For the love of a 'boy'
Buruma clasped her hands behind her head, tilting it back to watch the coulds roll past. She let out a deep sigh. She had failed royally. failed at securing Lady Marron's affections for her lord. She was deeply disappointed in herself. 'Yes,' Buruma thought. 'I failed my master horribly.' However, a small smiled dared to pull at the edge of her mouth. That was not good. Buruma pursed her lips. How could she feel to awful for failing yet still hold joy in that fact.
That answer was easier found than making Chi Chi upset.
Buruma longed so greatly to be held in her master's powerful embrace and hear him confess all those tidings of love he had bid to Lady Marron. Buruma shook her head wearily. But it was impossible. For she was Vejita's page, supposedly a man, and pledged to carry out her lord's wishes, even if they went against her own.
Buruma spun around as she heard the harsh grating of gravel. A young man came into view, pounding down the path towards her. When he reached her, he knelt over to catch his breath. Spent, he raised an arm shakily, offering the crystalline diamond ring to Buruma.
"You are the one called Goku?" the young man choked out.
Buruma nodded, still wary of the man and his 'gift.' "And what is this?" she asked as she plucked the ring from his grasp.
"M'lady Marron bid me tell you that you had left this ring with her as a token of your lord's affections," he said, still gasping for air.
Buruma turned the ring over in her hand curiously. She had left no ring at Lady Marron's estate. Why she had not even carried a ring on her person?! Buruma was at a loss. "What the devil..." she murmured.
The young man stood from the ground and quickly doffed his cap. "I best be returning to the estate," the man suggested.
Buruma nodded slowly, not really paying mind to what the man had said and when she finally turned her attention back to the older page, he had gone.
She quickly pocketed the ring, cautious of any bandits or hooligans that would tempted to swipe such an easy target. God's truth she had not left a ring by Lady Marron. It was an impossibility! She continued to ponder the matter of the mysterious ring as she meandered the roads back to Duke Vejita's estate.
Just as she was about to enter the gates, she stopped, standing stark straight. No, it couldn't be... Buruma mulled the idea over in her mind as she finally ambled into the large courtyard. The way that Lady Marron had looked at her... batting her lashes and such. The way that Lady Marron had spoken softly and quite femininely... it was all as if she was... she was flirting! Buruma shook her head. 'No! That is simply wrong!' she pleaded with herself. But now that the truth had been uncovered in her mind, there was no way to forget it. Buruma gave a loud frustrated sigh. She reached into her pocket, fingering the ring there. "Now Lady Marron feels yearnings of love for me as I do for my master," she whispered huskily.
Buruma peeked cautiously into the sparsely furnished sitting room. "My lord?" she called out.
"What is it, boy?" she heard a gruff voice reply.
"I have just returned from Lady Marron's estate, sire." She ventured further into the room, creeping softly to stand by her master's chair.
"And?" he asked, his voice betraying his eagarness.
"Well....ummm... errr... it did not come out as planned," Buruma stuttered, her face painted a bright red. Thankfully, Vejita was turned away staring contemplatively into the dull flames of the fireplace.
"Is that so?"
"Yes, sire," Buruma said, siliently praying that her master would just dismiss her.
Vejita cleared his voice after a while. "Then you shall just have to keep after her, boy?"
Buruma stumbled backwards in shock. "W-what?!"
Vejita looked up, annoyed. "You heard me, boy. Your gentle nature will fare far better against Lady Marron than I could, lad. You understand?"
Buruma swallowed nervously. "Y-yes, sir."
Vejita looked back down to the novel be had been studying. He waved a hand absently. "You may go, boy," he ordered.
Buruma shot out of the room as fast as she could. She skidded to a stop right outside the door, leaning up against the wall on the left side of the door. 'What have I gotten myself into?' she screamed in her head. She banged her head back against the wall. 'What am I going to do?' She pushed herself away from the wall, now dragging along down the corridor, deep in thought. She gave a thin-lipped smile. "Lady Marron might as well love a dream. Disguise is wicked indeed, for it has caused her to pine for a fruitless love as I do for Duke Vejita," she whispered to no one.
The next day she visited her lord in the morning with his meal.
"My lord," she spoke, bowing slightly.
He acknowledged her and bade her set the tray on the nearby table. "Today, boy, you will visit with Lady Marron again."
"So soon, Lordship?"
"You will do as you are told," Vejita snapped.
"Of course, sir. I meant no disrespect."
Vejita's mouth twisted as he mulled over his thoughts. "Boy, you are so young, perhaps you do not understand the meaning of the feelings of love," he finally said.
"I think I know as much as the next person."
"And what kind of woman was she?"
"Excuse me, my lord?"
"This woman that you loved; what kind of woman was she?" Vejita asked, slightly curious.
"Of your age and your complexion, my lord," Buruma mumbled, trying to hide the blush in her cheeks.
Vejita smirked. 'How quaint that such a fair, young youth would love a woman so much older than himself and of a man's dark complexion.' "I see... Soon, you shall be off, boy, to deliver my tidings to Lady Marron."
"Yes, sire. I shall leave right away." Buruma bowed once more, then scurried out of the room.
Vejita watched his young page turn around to walk briskly from the room, head bowed down. 'Strange boy, that one,' he mused.
Buruma walked along the dusty road from her master's estate. "Oh, God..." she muttered. "What cruel god would play with me in such a manner." 'Thank the heavens above Duke Vejita did not surmise I was speaking of him...' She lolled her head from side to side. "Why is life so chaotic!" she gave a shout. "I just wish to find my brother and be gone back to my home... away from this province... away from the one I love but can never have..." she grumbled.
She arrived an hour later at the gates of Lady Marron's estate. "Excuse m--" The gates flung open immediately. Two footmen stood at the head of the gates. They bowed deeply towards Buruma then motioned for her to walk inside. Buruma's eyes opened wide. 'What in God's name in going on?' She walked slowly through the gates, spotting a man running up to her.
"You are Goku, correct?"
Buruma gaped at him.
"Sir? You are Goku, am I right?"
Buruma slowly came out of her stupor. She nodded faintly.
"I am to escort you to Lady Marron's chambers. Please, this way," he said with an emphatic sweep of his arm. Buruma followed the man into the estate she had just visited the day before.
Instantly, Buruma was assautled by a crew of footman who swept her free of dust and straightened out of her clothes. She looked on wide-eyed and they cleaned and spruced her up. 'What in the blue blazes?'
"Sir?" a manservant inquired, leaning forward.
Bulma looked up from the servants dusting at her feet. A pure look of astonishment was on her face. "What is going on?" she demanded.
"Please, sir, this way," the manservant directed, motioning to a door to the left. Bulma followed him across the foyer and into an adjoining room.
Lady Marron lay draped over a chaise, delicately sipping at a cup of tea. She looked up surprised.
"Henley! I have told you countless times never to barge in!" she chastised.
"B-but, my Lady," he countered, "you asked that if the young man should arrive--"
"He's here?" she exclaimed, sitting up right and upsetting the cup of tea. It clattered to the floor.
The manservant quickly moved out of the doorway allowing Bulma to walk into the room.
Bulma took in her surroundings. It was a plainly decorated room, a hint of man's taste. It was most likely the late Lord's drawing room. The furniture was distinctly masculine in design, made of polished dark wood. However, a few feminine touches were to be found: springs of flowers in vases dotted the room, the heavy drapes were tied back with gossamer ribbon, the lady herself---her soft gentle grace---toned down the harshness of the room, making it bright and airy. The Lady smiled graciously. Bulma gave her a thin-lipped smile.
"I am sure, milady, you know the reason of my visit."
"Any visit of yours is welcomed like a fair day in the midst of winter," Marron gushed, standing up from chaise.
Bulma backed away warily, clasping her hands in front of her. "I've come again to plead on my lord's behalf. I beseech that you at least have an audience with him. You will see him as I have seen him: patient, honorable, even-tempered, charitable--"
"Enough!" Marron snapped, "I have heard enough of Duke Vejita's good qualities to last me a lifetime. He is nothing I desire in my mate. Come let us not dwell on the dull Duke a moment more." Marron waved her servants away. Bulma turned as the manservant shut the oak doors, sealing her in the room. She looked back to her 'captor.' The Lady Marron had the grin of a chesire cat. She lazily strolled back to her chaise and lay upon it. Feigning fatigue, she yawned deeply and rest her head upon her hand. "Come now, Goku, I would rather hear any of your poetic words than music of the harps of angels," she sighed.
"I am afraid I do not understand, milady," Bulma stammered. "I have come for one purpose and one purpose only. I thought that was clear."
"Then you must find another purpose for that one is wasted.," Marron purred, an amused smile tinging her lips.
Bulma gritted her teeth. "These games of yours make me grow weary, madam. That bauble, that ring you sent me; was it another part of your trickery? The heart of a man lies at your feet and at your will, it may be shattered. Oh, what power you hold over my dear lord's head and you dangle riddles like the goddess Aphrodite!" Bulma stamped her foot. "What female game of deceit you are weaving to play; it must end now! I told your answer to my master and he commanded I come to beg at your feet again. Well beg I will not for you are not worthy of his affection!"
"But am I worthy of yours," Marron asked, standing from the chaise.
"What?" Bulma asked, stepping forward.
"Such a boyish face, such lips that pour forth the words I long to hear. It is not clear my simple-minded young gentleman?" Marron laughed, walking towards Bulma. She swayed her hips seductively. "It is YOU I want," she confessed, reaching out for Bulma.
Bulma backed away. "No, no... this cannot be," she murmured.
"But is the truth," Marron insisted, walking faster towards her 'love.' "You are the one I bestow my heart upon.
Bulma shook her head rapidly. "I don't believe this. It was not supposed to be this way," she moaned.
Marron guided herself forth to comfort the messenger of Duke Vejita. "There, there. Love is unexpected but a fortunate find!" she said cheerily.
Bulma looked up at her in horror. "You love me?" she gasped out. Marron giggled and nodded, leaning into embrace her newfound love. Bulma pushed her away.
"Goku? What is wrong?" Marron asked perplexed.
Bulma turned and walked away from the stricken-looking Lady Marron. "I cannot! I cannot!" she declared.
Marron rushed to catch up with Bulma. "Goku! Please don't leave!"
Bulma turned around, fury on her face. "I vow never to be confessor of my master's love again. Never will I set foot on these grounds!"
Marron began to sob. "What did I do wrong?" she wailed.
Bulma's face softened. "Marron, is it not you. It is I. For I declare now and ever, to never love any woman. I must leave you now," she said with a bow of her head, then exited.
Marron stood there, eyes transfixed on the door where the page of Duke Vejita had jsut left. She could hear her heart beating in her ear, her fingers clenched and unclenched, imprinting tiny half moons in the flesh of her palm, her eyes blurred and she blinked furiously. 'He refused me?' The first thought popped into her head. 'I have never been refused before...' That thought didn't sit well with her. She pushed her tears back and sniffled. 'I will find a way to make him mind or I am not the Lady Marron, fairest of all Vejita-sei!'
Bulma skidded to a stop just outside the gates. 'What is Heaven's name was that?' She looked around wide-eyed. The facts of the matter hit her hard. Lady Marron was in love with her---her! 'If she only knew I was a woman,' Bulam groaned inwardly. She shifted the heavy scabbard that held her sword. It had been a precaution of Vejita's since news of travelling bandits had reached his ears. Bulma felt like she had to walk at an angle to offset the balance of the weight of the sword. She walked down the southern path until she came to a bridge. She veered off to the side, scampering down the embankment to sip at the cool stream. She walked back up to the side of the road and sat down underneath a tree. She unwrapped a small but heary meal Chi Chi had packed for her. But before she could break bread, she was interrupted by the sound of someone coming down the path, just the way she had come by. Bulma stood up, defensive.
Presently, a man came jogging down the trail. He was tall and lithe, graceful to a fault. He clutched his sword possessively to his side. He seemed to survey the land before spotting Bulma and making his way towards her.
"Are you Goku?" he asked when he had reached the base of the bridge.
"I am called by that name, yes," Bulma replied.
"Then my quarrel is with you," he declared, drawing his sword.
"What do you mean, sir?" Bulma asked, looking fearfully at his sword.
"You are the same Goku that Lady Marron favors, am I correct? Then I challenge you to a duel!"
Buruma clasped her hands behind her head, tilting it back to watch the coulds roll past. She let out a deep sigh. She had failed royally. failed at securing Lady Marron's affections for her lord. She was deeply disappointed in herself. 'Yes,' Buruma thought. 'I failed my master horribly.' However, a small smiled dared to pull at the edge of her mouth. That was not good. Buruma pursed her lips. How could she feel to awful for failing yet still hold joy in that fact.
That answer was easier found than making Chi Chi upset.
Buruma longed so greatly to be held in her master's powerful embrace and hear him confess all those tidings of love he had bid to Lady Marron. Buruma shook her head wearily. But it was impossible. For she was Vejita's page, supposedly a man, and pledged to carry out her lord's wishes, even if they went against her own.
Buruma spun around as she heard the harsh grating of gravel. A young man came into view, pounding down the path towards her. When he reached her, he knelt over to catch his breath. Spent, he raised an arm shakily, offering the crystalline diamond ring to Buruma.
"You are the one called Goku?" the young man choked out.
Buruma nodded, still wary of the man and his 'gift.' "And what is this?" she asked as she plucked the ring from his grasp.
"M'lady Marron bid me tell you that you had left this ring with her as a token of your lord's affections," he said, still gasping for air.
Buruma turned the ring over in her hand curiously. She had left no ring at Lady Marron's estate. Why she had not even carried a ring on her person?! Buruma was at a loss. "What the devil..." she murmured.
The young man stood from the ground and quickly doffed his cap. "I best be returning to the estate," the man suggested.
Buruma nodded slowly, not really paying mind to what the man had said and when she finally turned her attention back to the older page, he had gone.
She quickly pocketed the ring, cautious of any bandits or hooligans that would tempted to swipe such an easy target. God's truth she had not left a ring by Lady Marron. It was an impossibility! She continued to ponder the matter of the mysterious ring as she meandered the roads back to Duke Vejita's estate.
Just as she was about to enter the gates, she stopped, standing stark straight. No, it couldn't be... Buruma mulled the idea over in her mind as she finally ambled into the large courtyard. The way that Lady Marron had looked at her... batting her lashes and such. The way that Lady Marron had spoken softly and quite femininely... it was all as if she was... she was flirting! Buruma shook her head. 'No! That is simply wrong!' she pleaded with herself. But now that the truth had been uncovered in her mind, there was no way to forget it. Buruma gave a loud frustrated sigh. She reached into her pocket, fingering the ring there. "Now Lady Marron feels yearnings of love for me as I do for my master," she whispered huskily.
Buruma peeked cautiously into the sparsely furnished sitting room. "My lord?" she called out.
"What is it, boy?" she heard a gruff voice reply.
"I have just returned from Lady Marron's estate, sire." She ventured further into the room, creeping softly to stand by her master's chair.
"And?" he asked, his voice betraying his eagarness.
"Well....ummm... errr... it did not come out as planned," Buruma stuttered, her face painted a bright red. Thankfully, Vejita was turned away staring contemplatively into the dull flames of the fireplace.
"Is that so?"
"Yes, sire," Buruma said, siliently praying that her master would just dismiss her.
Vejita cleared his voice after a while. "Then you shall just have to keep after her, boy?"
Buruma stumbled backwards in shock. "W-what?!"
Vejita looked up, annoyed. "You heard me, boy. Your gentle nature will fare far better against Lady Marron than I could, lad. You understand?"
Buruma swallowed nervously. "Y-yes, sir."
Vejita looked back down to the novel be had been studying. He waved a hand absently. "You may go, boy," he ordered.
Buruma shot out of the room as fast as she could. She skidded to a stop right outside the door, leaning up against the wall on the left side of the door. 'What have I gotten myself into?' she screamed in her head. She banged her head back against the wall. 'What am I going to do?' She pushed herself away from the wall, now dragging along down the corridor, deep in thought. She gave a thin-lipped smile. "Lady Marron might as well love a dream. Disguise is wicked indeed, for it has caused her to pine for a fruitless love as I do for Duke Vejita," she whispered to no one.
The next day she visited her lord in the morning with his meal.
"My lord," she spoke, bowing slightly.
He acknowledged her and bade her set the tray on the nearby table. "Today, boy, you will visit with Lady Marron again."
"So soon, Lordship?"
"You will do as you are told," Vejita snapped.
"Of course, sir. I meant no disrespect."
Vejita's mouth twisted as he mulled over his thoughts. "Boy, you are so young, perhaps you do not understand the meaning of the feelings of love," he finally said.
"I think I know as much as the next person."
"And what kind of woman was she?"
"Excuse me, my lord?"
"This woman that you loved; what kind of woman was she?" Vejita asked, slightly curious.
"Of your age and your complexion, my lord," Buruma mumbled, trying to hide the blush in her cheeks.
Vejita smirked. 'How quaint that such a fair, young youth would love a woman so much older than himself and of a man's dark complexion.' "I see... Soon, you shall be off, boy, to deliver my tidings to Lady Marron."
"Yes, sire. I shall leave right away." Buruma bowed once more, then scurried out of the room.
Vejita watched his young page turn around to walk briskly from the room, head bowed down. 'Strange boy, that one,' he mused.
Buruma walked along the dusty road from her master's estate. "Oh, God..." she muttered. "What cruel god would play with me in such a manner." 'Thank the heavens above Duke Vejita did not surmise I was speaking of him...' She lolled her head from side to side. "Why is life so chaotic!" she gave a shout. "I just wish to find my brother and be gone back to my home... away from this province... away from the one I love but can never have..." she grumbled.
She arrived an hour later at the gates of Lady Marron's estate. "Excuse m--" The gates flung open immediately. Two footmen stood at the head of the gates. They bowed deeply towards Buruma then motioned for her to walk inside. Buruma's eyes opened wide. 'What in God's name in going on?' She walked slowly through the gates, spotting a man running up to her.
"You are Goku, correct?"
Buruma gaped at him.
"Sir? You are Goku, am I right?"
Buruma slowly came out of her stupor. She nodded faintly.
"I am to escort you to Lady Marron's chambers. Please, this way," he said with an emphatic sweep of his arm. Buruma followed the man into the estate she had just visited the day before.
Instantly, Buruma was assautled by a crew of footman who swept her free of dust and straightened out of her clothes. She looked on wide-eyed and they cleaned and spruced her up. 'What in the blue blazes?'
"Sir?" a manservant inquired, leaning forward.
Bulma looked up from the servants dusting at her feet. A pure look of astonishment was on her face. "What is going on?" she demanded.
"Please, sir, this way," the manservant directed, motioning to a door to the left. Bulma followed him across the foyer and into an adjoining room.
Lady Marron lay draped over a chaise, delicately sipping at a cup of tea. She looked up surprised.
"Henley! I have told you countless times never to barge in!" she chastised.
"B-but, my Lady," he countered, "you asked that if the young man should arrive--"
"He's here?" she exclaimed, sitting up right and upsetting the cup of tea. It clattered to the floor.
The manservant quickly moved out of the doorway allowing Bulma to walk into the room.
Bulma took in her surroundings. It was a plainly decorated room, a hint of man's taste. It was most likely the late Lord's drawing room. The furniture was distinctly masculine in design, made of polished dark wood. However, a few feminine touches were to be found: springs of flowers in vases dotted the room, the heavy drapes were tied back with gossamer ribbon, the lady herself---her soft gentle grace---toned down the harshness of the room, making it bright and airy. The Lady smiled graciously. Bulma gave her a thin-lipped smile.
"I am sure, milady, you know the reason of my visit."
"Any visit of yours is welcomed like a fair day in the midst of winter," Marron gushed, standing up from chaise.
Bulma backed away warily, clasping her hands in front of her. "I've come again to plead on my lord's behalf. I beseech that you at least have an audience with him. You will see him as I have seen him: patient, honorable, even-tempered, charitable--"
"Enough!" Marron snapped, "I have heard enough of Duke Vejita's good qualities to last me a lifetime. He is nothing I desire in my mate. Come let us not dwell on the dull Duke a moment more." Marron waved her servants away. Bulma turned as the manservant shut the oak doors, sealing her in the room. She looked back to her 'captor.' The Lady Marron had the grin of a chesire cat. She lazily strolled back to her chaise and lay upon it. Feigning fatigue, she yawned deeply and rest her head upon her hand. "Come now, Goku, I would rather hear any of your poetic words than music of the harps of angels," she sighed.
"I am afraid I do not understand, milady," Bulma stammered. "I have come for one purpose and one purpose only. I thought that was clear."
"Then you must find another purpose for that one is wasted.," Marron purred, an amused smile tinging her lips.
Bulma gritted her teeth. "These games of yours make me grow weary, madam. That bauble, that ring you sent me; was it another part of your trickery? The heart of a man lies at your feet and at your will, it may be shattered. Oh, what power you hold over my dear lord's head and you dangle riddles like the goddess Aphrodite!" Bulma stamped her foot. "What female game of deceit you are weaving to play; it must end now! I told your answer to my master and he commanded I come to beg at your feet again. Well beg I will not for you are not worthy of his affection!"
"But am I worthy of yours," Marron asked, standing from the chaise.
"What?" Bulma asked, stepping forward.
"Such a boyish face, such lips that pour forth the words I long to hear. It is not clear my simple-minded young gentleman?" Marron laughed, walking towards Bulma. She swayed her hips seductively. "It is YOU I want," she confessed, reaching out for Bulma.
Bulma backed away. "No, no... this cannot be," she murmured.
"But is the truth," Marron insisted, walking faster towards her 'love.' "You are the one I bestow my heart upon.
Bulma shook her head rapidly. "I don't believe this. It was not supposed to be this way," she moaned.
Marron guided herself forth to comfort the messenger of Duke Vejita. "There, there. Love is unexpected but a fortunate find!" she said cheerily.
Bulma looked up at her in horror. "You love me?" she gasped out. Marron giggled and nodded, leaning into embrace her newfound love. Bulma pushed her away.
"Goku? What is wrong?" Marron asked perplexed.
Bulma turned and walked away from the stricken-looking Lady Marron. "I cannot! I cannot!" she declared.
Marron rushed to catch up with Bulma. "Goku! Please don't leave!"
Bulma turned around, fury on her face. "I vow never to be confessor of my master's love again. Never will I set foot on these grounds!"
Marron began to sob. "What did I do wrong?" she wailed.
Bulma's face softened. "Marron, is it not you. It is I. For I declare now and ever, to never love any woman. I must leave you now," she said with a bow of her head, then exited.
Marron stood there, eyes transfixed on the door where the page of Duke Vejita had jsut left. She could hear her heart beating in her ear, her fingers clenched and unclenched, imprinting tiny half moons in the flesh of her palm, her eyes blurred and she blinked furiously. 'He refused me?' The first thought popped into her head. 'I have never been refused before...' That thought didn't sit well with her. She pushed her tears back and sniffled. 'I will find a way to make him mind or I am not the Lady Marron, fairest of all Vejita-sei!'
Bulma skidded to a stop just outside the gates. 'What is Heaven's name was that?' She looked around wide-eyed. The facts of the matter hit her hard. Lady Marron was in love with her---her! 'If she only knew I was a woman,' Bulam groaned inwardly. She shifted the heavy scabbard that held her sword. It had been a precaution of Vejita's since news of travelling bandits had reached his ears. Bulma felt like she had to walk at an angle to offset the balance of the weight of the sword. She walked down the southern path until she came to a bridge. She veered off to the side, scampering down the embankment to sip at the cool stream. She walked back up to the side of the road and sat down underneath a tree. She unwrapped a small but heary meal Chi Chi had packed for her. But before she could break bread, she was interrupted by the sound of someone coming down the path, just the way she had come by. Bulma stood up, defensive.
Presently, a man came jogging down the trail. He was tall and lithe, graceful to a fault. He clutched his sword possessively to his side. He seemed to survey the land before spotting Bulma and making his way towards her.
"Are you Goku?" he asked when he had reached the base of the bridge.
"I am called by that name, yes," Bulma replied.
"Then my quarrel is with you," he declared, drawing his sword.
"What do you mean, sir?" Bulma asked, looking fearfully at his sword.
"You are the same Goku that Lady Marron favors, am I correct? Then I challenge you to a duel!"