Standard disclaimers apply
While Tamakura Shrine didn't have an official winter holiday, the residents still celebrated in their own unique way. Instead of exchanging physical gifts, each member of the family was to write an anonymous poem about the person of their choice. The only rules were that they had to be someone in the shrine at the time and that the author was to remain anonymous so as to discourage falsehood. The person that the poem was written about would read it so the author could remain hidden.
Daisei, being Izumiko's father, took it upon himself to hand out the poems. As usual, each person had one poem each; all selected randomly by pulling the name out of a bucket.
"Izumiko;" Daisei said; "would you like to read your poem first?" Only Yukimasa noticed his son become slightly tense before Izumiko started to read her poem aloud.
Izumiko Suzahara
At first glance, not much is seen
But appearances are always deceiving.
Her dance has the grace of a swan in flight,
her music heavenly in its' beauty.
Her kindness knows no bounds
despite the cruelty of those around her.
At first glance, it is impossible to see
her true nature.
The Princess hidden among the peasants.
Silence took hold of everyone in the room at Izumiko's poem. It was not that all of it wasn't true . . . it was just the tone the poem had been written. There was no doubt; it was a love poem.
"Father?" Daisei shook his head to clear his mind of the implications of this poem, "Could you continue the ceremony . . . please?" Izumiko's father quickly agreed and chose the next person to read their poem aloud.
After the sharing of the poems and a quiet dinner full of at least one favorite of every tenant and visitor, everyone turned in for the night . . . except for two.
Izumiko just couldn't forget that poem she'd read about herself. Could Miyuki have written it? As the thoughts swirled around in her mind, they kept her from truly going to sleep. Izumiko gave in to her insomnia as she got out of her bed, intent on making herself a mug of some soothing herbal tea.
Upon entering the kitchen, Izumiko was startled to see that someone else was already sitting there with their own cup of tea steaming in their grip. The mystery person turned quickly, revealing by the pale moonlight coming through the window that it was Miyuki. Izumiko unconsciously relaxed at seeing who had beaten her to the kitchen.
"Miyuki! You couldn't sleep either?" Miyuki blinked before shrugging, seemingly indifferent.
"To be honest . . . I haven't been able to sleep for a while. I thought maybe some herbal tea might help me relax enough to get some sleep." Worry replaced Izumiko's curiosity as she started heating up her own water for some tea.
"Is it anything I can help with Miyuki?" The aforementioned boy turned to face Izumiko, his gaze piercing, searching for something . . . then, as if giving up, Miyuki turned away, disappointment clear on his face.
"No Izumiko. I don't think this is something you can help me with." Izumiko jumped as her pot of hot water suddenly sang, signaling her tea was ready.
"Well . . . if I can't help you, than can you help me with something?" Izumiko, noting Miyuki tense up in apprehension, strengthened her resolve to get to the bottom of the mystery of her poem.
"The poem that I got this year . . . I couldn't help but notice it was written like a . . . love poem." Izumiko made sure to take note of Miyuki's reactions to her thoughts. They only added to her suspicions as she noted how Miyuki stiffened at her utterance of the words 'love poem.'
"Yeah, so what? You know the authors are supposed to remain anonymous." Izumiko's patience finally ran out at Miyuki's obvious avoidance of the issue.
"Miyuki!" The young monk jumped at Izumiko's normally unheard shouting voice; "Will you stop avoiding the question!? Did you or did you not write that love poem?!" Miyuki, whose tea had been finished up during their conversation, stood up, washed out his mug and left Izumiko alone in the kitchen; alone with her now tear filled eyes.