Nami
A pretty, orange haired girl rested on a mat with a pen in hand writing something on her arm. She scribbled some notes, stopped, thought, then wrote more.
"Always keep your chin up; never display anxiety," she muttered," what else?" Suddenly there was a crow of a rooster, and the shocked girl quickly hoisted herself out of bed with a cry of shock.
"Oh no, I am going to be so late," she cried as she hurried towards the kitchen to grab the tea," my mother is going to kill me!" She had to get to her destination fast, but her father needed his tea.
In a small pagoda, a middle-aged man with scars was praying.
"Oh, great gods of sea," he said to a small shrine," please help my daughter please the matchmaker."
"Father!" called the girl, the man looked up.
"Nami!" the man said," why are you still here, you should be with your mother and sister, getting ready."
"I had to bring the tea to you," Nami said with a small smile, pouring it into a cup and handing it to him, along with the pot," you always need it."
"To true my daughter, but you must go," said her father. Nami nodded and ran off towards her horse.
In a nearby town, there was bustling all over the place, people needed to get to work and deliver goods. People were running all over the place. A woman about the same age as Nami's father with red hair that was partially shaved, accept a small amount on the top of her head, and a ponytail and a cigarette. She chewed on it nervously as she watched the people running around.
"Mother, you don't have to worry," said a girl in her twenties who resembled Nami, except with slightly longer, blue hair, and tan skin.
"Nojiko, I always worry about your sister," said the woman. Nojiko sighed, and looked out over to keep her own eye. Suddenly, Nami came riding up on her horse.
"Nami, you're late!" scolded her mother.
"Sorry, I uh... slept in," Nami said weakly, with another weak smile as she climbed down.
"You could disappoint the matchmaker," said her sister.
"Coming from you Nojiko," Nami teased with a mocking grin. Nojiko's eye twitched for second, truthfully, she was no better than Nami for getting a husband. Most people said that she had her father's personality trait of not liking people who would throw their own lives away for something, which the matchmaker kind of did to get her job. Nami's mother dragged her into a room with a bath tub and threw her into the freezing water after removing her clothes. Nojiko laughed at Nami's shivering and smiled cruelly.
"I know what would make this so much better: a song," she smiled evilly. It was not that Nami did not like music (she loved it), but she was very selective when it came to timing, and Nojiko would often try and take advantage of that. Nojiko signaled a band that was stationed there for people to listen to if the bathing person wanted to listen to music, and began singing.
That is what you give them to work with?
Well, sis, I've seen worse
They're going to turn this sow's ear
into a silk purse
One of the maids began singing, taking Nami's sister's place.
We'll have you washed and dried
Primped and polished
till you glow with pride
Trust me recipe for instant bride
You'll bring honor to us all
Nami's mother looked at her notes on arm.
"Nami, what is this?" she questioned.
"Um, well, I have not memorized the necessities, so...," Nami said sounding embarrassed.
"Never mind," her mother said, and then began singing with some other maids as they styled Nami's hair back.
Wait and see
When we're through
Boys will gladly go to war for you
With good fortune
And a great hairdo
You'll bring honor to us all
Nojiko joined in with them. As they began to dress up Nami in extreme clothes.
A girl can bring our family
great honor in one way
By striking a good match
And this could be the day
Men want girls with good taste
Calm
Obediant
Who work fast-paced
With good breeding
And a tiny waist
You'll bring honor to us all
Nojiko gestured to a group of boys playing swords and continued as they lead her out of the small building.
We all must serve our king
Who guards us from the threats
A man by bearing arms
A girl by bearing sons
Nami was lead to a room with make up, where she was powdered till her skin was chalk white, her eyelashes were made more pronounced, and lipstick was applied.
When we're through
You can't fail
Like a lotus blossom
Soft and pale
How could any fellow
Say "No Sale"
You'll bring honor to us all
Nami's mother hugged her gently, not to mess up the clothes.
"You're ready my sweet," she said kindly.
"Almost," said Nojiko," Father told me this." Nojiko clipped a cricket onto Nami's belt and an apple was placed in Nami's mouth.
An apple for serenity
A pendant for balance
Beads of jade for beauty
You must proudly show it
Now add a cricket just for luck
And even you can't blow it
Nami was lead out of the building and into a court behind other brides-to-be (hopefully), and Nami began to pray and sing. I might as well join she thought.
Ancestors
Hear my plea
Help me not to make a
fool of me
And to not uproot
my family tree
Keep my father standing tall
Scarier than the undertaker
We are meeting our matchmaker
Destiny
Guard our girls
And our future
as it fast unfurls
Please look kindly on
these cultured pearls
Each a perfect porcelain doll
Either it was Nami's imagination, or all the other girls began to sing along.
Please bring honor to us
Please bring honor to us
Please bring honor to us
Please bring honor to us
Please bring honor to us all
They finally walked up to the doors, opened their umbrellas, and knelt with them hidden. A burly woman then burst out of the doors, read off her list and called Nami's name.
"I'm here," Nami responded, it was reflex that she was taught by solid accident, she could not help it. Right after finishing, she immediately bent back over.
The woman tsked," Speaking out, not off to the best start." Nami was lead into the building and the matchmaker looked her over.
"Your too thin, it won't be good for giving your husband a son," she criticized. Nami cringed behind her back and at her notes. Keep all of your thoughts to yourself to yourself she thought to herself. The matchmaker pulled her wrist and dragged her towards a table.
"Pour me some tea, because you must impress your husband's family with calmness and finery," the woman said handing Nami the cup and pot. Nami gently poured, making her best efforts to not spill. When she looked at her handiwork, she saw that the cricket had escaped and was lounging, which Nami found kind of weird. Unfortunately, the matchmaker took the tea before Nami could pull the bug out.
"Um, excuse me," she whispered.
"Silence!" the matchmaker ordered, and just before she began to sip, Nami began to reach for the cup.
"What in Cobra's name are you doing?" the woman demanded.
"Can I just borrow that for a second?" Nami asked weakly. She began to pull at, but a sudden jerk by the matchmaker caused Nami to lose her balance and spill the tea and cause the cricket to jump into the woman's clothes.
"Why you....," but the matchmaker could not finish as the cricket began to jump around, causing the woman to thrash around. A slight trip, and the stove spilled the coals and woman landed on them.
She screamed, and acting without thinking, Nami began to fan the scorch marks to cool it. Instead, a fire began to burn. The matchmaker scream again.
Outside, Nami's mother cringed sounding nervous at the noises.
"Well....I guess it is going okay," Nojiko stated also nervous. Suddenly the matchmaker burst out of the doors with her rear on fire. Nami through the hot tea onto her to douse the flames, which it did. Nami nervously walked back to her family.
"YOU ARE A SHAME TO YOUR FAMILY!" the matchmaker exploded," Who may look like a good bride, but you will never bring honor to your family!" And with that, she stormed away.
"Nami," said Nami's mother putting her hands on her daughter's shoulders. Nami, humiliated, ran away alone back to her horse.
"Should I go talk to her?" asked Nojiko sounding worried.
"No, she needs alone time," answered her mother.