𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘮 犬夜叉 ♡ ; 𝚜𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚞 𝚡 𝚘𝚌

Acclimation

"With continuous surveyors throughout the land, My Lord, I'm afraid we cant spare anymore res-"

"The only thing that I want to hear you say is that you have found her and that she's back at the castle." The castle surveyor gripped his scroll tightly in one hand, grimacing at Kojitsu's decision.

Kojitsu leaned against the perimeter of his in-house onsen, shoulder draped over two concubines. His stare never broke with the surveyor even as his long hair splayed across his face and his cheeks reddening from the steam.

His angular face never shifted in joy or anger at the surveyor's news.

"My Lord," the surveyor nervously shuffled his scrolls back and forth in his hand. He felt the concubines' eyes watch him in both amusement and pity. Kojitsu was even more insufferable now more than ever since Chiho was gone without any whereabouts whether she was alive or dead.

The surveyor grunted in response. "We have to consider the labor, the costs, and the morale of the kingdom when we partake on such frivolous ordeals." The surveyor swallowed before continuing. He was treading on thin ice but if one was to be honest about the state of the castle, Kojitsu would hear it from the surveyor.

Or better yet, his Uncle on his mother's side.

"The food is at an ultimate low. There's still damages that need to drastically be prepared before the middle of winter.  Soldiers are growing disgruntled and concubines are disappearing left and right. With such limited staff, would you at the leeast know where all the concubines are vanishing off to?"

Both concubines winced in discomfort. Their eyes shifted from each other, to the surveyor, then back at Kojitsu. What actually did happen to the other concubines?

Kojitsu remained silent, his jaw clenched and brows furrowed. He was growing tired of this game. He had waited long enough. If mating with Chiho to bring a stronger heir to the bloodline was the last thing he would do, he would do it. No matter the cost.

With a breath, he shifted away from the women. He climbed himself out of the tub, halting the servant from dressing him. Slicking his hair back, he wrapped his lower body with a silk cloth and turned to the Surveyor with a more relaxed expression.

"Walk with me. Mei, Natsuko-" Kojitsu turned to the fearful women. They sat up straight with their eyes lowered.

"Yes, Lord Kojitsu." They simultaneously responded.

The smirk on his face spread. That rush of power reminded him just how easy life was and just how easier it could be with his bride by his side.

"You two stay here. I should return shortly." His softened expression neutralized as he turned back to the Surveyor.

"Come. Let's walk."

❆

"I just don't understand how this could all happen. And so quickly!" Kojitsu grunted in response. He leaned against the wall as his Surveyor, Haru, paced back in forth.

"I go out of town for two weeks and come home to chaos. Chaos! I told you to wait till I come back to invite this Sesshomaru person to the castle! I warned you about him and you did what you pleased anyway." Kojitsu felt his actions to be justified.

"It was a simple matter, Uncle Haru." Haru stopped, looked at Kojitsu with a scoff, and continued to pace back and forth.

"Simple? Simple! Half of the castle is in rubble, Kojitsu. Half! I don't meddle with your, ahem, circumstances." Kojitsu was relieved that he didn't. "But we cannot expect the castle to thrive and for the civilians inside to actually want to be here when everything is in disarray. Koji, we-"