Gintama; Takasugi X Reader (part 2) [Save Me]

Chapter 4 {Shounou Ryougen}

     "Master, I've prepared documents needed for your completion today," Shouta, my assistant, says as he enters my office.

He moves silently toward where I am and places in front of me a thin stack of documents with the top paper concerning about the welfare of the village. I skim over the ones beneath.

     "Thank you," I say to him. Shouta has been around to help ever since I've been a child myself. By then he was my father's right-hand until my eventual ascension to the head of the household. Afterwards he still insists to serve our family. I see him more as a guardian now that my father has long been promoted to prominence in the capital.

     "Would you like the doors open?" Shouta asks across from me.

     "Ah, keep them open," I tell him. It's stifling to be in here without the exchange of outside air. This year offers a tolerable summer though.

The room brightens up the minute the doors are pushed aside. I'm about to set my brush down a paper when I notice Shouta lingering uncertainly by. "Is something wrong?" I ask him.

He edges further from the door, eyes downcast. "I only learned recently that the newcomer has had committed some discourteous act toward you some days ago," he says. "Is that correct?"

I remember to the event about a week ago when Y/N unknowingly entered the room. She appears apologetic whenever we occasionally encounter throughout the manor.

     "Don't mind it," I say lightly. "It's nothing."

Shouta seems to take my words as a grave warning. "I'm terribly sorry for not disciplining her. It will not happen again," he promises.

     "It was an accident. Don't be hard on her," I remark.

Shouta bows grimly before excusing himself. If there's anything I know best about him, it's that he takes everything too seriously and is in turn seriously strict. I shrug it off and turn back to my work.

_______________

I set the brush down. My eyes browse along the columns of characters, inspecting for certain errors. When satisfied with the content I allow myself break for the rest of the day.

The sun is slowing retreating. Shadows begin to length outside and reach into the room. The winds that sweep through the cherry blossoms carry an amount of chill that's rather pleasing when they pass within. I readjust my position and attempt for a slight stretch.

     "My lord, I have brought your evening tea," says a voice behind another set of door at the side.

I turn to it. "Come in."

The door gently slides open. Y/N shares a short glimpse of my gaze. She gets up and enters, a tray in hands.

     "You can put it here. I'm just about done," I say to her. Carefully picking up the letter I just wrote, I place it atop the other documents and push them aside the table.

Y/N comes over and does as told. At the closer distance, I can make out her beautiful set of eyes, the charming curves of her lips. Looking at her cheeks brings to mind the view of dawn tinged with pink. Her movement is so light as she lays the teacup on the table. A lock of hair falls to her face, igniting her beauty.

     "Are you alright?" I ask. "You look flushed."

Her eyes snap up to mine. She backs away to a proper distance, hugging the tray to her chest. "Yes. It's just that I've only finished some duties," she explains. "Asuka is still preoccupied with her task, so she asked me to serve you for the moment."

At her words do I realize that it's Asuka who's supposed to tend to me. I'm not sure about this sudden distraction I have. Y/N looks at me expectantly, as if wondering if I have something to request. Thoughts turn in my head the longer I stare at her, each slowly becoming enough to shame my whole generation.

Y/N tilts her head slightly aside, questioning. When I remain immobile she calmly says, "Please call upon me should you need anything, my lord. Now if you'll excuse me." She swiftly gets back on her feet.

     "Wait," I hold. "I do need something. Come here."

She gives me another innocent look and again complies. Everything about this woman is grace and elegance. The way she walks reminds me of the numerous times I caught myself staring at her during the past days as she worked. A dignified aura oozes from her that I can't help but notice.

Y/N stops at a range from me. I stand before she could lower herself to the floor, towering over her height. My other step stirs a surprise on her face. I raise a hand to brush her cheek.

     "You're beautiful," I tell her. Her wide eyes stay glued to mine for a moment, and I see another universe in there. Her skin feels feverish.

Y/N abruptly steps back.

For a minute we stare at each other, wordless. Then as if broken from a trance, she stumbles for speech. "Please excuse me," she briskly says and scampers out of the room before I can add anything. Her silhouette disappears around a corner.

I look down to my hand, the one that previously stroked her cheek. She's the first woman that this hand craves to reach for. With that being a new discovery, I've also realized that no other women had ever shunned away from me like she did. As expected of a girl of her level.

Y/N.

That woman is amusing.