章節 15: Chapter Fourteen: Strange Doesn’t Mean Difficult

"The world is sometimes hidden by plenty of things. And I'm sure that you have noticed some of them." He took the cup up. Not intending to continue to talk, at least until Kaede comes in.

Oboro opened the door, letting Kaede inside. Or rather forced her inside, as she doesn't have too much of a choice in this. Before placing another cup in front of her, and pouring tea. Kaede didn't look at Sasaki. Even for a brief moment.

Sachiko looked to Sasaki, to be able to talk to Kaede. He nodded, letting Sachiko bring her outside. It wasn't as though they could leave, they didn't know any better as to how they could have managed to escape.

It was just the two of them, and his house has far more servants. Since it still needed to be cleaned, and it was easy to notice. Not that she wanted to do so.

If Kaede could have been caught with ease. Or at least she should be wary with Oboro. "Are you going to escape?" Kaede asked Sachiko.

"No. But we do need to know that now this isn't something we can play with."

"Yes, I did think that I could try." It didn't work. Not at all. And the fact that it was failing quite miserably as well. Although Kaede didn't think that they will be this skilled.

At least they weren't going to be killed or have it be blackmailed against her. Well, at least that was certain. Since he didn't seem to have been keen on it either. If he did, he will have warned her. Or at least told her that it was going to be this way. Not any other way, but this way.

Thankfully, he didn't even mention it. But rather seem amused by the whole incident. This room was still empty, thankfully. And it was just them. As much as Kaede could be at ease. Able to say what she wanted to.

That was not seen unless they were back home. At least the full extent of them. If he had no intentions of having them decide, he will have forced them. Or was it otherwise. She didn't know, neither could she guess from all of this. At least with what little she knew.

As much as she knew next to nothing about her. Apart from the fact that she was far too skilled when compared to anyone else. And a chance to talk to each other.

"You're just going to continue talking to him?"

"He knows something. As much as he is taking his time. Clear that it was so, given how he acted." Not even worried at all. Not even seeing as though he needed something else to convince her.

Or whether she will just decide to change the person she was seeking. This never seemed to be an issue when it came to him. As though it was certain that she will remain here. Even if she left, she will come back.

And thus whatever he intended to tell her will have been important. At the very least it will help her. In finding the reason or in helping her family.

A certain ease, and not desperation.

And Kaede caught on, as much as it seemed. She nodded. Before her servant opened the door, with Oboro standing on the outside. Leaning against the window. She stood up, deciding to let them into the location. This time around, it changed. It was time for a tea ceremony, and he had full intentions of taking his time. It didn't matter to him how it was done, just that it better be done by the end.

And to have her decide just how far will she go.

"Welcome." Perhaps it was in his intentions to do this. To have her remain here as long as possible. For a man that she had recently met, it was also not within her ability to grasp how he thought. At the fact that she will see need to continue to look at him. To get something from him. And that something was not found anywhere else except with him.

"So, are you going to continue with this?" Or simply jump straight into what she was catching on. Something that he knew, something that she didn't. Overall, it was important in the long run for her to have this with her. And it was something that will prevent her from doing otherwise.

"Although this is long, I usually dislike them." As much as she had few chances to really sit through all of them. "So, I'll just jump over all of them."

"Then, what do you wish to know?" He asked her.

"About your clan." She leaned in further, held in the garden even when there was nothing else other than falling leaves. It still had a certain beauty to it. Something that didn't fade despite all.

"My clan?" He looked up for a moment. Not answering her question. She was certain that he wasn't even nervous. He wasn't even affected. Given how nonchalant he acted. "You noticed don't you, that this compound is empty. Far emptier than anyone else's."

"Yes." Hers was the best example. Even if their clan had been empty, it was still far more populous than so many others.

And that he was a lonely person. Unable to choose, and unable to leave. Although it seemed that he came to terms with it. Accepted that this was his reality and fate.

Much like the Satou clan. Both clans had the same atmosphere, an atmosphere that none of them could escape. As clear as it seemed. That they were destined to having an issue with all of this.

An issue which none of them could seem to escape.

"Do you ever wonder why?"

"Apart that your clan partakes a lot in dangerous matters." And that they were the ones who seemed to have a lot of issues when it came to them as well.

One which ended their lives.

"It's quite obvious. But what do you think we do to be precise?" He asked her. A question that it was important to them. Asking about the right question.

She couldn't be certain. Other than they traded in information, kept an extensive network. Perhaps it was more. Perhaps it went further than just that. And it was up to her to decide how she will answer.

"You seem to be the ones in control of a lot of things."

"That is right." He smiled. "We don't just form a part of the underworld, we were hired to control it." So that it never becomes out of control.

And did this had something to do with her father's death. That was likely. As Kaede remained by the side, observing the entire conversation. Or perhaps looking for a reason how to turn this if it became difficult.

"And does the underworld has a hand in chichiue's death?" The question that she wanted.

"I don't exactly know. But there have been rumors. That they do have a hand." He sat it down. For now, it was going to be something that wasn't going to come easy to almost anyone. "However, I did notice something."

"Linking this to those who clamour for a new society."

The man nodded. "And the style of the assassination, it reminded me far too much of one more. It just happened a few years ago." To someone important, that he didn't think he needed to name. "The culprit who claimed it had been the Meishin rebels."

"But that is far too suspicious, at least by all means. This is too coincidental to have happened again." As he fanned himself for a moment. Not just seeing as though he was strong, but also one of the most important propel around.

And unlikely. People who went against the imperial family, the Shogunate, they will not leave anything to chance. For they have betrayed even the very core of their lives. To have went against the holiest man in the country.

They didn't have anything else left. Because it was just how it was. The way that they have given up all their lives. The way that they could never ever head back or think about doing so. Or think about what was left for them.

They had nothing. She had to admit. And they couldn't afford any chances. "You don't think it's them, as it's repeated and too obvious."

He keeps silent. For a moment before he nods. She looked, wondering what was going through his mind at that point in time. "It's as you say."

"So, what else?"

"There isn't much of anything else left." He did make much sense with it. That it was all the was going to talk about. "I'll say more if you come back."

He doesn't seem to be even wondering if she didn't. Because all he has given her had been useful. Ad much as the one question she was asking in her mind.

"Aren't you going to demand something?"

"You're just going to owe me." He turned around. Not elaborating further. "See her out." He told his servants. They nodded, as she stood up.

Questioning what were his intentions, as much as she wondered what was his. And the reason he didn't just ask anything upfront.

"That is even worse, as you don't know what he will end up asking." Kaede made a point, something which she doubted could have been avoided.

But it wasn't as though she could manipulate him into demanding something. Nor did he manage to get anything out of her. This was not as straightforward as the Satou, and she knew that this was how many of the clans will deal with her.

Especially if she was a woman and she will have many downplaying and underestimating her. That was almost given.

By the end, that was all she could see do herself. And all she could really try to avoid. "Are you going to come back?"

"He knows far more than anyone else does."