"Onee-san," a man in a black suit greeted the young woman as he opened the car door for her.
Saki nodded to acknowledge him as she bent down to enter the car.
"Onee-san, should we take you to your apartment?" the driver asked her as the other man closed her door and moved to take his seat at the front passenger's side.
Saki shuddered as she remembered the events that happened last night. She didn't think she was ready to go back there yet.
She recalled the conversation that had just taken place inside Hunter's mansion and she wondered how much her family knew about this matter.
She sighed. A long talk with her uncle seemed overdue. Time to hear his side of the story. She crossed her arms over her chest.
"Take me to the Main House."
"As you wish," the driver replied while the other one radioed their companions in the other cars about their destination.
Like a perfect logarithmic sequence, the fleet of cars began to move one by one, maintaining a constant distance in between them.
Saki absentmindedly stared past the window, her mouth forming a frown.
Mad was an understatement for what she was feeling right now. She felt deceived and betrayed. She felt taken advantage of.
How dare they?! To go as far as forcing her to agree to an arranged marriage for a few measly scrolls!
The cars passed through a pair of huge, majestic gates made of intricately wrought iron which marks the entrance to the Homura estate.
The Main House refers to the residence of the current head of the Homura family, her uncle, Sadao Homura. It is a traditional Japanese mansion which features a courtyard garden in the center of the building.
Saki's car arrived at the Main House's driveway and the bodyguard immediately got out of the car and opened her door.
She was greeted with a bow by an old man wearing a samue.
"Ojou-sama," he replied politely. "The Master is waiting for you in the study."
"And Oniichan?"
"The young master is out on business."
"Thank you."
Saki entered the mansion and walked straight across the courtyard to her uncle's study.
"Uncle, it's me," she called outside the door.
The screen door was opened by a well dressed man in his fifties. Saki can't help but notice his enormous hands as he holds the door for her. It reminded her of bamboo; supple but strong like steel. She imagines him on a warrior's kimono and a sword and the image fits more than the suit and tie. He squinted his eyes at her when he noticed her studying him and when she smiled, he stood ramrod straight and avoided her gaze.
Sadao was sitting behind a low table looking over a folder in his hand. Saki's uncle was old-fashioned in a sense that he liked wearing yukatas at home.
Saki noticed that her uncle was unusually formal. This, in itself, is a statement.
His uncle already knew why she was here and therefore telling her to tread carefully.
This told her more than the words her uncle would have said and it infuriated her.
The placating hand added fuel to her fire, so to speak, and she almost forgot protocol.
"Control your emotions first then we speak," Sadao said calmly.
"Interesting choice of words, Uncle," Saki decided to cut to the chase and prevented any more bullshit her uncle might have concocted.
"Then you know. Why did you come? You should have understood our motives already," Sadao said sternly.
"Understanding the principle does not mean understanding the methods, Uncle." Saki gripped the edge of Sadao's table.
The old man did not allow Saki to notice his quick glance to the slightly blackened edge of the table where Saki's fingers were. He sighed deeply to allow himself more time for a more suitable reply. This is not the time to push Saki further.
"You were not a pawn, if that implication is what angered you," Sadao decided to meet Saki's directness.
"Oh, you don't know half of it, Uncle. I'm not yet half as mad as I think I ought to," Saki looked him directly in the eye.
"Do not challenge me, Saki," Sadao bristled.
"Then do not patronize me," Saki said between clenched teeth.
"Alright, maybe it is time you are told the truth. I was waiting for the right time but now is as good as any," Sadao lowered his voice and that seemed to have calmed Saki a little.
Sadao inwardly rued that Saki was this contentious but at the same time also felt proud. The steel in this fiery girl would be useful in the future.
"You already know of the scrolls we hold. Your cousin knows more but the general content is more or less our religion," began Sadao.
"We have tried to decode them over the centuries and of the incomplete information we have gleaned, part of it is the fated meeting with the Fox"
Saki remembered Hunter and his foxlike smile and her blood boiled once again.
"Try as we might, we have not fully understood until Hunter approached us with an offer. We thought it was an opportunity to be able to infiltrate their organization and gain at least a tactical advantage not to mention a chance to be able to learn what our family has in connection with the wolves. You were not an incidental here Saki. In fact, you were central to it but we did not know how to break it to you in a more appropriate manner. Things have escalated quicker than we expected," Sadao patiently explained.
"Escalated?" Saki's eyebrow dangerously shot up.
"We merely wanted you to be acquainted at the very least and if you managed to grow closer, then marriage would not really be out of the question," Sadao said lamely.
"You knew they wanted our scrolls?" Saki asked.
"We wanted theirs. It was not a secret that our deal was to be mutually beneficial," Said Sadao matter-of-factly.
"What if I told you they wanted more?" she tested Sadao's depth of understanding of the situation. This is the crucial part. If her uncle answered wrong, there will be chaos.
"There was no more to be had, except information and a little political equilibrium," Sadao carefully began then his eyes bulged in recognition. That reaction was all Saki needed.
"You don't mean…?" Sadao's eyes blazed.
"Somehow they knew about the flame, Uncle. This was not a simple political arrangement. They somehow plotted for our annihilation," Saki confirmed Sadao's statement.
"They couldn't have. Unless there is a traitor in our midst. And even then, how did you arrive at that conclusion, Saki?" Sadao's emotions are in deadly conflict.
"They were not hesitant to put me in danger. In fact, they almost killed me," Saki said as emotionless as she wanted but her tone only put more emphasis on the implication of her words.
"Hunter and I had a deal. I was to pull away our men guarding you and in return, he guaranteed your safety," Sadao clenched his fists in fury.
"You trusted the wrong person, Uncle, and obviously, you did not care enough to verify first," Saki hotly admonished.
"I'm sorry Saki but you were wrong in that assumption. They were never really that far. That is why they were able to come to you that quick," Sadao mollified her.
"Not quick enough, uncle," Saki countered..
"What really happened, Saki?" Sadao was suddenly feeling drowned in the enormity of what Saki informed him.
"I was in a different world, Uncle. I almost died and for all intents and purposes, I thought I did. This is no longer about political gains. Hunter mentioned a key and with what happened back there, I'd say he would stop at nothing to get them. He was never interested in marriage; he wanted to use me to open dimensional gates," Saki was almost in tears. Her fury carried over to Sadao and the old man barked an order to his assistant who was just behind the door.
"Hiroshi, summon the heads. The wolves will find out they bit more than they can chew," Sadao looked at Saki with sympathy and his rage welled up higher.