Chapter Text
Naoya gave you a ring before he parted ways. 'Since you're a modern woman,' he said as he passed a black velvet box into your hand. You dipped your head low and uttered thanks as was expected, squeezing the box a bit too tightly in your hand.
He left, taking the scroll along with him, and promising to plan the proper ceremony soon. You all said farewell with the courtesy expected, and the former noise of speaking died with the closing of the door. Tense silence replaced it, which you broke through once a minute had passed. "Is it your will to make me look like some foolish girl that's passed around like livestock?" You demanded of your father, your voice growing in volume.
"It would make me seem strange if I had handed off your sister before you in marriage." He replied quickly.
"And you shouldn't hope to see me alone forever! Unless you find your happiness in seeing me unhappy." Shiroha added with the same speed, folding her arms.
"You do not need a husband to be content, Shiroha." You answered. "None of this needs to happen, we're only doing it because it's tradition, it's expected."
"There are matters of greater importance than your opinions and preferences, child." Your father replied with uncharacteristic harshness. "A Zenin is a far greater match than many minor clans can even dream of, I'll not let you squander it."
"What about clan Adachi, hm? If we both marry off to other families who will be your heir? Will your bloodline be split?"
"Do not attempt to leverage tradition in your favor now. It is a weak argument after all your years spent rejecting it." Your father turned and stood, displeasure upon his face.
"I'm not against it entirely, father, I just think it has flaws." Exasperation took hold of your voice, nearing desparation. "What happens now? You pick a new heir from some gaggle of other clans' second born sons? Why not a daughter of your blood and family?"
Your sister uttered your name, this time being the one most displeased. "Stop talking about succession as though father is already gone." She snapped.
"Well this is all for the future, is it not? Marriages are being arranged because we're thinking ahead to heirs and succession and good breeding, yes? Or am I too great a fool to understand it, father?" You grit out the last few words, teeth pressed together in a hard line.
His face did not soften, nor did any part of him seem to shift to gentleness. "You were raised to understand your place, your responsibilities, and your duties. If you suddenly find yourself incapable of handling these upon being faced with fulfilling them, you are worse than a fool." The words came with a barely restrained rage behind them, his voice nearly shaking. "You've had time, more than needed. You were permitted to remain unmarried and unbetrothed but now it is time you behave as a grown woman and do your duty. For the sake of the clan and your sister. And someday, you'll see, for yourself."
You left without asking for permission, swift legs carrying you with great speed to your room, where your poor bed promptly got the worst of it. Pillows were sent soaringbthrough the air across the room, slamming into walls and shedding feathers. You gripped the edge of the futon mattress, which quickly met a similar fate, landing with a thud. At some point, while you dismantled your bed in a rage induced fit, you'd begun channeling cursed energy into your fists. You were sloppy, uncoordinated, and the drain felt as tiresome as it had back when you were little and first learning to use it.
Breathing shakily, you calmed yourself and sank onto the tatami mats that lined the room's floor. In the corner of your eye, you caught a glimpse of the ring box which had been passed into your hand with the same lack of care that the handkerchief had been, years ago. Only, this time, with the contract that this symbolized, you were nearly certain that you couldn't burn this while imagining Naoya's face being engulfed in the flames instead.
Fingers curled around it, pressing into the fabric. It hinged open, and immediately your room sparkled with retracted light upon the walls and ceiling. Inside was a polished gold band, with tiny, lacy filigree. The center stone was a large diamond, cut into the shape of a teardrop, and flanked by two slightly smaller stones, one on either side, pointing outwards. Six dainty little pale green stones were set around the large ones. All were aglow, even with your window mostly closed, the miniscule amount of sunlight illuminated it like a prism. You plucked it out, turning it over in your fingers, the light shifting and and catching in new angles with each movement of your fingers, spots of brightness dancing through the room.
You couldn't help that you almost slid it on your finger, just to see. Though some small part of you gave pause, and the bedazzled band was quickly returned to the box, tossed into your bag.
You'd scratched your face, during the bought of anger you refused to call a tantrum, a blessed excuse when you were stopped at the gates of the estate.
"I need to see Shoko."
"For a scratch?"
"I can't be scarred while marrying a Zenin, can I?"
The guard stepped aside, and you left, with a bit too much haste in your stride.
-◇-
Naoya had intended to ask for Shiroha. Bright, and young, and far more pliant than you. And with none of the prejudices against men and tradition you made so apparent. The technique interested him most. Hell, he could already picture the kind of acclaim he'd receive if his son inherited the ten shadows technique and the embrace of night. True, that would mean inadvertently granting a legacy to his wife. But in the process, gaining a potential special grade sorcerer to mold in his image, to act as he willed? It was worth the sacrifice of bedding such a masculine, arrogant woman. Attitudes could always be changed, anyhow, just as one would break a stallion.
When he had first sent word to your father, he'd assumed the old man would be beside himself with joy. Elated that the Zenin heir had turned his attention to a lowly little family like the Adachi clan. Instead he'd been met with regrets and apologies, and your father's rule set in stone.
Shiroha would not marry before you. Lest it upset the balance of the household and clan. He'd protested, insisted, attempted to persuade him. He'd done anything short of begging, only to meet a brick wall each time. At last, in a much later correspondence, your father finally mentioned something that set his sights on a new target.
'Should your affections and interest ever come to lie with my eldest daughter, it would be my utmost pleasure and privilege to grant you her hand in marriage. She is stubborn, for that I feel I must apologize in advance, but she, like her sister, has inherited both my family's cursed technique and her mother's grace and beauty. In time, I have confidence you will find her suitable to a similar degree.'
He wrote back and agreed. What sort of fool would wallow and lament the loss of one prized mare when another stood within reach, ripe for the taking?
Breaking you would be much more work than your sister. But nothing good came easy. And he took great delight in a challenge
-◇-
Shoko sighed as she saw you, already looking stressed.
Fortune had it that she was free to see you for a little while. The high-school seemed the best meeting place for the time, and you took to an empty classroom to avoid questions. You turned and let the light catch the scratch running down your cheek.
"I can fix it." She remarked simply. "Sit still, I'll work on it." Her hand on your face was gentle, and he fingers touched along the site of the broken skin gingerly, hardly pushing or tugging the flesh. "Why the worry over this, though? I think it'd suit you."
"Well, brides aren't supposed to look like delinquents on their wedding days."
Her touch stopped shortly, hand lifting off your face as she sought out your eyes with her own. "Brides, huh?"
A long sigh escaped you just as she resumed the use of her reverse cursed technique. "When did that happen?"
"A couple hours ago." You stated quietly. "He gave me a ring and everything."
"Huh." Her thumb brushed over the mended part of the skin, as though gently directing the rest as it gradually knitted together.
"It's...Naoya Zenin."
Her brows raised as her eyes searched your skin for any other marks. Moments passed, she gently touched up a variety of little bruises and cuts from training. She spoke your name, the sound gentle yet clear enough to command attention. When you peered up, her gaze intensified. "If he does anything to you, if anything happens-"
"Shoko, I'll be fine, I'm not weak."
Her shoulders sagged more and more with each word, until her grip came with firmness on your upper arm. "I'm still here." She said lowly before releasing your arm. "Don't forget that."
"I won't." Humilty was a lesson you still found yourself learning, years after your schooling had been completed. "How could I forget my friend?" You offered a smile, which was mirrored with more subtlety by her.
"You're patched up." She said as she took a step back.
"I have to be back soon anyway, they'll think I'm fleeing the marriage." You scoffed to yourself. "And taking the jewels with me."
"You got a ring?"
You produced it, the stones again glimmering, splitting sunrays into glittering beams of light. Both the champagne shade of the diamonds and the pale green of the little stone set around them looked as though they were the source of light themselves; radiant and gleaming. "Damn." She remarked.
"About right." You murmured. "Better than a collar, given his attitudes towards women."
"Still pretty gaudy, though." She snickered. "Can't imagine you wearing something like this at all."