It's not the most exciting chapter but I hope you enjoy. Notes at the end have extra information
:WARNING:PHYSICAL CHILD ABUSE:WARNING:
Kazue
(About eight years old)
[Few hours after events of first chapter]
While Nobu didn't find out right away about me interacting with shinobi, it hadn't taken long. Neither mom or Nana had said anything since they didn't want me hurt. But another member of the Ueda's must have seen me or a villager close to the family did. Doesn't matter how he found out, only that he did.
He stormed into our part of the compound demanding to know where I was. My mother tried to say she didn't know and luckily Nana had been elsewhere. I ruined her attempt at sparring me pain as I stepped into the room. My head down as the heat of his glare focused on me.
"Shinobi! What were you thinking, girl?" Suddenly my face stung. "They are disgraceful creatures and an Ueda should never associate with them!" Another hit and then he gripped my arm painfully. He pulled me closer "Do you understand your mistake? You'll soil yourself getting too close to them and no man will want to marry a woman impure." I nodded my understanding, trying to hold back the tears. An Ueda woman must save her emotions for when she is alone.
"The Saitos(1) will be here tomorrow. We must pray they don't find out about this." With those words, he flung me to the floor and left. I rubbed at the pain, hoping to ease it. My mother ran off to most likely find something to help.
As soon as she exited the room, my vision blurred and I quickly wiped at the tears. I should know better than to defy the family with even this small act. My body shook as a loud sob tore through me. For a moment I regretted my actions. I should had stayed by Nana and ignored the shinobi.
I abandoned my thoughts as my mother came back in. Panic on her face as she noticed my state. "I'm sorry. So so sorry…" The words were whispered into my ear once she got to my level and hugged me tightly. This happened often though I can't figure out why. I did something wrong and got punished for it… No reason for her to apologize.
We sat like this for a very long time. Eventually Nana returned to find us like this. Mom had stopped her chant of 'I'm sorry' but seemed ready to burst into tears at any moment. It was because of this that it went from her comforting me to me comforting her. Nana locked eyes with me briefly as I shushed my mother like the adults did with crying babies. She seemed to want to say something but moved on.
I hesitated before I said what I was sure would help my mother. "Could… Could you tell me about my uncle? Jurou?" My mother lifts her head to look at me, tears still fresh on her face. It's clear she can see what I'm trying to do. Her lips form a soft smile.
"Of course, Kazue. Come with me." She got up and helped me to my feet before heading out of the room. I followed close behind her, trying to figure out why we needed to move to have the conversation. We stopped at the door of a room that I rarely saw. My mother's workroom. Where she did all of her hobbies and the one place that no one dared bother her in. Even Nobu seemed to be able to tell that there was something sacred about the place.
I stepped inside just after her and stared at the work inside. Paintings, drawings, jewelry… Things my mother had created and treasured. She walked up to a shelf and pulled out a small book. We both sat on the floor, my mother handed me the book. It was one of her sketch books. The pages were filled with drawings of two boys and a girl. I didn't recognize the girl but the two boys were obviously younger versions of Nobu and Jurou.
"The two boys are your father and uncle…" No surprise, "and their cousin, Aki(2). She had been my best friend" My mother let out a little laugh. "She was more like a little sister though. The amount of trouble that girl would have gotten into without me..."
"Aki's father wouldn't have punished her anyway. Man was always soft(3)." Nana stood in the doorway, a cloth that most likely held ice in her hands.
"You dropped this Michi." She sat next to us and held the cloth to my cheek. "If your father was so worried about the Saitos he wouldn't have hit you. Not on your face and definitely not twice." The cloth was moved away briefly for Nana to take a look at the spot. "It'll be lucky if doesn't bruise badly."
"Would ice help at all?" I asked this knowing that it wouldn't, not in time. But this marriage is important to mom and Nana. Something about being 'better' for me. Whatever it takes to make them happy I will do.
"No, child." The words were more of a sigh. "What happens within the Ueda clan has never been secret, though. It will be fine." Silence followed after for a few moments.
"Lets drop this talk of marriage till tomorrow… I believe I'm supposed to be telling you about your uncle."
My mother told stories about troublesome Uedas until I was finally sent off to bed.
[The next morning]
I was awoken by the soft voice of my mother and light filtering into my room. She smiled down at me as I tried to blink away the remains of sleep. In the distance I could hear Nana bustling about along with several others who often giggled. Most likely cousins of mine who volunteered to help make me presentable to the Saitos.
"Come on, little girl. We have a lot to do before they arrive." I slowly got myself out of bed and followed after my mother.
My cousins greeted me when I passed them in the hall. I felt some guilt at not knowing their names, but I doubted they knew mine. Our family is too large and all under the age of 30 have taken to calling everyone within the same age group 'anta'(4)(5).
We walked into the bathroom where Nana was waiting. Steam rose from the already prepared bath, mixing with the small streams of smoke coming from the lavender scented candles. The room was filled with morning light from the skylights above us(6).
I undress and step into the water. Immediately the two woman get to work washing and scrubbing. A hiss of pain escapes me when pressure is put on my cheek. Soaps of lavender are used on my body while ones of vanilla are used in my hair. The warmth, the smells, and the ritual feeling of it all relax me. Though a small sliver of nervousness coils within my gut.
My cousins come in briefly to place clothes on one of the counters, along with accessories and a pair of black sandals. It all seemed to shine or sparkle.
I was deemed clean enough and my mother helped me out of the bath. A towel was wrapped around me but it didn't stop water from dripping off me and pooling at my feet. Nana lead me towards the cushions in the corner of the room. I kneeled on one as mom sat behind, Nana was looking over my clothes. Another towel was used to dry my hair.
Trying to stay still while a brush dragged through my hair was difficult. Mother always tries to be gentle but my thick hair always seemed to be a tangled mess. The thorough drying did no favors.
"I remember when I was presented to your father. I was so nervous…"
"I thought you would vomit when I saw you enter the compound." Nana interrupted.
"I was very close to doing just that…" Mom gave a soft chuckle. "No one, except for you and my mother, noticed though." The two were quickly getting lost in memories. Reminiscing of days gone by was unfortunately a favorite pastime for them.
"You looked beautiful that day, Michi." She smiled at mom. "And now your daughter will look just as grand." I doubt that. Mother has a soft beauty about her while I have the sharp looks that the men of the Ueda clan usually have(7). Other woman like me have used those looks for intimidation and gaining power within the clan. More often than not they don't manage to marry.
"Come, Kazue. Let's get you dressed." I stood up and walked towards grandma where she held the kimono ready(8). Once I had removed the towel they quickly got to work. It wasn't long before the material was on me and made to look perfect. Adjustments to it had been done last week but Nana still circled me, trying to find anything to fix. When done she gave my mother a nod, who immediately got to working on my hair(8).
Even when all of this was done, the two continued to fuss over me as they had a conversation on something I couldn't follow. There was no chance for nervousness when they acted so normal.
"Everyone is ready and the Saitos should arrive soon." A cousin entered the bathroom, the other two giggling behind her. My mother nodded her understanding and lead Nana and me after the three.
We stepped outside our family home and headed for the main building. The morning was still cool but a look at the clear sky told me it wouldn't be that way for long. People were caring for the garden just in case the Saitos were given a tour.
The inside of the main building was well lit for once, no one stumbling about. It didn't have the air of the haunted building all young Ueda's insisted it was. Mellow fragrances wafted from unknown places while flowers strategically placed added unobtrusive sweetness. The place felt alive for once, a thought I could tell was shared by the whole party.
Nobu, the Head, and several council members already sat in the room. They turned their heads to look at us as we entered. A few scowled when they caught sight of me.
"Couldn't her punishment have been carried out later?" The Head furrowed his eyebrows as he questioned Nobu. "The bruising and swelling is obvious. Did you not think the Saitos would notice this blemish, Nobu?"
Nobu grimaced at the scolding. "I-I wasn't thinking clearly at the time." No one seemed pleased with his answer.
"Kazue! Michi!" With that I sat next to him and mother sat on the other side. My cousins left the room and Nana hid herself in the back. Only the members of the council talked among themselves.
The nervousness I thought couldn't get me crept into my stomach as we sat there. Time seemed to suddenly slow down while we wait. Whispers from the old men seemed blast in ear along with the pounding of my heartbeat. Mother seemed able to sense all of this. She squeezed my hand briefly and it all faded.
The main doors opened, another party entered. A man and woman lead with a boy just behind them and several people trailing after. The group sat in front of ours, their faces showing emotion. Though the boy seemed bored.
"Saito, Shun and Takuma, greetings." The Head addressed the man and boy only, a fact that seemed to irritate the woman and the man addressed. Neither said anything about it though.
"Greetings." No names mentioned, a subtle insult that everyone caught. "Let's get this over with." I became nervous again.
Thanks for reading!
1: Another civilian clan. Have been at odds with Uedas for years. Both hoping an arranged marriage will allow a partnership between them.
2: Aki will make an appearance later in the story. Not for a while though.
3: Saying he was a big ol' softy.
4: Informal way to say you and informal of anata. (Correct me if I'm wrong) Anata is apparently used as a form of 'dear' between married couples. Wanted to use a word meaning sibling but there weren't any that were gender neutral. Kids are basically greeting each other by going 'hey, you!'.
5: With the strict rules and abuse, the youth of the Ueda clan are often rebellious and informal. Its gotten worse with each new generation.
6: It was going to be windows originally but there'd be no way to keep people from looking in. Unless they used some type of seal but that would mean contracting shinobi. Or monks, but I don't think monks would be willing to do it.
7: These images kinda represent what I mean. Not completely there but close enough.
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8: Kinda an idea of what it looks like. I had a lot of fun looking at different kimonos.
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9: Reimagine the red flowers as the purple seen on the kimono.
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