Within A Grey Twilight

"You are done. But you could have done without wasting an hour." He looked over his attire, with it being mostly ready.

"It"s not as though I"m a child. And doesn"t it take at least half the time to dress even with help." Although the man suggested that he try a little harder and maybe carry an accessory or two, he wasn"t so keen in the first place either. Unless it included sake or wine of any sort. A fan in the breezy weather was pointless, and he didn"t like tobacco so he was never keen on the kiseru.

"But plenty of powerful men don"t even dress." That doesn"t mean that he should.

"I"m neither powerful nor influential." Shinrou snorted.

He stepped outside his own room. Masami and Yuki had turned up to see him. As he folded his own hands, ready to set off at any time. A little uncomfortable in their presence, as Masami came forward.

"Any instructions?" She asked,

"Make sure Yuki doesn"t invite anyone over or think that it is a good idea to wander the streets."

"I"m over here and can hear you." Making almost no sense why he will tell Masami but not her.

"You don"t really listen to me." Yuki kept quiet because it was true that he never listened to him at all.

"But I"m not some child that needs to be looked after." She wasn"t, but she just sometimes didn"t use her common sense enough. But none of them did, although all three of the others agreed that they did need to ensure that she didn"t do anything incredibly ridiculous. "At least I can go out, as long as I don"t bring people back home."

"That can work, although I will chase anyone you bring back," Masami warned her. At least it was a better option than what either of them proposed. And he didn"t want to deal with it in case he came back late, and was exhausted. Yuki nodded, happy to oblige. At least compared to her other options.

And that she was thinking of going out as it was.

"You forgot that." Shinrou carried a haori, draping it over his shoulders. Although it wasn"t that cold that it necessitated it, but it was better to keep it at hand. The haori was, by all means, elaborate, the designs were all on the inside. A style adopted by rich merchants, who could do so because they were forbidden from doing it on the outside.

He looked at him, wondering why it will take so long just for him to take that piece of cloth.

"I forgot about it, then I forgot where I put it."

"Who was the one telling me that I was wasting time?" He asked back.

"If you two are just going to do this, then aren"t you wasting even more time," Masami quipped. Although she did have a point there.

"That"s true."

"Shall we leave then?" The older man asked. He nodded. They both left at the same pace initially, before realizing it was a little wrong. Changing it to having Kazuho in front of him, until they reached the streets which were impossible to navigate without his help. Unless they wanted to end on the wrong street in the wrong district.

Okiban was still the largest city, even if the Imperial Family stayed in other. With their court being held there, but many flocked here for better prospects. Although both cities were facing problems due to plenty of disasters, Okiban more so. As their Shogun had changed in recent years while the Emperor has been on the throne for almost two decades. The stability offered far more to many and allowed them more peace of mind.

But this city had been opened up to the trade elsewhere, chosen for its location near to the sea, in a place where it was convenient to dock. And many ships were set aside for such trips from the beginning. As well as many foreigners who decided to enter here, in all sorts of fashion. Although less so now, given that times were harsher.

Leading him into the better district which was in the north, where many Samurai clans built their houses here when they came every year. As a sign of loyalty to the current Shogun, an annual affair which could not be avoided. And any deaths were to be told directly to the Shogun if he questioned about the absence of any. Started by the fifth Tok.u.moto Shogun, who decided to implement it as a sign of being able to gauge loyalty. Along with their heirs and wives staying here most of the time.

And it was about time, which was why it was easier for them to enter. Since they had to spend more time guarding and preparing for the Daimyos, bakufu officials to come during these few months. Many came earlier with hopes of spending the winter here, instead of having to undertake a rather dangerous journey. By sea, with the freezing water. Land covered with snow. Most came by fall.

"Do you think we might just stumble into Yuki?"

"I hope not. Although that is incredibly unlikely as it is." Kazuho did say the truth because Yuki didn"t know much about these streets. Inhabited by merchants, the low ranking Samurai. Some of which had their livelihoods built upon battles and war. Which was sporadic now, with Kyokuhi being a united country. And few countries in the mood for warmongering, which took time effort and of course money.

But much of the north was just pure Samurai who made their income off the land they owed, which was spread between only a few since it was scarce. And even a single piece of land often costed more, and many houses were built on them.

Although there was the Sasaki was a little difficult to find. With a wide array of families here, and the Sasaki was neither the most prominent nor influential. Although Shinrou did know what he was doing, at least this time.

Right between the edges of two districts, was where Shinrou finally stopped. And for a moment, Kazuho almost imagined that he had just entered a garden. Although remembering that here didn"t place nearly half as much of importance on beauty. That was for the imperial court, even then they never flaunted it to the public. Even in the fall, it was well kept.

"I thought I had come to another city." Although flowers were in full bloom, creating a different sight. Quite unlike the now dull Okiban, where the cherry blossoms took the lead in Spring. But little else.

"Certainly looks that way." Before coming into the garden, was Enyou. She waved at them, to let them know that she was here. Almost as though she was excited to have them over, with her making the decision to sprint, even if it was a horrible idea to a girl who was wearing a kimono.

Although she managed it, as usual. "Follow me." Happy to have gotten it the way she hoped for. As they were still early, as Kazuho glanced at his pocket watch. For the moment. It was early, for lack of better word.

Just before midday as it looked. While she brought him to a single location, in the middle of the garden. A single place set aside for someone to sit upon. Or rather a group.

And it did sit someone. In the middle was a man, someone that he met before. With the same fan that he carried. Looking up onto him, a glint which showed that he remembered. While not even speaking.

Enyou went to him, kneeling down. Certain that they were having a conversation. Of some sorts. He stood by the side while observing them. Closely.

He must have been followed by someone else before that. At the very least, if he could recognize him. But Shinrou and he that day went back straight, not really interested in having a look. Since it took far too long.

Or was it something else? Although certain that Yuki will have been unable to meet Enyou and become friends with her, at least if she had wanted to do so originally. Even Yuki didn"t become friends with someone for less than an hour since an hour he knew was the maximum she went.

For logical reasons that it will make no sense, as well as the fact that she will simply know way too little.

"Well, so you made a friend in two hours?" That certainly put that possibility to zero, as it seemed. From the way that he reacted. "It sounds ridiculous."

He has no idea, the kind of person Yuki really was.

"Well…"

"Should I just show myself out?" He asked. Clearly not wanting to waste his own time here. If it was going to be this. Although Shinrou was annoyed if he did so because it also wanted his time.

"No, but you can wait for a moment." He turned to the side. While a boy stops sweeping before he went off. To get some tea and a seat.

"Is it strong?" Like really really strong. Or he won"t drink it. "If not, just get me a sake bottle."

The man didn"t seem to even bother. And asked for it. A brief moment where he continued to look at the man. Curious about his thoughts, as he was finding him here. As the head of the house.

"Where did you meet him anyway?"

"By the jewelry shop at the end." Clear that he was there because he had something which he had to do, or at least wanted to.

"Oh. Does that have something to do with Yuki?" Although it was clear that it didn"t have to, the link was there as well as it clear.

"Am I only her friend?" He asked. Clear that it wasn"t even possible, not as much as compared to others. At least when he asked that himself.

"That"s what I remember you as."

"As your elder brother, I highly disagree to this method." He made a very a good point about this. "You should take notice of all of them."

"Like it really matters." Many will disagree regarding this since it was clear that it cannot and should not be so.

"Do I need to lecture you on how bad that is?"

"Are you planning to discuss your family matters in front of total strangers?" He was getting bored of it all, no matter how much Yuki knew Enyou. Or how many times that girl came over to his house, making him play the host.

"At least until Oboro brings a bottle of sake over here. Sorry for the inconvenience." Not caring as he went back to looking at his sister, making their private matters rather open to him. Or at least what they intended, because Yuki wasn"t embarra.s.sed, neither was the man at disclosing it.

"Aren"t you afraid of this being taken to the public?" As the man stopped, turning over to Kazuho. Being rather clear here, since this was a little newsworthy.

"What makes you think that they will show it?" Other than they were rich and had reputations, no matter how insignificant.

"Well, scandals all sell money."

"We aren"t famous or prominent, just rich."

"Enyou clearly said something different." Something which he was seeking them out for. At least from the very beginning.

"So, you"re seeking me for that?" The man took up his own fan, although it was cool enough to do without it. "Who are you?"

"Kazuho is my name." He gave a wide smile. "I just have something I want to ask you."

"Is it regarding that pendant you were asking about?" Kazuho looked at him, showing that he knew. The man gave him a grin, just a grin. This was who he did need to seek out to find her. Able to get forbidden information out. Although comfortable that he hasn"t asked any specific questions apart from the origins.