Legendary Guardian - Celebrations of Life
Youke opened the door to his home and stepped inside. Weary after his long journey, he placed his two packages -- one wrapped and the other in a wooden box -- on the floor at his feet. Removing his weapons belt, he shrugged off his green outer robe and hung both on a peg beside the door.
"Auron," Shana called out from the kitchen. "Is that you?"
"No, it is not." Taking a deep breath and exhaling, Youke extended his right arm over his head. The left began to unclasp the buckles holding his breastplate closed. In no time he was peeling it off his chest like the skin from an orange.
"Youke? What are you doing home?" Shana's voice moved closer. By the time Youke had set the leather and metal shell on the floor, she was filling the archway to the common room. The fifty-year-old looked every bit a Grandmother. Gray flecked brown hair was knotted in a bun atop her head and a cooking smock covered her dress.
Youke couldn't help smiling.
"Is that any way to welcome me?" The grin on his face belied the serious tone with which he made the comment. Youke turned his attention to the removal of his boots. "Where is the boy?"
"I sent him out to play with the other children. He is such a bundle of energy. I hoped going out might wind him down before dinner." Shana wiped her hands with the apron. "I wasn't expecting you for three more days. I'll have to add some dishes to my menu for the evening. I take it the mission went well?"
Youke nodded, his boots removed and positioned beside the door. Picking up his katana and tanto, he crossed the room to place them on the stand. "The situation on the Mi'ihen road was not as bad as the currier suggested. The concentration of fiends was relatively light compared to what we've been seeing the last few months. The only true problem was a particularly strange monster that was feeding on chocobos near the Al Bhed travel stop." Both hands came to his face and its stubble-shadowed planes. Rubbing his temples, he pushed his fingers through his short black hair -- releasing tension from pressure points down to the base of his neck. "Injuries to the squad were minor. We did not even need the healer we brought with us. When I realized the situation was less than dire, I left the healer posted with three guards; dispatched the rest on patrol to the temple at Djose, and made for Luca to catch a boat."
Shana looked a little confused. "Do you mean to tell me you left your men?"
Youke's tone got defensive. "I had two very capable lieutenants with me, one of whom I will be promoting to Captain soon. I did not think it necessary --" He stopped. "Why am I justifying my decisions to you? I expected, and got, this out Farrell. You, of all people, should know why I wanted so badly to be home today."
Shana put her hands up in mock defense and shook her head. "I'm just surprised. That's all. It wasn't an accusation. Though, if your reaction is an indication, I'd say you're feeling guilty."
"I'm sorry, Shana. You are right." Youke looked a bit sheepish. "I second-guessed the decision from the moment I rented the chocobo. I am surprised that I didn't wear a hole in the floor planks of the boat from pacing. Farrell understood. In fact, he even apologized for forgetting and sending me in the first place." He moved to stand between the open shoji screens that led to the rear courtyard. "I just couldn't miss today."
Shana nodded and came to stand beside him. Both looked out at the deceptively simple looking rock garden and the dojo beyond. "I know. It's been a hard year for you both, but especially difficult for Auron." She patted Youke's arm. "His name-day will probably always be bittersweet now. We must do our best to be sure it is filled with more than just grief for his father."
It was hard to believe that Sin's attack near Kilika been only a year ago. It seemed like more. So much had changed in such a short time. Shana glanced sidelong at the boy she had raised. It seemed only yesterday that Youke and Youri had come into the world, so small and fragile. Though she knew he was twenty-seven, it was hard to look past the years of changed diapers and scraped kneecaps to see Youke as the surrogate father and commander of legions he had become.
Yet, as he stood cascaded in light from the courtyard, his arms crossed over his bare chest; wearing nothing but his piped black leather travel trousers, Shana began to truly see. At six and a half spans Youke towered over her. He had his father's strong jaw line, dark hair, and broad shoulders but the graceful fluid lines of him were his mothers entire. Tamon had been a renowned sword maker when he wasn't fighting with the guard. His powerful frame had been a massive tangle of sinew and muscle hardened by years at the forge. Grace was not a word one would have associated with Youke's father; he had lacked the fluidity of his son. Yoshi, his mother, had given Youke that gift -- that and his mocha colored eyes. Scars from battle marked Youke's arms and chest, accentuating his lean frame. The sadness he carried with him now only seemed to add an air of mystery to his chiseled face. Shana suddenly realized that Youke was what some might term devastatingly handsome.
"Shana?" Youke was looking straight at her with an odd expression. "Are you all right?"
The realization that she'd been staring at him sent blood rushing to her face. Her hand was brushing against the hair at his temple. When had she done that? "I'm fine." She quickly turned to go to the kitchen before he noticed her blushing like a teenager. "You know, I think you might be getting gray at the temples, Youke," Shana tossed over her shoulder to hide her embarrassment.
"Gray? Are you mad?" Youke stood watching Shana walk away from him in a hurry. The bewildered young man knew that whatever had bothered Shana, it wasn't his hair. But, if she didn't want to talk about it, he guessed it was her privilege.
"Shana," he called, "I'm going out to the dojo for a while. I brought a cask of sake home from Luca for tonight and a present for Auron. If you could put them away for me before he comes home…"
A light rain fell as they prepared to eat dinner. Auron was overjoyed to have Youke home for his name-day.
Shana had taken pains to out do herself for the celebration, preparing all of Auron's favorites and a few of Youke's. Thinly sliced raw fish, seaweed salad, plum pickles, steamed buns, filled rice cakes, lightly deep-fried vegetables, a clay pot of udon, and steamed rice were arrayed on a spinning tray in the center of the table. A fresh magnolia flower had been set on Auron's napkin with his chopsticks. An identical fourth place had been set for Auron's missing father in memory of the anniversary of his death.
"Auron, today is a very special day. Today you turn five." Youke smiled brought in the sake cask and lacquered masu to the table. "This is a very auspicious occasion. Come help me break the seal on the cask. We will drink to your health, to the memory of Aurik, and to good fortune for you in the year ahead."
The little boy's eyes were huge with delight. Auron came to stand beside Youke. He had never had sake and was very excited by this turn of events before dinner. Adults drank sake.
Uncle and nephew each took a mallet and on Youke's count of three, cracked the seal of the cask. Shana handed the serving pieces to Youke. He held a masu while Auron filled it. The boy then presented it to Shana.
After Auron filled another, Youke filled one for him saying, "it is important to never allow someone to fill his or her own sake cup, Auron. And don't worry about draining your cup on the first time."
The boy nodded vigorously.
"Many years of long life and health to Auron, who is five today," said Youke holding his masu aloft. "Kanpai!"
"Kanpai!" Shana responded.
"Kanpai!" chirped young Auron a moment later.
Youke and Shana glanced at each other and grinned. The adults slowly raised their masu to their lips to ensure that Auron knew it was time to take a drink. They were both watching to see the boy's reaction to his first taste of alcohol.
Auron's nose scrunched as the container neared his mouth and he inhaled the fragrance. It smelled kind of like a flower and kind of like that stuff his mother had put on his chest when he was sick. He looked suspiciously at the two adults. They didn't seem to mind it. He slurped some of the liquid into his mouth like his uncle. At first he didn't taste anything but when he swallowed, everything changed.
In a tight little motion, Auron's face puckered. Eyes squinted and shoulders raised, a little quiver passed over his body. A squeaking noise came out of him as he rubbed his tongue against the roof of his mouth; lips smacking in an effort to figure out what had just happened.
Shana had to cover her mouth with her hand so Auron couldn't see that she was biting her lip to keep from busting out laughing. Youke clenched his teeth and took a deep breath to gain some composure. He pointedly ignored the housekeeper. "Auron? Are you all right?"
Auron was now looking intently at Youke for some kind of sign as to what he should do or say. He wasn't sure he wanted any more of this sake stuff. It was strange. He couldn't even begin to describe how it tasted. It wasn't bad. It was just, well, weird.
"Uncle Youke, is it supposed to taste…um…funny?"
Tears were now welling in Shana's eyes. She was not sure that she was going to be able to keep from laughing. The boy had the oddest look on his face – as if he were simultaneously repulsed by and attracted to the liquid in the box.
"Well Auron," Youke said with a chuckle, "it has been so long since I started drinking sake that I do not recall ever thinking that it did."
Auron seemed confused. "Then, if it doesn't taste weird," he asked, "what does it taste like to you?"
This one had Youke stumped. He looked over at the woman next to him hoping she could help him out. It was quickly obvious that Shana was both unable and unwilling.
"Well, I am so used to it that it just tastes like sake. Sake doesn't really taste like anything else. Depending on who made the sake, I sometimes think it smells kind of like a flower or a fruit." Youke's brow furrowed a bit as he tried to give the boy a truthful response that answered his question. He wasn't sure he was going to be able. "I am sorry Auron, I do not know if I helped. Would you rather not drink anymore?"
Auron didn't know if his uncle helped either but he decided that if Youke liked it then it must be good. If he understood it correctly, the more sake you drank the better it tasted. He decided he must not have had enough yet. Straighening he said, "I am fine, uncle Youke. I just need more."
Youke was not convinced that Auron had the right idea, but there were two more ritual toasts to perform. "You are sure?" he asked.
Auron nodded.
"All right." Youke lifted the small lacquer box a second time. Darting a glance at Shana, he checked that she would be able to drink without spitting it out. Since the next toast was to the dead, it simply would not be appropriate for something like that to occur. The woman seemed composed enough. Fine.
"May we never forget Aurik, Auron's father, whom we loved so dearly. May he live forever in our hearts. Kanpai!"
"Kanpai!" This time Auron said the word at the same time as Shana. Without prompting, he swiftly brought the sake to his mouth. Instead of taking a small slurp like last time, he decided to take a good size mouthful. He tipped his head back and the liquid rushed right forward. It also rushed out. Mouth completely full of sake, and some on his chin, Auron clamped his lips closed to stop the overflow. His small cheeks were bulged out like a saru,; his eyes huge. Youke and Shana looked on in shock as Auron struggled to swallow.
The boy emitted a little startled cough when he got it all down. The little quiver from the toast before became a full-blown shudder. Auron shivered from head to toe gasping for breath. His liquid brown eyes were watering, and he was forced to squint and sniffle. Finally, his body back under some kind of control, Auron turned his attention to Youke and Shana.
The adults were practically agape at what they had just witnessed. All Youke could do was blink at the boy.
"I think that's enough sake for now, Auron." Shana took the masu from the boy and moved it discreetly next to hers. It was empty. She pointedly kicked the astonished Youke under the table. "Wouldn't you say so, Youke?"
Startled by the unexpected pain, Youke jerked his head in the direction of the older woman. He was getting a pretty pointed stare. Ah well, no ritual toast number three. "Yes. I think so. Now, let us eat the wonderful meal Shana has prepared before it gets cold."
