She was cute when she blushed, or so Hidemasa had decided. Of course, that was beside the point and a topic of little importance in a situation such of as this. Standing back up to his full height, albeit still a little hunched over, he listened to Kohaku-san speak of her mother. Though he would never voice such an opinion for fear of offending the young lady, he held his doubts that her mother was, in fact, the most dazzling woman in all of Japan. Perhaps to her father and even other men she was, but not to every person to have laid eyes on her. As the saying goes, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. What one deems to be beautiful may very well be considered ordinary in another’s eyes. The physician nodded in approval at the statement made by the young lady concerning blind love as he followed her into a nearby teashop; she herself possessed some degree of wisdom on the matter as well.
They took a seat in the back of the room where the seclusion from the other patrons offered them some discretion. By reflex, Hidemasa sat facing the doorway while the young woman sat across from him. Patiently and attentively, he waited for her to finish ordering their tea as well as feel comfortable enough to continue with the order of business that she had brought him here for.
When she finally opened his mouth to speak Hidemasa crossed his arms and closed his eyes, his thoughts hung on every word that rolled of her tongue. He weighed them against each other, pieced together the details that she presented into a familiar picture of grief, anger, and worry. When finally she referred back to him he opened his eyes and observed her judiciously, he did not wear the same grin as he had earlier for this was no smiling matter. He quietly appraised her as she poured him his tea, displaying the well-taught actions of a woman raised in a noble home. Once full, the samurai tastefully lifted his cup to his lips, savoring both the steam and the liquid in a deliberate and thoughtful manner.
This young woman, a samurai’s daughter as it would happen, wished him to join their quest for revenge. A questionable intention to say the least. Sakurai Hidemasa was not one that sought vengeance as he has seen it accomplish little but self-destruction. A prolonged silence fell on the pair; Hidemasa’s eyes once again closed as he sampled his drink. Kohaku-san’s thoughts were muddled with emotions, or so it seemed to Hidemasa. She desired retribution for this Kobayashi-dono, but she feared for her father as well. He found her desires understandable, but he questioned whether she was aware of the consequences that would result from her vindictive actions. Then there was the fact that she had carelessly failed to mention the identity of the one they would be taking vengeance against.
Finally, once the silence was no longer bearable, Hidemasa returned his cup to the table and met the girl’s eyes. ”Kohaku-san, grief of such burden cannot be cured by an act of rage. Perhaps it can conceal it for a time, but bloodshed will not heal a broken mind. Violence brings in its wake only more rage and madness, it is a never ending cycle, and a disease.” Leaning forward the physician’s face turned stern as he questioned her, ”Are you sure you wish to proceed down a path such as this?” Leaning back and resting his arms on his knees, Hidemasa allowed the gravity of his words to fall upon her before continuing in a far more tranquil manner, ”You also failed to mention who the target of your vengeance is, which is of particular importance and highly distrustful since I would imagine it is someone who possesses much power.”