Chapter 40: A Messenger from the Imagawa Residence

Ōigawa Castle – Isshiki Masataka

1561. Fall.

“Hanahime-sama, may I ask you to tell me more about Masataka-sama?”

“Of course you may. From today onwards, you are my daughter, Hisa. There is no need for you to be so reserved.”

When I arrived at the room where Ohisa-sama was, I overheard hers and Mother’s conversation from outside. It was great and all to hear them getting along well, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that they did it at my expense.

If I were to come in right now, it’d ruin the atmosphere and make it awkward.

So I stood there, thinking about what I should do. They still didn’t know that I was outside.

Then, under Ohisa-sama’s urge, Mother began to spill all kinds of embarrassing stories about me, from the moment I was born until recently, without any sign of stopping, just like a dam that had burst. Ever since Father’s death, her maids were the only people she could truly chat with. I guess she was happy that she could chat with someone else from now on.

“Back then, he—”

“You two seem to be enjoying your conversation. I hope I’m not interrupting something.”

Still, I’d told Ohisa-sama that I’d check on her earlier. I couldn’t just not show my face, so I had no choice but to come in.

“No, you are not, Dear Husband.”

“Yes, you are. Go and see Tokimune instead of being here, he’s looking for you.”

“He is? When was that?”

“After you summoned Michifusa and Hikogorō to your room. He was talking to Masatomo-dono and Sasuke about something. After that, he didn’t let his gaze wander off your room.”

“I see. Alright, I’ll look for him. Let’s meet again at dinner, Ohisa-sama. You can look forward to the food. I guarantee you, they are great.”

“Yes, I’ll take up on your words and look forward to it, Dear Husband.”

Well, they seemed to be having fun, so that was all good. They got along well, and I showed my face here as well, so my job here was pretty much done.

I walked down the hallway to go back to my room. Then, someone who seemed to be in a hurry approached me.

“Tokizane? What’s the hurry? Are you looking for me?”

“Yes. A messenger from the Imagawa Residence has arrived. They asked for your presence. It seems to be urgent, my lord.”

“Got it. Guide him to the great hall.”

“Understood.”

“After that, call for Tokimune. Let the others know later.”

“Father, my lord? Understood.”

Tokizane then returned the way he came from to guide the messenger. Meanwhile Kojūrō, who was standing behind me, bowed to him.

As you could already tell from the way he called Tokimune ‘Father’, the man, Hikami Tokizane, was Tokimune’s eldest son, as well as Kojūrō’s father. He was the man who would succeed Tokimune’s position as one of the Isshiki Four.

After that, it would be Kojūrō’s turn, if things were to go smoothly and we survived for that long, of course, but regardless, for the time being, I wanted him to learn as much as he could from Tokimune and grow to be a good man while he had the chance.

Maybe by the time he became the head of Hikami, my son would’ve succeeded me as the head of Isshiki. Still, that was something so far in the future for me to worry about. For now, my main concern should be whether Imagawa could survive for long enough or not.

“When shall we proceed to the great hall, my lord?”

“Right now. We can’t keep the messenger waiting. I don’t know the reason why he’s here, but I still have to meet him.”

“Understood.”

When I arrived at the great hall, the messenger was already there, waiting for me. He was none other than Asahina Nobuoki-dono. Yasutomo-dono was a member of Tōtōmi’s Asahina clan, Nobuoki-don was a member of Suruga’s Asahina clan. So, even though they had the same clan name, they were members of different branches.

Regardless, both were clans who had been supporting Imagawa for generations.

By the way, his father, Asahina Chikanori-dono, had a friendly relationship not only with Anjō’s Matsudaira clan, who would later become the Tokugawa clan, but also with Ogyū’s Matsudaira clan and other clans who ruled Mikawa. He also used to serve as a guardian to Motoyasu back when he was still under Imagawa, together with Sekiguchi Chikanaga.

“I apologize for the wait. It seems I’m the last one to arrive.”

“There is no need to apologize. I came without notice, after all.”

After Tokimune arrived and exchanged greetings with Nobuoki-dono, he sat down. Only then did Nobuoki-dono start to talk.

“Ujizane-sama issued an order. Isshiki Masataka-dono, you are to come to Imagawa Residence immediately.”

“Is there a particular reason for that?”

“It concerns the lady from Matsudaira. To tell you the truth, there are those who voiced their suspicions of you to Ujizane-sama’s ears.The lord dismissed it as nonsense all this time, but if this continues, things will turn troublesome for sure. Hence, you are to bring Hisahime-sama to meet with the lord at once.”

“Does Ujizane-sama not trust the lord at all?”

“No, that’s not the case at all. The name Matsudaira has turned into something deplorable in the clan members’ eyes, and by extension, Isshiki, who’s married to their princess, are viewed with contempt and distrust right now. Considering what happened with Sekiguchi… Regardless, Masataka-dono, your place among the inner circle is at risk now.”

Oh well… Honestly, I wasn’t too keen on bringing Ohisa-sama to the Imagawa Residence with me. As Nobuoki-dono said, the people who didn’t come to hate Matsudaira were in the minority.

Maybe Asahina Chikanori-dono was among that minority?

Anyway, if I were to reject this summon, they could take it as me declaring my stance to be with Matsudaira.

Inoo Tsuratatsu’s fate in history, also Ii Naotora’s fate for that matter, were precedents that they could just send people to assassinate me whether I was in or outside the castle.

“What are you planning to do, my lord?”

“Share me your thoughts, Tokimune.”

“I believe that we should go. To quell your worries, you could ask Hana-sama to write a letter to Ujizane-sama beforehand.”

“Right, there’s no way that Ujizane-sama would ignore Mother’s words. However, I can’t rely on Mother to solve this matter.”

Back during the Siege of Hikuma, Mother partially had a hand on the arrangement of our troops’ position. Apparently, she sent Ujizane-sama a letter regarding it. However, I heard that it was a coincidence, and that Ujizane-sama arranged it that way out of his own will, not due to Mother’s letter.

Regardless, that showed Mother still held influence in Imagawa. If I could get her to write him a letter, Ujizane-sama would for sure rein in the Imagawa retainers.

But that wouldn’t solve the core problem at all. As a consequence, Isshiki’s position within the inner circle would remain stagnant—no, our position could just slowly decline until we got cut off completely from the clan.

Which meant, I had to come forward myself to resolve the matter.

I couldn’t take too many guards with me though, so I guess I’d bring some of the Sakae…

“Got it. I will visit the Imagawa Residence as soon as I am able to. Could you please convey my words to Ujizane-sama?”

“Understood, I will convey your words to the lord. I will take my leave now.”

After that, Nobuoki-dono departed. Regardless, I couldn’t let my guard down yet. The time when Imagawa crumbled and lost to history was approaching quickly.

Unless I started making my move, there’d be no hope of the clan’s survival.