Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
"Childhood is not from birth to a certain age and at a certain age
The child is grown, and puts away childish things.
Childhood is the kingdom where nobody dies."
Taken from the poem Childhood is the Kingdom Where Nobody Dies by Edna St. Vincent Millay (1937)
One moment, her slipper encased feet were settled on the hard wooden floors of the fortress, the next, Nami found herself sat on the roof of the west pavilion, looking up at the stars. It was undignified for the future Lady of the Western Lands to be hoisted around like a sac of grain, but as she met Touga's gaze – prepared to give him quite the tongue lashing – she faltered at the look of concern reflected in those golden orbs.
Relaxing slightly, she shook off her responsibilities and the expectations heaped on her for a moment and leaned back against the slope of the roof.
After a long companionable silence, Touga eventually spoke up, his tone soft. "What is wrong with you, Nami-sama. You have not been acting like yourself."
Nami jerked as though she'd been shocked and sat up, pulling her knees to her chest in a rustle of silk. Her father had said the very same thing to her not two weeks prior. As the future lady of the Western lands, she could not dishonour her family by allowing anything to slip through her control, especially not her emotions. Lately, due to Touga and Ryuukotsusei's influence, she'd been happier, lighter, cheerful. Such things were for children, and the future lady of the Western lands had no time for childhood.
"I am acting as expected," she snipped, "As the future lady of the Western lands, certain things are expected of me. I am held to certain standards, protocols of behaviour."
Touga's warm hand closed around her own, startling her from her outpouring. She met his gaze uncertainly and smiled gently. "Not with me. With me you can be Nami-sama alone. Nami-sama is already perfect."
Under the light of the stars, something timid and hopeful took root in Nami's heart.
A/N: This was originally written for iy_unsung_heros prompt Control and was first posted on July 19th 2011. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this enough to offer a review!