Chapter Text
Prologue - being graced with grace and flowers
The third Shinobi war was as brutal as it was long. With its countless victims, child soldiers who died for a purpose unbeknownst to them. Shinobi had it the worst, fighting and killing, being drafted for a war that seemed to have no end. Villages empty of their military force, the civilian population the only remaining people there. For most of the country it was bad, missing loved ones and a part of their community. But the great shinobi villages were hit the most, nearly half of the population away on missions, fighting a war with only the Kage and his most necessary corps there to protect the village. Smaller villages were pillaged, destroyed and People roamed the continent in search of refuge. As did a small Family from the land of water. Their small village by the sea was destroyed, making them refugees and the Father of the Family of four did not agree with their countries politics, looking for opportunities, not wanting to stay in a country where he did not feel safe. So he packed his belongings up, all his papers, all the money, all the things that made their home, a home. His wife wept for weeks, silently on the road. His son was brave, never leaving the side of his mother, only four years old and already trying to be helpful to the family. His daughter sat in the carriage with her mother, looking out of the window, looking for his face amidst the few hired protectors. He knew it was far from good moral to buy some Shinobi to protect him and his family on the journey to the land of fire but Takagi Yuuji did what was best for his family, to ensure a better future for all of them. Especially his children.
The Takagi Family was a well off Family, with an esteemed estate, lavish lifestyle and more luxury than most other Families of their country. A member of the top 1% so to speak. Business partners and family friends alike were shocked, not understanding why a rich merchant would leave the country who made his family rich in the first place. But Yuuji had different plans. Plans in the land of fire, where the leaders were much more agreeable, where the weather appealed to him much more and where he imagined himself and his company in a brighter future. Where his children would be safe not just for now, but a long time.
The face of God is graced with grace and flowers
猶みたし 花に明行 神の顔
Matsuo Basho, Notes from My Backpack, Spring 1688
“Ojou-sama, we must return home. Your father awaits you.”, soft sounded her voice, a bit amused at the little girl hiding behind a street corner, looking towards the training grounds, watching young shinobis training. Her cheeks turned a bright red and she let go of her kimono, tiny pale fists loosened. She was only twelve years old and had never moved like the children on the sparring field, who struck each other with flying fists and enthusiastic screams. One of them clad in a green overall while the other was dressed in calm blues. She nodded her little head, dark brown hair falling down her narrow shoulders. She tucked her hand back into her Sleeve and held the fan over her face, hiding her blushed Face behind the paper fan. Takagi Kairi was never a problematic child, always following her parents words, a diligent student never excelling at something, not overly intelligent - no genius to say the least. But smart, witty some might say who knew the little girl a bit longer than most. The eldest daughter of Takagi Yuuji was always on her best behaviour, always followed by her servant Noriko. The brunette woman followed her little mistress everywhere, caring for her as her personal servant. “Ojou-sama why not starting a shinobi career, a very honourable profession.” The small girl sighed behind her fan, the pale fingers a bit cramped around the wooden handle. Her voice small and polite. “I could never do what they are doing. I am barely able to keep up with the training at home.” Not that her father wanted his children to ever be part of the military force of their new home. The family made a perfect start, her father being able to establish his business in the land of fire, building on the - already huge - fortune the family possessed. But he wanted his children to be wholly educated, in all aspects there was. Her brother Yuusei even visited the Shinobi Academy, learning all about the Way of life of Shinobis. He obviously would have to stop at the rank of a Genin and continue his education at home. As the only male child of the family it was his responsibility to take over the Family Business when he came of age. Right now he enjoyed his physical prowess greatly, going to the Academy with a merry smile every day. And also beating his sister every single week at their weekly stand off with their personal trainer. To keep Kairi fit and sharpen Yuusei’s skills - so their fathers words. Kairi never enjoyed these hours of exercise much more at ease in her books, looking at birds from their garden or playing music. The little girl was a proficient biwa player and enjoyed nothing more than playing her tunes day in day out. Life was well and good for the rich family in the village hidden behind leafs.
Always seeing within
a flower at the break of dawn
— the face of God
Matsuo Basho, Oi no kibumi, Spring 1685
The nine tails attacked the village the family called their sanctuary only six years after migrating to it. Kairi was twelve years old and her brother was only nine. She remembers it vividly, the huge fox destroying her home, uncontrolled and wild. She sat on her porch looking up into the sky when she heard the first booming sound, Noriko came screeching to her, cradling her safe with her walking into the house, not knowing how else she should keep the children safe. Her father was out of the country on a business trip and her mother was soon with her children, cradling them all together with Noriko in her arms, sobbing weakly hoping they would survive the night. Hired Guards came rushing into the estate finding the Family and the other servants in the living room in the middle of the house. They escorted the family out into the woods until they reached their neighbours, hugging them in relief. Kairi was too young to understand what was happening. She could never dream to have the emotional strength to fight this beast. And she knew in this moment that she could never be a Shinobi, she could never be someone with the power to stand against some grave dangers like the one who wrecked her home in that minute. She would wake with screams and sobs, the faint screams of the people massacred by the nine tails that night. She knew her brother felt the same, her mother as well. The young girl would never forget the faces of her guards standing strong and tall at the trees watching as their fellow shinobi were murdered - until the beast disappeared suddenly and everyone held their breath. “The fourth saved us all.” - that’s what they would say, what people were crying about, in the days that followed and her father returned he quickly let the estate be repaired and life seemingly returned to normal. The fourth sacrificed himself to save this village and its people from the attack of the nine tailed beast. Who got sealed into a little baby. He was a Hero worshipped by the people left behind in a village that licked their wounds and quickly rebuilt itself.
Kairi would resume her activity to visit the sparring grounds with Noriko. Hiding behind her fan watching all kinds of Shinobi training. Watching and feeling grateful for their prowess but never losing the feeling of pity for the young kids, some even younger than herself who learned to kill and murder in cold blood.
hydrangeas —
it’s time for summer clothes
in pale blue
紫陽草や帷子時の薄浅黄
- Matsuo Basho, undated, Summer
And so she grew up, sheltered, educated, at parties of the rich and famous. Her fathers name grew in popularity around the country, their estate stayed enormous, her servants never changed. She was dressed in the finest silks the country had to offer, would stroll around with Noriko behind her. Would play the Biwa at home and at parties where her father showed her off to the Daimyo and his family time and time again. Obviously trying to win the affection of the countries leader in name. Kairi developed a pretty face, a quiet sort of beauty. Not the bashful handsomeness her brother possessed, who regularly stole girls on the grounds of their estate. Bribing his elder sister to keep silent with favours and treats. While Yuusei stood by the side of their father, after successfully finishing the Shinobi Academy at the age of twelve and then leaving the Shinobi corps - she stayed the same. Went on parties, smiled behind her painted fan and conversed with important people who complimented her beauty and talent in music. She did not marry, her father was kind enough to let her choose, had great plans in mind for her daughter who grew more beautiful with every year she completed. The son of the daimyo, only a few years her elder would be a good match, an agreeable match, some clan heir of a great shinobi clan would also be agreeable but never a lowly worker, never a chuunin nobody. Yuuji was strict with his words but also respected his daughter, knew her smart mind and wished for love as he shared with his wife. He trusted in her mind and sense of duty to her family's name.
Some clan heir like Uchiha Itachi, who she met a few times at parties, quiet and shy like herself, His father a stern and imposing man, quite frightening for someone like Kairi who hid behind her fan, and then behind her mother. Shinobi had a different aura to them, some cold shadow that never left her fully comfortable. As a child she was scared and shy, huge man like the Uchiha clan head were imposing and frightening. She never felt unsafe with them though until her father came home one day and told her mother behind doors that that quiet kid, who was just a bit younger than herself was responsible for the murder of every single member of his clan. That a child eradicated the Uchiha Name from the face of this planet. Only leaving his younger brother behind, traumatised, surely and lost. Kairi was shocked, her hand over her mouth, eavesdropping with her brother. Gripping his hand and later in one of their rooms talking. “And father wanted you to marry one of those. He must be out of his mind considering to let you marry one of them.” Yuusei joked half heartedly, his lighter brunette Hair short and wavy on his head, hazel eyes looking in identical ones as his sister scowled at him. “I choose whoever I want to marry, Yuusei.” He never argued with her, too aware of her stubborn streak in matters that considered her very own personality. His sister never was someone to be otherworldly stubborn or aggressive, on the contrary he always found his sister to be most agreeable. As was her tendency to defend herself whenever she could, most of the time in discussions with him. As his elder sister Yuusei had nothing but respect and adoration for Kairi.
hydrangea —
a little thicket in my garden,
another sitting room
紫陽草や薮を小庭の別座敷
Matsuo Basho, Edo, Fukagawa, Summer 1694
The years to come were willfully uneventful, Kairi reached her twenties and stayed unmarried, in love with the idea of love. Getting acquainted with the Son of their feudal lord turned out to be her fathers greatest accomplishment in matters that concerned his daughter. Kairi had her own circle of friends, rich members of society never alone in public, surrounded by golden spoons and servants. She never walked alone and unchaperoned by Noriko. Lord Toranaga Ryousuke was the Daimyo’s eldest son and turned out to be her greatest eyesore. He was arrogant and forward, direct with his affections and thankfully a complete rake. Kairi found conversation with him dreadfully boring, and to her greatest merit - so did her father. He never came around to admit it truthfully, the closest Yuuji ever came was to roll his eyes at his daughter as she spoke freely at a dinner at home. Her brother agreed completely, fully committed to being a rake himself, with how many woman he brought home, how utterly charming he was with his words. Yuusei filled out handsomely, his shoulders broad and his face a very charming sort of angular. Kairi had to admit defeat a long time ago when her little brother started to tower over her small form. He certainly was not overly tall, but average. A picturesque heir to the family.
That was not to say that Kairi herself did not attract suitors, she did plenty. But she always found them wildly uninteresting, agreeable but without that feeling you should feel when meeting the one who stole your heart. Her parents were young and never hurried her in her decision to marry. Her mother even stating she could stay a single woman for as long as she lived - she obviously said this in the absence of her father who would never agree. Still clinging to the idea Kairi would somehow fall madly in love with the feudal lords son.
In her twenties the young woman discovered her love for flowers and especially for the flower shop of a certain shinobi family. The yamanaka flower shop was a shop frequented daily by the young woman. She enjoyed the company of the family running it greatly and adored the quiet street where the shop was to a great extent. She even forced her friend Nana to accompany her for most of her daily strolls to the shop. Her best friend so to speak was a loud beauty, with flowing black hair, always pinned in extravagant hairdos and the most gorgeous deep green eyes. Nana enjoyed her twenties to the utmost extent as the youngest daughter of a nobleman of the country she was free to do what she wanted. And that was - these days - being forced to walk around the village with her friend Kairi and pick flowers and books. Day in, Day out. A routine the black haired beauty soon came to enjoy, even though she complained every single time about them not doing something scandalous and exciting.