Disclaimer: Do not own Kannazuki no mike, am just a big fan of it. Ya da ya da ya da, you get the idea.
Author's Note: Hey everyone. I'm really going to try and finish up this story. I have an outline drawn up for the next few chapters which will almost bring us to our end. I know it's sad to see this story come to a close soon, but it has to end at some point; And I'm planning, as the author, to give that epic ending to you.
So tell me, do you think you can predict what I have in mind? Or would you rather I just write it and you find out? I'm curious, tell me in your reviews what your predictions are; Anyway, enjoy chapter 14!
—
Chapter 14: The Hidden Truth of Harmony
Later that night with Himeko…
As I approached the palace in the moon's silver spotlight above head, the wind blew in a chilly fashion through my hair. Though it wasn't too cold, one would be able to feel the change in atmosphere that could only come with the introduction of Autumn. It was still somewhat warm, with a crisp cool breeze, representative of the coming month, October.
And there it was; I stood in front of the palace in all its glory, looking up at its tremendous heights. I've seen it many times in the daytime, and even then it looked spectacular, but at night; It really was something else. Something of undeniable, total beauty; The moon just seemed to complete its picturesque quality, almost as if the palace was built right here for that purpose. My eyes glimmered as they reached their sights upon the moon in the night sky. It was almost full.
"Wow…" Came out of my mouth again in such wonder, I almost dropped the soup I was holding. Thankfully though I was able to snap myself out of the trance I was just in and catch it before it fell and spilled everywhere. I giggled nervously.
"Oops, that could have been bad." I set my sights then on the doors in front of me. They were very large and like that day I was watching Oogami-kun visit and negotiate with the king, there were guards standing in front of it. I understood why it would need to be guarded so much; But the guards looked pretty scary - I didn't know if they were going to allow me in or not. And I made this soup specially for Chikane-chan; Wouldn't someone have to taste it first before it was given to the princess? I looked down at the thing in my hands contemplating what I should do.
And just as I was about to take my first steps towards the front door, I heard a sound come from the near distance. I looked up; It sounded like it was coming from the side of the palace. And sure enough as I redirected my gaze there, there was someone taking out the trash for the day. It looked to be a lot for one person to handle, and she was slowly getting it out there, she looked like she was struggling just a bit. I couldn't just watch her struggle with it and possibly get hurt. I ran over carefully, as to not spill the item in my hands, set it down a safe distance away from us, and helped her move the rest of the trash out to where she was setting it.
"Here let me help you." I said, beginning to distribute the weight of it so that it wasn't so heavy on her. Although it was quite heavy still for the both of us, we managed to get it over to where it needed to be together. We set it down, and I smiled; She did as well, wiping her hands free of the remainder of dirt on them.
"Thanks." She said softly. "Um.. you didn't have to do that for me." She looked down.
"Don't mention it. I wanted to help. I couldn't let you saddle all that all alone." I said, a little concerned.
"Well, still, I appreciate it." She looked back up and gave me a half smile. "If you weren't here that could have turned out pretty badly." She continued, laughing nervously.
"They don't send anyone to help you?" I asked, confused.
"No. I'm the one who works in the kitchen and cleans the palace, so I have to take out the trash from both jobs. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who works here." She looked down again, holding one of her arms. "But, I can't really complain. The pay is nice, and the royal family is lovely, and kind. Though the only one who really cares to talk to me when it's not an order I'm supposed to be fulfilling is the princess." She trailed.
"Don't they have other people to help you around the palace?" I asked again.
"Well yes, but I don't think any of them take their jobs too seriously. And because of that the Himemiya family doesn't trust them with the housework and the kitchen work that they put on me. They aren't very reliable and half the time no one even knows where they are. So until recently, they had to do all the work themselves; And I guess when they realized that that isn't how things should go around here, they found me, and hired me, and ever since then I've been working for them. At first I thought it was going to be a hellish job of servitude, waiting on the royal family hand and foot and doing every single little task for them, but when I actually moved in here to work, it turned out to be more pleasant than I originally thought." She looked back up at me and smiled again. She lingered for a moment, making eye contact with me, before asking…
"Oh I'm sorry - here I am rambling about my work - what's your name?" She asked kindly.
"Oh - my name's Himeko. What's yours?" I smiled.
"You can call me Otoha." She said with a smile returned.
"It's nice to meet you, Otoha." I said, bowing my head. She returned the gesture.
"Likewise to you, Miss Himeko." She said politely.
I giggled nervously and waved my hands in front of my face. "Miss? Please… I'm no one special. I don't have to be called miss, you can just call me Himeko, if you want."
"Well, alright. I'll respect your wishes. I just thought that Miss Himeko showed some respect, you know, having first met you and all." She nodded.
"Oh, I see." I said shyly.
"Well I'd better get back to work then. Thank you for all your help Himeko." She smiled and bowed goodbye, before turning and head back to the side door of the palace she came out of. But, as she turned, I suddenly remembered what I was here for, so I bravely called out…
"Wait." And she stopped. And turned around.
"Yes, what is it?" She asked.
I walked over to where I set the soup down and bent down to pick it up. I showed her what it was in my hands. All neatly wrapped and sealed up so that it would stay hot. It could retain heat very well anyway.
"I brought this for the princess, Chikane-chan." Her eyes seemed to widened at that, but I continued speaking. "I was going to go through the front door, but the guards may take it away from me and not let me in. And besides, they don't look very nice. Is there any chance, you could maybe give this to her and tell her I was here, and that I wish for her to get better?" I held it out for her. She just continued to stare at me, dumbfounded. Then her voice slowly caught up to her expression.
"Chikane… chan? But, no one's ever addressed the princess so informally before. Do you know her somehow, Himeko-san?" Otoha questioned.
"Oh… well uh. Y-yes, we um, met once or twice, in the hot springs. But it was before anyone was awake, or at night when everyone was asleep. I think we became f-friends." I stuttered out shyly, with a blush upon my face. I didn't know what she was going to say next, so I braced myself for the worst possible thing.
"Oh." She said. "Well I can't imagine why Miss Chikane would choose to use the hot springs over her parent's private oasis located not too far from here, but, whatever the princess chooses is alright with me. It is her choice after all. So then you two must be friends." She smiled. "If that's the case, then I can let you in here and you can give it to her yourself. I'm sure she wouldn't mind, I'll just tell her ahead of you that you're on your way up." She offered casually. My face lit up.
"Really? You would do that for me?" I asked, in disbelief. She nodded.
"Yes, of course. But it's imperative that you remain quiet and that you take the second staircase down through the back of the palace. That way you won't be seen by any of the stationary guards or council on the inside of the palace walls, and you'll go undetected by Miss Chikane's parents, the king and queen as well. I must apologize though, it is a rather long climb up, and you have to go through the basement first, which isn't an enjoyable thing." She made a face as if recalling just how dusty it was down there, and just how aged the area was.
"Okay." I nodded.
"What is it you've got there?" She asked. I guess she was only doing her job in protecting the royal family.
"Oh, it's just a special homemade soup. It's my own remedy for when I'm sick or have a sore throat, it always cures me." I smiled.
"Alright, that's very thoughtful of you to be here for Miss Chikane in her current condition." She truly seemed kind and considerate.
"Mhm, I want her to get better as soon as possible." I remarked.
"And I don't blame you for not wanting to go through the normal entrance. The guards even stop me on my way in sometimes, and I've been working here for a few months now. They're hired to protect and serve the royal family but they don't have to be such jerks about it." She giggled. "They aren't really friendly at all." She explained.
"Oh - well it's a good thing I ran into you then." I giggled happily.
She nodded. "Alright, come with me." And we entered into the palace. She went up the first staircase we came across to the main floor, and then up another flight of stairs to the upstairs area. She was going to tell Chikane I was on my way, and make sure that the king and queen were situated in their quarters with everything they could need. That was just enough distraction and time for me to get through the levels I needed to get through to get to Chikane.
With a newly fastened determined expression on my face, I went down the second staircase which took me to the lower level of the palace. It was dark down here, and on the walls there were torches that were barely burning. I took one off of its holder to carry with me as a light as I walked, carefully making my way through the hallway that would lead to the basement.
I coughed a couple of times.
"It really is dusty down here. I guess Otoha doesn't clean down here. I can't say I blame her, it's scary to be down here all alone, and you don't know what you're going to find." My voice echoed down the hall a bit as I walked, reverberating. "It probably hasn't been used in years, maybe even centuries."
"Hm, I wonder what else is down here." I thought out loud, as I continued to walk.
And as my feet continued to carry me, I would start to see cells of some kind to my left and right, all empty, filled and piled with dust, and dirt and debris. I could swear I saw some rats or mice running around in one of them trying to scavenge for some food. I shivered, this was creepy. Just what were all these cells for anyway? Was this once a prison? The bars looked so old that if someone were to touch them, they could fall apart to that touch, even being metal.
In another of the cells I passed, I could have sworn that I saw a rotted old bone from a human skull still decomposing, which sent another chill right through me. Suddenly I hugged the light closer to myself, careful not to get burned by the fire, and the soup as well for some comfort. Oh where was the end of this pathway?
'I think I'm through…'
I said as I hit an open space. I didn't see any more cells and the pathway wasn't such a straight line as it just was walking down it. I proceeded slowly forward, only to bump into something and almost jump back from fright. I did stumble back a bit, but I caught myself before I could fall. I placed the light in my line of sight to illuminate what I just hit into.
It was some kind of chair, with leather straps and metal undertones that belted the person sitting in it by the wrists and ankles. There was something on the back of it that looked like it could reach the person head and bring it back and hold it there in place, so that they couldn't move. There was another part attached to the part that held the head back, that held the eyes open, as they looped out more to the sides, and then above all the other parts was a bucket with a tube, and some kind of filtration system.
I looked at it more closely.
'What.. is this..?'
I thought to myself walking closer. I looked up, as I moved the light up to see the bucket, and though it was empty and dry, I looked down to the ground beneath that of the chair. It was sandy, and the sand looked darker in color than the rest of the sand that I had come across thus far. My eyes widened.
"Could that be water?" I said. And the sudden realization hit me almost like a sack of bricks. I froze.
'.. This… this is a torture chamber… and those smaller rooms with bars.. those were holding cells for prisoners…'
I put it together in my head in shock.
'They tortured people…?'
Was the next question in my mind. I just couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe that Chikane's family would do such a thing. No, wait. I have to remember what Otoha said; that these chambers haven't been used in nearly centuries even, which means that Chikane couldn't have used these - they haven't been touched for hundreds of years. I sighed in relief.
'Whew… that could have been really scary. Being in the home of a family who owns a torture chamber and a prison in their basement.' I laughed to myself, thinking about how ridiculous that sounded now.
'I'm glad I didn't live hundreds of years ago. This thing looks really creepy…'
I thought as I shook my head. I had to keep going. I made sure to go around it slowly, and kept walking, and down into another corridor, a straight line corridor like the other, I went. I would get to Chikane, I had to.
With Chikane upstairs..
I was sitting on my bed, staring at the cloak draped over my desk chair.
'I should put that on and go see if Himeko's at the hot springs tonight.'
I thought somewhat lifelessly. I had this urgent sense of needing to talk to her, I knew I had to, but I felt just as hurt as I did the other night when I witnessed them kiss. The pain had dulled into kind of a deadpan demeanor where I didn't feel like doing anything, much less getting out of bed. But, the life of a princess doesn't constitute laziness, as my mother would say, so I had to get up and do a few things. But, returning to my bed after dinner to lay down, I still felt that same lethargic mood I did earlier today. And between my body and my mind, my mind seemed to be getting the most exercise; My thoughts were running away as I just wanted to lie still and sleep.
I sighed outwardly. My eyes redirected at the stars in the sky, looking out the cutout in my wall, we sometimes called a window. They twinkled in the night sky above, and though it was a little windy outside tonight, it was a clear night, where one could see all the stars. I folded my arms behind my head for a resting support for my head and continued to stare at them, finding all the constellations I could, to keep myself occupied for the time being.
Just then, there came a knock at my door. I turned my head to see who it was who was entering into my domain. There were no torches lit for light, and the natural light of the sun had gone with the day, and the moon was too far overhead tonight to shine in the window upon me.
"Do not be alarmed, Miss." She spoke softly and immediately I knew who it was. "I'm here to inform you of something." I sat up in curiosity.
"Well, there's someone here to see you. A visitor." She stated. I seemed a little perplexed. A visitor at this hour? "She came bearing an item to present to you with well wishes to get better, and is currently on her way up to see you." She continued. The expression on my face changed to worry. The visitor would be in trouble if they were seen. She continued, before the worried thoughts could continue any further.
"Do not worry, Miss. I have told her to take the second staircase down from the side entrance door. She will go through the chambers in the basement, but eventually she'll be led to the staircase directly ascending up to your room. That way she will not be detected by anyone." She stated. "I am on my way to make sure that your parents are all set for the night, which should provide more time for her to get here, and even more confirmation that she'll make it here undetected." She explained more.
I grabbed her arm lightly and wrote on it;
'Who, is it, Otoha?'
"Oh. The visitor's name, she said, was Himeko." She said. And immediately, I felt my heart skip a beat in the good kind of way. Though my stomach sank, butterflies were the next thing that followed, even if they were in just little spurs. A smile wanted to spread upon my lips, but I wouldn't let it, or rather, it wouldn't come out due to the routine of how I've felt these past few days. And then my heart got its rhythm back, but this time it was faster, almost like a pounding drum, and some kind of hope was restored in me once more, with her name.
'Himeko… is in the palace?'
I wrote again, to which she nodded.
"Yes, she is. She told me you two know one another, and that you have met before." I nodded this time.
'Yes, that's true.'
I wrote in almost seductive caresses to her arm. I didn't mean to do that, it was subconscious I suppose. I was recalling our past couple of moments together, Himeko and I, in the hot springs, which made me want to feel her kiss again. Feel her touch again, feel her body and her warmth again. I looked off into the distance, with probably a blush on my face, and my hand still caressing the skin of Otoha's arm. She blushed out of embarrassment and pulled her arm back, but then, she realized I wasn't looking at her. That's when she cleared her throat, which made me snap out of my trance, and look at her, and she huffed, walking back over to my door and making her way out.
"Well, I bid you adieu for now, Miss Chikane. I shall go attend to your parents." She left the door open, just a bit. I watched her leave and waved goodbye as she made her way out and her footfalls disappeared into the distance with her. I could only wait patiently while Himeko made her way up here. I hope she wasn't lost, or frightened.
With Himeko…
I continued down this other long hallway. And down this one, there were more cells to my right, and more devices used to torture those prisoners to my left, all smaller than the contraption I saw back there. I was beginning to feel a little creeped out; But I knew I had to keep going, regardless of whatever history this place has. I had to find my way out and to Chikane, and this was the only way to do it.
I would be brave.
'Just keep going Himeko… you've got this. You're almost there.'
I thought to myself, though I didn't actually know the length of the hallway I was going down. I just believed that it would be over soon if I thought it would be. And sure enough, it turned out, I was right. I reached the end of the hallway and was dumped out into more of a circular open space now. It seemed like there were things on the walls, but because it was so dark, I couldn't tell what they were. I walked further in cautiously, and ended up stepping on something, which startled me a little, but not enough to throw me off balance. But it did set something else in motion.
One by one the torches on the wall began to light up, a chain reaction from my clumsy mistake. It lit up the area just enough for me to see; And I could see something I would have never expected to see. In the middle of the room were ballet shoes, all worn and tattered. And in front of those, a little ways from them, were plated glass mirrors. I saw the reflection of the shoes in the mirror, and then I saw my own reflection. This, out of all I've seen down here, had to be the creepiest thing yet.
What was a room for dancing doing amongst torture chambers and prison cells? Unless.. this wasn't a dance room, this was another form of torture for the prisoners. To dance until their feet bled, or they died or dehydration and heat stroke from all the fire. Or maybe they were made to dance, and if they couldn't get it right they would be hit until they did, and when they couldn't carry on they'd be left here to die the same.
I shivered again.
'Easy Himeko…'
I tried to calm myself. I couldn't let my imagination get the better of me. But, still, it was curious that this should be here. I looked around to see if there were more mirrors. Nope, the only mirrors that were around were the ones I originally saw at the front of the room. There were no other pairs of shoes in here either. Just the one. It was a little odd, but I wasn't one to question things. Instead the question that came to mind was…
'I wonder how long ago these shoes were used… If there's only one pair, could it have been made for someone specific?'
I looked at them, bending down to view them more closely.
'They look too big to fit me.'
I concluded.
'Maybe they'd fit Chikane-chan… I bet she'd look beautiful wearing these. I wonder if she can dance…'
My thoughts wandered. Then, suddenly, I shook my head.
"No.. I have to find Chikane-chan… Now, how do I put these lights out?" I asked, looking around, but, because of the hurry I was in, I didn't see a way to put them out. I sighed, feeling defeated.
"I guess they'll just have to stay on for now. I'm sorry." I bowed my head and then hurried forward only to be met by a staircase, this one led up. My face lit up again.
'Chikane-chan… here I come.'
I was able to see the little bits of light from the torches shining at the top of the staircase I was headed up. I searched for the nearest holder on the wall, and placed the torch I was carrying in it, so I could safely climb the stairs without much in my hands. When I made it to the top, all was silent and still. It looked dark, but that was only because the day had gone, and there were torches placed here and there, just enough to illuminate the major rooms so one would know where they were going. I followed the torches placed on the walls with my eyes. I looked from the farthest one back to the nearest one forward. The nearest one was right next to me, on a wall that seemed to be the opposite side to another staircase.
'That must be where Chikane-chan is…'
I thought as I began my turning the corner. I looked around, careful not to make a sound. I really couldn't believe that I was in the palace right now. Maybe, some other day, I'd get to see all of its beauty, but for right now, I needed to find Chikane's room and give this to her. But, from what I could see in the shadows and silhouettes of darkness, both from the night and from the torches still shining, Chikane-chan looked to have a lovely home; And when you really sat down to think about it, it wasn't all that different from my own, just a bit bigger. I smiled at the thought and proceeded up the stairs as quietly as I could.
When I reached the top, I looked down another hallway.
'I'm almost there… now… which one is Chikane's room? I don't want to mess up and get caught…'
I looked back and forth between all the doors on my left and right. There were so many rooms and corridors and hallways in this palace; It'd be enough to make someone's head spin! I proceeded slowly down the hallway, unable to see clearly, really.
'Oh which one is it?'
I thought to myself, and then I stopped where I was, facing this one door that was slightly cracked open. My eyes glimmered with happiness.
'This must be Chikane's room. It has to be.'
I couldn't explain why, I just knew that maybe she'd have the door open for me. And even if it was closed, I had this strange feeling coming over me, sensing almost that Chikane was in there. I didn't get this feeling with any of the other doors I passed; This has to be the one.
Slowly, I reached for the doorknob and turned it, opening the door a little more. I closed my eyes and took some brave steps forward, and when I had entered the room, I opened my eyes. There on the bed sat a person, seemingly waiting for me, in her nightclothes. I smiled.
'Chikane..'
I thought happily as I looked at her. And I could swear, from the little light was upon her face, I could see a smile creep onto her lips too, and I knew we shared a common thought.
She looked back at me with wonder, just the same as I had in my eyes. I had made it.
With the King's Court of Orochi…
"Are you ready, Girochi?" Miyako asked, almost accusingly. It seemed she had no faith in her brother when it came to arrangements, plans, or anything really. She adjusted her glasses, and waited for his answer.
"Hell yeah I'm ready. I've been ready for this since the king died." He smirked, excitedly. Then he crossed his arms which made the chains on his arms jingle a bit. "Honestly, sis, you should have more faith in me. King Oogami didn't make me his general for nothing." He boasted.
"Yes, yes, I suppose you do have a point." She dismissed. "But it's good to know that all the preparations have been made." She spoke playfully, with a smirk.
"Tricking him was easy." Corona added. "I mean I always thought the self-righteous prince would deny us any right to go to war. That pansy wouldn't know war if it hit him in the face." She crossed her arms, as well, exclaiming.
"Either way, we would have our victory." Reiko spoke as she seemed to be sitting back in her chair at her desk. For once she didn't have anything to write down or make sure was complete, the instrument she used to write was laying on the desk in front of her. Everything was calm for her.
"What do you mean?" Corona threw back out at her.
"She means that, even without the prince's word, we'd have our attack." Miyako said sinisterly.
"You mean that we would go behind the prince's back?" Corona asked again, redirecting her gaze to Miyako.
"Yes, Girochi would have still told his troops to prepare for what we are about to do. I would have taken control of the plan and the rest of the preparations to make sure that plan works. And you all, would help make sure that we get our victory, as such." Miyako smirked.
"I like it." Corona added, with a smirk of her own.
"But, Prince Souma isn't going to be happy about what we're doing, na." Chirped up a worried Nekoko. "What if he sees what is happening and tries to stop us, na?"
There was a pause of silence in the room. Miyako opened her mouth to speak, but stopped as she realized that someone was standing in the entryway to the courtroom. He was leaning against the frame where the door would close, with one foot on that frame as well. His arms were crossed and his eyes were closed. He had a straw piece in his mouth as he stood there mysteriously. Slowly, he opened his eyes, which even in the dark shined a blood red, and his mouth slowly changed to a smirk.
"He won't." He slowly spoke up. All eyes in the room turned to look at him.
There stood the man, with turquoise hair, blood red eyes, and a garb loose-fitting, as if ready at any moment to fight. On his back he bore a sword, long and thin.
"And just who are you?" Corona barked out bravely.
"My name is Tsubasa… and I am Souma's older brother. I'll make sure he doesn't go anywhere while the invasion takes place. You just make sure to do your job and I'll make sure to do mine." He said toughly, taking the piece of straw out of his mouth and playing around with it in his fingers.
"Souma's… older … brother…?" Corona seemed shocked. Tsubasa just smirked.
"The older boy in the story that killed his father, for the sake of his kingdom. Who ran away as to not be remembered for his sin, a murderer, never to return again - has returned." Miyako spoke dramatically.
"But, I thought he wasn't coming back." Reiko said calmly.
"Yeah, and what's up with that?" Girochi started again, his chains jingling as his arms flailed angrily. "He just said he's that punk prince's older brother. Why should we let him help us? He's only going to betray us in the end anyway for the prince." Girochi angrily made his point. He crossed his arms once more time. "I don't trust him, Miyako." He looked at Tsubasa wearily.
"Easy Girochi." Miyako said calmly. "Yes it's true that he vowed never to return to this kingdom, and that he is related to the prince. It is also true that he killed the king, our beloved leader, which some of you may find hard to trust." Miyako started, Girochi made a face, as did Corona. "But, worry not little lambs. Everything will go as it will. There is a plan for all of us, including Tsubasa, and his plan is to help us." She spoke again dramatically, as if preaching.
"So you're telling me that we should trust the guy who killed the king? That doesn't make any sense!" Corona shouted.
"Allow me to explain." Miyako said. "During the time he was here and his father was still alive, he grew inside of him a strong hatred for the man who appointed us to council. The hatred was so deep in fact that he killed the man in cold blood. A man whom was supposed to be his father, he was able to kill without a hint of remorse. He claimed it was to protect his brother and himself from harm, and so, to spare Souma from the ugly sight, told him to run and never look back. But, in truth what he didn't want him to see was the smirk on his face as the blood of his father splattered all over his skin. They say that the king was decorated in some kind of straw bearing to look like gold. Someone had stolen it, therefore he couldn't wear it. And to this day Tsubasa carries around that piece of straw in his mouth taken from his father's bearing, as a reminder of who he was and still is." Miyako spoke mysteriously. Tsubasa just placed his hands in his pockets as he listened to her story.
"Whoa, dude. You killed our old man just because you hated him?" Girochi spoke. Tsubasa silently nodded.
"He's a killing machine. And he's Souma's older brother. He's definitely going to be a valuable asset in this invasion, wouldn't you say? Plus… it only works in our favor that he is willing to lend his talents and services to our help. He wants to help us, and he says he'll do whatever he needs to do to succeed, even if it means someone's death. I think we can trust him, if he's willing to wager a life on it." Miyako spoke again accusingly. She seemed to be adamant about defending him. "He's on our side." She concluded with a smirk.
"Indeed I am, and I have my first order of business. You guys just make sure that you don't screw up." He said exiting the room and heading for Souma's quarters, placing the piece of straw back in his mouth. There was a chill that ran through the room, and one could almost feel the cold coming right off of him.
Miyako shivered in delight.
"Alright, let's get this plan in motion." Girochi said.
"Indeed, let's." Miyako agreed. All of the council rose from their seats and began on their way out to where the troops were preparing in the barracks. The move was under way.
With Chikane and Himeko…
Himeko was standing in the doorway, shyly, unsure if she could enter more into my domain. I gently patted the bed right next to me.
Slowly, she made her way over to my bed and sat down. I looked at her curiously. She smiled shyly with a blush on her face.
"U-um…" She started shyly. "I made this for you, Chikane-chan." She said in a small voice. She could barely hold eye contact with me. And though she was providing a good enough distraction from my present deadpan thoughts, the feelings were still there; The good news was that now I could talk to her about it, and work it all out. Yeah, that's it, we'd work it out and everything would be fine. Nonetheless, my eyes wandered to what she was holding curiously.
"It's a special kind of homemade soup. It's good for curing pretty much anything. I know you've been sick for a while… I t-thought this could make you feel better." She said, holding it out to me. I gently took it from her hands, and blushed myself; She didn't have to go through all that trouble for me. She blushed more intensely too, as our hands met, under the hot temperature of the soup she handed to me. I gently took it from her and set it down on my nightstand. Then I took her arm and wrote upon the skin;
'Thank you Himeko.'
She smiled.
"Y-you're welcome Chikane-chan. M-my pleasure." She stuttered out. She was so cute, I couldn't take it.
'Otoha told me you were here.'
I wrote next and she nodded.
"Yes, I met her outside and helped her with the trash. It looked so heavy all on her own. Then she was kind enough to let me in to see you." She noted.
'I see.'
I wrote. She looked at me concerned.
"Are you alright, Chikane-chan?" She must have sensed that my strokes weren't as concise and neat as they usually were, and that my answers were short. I nodded, again, another short response.
"W-well, if you say so. I… hope you're not hurt or anything because that would be bad. And I…I want to make you happy, Chikane." She said, almost like she was going to cry for me. I shook my head, managing a small smile.
'Please don't cry. I'm fine, Himeko. Honest.'
I wrote, though I wasn't quite sure it was true. I thought about telling her, but maybe bringing that up wasn't the best way to approach what I had to say. So she nodded, and waited a moment, a pause in our conversation before I wrote…
'Himeko… do you love me?'
She looked at the ground and blushed. She was playing with her hands nervously. And after another moment of pause, I wrote gently..
'Well… do you?'
She nodded, and looked at me, nervously.
"Y-yeah…" She stuttered out, nervously yes, but almost as if it were an answer I should have already known. It seemed the mood was turning darker, and that's not what I wanted. So I tried to write again gently on her arm…
'Good then, I'm glad.'
"Yeah and I think I remembered the presents this time." She said. Presents? Ah yes, the items she said she forgot at the hot springs. I let go of her arm so she could dig through her pockets to look for them, but when her hands kept going back and forth between the pockets of her clothes and finding nothing in them, she looked down again and sighed in defeat. She seemed really upset that she must have forgotten them again. She mumbled…
"Looks like I forgot them again… Clumsy me." She sighed.
I grabbed her arm gently and wrote.
'It's okay Himeko… you'll just get them next time.'
I reassured her and she nodded. I wrote next.
'Why don't you come lay down with me?'
I let go of her and scooted over in the bed, making enough room for her to lie down on the side I was just sitting on. I laid down on the side closer to the cutout window, on my side so I could face her. Shyly, she took my invitation and laid down next to me, on her side, facing me. Though my blush had faded some, her blush intensified. She looked confused. I tilted my head curiously. She caught this.
"I-It's just… why did you ask if I loved you Chikane-chan? Y-you know I do…" She stated. Perhaps she was not even aware of what she was saying right now. She loved me, in the way that I was hoping for, in the way that I imagined it was ever since that kiss? Himeko's way too kind at heart, I'm sure that's what it is… and I'm sure she loves Souma in all reality, and I was just caught in a moment and played like a fool. I looked downward at the bed, and then grabbed her hand and wrote in her palm…
'That kiss…'
I wrote slowly. She looked down as well.
'Felt good. It meant something, Himeko.'
I continued.
'I'd like to believe that it meant something.'
I wrote in continuation. She nodded.
"It was like nothing I've ever felt before, Chikane-chan. Of course it was special." She reassured me shyly, trying her best not to shake and stutter. I smiled some. So it meant something to her too?
'The other night… I saw you and the prince… standing outside the palace…'
She was shaking now, and the tears began to well in her eyes. She almost appeared like she was going to cry. I looked at her concernedly, and let go of her hand just in case. But, to my surprise, she gripped mine for comfort, and I just held hers lightly in my own, rubbing my thumb on the top of it.
"Y-you saw Oogami and I…" She repeated to me. "I'm.. I'm so sorry Chikane-chan…" The tears began to fall down her face. "I'm sorry … I hurt you, didn't I?" She stammered. I wanted to wipe her cheeks and take her into my embrace, but I had to let her finish before I could do any of that. Out would come the truth only with patience and I had to give that to her. I held her hand tighter and she continued, after swallowing a lump in her throat. "I didn't mean to… h-he kissed me. I guess you didn't see what happened after…" She trailed. "The kiss ended and … I .. I started crying again. I didn't know why. Souma looked so worried, but it wasn't his fault… He didn't do anything wrong, I just… couldn't figure out what made me so sad. I couldn't figure out what made me cry, when all he did was love me…" She explained, in a fit of sadness. I had reached a possible conclusion before she even began to speak again. And my eyes closed, my lips curved into an all-knowing smile, and I patiently waited to hear the rest.
"B-but I think I know now what it was that made me cry… Why I felt so sad even after having so much fun with Souma." She stated, trying to get rid of the tears so she could look at me more clearly. "It was because when I was with him, it didn't feel right. When I was with him, I kept thinking about you Chikane. It was you, I wanted to go on that date with. And it was you I wished would have kissed me again. And it was you.. it just feels right with you…" She trailed again. I pulled her into my embrace and held her, stroking through her hair. She stopped crying slowly, with some sobs left over here and there. When she stopped crying, I wore only a smile. She said softly, with her eyes closed.
"I realize now…" She started. "I love you Chikane." The heat grew on her face a little bit. I wrote on her back softly…
'And I love you too Himeko.'
I could feel the heartbeat in her chest speed up, and the delight pick back up on her face a little bit. At least she was smiling now, and not crying. So what I had seen was a mistake, Himeko does love me. And I love her.. good.
'I always have.'
I added, to which she agreed and nodded. She bent back a little to be able to look at my face. I took my hand and wiped the remaining wetness off her face. She looked up at me, and met my eyes, and I looked down at her, meeting hers. And before she could say anything else, and I could even think another thought; Our lips met, in the same bliss they did in the hot springs. Only this time, it was better, it was more sweet, more intense, more clear, of the love we had for one another. This time we didn't want to stop, we didn't have to knowing that people would be awake soon and we could get caught. No, instead, we just pulled each other closer, and continued to kiss as long as it felt good, as long as it felt right. I wrapped my arms around her waist, and she managed to wiggle her arms around my neck and there we laid together, in an eternal embrace of love.
We kissed, and continued to kiss, an undying passion between us. Our eyes closed in a comforting dark known as love in the night.
Perhaps talking was the problem, or perhaps restraining our true feelings was; But, now that we knew of the fires in our hearts, there was nothing that could keep us apart. And so into the night this passion raged on. And though we were only kissing deeply, it seemed there was never going to be enough to satisfy us. Himeko was not only my voice, she was my perfect oasis, of love, healing, happiness, and sunlight. She was the charm that made this kingdom so bright in its days - And I was a singular fortress standing in the moon's light awaiting for one day my sun to eclipse me again.
[End of Chapter 14].
Author's Note: Oooh~ some action there. Things are really heating up, despite the coming month of October for our characters here in the story. I hope you'll stay tuned for the next chapter coming up soon. Tell me your predictions people! I'd love to hear them. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.