restless tides

He had a hard time believing she held no animosity towards him. The things that had been done and could not be taken back were too numerous and too grave to speak of. If he let her into the fold there was a very real chance she might try to destroy Tojo from within, break it apart and undermine all he had built. He almost wanted to see her try, to see if she could do it, to learn whether he'd been right to suspect her all along. It was a foolish notion, and he ought to cast her aside. Too risky, not even a thread of trust between them.

And yet...

"It is as you say." Was this an investment worth keeping? Would he regret this down the road, where it was too late to turn back or slam the brakes? Curiosity was getting the better of him, ticking away in his mind and making him think, ponder. If nothing else he could make use of her, and she was right, trust could be worked on in the long term. "But know this; if you betray me you will be reunited with your ancestors soon enough."

He couldn't make it any clearer. The ball was in her court.