Alright, on to the next chapter; please let me know what you think!

The Daimyo's Daughter

Chapter 2: The Justification

The Akechi clan's residence was well-known for its beautiful garden. For three generations, it was kept and maintained with great care; with trimmed bonzai trees, decorative stone lanterns, and a koi pond, the Akechi garden was a peaceful sanctuary for its residents. It held different meaning to others; it was rumoured that after his wife's death, Momoru often walked along the courtyard, almost every day for a year, caring for the garden himself – and he even ordered more flowers to be placed for his wife's memory. It was a way for him to still hold on to her.

Even though Rin knew the importance of it to her father, she never looked at the garden as a memorial. It meant something different to Rin. Although Rin was intrigued with the beautiful koi pond, she favoured lying underneath the Sakura trees in the spring season. With their beautiful cherry blossom petals in full bloom, they provided Rin with a sense of peace; she always made her way to them when she was in time of crises.

But she would never remain undiscovered for long, as Rin recalled. There were many childhood memories that she held close to her heart; Rin recalled several occasions when she fell in the koi pond, earning herself a heated lecture or two from her maids before being rushed to her private bath. And there when times when she hid from tutors, who were about to lecture her on how terrible her calligraphy was. Her father was usually the one who came to find her, trying to lift her spirits in his own manner. Those memories she held dear to her.

But there were also bittersweet memories that she wanted to forget.

Rin shook her head, trying to dismiss those memories from echoing in the recesses of her mind. She dared not think about him after what occurred just minutes ago.

But it was useless to resist because all Rin could hear in the back of her mind was her father's voice, telling her that she was betrothed.

More tears streamed down Rin's face, and there was no use in attempting to hide her heart-wrenching sobs.

How could he do this to me? Rin wondered, blankly staring at the dirt underneath her. Why did he have to do this?

Deep down, however, Rin knew why. Her father would have arranged something for her at some point; she knew how he wanted a male heir for the Akechi clan. She had no cousins her own age; many of them were far into their adult years, and others were barren. It would only make sense that he was counting on Rin to provide him an heir to inherit the Akechi clan's estate. She was sixteen years old; she was at an age where she should have been in her own household, fulfilling her duties as a wife and mother.

Yet Momoru never once proposed a match for her; for all the time that she knew him, Rin assumed that he was content with the way things were. He never forced her to meet noblemen from Kyoto or the surrounding castle towns. Instead, he allowed her to flourish into her own person. He allowed Rin to pursue her studies at her own pace, despite the disapproval of her tutors. Her father gave her so much freedom – something that other noble families did not provide to their own daughters.

For a long time, he gave his daughter the impression that her future could be something more. That she could be something more than being simply defined as a 'wife' and 'mother.'

But now Rin didn't know what to believe, other than the fact that her hopes and dreams were crushed.

"Milady? Are you here?" Misuzu's voice cut through Rin's thoughts, and she immediately stopped sobbing. She should have known that her closest chambermaid would find her this quickly. She sighed, as she tucked strays of her brown hair behind her ear, and began to wipe tears off her cheeks.

"What is it, Misuzu?"

From the corner of her eye, she saw Misuzu's figure making her way through the Sakura tree branches with ease. "You ran off so quickly, Milady. Your father is worried about you."

Rin frowned at the mention of her father, but did not say anything. Instead, she wiped more tears forming in the brims of her eyelids with her sleeves.

"What is wrong, Milady?" Misuzu's calmness and poise were traits that Rin wished she had; she wished she could have been as composed as her lady-in-waiting.

"It is nothing." Perhaps if she kept saying it, Rin could make it a reality.

"Rin, you can tell me anything." Misuzu was the only confidant that Rin had in her household. She could trust her to keep conversations such as this one to herself.

"My father…he wants me to marry," Rin confessed, with an uncontrollable sob here and there. "He wants me to marry Lord Sesshomaru." Saying it out loud only seemed to make it more real; Rin's heart sank once again, and even her stomach was twisted in a knot.

"Of the Taisho clan?"

"Yes."

Misuzu sat down beside her charge, before she began to clean Rin's face with a handkerchief she carried. She gently dabbed her tear-stained cheeks. "I can understand your feelings, Milady."

"I just don't understand why my father would do this to me," Rin vented, furrowing her eyebrows angrily. "He promised me that he would never make me marry. At least, not to someone that is a complete stranger. He never treated me like…like I was something to be given away. But now…"

"Your father does have your best interests at heart," Misuzu said cautiously, pulling her handkerchief away from Rin's face; she knew her better than most people – she knew what could set off the daimyo's daughter. "And he has never seen you as a piece of property."

"I find that hard to believe now," Rin laughed bitterly. "I thought he truly understood how I felt."

"He may have his reasons," Misuzu supplied, clasping her hands on her lap.

"What other reason could he possibly have, other than to get an heir?" Rin's bitterness appeared to be growing exponentially.

"That is not true," Misuzu exhaled sharply. "Your father loves you. He has always loved you. And he loved your mother too much to even think about re-marrying." That was her way of saying that Rin should not be upset about something that was not even in her control.

"It…does not matter if he loves me or not."

"You know that my own family gave me up so that I could serve yours, do you not?" Misuzu asked softly, after moments of tense silence passed.

Rin nodded.

Misuzu came from a minor clan; for years, her father was crippled with debts, most likely from gambling, and this effected the family considerably. Coupled with the raise of taxes, Misuzu's family went down under sooner than they thought. They had to sell most of their assets to the estate manager working underneath the Shogun. Misuzu's four younger brothers received more attention, as they were viewed as the ticket out of their newfound poverty. Soon, it was clear that her parents considered their daughter a burden. Although she was not considered a classic beauty, Misuzu's parents expected that she would attract at least a few modest suitors. But much to their dismay, she received no suitors, much less proposals when she turned fifteen. And without any consultation, Misuzu was sold to the Akechi family, and for the past two years, she served as Rin's servant.

Rin sometimes wondered if Misuzu felt resentful towards her family for selling her out. But Misuzu expressed nothing but gratitude towards Rin's father. If it was not for him, Misuzu knew she could have been sent to a brothel; which was where most women of her status went if they were down on their luck. But Momoru treated Misuzu as his own daughter, and Rin treated her like a sister.

"You know that he would not give you up so easily," Misuzu continued, with the same calm tone of voice. "He wouldn't…"

"Give me up like your parents did to you," Rin stated, leaning her head back against the trunk of the Sakura tree. She felt a small breeze pass through the trees and feeling it on her skin felt nice. "But…did you know? About this betrothal?"

"I had my suspicions," Misuzu admitted. "For the past few days, your father looked gaunt. I have never seen him in that state. I knew then that he was planning something." It wouldn't do to start lying to Rin; she knew that she had a way of figuring things out for herself.

"So this was on his mind for some time," Rin whispered, as her shoulders slumped. The real question was for how long.

"I am sorry that you are going through this," Misuzu said, as she reached out to grab a hold of Rin's hand. Her touch was soothing, but Rin knew that she wasn't doing so out of pity. "I don't think that he is happy about it either."

"What am I supposed to do now? Even if I could…get out of this betrothal, I know my father might set up another engagement."

"It isn't my place to sway you, Milady." That was what Rin admired – and sometimes loathed – about Misuzu; she would not try to impose her opinions on her. Maybe it was for the best. "Did your father mention when you will be meeting him?"

"No. He never said anything about a first meeting. He only told me that the marriage will be taking place in the autumn season. And that we would be wed in Kyoto."

"I see. I am sure your father will be arranging a meeting soon." Rin had to admit that she was terrified for it, even though it was not likely that she would meet him tomorrow. Her heartrate drastically increased just by imagining it.

"I know."

"I can tell you are frightened."

Rin couldn't help but snap back, "Of course I am. How else am I supposed to feel?"

Misuzu didn't say anything for a long period of time, which made Rin wonder if she was too harsh with her. Rin never lost her temper with her often, which made this situation much more stressful.

"It might not even be my place to say this either, Milady, but if this Lord Sesshomaru is planning to move to Kyoto, it will not be a long journey for you and your father," Misuzu pointed out.

"What are you saying?"

"I am not saying that I know Lord Sesshomaru personally. But I am saying that perhaps he is making this marriage a little bit easier on you." Misuzu stood up, wiping off any dirt that could have clung to her robes. "Just consider what I said, Milady."