"Oh, my..." a woman from the front said.
"Goodness," another girl hid her red face from behind her fan.
"He truly possesses the gift of beauty," a third woman whispered to her mother.
Whispers flooded the celebration hall as Haruo walked through the doors. He went down the stairs as every one bowed their head in respect of the Shoguns son who made his entrance. The rest of the family was standing at the other side of the hall.
All the nobles and Samurai that had been invited had been seated according to their ranks. There was a stage-like podium in front of them with a pillow to sit on.
The ceremony hall was decorated with white flowers that symbolized the Month of Frost and red banners of the family crest were put up. The vast room had been decorated with red and white colors, fabrics, jewels etc.
All the guests followed the theme of wearing red or pink Kosode's or Jūnihitoe's for the women and black or navy blue formal kimono's for the men.
Yoshio, Haruo's older brother, was staring at him with a stone cold face. Saburo, his younger brother, stood next to Yoshio, his glasses sleek. Aiko, his youngest sibling stood facing the wall, her face away from him.
Yoshio wore the standard black kimono with his hair down.
A dark red headband with a blade cutting across it was tied around his forehead; a mark of an expert Samurai. His dark eyes and black shoulder length hair with the scar that was right under his left eye all contributed heavily to his intimidating look. It wasn't hard to believe he was 12 years older than Haruo.
Saburo was wearing a navy kimono with his long hair put up in a high ponytail. His horn-rimmed glasses were covering his dark, blue eyes. His hands were crossed at his chest and his facial expression was stoic. It looked like he was older than Haruo, rather than being 6 months younger.
Aiko, the youngest of the four, was wearing a red Kosode, a kimono with short sleeves that had recently been in style, with her black hair flowing on her back. Her hair was adorned with a black gem hairpin and jewels. Her peculiar black eyes made her seem frightening, but considering her gift, she looked the most normal out of her kind.
Haruo walked towards the raised platform as sat down on his knees.
A few minutes later, Hiroshi Takahashi, the Shogun, finally made his entrance. He walked up to his son and sat next to him.
"Attention, please," The Shoguns thundering voice gathered all the attention in the hall.
Hiroshi Takahashi was the most fearsome Shogun Kyoto had seen. He was smart, brave, mature and the strongest Samurai in the Sengoku period. He held the legendary sword, Mikazuki Munechika, and defeated every enemy that came his way. He was a legendary blade every Samurai looked up to.
"Today is my second son's, Haruo Takahashi's coming of age ceremony. Out of all my children, he carries two gifts from the Sun goddess, Amaterasu."
The four children of the Shogun were known to each have been gifted with one unique talent from the goddess Amaterasu. But Haruo was different. He was said to be gifted with two.
The eldest son, Yoshio Takahashi, was said to have been gifted with the art of the sword, and was the youngest blade at the age of 27.
The second son, Haruo Takahashi, was said to have been gifted with two gifts; possessing beauty like no other, being the most handsome man to ever been born in Kyoto, and the gift of outstanding intelligence.
The third son, Saburo Takahashi, was said to have been gifted with the art of alchemy; smart, precise and discovering new medicines faster than other renowned doctors.
The youngest of them all, Aiko Takahashi, was gifted with an extremely large Inkr pool, allowing her to become one of the greatest sorcerer of her time.
The family was said to have earned the favor of the Sun goddess when the Shogun had defended the main temple from an enemy general who was said to possess the ability to blow up solid objects with his Inkr.
"I welcome him into adulthood today, on the 16 day of Shimotsuki, the Month of Frost."
Haruo had finally become an adult that day, but all he could think about was Yoshio's and if he would treat him better, now that he was an adult, too.
Haruo glanced at his brother as his Father continued the speech.
He felt his stomach drop at the sight of Yoshio's expression. It was a face of.. disgust.