Sacrifice part 7

[krystalkatzfics]

 “Through here, little master” Masaki called leading him through the network of passageways until he finally ended up in a large room that was open to the outside on one side giving him an amazing view of the most beautiful garden he had ever seen. Even in the dark he could see the various shades and splashes of colour and when the wind blew against the trees he was treated to a soft waft of sweetness. “This is the lord’s favourite view. He tends to have all his meals in here”

“I’ve never seen so many flowers” Nino whispered taking a couple of shaky steps forward his eyes on a collection of tiny pink plants he had never seen before.

“The master likes them, so he is always ready to bring new ones into the garden” Masaki chuckled coming to walk with him to the steps that led down into the garden. The scent of the flowers was stronger here and Nino breathed in deeply thinking how much his sister and mother would have enjoyed the flowers. “The master will be here soon, but you can walk in the garden for a bit if you desire, I have to check that everything is okay with the food”

“Is it really okay?” Nino wanted to walk in the garden, more so when he heard the call of an owl, but he was afraid that he would be going against what the lord wanted of him. He was still unsure of his place in the house and in the lord’s life. He knew that he was consort and that both the lord and his servant had been nice to him, but he knew that consort meant a great many things.

“Of course, little master, it is all completely safe just don’t wander off the set path and it will lead you around the garden and back again. Enjoy yourself and stretch your legs” Masaki urged warmly, and Nino decided to trust the friendly spirit. He moved carefully down the steps not wanting to accidently ruin the clothes that Masaki had dressed him in. They were so nice and fitted him so perfectly. When Nino had asked who they had been made for Masaki had chuckled and tapped him on the nose with a finger saying; ‘for you, silly’.

Nino’s feet crunched on the chipped stone path but oddly he found the sound pleasant and comforting. The owl hooted again, and Nino looked around excitedly to try and see it. In the village owls were thought to be servants of the lord and in most they invoked fear but for Nino they had always been his favourite bird. From his parents’ window he had watched an owl from the moment it had first fledged to when it had made its first catch. It had been thrilling but it had never been as close as the owl he was hearing now. Nino turned a corner and stopped dead in his tracks.

The lord of the mountain was sat on a stone bench. An owl was sitting on his shoulder with a scrap of meat in his claws while the man was leaned over wha appeared to be a large glass ball. There was a frown set between the impressive eyebrows. His lower lip was caught between his teeth as though whatever he could see in the ball displeased him. Nino thought that he should turn around and leave but just as he was about to the owl on the lord’s shoulder flapped his wings and came flying at him for a moment Nino panicked but the bird just came to sit on his shoulder the meat dangling from it’s claw.

“I think he likes you. His name is Jareth” The lord chuckled the ball he had been staring at vanishing before Nino’s very eyes.

“You, you…Do...In…In the village…They say that the owls are your spies” Nino whispered in awe much too focused on the owl on his shoulder to notice that the lord had gotten up from his bench and had come towards him. It wasn’t until he chuckled almost directly against his ear. Nino shivered at the sound but kept his eyes focused on the owl that had decided to preen his hair with it’s sharp beak.

“Do they indeed? Why would I need spies when I can see all under the sun?” He asked, and Nino felt foolish for even mentioning it. “I am fond of owls though and they seem to like me and this one appears to like you a great deal, little one, but hardly surprising. You are a beautiful sight to behold” Nino flushed as the lord looked him over, his deep chocolate brown eyes taking in every detail. Masaki had styled his hair so that it was tied back but ran down his spine it was held together by a gold clasp which had purple and yellow stones made to look like butterflies. The deep yellow kimono he was wearing matched the colour in his room. “Your hair looks stunning…”

“Ma-Masaki did it for me…” He answered hating the way his voice seemed to be stuck in the back of his throat. It was as though he was choking on it and Jun smiled reaching up and taking a lock of his hair between his fingers. He brought it up to his mouth and kissed it gently.

“So, do you like my garden?”

“It’s beautiful, my lord” Nino answered looking back at the flowers, trying his best to calm his heart down. He wasn’t very successful, and it only got worse when Jun slipped an arm around his shoulders and moved him forward towards the soft pink flowers that he had been captivated by earlier.

“These are my favourite flavours. They are spirit flowers. Human’s never normally see them. Their name means the flower of life…” Jun told him the owl hooting out his frustration at being jostled around. His wings stretched out and he flew off only going as far as the nearby tree. “They only bloom every few years, so I am happy they are out now”

“They are beautiful, they look almost…Unreal…” Nino breathed not sure how else to explain it. They were there, that much was clear, but it was almost as if he could reach out and his fingers would go right through them.

“That’s because they are existing in two plains. The spirit world and this one. The same as this house. That is the reason you can’t see unless I want you to” Jun explained, and Nino wanted to ask something else when his stomach started rumbling “Come on, little one, that monster in your stomach needs to be fed. Masaki is an amazing cook”

“He…Runs everything in the house?”

“His magic does mostly, he is a house spirit his soul is bound to the stone. Come on, little one, I will explain more once you’re fed”

TBC

A/N: I hope that this is okay >.<

Comments

[yumi_usagi]

I imagine how beautiful Nino is with the hair you described XD
Jun is so nice and gentle. And Nino is so cute
Thanks for sharing!

[reveetoile]

Jun is so gentle <3 I love it so much. Nino is still very much stunned about everything he sees ^^ very cute

[denyclamp]

I wonder what was Jun looking at in the glass ball... I smell drama >w<
Waaah Nino sounds beautiful, like an ancient time geisha, I feel like watching Ooku movie now <3 xD