Sanada Junko

[Yaoquizque]

A few hours later, Fuyuko entered House Sanada's domain, followed by Hideaki. It was the first time he actually walked into one of those vast properties owned by the old nobility; places of peace and tradition, where etiquette meant more than anywhere else.
He stayed a few steps behind Junko's daughter as she lead him towards the private part of the domain, keeping a solemn expression and quietly listening to Fuyuko's gabbing. After stepping into countless rooms filled with exquisite furniture obviously coming from various parts of Sirius sector, they eventually reached wonderfully painted shōjis she slowly opened, revealing a traditional room she asked him to wait into until someone would come for him.

Ishikawa sat down on the single mat inside the room and waited quietly, thinking about what he was going to say to that man. He had a hard time behaving in a manner that the nobles expected, but still... He had to try and get on the good side of Junko's father.
After a while, a servant came, asking him to follow him after he informed him his audience was granted.
They crossed more of those rooms filled with furniture whose aesthetic code was mostly alien to him, before entering what seemed to be the audience room, a rather large one where several men where waiting.
A man in his last sixties was sat on a tatami upright in front of the door, while the others were sitting Seiza on the left of the room in a perfect line. Their grave attitude looked unwelcoming. the servant gestured Ishikawa to step in and then slowly closed the sliding door.

Ishikawa approached until a few meters away from the man and gave a respectful bow. Then he looked straight at the man. "I am honored that you have chosen to accept this meeting, Sanada-san. My name is Ishikawa Hideaki, rear admiral of the Kusari Naval Forces." He waited expectantly for the reply, not jumping straight to the point, leaving some time for formalities.
"I know who you are." Said the man after a grunt, gesturing Ishikawa unkindly to sit as the men on the left were looking at each other "You asked my daughter to help you getting this audience. Speak now."
Ishikawa nodded and moved forward, ignoring the rather rude way he was welcomed. Sitting down on the mat and facing the older man, he let a few seconds slip before he said gravely : "Very well. I've come here to talk to you about your elder daughter, Sanada Junko. I am not sure how much you know about her current location, but she has left Kusari for a while already."
"My only daughter is Fuyuko." said the man quietly.
"And that is the issue at hand." Ishikawa replied just as quietly. "My goal is to turn you into a man with two daughters once more."

Chozaburo stared at the men on Ishikawa's left side. They rose and left the room after bowing respectfully at him.
A few seconds passed after they all left, the man spent staring at Ishikawa unkindly.
"You are quite insolent, Ishikawa Hideaki. The descent of Honshu fishermen, nothing noble in their eyes. Your father runs a moderately properous company there, does he not. It would only take me a call, and he would have to liquidate his business in the coming month. That could be the price for you meddling in affairs that do not concern you."
Ishikawa clamly looked at Chozaburo as he was staring at him. He had expected something like this and was as such, not too shaken. "Sanada-san. You do not need to threaten me, as I think our interests in this case are aligned. I wish for her return to Kusari and reconciliation with her family. I am sure, as her father, you wish for the same."

The man sighed, looking down for a while before getting his eyes back to his guest.
"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. What is honor to people like you?". He shrugged, before adding :
"The person you mentioned brought great shame to the clan, and therefore is not longer welcome. Even merely talking about that person is an unacceptable waste of time and a shame for every member of Sanada's House."

Ishikawa released a quiet sigh at that statement. "She has made her mistakes and she has paid dearly for it. But do you really think it is better for the family to have your daughter exiled, than to find a resolution? She has the potential to bring back that lost honor, if only you let her."
"Oh? And how that would be?"
"I know it is not usual for noble women to serve in the military. But she has managed to gain respect there and will continue to do so." He looked carefully at the old man, wondering if he even had any chance to convince him. "It would also allow her to find a suitable husband."

The old man laughed in disdain.
"You, that is? How a peasant like you could be suitable? You don't look like much." said Chozaburo with contempt.
"I am not nobility, that much is true. But do deeds not count for anything? I am rear-admiral of the Naval Forces, commander of the Sado fleet. Do not think that your house will suffer a loss of prestige should I marry your daughter."

"An Admiral serving the traitors who deposed their lord and thought they could usurp the position of the veritable rulers of Kusari, designated by Amaterasu herself...." started Chozaburo, his voice filled with disappointment.
"If you knew what honor was, you would fall on your sword at this very moment, right in front of me, for having betrayed the Emperor."
Ishikawa narrowed his eyes as he stared at the old man. "My loyalty is with the people of Kusari. They have chosen against the emperor for now. They will decide who leads us, I am just their sword."
"Your new masters could not take back our legitimate privileges in spite of all their efforts. Petty bargainers and cheap whores. The fact the person you mentioned did not resign from the military right after the foundation of this... 'Republic'..." he made a pause, after having almost spat that word ".. is another outrage that shall not be forgotten."

Ishikawa just shook his head. "I see. I doubt you will understand my point of view then. Neither me nor her would give up our duty to the people just to appease you."
"I wish she died in Seto..." murmured the man, lowering his head and looking at the tatamis on the ground for a while before adding :
"... would have at least avenged a part, no matter how little, of the great shame she brought upon the house and.. Upon me."

"You brought shame onto yourself just by wishing for that." Ishikawa replied through gritted teeth. "I think everything has been said now."
"What did you say?" Asked angrily Chozubaro, raising his head to look daggers at Ishikawa.
"I did not think a father would be capable of hating his own daughter that much." Ishikawa simply replied, staring back at him.

The man started to scream at Ishikawa "You petty foul, what do you know! Get out of here before I order to beat you down until you can not walk anymore!"
As he was about to shout again at his guest, who, resigned, was waiting for the tempest to calm down, a feminine voice spoke from the other side of the shōjis right to the room.
"Sumimasen..."