On Thin Ice (Prequel to Guild)

Chapter Ten: Wisteria

             Two earthenware cups rested atop a lacquered serving tray, their various chips and cracks filled with liquid gold that winked in the light of the pale, paper lanterns. Kintsukuroi- a reminder that broken things could be mended, made better than before. A reminder that there was hope.

There was always hope.

"I like them too."

Blinking away her trance, Yuina looked to the girl sitting across from her on a cushion of padded silk- purple, like everything else in the season of wisteria. Purple like the flowers, purple like the decorations, purple like the stole and sash and ribbons of the iridescent gown Jia was trying not to wrinkle.

Purple like the dress that required Yuina to sip her tea cautiously to avoid ruining. Like the garlands of real wisteria Masuyo wove through her hair.

Forgetting herself, the princess smiled at the shogun's favourite- the crown prince's promised bride. She nodded while she gulped her matcha.

"It's so... poetic."

"Poetic," Yuina echoed, taking another sip. She swallowed both tea and anxiety together. She returned the teacup to the tray, and returned Jia Kimsura's feline stare. "Speaking of poetry..."

Jia waved the servant painting her nails with genuine gold away. When she'd come, the maid had introduced herself as Nami. Jia kept calling her Nori.

Yuina also knew her as Dai's spy. The one who had caught them kissing in the gardens nights ago. One of many he used to spy on his family.

Because spirits knew what would happen if he didn't.

Nami bowed and left with her bowl of gold leaf, and the other servants followed suit. Masuyo finished knotting wisteria with a with a stronger tug than necessary and stormed off to the corner of the room, her gaze falling to the floor with all the others.

But their attention? Yuina could tell that many pairs of ears were trained on her. On Jia. So she dropped her voice to a whisper. "I never thanked you for the song book."

Lips pursed. Silver eyes narrowed, the glare reflected by her mother-of-pearl skirt. Jia plucked a single cat hair from her lap, somehow making it look threatening.

Osamu the cat's purring alone gave Yuina the strength to maintain her smile. He curled up right in the middle of their serving tray, nearly toppling the caddy and causing Nuân to cry out in distress.

This set was three hundred years old. Priceless.

Yuki giggled.

Jia held up a claw-ringed hand to silence it all. The fingernails bald of rings gleamed just as brightly. As did her teeth, her eyes while her lips curled into a sneer. "Don't be," she said, "I don't do kind things without reason. I'm not a servant."

"Of course not."

The girl shifted from where she knelt just a pace away, and Yuina flinched, silently cursing herself for doing so. She'd promised herself she would no longer be afraid of this girl.

Melt the ice, cool the flame. Teach them what their hearts are for.

                 Yuina had been sent here as a peace offering. A gift to tighten the bond between the Northern Icelands and Hikarishi, the Bone Crown and the Serpentine Throne. And though Yuina would not do as her mother had asked, she would certainly extend a hand.

She focused on the dainty Hua dian blossom painted on Jia's brow.

"You must prove to me the time I spent retrieving that for you was not in vain. I want you to... make it worth my while."