7 - A Good Natured Front

Saera was occupied with the festival every day. Sometimes she went with Risa, but most days she went with Jin. On the fourth day, the games were erected - there were all manner of festival games available, ranging from comedic competitions to athletic challenges with other contestants. Where many members of the noble family were too proud to participate, Jin seemed overly eager. Jin played every game he could, and Saera spent most of the days laughing and cheering him on.

His favourite was a game of agility, where one had to steal a piece of red cloth hanging from the other's belt. The game attracted a large number of both competitors and onlookers, many of them young men looking to prove their worth. Jin progressed through the game each day, emerging victorious from every bout. When he was focused, his jaw tightened in concentration and he moved like a predator, agile and quick, a sharp contrast to his usually civil self. It occurred to Saera that maybe he repressed his competitiveness the same way he did his lust: behind a good natured front.

The days were busy and full. Saera kept occupied by touring the grounds, meeting members of the family and the staff, visiting the vast library and gardens, and satisfying her newfound curiosity in the workings of jewellery making. She soon became more comfortable in the presence of Jin's parents who were quiet but kind, or with Haruo, who never ran out of stories to tell. The time passed rapidly, days soon morphing into a week. and she caught only fleeting glimpses of the older brother who had promised to marry her first. The reason Akira had called off their marriage eluded her, for none within the household seemed willing to discuss the incident. Saera focused instead on forming new relationships. She wrote home to Shisui and announced that she would stay and see the marriage to fruition.

Jin remained the perfect noble gentleman, treating Saera kindly and politely. Her affection for him grew rapidly once she overcame her initial suspicion, and she caught herself admiring him more than once. They became more at ease in each other's presence, and Saera was finally able to sleep deeply in Jin's room. The only thing that didn't' progress was Jin's apparent interest in her: the slightest hint of physical affection caused him to pull away, as if she were just a sister or friend.

On the last day of the festival, the celebrations increased in intensity and ran late into the night. Performers worked throughout the day, singing, dancing, and showcasing other skills. After the morning meal Jin and Saera made their way down to the festival again, for the final match of Jin's favorite game. He had not last a single match so far, and a group of his friends hooted and cheered him on as he entered the ring, grinning.

His opponent that day was another crowd favorite, a cousin slightly older than Jin, with dark cropped hair and a shadow of stubble. The crowd hooted and hollered around them, with some placing bets on the outcome. Saera was dwarfed by the crowd, and had to push her way to the front to be able to see.

The game began with a whistle, and both boys lost their easygoing smiles. Jin watched his opponent with alert, narrowed eyes. Each time his opponent reached for the fabric hanging at his waist, Jin blocked him or danced out of the way, his face patient and calculating. Every time they grappled, Jin pushed the other man away. The cousin began to get frustrated with the slow pace, and embarrassed by the ease with which his movements were being read.

When Jin finally lunged forward, the man thrust his shoulder into him with a venom inappropriate for the game, and the two men fell from the side of the platform in a tussle, out of view.

A collective gasp rose up from the crowd, and then there was silence as onlookers craned their neck to see the contestants. The man in charge of the game wrung his hands nervously; if a noble was to be injured, he would surely face some wrath.

And then Jin jumped up, his shirt stretched to one side and his hair disheveled. He waved the red cloth in the air with a flourish and a grin.

"I was not injured!"

The onlookers around Saera erupted into cheers, both at his declaration and his victory. The man who had tackled Jin picked himself up off the ground, shooting daggers at his opponent's back. Even a blatant disregard for the rules hadn't gained him the victory he craved.

As Jin made his way to the stall owner to return the two swathes of cloth, Saera saw that he limped ever so slightly to one side. She waited until he returned to her, breathless but happy, running hands over his hair to try to smooth it down.

"Whew!" said Jin, oblivious to the admiring stares of women around them. "That was fun!"

Saera adjusted his stretched shirt, replacing it evenly around his neck and brushing away dirt. "You were hurt."

Jin slipped an arm around her shoulders as if he was escorting her away, hiding the fact that he leaned on her for support. "Of course I did. He all but threw me off the platform. The side I landed on is killing me." He said this with a smile, the pain a small price to pay for the outcome. "But did you see? I won regardless." His eyes flashed with the spark of competition.