* * *
Jenrya's POV
I was enjoying my summer. But it was all too quickly coming to an end. In just one
more passing of the moon I would have to leave to go back to the winter palace. And
leave Ruki...
Shin's hand came flying towards my face and I blocked just in time.
'Focus.' I scolded myself. I had gotten lost in my thoughts and let my guard down. I
came back quickly and did a sweeping kick, knocking Shin's feet out from under him.
We were having a sparing match. Shin was a student at the dojo not far from the
village. Occasionally, he came down to train with me.
"Alright Lee-sama I surrender." He said getting up on his feet.
"Pathetic." came the voice of someone standing in the doorway. It was, of course, Ruki. "Ruki, it's not nice to insult people you don't know." I scolded her.
"Oh but I was referring to the both of you and, as horrible as it is for me to admit it, I do
know you Jenrya." Okay I think Ruki was looking for a fight, so I'd give her one. Out of
the corner of my eye I saw Shin looking at Ruki with amusement and admiration. I
didn't really like the fact he was staring at her. But I couldn't blame him. She was
gorgeous and she just insult the second crowned prince of China.
"You think you can do better?"
"I know I can do better."
"Then I challenge you."
"You're on."
"Then it's agreed." Shin called out, highly amused. "This will be a submission sparing
match between Ruki-san and Lee-sama."
Ruki rolled her eyes at him and began to stretch out. I took the time to catch my breath
and take a sip of water.
Ruki finished her stretches then preceded to do five back flips before looking satisfied.
"Anytime you're ready Jen." she said.
I wasn't that worried. Yet.
"Alright then, please bow to your partner." I bowed to Ruki and she bowed back but our
gaze remained locked.
We got into fighting stances. Just by the way she stood I could tell that Ruki had been
trained by someone, someone good.
"Ready, begin!" Shin shouted.
Neither of us moved for a minute. Then Ruki took the offensive. She flipped over my
head and took stance to hit me before I could blink. I whipped around and blocked.
We then fell into a rhythm. She punched; I blocked. I'd try to punch; she'd block or
dodge it. Moments later, or an eternity later I don't know which, I tried to give her an
upper cut and she took my wrist and moved around behind me and used the force of
my punch to flip me over.
I groaned, she smirked and Shin chuckled.
"Whose side are you on?" I said to him as I got up.
Ruki immediately took fighting stance. Dang! She was good! And I was having trouble
fighting her because I couldn't hold my concentration when she was within ten yards of
me, much less two feet.
I took the offensive. I tried to get her with a roundhouse kick but she ducked and
knocked me off my feet/foot with a sweeping kick.
Instead of falling I flipped backwards. I tried to clear my mind. This was my enemy.
Not Ruki. The enemy had to be defeated. I told myself that but the other suppressed
part of my mind was screaming 'No! This is Ruki! The girl you secretly like, remember?"
I charged at her with a flying kick but she surprised me and slid under me. Then,
before I could regain my composure she came at me with a round house kick. I ducked
the first swipe but the second one was aimed lower and she knocked me over. I was so
tired I couldn't get up.
"Do you surrender?" She stood over me. I nodded, then groaned.
Shin shook his head. "And the winner is Ruki-san! What will be her prize for kicking
Lee-sama's royal butt?" He asked me.
"She can help me up." I said somewhat irritably, losing doesn't make anyone feel good.
She offered me her hand, I took it and she helped me up. We bowed to each other and
then I groaned again.
"Where the heck did you learn to do that?" I asked her.
"Secret." she said.
I should have known. Everything about her was secret.
"What else do you do?" I asked her.
"Archery, swordplay, swimming, horseback riding, hand to hand combat, you know,
normal lady like stuff." I looked at her with amazement.
"Don't worry Jenrya, I'm not going to brag."
Oh yeah, that makes me feel better.
* * *
Over the next week I tested Ruki on her word and we competed in everything:
swordplay, archery, etc. She beat me hands down in everything. Although a few times
it was close. I might have been able to beat her if she was a total stranger. Notice the
word might.
But I was enjoying it.
That is, until I got a letter that ever so nicely informed me that Lady AiMei, daughter of
the lord ruling one of the northernmost provinces was coming to visit me in my summer
villa.
I had gotten the letter and read it in my room, upon reading it I began cursing loudly in
Japanese. I had forgotten that Ruki knew Japanese.
"Jenrya!" she shouted as she knocked on my door. I opened it and she walked in,
hands on her hips and began questioning me in Japanese, probably to emphasis the
point that she spoke the language better that I did.
"What is the meaning of disturbing my reading with loud profanities?"
I winced as I spoke.
"AiMei is coming." I said weakly. She looked at me, I knew that look. It meant, "Jenrya
I know you're not that stupid so start explaining now."
I sighed. "AiMei is the daughter of the lord of one of the largest northern provinces, and
my father has been trying to get me to marry her."
Ruki looked at me with astonishment. "That's what you're having a fit about? Honestly
Jenrya! He's not making you marry her yet so you don't have anything to worry about." I
honesty thought she was nuts.
"What do you mean I don't have anything to worry about?! This is probably the next
step! After this they'll probably betroth us! That and she's going to be with us for a
whole week! And I don't see how you can be so happy about it! You're going to have
to play your role as resident lady-in-waiting for visiting nobility! She's visiting nobility!
And I can't insult her because then I could start a civil war!" She looked at me in
disbelief.
"I don't believe it's as bad as all that but either way it seems we're both screwed." she
said.
I groaned, if Ruki couldn't help me, no one could.
* * *
I groaned and Ruki elbowed me in the stomach. AiMei's carriage was approaching.
"All you have to do is be polite."
With that she left to go to AiMei's rooms where she was to meet her. I don't know what
I would have done the past few days without Ruki. While I had been drowning in my
misery, Ruki had arranged the feasts, set up her rooms, prepared a horse for AiMei's
use, made sure that I had the proper wardrobe, and tried to talk me out of my sorrow.
Now she was waiting near AiMei's rooms (which she had put as far away from mine as
possible to keep me sane), to show AiMei around and help her unpack and tell her
about the feast tonight so I don't have to.
All I had to do was greet her and bring her to Ruki. Then I was suppose to have some
'business' to attend to. Ruki had made it as easy for me as possible and I was grateful
even if I hadn't really shown it.
AiMei's carriage pulled up and I gulped. Takato opened the carriage door and I offered
out my arm. I was wearing one of my most embellished outfits so, naturally I was
uncomfortable.
A hand rested on my arm and I helped her down. AiMei was pretty, I wasn't going to
argue she wasn't. But, in my opinion Ruki was prettier. Just don't tell her I said that.
AiMei was about Ruki's height, maybe a little shorter, her skin was pale, she had long
midnight black hair and bright blue eyes. She was wearing her hair in seven braids.
I found her incredibly annoying.
"Your Majesty." she bowed and batted her eyes but somehow managed to hold on to
my arm.
I bowed slightly, "Greetings Lady AiMei, welcome to my summer villa."
She latched on to my arm and drew closer to me. I tried not to squirm.
"Please, just call me AiMei." she cooed.
I guess she was expecting me to tell her she could call me Jenrya. Well there was no
chance of that happening. I cleared my throat.
"Very well AiMei, please come this way, I'll show you to your rooms." Takato and a few
of the other servants began unpacking the carriage while two ladies got out of the
carriage and began to follow AiMei and I.
"I'm ever so happy to be able to visit you. My father was reluctant about sending me on
my own because of all the bandits roaming the woods but I just had to see you so I
convinced my father I was old enough to handle it. Don't you think so? Anyway..."
My god, her talking was incessant! I don't think she took a breathe for two whole
minutes. And for the record I do not believe she could "handle herself."
I was incredibly happy when I came to the right corridor and saw Ruki waiting.
"AiMei." I said. I think I cut her off but I had already shut out her shrill buzzing.
"This is Ruki." I said as we approached her and stopped. I couldn't help but be a little
happier. Ruki was wearing one of her simple dresses but the cut flattered her nicely.
"Lady AiMei." Ruki inclined her head, "I'll be showing you around the villa." I smiled at
Ruki and she winked. AiMei looked rather upset.
She gave Ruki a nasty look and with an equally nasty tone said, "Shouldn't you bow to
your master?" Ruki's eyes flashed, I could tell she was annoyed. But I gave her the
most pleading look I could and silently asked her to play along.
She sighed, and bowed. "Your Majesty, I apologize."
"Think nothing of it." I whispered. I hated the fact that Ruki had to bow to me; we were
equals.
AiMei looked satisfied but then turned on me.
"Please," she purred. "Why can't you show me around Jenrya?" I flinched at her
addressing me by my first name.
"I have business to attend to." I said as I detached her from my arm and began walking
away. I have never been so grateful to Ruki.
* * *
Ruki's POV
I grated my teeth in frustration, this girl was really getting on my nerves. After I got her
into the rooms she started talking about how wonderful Jenrya was and how she
couldn't wait until they were married. For the first few minutes it was funny because I
knew it would never happen but then it started to get annoying.
I was thankful when her belongings (of which there were many) finally came because
then I would have something to do besides sit there and say "Yes milady." every once
in a while during her incessant babble. Of course, she sat on her pillows and lounged
claiming she was "weary from the journey." How could she be tired if she's been sitting
in a carriage for a few hours? While we put her things away she bossed us around.
"Those don't go there!" AiMei yelled at me. "Honestly! Were you raised in a barn?" I
took several deep breathes and restrained from telling this girl where I was raised. I
was doing this for Jenrya. For Jenrya.
* * *
I was finding flowers for AiMei. Blue lilies to be precise. They weren't exactly easy to
find. She insisted she had to have blue lilies to go with her dress. I volunteered to go
and get them to get away from her. I hadn't seen Jenrya since AiMei first arrived.
But I had already decided that tomorrow he would help me with her.
I had toured AiMei around the villa flanked by her two handmaids.
She actually said that she was surprised at the humbleness of the villa. I told her that
was what Jenrya liked. Of course I didn't call him Jenrya in front of her.
She had looked surprised but had said, "That will have to change."
After that AiMei insisted we go back to her rooms to help her get ready for the feast,
THREE AND A HALF HOURS EARLY!
AiMei was exactly the type of person that gave girls a bad name. She was vain, selfish,
prissy, and she had no ambition to do anything in life but get married to someone of
high stature and have their heir.
I found the blue lilies. I picked two and went back to AiMei's rooms. I didn't think the
gardens needed to be ruined for her hairdo.
"Just two?" She questioned me while one of her servants brushed her hair as the other
fixed her dress.
"There weren't anymore milady." I lied.
She shrugged, "Then I guess they will have to do."
She had her hair put up in odangoes and put a blue lily in each. She looked at me with
a questioning eye. Uh oh.
"Are you coming to the feast?" she asked me, as if she already knew I wasn't.
"Yes milady, all servants except those who work in the kitchen are to be in attendance."
'So there!' I added mentally.
She wrinkled her nose. "You're not wearing that?" I blinked in surprised and looked
down at the dress I was wearing. It was one of my simple ones but it wasn't stained or
anything.
"Go change." AiMei said without waiting for my response. I almost fought her, but
thought better of it. This was one battle I didn't need to win, so why bother trying? It
wouldn't hurt me physically to wear one of my fancy dresses but it would do a number
on my pride.
I shrugged and went to my room to change. "Should I meet you in the hall milady?" I
called over my shoulder.
"No, come here and accompany me."
Great, just great.
* * *
Jenrya's POV
I had spent all day with Takato. That was the important business I had to attend to.
We had talked a lot; caught up on the little things. We had drifted apart a little since
Ruki and Juri came along. We went and spent time with Terriermon and Guilmon today
and plan to go fishing the next chance we get.
But no matter how much I was enjoying myself I still had to go back for the feast. It was
suppose to be in AiMei's honor. I knew I had to hold but none of the servants would
have done anything special if Ruki hadn't reminded them to.
So there I was, sitting at the head of the table in the hall where we hadn't eaten since
last summer (I preferred to just take my food in the kitchen). The hall had been
decorated with elegant banners and sparse flowers. It looked better then it had ever
looked.
I shifted uncomfortable in my seat, I had once again been forced into a nice outfit. On
top of that the servants had already brought out some appetizers but I was forbidden by
rules of etiquette to eat until AiMei came. I gave a small smile thinking how ridiculous
Ruki would say the rule was. And how she would prove it by eating anyway.
Just then the doors of the hall opened and AiMei came in. She was a blue dress which
was designed, I'm sure, to show as much as possible (for the record the slits were to
high and it was probably two sizes too small). She had put her hair in odangoes with
sapphire bands and had a blue lily in each. Jewelry adorned every place it could. I
thought the whole ensemble rather vulgar but held my tongue.
Her two handmaids were two steps back on either side of her. I didn't see Ruki at first
because she was standing behind all of them, but when I did my jaw hit the floor.
She had left her hair down for once and had a single violet behind her right ear. Her
dress was stunning. The material was a soft golden color that kind of matched the
blond sections of her hair. The fabric was embroidered in one shade darker than the
dress. It should pictures of phoenixes, foxes, and vines. The sleeves of the dress were
short. She wasn't wearing any jewelry, (note to self: buy her some) but she outshone
everyone else in the room.
I don't know how long I stood there practically brain dead staring at her. It couldn't have
been long, but if you had asked me what my name was at that moment, I would have
known what you were talking about, much less cared. You see, I never saw Ruki dress
up. Period.
I was jolted out of my stupor by a small jab in the side by Takato who was seated on my
right.
"Shut your mouth Jen." he whispered to me out of the corner of his mouth. Right, it
wasn't a good idea for AiMei or Ruki to see me drooling over Ruki. I quickly did and
regained my composure. We all sat down and all through dinner AiMei chatted while I
pretended to listen, sneaking frequent glances at Ruki. But what I didn't see was
AiMei's jealous glares every time I did.
* * *
I ended up having to walk AiMei back to her room. After finally getting away from her I
went back to my room. Ruki was waiting outside the door.
In Japanese, she stated, "Can I talk to you?" Although it was a question, her tone
made it very clear we were going to talk whether I liked it or not.
"Come one." I said quietly ushering Ruki into my room. It was completely against
almost every etiquette rule I've ever been taught, but if I had told Ruki that I would have
gotten an earful of how ridiculous etiquette rules were, (I agree with her on this, but I
have to defend some of my actions so I don't tell her that.)
"I cannot take a whole week with her Jenrya, I can't." I cringed, I suppose I knew Ruki
wouldn't be able to survive AiMei but I was hoping for at least two days.
"Please Ruki I need your help." Normally, I would have never begged her for anything
but desperate times call for desperate measures.
She sighed. "Jenrya I've never given up on anything important and I'm certainly not
giving up when it comes to helping you out but AiMei-nnoying is going to drive me nuts.
So please, help me with her! You don't even have to be alone with her! I'll stick around
but if this keeps up much longer..." she trailed off.
"Alright, alright, deal." I said. She looked relieved.
"Thanks Jen." I smiled at her, how could I not?
"You better get to sleep."
She nodded her consent and left. I sighed. Having AiMei here was probably the single
most trying thing Ruki and I would ever have to go through.
Only six more days till she leaves.
* * *
Omniscient POV
AiMei looked in the mirror as one of her maids brushed her raven locks.
Things weren't going as she anticipated. She had competition, that insubordinate
servant girl who'd been assigned to her. She wasn't a fool, she could tell by the way
he'd been looking at her that Jenrya was completely infatuated with what's her name? Oh yes, Ruki.
Well, she'd have to take care of that minor problem.
She looked at her appearance in the mirror and smiled coldly. Oh yes, she would be
Jenrya's wife.
Even if it killed someone else.
* * *