Vinegar #15 -Contents may be hot + Butterscotch and Pocky!
Author: Phyl
Title: The Study
Rating: PG
Word Count: 833
Challenge: Vinegar #15 -Contents may be hot
Toppings/Extras: Butterscotch and Pocky!
Summery: Sakura and her Father talk.
Notes: I tried to stay in the 500 word limit, I did! But it just got away from me. Oh well, its good that way. Enjoy!
“Daughter, may I have a word with you?”
Sakura looked round at her father and mother. She was often found here, just watching the servants’ do their work, but today they’d needed tea, so Sakura had set about making some. Maybe she shouldn’t have bothered. “What is it daddy?”
“What are you doing, dear?” her mother asked, though mirth danced in her eyes. Sakura had always wished to look like her mother, tall with silvery blond hair and crystal blue eyes set into a cherubic face. In contrast, Sakura was the spitting image of her father, skinny and angular, with dark eyes and brown hair, though he had a softness about him that he could hide if he wanted to.
“Just helping out. Be careful Juliana.” She instructed a younger girl. “The contents of this may be hot.”
“Come along to my study daughter.” Her father ordered, turning on his heal and disappearing around the corner.
Sakura blanched. The study. Father always gave punishments and bad news in the study. She’d never been in there but she’d seen her brother’s face when he was in trouble, when he disappeared into the study for that infinite time and came out looking horror struck. “What did I do?” She whispered to her mother, following along behind like a little puppy.
“Nothing dear, he just wants to talk to you.”
A horrible thought entered Sakura’s mind just as she got to the door. “It’s because of Sano, isn’t it?” Her mother said nothing, and that was answer enough.
George was coming up the stairs, but stopped short as the scene confronted him. Saint Sakura was being called to the study? The study? A nasty smile began spreading slowly across his face. “You’re not his favorite anymore.” He taunted maliciously.
“George hush.” Her mother scolded. Seeing Sakura’s face, ”Don’t worry sweetie. Just go on in, you’re not in any trouble.” Somehow, this didn’t make her feel any better. Taking a shaky breath, Sakura made a face at her brother before closing the door to the study.
It was smaller than she expected. A small brightly lit blue room, with shelving filled with books wrapping around the walls. Her father sat behind his desk, sifting through papers as if he would every day. “Take a seat.” He said without looking up, further unnerving her. Her father wasn’t harsh. Not to her. He wasn’t blunt, he wasn’t callous. Her father wasn’t cold.
Not to her.
“How have you been daughter?” her father asked pleasantly, finally setting his letters aside and looking up at her. At her neutral answer, he continued. “The Williams son has been asking for you lately. A fine boy, don’t you think? He’d make a suitable husband.”
“He’s vile.” She said. The Williams boy was a scoundrel, with no sense of dignity or fair play. She’d seen him cheat in duels countless times, and she knew she’d never someone like that. She had higher standards.
“Is there anyone you’d have in mind?”
The question startled her. He must be drawing her out, it wasn’t possible he didn’t know. She hadn’t exactly hid her relationship with Sano from anyone. “You know who I have in mind.”
“The Tsukikara boy. Really?” He looked at her over his spectacles bemusedly. “I hardly think a son of a disgraced clan is a suitable match.”
“The Tsukikara clan was never disgraced.” Sakura argued, remembering the explanation she’d gotten from Sano, all those weeks ago. “They were uncomfortable with the workings of higher society, so they simply stopped participating.”
Her father hummed noncommittally. “It’s a bit like quitting. I’m not sure about that boy.”
Feeling desperate, Sakura plunged on before he could twist the topic. “Father, its not really Sano is it? You just don’t want me to marry.”
Her father looked shocked. “Sakura, I-“
“Because father, if you wanted to me to marry, you would’ve married me off long ago.” Sakura interrupted. “My coming out ball should’ve been five years ago. I’m nineteen, I know girls my age who are married with children of their own by now. Yvonne is even with child. Why won’t you let me go? Why won’t you just allow me to grow up daddy?”
As her words sunk in, a change came over her father. The way he looked at her seemed to change, like he was seeing her for the first time. “You’re right.” He said finally, sitting back in his chair. “I have been trying to keep you from growing. I guess I miss the little girl who only wanted her father for the man in her life.”
“Daddy, you’ll always be first.” Sakura assured him.
He smiled softly at her. “You really do love him?” he asked.
The answer came immediately, though she’d never thought about it before in her life. She just knew. “Yes I do.”
“Then I think you’re old enough to make your own choices.” Her father smiled fondly at the young woman sitting before him, no longer a child.