|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 2:21 pm
Atsuko made a face - something that was a cross between a smile, and a skeptical look. "It's kind of odd though. This kimono is probably more expensive then anything my family has ever owned." She paused thoughtfully, "Probably more than everything we ever owned, if you add up the values of what little items we had together." She held up an arm again, looking at the extravagantly designed kimono. It almost felt like a waste of a good kimono, having her wear it.
Pouting again at Mikado's words, the girl promptly walked up to the emperor, hiding behind him. She poked her head out only to stick out her tongue at the attendant, evidently insulted by his words. That being said, she also wanted to know why Reizei had suddenly referred to her as his little sister, but she would rather ask him herself.
"I may not be of noble birth, but I'm most certainly not a diseased rat or something." She grumbled to herself with a frown.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 2:34 pm
Reizei smiled kindly to the young girl as she spoke, faintly understanding poverty, but not really taking it truly into account. He couldn't comprehend the kimono being of so much cost to the young girl and so he didn't. "Just keep it, Atsuko-chan." He smiled brightly, ignoring the shocked and then irritated look upon Mikado's face. Reizei could do this, but Mikado was clearly in protest.
The emperor blinked as Atsuko hid behind him, glancing to her in confusion, barely hearing her grumble. "You what--?" He questioned, forgetting that, although he had told him to leave, Mikado was still standing near the sliding door, glaring.
His attendant was usually like this; it was certainly nothing new.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 6:36 pm
Her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. She was also clearly in shock upon learning that she could keep the expensive garment. "Could...could I really?" She managed to squeak finally, smoothing her hands over the fabric. Her face lit up as she smiled up at the man. "Thank you - uh - Your Majesty!" She beamed, having to pause to consider what she was supposed to call him. He may have started referring to her as a younger sister, but that didn't mean she was allowed to refer to him - the emperor. She still couldn't believe it - as an elder brother. Mikado seemed especially against this new sibling relation.
Seeing that the attendant hadn't moved, Atsuko grasped Reizei's sleeve, hiding all but her eyes behind it. "I'm not diseased." She repeated, "Mikado-san said that you would get ill if I were around." The girl frowned, shaking her head.
"My family isn't very rich, but we're certainly not filthy creatures."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 6:48 pm
Reizei nodded absently at the thanks, petting the little girl's hair. " 'Onii-sama'." He corrected thoughtlessly. His own new little sister should not have felt the need to refer to him so formally. He knew this was likely unheard of, but it was also unheard of to actually contradict the emperor, which was why Mikado continued to glower dangerously.
"Of course I won't get ill, Atsuko-chan! You've just taken a bath." The emperor smiled, keeping things simple for the girl. He wasn't nearly so idiotic as he probably sounded, but felt a need to speak in this loving way to children.
"Mikado-san will leave if he knows what's best for him." Reizei added coolly, his gaze flicking to his attendant, who now looked utterly sullen.
"Of course, I would do so, Your Majesty, if only you did not have an audience with the Minister of the Right." Mikado responded, looking grimly triumphant. Good. He'd get this little monster away from the emperor and make sure to keep her away!
Reizei looked suddenly distracted. "Oh, of course.." He muttered, waving a maid over to take care of Atsuko for the moment. The minister wouldn't be too happy if Reizei chose not to show up.
[[ timelapse of a month or so. ]]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 7:32 pm
 The small gift from the emperor
was delivered a week or so after
his first meeting with Atsuko, along
with an enthusiastic little note. All
other evidence shows that he has
lost utter interest in her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 12:04 am
Atsuko looked at him, a little startled, but nodded her head obediently. Her gray eyes flickered to Mikado, knowing that the other man wouldn't be very happy with this at all. Sure enough, he looked pretty upset.
Then again, he had been upset ever since he saw her.
She rose a hand to cover her mouth, suppressing an amused little giggle at Reizei's reassurance. He meant well by the comment, she knew, but it sounded silly to her. She merely grinned up at him, nodding. "Of course." The girl agreed, cheerfully.
Her cheerfulness disappeared, however, the moment Mikado spoke. Atsuko suddenly looked nervous and uncomfortable, realizing that it would be far more awkward without her 'older brother' 's presence. Still, she smiled at Reizei pleasantly, raising a hand to wave.
"See you later, Onii-sama."
--------
Atsuko sighed as she wiped sweat from her face, unaware of the small smudge of dirt that streaked across her cheek. She was dressed in her old, worn garments again - the kimono she had been given was folded carefully and kept in her room, along with the small present she had received from the emperor. A small grin tugged at her lips as she recalled the little note that had come with the present (it had amused her for quite a while), before she emitted another sigh, turning to stare at the weeds that needed…well. Weeding.
Grabbing the stem of one of the pesky plants, she tugged at it, feeling it only shift slightly. "These roots are deeper than I thought..." She grumbled to herself, using more force. The plant suddenly popped out, sending the girl tumbling backwards and falling ungracefully onto her bottom.
"Ow." Wincing, Atsuko straightened herself up into a kneeling position, rubbing her hip with a grimace.
When she looked up again, she realized she was looking at the path that she had taken before, and wound up meeting the emperor. At this memory, a small frown spread itself over the girl's face.
She hadn't seen or heard from her 'Onii-sama' for so long now. Not since she received the gift from him, and that had been weeks ago. Where had he gone, she wondered? Sometimes she would sneak into the little garden where they had met to look for him, but could never find him.
The girl sighed. She had really begun seeing him as an older brother figure too. Sure, he was kind of eccentric, and had basically kidnapped her from her duties when they first met, but he had been enjoyable company. She almost missed him.
‘Almost.’ Atsuko repeated to herself, mentally. She made a face, shaking her head. Reizei was probably too busy with his duties to deal with a little maid like her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 6:21 am
Reizei had been extremely clear about Mikado was to do, and the attendant soon realized that it would be impossible to ignore the emperor for much longer. Indeed, Reizei seemed to be growing almost angry about the subject. The emperor was no fool and was likely well aware that it was Mikado himself making sure the maid was away from the emperor. And he had been doing a good job, too.
But his emperor was not the forgetful type. He'd been sent on a specific mission to get the girl at all costs. Mikado let out a little snarl, stomping down the small path to the gardens, looking horrified as he spotted the girl. She was covered in dirt.
"Why hello, dirty little Nezumi-chan." The attendant spoke, his tone caustic as he approached her. He was all too tempted to throw insults and inform the girl that the emperor never wanted to see her again, but he wouldn't get past Reizei so easily. Besides that, he couldn't be fired. His family had attended to emperors for generations. Therefore he could call this little girl a rat all he wanted.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 11:53 am
Hearing the sound of approaching footsteps, Atsuko turned to face Mikado, her lips instantly tugging downwards in a little frown. The frown deepened as the man spoke, but she quickly replaced it with a too-innocent smile. She gave a flourishing bow, though her gray eyes reflected her irritation.
"Mikado...san." She greeted, the pause of uncertainty left there on purpose. Hey, he did call her a rat. Kneeling back down into the dirt, she resumed her work, grasping at a weed. Her gaze flickered back and forth from Mikado, to her work.
"May I be of assistance, sir?" She asked politely, sending dirt flying as she managed to get out another weed. Still, she was relatively careful not to get any dirt on the attendant. Atsuko didn't need him to have a reason to dislike her more than he already did.
If that was even possible.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 3:35 pm
Mikado glared to the girl, jumping slightly as she sent dirt flying. Little monster. "The emperor apparently wishes to see you, though I can't see why." The man narrowed his eyes, pointing in the direction the path led in. "Now hurry up." He added, looking extremely disdainful.
And with that he began marching up the path back to the emperor's small garden. Reizei probably wouldn't be out right now as it was cold, but the emperor was likely to be in his apartments, doing one thing or another.
[[ shortshort. |D Time lapse to apartments? ]]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 7:19 pm
She glared back at him, but then went pale. "Onii-sama wants to see me?" She repeated, instinctively referring to him as her brother, "Right now?" From the 'hurry up', she knew that she was to go right this moment. Grimacing, Atsuko glanced down at herself - her clothing and hands were stained with dirt. If she had known that she would have been meeting with the emperor today, she would have made an effort to change around her chore list, and fit in a bath.
Standing up, she pat herself off as best as she could, and only frowned when the dirt on her hands came off onto her clothing. Sighing loudly, she hurried after Mikado, biting her bottom lip all the way.
--------
As they were entering the apartments, Atsuko kept her head down, embarrassed and nervous. Why, after all this time, had Reizei called for her, and why of all times did it have to be when she was filthy?
Anxious about how he would react, she shuffled after the attendant hesitantly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 3:15 am
Reizei looked and felt nothing but strained right now as he made his way back into his apartments from the room in which he listened as politics were carried out. There had been many arguments today and he looked worse for wear because of it. Indeed, he was on the verge of snapping at many of his attendants; his disposition certainly was not normal.
Mikado had known all of this, and so this was why he went up to his emperor, smiling smugly. "Your Majesty, I do believe there is a rat in your apartments."
Reizei replied much to Mikado's delight. "Do not be helpless, Mikado-san. If there is a rat, remove it. Have someone else remove it. I do not care." The emperor snapped, his perfect lips pulled down into a frown. He hadn't even noticed the dirty girl near to Mikado.
"Alright. Come, Nezumi-chan. You heard the emperor." Mikado looked triumphant, as the emperor was about to stalk off now. This would show this girl! The emperor hadn't even noticed her. Mikado smirked at this, turning back to Atsuko to start to drag her away.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 6:04 pm
She stood behind Mikado quietly - almost timidly - when she suddenly heard the attendant speak, and a familiar voice answering him. Craning her neck slightly, she strained to try to get a better glimpse at Reizei, all while listening in on the conversation.
Upon hearing the emperor's answer, the girl frowned suddenly. Did he just refer to her as a rat? He was becoming just as bad as Mikado! Or perhaps he had been influenced by Mikado, since the time that she hadn't seen him.
As the man started to drag her away, she pulled herself free, irritably. "I don't care if he doesn't want to see me - I want to see him, and get a proper answer as to why I haven't been able to see my onii-sama for a month!" She paused, but only to take a deep breath.
"And I am not a rat!" Atsuko declared, her voice louder than it had previous been.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 6:49 pm
Reizei found himself glancing up as a small yet familiar voice reached his ears. "Atsuko-chan?" He gazed down to the small girl, a look of confusion on his face as he attempted to deciper exactly who she was under all the grime. At realizing that the girl was actually Atsuko, he tried to rearrange his features so that they did not reveal so much strain, but he wasn't sure it was quite working.
He had of course often commanded Mikado to fetch Atsuko, but he had rarely been obeyed and he certainly hadn't had the time as of late to fetch her himself even if he'd known where to locate her. "Of course you're not a rat, Imouto-chan. Mikado-san apparently just thinks you need a bath." He replied calmly, sighing softly.
Mikado looked absolutely crestfallen at this. At a stern look from Reizei he stalked off to fetch a maid to prepare Atsuko's bath, secretly lamenting for the water. It would turn black with the little rat's dirt, he was sure.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 6:55 pm
"Even if I were completely clean, he would call me a rat." The girl answered, frowning. Her frown deepened slightly as she looked up at Reizei, though her eyes were hurt. "Why haven't you been keeping in touch? I mean, I know you're busy, but even a tiny note to tell me that you're still alive would have sufficed." She paused, "Thank you for the lantern, by the way. It's sitting in my room."
She reached out to wipe away a little on the dirt on her face. "Sorry for coming in here like this. I was weeding the garden." Atsuko grinned sheepishly, awkwardly. "If I knew that I'd be brought to you today, I would have taken a bath myself first.
Watching as Mikado left, the girl sighed, murmuring something to herself about making a bad first impression.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 10:00 am
Reizei frowned as Atsuko spoke, though he seemed to be only shallowly paying attention to the young girl. His expression was tense and his mind appeared to be elsewhere. Upon realizing that he needed to respond, he did so. "I've been telling Mikado to fetch you for a few weeks now. I've been too busy to do so myself." He replied, clearly not currently in a carefree and altogether odd state as he had been when he'd first met Atsuko.
"You can go get a bath if you like." He added, glancing up as a man came his way; clearly someone of status that ignored Atsuko altogether. The emperor switched to Chinese and spoke to the man in low tones, his frown deepening. Apparently some noble or another had been attempting to seize power through a few samurai loyal to him. The country was meeting hard times.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
