Second Time's The Charm |Mai|

Re: Second Time's The Charm |Mai|

feeds@yuku.com (The Tamakazura Family) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:42:48 GMT

"Well, my dear," Sakina said placidly, finishing her tea and giving no indication there was anything on her mind other than how delicious it was, "there's no sort of hurry. But you know," she continued smoothly, her painted lips forming a charming smile that few had been able to resist, "spring is a time for new beginnings, and a good marriage is a step up in the world, and one less thing to have to worry about. But there's no hurry. Meet my son - talk to him...

Re: Second Time's The Charm |Mai|

feeds@yuku.com (Lady Mai Inoue) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 13:42:38 GMT

Fine eyebrows rose in unison. Mutuality and sharing the burden? What kind of ridiculousness was this? It took the young woman a couple of seconds to figure out what the elder lady was talking about. When she did, Mai hid her surprise amiably behind the careful nonchalance she wrapped about herself like a blanket in winter. Sakina could not seriously be suggesting that she and Sai-?

Of course she was. That was what any sane mother of a wealthy family with an...

Re: Second Time's The Charm |Mai|

feeds@yuku.com (The Tamakazura Family) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 13:32:15 GMT

Sakina's expression, which only moments ago had been drifting off in a sort of proud wistfulness, suddenly rearranged itself into Grave and Serious Face Number Two (Number One was for when Genkichi had done something to grieve her). She had an astonishingly mobile face when she chose to use it. "He is another person," she said, putting down her tea dish and eyeing Mai very carefully, "such as yourself, who spreads himself too thin. Just like you, Sai has never shared his...

Re: Second Time's The Charm |Mai|

feeds@yuku.com (Lady Mai Inoue) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 13:24:43 GMT

Mai looked up from her tea at the mention of Sai. He was the youngest Tamakazura out of the whole brood and the Grand Advisor's Aide, as she recalled. The Lady had seen the man at social functions and briefly in the hallways of the palace, although she had not spared even two words for him. They had both been very busy at the time and had not even bothered a gracious bow to the other while passing. He had seemed as harassed as any office-worker did these days, and any other days come to...

Re: Second Time's The Charm |Mai|

feeds@yuku.com (The Tamakazura Family) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 13:13:44 GMT

"We are," Sakina agreed, although she was careful not to keep her tone too complacent. "Inugata is invaluable to the smooth running of the household - which is more than can be said for His Lordship." She exchanged a knowing glance with the other woman. Men, it seemed to say. How useless they are. Anything of importance is best left to us, isn't it?

The conversation was speeding along alarmingly well, in exactly the way Sakina had hoped it...

Re: Second Time's The Charm |Mai|

feeds@yuku.com (Lady Mai Inoue) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 12:45:42 GMT

"You are lucky to have him," Mai replied around a sip of her tea, making a mental note to have the type written down and an extra package sent away with Sakina when the lady decided to leave. She was surprised yet again to find that she actually meant what she'd said. She would give a ransom's amount in dollars to find herself a decent secretary. Someone who could file papers and handle the tedius daily work that came with being a Great Lady - what a wonderful thing that...

Re: Second Time's The Charm |Mai|

feeds@yuku.com (The Tamakazura Family) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 12:30:41 GMT

"My dear, it would be a pleasure," Sakina said instantly, her blue-grey eyes glittering. "I shall devote my attentions to finding you someone suitable as soon as possible." Perfect. Just the oportunity she had been looking for - a multitude of chances in one. The chance to do the girl a service, thus earning her friendship; the chance to take the load of work off her mind so there was more time for thinking about more domestic matters; and the chance to...

Re: Second Time's The Charm |Mai|

feeds@yuku.com (Lady Mai Inoue) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 12:00:38 GMT

"Everything has been in order," Mai replied gently, a small hum passing over her full lips. Truthfully, her family ties and alliances had been falling apart before the Lady Inoue had taken over her father's position. It had nothing to do with incompetence, thankfully. She wasn't sure what five or so years of neglect and ridiculous would have looked like but she certainly wouldn't have wanted to deal with it. Rather her senile father's lack of ability to perform his...

Re: Second Time's The Charm |Mai|

feeds@yuku.com (The Tamakazura Family) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 10:29:28 GMT

Sakina nodded graciously, the gift already forgotten, although she had been pleased to see that it had gone down well. She hadn't expected it to go down badly, in truth, but it was nice to be proved right - yet again. Everything she had seen so far of Lady Mai made her think, more and more as the meeting went on, that she had been right in her choice. Genkichi, although she blessed him in her heart for the kind thought, had not put enough work into choosing girls for Sai. That Natsuko...

Re: Second Time's The Charm |Mai|

feeds@yuku.com (Lady Mai Inoue) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:50:18 GMT

Mai had half been expecting a gift when Sakina had sent her message ahead of her this morning but it was still something of a small surprise. Full lips pursed thoughtfully as she expertly took the box from the other woman, one hand holding back the wide sleeve of her furosode kimono so that it did not trail across the table. By the weight and feel of it she surmised it was something wooden. "Why, you are too kind." Sakina was looking at her expectantly and Mai smiled. "Should I...

Re: Second Time's The Charm |Mai|

feeds@yuku.com (The Tamakazura Family) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:22:24 GMT

"The pleasure is all mine," Sakina replied, happily surprised to find she really meant the often-uttered social nicety. It was a pleasure to be here today, seeing how well this girl was managing the affairs of her family, how self-possessed and quietly confident she was. Up close, too, she really was pretty - even Sai, Sakina thought, would find her so - before she remembered with a little despairing sigh that her son was no more interested in pretty girls than he was in...

Re: Second Time's The Charm |Mai|

feeds@yuku.com (Lady Mai Inoue) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:13:14 GMT

Mai smiled demurely and inclined her head in a show of respect regardless of the fact that the Tamakazuras were equal to her only in theory. Lady Tamakazura was not a Great Lady and did not have the same political power as Mai did, but her wealth and status were enough to put her on the same playing field. The younger woman would have bowed politely if she had been standing at the time.

"Thank you for your kind words Lady Tamakazura. May the New Year bring you more gifts than I...

Re: Second Time's The Charm |Mai|

feeds@yuku.com (The Tamakazura Family) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 19:55:12 GMT

Sakina noted with immense approval the forethought which had gone into her visit - she had been expected, and Lady Mai was letting her know that she was welcome by the careful attention at the door - the servant to lead her in, the tea things she observed when she had sent away her litter-bearers and entered the room. The decor was excellent, the lady herself elegant and composed - if Sakina had been awarding points (which in a way she was), Mai Inoue would have scored full marks. Bonus...

Re: Second Time's The Charm |Mai|

feeds@yuku.com (Lady Mai Inoue) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 01:45:03 GMT

Mai ran one perfectly manicured finger over the rim of the teacup in front of her and admired the way her pale reflection shone in the fine china. It was from her best set of dishes and one that had not seen the light of day for several months. Of course, she had not had a visitor of such importance for several months either. As far as affairs with the court went she had taken care of most of them amiably earlier in the year. Social calls had been limited because of all the work that needed...

Second Time's The Charm |Mai|

feeds@yuku.com (The Tamakazura Family) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:57:03 GMT

Failure, Sakina reflected, as she made her way, litter-borne, through the city to the Palace, was something which seemed particularly the province of men. She had long thought it, and it had recently been proven to her by the outstanding failure of her dear husband to do anything even remotely useful. She supposed, if she was being very charitable, that Genkichi had been trying hard. He always tried hard, in his own particular way. Often, she thought, he tried hard to vex her. But...