"We're here." A city much like from his memory, busy in the day although the dealings in the night was far more dangerous and of much more importance. The city was safe to roam in the day, almost as though it was asleep. It came alive in the night, turning itself into a vibrant night market, but with far more interesting dealings behind it. One that affected the country as a whole.
From societies, to rebellions. Often they came from here, a city set aside for foreign trading. The only place where people were allowed to see with the other world in the last couple of years, with Okiban refusing to take in any foreign visitors. Although this was a worse option, with its lawlessness being well known and till now the shogunate having issues curbing them.
Okiban benefitted from two groups which eventually paved the way for it to be known, the Fukuhi and the Mishin dominating the scene. Here was Wariya who was standing in charge. In hopes of having order return to the city, which has always been such a place. A place where girls were often trafficked, sold to geigi houses or to become prostitutes. Valuable items were sold, especially when they were banned. And many force to turn to these means as a child.
Making it impossible to escape having done wrong, no matter how they tried to avoid the law. Often known for its harshness, unfairness. Being a Samurai was more than enough as a ticket, they were often asked to commit suicide instead of losing their head. If one entered, they rarely had the fortune to escape.
Masami kept her hand on the hilt of her blade, almost anticipating being stolen from. Neither wore any hats, Yuki had opened her parasol with their strong advice that it wasn't just a good idea. It was the best she could make. The more foreign she was, the more likely she drew attention.
Masami drew far less, but she was wary. Let them think that it was just a shy girl, or they were escorting a Geisha or a proprietress on her way to an auction. Turning his eyes to the west, which was where anyone will have expected a port city. The best place for it to have begun.
With a final glance as he stepped into the port city, ready to await for her arrival. Fukusei had been nothing but the same, the need to look over his back. To have to ensure that his monies were well hidden if anything. And for once to have to show his short sword. Which was rare if anything.
Masami kept a simple dagger in her side as well as dressing in simple drabs that looked as though it had been patched together. And he made more of an effort to dress down here, No point in making his life difficult as well. Yuki kept herself in a far better pink kimono, although managing to convince her not to wear one with embroidery. Although convincing her to stand a feet away from them has failed. Since she was as close as possible to them. He looked up, mentioning she was in the vessel named Susanoo. Which was nowhere in sight, at least in the way that he could have seen it.
Knowing that ships were rarely on time had been a nice bonus, which made waiting a lot easier. Since their previous experience sufficed as well, because of the fear of piracy around. If anything, that was certainly something to be wary off.
"What are you doing here?"
He turned around to see Hajime, dressed better than usual. In blue kosode and hakama, but was made of better silk than before. Doing the same thing all did, wait. He was holding a letter, and looking around the port while sticking to a few locations. If anything, this was his best but simple enough to keep their eyes elsewhere.
All merchants here often kept a guard on the side, and they were both the richest and considered the lowest amongst all of them in terms of their social standing. Discounting the Samurai who were both.
He wasn't here before, that much was clear from the way that he handled himself when he made his appearance here. Clueless as to where to wait or see the ships. Clear, although they didn't dare nearly much better either. Since even they struggled to know where it was going to land at the end of the day.
"So, are you looking for a girl who is the same age as me?" He asked, taking a seat on one of the cargo box. While a man came to stop them, he passed him a coin. Indicative that he wanted to take it.
Kazuho did the same, and tipped another man for four boxes. And he was more than happy to ignore it. Masami did the same, while Yuki still hid leaving the last box empty.
"Should be a year younger." Kazuho mentioned, since she always made the effort to extort money from him in the form of expensive gifts as a result of lost bets. The same applied to him when he was hosting, and expected an expensive gifts.
"She was about to turn fifteen next month." Yuki mentioned appearing out of nowhere, which Hajime raised an eyebrow. Since all they saw had been a girl in a kimono under a parasol. But he knew it, since Yuki was a frequent visitor of the inn.
"You know her?" He lifted up her parasol, to stare at the same man. She smashed it right into him. He managed to jump away from it. With the box being destroyed. Kazuho threw another coin to the man, who stared awed at a woman who managed to destroy cargo using a rather stylish parasol.
"On the short side, black hair, with a wicked sense of humor, brilliant mind, and plenty of guts." She gazed in admiration and affection, forgetting what Hajime did. Hajime looked the other side, while trying to have Kazuho absorb the cost. He rolled his eyes, expecting it.
"Did it nail the description?'" The boy didn't answer. Perhaps that was a sign that it resembled his cousin in that sense. Kazuho could see that if it was otherwise, he will have mocked her. But he didn't mostly because it had to be correct.
"So, I take it that I'm correct." She gave a big grin, rubbing it in his face.
While he focused back onto the letter, giving her the moment of victory. Where she basked in glory which made also no sense. He looked at the plain letter, noticing a small change in the paint at the bottom. Different from the texture of paper. He took it out, revealing a miniature.
"So, it was attached separately?" He looked baffled at this. Although curious as to what sort of family he grew up in because if anything, if he could read and write fluently it was a surprise. Now that he thought of it, the boy had green eyes which was a note. While the handwriting was familiar, in a way that he has seen it before.
He reached for the letter inside, remembering that he burned it as soon as he could. There was no way he could compare the handwriting now. At least in a way that will have confirmed it. Since the girl inside had been a portrait, was still deceivable. He still had his doubts, although she had stated clearly. But he wasn't so certain neither did he want to believe it until he has seen it. It could be an awful coincidence.
"Also, does she have someone who's an artist." He showed Kazuho a picture of her, which Kazuho could see was a miniature of her sitting, looking to the viewer. She held a small fan, dressed in a long black dress. The dress was wide, and clearly not a kimono. It wasn't a portrait in their style, as it was clear due to how it was drawn. Almost lifelike, and clearly vivid. He looked at it, knowing that this will have taken time to add on.
But he knew her, for Hajime he was certain it was because of curiosity if nothing else.
"Yes, although I don't know whether he's following her on this trip. He's not an artist, it's a hobby for him." Kazuho answered from his knowledge at the very least. This was one of his best works, although he was drawing it for a specific reason as compared to just taking a picture. Instead of being purely abstract and just showing what he thought, which earned more stares and questioning his mind than anything else.
"I could have sworn that this was made by one." Hajime mentioned as he took a closer look at the miniature. He wondered whether it was meant for him as Hajime will not have seen it, neither will he have went to such means as well. This was his cousin, as long he was addressed properly he will not have looked to much into it. He doubted he knew she will have attached something.
"So this was the secret, I shouldn't have begun to look through the parcel she sent instead of the letter." While for a moment, he looked at the letter again.
"Only someone who knows me will notice this."
Well, was she hoping that he might stumble onto someone who was knowledgeable in this as compared to just having it be kept a secret. With miniature and a riddle that will have boggled almost anyone except the one who has seen this before.
"If you're thinking of a fifteen year old artist." He sighed, it seemed who he dreaded has finally made her appearance. She was dressed in a light lavender kimono, although paired with darker tones of purple and indigo, there was no embroidery in the kimono either. Her hair was tied into a low ponytail with a white paper ribbon. While she focused on Kazuho, as he was uncomfortable since he brought nothing to gamble with her.
She waved towards Hajime, confirming that she was his cousin. Well, it was too alike and a clue that almost no one else will have noticed except him. Although he doubted she was certain they will have crossed paths. It must have been a guess on most part.
"So, you know this people?" Hajime asked. Now that he mentioned it, they were cousins. He could see some resemblance, in their mannerisms and behaviours. And he seemed accepting of it as well, since Kazuho saw something he did not even really guess.
She nodded, while looking around them. Even spending a moment behind the boxes, with Hajime just raising an eyebrow. Before coming back.. "Although one is missing."
"He didn't want to come for entirely legitimate reasons."
"I understand that." She gave a knowing smile.
"Did you take him along?" Kazuho looked around. For the boy he was expecting, someone who always followed her, join in on her ideas. But all around someone with an equally sharp mind as well.
"Yes, he's carrying our belongings." He looked up, left and right. Hopefully, finding him first will have been a good idea. Only to find himself, looking at trunks being thrown down. He tapped the soldier of Masami.
Masami dragged Kazuho, Yuki ran as fast as she could holding out her parasol widely. Hajime did the same, and took refuge behind Yuki. The girl stood in the middle, not even seemingly worried.
As the objects from above revealed to be two trunks. Followed by a boy who jumped off the ship. His blue hair was short, although with bangs long enough to cover his face, dressed in a blue kosode paired with hakama tucked into socks and a straw hat.
"What is wrong with you?" Hajime went forward, Kazuho did hope that he had enough sense to at least be scolding him. "Why didn't I meet you sooner?"
He grabbed the boy by the sleeve, holding it. While the boy who jumped was even more puzzled. Kazuho wondered whether all the people he met had sanity issues, discounting Masami.
"Aren't you afraid that your things are broken?" Masami asked, an obvious question when it was thrown off a ship.
"It's all just clothes, so no worries." She smiled, certain that nothing was broken. "He carried all the art supplies by hand, and I carried my jewellery."
Although it was clear she was carrying nothing. With no sack around her soldiers, but he knew that she didn't have a lot in the first place. Or he was wrong, seeing that the box leaned in her haori pocket.
"So, what's your name again?" He looked at her.
"Shino." She answered.
"Kisuke." He chimed in.
"Hajime." He bowed to them. While Shino tried a curtsy, but failed because a kimono was not large enough to allow it. Kisuke had been tempted to just shake it, but also did a bow. While he kissed Yuki's hand. She took pleasure in the fact, while Hajime simply stared. And the same went for Masami, while he was still coming to terms with the fact.
While Shino did a bow, not expecting the same of him. "I'm not wearing a ring, so it isn't important."
"Aren't you cousins?" Kazuho asked. Common sense told him that they will have known their names. Although they were far from normal.
"We called each other by nicknames, his for me was Equal, while mine for him had been Hurricane." That had been expected, since they were not noble families which made etiquette an important part of their life.
"That sounds so good, much better than mine ever was." Yuki came up to her.
"Come on, Aneue is waiting." Hajime told his cousin, while she nodded.
"Can they follow? They're with me as well." She mentioned it although it was valid, since she did know them as well. "I don't want to go through the trouble of locating them as well."
Kazuho nodded and agreed, and Masami and Yuki couldn't disagree with it.