The moment they reached the inn itself, with Kazuho mostly behind her. Despite all his questions to her, he had kept quiet the moment they left the shop. She knew that he will not ask her if they were outside neither will she give him any clue. Even as he ran through all the possibilities.
But one thing was for certain: Shino must have met her at some point. Whether it was before he left or after was crucial, but both will do rather well. But most important of them all was why she chose to embark on this trip in the first place. It will not because of kindness, that was incredibly foolish. But he knew there was more of a reason behind it.
To go through almost two weeks of sea voyage, just to do this was a little too much for anyone. Even more so when it came to Shino, as it was not even for someone she particularly liked. Sure she preferred his company because he could keep up with her, and never judged her. But both of them were never really friends with the other, she thought it more of a rivalry while he saw it as tolerating her.
When they entered the inn, the first thing they did have in mind was to go to the room.
"I'll be having a drink down here." Even as it was far from a good excuse, they took it. He went up to their room, where he closed the door and locked it.
Shino kept her silence, giving him the signal that he will have to pry it out of her mouth. And that only when he asks she will answer. She took a seat down.
"How did you even get the picture?"
"Well, I received it." The picture was on the table, as though it had served its purpose.
"From whom?"
"The woman." He glared at her, she didn't give any hint to show whether she was smug about this or even at all.
"Who was she?"
"Her sister." If anything he was trying his best to be vague around answers as well.
"Whose sister?" She gave a smirk to him, with no intention of making it any easier. He rolled his eyes.
"Rin's sister. You know me well, I won't tell unless you ask the right questions." He knew that she also choosing not answer was entirely possible as well. But this was about as helpful as not answering.
"How did you meet her? And when was it?" Deciding to make it more specific after how she treated him to vague answers for such a long time.
"She came to your house looking for you, a week after you left." That was reasonable by all means. The picture wasn't of that much use to her, as it was a woman who had never truly lived in the country in the first place.
"Then why did you came here?"
She gave a shrug. "I'm not a criminal but I'll humor you. I had other intentions but nothing to do with this country and you."
"That's good enough." He walked to the door and unlocked it. Before he went out, intending to piece all of it together. He didn't need anything else, even if he had no clue where to even begin looking for Rin. Even with her clan, he still got the feeling that it was unlikely to be related.
She did not chase him at all, not finding the need to at any point as well. Hajime followed in the moment he left, while Kazuho went out to the hallways.
But Rin was like any other girl, she did not do anything remarkable that will have left her in the memory of many. And despite spending years here, she likely took on another identity as it was. And she covered her tracks, not to mention was low key in the first place.
For once, maybe approaching the innkeeper might give him a better idea as to search during this city. He was not nearly as familiar as he was before, and things have changed quite a bit here. And at worst, he will have nothing to base upon.
He knocked on her door and opened it. She looked at him in surprise.
"Kazuho." The old lady called him. "Are you asking me about something?"
Clear that it was because of how he was acting, something that even without years of seeing him she could see. "Yes."
"You are seeking someone, aren't you?"
"I'm looking for a girl."
"If anything, she arrived in this city first before heading to Okiban." He wasn't lying about it either, clear that this was her first destination. This was a good place to stop by, and not subjected to the whims of the Shogun. As Shoguns only toured this place but was not their personal residence, nor were they scrutinized for their ships.
"She didn't come alone."
"I know." He knew that for a young girl to even be allowed to do this, there had to be someone who was with her. "It was a man she considered her elder brother. He should be around twenty during that time."
"Not much more than a child, the same way you are."
"Do you know anything?"
"Not much, but I put such a pair before who visited the Saitou household very often. And vice versa with the Daimyo visiting her."
Kazuho's jaw opened. "Are you serious?"
She gave a nod. "Where is the place?"
"On the richer district, and a little abandoned but it's still there."
For once in his life, all he felt was that he was an idiot. Before he regained his composure. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it." Before he left her room.
"Now that's priceless. I really should have brought one of those things to capture this moment, or Kisuke to make this eternal." Shino's laughter was heard throughout most of the halls, and in a way that many will rather not remember. And most of the guests wonder whether there was a mentally unstable person here. As much as he knew that she overheard it.
"I kind of feel bad for you." He was almost about to burst out laughing, letting him wonder which was worse. Choosing to laugh out loud or fake keeping it in.
He went out the door to his own room, before thinking about his next move and hoping to escape being the talk of the inn. And in a way to forget that Shino and Hajime will be having a great time spreading this.
But now he could begin looking, and the Saitou household was their option.
If anything, these three were a terror to bring out. Masaki was naive and the main reason why they were going in the first place so losing him will mean the entire thing becoming moot, and Kisuke who was good in the streets but at the same time incredibly clueless. As for Yuki, she will have appreciated her more if she made her conversations around trying to keep her sane not about things that she was finding. But of all of them, she was the wisest and also the oldest. Although only by a month or so when compared to Kisuke.
But still, this brought her to unknown places. Which she did not know much about, and relying on her sense to get her around. Which she knew she had to use all of it to keep them out of trouble as well. Again, which meant that she will have to look around. Keeping an eye of them through each street they were on had became all but necessary.
This did seem to have gotten nowhere. As they were looking for a district which was hidden was rather futile. Since they were meant to be hidden from plain sight in the first place, which made it hard to find. And made her wonder whether it will be luck that got her there or not.
"Are you lost?" A boy looked at her. He was a little tall, dressed simply with a headband and carrying a blade. As though he was a part of the Wariya and yet he was not. Much like a Samurai even if he was a little young.
"I'm kinda lost."
"Maybe I can help you." If anything, she was willing to take anyone's help in directions at this point.
"Yes, do you know where is the Saitou household?"
"That's where my sister works. So sure." Before he took her there, she for once had seen the possibility of her returning home a lot earlier than she expected. If anything, she thought that she might have "I'll lead the way."
Before they merely followed grateful for the chance to get out of here which seemed debatable after they went from street to street looking for directions. While it was obvious Masaki had not known his house very well, or even where it was located. Which she expected the moment she saw his clothes, since almost no noble in their right mind will be here.
Not since the death of the Shogun in a successful assassination.
But they were her for a reason, even if she is not inclined to know what.
"Who is your sister?"
"Kaede."
"The servant which serves Aneue." Mutsu gave a nice smile, which he returned. In a way that she did not understand, nor did she want to either.
"What a coincidence." Masami kept herself from rolling her eyes at this. If anything she knew that this was another boy who will likely make a friend, even as they were still nowhere close and the sun was beginning to set.
"Well, maybe I can visit." Masami glares at her in return.
"Maybe on my own." Before she took a step away from her, deciding to keep the umbrella for herself. If anything she was quite close to checking herself out of the hotel and trying to look for Kazuho.
"So, what's Kaede like there?"
"I don't know, I don't really see her that often."
"Just like me. Since she started work there, I don't see her that often either."
"It's been several days since I was separated from Shino." She merely wondered whether she should just run from this trio. In a very very serious manner of consideration.
"We're almost there." He looked at the place with familiarity, although at the outside there was a man wearing a hat. Although a little on the short side, at least from what she has seen.
"Wakatono-sama." Upon closer look it was clear that it was a woman, with her hair tied into a low ponytail. Dressed in dark colors and wearing a pair of gloves. She carried a short sword with her, a little unusual given the choice. "Where have you been?"
He refused to give the clue.
"Thank you for bringing him back with us." They both looked the other in the eye, she kept her hands clenched tightly.
"It's not much."
"Do you know Kaede?" The boy asked her.
"Do you have business with her?"
"I'm Mutsu, her brother." She gave a small deadpan before bringing him in.
"Onee-san." He ran inside.
"Thanks for bringing him here." Masami looked at Kaede. Who was wearing a plain blue kimono, with long hair around her mid back. Although she didn't seem all that happy in the first place.
With it they turned around and left, with the sun setting. And in the perfect location to watch it. Masami simply stared all the way through.
"Anything wrong?" Yuki tapped her shoulder. Since Masami was staring at the sky for too long. In a way that seemed a little strange.
"At least it's over." She gave a sigh, that it was at least over for her. Yuki merely raised her eyebrow at her behaviour. Kisuke joined in as well, by her side as he looked at her.
"Kisuke, come by my house tomorrow." If Junri is curious, she will choose to let her see for herself. Now all she wanted to do was return home and get herself a bath.
There was no other need of a word to suggest that they will need to go home. It was something that was understood that it was all but necessary.