To Fulfill One's Destiny
Chapter 24- Cursed Blessing
They musn't have been kidding when they said even the most ancient servants get lost around here.
Maria sighed. She was lost . . . again.
This isn't a palace, it's a maze.
A slight giggle could be heard off in the distance.
And yet Rin always finds the garden like an addicted butterfly. Who would've thought hide-and-seek would have been such a challenge?
"I heard them speak of it earlier, the visiting lords."
She stopped, shook her head in disgust at herself, and began to walk away.
"They're planning a bachelor's ball."
Crap. And I yell at Sota for being nosy.
Not surprisingly, she found herself eavesdropping on the servants' whispering.
I'll berate myself later. Besides, after I last saw the girls, I haven't had much news to entertain myself with.
"Our lord would never..."
"That's the thing. The other lords of the northern, southern, and eastern lands are planning in secret, as a surprise."
"This won't be a welcome surprise, to be sure."
"Well, they've decided it was time our lord selected a wife, especially after the rumors."
"What rumors?"
WHAM "GET TO WORK YOU WORTHLESS SLUGS!"
She sighed. "Figures."
"Ahem. Entertaining yourself, Maria-sama?"
She looked to find the handmaiden she'd made fast friends with over the past weeks.
"Well, I was. And please, no 'sama'. I never claimed to be a lady and I don't intend to start now."
"In all actuality, Maria-sam...Maria-san, you are well liked for your kindness and admired for your audacity to stand up for us to Lord Sesshomaru, most feel that you must be a demoness in disguise to have such strength."
"Ahh, that. Well, the onigiri incident was my fault to begin with, and I couldn't let him blame the innocents for setting his study ablaze."
"True...If you were looking for your daughter, she is in the gardens. Are you lost?"
"Umm...blushing...a little."
What was I thinking? That Sesshomaru would remain single all his life? He's hundreds of years old for the love of...but, then why am I so sad and dejected? I put those feelings behind me a long time ago! ...didn't I ?
Languidly intertwining a new flower in the wreath she was making, she held it up to the sun to admire her handiwork.
"I believe that it is rather fine as it is."
Sesshomaru was standing behind her head, allowing his eyes to pass over the wreath she held to the sky.
As it was, her reclining time was over. Easing herself to a seated postion, she noted the intertwined array of red and white flowers perched on his head like a crown. She bit back her lip to stifle a laugh.
Why does that little action affect me so? She is just biting her lip.
"I take it Rin gave you her present?"
He rolled his eyes in mock disgust.
Boy, I do love teasing him, don't I?
"Stop that, you know you like it. She did a red and white one because she couldn't find 'gold and silver to match Sessy-sama's hair'!" As she imitated her daughter's voice, she stood and poked his nose gently.
"I'll bite your finger if you persist in doing that."
"Learned it from me, did you? I had given you a lot of forewarning that time, however."
"Here."
He quickly placed a wreath of snow-white lilies on her head, and sliding his fingers in her curly dark hair.
"A crowning gift for you as well."
"Arigatou Sesshomaru-sama, though I'm sure my crown doesn't make me as kawaii as you, I will treasure it dearly." With a teasing smile, she left to play with Rin near the garden pond.
How can I get over my feelings for him if he persists in doing things like that? Little teasing pieces of hope...no, they're probably just to fight his boredom in lieu of other amusement.
He watched as the shimmering waters illuminated the girl-no, woman-he'd come to adore. Her smile and laughter etched on his mind as he watched her play with Rin in complete carefree bliss. He couldn't ignore the woman she'd become, and the vision she was with her lily crown starkly contrasted against her dark hair was a sight. Her aura wasn't exactly that of a human either, and he wasn't the only one to notice her attributes.
'Lord Sesshomaru, who was that lovely vision who just passed by the door?'
'Surely you have not taken a mate without notifying us.'
He grimaced. There were also, the other questions...
'Venerable Lord Sesshomaru, I have come to ask permission to court..."
They were not mistaken, she was no ordinary human to be sure. And not his claim at any rate. Then, why couldn't he tell her of the many suitors that came to ask for courting rights? And why had he found all of them wanting?
'The forbidden fruit, my son'
No.
'It is the sweetest to taste and the most satisfying to claim as your own.'
Do I really resemble you to that extreme, Father?
Is this a curse, or...a blessing?
Onigiri- rice ball
-sama: equivalent of 'lord' or 'lady'
kawaii- cute