"I've released you, now tell me where you're going," he said.

"To the door that leads to the inner palace," I replied without a care. "Since you won't help me return then I will go back to my room myself. By the way, I do not want to share my room with the kagemusha you hired. I suggest you take her back to where you first saw her."

"There's no need for you to do that. I will command the shadow guards to bring you to the secret entrance that connects the ooku to the nakoku so stay where you are," he ordered.

I smiled and turned to face him. "Good. Order them… Now."

"After we have dinner," he said. "Ryuko-san, inform the kitchen that I wish to eat now."

"Ryuko-san, stay here," I grabbed her wrist and looked at him squarely. "Kaname, don't you get it? I don't want to be in the same room as you. You want to have dinner with me? You'll have to force me but I'll make sure to put up a fight."

"What is wrong with you!" he rubbed his face with his hands, he was starting to get frustrated.

"What's wrong with me?" I held my chin as if I was contemplating something before answering the question. "You broke my heart, Kaname. That's what's wrong with me."

He paled, he was not expecting those words. I saw pain and guilt flash in his eyes before he looked away then back at me.

"This is the result of your actions," I sounded so detached even a small part of me was afraid. "You broke my heart and trust. I don't think you'll be able to mend them back."

He didn't say anything and just stared at me helplessly.

"Your childish behavior, your possessiveness, and your tendency to lash out without listening… I've had enough of them. In fact, if I ever get the chance to return to my time, I will not hesitate and leave this place."

"You swore that you will stay with me!" he closed the distance between us with just a few long strides; my last sentence ignited something within him, he was once again furious. "You promised, don't you dare go back on your word!"

"I did," I continued to speak in the same detached manner. "But that was because I believed you would be the first person to guard my heart. And yet… You failed me. So tell me, Kaname, who betrayed who first?"

He ran his fingers through his hair a few times and started to pace. "No, you can't leave me! I'll lock you up if I have to!"

"You'll just make me resent you more. Kaname, a portion of my love for you vanishes with every threat you make."

He stopped his pacing, walked to the nearest table, and kicked it. The table flew like it was as light as a soccer ball, its ornaments came cras.h.i.+ng on the floor.

"Kaname-sama, please allow us to return to the ooku," Ryuko-san couldn't take it anymore so she intervened. "Lady Hinata, please stop baiting the shogun."

We both opened our mouths to protest but she held both her hands up at us.

"We will return to the ooku," she looked at Kaname then at me. "The distance will give you both the opportunity to clear your heads. You young ones are both stubborn, I refuse to believe this is how your love for each other will end."

Kaname and I looked at each other, the simple gesture of our eyes meeting suddenly turned into a staring contest. Neither of us were backing down.

Ryuko-san cleared her throat, breaking our silent war. "So?"

I gave him a sharp look before looking away. Seeing the wisdom in her words, Kaname opened the door and called his shadow guards. "Escort Lady Hinata back to her room and Ryuko-san to the castle's main gate. As for the kagemusha, tell her that I'll get in touch with her when the need arises. Remember, I want all of these done flawlessly."

"Hai," the three men said in unison.

~~~

Two shadow guards led me to an underground maze that I think I will never memorize no matter how many times I go through it. It was a complex web of corridors, tunnels, and doors as small as windows. At the end of one particular tunnel was a trapdoor, beneath is was a three-step stairs.

"This is how the great leader came to your room without having to announce his arrival in the osuzu roka," one of the two s.h.i.+n.o.bis said before lifting the removable panel in the ceiling.

"I see," I said before asking nonchalantly, "Are there other rooms in the ooku that are connected to the middle interior?"

"Only your room is connected to the great leader's palace, great mistress," the same guard replied.

"What did you just call me?" the way he addressed me didn't miss my ears.

"You are the treasured other half of the great leader," it was the second guard who answered this time. "'Great mistress,' that is how he addresses you whenever he meets with us."

I lowered my eyes before looking away. 'Kaname thinks of me… That way?' I felt my heart constrict painfully at the thought of him. I sighed before climbing the steps of the stairs. I then entered the door that would take me to the room above us. I didn't expect to find myself in my bathroom.

"Thank you for escorting me. Shall I call my decoy?"

"No need, great mistress. She is no longer here."

"What? How so?"

"When the great leader mentioned bringing you back, we were listening."

I nodded my head, no longer surprised. Privacy is something one can never have in any part of this palace.

~~~

The maids, save for Ryuko-san, were extra servile towards me that night. They were so attentive that if they could chew and digest my food for me, they would.

On the second hour of the dog's s.h.i.+ft, the suzu bells announcing Kaname's arrival rang. No one in my room expected his visit, I think I was the most surprised. I gathered my robes and went to the corridor to welcome him. Although we were currently not in good terms, I didn't want to disrespect him in front of everyone and announce our falling-out.

On my way to the bell corridor, I ran into Ayaka who was br.i.m.m.i.n.g with excitement at Kaname's sudden arrival.

"Nee-chan!" she took one of my hands and clasped it with hers. "The shogun is here! I hope he chooses me, I cannot wait to tell him about my pregnancy anymore!"

'You lying, backstabbing, attention-hungry b.i.t.c.h!' I screamed in my head before faking a smile. "Lady Ayaka!"

"Lady Hinata, you do remember your promise, right?" she whispered. "If he chooses you, you'll decline him."

I played along and nodded. "Of course I do."

"Thanks, nee-chan!"

Her smile looked so genuine I bet she was happy that I was so 'gullible.' Unfortunately for her, she will be receiving her life's biggest surprises in great successions from me. They say h.e.l.l hath no fury like a woman scorned, I say even Satan will shudder at a woman reborn[1].