Untitled Fic, part 4
Aya changes after the incident. Before, she was a good enough pupil in the areas that interested her, but her mind still wandered and she frequently ran off to play instead. But now she understands the precariousness of her situation despite her young age, and throws herself into her work. She orders one of the servants to wake her early every morning, then stumbles into Kojuuro's room, to try to copy his movements as he practices his sword forms. "This is entirely unnecessary, Aya-hime," he tells her one day when she yawns a few too many times. "You're still too inexperienced to properly do most of these forms. And we devote time to the sword every day anyways."
"Doesn't matter," she insists. "I need to be good. Really good."
And she pays close attention when he lectures her on the basics of tactics and strategy, of managing a province, of diplomacy, of protecting the peasants and dealing with natural disasters. Aya is still too young to understand the true import of what he tells her, but she nods and listens and does her best to commit his words to memory. If he can just get her accustomed to thinking like a lord at this young age, Kojuuro hopes, she will fully understand warcraft and statecraft alike by the time she grows up.
Besides, Aya is after all an uncommonly talented child. She understands more than he expects. And she is so very, very dear to him. Kojuuro is determined to prepare her fully for whatever lies in her future.
Until, several months into her eleventh year, disaster threatens that future's existence.
When Aya first falls sick, Kojuuro refuses to get worried. She's a strong kid, she'll be fine. When she is confined to bed, she waves off his concerns. "It's not the first time I've been sick, Kojuuro. Nothing's gonna happen."
Two days later, the doctors ban all visitors from her room.
Learning about Aya's condition feels like a punch in the gut. She is delirious; she has a high fever; she may not live out the week. Kojuuro stumbles back to his room, almost senseless. He knows that Terumune is arranging for the monks to carry out special prayers to beg mercy from the buddhas. He knows the doctors are doing everything to save her. He knows there is absolutely nothing he can do.
It's not enough.
Kojuuro sits down in front of the small alter he maintains in his room, lights several sticks of incense, focuses on the mandala, and begins to recite the mantra.
Some people come to take him somewhere. He ignores them.
Some other people come to point out that the monks are already praying for the little lady's life, and that he is only endangering himself. He ignores them, too.
Someone else finally comes to tell him that Aya's fever has broken, and the doctors believe that she will live.
Kojuuro unfolds himself and stands up, stretching out limbs that have fallen asleep by now. He walks shakily down to the kitchens, eats a little rice, then returns to his room to pass out for the next fifteen hours.
Previous Chapter
"Doesn't matter," she insists. "I need to be good. Really good."
And she pays close attention when he lectures her on the basics of tactics and strategy, of managing a province, of diplomacy, of protecting the peasants and dealing with natural disasters. Aya is still too young to understand the true import of what he tells her, but she nods and listens and does her best to commit his words to memory. If he can just get her accustomed to thinking like a lord at this young age, Kojuuro hopes, she will fully understand warcraft and statecraft alike by the time she grows up.
Besides, Aya is after all an uncommonly talented child. She understands more than he expects. And she is so very, very dear to him. Kojuuro is determined to prepare her fully for whatever lies in her future.
Until, several months into her eleventh year, disaster threatens that future's existence.
*****
Epidemic rages throughout Oushuu. Terumune orders the monks in the region to set up emergency hospitals and abases himself in long rituals to beg favor from Heaven. Some recover, others die. The disease continues to spread.When Aya first falls sick, Kojuuro refuses to get worried. She's a strong kid, she'll be fine. When she is confined to bed, she waves off his concerns. "It's not the first time I've been sick, Kojuuro. Nothing's gonna happen."
Two days later, the doctors ban all visitors from her room.
Learning about Aya's condition feels like a punch in the gut. She is delirious; she has a high fever; she may not live out the week. Kojuuro stumbles back to his room, almost senseless. He knows that Terumune is arranging for the monks to carry out special prayers to beg mercy from the buddhas. He knows the doctors are doing everything to save her. He knows there is absolutely nothing he can do.
It's not enough.
Kojuuro sits down in front of the small alter he maintains in his room, lights several sticks of incense, focuses on the mandala, and begins to recite the mantra.
*****
Time passes.Some people come to take him somewhere. He ignores them.
Some other people come to point out that the monks are already praying for the little lady's life, and that he is only endangering himself. He ignores them, too.
Someone else finally comes to tell him that Aya's fever has broken, and the doctors believe that she will live.
Kojuuro unfolds himself and stands up, stretching out limbs that have fallen asleep by now. He walks shakily down to the kitchens, eats a little rice, then returns to his room to pass out for the next fifteen hours.
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