Not going to lie, I rushed through this because I'm really sleepy and I have classes tomorrow...
I think this is the last chapter in their past, the rest will be told in the present...I think ?
I also didn't have time to read over this, will do so sometime later next week !
[ FOURTEEN ]
"Everyone up!" Oboro was jolted awake from her barely asleep state of mind by the harsh voice of an older woman. It was funny how quickly things changed. It seemed like only yesterday she was celebrating Takumi's birthday, sharing sweet snacks underneath their blankets while sharing horror stories they had heard from the older workers in the palace.
"I said up!" The voice called out again, a small groan of protest eliciting from Oboro's mouth as she obeyed the command along with approximately thirty other females, both older and younger. She stifled a yawn as she stood perfectly still in front of her bedroll on the floor, not even daring to stretch her sore arms. How many hours had she slept? Maybe three, if she was lucky. It didn't matter either way, she stopped caring years ago.
"Get dressed, you ladies have another big day planned." The woman continued, pacing back and forth amongst the group as her sharp eyes looked them each over, "Hinoka-sama plans to ride out with a few of her friends this morning, so I expect the stables to be perfectly clean before she wakes up. Not a single piece of hay should be out of place. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, miss." The girls sighed in unison, some still with their heads bowed in exhaustion.
"Ryouma-sama's going to be sparring in the evening, so the weapon shed needs to be restocked and cleaned as well. We just got a shipment of new blades -today's the men's turn to count inventory, so you ladies better go straight to the stables until they're done." Oboro rolled her neck from side to side, mentally preparing herself for the day ahead. It was going to be tiring and boring, as always. She stopped her actions and directed her gaze straight ahead as the older woman suddenly stopped in front of her. "After you are all done with your tasks, I expect to see you in the training room. You got that?" She practically shouted in Oboro's face. The girl hoped she wasn't making her "demonic expression" again -a lot of the people she sparred with had started telling her to stop frightening them with that face, but she hadn't known it existed until...rather recently, actually. It typically appeared when she was deep in thought or just fighting in general, and she'd gotten in trouble for it numerous times so far. It wasn't a surprise why she had no friends, she scared everyone she knew.
"Yes, miss!" Everyone replied back, before running to get dressed and take care of the tasks at hand.
"Stop right there." The woman said, putting a hand on Oboro's shoulder. The young girl turned around slowly, staring at the ground uncomfortably. She hoped with all her heart that she hadn't been caught up past curfew last night -she had been sneaking out to practice with the naginata nearly every day since the first few months she got sent here. No one had seemed to notice or care, and she had gotten quite proficient at wielding it.
"How may I be of assistance?" Oboro mumbled politely, shifting from side to side in anxiousness. What would they do to her? Lock her up? Could she be killed? Exiled?
"Queen Mikoto wants to see you." The woman merely said, turning away, "Get dressed and go to the main palace. Immediately." Oboro blinked in surprise. She hadn't talked to the queen in years, not since...she found out that Mikoto was the queen and Takumi, a prince. She put on her outer-clothes robotically, relying purely on memory to bring herself to her destination.
She still remembered -the day after Takumi's fourteenth birthday, she had been woken up roughly, dragged away by the arm as the boy chased after her wailing. The intruder had explained to her that many of the palace workers became disdainful seeing a commoner being so close with the prince, who was deemed old enough at that time to start acting like an adult and taking his country more into consideration.
The woman had said that because she had no family, Oboro would be raised with the rest of the children of the palace workers -and to eventually be one herself. The young girl had been devastated when she had first heard the news, wishing that it were all false. She thought she had been stupid not to notice it sooner; Takumi was always being treated with respect by the older people and fussed over for every small detail...Oboro should have put two and two together and made the connection, especially seeing that they were residing in the palace.
Oboro arrived in front of a grand set of doors, wondering whether she should knock or not. Two palace guards were on either side of the building, not even paying her any attention as they remained motionless. Oboro looked around helplessly before pushing the doors open herself and stepping in. She stood in the doorway, slightly embarrassed as she saw that Mikoto had been in the midst of conversing with one of her retainers, a scarred woman with a hair color quite similar to Oboro's own. The older woman quickly excused herself as she saw Oboro, shooting her a grin before closing the doors on her way out.
"Oboro, how good it is to see you!" Mikoto exclaimed, rushing over to her and enveloping her in a large hug. Oboro stood stiffly, not sure how to react. She hadn't seen her for years, and the last time she had, she'd been informed that she was the queen. Was she even allowed to hug the queen? Mikoto held Oboro by the shoulders, looking her over tearfully, "I'm so sorry about...everything that happened. It's just been so hard since..." Mikoto turned away, wiping her tears with a delicate fingertip.
"M-Mikoto-sama, how may I be of assistance?" Oboro asked nervously.
Mikoto smiled hesitantly, suddenly distancing herself from the girl, "Oboro." She said carefully, looking her in the eye, "I don't want you to stay here and live as a worker. It's not fitting for you -you're older now, and you're free to leave the palace, if you wish. I can help you find your relatives so that you can live with them." Oboro's head shot up. Was she being serious? She could finally leave, no more sleeping in that crowded room, no more cleaning the stables, no more...
"So..so I'll never see..." Oboro whispered to herself, knowing that she would never see Takumi ever again if she were to live outside the palace. She bit her lip, her mind swimming with ideas desperately as she tried to think of another option, an alternative. Mikoto looked at her questioningly, cracking a nervous smile as she tried to read the girl's thoughts. "Um..." Oboro looked around her with agitation, suddenly remembering the woman who had been in here earlier with the queen, "Mikoto-sama!" Oboro exclaimed loudly, "Please, is it possible for me to train as Takumi-sama's retainer?"
Mikoto's mouth dropped in surprise as she processed the younger girl's words. She brought a hand to her lips, chuckling as she saw the determination in Oboro's eyes. "Well, it is true that Takumi's lacking another retainer..." She trailed off, thinking deeply. Takumi's only retainer had been Hinata, someone who served their family for generations. It was someone that he didn't have a say in, but he had refused to acknowledge all the other soldiers that had requested to serve under him thus far...and he had gotten along quite well with Oboro in the past. "I've heard that you've been training with the naginata." She said instead, eyes twinkling as she watched the girl bury her face into the collar of her kimono.
"A-ah, they knew..." Oboro muttered, wondering why she had been allowed to sneak out and train in the middle of the night anyway. "But please, let me serve Takumi-sama! I will protect him with my life." She said earnestly, holding a hand to her chest. She squeezed her eyes tightly as she awaited Mikoto's decision. This was all she wanted -if she could only have this, be selfish for once, she would never ask for anything else. She would never want again.
Mikoto gave her a tight lipped smile, walking towards the door and poking her head out. Oboro looked after her nervously as she wrung her hands behind her back. The queen returned only moments later, followed by one of the soldiers that had been standing guard in front of the room. Oboro's face dropped; was she being escorted away?
"Oboro, as dear as you are to me," Mikoto began, walking to the side of the room where various weapons were displayed, "Takumi needs someone who is strong. I can't let you be his retainer until you show me your skill." She said sternly, presenting the young girl with a naginata, her weapon of expertise.
The guard planted his own weapon on the ground, lowering his stance as he readied his position. Oboro took the naginata with trembling fingers, wrapping her hands around them familiarly as she faced her opponent determinedly. She would not lose. She couldn't.
"Takumi, may I come in?" Mikoto knocked twice at her youngest son's bedroom in warning before sliding the doors open. "Takumi, I have some good news for you." Oboro peeked out from behind the older woman hesitantly, feeling a sense of deja vu. She remembered the room -it was a lot tidier now, no more toys, snacks, or arrows strewn about. The place was incredibly clean, tatami mats gone and replaced with a grand bed and silk blankets on a raised platform.
Oboro felt her throat close up as she thought about her childhood again -she guess it wasn't possible for them to be best friends anymore. Not now, at least. She felt like a stranger inside Takumi's room; perhaps it would have been better if she just left. Oboro clenched her fists as she shook her head, forcing herself to stop doubting. She already made up her mind -she would serve Takumi until her last breath.
"Mother, how many times have I asked you not to disrupt me when I'm meditating?" Oboro bowed her head as she heard the unfamiliar voice, planting her eyes to the ground and praying that her trembling was just her imagination. She felt Mikoto place a steadying hand on her shoulder. "Who's this?" The voice sighed, sounding quite unimpressed.
"Takumi, you really must change that attitude of yours." Mikoto said pleasantly, laughter in her voice, "This is your new retainer." Oboro kept her head down, not daring to look up.
"Her?" The boy exclaimed, stomping over, "How old is she? Mother, I told you I don't need any retainers. After you practically forced Hinata on me, I have too much on my hands. All he wants to do is fool around." He continued, scoffing.
"She's only 14, but she defeated one of our palace guards." Mikoto said almost proudly, "Ah, I know! Why don't we have a little impromptu match? You against her. So you can see her worth." Oboro looked up for the first time, staring at Mikoto in disbelief. She hadn't asked for this! How could she dare harm Takumi? She wouldn't be able to lift a finger against him. Using the moment of silence to take a quick glance at her former friend, Oboro bent her head down again immediately as she looked into a pair of unfamiliar amber eyes.
She bit her lip as she wondered how much someone could change in just a few years -they no longer held that warmth and kindness that she had been accustomed to. And that stern mouth, it couldn't be possible to smile with those. What had happened?
Takumi sighed, walking towards the door, "Fine. I'll use whatever weapon she's best trained in." He stated, "I'll be waiting in the courtyard. I don't want to make a scene, so make sure no one else is there."
"Yes, dear!" Mikoto called out happily after him, shooting a grin at Oboro, "You'll do great, I just know it."
Oboro held a naginata in her hands for the second time that day, though this time she couldn't stop her hands from shaking. Had Takumi really forgotten her just like that? Was their friendship nothing to him? She guessed it was too be expected -she was just a commoner after all, and he a prince. It was foolish of her to wish to keep holding onto him like she did when they were children.
Nevertheless, he had been her best friend, the person who saved her when she first lost her parents. She owed him her life; and no matter what Takumi thought of her, she still cherished him. Oboro tightened her grip, looking for an opening. She had never seen Takumi fight before; she had heard that he was talented in archery, which was too be expected, but wasn't sure how he fared with a lance.
They were the only two in the courtyard, Mikoto leaving after her son requested her to do so once the place was cleared. Perhaps he didn't want any interference, but Oboro was a bit nervous to be alone with him. She eyed his weapon carefully, knowing that she would be too distracted if she did anything else.
The blade lifted from the air as Takumi suddenly struck, Oboro blocking the attack with ease. They exchanged blows for a few minutes until she grew a bit agitated as she noticed how half-hearted he seemed to be -perhaps he didn't take her seriously after all. She took a deep breath, preparing herself to attack. She could disarm him, it would be easy. He wasn't even holding his naginata correctly.
With a shout, Oboro lunged for him, hooking the blade of her weapon easily between the prince and his own and viciously tugging at it to swing it away. Except instead of Takumi loosening his grip and letting it go as Oboro had expected him to, he stubbornly held on, the younger girl's eyes widening in surprise as Takumi went flying into her with his weapon still in tow.
Oboro started panicking as she realized that the prince was about to fall on her, her mind working fast as she tried to jump backwards, only to find that it wasn't possible since their weapons were still interlocked; she let out a small shriek as Takumi came crashing down on her, their heads knocking together painfully. There was no way he would respect her to be his retainer after this; she was glad that no one had watched, at least.
Oboro bit her lip as she felt the blade of Takumi's weapon cut into her shoulder as he landed on it, pressing it harder against her and drawing blood -perhaps they should have used wooden poles after all. She groaned in pain, trying to push the heavier boy off of her with her one good arm.
"O-Oboro!" Her eyes fluttered open in surprise as she saw a pair of gentle, concerned eyes look back at her, "I'm so sorry! Are you okay?"
"Yeah...Please don't worry about me..." Oboro said quietly, squinting her eyes as she noticed something crimson in the boy's hair. She vaguely wondered if Mikoto had ever mentioned her name to Takumi before she blacked out.
Oboro grunted as she sat up, holding a hand to her head painfully. Why did it hurt so much? She pressed on it lightly, feeling a burning pain on the tender skin. She most definitely had a bruise there. She touched her right shoulder next, the other place that hurt. It had been bandaged up and was even more sore than her head. What had happened?
She looked around, not finding the place familiar at all. She ripped the sheets off of her reluctantly, forcing herself onto her feet and feeling around blindly in the dark room for a door. She patted the wall as she moved around the room, finally finding a crack and pulling it open. Oboro blinked in surprise as she was met by the brightness of the moon -what time was it?
She walked outside silently, padding around on bare feet as she looked for anyone who would be able to tell her where she was. She was still the palace, at least, so it didn't seem anything that bad had happened...but why wasn't she with all the other workers? She had been by herself in that room, as far as she could tell. Oboro shivered, wrapping her arms around herself.
"Oooh..." She turned around, suddenly alert as fear struck her. It seemed to be someone shouting, but it was too muffled to tell what they were saying. "OOoh...oo...!" It was coming from the room where Oboro had left -had she not been alone after all? She crept towards the sound as it continued, curiosity trumping over fear for the moment as her feet brought her closer towards her destination.
"OBORO!" The girl winced in pain as someone grabbed her roughly by the shoulders, screaming her name in her face. "You're awake!" She blinked slowly in the mist of the night, not sure who she was talking to. Everything looked too white -was she perhaps conversing with the mist now? She must have lost her mind, that was the only logical explanation for it all. Oboro reached a cautious hand out, surprised when she made contact with the whiteness and felt something soft.
She was doubly surprised as the shape moved, grabbing her hand and looking into her eyes frantically. Oboro felt her life leave her as she realized who it was. She just grabbed Takumi's hair. The prince. That alone probably issued enough warrant for the death penalty. All memories of the earlier day suddenly flew back to her as she looked into his amber eyes, her face reddening as she recalled what had occurred, "T-Takumi...sama!" She said awkwardly, "Um...please," She stared at him with a newly found vigor, "Please let me be your retainer!"
The prince scoffed, rolling his eyes as she looked pleadingly at him, before cracking a small smile, "I guess...I'll be in your care from now on then."
I got the Takumi Oboro "fighting scene" from a Japanese fanfic I read of them, I think? It was a while ago, so I can't remember to clearly ~
but yeah, not so great at combat stuff so glossed over those bits.