Chapter 2
What should I do? It's been five years since I first asked that question. I'm still unsure. I've somehow landed in another dimension. One with treaties. One with lords and princesses. One with ninjas. How I got here is still hard to believe. Apparently, there's a prophecy in the Land of Fish that a woman who can feel the emotions of others will bring a great treasure onto the land. I was brought here by a powerful jitsu to fulfill that prophecy.
I didn't know how to take it in at first. I couldn't eat for a week, my stomach in knots. I was empathetic in my dimension and that was annoying enough, but here I can clearly feel everyone's emotions, reading their auras like a book. At first, I could only feel people immediately around me but the longer I stayed here the larger my range grew. After a month of being here I was able to sense people two kilometers away from me.
It was hard at first, feeling so many emotions at once. It was part of the reason I couldn't stomach food. Everything was so intense. I could barely breathe under the weight. Eventually I learned to filter them out but at the expense of feeling my own. It's all for the better. There are many people in the Land of Fish that are unhappy that I have not fulfilled every part of the prophecy yet. I've brought no treasures with me when I came and there doesn't seem to be any in the near future. Eventually people got tired of waiting.
The woman from my first night here was Lady Yua, the princess of this land. She took pity on me and adopted me. Renamed me as Aiko and taught me the ways of the court. She is very strict, but I can feel the love she has for me. She's one of the only people I trust. She is one of the few people that haven't given up on me and the prophecy surrounding me. She was the first person I trusted here and when I did, I leaned heavily on her support.
"Aiko, you're late for your studies!" Though I hated how early she woke me up. Every day, a little after sunrise, she comes to fetch me for personal studies; apparently, I have a lot to catch up on. I had gotten used to this routine for the most part but winter mornings like today were the hardest; how could I leave such a warm bed? "Aiko!" I want to snuggle deeper under the covers but I better get up; she's thrown the covers off me before and I don't doubt she'd do it again.
I sit up straight and rub the sleep from my eyes. "Good morning Mother." Mother: that was weird to say at first but it's not hard to replace a mom who abused you to someone so loving and kind. I look up at her. Her black hair was pulled back into a tight bun. Even though she was 30 now she didn't look a day over 20. I wish she was my natural mom; I'd love to have her genes. She was breathtaking to look at and I just looked like me.
Even though I'm near adult now I still look like a small-framed girl with a child's face. The only thing that shows my age is a larger than average chest. It's also hard not to dislike your darker skin when milky white is the ideal around here. I can't tell if I don't get attention from boys because of the way I looked or because of the disappointment everyone sees me as. A small frown marred the soft features of her face.
"Honestly, you're 17 now. I shouldn't have to wake you up anymore." She's stern but I can feel her love engulfing me as she pulls me into a hug, and I can't say she's wrong about waking up on my own. I doubt I'll ever get married, but if I do then I doubt my husband would appreciate me sleeping in. I don't think I'd want to leave anyway. The warmth of her love lingers as she pulls away from me. "We don't want to keep your tutor waiting too long."
Bleh, Haruto. He hates me; probably because I didn't bring a treasure with me. He seems to think I'm stupid too.; like I can't feel his contempt for me. He also acts so sickeningly sweet I can't bear to tell Mother or Father about how he truly feels about me. besides, I doubt there is another tutor that would feel any different by now. "Come on now," Mother pushed me towards the closet, "you're late enough as it is."
I get dressed quickly in light blue wool pants embroidered with gold herons, hemmed so it wouldn't drag on the floor, a white wool shirt with light blue accents, and white linen house slippers with white wool socks. It was weird at first, having Mother standing over me as I got dressed but I got used to her hovering. I decided to take it as her way of showing her care for me. although if it was up to me, I'd be getting dressed by myself.
As soon as I was finished getting dressed, she was combing through the silver curls on my head. That was also a new adjustment; I previously had jet black hair. I almost screamed when I looked in the mirror for the first time. She quickly and roughly attacked the knots on my head. I have learned to get used to that too. If I squirmed it would only get worse. Once she was done tying my hair into a blue silk ribbon, she was pushing me out the same screen door I had first opened when I got here.
"Good morning Yua. Aiko you should be in the study by now." The same voice that calmed me my first night here filled my ears. Lord Ichiro. One of the other few people I trust here. Really its him, Mother, and their son Oda. I frowned then quickly pulled it into a smile. I could still hear his lessons in my head; don't ever let them see you upset. I think it was his way of helping me deal with the ostracization from the people in the castle.
"Good morning Father." He looked at me sternly. He was stricter than Mother and though I could feel the love he has for me radiating off him, he's not as outwardly affectionate as her. He stood stonily in the ornate hallway, his face firm. He was dressed in traditional garb with his black hair was tied behind him. He towered over me but that wasn't a hard thing to do, at 159 cm I'm shorter than most people in the castle.
He cocks an eyebrow at me, "You seem to be getting to your tutoring sessions later and later. I expect you'll be on time for our lessons" If he notices this why can't we move morning lessons to afternoon ones? Ugh, whatever. "Yes Father." I smiled brightly at him and I could feel him melt because of it. He keeps his composure on the outside, "And I expect you to be prompt for dinner. We're entertaining important guests from the land of Wind."
That piqued my interest. The land of Wind, that's a far journey to make and from what I gather around the castle we don't have the best relationship. I wonder why they're coming all this way. Before I could ask Mother was pushing me down the hall towards the study. I hardened me heart and dulled my ability to feel the emotions as we entered the main hall. The others in the castle were not as kind. Even with my senses dulled I could feel their anger and disdain. I pull my face into a smile. Don't ever let them see you upset.
Haruto was as cold as ever. I couldn't wait until I was 18 and didn't need to take his lessons anymore. Today's lesson was extra hard to not react to. I made a simple arithmetic mistake, missed a zero, and he berated me for ten minutes straight. I hate his lectures because he has a knack for cutting me down to the ground. This time it was if I can't do simple math how could I expect my husband to trust me to balance the checkbook, though he doubted anyone would marry me as I am anyway. I love that he felt the need to add that dig in too. I was ecstatic when our time ended but he kept me late.
I rush past the halls, ignoring the whispers directed my way. When I reached the library, I stopped and took a breath. Made it. Looking around I see I've beaten Father here; odd but good. I quietly close the screen behind me and walk towards the large table we usually study at. Relaxing, I pull the books we're studying off the shelves.
"Aiko, I apologize for my tardiness. The council meeting ran long" I smile brightly at him and bask in the love he feels for me. History lessons with him were always fun compared to Haruto's. it has to be because he's kind and loving when he teaches me. if he scolds me, he sticks to the mistake and doesn't bring my other faults into it. "It's ok" I giggled at him, "I was a little late too." He hummed then walked towards the table. I followed him books in hand.
"Did you finish reading the chapters I assigned?" Absolutely not. Even though history lessons with Father is fun, reading on my own is never fun. History was my worst subject in my old dimension, and it didn't change just because I came here. I wish it did though, I don't like disappointing him because I can't grasp concepts quickly, but he's never gotten truly angry at me for it. He's a pretty calm person overall.
I lied, "Yes Father" but he saw through it immediately. "Did you really? Then summarize chapters 7-10." Oh great, what did he say we were going to talk about at this lesson? "Um…it was about…the war between the land of Herons and…and…." He cut me off after I stammered a little more through the summary. "I will ask again, did you read the chapters I assigned you?" he looked at me expectantly. I had to turn away from the look on his face because it made me self-conscious. "I skimmed it." He sighed and I could feel a dull anger rolling off of him. I should have just read the chapters, he's disappointed now. I hate disappointing him.
"Skimming is not reading. And what was so important that you could not finish your reading?" I couldn't look at him. I don't think he'd approve of the horror stories I was reading instead. He sighed again, deeper this time. "Chapter 7-10 discusses the war between the land of Heron and land of Rivers making the land of Fish. An important piece of our history." I nodded as he opened the book to the right section.
He pointed towards a chair at the desk and gave me my next instructions, "Sit here and read these chapters. We'll pick back up on our lectures next week." I nodded quickly. Wait next week? It's only Thursday. "We don't have a lesson tomorrow?" I asked tentatively. I could only smile nervously when he looked at me again, "I will be in meetings all day with the visiting dignitaries. After your lesson with Haruto, you'll be free for the day."
He goes to leave but before he can I ask, "Can I go swimming? " One of the few things I missed from my old world. I hated the diving team, but I loved diving and swimming in my free time. He hums and takes a second to answer. "If you finish your readings this time and take someone with you." I squeal in excitement and rush over to hug him. He was surprised at first but quickly welcomed the contact. When he hugged me back, I could feel the anger subside in him.
He turns to leave again but I press for more answers. "Why are dignitaries from the Land of Wind coming here?" He sighs and I realize I'm pressing my luck. "We're discussing forming a treaty with the land to stop anymore unnecessary battles between our ninjas." He gives me a look I know all too well, no more questions. I sit down and begin reading. "Aiko do not be late to dinner." I nod quickly at his warning.
I barely made it on time. It's still hard for me to tie a kimono; I try to avoid it when I can, but this is a formal dinner so kimono it is. Luckily for me the dignitaries, whoever they are, didn't finish their tour of the castle yet, although Mother did give me a warning look when I arrived. I try to brush off the waves of contempt from the others in the room and focus on the dignitaries sitting across from me. Normally I'd dull out the emotions around me but I'm curious about these new people.
There were five visitors, and from the conversation around me, two dignitaries and three ninjas to protect them. I couldn't sense any negative emotions from them. Different mixtures of anticipation, worry, and joy, but no anger or disgust. That was good. The peace talks start tomorrow so that's probably at the forefront of their minds.
They're all from the Sand village with an older council member from the land of Wind's court. You'd think they'd send the lord of the land for important treaties but what do I know. They did send the Kazekage so at least they weren't completely disrespectful. They're supposed to be here for a week. I wonder if it will take that long to come to an agreement. According to Father we've been at odds for a while; striking a fair balance could be tough.
I zero-in on the man sitting directly across from me; the Kazekage. He's really quiet which is interesting. I don't know what I was expecting but not someone as quiet as he was. He's barely contributing to the conversation; then again, I'm not contributing at all. His emotions seem normal; worried, probably for the treaty to go well. His face is flat and hides his emotions well, just like Father. I wonder if he's always like this or just putting up a show.
He looks at me and I freeze for a moment before shifting my gaze back down to my plate. I can feel his curiosity grow as his eyes settle on me. His gaze lingers on my retreating form as I try to focus on anything other than him. Its uncomfortable, I'm not used to this much attention from anyone let along guests. And the embarrassing thing is he's only noticing me because I was staring at him. He probably thinks I'm weird now, or maybe even rude.
"How did you find the travel up, Lord Kazekage?" We both turn our heads towards Father; I could feel him becoming a bit annoyed, but I couldn't piece together what about unless he noticed I was staring as well. I'm probably going to get scolded later. "It was a nice train ride," the Kazekage started, "the Land of Fish has a lot of beauty to behold." I look back at him; we're in the middle of winter, there's not a lot to see right now. Does he really find the snow landscape that pretty? I guess if you're used to only seeing one landscape, the opposite feels extra nice. Father seemed just as skeptical of his answer; it made him even angrier. Peace talks already off to a bad start.
"I enjoy the snow as well." Maybe I can get things back to a better place, "The hellebores in the forest are about to bloom. The camellias are in bloom as well, maybe someone could show you around the garden before you go." That suggestion piqued the Kazekage's curiosity again but also seemed to equally cause annoyance with Father though he didn't show it on his face. No good? What can I do then? Before I could say anything more, Father spoke up again, "I'll arrange for a guide to give you all a tour of the grounds." The other delegate spoke up then, "That sounds lovely."
After that small bump, dinner went along well and Father's mood shifted to more neutral. I was glad to be free to go back to my room and read a little more before bed. I was able to finish that horror story I was reading over the week, but it was still a bit early for me to sleep. Well, back to the library for another book. While I'm walking over, I think about what I'm in the mood to read next. If I pick a history-based story then I'll have a good excuse to give Father on why I didn't do my readings, but then I'd be reading history.
I was so distracted walking to the library that I didn't realize someone was in front of me and bumped into them. "Oh! I'm sorry." When I look up, I see the Kazekage looking down at me. Next to him stood one of the shinobi accompanying him. He had a black hood on and purple makeup on his face, Kankuro I think. I wonder what they're doing in the halls so late, are they up to something? I don't sense any nervousness on either part; Kankuro has a calm happiness settled in him and the Kazekage is curious again.
That immediately reminds me of my awkwardness at dinner and I became overwhelmingly embarrassed. I can't believe I was caught staring at him; I should leave, like now. "Um… wellIhavetogonow" I spat out a quick goodbye and turned back towards my room. Trying to be as nonchalant as I can I rush back to my room, starting to jog as soon as I was sure they couldn't see me. Once I close the door I flop on my bed and let how bad that must have looked sink in. So, along with dinner, they now have this to show we aren't hospitable. Yep, first day going great.