In the streets of Okiban, it took a while to find Houya inn. She had not brought any companion although asked directions from Kaede before coming here. Dressed in her simplest kimono, one made of rough silk and in a faded blue color. Something which would not have drawn much attention and so far it was the truth.

She knew that coming here would only require her to ask about Enyou and she would be brought to them. It was clear since they mentioned that it was at their expense, even as Enyou was treated to the hospiality provided by the Saitou household in return. To ensure that they were on level ground, something which had been shrewd of Masaki to do.

The lady took a step in, before coming to the interior. Inside had been filled with a staircase at the front, and a hallway further inside. Tables lined the floor and close to the barrier on the second floor. With a great view of the city, even if it was in the early afternoon.

“May I know what you’re here for?” He asked.

“I’m looking for Enyou.” A name that he nodded before he brought her up the stairs. Into the hallway, and Sachiko knew that it was where private rooms were located. The place here seemed like one where any could approach but at the same time had so much which allowed those with more to enjoy it. It was in terms of the tables, where they were placed and of course the hidden rooms.

He took the room which was in the last corner, opening the room for her. Inside, she saw Enyou. Sitting beside her had been a man. The room was empty save for a table, and seats laid out. With parts of books hung on the sides, ones which were no longer viable and thus cut up to be hung. She knelled before them.

Enyou and Sasaki were both dressed in red, no designs which suggested anything more. And she had done the same as well, not finding much use for them. The table was still empty save for a bottle of sake already on the table itself, and a vase of flowers. Reminding her of the ones she received. Marking this entire place as his territory.

She picked it up, the flowers here used were the forget me not. But there was something more. A scent that was not of the sake. She knew it, having taking a chance to smell it when Kaede gave it to her. And this had been refreshing, with a smell of citrus. But it was not something which she had found with Enyou.

“So, you’re the one who arranged the flowers?” She asked.

“I don’t have much to do, and besides plants can be dangerous.” Flowers could be used to hide something, as there was a language with them. She had done so out of boredom, but this was the first time she saw it used as a form of communication. The flower from its scent had been verbena. Which meant cooperation and in this case could be said that he wanted to work with her.

“Indeed it can, and you also seemed to know that I like a garden.” Clear that he knew quite a bit about her, or at the very least had heard quite a bit about her. Even as she had been mostly in the countryside. Which gave her an idea that it had been through her brother, who had been here for quite a while and letters would have been easily intercepted.

“Did you learn this through my brother?”

He nodded. Confirming on how he had done it. “And that you hate tea, I mean you were detailing on how much you disliked that beverage. And also a long essay about coffee as well.”

She looked away, knowing full well of how real it had been. She knew that the letter had a lot of personal details, and nothing which was important to him at all. “Well, I learned most of this second-hand from a maidservant who told me. Her name is Ayame.”

“So, she would be our point of contact?” She asked. It was easy enough to have her serve as one, even as it was a warning that perhaps her household was more infiltrated than it was. Perhaps why Suzumi had been so secretive and spoke in such a cryptic manner. There was no way to tell just who was listening and what had been their allegiance.

“Indeed. But that is if we form the alliance.” He had a price, she should not find it strange. Just as Hajime brought in the food. She took a sip of the wine first, thirsty. “And a great choice on the refreshing scent of the peppermint.”

“It’s slight although these are an interesting choice for the room.” Nothing very very specific as it seemed. Or anything which had been most certainly true. The flowers sent to her then had been funeral flowers, which was out of respect. But here was his territory and thus he suggested more using his surroundings.

“It’s the decorations.” Even as it had not fitted with the room itself, where there was a lot more simplicity in terms of the design.

“Indeed it is.” Since she was not familiar with how the architecture was. But here there was a difference and showed a taste for it, and knowing that now was the best time to ask about what he would gain. “What is your price?”

“Allow me to use your network to find someone. And I can be sure to help you.” He may have had his own network, but it was no doubt not as extensive as her family’s. Thus why he asked this, it had benefitted him at now cost.

“Would you reveal the name of the person to me? Perhaps it might ring a bell?” She asked.

“Kouya.” He took a sip of his wine. The name had not been something which she remembered at all. But there was no doubt it was strange. “It means God of the Night.”

An unusual name choice, more of an alias or even a title than an actual name. “Is it linked with Fukusei?”

“Indeed it is. But I have my own reasons for seeking this man out.” Something personal in fact, and she could guess that it had quite a bit to do with his father’s death. Something told her that it was so, as that death had been responsible for the loss in his family’s prestige. Even as he took a further drink. Enyou had opened her fan, expressing no emotion in this.

“And all I need from you is your family’s expertise and loyalty in this.” They served the shogun under similar terms, but theirs would be one of convenience. To their own benefit, because Sachiko truly needed him as much as he benefited from the arrangement. Without having to lose anything, it indeed was the perfect solution. Not going to question just why he would have chosen to do this.

“Of course.”

“A toast to our alliance.” She raised the cup. And he did it as well with Enyou. Even as they both took the chance to drink all as they could. And that she would need to seek a maid named Ayame out once she went back.

Once they were settled, it was time to suggest more on how they were going to do this. It was of utmost importance they do it now. “I’ll start. The main point of our relationship would be through Ayame and as a beginning I can tell you that there are a total of five spies in that household itself. One for the Shogun, a shinobi who has been under him. And a few others, some of which I can’t discern the loyalty yet.”

And he took out a piece of paper. Inside, these were the names of the men and women she would have to avoid. And also get Masaki to avoid. “And in my household, there is someone who presides over all the networks and she is named Suzumi. I’ll get her to send you a letter on the list of all contacts she has to do as you wish with it.”

He gave a nod. They had not touched the food, even as it was mostly light snacks. The real main course was not yet here. Which she wasn’t looking forward to as of right now, perhaps once they were done. Since it was often raw and needed to be eaten as soon as possible, even as she had always been fairly adventurous.

“There is also something more. The Shogun has a lot of secrets, even as he destroys any evidence of them we keep information about them. It is up until the recent decade and our release, but it holds a lot of secrets that any family would be willing to kill for and a man might perhaps choose to kill his entire family for.”

“As it leaves the Shogun at the mercy of whoever it is.” Which had been the main reason why it had been so secretive. “Does anyone know about it?”

“No. But I would need guards for it.” And that he wishes to have her find them and have them on her payroll. “And if you hear of any rumors about the shogunate, I can confirm the legitimacy of it. But it would be a separate price.”

Because that would mean that he had truly thrown everything with her, and the price would be much higher. The shogun would know that the secret revealer was none other than them, as they had been their loyal servants. Getting rid of them, but not foolish either to keep those copies. He was telling her this as they could be trusted.

“Have you read it?”

“We both have read it. But it’s the sort that even a whisper might get us killed.” And clear that to have them finally reveal it would be a lot more than even she anticipated at the end of the day. But it was the beginning of their alliance, and she would agree to send them what they had wanted. She was indeed, in their terrain more so than hers.

Even as the waiter had brought in the main course.