In His Absence

Naoki only got satisfied after his aura was perfectly adjusted. At least now, immediate trouble would be avoided.

A few minutes later, Daisuke who left to make tea, returned to the room with a wooden tray in his hands.

Kneeling across from his Master, he set down the tray, carefully placing the porcelain teapot and handless tea cups on the table before them.

Quickly, he put the tray aside, picked up the teapot, and rotated it slowly for a few seconds before proceeding to pour the contents into the two tea cups little by little, while rotating each cup to ensure they taste the same.

When Daisuke was done, he served Naoki one of the cups before setting the other in front of himself.

"Your act of tea making has improved greatly," Naoki complimented as he slowly reached for his teacup.

His nose could already pick up the strong quality scent of the matcha.

"Thank you, Master," Daisuke responded with a small bow before picking up his teacup to drink from it.

Having taken a sip of the tea, Naoki nodded in satisfaction and swirled the tea cup gently with his fingers.

"That girl," he started as his gaze shifted to Daisuke who immediately looked up and put his cup down.

"What happened to her hair?"

0_0

Daisuke's brows furrowed, forming a deep 'V' at the space between each brow.

Out of all the questions he had expected his master to ask concerning the activities that transpired in his eighteen years of sleep, never in Daisuke's mind did he think Naoki would pick that question to ask.

He did not bother to hide his confusion but let the fact that he was in a tight spot for being unable to keep up with his Master's pace, seep out.

Seeing his confused gaze, Naoki straightened his back as his hand movement stopped. Bringing the rim of the cup to his lips, he took another sip, totally ignoring him.

The man didn't have any plans of explaining himself. He was letting his right-hand man figure things out on his own.

After all, there was no way his brain could have slowed down during this period, or did it?

Fortunately, Daisuke was able to think properly. There was no other woman his master had seen and been interested in since he regained consciousness apart from Haruka.

Figuring that out, he quickly apologized before responding to his earlier question.

"Master please forgive my dullness, but I do not understand what you mean. And if you mean Miss Ito, her hair has always been that way since the first time I set my eyes on her."

Daisuke was not lying, and he even seemed to be confused by that question.

Nevertheless, knowing that his Master would not be mistaken over a matter that concerned his bride, he quickly asked with a tinge of concern.

"Master, is something wrong with it?"

"She had a patch of red hair on her frontal hairline, where did it go to?" He asked thoughtfully.

Naoki did not doubt the fact that Haruka was his destined bride, however, his curiosity got the best of him and he wished to know what happened to her hair.

When he realized that she was indeed his bride, he had been surprised by what happened to her.

Everything related to Haruka was of importance, and shouldn't escape his sight and knowledge.

Daisuke was indeed surprised to hear this. 'Some part of her hair is red?' He questioned himself internally.

How come he never noticed?

Deciding to put himself in Ito Hana's shoes, he asked himself, 'What would I do if my child had such a contrasting birth, mark?'

Instantly, the answer came to him. 'I will cover it up.'

That kind of birthmark that would cause tongues to wag and attract even the attention of the Daimyos, should not be seen.

Naoki studied the changes in his facial expression from the time his brows knitted together as his eyes squinted, to the time a glint flashed passed his eyes.

Hearing his thoughts, he asked with raised brows. "Hana covered them up?"

Daisuke suddenly looked up with widened eyes. This question was a reminder that his Master could hear his thoughts.

"Yes. Possibly with a dye," he answered a bit sure of his guess.

However, he was still shocked by the fact that his master saw it after waking up whereas, in all his years of watching over Haruka, he never saw a thing.

His Master's new ability still felt so surreal to him. It would take some time before he got used to it.

Knowing how uncomfortable he was, Naoki released a soft sigh before explaining. "I let you in on this new ability because I trust you and hopefully you won't feel so bothered anymore."

He had a choice of keeping this to himself and nothing would change, but since he decided to tell him about it, it showed just how much he was willing to rely on him with that trust.

Hearing this, Daisuke felt a pull on the string of his heart and hurriedly lowered his head in a deep bow.

"Thank you Master for this honor."

He was glad that his Master whom he had served for centuries still found him worthy to be trusted.

"Enough of that," Naoki stated with a wave of his hand as though he was swatting a sly away.

Pressing his lips together, he let out an exasperated sigh at the end that forced Daisuke to hurriedly straighten his back.

"I don't have time for such formalities. Brief me on what I have missed for the past 18 years."

This was what he deemed important and to that, he looked a bit impatient as he looked away and tapped his fingers on the table.

The events that occurred in the last eighteen years would determine his next steps and how he should follow through to their end.

Sensing the urgency in his tone, Daisuke nodded before beginning to recount the incidents that took place in his absence.

He started from Haruka. From the night of her birth and how he shielded her from the Daimyo's search.

"I think they could sense something, or they would not still be searching so relentlessly for her since that time."

"They must have known something of her pre-existence just like the way I did," Naoki said thoughtfully, and then shifting his gaze back to him, he added in a serious tone, "The Daimyos cannot know she is the one."

Daisuke nodded immediately as his gaze turned serious.

He had always known the gravity of the matter and that was the reason he has been by Haruka's side all these years.

The Daimyos should never get their hands on her otherwise…

Thinking of an important matter Daisuke hurriedly brought it up since it fell on the main topic.

"Master, could you sense any energy from Miss Ito?" He asked with a curious gaze.

Daisuke was still bothered about how Haruka was able to see past the illusion he placed over Naoki's castle.

Naoki refrained from reading his mind this time around and asked with a contemplative gaze, "Do you think she is the one that woke me up?"

Being reminded of this matter also, Daisuke quickly added it to the list. "Yes, Master. If she was the one that woke up from the coma, then I must be blamed for the reason you had to suffer for so long."

He did not need reprimanding as he was already scolding himself internally for letting Naoki suffer such a fate for years.

Instead of taking Haruka to the castle, he was preventing her from exploring to that extent.

If he had known that she was the key to his Master waking up, he would have led her to him long ago.

How foolish were his actions?

But Naoki thought otherwise after listening to his thoughts.

Coming up with another possibility that could narrow to the answer, Naoki used that excuse to help Daisuke calm his fears.

"Do not blame yourself, yet. It has not been confirmed if she is the reason I woke up, or because it was the time the side effect of the half-finished potion finished wearing out."

Hearing that, relief washed over Daisuke as he let out a deep breath before bringing up another matter.

"Master, Miss Ito was able to break into the barrier."

Saying up to this point, he went on to tell about Haruka's response when he had asked her about her coming to the castle.

A look of surprise flashed past Naoki's eyes. He had almost forgotten about this.

"That girl has no trace of energy in her. I am also a bit taken aback that the illusions had no effect on her. When she was yet to be born, I bonded with her almost every night, but never for once did I transfer any energy to her."

"Master, maybe your actions triggered a bit of her innate ability," Daisuke mentioned immediately after a second thought.

What possible way could explain how the illusion cast over the castle stood no poise to a mortal with no supernatural powers? Even the Daimyos would not have been able to go into the castle if they had found it out."

He was sure because he had used a good amount of his power to cast that spell, so it was not penetrable except for him and Naoki.

For now, Naoki would accept that idea until he found out what actually went wrong.

Shifting their topic of conversation from Haruka to the Daimyos and the Shogun, and the changes that had occurred in the nation, they went straight to talk about their personal interest.

For one, Naoki had to know about the progress of the training his retainers have been undergoing, plus the matter concerning the medicinal store that was now empty.

Hearing about all the pending matters he had to take care of, Naoki's brows furrowed as the corners of his lips tugged downwards, but he was surprised by how good Daisuke was with managing everything in his absence.

'It seems like I raised a good one.' He thought proudly to himself.

Naoki was amazed at his right-hand man's devotion and loyalty to serving him.

He knew straight up, that with Daisuke, there was surely no cause for alarm.