|
|
Post by Iweko Yoshinobu on Mar 11, 2018 22:13:46 GMT -5
There was something calming about the storm that was raging in the city right now. Under a gazebo in the park he often frequented, with its koi ponds and winding side paths, Yoshinobu felt sheltered yet alone as he watched the puddles gather. It was meditative and calmed the nerves that he had felt pulsing since he had woken up. Kuni Hinata and he had agreed to meet here via text last night, after all, so he was doing just that in spite of the inclement weather. Waiting for her, after the series of serious conversations he had had yesterday. The only company he had with him for now was his waterproof bad that housed his uniform. For now, he was sitting soaked in a rain jacket and some jogging pants in a seiza on the wooden surface of the gazebo. Yoshinobu had to talk to her. Tell her about the results. Tell her what was on his mind and in his heart, just as Yoshi had suggested to him. |
|
|
|
Post by Kuni Hinata on Mar 12, 2018 4:13:00 GMT -5
Hinata did not take long to arrive, holding an umbrella over her head to keep dry. Her heart was beating a million miles an hour as she stepped into the gazebo and closed her umbrella. The poet in her noted that the rain made a fitting backdrop for the conversation they were about to have. Once she told Yoshinobu about Yori, she did not imagine anything good happening. She did not attempt to stop her worry from reaching her face as she sat down across from him; they had agreed to show no more masks, and she was about to take off her final one.
"Hello, Yoshinobu."
|
|
|
|
Post by Iweko Yoshinobu on Mar 12, 2018 7:14:41 GMT -5
The Prince smiles as warmly as he always does when he greets Hinata, even is if it was cold and rainy. He's wet and doesn't necessarily want to soak the Kuni as well seeing as she was taking steps to keep dry, so he doesn't hug her or anything.
"Good morning, Hinata," Yoshinobu says in his friendly tone, until she sits across from him. He notices the look of worry, and takes her hand in his wet and cold one. "Are you alright? You look like you didn't sleep last night."
|
|
|
|
Post by Kuni Hinata on Mar 12, 2018 7:34:46 GMT -5
"I'm...not, but can discuss that later."
Hinata sighed.
"...what did you wanna talk about?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Iweko Yoshinobu on Mar 12, 2018 7:51:39 GMT -5
Yoshinobu doesn't press Hinata about it for now, letting her control the flow of the conversation. She said she'd tell him about it eventually.
"A few things, to be honest," he finally says. "I suppose the first one is that I've allowed my fear to be true to myself to hurt me, I think. I really should have talked with you about this yesterday when we were eating breakfast, but I was afraid to. I don't want you to hate me or anything..."
The Iweko looks away from her now, just for a moment at the koi pond past her and over her shoulder, before looking back. This would certainly come out of left field, to borrow a baseball term. "When I saw the way Priya-san was flirting with you, it made me feel uncomfortable. It really hurt me. And yesterday, I realized it was my fault more than anything. We never really established any rules about our relationship."
The Prince puts his hand to his forehead. "Asking you about this now really makes me feel dishonest, or even like a hypocrite, especially after the thing with Kogeki-san. But it is how I feel. I don't want anyone else but you."
|
|
|
|
Post by Kuni Hinata on Mar 12, 2018 7:59:02 GMT -5
Hinata frowned. So he had something he wanted to open up about too. It was, admittedly, less dire than the news she had, but it was hurting him nonetheless.
"Yoshinobu...I don't want anyone else but you either, okay? Priya-chan gives me...feelings, sure, I won't lie. I'd never do anything with her, though. I have you. I don't plan on losing you, I said as much yesterday morning."
She reached out, offering her hand.
"I talked with her about it yesterday, actually. I told her I just wanted to be friends and she accepted that. Encouraged it, even. She thinks you and I are good together, and I agree. I don't want anyone but you."
|
|
|
|
Post by Iweko Yoshinobu on Mar 12, 2018 8:10:29 GMT -5
Yoshinobu looked up to her, his eyes watering a little. He may have never looked so vulnerable in front of Hinata as he did in this moment. Taking her hand once more as he nodded, the Prince continued.
"I'm... I'm sorry Hinata. If I could, you know I'd just ask you to marry me now. You know that right?" he couldn't just expect her to read his mind, not anymore. If she could accept him like this, at maybe his lowest, then Hinata could accept him no matter what. "But... last night, I got the results from the star charts back..."
The words hung in the air with the sound of the storm, a thunderclap sounding, his voice carrying no longer. The tears that fell from his grey, stormy eyes spoke more than his words could.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kuni Hinata on Mar 12, 2018 8:15:36 GMT -5
Hinata's expression became pained, and she looked down at the table, her hand trembling suddenly.
"...I see. They weren't good, then?"
She should have expected this. Given who was in her head, and all his talk of empresses and destiny...she really should not have expected the stars to look favorably upon the union.
"...stars charts can be changed, right? We...we have free will, that's part of being human, right? What did they say?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Iweko Yoshinobu on Mar 12, 2018 8:26:07 GMT -5
The Prince's voice wavered slightly as he wiped his eyes.
"No, they were not. The stars revealed that our union would lead to uncertainty for Rokugan's future." He squeezed her hand a little; he needed comfort as much as she did. "I don't know whose karma it is, yours or mine, but..."
Could they cleanse it or balance it? "I want to believe that we can, if we work hard. Find the answers, do what needs to be done." A pause. "Sango-san said I should choose Chiyo-san. She implied that Yia-sensei would be a great choice as well, if I preferred her. She said we were barely compatible."
He finally smiled up at Hinata again. "I don't feel like that is the case, do you?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Kuni Hinata on Mar 12, 2018 8:34:04 GMT -5
Hinata let out a sound that was half way between a chuckle and a sob.
"Of course not. But romantic compatibility isn't destiny..."
She gripped his hand tight.
"...It's probably my karma. I think I know how to change it, though. It...it involves me...going away, for a time, but..."
Her voice wavered as her conviction began to waver. Should she really tell him? She could back out now, maybe avoid the risk of losing him, but at what cost? The readings said the empire would be in danger...no, she could not have that. She had to tell him. Hopefully he would understand.
"...I have had a...ghost...in my head for roughly half a month now. I...I only realized who it was more than a week ago, and it terrified me so much I tried to lock it away, to ignore it, but..."
She sobbed.
"...I broke down yesterday, I told my friends and my parents; they are looking for an exorcist, but..."
She turned her head up, looking him the eyes. Her face was wet, but not from the rain.
"...it's Kuni Yori."
|
|
