Prompts: "you're so beautiful. i can't believe you're mine."
The first time he saw her, they were young and their parents introduced them to each other out of courtesy. He found out later she was being brought up to be the embassy for the Emperor of Japan to their fair queen, Victoria. He realized then he was meant to keep some type of relationship with her, in order to make things smooth in between two countries. Scant few times he saw her, they were friendly, but weren't too familiar with each other. Afterward she and her blue-blooded family returned to their homeland.
Few years later, when he was old enough to notice women, she returned with only her father and their attendants in tow. She stole his breath. Shortly after he lost his parents, at tender age of 15. She stayed, for him, extending her time to return to few more months, to ensure he could handle things on his own. She didn't need to, of course, but while her father said it was a courteous thing to do, she said it was because she wanted to be there for him.
Even if she was bit more than a stranger to him.
It was unbearable for a little while, when she could no longer push aside her duties, but she helped him more than she knew. Her letters helped him to keep his sanity, during his worse year of his life yet. Even his family's longtimed butler was gleeful at the sight of the lady's letters, for they gave reasons for his young master to truly smile again.
When his reign as the Queen's Guard Dog became notorious, she returned with rumors under her shadow.
And she was there to stay, her duties belonged to the Queen on her Emperor's decree, in order to keep a stable relationship in between the two countries.
Though he wasn't made aware of this, until he found the surprise of his lifetime when he saw her for the first time in years at the grand party held by Her Majesty. At the sight of her he was gone. Without a second thought he whisked her away for dances after dances, chatting like they were very old friends. There were so much he wanted to say that he couldn't fit in in his letters.
Without her knowledge he decided to court and woo her.
It was on a mere whim, but it felt right.
"Do you must deceive Ayumi?" Kagome gently rebuked, an brow rising at Vincent's cheshire cat smile.
He chuckled, guiding her through his courtyard by elbow and purposefully kept his directions abstract to confuse Lady Higurashi's lady-in-waiting, "Perhaps I'd like some alone time with you, is all."
"Honestly!" She sighed, though she still tailed the gentleman in midst of trimmed gardens and bushes, "Our reputations will be in danger, if you keep this up!" In spite of her scolding tone Kagome wore an amused smile.
Vincent suppose he might've felt like a schoolboy fooling around in his parents' backyard, but he thirsted for her! His little wicked lady. "Whatever for? Our servants don't gossip beyond our homes—Tanaka had seen to that." He still found it funny that the old man rained hell in his lady's home, when he found out her servants had been lacking certain understandings of their expectations. They thrived afterward since, having followed Lady Higurashi from their homeland.
They should be grateful that the old man knew the Japanese tongue too.
"Our reputations might've a hand in that too." She pointed out, not minding when Vincent crept his hand down from her elbow and tangled his fingers into hers, "Still, why do you such things?"
He chuckled at her obliviousness—having been brought up in different cultures and lifestyles, Kagome had a tendency to misunderstand some of the English folks' mannerisms. Shamelessly it was often something Vincent took advantage of. "How about we are to sit there?" He gestured to a small table in the corner of his elaborate courtyard, with a great parasol to shield them from the merry sun.
"I suppose we could—but you'll be making it easy for the old girl to give you a tongue waggling." Kagome teased, her smile growing with good nature humor.
Vincent shook his head, "It will be fine, it will be fine." Tanaka was bound to interfere with the woman, knowing of his intention. Easily he tugged the Japanese lady with, excitement swelling within his heart for what to come. Once she was seated, he took the spot across from her reluctantly parting himself from her hand.
Slipping out a giggle Kagome minded her skirt from the ground and propped her closed parasol against the table. She wondered of Vincent's rare cheery moods—while he wore that trademarked smile often, she was one of the few who could read him. To her it was clear that he was excited about something, and she replicated that mood.
She waited.
Subtly clearing his throat Vincent looked expectedly at Kagome, "So, I bring news."
"So I am aware." Kagome laughed, resting her back against the chair and crossed her legs, "You don't visit for no reason, after all."
"Am I that predictable?" He pouted, pretending to be wounded by her casualty.
Kagome flashed him an amused look, "You silly man, I've known you for years."
"I jest, I jest." Vincent said, his chest rumbling with laughter. He met her curious eyes, "Now then, I know you haven't fancy anyone in particular?" There was a touch of jealousy biting into his words, but Vincent knew she'd miss it just the same. Although Kagome loves easily, she was also ignorant to other men's charms and attempts.
"No…no one, truly. I hadn't had time to look, I suppose." Kagome rolled over with a sigh and pressed onto a wrist, biting back an urge to smile sadly at the person she most cared for, "Though, my father had been demanding." She turned to Vincent, questioning, "Why did you ask?"
Vincent was definitely someone she daydreamed about, but doubts from their duties made it feel unrealistic, impossible to attain. Besides, from what she understood of the culture of this land, it fell on men to express their interests. Wouldn't it be lovely if Vincent had done such?
He brightened, "I knew you wouldn't be aware," Vincent laughed and impulsively grabbed her hands, "My dear!" Kagome recoiled, her eyes wide with confusion, "I am interested into pursuing you!"
At her shocked silence, Vincent's smile dimmed slightly, "Do you have protests against my cla—"
Her soft giggle stopped him, "Oh, you weren't jesting." Kagome's face became pink, "I…am glad to accept." She squeezed his hands back and flustered when a rare joyful laugh fled from Vincent.
But a flicker of doubt in her expression stopped it. "Are you having doubts, my love?" Vincent frowned.
"What's of my father and grandfather? My duties?" Kagome didn't miss the deepening of her beau's frown, "I want this so much…Truly I do—"
A kiss on her brows interrupted her, "You worry too much, dear." Vincent brushed a thumb across her warm cheek, "I already have everything arranged and cleared. You shouldn't fret, my silly girl."
At Vincent's soft insistent to stand from the seat, Kagome found herself deep in the man's embrace. She couldn't stop her smile from growing. There is truly no word to describe her feeling on this relevance.
Vincent prodded her chin and lifted her red face, and chuckled, "You're so beautiful. I can't believe you're mine." He pressed his lips over hers warmly, their first kiss. It was a line he wounded up repeating on their wedding day.