Standard disclaimers apply
***CHAPTER 2***
â??They are coming!â?? cried Kaoru excitedly, waving from an upstairs window as Aoshiâ??s magnificent coach advanced at a stately pace up the long front drive of the Kamiya mansion.
Soujirou dashed to join his sister at the window. â??Oh,â?? he groaned, â??look how slowly they are traveling. How typical of Aoshi to order his driver to journey at no more than six miles an hour. Why, the newer coaches can cover nine miles in an hour!â??
Kaoru was in high spirits at the notion of entertaining visitors. â??Aoshi was always something of a slow coach, you know, Sou.â??
Her brother winced. â??Really Kaoru, what a dreadful joke. Itâ??s worse than those our father tells, and they are bad enough.â??
â??I must go and change,â?? murmured Soujirou, â??I will join you in the drawing room.â??
â??I hope you know what you are doing,â?? whispered Kaoru. â??Just so long as you are prepared for fireworks when the family sets eyes on your attire.â?? Then, cupping her hands, she called out to the bewildered footman, â??Yuichirou! Your hat has been blown behind the sakura tree. Hurry and you will catch it!â??
The distraught footman hurried off in pursuit of his hat. The scramble evoked a disapproving raised eyebrow from Aoshi, eldest son of Saitou and Yumi Kamiya, as he slowly descended from his coach. He was a tall, well-built man with raven hair and brilliant blue eyes. Both he and his sister got their eyes from their motherâ??s mother. Although only in his late twenties, Aoshi liked to appear with a ponderous expression which he imagined lent him an air of authorityâ??but which inevitably reduced Kaoru to giggles.
Yuichirou, with the offending hat safely perched upon his head, was helping Aoshiâ??s wife from the coach. Kaoru had met Misao Makamachi, now Kamiya, only a few times and so had been unable to form a real impression of her new sisterâ??s character, but she certainly seemed a pleasant girl. She was much smaller than Kaoru, with black hair and blue green eyes.
I hope, mused Kaoru, that Misao has enough backbone to stand up to Aoshi. The last thing he needs is a simpering wife who would not say boo to a goose. Or worse, who would not even recognize a goose if it stretched up and bit her on the arm.
The party was now making its way inside, and Kaoru realized that she must hurry to be downstairs in the drawing room in time to greet her brother and his bride.
As she entered the drawing room, her mother drew her aside. â??Kaoru, how many times has your father told you that it is unladylike to shout out of windows as you did just now?â??
â??But Mama,â?? said Kaoru reasonably, â??poor Yuiichirou had lost his beloved hat. You know that he is loosing his hair and it is not a pretty sight.â??
Yumi, still inwardly debating the wisdom of the forthcoming dishes, looked totally confused at Kaoruâ??s explanation. Fortunately, at that moment Aoshi and Misao were announced and there are hugs, kisses and laughter as the family were reunited. When at last they were all seated comfortably before the fire, a servant brought in sake for the gentlemen and sugared biscuits.
Aoshi smiled at Kaoru, something he rarely do much to Kaoruâ??s surprise. â??I am glad to see you in such good health, sister. In fact, I would go so far as to say you look positively dazzling.â??
â??Thatâ??s enough, Aoshi,â?? interrupted Saitou gruffly. â??No cause to go turning the girlâ??s head. Misao, my dear, I hope you do not allow your servants to burn sea coal in your mansion in Kyoto. The smoke taints the food terribly, you know.â??
While Misao murmured words of reassurance to her father-in-law, Aoshi caught his sisterâ??s eye and winked. Kaoru, surprised at first, smiled across at him. Dear Aoshi. Admittedly, he could be somewhat pompous at times. But she could not forget that as children, Aoshi had frequently come to her aid when she found herself in one scrape or another, and protected her from their fatherâ??s short-lived wrath.
While with Soujirou, Aoshiâ??s relations had not been so amiable. There had always been rivalry between the two brothers. Aoshi, of course, had a head start, being the elder and the heir. But Soujirou had the advantage of quick wits and an engaging nature. In all, when the two brothers fell into verbal combat, there was very little to choose between them.
It was just as their mother was explaining that the Widow Tae Sekihara would be joining the men at the hunt tomorrow that Soujirou chose to make his entrance. Yumi clutched at her kimono, her voice fading away. The whole family sat in stunned silence, staring at Soujirou as he strolled across the carpet toward them.
Saitou recovered first. â??Just what,â?? he demanded, in a loud voice, â??do you think youâ??ve got on?â??
â??A military outfit, sir,â?? said Soujirou, in a most civil tone of voice. He strode to the middle of the room, bowed to the ladies, then executed a neat turn, revealing his entire attire.
Saitou stared at his own hakama and gi and then at the ridiculous dress his son is wearing. Slowly, his face turned dark purple. â??How dare you wear such ridiculous attired in my houseâ?|in front of your motherâ?|your unmarried sister! What damned impudence!â??
â??But sir, it is the new style in Europe,â?? he tried to explain. â??I only wish that our army in Japan would have new uniforms for their soldiers, we would look outstanding.â??
The family looked expectantly at Aoshi, who said disdainfully, â??New style in Europe? New uniform for our army? We are not going to parade around admiring each others clothes. We are fighting for our country. What stupidity is this?â??
Yumi inquired faintly, â??But Soujirou child, wherever did you buy such a strange garment?â??
This was a question Kaoru had been dreading. Soujirou said airily, â??Oh, I ordered them from London and had them made.â??
Saitou raised an eyebrow. The entire family was quite well aware that until he was twenty-one, Soujirou had no money of his own. On the meager allowance given to him by his father, the youngest son, could not possibly afford to have clothes made by expensive London tailors.
The silence lengthened. The only sound was that of Yumi, nervously tapping her diamond ring on the polished side table.
At last Kaoru could not bear it any longer. With a defiant tilt to her head, she declared boldly, â??To tell you the truth, Papa, I made the uniform for Soujirou. He showed me a picture of the dress and I copied them from that. It was only meant as a joke.â??
Saitou looked like he is going to explode. But before he could erupt, Misao suddenly slumped in her chair. â??Oh, dear,â?? she murmured, â??I feel so faint. Kaoru, could I trouble you to assist me to my room?â??
Immediately, the family was all concern.
â??It must be the heat of the fire, â?? proclaimed Saitou.
â??No, it was probably the strain of the long journey,â?? declared Aoshi.
Yumi kept her opinion to herself. Suddenly, she had forgotten her worries about the dishes, and even those ridiculous attire of Soujirou. Misao had been married now for three months. Could it beâ?|? As Kaoru led the dark-haired girl from drawing room, Yumi took up her petit form, her mind a whirl as she contemplated the renovation of the nursery, the preparation of the crib, the joy of having a baby in the family again.
Once they had ascended the stairs and were approaching Misao and Aoshiâ??s room, Misao gently disengaged herself from Kaoruâ??s arm.
â??I am not really faint Kaoru. I merely thought that it was time for some diversion, thatâ??s all.â??
Kaoru laughed. â??I am most grateful to you. Though by the contemplative expression in Mamaâ??s eyes just now, you are going to have a hard time convincing her that her longed-for grandchild is not on the way!â??
Misao just giggled. â??There is plenty of time for children. I intend to have at least seven. Do come into my room for a moment, sister. I have something for you.â??
As Kaoru followed Misao through the dressing room, she noted with approval that a maid had already finished the unpacking.
Misao handed Kaoru a small parcel. Kaoru tore off the wrappings and exclaimed with delight as she gazed on an exquisite etui case, fashioned in lilac jasper and gold. â??Oh, how beautiful!â?? she exclaimed.
Misao said, â??It will be ideal to keep your scissors and spare needles in, next time you are called to do some sewing for Soujirou! Though, had I realized Soujirou was such a dandy, I would have brought him one of the new twisted glass walking sticks. All the young men in Europe are sporting them now.â??
â??It is fortunate that you did not bring such a thing,â?? commented Kaoru, â??for Papa would surely have broken it over his head. Papa is a dear man, and we all love him, but he does deeply resent change, and anything new.â??
â??Whereas Soujirou is quite the opposite,â?? mused Misao giggling.
Kaoru nodded. â??He loves to be first with everything. I remember when we were children he screamed himself into a fit until our Nanny allowed him to ride in a strange new kind of carriage, which was driven by steam instead of horses.â??
Misao wrinkled her pretty nose. â??Steam? What an odd idea.â??
â??Oh yes,â?? said Kaoru. â??Even today, Sou will tell you (out of Papaâ??s hearing, of course) that one day all carriages will be driven by steam.
â??But what will happen to all the horses,â?? asked Misao.
â??You must ask Sou that,â?? laughed Kaoru. â??He will doubtless have an answer for that as well.â??
Glancing around the dressing room, Kaoru was surprised to see, half tucked out of sight beneath her traveling bag, some novels by Sayuri Kobayashi.
She could not resist asking, â??Why, Misao, does Aoshi really allow you to read such books?â??
Misao flushed. â??I must confess Kaoru that Aoshi is not aware that I read them. While he is busy being a politician, I slip away from a secluded area in Kyoto and visited the circulating library.â??
Kaoru was intrigued. â??Somehow, I had not imagined you enjoying such stories of adventure and romance.â??
â??I love my husband,â?? said Misao. â??He is a good, decent man. I am fortunate to be so well settled, so secure. I am aware that my life has been pampered. I know that if I suddenly found myself alone on a road, confronted by a highwayman, I would die of fright and long to be back in my dear house. But to sit at home, safe and secure, with the curtains drawn and the lamps lit, and read about such adventures is another matter entirely. Then it is thrilling, and I do not feel afraid at all, I suppose you must think me terribly foolish?â??
â??Of course not,â?? said Kaoru. And she meant it. As she made her way downstairs, she reflected about how much she liked Misao. She was vivacious, even though she does not show it to her husband, and she possessed a determination which made Kaoru realized that behind those sweet eyes and petit form there was a will of steel.
Aoshi, mused Kaoru as she reentered the drawing room, youâ??ve found yourself quite a match in Misao.
Much to Yumiâ??s relief, the family dinner that evening passed off without mishap. Soujirou, who had obediently changed from his earlier attire into some more acceptable hakama and gi was on his best behavior. Aoshi pronounced the dinner excellent, even going so far as to compliment his mother on the dishes.
Nevertheless, Kaoru could see that her mother was glad when the cloth was drawn and she was able to lead the ladies from the room and leave the gentlemen to their sake.
No sooner were the three ladies seated in the drawing room that Yumi turned to Misao and said apologetically, â??I feel I must apologize for our rustic dining room furniture. Whatever must you thought of that antique sideboard?â?? Yumi threw up her hands in despair. â??We must be the only family in the entire country to own such a sideboard! But my husband is so old- fashioned, he will not hear of us having new furnitures.â??
â??Has Papa always been so conservative?â?? asked Kaoru.
â??Heâ??s inherited the trait from his own father,â?? replied Yumi, smiling as she remembered. â??Why, when I was first invited to dine with his family, they were scandalized by the current fashion for what they called promiscuous seating.â??
Kaoruâ??s eyes widened. â??Whatever was that, Mama! It sounds very wicked.â??
â??Oh, it was,â?? replied Yumi. â??It simply meant a seating arrangement of lady, gentlemen, lady, gentlemen. The Kamiya regarded this as too sinful for words, so we were forced to sit with the gentlemen ranged down one side of the table, with the ladies safely out of reach, across from them!â??
Misao was laughing hysterically she could not hold her teacup. â??But it is strange,â?? she commented, â??that Aoshi appears to have inherited his fatherâ??s preferences for the traditional, whereas your younger son has quite the opposite character.â??
â??In truth,â?? said Kaoru, â??Aoshi and Sou, quarreled so much as boys that Papa decided to give them different teachers.â??
Misaoâ??s blue-green eyes were huge with amazement.
Kaoru giggled. â??Sou always gets into trouble, so Papa decided that Aoshi should always keeps an eye on him,â?? admitted Kaoru. â??He longs to join the army, but Papa has other plans.â??
â??Did I hear my name?â?? asked a jovial voice from the door. Saitou, in his mellow mood after his sake, led the gentlemen to join the ladies.
No sooner were the men seated than Saitou said to his daughter, â??Kaoru, why not show Misao the picture gallery? I am sure she would find it most interesting.â??
â??But Papa, I was intending to show Misao the gallery tomorrow. The light is so much better there during the day.â??
â??Do not argue, Kaoru,â?? put in Aoshi. â??Obey your father.â??
Reluctantly, Kaoru rose to her feet. How unfair, she thought rebelliously. Why should I be sent out of this warm, cozy room to walk up and down in that cold, drafty gallery? She glanced at her sister, hoping for some support but Misaoâ??s eyes were cast demurely down.
As they mounted the oak staircase toward the gallery, Kaoru murmured, â??Iâ??m so sorry about this, Misao. Sometimes Papa and Aoshi makes me feel about twelve years old!â??
Misao just smiled. â??Donâ??t worry, sister. To tell the truth, I was seeking an excuse to retire early. Perhaps, when you return to the drawing room, you would be so good as to explain that walking around the gallery has tired me and I have gone to my room?â??
Kaoru smiled. Clever Misao. Why am I not like you, outwardly demure, yet quietly taking advantage of each situation to suit your own ends?
But that is not my nature, reflected Kaoru ruefully. I am far more impetuous. I have to speak my mind, even if it costs me dear. And I cannot be content, like Misao, to sit at home and read about adventures. I want to experience them! I should not be afraid if a highwayman confronted me on a lonely road. At least, I should not fear, provided it was a certain gentleman of the nightâ?|.
She let out a long sigh as they entered the gallery. It was, in fact, a splendid place, crammed with pictures, statues and bronzes brought back by several generations of Kamiyas after their Grand Tours. Here, too, were hung the Kamiya family portraits, many of which were several hundred years old. Kaoru shivered, uneasily conscious of generations of disapproving Kamiya eyes staring down at her.
Oh, how trapped I feel! Does no one realize, or care, that instead of walking sedately along this gallery with Misao, I would love to run and turn around in a cartwheel at the end!
But still the Kamiya eyes regarded her sternly from the walls. All except one, that is, a painting of an unnamed girl. The portrait had always fascinated Kaoru, for the girl it featured did not have the black and brown Kamiya eyes, but instead they were green.
The mystery girl was dressed in a green kimono that highlighted her magnificent eyes, the artist had caught her with a lively expression on her face, as if in the act of defiantly tossing her brown hair. Instinctively, Kaoru knew that of all her ancestors, the girl in the green kimono was the only one who would understand the restless spirit that possessed her.
Misaoâ??s low, sweet voice broke into her thoughts. â??I imagine the family wanted us out of the way while they discussed Soujirouâ??s future.â??
Kaoru nodded. â??Poor Sou Now if this were one of our novels, Misao he would run away to join the Army and cover himself in his victory. But this is real life, not a fairytale. Regrettably, Sou has no money of his own. Certainly not enough to buy himself some needed equipment for his journey.â??
Misao said thoughtfully, â??But surely he would feel it his duty to stay and assist your father, if your father found the estate too much to manage by himself?â??
â??If that were the case, then naturally Sou would stay,â?? replied Kaoru. â??But Papa is fit and healthy. He adores managing the estate. If Sou were to help, they would have different ideas about every single thing, and the quarrels would be endless.â??
â??In most families it is the accepted custom for younger sons to enter the Army,â?? mused Misao.
â??Unfortunately for Sou,â?? replied Kaoru, â??the Army has never been a traditional career for Kamiya younger sons.â?? She sighed, â??Aoshi and Sou are so very much the opposite.â??
â??Anyone can see that Soujirou is plagued by a wild, untamed spirit,â?? observed Misao.
Kaoru gave Misao a sharp glance. â??Is a restless spirit always that obvious in a person?â?? she probed.
â??Oh, Iâ??m always able to sense it when it is present.â?? Then Misao went on, with scarcely a secondâ??s pause, â??But what about you, Kaoru?â??
Kaoru was startled. Had Misao guessed something of her inner turmoil? â??Whatâ?|what do you mean?â?? she asked cautiously.
Misao smiled. â??You are so concerned about Soujirouâ??s future. But what about your own? After all, in Kyoto, any girl as beautiful as yourself would have been married years ago.â??
â??I have no desire to marry yet awhile,â?? said Kaoru lightly. â??Besides, living in the country as we do, I have a few opportunities to meet eligible gentlemen.â??
â??Itâ??s an annoying situation,â?? said Misao slowly, â??especially as I suspect that no ordinary man will do for you, Kaoru.â??
â??What do you mean?â?? asked Kaoru. Really, she thought, I must stop asking Misao what she means all the time! But then, Misao was proving to be an intriguingly perceptive girl.
â??Iâ??m saying that you are no ordinary girl,â?? said Misao, with a quite conviction. â??You have beauty and charm. But so have a score of others. What makes you exceptional is your joyful vivacity. You are not like the rest of us. You above all, need a strong man who will understand and enjoy that singular wild spirit of yours.â??
Kaoru had a torrent of questions to ask, but Misao, maddeningly, would say no more. She kissed her sister good night, and went to bed, leaving Kaoruâ??s mind in a complete whirl.
When Kaoru joined her family in the drawing room, whatever the secret topic had been during her absence, conversation was now general: the war between Japan and France.
Soujirou suddenly declared with a yawn, â??If you will excuse me, Mama, Papa, I would like to retire early,â?? then Kaoru knew for certain that something serious had occurred to upset him.
Whenever Soujirou uttered those words, and covered his yawn with his left hand instead of his right, he was sending a message to Kaoru saying: I must talk to you. Meet me in the old nursery as quickly as possible!
Soujirou made his escape, Kaoru too said her goodnight. She walked with slow, easy grace from the room, conscious of her fatherâ??s critical eyes appraising her.
The moment the drawing room doors were closed behind her, she lifted her kimono and ran upstairs, through the galleries, until she reached the room which had once been the Kamiya childrenâ??s day nursery.
Soujirou was already there, busy lighting candles to brighten the gloom, â??Why were you so long?â??
â??I came as quickly as I could,â?? Kaoru sneezed. â??My, itâ??s dusty in here.â??
Soujirou took her hand and pulled her down beside him on a pile of cushions on the floor. â??Papa feels it is time we both took our place in the world.â??
Kaoruâ??s eyes were huge with compassion. â??Oh, Sou, is that what the talk was about this evening? I have no doubt you were refused permission to join the Army, and told you must stay here instead and manage the estate with Papa.â??
â??Mama did her best for me, but at heart she does not want me to leave and go to the war. So it seems that my fate is sealed.â??
â??Iâ??m so sorry Sou. You know if there was anything I could doâ?|â??
Soujirou pressed her arm. â??I know, my dearest sister. But you must save your sympathy for yourself. For it was not only my future that was under discussion, this evening.â??
Kaoruâ??s throat tightened. â??They were talking about me?â??
Soujirou nodded. â??Sister, there is not time to break this to you gently. Papa has decided that it is time for you to marry. Accordingly, Aoshi has found you a beau.â??
â??Who is he?â?? asked Kaoru, with dread.
â??His name is Shogu Amakusa. It seems that he is the legendary Battousai, father is raving about during the war. Rumor has it that the emperor will award him a sizable amount for his service during the Bakamatsu, plus a high-ranking position in the government, in short he will be an extremely rich and influential man,â?? said Soujirou, trying to sound encouraging.
â??But, are you sure? I mean, no one has seen the legendary Battousai. No one knows what he looks like, he could very well be an impostor,â?? she said
Soujirou shrugged â??I donâ??t know the exact details, but that is what Aoshi told us. Heck, even father has not seen what Battousai looks like. No one knows that is, except for Katsura Kogoro.â?? He sighed, â??But he is dead and he brought his secret to his grave.â??
Kaoru was silent contemplating what his brother told her. â??I understand,â?? whispered Kaoru. â??Did you happen to hear when Iâ??m going to have the privilege of meeting the legendary Battousai?â??
Soujirou swallowed. â??Tomorrow.â??
â??Really,â?? laughed Kaoru, her natural sense of humor asserting itself, â??Papa is not wasting any time, is he?â??
â??Shogu Amakusa will come by tomorrow toâ??â??
â??See his prize lamb!â?? cried Kaoru.
Soujirou plucked moodily at the curtain sash. â??So there were are. Both of us sunk.â??
â??No!â?? declared Karou vehemently. â??We must not give in. I realized that at the moment, the prospects for both of us seem hopeless. But we can fight!â?? She dragged her brother to his feet, her eyes fiery with determination. â??Weâ??ll make a pact, Sou, you and I.â??
Holding his hands in hers, Kaoru went on, â??Somehow, we will set ourselves free. I will help you attain your dream if, when the time comes, you will help me reach mine. Do you agree?â??
â??I do!â?? he said fervently. â??Oh, Kaoru, I declare you are the bravest, most wonderful sister in the whole world.â??
She reached up and kissed him on the cheek. â??Well, your brave sister is now about to retire for the night. I fancy, I shall need all my energy and courage to face our legendary guest of honor tomorrow!â??
Authorâ??s rambling:
THANKS A MILLION TO ALL OF YOU WHO READ AND REVIEWED MY FIC! This is my first fic and Iâ??m kind of nervous. Please read the first chapter again bec. I made some minor changes in the story. Wait for the other chapters bec. the fun has just began! Any comments or suggestions are very much welcome. I revised the first chapter bec. it did not fit in the other chapters. Yumi is so elegant and sophisticated that I made her Kaoruâ??s mother. Please forgive me for any grammatical error that you will find. English is a very complicated language especially for me, since it is not my first language. See you next time!
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