Chương 33: In the nick of time
Eventually, Mr. Ito gave in to the idea of receiving help from Daisuke's Master, Sato Naoki, after careful consideration of his family.
The Daimyos were selfish and greedy, a thought he didn't dare to harbor in his mind as a samurai devoted to working under them.
Now, he was going to take a step back from every rule and regulation that had tied him to his pledge, as his priority would be his family first.
"Before you try that dye on Haruka, I will test it to see if it is safe," Mr. Ito said while giving the ceramic bottle in her hand a side glance.
Although he had consented to receive assistance from those likely to be his Lord's enemies, he still had to be careful about the things given to them.
This was a habit he couldn't deflect after his years of swordsmanship and the level of careful attention put into the tasks given to them.
Hearing him say that, Hana felt relieved as she released a deep breath. At least he was no longer going on about refuting her suggestion.
Smiling, she probed, "My Lord, do you think Mr. Suke would mean bad for us?"
"What I think doesn't matter. Hand the item over," he demanded with creased brows as he stretched his palm out to her.
Although he could have easily snatched the bottle from her since she was sitting next to him, and as his strength was far greater than hers, he chose to be gentle and let her give it up by herself.
Despite the fact that his facial expression said otherwise, Mr. Ito was in no way angry.
He only acted grumpy just to mask his wife's guess about his fear and trust issues.
Hana cackled as she obediently handed the pretty-looking object to him.
Having been married for a little over twenty years, it was impossible not to understand every little action her husband made, and the intentions behind them.
Just like a few moments ago, Hana was aware of her husband's intentional failure to admit to his concerns.
Still, she loved him like that.
Taking the ceramic bottle in his hand, Mr. Ito allowed his thumb to glide through the smoothness of the body. He did this thrice before standing to his feet.
Seeing her husband rising to his feet, Hana was forced to move her gaze up but feeling the discomfort at the back of her neck, she got up on her feet.
Tucking her hands below her lower torso, her eyebrows shifted upwards as she maintained eye contact with him.
"Isn't it too late to conduct the test? You should leave it till morning."
Concern for her husband was evident in her tone and body language.
They had already used up a good amount of time talking over one matter in the middle of the night while he had to leave for work the next morning.
She thought it right for him to leave the task till the next day and rest for the night. Unfortunately, he was insistent.
"At least allow me to accompany you," she said worriedly, and again, he refused her, but out of concern.
"It's just a simple task. It's late, you should sleep first," he said, walking past her as he made his way to the sliding door.
Left with no other way to convince him otherwise, Hana could only watch helplessly as he stepped out of the room.
*******
The morning of the next day came with everyone being busy with one thing or the other.
As soon as the Shogun saw the light of the day after receiving his sister's secret message the previous night, he summoned the Daimyos back to the capital city.
The Daimyos were people viewed like governors, ruling over some cities under the magnate of the Shogun and the Emperor hence, they didn't reside in the capital city, but they each had an estate to live in every time they returned.
Lord Satake was the only exception of the Daimyos that resided more in the Capital city. But on intervals, he had to visit a few numbering cities he was given charge over.
The four shadow soldiers the Shogun sent out in the early hours of the morning, had long left the Capital City's gate and were nearing their place of assignment on a hoarse back.
At the Ito Family's home, everyone was on the move with important tasks to carry out.
Mr. Ito and his son, Kenji were already dressed and ready to be on a move when a messenger from the troop came to find them, right outside their house.
"There will be no meeting today," the man dressed in a dull kimono announced.
Mr. Ito was a bit taken aback and inquired further about why everyone was exempted from gathering like usual that day, but he received no tangible feedback.
Left with no choice he thanked the messenger for saving them from what would have been a wasted trip, before seeing him off.
Returning to the house, Kenji took their swords back to where they were supposed to be left, leaving his father to break the news to the others.
"There must be a meeting with the Shogun, or an assembly at the palace," Mr. Ito concluded with a thoughtful gaze upon noticing his wife's worried look.
"They must be up to something again," she added as a long sigh fell off her lips.
Her intuition was always right, and she couldn't help but be so confident about it as no notice was given to any of the soldiers before this time.
Having gotten over the earlier incident as this was not that much of a surprise, given under the rulership of the people they served, Hana went on to her next most important task of the day, and that was using the new dye on Haruka.
Haruka was already aware of the dye and whom it had come for, but she had no idea that it would be used on her hair so soon.
In the middle of her sewing lessons, while the maidservant watched over her in her mother's place, she watched as her mother stepped inside the room when she lifted her head.
Hana's gaze swept past her and landed on the maidservant as soon as she stepped into the room.
"Ane, prepare a pail of cold water and send it into Haruka's bedroom," she instructed, not caring about the sewing section she had interrupted.
Right now, there was something more important than the values inculcated in her daughter, which was her security.
The sooner she used the dye on her and watched the effect closely, the better for them all.
Especially now that the Daimyos were meeting. Her instincts wished to do everything possible to prevent any mishap.
After all, a stitch in time saves nine.
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