II
"It's time to wake up, my lord"
Taichi groaned and slowly opened his eyes. His valet stood next to the bed preparing his clothes.
"Morning, Skimmings."
"Good Morning, my lord. I have prepared and given the extra set of clothing to your guest in the green chamber, whom, may I add, is awake."
"Oh, that means I should go see him. I am going to Lord Motomiya's today, so please prepare the appropriate clothing Skimmings."
After he got dressed, he made his way to the green chamber and knocked.
"Come in" a high voice from within called.
"Good morning, I hope you had a nice sleep." Taichi said on entering the room where he found his guest looking incredibly confused, but changed and presentable. "My name is Taichi Yagami and I found you last night, unconscious on the street."
"Oh . Thank you . my name is Yamato Ishida .where am I?" asked his guest, fingering his slightly long blond hair.
"It's nice to meet you. You are currently in my house and I do not mean to be rude, but I must leave and find my friend as soon as possible, before he does anything stupid." answered Taichi. Whilst he was thinking last night, he suddenly came upon the realisation that Daisuke might do something rash and stupid because Hikari refused him. "However, you may take your time. Breakfast is downstairs, ask anybody and they would show you where. My sister knows that you are here as will my mother. I will see you later."
Then he rushed out of the room and quickly found his mother.
"Mother, I brought a guest home last night."
"What? Taichi, why did you not tell me of this?"
"Mother, you were worrying about Hikari last night, I could not tell you. Now I must leave for Daisuke's to prevent him from doing anything stupid." Taichi said, leaving the room. By the time Lady Kamiya had relied with a stunned "Oh.", he was already on his way out of the house.
++++++++++
"Tai, please tell me you came here because Hikari changed her mind!"
"No, Dai, I didn't. I came to stop you from doing anything rash and unnecessary because of Hikari's refusal and I am happy to note that you have not thought about that yet."
Indeed, Lord Daisuke Motomiya, a marquis in his own right, was still alive and well in person when Taichi arrived at the Motomiya town house and was ushered into the library where his friend was, sulking. Daisuke was also considered a great catch for any unmarried ladies which meant that Hikari really believed that love played a big role in a marriage. However, he also acts without thinking a lot, which was why Taichi was in such a rush to get to him.
"Well, as you can see, I haven't. Still, Tai, are you sure that Hikari wouldn't change her mind? I don't think I can go on without her."
"Now I know you are talking nonsense. Dai, of course you can go on without her." said Taichi, setting about his task of making his friend feel better, "I don't think you are in love with her at all. You just think you are. Dai, my sister is not the only pretty girl in the world, she is just the first one you met."
"How do you know I'm not in love with her? I could very well be for all you know."
"Fine, so you are in love with her," countered Taichi, changing tactics, "but she is definitely not in love with you. This means that you have no chance with her. Though it would be nice to have you as a brother-in-law, it is not going to happen. I'll give you a few weeks to get used to it and come to talk to you again, or you can come and talk to me when you feel like it, just promise me you would not do something stupid. My sister is not worth it. Remember, she is not the only girl out there."
"Alright, I promise." said a sullen Daisuke.
"Good. Now I better go before my mother thinks that I had a horrible accident or that you took out your disappointment on me." said Taichi, getting up.
Little did he know that that was not what his mother was worrying about.
++++++++++
"Taichi Yagami! Come in here right now!" was what met him as he walked into the house.
"Mother, what seems to be the problem?" Taichi calmly asked on entering the drawing room.
"What seems to be the problem! Taichi, why did you not tell me you brought a GIRL home last night?" asked Lady Kamiya hysterically. "Do you know what rumours would spread? Our family name would be ruined forever!"
"A girl? Mother what are you talking about?" asked Taichi confused. He only brought one person home last night, and it was a man, called Yamato if his memory was correct.
"Yes, Taichi, the guest you so kindly told me about this morning was a girl. Which, I may add, you dressed in your old clothes. I don't know what you were thinking, but it is bad enough that you brought a girl, an unknown one too, but to dress her up as a boy! What were you thinking?"
"But the person I brought home last night was a man! He was wearing very male gentry clothing, mother." protested Taichi.
"However, I am not male." inputted a new voice, that of the person over whom all this discussion was on.
Taichi turned around and saw that, yes it was his guest, and his guest was now wearing a dress, which Taichi noted, looked very pretty on her. With the dress on and also with her behaviour, he could not figure out how he had mistaken her for a man in the first place. She was a fair beauty, with blond hair and big blue eyes.
"I suppose I better re-introduce myself. My name is Yamato Ishida, daughter of Lord Masuhara Ishida of York. It is a pleasure to meet you Lord Kamiya. Thank you for helping me last night."
"Oh." Then Taichi shook himself out of his shock. "It is a pleasure to meet you too. I am dreadfully sorry for running out of your chamber this morning, but I had to console my friend after my sister refused him yesterday. If I had not needed to do so, this misunderstanding would have been resolved long ago."
"Taichi! You did not need to say that!" exclaimed Lady Kamiya. "However, how is Lord Motomiya? And pray sit down Miss Ishida."
"He is fine mother. He will get over it." and turning to Yamato, "Miss Ishida, if I may be nosy and ask, why is it that I found you unconscious and wearing male clothing?"
"I believe I owe you an explanation. My father is a great believer in arranged marriages and so he arranged for me to marry a great lord, a marquis, from . actually I don't really know from where, just that I don't like him. I met him once and decided that I would not marry him for he was abominable, conceited and rude. The only way I was going to be able to get out of the marriage was to run away, however, I knew it was incredibly dangerous for a single female to go traveling alone, so, by bribing some of the servants, I was able to get a male ensemble together. The night of my escape, I cut my hair, gathered together all the money that I had saved and hopped on the first stage coach headed for London. Luckily, my journey to London was uneventful and my father has not sent any men after me who I could not outwit, however, upon reaching London last night, I was trying to find an inn to stay at and suddenly everything blacked out. This morning, I found myself in an unknown bedroom and all my money missing. I suppose I was robbed and you found me. That is really the whole of my story."
"Why did you come to London?" inquired Taichi.
"Well, firstly, this was where all the balls and social gatherings were and I thought that if I could somehow find someone to marry here that I at least like, then father might not make me marry the abominable marquis. It was not a very well thought out reason, as I realised on the way, however, I do have a better reason, I believe my aunt lives here, a Lady Takashi? and my sister had been sent to her as she needed to be brought out and my mother had died."
"When were you brought out? Were you brought out here? How old are you?" asked Lady Kamiya, confused for she had never heard of a Miss Yamato Ishida before and she knew practically any girl who was eligible for her son and this one was not only of the right status, she was also pretty.
"I am twenty-one and I was never brought out. My father did not believe it was necessary as he was going to arrange my marriage anyway. My sister was only able to be brought out because my aunt has been pestering him for quite some time now about it." replied Yamato sadly.
"Not brought out! At twenty-one! Poor girl, well I must remedy that! My daughter is already out, so I have time to bring you out. I would not bother your aunt, whom I know but not incredibly well, as she has a girl to bring out from what you have told me. Also, I believe she is in Bath at the moment." decided Lady Kamiya.
"Oh, you don't have to!" exclaimed Yamato, surprised that she would do such a thing. "I do not mind, although it is incredibly kind of you. You don't even know me! My story could be very fake for all you know! I-"
"Nonsense!" interrupted Lady Kamiya. "Of course I have to. As to your story, I do believe you. I told you I know Lady Takashi, she has told us all about her abominable brother-in-law. To think of hiding such a pretty thing!"
"Mother!"
Yamato blushed deeply and stammered. "Oh no, ma'am. I am not really that pretty and-" Only to be interrupted by Lady Kamiya once again.
"My dear child, of course you are, and if you are to get anybody at all, you must start acting like you know it. Now, Taichi, tell her to stay."
Smiling indulgently, Taichi turned to Yamato and said "You better stay. Once my mother decided on something, you cannot get her off it. Do not worry about money, we will pay for your coming out clothing and anything else mother thinks you need. You can stay in the green chamber for as long as you like. I do think your father would not be able to find you here."
"I suppose, though with me coming out, father might hear about me." said Yamato, resigning to her fate. "and I'll pay you back for everything you have spent on me."
"We'll deal with those issues when they come. Now I should go inform Hikari that she will have someone to talk to around here and that Daisuke is still alive, however disappointed she might feel about it." joked Taichi.
++++++++++
NB: I heard somewhere, from someone that the name 'Yamato' could be used for both boys and girls. That's how this confusion thing works. I hope I am right. If I am not, please pretend, for this story, that this is the case!
"It's time to wake up, my lord"
Taichi groaned and slowly opened his eyes. His valet stood next to the bed preparing his clothes.
"Morning, Skimmings."
"Good Morning, my lord. I have prepared and given the extra set of clothing to your guest in the green chamber, whom, may I add, is awake."
"Oh, that means I should go see him. I am going to Lord Motomiya's today, so please prepare the appropriate clothing Skimmings."
After he got dressed, he made his way to the green chamber and knocked.
"Come in" a high voice from within called.
"Good morning, I hope you had a nice sleep." Taichi said on entering the room where he found his guest looking incredibly confused, but changed and presentable. "My name is Taichi Yagami and I found you last night, unconscious on the street."
"Oh . Thank you . my name is Yamato Ishida .where am I?" asked his guest, fingering his slightly long blond hair.
"It's nice to meet you. You are currently in my house and I do not mean to be rude, but I must leave and find my friend as soon as possible, before he does anything stupid." answered Taichi. Whilst he was thinking last night, he suddenly came upon the realisation that Daisuke might do something rash and stupid because Hikari refused him. "However, you may take your time. Breakfast is downstairs, ask anybody and they would show you where. My sister knows that you are here as will my mother. I will see you later."
Then he rushed out of the room and quickly found his mother.
"Mother, I brought a guest home last night."
"What? Taichi, why did you not tell me of this?"
"Mother, you were worrying about Hikari last night, I could not tell you. Now I must leave for Daisuke's to prevent him from doing anything stupid." Taichi said, leaving the room. By the time Lady Kamiya had relied with a stunned "Oh.", he was already on his way out of the house.
++++++++++
"Tai, please tell me you came here because Hikari changed her mind!"
"No, Dai, I didn't. I came to stop you from doing anything rash and unnecessary because of Hikari's refusal and I am happy to note that you have not thought about that yet."
Indeed, Lord Daisuke Motomiya, a marquis in his own right, was still alive and well in person when Taichi arrived at the Motomiya town house and was ushered into the library where his friend was, sulking. Daisuke was also considered a great catch for any unmarried ladies which meant that Hikari really believed that love played a big role in a marriage. However, he also acts without thinking a lot, which was why Taichi was in such a rush to get to him.
"Well, as you can see, I haven't. Still, Tai, are you sure that Hikari wouldn't change her mind? I don't think I can go on without her."
"Now I know you are talking nonsense. Dai, of course you can go on without her." said Taichi, setting about his task of making his friend feel better, "I don't think you are in love with her at all. You just think you are. Dai, my sister is not the only pretty girl in the world, she is just the first one you met."
"How do you know I'm not in love with her? I could very well be for all you know."
"Fine, so you are in love with her," countered Taichi, changing tactics, "but she is definitely not in love with you. This means that you have no chance with her. Though it would be nice to have you as a brother-in-law, it is not going to happen. I'll give you a few weeks to get used to it and come to talk to you again, or you can come and talk to me when you feel like it, just promise me you would not do something stupid. My sister is not worth it. Remember, she is not the only girl out there."
"Alright, I promise." said a sullen Daisuke.
"Good. Now I better go before my mother thinks that I had a horrible accident or that you took out your disappointment on me." said Taichi, getting up.
Little did he know that that was not what his mother was worrying about.
++++++++++
"Taichi Yagami! Come in here right now!" was what met him as he walked into the house.
"Mother, what seems to be the problem?" Taichi calmly asked on entering the drawing room.
"What seems to be the problem! Taichi, why did you not tell me you brought a GIRL home last night?" asked Lady Kamiya hysterically. "Do you know what rumours would spread? Our family name would be ruined forever!"
"A girl? Mother what are you talking about?" asked Taichi confused. He only brought one person home last night, and it was a man, called Yamato if his memory was correct.
"Yes, Taichi, the guest you so kindly told me about this morning was a girl. Which, I may add, you dressed in your old clothes. I don't know what you were thinking, but it is bad enough that you brought a girl, an unknown one too, but to dress her up as a boy! What were you thinking?"
"But the person I brought home last night was a man! He was wearing very male gentry clothing, mother." protested Taichi.
"However, I am not male." inputted a new voice, that of the person over whom all this discussion was on.
Taichi turned around and saw that, yes it was his guest, and his guest was now wearing a dress, which Taichi noted, looked very pretty on her. With the dress on and also with her behaviour, he could not figure out how he had mistaken her for a man in the first place. She was a fair beauty, with blond hair and big blue eyes.
"I suppose I better re-introduce myself. My name is Yamato Ishida, daughter of Lord Masuhara Ishida of York. It is a pleasure to meet you Lord Kamiya. Thank you for helping me last night."
"Oh." Then Taichi shook himself out of his shock. "It is a pleasure to meet you too. I am dreadfully sorry for running out of your chamber this morning, but I had to console my friend after my sister refused him yesterday. If I had not needed to do so, this misunderstanding would have been resolved long ago."
"Taichi! You did not need to say that!" exclaimed Lady Kamiya. "However, how is Lord Motomiya? And pray sit down Miss Ishida."
"He is fine mother. He will get over it." and turning to Yamato, "Miss Ishida, if I may be nosy and ask, why is it that I found you unconscious and wearing male clothing?"
"I believe I owe you an explanation. My father is a great believer in arranged marriages and so he arranged for me to marry a great lord, a marquis, from . actually I don't really know from where, just that I don't like him. I met him once and decided that I would not marry him for he was abominable, conceited and rude. The only way I was going to be able to get out of the marriage was to run away, however, I knew it was incredibly dangerous for a single female to go traveling alone, so, by bribing some of the servants, I was able to get a male ensemble together. The night of my escape, I cut my hair, gathered together all the money that I had saved and hopped on the first stage coach headed for London. Luckily, my journey to London was uneventful and my father has not sent any men after me who I could not outwit, however, upon reaching London last night, I was trying to find an inn to stay at and suddenly everything blacked out. This morning, I found myself in an unknown bedroom and all my money missing. I suppose I was robbed and you found me. That is really the whole of my story."
"Why did you come to London?" inquired Taichi.
"Well, firstly, this was where all the balls and social gatherings were and I thought that if I could somehow find someone to marry here that I at least like, then father might not make me marry the abominable marquis. It was not a very well thought out reason, as I realised on the way, however, I do have a better reason, I believe my aunt lives here, a Lady Takashi? and my sister had been sent to her as she needed to be brought out and my mother had died."
"When were you brought out? Were you brought out here? How old are you?" asked Lady Kamiya, confused for she had never heard of a Miss Yamato Ishida before and she knew practically any girl who was eligible for her son and this one was not only of the right status, she was also pretty.
"I am twenty-one and I was never brought out. My father did not believe it was necessary as he was going to arrange my marriage anyway. My sister was only able to be brought out because my aunt has been pestering him for quite some time now about it." replied Yamato sadly.
"Not brought out! At twenty-one! Poor girl, well I must remedy that! My daughter is already out, so I have time to bring you out. I would not bother your aunt, whom I know but not incredibly well, as she has a girl to bring out from what you have told me. Also, I believe she is in Bath at the moment." decided Lady Kamiya.
"Oh, you don't have to!" exclaimed Yamato, surprised that she would do such a thing. "I do not mind, although it is incredibly kind of you. You don't even know me! My story could be very fake for all you know! I-"
"Nonsense!" interrupted Lady Kamiya. "Of course I have to. As to your story, I do believe you. I told you I know Lady Takashi, she has told us all about her abominable brother-in-law. To think of hiding such a pretty thing!"
"Mother!"
Yamato blushed deeply and stammered. "Oh no, ma'am. I am not really that pretty and-" Only to be interrupted by Lady Kamiya once again.
"My dear child, of course you are, and if you are to get anybody at all, you must start acting like you know it. Now, Taichi, tell her to stay."
Smiling indulgently, Taichi turned to Yamato and said "You better stay. Once my mother decided on something, you cannot get her off it. Do not worry about money, we will pay for your coming out clothing and anything else mother thinks you need. You can stay in the green chamber for as long as you like. I do think your father would not be able to find you here."
"I suppose, though with me coming out, father might hear about me." said Yamato, resigning to her fate. "and I'll pay you back for everything you have spent on me."
"We'll deal with those issues when they come. Now I should go inform Hikari that she will have someone to talk to around here and that Daisuke is still alive, however disappointed she might feel about it." joked Taichi.
++++++++++
NB: I heard somewhere, from someone that the name 'Yamato' could be used for both boys and girls. That's how this confusion thing works. I hope I am right. If I am not, please pretend, for this story, that this is the case!