~An American Miko~
Chapter Fifteen
Sword & Daggers
Hotohori yawned as he and Myst walked out to where the other seishi and the horses were waiting. The two of them had fully planned on just resting and sleeping last night, but it didn't worked out that way.
When they got to where all the activity was, the crowd of advisors, servants, handmaidens, and guards parted, and the two were happily greeted by their friends.
Myst hugged and kissed Nuriko good morning, then walked over to Tou-san and took Boushin from his arms. Hotohori looked briefly over at his wife and son, then turned back and began talking with his head advisor and Chichiri.
Chichiri greeted the emperor brightly. "Good morning your Majesty no da! Did you sleep well no da? You look a little tired na no da."
Hotohori greeted him with a little less enthusiasm. "Good morning to you as well Chichiri. Are our plans in order?"
The monk nodded. "I double-checked this morning about an hour ago no da. Everything is in order and we can leave whenever you are ready no da.."
Hotohori nodded again. Something caught his eye and he moved to look at one of the saddlebags on one of the horses. The bag was moving as if there was something alive in it. When he got within touching distance, the bag suddenly popped open with a strange sound. "Mrow?"
The cat jumped out of the bag to sit on the saddle. It looked around for a moment, then hopped up onto Mitsukake's shoulder.
The large man turned his head to look at the cat as he reached up to scratch its ear. "Finally decided to come out did you?"
Hotohori blinked at the cat, then reached up to scratch behind it's ear as well. "So the cat decided to come with you from Chouko after all hmm?"
"Yes your majesty. He's just been hiding a lot. He really seems to like you your majesty."
Hotohori smiled as Tama-neko jumped into his arms. "So it would seem. Well, the feeling is mutual. He is a very intelligent creature."
Suddenly a delighted cry rang through the courtyard. "A cat!" Everyone looked at Myst who was now standing next to Hotohori. "I love cats! Switch!" She handed her son to his father and kissed Boushin goodbye one last time. "I love you Boushin, my little prince. Be good for Tou-san and your cousins." She looked at the cat on Hotohori's shoulder. "So your name's Tama huh? I'm Mistyc, but you can call me. Mrow!"
Everyone laughed as Myst did the perfect cat impression and Tama-neko cocked his little furry head. He seemed almost to nod to himself, then jumped into her arms with a, "meow."
Myst laughed and scratched under his chin. "Close enough. You have such a cute cat Mits."
"Thank you majesty."
Myst shook her head as Tama-neko climbed back onto Mitsukake's shoulder. She hugged the big man good morning. "Please Mits, when I'm not being official, just call me Myst. I might be the empress and miko, but right now, Hotohori and I are just your friends and a very odd part of your family."
Mitsukake nodded and she let him go, standing on her tiptoes to give him a peck on the cheek.
She left the big, blushing man then and made a beeline for Tamahome. "Tama- chan!"
Tamahome turned and caught an armful of empress.
Myst hugged him tight. "Morning!"
He chuckled and smiled, hugging her back. "Good morning Myst. Are you ready for the road?"
Myst nodded and rested her arms around his neck in a sort of hug. "God am I ever! As much as I love the palace, I have such a wanderlust. I just can't stay in one place too long. Plus, I'm dying to see more of my country!"
She kissed his cheek then abruptly dropped her arms and whirled sounding mad as she shouted, "Chichiri!"
The monk looked up surprised and seemed to shrink into himself as Myst stalked up to him with a scowl on her face. "Da?"
Myst stopped a few inches from him and got in his face. "You!"
His voice squeaked as he drew back more. "Da?"
You haven't given me my hug! For that, I get an extra long one and a kiss on the cheek like the others too!"
He smiled now and they embraced. It really helped that they were the same height."
She pulled back, still in the hug and made a face at him lifting her eyebrow. "But I will not kiss that damn mask. I won't order you to take it off, but I will ask you. No one cares about your scar here. Here you are among family." She reached up and touched the mask over where the scar would be.
He seemed to think about it for a moment, then reached up and removed the mask.
She looked into his eye. "Such a beautiful color. The color of sunset's fire on polished mahogany." She hugged him tight again and whispered in his ear so that only he could hear. "Pain makes the body do things that the heart and mind scream for it no to. Sometimes, it makes you hold too tight, and sometimes it makes you let go. You are a strong shoulder for many to cry on. Perhaps one day, you will let me have that honor towards you. Always remember that no matter what, I love you and I will always cherish you." With that she brought his head down a little and kissed not his cheek, but his scarred eye very tenderly. "Always remember what I have said Houjun. Remember and believe."
When she pulled back he had a tear in his eye. "No one has called me that for a long time." The tear fell.
Myst smiled and caressed his cheek, whipping the tear away. "It needed to be said. All of it." She hugged him again and stayed like that until he released her. "It's up to you if you want to put the mask on while we are in towns and villages, but I ask you to consider leaving it off when you are just around us."
Chichiri nodded and put the mask back on. "I'll think about it no da. Thank you Myst-chan no da."
Myst smiled and turned to look back at everyone else. She then spotted four others that looked like they needed hugs from her. She knelt on the ground and held her arms out. Moments later, Tamahome's siblings crashed into her as they had already done to Tamahome.
Yuiren started crying. "Please don't go!"
"We'll miss you!"
"We don't want you to leave!"
"Have a good journey and hurry back!" Chuei shrank back from the glares of his three younger siblings.
Myst laughed and hugged them all. "We'll be back soon and hopefully with another one of your uncles and some presents."
They perked up at that and she stood up. "Well, shall we away?"
The seishi nodded and began mounting. Hotohori and Myst had matching white palfreys while the rest of the seishi's were tan or brown.
Hotohori passed Boushin back to Tou-san with one last kiss to the forehead and nodded shouting, "Open the gates!"
Myst laughed wildly and whipped her horse around, making it squeal and rear. "Race you to the edge of the market!" Her horse bolted with the seishi following her laughter.
**********
Not far into the market place, Myst held her hand up a halt. She, Mitsukake, and Chichiri dismounted.
Hotohori looked confused. "Why are we stopping here?"
Myst pulled a coin purse out as she spoke. "Mitsukake, Chichiri, and I came here a few weeks ago so I could have a few things made for me. Of course you can come in too, but someone should stay out here and watch the horses. She walked into the shop without waiting for a response.
Hotohori followed them inside since Nuriko and Tamahome volunteered to stay outside. He began looking around as they approached the shop owner. "A weapons shop?"
Myst nodded but it was the shop owner, a kind-looking older man, who spoke. "Ah! So good to see you back your." He caught sight of Hotohori and changed how he addressed her. "Ehem. welcome back."
Myst smiled. "Don't worry. This is another one of my seishi, Hotohori, my husband."
The shop owner blinked. "Husband? Oh! Oh my! Suzaku! I not only have the Empress here, but the Emperor too! Oh welcome Majesty! It is such a great honor to have you in my shop!"
Hotohori stopped him before he could continue. "Please sir, while I am out here dressed as such, I am simply another man. Plus I would not like our presence announced."
The man smirked. "Lady Mistyc said the same thing."
Myst put her arm around the man's shoulder and started walking towards the back. "So Seijirou, is my baby ready?"
"Yes your majesty, and I hope you don't mind, but I've added a few touches on my own. If you don't like them, it won't take me but an hour to reset the hilt, but the sword is just as strong either way."
She nodded. "Well lets see it."
He nodded and slipped behind the curtain. "Wait right here."
Hotohori stepped up to his wife. "So what are you purchasing here?"
Myst shrugged. "It might off more people if I had a sword on my belt as well."
At this time Seijirou came back out with a beautifully crafted sword. The shape of the hilt was a beautifully crafted gold phoenix. The tail feathers were bright red tassels which hung from the end. The strong raiser-sharp blade was like a beam of energy coming from the phoenix's open beak, and two bright ruby eyes set the whole thing ablaze. He handed it to Myst and she walked to a clear place in the store that was used specifically for wielding as Hotohori spoke again.
"Yes, but it also might provoke people to challenge you and if you don't know how to properly use a sword." his words stuttered to a stop as his wife changed her stance and began wielding the sword in a kata that only experienced swordsmen could accomplish without injury.
Myst gave a last cry and ended the kata in a kneeling position with her palm along the blade and the blade itself parallel with the center of her face. She got to her feet and walked passed her shocked husband to stand in front of Seijirou.
The man smiled knowingly. "Is the balance what you hoped for?"
She smiled. "What I hoped for and more sir. You are indeed a master smith and it's beautifully made and crafted. It shall serve me well."
He nodded and winked at her. "I have something else for you at no charge."
She cocked her head curiously.
He reached under the counter and handed her six throwing daggers. Myst looked down at them in awe. He smiled as she weighed them in her hands. "You said also that you knew how to throw daggers so I thought you could use these."
Myst turned suddenly and flung out her arm in the direction of a target. The three blades she had throne, hit dead center with a solid thunk. She turned back and smiled. "They're as good as the sword. I thank you sir."
He nodded and helped her strap on the special bracers on her forearms where the daggers could rest for easy access. After retrieving that daggers and paying for the sword, which she strapped on her belt, they walked back outside.
They mounted before Hotohori spoke again. "You never told me you practiced swordplay."
She looked straight ahead as they maneuvered through the crowded streets. "Well for one my dear husband, you never asked. I was friends with a dojo master's daughter when I was younger. He saw how lonely I was and decided to teach me. Almost everything I know about fighting, I know from him. I know several form s of fighting, from hand to hand, to sword and dagger play. I can even fight with a pike of spear." Now she looked over at Hotohori. "I would even like to spar with you some time to brush up my sword skills."
Hotohori nodded and smiled at her. "Id like that. You performed that kata excellently."
Myst blushed and looked back at the street. "Thank you, but I'm nowhere as good as you. I've watched you practice."
He shrugged. "Ah, well, I have a distinct advantage. Don't play your skill down in comparison to mine. Were I just a man and not a seishi, I might well meet my match in swords with you." He sighed. "There are still so many thing I don't know about you."
She reached over and touched his lean thigh, looking up into his dazzling golden eyes. "Well we have a lifetime to learn."
He smiled beautifully and nodded. They all talked about more things as the six of them rode through the city.
**********
A.N.: Yep. there you have it na no da. I am so loving writing this. Plus it really passes the time. Keep watching for the next chapter no da. It will be out really soon na no da! DA! JA NE!
~Celesta Hellewise Harman
Hotohori yawned as he and Myst walked out to where the other seishi and the horses were waiting. The two of them had fully planned on just resting and sleeping last night, but it didn't worked out that way.
When they got to where all the activity was, the crowd of advisors, servants, handmaidens, and guards parted, and the two were happily greeted by their friends.
Myst hugged and kissed Nuriko good morning, then walked over to Tou-san and took Boushin from his arms. Hotohori looked briefly over at his wife and son, then turned back and began talking with his head advisor and Chichiri.
Chichiri greeted the emperor brightly. "Good morning your Majesty no da! Did you sleep well no da? You look a little tired na no da."
Hotohori greeted him with a little less enthusiasm. "Good morning to you as well Chichiri. Are our plans in order?"
The monk nodded. "I double-checked this morning about an hour ago no da. Everything is in order and we can leave whenever you are ready no da.."
Hotohori nodded again. Something caught his eye and he moved to look at one of the saddlebags on one of the horses. The bag was moving as if there was something alive in it. When he got within touching distance, the bag suddenly popped open with a strange sound. "Mrow?"
The cat jumped out of the bag to sit on the saddle. It looked around for a moment, then hopped up onto Mitsukake's shoulder.
The large man turned his head to look at the cat as he reached up to scratch its ear. "Finally decided to come out did you?"
Hotohori blinked at the cat, then reached up to scratch behind it's ear as well. "So the cat decided to come with you from Chouko after all hmm?"
"Yes your majesty. He's just been hiding a lot. He really seems to like you your majesty."
Hotohori smiled as Tama-neko jumped into his arms. "So it would seem. Well, the feeling is mutual. He is a very intelligent creature."
Suddenly a delighted cry rang through the courtyard. "A cat!" Everyone looked at Myst who was now standing next to Hotohori. "I love cats! Switch!" She handed her son to his father and kissed Boushin goodbye one last time. "I love you Boushin, my little prince. Be good for Tou-san and your cousins." She looked at the cat on Hotohori's shoulder. "So your name's Tama huh? I'm Mistyc, but you can call me. Mrow!"
Everyone laughed as Myst did the perfect cat impression and Tama-neko cocked his little furry head. He seemed almost to nod to himself, then jumped into her arms with a, "meow."
Myst laughed and scratched under his chin. "Close enough. You have such a cute cat Mits."
"Thank you majesty."
Myst shook her head as Tama-neko climbed back onto Mitsukake's shoulder. She hugged the big man good morning. "Please Mits, when I'm not being official, just call me Myst. I might be the empress and miko, but right now, Hotohori and I are just your friends and a very odd part of your family."
Mitsukake nodded and she let him go, standing on her tiptoes to give him a peck on the cheek.
She left the big, blushing man then and made a beeline for Tamahome. "Tama- chan!"
Tamahome turned and caught an armful of empress.
Myst hugged him tight. "Morning!"
He chuckled and smiled, hugging her back. "Good morning Myst. Are you ready for the road?"
Myst nodded and rested her arms around his neck in a sort of hug. "God am I ever! As much as I love the palace, I have such a wanderlust. I just can't stay in one place too long. Plus, I'm dying to see more of my country!"
She kissed his cheek then abruptly dropped her arms and whirled sounding mad as she shouted, "Chichiri!"
The monk looked up surprised and seemed to shrink into himself as Myst stalked up to him with a scowl on her face. "Da?"
Myst stopped a few inches from him and got in his face. "You!"
His voice squeaked as he drew back more. "Da?"
You haven't given me my hug! For that, I get an extra long one and a kiss on the cheek like the others too!"
He smiled now and they embraced. It really helped that they were the same height."
She pulled back, still in the hug and made a face at him lifting her eyebrow. "But I will not kiss that damn mask. I won't order you to take it off, but I will ask you. No one cares about your scar here. Here you are among family." She reached up and touched the mask over where the scar would be.
He seemed to think about it for a moment, then reached up and removed the mask.
She looked into his eye. "Such a beautiful color. The color of sunset's fire on polished mahogany." She hugged him tight again and whispered in his ear so that only he could hear. "Pain makes the body do things that the heart and mind scream for it no to. Sometimes, it makes you hold too tight, and sometimes it makes you let go. You are a strong shoulder for many to cry on. Perhaps one day, you will let me have that honor towards you. Always remember that no matter what, I love you and I will always cherish you." With that she brought his head down a little and kissed not his cheek, but his scarred eye very tenderly. "Always remember what I have said Houjun. Remember and believe."
When she pulled back he had a tear in his eye. "No one has called me that for a long time." The tear fell.
Myst smiled and caressed his cheek, whipping the tear away. "It needed to be said. All of it." She hugged him again and stayed like that until he released her. "It's up to you if you want to put the mask on while we are in towns and villages, but I ask you to consider leaving it off when you are just around us."
Chichiri nodded and put the mask back on. "I'll think about it no da. Thank you Myst-chan no da."
Myst smiled and turned to look back at everyone else. She then spotted four others that looked like they needed hugs from her. She knelt on the ground and held her arms out. Moments later, Tamahome's siblings crashed into her as they had already done to Tamahome.
Yuiren started crying. "Please don't go!"
"We'll miss you!"
"We don't want you to leave!"
"Have a good journey and hurry back!" Chuei shrank back from the glares of his three younger siblings.
Myst laughed and hugged them all. "We'll be back soon and hopefully with another one of your uncles and some presents."
They perked up at that and she stood up. "Well, shall we away?"
The seishi nodded and began mounting. Hotohori and Myst had matching white palfreys while the rest of the seishi's were tan or brown.
Hotohori passed Boushin back to Tou-san with one last kiss to the forehead and nodded shouting, "Open the gates!"
Myst laughed wildly and whipped her horse around, making it squeal and rear. "Race you to the edge of the market!" Her horse bolted with the seishi following her laughter.
**********
Not far into the market place, Myst held her hand up a halt. She, Mitsukake, and Chichiri dismounted.
Hotohori looked confused. "Why are we stopping here?"
Myst pulled a coin purse out as she spoke. "Mitsukake, Chichiri, and I came here a few weeks ago so I could have a few things made for me. Of course you can come in too, but someone should stay out here and watch the horses. She walked into the shop without waiting for a response.
Hotohori followed them inside since Nuriko and Tamahome volunteered to stay outside. He began looking around as they approached the shop owner. "A weapons shop?"
Myst nodded but it was the shop owner, a kind-looking older man, who spoke. "Ah! So good to see you back your." He caught sight of Hotohori and changed how he addressed her. "Ehem. welcome back."
Myst smiled. "Don't worry. This is another one of my seishi, Hotohori, my husband."
The shop owner blinked. "Husband? Oh! Oh my! Suzaku! I not only have the Empress here, but the Emperor too! Oh welcome Majesty! It is such a great honor to have you in my shop!"
Hotohori stopped him before he could continue. "Please sir, while I am out here dressed as such, I am simply another man. Plus I would not like our presence announced."
The man smirked. "Lady Mistyc said the same thing."
Myst put her arm around the man's shoulder and started walking towards the back. "So Seijirou, is my baby ready?"
"Yes your majesty, and I hope you don't mind, but I've added a few touches on my own. If you don't like them, it won't take me but an hour to reset the hilt, but the sword is just as strong either way."
She nodded. "Well lets see it."
He nodded and slipped behind the curtain. "Wait right here."
Hotohori stepped up to his wife. "So what are you purchasing here?"
Myst shrugged. "It might off more people if I had a sword on my belt as well."
At this time Seijirou came back out with a beautifully crafted sword. The shape of the hilt was a beautifully crafted gold phoenix. The tail feathers were bright red tassels which hung from the end. The strong raiser-sharp blade was like a beam of energy coming from the phoenix's open beak, and two bright ruby eyes set the whole thing ablaze. He handed it to Myst and she walked to a clear place in the store that was used specifically for wielding as Hotohori spoke again.
"Yes, but it also might provoke people to challenge you and if you don't know how to properly use a sword." his words stuttered to a stop as his wife changed her stance and began wielding the sword in a kata that only experienced swordsmen could accomplish without injury.
Myst gave a last cry and ended the kata in a kneeling position with her palm along the blade and the blade itself parallel with the center of her face. She got to her feet and walked passed her shocked husband to stand in front of Seijirou.
The man smiled knowingly. "Is the balance what you hoped for?"
She smiled. "What I hoped for and more sir. You are indeed a master smith and it's beautifully made and crafted. It shall serve me well."
He nodded and winked at her. "I have something else for you at no charge."
She cocked her head curiously.
He reached under the counter and handed her six throwing daggers. Myst looked down at them in awe. He smiled as she weighed them in her hands. "You said also that you knew how to throw daggers so I thought you could use these."
Myst turned suddenly and flung out her arm in the direction of a target. The three blades she had throne, hit dead center with a solid thunk. She turned back and smiled. "They're as good as the sword. I thank you sir."
He nodded and helped her strap on the special bracers on her forearms where the daggers could rest for easy access. After retrieving that daggers and paying for the sword, which she strapped on her belt, they walked back outside.
They mounted before Hotohori spoke again. "You never told me you practiced swordplay."
She looked straight ahead as they maneuvered through the crowded streets. "Well for one my dear husband, you never asked. I was friends with a dojo master's daughter when I was younger. He saw how lonely I was and decided to teach me. Almost everything I know about fighting, I know from him. I know several form s of fighting, from hand to hand, to sword and dagger play. I can even fight with a pike of spear." Now she looked over at Hotohori. "I would even like to spar with you some time to brush up my sword skills."
Hotohori nodded and smiled at her. "Id like that. You performed that kata excellently."
Myst blushed and looked back at the street. "Thank you, but I'm nowhere as good as you. I've watched you practice."
He shrugged. "Ah, well, I have a distinct advantage. Don't play your skill down in comparison to mine. Were I just a man and not a seishi, I might well meet my match in swords with you." He sighed. "There are still so many thing I don't know about you."
She reached over and touched his lean thigh, looking up into his dazzling golden eyes. "Well we have a lifetime to learn."
He smiled beautifully and nodded. They all talked about more things as the six of them rode through the city.
**********
A.N.: Yep. there you have it na no da. I am so loving writing this. Plus it really passes the time. Keep watching for the next chapter no da. It will be out really soon na no da! DA! JA NE!
~Celesta Hellewise Harman