Chapter 20: The Wedding of Two Races
Michitose's execution had placed the denizens of the palace on notice: plot against the Lord or his family and this was what would happen to you. The forced viewing had especially placed her two favorite 'rivals' in tight places; they were watched, and they both knew it. Their behavior cleaned up quickly, and Sakura stayed in place with their little group of cronies to keep an eye on them.
Most had been thoroughly shocked that Michitose had tried such a thing as poisoning the hime, and there was a great deal of scandalized gossip about the whole thing. But the one thing that had made the most impact was what had happened to the little serving girl that had shown her loyalty to the family by warning them of the plot, even over her mistress' wishes.
Hiraku had called the girl out in front of them all after Michitose's remains had been disposed of, and awarded the stunned girl her former mistress' estates. Shocked, the girl had started crying and Izayoi had taken her back inside the palace to calm down. The poor girl had, after all, suffered a great deal in the last few days – if not her whole life. Later, in private, she thanked the Lord greatly; now she would never be at anyone elses mercy again. She could retire to her new home and live a peaceful, quiet life.
Kohaku was held off going for Mitsuhi's father until she was ready to leave for her new home. Hiraku had his own monk adviser, Yoshiro, follow as an assistant to get her used to her new duties as the head of household over the small estate that lay near to the family's palace. But once she was gone her father was dragged in and questioned, and though he tried to lie his way out of his cruel and filthy deeds, he couldn't with Touga right there and he was also soon executed quite publicly, as well. He was simply charged with rape and torture without naming a victim however, so as not to shame the small girl he'd harmed any further.
Once the ugliness of those few days was over with, however, the palace began to gear up for the wedding of Izayoi and Touga, and Izayoi finally got an answer to her question of why her rooms had been completely refurbished in her preferred style if she was about to be wed.
Touga was the one to tell her.
"If I am ever forced to leave our home for a day or more, for at least the first year or two until all the most dangerous and least trustworthy youkai have been weeded out of the palace, you will either go with me or come here, especially if the stay is going to be a long one away from the citadel. While you are strong enough to fight off several youkai at once, no doubt, you could be overwhelmed like Midoriko was, and I will not risk that."
Once the reason was stated, Izayoi realized that he was right, and no more was said on the subject – especially as she would not mind visiting her family at all, unlike most hime who never saw their birth families again except during state visits between allies – and sometimes not even then.
That brought something else up.
"When will we be returning to your home, Touga?" Izayoi asked slowly, the consequences of her upcoming marriage suddenly sinking in... her leavetaking of her family. In all the excitement of the last days she hadn't thought of it and now it was hitting her that she was going to be leaving her family... forever.
Sure, she'd just come home from the shrine where she'd been for three years – but she had known that when she left there she would be going back to her family. This time it wasn't the same. She would miss most of her father's last years with infrequent visits here and there. And with her lucky to even get that.
But Touga cheered her with the knowledge that she would be able to see her family very quickly whenever she desired or needed to, as long as nothing serious was taking place and he could spare the time since he could reach there by flight very quickly. There was also the fact that they wouldn't be leaving her family until the end of the summer, no matter the date of their wedding. The earlier they wed, the longer they would have to spend together in relative peace along with her family. And that did help to cheer her up, because her situation was truly unlike any other hime's that had ever existed. She wasn't losing her family, she was gaining a husband, a lover. She was so lucky.
Izayoi was happy to know, however, that unlike most weddings hers would be a great deal simpler because no priestess or miko would lead the wedding - her father would, instead. As Lord he definitely had the authority to declare a couple wed and already had done so for several servant couples in their service. No miko, priest, priestess, or monk would dare join a priestess and a youkai, anyway, so that option was out even had she wished such a wedding. Too may pointed out the fate of Tsukiyomi and Hoshiyomi to show that the two races should never be joined in such a manner.
But Touga would have none of that; marriage was what you made of it and the race mattered not at all. The tragedy of Tsukiyomi and Hoshiyomi, he said, was in the seduction of Hoshiyomi by the evil in his new weapon, the Naginata of Kenkon. It was his will that was weak, and that was what caused their relationship to also become weak and eventually fail.
He was not cut of the same weak cloth – witness that he had carried Sou'unga for centuries, a weapon that was much, much stronger in its evil will than the Naginata of Kenkon had ever been, and he had never weakened to fall under its spell in all the centuries he had carried it. In fact, it bowed to his will, and always would. He would never allow himself to fall under someone elses control. Never. (Except for his hime's, he admitted with an affectionate smile in her direction, greatly enjoying the blush his words coaxed forth as her father watched on with a pleased and indulgent smile.) So that particular argument, when brought up by others, was brushed aside by the strong-willed Touga immediately. He was not weak enough to fall to such a fate, and neither was Izayoi weak enough to fall to Tsukiyomi's. She could perform the same Seal of Doson that Tsukiyomi had several times over in one day and still be able to fight a battle without falling to her weariness like the other woman had.
It was very possible, Touga stated clearly, that Izayoi was stronger than even Midoriko had ever been, and Tsukiyomi, while somewhat above average power for a priestess had been nowhere near as strong as either Midoriko or Izayoi.
Izayoi had simply blushed and looked away when the group of advisers trying once more to talk her father out of this course looked at her with awe. What could she say? She had not been alive when Midoriko was and Touga had. He'd known her, as a matter of fact, and was able to assert to the group with confidence that Izayoi had shown power and control that Midoriko never had.
With all their carefully chosen arguments knocked away, the members of Setsuna's council no longer had anything to say, and it was finally accepted that their hime would be the Lady of a youkai house and co-ruler of a great part of the entire island of Nihon. Touga was upfront about that; youkai did not treat their females like humans did, they ruled at their husband's side and even acted as regent if the heir was not ready to take over as Lord upon the former Lord's death. And if the firstborn child to a Lord and his Lady was a female, then as long as she showed the ability she would be the next ruler of whatever realm was the one in question on her sire's death.
The human men on the council were all shocked when that was spoken of; there was no denying his words since human men always looked down on females as basically useless except for warming their beds and bearing their children. Touga was quite quick to point out that oftimes, females were actually smarter than the males and youkai were not afraid of their females and didn't need to keep them ruthlessly ground under their heels to feel superior as human males did. They rejoiced in their female's intelligence and power, and that was one of the things that youkai had trouble accepting in humans – the way they treated their females. They simply didn't understand it.
Hiraku listened with an enigmatic smile and said nothing, perfectly at ease with the decision he'd made to wed his daughter to Touga. The bottom line was that, ally or no ally, he would not give his precious daughter's hand to anyone who would treat her in the way that humans did. He would rather see her become an old maid in his household than see her spirit broken.
Touga would make sure she wasn't; she would be free to spread her wings and fly and all he would do was follow along and make sure she was always safe. What more could any doting father ask?
And while his council couldn't understand why he was allowing such freedoms for his daughter - allowing her presence during court and expecting her to speak and judge, as well, Hiraku was adamant that she do just those same things. They didn't realize that Hiraku had always been of the mindset that ones wife could be a much greater asset than just in the bedchamber. When his wife was alive, while she refused to actually sit in court with him, he always spoke to her about everything on the agenda for the next day's court and listened to her thoughts on each of the cases. She had actually taught him much about how to judge correctly and fairly, and he would never forget her intelligent mind any more than her beautiful smile and lovely face and form and the pleasure and comfort he had gained from her over the time they'd been together.
He was pleased and proud that Izayoi showed every sign of being as close to a genius as he'd ever seen, and it didn't bother him a bit or make him feel threatened in any way. And so he would give her gladly to Touga and his council and everyone else be damned, because Touga would value her brilliant mind as well as her beautiful face and form, unlike any human man would. It was as simple as that.
Once the council had finally accepted what was to come and left his presence, Hiraku sighed and shook his head, eyeing Touga wryly. "People are sometimes so foolish. But you are right. Men of our race seem to fear women in a way, and that is why they keep their uses bound to nothing but the bedchambers."
Touga chuckled. "I have females in many capacities in my citadel. Some are spies, some run different sections of my army, many are warriors. And the Southern Lord's heir is actually an heiress. She is more than capable of taking on the job, too." His brow furrowed, then. "Speaking of spies, what ever happened to your man Hayate that you had working with Takemaru?"
Hiraku leaned back on his cushion with a sly grin. "Ah, Hayate. I wondered who would ask me first about him. Do you remember what my son told us a few weeks back about Tadafuyu and Tadayoshi?"
Thinking back carefully, Touga nodded after a moment. "Yes, as a matter of fact. That they had gained the Mori clan as allies against Ashikaga."
"Yes. I was quite interested in finding out what had caused them to split with the Taishogun, as they have always been firm allies of his." He paused, steepling his fingers. "Hayate is not just my best spy, but my spymaster. So... I sent him to find out what is going on in that quarter, and if it is something I need to be concerned with or can take advantage of in some way. In the meantime, he has another one of his better spies trailing Takemaru. Shinji is also trained as a warrior, and he will soon make contact with Takemaru, who has never seen him before and so will not suspect him. He will become his companion so that way I will always know what he is up to."
After a moment's consideration, Touga chuckled. "Ah. It seems that we are both thinking along the same lines, then. I, also, have one of my best spies focused on Takemaru... but he is actually looking for the man's past, instead. I wished to know the truth of his past and where he is from, and I finally have some of the answers I have been wanting. My spy contacted me this very morning, and what he had to say was quite, quite interesting."
Hiraku looked intrigued. "Truly? And what did your man find out?"
Laughter answered his inquiry, and Touga, still sputtering, said, "He would be insulted to be called so, and most likely so would men. Myouga is a nomi youkai, and for all his size he is one of the most excellent spies – he can hide on a person's clothing and then take mild control of a person's mind to guide the talk to the topic he is most interested in. It's a peculiar talent of his, you could say."
At that, Hiraku also burst out laughing. "A flea, eh? I can see where a tiny being like that would make a most excellent spy. But what is it that this 'Myouga' has found out?"
"It turns out that Takemaru has great reason for his hatred of youkai," Touga said, sobering. "When he was but a small child, his family, which had a small farm in a fertile valley on the edge of your lands to farm, was attacked by a group of rogue youkai. Apparently they left behind one of the worst scenes of carnage the people of the area had ever seen. Takemaru escaped only because he was in the forest gathering firewood when the attack came, and was able to escape through the woods. But it seems he witnessed it all and then wandered into a relatively nearby village." Touga paused, his face serious, and glanced at Hiraku, who had a questioning look on his face.
"Farmers? Hmm... if his family farmed on Setsuna Lands, then we should have record of it, whether they were family or not. You say it was a small valley at the extreme north end of my lands?" he asked, and Touga nodded.
"Yes. And after the family was killed, no one else has gone near it though it is good land with excellent water and timber. So they would have been the last to have rights to that parcel," he replied.
Hiraku nodded and summoned his assistant and had him go into the room next door to his study, which was where all records were kept, and search out the pertinent data. "It will be interesting to find out what the land grant record says," he mused aloud, and Touga nodded.
"Yes... but at least we know now why he screams every night in his sleep, and why he hates youkai so. According to what Myouga found out, when he reached the nearest village and told his story the headman took several people back there with the young one to lead the way, and what they found was the final straw to the boy's mind. Anyway, the headman took him in and fostered him, and seeing as he showed a marked talent for swordplay had him trained as a Samurai rather than keeping him in the village as another farmer."
Hiraku frowned, a faint something about that ringing a bell, but he couldn't mark it. "Hm. Something about that is bothering me, but I can't figure it out. Anything else your spy found out?"
Touga nodded grimly. "Oh, yes. Apparently a few years later another group of youkai attacked the village, and the only people killed, though many were wounded, were the headman and his wife. After that, the villagers became convinced that Takemaru was cursed and chased him from the village. From then on they were afraid to even speak his name for fear of another attack. Myouga just happened to find an elder who wasn't as convinced he was cursed in the manner the others all did and was willing to gossip, especially as Takemaru was escorted right through the village earlier that day by your soldiers that were showing him off your lands."
"Ah." Just then, his assistant returned with a bow and the requested material, and Touga moved closer, highly curious. The whole story had felt very familiar when Myouga was telling him about it, and he was beginning to suspect something that if true, would show that the gods truly were capricious. Hiraku unrolled the scroll and quickly read through until he came to the pertinent dates. After a moment, he looked up and summoned a servant to find his brother and ask him to join them.
When Kohaku arrived, he frowned questioningly at the air of curiosity and concern. Hiraku motioned for him to take a seat and poured him some sake while refreshing he and Touga's bowls, then said, "We've been going over some interesting information that Touga's spy has found about Takemaru. But I have a question for you. My old mind cannot remember for certain, but was the headman of this village here," he indicated a small dot on the map above his head, "a relative of ours? A cousin several times removed?"
Kohaku looked at the map and then nodded after a moment's thought. "Yes, I remember father speaking of him. Masaharu, if I remember rightly. He died in some youkai attack, he and his wife. Why?"
Hiraku looked at his brother and Touga and said, "Then Takemaru is not truly of Setsuna blood. His true family are not related – they were refugees from, funnily enough, Mori land, trying to get away from the heavy taxes and lax protection that family ruins their lands with. He was merely adopted by Masaharu... and not even officially, because that would have had to be done through either father or myself, to put his name on the family rolls. And he is not, as all adoptees into the family are not on the regular rolls, but special ones that I looked through not but a few days ago to add Mitsuhi as an adopted daughter of the clan in Michitose's place. So if he is not a relative by blood... " he trailed off, and Kohaku finished, "... then he is not a relative at all. His adoption would not count, since it wasn't done officially."
All three men sat back and pondered that information, and the study fell silent for some time.
Takemaru was not truly a son of Setsuna – and what's more, he knew it. His claim otherwise was naught but a falsity.
After a time, Touga spoke up, having something equally as interesting – and strange – to add.
"I am almost positive that the fodder youkai that attacked Takemaru's family were a group of boar youkai that ran through this area about that same time destroying everything in sight. They attacked another group of people and did nearly the same things we have found that happened to his family. The ironic thing in all this is – I went after that group of boars and destroyed them all as they had also attacked people on lands under my protection."
Hiraku blinked. "You mean, Takemaru is determined to kill the one who destroyed those who destroyed his family?"
"Hai. The gods do so love these little ironic twists of fate, do they not?"
The two in the study with him could do nothing but agree.
~oOo~
As the palace geared up for her wedding, Izayoi was nervous, happy, scared, excited, and so on and so forth. Some days she just didn't know how to feel – especially as her time with Touga was almost nil now that preparations were under way. She spent a great deal of time standing for fittings of her wedding attire and her trousseau, as well. She'd never realized how much time went into such before – and she hated it now. The only good thing about it was that her father was providing her with eight miko outfits, though they weren't quite traditional – rather than the normal red hakama, she was to have blue.
There were several reasons for that, according to her betrothed. One, blue was one of his regalia colors. Two, while her outfit would proclaim her as a priestess with reiki, the difference in color would also signal her difference from other priestesses to his people. And three – he admitted that he much preferred her in the blue, as it echoed her eyes, enhancing them and making them seem even brighter than they already were. Plus, three were of a lighter silk, perfect for hot summer days and another three were heavier cotton, which was very expensive, but much warmer, as well, for winter wear. Finally, two were to be of a heavier, more expensive silk, with silver and gold embellishments, for formal court appearances. This was what she would wear on first meeting his people.
Since she was already different from any other priestess living because of the color of her reiki and her much different abilities with it, she kind of found it fitting that she be slightly different in her attire than other priestesses and miko. And it made her feel good to be wearing something that openly proclaimed her affiliation with Touga. She was proud to be his wife, and wouldn't mind it being announced to the entire island of Nihon that she was, everyone elses opinions be damned.
Takemaru be damned.
Oh, she'd been told exactly what had happened in his childhood that made him hate youkai, and while she was horrified and felt badly for him, it still didn't excuse his behavior to her. Just because youkai had attacked his family and killed them didn't mean all youkai were evil. It could have been almost as bad a scene if bandits had attacked instead, except that they wouldn't have eaten the remains, nor would they have killed his mother – they would have kept her to sell, after raping her themselves. But his sister and father would have been killed just the same.
But she refrained from saying anything, as there really wasn't anything to say – Takemaru was too far gone in his hatred to ever listen to anything else, and so there was no point in trying. Especially as he was gone and out of reach, anyway.
She was actually glad of that; though in a way his absence was not the most preferred outcome, her father letting her know that he would have rather allowed him to stay on as Captain under the well-known premise, keep your friends close, and your enemies even closer. But with his challenge to Lord Hiraku during the announcement of her betrothal with his inflammatory words, it would have left a bad impression of his strength on those of his council if he'd allowed the man to stay after openly challenging him as he'd attempted to and could have led to problems. And so he was left with no choice but to throw Takemaru out.
Another thing that pleased her was finding out that he wasn't part of their clan. She was more than happy to find out that they shared no blood, and that he wasn't even adopted. It brought something to mind, and she went to her father with the idea.
"You might want to make a big deal out of the fact that he's not related and has no Setsuna blood," she mentioned one day. "Announce it all over the place. That way, he cannot claim that he's a member of the clan coming to overthrow his insane relative and bring sanity back to its leadership."
Hiraku frowned. "But... what is the point of announcing it everywhere, Izayoi? What would that do for us?"
She smiled back chidingly. "Come, father, you cannot tell me you really don't know what I am aiming for with that. It will make it harder to gain allies for any attempted coup. Where some might back a son of Setsuna in taking over from someone who was advocating 'damaging and insane actions', they would be far less likely to back someone with no Setsuna blood at all."
Laughter greeted her teasing reprimand, and with a wink, her father nodded at her. "Yes, my dear, I grasped what you were saying. I'm not senile yet."
After a moment, her smile faded as something else occurred to her. "You know," she said slowly, "I hadn't thought of this before, but I'm glad the wedding is to be so soon. This way, anyone who would wish to disrupt it will not have the chance since it will be done before anyone outside of Setsuna finds out." Her eyes flashed up to meet his. "And anyone who would strike at you to stop the wedding also will be left out of the chance because of the rapidity that it will be done with. Assassination is, after all, a viable way to clear the way for the heir to be bargained with once the Lord is dead."
Hiraku was a little surprised to hear her speak of the same thing he'd thought of already; he shouldn't have been, however. She was endlessly intelligent, and had a head for politics and political maneuvering like no other. He shared a glance with Touga. His daughter was one who great forces wrapped around – she was a world shaper, a world mover, and that it was his beautiful little hime that the kami had placed such a fate upon was something that made him proud. It was apparent that Touga felt the same way – that his little wife-to-be was so important and yet so grounded. She didn't let her power, beauty, or even her high intelligence go to her head. And that was just as important in one that would shape the world around them as power and intelligence, for if she were arrogant then she would shape the world to her desires – but since she was not she would shape the world in whatever way was best for all.
In both male's glances was pride, but also worry, because to control such forces as the kami were piling on her was a difficult and wearying task. They could only pray that she would have the strength to overcome all that would soon be asked of her.
But whatever was to come Touga swore that he would always be there to steady her, to give her strength if it were needed, and to love her, which was, after all, the most important thing of all.
And the day of the wedding drew closer as the net of fate grew just a little bit tighter. Day by day, slowly, fate marched inexorably on towards the final day of reckoning. There was still some little time left... but it slowly slid through Izayoi's fingers like fine sand, leaving her worried that she would fail everyone who was counting on her – that there wouldn't be enough time to figure out what she needed to wish.
Yet... time meant nothing in this particular circumstance. For after all, a great deal of time was not needed to make a wish, which really required just a few small words and bare seconds.
That was what Izayoi needed to realize...
Just a few words, spoken at the perfect moment, would, in the end, be what saved everything she loved most.
~oOo~
Gouro glanced around the front portico of the palace with mild interest and then stepped up to the entrance, rapping softly on the frame of the huge sliding shoji doors. Within moments, a servant dressed in the colors of the house answered the soft knock and eyed him narrowly, obviously wondering what a samurai warrior needed from inside the palace.
But he wore Setsuna colors and the servant was bound to ask him what he needed. It was the rules, after all. Any servant of the house, either inside or out, was to be given audience if it was asked.
"What is your need?" the servant asked politely.
Always surprised by the differences between Setsuna and other places he'd hired his sword to, Gouro bowed lightly. "I need a message passed to Kenji-sama. Please, tell him that Gouro has news for him and would speak with him as soon as possible."
The servant nodded and slid the great door open further, beckoning him within. Once he had passed the threshold he was escorted to a small ante-chamber and told to have a seat. After he was seated on a comfortable cushion that servant disappeared, and another, a slightly taller than average pretty young woman entered, bowing politely as well.
"Is there anything you would like, good sir? Perhaps some cool water?" she suggested, her voice soft and a smile on her pretty face. Gouro was bowled over right then and there.
He cleared his throat awkwardly and said, "Oh, uh, hai. That would be pleasant. The army yards are dry and dusty. If it is not too forward, lady, may I ask your name?"
Her smile widened and her black eyes twinkled as she looked over the handsome young soldier. "Oh... I'm Kikyou. And you are?"
"Gouro, Kikyou-san. It is a pleasure to meet you," he added, and gave her a smile of his own.
"Then, Gouro-san, allow me to get you the desired water. I will return momentarily."
Gouro nodded his agreement, blinking when she disappeared from the room in confusion. He'd never been one to fall for every pretty girl that batted her lashes, but this one was different. She was comely, yes – but she didn't seem to have her nose in the air because of it. She was genuine, and he liked that. Immensely. Perhaps he should ask to visit her a few times, to see whether she was what he wanted, and if so then maybe he would court her – as long as she wasn't married already. But he wasn't too concerned about that – she didn't have the air of a married woman.
She returned swiftly, just as she'd said she would, and set a cup down before him that he found was quite cold to the touch. His eyes widened, and suddenly he was so thirsty he couldn't stand it. He lifted it with a bow in her direction and drained it. It felt excruciatingly good going down his rather parched throat, and he grinned once done.
"Oh, now that hit the spot! Nice and cold," he said, smiling at her again. "Domo arigatou gozaimasu,* Kikyou-san – it was much appreciated. But how do you get it so cold?"
"This palace, the Setsuna summer palace, was built over an ice cave. Water and other things are stored down there for a nice chill on hot summer days, and it is used to store food so that it lasts longer. If you would like more, I can retrieve some," she grinned. "It looks like you are quite thirsty."
"Oh, hai, very much so." He handed her back the cup, and she disappeared with a wink.
Ice caves, huh? It makes sense that they would build their summer palace in such a place. What a treat, to have water so cold to drink in this heat.
Just as she stepped out of the room, Kenji stepped in and slid the small door shut. He took a seat across from the soldier and grinned. "So... what brings army swill up to the palace?" he asked, his eyes twinkling, and Gouro waved a hand at him.
"Funny, Kenji. Although that new cook down in the yards seems to think that swill you're speaking of is food. I think the General is going to take a sample of it to the Lord and let him see and smell it. I don't think he'll even have to complain – the stench should speak for itself."
Kenji chuckled. "Well, since the formalities have been exchanged," he said dryly, "what's on your mind?"
Just about to speak, Gouro paused as the door slid open again and the pretty serving girl entered. Catching sight of Kenji, she bowed low and asked if he would also like something to drink. When he indicated that he was fine, she settled Gouro's cup before him with a smile and another wink, and then slipped out of the room. As soon as she was gone, he spoke.
"A couple days ago, I heard a rumor that one of the soldiers went to Takemaru after that incident with those soldiers getting caught for lookin' the other way and allowing those pirates to operate from Setsuna land. According to the rumor, he offered to swear to Takemaru, along with a bunch of others that were supposedly discontented with what went down, and the men that got whipped, too, if he decided to lead a coup against Hiraku-sama. Well, from what was being said, Takemaru just stared at this soldier like he were dirt and then turned him down, saying that when he went against the lord, he would do it with trustworthy people behind him, not traitors."
He took another sip of water with a happy sigh as Kenji watched him with narrowed eyes, then continued.
"So, anyways, it's gossip. I don't usually pay no attention to it, 'cause half the time it ain't even true. But t' other night I was put on guard duty over at the stockade, and the soldier I was paired with started talkin' 'bout the same thing. When I asked him how he knew it were true to go passing around, he told me that it were him that went to Takemaru. I was pretty startled, but he told me that it were all true, that Takemaru is plannin' to overthrow Hiraku-sama and even though we all know he's been tossed from Setsuna lands, that don't mean he ain't still a danger. Hell, he's probably madder now, what with the youkai Lord getting what we all figured out that he wanted and him bein' kicked out of here, on top of it all. Far as I'm concerned, that news means he's probably gonna come back sooner or later with a bunch of swords behind him lookin' to get rich. So I figured I'd better come on up here to the big house and let you know. It probably ain't nothin' you all hadn't thought of by now, but still, thought it was my duty, you know?"
Kenji sat back and considered what his friend had said. It wasn't surprising, but for Takemaru to actually even hint aloud that he was aiming to take down the Lord of the house was bold. It probably meant that he planned to do just that at some point or another, and even more so now with having been cast out. He would be looking for houseless warriors that he could buy with promises of wealth and riches once Hiraku was overthrown.
He sighed. "I like not what you've said, but I'm grateful for you bringing this to me." He eyed Gouro curiously. "Were you not offended with what Hiraku-sama did to those assisting the mako?"
A glint of anger showed in the young man's eyes. "No. And neither weren't no other soldiers, no matter what that one that went to Takemaru said. What those men did was they sold their honor for money. If they had wished to work with those pirates then at the least they should have resigned from the Lord's army. It's his lands, and he can do what he wants in them, and his law is that he doesn't like bandits or mako operating in them. Some Lords allow it and take a portion of the profits, but Hiraku-sama has more honor than to steal from his own people. They pay their taxes, which I've heard are pretty low already, and he protects them as he's supposed to. That's the kind of man I want to follow."
Kenji nodded, and then stood and clasped arms with Gouro, who also stood. "Well, my honorable friend, I'll be taking your words to Hiraku-sama, and don't be surprised if this doesn't earn you some reward."
The tall samurai shook his head. "That ain't why I did it."
"Doesn't matter. Hiraku-sama rewards those who do right by this house – or did you miss what happened to the little servant girl that gave up her mistress' plan to kill Izayoi-sama?"
"No... I didn't miss that. But I ain't some soft indoor type servant that the Lord sees frequently around his palace. I'm an outside type of guy that the Lord probably won't ever actually see," the young man responded. "Like I said, that ain't why I did it. The Lord is an honorable sort who does what a Lord is supposed to do – and that very few actually do anymore. I'd give him my sword even if he didn't have any money to pay me – we'd all be hungry together, in that case."
Kenji chuckled and headed for the door, sliding it open. "Don't worry about that, my friend. The Lord of Setsuna is probably wealthier than any other ningen Lord in Nihon. I thought my Lord Touga was the richest of all by far, but now I am not so sure."
Gouro chuckled and then finished his cup of water in one long gulp as Kenji disappeared, setting it down for the servant girl to pick up later. Stepping out the door, he grinned as he caught sight of the pretty girl, and she blushed, but grinned back. "I left the cup within, Kikyou-san." He paused for a moment, his smile slowly fading, and with a slight blush, said, "Can I visit you sometime, when you have a little free time?"
His heart beat a little faster as a pleased expression settled on her face and she nodded. "I'd like that," she said, a light blush still on her cheeks. "I have a free day the day after tomorrow, if that is okay for you."
He thought it over for a moment. "Hai... I can get away in the afternoon. How should I find you?"
"Go to the back kitchen entrance and ask for me. Someone will come and find me."
Grin restored, he bowed to her and said, "Then I will see you in two days in the afternoon, Kikyou-san. I look forward to it."
She blushed again and bowed, then escorted him to the doors and let him out. With a small wave, she watched him disappear into the bailey, and then giggled behind her hand happily. She hadn't seen such a handsome man anywhere within the ranks of the palace servants, but that young samurai was most handsome and seemed very nice. Maybe her luck was turning... or maybe there was just romance in the air, what with the hime's betrothal and marriage – which all knew by now was not strictly based on politics.
Gouro was certain his luck was turning as he made his way through the baileys to the army barracks. Heck with some kind of reward for doing what he felt was merely his duty. That pretty girl was plenty reward enough. He'd get married and have a little family of his own.
Yes... that was more than enough of a reward. He'd always wanted a family of his own.
Maybe with Kikyou-san, he'd get his wish. He couldn't keep the excitement down, and he found himself being ragged and teased almost as soon as he stepped foot in the barracks with that big silly grin on his face.
But if it worked out... it would totally be worth it.
~oOo~
Kenji went straight to both Lords with his information. No, it wasn't something that was life or death, but it was still important in that it showed exactly what was in Takemaru's mind and that he was so bold as to even mention it to Setsuna soldiers, even those who were supposedly disaffected.
He was the type who was dangerous - because he was intelligent though mad and getting worse, and he was a supremely confident man that would attract followers.
He rapped lightly on the open shoji into a sitting room where the males were sitting and enjoying light conversation and sweets. One thing about his Lord – Touga had a very large sweet tooth, or should he say fang?
"Ah, Kenji, come, come!" Touga invited jovially as the conversation paused for a moment. "What have you been up to?"
He bowed to the assembled group, then straightened and took a seat as he was invited to do. "My Lords. I was just summoned to the front of the palace by a friend of mine that is in the regular army, by name Gouro. He is a good warrior, very honorable, and firmly loyal to you, Hiraku-sama. At any rate, he told me a tale of attempted treason by a soldier that was oddly enraged over the whole mako episode and the soldiers that were disciplined over the issue. This particular soldier took himself to Takemaru and offered his sword, along with the swords of the men you had whipped, if he chose to attempt a coup against you." He watched the easy-going expressions in the room begin to become serious. "It seems that Takemaru threw him out after refusing his offer – but not because he isn't planning to overthrow you, for he hinted plainly to the man that he was planning such – rather, because he didn't want to have known traitors at his back. Gouro felt we should know just how confident Takemaru is to be openly admitting such a thing. And even though he's been cast from Setsuna lands, that doesn't mean he will no longer attempt such." Falling silent, he waited for one of the others to speak.
After a moment, Hiraku did. "Hmm. So he hints of his plans to my soldiers." He narrowed his eyes. "I am not surprised. Still, at this particular moment, I am more interested in the man who offered to turn coat. You say it was also those who were disciplined?"
Kenji nodded. "Hai. But according to Gouro, those were just words from the one soldier to Takemaru – no one else agreed to any such thing. He probably made a blanket offer, thinking they would also swear to such in anger over being disciplined. So those men may not even know what was said."
"Well, at the least, then, I still have one man that would likely turn if given the chance. Why don't we do just that?" he said, and Touga and the others all looked interested.
"What do you mean?" Touga asked.
"Let him hang himself."
Instantly knowing what he was meaning, the group thought about that, but after a moment or two, Kohaku spoke up. "As amusing as that would be, brother, do you not think there is enough going on right now? Do you not have your daughter being wedded in two more days? We can have the man identified and then put in the stockade for now until we've gotten the wedding over and settled your daughter's life. Then you can deal with him and decide his fate."
Hiraku sighed and nodded. "Hai, hai, you are right. Sometimes I have too much fun with making simple matters much more... detailed and intriguing. Ah, well, maybe another time," he said regretfully as the rest of the males chuckled at his chagrined sigh. "My brother being the voice of reason is actually disturbing in a way – when younger I was always the voice of reason over my trickster brother, and that we have now seemingly traded places is somehow... wrong."
After a few moments the laughter quieted down, and with more sake poured out around them, the easy atmosphere returned, though Hiraku remarked in closing, "Kenji... do remind me after the wedding to think of a suitable reward for this Gouro. He is a good warrior, you say, and loyal?" At the other male's assent, he finished with, "Perhaps he would do well in the place of the Lieutenant that was executed over that situation?"
Kenji nodded. "I believe so, my Lord," he replied, and then the conversation went back to other things, and Kenji sipped his sake and enjoyed the peace and camaraderie. Gouro will be flabbergasted to receive such a promotion. And then his thoughts turned to the coming wedding, and the people that it would be binding together – not just Touga-sama and Izayoi-sama, but two families, two different races.
If only others could see the potential between races as My Lord Touga and Lord Hiraku. There is so much we could learn from each other.
He sighed. Maybe... I am witnessing a small precursor of the future right here in this room. And if so, how much happier a land we will have.
In his mind was the vision of two hands together in love and acceptance.
Touga and Izayoi...
One of one race and one of the other, brought together in love – proof that the two could live in peace, and even mingle...
With hatred, rage, and murder nowhere to be seen.
Take that, Takemaru!
~oOo~
Two days passed very swiftly for the nervous bride, and when Izayoi woke on the morning she was to be wed it was nowhere near dawn. In her nervousness she had awoken earlier than expected, but she simply took the chance to go to the baths and, making sure they were indeed empty, she climbed in to the still very hot water with a sigh.
It was so hot that she was barely able to stand it and figured that it had just been filled so that by the time the family and/or guests came to bathe, the water would be nice and warm, but not too hot. But Izayoi had a habit of nearly cooking herself anyway, and she couldn't help but giggle as a memory of her life as Kagome passed through her mind. She smiled, a little sadly.
"Inuyasha always did hate hot water. I'll never forget when he asked me how I hadn't managed to cook myself always getting in water so hot," she whispered to herself. I thought it was so funny that his skin was so sensitive to hot water and he acted such a baby over it, and yet he could stick his hand into the fire and not even flinch. Is that not much hotter?
That thought brought on a slightly melancholy mood: today was a big day – the biggest day she'd ever had in either remembered life, or even her unremembered one, she was sure, because she'd never been married before. She hadn't lived long enough as Kagome, and as Kikyou, her life was bound to duty and her one attempt to escape that duty had backfired, leaving her dead and her prospective husband pinned to a tree. This time, though, things were different, and she was finally going to get to be what Kikyou had always wanted to be. It wasn't that she had really wanted to be an ordinary woman – it was just that she had believed that being a woman of power precluded being a married woman. What she had really wanted was love, and to be wed to one she felt so for.
Kagome... Kagome had wanted the same. What woman, deep down, didn't? But Kagome's life had been cut short by her failure to destroy the jewel, and it had finally come down to this life as Izayoi. And while she really didn't feel anything from her life as Kikyou except for a formless regret, from Kagome's life she felt a great deal – because she was still Kagome in so many ways.
Yes, she spoke more formally than Kagome did, and even differently because the language had changed so much. She'd have been a Professor of Japanese were she still living in that far distant era she'd been born in with her command of the language spoken in what she recognized from her history studies as the Muromachi period. And she behaved a little differently, because after all, when the Shikon no Tama had placed her soul within the person known as Izayoi of Setsuna, she'd been a small child barely able to walk and she had grown up in a different time and place with a different family.
Something occurred to her then, and she chuckled sadly as she shifted in the water, her pale skin red as a lobster from the heat of the water that had cooled only a little. But her sore muscles from strain and tension the last few days, and especially yesterday, were being soothed greatly by her bath, and she knew that her skin would fade back to its normal pale color soon after she left the water.
In all three lives I have had an incomplete family... as Kikyou, I remember Kaede mentioning that their parents had died, leaving Kikyou as Kaede's guardian, though when Kikyou passed, an uncle took her in as she trained to be the next miko. And as Kagome, my father was gone for most of my life. And now... finally, as Izayoi, my mother is dead. Although, for a while when I first remembered who I really am, I felt so guilty – like an imposter hiding in Setsuna clothes.
And then she smiled reluctantly. When this had occurred to her, she had felt horribly and didn't know what to say to her erstwhile father. She had fumbled her way through an apology and explanation, feeling as though she'd killed his real daughter thanks to the jewel, and he had just laughed and cut her off. As far as he was concerned, she was and would always be his daughter. She had been changed when she was very little and had yet developed almost no relationship with the man who was her father. He had watched her grow up, seen her spirit shine, and she was who he loved.
It was strange, he'd said, when they had first spoken of it. But he really remembered nothing about the child's personality that had existed before she, Kagome, had been placed inside her body, instead. All they could think was that the jewel had made them all forget that there had ever been any difference, and he saw no point in worrying about it. A soul was a soul, she was who he knew and that was all there was to it.
She had been so relieved that he felt that way, she couldn't deny, and she felt so much better. It had been a frightening thing to wonder what her place here really was. Am I really who I think I am, who I'm supposed to be? Those doubts had been laid to rest – it was her, as she was, that her father and brother loved. And as for Touga, there was no question. He didn't know Izayoi in any other way, and it was who she was in the here and now that he loved so much.
She shifted again in the tub and sighed, beginning to bathe herself with the accoutrements that had been laid out the night before by Mei. Special scentless oils and soaps, a request from Touga. Scented oils and soaps tended to bother his sensitive nose, and though he had liked the special soap that she normally used, the sakura-scented one, on this, their wedding day, he had asked that no scent be upon her but her own natural one. After, she could return to using her normal soap and she'd looked pleadingly at her father at that. He had agreed, laughingly, to have soap ready whenever she needed it. She had only smiled and said that with Touga's nose, she was lucky that her favorite soap in all the world did not bother him, and she wasn't about to lose her favorite luxury. That had caused Touga to rib her – her favorite luxury was soap? Most women wanted expensive jewelry - even youkai females loved jewelry.
She wasn't one for a lot of jewelry. She had a few, favorite hair ornaments she wore at certain times and a few other pieces, but that was it. And they all knew how she felt about the normal human female love of finery. She preferred her miko robes – although... she found that she didn't mind the type of clothing popular with most youkai females – it was almost exactly like what modern (as in Kagome's birth era) kimono looked like. She wouldn't mind wearing those, and quite a few robes in that style were being made for her for when she removed to her new home.
With a sigh she finally finished her bath just before she began to prune and stepped from the tub carefully, especially as her skin was nice and oily from the water. A fall on this day would not be very auspicious. She wanted everything to be just right, so that the naysayers would have nothing to point out and predict bad luck over. While she didn't believe in all of that, thanks to her knowledge from her life as Kagome, she did know that sometimes you could convince yourself right into bad luck.
She pulled her drying cloth in front of her as the door slid open, then continued drying herself when she realized that it was Mei coming in to assist her. She couldn't help the chuckle at her maid's chagrin when she found her mistress all bathed and ready to go.
Izayoi cut off her scolding with amusement. "Stop, Mei. I couldn't sleep anymore and woke hours before anyone else. I decided to soak in the heated water to help the soreness in my muscles from stress and it has helped me greatly, indeed. So don't fuss. You still have plenty of opportunities this morning to torture me to your heart's content – after all, there is still the hair and the little makeup I will actually wear today, and then dressing..." Izayoi sighed, wrinkling her nose. It was going to be a long day.
The accompanying thought of the even longer night ahead of her made her shiver and ache and made her toes curl, too... but she would be glad to see Touga later. She had been kept to her rooms and not allowed to see him the entire day before the wedding, and she hadn't liked it at all. Besides being kept captive in her rooms with a few carefully watched jaunts in the gardens she was simply missing the contact with him. She hadn't realized just how entwined with him she'd really become, but even though their courting had been short... she stopped, and then she corrected herself. It hadn't been short. He had really been wooing her since the moment he'd arrived. Soft gestures towards her, his constant presence – he had been seeking me out! - even the time during the conflict with the bandits and the aftermath. He had been courting her in secret all that time – it was just the time since he'd told her why he was here and asked to make it official that had been relatively short. But in truth, he had already fascinated me and I was so close to loving him already that by the time he asked me, there was no way I could have turned him down.
She had to smile at that realization. Of course, he'd come here with one reason – her – and so he had really had most of his formidable attention on her from day one, even while becoming friends with her father and brother. And that was why it was a physical ache to be separated from him now. She searched her memories of Kagome's feelings for Inuyasha – and though they had been strong and full of anguish, most of that had been the circumstances of her love – the tragic triangle that she was a part of. She had loved Inuyasha – but in the end, it was nothing like this love, though of course she'd known that since the moment she'd realized that the Shikon no Tama's curse was referring to her and Touga. And in order to beat its curse and make this joining a long-lived blessing, she had to figure out the key to destroying it.
Every single part of her clenched in agony at the thought of losing Touga, and something inside her firmed in determination – she would figure that bloody jewel out. She would. Because there was no other acceptable fate.
All these thoughts flew through her mind as the hours wore on and she was prepared for her wedding. She was actually happy to be dressed this time since she wasn't wearing the ridiculous layers. Instead, she was dressed as was popular with most youkai females. She'd almost broken down laughing when Touga had described it – most modern era kimono were exactly the same. He'd not been too surprised, though he did say that there were some that preferred the layered look. But he himself would be happier to see her in the much more elegant, in his eyes anyway, two layer style.
She really, really loved that male. She giggled a little to herself as she thought of what the people she'd known in the modern world would make of her soon to be husband. She would have had to beat the women off him with a stick. And the men... would probably be terribly intimidated – or try outrageous things to outdo him, which of course, would never work. She thought of Houjo, and laughed for many reasons – including that the simple little girl he'd known would have a lifetime spanning hundreds of years in the past and know of his ancestors. Even personally know some of them – Airi was a Houjo, a great however many times aunt to her old schoolfriend. He would have been stunned stupid to hear of her life, but so would they all have been.
Sighing, she looked to the position of the sun... soon, now – she was tired of all this introspection. She'd already been through a couple of hundred years worth of them just this morning, and would rather get on with it.
That was not to say that she wasn't nervous. The chattering of her ladies, along with the assistants that Mei had commandeered for the morning was enough to make anyone nervous on any normal day – let alone the day one was to wed someone like Touga. Her belly was churning and her body was humming – and she wouldn't lie to herself and deny that the thoughts of what were to happen tonight were not exciting her at the same time. For the first time in three lives, she was going to lose her virginity. That was a very big deal. She had been a serial virgin, you could say, though not because she'd chosen such a thing. No, that fate had been chosen for her, and finally, she was going to break that trend in herlives. It was literally her last day of virginity, and even though she had all the knowledge, thanks to Kagome, of what was going to happen tonight she was actually more nervous for it.
More nervous... but less afraid, because while most young women heard enough talk in this time to know that it would hurt for them, they didn't realize until afterward that it was only the once – unless their husband was a sadist, of course. She did know, and so wasn't really afraid. And that caused talk. She came out of her musings as the time for the wedding to take place arrived to hear her ladies whispering that she wasn't acting like a normal bride, and she almost doubled over when she realized that they were speculating that all the affection between she and Touga that had been witnessed in the palace was a smokescreen and that she really was merely a political consideration by a male that perhaps preferred other males. They figured that was why she showed no fear – because she was not going to be deflowered that night. It also made sense of him turning Michitose's offer down – if he enjoyed males, they seemed to think it would answer to all of their idiotic ideas.
"Such gossip is totally ridiculous," she snapped suddenly, startling the ladies in the room into stunned silence. "I am not afraid simply because I already know what is to happen tonight between he and I. I love him, and I know he will not hurt me."
That answer, of course, forced shocked gasps from the ladies and even Mei, with the wavering question of how she knew of such things being delivered by the bravest of the ladies. Izayoi allowed herself to do something Kagome had done frequently – she rolled her eyes. "Because of all of you and the insane amount of gossip in this place," she said curtly. "I am not deaf, you know, and none of you are particularly discreet. Now get out of here before I have the lot of you thrown out. To speak of Touga in such a way – it is not to be borne," she hissed as the now thoroughly chastened 'ladies' filed out of the room, the last one barely escaping the door before her brother arrived at it to escort her to the audience hall, a huge smile on his face, though it softened when he saw her.
Her insides clenching with excitement now, she managed a smile for him, and he squeezed her hand. "So... are you ready, my love? It's a big thing, to be married. And especially to one like Touga, who is so much larger than life," he said, offering her a bit of comfort.
She smiled a little more, definitely nervous, but in a good way. "I know." She laughed softly. "When he told me why he was really here, the day that Takeda was here and I was so frightened that he was my fate, I could hardly believe that someone as simple as me, a human hime, was to be his bride. I could barely take it in."
Ichirou frowned at her as he reached up and let his fingers tug at her short, face-framing locks. "You always think so little of yourself, little bit," he scolded lightly. "You are a perfect match for Touga. But why were you 'afraid' that you were to be wed to Takeda? He is not unkind."
"I know," she smiled, "but I was already well onto the path of love for Touga, though I fought it with all my might, believing that I was destined to heartache for feeling so. But when he told me... though I couldn't believe it at first, it was only because I couldn't believe that everything I could ever want was being offered to me with a question! As if I would turn him away!"
Tugging those locks once more, he turned and began walking, and Izayoi fell into step just behind, her smile widening as her brother teased her for the last time as simple siblings. After this, destiny would step in and begin separating them as fate took over and she followed her new husband into it, leaving them, her father and brother, behind. "Of course not – and tonight you will be an old married lady rather than a young, single beauty!" He flinched in mock fear as she slapped against his shoulder in playful reprimand. "But, dear sister – didn't you know that marriage is what gives a woman gray hair and wrinkles?"
"No," she giggled, "I thought it was obnoxious brothers!" He slowed as they neared the audience hall, where Touga and her father and the members of the court and family in residence awaited, and smiled down at her with affection and a bit of sadness. This was it. After this she would be married and come the end of summer, which was in a few more weeks, she would be gone from their daily lives. They would not often see her after this and he was more saddened than he'd realized he'd be. 'Til now, he hadn't really thought of what it meant, for her to wed Touga.
He looked down at her with that sadness peeking out, and Izayoi knew exactly what it meant, because she'd thought of it a lot through her life – most hime did, since it was always their fate to marry and leave home. She reached out and smoothed the light frown from between his brows, ignoring their escort, who all looked away and respected this quiet moment between loving siblings.
"Don't be sad, Ichirou. We all knew this day would come. And I am not leaving right away. Oh... and Touga already promised me that whenever I desired to return home, unless there was something serious occurring, I only had to tell him and he would bring me." She smiled and stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek. "And remember, anytime he must leave home for more than a day, he will bring me to visit and stay here until he has concluded his business. So we will see each other a great deal more than most families see their married daughters."
Ichirou couldn't deny her words were true, and that eased him somewhat; with a smile, and a last, sad, sigh for the changes that were to happen within moments, he nodded. "Hai, you are right, as usual, little bit. Come... we should go, before Touga begins to fret and comes looking for you. He did not like not being allowed to see you yesterday," he teased one last time before smoothing his expression out into the appropriate seriousness and motioning for one of their escorts to open the shoji for them to enter the room. "Just remember, little bit, I love you," he whispered, and that was how Touga's first look at his bride on the day of their wedding found Izayoi with a bright smile and damp, shimmering eyes.
He was captivated with just her smile, and then he took in all of her and he actually hurt, his desire for her almost escaping his control. Just a few more hours, and she will finally be mine in all ways and I will no longer have to endure the pain of unfulfilled desire. I hope she slept well last night, for I fear I will be unable to let her get any tonight. I have waited too long.
The last day had been especially difficult, not being allowed to see her, and now, seeing her this way? He hadn't seen her dressed up so since her first day here, and this was entirely different.
Her hair had been brushed until it gleamed, and then piled into an intricate style that he had never seen before, accented by the jeweled sticks that he'd presented her with two days before. Her beautiful face had been just lightly accentuated with make-up, a little kohl lining eyes already framed by thick, inky, long lashes that brought out the blue of her eyes in ways that made him shiver inside. A tiny bit of color applied to high cheekbones and a pretty rose gloss made her lips beckon to him.
Her gorgeous, perfectly curved body was shown off stunningly by what would be considered the height of youkai fashion. Her under-robe was a simple gleaming white, and over that, a robe in a shade of blue that perfectly matched the blue of her eyes. From the right shoulder down around the gown in a swirl of pink and white was a cascade of sakura blossoms with pretty green leaves trailing with them. The colors perfectly complimented each other in natural spring shades, showing Izayoi's expert eye for color. The obi, which was very wide and a silver to echo Touga's long hair, showed off her neat waist and accented her high bosom, something that surprised the people there – it was very different from the human style of the times, which pretty much consisted of so many layers that, in Touga's opinion, anyway, they made the females look overweight and frumpy and hid every aspect of the normally attractive female form.
But the entire effect was so beautiful that the murmurs sweeping the room were mostly approving, only a few older females being shocked, and Touga smiled inwardly thinking that perhaps this had just inspired a change in styles – at least here in Setsuna. Perhaps the youkai style of feminine clothing would catch on?
Izayoi, finally catching sight of Touga as he strode towards her to take over as her escort to her father, where she knelt before him as Touga did the same, caught her breath at just how gorgeous and pristine he was from head to toe. Silver hair was pulled into his usual topknot, his boots spotless and his white hakama and haori gleaming in the early morning light. For this day he wore no swords nor armor as they were considered bad luck at weddings. She watched him breathlessly for a moment before facing her father as they both settled and the room quieted as everyone craned their necks to see the two, Hiraku smiling in welcome to them both.
It was quiet for a moment, and then he said, "We have come together this day to join not two people, not even just two houses, but for the first time ever, to join two races. It is a joining that is long overdue, and I am proud that it is my daughter who will lead the way, lighting the way ahead for us all to a better world." He paused, then continued, "Touga, as my ally, and dare I say, my friend, you asked to wed my daughter. I agreed. Is it still your wish to take her as your only wife, and forever cement your ties as family to the House of Setsuna?"
There were some surprised murmurs from the gathered court – most men of stature and wealth were not monogamous, especially higher ranked Lords. In that Hiraku himself had been an oddity, despite his council trying to get him to take a second wife for years, and then just a wife once his first had died. He had been adamant that he would not and was just as adamant that he wanted Izayoi to also be the only wife a man had. He was all too aware of the hurt, anger and jealousy that were stirred the more wives a man took. He had asked his own wife once when the council had been pestering him more than usual what she thought of the idea, and he would never forget the hurt look she gave him. She had been silent for a moment, and then asked him how he would feel were the circumstances reversed and he had to share her. That had been all that was said but it was enough, the answering rage and pain her words had sparked in him telling him everything he needed to know on the subject. After that day, he had silenced his council with the promise that the next one to pester him about it would be dismissed from his service.
Touga, perfectly well able to hear what was being said in the audience, answered loudly enough so that even those with poor hearing could hear him. "Yes. I would take Izayoi as my only wife. Never would I dishonor her by taking any other female – as wife or concubine. She will rule by my side and be honored as is her due as the hime of Setsuna, and I will gladly acknowledge those of this house as family from this day forward."
Hiraku, perfectly well understanding why he was speaking so loudly, chuckled inwardly though he kept his solemn mien outwardly. He turned to his daughter, which openly surprised everyone but her family. It was unheard of for the female to speak – her opinion usually did not matter. It appeared that in this, as in so much else, Izayoi was different. People all over the room strained to hear what was going to be asked of her, and her answer.
"Izayoi, daughter of the house of Setsuna and my beloved little hime, do you choose to accept the husband I have chosen for you, knowing that you will be taking the honorable position of Lady of the West to stand by Touga's side as his only wife?" he asked, though once the question was heard she did not even really have to answer, since her answer was known to all after her confrontation with Takemaru before he'd been thrown out those weeks ago.
She bowed to her father as deeply as the seiza position allowed, then straightened. "Yes, father, I accept Touga-sama as my husband and will carry with me all the honor of the house of Setsuna. I will not tarnish my honor or the honor of my house as I take on the title and duties of the Lady of the West and Touga's only wife."
Hiraku nodded to his son, and Ichirou took the jar of sake that had been set to the side and poured it out into four bowls – one for him, one each for his father and Uncle, and one for both Touga and Izayoi to drink of, signifying their new union as husband and wife... as one being.
"Then take this offering of sake as a seal to the promises that have been made here today and in celebration of the coming together of our two races, youkai and ningen, in hope and-" he glanced at his daughter with a twinkling smile, and then at Touga with the same, "-love. Let this wedding of both our races be a sign of the beginning of a lifetime of peace for all of us."
Shivering inwardly from excitement, nervousness, and a trace of fear, Izayoi barely held on as Touga sipped from the bowl, and then, with a speaking look at her, gently began to assist her in lifting the bowl to her lips. This was the final step – with the drinking of the sake between them, she would be his wife.
His.
And then he stilled as her reiki began to manifest, and the audience hall became silent enough for a whisper to be heard as everyone watched in awe as her pink reiki rose from her in a dazzling swirl of color, and his blue youki lifted from him to join her power. Every single person in the room froze in shock as the two combined, joining together as the two who were their sources were now joined. Yoshiro, especially, required to attend as a councilor of the Lord Hiraku though he had not felt that this marriage was right, was shocked speechless; what he was witnessing in this instant was something that all monks, priests and priestesses were taught was impossible – youki and reiki could not join in such a manner, since they were opposing forces. Apparently, the religious figures of the day had forgotten the once known principles of yin and yang, as the Chinese named them. Or as people in Kagome's day would say – opposites attract. It was the same for their power, or least his and Izayoi's as they formed one power above everyone's heads and danced and swirled together to every person's great astonishment – including Touga's and Izayoi's. Kenji, it seemed, was the only one not too surprised and that was because he had surmised that such a thing just might happen, considering Izayoi's completely different form of reiki. The silence continued until the reiki and youki finally separated once more and died back down into their respective wellsprings, and then Touga helped lift the sake bowl to Izayoi's lips once more to finish the ritual drinking of the sake.
Sending him a grateful look as he helped her steady the bowl as she took her drink, Izayoi heard her father's voice lifted in celebration as he announced that they were wed, and that the marriage should be recorded in the huge family scroll that was being handled very gently by her father's scribe. There was a buzzing in her ears as she looked up at her new husband and got caught in his eyes... it was done, and they were finally wedded - and the whole thing finally sank in as she shivered at the heated look in his eyes.
"Soon, little wife," he whispered, smiling at her gently, his voice pitched entirely for her, no one else hearing what he said. "Soon."
She swallowed heavily at those words, nodding. But the buzzing in her ears cleared as the sake hit her mostly empty stomach; she had been too nervous this morning to eat much of her breakfast. The sake now burned through her system lightly, calming her. She was most grateful for it. In years to come I will look back on this day and wonder why I was so nervous, but right now, it is my only reality.
Her thoughts were pushed aside as Touga stood and held his hand out to assist her to her feet, and she stood up, smiling at him happily now that her nerves were settled by the alcohol. The entire room had broken out into gossip and conversation, since none had known how the wedding would be conducted. Most had doubted that the simple exchange that was usually performed for the servants and common people would be used for this wedding, and so everyone had been very curious about what would be said. As with everything else that had happened this summer, the wedding and what had happened during it would be talked about for years to come.
As suited a joining of two races, nothing about this wedding would ever be forgotten by anyone that had witnessed it.
~oOo~
A/N: And finally! Wedded and the true story is just about to begin!
*Domo arigatou gozaimasu- more formal phrase Thank you very much.
Edited 10/06/13