The Prince and the Priestess

[Shiori]

"I think if we ran into Jiesha's friends, they'd know..."

[Raja kumarie]

"not if you didn't look like yourself. We could use a little magic and make you look completely different while we're out"

[Shiori]

"Magic," she sighs. "I was never much good at the magic parts."

[Raja kumarie]

I nod "it can be quiet tricky. But think on it and if you want to try we can"

[Shiori]

"...I will think on it, friend."

[Npc]

The coming months were filled with activity and summer turned to fall. Raja became close to her mother and aunt as well as yi shiori and Lee. She settled into a comfortable routine with Ryuu. They each had things to do during the day but at night they would eat and talk play games ride and of course work their way through the Kamasutra.

It was a warm September day when raja happened to receive a message that sent her running right into the study where her husband and father were meeting

[Ryuu Ishikawa]

Ryuu looks.... bad. Real bad. He's staring off into the middle distance, hands shaking, and his face... it's like he's just watched a earthquake open up and swallow his home. 

His father looks sterner, but there's an empty glass beside him, and a half-empty bottle of sake next to it. As Raja enters, Ryuu is being handed his own glass of sake. "This will help."

[Raja kumarie]

I bow quickly before coming to Ryuu side. "Father what has happened?" I ask my hand glowing faintly as I check my husband for injury or alment.

[GamesMaster]

"You need to get the candles," he says quietly. "They're in the temple. Ask the Miko there to hand them to you. Ryuu and I will be undergoing a ritual bath while you set them up in... in my son's former room." 

[Raja kumarie]

sons former room?... I turn it over in my mind then it hits me. The military survice of my new brother.... "oh gods." I whisper I turn heading for the door than stop, "has mother been told?" I ask

[GamesMaster]

"She is already preparing herself for the wake." Thankfully he's speaking turkish, though of course the custom is probably somewhat different in Nihon. 

[Raja kumarie]

I breath a sigh of relief glad I don't have to tell her before hurrying to the shrine

[GamesMaster]

Once there, the Miko presses a bundle of candles and incense into her hands. "Do you know what to do with this?" she asks, kindly. When Raja shakes her head, the Miko outlines for her where to put the candles, what order to light the incense in, and the words to say. "It's an honor that you were chosen," she adds. "It's usually the wife of the deceased, but she is not here. I expected his mother to do the honors, but you are a good choice. Just be sure to push as much good, restive intent into the ritual as you can, so his spirit knows it can rest."

[Raja kumarie]

I nod and hurry off. I join my family and set out th candles I move quietly around everything I say the words as my family cries quietly. I finally reach the last candle. say the final words and then put intent into his rest I think to myself

you may rest now you may sleep with the ancestors go and rest be at peace I push all my love and wishes into stricking the match it flairs to life as  I light the last candle. It burns brighter and higher than expected I step back as all the candles flair I gasp seeing the fire glow blue for a moment "lord Krishna has taken him to his court" I whisper under my breath

[Ryuu Ishikawa]

There's a cough from behind her, and her husband is there: "My wife, attend to me a moment." It's very formal language, but though his eyes are puffy and red, his tone is even. He doesn't wait for an answer before he turns, leading her to their rooms just down the hall. 

Once the door is shut, he falls to his knees, wrapping his arms around her middle, and pressing his face into her soft sari.