Chapter 4: You Always Miss the People That Annoy You The Most
So here is the fourth chapter, hope you enjoy reading it. I'm adding the replies to the reviews here because I really didn't get the time to thank these awesome people personally.
Akely: Thank you for the wonderful review, as always! Yeah, Sougo's just too dense, but he does realize some of his feelings soon! So will Kagura, because absence makes the heart fonder… I hope you like reading this chapter too.
Hellooo: Love you too ! I'm really glad that you liked it, though I now feel a little bit guilty for making them so heartbroken like this, lol. Hope you like this chapter too, and thank you so much for reviewing!
nathan19bane: Thanks for the review and the motivation! Have fun reading this chapter!
Guest: Thank you so much! I'm really happy you think the story is a good one. Hope this chapter is just as interesting and that you enjoy reading it too!
Now, let's move on to the story!
It had been two days since Kagura had left and Sougo still couldn't specify what he felt about it. Kondou repeatedly tried to convince him that he really missed the girl and wanted to bring her back, while Sasaki observed that he could now be a lot more relaxed without the threat of an umbrella constantly aimed at his back. Hijikata rarely commented on it, other than telling him that he should already hurry up and realize his feelings and the rest of the Shinsengumi were just too scared to give their sadistic prince relationship advice. Totsuan yelled at him to be a man and resign himself to whatever fate had in store and also to act on his feelings.
Sougo had an idea that their advice was well meaning, but he never thanked them for it, especially not Hijikata. And moreover, all the advice seemed totally useless to him; if he couldn't even classify his feelings, how the hell was he supposed to act on them?
But he did know that he felt that something was missing every time he woke up in the morning or simply lazed about the castle. It was far too quiet, far too orderly and somehow…. really wrong. Ever since China had arrived, he had hardly known what insanity to expect the next moment and there had almost never been pin-drop silence in the castle. Even if there had been a few such moments, it always meant that she was aiming her umbrella or some deadly projectile at his head and didn't want him to be alerted of the fact. Sure, he always found it extremely annoying and wished fervently for a few moments of peace. Hell, he couldn't even sleep undisturbed with her around. But now, when it truly was totally silent and he could sleep as much as he liked, he realized that he didn't really want something like this either.
But, the strange peace and quiet aside, if Sougo had to somehow choose a word that expressed his feelings the most, it would be that he was bored. Without China around, there was no one to fight with, no one he could insult freely without undermining his reputation as prince, not that he bothered too much about it anyways, and no one who brought a burst of excitement in his life. Even assassinating Hijikata had gradually lost its fun. He could torture the Shinsengumi, but the prospect hardly excited him. I really must be going crazy now… Seriously, since when did fighting with China become the only thing that really interested me? When ever did that insufferable glutton become such an important part of the castle that everything seems 'wrong' without her? I'll really be losing my standing as the prince of Sadists if I go on like this….. But deep down inside, Sougo somehow knew that he would probably never be changing those foreign feelings anytime soon.
Meanwhile, in the servants' quarters of the palace, Tama and the other maids were holding a serious discussion about the incredible denseness of their master.
"Really, it's already been two days without her and he still doesn't get that he misses her yet…"
"Sougo sama now spends most of the day walking around aimlessly, with a really scary aura when anyone approaches him… It's obvious that he's somehow expecting it to be Hime sama. But I heard he fired a bazooka at Hijikata san for pointing that out…"
"I really miss the princess; we have never had so much fun in the castle ever since Queen Mitsuba died. She always treated us like friends, not at all like her retainers. Besides, the palace feels so empty without her."
"And it's really difficult to feed the giant dog now, he only wants to eat from his mistress! We really do need the princess back again. But how ever can we get that incredibly sadistic, dense, idiotic prince of ours to realize that?"
"What are you saying, Hanako, we're just maids. How can we ever contradict or persuade royals?"
"I think you're wrong there, Oryou. I agree that it is not befitting of our standing to change the minds of royals directly, but we can do a lot indirectly. For one, we can start an event or gossip that makes the prince wake up to his feelings."
"Start a gossip? What do you mean by that, Tama san?"
Tama smiled a little, her red eyes twinkling with mischief, before saying," Ah, for that all of us need to be really confidential. It might be troublesome if the prince came to know about it…"
At that, everyone's eyes sparked with excitement, and they all nodded with wide smiles. Putting aside all their work, they gathered around Tama, who was generally the most resourceful of them.
"The marriage between Kagura sama and Sougo sama was practically a forced one, which is also why this situation is so tangled up. But it is also something that can work to our advantage. My plan is that we spread rumors about Kagura sama being courted by another prince. If Sougo sama comes to know of it, which he definitely will, he'll go into a flying rage of jealousy. And the first thing he'll do is to go to Rakuyou. After that, I am not too sure, but I hope they both will have realized their feelings for each other and it is likely that he will bring our princess back."
"But, won't that create misunderstanding between them? He might just hurt Hime sama more with his words if he thinks so."
"But, we don't have to tell him that she likes him at all! If we just tell the prince that another guy is trying to hit on Kagura sama, then it'll do the trick immediately. Besides, all is fair in love and war!"
The plan finalized, the women then began to discuss how to implement it as quickly and efficiently as possible.
The next morning, at the Edo palace, Hijikata was most displeased to find that Sougo was still sleeping, even though it was well past ten 'o' clock. His mood worsened even further when he saw Sasaki entering the throne room, his dead fish eyes looking as disinterested as ever.
"Oi, what are you doing here? I'm really not in a good mood now, so get lost before I slice you."
"My, my, is that how you treat an elite prince? Hijikata san, your behavior is more suited to a rough commoner than a Knight of honor. Besides, where is the prince? I've just heard some rather, ah, intriguing rumors…"
"Tch, the prince is still in dreamland. Now, will you deign to tell us 'commoners' what rumors you've been hearing, o most elite and insufferable Prince of the Mimawarigumi?" The tension in the air was so thick by then that it could practically be sliced like a cake and tasted.
"Oh really, it's not too important. Only that the princess of Edo is being courted by an unnamed man. But that hardly seems significant to clumsy commoners, does it?"
Hijikata simply rolled his eyes at the last remark, even smirking a little. Quietly, he said," Nope, ain't worried at all. That China girl would just kick the hell out of anyone foolish enough to hit on a married woman."
Sasaki raised his eyebrows and murmured, "Well, maybe she would. However, you don't seem to be concerned at all, unlike many of your subordinates."
"There's nothing to be concerned about. And now, will you please get lost? I don't feel like seeing your annoying face for one more second!"
Unknown to both of them, a certain prince had caught the first part of their conversation and was now emitting a highly murderous, sadistic aura.
That day, everyone made sure to stay at least a mile distant from the prince, who looked to be in an extremely bad mood. However, for some reason, the maids seemed quite satisfied with his behavior, even giggling as they watched him pass by.
Sougo ignored them; Sasaki's words were all he could think about. "Oh really, it's not too important. Only that the princess of Edo is being courted by an unnamed man. But that hardly seems significant to clumsy commoners, does it?"
Not too important? What the hell? This is the very damned opposite of that! How can China be courted by someone? She is married to me! Just how disgusting can you get, trying to hit on a married brat like that… And why am I so annoyed at this? Somehow, it's just like that time when that blasted Hijikata took Aneue away from me… But why should I feel this way about a gluttonous, rude, China brat? It's not like she's anyone significant to me…
"Hmph."
Sougo looked up in surprise, seeing Sadaharu next to him, his lips curved in disbelief. He realized, feeling a little surprised, that he had actually been speaking out loud. Well, it was only a dog that had heard him, so there was no possibility of him being embarrassed.
"Don't act as if you understand me, mutt. Now just go away before I take out my irritation on you."
"Wan."
"Seems like you have no intention of going; you're just as stubborn as your stupid mistress. She'd probably be trying to kill me if she was here…"
"Waaann."
"Are you saying that you miss her? Stupid dog, like she cares for us anyway. Huh? Did I say 'us'? I really must be going nuts now… Well, maybe she doesn't have much reason to care for me, and she might be perfectly justified if she chooses to go out with someone else. After all, I was the one who told her that our marriage was only a charade for a title. There ain't much reason for her to think much of it either."
"Arf."
"Don't you dare misunderstand me, dog. I'm not in the least jealous, only sorry for the guy."
"Wan? Hmph."
"So you say I'm lying? As a dog, you sure have some audacity… China is free to do as she likes. I'm also free to do the same. She is my rival and no one else is getting an inch close to her, not even over my dead body. And since I just realized that I like her crazy antics, she's going to have to be my play toy for eternity now."
"ARF!"
Hijikata looked up from the ongoing training session when Sougo walked in, carrying his beloved bazooka. The other Shinsengumi officers momentarily stopped, they were just too curious as to what their prince was going to announce next.
"Hijikata san, prepare for assassination, because I've just decided I'll be killing you on the way to Rakuyou."
Kagura sighed tiredly as she rubbed her eyes; it had really been an exhausting day. The affairs of the kingdom had degenerated into a total mess, with innumerable complaints about destruction of life and property by overzealous Yato fighters and extortion by pirate gangs. But she hadn't complained too much about it, for it had prevented her from thinking too much about Edo, Sadaharu and particularly a red eyed Sadist. She just wanted to forget about all of it, as she assumed they would forget about her, but she couldn't. And as much as she wanted to deny it, to Tsukky, Anego, and herself, she really did miss her life back there. Now that she had the leisure to consider it, there were so many things that she wanted to do, from beating up her 'husband', to playing with her dog, ordering the Shinsengumi around, having an argument over nothing with the Sadist, blowing him and Mayora up with a bazooka, eating Tama's delicious egg and rice….
Huh? Why the hell am I thinking so often about that jerk? He's definitely forgotten about me now, he might even prefer it if I never go back! So why do I miss him so much? Am I really turning into an idiot like he said I was? Again, I'm thinking about him! Damn you, curse you, you irritating, ugly, rude, sadist, why the hell must you make me feel so weird?!
Furiously wiping away the moisture leaking from her eyes, Kagura buried her head in the fluffy cushions surrounding her, soon falling asleep, though not before wondering who was feeding Sadaharu.
A/N; So there ends the fourth chapter! I really should be studying instead of writing fanfics now, but I couldn't help it…. I hope you had as much fun reading this chapter as I had writing it! A huge thanks to everyone who read, reviewed, followed and favorited this story; your appreciation makes my day!
Please do take the time to leave a review, your support never fails to keep me going! Feel free to send me suggestions, requests, anything you wish, I love to know what you think about it. Constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement are also greatly appreciated!