Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Checkmate: Royal Aquisition ❯ Court Flower ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 2: Court Flower

Tokio sat at Okita's feet during the court proceedings. Her flute lay in her lap, untouched. She didn't care. These proceedings were boring anyway. Besides, it was no mystery that King Saitou disliked music interrupting his day. Okita managed to keep her alive and she was not about to take any chances. The tall dark king made her shiver without even looking at her. No way would she attract his attention.

“My goodness, Lord Okita, who is this gorgeous little flower?” a woman asked, rushing up to Okita and kissing him on the cheek. Tokio looked around to see who she was talking about, then realized the woman was looking at her. Damn. She had hoped the Bard robes would keep people from noticing her. She even wore colors that ill suited her. Damn beauty. Tokio wished she had the tiniest bit of magic. Then she could cast an illusion of plainness. Anything to keep people from staring. It was downright annoying!

“My new Bard,” Okita explained, carefully not going into details. My new Bard who is the princess of Kyoto and our prisoner would have created quite a stir.

“She's absolutely gorgeous! Have you told your mother? I'm sure she'd love to plan the wedding! Or is she the other type of woman?” the woman said with a wink.

Other type of woman? Tokio thought, confused. She cocked her head a little sideways like a confused puppy, eyebrows drawn in confusion.

“Mou! Nothing like that! She is just my Bard. No more, no less.”

“Nonsense! I don't believe it for a second! This woman has the figure of a goddess, honey brown tresses with a light curl, lush plump red lips, a cute little nose and the most beautiful light brown eyes I've ever seen! She has the innocence of a freshly bloomed rose and sits quietly at your feet. You've a woman, that you do, Lord Okita! If you haven't told your dear mother I shall be happy to tell her myself.”

Okita was extremely nervous. This was not going as he had hoped. Lady Yura was not making things easy for him. No one knew of his sickness…except the King. Hence why he had not married. He hardly wanted to ruin poor Lady Tokio's reputation.

“Roses have thorns whether they are blooming or not,” came a voice below him. Gone was Tokio's calm exterior. She was not amused at this lady pointing out everything about her in a loud voice, thus turning the attention of the entire court upon her. “And rose bushes always attract the worst bugs imaginable. They nibble away at the leaves and petals until there is nothing but an ugly, hole ridden reminder of what used to be considered perfection.”

The entire court was in a hush. Some jaws dropped, realizing the insult she had just delivered. Okita was smiling, but slowly counting. Lady Yura would either back away or catch on to the joke in the next minute.

“Why don't you put that mouth of yours to better use and play a tune?” a deep voice asked. All eyes turned to the King. He did not look at her, but she knew his attention had been wavered. Great. The man who hated music wanted her to play. How ironic was that?

“What shall I play?” she asked. The King made no reply so she looked up at her patron. Okita looked thoughtful.

“I really like the old, traditional songs. Do you know any?”

“Of course,” Tokio said with a nod, although she was somewhat confused. The old, traditional songs were very slow, wavy and depressing. Hardly the type of music that fit Okita's personality. As she began to play she saw why.

Okita had not asked her to play it for him. He asked her to play it because that was what the King liked.

Figures an old relic would like old music, she mused. Well at least now she could direct the court to her music and away from her. That let her relax. Just to close her eyes and let the music flow. If she had known it would be the last court appearance Okita would make she would have played better. But no one knows the future.

***************************************************************** *******

“Hajime…could you do me a favor?” Okita asked weakly from his bed. They were alone, left to themselves after the court hearings. Okita had practically collapsed. Tokio was sent away like a puppy with her tail between her legs. She knew something was wrong, but no one would tell her.

The great king looked down at Okita with emotionless eyes, but the younger man knew better. Why else was his king here and not off doing something important.

“What?”

“I know the doctor said peace and quiet, but I want Tokio here. Her flute is very soothing.”

“She should not have to see you die,” came the harsh reply. “Have you finally become selfish in your last few hours?” Okita gave a weak smile.

“It is not me I am hoping she will sooth.”

“Okita, this is not the time to play political chess. If you think I am going to take your little Bard as my own you have had too much medicine.”

“Think about it Hajime. What would get back at Kyoto more than stealing its very daughter out from under it?”

“What would piss them off more is what I think.”

“Ah, yes, they will be unhappy. But what would they do? Attack their own sister?”

“Okita, do you remember the story of the fall of Troy? One woman can be very very dangerous. Especially if the other country believes her to be theirs.”

“Helen was married. Tokio is not.”

“Just what are you suggesting?”

“You need to replace me…”

“With a sixteen year old girl with no military experience? I think you've finally lost it, my old friend.”

“No…military advisors are easy to come by. But a trust worthy councilor and friend…that is not as easily found.”

“She is a sixteen year old girl and the daughter of a country I am preparing to go to war against. That hardly puts her on the top of my most trusted list.”

“She has unfailing loyalty, Hajime. Her own father threw her to the wolves. She's just waiting to be picked up. Grab her now and you'll have the most powerful ally imaginable…” Okita began coughing horribly, blood pouring from his lips.

“Now I know you are dreaming. She's been here a month, Okita, not a lifetime. I'll fetch your Bard. She's probably scratching at her door to be let out anyway.”

The king left in a swirl of robes, silent as a hunter. Okita smiled at the doorway.

“Eventually you will figure it out, Hajime. You may be immune to many things but one wolf calls to another. Eventually you will see….if you don't kill her first. Or do something incredibly stupid.”

***************************************************************** ******

Tokio gently laid the flute down, her eyes misting as she looked at Okita. He was obviously in a great deal of pain as he struggled to breath. He was so gentle, so sweet and he had been her only friend in the short time she'd been here, giving her subtle hints on how to not annoy the king. Every night she played for him. She would have played until her lungs burst if she could, but the king often came in and one look from him would silence her until he left. Until she knew what his design for her was she would tread carefully.

“Another gig….please,” Okita asked, coughing a bit. His skin was a waxy white, brown hair a matted mess upon his pillow. Bloody tissues collected in the bowl beside the bed.

“Of course,” she said, her voice cracking a bit. This was the first time she'd been near a person close to death. And she was so fond of him. It was almost too painful for her to play but play she did, even though her fingers trembled.

“How can you stand that racket?” the king called out as he entered the room. He casually took off the crown he'd been wearing to court and tossed it onto a couch. Tokio immediately shrunk away, hiding herself in the shadows.

“Hajime, if you scare her one more time so help me god I will get out of this bed and kick your ass,” Okita snapped, his normally soft eyes narrowing at his friend. Saitou's eye's widened a fraction.

“Why Okita, you haven't threatened me like that since before my coronation.”

“You needed it. Now apologize to Tokio.”

“WHAT?” the tall man asked. Okita began coughing badly, blood spattering onto his comforter.

“Apologize!” he snapped, pulling himself up.

“Stop being so damn dramatic,” Saitou snapped back, reaching out and pushing the tired man back down. “Rise, bard,” he ordered, his gaze settling upon Tokio. Even though she cowered in the corner her eyes met his without flinching. The same could not be said of most men.

“I apologize for insulting your playing. Obviously it is merely my dislike for the music type and not your playing.”

“I accept your gracious apology,” she said quietly with a courtly curtsy which was highly amusing since she was in pants.

“Happy?” Saitou asked, turning back to his friend.

Okita's eyes were wide open, unfocused at the ceiling. No breath came from between his blood spattered lips.

 

***************************************************************** *******

Tokio lay by the bed he`d been in. They had long since taken Okita away to be buried. For the last month he had been her guardian, her patron and even her friend. Tokio was deeply grieved with his passing. It felt like someone tore a huge chunk of her chest out and threw it far away. Try as she might though, she couldn't cry. She could never cry. To cry was weak and Okita had taught her to be strong.

Of course the next question was….now what was she to do?

“My lady,” a guard said, bending down. “His majesty orders you to return to your rooms immediately.” Tokio said nothing. She stared off into space even as the man bent down, picked her up and removed her from the rooms she had come to know so well.

Goodbye Okita…