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Chapter Text

Since Akemi was a young girl she had a curiosity for birds, from the herons that lingered by the ponds to the pheasant that scratched at the scrub grounds near the palace. There was something about watching them take flight, to see the feathers shine in the afternoon light that never failed to capture her attention. Besides to watch the birds, she did not step much further than the pristine garden paths, no matter the call of a cuckoo bird somewhere just out of sight. No, even so young did Akemi not like the dirt and insects that lurked beyond the maintained gardens of her home.

That dislike for dirt and the outdoors did not dwindle the older she grew, in reality she hardly even had the time to watch birds any longer. Her focus had shifted too courtesan acts, to the traditional arts that had gained favour. Someone of her status was expected to remain inside anyway, unbecoming to venture past the grounds and blemish her pristine skin. Instead, the rich silks of Kimonos and mercury white makeup became second nature, the pleasant sound of a bird's trill was no more than background noise as she is taught by the maidens around her and by her mentor Seki. Although as pleasant a teacher as Seki was with his indulgence for her fiery nature and the occasional strictness a teacher possessed, Akemi noticed that her fellow maidens still treated him with the polite distance they would grace strangers at a court. It was something that lingered in her subconscious, one that she overlooked when he praised her and snuck her treats from a trip to neighbouring provinces with her father. It was not uncommon to find her inside, an assortment of books and scholarly texts around her, left alone to study and refine whatever task Seki had set for her. 

Frustration bristles within her as she turns to the scriptures before her, these days her father seemed to be wishing to trade his role as her chaperone to some man he decided would be fit as her husband. Something he does without her input must importantly. In the aftermath of an argument like so many like it, Akemi is found by her mentor who offers her a patient smile. 

"You need to channel that energy elsewhere." Seki tells her one day when her fiery attitude was at the forefront, not so quickly cooled from another failed talk with her father. "There is another way to get what you want, Akemi, you need to lilt your voice to be soft and feminine, that is the gift that men lack, so use that to your advantage." 

"How can that convince them?" Akemi questions with tone shy of a whine, doubt furrowing her brow at his words. "Force seems to be the only way to get them to see reason." 

"Do you find result when you hurtle anger at your father?" Seki retorts with an arch of his brow and she need not reply to the obvious. "I didn't think so... remember it next time you speak to your father or any other nobleman, do not be afraid to appear soft." 

Mellow, malleable, she can understand why it would be so appealing to men like her father. Opinions of any kind were rarely tolerated, lest one by his own daughter for being born female and not a male to carry the Tokunobu clan to glory. The thought only sets her anger aflame, oh to have the freedoms to be and make mistakes without real consequence. 

Before her Seki lets out a thoughtful hum, bringing her attention back to him. "Words are a skill not many have mastered the art in, your skill for poetry will serve you well in it as you progress." He admits with a proud edge to his smile. 

"I have the best mentor to thank." Akemi says, unable to hide the cheek in her expression. 

"Better, just like that." Seki says with amusement. "You'll be a master in no time." 

"Perhaps." 

"You may find poetry helpful, renga is sure to hone the skill of speaking little yet with clear intent." Seki suggests. 

Akemi pauses in her reading to send him a long suffering look. "Did you have to re-read scriptures when you were a boy or were you allowed to roam as you pleased?" 

Seki lets out something short of a sigh. "This isn't a prison, Akemi." 

Her shoulders drop in defeat. "Some days it feels like one." She says, returning the paper she was revising into a neat pile. "Surely there are other ways to learn that don't involve peering at moth bitten scriptures of some long forgotten age." 

"Games, art... they are one and the same." Seki says. 

"So you would teach me one?" She questions hopefully. 

An expression flashes across his face at her words, a first real flash of discontent. "Strategy is a man's field." He says at last, a furrow to his brow. "You need not worry yourself with it Akemi." 

The disappointment is a bitter thing that fills her as his words dawn on her. "Oh, I see." She says with subdued dejection. Even games held divide it seemed, ones that women and girls are frowned upon to indulge in with roles infused into them. Unrecognisable for one not aware of the connotations, perhaps that was the moment the yearning for more had awoken in her. 

"There are lines in place." Seki says after a pause. "There are some things for men and some things for women, that divide creates harmony for all involved. Akemi, you know as well as I that a lady playing the koto is filled with elegance and expresses her modesty." He continues. "The same applies for men, except instead of an instrument they are to play particular games, these emphasise the characterises of honesty, honour and diligence that is expected of a man."  

The cage seems to grow smaller, it seemed. "I see." She placates. 

Seki seems to sense her discouragement. "In the end it is the quality of workmanship, the quality of your music and in your performance... those are things that you can hone." 

She drowns out his lecturing with thoughtful bitterness. What had he let slip moments ago? The art of words? Did he not notice that that words required strategy to talk down conflict, to avoid setting you opponent down the wrong path that disfavoured you? All those wars and conflicts that were quick to resort to the blade, could they have been avoided with the right words? It seemed obvious to her now. 

It was a strange thing, when Seki was kind and affectionate in a way her true father never was, although in moments like this she finds it hard to remember. Growing expectation seemed to rest heavy on her shoulders, as doting as her father tend to be, his intention often conflicted with hers especially now in his perusing of a husband for her. Now, her father listened to her but in a way that Akemi knew he was only agreeing to stop her pushing. In contrast, Seki was much like an uncle who, although much her senior, had a lightness to his interaction with her. Although for as kind and understanding as Seki was, was still a man. He would never fully grasp the lack of choice women in this society faced. It would take time for her to see that, in the years that she blossomed into adulthood. 

Now there was no doubt that she was lucky that Seki entertained her often fiery attitude, unfazed by her wit he seemed to entertain and at times encourage her. Yet it felt bittersweet, especially when during her time of training she noted that the woman around her rarely smiled as the grew, especially when around the maids and other courtly women, lips barely curling as they hid their teeth. She'd been too young to note it then, that they only smiled to show their blackened teeth around those daimyos lords loyalty to Tokugawa and to demonstrate so clearly their marital status to straying eyes. 

“A woman is to obey her father as a daughter, her husband as a wife, and her son as an aged mother." Seki says simply, like the words had not doomed her. "That is what expected of you." 

With a potential marriage very much in her new future, Akemi's minimal freedom's beneath her father could be cut short. The significance that she could be one of those woman was pressing ever closer and perhaps that what was sparked her obsession in swaying her father's mind with reckless abandon. In the last few months as she matured, it came clearer to her that a woman's role in this man driven world was to be obedient wives and mothers, who were so confined to domestic spaces that they were little more than dolls at public gatherings. They only seemed to smile truly when practicing art, wether that be calligraphy, poetry or literature. At least, that's what she noted. This fearful apprehension lingered every time she pondered the direction of her life. 

Left alone, Akemi is given time to think over Seki's words. In her hand a brush is coated in ink as Akemi carefully adds to the strokes on paper to the birds wing she was attempting to capture. Her father had gifted her a grand calligraphy set for her birthday, not that it was her passion, but something about the measured action was soothing if not also dreadfully boring. At least Seki was not ordering her to recite the sacred texts on paper this afternoon after their clash, blissfully he had left her afternoon free to be. Outside a bird's song continues to fill the simple quiet of the room. 

Careful she continues to tries to capture the movement of flight, brow creasing with concentration. Lately Akemi had come to notice that it was not only art that allowed freedom for women like herself, there were some nobles that seemed to have a hold on their husbands who had the strategy to whisper their desired and have their husband implement it. This hidden strategy had intrigued her, the way some had figured out how to exert influence on matters of business they often could not outright control. Perhaps strategy was not only a man's game, she muses Seki's words from earlier. Control, Akemi learnt from the whispering of maidens who worked at the palace, was achievable by influencing men to do as you wished with feminine charm. It seemed to simple but Akemi dare not try it. As a princess all eyes were on her, she could not attempt to make an embarrassment of her family when they could so simply be waiting on her downfall. 

This time of peace between her study and tonights ceremony allowed her a moment to not worry about her upcoming lone performance. The last week Akemi had shifted her focus to perfect the tea ceremony over other arts, many afternoons spend watching other courtesans and maids as they practiced their parts for upcoming hosting. Herself and other ladies in waiting were preparing to lead the grand ceremony tonight, word had been spread around the palace as the nearby Shindo Dojo had a star pupil who was rising through the ranks who would be present at tonights ceremony. It was her job to serve him, a daunting task to perform under the watchful eye of nobles from her province. 

"What colour shall you wear, my lady?" One of her handmaidens asked. 

"The one with the paulownia flower." Akemi says, the purple like hues in her minds eye. For Seki's words linger in her mind, to appear soft and feminine may be the way to go about tonights ceremony. They help her dress, wrapping layer upon layer. The end result will be heavy but thankfully not restrictive of her movement, it would not do well to mess up her steps with the eyes of the nobles on her tonight. 

Stepping out in the afternoon air, Akemi is followed by her maidens as they made their way to the Tatami room. The woven mats is smooth beneath her shoeless feet when they enter, she can spy a vase of iris flowers arranged as well as some scriptures placed around the room. Most of the equipment had been placed in the room prior to their arrival, the kettle and brazier already warming. A sweep of her gaze has her aware of the tea bowls already placed as well as the sweets tray. She goes over it in her mind, chasen, natsume, chashaku, ticking them off like a list as her nerves prickle.A few guests would be here tonight, she can see some smaller set ups where her maidens would be preforming their own. There was no doubting that hers was the main show, the set up proved it, she would be the first to host the ceremony. 

As the room begins to fill, Akemi only pays it half her attention, moving to make sure the brazier was heated enough to begin the ceremony. There's a murmur that goes up when their main guest arrives, Akemi only flicks her gaze to spy a young man had entered the room before returning her attention the other utensils she needed to lay out. Before long, she stills the nerves within her as she spares the gathered crowed a smile, her painted red lips pulling sweetly as she bows. She uncovers the sweets, aware as the guests settle into quiet, letting them taste the sweets laid out before she begins. 

She first takes the silk cloth, purifying the utensils one by one and once done Akemi warms the tea bowls with water, purifying the whisk in the water to symbolise soul purification.Her movements glide gracefully between the tea whisk, tea container which houses the green tea powder and the tea scoop. It is a routine she and other maidens practiced since they were young, a serenity to the routine of it even as nerves crackled in the back of her mind. Proceding to the thick matcha, she gathers three scoops of the powder along with water, turning to whisk it with the chasen until it foams. 

Finally done, Akemi moves to place the bowl down on the mat facing the samurai, watching him pick it up with his right hand to place it in his left palm before turning it to face away from him. He raises it to his lips, savouring the taste for a sip or two before he places it back on the tatami. A rouge grin curls at his lips as he caught her eye, making sure to bow low in gratitude before he rises to sit once more.

It was there, with her hand extending to pour the tea from her cup that she finally lets herself look at this headstrong samurai they called Taigen. "Do you wish for another round of tea?" She questions, tilting her head down in a soft manner to combat the surprised flush to her cheeks. 

"I am happy to savour this cup." He says, a charming edge to his words. 

Akemi bows in turn, moving to place the used utensils to the side. The other maidens were beginning their own ceremonies now, splitting off the smaller grounds gathered around brazier now that her ceremony had ended. She returns to kneel at the table, hands folded neatly in her lap as she finally gets to look at this protege samurai. 

Looking at him kneeling at the table, a sureness in his posture as he watched them perform the ceremony, her attention was captured. He was like the stories her maidens shared with her, noble and strong as he trained in the art of the sword. Meeting him and seeing his power she could understand those courtly women, how they secured the match in a way that only aided them. Taigen was handsome, and from what she had heard from the other maidens was working his way up through the Dojo in a bid to be a samurai lord.

Having finished his tea, he turn the bowl so that the front now faced her once more. "What is your name?" He questions. 

"Akemi, daughter of Tokunobu Daichi." 

"Pleasure to meet you, Akemi, I am Taigen." 

Yes, he was a man who had potential, native to her region at that. She can sense her father's eyes on her from here, considering the opportunity that had opened up to her. He may be a man who studdied the blade but he was still a man, a young man who's attention wavered at the smile of a pretty girl. 

In the morning following the tea ceremony, she keeps that thought in mind as she dons one of her nicest Kimono styled in the latest fashion and winds her way through the gardens to the training area. With the maidens at her side, she makes her way just as he finishes his morning routine. Her painted red lips curl in a smile, flashing her ivory teeth. Aware of her father's guards patrolling, Akemi forgoes her plan of seduction of letting her kimono slip teasingly like some maidens had suggested, instead, hoping the coy come hither look is enough to distract him. 

In the training grounds Taigen's attention strays from watching the sequence as a few fellow students are distracted by her presence, a flash of irritation flashing across his face as he notices their admiring looks. Training forgotten, Taigen attempts to rise to meet her but is brought back to focus on his task by a fellow trainer. Hiding her laugh with her hand, Akemi withdraws from the bridge and winds her way back to the palace, triumphant in the confirmation of his attention. 

She would find a way to get this match to work and if Taigen's rise to power goes as planned it would not take much convincing that a lord such as he would be suited as her husband. She had heard whispers, that her father was tempted by the interest of the Itoh clan. The thought sickens her, that her father would rather cart her off to foreign lands then have her kept by his side for the sake of power. No, she knows it would be Taigen. Anything else would be nothing less than a cage, married to some old brute of a man twice her age. She shudders at the thought, hands trembling breath her kimono as she envisions the newly wedded courtly women and their blackened teeth, the soullessness of their eyes. 

Akemi would get what she wanted.

And what she wanted was Taigen. 

Chapter Text

The jar of sweets rests near her study, simple incentive to cheer her up when Seki's lessons seem to have her drowning in scriptures. There was a chill beginning to creep into the air now, with the first snowfall occurring but none of that dampens her spirits. Taigen was hers, finally. She had gifted him an elaborate comb, one that would look handsome in his topknot. It is heavy gold but reflects his status perfectly for he is moments away from rising to greater heights with that castle her father had mentioned only just out of reach. She can remember the expression on his face when she'd revealed the gift, his jaw slack as he took in the way it gleamed in the morning sun. His own gift rests in his palm, three sweets carefully wrapped in silk. 

"Gold? Wow, that's too much." He had said with an embarrassed flush to his skin. "I only brought candy." 

"Have I defeated the undefeatable Taigen?" She teased, unable to keep the amusement and joy from her tone. "Think of it as an engagement gift."

If his expression at the sight of her gift was priceless, then his expression at her mention of their engagement was all the more so. "He said yes? He's sure?" Taigen said, blinking as if to wake himself from a dream. "You're sure?"  

Her hand raised to capture his, softly exchanging the candy from him with her gift. "I am sure." She says simply, tilting her head up to look at him sweetly. 

"The lord's daughter marrying the son of a poor fisherman." He said in mock lament, weighing the comb with thoughtfulness as he looks back at her. 

"I'd marry you if you were the son of a poor fish." She quipped, lips curling as she placed the candy on her tongue, curious if his kiss would taste just as sweet. 

Inside now, her thoughts stray to her husband to be and his day training the students with the newly gifted golden comb in his hair befitting his status as he'd declare his betrothal. She smiles at the thought, savouring the taste of the sweet as she takes one from the jar. She can picture him sitting amongst his fellow warriors this evening, sharing sake and speaking of their successful engagement. 

Akemi had plans of her own having invited a few maidens by the names of Yuna and Misaki, who had grown up with her and attended classes with her throughout the years. She had gone and invited another by the name of Mitsuko, a childhood friend of hers had been in the region for business, taking the evening to spend with her at her husbands allowance. The women lounge together sharing sake now that they had finished the soba prepared for them.  

"To Akemi's engagement! May you be happy forever." Yuna toasts, a warm smile on her face. 

"I wish you both good health and happiness for many years to come." Misaki adds, raising a cup. 

"I pray that you will build a warm family filled with smiles." Mitsuko says. 

Akemi laughs. "Thank you." She says, raising her own cup before taking a sip. 

The conversation flows easily, as does the sake. Yuna at one point had convinced her to take down her hair taking a brush to the strands as the combs through it with care. 

"Have you seen the sutras?" Yuna whispers, absently continuing to work on Akemi's hair. 

"No." Akemi admits with a flush of embarrassment. 

Misaki leans closer to whisper conspiratorially. "The images are awfully graphic, I didn't even know that the body can be positioned that." She adds, a nervous laugh escaping her lips. 

"My own husband taught me a few." Mitsuko admits, a sly quirk to her smile. 

"Father has been hinting at my role of pleasing my husband I hadn't realised he meant quite so literally." Yuna says, a laugh bubbling from her lips.  

"I feel awfully ill-prepared." Akemi confesses, hearing the talk of the maidens around her. 

It had not even crossed her mind that she would be expected to please him in that manner for Taigen had been nothing but courteous throughout their courtship. To act so seductive feels like an ill-fitting robe- not quite right. Her whole life she had prepared to be light, feminine and subservient. The fact that she would be expected to act and do as he requests seems suddenly daunting. Unease settles in her stomach twisting as she imagines all the forceful things she had heard other women detailing behind closed doors. To do something so unknown seems abruptly confronting. 

"Do not worry you have plenty of time to prepare before the wedding night." Misaki says in attempt to sooth her. 

"Are you alright, Akemi?" Yuna queries, reaching out a hand to her arm. 

"I think I have had enough to drink." Akemi laments, placing down her cup with a trembling hand. 

"Do not lament on it, Akemi, you will hardly be expected to do much other than consummate." Mitsuko says. "Come, tell me what have I missed while being away from Kyoto?" 

"The style of kimono has changed for one, a new way to wear it." Yuna tells her. 

"You must show me how to style it, I am afraid my knowledge is still quite traditional." Mitsuko admits with a wry laugh. 

"I heard talk that there are still a few white men still in the country, and I dont mean Dutch ambassadors." Misaki says. 

"Truly? I heard of new weaponry dotting through the provinces, some are turning from the sword to the white man's gun." Mitsuko says in turn. "My husband has been weary, lowly men- Tekiya- have been taking to competing against his wares selling inferior goods." 

"The courtesan women hear much especially from the loose lips of her husband." Akemi adds. "I hear of a new arts movement called Renku, highly more vulgar and filled with coarse wit." 

"Do tell." Yuna encourages. 

Akemi smiles. "Well, from what I've heard poets would often combine elements of traditional poems with new ones they created." 

"Interesting" Mitsaki says in subtle encouragement. 

"It is, did you know-" 

Her words falter at the sudden knocking at her chamber door in a whirl of commotion sparing a look back to the silhouette visible. Her maidens gather around her, wary to have someone at their door so late. Gathering from her recline Akemi rises with Mitsuko, Yuna and Misaki right behind her. As she opens the door the women peer out defensibly from over her shoulder to see just who had interrupted their night. 

A figure from Taigen's Shindo Dojo stands at the precipice. "Princess Akemi." They call out breathlessly before they bow deeply. "I apologise for the intrusion but I come with news." 

"What is it?" She queries sharply, a pit in her stomach as she takes in the disheveled appearance of this messenger. 

Conflict fills their face, a tense set to their jaw as they drop their gaze to the floor. "A challenger had come to the Dojo." 

Someone gasps, another's hand reaches out to grasp her shoulder tightly. A thousand scenarios flash in her mind of blood in fresh snowfall. There was only one reason for it to be a messenger here and not her betrothed. She is suddenly glad to be against the door frame her legs would not have held her alone at the connotation. "What has happened? Tell me now!" Akemi cries. 

"The Dojo had required to summon Taigen from his engagement party, for this lone challenger had swept through the students with ferocious ease demanding to see the Master." He states. "I will warn you princess, this ronin was no man... the ease in which he sliced through our ranks is otherworldly." 

Beneath her robe sleeves her hands ball into fists the sting of her nails grounding as she staves the hysteria rising within her. 

"Taigen had raised to the challenge to halt the path of bloodlust this demon was pursuing, dismissing their request to see the master. I will spare you the details of their battle princess, this demon was just as strong and skilled as your betrothed. They had moved the conflict to the courtyard, a formal battle at the request of the Second, so that neither Taigen or the school are disgraced." 

Akemi nods wordless a she absorbs every word from the other's lips. 

"The snow, a distraction as much of an aid in their initial clash. They both had traded blows and I will not withhold that from you, but this challenger had eyes of blue- foreign and unclean! Not only that but he had a grand blade, one of Master Eiji's that was wielded against him but it seemed that Taigen had the upper hand with the way the demon's blood was drawn, having them downed and without a sword." He pauses here to catch her eye. "I for one thought this was the end, but this demon was handicapped the whole time, with the removal of armoured weights their true strength was revealed and Taigen was cut upon his leg and side, disarmed and pinned beneath the demon with a blade at his throat." 

Akemi lets out a wounded cry tears spilling down her cheeks. "No!" 

"If not for Lord Shindo intervention, that devil would have struck our best fighter yet." The messenger states. 

Akemi pauses to gather herself blinking against tears a she questions the messenger further. "What did he want?" 

"He wanted to ask the master a question about his brother on his where about, no doubt seeking some black market weapon or some other. Regardless, Shindo spoke of Heiji's presence on the island-fortress of Tanabe, and his protection by Genken clan." He replies. "And just like that, the demon had sheathed his sword and set to depart into the night." 

"What of Taigen?" Akemi demands. 

The messenger sighs, hesitant to tell her. "Taigen is a skilled warrior, but has not yet reigned his arrogance... the demon was swift to act upon Taigen's slight shouted after him, without even needing to fully withdraw his blade he had perfectly severed Taigen's chonmage." 

She can picture it, the ronin's grip of her gifted comb and Taigen's hair, the blood painting his clothes and the snow as Taigen is left disgraced and defeated in the Dojo courtyard. All that planning with her smiles and talking with that soft lilt Seki had taught her. All that work to convince her father to go through with her engagement to Taigen for what? To have it slip through her fingers like shrine incense. 

Over something so simple as well, over a lone ronin storming Taigen's dojo on the night of their betrothal. Akemi had known that ego was a man's undoing, the courtesan women had spoke and gave one another knowing  glances at the mention but Akemi had thought that her samurai was better than that. He should have been better, her comb a symbol of her intention in thrown away mere hours after. Taigen's attention is a fleeting thing carried on the wind like cherry blossoms in spring. 

An obsession, it is clear as day. His attention had switched from her to the Ronin who had bested him and cut his hair. Shamed. She heard whispers, from guards and fellow maidens who talked freely in the grounds. Her father was stoic as ever, his lips curled in displeasure when her engagement too Taigen is mentioned. Honour would be her rival, she could see that now as she watched day and night as Taigen trained. She waits at the bridge, smiling coyly down at him like she had those months ago but Taigen's attention is to his sparring partner, a furious furrow to his brow as he continues to clash with them in building ferocity. 

Fighting a scowl of her own, Akemi turns on her heel at his indifference to her. A smile is no longer enough to stray his attention she knows that. As the winds her way back through the gardens, a crow calls. Casting her gaze up the bird hops from branch to branch watching her with intelligent eyes. 

"A message?" She hums thoughtfully and it crows, as if to agree before it takes flight. 

Akemi looks out to the space it flew, her mind calculating the ways she could regain Taigen's attention. She'd need to outsmart him or at least the obsession that seems to bind him. Mind made up she makes her way to the bathhouse, calling her maidens to aid her in bathing her in milk and rose petals. Stepping out from the bathhouse Akemi dons a new Kimono, a dark set that reminds her of the shining crow's wing and sets out to find Taigen. Her red lips curl in an inviting smile, beaconing Taigen to follow her to a secluded section of the palace. Away from the guards, she extents a hand out, letting the shoulder of her kimono drop to flash the pale skin of her shoulder as she lures him closer. The art of sex, the lure of it was enough to control, Akemi had seen that clear in the court. There were woman who knew how to wield seduction like a blade but were clever enough to be subtle. It was an elaborate dance especially for those unmarried women who went about toeing the line of wife and whore. If there was ever a time to test it out herself it would be now. 

Like those months ago at the bridge, Taigen finally follows. His hands skirting over the smooth silk, eyes filled with fire as he attempts to chase her lips but she turns her head away to deny him with a grin. His hands plunder, insistent to grope at her through the layers of silk like he could touch her skin. They fall into the futon, layers of silk unwound until Akemi is bare before him. Taigen leans forwards moving to capture her lips. It is not like she had imagined it to be, his lips are not sweet like the candy he brought her like she had thought. Instead, his attention seems preoccupied, his eyes although on her seem to look through. 

"I know, it looks hideous." He suddenly snarls, breaking the tension in the air as his hand raises to attempt to smooth his hair.  

Akemi blinks, her gaze rising to glance at his hair. She had not even considered it too focused on luring him in to even take in the difference up close. "It's not so bad, you can shave the front" Akemi says. "It's how all the noblemen wear their hair, very fashionable." 

Taigen pulls away from her, glaring out towards the window. "Why didn't he just kill me?" 

She creeps closer, ducking to line herself into his vision. "The gods have shown you a longer path." 

"Ugh!" Taigen groans, a bitter expression marring his handsome features. 

"You still have me, we'll be married, and..." 

Taigen scoffs. "Your father will never allow it now." He states. 

Akemi takes in a slow breath, attempting to control the annoyance his flippant attitude generated. "I can convince my father." 

He is looking out, away from her as his the words spill from his lips. "And have everyone mock me? I'd rather cut myself open now. The cut is so clean. A masterful cut!" 

She can't uphold the pleasant facade any longer. "You can't kill yourself over a brawl with some monster!" She cries, frustration clear. 

"It... It wasn't even a duel. It was an attack." He admits. 

"Did he officially challenge you?" Akemi pries, aware of what the facts the messenger had told her that night. 

"Victory cannot come from dishonour." Taigen laments. 

Akemi reaches forward, grasping his arm with insistence. "Therefore, you never lost. Had he challenged you, he'd be dead." 

Pulling him closer she smiles, making sure to keep his gaze. "I can see it now. You challenge him. And like a dog, he comes running. He faces you. An onryō. His demon eyes. But your courage drives him back like a squall against the sea. You unsheathe your magnificent sword."

Her hand drops with intention, and Taigen gasps as she grasps him. "He lunges at you but his sword is no match for yours." Akemi says, reaching up with her free hand to shrug off the outer layer of his kimono. "You strike with your blade, You draw his blood." This time she lures him down to the futon, moving to startle his waist before lowering herself onto him and Taigen gasps beneath her, wide eyed at the feeling of her.  

"His eyes like two angry waves in a storm. They try to suck you in but you're too strong. You thrust your sword into him again." She rolls her hips into his. "And again, and again." Akemi enunciates moving against him with purpose, drawing him closer to release. "A final cut, you feel the hot spray of blood... Glory!" She says with inflection, feeling him shudder beneath her.

Akemi rolls off him, turning to lay beside him. "Come now." She says tone like honey. "Let's shave your head." 

Taigen seems to wake from his haze at her words, rising from his recline. "No, you're right, that monster didn't fight honourably." Taigen pauses to look at her. "So my honour can still be restored. I must find him. Challenge him and kill him for all to see."

Her eyes close, trying to shake the disappointment from her features. "You are a strong warrior, Taigen, you and I both know it." She tells him. "You do not need to chase him down to convince everyone of your greatness, I know you are." The words taste bitter as she says them, falling falsely in the air as she attempts to convince him to stay. 

She had thought he would be placated by her, reminded of her but it seems that his obsession had only worsened to a feverish pitch, his mind straying even now to the ronin. "We're supposed to marry, you can't leave. He could be anywhere. It could take months to find him." She attempts to argue, a last ditch to convince him to stay. 

Taigen rises from the futon, redressing himself in his discarded kimono in wordless dismissal. "He's looking for Heiji Shindo. Arrogant enough to go straight to him. He'll need a boat. Mihonoseki. He must have left a trail." He muses, dismissing her words. 

Chapter Text

The call of a dove in the gardens outside greets Akemi upon waking alone, its lone call melancholic as it is soothing. The emptiness of the futon is a testament to her failure in keeping Taigen here, her marriage even more a gaping wound that threatens to rip itself open with every reminder of its uncertainty. It seemed that Taigen had the decency to throw her discarded robes over her like a blanket in his abandonment, the chill of winter making it ever more apparent to the state of her undress. Pulling on a simple robe Akemi rises early to go to the bathhouse.

As she she follows the familiar path she can hear the staff whispering amongst one another, it was clear that news had traveled swiftly of Taigen’s defeat. Forgoing maidens to aid her with applying oils, Akemi enters the bathhouse alone. It seemed that someone had previously heated the bathhouse prior to her arrival and Akemi wastes no time dwelling on the blessing of not needing to heat her own water. Dipping down to submerge herself, the warmth of the water eases the tension from her shoulders as she considers the conversation awaiting her at her father's table. Leaning her head to rest against the lip, Akemi lets her eyes slide shut as she allows the water to sooth her, to purify her anew as it washes away any lingering of Taigen from her body and soul. 

This new slate would do her well, considering her father's summonings. Too long had she had avoided her father in the wake of the Dojo's attack, convenient that her studies kept her away from him. There would be no doubt his anger in Taigen's shame, in allowing her marriage and the uncertainty of it with Taigen's disappearance. She mutters a slew of words to say to him, placating, swaying words as she attempts to capture her will to change his mind. "Father, your wisdom is beyond reproach and I implore you to see my side." Akemi practices, her voice lilting pleasantly against the natural acoustics of the bathhouse. "No, no, far too forward." She muses with a sigh. 

She spends more of her morning there, until the water cools too much and forces her out from its warmth. Redressing, Akemi slowly makes her way along the grounds to her father's house. Stepping now into the tranquil space of her father's house, Akemi bows her head respectfully towards him at the table. "Good morning, Father, forgive my interruption..." Her practiced words fizzle at his expression, at the tense set of his shoulders as her father spares her a glance at her entrance, ignoring her attempt at pleasantries. 

"Akemi... I was thinking on how Tomoe will make a great lord one day. He does what he wants." He states to catch her eye meaningfully. "But you, my pearl, you have a different duty, no? To create alliances by being a pleasing wife to a great man. I have listened to you once when you had an opinion on who you might want to marry and I wonder if I was wrong to have considered it."

Akemi bows her head again, knowing he'd see her frustration in her eyes she keeps them down, her lips moving to recite her speech once more. "Father, I know your wisdom is beyond reproach, and I submit to your will wholly, but I would be remiss if..." 

"Do you know what happens when you feed a pig sweets?" He asks, cutting her off with a raise of his hand. "Of course you don't. Your life has been robed in silk. You've never seen the mud of the sty. Your father wasn't a pig farmer like mine. When a farmer feeds his pig too many sweets, its teeth rot. Its gums fester. The infection goes to its brain, and it must be slaughtered before it reaches full size. The pig can't be blamed. He's a pig and will eat all it can. The fault is with the farmer... who knows better."

Her temper flares, her head unbowed this time as she stews on his words. "Am I a pig, Father?" Akemi asks, the words acidic as they leave her mouth. 

Daichi’s expression is stern at the face of her distain. ”You want sugar when there are proper options. More than a few lords have taken notice of you and inquired, I had let it go with your betrothal to Taigen but now I believe it best to look for alternate options." He pauses to lift a letter in his hand. “One in particular caught my eye, for I have received news from Edo that Lord Takayoshi’s wife has died and he needs a new bride."

"He's a tyrant." She cries, nails stinging her palms at the force of her anger as she balls her fists. 

”He is the shoguns son, he earns more than 100,000 koku!" He argues back to her raised voice.

"Is that your price for me?" She ponders bitterly, turning her face from him. 

"If I don't marry you off, you'll end up in a brоthеl! Would you rather be Takayoshi’s wife or a common whοre?"

Tension crackles in the air between them and Akemi pauses to inhale softly, 'do not be afraid to be soft' she repeats in her mind.  "Father, I know your wisdom is beyond reproach, and I submit to your will wholeheartedly. I... I spoke from fear, as these men live so far away, and I cannot imagine a life without my father close. Please, consider someone who lives near. Someone you trust to protect me and the interests of our clan." 

Something about the words sway him, she can see it in the softness that returns to his face. "My dove. I forget you are a simple girl. You know nothing of the world.” 

“Perhaps I need a husband who knows the toil of life and battle as you have. One who has seen the sty.” She suggests, hoping he would heed her words like he had with Taigen. 

“I had thought the same but look where Taigen had led us!” He refutes. "Taigen's embarrassment will be your own if you don't move past this, no I had given you a chance to have a lord close to home but I see now that other lands would be better suited."

Akemi bows her head, blinking to fight the sting of tears. 

“I would have signed you over to Lord Saito, trust me I nearly did after I heard news of Taigen’s utter shame, if not for Seki’s interjection. He urged me to wait until talk dies down, then to make my choice then.” 

Akemi smiles in faux gratitude, bowing once more. "Thank you, father." She says, words like ash in her mouth. With her head bowed she misses the introspective expression that passes over his features.

 "I only hope Seki's better than I am at denying you sweets." He says. 

It takes every ounce of training as a child not to react to his words. Taking the words as a dismissal, Akemi leaves her father to his breakfast. As she returns to the palace ground Akemi keeps walking, feeling the burn of eyes on her every step she takes. Taigen's defeat is whispered behind hands, pitying eyes watching her as she steps out into the gardens. She goes to her room, grabbing a bag of gold coin and moves, walking and walking and walking out into the gardens.

Soon Akemi breaks out into a run, panic filling her at the prospect her father had fated before her. Edo. The Shogun's son. She was to be wed to the Shogun's son with Taigen's fall from status dooming her to the life she had always feared. Blissfully the snow had stopped for now coating the ground in a fresh layer especially with her traditional shoes adorning her feet more suited to cobbled grounds, not dirt and grass as they slide with every step she makes. Struggling, Akemi continues to move as the palace grows further away from her, one thing is on her mind- finding Taigen and finding that ronin who had ruined it all. 

Out here every direction seemed the same, each tree she passes looking like the next. Although she had traveled along these roads she had been hidden away in the palanquin, shielded from the world around her. That gilded cage does her no favours now, turned around and aimless as she attempts to travel in any way that has the potential to lead her to civilisation. Even here on the roads eyes seem to burn into her with every pedestrian she passes gazing at her leeringly and conniving. Her hand absently brushes against the coin purse tied at her waist reassuring herself of its presence as she attempts to make her way to a town. 

"Now aren't you a true beauty?" A voice carries. 

Startled Akemi turns to spy the man who'd spoken. Short in statue, he glances over her shrewdly yet appraising like one would assess an animal to slaughter. With a pit in her stomach, the significance dawns on Akemi just how defenceless she is as she stares back at him fearfully. 

Either unfazed or oblivious to her discomfort he creeps closer, beady eyes continue roam over her. "Oh yes, a true noble princess bathed in milk and roses... not false like the others, no, this will show the Madame... she will rue barring me this time." 

"E-excuse me." She stutters, the fierceness that had always filled her flagging under the scrutiny. His hand hovers as if to grip her arm suddenly and a fear Akemi had never experienced personally has her freezing like a deer, limbs locked in place, as her mind flashes to thoughts of being trapped in his bruising grip. 

"I believe that's enough." A voice cuts in. Akemi turns to look at the intruder, a relieved breath rushing out of her at the sight. Of course it would be Seki that finds her, he knew her far too well to know that she would not take the news well.

"I found this one." The man states. "Go find your own."

Seki frowns, flashing her father's Daimyo crest stitched onto his kimono. "I think not, if you know what's best for you." 

The man flushes an unflattering shade, slipping like an eel as he squeezes his way out of a potential conflict. "I-I only wished to aid the lady home, there are treatruous figures out you see." 

"I am well aware." Seki states sternly as he levels the man with a stern look, sending him on his way without further threat of violence. 

Once the man had become washed away into the crowd does Seki finally bring his attention back to her. "Of course this is where I find you- away from home with flesh traders following you like hawks for miles." Seki says. 

Akemi bows her head in defeat. "I see I didn't get far." She says. 

"No, you are lucky you did not get robbed on your way here, dressed in gilded cloth and a heavy tie at your waist." 

Her attention flitters to the bag of gold at her waist, a bitter downturn to her lips. "I guess I did not think this through very well." She admits. 

"No, you did not." Seki agrees. "Come let us eat, you will tell me just what's happened." 

Leading her into the restaurant Akemi gazes around to the other patrons in quiet intrigue, taking in the simple pleasures of those around her. She had never dwelled in a place like this, the closest would be the banquets her father held when nobles visited from neighbouring provinces. There is not elaborate dress here, no exotic meals just merry simplicity. Wordlessly she follows Seki to a table located near the back of the building situated beneath a window. Akemi cant help the smile that tugs at her lips as she ponders it, ponders the choice that Seki had known she'd wish to see more than a wall. With an open palm he gestures for her to sit before following her to settle at their table now. She bends her legs gracefully, posture straight as she sits. Her eyes stray to the other patrons around them, to their casual reclines and feels suddenly out of place with the rigid nature of her spine.

"It's so lively here." She states, eyes lingering on a newly wed husband and wife. Watching as she woman serves her husband first, smiling joyously even with their small meals. The husband smiles in thanks, raising his hand to squeeze hers before they turn to enjoy their meal. 

Across from her Seki nods in agreement and with a knowing look he finally asks her the question he'd been waiting to question her with. "Tell me, why did you flee?" 

"I can not take it." Akemi admits no more than a whisper, the sound nearly being absorbed by the noise around them. "Something finally seems to go my way and it soon crumbles to dust, am I doomed by the gods to always be on the wrong path?" 

"I do not think so." Seki says reassuringly. "The gods have always favoured you, dear, they have always brought you to the right path." 

"Is that the gods or my fathers path? It seems that father only wishes to wed me to an old man who best suits himself, no care for what I want for my own life!" Akemi laments. 

Her mentor pauses as tea is set before them, the waitress giving them a bow before retreating back to the kitchens. "There's news of a new lord, one who emerged in the rich lands." Seki informs her. "Not just rich in coin but in produce, silk and other arts." 

Akemi tries her best to school the alarm on her face at his words, her fears of Edo still capturing her heart in a vice grip. Her hand goes to pour tea to her own cup, only her training keeping her hand steady as she fills a cup for herself and for Seki. It relieves her of some lingering tension to do something, letting the warmth of the cup seep into her frozen fingers as she awaits her mentors words. 

"They have reached out to express interest in you." Seki says simply. He pauses takes a sip from the tea the waitress had brought them, a nod in acceptance of her work before continuing his explanation. "That region is equally sought after, it would suit your father to have a hand in a region with such exports." 

Akemi can hardly believe it, the sheer luck of a proposal at this time. It was no Taigen being offered to her, but it seemed she didn't have the luxury to beg, not when Edo lurks on the horizon. "He... he could be swayed?" She queries, praying and hoping that her fate would not be decided so swiftly. 

Seki simply smiles. "Perhaps... come back to the palace with me and i'll be sure to pass on my judgement of this new lord, as well as no word on this escapade of yours." He says. 

Her cheeks burn beneath her makeup, unable to meet her mentors eyes as she casts a look around at the patrons here. "I am trading one cage for another." She laments. 

Seki's smile drops. "Better a cage then a common whore, you do know that is the life that awaits for you if you run away from us." He warns. 

Tears burn at her eyes. She had been silly to think she'd be able to run from it, to find that lone ronin and what then? kill him? How would that be possible if he'd been able to take down Taigen and the Dojo on his own? What chance could she possibly have to defeat him? "But Taigen." She cries, pitifully as tears trail down her cheeks. 

"Taigen is as good as dead running after that ronin like a fool, be glad he shown his true colours before you were married Akemi, an engagement is something you can withdraw from." Seki tells her sternly. "We will finish our tea and then we shall return to the palace." 

Heart heavy Akemi nods in acceptance. She was tired of the cold, tired of the uncertainty that laid before her. In all honesty she was glad to return back home, to the place she had some semblance of control no matter how false. Her short stint into the outside had shown her starkly how unprepared she was. Perhaps her father was right, no matter how many texts she read she did not know the outside world. It was chilling, to know just how reliant she had been raised to lean onto the men around her. This world was built on crippling women like her, forcing them to be guided by fathers, then husbands and then finally sons. Was this freedom she looked to actually her undoing? If not for Seki she would have followed that flesh-trader. It is startlingly frightening to acknowledge she was too far out of her depth. It seemed she had much to learn still. 

On top the horse Seki had rented, Akemi awkwardly mounts the beast with ill grace. Face flushing beneath her makeup at the pure amusement of the civilians around her. Perhaps Seki was correct, that the gods only set her on the right path. The journey back lets her mind wander, to the mysterious lands that awaits her if Seki could secure this match with this new lord . Perhaps her new husband would let her learn more of the outside world? Perhaps she could convince him over time? The potential of it lingers, a want so strong it overrides the discomfort of riding.

Although every sway of the horse seems to worsen the ache of her limbs as she finally sees the familiar gates of her father's palace. High up she spies a guard turn and run, no doubt going to share the news of her return to her father. Aided by a guard, Akemi dismounts the horse listening all the while as Seki spins a tale to her father filled with talk of letting her catch a glimpse outside the palace walls, speaking of how a bit of a distraction would do her well after the news of Taigen. Her father seems to bide it, or at least accepts that Seki is trusted enough to accompany her on a venture as such. It seems that everything has changed now but Akemi does not know if for better or worse. 

Chapter Text

The Shindo Dojo had been easy, far too easy until they'd summoned that dog Taigen to slow her down. The sudden onset of winter did nothing to impede her, any past injury or ache that persisted when the temperature drops was irrelevant the moment she walked through the lattice walls. She was not surprised to have someone more challenging come to stop her, a shame he was so distracted by frivolous acts unlike her. Comfort, money... none of that matters, not when revenge called so sweetly. 

Mizu could smell the sake on him as they'd fought, truly a last resort if they were sending a pitiful man like that to verse her. She had not intended to shame the Dojo, no, it was answers she sought not ego. Yet, a battle of honour and ego was what it became. It was clear Taigen did not recognise her, not until her eyes had been revealed in their conflict. He always was a useless distraction. Truly, cutting his chonmage was in her anger at his past transgression and to teach him a lesson for his arrogant mouth. She had not known that one action would impact as much as it did, her lust for answers had been her only goal. It seemed that the consequence of her actions faced her with Taigen's recurrent appearance.

Awoken from her drug fuelled sleep, frustration has her baring her teeth, snapping at him at his arrival. Her blade is held to his neck, her gaze dipping to just what held his attention so deeply. In his hand a contact sits, she can tell it is a duel set for a later date. "I should have kill you when I had the chance." Mizu hisses her voice hoarse like a warning growl. 

"You can barely stand, let alone hold that sword for long, Now put that down and sit. I'm nearly finished." Taigen's eyes glint in rising challenge. "You're still recovering for your wounds, I could have easily killed you but I didn't.. you owe me, Mizu, a legal witnesses rematch. The only thing left is the date, so I ask you, how long until you're well enough to die?" 

"You barely survived our last match." She says and she cant help but let out a snort of laughter, a wry thing at his words. "Are you so quick to forget how things went for you last time we fought? I do not think we need more to witness your failure." 

"That was no match. You're nowhere near my level." He argues. 

Her gaze lifts to his limp hair, unable to help the amusement that the sight generates.  "I like your hair." She says pointedly.

Rage flashes across his face, howling into the stillness of the forrest. "I was blind drunk! I was celebrating my engagement!" 

"Congratulations." She drawls. "A canceled engagement by now with your chase." Mizu points out, fingers digging into his shoulder like she could twist the hurt harder. 

"That's not my fault!" He cries out, tone hard as he glares up at her. "It was yours, along with my loss in position at the Dojo! You have dishonoured me but I'll have it all back when I return with your corpse. Now tell me... how long?" 

"Two days." She spits dropping the blade from his throat. 

"Three days." Taigen counters. 

She lets out a scoff at his offer. "Scared to face me, Taigen? You should have killed me when you had the chance. Didn't your Dojo teach you that the time to kill your enemy is when you can." 

"Not following bushido is dishonourable." He argues all righteous anger. 

"You want a spectacle, not revenge... when I find my target I don't waste a second on ceremony." Mizu states. 

"Then you are not a samurai at all! You're still a stray dog eating out of my trash." He says. 

Mizu cant help the hate that rises in her at his words, so similar to the words he cried out to her all those years ago and at the Shindo Dojo. There was real anger to have him impede her with his frenzy for honour rivalling her lust for revenge. It has them clashing, wresting on the ground. Her wounded shoulder jerked open as they tussle. Hands are like clubs, nails like blades as they attempt to force the other down into the dirt. Taigen had always viewed her as this feral dog, ironic that he had become this very thing he saw within her. Finally she knocks him off him, having pulled back her arm to swing a punch. They both pause, breathing hard as they come to a stalemate. She can feel blood from her wound seep down her shoulder, the warmth of it stark against the chilled air. Taigen has his own wounds, a dark spot against his jaw where she had caught him in their scuffle. Lifting himself gingerly as he makes his way to sulk away from her. 

No sooner does Ringo approach her and she wordlessly downs the medicine Ringo brought her. "More medicine, the first brought your fever down." He states. "This one will speed your healing and rebuild your strength. It has vegetables, cod liver, herbs.." 

His words fill the quiet of the landscape but Mizu is drawn to watch as Taigen practices with a blade he had taken from Chiaki. It is one she had helped forge she notes, a quiet amusement that fills her as he uses the broken blade. Ringo follows her eye to watch Taigen practice. "Master Eiji's broken blade is a good fit for him." He muses. 

Mizu lets out a grunt of acknowledgment at his words, rolling her shoulders as if the action could abide the restless energy thrumming within her. It is not the first time she had made camp early especially with times the weather conditions forced her to stop but something about waiting keeps her guarded in the stillness. Even Ringo's mindless chatter is not enough to settle her. She finds her instincts correct at the sudden emergence of a figure through the trees. Rising from her recline, Mizu takes in the sight of the thug who had come crashing into their camp with a war club. He's tall, incredibly so, that she chanced an imploring look towards Taigen who had prepared to confront him along side her. Her shoulder stings, throbbing in pain as she grips her sword harder. 

Wordlessly the man extends a letter out towards her and Mizu snatches it from his grasp, ripping open the wax seal. "As I trust you are a man of honour, I hope you can credit the same of me. If you would follow my man, Okiyama, he will lead you to a medial place where we can, in common safety, meet for tea. Please accept this gift as a token of sincerity from one eager for your acquaintance. From Heiji Shindo." Mizu read aloud, her attention rises to catch the man's eye. The giant of a man, Okiyama, offers a horse towards her in offer. She reaches towards the reign, her wounds protesting all the while. She can hear Taigen calling out to her widly, his protests going unheard as she muses over the unexpected gift before her. 

Taigen snaps his attention from the giant of man back to her, calling out. "Hey, Wait! Where are you going?"

"For tea." Mizu says moving to mount her horse.

"There's no tea you know that, right? He's leading you to an ambush." Taigen implores, watching her as she settled into the saddle. "I need you alive! We have a contract, remember? No one gets to kill you but me."

"Shindo is a direct line to one of the men I am hunting, revenge does not hesitate." She states urging the horse into a canter. 

Together they follow the man along towards the mountains, the shrine they had stayed in growing further and further away from them. Taigen's voice carries into the quiet as he recites the Buddhist sutra, the snowfall around them muffling his words from echoing off the cliffs. "They scattered white flowers on the Buddha and the flowers they scattered were piled as high as Mount Sumeru." He pauses in thought. "I didn't see a mountain until I was 12 and ran away from home, nothing there but cliffs and boats. Fish guts and fish minds. Do you remember Kohama? Why would you? I try to forget it."

Mizu remains silent, willing him to quiet. 

"My father lived and died by how many fish he caught in his net before sunrise enough fish and he could drink his fill, not enough, he beat me instead." He pauses to let out a scoff. "And I could smell the cod on his fists, I smelled it on him on his deathbed. Eighty-four thousand Dharma doors but for me there were only two, the net or the sword. I could become my father or I could cut my way free of the net and I could forget all about Kohama."

Mizu glares up at him. "I remember Kohama." She snarls, pushing her horse to overtake his. 

They stop close the mountains forced to camp as night approaches, the towering peaks so close now they could spy its silhouette against the inky black of night. They set up camp like usual, skirting around the silent addition of Heiji's messenger. As they settle for the night waiting for dinner to cook Mizu's attention rises at a sudden sound near her. Shoulders taunt, Mizu watches Okiyama approaches her with his war club only to leave it next to her in a gesture of good faith, turning to leave them to be as he moves to the outskirts of camp. 

Unsurprisingly Taigen had noticed her unease and had decided to pounce. "He needs a weapon to kill you like you need two hands to piss... or he could bite you in half while you sleep." Taigen goads, like she was a frightened child he was trying to scare. 

Suddenly Ringo steps between them having served dinner, bringing a fresh bowl into her sights to stave off another conflict. "All of it, Master." Ringo urges as he passes her the food, no doubt hoping she'd ignore the others goading as well. 

"Well, I guess I'll just relax and wait to be ambushed or maybe we'll get lucky and tomorrow we meet Heiji Shindo for tea, only there won't be any tea. There'll be an army of soldiers to cut you into tiny slices, none of which can duel me."  Taigen says, attempting to capture her attention from behind Ringo. 

"If you prefer, I can kill you now." Mizu threatens.

Ringo chuckles at her words but Taigen pays him no mind. "Why'd you let me follow you, hmm?" Taigen asks. 

"Revenge doesn't hesitate." She repeats her words from earlier. 

"You need me because you're weak, still a malnourished urchin on the street." He provokes. 

Mizu's hand raises to remove her glasses. "I can beat you with any weapon you choose, be it a spear or a rock." Mizu states, glancing at the chopsticks in his hand for a bear before suddenly throwing them towards him. Taigen barely counters it, having the chopsticks strike his face. Anger flaring he rises to a fighting stance, charging towards her. Instead of crashing her into the ground as he'd planned, Mizu manoeuvres around his strikes, trapping and twisting his wrist that had moved out to strike her. Frustration has him hit low with his free hand striking against her wound to gain traction. 

"Master your stitches!" Ringo cries out in worry, hands wringing as he watches them tussle. 

Despite the moment of relapse, Mizu grits her teeth as she quickly uses the momentum to throw him over her shoulder and down into the ground. She points it towards his groin to incense him, smirking as she switches to stab at his face instead. "You are lucky this isn't a blade." She says, retracting it from between her fingers to wrap her knuckles harmlessly against his forehead. 

It might as well have been a blade for incensed and humiliated Taigen throws her off him snapping the chopsticks as he lunges at her. They tussle, rolling through the snow to the very edges of their camp as he pushes her down into the snow. With her face pressed into the snow Taigen drops his head to speak into her ear tauntingly. "The village kids used to scare each other with stories about you. The hut at the end of the woods, where the monster boy lived with his whοre mother." He goads, laughing even as Mizu lands a blow to his ribs. "We dared each other to touch the door until one day it was gone then you were a dog on our streets, living on gutter scraps."

With a snarl, Mizu rears her leg out to bring her knee into his gut allowing his hold to loosen on her. She takes the moment to knock him down with a punch, satisfied to watch as blood runs like a river down from his broken nose. It matters not that the movement of her leg had reopened the wound on her hip the sight of blood gushing from him cools the bloodlust raging through her at his words. 

"Your round." Taigen concedes to her in a bitten off tone, content at the result of his goading although bloody and beaten as he walks away. 

"Ah!" Mizu hisses slumping down as her hand drops to the blood blossoming at her hip. 

"I'll get my needle and thread." Ringo sighs, disapproving as he takes in her injury.

Silence settles on the camp, firelight casting the world around them in a warm glow. After re-stitching her wounds, Ringo hands her another bowl having spilt the contents earlier from the conflict. She takes it, despite her lack of appetite and continues to eat. 

"You know, you picked a ridiculous master, but you take good care of him." Taigen says breaking the silence, his own bowl resting in his lap as he speaks toward Ringo. "I tell you what, after I kill him you come work for me. You can't be my apprentice, I mean, look at you, half-limb to a half-wit but I'll certainly make a place for you in my kitchens." 

Ringo pauses to glance at him before returning to finish his meal. "Oh, I could never work for you. I always dreamt of greatness, gave every coin I ever collected to the saisen box with a prayer on it."

"You think you can be great?" Taigen scoffs in disbelief. 

"As it says, there are four paths through the world, the way of the farmer, the artisan, the merchant and the warrior. Each of these can lead to greatness. I never even cared which path, so long as I found mine. I mean, I thought I'd at least reach noodle greatness but now I've actually seen what greatness looks like and I know I can't touch greatness any more than I could swallow the sun but I can help... I can help greatness." Ringo says. 

Taigen blinks in surprise. "What? I'm great!" He retorts as the words settle on him, bewildered as he watches as they settle camp for the night. The approach of night has them take to their beds neither her nor Taigen too keen to sleep with their backs turned, aware of the fact the other could choke them in their sleep.

Like usual Mizu wakes as dawn approaches, the sound of a distant bird calling. It takes them a short moment to cook, Ringo already handling there food for the morning. It is with one minded focus that Mizu swiftly begins to take down their camp, eyes set the mountains that loom before them. The sounds of the forest seem to dwindle the closer they went to the mountains, Okiyama leading them forwards to his masters location. A little further behind her she can hear Taigen following her closely behind like a stray, with a contract for a battle between them. She wonders looking at him if he wished to die as much as she did. It seeped into it, to the shame that lingers to him and his severed hair. Her conflict that night at the Dojo had smoothered his will, craving victory against her or death that would cancel out his prior defeat. Did the gods will him to live as much as they did for her? 

It seemed that every battle rendered her injured and beaten but alive. It was as much a path of revenge as it was a journey to death. Every path was impossible, should have been impossible and yet she claws her way out alive each time. She accepts each time that it is the end and yet it never seems to come. As they reach the ice coated ravine, Mizu absently ponders that this would be the furthest her path of revenge would take her. The ravine is thin, much too thin so have a horse cross they would more likely slip to their doom, it seemed the rest of their journey into the ravine would be on foot. As Okiyama leads them to a slow, Mizu ponders the sight before them watching the taller man dismount. 

Typically Taigen breaks into a whine at the sight of the sheer cliff before them. "Oh no! No, thank you, we're not going in that death trap." He says. 

Mizu drops her gaze down from the ice to their guide. "Heiji Shindo is this way?" She questions and Okiyama grunts wordlessly, affirming. "Then I go this way." She states, moving to dismount her own borrowed horse. 

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" Taigen cries, watching her tie the horse to a nearby tree. Okiyama moves to block Taigen from following, a warning expression on his face that Taigen pays no mind. "I'm the only one who gets to kill him so if he's walking in to meet certain death I'll be there to keep him and death from getting too friendly" He states pushing past the tall man. 

Mizu strides forwards into the narrow path, not bothering to see if Taigen was following. She can hear him mutter behind her, lamenting on her choice to enter the ravine. "Meet me for tea it'll be fun." He mocks. She makes her way along the narrow ledge, mindful of the ice covered rock and that one slip would have her careening down the rock face. If she wasnt careful with ever footstep she wouldn't make it to the meeting. Taigen is blissfully quiet behind her for once, no doubt concentrating on his footfalls rather than run his bratty mouth. Small miracles. 

"It opens up here. Get ready." Taigen states as the path begins to widen. It was no surprise the quiet wouldn't last long. 

Mizu finds an open patch, high rock formations acting like castle walls around them. It makes her feel like a fish in a barrel, trapped in place and unable to escape the onset of a spear. Although, the sight of a makeshift chashitsu opens up before them as the narrow path suddenly opens up.  With her hand resting low on her sword, Mizu blinks at the sight of a small encampment with Heiji Shindo at its heart.  

"Hello!" Heiji greets, stretching out a welcoming hand to the mats on the ground. "Come, sit." 

"Huh." Mizu says in lieu of greeting, sparing an arrogant look back towards Taigen as she moves to kneel. "I was just in the mood for tea." 

Taigen glowers at her expression. "It's still a trap." He says bitterly, following the kneel at the makeshift tatami. 

Heiji only moves to prepare the tea once they had both moved to sit, going through the familiar moves off a tea ceremony before them. "In my youth, I saw enough flawless swordsmen to know I'd never be one so I put my effort into other arts, commerce, Tea." He pauses to look towards the iron kettle that rests close by. "That kettle has been in the Shindo clan for 300 years, beautiful ironwork."

He pauses to hand them a cup each, the tea sitting full before them as neither move to reach for it and Heiji smiles tightly at the sight, unsurprised. "We have no secrets here." He says tone more than an order that statement. His gaze lingers on her glasses, pointedly. "You were meant to be alone." He states, gaze lingering on Taigen at her side. 

"Fair" Mizu says, bringing her glasses down from her face. "You expected an attack." 

"I am unarmed, but for a small knife to cut bean cake." Heiji says, opening his hands out in a placating gesture. 

"We have our swords." Mizu states, her sword resting heavy at her side. 

"Maybe I have 500 archers hidden in the cliffs around us." Heiji counters with a laugh. 

"You are Heiji Shindo... You trade in flesh, opium, chiefly guns the middleman to illegal traders from the West."

"You have been looking for me." Heiji states, no doubt aware of her attack of his brother's Dojo. 

"For a man you are connected with." Mizu corrects. 

Heiji smiles, a slippery thing. "I am connected with many men." He says simply. 

"The white man." Mizu insists. 

"There are no white men in Japan. That's the law. No one would break the law." He says with a laugh, shaking his head as he places the sliced bean cake before them. "Abijah Fowler." He says at last. 

"Abijah Fowler." Mizu repeats, committing the name to memory. 

"That is his name." Heiji confirms before he pauses, face serious as he caught Mizu's eye. "And what business do you have with Fowler?"

"He was one of the three white men who were in Japan when I was born." Mizu states. "I will kill all three of them."

"There were four white men when you were born." Shindo corrects. 

Mizu nearly smiles as she reveals. "There are three now." 

Heiji lets out a wordless hum at her comment. "Fowler and I have dealings, long-standing arrangements." He says. 

"Your business is unimportant." Mizu says bluntly. 

An expression passes over his face that Mizu doens't bother to decode. "You can't muster the appearance of concern for your host?" He queries at her tone. 

"I look your way and don't even see you." She states. 

Taigen cuts in. "You mean to kill my partner I am bidden to prevent that." 

"I sent the Four Fangs." Shindo admits, as if to impose them to concede. 

Mizu lifts a brow. "I killed the Four Fangs." She counters. 

Something shy of impressed passed over his features at her admission. "That proves you formidable, uncommonly. Now I can keep hiring more and more expensive cutthroats and you can keep killing them which will cost us money and you time. This benefits no one but you're lucky. I am wise, experienced, I know some problems you simply can't kill." 

"An offer." Mizu guesses. 

"A very pretty one." Heiji concedes. "Fifty thousand ryo and we appoint you the new lord of the Sendai-han. A region rich in lumber, sake and silk. The current lord is a debauch but the shogun will appoint a successor at our request... He does most things at our request." Heiji moves slow, turning to bring forward a sealed letter from behind him, showing it like one would a priceless jewel. "I have the letters prepared." 

"Lord Mizu of Sendai." Mizu muses dryly. 

"Why not? In return, you would have to offer an assurance you will let go of all ill intention toward me... and Fowler." He offers. 

"An assurance?" Muzi queries. 

"Well, it's a small thing nothing at all really." He inhales, his eyes rising to capture the expression on her face as he reveals. "Your right thumb, I take it with me as a promise that you will never grasp a sword against us again." 

"Your knife cuts more than bean cake." Mizu notes.

Heiji simply smiles. "There's no shame in it many of the most powerful lords have reason to wear long sleeves." 

Taigen visibly blanches as he sees her considering. "Oh, hold on, hold on. You owe me a fight first, Me!"

"I refuse, I have no interest in money or power." She says at last, chuckling at the knowing look in Shino's expression. "This you expected." 

Heiji feigns surprise. "Did I?" 

"A man for whom commerce is art this you planned for with an attack or a second offer." 

"Perhaps not so pretty an offer" Heiji muses. "If I may, how do you intend to reach Fowler in his island castle?"

Mizu blinks. "Through the front door." 

Heiji falters, surprise genuine across his face as he glanced towards Taigen. "Really?" 

Taigen lets out a scoff, shaking his head. "He would." He admits. 

"He won't." Shindo insists. "As a white man, Fowler is tolerated only so long as he remains unseen. Fowler's castle is impenetrable. To reach him, you'd have to cross violent water, eight levels to reach his chamber at the top, each with a signature defense and there is no door. The defenses are absolute, if you attempt an assault, you'll die before you see his face unless someone were to help you."

"Commerce."

"Personal." Heiji says, anger tinged to his words. "You want to kill Fowler and I want my partnership with him ended... I can get you inside the castle."

"How?" Mizu questions, almost demanding. 

"A sake barrel." Shindo states, gesturing towards the barrel beside them. 

Taigen laughs in disbelief at the reveal. "You want him to get in that?" He questions. 

"The ride will be long and horrible but upon my return to the castle, having failed to negotiate with you, the ten casks of sake I purchased along the way will be set in the kitchen stores." Heiji proposes. 

"You're not actually considering getting in that?" Taigen questions, levelling her with a look.

Mizu's attention switches from the barrel to Shindo. "Any path that leads me to Fowler is a good one." She muses. 

"That fever must've cooked your brain. That's not a cask it's a coffin!" Taigen cries. "He probably has a room full of barrels stuffed with dead, shriveled, stupid enemies."

"I have questions." 

"You must."

"How do I trust you don't leave me in there to die? You weigh the inane complexity of that plan against the simpler ambush you expected. Why do you want Fowler dead when he makes you so rich, you can bribe me with 50,000 ryo?" She queries. 

"My reasons are my own." Heiji states, lips pursued.

"No." Mizu says. 

"No, they're not twenty years of that face, that stink, I hate him. I hate him so much." 

Mizu looks at the barrel in contemplation. "Why does the sake smell bad?" She asks. 

"He wants to die in a fancy barrel." Taigen sneers, rolling his eyes.

 "Ah, that's the cheap sake we serve to the prostitutes. If you'd like, I have a cask of my preferred sake. It's very dry." He offers, a urging smile to his lips. 

"I have a question." Taigen interrupts. "Let's say he gets through all that and guts your white man how does he get out of the castle?"

"I can guarantee your life within a blade's length of Abijah Fowler's neck but our business ends there, I wish you luck in your escape." Heiji reveals. 

"A final question, that flower, who cut that flower? The line is exquisite." She states, suspicion in her eyes. "Only a master could make that cut it couldn't have been you." 

"Enough questions get in the barrel." Shindo orders, dodging her questioning. 

"What happens if I refuse?" Mizu questions. 

"You can't.." Heiji says. "I told you the truth about our situation except on one point, I'm not here alone. On the cliffs surrounding this vale are 500 of my best archers my small joke earlier was no joke." 

"It is an ambush, see?" Taigen crows. 

Heiji raises his arm up, bringing a silk ribbon into their focus. "If you refuse to step in the cask, I drop this ribbon, which is the signal for my archers to blot the sun with their arrows and you die where you stand." Heiji threatens, waving his hand with the ribbon in emphasis. 

"And Fowler lives." Mizu says pointedly. 

Hate mars Heiji's previously smug expression. "Knowing him, probably forever now get in!" 

Taigen moves closer to her. "No! You can't get in there, there aren't any archers..." He argues. 

"Shut up!" Heiji Shindo says towards Taigen before turning his attention back to her. "You have no choice, get in! Get in or die now!" He cries, frenzied as he gestures to the cask.

He moves, his free hand not raised moving to grasp at her arm forcefully but before he can reach her there's a flash of a blade under the winter sun. Blood spraying in a haunting arc as metal cuts through muscle and bone as Mizu severs Heiji's outstretched arm. Mizu's own hand reaches out to grasp the ribbon before it falls with the severed hand.

"For a minute I thought you believed him." Taigen states over the agonised screams.

Mizu pays Taigen no mind, her attention to drawn to Shindo kneeling against the cold ground. "There aren't any archers you bed with the devil." She states, lips curling in displeasure to Heiji at her feet.  

"Please." Shindo begs, his free hand shaking as it attempts to stunt the bleeding. "No more bloodshed, let me leave with my life and the title and riches are yours." 

"What of my thumb?" Mizu questions. 

"You can keep it, please, spare me Lord Mizu... I will aid you as lord if you let me live." He begs. 

"How can I know you won't go back on your word." Mizu argues, suspicious over his silver tongue. 

"My arm will act as a thumb... no mind... I can always take your companions if needed." Heiji admits between pained gasps. 

"Mine!" Taigen cries out before his surprise sobers. “You lack honour Heiji, he has bested you, you should be glad to die a warriors death.” 

“He is unworthy of my blade.” Mizu says, eyes narrowed. "I accept your offer." She states down to Heiji, handing out the ribbon towards him. 

Shindo snatches it, babbling wordlessly as he uses it in an attempt to staunch the bleeding. "Take the letter, let me leave and I won't bother you again." He pleads.

"Remember Heiji, you are in debt to me." Mizu calls to his retreating figure. 

They watch him run, tripping in his haste as he flees out from the ravine. Whatever archers hid unknowingly to them in the mountains seemed to be watching for the signal or perhaps he had lied about the archers after all. Unknowingly, her grasping the ribbon from Heiji had saved them from a barrage of arrows. 

"You were never getting in that barrel." Taigen concludes. 

Mizu lets out a snort. "Men like him like to talk so much, they eventually tell you how to destroy them." 

"He told you how to get into the castle! How? What was it? The flower?" Taigen queries. 

"The cheap sake." She says. 

Taigen laughs. "The prostitutes!" He exclaims, shaking his head. "You know, it's a shame our duel's set for tomorrow. I have to kill you before you can get your revenge." 

Mizu's expression shudders, eyeing in the broken blade in his hand in thought, contemplating the hinderance of his desire for a duel. It would be so simple to just subdue him now to render him unconscious and leave him in the snow with promise of a future duel. She almost considers it, wondering if she would be quick enough to hit him before his broken sword would cut her. 

"Your skill as a swordsman merits an opponent with full strength and focus. I will be able to supply you with both after I have fulfilled my task." She says at last.

Taigen's eyes widen in disbelief before anger sparks across his face. "You promised me three days!" He snarls, reaching out to grasp her but thinks better of it as he pictures Heiji's severed hand. 

"I promised you nothing." Mizu admits narrowing her eyes at him. "But I do have a grand idea that would suit us both, for as your lord, you can regain your honour and your status by my decree." 

Taigen's expression shifts through an array of emotion, anger to contemplation and finally resentment. "Will you take my thumb from me as well?" He spits glowering at her. 

Mizu smirks. "How can we duel if I cut that from you?" She questions in amusement. 

Taigen lets out a scoff of annoyance at the logic. "What's in it for you?" He enquires. 

"You don't impede my path of revenge and if required, allows me to call upon you to assist in hunting down Fowler." She states. 

"So you admit I am better than you! You need me!" He says. 

"You're such a fucking brat." Mizu sneers. "I should leave you here to rot." 

Taigen laughs before his amusement fades to seriousness. "I will kill you myself if you fail to bring me a rematch." He says. "Fine, I accept your terms." 

"On the second day of autumn, I will meet you at the appointed shrine and you shall have the duel you deserve." Mizu states. "Consider it done."  

Chapter Text

The sound of the ocean crashes against the shore as Mizu travels along the road leading up to her new residence, the distant sound a familiar one as Mizu glances down once more to the location written down by Heiji Shindo. If it was up to her, she would have barely been to the place. Although, if she wanted information she'd need to do her duty as Lord of Sendai and that meant staying still in the province. It is no surprise that Mizu had not stayed in one place for long, not since a child with Swordfather and having been adrift since Mikio's betrayal. The knowledge that she'd be required to stay put has a restless energy thrum within her, even after days of travelling on foot to her new homeland. Taigen and Ringo follow close behind carrying their basic belongings in packs along the road. This outcome that had befallen her would be an unexpected detour on their journey but a worthy one. Her path for revenge had become just that much clearer with the opportunity opened up before her perhaps not in the way she was used to but sometimes strategy worked smoother then confronting quick with a blade. The sound of one of her companions voice cuts into her introspection. 

"I just hope it does not stink of fish." Taigen groans, eyes cast to the port behind them. 

"This region is known for its forestland, yet every region has need for fishermen." Mizu states dryly, looking up from the letter in her palm. 

"So long as I can stay as far from the net as possible." Taigen says. 

"With Master becoming a lord I am certain we will be residing in a large castle away from town which means no fish." Ringo muses. 

"Great... I forgot that i'd be stuck with the two of you." He sulks. 

Mizu pointedly ignores Taigen's spoiled whining, instead sparing a moment to get a visual layout of the town. Their integration into the city is not exactly subtle, with the carts and staff that Heiji had ordered enter with them. There's enough space between them to know that the staff would not hear every conversation between them not that Mizu entirely cared what they heard. It wouldn't take long to figure out if any of them shared anything private, her blade would sort it out quickly if that were the case. 

Being closer to the centre of town now there is a buzz of activity around them and it seems all the more jarring having come from the wilderness only a few days prior. Taigen's attention now caught on a seller selling sweets, distracted enough that Mizu was forced to manhandle him roughly to avoid him running into townsfolk. Speaking of townsfolk, the people whisper to one another as they pass gossiping behind hands on the arrival of their strange new lord. No doubt her refusal to travel in the palanquin Heiji had organised her and all the fanfare she had disregarded was the talk of the region. 

Mizu's gaze flickers away as they pause in their daily routines to watch them pass, fighting the urge to mess with her glasses as she becomes aware of the amount of eyes on her. Instead she squares her shoulders, keeping her head steady as she eyes the open path before them. Falling into the familiar act of arrogant confidence, every step she took infused with purpose as if it was the gods decree for her to be lord. She pays their attention no mind as she continues forward, allowing their words to wash over her with dismissive ease. 

"He is not what I imagined." One man states glancing at her shrewdly. 

Another nods at his companions assessment. "No... I pictured more of a broader figure." 

Mizu's eyes narrow, rolling her injured shoulder as it twinges. So they thought she was slight, too skinny perhaps. She's glad for the hat that covers her face as it shields the flash of disgust that she cant hide at their discussion. Her figure had always given her an advantage, more agile than the broader men she fought. Mizu knew that was when it came down to brute strength alone that she became disadvantaged but the training weights she tied to her limbs tend to allow her a bit of leeway to strengthen her. It mattered not what they thought, her status or her blade would soon quiet them. 

Although, her attention shifts at the mention of a name as a small group of women walking nearby trio, Mizu's interest piqued despite her distain for their gossiping. 

"Have you heard of the princess Akemi? Her fiancé was bested by our new lord." One woman says, shifting her basket of vegetables to avoid them falling out. 

Her companion lets out a gasp. "Truly? How shameful for her."

"I heard she is the most sought after noble this side of the province! Her beauty and courtesan skills rival to none." Said another. 

"How lucky, I wish I could go to Kyoto one day." 

Taigen splutters at their overheard conversation, glowering at Mizu's back. "Maybe I should have killed you when I had the chance." He grumbles. 

"That is not very bushido of you." Mizu replies teasingly as she casts her attention back towards Taigen's angered face. She lets her amusement be seen before returning her gaze back to the path before them. 

How intriguing that word had spread and with no mention of her being an onryo yet at least, small mercies. Sendai was quite far from Kyoto and yet in a few weeks the news had spread. She wonders if it spurred on by Heiji's influence or if it was just pure luck information had followed them. It is odd to see them bow to her in the streets, a few merchants with haggard faces glaring out at her. She can not blame them for the transgression, she would not have bowed in their place either. 

It is not so far now, the bustle of the Main Street reduced to a path that leads towards Mizu's dwelling. She is glad to see it thin, as well as the crowd disperse the closer she came to the garden's which surrounded her new home. Being this close Mizu can spy the walled defences of her house just visible through the tree line, the lines of the roof visible only because she'd been searching for it. 

"Do you think Master Eiji would like it here?" Ringo questions, switching his attention from the orderly garden around them to look toward her. 

To be honest, the thought hadn't even crossed her mind. "I doubt he would leave his forge." Mizu says in turn, dismissing it and her conscious that she smoothers like any other emotion in her life. 

"You should invite him." Ringo suggests. "I don't know much about metal but I think maybe the result would change from location to location." 

"I doubt that." Mizu tells him, absently aware of the callousness of it. "It is the form of material that determines it." She adds after a beat. 

Ringo smiles regardless of the tone. "I have much to learn about greatness." He says. 

The sand beaten road had shifted into stone tiling as the walled gate came into view, the change in texture underfoot making her absently aware of the ache in her legs. The stone walls of the castle are imposing as it towers through the shrubbery, they can spy a lookout who withdrawals from the walls, retreating to no doubt alert of their arrival. It is no real surprise that Heiji Shindo is there to welcome them at the palace. He looks entirely displeased to see them, Okimaya ever silent at his side and Mizu cant help but rub salt into the wound. 

"I am surprised to see you here." Mizu admits with a wry grin as she walks up the palace gates, glad he is just as miserable as she is with the fanfare of her arrival. 

"The shogun asked me to assist you in settling here seeming as I vouched for you." He admits, pure reluctance in his expression. "I would not be here if it was not the only option." 

"I would hope my business would be much more pleasant than Fowler." Mizu goads taking arrogant delight in the way Heiji's collected mask shudders at the reminder of the white man.

"Rather." Heiji sniffs, nose turned up arrogantly. "Small miracles in the fact money is guaranteed either way."

Mizu's head tilts, letting her gaze drop the sword hanging by her hip. "Some things more guaranteed than others." She says. 

This time Heiji really does shudder aware first hand the sting of her blade. "O-of course, Lord Mizu." He says, his severed hand hidden behind long sleeves of his Kimono. "Come this way, I am sure you are all tired after a long journey to Sendai." 

Skittish he moves to allow them entry, his eyes flickering warily between their weapons and their faces. "Constructed by the previous debauch lord who had his eye on ryo than anything, this dwelling has all a modern man could wish for with the air of tradition." Heiji informs them. 

Ringo's astonishment is clear on his face as he looks up at the fine architecture around them. "Wow! I have never seen such beauty."

Mizu herself cant help but agree with his assessment suddenly aware of the mud stuck to her traveling clothes. 

"I have seen better." Taigen sneers, a flash of envy on his face that he tries to hide. 

"Oh yes I imagine you would, for Edo is by far the most grand city." Heiji muses. "But this castle still has its own charm with tranquil gardens and a grand bathhouse at its centre. Not only that but the largest living space being reserved for the lord and the middle sized dwellings for advisors and fellow guests. The staff and other townsfolk have smaller dwellings closer to the outskirts of the gates." 

"You mean, I live here too?" Ringo questions starry eyed. 

"Oh yes, if Lord Mizu wishes it." Heiji says with a laugh before sobering. "I am afraid some quick business is required of you, Lord Mizu, the Shogun wishes to have this change noted quickly and as such has sent us an advisor on his behalf, meaning that we will need to discuss you and your role as lord here." 

Mizu presses her lips into a flat line at his words, wishing to eat or sleep then to listen to stuffy nobles lecture. "Fine." She says curtly. 

As if sensing her anger Heiji is quick to appease. "It will not be long, I will make sure it is swift and efficient." He says. 

He leads them to a grand room, a table short of a war room situated with many seats along its grand length. At the far edge a man already sits, no doubt one of the Shogun's advisors there on his behalf to pass on the message of his decree as well as what is expected of her as a lord. The man moves to rise as they enter his head bowed in greeting as they near. "My name is Akio, my lord, I am here to oversee this meeting for the Shogunate." He states.

Mizu bows her head in greeting trying to ignore the uneasiness her title gives her. 

"This is Mizu of Kohama." Heiji introduces her, noting her reluctance to speak. "As I am sure you are aware, he is to replace the prior lord after his... failures." 

Akio simply nods, laying out the letters on the table. "Shogun Itoh had received your letters and was pleased with your offer of a replacement, he has tasked me to bring his decree for this new lord as well as the signed papers you may have missed." He states. Mizu looks down at the flurry of paper spread out before them, attempting to read their contents but is unable to as Akio shuffles them. "There is one crucial point he requires." Akio states, pointing at one. "He requires at least one  noble born to be apart of your advisory team, especially as both your current companions do not hail from Sendai." 

"No." Mizu refuses flatly, lips curled is distaste. 

"No? You cannot run a town alone, Lord Mizu." Heiji argues. 

"I have Ringo, and Taigen." Mizu says in dismissal

"A chef and a shamed samurai are no team, especially when none have experience in court." He points out. "I will not have my investment soiled because you are too arrogant." 

Her lips turn further downward. "What are you suggesting." She questions harshly. 

"If you do not wish for us to appoint a noble born amongst your team then a marriage will be required of you to secure your hold of the province and aid in alliances, I would personally suggest with Lord Daichi for he is another noble who deals with the Shogun regularly." Heiji says. 

Taigen lets out a furious noise at the name moments away from running his bratty mouth no doubt. It was no doubt that Taigen was good at detecting lies as well as being more knowledgable in dealings of nobles then her that Mizu knows by now to heed his thoughts. She pauses, intrigued at his reaction as well as the knowledge that this would potentially aid her in getting closer to Fowler for anyone who dealt with Heiji would have surely dealt with the white man she was hunting. "Tell me more." Mizu all but demands.

"It is well known that Lord Daichi is looking for a suitable husband for his only daughter, Akemi, after her prior engagement was ruined by yourself." Heiji reveals. 

Oh, Mizu concludes with a start, this daughter offered to her was meant to be Taigen's wife. "I am aware." She lies, pointedly ignoring Taigen's warning glare. 

Perhaps she could allow Taigen to marry Akemi as originally planned or at least allow this faux marriage to gain her leverage to learn more about the Shogun and his ties to Fowler. It bothered her not that Taigen's attention may be swayed by the sight of a pretty girl, all the better to get him off her back and allow her to focus on what mattered. Revenge and killing those white devils. 

"Are you aware that Daichi wishes to have a hold on the Sendai region? It would not take much to convince him to allow you the hand of Princess Akemi." Heiji queries. 

"I was not." Mizu admits. A thought strays, pondering as she muses on potential leverage.

"I can send word on your behalf to Tokunobu Daichi, if that is what you wish." Heiji offers.  

"Lord Daichi deals regularly with Shogun Itoh." Akio informs, butting in to the other's offer. "It would solidify your standings as well as your loyalty to have ties with him." 

As much as the concept of marriage makes her skin crawl she does not wish to have a bumbling fool added to her trio, Taigen and Ringo were enough to handle as it is. A wife would be easier to juggle and would be expected to stay behind when business required Mizu to travel. It would be easier to manage a wife she hardly dealt with, especially in her pursuit of revenge then to have another man to follow her every move.

Backed into a corner Mizu knows she will have to settle on the lesser of two evils. "That would be beneficial." She settles on at last.

"Lord Daichi is a wise choice." Akio agrees. 

"Mizu!" Taigen cries, anger colouring his face unflatteringly at her confirmation. 

Heiji ignores his outburst. "Do let me know if have any family left, for they will represent you in this marriage." 

Mizu nods simply, aware of Ringo's encouragement earlier. "I will need to send word, as my swordfather was involved in an accident and can no longer read." She replies. It is not quite true, Master Eiji was blind but these men did not need to know the accuracies of her statement. 

"Consider it done." Heiji says inclining his head with the barest of a smile. The sight of it sets her instincts running, a false note to his demeanour even as his words seem genuine. "Pleasure doing business with you, Lord Mizu." 

She locks the acknowledgment away for later. "I thank you for your aid." She says. 

"I have inscribed our arrangement." Akio states, sliding the letter towards her. "All that is left is for you to sign the papers." 

Mizu holds the calligraphy brush in her hand, aware of the ink threatening to drip onto the paper before her as she hesitates. Revenge doesn't hesitate, she repeats in her mind, hardening her resolve as she drops the brush down to sign her fate. 

"That is all that is required from you, Lord Mizu." Akio informs her. "I will contact you once you are required by Shogun Itoh, in the meantime consider your station to officially be Lord Mizu of Sendai." 

"Thank you." She replies, moving to stand. 

"You are free to rest, the staff will show you to your rooms." Heiji says. "Akio and I will sort the rest." 

Mizu would prefer to listen in to their conversation, lest she be unaware of their scheming but, a stronger part of her is tired, bone tired in a way her aching shoulder reminds her of the constant chasing she was doing. 

A member of the castle staff greets her, a figure a few years younger than herself if their youthful features were true. "I will show you to your rooms, my lord." The boy says. 

Heiji spares the child a dismissive wave. "Noboru will show you the way." 

Noboru drops his eyes to the floor in nervous obedience and the sight sets Mizu's teeth grinding in anger, startlingly reminded of her own dismissal as a child. 

"Lead the way." She orders, done with being pleasant for the night as she rises from her chair. 

Ringo and Taigen follow, the latter's eyes burning into her as they are lead towards their new chambers. Only once they are back out into the outdoors does Noboru's tense set ease, a joyful hint in his expression as he explains the grounds to them. "These gardens are the pride of palace staff, Lord Mizu, perhaps the most beautiful this side of the province." 

"Kyoto is grand." Taigen scoffs. 

Mizu narrows her eyes, tempted to sweep the other's legs out from under him at the brattish retort. 

Their young guide seems to breeze over the disrespect with ease. "Maybe, but I think it is wonderful." Noboru states. 

There's a proud smile to his lips as he gestures to the direction they headed in. "Your rooms are in the east wing, Lord Mizu, a grand garden adjoined to your chambers where you can admire the sun as it rises." He says. "Your companions rooms are to the north of you, distant enough for privacy of screens but close enough that it a small walk between the two." 

"Not overly confidential." Mizu ponders. 

"It is not so close, for other guests quarters are close to show trust and status but not so close you have to worry about stumbling upon them or for them to overhear you." Noboru says. "Their chambers are towards the left of your companions, closer to the western edge of the grounds." 

"Fascinating." Ringo muses. "I heard word of a bathhouse?" 

"Oh yes." Noboru laughs. "It is especially popular in the wintertime with the heating system as its quite less likely to freeze." 

Their guide leads them away form the main hall, down to the tiled pathways. The sun was positioned low in the sky, soon to set as they wind their way through the grounds. The meeting had burnt away most of the afternoon and truly Mizu was looking forward to being alone in her chambers for the first time in far too long. 

"Here it is." Noboru announces as he pauses at the edge of a tall structure. "This is your own private grounds, Lord Mizu, signified by the gates to your own private garden. Your companions own chambers are next to it." 

"Thank you, boy." She says, hands flexing at her side awkwardly as she resists the urge to ruffle his hair. 

Ringo in turn is not so hesitant to show appreciation as he bows to the boy with a pleasant smile. "Thanks to our guide, we will be sure to settle smoothly." He says. Noboru in turn glows in pride at his words bowing low to them before he turns to leave them with a cheery wave in farewell.  Mizu watches his figure become smaller and smaller along the path, only turning to face her companions once their guide is out of view. 

In the private gardens Taigen's fist swings and really Mizu is faintly surprised he had not tried this earlier. "Curse autumn! I will send you to your grave now!" He howls, furious the moment they find themselves alone at the precipice of Mizu's home. 

Mizu barely dodges, her hat skewed in the haste as she moves to avoid his strike. Like their scuffle at the shrine those days ago, their hands claw at one another as they attempt to subdue the other. She cannot deny that there's a new ferocity to Taigen's actions, a flaming temper at he grits his teeth with every strike. Falling from the tiled path they go toppling into the neat grasses, the grand plants spared from their rage as they wrestle. Pain blooms at her jaw as Taigen's fist caught her, her outcry smothered by clamping her lips shut. Taigen's eyes flash in vicious triumph, laughing wildly even as she brings a knee to his hip. 

Done with his wild nature, Mizu finally pushes him down to subdue him, the simmering irritation since being forced into the meeting finally having somewhere to go. "Enough!" She orders, pushing his head down into the grass harder like it could bring him sense. "This is our chance, can't you see?" 

Taigen struggles, teeth gnashing as he thrashes under her hold. "Your chance not mine... You've taken everything, Mizu! Must you take her from me too?" He questions. 

Her grip falters, for so close now she can see the pain he had tried to hide from her. It sweeps her breath as much as the sudden blow to her stomach. Swaying to her feet, Mizu spits at the ground to rid herself of the iron that fills it from his prior blow. "Do not fret, Taigen, she can keep your bed warm." Mizu dismisses coldly brushing herself off to stand firm. "I care not this marriage is faux from the start." 

"I promise I will put you down like the onryo you are." Taigen tells her, tone acidic like he could erode her with word alone.

Mizu grins an arrogant thing. "Let's see you try." She goads, kicking at him punishingly for his slur as she leaves him laying in the dirt. 

Anger simmers in her as she leaves them both at the gates, a persistent thing as she enters the chambers. The door blocks the last of the natural light of dusk leaving her in perpetual darkness if not for the oil lamp lit by palace staff earlier. Mizu cares not for the grandeur of the room, instead shedding the outer layers of her kimono until she's down to her wrappings. She is unaware of the bronze mirror that is shrouded in the darkness, attention on the neat pile of cloth on her bed. She pauses before it, hands sliding against the rich silk sleeping robe left on her futon. Lifting it in the lowlight a wry laugh escaping her at the useless show of wealth as she eyes the dark navy of it. It would be better than sleeping in her mud tracked clothes, more cover as well lest she be disturbed by servants in the morning. With a wave of a hand she extinguished the lamp, shrouding her in darkness. Only in the shadows does her hand raise to her head to loosen the topknot that kept her hair away from her face, the locks tumbling down to her back as she settles into the plush pillows and silk beneath her. 

That night as she lays in a bed more luxurious than anything Mizu had ever been in, she considers counting the tiles above her but it is blank above her, a tortuous thing as Mizu wills herself to sleep. The softness of the futon beneath her is jarring for shifting she can not find comfort in it after laying on the hard ground all these years.

It can't be guilt that eats at her for Onryo don't care for such things. They didn't have the heart to care for those around them and friends aren't something creatures like her have. Yet it lingers, tainting her as she remembers the pain on Taigen's face as she pushed him down. Haunts her in Ringo's reminder of Swordfather, and lingers in the bitterness as she notes she had thought of Akemi as nothing more than a tile on a board like Mizu herself hadn't been a piece once. Yet her mind spins all the while, wondering just how far this projection of her masculinity had melted into the fabric of her being. 

Unbidden Mikio's ghost lingers, the betrayal acidic even now as it wells up within her. He doesn't exist, not since he'd left her to die. She banishes the thought, banishes him from her, banishes any thought of the ronin and the bride of her past. "It isn't the same." She says into the night air, like speaking it would make it true and remove the spirits of her past. 

When she finally sleeps her dreams are filled with Akemi's painted face looking back at her from her golden palanquin, like a gilded bird-cage, all those months ago. Her eyes burn as they stare back at her seeing through her as she stands amongst the sea of kneeling subjects. Stripped bare, as if the princess could see through the layers of her kimono, through the glasses on her face and the bindings on her chest. Akemi was everything she wasn't, spoiled, rich, feminine... yet it echoes as their eyes met. Somewhere in the muddle of Mizu's disrespect and Akemi's disgust of her dismissal of status. 

I see you. 

I see you. 

When Mizu wakes the next morning, the thoughts slip away like morning mist, any second guessing a product of the late hour, nothing more. 

Chapter Text

Akemi rises from her kneel at the shrine letting the familiar scent of prayer incense wash over her. She would need any aid the gods gave her with this unknown path that had opened up to her, having rose early to whisper her prayers to the the burning incense. 

There was no surprise to what topic would be discussed today, she knew that news of her recent betrothal would be shared today. If Seki was true to his word he would have planted the idea of the new lord to be her best husband, not the Shogun's son as he father had planned. A part of her that desires freedom, the part that holds onto hope that her husband would allow her to follow her heart sees this betrothal for the opportunity that it is. It wars with the part of her that mourns her love for Taigen, that burns in her a wish for revenge and to return things to the way it should have been. It slips through her fingers and leaves her adrift as she ponders the uncertainty that laid before her. She would have faith in Seki and in the path the gods deem her, for what else can she do? 

Even the birds are quieter today as she makes her way towards her father's quarters. The snow covered tiles difficult to traverse as she makes her way up the path to where her father awaited her. 

"My dove." Her father greets, a fondness to his tone as he gestures for her to join him.  

Akemi lets in a slow breath to steady herself, letting an easy smile overcome her lips as she comes to join him. "I am sorry if I am late, father, I was just sending off a morning prayer." She says coming to sit by him at the table. 

"Do not fret, Akemi, you are on time." He says. "I assume you know why I have summoned you so early?" 

"Yes." She admits. 

"Of course, you were always a perceptive thing." Daichi mutters. "I have received many a letter expressing interest of your hand, this is no surprise, the amount only grew after word got loose of Taigen's defeat." He says, bringing out a stack of papers he waits to watch her gaze linger on it as he spreads it out on the table before them. “As you are well aware, I would have been content to sign you over to Lord Saito or Lord Takayoshi the moment I received their letters but Seki suggested a new lord recently, one implemented by Heiji Shindo.” 

“Heiji Shindo?” Akemi queries. “His brother runs the Shindo Dojo in Kyoto.” 

“Yes.” Her father agrees wearily. “Their clan own many things, the Shindo House, amongst other peculiarities.” 

“Has he appointed a lord nearby?” She ponders unable to keep the hopeful edge to her tone. 

Her father shakes his head at her thoughts. “He has appointed a new lord of Sendai.” He reveals. 

“Sendai?” Akemi cries out in disbelief. "I-I do not know what to say." She continues in an attempt to cover her panic. Surely her father or Seki would not send her to a land that far? It would take days if not weeks to travel there. 

“Hmm, yes, Seki told me that this lord was the best swordsman Heiji had came across recently, he also was sure to make me aware that this swordsman had won many duels with every opponent dead. Although not from a noble family his skill is reportedly unmatched and being a lord under Shindo he would be offered a handsome salary as well as a castle, these are promising things my dove.” Her father informs her.  

“But father that is so far away, I expressed my wish to be close by.” Akemi says with a faux sweet tone, attempting to swallow against the sudden dryness of her throat. 

It does nothing to sway him, she can tell by the sudden way her father's eyes flash in anger at her words. "I will hear no more of it, Akemi, I gave you a chance by listening to your wishes and look where that got us. Heiji Shindo has offered us this lord of Sendai, and you are to look at your new husband as your lord, you are to serve him with reverence and all the worship you can muster." He lectures. 

Her head bows, blinking as she fights the onslaught of tears. "Yes father." She agrees. 

"Shogun Itoh has expressed his favour in this new lord and this marriage is an opportunity to strengthen our alliances and prove our unwavering loyalty to the Shogunate." Daichi states. "We are blessed to have such an opportunity open to us, you have always known this to be your duty." 

"Forgive me." Akemi says. "This is much to process." 

His hand raises, the callouses on his fingers rough as they hold her soft hands. “You have only known a world that wraps you in silk, my daughter.” Daichi says pityingly. “Sendai has plenty of it.” 

With her eyes still stuck to the aged wooden floors at her feet, Akemi wonders if fate would have been kinder to her if she’d successfully ran away when she could have. “May I be dismissed?” She requests, watching as a tear stains the wood beneath her. 

Her father spares her a look of pity. “Go, my dove, but do not mourn for long have you been training for this moment your whole life.” Her father’s voice raises to call to her back as she retreats. “Prepare yourself for travel, we are to leave in the afternoon.” 

It is not until she makes her way into her private chambers that she lets out a mournful cry, collapsing upon the futon. Sendai. A town with luscious grounds, so different to Kyoto. It cracks her heart in two to consider the space that removed her from what her life once was, a reminder of what Taigen’s ego and the monstrous ronin had caused her life to become. 

“Akemi!” A voice cries as a maiden comes to comfort her. 

As she looks up Yuna’s kind eyes stare back at her in concern. “I am to be sent away.” Akemi reveals, her voice wavering. “I fear that I may never see Kyoto and Taigen again." 

Yuna’s eyes widen. “Where?” She questions. 

“Sendai.” Akemi cries, the white of her makeup creasing as tears stream down her face. 

“Oh, Akemi.” Yuna sighs, hugging her closer. “I am sorry.” 

“Father may be right, this is something I had known would happen all my life but I didn’t believe it would be like this.” She confesses. “All I’ve wished for is the freedom to be my own person. How much incense must I light for it to become true? One hundred? A thousand? I do not know.”

A noise at her door has the pair look up to spot her maiden Misaki enters, her kimono ruffled in her haste. “I came as soon as I heard.” She says, closing the door behind her with a wary glance back. “The grounds are in a flurry of movement, Lord Daichi has ordered all the servants to pack in haste of the princess’s departure.” 

“Gossip spreads fast.” Akemi says bitterly. 

“I am sorry, Akemi, I know Sendai was not what you wished for.” Misaki says, coming to kneel at her side. 

“I always envisioned my life here, I should have been here.” Akemi mutters. 

Misaki moves to hold her hand. “Lets pack your poetry books, the servants will sort the rest.” 

“Let us care for you.” Yuna urges. “The bathhouse will be quiet at this hour, perhaps we shall start there.” 

Silent the girls lead her to the bathhouse once her sobs grow silent, taking care to tend to her with sensitive care. Moving to gather the heated water before letting it wash over her silken hair. The process seems to go quickly, for soon they are patting her down to redress her in fine silk. 

“What colour?” Yuna questions her once done with the bathing. 

“Grey.” Akemi settles on after a moment of consideration. It would do her well to attract calmness that she seeks particularly with the potential challenges that await her in her new homeland. The colour of the fabric is a deep shade for dark colours were typical of the cooler months. A rich bamboo motif adorning the panels. Once the finishing adornments are added to her hair, her maidens escort her to the palace gates. 

Against the looming gates she can spy the familiar figure of Seki. It is there that he waits to collect her in an excuse of chaperoning her, no doubt wary of her escape attempt the last time she was to be sent away. 

“Are you ready?” He questions as they near.

“Yes.” She replies even when every part of her screams no. 

As always, Seki seems to read her very soul. “If I can urge you to do anything it would be to let go of the fanciful notion that Taigen is coming to save you.” He lectures. 

Akemi glared down to her feet, her chest aching as she attempts to harden herself. “I will not give up so easily.” She retorts. Deep down she knows it is futile for Taigen to change his mind and give up on his desire for revenge, but to give up is to contemplate that she was truly in this alone. 

Seki sighs. “You always were stubborn, much like your father.” He utters resigned, yet moves to offer her an arm of support. 

He leads her towards the palanquin awaiting her, palace staff placing her traveling trunks onto carts in a flurry of movement. As her childhood maidens Yuna and Misaki  move into line behind her Akemi ponders the feeling of being led to a funeral procession.  The city folk gather in groups, waving her off as Akemi is paraded through the street. 

It should be a near-royal wedding that causes such flurry of movement, with the whole of Kyoto lining up to spy her pass. It should be Taigen in his wedding garb, the golden comb shining in the spring sunlight as he waited for her by the altar. She should be kneeling in gardens covered in cherry blossoms, the pink and white flowers coating the region in joyous hues. Yet, the only thing Akemi can see through the panels on her palanquin in bleak white of snow covered streets and the faint flash of sunlight of a winter sun. 

“Red would have been an auspicious choice.” Seki tells her with a pointed look at her robes once they reach the outskirts of Kyoto, the grand gates of the city drawing nearer and nearer. 

Akemi fights the scowl on her face. “And yet grey seems fitting for a day such as this.” She retorts. 

Her maidens share a rueful look towards one another at her comment. Akemi misses their expression as she makes a pointed choice to look out from between the panels of the palanquin to watch the crowd wave her off. It is only due to looking out that Akemi has the sheer luck of seeing a figure she had only heard whispers about in the palace. She straightens, nearly hanging out the window in her haste to get a glimpse of the imposing woman who had caught Akemi’s attention. 

“Stop! Stop here!” She requests, climbing out from the palanquin as it sways to a halt. 

Around them the festivities continue on, civilians laughing and celebrating in the streets. It allows Akemi to blend into the throes of people, seeking out the only woman who could give her answers into the mysterious ronin outside what had occurred with Taigen at the Shindo Dojo. 

The woman’s attention shifts towards her at her approach. “Ah, if it isn’t Taigen’s little bird.” She muses mockingly. 

Akemi is glad for the makeup on her face which hides her embarrassment. “I wish to ask you a question.” She says. 

“A noble princess wanting my advice? That would be the first.” She says and the girls under her care let out a chorus of laughs around her, eyeing Akemi’s finery with green eyes. 

Akemi steels her shoulders at the mocking edge to it. “You are madam Kaji of the Shindo House.” Akemi states.  “You have knowledge of many men, I want information.” 

“So many demands and what is in it for me? I do not have a contract to buy you from.” Madame Kaji queries. 

“Gold, ryo… what ever suits you to talk.” Akemi offers. “I wish to know more of the samurai who fought Taigen.” 

Madame Kaji smiles coldly as she holds a palm out for payment, only accepting her terms once a weighty coin pouch rests in her hand. “Your words remind me of a strange samurai who had come to my house not for pleasure of the flesh but demanding for information much like yourself.” She reveals at last. “He was focused on that alone, to revenge, and perhaps he is one of those Samurai’s sworn to the sword, I don’t know… I just know he is more man than any who have walked in my door.” 

Akemi shakes her head in frustration. “That can’t be all.” She presses. 

The woman before is not swayed by her near demands, either tight lipped about her clients or uncaring to reveal more. “What more is there to tell? From what I’ve heard you’re to be sent north, wed to a lord who you can offer you comfort and riches the rest of us can only dream of. This samurai is not who you think he is, there are more important vipers to be wary of in your courts.” 

“My courts? What do you mean? What do you know?” Akemi pressed. 

Before Madame Kaji can comment further a nearby prostitute, Ise, passes her a book. “A gift for the true courtesan, courtesy of the Madame.” She says with a bitter smile. 

Distracted by the interruption, Akemi glances down at it, unable to note just what was held in its contents as Madame Kaji draws back her attention. 

“I would wish you luck but it wouldn’t be truthful, if I were to impart any sort of wisdom on you I would urge you to stop running to and from men and figure out what you fucking want.” Madame Kaji states turning to leave. “Take control of your own life and pull the strings of your husband to be, forget about the fanciful past with Taigen and the ronin and look to your own future, not theirs.”

Akemi’s lips part, only able to watch them leave as they dismiss her. For all the gold in world it seemed the only thing she was deemed to receive in turn was advice. “The spirits have a longer path planned for me.” She sighs, lingering one last look to Madame Kaji and the girls under her wing. 

As she makes her way back to where she had left the palanquin waits where she had left it in its haste. The men who had been carrying it groaning as they attempt to sooth their muscles. They straighten as she nears, bowing low in respect as she moves to enter it once more. As she climbs back into it, her maidens and Seki turn curiously at her return.

 “I do hope the detour was worth it.” Seki says. “Your father will not be pleased to hear you attempted to escape again.” 

Akemi shakes her head. “I was sorting some unfinished business, no more.” She replies. 

“How convenient.” He hums, unconvinced to her explanation. 

Akemi ignores him, instead moving to settle down further from the palanquin window as they pass the entry gates of Kyoto. Relieved to no longer be in eyesight of the civilians around them Akemi lets the tension in her shoulder ease. Settling back into the silk cushions in the palanquin Akemi finally opens the book gifted to her by Madame Kaji, flushing as she notes the detailed depictions of sexual acts.

“Spirits.” She swears, closing the book with more force than necessary. 

Misaki leans over her shoulder and lets out an amused noise as she notes just what had shocked her. “I suppose those contents will keep you occupied for the journey ahead.” Misaki teases, a smile on her lips as Yuna laughs beside her. 

“Oh yes, insightful to handle your mysterious husband to be.” Yuna agrees. 

Seki returns his attention from the outside toward Akemi with a brow raises at her in question at the sudden ruckus. “More books? I did order the staff to place them in your trunk.” He says suspiciously. “I even brought a book on Sendai with us here.” 

“Not just any book, it is a gift.” Yuna tells him, hiding her smile behind a palm. 

“Highly educational.” Misaki adds with a chuckle. 

“You could say that again.” Akemi sighs, aware of the connotation Madame Kaji was hinting it. The concept of control. She was being urged to take control of her life, to control her husband in order to have freedoms of women like Madame Kaji. 

As Akemi states down at the simple leather cover, she ponders just how she could use seduction to her advantage. The last time she tried to toe that line, Taigen had left regardless. What makes this time any different? Letting out a wistful sigh as her eyes slide shut Akemi laments on the long journey that awaits her. 

At least if she got bored she could always read the factual texts of Sendai that Seki had deemed important to bring. No doubt would that send her to sleep quickly. At least he wouldn’t be demanding her to accompany the reading with calligraphy, the sway of the palanquin would make it too difficult let alone messy to practice in the way he would at home. Honestly, it would be a miracle if they made it alive to Sendai. Not if they were to be kept in such close quarters. As much as she loved the man, he certainly could be challenging. 

“I’d like to do some research.” She says, deciding to keep on his good side after the quick detour with Madame Kaji. 

Seki just sent her a pleased smile. “That would be wise, my dear.” He states, as he hands her the documents of Sendai. 

The book weights a tone. As she moves to take the heavy tome from him Akemi bites back a groan. It seems that this would be a very very long journey after all. 

Chapter Text

One of the first thing that Akemi notices is the distant sound of waves crashing on the shore as she finally entered the town of Sendai. After many days traveling, it was a relief to finally be back on solid ground. Seki was standing near the palanquin discussing with a nearby noble, no doubt inquiring on the direction for their last leg of the journey. 

Her betrothed was a lord of these lands, she would best get used to the unrelenting power of the that was part of her new home. With his home so near the coast, the access to water seemed to surround her especially with the river that flows through the region. Akemi had read a little on the region in hopes of getting a batter grasp of it before she would find herself trapped there, lucky for her she had missed the worst of the humid summers and its rain at the later end of autumn. The topography was fairly straightforward as it seemed that the region was varied with coastal plains stretching the east until it met a hilled centre from which the hills turned into sweeping mountains that dominated the western borders. The Hirose River also flows through the region, especially the main town and is known for its clean water and natural beauty. One thing that caught Akemi's attention was the hot springs that allegedly dotted the region, hopefully her husband to be was aware of a spring that he could show her. It would be most soothing in the cold dry winters to bathe there. 

A heron calls nearby the sound reminiscent of a bark as its call blends into the crashing noise from the shore. It breaks her from her thoughts, instead turning her attention to spy the vast greenery around her. If there was one thing that captures her in these lands now that she had stepped foot here was the vast forrest land, now she can attest that if Sendai was known for one thing it was trees. A sense of childish want rises within her, to view just what creatures inhabited these lands. 

Yuna and Misaki were sitting in the palanquin with her, their own gazes awed as they peeked through the small windows. Akemi can see various townsfolk stop in their flurry of daily work to watch them pass, many bowing in reverence as her palanquin lines up to their sights. The two maidens had followed her to Sendai, aspiring courtly women who had always been a part of her entourage since she was young. A part of her felt that them following her was a disservice, they deserved to be in Kyoto like other’s aspired too. Yet, fate would have them follow her to the far corners on Sendai. 

Misaki waits until Yuna had passed, a lone vial clenched in her palm. “I have heard whispers.” She admits. “I do not know how true but this man is deadly Akemi, and I fear I can not let you walk willingly into a den to dine with him without something if he’s as monstrous as they say.” 

Akemi’s lips part, nearly fumbling the vial as Misaki pressed into insistently into her hand. “M-Misaki, I can’t bring poison, it’ll ruin the alliances we’ve worked so hard to set.” 

“It isn’t.” The other woman promises. “Just a sleeping draught, enough to slow him and send him to sleep with only a few drops.” 

She isn’t sure what to say, instead grasps Misaki’s hand tightly. “Thank you.” Akemi says at last, a strained choked thing. 

“Be careful.” Misaki says, dropping her hand as she turns to follow Yuna away from her. 

Seki comes closer, approaching her with a stern set to his expression. “I am told to escort you into the gardens, Heiji Shindo explained that the Lord of Sendai is ready to meet you there.” 

Nerves burst within her at the prospect of finally seeing this mysterious lord she was to be wed too. Squaring her shoulders proudly as she is escorted by Seki through her new homeland. Soon Akemi finds herself waiting in a rich private garden with rows of Japanese iris, morning glories and chrysanthemums spread out in a lush display. She ponders the sight of it come spring, with many of the plants being shrouded by light snowfall. It is only the bonsai in deep pots that were visible, the splendour green of them enough to make her run a fingertip against the foliage of a nearby tree. 

It is here in the elaborate gardens Akemi finally runs into her husband to be beneath the snow coated plum blossom tree. His back is to her, talking to Heiji Shindo further into the gardens. There’s a tense set to both of their figures and from Shindo’s expression whatever was being discussed was more of an argument then anything else. Their voices carry on the wind as Seki lead her closer. 

“You have sent him away.” Her husband to be says, his voice low and demanding. 

Heiji shakes his head in turn. “It is in your best interest to have him away, at least initially… what do you think will happen if she sees him?” 

“Scared your plans won’t go as planned?” He queries, a mocking thing. 

“My lord.” Heiji says, stressing the title with exaggeration. “Everything I do is in your best interest.” 

“My interest? I am sure that’s false, we both know who you serve.” Comes the dismissive retort.

“Forget that, your presence won’t be exactly… expected, do you think it would be wise to add more conflict to this meeting?” Heiji questions. 

He lets out a rasping laugh. “No, I don’t think i’d be met with pleasantries. My pretty little bride will be more likely to bring a knife to my throat then tea at my hands.” 

Akemi’s brow furrows at his words, the belittling words sparking a sense of caution within her. Unconsciously, her hand skims across the vial Misaki had given her hidden in her robes. Before she can think on it more Heiji had spotted their approach, she can tell by the sudden switch in his demeanour. 

Her betrothed slowly turns as he notes attention behind him, moving to greet them properly. He is lithe in build, his robes a rich navy and blue that shines in the light with deceptive strength. It is the first thing she notes, he’s young too, thankfully it was no older man they had sent her off to. As Akemi’s gaze lifts to finally look at the face of her betrothed she falters at the sight. 

No. It cant be. She is to be wed to the very samurai that ruined her engagement and the life she'd planned. A familiar scarf is tied around his neck, Taigen's she knows. She had gifted it to him all those months ago, before he had ran off for a grand quest of honour.  Anger curls in her chest as her focus sways to the cloth tauntingly around his neck. Does he wish to spite her? If so, he has succeeded remarkably. 

Beneath her elaborate robes her palms ball into fists. Looking at him now, she cant help but ponder if this ronin any better than the Shoguns son? Akemi is not sure what to make of him. Seki had assured her weeks ago of his temperament, but now face to face she wonders if this cage was any better. Beside him she can see the plum blossom covered in snow, its flowers still closed from the snow that recently fallen. Looking at it now she cant help but feel smothered. 

His gaze is piercing even through the strange glasses on his face, aware of her presence with Heiji’s attention. Does he know who she is? Had he reached out for her to rub salt into the wound or to spite Taigen further? The questions spin as Akemi watches him come closer. She fights the urge to flee, to steady her breathing as she remembers the carnage this man had wrecked onto the Shindo Dojo. Her nails dig into her palms beneath her robes, hidden as she attempts to steady herself even as danger flashes in her mind over and over. 

It is now that she hears the sound of her betrothed voice for the first time, it is low and hoarse as he speaks into the winter chill. “Akemi Tokonobu.” He says in greeting. 

Akemi makes sure to bow her head, letting her voice take on that lilt that Seki had drilled into her since she was a child. “Yes, my lord.” 

She can tell by the way he speaks that he is not from noble stock, no, and yet the way he carried his shoulders belied an almost courtly grace many nobles could never achieve. His strange glasses rest against the bridge of his nose, his gaze heavy even through the amber lens. 

“Join me for tea?” He queries, with a tilt of his head as he extends an arm for her to gasp. 

For once Akemi is glad for the etiquette classes she was forced to attend as her face stays neutrally schooled at the unexpected gesture. “That would be suitable.” She says. 

Heiji and Seki had followed them to a tea room with the pair leaving them alone as a servant moves to heat the kettle before them. Akemi fights the urge to spy Seki out the window, fear replacing the nerves that had filled her at the prospect of meeting her husband. As the tea is placed before them Akemi ponders placing the draught into the teapot now, particularly now that she realises just who her betrothed is. Across from her the samurai stares at her through those amber lenses.

It seemed fanciful, this notion of a monstrous samurai but looking at this ronin sitting across from her, she can see why the reputation followed him. As Akemi stared back at him and searched his eye for any sign of humanity but there was only darkness. Void. Seeing them now in front of her Akemi knows why the sight of him had shook the Shindo Dojo to its core. She ponders, and not for the first time how Taigen made it out alive. 

Somewhere in the space between their meeting in the garden and now, the pleasant facade between them was beginning to crack at the seams. Moving to pour tea into each of their cups, Akemi is slow to places the teapot back down, offering the cup to the figure before her with nostalgic smile. Unable to shake the memory of sitting amongst the woman as they taught one another arts. For a moment she forgets the small vial that rests in the folds of her robes, nothing so strong as poison but a sleeping draught she can use if the ronin was as much of a demon as the palace staff seemed to whisper. Her focus had been on the demonstration before her, in the familiar gestures she'd performed over and over again that her attention had strayed. Sitting back on her heels she watches him take the cup from her outstretched hand, bowing his head in thanks.

Across from her he brings the cup to his lips and lets it hover there. Custom would dictate him to drink, despite being in his home it was Akemi who had hosted the ceremony. Withdrawing the cup from his lips, the samurai stares at her through those amber lenses. “Hmm, you’re nothing like I expected" He states mouth twisting on the words. 

What did he expect? Akemi ponders, a meek woman? Despite the acknowledgement of her perfect act, something in her aches, it seemed that her naive mask was too perfect it seemed. She would always be viewed as a naive subservient woman, it seemed, no man would see her and see her for who she truly was. Ignorant to her thoughts, Mizu continues to eat, brining the chopsticks to his mouth once more and effectively ending their conversation. 

“Why express interest in my engagement?" Akemi questions instead, the words tumbling out of her before she can reel it in. 

The samurai before her is stoic, silent as he denies her an answer, he may have been open a moment ago but that was fleeting. She lets out an irritated sigh, barely keeping from glaring at him in a very unbecoming way. Really, she is lucky her father was busy with meetings, he'd be furious with her demeanour if he'd known how she was treating her husband to be. 

Speaking of, the samurais resistance to her question only reminds her of the draught still tucked in her robes, chiding herself she ponders just how much information she would have gotten out of him if she'd drugged his tea like she'd planned. It surges something poisonous within her as she watches him and a part of her wishes to strike him, to use the pin in her hair or the knife on their table and lunge. Oh, how the rage burns so fierce in her. She wants to make him pay so badly but truly what could she do against him? He had bested Taigen like he was a mere child and Akemi was reluctant to find herself in her ex-fiancé's position.

Instead she brings the tea to her lips with a coy smile his way. The brew tastes different to the ones at home, rich and flavourful but in a way she is not used to. In the silence of their conversing, Akemi's thoughts again stray to her failed plot. Perhaps she should have brought him sake instead, hot like the men preferred it in Kyoto. It wouldn't be difficult, she could poise it like she was wanting to share a part of her homeland. Feigning homesickness wouldn't even be difficult, in honesty she was missing home and how her life was before this mess. 

Across from her Mizu finally takes a sip from his own cup, Akemi notes with curiosity. "Did you wish for Sake instead?" She queries, a prying thing. 

"No." He says flatly. At his curt reply Akemi finds herself pondering, it must reflect on her face for suddenly the samurai is explaining his reasonings without her asking. "I don't drink." He admits, or maybe he was just used to her questioning by now. 

The longer she sits with Mizu the more she finds crack in his monstrous facade. Perhaps he was just a man after all, men can be persuaded. “There was much talk about you on my travels here.” Akemi tells him. 

There’s something shy of cockiness that flashes across his expression. “Truly?” 

“Oh yes, word of a bloodthirsty monster who slaughters with no remorse, a vengeful spirit who punishes the living. Yet, sitting before you now, I can attest that your face isn’t even so scary.” Akemi scoffs, reminded of Taigen’s description all those months ago. “You’re just angry.” 

With his head bowed she can’t see the way her words amuse him. “I can see why he likes you.” He muses. 

She pauses. He. The word mocks her, reminds her of why she was in this situation in the first place. “Where is he?” She demands. 

Mizu’s head tilts as his back straightens. “Who?” He questions. He was toying with her, how could he not? Did he truly not know just what he had done to her, to Taigen? 

“Don’t play coy!” She exclaims. “I know he followed you, he figured out you’d need a boat to get to Mihonoseki.” 

Mizu met her eyes calmly as the cup hovered from his lips. “And where did you hail from again?” Mizu prompts in disregard to her questioning or perhaps  delay to his sip or in explanation to her expectant eye.  

"Kyoto." Akemi says, wondering if he’d even bothered to learn about her prior to their engagement. 

"I've only been there once, recently." Mizu admits.

There's something about the way he says it that has her hackles rising. "Beautiful, isn't it?" She muses and the longing in her tone is not faux.

"I'd say more dirty and crowded" Mizu admits, scorn curling his mouth as he met her eye. "Full of puffed-up crows posing as swordsmen, you see, I beat the most ridiculous samurai there- If you can call him that- for I cut off his chignon. Then he came chasing after me, demanding a rematch saying I ruined his engagement." He pauses to scoff. "I think he was angrier about his hair than his marriage. Oh, What was his name?”

Akemi pauses, wide-eyed as she waits for him to speak. 

Mizu lets out a thoughtful hum. "I can't remember, anyway." He pauses to make sure she’s looking when he confesses. "He's dead now.”

Akemi cant stop the gasp from her lips. "What?" She says dumbly. 

He grins, an arrogant curl of his lips as he repeats. "Oh yeah. I killed him." He says so proudly as he shatters her hopes, crushing her carelessly beneath his foot. 

And oh, in that moment she can see it that he truly was an Onryō like they said he was. A wounded cry escapes her as Akemi's eyes light in anger as she all but lunges across the table, the anger and terror and frustration boiling over in the cry that escapers her. The tea spills, wood scraping against the floor as Mizu intercepts her. Just like that the fire in her diminished as she sags, caught in the Samurai's grip like a bug in a spider's web. Where had her fight gone? It diminished the moment she was face to face with his unfeeling stare. 

"Let me go! Get off me!" Akemi cries, fear flaring in her chest. Remembers the men she spied traveling the roads, the way they raised their hands against the women they traveled with. It suddenly seemed all the more real, Misaki’s concern and the whispers of the monstrous samurai nearly paralysing her. 

"You think I don't remember you?" Mizu snarls, voice low and threatening in Akemi's ear as she squirms in the samurai's vice hold.  "Yes I know you, Princess Akemi of the Tokunobu clan, I saw you that day on the bridge. You who’s crow of a fiancé tried to best me.”

“How I wish that tea was poison!" She seethes, a cry leaving her. "Oh, Taigen." She whimpers. His words of acknowledgement mean nothing, her pain overwhelming as she pictures Taigen's lifeless body left out in the snowy wilderness. 

Mizu rolls his eyes at her dramatics. "Oh, shut up. I didn't kill him. I left him with his life and a contract to fight.” He says. 

Shakily Akemi rises from her collapse to the floor. I didn’t kill him, the words echo with every frightened beat of her heart. "He's alive? Where?” She queries. 

Mizu stares down at her in disbelief. "All this plotting work for information on doomed engagement?" He queries, shaking his head in thinly veiled disgust. 

"Before you, at least." Akemi says cutting him off with a glare.

"Women in our world don't have a single good options." He says as levels her with a look. "Except you, like some magical forest creature, you could have anything you want, and then you beg to eat trash." He says in dismissal, dropping her arm. 

Akemi glares up at him, rubbing at the spot he had gripped her. "You're vile… Taigen is a great man.” She spits. “Now tell me, where is Taigen?" She demands once more. 

Mizu lets out a humourless laugh. “How about you get out of my room, now, before I tell your father about this mishap of yours." 

A look of rage flickers over her before Akemi rises properly from the floor. "You wouldn't dare!" 

“Oh, I would, this engagement benefits you more than me." He says simply. "Now leave." 

Her painted lips purse in anger, her kimono flaring out in a flurry of cloth as she spins on her heel. In her haste she nearly runs into the figure looming outside Mizu’s room.  Her blood still burning in fury as she moves to tell them off in a bid to release the anger thrumming through her, unable to see much through the screen door blocking them from her view. Although, whatever retort was coming fades as she met their eye. Akemi blinks wondering if she was seeing a vision, a gasp leaving her in disbelief at the sight before her. 

“Taigen?” 

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Akemi must have added the tincture to her tea, there was no other plausible reason that Taigen would be standing before her. She nearly falls against the paper screen that had obstructed him from her view moments ago. “I… I thought you would be halfway to Mihonoseki." She says at last. 

Taigen’s expression is stoic besides the furrow to his brow as he stares down at her like he was trying to figure her out. “I was… things changed.” He says. 

It is the first time she'd heard his voice, the first time they'd laid eyes on one another since he had left her upon the futon of her failed seduction plot. In all honestly, she didn't think she'd handle it this well. A near hysterical laugh escapes her at his words. “Changed is an understatement.” Akemi says. 

"I hunted him down as I said, and I found him." Taigen says, reaching to hold her. "But, Akemi, I penned a new contract- a true battle, it is a worthy thing to wait for... he has business to sort first, only after that will we battle and I can gain back my station."  

Seeing him now, with his hair still wild and cut Akemi tries to see the man she had fallen in love with. Instead, he might as well be a stranger for the way things had progressed in such short of time. She glances back to the tea room behind her, a part of Mizu's own private chambers. It seemed that her husband to be had persuaded Taigen to follow him, it was the only explanation for why Taigen hasn't returned without a battle. Akemi ponders how the ronin had achieved it, through force or by otherworldly powers she doesn’t know. 

“So you’ve teamed with the enemy.” She states mockingly turning her gaze back to him. 

“The enemy?” Taigen scoffs. “No, this is a temporary setback... a lot has happened since that night at the Shindo Dojo, in short Mizu can give me my station back.” 

“So the devil has a name?” Akemi says, narrowing her eyes at him. 

Taigen sighs at her words. "It is complicated." He says, reaching out towards her, to caress her in a way he would have all those months ago but his touch only lingers for a moment.

“You made this mess, Taigen, you left me alone.” Akemi argues, ripping herself out of Taigen’s hold.

“I was coming back.” He argues, his hands dropping to his side. 

“It’s too late, can’t you see? The moment you fled with your ego blinding you I was left to rot! My father would have signed me to any lord who would take me. Don't you understand? I would never have been able to wait for you to come back, not when you left before the calligraphy on our betrothal letter had even dried!” She states. 

Taigen stared back in disbelief. “It wasn’t my fault, no one believed in me after that disgrace at the Dojo, you certainly didn’t... I could not have stayed with that dishonour-“ 

“What of being happy?” Akemi questions cutting him off. “Why did you need greatness so badly?” 

Taigen glowers. “You don't understand, Akemi, you have always been great. There is not reason for you seek it…it is unfathomable for you to know how it was to live in filth, to live in the stink of it.” 

She blinks, tears of anger or sorrow threatening to spill. “I nearly did, don’t you see? I would have given it all away for love. I wonder now if you just loved the station my marriage gave you.” 

“Akemi!” He cries, a wounded thing. “Please, just listen.” 

Perhaps once she would have but now as she looks at him, she sees nothing. “No! I am done listening to you and your poisonous words.” Akemi spits, glaring at him. “Even my new marriage is tainted.”

"Akemi listen... come next autumn, it will be sorted." Taigen promises. 

An old part of her aches at the false promise. "It will never be as it was." She says. 

It is only the silhouette through the paper screen that clues Akemi into incoming company, whatever further words halted at the arrival.  “I was told you were sent elsewhere.” Mizu says, hovering at the precipice of his room. No doubt he had heard the commotion of their argument.

Akemi moved away at the sound of the other’s voice, cowering faintly as she steps closer to Taigen’s figure unconsciously. Absently she ponders how much of her husbands prior conversation that Taigen had overheard before she had fled the room. 

“I snuck back.” Taigen admits. “Like I’d do as they say, not much can keep me away.”

“Always so arrogant.” Mizu says with thinly veiled amusement.

"Says the Lord of Sendai." Taigen mocks teasingly.

Akemi's attention flicks between them, feeling rather hidden as they converse over her. How strange this dynamic between them, bristling at the seams with rage and respect but the line crosses so close that the divide blurs. She can see in Taigen's eyes that he was itching to fight him, can equally see the tension in Mizu's own stance as his hand brushes over the sword at his side. 

"I see you still haven't left." Mizu says, turning his gaze towards her. 

"I am afraid I was delayed." She snipes, her head lifting arrogantly at his tone. "Your companion was lurking outside your door, if you must know." 

"Akemi!" Taigen cries. 

There's a flash of amusement in Mizu's eyes. "Fiery, how am I not surprised that you'd be a brat." 

Anger flares dangerously in her chest, digging her nails into her palm to smoother the desire to strike him with a well placed slap. How dare he! Who does he think he is? speaking down to her like that. Akemi pushes past him, striding away towards the direction of her own room situated in the guest chambers.

She worries not for their conversing, instead making her way towards her own room. It is only as she finally enters with the door a barrier between her and the outside world does she finally take in her surroundings. It is eerily impersonal, no paintings or indication of someone living in the space. It is only a vase of Chrysanthemum in golden hues that brighten the blankness of the room. As her gaze drops to her trunk placed by her bedside she is abruptly aware that she would soon be sharing not only a house but her bed with the samurai. 

“Oh… what have I got myself into.” She sighs into the stillness of her room. 

Moving closer to her bed, Akemi removes the grey traveling kimono. Swapping it for the simple red silk sleeping robe laid out on her futon. Slowly removing the pins from her hair Akemi lets it drape down her back, moving to extinguish the light. After so long on the road, sleep is quick to overcome her. So much so that it takes until dawn for her to wake. 

Rising blearily, Akemi spies the rich orange sky outside and ponders the bright orange kimono she had brought with her. At her desk she spies food left for her, freshly delivered by the palace staff. Beside her breakfast she finds a selection of locally made sweets, mochi most notable. No doubt an attempt by Taigen to win back her affections after their tense conversation the night before. Akemi lets outa scoff at the sight, she wouldn’t fall for that trick this time. Instead she wraps it back up, moving to eat the food before it cools. 

As she moves to dress, she gathers the rich orange silk adorned with cranes, the dark wooden browns paired beneath it more suited to the typical darker hues of winter. Not long after dressing does a knock sound at her door, causing her to pause in the middle of adorning her hair with golden pins.

"Just a moment!" she calls, rising to meet her guest at the door. Opening it her father stands at the precipice.

“My dove.” He greets, a stern set to his mouth. “I have much to discuss with you before your wedding.” 

Akemi bows her head, moving aside to let him enter. “I am afraid I have already eaten this morning father, I could call a servant to bring us more tea or food if you wish?” 

“No. I do not have time for that right now, Akemi.” Daichi denies. “I will not be subtle, my daughter, for I have heard word of conflict between you and your new husband.” 

Akemi flushes. “That was private.” 

He shakes his head at her tone. “I am appalled to hear you raised your voice against him, do you wish for him to withdraw his engagement, Akemi? He has the grounds too.” 

“You didnt hear him.” She argues, tone bitter. “He was talking down on Taigen and in turn myself.” 

Daichi lets out a sigh. “What have I told you, you are to let your attachment to Taigen go, he had disgraced you and our clan with his actions.” He says. 

“No thanks to my new husband.” Akemi says. 

“That is irrelevant, this new lord is rich and is active in forging alliances to those who would aid us… it would be foolish to let that go for something as shallow as pride.” Her father lectures. “I hope to hear of you sorting out this mishap and that you sort out whatever grievances are left from your ex-fiancee.” 

It is a dismissal if ever she has heard one. “Yes father.” She says. 

She turns her head from him, scowling at the wrapped treats sitting untouched at her desk as her father leaves as quick as he came. It seems she would be forced to apologise, aware of their marriage ceremony creeping closer and closer. Curse this fate befallen her, to be at the whims of men around her. 

As Akemi walks back outside she is dusted by snow, glad for picking a multiple layered kimono this morning. Gone is the clear sky, instead replaced by clouded grey. It is soon after dawn, that Akemi finds Mizu going through routine kata in the tranquil quiet of his private garden. Her hands wring beneath her kimono, watching her husband practice with a sword. 

"Good morning." She calls to him, and if not for his glance her way, Akemi would have believed he didn't hear her. “It seems that we have gotten off to the wrong foot.” Akemi says after much debate, her father’s lecturing fresh in her memory as she lingers by the gate of Mizu’s home. “Join me for a walk?” 

Mizu pauses in his routine stretch, akin to a cat as he rises lithely from it. No word of acknowledge as he rises to meet her. It is only due to her watchful eye that Akemi spots a figure rising next to him, it seems that Taigen had also joined him for the morning warm ups. That was not so shocking, even back in Kyoto he had always risen with the sun to work. The surprise was to see him at Mizu’s side, that they were somewhat tolerable to one another despite the tension that seeped into every interaction between them. It sends her head spinning to work it out even now. 

“I shall accompany you.” Mizu says at last. 

She can read nothing from his expression, those amber glasses on his face even at this hour. “Wonderful.” She says, at a loss for words.  

Taigen lingers wordlessly, either still sulking on her words the night before or ignoring her presence Akemi doesn't have the heart to care at the present. Instead she follows her betrothed outside the stone walls, making sure to step in Mizu's trail with the snow heavy around them. It was the first time she'd been able to get a proper look for the gardens around them, to the lush forestland coated with early winter snow. 

“I am sorry for my behaviour last night.” Akemi says once enough distance has passed by the outer houses of the grounds. 

Mizu levels her with a look. “I know that isn’t true, you would have poisoned me given the chance.” 

“Only a sleeping draught.” She admits. “Perhaps if given the chance I would have, I thought you killed Taigen after all.”

Mizu lets out something shy of a snort. "I would say he isn't worth it... but that isn't all, you need to work on your technique, even if passion spurred you the hold on that knife was pitiful." 

"Not all of us are deemed worthy of learning the art of the sword." Akemi scoffs. "Besides, a lady of my status would never be caught wielding weaponry." 

Mizu's gaze turns away from her. "Hmm, I suppose not." He says thoughtfully. He continues to lead her forwards, through the snow dusted grounds. The sound of distant bird cries smooth the suffocating silence between them. 

"Tell me, Taigen speaks of this contract penned between you. What are the terms?" Akemi questions. 

"Of course you would ask... Taigen's contract dictates him to be my personal guard while I get used to running the region, he helps serve me with business and he gains his station and a worthy battle at the end of it." Mizu admits. 

His words only confirm what Taigen had told her prior. "And Taigen has been here this whole time?" Akemi queries, the shock not quite settled as she ponders the revelation. 

“Yes and no, as he's been away for weeks before your arrival. Heiji had him running errands, I think he was worried he’d interfere.” Mizu replies. 

What would she have done if she knew Taigen was here the whole time? Would she have tried to end things? To sort out a new contract between her and Taigen? Akemi doesn’t know. Somewhere nearby during their lull of conversing a Barn Swallow calls and Akemi cant help but glance wishfully to spy a flash of rich blue, the birds feathers a hue or two similar to Mizu's own clothing. Instead, the only blue she can spot in the muted world around them is shades of white and grey is the samurai before her. 

Mizu levels her with a terse look, no doubt dismissing her interest for fanciful fodder as all men seemed to look down on woman's interest. Akemi fights the downturn of her lips as she ponders it, the only interest Mizu would approve on is violence and bloodshed no doubt. This man probably didn't comprehend the effect of his actions, that his quest for revenge doomed her relationship and cost her Taigen's attention as his obsession for honour was sparked. She had planned that move for so long, pulled hidden strings so that Taigen would work out as her best match. He had doomed her to whatever lord her father believed was best no matter her wish, himself in the end. A foreign feeling fills her, a sharp hate as she considers the life this Samurai has doomed her with. Everything was moving into the right position and there he waltzed in, uncomprehending to the carnage his actions caused in her life like every other man does. 

A thought strikes her, a conniving thing. "Why is Heiji Shindo so crucial to you?" She enquires suddenly. 

Mizu stops to look at her at the question. "Are you always so nosey?" He retorts. 

Akemi folds her arms across her chest at his words, reminding herself pointedly of her father's disappoint as not to raise her tempter once more. Perhaps she could aid him in the court, slowly influence through him the more he grew to trust her over time. Her thoughts are thrown as suddenly, a rush of small birds fly from a nearby tree at their approach, a startled breath leaving Akemi as she wildly reaches back for Mizu.  “Oh!” Akemi gasps. 

Awed she spies a bigger bodied bird in the fray, the barn swallow she had wished to spy. It lands on a branch only a few steps away, watching the sparrows flit around it. Unconsciously her hand had wrapped around Mizu's arm at the surprise, yet, Mizu does nothing to shake her grip off as they watch the birds around them. Sparrows were strong but deceptively plain, there was something about them that still causes intrigue within her. Perhaps it was the freedom they had, she had never spied them at markets or in the homes of nobles who held grand banquets.  

"Sparrows are always wild birds." Mizu says, tone dry as he watches the flock flitter around them. "They’d rather die than be caged." 

"Oh how I wish I had something to fed them." Akemi muses, longing to throw something to them as they attempt to forage at the bare bones of the garden. 

Something shy of wry amusement flashes across her companions face at her words. "Good luck with that, sparrows don't eat food fed by others." 

Akemi lets out a huff, "Be good to at least try, they are gorgeous." 

"I suppose so." Mizu says. 

"It is still a few weeks until spring, perhaps an auspicious sign of hope and good fortune for new beginnings." Akemi muses aloud, unable to stop the gentle smile on her face as she watches them flit around them. "I read that sparrows are resilient and adaptable, often able to thrive in environments others would perish in. I suppose your point in them not allowing others to feed them would make them useless pets but I've always preferred to watch birds go free." 

Something crosses Mizu's face, staring out at the flock with thoughtful musing. "That's the thing with birds, they want freedom but men want to cage them." Mizu says and his gaze is strong behind the lens of his glasses, even with the barrier between them Akemi feels that he is speaking to her very soul. 

She shivers suddenly yet it has nothing to do with the snow around them. "That is true." Akemi settles on saying. 

Mizu casts his attention back to the snow covered grounds around them. "As you know, with our wedding in the coming days I wanted to inform you that I have my own business to attend after our ceremony and you will not be required to be in my constant presence.” Mizu says into the quiet between them. “Whatever you want to do, you may… as long as it does not interfere with my plans.” 

"How... lenient." Akemi stutters, tripping up on her words as not to offend him.

She's not quite sure what to make of her husband to be, to his standoff demeanour. Her mind wanders to the sweets left on her table, was her husband aware of Taigen's actions? Was he encouraging it? It only sends Akemi's head spinning. Perhaps her husband was one of those men who prefers the sword or perhaps he was not even interested in women at all. Akemi shakes her head to clear her thoughts, the pins chiming metallic at the moment. Or did he wish for her to stay at home, like some caged bird while he went off and saw the world with no care? She ponders.

Her thoughts shift to her prior conversation, to her questioning on Heiji Shindo, this time she wouldn't be ignored. "I assume this business is to do with Heiji." She presses. Mizu lets out a frustrated noise at her questioning but Akemi just lets a smile grace her lips at his wordless confirmation. "I will have you know, I have experience in the courts of nobles, I may be able to assist you in your business." She offers, tone sweet like honey

"So I've been told." He grumbles. 

"Then even more the reason for me to join." She says and she can tell by the tension in his shoulders that he loathes the idea. "We still have a few days before the marriage ceremony." Akemi states. "Plenty of time to think it over." 

"Perhaps it would be of use." Mizu says cautiously. 

Akemi lets a smile overtake her lips, a flash of white teeth behind red painted lips. "Of course my lord, I would be pleased to serve you." She says with that perfect lilt Seki had taught, tilting her head on bowed submission as she was trained to do. 

Mizu's gaze through amber glasses is a prominent thing at her words and if she didn't know better, she'd say her words made him nervous. Madame Kaji's advice prickles at the back of her mind for Akemi to take control and she would take control in time. Men could be persuaded and no man will say no to her again. Akemi was more than patient to play this game forming between them. He was born with privilege, she had to strategise it. 

@omint

Chapter Text

In the garden Akemi's gaze lingers on the pair of cranes, watching as their heads bow together in greeting. The sight should be warming, an auspicious sighting particularly on a wedding day and yet Akemi finds herself suddenly rueful. She did not expect her wedding day to be like this, miles away from Kyoto and marrying a man she hardly knew and yet it seemed that was to be her fate. 

Her maidens had dressed her in a shiromuku in pure white, although, subtle pattern in matching white adorned the fabric of her kimono. The swirling pattern of flowing water, ryusui, represented purity and adaptability. On shiromuku, the pattern of water called for blessings for the marriage to remain pure and for the ability to gracefully adapt to changes in life that would befall the married couple. It seemed fitting, to chose a pattern reminiscent of her husbands namesake. 

As she exits her chambers, her maidens lingering in the doorway behind her. It is Seki who met her at the bottom of the stairs and in his hand a simple lacquered box rests. "Your husband requested for me to give you this." Seki tells her in explanation. 

Akemi takes it, opening it to reveal a golden metal kanzashi resting against silk. The hairpiece is made of metal, two pronged for stability with a round design at the end. She can see a crane depicted in it, plum blossom flowers adorning the sides which spill down into long chains which move independently off the main pin. The metal chimes sweetly as she raises it to admire in the morning sunlight. He had found a way to incorporate small bells, to one of the main chains only adding to the intricacies. 

"This crafting is so intricate." She states, blinking in faint disbelief as she notes the details etched. 

Seki smiles wryly down at the pin in her hold. "It seems that the samurai has an artist's hand." He says. 

Akemi's lips part in surprise. "He crafted this?" She queries. 

"Oh yes, he has an eye for detail it seems." Seki confirms. 

Seki steps back, only to return with another lacquered box with a set of more kanzashi within. In it sits a Kogai in shining gold, resembling a sheathed sword with one end removable in order to place it within the hairstyle. It is accompanied by a matching Kushi, a rounded comb shaped kanzashi made of matching shining gold to pair with the Kogai, gilded with depictions of sparrows and cherry blossoms on the handle portion. 

"It seems he made a few more, a part of your wedding gifts more for everyday use." He states, a ghost of a smile on his lips. “Let your maidens adorn you hair with them, I think it would suit.” 

Yuna and Mitsaki move down the steps to admire the combs, small words of praise escaping their lips as they lift each craft. Even beneath the weight of her wedding kimono Akemi cant help but smile as they work the crane adorned kanzashi into her hair. Even if she wished to touch the metal combs in her hair, Akemi is unable to lift her arms up under the layers of her dress. Instead she lets Yuna bring her a polished bronze mirror, her red painted lips parting in surprise as she sees the end result. They were gorgeous, golden metal chiming with every turn of her head with the plum blossom flowers cascading down the side of her head. 

“It’s gorgeous.” Akemi whispers. 

“Your relationship will transcend love, it will be one of loyalty.” He states proudly. “But it is not only your husband who has a gift for you.” 

At her imploring look, Seki hands her a golden edged hakoseko, a pouch holding a knife and abalone to call upon protection and prosperity for her marriage. Akemi looks down at the gold and white obi sash around her waist as Seki secures the pouch to her. 

“My gift you you, now, let us walk.” He requests, extending a hand to support Akemi forward. 

Her traditional golden sandals glint in the sunlight as Seki led her towards. Townsfolk peer from their houses as they walk the path up towards the Shinto Shrines, the scent of sandalwood tangible on the wind as he brings her to the gated precipice to the sacred space.  

“Go forward, Akemi, you must do this alone.” Seki says. His hand reaches out to her and grasps her trembling fingers. “The sprits have always been on your side, do not fear my daughter in all but blood.” 

Akemi blinks against the tears threatening to fall. “Oh, Seki.” She whispers, bringing his hand up to place a ghost of a thankful kiss to the back of his palm. 

She turns, resolving herself not to turn back and Akemi is silent as she enters into the sacred space of the Shinto Shrine. Neat plants nestle the garden, stone bright walls lined with vibrant spider-lily plants to keep ill-intent away. A priest awaits her, younger shrine hands lingering and tending to space with reverent care. Before her she can see her husband is already kneeling at the shrine, dressed in a formal black montsuki kimono with black and white striped hakama trousers visible from his kneel. 

The space is quiet, eerily so that Akemi wishes to hear any sound around them, pleads to the spirits for the call of a bird to fill the space to alleviate her nerves. As Akemi moves to kneel at Mizu’s side, she keeps her gaze forward to the ancient altar before them, watching the smoke curl from the incense sticks. The priests chanting prayer is the only noise around them, purifying them with a sacred cedar branch to remove worldly impurities. Words of wishes for purity fall from the priest mouth, asking the gods for blessings and approval for their union. During the chants, Akemi spares a glance towards Mizu at her side. Something shy of conflict had flickered across her betrothed face as they had recited the married rites, a startling clear expression frozen on his face. 

A shrine servant forces Akemi’s gaze away from her husband as they place three cups in receding sizes before them. Each cup holds symbolic meanings, the small cup represents gratitude to their ancestors, the medium cup their vows to each other and the large cup represents the prosperity of descendants and a blessing of peace of both families. 

The small cup is places before Mizu, who takes it and moves the ceramic up to his lips to sip it. Three sips each, past, present, future. The movement is almost hypnotic as Akemi ponders once more the haunted fear to Mizu’s eye when he’d locked eyes with her briefly, those amber glasses on his face even now as he passes her the cup. For a man who had no doubt slaughtered many men, Akemi can’t help but ponder why a marriage ceremony would be the thing that weakened him.

As the sake is finished from the final cup, the priest urges them to speak prayers to the altar before them. Silently Akemi offers her gratitude to the spirits, hoping her whispered gratitude and thankfulness is enough to please them. 

In a blur the priests dismiss them and Mizu offers her his arm to aid her raise from her kneel as she is weighed down by the numerous layers of silk of her kimono. Her new husband ever silent as they travel back down from the Shinto Shrines. Leading her slowly down the sheer cliff where the shrine grew further and further behind them. 

As they pass the gated precipice Akemi lets out a shaky breath, eyeing the main hall that their guests were awaiting them in. The smell of incense lingers and absently she laments over the potential of the ash staining the brilliant white of the fabric, her fingers twisting against the bright red hues decorating the seams and edges on the fabric. Beside her Mizu’s hand raises, brushing off the ash that had gathered on her shoulder with tactile care. The tender act contradicts the fierce expression on his face and the taunt set to his shoulders. Akemi’s gaze shifts to rest on the solemn face of her husband, was she the only one who saw the change in him so clearly?.  

“Come.” Mizu urges at her attention, low and rasping as he pulls her from her thoughts. 

As a new wife should Akemi follows and together they head to banquet hall. As they approach they can hear the noise of celebration already occurring, familiar voices calling out to one another as they wait the wedded couples arrival. As they walk into the room, Akemi expects her husband to push ahead and greet the guests front on and yet he makes no move to walk ahead of her. His hold on her arm as present as it had been on the shrine, letting her walk beside him as he leads her to the head table.  

The ash from the shrine lingers on her wedding kimono, the scent overpowering even now as they kneel for the banquet for their honour. Over the pure white of her shiromuku, Mizu had brought her an Iro-uchikake to symbolise her new status. With the garment over her shoulders, Akemi eyes drop to the rich golden hues with the black background almost hidden by the colourful burst of flowers adorning the fabric, the familiar silhouette of white cranes taking flight. A smile curves her lips as her fingertips trace the crane, pondering the sign of the cranes she had spied in the morning. There was no denying that cranes depicted longevity and marital harmony, she ponders her husband’s choice and the unity it was used to represent. 

At the sound of laughter, Akemi lets her attention lift to the array of guests who had joined them for the night’s festivities. She can spy her father and Seki further in the room, along with an older man who Akemi assumes is Mizu’s father as well as a cheery fellow by the name of Ringo. Amongst the family members sharing cups of sake there is one figure who Akemi the refuses to look at, one who stared at her so openly even now. This ritual of sharing sake was meant to bless the union of two families and strengthens new familial bonds. But it seemed that he only wanted to make things difficult, no sooner rising to approaching them with well wishes no doubt. From the moment they had entered the room as husband and wife, Akemi had resolved herself to ignore Taigen’s presence at the table. 

Although, despite her effort standing before them now in hues of green Taigen bows his head in greeting. “Akmei… and Mizu, I wish you a kind and prosperous future.” He says, as his hand outstretches turning it over to reveal silk wrapped sweets.

Akemi is sure to keep her face pleasantly polite aware of the stark reminder of Taigen’s betrothal gift all those months ago. It was no coincidence for him to give them to her now. Sparing a moment Akemi chances a glance to Mizu beside her but his expression next to her is utterly blank, not giving away anything in regards to his awareness of the gesture Taigen had given her.

“Sweets?” Akemi questions, returning her attention from the gift back to Taigen's face before her. 

Taigen simply nods. “I know you have a sweet tooth, these are from Kyoto. I thought you might appreciate something from home.” He replies. 

From home. Something strikes her at the term. Yes, she had grew up in Kyoto, had known its laneways and bustling streets like the back of her hand and yet this new life of hers had led her to the furthest reach. Sendai with its lush forest land and vast waterways would be her home now, the contract in ink binding her to the samurai at her side sealed that. Perhaps the spirits (more like the men of her life) wanted her here, so Sendai would be where she stayed. Perhaps it was not what she first envisioned, but she would work it to her favour regardless. She wonders as she caught Taigen's eye if he truly understood the significance of Kyoto becoming a ghost of her past. 

Before Akemi can comment further a jovial man barges through to pause before them, a groan escaping Mizu at the sight. A airy chime of a bell signals his arrival as he all but pushes Taigen out the way. “Master! Master! You married a pretty princess!” He exclaims before his head tilts in thoughtful assessment, his gaze switching between them. “Wait, how does that work?” He ponders. 

“Ringo.” Mizu greets, tone cutting. “Thank you for coming.” 

“Of course, master, I could not miss this wonderful moment.” Ringo says.

"I do not think we have met" Akemi says, jumping in to the lull of conversation. "My husband has mentioned you fondly." 

Beside her Mizu's posture seems to straighten to a taunt tension even more at her words, wether at her use of his title or for the liberty she had used to speak on his behalf Akemi is not sure. Regardless Ringo's expression brightens. "Princess Akemi, it is an honour to meet you." He says with another bow. 

"Any friend of Mizu's is a friend of mine." She tells him. "How are you enjoying the evening?" 

“It's wonderful, so many dishes to sample. I even helped the kitchen staff cook for the occasion, only the best for a banquet such as this.” Ringo says. 

Taigen lets out a disrespectful snort. “Told you he should have a job in the kitchens.” He says. 

"I am afraid I tend to go off track, I wanted to come and wish you blessings for this union." Ringo tells them, bowing low before a blinding grin overtakes his joyous face. "I just know you'll achieve even more greatness together." 

Akemi is glad for the fan in her hands, raising in it order to hide the way his comment makes her laugh. At her side Mizu does not the luxury to hide, instead rolling his eyes in exasperation behind amber glasses. 

"Yes, honour and blessings and all the rest, I wonder, will you be exchanging gifts here?" Taigen questions, speaking over Ringo's prior comments. "I am curious to see what others have gifted you." 

"It was not planned that way, but one can never tell." Akemi admits after a pause. Feeling frustrated at her ex-fiancé's attitude toward Ringo when the other had been nothing but kind so far. 

Taigen's eyes flick between them. "In private?" He presses. 

"In private or in the open, I do not think it matters, the gifts are ours." Mizu states, a dismissal if Akemi had ever heard one. 

Taigen's responding smile is tense. "You may be right, but I suppose we both know what's next after this night, a visit to Edo Castle and to the Shogun to announce your wedlock." He says. 

Her new husband may be a mysterious man but if there was one thing obvious about him was that there is some battle of words going on between her husband and Taigen. It seems that Taigen's words were some sort of goad perhaps or a reminder she is not quite sure. Whatever the reason the words are effective, a tension Akemi had never seen plaguing Mizu's figure as his knuckles grow white against the cup in his hand. 

"If Shogun Itoh requests me, I will be there." Mizu says at last. 

"What of your business?" Taigen questions, a mocking edge to his tone. 

This time the tension in Mizu's shoulders eases. "Delayed as much as yours, do not forget that your own contract is signed by my decree." He states. 

Taigen's teeth grit in wordless frustration, eyes dropping to the floor and away from Akemi's questioning gaze. 

Mizu inclines his head, having won this silent battle between them. "All will be resolved in due time." He states. 

Not for the first time does Akemi ponder the unexpected partnership between them, even having been told by Mizu the state of their contract Akemi cant help but ponder if there was something shy of strategy occurring. To just what, she does not know. 

Ringo glances tentatively between them. "How about some, sake? I'll go get some!" He announces before turning on his heel and rushing towards the kitchen. 

Only due to her gaze shifting to follow Ringo's retreat does Akemi spy the approach of an older man. Bringing the fan up to hide her face Akemi takes private delight in watching Taigen hastily straighten his posture at the man's arrival. Even Mizu's lingering glower seems to dissipate at the arrival, a curt nod of respect as he looks towards the newcomer. It was with casual observance that Akemi had noted the reaction of the warriors in the room and how that seemed to burst at the seams with reverence. Throughout the banquet she had heard the whispers about the man, a renown sword smith who had made blades for the best swordsman this side of Japan. 

"I hope my teachings have made you an artist, child." He says as he comes to rest at their table. "In the form of a suitable gift for your new wife at the very least." 

Akemi raises a hand to skim across the metal pins adorning her hair, reminded at the gift her husband has created with growing understanding. 

A bashful sort of expression passes over Mizu's face at the words. "Of course sword father." He says solemnly. 

Sword-father lets out a huff of dry amusement. "With no proof in my hand, I will be none the wiser." He says simply. 

Akemi's eyes widen as her gaze finally rests on his face- Mizu's father was blind. "I would remove it from my hair to show you if I was able, I fear I would make a mess of my hair to attempt it." Akemi admits to him. 

His clouded eyes seem to find hers anyway. "Hmm, kind sentiment." He states. No sooner does an answer about his approach occur as he raises a simple box to rest on their table. "A gift." He announces. 

Akemi glances to Mizu at her side in silent question, yet, her husband does little more than gesture for her to open it. She can not tell by the stoic expression on his face if her knew what was about to be gifted to them. "For me?" She queries, returning her gaze back to Mizu's sword father. 

Before her Master Eiji only smiles and for a brief moment she is reminded of the expression on Seki's face when he was about to reveal a lesson. It is the expression that causes nerves to roll within her, only years of training keeping her hand steady as she pulls at the ribbon keeping the box sealed. Opening it, a naginata rests against the silk. It shines a brilliant silver under the light, the woven dark leather at the hilt smooth as Akemi dares to run a finger against it. Looking at the craft of the blade Akemi can see why his skill was so famous. 

As Akemi chances a look towards her husband, she notices that Mizu had gone rigid beside her at the sight, paling like he had seen a wraith the longer the blade was presented before them. It seemed he was just as clueless on his father's gift then she was. 

"Oh!" Akemi gasps, words fumbling as she eyes the sharp edge of the blade. "It's beautiful." She admits, the truth of the word flooring her. She dares not to touch the blade itself, wary of the sharp edge she could spy. A part of her fears to touch it, like her touch against the metal would ruin it with her skin alone. Instead she keeps her hands white knuckled against her thighs, letting her gaze settle on the intricate details. 

It seemed that Taigen could not resist opening his mouth regardless of the notion of respect. "What use is a sword like that when a wakizashi is common? Might as well cut it in half to be of use." He questions. 

"No sword made by modifying a naginata is dull in cutting." Master Eiji retorts. "Besides, any weapon is good to defend oneself in a time of need." 

Taigen shakes his head. "Are the guards of Sendai not suitable?" He mocks. 

"It is a sword befitting her status." Mizu says at last, a lifeless tone to his words even as the colour was returning to his face once more. "I thank you, Sword-father but regardless of its beauty, Akemi has me." 

Master Eiji lets out a noise eerily close to a scoff of disapproval. "So you will not be away? Will your business not keep you from her? What will she do then when you are seas away?" He questions. "I thought your wife may need reassurance in your absence." 

Mizu scowls at the sound logic behind it. "She will not need it." He argues anyway. 

"The lady has a right to defend herself, even if you are around." Master Eiji says. 

Taigen lets out a dry laugh. "Sure, good luck lifting it."  

Akemi seethes at his dismissal, hidden beneath a sharp smile she sends Taigen's way. "It is a gorgeous gift, wether artistic or practical , unlike some." She states. 

This time it is Taigen who at scowls at the reminder of his gift. "Sweets are a suitable gift, partially having been imported from Kyoto." He argues pitifully. "You had liked them." 

"Perhaps once" She agrees. "But i find I am growing tired of them." 

Ringo, oblivious to the tension simmering between them interrupts with the arrival of a tokkuri, placing the ceramic flask of sake down on the table with flourish. The tray of cups he'd brought with him rattling with the enthusiasm of his movement yet he pays it no mind as he moves to pour a cup for each of them. 

"To the happy couple!" He cries.

As Akemi lets the warmth of the sake touch her lips, her attention circling between the glower on Taigen's face, Master Eiji's knowing look and Mizu's chastised expression she cant help but find the words heralding the opposite of his wish. To the happy couple indeed. 

Chapter Text

Akemi had always imagined the first night she went to bed with her husband would be full of passion with lingering gazes and the feel of skin. It conjured up images of silk, the teasing flash of naked skin as she lured her handsome samurai to join her on the futon. But as Akemi eyes the edge of the futon Mizu was sitting on, more than aware of the painful ache of her legs after being forced into the elaborate robes she wonders that perhaps that passion filled night was just fantasy. It seemed that there would be no lingering glances, no kiss to fuel to spark simmering between them. Nothing. Just a dull persistent ache that she had carried most of the evening wrapped in layer upon layer of silk. Her wedding kimono is suddenly even more suffocating, an ever restricting thing in the confines of their chamber. 

Mizu looks entirely unaffected like the events of today was just some chore he needed to cross off. Where was that glint of humanity she had seen? That hesitant fear she'd spied at the Shinto Shine as their marriage was forged. Looking at him now she wonders if it was a trick of smoke and nothing more. 

A frustrated sigh escapes her. “You may have the luxury of being able to move easily, but I do not… I loathe to request it, but will you help me undress?” Akemi asks. 

Mizu blinks, his head jerking up to meet hers gaze in sudden disbelief. “Undress?” He croaks. 

Beneath her painted makeup Akemi flushes in embarrassment. “Yes, undress… I can’t remove these layers on my own and I do not wish to wake my maidens at this hour. Besides, as my husband it is your duty to aid me.” 

After a moment he nods curtly, raising to join her. He stops before her, awaiting her instruction and wordlessly Akemi passes him the edge of fabric. His hand raises, his gaze unable to meet hers as he works to unwrap each layer of her wedding kimono. She can feel the heat of him as he brushes up against her, circling around her like some dance as he gathers the fabric. Being so close Akemi lets herself admire the sharp slopes of her cheekbones down to the curve of his jaw. Notices the way his brow furrows in concentration as he works to untie it. He looks nothing like Taigen, more delicate and yet it suits him, the softer edge does nothing to detract from his strength. 

Perhaps he was a quick learner, the way he could figure out the best way to remove it once Akemi had explained it. She doesn't let herself linger on the thought that perhaps he had practice of removing robes before her. It is not long before she is down to her undergarment, only a sheer layer hiding her modesty from him. Mizu’s gaze drops to her shoulder, to the flash of soft skin bare to the crisp air but drops no lower. Stepping out of the pile at her feet and in the sheer final layer of her kimono Akemi moves to rest against the futon.

Her arms spread out on the bedding, finally freed from the weight of the fabric, the collar of her robes opening in a temping display. “Will you join me?” Akemi calls, her brown eyes locking on the samurai as she lets her words settle in their air between them. 

His eyes lingers on the flash of her uncovered shoulder, slides down towards the valley of her breasts faintly hidden by her kimono. Shifting as if he was moving to join before he halts, muscles rigid as he stares down at her awaiting figure. “I am tired.” Mizu admits at last in pitiful refusal, ripping his gaze from her to the woven mat at their feet. 

Akemi tries not to let the sting from his rejection show on her face. “O-of course, it is late I suppose.” 

The samurai nods, moving to sit once more at the edge of their bed, their shared bed Akemi realised with a start. 

Something sharp fills her, a bitter feeling rising with her chest as she considers his avoidance of her. 

"This is not a mere transaction!" Akemi says, anger flashing across her face, the sting of his rejection still fresh. "This is a marriage- one you had a hand in. I am not some thing for you to play with when fancy strikes, the contract you signed means this is not a one off thing.” 

Mizu's expression is wilfully blank. "A convenient marriage." He says. 

"Convenient!" She cries out, almost gasping the word out. "You may be used to doing what you wish and swinging your sword around for whatever strikes your fancy but like it or not you have to deal with me now!" 

"Swinging my sword?" Mizu question with amusement. 

Akemi flushes under his scrutiny, suddenly aware of the double meaning she had imposed in her frustrations. “Whatever you do outside besting Dojos." She says haughtily. 

"Forging." He admits. "Improving my skills, training... I suppose you are correct that all I do is swing my sword." Mizu continues.  

She pointedly ignores his ghost of teasing. "Well I assume this is your first time being involved in a marriage." Akemi says. 

"You could say that." He says cryptically. 

She shakes her head, the metal ornaments still tucked into her hair chiming with the movement.  "Why do I feel that you viewed this as a means to and end, or perhaps you assumed you would not have lived this long to contemplate deeper on the complexity of our union, I don't know but your choice has led us both here.” 

“Don’t act like you know me, wife.” He says almost spitting the term like a curse, a glower on his face. 

Akemi lets out a huff of annoyance at his tension. “If you’d talk maybe I would know you better.” She counters. 

His hands cross defensively across his chest. “You said so yourself, I am busy doing as I please and swinging my sword.” He says. 

“Spirits, you are stubborn!” Akemi cries out. How had she even thought he was handsome a few moments ago? 

She steps away from him, putting space between them as she moves to the zelkova wood dresser. Sitting before the bronze polished mirror Akemi lifts a hand to her hair, taking the pins out from her elaborate up-do until her hair spills down over her shoulders. The weight of the metal is heavy in her hand, her gaze dropping to finally admire the work in the lowlight. For a moment as she glances up reflecting behind her shoulder, she can see the reflection of Mizu's still sat on the futon behind her and through the mirror Akemi spies how his attention lingers only for a moment on the sight of her hair down before it drops to the floor. 

Pondering his hidden admiration, despite the faux dislike he seems intent on projecting, Akemi attempts another angle to bring him closer. "I never did thank you for your gift." She calls to him, bringing a comb to her hair. 

"You're welcome." Comes Mizu's stilted reply.

"It reminded me of our walk out to the precipice of the garden, the flock of sparrows." Akemi says. "Tell me, why the plum blossom?"

There's a thoughtful silence that settles and for a moment Akemi expects to never know, and yet Mizu surprises her by speaking. Through the mirror he met her eyes. "The bridge." He admits. "A glimpse of red through palanquin bars like the bright hue of blossoms against winter snow." 

Akemi's glances down to the kanzashi in her palm. "Resilience and perseverance." She whispers softy to herself. 

A wry laugh escapes him. "I wished for just that at the Shrines." Mizu tells her. 

"In your ventures or for our marriage?" Akemi enquires. 

Mizu's face is typically emotionless. "I do not think you'd like the answer." He states simply. 

Her hands ball into fists, the metal of her pin digging into her palm at the action. "I suppose not." She mutters. 

Standing, she moves to shed the final white layer of her wedding Kimono. As she spares a glance to the mirror, she notes Mizu's gaze had turned pointedly away from her, a red tinge to his face at her nudity. Spirits, it had not been so difficult to entice Taigen to join her. It seemed that every attempt to draw him closer had him take a step away from her. In another life all it had taken was a pretty smile and a beaconing look and men would eat out her palm. Her husband would be harder to sway it seemed but that would not sway her. For when had Akemi ever been swayed from a challenge? When had a man ever truly said no to her?. Perhaps she had approached him the wrong way, it could be inexperience or shyness kept him at arms length. Absently she pulls on the aquatic blue sleeping robes as she ponders it, leaving her wedding clothes next to the dresser. 

Once done she moves closer to the bed, watching as Mizu turns from her, rolling his shoulder in a tell of discomfort. He had shed his own wedding clothes when her back had turned, swift to don himself in his navy sleeping robes.  At first she sums it up to his discomfort at their closeness but being so close she can tell that the stiffness is one sided. Only being so close does Akemi spy the bandages woven around his torso which peaks from beneath his sleeping clothes. 

“Oh! You’re injured.” Akemi concludes, fingertips having reached out to brush against the edges of bandages wrapped around Mizu’s torso.

Mizu in turn is rigid, a hand raised to halt her touch from coming any closer, his muscles taunt as they think her words over. “Yes.” He settles on admitting. Unknown to her it wasn’t exactly a lie, his shoulder had been hit by a blade all those weeks ago.

Akemi simply eyes the crisp bandages. A man's ego was something else entirely, no wonder he had snapped at her like a wounded dog. The tension in her shoulders loosen pondering if his reluctance had just been due to his injury being seen as weakness. “Why did you not just say so.” Akemi says.

A furrow deepens on his brow. "What kind of impression would that be?" He says bitterly, letting her arm drop from his iron hold.  

Akemi moves to sit beside him on the futon, the silk of her bed-robes soft as she reaches for him. "Fear not, husband, your presence before me now only shows your prowess and skill, you may be injured but you are triumphant. Does that not count?" 

His gaze roams over her face, seemingly trying to pick out her motive by her face alone before he lets out a wordless thoughtful sound. "Such pretty encouraging words." Mizu says dryly. 

"Is that not my duty as your wife?" Akemi queries. 

A ghost of a smile tugs at his lips. "Well said, princess." 

Propping herself up on her elbows, Akemi tilts her head in thought. "Tell me, husband, I feel you owe me some information as you seem to know about my childhood in Kyoto and I wonder what was home for you before Sendai?" 

Something shy of a snort escapes him at the question. "What is there to tell? I lived in a hut at the edge of a small fishing village in Kohama, there was no glistening city and beauty there only misery and decay." 

Shaking her head, Akemi tries to meet his gaze. "Surely it was not all terrible?" She questions. 

"When you're ex-fiancé wasn't trying to bludgeon me with rocks, I suppose there was moments of content." He says. "Meeting Swordfather was a blessing I did not know I needed." 

Akemi grimaces at the image his words paint. "Tell me about Swordfather?" Akemi asks softly. 

After a moment of consideration, Mizu settles against the cushions and speaks. "He was attempting to dig metal from the earth and I assisted him in his struggle, that night I stayed in his forge, to escape the storm or the misery of the town I could not say which. In the end I stayed and he taught me the ways of the forge, gradually involved me in sword-crafting. At his side, I not only learnt the art of sword-crafting but the way of the sword. It is not a secret that my sword-father crafts some of the best weaponry this side of Japan, I often witnessed samurai seeking a blade. They would demonstrate their combat style for him so that he could match the sword to the man. At night I would imitate their movements, teaching myself a range of fighting styles I could blend to my advantage." He says. 

"Did he know?" Akemi wonders. 

"No. Not at first but he caught me one night and he simply asked me why and I told him." Mizu admits. "He was the only one to see me, he simply told me the strongest sword is a blend of steel, I guess he always knew I was different." 

Akemi meet his gaze through the amber lens of his glasses. "Different?" She prompts. 

His gaze lingers on her face before he shakes his head. "A tale for another night." He dismisses. 

Akemi attempts to hide her disappoint with a smile. "Of course." She agrees. "Shall I call for tea?" 

"If you wish." He says. 

It is not long before a knock occurs at their door, Akemi rises to greet the servant who had brought the tea tray. She takes it with a word of thanks, returning back to Mizu's side to pour him a cup. With practiced flourish Akemi extends the cup towards Mizu, bowing her head as she caught his gaze. Mizu's gaze is hypnotic at the best of times but as she looks up to him she finds his eyes unobstructed by the amber lenses of his glasses. 

"Your eyes!" She gasps, unable to stop the words from tumbling out. He must have removed them when she had returned with the tea, the sight of his uncovered face startling. 

Whatever ease had befallen him snaps, his spine straightening at her sudden words. "Whatever clever insult comes next is not as clever as you think." He snaps, snarling like a wounded dog at her potential slight. 

"No! They're beautiful." She hurries to argue, a furrow to her brow as she considers it. "A colour I've never seen outside the sea and sky." 

He blinks in surprise. "Huh... I see." He muses, a distracted air as he withdrawals in thought.  

The quiet settles stilted between them, yet Akemi watches him silently as if she could gain something from his actions alone. He pours her her a cup and as Mizu’s hand reached towards her, Akemi’s attention is drawn to the X inked dark against his skin. 

“What is that?” Akemi questions, finger tips moments away from touching the samurai’s forearm. 

Mizu’s expression is torturously blank. “It’s nothing.” He says sternly, a warning snap of words as the warmth of his fingers brushes hers as he passes her the cup.

Akemi brings the ceramic to her lips, lets the heat of the tea rest on her tongue as she allows herself a moment to think. "Why do you hesitate to speak to me? Do you think I ask only to sabotage you later?" Akemi asks. 

Mizu's lips only flatten to a harsh line at her words. "The mark is a reminder that I have business to attend too- important business. I may be gone for weeks at a time, I know that you may be lonely. I would not resent you if your eye fell to another." He says. Like Taigen, rests unspoken between them. 

The words are sudden, so jarring that Akemi can only gape is disbelief. "Do you think so low of me, so unfaithful?" She queries, lips curled in anger. "I would rather split myself open than be so dishonourable." 

Mizu looks away, chastised. Yet a cruel quirk to his lips occurs all the same. "I am not so blind to Taigen's obvious affection toward you." 

She scoffs, her eyes darting away from him in thinly veiled disgust. “Perhaps I have read you wrong. Perhaps you do not fear the sabotage of other but rather yourself. Do you think that there is something inherently wrong about you? Perhaps, that you were born rotten with something infesting your soul that will corrupt everything you touch… Tell me, what is it?” Akemi questions. “What are you so afraid of? Is it being known?”. Her hand reaches out despite her instincts screaming at her not too, it is a tentative movement and Mizu’s eyes drop to it, watching her outstretched hand like a wary stray. “It is not weakness to crave acceptance, to be, to let yourself in to others.” She says. 

He moves his hand away from hers, out of her grasp. “My whole life I was afraid of being found out.” Mizu admits. “Hiding myself meant the difference between life or death, being made of mixed metal I am not pure like others.” He says. 'Not like you' whispers in the quiet unsaid between them. 

“Do not hide yourself from me.” Akemi requests softly. 

Mizu’s face turns away from her. “I don’t know how.” He admits and his words settle heavy between them.

She can tell she'd pried too much too fast, especially in the way his face seems to close up before her eyes. "It is late, you should sleep." He says and it is an end of conversation if Akemi had ever heard one, watching as Mizu extinguished the lanterns. "Good night, wife." Come's Mizu's voice in the darkness. 

Akemi curls onto her size gazing out to the space he lays in. "Good night, husband." She whispers back. 

It is no surprise that when she wakes at the golden light of dawn that she spies Mizu silhouetted against the morning sun. Already dressed his gaze is turned towards the direction of the forge at the outskirts of the village. Her sleep addled brain only spies the brief moment as he looks at her sleeping form before he slips out the door. 

Chapter Text

All those years ago, Swordfather had turned to her in the low light of his forge. ”There may be a demon in you but there is also more. If you do not invite the whole, the demon takes two chairs and your art will suffer.”  He told her. 

”Then what do I do?” A young Mizu questioned. 

Swordfather simply moved further into the forge. "I only know how to make swords. Each morning I start a fire, and begin again.” He said, and in his hand metal tongs rest. “Come child, I will show you.” 

Come morning after the disaster of a wedding night Mizu rose early to seek refuge in the forge, the building set far and high upon an incline on her new land. It seemed that even the birds could sense her subdued mood with hardly a call heard even with the sun only just rising on the horizon. Although, it seemed she would not be graced with a silent walk there, for Taigen had spied her from his balcony his eyes eager as he moved to cut into her path that converged with the one that led to his own house.

"I am surprised to see you rise so early, I would assume that your attention would be caught on... fairer things." He says, a leering edge to his grin as he caught her eye. 

Mizu glares out at him from beneath amber glasses. "My business cares not for such frivolity." She tells him sternly. 

That might not be true, not when the sight of silken hair spread out over the silk of a pillow lingers, a figure dressed in silken oceanic robes her only cover as she sleeps only an arm's length away linger even now outside the chamber. It is Akemi's silhouette that is stuck in her head, the flash of soft curves and her hair loose around her shoulders. It had taken everything within her not to give in to temptation, to the lure of her that night. Mizu had not felt such a draw to another, not since her first marriage and well, she assumed that desire had died with her that fateful day as well.  

Although, perhaps things didn't stay dead for long or maybe she had taken on her masculine role far too well. She finds it hard to recall when her eye first strayed to the smile of a pretty woman. The last time would have been the moment she'd stumbled upon Madame Kaji's brothel which was suited for peculiarities, but perhaps not her kind of peculiarity. For even if the woman who lured her in were pretty to admire she had no desire to bring it any further. Between fighting to live and seeking revenge she did not have time to indulge in matters of the flesh, that was an unwanted distraction. 

A distraction much like her insistent wife and it was clear that Akemi was trying to seduce her, well, her supposed husband. Of course a man was all she was to her new wife, one she felt obliged to wed on order of her father. Well, Mizu cant claim to be any better, she was forced into this arrangement lest she loose a thumb or add another bumbling fool to her court. 

Before her Taigen only laughs incredulously, shaking her from her prior thoughts. "You truly are a demon, no man could resist a willing woman nor a warm cunt and chose to walk into the chill instead." He says mockingly. 

She scoffs. "Or... you lack discipline." She says pushing past him, striding towards the incline of town. 

"Oh, I have plenty of discipline." Taigen argues, half at a jog to keep up with her stride. "Back at the Shindo Dojo I was one of the best." 

"The best? Oh, you mean at the Dojo..." Mizu hums, a sarcastic edge to her words. 

Taigen's humiliation sends the ends of his ears red in a telling way. "I will have you know I had those woman screaming my name by the end of it." He boasts. 

Mizu laughs lowly. "In prayer to the spirts for you to stop, I am sure." She says snidely. 

She expects him to walk back to the warmth of his house, to the fireplace within it and whatever woman's he'd paid company for the night but it seems that his own thoughts were caught on a similar line. As Mizu glances towards him she can see his gaze lingers on the vague distance of Mizu's quarters as if he could peer into to the silken curtains closing it off from the world outside.  

"Have you left your wife alone?" He enquires, turning his attention back to her. 

Mizu shakes her head absently at the question. "What? Eager to warm my bed in my absence?" Mizu jibes, dodging his query with a simmering unease as she notices his interest. 

Taigen's returning grin in response is all teeth. "If you so insist... not like you seem interested to do it yourself."  He says. 

It is filthy expression to spot, that familiar hate she'd always felt for him since was a child rearing its head as she spies the eagerness brimming at the seams. At her side Mizu shakes her dominate hand out, pondering if it is worth damaging her hand on a punch before she'd even worked the forge beforehand. It is a sorely temping thing, especially with the feral way Taigen's eyes gleam in the early light. 

"Did I hit a nerve?" He goads, the grin only growing at her expression. "Oh, that's rich. Does she even know you are gone?" He questions his tone goading.

Mizu glares towards him. "What do you think?" She retorts. 

"Knowing you, you just left without a word. Let's hope no strife falls upon her in your absence." Taigen says. 

"I will be gone for no longer than an hour or two." She snaps angrily. "I have faith that she can hold her ground in my absence." 

"Such faith in anonymous guards." He hums. "I wouldn't be quick to leave her at some brutes mercy." 

Her hand shims at the sword tied to her hip, lets it sooth the rage kindling in her chest. "Just because you were quick to bed others on the eve of you engagement, does not mean I wish too as well." Mizu says aloud.. 'The only brute I can think of is already standing before me' She thinks viciously. 

It was as if he could sense her sentiment, a low chuckle escaping him but perhaps her thoughts had simply reflected upon her face. "Truly Mizu, I don't think fucking her has even crossed your mind." Taigen states. 

Fuck that contract, and fuck him. Her hand tightens on the hilt of the blade, knuckles white with the force of it as she ponders just killing him now. It would be easier if his words rang true and yet they don't, for the desire that Akemi drew from her was the whole reason Mizu had fled to the forge as it was. Yet she cant but ponder with this seed of doubt settling upon her mind as she led this walk with Taigen a step or two behind. Was it was cruel to have left Akemi alone on their first day as a marriage couple? Did she not deserve more? Even if all it is the greatness she craved. Someone like Mizu was no heroic samurai, her sword had paid more blood than she could care to count. She was not sworn to any master other than the desire for revenge and perhaps she had been lucky to not die in the process so far but would she always be so fortunate? There was only so many prays she could whisper to the shrines until the gods grew tired of her requests. 

Was it fair to subject Akemi to a life alone? To a life where her husband's eye is more devoted to the sword than her. Akemi would never know what had happened to her if spirits forbid, she died upon the steps of Fowlers castle. No. She had sworn to avenge her mother and kill the white men in Japan at the time of her birth, lest she die trying. This luxury that had befallen her was making her soft, she was loosing sight of what mattered... killing the white demons and riding Japan from their poisonous clutches. 

They come to a halt, the imposing silhouette of the forge only a few paces away.

The derisive snort that leaves Taigen brings her attention back to the present. "You really don't give a shit, do you?" He questions. "I could walk there now, take her in your own fucking bed and you'd just continue this walk to your forge like none of it matters." 

In her mind so many things happen at once. She withdraws the blade from her side slices at his mocking throat and watches as blood spews from him and delights in the sight of it. Except conflict doesn't ever go so simply does it? perhaps it would be more accurate to have Taigen's downward blade move to clash against hers, the metallic sound of it ringing clearly in the morning air. They would trade blows, striking and weaving and feigning jab until he's quick to slice her legs or maybe she's quicker and caught his elbow clean with her blade. Perhaps it is both their blood that spills red against snow, equally injured and maimed with no contract met, no promise of revenge dealt. Just a slow painful death in the snow. 

Although, in reality there is no bloodshed as Mizu watches silently as Taigen wordlessly returns back to the village. Herself standing at the lower foothills of the forge as the forge looms a few paces behind up the hill from her. Her hand loosens from her hold on the blades hilt, the joints almost locked from the force of her hold. The reality of his words almost has her follow, a foreign fear chilling her spine before she shakes herself from her stupor. 

Turning she finally enters the building, gathering the firewood and kindling the fire. For a moment she watches it burn and Mizu cant help the way her mind drifts to Akemi still in her bed alone. There was no denying that she was the one who left Akemi there and the one who let the tempting thought of Taigen linger the night before. Regardless, her traitorous mind lingers on the thought of Taigen approaching Akemi alone in the room with a terrifying resentment. It was a solution, wasn’t it? To get Akemi and Taigen out the picture. A clear solution for her to focus on revenge like she vowed. 

Mizu lets out an incredulous laugh at the thought, moving to heat the coals. Ridding herself of the unease the thought generates as she goes about the preparation without much fanfare, moving from each familiar step like she always had. The sting of the forge nearly burns her and it’s familiar unlike the ache in her chest. She had encouraged Taigen to approach her those weeks ago and yet the thought of him with her turns her stomach, a bitter resentment that burns like acid in her throat at the thought of him touching her. It didn’t feel right. The ache only surges when she remembers the oceanic hue of her Kimono, the flutter to Akemi's dark lashes as she’d looked up at her with a coy expression. She wouldn’t act that was if she knew who you truly were, her thoughts sneer at her. 

Mizu turns, making sure the fire is suitably burning as she brought the cast-iron forward. It is heated before being quenched in water and only then can she break it into small pieces to free it from the slag of metal. In a familiar pattern as she’d watched Swordfather, the steel is shifted into a single plate of metal with the cast-iron she’d heated piled on top until it is a single billet. If Swordfather had taught her anything it was to create and like she had done since a child, she begins to hammer the metal in a timed rhythm, falling into the repetitive motion of it as she works the metal into a vague shape of something that could resemble a blade. She can feel sweat begin to pool at the small of her back, the heat of the forge overpowering as much as the effort to lift her arm with every strike. 

"Agh!" Mizu's wordless cry rings out as she hammers the metal, the sound clear against the dawn as again and again as she strikes it. The act is more forceful than she meant and yet it does nothing to douse the anger within her. 

Soon the metal in her tongs glow nearly fluorescent as she levels it over the fire, the once rigid surface bowing and melting within the heat of the flame. A snarl settles over her face as she eyes the imperfect bow of it, resists the urge to toss it and instead attempts to steady her breathing. Mizu moves to heat it once move over the open flame, lingering it there until the metal becomes malleable. Then brings her hammer down upon it until the bow straightens out in a perfect line. 

As the metal seems to finally be thinned to the correct amount, she steps back to douse it into the awaiting bucket of water at her side. The sizzling sound of it sharp in the air as the hot metal is quenched in the cool water. Slowly with the tongs she lifts it back up to the air, eyeing the sudden fault that appears as it breaches the surface of the water. Mizu can only watch as the blade cracks, the metal falling brittle and frail as it splits and falls back in the cooling water. 

 “Why?” She questions, goes over the steps in mind over and over to sense what had gone wrong. "It should be pure." She mutters eyeing the metal in her hold. 

She had hammered it, applied layer upon layer of melted iron before stretching it out again and hammering it once more. That was all it needed, the repetitive motion of working it until the metal was strong and pure before her. For a moment she wonders if the art had decided to reflect her soul, to show her how far she’d fallen. Her mind cast back to the assassin who had come to Swordfather’s sword, his act like a sheep until his teeth had given him away. “We are only responsible for our own soul, Mizu” Swordfather had warned her all those years ago. "Men like him will always have their broken sword.” 

Even now as she eyes the broken blade before her with the tongs in her hand lowering to pick each broken shard out from the bucket, Mizu wonders just how true his sentiment laid. Instead of lingering a moment longer on the thought of soulless men and broken blades, she moves to melt down the shards until they are no more than a formless shape as she moves to hammer it once more. She cares not for the sun that creeps high into the sky the stark shadows stretching across the floor as it moves past noon. She had been holed up in the forge for hours, going through the motion of crafting in a bid to sooth the noise in her head. 

A voice interrupts her, a familiar lilt calling out into the forge. "I thought I might find you here, husband." Akemi states. 

Mizu glares down at the blade she was reworking. "Come to witness my failure?" She questions mockingly. 

She can hear Akemi sigh, coming to move closer. As Mizu looks up she finds Akemi looking vastly out of place within the mess of the forge dressed in such finery that it clashed against the harsh interior. Her hair is adorned with Mizu's own forged pins which shine brightly against the light from the fire, the pins swaying as she surveys her work. Again she was dressed in a kimono in a shade of blue, pale and bright like the clear day outside and Mizu wonders if the colour choice was intentional.

"No. I came here to seek you." She states. 

Mizu's gaze roams over her, like she could see if Taigen had visited her but finds herself unable and as if reading her thoughts, Akemi nearly rolls her eyes at her insistent gaze. "I did not visit Taigen, spirits know he's been shadowing me even now." Akemi says. 

"Why not?" She questions, even as a bitter jealously fills her. 

Akemi laughs, the sound light like bells. "I did not wish too, I was worried about you." She admits. 

Mizu is not sure what to make about such sentiment, instead shifting her attention back to the blade she had placed in the cooling water. She brings the unfinished blade up to the air to admire it, satisfied to note no sign of fault as she brings it up to the nearby bench. With care Mizu slowly begins to etch the softened metal, the motion one she had crafted time and time again. 

Akemi eyes the makers mark in confusion. "Is that not Master Eiji's mark upon the blade?" She queries. 

"It is." Mizu confirms, dropping the tool in her hand. "I have always signed my swords with his mark." 

"Why not your own?" She questions. 

Tension seizes her as she pauses in her move to clear the workspace, the blade only partly finished. "No blade has ever seen a mark of my own, and why should it? When every thing I forged is unclean." Mizu says. 

"You are not this beast that you think you are." Akemi argues, moving as if she wished to reach out but thought better of it. 

"I am not who you think I am." Mizu retorts with a dismissive shake of her head. 

"I do not care." Akemi denies, shaking her head, unwilling to listen to her raving. 

"I have led you into this- this unclean marriage." Mizu says, wild eyed as she stares back at her. "I taint everything I touch! You deserve a husband befitting of your greatness, not me." 

"Do not tell me what you think I deserve." Akemi says sternly, her eyes aflame. "That is not your choice to make." 

Something short of a grin tugs at her lips despite her tone. "I did not think you so spirited, wife." Mizu says. 

Akemi's responding smile is bittersweet at her words. "Perhaps it is I who is the onryō between us." She says and she cant stifle the wry laugh that escapes her. "No, I was always this wild thing, I have doomed you I think." 

"No. Never." Mizu denies.

Her gaze lifts to meet Mizu's. "Tell me honestly, husband, am I not what you wanted?" She questions. 

Apprehension lines her shoulders. It would go against every instinct screaming at her, to every part of her that wished to ignore every ache within her. Yet it felt false to not tell her, not when Akemi thought of herself as undesirable. In the end it could be any reason on why the words stilted yet true escape her lips. "You are more than I thought possible, like a magical forrest creature you had bewitched me, how can I look at you and deny such." Mizu says, pausing as she caught the other's gaze. "I did not know what it is too crave before I met you." 

Akemi's lips part and Mizu's gaze chases it. Spirits, her yearning was torturous. 

"A forge is made up of an assortment of metals, too pure and the blade will fail." Akemi attempts to sooth her, a pitiful attempt of a thing. 

Mizu's lets out an amused snort. "I can tell you have not been in a forge by that alone." She states. 

Akemi's scoff is playful as she reaches her hand out to grasp hers. "My point is... imperfection does not mean you are not equally beautiful." She says. 

"It is not so simple to fix." Mizu says in frustration, a part of her yearning to shake off her grip as the other part wars with pulling her closer.

"Have you heard of Kintsugi?" Akemi asks and at Mizu's imploring look she continues. "As a girl I was taught many arts and pottery was one my father seemed to push me into even though I was rather hopeless at it. One evening when my frustration with my efforts was rife, I had knocked a vase only a few days fresh from the kiln. I expected a world of wrath to fall upon me, especially when I saw the makers mark to be our teachers." She pauses to smile at the memory, a ghost of a thing. "To my surprise, he simply smiled. Instead he showed us another way, for the next day he brought glue like tree sap, carefully bringing the broken jagged pieces of the fragments and put them back together. At first I thought he would simply hide the break, but to my surprise made no attempt to hide the damage, adorning it wth gold so that the cracks were highlighted instead. He turned to me and said 'beauty is found in imperfection.'" She says. 

Mizu scoffs. "A fanciful notion. My soul is jagged, tainted, you will just find yourself cut by me." 

A gentle smile settles on Akemi's lips. "Then let me mend you with gold." She says. 

Such pretty placating words, and yet she cant her the aching yearning in her chest as she takes in Akemi's soft face in the firelight and to the sincerity in her tone. Perhaps Madame Kaji was right after all, men do fall for flattery. She moves closer, a calloused hand raised to graze the softness of her cheeks before she leans down to brush her lips against Akemi's hairline. It is a barely-there thing, more a puff of air against her hair before she withdraws just as swift. She can feel Akemi's fingers twist in her robes to smoother the want rising within her but a sound behind them has Mizu drop her hold, stepping back to spy her attention to the door of the forge. 

With a hand on her sword she moves to investigate only to spy a servant lingering at the precipice of the forge.

"Lord Mizu." They call, bowing low. 

Mizu pauses at the interruption, a scowl unable to be hidden from her face. "What is it?" She demands harshly. 

"A letter my Lord, from Edo." They reveal. 

Mizu comes closer, wiping the sweat from her forehead as she takes the letter from them. Her gaze drops down and in the lowlight the golden chrysanthemum flower wax seal speaks of no other than the Shogunate. How rich, a summon to Edo... 

"What does it say?" Akemi pries, stopping only a step or so behind Mizu. 

“Seems there is no honeymoon after all.” Mizu says with a wry laugh ripping open the Shogun seal the wax a bright thing even in the light of the forge. “I am required to travel to Edo." Mizu tells her, a near scowl on her face. "You and the others are to join me." 

Akemi looks up, startled, at her words. “Why?"

Mizu looks hesitant at her question, frowning down at the summoning letter in her palm. "I am unsure.” She admits at last. “Perhaps to prove our marriage.” 

It didn’t seem that was the case, perhaps a part but there was more going on beneath the scenes. It seemed that Akemi was equally suspicious if the look on her face displayed any truth. "I understand the requirement of us stating our wedlock before the Shogun, but too summon us all... something more must be going on." She said.  

"I thought as much." Mizu hums. 

"Perhaps it is time to teach me to use the naginata Swordfather crafted." Akemi teases. 

Mizu scowls, at the reminder of the weapon and in reminder of the time she had used one herself. Curse, Mikio, he was even haunting her now. "Maybe." She settles on saying. “I do not think we will have much time to train while traveling.” 

Akemi shakes her head, the pins in her hair swaying with the movement. “I jest, Mizu.” She says. 

Mizu ignores her bright smile, her attention dropping to the cooling blade upon the shelf instead. “I suppose we shall go break the news.” She says. “We will need all the time we have left to gather supplies for we have been instructed to leave at dawn.” 

“Of course.” Akemi agrees. “Lead the way, dear husband.” 

Chapter Text

Within the familiar bars of the palanquin Akemi pouts, not expecting to be back traveling so soon after arriving at Mizu's province only a few short months ago. She had dressed in lilac tones with depictions of bamboo branches and chrysanthemums across the panels on her kimono, the fabric more simple for travel. She did not require the heavier fabrics used in winter not when she was expected to stay within the warmer confines of the palanquin. Still she lingers at the open bars for a moment longer watching as her breath fogs tellingly into the air, sparing a moment to wonder the warmth of the others who traveled outside and met the elements head on. 

Settling against the cushion and blankets, Akemi moves further away from the bars until her companions are no more than shadowed silhouettes. There was only so much woodland she could admire before the sight becomes a repetitive sight of a wall of green. Her gaze settles on where Mizu was riding, the broad brim of his hat visible from her recline. Once more she heaves a sigh at the sight of him as Mizu was currently riding beside her palanquin and not in it with his wife as a lord normally would. She can hear Ringo chattering away, even the familiar drawl of Taigen’s voice cutting in then and again to give scathing commentary. 

They had gathered whatever meagre supplies they would need for the road as they made way for Edo. The announcement had gone about as typically as expected with Taigen complaining and Ringo chattering excitedly about trying new foods and improving upon his own recipes. Akemi cant help but ponder the significance of it, particularly for the Shogun to call upon most of Mizu’s court to go to Edo. For currently there was high class noble taking control on Sendai in their absence so Mizu’s position was still blissfully solid amongst his new people in this time he would be away. After receiving the letter her husband had offered no further thought on it nor the ghost of a kiss at her temple before they left to gather the others that Akemi cant help but wonder if she had imagined the kiss after all. 

As she eyes the silhouette of Mizu through the bars Akemi's thoughts absently drift to the nobles she would meet at Edo. It had been far too long since she had been amongst the courts and absently she muses if her father would be summoned there too or even Seki. Akemi nearly smiles at the thought of seeing him, absently hoping she would run in to him. The last she saw him was her wedding day and since then she had heard nothing, no letter or word on his welfare. She would be glad to see him even if only for a moment and she was not so arrogant to admit that she missed him dearly, let alone that she wished to have advice on how she should further approach her husband.  

That particular train of thought is broken as someone comes to join her in the palanquin and Akemi straightens as she eyes the jagged cut of Taigen’s hair. Her lips pursued as he comes to sit across from her. 

“Akemi.” He greets kneeling before her. “It has been some time since we have spoken, so I though I might join you for some company.” 

“Yes, I have been busy with my new marriage.” She replies stiffly. 

He shakes his head at her words. “Come now, we both know that your new husband is more interested in swords.” Taigen says.  

She doesn't need to fake the anger his words generate, nor the wounded thing that howls in her chest the moment she thinks of Mizu's rejection. “You would be wise not to speak ill of your master.” Akemi warns sternly, steel in her tone as she pins him with a look alone. 

“Okay, okay, easy!” He exclaims, raising his hands in a motion of surrender. “I just wanted to talk.” 

“Talk?” She echoes doubtfully. 

"It is no surprise that Mizu and I don't always see eye to eye... huh, well I suppose we never see eye to eye." He says with a dry chuckle. "Point is, in this twist of fate I am in debt to him at least until we can gain my station back and after his business is sorted. No handshake needed, just a witnessed duel to settle it all." 

"Your point?" Akemi questions. 

"One of us won't be walking away from that battle, Akemi. Either your current marriage continues, or more likely your new husband is dead at my feet." He says. 

Her lips curl in distain. "Am I meant to rejoice that?" She queries flatly. 

"Freedom, Akemi!" Taigen exclaims, hands rushing to grip hers and squeeze in emphasis. "That duel is your ticket to freedom." 

A laugh nearly escapes her at his expression alone. "So my freedom is following one marriage to another? Is that what you think?" Akemi queries. 

"Akemi you don't understand." Taigen says with a sigh. "The riches, the land... all of it, it will be yours." 

Was he insinuating what she thought he was saying? To be a passive witness to Mizu's death. Conflict rolls uneasily within her as his words settle over her. 

"Your argument is pointless. Besides it isn't like Mizu will finish his business any time soon with this summoning to Edo, nor your battle for riches." Akemi argues. 

He barrels over her, oblivious to her inner plight."If you thought the riches of Kyoto were immense, just think about having access to it and Sendai... money aside you would be a powerful figure." Taigen says. 

Powerful. Something about the word caught her attention. Now, it was no surprise that she wished to be great, to be recognised. Sprits knows she would often whispers prayers at the altars in hopes some god or spirit would grant her wish. It mattered not, she can see that not being a man puts her at a disadvantage. More likely it would be her husband that would gain everything from the marriage, not her. 

"You mean to say, you'd be powerful." She says pointedly. 

Taigen starts, blinking in surprise at her words before some emotion short of rueful flashes over his face but only for a moment. "I could never reach it alone." He says. 

A part of her ponders lying through her teeth to see how far he wished to go through with this plan, but an old part of her begs her to believe in him like she used too. Instead she grits her together as anger sparks within her chest. "We had this arrangement once and you left... what's to say you won't do it again?" She questions. 

"This is different." He argues. 

She shakes her head, biting her tongue lest she raise her voice. "Of course it is." Akemi sighs doubtfully. 

"You know, I was blind drunk that night at the Dojo." Taigen says. "I wasn't even meant to be there, I was called upon because I was the best fighter they had. They feared he would wipe out the whole Dojo if I didn't attempt to stop him." 

Something short of defeat settles over her, he would never listen to her. "I have heard this story before." She says ruefully. 

Anger flashes across his face. "He didn't just defeat me, Akemi, he shamed me." Taigen stresses. 

"So did you, running away mere days after our engagement." Akemi says, her gaze slides from his face to stare at the wall behind him. 

"Will you not listen?" He asks, reaching out to grasp her arm in an iron hold. 

A sound at the entrance of the palanquin turns both their attention towards the doorway, the familiar silhouette she had been eyeing finally come to join her. Against the light of the sun behind him, dressed in the broad hat her husband pauses to asses the situation before him. It seems that Mizu had decided to join her at the wrong moment as his gaze drops to Taigen's hold on her, the cool indifference shifting to something rawer, something angrier than anything Akemi had seen before. In honesty Akemi had forgotten the way anger looked on Mizu’s face, she hadn’t even noticed the absence of it until now and in the cramped confine of the palanquin she has an up close look at just how angry he was.

Mizu's hand is quick to outstretch to snag on the back of Taigen’s collar, his grip tightening as he drags Taigen forcefully toward him. “And just what do you think you are doing?” Mizu questions, tone eerily neutral.

Taigen just grins, his hold on her dropping as a familiar cocky expression lights up his face as he cranes his head back to look up at Mizu behind him. “Come now, Mizu. No need to be jealous.” Taigen says, and he doesn’t seem to see what danger he was in or perhaps he knew and didn’t care.

Akemi can see it now, the moment they hit camp the two will be at the others throats, fists flying to subdue. A flash of raw bloodied knuckles, fingers caught in fabric and hair as they kick at one another. It was a game they played over and over again, the tentative partnership on a knifes edge after each interaction. Seeing them now, Akemi wonders how they hadn't maimed the other sooner. 

Before her Mizu’s hand snakes to grip at the base of Taigen’s head, forcing him in place as he speaks low and threatening into his ear. "I am sure you'll be plenty occupied with others by the time we get to Edo, now leave my wife alone or do I need to remind you of how Kyoto went?" 

Something about the action before her has heat curl low within her, a familiar heat that hints at a warmth between her thighs at the Mizu's display. Akemi shakes her head as if to shake the thought away, the chime of pins sounding at the motion. It only prompts Mizu’s attention towards her, the warmth only fanned at the look in his eye. She wonders for a moment if something was wrong with her to have want ache at her at such a visceral sight. Her painted lips part, wherever words she thought to say dying in her throat. How strange, she almost wishes to feel Mizu's hand at the nape of her neck, to feel those lithe fingers tangle into her hair. 

Her gaze only held Mizu's for a moment before Akemi watches as Taigen reaches back to pull Mizu off balance in his distraction of her and their hands grapple at one another, teeth grit and bared like wild hounds and the moment is gone. Their anger and egos were insatiable and Akemi wonders if their bloodlust would ever be satiated. It seemed that they would be destined to circle one another, drifting away only to wind back to one another's side. What would they do if one was gone? This contact she had so often heard penned between them only had one winner. What would the other do when the one they chased for so long is no longer there? instead no more than a spirit at a shrine? 

Scrambling on his hands and knees Taigen crawls to the edge of the palanquin, anger flushing his skin unflatteringly as he exits. 

Alone now Mizu turns his attention to her. "And what was that about?" He questions, curiosity at the sight he had spied rising now that the conflict had resolved.  

A derisive laugh escapes her painted lips at his unsubtle prodding. "Just Taigen's grand plans for greatness." Akemi says dryly. 

Mizu has no more to add on her words, instead moving to kneel across from her. "Are you alright?" He asks at last. 

"Fine." She says with a sigh. "I am dreading Edo as much as I am eager to see it for the beauty rivals that of Kyoto, what I loath is the Lords we will be dealing with." She admits. 

"That would make two of us." Mizu says. 

Her brow furrows in contemplation. "Tell me, Mizu, what do you think will be required of you?" Akemi requests. 

Mizu looks away from her, lost in thought as he looks out towards the bars and beyond into the winter landscape. "To prove my status I suppose or to show my loyalty. In honestly, I don't know what the Shogun wants and I find myself suspicious of it all." 

She wants to ask more but knows better than to pry so soon, instead nods in acceptance. "It is wary to be cautions on the intent of others." Akemi agrees. 

A ghost of a smile graces Mizu's lips. "Like yourself?" He retorts. 

She sighs. "No. Never." 

Mizu's gaze is heavy even behind amber glasses. For a moment she wonders if he will say more or perhaps talk about his embrace at the forge but instead offers up something else entirely. "Sometimes I wish I could hit Taigen over the head and leave him in the snow, he'd deserve it." He admits. 

Akemi cant smoother the gasp that escapes her. "Mizu!" She cries, unable to hide the shock in her tone. 

A rasping laugh escapes him. "Don't fret, I jest... mostly." He teases. 

"Truly?" She questions, unbelieving over his words. 

Whatever addition she planned to add is thrown at the onset of chill that settles into the interior of the palanquin. Akemi shivers as she breeze cuts through the bars, so much for traveling light. Mizu eyes her for a brief moment before something short of a sigh escapes him, turning to his back he rummages through it before taking a blanket from his pack to placing it haphazardly over her shoulders.

"There. Cant have you catching your death on my watch." He mutters, faux gruffness in his tone. 

Despite the chill Akemi smiles, a flash of pearlescent teeth. "Thank you, husband." She says softly before her gaze drops to the blankets at her side. "Come, sit with me for while." She requests, outstretching a beaconing hand out towards him. 

Mizu lingers, looking moments away from escaping through the palanquin frame if his telling glance backward was anything to go by. In all honestly, Akemi expected a refusal to fall from his lips but instead watches as his shoulders drop in defeat instead. "I suppose it would be good to get away the insistent chattering." He says dryly, shifting from his kneel across from her to settle at her side. 

Akemi smiles pleased, gathering some of the blankets pooled around her to throw over Mizu's own lap as he settles closer and she's close enough to see him merely rolls his eyes in exacerbation at the gesture. "Excessive." He huffs. 

It was exceptionally warmer with someone at her side, the chill of the breeze no longer so overpowering with Mizu's thigh warm against hers as they press against her own. She has half the mind to drape herself over him to seep as much of his warmth of possible, but knows it would be too much for him. Akemi stifles the laugh threatening to escape her at the thought and muses on the stoic nature her husband has even now. Instead settles for leaning as much as her side against him as she could, a coy smile on her lips at Mizu's suspicious scowl. 

"I will be glad to be on solid ground again, this only reminds me of my travels to Sendai." Akemi admits. 

Mizu's attention turns to her, a flush to his pale skin as he notices how close they were. "Really?" Comes his rasping question. 

"Those weeks on the road from Kyoto gave me too much time to think" She admits. "Lucky I had company as to not wallow in misery for long, and books I had brought to keep me occupied." 

"Is Sendai so miserable, Wife?" Mizu asks in amusement. 

Akemi shakes her head at his teasing question. "Not like I once thought, the direction I thought my life was going in was changed that day." She says. 

Is it for the better? Lingers unsaid between them, the words too raw to speak aloud. "A shame that you have no books to occupy you now." Mizu says instead. 

"How lucky that I have company then." Akemi states. "Besides, who else will I practice poetry too?" 

"Surely not Taigen." Mizu scoffs. "Swordfather once told me that an artist gives his whole to the art, I suppose I must be a bad artist." 

A furrow settles between Akemi's brow at his words. "What makes you say that?" 

Something shy of rueful curls his lip at her question. "I can not give my all to art when my business awaits me." He admits. "But that's beside the point, recite me some of your artful poetry." 

Her lips part as if to question him further but thinks better of it, instead tilting her head in acceptance of his request, instead speaking on the poem that came to mind as she had watched Taigen and Mizu moments ago. "There is one that came to me with the view outside the palanquin, to the snow covered lands seeped in regret. A bitter wind howls, destructive in its path as it clashes against all it met but where does this energy go when there is nothing left to hinder it? These thoughts came to me as I watched the snow fall..." 

Chapter Text

The travel to Edo was gruelling, between the days of travel and the weather Akemi was glad to finally be able to sleep on a real bed that wasn't a makeshift camp. The weather had eased the closer they were to Edo, the chill more tolerable with Mizu coming to rest at her side. Luckily, Taigen was wise enough to keep to the outskirts of their travelling group and made no further attempt to approach neither her nor Mizu after their scuffle. 

Stepping out from the confines of the palanquin as they finally reach the city of Edo, Akemi is finally able to get a proper look at Edo Castle. The imposing stone walls spoke of superior protection with various defence houses and keeps visible as her eyes sweep over the vast expanse. The moats and native vegetation seem to clash against the the stonework, the splashes of greenery eye-catching against the dark walls. High over these walls and defence is the main ivory coloured keep, an imposing five story wooden structure that towers over the other buildings situated within. Akemi's attention on the architecture is interrupted as an official comes to formally greet them, leading them through the gates and through the divided wards. 

Edo Castle is protected by multiple large and small wooden gates, mon, which were constructed between the gaps of the stone wall and it was hard to count just how many there were but as they finally pass the first major doors Akemi ponders the maze like sequence. The gates were not placed in a straight line but instead staggered throughout, forcing the traveler to turn in order to pass into the next gate in an almost squared sequence. It was only the large timber frames of the major gates that gave a semblance of direction, the might of them proclaiming the main entry.  

Mizu pushes ahead of the rest of them, his eyes scanning the various paths and defensive channels as he moved a step behind their guide.

The official leading through the grounds notes his attention on it and misconstrues his interest for worry. "Do not worry Lord Mizu, the Shogun has many guards and defences here, you and your companions will be safe within these walls." He says.

"What if they pass the first wall?" Mizu questions.

"There are 36 major gates, my Lord. The castle also has multiple citadels, yours will be situated at the back closest to the main keep. There is no chance of any enemy making their way through that many gates before they are cut down by the guards." The offical states.

"Trapped in place like fish in a barrel." Mizu drawls, his eyes sliding thoughtfully over the gates they pass. 

"That's what i'm afraid of." Taigen mutters under his breath.

The guards posted at the major gates nod their heads at their guide as they pass, only sparing their company fleeting glances before they return their attention to their post. Once through the gate Akemi peers over the bridge, it seemed that where their guide was leading them too was surrounded by moats, the water glistening under the sun as they move closer. She can spy keeps situated at various corners, guards mere dots against the defence walls as they patrol. 

"We are to meet in the Honmaru Palace, and you will find yourself well aquatinted here in the coming days." Their guide informs them.

A main wide wooden building stands before them, the expanse of gardens as well as low-level buildings spanning the area. Around it are other varied buildings connected by corridors and connection courtyards. The rich warm hues of the wooden building seem more inviting than the ivory white that reflects blindingly against the light snowfall. 

"The great outer palace will be where you will meet today" He says. "The Shogun has no family residing there with his allies being called here." 

At the entrance the warm cypress wood welcomes them, decorative metal fittings gracing the roof and awnings. As they enter the grand building, Akemi takes a moment to look around to the  fine art that graces the walls of the reception room. Pine wood of the interior and sliding screen doors seem to grace them at every turn, many of the rooms opened with various nobles residing within them as they wait to be called upon. 

It is here in the reception that a bright bird in a gold gilded cage caught her attention, the flash of its green feathers a cheery sight. After only seeing a wall of white snow for so long, the pleasant trill the bird makes brings a smile to her face. Coming closer, Akemi watches as the bird hops closer, intelligent eyes watching her and singing softly. Where as she had paused to watch it, Mizu and his companions pass her by as they are lead forward by their guide. It is only as Mizu notes her absence that he pulls back to her side and it forces the rest of their companions to halt in their path, something that their guide disapproves of with as he clears his throat tellingly. 

"You and your male companions are to follow me, my lord." He requests. 

Mizu's mouth is set in a tense line at his words, readjusting the amber glasses on his face. "Lady Akemi is to accompany me." He says. 

"I am afraid that the court is only allowing men for the moment my lord, the lady must stay here." Their guide states. 

Akemi spots Mizu's hand slowly creep to down to grasp the hilt of his sword at his hip and her hand snatches out to deter the movement, hiding the traitorous move from their guide with an exaggerating move to pat down his arm. "It is alright, I will be safe here with the others." Akemi attempts to salvage. 

Mizu meet her eye, a slow curious thing as he searches her face before nodding tersely in acceptance. "Lead the way." He orders the guide at last, turning to face the man. 

Their guide lets out a nervous breath in relief. "Of course, this way Lord Mizu." He says, ushering them to follow him. 

Alone now, Akemi watches as her husband, Ringo and Taigen are lead into a room with a large war table or what would have once been a strategy room before peace time. The sliding screen doors and walls depicting art of the four seasons in Kyoto, light glinting against the luxurious lacquer and gold leaf ceiling. There are other men in the room, unfortunately all figures unknown to her as she attempts to identify them. As the screen slides to hide them from her view, Akemi fights the sudden urge to fiddle with the edge of her sleeves in nervous energy.

Deciding to turn her attention back towards the bird she had spied earlier, only a few paces until she is back before it. It seems to like her attention, a sweet trilling song escaping it as hops to her from behind golden bars. "You remind me of a nightingale, with a song so beautiful it could cure illness and bring happiness." She whispers to it. 

Footsteps sound at her side has Akemi turn her attention away from the bird. An older man approaches, something uneasy settling in her gut as he sends her a smile and it felt rotten to see it on his face, a false thing that is more teeth than kind. Before her the bird stops singing hoping down as far it can go in the confine of its cage. 

"A pretty thing." He says, with a nod towards the bird before them. "But you better watch out, miss, it's beak would cut you without a thought, now it may not look like it but its a viscous little thing." He snarls. His hand raises, hitting his knuckles against the cage brutally and the bird lets out an angered noise at the assault, its wings raised threateningly yet the man only laughs cruelly. "I would rid myself of it now if it weren't for the Shogun's order." He tells her. "No, he has a far better plan for it." 

Akemi finds herself frowning at his words. "Plan?" She questions. 

"You'll see soon in his demonstration, besides, my job is just to collect the animals for him." He says before pausing. "I was told that the the westerners would call me a fowler." He continues, a laugh escaping him. 

The unease only tightens within her. "I see." Akemi all but whispers, the words choked in her throat. 

He raises a hand, his hand grazing her cheek. "Take care, pretty bird." He says, a mocking edge to his tone as he leaves. 

Fighting the urge to wipe at her cheeks, Akemi glares down to hide her disgust. It only drags her attention down to the bird sitting tense and silent in the cage and gone is the lightness it once carried, its body taunt and calls silent as it stays far away from those who pass by. The interaction with the man lingers in her mind as she makes her way towards the area where the rest of the woman waited for their husbands and family. As she moves to kneel on the woven mats, thoughts of caged birds dissipates the longer she sits with the wives and concubines. 

Her gaze strays to the rest of the occupants and she can count five lords from the Sendai daimyo who are present outside the room, their wives and other courtly women hoovering nervously at their sides. She had overheard talk that other lords from neighbouring provinces were already here and it seemed that they were the last few nobles to arrive. For along near the room Mizu was in lingers a few lord she does not recognise. Drawing her gaze away from the men Akemi gazes back at the courtly women around her, Akemi spies their blackened teeth with growing unease. They had huddles in a group away from the men, many kneeling quietly as their husbands go about business. Some of them spoke quietly to one another, words spoken behind hands and fans. A part of her felt out of place, a strange feeling when she had always felt at home in the courts before. 

One woman notes her attention and Akemi cant help but focus on her greying hair in an elaborate style upon her head, various tortoise shell like Kanzashi keeping her hair in place. "Is your ohaguro not taking, dear?" The woman asks her, talkative in a way other courtesans were not so far. "Is it tea or sake you have been trying? If one isn't working perhaps try the other... oh and do make sure you wait until the iron fillings turn the liquid black, that's when you know it is ready." 

"Yes, thank you, I have been strugglingly to correct the process." Akemi lies, curling her lips in a way that hides her white teeth. Being back here amongst nobles reminded her of the freedoms her husband granted her, so much that she had forgotten that she was to have them in the first place. 

One looks up at the sound of her voice, a girl close to her own age who's face is all sharp angles and aristocratic. “So you are the unlucky woman to marry the Onryo.” She says. 

At the girl's words the other's gathered pause, painted faces drawn and timid as they look towards her expectantly. Curioisity is clear on the faces of the younger girls, the older woman varying in their degrees of pity and indifference. One thing she notes as her gaze sweeps over them is how timid some of the woman are, unable to hide the way their shoulders hunch when a man gets to close .

There is one who's eyes speak of burning anger, brown eyes dark as they bore into hers. “How is it to bed with a demon?” This bold woman questions and by Akemi's assumption seems only barely into adulthood. Yet the youth of her gives no leeway for her anger is palpable in her rigid kneel alone. “Is he as violent as he is in battle?” She demands. 

It seems that all their attention is working to pin her in place, insistent things as they push her to answer. “I-I…” the stumbling words die in her throat. Mizu was none of that she realises with a start. These woman saw him as any other heartless man who beat them, who thought himself above them like a dishonourable coward. How many woman had she seen miserable and scared in her travels alone, no more than posed dolls who sat with their painted faces and smiled when asked. It is with frightening clarity that she comprehends just how lucky she was to wed Mizu, as difficult and different a man as he was she never had to fear for herself in his presence . 

Firming her shoulders she lifts her head as she meet the girl's angry gaze. “My husband is formidable with the swords, unyielding to routine when he rises in the morning to train and assured when he speaks.” Akemi admits, her tone soft yet words firm. 

At their expectant faces Akemi swallows hard against the wrongness she feels but knows she must lie. She feels it deep within her, compelling the false words to leave her lips. “You know the stories of onryo, you have grown up with the stories and seen the depictions of them with their supernatural blue eyes. When I look into my husbands eyes I see no hint of mercy, nor love, I see only darkness and insatiable anger. So I implore you to think again on your question on how it is to bed a demon, I do not think I need to speak more on it.” 

The anger in the girl's eyes seems to be smothered by her words, bowing her head in acceptance. They all seem chastised to some degree with the stillness that befalls them after her speech. She isn't quite sure what else to say, not when her prior words taste like ash in her mouth. 

In her periphery she spies the sliding door open as Mizu, Taigen and Ringo finally exit the room. Mizu's attention on her lingers, wordlessly beaconing her to come closer, something short of curiosity in his posture as he eyes the scene before him. Akemi doesn't have to ask to know he wished for her to join him, it seemed he had made the choice for her. Without much thought she takes her leave, rising with a bow of her head in farewell to the woman watching her and makes her way towards Mizu. She can almost sense their gaze, an almost tangible thing as she comes to stop at Mizu's side. 

His gaze is hidden behind his signature amber glasses and it seemed that he was used to staring, the women watching him unimportant as he takes her arm. "Come, I have someone for you to meet." He says. 

Outside a man waits, adjusting the reading glasses upon his face as they near. There's a faint raise of his brow at her incoming presence, an incredulous thing that taints his posture as he pushes himself away from the paper screen. Akemi can't quite tell what causes the disquiet, her husband's actions to bring her to speak like a court, or the matter of her looks. 

Mizu in turn has no qualms to inform her on matters of the court, turning to introduce her as if she were a man in his court. "Akemi, this is one of the Shogun's advisor, Akio, he will be dealing with us throughout our time here." Mizu tells her. 

"Good evening, Akio." She says, making sure to lilt her voice pleasantly. 

He straightens at her voice, something eager lighting up his face as she spoke. "A pleasure to meet you." Akio greets. 

As Akio’s attention on her lingered and Akemi makes sure to smile without teeth in return, unsure if her husband has noticed the advisors attention on her. Truly, most of the nobles gathered looked at her like meat the moment Mizu’s attention was turned elsewhere.

"The Shogun is hosting a banquet for the Lords and Ladies to attend." Akio informs them, seemingly interested in speaking. "I heard that your wife is quite versed in poetry." 

"Renga." Akemi corrects, not bothering to hold her tongue and be polite as she was expected. 

It had been some time since she'd acted out of the rules she was expected to as a noble lady. Some days that fierce attitude was lulled by paints and pottery that her father believed was fitting, some days Akemi would throw herself into it into that courtesan act she was moulded to be. It mattered not that the pieces didn't fit right, that she favoured poetry and koto then watercolour and clay, to her father it was all the same. 

Akio's teeth flash as he grins, more of a grimace than anything at her bold correction. "I see, you'll have to forgive me, I am not versed in the art." He says. "The shogun has requested those trained in the arts to perform, perhaps Lady Akemi would grace us with her skill?" Akio questions. The words, although spoken like a choice was anything but. There was few men in the world Akemi could say no too, the Shogun was not one of them. 

Even as nerves burst to life, Akemi sends him a faux grateful smile, hoping the sight look genuine and not a grimace as it felt. "Of course, I would he honoured." She concedes. 

Akio's gaze lingers on her painted lips and Akemi realises a moment too late that he had spied that her teeth had not yet been blackened. The action is brief, accusation in his expression as he turns his attention towards Mizu. “I would be quick to give her wife’s teeth, particularity if she is as skilled as they say.” He says, speaking as if she was not standing before him. “Unless you want some nobles getting the wrong idea.” Akio adds. 

A noise shy of a scoff leaves Mizu's lips at his words. “I don't care for it.” Mizu admits smoothly. “If my wife wishes for her teeth to be black, then it shall be. Besides, if I hear word of the wrong idea… well, my blade will sought it out quick enough to have no query.” Mizu says, making sure that Akio's attention is on the blade at his hip as he runs his hand over it in threat. 

Akio pales. “Yes, of course Lord Mizu.” He simpers. 

During the exchange, a group of men nearby eye the nasty looks on their faces as they pause in their conversing. One of them leans over to faux whispers to his companion, his voice strong enough that they know they would be overheard. "Must be the foreign side of him that prefers the white teeth." They say, snickering under their breath. 

Akemi blanches, her hand on Mizu's arm tightening at the slight. In her mind, Mizu draws his sword gutting them for their words, a hungry and wild expression on his face as he watches the blood drain out of them. Such an act would draw the guards and have his own throat cut in the mayhem, and perhaps that is why in the present he makes no move to punish them for the slight, or maybe he was simply just used to such commentary. 

Mizu seems ignorant to their words, his gaze still on Akio before them. "What time will the Shogun's banquet be?" He questions. 

Akio fiddles with parchment in his hand, glancing down at it at the question. "Shortly before midday." He informs him. "Plenty of time too perfect the arts." Akio muses and w ith that he bows in farewell, biding them a good evening as he moves on to talk to the men who had eyed them prior. 

Akemi' tightens her hand on Mizu's arm, brushing closer to hover her lips by his ear. "Those men are looking at you." She whispers.

Mizu tilts his head just so, looking over the top of his amber glasses to spy them better. "I know." He replies. "They've been eyeing me all night, and now they're looking at you since you joined by side. They're spineless, most men are... they won't make a move with such an audience, they're all bark and no bite." Mizu says, wry amusement colouring his tone. 

A furrow creases between her brow. "What's to stop them once we are outside?" Akemi questions. 

Mizu turns his head a fraction more to look at her head-on, his gaze roaming over her concerned expression before something shy of amusement flashes across his features. "Besides the guards? nothing. But do not worry my wife, I know my way around swords, if they decide to corner us in some dark corner it will be easy to dispose of them." He tells her. 

Worry has her hand wring at the sleeve of her kimono. "Let's hope they are dissuaded by the guard presence, regardless, it would be best stick to the main walkways during our stay." Akemi says. 

"It is all chance, Princess, If not them then it will be someone else." Mizu admits, and if she didn't know him any better she'd describe his tone as callous. 

"I suppose so." She says with a sigh. Akemi slides her hand more comfortably around Mizu's arm, letting him lead her back towards where Taigen and Ringo awaited them.

Ringo is quick to spot them, waving enthusiastically to usher them to their side. "What did he say?" He questions as they come closer. 

"The shogun is inviting various courtly ladies to perform for his planned banquet tomorrow." Akemi informs him. 

"I haven't attended a banquet since Master's wedding." Ringo states, his expression thoughtful. "I wonder what sort of dishes will be on display?" 

Taigen slides his attention towards her, leaning against one of the grand support beams with his arms crossed over his chest. "What did the assistant ask of you?" He queries as he notes her watchful gaze. 

"He has asked me to perform." Akemi admits. 

Something short of a snort escapes him. "I hope you brought your poetry books with you, at least they'll come in handy rather than just gathering dust." Taigen says mockingly. 

"Most remain in Sendai." She states, trying to keep the defensive edge to her tone down. "I only brought the one suited to travel." 

"Let's hope it has something worth sharing then." Taigen drawls. 

Ringo lets out an offended noise. "I am sure Lady Akemi has something great to perform." He defends.

Mizu nods curtly in agreement, his gaze sliding toward Taigen with a cunning glint to his eyes. "Perhaps Taigen can finally recite his own poetry about his so called greatness or the sutras about the mountains." Mizu cuts in, a bored expression on his face. "Or I have an even better idea, how about a poem on fish? I just know you'd have something clever to say." 

Ringo laughs at Mizu's comment, and even Akemi has to focus to keep her lips from upturning at the pure frustration painting Taigen's expression. 

"You dog." Taigen grumbles, anger storming in his dark eyes. "How about I recite just how I'll best you in battle?" 

"How predictable." Mizu says. "You might need to come up with something a bit better if you wish to please the Shogun." 

"I'd like to see you try, there are only so many times a man can mention revenge before he bores his audience to tears." Taigen mutters. 

"Then let the artist decide what would suit the art." Mizu states, turning his attention to Akemi still held onto his arm. "Come, Akemi, you'll need as much time as you can to refine your work for the performance." 

Akemi smiles, a flash of pearlescent teeth as she inclines her head in agreement. "Thank you, husband, it takes time too perfect any art." She replies. "We shall join you two tomorrow before the banquet." Akemi states, turning her attention back towards the pair watching them. 

"Good luck, Lady Akemi." Ringo says cheerily, warmth exuding from his well wishes. "I look forward to your great performance!" 

"Yeah, good luck and all that." Taigen grumbles in turn. 

With an incline of her head, Akemi is lead by Mizu away from their companions, only sparing the green bird a quick glance as they make their way out of the building. Their previous guide is standing outside with a kiseru pipe in hand, lowering it from his lips as he spots them approach. "Leaving so soon?" He questions as they near. 

"My wife will be required to perform, I thought it would be best to head to our rooms early." Mizu states. 

"Wise sentiment, my Lord. Follow me and I will lead you to your designated rooms for your stay." The guide says, ushering the pair to follow him back to towards the grand main gates. Silent they follow him back through the gates, the water of the surround moats glistening under the setting winter sun. 

Chapter Text

The residence their guide led them too was not as spacious as Mizu had first envisioned and was more like a small room which was mostly filled with a bed and a hearth. Their residence backed onto their neighbours, no privacy like their home in Sendai. The towering ivory wood of the main heap seemed to tower over them, the stark shadows cast over the grounds as the sun set. Watching Akemi fall onto the futon, their shared futon her mind supplies unhelpfully, Mizu bites back the sigh from escaping her. There was no way she'd be able to get space from Akemi now, not in this room and certainly not on such a small bed.

After meeting Akio and the other advisors, Mizu's mind was still reeling from the idea that she'd be forced into mock fights in a show of unity, or whatever false notion the Shogun thought sounded less threatening. She didn't have time to be distracted, she had been thrown off course like a crane facing an oncoming typhoon. Staring at Akemi sitting across from her, Mizu finds herself questioning when she had last had time to focus on revenge. 

Oblivious to her plight, the journal in Akemi's hand opens with a sprawl of paper, loose leaflets of calligraphy paper falling and in her distracted state she doesn't seem to notice. "While waiting for you, I spotted some intricate art painted onto the paper screens." Akemi informs her, her gaze drawn down to the journal in her palm. "Depicted across the screens was Kyoto in the four seasons and I couldn't help but be reminded of my home in Kyoto, the nostalgia a familiar ache so easy to convey with the hours of time I had poured over the calligraphy of this very journal." She continues. 

A manicured nail taps against a page, her soft voice almost bird-like as she speaks. 

"Even in Kyoto,

Hearing the cuckoo’s cry,

I long for Kyoto." 

Akemi recites, a light laugh escaping her lips as she stares down ruefully at the calligraphy. "I had wrote that poem after one of Seki's lectures, more interested in the call of a cuckoo bird a few paces away. Even as such classes with him wilted I found myself reminded of the days I read through great tomes and I'd hear their call, even now the call reminds me of my days when I was a student under his tutelage." Akemi says, pausing as her dark eyes lift from the paper to catch Mizu's eye, a bashful pink dusting her cheekbones. "Is that silly?" She questions. 

"No." Mizu rasps, the monotonous tone falling flat into the stillness between them. "I find myself lacking when it comes to creating, destruction seems to come easier to me." Mizu says. 

Tightness pulls at Akemi's painted lips, announcing her displeasure even before she speaks "I don't believe you, training under someone as skilled as Master Eiji would teach you something." She states. 

The firmness of her tone and the assurance on her face has Mizu's amusement come out in a dry rasping laugh. "Over a hundred kitchen knives, then finally a chance to work a blade from heated metal." Mizu says. 

"Repetition, refinement... those are traits of many arts, Mizu." Akemi says. There's a softness that seems to settle on her face, or perhaps it is the light that cuts through the window that colours her so fairly. "Swords, meditation, poetry... it is practice over and over again that builds to greatness." 

Mizu halts in polishing her blade, the very one she'd carved from metal from the meteorite. It glints brightly as she glances down her face reflected back at herself as she looks down at, watching as a grimace shudders across her face as she meet her own uncovered eyes. "I suppose." She mutters, her hand raised to turn the blade over moving to work at the other side with renewed vigour. 

With every movement to polish the blade, Mizu scowls harder down at it has her thoughts linger on her revenge. This summoning was a waste of time and this demonstration serves only a distracted from finding out why they were summoned here. Worse, this was all a detour to what really mattered, revenge and killing those white devils. Across from her, Akemi smiles, oblivious to her inner thoughts. Although, a pretty distraction when it came to his wife but a distraction all the same. 

It seemed like the spirits wished for her journey to stray further. A test perhaps? If she believed in that ridiculous superstition perhaps she would offer them something, but Mizu was not one for such fanciful notions of fate. If there was such a thing it would not favour her blood soaked soul. In the room where Akio and the various advisors informed them that as lord Mizu would be required to join what is essentially a display of battle skills, Mizu had outright refused. That was until Akio had revealed that it was no mere choice, for the shogun himself has chosen a lord from each province to perform along with other lords who had also been summoned to Edo. Akio had simply smiled when she had quested how the choice was made, pure luck he had claimed, the choices were random. It seemed far to convenient odds for as a new lord and one of mixed heritage there was no way she wasn't chosen. But for what purpose, Mizu can't work out. 

Being forced to comply has her grit her teeth in anger, itching to actually wet her blade with an opponents blood. No killing was the clause but that didn't take accidents into account, a notion Mizu cant help but muse over as she once more considers the angle for this summoning. She hadn't had the chance until now to even map out a plan, besides the familiar routine she went through when she rose in the morning there was no certainty in what to demonstrate. Really, she was just inviting someone to have her head by just showing her usual ritual. 

Akemi lets out a thoughtful noise across from her, cutting into her spiralling thoughts. "Do you suppose that the Shogun has organised various wives to demonstrate arts and that he chose me to perform part of the poetry section?” She ponders. 

Mizu stills, a tense emotion too quick to name flashes across her face in her halt in polishing her blade. “Maybe, why?” She asks.

 “I don’t know, I was wondering on the reason to call us to perform the day of his own arrival mere hours before his own demonstration tomorrow.” Akemi replies.

“If you can call it that." Mizu says with a scoff. "He wants some lords to fight one another to show our skill, I believe he just wants to see who to keep an eye on.” Mizu retorts.

Akemi lets out a noise of wry amusement. "What use is poetry for that?" She ponders, returning her attention to the ink stained pages before her. 

Mizu glances to her in thought. "Akio was knowledgeable about your love of poetry, I find it strange to mention at a first meeting unless it was meant to serve a purpose." Mizu ponders. 

"It could be possible." Akemi settles on saying. "But, it is not so strange a to know if one was interested in my hand." She points out. 

Mizu glares. "You are married." She states. 

A soft laugh escapes Akemi at her words. "Yes, I am dear husband." She says. "Now tell me, I think blossoms or cherry blossoms would be a safe thing to reference for there is no questioning what it represents... do you think the same?" 

Mizu's glare lessens, unable to keep it at the earnest questioning in her gaze. "Perhaps, even those not familiar with poetic prose can envision the feeling of sitting amongst the blossoms and the tranquility of being around one." She replies. 

Akemi nods absently, flipping through her calligraphy in thought. "That settles it, the blossoms are the best focus then." Akemi says. 

Hours later, Mizu had switched from polishing to sharpening her blades as Akemi went about picking her best stanzas. They had called dinner to their room, with Akemi only picking at her food absently as she poured herself over the various parchment scattered around her. It was only later in the night as Akemi began to doze off at the table that Mizu moved to rouse her. 

"Go to bed." Mizu urged softly, squeezing her hand down gently on her shoulders to wake her.

Akemi simply glanced toward the candle lit on her desk, noting that it was almost burnt down to the wick. With a reluctant grumble she raised herself from her work station and all but tumbled onto the futon, the silks of her robes cast out into the room with only a sheer slip to cover her beneath the blankets. Only when Akemi was sound asleep did Mizu move to the edge of the futon, shrugging on her own sleep robes as she moved to sleep at the furthest point away from her.  

In the morning Mizu rose as usual with the sun slowly going through the familiar routine of stretches and stances. At some point in time of going through the moves Akemi's gaze became an almost tangible thing, and absently Mizu was glad for the foresight to have tied her robes closed with only the top half of her bandaged torso visible. Akemi simply offered her a soft smile rising from the blankets to join her as breakfast was served. 

The rest of the morning was a blur of Akemi once more going over her lines and then frantically fishing for the perfect robes to perform in. Mizu simply let her go, making sure to stay out of her way as she went back to polishing the recently sharpened blade as Akemi dressed. Mizu's own robes were a rich indigo silk so dark it was almost black, and each time her head raised from the sword in her hands Mizu could see Akemi applying makeup in the bronze mirror, the familiar scarlet hues around her eyes and lips. Spotting her attention through the Mirror, Akemi casts a glance back at her with a grin. It seemed that she had settled on blue silks, her hair adorned with the gilded gold pins Mizu had crafted her for their wedding. Seeing her now, Mizu can hardly believe that mere hours ago Akemi was pouring over her journal with an almost frantic air. 

Seeing she was ready Mizu rises to offer Akemi her arm, secretly pondering just how the warmth of Akemi's hand would feel without the layers of silk between them. Gritting her teeth at the image, Mizu drags them out into the street, spotting as various lords and ladies also moved towards the Honmaru Palace where the banquet would occur as well as the place the chosen wives were expected to perform. As they enter Mizu spots a one armed Heiji Shindo who lingered at the back of the room unable to meet her eye across the room, but as Akemi tugs at her arm, Mizu's attention is forced to the situation at hand as Mizu is lead to join Ringo and Taigen before the demonstrations start. 

Luckily, Akemi was not required to go first but regretfully that also meant they would have to sit through recitals and demonstrations of koto or calligraphy displays. It is only the disruption of sake being poured for the gathered nobles between sets that kept the frivolity alive, and that was until Akemi was called to the stage. Mizu in truth had not paid much attention the demonstrations until now, more caught up in her head as she contemplated what moves to demonstrate for her mock battles. Although, any further thought on that was for naught as Akemi moved upon the makeshift stage. Beneath the well lit stage, Akemi’s kimono looks as if made of water, the vibrant mix of blue hues fluid like waves as she walked. It’s distracting, not only her robes that had almost looked plain in the light of their room this morning but the grace she carries herself with. Her red of her lips seem all the more vibrant as she smiles without teeth, her gaze scanning over the crowd before her. Mizu should be thinking about her technique tomorrow, how much skill she should show and what she should hide from the groups gathered. Yet she can’t help but focus on Akemi before her.

"Such a pretty thing." Someone nearby says. 

Privately Mizu agrees with the sentiment, before the other's words settle on her unfocused mind. They didn't deserve to see her, to witness her in her element. As Mizu chances a look toward the audience around her, she can spy the hungry look in some of them around her. Gritting her teeth in anger she notes that Akio the Shogun’s advisor was close enough that if he wanted to reach out his hands would skim against her legs. With that image alone Mizu was tempted to wring his neck between her hands for the way he was looking at her. Instead, Mizu takes the cup of sake poured for her earlier and gulps it down to douse the anger threatening to flare.

On the stage before her, Akemi pauses and Mizu cant help but note the grand painting behind her shoulder depicting a grand golden phoenix, the reds and orange fire seeming to engulf her. It is iconography so often spotted in the imperial palaces depicting the phoenix and the dragon twinned together. The dragon is shadowed against the light, only the bright gold of the phoenix visible and the painting seems to contrast against the blue swirl of her kimono, the golden inlays of the painting sparkling like the metal in her hair as the oceanic silks coming to a halt around her legs as she moves to recite. 

Now, Mizu was used to attention, spirit knows the sort of attention her appearance alone gained her over the years. There's a whispering, an undercurrent on the question on the state of or more accurately lack of her Ohaguro. Mixture of distain and pity seems to smother the air around them as Akemi comes to settle at her side. No doubt the thought all of them were pondering, the situation of the beautiful song bird caged by the half-breed demon. Akemi seems oblivious to it but the way her hand suddenly curls on her bicep as she sits seems to speak otherwise. Her dark eyes attempt to seek Mizu's covered gaze, the amber glasses reflecting her visage back as Mizu glances towards her. 

A weakness within her calls for her to sooth the worry that furrows Akemi's brow, to hold her painted face in her palm and kiss her like she ached too. Instead Mizu smothers it down, turning to speak into her ear. "Your art will be the envy of the day." She whispers. 

A flash of pearlescent teeth betrays her happiness at the praise, before Akemi's lips work to conceal her smile. "You flatter me, dear husband." 

On stage another woman begins to set up her performance, yet the attention in the room seems to be divided. Some still spoke on the apparent partnership of herself and Akemi, other's whispered about Akemi and her looks and some spoke about entirely unrelated topics like food or the best drinks. Mizu brings her own cup of sake to her lips and lets the familiar taste linger on her lips as Akemi watches her. It is pure chance that Mizu caught Heiji's conversation a table or two over. It is mostly the way their voice carried, most likely from indulging in too much sake that seemed to be ever flowing throughout these demonstrations. Mizu only caught the end of the conversation, but it was enough to clue her into the importance of it. 

"Are you still at Tanabe, Lord Shindo?" A nearby lord questioned. 

"Yes, I find the Genken clan to be suitable." Heiji Shindo says curtly. 

Mizu's attention paused, looking over Akemi's shoulder to the men conversing behind her. It certainly was them, there was no forgetting their face. 

"I would assume you'd need it." Comes the nasty reply, their gaze lingering on Shindo's amputated arm. 

Heiji's lips flatten at the dig. "At times, I suppose yes, but at other times I must admit I like the solitude. It suits me to be there, the additional protection it offers me is mighty attractive." He admits dryly. 

Akemi frowns at her distraction, her eyes attempting to follow here she was watching. "What is it?" She questions, her tone shy of a demand. 

"Heiji Shindo." Mizu says curtly in reply. 

Someone lets out a boisterous laugh amidst their conversing. "Is the lap dog here?" They question.

Heiji lips part as if to respond, but the ruckus from the table is drowned out briefly from a round of applause that goes up and whatever following words exchanged was missed by her in the moment. On stage a woman had finished her performance, bowing her head humbly at the gathered crowd. 

"Fuck." Mizu curses under her breath, scowling at the odds of it. 

Above the decreasing sound of applause, Heiji's voice carries. "You know it is only the Shogun's decree that allows such travel, even then business is barely done in his presence unless absolutely necessary."

A scoff escapes one of the lords. "Well, I wouldn't want to be with him either." 

"I don't know how you stand him." Another says. 

Heiji's face settles in something short of a sneer. "I don't either." 

What a subtle liar. If Mizu didn't know better that Heiji bed with the devil, well, she'd be swayed by his disgusted demeanour. Whatever words that followed were of no interest, she didn't need to know the ins and outs of the best prostitutes the group met with. Although, the girls would have plenty of information spoken before them or spoken through lust. The thought lingers in the back of Mizu's mind as another woman rises to take she stage, going through a grand ceremony of tea making. Akemi's own attention is flicking between the demonstration and back to Mizu, a thoughtful furrow between her brow as she attempted to work out where Mizu's thoughts laid. 

Chapter Text

In the morning that followed it wasn't only the chill of winter that filled the room as she woke, for Akemi found her husband to be more stoic than usual, almost cold in his distracted detachment. It almost feels like Taigen all over again with Mizu's attention turned to some force she couldn't compete with. As usual Mizu rises to practice his forms inside their kitchen space with no elaborate garden. Watching him through the brass mirror Akemi rises to dress in familiar red hues, her hair adorned with golden pins as she works on her outfit for the banquet. 

As they enter out into the grounds, his attention seemed to stray towards the prostitutes who lingered around the main gates, pretty painted faces smiling coyly at every man that passed them. Quietly, anger seeped into Akemi with every glance he gave that lingered too long on another. Turning away from him Akemi takes a moment to watch the people milling around them all heading to the gardens. For a moment she swears she spot Madame Kaji and her girls but then crowd seems to swallow them up and Akemi is unable to see them again through the throes of people. 

The water of the moats glisten beneath the sun, a sight that would no doubt like far more spectacular with the arrival of spring. Part of Akemi wishes to stay long enough to see it but a stronger part of her wishes to return to Sendai with its lush forestland and distant shores you can hear in the dark of night. If you had told her all those months ago that she would be nostalgic for her husband's town she would have laughed at the absurdity. To the old her only Kyoto could summon such nostalgia and a part of her heart would always think fondly of her childhood there, but it longer encompassed her whole self. Duty and honour had lead her to be wed to Mizu, a strange companionship had grown between them that she was eager to explore for he had alway shown her that he was far more observant that others. Yet a frown tugs at her lips as she watches him scan the crowds around them. If only he would settle, his action of late were eerily close to how her relationship with Taigen had ended all those months ago. 

They pass the banquet room and within it they spy rows of rich food spread out onto the tables, various kitchen hands preparing enough food to fill entire villages. Mizu seems to glare at it all in detest, a disapproving slant to his mouth as he eyes the feast laid out for them. "Think of the people this would feed, all of it going to waste and for what, the few people who even bother to indulge it?" He questions, voice low as if not to be overheard. 

Privately Akemi cant help but agree, perhaps once she would not have considered such a demonstration as overboard, but her days on the road, seeing those everyday people with her own eyes had shown her just how disconnected she truly was to the world around her. Mizu had told her once how privileged she was, Madame Kaji and her girls had spoken of similar sentiments. At the time she had brushed it off but now her eyes were open to the fact she had been blessed with the chance of greatness and she would do more with the privilege of her station. 

With her hand curled around Mizu's arm she is lead out into the main gardens where the demonstrations would occur, only frost covered bonsai seem to capture her attention for the other flowers still dormant, their pretty colours hidden away until spring. Various lords were already gathered here in the vast grounds, many spread out to perform various forms of combat with each displaying their own chosen skill. As they make their way towards a tall evergreen, they find themselves watching a pair of lords face another in a mock battle as the pair come to halt by their companion's side. 

Under the shade of a great tree Taigen watches the movements with a critical eye. "Shindo Ryu would be far more effective." He muses, with a nod of his head towards the pair fighting before them. "Would it not make more sense to do things in response to your opponent's moves?"

A snort escapes Mizu in mocking amusement, his eyes cast out to them. "It aims not to slash, not to take but at the same time aims for you not to win, not to lose... So, really Taigen, you should know better now to know that it's trash." He says. 

Taigen grits his teeth angrily at the words. "It promotes balance! Something I think you would do well to remember if you weren't so preoccupied with always being so high and mighty. Tell me Mizu, what brilliant skill do you plan to show?" He queries. 

"Iaido." Mizu states simply.

Taigen scoffs. "What will that demonstrate? Besides how well you can wield a wooden stick." 

Mizu raises a brow. "It shows a constant preparation for reaction. There are four main components, the smooth controlled movements of drawing the blade from the scabbard, striking or cutting an opponent, shaking blood from the blade and replacing the sword in the scabbard." Mizu says. 

Taigen lets out a disgruntled noise, crossing his arms across his broad chest. "A solo display." He notes. 

"Preferably." Mizu says wryly. Distracted, his covered gaze flickers to the guards that seemed to creep closer, a demanding set to their faces as they survey the grounds. 

Taigen follows his gaze. "Better start soon before they notice." He muses, a goading edge to his tone. "Unless you're too much of a coward." 

Mizu grins sharply in return. "If either of us are cowards it would not be me." 

"Then prove it." Taigen demands. 

Mizu takes a few steps away from them, adjusting the amber lenses on his face. Somewhere in this distance a bird calls, the enchanting sound background noise as Mizu begins his own demonstration. His blade shines under the sun, a flash of light as he slowly draws the blade from the scabbard before swinging it in a wide arc. Moving lightly on his feet he moves forwards as if fighting an invisible opponent. 

Now Akemi had heard all about her husbands skill, had been recounted the tale of his conquest that night at the Shindo Dojo countless times but to witness the look in his eyes as he worked was an entirely different thing all together. Nothing would demonstrate the iron will that Mizu held much more than this display with the calculated sweep of his feet almost like a dance as he moves. Every swing of the blade, every feign was planned to best put him ahead. This form contained multiple styles of swordsmanship, these styles something a far more skilled noble than her would be able to identify at a glance. Akemi spares a moment to glance around at the nobles gathered and she wonders how many could pinpoint their own practices within Mizu's demonstration. It was almost spiritual to watch, the surety in the way his hands held the blade, the determined set his face that hardens as he eyed down the imagined figure before him. The whole display was so simple in theory yet seemed to be utterly engaging to watch as it cultivated in a show of will, intellect and sensibility. It is only as he shakes the imagined blood from his blade and sheathed it that the trance seemed to snap back. Someone nearby huffs, the chatter going back up amongst those gathered in the grounds as the last lords went through their demonstrations. 

Mizu adjusts the sword at his hip as he comes to join them beneath the shade of the evergreen, his hand raises as if to make sure his glasses remained covering his face properly. "There, the guards can cross me from their list." He drawls. 

"If they weren't bored to tears." Taigen mocks. 

A bird trills nearby, a familiar call that Akemi attempts to seek out in the foliage around them. Although her gaze returns to Mizu across from her as his hand almost skims across her shoulder before he leans against the trunk. "Tell me, wife, what did you think of my performance?" Mizu questions. 

"Highly skilled." Akemi praises. "He shows us firsthand the art of mental presence and immediate reaction." 

Taigen grumbles under his breath at her words while Mizu just spares her a thoughtful look. He turns closer, his head coming to speak to her before his attention seems to settle over her shoulder and whatever words fade into nothing between them.

Akemi turns to follow his gaze just as a well dressed man stepped forward into the garden, a bow in his hand that he raised tellingly as he draws it taunt. Akemi spies the flash of an arrow before the sound of it being released sounds sharp in the tranquility of the garden. A flock of birds startle, a familiar flash of green among them as the birds take flight. There is nothing more Akemi can do but watch, her hand dropping tightly to grasp Mizu's arm in comfort. The man once more takes aim, setting his sights on the birds before he lets the arrow fly and although expected the sudden cry of pain is almost jolting in the stillness as one of the birds cries out sharply in pain. 

A gasp escapes Akemi's own lips at the sound, tears pooling at the edges of her lashes even as she attempts to blink them away. Alone and still on the ground lays the caged bird she had befriended mere days ago. There is no questioning why it had dropped from the sky with the arrow through it, the poor thing was clearly dead at the man's callous actions. 

Someone's masculine voice cuts over the round of applause. "Amazing! to clip the wing of a bird so small! truly remarkable skill." They praise. 

It didn't seem so remarkable watching the bird sufferer on the grass before them and Akemi blinks once more to shed the tears she can feel sliding down her painted cheeks, internally hoping she does not look as distraught as the emotion howling in her chest. Another olden man follows him, dresses in grand silks that shine under the light and Akemi does not spot them draw nearer to them as she watches the bird still writhing helplessly against the grass. 

The shogun’s applause seems to cut into the garden. “A brilliant shot downing that fair bird, your skills at kyudo are as lethal as ever.” He praises. 

Mizu's attention on Akemi is fleeting, a conflicted expression flashing across his usually stoic features. The emotion is just shy of concern as his eyes linger on her before he returns it to the lord before them. Not just any man, but the Shogun's son and it is not until later that evening that it dawns on her that this was the very man her father had originally planned for her to marry. Unlike her husband who is quick to make the connection of her potential future husband. 

"Your excellency, Shogun Ito and Takayoshi." Mizu greets, bowing before them. Akemi follows suite, making sure to bow low and keep her eyes downcast when they spoke not only in a bid of sub servitude but so they did not see the fresh tear stains on her face. 

"Lord Mizu.” Takayoshi greets, the words spoken slow and unhurried. 

“So this is the Lord Mizu we have heard so much about.” Shogun Ito muses, a glint of contept in his gaze and absently Akemi is glad for the glasses that hide the true hue of Mizu’s eyes from them. “I am curious, how you managed to capture one as fair as Akemi? As daughter of the samurai lord Tokunobu Daichi she is much sought after.” 

Privately Akemi ponders the potential subconscious use of it or perhaps it was a choice to use such terms of capture and fair when speaking about her like he would a beautiful bird. Perhaps it was as straightforward as his use of fair, for it was not entirely secret that Mizu had mixed heritage, there had been many whispers about it in the courts. 

It seemed her husband was deciding that toeing the line would be unwise, no doubt wishing to goad the shoguns or his son but he had come to the conclusion that it would be best to keep his head down as much as possible to keep his presence from their mind. "I often wonder that myself some days." Mizu settles on saying, deceptively humble. "My expression of interest must have been persuasive.”

The shogun's son bows his head in reluctant acceptance. "Indeed." He muses indifferently. "

Emerging from the crowd an advisor leers. ”Is this the Lady Akemi who performed such wonderful poetry? Oh, Lord Mizu please don't be afraid to bring her around sometime, it would be a shame to keep her all to yourself." They say. 

It takes everything within Mizu to prevent his lips from curling in disgust. "I don't share." He replies icily. 

Shogun Ito just laughs, either ignorant or disregarding the blatant disrespect. "No, I imagine not. I do not blame you.” He states. 

At his side Takayoshi’s gaze roams over Akemi pointedly before he seems to remember himself and looks elsewhere. Behind his shoulder his mother lingers, a disapproving pinched expression on her face as she spares Akemi a glance. Now, Akemi had heard from the other wives that Takayoshi rarely spoke and especially not to women. After the death of his late wife after an unhappy marriage, his ever silent nature and deadly skills at archery led rumours to spread that he was an abusive and indifferent tyrant. It was not hard to see that with the display just shown, his coldness toward the bird at his feet only demonstrated his heartlessness.

'And they thought Mizu was a demon.' Akemi thought to herself, her eyes planted firmly down as the men conversed. 

With the Shogun, or more pointedly his son's performance done the banquet finally commended. It was the last thing that Akemi wished to do after the sight of the bird moments ago but she forces herself to eat the food prepared for them. Particularly when she remembers the hungry common folk she passes when traveling to town. It tastes like no more than ash against her tongue, pausing to force it down with the sake being joyfully passed around the hall.  Mizu's own expression is stormy, a permanent furrow to his brow that refuses to lessen even when they retire to their room later that day. 

Back in the privacy of their room Mizu shrugs on the outer layer of his kimono, a deep navy silk he had forgone with his demonstration out in the gardens. There had been a letter awaiting them at their door the moment the entered their residence. It lays opened in Mizu's hand, his gaze re-reading the lines over and over again in frenzied analysis. Something Akemi would describe as restless had filled him since he had read the contents, whatever it contained had rendered him unable to unwind and join her in bed. She had given up on her attempts to relax him, her offer for reading him her latest poems had been swiftly shot down as had her suggestion that he dress in bed silks. 

"Where are you going so late?" Akemi questions at last, tired of watching him pace along the same wooden boards he had walked upon for spirits knows how long. Lifting her gaze from the bucket of water near her, a scrubbing cloth in her hand as she worked to remove her makeup. Mizu was no doubt aware of her nightly routine by now, a fact that he seemed content to be ignorant on and not join her in changing into his own bed clothes.  

"The shoguns son has invited the lords for sake" Mizu admits, pausing as he tightens the tie. "As much as I loathe to go, I need to keep up graces." 

Akemi’s lips downturn. ”I assume I am not allowed to join you." She says, tone displeased. 

"No woman is allowed to come." Mizu states before a strange expression passes over his face. "Only lords are invited." He adds awkwardly. 

Akemi looks down in defeat. "I see." She sighs. 

"I won't be gone for long." Mizu tells her, pausing as he places his glasses on. "Don't wait up for me." 

"Of course." Akemi agrees easily, the lie falling easily from her lips, aware she would stay up until he returned regardless of his wishes. 

Mizu lingers, a conflicted expression passing over him. It wars over his features in the lowlight, the fire from the lamp almost enunciating the grave expression on his handsome face. "I am sorry." He says at last. 

Pausing in scrubbing the makeup from her face Akemi frowns in confusion. Absently she casts her mind back to some event or conversation in which they had been at odds, yet she draws a blank as she tries to figure it out. "Sorry? For what?" She questions. 

"The bird." He states stiffly. "I know how much you care for them." 

Even if the reminder of it renews the ache in her chest, Akemi cant help the tenderness of her tone when she speaks at his blatant care. "Thank you, Mizu. Be careful tonight, dear husband." She says. 

With a nod of acknowledgment, Mizu moves through the door only the silhouette visible through the paper screens and he goes out into the night. Akemi silently watches him go, a pit in her stomach as she ponders on his lingering glances towards the prostitutes standing around the grounds. Absently she squeezes a fist around the damp cloth in her hand as she imagines him among them, sharing drink, their hands roaming freely over him.

The image alone twists like a blade in her chest, squeezing her eyes shut she speaks aloud, more a plea to the spirits than question. "What is it that draws you away from me, Mizu?" Akemi questions the empty room and no miraculous answer comes for her.

It is only the slow drip of wax from a notched candle that gives her any indication for the time he was gone. 

Chapter Text

It was not a truly an official gathering as Mizu had first thought, despite the sealed invitation that had been left in her room. Not only had the lords of various provinces been invited but also female prostitutes who lingered around the men already gathered. Their painted faces pale with a flash of rouge, the hues so pretty on Akemi’s face looks ill suited on the woman around her like they were hastily trying to recreate the look Mizu had so often quietly admired. Sake is passed around, filling up cups and spilling over tables. The sound of laughter fills the room between words traded between lords as they conducted business. Mizu watches as Taigen enters, an assured swagger to his walk as he comes to sit at her table.

"I was hoping for solitude." Mizu states in lack of greeting. 

Taigen laughs sitting across from her. "Surely you don't expect such a thing at a banquet such as this? Drink and women will be supplied plenty." He retorts. 

Fighting from rolling her eyes, Mizu turns her attention towards the guests entering the room. This was not an event Mizu would normally attend, especially not if given the option to skip. But if there was any way to gain word on white devils in Japan it would be here, the addition to soothing the shogun's suspicion is just a helpful side effect. 

Nearby a woman pours sake to one overly exuberant man, rearing back in startled surprise when he splashes it on her on an elaborate gesture. "What is this?" The man splutters in mock disgust, swinging the cup around with so much force it spills from the cup. "Have you given me some cheap blend?" He demands. 

An uproar of laughter follows his words. It seemed that only the men gathered there were amused, any women nearby had flinched wearily at the sound, making themselves scarce unlike the poor girl covered in the spilt sake. "I-I would never, my lord." She cowers, head bowed as she stares down frightfully at her feet. 

The lord scoffs, waving her away. "Do they not train these women subservient in Edo? You should have informed me." 

The girl swallows hard, blinking the fearful tears from her eyes. "I am very sorry to have displeased you, my lord." She says, bowing low. "I shall bring you the best we have." She continues, bowing again lowly before she flees from the table on unsteady legs. 

"Do not blame the girl, we know of someone who would have arranged such subpar drink." A lord at his table says, glancing pointedly towards where Heiji Shindo sat. 

Mizu's attention piques, straightening slightly from the disinterested slouch. 

"Do not ruin my appetite at the thought!" The main lord groans. 

"Abijah Fowler is a brute with a taste for prostitutes and cheap sake." Another crows, laughing. "Perhaps he thought us similar stock." 

"Spirits strike me down if I ever became such a dishonourable beast!" The lord exclaims, hands thrown upward as his companions laugh amongst each other. 

"Between drinking and fucking, what else must he do when locked up in his fortress on Tanabe Island?" Another jibes.

"I heard that the shogun only lets him meet once a year to discuss his trade." Says one of the lords, his voice pitched low and serious as the laughter dies down. 

One of them shakes his head in disagreement. "Not the shogun himself but rather his trusted advisors." Another cuts in. 

"Where does he meet the brute?" Someone questions. 

"I heard that they collect him at Tanabe and has the Genken clan escort him from the grounds until he is lead to the Castle." Another replies quietly. 

One of them lets out an incredulous noise. "He could be here?" They question. 

A nearby prostitute approaches her, disrupting Mizu's attention on the conversation she’d been eavesdropping. There’s an uncomfortable edge to the woman’s smile that she poorly hides as she lifts up a glass enticingly towards Mizu. "Some sake, my lord?" She questions. 

Frustration at missing whatever potential information came next has Mizu's tension flaring. "No." Mizu says harshly, much too callous in a way unintended. "No, thank you." She corrects, her tone falling awkwardly. 

Someone nearby lets out a thoughtful noise a table or so over. "Do not be so uptight, Lord Mizu." The nearby lord says with a laugh, having overheard her blunder. "Drink!" 

A few eyes turn his way, expectant and goading. The attention builds until there's a chorus of encouragement going up in the men gathered. Squaring her shoulders, Mizu turns to the girl. "Just one." Mizu relents reluctantly. 

The shrinking of the prostitute's shoulders is telling on her discomfort as she approaches Mizu but she still smiles like her words had pleased her. "Yes, my lord." She says, moving to pour her a cup. 

Taigen moves his own cup towards her with a pointed look, a grin on his face as she wordlessly moves to fill it. Only when the girl leaves doe Mizu bring the ceramic to her lips, her thoughts straying to the conversation she had overheard at the wives demonstration. Watching the girls serve drink to the men gathered, some of them luring lords into kisses or even out further into the hall has Mizu's thoughts stray to the prostitutes that Heiki's group often hired, they would no doubt overhear business of Heiji and Fowler. If no lords offered any information tonight perhaps she could persuade one of them to tell or point her in the direction of a girl or lord who would. Surely the girls would talk if she offered them some ryo for an hour or more if they decided to be tight lipped on the matter. 

Speaking of such women, a girl notices her a distinctive lack of disgust on her face as she takes in her white features. A notion the other girl's seemed unable to hide tonight as they looked upon her foreign features. As she walks closer Mizu finds herself tying to recall where she recognised her but the  girl seems to misconstrue her attention as interest, a coy expression on her face as she moves to their table. 

"May I assist you, my lord?" She questions, tone filled with suggestion as she paused before them. 

The beauty mark on her face is notable this close and it reminds her of the brothel she had visited to gain information on Fowler. "You are one of Madame Kaji's girls." Mizu states. 

Her painted red lips curl upwards tellingly. "You remember me? I am honoured." She simpers, bowering her head playfully. The red and white face paint seems to suit her better than it had the other local prostitutes who attempted to act like nobles, her performance of this princess act was displayed cleverly. The way she carried herself and spoke made it indistinguishable to the truth that she was not a noble-born courtesan. "I don't recall offering my services to you that night, I believe you were busy with the Madame." She states. "If you would be so inclines, all you have to do is ask for me."

"No. Thank you." Mizu says awkwardly, the words tumbling jarringly from her lips.

The girl inclines her head gracefully. "If you do change your mind throughout the evening, just ask for Ise and I shall be of service to you." The girl, Ise, states with a coy look over her shoulder.

Watching her go, Mizu ponders the luck of spotting a familiar face. They were miles from Kyoto, but perhaps Madame Kaji and her girls had traveled at news of various lords traveling to Edo and decided to offer their services for coin.  She ponders if such a girl like Ise would have information on Heiji's plans. 

Before she can ponder it further, the grand doors swing over. It seemed that the Shogun and his son had finally decided to grace them with their presence, the whispers of conversation dying around them at the arrival. His entrance is with flourish, a shiny grab at attention and posturing that was so typical of weak men and it takes everything within Mizu to keep the dislike off her face.

The shogun pauses, turning toward his son with grand exuberance. "The prize from the days games." He announces, gesturing toward the covering in his sons hand. Lifting it up from them to spy, Takayoshi lifts a golden cage into the air and in it sits the taxidermy remains of the bird he had shot down days ago, the familiar bright feathers unmissable against the golden bars. "A reminder of the might of the Shogunate line." The shogun boasts, his voice carrying into the room. 

A round of cheers go up around them, noises of agreement and celebration clashing in a wall of white noise. How lucky that her dear wife was not in attendance, the sight would no doubt send Akemi to tears. 

Around her the chatter slowly rises once more, the drink flowing more with the banquet finally in full swing. Before long, the one glass she had taken was slowly moving to two and then three. Luckily the men around her were equally as plied with alcohol, their cheeks flushed red as they downed one after another. Somewhere off to the side a lord is grappling with another, the pair crashing to the ground as they fight over a girl it seems.

"No, no, this is the finest I have tasted." A lord insists over the sound of conflict. 

Mizu turns her attention to the speaker, a middle aged man who's disposition spoke of a life of comfort. 

"Is it really?" His companion replies unimpressed, a goading edge to the grin he flashes. "I don't trust your taste in liquor if its anything like your taste in cunt." 

"I have great taste, in both drink and in women." He boasts. 

With a shake of his head his companion sighs. "Surely, I don't think I've known a man in Japan who gets his cock sucked as much as you." He retorts. 

"What is better than that?" The men argues, gesturing widely to the room around them. 

His companion scoffs, lifting his coin pouch in the air pointedly. "I can name a few." 

The uproar around them is loud, many of the lords a cup or two over their threshold if the laughing and jeering was anything to go by. Not that Mizu was any better, a heated flush to her that was not attributed to the fireplace. Mizu is unsure suddenly just how many, but far too many from the way the words escape her in retort. 

"But women taste sweeter than the finest sake." She says and it takes the men's attention to snap her way to know she'd unwittingly spoken aloud. 

"Taste?" Comes the dumbfounded response from the boaster. 

"Come now, you know what I mean." Mizu scoffs in embarrassment. 

"Seems like this samurai is not only skilled at the blade." His companion teases. 

A lord lets out a hearty laugh. "Surely you are not insinuating her lips." 

"Oh no, more like the lower ones." Another lord cuts in. 

A rise of jeers go up. Someone Knocks Mizu in the shoulder in a comradely way, the sake in his cup sloshing over the ceramic with the motion and onto the floor around them. Taigen simply watches quietly, his attention darting between the nobles closest to them. 

One of them chuckles, a mocking leer to his expression."Seems like some of you don't have wives that know the 10 to 20 positions." He says. 

"Truly enlightening." Another drawls. 

"You mean, you eat your wife... down there?" One questions her, shaking his head in disbelief. 

"Oh yes, makes me more drunk than sake." Mizu argues in a bid to come across boldly, aware of the eyes the conversation had swayed. Yet something shy of a nervous laugh escapes unbidden at the attention. "You don't?" She questions. 

Footsteps come to a halt behind her, and the men around her go silent in waiting. Tilting her head to asses the newcomer, Mizu blinks at the sight of the Shogun standing behind her, his son trailing behind him like a loyal puppet, ever silent as he watches the group before him.

At her attention the Shogun flashes her a cutting grin, the only sign of his words to come. "How lucky, Lord Mizu." The shogun cuts in mockingly, cheeks flushed red. "You get a wife as prime as yours to plunder and yet you'd prefer to lap at her cunt like a dog." 

As a wave of sound goes up around them, Mizu is struck by bitter rage. If only she had her blade on her, screw the treason of it he deserved to taste the metal of her blade. Who did he think he was talking down like Taigen all those years ago? As if Mizu couldn't cut him down where he stood. The disrespect for her alone was rage inducing enough but to refer to Akemi like that, well, Mizu wishes nothing more than to have him choke on his tongue as she fed it to him. 

Instead, flashes him a faux look of amusement. "A grateful meal none the less.” She says. 

As the Shogun and his son make their way back into the crowd, Mizu finds herself lost in thought. It seemed these men looked upon women like mere birds, pretty and attractive things to look at but worth no more. Nearby a lord strikes one of the prostitutes for spilling her pour, the girls near her frightfully glancing away from the violence. Mizu can understand the fear that plagues them, this helplessness that forces them to do whatever is demanded of them even if she would never experience it personally. They were not so lucky to have the opportunity to raise a blade to a man who does them wrong, reliant on their fathers and husbands to do right by them in a society that would rather have them silent and bound. These woman must play parts, women like Akemi must play the part to allow herself select freedoms to do as she wished. One wrong move and it would be death rather than a cage that awaited them. Mizu was required to play her own game of pretend, to be viewed as that cocky, masculine figure that tamed his 'outspoken' wife. 

Oblivious to her thoughts,  the banquet carries on around them. Taigen waves down another woman carrying sake, raising his empty cup up for he to fill. "I am curious, is Ise available?" He queries, flashing a rogue grin the girl's way. 

As the night progresses, many of lords slump over their cups passing out wherever they landed while others continued to drink themselves into blind stupors. At the third time someone bumped into her, Mizu finally rises from her table finding her tempter at its teether. "I am retiring for the night." She states stiffly, glancing over to where Taigen nursed his own drink. 

He pauses in flirting with a nearby prostitute, cheeks flushed from the sake he'd consumed. "Running back home so soon? Well, with what awaits you in your bed I don't blame you." Taigen slurs, the grin more of a grimace on his face than true amusement. "I would say have fun but we both know I don't mean it." 

Wordlessly Mizu rises, pausing as she crosses to his side. "Don't fall over and kill yourself unhonorably staggering home." Mizu drawls, eyes flashing with dull mirth. "You still owe me a battle after all." 

A bark of laugher escapes him. "More like you owe me one." Taigen argues. 

Staggering unsteadily, Mizu reaches out to hold into a nearby table to steady herself. The room tilts, squinting from behind amber glasses as she attempts to slip out the room. Some of the lords still standing reach out to jostle her cheerily, many of who would sneer at her in disgust if they weren't so inebriated. Mizu can't help the wry amusement at the action, even if she wishes nothing more than to break their wrists for even daring to touch her. Perhaps it was her own drink that kept her placated as she makes her way back out into the night air. Before long Mizu finds herself back at her residence, leaning heavily against the support as she makes her way inside and even in the lowlight from the lamp, Mizu doesn't have to guess that Akemi is awake at her return. 

"Husband! You are back." She cries, rises from their bed, her ink black hair loose down her back. 

If not for the table before her, Mizu would have staggered at the sight of her. Akemi had always been fair but to see her hair loose around her shoulders like it was now it struck Mizu to see the sight of it. A softness to her features that Mizu cant help but admire, and distracted by her beauty does Mizu miss the suspicious expression that passes over her face. 

"I can smell the sake on you." Akemi states her tone eerily neutral, oblivious to the effect her mere presence was having. 

Mizu's mind is soaked in too much liquor to decipher her. "I may have indulged in one too many." She states. 

Akemi's assessment of her is apparent. "I can see." She says dryly. 

Mizu enters the room properly, staggering faintly as she rounds to place her glasses on the table but misses. "I could not disagree, the lords and the Shogun were watching." Mizu argues, for once making her way to their bed without fanfare. 

Akemi's eyes widen as she comes to join her so closely, clearly not expecting her to join after her putting up a wall for so long. "You are joining me in the same bed, husband?" Akemi queries teasingly, still disbelieving at the shift from total reluctance.

“Tired." Mizu mumbles, falling face first into the plush bedding like it was answer enough. Come morning she would find herself swearing at her drunk self but one too many sake had her disregard the wall she’d placed between them. 

"You sure are drunk." Akemi muses with an incredulous laugh, before a conniving thought passes her as she considers her state. "How was the dinner? What did they ask of you?” She questions. 

"It was horrid, she kept plying me with drink." Mizu huffed into the pillow, unable to refuse her questioning. 

"She?" Akemi retorts, suspicion narrowing eyes. "I thought it was invitations for men only." 

"It was... I thought it was but he invited prostitutes." Mizu reveals. 

"Oh." Akemi sighs, unable to hide the hurt in her tone. 

"It was terrible." Mizu says cutting into whatever thoughts plagued her. 

Akemi blinks in surprise, whatever images running wild through her head dispersing like smoke through her fingertips. "What?" She questions. 

"Terrible." Mizu repeats. "They kept plying me with sake in the hopes I'd bed them, even despite every glance I spared them and all I saw was their disgusted faces as I looked upon them. I told them I didn't want company yet they didn't believe me, yet still so desperate to bed the half-breed devil." She sneers. 

Her hair sways with a shake of her head, lips pursued in displeasure. "You could have said yes, I would have been none the wiser." Akemi states. 

Mizu's head lifts from the pillows to look at her. "I would know." She whispers. "Yet how could I do that when none of them would compare to you." She continues the words escape in a rush and spilling into the space between them.

Akemi's eyes seem to burn her in their intensity and Mizu cant help the way her eyes follow the trail of Akemi's hair and down her body. It is eerily erotic to see her so open, vulnerable in the way Mizu becomes acutely aware of the lack of makeup on her face. Unconsciously she shifts forward, swaying closer with the movement as her uncovered gaze lingers on Akemi's lips. Akemi seems to mirror her, moving closer before a shadow of something passes across her face.

Akemi halts in moving closer, a sort of sadness replacing the prior spark in her eye as she lifts a palm up to stop Mizu from coming closer. "And still, despite such pretty words you have grown away from me, dear husband." Akemi says softly into the quiet. 

Whatever energy had sparked between them was suddenly doused and Mizu's liquor addled mind takes a beat to register the words. "What?" She mutters. 

"I see how you look at them, those other girls, and I know I am not like them but I thought we were on the same path, that perhaps we were building something between us." Akemi states. "This closeness has taken a step back since we have arrived here in Edo, and since being amongst the other courtly nobles and I can't help but wonder if I had done something to displease you. Please tell me if so, I could not bear it." She says and the ethereal look on her face seems out of place with the tears building in her dark eyes. 

Mizu lets out a disbelieving noise, a chocked thing as it leaves her. If she was not already before her, Mizu would be forced to kneel before her with the look on Akemi's face alone. It mattered not what howling emotion raged within her chest, to the unfairness of this world that they lived in. Akemi's pain was one she had felt time again and again, buried beneath rage and motivation alone. Nothing would soothe that ache of otherness, spirits knows Mizu felt it every time she saw her reflection. Too many emotions filled her and none of them possible in going anywhere further than being caught in her throat. 

"No." Mizu says simply last, hoping that the word alone is enough to say what she could not. Swallowing, she forces something to pass her reluctant lips. "It is nothing you have done, never you, never my dear wife." She says. Deep down Mizu knew it was her revenge that kept her away, to make sure that nothing would come between her and killing those white devils like she had vowed all those years ago. A marriage oath was just as binding as whispers to a shrine, perhaps one day she would come to acknowledge that. 

Akemi's gaze roams over her face, seeking something in her expression that she seems to find if indication of the curt nod she gives. And before her eyes, the vulnerability Mizu had spied moments ago hardens. "Then prove it." Akemi says more of an order than anything. 

Silent Mizu meet her gaze, rising to the challenge being asked of her. If there was one thing Mizu could not refuse, that was a challenge, but it seemed that her pretty wife was coming a second close to that. 

Chapter Text

The sound of the Shogun's banquet is low background noise as Taigen is lead out into a nearby hall, many of the lords were too inebriated to even notice him disappear and really there was no use in staying around now that Mizu had decided to retire. A few meters from the banquet hall Taigen’s hands roam over Ise’s form before him, hands plundering and insistent as it smoothes over her curves. She throws him a coy look over her shoulder, skipping out of his grasp as she leads him towards an unoccupied room further in. A few other lords were currently occupying the other rooms, the paper screens doing nothing to hide the sound of skin against skin.

Absently, Taigen is glad that the lighting was so shit, it made it so that any other people who occupied the other rooms couldn’t be seen all that well. Not only that but in the lowlight if he didn’t focus on her face too long it is almost as if it was still Akemi joining him, pretty painted features coyly looking up at him and not the prostitute he had paid. The courtesan act sure was convincing but ill-fitting when Taigen assessed it deeper. Although, he could not deny that Ise was convincing enough and perhaps she had trained and simply never been good enough to go any higher than her current status. The way she carried herself showed proper etiquette and yet when he truly watched he could poke at the minor flaws that reminded him it was not Akemi with him. 

How pathetic of him to still moon over her while Akemi was probably in the blue-eyed samurai's bed, dark hair spilling over the cushions as he fucked her. All soft skin and pretty encouraging words spilling from her painted lips, spirits know he had once been on the receiving end of such treatment. No doubt she was whispering sweetly to her new lord, looking into his blue eyes as she revealed herself to him, spreading her legs so eagerly for him. 

Taigen scowls at the image it generates pulling Ise closer to him, his hips pressed against hers. Focusing on the woman below him and not the ghost of Akemi haunting him, nor the man who took everything from him. Over the feeling of skin and the willing woman beneath him Taigen can hear the sound of lords arguing out in the hall, willing himself to focus more on the sensation beneath him. 

"He should have been here already!" A man's voice argues, the sound clear through the paper screens. 

"It is only the shogun's decree that allows him to travel, word from the clan estimates he will be here in the coming days." 

"What's taking so long?" Comes the demanding question. 

"Snow my lord, it has slowed the men down in their journey to Edo." 

The sound of men conversing a a few rooms over was distracting, the noise of their disagreement carrying even over the noise of the lord fucking next door. 

"I've got a lot of fucking money in this, you better not screw me over." 

"Be patient. Better yet go fuck one of those women and relax!" 

"Fuck you. Who knows what freaky sex those girls will get me involved in." 

Someone laughs dryly. "I'm half tempted to find out myself then listen to you three arguing all night, this won't solve anything." 

"Do you want the guns and opium or what?... Then shut up, we'll all be richer if this goes as planned." 

Whatever words continued faded into the background as Ise’s hands confidently tug at his robes, leaning close to ghost her painted lips against his. As spurring as the motion was to heat his blood with want Taigen can't help his mind from drifting. These past days it seemed like he was no more than Mizu’s lapdog, forced to follow him around at his beck and call. He wouldn’t lie and say that it didn’t hurt to see Akemi take his arm so freely, seemingly oblivious to the words the court nobles called her. They spoke as if she was bedding a demon and once he may have agreed but he had seen Mizu's blood run red like any man's would. Besides, it wasn’t his call to make to gut them for their words as much as he may wish too, no, that was now Mizu’s privilege as Akemi’s husband. 

Ise taps a manicured nail against his cheek, drawing him back to her as she moves the kimono off her shoulder until she’d bare before him. Any thought of Mizu flees at the sight, moving to capture her lips once more in a kiss. Sliding into the heat of her with the feeling of Ise's nails trailing down his back as he ruts into her there was not much better than this. Well, besides besting opponents and regaining the honour that was snatched from him. 

"It was too risky to start picking them off at the performances, too much attention." A voice carries over the soft sounds of Ise moaning beneath him. 

"Shut it! There's still ears in the walls." 

"You mean the lords fucking the girls a few rooms over? Do you think they know?" Someone questions. 

"Better safe than sorry, I do not want to be the one to inform the Shogun that we let rats overhear us." 

Taigen is distracted from the distant conversation by the feel of Ise's lips at his jaw, her nails almost biting at his back as she draws him closer. His head is heady with lust, the blood rushing down with whatever logic that lingered in his brain. Instead it is something primal that rears within him to have a woman willing and wanting beneath him as he grounds his hips insistently into hers. There's not much fanfare before she's arching beneath him, soft cries leaving her and she reaches her peak. Taigen swiftly follows suit at the feeling of it, burying himself within her with a low groan. 

Rolling off of her, Taigen shifts to capture her in a quick kiss. Just as it seems to grow heated once more, he become suddenly aware of a noise a few rooms over, the crashing sound almost echoing with the force of it. Deciding to investigate Taigen withdraws from her, adjusting his pants to bring them back over his hips as he rises from the futon. As he nears the edge of the room before the paper screen door the sound a women begging cuts into the momentary quiet. Perhaps it could be dismissed at first for some type of role, or perhaps a rough client but the girls voice is frantic in terror. The ease he had felt after his encounter with Ise flees the moment he hears a pained cry follow it, his blood turning to ice at the sound. 

This time the sound of voices is much closer and on instinct Taigen takes a couple steps away from the door. The shapes of their silhouettes are stark against the painted paper-screen walls, the figures pacing to and fro. "Such a shame, these girls are much too pretty to be wasted like this." Someone says with a sigh. 

"Come on, stop dawdling! Keep your mind on the plan." 

"You're no fun."

"Is it in place?" Someone questions. 

"As much as it will ever be" Comes the drawled response. 

"That isn't good enough!" Comes the nasal reply, berating the prior speaker. "The shogun expressed strongly that we must have everything in order before our guest arrives with reinforcements, anything less and word will get out."

Taigen tenses at the familiar sound, knowing without looking that it is Heiji Shindo amongst the men behind those paper screens. He had often heard the other speak when Heiji had visited his brother's dojo, often coming back to Kyoto to relax and get away from whatever shady business he dealt in. Really, many of the Shindo brothers came to the dojo to oversee it and pick out various students for their own business ventures, as well as visit the Shindo House. 

Taigen turns his attention back to Ise who had raise herself into a sitting position on the futon, a furrow to her brow as she watches him linger silently. "What is it?" She questions no louder than a whisper but it seems to cut into the space loudly regardless. 

"Nothing good." Taigen replies, his attention flicking toward the sound of muffled conversation. "We better get moving." He says sombrely. 

Wordlessly Ise rouses herself up, hastily redressing in her crumpled kimono silks that had been discarded upon the floor. While she redresses Taigen slowly cracks open the door, peering out into the hallway before their room. He can spy the silhouette shadows cast upon the floor of nearby men, the lanterns giving enough light to give away their position. They were much too close, that was obvious. Taigen turns to Ise, urging her forward silently and she joins him wordlessly, her hand skimming over his shoulder in clear unease. Still she dutifully follows him out into the awaiting hallway, her breath held and waiting as they creep as silent as possible. In the lowlight the halls almost seem like a maze, the rooms twisting and turning until Taigen is unsure wether they had already passed this way or not.

Suddenly, further in the hall the footsteps of a group of men sound closer, moments before stumbling across them. Ise’s attention slides from Taigen's back to the men moments away from passing them if the shadows cast upon the floor were any indication, her eyes widening at the sight. Taigen reaches out to grips her jaw to force her to face him once more, pulling her to him, he attempts to warn her with his eyes alone as the sound draws closer. In a hopeful bid to hide her a moment longer her captures her in a kiss, distracting her as the people discover them. The sound of footsteps halt behind him and Taigen tenses, aware that his back was bare to whoever had stumbled upon them in the hall. Withdrawing from the kiss, he glances back, half turning so that he can face them properly. 

Heiji Shindo stares back at him, one of his goons glancing between their boss and where Taigen was standing before the screen door. The blade of his companion carries is removed from it's sheath the metal bloody as it lingers out in the open. There was no denying that the conflict that they had overheard was linked to the sight before them and it has him cursing at the ominous sight, lamenting on leaving his sword back in his room this morning. 

A slimy grin overcomes Heiji's face. "Taigen, a pleasant surprise to see you and your... companion." He says. 

Ise holds her ground, folding her hands beneath her remaining silks in a bid to hide the tremor in her hands. "My lord." She greets politely in turn, bowing her head in respect. 

"One of madame Kaji's birds." He notes, amusement rife in his tone as he eyes her. "A wise choice." 

More men linger behind him, passing them by with mere glances. There were far too men wandering the halls to be anything but a gathering but a gathering for what Taigen doesn't know. 

"You really shouldn't stray so far from the banquet, it would be a shame if an accident were to occur." Heiji states. 

Taigen doesn't need to ask to know the words are nothing more than a hidden threat, flattening his lips as to not to give away his anger. "I will keep that in mind." He says neutrally. 

Heiji glances toward Ise cowering at his side. "You're lucky our clan owns your brothel, girl, or you'd find yourself joining the rest of them." He warns. 

So they really were killing those men a few rooms over, for what? Bedding prostitutes? That didn't seem likely. Absently, Taigen ponders the fact that he had overheard a lord having sex a few rooms over and the significance dawns on him. They were all collateral in case any of them had overheard their secret conversations, there was no denying overhearing with only the paper screen barricading others. Really, it seemed that he was currently witnessing something he wasn't supposed too if the rows and rows of men passing was anything to go by. Glancing towards the remaining hall, it does not take long for Taigen to come to the conclusion that it would be fruitless to fight, they'd just kill him and frame it as an accident or an overindulgence of sake.

 As the blade glints ominously before them, Taigen runs through the ways to bargain for a day longer to live. Until absently he remembers Mizu's words to Shindo all those months ago, to the debt he had hanging over Shindo for sparing his life. At the reminder he fights to smother the grin from overcoming him and he caught Heiji's gaze. "I am sure Mizu would be interested in talking business with you." Taigen muses, eyes dropping pointedly to his severed hand. 

Something short of a grimace overcomes Heiji's face at the reminder. "Lord Mizu has been busy with his wedding, I thought I'd give him space while he settled before bringing up business." Heiji replies, lying easily though his teeth. 

"How courteous, I will be sure to pass the message on." Taigen says. 

Heiji shoos the goon away from him, watching the boy go until its just him and Taigen left. He steps closer, voice pitched low as to not be overheard by the men who pass them by. "Speak nothing of this to Mizu and I will let your head stay upon you pitiful shoulders." He states, nearly snarling the words in a fierce whisper. 

"Deal." Taigen says after a considering moment settles between them. 

Not that he would let this incident stay hidden, he owed Mizu too much to keep his mouth shut. This was something that could truly aid Mizu regarding his business, hints of these white men he was after would no doubt help serve the revenge he was seeking. It wasn't so hard to decide it upon his honour, it was already given he'd tell Mizu the moment he could. What really aided him was the fact that the quicker Mizu dealt out his revenge the sooner he could battle for his station back. A part of him was almost disappointed that it would that this battle be the end of their tentative partnership. No need to continue with contracts and debts when one of them would be laying dead by the end of this. 

"I would advise you to leave in the morning boy." Heiji tells him. "You don't want to be caught here when it all unfolds, I sure wont." 

Bushido code would dictate him to stay, he fights the urge to mention that outright. "I understand." Taigen says aloud instead. 

"You really don't boy. Now leave before I change my mind." Heiji states with a dismissive wave of his good hand.

Bowing his head curtly, Taigen turns and pulls Ise along with him. Hurrying through the halls, he spies the splattering of blood on the tatami mats as they hurry through. No doubt there was more carnage unfolding then they knew, but Taigen pays that no mind as they dodge various figures still patrolling. The robe she'd hastily thrown on was slipping down her shoulder, but Ise pays it no mind as she hurries along side him. 

Finally out into the night air Ise seems to stumble to the ground, her form trembling as she tries to lift herself from the snow covered ground. "They killed them." She says with a gasp, her voice cracking as she says it. "That could have been us." Ise continues on a whisper, shuddering at the thought. 

"I know." He mutters. What more could he say? He wonders, finding the comforting hand he settles on her shoulder to be a far cry from anything truly comforting. 

How lucky that Mizu was their saving grace or they would have been dead like all those other unfortunate lords and women who had been there at the wrong time. It was as if everything Mizu did was blessed by the spirits, he always seemed to scrape through the impossible and come back again and again that even the mere mention of him seemed to do the trick. Absently, Taigen ponders lighting incense at the next shrine he came across, it wouldn't hurt to thank the spirits after a close call such as this even if it was most likely worthless to do. 

Raising herself shakily Ise moves to stand, leaning onto Taigen as he aids her up. "To think I was jealous of the nobles once, watching and wishing that I could swap my pitiful life for theirs... I would have died to be in their position, now I am not so sure that I want it." She admits. 

"The spirits have a funny was of showing us lessons." Taigen scoffs bitterly.

The sound of footsteps drawing nearer has him tense, and insistent he urges her forward, a supporting arm held out towards her. "Come on, we better get a move on before they spot us out here." He states. "Go home Ise, rest... do not speak of what you saw to anyone." 

Ise nods absently, blinking the tears from her dark eyes. "What about you?" She queries. 

Wasn't that just the question. He could find Mizu, rouse him from sleep and inform him about this sham of a gathering and risk his own head or he could say nothing and continue on as if he was none the wiser. For a brief moment he almost considers it, that it would be so simple to stay silent and watch it all play out. Perhaps they would capture Mizu in the fray of whatever plan they were organising, taking him out and saving Taigen from following him around for the rest of his pathetic life. Although, knowing Mizu he'd somehow manage to dodge it, he was always so fucking blessed that he would probably come out the fray miraculously unscathed. Really, Taigen could not be all that mad about it if he did survive it, his honour rode on a respectful battle and its outcome after all. It was settled since the moment Heiji had offered him this olive branch with Mizu's name alone, Taigen would inform him the moment he saw him again, that much was decided. 

Shaking his head to dismiss the thought, Taigen finally spoke. "Tonight, I will be going to bed... everything else I will sort come morning." He replied at last.

As he moves forward to return back to his residence he cant help but note just how shaken she looks in the aftermath of what she'd witnessed, shivering under the light snowfall in only a thin robe covering her modesty. With that sight before him Taigen can't let her go alone, not without guilt gnawing at him for the remainder of the night. A resigned sigh passes his lips as he considers the situation before him. "Come, join me tonight. Even if only to ensure you are left alone as Heiji promised." He offers. 

Ise blinks, stunned as his words wash over her before she nods, bowing her head in gratitude. "Thank you, you truely are a samurai." She replies, hurrying to his side. 

Taigen turns away from her, shoulders bunching uncomfortably at her praise. "Yeah, yeah... A life without honour is not a life." He mutters in dismissal, raising a hand to smooth over the jagged patch of hair behind his head subconsciously. It seemed like there was not much honour left these days if the actions he had witnessed tonight was anything to go by. Taigen shakes his head to rid himself from the thought. "Come on, my residence is this way."

Chapter Text

The following day after the Shogun's banquet was blissfully free to them, no meeting or impromptu gathering just a day to themselves, no doubt many of the lords would be nursing a hangover after overindulging the night before. Despite having drank, her husband was nowhere to be seen upon waking, deciding to go outside to practice his forms in a change of pace from his usual practice inside since arriving in Edo. 

Akemi simply rises from the futon, trailing down to the communal bathhouse situated in the castle grounds to enjoy the warmth of the heated water with Mizu nowhere to be seen. There are no maidens to aid her to dress like the last time she had indulged in such communal baths and instead Akemi relies on her own skill to dress in golden kimono silks adorned with plum blossoms that shine under the winter sun. It is only the repetition of placing pins in her hair that has Akemi adorn it with her husbands gift, her fingers graze over them as she spies her reflection in a nearby bronze mirror. 

It is not until midday that Mizu comes to join her in one of the tea houses a few blocks from their residence. The room is void of other patrons with Akemi having taken up in one of the private rooms. It was times like this that Akemi was glad to have the coin to rent out such spaces, the privacy of this tea room reminding her of the times she had trained in the ceremony as a young girl. A servant comes to greet her but is silent other than that, offering her tea or sake and a selection of delicacies the house specialised in. As the girl retreats to collect her order, Akemi sits in the silence of the room, only aware of the occasional talk that filters through from the common room where most of the common folk sat. The room was adorned with painted walls, depictions of Edo's surrounding provinces creating a picture of tranquility and while she admires the depiction of a crane in flight the servant girl returns to place her order upon her table. Bowing in thanks, she is once more left to her solitude and as Akemi brings the warmed sake to her lips Akemi ponders absently if Mizu’s rambling the night before was purely drunk thoughts, or that he had forgotten her heartfelt sentiment the moment he woke. 

So distracted are her thoughts that she doesn't spy the silhouette at the room's entrance. A servant announces their presence with a noise of discomfort, the sound cutting through the tranquility starkly. "Forgive me for the interruption, Lady Akemi, I was requested by Lord Mizu to escort him to you." He announces. 

Silent as ever Mizu strides into the room almost ignorant to the servant at his side. It is impossible to read his inner thoughts with his eyes hidden by the familiar glasses, the open nature she had glimpsed the night before dispersing like smoke like it has never occurred at all. 

"Please enjoy your stay at the Edo Tea House, Lady Akemi, please do not hesitate to call upon us if you require anything else." The servant states, bowing deeply with a nervous look down toward his shoes before darting away with no further comment. 

'So you have decide to finally join me.' Akemi thought bitterly, her eyes only on her husband as he moves closer. As if summoning him with her thoughts alone, he moves to kneel across from her Mizu simply eyes the sake resting near the table, letting Akemi make the decision in offering him a cup. "A reminder of home." Akemi states aloud in lieu of greeting, inclining her head towards the steaming vessel. "Well, home before I joined you in Sendai." 

There's no indication on his inner thoughts on his face, nor any commentary on where he had been this past morning. Attempting to keep frustration from playing across her features, Akemi decided to pour him a cup of the sake she had been enjoying. As she fills it and passes it to him she’s surprised he takes the cup from her, reminded absently of how tense their first meeting had been all those months. Watching as he raises it to his lips she cant help but muse on the way their last sharing of sake went, the tense atmosphere as she shared the drink with Mizu and his companions on their wedding day. 

Perhaps she was feeling nostalgic, it must be why the words come tumbling from her lips. “You know, after that night at the dojo I wanted to see you first to see what power you have over Taigen to send him running from me.” Akemi admits. “I had panned to track you down before he got to you first. It was as if you’d bewitched him, his focus straying to you and your battle. I sometimes wonder how far I could have gotten if Seki had not found me, would I be sitting across from you and sharing sake as I do now? Only the spirits would know.” 

Mizu looks at her from beneath amber glasses, a wry rasping chuckle escaping him. “It seems that you would be destined to meet me regardless.” He says, the first words he had spoken to her since last night. 

In the afternoon light she cant help but admire that he is handsome in a unique sort of way, not in the traditional way that Taigen was but in a way that was all Mizu. “Perhaps, the spirits seemed to hold me back from meeting you at that brothel like I had originally planned.” Akemi says, attempting to remind herself of the mix of emotion she had felt when waking alone this morning. 

Across from her Mizu nods absently in thought. ”You asked me those nights ago why I expressed interest in your engagement?" Mizu offers up suddenly. 

“Yes?” She whispers, prompting him to speak. The sake must have gone to her head, surely, there was no other reason why she'd give him the time to listen after he'd been nothing but callous these days and yet Akemi leans forward in anticipation of his words. 

"Because I could.” He admits on a whisper, a flush perhaps from alcohol on his cheekbones or perhaps from the warmth of a hearth. "Because of guilt.” 

"Guilt?" She presses, equality as quiet. 

"I have killed many with my blade, some deserving others not, there have been some I have been tasked to kill in mercy.” He pauses, something like pain flickering across his features as he reminisces. "Yet, I find that it chips at my tainted soul none the less to have killed them. Not only that, but I have walked past women with children begging at gates, I could have helped them- I should have- perhaps with gold or to escort them through but at what cost? For, if I had not been so lucky that would have been me begging at those gates I could have been like them, for this guise only hides so much. There is no denying that those guards would not have let me through if they'd known my true nature.” 

Akemi did not have to question just what he was hiding, the amber glasses forever adorning his features were testament to it, to his supposed Onryō nature. Some might have called Akemi ignorant to the courts around her, to the words the noble ladies muttered behind fans, to the scornful edge the lords used when referencing her husband. A bastard, a half-breed, a demonic Onryō. She had heard the whispers, had noticed even Taigen's scowl deepen as he overheard their commentary like her husband could not cut them where they stood. 

Mizu’s face shudders from the indifferent mask as his words dawn on him, the almost fearful expression that fractures across his stoic expression as he eyes the porcelain in his hand. “I have misspoken, I apologise for my forwardness. I must still be inebriated from the banquet, forgive me.” Mizu says lowly, dropping his gaze away from her.

Akemi startles at the switch, at this wall that has raised once more between them that Akemi reached out to halt him. She had heard the words that the lords whispered behind her husband back, had just assumed that it was jealousy and notions of noble purity that angered them so. She had not considered that it was his western appearance was cause for such serious action. Of course she knew why her husband was referred to as a demon with his blue eyes similar to the spirits the puppeteers would display in the towns. Akemi had never called him a demon to his face, not like other had but she it still caused a leaden guilt within her like she had said it regardless with the knowledge of his continued prejudice. 

"No, no.. you have said nothing to offend, I appreciate the willingness for you to share with me.” She rushes to appease, desperate to ensure that he would be open to her once more. "I should apologise for insinuating you to be an Onryō all those weeks ago. I... I know how it is to live with a mask.” She says, staring pointedly at the glasses that have fallen down the bridge of his nose. 

Mizu's eyes widen, fixing his glasses so that it hides his eyes once more. It seems that he had not noticed that they had fallen, revealing the bright hue every time his gaze strayed to her face. "I see.” He says softly, lost in thought as he muses over her words. 

Something about the melancholy in his expression has her open up to him. "I know it is not the same. nothing so severe as what you have no doubt faced, but Father seems to view me as no more than a tile on a board, something to move into place so he can gain the outcome he wants. It never crossed his mind that I may not agree or that perhaps I wanted something more for myself. To him none of it mattered and sometimes I fear that I will never gain anything, that I will be forever cursed to be tossed aside unable forge my own path." Akemi says. 

Once Taigen would have offered her placating words, sweeping her pain away like dirt on the floor but Mizu offered her none of that, and for a moment as her eyes met Mizu's it felt like she was seen. 

"It was you comb that aided them.” He admits suddenly into the stillness that had fallen between them. 

"What?" Akemi questions, a confused furrow to her brow. 

"After I bested Taigen at the dojo I threw the comb at a mother and her child who were unable to enter to sell their wares in town as her husband has passed and as they required a male to escort them, they were not able to enter.” Mizu reveals. "I had bribed my way in and at the time I did not bring them with me, but, it was your comb that allowed them to enter. You may not think that you are able to do much with your status of late but that is not so true.” 

It seemed that every layer that Mizu revealed to her made her even more eager to learning more. "You gave it to them... the comb you stole from Taigen?" Akemi questions, conflict passing over her face. 

"Yes, I have no need for riches such as that.” He said. "It would allow them access and more, a bribe of that calibre.” 

How strange to hear a man say he had no care for money or gold, more men had killed for that alone than any real honour. “You’re not as I expected.” She says. 

"I would say the same." Mizu replies. 

"I thought you were like the rest of them." Akemi sates. 

Something about the words makes him uncomfortable, his gaze unable to linger on her but rather to the wall behind her. “Once I would have thought you to be no more than spoiled rich girl parroting whatever your father or advisor told you too, but I can see now that I read you wrong... I'm beginning to see that now." He admits. 

Akemi's head lifts in surprise at his honesty, her pained lips parted. Before her the samurai sits stiffly, an expression shy of a grimace on his face as he avoids her gaze. So she’s nothing like Mizu had expected, she wonders what he sees her as now, is she someone great? great like someone like him? She hopes so, for even as much as she loathes him for what he's done to her as of late, she can see how brilliant he was, not only with the art of the sword.

"And what do you see me as now, dear husband?" She questions, pitching her voice in that way that men seemed to find pleasing. 

Her words seem to shake the vulnerability from him, the familiar stoic expression setting onto his features with a faint shake of his head. "It is well into the afternoon.” Mizu states with finality dodging her question as he moves to rise from the sitting mat. "I will escort you back home.” He says. 

Push and pull, like the tide and his namesake, Mizu seemed to draw her in as much as he attempted to push her away but Akemi was not one to be discouraged so easily. She simply watches him with thinly veiled irritation, her head tilting as if to look down upon him despite their positions. "You found me here, dear husband, I am content to stay and enjoy my sake. You are more than welcome to leave at your leisure." Akemi says. 

Mizu bristles at her tone. "Perhaps, I was wrong to speak so favourably, you are still a brat." He hisses, the words no more than a muttering frustration. Even bitter, he surprisingly does not play the husband card. He could easily do it, call upon her duty to obey him and yet he just glares down at her in the face of her defiance. It shouldn't be so attractive, this common courtesy and yet Akemi finds herself heated in a way not caused by the nearby hearth. 

"Or perhaps you have had enough sake from the prior evening, how much did they ply you with to be so forgetful on what we had discussed?" She retorts, making sure to watch the expression on his face at her words, and across from her Mizu's brow furrows in confusion. "Do not play coy, dear husband, you told me that there were plenty of women there to offer you drink and services." Akemi reveals. 

The words conjures up images of her husband lounging with the other women, drinking from their cups before kissing them in ways Mizu never would allow with her, everything he seemed reluctant to do with her. Bitterness fills her as much as tears do, blinking against the threat of them Akemi stares back at him. She can picture it now, their hands running along the seams of his kimono, feeling the strength of his muscle as they slip it open. Would his hands cradle their hips in quiet strength, his prowess apparent in simple assurance as he plundered them for the taking. The thought of his hands, his cock in another has her suddenly sick. 

“You have still not taken me” Akemi states in accusation, eyes narrowed in bristling anger that buries her sorrow. “The shogun is aware of our marriage, he no doubt wants us to declare ourself at his feet. Perhaps that is part of why he summoned us here, his son is yet to be wed.” 

Mizu looks away from her, a tense set to his brow. “The shoguns son.” He mutters in understanding.

"I had overheard the other courtly ladies while you were away, it seems that the shogun is also searching for a suitable candidate to be his son's wife." Akemi informs him. 

Mizu scowls, as if reminded of the words the Shogun had used to describe his wife at the banquet the night before. "He has expressed interest in you." He says. 

Akemi settles at the confirmation he had given her. “He is looking for a way to claim me since your interest was taken by my father over his, they are no doubt angered to have lost.” She states.

“To a half breed.” Mizu says the words she was reluctant to say dryly. “Yes, I figured there was more to his dislike toward me.” 

Sitting back, Akemi’s gaze is almost piercing. “Your words the night before spoke that you did not care for the girls amongst the grounds and that you understood where my sentiments laid. Were you just being silver tongued, dear husband, or are you just prideful?” She queries. 

His hand tightens a fraction on the porcelain in his hold. “Do you refuse to hear me? I have already told you I would never.” He retorts. 

“Then prove it.” She says, echoing the words she had spoken to him the night before. 

Mizu’s eyes seems aflame behind his amber glasses. He stands abruptly, dropping the glass in his hand instead to outstretch his hand down to her. “Come.” He orders curtly. 

Akemi looks up at him, a defiant lift to her chin as she meet his eye. “I am not your dog.” She states. 

Mizu’s eyes narrow at her tone. “Join me, dear wife.” He repeats through gritted teeth. 

This time she flashes him a grin that is all teeth, the ivory shine stark against her painted lips as takes his hand to help her rise. She can feel the flex of his muscle beneath her arm as he pulls her a fraction closer, his amber covered gaze roaming over her face and looking for something, and from the tentative flash in his eye Akemi doesn't know if he found just what he was searching for.

“Lead the way.” Akemi orders in return. 

The journey from the tea house was not this slow the first time she had traveled there or perhaps it was nervous anticipation that made the time drag as Mizu led her back to their residence. Except that it seemed their residence was not where he planned to lead her, for he had lead her further out the grounds towards a forge, the remnants of the fire lighting the place in an unearthly glow. 

"So this is where you ran off to this morning." Akemi muses, pausing at the outskirts of the forge as Mizu moves to collect something from within the building.

In his hands rests a sheathed blade that her husband must have been working on all morning, the leather shines in the light of the kindled fire within. “Swordfather had expressed an urgency to not let myself be consumed by darkness, for a blade is only as pure as the one who wields it.” Mizu tells her, only to pause as he looks up from the blade in his hand. “To forge a blade is the same, one must seek the light. How fitting, that my wife’s name would be just that.” 

“No, not only that.” Akemi says in an attempt to hide the effect his words have on her behind faux disinterest. “Some would argue beauty to be a factor too, not just light.” She teases. 

"How could I forget?" Mizu says, tone low and rasping. 

His gaze is heavy, it makes her warm enough that she fiddles at the collar of her kimono. It is not the heat of the dying forge that heats her, no, she does not want to acknowledge that his otherness had crept upon her. 

"I came here to reconnect with my roots. I had let myself forget his teachings momentarily and I thought it would be wise to remind myself of what I stand for." Mizu says. 

"And what do you stand for?" Akemi questions. 

A determined edge to his features passes over him, and his hand not holding the blade moves to brush against hers, pulling her forward. "I will show you." He says. 

It is on the edge of nightfall, a few meters outside the forge, that he brought her to the outskirts of the gardens where garden plants shift into lush forest land like Sendai around them. It was no coincidence it seemed to have him lead her here for nothing was coincidental when it came to Mizu. Akemi waits as he makes a makeshift fire, using the embers still smouldering from the nearby forge to light the campfire before them. Above them the sky begins to darken into hues or violet and indigo, the warmth of the fire warming the chill that had begun to settle upon them. 

"Why have you led us here?" Akemi questions, but Mizu remains silent at her question. 

Amongst the plum blossoms buried in snow waiting to herald the arrival of spring, Akemi could only watch as Mizu fell to his knees before her. The camp fire cast him in an otherworldly light, seeming to reflect the amber glow of the samurai's glasses. Slow and deliberate, Mizu unsheathes the sword at his side and once the sight would have brought fear, in honesty it still did but the action was too slow for it being a means to harm her. For if the blue eyed samurai wished to harm her she would have been dead already. She'd already slept with the other lurking a short pace away, why decide to do it now? 

There's a stern set to his jaw as Mizu looks up at her. "Akemi, daughter of the samurai lord Tokunobu Daichi, I pledge myself to you.” He says. 

Her painted lips part, unexpected at the tone of it. Her hand hovers in the air before him, as if to reach out to halt him or draw him closer Akemi does not know. 

Mizu seems unmoved by wherever emotion played over her face. "I dedicate my life to you, in protection and honour.” He states placing the blade on the ground. 

"Fealty to me?" Akemi asks, almost humoured by the act in her disbelief, watching as the Samurai sets his hands back into his lap passively. "You'd have more power to swear to my father.” 

"You are powerful.” He says and as he looks up at her, Akemi knows that he means it. 

There was no flattery involved, he stated it as if it were a simple fact like the sky was blue. Blue. The thought lingers as watching him now Akemi knows that he could easily kill her, he didn't need a blade to do it. But if there was one thing that this man could be crippled by was masks, the amber of the glasses a shield to hide the secret of his true self. 

"Take off your glasses.” She orders, but there is no bite to the words. 

Mizu pauses, jaw twitching before he slowly reaches up to pull them down from the bridge of his nose.  "Does this please you?" He drawls, settling them down in his lap. 

Akemi notes that he won't hold her gaze. "Swear to me.” She says, a clear order this time. 

This time as Mizu's lips part there is no barrier between them. "Akemi, I pledge myself to you, I dedicate my life to you in protection and honour.” He repeats. 

Electric, is the only word that comes to mind as she met his gaze unable to look away from his eyes. So strange the hue compared to any other she'd seen, a colour like the wild seas or the endless sky above them. “Beautiful." She whispers, a ghost of sound into the night air. Yet Mizu's gaze drops, a flush to his ears and carved cheekbones like he had heard her anyway. 

Looking away from him Akemi moves to pick up the offered sword before her and it is heavy, incredibly so that it is a struggle to lift it. Regardless, she lets herself admire it to see the art in it like any other craft she'd admire, rubbing a finger absently against the maker's mark to feel the intricately smooth grooves beneath her fingertips.

 There's a look in Mizu's eye that she can't work out as he watches her run a finger along his blade, something equal parts dangerous as it was longing. It sparked something within her to spy it, a rush of control that is almost heady knowing a powerful figure like Mizu was on his knees for her.

"I accept.” Akemi declares boldly, almost breathless at the sensation.

 Akemi never knew how to say no to a challenge, why would she start now. 

@omint

Chapter Text

An owl calls somewhere further in the gardens and it has Akemi cast her attention out the window only to spy the dusting of snow coating the space around them. She shivers, the drop in temperature with the snowfall not accounted with by the robes she had dressed in earlier in the day. A trip into the forestland had not been on her plans upon waking, no, Akemi had believed her day to be alone in the Edo Tea House. Of course her husband would be the one to shake up her plans so abruptly. Even now the image of Mizu kneeling in the snow is seared behind her eyelids every time Akemi closed her eyes. Was it the fire that cast such heat in his eyes or was it attraction being mirrored back at her? The moment seemed so long ago, even if the walk back home had not been so lengthy. 

Beneath the sleeve of her golden kimono Akemi rubs her fingers against the inside of her sleeve, trying to soothe the nerves that flare suddenly within her. What was it that the plum blossom symbolised? The significance escapes her momentarily as she watches Mizu before her. Oh yes, resilience and perseverance, because they often bloomed amidst the harsh winter snow, their colours so vibrant against the monotonous landscape. It feels almost poetic to have this thing begin to bloom between them. Was that why she had been drawn to it that morning? Akemi is not quite sure as she watches Mizu flitter around the room, unable to settle like a caged animal. 

Something charged had settles between them after his pledge, the feeling only amplified after she had admired his blade. The sensation had only come back tenfold since they had returned back inside, the confines of their quarters only surging what should have cooled on the walk back. Mizu is equally tense, only pauses in his pacing to add kindle to the dying embers of the hearth of their temporary residence. The light of it fills the room as much as it warms it, the lingering chill from the snow finally thawing from her as it roars to life. It was as if he was trying to keep himself busy to put off the inevitable, keeping his hands working so he didn’t have to voice what they both were feeling. Having lit the fire Mizu rises from his crouch, taking the amber glasses from his face and placing them on the nearby table as if readying himself for bed. 

No. That won't do. She cannot have this moment pass by because she was too nervous, or Mizu too arrogant to act upon what they both were feeling. Mizu must feel this connection between them, he had sworn so prettily at her feet not to feel something for her in turn. Sudden boldness has Akemi step closer, gliding a hand over his silk clad shoulders and Mizu turns at the feeling. Was it the moonlight spilling in from the window that caused the glint in his eye? Perhaps, but there's no glasses on his face to reflect back the glare. Emboldened to the fact he had not pulled away from her, Akemi lets her hands graze over the front of him kimono, eager hands grazing over his side and up only for her exploration to be halted as he reaches out to snag her wrist. 

"And what do you think you're doing?" He questions, the words rasping low between them but does not order her stop.

"As I have said before, I believe you have yet to consummate our marriage." Akemi states, an amused curl to her painted lips. Her free hand raises to loosen the tie of her silks, watching the way Mizu's attention darts to the flash of soft skin she reveals with it. "Will you not have me?" 

She shifts just so, enough that the robes spill open to reveal the curve of her breast. Perhaps it is the sake she had drank earlier, perhaps it is the surety in his gaze that has Akemi lean into him, swaying close as her hands fist against the blue silk of his kimono. Yet Mizu does nothing to move away as she brushes her lips against his, she can feel the way his breath caught at the motion, a surprising softness to his parted lips and Akemi opens her mouth to him, encouraging him to kiss her proper. 

It doesn't take much prompting to have his hand raise to the nape of her neck, a heavy reminder that although Akemi might have initiated this there was no denying who was really in charge. She can feel his fingertips slide to rest just below the base of her head, a fraction away from sliding into her hair. Mizu's breath shudders against her in an exhale, a hidden hunger in the motion of his mouth as he finally kisses her back. No sooner does Mizu's hands twist into the silk of her kimono and roaming over every inch of her, one hand skims against the elaborate up-do of her hair as if he wished to sink his hand into it and pull. A part of her wishes for it, longs for it. It has her gasping against Mizu’s lips, desire simmering low as she grasps at the samurai’s robes. 

"Tell me, will you have me Mizu?" Akemi questions once more. 

"Yes." He finally replies lowly, a hoarse confirmation spoken against her heated skin. "I will have all that you give me, my beauty of dawn." 

Mizu bent closer, his head dropping down until his lips pressed hot against the curve of her breast, the scrape of his teeth against the sensitive skin forcing a shuddering breath from her. His moment is fluid like his namesake, each touch of his lips deliberate as he winds a path up from her breasts to her collarbone and finally to her neck. It is here that he pauses, feeling her shudder as he lavished her neck in open mouthed kisses. Her head tilts back, baring her throat to him as his tongue drags wet against her there, a shiver forcing her into him as her back arcs at the sensation. 

Oh, how would it be to hear those praises against her skin properly, whispered to her beneath the moonlight for her ear only. What would it be like to strip Mizu down and to have him bare to her not just on this plain but his soul? No doubt her mentor would have scolded her if he could see the creases she'd created but Akemi finds herself unable to care, not when Mizu had gifted her this ghost of affection.  His mouth moves to kiss at the curve of her jaw and Akemi cant help the way her thighs pressed together, heady arousal surging like a tide as she sinks into the solid heat of him. Mizu's hands are solid against her, sure and steady as they hold her up and against him. 

Somewhere amidst their kiss, their roles had reversed and it is Akemi who led him down to sit on the futon and dutifully Mizu lets her, kneeling on the mat so that Akemi can settle properly in his lap. Her lips graze against his jaw, up along the sharp curve of his cheekbones, leaving red painted smears of her lipstick against his pale skin with every kiss. As his eyes met hers, blue eyes blown wide and dark with lust, Akemi pressed herself down against Mizu’s thigh. A gasp escaping her at the feel of the strong toned muscle beneath her, rocking into him with the sensation sparking deliciously with every movement. At her hips Mizu's grip tightens, his mouth parting in stunned silence as Akemi continues to stimulate herself against him. 

“I heard whispers, from Madam Kaji about an act with Sake.” She says, voice low as she whispers down to Mizu beneath her as she continues to move against him. “The woman tightens her legs and upper thighs and creates a little dish between her thighs” Akemi pauses, a laugh escaping her painted lips. “Then she pours the sake down her middle, down the slope of her breasts until it settles between her thighs in that dish she made.” 

Mizu flushes beneath her the red painting tellingly across his skin, and was that a hint of intrigue she spied? 

“Better yet, someone drinks the sake from her.” Akemi reveals. 

Mizu barks a laugh in surprise, head tilted back to flash the pale lines of his throat behind his scarf before he rightens. “My woman gets me more drunk than sake” Mizu says, a wry expression that makes Akemi ponder that there was undercurrent she was not aware of to those words.

"Is that a promise?" She teases, dipping her head to kiss at that space where his jaw and neck met. 

Mizu shivers beneath her at the action, visibly torn between letting her kiss down his neck or halting her. His gaze drops to watch the space she was grinding upon, the strong muscle of his upper thigh. There's not questioning that she's bare beneath her kimono, so with every slide against Mizu's thigh the silk colours dark with the remnants of her building desire. It has Akemi own gaze glance down to Mizu's lap, a curious eagerness as she ponders just how he looked beneath his clothes. 

A soft chuckle escapes him as he notes her attention, his lithe fingers lifting to guide her attention back up by her jaw and draw her gaze back to his face. "Do they not teach you patience in your rich tutoring schools?" He teases, the words borderline mocking. 

He slides it teasingly down  and when he is satisfied that she won't look again, down from her jaw until it skims over the open neck of her kimono, his pinkie and ring finger skirting against the uncovered skin of her chest as Mizu follows the smooth collar of her kimono. His hand joins the other at her hips to steady her, his fingers curling firmly against the plush skin of her waist. It may as well be a restraint with the way it keeps her pinned down against the solid muscle of his thigh. It jostles her just right, sparks shooting through her as a wave of want washed over her. Leaning forward Akemi melds her weight against him, letting him support her against him as she grinds down against him.

Akemi's fingers claw and twist into the silk of his robes in a bid to ground herself as sparks having her gasping against him, pulling tight at the fabric of his own collar. Just as her hands graze against the seam of his silks, the tips of her hand touching the woven bandages beneath does Mizu abruptly pull back. Something she would describe as restraint causes his shoulders to tense, an apprehension passing over his usually stoic features and yet his eyes betray him, detailing his desire as his gaze lingers on her with want even if he wished it not.

 His eyes are dark as they look back at her, his lips red as he speaks, a lithe hand dropping to the sash at his waist, untying the knot there until it is loose in his hold. “Stay still.” he orders. 

Akemi’s lips part, yet she pauses before him in trust as the silk once around his waist is lifted before her eyes. “What are you doing?” She questions her tone strong despite the spark of nerves that burst within her. 

The wave themed silk dangles in his hand. “I will take you.” He tells her, a promise, voice low and rasping. “My only rule is you leave this on.” 

Mizu's hand not holding the silk raises to move towards her, his palm warm against Akemi's cheeks as he runs his thumb runs along the seam of her lower lip and Akemi does not linger for more than a second on the potential smudging of her makeup under his hold. The action was intentional, slow and calculated as he smoothes it over her painted cheeks and for a moment Akemi cant help but wonder if he wished to reposition her, but no, it is merely a ghost of affection she had been chasing for so long.

She leans it, bending to his silent order. The fingers calloused by swords and destruction so careful caress her, an echo of a reward for doing as ordered. It has hear breath hitch in her throat, something molten in his chest seeping lower to flare where her thighs pressed together in a bid to ease the want. It was foreign to submit so freely without an urge to resist like she normally would outside these circumstances, obeying so quickly that a hint of shame heats her cheeks. 

Mizu must feel it with the rasping chuckle that escapes him, his thumb brushing against her lip, a soothing thing to halt the way her mind has run away from her. "Good." Comes the low rasping praise. 

His fingers slide against her calf, slow and steady until they ghost against her thighs. It winds highs, her breath shallow at the feel of it as his hand drifted up to her hip, not touching the skin below but ghosting on top of the silk of her yellow-gold kimono in a tease of more to come. He moves his head closer and Akemi leans to met him as if to capture him in a kiss, only to find him tilt his head away at the last moment so that his lips drop to her ear, so close that his leaves move against her as he speaks.

"I wonder... are you wet already?" He questions. 

A gasp, an almost mournful sound bursts from her and Mizu's eyes are dark at the sound, the blue almost black as he looks at her. His gaze slides from her face, surprisingly shameless and unhurried as her skin visible beneath her robes flushes pink beneath his watch. "And I haven't even touched you proper." He rasps against her in a near cocky amusement,  his teeth replacing his lips tugging briefly at her the shell of her ear.

His hand at her hip tightens just so, a reminder of his steady presence and She finds her body betraying her, leaning into the firm head of him beneath her, craving to hear more of the rough rasp of his voice and the guiding press of his hand. His hand slides, the heat of his palm a heady thing until it has Akemi's mind heavy with nothing other than Mizu. It might as well been rope, the way Akemi slackens in his hold as Mizu's fingers sneak into the gaps of her kimono where it had revealed her pale skin beneath, fingertips tracing feather light at the pale skin it reveals.

"That's it." He praises. 

Leaning back a ghost of a smile curls at his mouth, a heated glint to his eyes as he raises the silk up to her head. Deft fingers work to tie the knot behind her head, the rustle of silk almost enough to drown out the sound of her heart racing in nervous excitement. His hand lingers by her head for a moment longer, lingering for a heartbeat or two until the air is thick with the anticipation of what came next.

"Alright?" He queries, the rasp of his voice almost even more pronounced unable to see him.

With the silk soft against her skin, Akemi can see only blue surrounding her. “Yes.” She replies glad her words don’t tremble as she voices it, unsteadily licking at her lips nervously to alleviate the dryness there. 

Aware starkly of that wetness gather down, a want that flares as Mizu’s fingers trail against the skin of her upper thigh. Almost shivering at the sensation Akemi turns her head as if to spy Mizu positioned behind her but all she can see is a vague silhouette. His hand sliding torturously slow up her inner thighs, sliding his calloused fingers up to tease her folds before returning down.

"Mizu!" She cries, a keening thing. 

He continues the path focused and relentless, letting his fingers become coated in the slick coating her cunt before he slips a finger in, his free hand not within her is raised to grip Akemi's hip in a bid to keep her in place. Soaked in the slick heat of her arousal he slowly brings a finger up to circle her clit and the effect is simultaneous. Akemi’s hips stutter at the touch, a moan escaping her at the unexpected action, the blindfold on her face leaving her in constant anticipation for what is to come.

Mizu lets out a groan of his own at the sensation, moving to drop his lips down to the exposed skin of Akemi's shoulder where her kimono had fallen, as if to smother the noise that had escaped him. Akemi knows that come morning she'd find kiss and bite marks adoring the pale skin of her shoulders, a ghost of the sting of it blending deliciously with the pleasure Mizu was drawing out of her. She would be wearing her most covered kimono robes in the coming days lest the evidence of their coupling be on display. As if sensing the train of thought, Mizu works a mark into her skin and for a moment Akemi swears she can feel him grin against her sensitive skin. 

Then he shifts just so, his hands slow and deliberate as they parting her kimono, hiking it up to her hips until she’s torturously bare to her. She gasps, feeling him finally brush her low where she ached. She can feel her desire coat her thighs, wonders if Mizu can feel the slickness as he skirts around her touching her cunt proper. Akemi’s hands itch to rip the blindfold from her face, wants to see Mizu in all his glory. A moan rips from throat, a wanting thing, yet her hands stay twisted in the silk beneath them, his terms unconditional. 

"Steady." He says, the order coming out more rougher than anticipated. 

Pulling her flush to the cradle of his hips a solid thing behind her and it only sets the inferno stronger within her, the slickness of her arousal seeping between them. Mizu lets out a pleased hum, a breathless thing against Akemi’s shoulder at the sensation and there's a hint of teeth it grazes against her bare shoulder, his breath hot against the sensitive nape of her neck. Manhandled and repositioned, a stray thought has Akemi think of the way Mizu had positioned them was as if he was wanting to bury himself into her. The thought only spur her on more, squeezing down on Mizu’s fingers inside her as he ghosts a kisses against her back,  his other hand moving to ghost over her clit. 

"That's it. Lean back." Mizu commands, his voice rough with want. 

She leans into the warmth of his front, before her mind can argue, the toned muscle firm against she presses herself against him and a small semblance of shame pricks at her at the quickness she obeyed him. It is drowned out by the excitement that heats wet between her thighs, to the eagerness to please that settles over her.

Mizu chuckles, a low thing behind her. “Have I left you wanting, wife? Seems like I will need to fix that.”

He guides her forwards, the futon plush beneath her hands and knees as he positions her to kneel prone before him. Akemi turns her head, enough so to hear him working to untie his own robes. If she tried hard enough, she could almost begin to make out his features through the haze of blue. Her thoughts race, the images of his toned skin flashing in her minds-eye, to the pale skin littered with scars, hidden beneath stark white bandages. She's almost gasping with anticipation, thighs clenching in a bid to alleviate the throbbing heat the image generates. 

For a moment he's bend over her, caging her beneath him. Having shifted, the hand once skimming over her clit had raised to steady her. Its path smoothing over her hips and down to graze her stomach, fingertips skirting against the bones of her ribs in a gentleness he had never displayed, perhaps never would have without the blindfold in place. It has her breath hitch, a foreign vulnerability raises as she becomes just how prone she was beneath him like this. It was like watching him draw his sword all over again, blind trust having her remain as he pulled the blade from its sheathe. 

Then just like that he shifts, the heat once enveloping her receding as he settles to move directly behind her. It brings her scattering thoughts back, the feel of his calloused fingers against her skin a heady reminder of his promise. “I will take you.” He had said and the promise of it echoes now, rushing through her. For kneeling, prone before him and blinded by the silk Mizu finally enters her, smooth and easy like the feel of his lithe fingers moments ago but utterly filling as if another finger had joined, the pinch of him breaching her is only temporary, soon shifting into bliss.  

“Oh! Mizu!” She croons, nails digging into the futon beneath her, her eyes sliding shut as need and shame wrestled within her.

He pushes deeper into her, meeting her with every thrust as if frenzied. His hand on her hips squeeze, a branding thing as he kept her in place or perhaps wrestled within himself to reign control. The sound of her fills the quiet of the night, wet and soaking down between them until it coats the skin of her thighs and where his skin met hers. 

A low moan escapes Mizu from behind her, the sound smothered as if he had bit how own lip to prevent the sound from escaping. “Akemi.” He rasped, tone wrecked with want no blindfold could hide. “Spirits, you’re soaked.” 

“Yes.” She admits. “I’ve been wanting this for so long.” She continues, her voice wavering when he slides deeper into her. 

Her body shuddered at the sensation as if in agreement to her words, desire cresting like the fierce crash of waves against the shore. It has her fingers twist desperately into the futon beneath her, fighting for an anchor or something as sparks light up her spine every time he pushed into her. She can hear the slick slide as he pistons in and out of her, dragging himself deeper every time he sinks into her. She can do no more than surrender to it, coming apart beneath him as her arousal hits a sudden crescendo, gushing around him as her orgasm hits.

Suddenly boneless, she collapses against the plush futon beneath her, Mizu’s guiding hold slowing the sudden way her limbs refuse to hold her up a moment longer. She can feel him withdraw from her, can feel the gushing wetness trail down her thighs as he removes himself from her dripping cunt. Her breath caught in her throat at the sensation, gasping as the aftershocks shot shivers down her spine, muscles twitching in bursts she cant halt. 

Mizu’s lips sear against her shoulder, soothing even as it threatens to ignite the want still simmering like embers low within her. “Are you alright?” He questions, low and rasping against the curve of her spine. 

“Yes. More than alright.” She replies, a soft laugh tinged with disbelief escaping her.

“Good.” Mizu says, and the sound of shifting material that follows signals that he had rightened himself. 

Akemi almost jolts at the sudden feel of his hand at her face, the slickness of nothing over then arousal skimming against her lips before he works to untie the blindfold still colouring her world blue. She blinks against the sudden array of colour, her eyes darting to spot Mizu’s face painted warm by the light of the hearth still burning further in the room. 

“Easy.” He whispers, as if an attempt of soothing, for just what Akemi is not in the right mind to work out. 

The ethereal hue of blue is replaced with the familiar orange hue of flames now that the blindfold is removed from her. His own gaze roams over her face, as if searching for something in her expression alone. She ponders if he found it, he must have, for unable to resist a moment longer Mizu pulls her forward and Akemi follows willingly, dragged into another bruising kiss. It's as heated as their first brush of lips, the movement domineering as he holds her in place by her jaw. The rush of it mixes heady with her ebbing orgasm, reality dawning further as they part, the remaining embers of lust shifting to a distant simmer. 

As they part Akemi cant help but become aware of the sharp tug in her chest as she thought back to the hesitation whenever her attention crept too close to uncovering the silks and bandages wrapped around him. Would Mizu would ever let her see the real him? what is it that makes him so tentative, so unafraid to be seen? Wether without glasses or bandages or clothes. Even still cradling her face in his hand, he had never felt so far away. A shadow of something flashes across his own face, before he leans once more to kiss her. Softer, this time, shifting into something rawer and less heated. 

I promise. The kiss says between them, unafraid to voice what either of them felt. I promise you'll see me. 

Chapter Text

Akemi rouses to the soft sound of sparrows calling outside their residence. Is it the birds that woke her or the ghost of Mizu's kiss that graced her cheeks? In the soft moment between sleep or waking Akemi does not know if it is the remnants of a dream or reality. Still, the light of dawn enough to illuminate Mizu still sprawled beside her, and it seems he had awoken before her as his blue eyes met hers.

"Good morning." He rasps in greeting. 

Akemi leans closer, pressing against the warm of his side as she placed a kiss against the corner of his mouth. Mizu turns, his lips brushing against hers to capture her in a proper kiss. 

"Good morning." Akemi echoes in reply as they part. 

A hint of something you could call a smile ghosts across his expression, before the familiar stoic expression settles on his face. "We are to meet with the Shogun today." He states. 

It takes Akemi's sleep addled brain a moment to follow his words. "The shogun? Oh yes, we have yet to state our wedlock before him. When are we scheduled to do it?" She queries. 

"Midday." Mizu replies simply. 

Akemi runs her hands over the front of his kimono, feeling the bandages wrapped tight around his torso. "Plenty of time to stay in bed." She muses, hoping he gets the hint. 

"Oh?" Comes the hum of a response, amusement reflecting back at her in his gaze. "I have yet to practice my kata." He replies. 

Akemi tilts her head faintly, hoping the action is more endearing that it feels. "Just for a little?"

Mizu's gaze drops to the pout of her lips and down her jaw to the loose covering of her sleep silks. "Hmm, but I do them every morning." He insists, a grin curling his lips. 

"You would deny your wife affection?" She teases, her hands running over his chest. 

He shifts, rolling over until his hands settle solid on her hips, an echo of their love making the night before. "You are a temptress." Mizu says, the words fond as he gazed back at her. 

For a moment she expects him to make some snide commentary but instead his head drops to captures her in a kiss, slow yet firm in the motion of it, with the slide of his tongue against the seam of her lower lip prompting her to open up to him. Oh how she could spend the day here, pinned down by the heavy weight of him to bask in his warmth and the passion of his kiss. 

Too soon does he break the kiss between them, shifting to move away from her. Laying and left wanting amongst the blankets Akemi watches as Mizu rose from the futon, the light of the early morning sun lights him up in shades of soft yellow, the lean muscles decorating his shoulder and back still bound in white bandages. The sight is still striking, despite the cloth covering his form that her breath hitches as Mizu leans into a stretch that only highlights his hidden power. She almost has a plea escape her, please, please join me once more, but Mizu continues further into the room, glancing back as if to spy if she was still watching. 

Rising Akemi pauses before the bronze mirror eyeing herself in the metallic shine, taking note of the assortment of mottled marks where Mizu had kissed her skin the night before. “Did you have to place them so obviously?” She sighs in resignation. “No robes will hide this.” 

Mizu rose from his stretch, meeting her gaze through the mirror. “Apologies, dear wife, I must have got carried away.” He says, and although the words seem genuine enough there’s an edge to his tone that he was not quite apologetic as he claimed. Moving closer his hand trails against the swell of her hips, feather light as he moves to stand behind her. Mizu’s head drops to kiss apologetically at the tender skin of her neck against the constellation of marks he had worked into her skin during their love making. Akemi turns in his hold, lavishing kisses against the sharp curve of his jaw up towards his cheekbones. 

Mizu smiles, indulging her with a proper kiss before he lets her go. "Get dressed, I know it will take you time to get ready." He teases. 

Rolling her eyes, Akemi turns to asses her assortment of robes, her hands skimming over hues of green, to red to blue, unable to settle for each hue just doesn't seem quite right. Perhaps the pink robes? No, the yellow is to showy, orange... too frivolous. 

It seems that Mizu had lingered close by, for sometime in her staring he had come closer to inspect the robes she was sorting through with no luck. "What of this?" He questions, ghosting a hand over the violet hue of a robe before them. 

"Imperial." Akemi says, distracted in thought. Purple was a colour often associated with spirituality, nobility and wisdom and it would be a fitting colour to chose for a visit to the Shogun's court. 

Mizu nods, returning to once more run through the stances with practices ease. Akemi dresses in the silks he had chosen, aware of the way that the back of her neck and top of her shoulders can be seen with the cut of the robes. Once tied security, she moves to settle at her vanity to work on her makeup and Akemi can see Mizu dressing from the corner of her eye, a brush in hand as she applies the ivory paint to her skin. The familiar motion soothes the fraying nerves she has when envisioning the court, she did not regret her decision but the whispering around her had only grown as of late. 

Akemi nearly scoffs aloud at the reminder. When had she ever done what was proper? She had always toed that line of courtly lady for her mouth was often too sharp, her opinions too obvious. She had often drove Seki mad a child with her attitude, something he was never quite able nor willing to curb within her. Her gaze lingers on a dark mark at her collarbone as she applies to finishing touch to her red painted lips. She would show them just how pleased she was to bed the one they called an Onryō. 

As she rises from the vanity, Akemi finds Mizu waiting for her in his own robes. He had chosen grey silks, the hue almost like smoke or ash, so different to the usual oceanic hues he wore that Akemi smiles at the sight. 

"What is it?" He questions at her attention. 

"Do not look so troubled, dear husband." Akemi says lightly, coming closer to link her arm with his. 

A crease only deepens between his brow at her words. "Did I chose the wrong colour?" He questions, glancing down at his clothes. 

"No. It looks quite fetching." She admits, unable to resist placing a kiss against his cheek. 

There's a smudging of red where her lips painted his skin, the sight almost hidden by the sudden flush that works its way up. "Oh. Thank you." He replies stiffly. 

"Are you ready?" Akemi questions. 

Mizu nods, his hand raised to settle familiar glasses on the bridge of his nose and gone is the bright hue of his eyes as the amber lens mute them. It feels strange to view him through such a barrier when she had been spoiled to see him properly these past few days.

Oblivious to her thoughts Mizu leads her out of their resident and into the streets. They follow a familiar path to the Honmaru Palace going past elaborate gardens covering in a light dusting of snowfall, the greenery of the plants within waiting for the arrival of spring. With the weather so favourable it seemed that many of the nobles had ventured out to stroll around the grounds and meet with one another. 

Akemi spies some of the noble wives she had meet on her first day in Edo, the tense set of their faces as they eyed Mizu beside her betraying the tentative tolerance so many held towards her husband. Some of the noblemen looked downright hostile as they watched Mizu pass by, their lips curled in angry snarls as their hands balled into fists at their side. A cowardly part of her wishes absently that she was able to walk faster in the traditional sandals she had chosen to wear just to escape the hostile looks they were generating. 

As she chances a glance towards Mizu beside her, he seemed utterly ignorant to the looks he was generating and if Akemi did not know him better than the act would have been fooling. Although, after being around him for so long, she can see the faint tension in his jaw as if he was clenching it at their attention. With no hat to shield him from their stares and only a pair of glasses to hide the foreign hue of his eyes Akemi can understand how he could feel exposed in such a situation.  

The Honmaru Palace grows closer, Mizu guides her before him as the golden entry way greets them, the ornate awnings gleaming in the early light. It is only the grounding feel of Mizu's hand against the small of her back that has her resolve harden as they enter the hall. The courtly patrons around them eye them upon entry, some of the men closest to her staring at her like meat despite the looming presence of Mizu behind her. 

"An Onryō's wife!" Someone exclaims, the words echoing as a hushed silence befalls the hall. 

If they weren't looking before then they certainly would now for at the words it seemed like they had gained the attention of most of the room. Their gaze linger on her, speaking behind hands as the whisper to one another as they critique her outfit and spy the marks visible on her skin. There was no denying it, it was a clear show with the kiss marks donning the lines of her collarbone and to the splattering of marks dotting her shoulders like constellations. There was no denying just what they were here to do, the exclamation only confirmed it. 

Akemi raises her head high under their hateful gaze, refusing to be contrite as she is guided by Mizu through the halls and the crowd parts around them, opening the path towards where the Shogun's court was held. There's guards at the door who simply eye them as they let them pass.

Inside the room Akemi's gaze settle on a golden depictions shine upon the walls of a phoenix and a dragon entwined, the gold inlay glinting under the lamplight. At her back, Mizu's hand presses insistently and it jolts Akemi into the present to spot the Shogun awaiting them. Instinctively she moves to kneel the wooden floor hard beneath her as she bows her head in reverence. With her gaze dropped to the mats before them, she can spy Mizu echo her movement as he shifts to kneel beside her. 

Once, all those years ago under Seki's tutelage she would have trained to fit the etiquette of such courts, so the motion to kneel is almost second nature as Akemi holds the familiar position under the Shogun's watchful gaze, acutely aware of the low back of her kimono that is stained with marks. She felt bared, like an artwork under inspection even with the violet hues of her robes vibrant against her pale skin that she cant help but fret at her choice of showing off quite so much. There was no questioning the status of their consummation. It felt victorious to do, if not hasty and no doubt Seki would berate her for such a bold and thoughtless decision if he were here. 

“Shogun Ito, we have come to announce our marriage.” Mizu announced into the tense atmosphere of the room, his tone firm as he knelt before the grand seat before them. 

As Akemi lifted her gaze just so that she spies the furious edge to the Shoguns expression that he couldn't or perhaps wouldn’t hide. In his hands their offical documents rests and he glances down at as if perusing its contents. "I thought perhaps you never going to announce it." Shogun Ito states and the tone, although pleasant enough is infused with a hint of goading Akemi does not want to acknowledge. 

"With your banquet and subsequent gatherings I am afraid the notion slipped my mind." Mizu replies cooly. 

Akemi drops her gaze back down to stare at the woven tatami mats before her. "We are gracious to your hosting, my Lord, and to have taken the time to allow an audience with us." Akemi states, her eyes still firm on the floor before her. Mizu although intelligent lacked the etiquette of speech used in the courts and although highly unusual Akemi would speak if given the chance even in such a move was often frowned upon. 

It seems that her contribution to the conversation had switched his gaze from Mizu to hers in a brief reprieve. "I heard that your poetry reciting was successful." The shogun says. "I have heard much praise for you skill." 

"Thank you, my lord." Akemi replies. 

"My son spoke very highly of you." He admits suddenly. "A shame, that my letters had not reached you sooner."

His letters. There was only one thing he must be referring to and that was betrothal letters. Akemi finds her mouth has run dry as she tries to swallow against the lump in her throat. "I am grateful that I was considered a worthy candidate." She says. 

Her hands nearly grip the silk of her lap in a bid to ground herself, breathing in shakily through her nose as nerves burst within her. Thankfully Mizu had remained silent throughout the exchange, a stoic expression on his features when Akemi had risked a glance his way. 

"There is no questioning the status of your wedlock." Shogun Ito says as the silence lingers a beat too long between them. "I wish you a long and prosperous marriage." He continues, lips curling as he speaks. 

Akemi once more bows lowly. "Thank you, my lord." 

"Thank you, Shogun Ito." Mizu echoes stiffly. 

Shogun Ito's gaze is heavy as he watches them rise, and Akemi knows that training has her rise gracefully but internally she feels as if she had fled the room on unsteady legs. There is no reprieve from the tense atmosphere as Akemi makes her way outside the room for the nobles gathered in the halls glare out of them with thinly veiled distain. Mizu is close behind, his palm splayed over her back grounding amongst the sudden hostilities.  

Someone nearby pushed off the wall he had lent against at their arrival to the next hall, attempting to intercepting them as they moved through the palace. Mizu spares them a glance, having spotted the movement with his surveying glance but simply continues walking through the hall, urging Akemi along with a from press of his hand. She can hear the frustration in the crowd around them who mutter under their breath as they trail behind them.

"Mizu, is that wise to-" Her words falter, jostled as a man suddenly reached out from the crowd to grasp Mizu by the arm and halt him in his stride. 

Even behind amber glasses, there is no denying the flash of anger within Mizu's eyes. "Remove your hand. Now." He threatens.

The sword hung on his hip is deterrent alone but paired with the simmering anger on his face this person was truly daring to reach out. The figure does not cower under his glare either ignorant of stupid enough not to heed Mizu's warning for what it was.

"We need to talk. In private." They insist. 

The tension in Akemi's shoulders relax as she recognised the voice of man before them. "Taigen!" She exclaims, the lecture on the tip of her tongue until she spies the subtle movement as Taigen eyes the restless crowd watching them nervously. "Perhaps we should listen to him." Akemi suggests. 

"Fine." Mizu relents flatly, having come to a similar feeling on being crowded in as they were. "Come, the forge is not too far from here." 

Mizu pushes his way forwards ahead of them as he leads the way through the parting crowd, glancing back to make sure Akemi was following as they moved to exit the Honmaru Palace. As Akemi glances back at Taigen trailing behind them, she cant help but be reminded of the gaunt expression that had etched itself upon his features the days after their ruined engagement. There's a troubles edge to his eyes, a paranoia he cant hide as he glances warily to the crowds watching them. 

"What has happened?" Akemi questions softly as the nobles milling around them thin down more and more. 

Something short of a scoff escapes him. "Am I that obvious?" Taigen drawls, shoulders bunched uncomfortably under her inquisitive gaze. 

"No, you just look like you did that night." She replies, a nostalgic edge to her tone that she cant hide as she gazes back at him. 

Taigen glances away from her with a grimace and there was no hiding just what night she was referring too, his defeat at the Shindo Dojo. It seemed that she had unwittingly twisted an old wound if the uneasy expression on his face was anything to go by. With Taigen having gone stubbornly silent Akemi brought her attention back to the path before them, watching as the forge crept closer amongst the thickening of the forestland around them as they arrive at the outskirts of the Edo gardens.

With the forge a pace or so away Mizu halts them, his attention lingering insistently on Taigen as he speaks. "We are alone now, so talk." Mizu says. 

A furrow settles between Taigen's brow as he focused on a space out in the snowy wilderness around them. "The night of the banquet when you had retuned home I happened to overhear something I wasnt meant too." Taigen admits. "Word of a figure requested by the Shogun who was delayed in his travel with the heavy snowfall these past few weeks. A figure who is only allowed to travel to the castle upon escort by a clan. It seems that guns and opium are part of the picture, not only that but a culling that was meant to be orchestrated the day of the performances but was abandoned shortly after."

"A trap?" Akemi gasps.

"It wasnt just myself who had been unlucky enough to overhear such treason, Ise and other prostitutes serving men in the surrounding rooms had become potentially privy to information not common knowledge. These men had deals with the Shogun, groups of them walking through the halls and none of them were keen to let any information be overheard. Soon enough I heard them slaughter innocent girls in the surrounding rooms, the blood staining the mats as they killed men and women without discrimination." 

"Who orchestrated it?" Mizu demands. 

Taigen sighs in resignation. "I cannot say for sure but Heiji Shindo was there, I don't know if he lead this but he certainly had a hand in it." Taigen reveals. "They are planning something, whatever that may be, something big enough that this mysterious guest they are escorting is to bring reinforcements with them." 

"How do you know it was Heiji there?" Mizu questions. 

"I ran into him." Taigen admits. "I wasn't able to escape with Ise in time as Heiji was right outside our door, accompanied by goons with bloodies swords threatening us." 

"So how did you manage to escape?" Mizu questions. 

"I reminded Heiji of his debt to you and he let me go, on the account that I would share none of this with you." Taigen says, letting out a scoff at the notion. "No doubt he will have my head when he finds you hunting him, I was the only one they let live amongst those unfortunate to witness his schemes." 

Akemi frowns at his words. "He plans to get rid of his possible non-followers?" She questions. 

"And Heiji doesn't want Mizu to know it." Taigen states.

Mizu nods deep in thought at the confirmation. "Your words confirms that Heiji ist be working with someone else, not only Fowler but someone here... you mentioned the shogun, is he the one orchestrating it all?" Mizu ponders. 

"They certianly didn't want any word to reach him." Taigen admits. "I only saw Heiji Shindo, the other men he was with were not known to me." 

Silence settles between them, all of them heavy in thought. 

"Why tell me all of this?" Mizu queries at last. "You could have let him come after us, snuck out into the night and freed from my contract when they cut me down." 

"Bushido code, besides, perhaps this information could aid you in your business and we could finally battle like we planned." Taigen says simply

Loyalty. Akemi can see it now through the apathetic front Taigen wore he was heeled at Mizu's feet wether he knew it or not. The contract penned between them constantly pulling him back into a partnership he had no wish for. At least, one he did not wish for at first. 

Something about his words cause Mizu's lips to twitch into a smirk. “Like sword-father one told me, revenge is like gold it does not rust. Although we wait to fulfil your contract, it seems mine is to be fulfilled. It has been too long since I have focused on business but I am ready.” Mizu says. 

"Do you even know what you're up against?" Taigen queries before a sigh escapes him. "Who am I kidding, you're just as impulsive as ever. I regret ever agreeing to your contract." 

Mizu tilts his head to catch his eye pointedly. "Would you prefer me to wait until he makes the move to kill us? Don't complain to me when you find your blood staining the tatami mat." Mizu says snidely. 

"Some planning would be nice." Taigen retorts. 

This time Akemi sighs at their bickering. Her hand skims over Mizu's shoulder, pulling Mizu's attention towards her with the motion. "How about we keep a low profile these next few days and come up with a plan?" She suggests, the words pitches sweetly like Seki had taught her all those years ago.  

Conflict wars across Mizu's features, his jaw jumping with the force of biting his tongue. At Mizu's accepting silence, Taigen's eyes glint with amusement as he notes Mizu's lack of commentary. "If only I knew this trick for having you behave, to have Akemi ask so sweetly." He says mockingly. 

The flash of Mizu's responding grin is edged with too much teeth to anything less than threatening. "Do not count yourself lucky, for if my wife was not here as witness I would paint the snow red." Mizu says. 

"Whatever, Mizu. Your threats are worthless, you need me and you know it." Taigen boasts. 

Akemi shakes her head at his words, the pins in her hair chiming with the motion. "Quiet, both of you. Is it agreed that we will regroup in the coming days?" 

"Yes. Two days is all I need until Shindo will meet my blade." Mizu says curtly. 

"Taigen?" Akemi prompts, hoping the smile she sends his way is convincing enough. 

"Two days is hardly enough time to flesh out every move but spirits knows two is better than Mizu chasing after him tonight." Taigen says at last. "So yes, if I am bound by a contract to follow him into a death trap then two days will have to be enough." 

A pleases smile flashes across her features at the confirmation and glancing between them, she absently ponders how easy it was to convince them with a smile and a timely prompt. "Good, that settles it." She says. 

"As long as Mizu refrains from doing something rash." Taigen whines, and the resulting frustrated look Taigen throws Mizu's way does not fill her with confidence. 

It seems she had spoken too soon, for it seems that this discussion would be longer than she first thought.