The Set Up-Draco

When I return home, it is dark. As I look out my window at the stable, I see no horses. My mother has not returned. Food has been left on my bed by one of the servants. I sit down to eat. As I lift the lid I see smoked chicken, rice, and peas. It is still warm to the touch, and I am famished. I clear my plate quickly. As I pass by my wardrobe, I see that a servant has already been in to pack my bags for the trip tomorrow. I sigh. This is the generals silent command when we are to leave for a journey at daybreak. I know I need to get some sleep.

As I lay on my kang so many thoughts run through my mind. I hope my mother returns in time for the trip so that it is not just me and the general. That would be a journey more dreadful than just going to meet my future bride. The thought has my emotions easily flip to anger. I do not want this. I will not label her as my bride. She will just be a girl that I meet tomorrow.

A part of me hopes that things go bad, and my parents rethink the match. That could work in my favor. If I work to make sure I do not enjoy myself perhaps father can change his decision. I will have to think of ways to show my contempt that will not upset him. I do not want a beating if he feels he has been made a fool of. I will have to be subtle in my approach. Happy with the plan that I have in mind to save my future with Io. I slip into a moderately peaceful rest.

When I awaken it is to the sounds of bells? I turn over to look in the direction of the sound and see my favorite servant Puren standing just inside the tapestry for my room. He is dressed according to my ba's restrictions for a servants clothing. The top he wears covers all of his arms and is a brown shade that resembles the color of soil. It is light weight supposedly due to the amount of sweat they have for all their work. His bottoms are of the same shade and are made of a heavy material to protect his legs in case he must kneel in the dirt for garden duty. All of his brown hair is pulled behind his head into a ponytail. "Good morning young Draco. I have been sent to awake you for the wagons departure shortly" he informs me as he bows. "Might I help you ready yourself for the journey" he offers as I rise from the bed.

"Yes, I accept your offer of aid" I say.

I walk to the bathing room so that I can wash up before changing out of my sleep wear. After bathing and putting on my bath robe I enter my room. Puren has laid my white robe onto my kang and fetched my breakfast from the kitchen in my absence. He stands to the side of my styling chair waiting for my return. When I pick up the white ceremonial robe, I give him a look so he can turn his back for me to dress. I quickly fashion the robe to my body and clear my throat when finished. He gestures for me to take a seat in the styling chair so that I may eat as he does my hair. He lays a cloth over my shoulders and begins cutting the strands. I start to pick at the fruit and oats he brought me.

As I eat, I look down at the robes. Of the many times I have worn their silky material today the feel heavy and suffocating. Briefly the white seems almost fluorescent. At the end of my sleeves there is a pattern of gold thread that matches the base of the robe that touches the floor. Over my heart the gold thread has been woven into our family crest. I take a heavy sigh at what they symbolize today.

"I am sorry for your trouble, sir. The decision that has been made is not fair" Puren sympathizes. He has never been one to hide his thoughts around me. He learned long ago to speak freely when he is only in my presence. In a way he is my only friend in this home.

"It truly isn't what I desire Puren. I have no way to save myself from this torture though" I complain.

"Perhaps things will work out for themselves young Draco. One must learn to have faith in love in this life. If not, they will never know true happiness" he advises.

"What do I know of love Puren. I have never courted a woman or taken one to my bed "I defend.

"No, you have not. Love is more than those things. It is a feeling that you get here" he says as he pauses in cutting my hair to lay a hand over my heart "it is warm yet full of heat. It does not go away when you leave the persons side. It follows you and helps you grow. With it you feel like you can conquer the world" he finishes as he does the last touches on my hair. I nod my head as if I understand what he is saying. "Perhaps it is something that you are starting to feel for the one that has you returning to the estate once it is after dark" he offers. I pale at the thought of someone knowing about Io. I am not sure what my ba would do if he knew I was already going against his wishes.

"Do not be in despair young Draco. Your secret is safe with me. I just couldn't help myself and had to find a way to compliment the large smiles you had upon your face on your returns to the compound the last few days" he insists. "You look like a man in love already." He takes a step back and bows to take his leave.

"Is it possible to feel such a thing after only a few days" I say to his back. He pauses in his leaving and turns toward me.

"Yes, it can. There is love at first sight after all. However, true love makes itself known when the thought of any other for you or for her is not a possibility" he answers and then quickly takes his leave. As I put on my geta and head to the wagon I wonder to myself for the first time, Am I in love with Io?

The air in the wagon is stiff with tension as I enter. The general sits on one side next to my mother who looks exhausted. I feel a moment of relief to know that I will not make the journey with him alone. I take my seat on the opposite side and turn to look out the window. The wagon begins to move immediately.

As I stare off into space, I contemplate my feelings for Io and what Puren said. I do already feel so strongly for her. When I think of the tightness in my chest that I feel around her I know that when she is in my thoughts, I feel it too. Is this what Puren meant? Somehow, I know that if I do not love her, I honestly think that someday I will be able too.

"Draco" my father's calls my name interrupting my thoughts. I meet his gaze across the wagon.

"When we get to our destination. I want you to be on your best behavior and take this seriously. You are representing this family and I will not have you embarrassing me. You will behave with grace and dignity. You will accept this girl as your bride and do your duty of lengthening our line. Have I made myself clear" He commands.

"Yes, ba" I say giving the reply I know he wants. When I look at my mother, I see that her eyes have closed to rest. I lay my head back to do the same. I want no longer to be a part of this conversation.

When I awake sometime later it is because the wagon has stopped. A footman comes to open the door and we take our exit. My ba walks ahead of us as is his station. My mother follows a foot behind head lowered to the ground. By custom she is not to speak unless addressed or given permission.

I walk closely behind her head raised high showing no weakness as is required of me. When we reach the entrance, a female servant bows to us and gestures for us to follow her through the home to where the family waits. As I take in the decor, I admire how it is different from my home. The tapestries that line the walls are a deep shade of red. There are no coverings on the doors we pass. On the wall's lanterns hang every few feet and drawn portraits lay spread throughout. As we pass, I see the faces of people I do not know as well as an array of landscapes. We are led to a sunroom.

There are six chairs placed in the center of the room around a table filled with dishes of food. I smell its aroma in the room and my stomach growls to be filled. As I take in the people sitting in the chairs, I quickly lose my appetite. There are three people occupying the chairs. Someone sits in the middle chair in a white hooded robe head bowed. As my heart drops in my stomach, I know that this is to be my future bride. On her left is what looks to be an older man of short stature. His hairs have all turned grey and he has many wrinkles upon his aged face. This is the father, I think. He seems much too old to have a daughter my age. To the right of the one in the hooded white robe sits a much younger woman. Her brown hair lies in two ponytails with two kanzashi sticks sticking up into the air. She has her head bowed and is adorned in a blue robe like that of the man.

The man slowly rises and bows low in greeting. "You may rise, Xiyi" My ba calls him but remains standing. My father bows to no one as there is no one he respects. The old man rises. Without turning to face us my father takes his seat and introduces us. "This is Kawa, and this is my firstborn Draco future husband to your daughter" he says with a flick of his hand. We receive a nod as we bow in greeting.

"This is my wife Quingwa" he addresses. She raises her head and stands to bow. Then she takes her seat and looks at us now that she is able. "And this is my only daughter Shee" he says. As he introduces her, she stands with her head still down. Her shaking hands lift to remove the robe from her head. When she lifts her head, I blanch and take a step back. As I stare at her I hear my father clear his throat. This is not what I imagined. Shee has black hair that is styled just like her mothers. She has deep brown eyes that stare into mine. Her face is round and in no way slim. As I stare at her skin I am taken aback by its colors. She looks as if her skin is bronze but over her eye and apart of her left cheek are large patches of white that resemble that of a cow. For a moment I think that if it were not for the spots, she would be a pretty girl. I know my expression must not be kind as I see the bronze parts of her skin grow pale and her hands begin to shake harder.

I offer her a small smile of remorse as my mother, and I take our seat. As my father begins to converse with Xiyi I cannot help but compare the face of Shee to that of my Io. They are opposite in all things. Where Io's face is slim hers is plump. Io has beautiful full pink lips that beg for my kiss while hers are thin and rough looking. Her skin is not as smooth and perfect. When I take in the parts of her body I can see while she sits my blood does not rush beneath my skin. I look at her and feel nothing. Out of the corner of my eye I see her mother smile and nudge her daughter with an elbow who blushes in reply. When I realize I have been caught staring with that remorseful smile on my face I quickly turn my head to tune into the conversation my father is having.

"It will be a Traditional Shinto celebration that will take place in thirty-seven days' time as we agreed by message carrier. They both go through the purification process, exchange nuptial cups as a way of vows, receive the blessing of each family and then symbolize there offer to the gods for blessing. Do you agree?" He states. Xiyi turns a bit red but nods along in agreement probably knowing my father must always have his way. "My son will remain at my estate through the courting process. He will send his gifts by message courier once a week. I have taken the liberty of selecting his engagement gift on his behalf" I turn to him in question as he waves a hand into the air. Two servants that I had not realized standing at the door to the room carry over a large chest. When they open the lid, it is filled to the brim with various coins. All eyes on the chest widen in surprise at such a high amount of money. "The gift is a lucky object according to the lines of kinpo being a ceremonial amount of money. Will this suffice" he says manipulatively. Astonished by his boldness I know automatically that he has a deal. No one would dare refuse this amount of coin. Xiyi and Quingwa both nod eagerly as Shee sags her shoulders. I do not envy her. I feel as if her parents have just sold her to my family as if she were a prized pet.

My ba rubs his hands together eagerly with a wide smile. He does not hide how thrilled he is to have his way. The servants move from their position at presenting the coin when my ba flicks his wrist and they go back to standing by the entry. My father takes his glass from the table and begins to sip his sake. My mother leans forward and begins serving food onto a dish for him. Quingwa does the same for her husband. Once they are full the women and children will eat what is left. I sit back in my seat and stare at my lap while the conversation continues.

I do not realize that I have tuned anyone out until my mother places a hand on my arm. "That is a wonderful idea" she says. When I look at her in confusion, she rushes to add more to her statement to cover up my lack of attention "He would be happy to take a tour of the ground with Shee. After all, we will soon be family" She gushes. I look at my ba who has drawn his eyebrows together. I hurriedly rise as to not upset him and follow Shee out of the room.