Sanada Junko

[Yaoquizque]

Two days after he landed on New Tokyo, Ishikawa started to do some research towards finding a way to eventually meet the members of this House Sanada so often mentioned by his acquaintance. The task quickly proved to be difficult. The head of the House, whom Ishikawa assumed to be Junko's father, was conveniently enough granting audiences, but Ishikawa was opposed with unreasonable requirements and demands about the reasons of his request. Someone told him, almost as if it was a confidence, that he could perhaps hope for one in two or three years.

Simply roaming in the Imperial district and hoping for a miracle to happen would not bear any fruit either, as it appeared Sanada House owned a domain of over twelve hectares, reserved to their followers, guests and, of course, the members of their clan. The chances to meet anyone capable of arranging a meeting in the public arteries of Imperial district were very low, at best. A waste of time.

As for the contacts he made within Naval Forces ranks, the political class or Keiretsus, nobody seemed to be willing or capable to help him. Each one of them was recommending him to meet with an acquaintance or business partner of them, who may be able to help him. All smoke and mirrors.

With the foundation of the Republic, those noble houses appeared to shut themselves away from the commoners population, counting of their considerable influence to maintain their privileges and probably keep on pulling the strings from the shadows.

As a last resort, Ishikawa turned towards the one other member of the Sanada family that he knew, even though their meeting in the past had been very short. Junko's sister would be somewhat more accessible than her father, he thought, but even getting to her was difficult. Finally, he managed to approach her husband himself, due to a Samura/KNF connection about large ship building and equipment contracts. In the end, he was invited for a cup of tea, thanks also to some favours he could call in with KNF personnel that was even closer to Samura.

It was a traditional house in Imperial district. Ishikawa was introduced in the property by the personnel, crossing a beautiful garden, full of moss and well tended pine trees. A pound could be seen as they made their way towards a small pavilion, built on top of the water. The major-domo gestured him respectfully to step in the pavilion, begging him to take place while his host would be arriving. The tatamis looked like new inside, a part of the ground being made of glass to see the carps swim in the water below.
Sighing quietly, Ishikawa looked around carefully, not quite sure what to expect now. Sitting down on the mats, he simply studied the fish for a while as he waited. It would be ideal if her sister remembered him, but he had his doubts... And this would make convincing her even harder.
"Ayya.... Please forgive me for the wait" said his host when he arrived. It was a mid forty man with quite some weight issue, who carefully stepped into the house before standing in front of Ishikawa as he was getting up to salute his host.

The two men bowed and the man added :
"Admiral Ishikawa, it's an honor. I wasn't expecting a visit from a member of the Admiralty..?" His greasy laugh could be heard for a short while before he added "You almost had me worried there.. I thought about some arrest warrant or something alike... You never know in these troubled times..."
Ishikawa gave him a warm smile after the bow. "Ah, nothing could be farther from the truth. As far as I am told, you are an upstanding and law-abiding man." He remained standing until his host would signal to sit down. "I must say, your estate is most impressive."
"Hai.... Hai..." Replied the man casually as if it was nothing that good "Some people are gifted by the gods."
He gestured his servants to prepare everything for the tea before asking :
"To what do I owe the rare pleasure to have such an honorable guest for tea, then? Are you mandated by the Naval Forces to talk business? That would be peculiar but... Not unprecedented" he smiled at his own remark, probably finding it amusing, to witch his guest politely reacted.
"Ah, no such thing, unfortunately. I'm here because of personal reasons.." He watched as the personnel started moving round to prepare the table. "I was told you have a beautiful wife, belonging to Sanada house, will she join us for the tea?"

"Fuyuko?" pondered the man "I don't think she is...." He turned around as to get in touch with a member of his personnel "Where is Madam right now?"
"Mistress is outside, Master. I believe she mentioned the desire to meet with the members of her chorale" replied the major-domo.
"Is that so?" replied the man in an uninterested way before returning to Ishikawa.
"You did want to meet my wife, Ishikawa-san?"

"Hm, yes. If possible. Through my job I have gotten to know her sister, Sanada Junko. A member of our Naval Forces. Unfortunately, she has disappeared from Kusari for some time now and I wonder if your wife might now something about that. Additionally, she may also be able to help me with another problem." Ishikawa sighed quietly and bowed slightly. "I am sorry about bothering you with this."
"Fuyuko's sister...?" asked the man, perplexed, as he was doing some effort to remember "Oh hai.. Indeed indeed.. That's the elder sister who ran from her husband. That affair made waves, I can tell you. It's funny because I think the husband was a Kishiro cadre. They can't keep their women..." then added the man, chuckling for quite a while, forcing Ishikawa to make the semblance of a smile for his host.

Said host did not appear to notice however, and only got back to looking at Ishikawa questioningly after his hilarity was over.
"You are looking for my wife's sister then? She disappeared? That sounds bad... I should ask Fuyuko about it..." he added thoughtfully, looking yet again perplexed.
"It's precisely that elder sister, yes." Ishikawa reaffirmed, trying hard to keep his patience back while dealing with this insufferable samura fool. "If you like, we could all have tea together so that your wife could then tell us what she knows about it."
"Hmm... Maybe..." He turned around to look at his Major-domo "Can you ask Madam to return home? I have to talk to her."
"Hai, Master." said the major-domo before leaving their presence.

"Eh.." then uttered the man "that could take some time... Meanwhile, perhaps you can tell me about how our brave military is doing lately? I like to hear battle stories and... You are a renowned veteran, aren't you?"
The two men talked casually for a while, Ishikawa's impatience growing further while his host was asking more and more trivial questions, even going as far as trying repeatedly to convince him to tell some battle-tales.

Eventually, they were interrupted by the major-domo, who told his master his wife had arrived.
"Oh very well, very well. Make her come."

Fuyuko stopped at the entry door of the pavilion before bowing respectfully at the two men. She then questioningly looked a their guest.
"Konbanwa, glad to meet you.... Eto... I can't seem to recall..." She said, embarrassed.
Ishikawa turned to Fuyuko, glad that this boring conversation was now finally over and gave her a bow. "It is an honour. My name is Ishikawa Hideaki. I'm an acquaintance of your sister, so perhaps she has told you of me in the past."

Fuyuko's eyes widened as she remembered, a candid smile lightening up her face.
"Oh..! Hai! I remember you now. We talked briefly in that hospital...." She suddenly looked worried "Did... Something happen to Junko..?"
"Ah.. I see, you don't know either then." He sighed quietly. "Well, the truth of the matter is that Sanada Junko has left Kusari and I do not know where she is right now. I was hoping that you could help me."
"Ehhh? She left?" asked Fuyuko, surprised, after relief could be read on her face. Her husband was now gazing at the pound to look busy while that conversation not involving him was going on.
"That's strange... She cared a lot and was very proud of this job in the military, I think? Why would she have abandoned that job..?" finally said Fuyuko thoughtfully.
"Well.." He looked away for a second before facing her again, not sure how to best say that. "From what she has told me.. she has some family problems that are unresolved.."

"Nani? Oh.. With Father..." emitted unconvincingly Fuyuko, looking down.
"That is what she says, yes. I would try talking to him, but that has proven to be difficult." He gave her a smile again. "Maybe you could help with that?"
"Hmm..." emitted Fuyuko thoughtfully as she was lowering her head "Why would you want to talk to Father...? What would you tell him?"
"Well. I would make some suggestions that should finally resolve the issue between him and Junko. He's unlikely too disagree when the offer has benefits for him, hai?"
"Perhaps not?" pondered Fuyuko, her voice filled with doubt "I don't know. Father can be hard to convince. I suppose it doesn't hurt trying, though?"
She eventually rose her head to look at him "You want me to arrange a meeting with him, then?"
"Indeed. That is what I would ask of you. Hopefully I'm not bothering you too much with this." He looked at Fuyuko with a determined expression. "I will try my best to bring Junko back."

Fuyuko laughed when she heard that affirmation.
"That would be nice indeed. She still did not meet Momotaro-chan... He's our second child. She can be difficult sometimes but I miss my sister..." She then gazed at Ishikawa maliciously "I remember you very clearly, in that hospital room. You were quite worried about her fate. It looks like my sister found a man ready to do anything for her... "
she then giggled and added "I wish I had a man that determined loving me."

His husband cleared his throat at that remark, looking to her unkindly.
"Oh but I have one already, am I stupid...." she then said, laughing.

"Well, I am quite determined, yes. When do you think I could meet your father?" eventually said Ishikawa, his impatience showing a bit now.
"Oh I don't know... Is it that urgent?" asked Fuyuko absentmindedly.
"Who knows what could happen to Junko if we wait too long? I will also be soon consumed with my duties as admiral again.."
"Oh... In that case..." started to say Fuyuko before looking at her husband "You won't mind if I go to Sanada House this afternoon, my beloved?"
The man grunted slightly before making a gesture indicating he would not be bothered either way..

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