User:Majushi/Ashes and Flames

Ashes and Flames, by Majushi (September 2008)

Aojiroi Oku Shiro, 1171

Shiba Majushi walked swiftly through the halls of the castle, not pausing at the great oak tree in the courtyard as he normally would have.

His aide, a courtier by the name of Asako Chien, was almost running in her attempt to keep up with him. All who saw their approach stepped aside immediately, or found a convenient hallway to escape down.

As Majushi and Chien reached their destination, the private conference room where the castle was run from, Chien paused to catch her breath and a lock of her long black hair slid out of place before she quickly tucked it back behind her ear.

Majushi moved over to the large table at the centre of the room where a large map was spread out, detailing Phoenix provinces and the neighbouring provinces of the other Clans.

"Is there any news from the Masters?" Majushi asked, staring intently at the map.

Chien, having grown increasingly cautious of late, hesitated for a moment. "No Majushi-sama."

"Have there been any reports of other deaths throughout the Empire yet?" Majushi's reply had come swiftly following Chien's, and she almost flinched at the tone he had adopted of late.

"There have been some rumours, but no confirmations yet. We should be receiving some more information today."

"Good."

Majushi's stare had not wavered from the map once. He had been in this mood since the news of Nakamuro's death, and Chien had almost given up trying to cheer him up. She catches herself staring at him and blushes, averting her gaze to the window overlooking the courtyard. For a moment it is as if the grey oak returns her gaze.

"What will you do?" she says quietly, after a moment of heavy silence.

Majushi frowns for a second before replying. "About what?"

"When the Masters appoint a new Master of Air." Chien's breath caught, knowing this would make him angrier.

Majushi's head swivelled and his remaining eye fixed her with an icy gaze. Standing half a head shorter than Majushi, she still managed to return his gaze. She always had. He admired her for that.

"I will do whatever the next Master asks me Chien. You know that." He paused as if contemplating something. "Until that time arrives however, I shall continue running this castle as I was instructed by Nakamuro-sama. As shall you."

Chien smiled at him, but his face did not change. She recalled that there had been a time when he would have smiled back. He had taken the death of Isawa Angai badly, like a heavy weight had wrapped itself around his shoulders. But ever since his appointment here he had brightened a little. Especially around Chien. She could almost remember what his laughter sounded like. But the Test of the Emerald Champion had destroyed what gain had been made. And now this. Nakamuro had always treated Majushi well. Even after the Championship.

Majushi's gaze returned to the map, and Chien spoke softly. "You have an appointment in thirty minutes. There is a courtier who wishes to speak to you about a trade agreement with the castle."

Majushi did not react, so she continued. "He is a Scorpion."

She could sense him tense, and saw his jaw clench. What she wouldn't do to go in his stead, but the Scorpion had requested a meeting with the governor of Pale Oak Castle personally. No-one but Majushi would suffice for this. At least no-one within 30 minutes of the castle. She wondered for a moment if the Scorpion knew this. Of course they did.

Majushi finally spoke. "Fine. Where is the meeting going to be? And what is our position in the matter?"

Chien gave him directions and all the information he would need, and Majushi left. Chien's light green eyes stared after him as he left.

-

Chien was in her room, writing a letter to her mother in Kyuden Asako. It had been a while since her last correspondence, but she still found it hard to put down on paper what troubled her. Instead she wrote of the smallest things she could think of. News of her brother, Sanaka, who had visited last week. The weather. Gods, she had been reduced to writing about the weather.

She shook her head and put down her quill, and her gaze looked up to the wall to her right. On it hung a sketch of the courtyard of the castle, the great oak tree overshadowing the people walking by it. It had been Majushi's gift to her upon her appointment as aide to the Captain of the Guard. It was not a particularly beautiful piece of art, but it did the tree justice. And she cherished it more than most things she possessed.

She thought back to her first days at the castle, and how she had come to know the man Majushi really was. He had been easy to read back then. She knew what he wanted, and what things she could do that would make him happier. A knock at her door broke her out of the moment, and she called out for whoever it was to enter a little harsher than she meant to.

A servant slid the door open. "Majushi-sama requests that you join him in the conference room."

"Tell him I will be there shortly." Chien looked out the as the servant left, gauging what the time was from the sun.

"Oh dear." she muttered to herself. "That did not take long."

-

Majushi was staring out the window in the conference room when she arrived. She knew he had noticed her arrival, but bowed none-the-less.

"What may I be of assistance with Majushi-sama?" She knew he hated the formality, but she could not help it.

"I have finished the meeting with the Scorpion." He replied, his voice not betraying how it went.

"How did it go?"

"We got what we were due from it. The Scorpion did not seem to pleased however. I believe he has made arrangements to travel back to Scorpion lands already, ignoring my offer of hospitality."

Chien rolled her eyes, knowing full well the offer had not been sincere. But it had been made. Had he not offered the Scorpion would have had cause for complaint. Small victories.

"Will there be anything else?" She asked, hoping that he would talk to her like he used to. Confide in her. She knew she hoped in vain.

"Has there been anymore news from the Empire?"

"Not yet, but..." Chien was interrupted by a polite cough at the door. She turned to see a servant with a Miya standing behind him.

The Miya stepped forward and began to speak.

"I am Miya Ariken. I have a message for the governor of this castle." He held forward a scroll, bowing as he did so.

Chien took the scroll and thanked the herald. She gave instructions for the servant to take Ariken to the guest quarters so he might rest before travelling again.

After Ariken and the servant had left she turned and walked closer to Majushi. He turned as she arrived and she placed the scroll in his open hand.

Chien forced herself to step back as he read it, resisting the urge to stand closer to him. Majushi read down what appeared to be a list on scroll, his eyebrow's arching a couple of times. Suddenly she sensed him tense, and his hand half-crumpled the paper. Then he did something she had never seen him do. His head dropped as his shoulders sagged. He braced himself against the window frame, and just when Chien was about to move closer he spoke.

"Fetch a scribe Chien." His voice was almost hollow. "Now, please."

Chien turned and left, seeking out the nearest scribe in the castle. She returned as quickly as she could, finding Majushi seated the scroll neatly rolled up beside him. Chien tried to read his face, but could not.

"I have the scribe as you requested. Asako Godaken." A wiry old man stepped forward, looking at Chien nervously for a second before looking at Majushi.

"Thank you Chien. You may leave." Majushi said. Chien waited, as if wishing to say something, but turned and left. As she was leaving she heard Majushi begin to speak.

"Good afternoon Godaken. Would you please transcribe a letter for me to Doji Nagori..."

-

It was a couple of hours later before Godaken approached Chien. He had brought the letter Majushi had wished him to write, as was customary. Chien had long since requested that any paperwork the Captain had done should be passed by her first. She had occupied her time with the details of Majushi's meeting with the Scorpion, but as soon as the letter was placed in front of her she stopped what she was doing.

She read, holding her breath.

"Doji Nagori-sama

It is with great sadness that I write to you, offering my condolences for the death of your wife. I had only just heard today that she had been killed. I am truly sorry.

I first met your wife at Winter Court some years ago now, and she instantly struck me with her beauty, charm and most of all her keen intelligence. She was an entirely unique woman.

The Empire is worse for her passing.

I am not a man of great words or deeds, but know this; Should you discover who was behind this attack I offer my assistance in any form you should require.

All you need do is ask.

Shiba Majushi, Captain of the Guard, Pale Oak Castle.

Chien looked up from the letter, her eyes misting up. She quickly composed herself as she realized Godaken was still standing in the doorway awaiting her approval.

She rolled up the scroll and returned it to him, telling him to give it to Shiba Yatako. She was the finest messenger in the castle.

-

Later that evening, Chien found Majushi in the courtyard. The castle was calming down after a long day. Most of the servants were busy cleaning up, making ready to start again the next day. Lights were going out throughout the castle.

Chien approached carefully, not sure if Majushi noticed her as he stared intently at the tree.

"I had hoped the rumoured healing powers of the tree would restore my spirits over time." He said suddenly.

Of course he had noticed her.

"I am sorry?" she replied, unsure where he was going with this.

"I am a man whose life seems to fall apart with every second of its passing." Majushi turned towards her.

"What can I do?" she asked, stepping forward. "Please, tell me."

He looked at her for a moment.

"Things were simpler when I was on the wall. Kill or be killed. You did not think of the next day until it arrived. Perhaps I should request a transfer. They have no need of me here. And you could run this castle blindfolded."

Chien almost thought she saw a smile.

"Don't say that. I need you here. The Phoenix need you here." She was almost pleading now, stepping closer as she did so.

Majushi smiled a rueful smile, and looked her directly in the eyes.

"They do not. You do not." She hadn't realized how close they were standing.

Barely a heartbeat passed before she stepped close and kissed him. Past his defences. He was shocked. Then suddenly his arms were around her, and he kissed her back. Moments passed, and then they stopped.

Chien stepped back, unsure what would happen. He looked at her, his deep brown eye looking directly back into her pale green eyes. For a moment she dreaded what he might be thinking, and she looked down.

He must have caught on to what she was thinking, and a crooked smile touched his lips.

"I remember the first time I saw you here at the castle." he said, as if building to a joke.

"I thought you a skinny, pompous woman who had obviously achieved the position due to some family member's over ambitious attempt at gaining glory for your family."

Chien looked up, her face was bright red with anger. She raised her hand to slap him, but he caught it easily, and again she found herself incredibly close to him.

"But I also found you incredibly beautiful." he said. "It is good to see there are others who can anger. I had begun to think I was the only one in the Empire." He smiled, and her smile mirrored his.

They kissed again and somewhere in the heavens Benten looked down upon Pale Oak Castle and made a mental note to use that tree again sometime.