InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Perfect Reflection ❯ Chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )

CHAPTER 4:

 

It was only a week after Izayoi returned from Inu no Taishou's castle that she received word from Setsuna no Takemaru. Her last communiqué from him had suggested that the war would not be over for at least a half a year. This letter - delivered by a horsed samurai under Takemaru's colors - said that he would be home within the month.

 

But it was not the fact that he would be home within the month that surprised her, it was the fact that he would be bringing the lord of the opposing land and his daughter that surprised her. Izayoi assumed there had been some kind of truce, but she wasn't sure what this meant for her people. Or herself…

 

With most of the castle servants and surrounding villages repopulated after the trouble with Oyakata, Izayoi began preparations for honored guests. She had all the wood scrubbed over and buffed, the gardens tended twice a day, the blood on the entrance washed, and all the linens and rooms cleaned for a large entourage. After Sugimi had stayed the night in the lord's rooms, Izayoi had taken them as her own, as they surely would be if she married Takemaru.

 

That particular problem had haunted her for weeks, but she would simply have to tell him that she couldn't marry him. There was no way to force her, for she could escape with Sugimi if left with no other option. It didn't suit her to do this however, and she hoped Takemaru would respect her and her decision.

 

Nevertheless, Izayoi decided to give the visiting lord the honor of her father's chambers. She reclaimed her old ones, and made sure to have rooms cleaned for Takemaru and the visiting lord's entourage. Preparing the castle was a lot of work, and Izayoi had her hands full. She had the stores replenished by purchasing supplies from neighboring fiefdoms and aired some of the castle's more impressive antiques, scrolls, swords, and paintings.

 

By the time the first wave of homecoming soldiers was sighted, Izayoi had returned to castle to a glory it had not seen for many decades when her mother's family ruled. Soldiers returned to their families and became farmers once more. It was the natural way. The entourage of Lord Kazehimi was sizable, but Izayoi was confident that her castle could accommodate them. They had brought many of their own supplies, thinking the castle would not be well stocked enough to take care of additional guests. Izayoi was grateful, for she was not sure how long she could sustain them. She had been generous with the villagers when they chose to flee for the mountains.

 

Izayoi had bathed earlier that day, for that night she would meet Sugimi the Great Dog Demon with the full moon. She had hoped Takemaru wouldn't arrive for another week or so, but a currier gave the news and she was forced to greet her new guests earlier than she expected.

 

The sun was just setting over the garden - a sight she loved most about her home - when the guests arrived. Izayoi watched as Lord Kazehimi rode horseback next to Takemaru. The rest of Lord Kazehimi's generals rode behind them, and after them was a small litter. Enough for one noblewoman, Izayoi thought. She had her suspicions about such a woman, perhaps because of how women were treated in times of war. As bartering tools. Izayoi frowned briefly, but put on a serious, polite face as her guests approached.

 

Lord Kazehimi was older with white in his hair. He had a permanent frown on his face, and his brows were knitted together tightly. Setsuna no Takemaru had aged since she saw him. Perhaps aged wasn't a good word, because he looked almost the same. He looked as if a great weight had landed on him and never been taken off. His eyes were hard, but she searched them and found something sad inside, like his youthful fire had died. Finally, Izayoi examined the young daughter of Lord Kazehimi, Ayumi. She was, of course, terribly beautiful. She had long black-brown hair and brown eyes, and wore gorgeous, richly decorated blue kimono. She couldn't have been anymore than thirteen.

 

Once the party was on the terrace, Izayoi bowed respectfully. “Welcome, my Lord Kazehimi! Your presence honors this castle.” She bowed again.

 

“As we are honored to be your guests, Lady Izayoi,” he replied stiffly.

 

Izayoi smiled softly. “Please, allow my servants to escort you to your rooms. You must be terribly tired after your journey.”

 

Lord Kazehimi nodded briefly and was followed by some of his companions. Izayoi lowered her head and waited for the entourage to pass.

 

“Iz - Lady Izayoi,” she heard Takemaru say softly. She glanced up at him and saw pain in his eyes. “I must speak with you…alone.”

 

Out of the corner of her eye, Izayoi saw Ayumi approach with a frown. “Take-chan,” she said informally, now smiling sweetly. “You promised to show me the gardens when we arrived.”

 

Izayoi could hear the youth in the girl's voice. And the jealousy. Izayoi forced herself not to smile. “Perhaps we could take tea together tomorrow morning, Takemaru-san,” she offered. After all, it had been almost three years, and they were still good friends. Good friends could still talk. And hopefully he could understand why she could no longer marry him.

 

Takemaru glanced guiltily at Ayumi. “Tomorrow then,” he agreed.

 

Izayoi smiled. “Two and a half years is much too long, my friend,” she said softly, briefly setting her hand on his forearm. She bowed. “Setsuna no Takemaru. Lady Ayumi.”

 

Then she departed to help prepare for dinner.

 

 

Izayoi threw a black cloak over her lavender kimono and slipped out of her room. She was terrified that she would be late, but she had to wait for the cover of nightfall. The moon hadn't quite risen, so it was relatively dark. She didn't know how she was noticed.

 

“Izayoi!” It was Takemaru. “Wait!”

 

She lowered her hood and turned to face him. He wore a simple pair of blue hakama pants and a full, white shirt. His face was full of sadness and worry. These emotions - so foreign on his face - caused Izayoi to stop more than anything else.

 

He frowned. “Where are you going?”

 

Lowering her head, Izayoi closed her eyes. “I have…a prior engagement, Takemaru-san. I cannot stay.”

 

He was silent.

 

Izayoi grew worried. “Takemaru-san…my dear friend…” she began quietly. “Please, tell me what is troubling you. It is as if you carry a thousand worries on your back…”

 

He snorted. “Izayoi. You're as poetic and observant as always.” She gazed into his dark, hidden eyes to see sadness. “You're more beautiful than I remember.”

 

“Takemaru…” she murmured.

 

She watched Takemaru swallow. “That's why it hurts me so much to tell you this…” His face grew stern. “I cannot marry you, Izayoi.”

 

Unbidden, a hand went to Izayoi's mouth in astonishment. He grabbed her by the shoulders, his eyes full of grief and guilt. “We were losing so horribly, Izayoi! Men were dying of starvation more than battle! I had to run up the flag of truce, though it cost us dearly. It cost you and I so much…” His voice grew quiet. “I'm taking Lady Ayumi as my wife. She and I will be lord and lady…not us.”

 

Izayoi frowned. “You can't inherit this castle, these lands, unless you marry me, Takemaru-san.”

 

“But if I don't take them in your name,” he said gravely, “Lork Kazehimi will give them to one of his generals. We would both be without a home. At least this way we can still be together… We could…” He stopped, looking down.

 

“No, Takemaru-san,” Izayoi replied. “We could not.”

 

A great silence passed between them before Takemaru sighed.

 

“You will retain your rooms and servants, and you'll instruct Lady Ayumi in her duties as lady of the castle until she is old enough to do so herself. You'll have complete freedom to travel, if you wish, once Lady Ayumi is competent. You could go to the continent for your mother. You could go to the nunnery. But…” he fell silent again.

 

Izayoi nodded in understanding. “I could never marry or produce an heir,” she finished for him.

 

His dark eyes met hers, and it seemed she had never seen him so torn. He always knew what he wanted. He was always firm and unyielding. “Never,” he confirmed.

 

A thousand thoughts flew through her head, and she saw the moon peek over the village in the distance. “We will talk on this tomorrow, Takemaru-san. I must leave.”

 

He looked as if he would ask her where she was going, but he hung his head instead and didn't say a word as she left.