The castle was in turmoil, and for the Chief of Staff it was a total nightmare. Ever since the new Daimyo had been named, and the previous one, 'cough, cough' "stepping down", Taraji had had his hands full. There was to be a new coronation if there was a new Daimyo, and of course he'd agreed to set it up...it was his job after all. Taraji rubbed his neck gently, running his fingers over the marks that had been left before he'd 'agreed' with his new master.
"Taraji! Taraji!" A voice called out panicked, and with a sigh the Head of Staff turned to face the latest crisis.
"What, Jeminja? What could possibly be the matter now?" He snapped in annoyance. "The food has been decided, invitations sent out to all the heads of clans and lands, lords and ladies have been summoned, staff chosen, entertainment finalized, table decorations prepared, seating and tables mapped out, the new throne's been ordered." He said in a rush, ticking off everything on his list as the little bunny maid looked up at him with her big brown eyes. "What could possibly be the matter now?" The bunny opened her mouth to speak, but Taraji barreled on. "I settled the dispute between Lord Naraiki and Lord Konami, I chose the flowers to be presented to the Ladies upon arrival, rooms have been assigned for the early arrivals..." Taraji's words finally started to slow, and Jeminja took the opportunity to speak.
"Sir," She began timidly. "Madame Loraline has decided not to preform, she has left the castle grounds."
"WHAT?" Taraji shouted, his eyes widening in shock. "Madame Loraline has decided to leave? She decided?" He bit out. "And you didn't try to stop her?" He demanded angrily, glaring at the cowering maid.
"I'm sorry, she-"
"She was the main singer from our entertainment group! What am I supposed to do now? Where am I supposed to get a new act?" He glared, and twirled away from the trembling bunny. "Thanks for yet another inconvenience, Jeminja, you are the greatest." He muttered, scowling.
"Sir!" Jeminja called out again, and Taraji turned back with an annoyed expression.
"What now? What else could possibly be more important than me finding a replacement for Madame Loraline? Who could replace the Madame anyway? You keep giving me problems, don't you realize just how stressful my job is right now? Do you want to try running this whole place? Can you run a castle? Speak up! Stop mumbling, it drives me insane! If you have something to say, just spit it out already!"
"S-Sir, there are three ladies at the door requesting your audience." Jeminja said meekly, trying to gather some courage to speak to the stressed out Head of Staff.
"Highborn or low?" Taraji sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose with a sigh.
"Um, neither. They want to request your audience to become part of the entertainment acts."
"Splendid! For once you're making yourself useful, Jeminja! This might be perfect, you might have solved my latest crisis. Oh, are these women terrible?" He worried.
"Come see, Sir." Jeminja said, bobbing her head quickly and leading the Staff Chief to the servants' front door. The entrance was specifically designed for the comings and goings of 'low born', the main front entrance reserved for the nobles. Taraji was grateful these new entertainers had the forethought to avoid scandal by using the back door to the castle. Jeminja stopped in the foyer of the back entrance where three women were waiting, two standing, one sitting down on a chair.
The girl on the chair was smiling serenely as another maid chatted to her, the new arrival's dark brown hair framing her face and accentuating her large blue eyes. A touch of blue eyeshadow graced her eyelids, and her lips were colored pink. In traditional style, the lady on the chair was wearing a long blue kimono, a dragon pattern flying on the fabric. The blue fabric seemed perfect for the girl, and as the entertainer reached up to push a lock of hair behind her ear Taraji noted the red nails on her fingers, a nice cherry red that matched the red dragon on her kimono.
The second arrival, a slender girl with long blond hair pulled back in a braid, stood timidly behind the girl in the chair. She was slight of build with meek green eyes that were lowered to the floor, and Taraji nodded his approval. She knows her place. He thought approvingly. Like the first girl, this one was also in a kimono, a light purple one patterned with white flowers across the flowing fabric. Her hands were clasped in front of her, her head slightly bowed in a servitude way. A careful smile graced her red
painted lips, her green eyes punctuated with black eyeliner. Her green eyes flickered toward Taraji after realizing he was there, before quickly darting to the floor.
The third girl was standing tall and proud, and Taraji's lips pulled into a frown. This girl could be trouble. He mused. She stood strong and confident beside the meek blond, the fiery red of her hair matching her solid red kimono and just boasting she wasn't going to be told what to do. Her hair was a mix of the two styles he had witnessed on the other two ladies, a side braid while the rest simply flowed over her shoulder and down her back. Her green eyes kept a watchful eye on everything around her, a wariness he respected and knew himself. New environment, anything could go wrong.
The blond girl tapped the redhead, and motioned in his direction. The fiery one looked him straight in the eyes, refusing to break eye contact, and just showing she wouldn't be easily cowed.
"Clarissa?" The red head spoke softly, and the brunette blinked.
"He's here now, isn't he?" The blond, Clarissa, spoke calmly.
"Yep." The red head replied. Taraji decided now was the time to introduce himself.
"Hello, welcome to the Daimyo' Palace." He began, striding toward the three girls. "I am Taraji, Chief of Staff, how may I be of assistance?" He asked formally, and Clarissa smiled, her eyes looking over his shoulder.
"It's wonderful to meet you, Mr. Taraji. I am Clarissa, and these are my sisters Melody," The blond smiled timidly. "and Valentine." The red head nodded, her face impassive. "We came to see if entertainment was needed for the coronation of our new ruler."
"Well, that's nice of you three. What can you do?" He sighed. Amateurs, what else was I supposed to expect? He sighed inwardly.
"I am a singer sir. My sisters Melody and Valentine dance." Clarissa smiled, her eyes still trained over his shoulder.
"And why should I recruit you? And what are you staring at?" He demanded, twirling to see what was so interesting.
"Oh, you must forgive me sir. Besides my voice, I am cursed." Clarissa said simply, shrugging. Taraji looked at the girl with new eyes. A curse? That could spice things up...and if anything, our new Daimyo likes things different...
"What kind of curse are you under?" He asked cautiously.
"Not just myself sir, my sisters as well. I am cursed to never see, not light nor color. I hear and I speak, but as you can tell, I never truly know with whom I speak. My sister Melody, she is cursed to never speak. She has never uttered a word her whole life long, and never will because of this curse. My other sister, Valentine, cannot hear. Cursed to never hear a voice, or a ringing bell, or even the sunrise." Clarissa explained, her soft voice almost melodic. "We were cursed at birth, and as you can tell, are the most unusual trio you could come across."
"Hm." Taraji mused.
"We are the Entertainers Three; one cursed to speak and see but never hear, one to see and hear but never speak, and the last to hear and speak but never see. Together, we are magical, apart we are nothing." Clarissa smiled, her glossy blue eyes locking on his. "If you allow us to perform, you won't be sorry. As unusual as we are, the Daimyo would be praised for thinking of us and allowing us to act. Think of the acclaim he'd be given, and you in response, for allowing such as ourselves to perform. He'd be praised for looking out for the people, and would be risen in society's standards for providing such a honor for us simple women. Would the praise not be great? Isn't an extraordinary move politically and socially? It would prove he cared for the average man in his new kingdom, that he was so great he didn't mind stooping to speak to women such as ourselves. If you could prove otherwise that this move isn't wonderfully strategic on all sides, we'd gladly leave."
Taraji looked at the brunette with shock and new found respect. She was wise with words, and her voice was obviously good, every word she spoke was lilting with music.
"It is a smart move." Taraji nodded slowly, forgetting she couldn't see the movement. "And you are correct, it's strategically sound. But I must hear your voice, sing something." Clarissa smiled softly, and her eyes lowered to the floor modestly.
"Here?" She asked carefully.
"Where else?" He asked easily.
"As you say." Clarissa took in a deep breath, breathing from her diaphragm, and sang.
"I peer through windows,
Watch life go by,
Dream of tomorrow,
And wonder "why"?
The past is holding me,
Keeping life at bay,
I wander lost in yesterday,
Wanting to fly -
But scared to try.
But if someone like you
Found someone like me,
Then suddenly
Nothing would ever be the same!
My heart would take wing,
And I'd feel so alive -
If someone like you
Found me!
So many secrets
I've longed to share!
All I have needed
Is someone there,
To help me see a world
I've never seen before -
A love to open every door,
To set me free,
So I can soar!
If someone like you
Found someone like me,
Then suddenly
Nothing would ever be the same!
There'd be a new way to live,
A new life to love,
If someone like you
Found me!
Oh, if someone like you
Found someone like me,
Then suddenly
Nothing would ever be the same!
My heart would take wing,
And I'd feel so alive
If someone like you
Loved me...
Loved me...
Loved me!..."
Her voice was...amazing. It was sweet and passionate, strong and believable, soft when necessary, and inflection was evident. The song itself...extraordinary. The whole servants' quarters had stopped and listened, no one was working as they tried to hear the lovely voice.
"That was...amazing." Taraji murmured. Clarissa smiled at the ground, modest even after proving she had more than meets the eye when it came to cursed people. "You'll be performing all right, you must after that song. Jeminja, set them up in one of the rooms reserved for entertainers." Jeminja blinked, falling out of the awe she had just felt in regards to the new singer's voice. "Quickly!" Taraji snapped, and the whole staff came back to life, hustling and bustling under Taraji's scrutiny. "Welcome to the Daimyo's castle, I hope you enjoy your stay!" Taraji called, and went back to preparing for the coronation.
~(0)~
Song by Jekyll and Hyde, Someone Like You