Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Kazemaru and Miharu ❯ Chapter 18

When Miharu woke up the next morning to an especially cold prodding by Emi, it was a bad start. She decided early on to be in a bad mood, despite the fact that her father was having her plans carried out without an ounce of suspicion. It was a beautiful day, too, betokening the warm spring days to come. By early afternoon the papers were out and hanging on the specified tree, and yet she still felt like a black rain cloud hung over her head.

 

Shirking off her maids, she wandered the palace grounds, thinking black thoughts about Emi. She wasn't sure if she went to the Noh stage to purposely spite Emi or she did it by habit. Nonetheless, she found herself standing at the same balcony, staring off into space and wishing she was off with Kaze again. Kaze understood her. Kaze wouldn't say nasty things to her like that. No, Kaze loved her. Emi was just being a spoiled, rotten, obnoxious little—

 

Slowly, Miharu realized she wasn't staring at nothing at all, but a tiny white feather that seemed to float up and down on a strange breeze so that it hovered in front of her face. Perplexed, she reached out and took a hold of it, scrutinizing it. Where have I seen this before?

 

Suddenly the sound of quiet laughter to her left interrupted her train of thought, and she turned quickly to see who was spying on her. At first she saw no one, and then she spotted an incandescent blue eye between the wall of the actor's closet and the curtain. Of course! She nearly laughed. These feathers are from Kaze's bed. She almost blushed at the idea that she had slept in that bed a little over a month ago. She looked around to make sure no one was watching before walking towards his hiding spot.

 

She walked as smoothly and calmly as she could, trying to keep her grace and wits about her. She paused at the curtain, his smiling eye still visible. It seemed so unreal, that he was right there in front of her in broad daylight, hidden only by the colorful curtain. She found suddenly that it was difficult to breathe, and she lifted one hand timidly and slid it behind the curtain.

 

She felt the familiar texture of Kazemaru's warrior's calluses as his hand tenderly closed around hers, and for a moment she thought she could die right then and there, and she would be happy.

 

Then his grip tightened, and she felt herself swiftly yanked behind the curtain and into his fierce embrace, his lips hot on hers, and she no longer thought of death or anything poetic like that. Her mind was ablaze as she reached up to wrap her arms about his neck, rising to her tiptoes.

 

When he at last pulled away, she was short of breath and buzzing all over, her knees like water and her head like a cloud. She simply stared up at him in wonder as he pushed imaginary hairs out of her face and slowly kissed her forehead, sighing.

 

“Oh, Miharu…” he whispered. “I had to come see you.”

 

Miharu swallowed, forcing her brain to work again. “Kaze… I missed you,” she said breathlessly.

 

He smiled at that, and kissed her again, but softer. He held her then, for a long time. It was all he could do to keep himself from anything more, but this was not the place and time for that. After a long while, Miharu's whisper invaded his thoughts softly.

 

“My father has done everything I asked. The papers are already out where you asked them to be put.” She turned her head to look into his eyes, her own sparkling. “I told you I could do it.”

 

He chuckled, running his thumb along her jaw line methodically. “I'll admit, I didn't expect you to manage this much, but I still haven't met him. That will be the part that will be tricky.”

 

She sighed, nodding. “Just… just act like this is normal, like you are meeting with an ally.” She shrugged. “I don't know what else to say. I'm sure my father will understand once he gets to know you.”

 

He smiled, wryly. “And I am sure that he won't. But then I don't know him. We shall see.” He kissed her again, slightly amused at her eagerness to return it. After a while he stepped back from her, reaching into his sleeve.

 

“I have a gift for you,” he said cheerily.

 

She gasped, and then grinned, clapping her hands together. He pulled out of his sleeve what he was looking for, and watched as her eyes lit up in wonder.

 

There, in his palm, was a small rock-shaped object. Except it wasn't like any rock she had ever seen before. It was white and pink and blue and it was shiny. It literally glowed in the dark closet, illuminating his hand and wrist. She was almost afraid to touch it.

 

“What… what is it?” she breathed at last.

 

“It is a stone that was in the stomach of the dragon I slew,” he explained, taking her hand and putting the stone in it, closing her fingers around it carefully. “It will protect you from other Yokai, and I hope you'll never need to use it.”

 

She looked up at him. “How do I use it?”

 

He smiled. “Well, you have to keep it on yourself all the time, and never show it to anyone else. Ever.” He emphasized it. “If a Yokai were to attack you, put it in your mouth and it will render you invisible. But,” he cautioned, “You mustn't ever swallow it.”

 

She looked at him, confused. “Why would I swallow it?”

 

He straightened, smiling. “Because,” he paused. “It tastes very, very good. That is why the dragon swallowed it. But it is evil, and eventually it would kill you. So don't eat it.”

 

She nodded, and put the stone in her kimono, close to her heart. He stood staring at her for a moment, wondering how much he should tell her. He didn't want to frighten her, but then knowledge was about the only thing she could defend herself with.

 

“Miharu, my love, you must be careful. There is… unrest in the territory north of here. I have had to fight many battles in the past few days, and I must leave soon, most likely to fight again. If there are any priests in the area, encourage your people to take them in. I will try to keep you safe but I have a large amount of land I have to cover on the northern border, and only a few vassals to help me.” Miharu looked confused, so he stopped.

 

“But… If we were to bring in a priest… could he not prevent you from coming as well?” she was concerned.

 

He laughed, trying to be quiet. “No. It would take more than several priests to keep me at bay. I'm not some weak Mononoke, you know. I am a daiyokai. Don't worry about it.”

 

She blushed a little, trying to form some sort of apology, but he kissed her again before she could say anything. He was intense again, and she was afraid that meant he was leaving. Sure enough, when he pulled away, he looked apologetic.

 

“I must leave now, my love.”

 

She tried not to pout and shake her head, nodding solemnly instead, unable to look at his beautiful face and not cry. He kissed the top of her head and held on to her fiercely for a few more moments, and then gently urged her to exit their little sanctuary with his hands. She resisted though, placing a hand against the smooth skin of his face.

 

He paused, trying to think of something to tell her. “I will go and get the papers, Miharu. When the time is right, I will come to your father and ask for your hand. I promise you this much, I can do no more.”

 

She nodded, hesitating as if there was something that weighed on her mind. “If…” she bit her lip a moment. “If father is not… understanding… I…” she took a deep breath. “I will leave this place with you. I will promise you that, my love.” She looked resolute, and yet glad with her decision. He grinned, kissing her once more and then at last encouraging her to leave.

 

She walked away quickly, not daring to look back. Kaze waited until she was gone, and left to head towards the borders, her promise and the promise of battle to come making his heart light.

 

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AN

I like this chapter… I thought this fluff was better than the other fluff, less melodramatic. LOVE the shiny rock!!!!