00038

first: [link] (see also for disclaimers)
previous: [link]
next: [link]

notes:
Kakita Academy and artisans: [link]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was a thought that gave him most trouble - a tiny sliver, ready to fade away like ice under a ray of warmer sunshine, and forgot about it soon.
The show drew to a close now. The actor had changed his dress, makeup, everything about him, and on stage, strong and regal, was dancing the spirit of Lion, the lord of all the kami of the animals. He wondered how much has been calculated, the choose of that particular dance by the Shosuro company, as the first show for the Winter Court, then he rebuked himself: there was nothing wrong with showing courtesy honoring the hosts with that of the many shows, dances, plays and operas that were in the program. If the first evening had happened to the actors of the Academy, perhaps they would have done the same. Maybe was that to disturb him and to annoy his uncle, when it was about the Scorpions. Seemed to give a reflection of the Crane, twisted, bent and unfair, perhaps, but still a reflection.
The drums increased their pace, damping, accompanied the spirit of the Lion at rest and then to his legitimate throne as lord and sovereign.
The show was over now.
A different actor walked through the scene, empty now, kneeling before them and saying a short speech of thanks for allowing the company to entertain the nobility of the Empire with their humble work. He had a beautiful voice and music and moved perfectly, but Toshinaka still held his eyes on the biwa musician, until the screens did not come back to stop him.

When the last of the panels slid to hide the public, Tomoe is granted an imperceptible sigh of relief, but also of disappointment. The evening was useless, she regretted. The stage was too enlightened and too much shade for the audience to see something good. She had a list of viewers in advance, including the list of seats for each ... but all she could see were colors and shapeless forms without movement, hidden by the hair of the twins. Moreover, she was really tired.
She barely smiled to the other, following them into the dressing rooms. Everything she dreamed of was now a hot bath and a good massage. And forget that feeling of an attentive and focused stare that followed her every move.