Hello! Shideu´s back!
Sorry for the delay guys, it´s been a hard (lonely :´v) week, and seeing that this chapter has some lemon… well you know… :v
Anyway, here´s the new chapter, i hope you enjoy it, for now, lets begin!
Chapter 13: As life continues
As the sun barely appeared at the horizon, memories besieged her like vague fragments lost in time, one after another. With the dawn at her side, she never thought to see that light in the distance so many different ways. Remembering how she spent sleepless nights at the castle, training, talking, waiting, and every time the sun welcomed her in different scenes of her life. However, this was the first time after feeling sullied by Yukimura's acts that she felt at peace, something silly to think that the Nohrian child sleeping in her lap achieved. With her hand gently rubbing his hair and seeing how he mumbled something in his sleep, she giggled, covered in the thick sheets and looking at the sun raising at the horizon. Perhaps in time she could help him. As she yawned, she laid down, looking at the ceiling. Thinking back it was quite an ominous week, how the paragon that Hoshido should be, was now a shadow of what it was before. But there was hardly someone outside of the castle.
As her tired eyes allowed her to return to the dreamland, she stirred her arms, trying not to disturb the sleep of her companion. Fortunately it was warm enough to sleep without the sheets. A faint smile appeared on her face when Kamui snuggled on her stomach with his left arm around her waist. It was definitely something he learned in Nohr, perhaps with that purple haired princess? Although he didn't look like he was especially fond to show that kind of skinship, much less with someone who entered his life recently. At least it was a good sign that he was having a nice dream. She was about to fall asleep when something caught the corner of her eye, a shadow at the ceiling that moved quickly to one of the beams at the other side of the room. The steady movement and the way it hid between the shadows of the corner, it was only one possible explanation. She blushed as she tried to lean up, not too fast to wake up the albino. "Just what the hell are you doing here?" she whispered. Without an answer, she took the cloth ball on the desk and threw it at the right corner of the room, in seconds she heard how it 'hit' something and fell to the floor, then a soft grunt. Before she could take something else from the desk a shadow appeared in front of the bed.
"Quiet, woman, or you´ll wake him up," Saizo whispered as she frowned.
"What the hell? What are you doing here? I thought you were se-" Oboro was interrupted with another grunt from him.
"Lord Ryoma ordered that I had to keep a close eye on him, whoever he is, whatever he´s doing, even….if you´re indulging yourself with him."
Oboro blinked a couple of times before looking at the albino and back to the ninja, this time with a shy frown her face turned red as she was about to yell however, another sound interrupted her, this time it was the sound of a door opening at the distance, looking at her right side they spotted Reina who just walked in with Orochi, the diviner had her trademark smirk as Reina chuckled seeing them fighting.
"My, such lively scene and I wasn´t invited? I'm offended, I thought we were friends, Saizo," Oboro tried to sound hurt, but while she whispered Saizo returned to his job and hid in one of the corners of the room, she looked at Oboro who tried to stay composed for the new visits. "Although, I think I´m more interested in the little sleepover over there~" she said winking at the lancer who just blushed and looked away.
"So this is the new solution from Sakura and Hinoka, huh? Quite obvious if you ask me," Reina chuckled as she helped the girl to gently move the albino off her. "We´ll take him from here now, make something fresh for breakfast, sweetie."
"And what about you?" Oboro asked as she gently supported Kamui´s head until Reina gently sat and let the albino use her lap as a pillow, if Oboro had to be honest she wanted to stay a little longer with him, even if it was under Saizo's watch.
"Please, we´ll let him sleep for a little longer, until Orochi finishes her charm." They looked at the diviner who was already at one of the tables of the room with her tools and taking some roots and herbs from her pouch. "We need to test if we are able to remove the curse or if I need to get creative."
"Meaning?"
"My fist and Yukimura face" she smiled. Somehow Oboro couldn't believe that for the first time, someone deserved to face Reina's wrath. With a nervous laugh she scratched the back of her head, it was odd to see the kinshi warrior in such casual clothes, without her armor and with a velvet kimono, a gift from the departed queen. Curious to see that the grown woman was already taking a liking to having Kamui under her grasp, playing with a lock of his hair as the albino face remained calm, a small chuckle escaped from her lips. "Mmmm? Is something wrong?"
"Oh, nothing, it's just weird…seeing you like that, just like…" She stopped in mid-sentence, she wasn't sure if it would be appropriated to compare her with Mikoto, as she shook her head she huffed. "Nothing, I´ll be going, do you want something?"
"No thank you dear, we already had our breakfast, just bring something for him after you´re done, ok?" Reina said as Oboro walked outside, stretching her arms.
"You´re getting too emotional with that brat" Saizo's voice echoed in the room, making both girls to frown.
"I was with him as he grew up, watched him take his first steps and his first words, I'm the closest thing he has as a 'mother' in this place, do you really thing I could stand by after discovering what Yukimura did to him?" Reina replied, looking at Kamui´s face as she kept caressing the albino's hair.
"Weren´t you willing to kill him in battle?"
Reina frowned closing her eyes "I´m willing to die in the battlefield defending my homeland, even from him, however that doesn't meant that I´ll approve this gutless method, less when it is with our beloved queen's blood." She opened her eyes looking at the ceiling. Orochi looked back at Reina and had a similar expression in her face.
"….We´ll help him….no…that´s wrong," Orochi shook her head. "We´ll save him, for our dear Lady Mikoto."
As Oboro walked into the royal kitchen, she was surprised to see that the butlers and maids were having a hard time with some of the visitors to the castle, surprised to see that Miyu and Rin were struggling with some noble ladies who were arguing with them.
She decided to sneak up on their conversation, Miyu was somewhat equally hot-blooded as Hinoka, but it was strange to see Rin with a disgusted face for whatever reason the young nobles were talking about. It was a small group of three, one tall blonde girl with brown eyes and short hair, wearing a kimono and with a mole in near her left eye, another woman almost as tall as herself, brown hair with a ponytail, brown eyes as well, lastly a man with a regal look, black short hair and with green eyes, he was the tallest of the group. Eavesdropping wasn't something she wanted to do, but looking at them it was clear that they had been arguing for quite long time. "I said no! And that´s final!" Miyu said, stomping her foot on the floor. It was weird to see the maid so mad at something, especially after her good mood after discovering that Kamui was able to sleep peacefully for a couple of days.
"Please, be a good girl and do what I´m asking," the blonde girl said with her hands on her chest, perhaps it was for her clothes, but that puppy eyes look wasn´t effective as she thought. Miyu for her side just groaned as Rin coughed in her fist.
"Perhaps we weren't clear, this is as far as you´ll get, trespassers will be kicked out of the castle," Rin said with her cold voice as she brushed away the bangs of her hair. "It doesn't matter who asks, Lord Ryoma has been clear, NO VISIT BEYOND THIS POINT," Rin said, using the broom she had nearby to draw a line, then she twirled it in her hand. "With that said, Lord Ryoma gave us permission to use force to guide you outside the castle if is necessary."
"You won't get a single hand on milady," the man said, stepping between the two girls. "Now, if you´re not going to guide us then we have to talk with your liege in person, that said we´re go-" the man had to take a step back as he finally saw Oboro behind the girls, he quickly bowed. "Excuse me, you over there," he said, looking at Oboro, who had to look around before realizing that he was speaking to her. "You´re Lord Kamui's retainer, aren't you?"
Oboro, mouth open for a couple of seconds, thought fast in what to say. It was the first time she saw these people, and to be honest she didn't want to get involved with some noisy nobles, but then again from the looks of the maids they needed help. Muyi was already losing her patience and Rin was frowning with such a cold glare. She sighed, at that point it didn't mattered what she said, if she could help the girls then she would hear what they have to say "Yes, my name is Oboro, Lord Kamui's personal retainer"
"Personal? Isn't that too old fashioned?" asked the brown girl, looking at the blonde one. She was about to say something but again the man spoke.
"Regardless of that, I'm pleased to see that someone close to Lord Kamui is here," he bowed again and gestured to the blonde girl. "She´s my liege, Lady Akemi, Miss Jun, they have business with Lord Ryoma and Lord Kamui, if you could be so kind to summon them then we would appreciate your assistance," every girl waved as her name was called, however Akemi frowned with his last comment.
"I think that´s enough, Haru," The blonde girl said, moving her bangs away and smiling to Oboro. "I apologize for my retainer, but I must insist that I need to see Lord Kamui as soon as possible," Oboro looked at the girl. She knew all the nobles in the capital, but it was the first time they met. She sighed, scratching her head.
"Look, Lady Akemi, if it's something so important, then you can follow me and set an appointment with Lord Ryoma, but Lord Kamui is not available at the time. Can I ask why is so important to talk with him?"
"It´s about the Autumn harvest, as always we´ll have it in a couple of days. I know that we are in war times, but I think is terribly rude for Yukimura to ignore our request. The border is already secured but we want to be sure, after all the festival is a perfect opportunity."
"For what exactly?" Oboro asked crossing her arms.
"The festivities of the following week are the last memento of our dear queen, as she prepared everything beforehand until the next spring," Haru commented. "And as always, the perfect time for our people to rejoice and to soothe the scars of the war, and most importantly, to ensure the bonds between our people." He said looking at her, Oboro couldn't understand it, it was true that the festival was important, but it was something that could wait until later, AFTER they removed the curse, and in his condition Kamui wouldn't be able to step outside the castle, much less to think that he would be willing to be with people he didn't know. The maids were rolling their eyes, perhaps it wasn't the first time Haru said that, and he wasn't clear in what they wanted. Akemi sighed with her hand on her forehead.
"…..ok, and that would mean?"
"We are asking permission to date Lord Kamui with the purpose of marriage," Jun said with such bluntness that everyone looked at her. Oboro's eye twitched as Miyu and Rin blushed, Jun didn't change her calm and straight face.
"Jun! / Miss Jun!" Akemi and Haru looked at her, but she just shrugged.
"Isn´t what why we´re here?" she asked as it was something obvious, although anyone with common sense would had more tact with that topic. Perhaps she was a relative to Setsuna? Oboro shook her head as she remembered what happened years ago when Sumeragi died, although everyone mourned him, there were those stupid nobles who didn't hesitated to ask Mikoto's hand after a year or two, to 'ensure' that outsider could destroy the halidom, and now the story repeated itself as someone though that Kamui needed to be received for a random person who would use him just for personal reasons. A lot of thoughts invaded her mind, not sure what to feel or what to say she just reacted out of habit, looking at them with her infamous frown.
"…..oh….yeah…..welll….I´ll be sure….to pass your….. message…. But now I must ask for your leave…Lord Kamui is really, REALLY busy with other...stuff….Rin, could you be so kind to escort them to the entrance?" None of them could refuse her request. With a small smile Rin guided them outside the kitchen.
It was a miracle that Oboro didn't use the broom or worse, other tools of the kitchen to kick them out. It wasn't until they were out that she looked around, searching for something. Miyu followed her but it was strange that Oboro just kept looking around, ignoring her words and opening the cupboards, gently pushing anyone who was in her way. Before Miyu could say or do something, after a couple of minutes Oboro found an old pan and hit it repeatedly against one of the tables, startling the other maids and butlers in the kitchen who took a step back. Fortunately it was an already old pan so it didn't matter that the object lost its shape. Miyu looked at her face, she expected anger, frustration or even rage, but instead she smirked at how Oboro was gasping after her little rant.
"…Wait….are you... jealous?" Miyu asked as Oboro jumped and looked at her. She tried to look mad but her face betrayed her as she felt her thumbs pressing against the pan.
"I-I-I, O-Of course not!" she tried to explain, leaving the pan on the table. The thing was, that was futile as it lost its handgrip and Oboro saw it in her hand. She shook her head again, leaving the broken item and walking to the crates at the other side of the room. "A-Anyway, I'm late for breakfast, and so is Kamui, so if you'll excuse me then I should make something," she said, trying to stay composed.
"Riiiiiight, mind if I help?"
Oboro groaned as the maid happily followed her. She couldn't think properly and with that in her mind, she had to distract herself with something, anything. She couldn't allow her to fall for him, not right now when he needed a shoulder to cry on, he needed a friend, someone who could understand him.
As the carriage moved and the trio looked for one last time the castle that looked as if it floated above the clouds and fog of the mountain, Haru groaned as he read some papers. He was somewhat annoyed for the little success in their journey. Jun was at his side, eating a sweetened apple and bothering him, poking his face for more sweets. Akemi sighed, looking at the castle, leaning against the frame of the door and thinking what kind of man would be the 'fated' hero. After all, with sheer will he raised again the barrier and saved their kingdom. If only she knew more about him, but Yukimura did his best to keep her out of the council with the noble families who were close to Queen Mikoto. Perhaps it was a matter of time before she could meet him. "Deep in thoughts?" another voice returned her to the real world. Sighing and looking at her side she smiled.
"Azura, it would be easier if you were with us," Akemi said. Azura sighed, moving her long blue hair.
"Perhaps, but for now nobody needs to know that I'm here." Perhaps it was her calm aura, but there was no reason to question the person who saved her village and her family from that strange disease, so for now Akemi would go along with her. After all it was Kamui's army who saved them, so if she said that he needed help, she would gladly lend a hand. "Could you see him?"
"No, they insist that he´s busy but no one has saw him after that incident at the plaza after his return. No maids or butlers want to speak about it what happened a couple of days ago, either."
"I see…" It was Azura who leaned against the frame of the door this time, being sure that nobody could see her face outside. It was strange to move from one place to another like that, but again it was for Kamui's safety, sneaking and prying in their lives. With one final look at the castle she couldn't help but feel the melancholy in her soul as once again she had to walk away from her best friend. 'I'm sorry Elise, it´s going to take more time,' she thought, closing the curtains of the carriage as the sun was finally fully present on the horizon.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand that´s all for now! Hope you enjoyed it.
Sorry for the delay guys but it has been a really bad month, a lot of work and stuff form the school….yeah, it sucks.
Anyway, as always any review and comment is welcome as always, the poll about the rewrite of my first fic will be open until the third week of the next month, so be sure to vote or leave your comments about the topic.
Again thanks to my beta reader who helped me with the chapter and to you who keep supporting my work, i hope you have a great weekend and a great night/day.
SHIDESU! OUT!
