A Beautiful Autumn, Life in the Academy pt 1
No one would miss one single manjū, surely. She reached up to take one from the plate when a wooden spoon lightly smacked her hand. She squeaked in pain and looked up at her mother, her eyes already teary.
Jiang Ru Shi was a tall, fit woman. Like all women in the Jiang family, her skin was unnaturally pale and smooth, like a doll, save for the patches of "scales" that appeared down their spine, on their cheeks, and on various places along their extremities. Her hair was long and a deep orange color with cream colored strands spread throughout. Her scales were mostly orange with a few random ivory spots mixed in.
"Now Li Qiu, you know these are for your Auntie Ying Yue's altar. Not for you to nibble on." Ru Shi lifted the plate out of her daughter's reach. She had to bite back a smile at the adorable pout.
"But Mama," she argued, "Auntie would want me to have them! She knows how much I love sweets and you always tell me she would have spoiled me rotten!"
Ru Shi resisted the urge to nod. Her daughter was most likely right. Ying Yue had been well known for spoiling the children of the Jiang clan. With a long-suffering sigh, she brought the tray of manjū down and handed it to her daughter. "Just the one, then. But you have to promise you'll eat all of your dinner and won't run off on your uncle again when he takes you to watch the swordsmen practice. It's a huge honor."
Li Qiu took the manjū and sighed. "Okay, Mama."
"That's my little guppy. Now, go put that by the altar and get back to your room so I can help you put your dress. The Mizukage is coming to dinner and I need you to be on your best behavior."
Li Qiu nodded and took off to the main room with the tray of sweets in her hands. She heard her mother call for her not to run but she couldn't help it! It had been her aunt's birthday and they were celebrating. Plus, Mist had announced that was hosting the chunin exams next year which meant tons of foreign shinobi staying in the Jiang family hot springs inn.
The altar was placed in a corner of the room and a single stick of incense burned gently in front of her aunt's picture. Her aunt had long, gorgeous black hair and dark black eyes that were said to shimmer with flecks of gold when she was with her fiance. Her hair had been long and black with strands of white. Supposedly there was also a single white spot on the crown of her head as her hair came in white then turned black. She had similar black "scales", full, thick lashes, and a scar on her right cheek.
Li Qiu placed the tray of Manjū down in front of her aunt's picture, next to the incense burner. She bowed slightly. "With your permission, Auntie, I'm going to take one." She reached to take a bun and noticed the smoke waver a few times. She stared at it, then grinned. "Take two, you say? Well if you insist~" She snatched two and then darted up the stairs to her room.
Outside of her window, she could see that the hot springs were as busy as ever. Civilians and Ninja alike wandered down the paths to and from the main bath house where she and her family resided. The entire Jiang district was full of buildings meant to serve visiting guests to Kiri. It was supposedly a gift from the then-clan head, Jiang Hui Yin. She sang and the hot springs rose from the earth to fill out the holes she and her clan had made. The first Mizukage had been so pleased, he had promised that even if Kiri's borders closed, the hot springs would always be available to admire.
Gentle lamps lit the paths, hanging from posts that blended in with the surrounding bamboo. The paths were lined with large stones and steam rose all around the district, giving it a dreamy, romantic feeling, especially at twilight. She reluctantly pulled away from the beautiful view at the window to go to her closet.
She was excited to put on her new qipao. It was a pretty cream with gold coloring and black and white buttons. She paused to look at herself in the mirror as she started removing the light yukata she had been wearing. Her hair was long and straight, and the same soft orange as her mother. While her mother only had white strands mixed throughout her hair, Li Qiu's hair had both black and white strands of color mixed in. Her patches of "scales" were similarly orange with spots of inky black and creamy white.
The Jiang clan women, it is said, were all descended from a koi-patterned mermaid who fell in love with a human man. It also explained their Kekkei Genkai, The Ningyo no Nakigoe or Cry of the Mermaid. All Jiang women had it, a voice that, when enhanced with Chakra, could shatter any illusion. More talented kunoichi, like her Auntie had been, could further manipulate this voice to create nigh-unbreakable genjutsu that could charm whole armies of enemies.
Li Qiu would have loved to have met her.
She pulled on a light jacket over her dress. It had the Jiang clan symbol on it, a white koi seen from above, swimming in a circle with a black spot on the back of its head.
Her mother entered, wearing a similar qipao, hers a deep green with gold accents. She styled Li Qiu's hair into a cute pair of buns, which made the girl pout.
"Mama! I'm going to be finished with the academy soon! Buns are for little kids!"
Ru Shi laughed and kissed the top of her head. "Yes but until you graduate, you're still my little guppy~"
Li Qiu hummed and tucked her exta bun into a pocket while she nibbled on her first. She followed her mother back down the stairs. She walked into her mother's legs when she suddenly stopped, her body tense. Li Qiu stared up at her mother. "Mama?"
"Hide, Li Qiu." Someone knocked at the door which made Ru Shi tense further. "Go."
Li Qiu hesitated but nodded. She darted behind a couch and palmed a blade hidden up her sleeve. She could see her mother doing the same. Her mother approached the door and slid it open.
"...You have a lot of nerve coming here. Lord and Lady Kaguya."
Lord Kaguya was a tall, imposing man with a thin beard, clad in a regal kimono. His wife, similarly white-haired, stood at his side, just as imposing and fearsome.
"Please." He hesitated, then bowed low, his hands at his sides, gripped so tightly that Li Qiu was sure they'd bleed. Lady Kaguya, and a third smaller shape near her also bowed. "We ask you allow us entry and you hear our request. You are...the only person who can help us."
Ru Shi watched them and palmed her blade. "Fine. Li Qiu, escort young Kaguya-sama to the outside porch in back. His parents and I have some things to discuss, apparently."
Li Qiu emerged from her hiding place and offered the young boy with the Kaguya clan heads a hand. He blinked at her with bright green eyes. His bangs were kept out of his face with a pair of beads and his part was in an odd zig-zag shape, the traditional Kaguya style. He looked up at his parents and his father nodded stiffly. The boy took her hand and allowed her to lead him out.
"I'm Jiang Li Qiu. Li Qiu is fine~ What's your name?"
"I...I am Kaguya Kimimaro. It is nice to meet you, Li Qiu-san." He coughed and she paused but continued into the back due to her mother's stern expression.
"It's nice to meet you too, Kimimaro-san."
As she slid the screen to the rear courtyard open, she overheard something that confused her but she filed it away regardless.
"We have heard...that the Sannin Tsunade-hime owed your sister a debt. One which was passed onto you."
"And you're here to beg me to call in that favor, no matter the cost?"
"...Yes."