#manju saka
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furesshu-log · 11 months ago
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※ The first character in "saka manju" (酒饅頭) is read as "saka" in this instance, but it is usually read as "sake" (aka Japanese rice wine) on its own.
Saka manju is a steamed bun made with sake, but the alcohol evaporates when cooked, so it would be safe for them to eat.
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withinharmony · 6 months ago
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- the flower ofManju and Saka (manjushage 曼珠沙華): According to a Chinese legend, Manju and Saka were two elves, guardians of the spider lily. Manju guarded the flower and Saka guarded the leaves. However, they fell in love with each other abandoning their duties. The Gods, angry at them, laid a curse on their love as a punishment: when the flowers of higanbana bloom, their leaves fell; when their leaves grow, the flowers wilt. Therefore the flowers of Manju have never met the leaves of Saka again and the two lovers were eternally separated. From this legend comes the idea that spider lilies bloom along the path where you see a beloved person for the last time.
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despot-despair · 5 years ago
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Despot Despair, Chapter 4: Strange pictures
“...All we know is that they're observing us with the birds. Whether that means they're nearby or somewhere far is unknown. Why they're only observing is also unknown.”
♕ Lineart by Talentlesshuman:  https://twitter.com/talentlesshuman or https://talentlessartblog.tumblr.com
♕ Sketch by Ysther: https://twitter.com/_ysther or https://hystherics.tumblr.com ♕ Coloring by Capi: https://capilune.tumblr.com/ or https://twitter.com/capilune
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彼岸花 - Manjiro Sano
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a/n: English is not my native language. So, I apologize for possible mistakes. Pairing: Manjiro Sano ( Bonten! Mikey ) x Y/N ( F!Reader ) Warnings: blood, death, angst
Higanbana (彼岸花), Red spider lily or Hell Flowers originally from China, Korea and Nepal usually bloom near cemeteries around the autumnal equinox and are described in Chinese and Japanese translations of the Lotus Sutra as ominous flowers that grow in Diyu (also known as Hell), or Huángquán or Jigoku (japanese) and guide the dead into the next reincarnation. Some legends have it that when you see someone that you may never meet again, these flowers would bloom along the path. Perhaps because of these sorrowful legends, Japanese people often used these flowers in funerals. The popular Japanese name Higanbana literally means higan (the other or that shore of Sanzu River) flower, decorate and enjoyable, flower of afterlife in gokuraku jyōdo.
It’s also referred to as manjusaka, based on an old Chinese legend about two elves: Manju guarded the flowers and Saka the leaves, but they could never meet, because the plant never bears flowers and leaves at the same time. They were curious about each other, so they defied the gods’ instructions and arranged a meeting. It was love at first sight. Amaterasu (天照) the Japanese sun goddess embittered by their idiosyncrasy, separated the couple and shrouded them with a curse that the blossoms of the Manju never again hit the leaves of the Saka. It was said that when the couple met after death in hell, they swore to meet again after their reincarnation, but neither one of them could keep their word. To this day, the red lily is associated with loss, longing, abandonment and lost memories in hanakotoba (花言葉), the language of flowers.
She’s been dead for a few hours already. The fragile body is ice cold. The porcelain-like skin appears unhealthy pale, while the cat-like, red pair of eyes, which had previously been soaked with sensual love, looks frozen into the endless void of the black night sky. The sweet voice rings like a childish chime in the insane mind of this shell of a human being - stirring tormenting memories awake. Past images, overwhelming fata Morganas come to life. Reveal a beautiful woman with a small beauty spot below her left eye, which completely disappears as soon as the sensual laughter fills the murky atmosphere. The foxy, red iris, full of mischief and lovely eroticism, the tenderness of her skin, the soothing touches and caresses and god - this ridiculous, good-natured heart. The kindness of this perfect woman was unique. A feeling of restlessness begins to squirm in him - excruciatingly crawling out. Manjiro Sano turns his expressionless pair of eyes towards the starry night sky, a desolate, small smile fills the beautiful grimace before the broken man adorns the hair with a purple red spider lily, wetted with already dried blood. ''You have won, Goddess of the Sun.''
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officialinuyasha · 4 years ago
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The Yashahime Trailer premiered on August 1st. I was able to witness it first hand and live streamed it to our Facebook Group. The animation is the same from the Final Act, as the animator who worked on it is making a return for Yashahime. The animator Sachi. When the livestream first started on Otakon they had technical difficulties and we were on hold for about 3 minutes, this happened two or three times during the viewing. The video we saw seemed laggy but also could have been in short frames before the animation is fully polished for a final trailer. Here I will look over every frame in the trailer. For the first time ever in the world we get to see a glimpse of Yashahime - The trailer starts, the first thing we see is the sacred tree - it's the Feudal Era at night while raining and then shows a hut. Inside the house, we see a glimpse of Towa BUT she's wearing a patterned robe which is not what she is seen wearing in her regular character design. The person that abducted her must have put that on her.  Towa is sitting down with her hands tied behind her back. The view moves up, and we see Towa's head tilted down. What caught my attention at this moment was the flowers in the background. There is three spider lilys. Spider lilys were shown in the first ending of InuYasha Season 1. Spider lilies are associated with final goodbyes, and legend has it that these flowers grow wherever people part ways for good. In old Buddhist writings, the red spider lily is said to guide the dead through samsara, the cycle of rebirth. I'm going to read more off what I found from Medium.com "A legend is said that there were two elves were assigned to watch over the red spider lily. Manju guarded the flower, and Saka guarded the leaves. Out of curiosity they defied their fate to watch over the flower and met each other. They immediately fell in love, but God was angry at them because they abandoned their duties. He separated the unfortunate couple and laid a curse on them. The flowers of Manju shall never again meet the leaves of Saka. After both of them died and met again in the Otherworld they made a promise to meet again after reincarnation. However, neither of them could keep their word. Thus the meaning of this sorrowful flower is abandonment, never to meet again. It’s often used in funerals and you can see it growing near cemeteries. People say that it’s Hell’s flower and it guides the dead into the next reincarnation." Source - https://medium.com/@TiffanyR/hanakotoba-the-japanese-language-of-flowers-9410aa14d7b5 If you remember Kikyou was snapping the Spider lilies in the Season 1 Ending, as if denying death through being undead. I do believe that this is an intentional nod, especially in that first frame of the flowers that there were three of them. Just like the three main characters. In the next shot Towa appears to have waken up, the robe has fallen off her shoulders and shes talking to a man. Behind her you can see the wall is filled with spider lily patterns. Perhaps he woke her up. We see his face, and one of my members pointed out that he believes it could be Rikichi who was one of Kaede's helpers. It could even be an older Kohaku if we think back on how their dad looked like. But I feel that Rikichi could make sense if we remember how Kaede and her village first acted when Kagome went to the Feudal Era. They captured her the same way they did to Towa here - This could be Towa's first return to the Feudal Era since she was last there when she was four years old. Her appearance in a modern day uniform could have startled the villagers like Kagome first did. Towa and the man continue to look at eachother. Another character appears, it is an older man wearing a hat. He says a few words to Towa. Towa reacts as if she's saying "Oh really? Is that what you think? Now's our chance!" Maybe they had set up a plan. The scene changes to Moroha, she has her arms around her head - A good resemblance. She turns. It shows Setsuna, looking just like her father she then turns and has her eyes closed. They could have intentionally been using Towa as bait to drag the old man out so they could fight him. The old man's facial reaction is telling me "Oh crap! Darn those meddling kids, they found out!" Not sure why. But this old man is giving me serious Dragon vibes, especially with those whiskers that are called Barbels that are seen on Dragons and fish. Moroha takes out her sword and charges towards the old man. However in this frame we can see they already knocked out a guy in the background meaning that this trailer is skipping around on whats happening here like how trailers usually do. Even one of the panels is already damaged. Setsuna swings her Naginata at the old man however he's already vanished. Perhaps a demon in disguise or a monk. Notice the background with the scroll that has artwork on it. This must be a palace. Perhaps this old man was decieving the lord. You can see Moroha jumping in as well. There was some kind of small tree or plant that was behind where the older man was. You can see after his clothes start to fall. Moroha holds up her sword, you can see the dragon detail on her blade - it then glows red as if she was going to do her Koryuha attack or perhaps just showing off. Now that I think about it, if he was a Dragon - Could her sword have absorbed him? That would have been cool and would make sense since Tessaiga has been known to do the same in order to get stronger and gain new forms. She stops what she's doing - Towa says something that caught her attention. It shows all three of the girls. Moroha and Setsuna are both looking out the door- and you can still see the knocked out man in the background. Moroha says something as if "Let's go after them before they get away!" as if they want to go after this villain. Moroha and Setsuna then run outside into the rain while Towa is just standing there watching as the other two run off. Towa then turns to look at the screen. You can see in the background where Moroha and Setsuna probably broke into the building. It is still night and raining outside. Towa then speaks as if she's talking to the viewer. She holds up a book, it's Japanese Kanji says "History". I imagined her saying something like "Good thing I've been taking history class." The trailer ends.
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thebiasrekkers · 5 years ago
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Amaryllis: The Past || JHS
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For the @bangtanscenery​ - April Showers Bring May Flowers Project in celebration of the Spring Season!
Plot: The year is 1170 AD in the kingdom of Goryeo. Nestled in a quiet corner of their world, two people are drawn together and love blossoms in their hearts. However, as tensions begin to rise between their nations, they are unwillingly pulled into the conflict. Their determination to overcome all odds becomes the nail needed for Fate to hammer into their coffins.
Rating: PG-13 // SFW
Genre: historical!au | period!au | soulmate!au | angst | romance | drama | tragedy
Pairing: Jung Hoseok x Female OC (Bayaraa Ehri)
Warnings: Mild language, extreme angst, major character deaths
Links: FAQ || BTS Masterlist || Admin E’s AO3 || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]
Word Count: 13.4K
AN: Guys, when I tell you that I wasn't ready for this to be as big of a monster as I thought it would be, I was not prepared. At all. Period. This is the first Period/Historical!AU I've written in a while and definitely a first for BTS. I've always been a sucker for reincarnation stories and so laying the groundwork for this made me really happy. This is a tragic love story, but I promise that it will be better in the second part I plan on releasing next month! Enjoy and remember that you are loved!
© thebiasrekkers (Admin E). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.
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Goryeo Kingdom 1170 AD
The noise of the marketplace seemed to erupt in mixed sounds of pleasantries and laughter. There was a constant tone flitting in and out; the sound of laughter and of so many market vendors talking at once. They were all trying to get people to look at their wares, to purchase them and make new deals. Hoseok smiled as he strolled through the streets, dodging oncoming children squealing in delight as they ran past the adults. The silk fabric of his robs clung to his figure, his lute bouncing lightly across his back and his satchel hung from his side.
To others, he appeared as nothing more than a traveling minstrel. But the truth of the matter was that he came from an upstanding noble family that was directly connected to the royal bloodline in the Goryeo Kingdom. He didn't like to make a fuss about it and neither did his brothers. Their father was blessed to have seven sons and Hoseok was the third-born son, granting him a little bit more freedom than his two older brothers. He had less responsibilities.
Hence why he was strolling around in the general public in his incognito garbs, masquerading as a traveling performing artist and poet.
"Sir," called a vendor, attempting to garner Hoseok's attention, "you look like a man who believes in good fortune!"
Hoseok paused, craning his neck to look at the man who had a variety of items spread out over his table. Nothing seemed to stick out and he wondered what any of his items had to do with good fortune. Just as he was about to ask, the man reached behind the table and lifted up a small, lacquered box from underneath. The design was exquisite, boasting a unique hand-craftsmanship with the various floral patterns cut from Mother of Pearl shells. Hoseok raised his brows, curious to see what could be inside of such a lovely chest.
When the man opened the box, he revealed a flower forged in metal. It sat on a cushion of black satin, but the flower itself almost seemed to gleam in the afternoon sunlight. It's stem was long, the leaves taking on a soft shine as it curled around the base of the flower. At the top, the petals were long and spindly, resembling a spider lily.
No. It was a spider lily.
Some artisan actually forged a spider lily.
Hoseok's lips parted as he reached his hand toward the flower. "It's beautiful," he whispered. But just before his fingers could brush against the metallic leaves, the vendor quickly closed the lid of the box, causing a frown to form on Hoseok's face. "How much?"
The market vendor was unable to hide his amusement as he waggled a finger at him. "Now now, My Lord, I must insist that you listen to the good fortune that comes with purchasing this flower. The artist who made this said the explanation is a must to anyone who wishes to have this flower in their possession."
Sighing, Hoseok brushed some of his bangs out of his eyes and folded his arms across his chest. "Very well. Go ahead."
The vendor smiled, clapped his hands together rapidly, and then slowly opened the box to reveal the flower. "Do you know the legend behind the Spider Lily, My Lord?"
Smothering down his own amusement, Hoseok shook his head. Of course he knew the legend of the Spider Lily. It was a tale forged in sorrow about two lovers who neglected their duties to watch over the petals and leaves. The Gods punished them and they promised to find one another again in the Underworld. However, they were unable to do so, hence they could not be reunited in the next life when they were reincarnated.
"I find it hard to believe that you don't," teased the vendor, which caused Hoseok to cant his head slightly, "but let's just say that this flower isn't an ordinary spider lily. The one who forged this flower said that the tragedy still exists inside, just as the legend dictates. But unlike Manju and Saka, the one who holds this flower will be able to reunite with their loved one in the next life. Guaranteed."
Hoseok couldn't help the scoff that escaped his lips. "How can the artisan possibly guarantee something like that? Was it the Jade Emperor who forged this flower? Is he an ethereal being who is going to be able to follow my spirit into the Underworld and ensure that I do not drink from the Spring of Forgetfulness so that I can, in fact, remember the face of the one I love in my next life?"
The vendor appeared perturbed by the onslaught of questions being thrown at him. But he seemed to collect himself well enough to puff his chest out and cleared his throat loudly. "W-Well, I'm just relaying the words to you as the artisan wished. If you do not want to purchase this rare item, then I will simply put it away."
As the man moved to close the box, Hoseok reached out to place his hand over the vendor's. He hesitated and Hoseok smiled warmly at him. "I apologize. I did not mean to offend, Good Sir. I'm a skeptic by nature, I'm afraid, and I let my lips run away before I could catch them." Again, the vendor cleared his throat, but he seemed less offended than earlier. "Regardless of the artisan's intent, this flower truly is beautiful. The story behind the spider lily is a sad one, but looking at this, I can tell they created this from love."
He could practically feel the vendor beaming at him. "Would you like to purchase it, My Lord?"
Hoseok smiled, reaching into his coin purse, and pulled out three gold coins. "Will this be enough?"
The vendor gasped. "T-That's more than the artisan asked for!"
Grinning, he pulled out another coin to add to the three. "Then I insist that you give him two and you keep the other two for your troubles."
Taking the coins from him, the vendor wasted no time wrapping the lacquered box up in a silk cloth. The vendor hurriedly handed the wrapped item to Hoseok, beaming wildly at the amazing exchange he’d just made. Hoseok wasn’t sure why he seemed so happy since he didn’t regret handing off the gold.
He only hoped that the vendor was honest and didn’t keep all four coins for himself.
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“Lad-I mean, L-Lord Ehri!” A young attendant ran with her skirts hiked up as far as she could manage as she tore through the busy market streets. “My Lord, please wait!”
Erhi evaded her attendant, doing her best to smother her feminine sounding laugh as she hurried through the crowd. She was dressed in her incognito outfit, a young male warrior specifically. It was mostly so she could maneuver without any people questioning her reason for being there as a foreigner. Her father, a noble and wealthy merchant from the Mongols, was currently on a business venture in Goryeo. While her older sisters were obediently at his side, learning the proper etiquette for business, Erhi was left to her own devices.
For better or worse, she was allowed to roam the city streets of the kingdom so long as her attendant was with her and she stayed out of trouble. Erhi agreed to her father’s demands, but only to his face. She was positive that her parents knew of her outlandish behavior that strayed far from the proper lady fashion, but because she was the youngest, she was able to get away with it to a degree.
Her father was a businessman, after all. If she wanted to do something, there had to be a give and take deal. She was allowed to learn swordsmanship as long as she studied sewing. She could ride a horse if she practiced dancing. And she could train with the merchant troupe’s regiment if she could brew a proper pot of tea and serve it just as eloquently.
In that aspect, Erhi liked to think she was better off than her sisters. But mostly because they, themselves, had no interest in the things men liked to do. Especially since both were already promised to suitors. Erhi was too gruff to appeal to any male in her father’s circles and she preferred it that way.
Hence the reason she was running through the streets of a foreign city like a child.
She did her best to dodge the innocent bystanders on the street, twirling on her heels to avoid colliding into them needlessly. However, she hadn’t anticipated a group of children squealing through the crowd simultaneously. Ehri jumped suddenly, fully clearing the children as they stopped to stare off at the tails of her robes fluttering behind her. Focused on their awestruck faces, she failed to pay attention to what was ahead of her.
And what was in front of her was an unsuspecting young man carrying something wrapped in silk in his arms. She only managed to catch a glimpse of his surprised face and the lute strapped to his back before their bodies collided against one another; hard. There was a distinct crunch sound that seemed to reverberate throughout her entire body as the wind was knocked from her lungs. Coughing out the dirt that managed to spray up from the ground and into her nose, she heard the man groaning from underneath her. 
Gasping, Erhi quickly scrambled off the man and saw his face screwed up in pain. She immediately reached out for him, her hands grasping at his shoulders to help him sit up. “I’m so sorry,” she said, dusting off his silk robes, “I should have been paying attention, Naeuri.”
The young man grunted, coughing as he attempted to straighten the front of his robe. “It's fine. No harm done.” He extended his arms and shook the sleeves of his garbs back and forth while smiling. “See?”
Erhi flushed, embarrassed she’d lost her sense of awareness for even a moment and caused an innocent bystander to be caught up in her mess. She got to her feet, helping him up to where he continued to pat off the dirt from his clothes. Just as she was about to ask if he was alright, the true shame in her actions began to set in. Because there, at their feet, was what remained of his lute. Even the silken cloth wrapped around his parcel came loose, tilting sadly to showcase that whatever was inside was damaged as well. 
Suddenly, her attendant burst through the crowd looking haggard and annoyed. When she finally flattened her skirts down, she met Erhi’s gaze and stopped short before her rant could even start. Erhi quickly shook her head back and forth, silently urging her to pretend that she didn’t know her. Her attendant sighed, approaching the both of them as though she were a curious civilian wanting to make sure the two of them were alright.
“You’re both not hurt, are you, My Lords?” 
Erhi inwardly sighed with relief, gesturing to the young man at her side. “I’m fine.” She turned to look at the stranger. “I believe I’ve damaged your belongings. Please allow me to make amends by paying you for what the items were worth.”
The man smiled, shaking his head as he waved his hands back and forth. “Oh no, that’s not necessary. Truly.” He peered at Ehri closely, causing her to flush slightly. “Are you sure you’re not hurt?”
She bowed, her hair falling to curtain her face. “Yes, thank you.”
Erhi watched the man pick up his broken lute and ruined parcel. But he seemed unaffected by it. This made the guilt fall heavier on her heart and just as she was about to insist that she be allowed to make amends, he stepped toward her. They were just inches away from each other, causing her to gasp slightly while taking a step backward. 
“Shall we have a cup of tea to commemorate this occasion?”
Blinking rapidly at him, the young man smiled almost mischievously at Ehri. Then he leaned forward, his lips just barely brushing up against the shell of her ear.
“I would offer to share a drink, but inviting a woman to indulge in alcohol in the middle of the day  would seem a bit presumptuous and rude, yes?”
If Ehri was flushing a soft pink earlier, she was a full blown shade of scarlet at that exact moment. Craning her neck to look at him, she felt her lips parting in both shock and outrage as he continued to preen at her. When had he been able to see through her disguise? How could he have discovered the truth in such a short amount of time.
The snap of a fan brought her out of her internal reverie and she hopped back a full two feet from him as he slowly moved the fan back and forth across his body. He wasn’t being smug about it. She could tell that he was genuinely amused. And this, alone, piqued her curiosity.
Frowning, she huffed before giving an overly dramatic flourish of her arm as she stepped to the side. “After you, Naeuri,” she said through clenched teeth, “I insist.”
The playful twinkle never left his eyes and he merely strolled past her, snapping the fan closed as he pointed toward the direction straight ahead. “Come. We have much to discuss.”
Ehri caught her attendant’s eye and they both sighed in defeat, their legs feeling much heavier than they had just a few minutes ago.
This was problematic.
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“I see,” Hoseok said in mid-sip, “so you’re from Mongolia.” He nodded, watching the two women seated across from him shifting uncomfortably in front of him. “That’s very interesting!”
The woman frowned as she sipped her tea while her attendant nervously cradled the porcelain between her fingers. Hoseok did his best to keep from bursting into small fits of laughter, but it was a very trying task. Especially since the woman who collided into him seemed hellbent on trying to find every opportunity to escape from his sight. 
Like he’d let that happen.
“I must admit, you caught me by surprise.” He smiled as her brows furrowed. “To think a young woman could tear through the streets in such a fashion. Normally it’s young boys with that sort of amount of energy.”
The woman huffed, folding her arms across her chest in defiance. “Why is that so surprising? I heard the women of Goryeo have just as much freedom as the men do.”
He nodded, lifting the cup of tea to his face. “Yes, they do. Which is why they don’t have to disguise themselves as men as you have.” She scoffed, her eyes shifting to meet his own as they widened slightly. “Do Mongolian women not have such free reign?”
“That’s not--!”
Hoseok leaned forward, intrigued and unable to hide his own curiosity. He knew he probably looked like a starry-eyed little boy, but he couldn’t hold back his fascination. As a member of the royal household’s branch family, Hoseok had little chances to interact with other foreigners unless he snuck away from home in the same way this young woman did. In a sense, they were both having similar experiences but for very different reasons.
“I heard that Mongolian children are able to ride horses before they even learn how to walk! Is that true?” She just stared at him, blinking every so often, and he leaned back quickly as while shaking his head back and forth. “Oh my, I’ve been so rude! Please forgive me. I never even introduced myself.” Hoseok bowed his head slightly. “My name is Hoseok. And you?”
There was a small measure of silence that stretched between them before she lifted her own teacup to her lips. 
“Ehri.”
“Ah,” he said, leaning back a bit, “Ehri-ssi.”
Hoseok watched her sip from her cup. He took note of how delicate her hands appeared. As she set it down, he focused back on her face. Their eyes stayed trained on each other before Ehri shifted her gaze to his belongings that were beside him on the bench. 
“I was serious about repaying you for your things, Hoseok Naeuri.”
He laughed. “That’s not necessary. My lute has seen better days, of course, but I was already planning on buying a new one.”
She lofted a single brow. “And your other item?”
“Not to worry. Only the box was ruined, but not completely. The item inside is perfectly fine.”
He visibly saw her shoulders relax, as well as her attendant’s. 
“How did you know?”
Hoseok was about to indulge in one of the sweet rice cakes when he stopped, his hand hovering over the plate. “Hm? Know what?”
"That I wasn’t a man.”
Her tone was so flat that it caused him to sputter a chuckle unintentionally.
He picked up one of the soft rice cakes while shrugging one shoulder. “Well, it wasn’t hard considering you fell on top of me chest first.” Hoseok watched her nose crinkle up and he bit his lip, smothering a grin from breaking out over his features. “And the fact that your attendant is a woman and a terrible actress.”
Ehri’s attendant groaned in defeat while she, in turn, merely huffed her annoyance. Hoseok was amused with how expressive she was. It was charming in a way. Not many women, even in Goryeo, openly wore their feelings on their sleeves as she did. Even though she was traveling incognito with her attendant, she had no problem expressing her emotions freely. 
He found himself drawn to her level of freedom.
“How long will your family be in Goryeo?” he asked, biting into the rice cake and savoring the sweet red bean jam inside.
She picked up a rice cake, offering it to her attendant first. “Until my father’s business deals are finished.”
“Does it usually take a long time?”
“No, not usually,” Ehri said as she began pouring herself more tea, “but because it’s Goryeo, he tends to make time to stay and enjoy the scenery. I’m sure we will be here a month or so, at the very least.”
“I see.” Hoseok slapped his hands on the table and leaned forward, causing the two women to jump suddenly. “Then we should see each other again!”
“W-What?” Erhi balked, leaning backward as he continued to press his body almost completely across the table. “What do you mean?”
“It's not often you get to come to Goryeo, yes?” Hoseok watched her nod slowly, waiting for him to continue. “Then allow me to show you all the great things this country has to offer! In exchange, you have to share all the wonderful stories of your homeland.”
She seemed skeptical. “Just stories?”
Hoseok nodded excitedly. “Yes, until I am able to travel to Mongolia myself and then you’ll have to take care of me while I’m there.” He extended his hand out to her. “Do we have a deal?”
Ehri appeared to be considering his offer. There was nothing for her to lose. She only had things to gain and he, too, would obtain something as well.
Maybe he would be able to have a friend who didn’t care about his connection to the royal family.
Sighing, she reached across the table to clasp her hand in his. Ehri smiled and Hoseok felt his heart skip a full beat in his chest. “Deal.”
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The days bled into weeks. Before Ehri even realized it, nearly a month had passed. With each passing day, Hoseok was true to his word. They agreed to meet near the edge of the capital city where the rolling hills, forests, and meadows were located. Her attendant rode beside them and they let their horses graze in the fields. 
Hoseok shared wondrous stories of Goryeo’s history, art, and architecture. Being a Mongol, all Ehri knew were wide open plains, valleys, mountains, rivers and deserts. There were very few forests in her homeland and the flowers were even fewer, so these stories fascinated her. Hoseok had an attendant, just as Ehri, but he rarely accompanied him as often as hers did. If he were part of some aristocratic family, she couldn’t imagine him being able to wander about without an escort at all times.
But maybe she was reading too much into it.
In time, she truly got to know the man named Hoseok. Neither of them revealed their family names, which was probably for the best. There was no guarantee that they would see each other after her family returned home to Mongolia. But the few things she did discover were like small treasures she kept to herself.
His favorite colors were silver, white and cobalt. From what she was able to glean, it had something to do with being able to gain a sense of individualism among his other brothers in their household. He rarely wore his hair down, preferring to have it pulled up in a high ponytail, though he could do nothing with the fringe that often fell across his forehead.
Hoseok had a seemingly bottomless sweet tooth; his preference for rice cakes filled with some kind of sweet jam. He loved foreign goods and would always take time to see any traveling street performances during festival times. Poetry and philosophy were his preferred subjects, but he did excel in mathematics and history. 
Her attendant started to doze off as she sat under the shade of a nearby dogwood tree. The white petals fluttered through the air from the soft breeze that flew through the field. A quiet melody emanated from Hoseok’s lute as he strummed his fingers over the strings. Ehri was nestled in a bed of flowers, her legs curled up to her chest as she listened to the music. She couldn’t help the smile that pulled at her lips while watching him. His eyes were closed and every so often, some of his dark hair would fly over the bridge of his nose as he played.
To Ehri, he was unnecessarily handsome.
“Are you tired, Agassi?”
Blinking rapidly, Ehri lifted her head up from her knees. When she did, she saw that Hoseok was extremely close to her. Her lips parted and she leaned back quickly, gasping a little as he blinked curiously at her. 
“W-What?” she stammered out, feeling the heat rushing up her neck and spreading over her cheeks. “What’s the matter?”
He was crouched down on the ground, his elbows resting on his knees. But he didn’t move any closer to her, to which she was secretly grateful. “I was asking if you were tired.”
“Oh,” Ehri murmured, brushing some of her hair out of her face, “I’m fine.”
She leaned her head back as he stood up and dusted off the backs of his robes. Once finished, he reached a hand out to her. Not wanting to appear frail, Ehri gathered herself up and also knocked some grass and leaves off her clothes. Hoseok smiled as he gestured for her to follow him. Glancing to where her attendant was now fully asleep with the horses nearby, she shook her head and followed behind Hoseok as they moved deeper into the forest. 
When they entered a nearby clearing, Ehri paused while Hoseok continued to walk ahead of her. The vision that was in front of her caused her to pull a slow intake of breath. The field was littered with spindly, vibrant red flowers that seemed to stretch for as far as the eye could see. There was a sense of melancholy that nearly overwhelmed Ehri as she stared at the flowers, but she couldn’t understand why she felt that way.
“Have you ever heard of the legend of the Spider Lily?”
Hoseok’s words cut through her reverie and she lifted her gaze to meet his own. He was standing in the middle of the flowers, imploring for her to come closer. Ehri took slow, measured steps toward him, unable to take her eyes away from the flowers as she approached. When she was within arms’ reach of him, her attention was ripped from the red field as she felt Hoseok’s hands gripping onto her wrists. With a jerk of his arms, she was pulled forward and nearly bumped into his body, to which she was stopped short; his hands now gripping her shoulders.
“N-Naeuri?” 
“The Spider Lily legend,” he repeated slowly, tilting his chin down to look at her, “have you heard of it?”
Ehri wasn’t sure what to say so all she did was shake her head. Even though Hoseok smiled, there was an intensity in his eyes that pulled at her curiosity. So focused on his face, she failed to realize that his hands moved from her shoulders and down to her hips. Again, she chose to wear her incognito robes, which meant that every touch was that much closer to her body than it would have been had she decided to don her proper feminine attire. 
Straining her ears, Ehri waited for him to continue and hoped she could hear him over the heavy thud of her own heartbeat. 
After looking down at her for what felt like an uncomfortable amount of time, Hoseok craned his neck to look at their surroundings. Ehri did the same. 
“There was once a pair of fae, Manju and Saka, who were given the responsibility of guarding the leaves and petals of the Spider Lily. If the petals blossomed to their fullest, the leaves would die. If the leaves flourished, the petals would wilt. For a time, they were diligent in their duties.” Something flickered in Hoseok’s eyes, but she couldn’t quite tell since she could only see part of his profile. “The affection they had for one another continued to grow, until they could no longer deny their feelings for each other. They decided to meet, forsaking their duties, and both the petals and leaves began to die. The Gods punished the lovers by placing a curse on them, stating that the flowers and leaves will never be able to meet again.”
Ehri lowered her gaze to the red blossoms, wanting to reach out and caress the petals but knowing that the leaves deserved attention as well. Upon closer inspection, she could see the leaves were so far below the flowers, melding with the grass at their feet and almost disappearing. The stem was long, keeping the petals and leaves as far apart from each other as was possible for the flower.
“To make matters worse, the curse extends beyond death.”
She turned to face Hoseok who was now looking back at her. “What do you mean?”
He furrowed his brows slightly. “The two of them promised they would reunite in the Underworld so when they were reborn, they would be able to find each other again. But they were never able to meet and, as such, they were unable to be together upon reincarnation.”
Something painful throbbed inside of Ehri’s chest, causing her to curl her hand into a fist against the fabric of her robes. “That’s...that’s so sad.”
“It is.” When Ehri met Hoseok’s gaze, she could see a hint of a smile on his face. “Well, if you believe in the concept of rebirth.”
“I do.” She sighed, moving her upper body away from him a bit. “I don’t believe that the gods are so cruel to give us a short amount of time to live only to allow us to experience one life. The souls of our ancestors live within us.”
For a moment, all Ehri could do was stare up at Hoseok with what she hoped was a look of absolute determination. He didn’t give anything away. Not a single thing.
Which was what made the kiss he pulled her into all the more surprising. Her hands immediately moved to press against his chest, intent on pushing him away; at least at first. But the warmth of his hands as he clasped at the nape of her neck and how hard his heart seemed to be beating against his chest, made her own initial anxieties melt away. He was nothing but a complete gentleman all that time, and in truth, it tugged at the softer side of her normally wild nature. The more Ehri got to know him, a being so full of buried melancholy, the more drawn to him she felt.
When had it happened? When did she feel her heart starting to gravitate toward him?
When had he?
Delicate nips pulled at her lips, causing Ehri to release a soft sigh from her lungs. It was like Hoseok was attempting to pull her soul straight from her and, if it were possible, she would have given it over willingly. Her body shifted a little more against him and she wasn’t sure how much more of his affections she could handle. 
It became more apparent when tears unknowingly leaked from her eyes.
Hoseok’s lips left her own and a part of Ehri mourned for his absence. She didn’t realize the moment she’d pressed herself fully against him, but it made it that much harder to breathe. Or was it because he’d successfully pulled all the air from her lungs, leaving her breathless and yearning for more?
“Do you have to go?” The strain in his voice was clear, needling into her heart as he began drying her tears from her face. “I don’t want you to go.”
Ehri bit her lower lip, unable to break his gaze. “I have to,” she whispered, “my family…”
Suddenly, Hoseok pulled her against him, his arms wrapping around her as he cradled the back of her head in a passionate embrace. Clouds slowly rolled in, covering the sun and momentarily shrouding them in desaturated light. Ehri felt his body trembling against her, which made her heart thud harder against her chest to the point that it hurt to breathe. 
“Promise you’ll write to me,” he said into her temple.
Reaching up, she curled her fingers into fists along his back, nodding her head emphatically. “I will.”
Hoseok held her tighter, causing her to sob slightly. “Promise you won’t forget me.”
Again, she nodded, unable to keep the tears from spilling. “I won’t.”
Slowly, he pulled back and captured her lips again. Ehri could feel her heart sing with the emotion that pushed from each of them. He held her like she was the greatest treasure he’d discovered. But they both knew that they would have to part. It would only be for a little while. Their worlds weren’t so far apart. They could see each other again.
That was their hope.
That was their dream.
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“Hoseok-ah! What are you doing?”
He ignored the question tinged with outrage as he continued to pack his belongings. He took care to make sure one parcel, in particular, was stowed away where it could not be damaged. He didn’t need much. Whatever he did need, he could simply purchase along the way. 
His attendant stood quietly in the corner of his room, his own gear packed and slung across his shoulder. Hoseok knew he wouldn’t speak up. It wasn’t his place. He’d already been given his commands to accompany him and that was that.
“I asked you what you are doing, dammit!” He felt his brother, Yoongi, grip onto his shoulder and forcefully spin him around. “Where do you think you’re going?!”
“Mongolia.” He roughly shrugged Yoongi’s hand from him. “Could you please leave? I’m trying to finish packing.”
Yoongi jerked him around and slapped him across the face. The sting of the blow inflamed instantly and he didn’t even bother with covering his cheek with his palm to soothe the ache. Red veins spidered out toward Yoongi’s irises. That’s how Hoseok knew that his brother was angry with him for being so selfish. It was rare for him to be this selfish, but that meant it was more important for him to leave now more than ever. 
“Do you want to get yourself killed, huh?” Yoongi heaved an aggravated sound as he roughly tugged at some of his hair. “Our countries are about to go to war soon!”
“You think I don’t know that, Hyung-nim?! I do!” Hoseok’s vision shook as he tried to tether his anger. He knew he was failing. “I know that, which is why I have to go! Let me go, Hyung-nim!”
His brother’s face went red, then faded to a splotchy sort of peach color. Hoseok knew he’d successfully defused Yoongi’s anger, but it was far from over. If their parents found out, or even the rest of his brothers, Hoseok could guarantee that there would be no escape for him. He would be placed  under house arrest faster than his mind could even begin to process. 
Even so, he had to go. 
He had to find her. He needed to see her again.
The door to his room slid open slowly, revealing his oldest brother, Seokjin, on the other side. Dressed in his crimson and silver robes, he stepped across the threshold and slid the door quietly behind him. His hands were hidden inside the sleeves of his robe, but then he revealed a scroll from within. He held it out to Hoseok as Yoongi approached their older brother.
“Hyung-nim,” Yoongi said while eyeing the scroll, “what is the meaning of this?”
“It’s an official edict from His Majesty on our father’s behalf. Father has taken ill and will not be able to conduct his business trip.” Seokjin craned his neck to look at Hoseok. “This will allow you safe passage across the border.”
Hoseok’s eyes widened. “S-Seokjin Hyung-nim…”
A tender smile graced Seokjin’s full lips. “Father is aware of why you are so adamant on leaving. As are we all.” He lobbed the scroll to his younger brother. Hoseok’s hands trembled as he held the silk scroll in his hands. “We only ask that you return safely.”
Yoongi groaned as he tugged his hair harshly. Grumbling something under his breath, he strode past his brother and slid open the door. “I’ll get the others.”
By others, he meant the rest of their brothers.
“Why?” Hoseok’s eyes lingered on the parchment. “Why is Father allowing this?”
“Contrary to what we all may think, Father understands what it means to be in love.” Seokjin closed the distance between them, placing a hand on Hoseok’s shoulder. “He cares for our happiness more than anyone. Mother also agrees.”
Sucking in air through his teeth, Hoseok shut his eyes in a vain attempt to keep from shedding tears. Months had passed since Ehri left to return home, and the tensions between Goryeo and Mongolia seemed to escalate. There was talk of war in the coming months, if not sooner. While Ehri and Hoseok wrote to each other diligently in that time, it was clear that there was nothing they would be able to do once the conflict officially broke out. There was a good chance that this war would separate them permanently.
He wanted to see her before then. No, he had to.
“If you can convince her to come back with you, then you will be married immediately upon your return.” 
He quickly lifted his face to meet Seokjin’s. “W-What?”
His brother’s gentle smile remained. “Mother and Father have both agreed to this.”
Unable to contain his elation, Hoseok threw himself into Seokjin’s arms. He took comfort in his older brother’s embrace. He felt Seokjin laugh as he patted Hoseok on the head like they were still children and he’d skinned his hands on the stone ground. 
“Be safe, Little Brother.”
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Ehri quickly began gathering what few things she could. Mostly practical things, but there were some odds and ends that she collected that would be needed to procure money for her travels. There was no barring her parents from her quarters, but she could at least keep her sisters out of the way as she hurried along. Her attendant was at her wit’s end keeping watch to make sure that no one attempted to stop Ehri from what she was doing. 
Pain exploded across Ehri’s chest and she immediately collapsed to her knees, clutching at her chest as another coughing fit burst forth. She did her best to smother the noise, but it was useless. Her attendant was at her side instantly, handing her a cup of water to drink. She could barely get a few sips in before watery mist sprayed from her mouth due to another coughing outburst. Ehri’s breathing was unsteady, but she tried to pull as much air into her lungs as she could in an attempt to suppress the cough.
“My Lady,” called her attendant as she slowly rubbed circles along her back, “please, you must rest. The physician said so himself.”
Angry tears leaked from her eyes and she swiped them from her face quickly. “There’s no time,” she muttered, “we must leave tonight.”
“Please, My Lady, this is madness.” Her attendant was all but begging, but Ehri was stubborn. “There is no need for such haste. Did Lord Hoseok not say that he would be arriving tomorrow morning? Why must we leave in the middle of the night?”
“Don’t be so foolish!” Ehri snapped, glaring at her faithful attendant. “Do you still not understand the gravity of the situation?”
But she couldn’t expect her to. It was outside of her attendant’s control and her duties. No. This was Ehri’s fight. She had to do it. Because her parents were determined to keep her from the man she so desperately longed for. She’d missed him for him for days - no, for months. And it felt like years mounting between them the longer they were apart. Hoseok said he was coming for her and she had to believe him. She did believe him.
The animosity between their nations be damned. What did that have to do with any of their feelings for each other? Her family told her that Hoseok was the enemy because he was from a soon-to-be enemy nation. But she could never see him as the enemy. Ehri never would. While some would have accused her of lacking filial piety, she also believed that she was living up to the expectations from which she was raised. Give and take. That was how the merchant world operated. There was no such thing as a free meal.
If Fate was going to shorten her time on this earth, then she had every right to obtain happiness to make up for it.
Her attendant sighed heavily, pulling out a thick fur throw and settling it on top of Ehri’s shoulders. A few more coughs escaped, but she appreciated the warmth. The colder season was beginning to settle in and it would only be a matter of time before it was fully upon them.
“Does Lord Hoseok know of your condition, My Lady?”
Ehri shook her head fiercely. “No.” She pointed at her attendant. “And I forbid you from revealing it to him as well.” Ehri sighed, placing a hand to her chest. “It will only cause him to worry.”
Gathering herself up, Ehri reached out for her satchel but her attendant beat her to it. “You’ll have a difficult time carrying that and maintaining your breath. Let me carry this for you, My Lady.” She watched her attendant flash a warm smile to her. “Until we are able to get on the horses at least.”
Ehri gave her a devious smirk. “Very well.”
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Hoseok awoke to the first frost of the season already collecting on the grass around the tent. It didn’t take him long to bathe and get dressed, foregoing a proper breakfast. Instead, he nibbled on some cured meat and bread, washing it down with water. His caravan dismantled their camp within minutes and they resumed their journey, having crossed into Mongol territory through the checkpoint yesterday evening. His father’s edict had, in fact, made things easier. But he was worried when the messenger pigeon he’d sent ahead for Ehri had not yet returned.
Did something happen?
No, he thought while shaking his head, I can’t think like that. I’m sure she still has the bird with her. Hoseok felt his chest swelling with the large intake of air he pulled, unable to shake the smile from his face. I will be seeing her soon.
The caravan moved at an even pace. He was so excited to see his beloved. He could still remember what her face looked like when she smiled; like the darkest nights could never hope to douse her radiance. It seemed a little unfair, truth be told, that she could be so captivating. But Hoseok considered himself blessed to know that he could love someone like her; that she loved him in return.
As his horse trotted along, Hoseok reached into his bag and pulled out the refurbished lacquered box. His hand smoothed over the mother of pearl decorations and he lifted the clasp up to open the box. Inside was the beautifully forged spider lily he purchased at what felt like a lifetime ago. He hadn’t known it then, but this was going to be his wedding present to Ehri. But he didn’t want to wait until the wedding. He wanted to be able to give it to her as soon as he saw her. 
A cold wind suddenly blew through the troupe, causing his skin to pepper out in goosebumps. He replaced the box back into his bag, securing the knot on the silken scarf to keep it from falling out. The rest of the group murmured their sentiments in that it was, in fact, cold. Hoseok quickly instructed everyone to put on warmer clothes so that they didn’t get sick. They all complied without hesitation. 
“Naeuri!”
Hoseok turned in the direction where the voice came from. Confusion melted to joy as he saw Ehri urging her horse forward with thunderous gallops, her faithful attendant barely able to keep up. Pulling at the reigns, Hoseok broke away from the caravan and pushed his own mount into a speedy gallop so that he could meet her halfway. As she came into view, Hoseok noticed her cheeks were a bit flushed and he could see the cloudy puffs of air coming from both her and her horse. His smile fell a fraction as he saw her clutching at her chest. 
Was something wrong?
Closer and closer they reached each other, until he saw Ehri standing up from her saddle. Her attendant screamed as both she and Hoseok watched Ehri jump from her horse and into the air. Leaning back, he stared open-mouthed as she flew toward him. A rough grunt was all he could manage as she landed in his arms and his horse protested in annoyance at the sudden added weight. Both of them toppled off the steed in a flurry of legs and arms. Hoseok maneuvered his body so that he was the one to hit the ground first. Again, the wind was knocked from his lungs as Ehri fell on top of him.
For a moment, all they could do was laugh painfully together.
“You know,” Ehri breathed as she sat up to look down at him, her face flushed and full with a smile, “we should really and truly stop meeting like this, don’t you agree?”
He beamed up at her. “Yes, I most certainly do.”
Again, they laughed. Hoseok’s heart was so full he thought it would burst. But the happiness was doused the moment Ehri began coughing. It was a harsh sound, as though she were struggling to breathe. It was cold out and maybe she’d gotten a little too excited. His hand moved up to touch her forehead and he gasped at her burning temperature. 
“Agassi!” he cried out, moving so that he was now sitting up and cradling her to his chest. “What happened? You have a terrible fever!”
Her attendant was at her side, looking flustered and on the verge of tears. “My Lady refuses to listen, that’s what.”
Quickly, she retrieved a folded up piece of paper from her garments and held it to Ehri’s lips. From what Hoseok could gather from the smell, it was some sort of medicine. The powder slid into Ehri’s mouth and she watched her cover her mouth to prevent from coughing it out on impulse. Her attendant pulled out a small canteen and held it to her lips, washing the powder down with water.
Hoseok turned his attention to Ehri’s attendant. “What is going on? I demand an answer!”
Ehri slapped her attendant the moment she opened her mouth to speak. The blow shocked the girl more than it hurt. This must have been the first time she’d ever been struck by Ehri in the entire time they’d been together. It was evident in both of their expressions. The attendant bit her lower lip as tears brimmed her eyes, but she eventually averted her gaze and remained quiet at their sides. 
“Ehri Agassi,” he murmured as she shifted her eyes to look up at him, “why did you--?”
“It’s just a minor affliction,” she said, her voice weak from coughing, “it will pass in time.”
His brows furrowed, but he nodded. Hoseok stood up, hefting Ehri into his arms. Her attendant followed suit as some members of his caravan collected their horses. There was a carriage in their group, to which he was now thankful for. His brothers, Namjoon and Jimin, insisted that he take it with him, regardless of how many times he explained to them that Ehri was a seasoned rider. He could remember the playful expressions on their faces as they explained that she was his bride-to-be and their future in-law. There was no sense in her not to indulge in comfort with this bitter weather coming in.
Hoseok settled her into the carriage, immediately wrapping her up with thick blankets and furs. If it was just a fever, then all she would need to do was sweat it out. She would be back to her old self in no time. Hell, before they returned to Goryeo. 
He was sure of it.
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Hours seemed like days. Days moved like weeks.
Ehri felt herself falling in and out of consciousness so many times due to her fever. There were moments where she felt the world blurring around her. Other times, it appeared so clear, sharp and bright; so much so that she had to often squint to see. She hated being cramped in the carriage, but Ehri knew her body well enough to not push for wanting to ride like everyone else did. If she tried, she was almost certain that her condition would worsen.
It would be another week before they reached Goryeo.
I just have to hold on until then, she thought, the last dregs of sleep lifting from her eyes, just a little longer.
Part of Ehri felt terrible for keeping such a big secret from Hoseok. But revealing the truth would only hurt him. He would find a way to blame himself and she didn’t want that. It was simply the tiles that Life felt fit to deal to her. Before leaving her home, Ehri prayed to her ancestors and burned a small offering to the gods. She didn’t ask for much. Only a little more time than what was allotted to her.
She wouldn’t be greedy.
Two days later, she felt a little better. Ehri slid open the small window of the carriage so she could peer out at the world around them. The rolling hills and valleys of her home almost seemed to be bidding her farewell as the leaves browned and fell from the smattering of trees that existed. The hazy clouds sat along the mountain peaks, promising the onset of snow to come. The grass along the plains, once lush and green, were now beige. She would not see them return to their true green hues.
She took her medicine obediently and when they made camp, she apologized to her attendant for striking her. Her friend cried while holding her hands as Ehri lay in bed, too weak to laugh at how terrible her attendant’s face looked from all the crying she’d subjected herself to. After a refreshing bath and warm meal, she felt a little bit better. Hoseok periodically checked on her and was a gentleman in giving her her space. When she had the energy, he took her by the hand and led her throughout the camp to introduce her to the others. They were friends and loyal servants to Hoseok and his family. 
Ehri received warm greetings and welcomes, filling her heart with happiness she couldn’t begin to describe. These weren’t her people. They were Goryeons and lived a life far apart from her own. She should have been seen as the enemy in their eyes. They had every right to hate her for the potential cause of their country’s upheaval from her own people. But there was nothing of the sort in their eyes or their mannerisms toward her. 
Their vibrant laughter, rich stories, and warm smiles were a comfort to her. As she sat curled up by the campfire with the others, they all were entranced with Hoseok’s lute playing. He eased their worries for what would happen to their nation through his songs of encouragement, rekindling what hope may have burned out inside of each of them. As they often said, it was always darkest before dawn.
This, too, would pass.
The warmth of the fire, the lute’s melody, and her own fever lulled her to sleep. When she came to, she was back in her tent and wrapped in a number of blankets. A cold, damp cloth was pressed to her forehead. Ehri blinked a few times to clear the blurriness from her vision and she saw Hoseok keeping vigil at her side. Their eyes met and the worry creases on his brows started to disappear. He tried to smile, but she knew he was having a hard time.
“I’m sorry, Hoseok Naeuri,” she murmured as she watched him preparing her medicine, “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
He shook his head. “No, you need to rest. I shouldn’t have pushed you so hard. Especially with it getting colder.” Hoseok used a clean, dry cloth to wipe at the sweat around her cheeks and neck. 
Ehri tried to suppress a cough, but failed to keep a few of them from coming out. “How long until we reach Goryeo.”
“We’ll dismantle camp tomorrow and ride out at first light. If we keep a steady pace, we’ll arrive in a few days.” Removing the cloth from her forehead, he dipped it into a brass basin and wrung the water out. “And then we can get a proper physician to look at you.”
She pouted. “I’m fine,” she insisted, “I don’t get sick often so this is just how my body is reacting to it.”
“Even so, I want to be sure.” Hoseok placed the cloth back on her forehead. “Besides, in Goryeo we’ll have better access to medicine than the peddlers we’ve encountered on the journey.” He leaned down and placed a soft kiss to her cheek. “Now sleep.”
Nodding, she sighed and was about to close her eyes when she noticed a box on the table. Ehri blinked, rubbed at her eyes, and then looked again to make sure she wasn’t seeing anything. There wasn’t such a decorative box on her table when she’d left the tent earlier. Hoseok seemed to gauge that she was looking elsewhere, following her line of sight. He gave a gentle laugh.
“Oh, that?” He stood from the small stool situated at her bedside and retrieved the box from the table. After he sat back down, he opened it and showed her the metallic spider lily inside. “Do you like it?”
Her lips parted, but she lacked the proper words to describe its beauty. Instead, she nodded.
“I’m glad.” He closed the box. “It was supposed to be your wedding present, but I figured this would help lift your spirits some.”
Ehri sighed a little, her brows furrowing. “But didn’t you say that the legend of the Spider Lily is a sad story?” She pouted again. “Why would you give me such a thing as a wedding present?”
Hoseok seemed to take amusement in her childish questioning and reached out to pet her head. “I bought this from an artisan who claimed that this flower is different from the actual spider lily.”
She was curious. “Different how?”
Again, Hoseok opened the box to show her the lovely flower. “He said that anyone who possesses this flower is guaranteed to be reunited with their love in the next life. It will not come to pass like in the tale of Manju and Saka.”
“How can he guarantee that?”
“I asked the same thing,” Hoseok said while laughing. He closed the box. “But we will just have to see when we are reborn again, hm?” He stroked her cheek with his fingers. “I want to love you again in our next life, Ehri-ah.”
The informal way of speaking to her caused her cheeks to flush. There was so much love in his words that she couldn’t help but feel the urge to cry. She didn’t know just how much time she had left to love this man, and it was even more cruel to keep that knowledge from him. But she wanted to prevent him from suffering needlessly. There was no sense in imparting such pain to him and so she would keep it bottled up inside of herself for as long as she could.
Until life saw it fit to escort her to the Underworld.
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Ehri’s condition worsened as the days bled on. 
Hoseok did his best to keep himself calm, but there was a horrifying truth that he couldn’t shake from his mind, even though he desperately wanted to. He spied her attendant leaving Ehri’s tent on the night before they would arrive in Goryeo all but bawling her eyes out. He made sure to keep himself hidden and while there was a part of him that wanted to force her to tell him what was going on, he also wanted to respect Ehri’s wishes. 
Maybe he was thinking too much. Once they arrived in Goryeo, he would seek his father’s help in obtaining the best physicians to see to her care. They had skilled doctors in their country who were advancing their medical studies day after day.
Surely someone would have the remedy to heal Ehri’s ailment.
Hoseok wanted to ride in the carriage with Ehri until they were in Goryeo, but she insisted that she be alone. She didn’t want to bother him with all of her coughing and wheezing which, in turn, would only make him worry further. She wasn’t wrong, but the notion didn’t make him happy. Her attendant rode with her in the carriage, making sure she was hydrated and taking her medicine in a timely fashion.
After they crossed the border and cleared the checkpoint, Hoseok informed the others that he would ride ahead to his family’s estate. He needed to make sure everything was prepared for Ehri’s arrival and that doctors were already there to administer to her medically.
He practically burst through the main gate of his family’s estate, sliding off his horse and running for the main house. Slinging the door open roughly, he thundered through the halls - having not bothered to take off his shoes. 
“Father! Mother!” he yelled, opening every door he could see to determine the whereabouts of his family. 
Laughter was heard out in the garden and he ran through one of the side entrances to get there as quickly as possible. When he arrived at the gardens, looking quite haggard, his brothers stopped their archery competition as their parents peered up at him from their chairs. His youngest brother, Jungkook, dropped his bow and quiver, immediately racing to his side.
“Hyung-nim, what’s the matter?” he asked, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Are you alright?”
His other younger brothers, Jimin and Taehyung, were also making their way toward him. 
“You look like the Grim Reapers have been chasing you,” teased Taehyung as he peered over Hoseok’s shoulders, “in that much of a rush to introduce us to your bride-to-be?”
Hoseok ignored his little brother, his eyes meeting both of his older brother’s and his twin, Namjoon. They instantly could ascertain the desperation in his eyes. 
“What is it, Hoseok-ah?” their father asked, rising from his chair and crossing over to him. “Is everything alright?”
Reaching out with his hands, he clung shamelessly onto the sleeves of his father’s robes. “Father, please! Call a doctor, the best doctor we can afford and get our hands on!” His father frowned and Hoseok wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep himself together. “It’s Ehri! She’s sick and needs a physician immediately!”
Nodding, his father pointed to one of the servants to go fetch a physician from town immediately. After the servant left, Hoseok’s legs gave way beneath him and he collapsed to the ground. His mother and brothers were all at his side, lifting him back up onto his feet and ushering him to his room. He hadn’t realized how tired he was and while the adrenaline continued to pump through him, they urged him to close his eyes for just a little bit, all of them promising to wake him up the moment the caravan returned.
The fatigue and stress of the journey mixed together with Hoseok’s anxiety over Ehri. As he fell into his bed, he couldn’t fight against the urge of sleep overtaking him. Within seconds, the world faded out around him.
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Hoseok’s family was delightful.
Even as she was placed in her own quarters and fussed over by doctors, they treated her like she was already a member of the family. Jungkook painted wonderful pictures of flowers and landscapes that he promised to have properly framed into a folding screen for her room. Taehyung told fascinating stories of adventurers going off to slay dragons. Jimin brewed some of the best tea she’d ever tasted in her life. The younger brothers all listened with rapt attention to the folk legends of her own homeland, particularly of warriors who fought valiantly against the gods to protect their people and ensure their power of choice and freewill was not taken from them.
Namjoon was quiet, often reading philosophical texts and poems from his and Hoseok’s collections. They were twin brothers and while they looked nothing alike, she could tell they both had similarly soft and intellectual natures. He was a bit more clumsy than Hoseok, as well as the rest of his brothers, but he more than made up for it with his charm and wit.
Yoongi, the second older brother, always seemed to sport a dour expression. At first, she believed that he didn’t like her for reasons she couldn’t quite understand. He clearly had no issue with her being a Mongol, but there was something barbarous in his words every time he spoke with her. It wasn’t until a few days after her arrival that it became clear that that was simply how he showed his affection to others. If he was worried, he fussed. If he was happy, he called someone foolish for being kind. If Hoseok wasn’t attending to her needs, Yoongi was always there to change out the damp cloths and wipe the sweat from her skin.
Seokjin was charming and kind, always gentle and sneaking in delicious sweets and snacks for her when she felt a little better. He kept a stern vigil on physicians who were overseeing her care in Hoseok’s absence. Truth be told, it was often Seokjin who chased her beloved Hoseok away since seeing her in that state only frayed his nerves even more.
Especially when the truth of her illness was finally revealed.
Many doctors examined her. They all came to the same conclusion. 
It was a disease of the lungs, one that they could not cure. While the physicians in her own country told her the same thing, part of Ehri hoped that Goryeo would have the answer where Mongolia did not. There was always the chance and it was that chance that Ehri clung on to so desperately. 
But like she expected, there was nothing they could do.
The only thing that could be done for her was to make her as comfortable as possible until the very end. Hoseok was a mess, raging at the doctors and threatening to have them killed for their laziness. But they were doing the best they could. Ehri could see that and so she knew Hoseok could see that as well. There was nothing that could be done. Only a miracle could pull Ehri out of this infestation attacking her lungs and she wasn’t a big believer of such things.
When she was well enough to move around, Ehri and Hoseok were married. It was a modest affair in his family home. Her only regret was that her own family couldn’t be part of the festivities. After a night of celebration, Ehri and Hoseok turned in for the night and slept. It was all she could manage since she lacked the strength in her body to give up her innocence, her first night, to her husband. But Hoseok was understanding and kind, merely holding her close to his body as she attempted to fight off a night of fitful, fever-induced dreams.
Like their nations’ leaders predicted, war began to spread throughout Goryeo and Mongolia. The conflict bled across borders and into each country, both nations hoping that the other would give up their stance on their respective worlds and surrender. Neither country would surrender to the other and the commoners, the people, were caught in the crossfire. Her family wrote to her, imploring her to come home but she couldn’t bring herself to even reassure them that she was fine. What energy she had, she spent it writing and it wasn’t to her family.
She was a person of Goryeo now.
Ehri felt it harder to maintain her energy with each passing day. When she finally started coughing up blood was when she knew her time in the world was drawing to a close. Her attendant was present at the time, spying the blood stain on her lips and the silk handkerchief. Ehri made her swear not to tell anyone, making sure her friend cleaned her face of the tears before going to fetch her tonic. 
Winter was not kind to Ehri’s lungs and she wasn’t allowed to see the snow falling outside. This saddened her far more than she expected since the snow reminded her of home. But Ehri also knew that the minute she inhaled the cold, it would spread like needles into her lungs. Regardless of the inevitable, she still had to take care of herself.
As she diligently took her medicine and rested, Ehri could smell the air changing from inside the estate. Spring would soon be upon them. She would be able to see the flowers blooming again. The pollen would, no doubt, be terrible for her lungs. But she didn’t care. She was denied her snow, the least she could do was indulge in the rebirth of the land.
Ehri exited her room as quietly as possible, leaving her attendant asleep at the table while she was sewing. She would get an earful later, but it would be worth it to see the lovely dogwood and cherry trees in full bloom in the courtyard. She wrapped an extra layer of clothing around her body to keep the cold at bay, stumbling out onto the back verandah.
Her lips parted in awe at the blossoms swaying back and forth on their branches. The delicate pink and white petals flew and danced in the air as they broke free from their constraints. The sky was a pastel blue and there were no clouds to be seen. The sight caused tears to form in Ehri’s eyes and she quickly covered her mouth to keep from sobbing out loud.
“It’s so beautiful,” she whispered to herself. 
“Pu-in,” called Hoseok, startling her. She noted the serious look on his face and immediately lowered her head in shame. She’d been caught in the act. “What are you doing? You’re supposed to be resting.”
“I’ve slept enough.” Reaching out to grasp his arm, she looped her own through his. “I wanted to enjoy the day with you, Seobang-nim.” 
Ehri giggled and she noted the slight tint of pink on Hoseok’s cheeks. They’d been officially husband and wife for several months and he still seemed so shy about it. Which was fine with her. It made it so much easier to tease him.
Clearing his throat loudly, he turned his face away from her to hide his shyness. “Yes, well...you should have had your attendant come fetch me then.”
She leaned in closer, resting her cheek on his shoulder. “It’s more fun this way.”
Hoseok sighed in defeat, carefully ushering her down the steps from the verandah and into the courtyard. Ehri knew he could never stay upset with her for very long. While she tried not to have her way all the time, she was still stubborn about certain things. Refusing to be bed-ridden was one of those instances, regardless of how tired her body felt and how much it protested against her.
They crossed the courtyard, making their way toward the large dogwood tree. From there, he fanned out the tail end of his robe so that Ehri could sit on it and not get her clothes dirty. She laughed gently, feeling another flush rush up her neck and spread over her cheeks. Truly, she was the luckiest woman alive to have such a caring husband who loved and spoiled her. 
Settling herself comfortably, Ehri laid her head on Hoseok’s shoulder. He shifted a little, wrapping one arm around her and pulling her close. Gasping, she couldn’t help the shy smile that flitted over her face. When she took a breath, she could smell his scent that was so unique to him; like the forest after a rainstorm. It mixed in with all the different fragrances of Spring that seemed to dance around them. Taking her hand in his, he laced his fingers through hers and they sat quietly together as a soft breeze tickled along Ehri’s skin.
“Seobang-nim?”
Hoseok hummed. “Yes, what is it, Pu-in?”
She smiled, closing her eyes. “Thank you.”
She felt him shift and she knew, even without looking at him, that Hoseok was looking at her. “For what?”
“Everything.” Ehri gripped his fingers a little tighter around his. “Thank you for everything.”
Hoseok moved, causing Ehri to lift her head up so she had to look at him. While one hand held hers, his other rested along her neck. “Pu-in…”
“I love you,” she whispered to him, leaning forward to press her lips against his.
Nothing else needed to be said. All of the beautiful moments she’d come to cherish weren’t meaningless. They were precious memories she would carry with her into the afterlife. She would never let them go. And when she was reborn, Ehri simply had one wish and she hoped that the gods would be kind enough to grant it. 
If I’m reborn, please let me love this man again. Let me love him longer in my next life. Please…
And in the darkness, Ehri felt the world fall to a raw tilt. It was like the earth opened up beneath her and began swallowing her whole. Her body felt heavy, weighted down by gravity. But she smiled against Hoseok’s lips. It was dark but she could still see his face, clear as if she were looking at him. She memorized all of his features in that moment, clinging onto them and engraving them into her heart. No, her soul.
Soon, her heartbeat stilled. All that was left was silence.
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Hoseok watched as the flames devoured the elegant pine box Ehri was placed in. The funeral pyre was adorned with various flowers that his mother and sister-in-laws arranged themselves. Ehri’s family was allowed to cross the border so they could be present for her funeral services. Voices cried out as the fire grew in volume, the smoke billowing up to stain the skies in a black fog. Resting on top of the box was the metallic spider lily he’d given Ehri as a wedding present. He wasn’t sure if it was through the waves of heat or his own tears, but the flower almost seemed to take on an ethereal glow. 
No, his eyes were surely playing tricks on him.
Spring had barely begun. It was a time of rebirth and renewal. It was supposed to be a time of healing. 
Instead, something precious had been taken from him. Hoseok wasn’t sure how to even begin processing that.
He remained alone in the yard long after Ehri’s pyre extinguished itself. Her ashes were gathered in a ceramic urn and a memorial tablet was carved from the branch of the cherry trees she loved so much. It was stained and polished, inked and then placed in a small cabinet that was designated just for her. Hoseok burned a stick of incense for her every morning and every night. When he wasn’t attending to his duties around the home or tutoring other young students, he was at the temple to offer up prayers and bows almost a thousand times.
He returned home with swollen legs and sore arms every night.
For a time, he begged his family to leave Ehri’s room alone. In time, he would come to move on from her untimely demise. But until then, he wanted to be able to take comfort in her presence even in her absence. When he did enter her chambers, he could see the unfinished needlepoint of the crane by her easel. There were times when she dabbled in watercolors, thanks to Jungkook’s teaching, and she was getting better and better as days went on. 
Before her illness took a turn for the worse.
The room had her smell, albeit a bit faint, but it was still there. Hoseok took what little comfort he could from it. His hand traced over the small vanity where she attempted to apply makeup. Hoseok smiled sadly at the container of rouge that was barely touched because Ehri wasn’t healthy enough to apply the makeup on herself. His fingers curled into the small handle of the vanity’s drawer, pulling it out slowly. Inside was her hairbrush, embossed with vines made of silver and a few pearls. It was a gift from his mother at the behest that she be allowed to attend to Ehri’s hair from time to time. Of course, his beloved wife relented to the request gladly.
Just as he was about to close the drawer, he noticed a folded piece of paper under the hairbrush. Curious, he removed the paper and unfolded it. The handwriting was clearly Ehri’s and this brought a touch of comfort to him. However, as he read the words, Hoseok couldn’t stop his hands from trembling as tears seeped from his eyes.
My Dearest Hoseok,
I pray that you never find this letter. I am merely writing it for my own peace of mind. I am leaving it in a place I hope you never find and that I will have the courage to destroy it before you stumble upon it. But there is a good chance that I will not be well enough to do so. In fact, the fevers that wrack my body will most likely make me forget that I’ve even done this in the first place. But that’s alright.
I know that my time in this world grows short and it pains me to see you agonizing over my condition. I don’t want you to dwell on the past. This was something out of our control and there is nothing we could have done to prevent this. I am so fortunate to have been able to spend these last moments by your side.
Your family, your people, are my family and my people. You looked upon me not as a Mongol, an enemy, but as someone to be loved and cherished. Someone to be brought into the fold and welcomed with open arms. I do not know what the state of the world will be when you come to find this, but I hope things have calmed down. I hope that peace has returned to our people.
Mongolia. I have missed it. I have missed the snowy peaks and the fresh white powder of the landscape. I have always wanted to show you this place. The place where I was “born” - when I was a wild girl indulging in wild adventures long ago. I wish I could have shown you the country before everything fell to turmoil; before this illness threatened to claim me and drag me into the Underworld. I had so many stories I wished to share with you of my homeland.
Though, in truth, I can hardly remember it now. It’s been so long and the fevers make it difficult to focus.
I do not know if you will ever come to Mongolia on your own. But if you do, I hope the stories and traditions will bring you comfort in my absence. When you miss me. I will miss you terribly when I’m gone.
I want you to please know and understand that being with you, loving you, was the greatest gift I could ever receive in this life. Though our time was short, it was filled with wonderful things that I’m sure not many people get to experience. It was a full and lasting love; one that I am so happy to have received from you.
With this, I say farewell to you. I hope you will never read this. I pray you will never see this. But if you do, that is okay. I have made my peace with it and with the life that I was given, short as it was.
My only regret is that I was unable to express my love for you to the fullest degree that I could. I am sorry I could not show you my heart in the way that I wished. I am sorry that I could not love you more. Forgive me for being unable to tell you, Hoseok, how much you mean to me.
I will cherish the memories we have created. I will hold them close to me as I return to the Underworld. Please be well. Please be happy.
Most of all ... please forget me.
I don’t want you to be in pain after I’m gone. Because I believe in the legend of the Spider Lily. I believe in the legend that was forged in that flower you gave me. I believe that we will see each other again.
And I promise you, in our next life, I will love you even more than I did in this one.
Farewell, my Dearest Hoseok. My greatest love.
Until we meet again.
~ Bayaraa Ehri
It was the last thing Ehri left for him; a final parting gift. Clutching the letter to his chest, he heaved silent sobs as his tears fell to the floor. He crashed to his knees, hugging his body as he bent over and continued to wail in silence, his shoulders trembling with the heaviness of his cries. Everything hurt, especially breathing. And when he could no longer keep himself together, he passed out on the floor - clinging to his wife’s letter tightly to his chest.
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The rain fell in heavy waves outside. Hoseok sat out on the back verandah, his head resting along the wooden pillar of his home. Spring rain gave birth to new life. Crops would be rejuvenated and grain could be harvested. Animals were being born to give the next generation a chance at survival. Festivals would be on the horizon once the rain stopped. There was always a rainbow on the other side when the sun returned.
He could take no comfort in any of it.
Not a day went by that Hoseok didn’t read the letter his wife left behind. It was the last thing he could hold on to of hers. The last chance at clinging to the memory that was her; the free-spirited woman he came to know and love with every fiber of his being. Could the Fates have been more cruel to have allowed him to stumble across her parting words? Why hadn’t she burned it up or destroyed it herself? What even possessed her to write such a thing, to leave a lasting dagger in his chest?
“You’re so mean, Pu-in.” A sad smile crossed his face as he listened to the rain beat down around him. “I thought you loved me. How could you do something so mean?”
Hoseok rarely ate and hardly slept. When he did, he was unable to keep food down. When he slept, it was full of nightmares of him losing Ehri over and over again; unable to prevent her from being swept away by darkness. He often woke up screaming, covered in sweat, and his brothers were at his side in their own attempts to comfort him. His parents tried to get him to take the medicine the physicians left, but everything tasted like ash in his mouth.
He could barely get three spoonfuls in before promptly vomiting it back up.
It didn’t take long for him to get sick. His grief was an ailment all by itself and his refusal to nourish himself only expedited his illness. While he felt guilty for the anguish he was causing his family, Hoseok couldn’t find a way to heal his broken heart. 
He cried himself to sleep. It was the only way he could.
As the days shifted to weeks, Hoseok’s entire physical appearance changed. Because of his lack of eating and sleeping, he appeared gaunt and sickly. He lost weight and looked like he had one foot in the grave already. What energy he did muster, it was to read Ehri’s last letter.
She told him to be happy. She told him to live. 
Worst of all? She told him to forget her.
How could she be so heartless? Didn’t she understand how much he loved her? How much her existence meant to him? Asking Hoseok to erase her from his mind, his heart, was just too much for him to handle.
Did she say that so they would be guaranteed a chance to meet again in the next life?
If so, then he didn’t want to continue living in this world without her. Wouldn’t it have been better to leave so they could meet quickly? What was time when one was no longer alive to determine its existence? To be able to ascertain the creeping ebb and flow of the passing seasons?
Rolling over onto his side, he clutched the letter in his hands as his tears soaked into his silk pillow. “No,” he whispered, his voice barely recognizable, “I don’t want to be here to see it alone. I don’t want to see it march on without you here with me.”
He shut his eyes, curling his body into a ball as tightly as he could. The rain fell softly outside and he could hear it from his window. It was nature’s last attempt at calming the raging storm in Hoseok’s heart. His final farewell to a world that he no longer wished to be part of.
The world cried with him.
And in that last moment, Hoseok felt what remained of his spirit slowly lifting away. His vision blurred until there was nothing but a pinprick of light. Seconds later, it, too, disappeared. The guilt and regret that weighed on his heart smothered it out, leaving him alone.
The spring rain fell harder in response to Hoseok’s departure, leaving only his shell behind. The two lovers were now gone, their spirits returning to the ether. They were separated now, thanks to a cruel twist of Fate. But the spider lilies would not forget their sorrow. They would remember; their tears forever soaked into their petals and leaves. A promise to be reunited forged in iron and melted in fire once more.
The Heavens would mourn their passing for now.
Until they were able to meet again.
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AN: So for those of you curious, I figured I would give you a little breakdown on honorifics used in Classical/Period Korea. Naeuri - A term used for men who were not peasants, servants, or slaves. Agassi - A term used for unmarried women who were not peasants, servants, or slaves. Hyung-nim - A term used by younger brothers in reference to their older brothers. Pu-in - A term used by men when speaking to their wives. Seobang-nim - A term used by women when speaking to their husbands.
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gelidosangue · 4 years ago
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《Giglio del ragno rosso - 彼岸花》
In Giappone, milioni di lycoris radiata rossi fioriscono, invadendo il parco Kinchakuda Manjushage di Hidaka, che diventa un esteso tappeto di questo intenso colore rosso. Si è davanti a un magnifico paesaggio particolare e del tutto insolito. Precisamente, in giapponese questo fiore viene chiamato “manjushage” o “higan-bana”, (dal fatto che esso fiorisce nel periodo della festa buddhista di higan, celebrata nella settimana dell’equinozio). Nella tradizione, questo fiore rosso veniva piantato lungo i bordi dei campi di riso e ortaggi, e nei cimiteri, perché, avendo radici velenose, teneva lontani gli animali. La sua fioritura segna la fine dell'estate e l'arrivo dell'autunno.
Questo fiore viene generalmente associato alla morte, si usa infatti porli sulle tombe dei propri cari per render loro omaggio. Da questa loro associazione deriva la credenza che crescano nel Diyu, il regno dei morti, e che conducano i defunti nel posto assegnato loro nell’aldilà.
Una famosa leggenda racconta di due elfi, Manju e Saka, che avevano il compito di vigilare rispettivamente sui fiori e sulle foglie. Il ciclo vegetativo delle lycoris prevede che i fiori si sviluppino e appassiscano prima della fioritura delle foglie e che le foglie ingialliscano e secchino prima della fioritura dei fiori. Così, i due elfi non avrebbero dovuto mai incontrarsi. Ma, per curiosità, essi sfidarono la sorte e riuscirono a vedersi di nascosto. Tra loro sbocciò l'amore a prima vista, ma la dea Amaterasu, esasperata dai loro capricci e ostinazione, separò la coppia e sentenziò che i fiori di Manju non dovessero mai più incontrare le foglie di Saka. Quando gli amanti si ritrovarono dopo la morte nel Diyu, si promisero solennemente di incontrarsi di nuovo dopo la loro incarnazione. Ma la loro promessa non si realizzò.
ーgelidosangue
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mileena6 · 5 years ago
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LYCORIS RADIATA
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Tambien son conocidas por otros nombres uwu
◾Corea: San-sa Hwa
◽España: Licoride
◾USA: Red Spider Lily
En Japón la Lycoris Radiata se llama vulgarmente como "Flor del infierno" debido a una leyenda antigua en la que se decia que las flores de ese color, representan la sangre de los muertos.
Una curiosidad de esta flor es que sus hojas y sus flores nunca florecen al mismo tiempo.
SIMBOLISMO
Es asociada con la perdida, la añoranza, el abandono y los recuerdos perdidos.
La Lycoris Radiata se asocia comúnmente a la muerte, por lo que se encuentra bastante en los funerales y cementerios.
LEYENDAS
Hay varias leyendas sobre esta flor, algunas de ellas son las siguientes:
◾#1
Se dice que cuando el alma deja el cuerpo comienza a vagar sin saber que ya a fallecido, hasta que un ángel llega para llevarla a su juicio. Es entonces cuando el alma debera recorrer un camino rodeado de estas flores.
La flor del infierno da la ultima oportunidad al
alma de ver los recuerdos de su vida pasada, hasta que el camino termina en el arroyo amarillo, en este punto el ángel deja al alma con la señora Mangpo, quien hace que el alma beba del agua amarga del arroyo amarillo. Despues de beberla el alma olvida todo acerca de su vida pasada y esta lista para cruzar al otro lado del arroyo. Al llegar al otro lado, el alma continua su viaje para llegar a su juicio para asi determinar su proxima vida.
◽#2
Esta es la historia de dos elfos Manju y Saka, en la que cada uno de ellos recibió una mision de los Dioses, de proteger una parte de esta planta, de esta forma Manju guardaba las flores y Saka las hojas.
Nunca podian encontrarse, ya que las flores y las hojas de esta planta no florecian al mismo tiempo, pero ambos sentían curiosidad, asi que desoberecieron las ordenes de los Dioses y acordaron para verse. Cuando los Dioses se enteraron, los castigaron manteniendolos separados por toda la eternidad. Es asi como a esta flor se le apodo Manjusaka en honor a los elfos.
◾#3
Se cuenta que un joven budista dedicado al estudio y la meditación, vio cierta vez en el templo a una joven de mirada dulce que visitaba el templo, ella lo hacia una vez al año para orar y honrar a Buda. Aquel joven budista se enamoro de ella a primera vista.
Cuando la joven se marchaba del templo, se descargo una lluvia torrencial que la hizo refugiarse debajo de un árbol mientras que el joven la miraba desde el templo, paso la lluvia y la chica se fue, pero el joven se quedo pensando tan intensamente en ella que ya no podia concentrarse en sus deberes religiosos.
Tres meses y diez dias antes de que la joven volviera al templo el monje enfermo gravemente de tanto amor y antes de morir, de su boca salio sangre.
Fue enterrado en un lugar soleado en la colina que circundaba al templo. Al siguiente otoño durante las primeras lluvias, sobre su tumba aparecio una flor tan roja como su sangre. La llamaron San-sa Hwa.
ALGUNAS CREENCIAS
◽#1
En Corea se cree que quien cultiva esta flor en su jardín, no sera afortunado en los amores, ya que ella representa el amor no correspondido ó el amor imposible.
◾#2
Cuentan que cada vez que un amor termina, una Lycoris Radiata crecerá en alguna parte, demostrando que aunque el amor existió este ya esta olvidado y ah dejado de existir, dejando por el camino buenos recuerdos.
◽#3
Se cuenta que cuando te encuentras con alguien a quien no volverás a ver, estas flores crecerán a lo largo del camino.
◾#4
Se dice que si un alma recibe un trato durante la temporada de equinoccio encontrara el camino para ir al cielo y estas seran las flores que le acompañen hasta el.
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bisexual-in-progress · 5 years ago
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Manjusaka
Wither and wilt, wandering, God met Her retainer: Manju of petals scattering, He whose love would tame Her.
The Goddess watched over the leaves Of sacred Lycoris. Two enamored with each other, Falling to their hubris.
The god, She loved this human man - Forbidden, it may be - And over time She grew disdain For Her divinity.
While his petals, they did wither, Her leaves, they did not wilt. She gazed upon her aging love Amassing endless guilt.
Her love, cursed with mortality, His fate She did abhor. She longed to keep him at Her side, So laws She would ignore.
The spider lily blossoming, White petals painted red - Wiry spirals entangling Which signify the dead.
The god picked dear Manju’s flower, Fearful for his life’s end - Unaware of the price they’d pay To ensure rules would bend.
Spill first the blood of fair goddess, Bestow it on the Earth - Its spirits there entangle him Ensuring his rebirth.
Though saddened when his life did end She would keep Her patience. Saka, She failed to weigh the price, Sure in Her complacence.
The cruel cycle started anew, God met Her retainer. Manju of petals scattering, He whose love had tamed Her.
Upon him gifts She did bestow, Treat him familiarly; Without acknowledging Her love Accepted selfishly.
Slow realization dawned on Her And Saka, She did weep, For Manju, though he lived once more His memories did sleep.
Wither and wilt, wandering, The goddess walked alone Seeking his forgotten love, but Her sin She can’t atone.
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sherleeys · 5 years ago
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Red Spider Lily. Flower of death.
Legend has it that the flower of the lycoris guarded the spirit of Manju, and the leaves of the lycoris guarded the spirit named Saka. Curious spirits wanted to see each other for fun, because they guarded the same plant. Once, having left their duties to protect the flower, the spirits still met when they saw each other and mutual sympathy arose between them, the spirits fell in love. But God, irritated by such arrogant self-will of spirits, punished the unfortunate in a fit of anger by cursing them. The essence of the punishment was that the spirits would always be there, but they could never meet. Spirits could meet each other only after death. During the meeting, the spirits vowed to find each other in their next life, after reincarnation. However, the spirits did not keep their word and never met again. Here is such a sad legend associated with the peculiarity of lycoris.
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art-now-china · 5 years ago
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Manju & Shaka, Ye Zhou
There is a kind of plant, its flowers (Manju) and leaf (Saka) shall never meet. The story reflects the mythic oriental concept of “reincarnation”, also represents the cursed love story. It is said that long time ago, they decided to meet secretly for once regardless the provisions of gods. At the time, red flowers were accompanied by the very eye-catching colour green, shookingly bright and beautiful. The gods were furious, Manju and Saka been sent to reincarnation, and cursed for never meeting again, life after life they have to expericence the suffering on earth. Althought the curse will last forever, but they never regret for their bravery. Death is the end of each life, but do we do nothing and waiting for the death just because we know? And the end of every relationship is for two people to grow old together, become weaker and weaker, no sex, nothing romantic like they were younger, even not the ability to cry a drop of tear – this is the truest end of every loving relationship. So, do we stop loving then?
https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-Manju-Shaka/340985/1408708/view
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lastcompact · 6 years ago
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The stories your mom told were never just stories. 
Maybe your mom knew more about her situation than you suspected she did - that she was kidnapped from another world and mind-controlled in order to fulfill a stupid child’s hopes for family. It nearly got her killed in the process.
You did what was right in the end. The happiness you’ve wrongfully stolen was taken away again.
The nature of karma. 
So many flowers swaying in the wind - spider lilies the kids called them - like a sea of crimson turning the world red. And there was Mom looking every bit of the eighteen years she lived in the middle of the clearing, staring at the overcast sky. Several stalks of the flowers were in her hands.
You were standing on the beaten path leading up to her, watching her as she spoke and unable to say a word. You wanted to hear a legend... but you realized long after that this was not what you wanted. 
“And Manju and Saka met each other and defied their fate of guarding the flowers and the leaves of the flower alone. And God in turn punished the lovers by separating them and cursing them.”
She hid her face behind the makeshift bouquet, fingers flicking the red flowers and shriveled leaves underneath.
“Never shall the flowers of Manju and the leaves of Saka meet again.”
Mom smiled, a hint of sadness in her eyes. She looked drained. Tired in that moment. Like a rope drawn way too thin.
“It’s why it’s said that when you see someone you’ll never meet again, these flowers line the path.”
“The legend of a flower called Manjusaka. The legend of a flower called Lycoris.” 
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populating-words-images · 4 years ago
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Higanbana (ヒガンバナ), a flor que simboliza dor e saudade
Higanbana (Lycoris radiata) é o nome japonês da Lírio-aranha, uma bela flor, embora venenosa, considerada símbolo do Equinócio do Outono no Japão. O nome se origina da palavra Ohigan (お彼岸), uma celebração budista que ocorre duas vezes por ano e são feriados no Japão: Equinócio da Primavera (春分の日 Shunbun no Hi) em março e Equinócio de Outono (秋分の日 Shūbun no Hi) em setembro. É tradicionalmente associado com a morte na sociedade japonesa, por estar muito presente nos cemitérios, que segundo dizem, foi plantada para manter os animais escavadores longe dos restos mortais. Uma característica interessante dessa exótica flor é que as folhas e a flor nunca aparecem ao mesmo tempo.
Com isso, também dizem que a flor representa dois amantes apaixonados que devido às circunstâncias precisam viver separados. Também significa a dor da perda e da saudade, como também pode representar a morte, mas não sentido pejorativo da palavra e sim no sentido de transição para uma nova vida. Enfim, esta flor tem inúmeros significados e uma grande simbologia na religião budista.
A lenda da higanbana
É também referido como Manjusaka (曼珠沙华), com base em uma antiga lenda chinesa sobre dois duendes: Manju guardava as flores e Saka, as folhas, mas nunca se encontravam, pois a planta nunca dá flores e folhas ao mesmo tempo.
Eles estavam curiosos em conhecer um ao outro, de modo que desafiaram as ordens dos deuses e marcaram um encontro. Por causa dessa desobediência, os dois duendes foram punidos, ficando separados por toda a eternidade.
Por este motivo, o lírio aranha vermelha (Red Spider Lily) é associado à perda, saudade, abandono e memórias perdidas em hanakotoba (花言叶), a linguagem das flores. Acredita-se que se você encontrar uma pessoa que você nunca vai ver de novo, estas flores vão crescer ao longo do seu caminho.
text: https://vejaonline.jp/2018/10/16/higanbana-e-sua-simbologia-no-japao/
Image 1: https://vejaonline.jp/2018/10/16/higanbana-e-sua-simbologia-no-japao/
Image 2 and 3: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/58f216f0197aea0b0dd7d0f6/t/5beefbf3aa4a99ee969bbc58/1542388724189/ShodoCanadaAwards+2017+-+BorisRevised.pdf
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isingtothesky · 7 years ago
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Sad memories flowing away
flickr
Sad memories flowing away by Kaydee H Via Flickr: Cluster amaryllis 
彼岸花 (ひがんばな) 曼珠沙華(まんじゅしゃげ)  
📌東綾瀬公園 せせらぎ詰所 
Its blooming represents the changing of summer to autumn. Legend has it that the scent of these flowers bring back all the beautiful memories of the dead for one last time, before they disappear when they cross the Forgotten River. It's a symbol of reincarnation. In the Japanese language of flowers, it says loss, longing, abandonment and lost memories. It is believed that if you meet a person you'll never see again, these flowers with grow along your path. One of its names is based on an old Chinese legend of two elves. Manju guarded the flower and Saka guarded the leaves, but they could never meet because the plant never bears flowers and leaves at the same time. They were curious able each other, so they defied the gods instructions and arranged a meeting. The gods promptly punished them and separated them for all eternity.
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otaku-shipper · 5 years ago
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Wow I didn't know the flower is so....morbid. I've searched it too and there's a famous Japanese legend about it: two elves named Manju and Saku who became lovers and defying their duties they were curse to never meet again.
I'm a Taichihaya shipper too but I got mixed feelings about this (because I'm very hopeful for our ship hahaha). The first time we saw this flower associated to Taichi is actually in the volume 26 cover. This beautiful art here:
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It covers chapters 134-138. It begins with the end of the Tokyo New Year Tournament (where Chihaya won against Sudo) and the Takamatsunomiya Cup (where Taichi and Arata fought for the first time in an actual match, AND where I think begins Sudo and Taichi's relationship). This page here:
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The volume ends with Taichi's confession to Chihaya.
This is the volume where Taichi's character development took on a whole new route. Since Yuki Suetsugu used the sorrowful flower of abandonment, the "never to meet again", I think it pointed out more to the abandonment of "old Taichi" to a "new Taichi"--the Taichi who is free, who can play karuta on his own terms.
In a sense, Taichi abandoned many things behind:
His first motive in playing karuta which is for Chihaya's sake
The karuta he hates and does not enjoy
The karuta club
The Shiranami Society and Harada-sensei's teachings
And in abandoning these things, he abandoned Chihaya
So I see this "abandonment" more for Taichi's growth. Take in consideration as well the butterfly. What do butterflies obviously denotes? Change, right? Metamorphosis. And that's what EXACTLY what Taichi went through. From this volume down to the latest chapter we see Taichi in a new light: whether in his play style (he's now a defensive player), in his relationship with Chihaya (because he confessed of that childhood "sin" that haunted him to no end), his attitude towards fighting Arata--that even Arata acknowledged as his most beautiful and pure feelings
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and his acceptance to his limitations in the karuta world:
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He's no longer the bitter, self-pitying Taichi. He's free. Like a butterfly. Now that he has developed his own wings, he can now fly.
But this is where the bad omen comes in. Cause this might also mean that Taichi has also abandoned his feelings for Chihaya that's why he was able to say his feelings "might be fading away" in order to compelete his character development.
Is Suetsugu-sensei really going for that route? I did told you I'm very hopeful so I will say not really (I won't be claiming absolutes because a mangaka could be so unpredictable. I have my own share of sunken ships).
But the same way that the butterfly gives hope to Taichi's character, it also gives hope to the fate of Taichi and Chihaya's relationship. My friend, I present to you an explicit evidence:
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Don't they just scream something good???
If we take the flower symbolism to account, the legend of Manju and Saka also talks about something along this line. They were cursed to be separated by God as their punishment and when they both died and met again in the Otherworld...guess what? They promised to meet again after reincarnation. Although this was not granted.
But do you get where I'm going at? Chihaya AND Taichi is also asking fate that they will meet again. Because even though Taichi has already "abandoned" Chihaya, HE CAN'T HELP BUT WANT TO COME BACK!!! That's why he's wondering: if his fate (as symbolized by the tiger lilies) is really to be separated from them (the Mizusawa Club) and HER, then why, he asks himself, is he still wishing for a companion "with whom i can keep working hard on the tatami"?
Man, even I am amazed of this realization! The many times I read this chapter again and again I didn't quite get what it really means but after knowing the meaning of tiger lilies, this poem finally meant something more! Hahaha I thank you for that.
As fellow manga readers we do know that unlike Manju and Saka, Fate did give them their wishes. Taichi and Chihaya met again. Although it will never be the same way. Not that it's bad but I think now there's more depth to their relationship.
Should I remind you of this precious comment coming from Suo-san, which is after Chihaya and Taichi made peace:
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"Connected". Musubi, in Japanese. Adding all these in their relationship sounds like we're going to the classic red string of fate ey? *eyes at you suggestively* But that's a whole different discussion hahahaha.
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So.. Chihayafuru is currently airing and from the ending song, I observed that each main character has their own flowers. And Taichi have this red spider lilies as his flower.
As I remember from other anime, this flower symbolizes death. Why is this flower the one representing Taichi?
I'm pretty updated on manga so I'm sure Taichi will not die very soon. So what's with the flower? Death of passion? Death for first love? I really don't know, but it really intrigues me. So then I search further, and I saw these:
"Another story explains that red spider lilies represent lovers or people who are destined to never meet again. It is said that when two people say their last goodbyes, a red spider lily would sprout between them. "
As a Taichi X Chihaya fan, this representation saddens me. Adding the fact that from one of the chapters, Taichi said something between the lines that his feelings for Chihaya is fading. 😥
I might just overthinking things but I only hope for Taichi's happiness. ❤️
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gaijinokashiotaku · 6 years ago
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Saka Manju, An Donuts, & Mame Daifuku from Koumi-Dou! #gaijinokashiotaku #okutama #koristation #oishii #anko #connoisseur #sweets #nippontteina #100yen #omeline #japan #love #wagashi #tokyo https://www.instagram.com/p/Bta3HcdFEqh/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=9jx1z0qc16zr
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