Kaoru pov
Under the past few days, it felt like slowly chipping apart, every time the cycle repeats.My stomach was starting to hurt from an everyday of herbal soup with nothing more than leaf dew. No less, I couldn't do a thing.
"Your lessons are to begin again. Kaoru-sama."
A maid says, her silhouette on the shoji, but even here I can see that eerie cold smile plastered on her damned face. I felt my hands begin to shake but I was powerless to go against this.
" I'll will arrive in atmost haste."
I replied with a bow as I watched her grin sadistically and leave the room, her shadown passing through the halls. When she was gone and I was returned to the loneliness, I couldn't help but scoff. It was a gesture that if that damned old hag found would have caned me red again, uncaring if the past ones have'nt even healed.
I put on my plain white kimono that was the only thing left after they trampled on everything else. Despite the wish to rebel, I knew my only option was to submit to their whims until they get tired of it.
But I'm already tired....
I walked the empty halls going mad from these thoughts pestering my mind until I heard someone yell not too far.
"DAMMIT"
I heard a young voice yell and it seemed too familiar not to realize who it was in a second. A rose haired boy was cleaning the yard. As soon as he saw me, he glared daggers.
"What a pleasant greeting..."
I tell him sarcastically as he ignored me in favor of sweeping the leaves in the yard outside.
"Better than the village she says... bah!"
He whines still not looking me in the eye. He looked tired but healthy. It seems his wounds healed well. It's to the point he's walking about nonchalantly it seems and swearing at everything there is to see.
"You shouldn't run your mouth. It'll get you in trouble."
I tell him but truthfully I couldn't help but chuckle. It was a breath of fresh air to see someone so fearlessly crude in this stiff and cold house.
"You look well..."
I tease him slightly. It wasn't a lie. He didn't look like a street dog anymore and his cheeks weren't sunken in. I don't know if he's noticed that though.
"Well!? I've been working day and night!"
He tells me and by his darkened eyes it seems he wasn't lying at all.
"Then you're very hardworking. "
I tease him as I walked away. As much as he is more amusing than forcing myself to endure Madam Suzuki 's education that seemed like just another torture session to me, I knew what would wait for me if I did.
I sighed as I entered the room. The old hag was already there. Waiting for me in a seiza position as she was embroidering something on a piece of fabric. Interestingly enough it was my kimono.
"Kaoru-sama, you're late. Now tell me, how many lashes do you think that is?"
She says with that eerie smile I'm starting to get tired of. She's taking so much pleasure in this that it's driving me insane.
"F-five...."
I reply as I sat down Infront of her realizing what she was embroidering on my old kimono. It was an eagle the symbol of the Sengoku clan but it had a large gash cutting it diagonally. Some people who aren't that aware wouldn't have realized but...
When you put a gash like that on a family symbol, it would mean that person was a bastard. I gritted my teeth and I could just feel that sadistic glee of hers when she noticed.
"Let's add that for the end of the day. Today's lesson is embroidery. A skill every bride must have."
She tells me as she hands me my old kimono that she had started embroidering on with a symbol that clearly meant bastard.
"Begin. I want you to finish this embroidery."
She tells me peering into my eyes knowing completing this would be admitting I was bastard and she knew fully well I hated it but I can't refuse.
"Yes, I will do my best with my lowly skills."
I reply politely despite how much I wanted to bite her knowing I cannot. I held the needle, my hands shaking in rage but I slowly couldn't help but resign myself to it as I pricked the fabric with the needle.
A bastard is someone born of wedlock. A child born in a lowly way without love. My mother was a mere concubine that my father had already forgotten. As much as I hated embroidering it on my own kimono, it was still true.
"Stay focused!"
She suddenly yells and before I knew it I felt a stinging pain on my back . In a glance, I saw that damned old bamboo cane that she always brought. I've already lost count of how many times she's struck me with it.
"Again. Restart the whole piece again."
She tells me with that diabolical smile knowing just what she was asking me to do. Yet I could only give an empty smile because we both knew I can't do anything here.
....
That ended with the sun already setting I felt sore all over. I found myself gazing at a pond by the garden outside. Cool water would feel great on the bruises....but I'd get scolded if I get caught...
But there was no one around...
"You know what....screw it...!"
I spat out as I ran to the pond. Fortunately most of the servants were busy. I heard one of my older brothers had a party or something. Not that it concerned me...
As I took off my wooden shoes, I couldn't help but sigh in relief. I was right. As soon as dipped my feet into the cold water, despite the slight sting, it felt infinitely better.
"Haaaah..... dammit..."
I swore as I gazed at my legs that were full of red gashes. Madame Suzuki said she made sure they wouldn't scar but it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt like fire stuck to your skin with how many times she's struck it.
Suddenly I heard a scream from the nearby hall. Frightened, I quickly got out of the waters and put on my uncomfortable shoes. I heard many footsteps arriving and all of a sudden a dozen servants ran through the halls. They were high ranking servants guessing from how their dressed. They seem to have been from my older brothers party. I bowed respectfully.
They were so frantic they didn't even notice me which will fortunately save me the scolding. I curiosity went towards the younger servants following behind them.
"What's going on?"
I asked a little girl who I remembered was Shimizu who worked at the kitchens. She bowed respectfully despite nearly tumbling over after I accidentally startled her.
"There seems to be a commotion at Junji-sama's banquet, my lady."
She replied pointing at the yelling servants running through the halls.
"Call the physician! The master's been poisoned! Call the physician!"
One of the older brother Junji's servants yelled across the halls. Poisoned? Now that's something worrying.
"What does he mean poisoned?"
I asked Shimizu as we watched the old physician from the village practically be dragged to the banquet room.
"Junji-sama and many of his guests suddenly vomited and are in critical condition."
Shimizu tells me as I suddenly notice a bunch of servants wailing as they were dragged harshly by the guards.
"Please my lady, have mercy!"
An old servant being held violently by the collar by one of the guards yelled to me.
"Shut your mouth! Lowly traitors have no right to speak to a member of the clan!"
A guard shouts angrily. The scene was frightening that Shimizu quickly hid behind me, clutching my white kimono's loose sleeves. I carefully covered her eyes try to calm her down as more guards carried even more unwilling servants. I could see the fear in their eyes pleading for help.
"Kaoru-sama...."
A servant girl cried to me but I could only look hesitantly before the guards pulled her away.
"Sh-shimizu....w-what was that?..."
I tried to ask the little servant girl in my arms but she was already panicking lost in tears.
"Shimizu-chan! I was wondering where you went. I was so worried!"
A boy that I remembered was an attendant to older brother Ryusoke called to Shimizu.
"Shigeo Onii-cham!"
She yells as she breaks free from my hold to run to her brother.
"Ah! Kaoru-sama..."
He greets finally realizing I was there. He seems to have run here in a rush. His robes were in disarray. Anyone who would have seen might have even thought he had a rezendevous with someone if he wasn't so young.
"Those servants....why are the guards.."
I tried asking Shigeo who had already succeeded in calming his younger sister.
"Those are the ones who were assigned to the kitchen to prepare food for the banquet. The guards dragged everyone out to find the culprit it seems...."
Shigeo replies hugging his younger sister tightly as we watched the struggling servants from afar. Those who tried to escape were swiftly killed by the guards. It was horrific.
"I apologize, Kaoru-sama for not noticing you earlier. I was just so glad to see my sister. She's usually works at the kitchen but I'm glad she had to do the laundry this time. I'll take my leave"
Shigeo tells me respectfully as he leaves carrying his frightened younger sister. Suddenly a large yell reverberated in the halls.
"I TOLD YOU FOR THE LAST TIME! I DIDN'T DO IT!"
A familiar voice says as several guards tried to subdue him. Oh no....just why...
"I DIDN'T EVEN TOUCH THE FOOD!"
That familiar voice screeches again and right after I could hear the scream of a guard that was bitten by a boy like a rabid dog.
In a second, I saw the familiar rose haired boy acting like a rabid dog as five guards tried to subdue him. He was cursing at everyone they passed and I don't know if he's too stupid to realize it was making his situation worse. Just who did he run his mouth to...