The courtyard of the Daimyo’s manor was serenely calm. The dark sky stretched overhead, dotted by many a white star, whose light was dominated by the great golden moon above. At the centre of the courtyard was a pond that was framed off from the surrounding ground with strung-up lanterns, glowing a warm orange. The water in the pond was teeming with a multitude of fish each the length of an adult arm, some being myriads of orange, yellow, black, white and red, others being solid in the same colours, but all equally as marvelous to behold. The air was still, but warm on the skin. It was drier than the south Yeupisians were typically used to, but it certainly reminded those who hailed from it of their homeland.
As Manisha quietly admired the living aquatic gems from the rocks that lined the pond, a set of soft footsteps originating from feet clad in zori sandals closed in. It had to be one of her fellow travelers—the Shimajimese would not approach her without Anwen translating for them, and there was only one person who had entered the courtyard.
“Taking in that pretty sight without Ilias?” the familiar man chuckled behind Manisha, who sat on the ground with her legs bent in front of her, sandals placed neatly next to her feet.
“That tea ceremony was tiring. Imagine how that must feel for a ten year old boy.” Manisha laughed as she invited Rohan to sit next to her.
“I haven’t been that age in nearly 30 years, so I couldn’t begin to guess,” Rohan said as he took his seat, before taking a few silent moments to take in the same sight Manisha had. “What does he think of these… kimonos, by the way? The silk’s real itchy on the skin, but it’s nice and light. Might have to import some of these back home, don’t ya think?”
“He was pretty fussy at first, but Anwen talked him into keeping it on. Sure beats the three sets of clothing he had to alternate between on the trip here. Speaking of importing…”
Manisha finally tore her gaze away from the mesmerising pond, her chestnut eyes locking with Rohan’s deep brown.
“Don’t ya think that negotiation went a little too easy? Anwen told me exactly how her talk with the Daimyo went, and he was dead set on only wanting wood. Why would they only want wood after a millennium of isolation? Ain’t it a little... sketchy?”
“Maybe that’s all he as a Daimyo is allowed to accept,” Rohan proposed after giving some moments to think. “He’s just one of a few pawns in this land. The real big guy is the one making all the moves, and it’s he who the northern fellas are gonna have the real talk with. Who knows? He may even want a little chunk of Yeupis in exchange for our cooperation.”
“Yeah, if it still even exists by the time we get back home. For all we know, it could be a smoldering crater right ‘bout now.”
Rohan noticed that Manisha’s usual high energy and confidence had tapered off, and although her face and his were in front of one another, Manisha’s gaze had dropped.
“That don’t sound like you, Manisha. What’s with the gloom and doom?”
“I- I know it don't. But I’ve been thinking about it lately. What I’d leave behind once I went on this trip. Or rather, what would be left behind.”
“What do you mean?” Rohan asked, his voice tinging with curiosity and concern.
“I never cared about status, or power, or money. Just wanted enough to get by. It did go my way, I guess. Your crew didn’t even know my face before I told them what my name was,” Manisha laughed, but Rohan sensed something somber deep within. “All I cared about was mine and my son’s security. Without his daddy, I did all that I could. But I couldn’t protect him from the paleskin patrols, and I… I loathe myself for that.”
“But you couldn’t do much about it.” Rohan said, attempting to offer a word of sympathy.
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“Don’t help that it still made me feel guilty,” Manisha sighed. “When Anwen and Stefan appeared at my door, and told me who they were, I felt… good about everything. For the first time since Gareth left. But it never truly dawned on me until very recently that the arrival of them three sweet souls from up north also meant that the chaos got that much closer to my doorsteps.”
“Hey, I get that. But you know, if I hadn’t found out that they were a part of the effort against the paleskins, I’d a’ never let the Serenity’s Song get this far from home. The fact that there is true resistance out there, against them… it brings me hope.”
Manisha found that Rohan had gotten closer to her, enough that their shoulders were touching.
“I ain’t saying that this war’s just pure chaos and destruction. I’m just worried. The world I wanted Ilias to grow up in never existed. If—if it don’t go our way… I’m afraid it may never exist. I don’t want that to happen.”
“I won’t lie… if everything does just go to shit, at least in the south… I have a feeling it may not be such a terrible thing.”
“Why would you say that?” Manisha said with a tsk. “I knew you were the pessimistic type, but not like that.”
“Hear me out, okay? Maybe then, people—well, whoever survives—will finally have the balls to get all the divisions our forefathers and the paleskins put in place and throw 'em out the window forever. It wasn’t always like this, Manisha. Maybe the war’s the only way things can make themselves pure again. And I believe Ilias is gonna be the beacon of it all. And who knows? With all the unclaimed land, you could build yourself a pretty old pond just like this here one.”
Manisha’s heart thundered in her chest at the sound of Rohan’s words. It had been no mystery how the man had been able to maintain such a fierce, loyal relationship with the sailors that made up his crew. Every word he spoke was made from the bottom of his heart. There wasn’t a single drop of Reserve in his body, but if he wanted to, he could summon an entire army with just a few words. How blessed was Manisha that his words, at that moment, were for her ears, and her ears only?
“Rohan, come home with us,” she suddenly turned and leaned in to Rohan, so close that her nose was not even two inches from the Captain’s. He could feel her warm breath on his skin, and the soft touch of her hand pressed against his chest, clad in a cyan kimono that contrasted wonderfully with her cherry red one. Her voice was uncommonly sweet and soothing. “Come home to Yeupis with me and Ilias. Build that pond with us. You’re a part of our lives now, and I want you to stay. I might never get to have Gareth back, but I’ve got you. And just know, from my heart of hearts, you’ve got me too.”
Rohan lifted his hand to touch Manisha’s, only to gently push it away.
“I-I’d love nothing more than that. I really do, Manisha. You and Ilias mean so, so much to me. But after Namrata passed on, I haven’t been able to share a home with anyone else. Only with my crew, out there on the sea, have I been able to live with other people. I-I don’t know how to feel about… being part of your family. You told me to take care of Ilias should anything happen, which I will. You can count on that. I’m not sure if I’m able to go beyond that capacity. I ain’t tryna offend you, but…”
“No, no. I-it’s okay, no harm done,” Manisha calmly accepted his rejection, even though her heart cracked at every seam. She pulled away from him, maintaining a small gap between her body and his. She slid down the rock a slight bit and let her toes submerge in the water as if to ground herself back in reality and out of delusion. “I’m sorry, it’s… I shouldn’t have said that. Stupid thing to say, really. I’m sorry.”
She sighed and took to peering at the pond again. She truly felt stupid. The man next to her was a widower and she hadn’t thought once about if he had moved on past the loss of his wife The silence between them that lasted for what felt like an eternity was awkward, only occasionally interrupted by the soft kicks of Manisha's feet in the water. Their interaction wasn’t yet over, however. Both of them remained in the courtyard.
“I do wanna tell ya somethin’, Mani.” Rohan said, his tone low.
The mere sound of the man’s voice made the butterflies in her stomach erupt again.
“What?”
“That smile a’ yours. It is exactly like Namrata’s. And if I could, I’d like to see it a million times more. I’ll take you up on that pond-building offer.”
Manisha bent forward, collecting water in her hands before launching it at Rohan's face.
"Don't be playing with my feelings like that!" she cried, but it was clear it was out of glee. "Be straight with me next time, ya fool!"
A soft beam played about her lips, and unable to fight the urge any longer, she leaned in to Rohan once again. This time, the Captain reciprocated, the tenderness of his lips meeting Manisha’s. It was short, but wonderfully blissful. Something neither had experienced in years. Something they had harbored a desire to feel again. Against the backdrop of an increasingly expanding war and copious uncertainty that only piled up, that moment was nothing but needed.