Chapter Text
Goro first realised that something was amiss when his Daidoji friend, standing next to him, stiffened. It was well into a standard Kiri no Machian court event, and he and Tetsunotaka had been lurking behind a pillar, next to a silk screen embroidered with images of cranes in flight, taking a break from having to play courtier games. Goro had been focused on enjoying the buzz from the shoju, the flavour of the various small savouries he had picked up from the table of food, and the entertaining spectacle across the room of Doji Kuoshi telling a story of some kind. His cheeks were flushed with the wine he had consumed, and he was using his hands to illustrate his tale. A circle of samurai had formed around him and the emotions generated by his tale had been rippled across their faces. Jiromasu and Kagami were part of the crowd, and Kagami had been spell-bound, eyes wide. The story had come to an end and it had clearly had a melancholy ending; Kagami was clinging to Jiromasu’s arm and light caught the glistening trail of a tear down her cheek. The Kakita turned to look down at her, then smiled, reaching out to brush the tear away with his thumb. She blinked, then gave a little laugh, quickly reaching up to dash the last of the moisture away before joining in with the applause.
Tetsunotaka being suddenly on alert sent a frisson of concern through Goro and he immediately began to pay more attention to their surroundings. The big man’s eyes were still fixed on Kagami, but his gaze was somewhat abstracted, so Goro focused on what he could hear in the buzz of conversation around them.
“I had always thought she favoured that massive Daidoji.” The voice was female, languid, and slurred a little with drink. “Not to my taste. I prefer them with more presence. His time with the Crab really did him no favours there. And far too large. Graceful enough when he’s using a sword, granted, but he looms in a court setting.”
“Oh no, I have it on good authority that those two are far closer than they should be,” This voice was male and gleeful. “I’d imagine the families would be pleased to join the estates and strengthen the ties, but there’s more to it than that. You saw them just now. Merely watch them for an evening and you can see it.”
Goro’s eyebrows rose as he realised who the two unseen courtiers were speaking about, and he shot another glance at his friend. Tetsunotaka’s expression was darkening.
“He is her cousin as well as her yojimbo, Chen-san. It only makes sense that they are easy in each other’s company. He was telling me that they spent nearly half their time together as children.”
“Yes, I can’t imagine a circumstance that could be more convenient for them to be able to indulge in such behaviour. And he’s a personable and attractive man. Just look at how many samurai-ko, Crane and Phoenix both, have tried to catch his interest. He’s turned you all down, hasn’t he?”
“Well, I don’t know about all of us,” the woman’s voice was petulant. “I still think he ended up in bed with that Doji he championed, the one who is slated to have stewardship of Kosaten after Asako Kazuki-sama finally retires.”
“Why go looking for it elsewhere when you have it right to hand?” The man gave a little laugh. “But maybe he did. Maybe that’s why Doji Uki-sama gave her administration of that village… payment for services rendered to a favourite. I understand that’s why the Lion negotiations for her hand failed; Jiromasu-san objected to her being sent away. I would think that his family would be pursuing the match between them, but perhaps he doesn’t think there is any need when he already has ready access without putting any restrictions on his own future prospects. If she’s married internal to the clan, he can just follow her to her new position, after all. It is only if she marries outside the clan that it becomes a problem for them.”
“Did she turn you down, Chen-san?” This voice was also male and had a tone of mocking concern. “She is beyond your touch, you know. Though it would be quite the conquest to boast of, if it wouldn’t immediately get you killed. Kakita Oguri-san tried for her, you know, at the tournament. And failed horribly. She froze him out completely. He might agree with you about your theory. She certainly wasn’t amenable to his flirtations, anyway, and has always been cool to those attempting to engage her attention that way. Though she seemed quite affected by Tetsunotaka-san’s poem at the tournament. The length of that gaze between them when he was done! Minika-san had to fan herself vigorously afterwards and I am inclined to agree with her that Kagami-sama favours the Daidoji, though I would never dare suggest anything more than what is appropriate, of course.”
Goro’s mind was racing as he tried to figure out how to handle the explosion he was sure was imminent. This conversation had already insulted Jiromasu and, more importantly, Kagami. There was no way that Tetsunotaka was not going to intervene.
There was a snort from Chen. “Tetsunotaka-san. Bah. I don’t doubt the man dotes on her, but he is not the one whose bed she is warming.”
Tetsunotaka strode forward, rounding the pillar and screen. Goro hurried after him and had the gratifying sight of a small group of Phoenix staring in flabbergasted horror at the Daidoji’s sudden appearance. More than one face was draining of colour, sake-flushed cheeks turning the colour of rice gruel.
“You are correct, Shiba Chen-san.” Tetsunotaka’s voice was a low growl that was enough to send a chill down even Goro’s spine. “She is not warming my bed. Nor is she warming anyone else’s, and you sully your honour and insult hers to suggest otherwise. However, it is her cousin who should be the one to call you to account for your false words.”
“False?” Shiba Chen’s pale face flushed again. “Perhaps Jiromasu-sama should avoid embracing his cousin in public, if he does not want such reports spread.”
Goro frowned, trying to remember a time when Jiromasu had acted with anything other than proper decorum in public. It must have been a time when he thought them to be unobserved, as the man was careful to keep his interactions with his cousin to her hand on his arm while at court, though he was somewhat more physical in the privacy of Yoriki House. And in moments of emergency, but all those that Goro was aware of had been at times where such actions would not have been gossiped about, the circumstances having been socially damaging to all those involved in them. And they had taken place far from here in any case.
“I would not repeat such, if I were you,” Tetsunotaka said. The others, two Isawa, another Shiba, and an Asako, were watching Chen and Tetsunotaka with fascinated horror.
Goro wondered just how much sake the man had consumed as Chen bristled at the warning and barely leashed violence in Tetsunotaka’s tone. “And if Jiromasu-sama had not put his own convenience above this province’s safety, had allowed his cousin to go to another, his actions wouldn’t have caused us to start looking for the reasons why.”
“Tell me something, Isawa Minika-san,” Goro said, irritated by the Shiba’s assumptions. Not that he wasn’t sure such rumours were rife, but to hear someone double down on them with nothing to support them but bile and prejudice was galling. “Do the Isawa wish to have an Isawa-trained Ishiken married into the Lion?”
The shugenja looked uncomfortable at being drawn into the conversation, though Tetsunotaka’s glare remained fixed on Chen. “No, Goro-sama,” she admitted.
“And you are a fool, Shiba Chen-san, if you think that Doji Uki-sama would let sentiment affect her actions if those actions would otherwise benefit her Clan.” Goro continued. Admittedly, he was only mostly certain of that fact, but while Uki would perhaps be surprised by his words, she wasn’t likely to take offence. The woman was a pragmatic ruler, but she was Crane and one who took her duty seriously. And while she was putting effort into accommodating the needs of the Phoenix, it was a Crane province.
“The North is Phoenix more than it is Crane,” Chen shot back. “Like she would care if the Lion were to clear out some of our number before Crane forces arrived to push them back.”
The man really was too stupid to live. Which was just as well, since he seemed intent on committing suicide. Goro glanced around the others in the group and saw rather more agreement there than he would have expected, given that Uki had been moving to strengthen the northern defenses, even as she had managed to negotiate a three-year extension to the truce. Apparently, the idea of a peaceful border had been an attractive one and a number of the Phoenix were seeing the failure to secure the offered fifteen years of peace as selfishness on the part of the Crane and a deliberate slight against their safety.
“You have insulted the daimyo in suggesting that she would so callously discard those whom it is her duty to protect.” Tetsunotaka ground out. “And I will prove that insult upon your body.”
Well. Not the challenge that Goro had been expecting. He glanced around. Their antagonistic body language had attracted attention and Tetsunotaka’s challenge fell into a lull of conversation. Jiromasu and Kagami were both watching them, Jiromasu’s face carefully blank and Kagami’s showing her concern.
There was a long pause as Chen stared at the Daidoji, as if the challenge had surprised him too. Then he nodded sharply. “Tomorrow, then. At the Shiba training grounds. You can try the truth of your words against the truth in mine.”
Goro glanced back over at Kagami and watched as she reached out to once more cling to her cousin’s arm. It wasn’t a habit he had taken much notice of before this, other than as an indication of Kagami’s state of mind. Clearly, others had.