I got a little more into this one. I love details, if you haven't noticed.
'What am I going to do with her?' Leonardo thinks. He paces in the overlook. 'She's disrespectful and such a-' he looks over at her as she walks to the garden. 'I don't know.' He goes to sit at the couch again. "I'm supposed to love her by the end of the month?"
"That is custom." Leonardo looks behind him to find his father.
"Father," he greets, "Why did you choose her?"
"I did not. I felt the energy flow through me, with your meditating to guide me."
"Are you sure it was her?"
"My son, she was the only one nearby." Leonardo sighs and rubs his face.
"You said she would be my equal? But she's so-"
"Equality is not sameness. She completes you Reonarudo. Your other half." His father pats his son's knee then stands up. "I will have a servant tell her it is almost time for lunch. Meiki wouldn't want to miss it."
"Arigato, Father."
Meiki had wandered around the garden until she found the very far edge. It matched the trees beyond the hedge, but were still taken care of with pruning. She walks along a dirt path that branches off of the stone one. She picks her way through the foliage that brushes her skirt and finds a wide, shallow brook. It has flat boulders sticking out of the water. She explores around it, almost thinking if she stayed long enough, this unreal dream would fade and the brook would be the pond back at home.
She hears someone calling for her and walks back enough to see a servant searching. "Okusama (my lady), the Master bid me tell you it is almost noon!" Meiki sighs.
"Arigato, I will be there." She picks her way through the light brush and follows the path back to the palace. She enters the courtyard where the Doorways face each other.
"How's yer day so far, Okusama?" A deep voice asks. She stops and turns to see the Red Kame leaning against a pillar. Leonardo told her not to speak unless spoken to directly.
"Well enough," she replies, nervous, "I must get to my future otto (husband). He is expecting me."
"Of course, Leo is not one to disappoint," he dismisses. She bows and enters the Blue Courtyard. She checks her kimono for leaves or dirt before entering the dining room is a larger than her own, but not by much. Tables line the walls with innumerable delicacies that Meiki can't name. Servants await at each. There is a large window at the wall across from the door, almost void of tables. The table in the center is long. Three or four chairs could fit along its length, depending how you space them. Unlit candles and sprigs of flowers sit in the center. Leonardo is waiting on the left side of the table, sitting in a chair that fits his stature. Meiki walks over to the other chair which looks like it was constructed quickly without thought of detail. She sits down. After shifting for a comfortable way to sit, Leonardo clears his throat to get her attention.
"Your chair is still being constructed. I'm not used to eating with someone else," he says, "Shokuji (meal)," he commands. Servants come over with platters of food. Meiki marvels at how colorful it all is. Each is presented to her after Leonardo is served and the servants place a little of each on her plate. "Stop," Leonardo says. They back away. "You don't want to stuff yourself." Meiki giggles, thinking it a joke. But she stops when he doesn't join in.
She begins to eat. Leonardo takes a moment to see she has her necklace on. It seemed fit for her, landing right between her collarbones. He allows a smile and starts to eat as well. "Do you al-" Meiki covers her mouth. She did it again. Leonardo looks up at her in disapproval. "Great Kame I'm sorry-"
"Chinmoku!" he yells. She starts, almost dropping a chopstick. "Stop, speaking." She nods and begins to eat again, averting her eyes to the plate. He stares at her for a few tense moments, then he picks up his plate and stands. "Perhaps it is best that I eat in the lounge, where you won't disturb me." He leaves. She finishes eating, pushing the tears back. She doesn't want to break down in front of the servants present. When she is done, she leaves her plate there and goes to her room.
"Baka (stupid)!" She yells, letting the tears flow, "I can't do anything right." She lays on the soft bed and cries into her pillow. "I'll be gone before the week is over!" Meiki's hand brushes the wooden flower and she looks down at it. The flower is delicate and solid. He made it for her, or, his tsuma. But if she's wearing it, that means it will be her right? She regains some composure and walks to the window. The fresh air would feel good. But before she can think to move, the door opens behind her.
"I have to meet with my brothers for training. I will not see you until tomorrow," Leonardo says, stiffly. She doesn't turn around. "Did you hear me!?" Meiki nods, vigorously. She absently touches her arm, like someone had grabbed her there. Leonardo pauses at that movement. 'Did I touch her? Surely not.' But he leaves it be and closes the door.
Meiki collapses onto the window sill. Maybe she'll go to the garden again. It has cheered her up the other times she's gone to it. She changes into a different brown kimono, one that isn't as tight. She lets her hair down and descends the stairs to the garden. She doesn't rush to get there, but takes her time, admiring the non private gardens that look so perfect.
When she reaches the brook she had found, she takes off her slippers and steps onto one of the flat rocks next to the edge. She starts lightly humming a tune she remembers from home and she steps to another. She spins to do a little leap to one farther away. She continues to dance on the rocks, letting her worries rush downstream with the water. She lets out a giggle, then a laugh. She smiles, free as a bird on the wind.
The Great Master was wandering through the garden, since he can go anywhere in the palace grounds. He hears Meiki and follows the sound until he sees her through the bushes. 'She moves like the water,' he comments. 'She has a certain, trait, that Reonarudo is lacking. Even after the life she has been forced into, she is still free-spirited. But my son is tensed easily by things that don't go his way.' He nods as she takes another turn, pretending to hold a fan. 'They are meant for each other, whether they see it yet.'
I will say what I said in the past version, "The Master has the knowledge, the Master knows what's up."
So true.
Next chapter will be up in a few seconds!
