Usagi Shizuki arrived in Tsuma for the Topaz Championship, and made her way to the Laughing Carp to check in for a room. Afterwards, she had some tea, sitting in a corner, and playing go with a ronin whom her clan sponsored for the tournmanet. Her body was unusually small, even for one of her family, so she took it for granted that nobody would come to talk to her in the sea of people. But one man did.
His name was Bayushi Tenmaku. He was a stunningly handsome Scorpion, who arrived shortly before she did. The Scorpion approached the Hare as soon as he saw her. She was watching him- and everyone else- from the corners of her eyes, but did not tilt her head to him until he spoke with his silken tounge. "Usagi-san, would you do me the honor of joining me in a cup of sake?"
The forwardness of the Scorpion, whom she had never seen before, suprised her. She looked in his direction... his voice, his charm... she found it impossible to say no to him. Packing up her go set, she told the ronin they would continue playing at a later time.
The ronin rose to get in their way, and the Bayushi, unfazed, look at the wave-man with a smile. "Can I help you, Ronin-san?"
The ronin returned his smile out of politeness only. "Not at all, Scorpion-sama, I was merely wishing to return the favor bestowed upon me by her clan. It is through them that I am allowed to compete here."
The Scorpion nodded. "Do not worry, Ronin-san, I will make sure the Hare Clan hears of what a wonderful chaperone you were."
The Ronin replied, "I appreciate that, Scorpion-sama, but I wish to to have you keep your word and keep close to Usagi-sama."
Tenmaku found a loophole in what the Ronin said, and took no hesitation in exploiting it. "I assure you that I will not let her out of my sight." With that, he lead the samurai-ko to the tea house.
When they arrived at the Poisoned Frog, Tenmaku sat next to Shizuki in a booth
sliding just slightly closer than the usual distance. "You must be a very
talented bushi to be here, for you are appear to be the only Minor Clan
representative this year, Usagi-san...oh, where are my manners, I am Bayushi
Tenmaku."
Shizuki replied his greeting with one of her own. "And I am Usagi Shizuki, Bayushi-san. And I am sure you are a talented bushi yourself." She blushed when he inched closer to her, however did not express her discomfort.
"Please, Shizuki-chan, call me Tenmaku-kun," he said as she sipped her sake, nearly causing her to spew it back out in suprise. Rather, she swallowed and took a second sip.
"Would you be offended if I refer to you as Tenmaku-san? After all, we have just met," was her reply.
"That is fine, as long as you do no not mind me calling you Shizuki-chan. I simply love the way your name sounds," he added with a compliment. "Tell me, do you know of the events of this tournament?"
She nodded her agreement to his reference to her, then swallowed another taste of the sake. "I only know of the Iaijutsu tournament in the final day."
The Scorpion nodded, and whispered every event that was to come to her. Shizuki was very comfortable with the way he was being so close to her, his breath on her ear... but she was so enthralled that she did not ask him to back away. She did wonder why someone like him would be interested in an unremarkable Hare woman such as herself, instead of the more striking women in the city during this tournament.
The Sumai event pitted the two against each other. Shizuki blushed as Tenmaku chose to go without a gi on, leaving him only in hakama pants. She managed to make the first move, and pushed as him with all her petit body could muster... and to everyone's shock, even her own, the Scorpion fell on his back, his head just across the line. He gave a sly, innocent smile to her, which almost made her forget what position they were in, in front of a dozen-plus competitors, and sprang to her feet.
The two would eat together in the inn that night and, the Ronin forgotten, she would teach him how to play the game of Go. In an ironic turn of events, they would face each other in the Go event on the second day. Shizuki was about to make a move, when the Scorpion also attempted the same move, their hands touching. O-Doji Koneko, who was judging this part of the tournament, was all in a fluster, and the Scorpion apologized profusely for the mishap, both of them red-faced. Shizuki was unable to concentrate from that point on, and was soundly defeated by Tenmaku.
During the dinner of the second day, Tenmaku quietly whispered into Shizuki's
ear again.
"Would you like to take a walk with me in the Gardens, Shizuki-chan? Alone, of
course." She would nod, and Tenmaku would slip her an origami Hare, as a token
of his affection.
That night, Tenmaku led her to a part of the Gardens that was all but completely unlit, and where there was a small shrine. There were sitting pillows already inside as he closed the shrine behind him.
"The Garden is very beautiful, as is this shine, don't you think,
Tenmaku-k...san?" said Shizuki. Tenmaku then moved even closer to her, placing a
hand on her knee. "Yes, but not nearly as beautiful as you are." Their lips
suddenly met, and for a split-second Shizuki's eyes opened in shock. But before
she could push him away, she was lost in her first kiss, and then she was his.
After a moment of love that seemed like a wonderful eternity, Tenmaku spoke
softly in the Hare's ear. "Shizuki-chan... the Doji who is in the Iaijutsu
tournament... he has done poorly, shaken by his father's presence. If you face
him in the tournament, would you consider allowing yourself to lose to him?"
Shizuki looked at the Scorpion's eyes, and smiled. "If I do, will you promise that what we have done here will never leave this shrine? I would be disgraced if anyone knew I broke my vows of chastity... Tanmaku-kun."
He kissed the Hare softly. "I promise."
As fate would have it, the Doji would preform exceedingly well, facing Shizuki in the final round of the Iaijutsu tournament. She had already won the Topaz Championship, and after smiling at the Bayushi who was watching, took her position against this final opponent. The Doji would strike, and she would purposely draw her sword a second to late, causing her to be struck first.
After the ceremony, she wanted to speak with him once more, but the Scorpion have already started the journey home. Knowing the Scorpion lands were on her own way back to Shiro Usagi, she wrote a letter to the Bayushi.
Tanmaku-kun, I have only known you for three days, but those three days were the most incredible thing I have ever expierienced in my life. My only regret is that I did not have the chance to say goodbye. I can only pray that one day fate will bring us together again, even if only for one day. Until that time comes, I will never forget you.
She sealed the letter, and slipped into bed with it under her pillow. Just three nights ago she only read about what a wonderful yet painful thing love can be. Now she knew firsthand, and that the love stay with her long after she passes away.