Namida Bridge to Kamakura (1)

It was some time after the memorial service at Jusan-zuka that Toshinosuke announced his departure from the Nikaido family in front of everyone.
When he stated that he would return the Toriki village and leave Sukagawa, as expected, Awa-no-kami was the first to glare at him and rebuke him.
Have you forgotten the kindness shown to you by the lord and the clan?
It was no wonder that Awa-no-kami was angry. Toshinosuke was, after all, a member of the Yabe clan, and he owed a great debt to Awa-no-kami, who had looked after him quite well. However, despite Toshinosuke risking his life, was he not treated coldly for the single fact that he let Princess Michiyo's brother escape? Grumbling inwardly, Toshinosuke silently endured Awa-no-kami's verbal abuse.
Waiting for the abuse to subside, he slowly turned his face toward Tameuji, who appeared calm. Since the memorial service at Jusan-zuka, the vengeful spirit had ceased to appear, and Tameuji had finally regained his health. Mino-no-kami, who was waiting by his side, did not seem flustered by Toshinosuke's words either. Although Mino-no-kami rarely changed his expression, there seemed to be some understanding between him and Tameuji, as their eyes met briefly.
Awa-no-kami. Calm yourself.
Tameuji's voice, admonishing Awa-no-kami, was extremely gentle.
I am going for a short ride. Mino-no-kami, Toshinosuke. Come with me.
Judging by the fact that he specifically named them, Tameuji seemed to want to talk with just the three of them. To Awa-no-kami, who was making a sour face, it was unexpectedly Mino-no-kami who stepped in to mediate.
I will accompany him. Do not worry.
At Mino-no-kami's words, Awa-no-kami nodded reluctantly. If Mino-no-kami was going, he probably could not find any reason to object.
While the other retainers watched anxiously, the three went outside, brought their horses from the stable, and mounted them.
My Lord. Where are you headed?
Mino-no-kami asked.
Hime-miya Shrine would be appropriate.
Hearing the destination Tameuji gave, Toshinosuke felt a tightening in his chest. The newly built shrine was also a place to enshrine the spirit of Princess Michiyo.
On horseback, one could reach Wada from Sukagawa in less than a quarter of an hour. Since moving to Sukagawa, Toshinosuke's opportunities to visit Wada had decreased significantly.
The three tied their horses to a large cedar tree at the entrance of the approach, climbed the steep stone steps, and first paid their respects at the shrine. Then, Mino-no-kami called over a farmer passing by, sent someone to the Wada mansion in the back, and gave instructions to bring water and light refreshments to the shrine. Currently, Mino-no-kami was the one managing this shrine. He had brought the key to the shrine, and after opening the door, he invited Tameuji and Toshinosuke inside. After a while, Ando Samanosuke arrived and placed the requested items before the three. Samanosuke had been an acquaintance when he lived in Wada, but perhaps sensing something, he left in silence.
For a while, they picked at the meal Samanosuke had brought and moistened their throats, which had dried from the ride.
Now then.
After the meal settled, it was Tameuji who first brought up the topic.
Toshinosuke. There is no need to be reserved with the people of Nikaido. You should return to Kamakura.
Toshinosuke's eyes widened. Although it was something he had proposed himself, he had not expected Tameuji to so readily accept his departure. This, in itself, made him feel a bit lonely.
Do not make such a face. We are not demons.
It was Mino-no-kami who was smiling bitterly. However, this senior retainer was a man of strategy. He must have some intention in allowing Toshinosuke to leave.
What is the reason you want me to return to Kamakura?
Setting down the bowl of water, Toshinosuke asked Mino-no-kami point-blank. Akisawa, the suspicious person who had been lurking around him since before the decisive battle with Sukagawa. His employer must have had some purpose in bringing Akisawa close to Toshinosuke. It was frustrating that the reward for the battle with Sukagawa was small, but perhaps that too was part of Mino-no-kami's scheme to get Toshinosuke back to Kamakura. Toshinosuke had recently begun to think so.
Mino-no-kami exchanged glances with Tameuji. When Tameuji nodded slightly, Mino-no-kami finally spoke the true reason.
By relying on the connections of the Isshiki family, we want to work on Hatakeyama-dono in the capital, the Shogunate, and the Kamakura-fu to make the Nikaido clan's rule over the Iwase region rock-solid.
The moment he heard those words, everything made sense. The Isshiki family was a branch of the Ashikaga, appointed to the Four Offices. They were a clan with strong ties to the Kamakura-fu and the Shogunate. Although Toshinosuke's own status was not yet stable, it meant that while he worked for the Kamakura-fu in Kamakura from now on, he was also expected to serve as a diplomat for the Nikaido clan. It must have been Mino-no-kami who worked on Hatakeyama Mochikuni in the capital to revive the Minbu-Isshiki family.
Right now, you are the only one in the Sukagawa family who can fulfill this role. You have a good lineage and decent courage. Unless one is well-versed in the ways of the world, it is impossible to deal with the riffraff in the capital and Kamakura.
Mino-no-kami's explanation was tinged with a bit of irony. However, it was certainly as Mino-no-kami said. People in the capital and Kamakura were fussy about lineage, yet even among their own kin, one could not fully read their true intentions. Someone who could not see the big picture because they were swayed by trivial rumors would endanger the survival of the Nikaido family. Leaving aside the latter, Toshinosuke was about the only one in the Nikaido family, other than Tameuji, who had the qualifications to deal with high-ranking officials in the capital and Kamakura.

©k.maru027.2023

Continues to Kamakura (2)

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