Chapter 10: The Tale of Murasaki-no-kimi

"Oh," the man gasped, making me looked at him, "I'm sorry, I didn't realize you two didn't want anyone to know just yet. I'm sorry for blurting things out. But I'm just so excited to meet the future wife of Mr. Naru Shibuya, Ms. Taniyama."

My eyes widen slightly, "Future wife… of Mr. Naru Shibuya?"

I looked up at Naru, who was glaring at the happy-going man, "What is he… talking about?"

Naru looked at me and sighed, "He's just kidding around."

I narrowed my eyes with a suspicious look; I'm not sure if the professor was lying or not but 'Future Wife'? Where did that come from?

"Darling? Is Mr. Shibuya and Ms. Taniyama here yet?"

I turned around just as a woman dressed in a white kimono approached. Her hair was pulled back into a nice, tight bun with a decorated hairpin. She noticed my staring and glared slightly at me, "I see our guest have arrived."

I felt like glaring at her, but even I know it's rude to glare at someone you just met.

"It has been a long time Madame." Naru gave a bowed that she returned, and then she turned to me. I quickly bowed, remembering what Naru told me -about how strict she could be when it comes to mannerism.

She nodded and walked passed us to get inside the room. I glared at her and turned to Naru. He looked a bit stiff. I tugged on his sleeve, making him looked at me.

"Yes," he whispered.

"What do you mean 'It has been a long time," I asked, whispering.

"I knew her before she was married. Hara-san learned all her etiquette from her as well," Naru explained.

I nodded, understanding what he was saying, "Then she married Yasuhara-san's relative –meaning the Master of the house?"

Naru nodded and took hold of my hand and placed it around his arm. I looked at him with a flustered, confused look. He smiled a little and whispered, "The Madame won't complain as much if we show a little class."

I nodded and held onto his arm a little tighter.

We were so caught up in our own world; we didn't even noticed the stares the other three people in the room were giving us until someone decided to cough.

I looked away from Naru and to the other three people with an embarrassed blush.

"As I was saying," the Madame said with a rather disapproving tone, "I would be very pleased if Ms. Taniyama were to have a cup of tea with me."

I gulped and looked up at Naru for help. I don't want to be by myself, especially with someone as strict as the Madame. Naru gave me a reassured smile and nodded. I bit my lower lip and nodded a little with much hesitant.

I turned back to the Madame, "I… I would love to… have a cup of tea with you," I kind of stammered on my response, trying to find the right words.

Her facial expression remained the same as she approached me "Follow me if you will."

I nodded and let go of Naru as I began following her. She led us down the hallways, through a beautiful garden, and finally to a Sakura tree garden. She led us to, probably the biggest Sakura tree in the garden. I noted the expensive looking, white western tea table under the Sakura tree. She sat down and gestured for me to take my seat as well.

I sat down, and almost immediately, a servant appeared and placed the tea in front of us. I looked down at the green tea and felt like running away.

"So," the Madame began, "I heard that you know Masako-chan as well."

I nodded, "Yes ma'am."

She took a sipped of her tea and sighed contently, "I heard that she was getting marry. I always thought she was interested in Mr. Shibuya."

I felt somewhat uncomfortable about this. I don't know why, but I just can't relax.

"So tell me," her facial expression darken slightly, "How did someone like you, end up with someone with high social status like Mr. Shibuya?"

I felt my anger rising, but I was still able to mask it. I clenched my hand into fist under the table, "I don't know either."

The Madame's facial expression continued to darken, "Then tell me, are you seducing Mr. Shibuya for his riches?"

I felt my anger reaching its limit, "I don't know what you are talking about."

"Don't play dumb with me sweet heart," she took a sipped of her tea, "I met many young girls like you, and they are all the same. They all want money and status."

I slammed my hand down on the table and stood up. I glared daggers at her, "Look here you old hag," I growled dangerously, surprising her, "I don't know what's up with you and money, but I have enough! I am not with Naru for his money! Heck I'm not even sure he was rich! I'm with him because…" and then realization dawn on me. 'Why am I with Naru when I'm not even part of SPR anymore?' "W-Well," I quickly came up with an excuse, "I don't have to tell you why I'm with him! Anyway, this conversation is over!"

I turned around and stomped back the way we came. "Stop right there!"

I stopped with an angry sighed and turned back to her, "What?"

She had a death glare on her face. I gulped, backing away a little. She stood up and approached me. I took a step back.

She stopped a few feet away, "This is the second time someone actually stood up against me."

'You mean this actually happen before,' I thought, panicking.

And then the strangest thing happen, she actually smiled! A real genuine smile! "Oh, I like you already," she said.

"Huh," I said with a dumb-folded expression.

"The only other person that had ever stood up against me was my darling, and I thought for sure no one else was like him," she explained with a little excitement.

'What happen to having manners,' I asked myself as the Madame practically babbled on and on about her darling -the Professor.

NARU'S POV

I watched Mai followed the Madame down the hallway until they disappeared around the corner. I turned to the Mikage and glared dangerously at him, "What was that all about earlier?"

He just laughed playfully, "What," he asked innocently, "You got to admit, the nickname sounds nice. Mrs. Shibuya," he said to himself with a playful look on his face.

I sighed loudly, quite unlike myself, "Thanks to your little joke, Mai is probably thinking I said something weird to you."

Mikage just shrugged, "Well, you are going to propose someday, so I might as well address her as Mrs. Shibuya."

I sighed again and rubbed my temple. I could already feel a headache coming, "Just give me the details on what I was talking to you about on the phone."

Mikage got up from the floor and walked toward a huge stack of papers in the back. I entered the room and followed him.

"I believed I put it here somewhere," he muttered, searching through the stack of papers, "Aha!" he turned around with an old looking book with a blue, paper cover in his hand.

He sat back down on the ground and handed me the book. I took it from him and sat down as well.

"As I was saying on the phone," he began, "The Tale of Murasaki-no-kimi is just a myth. The Emperor, Hiroto, purposely wrote the story. And because of the outbreak of rebellion against Emperor Hiroto, the story became a myth due to unknown facts about whether he wrote the story or the story actually took place."

He stopped for a moment to take a breath. "What do you think actually happen then," I asked.

He sighed, "I believed the story is a myth. A myth written by the Emperor…" he paused, and then he spoke up again, "Let me tell you my favorite paragraph in the story," he smiled excitedly and began, "I continued to live my life without my beautiful Murasaki by my side… but even so, I will continued to live until I have fulfilled the promise I made to the two of them. I will shared their story to the world and hoped, that someday the two of them will once again reunite, and achieve true happiness." He quoted.

"A truly moving speech," I said.

"It is," he said, "Best paragraph in the whole story."

"Since we're done with this, let's get on to the other thing I talked to you about," I said.

"Sheesh," he sighed, "Always getting right back to business. But before we start, I want to ask you something."

I nodded, "Go ahead."

"What made you interested in The Tale of Murasaki-no-kimi," he asked, mildly curious.

"Nothing much," I replied, "Yasuhara-san was talking about it and I found myself curious that's all."

"Oh, okay," he said thoughtfully.

"About what we-" "Everything is already prepared," he interrupted me, "I had everything put into your car already."

"Thank you," I gave him a nod.

He nodded back, "Don't mention it. I'm happy to help any acquaintance of my wife and Osamu (Yasuhara-san)."

"Well then," we both stood up, "I have somewhere else to go after this, so I best be going. I will return the Tale to you once I am done with this (my personal) case."

Mikage nodded, "Don't worry about returning it. You can return the book whenever you come visit or better yet, just give it to Osamu and he can return it to me."

"Alright," I nodded.

"Oh, are you two finish talking already?"

We turned to look just as Mai and the Madame entered the room. Mai looked at me and almost immediately, she smiled. I smiled and walked over to her as Madame went to Mikage.

"How did it go," I asked her.

"It went well; a little strange but well," she replied.

"Good," I said to her.

"So what did you two talked about," she asked with a curious look on her face.

"Business," I replied.

"Oh," she nodded, understanding.

"Why don't the two of you stay for lunch," the Madame asked.

"I'm sorry, but we have already made plan," I apologized, "Next time, we'll be sure to stay."

"Alright," the Madame said, a little disappointed. She looked at Mai and smiled, "Come see me again sometime, alright?"

Mai nodded with a smile on her face, making me wonder what happened. "I will," she said.

"Well then, we best be going," I said to the two Mikages and bowed.

As soon as the gesture was returned, Kaname led us back to the front gate where Lin is waiting for us.

I helped Mai into the car and got in after her. I turned to Lin and nodded. He nodded back and began driving away from the Mikage Estate. I looked outside the window and sighed quietly. 'The Tale of Murasaki-no-kimi', I thought to myself, 'is definitely not a Myth, Mikage.'

AN- I know I haven't update for so long and I am not going to make excuses. I am sorry that I have been slacking off, but I hope you guys like this chapter. Please spare me for the grammar mistake I might have made. I haven't had time to correct since I am uploading this at One O'clock in the morning. Anyway, I would Like to thank all my readers and their wonderful reviews! You guys seriously made my day! I love you guys! Until next time!