Marksman
A war has left a nation torn and its remaining heirs escaping with their lives. Little did the Admiral know that by taking them in, it would alter the life of his daughter drastically, especially when her curiosity draws her closer to the budding marksman. One night, after receiving news of her abduction, the ranger departed on an arduous journey, vowing to bring her home safely.
Previously:
She felt a gaze on her and realized the brunette from across the canyon looked up in her direction – could she see her from this distance? The figure felt a shiver down her spine. It was thrilling and exciting. She hadn't felt that way before. She sucked in a breath, "The most amazing woman I have ever laid my eyes on."
Turning back around, she clacked her tongue as she walked off, "Tch. Stupid Miya. Now I'll have more work to do." She looked up into the blue skies and nodded, "But no matter. It was worth it; otherwise I would never have found the perfect woman."
Chapter 6
Italics – Thoughts
The ballroom in Admiral Tetsuo's manor was grand. The tall ceilings were elegantly decorated with the country's finest glasswork, in the widest variety of colors one could imagine. When the sunlight streamed in through the wide paneled windows, it cast a myriad of colors across the expanse of the polished marble floor and against the white sandstone bricks.
Right now, the floor was brimming with throngs of people, in preparation for the first dance of the day. It was the annual festival for the seafarers of Vitilus; where fishermen, naval officers, seadivers and their respective Raptors would be honored. They were the backbone of the nation and it had been customary since the beginning of time. The Admiral's manor would then be opened to the officers and nobles; whilst the main square would be lined with stores of every kind for the citizens of Vitilus to participate in the festivities.
As the Admiral's daughter grew into age, the Admiral found that the crowd at the manor was getting larger and larger every year. Most of the time, it was filled with young men and today was no exception. He knew their intent of course, but he never spoke about it before; preferring to leave the decision to his daughter. He knew his little Shizuru had grown. As Admiral Tetsuo watched the help bustle about in their preparation, he started to ponder. It wasn't just the men, though. He had seen with his own eyes, hired maids squealing in glee every time Shizuru disappeared from sight after speaking to them. Stroking his chin, he wondered, 'Maybe it was time to speak with her now?'
"Father?"
Tetsuo glanced up, his train of thought broken. "Hey my darling," he greeted her heartily, "Are you ready for the festival today?"
"Of course, Father. This is an important day for Vitilus. The seafarers of Vitilus are our backbone; we should always remember and honor them."
The Admiral nodded, "Did they remember to prepare your mother's favorite pudding?" He asked casually, diverting his glance to the bustling floor as he tried to think of how to approach his daughter.
Shizuru glanced at her father, sensing something amiss but replied him nonetheless, "Yes Father, I made sure of that this morning. I had an extra hidden in the kitchen just in case something happened like last year." She chuckled as she remembered her mother sulking all day after a server had tripped and strewn her beloved dessert all over the hall. There was a slight pause before she continued, "Is there something you wish to talk to me about?"
Tetsuo raised an eyebrow, but wasn't very much surprised. Shizuru had always been extremely perceptive. He cleared his throat, "Ah.. Shizuru darling, you know that every year there are many men asking you for the first dance. Out of those that you have accepted, have you considered any?"
"Ara! Father can't wait to send me off?"
"Of course not! You will always be my little Shizuru. It's just that.."
Before he could continue, the trumpets blared below, signaling the commencement of the festivities.
Shizuru easily hooked her arm around his, "Father, do not worry. Let's not keep our guests waiting, shall we?"
He smiled, patting her hand in assurance, "Whatever you decide, Shizuru. Know that you mother and I will always be on your side."
XXX
My eyes roved across the huge room until they settled upon the familiar honey locks. Her back was against me, but I knew for certain it was her. I shrugged unconsciously to myself. I guess it was the way her hair fell whenever she tied it up into a neat little bun like that. Either way she wore it, she looked beautiful. I sucked in a quick breath at that thought, swallowing the dry autumn wind.
Yes, she was beautiful. That was my first impression of her when she daintily stepped through the large doors, so many years ago. Already in my first week at the Vitilus manor, I've seen for myself how popular she was. Beautiful and elegant; charming and clever. A well-loved princess.
Yet, why would someone like her take notice of me? Shizuru was persistent, I could give you that. I remembered that I had growled at her the day she pounced on me, particularly peeved especially after she laughed at the sight of my reddening face when I looked down and saw that she was straddling me. She said that it was cute! I argued vehemently that, coming from the North where winters are long, I naturally had fairer skin. Of course, that biological factor and the fact that she was all over me never helped my case. Naturally, being Shizuru, she wielded the newfound information to her advantage, developing a prevalent streak of teasing me after that day.
It started with attaching prefix to my name like – My Dear Natsuki, My Beloved. It then evolved itself when I started getting used to those. I sighed – I could go on for days with the list of pet names she comes up with – Shizuru really has a way with words. I found myself warming up to her touches, when she spontaneously grabs my hand whenever she's excited – like that time Duran first took wing; or every time she clings onto my arm for warmth when the Wintery Breeze blows from Kagen Mountains across the little ledge we've come to claim as ours.
The question still bugged me and eventually; after we started to hang out more; I asked her why she took interest in me the first time. She looked at me squarely, with genuine curiosity in her eyes and replied easily – we were friends.
'Friends..' I thought to myself that time. Yes, she was right. Her response made me realize that I had learnt to trust her. The first person to earn it, ever since my parents were taken away from me and the viciousness of humanity had caught up with my childhood.
I knew one thing. The friendship she had extended to me had changed my world. Five years, though it seems like just yesterday, I smiled to myself, ruffling Duran's furry head when he tilted it at me. I peered through the skylight, back at the bustling main hall. The band was preparing to play its first piece and I saw a fairly tall man in front of her, picking up her hand and kissing it lightly.
I snorted, toying with my glove begrudgingly as I turned around, leaning heavily against the panels, waiting for the music to start playing. I never liked it; this festival; I didn't know why though.
XXX
The music stopped and the young man removed his hand from her waist and bowed. The eighteen year old curtsied to her dance partner, thanking him. She noticed his interest but her mind was far more occupied. She merely accepted the obligatory first dance as she didn't want to spoil tradition. She, however, made it a point to never pick the same man twice to avoid future complications. She hurried up the small marble steps to the seats and whispered in the Admiral's ear. He blinked once, peering at his daughter but nodded with a small smile. The young princess kissed her mother Fio on the forehead, before taking her leave.
Her pace quickened as soon as she was out in the courtyard, her Raptor trotting after her. It was rather empty as everyone was either in the town square or in the main ballroom. Her ruby irises immediately scanned the tops of the buildings. Natsuki liked to perch herself atop a nice vantage spot. She was always one to prefer her privacy and the added advantage of flight always allowed her to isolate herself on the rooftops.
It didn't take the brunette long to decide which rooftop to scale, but today, her Raptor would have to do it in her stead. She whispered into her steed's ear and the Raptor swayed her tail excitedly, preparing herself for the climb. The princess clutched onto her steed with one hand, the other wrapped across her long dress, which she had gathered into a ball. Kiyohime pulled herself up, hopped across the parapets before hoisting herself up again with the "footholds" and landed with a thump. The scowling dark haired girl's eyes shot open at the sudden interruption and Shizuru smirked as she took a seat next to her companion. "Why're you angry, my beloved Wolcon Rider?"
"I'm not angry," Natsuki retorted immediately, defensively.
Shizuru picks up the testiness in her voice quickly and continues, "Ara? It must have been my imagination, then." She rubbed her chin thoughtfully, "I missed my Natsuki, though. I didn't get to see Natsuki since yesterday."
Natsuki shifts from her slouched position, propping herself up with both hands, "Ah, I don't know. I guessed that you needed time to prepare for the festival and all."
Shizuru studies her quizzically, "Ara, but what makes this year different? I thought Natsuki would invite me to watch the stars with her. The festival falls on her favorite time to head out, does it not?"
"Well.." Natsuki rubs the back of her head, "I did head out last night with Nao, but I thought you'd be better off resting before the festival begins.."
Shizuru cocks her head, her brows slanted in confusion at the strange turn in their conversation.
Natsuki clears her throat, rubbing her gloved hands together, "Ah, I overhead Lady Fio. She mentioned that the festival would be important for you to choose a husband, Shizuru. And.. I.. I."
The brunette bows her head at her companion's hesitance, "Is there something else that Natsuki wishes to say?"
"Uh, no. I don't think so," the reply comes and Shizuru knows that it's Natsuki's version of a yes, so she questions her squarely, "What is it that Natsuki wishes to say?"
Natsuki fiddles with her belt, averting Shizuru's gaze, "Uhm, I guess you'd be busy with your date from now on, spending your days out with him? …. Was it that tall guy who asked you to dance?"
"Natsuki's been spying on me?" Shizuru gasps with mock surprise, but quickly continued before Natsuki could retort otherwise, "Since that's what Natsuki wants, I shall spend the rest of my days out with 'that tall guy'."
"No, I didn't say that!"
"Yes, Natsuki did. She decided to leave me alone and head out with Nao on her own accord."
"No, I didn't ask you because I didn't want to disturb you! And I asked Nao because I.. I guess, I just.. found it weird without you, when I went up to our spot."
Shizuru brow twitches slightly, recognizing that Natsuki had actually made a small verbal expression of her emotion, but she had another thing on her mind, "Natsuki brought Nao up to our spot?" Shizuru's eyes narrowed when she thought of the impish redhead clamoring all over Natsuki in her place. Nao had a habit of engaging Natsuki in what some might see as a lover's squabble and Shizuru always found herself in the strangest of tempers whenever that happens.
Natsuki glares at her, slightly annoyed that Shizuru would think she brought someone else up to their place. Didn't Shizuru know that that place was special to just the two of them? "No, I went up there myself. I stayed with Duran till we got hungry. I met Nao along the way to Mai's place."
Shizuru replies dryly, "That's strangely coincidental."
"What? That Nao was hungry too?" Natsuki mutters, eyeing the brunette warily. "I guess, it was late and that's the time people usually have supper?"
Shizuru studies the archer silently. When she decided that Natsuki was just being Natstuki, she pushed away her jealousy of the redhead, "Well, Natsuki should ask me in the future, instead of making the decision of me." Shizuru exhales softly, understanding that it had been hard for the girl to express herself. She grasped Natsuki's hand, lacing her fingers through, "Because I've missed my Natsuki very much as well."
"Ah," the dark haired girl's demeanor softens and she swallows.
"Just for the record, I'd rather be spending my days out with Natsuki. And if that is Natsuki's definition of a date, does that mean that we have been dating for five years? Ara, what a long relationship we have!" Shizuru smirks.
Natsuki is silent for a few seconds, before the thought processed and her ears turn red. Shizuru grins inwardly at that physical admission, glad that some things never change. Natsuki shakes her head, "But, Shizuru, your mother would start getting you to seeing other people soon. I think we wouldn't have much time to spend together then. You'd be going off on those dances and parties and shit like that."
Shizuru laughs, "Well, maybe Natsuki would like to accompany me to those events? We would have all the time together and I promise Natsuki there would be no defecation of any sort."
"Uhm, I don't know. I don't like that sort of stuff. And, I don't think you could bring me there like that. They wouldn't let you."
Shizuru hums, tracing patterns on Natsuki's hand, "Who is to say that? I would be accompanied by anyone I choose. Also, Mother would not let me see other people when I have already have had someone in mind for five years."
Natsuki's brow creases and there is silence between the both of them. Shizuru bites her lips, wondering if she had just ruined the best thing in her life. For the first time in her eighteen years, Shizuru Viola felt anxious.
XXX
"AHHHHHH-CHOOOOOO! AHHHHHH-CHOOOOOO! AHHHHHH-CHOOOOOO!"
"Bless you, Nao!" Mai exclaims, setting down the plates and trotting over.
"Damn it," the redhead curses, rubbing her nose, "Wait till I get that idiot talking behind my back!"
XXX