Okuri leaped through the open gates. It had taken him a relatively short time to get the castle of daimyo Osamu Kai. The real time consuming factor was the amount of talking he would have to do. The guardsmen at the gate got down on one knee and lowered their heads. Okuri nodded is head as a return of respect, but did not move his body. When he looked up, he saw a young man, with dark orange hair and goatee in dark robes.
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“Well, well, I was expecting an old man. Your father has passed away hasn’t he?” remarked Okuri.
The youth, no more than 16, lowered his head in grievance. “Yes. A few months ago, he died of a heart attack in his sleep.” The youth stayed in this position for a few seconds, and raised his head. “I am Osamu Kai, the new daimyo who has taken his place.”
“Very well, Osamu, you’re the new boss around here.” Spoke Okuri. “I am Okuri Okami of the Wolf brothers, and it won’t be long before I’m the new boss of this whole country. What do you want with me, Osamu?”
Osamu gestured him into following. He lead Okuri back out through the gates and into the thick bamboo forest surrounding his castle. “As you can see, the bamboo here grows very thick and tall, despite the cold conditions. Over a meter a day, in fact. Much faster than your current supplier’s bamboo…much cheaper as well.”
“You must misunderstand: I have no ‘supplier’.” Said Okuri. “That old man gets his bamboo from where ever the Shogun tells him to….although…now that Daichi is going to be in charge…..hm. Anyways, about this bamboo…..”
“Are you sure this is right, Daichi?”
“Yes father, I can carry out the construction from here.”
“But Okuri knocked you out before! What if he comes back? It’ll be the same as before, but you’ll be taking the blame!”
“I can live with that.”
Masanori sighed. “Then I cannot hold you back. I pass my title as Chief Architect of the Glorious Shogun Isamu Honma onto you.” The two men bowed to each other and left the room. Masanori was lifted into the mammoth pulled sled by one of his inferiors. With his wife by his side, Masanori ordered the sled driver to start moving. Then he slipped away into a deep slumber.
