Aftermath Nara

It’s another spring day in a certain region in Entraid. The blooming cherry blossom brushed by the nice warm spring breeze, and the pink petals fluttering before then falling into the ground making a light pink carpet. One of the petal was blown by the wind and fall into a cup of green tea on a tea bowl hold by a young girl with long black silky hair. The girl just smile softly observing the pink petal on her tea bowl, while seeing a small girl sleeping soundly not far from her on the pink petal carpet, before suddenly her expression turns serious as approaching footsteps sound can be heard. Not long a white haired young man can be seen approaching and kneel in front of the girl.

“What is it Kiryuu? I told you not to bother my hanami time right?” The lady look at the man while making a bit pouting face.

The young man just smiles a bit seeing the young noble acting spoiled childish once in a while, before he told her his reason for him to come there. “Narasaki-sama... pardon for the intrusion, but.. Azuma returned with some information you requested... It’s about Ageha-sama...”

Hearing the word spoken, the lady change her sitting position straight and her expression turns more serious then before. “Did Azuma found the whereabouts of Ageha Ahegimi-sama?”

The young man look at the lady before look down with a bit apologetic expression. “Maybe... It is better if Narasaki-sama heard it from Azuma himself. He should be. Coming not long”

Just after the young man said the words, out of nowhere, a black haired guy dressed in black, as if to help him blend with the shadows appears in front of the lady and kneels. “Narasaki-sama, Rikimaru come to report.”

The lady look at the suddenly appearing black guy and the white haired guy with a sigh and unamused expression. “You two... How many times I told you to just call me Ryoko when there’s no one else. Geeze you guys... So? How is it, Azuma?”

The lady called Ryoko look at the black guy who she called Azuma with a hint of curiosity, uneasy, and worried can be seen in her eyes. Seeing Ryoko’s expression, Azuma take a glance a the white haired guy called Kiryuu before then lowered his head.

“Pardon, Ryoko-sama. Not much can be found regarding Ageha-sama.. As her records seems to be burnt all of it. Only.. Her trace finally is clear that she left Nara and Entraid 20 years ago toward another continent. A source told me that she might left to that certain continent, where everyone who tries to runaway from their past go. And it was said that she might be pregnant during her runaway...”

“...pregnant...? Anegimi-sama?” Ryoko seems stunned hearing all the information. Her eyes looks like blurry for a while before suddenly remembers something and look back at Azuma. “Ja.. Her childrens..?”

“About that... I tried to go to the continent with some other shinobi and ninja... And for some—‘price’—we managed to got some information there. There is indeed a sightings of a lady that looks like Ageha-sama and also the notes about her giving birth to children. A twin baby girl actually. But..”

As if something he’s about to tell is something not easy, Azuma stopped for a while and lowered his head. Before then continue his words.

“As expected, the twin babies are also tieflings. And apparently on that continent, tieflings are... Seen lower. One thing leads to another, somehow the twins was separated to two exact opposite place on that continent and their whereabouts are nowhere to be seen. While Ageha-sama was said died during laboring.”

“We tried to checked the said village that was the place of the baby kept, the villager from other village said that the village was already ruined by the Blue Breakers long time ago. Maybe around 14-15 years ago.. And since it is a normal occurrence, it is hard to find more from there.”

Hearing Azuma’s words, Ryoko can only bite her lips a bit. The memories of her older sister who left Nara after found out fall in love with an outsider tiefling, and banished from the family line, slowly come back to her mind.

“...Anegimi-sama...”

“But Ryoko-sama... If the two baby is still alive, I think it wouldn’t be hard for you to recognize them. As they might have the obvious traits of their father. That looks like [kyuubi], the nine tail fox...” As if trying to calm the young lady, Kiryuu open his mouth.

Hearing those words, Ryoko think for a while before then look at Azuma.  “Then... New order, Azuma. Find Anegimi-sama’s daughters, wherever they are and report to me. Find their whereabouts, life or dead. Make sure no one in the family knows about this.”

“Hai, Ryoko-sama!”

After a bow, a strong wind blew the pink petals from the cherry blossom trees and the next moment, Azuma is nowhere to be seen. Ryoko just sigh slightly before then look at Kiryuu.

“Well then. Now I will continue my hanami. How about joining as well, Kiryuu? Goshiro and Ryomusha will be joining not long from now they say.”

Ryoko smiles as if nothing happened just before. Her hand once again reach the tea bowl and there another pink petals can be seen. And the warm breeze of spring once again brings the nice scent of flower.