AU Series: Equilibrium - Chapter Five Preview
Sho sat on the front veranda of the guest house, staring out into the darkening night. It had been four days since he and Ohno had been called to the keep for the latest report of the churning tide of unrest in the province. It had been four days since he had been granted a view of Ohno that he had never seen before. He had learned so much about Ohno through those words, more than he had in the whole two years of training together. He had watched Ohno retire to his room, to the boy waiting there for him, and as he did how everything about Ohno became soft and gentle. Even during their most intense jujutsu practices, Ohno never exuded aggression. Perhaps he was incapable of such an emotion. But in that moment, which stretched itself over several breaths even for Sho, Ohno was nothing but perfectly serene.
Silence enveloped Sho as he stood in the hallway. He was rooted to the floorboards, processing the weight of Ohno’s words. Ohno was not known for his diction but not once during his speech did he stumble; he was sure. Certainty permeated every nuance and cadence of his voice and Sho knew, absolutely, ‘That’s what I want’.
Everything suddenly felt so insignificant. His ancestry, his name, his status; they had no more value than the paper they were written on. Nothing about his person set him apart from any other but for the blood pounding through his veins, roaring in his ears. What kind of protection could a family crest that belonged to a samuarai name bring? The men who wore them, warriors tried and loyal, were no less warriors without such decoration.
Sho was no warrior. Barely out of training, his skills not yet tested on the field, he felt more confident that he was likely to lose a limb at his own hand than deal the slightest knick to an opponent. But what protection could he provide for his mother and brother when he was at least a four days journey from home? He was not the man his father was, but even his reputation couldn’t span half the province. And yet, Sho could not ignore the incessant feeling winding around him and brushing up against his legs like one of the stray cats from the village that they didn’t need him. Being the wife of the regional magistrate and a respected woman in her own right, the lady of the Sakurai house had the support and protection of friends and neighbours as did her youngest son.
But lovers… Ohno’s voice echoed in his head over the drone of the cicadas. They are special. They are constant. They are tangible. Sho could not doubt Ohno’s naked honesty and it made him wonder if the look of pure, undiluted bliss on Ohno’s face was a symptom of love. What did that feel like?
Silence enveloped Sho as he stood in the hallway. He was rooted to the floorboards, processing the weight of Ohno’s words. Ohno was not known for his diction but not once during his speech did he stumble; he was sure. Certainty permeated every nuance and cadence of his voice and Sho knew, absolutely, ‘That’s what I want’.
Everything suddenly felt so insignificant. His ancestry, his name, his status; they had no more value than the paper they were written on. Nothing about his person set him apart from any other but for the blood pounding through his veins, roaring in his ears. What kind of protection could a family crest that belonged to a samuarai name bring? The men who wore them, warriors tried and loyal, were no less warriors without such decoration.
Sho was no warrior. Barely out of training, his skills not yet tested on the field, he felt more confident that he was likely to lose a limb at his own hand than deal the slightest knick to an opponent. But what protection could he provide for his mother and brother when he was at least a four days journey from home? He was not the man his father was, but even his reputation couldn’t span half the province. And yet, Sho could not ignore the incessant feeling winding around him and brushing up against his legs like one of the stray cats from the village that they didn’t need him. Being the wife of the regional magistrate and a respected woman in her own right, the lady of the Sakurai house had the support and protection of friends and neighbours as did her youngest son.
But lovers… Ohno’s voice echoed in his head over the drone of the cicadas. They are special. They are constant. They are tangible. Sho could not doubt Ohno’s naked honesty and it made him wonder if the look of pure, undiluted bliss on Ohno’s face was a symptom of love. What did that feel like?