Coincidences that Life Brings
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The king nodded. "Sora, take this sum of money since thou can't marry my daughter." The king then grabbed 500 gold coins and tossed it over to the girl in the field. Sora caught the leather pouch in her right hand.
"Thank you your highness." She bowed. "I must go now. Good day." She said as she walked off the field, mounted her horse, and rode off.
"Well then, sir Matt, it seems that you shall be wed to my daughter Princess Mimi."
the king declared.
Matt shook his head feircely. "No no you highness. Pardon me, but did not come to this tournament to be web if I should win. I came to get rid of my own obligations of marriage. So if you will allow, your highness, I will leave and prepare for my arranged marriage to the princess Akegata." Matt half lied as he bowed.
The king heaved a heavy sigh. "Well then, good day. You may leave."
Matt bowed, climbed onto his stallion and went his own way, which was different direction from where Sora went.
The king slumped down on his chair. "What am I to do!?" He yelled. "Mimi, my daughter... she must be wed... it is the time for women her age to be wed already! I am in my late 40's now and will not but living that much longer! and I would like to see some grand children while I am still alive...." He sighed.
Matt was now riding through the forest. He didn't even notice the beautiful scenery around him as he was in deep thought. *I could have sworn I have seen that girl before...* Matt thought as he rode off not noticing where he was going or what he was going to run into. As he kept pondering, Matt didn't notice the low branch he and his horse were going to run into. When Matt did finally notice, it was too late. He collided with the branch and fell off his horse. His horse was low enough that the branched missed it.
Matt laid on the ground. Unconsciousness was trying to overtake him. *God, that hurt. I must have a sore now... I feel... exhausted...* Matt said as he closed his eyes and drifted off....
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Sora rode her horse in a steady pace with her long cloak wrapped around her body. Noticing that it was about to rain, Sora flipped her hood to cover her head. The sound of rain, Pitt-pattering on the earth gave it a sort of serenity in its own way. Sora enjoyed the sound of it crashing and splashing onto the earth. Even watching the rain was wondrous to her. As she continued to stroll in the rain, she noticed some sort of animal or creature of some sort laying on the ground. It seemed to be unconscious. Fortunately it was being protected by the tree's leaves and branches.
Riding cautiously towards the body, stopped her horse next to it. Looking at the body she noticed it was a man. *Blonde hair... lean body... tall* Sora recollected the information and tried to figure out if she knew that person. Realizing this man was the same one she met at the tournament, Sora mounted off her horse and kneeled down towards the body. *You know,* she thought to herself as she smiled. *He is actually very adorable like this... almost like a child...* Sora watched his body as she was trying to figure out if he was living or not. As she brought her hand to brush his slightly damp hair from his face, she brought down her face closer to find out if he was still alive...
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*eugh........... God, I am sore...* Matt thought to himself while he remained on the ground. He then heard and felt someone or something approaching him. As he felt the presence of a being, he snapped his eyes open. Seeing the cloaked figure, he grabbed its hand and gave a look that could kill.
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From the look of Matt's face, Sora jumped. But the grip the blonde stranger had on her wrist made her fling back to him. As she came closer to him, and even closer than before, Sora's hood flew back from the force of the pull. *... this does not seem good...* Sora though as she looked at Matt's expression with slight fear in her eyes.
Seeing the fear in the girl's eye, Matt's expression changed to a more gentler one. "I.. I-- I am... I am sorry... I mistook you for something else..." Matt said slowly as he watched her eyes mesmerized.
Sora watched him and all of a sudden, she felt as if something was pushing her head forward. As their faces neared each other, Sora began to close her eyes gently as Matt did the same. Slowly they came closer... slowly... slow...ly...
Coughs began to rile up within Matt as he broke the trance. He turned to the side as more coughs racked his body.
Sora's trance broke as well. As she noticed Matt's coughing, Sora removed her cloak and put it around his shoulders. "Here sir,"
Matt smiled but took off the cloak as he put it on his lap. Taking off his damp outer shirt, Matt put it on the ground and then picked up the cloak to wrap it around himself. "Thank you...." He said in a scratched voice.
"We must get you to shelter..." Sora said as she stood up, Matt doing the same. Sora mounted her horse and then stretched her hand out to Matt. He took it and jumped onto her horse, sitting behind her. Taking the reigns from her, Matt started to ride the horse. Sora tried to protest but he insisted that he would do it.
"Here." Matt then also wrapped the fairly large cloak around her to keep Sora as dry as possible.
"Thank you. You know sir, you should really be re--"
"I don't think that is necessary..." Matt said slowly as he held onto the reigns.
"Well, you cannot accuse me of not trying..." Sora said with a slight tone of a smartass in her voice. She then wrapped the cloak so it hugged her body so she would be able to keep herself warm.
Matt smirked. "You just lead the way Madame..."
Sora sighed a bit and leaned into his broad shoulders hoping that he wouldn't mind. And by the look on Matt's face, (smiling of course!) he wasn't complaining.
After a while, the two began to get weary as the rain poured on harder and harder. Not long, Sora pointed the direction to a small cottage surrounded by large trees. After putting the horse in the stall, Sora and Matt went inside.
The fireplace was lit as the two ate and dried off. The room was filled with nothing but the light from the fireplace and the cackling of the embers. Without those, it would be complete and utter silence.
Matt decided to break the silence. "Thank you... for helping me out there..." he said quietly.
Sora looked at him and smiled. "I did what I could sir," Sora said politely.
"Sora is it? that's a pretty name..." Matt said with a grin on his face.
"Thank you. You know, I never did learn your's. What is it?"
"Matt."
"It is a pleasure to meet you Matt." Sora said smiling.
"It is a pleasure to meet you as well Sora," he replied.
"How did you know about this place?"
"It was a cottage that my father and I used to use when we went on trips together... But that stopped after he left, my mother and I..." Sora said quietly.
"I'm sorry..."
"No no, it's alright... I still see him... sometimes..."
There was an uneasy silence in the room and the two began to get sleepy. Looking towards the bed that was not too far away from the fireplace, Matt noticed that there was only one bed. "Sora, you take the bed. I'll sleep on the floor." Matt then began to stand up.
"Wait! You'll freeze sleeping on the floor...." Sora said quietly. "It's alright the bed is big enough for us both. You will sleep on one end, and I will sleep on the other. Deal?"
Matt was a little unsure but realizing Sora's truth about the coldness of the floor he agreed. Sora got into bed and slept on the edge of the bed that was away from the fire place. Matt joined her and with Sora's persistance, ended up sleeping on the edge of the bed facing the fireplace.
"You need to keep warm! You have been doused with water much more than I have been." Matt sighed and gave up agruing with the girl knowing that it would lead to nowhere. He then pulled the covers over himself and Sora. Backs facing eachother, the two teens drifted off to sleep. (NO hentai... so don't even think it! _)
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~hitomi~