Author's Note: I know this chapter had been long delayed but I'm seriously having a big case of writer's block right now. And also, I'm getting caught up on my new fic, Mixed Emotions, maybe because of the new characters and the different point of view I'm using. Anyway, I will not delay you any further than it is…
DISCLAIMERS APPLIED!!!
CHAPTER 5: I Have To Get Married Now?
"What do you mean I have to get married now?" Botan almost yelled and frowned at the news. This had terribly surprised her.
After being introduced to Reilan and Kuronue, Kurama introduced her to Naomi, her maidservant, and had told her to get ready for their wedding tonight.
"Lower your voice, onna, you're making me deaf," Kurama snapped, then turned to Naomi, "prepare for your mistress' bath and the dress she would be wearing for tonight."
"Hai," Naomi said then bowed before turning around to leave.
Botan's patience was close to exploding. "Tell me, why do we have to get married now? Why do we have to get married now?" she asked in near hysteria.
Good gracious, this couldn't be happening to her. She knew barely five people in this whole holding and she's getting married already. It was…horrifying.
"Well, what did you expect?" Kurama asked, feeling a little irritated with himself. He's beginning to doubt his decision about marrying the woman. First, she's forever confusing him, telling him something a minute ago then contradicting herself now. Next, she was so stubborn and illogical, she's making him feel daft. The argument they had about a maidservant is enough proof of that. And lastly, she's louder than anyone she knew. She's inclined to shout or yell anything she wanted to say to him. Just like what she's doing now.
"What did I expect? I expect time!" she snapped and paced back and forth. They were in the grand hall, the preparations all set up, and the place empty. Kuronue had dismissed all of them after the last of the decorations was put in place and left them with Naomi to look for Reilan. The wedding would be soon and the two of them should be present.
"Time for what?"
"Time for…" she started, then paused at a loss of what she should say. Yeah, time for what? She didn't have any idea.
"Well?" Kurama asked again, starting to get impatient.
Come on, girl, think. Time for what? She thought. Then it hit her. "Time for my family to get here to witness my wed –"
"No." Kurama said, cutting her off.
"Why not? I want my family to witness my wedding," Botan lied, confused by Kurama's answer.
"I wouldn't allow them entrance to my home," Kurama said firmly and by the twitching of his ears, she realized she's getting irritated already.
Now, that statement stunned her more, she couldn't think for a few seconds. "I thought you said that you would allow my sister to live with us here?"
"The sister only but not the rest of your family," he said and she couldn't tell by his expression if he's deliberately confusing her.
"Do you want to explain why?" she asked. Patience, she chanted again to herself. She needed to have patience if she wanted some answers from the confusing kitsune.
"Your family abandoned you. Yes, they did that when they let you go and told you that you can already take care of yourself, so don't you go and shake your head on me. I'll be damned if I let them entrance to your new home. However, your little sister has nothing to do with all of it as she's younger than you are."
"But I was going to Raizen' –"
"Alone," he pointed out then continued. "Now, don't go and tell me again that you cannot afford any guards. Your older brother should have accompanied you."
"My brother is working," she said timidly because this excuse was lame even to her. She's merely buying some time, she didn't want her husband to realize she was really abandoned by her family.
Kurama snorted his disapproval. "That's a damn lame excuse for a man and I won't accept it. Now, I want you to go upstairs, get dressed and we shall be married tonight."
"Alright," Botan said, her face expressionless as she turned to walk away. She was upset because her calloused almost-husband had just made her upset by reminding her of how her family had treated her.
"Botan," Kurama called out when he noticed a change in her aura. She seemed so lonely and sad.
Botan turned to look at Kurama again and through his eyes, she read the question that lingered in his thoughts. "You've upset me, milord," she said with defiance in her voice.
"You shouldn't be, we both know I'm right. I'm going to take care of you from now on," he said softly, stood and put his arms around her waist and escorted her to their bed chamber.
It wasn't the apology she wanted but her grudge against him melted all the same. He simply escorted her to their room, which he didn't have to do at all, but to her, it was more than enough.
*-*
Botan would have dozed on the tub if Naomi hadn't returned from removing the wrinkles of her gown. At first, Botan couldn't find the logic of taking a bath again when she had already taken one by the lake this morning but when she saw the lovely tub full of warm water, she couldn't simply resist it. And as the warm water relaxed and cleaned her whole body, she began to feel very sleepy, she closed her eyes.
"Milady," Naomi shrieked when she saw she (Botan) was still in the tub. She had thought Botan might have finished her bath and was now working on her undergarments. Obviously, she thought wrong.
Botan's eyes shot open and looked at Naomi, confused. "What's the matter?"
"You should be getting dressed by now," she said as she held out the robe for her to get into. Botan complied as Naomi continued to talk. "The Lord would be waiting for you in the Grand hall and his lordship didn't possess much patience. It is best to hurry before he got mad," she said as she efficiently helped her dry her hair.
It suddenly dawned Botan that she liked Naomi as her maidservant, a friend maybe as time goes by. She's not timid and she doesn't feel like she's a servant at all. She's an efficient little thing who seemed to know what she's doing and she talked a lot, revealing more of the life on this place to her.
"Tell me honestly, Naomi, am I making a mistake when I decided to marry Kurama?" she asked bluntly that Naomi looked a little stunned, she stopped brushing her hair.
"Of course not, milady. Lord Kurama is a good youko and every female wanted him," she said, careful with each and every word she said.
"Including you?" she asked incredulously.
"His lordship is a very appealing man and I myself wouldn't deny that," she said and blushed furiously.
Yet, she didn't tell the complete truth. Every female wanted any of the three youkai. But Reilan and Kuronue wouldn't be married to her so she decided not to include them.
"He's good? Then he'll be good to me and my sister?" she had to ask again. Because if he wouldn't be, she'll try to think of a way to escape him NOW.
"Hai, milady," Naomi answered though she didn't know why her mistress' sister is included in this topic. "You are so pretty, milady, it's no wonder milord chose you as our mistress."
"And why is that?" Botan asked, completely confused. She didn't think herself as pretty. Her eyes are too big, her legs too long, her waist too narrow that it didn't seem proportion to her breasts which she thought was too big for her. To top it all, her hair is an odd color that made her stand out in crowd like a sore thumb. Oh no, she isn't pretty at all.
"Milord had always been fond of rare treasure, just like you," Naomi said sincerely and walked towards the door and held it open for her.
Botan blushed. She'd never been given that kind of compliment before and it embarrassed her. "Thank you, you're so kind."
Naomi just smiled at her but her heart jumped at her mistress compliment. Aye, she's really a rare treasure. "Shall we? You're groom is waiting."
*-*
Botan took longer to come down than Kurama expected and everyone knows he's not a very patient man. He was already scowling with displeasure that Reilan had to nudge him.
"For Christ's sake, this is a wedding, not a burial, kitsune. Quit your scowling," Reilan said but he might have spoken to a wall for all the attention Kurama gave him. Kurama didn't stop scowling either.
Reilan sighed then turned to Kuronue who looked like he was about to fall asleep any minute now. So, he nudged him, too, and said, "You're impossible, you know that? This is your friend's wedding and you're about to fall asleep?!"
"I hate weddings," Kuronue grumbled like a child and closed his eyes once again. He snapped them open when Reilan poked him hard on his ribs.
"Sure you do. Now, WAKE UP!" Reilan snapped at him when the door opened and Botan entered with Naomi behind, looking really pleased.
Botan had relieved herself all of her fear about this marriage when Naomi talked to her but now, it all came back to her as she entered the Grand Hall. She tried to locate Kurama but when she saw him scowling, it took all her courage not to turn around and walk away. Kami, she was nervous!
His scowl disappeared when he saw her looking at him in that white gown of hers. She was so beautiful and she pleased him, that he grinned at her as he walked towards her. When she was at arms length already, he took her hands and led her across the hall where the priest is waiting.
"Ah, so this is the lovely bride, milord. Shall we begin?" the priest began and opened his bible when Botan interrupted him.
"Father, do we have to get married now?" she asked and stole a nervous glance at Kurama who suddenly frowned.
"Why, my dear, it is against my vows to wed unwilling couple. If you do not want to marry now," he said then paused when Kurama glared at him, "then you don't have to. Do you want to marry his lordship or not?"
"Of course, she want to marry me," Kurama snapped then turned to look at Botan, "right?"
"Uh, hai," she said meekly. She wanted to say no, of course, she didn't know the man, for crying out loud, and she's marrying him already. She thought they would have some time to get to know each other first before they marry, but that doesn't seem the kitsune's plan of action.
But one look at Kurama was enough to make her change her mind. He might cast her out and she didn't like the idea of being alone in the world again. It is better to marry the kitsune now. "I'm sorry, I'm so nervous. Surely, you understand?"
The priest smiled brightly. "Well, then, that's not a problem at all. Shall we begin?" the priest asked and when Botan and Kurama nodded, he cleared his throat.
*-*
They were married half an hour later. But Botan looked so crestfallen because she still believe she's making a mistake and Kurama kept frowning at her, that they might really have been attending a funeral.
The priest would have requested the marriage be called off because this, but he feared for his life that he proceeded with it. He sighed with relief, though, when he had no trouble getting the couple to recite their vows for each other.
After Kurama had kissed his bride, which was too chaste for his liking, he ordered the door of his home be opened to all of the people in his holdings for the feast laid down in honor of them.
When at last, everyone was present, Kurama began introducing all of his important people to Botan who seemed eager enough to know them all, he was pleased. There, she learned that Kuronue is Kurama's first-in-command and Reilan, his second. Why Kurama called them his 'assistants' is completely beyond her as it seemed to degrade their position.
After that was through, Kurama raised his hand and all the noise died out, and "You must pledge your loyalty, serve her as you did me, and protect her with all your lives, if needed, for Lady Kurama is now your mistress." He then put his arms around Botan as loud cheers of acceptance erupted in the hall.
Botan blushed with embarrassment. She never expected this kind of treatment from anyone at all, like she was a princess or something. And to have the loyalty of such number of people! She didn't have any idea what to make of that. Lord, she's really the owner of this holding now and she didn't have any idea what to make of that either. It's going to take a lot of adjustment on her part. But she put those thoughts away as she was ushered towards the table to eat.
Her husband had forgotten to tell her where should she sit and she began to think where she's supposed to. Is it to his right, beside Kuronue, or to his left, beside Reilan? In the end, she decided to sit beside Kuronue, that is, to the right of her husband, not because she preferred Kuronue over Reilan, but because Reilan was busy talking to Enki and the youko still frightened her. Who wouldn't? He's thrice her size and almost twice her height. He could easily trample all over her in no time.
Her fears over Enki was forgotten, though, as the foods was served to their table that looked very appetizing to her. There was cheese, bread, fresh fruits and much more plus an ale to drink. The smell was so heavenly that her mouth started to water.
Out of impulse, she grabbed Kurama's plate, to his surprise, and put ample amount of food on it and settled it in front of him before he filled her plate with food. She would have done the same to Kuronue hadn't he served himself already.
It took quite some time for Kurama to get over his surprise on her behavior and actually eat the food on his plate. He didn't know what to make of that but the fact that she thought of him first before herself pleased him so much.
And so it goes through the whole meal whenever she reached out to refill her plate with another kind of delicacy, she would put twice the amount she would get to Kurama and Kuronue's plates first, before her. And it didn't happen just once.
Kurama would empty his plate of food then would turn to talk to one of his followers and when he looked again at his plate to refill it, he would see it almost full with food again. So he would eat again and empty it only to find out it had been refilled for him.
On the third time that his plate was refilled, he turned to look at Botan only to find out that Kuronue was looking at her incredulously. It suddenly dawned him that it's not only his plate his wife had been refilling but Kuronue's as well.
Kuronue began to feel that Kurama was looking at him and when their gaze met, they burst out laughing that Botan stopped eating to look at both of them.
"Please tell me why you're laughing," she requested so sweetly that Kurama had no choice but to accommodate her.
"You keep refilling Kuronue's and my plate with food," Kurama said and smiled amusedly at her.
"Yes, I did. So?" she said, looking really confused.
"Why?"
"Why?" she echoed back his question because she couldn't think of any logical reason. "It was just out of habit. I always filled my sister's plate first before I fill mine."
"I see," Kurama said and nodded that Botan had resumed eating. But Kurama continued to look at her and when she finished eating, she turned to glare at him.
"It's damn rude to stare at someone while they're eating," she said indignantly and heard the foolishness of what she said. "I mean, it's rude to stare at someone anytime."
"Are you finished eating?"
The peculiar question surprised her that she just nodded her head.
"Do you know you ate almost as much as Kuronue and I did?" he asked to gaud her temper.
"I did?" she asked incredulously. She was never humiliated this much before, she didn't think she ate that much. "I'm sorry I have such big appetite."
Kurama looked incredulous. "You really ate that much?"
"You don't have to give emphasis to that," she snapped at him then glared when he smiled at her. Lord, he's making her furious!
"Aren't you ever worried you would get fat?" he asked again.
"No, I'm not. Would you quit it?" she said, irritated. After all, her appetite isn't supposed to be anybody's business.
"I like woman who have big appetites. There's nothing more frustrating than having a woman count every calorie on each food she eat. And since you're not like that, we will get along just fine and I believe we would have a good marriage," he said and looked at her fondly.
Her irritation vanished at her husband's peculiar belief as she arrived at a conclusion. She married a demented person!
Author's Note: Okay, this chappy's done. This chapter is somewhat similar to Julie Garwood's "The Wedding" but I tried my best to make it as original as I can. Wait for the next chapter, it's their wedding night… (hint, hint!)