Chapter 16: The first day

The first assignment

After packing his new treasures away, he knelt before the doorway to his sister's apartments. He was told to present himself to her. “Miyuki-sama?”

“Yes brother, come in.” Her voice rang from within.

When he pushed open the doorway he found his sister reading a book quietly, she looked up with a soft smile as she saw her brother enter. “I do hope you were given new clothes for your gempukku as those are the same as you were wearing to dinner last night.”

Fuyukaze glanced down “I, I am sorry I did not think to change sister. I was told to see you immediately after I finished putting things away.”

Miyuki frowned a bit and drew a finger to her chin “Yumishi is entirely too literal sometimes and you will not pick up that habit.” She shrugged and pushed a large box from beside the table with her foot straining a bit as it slid “This is from Hiroyama, he is my head Yojimbo.”

“You have more than one bodyguard?” Fuyukaze asked surprised.

“Yes brother, in truth now I have three. I have a bodyguard Hiroyama, a duelist Haya, and you.”

Fuyukaze's jaw dropped, the pride at the prestigious appointment seeming weakened. He was one of three, the least of two seasoned clan warriors. “Oh, I see. I did not know.”

Miyuki just smiled and shook her head “You thought you were defending me all by yourself? No brother, I asked you to be attached to my retinue for your first assignment. It seemed the safest choice for you while still giving you a chance to earn some glory for the clan.”

Fuyukaze shoulders dropped, a chance to earn glory? He was still being treated as a child, with others who were far more skilled than he performing the real tasks and being watched over by his big sister. He just bowed his head “I, I appreciate you watching out for me sister.”

Miyuki shook her head “No you don't brother, but you will. Now open my gift on your day of gempukku.”

Fuyukaze bowed and carefully opened up the box and reached within, his eyes grew wide as he slowly drew out a suit of very thin and light chain armor first a single piece to slip his body into and then two long sleeve-like gauntlets of chain reinforced with bands along the outside shoulders and forearms then ending in a pair of soft appearing silk gloves. The youth looked at the armor curiously, just turning it carefully in his hands.

Miyuki smiled watching her brother's confused expression and explained. “That is armor for court, you can wear it between layers of clothing and it will look natural. Hiroyama helped me choose it for you. It is not as effective as the armor you use for war, but you can wear it within the halls of foreign clans or even in the Imperial palace without trouble.”

Fuyukaze looked down at the armor carefully, pulling his body into the main suit and began to tie the cords across his left side. He looked curiously at his sister “regular armor fastens in the back, why does this slip along the side?”

Miyuki shrugged soft giving a little frown “I do not know, that question should be best asked of Hiroyama, however I would imagine a dagger in your back would not be out of place in court.”

Fuyukaze nodded, looking at the suit carefully, then he shed his outer kimono and slipped into the armor. The youth had worn armor on a few occasions, practice suits to help the young warriors become accustomed to the weight. Though he fastened the straps carefully around his side, he felt the burden rest upon his shoulders. Still he drew up the armored sleeves carefully, tying them in place to the chest piece. “Thank you for the wonderful gift sister, I will use it well.”

Miyuki smiled softly “Your welcome, but I would prefer it never be used at all. Try to avoid picking fights without being commanded to do so.”

Fuyukaze carefully tested the sleeve for a moment before pulling his kimono back on carefully, straightening it “I will not sister, my first battle nearly claimed my life.” He paused a bit “so where will you be attending winter court this year?”

The young woman watched her brother carefully “You will need to wear an extra kimono over that armor, it is still obvious.” She just smiled at the question “Why at Hikyo of course, dear brother.”

“The capital?” The youth exclaimed in surprise. He turned to face his sister curiously, it was a high honor to serve in the court of the Emperor. That said, usually daimyo attended when the Emperor called, not courtiers.

“Yes brother, the Emperor's heir Fujirou is seventeen years old and his father has decreed he should take a wife. I am to represent our clan in court this year and with luck I will be wed to the Emperor's son.”

Fuyukaze blinked he tried to speak but his voice died in his throat. He knew that the Taeshimo had provided a bride to the Emperor every year for hundreds of years but to hear that his sister was chosen for this was a complete shock to him. “Are you sure?”

Miyuki rolled her eyes “Yes I am completely sure brother, this is an honor to me and the clan if I am chosen.” She drew up a fan to touch to her chin “and if the gods favor me I might be able to find a wife for you as well.”

Fuyukaze drew in a deep breath, deciding silence should be his only reply.