Title: Admit Defeat
Prompt 049: How does she respond when accused of something?
Word Count: 508 / Written on 11/28/14
Timeline: Late in the series.
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"Let me go," the girl said, on her knees. Her dirt-streaked arms were twisted behind her, secured with cloth torn from her plain kimono. Her dark hair was short, barely reaching her shoulders. It looked like it had been hacked off recently with no ceremony.
A woman stood before her, her silks richly dyed. Her long hair gleamed and no filth marred her white hands – the deed had clearly been done by someone out of Masako's range of sight. They seemed to be in a storage room, with crates around them. A few candles were their source of light. She wondered what era the vision was based in.
"It was important for you to know your place, girl," the elegant woman said. "Look at you. You look terrible. To think you were one of my own maids."
Masako watched the vision with half-lidded eyes. She wouldn't let herself be caught up in the emotion. She was better than that. She distracted her own sub-conscience by thinking of Naru. They should go on another date soon. She knew she was pushing him, but with Mai and her as the candidates, how could it be so hard to make a decision?
The maid ducked her head and let what hair she had left cover her face. "Don't look at me," she said, her voice stronger than her circumstances should have allowed.
The elegant woman leaned down and caught the maid's chin, pressing her nails into the skin as she forced her to raise her head. "What is your relationship with my husband?"
"Just a companion. He requested it, my lady."
"You're lying," the elegant woman said. "He would not do that."
"Don't accuse me, my lady. You just clearly don't know your husband."
The elegant woman released the maid's face and backhanded her. The girl didn't cry out, she only leveled a stare at the woman above her. "He'll know that it was you who roughed me up," she said, "And he'll know it was you if I just disappear. I had warned him."
Masako felt the maid had clearly proved she was much more than just a companion.
"Who do you think you are?" The elegant woman did not raise her voice, but the strain was audible now. "You plain, low-born, stupid girl – what does he see in you?"
Masako closed her eyes and took a deep breath when her stomach churned. When she opened her eyes, something had changed. She now stood in the place of the elegant woman, and she recognized the girl that kneeled before her. It was Mai.
Masako's composure was quickly gone, and she felt her heart begin to race. Was this something that had happened in the past? How many times had she and Mai fought over the same man?
"I guess he sees in me," Mai said, "Everything he can't find in you."
Masako stumbled back, unable to breathe properly, and the scene started to fade away.
Just how many times had she lost?
Was it time to let the past repeat itself and admit defeat again?
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Hello everyone! I had originally planned for Wishing Well to be a 100 prompt list, but I had not taken in consideration that the list I was working off of was originally designed for three characters. I have found that as I move through it the prompts are becoming repetitive. So, I've decided to complete it at 50, so I can work on some other ideas without feeling like I'm neglecting this collection.
I actually have prompt 50 finished, and I don't want to spoil anything…but if you are a Mai and Naru shipper I think you are going to like it.
I know I repeat this too often but thank you so much for all your comments, favs, and follows. They really mean a lot to me!
