who visited here as well as the city every year. The current has not stepped foot into this city out of fear, as the person responsible had never been found.

This was a city which was built under the Tokumoto Shogunate, and all of its splendor created by only the Tokumoto Shoguns. Who needed this city to push their dreams of wanting wealth, and the necessity of forcing the country to modernize itself. Although these were the only two cities which was deemed good enough to have been worth a visit by anyone, the rest was nothing more than mere countryside.

He entered inside, before the man opened his own eyes. He was getting on in years, with a few gray hairs in his head. Despite all, he had weathered the loss of his best customer and confidant. The man opened both of them to look at him. Hajime only had a single look of suspicion.

But without much options left, he had to simply accept it as it came. Inside as he looked upon the small place that made it a shop, shelves filled with trinkets and charms. Shrines were the only one which were allowed to draw lots, or had the time to make them before getting people to draw them. Here, all he saw were the Daruma dolls. With everything done except their eyes, which was the most crucial.

"Here to see your fortune, whether you'll strike it rich in a year or so?"

"No." If anything, he already had quite a wealth to spare thus he didn't really need it,

"Whether you'll have many kids." He was only eighteen, then again there were princes who were married the moment they turned fourteen. But the imperial family had one of the worst mortality, that even the Shogunate was a far better situation. And they were often men who married later, in their early to late twenties. With princes gaining a full decade on them in age, and yet it was often the latter who had more healthy and surviving children. But he was a merchant, thus the need to have this was quite low.

"I rather not think about that. Having any more than five will be a hell." He knew that families with large amount of children often ignored a few, and favored some more over the others.

"Whether you'll have many wives."

"Many of them also conspired against each other, besides I find that unfair." And he doubted it really was good for anyone in the long term.

"You're interesting." Before it was a sign that he asked him for a seat. Shino followed next. Perhaps tired of standing there for such a long time that she took her seat.

"Is this the lucky lady?" Before Hajime threw a knife that ended right next, with Shino giving him smile that was certain to have scared demons itself. With him gaining an idea, that this association was out of necessity rather than any fondness.

"I prefer not to have him in the hands of someone who can't even use a sword." Neither could she, as far as he knew. And he picked up the blade, while seating right across him. If the man was nervous, he certainly didn't show it.

"Then, what do you want to ask?" His eyes focused back on Kazuho once more.

"If I want to find someone."

"Show me your hand."

"Cut the tricks, I doubt you're a real fortune teller." As he knew, sometimes it was because of extensive knowledge in the first place.

He gave a hearty laugh. Almost as though it was an incredibly funny joke and not something that he sait out of seriousness. "All right, give me a name and something about her. But seriously, show me your hand."

He reluctantly showed it to him.

"Her name was Rin and she came to this city with an elder brother named Shin."

"How long ago?" While taking a closer look.

"Seven years ago." He took out the pendant with his other hand, giving the fortune teller.

"I have seen this before," he commented. The design was fairly exquisite, not limited to only the Shoguns but any Samurai of the bakufu will have been able to afford it. Although it was only popularized by them.

If anything, he had his hopes up once more. This will have been much easier for him, as long as he gave him a lead. Something that could work, or at least a place to begin.

"It used to belong to the Kobayashi family," he said.

"Anything about them?"

"They were Samurai who were retainers of the Daimyo Saitou, although as of now the clan is not as it was before."

"Who should I search for?"

"It'll likely belong to a Kobayashi Yuuto's wife, although she left almost eighteen years ago since her husband's disappearance." But there was nothing, or rather could it be Rin's father. In this situation, then finding her father was the only option he had. "He also happened to adopt a son just a few years, and had a daughter before his disappearance."

"How old was his daughter?"

"Not more than two." If anything Rin was not any older than he was, although he could not be certain.

"Did his wife look something like this?" Shino showed the picture of a young woman with red hair, holding a book. He was surprised that Shino could even get it out in the first place.

"Yes, although she seems to have her father's eyes." He returned the picture to her.

It was a clue, as much as Shino had an explanation to give as to how she came across such a piece of news in the first place. But that was for later.

"Thank you for your help." He paid him extra as it seemed that he could perhaps look to her clan first, if there was anything he could find.

"By the way, Kobayashi Yuu disappeared in a similar area as the Daimyo Saitou although there is a difference of eighteen years. And the Daimyo's daughter Sachiko-hime is here as well." Although he was a little suspicious it was too perfect.

For now he simply wanted to think about it first. But he had to question how did Shino get that picture.

"Aren't you going to ask me?"

"Yes, but when I get back." He had intended to keep this promise after all. And that he had the feeling that it might have been a reason why she chose to came. However, unless he could ascertain he refused to admit it. Although it was a likely possibility, but again too trivial. With her, there might be more. Or this trip was simply useful to further her own plans for the future. Either way, he knew that it will be a lengthy amount of time.

Shinrou spent much time thinking about this decision, while Enyou was more than able to help him he was not willing to put his faith solely in her. It was foolish, since she did not even know the girl quite well. Rather, it was anything but so. Thus it became necessary that he looked for other sources. At the end, he thought that he simply did not have anything to lose hence he decided to go through with his original idea.

When he came to a more secretive entrace, where he knew it was once an empty courtyard. Now, flowers bloomed in its place. It was in the mid afternoon, but the time was ripe for him to meet her. The best as she will be the most free here, for she was not needed to work. Merely to look over the finances of the house, and to discipline any Geisha that stepped out of line. Apprentices' training was left to older retired Geishas in which this was the only way she could make a living.

"Where is that boy?" Ayakazu set down the account books before looking at him. "He left for Fukusei."

"That city, it is necessary for him to go is it not?" She stared at him, although knowing that this meeting was for an entirely different reason. He was never comfortable here, nor did he ever frequent it for any reason. "The very same one where the Shogun died."

She drank her own tea, while taking a chance to enjoy the afternoon.

"Someone had looked into his things." And that he did know that it was serious, given how cautious he was at ensuring that he didn't draw any attention. Not that anyone recognized him or Kazuho, and he doubted even if anyone was the paste his pictures on the walls of Okiban and Fukusei.

"Well for a man like him, there has been no rumors on any side." And if there was, it will have been easy to remember.

"That's all I needed to know." He gave a return smile to her. Then, he knew that it was a lot easier for him to figure out who at this point.

"Is it so?" Always having been a lot more astute than anyone assumed, but she was a proprietress of a Geisha house. And to survive here, it was necessary to be able to decide for herself. As there was no way anyone could tell what was real and what was not, thus having to count on her own judgement.

"Then it only leaves two candidates." He was about to go off.

"So, he has been busy." He stopped before turning around. It was as though she knew, but he doubted it. Without him naming anyone it will have been difficult for her to do so.

"You can't say that he can afford not to."

"That's true, who is it?" She seemed to pay attention to it. As though she knew that it will not have been someone who was easy to take care of. And it had to be one rich enough to afford the services of the cheapest shinobi at the very least.

"The Sasaki or the Satou."

"Interesting clans he has got himself involved in, don't you say?" As though he needed any more reminders of it. The clans were once powerful clans who helped the Shogun manage Fukusei, made Samurai by the Tokumoto and thrived off the wealth of the city. Which had been under two provinces, due to the complexity of the situation.

But he knew that if they were in Fukusei— which had been in their control for centuries— he should be wise to warn him. "If it is so, maybe you should consider leaving this city."

"I cannot." Not when he promised, and there were things that had to be guarded at all costs.

"Let me help you, I'll send a messenger to the city." If anything, he was grateful that she had always been so willing to help him. "But be warned, the Sasaki and the Satou are not easy even with their diminished power."

Although no one needed to tell him that they were looking, while Kazuho had done nothing to give them solid proof.