"Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like."
-Lao Tsu

As a member of the Tsuki clan Makoto had experienced her share of unpleasant memories. One of the most prominent events being, the once a year, Neko family performance before the Tsuki and their vassals. The legend behind the event was that the whole affair was started in the very beginnings of the Tsuki Clan when the Neko Clan officially became the vassals of the Tsuki. To celebrate the Tsuki had held a huge feast where the Neko family performed a musical piece before the entire court and the whole affair was so impressive the Neko's had been instructed by the founder of the Tsuki to perform every year before the court for as long as they remained the families vassals. However Makoto could never quite comprehend this being the whole truth behind the Neko performance and she was certain the only people in the entire domain who could call it a performance were those of the Neko family itself.

Now what you may ask made the Neko performance such an unpleasant event? It's quite simple really.

Each and every member of the Neko family was somehow frighteningly tone deaf and had the uncanny ability of producing the worst possible sound out of any instrument they played, which somehow seemed to get a bit worse every year. If that wasn't problematic in itself strangely enough each and every family member thought they were, one and all, exceptionally gifted in music and the louder the sound made the more magnificent and moving the piece sounded to its makers. The result of this during a performance is...well...'something' that definitely cannot be put to words. Not even by the nonexistent willing. It was only important to understand that every year after the performance is over several people are unconscious, many in tears, one or two people are deaf for nearly a month, and Lord Katoro's hunting dogs are howling in agony outside. All this of course the Neko somehow attribute to appreciation for a fine performance! Which the audience did have...for it ending. Though of course no-one would say so. It was a Tsuki tradition albeit a very, very bad one but a tradition none the less.

On the other hand Makoto would have gladly attended the performance, and stayed in the Neko residence for several days, if only to get Lady Yuki to stop glaring at the back of her head so hatefully.

Since the older woman had been revived and then escorted with Makoto to her new chambers she'd been particularly snappy. Despite Lady Yuki's piercing stare Makoto managed to still appreciate her new home. At her fathers castle her room had been rather small and compact. A night and day difference to what she now had at the Mori. Instead of a single room Makoto was given several rooms that were both much larger and grander than her original. In each room the wood floor reflected the sun as it shined through the shoji doors in the front and sides of the rooms lighting up the entire space. Several of the shoji doors were open letting in a cool sea breeze, which kept the room a cool temperature despite the heat of an early summer's day. Outside the doors a straight walkway could be seen bordered on the edge by a dark brown rail that provided an excellent view of the water. In the back of each room the same rich dark brown wood that covered the floor and made up the outside railing created a back wall to each room and the sides of the rooms at the end of her chambers. While Makoto was humbled and honored to receive such luxury the completely bare rooms gave her no real sense of presence or belonging in the Mori household. A strong reminder that now that she had reached her destination Makoto had to now in someway make herself an indispensable piece to Lord Motonari. However, Lady Yuki was proving a dependable though unpleasant distraction from her thoughts.

As the Mori servants went about unpacking Makoto's belongings Lady Yuki had begun a reign of terror that even Oda Nobunaga would be proud of. So far Lady Yuki's casualty list included two servants who had tried to insist the older woman remain off her feet, all of Makoto's six new private servants, and at the very top Makoto herself though the older women had only glared and hissed out every word she said in her low voice when Makoto attempted to start conversation.

Finally Makoto decided it would be in everyone's best interests if Lady Yuki be appeased no matter how intimidating the elderly women may be.

...Okay so she spent a few minutes gathering her courage before she spoke up but really can you blame her. Lady Yuki's makeup along with her glares made the women look like a demon...not that she hadn't before but the glare definitely made it worse.

"Would you excuse me and my nurse for a moment? I have much I wish to discuss with her in private."

"Hai Hime-sama*," The other servants replied softly.

With polite bows each servant left the room the swishing of their kimonos as they departed the only sound apart from those of the sea outside. After the last servant to leave had slid the shoji door shut and the sound of swishing fabric faded in the distance Makoto turned her attention to Lady Yuki who now sat next to a small elaborately carved dark brown box and was diligently placing various hair decorations and clips into it. For several seconds Makoto struggled to find the right words to approach the situation. Lady Yuki on the other hand needed no such time.

"What were you thinking?" Lady Yuki practically spat the words while her tone remained ominously low. Her eyes met Makoto's directly her stare unwavering.

"I-I don't kno-"

"If you cannot answer me directly I suggest you keep too silence princess!" Makoto flinched at Lady Yuki's clipped angry hiss. For a few moments cold silence once again filled the chamber with the exception of Lady Yuki's deep even breathing as she slowly regained her composure. At last Makoto's companion again spoke her tone drained and seeping with exhaustion.

"I do not know what the results of your earlier actions in front of the Mori Clan will be your highness. But I do dread for your sake and ours what is to happen in the coming days. Though I cannot deny you avoided a fatal arrow when your Clan denied Akechi Mitsuhides marriage proposal you now find yourself facing an entirely different challenge. The pair locked eyes a single name in both their minds. Motonari Mori.

For the seemingly hundredth time since their meeting Lord Motonari invaded Makoto's thoughts. She had expected...well she wasn't really sure what she had pictured the Mori lord as appearing in her mind before their meeting. Perhaps a man who was a colder and unloving version of her father. A man who closely resembled the man she still had nightmares about marrying, Akechi Mitsuhide, or a large and old male who was for the most part unattractive. Never would she have anticipated the Mori Lord being so...well handsome. Had things been different Makoto would certainly have behaved shyly in such a man's presence, however, she had not been able to focus on anything in their brief meeting but Motonari's eyes. His eyes were what had strangely enough truly left an impression on the young girl. Motonari Mori had openly measured her from the moment she entered his sights for his purposes; but whatever results or opinions on Makoto he had gained in those moments together remained expertly hidden. His eyes had never once revealed a true emotion except cool calculating indifference.

"He hides well what he intends your purpose to be here," Makoto focused once again on Lady Yuki as the elder woman spoke with a hint of intrigue in her voice, "I have attended to many a young Hime* in my life and seen many a match made to every type of lord. But this Motonari Mori I admit is a mystery even to me in the area of where we stand in his scheme. At first I admit I thought it was extra troops he was after but after seeing him today I can clearly tell he is a man of far greater wit than that to marry for so little gain. So why would he marry 'you' over all other Hime who's clans hold a greater supply of troops, political influence, and wealth? Why settle for so little? I have turned this over again and again in my head my lady and every time I come up with no answer to this problem."

Makoto felt a small twinge of hurt and anger at Lady Yuki's statement but she bitterly dismissed it before she dwelled on it too much. She'd heard such comments her whole life.

'She's right anyway. I'm well aware of how useful I am in the eyes of the world outside my parents' control. The Mori clan has no need for an alliance with the Tsuki or me as the wife of their lord. Yet here I am playing a role I never should have been given in even the eyes of my own family. Lady Yuki's presence is proof of my parents more than acknowledging this fact. But still...if you can hear me up in heaven uncle I would really like you to convince the kami's to tell me why?'

"Enough of that Makoto." Makoto's eyes met Lady Yuki's in shock as the women addressed her by her given name alone. Lady Yuki continued on in a gentle mothering tone.

"The worth of a person is not to be weighed by the assumptions of others. If that were indeed true no-one would have gotten anywhere by now." Then Lady Yuki was back to her cold calculating self. Makoto felt she would never get use to her attendants' instant changes in mood. "That is why Lady Makoto tonight at the feast we shall make 'our' first move." Lady Yuki stood as she said this opening one of many trunks in the room and pulling out several garments.

"Hai!" Makoto's momentary enthusiasm faded as she saw different articles that were the makings of a certain kind of garment in her collection.

"Ugh...h-how about a simpler choice for tonight!?!" Makoto's heart dropped with grim realization as Lady Yuki smiled sinisterly. This was her revenge!

'She's a demon!'

"Oh no my Lady Makoto! I find this particular combination will be most...'satisfactory' for our purposes tonight along with a much more complicated hair style."

Makoto gulped and said a prayer resolving herself for the torment that was to come.

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At the end of her ordeal Makoto emerged bearing no small feelings of revulsion toward fashion and the definition of a Japanese beauty in general. Her head was strangely heavy though her scalp felt numb, with a slight throbbing ache, from Lady Yuki's nearly obsessive brushing and sharp tugging as she fashioned Makoto's hair into the extravagant kanzashi* hairstyle with only the most expensive hairpieces brought from Makoto's mothers own collection which Makoto recognized from a glance out of the corner of her eyes before they vanished from view to be added to Lady Yuki's torturous creation. Then, much to Makoto's dismay, with Lady Yuki's help she none too quickly slipped on her heavy red silk kimono covered in small golden flowers and matching golden obi. Next was a near endless eternity that passed with Lady Yuki carefully applying cooled charred wood to her eyes and painting her lips as well as shadowing her eyes with powder. Finally after hours of preparation she was deemed 'decent' by the older women who Makoto now held a strong suspicion towards not only being a hag but a pure blood demon. Slipping on her slippers, and making a mental note to summon some local monks for an exorcism just in case, Makoto began to delicately make her way to the rooms front shoji doors where a group of Mori vassals waited on the other side to escort her to the dining hall. The walk to the shoji doors seemed to take a small eternity as smaller steps were required to keep herself from tripping on the fabric of her kimono. When they finally reached the doors Makoto took a single deep breath before signaling Lady Yuki with a soft nod to slide them open.

'This is it.'

Once the doors were open Makoto was presented with the sight of a small three man escort kneeling before the doors. At the very front was a small thin man with dark brown hair with visible graying in a traditional chonmage* style in a light green yukata. On both of the yukata's shoulders was the black insignia of the Mori clan. The man's face was thin with a well per-portioned nose, mouth and eyes that were a light brown and gave off a sort of pensive kindness. Behind him two slightly taller men both nearly identical to the one in front, with the exception of being much younger, stared back at Makoto and silently studied her with rapt fascination until a sharp reprimanding cough from their elder had them bowing so quickly the both hit their heads on the wood flooring with a deep 'thunk' as they made contact. For a few seconds the hall was totally silent--aside from two very soft and barely audible groans of pain. The older gentleman let out a long sigh and turned his face up to the heavens his expression one of both longsuffering dismay and fatherly exasperation. Despite a noble attempt at politely stifling her laughter at the picture the three made as small but audible giggle slipped past Makoto's lips. The three men's heads jerked to Makoto who mumbled a low apology and looked down at the floor in shame.

"There's nothing to be sorry for Hime-sama."

Makoto looked meekly up at the older man who's face which had now softened completely and eyes that now held the sort of tenderness rarely seen outside the faces of ones own parents.

"I dare say these sons of mine have caused more than one situation on a daily basis worth laughing over with their antics. We'll take no offense with amusement where it's due Hime-sama."

Makoto turned her head towards the two brothers who were smiling and looking off to the side with embarrassed blushes dusting their cheeks. Makoto smiled.

"None the less I do apologize for laughing about what happened." One of the brothers scratched the back of his head and replied without stopping to think.

"Only if you accept our humble apologizes for laughing during the carriage incident earlier." He mumbled.

"Akio!" The remaining two men cried in horror. Akio groaned and dropped his head in shame. Makoto gaped like a fish for a few seconds before a blush filled her cheeks and she was suddenly very grateful on-one was focusing on her.

'I'm never going to live that down.'

"Then...I guess we're even?" She smiled softly at the thought as the words left her mouth. The men stared on for several long seconds as if in a daze before the elder spoke with a smile.

"I'm Daichi Arata, Hime-sama and these are my sons Akira and Akio. We were sent to escort you to the banquet."

Makoto's smile faltered for a moment but a small discreet hand at her back reminded her Lady Yuki would not leave her side and she found the confidence to replace it with a new one.

"Well then let's not keep my lord waiting."

With that the small procession made their way to the banquet hall Daichi bringing up the front Makoto and Lady Yuki in the middle and Akira and Akio in back. As they neared the banquet hall they passed several servants carrying various things and milling about; all of whom bowed low to women who would soon be the lady of the castle. As they reached the doors to the banquet hall Daichi went ahead to announce their arrival. As they waited kneeling outside Makoto was struck by how strangely silent it was inside. The dinners in the Tsuki domain had always been audible from several halls away. Her musing was cut short however as she heard someone inside speak.

"Tsuki-hime is here my lord."

"Let her in."

As the doors slid open Makoto kept her head bowed demurely and her eyes on the floor. Lady Yuki would later tell her that the room had filled with the whispers and gasps of Mori vassals as they took her in but Makoto would notice none of this instead all she heard was a dull hum in the background as she focused her entire being on hearing 'his' voice should he decide to say anything. After a few seconds she was rewarded.

"All of you. Hold your tongues."

Within a moment the room fell into an uncomfortable silence.

"You may approach."

Makoto took a calming breath as she sat up and slowly stood preceding with small practiced steps to Motonari's side her head remaining low. Only when at last she saw the edge of a deep green fabric did she stop and bow placing both of her hands on the floor and lowering her head until her forehead brushed the top of her fingers.

"So you have the capacity to not play the fool." His tone was bland and matter-of-fact but Makoto sensed his distaste as plainly as if the emotion had been in his words.

"One would hope that in the future you will remember to hold your tongue and recall, if you are able, your position in this arrangement."

"As my Lord wishes." Makoto held back a sigh of relief as Motonari gave her permission to sit up and turned his head back towards the rest of the table.

This seemed to be a cue of some sort for the retainers present were quick to turn their attentions once again to their cups. The room fell into a stifling silence once more. After a few minutes servants appeared carrying various foods on expensive dishes with their soft footfalls and the soft taps of dishes being set onto the table. Yet the silence remained as everyone in the hall ate and drank in silence. For Makoto the contrasts to her families own loud and rowdy banquets was un-nerving to say the very least. She tried to focus on eating a small bowl of rice a maid had served her finding her appetite nonexistent, but needing a distraction. It was far too quiet. She sent several glances at the Mori lord out of the corner of her eyes that she hoped went un-noticed. She could attempt to engage her future lord husband in conversation certainly?

No, no she could not.

Makoto shoved a larger portion of rice into her mouth ignoring the hard look Lady Yuki gave her from the corner of her eye. Perhaps she could engage the vassal next to her in conversation? A discussion on the food perhaps?

'So, do you like rice sir?' She nearly snorted. 'Yes, that would certainly advertise my 'superior' conversation skills. Perhaps I can follow up with a conversation regarding how blue the sky is?'

Sighing internally Makoto resumed observing the Mori lord. Motonari ate with silent dignity his face impassive as ever and his eyes focused on the far side of the room. Following his gaze Makoto was surprised to find several of her father's samurai at the end of the table. They were a group of four and like their princess seemed tense with either the atmosphere or the gaze of the lord beside her. Contemplating their presence Makoto turned back to her bowl and caught movement out of the corner of her eye. One of the servants was approaching the table her gaze directed towards the foreign princess and her lord. Glancing at her and Motonari's cups Makoto observed that his now contained hardly any. Makoto moved her hands to resume eating her abandoned bowl of rice when a distant memory came to mind or rather a recollection of an everyday occurrence that had long ago lost it's significance.

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An eight year old Makoto watched with questioning eyes as a servant placed a bottle of sake beside her father.

'Why isn't he serving father?' She wondered waiting for the servant to once again pick up the bottle and serve his lord but instead Makoto's mother picked up the sake. Her confusion only grew as her mother opened the bottle and delicately poured the sake refilling her father's cup.

"Your mother is expressing her love for your father Makoto." Makoto turned and looked at her grandmother scrunching her nose.

"Expressing her love?"

"Yes it's what married women like your mother do for their husbands Makoto. It's our way of telling our husbands we are glad to be there for them and that we are dependable. By accepting your father, or any other married man, is telling his wife he believes he can depend on her."

"That's weird why don't they just say it?" Her grandmother's expression shifted to one of sad contemplation.

"It is strange-however-Makoto...," Her grandmother struggled to find the words. "Not every husband will love his wife and likewise a wife may not love her husband and if this is true why burden the other person with your feelings?" She seemed frustrated when Makoto's face lacked understanding.

"In our culture this is how we honor the other person Makoto. Understand that I love you is not just a word to simply be said. Love is in essence a part of a person's soul. A thing that we cannot clearly see or know to be true, a word though it may be longed for can never express it. Actions, however, are a direct consequence of love or respect. Do you see what I mean little bird?" Makoto took in her grandmother's words and nodded in understanding.

"Yes."

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Makoto turned to face the maid and held out her hands. The maid froze her eyes widening in shock and Makoto was suddenly aware that all eyes in the room had turned to her.

"Is there something you desire?" Makoto turned to Motonari lowering her hands. Her cheeks were suddenly aflame and she couldn't meet his eyes.

"I-it would please me greatly to personally serve my lord during this banquet and if my lord would be so benevolent every day he is here from this point." There was a short pause before the lord responded.

"Do what you will." Makoto felt lighter as he approved her request it wasn't out of any love or endearment on his part, she would be realistic, but she would accept any small victory towards her duty as a wife.

"My lord is exceedingly gracious." Makoto turned to the startled servant with a radiant smile. The dumbstruck servant handed her the kettle. It was still hot from the kitchen so Makoto took extra care in handling the kettle. As she began pouring the tea Makoto feeling bolder turned to look directly at Motonari. He returned her stare but his was far different. If anything he gazed upon her like she was some interesting new species of insect that had been masquerading as another kind entirely until that moment.

"The castle and town were breathtaking my lord I simply cannot wait to see more of them."

"Oh. Truly?" His detached tone never faltered.

"Yes."

"I fail to see how the dwellings of spare pawns could interest you so." Makoto faltered for a moment at the response before regaining her voice.

"None-the-less my lord I would enjoy it."

"What difference does that make?" Again Motonari's tone never wavered. But Makoto sensed her mistake.

"I apologize my lord I meant only to admire the results of your capabilities."

"It is not my capabilities we need examine." He looked down promptly as the last word left his lips and Makoto jerked back her arm.

Sadly, it was far too late.

Lord Motonari's cup had already over flowed and the liquid rushed over the cups sides and onto the table. A stream of air flowed out of Makoto's mouth with a hiss as she watched the pool of liquid at the cups base slowly grow. She placed the kettle on the table and tried not to wince at the loud thud that followed.

"I'm sorry my lor-"A high nasally cry cut off Makoto's frantic apology.

"Ah it is so excellent to see such a young couple so in love." Makoto whipped around to face the speaker, her left hand grasping the table edge for support.

'No. It can't be. It won't be. Don't let it be!'

But it was. Seated at the very end of the table across from her father's vassals was Hisashi Neko. Makoto felt hysterical laughter bubble up in her throat at the all too familiar face of the head of the Neko family. 

(To be continued in Part 2)