Part 12
Tamakira didn't sleep all night. He wasn't sure if he was too lucky or too unfortunate to be in such plight; all he knew was that he was willing to protect Miyakaede with his life. If Taskuragi would come between me and the Lady then let fate decide who's the better man for her. But what if the Emperor is in no better situation than he and Taskuragi were? Would it be right then to go against his master and take what he desires? No, I swore before him that I'll serve him. I owe him everything I am now including the pleasure of seeing Miyakaede…
Morning came, and the palace seemed calmer than ever before. Breakfast was served and Tamakira was not surprised that the newly knighted Taskuragi was still snoring on his four poster bed.
"wake up, scum bag, breakfast is ready," Tamakira shook Taskuragi wildly.
"Yeah, just wait for me downstairs I'll be there in 3 hours,' answered Taskuragi and fell back to sleep.
"The lady Miyakaede awaits us, do you still insist on lying here?" Tamakira lied for Rukawa was still soundly asleep in his room.
"Ok, ok, I'll go now in a minute." Jolted Taskuragi suddenly awakened by the statement.
They both walked down the corridor heading to the dining room. None of them spoke for Tamakira was in deep thought while Taskuragi was half asleep while walking.
Just then, Tamakira saw Chichitoru who was at the time staring silently at the window. He seemed uncomfortable and ruffled. He must be worrying about something really important, thought Tamakira.
"Hey, breakfast's ready. Why're you still here?" asked Tamakira.
"Oh, I just don't feel like eating today. You eat now before me, I'll just take a walk outside," answered Chichitoru seeming lonelier than usual as he started to move away from them.
"If you're thinking about what I blurted out yesterday about Nurikenji being in love with this servant boy here, it's not goin' to change anything. I saw it, you go ask your mistress if you like," said Taskuragi very rudely, he seemed to be widely awake now.
Tamakira couldn't believe how shameless the statement was but before he could get at Taskuragi Chichitoru spoke, rather calmly.
"I just don't want to repeat history with what we are in right now. The Empire of Shoyokkaido had had enough of its entangling love affair among its rulers that's why Emperor Mitsugawa, Nurikenji's grandfather, chose Hotosashi to be his heir's bridegroom and in him, the Lady would ask no more. And so they thought, until you came." Chichitoru pointed at Tamakira.
"What do I have to do with it? Listen, I don't know what happened to Shoyokkaido's imperial family and I don't wish to be part of it by any means-" Tamakira was cut short by Taskuragi.
"Tell us about the good tale, Chichitoru. Surely, there's a reason why Nurikenji's grandpa wanted Hotosashi to be with his granddaughter," Taskuragi said eagerly.
"You mean to tell me that you know nothing of the Lady Natsuhiko, Nurikenji's mother?" asked Chichitoru, surprised.
"No," Both answered.
"Well, the tale is not known to many for long years have passed after it took place and few now could recall the incident," Chichitoru cleared his throat as the two looked at him intently.
"The Lady Natsuhiko was the only child of the great ruler of Shoyokkaido, the Emperor Mitsugawa. Her mother was the daughter of a Lord of Okinawa but she suffered maternal death moments after Natsuhiko was born. The emperor then sank in deep melancholy and all his love was thereafter given to his daughter and he purposed to give her the best this world has to offer. Now, Natsuhiko grew to be the most beautiful lady in the kingdom of Shoyokkaido and many a lord had asked for her and indeed it was high time that Natsuhiko married a fine man and the emperor was ever in favour of the only heir of the ruler of Kyoto. This was Lord Ashitomo. Ashitomo seemed to be on top of the world for who would refuse the hand of the incomparable Lady Natsuhiko. His visits in that land therefore became frequent. At first Natsuhiko, was pleased to receive Ashitomo but alas she fell in love with the Lord's steward, Torugawa, who was often in the company of Ashitomo. It was then they met in private and as love grew between them the Lady became dimmed for she didn't want to cause disgrace in the name of Ashitomo and much more in his father. But Ashitomo was wise and foreseeing and he learned what had there befallen so he sent his steward to the outskirts of the forest and there had him shot. When the lady learned of this she locked herself up and refused to talk to anyone save her father. It was then she was with a child. Months passed and nothing seemed to make up for her grief and loss and at the night Nurikenji was born to her, she sickened and died."
Tamakira didn't sleep all night. He wasn't sure if he was too lucky or too unfortunate to be in such plight; all he knew was that he was willing to protect Miyakaede with his life. If Taskuragi would come between me and the Lady then let fate decide who's the better man for her. But what if the Emperor is in no better situation than he and Taskuragi were? Would it be right then to go against his master and take what he desires? No, I swore before him that I'll serve him. I owe him everything I am now including the pleasure of seeing Miyakaede…
Morning came, and the palace seemed calmer than ever before. Breakfast was served and Tamakira was not surprised that the newly knighted Taskuragi was still snoring on his four poster bed.
"wake up, scum bag, breakfast is ready," Tamakira shook Taskuragi wildly.
"Yeah, just wait for me downstairs I'll be there in 3 hours,' answered Taskuragi and fell back to sleep.
"The lady Miyakaede awaits us, do you still insist on lying here?" Tamakira lied for Rukawa was still soundly asleep in his room.
"Ok, ok, I'll go now in a minute." Jolted Taskuragi suddenly awakened by the statement.
They both walked down the corridor heading to the dining room. None of them spoke for Tamakira was in deep thought while Taskuragi was half asleep while walking.
Just then, Tamakira saw Chichitoru who was at the time staring silently at the window. He seemed uncomfortable and ruffled. He must be worrying about something really important, thought Tamakira.
"Hey, breakfast's ready. Why're you still here?" asked Tamakira.
"Oh, I just don't feel like eating today. You eat now before me, I'll just take a walk outside," answered Chichitoru seeming lonelier than usual as he started to move away from them.
"If you're thinking about what I blurted out yesterday about Nurikenji being in love with this servant boy here, it's not goin' to change anything. I saw it, you go ask your mistress if you like," said Taskuragi very rudely, he seemed to be widely awake now.
Tamakira couldn't believe how shameless the statement was but before he could get at Taskuragi Chichitoru spoke, rather calmly.
"I just don't want to repeat history with what we are in right now. The Empire of Shoyokkaido had had enough of its entangling love affair among its rulers that's why Emperor Mitsugawa, Nurikenji's grandfather, chose Hotosashi to be his heir's bridegroom and in him, the Lady would ask no more. And so they thought, until you came." Chichitoru pointed at Tamakira.
"What do I have to do with it? Listen, I don't know what happened to Shoyokkaido's imperial family and I don't wish to be part of it by any means-" Tamakira was cut short by Taskuragi.
"Tell us about the good tale, Chichitoru. Surely, there's a reason why Nurikenji's grandpa wanted Hotosashi to be with his granddaughter," Taskuragi said eagerly.
"You mean to tell me that you know nothing of the Lady Natsuhiko, Nurikenji's mother?" asked Chichitoru, surprised.
"No," Both answered.
"Well, the tale is not known to many for long years have passed after it took place and few now could recall the incident," Chichitoru cleared his throat as the two looked at him intently.
"The Lady Natsuhiko was the only child of the great ruler of Shoyokkaido, the Emperor Mitsugawa. Her mother was the daughter of a Lord of Okinawa but she suffered maternal death moments after Natsuhiko was born. The emperor then sank in deep melancholy and all his love was thereafter given to his daughter and he purposed to give her the best this world has to offer. Now, Natsuhiko grew to be the most beautiful lady in the kingdom of Shoyokkaido and many a lord had asked for her and indeed it was high time that Natsuhiko married a fine man and the emperor was ever in favour of the only heir of the ruler of Kyoto. This was Lord Ashitomo. Ashitomo seemed to be on top of the world for who would refuse the hand of the incomparable Lady Natsuhiko. His visits in that land therefore became frequent. At first Natsuhiko, was pleased to receive Ashitomo but alas she fell in love with the Lord's steward, Torugawa, who was often in the company of Ashitomo. It was then they met in private and as love grew between them the Lady became dimmed for she didn't want to cause disgrace in the name of Ashitomo and much more in his father. But Ashitomo was wise and foreseeing and he learned what had there befallen so he sent his steward to the outskirts of the forest and there had him shot. When the lady learned of this she locked herself up and refused to talk to anyone save her father. It was then she was with a child. Months passed and nothing seemed to make up for her grief and loss and at the night Nurikenji was born to her, she sickened and died."