The sky was getting darker as the sun began to sink past the horizon. It wouldn’t be long now before the moon filled the night sky, and for once Katsumi wasn’t afraid of what this full moon would bring. She had spent the last two nights shackled and tied in Kitsuki’s room, as had been prearranged from the last month. However, the last two nights she remembered being shackled and tied, and bored out of her mind as well. He still didn’t trust her it would seem, and even though she had kept her sanity after nightfall, there was no convincing him that she need not be tied any longer. If she had gone both previous nights this month without an issue, she certainly wasn’t going to subject herself to another long and tediously slow night of watching Kitsuki read. She was gaining a hold of her curse, and she believed she could easily maintain control tonight as well.
Katsumi walked through the house to the dining area where Asahina was taking his meal. Katsumi ate much earlier, especially when this time of the month came around and she was usually tied up somewhere by dinner. She stood there, just watching Asahina for a few minutes. She wanted to wait until he was done, or at least close to it so she didn’t interrupt his meal.
He put his bowl down and sighed. “Yes, Daigotsu? What do you want?”
Katsumi walked through the house to the dining area where Asahina was taking his meal. Katsumi ate much earlier, especially when this time of the month came around and she was usually tied up somewhere by dinner. She stood there, just watching Asahina for a few minutes. She wanted to wait until he was done, or at least close to it so she didn’t interrupt his meal.
He put his bowl down and sighed. “Yes, Daigotsu? What do you want?”
“I was waiting.”
Asahina turned towards her and raised his hand in a questioning manner, “For?”
“Oh. Until you were done eating.”
“I’m not eating now.”
“Well…then that being the case, would you care to join me for a walk?” Katsumi ran her gaze over the table while waiting for an answer.
Asahina had asked her to a tea ceremony every night the last week, that is until she declined two nights ago. And although she was pretty sure she hadn’t hurt his feelings again by saying no, this seemed like a good way to transition back to spending time together. Really, it seemed like a better alternative to running off in the middle of a tea ceremony, or breaking his tea set, should anything happen once the sun fully set. At least this way they were already mobile, and he would just think she was a little mad. Besides, Asahina could also handle himself if worse came to worse. He was literally the best person to attempt a night of no precautions with, not that she believed she needed them… it was just in case.
“I would like that,” Asahina nodded and dusted off his pants as he stood.
Katsumi glanced behind her, making sure Kitsuki wasn’t looking for her yet. It was about this time she usually showed up in his room, whether he noticed it was the same time or not.
“Shall we, then?” She quickly headed towards the front door and out into the rapidly fading daylight.
***
Morasahi sat in the courtyard watching the stream gently bubble by, lost in her thoughts and drinking the night away, a pastime she often partook of. She thought about the training over the last month, from bonsai to courtier, and etiquette to yojimbo. On top of Negisa constantly fetching her so she could observe Spider culture, it was a lot to have done. So much that she was honestly amazed she learned it all in such a short period. She was proud of herself for doing so much and allowed herself to gloat to no one about how talented she was.
The clunking and creaking on the other side of the wall brought Morasahi out of her self-congratulatory party. It was Kitsuki. There was no room for confusion on who would make that annoyingly loud sound as he walked about the house with his crutches. Sure enough, Kitsuki hobbled through the courtyard, seemingly in a hurry to get somewhere. He looked anxious and nearly passed by Morasahi without acknowledging her. Almost. He snapped his head in her direction.
“Have you seen Daigotsu-san?” Kitsuki asked, panic underlying his voice.
“She went for a walk,” Morasahi recalled. She was sitting in the courtyard when that conversation happened as well, roughly a half-hour ago.
“A walk?” This time the panic clearly rang through.
“Um…yes. Is-um, something the matter?” Morasahi didn’t know what was going on, but if Kitsuki was worried then it must be severe.
“Where? Did she say?” Kitsuki was starting that interrogating thing that he did. He talked to everyone as if he was judging every word that came out of his or her mouth. He focused so intently when it came to conversation with that Kitsuki that Morasahi often became more aware of every pause, stutter, and ‘um’ she uttered with him.
“No-um… She’s with-um Asahina, they went-um…out together.”
Kitsuki took a deep breath and nodded, “Thank you,” he said in a much calmer voice than Morasahi anticipated.
Her nerves were wracked now because of Kitsuki and she didn’t even know what the problem was. Morasahi glowered at the stream. She had no one else to look at and now her night was probably ruined by Kitsuki’s little scene, so the stream was now to blame since it was the only thing in her company at the moment. She took another drink attempting to get back to that place she was in only a few minutes prior.
The clunking and creaking on the other side of the wall brought Morasahi out of her self-congratulatory party. It was Kitsuki. There was no room for confusion on who would make that annoyingly loud sound as he walked about the house with his crutches. Sure enough, Kitsuki hobbled through the courtyard, seemingly in a hurry to get somewhere. He looked anxious and nearly passed by Morasahi without acknowledging her. Almost. He snapped his head in her direction.
“Have you seen Daigotsu-san?” Kitsuki asked, panic underlying his voice.
“She went for a walk,” Morasahi recalled. She was sitting in the courtyard when that conversation happened as well, roughly a half-hour ago.
“A walk?” This time the panic clearly rang through.
“Um…yes. Is-um, something the matter?” Morasahi didn’t know what was going on, but if Kitsuki was worried then it must be severe.
“Where? Did she say?” Kitsuki was starting that interrogating thing that he did. He talked to everyone as if he was judging every word that came out of his or her mouth. He focused so intently when it came to conversation with that Kitsuki that Morasahi often became more aware of every pause, stutter, and ‘um’ she uttered with him.
“No-um… She’s with-um Asahina, they went-um…out together.”
Kitsuki took a deep breath and nodded, “Thank you,” he said in a much calmer voice than Morasahi anticipated.
Her nerves were wracked now because of Kitsuki and she didn’t even know what the problem was. Morasahi glowered at the stream. She had no one else to look at and now her night was probably ruined by Kitsuki’s little scene, so the stream was now to blame since it was the only thing in her company at the moment. She took another drink attempting to get back to that place she was in only a few minutes prior.
***
Katsumi dug through Matsu’s clothes, trying not to mess up the neatly folded piles in her dresser. She kicked herself for not thinking ahead and bringing her own robe, but that might have looked awkward, walking from her room to Matsu’s with a robe in hand. It wasn’t something she ever had to consider before. It was always her room, her tent, or some other sleeping arrangement that was also partially hers and her clothing was within arms reach. This time, though, this time it was Matsu’s room she was staying in, and finding it an odd experience overall and the night hadn’t even truly begun. Aha, she pulled out the sleeping robe and finished undressing, wrapping Matsu’s robe around herself before laying on the futon.
She was alone in Matsu’s room, which was the initial plan. She didn’t want to have to attempt to dance around in conversation about the possibilities of tonight with innuendo and tones that Matsu and her weren’t on the same page about. It was much easier with her family, having grown up with them she knew the secret language they all spoke to each other and didn’t have to guess at what was being implied with most things. It took years to develop that sort of bond and understanding, and Matsu had only been almost part of the family for a month. And what a long month it had been. That was why she was here in the first place.
Katsumi was lonely.
There wasn’t a time in her life that she had ever slept alone, that is until recently. She had always shared her bedroom, and often her bed, with someone else for a variety of reasons, most stemming from practicality, then later by choice. Now she found herself in her own living quarters, falling asleep every night feeling the sting of solitude and utter despair that came with it. All she wanted was to have someone next to her when she closed her eyes tonight, and Matsu was almost family, so it was close enough to count in Katsumi’s mind.
As for the rest, Katsumi was well aware of Matsu’s feelings towards her and understood that everything came with a price. In order to share a bed with Matsu, she knew she would have to offer herself up. Which wasn’t much of a price in Katsumi’s mind. Sex was a part of life, and sex was a pretty decent bartering item. Apparently there were many people out there that held sex in such a high regard that it was worth more than gold. Katsumi wasn’t one of those people, but she was well aware they existed. She knew Matsu wasn’t on that end of the stick, but also was aware that sex meant more to Matsu than it did to herself. It would suffice to be ample payment for tonight.
She was alone in Matsu’s room, which was the initial plan. She didn’t want to have to attempt to dance around in conversation about the possibilities of tonight with innuendo and tones that Matsu and her weren’t on the same page about. It was much easier with her family, having grown up with them she knew the secret language they all spoke to each other and didn’t have to guess at what was being implied with most things. It took years to develop that sort of bond and understanding, and Matsu had only been almost part of the family for a month. And what a long month it had been. That was why she was here in the first place.
Katsumi was lonely.
There wasn’t a time in her life that she had ever slept alone, that is until recently. She had always shared her bedroom, and often her bed, with someone else for a variety of reasons, most stemming from practicality, then later by choice. Now she found herself in her own living quarters, falling asleep every night feeling the sting of solitude and utter despair that came with it. All she wanted was to have someone next to her when she closed her eyes tonight, and Matsu was almost family, so it was close enough to count in Katsumi’s mind.
As for the rest, Katsumi was well aware of Matsu’s feelings towards her and understood that everything came with a price. In order to share a bed with Matsu, she knew she would have to offer herself up. Which wasn’t much of a price in Katsumi’s mind. Sex was a part of life, and sex was a pretty decent bartering item. Apparently there were many people out there that held sex in such a high regard that it was worth more than gold. Katsumi wasn’t one of those people, but she was well aware they existed. She knew Matsu wasn’t on that end of the stick, but also was aware that sex meant more to Matsu than it did to herself. It would suffice to be ample payment for tonight.
***
Mikoto opened her door, already expecting to find Katsumi laying in her bed. For the past three nights, Katsumi had been there, only wrapped in a robe and lounging on her futon, waiting for her to come to bed. It was heavenly to open her door every night and have someone waiting for her. It was even more so because it was Katsumi, whom she was developing a significant adoration for. This was the arrow that drove straight to her heart, having Katsumi return those feelings and affection.
It was overwhelming, since she had never had a family who cared for her, and never was shown love by any, and now here Katsumi was giving her all that she craved. She even stayed the entire night, nestled by Mikoto’s side, proof it was more than just a sexual encounter for Katsumi. Mikoto felt like her heart was going to burst from all this new affection that she was receiving. It was buckets and buckets more than she had ever expected to gain in her lifetime, and it had only been a little over a month since they had met for the first time.
The night with Asahina, Negisa, and Katsumi, she didn’t count as true companionship. It was a lost-in-the-moment sort of ordeal, one she had regretted ever since. However, this was different, this was her room and Katsumi’s choice and this was something special. So much so that she had cried the first night Katsumi stayed over. That ended quickly and she made sure never to repeat it, no matter how moved she was. Katsumi had grabbed her by the chin, it wasn’t rough but it she felt the strength behind it, then Katsumi simply said, “No.” It was the way she said it, the commanding tone. Mikoto didn’t want to experience that Katsumi again.
Mikoto smiled at Katsumi laying in her bed. It was going to be another wonderful night.
It was overwhelming, since she had never had a family who cared for her, and never was shown love by any, and now here Katsumi was giving her all that she craved. She even stayed the entire night, nestled by Mikoto’s side, proof it was more than just a sexual encounter for Katsumi. Mikoto felt like her heart was going to burst from all this new affection that she was receiving. It was buckets and buckets more than she had ever expected to gain in her lifetime, and it had only been a little over a month since they had met for the first time.
The night with Asahina, Negisa, and Katsumi, she didn’t count as true companionship. It was a lost-in-the-moment sort of ordeal, one she had regretted ever since. However, this was different, this was her room and Katsumi’s choice and this was something special. So much so that she had cried the first night Katsumi stayed over. That ended quickly and she made sure never to repeat it, no matter how moved she was. Katsumi had grabbed her by the chin, it wasn’t rough but it she felt the strength behind it, then Katsumi simply said, “No.” It was the way she said it, the commanding tone. Mikoto didn’t want to experience that Katsumi again.
Mikoto smiled at Katsumi laying in her bed. It was going to be another wonderful night.
***
Matsu brushed at Hikaru’s mane and simultaneously scratched her new lion’s chin. Katsumi hadn’t gotten the name of the new one yet, but she was sure Matsu would tell her when she felt the time was appropriate. They were sitting in the courtyard of their house, something Katsumi was finding Matsu did often. She was very much like her lions, enjoying lazing about on a warm spring day. Katsumi wasn’t that way, and honestly all this inactivity was making her restless. Coupled with the excitement that Matsu was carrying in her belly, Katsumi found it difficult to sit still most of the time, however, she felt she did a fair job of trying to hide it since Matsu hadn’t said anything yet and it had been a week since Katsumi began tagging along with Matsu everywhere she went.
Katsumi stood, about to check on Kitsuki again, as was her duty being one of his now two yojimbo. It was the only way she could relieve herself of the excess energy she had pent up inside her. She stretched and turned and her heart gave a flutter at the familiar silhouette standing in the front doorway to the courtyard.
Yanagi descended the steps and offered a small bow to Matsu, “Matsu-dono, it’s a pleasure to see you again.” He presented an envelope to her, “I return with a letter from your father.”
Katsumi watched Matsu who at first wasn’t aware of even who stood before her. It took her a second to put the pieces together, which wasn’t surprising since she had only met Yanagi once before. Katsumi could tell when it clicked for Matsu because her face lit up and she was quick to jump to her feet and bow back.
“It’s good to see you again as well, Yanagi,” Matsu said with a smile. Katsumi cringed a little. Matsu did that constantly, and after a month, she figured she’d be used to it, but she wasn’t yet. Matsu was very personal when it came to addressing people, a habit Katsumi wasn’t very fond of.
“I looked for you in the Spider area, but you didn’t seem to be with your family,” Yanagi was speaking to Katsumi.
Katsumi couldn’t help herself, she knew she was smiling, granted, her face was mostly hidden, but she knew Yanagi would be able to tell from her eyes. At the mention of family, she glanced at Matsu’s stomach, then back to Yanagi. He was staring at her, and they began a conversation without the need for words. It could best be described as that secret language Katsumi had with her siblings, a series of glances and subtle twitches around the eyes, or a movement of the hand that looks like nothing more than a tic and a message was sent from one to the next. Katsumi was sure he understood, and after a minute of silence with Matsu looking between the two of them Katsumi decided it was time to share the news.
“Would you like to have a drink?” She said to Yanagi.
“I would enjoy that,” Yanagi responded, nodding his head in a goodbye at Matsu, and the two headed to Katsumi’s room. Once inside Katsumi peeked down the hallway before closing the door.
“We’re going to have a baby,” She exclaimed, trying to keep her voice down so no one outside the room would hear. “Matsu is pregnant,” Katsumi was so giddy about the news still, “The child is healthy, I checked. But I haven’t told Negisa, Matsu didn’t want anyone to know yet. I don’t know why, I told her we would handle everything.”
“Oh, good.” He sounded genuinely happy. Katsumi knew he would be. She knew her brother as well as she knew herself, and Negisa nearly as much.
“Kuso…” Katsumi muttered, remembering Negisa. “Negisa doesn’t know. Don’t tell Negisa I knew. Please don’t tell her I knew.” Katsumi was shaking her head; she could feel the dread creeping over her. If Negisa found out Katsumi knew there would be Jigoku to pay for keeping it from her.
“It’s alright, Katsu-kun, I won’t tell her.” Yanagi brushed Katsumi’s arm, it was a small gesture but Katsumi felt better by it. She always felt better by Yanagi.
Katsumi embraced Yanagi, leaning her head on Yanagi’s chest. “I missed you,” She said even lower than their previous conversation. He wrapped his arms around her as well.
“I missed you too,” Yanagi whispered back.
“Is your day filled?”
“I just got back so I will have some things to take care of.”
“Will you be too busy for me?”
“Of course not,” Yanagi pulled back and Katsumi looked up at him, he placed a hand on her covered cheek and rubbed his thumb against it, “I can make time whenever you want, Katsu-kun.”
Katsumi smiled and nuzzled his hand. “Take care of what you need to. I’ll see you tonight.”
Katsumi stood, about to check on Kitsuki again, as was her duty being one of his now two yojimbo. It was the only way she could relieve herself of the excess energy she had pent up inside her. She stretched and turned and her heart gave a flutter at the familiar silhouette standing in the front doorway to the courtyard.
Yanagi descended the steps and offered a small bow to Matsu, “Matsu-dono, it’s a pleasure to see you again.” He presented an envelope to her, “I return with a letter from your father.”
Katsumi watched Matsu who at first wasn’t aware of even who stood before her. It took her a second to put the pieces together, which wasn’t surprising since she had only met Yanagi once before. Katsumi could tell when it clicked for Matsu because her face lit up and she was quick to jump to her feet and bow back.
“It’s good to see you again as well, Yanagi,” Matsu said with a smile. Katsumi cringed a little. Matsu did that constantly, and after a month, she figured she’d be used to it, but she wasn’t yet. Matsu was very personal when it came to addressing people, a habit Katsumi wasn’t very fond of.
“I looked for you in the Spider area, but you didn’t seem to be with your family,” Yanagi was speaking to Katsumi.
Katsumi couldn’t help herself, she knew she was smiling, granted, her face was mostly hidden, but she knew Yanagi would be able to tell from her eyes. At the mention of family, she glanced at Matsu’s stomach, then back to Yanagi. He was staring at her, and they began a conversation without the need for words. It could best be described as that secret language Katsumi had with her siblings, a series of glances and subtle twitches around the eyes, or a movement of the hand that looks like nothing more than a tic and a message was sent from one to the next. Katsumi was sure he understood, and after a minute of silence with Matsu looking between the two of them Katsumi decided it was time to share the news.
“Would you like to have a drink?” She said to Yanagi.
“I would enjoy that,” Yanagi responded, nodding his head in a goodbye at Matsu, and the two headed to Katsumi’s room. Once inside Katsumi peeked down the hallway before closing the door.
“We’re going to have a baby,” She exclaimed, trying to keep her voice down so no one outside the room would hear. “Matsu is pregnant,” Katsumi was so giddy about the news still, “The child is healthy, I checked. But I haven’t told Negisa, Matsu didn’t want anyone to know yet. I don’t know why, I told her we would handle everything.”
“Oh, good.” He sounded genuinely happy. Katsumi knew he would be. She knew her brother as well as she knew herself, and Negisa nearly as much.
“Kuso…” Katsumi muttered, remembering Negisa. “Negisa doesn’t know. Don’t tell Negisa I knew. Please don’t tell her I knew.” Katsumi was shaking her head; she could feel the dread creeping over her. If Negisa found out Katsumi knew there would be Jigoku to pay for keeping it from her.
“It’s alright, Katsu-kun, I won’t tell her.” Yanagi brushed Katsumi’s arm, it was a small gesture but Katsumi felt better by it. She always felt better by Yanagi.
Katsumi embraced Yanagi, leaning her head on Yanagi’s chest. “I missed you,” She said even lower than their previous conversation. He wrapped his arms around her as well.
“I missed you too,” Yanagi whispered back.
“Is your day filled?”
“I just got back so I will have some things to take care of.”
“Will you be too busy for me?”
“Of course not,” Yanagi pulled back and Katsumi looked up at him, he placed a hand on her covered cheek and rubbed his thumb against it, “I can make time whenever you want, Katsu-kun.”
Katsumi smiled and nuzzled his hand. “Take care of what you need to. I’ll see you tonight.”
***
“Matsu-dono,” Yanagi called from behind Mikoto, she peered over her shoulder to see him standing alone in the hallway. Katsumi didn’t come back. “I would enjoy it if you joined me for lunch.”
Mikoto nodded, “Okay,” was all she managed to get out.
She wasn’t sure what Katsumi and Yanagi had talked about, but she had a feeling he was made aware of her situation. That she was pregnant with Asahina’s child. She couldn’t tell how he had taken the news, he sounded friendly enough as he had always spoken to her, all of the two times so far, but with the Spider Monks and their headgear, she couldn’t see anything but his eyes which didn’t tell her anything at all. Mikoto nervously got up and started towards the dining area.
“We can take it in your room,” Yanagi informed her. Less of a suggestion and more of a statement of what will be happening. He spoke to a passing servant who bowed and scurried towards the kitchen.
“Okay,” Mikoto nodded again and walked to her room with Yanagi in tow. She just knew he was going to be upset. Why else would he want to eat privately? She tried to calm herself; breaking down into tears wasn’t going to help matters at all. Plus, there was a very good chance that he didn’t know yet. Katsumi had said she would keep things quiet until Mikoto was ready, why would she go against her word? She wouldn’t, Katsumi wouldn’t lie to her. It was just a friendly meal, Mikoto assured herself.
They sat in her room while another servant set up a small table between the two of them and brought a tray with tea while they waited for their meal. Yanagi unwound his shozoku setting it at his side, allowing Mikoto to see his face for the first time. He was so very different from what she had imagined. Katsumi and Negisa were both very feminine looking, with thin noses and pointed chins, and although that is the only thing they had in common, Mikoto had expected Yanagi to share that characteristic with the two. He didn’t at all, his jaw was squared and his face broad. His complexion was dark, unlike Katsumi who was very light skinned. In addition, his eyes were the blackest she had ever seen, also unlike Katsumi and even Negisa, who had hazel eyes. Mikoto had noticed his eyes before, seeing as that was the only thing she could look at, but it still was so vastly different from Katsumi she couldn’t help but focus on them again. They just drew her in. She smiled to herself, he may not be as breathtakingly gorgeous as Negisa, but he was easy on the eyes, just like Katsumi.
“I met with your father to finalize our betrothal; your mother was very hospitable. It isn’t often we receive such an ungrudging reception.”
“Hmph,” Mikoto muffled while biting her lip. She wasn’t very fond of hearing about her parents, especially after the last time they arranged for her husband-to-be. It had caused a rift between what little relationship she had with her father and her second mother, one that hadn’t been repaired, and Mikoto didn’t plan to make any effort towards in the future.
“The lands are nice around here. I had considered where we would locate once we were married. It’s all I thought about on the trip, trying to find the perfect place to etch out our family.”
She couldn’t help the smile that covered her face, he had been thinking of her the entire time he was gone.
“That’s still a ways down the road. Nevertheless, having the opportunity to travel the surrounding countryside has put the thought in my head, and you were there every step of the way. Of course, we’ll be here for some time yet to come, the Black Silk Dojo is completely in ruins, there’s nothing salvageable there, and I hear a small dojo has already been built here. We might expand on that.”
As the conversation continued, Mikoto was put more and more at ease, especially when Yanagi never made another reference to family besides what he had already said. It was a ways off. Katsumi had obviously not informed Yanagi, otherwise he wouldn’t have phrased it the way he did. Yanagi told her about his trip, about the plans the Spider had for this town, about many things that people just talked about with each other. He asked how she was, what she had been up to lately, a topic that Mikoto didn’t want to dwell on due to the recent revelations. He showed great interest in her life and even wanted to know the details of the Beastmaster’s way and her relationship with Hikaru and Hinata. Overall, it was a rather enjoyable afternoon. Mikoto was surprised at how fast time had flown when Yanagi said his farewells due to previous engagements he had to attend to.
He left her with a smile and a feeling that things were going to turn out just fine, that was until she remembered that she was still carrying a child and he didn’t know about it yet. Mikoto sighed and flopped on the floor, landing on Hikaru. He only raised a brow and cracked an eye to acknowledge her.
“What am I going to do, Hikaru?” She said, knowing he wouldn’t provide an answer. As expected, he closed his eyes and resumed his nap. Katsumi could probably help direct her in how best to broach the subject. Mikoto gathered herself and went about the house in search of Katsumi. She needed some comfort and Katsumi was perfect at that.
Mikoto nodded, “Okay,” was all she managed to get out.
She wasn’t sure what Katsumi and Yanagi had talked about, but she had a feeling he was made aware of her situation. That she was pregnant with Asahina’s child. She couldn’t tell how he had taken the news, he sounded friendly enough as he had always spoken to her, all of the two times so far, but with the Spider Monks and their headgear, she couldn’t see anything but his eyes which didn’t tell her anything at all. Mikoto nervously got up and started towards the dining area.
“We can take it in your room,” Yanagi informed her. Less of a suggestion and more of a statement of what will be happening. He spoke to a passing servant who bowed and scurried towards the kitchen.
“Okay,” Mikoto nodded again and walked to her room with Yanagi in tow. She just knew he was going to be upset. Why else would he want to eat privately? She tried to calm herself; breaking down into tears wasn’t going to help matters at all. Plus, there was a very good chance that he didn’t know yet. Katsumi had said she would keep things quiet until Mikoto was ready, why would she go against her word? She wouldn’t, Katsumi wouldn’t lie to her. It was just a friendly meal, Mikoto assured herself.
They sat in her room while another servant set up a small table between the two of them and brought a tray with tea while they waited for their meal. Yanagi unwound his shozoku setting it at his side, allowing Mikoto to see his face for the first time. He was so very different from what she had imagined. Katsumi and Negisa were both very feminine looking, with thin noses and pointed chins, and although that is the only thing they had in common, Mikoto had expected Yanagi to share that characteristic with the two. He didn’t at all, his jaw was squared and his face broad. His complexion was dark, unlike Katsumi who was very light skinned. In addition, his eyes were the blackest she had ever seen, also unlike Katsumi and even Negisa, who had hazel eyes. Mikoto had noticed his eyes before, seeing as that was the only thing she could look at, but it still was so vastly different from Katsumi she couldn’t help but focus on them again. They just drew her in. She smiled to herself, he may not be as breathtakingly gorgeous as Negisa, but he was easy on the eyes, just like Katsumi.
“I met with your father to finalize our betrothal; your mother was very hospitable. It isn’t often we receive such an ungrudging reception.”
“Hmph,” Mikoto muffled while biting her lip. She wasn’t very fond of hearing about her parents, especially after the last time they arranged for her husband-to-be. It had caused a rift between what little relationship she had with her father and her second mother, one that hadn’t been repaired, and Mikoto didn’t plan to make any effort towards in the future.
“The lands are nice around here. I had considered where we would locate once we were married. It’s all I thought about on the trip, trying to find the perfect place to etch out our family.”
She couldn’t help the smile that covered her face, he had been thinking of her the entire time he was gone.
“That’s still a ways down the road. Nevertheless, having the opportunity to travel the surrounding countryside has put the thought in my head, and you were there every step of the way. Of course, we’ll be here for some time yet to come, the Black Silk Dojo is completely in ruins, there’s nothing salvageable there, and I hear a small dojo has already been built here. We might expand on that.”
As the conversation continued, Mikoto was put more and more at ease, especially when Yanagi never made another reference to family besides what he had already said. It was a ways off. Katsumi had obviously not informed Yanagi, otherwise he wouldn’t have phrased it the way he did. Yanagi told her about his trip, about the plans the Spider had for this town, about many things that people just talked about with each other. He asked how she was, what she had been up to lately, a topic that Mikoto didn’t want to dwell on due to the recent revelations. He showed great interest in her life and even wanted to know the details of the Beastmaster’s way and her relationship with Hikaru and Hinata. Overall, it was a rather enjoyable afternoon. Mikoto was surprised at how fast time had flown when Yanagi said his farewells due to previous engagements he had to attend to.
He left her with a smile and a feeling that things were going to turn out just fine, that was until she remembered that she was still carrying a child and he didn’t know about it yet. Mikoto sighed and flopped on the floor, landing on Hikaru. He only raised a brow and cracked an eye to acknowledge her.
“What am I going to do, Hikaru?” She said, knowing he wouldn’t provide an answer. As expected, he closed his eyes and resumed his nap. Katsumi could probably help direct her in how best to broach the subject. Mikoto gathered herself and went about the house in search of Katsumi. She needed some comfort and Katsumi was perfect at that.
***
Mikoto was melancholy the following day. She hadn’t found Katsumi yesterday and ended up also sleeping alone for the night. Katsumi having disappeared after Yanagi had arrived and not waiting for Mikoto when she opened her door for bed. She had thought that perhaps Katsumi was giving her a wide berth in case Yanagi wanted to spend time with her, which he had during the afternoon. But after dinner when Katsumi still wasn’t around, she had expected Yanagi to make a late night call, one that never came leaving her a little grumpy since she was certain Katsumi was only neglecting her because she was going to be wedding Katsumi’s older brother. In Mikoto’s perfect world, she would have Katsumi’s affection, and Yanagi’s romanticism, probably a little of Soshi’s familiarity…
“Hmph,” Mikoto grumped. Katsumi still didn’t call her by her given name. She thought over the last month and how Katsumi still referred to Mikoto as Matsu, that was except for that one day when she called her Mikoto when Mikoto found out she was pregnant. Even those nights over the past week that Katsumi crept into her room, she couldn’t recall hearing Katsumi even say her name. And the mornings after it was always Matsu. It had to be her imagination; she couldn’t believe Katsumi wouldn’t have said her name at least one other time.
Her foul mood persisted most of the day, that is until Katsumi finally showed up after lunch and pulled Mikoto to the side for a private conversation. Katsumi informed her that Yanagi wanted to spend some personal time with Mikoto. Was Katsumi saying what she thought she was saying?
“Do you mean personal time like you and I spend together?” Mikoto asked, trying not to be too revealing as it would probably make her blush to say such things, and they were still in a place other people could overhear.
Katsumi nodded, “Yes, I would suppose so. I’ll show you where he’s staying and you can meet him before dinner. I believe you’ll be staying the night, so you might want to dismiss your yojimbo early.” Katsumi gave a knowing look before leaving Mikoto alone yet again.
Mikoto’s stomach was in knots the rest of the day. On one hand she wanted this to happen, if she was going to play along with what Katsumi had suggested, that the child would be Yanagi’s, she wanted to at least pretend it was his which meant spending a night with him. On the other hand, he might not know yet, and she couldn’t bring herself to deceive Yanagi into thinking it was his kid. But what would she tell him? Hey, Husband-to-be, I slept with another man and now you’re saddled with his spawn because we’re going to get married. That sounded horrible. What if he decided to cancel their betrothal? This was grounds to do just that, and where would she be then? Alone and dishonored.
She felt the same way when Katsumi showed her where Yanagi was residing. She felt that way when she went to have dinner with him. She continued to feel that way during the entire meal, unable to eat much of anything. Afterwards, when he had brought Mikoto to his room, and they were standing there alone, and he tugged the knot out of her obi, she couldn’t stand feeling that way anymore and pushed Yanagi away.
“I…uh,” The words stuck in Mikoto’s throat, she suddenly felt as if she hadn’t had a drop of water in days. Yanagi watched her and waited. “I’m-uh…” Mikoto sucked in a breath, closed her eyes so she didn’t have to see his reaction and threw it out there, “I’m pregnant.”
She waited for some sort of outburst, maybe even hear him walking away and out of the room, but no sound came. Mikoto cautiously peeked through one eye, Yanagi was still standing there, but instead of some sort of shock or expression of anger, he had a smirk on his face.
“How fortunate we are to have conceived a child our first night together,” Yanagi beamed.
“But… I’m already pregnant, and I thought you should know before tonight went any further.”
“Mikoto,” Yanagi shook his head, the smile not moving, “You don’t remember the night we found out we were to be wed? I do. It was a very personally affair with just the two of us about a month ago.”
He was saying that the night she spent with Asahina she instead spent with Yanagi… However, she knew that wasn’t the case. Others knew that wasn’t the case, like Yanagi’s entire family. What Katsumi had said the day Mikoto told her she was with child came back to her, she had insisted it was Yanagi’s baby, even though they both knew otherwise. Now here Yanagi was saying the same thing. They really were alike. That feeling she had been carrying all day let go, she felt it fall to the ground where she could kick it away. Then she smiled and unwound her belt, allowing that to fall to the ground as well.
Mikoto traced the scars on Yanagi’s chest as she cuddled next to him. They were grouped together in one cluster, a great many of them set on his left breast. It was strange how few he had everywhere else, but here was marred significantly. She had noticed his left hand had been cut in the same fashion, so had Katsumi’s, and, now that she thought about it, even Negisa carried a scar on her palm, though she couldn’t recall if Negisa had so many like Katsumi and Yanagi. Mikoto didn’t go around looking at other’s hands. She just knew Katsumi intimately and now Yanagi similarly. It must be some sort of odd Spider ritual, one she wasn’t going to pretend to understand, and as long as she didn’t have to do it, she didn’t care. The ones on the chest though, Negisa was flawless, which meant it had to be something only Spider Monks did since Katsumi and Yanagi were both a part of that order.
A shame they had to inflict such pain on their bodies, though she could relate to that having been branded with the Matsu seal upon her gempukku ceremony. Hers was square on her back, and she remembered the way it burned and burned for days. She remembered not being able to sleep on her back for weeks, and how it stung when she sweat. How she bathed in cold water when washing her hair or any part near her brand because the heat from the bath would cause the wound to be rife with pain that would spread through her core. Mikoto kissed at Yanagi’s scars on his chest as if to say she would protect that part of him now. They were right over his heart, and that was now hers to shelter. She laid her cheek on them and drifted off to sleep next to her betrothed, listening to his heartbeat and promising never to hurt it.
“Hmph,” Mikoto grumped. Katsumi still didn’t call her by her given name. She thought over the last month and how Katsumi still referred to Mikoto as Matsu, that was except for that one day when she called her Mikoto when Mikoto found out she was pregnant. Even those nights over the past week that Katsumi crept into her room, she couldn’t recall hearing Katsumi even say her name. And the mornings after it was always Matsu. It had to be her imagination; she couldn’t believe Katsumi wouldn’t have said her name at least one other time.
Her foul mood persisted most of the day, that is until Katsumi finally showed up after lunch and pulled Mikoto to the side for a private conversation. Katsumi informed her that Yanagi wanted to spend some personal time with Mikoto. Was Katsumi saying what she thought she was saying?
“Do you mean personal time like you and I spend together?” Mikoto asked, trying not to be too revealing as it would probably make her blush to say such things, and they were still in a place other people could overhear.
Katsumi nodded, “Yes, I would suppose so. I’ll show you where he’s staying and you can meet him before dinner. I believe you’ll be staying the night, so you might want to dismiss your yojimbo early.” Katsumi gave a knowing look before leaving Mikoto alone yet again.
Mikoto’s stomach was in knots the rest of the day. On one hand she wanted this to happen, if she was going to play along with what Katsumi had suggested, that the child would be Yanagi’s, she wanted to at least pretend it was his which meant spending a night with him. On the other hand, he might not know yet, and she couldn’t bring herself to deceive Yanagi into thinking it was his kid. But what would she tell him? Hey, Husband-to-be, I slept with another man and now you’re saddled with his spawn because we’re going to get married. That sounded horrible. What if he decided to cancel their betrothal? This was grounds to do just that, and where would she be then? Alone and dishonored.
She felt the same way when Katsumi showed her where Yanagi was residing. She felt that way when she went to have dinner with him. She continued to feel that way during the entire meal, unable to eat much of anything. Afterwards, when he had brought Mikoto to his room, and they were standing there alone, and he tugged the knot out of her obi, she couldn’t stand feeling that way anymore and pushed Yanagi away.
“I…uh,” The words stuck in Mikoto’s throat, she suddenly felt as if she hadn’t had a drop of water in days. Yanagi watched her and waited. “I’m-uh…” Mikoto sucked in a breath, closed her eyes so she didn’t have to see his reaction and threw it out there, “I’m pregnant.”
She waited for some sort of outburst, maybe even hear him walking away and out of the room, but no sound came. Mikoto cautiously peeked through one eye, Yanagi was still standing there, but instead of some sort of shock or expression of anger, he had a smirk on his face.
“How fortunate we are to have conceived a child our first night together,” Yanagi beamed.
“But… I’m already pregnant, and I thought you should know before tonight went any further.”
“Mikoto,” Yanagi shook his head, the smile not moving, “You don’t remember the night we found out we were to be wed? I do. It was a very personally affair with just the two of us about a month ago.”
He was saying that the night she spent with Asahina she instead spent with Yanagi… However, she knew that wasn’t the case. Others knew that wasn’t the case, like Yanagi’s entire family. What Katsumi had said the day Mikoto told her she was with child came back to her, she had insisted it was Yanagi’s baby, even though they both knew otherwise. Now here Yanagi was saying the same thing. They really were alike. That feeling she had been carrying all day let go, she felt it fall to the ground where she could kick it away. Then she smiled and unwound her belt, allowing that to fall to the ground as well.
Mikoto traced the scars on Yanagi’s chest as she cuddled next to him. They were grouped together in one cluster, a great many of them set on his left breast. It was strange how few he had everywhere else, but here was marred significantly. She had noticed his left hand had been cut in the same fashion, so had Katsumi’s, and, now that she thought about it, even Negisa carried a scar on her palm, though she couldn’t recall if Negisa had so many like Katsumi and Yanagi. Mikoto didn’t go around looking at other’s hands. She just knew Katsumi intimately and now Yanagi similarly. It must be some sort of odd Spider ritual, one she wasn’t going to pretend to understand, and as long as she didn’t have to do it, she didn’t care. The ones on the chest though, Negisa was flawless, which meant it had to be something only Spider Monks did since Katsumi and Yanagi were both a part of that order.
A shame they had to inflict such pain on their bodies, though she could relate to that having been branded with the Matsu seal upon her gempukku ceremony. Hers was square on her back, and she remembered the way it burned and burned for days. She remembered not being able to sleep on her back for weeks, and how it stung when she sweat. How she bathed in cold water when washing her hair or any part near her brand because the heat from the bath would cause the wound to be rife with pain that would spread through her core. Mikoto kissed at Yanagi’s scars on his chest as if to say she would protect that part of him now. They were right over his heart, and that was now hers to shelter. She laid her cheek on them and drifted off to sleep next to her betrothed, listening to his heartbeat and promising never to hurt it.
***
Daigotsu was sitting in the courtyard watching Shiba clip her bonsai tree. It was probably the first time Kyuzo had seen Daigotsu without Matsu in a week. Those two had suddenly become fast friends, trailing after each other and being practically inseparable. However, tonight she was alone; no Matsu in sight and the night was warm, spring fastly giving way to summer. The season was already half over and it had already been nearly six weeks since Kyuzo took over as lord of the town.
Wow time was moving quickly. Maybe even too quickly, as Kyuzo realized he knew very little about those he shared a roof with. Besides what he had learned weeks ago at Kitsuki’s luncheon, he hadn’t actually spoken to the other four outside of work related questioning. That was partially Tsuruchi Airo’s fault. He had instantly made a friend the day Airo came into town, and two days later he had turned Tsuruchi over to the Spider so they could enact justice on his attempted arson. It reminded him not to get too close to the others because he was their superior and one day he might have to put another friend on the chopping block.
Maybe that was why he liked Daigotsu’s company, as odd as she was. She rarely spoke, and not in the way Shiba rarely spoke. It was more of a mutual understanding that neither of them had to say anything in order to drink, or walk. Moreover, she never forced polite conversation after a tea ceremony. She participated alongside him, whereas Shiba followed, leaving Kyuzo to feel as if he was by himself even with Shiba around. That’s how she spoke to him too, as if they were equals, and not at all like everyone else where he was their superior. He was her superior, but she just didn’t treat him that way.
“Daigotsu-san,” Kyuzo called across the courtyard. Daigotsu looked up in response. “Would you care to join me for a walk?”
“I would, Asahina-san.” Daigotsu hopped up and followed Kyuzo to the door.
They took the same path they had a week ago, when Daigotsu had asked Kyuzo to go on a walk. It led to the outskirts of town and circled the edge of the hill the city sat upon, giving them a view of the cherry trees and the unadulterated sky. They just walked, Kyuzo listening to the sounds of the night and the shuffling of their feet on the grass. The full moon had passed a week ago, but half of the globe sat in the sky illuminating their surroundings enough to get by. Overall, things were pleasant.
“Asahina, do you know any of the tenets of Shourido,” Daigotsu pushed away the pleasantness Kyuzo had just been reveling in.
“No, not really,” he said, not sure where she was going with this. She never spoke and here she was initiating a conversation, which meant it was either going to be extremely odd or something people didn’t normally discuss.
“Do you know it’s all about achieving perfection?”
“So they say,” Kyuzo was trying to be careful with his words.
“It’s true. That’s what everything in life is about, becoming a better person, right?” Daigotsu asked peering at him while they walked.
Kyuzo didn’t know what to say. If he agreed with her, he was agreeing that Shourido led to the end goal in life, a thought he really didn’t agree with because a samurai lived by the code of Bushido. The entire Empire lived by Bushido, except the Spider. The entire Empire also worshipped the Celestial Heavens and the kami who reside there, and the Spider worshipped Jigoku and the Dark Kami, which was the polar opposite of the Heavens. Obviously, Shourido was the same to Bushido as their deities were to each other. Meaning Daigotsu couldn’t be right that Shourido was the key to life. And honestly, he didn’t want to hear about the antithesis of his core beliefs.
“I am not going to pretend I know what life is about,” Kyuzo concluded politely.
“The Dragon have great insight on the matter,” Daigotsu pointed out, “which is another tenet of Shourido, insight. Those who practice Shourido attempt to gain knowledge and insight about the world and our place in it.”
There was nothing he could say to refute that. Kyuzo looked around while trying to find an out from the conversation, allowing it to fade away with the growing silence he gave was nearly the only option.
“Beautiful night out, isn’t it?” Kyuzo said, attempting to change the subject.
“Yeah, I suppose it is,” Daigotsu looked up at the moon, and then glanced towards the row of cherry trees. “Is this the type of thing that inspires you to paint?”
“I don’t know what inspires me.” Kyuzo thought about it and realized he really didn’t know. It was just a feeling he had, something that kind of jumped out at him saying this was something that needed to be painted.
“You just feel it or something?”
“Yeah,” Kyuzo thought, that was a good way to explain it, “It just comes to me. I just get in tune to whatever it is.”
“I don’t think I understand,” Daigotsu furrowed her brow.
How could he explain that feeling? The sudden picture that fills his head when something sparks his artistic desire. The way it moves him to want to share that feeling with the world through his painting. The calming and zen-like quality of putting a brush to the paper.
“It’s like any other type of meditation,” Kyuzo slowly put the words together trying to find the right phrasing, “When you connect to the void and feel the emotions of the universe and it just… well, inspires you.”
“I think I can understand that,” Daigotsu nodded.
“Do you not practice the art of meditation?”
“I meditate,” Daigotsu affirmed, “I can call on the void, but it is only a tool to be used. My strength, my emotions and my will comes from within, not without. I don’t feel anything I didn’t put there.”
“Hm,” Kyuzo considered the experience she described, which was greatly different from his own. Maybe that’s why he painted and others did not, because he felt things differently. Or maybe that’s what the difference was between Bushido and Shourido, the way the universe responded to each devotee.
“Maybe it’s like you said,” Daigotsu added contemplatively, “Some people have to work to see the beauty in things, while others just see it in everything.”
Kyuzo smirked. He had said that, and had applied it to Daigotsu when he said it. It was after the hunting mishap, which he had thought was not hunting at all, and she had deceived him into dirtying his katana with the boar’s blood. He tried to explain practically the same experience as painting, now that he thought about it. She didn’t understand the training that went into kyujutsu, that one usually practices long hours to find that center before loosing an arrow, the center like in meditation, or painting, or iaijutsu. The calm that was the void, that spoke to you and allowed you to intuit when to move, or how, or where, or what to apply it to. It was no wonder that she didn’t understand the same concept that came with painting.
They finished their walk in silence, the way they had done before. Simply a lack in conversation that didn’t feel forced or uncomfortable. When they returned to the house, Kyuzo had thanked Daigotsu for her company and retreated to his room. That inspiration he had spoken about earlier was nipping at him and in his mind he could clearly see his next painting. Daigotsu was standing in the moonlight, and everything that made her different defined her; her male kimono, the way she tied back her hair, and her mismatched eyes. Those most of all, with one brown and the other blue. That would be the focus; that was the one thing that she had and no one else did. It made her unique.
Wow time was moving quickly. Maybe even too quickly, as Kyuzo realized he knew very little about those he shared a roof with. Besides what he had learned weeks ago at Kitsuki’s luncheon, he hadn’t actually spoken to the other four outside of work related questioning. That was partially Tsuruchi Airo’s fault. He had instantly made a friend the day Airo came into town, and two days later he had turned Tsuruchi over to the Spider so they could enact justice on his attempted arson. It reminded him not to get too close to the others because he was their superior and one day he might have to put another friend on the chopping block.
Maybe that was why he liked Daigotsu’s company, as odd as she was. She rarely spoke, and not in the way Shiba rarely spoke. It was more of a mutual understanding that neither of them had to say anything in order to drink, or walk. Moreover, she never forced polite conversation after a tea ceremony. She participated alongside him, whereas Shiba followed, leaving Kyuzo to feel as if he was by himself even with Shiba around. That’s how she spoke to him too, as if they were equals, and not at all like everyone else where he was their superior. He was her superior, but she just didn’t treat him that way.
“Daigotsu-san,” Kyuzo called across the courtyard. Daigotsu looked up in response. “Would you care to join me for a walk?”
“I would, Asahina-san.” Daigotsu hopped up and followed Kyuzo to the door.
They took the same path they had a week ago, when Daigotsu had asked Kyuzo to go on a walk. It led to the outskirts of town and circled the edge of the hill the city sat upon, giving them a view of the cherry trees and the unadulterated sky. They just walked, Kyuzo listening to the sounds of the night and the shuffling of their feet on the grass. The full moon had passed a week ago, but half of the globe sat in the sky illuminating their surroundings enough to get by. Overall, things were pleasant.
“Asahina, do you know any of the tenets of Shourido,” Daigotsu pushed away the pleasantness Kyuzo had just been reveling in.
“No, not really,” he said, not sure where she was going with this. She never spoke and here she was initiating a conversation, which meant it was either going to be extremely odd or something people didn’t normally discuss.
“Do you know it’s all about achieving perfection?”
“So they say,” Kyuzo was trying to be careful with his words.
“It’s true. That’s what everything in life is about, becoming a better person, right?” Daigotsu asked peering at him while they walked.
Kyuzo didn’t know what to say. If he agreed with her, he was agreeing that Shourido led to the end goal in life, a thought he really didn’t agree with because a samurai lived by the code of Bushido. The entire Empire lived by Bushido, except the Spider. The entire Empire also worshipped the Celestial Heavens and the kami who reside there, and the Spider worshipped Jigoku and the Dark Kami, which was the polar opposite of the Heavens. Obviously, Shourido was the same to Bushido as their deities were to each other. Meaning Daigotsu couldn’t be right that Shourido was the key to life. And honestly, he didn’t want to hear about the antithesis of his core beliefs.
“I am not going to pretend I know what life is about,” Kyuzo concluded politely.
“The Dragon have great insight on the matter,” Daigotsu pointed out, “which is another tenet of Shourido, insight. Those who practice Shourido attempt to gain knowledge and insight about the world and our place in it.”
There was nothing he could say to refute that. Kyuzo looked around while trying to find an out from the conversation, allowing it to fade away with the growing silence he gave was nearly the only option.
“Beautiful night out, isn’t it?” Kyuzo said, attempting to change the subject.
“Yeah, I suppose it is,” Daigotsu looked up at the moon, and then glanced towards the row of cherry trees. “Is this the type of thing that inspires you to paint?”
“I don’t know what inspires me.” Kyuzo thought about it and realized he really didn’t know. It was just a feeling he had, something that kind of jumped out at him saying this was something that needed to be painted.
“You just feel it or something?”
“Yeah,” Kyuzo thought, that was a good way to explain it, “It just comes to me. I just get in tune to whatever it is.”
“I don’t think I understand,” Daigotsu furrowed her brow.
How could he explain that feeling? The sudden picture that fills his head when something sparks his artistic desire. The way it moves him to want to share that feeling with the world through his painting. The calming and zen-like quality of putting a brush to the paper.
“It’s like any other type of meditation,” Kyuzo slowly put the words together trying to find the right phrasing, “When you connect to the void and feel the emotions of the universe and it just… well, inspires you.”
“I think I can understand that,” Daigotsu nodded.
“Do you not practice the art of meditation?”
“I meditate,” Daigotsu affirmed, “I can call on the void, but it is only a tool to be used. My strength, my emotions and my will comes from within, not without. I don’t feel anything I didn’t put there.”
“Hm,” Kyuzo considered the experience she described, which was greatly different from his own. Maybe that’s why he painted and others did not, because he felt things differently. Or maybe that’s what the difference was between Bushido and Shourido, the way the universe responded to each devotee.
“Maybe it’s like you said,” Daigotsu added contemplatively, “Some people have to work to see the beauty in things, while others just see it in everything.”
Kyuzo smirked. He had said that, and had applied it to Daigotsu when he said it. It was after the hunting mishap, which he had thought was not hunting at all, and she had deceived him into dirtying his katana with the boar’s blood. He tried to explain practically the same experience as painting, now that he thought about it. She didn’t understand the training that went into kyujutsu, that one usually practices long hours to find that center before loosing an arrow, the center like in meditation, or painting, or iaijutsu. The calm that was the void, that spoke to you and allowed you to intuit when to move, or how, or where, or what to apply it to. It was no wonder that she didn’t understand the same concept that came with painting.
They finished their walk in silence, the way they had done before. Simply a lack in conversation that didn’t feel forced or uncomfortable. When they returned to the house, Kyuzo had thanked Daigotsu for her company and retreated to his room. That inspiration he had spoken about earlier was nipping at him and in his mind he could clearly see his next painting. Daigotsu was standing in the moonlight, and everything that made her different defined her; her male kimono, the way she tied back her hair, and her mismatched eyes. Those most of all, with one brown and the other blue. That would be the focus; that was the one thing that she had and no one else did. It made her unique.
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