Flattered by Flowers

By Forthright

He's a rough-hewn romantic, and she becomes his muse.

Junpei is a day laborer who's supporting his mother and younger brother. He's mostly resigned to rough hands and scant respectability, but for a few precious hours each evening, he loses himself in the colors and beauty of creation. His painted lanterns and pa

• Language: English
• Publisher: Twinkle Press
• Release date: Apr 4, 2022
• ISBN: 9781631230790

Book preview

Flattered by Flowers

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Songs of the Amaranthine, 8

Flattered by Flowers

Copyright © 2022 by FORTHRIGHT

ISBN: 978-1-63123-079-0

Cover by Elza Kinde | bumblebess.com

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or shared in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the author. Which is a slightly more officious way of saying what I’ve always asked. Play fair. Be nice. But by all means, have fun! ::twinkle::

TWINKLE PRESS

FORTHWRITES.COM

because it takes courage to stay open to new things

A Family to Support

Junpei knocked aside a couple of fist-sized stones and wedged his hoe under a larger, more stubborn one. When the call for workers had come in, clearing an overgrown road had sounded straightforward enough, but all these rocks and ruts had slowed down the whole process.

Putting his height to good use, Junpei pressed steadily. He took it slow. If the handle gave before the rock, he’d be in all kinds of trouble. Day laborers generally earned enough to put a meal on the table, but not much more. If he was careless, he’d lose a day or two, and Mother and Sho would go hungry.

Come on, he coaxed. Cooome on out of there. Change can be good. The whole world will look different after today. Brighter than ever. With a whole new perspective.

The foreman, who was working near Junpei, chuckled. Sweet-talking the stones?

Whatever works.

If it does, I’ll start in myself. We’re running short on time.

When’s the family supposed to move in?

Oh, they’re here. Seems they arrived late yesterday. Though how they managed that, I couldn’t guess.

Junpei straightened and looked along the road into Keishi, still thickly wreathed in morning mist. It’s just this last part that’s really bad.

If we’re lucky, the head of the household will focus on the work we’ve done, not on the section left to do.

Maybe this is good, suggested Junpei, facing the short jaunt of rough road ahead. He’ll see for himself what state this was in … and appreciate his fine new road all the more.

Fair-minded folks like that are hard to come by. But if that’s how it turns out, I wouldn’t complain. Sounds came from the direction of the house, and the foreman pivoted. Keep at it. Here comes the owner.

Sure. Junpei kicked at the stubborn stone with his heel, trying to rock it loose, but most of his attention was on the house. He was as curious as the next man. And the next. And the next.

The foreman noticed. We’re paid to labor, you lot. So labor!

Shouldering his shovel, the foreman strode off to greet the new owner of this creaking and crumbling estate beyond the farthest edge of Keishi. Junpei thought the distance was inconvenient, but the newly-arrived silk merchant must have taken a liking.

Junpei had looked around a little. There were fruit trees in every courtyard, and many were already blooming—plum and quince and cherry. He hoped the newcomers realized what treasures they were and tended them properly.

Once upon a time, this house and the surrounding lands had belonged to a daimyo, so the proportions were generous. In other words, too big to be practical. But according to local gossip, which Mother attended to with as much care as she lavished on her biwa, the Hoshina household was large enough to fill its rooms to brimming.

Exactly how many wasn’t known.

Nor could anyone say where they’d come from.

The family name was new to their area.

All anyone really knew was that the merchant had prospered elsewhere but wanted a fresh start. Mother thought it suspicious. He could be anyone, from anywhere. And why would he choose such a remote and ramshackle house?

Junpei didn’t care. What did it matter? All of Keishi would benefit from the addition of a rich family to the community. The Hoshinas had already made his life easier, providing weeks of steady income right at the end of a harsh winter.

That meant rice and fish and miso and pickles. And fresh milk for Sho, who’d hit a growth spurt and was always famished. After so many sparse meals, every evening felt like a feast.

Murmurs rippled through the line of workers, and the reason became clear. Foreman was standing right next to the newcomer, who had to be twice his height! The giant had long, reddish hair, and his voice boomed jovially. But he wasn’t speaking a language Junpei had ever heard.

Foreigners. Wouldn’t Mother be shocked?

Right beside Junpei, someone spoke, using more foreign words.

Junpei looked into the upturned face of a boy in his early teens, perhaps a little older than Sho. Or maybe not, given the height and girth of the head of the Hoshina household. The boy was strange, but in a comely way. Wavy red hair flowed past his shoulders, and there was a friendly light in his brown eyes.

He spoke again, touching his chest. "Quen … err. Ken Hoshina."

Good morning, Ken-kun. Placing his hand over his heart, he said, My name’s Junpei.

Junpei-san? he checked.

Yes.

Ken next gestured to the rock that was giving Junpei trouble, and he said something more. The foreign words sounded like nonsense to Junpei.

We’re moving stones. It was probably silly to try to explain. He flattened his hand and waved it over the ground. Your road is a mess, and that’s no good. Wouldn’t you rather have a smooth ride when you come into town?

With a grin, Ken stuck the toe of his boot into the gap Junpei had made for his hoe and lifted. Carefully levering the stubborn stone out, he rolled it aside, exposing a sizeable hole. The rock had been bigger than it looked, which explained why it had been giving Junpei so much trouble. It didn’t explain how the boy had managed the task so easily.

Finding his voice, Junpei exclaimed, Thank you, Ken-kun.

The boy answered with a courteous expression, then jogged off to help the next guy.

Foreigners Have Strange Ways

Work went much more smoothly after that, because Ken wasn’t the only son of House Hoshina. More men emerged, each larger than the next. Conversation was limited to friendly smiles, basic greetings, and the exchange of names … except in the owner’s case. He moved from person to person along with one of the town elders, Hisoka Araki.

Maybe it was a foreign custom? Junpei knew from experience that important people only mingled with important people. This wealthy merchant should be taking tea with the leaders of Keishi, not getting to know men who couldn’t even boast a reliable source of income.

Junpei’s turn came.

Hello, friend. Please excuse my clumsy words. The greeting was big and broad and strangely accented. He offered an upturned palm. I’m going by Hoshina.

Araki explained, The meeting of palms is traditional where Hoshina-dono comes from.

Returning the greeting, he offered his name in return. Welcome to the area, sir. You chose a good place. Have you seen the trees?

Which sounded foolish as soon as he’d said it. They were surrounded by woods. You couldn’t miss the trees.

The big man looked curiously between him and Araki, who seemed to be acting as translator.

Hisoka Araki was respected and respectable. A town leader certainly didn’t mingle with people of Junpei’s ilk, but he hadn’t balked at addressing any of their crew. He had the poise of a diplomat, the air of a sage, and striking coloring. He seemed too young to be so thoroughly silvered.

After a brief exchange, which included an intriguing number of shifts in posture, Hisoka turned from Hoshina to ask, Do you mean the trees in his gardens?

Yes, sir.

Are you perhaps a gardener?

No, no. Not me.

I see. My friend is also looking for carpenters. The existing buildings need repair, and he intends to add new walkways and pavilions.

Hoshina was offering additional work? That was certainly good news for some of their crew, but Junpei shook his head. I’m unskilled. I can dig and carry, but I cannot build.

I see. They traded a few more words, and Araki smiled with real fondness at the big man. He wants you to know that he chose this house in part because of the trees. You are welcome to visit his gardens anytime.

Me?

Yes, Junpei-san.

That is very generous. Thank you, Araki-san.

Sensei, if you wouldn’t mind. He beckoned between them. "I prefer sensei."

Was he a doctor? Or a scholar? Junpei had no guesses, but he ducked his head and murmured, Araki-sensei.

Hisoka! interjected the owner, who reeled out words like one who loved conversation. They flowed past Junpei without meaning, but he thought they were perhaps speaking about him.

Finally, Araki said, "My friend has taken a liking to you. If you have no other obligations, he wants to hire you. A day’s wage if you’ll spend your mornings here, doing odd jobs.

Junpei wasn’t sure he’d heard right. Half days?

For a full day’s wage. With a faint smile, Araki murmured, Did I not say he’s taken a liking to you? I’m sure I did.

Bowing low