Kosuke

“Captain Sato Kosuke,

I apologize for not seeking proper permission before leaving. After discussion with the Imperial Advisor, I was in agreement that finding the source of the smuggled weapons was too important to leave alone. I will be starting in Yamura and following the trail from there.

I promise, I will get to the bottom of this and be back as soon as possible.

For the Emperor,

Sato Himari,

Tenth Chosen of Emperor Ichiya XL”

Kosuke read through the letter for what must have been the fifth time today, his headache only getting worse with each read and re-read. Clearly, he had not pressed upon his daughter the importance of chain of command. Because Goro Masashi most certainly was NOT on it.

Apparently, the eighth Chosen seemed less than eager to sit and watch him read, as she cleared her throat. “Ah, Sato-sama?”

“Yes?” He looked up from the paper, and at the eight other Chosen gathered. This was supposed to be the first official meeting of all of the Chosen together since his daughter’s victory. She certainly spoiled that ideal expertly. “Ah, right. I had intended today to be the introduction of the Tenth Chosen to the rest of you officially, but she is currently on assignment. She and I discovered a shipment of weapons that didn’t appear on official manifests six days ago. After local sources dried up, we discussed the matter with the Imperial Advisor, who agreed that this was important enough to seek sources external to the city.” Not… All of that was a lie. She certainly did have that discussion. And his headache certainly was getting worse.

The Seventh Chosen spoke up, their brow furrowing in confusion. “Ah, forgive me for asking, Sato-Taichou, but wouldn’t an external investigation be the purview of the Magistrates? Why would we send a Chosen, and especially one who has barely even earned the title, for such menial a task?”

“A good question. Normally, I would have passed this to the Magistrates and let them look into this. However, the volume of weapons involved suggests a potential threat to the Throne, which puts it under our jurisdiction.” His head felt like it was going to burst justifying his daughter’s actions.

Before he could continue, however, the Second spoke up with a light, airy voice. “I can see why you sent the Tenth in a hurry, Taichou, but a suggestion? We should send her back up. The Seventh and Eighth are off personal detail for the rest of the season. If they are not otherwise engaged, perhaps they should be sent to follow her trail?” His voice always felt so… reasonable.

Kosuke’s headache finally started to recede, especially as a servant set tea in front of him. He took a sip and considered the proposal. “Yes, very well. She was on horseback, so it is likely she has a good head start. Seventh, Eighth, leave first thing in the morning.” The two nodded their heads. “For the rest of you, just to be safe we should work with the guard to increase security detail around the castle. I don’t know that anything is going to happen yet, but vigilance is important. Third, Fourth, with the Tenth gone I will need to increase your personal detail for the foreseeable future.” The two men bowed their heads calmly. “Seventh, Eighth, stay here for a moment. The rest of you: dismissed.”

Six Chosen rose and offered bows. Once they left the room, the only three remaining were himself and the two chosen he had requested stay behind. The Seventh Chosen had held the title of the youngest Chosen up until just a few days ago, when his daughter took the claim from them. Their boyish face and ever-present smile were always so cheerfully disarming. The eighth, by contrast, was actually one of the oldest Chosen, next only to Kosuke and the Second. With them no longer being formally in a meeting, Kosuke swapped to simply using their names. “Misao-san, Shizuku-san. As you prepare to leave, I must ask you a favor.

“My daughter is… headstrong. And she may become upset that you have been sent to assist her in her investigation. I’ve no interest in undermining her confidence, but the potential threat here is also too important to be left to a Chosen of barely one week. Guide her as best you can, but if it comes down to it, use your best judgment, but protect the Empire.” The two bowed their heads, then rose and made their way out to prepare. For the moment, at least, Kosuke was left alone in the room.

For a moment, Kosuke closed his eyes and simply tried to meditate. This was, of course, ruined by a rasping on the door. “Enter,” he stated without bothering to close his eyes.

The voice of his servant fully pulled him from trying to meditate. “Ah, my Lord. Apologies for the interruption, but General Takahashi is here to see you.” He let out a heavy sigh, but alas even his position did not allow him to tell the General of the First Army of Seifu to come back tomorrow.

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“Let her in,” he said reluctantly. The woman who entered easily exceeded six feet. Her aged face and the natural scars of battle intimidated most courtiers who were unfortunate enough to have to speak with her. Fortunately, Kosuke was no Courtier. “General,” he said, skipping any honorifics. “Is the North so under control now that you can afford to come have a social visit with me?”

“This isn’t a social visit,” she groused. “I know you do not have to deal with this particular problem, being that you live here in the capital and speak to our Resplendent Emperor every day, but the law explicitly states that Samurai of rank must visit the capital for one month every year. It just so happens that I ensured that my month was at the start of the growing season, when the Bastards of the Northern badlands tend to be focused on making their food and not throwing themselves on our walls.”

“Interesting. Strange that I don’t remember seeing you before,” he considered. “Perhaps the good general is turning over a new leaf of showing proper obeisance to our Resplendent Emperor?”

“Shut it. My decision to avoid you is entirely personal and you know it.” Her fist hit the table, and he heard a small crack.

In the interest of saving his furniture, he pushed on. “Yes, well. Let us get to the proper point, then? If you have avoided me for so long, why are you visiting me now?”

“Simple, old man. I want a spar.” She spoke eagerly, somehow seeming to get larger.

“Is that all? No, I don’t think I will.”

Her face contorted into a rage that sadly did not surprise him. “And why not? Are you afraid to face me again after all these years?” And just like that, the headache that he had just finished easing came back again in full force.

His eyes met hers with a cool expression. “Could you keep it down, please? Taunting me won’t get you what you want.” She did, at least, sit down and seem to listen. “If I may, what do I gain from training with you? The potential to be injured? You have shown the same lack of control in this moment that I have seen in you every day for the last twenty-five years. A chance to spend more time with you? Given the headache you have reignited within me, I cannot imagine that would be to my benefit.”

“So you are afraid?”

“The difference between you and I is that I have never had a burning urge to prove myself as superior,” he stated through gritted teeth. “It has been twenty-five years since we crossed blades. And in that time I have had no need to prove myself as superior to anyone. Least of all you.”

He thought, for a moment, that she might force the issue with the look on her face. But she shook her head and rose. “One day, you will eat your words,” she promised. And off she went, not even a bow to show respect.

As he was left alone yet again, he finished his tea and stood. “How long have you been there?” His voice carried to the shadow in the corner of the room.

Masashi clapped with amusement as he stepped again out of the shadows. “Your Aura sense is impeccable, as always. Though it took you longer than I would have thought to notice me. I walked in at the same time as Takahashi-san.”

Kosuke opened a far door, which led out to a small garden. He walked over to the nearby cherry tree, touching it affectionately before he replied to Masashi. “She fills a lot of space in a room, in my defense. I thought she might attempt to attack me right there.”

“And? Do you think you would have won?” Masashi’s incessant curiosity always grated on Kosuke. “Her credibility is part of the plan, after all.”

“In a fair fight? I would give her an edge. I’ve not fought fair in twenty-five years, but I think her credibility is up to the task.” He lets out a sigh. “I’ve sent the Seventh and Eighth after Himari-chan. I trust you will keep your end of the deal.”

“Of course. You can trust Maiko-chan. She is the best I had ever trained, and I dare say I think she even likes your daughter.” He chuckled in a way that Kosuke always hated. In the twenty years that Masashi had served as Imperial Advisor, Kosuke always despised that he didn’t know what the man was thinking.

“Asking me to trust an assassin, and especially one of yours, is… a stretch.” He shakes his head. “What assurances do I have for her safety when all this is done?”

“Nothing is ever guaranteed,” Masashi chuckled. “But I suppose it might make you feel better to know that I need your daughter alive anyway.”

Kosuke turned in that moment, his blade drawn in a smooth motion. The edge pointed right at Masashi’s nose, and it infuriated him that Masashi continued to smile through it. “My daughter is not a pawn for your games, Masashi-san. Do you understand me?”

Masashi hadn’t even flinched. Which infuriated him more. HIs smile only widened. “My old friend. I have known your daughter since before she was old enough to walk or speak. She is like a niece to me. Rest assured I want nothing for her but what is best. If it helps, I have already made arrangements for your dear wife and son to be out of the way when the pivotal moment comes. All you have to do is play the part that has been set for you, and be the Captain of the Chosen that I know you to be.” Masashi took two steps back, and the shadows engulfed him again. Kosuke sensed the flair of Aura that accompanied the movement, but despite every muscle in his body telling him to, he wouldn’t go after the man. “You will not regret this, Kosuke-san,” the voice of Masashi carried in the wind, and Kosuke cursed it inwardly.

That night, Kosuke made his way home. He got into bed with his wife, as he had become accustomed to doing. But sleep would not come easily tonight. He couldn’t help but constantly ask himself if he was doing the right thing. But at the same time, he couldn’t see another path forward that didn’t lead to his daughter suffering the same fate as so many Sato before her.

So instead of sleeping, he sat up. He kissed Kimika’s cheek softly, and collected his katana from the rack. Silent steps took him to the small dojo that trained so many Sato before him. And just like them, he practiced well into the night.

If he was going to play his part, he had to be ready to do it well.