Heian Romance: 18. The Dead of a servant

18. The Dead of a servant

Yuiko reached Yorinaga’s quarter at the East 3^rd Avenue that evening. Yorinaga was away with his office, so instead she was welcomed by his wife Fujiwara no Sachiko. Sachiko is a sulky looking woman who seems clueless about smile and happiness. She is eight years older than her husband Yorinaga, in addition with her upset appearance they made the most mismatch couple in the court. In real life, due to the large age gap between them, they could not get along well either.

  “Welcome Princess Yuiko, it is an honor to have you visits our household. However may I ask you the reason to come here?” asked Sachiko monotonously.

“I am here to heal your sick servant Kimiharu. Minister of Left Yorinaga told me so.”

“In that case please follow me.”

Sachiko then leads Yuiko to the servant quarter at the far end of the household.

Kimiharu was resting when they enter his room. His wound seems getting better after using Yuiko’s medicine which Yorinaga brought back the other day.

“Princess Yuiko…Kimiharu is just a poor servant; I won’t have the honor for the princess to heal me…”

“Foolish. Aren’t you forgotten that I also heal the poor at Oxen Street? Don’t worry I’ll heal you in no time.”

Yuiko took out a small red medicine packet and instructs Sachiko to prepare them for Kimiharu. After Sachiko leaves the room, Yuiko handed an arrow to Kimiharu…

“Do you know what this is?”

“It’s my arrow…”

“Indeed. But do you know where I found it?”

“Sorry I don’t…”

“I found it at the edge of a cliff at Mount Kiei. The same spot where Satou Norikiyo was last seen!!”

“……”

“Tell me what had you done to Norikiyo? Did you kill him? Or push him down the cliff?”

“I…I don’t understand what you are talking about, my lady.”

“Don’t try to act innocence!! Who instructed you to do so? Was it Yorinaga?”

“It is none of my master Yorinaga’s business. If you don’t mind, my lady, I would like to rest.”

“How DARE you to speak to me like this?!”

Their conversation was interrupted when Sachiko brings back the cooked medicine.

“Kimiharu, your medicine is done. Drink it before it gets cold.” said Sachiko.

After confirming Kimiharu had fully consumed his medicine, Yuiko leaves the household quietly…

***

When in the palace,

Yuiko received news that Yorinaga’s servant Kimiharu had passed away shortly after she left…

Heian Romance: 17. The Arrow

17. The Arrow

 

 

Perhaps it was the aftermath of snake bites or maybe of what Yorinaga had said, Yuiko went into delirium after Yorinaga left her quarter.

When Ryoko finished her duties, she was shocked to find that Yuiko lying weakly on her bed.

“My lady is you unwell?”

“Ryoko, finally you had returned. I’m a fine… Just a little bit tired…”

“Really? You look sick…What had happened?”

“Well the fact was that I think Yorinaga had just confessed to me…”

“What did you said then?”

“I just managed to say thank you. It’s just so weird; I don’t know how to reply to him. Not that I hate him, I just couldn’t describe my own feeling…”

“My lady, you better don’t fell for him. Or else you are going to hate what I’m going to tell you…”

  “What is it then?”

“Remember that you told me to investigate Satou Norikiyo’s disappearance? Though I still can’t allocate his body, but all evidence point to Yorinaga’s servant Kimiharu that he was the last person who was seen with Norikiyo…

 According some herb collectors around Mount Kiei, they saw Kimiharu chasing Norikiyo towards the end of a cliff one day while collecting herbs around the mountain. They tried to stop Kimiharu, but it was too late, Norikiyo falls from the cliff as Kimiharu tries to shoot him using an arrow…”

  Ryoko then hands an arrow engraves with the word ‘K. Haru’ for Yuiko to see.

“Did the herb collectors mentioned why Kimiharu wanted to kill Norikiyo?”

“No, they don’t know either. Perhaps he was doing his master’s order…”

“His master? The Minister of Left Fujiwara no Yorinaga…”

 “Affirmative…”

“If so I would REALLY like to figure it out!! Ryoko, brings me my weather wear and medicine kit, it’s time to pay the sick servant a visit!!”

花嫁に成れるかな？

先月インターネットで打ちかけを買いました。そして、ついに昨日を届けました。１３３リンギットに掛かります。綺麗なものですが、打ちかけは花嫁の服装じゃない？今のあたしは恋人もできないし、何故花嫁の服を買ったの？好きだから～

でも、もう一度考えて、私は本当に結婚できるかな？

そう判断するのは早すぎじゃない？～笑～

Recently I’m so mad that I bought an uchikake last month. Well it reached yesterday and it only costs me RM133 include the shipping fee. This kimono is quite nice, but come to think of it Uchikake is the formal wedding dress for the bride in Japan. So what’s the purpose to buy it, as I don’t even have a boyfriend? Ha-ha~

So below are some pictures of my new collection, please ignore those at the back if you don’t like my face…lolz~

Heian Romance: 16. Abe no Koremitsu

16. Abe no Koremitsu

Yorinaga lets Yuiko down when they enter her quarter.

“Thanks for carrying me to my quarter, and so respectable minister of left Yorinaga you may LEAVE now…” said Yuiko cynically.

 “Hold on here, don’t you think you can get rid of me just like that. I won’t leave until I get an explanation of this matter!!”

“What matter? What explanation?”

“Don’t try to play fool Princess! But before that I must treat your wound first.”

Yorinaga then let Yuiko sit down and try to mend her injured leg.

  “Let me do it. I’m the physician you know!”

“Talk about physician, see what you did to yourself? Your wound had manifested! So please keep your mouth shut and let the PROFESSIONAL does his work!!”

Yuiko was quite surprised to see that Yorinaga did very well on mending her wound.

“Never thought an aristocrat like you, know how to handle such circumstances too!”

“Do you think I’m completely oblivious during my days in the Oxen Street? I’m not that stupid you know.”

“So you have to thank me then for teaching you first aid!”

“Balderdash! And now Princess Yuiko why you didn’t tell me you is Koremitsu the physician all along?”

“Well… I don’t think I have a need to do so. Firstly I don’t know you well. Next the tenacious personality of yours, I don’t think you will leave me in peace when you know the truth.”

“Of course I won’t! No matter what you’re still a princess, how can a princess go out impersonates as a man and hang around with the lowly? Not to mention some of them are terribly sick! This is absolutely against the rule!!”

“Here we go again…..” said Yuiko then shutting her ears to isolate herself from Yorinaga seems to be never ending nags.

“But… The most important thing is…You made me wonder about my gender preference!!”

“Gender preference?”

“I….I keep on…keep on asking myself…whether I am really….in love with man!! I even told my servant Kimiharu to test me. But all came to negative results, other than one person……”

 Adrenaline was doing its job excellently when Yorinaga speaks and his face was the reddest when he said the name:

“Abe no Koremitsu…”   

Yuiko was wondering whether this can consider a confession from Yorinaga. His words keep on swimming around her mind making her completely blank.

“Thank you….” That was the only reply that manages to come out from Yuiko’s emptied mind.

“I see…” said Yorinaga and leave the quarter quietly with a hint of disappointment…

Heian Romance: 15. Ayawaka the Kitten

15. Ayawaka the kitten

The Seimei is the memorial day of the ancestor; it is also the 2^nd biggest event of the year after the New Year. Everyone in the palace is obliged to attend the praying ceremony early in the morning follow by the usual feast and performance session.

Again Yuiko was seated among the wives of officials and courtiers and directly opposite Yorinaga’s seating quarter. Thru the blind Yuiko saw that Yorinaga is as tired as she is for they haven’t got a chance to sleep after back from the old shrine. Yuiko’s kitten Ayawaka suddenly appears on her thought.

“Where is Ayawaka?” asked Yuiko to her lady in waiting Ryoko.

“I…I haven’t seen it since yesterday…”

“What?! Haven’t I told you to take care of it while I’m gone?”

“I am sorry… I was worrying about your safety yesterday…”

“Gosh!”

Yuiko rises, leaves the event hall and gone looking for her kitten. Her peculiar waddling walking style due to her injured leg had caught Yorinaga’s attention. He too then leaves the hall and follows her.

“Ayawaka! Ayawaka! Where have you been?”

Yuiko searches high and low but still no sign of her kitten Ayawaka.

“Meow.”

“Ayawaka!” Yuiko heard Ayawaka’s meow and run towards the sound, where she found that someone is petting it.

That person is a six foot tall man, wearing a white official formal robe, has fair complexion, a pair of round eyes, straight nose and a delicate mouth. He also dyes his teeth and paints his eyebrow in the courtiers’ fashion, making himself a good looking aristocrat. And that person is…

“Yorinaga?!”

“Is it AYAWAKA the kitten that you are looking for, my lady? No, should be the physician of Oxen Street Abe no Koremitsu!”

“No, you had made a mistake, Minister of Left Yorinaga. I’m not the physician you said. But please return the kitten to me.”

“The kitten eh, it’s name Ayawaka? That’s odd; it’s just that this name happens to be my childhood name.”

“How I know your childhood name. That’s just coincidence!!”

“Admit it, my lady! What happen to your right leg then, bitten by snake I presume?”

“That’s really none of your business, Minister of Left Yorinaga.”

“And suppose I’m the one who help you to suck out the snake venom. Have you forgotten about it?”

“Enough!”

Yuiko walks towards him and try to snatch Ayawaka back; however she twisted her injured leg along the way. Yorinaga then drops Ayawaka and quickly holds Yuiko up before she starts to fall.

“Stop it! What are you doing? People are looking you know?! Let me down!”

“No I won’t! Not until we reach your quarter! You better keep your voices down or you’ll attract other’s attention!”

This leaves Yuiko no choice but to keep quiet and let Yorinaga carries her back to her quarter…

Heian Romance: 14. The Snake

14. The Snake

    Yuiko quickly releases Yorinaga when she realizes that she had been hugging him tightly during the thunder. After that there’s silent among them…

“Koremitsu…are you…are you really a man?”

“Yes I AM!! This is insulting you know?

“Sorry…It’s just that….”

“Ouch!!”

A long green snake emerges suddenly and bites Yuiko’s leg. Immediately Yorinaga took out his knife and slices the snake into half before it could start menacing again. He then came to Yuiko and put his mouth on her injured leg to suck out the snake’s venom.

 “Yorinaga, what are you doing?!”

“Suck out the venom, you fool!! Are you really a physician?”

“Thanks… Could you pass me the herbs pouch, I would like to apply some herbs onto my wound.”

“Sure. Are you well?”asked Yorinaga when he saw Yuiko’s face getting redder and redder.

“Yea…why ask?”

“Well it seems that your face is getting redder. Was it the effect of the venom?”

 “Perhaps, but don’t worry I’ll be all right after applying the soothing herbs.”

“If you’re tired please sleep then, I’ll help you guard the night.”

“Thanks but I insist to stay awake, who knows what will happen next in this weird place.”

“If you insist…”

Both of them stay awake the whole night chit –chatting on and off until the beginning of another day. They went back at dawn after the rains stop; Yuiko gave Yorinaga some herbs to heal his servant Kimiharu, but rejects to heal him personally.

***

Back in the palace,

“My lady, where have you been? I have been looking for you the whole night!”asked Ryoko Yuiko’s lady in waiting worrying.

“Was caught in the rain while collecting herbs.”

“Really, thank God to see you in perfect shape!! Clean up and dress up quickly for we’ll be late for the Seimei Prayer Session!”

“Gosh, I almost forget about it!! Here comes another troublesome festival of the year!!”

“What to do, you’re obliged to attend. So please be hurry. By the way my lady what happen to your right leg?”asked Ryoko when she saw Yuiko’s bandaged leg.

“Bitten by a snake.”

“What?!”

“Don’t worry, already been taken care of. Now let’s proceed.”

Heian Romance: 13. The Old Shrine

13. The Old Shrine

 

One particular cloudy evening, Yorinaga was looking for Yuiko urgently. So he went to Oxen Street but found that she had left the clinic and went to outskirt of the capital looking for certain herbs sometime ago. Hence, he hastened his horse in order to catch up with her.

 The reason Yorinaga looking for Yuiko, is that his affectionate comrade and servant Kimiharu was hurt by a poisonous arrow while running his master’s errand. Ever since Yorinaga was promoted to the Minister of Left, he had made many enemies who resented his disapproval of the current Emperor Konoe. His enemies namely consist of his own brother the Regent Fujiwara no Tadamichi, the Empress Dowager Bifukumon and her brother Fujiwara no Ienari. When they heard that Kimiharu was hurt, they would bride all the physicians in the capital not to treat him. Therefore it left Yorinaga no choice but to ask for Yuiko’s help.

Yorinaga found Yuiko picking wild flowers along a small stream when he reached the site stated by the servant in the clinic.

“Physician Abe no Koremitsu, I beg you to come with me immediately!”

“Yorinaga?! What are you doing here?”

“My servant Kimiharu was hurt by a poisonous arrow, he is in need of your help!”

“Why should I? That’s none of my business. I only treat poor people, not dog from prestige family!”   

Yuiko get back to her horse before Yorinaga could make any replies.

 “Get back here!!” Yorinaga got up his horse and started a cat and mouse chase with Yuiko.

The sky turns darker as they went farer and farer from the capital, and eventually heavy rains fall which cause them to stop at an abandoned old shrine.

“I guess the rain won’t stop until the next day.” Said Yorinaga.

“Well thanks to YOU, we are trap in this broken shrine!!”

“Why me?”

“If you didn’t follow me then we won’t end up here!”

“If you would accept my invitation to help Kimiharu then we won’t end up here!”

“Why should I accept it?”

“Why shouldn’t you?”

“Stop it! Stop it! This conversation is getting nowhere!”

“Fine!”

They set up a fire inside the shrine and Yorinaga started to take off his outer garment to dry them beside the fire.

“What are you doing?” asked Yuiko.

“Are you blind? I am drying my garment! It get all wet and damped because of the rain. You should do the same either, before you catch cold.”

“I am fine!! I like the wet and damped feeling though! Hachoo!!”

“Here let me help you get rid of your clothes.”

“Get off of me!! I am fine!!”

“What a weird person. Saw you picking wild flowers just now, makes me wonder about your gender.”

“NONSENSE!! I am truly a big man! Not like you white face, red lips sissy!”Said Yuiko while striking her chest.

“You should be the sissy not me!!”

Their menial argument continues until a loud thunder strikes.

“Hey, do you know this place?” asked Yorinaga.

“No…actually I never been to as far as the stream just now...”

“Really? Hmm… this place gives me a creep! Do you think it is haunted?”

“Silly you how can it be?”

“Think about it Koremitsu, an abandoned shrine in the middle of nowhere on a rainy day!! They said there will always be a parade of hundred demons during night like this!!”

“Stop it Yorinaga! You are scaring me!!”

“Ha-ha!! So who’s the sissy now?”

The thunders strike again. This time more vigorously.

 “Ah!!”

Both of them were shocked and hugged each other tightly.

While hugging a sudden indescribable feeling grows in Yorinaga…