Yatagarasu Series
Volume 1:
Ravens Shouldn't
Wear Kimono
Author: Chisato Abe
Part 3: Autumn
Section 4
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The next morning, Asebi sat across from Ukogi in the Spring Hall and got the scolding of her life.
Asebi said nothing in her own defense. She and Masuho no Susuki had decided to keep what Shiratama had done secret for the moment. Asebi resigned herself to being lectured about staying overnight in the Autumn Hall without formal permission.
“Never do something so careless again! Don’t you have any sense of your own dignity, Duchess Asebi?”
Asebi didn’t flinch. She met Ukogi’s gaze calmly and said nothing. “Of course I have no sense of my own dignity. How could I? Even my closest attendant never told me that my mother came to Sakura Palace long before me. I am ignorant and powerless to affect my own fate.”
Ukogi’s eyes went wide. “Duchess Asebi, where did you hear about your mother?” Her mouth set in a grim line when she realized that Masuho no Susuki must have told Asebi the previous evening. What Ukogi had done had undermined Asebi’s confidence in her place at court, which was already somewhat fragile. Ukogi’s shoulders drooped. When she spoke again, her tone was no longer harsh.
“Duchess Asebi, I apologize for scolding you when you were ignorant. But you must understand that all my hopes are pinned on you. You must enter the imperial palace as a bride.”
Asebi swallowed heavily. She’d hoped that Ukogi would stop yelling at her if she mentioned her mother. Ukogi wasn’t mad at her anymore, but she appeared desperately sad. Asebi hadn’t wanted to upset Ukogi like this, and now she didn’t know what to say to fix it.
Ukogi only looked sad like this when she was preparing herself to speak about the past.
“Why?” Asebi asked. “Why do you need me to enter the imperial palace?”
“Because your mother should have and could not, Duchess Asebi.”
Asebi caught her breath.
“Your mother was once called Ukigumo, the Lady of the Floating Clouds. She entered Sakura Palace. I served her for a long time. I vowed to share both hardship and happiness with her.”
Asebi nodded slowly. “Yes, I heard that from Masuho no Susuki.”
“Did you?” Ukogi raised an eyebrow. “I doubt she told you the whole story. Your mother was in love with His Majesty the Emperor, back when he was still a prince.”
Asebi felt like her throat had turned to stone. Words came to her slowly and with great difficulty. “W-What did you say?”
“It’s true. Izayoi, the concubine, was away from the palace on leave at the time. While she was absent, your mother was the duchess who visited His Majesty most often. But then Oumurasaki became pregnant, which forced His Majesty to marry her. Ukigumo left the palace and returned home. Then she gave birth to you and passed away shortly after. I once considered it a disgrace to have served your poor mother, but now I believe that everything was ordained by fate. You, Duchess Asebi, shall enter the imperial court as your mother could not.”
Ukogi gazed intently into Asebi’s eyes. “I am here for the sake of fulfilling your mother’s dream,” she said. “It is the only thing I can do for her now.” She lowered her eyes to her hands. “Hold your head high and with pride, Duchess Asebi,” she said. “It is what your mother would want.”
***
On a cold day at the end of autumn, the duchesses were summoned to Wisteria Hall. No reason was given. The duchesses entered the hall and took their places as normal. None of them thought anything was amiss until they saw Sumio march to the center of the hall and stop.
After everyone summoned was present, Sumio addressed the crowd. “I have news,” he said. His expression was pained. “First, please take a look at this.” He spread out Masuho no Susuki’s dazzling red kimono on the wooden floor. It was the one she’d worn to the Star Festival. Everyone recognized it.
Almost everyone also knew that Masuho no Susuki had gifted this kimono to Samomo just before the girl’s disappearance.
At first glance, the kimono appeared exactly as it had on the night of the Star Festival. Closer inspection revealed places where the embroidery had been crushed. There were also a few areas of discoloration on the torso. The kimono was stained with something dark, almost black.
Blood.
Masuho no Susuki stood up, though she was pale from nervousness. “That is a kimono that I made,” she said. “I gave it to Samomo some time ago.”
Kikuno stepped forward as if she were attempting to shield her mistress. “Please give me a moment,” she said. “May I approach? I will explain as best I can.”
Sumio nodded at Kikuno. Kikuno came closer to him and spoke in an undertone.
The assembled court ladies and attendants whispered to one another about what the kimono could mean.
Masuho no Susuki spoke to no one. She stared down at her creation and didn’t move a muscle.
What on earth had happened to Samomo?
Sumio stepped back from Kikuno; they had finished speaking. Sumio took his place in the center of the room again and said, “I am here on behalf of the imperial family—specifically, the Crown Prince. I have come here today in that capacity. I kindly ask that you listen to what I have to say, and please do not interrupt.”
Sumio’s formal tone made several ladies-in-waiting exchange uneasy glances.
“Samomo, an imperial servant, went missing from Sakura Palace some weeks ago. Since she left the palace without permission, a search was sent out for her almost immediately after her disappearance. She had been assigned to the service of the Summer Hall.”
A tense silence filled the room.
“I am sorry to inform you, but Samomo was found dead this morning.”
No one could comprehend what had just been said.
Ukogi was the first to speak, though her voice was hushed. “Are… are you certain that you found Samomo?”
“Her brother identified her,” Sumio said. “There is no mistake. I am sorry.”
Asebi collapsed behind her bamboo screen with a soft cry. All the strength went out of her limbs.
Princess Fujinami gasped from behind her bamboo screen. Takimoto approached her silently and held her shoulders firmly.
“Why? How could such a thing happen?” Kikuno asked.
Sumio seemed reluctant to speak, but he answered Kikuno’s question as best he could. “We still do not know the details. However, she was found collapsed at the bottom of a mountain valley.”
“Was it an accident?” Asebi asked in a trembling voice.
Sakura Palace was built in the middle of the mountains. The palace itself was mostly safe, but there were overhanging walkways and bridges at the edges. Those walkways and bridges spanned deep ravines and rocky cliffs. Falling from those walkways or bridges could potentially be fatal.
“That is unknown,” Sumio said. “We are still investigating.”
That answer wasn’t designed to give anyone reassurance. Samomo’s death was being investigated thoroughly because foul play was suspected.
Sumio revealed that Samomo had been found in the kimono that Masuho no Susuki had given to her. She had been identified by her family already and her funeral rites were done. All that was left was to bury the body, which would be done after the investigation was concluded.
“We may wish to ask questions inside Sakura Palace at some point,” Sumio said. “We ask for your cooperation.”
Takimoto let Princess Fujinami go and stepped out from behind the bamboo screen. “Understood,” she said. “Please leave the responsibility of gathering accounts directly to us.”
“Thank you very much,” Sumio said.
***
Sumio left Wisteria Hall after bowing deeply to Takimoto.
“Wait!” Asebi called out to Sumio as he departed.
Sumio paused before the Midsummer Gate and turned around. He took in Asebi’s elegant clothes and styled hair and guessed that she wasn’t just a lady-in-waiting. His eyes widened as he looked at her.
Ukogi chastened Sumio for staring, and he looked away. “Are you from the Summer Hall?” Sumio asked. “Was there something else you wished to ask me?”
“Samomo was a close friend,” Asebi said. “I need to know if she really… if…” She couldn’t finish her sentence. Tears streamed down her face. She bowed her head.
Sumio bit his lip. “My deepest condolences. I am truly sorry for your loss.”
“How could this have happened?” Asebi asked. She was unsteady on her feet and nearly fell.
“Duchess Asebi!” Ukogi cried out. She reached for Asebi’s hand. Asebi collapsed into her arms, clinging to her for support. “Samomo must have lost her footing when running an errand,” Ukogi said.
“We don’t know that for certain yet,” Sumio said. “The Yamauchishu is still investigating the matter.”
Ukogi narrowed her eyes at Sumio’s vague response. “So there’s a possibility she was pushed by someone, or that she jumped herself?” she asked.
“As I said, we still don’t know.”
“But Samomo was such a bright, kind girl. She would never take her own life. She had no enemies. Please don’t cast aspersions on her. She doesn’t deserve it.”
Asebi wept quietly. Samomo had promised to help her. She had been her first friend in Sakura Palace.
Sumio bowed to Asebi and then jumped up on the balustrade outside the Midsummer Gate. “Duchess Asebi, the Crown Prince himself is leading the investigation into this matter. I will also do all I can to bring you better information the next time I come to Sakura Palace.” He inclined his head and then turned away. He leaped off the balustrade, transforming into a large three-legged raven in midair. He flew away quickly and was lost to view.
Asebi watched Sumio go. She was about to return to the Spring Hall when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
“Sister,” Princess Fujinami said softly.
“Princess Fujinami.” Asebi faced the imperial princess, drying her tears on her sleeve. She couldn’t stop crying. “Why? Why did this have to happen? Why did Samomo have to die?”
Princess Fujinami shook her head slowly, as if denying that the situation was even real. “I never imagined something like this would happen. Samomo… why did this happen to her? I don’t know, either.”
Princess Fujinami had been crying; the corners of her eyes were red and puffy. She took an unsteady step forward and nearly fell. Asebi caught her and hauled her up. “Princess Fujinami! Please be strong!”
“But how?” Princess Fujinami asked. “Samomo is… gone. Gone.” Tears welled up in her eyes. “Why? Ah, if I had known this would happen, I never would have taken Samomo into my service.”
As Fujinami broke down in tears, Asebi held her up. Her own shoulders were shaking with sorrow.
“Please don’t say such things, Princess Fujinami,” Asebi said. “If Samomo heard you, she would surely be saddened. She enjoyed serving you.” She paused. “Everything will be all right,” she said firmly, trying to sound as reassuring as possible. “I’m certain that the Yamauchishu will uncover the truth. There must be a reason for all of this.”
Fujinami suddenly fell silent.
“It will be all right,” Asebi repeated, standing tall and speaking as strongly as she could.
***
“Samomo was either killed or she took her own life.” Chanohana, Shiratama’s lady-in-waiting, spoke in a hushed tone. She had remained in Wisteria Hall after Sumio and Asebi’s departure.
Several other maids and ladies-in-waiting had also lingered in Wisteria Hall, wringing their hands and exchanging agitated whispers.
In this somber atmosphere, no one criticized Chanohana for her blunt remark.
“I don’t want to even think such things, but you are probably correct,” Kikuno said to Chanohana. She sighed. “If there were another, more innocuous explanation, then the Yamauchishu would not be investigating. Sumio wouldn’t have come here unless the situation was serious.”
“Do you have any ideas about all this, Karamushi?” Chanohana asked.
Karamushi was one of Duchess Hamayū’s attendants. She’d argued for Samomo to be punished for sneaking into the Autumn Hall. Her conflict with Samomo was still fresh in everyone’s minds.
All the maids and ladies-in-waiting looked toward Karamushi.
“Ridiculous question,” Karamushi answered. “Why would I know anything?”
“The incident with the kimono has been settled amicably,” Duchess Hamayū said. “Karamushi is unsociable, but she is not a fool. She bears no grudge toward Samomo. She hasn’t brought up that incident since that day.”
Hamayū looked at Karamushi, who nodded to her in agreement.
“There is no point in punishing Karamushi for anything,” Hamayū said. “Let’s not waste time on pointless blame.”
“If that’s the case—” Chanohana began to speak, but Takimoto clapped her hands, interrupting her.
“Please stop this! Speculation is meaningless. Moreover, accusing someone on the basis of speculation is the height of foolishness.”
“But perhaps it’s not just speculation?” Chanohana asked. “Even you cannot say that you have no connection to Samomo’s disappearance and death.”
“Is that so?” Takimoto asked imperiously. She glared at Chanohana. “What is your meaning? Speak plain.”
“Samomo was temporarily assigned to the Summer Hall, but she was employed as Princess Fujinami’s lady-in-waiting before that,” Chanohana said. “She acted with great self-importance despite her limited experience. Perhaps her lack of education and finesse ruffled some feathers?”
“This could be the work of the karasudayū that the Empress warned of,” Shiratama interjected. Her voice was as clear as gleaming pearls.
Takimoto and Chanohana fell silent.
“The most suspicious person here is Duchess Asebi of the Spring Hall,” Shiratama said.
Asebi returned to Wisteria Hall at just this moment, half-carrying the grief-stricken Princess Fujinami. All eyes in the room focused on Asebi and the crying princess.
“What is happening?” Asebi asked.
“Wasn’t it you, Duchess Asebi, who manipulated Samomo and made her do various things? Did you get rid of Samomo because she became a nuisance? It’s just the sort of thing the scheming Touke family would do,” Shiratama said.
“And what proof do you have?” Ukogi shouted in anger.
Princess Fujinami lifted her head. There was pure fury in her eyes. “Shiratama! Any insult to Asebi is an insult to me as well. How do you intend to explain yourself?” There were tears in her eyes, but she faced down Duchess Shiratama without flinching.
“I see you’re pretending to be on the same side as the imperial family,” Shiratama said to Asebi. “How very typical.”
“Duchess Shiratama is right to be skeptical,” Chanohana said, flaring her nostrils. “The imperial family claims to have no personal stake in this matter, but it is clear that they do have something to do with Samomo’s disappearance. We cannot trust in Takimoto’s word.”
“What did you say?” Takimoto asked shrilly.
“I’ve had enough of this. Please, everyone, stop it already,” Masuho no Susuki broke in. “Accusations, calling people karasudayū—it’s all completely ridiculous! Sakura Palace is a place of safety and learning. We’re supposed to help each other and the imperial family. Slinging insults and destroying reputations helps no one!”
Shiratama gave her a cold look. “I suppose that if Samomo did take her own life, Masuho no Susuki might bear some responsibility. She gave her that splendid kimono, after all.”
Masuho no Susuki appeared puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“Samomo was found in the kimono that you made for her,” Shiratama said. “Surely that can’t be a coincidence? Isn’t it obvious that whatever drove Samomo to such a desperate act has something to do with the kimono she was wearing?” She smiled faintly. “Or perhaps… was it you who killed her?”
Masuho no Susuki’s eyes went wide. She froze to the floor, not moving a single muscle. “Th-that’s absurd… What nonsense!”
“Maybe you were unwilling to part with the lovely kimono you’d made,” Shiratama said. “You seemed quite irritated at Samomo for entering the Autumn Hall without your permission. Perhaps you tried to take the kimono back from her later, and things got out of hand?” Shiratama looked Masuho no Susuki up and down, appraising—or judgmental. “If that’s the case, you should confess. It’s like you said; we’re here to uplift one another, not to cause harm. A duchess that drives a maid to her death is hardly becoming. Such a woman would have no right to a place in Sakura Palace.”
“None of that is true!” Masuho no Susuki stood up straighter, jumping up to the balls of her feet. She looked like Shiratama had just struck her across the face. “I didn’t do anything! I have no idea what happened to her, or why!”
“So you claim you bear no responsibility? How disgraceful. You’re almost certainly the one who drove Samomo to her death.”
“Enough, Shiratama!” Hamayū raised her voice and glared at the Hokke duchess. “Don’t pretend to care about Samomo. All you care about is that someone gets the blame, and that it isn’t you. That’s beyond mean-spirited.”
“No one asked for your opinion, Duchess of Nanke,” Shiratama said airily. “Everyone knows it’s her fault.” She turned her attention back on Masuho no Susuki with undisguised delight. “You cornered Samomo. The poor girl—imagine how terrified she must have been.
“Shiratama,” Hamayū said flatly.
“I told you, I don’t know anything!” Masuho no Susuki cried out. She spun on her heel and ran, unable to bear the critical stares of accusation all around her in the hall. Her face was as pale as death. Kikuno and Masuho no Susuki’s other maids and servants appeared almost equally troubled as they hurried after their mistress.
The sound of Shiratama’s mocking laugh chased Masuho no Susuki out of the hall. When she was gone, Wisteria Hall lapsed into silence.
***
Masuho no Susuki awoke when it was still dark. Her eyes adjusted slowly to the gloom. She lay in her bed, dazed and confused.
She had no idea why she was awake so early. She’d had trouble falling asleep after everything Shiratama had said to her. She’d drifted off at some point during the night, but her rest had been fitful. She didn’t feel like she’d slept at all.
As Masuho no Susuki tossed and turned, she sensed the presence of someone nearby. “Kikuno?” she whispered. “Is that you?”
There was no answer.
Something was wrong, but Masuho no Susuki was too tired to realize that right away. She saw a shadow moving in the half-darkness, close and growing closer. Looming over her like a threat.
Warm breath wafted over Masuho no Susuki’s face. A hand reached for her, cupping her cheek. The rough texture of a sleeve made Masuho no Susuki shudder and pull away.
“Duchess,” the man concealed in the shadows said. He bowed his head.
Masuho no Susuki screamed.
***
Asebi awoke to a strange noise. She thought she’d heard someone cry out, though she couldn’t be sure. All was silent now. She sat up and then called for Ukogi.
Ukogi appeared almost immediately. She slept in a room next door to Asebi’s. She opened the door that connected their rooms, smoothing her disheveled hair with one hand.
“Did you hear that, too, duchess?” Ukogi asked. “What was that?”
“I don’t know,” Asebi said. “I don’t think it came from the Spring Hall.”
“I’ll rouse the maids,” Ukogi said. “Some should be awake and dressed. I’ll send a few out to investigate.”
Ukogi found a maid who was dressed and alert and sent her out of the Spring Hall. Then she focused on making herself presentable for the day.
Before Ukogi finished brushing her hair, the terrified maid returned to the Spring Hall in a rush. “Duchess, Miss Ukogi! Something terrible has happened!”
“What is it?” Asebi asked. “Is everyone all right?”
The unfortunate maid trembled from head to toe. “The courtyard outside Wisteria Hall is covered in blood,” she said.
“What?” Ukogi asked.
“I saw a large horse lying dead. But Takimoto said it was nothing to worry about.” She seemed confused, hesitating as she spoke.
Frustrated by this unclear explanation, Ukogi rushed toward Wisteria Hall to witness the scene for herself. Her hair was still wild with sleep and her nightclothes were wrinkled.
Asebi hesitated for only a moment before she ran after Ukogi.
“Duchess, you mustn’t go!” the terrified maid called after her.
Asebi paid her no heed. She reached the courtyard of Wisteria Hall only a few steps behind Ukogi. They were not the first to arrive; ladies-in-waiting from several of the halls clustered around the entrance. All of them were disheveled and most were still in their nightclothes. Asebi arrived without fanfare; no one moved out of her way.
“What is going on here?” a lady-in-waiting whispered.
“I heard a man broke in,” another answered.
“I heard the whole place is awash with blood.”
Takimoto stood in the center of the chaos, fielding questions and keeping people out of Wisteria Hall proper. She was dressed only in a simple black kimono and lacked many of the fine accessories and markers of status that she usually wore.
“Please calm down,” Takimoto said firmly. “An intruder entered the Autumn Hall, but he has already drawn his last breath.”
“The Autumn Hall?” several women cried out in surprise. Kikuno was among them.
“The man is already dealt with,” Takimoto said. “He didn’t lay a hand on Duchess Masuho no Susuki or anyone else. He tried to escape to Wisteria Hall, but the Fujimiyaren caught him. The Yamauchishu have been called in to assist with the cleanup. There is nothing to be worried about.”
“You tell us not to worry?” Ukogi called out to her. “Who wouldn’t worry in this situation? If this had happened in the Spring Hall, I would not remain calm!”
“That’s right,” Kikuno said. “Masuho no Susuki must be so frightened!” Her eyes narrowed in anger. “Tell us what happened. Leave nothing out.”
It was rare for Kikuno to show her annoyance and frustration openly like this. Asebi widened her eyes in surprise. There were many maids and ladies-in-waiting in the hall, but no one serving Hokke was present. Ukogi and Kikuno were here, as was Karamushi, but Chanohana and the servants of the Winter Hall were absent.
The crowd dispersed when it became clear that Takimoto would provide no more information. Asebi returned to the Spring Hall with Ukogi.
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