Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Kazemaru and Miharu ❯ Chapter 36

The next morning, they set off after a light breakfast. They had worked out the details the night before, wrapped in the security of each other's arms. They would proceed much as they had the last time. Kaze dropped her off a short distance from the castle, keeping to the trees as she walked up the main path.

 

“Halt!” called the captain of the guard. “Announce yourself!” He gave no sign of recognizing her. In truth, she looked very different, dressed in peasant maternity clothes.

 

“I am Miharu, daughter of Lord Nakamura!” she called up cheerily. “I ask to speak with him.”

 

There was a murmur of surprise among the guards and a messenger was sent to the lord. An awkward silenced stretched out they awaited his return, but eventually the call to open the gates was given. But, rather than seeing her father, Miharu was greeted by the sight of a young woman accompanied by two guards. Her hair was a light brown-black, and she carried herself with the grace of someone destined to greatness from an early age. Miharu realized with a start this was her father's new wife. She wore a fine kimono that had belonged to her mother, and looked to be a year or so younger than Miharu herself. It was very unsettling.

 

But the beatific smile on the Lady Nakamura's face set Miharu at ease. “Miharu, my darling,” she said, enveloping her in a warm embrace. “I have wanted to meet you so very much!”

 

Miharu halted a moment, shocked. She had expected to be taken back, but begrudgingly, not with open arms. The young woman only continued to beam. “How are you?” she asked kindly.

 

“I—I'm alright,” she stammered, and then regained her composure. “My marriage goes well.”

 

There was only a flicker of surprise on the Lady's face. “Well, that is certainly a blessing!” She paused a moment, unsure of how to proceed, and then let out a pretty little laugh. “Oh, I'm sorry, here I know your name and you don't know mine! I am Michiyo, your father's new bride.”

 

“How is father?” Miharu asked, anxious. She was concerned why he would send his wife in his place.

 

Michiyo's face fell. “I'm afraid that today finds him…unwell. I can take you to see him if you like, but it might be upsetting.”

 

Miharu nodded gravely. “I would like that, but first perhaps I should say why I've come.”

 

Michiyo smiled again. “I have to admit, I am awfully curious, if you say your marriage is going well…”

 

Miharu grinned smugly. “Very well, in fact. I have returned for my laying-in.”

 

Michiyo's face did not waver. “Laying… in…?” she repeated.

 

“Yes,” she placed a hand delicately on her stomach in the eternal gesture of the mother-to-be. “I am with child.”

 

A fine sheen of perspiration appeared on Michiyo's forehead, but she did her best to remain composed. “And your husband… wishes you to return?”

 

Miharu sighed. “He's not particularly happy with it, but I told him it was the custom, and he wished that I be somewhere that I would be well taken care of, come time for the arrival. You can meet him if you like.”

 

Although Michiyo's eyes never left Miharu's, the guards shifted uneasily and looked around. “I am very honored, but I do believe it would upset the guards.” She smiled and rolled her eyes. “Men…”

 

Miharu chuckled nervously, slowly realizing that Michiyo was perhaps a little too tactful to be trustworthy. She seemed a kind spirit, though. “Come, let us get you settled in,” she offered, taking hold of Miharu's arm gently.

 

Miharu didn't move. “Before I go, you must agree to one thing,” she warned.

 

Michiyo paused, waiting patiently.

 

“As long as I am able, I must be allowed to leave these walls once a month in order that my husband may see that I am alright.”

 

Michiyo grinned. “Of course. And since it's still nice out, I suppose we can have you outside every so once and a while so he can catch a glimpse of you.”

 

Miharu raised her eyebrows. Michiyo was more insightful than she could have guessed. “That would be good…” she agreed.

 

“Now don't you worry a thing,” Michiyo said, her voice raised in volume to carry through the woods. “I assure you that I will do everything in my power to see that you and your,” her hesitation was hardly noticeable, “child will be well taken care of.”

 

With that, Miharu allowed herself to be led into the grounds, and the doors of the gate were closed behind her. She had a momentary sensation of being trapped before she realized the gates were hardly an obstacle for Kaze, and forced her heart to calm down.

 

Michiyo took her directly to Kaito, as promised. He was in the audience chamber, sitting at his desk and staring blindly at the far wall.

 

“Donna-sama,” Michiyo said softly while graciously sitting next to him. “Your daughter has come to visit us.”

 

His head only turned a fraction towards her. “I have a daughter?” he asked.

 

“Yes, my lord, Miharu,” she explained patiently.

 

“That's right… Miharu… my little one lost. Gone with the wind, gone like the leaves….” He shook his head and began to pick at a corner of the desk.

 

“Well,” Michiyo said cheerily. “Like the leaves in spring, she has returned to give new life.”

 

“New life…” Kaito mused, and then patted her hand as if she were the unstable one, finally looking at her. “You must be jealous.”

 

Michiyo had the sense to blush but said nothing. She merely rose as gracefully as she had sat, and gestured for Miharu to follow her out. In all that time he had never even acknowledged her presence.

 

“He's not always like that,” Michiyo said softly. “He just has bad days sometimes. They come out of nowhere, for no reason. He just sits and stares.” She sighed. “I don't think he's mad, really, I think he just loses himself in his thoughts sometimes. And really,” she allowed her a bit of a grimace, “it was probably best you came when he was like this. I can say he welcomed you in and he'll never go against his own word.”

 

Miharu was once more surprised by Michiyo's assessment of the situation. “I have to ask… you certainly seem to understand the situation I am in. Why are you helping me so much?”

 

Michiyo smiled sadly, and chuckled in a way that practically broke Miharu's heart. “Before I was wed to your father, I had been married to a young samurai. It was an arranged marriage, like this one, but we'd been promised since childhood, and had long since grown accustomed to the idea, and, I dare say fallen in love. But we only had a little girl, and when Lord Nakamura requested my hand, Jomon could do nothing but divorce me and hand me over obediently.”

 

Miharu stared in shock. “What happened to your daughter?”

 

Michiyo looked to the south wistfully. “She stayed with her father, of course. I have proven my fertility, you see, but she's not an heir. It's alright,” she put a hand on Miharu's shoulder at her horrified expression. “He has a good family, and they love her dearly. I'm sure she'll want for nothing. And, should I outlive Nakamura, I'm sure they'll let me go back.”

 

Considering the age difference, that was highly likely, if she didn't conceive an heir in the meantime. “So you see, I'm helping you because I envy your courage, how you fought against everything to be with the one you love.”

 

Miharu felt a grin creep across her face. Her new step-mother was a hopeless romantic! Somewhere, the gods were looking out for her.

 

Michiyo led her to her old rooms, which had been shut up, the blinds removed and the doors in poor condition.

 

“Now,” she said thoughtfully. “It will take some tidying up, but you can stay with me until it's ready.” She put a finger to her lips in a thoughtful gesture. “We'll have to get the blinds put back up, of course, and a number of screens, and a nice dais for you to rest on.” She paused, thinking. “Am I forgetting anything?”

 

Miharu bit her lip. “When I lived here… before… I owned a 13 string koto. I don't suppose it's still here?”

 

Michiyo's face lit up. “Oh, yes, I know the one! I can't play it, I learned the flute instead. It's probably horribly out of tune…” she trailed off, distracted. “Great Kami, I know what I've forgotten!” she laughed. “Handmaids! You'll need a full cortege, I imagine—”

 

Miharu put a hand on her arm to stop her stepmother. “That… won't be necessary. I'm sure a nursemaid or two will be perfectly adequate.” She smiled with a hint of pride. “I've grown accustomed to taking care of myself.”

 

Michiyo turned to her, looking concerned. She didn't object, but she eyed her stepdaughter's clothes with an air of pity, and fingered the frayed edge of her sleeve. “Yes. I imagine it's been quite hard…”

 

Miharu fought between being offended and laughing. “Not so much as you think.” She tilted her head up a little. “The only hardship I've had to face was boredom when my lord husband was gone.”

 

“But your clothes…” Michiyo lamented before she could stop herself.

 

At this, Miharu did laugh. “Oh, this is just a hand-me-down maternity kimono. I didn't have any of those I assure you. But at home I have 59 kimonos, most of the highest quality.”

 

Michiyo's eyebrows shot up, and she looked as if she didn't quite buy her story. Miharu could understand, it was an inordinate amount of clothes.

 

“Hm,” was all she said for a moment. “Well, it will be getting cold, soon. Perhaps you should send word to your husband to send a few along as over coats?”

 

Miharu allowed herself a moment of embarrassment. “I hadn't even thought of that. To tell you the truth, I wasn't completely sure I would be accepted.”

 

Michiyo's face softened, her face lined with pity and guilt. “Of course we would, my dear. You're family.”

 

 

 

Miharu's laying-in proceeded far better than she could have expected. Her room was done up with a great deal of taste and consideration. She made fast friends with Michiyo, who was careful to remain on equal terms with her new step-daughter. Miharu found in her a level of understanding she had missed in her handmaidens. If only Emi had seen things the way Michiyo does…. She would think. But, she remembered, it was not good to dwell on such things.

 

As Michiyo had suggested, Miharu sent a letter to Kazemaru in the way she had secretly done in the past. Michiyo was fascinated by this method, and impressed with it's cleverness. The next day, Miharu found a package containing 3 of her finer kimonos inside the gazebo closet, and she couldn't help but smile, remembering.

 

Weeks past, and Miharu grew fat and happy. Whenever it was nice enough, she spent her time out of doors. Her first month's visit with Kaze was conducted secretly at night, and without her father's knowledge. Michiyo promised to “distract” him at the time, and as the guards seemed more loyal to her than Kaito, it went smoothly. Kazemaru was well pleased with the progress of things, and happy to admit that he was wrong.

 

Kaito, on the other hand, was in deep turmoil. He sat one day, watching out the window as his sweet bride and that girl laughed and played music together. Why on earth had he allowed her to return? He had large gaps in his memory, but Michiyo had assured him that he had been most welcoming. He was sure he had some sort of ulterior motive, at least that seemed the only logical reason to do such a thing, but he could not remember what it was. The idea had been bugging him since he had become aware of her return, and had consumed his lucid moments.

 

His reverie was distracted by the entrance of a messenger. He thought to rebuke him—he didn't like to be disturbed at this time of day—but then noticed the messenger's livery.

 

“The shogun sends you good news,” The messenger said formally. “He requests the presence of you and your family in the capital. You may find the details here.” With a deep, crisp bow, the man handed over a letter with the seal of the shogunate on it. Kaito took it, his face creased with interest.

 

He broke the seal and quickly scanned the first few lines. After reading them, he slowed down and began to really soak in the scope of what the shogun was suggesting—no ordering—his daimyo to do. It rankled a bit, but even Kaito could see the advantage of the system. Besides, Edo was only 40 miles away, a journey there would be short and inexpensive for him.

 

The messenger cleared his throat delicately, and Kaito remembered his presence. He waved his hand at him dismissively. “If you go to the kitchen they will get you some food and an overcoat or something.”

 

The man made his deep, crisp bow again and left. Nakamura finished reading through the letter, and read it again. It would certainly change things, but not necessarily for the worse. The shogunate had decided that the families of all daimyo should live in Edo. The daimyo themselves would alternate years spent in the capital and in their holdings. Coupled with the switching of forces, this would make it nearly impossible for any daimyo to rise up against the shogun. His forces would be more loyal to the capital than the province, and the shogun could easily hold the daimyo's family hostage until he agreed to stand down.

 

But despite the political motivations, it was not a bad idea. In this way, the families of daimyo would all be in close connection with each other, facilitating marriage contracts and providing the women with much needed social interaction to occupy them. It was an exquisite plan. Kaito shook his head. “Great Kami, Ieyasu,” he murmured, “is there any force that can stop you? Surely the Tokugawa name will go down in the history books.” He chuckled.

 

A glance out the window sobered his mood, though. He certainly wouldn't be taking that girl with him, but this may serve to his advantage. Without Michiyo hovering over her, accidents could happen. Kaito smiled. Yes, this was a very good turn of events indeed.

 

 

 

Despite how much he missed Miharu, Kaze felt a sense of calm as time went on. Miharu had proved him wrong, and Michiyo had been a blessing. When the weather permitted, he could glimpse the two of them walking outdoors or playing music on the familiar gazebo. As Miharu found it more difficult to move around, she would write him letters, Michiyo more than happy to take them outside to the wind. She reported that she was doing well, and that Michiyo suspected she might be having twins, as her stomach had grown rather larger than expected considering the time frame.

 

When he received word that Michiyo and Kaito would be leaving for the capital, he was very concerned. Miharu was brought out on a litter for her monthly visit, likely the last until after the birth, and Kaze was half tempted to take her away then and there.

 

Miharu just smiled her lazy, happy, pregnant smile. “Oh, koishii. You worry too much. Michiyo commands far more loyalty from the servants and guards than my father. They say you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. I'm sure in their absence I will be just as well cared for. I will miss her, but we had to part ways at some point.”

 

Kaze frowned and readjusted his ear on Miharu's stomach, trying to see if he could hear two heartbeats. The faint fluttering he could detect was so quick it was difficult to say. Miharu ran her fingers through his hair. “Besides, I had thought you would be glad to know I wouldn't be near to my father.”

 

At that, he sat up. “You have a point. He doesn't sound stable, and I wouldn't want him going berserk and doing something… stupid,” he growled.

 

Miharu just smiled wider. “See? Everything will be just fine. Don't worry.” She chewed her lip a moment. “It's just… while they're traveling, I worry about what might happen to Michiyo. You don't suppose you could… I don't know… keep an eye out for them, do you?”

 

Kaze sighed heavily. “I suppose I could pass word to my vassals to ensure they're not… harassed. But once they pass Kamakura, I have no power to protect them.

 

She nodded, grateful. “Thank you so much. It means a lot to me.”

 

Before she left, Kazemaru held her as tightly as he dared, and whispered a warning to the child to behave, which made Miharu giggle. He watched her proceed back into the palace with a rising sense of dread, which he brushed off as fear for her health through the delivery.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AN

 

Please try to understand if there's a long delay between this chapter and the next, I find it a bit intimidating to write! Once I get past that point, though, the rest of the story should be fairly easy to write. I have it all planned out in my head, and I can only hope that you will all like it!

 

Michiyo is particularly fun to write. When I began this story, Miharu was supposed to be based off myself. In retrospect, I see just how naïve and innocent I was at 17! Michiyo is more how I am now, open minded and understanding, and a bit more mature. She isn't really younger than Miharu, she just looks that way—I look for all the world like I'm 16, which is 5 years younger than I really am!

 

Anyway, I will endeavor to persevere and crank out that next chapter! As always, comments are my joy and happiness.