Fan Fiction ❯ Yotsuyu: Lotus Blade ❯ Eyes Converged ( Chapter 3 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------
Yotsuya - Chapter 3 "Eyes Converged"
------------------------------------------------------------------------ -----------------------------

Hikou - My hands are guide by Yokaido Bushin Genki Style, but my heart is guide by
deception and greedy. I am a murder.

Shigure - What's wrong Hikou?

Hikou - Nothing Shigure; we must find Akane.

Ryuzo - ....

Shigure - Ryuzo, you've been even more pensive than normal.

Ryuzo - That was our brother. He looked at us as a brother and an enemy.

Shigure - Our past is tainted. We must atone.

[Flash]

Hideo - Take this sword. This is my last brotherly act to you Jubei.
From now on we are rivals. Nothing more.

[Flash]

Ryuzo - And what about Yotsuya, Shigure?

Hikou - Yotsuya has denounced us.

Shigure - I felt it too, but we must earn his respect again.

[Akane runs up]

Akane - Master Adachi, I got us a room. Your name goes a long way here.

Shigure - My name? Shigure Adachi.

Akane - Yessir come.

[Akane grabs Shigure's arm]

Ryuzo - Shigure have we been here?

Shigure - No, but not all people are from Kyoto.

Ryuzo - True.

Meanwhile at Adachi-Jisho

Masako - Sir Master Tsuge is here.

Hideo - Send him in Masako.

Masako - Yessir.

[Tsuge of Akage Toyatomi]

Tsuge - Hello Hideo.

Hideo - Kenichi Tsuge, why have you come here?

Tsuge - Well the people of the Akage Province would like to know when there Daimyo
is going to return. Plus the Toyatomi want a member of the Adachi family to
control the clan. So much that we'll even take your brother.

Hideo - I shall be the leader of the Toyatomi, but Yotsuya is not my sword and you know it.

Masako - Sir my knowledge of your clan says otherwise.

Hideo - The true owner is Jubei.

Tsuge - Hideo we have been following a clan that has no true leader. If the topic of the
sword is a problem, who has the sword Hideo?

Hideo - I'll be your leader without Yotsuya.

[Two Samurai walk in]

Masako - Sir this is Master Kenji Takashi and Koji Takashi of Edo.

Hideo - I was in a meeting Masako. Why are these ronins here?

Kenji - Master Hideo the Shogunate has us watching your brother.

Hideo - So has he done something to offend the Shogun?

Koji - No he is the number one samurai in all of Japan. We can't believe how good he is.

Tsuge - Sounds like you guys love him.

Kenji and Koji - No sir.

[Kenji and Koji look at each other]

Kenji - Sir we want him to teach us Yokaido Bushin plus we heard he might become the
leader of Josyu Clan.

Hideo - Josyu, ha such a backwater band of vagabonds. I spoke with my brother just
today. I think that rumor is false. The sword of Yokaido Bushin would never
be in there position.

Later that night at Tanaka's Inn

Akane - Sir he is sleep.

Daigo - Good, tommorow I want you to do something to push the card in our favor.

Akane - What my that be sir?

Daigo - Make him fall in love with you.

Akane - Sir in one day?

Daigo - You'll be joining Master Adachi to Osaka. You'll be his sheath.

Akane - Sir...

Daigo - I know Akane you already do. Iikuji told me. Be on your way Suzaku.

Akane - Yessir. Please tell Sakura and Toki to meet me in Osaka?

Daigo - They'll be there.

[Akane leaves]

Daigo - So it shall begin.

Next Morning.

[Shigure standing looking at the cherry blossoms in the sunlight.]

Ryuzo - Shigure we should see the emperor. He should be expecting us by now.

Shigure - Kyoto isn't the type of city I'd like to live in. It's too dangerous.

Ryuzo - Exactly where did that come from?

Hikou - I think he see the danger in our brother also being here.

Ryuzo - Oh are you afraid of Hideo, Shigure?

Shigure - Yes and no...It takes alot for a brother to hate you to death.

Hikou - Our atonement will come soon.

Shigure - I believe that Hikou.

[Female silouette from behind]

Akane - Master Adachi, are you ok?

Shigure - Yes Akane. We are going to go see Master Tokugawa today.

Akane - Yessir. I am going to go bathe Master. I'll be back.

Shigure - Stay away from harm.

Akane - Yessir.

[Akane leaves with partial shot of her kimono and Shigure standing looking outside]

Shigure - A new day has risen. How shall it fair us?

[Akane walking down the hallway]

Akane - He's following me again.

Iikuji - Don't look so surprised.

[Akane turns around]

Akane - Now why are you following me?

Iikuji - Master Sengumi wants me to make sure all of the Eyes of Kyoto converge in
Osaka; that means keep an eye on you.

[Iikuji looks up and down]

Iikuji - Might I add it's well worth it.

[Akane turns around]

Akane - My heart is only for one and I am sorry it's already found a home.

[Akane walks away]

Iikuji - Well that's not new, but remember your job.

[Akane continues to walk away]

Iikuji - When you came here you already loved him. Ha, as if I care about you
Madame Shigekura.

[Akane opening the door to the Hotspring]

Akane - Ah, here it is. Peace from duties and love. How fitting it be in this relaxing
area.

[Akane's kimono falls to the ground and steps in the water]

Akane - I can't believe the magnitude of this assignment, but it's something only
the South Godess Akane Shigekura can complete.

[A female comes out of the water]

???? - You are so sure of yourself South Godess.

Akane - Mizuki?

Mizuki - And how come you think the East Mistress couldn't do your assignment?

Akane - Sadly you could do my mission but Shigure and I share a common past.

Mizuki - Oh that's right you're not really a Shigekura. You're adopted. Should I
say Madame Yui Kogoro of Fukuyama.

Akane - That name never call me that again.

Mizuki - I think you are still that sad little girl that the Shigekura found after a battle
in Fukuyama.

Akane - You're only 6 months older than me Mizuki. Anyways what assignment do
you have?

Mizuki - Sadly none until the assault, but Masako said something interesting to
Master Sengumi about Shigure. Apparently some sides of Shigure carry
different memories. All of them congruent but none of them know the
same thing. Weird aye?

Akane - Awkwardly none of them look alike. Shigure looks closest to Jubei.

Mizuki - Masako said Hikou and Hideo Adachi look exactly alike.

[Door opens and Hikou walks in]

Hikou - I thought it would be best to join you. Hello Madame ...

Mizuki - Mizuki Yoshida of Otsu.

[Hikou gets in the hotspring]

Hikou - Otsu? Surprising a female samurai of Otsu. Hmm...

Mizuki - How can you tell I am a samurai?

Hikou - Your hands are course and strong in appearance. Plus your body is well
toned.

[Mizuki's face turns red]

Akane - Hikou!

Hikou - I am sorry m'lady if I have embarrassed you.

Mizuki - Not many men have ever said anything of that nature to me.

Akane - Master Hikou, Mizuki has been a close friend of mine since childhood.

Hikou - Good if I interrupted your previous conversation, I am sorry.

Mizuki - No worry at all Master Hikou. Your presents is enjoyable from a
man of our class.

Hikou - Well you may continue my bath is done.

[Hikou gets out of the hotspring]

Both Mizuki and Akane - Yes Master Hikou.

[Hikou walks out of the room]

Mizuki - So he is the Oni of Akage. How unlikely.

Akane - He leaves to see Ieyasu Tokugawa today. Shigure was made Daimyo
of the Osaka Providence.

Mizuki - Be on your way but remember he is the enemy not an ally.

Akane - Don't worry Mizuki. I have it covered.

Later that day.

Home of Ieyasu Tokugawa.

Keiko - Introducing Daimyo Shigure Adachi of Akage.

Ieyasu - Hello Daimyo Adachi, I am glad to have your presents.

Shigure - Thank you Master Tokugawa.

Ieyasu - So how may I help you Master Adachi?

Shigure - I wanted to thank you for giving me the Osaka Providence.

Ieyasu - I gave it to you because I need someone to properly
display power to the remaining faction of the Toyatomi Clan
in that juridiction. Since you are the leader of the
Akage Toyatomi Clan.

Shigure - So it's a strategic move, sir?

Ieyasu - Yes and no. You have proven to be a good warrior under my reign.
In some ways I trust you more than my own family.

[Ieyasu looks at a symbol of the old Shogun Hideyoshi]

Ieyasu - The power we hold is the power we shall always hold and should
always try to maintain. This new Shogunate of mine should never
die.

Shigure - Sir with your request I'll lead whatever clan in that area that is
loyal to the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Ieyasu - I am glad to here that...Keiko hand Master Adachi that scroll.

Keiko - Yes Master.

[Keiko walks to the corner of the room grabs the scroll and takes it over
to Shigure]

Shigure - Thank you Madame Keiko.

[Shigure opens the scroll]

=The Scroll Reads=

Dear Shigure,

You are being followed by the Akage Toyatomi and a new group called,
the Eyes of Kyoto. Osaka Castle is a refuse that the Toyatomi of any
area would dare not raid. The Josyu of Osaka's leader Hito Masahijo
died and they are looking to me for new leadership. I told them I
would send the Master of all Yokaido Bushin arts. Oh and Shigure
watch out Kenichi Tsuge and the old Onis of Akage.

Ieyasu Tokugawa

=The Scroll Ends=

[Shigure closes the scroll]

Shigure - Yessir, I understand.

[Shigure gets up]

Shigure - I must be off Master Tokugawa.

Ieyasu - Shigure, heed my warning. The cloak of evil is closer than it seems.

[Shigure's hair rise]

Ryuzo - Always.

[Ryuzo walks out]

Ieyasu - Ryuzo Takasuki, Hikou Iwakana, and Shigure Kaneda.

Outside The Home of Ieyasu Tokugawa.

[Door opens]

Akane - Master Shigure. Did the meeting his Master Tokugawa go well?

Shigure - Yes...

[Shigure looks at the clouds gather]

Shigure - Akane, we must head to Osaka now.

Akane - Sir without supplies.

Shigure - Yes.

[Running way]

[Man standing in the Shadows]

???? - Daigo you have been a good puppet.

[Daigo walks out of the shadows]

Daigo - Yessir, Master Saizuchi.

???? - Noone should ever know who the true leader of the Eyes of Kyoto is.
I, Kuzana Saizuchi, shall have their heads.

Daigo - Yessir.

[Daigo walks back into the shadows]

Kuzana - Running my dear Shigure. This Oni will follow you all the way to
Osaka.

------------------------------------------------------------------------ -----------------------------
Continued in Book 2 - "Graces of Osaka" Chapter 1 - "Akane's Truth"