Post by himeko Kukiko Hanzagiri on Sept 11, 2012 22:00:41 GMT -5
The heavy wooden door swollen from the humid end of the summer season, gave notice that it had been opened. The thud echoed through the rooms of the palace. Himeko finishing her evening meditations startled in her place. Opening her eyes, the sound of footsteps on the stone floor were absent, exhaling slowly and resting her hand on the dagger carefully folded into the beautiful Maru obi, Himeko stood dropping a pinch of incense into the flames.
Slowly descending the stair case seeing the servant's quarter fusuma (door) was open. Stepping in trying to make herself seem taller than she was, there sat a man, his back to the door. "Easy target if need be", the thought that ran through her head. Quickly thinking of a way to take the intruder off guard, she spoke, "Heka where are m... Oh, your not Heka." The man laughed. "Come sit Himeko will you not drink tea with me?" Never turning to look at her, Himeko made her way around the small table never taking her eyes off the man.
The feeling of familiarity and comfort took her off guard, but not wishing for that to be apparent to the stranger. Sitting tall the shift of the silk that made up her kimono was the only audible sound in the room.
He showed an amusement in asking her questions, "You remind me of her"...."What of your family history?" ... " His never ending interrogation went on, as the tea flowed from the kettle to their cups.
The man stood, "Follow me Himeko" to the fire he sat, Ko sat on the pillow on the other side. "So tell me now about your father." Pursing her lips and thinking on how to properly answering this question, the thoughts ran wildly in her mind, "Is this one of my father's men that once followed him with a loyalty, never wavering" Finally she answered, "Some say his off on a mission that has taken him far from Tokuno."
"What do others say of the Soke?" he asked.
Sitting up straight looking directly at him, " Others say his passed." The man chuckled.
"Who are you? Do you know his where abouts? Were you one of his men?"
"My men? Those that serve Tokuno and the Empress, that serve you?"
Her pulse beat at her temples, his words folding around her like a warm blanket. "Are you... Your him?" The words caught in her throat.
"I am." Never meeting her gaze only staring into the fire. "You have made me so proud my Himeko to see the woman your becoming"
Slowly descending the stair case seeing the servant's quarter fusuma (door) was open. Stepping in trying to make herself seem taller than she was, there sat a man, his back to the door. "Easy target if need be", the thought that ran through her head. Quickly thinking of a way to take the intruder off guard, she spoke, "Heka where are m... Oh, your not Heka." The man laughed. "Come sit Himeko will you not drink tea with me?" Never turning to look at her, Himeko made her way around the small table never taking her eyes off the man.
The feeling of familiarity and comfort took her off guard, but not wishing for that to be apparent to the stranger. Sitting tall the shift of the silk that made up her kimono was the only audible sound in the room.
He showed an amusement in asking her questions, "You remind me of her"...."What of your family history?" ... " His never ending interrogation went on, as the tea flowed from the kettle to their cups.
The man stood, "Follow me Himeko" to the fire he sat, Ko sat on the pillow on the other side. "So tell me now about your father." Pursing her lips and thinking on how to properly answering this question, the thoughts ran wildly in her mind, "Is this one of my father's men that once followed him with a loyalty, never wavering" Finally she answered, "Some say his off on a mission that has taken him far from Tokuno."
"What do others say of the Soke?" he asked.
Sitting up straight looking directly at him, " Others say his passed." The man chuckled.
"Who are you? Do you know his where abouts? Were you one of his men?"
"My men? Those that serve Tokuno and the Empress, that serve you?"
Her pulse beat at her temples, his words folding around her like a warm blanket. "Are you... Your him?" The words caught in her throat.
"I am." Never meeting her gaze only staring into the fire. "You have made me so proud my Himeko to see the woman your becoming"