Disclaimer: Just as a matter of principle, I don't own any of Tamora Pierce's characters, for what few appear in this story, but I do own my created ones, so please do not use them without my permission.
Author's Notes: This is a story revolving around my own character named Ruveila noh Ryushikawa (later on will be Ruveila Tegacis), a Yamani Princess. Later on, as stated in member mare's fic, it will merge into the joint effort.
It was a crisp and cool fall afternoon in the Yamani Islands as Empress Hinote stood near the picture window in her sitting room, gazing out into the training yards beyond the window and was watching her two sons sparring. The eldest and future Emperor was Saihitei, a man whom resembled his father a lot in appearance, with long black hair and was rather tall and well built, His sparring partner was his younger brother Jakuen, whom looked like the pair's mother, also carrying her odd blue eyes.
The elder Prince raised his practice sword and took a defensive stance, beckoning his younger brother of 16 years to come at him. Saihitei, himself was eighteen at this point and was being groomed for his future role. His younger brother was striving to be a warrior much like most the young boys in their country. Jakuen studied his brother's stance with a curious but cautious gaze before charging him at an angle, weaving in and out of a straight charge to throw his brother off.
Saihitei was impressed that he thought that much ahead, as it was known among close family that Jakuen didn't always use his head when doing a lot of things, the airhead syndrome of youth perhaps but it only seemed to touch the youngest boy and not the elder. A side step and a crash of a practice sword down on Kuen's back let the younger know that he had made an error of judgment and paid for it painfully.
" Kuso… why do you always do that. " Jakuen swore at his brother, looking rather angry, for it did hurt and he was not going to bother hiding his emotion behind the mask that the Yaman were famous for. Saihitei, rather than respond, took another swing at his brother, the swords clashing together this time. " You learn.. and be glad these are only practice weapons, brother." Sai replied to his sibling then turned towards the window overlooking the yard and waved to his mother. " Hello Kaa-san." He called to her in their native tongue.
Hinote shook her head, boys will be boys after all and she was fairly certain that Kuen would be nursing a bruised ego for a few hours after this, now knowing she had seen him take the hit. " Why don't you two come on inside, we can have some tea and relax for once." The Empress replied, her hands resting on her very swollen abdomen. Her pregnancy was nothing short of a miracle of the gods, as the Empress was in her mid thirties and thought to have been barren after giving birth to Jakuen sixteen years earlier.
She was now within days of giving birth, or so her personal shugenja told her. Hearing the pair of males going towards the inner part of the Palace, Hinote shifted her position to get more comfortable as she felt the shift of a twin pair of movements within her womb. She had thought for the longest time she might be carrying more than one child, mostly due to the amount of movement she felt and the sheer size of her stomach.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she was joined in her sitting room by both her sons and smiled as her friend and Commander of her guard, Meru, poured the three cups of tea. The normally stiff commander of the Empress Guard normally did not do anything of this nature but Hinote had not been permitted to be by herself since she entered her third trimester of pregnancy, as the Emperor Seichiro was afraid of her getting hurt by something or someone.
" Thank you Meru, I know this is not something you are normally supposed to do." The Empress responded kindly, smiling gently. Meru bowed as was due to the Empress' station. " You are my lady and Empress, I live to serve and aside from that… you don't need to be stooping over to pour tea. You might end up kick starting labor that way." The elder female responded to her somewhat younger charge.
A smile crossed the aging Commander's face as she regarded the pair of boys that entered the room. By looking at them, she could see that Saihitei was turning out to be a fine young man and perhaps with a bit more maturing and growth, his younger brother would as well. Sai smiled and bowed his head politely to Meru and a moment later and after a painful jerk of his brother's elbow into his side, Jakuen did the same.
Meru shook her head at the two young men, as they treated her much like family, though she was but a common born woman. They made her feel like family and being her own was back on the island of Saigon, the lone Island that Hinote had been born on, she had almost adopted these two like her own sons and Hinote was so kind, it was hard to not like her. Taking her teacup in her hands, the Empress shook her head at the pair of males. " Saihitei, be nice to your brother." She reprimanded her eldest, whom bowed his head and complied, taking the command without any display of anger or distaste.
Jakuen almost broke face to grin about this but a look from the Empress shut his thought of doing so down and he bit back his smart arced comment. He was ever the comedian and sarcastic of the two, something that irked their father to no end. He was only serious when he had to be, the rest of the time, it was all jokes and comments. The afternoon waned into evening, as the three drank their tea and discussed the day's events; the eminent birth of the baby and whatever else came to mind.
It was much later on, after the usual elaborate dinners that often occurred in the main hall of the palace that the Emperor and Empress retired to their chambers for the night. Having just came from the hot springs and in a sleeping kimono, the Empress sat down in front of her mirror that was attached to her vanity that had various things on it that most women of her noble standing would have, such as lip paints, powders, perfumes and the like.
Unwinding her long hair from the confines of the bun it was in, the royal let it fall down her back and picked up her brush and began to run it through her waist length and glossy black hair. She looked into the mirror then and noticed her husband standing behind her, the rare smile on his face that he only gave for her upon his lips.
Reaching his hand out, he took the brush and began to run it through her hair himself, and seemed rather content to do so. Hinote smiled and closed her eyes, as the motion was very relaxing indeed. " Seichiro… careful now… don't want to spoil me." She replied with a smile of her own that grew a bit when the Emperor leaned down and kissed the side of her neck. " Shh.. it will be our dirty secret." Came the jesting reply, which prompted a laugh from the female.
After sitting the brush down, Emperor helped his Empress to her feet. " The hour is growing late, judging by the position of the moon and you know that you are supposed to get plenty of rest." Seichiro said gently to his wife, guiding her towards the pair's elaborate bed. Hinote allowed herself to be guided towards it until she felt a jolt of pain, something that had been going on most of the evening and then felt a warm trickle down her right leg and her face paled. " Sleep is not an option right now… the child comes." Hinote replied as Seichiro's dark eyes widened and he called for the healer and soon a flurry of motion would engulf the room. Before the end of the night, a new life would enter the world.