I had a bit of a writer's block. Nothing major. The chapter was all planned out but the way I wrote just didn't fit. But the chapter's done and it seems to have passed out fine. Well, I hope…
By the way, just to clarify the confusion. The lines in italics are thoughts. So in last chapter when Sesshoumaru saw Kagome, the italics showed his memory of her in their meeting at the ceremony of Kamo. At that time, in Sesshoumaru's head the past and the present were all blending in.
Chapter II
It was a veritable rush. Long queues of youkai lords and ministers with their entourage rode towards the capital. The roads drew plumes of dust brought about by the intense summer heat and the constant tread of horses and wagons. Inns dotting the roadways towards the heart of the empire were brimmed full in the crush. Such heady bustle towards the capital city, Heian-kyo, would have been frightening if not for the fact that such occurrence happened every year. The Taika legislature met at this time to review and draft laws, and to express the needs of their constituents. It was the normal business in the empire, but this normality had suddenly taken a perverse turn.
Rumor has it that the Emperor has called for the Conclave of Manjushri where the Council of Izumo and the Taika Legislature will meet as one body. Such a gathering would have only occurred during the death of the Emperor and the crowning of his successor. It is a highly unprecedented move. It reminded people of the events 50 years ago when the current ruler, Amaterasu VII, took the throne. As tradition dictated, the lords and ministers assembled for the transition between rulers. But what began as a simple tradition extended to a series of disasters that still resonated after the passing of half a century.
Old women still told the tale to the children, to whoever would listen and to those who has not heard as they sit by the fire or go about with their weaving. It is a tale, a legend, a conglomeration of truth, hearsay and rumor. It spoke of the love between the High Priestess of Ise and a royal youkai lord, and the jealously and betrayal of the lord's best friend. The man plotted with many others to kill the young lord in his journey. But the madness of his jealously led to the death of his beloved. The two men, grief stricken and mad with rage fought each other to death. The jewel was then lost and that the only thing the monk, Ryuen, could save was the mirror. The two men lay in unmarked graves of the rocky earth as the spirit of the Priestess wept for the two men whose friendship was torn asunder because of her. The earth wept as well with her causing immense floods that destroyed so many lives. After the tears were spent, she refused to rest. Even though she knew she was dead, she sat by their graves day in, day out. Held vigil until even her spirit crumbled into nothingness as the world released its wrath, covering the earth with dust, drought, famine and plague. People wailed as thousands of cities became rotting wastelands. Even the Emperor who was the God-be-with-us, could do nothing but hold death at bay. The earth could not be assuaged as it released its wrath on humans and youkai alike, mortal and divine, season after season. When the people felt the end was near, the land's wrath cooled and prosperity returned once again.
Nobody truly knew what happened 50 years ago when Kikyou and InuYasha disappeared, and Ryuen returned with a black curse that ended his life soon afterwards and continued to plague his line. Those who knew, the lords, have kept their silence. The only thing certain was the loss of the Imperial chain and the divine wrath that followed it.
Now, the divine treasure and its cursed companion have appeared. Lady Higurashi was said to have brought them at the point of near death. People shook their heads against these omens that seemed to spell doom. Prayers were offered in an almost frenzy. The offerings were heavy and the songs sung so beautifully as never before. All were done in the hope that it would reach the heavens and the earth in its mighty splendor and move the gods and spirits to pity. It was because memory was long, yet fear was even longer.
Blue eyes met with golden ones. One belonging to lined face, the other from a smooth and unmarked one. A sudden tension hung in the air. The many people milling about waited in bated breath yet hid under a veneer of indifference. The sudden stillness was brought by the arrival of Lady Higurashi. It had been a shock. Her injuries and the presence of the lost Imperial regalia had fueled rumors and intense speculation. Whether a good omen or not, it is agreed within the Imperial government to be a catalyst for change. All who were linked intimately with the lady, true or not, were now being scrutinized intensely. And now, the two men, whose futures were profoundly connected to Lady Higurashi, met.
"Lord Shigeru," Sesshoumaru murmured in a greeting. He was well aware of the situation as his features took a mask-like quality. He made no motions of obeisance. His form was as straight as a mighty tree against the storm. There were too many consequences. One single move, an indiscreet moment, had a capability of opening a veritable hornet's nest. It has been to such an extent that even he cannot confer with any of his fellow ministers without inciting unease. Such fevered intensity had trapped him into a standstill, just as it had trapped the father of the injured girl.
"Lord Sesshoumaru," the man responded, inclining his head in deference to Sesshoumaru's position.
It was gesture, Sesshoumaru returned. His head dipped, not a millimeter nor than a second more or less than the Minister of the Right's gesture. He may have a higher position, but the extent of his response showed his acknowledgement of the man's seniority.
"I hope your daughter is recovering," he said. He knew he was taking a risk, a calculated one, but still a risk. Mentioning Lady Kagome, though obliquely, created a shift in the finely wrought balance. But he was hoping that his perceived ignorance of her state would help cool the explosive climate.
"She is," Shigeru affirmed. "Thank you for your con…"
"Ah! Lord Shigeru," a voice rang. It was a jarring note to the thick atmosphere that pervaded. The two men turn towards the source and just as subtly, the eavesdroppers. It was Lady Kagura whose features were painted in the casual open lines of mild relief as she walked towards them.
"Just the person I was looking for," she continued before she executed a deep bow of respect. It was a fitting gesture to the most senior of all the ministers as well as the third most powerful man in the empire.
Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed at the sight of her. He had always been wary of the Northern Lady, but her actions just previously gave her the benefit of the doubt. He could still remember how her voice ripped through the deafening silence, demanding that a healer be brought for the injured Lady Kagome.
Her gaze flickered to him and she bowed. He replied with a cool dismissiveness that was ignored. The two aristocrats have maintained this distant relationship ever since the Lady had inherited her position from her father.
"I would like to express the Northern land's wish for your daughter's continued recovery," Lady Kagura spoke as she turned her attention back to the Minister of the Right. Her words were flamboyantly formal. Lady Kagura had never mastered the subtle art of politics. Her movements, her words, her very form reminded all of a woman floundering in her too tight skin of pretense. Blunt, straight as an arrow, 50 years could not mold her to the masterful politician that her father was.
"I thank you, Lady Kagura," Lord Shigeru replied with warm eyes. "I especially would like to thank you for your timely assistance."
"You don't need to," she laughed. It was high-pitched, strange in the face of her usual husky tones. Crimson lips pulled into a wide open smile as faint lines marred the candid expression. "I just did what must be done," she continued. The fan snapped open and close with a flick of a wrist. "After the shock of her appearing so soon," her voice dropped slightly.
Silence. The word rang ominously against the multitude that now unabashedly waited with bated breath.
"And so battered," she finished, seemingly unaware of the discomfort she caused. It was a glaring reminder of the situation the empire had been spiraling in. It was a reminder that nobody wanted to hear, but it was typical of Lady Kagura to bring out reality with nary a care.
Fugitive glances were passed as the hall was suddenly alive with a hive of artificial boisterousness. The movements, the voices swung in an unnatural high as all were now intent in ignoring the harsh inevitable. Slowly, the hall seemingly cleared.
"But there is some good that came this situation," Kagura continued. She threw a bright smile at the two men, the force of her warm gaze lay on the human lord. "Don't you think so, my lord Shigeru?"
"In what way?"
"Why," she laughingly said. "We have little to do as of now. Lady Kagome will recover quicker with all our attention fully embroiled in her comfort and health."
She smiled as her blood red orbs flickered to Sesshoumaru. A fang peeked from the curve of her lips. "What say you Lord Sesshoumaru?"
He stiffened. The insinuation flared with such brilliance. Her previous statements may have driven out those who were intently listening, but it was foolish to expect that all was well.
"Perhaps," he replied, his features carved from ice. "But it is not our place to coddle her."
His words were a warning, a subtle hint that she should take care. An insinuation of any of the two end moves would have severe repercussions. Much less now when preparations were still sorely lacking.
He wasn't certain if she caught his meaning. She had continued on her carefree bantering with Lord Shigeru. Their words echoed merrily. It was blithe in the mock irritation that passed back and forth between the two.
"You think I don't understand, don't you?" she had asked in a parody of a noblewoman's irritation. Her brows were arched in an exaggerated display as she playfully snapped at Lord Shigeru's arm with her fan.
A wider smile greeted her antics, causing her to exclaim, "How typical of you fathers!" It was followed by a theatrical sign of exasperation as she threw her hands up in the air.
Their act caught on, much to Sesshoumaru's irritation. He had a niggling feeling that for once Lady Kagura was living up to her father's reputation. The whole meeting and exchange was contrived with layers upon layers of purpose, all different from one another. It was a surreal experience as she watched her wave the Minister of the Right away with broad sweeping gestures.
"Go!" she shooed the still smirking lord. "Go back to whatever you're doing, and leave us unattached, childless and ignorant people still blissfully unaware!" she cried out with gleeful triumph.
He watched them. To him, it felt as if he was watching a kabuki play, masking the subtleties of noh in its coarse façade.
His temples pounded. His vision hazed. The heat, the heaviness had taken its toll.
'No more,' he told himself. Only his iron control prevented from outright leaving until Lord Shigeru took his leave, but it was shattered upon the man's retreat. He swiftly turned away. Intent on leaving the watchful gazes, the annoying scent that reminded him of Naraku and betrayal.
A hand on his sleeve stopped his retreat. It was insistent, almost desperate in its sharp tugs. He turned frowning. Kagura's face greeted him. Her blood red orbs huge in her face. The mask has cracked like an actor who stumbled upon his lines and has lost all his rhythm.
"There is little to do my lord," she began rather hurriedly. "Perhaps a game of go to while away then?"
"Why so?" he murmured back, a perverse part of him wanting to be difficult.
She straightened. Her head was thrown back as she laughed out loud. It echoed across the hall, bringing all heads turning towards them.
"Why because you're the best," she replied. "And MY game is in need of polishing."
Anger bubbled within him. He hated being manipulated. He was trapped. She had planned it well. Their confrontation was amidst the hoards of observers. Even though their families have been in a silent feud for 50 years; to maintain the delicate balance, all had remained unsaid. In front of all he could do nothing but maintain the polite veneer. He could not ignore her request after such blatant insinuations of the lack of work.
His lips thinned.
"Lead the way lady," he murmured. "Lead the way."
Their eyes met. A steady stare. A battle for just a second with neither side giving in. A short flicker that felt like eternity.
She was a fool. She had manipulated Sesshoumaru into meeting with her under a pretense of a game of go. Had done it successfully much to the youkai lord's anger, and now that he was in front of her, she found herself at loss for words.
She hated it. Kagura found that there was nothing ever simple in her life. She just wanted peace. She wanted to tell him point blank what she felt, what she wanted. She wanted to tell him straight, watch that normally impassive face crumble in shock against her boldness, her righteousness. But it was impossible. To speak plainly was to court death, to watch all her hopes and dreams turn to ash.
She peered at her unwilling companion beneath her sooty lashes. Lord Sesshoumaru had recovered admirably from his defeat. His features had returned to the icy remoteness that gave nothing away. He was a master politician. And she wondered underneath her feeble attempts of small talk, of her discussion on the strategies within go, what madness had she succumbed to in her daring attempt to help mold the fate of the empire into what she deemed was right.
'Is it because of guilt?' a part of her whispered.
The smooth wood faced her innocently. Intersecting lines of black marred its surface. Her lips thinned. She could almost see her father in front her, the way he slowly donned his armor in a kind of ritualistic madness. His hands loving caressed the interlocking plates of his armor. The slow and jerking movements he partook as he tugged in every strap. She had remembered offering to help him in place of her dead mother. She could still see the remote sneer that touched his features before he asked her of her loyalty. He had raised the question 'if she would follow him to the end of the earth'. She could still remember her want, her wish, her naïve admiration for the man that raised her. She was sitting at the silken rugs mats with her head bowed when she had said yes and prostrated herself.
'Your belief?'
She could feel the cool stone in the palm of her hand. Its smooth surface was mocking in its perfection. Her skin tingled. She could almost feel the slight warm weight of the young Lady Higurashi. Her own voice rang into her ears as she called for a healer, as she asked, nay, demanded the other lords' sanity for doing nothing except to watch.
'You redemption?'
Her eyes fluttered close. She heard the tick of the pebble against the wood. The chirping of the summer crickets buzzed in a heady cacophony. It was as if she was back 50 years ago, watching as her sister's mirror gleamed in front of her. Watching as her father fought and dies. Cursing herself. Crying. She was such as fool to have blindly followed her father, knowing yet never knowing that she would help him to his doom.
'Or is it everything?'
The silk stuck to her skin. It was heavy, stifling in the summer's heat. It was a hated constant reminder of the full weight of her responsibility. Fifty years ago, the raw girl had felt the substantial load as she was ceremoniously wrapped in silk, primped and polished to something she was not. All her illusions had shattered that day. She was the one who had taken her own head and laid it on a silver platter. It was the platter of lost innocence.
Her eyes opened. The board lay in a pattern of intersecting lines and black and white stones. She saw the subtle form of two interlocking diamonds. Black. White.
'Ko. Eternity.'
Her hands tightened against the smooth ripple of the stone.
'Your move…'
The steady hum of silence, Sesshoumaru stared in contemplation at the series of black and white pieces. It was a sloppy. Kagura had never been good in the game of go. All of her moves had always been quick and impulsive.
It has been said that the go is a window to a person's mind. Sesshoumaru firmly believed in it. Every move made, the pattern laid out as well as the territories won and lost revealed who your opponent is.
Looking now at their game, he could see Kagura's state of distraction. It was impossible to hide it, just as it was impossible to hide the desperate game she was playing. She had always been impulsive, passionate and fierce. Independent with gusts of brilliance which inevitably petered out. She saw little use for strategy. It was only through necessity that she begun to learn the game. In the end, she did, but amateurishly. She weaved in and out in too stiff fingers.
Her lack of finesse usually worked to his advantage. Just as now it did even against her impressive performance awhile ago. He had been caught by surprise, and if he was honest with himself, he knew his lack of sharpness was due to Lady Higurashi. Their situation was fraught with tension already, but it was another level with her appearing severely wounded and holding the lost imperial regalia when everyone knew the lady was supposedly undergoing a test to determine her worthiness as High Priestess of Ise.
Kagura had moved like a master, but she now had faltered back to a 30 kyu player. It was something he was going to ruthlessly exploit. In the battlefield or in the table, he never showed an ounce of mercy. Much less now that he suffered the humiliation of being bested by a mere brat who will never have his respect or his trust.
Go was always about moderation. It was a subtle strategy. Capture territory too aggressively, you are bound to loose, just as when you hesitate too many a time.
In a way, he had an inkling as to what Kagura would like to talk about. Only a feeble blind old man would not know. But he refused to place the first piece down. He was no fool. She was not to be trusted. He still did not know where she stood. The wind youkai had been tight-lipped about the whole situation. So he waited. At one point she would have to speak.
He placed his stone.
She answered.
"Of all the rules of go," Kagura spoke. "One that I never liked was Ko."
Sesshomaru raised a brow. He stared at her in a cold almost dismissive curiosity.
"I think it's pointless," she murmured, as a slanted look grazed her features.
His gaze flickered towards her before returning to the board.
A click of a stone. A move made.
"Shouldn't you be concentrating on your game?" Sesshoumaru murmured.
"Oh! But I am!" she exclaimed.
A steady golden gaze bore into her.
She answered with a half smile playing on her lips.
Vacantly.
The musky smell of flowers baked against the sun's heat wafted across the room. It was a heady aroma, dizzying in its intensity.
Kagura leaned down. Her hand reached out to a pattern in the board. It was sudden, a jarring note in the stillness.
"See," she spoke as her finger pointed at a piece. "Once a move has been made and the territory gained, the opponent cannot gain it back even if that same territory is within grasp. You have to make a different move and wait a turn before you act."
Blood red eyes peered past sooty lashes. For a second, she captured his gaze with her own.
"It is what makes the game worth its while," Sesshoumaru murmured, locked into the stare.
Both of them refuse to give. Their expressions were unreadable, and their eyes, probing.
"It is the natural order of things," he continued. His features were porcelain as his voice dropped upon many layers of meaning.
Kagura lowered her gaze as she hauled herself up. The beads in her hair clinked together. Her chin raised a notch. A lock of hair fell, shadowing half her face.
"You mean real," she replied. "That it would be a waste of resources to pool you energies on a small piece of the board that your enemy can easily claim."
Her hands ran through the sides of the board.
"It is unwise to be caught in an eternal struggle that would bring you nothing," she continued, holding his stare. "Best we ignore it for now," she snorted derisively.
He said nothing. He did nothing but to seemingly return to his absent contemplation of the game as he truly watched Kagura at the corner of his eye.
Her body was a study of chained motion. The steady tap of the fan against flesh. Her wrist moved up and down bringing the beat to its didactic tune. Red lips were pursed. Sesshoumaru placed his piece.
The fan slapped into her fan. It lay steady against flesh. The sound echoed, then was silent.
"What I truly hate about ko," kagura spoke staring sharply at the newly placed piece. "Is that whatever happens, you will always return to that struggle."
A sigh. Her hands moved carelessly, almost the tossing her stone to its position.
Her eyes flickered towards him. "It's an unwanted unspoken promise," she whispered.
Their gazes caught and held. They were heavy, tinged with so much meaning. Words flashed between them, thoughts, 'The hatred between humans and youkai.'
"Don't you think so?" she baited.
'Shimmering...'
"Aa."
'...ever since the beginning."
She smiled. "Is that all?"
'What will you do?' her eyes seemed to whisper.
His were stony in reply unlike soft malleable gold. Sesshoumaru's hands reached for his bowl, taking one of the stones. It rang at the board with a finality of an answer.
"How do you know when?" she riposted. Her hands swept pass the laid pieces.
'What will you choose?' it rang between them.
The wind blew.
'Could you?'
It teased the loose strands of hair around her face, creating inky ripples.
'Should you?'
He was silent.
'Can you?'
Seconds ticked by.
Kagura's hands suddenly plunged into her bowl. The stones rattle against each other, before she brought forth her hand that was fisted tightly, too tightly.
"If our stones have mixed," she began with a voice tinged with desperation. She was at a lost against his immovability. "This piece that I have grasped in my hand has truly lost all color. Is it black? White?"
Her eyes burned.
He remained seated like Buddha in his unreachable nirvana.
"An enemy or a friend? Will it aid me or you..."
Her form quivered in agitation. Her fist shook.
"Held as it is," Sesshoumaru spoke for her. "It is protected and concealed, hovering in the brink...at the realm of possibility."
Kagura's brows furrowed. Her lips moved, 'What of you?' No sound emerged.
"You have not answered me with a move," was his reply. The tone was cold, chiding even.
She stiffened at his words. Her fingers opened to reveal her piece as she resolutely placed it away from the ko pattern.
"No matter how real or how true it is, it should be IGNORED!" Her voice came out almost to a shout. Her claws dug into her thighs, punctured the silk down to flesh.
'You have to do it,' her eyes flashed, demanded.
His eyes glittered in warning.
"Why?" he asked stopping the steamroll of her determination.
'Can you be trusted?' his masked slipped to slap her with the question.
White petals followed the wind as it blew, showering the woven mats in a sea of white.
"Because..." she replied, stunned.
It was a false dream of snow in the heat of the sun.
"Is it because any color will do for you?" he mocked.
'Traitor! Do not tell me what to do.'
"White is death," he intoned, every word was a condemnation. "Black is nothingness."
'You have no right to know...'
"Death and nothingness are the same."
'...to say anything.'
She flinched. Her arm jerked. The sleeve of her dress caught the wooden board. It overturned, scattering the stone all over the mat. They laid innocently in a pattern of black and white.
Her bangs shadowed her eyes.
"I apologize for my carelessness," she whispered. A pause. "But if you ask me, if I were brave, I will choose the darkness. Its subtlety is infinitely better than the garishness of white that hides the flaws. Darkness has led us to beauty." A twist of her lips heavy with self-mockery. "But I am young, so I can only choose the light."
She rose and bowed before she left. Her footsteps echoing against Sesshoumaru's implacability.
The snow-white petals lay scattered upon her wake, side by side with the stones of go. It was like the frozen ponds of winter flecked with white. But look closely, think clearly, and it was nothing more than a dream. Lies. Lies. Lies. A mirage in the stifling summer.
Clip. Click.
Went the pair of scissors.
Snip. Snap.
It gave off as stems large and small fell under its strength and the hand that wielded it. The bonsai tree under its ministrations slowly began to form its shape. The trunk lost its branches giving way to a twisting willowy smoothness that reached dizzying heights before it gave way to the diverging leaves.
Click. Clack. Snap…
The blades hung in the air, frozen. It gleamed, reflecting the mismatched eyes of its owner, the Emperor. His eyes narrowed as they slanted to the side, flashing gold and silver. Only a waving gossamer curtain greeted him. Yet a smile touched his lips as he returned to his pruning.
"What news?" he suddenly spoke. His voice was soft.
A woman stepped past the flowing white cloth, her footsteps silent. She moved swiftly, a graceful gazelle. She bowed fluidly, prostrate, in one clean motion. Her legs lay folded underneath her body, her spine was curved, and her head hung down as hands braced her torso from the floor.
"My Imperial Lord," she began in a gentle murmur. It was pitched low, yet was clear enough to be heard. "Most of the lords are preparing for either a war or a famine. All of the positions have remained the same though we could safely say the alliances have strengthened."
"Most?"
"All of the members of the council of Izumo have remained decidedly neutral," she added against the steady clicks of the scissors.
A raised brow. "Oh?" the Emperor remarked in a voice tinged with disbelief.
"Nothing is certain since the council members have been extremely careful," she interjected swiftly. Her form did not changed as did the pitch of her voice. "Though preparations of the more vocal minor lords have increased exponentially."
"As expected," he replied. A frown touched the Emperor's features as the sounds of the scrapping blades stopped. His eyes hovered to his distorted reflection at the steel edge. "Anything else, Sango?"
There was almost a pregnant pause.
"There was something unusual," she began, for once breaking her position and peering at the Emperor's purple clad back. "Lady Kagura invited Lord Sesshoumaru for a discussion," she continued as he watched his posture stiffen. "He agreed."
A sharp rap. Steel met wood as Emperor Amaterasu brought down the tool he held.
"But they only talked about go, Imperial majesty," she quickly interjected in a rush to appease him.
"Of course," he murmured distantly. He whirled to face her. His features were calm, languid even in a marked contrast to his earlier outburst. A gentle smile creased his features at the sight of her.
"Rise, Sango. That's a very uncomfortable position."
A brief hesitation and she obeyed his command.
"Should we look into it more?" a voice rang throughout the room. It was a familiar one.
Sango turned, the tail of her back hair snapping against the force of her movement.
"Miroku! Show some respect!" she exclaimed, scandalized, to the newcomer dressed in the purple robes of a monk.
A rakish smile was returned as the young monk bowed in reverence. "Your Imperial Highness," he murmured, earning a fond smile from its recipient. He straightened, before he gallantly took Sango's hand and placed a kiss. "My dear Sango," he whispered. His breath gently caressed her skin.
She reddened as she snatched her hand back in anger. Her jaw clenched. She looked away, fuming, as Miroku's smile widened. As suddenly as he came, his persona dropped to a more serious demeanor.
"I doubt they were simply talking about go and its rules during ko," he ventured. "Given Sesshoumaru's enmity due to the Northern clan's betrayal years ago, it would have taken much to get him to agree to a private conversation." His dark eyes were intent as he watched his liege lord stare absently at the bare room. Sango caught on the gravity as her form lost its fuming edge to be replaced by that of concern. Her brows furrowed as the two watched the Emperor's eyes linger at the room's only furnishing, the two bonsais that stood on the opposite corners of the smooth dark-grained table.
Seconds ticked by.
"We shall leave it be," Emperor Amaterasu at last spoke.
"Is it wise?" Miroku questioned while Sango hissed at him in outrage in his seeming impertinence.
The Emperor smiled. His hand reached out to gently touch a leaf in a fond caress.
"Miroku, the Fukinagashi and the Bunjin style are the most beautiful forms of bonsai because they are the most unconventional. They recreate nature at its finest," he remarked absently. His hand dropped. "It is the idea of our own powerlessness."
Miroku's lips curved upward. "I stand corrected, my Imperial lord," he murmured as he bowed in a gesture that was reminiscent of a man acknowledging another as his superior after defeat.
The clashing gold and silver eyes stared at the bowed form fondly. Emperor Amaterasu VII was used to Miroku's challenges. It was a marked contrast to Sango's fiercely loyal obedience as well as the other Hayato leaders' close-mouthed deference, and he loved it. It was a refreshing change. He was deeply fond of Sango, but he greatly appreciated the sharp mind that Miroku brought to their reports. Perhaps it may be because the said monk was the one to succeed Mushin as the Abbot of the sect of Tendai, and therefore a seat in the ruling council. Or perhaps it was because Miroku was marked for life due to his grandfather Ryuen. But it did not matter to Amaterasu, Miroku's mind was something he relished and needed, especially with his position as one of the leaders of Hayato. The intelligence they gathered was invaluable, but so much more was the young monk's interpretations which have been never proven wrong.
His eyes it snapped to the pair in front of him. "Continue as normal," the Emperor ordered. He noted the slight furrow of Sango's brow as she bowed in acquiescence. His eyes softened. "Sango," he ventured, catching her doe like eyes. "Do you understand?"
She shook her head, fully knowing what he meant.
"The trees," he began, his voice distant, and gaze piercing. "However mighty, must bend to the wind. The forest, no matter how much its stifles, a seed will one day grow and piece its way out of the forest's contrived darkness."
The two men watched as Sango's face lightened with understand, before she bowed and left. Against her retreating form that slowly disappeared from sight, Emperor Amaterasu observed, "There are so few like her in this world, those without guile."
"Aa," Miroku agreed, his violet orbs soft with affection.
A slanted gaze of like the sun against the gleaming sword.
"How I envy you."
Miroku laughed. It was short, an abrupt burst. His voice scratched the warmth in its bitterness.
"Don't say that," he spoke as his left hand crept to his right, gloved and wrapped with prayer beads.
The otherworldly orbs of the Emperor noted the gesture. It was laden with meaning
"To us with so long lives," he began. "Yours are envied because you have a chance to become like the sakura." His hands rose and met, twisting as they burrowed in the huge silken sleeves. "To rise at the pinnacle and fade away instantly, before your height disintegrates."
Dark eyes stared at the covered hand. The fingers clenched, before it fell limp in the scrutiny. The beads clinked. The two men faced each other.
"But a too short life," Miroku riposted. His gaze was probing. "Does not give the sakura a chance to bloom."
"Perhaps."
The leaves rustled.
Softer, "Perhaps."
"My Lady Kaede," a voice whispered, cutting across the strains of music that seemed to thrum with the heat and the wind. It was addressed to a woman who sat amidst the silk carpets and cushions playing the koto. Her hands weaved through and fro the strings as the frame that with every pluck and strum.
The music never stopped and the woman who sat playing seemed content to glance at the acolyte who called her. Her dark slanted eyes were imperious as she gazed at the nearly prostrate man.
"I have told the masters of your summons," the acolyte continued, his voice hushed in humbled reverence.
She said nothing. Instead, she returned her attention to playing. Her eyes closed languidly and her aura seemed to draw back within her. It was a sign of dismissal, one that people have learned long ago. She was the High Priestess of Atsuta and one of the members of the council of Izumo. She was ranked the highest besides Lady Kagura of the Northern lands in the lesser lords of the council. Kaede bowed to no one, except to the Emperor and in a fashion, to Lord Shigeru who held power over her in his rule over the Eastern lands and with it, the lands of the sect. Even Lord Sesshoumaru who was Minister of the Left and royal could only hold power over her in name.
Men have sung her praises, of her power, her beauty, her silence and her sorrow. But to Kaede, she is first and foremost a priestess, subject to no one's will but theirs. It has made her both a friend and a fiend, a masterful politician whose ambitions lie in fulfilling the whims of the gods and nothing else,
The man rose and shuffled backward in obeisance. The curtains whoosh to a close, where she was once again isolated from the world, in the four corners of the room with its cool rough-hewn stones and luxurious silks. Outside, the desert wind howled and the sun blazed at its zenith.
She saw none of it, for she was far away in her music with its glides, leaps, and distant thrumming. It carried her past the scorching heat to the cool plains, down towards the cities and into the huge white walled palace. Amidst the glittering walls with the milling guards and whispering courtiers, the Lord Higurashi stood alone watching and waiting. His presence loomed yet receded against the onrushing whispers and of intrigues that carefully eroded the strength of the rock to nothingness.
"My Royal Lord Higurashi," she spoke, her voice carried by the thrums of the koto.
He did not move nor respond to her call. To most it would have been a slight that would never be forgotten and would have caused many a conflict, but to them it was different. It was his right, for if the High Priestess of Atsuta was of great power, Lord Higurashi was of even greater power. He was a Royal Lord said to be descended from the gods. He was the Lord of the Eastern lands, the largest of all of the five provinces and the only predominantly human one. He held control over all the religious sects and was the Minister of Right, making him the third most powerful man in the empire. They understood it well as Kaede watched and waited, the knowledge keeping her still and even silent.
"My Lady Priestess," the lord replied after a seemingly infinite of seconds, his voice even colder and more distant than his form. His features seemingly carved from rock as he spoke. This was all he said, and he was silent.
His silence did not bother the High Priestess. She was used to him, even to the point of knowing him so well that it bordered to precognition. It was after all their way of life, to know an enemy, an ally, a superior and even a subordinate in order to survive. It was a necessity in their world of intrigues and shifting alliances. This gave all what she needed to know. There was tension in his form, the anger and annoyance, and the knowledge.
'So he knows,' the thought crossed her mind.
Amusement sparkled on her eyes. He was trapped. Both of them knew it. Yet there was stubbornness in him, speaking volumes on how he would not give up without a fight.
"The Lady Kagome must return immediately to finish the test to become the High Priestess of Ise," she spoke, her voice pitched to reveal nothing but only fact. But it was fact laden with a hint of a warning and respect.
'When she awakens, she must ride immediately,' those words thrummed between them.
"I see," he replied, in a gracious yet not so gracious capitulation. It was a promise yet not a promise, even against the fact that he had no choice for it was stated too plainly and too clearly. Pride kept him from revealing anything. His voice and his words were perfectly bland and controlled. It was as if there was a meaningless reminder and he replied in a meaningless habit. Yet, it was not it. There was more, for underneath that simple exchange was a possible condemnation to a possible death.
Silence passed between them in a battle of meanings. The tension was thick in the uncertainties trying to be made clear. Nothing moved nor stirred except the world that revolved around these two people. In a strangely perverse way, they were so similar yet so different. Each distant with a presence as cold as winter, watching and waiting like a hunter they were. Both were as sharp as blades yet as the High Priestess bent, swung and thrust like a rapier, the Lord of the Eastern Lands cut, towered and heaved like a mighty broadsword.
Both were now hunting. There was a dare and a challenge that shimmered between them.
Then at last, both withdrew with finality. The High Priestess returned to the desert and her cool room with its silks. A smile curved her lips in a mixture of relief and success, softening the sharpness of her oriental features. The koto continued to sing against her hands. Its music flowed in a seeming mockery to the solitary figure in the palace. In a way, it was. Lord Higurashi's features turned glacial, sharpening and matching the ice in his heart. There was a demand for silence from him, yet the music echoed, heedless to his commands.
Notes:
Heian-kyo – Historically, the Japanese capital in 795 was moved to modern-day Kyoto, which at that time was give the name "Heian-kyo," or city of peace and tranquility.
In the story, Heian-Kyo is the name of the capital city which is also the name given to the central lands, a small but richly fertile area that surrounds the capital city and is directly controlled by the Imperial house.
Manjushri – name of a bodhisattva who symbolized the perfection of wisdom and was often depicted riding a lion.
In the story, it is what the conclave is called when the council of Izumo and the Taika legislature meet as one body. The conclave is only convened when the Emperor is gravely ill until the swearing in of his successor, and also at extreme emergencies of a national scale.
Izumo - In Japanese mythology, every year the gods assemble in the holy temple at Izumo where they hold council in order to predestine the love affairs of people. It is here that it is decided who will love whom, and whose love will be requited.
In the story, the Council of Izumo is the primary advisory board of the Emperor. The Emperor is part of this council as well as the 4 lords of the 4 lands/kingdoms. Also part of this council is the youkai leader of the elite knights as well as two administrators, the minister of justice and minister of finance. The other members are the heads of the religious sects, for Shinto from the shrine of Atsuta and from Buddhism, the sect of Tendai.
Lesser lords of the council – The council is a three tiered structure with the Emperor as the first tier, the second tier is known as the Royal lords, which the Ministers of the left and right as well as the youkai head of Hayato. The third tier is known as the lesser lords where the remaining 6 members seat. They are the lowest ranked of all three tiers.
Taika – Historically, Taika (Taika Reform Edicts of Emperor Kotoku) was one of the two most important political innovations of the Shotoku regency. In essence, it founded the Japanese imperial system and government which were modeled after the Chinese government and social practices.
In the story, the legislative is called the Taika legislature and is composed of youkai lords and administrators (those who have passed the exam) that have shown merit in their office. These people are representatives of each the 5 kingdoms. Somewhat like the congress.
Kabuki – Traditional Japanese popular drama with singing and dancing performed in a highly stylized manner. It is described as the theatre of the townspeople and the farmers due to its coarseness and extravagance unlike noh which is more known for its fragile elegance and extreme subtlety. Kabuki was also known for its vivid social commentary on contemporary issues.
Noh – Traditional Japanese theater, known for its restraint where actors are not dramatis personae but storytellers. Metaphor and allusion are more important in noh, not the plot. This was a play typically appreciated by the upper class, especially the samurai, and was used as a ceremonial drama during auspicious occasions. One of the more distinctive traits of noh is the masks worn by the main actor and sometimes his companion.
Go – highly sophisticated board game introduced to Japan from China in the 8th century. It was popular with the aristocrats of both sexes. It was played with smooth black and white stones on a board with 361 intersections. Once a stone has been placed, it cannot be moved. Stones encircled by the enemy are usually forfeited.
Ko - means eternity in Japanese. This is when the moves which produce the same board position are prohibited. Ko stones can only be captured then when the player must play in another part of the board, producing another board position. By the next turn, the Ko stone can be captured.
30 Kyu - In the amateur Go world, 30 kyu is usually the lowest rank. The smaller the kyu, the stronger the player. Above 1 kyu comes 1 dan. As the dan number increases, the player's level gets stronger.
Darkness and Light – Kagura's statement about light and darkness is a reflection of the Japanese reverence for darkness. As the novelist Tanizaki Junichirou wrote about the Japanese's regard for darkness is linked with their affinity for the art that is subdued, quiet, reticent and suggestive.
Hayato – in Japanese mythology, Hoderi (son of Ninigi) was said to be the ancestor of the Hayato tribe in Kagoshima. Historically, Hayato clansmen became guards of the Palace of the Emperor.
In the story, it is the name of the Emperor's Intelligence bureaucracy: Censorate and Ministry of War. This is also the organization the elite knights are part of. Leaders of the Hayato are 2 pairs: a human pair and a youkai pair. The youkai pair are the more visible representatives, the knight holding a seat in the council of Izumo. They are also in charge of the Ministry of war. The human pair are the censorate part or the intelligence bureaucracy. They are in charge of finding out what is going on in the empire, the intrigues and the loyalties of the different lords and administrations as well as any abuse of power done, for example corruption.
Tendai – In Heian times, this Buddhist sect was virtually the state religion. Many emperors relied on the abbots of Mt. Hiei for succor and counsel. It was based on the teachings of the lotus sutra. Austere to an extreme, the monks took 12 years of seclusion before taking their final vows. In time, it became as esoteric and extravagant in ritual as the other sect Shingon.
Fukinagashi – windswept style of bonsai. This style simulates the effect of sustained exposure to strong winds. In this design, each of the branches appears to be "swept" to one side, as if being blown by a strong wind or having large portions of foliage and branches stripped by environmental conditions. These trees are modeled on trees usually found in coastal areas, where strong environmental forces have shaped and sculpted them for years.
Bunjin – called literati style of bonsai. This style is the most unconventional of them all. Bunjin often have long thin trunks which curve back around toward the front at the top, displaying the tree's foliage in a cascading form. This style technically "breaks the rules" in a number of ways, but also imitate trees in nature that have been forced to contort themselves to survive.
Sakura – cherry blossoms. The Emperor's statement about sakura reflects the samurai's ideal of becoming like a sakura blossom which blooms for such a short while before the flowers disappear. This ideal states that a samurai should strive to reach for perfection and while he is at the height of his skills, to 'disappear' before his skills lessens or fade to age.
Koto – a slender stringed instrument resembling a zither; there were several types, including the wagon and the kin.
Author's notes:
Thank you to all who reviewed. I was so happy that this story was warmly received. But I have to say, the real highlight is when an author whose story you greatly respects leaves a review. I'm sure most of you have read Chaos-and-Serenity's story, Torment of Rapture. If any of you haven't, do try to read it. It's a wonderfully written piece of work. A little bit grim and dark, but beautifully done nonetheless. Again, thank you so much all of you. I hope you all like this chapter. Please drop a line. Say what you like, don't like, what needs improvement, etc. It's good to hear your comments. 'Til next time