Untitled Fic, part 3
The Katakura maintain an estate two days' journey from Yonezawa Castle with a small town nearby. It is located on a trade route, so it sees a fair amount of traffic, much of which passes by the castle as well. Kojuuro rides out with a merchant train, taking an embarrassing amount of pleasure in its leisurely pace. His mother sent him to Yonezawa six years ago, and he has had few chances to return since then, especially after he was ordered to raise Ayahime. He has never complained about his lot--indeed, he is honored that his lord chose him for so many duties--but nevertheless, he looks forward to seeing his mother and siblings for more than a few days at a time.
Two months pass quietly. Kojuuro works the fields, goes over the household finances with his mother, plays with his younger siblings, runs through the sword forms, reads a new poetry anthology. It is extremely relaxing, extremely pleasant, and more than a little boring. Still, he is adjusting.
And then one day he goes down to the fields and finds Aya waiting for him.
"KOJUURO!!"
It's definitely her. She's dirty and dressed like a common boy, and she seems to have hacked off her hair with a knife, but it's definitely HER. Aya barrels into him with the force of a charging horse, nearly knocking him over, and wraps herself around his legs. Kojuuro almost demands her to tell him what the hell is going on but then realizes that it would be a very bad idea to openly recognize her.
"Mind your manners, boy!" One of the villagers grabs her ear and yanks her back. "Apologize to Katakura-sama. On your knees!"
Aya glowers at the woman for a moment, and then actually obeys. "If your lordship would be so kind, please forgive this one for his impertinence..."
Discreetly Kojuuro pinches himself, just to make sure that it isn't a dream. The woman bows shamefacedly. "Please forgive him, Katakura-sama, he's just a boy we took in, lost his parents in the wars--"
"It's nothing, not a problem. In fact--" He reaches down to pull Aya to her feet, then hoists her up over his shoulder. "I'll see that he's cared for back at the mansion."
As soon as they're on the horse and heading back home, Aya twists around to look at him, eyes bright. "Kojuuro! I knew I'd find you at the fields! Look, everything is gonna be fine--" He scowls down at her. Her grin wavers just a little, then snaps back into place. "I know you're angry, but--"
"--But nothing, Aya-hime! What the hell are you doing here? Running away? No, forget it. We'll talk once you've had a proper bath. And clothes. And a haircut. What were you thinking?!"
"Leaving!" she says hotly. "You don't get it, Kojuuro, it was awful in Yonezawa. Mummy wants me to act like a girl and be really polite, stupid polite I mean, and I have to wear all these kimonos and they're impossible to move in. It's horrible, horrible! So I left."
"You can't just leave! You can't ignore all the things you don't like. You have responsibilities, Aya-hime--"
"Not anymore," she says bitterly. "Daddy has his heir now and Mummy doesn't like me, so they don't need me anymore. I'll just sit around the castle and wait for Daddy to marry me off to some other lord, and then I'll sit around his castle making babies. That isn't responsibilities, Kojuuro. It's just sitting." She fingers the horn of the saddle. "It's stupid! I'm not going to sit around castles for the rest of my life! I'm going to have adventures. I'll fight all the bad guys and become the best samurai in Japan." She twists around to grin at him. "Come with me! You can teach me how to fight and we'll go all over Japan on a warrior's pilgrimage. It'll be a real party!"
Kojuuro pulls the horse to a stop, catches her chin to force her to look at him. "I'm ashamed to hear you say that."
"Kojuuro--"
"Did you learn nothing from me? You're the daughter of Date Terumune. I'm the head of the Katakura family. We both owe Terumune-sama our lives and our service. Run away?! I would kill myself first. You're going right back home tomorrow morning, and don't even think about trying to run off."
He lets go of her, but Aya-hime keeps staring at him, wide-eyed. Then she twists back around, slumps down into the saddle--and bursts into tears.
Kojuuro is stunned. Aya does not cry very much, not for a child her age. Oh, she wails like any other little kid when she hurts herself, but her default unhappy emotion is spitting mad, usually with a side dish of mass destruction. She doesn't cry.
But right now she buries her face in the horse's mane, shoulders shuddering, making little whimpering sounds. It is really quite unnerving. Shocked, Kojuuro pulls the horse to a stop, slides off, leads it to the side of the road, and hobbles it. Then he pulls Aya off and sits down, pressing her to his chest. At first she struggles and tries to push him away, but after a moment or two she gives in and wraps her arms around him.
They sit there for a while in silence. Kojuuro wracks his mind for a solution. It is his lord's decision that the little lady will move to the women's quarters, but he cannot abide to see Aya so miserable. He strokes her hair, dirty and tangled. Every sense is screaming, do something, do something.
"Look," he says at last, "I'll talk to your father when we get back to Yonezawa. I can't promise anything, but I'll try my best. Okay?"
She looks up, eyes wide and tearstained. "Really?!"
"I can't promise anything," he repeats. "You'll probably continue with your lessons anyway. But Terumune-sama might permit me to teach you the sword."
Aya actually squeals and snuggles up to him, burying her head in his shirt.
"Sir?"
"How did you bring her back willingly? Anyone else would need to drag her home kicking and screaming. I know my daughter, Kojuuro."
"As you say, Terumune-sama."
Kojuuro tried his best to return Aya to Yonezawa as discreetly as possible, but as soon as he neared the castle he encountered bands of searches armed with posters of her face. By the time they reached Yonezawa people had already come out to stare. After the servants rushed the little lady out of his sight, Terumune called him into a private room and demanded an explanation.
"Hiding herself on a merchant's wagon." His lord whistles. "How many nine-year-olds actually make a plan to run away? I was wondering why she had gotten so quiet in the last few weeks. She must have been planning this for some time." Like most people who have dealt with Ayae, his voice holds a mixture of exasperation and admiration. And more than a little affection.
They drink their tea in silence. Finally Terumune puts his cup down. "What can I do for you, Kojuuro." It's not a question so much as a statement of fact.
"Serving your lordship is enough of a reward, Terumune-sama."
"Yes, and I'm sure all of my other retainers will be impressed by your loyalty. I, however, prefer to pay my debt immediately. So if there is anything I can do..."
This is his chance. Kojuuro scoots back on his knees and bows until his forehead touches the floor. "Terumune-sama, it would be my honor if you would permit me to continue to tutor your daughter."
A momentary silence, and then a dry chuckle. "Anyone else, I would have thought this whole fiasco was their plan." It is a hurtful statement, and Kojuuro just barely prevents himself from angrily protesting, but Terumune carries on regardless. "But not you! I know you. And I know my Aya." Another dry chuckle. "Sit up, Kojuuro, and look me in the eye." Terumune's hands are flat on his knees, and he has a small but not unkind smile on his face. "You're one of my best and brightest. In a few years, you will be teaching Bontenmaru as you taught Aya. In a few decades, you will be one of the most senior retainers to the Date clan. Your request could threaten that future. Now tell me, why do you want to teach Aya?"
"Your daughter is a prodigy, Terumune-sama. I believe it would be a terrible waste if--"
"Be honest, Kojuuro. Why do you really want to teach Aya?"
"...I promised Aya-hime that I would request--"
"I said to be honest."
Terumune's voice has the sharp crack of the general for whom he fights. "I want Ayahime to be happy. I want the pleasure of teaching her and I want to watch her grow up. I want to see her ride into battle and make Date proud."
He feels his cheeks burn. Ever since he was young, he was trained to serve, to subdue his own desires for the sake of Oushuu. But Terumune grins, wide and open.
"Request granted."
Previous Chapter
Two months pass quietly. Kojuuro works the fields, goes over the household finances with his mother, plays with his younger siblings, runs through the sword forms, reads a new poetry anthology. It is extremely relaxing, extremely pleasant, and more than a little boring. Still, he is adjusting.
And then one day he goes down to the fields and finds Aya waiting for him.
"KOJUURO!!"
It's definitely her. She's dirty and dressed like a common boy, and she seems to have hacked off her hair with a knife, but it's definitely HER. Aya barrels into him with the force of a charging horse, nearly knocking him over, and wraps herself around his legs. Kojuuro almost demands her to tell him what the hell is going on but then realizes that it would be a very bad idea to openly recognize her.
"Mind your manners, boy!" One of the villagers grabs her ear and yanks her back. "Apologize to Katakura-sama. On your knees!"
Aya glowers at the woman for a moment, and then actually obeys. "If your lordship would be so kind, please forgive this one for his impertinence..."
Discreetly Kojuuro pinches himself, just to make sure that it isn't a dream. The woman bows shamefacedly. "Please forgive him, Katakura-sama, he's just a boy we took in, lost his parents in the wars--"
"It's nothing, not a problem. In fact--" He reaches down to pull Aya to her feet, then hoists her up over his shoulder. "I'll see that he's cared for back at the mansion."
As soon as they're on the horse and heading back home, Aya twists around to look at him, eyes bright. "Kojuuro! I knew I'd find you at the fields! Look, everything is gonna be fine--" He scowls down at her. Her grin wavers just a little, then snaps back into place. "I know you're angry, but--"
"--But nothing, Aya-hime! What the hell are you doing here? Running away? No, forget it. We'll talk once you've had a proper bath. And clothes. And a haircut. What were you thinking?!"
"Leaving!" she says hotly. "You don't get it, Kojuuro, it was awful in Yonezawa. Mummy wants me to act like a girl and be really polite, stupid polite I mean, and I have to wear all these kimonos and they're impossible to move in. It's horrible, horrible! So I left."
"You can't just leave! You can't ignore all the things you don't like. You have responsibilities, Aya-hime--"
"Not anymore," she says bitterly. "Daddy has his heir now and Mummy doesn't like me, so they don't need me anymore. I'll just sit around the castle and wait for Daddy to marry me off to some other lord, and then I'll sit around his castle making babies. That isn't responsibilities, Kojuuro. It's just sitting." She fingers the horn of the saddle. "It's stupid! I'm not going to sit around castles for the rest of my life! I'm going to have adventures. I'll fight all the bad guys and become the best samurai in Japan." She twists around to grin at him. "Come with me! You can teach me how to fight and we'll go all over Japan on a warrior's pilgrimage. It'll be a real party!"
Kojuuro pulls the horse to a stop, catches her chin to force her to look at him. "I'm ashamed to hear you say that."
"Kojuuro--"
"Did you learn nothing from me? You're the daughter of Date Terumune. I'm the head of the Katakura family. We both owe Terumune-sama our lives and our service. Run away?! I would kill myself first. You're going right back home tomorrow morning, and don't even think about trying to run off."
He lets go of her, but Aya-hime keeps staring at him, wide-eyed. Then she twists back around, slumps down into the saddle--and bursts into tears.
Kojuuro is stunned. Aya does not cry very much, not for a child her age. Oh, she wails like any other little kid when she hurts herself, but her default unhappy emotion is spitting mad, usually with a side dish of mass destruction. She doesn't cry.
But right now she buries her face in the horse's mane, shoulders shuddering, making little whimpering sounds. It is really quite unnerving. Shocked, Kojuuro pulls the horse to a stop, slides off, leads it to the side of the road, and hobbles it. Then he pulls Aya off and sits down, pressing her to his chest. At first she struggles and tries to push him away, but after a moment or two she gives in and wraps her arms around him.
They sit there for a while in silence. Kojuuro wracks his mind for a solution. It is his lord's decision that the little lady will move to the women's quarters, but he cannot abide to see Aya so miserable. He strokes her hair, dirty and tangled. Every sense is screaming, do something, do something.
"Look," he says at last, "I'll talk to your father when we get back to Yonezawa. I can't promise anything, but I'll try my best. Okay?"
She looks up, eyes wide and tearstained. "Really?!"
"I can't promise anything," he repeats. "You'll probably continue with your lessons anyway. But Terumune-sama might permit me to teach you the sword."
Aya actually squeals and snuggles up to him, burying her head in his shirt.
*******
"How did you do it?""Sir?"
"How did you bring her back willingly? Anyone else would need to drag her home kicking and screaming. I know my daughter, Kojuuro."
"As you say, Terumune-sama."
Kojuuro tried his best to return Aya to Yonezawa as discreetly as possible, but as soon as he neared the castle he encountered bands of searches armed with posters of her face. By the time they reached Yonezawa people had already come out to stare. After the servants rushed the little lady out of his sight, Terumune called him into a private room and demanded an explanation.
"Hiding herself on a merchant's wagon." His lord whistles. "How many nine-year-olds actually make a plan to run away? I was wondering why she had gotten so quiet in the last few weeks. She must have been planning this for some time." Like most people who have dealt with Ayae, his voice holds a mixture of exasperation and admiration. And more than a little affection.
They drink their tea in silence. Finally Terumune puts his cup down. "What can I do for you, Kojuuro." It's not a question so much as a statement of fact.
"Serving your lordship is enough of a reward, Terumune-sama."
"Yes, and I'm sure all of my other retainers will be impressed by your loyalty. I, however, prefer to pay my debt immediately. So if there is anything I can do..."
This is his chance. Kojuuro scoots back on his knees and bows until his forehead touches the floor. "Terumune-sama, it would be my honor if you would permit me to continue to tutor your daughter."
A momentary silence, and then a dry chuckle. "Anyone else, I would have thought this whole fiasco was their plan." It is a hurtful statement, and Kojuuro just barely prevents himself from angrily protesting, but Terumune carries on regardless. "But not you! I know you. And I know my Aya." Another dry chuckle. "Sit up, Kojuuro, and look me in the eye." Terumune's hands are flat on his knees, and he has a small but not unkind smile on his face. "You're one of my best and brightest. In a few years, you will be teaching Bontenmaru as you taught Aya. In a few decades, you will be one of the most senior retainers to the Date clan. Your request could threaten that future. Now tell me, why do you want to teach Aya?"
"Your daughter is a prodigy, Terumune-sama. I believe it would be a terrible waste if--"
"Be honest, Kojuuro. Why do you really want to teach Aya?"
"...I promised Aya-hime that I would request--"
"I said to be honest."
Terumune's voice has the sharp crack of the general for whom he fights. "I want Ayahime to be happy. I want the pleasure of teaching her and I want to watch her grow up. I want to see her ride into battle and make Date proud."
He feels his cheeks burn. Ever since he was young, he was trained to serve, to subdue his own desires for the sake of Oushuu. But Terumune grins, wide and open.
"Request granted."
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