Chimed And Charmed

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I hate this

I hate being made

To be like that man who sired me

I have no choice they say

I have passed too many moons already

And now for my houses sake and for my line

They say I must take this young bride

And this I'm left with no choice but to do

But I shall never do

What they shall soon say next

My bride is unfortunate enough

To have to marry me

I will not force him to carry my evil seed

Never

I will take this bride

But I shall never hurt him

...poor fly

Pushed into a spiders web

Huh! to think

The demon prince of the forbidden lands

Shall have a bride!

A poor bride played with such a cruel trick

Indeed a fly caught in my web

Destined for a lonely life

With such a monster as I

...but perhaps I am still a bit selfish

For I can't help but think of my

Dansei no hahaoya's words

On the night I became a man

"Daha papa says that now that I'm a man I must begin to choose a bride"

"Yes my dear sweet boy"

"But I'm afraid"

"My dear boy you don't need to be afraid! I'm so proud of you for having a heart that is so kind! keep this heart and your bride will love you so much and be proud of you also!"

I can't help it

I can't help but remember

The way I felt that night

When I had been a very young boy

I had watched all the older boys

Run through the courtyard screaming in glee when they had heard that their Otōsans had picked them brides-to-be

All their friends would then crowd them in circles

and their eyes would twinkle like they had seen heaven come down to meet them

as they told their friends of how their hearts would leap every time they looked at their beautiful bride-to-be

And imagined all the babies they would soon be given

And when I was that young I too imagined

How happy I would be with a bride of my own

But as I grew older I knew that was not to be

No one could love me

For I was evil

The evil that was in my Otōsan was also in me

The evil in my Otōsan and the evil in me

Is what killed my Dansei no hahaoya

And that evil in me would surely kill my family too!

But still my Dansei no hahaoya's words ring in my mind like temple bells

And I can't help but feel like that small boy again

Dreaming of his bride-to-be

How beautiful he must be?

No!

I won't let my darkness win

I won't let my soiled heart hurt this new creature joining my life

I won't let my cruel hands hurt him

My poor bride-to-be

My poor unfortunate bride-to-be

I'm so sorry that you'll have to be wasted on me

"you've been sitting there staring at that tree for an awful long time Kiyon! Getting a little too carried off thinking about you pretty little bride-to-be already!"

The darker-skinned man sitting seiza-style in a dark yukata on the simple beige green colored old tatami mat floor doesn't respond he simply stays the way he has been with his hands folded in his lap and his eyes fixed into the small tree pool just outside of doors from the dining room seemingly ignoring the taller man behind him in a much shorter red garment paired with a pair of dark grey pants almost the same color as the roasted and dried fish he nibbles on.

But then in a low and monotone voice as his unwavering eyes sary fixed on the tree with its pale pink petals falling delicately into the water making little ripples.

"Gen your the only one I can trust with him!"

"aww look at you been so romantic!"

"Shut your mouth and listen!"

"Wow feisty tiger! I hear the Bearers like dirty talk the first night cousin!"

"I have no intention of bedding him"

With that the playful mood is cut short and Gen let's his seriousness show

"I know you think you're doing the best for him but trust me when I say doing something like that just cruel not only to you but to him as well!"

And this is the only time he flinches and then he swallows bringing a heavy veil of silence down on the both of them and there is nothing either one can say until they're interested buy a gong at the door.

Gen walks to the door and greets the long-awaited messenger.

"I come with good news all the preparations for the wedding have been made! Now all we need is just the bride and the dowry of course!"

Kiyon swiftly and gracefully rises from his place and joins his company while pitching in with and surprisingly set of developments.

"there shall be no dowry!"

The messenger looks perplexed and unsure if it is this place to say anything but help himself seeming to regret his hasty decision while the words leave his mouth

"but with all respect it's tradition?!"

"I care not for this at this moment"

Unexpectedly Gen chimes in for his cousin's grace.

"yes the right now our only concern is making sure that the bride arrives here safely!"

And with a sideways look he says more to his cousin than anyone else.

"And is healthy!"

Before any responses could be given it is at last announced that the long-awaited bride has arrived at the Kie estate.