Chapter 3

Aiko awoke as the sun began to crack along the horizon. Through the blinds of her single room home a light breeze blew, letting the light slip through to her eyes. Untangling herself she sat up and pulled a brush from her side table to straighten her hair.

There was a groan from behind her as her lover shifted in their bed. “Aiko, come back to bed.” Shojiro said groggily.

“I cannot, master Seimei instructed me to be there bright and early today.” Aiko said as she continued to brush her hair rhythmically.

“Sometimes I wonder who is more important to you, my love.” Shojiro said, lifting his head onto his hand. His long black hair hung low as he eyed Aiko from behind.

“I could say the same of you.” Aiko said, turning back to face him with a smile on her lips. “Seems you are more attached to that deck then you are to me.”

“It was a gift from you, so it is an extension of you.” Shojiro said, dodging expertly. He reached over to lift the deck of wooden hanafuda cards that Aiko had bought him only a week prior. Shojiro had made a habit of fiddling with the deck absentmindedly. It seemed to bring him some type of peace.

Aiko smiled, feeling the weight of the wooden necklace around her neck. “You need not fear, Master Seimei keeps us fed, but my only love is to you Shojiro.” She said, leaning down and pressing a soft kiss to his lips.

Shojiro smiled as she pulled back from the kiss. “I know this, but you still have not let me meet this great master yet. It is fair to have doubts after these months.”

“He doesn't leave the castle kitchens much, if at all.” Aiko said, grabbing her working clothes to dress.

Shojiro grabbed her wrist before she could dress. “Must you rush? Perhaps you could spare another few minutes?” His eyes showed his true intentions.

Aiko smiled again before letting him loose. “Now now, I cannot delay. It would look poorly if I was late.” She began to pull her work clothes on. “I will see if the master will allow me to bring some food home tonight as well so we may feast on more than just rice.”

Shojiro pouted slightly. “Seems I will have to fill my days with games while my woman is with another man. Oh how I am wounded so.” He dramatically laid back against their bed with his arm over his eyes. He peeked out with a smile to see if she was falling for it.

“You are quite the twister of words my love.” She said, flicking his cheek. “Are you not the one flirting with those women you gamble with?”

“Me? Never. Those women are never the ones gambling. It is the women of my opponents I flirt with to throw off their men. Do not accuse me of unfaithfulness.” Shojiro responded with his disarming smile.

Aiko rolled her eyes. “Yes yes I understand its a strategy. It always is with you.”

“Hopefully I won't need to do it much longer.” Shojiro said solemnly. “Ill win it big from one of those nobles, then ill take you out of this small home. I'll shower you in gifts and treat you as you deserve, so you never want for anything again.” He rode to sit up more fully as he spoke, his eyes gleaming with determination.

Aiko smiled at Shojiro’s declaration. He always reminded her of his goals every chance he had, and he would stick to it. But no amount of gifts paid for with dirty money would mean as much to her as the small hand carved piece of wood that hung from her neck.

Shojiro had made it when they had begun courting with his own hands, and it still remained the most important possession she had. Shaped roughly like a talisman that the onymoji would sell for protection and held by a string. The markings had faded over the years but still remained, his attempt at copying the onmyoji’s writing.

“I must be going now my love.” Aiko said, getting to her feet as she finished dressing.

Shojiro jumped to his feet and pulled her into a tight embrace before he kissed her. “I will see you tonight Aiko.” He wrapped his arms around her possessively. “Marry me.”

Aiko restrained her smile. “No.” She said plainly. Aiko wondered if Shojiro knew how hard it was to reject his proposal. He had to, she was no good at hiding her expression. “Not yet.” She wasn't ready yet, once her apprenticeship ended and she could run a kitchen herself. Only then would she accept it. But they were in no rush, for they had each other. Their tiny home, and the wooden necklace around her neck.

Within the lord's castle of Dojira the chef Hideo was busy at work. He was gathering the ingredients for lord Kiyomori breakfast while his staff rushed about to feed the rest of the staff. Young Hajime ran about, his spiked black hair held back by a hat. Kaori’s sunken eyes darted around as she put the herbs from today's shipment away. Hiroshi was working dough into pastries.

Lord Kiyomori entered the kitchens excitedly. The middle aged man once was lean and fit, but thanks to Hideo’s meals he had become plump. Soon he would look similar to Hideo. He patted his own stomach proudly as the lord approached.

“How may I be of assistance my lord?” Hideo asked with a large smile. He had a very jolly face from what others told him.

“I was wondering when breakfast would be served Seimei.” Kiyomori said, mouth already watering as Hiroshi passed by with a tray of pastries that would soon be in the large oven.

Seimei was the false name Hideo had given when he had come out to this land. He couldn't afford for anyone to question him on his connection to the Okamoto clan. Only his three assistants would know of his true identity.

“Shortly my lord.” Hideo said with a warm smile. “We are doing our best, my apprentice seemed to have run off so we are a bit understaffed this morning.”

“Oh that is tragic Seimei. Why would she run off after you were so good to her?” Kiyomori asked. His eyes trailed Hajime as he carried a bundle of sausages towards a grill.

“She was young and foolish, or perhaps an opportunity presented itself, there are any number of reasons for one such as herself to leave. Though it is a tragedy, she truly was talented.” Hideo shook his head sorrowfully.

“I will send out a request for another apprentice.” Kiyomori said.

“There is no rush my lord. We can handle this. We are the best of the best after all.” Hideo said proudly. “Please return to your family, breakfast will be served shortly.”

Kiyomori smiled and did so, he would listen to anything Hideo said if it meant he could eat his meals more. It was only minutes after he left that his apprentice Aiko arrived. She was quite a beauty, light brown hair, fine features that would drive a man crazy. Hideo could not hide his interest in her at times. She had looked close to skin and bones when she first arrived, yet she had filled out well over the last few months.

“Master Seimei am I late sir?” Aiko said, watching the other three cooks move about the kitchen.

“Of course not Aiko. You are early as always. We just got a head start.” Hideo said as he brushed off his hands on his apron. Flour hand prints were left on the apron as he moved about to his next task.

Aiko smiled and moved to get her own apron. “What would you have me do today master?” She tied the apron and approached her master for guidance. “Shall I begin prep for lunch? I can cut vegetables or debone the meat.”

“No no there is no need.” Hideo said with a smile. "In fact, as of today your apprenticeship is coming to an end.”

Shock covered Aiko’s face. “Are you saying?” She began, afraid to actually speak the words outloud. She starred in disbelief.

“Yes you are graduating today.” Hideo said as he began to roll out dough with a pin. “You have done wonderfully Aiko. there is nothing more for me to teach you. As of today you are a master yourself.”

Aiko’s eyes begin to water with tears. Hideo smiled as he saw it, knowing the joy he had brought to this young girl.

“Thank you so much master Seimei!” Her voice cracked as she spoke.

“Over there is your writ. I already signed it. Go ahead and take it. You've earned it.” Hideo stated, indicating towards the other side of the kitchen.

Aiko rushed over to find the parchment, taking it into her hand. She looked it over and turned towards her master. “Master this is the.”

Her voice broke off as she laid eyes upon the Yokai that had materialized in the room. It looked like a massive chubby toddler, it was so big it had to lean over with its back pressed on the ceiling. It stared with its wide bulging eyes, one of its arms lifted in the air. Before Aiko could cry out, the yokai suddenly swatted down on top of Aiko’s head. She was crushed in an instant without enough time to scream out.

Hideo gave the mushed corpse a passing glance as his yokai began to dissolve again. He was glad she died in an instant, if she had felt pain then there would have been no point to this all.

“Hajime, Hiroshi, take the meat to be cleaned.” Hideo stated methodically as he continued to work at the dough in front of him. Best not to keep the lord waiting too long. “Begin preparing to be cooked. Kaori, help me finish this breakfast.”

“Yes chef.” His assistants said together as they began their tasks. Hajime and Hiroshi went to the crushed corpse of Aiko and began lifting it towards the butcher room. Hideo never faltered in his cooking.