Chapter Text
The carriage ride to the Minamoto house felt long and bumpy, made longer by Nene's mother's constant nagging.
"Sit up straight! When we get there, we can't have you looking like a slob."
Nene adjusted in her seat stiffly, trying her best not to wrinkle her outfit. Her rehearsal dress rubbed the wrong places, and the cheap fabric was itchy. She knew better than to think her real wedding dress would be any better, knowing how cheap the business family was.
"Mother… What is Kou Minamoto like?” Nene asked while twirling a strand of hair. The month before the wedding had been so hectic, from dress fittings and meal discussions, she hadn't even been given a chance to meet her groom-to-be.
The only thing she had to go on was what her in-the-know friend Aoi-chan had to say. Nene could almost hear that cheery voice sing, "Not only is he the son of a count, but his brother is the town constable! He will surely be a handsome and kind fellow if he's anything like his older sibling. I am so happy for you, Nene!"
The soon-to-be bride hoped she was right.
"How am I supposed to know? He is noble, and that is all that matters!" Her mother sneered a little, "We should be grateful the Minamotos even looked at our way as commoners. Who cares what the boy is like?"
The soon-to-be bride shook her head slightly and watched the town pass by through the tiny window. The image of the boy she had met in the garden danced through her mind, and she couldn't help but wonder what he was up to. Oh, how she wished to see him again.
…
Kou sat in contemplative silence as he watched the maids hurry here and there. The maid carrying a potted fern reminded him of the girl he had met a few weeks ago.
Who was she, he wondered. She looked too… alive to exist in this loathsome town, and it made him happy to come home just for a moment. That was before he got to the family manor and was bombarded with the fact that he was to be a married man by the end of the month.
Oh, how he wished to talk to her again. To see her garden. Hear what her laugh sounded like. Could he get her to laugh?
His brother sat on the other end of the couch and broke his daydreaming. "Nerves setting in, baby brother?"
Teru was always a good big brother, so it was a shock when it was he who delivered the news. The older brother calmly explained that the family was in need of money. What had happened to the money they had, Kou had no clue.
Kou held his tongue for a moment before words tumbled out in a heap, "I wasn't expecting to get married when I came home, brother. If I had known, I would have never left the academy."
That wasn't the right thing to say. Kou could see a vail pop out slightly from Teru's head, a sign that he said something he shouldn't have.
"Yes, I know it is rather surprising," Teru started. "But don't forget that you have a duty to your family, no matter how far away you roam. If you weren't the one getting married, who else do you think would be the next choice?"
The words almost felt like a rock landing on his shoulders, and Kou knew what he meant all too well. Teru had to be married to a noble to take over their father's title of count, and that would only leave one person to marry off. Their little sister, who was still in her youth.
"You wouldn't want to take away her chance to marry for love, will you? Or will you be a good big brother?" The constable set a firm hand on Kou's shoulder, to be comforting perhaps, but it felt the opposite.
The younger brother readjusted, shuffling away from the other's heavy hand. Was this really the only way? He didn't want the responsibility to fall on his darling sister, but…
"What if Miss. Yashiro and I… don't like each other?" A blush spread on his cheeks, and he felt like a silly schoolboy again.
Teru considered him a moment before offering a genuine smile. That was the brother he knew.
"Who wouldn't like my charming little brother, Kou?" A hand reached over and ruffled orange hair. "Any lady would be sure to fall for your dashing smile."
….
The manor was… pretty run down to belong to the nobility. While the Yashiros were hurried inside, the withered gardens and broken fence caught her notice. The inside parlor where they secluded her was no better. It would be empty without the lone tired couch and an old piano in the corner.
"You would think this place was abandoned…." The girl mumbled to no one. She was left alone, her parents going off with her future in-laws to discuss something she did not care to know.
Nene made her way up to the piano. It really was a sad little thing. She was sure it had been grand at some point, playing the classics for nobles' snobby ears, but now it only gathered dust in an empty room. Dragging a finger across, she made a line in the dust, spelling out her name. Perhaps her name shall keep it company.
After opening the piano lid, her dusty finger poked at an ivory key, and she was surprised to realize that it was still in tune.
"I guess it's our lucky day. Would they mind if I played a song with you?"
Nene played a key and then another. It had been a while since she played, opting to tend to her garden, but it was like she never stopped.
Soon, music began to pour out of the small room. She tried to let out her deepest emotions with every note as she played a song that was never written.
Just as she was about to add another layer to the notes, a creak of a floorboard caused her to spin around.
There at the door was the boy she had met a month ago. He had a look of shock, one that for sure reflected hers.
"You.." she stuttered out and made a move to get up.
"I am sorry to interrupt you, Miss! Please sit back down. You play too beautifully to stop." The boy made his way over and stood awkwardly next to her before holding out his hand in greeting. "My name is Kou Minamoto; I didn't get the chance to introduce myself before."
"I am Nene Yashiro, and I'm glad to see you again," She chuckled. "Who knew we would end up getting married when we met that day?" The young lady gave the young lord her hand, and he placed a shy kiss on her knuckles. It reminded her of a bird landing on her hand.
Kou motioned to the piano, "You seem to be of many talents, Miss. Yashiro. I am glad this old thing can get some use."
She sat back down and patted the seat next to her. With a blush, Kou followed the command. "My mother thought ladies should have many talents." She momentarily considered, "Though I'm sure she just wanted a reason to boss me around."
The young noble chuckled and absent-mindedly swiped away dust from the keys as if he wanted to look cool. "I wish I was as talented as you! My father would never let me touch an instrument; he said it wasn't fitting for a man soon to be in the military."
"You're in the military?" Asked Nene. She was determined to find out as much as possible in this precious time before she had to marry him.
"Yes… Well, the military academy, to be more precise." Embarrassed, he scratched his head, "I intend to become a knight, you see."
Nene nodded in recognition. "I am sure you'll make an excellent knight, Mr. Minamoto." She covered her mouth as she giggled, "Though I am worried for the future of the nation's pots!"
"Miss. Yashiro !" Kou blushed so hard Nene hopped her tulips could come close to being as red. "I said I was sorry. Do you have to bring that up again?"
Nene tilted her head in thought and came up with an idea. "I'll let it go if you tell me what you have a talent for."
"What I have a talent for?" He repeated. Nene pressed down a key and gave a smile. "Everyone has a hobby! Your father might not have allowed music, but I'm sure you enjoyed some other activity."
Kou thought for a few minutes while Nene started to play a slow song. They sat next to each other as they listened to her play, and both seemed to feel like this was where they belonged. Even having just met, something just clicked between them. Nene started to hope that she could really love him sometime in the future.
"Cooking," Kou finally replied. "I enjoy cooking." He stared forward with pink dusting on his cheeks as Nene looked at him in surprise.
"Cooking?" Nene seemed to catch on, "your father knows of this?"
Kou shook his orange hair around, "No! It's embarrassing to admit, but I used to sneak down to the servants' kitchen. I found it so fascinating, and a cook took pity on me. Every day after sword practice, instead of studying, I would learn how to make any dish you can think of."
"There's no need to be embarrassed," Nene comforted. "I find it rather charming!" There weren't many men besides professional chefs that would take up cooking as a hobby. Nene found it attractive; who wouldn't like a man who could cook?
She brushed a hair behind her ear as she made eye contact with Kou, who was grinning at her compliment. He really did have a great smile.
"Perhaps," she laid her hand over his, "I could have the honor of trying your food…?"
Kou gasped, "I-!"
"What is going on in here?" A booming voice snapped the couple back to reality. They turned to where the voice had come from, and Nene was shocked to find someone who looked like Kou's older version. Must be his brother , she thought. They both made a habit of making big entrances.
"Brother!" Kou shot up and held a hand out to help Nene stand. "Teru, we were only chatting."
"Oh please," Teru sighed, looking between the two with disapproving eyes." I don't mean to be rude, but it is rather improper for you to be together without a chaperone."
Before the pair could speak, Teru made his way behind the couple and started pushing them towards the door.
"You're lucky it was I who found you. Come, you don't want to be late for the rehearsal."