-CHAPTER 2-
Yuno was a cheerful young woman with her few worries limited to either the fiance of Lord Guen Tae, her small tea garden or preparations for the grand upcoming wedding. It was to be a lavish event, silken robes imported from the Kai empire, exotic dishes from all over the country. Entertainers of the highest caliber and the finest wines known to mankind. No expense had been spared for the happiness of the soon-to-be couple. Everyone seemed to be in high spirits...except for the bride herself, who was busy sulking in her room.
Yuno slid the door open and murmured a greeting.
"How long are you planning to stay hidden in here, Lady Yura?"
"I HATE HIM!" She wailed.
"Oh dear, now my lady-"
"I HATE HIM! I HATE HIM! I HATE HIM! I HATE HIM! HE CAN JUST DIEEEEEE!" She screamed, repeatedly assaulting her pillow. "How dare he just dismiss my opinion as though I am naught but a child.I HATE HIM!"
"THEN DON'T MARRY HIM!" Yuno shook her arms. "You do not realize how lucky you are. A thousand girls in the entire province would chop off their fingers to marry him. He is rich, he is strong and well respected. You will have stability for your entire life!"
"Are wealth, status and strength the only distinguishing features of a man? What about sensitivity? He wouldn't know how to handle a woman if his life depended on it. A man who loves war more than he does his wife? How can I possibly marry him? Would you?" Tears now streaming down her delicate features.
"In a heartbeat. It is Guen-Tae-sama after all. The iconic head of the Earth tribe, the one who has won battles for our glorious empire using his expertise and wit!" Yuno replied in all seriousness.
"No need to fan his already large ego. I get it, Mr. Can-do-no-wrong."
Yuno's expression softened. "This is about Hiro-san, isn't it?"
"Yes" She answered shakily. "He was on the list of guests. And I got thinking, how can I possibly bear his presence on the day of my wedding with another man?"
"When does he arrive?"
"Today." Yura let out a longing sigh.
"I wish I could help you, I truly do. But somethings are just beyond our control. I honestly wish that there was a way. I would help you without a second thought." Yuno told her earnestly, her sympathies extended to the girl who was living the life most could only dream of, yet was powerless to achieve true happiness.
Yura refused to leave her quarters the entire day, and just when she thought that Yuno had given up on getting her to cheer up, there was a sharp knock on her door. She huffed and let out a lazy "Enter", not even bothering to look at the door.
"Go back to your room, Yuno. I am fine."
"Really?" The voice replied, gruff and familiarly masculine ,and Yura's heart caught in her throat. Tears welled up in her eyes before she could even turn. "Hiro." The word left her mouth barely a whisper, her legs lost all strength to support her and she sunk to the ground.
"Yura, oh how I have missed you." He said, kneeling beside her and taking her into his arms. He kissed away her tears and murmured "It's alright. I love you, it's alright." by her ears, his breath warm against her neck. Shivers ran down her pine. She wanted him.
But she just shook her head. "You must leave now!"
"No." He answered, pressing his lips to hers in a heated kiss. It had been too long. She kissed him back with equal fervor and they had to break away because they couldn't breathe anymore. She was shaking in his arms. "Hiro, if anyone finds out, you will be killed." She told him in a hurried voice. Her heart was wrenching into a million pieces.
... ... ... ...
Yura listened carefully as her (ex?) fiance told them of his plans.
"So all you you really have to do, Yura dearest, is to catch me." He smirked, his voice retaining it's sarcastic lilt.
"No need to be so sarcastic." Yura grumbled.
"Sorry, old habits die hard."
Hiro watched his exchange with suspicious eyes, but a warm smile from Yura quelled any doubts in his heart. " So now all we need to do is to find a 'victim'?" Hiro asked, pondering over the morality of the plan.
"No worries, I know just the person. Also, if the situation were to get out of hand, she would marry you willingly." Yura proclaimed, her mind drifting to her conversation she had earlier with Yuno.
"Be ready" The head of the Earth tribe gave a final command before heading back to his room.
-The Following Morning-
"YURA-SAMA!" Yuno exclaimed loudly, drawing back the curtains to allow the sunlight to trickle in. "Rise and shine."
Yura slowly opened her eyes and took a graceful stretch. Damn, the woman looked good even when she woke.
Yuno couldn't help but feel envious about it because she ,herself, woke up looking like something a cat would drag out of a garbage can.
Yura beamed at Yuno. "Today is the best day of my life!"
"Really? Why so? Have you finally wrapped your head around the idea of your marriage?" Yuno asked, sincerely surprised that her lady's spirits had been lifted so drastically.
Yura, not knowing how to reply truthfully without giving away the plan, just nodded and murmured "Something like that."
Her heart was already sending wordless apologies to her lady-in-waiting. 'I am truly sorry for the trouble I am about to cause you.' She thought ,letting out a sigh. But nothing, not even a little guilt, could dampen her spirits that day.
She walked with a little jump to each step, her demeneour markedly jolly and kinder to anyone and everyone. Yuno knew she should have been happy, but the Lady's sudden change in behavior had begun to give her a feeling of immense dread.
A foot man walked up to them a little while later, announcing that the Lady's parents had arrived and were waiting for her in their room.
It was then tat Yuno was left alone, pondering over this uneasy feeling that was developing in the pit of her stomach.
It was due to this very feeling that Yuno could not sleep that night and decided to relieve her stress by taking a stroll in the palace gardens near her lady's residence.