Chapter 35: Winding Water Banquet ((In progress))

In progress

The day was reasonably mild, as had been predicted by the court sages. The snow had been swept carefully from the gardens. The trees and meadows had been littered with hundreds of origami leaves and flowers, bringing life into the winter torpor.

The pond had been carefully cleared save for a few lovingly placed green faux-lillies each clustered with red white orange or purple origami flowers. The scene looked every bit like the spring so far away, a moment of beauty that brought smiles to all the guests in attendance.

Laying amidst the garden were blankets, each printed in solid colors, with the clan mon printed upon each in a repeating pattern. They were laid throughout the garden all along the pond, each laid out clustering towards the raised Imperial dais of gold and green.

Miyuki looked to her brother, then to Kaiten. The trio waited anxiously in the winter chill, watching the other courtiers gather. Everyone was reluctant to go first, to sit down in the gardens first seemed presumptuous.

“Is everyone going to stand here staring at each other?” Fuyukaze said quietly, just looking over at the Tagarii delegation, then to the Rensho. Each group chatted casually with one another only glancing at the others. Kaiten looked back to him coldly, his eyes narrowing causing the youth to swallow softly.

“No little brother, but perhaps a bit of courage is in order.” With that Miyuki smiled lightly and began to walk carefully out into the garden, her steps small and careful. She had chosen a silver and gray flowing outfit with circles of blue appearing as a shining piece of the heavens itself. She walked carefully before the gray and blue blanket nodding her head and smiling to the other courtiers.

Kaiten followed after, only allowing the younger courtier a half step before him. His lip curled in a hint of annoyance as she walked before him but the eyes of all were locked on the lady Miyuki. Fuyukaze carefully walked after Kaiten trying to keep up with the older man as he purposefully strode out to pass Miyuki and take a seat first upon one of the low pillows there.

Miyuki and Fuyukaze in turn knelt down upon their own low pillows, each sitting up straight, the two men wearing solid kimonos of blue and silver matching the lady Miyuki but only drawing the viewers more to the lady.

The other courtiers began to slowly walk towards their blankets, men and women in rich reds, greens, yellows, and blues. A garden of people dressed beautifully for one another gathered, each lady was dressed more elaborately than the other courtiers. They smiled and laughed, complimenting one another on their outfits, or over a particularly witty piece of poetry they composed.

When silence fell over the party Fukukaze looked around for the source, already beginning to bow. The silence was becoming a cue to listen for, the Emperor had approached and everyone began to bow towards their host. The Emperor was wearing a long gold kimono patterned with dark chrysanthemums, while his son followed behind him wearing a green kimono and hakama patterned with golden chrysanthemums. They walked slowly towards their dais and took their seats, the Emperor smiling to his guests but paused and nodded to his son.

The youth puffed up for a moment as he was given the importance to address the delegation. “Friends, thank you for joining us today. Instead of being inside on this wonderful day, we thought perhaps to spend the day in the gardens. A day of picnic and poetry, I hope you all enjoy it.” He smiled softly to the guests and settled back upon his pillow, glancing to his father who just nodded in approval.

With that the servants began to walk slowly from the outskirts of the garden, each smiling carrying dishes over their heads upon lacquered trays. They laid out all rice, sweet red-bean filled cakes, broiled fish and vegetables, and other wonderful things to eat along with a wisping teapot with rich green tea to drink.

One group of servants, however, began to bring wooden cups and began to fill them with rice wine, carefully they poured them, and then laid them upon the waters of the pond. Then with the slightest push they sent the wooden cups drifting lazily across the pond towards the Emperor and his guests.

The first cup bobbed towards the Imperial dais, and Fujirou reached a hand into the water smiling brightly. With both hands he offered the cup to his father who held it aloft. “Winter spent with friends, the coldest months of the year, seem like the warmest.” With that the Emperor took the cup and drank deeply from it before returning it to his son who returned it to the waters, the cup swaying gently with a spin as it drifted away.

The second cup came to shore near the (clan,) the courtiers looking among themselves before finally the (name) the most senior took it up. “Friendships renewal, with a drink that warms the heart, reflection of joy.” He said gently, taking a quick drink from the cup before returning it to the waters.

Many courtiers smiled at <name> while a few chuckled softly at his choice of poetry. Still the party continued, warm bowls of steaming soup were brought out and the guests cupped their hands over the lacquer bowls to ward away the chill. A cup drifted towards the Tagarii guests and Tagarii Motomi carefully reached a hand into the water pausing for an instant at the chill. Still she rose the cup and smiled “Unity of all, the peace and tranquility, bought by our elders.” With that the young woman turned the cup in her hands a moment before taking a gentle sip. Laying the cup into the water to float idly towards the Taeshimo.

Kaiten watched the cup eagerly, when it came within reach he laughed gently. “Friendships bought with blood, remember battles long past, forgotten struggles.” He lifted the cup to his lips then grinned adding “petty struggles reign today, how short our memories are.” Then with that the old general put the cup to his lips and quickly upended it drinking the contents before laying the empty cup aside.

A few guests smiled and nodded, the Tagarii delegation just ate quietly. The meal continued on with soft chatter and happy laughter between the groups. The next cup floated near the Rensho, and Rensho Tsubaki picked up the cup. He looked at the cup curiously as if contemplating it then spoke firmly, his voice lacking the mirth of others of the party. “Some struggles are fresh, of new bitter memories, enemies cruel plots, when uncovered they lead to, new bloody retribution.” He threw his head back and completed his sake cup, the other members of his own delegation, as well as others looking at the Rensho warrior shocked. There was a long silence now, and no one knew quite what to say in regard to the obvious threat.

The Tagarii, Taeshimo and Imperial houses all just watched the cups bobbing through the water hoping they could reply to such a brash statement but it was the (Funada) delegation who picked up the next cup. The courtier passed the cup carefully to (Funada girl,) who lifted the cup to the Rensho. “Vengeance may be just, reward the underhanded, through glorious war, but to break the harmony, may make many enemies.” With that the tension seemed to ease and the girl took her sip of rice wine. The other members of the banquet just nodded their heads in appreciation to her words.

“Well said” the Emperor said with a smile, nodding his head towards the girl.

For

<MORE need to pick up the tempo>