Hey all, just a note: for those who said they liked Enishi and Kaoru together, you must not know the Bluebeard story. Bluebeard is not necessarily a nice person. Hope you enjoy this next chapter!

-Mia21


The day after the house tour, Kaoru went outside to explore the grounds, as she had meant to do the day before. She found acres of wonderful things, including a greenhouse that housed an entire orange grove. She spent the day exploring and found the only unkempt spot on the whole grounds lay just past the orangery, where a brick wall surrounded what appeared to be a crumbling medieval chapel. Above the top of the wall she could see that vines rambled, the roof sagged, and the upper windows were boarded over. It took Kaoru some time to discover the entrance. When she did lift the choking vines and find the gate, it was firmly locked and barred. Kaoru remembered what Akane had said about Enishi's former wives being buried here and was filled with sadness, wishing it was taken better care of.


The next afternoon Akane came to Kaoru's rooms to find her, leading another young woman. "Excuse me, Miss," Akane began. "This is your new maidservant, Naomi."

Kaoru studied the young woman. She was pretty, perhaps still around twenty, with sleek brown hair and bright green eyes. Her gray dress and white apron were crisp and immaculate, drawn into a tiny waist with a perky bow. Over the next few days, Naomi followed whenever Kaoru ventured outside, despite Kaoru's insistent gestures for her to depart. On the third day after she had shadowed Kaoru about the gardens, Kaoru had had enough. She marched inside to Enishi's office, bent on confronting him.

"What a pleasant surprise. To what -" He stopped speaking when he caught sight of Kaoru's expression. "You have something to say. What is it that mars your lovely face with…righteous indignation, is it?"

"You can't – she can't – I cannot continue to have Naomi descend the moment I step outdoors. It's intolerable to have her there every moment."

"Naomi attends you on my orders. You are under my protection, and you are too precious to allow the possibility of mishaps. You are so delicate that Naomi watches to ensure no tumble or accident befalls you. Also, I sometimes have hunters venture onto my property. To keep them off, I have laid traps out as an incentive to stay away."

Kaoru was so angry she was almost beyond words, almost. "Sir, I am not so helpless or dainty or, or stupid as you insinuate."

Enishi shook his head. "Oh, but you are very breakable. Now do not embarrass Naomi by trying to make her disobey my orders." Just then, Akane's words about Ayano came back to her. 'Nothing her husband gave her was what she wanted.' Could it be that he only gave her what he had already decided she must have? Kaoru turned to go, wondering what kind of a life that was, never getting to make your own choices? Kaoru was in the position of needing to be respectful of Enishi, but she had been raised to make up her own mind.

"There is something I needed to ask you before you leave me to my accounts." Enishi said. Kaoru waited, turning back.
"I must travel on some distant business soon. Will you take charge of my keys in my absence? It is a dire responsibility. I shall entrust you with keys that even our dear Akane does not have. They must be guarded and never used."
"I would be happy to do that, sir!" Kaoru was somewhat startled he would choose to trust her in such a way, but also realized she could show him she was worthy of his trust.


By that evening, Kaoru had decided she would allow Enishi to continue making decisions for her, after all, he was probably used to it. She tried her best to find again the affection she had felt for him when she first arrived. She could admit now that sometimes there was a look in Enishi's eye that made her uneasy. He could be…dangerous. Now why did that adjective leap to mind? Perhaps because it was true, Enishi was like a tiger – sleek, velvety, smiling, dangerous. And very attractive.

No other man of her acquaintance had ever sought to control her, even her very decisions, the way Enishi did.

"Tonight," he said after supper. "We will have some music. You will play the Kugo." He told her, handing her the large harp, before he rose and picked up the Hocchiku that rested on its stand. "Let us attempt a duet. Just follow me."

Kaoru played a few strains of some Kengyo followed by a bit of Hayashi. Enishi sat, holding the Hocchiku just so. He brought it to his lips, and began playing. The notes that he began with sent a thrill through Kaoru that was almost a heartbreak. For a moment she couldn't move. Then she joined him, either harmonizing or else joining in his wandering strains. They played faster and faster, the notes moving through Kaoru's entire body. As their music filled the room, it seemed to Kaoru as though their souls were caught up together in rapture, breathless. He let the last note fade away, and she rested her fingers on the strings of the Kugo, spent but exhilarated. Enishi rose, came over to her, took her by the shoulders, raised her up and leaned her head back. Then he lowered his face to hers and his mouth came down on her lips, hard, ardent, deep, his hands buried in her hair.

Kaoru couldn't breathe, she knew in her heart this wasn't right, even though she did admire him greatly. What was she doing!? She pushed against him, and when he staggered back, she fled.