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For Junna! ^-^

Izumi felt sick


The empress noticed these changes in the weeks following their leave from verdant's grace. A diplomatic retreat, but a retreat no less. Not having to monitor territory or keep track of things was more relieving than she'd like to admit — one might even say she could get used to mingling with other packs from now on. Things between her and Osamu were still relatively strange, but having the opportunity to spend time with her clan members was something she'd been grateful for. The specifics could wait.


At first, the cranebird chalked it up to eating something weird during the wedding. She'd indulged herself within the plentiful food and drinks from the islands, so there was bound to be something that didn't agree with her stomach. Yet it couldn't have been normal for the nausea and grogginess she'd experienced to extend from days to weeks.


A though came to her mind just then.


Poison? Had she been poisoned when not being careful?


Izumi was not an easily fretful woman, but doom did have the tendency to creepy upon her shoulders when her own thoughts drowned her. She needed to see someone to confirm — she needed to see a medic.


Junna,


She'd approached the young medic rather unceremoniously. Hurried was her pitch and lack of a proper greeting. A manner that surprised even Izumi, as she usually had no issue with her own composure. Yet she felt a mess.


Tend to me, please. I need your help….


A rare moment of desperation within her voice — and the furrowed crease in her brow.

Junna had settled in well, something like purpose kindling in the empty marrow of her bones. She'd only been here days, perhaps weeks—one could never know with their head buried beneath leaves and varying herbs alike. But it felt long, long and yet not at all. She had yet to speak to their chief medic, the Chiryōchō, and she had heard of the woman's name only in passing. A ghost, she wondered if she might be, elusive enough to be considered a blessing that swept about the grounds.

Fraughtless thoughts, she knew, but the woman had her sights set. Pride beginning to plume like smoke within her chest; that was where she'd work to be, where she would wind up if she continued to be her best. Her movements had never stilled, even as the presence of her Empress seemed to startle her, worry and fear exuding from her in waves. And then, something else...something beneath it all. She could not place it, nor had she the time to, as Izumi's hurried murmurs set her head ablaze.

Junna's own voice came soft, probing but calm. My Kōgō, Izumi, breathe, my dear. You come to me in a fright; what has happened? For it must be something dire, something had truly gone awry for her to be sought instead of Masae. Or perhaps it was the opposite, and not truly dire at all. Junna's stomach seemed to churn, but she remained attuned to the words of her empress. Perhaps there was a skirmish at their borders, where the sea crested upon their beaches. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. The young woman could hardly compose herself as she sat before her elder, sympathy etched within seriousness.

Give me more to do. She could have pleaded, but it was with silence that she waited, still trying to discern what scent mingled with what usually was wisteria petals and the essence of the sea.

Izumi was made aware of her conduct, and composed herself at once — or at least tried to.

The empress was so terribly shaken at the mere idea of what could’ve been wrong with her. So much so that her own anxiousness shook her more. Izumi never acted like this — even on her worse days, she was able to put on a brave face, suck it up and move on. As was her duty to her people to keep it together — yet here she was. On the verge of panic. Spiraling in the midst of sweaty paws and the thrumming of her own erratic heartbeat. The lack of sleep only added to this disruption.

The empress had work to tend to — she didn’t have time for this. Couldn’t have time for this.

What was she to do? What could she do?

What is wrong with me, Junna?

She stumbles to a stop before the medic, almost too close in a poor measure of distance.

I cannot eat without expelling anything, the sight and smell of food makes me ill. I can’t remember the last time this week that I’ve kept a meal down. Her words were rushed. Frenzied.

I am stressed all the time, can barely sleep without waking up, yet I never have the energy to move much, Was she dying? Was she going to die from her own lack of carefulness?

I…..something must’ve happened to me during the wedding, I must’ve…..eaten something. I am so careless…

Her eyes even shone—

Almost like she’d been on the verge of tears from simply thinking about it.

And she paused to blink the moisture away from her lilac depths. Those of which turned owlish in surprise.

Was she seriously crying right now?

Oh. Oh.

Junna did her best to hide behind a steeled face, belying the knowledge that lurked just beneath her skin. The semblance of knowledge, that is. What Junna thought ever since the whispers of her Empress's chosen erupted over the Dynasty. Though it was a theory, it was conjured from every symptom listed by her maiden.

Nausea. Fatigue. Stress. Behavioral changes.

My Empress, She started, words a quiet hum in comparison to the woman's hurried tone. From what I can tell, your condition, it is serious but not life-threatening. But to be sure, you must be entirely forthright. The woman slid a thin mint-leaf-and-blueberry-piled piece of bark towards Izumi. It was not as though Junna thought the Empress would lie to her, but some...women and men found themselves less inclined to be honest with their caretakers. Privacy held no wall between that of a healer and their patient.

What occurred at this wedding? I assumed you enjoyed yourself, as one should? As one who has recently claimed their mate would've. Junna offered her a sympathetic smile.

From what I can glean from those here, Osamu likely would not have left your side in the midst of, well...strangers. In realizing that— She paused to nudge the herbs closer in a quiet ask for her to chew. You must shift your fear and worries aside, and focus on the reality. Not what could've happened, but what did.

Did you see someone mingle too close? Did the meat look more green than pink? The water stained and mossy? Did you...or did you not...convene...with a certain male with the help of aphrodisiacs available at your disposal amidst unfamiliar soil?

She’d used a forepaw to gently dab away the moisture from her eyelids, feeling a tinge of embarrassment at her sudden melt down. Air hissed through her nostrils as she sucked in a sharp breath. Eyes closed, ears swiveling forward – lilac orbs focus on the young medic again after calming herself. Let’s….pretend that didn’t just happen. she remarks quietly, feeling a flush form in her pallid cheeks.

There was a pause of silence-

–though the cranebird screamed. Internally.

Young Junna requests honesty from the Empress, to which she’d nod her head in compliance. If Izumi wanted to get to the bottom of whatever was going on with her, did she have much of a choice? Only, the information she requested was a bit….personal, to say the least.

Osamu’s name came into question, and the skin beneath her pelt suddenly felt hot. A choking sound emitted from her chest as she doubled over from hearing it. Her paw reached to press against her lips, to, as she’d nearly spit out the berries and leaves offered to her.

Osamu? she had not had a proper conversation with the man ever since their embrace within the depths of Veredent’s Grace. Why on earth was he suddenly being brought up? Unless….

………..

Oh.

...................................You already know me and Osamu slept together that day, don’t you? The question was asked as if it was relented from her. Clearly, her and the samurai hadn’t done a good job at hiding what had happened that night if it had traveled this far – at least, that’s what the empress assumed.

–and for all her juvenile-like ignorance to what could have gone wrong, it was quite possibly a coping method for what Izumi thought she might say next – but denied given the uncomfortable position she was in with her lover.

So strongly, in fact, that she preferred the news of poision….