Gensomaden Saiyuki Fan Fiction ❯ Crimson Shadows ❯ The Favor ( Chapter 9 )

Rianna sat in the garden, fully aware of the armed guards that watched her from the edge of the garden. She ran her hand over the petals of a rose and blinked her eyes at the color. It was a bright crimson, just like her hair and the hair of another. It was only after she met him, that she had seen red in other things beside blood. She knew through him that she was not condemned to a curse of blood. There were numerous other things that signified hope and the color of love itself was red. She chided herself for not being able to see those things before but she knew that she needed the right person to show her a new perspective on the world around her. Gojyo had given her that perspective and she was deeply indebted to him for it. She thought of his hair, just as red as hers and sighed. She wanted so much to see him again. She began humming that long-forgotten tune again as she tried to keep herself from crying.

She was with her father but she did not feel any love for him. She didn't like how he had so many guards surveying her constantly. She hadn't been there very long and already she was feeling more like a prisoner than a daughter. She wondered why he had been so intent on locating her. There had to be more reason for his relentless search for her than he was willing to say but what could it be? She winced in pain as she brought her injured finger to her mouth. She had forgotten how sharp a rose's thorn was. She took the finger out of her mouth after a few moments then stood up and walked back to the garden's entrance.

She no longer felt like enjoying the garden. The presence of the palace guards had already spoiled it for her. She couldn't understand why the king would not allow her to explore the castle at her leisure. Why did she have to be watched. What was she not supposed to find or where was she not supposed to go? What was so important that her father wanted to keep it a secret?

She walked past the guards, without a word, hearing them fall in step behind her. She scowled at the knowledge of being treated no better than a common criminal. This was no way to treat her. She had accepted this kind of treatment from the youkai and the humans that she had run across but this man had said that he was her father. What gave him the right to treat her as the demon child of the shadows? He said that her mother should not have spurned his heritage and run out on him yet he was doing the same thing to her. He was denying her heritage to her. She wished that she could get away. She didn't want to be a princess or a prisoner. To her, they both meant the same thing. She wanted to be free, to live somewhere without any worries and wait peacefully for Gojyo's return. She knew that it would be a long wait but anything would be better than her current predicament.

"You guys don't all want to watch me, do you?" she asked but got no response. She sighed. She would have to try another tactic to get at least one of them to talk. She stopped, fully aware that the guards had stopped right behind her and she turned to face them.

"You know, I've been doing a lot of thinking on these dresses. They're a bit too warm for this weather, wouldn't you agree? Now could I borrow one of your swords? I merely want to make this hem a little shorter. To right about here, I think."

She hiked up her dress to her knees and watched the eyes of the guards. They seemed interested, she saw and smiled. Men were all alike. She looked at them as if she expected their honest and unbiased opinion and lowered the dress. She stood thoughtful for a minute than turned back around.

"I don't know...it's such a pretty dress. I really don't want to ruin it. Do you think I could get something shorter and possibly sleeveless? You don't know how annoying these sleeves get."

"We could get that for you, Miss Lenora," one of the guards said and Rianna smiled.

"Oh, you CAN talk. I was beginning to wonder if you all were mute. Get me those clothes and I will return the favor," she said and the guard that had spoken grinned widely.

"Thank you, Miss Lenora. I will call on you for that favor soon," he said and the other guards snickered. Rianna flushed slightly, suddenly realizing what she had gotten herself into.