Exactly three days has passed since Hanbei and Toshie have arrived back at Ryuzen estate, they are resting and enjoying the benefits of the bath house to heal and renew their mind and spirit. As they sit in the bathhouse resting in the hot steamy waters. Hanbei is drinking a cup of warm sake while Toshie has a wet rag on his face as he sits in the water leans his head against the top edge of the bath. Hanbei then speaks after sipping on his sake, "So brother it seems we are to be richly rewarded for our devoted service, what will you do with your reward?" Without removing his cloth he responds, "I will buy a small piece of land in Kai near Ryuzen estate and build a bathhouse just like this one for me to enjoy" "Surely you jest brother, you could use this one for free anytime you wish and still keep the gold you were rewarded with and buy something else with your new wealth" "Oh I could buy something else but it would not be my land and bathhouse. I wish to stop wondering this land and begin to put down roots in Kai. Plus, I have heard Iga province has earned the wrath of the demon lord Nobunaga Oda and our home province may not be so free anymore once he decides to invade and at least here we have a lord who appreciates us and knows how to reward us well" Hanbei exhales in frustration, "Hanzo warned the other ninja clan leaders to not interfere with the daimyo from Owari, fate has smiled on him to win impossible battles and has amazingly good luck. Hanzo had the foresight to get our clan out of Iga. He knew their greed and arrogance would be there undoing. Our home province being the smallest in all of Japan could not defend against a full-scale invasion. It was a foolish of them to think they could raid his territory and not expect reprisals. They grew to comfortable hiding in those damn mountains" Hanbei then also responds to Toshie previous statement about spending his gold "Fair point brother about laying down roots here" "Hanbei, what will you do with your reward money?" Hanbei smiled and then said, "I will use it for what I always use it for, to my greatest love of all her name is sake" "Surely you cannot drink it all away?" "Oh, do not mistake me I will not be that foolish, but I have been in talks with Joam de Barros, and he needs investors to help him start a sake brewery business in Kai and I intend to invest and reap the rewards of free sake and continuous income as well" Toshie laughed loudly not because it was to make fun of his brother but because he knew that was the perfect investment for Hanbei. Then a young servant boy came into the bathhouse and stood in front of Hanbei and Toshie and spoke, "My lords Lord Ryuzen has summoned you to his meeting hall in his mansion along with lady Mizuki and bids with all haste that you attend once you are dressed and ready to be in his presence" The boy then bowed and exited the bathhouse. Then Hanbei and Toshie immediately got out of the bath and got dressed and ready to go to the meeting hall.

  About thirty minutes later Mizuki, Hanbei, and Toshie sat kneeling in Ryuzen meeting hall. Hanbei and Toshie both dressed and groomed wearing the finest white cloth robes money could buy. A reward from Ryuzen, Mizuki was adorned in a shimmering light blue silk kimono also a reward from Ryuzen and her hair fixed in a beautiful bun with her trademark sharpened black hair sticks protruding from her hair. Her ears were adorned with beautiful pearl earrings that would cost a small clan an entire year's worth of income; her face had mostly healed from the swelling although her eyes were still blood shot red from the blackeyes she received from Harunobu. Yet her face was pale from white powder and lips covered in a beautiful rosy, red lipstick. Her eyebrows were trimmed thinly, and she had not shaved off her eyebrows and painted them as was the style at the time. She preferred the natural look. Despite her injuries her beauty radiated like an angel descending from the heavens and took the breath away of nearly every man who saw her on the estate. As they waited for Ryuzen to enter the hallway, Mizuki observed three small black lacquer chests placed at the right side of the hall near where they sat with three servants kneeling behind them. Further into the hall on the right side of where Ryuzen would sit was a court scribe dressed in black robes with the Kuroda clan symbol on his robes with parchment and ink bottle with a quill sticking out of the ink glass bottle directly in front of him. Mizuki thought in her head, "My lord wishes this to be recorded and made a part of the official record. This is a good sign" She then observed where Ryuzen would sit and it was a rather large white silk pillow filled with feathers. and directly behind his seat was a sword rack with the much feared and vaunted katana Yamiuchi in its dark almost void less black color which gave Mizuki a chill down her spine looking at it briefly. The entire hall was illuminated from the open windows near the top of the ceiling on the left and right side of the walls which let in the noon sunlight and gave it a heavenly scene. Plus, the incense burner near the entrance gave it sweet, pleasant smell and made Mizuki feel at ease and relaxed in this hall. She recalled her vow in the torture chambers how she would see Ryuzen again and now this vow would finally come to pass. The beautiful silk kimono to the lavish earrings meant nothing to her as long as she could see Ryuzen and serve him with all her heart. Then she was brought back from her thoughts with the doors from the entrance hall swung open and in his typical black samurai robes, with his distinct scars on his face with his famous swords sheathed in his hands walking toward his seat at the head of the hall. Ryuzen then removed his katana Kurokane and short sword Kageboshi from his belt and placed them on his right side and finally sat down. Ryuzen then looked at each of his shinobi and as he stared at Mizuki, she could not help but blush and turn red on her cheeks but luckily her white powder covered up her blushing. Then he finally smiled and spoke, "My dear shadows you have accomplished something that would have taken an army months to accomplish and now thanks to your efforts we may take this land in a matter of weeks. Hanbei you have proven yourself again as an accomplished shinobi and cannot be grateful in your part in destroying the shipment of muskets, Toshie I thank you also in gathering the intelligence about the patrols and numbers and also in helping destroy the muskets. To you both I give you each a chest full of gold totaling 300 Ryu of gold and I hope you will continue to aid me in helping unify this land" Then in unison both Toshie and Hanbei bowed in unison spoke thanking Ryuzen and vowing their continued commitment in serving him. Then two servants came and placed the chests directly in front of each man. Once the servants were done and went back to their previous position in the hall. Ryuzen then continued, "Mizuki your sacrifice is so much greater that I don't think I could ever fully repay the deeds you have done in service to my clan. You sacrificed your life and body in service to me and paid a heavy price. You rid the land of a monster which no doubt if he was unchecked would have harmed countless other innocent women. I am glad to see you are looking better and you seem to be recovering from your injuries quickly. In the chest is gold in the amount of 700 Ryu coins which should be enough to allow you live comfortably for the rest of your life. Furthermore, I cannot expect you to continue to serve me after such mighty deeds. Therefore, I am releasing you from my service and hope you will find a happy and peaceful life. I wish you nothing but good fortune and happiness for the rest of your life" Mizuki was panicking and thinking screaming in her head, "No he cannot send me away not after all this has happened, I need him in my life" She about to refuse his offer when unexpectedly he spoke further before she could speak up, "Also upon my word of honor and as clan head of the Kuroda clan I will grant you any wish you desire if it is in my power to grant you whatever wish you desire" Ryuzen feeling content in rewarding her whatever she desired waited for her to give him an answer, he expected maybe she might ask for a piece of land, or maybe some other material reward that he could provide her to help start her on a new life. She contemplated for a minute and then smiled like a fox in a henhouse at him and for some reason this unnerved Ryuzen.

  Mizuki then bows not like a servant but a warrior with pride and then looks at him again and speaks, "Freedom is a generous gift, my lord but I would rather choose you. My lord Ryuzen you have given me enough gold to live in comfort. But comfort is not the life I desire. I ask instead to remain as your bodyguard and concubine. Let me be your shadow, your shield, and if fate demands it, the blade that dies before it reaches you. Grant me this... and I will belong to you in loyalty and in life" Ryuzen was in shock by her request and his eyes were wide open in complete surprise, yet he remained silent and everyone in the hall was also caught off guard by her request. Then Toshie being Toshie studies Mizuki carefully, then glances at the now pale faced Ryuzen who looks like the blood has now drained from his face completely looks amused at his lord's predicament then comments out loud to everyone, "My lord... you have conquered castles, provinces, and enemies. Yet it seems today you have been captured by your generosity" Then Ryuzen wanted to strangle Toshie but began to laugh nervously inwardly and could not believe he trapped himself like this and he was also afraid of what Isabell might do to him also. Then after the awkward pause Toshie continues, "Next time you grant any request...I suggest you ask the shinobi to leave this room first" Then Toshie conjures up a subtle smile. Toshie respects his sister loyalty, but he cannot resist pointing out the irony. Ryuzen is tempted to use his time marker to reverse the situation, but he knows in his heart that would violate his code of ethics, and it would break his word, and he would be no better than Melanios if he abused his gift in that way. Ryuzen takes a deep breath and speaks, "I have given you my word of honor and as it is being recorded by my court scribe I grant you the status of my bodyguard and concubine which you will serve me with your body, mind, and spirt and you will accompany me at all times on campaign and at court as is your request. May God have mercy on us both from the wrath of my wife" Then Ryuzen still shaking requests that Toshie and Hanbei leave the great hall as does all the servants with the exception of the court scribe. Then has a servant bring Isabell before him and has a place prepared for her to sit by his side in front of Mizuki.

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  Isabell with her beautiful blonde hair shimmering in the afternoon light, with her hair fixed in loops in the back of her head dressed in a red silk kimono with golden flowers decorating her robes and like Mizuki has a flawless beauty that almost seems angelic. Yet at this moment she knows her husband would not call her to the hall like this unless something has gone wrong. Then Ryuzen speaks nervously which is most unusual to Isabell and then he explains to her the details of his promise granting anything Mizuki desired and how she then requested to be his bodyguard and concubine and because he gave his word of honor, he had no choice but to grant her request. Then once he finished speaking, she looks at Ryuzen for a long time that unnerves Ryuzen who at this point is sweating bullets across his forehead and face...then she begins to laugh. Not cruel laughter. The kind that says she is just enjoying the unexpected surprise fate has brought them and then Isabell speaks, "So let me understand this properly, my lord husband. You offered a shinobi any request she wished, and you did this after she had just completed a flawless espionage mission" Isabelle then folds her hands calmly, "For a brilliant general, that was a remarkably foolish gamble" Ryuzen then moves his head down in embarrassment and Isabell satisfied her husband has understood her she then turns her head toward Mizuki. She studies her carefully for a minute and then speaks in serious tone, "You have my respect, Mizuki. Few women would refuse a chance at freedom and choose service instead. Fewer still would bind a daimyo with his own honor" A smile returns to Isabell face. "In truth... I rather like you already" Then she makes the rules clear. "But understand this well. I am the first wife of the house of Kuroda. My son will inherit the clan and its lands. That is not a matter open to discussion." The room becomes quiet. "If you remain here, you remain as my husband's concubine and bodyguard...not as a rival to the heir" Mizuki then bows low to the ground at then speaks, "Lady Isabell, I will never challenge your place or your son's future. I did not choose to stay for power, land, or title." Mizuki then raises her head and body calmly back to a position of kneeling "I asked because my loyalty belongs to Lord Ryuzen and because I wish to guard the life that protects this clan" She then just respectfully bows only her head continues, "Your son is the future of the Kuroda. If danger ever comes for him... it will have to pass through me first." Isabell then sighs lightly and stares at Ryuzen. "Well, my lord it appears you have acquired a spy and a second wife in the same week" She pauses playfully smiling at him, "Next time you promise someone anything they want, perhaps consult your first wife beforehand" Ryuzen nods his head in agreement like a child who has just been yelled at by his parents. He decides it is best to stay silent for now. Isabell then stands up and says before she leaves, "I think you two have much more to discuss and I will have my room now moved to the much bigger newer wing of the mansion that my husband will build for me and our son and I will stay in his quarters until it is complete. You and our husband will be sleeping in here until it is complete is that understood" Ryuzen like a whipped dog says, "Yes my dear wife" She then leaves the meeting hall. Mizuki inwardly is the happiest she has ever been and even if they have to sleep under the stars as long as she is next to him, she will be content. Ryuzen then wipes the sweat from his face and forehead with white cloth hidden in his robes. Then he looks at Mizuki and says, "I will have the servants bring your things in here and have your chest of gold stored in my treasury that you can access whenever you please" Then he gulps hard and then says, "Come dear wife as I introduce everyone to you as my concubine and bodyguard" Ryuzen then thinks, "what the hell just happened" He then stands up and helps Mizuki up and grabs her hand gently and both of them exit the meeting hall to introduce Mizuki as his second wife and concubine.

  Once the shock of Ryuzen now being married for second time had finally subsided in his mind, Ryuzen the very next morning after his training and cold plunge in the water brook is now in his meeting hall with his new wife by his side sitting in his meeting hall speaking with Enkai who is facing his lord and Gensei to his left with his biwa in front of him and a servant pouring green tea for everyone. Enkai speaking said playfully, "So my lord has learned strategy but did not count on the hidden seductress to block you in and force you to concede" Enkai laughing lightly. Ryuzen smiled and just accepted what fate had dealt him and simply held Mizuki hand gently to let her know all was well with him and their new arrangement. Then Ryuzen spoke, "Joking aside, I wish to conduct a lightning-fast invasion of Nagano clan lands and capture the Minowa castle before the first frost forms on the ground. I want us to have a winter foothold in Kozuke province before we continue the invasion of the rest of the province in the spring, what suggestions do you have on how we can take the province quickly based on the shinobi intelligence reports?" Enkai scratched his chin and then finally spoke, "My lord I believe based on Toshie describing the lax security and sparse patrols on the road a large well-armed calvary force should rush the town quickly overwhelming the defenses surrounding the castle and prevent anyone from getting help from the Sanada or gathering a force large enough try to stop us by cutting the head off from the body. The rest of your army can follow behind on foot and pack horses and carts with supplies can reinforce the siege within hours after the cavalry rushing to Minowa first. Based on Mizuki observations of inside the castle they would have no more than two hundred samurai to defend the walls if we get there quick enough to surround it." Ryuzen responded, "Excellent idea, we can have a force of two thousand cavalry rush to the castle followed by an additional fifteen hundred samurai and peasant militia with the supply train in tow. How soon can everything be ready to move Enkei? "With the additional Imagawa samurai and peasant militia we can be ready in two weeks' time. This should still give us at least a month before the first frost to fall on the ground to conduct the invasion. Plenty of time" "Excellent make the preparations right away. I will write to inform lord Shingen of the planned invasion." Enkai then bowed and exited the meeting hall. Gensei then began to play his biwa which brought a sense of relaxation to the meeting hall. Ryuzen then looked at his new wife, and she smiled at him and even though he still felt awkward about the situation he could see she truly loved him and he felt at ease a little bit although he knew Isabell had been cordial and kind to Mizuki, she was still mad at Ryzuen and the new lavish quarters for herself and son was a way to make him pay a heavy price for his foolish decision. It would take some time for her to forgive him, and he was willing to wait because she is his first love and mother to his child and that would never change. Mizuki on the other hand was beside herself. She thought she must be dreaming that her deepest desires of being with Ryuzen finally came true. On top of her deep feelings of love for him when the sleeping arrangements were made, he did sleep beside her as was his duty as her new husband, but he did not touch her in any way and even though she would not have stopped him but instead he was a gentleman who values honor above everything else and would never force himself on someone. She has unfortunately been used by men of power and the fact Ryuzen in the privacy of their quarters with no one watching yet he still respected her to not do anything and that made her love him even more. With this new arrangement in Ryuzen life he does not how this will affect his plans in battling Melanios and acquiring the orb of fate, but he will adapt and overcome. Ryuzen then begins to meditate on the coming invasion of Kozuke province and is ready for this next phase of his grand strategy.