The Courting

Spring was a beautiful time of year for you. The plum trees were filled with blossoms and they looked like pink and white clouds in your garden. You were happiest in the garden. "y/n!" your friend shouted from across the garden waving with excitement. y/n turned to her best friend "yes Chiyo?" you answered. Chiyo giggled "the matchmaker has arrived and a very handsome man along with him". Getting up in a huff "I will not get married! I refuse!" you crossed your arms defiantly and started to walk towards your house. Walking up to the house you saw a petite gray-haired elderly man and a tall, red-haired, handsome somewhat older man, he looked like he was in his late twenties early thirties and he had a scar on his eye that made him look fierce. Waiting at the entrance you hid in a bush curious about who these gentlemen are and why they came calling to your residence. The front door opened and they walked in, you crept to the sitting room and tried to snoop on your father's conversation. "Thank you for inviting us to your lovely home Lord l/n," the red-haired man said to your father. "I'm glad that you gentlemen came and you are most welcomed," your father greeted them, gesturing them to enter. Sitting down in the sitting room, Chiyo handed them all tea. "As you know I am the matchmaker and this gentleman is Enji Todoroki and he would like to ask you for y/n's hand in marriage to join both your houses," the elderly man said to your father. You looked at the red-haired man, he was very stoic, with a mean look to him. In anger, you quickly got up and slammed the sliding door open to the sitting room, and stepped in. "Father! I will not marry this man! He is more than 10 years my senior" you looked at the red-haired man in disgust. "y/n, leave this room immediately!" your father ordered you. "Such insolence! Are you sure you want to court this ill-tempered girl Todoroki-san?" the matchmaker questioned and Enji nodded. In utter shock and disgust you looked at the elderly gray-haired man "I will not leave! What right does this man have to have the audacity to ask my hand in marriage when I am barely 18 years of age?" you questioned your father before turning to this man. "I refuse your offer, don't call for me ever again!" you ordered, then stomped out of the room. The red-haired man looked quite intrigued by your outburst in the sitting room and smiled to himself. Your father was profusely apologizing to him out of sheer embarrassment the y/n did in front of this distinguished gentleman. The Todoroki house was a prestigious and reputable family. And Enji was a fierce and temperamental Daimyo. He fought alongside Yagi Yoshinori and Keigo Takami; they stood for justice and peace throughout Japan. But, when he came back to his household his mother Teka kept on nagging him to take a wife. "Son it is high time to take a wife…to create an heir," Teka stated. At first, he ignored his mother but, his mother was a fierce argumentative woman. Sometimes they argue throughout the night into the morning hours about getting a wife for him. Weeks passed and he pondered about taking a wife. She couldn't just be any creature; she must be beautiful and had a mind of her own.

One day he was at a prestigious Ryokan when he overheard a couple of men talk about y/n's coming of age for marriage and how she is the most beautiful woman throughout Shikoku. He must find out if it is true after all rumors are sometimes unfounded. One day while he was out for an afternoon walk he heard a girl yell out y/n's name so he decided to follow the young maid. He saw y/n and he thought that y/n was the most beautiful woman he has ever met but argumentative because she argued with the young maid. "I'm not ready to go home...I want to stay to see the plum blossoms with my friends…please tell my father that I will be there shortly after I finish the viewing party" she instructed. Enji was amused to see y/n fiery personality; he was into docile, delicate ladies so, he surprised himself by going to her home and asking to court her. "The nerve of that man...asking for my hand in marriage!" she stomped in her room. "But y/n he is only 28 years of age and he is from a very good family" the young maid pleaded with you. "I do not care...undress me, I wish to sleep" she demanded. Before the young maid started to undress you the sliding door to your room slammed open and there before you was your very angry father. "How dare you! you're such an insolent little fool!...do you realize that he came from a wealthy, influential family!... I accepted the courting process and that's final!...do you understand?!" his voice was thunderous in your room you were flinching. "But, father, you are the Shogun, he has to respect you" you were sadly interrupted by your father, "do not use my position to intimidate Todoroki-san and that's final!" he said, slamming the door shut, shaking the whole room.

The next day was very beautiful. You decided to walk around the garden and enjoy the Plum Blossoms. you sat down on the garden bench, basking in the warm sun. You closed your eyes and listened to the nearby birds chirping, the breeze brushing against the tree leaves. When all of a sudden you heard a very deep and gruff voice say "The blossoms are not as lovely as you are, y/n" you opened your eyes to see the same red-haired man from yesterday. Looking at him with disgust you quickly got up and started to walk to the farthest bench in the garden, not wanting him to follow you, you would think he would get the hint. Amused he followed you. "I do not wish to be followed by you," you said to him. "But, I wish to get to know who I'm courting and get to know them," he smirked. "No one is courting me...especially not you...now if you'll excuse me, Todoroki-san" she said while walking back to her room. Grabbing y/n's wrist he pulled her into an embrace. "My little blossom, you remember my name but alas, your dear father already approved of me courting you...so, that means I am courting you," he explained to you. "I know what 'courting' means Todoroki-san…but, I am not interested," you stated. "You act like you have a choice, my Plum Blossom," Enji said while handing you a very beautiful hairpin. "This is for you," he said. In shock you were speechless "my father did not say anything to me today nor yesterday" you stated. He grinned "does he need to discuss this with you…he is in fact the Shogun?" he questioned, amused. "I find you fascinating...y/n your an ill-tempered, very beautiful young lady, and I want you for my wife," he said. "No, no, no...I don't wish to be courted by an old man" you retorted and he gripped your wrist. you struggled to break free. "My name is Enji Todoroki...from the house of Todoroki and I am not that old," he said letting you go. You quickly walked to your father's sitting room, Enji followed after you. Looking back to see the amused look on his face made you want to vomit. You slammed the sliding door open to find your father talking to what you believe is Todoroki-san's parents. You saw a very beautiful woman with flowing blonde streaked red hair and a cheerful older man with black hair. You now know who he got his features from. You now know who he got his features from. They all stood up "Daughter…I would like to introduce you to Teka and Yoshino Todoroki…they are here to discuss…" your father was interrupted by you. "Father, I refused yesterday…I do not wish to be courted," you stated. "Dear…she reminds me of…" Yoshino reminded Teka. "Not a single word from you," she said to her husband. "Dear…my son took interest in you because he knew you would fit into our household…what you feel is of no consequence to us…the bride price has been offered and your kind father has graciously accepted" Teka explained to you.

That night you were asleep in your quarters when you heard your door slide open slowly and heard someone crawl at the foot of your futon. It was Enji. "May I sleep with you?" he whispered. "No." you hissed and he silently crept away. After that, you didn't get a wink of sleep. The very next morning walking into the dining room you were confronted by your father. "Y/n…you are not to deny Todoroki-san's offer," he stated. "He crept in my room late last night like a venomous snake and when I said NO he slithered out," she hissed. "That is the way…I did the same thing with your mother and she never denied me tonight you will NOT deny him…do I make myself clear?" he asked angrily. "Yes, father," you answered. That afternoon you went back to the garden to bask in the sun and admire the blossom. You saw Enji from a distance. You sighed and ignored him but he was sighing obnoxiously loud so you proceeded to walk back to your room while Enji saw you. That night you did not sleep when your sliding door slid open slowly. The sound of crawling on the ground annoyed you. It was Enji at the foot of your bed. "May I sleep with you?" he asked. You sat upon your futon "my father told me not to deny you so…you can sleep by the chest of drawers," you instructed and Enji frowned. That night you kind of silently giggled.

Walking to the dining room the next morning you were greeted by your father. "y/n, you're such a clever girl…you didn't deny him…so you technically followed my instructions," he smirked. That afternoon you were sitting in the library reading some poetry when Enji crept behind you. You knew he was behind you. "What do you want? Enji" you sighed. "I wish to know what you are doing," he asked. "Isn't it obvious?" you retorted while still reading. "You love books…I see…I have a library filled with poetry books…when you become my wife I will give it to you," he offered while handing you a beautifully embroidered handkerchief. "Another gift…thank you," you sighed and put it on the side. "I wished to have tea with you, my Plum Blossom," he requested. "I just had my tea…thank you for offering but, I must decline," you answered. "Shall we walk to admire the blossoms together then?" he asked. Slamming your book shut "why must you insist on courting me when I don't show any interest in you?" you asked out of frustration. "Please walk with me…I will explain…this marriage is beneficial to both of us," he answered. Intrigued, you stood up and followed him to the garden. "I need a wife to produce my heir. Once you produce an heir I will leave you alone…plus you will have a considerable amount of allowance at your disposal," he said. "Sounds tempting…I'll gladly accept your proposal except for one thing," you answered while smiling. "And, what is that my Plum Blossom?" Enji asked, smiling. "I can't be bought," you frowned. "That's sad…considering that my parents already sent the bride price to your father this morning and it's set in stone…you will be my bride," he said grinning