The Ties Of The Heart

Upon returning home to the temple house from the southern bathhouse I found the place in insolence and complete disarray!

A servant boy was crying into the arms of his friend and a loose circle of Shiyūdōtai crowded around everywhere in distress, weeping into their sleeves and one or two here and their fanning those whom appear close to fainting or comforting their children.

The other men all enraged and preparing to go out to patrol the village streets.

Something terrible has happened...I make my way to my home to find that most of my servants are all in an even worse state and all praying...for Suurin to live.

At this its like all the blood in my veins has gone cold and still like am a dead creature of prey.

This is all my fault for this morning I sensed that it was indeed all to silent but for some foolish reason I let my emotions cloud my judgment and my instincts and now Suurin has been harmed.

I make my way inside and then to my bedchambers where I can see Gen pacing and the old priest Harumoto sitting outside of the door speaking with him.

There is also a random assortment of herbal bags and other medical and magical healing parcels scaterd all outside of my door no doubt the tell tale sign that my nephew Yuki is in my bedchambers currently attending to my Suurin which allows my mind to somewhat ease for as much as my late brother's son is a scatterbrained and disrespectful brat he is the most capable healer at my disposal and I can trust with great integrity that he shall care for Suurin in acceptable parameters accordingly.

I make my way over to Gen and Harumoto and inquire to them as to what has occurred in my absence.

"Harumoto san I am honored that you have came during this time"

"The honor is mine Noble Kie and there is no longer any reason to worry for Suurin unknowingly saved himself! Haha this will make quite the tale to tell when I meet with Hojo for sake and wine! The crazy old goat shall appreciate the irony!"

I choose to ignore the old fools insolence for I now cannot help but feel a desperate urge to go to Suurin even though my presence would not be any sort of aid but rather a disturbance at most.

"Gen what happened? I tasked you specifically with his protection Gen!"

Gen turns around to face me as he wipes his face, I must have hurt him with my words but for some reason I have lost control over my emotions again.

"I know Kiyon...Im sorry! But no one saw it coming-"

"I do not care! Tell me what has happened!"

I feel them both look at me for I have raised my voice at them something I never would have done..I MUST CONTROL MYSELF.

"After you left he started to panic seemingly for no reason until he made himself sick but as it turns out poison was slipped into his water but he expelled the poison through vomiting before it could do any real damage"

My skull suddenly feels warm and my throat feels dry, my fists begin to shake at my sides as I lose control over my anger.

"Gen go and clear out the wedding banquet hall of all people and prepare it for my seance!"

After that I pull back the door and walk in to see Suurin laying on my futon clothed in nothing but a thin blanket and sweating profusely with a neatly folded dampened cloth over his forehead most likely to help him keep cool with my nephew at his side grinding up herbs into a thick green paste.

"How is he?"

Yuki doesn't answer me instead he purposely ignores me which I will not stand for.

"He is my bride and so it is my right to know of his condition RIGHT NOW YUKI!"

At my second outburst Yuui pauses and puts the mortar down with a slam and looks up to me with his jaws clenched and a scowl on his tanned and freckled face indicating to me that he intended to continue to be belligerent.

"Oh so now you care!"

"DO NOT USE THAT TONE WITH ME RUDE CHILD!" 

I lost it and I snapped at him… I'm like my sire when he would beat me as a child… it always started like this and I am completely terrified and ashamed of myself but before I can say anything that could even remotely stifle any injury Yuki stands abruptly and retorts back at me only this time I cannot blame him entirely.

"FINE THEN MY DEAR UNCLE THEN I SHALL JUST LEAVE YOU TO ACTUALLY TAKE ONE MOMENT TO GIVE A DAMN!"

And then he angrily thrusts a jar of medicine into my arms and then throws the bowl of water he was holding at me face and walks out just as the bowl collides with my face getting me soaking wet and then crashing to the floor and breaking into a million pieces.