shinobu is a girl from a wealthy family. her parents have always been eager to find partners for their daughters. but to their luck their eldest daughter kanae has already found a husband. but due to her short temper their second eldest daughter shi...
Shinobu awoke to the gentle rays of the morning sun filtering through the shoji screens of her room. She stretched lazily, savoring the warmth before rolling out of her futon. Her mind was still hazy with the remnants of sleep as she glanced around her neatly organized room. Everything was in its place, a reflection of the order she sought to maintain in her life. With a sigh, she rose and began her morning routine.
Rubbing her eyes, she padded over to the bathroom. She splashed some cold water on her face to wake herself up and then reached for her toothbrush. As she brushed her teeth, her thoughts drifted to the chores she had planned for the day. Little did she know, those plans were about to be upended.
Still in her pajamas, Shinobu made her way downstairs. The scent of breakfast wafted through the air, but something felt off. She could hear low voices coming from the living room, an unusual occurrence so early in the morning. Curiosity piqued, she headed towards the sound.
As she entered the living room, she froze. Her parents were seated on the couch, along with the Tomioka family—Giyu's parents and, much to her surprise, Giyu himself. They all turned to look at her, expressions ranging from nervousness to determination.
"Good morning, Shinobu," her mother greeted, her voice overly cheerful. "Come sit with us. We have something important to discuss."
Shinobu's heart skipped a beat. She moved slowly, her mind racing with questions. She took a seat, her eyes darting between the faces of the two families.
Her father cleared his throat, his voice steady but grave. "Shinobu, we have some important news to share. We've arranged a marriage for you."
The words hung in the air, heavy and unwelcome. Shinobu felt a surge of indignation rise within her. "An arranged marriage? Her voice was filled with anger, a stark contrast to her usual cheery demeanor.
Giyu's father, Tomioka-san, spoke up. "We believe this union will strengthen the bond between our families. Giyu and Shinobu are well-matched."
Shinobu's eyes flashed with a mix of defiance and confusion she was shocked about the sudden news and quite frankly a little angry.
Her mother placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Shinobu, we understand this is sudden, but it's a decision we believe is best for our family."
Shinobu went and took a seat on the vacant couch besides Giyu
Giyu, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. "Kocho I understand your concerns. This isn't easy for either of us."He whispered to her
Shinobu turned to face him,Giyu's dark eyes met hers, his voice calm but sincere. "I don't mind it. I trust my parents' judgment."He continued
Shinobu narrowed her eyes slightly but found herself studying him more closely. "You don't mind? Thats probaly why people dislike u Tomioka san"She whispered to him
Giyu's gaze didn't waver. "Kocho, I'm not disliked by people"he whispered back to her
Shinobu felt a small blush creep up her cheeks, surprised at his calm confidence. "Disliked or not, this isn't what I envisioned for my future."
Her father, exchanged a glance with her mother before continuing. "when shall the wedding be?"
Shinobu bit her lip, the tension easing slightly. "it shall be sometime soon. how about a month from now."Giyu's father answered
The Tomiokas left soon after, leaving an air of tension behind them. Shinobu's parents looked at her with a mix of concern and hope. "Shinobu," her mother said softly, "we just want you to be happy. Please, give this a chance."
Shinobu huffed and turned on her heel, retreating to her room. She needed time to process everything that had just happened. She couldn't believe her parents had sprung this on her without any warning.
The rest of the morning passed in a blur. Shinobu tried to focus on her chores, but her mind kept drifting back to the conversation. She couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal, nor could she quell the simmering anger that threatened to boil over, but a part of her didnt mind.
As the afternoon sun began its descent, Shinobu found herself in her room, preparing for the meeting with Giyu. She chose a formal kimono, its vibrant colors a stark contrast to her somber mood. As she fastened the obi, her sister entered the room.
"You look beautiful, Shinobu," Kanae said softly, a hint of sadness in her eyes.
Shinobu turned to face her, her expression softening slightly. "Kanae, how can you be so calm about this? They're deciding my future without even asking me."
Kanae sighed, stepping closer to her sister. "I know it's difficult, but sometimes we have to trust that our parents know what's best for us. Give Tomioka a chance. He might surprise you."
Shinobu huffed, turning back to the mirror. "I doubt it."
Kanae gave her a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder before leaving the room. Shinobu took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. She knew she had to face this, no matter how much she wanted to avoid it.
The Tomioka family's garden was a serene place, with meticulously maintained plants and a small koi pond. Shinobu walked slowly, taking in her surroundings as she waited for Giyu. The sound of trickling water did little to soothe her racing heart.
As she paced back and forth, she heard footsteps approaching. Turning around, she saw Giyu Tomioka standing a few feet away. He was as stoic as ever, his expression unreadable. He bowed slightly. "Kocho."
Shinobu returned the bow, her voice less icy. "Tomioka-san."
They sat down on a nearby bench, the silence between them stretching uncomfortably. Shinobu studied Giyu from the corner of her eye. His posture was stiff, his gaze fixed on the ground. He seemed as uneasy as she felt, which brought her a small measure of satisfaction.
Finally, Shinobu broke the silence, her tone more curious than confrontational. "Do you even want this marriage, Tomioka-san? Or are you just going along with it because your parents said so?"
Giyu's dark eyes met hers, his voice calm but firm. "Well i accepted when my parents asked me."
Shinobu could feel her eyes heating up and her eyes widening. "s-so u chose me?You know this probally why you're disliked by people tomioka san"she asked clearly flustered.
Giyu's gaze didn't waver. "well im not disliked by you kocho and thats enough for me."
Shinobu felt her face heat up turning her face compleatly red shinobu turned her face around and covered her face with her hands. "."
Giyu's expression softened, just a fraction. "Neither of us may have chosen this, but perhaps we can find a way to make it work."
Shinobu looked away, her resistance fading. She didn't want to admit it, but there was a small part of her that admired his resilience. "We'll see, Tomioka-san. We'll see."
As they sat in the garden, the weight of their shared future pressing down on them, Shinobu couldn't help but wonder if there was more to Giyu Tomioka than she had initially thought. Only time would tell if their forced union could turn into something more.
hey guys what do u think about the story so far i put a lot of work into to it so im gonna give yall a taisho era secret
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