Royal Princess of Blood

"What do you mean share your vision?" Yuki asked.

"You seek ‌the restoration of our lands. But you know there is more that needs to be done."

Yuki smiled. "And that is?"

"To fix the divide." Miyako lowered her head. "I've grown tired of our endless conflict. We have been fighting for more than a millennium. If we don't move on from the past, how can our islands truly improve?"

"What are you trying to say, Miyako?"

"I want the islands to become allies again. It does not need a single leader anymore."

"... Do you mean that there should be no Shogun?"

"Yes! The idea of a shogun has divided us further, adding more deaths and conflict. It is an endless ambition that no one can achieve."

For countless years, people had tried to obtain such a title. Countless deaths and sacrifices, all for one to rule over all. Which resulted in pointlessness. It brought nothing but a rift between the islands, where if only they had joined hands once, then all things would have become better.

"In order for our archipelago to change, all must let go of that ambition."

Yuki lowered his gaze. "To let go of the pursuit of becoming the Shogun." He took a deep breath. "We can't change everyone in that regard, Miyako. Every single person in the higher ranks had the ambition to be the highest. It is the best reward, the best achievement in one's life."

"And it's foolish and selfish."

"Selfish…"

"Don't tell me you also seek to be the Shogun."

Yuki scoffed. "I have no such ambition. But if it helps me in my endeavors, I wouldn't mind."

"Becoming the Shogun is not the only way. If the islands are reunited, only then can we completely pursue the health of our lands unhindered."

"... I understand what you're saying. But how exactly are we going to do that?"

"I want to make a promise between us."

Yuki was puzzled to hear that. "What kind of promise?"

"If you share my vision, ‌even if we are separated, we will pursue the same thing. Unity."

"A promise to pursue unity?"

"We must seek not to cause further division, further conflict, but rather, seek a way to obtain unity. It will be long, that is why I want to create a promise between us."

"... Removing the concept of Shogun, my father will not like my intervention. This goes against what he has been working for his entire life. He wouldn't stop."

"Still, we must find a way."

Yuki turned around for a moment, staring at the plants. He was thinking hard about it. "I like the idea… But how do we even start?"

"My proposal for a trade partnership. I want it to be a start for a friendly relationship between Hokunoa and Nishinoa."

"... What about the other islands?"

"They can be dealt with later on. Let us start with a single step." This was something they couldn't do all at once, it would be impossible. Therefore, all they could do was take it slowly. Start small. Gain trust.

Tobunoa would never agree to a trade partnership, nor even consider it. Minainoa was suspected of being plagued by demons. Hokunoa was the best option. If it goes through, it would be most beneficial for Nishinoa.

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Yuki inhaled sharply. "If we won't have a shogun, then… what sort of order will we have?"

"All islands shall be represented, all the leaders shall be equal."

"That's quite a strange thing. It would be unthinkable here, where the mightiest stands at the top."

That was why it was called change. The old system never worked, that was why they needed to make it anew. But it was not impossible.

"Yes. But I believe we must do whatever is needed to achieve what we want. Even if we have to dismantle the old order."

"That's a nice pursuit. But, this is a big deal, Miyako." He slowly turned towards her with a gentle gaze. "This will be a heavy task to carry."

"I know, and I'm aware I'm asking a great deal from you. But I feel we are the same, we all want the betterment of our lands and our people. That is why I ask you to promise me, and I will promise you that I will pursue unity."

"... This won't always end peacefully, Miyako. Even in pursuit of unity, it will cause more division. War, death, might be inevitable."

"... But ultimately, it is in pursuit of unity. It will be unlike what we've been pursuing for millennia."

Nothing could be achieved without sacrifice. Miyako was determined in this. It was expected it would cause another war, what mattered most was the intention. If there should be chaos before renewal, and it was the only way, then so be it. It would be worth it in the end.

Yuki smirked. "Very well, Miyako. I'll play along."

Miyako smiled. "Really?"

"I promise ‌you that even if we are apart, I will act in pursuit of unity."

Miyako nodded. "Thank you! I promise the same thing to you."

Satomi was observing from nearby, her eyes narrowed, and she muttered quietly, "What the…? Almost sounds like a marriage vow…" And no one heard her.

Yuki started watering the plants. "As a start, I will try my best to convince my father to accept your proposal."

"Thank you, Yuki."

"However, I can't make any promises. Father is a stubborn and determined man. It is highly possible he won't take it."

"Please do your best. If he doesn't, there will always be another way."

"Sure. Anyhow, want to water the plants with me?"

Miyako chuckled. "Certainly."

***

Miyako and Satomi were back in their room. Satomi was directing a deep stare at Miyako, who was sitting down twiddling her thumbs with a smile as she sat. The warrior was feeling a bit conflicted about what had been happening lately. It was too much, and her lady had created a heavy responsibility for herself.

"Are you sure about this, milady?"

"Hm? Yes, I am. You know I have expressed my wish for our islands to unite."

"Yes, wish. A wish is easy to make, to fulfill it on the other hand, not always."

"We either act, or not. I would rather choose the former."

Satomi let out a sigh. "I didn't intervene because I will follow you wherever you go. But I must remind you of the risk, the danger, and the hardship that would come with this."

"I am aware."

"To be honest, I didn't expect you would act on it so suddenly. Why now all of a sudden?"

Satomi was completely fine with things as they were, as long as it was peaceful on their own island. But what Miyako had committed to herself, surely it wasn't out on a whim. She did not even talk with Satomi about this, and this should have been consulted with Miyako's father. It was unpredictable how things would go.

"... Yuki's garden inspired me."

The garden, or him?

Satomi wanted to ask that, but she held herself back. Even as a loyal soldier, she questioned inside whether her lady's feelings for that man were wise. Such a thing was wholesome and nice, but some things just shouldn't be. In the end, that Yuki was on the enemy's side. And Satomi had no trust in him whatsoever. But it would seem it was different for Miyako, which worried Satomi.

"How so?"

"The garden was the result of not giving up, to always go for what you wish to achieve. Even in the face of failures, they kept on going to achieve what was supposed to be impossible. If they can pursue the impossible and make progress like restoring the dead lands, why can't we unite the islands?"

Uniting the islands was more plausible than restoring the dead lands of Shinoroa. But that didn't mean it would be easy. And saying it would be incredibly difficult would be putting it lightly. Inside, Satomi was against this endeavor…

"You will face many battles, milady. The lords, and the demons that might be lurking among humans. You might die yourself. There's a reason that after centuries upon centuries, none managed to unite the islands."

In the long passage of time, in the history of the islands, surely Miyako was not a unique case. Uniting the islands was a common desire, a common wish. Even those who wanted to be shogun technically still wanted to unite everyone. But none succeeded.

"... We must do something, Satomi. You'd never know, maybe this time, it will be different."

Satomi sighed again. "Are you certain we can trust Yuki?"

"Yes, I'm sure he'll do whatever is needed. He's a good man."

Satomi quite agreed with that. ‌Yuki was not like his father. In a way, he reminded her of Miyako. Still, it was not good to put complete faith in someone they recently knew, and on the enemy side at that.

"... I understand. I will follow you wherever you may go, milady. But please tread carefully. Don't do anything rash."

Especially when you are driven by emotions.

"I won't."

"When we arrive back home, we must let your father know what you started."

"I'm sure he will understand."

"... Perhaps."

Miyako nodded. "Now, to make things easier, let's hope that Yoshio changes his mind and accepts my proposal of a trade partnership."