Creating Conflict

A crisp cool morning introduced itself late compared to the meeting already happening. Seiji and Nerine gathered together with Yumi around a non-descript room tucked away within the city of the Nakanoi domain. Yumi lived out it mostly even though it was Nerine that made the arrangements for the lodging.

All that the room contained was a desk and a folded set of blankets where the two women rested. It kept it easy for them to move if needed with all of the spies running about the city and region now. They had significantly disrupted things with only a week in the city and ten days into the budgeted time from Aya.

Yumi remained aware of the time at each moment and focused on capitalizing on the strongest moves that she could play. Which caused no end of calculations for her. In a way, it was sort of refreshing to be out from underneath the reach of Aya. Before anything she had done and ideas she formed, ran through Aya and became hers in the end. This independence from her would be good and start to bridge that terrible gap.

She stirred her green tea a little with a rotation of the cup in her hands. “How are we progressing, Seiji?”

“The kid’s being brought in today for questioning. Several backers have already switched sides. I’ve had three more approach me yesterday. Tensions are getting pretty bad in there.”

Taking a sip, she nodded, lining up the intel in her mind quickly as everything checked out. Things had been progressing well, if anything it felt a little too good. She had made back up plans, but the intel was solid and what she knew accurate. So it should play out just how she envisioned, she just tried not to get ahead of herself. “That puts the majority of the court in your pocket now. Making our next moves will be pretty easy then.”

She looked over to Nerine. “Did the other make his move?”

“Yes, he can’t move his main forces as it would be too obvious, so he’s sending out scouts and small squads on training routines.”

“Trying to amass an advanced force before he gets approval. The two are going to be at their throats soon at this rate.”

“Passing movements around between them will be quick.”

“Good, we can’t have them wiping out the army that we’re going to be acquiring because of their pettiness.” Drinking more of her tea, she returned to Seiji. “How’s the old man doing?”

“He’s still pretty strong despite how he talks, he’s probably got a few years left in him unless some disease hits him. He trusts me so when the time comes there shouldn’t be any issues. Isn’t this all going too quickly?”

“It would have taken a lot longer if it wasn’t for your established position and Aya likely wouldn’t have approved it. We don’t have the luxury of a long game.”

“I know, just seems like something’s going to happen to ruin everything.”

“I’ve foreseen how things will play out. It’s on the right course.” She presented a strong face for him. Despite how everything had been going, Seiji still had concerns about the success. Yumi knew that he believed in her, but he just felt that reality would kick in eventually or perhaps karma. Though Aya probably had more kicked back than her at this point. Either way, she kept her stance before him.

Chapter 543 – Creating Conflict

Seiji stretched a little and looked towards the door. “Unless there’s anything else you want to discuss I need to make it back before they miss me.” Unlike the two of them, he lived on the estate grounds under the arm of the old man. Since the Nagahama family had no grounds present, they had nothing prepared for him. In time, they would make arrangements for him to have his own home as benefiting his rank as a Lord. Though they didn’t know that there wouldn’t be enough time for that to occur.

“No, you’re safe to return.”

He stood up and smoothed out his clothes a little before making his way to the door. A quick tilt back to them, he checked on both to see if there was any sort of unguarded reaction to read, nothing. “Stay safe. I’ll be off.”

Once he left the room, Nerine looked closely at Yumi. “He’s not going to be happy about the end of this.”

“I’m not thrilled about it either, but I can live with a single death to see this come together. It’ll still be far cleaner than anything Aya would have put together. Besides, he’s aware that it’s necessary sometimes.”

“Then why haven’t you told him the rest of the plan?”

“Keeping things compartmentalized. You’re not aware of everything happening either Nerine.” She gave Yumi a knowing nod, though it was true that Nerine knew most of the plan. Some parts Yumi kept to herself. She didn’t have the same sort of pull that Nerine did at the moment, but that wouldn’t stay the same.

She finished her tea and returned to the desk where her papers were spread out. “I believe you have things to do as well.”

“That I do. I’ll be on my way as well. You probably won’t see me for two days.”

“Understood. This stage is important to make sure everything is aligned.”

“It’ll be done.” Had this been something a little more akin to the first world, Nerine would have just vanished mysteriously, but she merely walked the room. It still impressed Yumi everything that she succeeded in doing. Even though she had just been acting like an observer during the time she came to Japan, all of that changed now. Perhaps it was her time with Seiji, but she was completely committed to playing an active role with the group. Though she could probably still do to loosen up a little, she fit in surprisingly well and found a comfortable spot.

Perhaps a little too comfortable, if she was trying to lecture Yumi on the actions she took. But Yumi valued her as part of the team. It was a little surprising to imagine considering the betrayal by Eudokia and the tensions with the Atlanteans that someone trusted as deeply as her. Though it wasn’t as though they were her enemies, only a few were and everyone was just following orders. Knowing what they went through, she felt bad for most of them.

“Time to get to work myself. I have a clan to destroy…”

At the Nakanoi Court, Seiji arrived early with some already gathered around gossiping about what happened. The hunt for Komagata had turned into much bigger news than any of them expected. Seiji had to fake some of his surprise at times to keep up the idea that he had nothing going on with family matters.

He stopped for a moment seeing one of the Captains that served in the army under Kichiro standing at attention despite looking ready to drop. Seiji turned his attention over to the young man having already had a couple conversations with him before he shipped out with everyone. “You look half dead. Run into trouble?”

“Lord Nagahama! No! Nothing at all, my Lord.” The Captain became more rigid than before not wanting to show any weakness before a superior. It looked rather painful to watch.

Seiji stepped in a little closer, keeping to a soft word. “It’s just me. I value honesty more than status. The health of the men is important.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

“Ease up a little, you look like you’re going to pass out.”

A bit of calm passed through the man seeing that Seiji wasn’t judging him. “Everyone’s exhausted. We were marching well into the night, barely getting rest and going through the mountains. I worry the men will die or desert.”

“It’s that bad? I heard rumors from down here. No wonder there was the recall. I didn’t see the men back though, did you rush out ahead of them.”

“No, that’s just us. My Lord refuses to let the men return. He’s ordered them to keep the search going while he’s here to get more time.”

Seiji crossed his arm pretending that he was in deep thought about a sudden revelation. It was partially true, but more him going over the facts against what Yumi had planned out. ‘He knew with how things were going that they’d bring him. It was supposed to be a quick hunt. Given how support for him is bleeding quickly, he’s not going to have a lot he can do. I feel bad for the men more than the arrogant kid. Though I guess if things were normal, it would have all gone smoothly.’

Dropping his arms, he reached out to the Captain and gave him a reassuring clap on the shoulder. “If things go the way they’re sounding you should all be in store for a rest soon. You served well. Remember your men.”

“Thank you, my Lord.” The man leaned in closely to Seiji even while his eyes darted around the courtyard. “Don’t tell anyone, but the men wish that you were leading them. They’ve all heard stories about you.”

He squeezed a little on the Captain’s shoulder as a silent nod to him. “I certainly tried, but it’s out of my hands. Perhaps the future will look better after this.”

“You’ll have everyone’s support.”

Seiji gave him one last appreciative squeeze and pulled away. From the outsider’s view, he would just look like he was giving support or encouraging a soldier, given his position, it wouldn’t have been out of the ordinary. “Stay strong.”

“I will.”

Departing the Captain’s company, he moved on towards the chambers where the meeting with Kichiro likely would be starting or have already begun. Given that he wasn’t involved in the matter directly anymore, his presence was more ceremonial rather than required. Though he had to attend for the valuable intel that he could gather. ‘This is probably going to be a long meeting with a lot of yelling. I can’t imagine the kid taking this quietly… Hopefully it doesn’t get messy, Yumi didn’t predict anything like that, but when people get emotional you can’t really make a good guess what they’re going to do.’

Quietly, he pushed the door open with the guards nodding to him. They didn’t even make an effort to check him. It was a little weird how they just trusted him so quickly. He gave them both knowing nods back, picking out one of them as someone that he started to practice with in his spare hours after training. A good man and soldier, one that wished to be out on the front rather than using his honed talents protecting greedy men.

It wasn’t more than a few seconds entering the room that Seiji heard the eldest’s voice complaining, “I just need more time, Father! He can’t be that far!”

“You’ve had more than enough time to find Komagata, son.”

“I’m on his trail! I-I’ve got him cornered. My men are closing in on him!”

Seiji carefully walked in the shadows of the court until he reached his spot about middle on the right, still several seats from the main family. His position as the trainer of the soldiers gave him more status than others in this time of pending war. ‘Sounds like it’s been going for a bit, not missed too much.’

“Clearly, our cousin’s too much for you brother.”

“I will not have you speak to me like that!”

“The man’s a clever one. He escaped before the battle was lost even with all of the assassins within his home. You can’t use brute force to find him.”

“Coming from someone that’s trying to hide his own aggression under the guise of training. I’m not a fool, little brother.” That accusation quickly went through the room as the mood heated up quickly. It was unclear how many in the room were aware of the moves that Masahiro made. For the more corrupt, this made for an entertaining scene to watch.

Seiji watched carefully in silence as things progressed the way that Yumi wanted. The two argued for some time before the old man stepped in. Then Kichiro begged again for more time. It was getting a little tiring to watch something that he already knew how it would play out. He really wanted to fast forward to the end.

After exhausting himself in pleas, the elder of the clan spoke, “I’ve made my decision and that is final. Masahiro, I give you permission to retrieve your cousin Komagata.”

“But Father!”

A hand raised up firmly to stop him before going anymore. “Since this has been more difficult than expected I’ll allow you to continue your search as well.”