OLD & NEW
Taichi jumped off his horse & handed it to the grooms. Immediately he could tell something was wrong. Anya glanced at him but was silent, far from her usual style. His first thought was that something had gone wrong with the abortion. He ran inside. Sora was seated in the kitchen, knitting. When he entered, she glanced up at him, eyes red with old tears & shimmering with new ones.
Before he could even open his mouth to ask what was wrong, she said "Your father & fiancée were here." Taichi closed his mouth with a snap, then reopened & closed it several times wordlessly. Sora stood up, gaze accusing. "So what I hath been told is true. Thou art what they claim him to be." Taichi stood there helpless, unable to deny what he was being accused of.
Sora's eyes filled with tears as she realized her husband was not going to deny what had been said. "They are at the Dragon's Gold inn," she chocked out before fleeing the room crying. Taichi started after her, but realized that it would be a better idea to go & speak with his father & Mimi. Whatever happened would be decided later. With a sigh the brunette left, preparing himself for the confrontation soon to be at hand.
At the inn, Yagami paced "He should be back. That girl said she would send him to us!" "She did," Mimi entered, Taichi in tow. His father turned, & let the briefest flashes of relief go through his eyes, before his expression hardened. "Explain thyself." "I tried 8 years ago, & thou didst not listen. Why should I do so now?" Taichi countered. 2 sets of brown eyes stared at each other, 2 sets of wills trying to bend the other.
"Enough of this!" Mimi intervened, stepping between the two. "We found you Taichi. Now what dost thou plan to do?" Taichi stopped, looked at her, then his father. "I am going to think about what to at home. With my wife." No one made a move to stop him as he walked out the door. On his way home Taichi seethed, furious that they could show up like that. Everything was ruined.
Sora, if she forgave him, would still have the marriage annulled. If his father did not force it upon them. He stopped at the front door, then continued inside, sighing. After a moment of deliberation he entered. Nothing was decided yet. This was still his house, his family. Entering he was greeted by Anya & Sora's twin gazes. The brunette said "Leave us, Anya." The servant looked at her mistress, who nodded, & she left the couple alone.
There was a long moment of silence, the Taichi said "Whatever questions thou has, speak them." Sora took a deep breath. "What shalt happen?" Taichi was surprised that she asked no questions of him, but was also grateful. One of his favourite qualities about Sora was her empathy. "I know not. I assume that I shalt have to do what was avoided all those years ago." Sora was silent for a moment.
"Is there a way to convince them otherwise?" Taichi sighed, fearing yet relieved at the question. Whatever happened would be worked out by them together (A/N It's REALLY hard to write a romance fic when you're listening to Godsmack!). "I know not what shall be done. Come to bed, we shall speak of it there where it is more private." Sora nodded, & Taichi vowed to do everything within his power to keep her his wife.
After the next day passed with no word from Mimi or King Yagami, the former showed up, requesting to speak with Taichi. Sora let him go, eyeing Mimi warily. Outside the sky was studded with stars. Mimi sat down with a sigh, looking up at them wistfully. "Dost thou e'er wonder how it would hath happened had thou remained?" Taichi shook his head. "Ne'er hath I wondered such a thing. Sora was all I ever wanted."
"Once thou knew her," Mimi stated. "Why so suddenly sure of thyself?" Taichi questioned carefully. "Because I know what shalt take place." Taichi blinked, surprised. "Indeed?" Mimi nodded. "Sit. I promise to make no advances." Confused by the sudden turn of events, Taichi nonetheless did as she requested. "I have a plan that should satisfy my parents, & your father, as well allow you to return her." Taichi regarded the blond warily. "Why the sudden concern for what I want?"
Mimi looked at him sadly. "Because I saw the way she looked at thou, & thou at her. I envy her almost, to be loved by someone like that. My status removed such a possibility for I, limiting my choices only to those within the courts. That moment t'was near enough to make me desire to do as thou did." Taichi, feeling the moment called for it, was silent for a whilst Mimi lost herself briefly in her own thoughts, & wondered if the girl had a lost love.
Then Taichi said softly, "Thou hath changed. I can imagine such an ordeal such as that which I put thee through could bring about such I change. If not for Sora, I could consent to marriage to thou. But Sora is here, & I could have no other." Mimi gave him a brief smile then said "Tis why I am trying not to come between thy love & thee. Listen to my plan, consult her on it, while I with your father, & hopefully all shalt be right again."
Shortly after the outline of Mimi's idea, & a brief update of what had happened since his departure, Taichi went inside, & Mimi to the Dragon's Gold. In their bedroom Sora was perched on the bed, her eyes justly curious. Taichi sat beside her with a soft smile. "Mimi suggested this, & I think it a good solution. I do wed her, but," he overrode the beginnings of Sora's objection, "The marriage is contracted for only a fortnight, long enough for her to get with child. Then I leave, returning only if the child isn't a boy, & I return here after all is finished."
Sora was silent for a moment, mulling it over. She was reluctant to have to entertain the thought that she should have surrender him to another women even for a short period of time, but was preferable to anything else she could think of. At last she nodded her agreement. Taichi kissed her, said goodnight, then they both curled up together & slept, hoping Taichi's father would consent to the idea.
The next day Yagami himself rode out to the little farm where Sora & Taichi lived. As with the first time, he entered without warning, catching the pair off guard with their oldest child. There was a moment of silence, then Taichi called for Anya to take the child away. Standing up father & son faced each other, Sora beside Taichi, determined to stay lest something happened & the two men came to blows. Yagami was the first to speak, asking Taichi if he was prepared to be king.
There was a double start, then Taichi asked "Didst thou dislike Mimi's idea?" Yagami shook his head. "I was unclear. Art thou prepared to rule until the alliance is cemented in blood?" The relief was almost a palpable thing as Taichi nodded his assent. Yet another awkward silence (Damn, those things happen a lot in this one, don't they?) then trio began slowly to talk amongst themselves, making arrangements.
A few days later Taichi was gone. Within a fortnight he had returned, telling Sora only that it was done. The people of their village were told that Taichi had been away, selling this time. Whatever else happened, the child must have been a boy, & both it & Mimi survived. All's well that end's well.
There! It's done! Yes, temporary marriages did exist back then. I looked into it to make sure I was accurate, which is way I took so long to update, which I apologize for, by the way. Please review the finished thing, especially you, anonymous flamer. I curious to know what I got wrong, as long as your not all sarcastic about it. I can be nice if people are nice to me.
Taichi jumped off his horse & handed it to the grooms. Immediately he could tell something was wrong. Anya glanced at him but was silent, far from her usual style. His first thought was that something had gone wrong with the abortion. He ran inside. Sora was seated in the kitchen, knitting. When he entered, she glanced up at him, eyes red with old tears & shimmering with new ones.
Before he could even open his mouth to ask what was wrong, she said "Your father & fiancée were here." Taichi closed his mouth with a snap, then reopened & closed it several times wordlessly. Sora stood up, gaze accusing. "So what I hath been told is true. Thou art what they claim him to be." Taichi stood there helpless, unable to deny what he was being accused of.
Sora's eyes filled with tears as she realized her husband was not going to deny what had been said. "They are at the Dragon's Gold inn," she chocked out before fleeing the room crying. Taichi started after her, but realized that it would be a better idea to go & speak with his father & Mimi. Whatever happened would be decided later. With a sigh the brunette left, preparing himself for the confrontation soon to be at hand.
At the inn, Yagami paced "He should be back. That girl said she would send him to us!" "She did," Mimi entered, Taichi in tow. His father turned, & let the briefest flashes of relief go through his eyes, before his expression hardened. "Explain thyself." "I tried 8 years ago, & thou didst not listen. Why should I do so now?" Taichi countered. 2 sets of brown eyes stared at each other, 2 sets of wills trying to bend the other.
"Enough of this!" Mimi intervened, stepping between the two. "We found you Taichi. Now what dost thou plan to do?" Taichi stopped, looked at her, then his father. "I am going to think about what to at home. With my wife." No one made a move to stop him as he walked out the door. On his way home Taichi seethed, furious that they could show up like that. Everything was ruined.
Sora, if she forgave him, would still have the marriage annulled. If his father did not force it upon them. He stopped at the front door, then continued inside, sighing. After a moment of deliberation he entered. Nothing was decided yet. This was still his house, his family. Entering he was greeted by Anya & Sora's twin gazes. The brunette said "Leave us, Anya." The servant looked at her mistress, who nodded, & she left the couple alone.
There was a long moment of silence, the Taichi said "Whatever questions thou has, speak them." Sora took a deep breath. "What shalt happen?" Taichi was surprised that she asked no questions of him, but was also grateful. One of his favourite qualities about Sora was her empathy. "I know not. I assume that I shalt have to do what was avoided all those years ago." Sora was silent for a moment.
"Is there a way to convince them otherwise?" Taichi sighed, fearing yet relieved at the question. Whatever happened would be worked out by them together (A/N It's REALLY hard to write a romance fic when you're listening to Godsmack!). "I know not what shall be done. Come to bed, we shall speak of it there where it is more private." Sora nodded, & Taichi vowed to do everything within his power to keep her his wife.
After the next day passed with no word from Mimi or King Yagami, the former showed up, requesting to speak with Taichi. Sora let him go, eyeing Mimi warily. Outside the sky was studded with stars. Mimi sat down with a sigh, looking up at them wistfully. "Dost thou e'er wonder how it would hath happened had thou remained?" Taichi shook his head. "Ne'er hath I wondered such a thing. Sora was all I ever wanted."
"Once thou knew her," Mimi stated. "Why so suddenly sure of thyself?" Taichi questioned carefully. "Because I know what shalt take place." Taichi blinked, surprised. "Indeed?" Mimi nodded. "Sit. I promise to make no advances." Confused by the sudden turn of events, Taichi nonetheless did as she requested. "I have a plan that should satisfy my parents, & your father, as well allow you to return her." Taichi regarded the blond warily. "Why the sudden concern for what I want?"
Mimi looked at him sadly. "Because I saw the way she looked at thou, & thou at her. I envy her almost, to be loved by someone like that. My status removed such a possibility for I, limiting my choices only to those within the courts. That moment t'was near enough to make me desire to do as thou did." Taichi, feeling the moment called for it, was silent for a whilst Mimi lost herself briefly in her own thoughts, & wondered if the girl had a lost love.
Then Taichi said softly, "Thou hath changed. I can imagine such an ordeal such as that which I put thee through could bring about such I change. If not for Sora, I could consent to marriage to thou. But Sora is here, & I could have no other." Mimi gave him a brief smile then said "Tis why I am trying not to come between thy love & thee. Listen to my plan, consult her on it, while I with your father, & hopefully all shalt be right again."
Shortly after the outline of Mimi's idea, & a brief update of what had happened since his departure, Taichi went inside, & Mimi to the Dragon's Gold. In their bedroom Sora was perched on the bed, her eyes justly curious. Taichi sat beside her with a soft smile. "Mimi suggested this, & I think it a good solution. I do wed her, but," he overrode the beginnings of Sora's objection, "The marriage is contracted for only a fortnight, long enough for her to get with child. Then I leave, returning only if the child isn't a boy, & I return here after all is finished."
Sora was silent for a moment, mulling it over. She was reluctant to have to entertain the thought that she should have surrender him to another women even for a short period of time, but was preferable to anything else she could think of. At last she nodded her agreement. Taichi kissed her, said goodnight, then they both curled up together & slept, hoping Taichi's father would consent to the idea.
The next day Yagami himself rode out to the little farm where Sora & Taichi lived. As with the first time, he entered without warning, catching the pair off guard with their oldest child. There was a moment of silence, then Taichi called for Anya to take the child away. Standing up father & son faced each other, Sora beside Taichi, determined to stay lest something happened & the two men came to blows. Yagami was the first to speak, asking Taichi if he was prepared to be king.
There was a double start, then Taichi asked "Didst thou dislike Mimi's idea?" Yagami shook his head. "I was unclear. Art thou prepared to rule until the alliance is cemented in blood?" The relief was almost a palpable thing as Taichi nodded his assent. Yet another awkward silence (Damn, those things happen a lot in this one, don't they?) then trio began slowly to talk amongst themselves, making arrangements.
A few days later Taichi was gone. Within a fortnight he had returned, telling Sora only that it was done. The people of their village were told that Taichi had been away, selling this time. Whatever else happened, the child must have been a boy, & both it & Mimi survived. All's well that end's well.
There! It's done! Yes, temporary marriages did exist back then. I looked into it to make sure I was accurate, which is way I took so long to update, which I apologize for, by the way. Please review the finished thing, especially you, anonymous flamer. I curious to know what I got wrong, as long as your not all sarcastic about it. I can be nice if people are nice to me.