Disclaimer: I do not own Yami no Matsuei

Note: I had the sudden realization that Takashi reminds me of Seiryuu. Also, Patrinia is a yellow flower that blooms in August. I'm not sure if it's grown in Japan, though.

"If the pomegranates are in bloom, there I will give you my love." – Song of Songs; 7:12

My Sister, My Bride

-August 23rd, 1914

"Asato-otouto, I thought you loved me."

"What?" Asato looked up, stricken. Ruka held a fork to her mouth, off which she had just bitten a morsel of the apple pie she had supervised her brother in making.

"How could you try to poison me with this?" Ruka waved her fork in the air and then stabbed the pie. "What kind of brother are you?"

"What are you talking about? It's not that bad!"

"Asato-otouto, you'd eat pond scum if it was on a plate, but some of us have more refined palettes."

"It's not that bad!" Asato insisted. "Suzaku-neesan, what do you think?"

Suzaku nervously pushed her food around her plate, watching it crumble. "Well…"

"See? She doesn't even want to try it!"

"Well, you watched me make it, so what does that say about you, Miss Master Chef?"

"So you admit that your pie is awful."

"That's not the point! And the only reason it's awful is because you were too busy daydreaming about Shinji to help me."

"So you being a terrible cook had nothing to do with it?" Ruka flung back.

"Shinji? Who is this now?" Suzaku interrupted, stiffening maternally. "No secrets from Neesan, Ruka-chan."

"Yuuki's brother," Ruka said, decidedly ignoring Asato. "I made one little comment that he was good-looking—which Asato-otouto agreed to—and nowhe won't stop making fun of me."

"Isn't it in your holy book somewhere…"thou shalt not lie with thy brother's wife's brother" or something?"

"I'm not lying with anyone!" Ruka yelped, her face heavily flushed. "And no it isn't, Suzaku-neesan."

"Aren't you a little old to have imaginary friends, Ruka?"

Ruka and Asato simultaneously rolled their eyes, now well-used to the reality that only their eyes could see, and ears hear, Suzaku.

"What about Asato-otouto?" Ruka asked her elder brother, winking her good-bye as Suzaku grinned and slowly disappeared into thin air, a trick she told them she was now able to accomplish due to them. "He's only a year younger than me."

"You can't be a little girl anymore, Ruka," Daiki chastised. "The world's at war, and now so are we."

"We're what?" Ruka's fork fell from her hand.

"It was announced this morning. Japan is officially part of the war effort against Germany."

"And here I thought Japan had some common sense," Ruka muttered.

"We want Tsingtao, that's what it is," Asato said, leaning forward, towards Ruka.

"And the Marshall Islands, too."

"Germany didn't bother responding to our ultimatum, Ruka," Daiki reminded impatiently. "Besides which, we already signed a treaty with England twelve years ago. They've called us on it."

"Well, Japan's certainly friendly with England now. Where was that when we were little?"

"You're avoiding the issue, Ruka."

"Well, how am I supposed to react if my brother is going to get himself killed in a war that isn't ours?"

"The same way I did…tell him he's a fool and then let him do what he wants."

"Where'd you pop up from, Yuuki?" Daiki muttered, not bothering to turn and look at her.

"I've been standing behind you the whole time," Yuuki said, accusingly.

"Right where you belong," Daiki flung back, annoyed.

"So much affection in this room," Ruka whispered to Asato, who nodded and bit his lip.

"Like I said, a fool who does, and says, whatever he wants," Yuuki muttered, huffing past her husband of a few months to take Suzaku's place at the table.

"Does Father know about this yet?" Asato asked of his elder brother. "And the tw—…Hideyoshi and Hiroto?"

"I think I figured out that they're twins, Asato," Yuuki said, smiling. "They look exactly alike. And your brother asked you a question, Daiki. Do you plan on answering him anytime soon?"

"Shut up, Yuuki."

"My husband, everybody. And, no, he hasn't," she addressed Asato. "He was on his way to, but decided scolding you two was more important."

"In any case, Ruka, we defeated Russia in a year; it's not like our military can't stand up to European powers."

"Great, now he's ignoring us both," Yuuki said, grinning at Asato; he smiled back at her weakly.

"This is an entirely different situation," Ruka shot back. "You don't know what the Germans fight like, or—"

"Ruka, where's Father?"

"Out. I think he's meeting with his investors. And now who's avoiding the issue?"

"I'm not going to argue with you, Ruka. And it really isn't becoming for a woman to argue so much."

"No wonder he doesn't find me attractive," Yuuki commented, still smiling broadly at her brother-in-law.

"Yuuki, that's enough!" Daiki yelled, turning finally towards his wife.

"I'll decide when it's enough!" Yuuki shouted back, standing up and nearly upsetting the table. For a long moment Asato supposed he saw lightning flying between Daiki and Yuuki's eyes.

"Save the warfare for the Germans," Ruka finally said, tugging on her sister-in-law's hand and pulling her back down.

"Send for me when Father gets home," Daiki said through clenched teeth, turning sharply.

"At least I won't have to look at him for a few months at a stretch," Yuuki muttered as Daiki disappeared.

"Yuuki, that's my brother."

"I pity you your childhood, Ruka-chan," Yuuki said, but was once again smiling.

"We never really had much to do with him," Asato said, leaning closer now towards Yuuki.

"Nonetheless, he's still our brother, Asato-otouto," Ruka said pointedly, gaze darting back and forth between her brother and sister-in-law.

"Oh, I get that, don't think I don't," Yuuki said. "Shinji can be an enormous brat sometimes and I still adore him. Unfortunately, I only know Daiki in the context of an arranged marriage, and I can assure you, Ruka-chan, that he is the absolute worst husband, in every possible context."

"Too much information, Yuuki-chan," Ruka said, laughing, her gaze still glued to her younger brother.

"One can never have too much of the truth; it "shall set you free", after all." Yuuki picked up the fork Suzaku had abandoned and speared the untouched piece of pie. "Who made this?" she asked, placing a small morsel on her tongue.

"Asato-otouto," Ruka said, and Yuuki's face slightly contorted as she chewed and hastily swallowed.

"Sorry," Asato said, shamefaced.

"There's been much worse," Yuuki said, and coughed. She turned a strained but bright smile on Asato. "Okay…it's a gorgeous day and I've just received the glorious news that Daiki will not be hogging the sheets for at least a few months. I'm going to go celebrate in the garden. Ruka-chan." Yuuki leaned over and kissed her sister-in-law's cheek, a habit she had picked up from being an industrious student of European culture. "Asato…-kun," she continued, just barely stopping herself from performing the same gesture on Asato. "If you'll excuse me." She stood and left the dining room, almost too hurriedly for normalcy's standards.

"You're never going to get a girl unless you learn how to cook better," Ruka said to Asato's profile, as he continued to stare after Yuuki. "Servants are going to become rare if we're spending our money on war, and girls like men who help around the house…"

"Yuuki didn't think it was too bad."

"Asato-otouto." When he didn't turn his head to look at her Ruka threw her fork at him, catching his attention only barely.

"What?"

"Don't do it."

"Do what?"

"You know what. Don't even think about it. She's spoken for."

"Oh, come on, Ruka. Even if I had feelings for her, it's not like she'd have them for me."

"You so obviously do not understand women." Ruka stood.

"I understand you."

"I'm your best friend. Of course you understand me."

"So you're saying that you're not a woman, Ruka-nii?"

"Asato." The lack of an affection-denoting suffix took him off guard. "She's Daiki's wife."

"I know, Ruka-nee."

"Knowing and acknowledging are two different things. You're not too good at either," Ruka said, winking in an attempt at familiarity. When he gave no similar body language, she bit her lip. "Asato-otouto…just don't make Mom ashamed of you."

"Ruka-nee?"

She gave a half-hearted smile and left the dining room, hoping the admonishment would be enough.

"Asato-kun, do you mind keeping me company?"

"Huh?" Asato looked up; the plate had suddenly seemed fascinating after Ruka's departure. The window showing the garden to the kitchen was suddenly filled with Yuuki's head.

"It's a bit lonely out here," Yuuki said, grinning. "Everyone's busy telling everyone else about the war, so when you already know, no one wants anything to do with you."

"Sure, I'll…I'll be right there," Asato said, standing.

"The Patrinia is coming along nicely," Yuuki said once Asato had made his way outside. "You planted that?"

"Yes. The roses at your wedding; I did those, too."

"Oh, yeah, I remember. Best thing about the wedding, those were."

"Yuuki…"

"Hmm?"

"My brother…do you really hate him so much?"

"Yes," Yuuki said, crouching down and then resting on her knees, fingertips tracing the ground. "If he was my brother-in-law…if I'd married you," she bit back a smile at the flustered look on his face, "I could tolerate him for family get-togethers, but actually being married to him…he's one of those people you just want to slap every time you see them, because you're still annoyed at them from the last time you saw them. So every time I turn my head, it's the same feeling, you know?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"It's not that I hate being married," Yuuki continued. "I don't mind someone sharing a bed with me. I just mind that someone being him. Am I making you uncomfortable?"

"It's not exactly a situation I enjoy thinking about."

"You and me both. Sit, sit!" She patted the earth in front of her, and Asato did as bade. "Enjoy what you've planted. It's beautiful, Asato."

"Thank you."

"The Patrinia reminds me of that Englishwoman we had 'round for dinner awhile back. It's the same color as her hair. The color I want, actually. Not this ugly black. Everyone in Japan looks the same."

"I like your hair," Asato blurted out.

Yuuki inclined her head and raised her eyebrows. "Really? You think I have bad taste in hair color?"

"No, blonde is nice, too," he continued quickly.

"Don't get all flustered, Asato-kun; I was just teasing," Yuuki said, patting his head. "So you wouldn't mind being with a blonde?"

"It doesn't really matter to me."

"While we're on the topic…" Yuuki said, and her voice hitched just the slightest. "Do you…happen to have anyone special? Anyone intended to become your intended that you've been keeping secret from the family?"

"No," Asato said, laughing at her wordplay. "Why, are there rumors?"

"Well…" Asato was taken aback at her hesitancy. "Well, yes, but none I think you'd be so flattered to hear about."

"How's that?" he asked, a knot developing in his stomach.

"Well, there's two strains of thought that I've heard. The one is that…well, that you, um, like the looks of my brother."

"And the other?" Asato pressed, avoiding debate of the truth.

"Well, I thought you might…well, I know there's some who think you're in love with…with Ruka-chan."

"What?!"

"You spend so much time with her," Yuuki explained hastily. "You share an imaginary friend with her…and I've seen you two practicing that ballroom stuff, and the way you dance…frankly, Asato-kun, it's difficult to make a case for you not being in love with her."

"Ruka is my best friend!" Asato yelped, aghast. "We've been inseparable since I was born. There's nothing wrong in spending time with her."

"Yes, but, every waking moment?"

"Who else is there for me to spend time with? I love the twins but we share nothing in common. Father and I have never been close, and Daiki…well, you've probably already picked up on that."

"I have. He was being especially rude this morning. What's his issue with you, anyway?"

The knot tightened. "That's something I prefer not to talk about."

"Oh, it can't be so bad. Daiki's an obnoxious donkey to everybody; it doesn't take much to make him angry with you."

"The last time Daiki spoke to me was in July of 1908."

"It's your fault Mother's in this condition."

"Well, that trumps me. The longest he's ever given me the silent treatment is two weeks. What happened?"

"Yuuki, no." He swallowed; the knot was making him nauseous. "I told you, it's not something I want to talk about."

"Oh, come on, Asato, please?" She pouted her lips. "I promise I'll take it to the grave—"

The word was too much. "I said "no", God damn it! Drop it!"

Yuuki blinked at the force in Asato's voice. After a silent moment, her eyes narrowed.

"There's no need for that tone," she said coolly. "For Heaven's sake, it was just a question."

"I'm sorry."

"You're just like Daiki, aren't you, that same egotistical, pompous horse's ass—"

"Yuuki, I'm sorry," Asato said quickly, hand reaching out to grab Yuuki's arm, retreating with the rest of her body out of the garden.

"The men in your family are all the same," Yuuki spat, eyes snapping fire. "Putting everyone else below them. Like your damnable father, practically buying me from my family to be Daiki's ornament. Did you know that Daiki hits me? I'm fifteen years old, Asato, and I'm already being beaten by my husband."

"Yuuki, that isn't—"

"Well, I've had enough with being walked on by all of you. I hope the Germans blow Daiki to tiny pieces; I hope—!"

She was cut off abruptly by Asato yanking her back down to the ground and kissing her fiercely. His grip left her wrist and instead went around her back to her opposing arm, holding her against him as his free hand snaked around her head and buried itself in her hair. Her nails, trapped with her hands at her sides, dug into his legs, but they slackened as the kiss progressed and she began reciprocating.

Whether they lost balance or moved purposely, Asato never remembered; they found themselves lying on the ground, Asato's arms still tightly wrapped around Yuuki.

"That isn't what happened with my father," Asato said, breathlessly. "He wanted to help your family out, and Daiki needed to get married…"

"I know, I know, I like your father, I was just angry," Yuuki said, sounding dazed for the first time Asato could recall.

"And I didn't know that Daiki…my father never hit my mother—"

"I hit him back," Yuuki said. "Sometimes I hit him first. We're not very good to each other."

"I hate that," Asato said, taking hold of the small of her back. "You don't deserve that."

"I manage. I'm not some…some wilting flower, if you'll excuse…our setting. So I…so I take it we're having an affair?" She smiled, strong lips paired with weak eyes. Her bare toes danced on his ankle.

"It's a stupid idea," Asato said, trying to remember all the reasons why, exactly, it was such. "Ruka…Ruka already thinks something's going on and she might tell Daiki…even if she doesn't it'd be easy for anyone to find out, and I'm…well, my eyes—"

"You know, I never really noticed your eyes," Yuuki interrupted. "When I first saw you I liked them so much that it didn't even occur to me that the color was strange." Her arms, now free, wrapped around Asato's neck, and she pushed her body upwards against his. "And you kiss better than your brother, so why would I care about something as stupid as that…"

Her kimono was loosening with every slight tug of muscle. The specifics flew out of his mind, and the tight knot loosened just enough for him to ignore it; the vibrations from Yuuki's throat felt nice against his lips, better than any sweet thing that had been there previously.