RIVALS INCARNATE

Chapter Thirty-Two: A Perfect Plan, A Terrible Situation

841 AD, 9th Century of Japan (Kyoto)

***Prince Shin had successfully taken over the throne, eventually owning the supreme title of Emperor Shin of Japan and was twenty-three years of age (same as with Rei). And Lady Aoi, who soon will wed him as the only chosen Empress candidate, was twenty-one years of age during this time***

He was sure that everything was okay.

Emperor Shin sat before his exquisite table inside his expansive royal quarters, expecting the presence of his soon-to-be-wife and Empress, Lady Aoi of the Takugawa household to come by at any moment. She had been told to meet him two days before their wedding ceremony. And Shin was anticipating their much-awaited meeting. The Royal Family and even the entire Royal Ministry were all looking forward to it. The wedding was to be expected as the event of the century, the grand union of the Takugawas and Fujibutsos (the Emperor's descent). This was something very planned and Shin already knew that the marriage was definitely going to push forward now... albeit Rei Takugawa's opposition. 

He must be very bitter now.

Though it had not been pressed on, Rei was surely feeling furious and deeply disappointed about this arrangement. It was entirely not much of a secret that Rei had been harboring feelings for his beautiful cousin all this time, much as to everyone's surprise. And even before Shin had been given the throne and the offer of the matrimony by the previous Emperor, his father, it had been revealed that a huge portion of the royal empire had clearly indicated a strong objection towards Rei's request to be wed with Lady Aoi. It was very obvious. The entire royal family had always been expecting Lady Aoi to be the only woman to become the Empress, and such rivalry between Rei and Shin must be ceased at all costs for the benefit of the empire and the clans uniting.

However, as much as Shin knew enough of his former comrade and acknowledged nemesis, and knowing how this very man was also planning the fall of the royal family, Shin could not help but be extremely bothered by what Rei will be doing afterward. For sure, he will not give up without a fight. He was someone who also shared the same pride as Shin. There would be certainly no rest for this ongoing battle between them, he knew that. 

But one thing's inevitable, Lady Aoi will most certainly marry Shin. And Rei can do whatever he could and want to stop it but he will never take her away anymore. Shin had made sure about that... Because what was going to be his will always stay forever as his, no matter what happens. No matter who tries to come in the way.

He will get rid of it at ONCE.

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PRESENT, 2020 (Tokyo)

"There were times that I am still trying to figure out if this is all real or not."

Midway through dinner, Osamu Sato started speaking again as he opened up his thoughts to Yuko Amazawa who had kept her silence since the dessert came in, quickly after that short tensed conversation they had about Kurosaki. Osamu got a tough time bringing up the very reason why they had to meet for dinner tonight, and he tried to ease it out by starting lightly.

"It's real," Yuko replied, after a few seconds, and looked up to meet Osamu's gaze, "I've never really wanted to believe it until history proved and told me otherwise."

That was the turning point, and Yuko could still remember reading that part of her past life in the books during her early school years and being entirely astonished by the credible information and accuracy of some details that were all in parallel to the things she had seen in her dreams and every part that she could remember about being Emperor Shin. Was that a good thing? Yes, it was. Is it bad? At some parts.

"I agree," Osamu remarked, lightly chuckling as he recounted the same experience during his high school days. He was not even interested in trying to pursue the area of academics and he had mostly spent his entire teenage years idling around and lazying through all of the semesters until he heard his teacher mentioned it once during a class and since then, he got hooked. He could not even say anything to anyone for the fear that he would be looked at as a freak but he silently anticipated knowing more of it. Until he grew older and discovered a lot.

"Have you read something that you think was quite absurd about our old lives?" Osamu asked, just because he was curious. And yes, he was very curious. That was something he had found a little funny and ridiculous whenever he would come across certain pieces of historical references that talked too much about the late Emperor in the 9th century and their renowned family. Yuko laughed hearing his question and mildly run her spoon through the remnants of her dessert on her plate, getting quite comfortable with the talk.

"It's crazy how history could be twisted and shaped in a way that could come out as an exaggeration," she admitted, smiling back, with a sparkling glint in her eyes, "I mean, I'm not really complaining, with all the good things written about myself. It's too flattering but who wouldn't like to be thought of that way, right?"

Osamu guffawed, knowing exactly what she meant by those words.

"But then, if people come to learn all of the very real things," Yuko went on, smirking, "I mean not just the truth about what they read about us and the people in the past but all of it, the real us, the Emperor, the family, and all those ugly things about the history, I don't think it would be worthy enough to read about it anymore, don't you think?"

"And it would be severely controversial and quite scandalous," Osamu agreed, nodding his head while shaking his head. "But then, there are just some things in life that are much better left unsaid."

"That's also true," Yuko said with a nod.

"So," Osamu sighed, leaning back on his chair as soon as he had finished off the dessert, "The thing that we should talk about, in the first place. I think we've idled quite long enough now, Amazawa-san."

"Right. I know... So, tell me. What is it about?" Yuko asked, further inquiring with a serious face.

"It's about a certain threat in the plan."

"Threat?" Yuko paused and felt alarmed as soon as she heard that word, "What do you mean threat? What kind of threat?"

"There's something that we should prepare for," Osamu confirmed, squinting his eyes a little as he continued with a deep somber voice, "I didn't really want to spoil this one for you but one of my sources just told me that there are a few people who might be out to get Kyouhei Kurosaki. It's not something I'm surprised about anymore. I know how it all works in this society but it's something we should never really turn a blind eye on."

"When you say 'out to get him' you mean it's something more than just a scandal or a malicious rumor, isn't it?" Yuko raised a brow, leaning forward a bit as she asked him.

"Someone might try to kill him, Amazawa-san," Osamu did not even try to filter that out anymore, and he kept a straight face as he spoke sternly, "It's no longer just some warning. You know how vicious people could get and become just for power and fame, Amazawa-san. And it's pretty obvious we're heading towards those dangerous grounds soon."

"I understand."

"That's why I think we should really need a more elaborate plan this time," Osamu suggested, lowering his voice, "We can no longer rely on the money and the people working behind us. We need a sustainable and formidable wall to protect us."

"And by that, you must be talking about security, as the concern. And I take it that you already planned a lot of countermeasures?"

This was not something she had anticipated this early. Although she had thought of it a few times, Yuko never really thought that the situation was far more serious now than she had expected.

"I did, of course," Osamu replied, nodding his head as a form of a reply to the question while he explained his suggestion further, "And the reason why I wanted to talk to you about it, is because I wanted to let you know how much we needed Komatsu for it."

"Komatsu?" Yuko frowned, "Ami Komatsu?"

"She's going to be a very reliable asset, Amazawa-san," Osamu went on, "And you don't have to act surprise since I know that you already learned too much of her at this point. I told you who she was. She might not be someone we should be trusting too much this time but we need to face the truth too. Her connections are really something we need to take advantage of right now. We need her."

Yuko paused and did not say anything back as she held Osamu's gaze across the table. It was intentional that he was now suddenly pointing that out. He was right, as well. They needed Komatsu, regardless of how dangerous that would be... They needed her.

"If we want to break that record, and made a powerful man out of that bastard in the future while trying to make sure he stays alive and well," Osamu added, without even blinking, "We need to take all sorts of risks. I'm giving you all I've got, Amazawa-san. So I am expecting you to be in this."

Was she?

"Are you?" Osamu pressed on after a slight pause, raising a brow as he patiently waited for her answer. It took quite a few more seconds before she did, and Yuko knew that she had been left with no other choice but to agree. She had to.

"Yes," she, later on, replied, keeping the firm sound of her voice resonating into her mind as if trying to convince herself of it while she kept her eyes steady towards Osamu, "I'm on this now. And you didn't really have to ask."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------next chapter: Chapter Thirty-Three