BLOOD BOURNE

CHAPTER 6

TWISTED.

General Hitachi paced endlessly in his chambers.

The events of the previous day, flooded his mind uncontrollably. He had it all planned out from the beginning but his plans suddenly seemed to be going out of place, one by one. He knew that the future days held a lot of danger for him and everyone around him. That's why he had wanted Kiko out of the way.

Kiko's return was automatically going to alter his priorities. He would be charged with the duty of keeping her safe instead of focusing on the imminent war.

His stomach twisted at the thought. Was he really ready for war?  Was he ready to sacrifice the freedom and lives of people he was trying to protect? Was he really protecting anyone? Was he ready to endanger the very future he was trying to secure? Was he ready to put Kiko's life in mortal danger? Would his wife ever forgive him if anything happened to her? More so, would he forgive himself. 

Once, he had failed to protect his wife Masako. He wasn't going to make the same mistake with Kiko.

Painful memories of his beloved wife flooded his mind. He suddenly found himself questioning if it was actually his failure to protect her that caused her death, or his insatiable quest for an empire. Deep down, he doubted the clans would ever crown him emperor. Not after the chaos he caused.

He quickly erased the thought. 'they'll have no other choice once my plan starts falling into place'
After all, he was a shogun descendant. He had the right to rule just like his predecessors.

Hitachi was enraged by an intrusion.

"I thought I asked not to be disturbed. Or did I not?"
Hitachi turned to see who the clueless intruder was. It was Yamada Tarô, captain of the guards.

"I am very sorry master Hitachi." He apologized with his head bowed.

"What is it?"

"The Koreans Master... They have arrived." Hitachi's faced loosened. He paused to process what he had just heard.

"Very well then... I will be with them shortly." Hitachi sounded carefree but a shiver ran down his spine at the mention of the Koreans. It wasn't fear, just a heightened sense of things.

The next moments were crucial. They would determine the fate of the coming years.

"Yes master."
Yamada left the chambers with his back. A retainer never turns his back on a shogun. It was a crime you could pay dearly for.

It was necessary that Hitachi kept them waiting for a few minutes. The Koreans needed to have the mindset that he was in charge.

The Koreans stood up as Hitachi entered the hall. After about fifteen minutes, he decided it was time to join the envoy.

"Ah! Yi Seong - Gye."
Hitachi now spoke in Korean.
"It seems it has been a lifetime since you graced the walls of this palace."

"A lifetime indeed General Hitachi"
Yi seong - gye smiled falsely as he exchanged kisses with Hitachi.

He had a bad feeling about this meeting. He knew how much of a power hungry maniac - who would stop at nothing to get what he wants - Hitachi was.

"I tell you it's wonderful coming back here. Kamakura has indeed been kind."

"I see you have brought company." Hitachi was referring to the nobly dressed men who were with him.

"Ah! Yes this is Kim soo-Hyun an aspiring regent of Korea." He pointed at a thin gentleman who stood beside him.