Author's Note: Okay, chapter 9 is on…read on.
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CHAPTER 9: BIG PROBLEM
The night is beginning to set, but still, there is still no sign of her. And Kuronue is getting worried already. The people of the estate are now afraid to talk or even approach him because of his very bad mood. He could no doubt kill anyone carelessly.
"What?" Kuronue asked irritably as he looked up from the conference table.
"Um, sire," Naomi began, her face pale because of fear. "You haven't eaten anything since this morning and the people are getting worried of you."
It was true. When he found out that his mistress is missing, he lost his appetite to eat breakfast. The same goes to lunch and dinner because he was busy looking for Botan.
But nothing resulted from all that, as expected. His mistress vanished suddenly into thin air. And this is the reason why Kuronue had been edgy and snappish all day.
"Do you think of me weak that a day without eating will do me some serious harm?" he snapped at Naomi, who in turn, bowed her head, embarrassed.
"No, sire," she mumbled. "Of course not. I apologize. I won't disturb you anymore."
She turned and was about to leave when Kuronue called her attention.
"Naomi?" he called and when she turned to look at him, "Look, I'm sorry, I'm really hard to get along with today, could you, um – just bring me some bread and wine, alright?" he said and scratched his head in a confused manner that looked really cute on him.
"Hai," she answered and hurriedly left the room so that her lord won't see the smile that's threatening to escape her lips.
Among the three, it can be considered that Kuronue is the least charmer of them, but women flock him because he looks cute when he's trying to be sincere and, well, shy.
And that's exactly what he's doing a while ago that pleased Naomi too much. Of course, he is her lord, so it's not really his fault if he's being difficult; she had to endure it because she's only a servant.
But no, he still apologized to her even when he had every right to be snappish. Their mistress is missing, and of course, he'll be the one to answer to the kitsune about it because he's the one in charge while the two lords went to the hunt.
And this is the first time that he actually failed the kitsune with something as big as this that he actually fears seeing him again while this problem is not yet solved.
And yet, he could not do anything. He ordered his people to look for their mistress and up until now, none of the troops had returned, meaning they haven't found her yet. He had specifically gave them an order to hunt for her for three days or until they found her.
But he was so sure that she would be found before nightfall. He never thought his mistress could disappear just like that. And she could conceal herself very well; he's now wondering how Olic and the guards had spotted her the other day when she trespassed their territory.
The troops Kuronue sent to find her are not dumb. They're not inexperienced, either. Some of them are even veterans and had accompanied their lords' hunts once or twice. And though Botan had a head start of one night, she couldn't possibly traveled that great distance because the darkness can prove to be a hindrance to her.
And their soldiers could have sensed her right now, unless, no, he won't start thinking that something bad had happened to her.
But it was possible. The only possible reason why their soldiers could not sense her is that she really is gone. Either she was abducted or killed; he can't choose what's worse between the two.
And the picture that was forming inside his head is really ugly. He could almost imagine himself being skinned by his best friend, good old Kurama, when he came home only to find out that his wife is missing, abducted, or killed. Yeah, that is surely one way to get him killed by the kitsune.
He could still remember the irritation that flashed his lord's face when he misplaced Botan. He could have sworn that Kurama is ready to throttle him when an hour had passed and he still could not locate his wife.
But now, he could not possibly say, "Hey, Kurama, old pal, welcome back. Have you stolen the crown of the North Eastern Tribe already? Oh, by the way, remember Botan, your wife? She's been missing for quite some time now." Ha! He would surely be blasted to the next dimension.
His bread and wine had arrived, and though it looked really tempting and smelled lovely, he could not find the appetite to eat. Food only reminded him of his mistress because it was only during meal times that he saw her.
Now that he'd thought about it, he felt rather guilty that he never made an effort to make her feel at home inside the estate. He had easily forgotten the fact that she's new in the estate and might be a little lonely and needed some companion.
He had been busy with the affairs of the estate that all he knew about her affairs were that she was touring the whole estate and visiting the people.
Now, he didn't even have an idea as to why she had left the estate! And, if not for Naomi's intent look on her face to make him eat, he would have dashed outside already to ask the people if they knew the reason behind their mistress's disappearance.
So he took a bite of the bread and he suddenly realized how hungry he was, that he finished everything in no time. As he was drinking his wine, a nagging thought entered his mind. Is his mistress eating right now, or had she already collapsed from hunger?
The taste of the wine, which was previously delicious to him, had suddenly become so bitter that he had to put it down. "Well, thank you for the meal, I'll go ahead now," he told Naomi and not waiting for her reply, left the room, leaving Naomi there to clean the table.
He had barely made it outside when Olic bumped into him, "Watch where you're going, youko," he growled. He's in so much hurry that he had no time for some clumsy idiot like him.
But Olic acted as though he never heard him, "Uh, sire, I was just about to see you."
"What is it this time?" he asked impatiently.
"It concerns our mistress," Olic said and the next thing he knew, his back is against the wall of the kitsune's home.
"Well, talk. And this better be good."
*-*
The problem only worsened after Olic had told him that maybe his mistress had witnessed the exchange between him and the soldier of Raizen. So, now, the situation just got more complicated.
The sun was about to rise already but Kuronue still haven't slept a wink. How could he when he's thinking that, maybe, the reason why she left the estate is to prevent war from happening?
Maybe she had gone to Raizen's estate on her own so as not to disrupt the peace of Kurama's estate, thinking it would resolve the conflict. But if Kurama found out about it, he would no doubt declare war with Raizen. And the trouble isn't exactly solved.
But, what if Botan had really no intention to leave and, just what he thought while eating dinner, was just abducted? But, no, that wasn't possible because his guards had reported that Raizen's troop left the estate completely without stirring any trouble.
And these guards are not dumb enough not to check the people who really left the estate are the people who came inside. So it is really impossible that she had been abducted.
When the first rays of sunlight streamed through his windows, he got up and dressed himself. And he felt more tired than ever. He hadn't finished dressing up when he heard a commotion outside his door.
"I told you, the Lord Kuronue is still asleep," the familiar voice of Naomi echoing in the hallway and was heard inside by Kuronue very clearly.
"But, Naomi, this is very important," Olic said and threw his hands in exasperation when Naomi wouldn't budge. "Look, this concerns our mistress – "
"The Lord Kuronue would skin me alive if we barge inside his room while he's still sleeping," Naomi said impatiently and glared at Olic.
Her back is against the door, blocking Olic from entering the room, so she never noticed when the door opened. "What's the meaning of all these?" he asked irritated.
Naomi yelped and her surprise made her hide behind Olic's big body who almost stumbled when she suddenly grabbed him. She then blushed furiously and peeked at Kuronue from Olic's body. "Good morning, good sire," she greeted shakily.
"Don't you think it's too early in the morning to be quarrelling like this in the hallway? Half of Makai is still asleep, haven't you realized that?" he lectured, and the two lesser youkai bowed their heads in shame.
"We apologize, sire, but you see, Olic here," Naomi said and paused to glare at Olic, "is the one who's really persistent in seeing you in this ungodly hour."
"Begging your pardon, sire," Olic began when Kuronue turned his irritated eyes on him. "But these were delivered to us an hour ago and the man said that it is of utmost importance that these be received by the lord of the keep."
"Well, we all know that Kurama is out at the moment," Kuronue said and received the letters when Olic handed it to him. He didn't even bother looking at it.
"I think the words written in front would catch your attention, sire," Olic said and looked on the ground when Kuronue glared at him.
"These letters came from milady's family," Kuronue said aloud and looked at both of them, stunned.
Without another word, he turned around and walked away, with Olic and Naomi walking closely behind.
"Come with me in the conference room, Olic," he ordered without turning to look at him, "and Naomi, bring me my breakfast there. I'm starving."
"Right away, sire," Naomi said and turned to the opposite direction to head to the kitchen and prepare her lord's meal.
*-*
Kind sire, we thank you so much for welcoming our daughter in your home and making her your wife. It only shows how much your generosity you have. However, as giving as you might appear to be, our other daughter is not your obligation anymore so there really is no need for her to live in your estate. We can manage her affairs on our own. Thank you.
"What the hell is this?" Kuronue asked loudly, fuming with anger from what he just read.
He didn't want to read the letter that was obviously addressed to Kurama but the circumstances forced him to do it. And he had made the right decision for the letter proved to be a big problem that they had to solve.
He almost tore the second letter from opening it hurriedly. This time, it is addressed to Botan.
My dear daughter, what you did is such a disgrace to our family but we understand why you did what you just did. We knew that it is not easy for you to accept the proposal of marriage from a youko you haven't met before. But you are married now and what is done cannot be undone. Be happy with your lord husband and treat him well, and don't worry about Yukina. She will be fine because she will now be wed to your former betrothed. You need not go and get her to save her from our poverty. She's on her way now to Raizen's estate.
"Un-fuckingly-believable!" Kuronue said loudly, obviously stunned with what he just read. "How could they do this?" he exclaimed, then looked at Olic with wide eyes. Is milady's family crazy? He cannot help but wonder.
Olic, on the other hand, just stood there, with a confused look on his face. Well, what his lord had just read obviously shocked the hell out of him to elicit such response from him. "Uh, sire?" he asked.
"Can you believe what milady's family is planning on doing? They wanted milady's sister to take the place of milady. She is now betrothed to Raizen's heir!" Kuronue ranted and sat down on a chair and rested his chin on his palm.
Olic opened his mouth to voice out his reaction when the door opened and in comes Naomi and a servant carrying a tray of food each for the two male youkai conversing.
After putting down the trays on the table, Naomi turned to Kuronue. "Is there anything else you need, sire?"
"None at the moment. I'll call you when I need you, alright?" Kuronue said, then turned his attention on Olic. "You were about to say something?"
Olic cleared his throat and looked at Kuronue as Naomi bowed and exited the room together with the servant. "I think we should do something to stop the marriage, sire."
"Yeah, yeah," Kuronue said impatiently. "But how can we do that when milady's sister is legally betrothed to the youko? Even if we manage to intercept her journey, Raizen could always claim her."
"She has to marry," Olic said absentmindedly, thinking about what Botan had done to escape being married to the bastard.
"Well, I think Reilan could use a wife," Kuronue said thoughtfully. Of course, the woman they are talking about is their lady's sister, so obviously, a commoner would simply not do. Even if their lady's family are commoners, too.
"Uh, sire," Olic interrupted, his face flushing a little. "I think the Lord Reilan is quite into Enki's daughter for quite some time now."
"So?" Kuronue said, and not realizing that Enki's daughter is not a commoner, too, and that Reilan and Enki's daughter is a good match, continued. "It's not a prob – no way!" he exclaimed when it suddenly dawned him what Olic was saying. "No way in hell will I marry her."
Olic flinched as if he'd just been hit. Well, he never said anything about him marrying milady's sister, right? "I never said you should, sire."
Kuronue glared at him, stood up and began pacing. "That's right, I wouldn't. I'm not the marrying type, and I know milady would understand that. Isn't it right, Olic?"
"Yes, sire," Olic agreed and nodded, but mentally contradicting what he just heard. Lord Kurama isn't the marrying type either, but he got married anyway.
"By the way," Kuronue began and stopped his pacing to look at Olic. "Are you sure about what you're saying about Reilan?"
"Yes, sire," Olic said confidently then continued to explain. "Lord Reilan had been seen a few times coming to or going out of Enki's house."
"I see," Kuronue said then nodded, "are they going to marry anytime soon?"
"The fact about their betrothal hasn't been confirmed yet," Olic said.
Kuronue nodded again. Yes, although the three of them had been friends for as long as they can remember, they hadn't really talked about their personal affairs. Yes, so one of them would see another with a woman, but talking about them had never really occurred before. It was their respective businesses.
"Uh, sire," Olic called, interrupting Kuronue's thoughts. "What are we going to do now about milady's sister and milady's disappearance?"
"Oh ,that," Kuronue said almost absent-mindedly, "Send a messenger to Kurama, tell him to come back with Reilan immediately."
"Sire?" Olic asked, unsure of what he just heard. Usually, when one of the two in-commands are on duty, they solve the problems on their own and not bother the kitsune with the hunt. However, this time, it wasn't that way.
"This problem is milady's concern so it is better is her husband is here to discuss it with us, don't you think?" Kuronue asked and dismissed the still confused Olic to look for a messenger.
Author's Note: Done!!! Now, since I did my job, you do yours – review!
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