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ʀᴇɴᴇɢᴀᴅᴇ ᴅᴏᴡɴ (1x1 w/ Jikkah)

Akihime took the file from him and flipped through it slowly, "I'm not surprised you allowed such a thing to happen in your own domain, but I suppose that is to be expected from the old and decrepit." She remarked, "One can only be so omniscient." Masamune tried not to choke on his own laughter, hiding it rather poorly behind a cough.
"Shit, man, that coffee sure is strong, Aki." He lied, face red with glee.
"I do apologize, Masamune, I'll brew it a little weaker next time." She replied gently.
 
“My dear, why don’t you drop the poorly fabricated formalities and get to the real point of why we’re here in your home today?” Matsunaga said with a sigh. “If I’ve slipped in my old age and allowed death to happen in my territory, what excuse do you have for allowing your own men to be slaughtered like pigs- and in your own home no less?” His tone grew sharp, like a parent scolding their child.
Yukimura scowled at his words, fists clenched tightly behind his back.
 
"And how would you know that happened?" She asked, eyes dangerous, "I merely mentioned that I was attacked in my home, I didn't disclose any details such as death."
"Oddly suspicious there, Matsunaga." Masamune remarked gently.
 
“One of the four family heads front gates are run down by an armed mob, you didn’t really think such an event would go unnoticed, did you?” Matsunaga didn’t look worried at all. “People talk, you should know that as much as anyone else, Masamune.” He glanced to Masamune with a sharp look before looking back to Akihime. “But it seems you’ve already made up your mind on who your attacker is- so Akihime, what proof of that do you have, or are you simply running off of gut feelings once again?”
“You really should mind how you speak when you’re a guest.” Yukimura said firmly, a scowl on his face as he glared at Matsunaga.
“I won’t be taking life advice from a Twilight, especially not a leashed one.” Matsunaga said, not even bothering to look at Yukimura when he spoke.
“Things are getting out of hand.” Megohime spoke up. “We should stay focused on why everyone’s here.”
“Yes, we really should, I’m glad your dog seems to know how to behave, Masamune.” Matsunaga said, but it was far from a compliment.
 
"You would do best to remember who's home you're sitting in." Akihime stated sharply, reciting Matsunaga's same words he made to her when they were last together. She cleared her throat gently and laced her fingers together, "But you're right, I digress. I made a rather interesting discovery the other day, Matsunaga. Some rather interesting transactions on your part." She held out her hand to Yukimura again, silently requesting the papers Masamune discreetly gave to her days prior to the meeting.
 
Matsunaga didn’t find her throwing his own words back at him very amusing, but kept his opinion to himself. Yukimura once more placed the papers in her hand, watching Matsunaga closely. The man actually seemed interested now, like she had finally gotten his attention.
“Oh? I’m rather curious to know how you got such information, I didn’t take you for the type to pry- do share what you’ve found though.” He encouraged.
 
"See, as you have stated, you prefer efficiency and thusly why you call upon Sarutobi and his kabal. And, a man like you, would not outright write the man a check. You would put such funds through a metaphorical wash." She placed the papers neatly on the table, "To the untrained, these transactions - a grand here, a couple hundred there - would just seem like a basic grocery list of chores. But, if you add them all up, the meet the cost of hiring Sarutobi. And wouldn't you know?" She giggled a bit, "Wouldn't you know that he actually outted you to me when he arrived! Imagine that!"
 
Matsunaga reached out to pick up one of the papers in front of him, looking it over as a bored looked quickly replaced his interested one. He looked up at Akihime over the top of the paper before lowering it and placing it back on the table. “Your proof that I’ve hired a mercenary group is.. the money I’ve paid my employees for their work? You can’t be joking. I also find it hard to believe that I’ve been outted by a man I currently don’t have on my payroll.” He shook his head. “Yes, while it’s true I’ve hired Sarutobi and his company in the past for other work, he hasn’t been on my payroll for months, and that I have proof of. Perhaps in my locked cabinets in my office.” He glanced at Masamune, but he had no proof that it was even Masamune who had stolen his documents in the first place, only a hunch.
“Surely you have more than this? All this proves is that I’ve paid my employees, and rather fairly at that.”
 
"Oh, yes. I have one of your employees who was so brave to come forward." She smiled, "Yukimura, could you please go grab our friend from the other room?"
 
Yukimura nodded, moving to the door and leaving the room, taking a moment before returning with a familiar face. Ren followed close behind Yukimura, looking a bit uncomfortable to be there, avoiding looking at Mitsunari directly. Matsunaga watched Ren as he came in, his expression remaining the same. “One of my prostitutes?”
 
"Yes, one of your prostitutes." Akihime replied. Mitsunari could only see the fuzzy color of Ren's hair and his chest tightened a bit.
"Go ahead, Ren, tell everyone whst you told me." Akihime urged gently.
 
Ren stood beside the table between Masamune and Matsunaga, Yukimura moving back to stand behind Akihime once more. “I don’t know why you keep asking me to say it- I said nothing abnormal happened. I worked an event where my boss hosted important clients for business transactions, that’s why I got paid out separately from my usual paycheck.” Ren explained.
Matsunaga looked to Akihime, giving a small shrug. “Is there any other evidence you have against me? All of this seems rather baseless, and frankly insulting.”
 
Akihime's expression didn't change as she looked at Ren. Masamune leaned back in his chair, frowning softly.
"I expected more from you, Aki." He said, trying to play the whole thing off, "That's a new low."
"It was worth a shot." She replied, resting her hands on the desk and offering Ren a kind smile, "Thank you anyway, Ren. You can go. Forgive me for pulling you from your duties."
 
Ren gave a short nod, avoiding looking in Matsunaga’s direction as he turned to leave.
“Ren, wait in the hall.” Matsunaga said, taking a slow sip from his drink. “I can drive you home.”
Ren froze at the door, glad he wasn’t facing everyone as a look of pure fear flashed in his eyes. “Of course, thank you.” He said, then left to stand in the hallway.
“I’m very sorry to hear about the attack on your estate, Otani, but I’m afraid it simply wasn’t me. You haven’t had a single shred of evidence to prove your accusation, nor yours, Masamune.”
Yukimura did his best to keep his composure, he didn’t understand why Ren would suddenly recant his confession, why he wouldn’t tell the rest of them what he had told Akihime.
 
"I can take him home, Matsunaga." Mitsunari offered, "The Colony is close to Pussy, it won't be any trouble."
"I had hoped that peer pressure would force him to make my accusations more plausible, but I didn't account for his undying loyalty as well as I should have." Akihime said, looking disappointment. She understood completely why Ren would go back on his confession, and feared that she may have signed his death warrant for it.
 
“I can’t put you out of your way to chauffeur around a prostitute. We’re going to the same destination as it is anyway.” Matsunaga waved his hand. “Unless you’re asking for his business then in that case I would be more than inclined to say yes.” He sighed softly and sat back in his chair. “You cannot force out lies, Akihime, they’ll do nothing to serve you.”
 
"If I was?" Mitsunari asked. Sakon cleared his throat gently.
"General, maybe don't say that out loud?" He whispered.
"Well, I suppose I've wasted everyone's time enough." Akihime said gently.
 
Matsunaga smirked softly, standing as Akihime concluded the meeting. “Do make sure you return him when you’ve finished.” He turned to Akihime, offering a fake smile. “I do hope you can get over your dislike for me, Akihime. Business is always better when you like your partner.” He said, then turned to leave.
Megohime made a face at Matsunaga’s words, only bold enough to do so now that his back was turned, finally taking a drink from her glass.
 
Mitsunari stood and left quickly, wanting to get to Ren before Matsunaga did.

Akihime waited for Matsunaga to leave the room before punching the table, the wood splintering under her fist.
"That cock sucking whoreson. I'll skin him alive and parade him around when I finally nail his ass. I'll fucking crucify him for the fucking martyr he is."
"I'm sorry, Aki, I tried." Masamune frowned. She shook her head gently.
"It isn't your fault, Masamune." She slouched back in her seat, looking defeated.
 
Ren was waiting in the hallway as instructed by Matsunaga, jumping a bit when the meeting room doors opened. His expression softened a bit when he saw it was only Mitsunari and Sakon approaching him, feeling ashamed. “Mitsunari..”

Yukimura’s scowl only grew. “Why did Rengoku lie?” He asked firmly. “He said before that he had been the one to go to Sarutobi- why change his story now?”
 
"Why didn't you tell me...?" He asked softly, keeping his voice down, "I would have done more to protect you.."

"His life is in danger, Yukimura, it's understandable. He did it to protect himself. Though, I may have damned him anyway." She said.
"We'll get Matsunaga, Aki. Don't stress." Masamune said. Akihime exhaled and lit a cigarette.
"I'm stressing, Masamune." She replied.
 
“I’m not-” Ren paused when Matsunaga walked passed them, waiting to continue once he was a bit further down the hall. “I’m not in danger. You don’t need to protect me.” He said softly, though now he doubted his own words. His actions put his life at risk, plain and simple he had gone against Matsunaga directly. “I appreciate it, Mitsunari, I do.”

Yukimura shook his head, still not quite understanding. “We offered protection- we could have uncovered Matsunaga right there.”
Megohime finished her drink and set the glass on the table so it could be collected, watching Akihime light up her cigarette with a bit of amusement, but she said nothing, knowing now wasn’t the time to make jokes.
 
"Ren, I could tell the offer to be driven home by him scared you. I'm blind but not stupid. Let me help you." He said, expression heavy with worry.

"I'm powerful, but I can't reach into territory that isn't mine. If Ren walked into the wrong area, his life would be over." She said, "Demo...he's got Mitsunari keeping an eye on him now. He might be a bit safer." She exhaled the smoke through her nose as she sighed, "I am once again left to look like a fool by that man..."
 
Ren frowned softly, closing his eyes for a moment before shaking his head. “I’ll be fine, Mitsunari.” He said again. “Truly, I’ll be fine.”

“Don’t feel too bad, he seems to have a knack for making people feel that way. I think almost everyone here has experienced it first hand, myself included.” Megohime said with a soft sigh. “Eventually that old hermit will get what’s coming to him.”
 
Mitsunari didn't buy it one bit.
"If you ever need me, for anything at all, please call me." He said.
"General, we should leave before people grow suspicious." Sakon said.

"I mean it when I say I'll crucify him." Akihime said as she stood, "Assuming Yukimura here doesn't get to him first." She pet under Yukimura's chin affectionately and Masamune smirked a bit but said nothing. For now, anyway.
 
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