Training a new hand to work in Tentōchū after he was brought in by one his sisters. Left Momo's chance in love to be given a chance.
"You are to be here at 9 am tomorrow morning to start hands-on training," An apron was thrown at the young man, "Don't treat my sisters like fragile dolls or tell them about their place in the world. Deal?"
"Deal." The young man scrambled to catch the apron, "I have a name."
"So does the girl with the rose hair pin behind me," Bara pointed out, "She still gets called 'hey you' until I feel like using her name."
"Niisan!" Momo stares at him with a twitching left brow.
"What?" She was stared at by her brother and new boyfriend.
Her brother sighed knowing the point she was trying to make with being nice. He took a break to calm down in his own way.
"Name?" He asked.
"Kyuu Izayoi." An answer was given with a bow.
"You're dismissed to get your affairs in order," He waved a hand at him, "You can go with him."
Side hug and forced kiss on the cheek he got from her when he saw her off. Had him coming to grips with the issue he was SLOWLY noticing. His sisters weren't the little girls who reminded him once were and changes were taking place. That meant putting up with a boy or two being presented to him.
"You got anyone I don't know about?" He asked Bara.
"Just the Baka Hideyoshi," She spoke of him with disgust, "He is so attached to his blade and consciousness of others opinions of him."
"Is he still chasing you around?" Her brother sounded amused.
"Like my life has to be completely dedicated to his highness," She screeched, "What am I to do?"
"Bat your eyes and distract him with your femme wildes," He teased, "I am not like those airheads."
Speaking about her sisters was always a topic that made her angry. She was never one to put on a kimono and rouge before going out. Act simply when in public with a kind smile and submissive head nod. Instead with sais in hand as she fights beside her brother. Moving through the shadows as she listens to whispers of strangers.
"You got back here," Her brother laughed, "Want to share?"
"Please do not look at me like that," She knew what expression he had, "I didn't have to seduce him."
"He knows you aren't a virgin?" Her brother asked, "Like you seduce men and women."
"Like your one to talk," She spoke of his past, "Weren't you at one point a translator for your Viking Chief?"
He put his hands up in defeat to bring up his career during long voyages from their late father's homelands. Shores of Japan during his youth were memories that he held dear before his late wife. Having to be reminded of them by his sister had him knowing when to give up teasing her.
"Are you sending anyone to market?" Asagao and Yuri asked to join them.
"List and money on the counter beside the basket," He pointed out, "Stay in budget and haggle if you have to."
"Hai!" They scattered past him and Bara.
"Sometimes I think if you are truly crazy leaving them incharge," She watched them, "Such dunces."
"It's the one that Momo brought in," He swore he saw something in him, "That may be the one toi take this place over."
Bara tried not to laugh since she knew her brother wanted to move on to become an artisan, crafting amazing candy offerings for temples in Kyoto. Priests and nuns were impressed with the marine life that He crafted from multi-colored mizuame in record time. His kio and octopus were the most popular and requested upon watching him craft them by candle light with small tools. Besides the small hair accessories each one of his sisters wore out within their pinned up hair. He made these out of scrap metal, wooden, and quartz he gathered from places that didn't see potential in. Along with any other small things that had recently captured the attention of small merchants and individuals.
"Ever finish those sexual aids out of a tortoiseshell?" She asked about his recent commission.
"On time and in complete secret." He got chills over the piece.
He never liked the weird pieces that the wealthy elite or nobles usually wanted him to craft for a small fortune. Meetings in which they speak about the requested items always got weird or plain odd. The materials in which he had to use to make these items always made him get resourceful. Finishing them on record always left him doing his best in detail and craftsmanship.
"Surprises me that they have the gull to try and get one of you," He nods his head, "Like the daughter of a Viking and imperial servant girl, anything different."
"You were always so attached to okaasan." She smiled at the memory.
The two of them were quiet after that when they ended up doing small opening duties that weren't covered. He always looked at a weird candle holder that hung off the wall near the kitchen area. One that burned the candle slower than the one he usually used to get around the upper floor. As if he was the tracking seconds that passed for them when they neared up the space.
"I know," Bara knew where he was, "I should get going."
Returning to the palace in the dead early morning when people were slowly beginning their day was easy for her. All she had to do was take the same steps Jack as to not get spotted by spying eyes. Slipping past the guards to get inside was always fun since they were sexist men that looked down at her. Now traveling through the palace and listening to the latest gossip and news. Had her learning the morning process Jack was going through needed to end soon. Since his father was worried his son would never take a bride and give him children of any kind. In which his mother had to remind her husband of what his son was going through. This where a rift was forming between the Emperor and his wife that she took note.
Left her to get to the servants quaternary to change and begin her other duties after checking into. Informing her supervisor of what she was up to with her father before she was dismissed. Ignoring the comments and statements about why she wasted married or baring children. Making her way to personal quarters of the prince where her sister got done assisting Jack.
"Imouto- san, " Sakura screeched her name, " How is brother? Is it true Momo is engaged? Is the brother truly giving up his shop once he finds someone suitable? "
"Sakura," Bara felt a headache coming on, "Quiet."
She ended up handing over a scarf filled with their brother's latest creations in accessories that Sakura was excited about. When her fabric was untied and treasures were revealed for her to see. Hand combs to 2 tong hair sticks with white jasmine- like buds decorating the ends. Made her look over each item that her brother crafted just for her to wear whenever she wanted. She put into her hair with such glee in her eyes for what this day would come. Not knowing her kanzashi would catch the eye of the Empress once the first meal of the day was served. The leaves and flowers worn in the servant girl's hair alone had her just staring at her. Just before Sakura could begin her work in cleaning Jack's room or gather the laundry to be washed. Empress having her privately called reached Jack's ears since he liked Sakura's chatty nature. She could go on and on about her family when she sat with him during official duties. Had Jack excuse himself from his father's side to seek why his mother wanted to bother his servant.
"Bara?" He sought her out.
He found her one sidedly sparring against the newest recruits that were being trained for their duties. None of the young samurai could pin her or even make her submit to demands of her. While Jack was quite pleased she had been chosen with Hideyoshi to be his bodyguard as he watched. Only his presence be acknowledged and his request to see Bara become granted. To him she stepped without a care what the man thought of why she was being requested. Laughing when asked if she knew why her sister was in the private company of the empress.
"Have you noticed the kanzashi my sisters wear?" She asked Jack.
"Quite." Jack recalled the colorful and oddly shaped ones.
"Empress just be asking about them." She guessed.
"I never knew okaasan would be that interested," Jack was amazed, "Your Niisan is an amazing man."
"He picked it up from our father," She sighed, "He has always been good with his hands."
This talent of Jack's unnamed friend would end up getting a visit from Empress just when he was closing up. She was plainly dressed and the only company she came in was Bara, her son, and Hideyoshi upon arrival. She looked around only stopping a few times at hidden Kamidana. She noticed that there were three gods being represented instead of the usual one when she gave respects.
"I heard of your sparring session," Hideyoshi addressed Bara, "Proud of yourself?"
"Putting men like you in your place," She rolls her eyes, "I will be glad to clash my sais against your swords. Anytime."
She then grew silent when she watched the Empress be joined by her son with his eyes winded at this discovery. Bara shiftly moved without a creak of a floor board or stumble away from Hideyoshi. Landing on the counter in a graceful manner before her brother that made Hideyoshi blink. Way they spoke without being too loud had him feeling like a fool toward these people. Since the Empress would soon allow her son to take a seat next to him at his usual table.
8*8
This Kyuu Izayoi showed how determined he was to prove himself to Momo's brother by more than showing up. He only needed to be shown once and learned where everything was for the first time. Who surprised them with his cooking skills before they opened by making buns. Stuffing he made was mostly root vegetables he harvested from a garden that was kept outback.
"Ok," Mom heard her brother sigh in defeat, "He can be in my kitchen."
"And?" Momo asked.
"Three month rule," He held up his three fingers, "No Negotiation."
Momo ended up cheering since her brother gave him approval before pulling this Kyu behind her. She showed him where the recipes were located and where her brother kept the finances. In the form of a ledger and the money that were neatly hidden in the kitchen area from customers.
"You trust him," Bara asked her brother, "As in your putting fate in Momo's choice?"
"Have you proven Hideyoshi wrong yet?" He questioned her.
"Iie." Bara knew he was getting at.
"When you finally do," He got up, "Then you can get a say in what I do."
"Hai," She replied, "Niisan."
"Understand," He got up, "I am hard on you for reasons, I know you are better than him as a person."
He ended up patting her head as he made his way to the hidden staircase to slowly climb upstairs and change his clothing. Which he did once he was away from prying eyes and a door was closed. Pieces of his clothing came off piece by piece until a necklace holding three pedants was revealed.
One to represent Rama
One to represent Odin
One to present Ra
He prayed when he quietly held in between his fingers before his hand wandered to his chest. Trancing the outer ends of the scar that began between his pectoral and travels down to his abdomen. Thin diamond shape that made up the rough piece patch of his own skin on his torso.