Flattered by flowers, p.3
Flattered by Flowers, page 3
The sympathetic man would bring out scraps of paper, unwashed dishes holding remnants of paint, and a pot of tea. Then the fellow would sit across the table from Junpei and watch him work.
They chatted some, usually about art. He recommended places to go—public gardens and parks, flower shops and shows. He’d been the one to suggest visiting the bookseller’s booth where Junpei sometimes loitered. And that discovery led to another, since the way home from Naoki’s led past the little tearoom Junpei visited whenever he had coin to spare.
He dared to hope that his old friend Yami-san would answer his knock.
But no. It was one of the sons, his expression sour.
Stifling a sigh, Junpei proffered the letter and resigned himself to a long, uncomfortable wait.
Where Tea Tastes Best
Junpei trudged homeward.
Whatever message Mother had sent, it had certainly garnered a response. Father had thrown open the back door, looked Junpei up and down, and slung a knotted bag against his chest. The glitter of annoyance in his eyes contradicted the weight of the purse. The door snapped shut again, without either man saying a word.
It felt like a lot of money.
Last time, she’d wanted enough to repair her biwa. Once, Junpei knew she’d begged for painted silk in which to array herself. Father had indulged that whim with a superior sort of pride. And far more grace than he’d shown today. Junpei rubbed at his breastbone, which still smarted.
He didn’t understand their relationship. Honestly, he didn’t want to. Junpei could only assume that Mother knew when and how far it was wise to push the man.
Leaving the loftier parts of Keishi behind, he eased into the comfortable familiarity of his own neighborhood … and paused. Twice recently, his favorite tearoom had come to mind. Today, more than any other day, Junpei deserved a little comfort. So he put off his return home, intent on indulging himself at Moonglade Tearoom.
That’s when he spotted her again.
A cascade of plum blossoms and startlingly blue eyes.
She lifted her parasol, and Junpei could see her arranged hair. Such light brown was an unusual color; Sho could attest to that. But Junpei thought it was beautiful … and knew he shouldn’t be staring.
With a quizzical smile, the woman walked his way.
He wanted to hide. He wanted to speak. He needed to breathe.
“For you,” she said, holding out something.
Tongue-tied, Junpei lifted both palms to receive it, then watched her graceful retreat into the shop right next door to Moonglade Tearoom. He knew it well enough. The House of the Noble Chrysanthemum sold traditional sweets. The wrapped block in his hand must have been a sample. Should he follow her inside? Maybe ask for her name?
But then a tall man leaned out of the tearoom door and called, “You coming my way, Junpei? Perfect timing! I need a man of your talents!”
“Good afternoon, Paltry-san.” Junpei tucked the sweet into his sleeve, spared the shop a final glance, and crossed to Moonglade’s owner. “Most seem to think my only talent is being tall. Yet in this, you have me beat.”
Paltry dominated any room, a good head and shoulders taller than every man in Kikusawa, if not all of Keishi. He was clearly a foreigner, though he’d adopted local styles, and his Japanese was flawless. Water lilies decorated today’s kimono, and his hairstyle employed a great many combs. Junpei wondered if the man didn’t know that he sometimes adopted women’s fashion … or if he simply didn’t care.
“Just Paltry, please. We’re friends, aren’t we?”
“As often as I can manage.” Junpei only stopped in once or twice a month, barely often enough to be considered a regular, let alone to put them on a first-name basis.
Paltry wrapped an arm around Junpei’s shoulders and guided him inside. “I have an unexpected guest. An old friend from my homeland just moved into the area. If you’ll practice with him, your tea and snacks will be complementary, today. All you want. No charge.”
“Practice?”
“Japanese. He’s learning the language. Can you spare him some time? For me?”
Junpei murmured his agreement, hardly believing his good fortune. Moonglade’s tea was excellent, and their snacks were unlike anything he’d tasted before. Pastries, Churlish called them. And he could eat as much as he wanted?
A chair scraped back, and a man stood to offer a greeting.
He was nearly as tall as Paltry, and Junpei had seen him before. He was part of Hoshina-dono’s household and was often in the company of young Ken.
“This is my good friend, Laud.”
Junpei nodded, then shook his head. That wasn’t the name he’d been given before. Neither did the man look the same. More baffled than anything, Junpei blurted, “Why is your hair white?”
Two Kinds of Cake
“Hold that thought,” said Paltry, who firmly guided Junpei toward a chair. “Sit right here, and just … hold on. I have an answer for that, and I’m pretty sure it’s a good one. Churlish!”
Junpei stood his ground, unsure he wanted the seat.
The boy who ruled over the tearoom’s kitchen arrived, and Junpei gaped at him, too. Had everyone’s hair changed color?
“He can see me.” Churlish brushed suddenly-silver hair behind an ear, which now came to a point.
“So it seems,” agreed Paltry.
With a small shrug, Churlish asked, “Do you still want cake? I made two kinds.”
Junpei looked to Paltry for some help in understanding what was going on, only to find that the man’s eyes were similarly changed. “Silver?” he whispered.
“You noticed. Well, I’m not entirely surprised. You’ve always had a bit of shine.” Paltry’s voice was pitched to soothe. “You’re taking all of this rather well.”
“Am I?” Half to himself, Junpei asked, “Should I be?”
“Yes. You like new things, don’t you?” Paltry promised, “You’re one of the bravest men in Kikusawa, if not all of Keishi.”
Was he? He didn’t see how.
Something moved in Junpei’s periphery.
It was a tail. Paltry’s tail.
“Peace, friend. We are friends, remember?” And raising his voice slightly, Paltry called, “Can somebody send for Matsu?”
Churlish must have gone into the kitchen, again, because he now carried a tray. Peering up into Junpei’s face, he asked, “Are you afraid of me? That would be silly.”
“I don’t think so …?”
“Good. Sit here, across from Laud. Or are you afraid of him?” Another long look, this one chiding. “That would probably make him sad.”
Junpei nodded. Then shook his head. He’d lost track of the question he needed to answer. “Your eyes are silver now. So strange.”
Churlish frowned. “Where I come from, everyone has silver eyes. Where you come from, everyone has brown eyes. Mostly.”
“Do you come from far away?”
“It did not seem so at the time. Do you like lakes?”
“I’m … not sure …?”
“You like cake, though.” Churlish moved a teapot and cups from his tray to the table, where Laud sat with gaze downcast. “There are two kinds of cake today, but I know how to make lots of other kinds.”
Junpei murmured, “I believe you.”
“And there are lots more than two kinds of people. I am one kind. Paltry is another kind. And you have always been nice to us.” Churlish tugged and pushed, getting Junpei to sit before asking, “Will you stop, now that you know we are a different kind of people?”
“You think I’m nice?”
Rolling his eyes, Churlish said, “You eat my pastries, and you do not mind that they are different. And you talk to Paltry, even though he is big and wild and has a tail. I like black fur. Do you?”
“I’m not sure,” he repeated.
Churlish poured tea for him and for the one he called Laud. “Do you want me to tell him what you said? He does not know much Japanese, and he is very confused.”
“So am I.”
“When people are confused, they should talk. I know.” And then he spoke to Laud in another language. Not for long. Just a sentence or two. Turning back to Junpei, Churlish said, “I told him you asked about his hair.”
Laud was looking at him now. And his eyes were changed.
Junpei leaned across the table, intrigued by the color. “There are stories about people falling in among strange folk. Are you youkai?”
“No. The clans may have inspired your stories, though.” Paltry crouched beside the table and relayed, “More people are coming. People you trust. They can explain.”
“Or … I could make him forget,” suggested another.
Junpei saw Paltry’s tail puff and settle as a stranger strolled into their midst. This one had white hair, too.
“You?” exclaimed Churlish. “What are you doing here?”
“Incidental matters have somehow overlapped in a confluence of destinies. Do not scowl so. It gives the wrong impression.” And to Junpei, he genially added, “I am an old friend. No need to fear. Neither them, nor me.”
As if Junpei ever could. He couldn’t imagine being afraid of anyone here.
“Entirely susceptible,” remarked the newcomer. “Would you like me to … unburden him with regards to today’s discoveries?”
Junpei hardly knew what to think when Churlish flung slender arms around his shoulders and hugged him tightly. He wasn’t alarmed, exactly. But in some distant part of his mind, he knew this was highly unusual.
Scowling, the boy demanded, “Leave him alone! Junpei is our friend!”
Paltry acted so quickly, Junpei didn’t see him move. He loomed over the stranger, one hand covering his mouth.
And … there seemed to be a rumble in the air. Almost like a growling animal. Which probably should have been scary, but Junpei knew there was no need to fear. Somehow.
Gently pushing aside Paltry’s hand, the newcomer said, “That will do, maid-boy. Call off your wolf. I will not meddle where I am unneeded.” He bowed to Junpei, possibly in apology. “My name is Opulence Windlore, renowned the world over as Opal the Sage.”
To Junpei’s surprise, Paltry wrapped an arm around the sage’s shoulders, pulling him into a rough hug and dropping a kiss atop his head. “How is our favorite bard?”
Quite the change in attitude.
“Passable, though muddling through pressing matters. Have any of you caught wind of a young lady of my acquaintance? She is fair enough to stand out in these parts. Tall. Blonde. Battler-bold.”
Junpei whispered, “Anna?”
All eyes swung his way, and he did his best to huddle behind Churlish.
Suddenly, Opal was at his shoulder, and his words were sweet. “Tell me where she is.”
“With me!” Matsu leaned against the entry, puffing slightly, as if he’d been running. “Anna Green is safe with me.”
“And you are?” inquired the sage.
With a quick glance around the room, Matsu sought Junpei’s gaze and promised, “I’m this man’s friend.”
Nothing Up This Sleeve
Before any more could be said, another man shouldered into the room, although at this point, Junpei wasn’t entirely sure that they were men. Had he fallen in among gods or demons?
An already-familiar booming voice, thick with concern, was asking questions. Someone had sent for Hoshina-dono? The silk merchant cut off at the sight of him and hurried to kneel beside Junpei’s chair.
“My little brother.” He indicated Laud, though his gaze never wavered. “He called for help.”
Brothers? Nobody had explained their connection. There was a definite resemblance. They had the same eyes.
“Junpei?” Hoshina-dono touched his arm.
The big man was so gentle, but the claws were such a surprise, Junpei stiffened.
“Him, too,” interjected Opal. “Nothing to fear from the likes of Harmonious. Calm yourself, young man. You are among friendly folk.”
Reassuring words. Junpei already felt better. Why had he been uneasy, even for a moment?
“None of that,” growled Paltry.
“A simple palliative. Would you rather he fainted?” To Hoshina-dono, Opal added, “Every one of our illusions has dropped. He sees you. Quite plainly.”
The big man’s expression softened. “I’m sorry, Junpei. Are you all right?”
“Yes,” he managed.
“My little brother was afraid for you.”
Junpei looked to Laud. “I worry about my little brother, too.”
Hoshina-dono scanned the room, then switched to his own language.
“He wants to know what happened,” relayed Churlish, who lofted a tray as he scooted around Hoshina-dono, setting it between Junpei and Laud. “Cake. You should eat some. It is good. And I know everything.”
“What do you claim to know, maid-boy?” inquired Opal the Sage.
“Wolves are simple.”
“Granted …?” Paltry’s tail took to swaying.
Churlish stuck his nose in the air. “Dragons are sly.”
Opal merely hummed.
“Cats have secrets.”
From the direction of the door, another familiar voice remarked, “Quite the crowd, today, Paltry. Has something happened?”
“Hisoka!” called Hoshina-dono. “This lad …!”
“I was not finished,” grumbled Churlish.
“We’re listening,” soothed Paltry. “Go ahead.”
“Wolves are simple. Dragons are sly. Cats have secrets.” Churlish drew himself up and finished, “Tanuki play pranks.”
Hoshina-dono frowned, and Hisoka Araki inquired, “Are you having trouble with tricksters?”
Paltry blinked. “I wouldn’t say trouble.”
“They make good neighbors,” said Churlish.
Opal said, “His sleeve, I believe.”
Hoshina-dono bent closer. Junpei had never been sniffed before. He looked to Churlish for support.
The boy rolled his eyes and wisely said, “Dogs are even simpler than wolves.”
“Harmonious wouldn’t hurt a soul,” assured Paltry.
Junpei was pretty sure he was calling the head of the Hoshina family by name. The unfamiliar syllables were baffling.
“You’re right, Sage,” murmured Hoshina-dono. “It’s here. Junpei, what do you have up your sleeve?”
Some Boys Ride Dogs
Anna resisted the suggestion that she hide away at Ingress Academy. Opal had been very specific. The things she needed most would be found here, at Kikusawa Shrine. So she stayed, even though its many children shied away from her. All except Sho, who had his older half-brother’s courage. Thanks to Sho, Anna was making a little progress with the language.
Simple phrases. Too basic to touch the complexities weighing on her heart and mind.
She could say please and thank you, and she could apologize. But she could not warn these children to beware of dragons. And though Matsu understood her, she didn’t know him well. How could she confide the fears that kept her awake at night? What kind of battler quaked and quailed at every change in the wind?
Frustration drove her to establish routines. Even in unfamiliar territory, she could stick to her training and maintain a boundary. So Anna donned her weapons and patrolled—carefully, quietly, and always out of view, lest her differences cause a panic.
Moving stealthily through the trees that grew thick on the shrine’s slopes, she allowed herself to relax into familiar rhythms. Slow steps. Deep breaths. She stretched her senses, searching for any hint of an oncoming threat … and entirely missed a nearer one.
A massive animal broke cover, and she had it at swordpoint before she registered lustrous red fur and wide copper eyes.
The Kith held quite still.
Anna did, too, and not entirely by choice. There was a staying hand at her wrist and a soft voice coming from the vicinity of her elbow.
“Please, do not hurt Rise.”
The moment she relaxed, the boy released her and returned to the Kith, leaping lightly onto his back. A dog. Anna hadn’t realized there were any dog clans in this part of the world. Then it registered. The boy spoke English.
“Peace,” she offered, sheathing her blade. “And apologies.”
He immediately brightened. “Do you live here? We are new.”
“I arrived recently, and I am staying here for now.” She indicated the shrine. “Your Kith is a dog?”
“Yes. We are Starmarks.” Though he didn’t go so far as to offer his hands, the boy said, “I am Quen. This is Rise.”
“Peace,” she repeated, offering a vastly more polite introduction. “Not many people in this city speak English.”
“There are more than you might think. Da moved our whole clan here, and we know your language. Others, too.”
“What brings a clan of dogs to Keishi?”
“Matchmaking. Mostly.” Quen’s expression was too solemn for him to be joking.
“Seeking ties?” she ventured, trying to recall which wolf packs were nearby.
“Avoiding them.” With a subtle shift in posture, he asked, “What about you, Anna Green? What brings you to Keishi?”
“Trouble. Mostly.” She quietly admitted, “I have seen no signs of pursuit, but I suppose I am on edge.”
“What kind of trouble are you in?”
Anna might not normally have confided in one so young, but Quen had to be several times her own age, despite appearances. And it was so nice to be able to confide at all. “I ran from that trouble, and I sought sanctuary here.”
Quen’s gaze lingered for a moment on the weapon at her side. “And you think your troubles may have followed you?”
