hirearanseian:
He meant that, Miki realized. He really did.
Yumi elbowed Kana in the ribs before she could groan out loud. Not that Yumi thought any better of Hisahide, she was just better at hiding it. “The decorations are pretty,” Yumi told him.
“I guess they’re good enough for Miki-nee,” Kana allowed.
“And what do you say to Hisahide-dono?” Miki asked a tad too sweetly.
“We’ll be in your care!” Both girls chirped.
“If you could take them to where the ceremony is being held, please,” Miki told the owners. They gave her one final bow, and walked out of her life. Certainly, she’d see them at the ceremony, and likely out and about the town, but they were now merely the owners of one of the pleasure houses. Not the owner of the Dancing Butterfly and her pleasure house.
She turned to Hisahide. “The decorations are perfect, my lord. I can’t imagine finding anything at fault for the ceremony.”
“Right, of course.” Hisahide nodded, but seemed to be distracted. When was the last time he’d felt this way? His late wife had been all but dragged to the altar kicking and cursing him. Perhaps ‘love’ was the wrong word for what he felt for Miki, but wasn’t it close enough? She was the closest thing he had to a true friend, and she’d chosen to stay by him.
His voice hitched in his throat, and he leaned in closer, lowering his voice to a whisper.
“I don’t know how to put this, but...are you sure you want to do this? Is this really what you want?”













