For Him
This was written some time ago for the Second Best prompt on iyfic_contest and placed first.
Title: For Him
Author: aimee_blue
Prompt: Second Best
Words: 600
Rating: T
Characters: Takemaru, Izayoi and the Inu no Taisho.
Summary: CU. Takemaru tries to be patient but patience might not have been the correct path.
Knelt in the genkan, Takemaru tamped down on the rising urge to demand an audience with Izayoi at the top of his lungs. The servant had disappeared with news of his arrival a while since and his natural urge to be active was making him rather restless.
The shoji door to his side slid open to reveal the self same servant that had departed into the shiro in order to fetch the princess. Her features were arranged in something resembling polite composure, but he did not miss the pitying glance she shot at him from under her eyelashes.
“Hime-sama is currently otherwise engaged. She bids you good day and hopes that you will have safe travels away from this shiro,” the woman spoke smoothly, injecting the right amount of respect for an elite samurai of his station.
Takemaru’s hands formed fists but they remained otherwise motionless and resting on his thighs. This was not the reception he had been expecting, the young princess’s father had always been most pleased with his ventures to see the princess and he had hoped that the beautiful maiden might eventually find love with him as he had with her. Apparently, though he had honourably sought out her father’s approval before pursuing the lady, her heart was not his to be captured. Rage bubbled within his belly and he carefully arranged his face into a neutral expression. This made it the third time in as many days that he had been refused audience with the wilful and beautiful princess. But he would persevere, the quality of his love was not strained.
“Then I will return tomorrow,” he informed the servant.
He expected that, as before, she would nod graciously and slide the door shut on him, but this time her expression softened.
“Noble samurai,” she began, pressing her head to the wooden floor as she bowed deeply, “I mean no offence. But I feel I must tell you that I fear the answer to your request will be the same tomorrow.”
Takemaru nodded solemnly and bowed briefly. “But I will return nonetheless.”
Hand on the hilt of his sword, Takemaru strode from the shiro out into the grounds, his long and brisk strides belaying his frustration.
The giggle nearly made him stumble.
He recognised the voice. It belonged to Izayoi but he’d never heard her make such a noise in his presence. The Izayoi he’d known was dry and sarcastic in the most subtle of ways, a smile was a rare gift reserved for moments of benign amusment.
Yet, as he glanced back at the gardens of the shiro he could see Izayoi leaning against the side of the bridge that overhung the koi pond. Her eyes glinted, her cheeks were flushed, her body language was provocative and she had her chin tilted upwards in challenge.
All because of the regal demon stood talking to her. His great clawed hand rested on the wooden banister that Izayoi was leaning against and so he loomed imposingly over her.
A beast in human form. He had entranced her, tricked her and would consume her very soul. Takemaru glowered at the demon one last time as he turned away from the shiro.
Obstinately, he ignored the lingering feeling that his anger towards the demon had nothing to do with the belief he would steal Izayoi’s soul. But it had everything to do with the fact that she’d never smiled like that for him.
Her laugh chased him from the grounds and her joy leeched into his heart. Vilest poison bubbled in his mind.
He would not allow this.
Title: For Him
Author: aimee_blue
Prompt: Second Best
Words: 600
Rating: T
Characters: Takemaru, Izayoi and the Inu no Taisho.
Summary: CU. Takemaru tries to be patient but patience might not have been the correct path.
Knelt in the genkan, Takemaru tamped down on the rising urge to demand an audience with Izayoi at the top of his lungs. The servant had disappeared with news of his arrival a while since and his natural urge to be active was making him rather restless.
The shoji door to his side slid open to reveal the self same servant that had departed into the shiro in order to fetch the princess. Her features were arranged in something resembling polite composure, but he did not miss the pitying glance she shot at him from under her eyelashes.
“Hime-sama is currently otherwise engaged. She bids you good day and hopes that you will have safe travels away from this shiro,” the woman spoke smoothly, injecting the right amount of respect for an elite samurai of his station.
Takemaru’s hands formed fists but they remained otherwise motionless and resting on his thighs. This was not the reception he had been expecting, the young princess’s father had always been most pleased with his ventures to see the princess and he had hoped that the beautiful maiden might eventually find love with him as he had with her. Apparently, though he had honourably sought out her father’s approval before pursuing the lady, her heart was not his to be captured. Rage bubbled within his belly and he carefully arranged his face into a neutral expression. This made it the third time in as many days that he had been refused audience with the wilful and beautiful princess. But he would persevere, the quality of his love was not strained.
“Then I will return tomorrow,” he informed the servant.
He expected that, as before, she would nod graciously and slide the door shut on him, but this time her expression softened.
“Noble samurai,” she began, pressing her head to the wooden floor as she bowed deeply, “I mean no offence. But I feel I must tell you that I fear the answer to your request will be the same tomorrow.”
Takemaru nodded solemnly and bowed briefly. “But I will return nonetheless.”
Hand on the hilt of his sword, Takemaru strode from the shiro out into the grounds, his long and brisk strides belaying his frustration.
The giggle nearly made him stumble.
He recognised the voice. It belonged to Izayoi but he’d never heard her make such a noise in his presence. The Izayoi he’d known was dry and sarcastic in the most subtle of ways, a smile was a rare gift reserved for moments of benign amusment.
Yet, as he glanced back at the gardens of the shiro he could see Izayoi leaning against the side of the bridge that overhung the koi pond. Her eyes glinted, her cheeks were flushed, her body language was provocative and she had her chin tilted upwards in challenge.
All because of the regal demon stood talking to her. His great clawed hand rested on the wooden banister that Izayoi was leaning against and so he loomed imposingly over her.
A beast in human form. He had entranced her, tricked her and would consume her very soul. Takemaru glowered at the demon one last time as he turned away from the shiro.
Obstinately, he ignored the lingering feeling that his anger towards the demon had nothing to do with the belief he would steal Izayoi’s soul. But it had everything to do with the fact that she’d never smiled like that for him.
Her laugh chased him from the grounds and her joy leeched into his heart. Vilest poison bubbled in his mind.
He would not allow this.