by Kate Grove
“No.”
Ciara breathed out through her nose and closed her eyes. She forced herself to calmly say, “Please. Let go of me.”
She waited a heartbeat with her eyes closed, and Katsuo finally let go of her. Ciara sighed and sent him an annoyed look before twirling around and marching off.
14
Katsuo looked after her in stunned silence. He was used to two kinds of women: meek and submissive or loud and demanding. Essentially, all of them wanted to get in his good graces and be lady of Shirotatsu castle.
But this one, Ciara, made him crazy! She did completely unexpected things. She wasn’t meek, even when she was unsure of local traditions. She figured out things on the go. And she voiced her opinion confidently but didn’t raise her voice unnecessarily, unlike Orihime.
Katsuo suppressed a sigh as he massaged his temples. He couldn’t figure out what Ciara wanted. She didn’t want to play the part of his fake betrothed. Every woman he’d come across would’ve jumped at the opportunity, but not her! Maybe it was for the best.
He felt a pang in his chest at the thought and frowned. She made it clear it was all an act whenever she wore that fake smile. Afterward, she either attacked him or retreated but never stayed by his side longer than absolutely necessary.
Breakfast was a small reprieve even though she looked uncomfortable. Was it because of so many new people at one place? Or was it something else? Katsuo looked at his hand, remembering the feeling of hers shaking in his. Was she scared of him?
No.
Ciara didn’t look scared. On the contrary, she looked annoyed. Katsuo knew from experience from many years spent on the battlefield that people often used anger to cover up their fears. Maybe—
“Lost in your thoughts again, brother?” Takeru appeared out of nowhere and slapped him on the shoulder.
Katsuo blinked at him, surprised. He didn’t hear his brother coming up behind. It had been years since he’d been so distracted someone managed to sneak up on him.
“Actually, yes. Did you want something?”
“I haven’t had a chance to talk to you this morning because of the training,” Takeru explained, “and I’m curious how it went yesterday.”
“How what went?”
“You know? Shiara and you?”
“Oh,” Katsuo looked around. “Let’s go talk in my office.”
“Sure.”
They arrived soon enough, but they weren’t even through the door when Takeru spoke up.
“So what happened? From the whispers of the wind, she agreed, yes?”
“Close the door.”
Takeru slid the door closed and sat opposite his brother.
“Tell me what happened!” he repeated for the hundredth time.
Katsuo’s fingers drummed on the low table between them. “She agreed.”
“Good!”
“Not on her own volition.”
“Oh. How that happened?”
“I had to convince her,” Katsuo replied, his gaze landing on the basket of balls next to him he still hadn’t put away. Takeru followed his line of sight.
“You used those?”
“I had no other choice.”
“That’s so unlike you. Usually, the ladies are all over you, clinging on every word you say,” Takeru said, shaking his head in disapproval.
“Not this one. This one drives me crazy.” Katsuo said this all matter-of-factly. It was hard to think he had any business with the whole thing.
An excited gleam appeared in Takeru’s eyes. “Is she different?”
Katsuo’s fingers stopped the drumming, and he looked his baby brother square in the eyes.
“On the surface? Yes. However, all women are the same in the end.”
Takeru crossed his arms and leaned back.
“Maybe you’ve met all the wrong women up till now.”
Katsuo snorted.
“You’d better not be so naive on the battlefield, Takeru. Women all want the same, and when I’m gone—”
“Which won’t happen for another two hundred years, so no need to—”
“I’m serious.”
“Me too.”
“Takeru”—he immediately shut up, allowing Katsuo to finish his thought—“when I’m gone and you’ll be the lord of Shirotatsu, you’ll see what I see.”
“And what do you see, brother?”
Sadness flashed through Katsuo’s eyes, but it was gone in a second.
“Women only want to use your power and influence.”
“I respectfully disagree.”
“You still have so much to learn, baby brother!”
Ciara wanted to go home. She hated sitting on her knees, she hated the bitter tea, that there was no coffee, she hated she had to play lovebirds with a man so arrogant!
And most of all, she hated the feeling that her hands still tingled where he had touched her. Fuming, she didn’t pay attention to where she was going. Even if she did, every corridor looked the same. All she knew was that she was on the ground floor but had no idea how to get back to her room.
She didn’t want to ask the servants rushing through the corridors. Already in a bad mood because of the lack of coffee and the fact she didn’t have time before breakfast to do her daily yoga exercises, Ciara had a dark expression on her face as she marched through the castle.
Somehow, she found her way outside. She ended up in an unfamiliar spot. On this side of the castle there were no buildings but a sudden drop. This was the part she could see from her window. At the foot of the steep hill, an orchard stretched, split in two by a brook. A bright red bridge connected the two sides.
Ciara found several boots and getas in a neat row near the back door. Her eyes widened, looking at the wooden sandals. How could anyone walk in those, much less conquer this hillside in them? She picked a pair of boots that looked the closest to her size. They ended up being a bit too large for her, though. She waddled along the narrow path leading down to the orchard, winding through the steep hillside. One hand gripped the railing tight, and the other picked up the hem of her kimono.
She wondered if there was a way to obtain some clothes which let her move more freely. The kimonos were wonderful, but they constricted her movements way too much, and she feared getting them dirty or accidentally ruining them. Slowly and carefully, she made her way to the bottom of the castle hill.
Shielding her eyes, she looked up. She had to crane her neck back to see the top of the highest tower from this vantage point. Ciara breathed in deeply, enjoying the scents of fallen leaves and some wildflowers which bloomed in fall. The air was so pure here. She turned to the orchard and walked across the field.
The colored leaves crunched under her feet, but otherwise, silence surrounded her. She breathed in the fresh air, free of pollution, and stopped among the trees, closing her eyes for a moment.
Such silence.
Ciara took another deep breath and felt a smile forming on her face as she turned toward the sun with closed eyes. Suddenly, in her mind, she was transported back to her childhood, to her grandmother’s countryside house where she spent entire summers. Mother joined her occasionally on these holidays, when work permitted. It was such a joyous time. Ciara could almost smell Grandmother’s chocolate rolls baking in the oven. Her little cousin, Karen used to help her out while Ciara spent time with Grandfather out in the field, gathering wildflowers.
Mother usually appeared on Friday evenings to spend the weekend with them. Karen only spent two weeks of summer vacation there, but Ciara was there the entire time. Later, her grandparents even invested in a synthesizer, which sufficed while she was away from home, from her piano. She missed those days.
Smelling rain in the air, she opened her eyes and realized grey clouds were gathering in the sky, and she was standing in the middle of an abandoned orchard. Shaking her head, she cleared her thoughts, willing the memories away. She sighed and continued her way to the red bridge that caught her attention from above.
&nb
sp; It was just as one would imagine, an arched bridge, made of wood and painted red with black color added at the base. Ciara walked to the center and looked down at the babbling brook, leaning her elbows on the railing. Rust-colored leaves scattered the water’s surface and floated downstream. She could spend hours watching it.
It was easy to lose track of time.
“Identify yourself!” someone yelled, and she jumped in surprise. A man in black uniform was fast approaching from the side of the castle. Ciara looked around, but there was no one else in the vicinity.
“Are you talking to me?” Ciara knew it was a question with an obvious answer, but she couldn’t get over the fact she was accosted in this island of serenity.
“Who else would I talk to? You’re the only one here. Identify yourself,” the man said. He reached the bridge and stepped onto the red wooden planks. Ciara would say he was handsome if he didn’t have a sullen expression on his face. He had a hood on, but she could see his piercing gaze from beneath. His hand was on the hilt of a sword resting at his hip.
“I’m Ciara Coleman. You are…?”
The man narrowed his grey eyes as he looked at her from head to toe then settled his gaze on her face.
“What are you doing here?”
Ciara felt her irritation rise. She crossed her arms. Just who was he to interrogate her? She shared her thoughts with him.
“I’m the head of security here.”
“Are you Taiki?” Ciara asked, her posture relaxing a tiny bit. A sliver of surprise flashed through the man’s face, but it was gone before Ciara could be sure she had seen it.
“I am.”
“I see… Katsuo was looking for you during breakfast,” Ciara said, letting her arms drop down to her sides, and she leaned against the railing.
Taiki tilted his head to the side.
“He was?”
His voice was skeptical.
“I said so, didn’t I?” Two could play this game.
“Then maybe we should see him,” he said, briskly walking up to her and grabbing her arm firmly.
“Hey! What are you doing?”
“You shouldn’t be here.”
15
Taiki set a quick pace back to the top of the hill. He only stopped for a moment until they got their footwear off then marched on, Ciara jogging behind.
“Hey! Slow down! It isn’t easy moving around in this kimono!” she told him, irritated. Taiki slowed his pace a notch. Ciara huffed, but stopped protesting. Her arm hurt a little as he dragged her behind him.
Finally, they reached Katsuo’s office. Ciara recognized the door from the day before. Taiki knocked on the doorframe.
“Milord.”
There was no reply even though they could hear someone shuffling paper inside. Ciara listened curiously. What was happening?
“My lord?”
Still, no answer. Ciara could hear someone move around.
“Katsuo-sama!” the man said loudly.
“Oh, is that you, Taiki?”
Ciara heard Katsuo’s voice through the thin rice paper that made up the door.
“Yes, my lord. I heard you were looking for me. And I caught a trespasser.”
“Interesting. Come on in.”
Taiki slid the doors open and hauled Ciara in front of him as they both entered the room. Ciara caught Katsuo’s eye. He looked at her, then back at Taiki.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“I found her in the orchard.”
“And?”
That was the end of Taiki’s patience, it seemed.
“What do you mean, my lord? She was caught sniffing around the—”
“I wasn’t sniffing around!” Ciara cut him off, surprising him into silence. Katsuo was just starting to get used to her unexpected behavior and got over it sooner than his ninja. “I was just taking a walk. Is that a crime?”
Katsuo massaged the bridge of his nose as he let out a sigh. Both Ciara and Taiki looked at him.
“This is why I wanted to formally introduce you to each other.” Katsuo looked up at them. “Taiki, meet Ciara, my betrothed. Ciara, meet my head of security, Taiki.”
“Your what, Milord? Isn’t she the one you found in a battlefield close to Kawayuki’s place?”
“That is a very accurate observation, Taiki,” Katsuo replied. “And you heard that right. She is my bride.”
Taiki gaped, which was a rare sigh. Amusement glinted in Katsuo’s eyes. The ninja was almost impossible to catch off guard.
“I’m going back to my room,” Ciara said abruptly and marched out of the room. Taiki reached out for her arm, but she moved away, and the ninja froze mid-movement.
They heard her angry steps retreating. Taiki turned to his lord.
“Katsuo-sama?”
“Do your thing, I have work to do,” he waved the ninja away.
“Yes, Milord.”
Katsuo gave a growl at that, and Taiki hastily exited the room, almost bumping into the returning Ciara.
She sidestepped him and poked her head through Katsuo’s ajar door.
“I’m sorry to disturb you, but could you please tell me how to get to my room?” Ciara wore a sheepish smile. “It’s very confusing here.”
“Taiki!” Katsuo said, shuffling the paperwork on his desk.
“Let me show you the way, Milady.”
Ciara glared at him.
“Milady now, am I?” she huffed, but followed him.
The rest of the day went relatively normal. Ciara found some baggy pants and a coat inside the small closet in her room and quickly changed. It was amazing to be able to move freely again! She practiced yoga until lunch, which was served in her room.
She ate alone, entertaining herself by gazing out of the window. In the distance, she could see snow-peaked mountains. It was an amazing sight, but eating alone reminded her of her life before Karen had moved in with her. Sadness lingered around her for the afternoon even though Yura happily chatted away while she showed her around the castle courtyard.
There were plenty of huts for storing food and weapons, another for making pickles, a different one for sake, and so on. The barracks surrounded them, and small gardens could be found between the buildings. There was a huge guest house in the back where Orihime stayed. Finally, Yura pointed out the pagoda.
“How many stories does it have?” Ciara asked, curiously. “Can we go closer?”
“Well, it has only three stories, and it’s been here since before my grandmother’s time,” Yura explained. “We can go closer, but the immediate area is off-limits.”
“Really? Why?”
“It’s a sacred place for my lord’s family.”
“I see…” Ciara pondered over what that meant. “Do you live in the castle, Yura?”
“Only for five days. Then I go home, I live in the castle town.”
“Oh, when are your days off?”
“The day after tomorrow.”
“One day?” Ciara asked, concerned. “You get only one day off after working five days?”
“That is plenty, my lady.”
“Ciara.”
“Ciara-sama. I’m lucky my lord is so generous with his servants,” Yura elaborated. “I have a friend from another village. She used to come here with her family to the market every moon, but I haven’t seen her in three seasons because the lord she serves now gives her one day off every moon.”
“Really?” Ciara was taken aback. That was inhumane!
Yura nodded. “It can’t be helped. I’m honored to serve Kitayama-sama’s family.”
They arrived at the pagoda, and Ciara looked up at the graceful building. The arched rooftops gave it an airy feel. Small bells hung from the corners, and the building itself was made of stone and wood. At the top of the pagoda rested a finial. It looked like a lightning rod to Ciara’s eyes.
“This is the closest we can get. There are guards on the path to the pagoda,” Yura explained, motioning to a soldier walking up and down ne
arby.
“But there is a path. So some people do use it,” Ciara said, turning to her with a puzzled expression.
“Only with permission from Milord.”
“Is it a shrine?”
“It’s a buddhist building, my la—Ciara-sama,” Yura quickly corrected herself. “But I heard it was built to pay respect for Benten.”
“Benten? Who is that?”
“She’s a goddess, the guardian of Milord’s family line.”
He even has a goddess looking out of him, Ciara snorted. Unbelievable. His family had their own goddess, and he still had women-problems. It seemed even divine protection couldn’t save you from everything.
Yura and Ciara spent the rest of the afternoon talking and discovering the castle area. By the time dinner came, Ciara was able to make her way back to her room from the main entrance without getting lost. She counted it as an accomplishment. She wasn’t completely hopeless when it came to directions.
Ciara was invited to spend dinner with Katsuo. Yura insisted she wear another nice kimono, but Ciara had had enough of the lavish clothes for the day. She preferred the comfortable outfit she’d found for dinner. It was her understanding it would be just the two of them, so it took her by surprise when she slid the door open and Ayaka barreled toward her.
“Whoa, careful!” Ciara gently admonished as the little girl bumped into her and hugged her middle.
“Are you eating with us?” she asked, smiling up at her.
“Yes,” Ciara replied. “But you know, I can’t get inside if you hug my legs.”
“Oh, sorry.” Ayaka let go of her and stepped back. Her grin didn’t fade, however. “How is your foot?”
“Better, thanks for asking,” Ciara replied as she entered the room. She noticed Katsuo sitting at the low table. “Hello.”
“Good evening,” he replied.
Ayaka grabbed Ciara’s hand and led her to the table, next to Katsuo.
“Is this my seat?” she asked.
“Yes, you sit next to Daddy. Takeru will sit next to me.”
“I see,” Ciara sat down, cross-legged. When she looked up, she noticed both Ayaka and Katsuo looking at her with a funny expression.
