Part Twenty-Six:
Kurogane stood stiffly as the convoy from Tsukiyono arrived in his family's courtyard in the early morning light. He noticed his cousin was in a black mood and would probably be as foul tempered as ever. Mamoru, he hoped, would be the ever sensible one and keep Ran on a short leash. He did wonder why they brought along Youji and Ken. Something seemed suspicious about that. All this was supposed to be was a bridal visit. No need for the widower samurai and the disgraced ninja to tag along.
Ran got off his horse and went to the carriage. Kurogane gave a quick glance to Lord and Lady Suwa standing to his right. His father was so grim, it was unnatural on the man. His mother, he could tell, was worried. It made him feel guilty, because she'd been really happy at arranging this match. Ran finished helping his sister out of the carriage.
She was a fresh-faced girl with thick, braided hair; she wore a cherry blossom patterned furisode. Ran tucked Aya's hand in the crook of his arm and led her to Kurogane, his cousin's lips pressed together so hard they were white. When Aya got close enough, Kurogane noticed a charming light dusting of freckles across her cheeks and a nervous smile. She was a beautiful young woman, but not as beautiful as his Fai.
"Welcome to Suwa," Lord Suwa said, sounding grave.
"Thank you for considering my sister a suitable bride for Kurogane," Ran replied and then resumed grinding his teeth. Kurogane didn't hold hopes of this situation getting any better.
"We're honored. You're mother was not only my cousin, but she was a good friend," Lady Suwa said. "I hope I can make your stay comfortable and pleasant. If there is anything I can do, please don't hesitate to ask."
"If you'd take Aya and Ouka for morning tea, we'd appreciate a chance at getting clean and a change of clothes before breakfast. It was a rather muddy trip," Mamoru requested.
"Of course. Ran, you used to spend your summers here when you were a child. Do you remember where the bathing house is?" Lady Suwa asked.
"Yes, ma'am," he answered.
"Good. Please come this way girls," Lady Suwa said. Kurogane followed the women after his father gave him a nudge with his elbow.
Fai sank into the hot water and fought hard to not think on what was going on in the courtyard right now. Normally, he liked to bath at night, which was typical on Celes. It was the ideal way to get warm before you had to slip into the sheets for rest. This morning, he needed the hot water to release the tension in his shoulders and back.
He slumped back in the giant bathtub that could comfortably hold ten people; steam rose from the water, filling the bathing house. He started musing on the absence of Yuui's casting flutters in his stomach. According to his feelings, his dear twin hadn't cast so much as a lighting spell in weeks. Was he hurt worse than Ashura let on? Maybe he should take a trip back to Celes while all this bridal visit stuff was going on. The longer he sat in the steamy water, the more he talked himself into a temporary trip to Celes to check on Yuui.
Then he thought of Ashura. There was no way he wouldn't tell Fai the truth. If Yuui were seriously injured, Ashura'd send for him. Sleep spells sometimes had nasty after effects. If Ashura was helping Yuui convalesce, then he shouldn't worry. Ashura always protected and cared for them since the first minute they'd met. But he still wanted to ask Princess Tomoyo to get in touch with his father again and ask why Yuui wasn't casting.
He dunked his whole self under the water and then rose up again, slicking his hair back. He pulled himself out of the water and decided on how he would occupy his time while waiting for the end of this two week bridal visit. He'd started sensing that the fluorite he'd implanted in Nihongo was populating. That meant it was growing a new set of ley lines. The type of magic he used could become more prevalent in Nihongo. He needed to really start mapping out the new ley lines forming from his fluorite wards, but he needed to consult Ashura on why this was happening. He was pretty disturbed because he'd inadvertently change the very nature of Nihongo's magic system.
He raised himself out of the tub, totally nude, and was about to stoop for a towel. The door behind him slid aside and he froze, thinking he'd have total privacy during the process of Aya coming to Suwa. He turned towards the door and saw four people that forced a fake smile on his face: it was Kurogane's cousin and his three friends. Just the last people that needed to see his back.
He quickly covered his skin with a hadajuban and knelt beside the the large bathing tub, embarrassed and vulnerable at strangers seeing him naked. He covered it with false glee and mocking. "Well nice to see you again. I hope you recovered well from my little hex."
"So not only are you a vixen, but a fraud. How dare you have a tattoo!" Ran said.
"You're the one walking in on me and your calling me... what's your word for a pervert... vixen? Well, isn't that the pot calling the kettle black?" Fai asked in his most flirtatious tone, hoping to throw Ran way off guard. It did the trick, because Ran's face turned scarlet and his friends' eyes all grew wide. They marched out of the bathing house looking rather disgruntled. Suddenly, Fai had a feeling he'd be seeing Edo again rather soon.
When Kurogane saw Ran march in, still muddy and now looking pissed off, he got a sinking feeling in his stomach. His mother and father and he were sitting in their tea room with Aya and Ouka. Their pre-breakfast tea had just been served, so thankfully the servants were gone for any of Ran's nonsense.
"That foreign mage! He was in the bathing house!"
Kurogane's stomach turned sour now. He had no idea why Fai had decided to bath in the morning rather than night, but this was bad news if Ran saw what Kurogane thought he saw.
"Did he say something to offend you?" Lord Suwa asked, uptight.
"He has a massive tattoo on his back!" Rand shouted in rage. Now Kurogane cringed. Ran might push his rights under Nihongo law. "I demand a challenge to his right to wear it!" And of course he did.
Kurogane met his father's narrowed, crimson eyes. He hated his father's withering look. "This business with the mage just keeps getting better and better, Son."
"I told him to keep covered since Nihongo has different customs than he's used to." That sounded lame in his own ears.
"Well? I demand satisfaction!"
Kurogane bit back a tart remark. His father summoned Megumi and ordered the maid to bring the mage to them. She appeared with the mage moments later. On top of everything else that could go wrong, Fai was wearing that indigo iromuji he first wore at Shirosagi Castle all those months ago. Well, Kurogane had vowed to be true to himself, how could he fault his mage for doing the same? The mage was also wearing one of those infuriating fake smiles.
"So you wanted to see me, Lord Suwa?"
"Cousin Ran claims you have a tattoo."
"Oh no, I'm sure he just saw a birthmark or a shadow. Kuro-wa's pervert of a cousin shouldn't go around prying into people's baths and spreading rumors."
"Women, leave!" Lord Suwa barked. Kurogane had a bad feeling he knew what was coming if his father dismissing females from the room. Lady Suwa hustled the girls and her maid out of the tea room and closed the door behind their retreat.
"Let me see your back, mage," Lord Suwa demanded.
"Oh... well... I'm pretty bashful."
Kurogane almost rolled his eyes at that lie.
"Now!" Lord Suwa said, in high anger. Fai took a deep breath and loosened his obi. He let the top of the iromuji droop to his lower back and he turned to show Lord Suwa his skin. Lord Suwa's expression dropped to slack-jawed shock. "What did you to get that?"
"I was a very naughty boy. This is punishment from my father," Fai explained, pulling his iromuji back up and tightening his obi. "It's actually called a phoenix binding."
"It's like I told you, Father. Their customs are different in Celes. That tattoo keeps him from using too much of his magic at a time." Kurogane hoped his father would defend Fai and tell Ran to take a leap.
"Lord Suwa, you can't let this lie stand. He's no warrior. It's an affront to let this vixen go disrespecting our customs. I ask you to let me get satisfaction and fight the mage. Only none of his trickery this time."
"Your pride is just wounded after he beat you last time. You couldn't give a damn about Suwa's honor. And I warned you what would happen if I caught you calling my mage that filthy name," Kurogane said, getting to his feet and then wrapping his fingers around Ginryuu's hilt. "I don't make hollow threats."
"Enough!" Lord Suwa barked and leaped to his feet. "Ran has a right to call him out. For the sake of this bridal visit, I let his challenge to the mage stand."
"But Father..."
Lord Suwa ignored him and turned to Fai. "Go get changed into appropriate clothes and leave your magic staff in you room. Meet us in the courtyard. Quickly!"
"Yes, sir. I'll be more happy to show Kuro-pon's testy cousin Celes hospitality once again," Fai said, and Kurogane could swear the mage was gloating. Fai skipped out of the room with a bright smile. Ran stormed off after Fai left the room, not a word said.
"Father, Fai's a good fighter, but he relies on his magic. He's never even picked up a sword."
"You haven't sparred with your mage lately like I have."
Kurogane followed his father to the armory. He got out a regular fighting staff and walked to the courtyard, Kurogane in tow. Ran was waiting along with his three companions, all of which were trying to talk him out of this fight. Fai was now wearing a navy colored haori and hakama. Lord Suwa threw the staff at Fai. The mage handily caught it and let it rest on his shoulder.
"Do you want to back out now?" Fai asked.
"Get ready to fight, you moronic vixen," Ran snarled.
"Ran! Please don't," Mamoru begged. Ran drew his katana and charged at Fai. Lightening quick, Fai side stepped Ran and smashed the staff into the redhead's nose. Blood gushed forth; Ran stumbled and halted. He felt his nose in shock as Fai draped the staff back over his shoulder.
"That was for the gift horse, you great big bully," Fai said. Kurogane wondered what Fai was referring to as Ran shook off the pain.
Ran charged again, only this time with more caution. He took swipes at the mage. Each one Fai backed away from and dodge the blade. Ran paused his assault and Fai fell back a little more. "You coward! Stop running!"
"And let you hit me? No thanks. That might hurt," Fai said, thick on the taunting tone. "You never told me what you get if you win."
"I get to cut that tattoo off your body."
"Well, I can't let you do that. My father wouldn't be too thrilled with me if I let his artwork get ruined. And besides, that sounds really messy," Ran came after Fai again. Fai sailed past Ran and whacked him in the stomach with the staff. Ran went to the ground, winded. "I would say I'm sorry about that, but I'm not in the least."
Ran let out a growl and lunged at Fai again. This time, the onslaught was fierce. Fai's avoidance style of non-fighting only egged on Ran. Kurogane admitted, it'd infuriate him, too, to fight someone like Fai. Ran wasn't able to touch him. Finally, Fai jumped towards Ran and knocked the katana out of Ran's grip with the tip of the staff, sending the blade flying through the air. Lord Suwa leaped up and caught the katana by its hilt.
"The match is over. Mage of Celes won," Lord Suwa declared. Kurogane felt a surge of pride at having such an adept fighter as his lover.
"You didn't train him to fight like that," Kurogane said, knowing his father was an aggressive fighter.
"Not at all. He developed that on his own, to my irritation," Lord Suwa said.
"Lord Suwa, I've been insulted by this..."
"Pick what you call him wisely, or you could face Kurogane next," Lord Suwa warned, returning Ran's sword.
"... foreign mage." He wiped the blood from his nose. "How can you expect this marriage visit to continue?"
"What would let you save face?" Lord Suwa asked.
"There is rumor that Schwarz is in your province. Send the mage out to look for them so I can avenge my parents. If he is as Kurogane claims, serving Nihongo honorably, then he should have no problem with that task. That, and I won't have to look at the wretch."
"So that's why you brought your enforcers," Kurogane said, piecing together why Youji and Ken were along.
"Ken and I will go with the mage," Youji said.
"Schwarz will get suspicious if they see one of us," Mamoru said. "It's best he go alone and just tells us where they are."
"I'll go with the mage," Lord Suwa said.
"I should go with him," Kurogane said.
"No. You're to stay here and go through the rituals of the bridal visit. I won't let you insult Aya-chan," Lord Suwa insisted. He turned to Fai and said, "Get packed."
Fai looked as though he was about to argue, but thought better of it. He turned and left for the main house.
"Is there something bothering you, Zellen?"
He looked up, not realizing Drysi had entered the study. He closed the book he was reading on herbal remedies and smiled when he saw she'd brought him a teapot and a snack. His favorite, ginger cake.
She sat across the table from him and served him a cup of tea. He took it from her and said, "Not really. Why do you ask?"
"You seemed so quiet today and didn't even touch your lunch."
"Well, there is something nagging at me. It's Yuui. I thought he'd be back by from Nihongo Country."
"I remember visiting Luval as a child, and I was always impressed by how extremely close Yuui and Fai were. Maybe he chose to stay for the remainder of Fai's punishment."
"That would certainly be something Yuui would do. I don't... Just something doesn't feel right."
"Maybe I could ask King Ashura?"
He ran his hand through his wheat colored hair and sighed. "Drysi, I haven't told you exactly why I was taking Yuui's place. I know I've avoided the topic because I didn't want to bring up a painful subject, but you should know the truth. I also trust you to not let anyone else know. You see, King Ashura was going mad, and Yuui was seeking him out to cure him."
"Ashura? I never knew." Drysi's pale blue eyes grew concerned.
"He's fine now, he didn't want to worry anyone. Yuui was obviously successful in getting the king cured. The king is holding regular court and is now conducting the Council of Mayors. I always hated autumn because Aunt Tanya would be so busy. I hope it goes smoothly this year."
"Well it's good that Ashura is better. You were right to not tell me, because grandmother was spying all the time. She would have exploited that if she would have known. She would have tried to get Ashura to abdicate and tried to get the twins banished back to Valeria."
The color drained from Zellen's face. "She'd be that hateful to them?"
Drysi twined one of her chestnut curls around her finger; something Zellen now knew to be a nervous habit of hers. "She's always despised them."
"I'm sure I'm not on her favorite grandson-in-law list so I guess I'm in good company."
Drysi shook her head this time and said, "I don't think it'd be wise if we visit the Southlands any time soon. Her last letter was spiteful. She's still trying to convince me to come back to her."
"It's only because she's embarrassed that you aren't married to Yuui or some other noble rather than a commoner like me. She wants to sweep it all under the rug, so no thank you, I'll stay in Kella for now." He picked up his tea and gave it a sip. "Anyway, I guess I'm just worried about Yuui. It's not like him to take off on a whim, especially to a new realm."
"But it is like him to gravitate towards Fai."
"True. I do understand why the king separated them. Yuui has a tendency to be clingy with Fai and reject other people out of fear of getting hurt. It takes a whole lot to get close to him. I'm the only friend he made where Fai wasn't acting like a filter. And that was only because I pestered him to death when he came here to study under Auntie."
"I'm sure Yuui is fine, please don't worry too much. After all, Ashura would never let anything harm Yuui or Fai. I'll let you get back to studying."
"Thank you for the snack. I really am famished, and I'm really tired of studying. My eyes are crossing. How about a card game?"
"Svoyi Koziri?"
"Great," Zellen said, going to get the cards.
"...and so it seems that one-hundred-and-forty-three bodies were found in all. My chief constable confirmed they were all criminals, so I can't say I'll shed many tears," Dayken said from his seat at the long table.
"Now, Dayken, they did deserve their day in court."
"Of course, Your Majesty," he said, nodding towards Ashura, who was seated at the head of the table.
"Did your constables find any clues?" the mayor of a nearby city asked.
"It was a beast of some sort. The bodies were all drained of blood. We couldn't find a solid lead."
"This beast could start targeting innocent people next. That's why I'm requesting you all impose a strict curfew for your villagers until this beast is caught. All those in favor?" Ashura asked. There was a unanimous 'aye' from the mayors. "Good. Motion carried. Next bit of business. I want to make Vlad D Klaus the new, permanent governor of Valeria. All those in favor?" Again, it was unanimous.
Ashura continued, "On a related note, I am posting an arrest warrant for Boris Nemtsov for leaving Yuui Fluorite in the hands of bandits. Since he's already escaped execution once, you may tell your constables that he's wanted dead or alive."
The mayors all looked ready to tell their constables they'd prefer the now ex-governor dead. The idea of anyone leading Master Yuui into harm and leaving him to get killed had caused outrage among the mayors. Not to mention, his crime of reanimation put away any pity they may have had for him. "Good, and Mayor Tanya wanted to speak on a cause close to my heart."
Tanya now stood. "I want to make a case for stronger law enforcement for social crimes. As many of you have heard the story of my nephew, you know why I'm pushing hard for reform. Duchess Naidra wasn't held accountable for giving my nephew a love potion, and that fraud of a reverend is still preaching at Luval's chapter house. I ask that we consider stiffer penalties when it comes to manipulating our youth. Please read the new legislation in front of you that King Ashura co-authored with me. Thank you."
She took her seat as everyone looked at the parchments on the table in front of them. When they were finished reading, Ashura asked, "Those in favor?" Three-fourths of the mayors voted for the new penalties, one-forth abstained. All of them were from the Southlands.
Ashura's smile at the delegation from the south grew frosty. His aunt still had strong influence down there. No matter, he knew the perfect way to scare her silent. He'd quench his blood lust on her strongest allies. And then, if she wouldn't learn to stop medaling, she'd be next.
To be continued.
