Wahsh leaned back against his chair and crossed his arms over his chest as he observed the food filled table prepared for himself and the girl. He just then realized that he hasn't asked for her name. What a magnificent host he's turning out to be and he must admit himself that he is failing very well at it. He let his anger get the better of him and the results were of him venting it out on her. His servants constant instructions were of no help to him also. Everything seemed to be going much too fast and he just can't process the things Naruto keeps telling him to do. This is his first time having to host for a woman in his home and a beautiful one at that.
He leaned back more into the chair and rested his arms onto its arms.
It really was impossible for someone so beautiful to fall for someone so hideously ugly and don't forget to mention that someone not treating her as respectfully as he should. He started off in a good start until she asked to see his face. From the moment she asked, the little shred of hope to become human again faded away, but it's not for his sake only. It also goes for all the palace residents who are tired of being in those bodies they are stuck with. It has been years since they have been able to see the world beyond the palace for if they did cross the border of the gates that surrounds the palace they turn to ash then are carried off with the wind and sand, erasing their very existence.
What's worse was that the rose has already begun to wilt so everyone was desperate to see some spark of romance between the girl and Wahsh. Something he has never done before.
Winning a girls heart.
A hand placed itself on Wahsh's shoulder and he looked up to see the blue eyes that belonged to Naruto among his unnaturally pale appearance and Sakura was by his side.
Across his face spread smile, "Don't rush into things alright, Master?"
"These things take time. You can't expect for them to happen so suddenly, Master," Sakura explained, "Although most of us are desperate, some of us can also understand the time you need."
Naruto nodded his head and Wahsh felt somewhat relieved from the stress that built its way up inside him.
The click of a handle being turned echoed across the room filling Wahsh and the others with anxiety. He mentally prepared himself to face the young woman, but instead a man walked in with black hair and onyx eyes.
"Sasuke?" Naruto and Sakura questioned simultaneously.
Wahsh read a bit of worry in his usually indifferent eyes.
"What is it?" He ordered.
Silence.
"She's not coming." He replied bluntly.
After a long pause… "Excuse me?" Wahsh questioned in a monotonous voice.
Every one remained silent knowing all too well that he definitely understood and heard the news. He silently raised himself up from the chair, walked past Sasuke, and out the door towards the room of a certain female who declined his forced invitation.
He knocked against her door and awaited her reply.
"Yes?"
"I believe I told you to come down to dinner with me."
"Y-yes, but… I'm not hungry, thank you."
Wahsh felt a twang of pain at her rejection, but was immediately mixed with disappointment and annoyance. He found it rude that she didn't want to dine with the master of the house whom she is staying with the rest of her life.
"You can't stay locked up in the room forever."
"I can if I wish to."
One of his ears twitched in annoyance at her stubbornness and the fact she had manipulated his hospitality, but still managed to keep his blank expression.
Wahsh crossed his arms over his chest when he made his crude decision on how to handle this predicament.
"Then I guess your going to have to starve." He sharply replied with a hint of smugness.
He turned to face Sasuke who had been standing behind him with absolute silence the whole time.
"Is that clear, Sasuke?"
He bowed, "Yes, Master."
***
Wahsh walked along the Western Tower to his destroyed and dark domain and the only single thing that is miraculously in tact is the table that held the enchanted desert rose. He sat on his broken bed and stared at the glowing rose that held the time for this curse that had been placed upon his palace.
'The key…' Hinata told him one time during the month he awaited the girl's or his father's arrival, 'You have to make her sees past your appearance and into your heart.'
How can I possibly do that…
He went to the desert rose and picked up the small gourd that laid beside it. He popped the cork out and the sand slowly drew itself out, into the air. It swirled around several times in a circular motion until the center of the spinning spiral turned to crystal and spread itself out crystallizing the remaining sand particles. As the final result a flat, smooth, crystallized mirror floated before him and awaited his command.
"Show me the girl."
His reflection melted away and with a flash of blue and white light the mirror revealed what he asked it to.
The girl was laying on her bed holding a gold pillow close to her chest and one of his servants was sitting beside her with the hood still placed over its head.
"You shouldn't be so hard on him. He'll seem a lot better once you get to know him."
He recognized the voice as Ino's.
The girl buried her face in the pillow and with a muffled reply answered, "I don't want anything to do with him. He means nothing to me."
With a wave of his hand he undid the enchanted sand and walked by it, while putting itself away inside the gourd, to the open balcony.
The half moon shined its white rays on him with his posture straight and tall and arms crossed. If one saw him at this moment they would immediately recognize him as the important human being he used to be.
How can I possibly do that when all she sees… Is a monster.
***
Sasuke stood silently waiting for anybody he can force and take his place to guard this girl. Just his luck, he heard someone whistling around the corner and although this person may not be the best choice to keep guard it annoyed him that Sakura is kept cleaning the dining room all by herself while Naruto surveyed the palace.
Kiba walked by and paused under Sasuke's stare.
"Yes." He drawled.
"I need you to stay here and keep guard."
"What for? And guard who?"
"The girl, idiot."
"Oh! She's in there?" He physically pointed out.
"Yes. Master doesn't want her leaving her chambers and I need to go do something. Can you stay on guard for me?"
"Sure, I guess," He scratched his head having an odd suspicion towards the majordomo of the palace, "What is it you need to do?"
"None of your concerns." He walked by him, brushing him off.
"Jeez. What's his problem?"
He stared back towards the door where the key to everyone's freedom is behind of.
***
Gamila learned the young woman's name to be Ino and she left a while ago saying that she has some other duties to take care of. Her empty stomach grumbled, begging for food. She hasn't eaten anything at all today, except for some tea she had, so she felt like she could collapse out of starvation. She had second thoughts about leaving the room and meeting Wahsh again, but her stomach pushed the thought aside making her think positive, that one of his servants might come and attend her.
As quietly as possible, she pushed the door open and looked around when her eyes fell on a sleeping young man on the floor. His features were pale white, like a ghost, with sunken in cheeks, and black bags under his eyes. She gasped at the sight and ran towards him to shake him awake.
"Are you alright?"
"Huh? Wha-?" His eyelids slowly opened to reveal brown eyes that matched the color of his hair. The blurry person in front him gradually refocused on a tanned skin girl with long brown hair and shining brown eyes.
He blinked several times, "Uh…"
"Oh my goodness. I thought you were dead." She rested a hand on her fast paced heart.
"Well, I'm not too far from that actually."
"What?"
"Um. Never mind. You're not suppose to be out here anyways. Master said you have to stay in your room." He stood up and looked down at the petite form.
She was not aware of this order, but she guessed Wahsh did it behind her back.
"I see." She stood up and averted her gaze towards a window filled with blackness, then her stomach growled.
Kiba looked down at her stomach and laughed full heartedly.
"I see. You're hungry, huh?"
Gamila's cheeks flushed with embarrassment and found her feet to be more interesting to watch.
"Well, there's no way I'm going to leave a guest hungry," He took a hold of her wrist and she winced at the ice cold touch.
"I'll take you to the kitchen. My name's Kiba by the way."
"I'm Gamila."
I personally like this chapter. Okay. Now I'm really getting into the story again (oh my goodie tissues, now I'm going to be procrastinating on my other stories... Nyot gewd...)
Reviews are wonderful~
