Love Blossoms
Summary: In a quaint village nestled in the heart of the countryside, Oodana, the master of the Tenjin-ya Bed and Breakfast, still mourns the departure of his former bride to be, Aoi. Kagome Higurashi, the human companion of the powerful Lord Sesshomaru from the West, arrives at the inn seeking shelter. Oodana, hesitant to open his doors to strangers, welcomes them in, unaware that this chance encounter will change the course of his life.
Chapter 1: The Empty Inn
The Tenjin-ya inn, nestled amidst the serene landscape of the countryside, had once been a bustling haven for travelers seeking refuge and respite. But now, its corridors echoed with emptiness, and its rooms bore the weight of unspoken sorrow. Oodana, the master of the inn, had become a silent, somber figure, haunted by the memory of his former bride, to be Aoi.
Sitting alone in the dimly lit common room, Oodana's eyes were fixed on the flickering flames of the hearth. The dancing firelight cast eerie shadows on the walls, mirroring the shadows that lingered in his heart. Aoi's face, framed by raven-black hair and illuminated by her radiant smile, seemed to materialize in the flames. Her departure had been sudden, unexplained, and it had left an aching void that time had failed to mend.
Oodana sighed heavily, his fingers tightening around the teacup in his hands. "Aoi," he whispered, "why did you leave me?"
A soft knock at the door interrupted his reverie, and he looked up to see a young serving girl enter. Her eyes were filled with concern as she approached. "Master Oodana, it's time for dinner," she said gently.
Oodana nodded, setting the tea cup aside. He had lost his appetite, but he couldn't ignore his responsibilities as the inn's owner. With a weary sigh, he rose from his chair and followed the serving girl into the dining area.
The dining room, once a place of lively conversations and hearty laughter, now felt empty and cavernous. The tables were set, but the chairs remained unoccupied, serving as painful reminders of happier times. Oodana took his seat at the head of the table, his gaze drifting toward the empty chair beside him, where Aoi used to sit.
As he dined in silence, Oodana's mind continued to drift back to Aoi. He remembered the day they had first met, the sparks of love that had ignited between them despite the arranged engagement. Aoi had been the heart and soul of Tenjin-ya, her culinary talents and warm hospitality turning guests into friends. Her sudden disappearance had taken a toll not only on Oodana but also on the inn itself.
After the meal, Oodana retired to his room, staring out of the window into the moonlit night. The inn's garden, once vibrant and well-tended by Aoi, now lay neglected. He knew that he could no longer bear the solitude that enveloped him like a heavy fog. The inn had become a shadow of its former self, and it was time to breathe life back into its walls.
With newfound determination, Oodana resolved that he must find a new bride to fill the void left by Aoi's departure. He couldn't bear to see the inn languish any longer. The decision weighed heavily on his heart, but he knew it was the only way to honor Aoi's memory and restore the inn to its former glory.
One evening, as he walked through the inn's garden, lost in thought, Oodana heard a whisper in the wind. It carried tales of a mysterious figure from the West, a woman named Kagome Higurashi. Rumors spoke of her as the human companion of the powerful Lord Sesshomaru, a noble from distant lands. Her name had reached his ears through passing travelers, but she remained an enigmatic presence, her purpose and origins shrouded in mystery.
Oodana's curiosity was piqued, and he decided to inquire further. Perhaps this Kagome Higurashi was the key to revitalizing the Tenjin-ya inn. As he turned to leave the garden, he muttered to himself, "Kagome Higurashi, a woman from the West. Could she be the one to bring life back to my inn?"
Little did Oodana know that his decision to seek out Kagome would set in motion a series of events that would not only reshape the destiny of the Tenjin-ya inn but also his own life in ways he could never have imagined.