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Nagumo clan estate.
Tosa, Japan, June of Bunkyū 1.

["I come as a messenger of the Princess of Yase. My mistress wishes for me to see the face of the child under your care with my own eyes."

Technically, it isn't a lie. She does wish to see the ward of the Nagumo clan, and she is acting as a messenger - on her own behalf, perhaps, but on the behalf of the Princess of Yase nonetheless.

Sen is well aware that after so many attempts have gone horribly awry - her messengers being turned away or being entertained within the house but never actually being allowed to see Kaoru for themselves - that this isn't going to be easy. She is prepared to be stubborn with the men who have received her, and so she does. It's a fact that the servants have orders to placate her and send her on her way, but that is something she won't allow.

She had arrived the day before, just after noon. Now it is noon again, and she still isn't gone. Currently she is kneeling on a cushion in the room for receiving visitors, and she thinks that perhaps she has finally succeeded - a servant is dispatched to go and fetch Kaoru. She would prefer a private conversation, but that same servant will most likely be instructed to monitor them as they speak.

That's fine. Now that she's here, she's sure she can figure out a way. Things have been quiet enough lately that she has a little more freedom to act on her own (and she is acting on her own - for once, Kimigiku has no idea where she's gone, though she's left instructions with a child in the village to tell her that she saw the princess going to Tosa if she hasn't returned within two weeks), and she is sure she's up to the task of bringing Yukimura Kaoru home.

She looks up when she hears the sound of a sliding door, and smiles.]

Ah... are you Kaoru-san?

[She swears to god if they've brought some random girl to try and trick her, the Nagumo clan will become very well acquainted with just how much damage Yase can do when she's been offended.]

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Ah... I'm glad that I was able to help a little, in that case.

[Considering he had already been pretty sure that they wouldn't be bringing her any food. She's got it even worse than he does, as he sees it since they don't have to worry about him trying to escape. Because of that, he can roam about with more freedom.

But that's one success and one worry down, and Kaoru will just have to figure out how to deliver the rest of the meals from now on since he doesn't want to risk cry wolf syndrome... Not that it would be bad if that did happen and no one believed him when an actual spy from Yase showed up.

That said, at the question, Kaoru almost shakes his head first on reflex before remembering that demons tragically don't have x-ray vision.]

Oh— no, he wasn't. None of them are very interested in me right now... [Which is both a very good thing when their focus isn't desired at all, and a somewhat worrisome thing when the meager scraps he gets from them is all that he really has by way of attention. He tries not to let the thought of it panic him too greatly, which means not thinking about it much at all.]

I was only taken back to my room, but I was worried for you... [So he didn't sleep well anyway WHAT A NERD.] I wanted to check on you right away.

It was a big help, not just a little help.

[Sen wishes he would give himself a little more credit. She's only known him a short time, but it really does seem to her as though he has some rather severe self-esteem problems, and she's sure they would not be quite this bad if not for the Nagumo family. The clan certainly seems to have a way of exacerbating such things - all the more reason for her to do her utmost to get him out of here.

The Yukimura family was faithful to her ancestors for years; Daitsuren and Shotsuren, which once belonged to Suzuka Gozen, are proof of that. She may not have been able to prevent the humans from attacking, but she wants to at least do what she can for the survivors of that clan.]

I'm glad they haven't hurt you... I was worried.

[So they're a pair of idiots worrying about each other and not sleeping. Which would be cute, if it didn't leave them both tired and less likely to be able to function well if something - like the Nagumo family getting pissy and trying to take it out on them - were to happen.]

I do appreciate your coming to check on me... it is very kind of you.

[Kaoru predictably doesn't make any remark in response to her reassurance, because he's quite sure that it's just her politeness as a political figure - and an overall nice person, as it seems. He's still a little baffled by that, in all honesty.

But for the worry, YEAH THEY SURE ARE A PAIR OF IDIOTS... Like good work team, for real. There's a little flutter in his chest at that. He's experiencing so many things in the past day or so that he never thought he'd experience again, which is a little overwhelming but also very pleasant. A little scary too, maybe, just for how foreign it now is.]

I'm sorry to have worried you... I don't think that I'll have trouble while you're here though, so please don't fret for my sake.

[That's energy better spent elsewhere.]

...but you may have trouble after I go?

[That's a problem. To leave when leaving would mean that this family could treat Kaoru even more harshly - she can't say there is anything good about this situation other than the fact that the pressure on him is somewhat lessened, but it could become even more stifling in comparison once it comes back. That isn't what Sen wants.

She must return to Yase, though; she can't stay here forever.

(She doesn't particularly want to - Kaoru is the only person here for whom she has even the slightest bit of respect. Every member of the Nagumo clan lost it about the time she was tossed into this room.)

What to do, then? Her brows knit together as she contemplates the logistics of a rescue-mission-turned-kidnapping. It would be much more feasible if Kimigiku were to bring a few people with her, but how can she send word to her to do so...?]

It wouldn't be any more than usual.

[Or that's the reassurance Kaoru will give, at least. He's already been responsible for so much that he really hates the idea of loading her plate up even further with concerns that she really shouldn't be focusing on. In reality, he is worried that he'll suffer from the backlash of their lost hostage, but...

It's worth it, isn't it?

He has to tell himself that it is. Negativity is a downward-leaning spiral and if he allows himself one step in that direction, he's afraid that he might not be able to catch himself again.]

...I still haven't been able to think up any way to help you out of here. [On a different note, since Kaoru doesn't want to linger on the last topic.]

[That isn't reassuring in the slightest. It's probably fortunate that he can't see her expression, because it flickers from saddened to absolutely enraged. It's doubly fortunate for the higher-ranking members of the Nagumo family that Sen is both locked up and not as skilled with the blade as she could be. If she were confident in her ability to do so, she would put an end to them right here and the Nagumo bloodbath would happen many years sooner.

Since she isn't, she'll leave them to Kaoru for now.]

Come to Yase with me. [It's... not exactly a way for him to help her out of the room she's locked up in, but it's somewhat more important to her than working out the specifics of her own escape. She knows for a fact that she'll be free of here eventually; her priority right now is securing Kaoru's freedom.] When Kimigiku comes to get me, I'll order her to escort the both of us back.

[Circumstances may not work out such that it's possible, but the intention to take him out of this place is definitely there. There isn't anything in her voice to suggest that this is anything less than genuine.]

[Kaoru, young as he still is, hasn't fully given up on the idea of one day being whisked away from the compound and into safety. It's getting harder and harder to keep that hope alive, true enough, but it's still there - and hearing that is enough to light that little spark.]

To Yase?

[He repeats it, and his tone is almost incredulous. It's not really that he views Sen as an untrustworthy person, though he certainly has his reservations about trusting too easily even at his age. Rather, despite the fact that he's yet to let go of the notion of escape, it has become such a distant possibility that he's struggling to register it as real and right in front of him.]

...But I don't have anyone else to stay with outside of this place. [Including Kodo for reasons we just don't know?! GOD, KODO.

He's definitely assuming she's making a short-term offer, though. Maybe a place to stay for a night or two while he works out arrangements elsewhere, but there is no elsewhere for him.]

You would be welcome to stay as my guest for a long as you liked.

[Geeze, Kaoru. Do you really think she'd invite you along just to kick you out of the village after a day or two? ...on second thought, that's probably exactly what the Nagumo clan would do, so it's no small wonder. Still, it stings a little to hear that.]

That aside... A relation of yours is residing in Kyoto. We could send word.

[Kodo, whatever his reasons were for not taking both twins, couldn't say "no" if Sen ordered him to take Kaoru in, too. If she had her way, they would have been kept together from the start.]

...he is hiding among the humans as a doctor. And he is raising—

[...is it a risk, to say what comes next? She's already started speaking; she can hardly take it back.]

He is raising your sister.

[LOOK... yes, basically. Kaoru's just going by what he expects, and because of the Nagumo, he sure doesn't expect a whole lot. He doesn't exactly realize how insulting it is to apply those sort of standards to people who aren't abusive shitheads, but that's probably no surprise, either...

That said, he doesn't even reply to her reassurance that she won't be a shithead that'll ditch him on the side of the road, because a much more important topic comes up. She'll be able to hear the flats of his palms hit the side of the building almost as soon as "your sister" is said, and his voice is probably a little too loud but he's so swept up in this new knowledge that he can't really contain it.]

My sister? You've found her—? You know where she is?! Oh— Chizuru... Chizuru, Chizuru, Chizuru—! [THERE IT IS, the little seed of insanity that will one day blossom into a beautiful sociopathic garden...]

Please! Please, take me to her!

[IS THAT PERHAPS a grumble from the audience... It sure sounds like one of the guards is starting to stir.]

I do—

[She almost says, "Of course I do" - for an information network like Yase's, tracking down a doctor operating in Edo while still using the name "Yukimura" is child's play. Much easier than, say, confirming the identity of the child being raised by the Nagumo family, because they're all secretive shitheads. She had ascertained Chizuru's whereabouts long before she had discovered that Kaoru was still alive.

Truth be told, from the reports that the girl believed herself to be human and was apparently suffering from some kind of amnesia affecting her childhood memories, Sen had believed for a time that Kaoru was dead. Of course she would have blocked it out of her mother, father, and twin had all been killed in front of her.

She can't say much more, though, because she hears that grumbling - there is a gasp and a rustle of fabric as she twists to look at the door, and then her voice, low and urgent -]

Please, return to your room. One of my guards is stirring..! If they catch you...

[Well, it would be bad, to say the least.]

But—

[Kaoru's gaze darts over in the direction of the outward-facing hall. If he doesn't leave now, he risks getting both himself and Sen in trouble, which he doesn't want...

Still, he needs the reassurance that this isn't just a false lead. He's not sure his heart could take that kind of let down; not now, after he's struggled so hard and for so long, unable to find any sort of information about Chizuru's whereabouts no matter who he asked or what he looked into. He's terrified now of the possibility that they might move, slip away again while he's still stuck in this place, and that their building will be empty by the time he can reach them.

The noise from outside her room is getting a little louder, but Kaoru's hands are still pressed to the outer wall.]

Promise me - please promise me! Please take me to her—!

[He has to go. He has to go, now, before the guards put two and two together and search outside and find him. What will they do to him, if they suspect him of conspiring with her? For a moment, she curses her own ineptitude. She should have known bringing up his sister was a bad idea - if not a bad idea in general, then a bad idea at this exact moment, when they have so little time.

Still, her assurance comes easily and it's genuine. Though she's desperate to have him get safely back to his room, she does mean it when she swears to him, her own hands pressed against her side of the wall.]

I promise you! I'll do everything within my power to reunite the two of you.

[It may not be an easy promise to keep, but if she can, she absolutely wants to keep it. It's for the better that the Nagumo clan doesn't know of Chizuru's whereabouts, because she doesn't doubt that they would use "reuniting the twins" as a pretext to take her and subject her to the same foul treatment Kaoru has been living with for so many years, but she finds it dreadfully unfair that Kaoru has had no word of the one person who seems, from his reaction, to mean the most to him.]

Now go!

[Her command is insistent, and perhaps spoken a little too loudly. She hears movement just outside her door and draws away from the wall, turning instead to kneel at the low table and glare at the door as it slides open, her lips pressed together into a thin line.

"I heard a voice. She must have been talking to someone. Go and look!"

All Sen can do is pray that by the time the footsteps she hears leaving the hall just outside her room make it to the outside, Kaoru is somewhere safe.]

[Kaoru doesn't want to go - really doesn't want to go, because this topic, Chizuru, is so important to him. Even her reassurances don't help a huge deal in the end, but he won't ever actually be reassured until he can see Chizuru with his own eyes and reach out to touch her for himself. She exists as a phantom until then, and even more than the abuse he suffers through, her stark absence pains him. He wouldn't ever wish for her to be here (though that, too, is starting to twist under the huge pressure of just wanting to be by her side again), but it's an impossible technicality that he'd gladly overlook.

But he can hear her move away, and hear movement from the hall, so he's up and running as fast as he can. He raises a hand while he goes, wiping at his eyes, sliding into the hidden area that he uses to go between his own room and the other side of the courtyard right as he can hear the shoji screen fly open where Sen is.

She'll be able to hear the sound of the guards looking around on the outside, presumably getting down on hands and knees to check beneath the porch. There are a few concerning stirs - a is that a footprint? and an I think this area is warm! - but nothing that seems to indicate Kaoru is still around to be caught.

As for the guard in the door, he levels Sen an angry look. No grand-standing this time, at least; he seems to have learned his lesson.]

Who were you talking to, huh?

[It is almost a Herculean effort not to panic when she hears the guards shuffling around outside and comparing this footprint to that slightly-warmed area, but she keeps her expression as poker-faced as she possibly can and is relieved when no shouts of "It was the brat!" reach her ears. They can fuss around outside all they want as long as they don't find him, for all she cares.

It's a good sign, too, that she doesn't hear anyone issuing orders to check Kaoru's room. It will give him more time to get back and make it appear as if he has been soundly sleeping all along.

...which isn't something she can do with this guard; he had been too close to opening the door for her to retreat under the futon covers. She looks up at him with narrowed eyes for a long moment or two, unspeaking, and then tosses her head and looks away from him. She isn't engaging in her earlier verbal taunts, either; instead, she's just... deciding that his question isn't even worth an answer, apparently. A different method of taunting.

Outside, the guards continue their poking around, and she's sure she even hears one crawling around under the floorboards. She is so glad she has long since retrieved the bag of food Kaoru went to such pains to put together for her, because if they had seen it dangling down there they would have figure out very quickly that someone was helping her, and she doubts any of them would immediately believe that she could have won over a servant so quickly.

What does concern her is when one of them growls out, loudly enough for her to hear, "What if the brat was the one sneaking around out here?" No orders come to go check his room just yet, and Sen's expression remains the same as it was before in case the guard who had opened her screen is looking for a reaction, but she hopes and prays that Kaoru has already made it back and that he has enough time to get under the covers and banish the pre-dawn chill from his skin and his hair. If they do check on him, if they feel that chill, they'll know he was outside...]

[WELL SHE PROBABLY WON'T HEED HIS RUDE SHIT WAYS and his calls of hey, don't ignore me! along with some choice expletives, but he is not a member of the family and therefore doesn't encroach on her space. Not even the servants want to risk potentially bringing down the wrath of this clan on themselves, and roughing up a hostage might be enough to do just that...

So Sen herself is in the clear for now, at least, though that may well change as soon as one of the family members has woken up. Considering the commotion that's going on, that may be sooner rather than later, unfortunately.

But it does seem like the guard at her door is looking for a reaction, since he's not exactly covert about it. She's definitely better at keeping her cards close to her chest than he is, that's for damn sure... But that frustrates him, and as morons are wont to do when they're frustrated, he calls out to make a nonsensical demand in a fit of anger.

Go check!

At which point she'll be able to hear the sound of many feet trampling off into the distance and also one OW— and a thump from under the floorboards as one stray nerd bashes his head against it in his attempt to scramble back out.

If Sen strains her hearing, she won't be able to detect any sort of loud outburst that might indicate Kaoru's been found out. The guard watches her carefully even so, until another set of footsteps comes up the hall. It's the same man who had taken Kaoru back to his room the night before, and he peers disdainfully toward Sen before looking back at the guard that has bowed his head. A simple what happened here? is met with a rough explanation, but it appears that both of their respective attentions are away from Sen for the time being.]

Edited 2015-01-06 23:51 (UTC)

[She absolutely does not heed his rude shit ways, because she is also a rude shit when circumstances call for it, and in her opinion these circumstances definitely do. Sen flat-out ignores him because he simply is not worth the effort it would take to turn her head toward him and insult him.

So there isn't a reaction for him to see at all, not even when he gets pissy and demands that his fellow guards go and check. She is anxious, but with the way she's seated at the table and the way her hands are folded in her lap, the table will block his field of vision so he can't see when her hands dig into the fabric of her kimono as the footsteps carry away and that one poor dingus guard hits his head. She allows a faint quirk of the lips at that, but she doesn't laugh because she's worried it would come out too nervous-sounding, even if she is amused by that man's folly.

Sen continues to ignore him even as he explains what is going on to the family member, and for good measure, she ignores the family member, too. He may be a Nagumo, but she's the Princess of Yase and as far as she's concerned, she outranks every member of this family.

Meanwhile, the guards going to check up on Kaoru's room aren't at all quiet as they approach. If he is in there, he'll have plenty of warning before they finally do grasp the screen by one side and force it open with a loud, "Wake up, you brat!" that isn't quite loud enough to carry back to Sen's quarters.]

[Random Knuckleheaded Mook 1 sure does try his best...

THAT SAID, Kaoru sure did have enough time to slip into his futon and has even managed to settle down into what's basically par for the course for his sleeping position. His heart is still hammering a mile a minute in his ribcage and he can't seem to get a hold of his breathing as well as he'd like, but there isn't much he can do for that before he hears the rush of footsteps and the door sliding open. He's already sitting up by the time they're demanding his wakefulness, but that likely won't seem too strange to them, considering it's pretty well known through the house that Kaoru is one of the lightest sleepers on the compound.]

What—? Has there been another intruder?!

[Probably a little too alert-sounding for someone who was just rudely jostled awake, but they don't seem to take notice of it. One strides over to yank the covers of his futons back, though he's met with an indignant-sounding shriek from Kaoru. Nothing will be found there, though; he was smart enough to wear socks outside and has neatly discarded them in a corner of his room that isn't often searched.

Despite his indignation and the fact that he still seems quite ruffled and displeased, he doesn't have quite the same noble air and pride that Sen does, so he simply sits silent and waits for the search to be completed.

Back with Sen, the family member looks like he may try for a second to speak with her, but he's smart enough to know that they won't get any information out of her without resorting to measures he'd rather not lean on just yet. Instead, he turns his attention back to the guard.

There was a cat wandering around in the front courtyard late last night.

If Sen's listening, their conversation will drift off toward speculation that it's the cat that caused all of that hassle before, and that not a single trace of an actual intruder had been found.]

Edited 2015-01-07 02:41 (UTC)

[He tries so hard but doesn't get very far... Fight on and do your best, Random Knuckleheaded Mook 1.

A random not-so-knuckleheaded mook, while the knuckleheaded one is presumably picking himself up from tripping over a twig or something, spares Kaoru a glance when he asks what happened. His breathing does sound a little off - but luckily for him, the servant attributes that to being startled. And if he's startled, that means he didn't expect anyone to be checking on him -

If he were guilty of talking with their prisoner, he would have expected it and he wouldn't have been startled. That's his conclusion, which he comes to before even beginning his search of Kaoru's things. He is thorough nonetheless, but still manages to miss the dirtied socks in the corner. Instead, he's rifling through Kaoru's drawers to see if any of the clothing within has been disturbed.

Either he's dumb or it hasn't. Either way, once he completes his search, he sneers back at Kaoru because he's annoyed that they've come all the way out here to look for nothing. "Go back to sleep."

With that, he leaves, taking the other servants with him; they go back to their prisoner's quarters to report that there is nothing amiss in Kaoru's room, even mentioning that "the brat" was asleep before they barged in.

Sen listens, but continues to pretend that she is tuning them out, as they discuss the events of the night prior; finally, though, she has enough of it, and she rises to her feet to walk to the door. Her expression is bland as she clears her throat to get their attention.]

If you really must discuss the feline disturbance, could you do it elsewhere? I would like to continue resting.

[And unless she's stopped, she takes the shoji screen and slides it shut without even waiting for permission, because she's a shithead.]

[Mook turned the wrong way, tragically, because he is a new hire and does not yet know his way around the compound...

Kaoru, on the other hand, gets more and more tense the longer the room is searched, feeling glad that he hadn't been searched as thoroughly since he sure still is wearing the clothing that he went outside in. It's very, very faint, but there are traces of dirt at his knees, so he's definitely snatching the covers back as soon as he can and giving the servants a dirty look.]

Good night.

[Oops, he does manage some imperiousness when he needs to, and that was definitely snappish... Before the servant has a chance to snarkily reply, Kaoru's flopping over onto his side and burying his face into his covers, clearly not keen on continuing to talk to these RUDEASS MEN.

Sen won't find her door being caught as she closes it, at least!

...That said, it seems like the clan member has had enough of her princess sass, because she'll definitely be able to hear him say

Today, we move her.]

[Small miracles... It's probably a little much to hope that the Mook will get assigned to move her and accidentally wind up turning her loose outside, huh.

Sen hears that man's words loud and clear, but if either he or the guard hopes for a reaction, they'll be sorely disappointed; the only sound that comes from inside her room is the rustling of her futon covers as she pulls them over herself. She's to be moved, at some point today. Moved to where? There aren't many options she can come up with that are good.

She'll have to find some way of smuggling the food Kaoru had brought to her into wherever her new prison is. That, or eat it before they come in to move her; if they find it here, that would prove disastrous. She also can't let them find the second silk bag she has tucked into her obi... that would be even worse.

She won't be able to sleep after hearing that. Adrenaline leaves her far too alert, and as time passes, she opts to eat the food discreetly and tuck the cloth it had been wrapped in into her obi as well. If it happens to be found, she'll simply claim it came with her from Yase.

By the time they get around to coming in to move her, she is knelt by the low table again. She raises her head to look at whoever is assembled for the move, quickly scanning the group to see if Kaoru is among them. Part of her doubts it, but she can't help but hope. Even if he's there, though, her expression is severe; she may be more frightened than she wants to admit even to herself, but she certainly won't show it to this clan.]

Well? Where is it that you have decided to move me to?

[Not many are assembled for the move. There are a few of the guards, though some seem to be missing. The man from earlier is present along with a second one who is also obviously part of the family rather than the staff. Despite her doubts, Kaoru is there as well, though it's probably obvious immediately that something is wrong. He's quiet and withdrawn, almost meek in his posturing, with both hands folded in front of himself. He stands mostly behind the men while one speaks.]

To a more secure location.

[Is what's said, simply and plainly.

But the guards make no move to step into the room, because despite what Mook 1 and his dumb braggart friends would lead a person to believe, these shitheads are pretty smart when they need to be. Any attempt at forcibly taking a Very Stubborn Princess just about anywhere would be extremely difficult, especially since she's made it clear once already that she wouldn't take being moved sitting down and has shown multiple times that she can be stubborn when she wants. No one has the time or patience to deal with something like that, especially since it risks damage to either themselves or their hostage.

Instead, Kaoru is pushed forward roughly by the shoulder. He stumbles, almost losing his balance, and then glances nervously behind himself before looking back toward Sen. His fingers twist together, expression pinched with displeasure.]

—I'll be guiding you...

[Sen had been prepared, if not to fight, then to dig in her heels and make this move as difficult as possible for the family. But seeing Kaoru the way he is, half-hidden behind the two elder members of the family, is her first clue that there is something not quite right about this.

Just the sight of him tells her that it won't be as simple as making this difficult for them.

When he steps forward, she almost curses under her breath. If he's her guide, then she doesn't doubt they'll hold him responsible for any dragging of her feet or any disturbances to the move. But at least this way, he'll know where she's held. She can take some small measure of comfort from that, though his expression and posture tell her that wherever she's going it won't be pleasant.

Even if he won't be able to pay her visits like he has in this room, there will be at least one person in this compound who knows where she is that doesn't wish her ill.

She takes a breath, and looks from Kaoru to the family members and back again. She brings her hands together to intertwine her fingers anxiously and rests them on her stomach.]

...I'll follow you... please lead the way.

[Kaoru hesitates for a second after that, glancing over once more, but it's not clear exactly what he's looking for. Not for a chance to bargain, since he knows already how useless it would be... And the looks he's met with brook no argument either way, so he turns his attention back to Sen in no time. They're at a bit of a dead-end now, unfortunately, and his apologetic expression reflects that.

But he also doesn't want the other clan members to know how sympathetic he feels toward their captive (even though they very likely already do), so he struggles to force his expression into something more placid.]

This way.

[And back out Kaoru steps. The men clear out of the way for him, and it looks like they aren't even going to follow along. It's just another way to make sure that if anything goes wrong, the blame will fall directly and wholly on his shoulders. He understands their reasoning for this to the letter.

It looks like they're gonna be going on a bit of a trip though, since Kaoru will start heading outdoors, slipping on his sandals in the entrance hall and picking up a lighted lantern that had been set outside the door. Only pausing to make sure that Sen is following along, he then sets out toward the courtyard and the forest that edges its back perimeter.]

Edited 2015-01-08 04:06 (UTC)

[This is truly unfortunate.

She can't say she's surprised they've figured out that tying Kaoru's well-being to her obedience is the surest way to make her comply - she did, after all, make the trip out to Tosa for his sake - but she wishes they hadn't started doing it quite so quickly. She doesn't doubt that Kimigiku will come for her, but if she's kept somewhere further away from the compound proper, it will certainly make spiriting Kaoru away when the time for rescue comes much more difficult.

The fact of the matter is that he will be held accountable for any misbehavior, so she is just about as docile as this clan is ever going to see her as she follows along after him. It concerns her that wherever they're going, they have to take a lantern. ...it concerns her that she doesn't actually know where they're going; she's received many a report about the Nagumo clan, but none with any detail about somewhere "secure" that they would go through the forest to reach.

As they walk, Sen takes a breath and glances back over her shoulder before looking ahead to Kaoru. They're so eager to have him be responsible that the probably won't be able to hear when she speaks up, because they're a good distance away and her voice is low. There is a slight waver to it - she is frightened, after all - but she won't allow it to become anything more than "slight."]

Can you tell me where we're going, or is that disallowed..?

[Kaoru actually doesn't answer her question right away. They'll walk across the entirety of the courtyard and out under the decorative bowed arch that acts as an entry point, and Kaoru starts to lead the way down a little winding path that's so small and leaf-strewn that it'd be almost impossible to pick out.

Once they're several steps onto that, though, he'll finally speak up.]

I apologize... No one will track us out any farther than this, if anyone was at all.

[He didn't sense any lurking demonic presence, but he's learned that it's better to be safe than painfully, horrifically sorry in cases like this. He casts a glance her way, guilt of some strange description written into his expression.]

...We're going to a room that's still attached to the house, but only underground. I'll know how to get to you.

[Which is, as he sees it, probably the most reassuring thing he can say.]

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*OH MY GOD PRETEND I SAID EDO BEFORE i was so tired last night...

I DIDNT EVEN NOTICE........ good lord

we are bastions of historical and geographical accuracy

stares out into the distance...

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