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It was an awkward silence as Arashi moved his way through the forest the warmth of Midori filling his arms, she was so light, so delicate but her aura. He knew this aura well, she was angry with him.
"My lady are you well?" he asked politely his slipper feet gliding over the ground.
Midori took a deep breath, dizzy, she had never been touched by a man much less a boy ever before. Arashi's touch was gentle and careful almost as if she would break…
"Yes, I'm just tired." she snapped shutting her eyes to the blurring scenery before her. Sudden the forest opened up to a huge field of wild daisies and she gasped laughing.
The grip around Arashi's long neck loosened and she stared in awe as he slowed. Settling her petite form in the daises, Arashi straightened inhaling the air heavy with the scent of pine and flowers.
Midori sat self consciously in the field playing with the daisies "Didn't your father say that you were to bring me to the palace?" she cried looking up at him, her rosy lips pursed.
Arashi crouched down beside her, touching her cheek "There you are warmer aren't you?" he asked, listening to the wild pound of her heartbeat.
She nodded trying very hard to hide a blush, "Yes, but…"
"Can't you enjoy yourself for once Lady Midori?" he sat down beside her, his loose yukata revealing long pale legs, a white loincloth peeking out from beneath the rich fabric. Midori stared, all her years of noble raising went out the window with this boy, he was either very naïve or had no manners.
Arashi was oblivious to her flaming cheeks and deftly began weaving a crown with his long fingers. She tore her gaze away long enough to become interested and watched in silence.
0
Meanwhile several miles away Rin and Sesshoumaru sat in silence the creaking of the cart dull the smell of the horses smothered by the heavy incense burning in the scones around them. Rin lay on the cushions Sesshoumaru's head on her shoulder, he nuzzled her neck. Rin was wiping her eyes, the tears not stopping
Sesshoumaru lay there feeling blank "Why are you crying?" he was content to lay there with her just to feel her warm, inhale her familiar smell.
"I-I don't want my little boy to be h-hurt" he propped himself on his elbow and looked into her eyes. Wiping the tears from her face
"You are too sensitive, I trust Tsuki."
Her eyes flamed "I don't even know him Sesshoumaru!"
"But I do" he kissed her mouth.
Pulling away she gazed at him "You haven't met him in many years, you put too much trust in him…"
"Do I detect a sour note?" he cooed looking at her with wistful eyes, Rin looked away from him remembering his anger, remembering the promise she had made to Kagura so many years ago.
"I…." Rin trailed off looking into his eyes.
He grinned changing the subject
"I haven't been that angry in a long time."
"Kami, I don't think I would ever want to see you like that again."
Sesshoumaru laughed "You won't until you give me a reason"
"Oh shush!" she whacked him with a pillow.
He grabbed her wrists and kissed her cheeks, she was laughing now.
"Sesshoumaru!" but the rest was lost in her throat as his mouth hungrily closed over hers.
And whatever troubles were in her mind slowly melted away in a haze of desire…
000
Arashi placed the crown on Midori's head admiring her beauty, she was very pretty but she was also much older then him.
"Midori are you really fifteen?" he asked suddenly
She stiffened turning slowly to face him "Yes I am, I was born before you. What do you think the whole world revolves around you?"
He put his head down "No my lady it's just, I haven't meet any other noble people other then my family. Our fiefdom is very small." He felt his cheeks burning with sudden embarrassment.
She leaned close to him "I want to go to the palace now"
Arashi looked up and smiled "Sure"
Picking her up once more, they set off for the palace Arashi secretly wondering how he could ever be friends with someone like her.
0
Dinner was quiet, his parents were absent which was unusual. The women were catering to Midori since her tiny foot entered the mansion. Kin, Lin, Myra and Nata were around her continually bringing her water, or fanning her delicate skin. Frankly Arashi felt uncomfortable. No one in this mansion was to be subjected to this kind of groveling ever in all their years of service.
"Please would you ladies leave us." he politely began after swallowing his rice, the women dropped what they were doing bowed and left. He waited for her to explode and predictably she did.
"WHAT are you DOING!"
Arashi paused in chewing as she sat there her chest heaving beneath the layers of her expensive kimono.
"WELL SAY SOMETHING!" she cried slamming her bowl on the table, the whole service rattled and Arashi peacefully swallowed.
"I don't want you doing that to the people who live and work here, for my family"
"You mean letting them do their job!" she snorted
"As long as you stay here in my father's mansion you are to follow the rules. And those are one of the rules but down by my grandfather so many thousands of years ago." The sheer intensity of his words made her calm.
Midori was shocked, no one ever talked back to her not even her own parents… She decided that it was now or never to tell him why she was here.
"Well I don't want to be here to begin with, with your new rules and lovesick parents! The only reason I am here is because my father is going to marry me off to you!"
She watched with satisfaction as the rice bowl tumbled to the table, breaking cleanly into three pieces.
"W-what did you say!"
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