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Chapter Two: In the Rose Garden
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Yukina leads me out into a meticulous garden filled with flowers of an extensive variety. I can feel the discontent of them as I brush my fingers lightly against their petals, frowning.
"Do you tend these flowers yourself, my lady?" I ask her, even though I know such a kind person like her would never treat flowers in such an uncaring way.
Just as I assumed, she shakes her head, her wave of sea green hair bobbing slightly with her movements. "The servants tend the gardens most days, but I try to come out here as often as I can. Father doesn't want me to though..." she blushes and ducks her head, realizing that she has said too much.
I just chuckle, my eyes twinkling with rebellion as they had often of late. My finger brushes across her cheek and her blush deepens. I hear a growl from behind me and I know Hiei is watching me.
"Excuse me for a moment, if you don't mind I would like a minute or two to myself in the garden." I ask of her.
She nods obediently as bows low to me and walks back away. Once I am finally alone, I turn around and beckon Hiei from out of the shadows.
The short man walks straights up to me, with a frown on his face. I smirk and laugh. "Does this girl mean something to you? Are you perhaps in love with her?" I tease, patting him lightly on the head. I'm having so much fun today!
Hiei slaps my hand away. "Even if you are the prince I will not hesitate to slit your throat right here and now if you ever lay a hand on me again. The girl means nothing to me. She is but a nuisance in my life."
Somehow, I think he's lying. There's something in his eyes that is giving him away to me...and in the way he acts too. He's so protective of her, but yet scared to get near her at the same time. This truly is a mystery for me to solve. That doesn't matter though. I don't have anything to do anyway.
"Those are pretty harsh words to your prince. I thought you were supposed to be my bodyguard. Why would my father hire someone like you especially with all the other people he could pay to protect me? Why would he hire someone who keeps on threatening to kill me?" I say, jokingly.
Hiei scorns at me. "You are a fool. Because I am the only one who can protect you. I'm the only one strong enough."
"Oh really, what are you going to protect me from that's so 'dangerous'." I say as I roll my eyes. I certainly am acting like my teenage self.
Hiei then grins evilly and I get slightly apprehensive. "Oh just wait, 'Prince' Kurama, you'll see. You'll be begging for my protection in the end." He says as then retreats back into the bushes.
I walk off down a small path through the garden, enjoying this time I have managed to find for myself (of course not including my little shadow). My footsteps echo slightly on the cobblestone pathway and the sunshine around me settles pleasantly down onto my skin.
I stop in the silence of the garden and touch one finger to the edge of a rose petal. It's soft pink petals warm to my touch and begins to glow, shining with health that only love and tender care can bring. They treat the plants here....well like plants instead of living things. I brush my fingers along the rose's thorns softly so as to not prick myself. These people have not appreciation for beauty at all.
I sigh as I bend down and gently smell the flower's sweet fragrance. It's so relaxing. I wish I never had to leave a garden. I would gladly spend the rest of my days lounging in one, but soon I'm afraid that my duties will overcome my life. If only there was someway out of it. If only I could find my own happiness instead of being forced into the life of a prince.
"I see your majesty is enjoying the flowers. I'm glad." I hear the duke's voice say behind me.
Gracefully I turn around, pretending like I knew he was there the whole time. "Yes, I am indeed. If I might say you have a rather good selection, but they seem restless and unhappy."
The duke looks confused at first. "Restless...unhappy? Ah, yes, your majesty does have a certain affinity with flora. I'll see that they are tended right away, certainly." He says, bowing low before me.
I smile softly at the rose that I'm leaving behind and turn to follow the duke as he leads me back inside. The hallway we are walking down is dim for the thick stone walls block almost all of the sun's rays of warmth and light. Only thin slits in the walls let fragmented shafts of light through.
I frown at this, wanting to be back out in the bright sunlight. I can't though. I'm a prince. If only I were free from this torture that's been happening for the last seventeen years of my life!
The hall he leads me into is vastly decorated with a variety of ancient paintings and flashy curtains made out of heavily embroidered cloth. I gaze at on in particular that depicts a great battle between a battalion of soldiers and a ferocious dragon demon that is shooting out blazes of fire across the field.
There is an extensive table centered in the center of the antechamber laid out with many expensive treats and victuals covering its expanse. It's facing a large stage with large red curtains that seems to be set up for some sort of theatrical performance.
My eyes turn to find that Yukina is seated at one of the small chairs at the far end of the table, fingering a strand of hair nervously.
"Yukina!!" I hear a loud annoying voice call. I turn around to see a young boy with red-brown tufty hair running frantically hall towards her.
He collapses at her feet, panting wildly for breath, his face upturned to hers in a plea. "Yukina, why can't i have you're love? I'd give anything for you!" Then his serious face turned goofy as he pulled out a messily put together bouquet out from behind his back . "See! I have prettiful flowers."
I could hear the duke beside me groan and he rubs a hand over his temple. "Can someone please get him out of here?!" He screams, then he turns to me. "I'm sorry your majesty. That's just one of the lesser lords of the area. He's been after my daughter for quite a while." He says apologetically.
"I see." I say quietly, watching as two men attempt to drag the boy away as he screamed out declarations of love. I can see the duke's eyebrow twitch and I hide a grin.
"Does this happen often?" I ask mischievously.
The duke sweatdrops visibly and I assume that's an obvious yes. Then for no particular reason I wonder where Hiei has been this entire time. I can't sense his presence behind me anymore and I'm slightly saddened. I don't know if I can stand all these formalities anymore, and I'm starting to get a headache.
[Slightly shorter chapter, but it's taken me a while to write it for some reason. Hope you liked it.]
Chapter Two: In the Rose Garden
..................................................................
Yukina leads me out into a meticulous garden filled with flowers of an extensive variety. I can feel the discontent of them as I brush my fingers lightly against their petals, frowning.
"Do you tend these flowers yourself, my lady?" I ask her, even though I know such a kind person like her would never treat flowers in such an uncaring way.
Just as I assumed, she shakes her head, her wave of sea green hair bobbing slightly with her movements. "The servants tend the gardens most days, but I try to come out here as often as I can. Father doesn't want me to though..." she blushes and ducks her head, realizing that she has said too much.
I just chuckle, my eyes twinkling with rebellion as they had often of late. My finger brushes across her cheek and her blush deepens. I hear a growl from behind me and I know Hiei is watching me.
"Excuse me for a moment, if you don't mind I would like a minute or two to myself in the garden." I ask of her.
She nods obediently as bows low to me and walks back away. Once I am finally alone, I turn around and beckon Hiei from out of the shadows.
The short man walks straights up to me, with a frown on his face. I smirk and laugh. "Does this girl mean something to you? Are you perhaps in love with her?" I tease, patting him lightly on the head. I'm having so much fun today!
Hiei slaps my hand away. "Even if you are the prince I will not hesitate to slit your throat right here and now if you ever lay a hand on me again. The girl means nothing to me. She is but a nuisance in my life."
Somehow, I think he's lying. There's something in his eyes that is giving him away to me...and in the way he acts too. He's so protective of her, but yet scared to get near her at the same time. This truly is a mystery for me to solve. That doesn't matter though. I don't have anything to do anyway.
"Those are pretty harsh words to your prince. I thought you were supposed to be my bodyguard. Why would my father hire someone like you especially with all the other people he could pay to protect me? Why would he hire someone who keeps on threatening to kill me?" I say, jokingly.
Hiei scorns at me. "You are a fool. Because I am the only one who can protect you. I'm the only one strong enough."
"Oh really, what are you going to protect me from that's so 'dangerous'." I say as I roll my eyes. I certainly am acting like my teenage self.
Hiei then grins evilly and I get slightly apprehensive. "Oh just wait, 'Prince' Kurama, you'll see. You'll be begging for my protection in the end." He says as then retreats back into the bushes.
I walk off down a small path through the garden, enjoying this time I have managed to find for myself (of course not including my little shadow). My footsteps echo slightly on the cobblestone pathway and the sunshine around me settles pleasantly down onto my skin.
I stop in the silence of the garden and touch one finger to the edge of a rose petal. It's soft pink petals warm to my touch and begins to glow, shining with health that only love and tender care can bring. They treat the plants here....well like plants instead of living things. I brush my fingers along the rose's thorns softly so as to not prick myself. These people have not appreciation for beauty at all.
I sigh as I bend down and gently smell the flower's sweet fragrance. It's so relaxing. I wish I never had to leave a garden. I would gladly spend the rest of my days lounging in one, but soon I'm afraid that my duties will overcome my life. If only there was someway out of it. If only I could find my own happiness instead of being forced into the life of a prince.
"I see your majesty is enjoying the flowers. I'm glad." I hear the duke's voice say behind me.
Gracefully I turn around, pretending like I knew he was there the whole time. "Yes, I am indeed. If I might say you have a rather good selection, but they seem restless and unhappy."
The duke looks confused at first. "Restless...unhappy? Ah, yes, your majesty does have a certain affinity with flora. I'll see that they are tended right away, certainly." He says, bowing low before me.
I smile softly at the rose that I'm leaving behind and turn to follow the duke as he leads me back inside. The hallway we are walking down is dim for the thick stone walls block almost all of the sun's rays of warmth and light. Only thin slits in the walls let fragmented shafts of light through.
I frown at this, wanting to be back out in the bright sunlight. I can't though. I'm a prince. If only I were free from this torture that's been happening for the last seventeen years of my life!
The hall he leads me into is vastly decorated with a variety of ancient paintings and flashy curtains made out of heavily embroidered cloth. I gaze at on in particular that depicts a great battle between a battalion of soldiers and a ferocious dragon demon that is shooting out blazes of fire across the field.
There is an extensive table centered in the center of the antechamber laid out with many expensive treats and victuals covering its expanse. It's facing a large stage with large red curtains that seems to be set up for some sort of theatrical performance.
My eyes turn to find that Yukina is seated at one of the small chairs at the far end of the table, fingering a strand of hair nervously.
"Yukina!!" I hear a loud annoying voice call. I turn around to see a young boy with red-brown tufty hair running frantically hall towards her.
He collapses at her feet, panting wildly for breath, his face upturned to hers in a plea. "Yukina, why can't i have you're love? I'd give anything for you!" Then his serious face turned goofy as he pulled out a messily put together bouquet out from behind his back . "See! I have prettiful flowers."
I could hear the duke beside me groan and he rubs a hand over his temple. "Can someone please get him out of here?!" He screams, then he turns to me. "I'm sorry your majesty. That's just one of the lesser lords of the area. He's been after my daughter for quite a while." He says apologetically.
"I see." I say quietly, watching as two men attempt to drag the boy away as he screamed out declarations of love. I can see the duke's eyebrow twitch and I hide a grin.
"Does this happen often?" I ask mischievously.
The duke sweatdrops visibly and I assume that's an obvious yes. Then for no particular reason I wonder where Hiei has been this entire time. I can't sense his presence behind me anymore and I'm slightly saddened. I don't know if I can stand all these formalities anymore, and I'm starting to get a headache.
[Slightly shorter chapter, but it's taken me a while to write it for some reason. Hope you liked it.]