A cool breeze drifted through the window, the morning air pleasant against Kyoko's skin. She yawned, rolling over in her bed enjoying the comfort of her sheets. For a moment she couldn't remember why she was waking up so early, or why she was so excited. Then it hit her.
Today is the start of the festival!
Kyoko threw back the sheets of her bed, completely awake. A second later she remembered the other occupants of the room. They probably wouldn't be to happy if she woke them at this early hour. Scolding herself, she got dressed and attempted to quietly tiptoe past the beds.
One of the woman in the nearest bed shifted, then sat up, rubbing bleary eyes to blink at Kyoko. Her long black hair was sticking up in odd places, obviously only half awake.
"Sorry for waking you up Utako." said Kyoko signaling her apology with her hand. "I was trying to be quiet."
The concubine stared at Kyoko for another second, her eyes roaming Kyoko's appearance as if trying to understand something. She frowned, sliding out of bed and grabbing Kyoko's wrist. Bewildered, Kyoko allowed Utako to drag her back to her side of the room.
Utako let go, delving into Kyoko's wardrobe and riffling through her things. She grabbed some clothes, jewelry, and shoes, then shoved the lot into Kyoko's arms.
"Put on some makeup." she said, then stumbled back into her bed, falling asleep almost as soon as she hit the sheets.
Kyoko couldn't help chucking at Utako's antics. The woman was a quiet one, but she seemed to have warmed up to Kyoko this past week. Not that she could be completely sure, the concubine didn't say much.
Upon examining the things Utako had given her, she recognized them as clothes that were used for special occasions... like a festival.
Kyoko smacked her head with her palm. Of course! Kyoko had been so excited she had forgotten to pick something special to wear for the occasion. She had dressed in her usual clothes out of habit.
She gave a silent thanks to Utako before putting on the outfit Utako had assembled for her, then sat in front of her vanity set to do her makeup. Unfamiliar with makeup in general, she settled with some light eyeliner on top of her eyelids and some rouge to brighten her cheeks. The differences were small, but Kyoko was satisfied with the changed it made to her appearance.
She stood up, biting back her surprise when she was herself in the mirror. Festival outfits were truly something else. Her shirt was mostly a soft blue with lines of gold decorating the bodice. It was cut short, revealing her stomach, and admittedly making her a little embarrassed. Her shoulders poked out from sleeves that ended partway down her upper arm. A trail of chiffon extended from the edge of the sleeves to her wrist where they were bound with a gold bracelet. She also wore a head covering made from the same material as her sleeves with medallions hanging from the sides. The skirt was long, a slit on the side revealing the purple harem pants she wore underneath. Coupled together with the makeup she had put on, Kyoko hardly recognized herself.
It's almost as if I'm a princess. She thought, staring at her reflection for a few more seconds. It was like the first day in the harem all over again, wearing beautiful clothing and makeup to turn into someone else. What girl didn't love dressing up? It made her feel special and a fake all at the same time. She still wasn't used to dressing like Utako and the others did. It made her self conscious, but today was special after all.
Kyoko smiled, giving one last turn in front of the mirror. She was allowed to indulge a little, especially since everyone else was sure to do the same.
Careful not to wake anyone this time, she left her room, racing towards the front gates. Once there, she found the person she would be spending the day with.
"You look beautiful Maria." said Kyoko, smiling at the young girl. Maria smiled back, doing a turn in her festival outfit.
"Grandad got it for me." she said, brushing her hands down her long skirt. "You look great as well sister!" Maria's outfit was much like Kyoko's, with sheers sleeves and a head covering decorated with jewels and lace. The main difference being the absence of her stomach showing.
Maria had asked to spend the first day of the festival with Kyoko, who had immediately agreed. She'd never gone to a large festival before and didn't know what to expect. Besides that, she wasn't sure if any of the other concubines would have enjoyed spending the day with her. Risa and Utako would probably have allowed her to tag along, but where there was Risa, there was Yumi, and Kyoko didn't want to be a pain. There were still too many confused feelings between everyone to get along with them all.
In the end, Maria's offer was gratefully received.
"Do you want to do some shopping before we go to the opening ceremony?" said Kyoko
"Of course!" said Maria, glowing in excitement. "I'll show you where all the best stands are."
Taking her hand, Maria dragged Kyoko down the street, their guards and Maria's maid trailing behind them.
Kyoko had been watching the decorations for the festival going up for weeks, but she wasn't ready for what she saw. The capital was truly different from her home town of Nembu. The usual stands that lined the street were all decorated with bright cloth and beads, each with at least one variation of the sun on it. She spotted a few renditions of a Phoenix, representing their guardian spirit. Everyone wore head covers, the women with sheer sleeves and a single desert rose.
Sounds accosted Kyoko on all sides, the happy chatter and laughter of people enjoying the start of the festival. Musicians were on several corners, mixing their music into the buzz. Performers danced and did tricks in every square while vendors advertised their goods to everyone that passed. The first place Kyoko and Maria visited was a stand selling desert roses. They each bought one, Kyoko affixing the yellow rose into Maria's hair while the girl tied one to Kyoko's wrist. They giggled as they admired their flowers.
"I've always wanted to buy one of these." said Kyoko, turning over the rose on her wrist. "But I never had any extra money to spend on them. They're so pretty."
"Did Kuon give you spending money?" asked Maria.
"A little." said Kyoko. In truth, every woman in the harem was given a monthly allowance to spend however they wanted. She'd actually been horrified at the amount she'd been given, the coins totaling more than what her clinic back home had made in a year. The prince had been very amused when she's given him the money back, telling him to donate it to someone who needed it. He'd then bullied her into keeping some of it, somehow making it appear that she was ungrateful.
Though it galled her that he was so loose with money, she had to admit that she was grateful for it. Since she was only an apprentice, she didn't make any money at Lory's clinic. That would hopefully change once she got her license.
They reached another stand, one selling different kinds of charms for the occasion. Each one was different, some made from stone, others from cloth, each with a single prayer glyph inscribed on it. Kyoko lifted one up, examining the magical glyph inscribed into the smooth stone that dangled from a red string. She recognized it as a prayer for wisdom.
"Yuusei." said Kyoko, addressing her guard. "Which one do you think Hikaru would like?"
Yuusei, the third of the Ishibashi brothers, walked up to her.
"You getting something for leader?" he asked, surprised. Even though Hikaru wasn't around anymore, the other two Ishibashi's still called him leader. They didn't know exactly why he had been sent away, but she was sure they suspected it had something to do with the poisoning incident.
"I thought he might like one." said Kyoko. "I wanted to thank him somehow for always taking care of me. I didn't really get to say goodbye to him..."
"How about this one?" said Maria, holding up a charm. The glyph, "Height" was inscribed onto it.
Yuusei gave a snort of laughter while Kyoko scowled. "Somehow, I don't think he'd be too pleased getting that." Hikaru had always been self conscious about being the shortest of the three brothers, despite being the eldest.
Maria laughed and the three of them happily spent a few minutes arguing which one they should give Hikaru. Eventually Kyoko settled on a gray ceramic slab with the glyph meaning "loyal friend" painted in gold. Eventually Maria noticed that Kyoko had quite a few charms selected to buy.
"I was planning on getting one for everyone that's helped me out since being in the palace." said Kyoko in answer to her query. "There's Duke Takarada, Kurosaki, Yukihito, some of the concubines..." she counted them off on her fingers, making sure not to forget anyone.
"What about Kuon?" asked Maria suddenly. "Aren't you going to get him one?"
"Probably not." said Kyoko. She had considered getting Kuon a charm, but decided against it after realizing he probably got plenty of them each year. She'd rather get him something different. After all, out of everyone she really did owe him the most for letting her into the palace, even if it was by force at the beginning.
"Are you going to get a charm for anyone?" Kyoko asked Maria.
"Yup." said Maria, holding up a charm. The glyph 'Love' was inscribed into it. "I'm giving this to Kuon."
The smallest expression of distaste flickered across Kyoko's expression. Maria didn't seem to notice. There was a common tradition and myth that if you gave someone a "love" charm, and they gave you one in return, the two were destined to be together.
"What about getting one for your dad?" said Kyoko, putting one back on the stand. "Are you going to get him one?"
Maria didn't answer.
Kyoko glanced at Maria, noticing how the girl had frozen. Her bottom lip was trembling, eyes staring down at the glyph in her hand.
"No." she finally whispered. "I'm not going to get him anything. He wouldn't want one anyway."
I thought so. Thought Kyoko. She doesn't have a good relationship with her dad. Kyoko had seen the man a few times, always from afar. He had always seemed like a good person to her. Why did Maria think so ill of her father?
"Well I guess that's fine." said Kyoko not looking at Maria as she spoke. "He'd probably just throw it out anyway."
From the corner of her eye, she saw Maria's head snap up to stare at Kyoko.
"Why would you say that?" said Maira, her voice trembling. Kyoko gave a shrug, pretending indifference.
"Well, charms are relatively cheap." said Kyoko. "He probably wouldn't care much about such a sentimental item with so little value."
Maria seemed to sink into the ground, as if a rock had pressed against her body. From the corner of Kyoko's eyes, she could see Maria's maid turning white, mouth open in horror at the things Kyoko was saying to Maria. Even Yuusei looked surprised.
"Besides" said Kyoko, ignoring the scandalized looks she was getting. "It's not like he actually cares."
"Yes he does!" said Maria, some of the life snapping back into her. "He cares a lot!"
"Oh?" Kyoko straightened from her crouch, tilting her head towards Maria. "And what makes you say that?"
"He- He always give me money and tells me to get something from him to myself." said Maria,
"Isn't he just buying your happiness?" said Kyoko. "He has to keep up appearances you know. He's too busy to spend time on you."
"No he's not." said Maria, desperate to find some ground. Eyes full of tears, she glared at Kyoko. "Each time he gives me a gift he also sends a note, hoping that I'll like it and asking how my day was."
"How do you even know it's from him?" said Kyoko. "He could just ask his assistant to take care of it. It's not like he actually picks the gifts or anything."
"Ugh, you are so rude!" said Maria.
"Well it's not like you've taken the time to actually talk to him." said Kyoko. "You're too busy making trouble for everyone else. What do you actually know about your father?"
Maria froze, eyes wide as she started trembling. One tear, then several started pouring from her eyes. Maria's maid, who had come out of her shock, hurried next to Maria, shielding her from Kyoko.
"It's alright Maria." said the maid, pulling out a handkerchief and glaring at Kyoko. "It's fine. You're dad really does love you. He doesn't blame you one bit."
The words snapped Maria out of her trance, glancing at the maid and then at Kyoko. Comprehension dawned on Maria, her eyes lighting up as the life came back into her. She stared at the maid, then back at Kyoko.
"You're right." said Maria, sounding like she was far away. "At every festival, he always gives me a charm that says he loves me." Detaching herself from the maid, Maria put her hands on her hips, staring at her 'older sister'.
"He loves me." Maria said again, though now it sounded more like a plea.
Kyoko knelt down. She took a charm from the stand with the word "Love" inscribed into it then placed it into Maira's hands, closing her fingers around it.
"Then don't you think he'd want a charm from his cute little daughter?" said Kyoko, smiling warmly at Maria.
Maria bit her lip, eyes still red from her crying. She examined the charm in her hands.
"I'm too scared to." she confessed, eyes still downward.
Kyoko put a finger to her lips, thinking quickly. Then she got an idea. She quickly sorted through the charms she had bought, finding two specific one's. She held them up for Maria to see the two glyphs inscribed into them. One said "little sister" the other said "Courage".
"How about I let you borrow some of my strength?" said Kyoko, tying the charms to Maria's sash. "After all, it is the older sister's duty to watch over her little sister."
The small girl smiled, her face positively glowing with happiness. She launched herself at Kyoko. "Thank you!" she said, hugging Kyoko.
Kyoko stroked Maria's hair, hoping to soothe the girl. She loved Maria with all her heart, truly she was a like a little sister to Kyoko. She hoped that this was the beginning of healing the scar that was in her heart.
It was soon time to go to the opening ceremony. The group stopped their shopping and made their way towards the stadium, approaching the crowd of people trying to get in. The stadium was huge, but it couldn't fit everyone in the city, let alone all the guests from out of town. Many people had taken up refuge on the roofs of the adjacent buildings, hoping to catch a glimpse of the events happening inside. The tallest roofs were packed full of people, many dangling their legs off the edge. One of the nice things about being a concubine and a Duchess meant they were guaranteed spots in the special raised stands.
The crowd parted for them, recognizing the uniform of the palace guards. It was only then that Kyoko noticed the many stares she and Maria were getting from everyone else.
This is so strange Thought Kyoko, noticing many of them gave bows to Kyoko and Maria as they passed. Since living in the palace I've gotten used to Dukes and Lords and other things. I forgot that I'm technically not considered part of the common people anymore. It was weird, especially since she didn't feel like there was any difference between her and the people that were parting for them to pass. Sure, she was better fed, washed and dressed the them, but that was it. She had been no different them little more than a month ago.
They entered the stadium, walking up the steps connected to the inner ring of the building. There were a few general guards standing at the entrances, making sure only those allowed were able to enter the seating area. It was already mostly full of the upper class, colored robes and jewels sparkling in the sunlight. Near the tallest point, she saw Kuon and all the other concubines. Duke Takarada and a few other higher nobles were seated close by as well.
"Kuon!" yelled Maria, sprinting up the stairs.
"Be careful not to trip!" Kyoko yelled after Maria, not knowing if the girl heard her. She couldn't help but chuckle when she did stumble, only to shoot back up again after Kuon.
"I don't understand how she can have this much energy in this heat." said Kyoko, fanning herself with a hand. She noticed that the place they would be staying had a canopy. Thank goodness. "I'm already starting to melt. I think I've gone soft living in the palace."
Maria's maid pulled out a fan and handed it to Kyoko.
"Here." she said "Use this."
"Are you sure?" said Kyoko, not wanting to deprive the woman of her fan.
"I always have a few extra, since Maria tends to lose hers all the time."
"Thank you, er... I just realized I don't know your name." said Kyoko, giving a nervous laugh.
The maid seemed startled Kyoko had asked.
"Airi Oohara" she said, sheepishly.
"Thank you Airi." said Kyoko, unfolding the fan and fanning herself. The breeze was a godsend!
"Lady Kyoko." said Airi, hesitant. "Is it alright if I make a comment?"
"Of course." said Kyoko, surprised at the woman's formality.
"Earlier with Maria, you had me worried. I didn't know what you were thinking to tell Maria all those things."
The fan paused as Kyoko thought back on the previous conversation.
"I'm honestly a little shocked myself." said Kyoko, continuing the fan's movement. "I knew Maria had some sort of problem with her father and that she didn't trust adults. It just all sort of came out before I could stop myself."
"Do you know why Maria doesn't trust adults?" asked Airi.
"It has something to do with her mother doesn't it?" said Kyoko.
Airi nodded.
Kyoko thought back to when she'd given Maria the crystal aster, and her choice of words. "Do you think my mom wants to see me?" Well, it was a good question, and implied that Maria wasn't sure if her mother loved her. Then after hearing Maria's declaration that her father didn't care about her... Kyoko just felt like she needed to do something. After all, it was possible for a parent to hate their own child, but Maria's dad didn't seem like the type to do that, unlike Kyoko's own mother.
"No, I don't know what happened with Maria's family." said Kyoko, watching the girl talking animatedly on Kuon's lap. A few of the closer concubines were openly glaring at the little girl who was paying them no heed. "I'll wait until Maria is ready to tell me. For now I will support her in whatever way possible. If that means giving her a little shove when she needs it, I'll gladly oblige."
Kyoko and Airi had made it to the top. Their guards stationed themselves on the outer edge of the stand along with the other guards present.
No wonder Yuusei and Shinichi were fighting for who got to accompany me today. Thought Kyoko. He got a great view of the entire opening ceremony.
"Ah, good morning Lady Kyoko." said Duke Takarada, who was sitting in one of the seats by the aisle.
"Good morning Duke Takrarda" said Kyoko giving a curtsey.
"Did you and Maria enjoy your morning shopping?" said Takarada.
"We did." said Kyoko. At that moment, Maria had decided to come back from sitting on Kuon's lap, now tackling her grandfather.
"Grandpa, Grandpa! Guess what!" she said eagerly pulling out one of the charms they had bought. "Look at what I got for dad."
Takarada's eyes widened in shock, looking at the symbol on the small stone. He shot a quick glance at Kyoko before turning back to his granddaughter, beaming.
"That's wonderful Maria." said Takarada, giving her a hug. "I'm sure your dad will love it. He should be here soon, you can give it to him then."
"So soon?" said Maria, swallowing nervously. "I don't know..." She glanced at Kyoko. "Big sister, will you come sit with us for the ceremony!"
"Of course." said Kyoko, moving to sit down. Maria jumped off her grandfather to sit between them, hugging Kyoko's arm. The girl had obviously changed the subject, still scared to give the charm to her dad.
"I'm still not sure about this." said Maria softly so only Kyoko could hear.
"Don't go backing out of this now." said Kyoko, giving Maria a tap on the head with her fan. "Though it is a little soon. How about we set a specific time for you to give it to him? Then we can be ready and I can be there for moral support."
"Yeah." said Maria, nodding quickly. "I like that idea."
From her peripherals, Kyoko could see Lory paying close attention to their conversion, a mixture of disbelief and pride in his expression. A moment later, Maria's father came by. He looked like a younger, calmer version of his father, with dark hair slicked back and a clean shaven face. He wore the sash of a Duke, the color and pattern matching the one Lory wore.
He greeted his father, talking for a moment with Lory before turning to his daughter.
"Did you have fun this morning?" he asked Maria, his eyes softening as he talked to his daughter.
Maria nodded, gripping the sleeves on Kyoko's outfit as if it were an anchor. She curled up in her seat, physically shying away from her father to huddle near Kyoko. Her father, Kouki, shared a look with Lory, who just shook his head with a grimace. Kouki took the seat beside Lory, continuing their previous conversation about current affairs.
Kyoko watched the whole exchange with interest, feeling a few of her suspicions confirmed. Maria's dad did love her but there was something that kept Maria from seeing it.
"The ceremony is about to start." said Kyoko, jostling Maria to get her to pay attention. The girl slowly detached herself from Kyoko, staring out into the arena.
There was a small platform that jutted out from their seats. Standing in the middle was Ruriko, holding a rod with a large ruby situated in the top of the staff. She gripped it tight with both hands, the stone level with her head. She stood tall, proud and confident as she prepared to start.
Kyoko couldn't help a flare of excitement. She hadn't seen the ceremony since it had been changed to suit Ruriko's voice.
The woman breathed in, then began to sing.
The sound was pure, high and beautiful. It carried across the whole stadium, amplified by the stone in her hand. The roaring of the crowd quickly quieted, the sound of her voice almost commanding everyone to stop and listen.
It took Kyoko a moment to recognize the song. It was an arranged version of an old travelers song, telling the tale of a the kingdom's beginning. It was a happy song, with a touch of longing in the lyrics as the first soon to be king traveled through the deserts, overcoming as sorts of harsh challenges.
A few measures in, Ruriko began channeling her magic.
A cloud of yellow sparks blossomed from her staff blowing around the stadium like the endless desert, and in the middle a figure of a man appeared, blurry and hazy, but the symbol of the sun on his back was distinct. The figure began to move, gliding forward slowly as Ruriko sang of the city he built. Lights swelled in to being all around the stadium in all different colors, they were not as distinctly human as the first, but they bustled around the stadium like people in a city. Children near the front giggled as the lights danced near. But Ruriko's song changed. The tune now minor, and threatening. The lights began fading one by one. And a black figure grew in front of the first figure.
At this point Kyoko glanced at Ruriko, this would be the hardest part. All figures were gone but the black and white, but light zoomed back and forth, simulating their battle just as Ruriko sang it. The darkness seemed to be pressing, the light beginning to fade, Ruriko's song grew louder, more frantic in it's tune, until; "Rosa!" The words echoed around the stadium as the beautiful image of a Phoenix burst to life, completely extinguishing the dark figure, and hovered in mid air. The crowd erupted into applause, the sound ringing in Kyoko's ears. Maria actually clamped her hands over her ears, the noise apparently too much for her.
"Amazing!" said Kyoko, barely able to hear her voice over the noise. "That was absolutely incredible!"
"Did you say something?" said Maria, glancing at Kyoko while pulling one hand from her ear. Kyoko shared a look with Airi, who just shrugged, a smile on her lips.
"It's time for Kuon's speech, you're going to miss it." said Kyoko, pointing at the top of the platform where Kuon now stood.
The prince was dressed for the occasion, looking every bit the part of a prince. His robes were specially detailed with intricate designs, several thick gold necklaces spanning across his chest. A red sash was draped over one shoulder, the insignia of the sun visible as it trailed down his back to wrap around his waist. His head was covered, the cloth decorated with a circled and chains of gold hanging around the cloth.
As she examined him, she felt as if she was witnessing a new side to him. After all, she had met Kuon the person before actually meeting Kuon the prince. He played the part well, her eyes naturally drawn to him, an indescribable strength radiating from where he stood. She had always know that the distinction between them was there, but this was the first time she felt it so acutely. It was a little lonely how far away he felt at the moment.
Kuon was smiling, patiently waiting for the applause to quiet down before speaking, and when he did, his voice was also enchanted to carry.
"Welcome everyone, to this years light festival." he said. "Over a thousand years ago, to this day, the Kingdom of Ashuron was founded by the first King, Hikari Hizuri, and his guardian spirit. The same spirit which continues to protect and serve the people of it's kingdom. We take this day to celebrate and-"
"I hate speeches." grumbled Maria beside Kyoko. The girl slouched down in her seat, blowing a strand of hair from her face. "They're so boring."
"It won't be that long." said Kyoko. "Besides, aren't you excited to see prince Kuon being all princely?"
"He does look extra handsome." said Maria, brightening slightly as she gazed at the prince. "None of the other guys can hold a candle to him." Kyoko was a little surprised about the comment. It suggested that Maria understood the feelings that drew people together, and Kyoko didn't mean platonic feelings either. The girl seemed to understand some things more than most children her age.
Prince Kuon ended shortly after, the crowd erupting into applause. Kyoko clapped as well, excited to see the rest of the opening ceremony.
"You were amazing!" said Kyoko, practically hopping up and down. The ceremony had just ended, signaling the official start of the festival. Kyoko had joined the people getting up, running to where Ruriko was to congratulate her on her performance. The Duchess was already surrounded in well wishers, her father standing not too far off.
Ruriko just shrugged, as if it was no big deal, but the glee on her face gave her away. She was obviously tired from the show, but the high from performance was still in her. "Of course I was." she said, "It's in my blood to be extraordinary. "
"I loved what you did with the Phoenix at the end." said Kyoko, "When the light all came together and then boom! Bust into wings."
"I added that part myself." said Ruriko, a smug expression on her face. "Though I must say, the best part was actually the battle."
"Yea I loved when the purple light tried to surround king Hizuri, but he deflected it and shot another spell with his other hand."
"I know." said Ruriko, nodding in approval to everything Kyoko was saying. Some of her composure leaving her as Kyoko's excitement seeped into her. "That was the most exhilarating thing I've ever done!"
The two girls giggled for a moment, before Ruriko seemed to realize what she was doing. She coughed lightly into her fist, returning to her previous indifferent face.
"Anyway, thank you for your support." She said "I'm glad that you enjoyed the event."
"Of course." said Kyoko, beaming.
Ruriko was approached by another person, and Kyoko allowed herself to slip into the background. Ruriko might act cold, but it was obvious the woman had warmed up to Kyoko. Perhaps they weren't friends, but they were at least a step away from it.
Kyoko noticed a group climbing the steps of the stands. Yumi and a group of concubines were making their way towards Kuon. The group had been part of the dancer number from earlier in the opening show, the whole thing so magnificent it had made Kyoko cry.
"Hello Yumi." Kyoko called to the group. "Midori, everyone. You guys were amazing!"
"Thanks Kyoko." said one of the girls, the group pausing to talk to her, or at least, most of the group paused. Yumi kept walking, ignoring Kyoko's presence. Kyoko noticed with little surprise that she went straight towards Kuon, immediately engaging him in conversation. Kyoko's eyes lingered on the scene for a moment, contemplating going to talk to Kuon as well. He was surrounded by nobles at the moment, Yumi only getting to him because of her naturally tall stature and commanding personality. Kyoko decided now was not the time. Ever since she and Yumi had talked in Okami's shop, Yumi had kept her promise to not be friendly with Kyoko. The woman saw Kyoko as a threat... whatever that meant.
"What do you guys plan on doing for the rest of the day?" said Kyoko, making conversation. This group of woman seemed to have warmed up to her enough to chat in a friendly manner.
"Some of us are going shopping." said Midori, gesturing to the group. "I think the rest are going back to the castle."
"It's just too hot outside." complained a concubine, some of the girls interjecting their own comments about the heat. It was nice to see the friendly chatter, again realizing how different the harem was once you got on the girl's good side. Now, if only she could get to that point.
"Anyway, would you like to come with us?" said Midori, turning back to Kyoko.
The offer was so unexpected that she didn't respond immediately. Did that mean they were starting to accept her?
"I'd love to." said Kyoko quickly. "Except, well... I already promised to watch someone fight in the battle royal tournament today."
"Who?" said Midori, curious.
Kyoko hesitated, not wanting them to misunderstand her. She wasn't so naive to think that there wouldn't be some jealousy when she said who it was, but there was no point in lying since they'd probably find out anyway.
"Shin" said Kyoko.
The surprise she expected was there, a few of the girls muttering something about a gold digger. Midori gave a smirk, the bitterness obvious in her voice. "How is it that you snare the attention of the royal family so easily"
Yell at them, or mistake them for fairy princes thought Kyoko, sure they wouldn't know what to think of the real answer. Instead she just shrugged, waving her hand. "It's not what you're thinking and don't deny it Midori, I can see it in your face. He wants to pick on me since I mistook him for someone else when I first met him. He did say that he planned to invite some of the other concubines..." she trailed off, not wanting to tell them they hadn't been part of that group he planned to invite. One of the girls snorted.
"Oh, that makes more sense." she said, as if gaining an Epiphany. "Utako was one of them wasn't she?"
"Yeah." said Kyoko, wondering how they knew. "What, is there something I should know?" The rest of the girls nodded at each other, seeming to realize the same thing. It must have been an inside joke.
"It's cause you're his type." said Midori, laughing at the confusion on Kyoko's face. "It's the hair. He likes girls with black hair."
"Oh." said Kyoko, not sure if they were being serious or not. With Shin, you never could be sure.
"Where is he anyway?" said one of the woman, looking around. "Why wasn't he in the stands?"
"Who knows." said another. "Probably found another black haired girl to flirt with."
The rest fell into conversation, talking about Shin and their plans for the evening. Kyoko quietly slipped into the background, sending her goodbyes and making her way back to where she had been seated. Maria was already there, digging into some food that had been brought to her. Kyoko realized that she was hungry - and thirsty!- eagerly joining Maria in her lunch.
The young Duchess was more than willing to stay with Kyoko to watch the battle royal tournament. At first Kyoko was concerned that the fights would be too violent for the young girl, but Airi said it was fine, so she dropped the argument. They were half way through their meal when a familiar voice entered their conversation.
"I'm glad to see you two are enjoying the festivities."
Kyoko glanced up to see Kuon beside her, looking even more splendid up close. The designer had made sure to accentuate all the best features of the prince. The outfit complemented his naturally toned body, emphasizing his height. The sapphires on his outfit accentuated his eyes perfectly, bringing out their purest color in the sun. It didn't even look like he was sweating! Open shirt or not, that wasn't human. He was probably cheating, using a spell to keep himself cool.
Kyoko didn't realize she was staring until she felt a finger poke her side. She jumped, glaring at the offending pointer.
"What are you glaring at me for?" said Kuon, seemingly amused. "Are you trying to curse me?"
Kyoko grumbled. "How are you not sweating in this heat?" she asked, her eyes narrowing. "What spell are you using? Is it possible for me to replicate it?"
Kuon raised a brow.
"It's the same spell that's enchanted into your fan." said Kuon, pointing at the item in her hand. "Have you not used one yet?"
"Oh." Kyoko examined her fan and indeed she saw a magic circle inscribed into the hilt of the fan. Since the spell wasn't enchanted into a gem, it would take more energy, but not much more guessing by the simplicity of the spell. She channeled her magic into the fan, waving it in front of her. She felt an immediate difference, cold air now washing over her.
"This is amazing!" said Kyoko, enjoying the breeze against her skin. "How come I've never heard of this spell before?" This could help many people at the clinic from overheating while trying to recover.
"It's still fairly new." said Kuon, "There were a few kinks when they were first-"
"Prince Kuon!" interrupted a voice
Yumi and a few other concubines came over at that moment, interrupting their conversation. She looked stunning in her festival outfit, the sheer sleeves exaggerated and flowing freely in the wind. Yumi was still not looking at Kyoko, her eyes on the prince. Kyoko noticed Setsuko in the group, uncharacteristically letting Yumi take charge.
"Will you not join us as we take a turn in the streets?" said Yumi, giving a curtsey. "I would enjoy browsing the shops much more if you were present."
"Forgive me for declining, but I can not." said Kuon, "I have to return to the castle to check on a few things."
"Then let us escort you back." she said, standing as if to walk side by side with him. "I have felt a little lonely without you since you've been working so hard. Please give us this one little thing."
"Of course Yumi." said Kuon, politely. He then turned to Kyoko. "We will have to continue our discussion another time."
"Another time." agreed Kyoko.
She watched as the prince presented his arm, escorting Yumi down the steps and out of the stands. As they left, Yumi shot Kyoko a look, the edges of her lips curling in a smile.
"She's so obvious." said Maria from beside Kyoko. The girl had been uncharacteristically quiet through the exchange. "She interrupted your conversation on purpose, trying to hog Kuon's attention all to her self. She's so rude."
"Perhaps." said Kyoko, thinking. It wasn't odd to have Yumi be so openly against Kyoko spending time with Kuon. The fight for the prince's heart was the ultimate competition (Not that Kyoko was involved in it), and Yumi played ruthlessly. All things considered, it truly wasn't that bad.
The thing that made her pause was Setsuko's behavior. The concubine had been staring at Kyoko for the whole exchange, unreadable emotions playing behind her eyes. Kyoko had recognized a few. Disapproval, confusion... and amusement? Ok, maybe her emotion antenna was off, but the woman was a mystery.
"Oh look, it's starting!" said Maria, yanking on Kyoko's sleeve. The center of the arena had been raised, a single announcer welcomed everyone to the battle royal tournament. Once he was done, he called for the participants of the first fight to enter the stage.
At least thirty men entered from the side, each of them taking a position at the edge of the circle. The first Think Kyoko noticed was the apparent mismatch of the individuals participating. There appeared to be all sort of classes, some rich, others obviously poor based on their clothing. There was also a variety of ages, some looking barely out of their teens, while other looked like they could be great grandparents. To top it all off, they weren't all wielding the same weapon.
"Yuusei." said Kyoko, calling to her guard. "What exactly is the battle royal tournament? I thought it was just a regular tournament."
Yuusei came over to stand by Kyoko, quickly explaining the premise of the fight.
"It's basically a free for all." he said. "You can use any weapon – besides a light sword - and there's no restriction on age or status. Anyone can sign up to fight. Any weapons you chose to use must be guarded by a a barrier spell. Also, you can use pulse magic, but no stones, circles or glyphs. There are ten battles in all, the size of each group depending on how many signed up. The last and tenth fight is a competition between all the winners of the first nine fights."
"I see." said Kyoko blinking at the thoroughness of his description.
"Look, there's Shin!" said Maria, pointing into the crowd. Sure enough, it was him. It was hard not to spot him, even from this far away. He had the air of a Hizuri after all, the bright aura he exuded making your eyes naturally draw towards him. The crowd was giving him a loud reception, the royal giving them a friendly wave. He glanced at the stands where Kyoko sat and for a moment. She thought he blew her a kiss. Then she saw a group of girls a few feet down from her start to swoon.
"He really is a playboy." mutter Kyoko, now positive it must run in the family.
"But he sure is handsome." commented Maria's maid.
"Not as handsome as Kuon." retorted Maria.
Maria then launched into a detailed explanation about why Kuon was the most handsome man in the court. No, the whole world! It was taking everything Kyoko had not to bust out laughing that the girl who was vehemently explaining the prince's excellency. She noticed a few people close by shooting her glances. Most seemed amused thank goodness.
"...And Kyoko agrees with me as well." finished Maria.
"What?" said Kyoko, snapping her head towards Maria. "Why do you say that?"
"You do don't you?" said Maria, suddenly looking unsure. "I mean, you are his concubine after all. But I don't hold that against you. We can still be friends."
"The battles about to start." said Kyoko turning the conversation away from these awkward waters. It seemed that Maria still didn't know Kyoko wasn't in it for the prince's heart. She'd have to clear it up when there weren't so many people around. She'd also be calmer. The thought of being in love still made her a little queasy.
The battle was a complete frenzy of activity. There were so many variations of spells that Kyoko could only stare, completely memorized. Shin was in the center of it all, nimbly dodging and parrying his attackers. There were quite a few of them, since it would definitely elevate their bragging rights to say they defeated a royal in the battle royal.
Eventually, the participants started to thin, walking or being throw off the stage as they were disqualified in one way or another. Soon it was just Shin and a few others. They were all large men who obviously had some experience fighting in large groups. Kyoko held her breath, watching as they ganged up on Shin, trying to attack from his blind side. It didn't work, Shin expertly using pulse shots sent from the ground to surprise his opponents. Kyoko smiled, recognizing that he had taken the idea from when he fought Kuon.
The battle ended. Shin, being the last one standing, started waving enthusiastically at the crowd.
"He's so good." said Kyoko, clapping with the crowd. "But then again, I don't know much about fighting. Is he considered a good fighter?" she said, addressing Yuusei.
The guard nodded.
"He's considered one of the best, especially in light magic. His pulse magic can be a little shaky, but he could defeat almost anyone in a one versus one fight." he grimaced. "Though, he would be much better if he actually took the time to practice rather than court random women."
Kyoko gave Yuusei a look, a little shocked at the harsh tone he used when talking about someone from the royal family. She shouldn't be surprised when she thought about it. Yuusei tended to be strict with himself and others, trying to abide by all the rules set down for him. It had taken Kyoko a lot of coaxing to get the guard to talk to her as informally as he was doing right now. Well that, and Hikaru had helped a little.
The next battle was getting ready to start, new participants entering the stage. One individual in particular caught Kyoko's interest. The figure was completely covered from head to foot in a long hooded robe, their eyes appearing to be the only thing visible from under their head wrap. A spear rested on their shoulder, the stranger overall giving off a dangerous aura.
It was an interesting choice of outfit for many reasons. One, it was blazing hot outside! And two, that clothes were sure to restrict them while they fought.
Once the next match started, Kyoko expected the spear wielder to get out almost immediately, but she was pleasantly surprised. Despite the three attackers that came at them at once, they managed to get through the attack, deftly taking out the three in the process. The spear spun in their hands as if it was an extension of their body, stabbing and thrusting at their opponents with complete precision. The spear wielder was a graceful devil of destruction on the stage.
"What's more important in a fight like this?" Kyoko asked Yuusei, eyes still on the spear wielder. "Technique with a weapon, or magic ability?"
"Can't really say." said Yuusei, "There's all sort of variables that can influence the outcome of a fight besides skill with a weapon or magic. The type of weapon you use will have different advantages and disadvantages depending on what you go against."
Interesting thought Kyoko, watching as the spear wielder finally appeared to use some pulse magic, stunning their target before attacking them. There was something about this spear wielder that was tugging at her memory.
It came to her.
Kyoko gasped, her face breaking out into a smile.
"Kyoko, are you alright?" asked Maria.
"Yeah." said Kyoko, unable to suppress her grin. "It's just that spear wielder... I know them." She couldn't believe it. She thought she'd never see them again.
The match ended a second later, the cloaked figure sending off the last participant.
As the match was called to a conclusion, Kyoko jumped out of her seat, ignoring the calls of her friends. She ran down the stairs two at a time, sprinting through the corridors to the area she knew the participants would be coming out of. She fought the crowd, recognizing some of the people that had lost the fight, grumbling as she pushed past them. From the corner of her eye, she saw a hooded figure disappearing through the crowd.
Squeezing through the bodies, she ran after them, catching a glimpse of them as they turned into a side hall. Kyoko skidded to a halt at the mouth of the corridor, panting hard, her face glowing in excitement.
"Moko-san!"
The figure turned. The hood and mask were gone, pushed back to reveal the figure beneath. The face was hard, stunningly beautiful with sharp features and an air of dominance. Their long black hair was bunched up in two places as it rested over their shoulder. Almond eyes widened in surprise at hearing someone call them.
Kanae Kotonami, Kyoko's first female friend was baffled at what she saw.
"Kyoko?" said the spear wielder, taking a step forward. "Is that you?"
Thanks for reading! (I apologize for posting it so late in the day)
Oh mah gosh! It's Kanae. Finally!
Time for some Kanae arc time. Yay. Sorry Kuon, take a back seat, Kyoko's best friend is here.
One of the good things about having more time (besides living) is that I can go back and fix the errors I made from the previous chapters. I don't have Microsoft word and use a knock off free software that's not as good. Finding out there is a Microsoft word online you can use for free is amazing! Holy cow how did I not see all these errors! You guys weren't kidding when there were plenty grammatical and spelling errors. I have now found them. Thank you. XD
Pictures updates: Festival Kyoko, Shin, Kanae.
Once again, thank you all for your kind comments and for reading!
-Blushweaver