Chapter One: Betrothal...
Knocking softly on the door, Shinobu smiled as she heard her father's voice bidding her to enter. She used one hand to balance the tray of tea she carried while the other smoothed out her kimono. She made her way to her father and knelt down.
"Father, I brought you tea."
"Shinobu, please join me. We have much to talk about. As you know, tomorrow is your thirteenth birthday and your mother and I have decided upon your husband."
Gasping softly and blushing deeply, her eyes fell to the floor. She tried to think of who her parents might have chosen for her. She shuddered as she thought of her cousins and the local samurai.
"I don't love any of them, Father, and you must know that they would only be marrying me for your power."
"Shinobu, you know our clan's position is strong, but we have had several financial setbacks due to the mine collapses. So, I have decided that the time has come to make peace with the Maki clan. Their rice fields will help tie over our clan until we can reopen our mines. Also, as you might have heard, Lord Maki's wife died recently. You will marry him and seal our alliance."
"B…but Father, he is almost sixty years old."
Her face remained a crimson shade as she thought of the old Lord she had seen once in a gathering of the nearby clans in Kyoto. She shuddered and began to cry softly.
"Father, you yourself have said that the man has the beauty and manners of a ogre!"
"Shinobu, this deal is sealed! Tomorrow night at your birthday celebration, we shall announce your betrothal, and our clans shall be united in purpose. Now, go ready yourself."
She stood up and fled the room, sobbing softly. She knew her life would end when she wed this man, 47 years her senior. She always knew that her marriage would be used for the clan's benefit, but how could she look forward to a marriage like this? She ran to her room and collapsed on the floor, overcome by tears. Her knee-length azure hair fell about her as she sobbed until her sides ached. After what felt like hours of crying, she heard a soft tapping at the closed door.
"Shinobu-sama? You have two choices. Please hurry and decide."
Startled, she turned toward the door and saw her maid. Her words rang like a bell, clearing Shinobu's tears at once.
"Eh, what?"
"You get to decide what is served at tomorrow's banquet, milady. We need your decision now, so the cooks can prepare."
"Oh, pick what you want, Akeyo. I really don't care."
She rubbed her eyes, wiping away the remnants of her tears. A sudden ironclad resolve filling her slight frame, she made her choice. She would flee from the marriage! She turned toward a mirror on the wall and studied herself.
"I'll never make it out of the castle looking like a noble," she realized. After considering the problem for a moment, she decided her hair would have to go. She found a small dagger and went to work, removing the majority of her hair but sparing her bangs. Once she finished, she began to giggle.
"I guess I could always become a nun now."
She looked at the mass of fallen hair and sighed. There was no turning back now. If she abandoned her plan now, she would be wed to an old man. She ran a hand over the smooth silk of her kimono and knew it would have to go, too. She gathered some jewelry and placed them in a small pouch.
"I will need to sell these once I get to Kyoto, but what after that?"
She hesitated. She knew nothing of the world outside the castle. Her heart began to thump as she reconsidered the step she was about to take. Her fear began to rise as she thought of what she should do once free and realized she hadn't the slightest idea of how to exist on the outside. Then, she heard her parents talking in the room beside her .
"Husband, do you think that our daughter will be well-treated?" her mothers voice drifted through the wall, its tone sounding concerned .
"Wife, it doesn't matter whether she is well-treated or not. This must be done. After all, one daughter is a small price to pay for the security of the clan." Her father's voice sounded like steel, letting his wife know the choice was set and that there would be no further discussion on the matter.
Her father's words made her feel faint. Her stomach twisted in knots as tears once again began to flow down her cheeks. She realized that there were no other options: she had to run or be married. Gathering up the pouch and clutching it to her chest, she napped lightly until night had fallen. Then, sneaking out of her room, she made her way to the servants' rooms. Quietly, she found the wardrobe of one of the maids her size. She located and stole a brown kimono made of simple cotton . Hesitating a moment and blushing in the dark, she gathered up the courage to slip out of her silks and into the work clothes.
She fled now out of the room and down the halls as fast as her slippered feet would take her. She stopped at the kitchen to steal several rice balls for later use. As she fled into the garden, she silently counted off paces to the spot her mother had shown her years ago during more troubled times: a path to one of the castle's secret escape routes. Drawing a deep breath she made her way down the short dark tunnel and out into the world .
"Now it is done. I am free."
With one last look back at her home, she slipped away into the darkness in the direction of Kyoto.
AN: this chapter redited by albino arab other chapters to be touched up too now adore my editor as I do...thank you so much for your help
AN: please be gentle with your reviews feel free to criticize but please no flames. Also if anyone would like to beta read for me I will adore them , thank you for reading my story please review for me.
Inustgirldreamer
