The Day of Thunder

His tone was quite dry. Suspiciously so.

"I believe we'll find some space for your story in the Libraries, Chouri-san."

A pause.

"It seems, after all, to be of some importance."

She smiled wanly. "Hopefully someone will open that book."

"I think that can be promised."

He chuckled.

"If nothing else, my children are voracious readers."

She chuckled a little. "Good to know. If his other children is anything like Shiba Kumori-sama, I think we'll be in good hands."

"Oh, they're..."

He sighed fondly.

"I can't really call them good kids anymore, not when Kumori's one of the youngest, and probably the one the most like, well... me. But you get the general notion."

A shake of the head.

"Now. As to the future. You have accepted Imperial Protection, but that has its limits. In fact, were it not for the circumstances in play, we would likely be making efforts to take you into custody."

But trying to arrest the head of a village full of people with little inherent trust for the samurai would likely end in a bloodbath.

"Some will likely still press for it. How do you propose we negotiate matters with your people?"

"I... I'm not sure," she admitted. "Normally, I would accept arrest. But the Harbinger... she... well, she wanted a cult. So... even with your current caution, you may be underestimating how badly that would go."

"Oh, I am not. But it will be useful to inform the daimyo."

He gave her a half-bow.

"When matters have resolved here, it might be moot. If not, I will ask that you submit to Imperial justice at the first opportunity. They will likely demand you be placed under guard, and I doubt they'd believe Wu-san to be up to the job. If it becomes necessary, would my presence in this house be an issue? I intend to advise them of the simple arithmetic of our situation, and if need be, Kumori can attempt to give them orders. But."

He sighed.

"No one ever lost many bets against the intransigence of people who have become Important."

She nodded. "I will submit to justice as soon as we can, assuming any of us are alive, as you implied. Your presence wouldn't be an issue."

She closed her eyes and nodded. "Whatever else happens, I'm small next to what's coming. It's better to have more resources in dealing with the Harbinger's 'beloved'," she nearly spit the word, "than less."

"Then I'll take up a room."

Assuming he survived his fight with zombies the next day, anyhow.

"While we're on the subject of resources... an account of how you did what you did and the path you took might be a useful record. We could head off such endeavors in the future."

She nodded. "I'll start writing. How I did what I did in what way?"

"Ideally. Also your journey that led you to the choices you made."