I have decided to try and post chapters twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays...with luck I shall stay ahead of that schedule! Now, On to Chapter Two
Dai Ni Shou
Mai waited patiently for
the emperor’s attention to turn to her. “Brother, you look
tired.”
"My councilors believe
it is time you were married,” he said without preamble. “The
Shogun is looking for a new consort and they think it best it were
you. It would strengthen his loyalty to our house.”
"I shall not,” she
declared, eyes flashing angrily. “I am not some piece of meat to be
bartered at your whim. The Shogun is old and ugly. Besides, he
already has a wife and a concubine. Surely the sister of the emperor
deserves better than the position of third plaything. Is that really
the future you wish to sentence me to?”
"Do you have a better
suggestion? I am open to other alliances, but it is high time you
were wed.”
"I have thought long
and hard about it,” Mai admitted. “My preference would be never
to marry, but I know that is not an option. Still, there is one man I
would consider.”
"Who is this mysterious
man my sister deems worthy of her attentions? And what benefit does
such a joining bring to our house?”
"Yakushi Kenshin, my
lord. He is the chief retainer of Murakami-sama, a strong warrior
with the ear of his liege. A marriage to him would solidify your ties
with that region. He is also still single. The position of first wife
is certainly more appealing to me.”
"It would be a
marginally acceptable match,” the emperor admitted. “But he has
always avoided the ties of marriage. What makes you think you can
convince him?”
Of course, that had been
part of her plan. The fact that he had no interest in marriage made
it less likely she would be forced into a traditional relationship.
She hoped to convince Kenshin they could form an alliance of
convenience. She would be his wife in appearance only, with no
obligation on his part to visit her bed. In return, he would help her
become stronger and give her the freedom to train openly, perhaps
even fight at his side. Just in case, she had picked a man who would
appeal to any woman – strong, fair of face and relatively young. If
he insisted on consummating the relationship it would not be
offensive. “I believe I have more to offer than the average
candidate,” she replied. “Arrange a meeting and let me try to
convince him, at least.”
"I will consider your
proposal,” the emperor decided. “You will be notified if a
meeting can be arranged. Until then I expect you to consider other
possibilities. One way or another you will be wed this season.”
"Yes, my lord. Thank
you for your patience.”
"You are my sister. I
would like to see you happy, if such a thing is possible.”
Mai made the required
formal prostrations, backing out of the room as quickly as possible
while keeping her face averted to hide the gleeful smirk she could
not contain. Once outside she raced to her rooms, heedless of the
disdainful looks she received from her brother’s concubines as she
passed. She had been subjected to more than enough lectures about how
a woman of her status should behave. The thought of spending her life
wrapped in elaborate silks and tittering behind a fan filled her with
contempt. She had no desire to act the simpering fool, even less so
if it meant she had to suffer a man’s heavy hands and sour breath
in her bed. She would make Kenshin accept her, whatever it took. The
alternative was too grim to contemplate.
*
* *
Kenshin swept through the
corridors of the daimyo’s palace, the look on his face causing
everyone he passed to fall back in fear. It was obvious the powerful
samurai was angry, beyond angry, he was livid with rage, and the
pampered courtiers did not wish to provoke him further. No one wanted
to risk losing their head over something they had no part in.
He roughly yanked the
reins from the servant holding his horse, vaulting into the saddle
and galloping off. As he rode he cursed the kami for his change of
fortune. He passed a small shrine and decided to stop, lighting
incense and clapping his hands three times before bowing his head.
“Amaterasu, you have withdrawn your warmth. Tsukuyomi, you no
longer light the darkness. You have abandoned me to my fate and
delivered me into the hands of your brother Susanoo with his penchant
for chaos and destruction. I curse you and these islands to eternal
darkness. May the yokai come and devour all your faithful. May their
blood run like rivers across this land while I watch and laugh.”
Then he was back on his
horse, speeding for home. The last thing he wanted was his new charge
to arrive before he did.
Once there he gathered
his servants to inform them of Hiroshi’s impending arrival. “He
shall use the rooms next to mine. Have them aired and fresh tatami
laid. We do not wish to make our guest feel unwelcome.”
"No one could look at
that face and feel welcome,” one of the maids whispered.
“Yakushi-sama looks like a storm cloud.”
"How our master looks
or feels is none of your concern,” the housekeeper hissed. “Your
job is to follow his instructions, not meddle in his affairs.
Murakami-sama is an honored guest of our master. Make sure you treat
him as such.”
Kenshin quickly retreated
to his own rooms, his mood improving as soon as he exchanged the too
formal kimono for his more usual hakama. Once he stopped to think
about it, the situation didn’t seem nearly as dire. He tried to
picture his new charge, but the only memories he could conjure were
of a small boy in a grass-stained kimono with a smile like the sun.
*
* *
Jun studied his
reflection in the small hand mirror, tilting his head from side to
side to make sure the illusion was perfect. “How do I look?”
"You look beautiful, as
always,” Hiroshi assured him. Indeed, with his makeup applied and
dressed in layers of silk, Jun could rival any courtesan. “Are you
off to the theater, then?”
"No, silly. I'm going
with you.”
An icy frisson crept up
Hiroshi's spine. Jun might be beautiful, but the thought of passing
him off as a woman to his father was one he couldn't contemplate.
“That would not be wise. If you are discovered we will both suffer
for it. Just wait here for me, I will be back soon.”
"But if he thinks
you've found someone he will stop pushing you to marry. I do not wish
to lose you to another.” Jun pressed himself against his lover,
using all his skill to convince Hiroshi to go along with his plan.
The heady scent of
sandalwood and sakura left Hiroshi breathless. It was all he could do
to fight the urge to unwrap the layers hiding his lover from view and
carry him back to bed. For a moment he was lost in contemplation,
picturing that perfect mask smeared across pristine sheets. The
consequences of being late to a meeting with his father, though,
outweighed his burgeoning erection. “It is impossible. Even if he
were to believe your disguise, you lack the pedigree he demands. I
will deal with my father. I've managed to evade his matchmaking this
long, I'm sure today will be no different.”
Jun's smile slid into a
pout. “But I get so lonely when you're away. You wouldn't want me
to have to seek another's company.”
"Threatening me isn't
going to change my mind.” The blatant manipulation turned regret
into anger. “Perhaps it is time I find a more suitable consort.”
Hiroshi pushed his lover away to continue dressing, pulling on his
heavily embroidered kamishimo and sliding his swords into the proper
place. And then he was gone.
The mirror smashed
against the wall, followed by an assortment of bottles and boxes as
Jun vented his fury on the contents of his dressing table. Rage
dissipated and turned to tears. The illusion broke, leaving a weeping
mess crumpled in its wake.
*
* *
"You summoned me?”
Hiroshi knelt before his father, head bowed subserviently.
"Your rebellion has
gone on long enough,” the daimyo declared. “I have made
arrangements for you to apprentice with one of my samurai.”
"I respectfully request
you reconsider. I am far too old for such an arrangement. It would be
unseemly.” Inside Hiroshi was panicking. An apprenticeship would
put an end to his freedom. Instead of long lazy days in the arms of
his lover the future would be filled with hours of tedious practice
and meditation under the eyes of a dour warrior.
"What
is unseemly is your behavior. Did you think me blind, that I wouldn't
notice your dalliance with that actor? You will do as I say, today. I
have already sent some men to gather your belongings and take them to
your new home.” The daimyo was unmoved by his son's protests. In
his heart he hoped Hiroshi would find happiness, but he couldn't
allow that wish to compromise his actions.
"And if I refuse?”
"Refusal is not an
option. You will do as I command. Go willingly or suffer the insult
of being bound and delivered. The choice is yours.”
Hiroshi briefly
considered resisting, if only for the pleasure of seeing his father
discomfited. The daimyo would certainly suffer more from the loss of
face caused by him leaving under duress. But then he realized
arriving at his new home bound and gagged would eliminate any chance
at freedom. Perhaps, if he cooperated, he would be able to slip away
and at least bid his lover farewell. Regret threatened to overwhelm
him. If he had known what awaited he would never have passed up a
last chance to lay with the man who had captured his heart. “I will
go willingly. Anywhere is better than here.”
The daimyo nodded to the
waiting guards. They flanked Hiroshi, leading him out of the hall to
the carriage that would deliver him to his future.
