Sora strode down the halls, on her way to deliver Lord Chichiri's
meal.
She sighed as the blush that had stained her cheeks moments before began to
fade
Sora had known Reijun her entire life. She had been born at the palace as a child. None of the servants were forbidden from having lovers or families, so every so often, there were children running through the servant's quarters. Reijun happened to be one of the children she grew up with.
She smiled as an image of Reijun sprung into her mind. He was a very handsome man. His sharp blue eyes always found delight in whatever he was observing, and his hair was a dark brown, with a hint of red streaked through it, a trait that ran in the blood of those dwelling in Northern Konan. He had an attractive build, tall and muscular, with strong arms and legs. Secure, but not too large.
Sora remembered their youth fondly. They were always together, no matter what. Reijun had always protected her, both from bullies, and from the wrath of the other servants when one would fall victim to one of her many practical jokes. Sora was a troublemaker, and Reijun was the gentle voice of reason that had balanced her out. He would have died for her, and she for him.
He almost did once, in fact.
When she was only seven, Sora had been carrying too many plates on her way to the kitchen from the dining halls, and was trying to navigate the stairwell without looking at the steps in front of her. She had lost her footing on the hem of her robes and tumbled forward, plates crashing around her. Nine-year-old Reijun had been behind her and dove for her, grabbing her by the collar and turning her over so she landed on him when they both hit the stairs. He slid down to the bottom headfirst, young Sora tucked safely in his arms, and managed to get a broken shard of a porcelain dish lodged in his back, puncturing one of his lungs, the shard that would have pierced Sora's heart had she fallen face first onto the stairs. Sora sat by his bed every day until he recovered, holding his limp hand as the healers slowly returned the life to him.
That was when they had begun to love each other as more than brother and sister, even though they were both so very young. However, their parents both found that it was time to separate the two after the incident, placing young Reijun in the kitchens and Sora in the halls. Thus, their days together ended, and when they were forced to spend less and less time together.
Sora's young love was forgotten, Reijun becoming only a good friend and brother to her once again. They flirted for fun, but that was the extent of it, for she had no intention of seeking a lover.
Sora shook her thoughts from her head and continued through the halls, passing Reika, Meilan, and Ying. She smiled at the girls, stopping for a moment to talk to the three of them. "Had enough excitement for one morning?" Sora asked cheerfully. The girls all beamed back at her, grateful to Sora.
"Still not done yet." Reika, Reijun's younger sister said, looking a bit wistful.
"Oh?" Sora questioned, worried about Reika's vacant disposition
"Lord Tasuki and Lord Mitsukake requested some things be brought to them." Meilan explained to Sora. "Tea for Lord Mitsukake and a fish for Tama the cat." The young girl recited carefully, pleased with herself for remembering.
"And bread and sake for Lord Tasuki." Reika added.
"Ah." Sora commented. "Well, you had better hurry them. Oh, and Reika, you'll have to wait a moment, I stole the last loaf, but there are more baking in the oven." Reika nodded, and the three girls went on their way. Sora watched them leave, hoping against hope Reika didn't have eyes for this Lord Tasuki. Reika was like a sister to Sora, and she didn't want to see the girl hurt.
Sora sighed again and resumed her path toward Lord Chichiri's room. She passed through the hall that housed Lady Kourin, Lord Tamahome, and the Priestess, gazing quickly into each room to make sure everything was in order. Indeed it seemed to be, and Sora bowed her head respectfully as she passed Lady Kourin in the hall.
"Sora, could I speak with you for a moment?" Lady Kourin called to Sora as she passed. Sora cast a forlorn glance at her quickly cooling food before turning.
"Of course Lady Kourin." Sora approached the violet haired woman, who looked a bit nervous.
"It's Nuriko now, Sora." She corrected.
"My apologies, Lady Nuriko." Sora had forgotten about Lady Kourin's change of name. She used to tend to Kourin, now Nuriko, in the royal harems before taking over as headmistress when the old headmistress had passed away, and the two had become rather close over the years. Lady Nuriko's eyes looked rather sad, and she beckoned to Sora.
"Please, could you step into my chambers for a moment?" Nuriko asked, a worried look in her large brown eyes. With a nod, Sora entered the room, placing her tray at the small table by the doorway. Nuriko closed the doors behind her, turning to Sora with her head bowed, hands still on the door handle as if she was intending to bolt. "I need a favor, and I don't feel comfortable asking the servant who has been appointed to me recently. I thought I'd ask you, if that's all right with you Sora. I consider you trustworthy, and a friend." She smiled weakly.
"Are you all right Lady Nuriko?" Sora asked, concern rushing to her face.
"Lord. It's Lord Nuriko, not Lady, Sora." Nuriko said quietly, head bowed, waiting for Sora's reaction.
"Of course, Lord Nuriko." Sora smiled. Nuriko looked up, startled. Sora's expression was one of relief, and a kind smile danced on her lips. "Now what is this favor you wish to ask of me?"
"You know?" Nuriko looked confused. Sora simply tapped her throat, and as Nuriko raised his hand, he felt the small bump that was characteristic of only a man. He smiled softly at Sora, glad for the woman's compassion. "Well then, is there any way I could possibly get some male clothing tailored?" Nuriko was visibly relaxed. Sora rose, and made her way to the door.
"Of course, I'll have them brought to you the day after next." She picked up her tray and turned the handle, winking. "Take all the time you need, Lady Kourin. My lips are sealed." Nuriko smiled at Sora and she closed the door.
Finding herself alone in the hallway again, Sora placed her hand over the bowl of broth with a sigh. The steam had ceased rising from it, an indication that it was now, at best, only a lukewarm temperature. She didn't even need to check the loaf, as she knew it suffered the same fate. She decided it would be best to check in on Lord Chichiri and show him to the bathhouse while she prepared him another plate of food.
Sora knocked gently before entering the room, bowing her head to show respect to the guest within.
"Lord Chichiri, my humblest apologies. I was -"
A soft snore caused Sora to look up from her humble position. Lord Chichiri was sitting on the floor at the foot of his bead, legs folded in the lotus position of meditation, but his back resting gently against the bed. His long bangs covered his face as he slept. Sora felt a pang of sadness for the man. He must have been deathly exhausted to fall asleep while in meditation.
Sora placed the tray on the table, grateful that the cooled food would go unnoticed. She strode silently to the wardrobe, quietly opening the door and removing a silk blanket that was left in there for the rare cold nights. Behind her, Chichiri gave a gentle snort, and she heard him shift position slightly. She stepped back to close the door, and heard a soft crunching sound emanate from under her slipper. Looking down, she picked up what appeared to be a paper mask, torn slightly in the corner she had stepped upon. She pulled the tear back together, frowning and trying to figure out how to mend it back into one piece, when the edges of the paper fused back together again. She gasped in shock, dropping the mask as if it had burnt her. It fluttered back to the floor silently, resting once again by her feet. She backed away from it, shaking off the eerie feeling it gave her, and turned her attention back to Lord Chichiri.
The silk blanket pooled at her feet, forgotten, as she stared at the man on the floor. His legs had unfolded themselves slightly, and one hand lay limp at his side, while the other one draped softly over his stomach. His head lay back against the bed, instead of against his chest, causing his long blue hair to fall back away from his face.
Sora covered her mouth to stifle a scream as a scar revealed itself across the upper left half of his face. She couldn't tell while he was sleeping, but it appeared that the rough flesh held his left eye closed.
What on earth could have done that to him? Sora wondered, recovering from the initial shock. She picked up the blanket, covering him gently so as not to wake him, eyes averted from the scar. This was something she was not meant to see.
Sora quickly righted herself, standing and heading towards the door. She cast one more glance back at the man and the mask before leaving, closing the door silently behind her.
Ah ha! Chapter Three! Sorry for the wait. Not much to say about this one. Took me a while to get to it. Lots of homework. Of course, as always, I throw my unworthy self at the feet of Mark, my oh so holy editor, who reminds me every so often that I am but a lowly mortal, and still edits the garbage I turn out. ^_~
Riiiight, but here it is. Enjoy it. I'll try to make the next one better. I swear!
Sora had known Reijun her entire life. She had been born at the palace as a child. None of the servants were forbidden from having lovers or families, so every so often, there were children running through the servant's quarters. Reijun happened to be one of the children she grew up with.
She smiled as an image of Reijun sprung into her mind. He was a very handsome man. His sharp blue eyes always found delight in whatever he was observing, and his hair was a dark brown, with a hint of red streaked through it, a trait that ran in the blood of those dwelling in Northern Konan. He had an attractive build, tall and muscular, with strong arms and legs. Secure, but not too large.
Sora remembered their youth fondly. They were always together, no matter what. Reijun had always protected her, both from bullies, and from the wrath of the other servants when one would fall victim to one of her many practical jokes. Sora was a troublemaker, and Reijun was the gentle voice of reason that had balanced her out. He would have died for her, and she for him.
He almost did once, in fact.
When she was only seven, Sora had been carrying too many plates on her way to the kitchen from the dining halls, and was trying to navigate the stairwell without looking at the steps in front of her. She had lost her footing on the hem of her robes and tumbled forward, plates crashing around her. Nine-year-old Reijun had been behind her and dove for her, grabbing her by the collar and turning her over so she landed on him when they both hit the stairs. He slid down to the bottom headfirst, young Sora tucked safely in his arms, and managed to get a broken shard of a porcelain dish lodged in his back, puncturing one of his lungs, the shard that would have pierced Sora's heart had she fallen face first onto the stairs. Sora sat by his bed every day until he recovered, holding his limp hand as the healers slowly returned the life to him.
That was when they had begun to love each other as more than brother and sister, even though they were both so very young. However, their parents both found that it was time to separate the two after the incident, placing young Reijun in the kitchens and Sora in the halls. Thus, their days together ended, and when they were forced to spend less and less time together.
Sora's young love was forgotten, Reijun becoming only a good friend and brother to her once again. They flirted for fun, but that was the extent of it, for she had no intention of seeking a lover.
Sora shook her thoughts from her head and continued through the halls, passing Reika, Meilan, and Ying. She smiled at the girls, stopping for a moment to talk to the three of them. "Had enough excitement for one morning?" Sora asked cheerfully. The girls all beamed back at her, grateful to Sora.
"Still not done yet." Reika, Reijun's younger sister said, looking a bit wistful.
"Oh?" Sora questioned, worried about Reika's vacant disposition
"Lord Tasuki and Lord Mitsukake requested some things be brought to them." Meilan explained to Sora. "Tea for Lord Mitsukake and a fish for Tama the cat." The young girl recited carefully, pleased with herself for remembering.
"And bread and sake for Lord Tasuki." Reika added.
"Ah." Sora commented. "Well, you had better hurry them. Oh, and Reika, you'll have to wait a moment, I stole the last loaf, but there are more baking in the oven." Reika nodded, and the three girls went on their way. Sora watched them leave, hoping against hope Reika didn't have eyes for this Lord Tasuki. Reika was like a sister to Sora, and she didn't want to see the girl hurt.
Sora sighed again and resumed her path toward Lord Chichiri's room. She passed through the hall that housed Lady Kourin, Lord Tamahome, and the Priestess, gazing quickly into each room to make sure everything was in order. Indeed it seemed to be, and Sora bowed her head respectfully as she passed Lady Kourin in the hall.
"Sora, could I speak with you for a moment?" Lady Kourin called to Sora as she passed. Sora cast a forlorn glance at her quickly cooling food before turning.
"Of course Lady Kourin." Sora approached the violet haired woman, who looked a bit nervous.
"It's Nuriko now, Sora." She corrected.
"My apologies, Lady Nuriko." Sora had forgotten about Lady Kourin's change of name. She used to tend to Kourin, now Nuriko, in the royal harems before taking over as headmistress when the old headmistress had passed away, and the two had become rather close over the years. Lady Nuriko's eyes looked rather sad, and she beckoned to Sora.
"Please, could you step into my chambers for a moment?" Nuriko asked, a worried look in her large brown eyes. With a nod, Sora entered the room, placing her tray at the small table by the doorway. Nuriko closed the doors behind her, turning to Sora with her head bowed, hands still on the door handle as if she was intending to bolt. "I need a favor, and I don't feel comfortable asking the servant who has been appointed to me recently. I thought I'd ask you, if that's all right with you Sora. I consider you trustworthy, and a friend." She smiled weakly.
"Are you all right Lady Nuriko?" Sora asked, concern rushing to her face.
"Lord. It's Lord Nuriko, not Lady, Sora." Nuriko said quietly, head bowed, waiting for Sora's reaction.
"Of course, Lord Nuriko." Sora smiled. Nuriko looked up, startled. Sora's expression was one of relief, and a kind smile danced on her lips. "Now what is this favor you wish to ask of me?"
"You know?" Nuriko looked confused. Sora simply tapped her throat, and as Nuriko raised his hand, he felt the small bump that was characteristic of only a man. He smiled softly at Sora, glad for the woman's compassion. "Well then, is there any way I could possibly get some male clothing tailored?" Nuriko was visibly relaxed. Sora rose, and made her way to the door.
"Of course, I'll have them brought to you the day after next." She picked up her tray and turned the handle, winking. "Take all the time you need, Lady Kourin. My lips are sealed." Nuriko smiled at Sora and she closed the door.
Finding herself alone in the hallway again, Sora placed her hand over the bowl of broth with a sigh. The steam had ceased rising from it, an indication that it was now, at best, only a lukewarm temperature. She didn't even need to check the loaf, as she knew it suffered the same fate. She decided it would be best to check in on Lord Chichiri and show him to the bathhouse while she prepared him another plate of food.
Sora knocked gently before entering the room, bowing her head to show respect to the guest within.
"Lord Chichiri, my humblest apologies. I was -"
A soft snore caused Sora to look up from her humble position. Lord Chichiri was sitting on the floor at the foot of his bead, legs folded in the lotus position of meditation, but his back resting gently against the bed. His long bangs covered his face as he slept. Sora felt a pang of sadness for the man. He must have been deathly exhausted to fall asleep while in meditation.
Sora placed the tray on the table, grateful that the cooled food would go unnoticed. She strode silently to the wardrobe, quietly opening the door and removing a silk blanket that was left in there for the rare cold nights. Behind her, Chichiri gave a gentle snort, and she heard him shift position slightly. She stepped back to close the door, and heard a soft crunching sound emanate from under her slipper. Looking down, she picked up what appeared to be a paper mask, torn slightly in the corner she had stepped upon. She pulled the tear back together, frowning and trying to figure out how to mend it back into one piece, when the edges of the paper fused back together again. She gasped in shock, dropping the mask as if it had burnt her. It fluttered back to the floor silently, resting once again by her feet. She backed away from it, shaking off the eerie feeling it gave her, and turned her attention back to Lord Chichiri.
The silk blanket pooled at her feet, forgotten, as she stared at the man on the floor. His legs had unfolded themselves slightly, and one hand lay limp at his side, while the other one draped softly over his stomach. His head lay back against the bed, instead of against his chest, causing his long blue hair to fall back away from his face.
Sora covered her mouth to stifle a scream as a scar revealed itself across the upper left half of his face. She couldn't tell while he was sleeping, but it appeared that the rough flesh held his left eye closed.
What on earth could have done that to him? Sora wondered, recovering from the initial shock. She picked up the blanket, covering him gently so as not to wake him, eyes averted from the scar. This was something she was not meant to see.
Sora quickly righted herself, standing and heading towards the door. She cast one more glance back at the man and the mask before leaving, closing the door silently behind her.
Ah ha! Chapter Three! Sorry for the wait. Not much to say about this one. Took me a while to get to it. Lots of homework. Of course, as always, I throw my unworthy self at the feet of Mark, my oh so holy editor, who reminds me every so often that I am but a lowly mortal, and still edits the garbage I turn out. ^_~
Riiiight, but here it is. Enjoy it. I'll try to make the next one better. I swear!