Chapter 17: Matters of State

The clan's sets plans into motion.

The next morning the young warrior rose from the soft tatami he slept upon. Fuyukaze pushed himself to his feet and washed himself carefully from the basin in his room and dressed himself in two layers of kimono, the inner a light gray while the outer was a bright red with a pattern of white squares. The young warrior carefully took up his swords and placed them reverently in his red obi and rose carefully to his feet. He hurried to his sister's room but curiously found the door open.

“Sister?” Fuyukaze said with uncertainty. He looked into the doorway, waiting several moments for an answer before searching within. His sister was no where to be found. He searched through the castle curiously, before a servant motioned him to one of the meeting rooms.

When he opened the door he found his sister in conversation with Lord Akamine himself, kneeling upon his dais with another samurai. This man was easily a man in his fifties, his shoulders were broad and he held a cup of tea with his large calloused hands. He wore a plain light blue kimono that clung to his form as if it were a size too small. He turned from his position and regarded the young man with a cold stare.

“I don't think there are chances of the Ameji conflict rekindling, they are afraid of our strength of arms and though they were victorious during the conflict against the Gorosei this spring they still took losses. It would be a foolish move to act now.” Miyuki said plainly glancing at her brother for just a moment.

Akamine just ignored his nephew, focusing on the conversation “Yes, however, with the talk of invasion we will be asked to contribute forces to the attack. If the shogun asks for a disproportionate number of men compared to the Ameji, the Goshiro be at risk.”

A hot flush of shame burned over Fuyukaze's face as he looked around the room, there were two men kneeling against the wall. A man in brown just stared expressionlessly at the wall, the second however dressed in yellow and white let a slight smile cross his face and lifted a kimono clad hand and pointed to the floor next to him.

“The Goshiro would provide an excellent buffer against attack from the south, but we are investing quite a bit into a house without proven loyalty.” Miyuki's words were careful as she glanced again at her brother.

With that Fuyukaze bowed low to the assembly and hurried to the spot where the man in yellow pointed and knelt down quickly. Staring at the floor with his eyes wide, not remembering anyone speak of an early morning meeting. He just gulped and looked up trying to stare at the wall but ended up glancing at the dais, finding that man still staring at him coldly.

Akamine nodded and smiled a bit “yes it is, perhaps the Goshiro are unworthy of the men we invest upon their borders but it is our shows of generosity and strength that will teach the next generation to trust in the Taeshimo as their overlords. After all, they are our vassals now, and the treatment of our vassals is how all clans judge our worth. Remember that Miyuki, in our treatment of others are we judged.”

The man in blue took a sip of his tea and waiting for a break in the conversation “This I take is your nephew Lord Akamine-sama?” He said glancing at the daimyo with a slight smile.

Akamine glanced at the youth and nodded. “Yes, my nephew. He is to be acting as yojimbo to his sister and assist within winter court in Hikyo this year.”

The man nodded with a slight smile “I see, I would never question your choices my lord. But if he were in one of my battle-lines I would place him with several veterans because he strikes me as an idiot who doesn't have the slightest idea of what is going on around him.”

Akamine paused and glanced at the man, a slight hint of a smile on his face. “That might be correct Kaiten-san, I trust your judgment in others abilities. However when we were both young you said the only way to make a green soldier into a regular was through experience, did you not?”

Kaiten laughed softly “Yes, though I remember quite a few young inexperienced idiots died in those days.” He looked to Miyuki “You're right in your judgment, I think we are investing a bit too much in the Goshiro as well. But if they give us more warriors to our service in twenty years *brain fart, is that right?*then in twenty years our clan will be that much stronger.”

Akamine just looked to his niece and his Hatamoto Kaiten curiously “Both of you then. I thought my intentions were reasonable.” He chuckled, softly rubbing at his chin looking to his niece “I would have thought having brokered the peace yourself you would appreciate my work. You did well speaking with the Ameji general and taking the Goshiro garrison and placing it without our borders. It gave the Ameji no choice but to start a war they could not win or to withdraw.” He then turned to Kaiten “It was victory without a single clansmen lost.”

Kaiten chimed in “but now the Ameji want both us and the Goshiro dead. They are willing to ally with others. Your victory will be complete if we keep the peace for twenty years to gather the fruit of our investment.” 

“Well we can only hope fortune favors us then, now we must turn to matters at hand. Kaiten, I will send you with my niece to represent the Taeshimo house for winter court. You will follow her envoy after you check over the defenses of Shiro Goshiro and prepare them for my arrival. They will understand my absence as I will be staying the winter in the Goshiro lands to show our support for our new vassals. Your goals are to make sure the Taeshimo contribution for the spring invasion are modest and to make sure my niece is chosen as the wife for the next Emperor. You may use whatever you deem necessary to accomplish these goals.”

Kaiten straightened as he was given the order, the man bowing to his master. “Of course my lord, it will be done.”

Then Akamine turned to Miyuki “Good, do you understand what is asked of you Miyuki.”

The young woman straightened herself before bowing “I do uncle, I will not fail.”

Akamine smiled “I know you both shall not, now* begin the preparations for your journey. I wish you both good fortune in your tasks.”