Chapter Text
You huffed, hands over your hips as you loomed over your garden. Well, right now it wasn’t much of a garden. It was that time of the year where you poured your heart and soul into your planting, only to have it destroyed. You bought seeds before the season even began, raising those little seeds into seedlings. For a while, you watched the sprouts grow from behind the overkill of a fence you put up, only to wake up this morning to see that they came in the night.
Your little house was tucked a ways away from the village at the edge of the Nara forest. You had met a few members of the Nara clan, though neither memorably nor recently. But the Nara clan wasn’t who you quarreled with, it was the damn deer. The Nara forest was filled with them and were a protected species. No killing them and no scaring them away. So every night, they came in and ravaged your garden.
Arms crossed, you examined your fence which was easily twice your height. The wood became different colors over time as you added more to it each year. There wasn’t much more that you could do to fortify your vegetables. You briefly considered a moat before dismissing the idea as ridiculous. You went over to your potted flowers. They were damaged. Most of their petals were torn, but with proper care the plant could heal. You took up a particularly damaged one to take inside.
You observed your kitchen counter. Too many damaged plants. You turned to the kitchen table. Too many potted plants. You spotted a free space tucked in the corner by the window. You cradled your damaged baby as you made your way over. You nearly tripped for even your floor was covered in various plants. You’ve had enough of the Nara’s and their stupid hungry deer!
You didn’t even bother changing out of your gardening clothes, you just headed straight to the Nara estate. It was a trek, but eventually you made it. Stepping through the gate you saw a young man laying back on the engawa. Your eyes locked onto the Nara clan symbol on his sleeve and you decided in an instant that you were going to tear him a new one. Fired up from your destroyed garden, you stormed up to him in a rage.
“Excuse me,” you snapped, “I need to talk to one of you Naras.” The young man let a hand slide down his face, eyes not yet open as he let out a quiet string of curses.
“Can’t you see I’m busy?” he yawned.
“Sorry to be disturbing your nap,” You barked, gritting your teeth. The man continued to lounge even as you stood over him. “But I need to talk to someone about your deer.”
He cracked an eyelid. “The…deer.” He pronounced slowly, looking at you with mild amusement. You grumbled.
“Yes, the deer.” You folded your arms. “They keep ruining my garden!”
“And what is it that you want me to do? They’re deer.” You tapped your foot rapidly.
“You’re the Nara clan, you’re in charge of the deer.” You pouted. He shifted laxly, stretching his arms above his head.
“Are we now?” Your blood boiled.
“The forest is named after your clan!” you hissed, “Members of your clan are the only ones allowed in it!”
“Get a fence.”
“I did.”
He put his hands behind his head, looking at you lazily. “Maybe don’t plant a garden?”
“Maybe feed your animals better.” You huffed. “Is there someone more useful I can talk to?”
“No.” he drawled, finally getting up. He stood taller than yourself, hair in a messy bun and half lidded, tired eyes. He leaned down until you were face to face. If you weren’t so angry, you would have blushed.
He gave an amused chuckle before he turned. He slid the shōji, giving you one last tired but entertained look before disappearing into the house. It appears that you won’t get this sorted out any time soon.