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"Use my charm, you mean?"

"Correct."

He said after exhaling through his nose in response to her dramatisms. He walked slowly over to a cupboard that sat in the corner of the room, and opened up the door. She observed his every movement.

He produced a thin piece of blue cloth, and tossed it to her. She jumped slightly at the sudden speed with which his arm moved, before growing embarrassed at her timidness, looking towards him to see whether he had noticed. But he was already walking back to the table, pouring himself a cup of tea from the steaming kettle, his back to her.

"What’s this?"

She questioned, holding it up, struggling to see it’s utility. It was a very small piece of cloth. Not even enough to cover a single arm.

"A veil. Use it whilst you’re observing."

"A veil?"

She questioned, frowning.

"But there is not nearly enough cloth to wrap around my head."

"No, wear it around the lower half of your face. That will be enough to disguise your appearance."

She did not look convinced, but attempted to wear it as he mentioned.

She looked up at him, having donned the veil, waiting for his evaluation.

"Good, that’ll do."

She smiled despite herself – though it was hidden by the veil. Her heart had begun to beat a little faster as she understood the implications of him asking her to use a veil.

’He doesn’t want them to know my face, so we can work together again in future.’

It made her slightly giddy, his concern for her, even if his face was still ice-cold as he continued to look toward her. She returned his gaze expectantly.

"That will be all, Isabella. I will await the success of your mission."

He shot her expectations down, by suddenly dismissing her. She would have said something in response, but he had already withdrawn a scroll form a nearby case, and was intently reading it, as though she had already ceased to exist.

"Hmph..."

She said lightly, moving to her feet, and walking toward the door, before sliding it open. She jumped slightly, seeing Shibata still standing there.

’Has she been here all this time?’

She wondered.

"Shall I escort Ishibella out, Miura-san?"

Gengyo looked up slightly, and nodded.

"Yes, please."

She looked toward Isabella.

"Please follow me, miss Isabella."

The woman in question gave once last glance back toward Gengyo, wondering whether he would bid her farewell, but he appeared to be absorbed within his task.

With a sigh, she began to walk down the stairs, followed by Shibata.

As she descended the final steps, a woman looked down on her from the second floor. She turned around and their gazes met, and both found themselves evaluating each other.

’Her chest...’

Akiko breathed in surprise. She had not expected the person Gengyo was meeting to be so attractive. She had a little more meat than she, though she still had a beautiful face – though it was difficult to tell, because a veil covered the lower half.

’Is that his woman? She’s quite the skinny thing... Though I suppose her face is not too displeasing.’

Isabella thought in turn, as Shibata opened the front door, and began to lead her down the cobbled path, back towards the gate.

Lady Akiko turned to look towards her lover, as he sat behind the same table her father had, pouring over a scroll with such intensity. She wondered why he had met with such a woman. He did not look as though he had engaged in any illicit activities... and she doubted he would have. But why else would you call in a woman of such an appearance?

She desperately wanted to trust him. But there was precious little for her to work with, as he refused to tell her anything.

She walked into the office, unnoticed by him. The room stank of that woman’s strong perfume. It was suffocating. She sat down behind him, wrapping her arms around his chest, as she put her head on his shoulder.

It was only then that he noticed her, and his cold visage melted into a smile, as though he was truly happy to see her. But a second later he returned to his task. She took no offence at that, as she was used to it by now.

His clothes still retained his own, manly scent, as she brushed her nose against him, confirming that he had not touched that woman, nor had she touched him. She lay against his back, embracing him, with a smile on her face, as she closed her eyes, contented.

A little while later, Shibata walked passed, and their gazes met. Her loyal maid shook her head, reassuring her that nothing had happened between Gengyo and that woman.

Shibata and she had got on for so long, and even though she now served a new master, she was Akiko’s loyal maid until the end. And, so that her lady might rest a little easier, she had stayed outside of the office, just to make sure that nothing had occurred.

But by now Akiko already knew that herself, and she felt lucky.

’Oh, Tadakata, sorry for doubting you... You’re working so hard for us, I know... and I’m grateful. I swear to trust you in future, okay?’

She promised as she clung to him. Though he said nothing, and his focus was entirely glued to the Seventh Scroll of Strategy, her company also gave him comfort. Her warmth against his back, and the gentleness of her touch was enough to calm any tension that he felt, and it allowed his stress to leak out.

He was a brilliant man, she reckoned. She had not met anyone as intelligent as he. But despite that, he still worked harder than anyone else. It was almost unfair to anyone who dared to compete with him. She knew how he struggled since the death of her father. She knew it was difficult for him to continue, but the security she felt from his presence was irreplaceable, and she was so glad to have him.

It was the same for the others too. In his promise to bring them forward, they had placed their hopes, and were able to continue because of it. All the men of the 11 survivors did not remain idle. They trained, working through their injuries, waiting for the day that the call would come.

She kissed him on the cheek as she stood up and left, sparing him a smile as she closed the door after her.

Jikouji had been gone for a number of days, and Gengyo expected him to return any time soon. The villagers had not yet been informed of the task that would be asked of them, but no doubt they would not refuse. They had remained almost idle in these weeks, due to the majority of the work being done. And when you were as poor as they, you would not dare refute the prospect of earning more money.

...

...

As soon as she left the gates of the Miura mansion, Isabella mounted her horses in front of the two female guardsmen, flaunting all that she had in a narcissistic attempt to make them jealous. It, of course, succeeded.

She rode straight toward port town where her mission would be carried out. She had nothing else planned, and in truth, the feeling of moving forward with direction was comforting. She had grown to despise the suffocating feeling of directionlessness that had assaulted her as of late, and despite Miura’s coldness, she was glad to have gone.

Her veil fluttered lightly in the wind as she rode, and she found herself growing rather fond of it. The cloth still retained the old smell of the cupboard, and that wafted up into her nostrils, and she found that to be extremely pleasant.

By the time she arrived, it was already dark, and she – not for the first time in recent days – made her bed amongst the trees of a forest. And as the temperature dropped, and she felt a shiver pass through her body, she comforted herself with the thought that this would not be forever. Soon she would be able to walk where she pleased, and sleep where she liked, without fear for danger.

Back in the mansion around this time, Isabella had become quite the hot topic – Togashi told Gengyo as much, as they sat in the bathhouse together.

"Is she really your woman, Miura-san?"

Gengyo made a pained expression, as though he could not imagine anything worse. That was more than enough an answer for Togashi.

"I thought as much... But people really do love to talk, huh?"

"Aye. I’m just grateful that Akiko did not take in any of the misunderstandings."

"I thought the two of you were already married..."

Togashi mentioned embarrassedly, recalling the conversation he had with Jikouji, after which he had been utterly humiliated.

"So did I."

Gengyo said seriously, his face portraying no hint of emotion. Togashi stared at him a few seconds before bursting out laughing, realizing it was a joke.

"Haha. How are you coping with your wounds, Togashi?"

Togashi looked down at his own body in response. It was bare, apart from the towel around his waist.

"They’re getting better. Still a bit stiff, but I can’t really complain – I’m lucky to be alive."

Had anyone walked in on them bathing, then it would have taken quite the hardened warrior not to be startled by their appearances. The amount of scars they had was horrific. Togashi had his from his months spent in torture, as well as all those from the recent battles. It was to the point where it was difficult to locate patches of unscarred skin.

Gengyo had some rather serious ones of his own. The puncture wounds from the spears in his first battle, and all those more recent ones.

"It’s the same for me. Have you spoken with any of the others recently?"

He asked, genuinely interested. He himself had not found the time to visit his comrades too often. He could only hope that they were doing well.

"Rokkaku and Sasaki had a drink with me last night. They seem to be doing well, though Sasaki looks a bit stiff as he walks."

"Hm..."

He stroked the scar on his chin, pondering a little on that information.

"How long will you need in order to make a full recovery?"

Togashi turned his head toward Gengyo, with a savage smile that was full of honesty.

"I’m more than ready to fight, Miura-san. In fact – I need to fight."

He raised an eyebrow at that eagerness, and nodded twice, amused. He was feeling the same himself, though he had other things to occupy those urges. He assumed it must be much worse for the others.

"There’s something coming up."

Water splashed as Togashi turned his whole body around, so that he could listen to what Gengyo was about to say next with the utmost clarity.

"Haha, you really are eager. There might not be much fighting, but we will see."

"What is it, Miura-san?"

He asked, his voice full of expectation.

"In a couple of days, we will be heading to Toyokawa. I’ll need 5 men to go with me. Father will insist on coming. I’ll let you select the other three – of course, you’re coming as well."

"With pleasure!"

He said with a deep nod. He would have bowed if not for the water. Adrenaline was already rushing through his bloodstream. Finally, after all the waiting, they were about to take the first step. The first step on their campaign to see to the end of the Imagawa clan.