***A/N:  Sorry for the late post.  I just got over a really bad flu. Thank you sooooo much for your love and patience.  This post is sponsored by Katryn S.  Thank you for your support.  xoxo -ptd

Gin and Yasu woke up early, their hushed toned whispers filled the quiet morning as they informed each other of the past week.  

"Twenty more of your Father's men arrived.  Per your instructions, after verifying their identities, I gave them some money and sent them to different inns.  For the meantime, they are to integrate themselves into the city and obtain information from the locals." Gin told Yasu.  "As for Black Fox Teahouse, everything went well. The Third Prince had sent his servant to reserve all three rooms."  

"When?"   

"Two weeks from now.  He requested a specialized menu for his visit."  

"And our plan for Hisa?"  

"Everything went well."  Gin told him. "I have sent secret messages to one of Hisa's maids of the Third Prince's whereabouts.  Hisa has been showing up to each major event that he's attended and has caused a lot of trouble for the Prime Minister."  

"Make sure your tracks are covered."  Yasu reminded him.  

"Don't worry."  Gin comforted Yasu.  "The first message I left for her maid was "accidentally" found in the flowerpot at Sunrise Teahouse.  Since then, Hisa has been visiting Sunrise Teahouse everyday, reserving the same room. I've found someone to pass on the message to a server there who hides the messages in the flowerpot.  Both the server and the messenger have been paid well."      

"You can't get caught."  Yasu told him before kissing his lips.  

That innocent kiss led to an hour of releasing their morning wood.  Afterwards they laid in each other's embrace and continued their conversation. 

"What about you?"  Gin asked. "What happened in Hima?" 

Yasu began telling Gin about what happened to him in Hima.  His expression stayed neutral the whole time until Yasu told him that he slept in the same bed as Ren and Shiro.  

"We didn't do anything."  Yasu reassured Gin. "We only slept.  Nothing else. Just sleeping."  

Gin's frown deepened for a moment before he kissed Yasu's forehead.  

"I trust you."  Gin told him, but his heart felt uncomfortable.  He knew that one day he would have to share Yasu with others.  His only wish was to have more time with Yasu so he could occupy more space in Yasu's heart.  

Yasu stared at Gin for a long time before kissing his lips.  

"Really, nothing happened."  Yasu repeated.  

"And I said I trust you."  Gin said back to Yasu before holding him tighter in his embrace.  

"Anyway, the next morning, Ren gave me Ken and Kei to be my guards."  Yasu told him.  

"Did anything happen on the way back?"  

"No, nothing happened."  

"What do we do now?"  Gin asked. "What are our next steps?"  

"We need to buy the two properties beside Black Fox Teahouse."  Yasu told him. "This way, our privacy would be guaranteed and we'll have more room to house everyone.  We also need to prepare safe houses and find a way for us to escape the Nijo should anyone get caught. We also need to insert someone close to the Third Prince's side, the more the better." 

"What else?"  

"We also need to expand our reach and intelligence to encompass the whole city.  I need to know everything that is going on inside of this city. Every piece of information, no matter how useless we think it is, it may be the clue that could help us.  When we have enough strength here, we can move on to other cities and build an intelligence network there as well."  

"Anything else?"  

"We also need to raise and train more people."  Yasu told Gin. "This way, they'll be loyal to us."  

"If we are to raise and train people, we need a hidden base."  

"I'll look into buying land outside of the city."  

"How many people are you able to support for the first batch of people to train?"  Gin asked.  

"The first batch will be kids, from ages 8-14 years old.  Preferably orphans. We'll teach them martial arts, reading and writing.  They must also know how to play at least one instrument. Because they are kids, their existence would be ignored by most people.  They'll be able to get information must easier, avoid any suspicion and be able to hide in difficult places."  

"With more training, they'll be more useful." Gin agreed with Yasu.  "However to set everything up as you ask. It'll take a lot of gold and silver."  

"Gold and silver is one thing that we don't have to worry about.  My parents has left me with a lot of savings and businesses." Yasu told him.  

"Then I'll begin our operations as soon as possible."  

"Don't tire yourself so much.  Delegate the tasks. Ken will be at your disposal.  You can pull Fuyu and Kazno if you need them. Since they are the oldest and the head of the household, the others will follow their lead."  

Gin kissed the crown of Yasu's head before getting up to start the day.  By the time the two of them reached the dining room, Ken and Kei along with the other servants stood in a line, waiting for them.  

They all bowed to greet Yasu at the same time.  

"No need for formalities."  Yasu told them. "I don't like that kind of a thing, so don't do it in the future."  

"Etiquette must be maintained for order."  Ken said.  

"These formalities could be seen by others and my life will be in danger."  Yasu told them before looking at the ten servants that served him for the past couple of months.  "Since I have bought you from the slave market, you are all my people now. I am now responsible for all your lives."  

All the ten servants looked at each other in wonder.  Was their Young Master finally going to tell them why he has been gathering information and gossip from the noblemen?  

Ken and Kei looked at each other, but kept quiet.  

"For now, all you need to know is that I am up against someone who has a lot of power and authority.  I have a life and death blood debt with him. I came to Nijo to collect that debt." Yasu's hollow voice and cold aura caused others to be scared.  "Keep your hands busy and your mouth shut. Do not ask questions that doesn't concern you. Should one word escape the courtyard, not only your life be forfeited, but your family's life as well."  

All ten servants quickly knelt and kowtowed.  

"Our loyalty is only to you, Young Master."  Kazno said as he stared at the ground.  

"Since the moment you bought us, our lives are in your hands."  Fuyu quickly agreed.  

"Do the rest of you all agree with Kazno and Fuyu?"  Yasu asked.  

The rest of the servants agreed and kowtowed again.  

"Since that is the case.  Then we all understand one another."  Yasu said. "From time to time, Gin will give Kanzo and Fuyu more work to do.  The rest of you must pick up the slack, should they be sent to do other work."

"As Young Master orders, we'll do as you say."  Kanzo said. Everyone else quickly repeated his words in obedience.  

"Good.  Now get up and let's break our fast."  Yasu told them.  

They all stood up and worked together to add two more seats to the table.  Food that was made that morning was brought in and served. Once everything was set, they all sat down and ate in silence.  

Ken and Kei took their time to study all ten servants.  That morning they only nodded in greeting to the servants.  They did not bother to introduce themselves.  

After their meal, Yasu quickly introduced Ken and Kei, however he didn't tell them exactly why Ken and Kei were there.  After dismissing the servants to begin their day, Gin took Ken out to the city to fulfill Yasu's command and send word to the retired soldiers that came to Yasu's call.  

That day, Yasu met his father's twenty retired soldiers.  They all came through the back gate one by one at different times during the morning and afternoon.  The moment they saw Yasu, their eyes became red with sorrow as they held their tears back.  

By the late afternoon, everyone had arrived and they all sat in the study.  Their conversation held a sense of bittersweetness. They were happy to meet one another again after so many years, but they were brought back together under harsh circumstances.  

Kei stood outside of the study, guarding the door as Yasu and the retired soldiers spoke.  Their meeting lasted three hours and afterwards, one by one, they left through the same way they arrived.  

Kei stepped into the study once he sent the last man out through the back gate.  Yasu sat by the window and stared out at the landscaped garden.  

"Do you have any other orders, Young Master."  Kei asked.  

"Tell me a little about yourself, Kei."  Yasu said without looking back.  

"There is nothing much to say."  Kei told him. "I'm an orphan that the General's family picked up.  I was raised by the General's side and have been with him since then."  

"Is it the same for Ken as well?"  

"Yes, Young Master."  Kel told him truthfully.  

"Did General Ren inform you of everything about me?"  

"Yes, Young Master."  

Yasu stayed silent for some time, thinking about his next steps.  Since Ken and Kei already knows everything about his situation, it would make things easier for him to give orders to them.

Yasu turns around and studies Kei's mask on his face.  The half mask covered the top half of his face, leaving only his cheeks, mouth and chin exposed.  Even with half a mask on, his features were alluring. 

Yasu had only seen Kei's face the morning Ren gave Ken and Kei to him.  Since then Kei has worn the mask and has not taken it off.  

"You must hate other's staring at you."  

"My face is a gift and a curse."  

 "Hmmm."  Yasu answered before walking to the side of the room to grab the sewing basket.  He then sat by the window and began embroidering Gin's robe. "I will be here for the rest of the day."  

"Then I will guard the door for Young Master."  Kei said before leaving the room. Although he left the room, he did not close the door.  He needed to keep Yasu within his sights at all times.