Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Checkmate: Royal Aquisition ❯ A Woman's touch ( Chapter 9 )

Chapter 9: A Woman's Touch

 

“And Lord Koudan?” Tokio asked the small group of councilors before her in the throne room. She occupied a smaller throne next to Saitou's empty one. It had been empty for over a year.

“He retreated to his country estate,” Lady Yura said with a yawn. “About time if you ask me.” Several other young council members nodded their heads. Tokio frowned inwardly. More and more of the older councilors were…disappearing to their estates, leaving much younger and incompetent relatives to take their place.

Tokio didn't like it. She didn't like it at all.

“May the council direct the Princess's attention to the drought damage?” Lord Hirata said loftily. Lord indeed, he was the second son of the true Lord Hirata who was at King Saitou's side as a trusted war councilman. If his son was half as trustworthy as his father Tokio wasn't about to give him an inch. Lord Hirata was intelligent…but also ambitious. As were most of the council members. Brave men went to war. Ambitious ones stayed behind to grovel for favors at the winner's feet.

“Many lands were damaged and crops are scarce,” the young man continued. “Many of us have had to dip deep into our own pockets to save our lands at a high price and yet the army is still paying the same amount it previously agreed upon when crops were in abundance.”

Oh Tokio saw through that. However, the best way to handle these folk, she had learned, was to let them think they were manipulating her, then manipulate them in turn. It was a dangerous game. One the king sent her precious few pointers on. When he wrote at all. Tokio sent him weekly scrolls of everything going on. She was lucky if she got a quarterly reply.

“Oh my goodness, I hadn't thought of that,” she feigned outright shock. “You are entirely right, we must do something immediately.” Lord Hirata beamed as his rivals sneered at his sudden favor with the pretty, and single, princess.

“Quite right, your majesty. If prices were increased then we could restore our coffers and improve the land quality,” he said with a smile she'd come to know meant he thought he was getting his way. Pity these nobles had no idea how easy they were to read.

“Oh good gracious no, I wasn't thinking of the land,” she said. “Think of all the poor people starving because our army is taking all the food! Here's how we'll fix this. We are still in peaceful treaty with Edo right?” Various heads nodded, uncertain of what she was getting at. “Well, we obviously need more food and they have not only ready access to the sea, but their mountains are not in the rain shadow. So, we send to Edo for livestock and food. We can't have a population go hungry, can we?”

“But….your majesty…our coffers,” Lord Hirata protested weakly, clearly outmaneuvered. Tokio smiled.

“You can't work the land with starving people, can you?” she said sweetly. He sat down, unable to protest more. He might have been willing to work starving people, but she would not. Too many of this kingdom's people were harshly suppressed by their class. A drought affected everyone, not just nobles and their purses. From the looks of Lord Hirata's silk jacket, he was not suffering as much as he protested.

“Well, that out of the way,” Lady Yura said, standing. She was the eldest of the youngsters, barely hitting her thirties, but she was a shrew woman when it came to demands. Tokio suppressed a sigh. Dealing with Lady Yura always gave her a headache.

“Since the King is not here, we should at least discuss a topic he has long evaded.” The other council members seemed to know instantly what she was talking about. Tokio was completely clueless. Yura did not leave her ignorant for long.

“You are quite right, Lady Yura,” Lord Kigon piped up from the corner, his adolescent voice still changing. Sad how a boy of fifteen years was considered a council member. An easily swayed one too. Wherever Lady Yura went, Kigon followed.

“It is high time the king find a bride,” Lady Yura said, her voice rising on the last word as emphasis. Other council members nodded their agreement or slammed a hand on the table. It seemed unanimous.

“I'm not sure what you expect me to do about it,” Tokio said, dropping her nice, smiling exterior. Her voice had a deadly and icy edge to it. “You of all people should know very well King Saitou does what he wants, when he wants it and nothing you all say or do will change that.”

“Nothing we say or do, correct, but perhaps a nudge in the right direction from a lady he obviously respects?” Lady Yura suggested.

“Then why don't you go talk to her?” Tokio spat back.

“We are.”

Oh. Well she walked right in to that one. Tokio cursed her impatience and lack of foresight. She took a deep breath. She could answer them when she damn well felt like it.

“What exactly are you suggesting?” Lord Asashi asked. He was one of the few older members left, a rock among the easily swayed youths surrounding him. He was very much a traditionalist and non-too-quietly disapproved of Tokio being in the position she was in, but he also disliked how the younger members kept trying to influence the princess in devious ways.

“Just that we pull up a list of possible brides,” Lady Yura said, her pushy manner deflating somewhat. That had not been what was on her mind previously at all, but she would mind her tongue for now.

Tokio knew the woman was up to something. She also knew that she would have to go through the laws of Fujita tonight instead of sleeping. She would need to know how to get around selecting an applicant if Saitou wished to reject them. He could not do it outright or risk another war with another country, splitting the army and its resources in half, nor would he accept any old bimbo to become his Queen. And if Tokio let them bully him into a position he had to accept, he would never forgive her.

And that was something she could not do so long as it was in her power to stop it.

“Fine, draw us up a list of potential candidates to go over and one week after everyone has received the list we shall discuss it. Does that meet with the council's approval?” Tokio asked, a hand rubbing her temple. Lady Yura had given her a headache. Damn that woman. She was grateful when they nodded their assent.

“What about-” someone started and Tokio held up a hand.

“It is 2 o'clock. We've been here for five hours. I am hungry and I have other things to attend to. I will see you all tomorrow,” she said, standing which left no room for argument. How she longed to run from there!

`Idiots', she thought. `No wonder Saitou is always in such a cranky mood. I'll turn into him before the harvest season is over!'

Saori was in her chamber when she arrived and gave her a sympathetic face.

“Vultures aren't they?” the head maid said. Tokio gave a weak smile and let the woman begin untying her dress, feeling better already as the heavy weight of the gown pooled at her feet. Next Saori went straight to the corset, knowing Tokio could barely wait to get out of it.

“They tried to bring up the topic of marriage,” Tokio said calmly. “As if I am supposed to have any say in His marriage. I doubt even Okita had that sort of influence.”

“You are right,” Saori said with a small laugh. “When he first came to the throne the topic of marriage was brought up. His majesty told Lord Okita, I quote, `Shove it up your ass'.” Tokio looked back at the maid in shock. They burst into laughter only to be interrupted by a knock. Saori handed her a robe to put over her half loosened corset and state of undress.

“Come in.” The guard opened the door and a page came in. Tanaka, if she remembered correctly. He smiled brightly, a good foot taller from the last time she'd seen him. God how those pages grew.

“There's an envoy from King Sagara in the ballroom awaiting you,” he reported with a bow.

“An envoy?” Tokio said, surprised. “Sagara has already decided to remain neutral. Why would he send an envoy?”

“Only one way to find out,” Saori said, pulling the robe off when the page left. Tokio exhaled in relief as the corset came off, allowing her to breath. Saori gave her a dubious look.

“Oh no. He said I only had to wear that think while running court. He didn't say anything about wearing it while receiving a diplomat. I'm going to go riding after this so they can just damn well meet me in my breeches.”

“His majesty would not approve,” Saori said lightly.

“I don't give a damn,” Tokio cursed. “I'll even include it in the next letter.”

 

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Tokio entered the great hall where the ball where supposed to be held. Tokio assumed it had balls at one time in its life because she'd never seen one there. Then again, King Saitou did not hit her as the dancing type. He certainly didn't like the sort of music dancing involved. He seemed to prefer very old, traditional, slow and mournful music to the gay, sprightly music people hopped around to. Not that she really blamed him. Dancing music really started to sound all the same after a while.

A rather familiar youth turned and faced her with a wide grin.

“Sanosuke?” she said, disbelieving. “W-what are you doing here?”

“Dad said to stay out of the war and since Kenshin is in the middle of it, I thought I'd visit the next best place.” Tokio frowned. Since when did Prince Sanosuke ever leave Kyoto? It was amazing the boy hadn't found some way to tie himself to the country permanently. Wait a second.

“You're here to see Megumi, aren't you?” she asked and was rewarded with his face suddenly turning red. Something on the floor suddenly seemed very interesting to him.

“I was….a little worried. How is she?”

“She's been here a year and NOW you show up?” Tokio asked.

“I had to work up the nerve to ask King Saitou permission. It's no secret he hates my guts.”

“He said yes?”

“Not really….he said what went on in the castle was your business. So here I am,” he grinned. Tokio raised an eyebrow at the cocky sixteen year old.

“What makes you think I'll let you stay?” she asked in an icy voice. His world immediately came to a crashing halt. He gave her a look a petty thief would give if he was told he was off for the gallows. Tokio tried to hold the serious glare….but it didn't stay for long.

“Oh alright, I suppose you can mooch off of us for a month or two. I can't promise Megumi will be happy to see you but…”

“You just leave that up to me,” he said proudly. She hoped a self absorbed youth could bring Megumi out of her depressed daze. Her cousin rarely spoke anymore and spent many days just…..staring out the window. She would not even speak to Tokio. Perhaps Sano would be able to bring her out of her slump.

“Put him in the apartment near Lady Megumi,” she told a guard. “Just remember, Sano, any funny business,” she began, a dark gleam in her eye.

“I am not allowed to stick my nose in between Fujita and Kyoto,” he said solemnly. Nor do I want to jeopardize Megumi's life in any way. You have my word,” he said and kissed her hand, winking at her as he left.

`Why do men DO that?' she thought. `Weird, the whole lot of them.'

She thought of Saitou winking at her. It didn't fit. It was too…playful for the serious king. Sano was all play, 24/7. Saitou was the complete opposite.

“Oh for the man halfway in between,” she said to herself.

“MY LADY!” a bright voice called out and Tokio's back stiffened.

It was Lord Hiraki, a twenty year old lordling that was convinced he was madly in love with her and that she, of course, reciprocated. Nothing could have been farther from the truth. Tokio spent a good hour or two out of her day evading him. This time, however, it looked as though she was trapped. DAMMIT!

“You look radiant, darling,” he said as he gallantly strode up, kissing her hand and clutching it to his chest. Tokio resisted the urge to slap him. Other women swooned around him. She could not for the life of her figure out why.

“Your majesty,” a page broke in, handing her a scroll. He was breathless and covered in dirty. That could only mean one thing. “Message from the King.”

She was saved! Tokio eagerly pulled herself from the lordling's grasp and took the scroll. This gave her the perfect excuse to escape. In fact, she would go riding while she was at it. Might as well read it in the privacy of the forest glen rather than in her stuffy room.

 

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Megumi looked down at the dagger in her hands. It seemed so easy so why couldn't she just do it? Day in and day out, locked in the castle of her enemy….it was more than she could bear. And Aizu…her beloved brother. Gone. And for what? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

`I wonder' she thought as tears slid down her cheeks. `Will it hurt more or less than the ache in my heart?'

Sanosuke stepped into the room and his eyes widened in horror as he realized what she was about to do. Eyes closing Megumi held the dagger up, obviously ready to plunge it into her own chest and end her life. It took him one second to comprehend and another to act.

Her eyes flew open, startled, as she felt a weight pull the knife from her. Looking up she met a sight she never counted on seeing. Prince Sanosuke, hand wrapped around the blade as blood ran down it, his eyes dark and serious.

“Just what the hell do you think you are doing?” he demanded. “What does this solve, Kitsune? Huh? If you think I'll sit here and just let you make this mistake you got another thing coming woman!”

“Let go!” she cried. “I can't stand it anymore!” She struggled against the knife, pulling it more until she realized he wasn't letting go and she was savaging his hand. Her hands abruptly stopped, releasing the hold they'd had and falling to her sides. Sobs shook her body silently. Tossing the knife aside Sano wrapped his good arm around her, holding her close.

“Shhh. You're not alone, Kitsune. I'm here.”

 

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Tokio sighed contently. Five guards were on horseback around the small glade she'd found on her multiple rides. The extremely docile gelding she rode was munching on grass, disinclined to leave his fellow herd mates. Her boots slipped off with relative ease, allowing her to wriggle her toes into the soft, lush grass. How she loved the woods.

Unrolling the scroll she frowned. For all the scroll was huge there was very little written on it. Perhaps he had planned on more and then changed his mind?

 

Home in a week. I expect a full briefing when I get back. Make sure the board is set.

Tokio nearly jumped out of her skin. That was it? He was coming back? After a year? The war was nowhere near over as far as she'd heard. More like at a sort of stalemate. Great, and she had to get ready in how many days?

Wait a minute. It would have taken a week for this messenger to get to her…which meant-

Tokio froze as she realized the guards and her horse were no longer in the glade. A cold breeze swept in, causing her to shiver as her senses became over acute to every noise the forest made. What would have made her guards disappear.

Cold steel glazed under her chin.

Tokio reacted without thinking. She quickly rolled away, jumping to her feet and pulled out the double throwing knives she'd gotten from the armory, throwing one before even getting a good look at her opponent.

King Saitou gave her a very unamused look as his fingers deftly caught the knife aimed at his neck. Tokio dropped the other one in shock, a hand flying to her mouth in gaping surprise.

“Um…welcome home?” she said weakly.

“Indeed,” he said harshly. “Stop playing around like a puppy,” he growled, turning to exit the glade. A large warhorse was standing there, head tossing in annoyance as he mounted. Tokio looked around, but her horse was nowhere in sight. Sighing she resigned herself to her fate. Saitou looked down at her smugly, but frowned as she pass them, boots in hand as she walked barefoot. She had every intention of walking back to the palace. Little chit.

Tokio suppressed a squeal as hooves came thundering up behind her and a strong arm grabbed her by the waist, hoisting her up in front of him. She winced as she was forced to sit somewhat on the horse's neck in front of the saddle pommel as every stride dug into her back. How come every time someone else stuck her in a saddle it was a very uncomfortable experience?

“You could have just left my horse for me,” she said grumpily. She suddenly found herself being swung around and before she could blink she was behind him, clutching the rear pommel of the saddle to stay on. It was a little more comfortable, even if she felt like she would fall off any second. How the hell had he done that?

Why did she get the feeling he was in a monstrously bad mood?