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Chapter 2
As Miyako walked through the halls
to breakfast the next morning, she could feel the slight tension in the small
castle like home in which she lived. She would bet money almost every servant in
the house knew of what happened yesterday by now. When it came to things like
this the maids were big mouths. As soon as Miyako walked into the breakfast room
where she, her father, and the occasional relative had breakfast, a look of
shock crossed her face. “Wha-what are you doing here?” she asked Kyohei who sat
beside her father at the low table. “Kyohei will be staying here in our home for
a while Miyako, I suggest you get to know each other.” her father said simply
signaling her to take the seat on the other side of him.
Miyako could tell her father wanted
no argument this early and sat down obediently yet rather reluctantly beside
him.
Few words were passed between the
three through most of the meal until Kyohei, growing rather uncomfortable with
the silence, said “Miyako-san, I would like to ask if you would want to come
with me to the forest today?”
At first Miyako wasn’t sure she had
heard him correctly. When she had finally comprehended his question she open her
mouth to speak but was silenced by her father. “Miyako accepts” he said rather
matter-of-factly. At this Miyako’s face began to turn red with annoyance, why
was her father being this way? “I said nothing of the sort.” she said standing
up quickly. “I have other things to do.” and with that she left the room not
bothering to look back.
“If I may say so Kakara-sama
(that’s his name.) You cannot force Miyako-san to approve of my father’s or the
elders wishes. She has the right to make up her own mind.” said Kyohei. Kakara
let out a sigh and said “You are right, but even so it would be good for Miyako
to at least befriend someone. For all I know she is close to hardly anyone
besides her nursemaid Nana. Miyako and I have not been close in past years, she
has kept to herself is very distant yet always respectful and kind. I worry for
her.”
“It is understandable that a father
should worry for his daughter but...you can’t force anything on Miyako-san, she
has a strong and free spirit that refuses to be ordered around.” Kyohei replied.
At this Kakara let out a small
chuckle. “It seems you know more about my daughter from knowing her for one day
than I do. Yet I am her father. It is my duty to protect her and make her happy.
Please try to befriend her, she is truly a good person, she is usually never
like this. Actually she’s usually quite shy around anyone but family.” said the
older man running his hand through is jet black hair. “I will try sir” and with
that Kyohei left to prepare for the days appointments.
Miyako paced back and forth in the
small garden the was behind her room, her temper slowly cooling. She mumbled to
herself about how unfair her father was being. ‘How could he expect me to..ugh ’
she thought angerly. “Miyako-san a message has arrived for from Reoh-san” said a
maid who had approached Miyako silently. The girls face quickly brightened. Reoh...it
had been so long since she had heard anything from her long time friend. If
anything he would brighten her sulky spirits and calm her new found temper.
Reoh and Miyako’s mothers had been
good friends and so the two had been raised with one another even after both of
their mothers deaths. They had worked through the deaths of both their mothers
together. Miyako trusted Reoh more than anyone in the world. She tried to
imagine if he had changed any since last she saw him. His father was a noble
from the city and now that his mother had departed he lived with his father. But
Reoh still kept the hut in which his mother and himself had lived until he was
12. Reoh came to visit when he could. He had dirty blonde hair that reached a
bit past his ears that curled at the ends. The blonde hair and curls were from
his father. Reoh had his mothers bluer than the ocean eyes, which was odd for
someone of their village decent to have. He had stood at a rough 6 feet last
time Miyako had seen her dear friend. She wondered how much he might have
changed, it had after all, been a year since last he had come to visit.
“Umm Miyako-san?” asked the maid,
snapping Miyako out of her musing. “Oh yes thank you.” said the girl taking the
letter from the maid. The maid disappeared back where she came from as Miyako
opened the letter.
Dear Miyako,
How have you been? I know I should have written sooner but father
has been dragging me to all kinds of social affairs lately. I feel horrible for
not getting in contact with you sooner. I hope you will forgive me. The other
reason I wrote was to tell you that unfortunately I will not be able to visit
and attend the village fall festival. Now don’t scowl like I know you are. (It
was true she was slightly scowling) I want you, if your father permits it, to
come and stay with me and my father in the city so you may attend a ball my
father is hosting. I know you don’t enjoy such things, as I don’t very much
either, but I want to see you and I cant make it out to the village. Please?
Your friend, Reoh
Miyako sighed, why had she hoped he
was writing to say he would be coming to the village and that just maybe he
could convince her father of what nonsense this whole marriage thing was. She
decided that she would cool down a bit more and ask her father at dinner about
going to visit her long time friend.
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