Post by Rei Ukiyo on Dec 15, 2009 10:58:56 GMT -5
The familiar rhythmic chopping of her knife striking the cutting board brought a semblance of peace to Rei's heart, but it was not enough to quell the worry and fear she felt deep inside. She had been keeping herself busy to keep her mind off of the turmoil she felt within. Night after night she continued to prepare delicious Tokunese dishes for the various patrons of the tea house, both familiar friends and strangers alike. But the one face she most hoped to see in all of the world remained elusive and distant to her.
Would her beloved Bishimi-sama ever be allowed to come back home to her?
The knife slipped, eliciting a short cry of pain from her as a small nick on her thumb began to redden. She brought the digit to her mouth to halt the sting and turned toward the chest at her side to rummage for a bandage. Finding a length of the gauzy material, she wound it about her newest wound and began to clean up the dinner preparations. She would return to it later, after she had taken the time to meditate and recenter herself.
With a heavy heart, she wondered how could she continue to cook in this condition. Her mind was constantly elsewhere with her concern for Bishimi-sama. She wondered if those who had been coming to eat at the tea house could taste the difference in her cooking. Did her mood effect the flavor and quality of the dishes she served? Could these people actually taste her despair?
Stepping beyond the doorway and into the bright and otherwise cheerful daylight of Zento, she turned to her right and headed home. Her footsteps on the ground were as heavy as her mind, she was in no particular hurry to get there. What had once been a place of hope and promise now only caused her to feel that much more alone. With him, it had been their home, and now it was just an empty house waiting hopefully to be filled once again with the sounds and memories of their confirmed love for each other.
She stood at last, staring up at the humble dwelling. She could hear his words of just weeks past, still fresh in her mind.
"I hope I did not insult you," he had asked.
"Insult me? How could you do that? You have only honored me tonight."
"I did not even consult you on the possibility of marriage."
"You knew it was already in my mind."
"I hoped it was."
"Do you really wish to marry me?"
"More so then I can tell you," he said, taking her hand in his, "I will do it as the mainlanders do if it suits you." He dropped down to kneel on one knee. She tried to protest that he did not have to do this, but he continued.
"Ukiyo Rei, will you accept me as your husband?"
Her heart had swelled with her love for him, "Hai, and be the happiest wife ever."
He stood, taking her in his arms and holding her close.
"I love you, Rei-Chan. I will never let any harm come to you." She hugged him tightly in return.
"I love you, Bishimi, I know..."
"Shinta... I would like you to call me by name when we are together."
"You are sure? Very well, Shinta, I love you."
"As I do you, Rei."
"The safest place for me is at your side. Please, do not send me away," she pleaded, hoping that he would not seek to protect her the same way he had done with Ni-chan. He nodded in agreement.
"I will never put you far from me."
Everything had changed so much once the Empress had discovered the truth of his identity. He had been temporarily locked up and stripped of his title, all for the sins of his father. Rei had been beside herself with worry for his life the entire night of that event, and had nearly fainted with relief when the Empress had allowed him to return to his duties and bring Ni-chan back home. She had ordered that he was to reside at the tea house and go nowhere without the escort of an elder. It was because of this order that Bishimi-sama had not been able to return home. She slipped through the double doors of the small house with a sigh. How much longer would it be before he would finally be allowed to come back to her?
As she headed to the rooftop to meditate, his words played over and over again in her mind, like a soothing mantra to keep her spirit fueled.
"We are each others, please always remember that."
Would her beloved Bishimi-sama ever be allowed to come back home to her?
The knife slipped, eliciting a short cry of pain from her as a small nick on her thumb began to redden. She brought the digit to her mouth to halt the sting and turned toward the chest at her side to rummage for a bandage. Finding a length of the gauzy material, she wound it about her newest wound and began to clean up the dinner preparations. She would return to it later, after she had taken the time to meditate and recenter herself.
With a heavy heart, she wondered how could she continue to cook in this condition. Her mind was constantly elsewhere with her concern for Bishimi-sama. She wondered if those who had been coming to eat at the tea house could taste the difference in her cooking. Did her mood effect the flavor and quality of the dishes she served? Could these people actually taste her despair?
Stepping beyond the doorway and into the bright and otherwise cheerful daylight of Zento, she turned to her right and headed home. Her footsteps on the ground were as heavy as her mind, she was in no particular hurry to get there. What had once been a place of hope and promise now only caused her to feel that much more alone. With him, it had been their home, and now it was just an empty house waiting hopefully to be filled once again with the sounds and memories of their confirmed love for each other.
She stood at last, staring up at the humble dwelling. She could hear his words of just weeks past, still fresh in her mind.
******
"I hope I did not insult you," he had asked.
"Insult me? How could you do that? You have only honored me tonight."
"I did not even consult you on the possibility of marriage."
"You knew it was already in my mind."
"I hoped it was."
"Do you really wish to marry me?"
"More so then I can tell you," he said, taking her hand in his, "I will do it as the mainlanders do if it suits you." He dropped down to kneel on one knee. She tried to protest that he did not have to do this, but he continued.
"Ukiyo Rei, will you accept me as your husband?"
Her heart had swelled with her love for him, "Hai, and be the happiest wife ever."
He stood, taking her in his arms and holding her close.
"I love you, Rei-Chan. I will never let any harm come to you." She hugged him tightly in return.
"I love you, Bishimi, I know..."
"Shinta... I would like you to call me by name when we are together."
"You are sure? Very well, Shinta, I love you."
"As I do you, Rei."
"The safest place for me is at your side. Please, do not send me away," she pleaded, hoping that he would not seek to protect her the same way he had done with Ni-chan. He nodded in agreement.
"I will never put you far from me."
******
Everything had changed so much once the Empress had discovered the truth of his identity. He had been temporarily locked up and stripped of his title, all for the sins of his father. Rei had been beside herself with worry for his life the entire night of that event, and had nearly fainted with relief when the Empress had allowed him to return to his duties and bring Ni-chan back home. She had ordered that he was to reside at the tea house and go nowhere without the escort of an elder. It was because of this order that Bishimi-sama had not been able to return home. She slipped through the double doors of the small house with a sigh. How much longer would it be before he would finally be allowed to come back to her?
As she headed to the rooftop to meditate, his words played over and over again in her mind, like a soothing mantra to keep her spirit fueled.
"We are each others, please always remember that."