-CherryBlackthourne- Welcome, my dearest readers, to another installment of our story. Quite emotional so far, isn't it? If you like it, please don't be shy. Just review. No pressure, of course. But above all, please sit back, relax, and enjoy.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Inu Yasha or any of its characters. That privilege belongs to Rumiko Takahashi-sama alone.
Throughout the week, Lady Kumiko Akitsu could feel her already tattered heart breaking as she watched her children grieve for their deceased father, especially her youngest, Ami. The despondent child had started to avoid contact with her family and the servants, preferring to stay locked in her room. She ate very little, and as a result her face began to lose its childlike softness.
Lady Kumiko knew all too well what her daughters were going through, since she herself had dealt with the horrifying fact that her darling, her light, her husband… He was gone, never to return. Oh, how she mourned him that day, so long ago. She could still remember how it was reported to her by one of the maidservants.
It was a lovely May afternoon. Lady Kumiko was again seated beneath the shade of the tree in the courtyard, and her children were out amongst the grass, practicing their kendo lessons and laughing gaily. Suddenly, one of the maidservants rushed out of the castle towards the noblewoman, her countenance in obvious anguish. Lady Kumiko rose up in alarm, and laid her hands gently on the poor girl's shoulders in an ineffective attempt to calm her.
"My goodness, Nori! What is troubling you so?"
"Oh, it's terrible news, Your Ladyship," cried the fretful maiden as she wrung her hands in worry. "But I must reveal it to you in private."
Lady Kumiko blinked. What on earth could this news be if she must give up watch on her children in order to hear it? She stared at the maidservant suspiciously.
"Why must it be in private? Is it really so urgent a matter, Nori?"
Nori nodded anxiously, tugging at the cloth handkerchief tied around her head, which was now somewhat dusty from cleaning earlier that day.
"In all honesty, Your Ladyship." The girl leaned in a bit closer and whispered to her, "It's about your husband, milady."
Lady Kumiko's eyes went wide in fear. She gasped and put a pallid hand to her rapidly beating heart. Oh gods… oh, please let this be about losing a battle and nothing more… She could feel her stomach twisting itself into a thousand knots, and a lump forming in her throat. She looked to the maidservant and gave the go-ahead.
"So be it. Quickly, in my chambers. And get one of the other girls to watch my daughters. Be sure not to alarm them. We must do this discreetly."
Nori bowed, her eyes cast downwards.
"Consider it done, milady."
With that, the two women hurried into the castle and began their way through the winding, polished wooden hallways towards the master chambers, with Lady Kumiko leading the way, her manner regal with her shoulders back and her hands in the voluminous sleeves of her multi-layered kimono.
As they neared the room, Lady Kumiko arched a finely shaped brow as she noticed that the double sliding doors were already open, with a servant girl at each one, ready to close them at a moment's notice. With a sigh, she briskly walked to the entranceway, stopping suddenly and turning to face the girls, her face stern.
"You two are to close these doors once Nori and I are inside, and then you are free to leave. We are not to be disturbed, is that clear?"
"Hai, Your Ladyship," came the simultaneous answer.
"Good. Come along, Nori. We have much to discuss, ne?" Not waiting for an answer, Lady Kumiko curtly turned and walked into the room, with Nori meekly following. The doors noiselessly slid shut behind them.
Once inside, Nori looked about at the master chambers in awe. She had never been even close to this wing of the massive castle, and now she was actually permitted to be in the Lady of the house's chambers! As her eyes wandered around the room, Nori noticed that it was the only area in the entire castle that was completely outfitted in Western-styled furnishings. She had never seen such rich finery before. All the furniture was constructed of beautiful dark polished mahogany, with ornate carving in the wood, and accents of gold gilding here and there. Beautiful heavy fabrics decorated the windows, and rich tapestries hung upon the walls, depicting battles of men and heralding angels. Deep burgundy, hunter green, cobalt blue, and plum dominated the color scheme of the room.
As Lady Kumiko sat down on a plush, straight-backed desk chair, she noticed how Nori was admiring the heavily ornamented room. A small, secretive smile appeared on her face. It was always amusing to her to see the reaction of her down-to-earth servants to the room that her husband decorated. She sighed and rested her arm on the desk she was sitting at, remembering how he had insisted that the master chambers should be completely Western.
He always was quite fascinated with the Western world for some reason… she thought fondly. I'll never be able to figure that man out. Speaking of which… Didn't Nori have news about him? Oh, I hope it's nothing too serious…
"Nori," she called out, snapping the maidservant out of her reverie, "This information on my husband… "
"Oh!" The startled girl bowed low. "Of course, milady. But I must warn you, it is most tragic news indeed."
"Surely it cannot be as grim as you imply, Nori," replied Lady Kumiko with a hint of worry in her voice. She was all too conscious of the pulsing of her heart in her ears. The girl nodded.
"Unfortunately, milady, it is. You see… a few weeks ago, when Lord Akitsu lead his small army of men against Tokugawa, they had unfortunately encountered the enemy earlier than expected, and were unready for the attack. There was a great slaughtering of our men… including your husband. Our few survivors told us that he was trying to defend some of the wounded men… Lady Kumiko, your husband is dead."