Meanwhile, Kenshin headed to the recreation room, where he found an unusual scene. Kasumi, Natsumi, and Aya were arguing with each other about which game to teach Makoto first.
" M-Master!" Makoto exclaimed in surprise, rising from the table.
"Don't be afraid of me, relax and rest," he said with a smile, stroking her head. He really liked the transformation of this small, skinny girl. After taking a bath and changing her simple linen clothes for a cute sweater with a heart and comfy black pants, Makoto was unrecognizable.
"Kenshin, tell these two that just because they barely mastered D&D doesn't mean everyone else is as stupid. I'm sure little Makoto will pick up the game easily and surpass Natsumi in a week!" Kasumi declared proudly, stepping closer to him and hugging him, unable to resist reaching for Makoto's little head and gently stroking it.
Seeing Kenshin hug Kasumi back and then lightly kiss her on the lips, Makoto blushed deeply and nearly sank into the ground from embarrassment. All this time, she'd thought the lord was Kasumi's father, and having seen his transformation at dinner, she hadn't yet had time to process that detail.
"Alright, let's not embarrass the girl even more," Kenshin said, sitting in the empty armchair at the head of the table.
"I don't think an innocent kiss between husband and wife could embarrass a sixteen-year-old girl," Kasumi said with a light chuckle, sitting on the armrest, having missed her husband's caresses.
"Y-you're the master's wife?" Makoto asked in shock. Though the thought had lingered at the edges of her mind, she was still greatly surprised.
"Not just her, we're all his wives," Natsumi said, sauntering over to Kenshin's armchair and sitting on the opposite side from Kasumi.
"Ah! Y-you all...?" Makoto cried out in surprise. Even her wildest assumptions hadn't come close to the fact that all these women were the lord's wives. The young girl's brain was so overloaded that she just blinked, staring at the smiling Kasumi and Natsumi.
"Why are you so surprised? You'll become his wife soon too, right, Kenshin?" Aya said with a foxy smile, taking her place behind him and hugging him around the neck.
"Stop it, girls. Don't listen to Aya, she's joking," Kenshin said with a slight smile.
"Don't you like little Makoto? Good nutrition and a bit of time will turn her into a very beautiful girl," Kasumi said. Just half a day ago, she would've twirled her finger at her temple if someone had suggested such a thing from her lips, but now she really wanted Makoto to become a full member of the Nakayama Family.
"Ahem... It's not about that, Makoto... She's still just a child. Besides, I'm not going to force her to become my wife," Kenshin replied. He hadn't expected such a conversation on the very first evening and was a bit embarrassed by his cunning wives' scheming.
"A child? She may look like a little girl, but she entered marriageable age three years ago. Let's ask what she thinks. Makoto, do you want to become Kenshin's wife?" Kasumi said authoritatively. She hated beating around the bush, so she decided to take a risk and ask directly.
"I... I'm not worthy..." she whispered and burst into tears. It was the only thing her trembling lips could utter.
"Why do you think that, Makoto?" Kenshin asked gently, using his will to lightly nudge his two wives off the armchair with telekinesis and pull the black-haired girl to him.
Once the crying Makoto was on his lap, Kenshin focused all his empathic powers on broadcasting calm and serenity. With her raging emotions, tactile contact was essential, and he didn't let go of her little head, gently stroking her short black hair.
"I'll disgrace you, master. You've given me a new life, and I don't want your noble name tarnished by marriage to a rootless commoner!" Makoto blurted out in one breath, suddenly stopping her tears.
"I don't care what the feudal lords or various clans think. Once you become my wife, even Takahiro will have to show you respect and shamelessly wag his tail. When our Nakayama Family gains even greater power, even the great clans of Konoha will have no choice but to joyfully acknowledge Hitomi and Kasumi as my wives," Kenshin said authoritatively, stroking Makoto's petite back.
Due to the powerful empathic influence, Makoto was completely free of shyness and fear at that moment, staring straight into Kenshin's eyes without blinking.
"Do you really want Makoto to become your w-wife?" she asked. Even empathic influence couldn't extinguish the flash of embarrassment when she thought about marriage.
Like most girls, Makoto had dreamed since childhood of marrying a kind and handsome man. That desire had only grown each year until her native village became a battlefield between Konoha's shinobi and Suna's, and after the battle, the victorious Konoha shinobi took her as a trophy.
Since Makoto's home village wasn't in the Land of Fire, Konoha's shinobi had free rein, and finding a barely alive girl with awakened chakra in the completely destroyed village, they were delighted by their luck and sold her to the Kimura family.
"To be honest, I planned to put this off indefinitely, but since two sly foxes decided to take initiative," he said, giving Kasumi and Natsumi a good smack on the butt, then continued, "it looks like we should discuss it right now. Tell me, Makoto, do you want to become a full member of the Nakayama Family and gain the status of my wife?" Kenshin asked seriously, looking into the unblinking brown eyes of the young girl.
"Y-yes, master..." Makoto whispered with bated breath.
"Good!" Kenshin said decisively, and suddenly, an interactive choice menu appeared before the girl's eyes.
[Do you agree to become the wife of the Patriarch named Nakayama Kenshin, and entrust your life and fate into his hands?]
Makoto stared at those lines in surprise, and thanks only to the empathic influence, she perceived it with a cool head. There were only two options before her: "yes" and "no," and without much hesitation, she made her choice.
[Yes]
Her eyes closed for a second, and a storm of emotions swept through her mind. Opening her eyes, she first looked at Kenshin's face and gave him a warm smile. All fear, doubts, and awe before the "master" vanished in an instant, replaced by absolute serenity and boundless joy.