Disclaimer: I do not own SaiMono. Their illustrations are much much too pretty for me to own it. Sorry if I misspelled anything :(.


Consorting

Kourin couldn't really remember the time she had fallen in love with Eigetsu. It didn't matter, anyway. She was still a lowly servant, and he was a member of the Emperor's court.

It hurt.

It tore into her body and heart, a gigantic slash against her when she saw the sight of him. They were adults now. They were sensible people, not a child's play.

It still hurt.

The servants knew something was wrong with her. They'd try to help. She didn't want them; she wanted her lover to sweep her away from the kingdom and live somewhere peaceful for the rest of their lives. It drew a border between her and them: star-struck lovers, impossible to reach each other, and the people that got what they wanted and had happiness. She stayed far away from them. What was the point? She often mourned of herself, but stopped when she reminded herself of Eigetsu. He would never forgive her if she thought like this.

Three years.

Four years.

Five.

She lived on his smiles, and glances. Of course, he'd never come and talk to her. That was the unwritten laws of society, that they could not associate themselves. She almost gave up hope when he had been bestowed with marriage offers and lavish dowries. Something she would never able to afford.

"Kourin! Kourin-san!"

That dream. She had a fever once, as a young child, stricken from the loss of Eigetsu once. He would always lean over her, and wake her up. That was where her dream ended.

"Kourin! Kourin!"

"Stop. Go away. I've waited." she moaned sadly. "I want to talk to you, but you don't listen to me."

"Wake up!"

"Hai!" she said with a start. Her employer was next to her.

"Get up!" she hissed. "There's a very important guest and he wants to see all the maids as a possible servant in the Court!"

The Court? Her heart fluttered hopefully like a butterfly, than stopped when she remembered he was on an important mission to serve Governor Kou Shuurei. It was hopeless, anyway. She somberly washed her face in ice-cold winter and put on her best robes, a silky fabric sewn meticulously with red birds. Eigetsu had given it to her when she was fifteen. It was her most prized possession, and she would never give anything up for it.

Unless it involved actually being able to be with Eigetsu.

"You look lovely," the girls all said when they arrived at the breakfast hall. They were served a whole egg instead of the usual porridge because today was a special day.

Kourin bit into the yolk thoughtfully, and the mistress nodded in approval. "Good manners, Kourin. Where did you learn them?"

"Nowhere... I suppose I did serve for Mistress Shuurei once."

"Ah, so modest! You're sure to win the position."

"No... if anybody's going to win it's sure to be Jinko-san."

A girl with fair skin and lips as red as a rose was busy putting in crane hair pins. Her clothes were beautiful as well, a light airy sash tied together with a silk rope. It was clear that nobody could keep their eyes off of her.

"She's pretty, for sure..." her mistress stumbled awkwardly.

Kourin's eyes filled with tears. She knew that being polite and mild-mannered wasn't enough. Her history was dark as well. If anyone knew she attempted to kill Kou Shuurei, no one would even want to look at her.

The door opened. Out came a young man robed with fine silks and scent sweeter than honey...

Her Eigetsu...


Author's Note: Yeah... I think it's obvious what's going to happen...