Tsuruchi Meintaro rode into town, the same town his brother had ventured into only two weeks prior, and would never leave. Meintaro grimaced at the thought of his brother; Airo had created a mess of their family name and Meintaro was here to make up for it. Not only was he here to retake the position of Mantis consult and restore honor to the Tsuruchi family, but he needed to retrieve a specific heirloom Airo had been gifted with, one he no longer deserved. He dismounted from his horse and allowed the heimin to take it and stable it while a short man quickly came to greet him. Undoubtedly the mayor of the town.
“I’m here to see Asahina-sama,” Meintaro said sternly.
“Of course, samurai-sama, right this way.” The mayor bowed graciously and scurried to the large house not far from where they were standing. Meintaro followed, once entering the house he was asked to wait while Asahina was fetched from the backyard. Asahina was doing some sort of exercises with a rather unusual obstacle course. Asahina hustled inside and bowed to Meintaro.
“I’m here to see Asahina-sama,” Meintaro said sternly.
“Of course, samurai-sama, right this way.” The mayor bowed graciously and scurried to the large house not far from where they were standing. Meintaro followed, once entering the house he was asked to wait while Asahina was fetched from the backyard. Asahina was doing some sort of exercises with a rather unusual obstacle course. Asahina hustled inside and bowed to Meintaro.
“Asahina Kyuzo at your service.”
“Tsuruchi Meintaro, brother of Tsuruchi Airo. I’m here to take his place, as well as deal with him.” Meintaro wanted to get this unpleasantness taken care of as quickly as possible so he could start mending bridges that Airo had burned.
“Yeah, we had a really nasty situation here a few weeks ago,” Asahina commented. Meintaro didn’t need Asahina to express his opinion on the matter. He already knew what had transpired from both his daimyo and a letter he received along the way here.
“I got a letter. Do you know where he is?”
Asahina looked confused, obviously he wasn’t responsible for notifying Meintaro that his brother was awaiting his arrival. Just then, a woman clad in black silk with white webs embroidered along her dress entered the open door. She looked at Meintaro with her hazel eyes and gave a polite bow.
“Tsuruchi-san, I saw you entering town, I am Daigotsu Negisa.”
“You’re the one who sent the letter.”
“That is correct. My most humble apologies for what has happened to your brother.”
“You don’t need to apologize. You didn’t do anything.” Airo did it, and now it was a mess Meintaro was going to have to clean up. “So, where is my brother?”
“We are currently holding him,” Negisa waved her hand towards the door.
“Asahina-sama, with your permission I would like to take my leave and take care of this.”
“Permission granted,” Asahina nodded and turned towards the back of the house, returning to his strange exercise routine.
“Lead the way,” Meintaro instructed Negisa.
“Shiba,” Negisa called, “Come.” A diminutive woman who had been in the courtyard joined Negisa as the three headed outside.
She led him to a house nearby, only a short walk from the center of town. When he entered, he saw Airo kneeling near the back of the living area. He was ashen and somber and didn’t issue any greetings, only sat there and watched Meintaro. Meintaro felt his rage bubbling up, Airo had caused such a commotion, created such a rift through not just the Tsuruchi family, but the Mantis clan, and Meintaro hadn’t yet learned how the town was after Airo’s shameful actions. He scanned the room, finding what he was looking for, his grandfather’s bow, the one gifted to Airo, sitting across the room. Meintaro waked to it, grabbed it and stopped in front of Airo. He considered shooting Airo, putting an arrow through his throat, removing the stain from his family’s life. Instead, he shook his head and left the building. Airo wasn’t worth it. Airo wasn’t worth anything now. He had chosen to put himself in this position and it was his burden to bear, not Meintaro’s to free him from it.
***
Mikoto felt there was something wrong that morning when she woke up, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. She had felt like she was forgetting something all week. It gnawed at her between her lessons with Katsumi and playing with her new lion, Hinata. It bothered her during the lulls at meals when no one was speaking. It just kept growing until that afternoon when she was thinking about the next time she would see Yanagi and it occurred to her she hadn’t had her moon blood for the month. She was supposed to have it over a week ago, and between the joys of life, she just hadn’t realized it never came.
Her heart stopped beating. She was sure it had just stopped. There was no way she had missed it, maybe she wasn’t certain of the day. No, it was certainly the day she had thought it was. There had to be some sort of explanation besides… Besides, she was pregnant with Asahina’s child. Her second mother had always been so adamant about staying chaste, now she was starting to understand why it was so important. What was she going to do? Katsumi will know, she quickly assured herself. Katsumi knew how to deal with everything, always calm and collected and, oh Celestial Heavens, she was pregnant. She wasn’t even married; she had never been with a man before that night, and what would her betrothed think? What would Katsumi think?
Mikoto rushed out of her room and found Katsumi sitting on the back steps watching Asahina run through his little obstacle course.
“Katsumi-chan,” Mikoto said, her throat tight with fear, “I need to talk to you.”
Katsumi looked up at her, those mismatched eyes not giving much away, “Yes, Matsu-san?”
“Not here, I need to talk to you, now.” Mikoto grabbed Katsumi’s arm and literally pulled her back towards her room where she shoved Katsumi inside and slammed the door shut. Katsumi blinked at her.
“I don’t know how to say this…” Mikoto began attempting not to cry.
“Matsu, what is this all about?” Katsumi sounded concerned, or was that anger; she wasn’t thinking straight at the moment and really couldn’t tell one from the next. She would be so angry, she was certain of it.
“Katsumi, I’m late.”
“For what?”
Mikoto threw up her hands, “No, Katsumi-chan, I’m late.”
Katsumi tilted her head; Mikoto could see Katsumi just wasn’t grasping the idea. For Akodo’s sake! “Katsumi, I’m pregnant!”
Mikoto waited for Katsumi to explode. She was marrying Yanagi, Katsumi’s older brother, and she was already pregnant, Katsumi had every right to be enraged at the situation. It never came. Katsumi looked Mikoto over, taking a step back, then she pressed on Mikoto’s breasts and nodded. This wasn’t exactly the right time to be fondled. Her eyes brimmed with tears and Katsumi embraced her, hugging her closer than Katsumi had ever done before.
“What am I going to do?” She choked back a sob.
“There’s not much you have to do, your body will take care of most of it on its own,” Katsumi pulled back and loosened her wrap around her head. She was smiling. That was insane. Here Mikoto was trying to keep from turning into an utter wreck, and Katsumi was smiling about it. It was so terrible.
“No, you don’t understand, I’m pregnant. I’m going to have a baby and I’m not married, and it’s Asahina’s. What am I going to do?” Mikoto tried to get the severity of the situation through to Katsumi. She was carrying the child of another man than her husband-to-be and she had never really been told how to handle something so catastrophic.
“Matsu,” Katsumi said with a grin on her face, “It’s Yanagi’s baby.”
Her heart stopped beating. She was sure it had just stopped. There was no way she had missed it, maybe she wasn’t certain of the day. No, it was certainly the day she had thought it was. There had to be some sort of explanation besides… Besides, she was pregnant with Asahina’s child. Her second mother had always been so adamant about staying chaste, now she was starting to understand why it was so important. What was she going to do? Katsumi will know, she quickly assured herself. Katsumi knew how to deal with everything, always calm and collected and, oh Celestial Heavens, she was pregnant. She wasn’t even married; she had never been with a man before that night, and what would her betrothed think? What would Katsumi think?
Mikoto rushed out of her room and found Katsumi sitting on the back steps watching Asahina run through his little obstacle course.
“Katsumi-chan,” Mikoto said, her throat tight with fear, “I need to talk to you.”
Katsumi looked up at her, those mismatched eyes not giving much away, “Yes, Matsu-san?”
“Not here, I need to talk to you, now.” Mikoto grabbed Katsumi’s arm and literally pulled her back towards her room where she shoved Katsumi inside and slammed the door shut. Katsumi blinked at her.
“I don’t know how to say this…” Mikoto began attempting not to cry.
“Matsu, what is this all about?” Katsumi sounded concerned, or was that anger; she wasn’t thinking straight at the moment and really couldn’t tell one from the next. She would be so angry, she was certain of it.
“Katsumi, I’m late.”
“For what?”
Mikoto threw up her hands, “No, Katsumi-chan, I’m late.”
Katsumi tilted her head; Mikoto could see Katsumi just wasn’t grasping the idea. For Akodo’s sake! “Katsumi, I’m pregnant!”
Mikoto waited for Katsumi to explode. She was marrying Yanagi, Katsumi’s older brother, and she was already pregnant, Katsumi had every right to be enraged at the situation. It never came. Katsumi looked Mikoto over, taking a step back, then she pressed on Mikoto’s breasts and nodded. This wasn’t exactly the right time to be fondled. Her eyes brimmed with tears and Katsumi embraced her, hugging her closer than Katsumi had ever done before.
“What am I going to do?” She choked back a sob.
“There’s not much you have to do, your body will take care of most of it on its own,” Katsumi pulled back and loosened her wrap around her head. She was smiling. That was insane. Here Mikoto was trying to keep from turning into an utter wreck, and Katsumi was smiling about it. It was so terrible.
“No, you don’t understand, I’m pregnant. I’m going to have a baby and I’m not married, and it’s Asahina’s. What am I going to do?” Mikoto tried to get the severity of the situation through to Katsumi. She was carrying the child of another man than her husband-to-be and she had never really been told how to handle something so catastrophic.
“Matsu,” Katsumi said with a grin on her face, “It’s Yanagi’s baby.”
***
“No, it’s Asahina’s,” Mikoto looked confused. At least she wasn’t close to crying anymore.
“It’s Yanagi’s,” Katsumi repeated, nodding her head at Matsu slowly. What was so hard to understand about that? Matsu was going to marry into the family, and no matter who fathered the child, it was going to be a Spider, it was going to be Yanagi’s, it was going to be a part of this family.
“I’ve only ever been with Asahina. It’s his.” Matsu’s face twisted up as she withdrew, suddenly unsure of the situation.
Katsumi put her hand under Matsu’s chin, bringing Matsu’s eyes to meet hers. “Mikoto,” Katsumi began slowly, calmly, “The baby will be Yanagi’s.” There was a sudden light in Matsu’s eyes, it was a look when an idea is fully realized and it snaps into place. Matsu nodded once, and then shook her head.
“I can’t have a baby!”
“Can I have it?” Katsumi was completely serious. If Matsu didn’t want the child, Katsumi would take it for the clan. They were the procurers of lost children like herself, her brother, and many, many other Spider who grew up inside the clan. Most were not related by blood, but the blood in your veins didn’t determine if you were a Spider, the blood you shed, the blood that bound you to the clan made you a Spider.
Matsu shook her head, her eyes going wide, “No, no, isn’t there a way to get rid of it?”
Katsumi narrowed her eyes. There were ways Katsumi knew of. Negisa had taught her along with most of the medicine Katsumi knew, but this wasn’t a time for those drastic measures. “You will be having this child,” Katsumi said coldly. Matsu nodded slowly.
“Look, Mikoto,” Katsumi rubbed her thumb along Matsu’s cheek and softened her tone, “You’re in good hands. My family will take care of everything.”
Matsu seemed to relax when Katsumi offered a gentle smile.
“But won’t Yanagi be upset? He’ll know it isn’t his.”
“No,” Katsumi didn’t even consider the question before answering. It was a child being brought into the Spider clan. They didn’t have many births from being in the Shadowlands, in a world full of taint and danger, but now that they were inside the Empire that was all going to change. “No. It is Yanagi’s. It doesn’t matter where it came from, Yanagi is the father.”
“I don’t know,” Matsu groaned, “I just need some time to figure things out.”
“You don’t have much time; other people will be figuring things out in short order. Trust me on this, we will take good care of you, we will make it work out.”
Matsu put her hands on her face and shook her head again. Katsumi couldn’t understand what the problem was. Matsu was in line to marry Yanagi, and now she was going to birth a child, this was a happy occasion, not one worthy of tears and despair.
“Mikoto,” Katsumi rested her hand on Matsu’s shoulder, “You just think about it, take some time, but not too long. Yanagi will be back soon. I will hold off until then. But, you will be having this baby, and it will be Yanagi’s. Those two things are certain. How you handle the rest is up to you.”
Matsu’s watery eyes peeked out behind her hands as she nodded. Within an instant Matsu was holding onto Katsumi, burying her face into Katsumi’s chest and clutching to her back. Katsumi smiled genuinely as she cupped Matsu’s belly. Her family was going to have a baby. There was nearly nothing that could ruin this moment, Matsu’s tears be damned.
“It’s Yanagi’s,” Katsumi repeated, nodding her head at Matsu slowly. What was so hard to understand about that? Matsu was going to marry into the family, and no matter who fathered the child, it was going to be a Spider, it was going to be Yanagi’s, it was going to be a part of this family.
“I’ve only ever been with Asahina. It’s his.” Matsu’s face twisted up as she withdrew, suddenly unsure of the situation.
Katsumi put her hand under Matsu’s chin, bringing Matsu’s eyes to meet hers. “Mikoto,” Katsumi began slowly, calmly, “The baby will be Yanagi’s.” There was a sudden light in Matsu’s eyes, it was a look when an idea is fully realized and it snaps into place. Matsu nodded once, and then shook her head.
“I can’t have a baby!”
“Can I have it?” Katsumi was completely serious. If Matsu didn’t want the child, Katsumi would take it for the clan. They were the procurers of lost children like herself, her brother, and many, many other Spider who grew up inside the clan. Most were not related by blood, but the blood in your veins didn’t determine if you were a Spider, the blood you shed, the blood that bound you to the clan made you a Spider.
Matsu shook her head, her eyes going wide, “No, no, isn’t there a way to get rid of it?”
Katsumi narrowed her eyes. There were ways Katsumi knew of. Negisa had taught her along with most of the medicine Katsumi knew, but this wasn’t a time for those drastic measures. “You will be having this child,” Katsumi said coldly. Matsu nodded slowly.
“Look, Mikoto,” Katsumi rubbed her thumb along Matsu’s cheek and softened her tone, “You’re in good hands. My family will take care of everything.”
Matsu seemed to relax when Katsumi offered a gentle smile.
“But won’t Yanagi be upset? He’ll know it isn’t his.”
“No,” Katsumi didn’t even consider the question before answering. It was a child being brought into the Spider clan. They didn’t have many births from being in the Shadowlands, in a world full of taint and danger, but now that they were inside the Empire that was all going to change. “No. It is Yanagi’s. It doesn’t matter where it came from, Yanagi is the father.”
“I don’t know,” Matsu groaned, “I just need some time to figure things out.”
“You don’t have much time; other people will be figuring things out in short order. Trust me on this, we will take good care of you, we will make it work out.”
Matsu put her hands on her face and shook her head again. Katsumi couldn’t understand what the problem was. Matsu was in line to marry Yanagi, and now she was going to birth a child, this was a happy occasion, not one worthy of tears and despair.
“Mikoto,” Katsumi rested her hand on Matsu’s shoulder, “You just think about it, take some time, but not too long. Yanagi will be back soon. I will hold off until then. But, you will be having this baby, and it will be Yanagi’s. Those two things are certain. How you handle the rest is up to you.”
Matsu’s watery eyes peeked out behind her hands as she nodded. Within an instant Matsu was holding onto Katsumi, burying her face into Katsumi’s chest and clutching to her back. Katsumi smiled genuinely as she cupped Matsu’s belly. Her family was going to have a baby. There was nearly nothing that could ruin this moment, Matsu’s tears be damned.
***
“If you can’t manage to say something without that stutter of yours, you’re going to be completely hopeless in a court setting,” Negisa rolled her eyes while correcting Morasahi yet again.
“I know,” Morasahi sighed. She knew that was the biggest problem to overcome and apparently it was already irking Negisa. She had been learning etiquette and courtly things from Negisa for a little over a week and although she knew when the appropriate time to speak was, she still was having trouble putting together a sentence without pausing to make sure it was eloquent enough, which of course had the opposite effect.
“It isn’t that difficult,” Negisa rubbed her temple, “Even Katsumi can accomplish the appearance of intelligence.”
Morasahi looked down, ashamed she was doing so poorly when Negisa was setting aside this time specifically for her. She had been following Negisa around most of the last week; whenever Negisa called, she was there. It was part of the contract they had established before Negisa agreed to be her teacher. Negisa seemed to be important to the Spider here in town, practically running things for them. Morasahi had determined taking on a student, even if it was only a few hours a day, must be taxing on Negisa’s precious time.
Negisa’s fingers gently upturned Morasahi’s chin, bringing her face to face with Negisa who was only inches from her now. She hadn’t heard Negisa move closer, but here she was, nearly nose to nose. She was different from a moment ago as well. She looked sweet, not at all miffed as she was when complaining about Morasahi’s stutter.
“Morasahi-chan,” Negisa’s voice was cloyingly rich, “You know I just want to hear your honeyed voice, don’t you?”
Morasahi nodded faintly. Negisa really only wanted the best for her, she was positive that was the case. Negisa acted cold on the surface, but she was kind and caring underneath her composed exterior, one she only put on because she was Morasahi’s sensei. It was times like this, when Negisa dropped the act and spoke to her on a personal level that allowed Negisa’s true colors to shine through.
“I know others want to hear it too,” Negisa cooed, “A certain Phoenix, even. He said- No, I shouldn’t tell you.” Negisa pulled away and downcast her eyes.
“Do you mean Yuji?” Morasahi perked up.
“I really shouldn’t…” Negisa shook her head, “He told me in confidence.”
“If…if you think that’s…best.” Morasahi sighed inwardly. She didn’t want to let it go, she wanted to know what had been said, but it wasn’t polite to ask questions when someone tried to drop the subject. You were supposed to respectfully agree with them.
“Say what you meant to say,” Negisa prompted her, “I know that wasn’t what you wanted to say.”
“I… I was-um, curious on-”
“No,” Negisa interrupted her, her voice becoming demanding, “Say what you meant to say. Forget about what you think I want to hear and tell me what you want to hear.”
“I want to know what Yuji told you,” Morasahi let it fall out of her mouth.
“Good,” Negisa smiled. “That, Morasahi, is how you assert yourself. That’s what Yuji wants too. He said he would like to hear you speak what is on your mind more often. He gets enough polite conversation from the other polite Phoenix. Hearing a little honesty would be refreshing.”
Honesty. Morasahi thought about it, her honesty had gotten her in trouble more than a few times, that’s the whole reason she was trying to get lessons on how to better present herself. Now Negisa was telling her to throw courtesy to the wolves and say whatever she is thinking.
“Won’t that get me in trouble?” Morasahi asked.
Negisa chuckled and shook her head, “You don’t have to say everything you’re thinking. Parse out the things that don’t need to be said. Only give an opinion when asked, but give a genuine one. People can tell with your stutter that you’re not being honest, that or they’ll think you an imbecile, and we don’t want either of those. Do you understand what I am telling you?”
Morasahi did. The times her honesty had got her in trouble were always times she wasn’t asked, it was just allowing the words to come out for no reason. If she could rein those back and only express herself when the time was right, there shouldn’t be an issue.
“How will I know when the time is right?”
“You’ll know, Morasahi-chan. You’ll learn as we continue our lessons. By the time Winter Court arrives you’ll be steeped in Spider tradition and it will come naturally.”
“I know,” Morasahi sighed. She knew that was the biggest problem to overcome and apparently it was already irking Negisa. She had been learning etiquette and courtly things from Negisa for a little over a week and although she knew when the appropriate time to speak was, she still was having trouble putting together a sentence without pausing to make sure it was eloquent enough, which of course had the opposite effect.
“It isn’t that difficult,” Negisa rubbed her temple, “Even Katsumi can accomplish the appearance of intelligence.”
Morasahi looked down, ashamed she was doing so poorly when Negisa was setting aside this time specifically for her. She had been following Negisa around most of the last week; whenever Negisa called, she was there. It was part of the contract they had established before Negisa agreed to be her teacher. Negisa seemed to be important to the Spider here in town, practically running things for them. Morasahi had determined taking on a student, even if it was only a few hours a day, must be taxing on Negisa’s precious time.
Negisa’s fingers gently upturned Morasahi’s chin, bringing her face to face with Negisa who was only inches from her now. She hadn’t heard Negisa move closer, but here she was, nearly nose to nose. She was different from a moment ago as well. She looked sweet, not at all miffed as she was when complaining about Morasahi’s stutter.
“Morasahi-chan,” Negisa’s voice was cloyingly rich, “You know I just want to hear your honeyed voice, don’t you?”
Morasahi nodded faintly. Negisa really only wanted the best for her, she was positive that was the case. Negisa acted cold on the surface, but she was kind and caring underneath her composed exterior, one she only put on because she was Morasahi’s sensei. It was times like this, when Negisa dropped the act and spoke to her on a personal level that allowed Negisa’s true colors to shine through.
“I know others want to hear it too,” Negisa cooed, “A certain Phoenix, even. He said- No, I shouldn’t tell you.” Negisa pulled away and downcast her eyes.
“Do you mean Yuji?” Morasahi perked up.
“I really shouldn’t…” Negisa shook her head, “He told me in confidence.”
“If…if you think that’s…best.” Morasahi sighed inwardly. She didn’t want to let it go, she wanted to know what had been said, but it wasn’t polite to ask questions when someone tried to drop the subject. You were supposed to respectfully agree with them.
“Say what you meant to say,” Negisa prompted her, “I know that wasn’t what you wanted to say.”
“I… I was-um, curious on-”
“No,” Negisa interrupted her, her voice becoming demanding, “Say what you meant to say. Forget about what you think I want to hear and tell me what you want to hear.”
“I want to know what Yuji told you,” Morasahi let it fall out of her mouth.
“Good,” Negisa smiled. “That, Morasahi, is how you assert yourself. That’s what Yuji wants too. He said he would like to hear you speak what is on your mind more often. He gets enough polite conversation from the other polite Phoenix. Hearing a little honesty would be refreshing.”
Honesty. Morasahi thought about it, her honesty had gotten her in trouble more than a few times, that’s the whole reason she was trying to get lessons on how to better present herself. Now Negisa was telling her to throw courtesy to the wolves and say whatever she is thinking.
“Won’t that get me in trouble?” Morasahi asked.
Negisa chuckled and shook her head, “You don’t have to say everything you’re thinking. Parse out the things that don’t need to be said. Only give an opinion when asked, but give a genuine one. People can tell with your stutter that you’re not being honest, that or they’ll think you an imbecile, and we don’t want either of those. Do you understand what I am telling you?”
Morasahi did. The times her honesty had got her in trouble were always times she wasn’t asked, it was just allowing the words to come out for no reason. If she could rein those back and only express herself when the time was right, there shouldn’t be an issue.
“How will I know when the time is right?”
“You’ll know, Morasahi-chan. You’ll learn as we continue our lessons. By the time Winter Court arrives you’ll be steeped in Spider tradition and it will come naturally.”
***
Katsumi plucked her wooden bowl off her cabinet, the worn leather pouch already sitting inside it, and sat on her floor. The bones clicked together as she shook them out of the pouch into her hand. The sound sang to her, the feel of those pieces filled her with a comfort she had been missing the last two weeks. She had been so busy training for most of the time, building with the Kaiu the rest of the time, and on top of that teaching Matsu, she hadn’t really had the time to sit and divine. Well, that and she hadn’t had a reason to call on the universe. What was she going to ask it, how long the Kaiu would take with the wall? Perhaps it was ‘what joint will be dislocated today during training?’ There were just some things that weren’t worth consulting the Realm about, and then there were some things that were. Like now.
She let the bones trickle out of her hand into the bowl, the odd shaped pieces scattering across the surface. Katsumi set the bowl down and shuffled through her cabinet, near the back, in a small white cloth she kept Matsu’s hair that she had taken several weeks ago. Tucked into the folded cloth for safekeeping. She would have to get a better sample, Katsumi thought to herself. A few hairs were enough of a focus, but a small lock would be better, easier to manage.
She pinched the hair, carefully dropping it into the dish and closed her eyes. She wanted to know about the baby. No, she needed to know about it. Even though she was young in age, she had performed this same ritual for other expectant mothers, granted, that was a time when children were less likely to come into the world healthy, if at all. Nevertheless, it was almost habitual to ask the Realm about the health of the unborn for her. It would determine a great many things, for instance, whether Matsu even carries the baby to term, or if Katsumi would rid her of it before then. Katsumi blew out a breath, hoping things wouldn’t come to that and shook the bowl, the bones knocking together.
The moment came, a whispering in her head that the answer awaited her. Katsumi opened her eyes, a smile spreading across her face. “He will grow without concern; worry will not touch the child.” No clearer answer could have come. Today, it seemed, the Realm wished to tell her exactly what she wanted to hear, and even gave her something more than what she asked. She carefully put her things away, folding the hair back into the cloth and hiding it from sight.
She let the bones trickle out of her hand into the bowl, the odd shaped pieces scattering across the surface. Katsumi set the bowl down and shuffled through her cabinet, near the back, in a small white cloth she kept Matsu’s hair that she had taken several weeks ago. Tucked into the folded cloth for safekeeping. She would have to get a better sample, Katsumi thought to herself. A few hairs were enough of a focus, but a small lock would be better, easier to manage.
She pinched the hair, carefully dropping it into the dish and closed her eyes. She wanted to know about the baby. No, she needed to know about it. Even though she was young in age, she had performed this same ritual for other expectant mothers, granted, that was a time when children were less likely to come into the world healthy, if at all. Nevertheless, it was almost habitual to ask the Realm about the health of the unborn for her. It would determine a great many things, for instance, whether Matsu even carries the baby to term, or if Katsumi would rid her of it before then. Katsumi blew out a breath, hoping things wouldn’t come to that and shook the bowl, the bones knocking together.
The moment came, a whispering in her head that the answer awaited her. Katsumi opened her eyes, a smile spreading across her face. “He will grow without concern; worry will not touch the child.” No clearer answer could have come. Today, it seemed, the Realm wished to tell her exactly what she wanted to hear, and even gave her something more than what she asked. She carefully put her things away, folding the hair back into the cloth and hiding it from sight.
***
Meintaro sat at the breakfast table, preoccupied with what he would do to relieve his boredom today. He had only been in town a few days, but there didn’t seem to be much to actually take care of. Things were running smoother than he had imagined they would, especially without the Mantis assistance in the form of coin. He had sent for aid, as every other clan seemed to be building their name in this town, the Mantis should have an equal part. In what they couldn’t supply by way of personnel, they could provide with more than ample amounts of currency and goods. The Mantis, after all, were the best at commerce in the entire Empire.
“Who are you?” A voice snapped him back to his surroundings. A female Spider sat at the table; she was dressed as he had seen the Spider Monks dress. Meintaro blinked at her blunt way of questioning.
“I am Tsuruchi Meintaro. I’m the new Mantis delegate.”
“Oh,” She said and raised her brows, “Are you as intriguing as the last?”
“No one is as intriguing as Airo-kun was.” Meintaro was genuine in his feelings for Airo. Airo may have ruined his own life at the end, but that didn’t discount all of his quirks and good nature he had throughout his life.
“I see. You two were personal?”
“Yes. We were very close.”
“Oh. Huh,” she said with a pause, obviously considering something, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, I’m Daigotsu Katsumi.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you Daigotsu.”
She must be the Spider delegate, though from what Meintaro had gathered, Daigotsu Negisa was the delegate. She was the one who sent him the letter informing him that the Spider were holding Airo, and she was the one that dealt with Meintaro when he had arrived in town. This girl at the table looked quite young; perhaps she was just a student who happened to be having breakfast here today.
“I’ve been checking in with others, but I just want to verify it, how is the town coming along?” He’d find out soon enough what her station was by her answer.
“It seems to be coming along just fine.”
That didn’t really provide him with what he was looking for.
“It seems rather quiet around here,” Meintaro noted, referring to the lack of troubled activity, excluding his brother, of course.
“There’s a lot of building going on, not much time for anything else.”
“I noticed. It seems to be coming along rather quickly with the Kaiu.”
“That’s precisely why they were sent,” Daigotsu said. She wasn’t giving anything she knew away, just repeating everything Meintaro already knew.
“Do we know how much time they have around here?”
“Yes, we will be able to keep them for about a year.”
“I would think they could finish things before then,” Meintaro couldn’t imagine what a dozen Kaiu could do in a year. They built the Kaiu wall in seven days, and it still was standing after the years of onslaught from the Shadowlands. This was just a small town. The Kaiu could probably build two-hundred towns twenty times this size in a year.
“They definitely could, we’re very lucky to have them,” Daigotsu said with a smile.
“I agree. The Shiba yojimbo as well. They’re supposed to be the greatest in renown amongst all the clans.”
“Only the best for the Spider clan.”
“Of course… they deserve so much.” Meintaro attempted to be polite. The Mantis had fought tooth and nail for centuries before being recognized as a great clan inside Rokugan. The Spider came along, calling themselves a great clan before the Empire even approved it, and within a few short years, they were elevated to great clan status and for what? Helping fight a war?
“Have you met the others in residence?” Daigotsu asked not looking at Meintaro while she was talking to him.
“I haven’t had the opportunity. I’ve been too busy attempting to get organized.”
“Hm, well, we have Shiba Morasahi-”
“Oh, yes, I’ve talked to her.” He had cornered Shiba one morning asking her about the events that took place with his brother. Daigotsu Negisa had obviously done something to Airo to put him in the state Meintaro found him in a few days ago, but Shiba didn’t know anything that happened after the trial.
“I assume you’ve met Asahina-san.”
“Yes, but only briefly.”
“He has been spending quite a bit of time on other projects,” Daigotsu nodded, still not making eye contact. Meintaro was starting to get perturbed by her lack of etiquette.
“I saw.” Meintaro looked towards the backdoor where he knew the strange obstacle course was sitting.
“And of course there is myself. And Kitsuki Anjin.”
“Oh, I haven’t met him yet.” He had no idea there was a Dragon even in the house.
“He might be the one you hear in the back room from time to time.”
“Oh, the one with the Shiba yojimbo always standing outside the door?” Meintaro had noticed the yojimbo and had wondered what he was doing in the hallway, but it was best not to ask if it didn’t concern him.
“Yes. Yes. I check on him from time to time as well. And of course we have Matsu Mikoto.”
“That would explain the lions.”
“Yeah…” Daigotsu said slowly, “Have you been assigned a task yet?”
“I was just to take over Airo-kun’s position.”
“He didn’t have a task,” Daigotsu candidly said.
“From what I understood he was just to overview everything. This, from what I understand, is running very smoothly.”
Daigotsu shrugged. The conversation didn’t continue, and Meintaro was back to wondering what he was going to do for the day. There was only so much supervising he could do before he would be forced to drink himself into a stupor just to get through the day. There was a brothel in town, maybe he’d check that out, see how smoothly that was running. And of course, there were the Soshi sisters; he wouldn’t mind getting to know them a little better.
“Who are you?” A voice snapped him back to his surroundings. A female Spider sat at the table; she was dressed as he had seen the Spider Monks dress. Meintaro blinked at her blunt way of questioning.
“I am Tsuruchi Meintaro. I’m the new Mantis delegate.”
“Oh,” She said and raised her brows, “Are you as intriguing as the last?”
“No one is as intriguing as Airo-kun was.” Meintaro was genuine in his feelings for Airo. Airo may have ruined his own life at the end, but that didn’t discount all of his quirks and good nature he had throughout his life.
“I see. You two were personal?”
“Yes. We were very close.”
“Oh. Huh,” she said with a pause, obviously considering something, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, I’m Daigotsu Katsumi.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you Daigotsu.”
She must be the Spider delegate, though from what Meintaro had gathered, Daigotsu Negisa was the delegate. She was the one who sent him the letter informing him that the Spider were holding Airo, and she was the one that dealt with Meintaro when he had arrived in town. This girl at the table looked quite young; perhaps she was just a student who happened to be having breakfast here today.
“I’ve been checking in with others, but I just want to verify it, how is the town coming along?” He’d find out soon enough what her station was by her answer.
“It seems to be coming along just fine.”
That didn’t really provide him with what he was looking for.
“It seems rather quiet around here,” Meintaro noted, referring to the lack of troubled activity, excluding his brother, of course.
“There’s a lot of building going on, not much time for anything else.”
“I noticed. It seems to be coming along rather quickly with the Kaiu.”
“That’s precisely why they were sent,” Daigotsu said. She wasn’t giving anything she knew away, just repeating everything Meintaro already knew.
“Do we know how much time they have around here?”
“Yes, we will be able to keep them for about a year.”
“I would think they could finish things before then,” Meintaro couldn’t imagine what a dozen Kaiu could do in a year. They built the Kaiu wall in seven days, and it still was standing after the years of onslaught from the Shadowlands. This was just a small town. The Kaiu could probably build two-hundred towns twenty times this size in a year.
“They definitely could, we’re very lucky to have them,” Daigotsu said with a smile.
“I agree. The Shiba yojimbo as well. They’re supposed to be the greatest in renown amongst all the clans.”
“Only the best for the Spider clan.”
“Of course… they deserve so much.” Meintaro attempted to be polite. The Mantis had fought tooth and nail for centuries before being recognized as a great clan inside Rokugan. The Spider came along, calling themselves a great clan before the Empire even approved it, and within a few short years, they were elevated to great clan status and for what? Helping fight a war?
“Have you met the others in residence?” Daigotsu asked not looking at Meintaro while she was talking to him.
“I haven’t had the opportunity. I’ve been too busy attempting to get organized.”
“Hm, well, we have Shiba Morasahi-”
“Oh, yes, I’ve talked to her.” He had cornered Shiba one morning asking her about the events that took place with his brother. Daigotsu Negisa had obviously done something to Airo to put him in the state Meintaro found him in a few days ago, but Shiba didn’t know anything that happened after the trial.
“I assume you’ve met Asahina-san.”
“Yes, but only briefly.”
“He has been spending quite a bit of time on other projects,” Daigotsu nodded, still not making eye contact. Meintaro was starting to get perturbed by her lack of etiquette.
“I saw.” Meintaro looked towards the backdoor where he knew the strange obstacle course was sitting.
“And of course there is myself. And Kitsuki Anjin.”
“Oh, I haven’t met him yet.” He had no idea there was a Dragon even in the house.
“He might be the one you hear in the back room from time to time.”
“Oh, the one with the Shiba yojimbo always standing outside the door?” Meintaro had noticed the yojimbo and had wondered what he was doing in the hallway, but it was best not to ask if it didn’t concern him.
“Yes. Yes. I check on him from time to time as well. And of course we have Matsu Mikoto.”
“That would explain the lions.”
“Yeah…” Daigotsu said slowly, “Have you been assigned a task yet?”
“I was just to take over Airo-kun’s position.”
“He didn’t have a task,” Daigotsu candidly said.
“From what I understood he was just to overview everything. This, from what I understand, is running very smoothly.”
Daigotsu shrugged. The conversation didn’t continue, and Meintaro was back to wondering what he was going to do for the day. There was only so much supervising he could do before he would be forced to drink himself into a stupor just to get through the day. There was a brothel in town, maybe he’d check that out, see how smoothly that was running. And of course, there were the Soshi sisters; he wouldn’t mind getting to know them a little better.
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