Chapter Text
Sagamiya Konro was a quiet Eleven-Twelve year old kid that was more serious and put together then about half of the men and women that worked underneath him. Hibachi grunted as he wearily tromped into the bathhouse. Behind him, weary hikashi just as tiredly straggled into the bathhouse. It was about midnight, and Konro was quietly passing out washbasins as he made sure the proper payment was left on the counter for the owners. Hibachi had a key, for when the fires went late into the night, or when cleanup ran later then normal hours.
Konro pattered past, face streaked with soot.
Five people had been killed today. Six homes had burned to the ground. There was plenty left to do, but it could wait until morning. All Hibachi wanted to do, was go home. His wife was waiting for him. His soulmate.
Hibachi pulled off his clothes, and left them in a pile. Clean clothes were always stored for the hikashi, though they weren’t any stranger to wandering the streets naked except their fundoshi. Hikashi stepped past, shedding soot and dirt with every step. Konro followed in their wake, hesitating briefly at the door. Tadashi, his second, paused at the entrance. “Something wrong Kon-chan?”
“...Nah.” Konro seemed to make up his mind. Without another word, he stripped down. But, now, Hibachi could see the reason for hesitation.
Konro had no soulmate mark on his body.
Normally, a soulmate mark was in a ‘hidden’ spot. Somewhere it could be covered up, though most people would proudly flaunt it until they found the matching mark. Hibachi’s was on his upper arm. In a circle around his arm, was a weaving band of fire and smoke.
Tadashi made a surprised noise. Folks without soulmate marks were rare. Hibachi could only think of one other person in Asakusa without a soulmate mark- Keiko. The woman who loved gambling more then any person. She was the one who ran the gambling hall. Hibachi had met her, a few times. She was pleasant, with a bubbly personality that didn’t seem to fit the gambling halls that she owned. Like a flower blooming on a battlefield, no one could avoid falling prey to her ability to win.
But- could they depend on someone without a mark, incapable of feeling love. That was the rumor. Incapable of loving a person, those without soulmate marks were said to be flighty, and unreliable. Unable to make friends even.
Konro’s head turned around to face them. “Is it going to be a problem?” There was the slightest tone of challenge in his voice.
Well...
Hibachi’s eyes flickered around the bathhouse. The cleaned up piles of dirty clothes. The entrance already swept clean. The correct amount of money on the counter. The clean clothes waiting for hikashi.
“Nah.” Hibachi grunted. Konro was just barely learning how to control his fire. A little later then normal. But- having another hikashi that could control flames was a good thing. And Konro was a good kid. Hibachi knew that. Ever since Konro had arrived, he’d been training hard, and working hard to learn the ins and outs of learning how to be a hikashi. There wasn’t any problem. “You’re a smart kid.”
Konro hesitated, eyebrows scrunching together. The first sign of being caught off guard, huh? Hibachi stifled a laugh at the sight. “Off you get, you still gotta get home, don’t you?”
“Yes sir.” Konro moved deeper into the bathhouse, shoulders straight. But- even though Hibachi didn’t know the kid all that well, he knew a happy lit to feet when he saw it. Tadashi frowned as he leaned close.
“Are you sure?”
“Please, don’t tell me you actually believe the fairy tales of markless folks all being kidnappers and murderers.” Hibachi snorted, “Keiko is pretty much the first business owner who comes by with her share for the year.”
“Doesn’t mean she doesn’t-”
“We’re all murderers in this job.” Hibachi’s voice went flat. “Every single damn one of us. As long as he keeps his murders to those who are on fire, I’m willing to welcome him.”
Tadashi shut up. There was a mulish look in his eye, that said he didn’t quite agree. That didn’t matter. Hibachi was done explaining himself. Konro would fit in with the rest of the hikashi. Either just by being friendly, or, the hikashi and he would duke it out until they came at a pecking order they could agree with.
There was a roar of laughter from the hikashi soaking in the tub. Konro was sticking his tongue out at one of them, his higher voice cutting through the low roar of the hikashi, “Falling in love is for stupid people anyways.”
Hibachi stifled a grin at that. Yep, that sounded like a typical child. If it weren’t for the fact that Konro was missing a soulmate mark, Hibachi was willing to believe that Konro was the same kind of kid as the rest. Those who would claim to have no interest in their mark, only to start searching as they got older.
The kid would be fine.
In this job, even if the kid did turn out to be heartless, it might be a boon to be born without a mark.
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Sagamiya Konro is five when he realizes how different he is from everyone. His parents hands brushed across empty space. Their matching marks at the base of their necks were the soft clouds and a bird flying through it. A beautiful mark, where his remained empty.
They love him though, so that’s why they bring him to Her. Keiko, the other markless of Asakusa.
Her long, graceful fingers look, and feel, soft as they wrap around his wrist. Her trademark smile remains, when she teaches him. She teaches him the things she knows, and loves the most: gambling. How to cheat, how to not need to cheat, the ways of reading people.
Konro is ten, when he realizes as much as Keiko loves him like her own child, she will always love gambling more. And that is fine by him. He can’t put it into words- but watching her eyes light up as she picks up dice or cards, it’s a bright light he can’t find anywhere else. Her eyes dance like fire as she sits in the gambling hall.
She’s not a flower blooming on a battlefield, like those around her whisper. She is the sword that cuts down anyone who approaches, her love for gambling overwhelming her love for all else.
Keiko grinned as she leaned in. “One day, I’m sure you’ll find something of your own, to love more then any human.”
Konro glanced up at her, from where he weighed the dice with his fingers. “What do you mean?”
“Folks with marks can think we don’t love, but that’s not the case, right?” Her smile is the same as it ever is, a shield against those who would read her. “You’ve seen it yourself.”
“Yeah, you love gambling more then eating, sleeping, or getting married.” Konro shot a glance over at the empty pot that ought to have rice in it.
“That’s right, I’ll pay the money needed to clear my mind of everything else but gambling. You’re pretty good at it Kon-chan, but, you don’t love it like I do.”
“That’d be impossible.” Konro objected quietly, eyes rising up to her. Still, he wondered where she was going.
“That’s right, that’s right.” Keiko hesitated, eyes distant, “I love gambling so much I forsake everything to come here so I could gamble.”
It’s the first time, Konro’s heard a mention of family. Keiko brushed away the memories with a smile, as she leaned in. Her hand rested on his head, just for a moment. “You might not have a mark, but don’t let anyone tell you, you can’t love.”
Konro nodded slowly. But, the conversation carried his soul when the teasing began.
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Konro wasn’t strong enough to become the next Master of Asakusa.
Hibachi rested his head on his hand as he stared at the child moving through each and every iai form. They were all technically perfect- every foot, every hand, every flame where they needed to be. It just didn’t have enough umph behind it. If Hibchi said more, Konro couldn’t do it. Even though Hibachi had moved the press of death up a few years, to see if that would pull out enough power- it wasn’t quite.
Konro, bless his heart, had suffered though the long days and nights of training without a complaint. And Hibachi wasn’t deaf. He’d heard a couple of the hikashi make a few nasty remarks, but the remarks were buried underneath a serious face as Konro learned.
But this was enough.
Konro had tried. And that was enough for Hibachi. He couldn’t, and wouldn’t, dangle the punishment of being the next master over Konro’s head for any longer. Miyu had agreed with him, saying with a airy tone like she could see the future, that someone else would come. Now- “That’s enough.” Hibachi said quietly.
Konro’s head turned to him, blue eyes clear and bright. Waiting for- something he had known for some time. Damn, the kid was too kind for his own good. He should’ve dug in his heels and told him off long ago. Fought back with all the blazing fury of the sun. That’s why he’d do the kid a favor, and cut him loose. “Go and develop your own style.”
Konro’s head dipped in quiet acknowledgment. And that was that. No yelling, or screaming. Just a calm, quiet acceptance that solidified Hibachi’s decision.
Enough so that he let his current second know.
“What?! You’re not making Kon-chan the next Master?” Tadashi questioned, stunned.
“No.” Hibachi snapped back. Had he not been paying attention? Well, to be fair to Konro, Hibachi himself hadn’t been willing to admit it before now.
“Why not? You like the kid alright, and he’s the only one with powers. Besides, he’s a good kid.” Tadashi protested. That’s right. Konro was a good kid. That was why he couldn’t do it to him.
“He’s got no mark.” Hibachi grunted, “Can’t do it.”
To make someone, with no mark, no support to become the next Master was a step too far. Konro would have no one he would marry, who would support him like his own soulmate would. To take on the burden of killing, the burden of the anger and hate, the adoration, and the sorrow with nothing to lean on would be galling. Not just galling, but eventually the man would break. He couldn’t do that to the child that listened to his every word.
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Konro is thirteen, when he acknowledges that he won’t be the next Master of Asakusa.
The hikashi make a few jokes about it, every now and then. He’s the first with the ability to make fire in Asakusa for over a decade. The Shinmon family can, but, it was well whispered that the wife of Master Hibachi was sterile. Then, after she gained tephrosis, it was set in stone.
But, even so.
Konro couldn’t learn the iai forms.
He can’t explain it.
Konro tried hard, as the burns on his fingers piled up. But Hibachi’s eyes were knowing, and he himself wasn’t in the habit of lying to himself. The iai forms drifted out of his mastery. The closest he could come to mastering, was Iai chop two, Moonlight. Even that wasn’t quite right. His was a softer fire. He couldn’t be as bright as the sun.
“That’s enough.” Hibachi muttered one morning. Their breaths puffed in the cold air, the mist rising for the clear blue skies. Konro shifted on his feet.
If he were gambling, he could guess what could come next. He would be willing to put all of his money on it.
“Go and develop your own style.” It was brusque, but Konro could understand. The two had been working together for several years now. Master Hibachi was just saying he couldn’t be the next master. It stung, a little, but it wasn’t what he had come for anyways. There was no point in being disappointed by this.
Still-
Konro sighed as he slid the matoi into place. The full moon shone gently down upon him, as he stretched. It felt like his fingers could brush the moon, on a night like this. Firelight spilled through cracks in the paper doors, warm and inviting.
“What?! You’re not making Kon-chan the next Master?” Tadashi’s voice was loud.
Konro rolled his eyes as he rubbed his hands together. Of course he wasn’t going to be the next master. Hadn’t Tadashi been paying attention? From the very beginning, when Konro first came to Master Hibachi, the Master hadn’t been happy with how weak his flames were. During the two years of learning how to use the forms, Konro had realized the height of the mountain before him. He wouldn’t call himself weak, but Master Hibachi was strong. Strong as the sun.
If he were to put his strength into words, it was moonlight- reflected sunlight that couldn’t possibly hope to shine as brightly.
Konro sighed quietly, as he started home.
“No.”
“Why not? You like the kid alright, and he’s the only one with powers. Besides, he’s a good kid.” Tadashi protested. He sounded rather mulish, as he leaned in.
Konro waited, for the answer of- “He’s got no mark.” Hibachi grunted, “Can’t do it.”
It was a bit like getting stabbed in the back. Out of all the reasons spoken out loud. Not the fact that Konro wasn’t able to learn the iai forms. He knew the motions, he could summon the flames how Hibachi wanted- but not powerfully enough. It wasn’t even for the fact that the mountain of power between the two was a stark difference that not even age would be able to erase? As he grew older, he would grow stronger. But-
Out of all of the reasons, the thoughts on why not, Master Hibachi chose that particular reason.
It hurt.
Like a gaping hole in his heart, or his heart being ripped out. The surroundings around him blurred. Konro didn’t need to see though. His feet knew the roads of Asakusa, and he knew where to go to be alone.
The river flowed past, swift and uncaring as Konro crouched down next to the river and cried. The water flowed past, as the cold moon shone down. It hurt. It hurt so fucking much. Even though he had pushed himself, even though he had tried, and knew it wasn’t enough, that wasn’t the reason the Master would give. Out of all of the reasons, “Why’d it have to be that one? I could accept it easier if you said I was weak, but just because I don’t have a soulmate mark?”
He’d never cursed the fact he had no mark. Growing up with Keiko, it had just seemed like it wasn’t worth worrying about. Sure, people made snide remarks, but the remarks grew less as he grew. And Keiko had brushed it off in her love for gambling.
Did he have anything like that? What he loved that could outweigh the pain of told because he didn’t have a mark, he wasn’t enough?
It was just a little mark anyways. Of two people who would always understand each other. That was it, that was all it was. It didn’t mean he’d be strong, or weak with his powers, it didn’t mean he couldn’t fight. That he couldn’t keep up.
“Why, Master Shinmon.” Konro sniffled, as he wiped the tears away. “Why? Why would you say that?”
The heel of his palm scrubbed against wet tear tracks. The moon remained distant and unloving as Konro sobbed by the rivers edge. Unforgiving, weak, masking his presence, and letting him wallow in pain.
He hated the moon.
Konro would rather it be the sun’s rays, but- He had no mark. No sign of someone who would acknowledge him for being him. There was no sun to lift his mood, and to burn away the pain until there was nothing but awe left.
Just the cold, distant moon.
--------------------------
The kid wasn’t heartless, and being markless wasn’t a boon.
Hibachi leaned against the doorway. His pipe smoke curled up around him, as he pretended not to hear the quiet, soft argument just around the corner. He’d only stepped out for a moment to take out the trash. When he came back, Konro was confronting someone? He came in the middle. But-
“Just because I don’t have a mark, doesn’t mean you can use me as a way to get back at your boyfriend!” Konro’s voice didn’t waver. It was calm, and almost detached. It as a sign of how much pain he was in. Hibachi knew that. Knew Konro, at this point. Konro might only be fourteen, and teenage love was almost bound to be broken. But Konro was a firecracker of energy, and more then ready to fight. Him being this quiet was a sign of just how hurt he was.
“Ahhh, what do you care?! It doesn’t matter to you!”
It did matter, Hibachi knew. Konro had done his chores early, and trained extra hard to have a little extra time to go off with the woman. He’d taken their relationship just as seriously as he took his hikashi duties. “You’re never affectionate enough, and you’re markless anyways!”
Was he like this when he’d been young? So callous and cruel of other people’s feelings? Hibachi didn’t think so- but he was certain his wife would disagree. She was always scolding him for not putting his feelings into words that others could understand.
Hibachi stepped around the corner.
Konro and his ex-girlfriend stood in the small street. Konro’s back was slumped, though it was hard to tell at first glance. Hibachi could see a few Matoi’s peeking out from around a corner- a number of hikashi had stumbled upon the two as well, huh? Or followed Konro to bask in young love.
There was an indescribable amount of hurt on Konro’s face at her words, and even she seemed to be regretting it. Hibachi wondered if saying anything would meddle too much. “Konro.”
“Yes sir.” Konro’s head turned to him. The kid didn’t deserve this.
“Get on back to the guardhouse.”
“But- I-” His eyes flickered to the woman standing across from him. Hesitating to leave things unsaid.
“Go.”
Konro’s head dipped in acknowledgment, and he turned around to leave. Hibachi listened to his feet leave silently. Eyes on the fourteen-year-old woman across from him. His smoke from his pipe rose slowly into the air, curling, and fading to nothing in the air. He stared down at the young woman. Her hands clenched in response, back straight.
“What are you doing? Did you and the other who has your mark really break apart?”
“Of course!” Her voice wavered, and fell. She’s not looking at him. She’s looking at the ground. Her hands balled up into fists, her shoulders tight and high-strung. Like she’s lying.
Or, perhaps- “Who is your soulmate?”
“...Diago.”
He knows the people of Asakusa. Knows them all fairly well, even if he didn’t interact with them always. Diago. He’s seen the boy go wandering out with plenty of men and women at his side. Hibachi takes a deep breath of his smoke pipe, and isn’t exactly rewarded when she continues with a mutter, “If he can go around fooling around, then so can I. I picked Konro because he’s markless. I’m not trying to hurt anyone.”
Hibachi could feel the wood beneath his fingers as the grain dug in past his callouses. He was meddling too much. He was meddling too damn much. He was the chief murderer of Asakusa, and Asakusa feared him. Would do what he said. It was a heavy power, one that he did his best not to abuse. It was getting a little harder however, staring down at this woman. “That’s enough.” Hibachi muttered. Did she really think that just because someone didn’t have a mark, that they were completely heartless? “Off you go. Don’t come back.”
The woman flinched. Then, she turned, and left.
Now, it was Hibachi, and the still attempting to hide matoi’s that peeked around the corner.
“You fuckers as well, get outta here.”
The matoi’s scurried off.
Hibachi turned his feet towards home.
Konro was with his wife. They were both currently elbow deep in making soba. Bless her, Konro was already perking up a little more as he followed her steps of adding water to buckwheat for kneading. Her laugh was loud and clear, and a few of the older hikashi’s weren’t looking at the Shinmon family or Konro as they worked. Hibachi settled down on the veranda, as he listened to the two work.
Was this okay? He wasn’t certain.
But the kid felt all the same heartbreak anyone would, mark or not. Betrayal, and sorrow that heaped up high. The only difference was, that he didn’t have anyone to lean on. Didn’t have anyone who would ease the burden off of his own shoulders, and understand. Could Hibachi really leave the weight of Asakusa on shoulders that would be left to stand alone?
He had made the right choice a year ago.
----------------------------------
Konro is thirteen and a half, when he gets his first girlfriend. It’s not long after he heard Hibachi’s reasoning. He doesn’t… want to think it’s because of that he accepts her proposal. Himari is pretty, and very kind. She understands his job means he can’t be around her all the time, and didn’t seem to have a problem with it. It’s nice, having someone to be with, that wasn’t just another hikashi.
It fell apart within a year.
Konro finds her, together with her soulmate with matching marks. The man doesn’t have anyone hanging off of his arm for the first time in a long time, and his eyes dance when he looks at her. “You’re doing the same as me, aren’t you? Having fun with someone other then your soulmate? Isn’t it more freeing to know it’s nothing more then a superficial desire for pleasure?”
That wasn’t true. Konro had supported her, and she supported him back. They discussed the best ways of getting ahold of their dreams, and even stupid things. Like which shop had the best animitsu, whether or not pears were a good fruit. Maybe it wasn’t deep, but it wasn’t nothing.
Except she grinned, as she agreed, “Yeah, it is nice, though I do wish you’d stick to people whose soulmates won’t be hurt when they find out.”
It hurt, quite a bit. Enough so he wanted to disappear, and pretend he never heard.
But, on the other hand, he couldn’t let it stand. That was why he emerged to start arguing with her. They went in circles, her words growing more and more biting, until her true feelings spilled out. It was a refrain he was tired of hearing, and one he hated hearing. How much longer was the fact he didn’t have a soulmate be used against him? A third voice cut through his turmoil, like a sunbeam piercing through the clouds. “Konro.”
“Yes sir.” The words fell out without thinking, automatically.
“Get on back to the guardhouse.”
On Master Moonshine's back, was the weight of the sun. The red cloth on his back stood out from the normal blue cloth everyone else wore. Master Shinmon, the man he was still currently mad at. But Master Shinmon was staring down at his ex-girlfriend with fury.
Oh, god, the ice in his stomach after overhearing how he wouldn’t be the next Master because of being markless was melting underneath the steady sun. Master Shinmon's fingers curled around his pipe. Even so, he couldn’t expect the Master to take care of such a small, insignificant matter. “But- I-”
“Go.” Master Shinmon didn’t waver. Oblong orange eyes fell on him, just for a moment. Then, Master Shinmon's attention fell back on his ex-girlfriend. Konro’s head dipped in acknowledgment.
Then, he turned and left.
The backstreets were quiet in the mid-afternoon. Everyone was gathered out in the main street for now, and when night fell, they’d flood the street in twos with their soulmates. His feet slowed, as he considered that thought. Pretty soon, it would just be him alone again. He did have someone, for a little bit. It had been nice, to stroll along as a duo, instead of alone. Nobody had given him a second look when he had walked like that.
Mistress Shinmon was at the guardhouse. Her long hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail, as she sat on the veranda. On her legs, bandages wrapped around her tephrosis. Konro came to a halt before her, hesitating on his words, and what he should say. “Master Shinmon sent me back.”
It was easier to just leave it at that, then say the reason why. “Is that so? I thought that you were out with your girlfriend.”
Konro shook his head. “We… broke up just now.”
The Mistress’s smile slid off her face. “Is that so? I’m sorry to hear that.” Her eyes were measuring, as she considered him. Then, she pressed her hands together as she asked, “Do you want to learn how to make soba?”
Usually he bought soba from a stall. However, it’d be rude to refuse. It’d be a good chance to learn from her anyways. “If you’re feeling up to it, then certainly.”
“Of course! I’m not that sick yet!” Her grin was wild as she bounced to her feet, and led the way inside.
Master Shinmon came tromping in later. His shoulders were slumped, just like he’d been dealing with something awful. Konro glanced up from the buckwheat on the counter top. The hikashi in the main room scattered, out on whatever job they could think of. Well, it wasn’t a bad tired, Konro recognized after a moment. It was more of the kind that would make the Master snap at whoever hovered close except his soulmate.
The Master sidled up behind the Mistress, burying his nose in her hair for just a moment. The look in his eyes was the same look Keiko had when she talked about gambling.
Even if he had failed to find something that could give him that much love this time, it certainly would be nice to find someone who would look at him with even a fraction of that same passion. He wasn’t going to be greedy and ask for the same level. That would be impossible.
Konro didn’t have a mark after all. Such a love was beyond him.
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Hibachi could acknowledge he was meddling too much. It was hard not to however. Konro lived alone, and there were plenty of teens looking to take advantage of that. Hibachi wasn’t deaf. He could hear the mutters from time to time, of hitting up Konro so teenagers could fool around. Most of them folks looking to fool with someone other then their soulmate somewhere where no one would find them. Or just looking to fool around without thoughts to the others feelings.
Miyu definitely agreed.
It wasn’t like Konro was their child. He was far too reserved, and willing to go along with whatever they said. For a kid of their own, it’d have to be one willing to fight them on anything. But… since they were going to have him kill people by their side, the least they could do was ward off anyone just looking to take advantage.
Hibachi paused just outside of the guardhouse.
“Isn’t the brat trying to get between Master and the Mistress?”
“Seems like it. Even when he’s not training, he’s hanging around the guardhouse with the Mistress.”
Even the hikashi, despite seeing Konro grow over the past five years made those kind of snide remarks? Just how weak was their bond with their soulmates if they believed the other could be stolen away just by learning how to cook.
Besides, he and Miyu had talked with each other about it. Konro had a knack for knowing exactly what they were running low on and getting it for them without prompting. And- Miyu said- she wouldn’t be able to cook forever.
Was it cruel of them, to ask Konro to step in like that? Even if he wouldn’t be the next Master?
It was. There was no telling if Konro would refuse- except he and Miyu both knew Konro wouldn’t.
So the least he could do was shut up the hikashi. He had thought better of them, when he had picked them. They were kind, but he supposed they just weren’t paying enough attention.
Hibachi slid open the door. Miyu’s head was already turning to him- he couldn’t help but soften as she approached. He could see the black charcoal on her legs, of the tephrosis spreading. But- Hibachi leaned in to press a gentle kiss against her lips.
There was nothing to fear, from her or him. The only one he’d love was her, and it was the same back.
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Konro is sixteen, when he gives up on the idea of love. To be more precise, he gives up on the idea of him finding love. He’s had a handful of boyfriend and girlfriends, but they all disappear quickly. Konro has a pretty good idea he knows the reason why. Master and Mistress Shinmon are an intimidating force to be reckoned with, and they requested that Konro bring anyone over by second or third date. Everyone left after meeting with the Shinmon family, citing reasons why they wouldn’t be compatible.
Konro wondered once if he should just hide it, before discarding the thought completely.
The Shinmon family would be sorely disappointed if they ever found out he even tried to hide it. Anyone he married (though somehow it seemed like the thought of marriage was as foreign as leaving Asakusa. He knew he wasn’t ever getting married) would have to be accepted by the Shinmon family anyways. So there was no point in hiding it.
Konro could feel a smile tugging at the edge of his lips as he shifted the bag of groceries in his arm. He stepped into the guardhouse, just in time to hear Shinmon Miyu’s swearing as she realized that her choice of meal for the day didn’t have the right ingredients.
“Mistress, I brought you what you ordered.” Konro said, trotting past the other hikashi. They don’t turn to watch him, like they did when he was a kid. At age fifteen, he’d shot up taller then most of them. He was still growing, an ache in his bones that constantly gnawed at his mental strength.
Miyu burst out of the kitchen. The bandages on her legs were slipping, but she didn’t mind it as she approached. There were practically tears of relief in her eyes, “Kon-chan! You always manage to save me! How’d you know?!”
“You said what would be for dinner tonight.” Konro pointed out, as the two matched pace back to the kitchen. “So I checked.”
She grinned brightly up at him, as they entered the kitchen. “Did you grow taller between this morning and now?”
“It wouldn’t surprise me.” Konro muttered, stretching his legs out a little more. Miyu started to go onto tiptoes to double check- only to come back down with a wince as the pain grew. “Miss-”
“Don’t mother me!” She huffed, as she turned away. “Now come over here Kon-chan.”
“I- Could you please turn it into at least a san yet?” Konro questioned a bit morosely. “Or Kun?”
“Kon-chan, are you ready to learn how to make gyoza from scratch?” Miyu brutally ignored his plaintive plea, as she stacked the rice flour on the counter top, and shoved the pork to the side for grinding.
An older hikashi laughed from around the corner. But Konro could feel a few disapproving eyes on his back. He was spending far too much time with Miss Miyu, for the eldest of the hikashi. It wasn’t proper. However…
Miyu’s lips pressed together in pain, as he pulled two stools closer. They both sat.
The hikashi didn’t understand, because they wouldn’t be around long enough to understand. Miyu was dying. Slowly, inch by painful inch as she refused to give in to leave her soulmate alone any longer then they had to be. It wasn’t too hard now, when the pain could still be eased. But, Konro could see the dark times approaching. It would be slow at first, then escalate.
The other hikashi would leave Master Shinmon behind, retiring to other jobs.
Konro would part of the guardhouse until the day he died. It would be up to him, to make sure the Master had enough to eat. Master Hibachi’s ability to cook hovered around being able to throw together a pot of soup at most. He could survive, but not nearly as well if he had something thicker every now and then.
There was no soulmate to pull Konro away from the guardhouse. While there was no heir, Mistress Miyu was quite confident when she said there would be one coming. A strong one. When she said something like that, with that much strength- he believed her. The way the faintest hint of purple hovered in her eyes as she said there would be a new Master. Even when the other hikashi shook their heads, not quite believing.
He couldn’t imagine doubting her or Hibachi.
Not now, nor in the future.
“Hmph. Don’t let them bother you.” Miyu muttered darkly, “I’ll let Hibachi put them to work later.”
“It’s fine. Most of them will be retiring to new jobs in the next year or so anyways.” Konro said quietly. He didn’t mind the older hikashi picking on him. Just as long as they kept it to him, and him alone. He wasn’t going to tolerate any harsh words against the Shinmon family.
He didn’t hate them. They were just trying to protect the Shinmon family, just like he was.
“Anyways, Kon-chan.” Miyu continued airily, “Remind me sometime this week that I need to begin start planting the radish and spinach. It’s starting to get cold. The lettuce should be harvestable soon as well, so we can start putting it and the green onions in the sukiyaki.”
“Master Hibachi will be happy to hear that.”
“We can see if we can’t sneak it into the gyoza as well.” Miyu’s eyes sparkled at the thought. Konro carefully separated out some of the ground pork away from the green onions. “Hey, are you hiding it from me Kon-chan?! Don’t think that I won’t notice! You-”
She stopped, head turning the entrance. Konro glanced up after her, just in time to see Master Hibachi step into the guardhouse.
It was like watching the sun break through on a cloudy day. Miyu stood up, ignoring the pain in her legs to hurry by his side. Konro remained seated, taking over the duty of wrapping the pork mixture in the gyoza wrappers.
Hibachi’s taciturn face broke into a gentle smile, as his hand reached out to brush her hair away from her face. Konro turned his eyes away, as Hibachi leaned in. It felt like he was intruding, even being in a different room from them. It was a reminder of the love he would never have.
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It was said in Asakusa, that those who had no mark loved something else more. The fairy tales and older stories passed down to them said it was an all consuming love. There were only a few tales. The fisherman who loved the sea, the woman who loved gambling.
Hibachi and Miyu had discussed it quietly, on late nights where the pain wouldn’t let her sleep peacefully. Hibachi loved Asakusa, but Konro knew it better. Which place had the best sales, where to find the painkillers that the imperialists attempted to outlaw, keeping track of the carvers and when they’d be selling pipe pieces…
Konro knew Asakusa, it’s bright side, and it’s dark side. Hibachi had seen him come out of the gambling halls, whistling merrily as he spun a full bag of money between his fingers. Miyu had also been found perching on a stool as she fussed over Konro’s split lip and bruised knuckles as someone pushed just a little too far for Konro to ignore.
He kept out of that. It wasn’t his place to interfere. Hibachi knew he meddled too much anyways. But Konro never seemed to mind it, or even notice it.
Miyu leaned against his side, fingers tracing their mark on his arm.
“Tadashi is retiring this year.”
They both knew who would be the next second. A young man with bright blue eyes that glowed silver when summoning flames. “Have you thought about who else we should bring in?”
Hibachi hadn’t brought anyone new in a few years- he hadn’t seen anyone he liked. There certainly were enough people applying. But, he hadn’t liked any of them. He didn’t look just for strength, but also kindness. There were a lot of grieving families that needed to be comforted.
“Might hold off for another year or two.” Hibachi grunted. “What’s his name- Shinbeita? He’s coming of age soon.”
Shinbeita was a bright, kind soul. He always had a grin, he didn’t immediately run away crying as a kid when Hibachi approached, and he didn’t seem to be scared of nor hate Konro. A number of folks, younger then Konro didn’t seem that afraid of him. It would be better for the guardhouse if everyone could get along.
Miyu nodded, hand still on their intertwining marks. It wasn’t often, she was so drawn in. “We’re lucky, aren’t we?” She whispered, half to herself, “To love someone that can love us back.”
Well, it wasn’t set in stone, that what Konro loved wouldn’t love him back. But- Hibachi buried his face in Miyu’s long hair. “Yes. We are.”
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Konro is eighteen when elbow deep in the garden box that Mistress Miyu wanted set up Hibachi eyes him asking, “You love Asakusa a lot, don’t you?”
Asakusa? Did he? He would die for the city, certainly. Was that the same as love? He knew it inside out. The women’s swap meet where they would trade bulbs and seeds for plants. The carvers and metalworkers, as they forged and carved the small pieces needed for assembling a smoking pipe. The grocer that always had the best fruits, the pickle salesman that would buy Miyu’s extras when Konro despaired at finding enough room even in his own home for the extremely bountiful crops Miyu grew, the silk-weavers that made the cloth for the Master’s coat, and Miyu’s bandages, the more darker elements that passed on the painkillers even the Imperialists couldn’t have as the pain grew. The little places where it was easy to take a moment to rest. The beautiful places to gamble and drink beneath.
Well, wasn’t knowing the whole town inside and out basically love, wasn’t it? He knew almost everyone in town, their way of life. When the other hikashi called out the name of the one who died, he knew them. Their families, their job. He mourned them.
When he had been a child, he hadn’t ever thought he’d be that close to other people. While he wasn’t cast out, he certainly wasn’t accepted. Underneath Hibachi’s warm sun however, it felt more like even he was… loved? Loving?
Konro contemplated the question a little longer, as he shoveled the dirt to the side. Miyu watched him work, her smile still bright. “I do.” Konro said after a minute.
Asakusa, the city of sun.
Asakusa, lively, bright- where even if he didn’t have a lover, he could still feel loved when the old woman would force a bag of daifuku into his hands to take home for Hibachi and Miyu. He had friends, who would come and gamble against him, as they swapped stories and sake late into the night. And, both night and day, the sun was close by to burn away any ills. In Asakusa, everyone knew where the sun went to rest.
He loved it. The people, the living breathing town unconstrained by the need to watch their words, the fights that broke out at the slightest provocation…
“Good.” Miyu grinned, as she leaned forward, hands wrapped around her legs, “You always look so happy when you talk about the city, I was wondering if that’s what you loved. Like the way Lady Keiko loved gambling.”
“Hmm, I can’t say that I’d go quite so far-” Konro started to protest, but Miyu’s voice cut across his thoughts.
“You’d die for this city, would you not?”
“Of course.” Konro agreed. He would die for Asakusa. For the citizens within it. For- that blinding smile as Miyu approved of his agreement. There was a flicker of unease as Hibachi frowned from where he watched on the veranda. But Miyu needed it. That agreement, and acknowledgment that she had picked the right path, that the burns she suffered were not in vain.
Hibachi sighed from the veranda, the smoke from his pipe drifting into the cool morning air. Then he stood up as he approached. Around them, Asakusa woke up.
He couldn’t be loved back by a city, like soulmates were loved by one another.
It didn’t matter though, because this was all he needed. In Asakusa, all that he loved lived.
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Konro Sagamiya is twenty, when the Mistress of the Guardhouse is rendered unable to stand.
The tephrosis lancing up her legs had grown too much. No matter how much medicine Konro passed along, it’s not enough to rebuild muscles that no longer exist. The flesh is carved away like paper burning in fire. It crept up her legs, around her hips and up her stomach. Slowly, thoroughly, shutting down major organs as it dug deeper and deeper.
Master Shinmon sat heavily on the veranda, smoke pipe ignored as he stared at the neglected garden boxes. Konro was certain if he were to step through the doors, he would find the ash from Miyu’s body as she attempted to approach the garden boxes she loved to tend to.
It had been five days, and Konro had to acknowledge the garden boxes would soon be falling into disrepair. While he might know the planting calendar, he wasn’t really good with growing plants. Except- Hibachi rose, glancing back to the closed doors. No, not quite closed, Konro realized. There was just a crack to allow the cool fresh air to blow in.
Hibachi crossed the yard, and crouched down in front of the garden. Normally, he just watched Miyu work.
Now his hands that took so many lives dug into life-giving dirt. And Hibachi began to take the lives of weeds instead. Konro could feel his smile grow a little more, and hoped it didn’t look as sad as he felt. “Master, am I interrupting?”
“Konro?” Hibachi questioned, caught off guard. His mouth opened, then twisted in a frown. “What’re you doing here, you damn moron?”
Konro could lie. It’d be easy to do so, but- “I wanted to make sure you both were eating something other then sukiyaki or rice porridge tonight.”
Hibachi grunted, turning back to his work. “It’s fine.”
“Alright, gyoza with green onions it is.” Konro said cheerfully. He ducked the weed that went sailing in the air at his unprotected back. Ruthlessly, Konro slid open the door, revealing Miyu bundled up in a cooling cloth as she leaned against a stack of pillows. Miyu’s eyes were twinkling as she bit back laughter.
Good.
Konro sank down next to the hearth, dropping the gyoza into the steaming basket without pause. More then enough for two. He hesitated, just for a moment, then Miyu stuck in another gyoza. “Konro, you mentioned your house had a leak in the roof, didn’t you?”
“That’s right.” Konro agreed.
Whatever the Shinmon family said, so it was.
“You should stay.” Miyu continued, eyes flickering to Hibachi’s hunched back as he continued to pull weeds from the garden box. “Until your house is fixed.”
“Alright, I’ll take the room next to the stairs.” Konro agreed amicably. With an extra room in-between, it would give Hibachi and Miyu some extra space without a meddling third. “I’ll get my stuff after dinner.”
Miyu’s small smile was all the thanks he needed.
It was odd, to think he’d be sharing a building with anyone. Even at age fourteen, when Konro had dated, he’d figured he’d die alone for some reason. Though, even back then, he had thought that the chances of him finding a partner were slim. Now, at age twenty, Konro had accepted the only love he’d have would be the love of a family to a child. Master Hibachi and Miyu certainly weren’t parents to him- Keiko held that title. But they were family he’d support with all his strength.
Now, at age twenty… Konro bemusedly stacked his white shirts on top of each other in his small satchel. There wasn’t much he wanted to bring, other then a few birthday presents he’d gotten from various hikashi throughout the years.
The pickle stone, the rice kettle, the kitchen knives- Konro surveyed his presents. All of them were cooking gear, weren’t they? Still, it had all been well used under the many years under Miyu and Keiko’s tutelage. The rice kettle he’d leave behind, but as for everything else… Maybe two trips?
Konro brushed his fingers over the smooth metal, and was surprised to see the world around him ripple.
Why? Why did it have to be the Mistress? There could be no Gods that existed, because otherwise they wouldn’t of played such a cruel joke on the Shinmon family. They were heir-less, the mistress was dying, and a mark-less man was the one wandering the streets instead.
Why hadn’t it been him?
With no soulmate mark, there would be no one to mourn his passing. His funeral would be small- only hikashi would attend perhaps. There was no guarantee like others that a soulmate would show up. There was no one in the world, that would love a markless man.
It should have been him.