I took a couple of steps back. "I'm back from the exams. I was told about Haruki and Harumi. Do you want to talk about it?" I asked. He just looked at me. "You know that this was supposed to mean something great for them! I can't fucking believe Chie would do that to us." I just looked at him. That was the name of the concubine. I had never thought to ask before now. "It's rough. What did she say when you talked about it?" I asked. He looked at me in confusion. "Talk? What could we talk about when she locked the children in the bedroom and began crying!? I couldn't... go in there when they started crying to. That would make me the bad guy!" he snapped. "Wait. Did this just come out of nowhere?" I probed. He nodded his head furiously. "Yeah! She knew that it was important for them to come of age. I thought she would be excited. It isn't everyday outsiders join clans. Then she pulled that shit on me. Everyone said I should have snatched them. "Why? She was clearly upset." I said. "She said she wanted to keep their innocence longer." he responded before looking off to the side.
A look of confusion was on my face. "What was I supposed to do? I... love Chie. How can she do that!?" he moaned. "I think you need to have a conversation with Chie. I think both of you are in danger of falling apart. As soon as possible, this talk needs to happen." I said. He just frowned. "What am I supposed to say?" he asked. I looked at him. "I have to be wrong here, but I need to double check something with you. Are you looking me dead in the face and telling me that you have no clue why Chie is upset?" I said, a bit of annoyance creeping in at the end. He blinked. "I don't get it. I explained everything that was going to happen to her." I face palmed. "Izayoi. I need you to listen to me and not get offended. You already know I've always been on your side." I started after groaning. He made a face at me. "It sounds like you're not taking my side this time." he accuses. "Okay. I am a wander who did not have ninja parents. In a sense, I probably have the best insight to what's going on other than Akita and Natsuji's father." That got him to look at me in curiosity. "What's going on?"
Being that I was an outsider, I was the perfect one to shine a light here. "Every single child is indoctrinated by the clan elders on how to live and behave as a ninja. What you consider normal and common is totally different to a non ninja. You need to keep that in mind as I continue. Do you think you can?" was my opening. Izayoi nodded his head. "I was a wanderer. I had never even heard of the Toryō Ni Hitasu or the Efude Naderu Yoru until I was 17 years old. Boys losing their virginity is a formative experience that can mark the start of leaving childhood behind. That's true even outside of the Nabari. However, it is not a mandated requirement to be an adult. Most people just age into it." Izayoi looked confused. "But how will people be sure they are ready for healthy sexual partners?" he asked. "Uhh. It's called courting. Just like in the village. People will simply decide they want to pursue a partner. Some will be more sexually experienced than others. Some will be virgins. And that is okay. Most societies also value virginity in women. It shows her purity and loyalty to her man."
