Day Three - Kagemi


Prompt: Sudden, steal, soft, breeze

Setting: Historical AU (Edo/Tokugawa period)

642 words


The marriage had been decided. Agreed by both of the families and suggested by the go-between.

No one seemed to care how Sesshoumaru felt about the match. No one had likely asked his bride's opinion on the subject, either.

But then, as it was in their society, a marriage was not a union between a man and a woman; it was a union between two families.

Had someone asked Sesshoumaru what his feelings regarding the impending matrimony were, he would have confessed he wasn't all that enthused about it.

Not that he was opposed to it either; he knew his duty, and he would carry it out without complaint.

It just didn't quite feel real to him.

He had not even met his bride and knew nothing of her – save that she matched his social class and that her father's business and political interest aligned with those of his father's.

The kagemi must have been Sesshoumaru's mother's idea.

Even more than his father, his mother was determined to make the match work. She must have figured out that if Sesshoumaru were to catch a glimpse in secret of his betrothed, he would feel less lacklustre about his upcoming nuptials.

And that is how Sesshoumaru found himself lurking by the wall and peering around the corner into the enclosed garden. He felt very foolish, skulking around as he was just so he could have a look at his bride without drawing notice.

Had it not taken the combined effort of his mother and the go-between to arrange for the entire thing, Sesshoumaru would have walked away without a second glance.

They should not have troubled themselves with this kagemi nonsense. Even if his betrothed would have the face of a frog, Sesshoumaru would marry her, because it was expected of him.

But there was no use grumbling about it all now because his mother and the go-between had gone to the trouble and he was here, hiding behind a corner like a thief.

The garden was empty yet. The cherry trees were in bloom, but the other plants were still biding their time. The day was warm for the early spring but overcast; the sun hiding behind grey clouds.

And then, finally, there was movement at the edge of his vision and Sesshoumaru straightened.

It was a young woman, crossing the garden at a leisurely pace. An older woman, most likely an attendant, followed a few steps behind.

The colourful brightly patterned kimono was what caught Sesshoumaru's attention first. After all, she was too far away still for him to be able to make out much of her features and the crisp and straight silhouette of the colourful kimono revealed nothing of the shape of her body.

The woman stopped beneath the cherry tree, tilted her face up to admire the pink blossoms.

She was closer now, but the angle was all wrong. He still couldn't see her properly.

A breeze stirred the branches. The soft pink petals of the blossoms tore free and fell down.

The woman laughed and turned a slow circle, as the petals fell around her like pink snow.

Sesshoumaru drank in her warm laughter, looked keenly upon that face, young and sweet and full of joy.

It stole his breath.

Then, all of a sudden, she tilted her head and looked up, straight at him.

Sesshoumaru froze and stared into that bright blue gaze.

He was caught.

She glanced away at her attendant. And with the spell broken, Sesshoumaru darted fully around the corner, out of sight.

But even as he was hurrying away, his heart still raced, his mind still whirled, lingering on that young woman who was his bride.

For the first time, since hearing about the wedding, that word seemed welcome. And as Sesshoumaru thought of his wedding day, something soft and fragile unfurled in his chest.