When Love Met Destruction

Chapter Five

            "Thanks, and sorry again!" She called out to the shop owner as she left with her supplies in hand. She made her way back to the inn to dress the remaining wound. She had healed it most of the way, but it seemed that the more damage she took to the area, the more it took to heal. She was in Lady Eiko's personal quarters, in the room she had designated as a sort of sitting room, her hand was freshly bandaged and she was currently sitting across from Lady Eiko, a cup of tea in front of her that had grown cold a while ago. She stared at her reflection in the liquid.
            "You haven't touched your tea." Lady Eiko observed, peering at the girl, but she didn't notice her gaze.
            "Sorry, I'm not feeling well today."
            "Is something bothering you, dear?" Finally, Sloan raised her eyes to meet the glassy ones staring at her.
            "Why do you think you ended up here? In this place, running this inn." Lady Eiko drew in a breath, perhaps to take a moment of pause to think. When she spoke, her voice was soft.
            "Well, I suppose that it's because that is what was meant to be."
            "Do you believe that everyone has a path to follow?" She searched Lady Eiko's eyes.
            "I believe that every person has a destiny, but not everyone succeeds in finding it." The woman poured more tea into her cup.
            "Do you think it was your destiny to run this inn for all these years?" Sloan's words held doubt, and the woman easily sensed this.
            "Oh, who knows." She smiled thoughtfully. "But I do know this; it was no mere coincidence that of all the inns in all the lands, you ended up in my inn."
            "Maybe you're right." Sloan smiled fondly at the woman. She hadn't expected to like it here as much as she had grown to and she knew that the kind soul sitting across from her had a large role to play in that. "I've been meaning to thank you for your kindness. Our deal was simply for a room for a night, not a room for a week and a job to boot. I will find a way to repay you one day."
            "Don't worry about it, child. I've enjoyed the company." Lady Eiko smiled knowingly. "Now I suppose you're going to tell me that you're planning to leave soon." At the look of slight shock on Sloan's face, the woman chuckled softly. "It didn't take long for me to recognize that you're not the type to stay in one place for too long."
            "I guess not."
            "When are you planning to leave?"
            "Two days from now."
            "I wish you well, dear girl." Lady Eiko placed her hand over Sloan's that rested on the table and gave it a light squeeze.
            "And I you." There was no need for more words between the two of them, their feelings lay unspoken in the air. Sloan sat with Lady Eiko as she finished her tea and then she left to head to what had become her favorite restaurant in town.
            When she walked in, she saw the man from earlier sitting at a table near the door. As she passed him she stopped near his table.
            "This village really isn't big enough for the two of us, is it?" She smiled ironically. "You know, if we keep meeting like this, you might just have to tell me your name. At least that way when I write in my diary, I don't have to refer you to as the 'rude stalker man'" She smiled in amusement before walking passed his table, not waiting for a response or reaction. However, she did not get far before she heard that dry tone that was becoming more and more familiar.
            "I thought stalkers usually arrive after their prey?"  She turned and narrowed her eyes at him.
            "One of these days you're not going to have a snarky response, but don't worry, I won't laugh too much at your expense." She turned on her heel and made her way to a table at the other side of the room. The man returned to eating his dango, and if anyone had been watching, they would've sworn that they saw the tiniest hint of a smile trying to grace his beautiful face. His cold eyes won out, however, and there was no such expression present.

~~~~

As promised, here it is, and on time too! It's another short one, but we're going places, I promise. I hope you enjoyed it, thanks again for reading!

Have yourselves a lovely day/night/whatever! ^-^

~Cori