He entered inside the docks, the first place he had seen when he entered the country. When he entered Okiban for the first time. Now he was back again, although with Masami and Yuki. Mostly because Yuki was more memorable with her red hair and easier to ask a question.
Even as he continued to ask himself just why had Sasaki known. This was something that had been difficult for him to piece together, or to figure out how and why. The clue that he must have grasped was where he had come from. And his identity as Kouya. Even as he realized that the reason he had been able to piece it together was that he had told him about his father.
That his father may have been killed by Sasaki's father. Coupled with this, it was much easier to make the guess than before. And at this point, he realized that it was this was where he knew who he was. Alone they did not make sense. His mother's homeland had been too wide, and so the knowledge of who killed his father. But it was them together that allowed him to piece everything together. His mother had come from Itello peninsula and from giornatta, the city he had come from.
But still, it was not something that he could see Sasaki waste that much money on. To just get the city name and the country. That had been too much even for him to accept the price. And even more so when he was convinced that Kazuho was not after him. It had to be someone else.
Stepping down here, where he had been able to find them. The captain of the ship was around here to stock up, before leaving on his next voyage. He had been lucky to have managed to gain a glance at the records and coming down here at this point. He had to find who it was sold to in case he was dealing with someone else here. Sasaki was simple to deal with at this point.
The captain was a middle-aged man, seasoned on the wave and used to it. He had been doing trade convoys although he gained passage here using the same method. By assuming that he was here for business and he needed a passage. And that he worked for a company that Kazuho had a stake in. "What brings you here?"
"I need to see your captain." The sailor noted before leading him down, and into the navigator's room. It was a suitable place to be as it kept others from overhearing, even as he was immersed in discussing the ship's next journey.
"What ya here for?"
"Anyone who has asked you about where this ship was from." He was being clear but also vague. It was a trade between them, this was clear.
"A mysterious man who came by bringing a suitcase of cash. And bribed my subordinate into saying it." It was well known and nothing much could have been done about it when it came to it at the end of the day. And that had been how they acquired the information without much issue or even worry at the same time. It was something that no one could help.
Even as Yuki was mostly asking around outside in hopes of getting more information. She might have some success there to know more details. As it was clear that it was not the captain who had revealed it. "Thank you for the information." Even as he passed him a small piece of paper which was enough to gather money from the bank when he returned.
A good fee and he was not one to delude himself into guessing that this had been impossible to disperse. It had been relatively easy to do so and just needed one loose mouth. This was someone who was looking for any semblance of information about him, going to the extreme. Which proved him as not being Sasaki, Sasaki did have a grudge but never this sort of obsessive interest. He had not said anything which suggested that he traced him all the way back.
But he needed a description of the man to be able to know whether it was or not. Knowing the person was not enough, even if for the strategy it was the best option. There were endless possibilities but personality reduced them and made it easier to predict their next move. But with Sasaki, he could not say to have spent enough time to give a good judge on what he will undertake. Just that it was fairly unlikely he will choose to go to this extreme.
Heading out where Yuki had exchanged conversations and already spoke to most of the ship. Now she was seated upon the ledge, waiting for him. "The information was leaked by a young sailor, here is the description."
Even if it was written in rather than anything else. But it was a good thing, a clever move. It made taking this useless unless they could translate. And at the same time readable to them. Clear that she had been itching for the chance to do something and that she was rather tired of being cooped up.
There something that stood out. The fact that he wore a crest. A crest of the sword below the sun. It was the crest of the Satou, granted by the Emperor Of Kyokuhi several centuries back. The Sasaki clan had been allowed the same by the Shogun and was elevated to the status as a proper clan name. That never went out favor even till now.
"It seems that we have an enemy lurking behind our backs after all. We need to warn them." He had his answer. It had been Satou Misaki all along. While he had been focused on Sasaki, who had pursued him. And she must have been the one who told it to Sasaki, it was not a wonder that they knew each other. Ties had been established even if they both knew that they were often enemies and rarely allies. That at any point they had to take the other out.
There was a lot less on their minds when compared to everything else. When compared, all they could even think and try of at this point. Or even how they could try and attempt it at the end of the day.
"Then figure out and see whether you can turn him to your side." That made more than enough sense too. It had the merits that seemed to have made sense at this point. Where everything had come together.
She nodded, knowing just where she could try to push at the end of the day.
"Maybe we need to recruit more people."
Sachiko was now at Tatsumi's house again. It was mostly kept to informal meetings and nothing that suggested marriage yet as it was conducted in the company of his younger sister. Even as today, it was on poetry. She had not even been sure just how she could have withstood this at all. But knew that it was expected of her to attend and pay attention in it. It was courtesy.
Even as she wondered just how she could have done this without the other knowing. As such, she had taken upon herself to look through poems written in the last decade or so, which had been compiled into a collection. On this page, there was an interesting poem there. About someone waiting for a guest, a guest that had not stepped foot into Kyokuhi at all. And yet despite all, she had been born to a countryman here.
This had been by an unknown author, even as the language was far simpler. But it cut deeper than even her own thoughts. Although she remembered about Kouya and the hints that he may be that friend from a long time before. The friend that she had given up so much for. These were the things that she could only keep to herself and no one else must know.
"Sachiko?" Tatsumi came. He was dressed in a dark green kimono with a haori. His hair was still the same, even as it was clear there was some leeway to loosen it. "I didn't think that you would be preparing for this."
"It's expected that I compose a poem for this." A recital often was a competition and when it was sent to her as a letter Suzumi had asked her to do this. And to read a little before she was about to begin. And free for her to come up with something.
"Don't worry even I barely know much about it. Although today there is a little more visitors." She wondered just who was coming by. It could not have been many people, but she held her own reservations on this. Coming by had been quite a few guests. None of them really catching her eye hence she never really paid them any mind. Until she found herself staring at the one person that she had never expected to see in the first place. Isamu, who was dressed in a fine blue kimono.
It was unlike anything that she had expected or thought of. He gave a wink to her before taking his seat beside them. There were a few more, but none which caught her attention more than him. Even as she struggled to get a hand at how to approach him. But he did so of his own accord.
"It's my pleasure to meet you, Sachiko-hime."
"How did you enter?"
"I'm originally from a good clan." Even as he seemed unwilling to share his name. But was dragged by a younger man. Nothing quite like Takeru, who had been less happy and more mischievous.
"I'm Tachibana Eijiro. And this is Kujo Akitoshi." She blinked while opening her fan. Something that Suzumi said had been a useful tool if she ever felt the need to hide her own emotions. Now she found it useful as she was on the verge of laughing. So much for his ability to keep it a secret. Before he grabbed the young man by the sleeve. Not letting him go.
"I suppose it's rare for him to come here." If anything, having to work in Fukusei certainly made it hard for him to make such appearances. As it would mean having to take time off.
"You have no idea. This meeting took me months to get him to come, even though he declined until just a couple of days before this." As though it had also revealed why he had come here. Clear from the way he clenched his fist, almost close to murdering his friend. Or at least teach him a lesson that personal details should not be thrown in such a manner.
"Well, it seems that we have to work together." Before heading off and grabbing a set of papers, three brushes, and ink pots.
"Don't tell anyone about this, I'll be in debt to you."
"All right, but I get to call the favor whenever I feel it's good." He nodded, knowing that this could get embarrassing if it was leaked out. He was from a distinguished clan, and it seemed that it was a branch of the esteemed Fujiwara clan. The clan had a long tradition of providing consorts to the Emperor, with the occasional daughter of the Shogun marrying into the family.
He nodded, knowing that this favor could reach far. "Are you really reading that poetry book?"
"Yes, I'm barely educated in poetry." In which he only returned with a smile.
"Those are introductory guides and the poets here are not as good, I can pass you something better." Even as it could be said that it was a favor, but she rather not take upon it. And that he had been finding some way to get rid of this as much as possible. This was nothing damaging, she didn't enjoy poetry but she knew her way around philosophy and science. It was still of use to her even as she was going to be ridiculed for it.
Besides, the prerequisite to becoming a midaikoro wasn't always tied to such talents. They were beneficial, but at the core had been what the match brought the family. Or the Shogun was already married when he ascended, thus rendering any sort of requirements null.
"You do know that this page had been composed by a ten-year-old?"
She stared it, her eyes widening. "It didn't seem that way." It was still skillful in the style of the art.
"And in such a recital it's best if you don't emulate that style."
"Why?" Even as she had a good guess just who was it.
"It was by Tokumoto Kazuya, the nephew of the current shogun." And the cousin of Tatsumi, who also happened to be the host.
"Is this a favor?"
"No, it's just a rather useless piece of information." And that he was also doing his job while he was here. It was best not to do this as it would upset both Miyo and Tatsumi. And that he was protecting their interests and her father's by continuing this charade.
Just as Eijiro had joined them, as the session was about to start.