Within A Grey Twilight 2 Chapter One: To A City

He helped his sister, Masami down. Dressed in a pale blue kimono, she had her hair worn into a low ponytail. Along with most of their luggage here, which was taken by s.h.i.+nrou as it was. Yuki simply followed him, carrying her umbrella.

"I hear that Okiban's tea houses are the best." She holds up the parasol, looking at the city before them. Although Masami and Kazuho both said nothing. Absolutely nothing. "Though the weather could be better."

She wiped the sweat off her head. While bringing the parasol to cover most of her head.

"We should try and find an inn first, and are you really going to buy a house here?" Masami asked her own brother. Who by all means could afford it, but this was useful for their duration here, and the rest of the time it was just eating into them. And that no one was keen to stay here for an extended period of time.

"I can just buy and sell it when I'm not longer in Okiban." Which was expenditure that could not be avoided, they needed a place. An inn was suitable but afforded them little to no privacy.

"Can you ensure that it is s.p.a.cious?" That was easy, it was just the four of them after all. Bringing another person was tricky, and hiring a servant seemed pointless too.

Before they entered inside the city, where s.h.i.+nrou was carrying all of theirs. Kazuho chose to travel light, as did all of them. And into the inn at the side.

"May I have two rooms?" He looked to the innkeeper, who glanced towards Yuki. Yuki who had red hair tied into a high ponytail, and dressed in a red kimono.

"Sure." The innkeeper focused back on Kazuho, and took the keys to the two rooms. One to Kazuho and the other he gave it to Yuki, who pa.s.sed it to Masami.

Masami held the same keys, before bringing them up. And naturally, all this stuff went to their room. Which he hoped still could have s.p.a.ce to have them. Only to find that Masami took hers. Which lighten the load quite a bit.

At least it will free up s.p.a.ce. He certainly hoped so.

He let s.h.i.+nrou inside first, and well now he saw the necessity of a big house. Since it took up half the room. Which was as good as leaving little s.p.a.ce for them.

"Well, this could have been worse."

He was in an inn, which was expected for the first part of the journey. He looked out the window, taking out his silver mask. Setting it on the small table beside her.

"s.h.i.+nrou, explore this city within the next week. I hope to get a good map." The man obeyed. As he was supposed to. Without another word, and was something that he preferred.

The map he received was far from perfect. By all means. He didn't wish to get anything to drink just yet, he spent too much time overseas and it was difficult to get used to it. Better he wait for a while.

"Yes, master." He disappeared from sight within the moment. Hearing a small knock, he would guess who it was. It was Masami, Yuki was unlikely to do so.

He opened the doors to welcome her in. "Now that's settled." She looked to her room, one which she shared with Yuki. Turning around, she saw that s.h.i.+nrou was no longer around.

"So how did it go?" He asked.

"Nothing much. But we need to figure out where we can find a house." As much as that was viable with Yuki demanding a big one. Which was by all means necessary. In case they needed to think carefully.

Buying too large will make him even more suspicious than he was before. And the last thing he needs is people to look into his ident.i.ty.

"Maybe buy one from the same district as the Geisha houses." She pointed to the east side of the city, known for its Geisha houses.

"I doubt so, besides it just makes us even more suspicious than the fact we just came from a s.h.i.+p, a.s.sume new ident.i.ties and may be possibly hiding more."

And many will look at him the wrong way, even if he is rather rich. And his age, which is around that of most Geisha. Which he really wants to avoid.

"Or maybe in the same district as many of Daimyos."

"No interest. Most of them house young heirs who serve as hostages." Which was as blunt as possible. Although Masami didn't find anything wrong about it, but respected his advice. Well, it wasn't one that was fantastic either.

"What about the district with the As.h.i.+nato?"

"Terrible choice, they are able to arrest anyone." Although they didn't ever do that, but it was just way too close to ever be truly comfortable or even feel that he could reveal secrets. Without the feeling that someone behind them will overhear and report them.

"True, and we can take care of security ourselves." Not that they needed all that attention. "And it really is meant for those who are here on business and can't afford to hire anyone."

"What about the district where all the underworld district is?"

Kauzho doesn't say a word. Because it was likely the worst location anyone could have decided for that matter.

"Pa.s.s me the map." At least before Masami recommended even worse locations. But she already has done the worst locations, there weren't many left to compete.

Kazuho looked at the map, not wanting any chances of this to happen again. Okiban had many districts, and many of which weren't the best place to choose from. There were not that many farmers in the region, as most of them made way for markets or even merchants simply bought them out.

And he was looking for one near them. Despite the fact that they were by all means not merchants, but he could gather some income from there. Which to him was important, if he was to buy a house.

"Anyway, I think the districts near the emba.s.sies are good choices." Masami looked at them.

"Aren't you afraid that they will also do the same to you as the As.h.i.+nato? Or you may be surrounded by people who are also doing the same thing?"

"True." There were many countries which exhibited a healthy interest, and many swapped their envoys here. Which should have warned him away. Since changing rarely meant anything good.

Although at this rate, it made finding a house much harder and easier at the same time. But they could make do with what they have. Location was almost everything.

It was almost everything if he wanted to be able to settle all of this.

"Did you ask s.h.i.+nrou to bring back some snacks?" Masami looked out the window.

"I didn't."

"How could you forget that? He is mostly going to have to run across the city anyway, might as well use it to get some good fold."

"He may just decide to buy it today and give it to you a week later." Which by the time will ahsb spoiled given the deadline he gave to Kazuho. Although he was tempted to ask that of him, but he decided to suppress it.

"That will be what he does." She admitted. Well, they could just wait. Or Masami could make it her own job to do so.

"I'll get you and Yuki some when we go out." As long as it doesn't break his finances. Which shouldn't be too hard, as long as he keeps her away from all the variety. Which was easy, really easy.

Since she didn't know and as long as the kept her away from them, he could keep away from having to spoil his wallet for her.

"That will work."

"But back to this, maybe just close to one of the markets will do." Emba.s.sies were out, near the As.h.i.+nato was simply suicide to consider. And finally, who thinks that living next to Daimyo and Samurai were a good idea. When you are someone of mysterious background, but appear to be loaded.

It certainly wasn't his. As much as he entertained the idea, but he didn't like it. It was just too close to even be comfortable if he stayed there.

And so, decided where they will find a house in. Which was still a large section of the city. But excluded majority of the east, and the west. One was known as a pleasure disftrci and flower towns, the other was simply a place where the sun will never s.h.i.+ne on. Nor could it ever be brought into the light.

Before the door opened. Revealing Yuki, who has just came in. Kazuho knew that Masami was simply wondering how did that girl know when she made so much of an effort to come.

"Did I hear that you're buying snacks?" She smiled, with it grinning so wide and her eyes wide.

If anything was going to hurt, it was his wallet. While Masami looked at her brother, with an awkward smile. So much for trying to be frugal. And he could say goodbye to a large portion of his savings.