Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

    A tree branch snapped beneath her boot. The dense foliage shook restlessly as the wind howled through its leaves. The light of the moon barely peeked through the canopy except in sparse glowing rays. Yet the twilight failed to make it through the hood she wore covering her eyes. The dark cloak shrouding her was deathly in the summer heat, but on this night she had chosen utility over comfort. Where the edge of her cape glided behind her, only silence followed.

    The mysterious figure continued her trek forward for an extended period of time. Winding her way through the maze of underbrush and taking care where she stepped, she expertly navigated the pitch black forest with ease. It wasn’t until her surroundings began to subtly shift that she knew she was in the right place. Tall, gangly timbers suddenly became more neat and tidy. The flora at her feet was replaced by new, blooming species, chosen not for their regionalism but for their foreign rarity and beauty. It was the tell-tale opulence of the wealthy and vulnerable.

    She smiled under shadows, thinking of the superfluously extravagant trophies waiting for her only a small ways away in grandiose displays of prosperity and fortune. Their immodest need to gloat their affluence over everyone else would be their downfall, just as it had so many times in the past. Soon, it would all be hers for the taking.

    Recognizing the distant sound of a movement, she swiftly ducked into the nature around her to conceal her presence. She wasn’t alone. Delicately, she pushed the shrubbery blocking her view out of the way and looked out into the still garden.

    The moonlight that had been so scarce in the forest bathed the open lawns of the grand estate, and the cool illumination picked out the figure emerging from between the buildings like a spotlight. A delicate snow-white steed, high-spirited and so light of foot that barely a hoofbeat could be heard, bearing a rider equally delicate and nearly as pale. A dress of fine white lace cascaded down her slender body like seafoam, the edges all but invisible against her fair skin. Almost-white hair surrounded her head like a halo, brushing her shoulders except for two long tails that flowed down her back. Both horse and rider glowed in the moonlight, ethereal and ghostly.

    The hidden figure watched in wordless reverence. Her breath stalled in her lungs as the silhouette of the rider passed over the moon, framing her momentarily in a celestial crown of light. She felt as if she’d come face to face with something supernatural, something beyond her understanding, that she wasn’t meant to be in contact with. And it was the most beautiful sight she’d ever seen.

    The rider headed towards the midnight woods, patting her horse's neck and speaking gently to it as it pranced impatiently. She turned to sweep her gaze over the treeline as the animal snorted, her wide blue eyes luminous. Though she was a woman alone at night - and a wealthy one at that - there was no fear in her expression, only a soft melancholy.

    The stranger briefly worried of being spotted, but despite her fear, she couldn’t tear herself away. If their eyes were to meet then so be it. Even from her obscured vantage point near the ground, she recognized the sorrow painted into her features and it moved her greatly.

    Without any knowledge of the woman’s worries, the intruder felt the same distress in herself. It weighed on her chest heavily and ached in her heart intolerably. It took everything within her to resist the urge to alleviate it in any way possible.

    Unfortunately the rider found nothing to dissuade her. A forlorn sigh escaped her lips as she let her mount stretch into an eager canter. Instinctively, her steed followed the path through the clearing, tranquilly ferrying her into the dark woods. Off she went, slowly fading into the night until finally, like a phantom, she was gone.

    Stepping out from her hiding spot, the awestruck stranger could only stand mesmerized by everything that had transpired. Even after the apparition had disappeared completely, she watched the horizon hopefully, wondering if she might steal one last glimpse. The vision of the mysterious woman passing before her, the heavenly aura about her, and the sad, haunting look upon her face remained in her mind without any indication of leaving. More than anything, she was left with a dangerous feeling of lingering, covetous curiosity.

    Some days later, the sun rose on another midsummer morning. A young woman sat in the window seat of her expansive bedroom. Junko Konno, the first daughter of a noble family, slowly brushed her soft hair. Still in her nightgown, she surveyed the sky above. The clouds were low and thick, as grey as her mood. They hemmed in the earth just as Junko's high-society life hemmed her in.

    Suddenly someone called out to her from behind, pulling her away from her musing. Her attendant had put together her attire for the day. Laid out was a modest alabaster dress. The high neckline rose to cover her chest with short billowed sleeves. Even then they were nearly met by long silken gloves. Her skirt fell to her ankles, the laced trim matched by a monochrome pair of shallow heels and an argent bracelet. She was helped in pulling her hair back into a refined, controlled bun. A silver gilded hairpin, fashioned after an amaryllis flower, kept the arrangement together. Her ears were clipped with pearl earrings and a heavy silver necklace was fastened around her neck. The size of the band held it tightly in place close to her throat. The metal case of its gleaming moonstone felt cold against her skin. She was the picture of nobility.

    Once properly adorned enough to be seen, she was ushered to the dining room for morning meal. It was a generous serving: honey cakes, egg dishes, brioche, and other breakfast bites. And yet despite the carefully prepared delicacies in front of her, she only found the interest to drink a small cup of tea. The kitchen staff had given up their attempts to get her to eat more.

    After breakfast Junko retired to the drawing room, awaiting her tutor and wondering whether her parents would accept her feeling too unwell for lessons. Unlikely, she was forced to conclude. Their smiles had begun taking a frosted edge when she asked, cold and sharp and ominous. A young lady, she'd been told, must always be considerate of others. A young lady must not cause difficulties. A young lady must put others first. Yes, even if sometimes that meant enduring some small discomfort. What kind of wife would she make if she were forever whining childishly about being too ill to see to her marital duties? How would she even find a husband at all if she gained a reputation for such sloth and weakness?

    Despite her compliance, she didn’t make much progress in her studies. The history lecture given to her was left only half told. She made it to the point of their kingdom’s independence and then found herself without the constitution to continue. Her teacher attempted to have her write some verses instead in an effort to salvage the rest of their time together. Unfortunately, this proved similarly ineffective. Whatever the thoughts floating around Junko’s head, she felt it best not to put them on paper and she also wasn’t able to concentrate on anything else, much to her tutor’s poorly concealed frustration. In the end, it was all a waste of time anyways.

    Eventually she was released from custody to use the remainder of her day as she pleased. She considered going to wander through the garden and enjoy the new flora that had been planted but thought better of it. She’d already been scolded for spending too much time away from the home where she belonged. She didn’t want the privilege of leaving to be taken away entirely. Instead she opted to visit the estate’s library.

    Down the lengthy hallway, decorated with long vibrant curtains hung around towering windows and large watchful family portraits, was a spacious and quiet room often left unvisited by anyone aside from herself. Cases upon cases of volumes and novels stretched endlessly within its walls. The characters and worlds hiding inside sometimes felt like the only reprieve she had from the oppressive responsibility that weighed on her shoulders. And yet even these old friends could do naught to cheer her up today.

    She waded through the shelves of stories, looking for one that called out to her, able to dissuade her despondency and satiate her longing, but found that none recognized the uneasiness in her heart. Once again her appeals for solace were left unanswered. When falling discouraged enough, she simply selected a familiar book and sat down in her favorite reading spot with it.

    The anthology was composed of poetry, rhythmic sonnets describing various natural elements in artful diction and imbued with heartfelt emotion. The second work, a ballad about a dove taking flight, had been a favorite of hers when she was little. Although it didn’t quite fill the emptiness eating away at her inside, it did remind her of her younger days.

    She remembered smiling with her nursemaids, laughing and singing songs. She remembered exploring the sprawling summer home more and more each day, like it was a new uncharted land for her to discover, before it became an old, hollow mausoleum. Seeing her mother and father had been a welcome treat instead of an unanticipated punishment. Before the burden of her title, the wielding of her influence, and the fate laid out for her were known. The only thing she used to worry about was what kind of pastry would be waiting for her after dinner. The recollection stung painfully. How she missed it all now.

    In the blink of an eye, the rest of the afternoon had passed her by. The sun dipped below the landscaped trees on the horizon. The last vestiges of light reached out to hold onto the sky for just a little bit longer until they eventually sank into the darkness. She closed the book in her lap. She was expected somewhere.

    The parlor was alight with activity. Guests crowded the room. Their chatter filled the air, punctuated by the occasional clinking of wine glasses. Junko remained off to the side, making polite conversation with those who approached her. An upbeat waltz began to play as people paired off to the dance floor. Couples dipped and spun in sync along to the melody. A bachelor clearly not in the know offered Junko a dance, but he was quickly shooed away by others. She was left to look on from a distance, a lady in waiting. She wondered if she would have liked to dance or not, but wasn’t able to come up with an answer.

    At her soonest opportunity, she excused herself from the party and retired to her room. It seemed an eternity since she had left it that morning, yet at the same time the long day felt so empty, so useless. Nothing but wasted hours, serving as décor as the inevitable dredged ever closer. Was she really nothing more than a bride-to-be, waiting anxiously for whoever would come to possess her? She'd been born into a life of wanting nothing, and yet it felt as if nothing was all she had.

    She picked up her lute and nestled in the window seat, looking out over the moon-silvered gardens. Her delicate fingers picked out a tune, and she gave her sorrows voice with the ballad of the dove.

    The melody carried out the window and into the garden. Although she wouldn't find the opportunity to slip away tonight, she still sang to the only audience that would listen, the flora that comforted her in the night.

    Her distant friends waved in the breeze, but unbeknownst to her, they were not the only ones in attendance tonight. A shadow lingered in the hidden space just beneath her room, one that had been following her all day. Unspotted, it did not sneak away nor did it come nearer. It merely listened to the lady's sad lonely song, carefully and closely. Her despair did not fall only on deaf ears. Every time the lady spoke, the shadow heard.

    It took a few days until Junko was able to escape her gilded cage for another nighttime ride, her favorite pastime. The moon was waning now but still offered light enough, the silver illumination muted to a soft glow.

    It was also this night that her ever-present shadow accompanied her. Slinking through the sidelines, a cloaked figure followed in pursuit. She made sure to keep her distance, avoiding detection for as long as possible, while staying close enough to observe her target. She was on her own in the dark, isolated from any kind of interference. All the stranger had to do now was wait for the right moment to pounce.

    Unaware she was being hunted, Junko enjoyed the quiet peace of the night. She paused in a moonlit clearing to watch a doe and her delicate fawns. The deerlings paid her no mind and continued to frolic freely in the pasture, seeming to regard Junko as one of their own. However, their mother kept alert. Her ears swiveled vigilantly, constantly on the lookout for danger and she was the first to recognize when it came forward.

    The deer suddenly turned tail and leapt into the brush to escape, her children following urgently. Her horse similarly reared back instinctively, but a hand emerged from the dark and seized the reins, expertly bringing the nervous mare under control. Junko had never even heard the quiet footsteps approaching. A voice cut through the silence. “Good evening, my lady.”

    A silhouette manifested out of nothing. Striding closer with unsettling confidence, the shadow lowered her hood back to meet her properly. A tousled bob of lustrous dark hair fell just short of her shoulders, pulled back into a tight braid on one side and marked by two glimmering gold earrings of expensive taste. A pair of sharp ruby eyes leered at her rapaciously, joined by an easy smirk of suspicious intention. She stopped just short of the moonlight’s reach, obscuring parts of her form, and spoke again with an inviting tone. “It’s a little late to be venturing out on your own, isn’t it?”

    Junko frowned down at the other woman sternly, ignoring the part of her that was intrigued by the stranger's appearance. "I don't believe that's any of your business, miss. What do you mean by accosting me in such a manner, this late and so deep in the woods?"

    The newcomer stroked the nose of her horse calmly, keeping a hold of the reins so she didn’t get away. “That’s hardly a way to greet someone.” She spoke coyly to the horse and feigned an innocent demeanor. “I don’t believe it’s a crime to come and say hello to the noble-folk. Unless you all are too good to be mixing with the rest of us?”

    "No one simply 'comes and says hello' to anyone in the dead of night," Junko pointed out - but then her expression changed. "Unless you need help? Are you hurt, is someone pursuing you?"

    The woman seemed to find amusement in Junko’s question. “No, no, nothing like that, precious. I assure you I’m very capable of taking care of myself.” She nonchalantly leaned against the body of her horse, making oddly quick friends with her. “But thank you. You seem like a very kind soul, kinder than most. By your gloomy appearance, I had thought you were a spirit but I see now you are very real to the touch.”

    Taking a step back, she held up a bracelet she’d slipped off of Junko’s ankle on the far side of her body where she hadn’t been looking. “Knowing that, I see no reason why we can’t use this opportunity to get to know one another.” The bracelet twinkled in the dark.

    Junko's eyes widened and she sat up straighter, outraged. "You're a thief!"

    “Well my name is Ai,” she explained with a wink. In another quick sleight of hand, the bracelet was gone, likely not to be seen by Junko again. “But it would be correct to say that I have a habit of taking treasures that might not belong to me.”

    "Well you shan't have any more from me," Junko said indignantly. "The moment I get home I shall alert the constables, and they'll put you in the stocks."

    Junko’s horse lifted her head to mirror her rider, but Ai found a particularly enjoyable spot behind her ear to pet and eased her again. “Calm yourself, camellia, or else you might lose a petal.” Ai replied without concern.

    "You wouldn't dare!" Junko scowled as fiercely as she was able, which unfortunately amounted to little more menace than a kitten's growl.

    Ai had to stifle a snicker. “You’re right. I wouldn’t dare harm anything as beautiful as you.” She spoke gently with an air of sincerity before pointing out more bluntly that “If I would then I’d have done so by now.” Nevertheless, she stepped back from the lady and released her reins. “You’re perfectly safe with me, precious. You’re worth too much.” If she didn’t believe her then she was free to leave at any time.

    Junko stared at the thief. Even this rough bandit saw her as nothing more than some pretty trinket, good to be exchanged like a commodity and little else. She was horrified to find her eyes filling up with tears, and she urged Dancer into a gallop before (she hoped) the bandit saw.

    Ai kept to the side, hair catching in the wind as her treasure ran past out of her reach. She watched once again as the ghostly figure rode off into the night before eventually disappearing from view. She was left on her own to rue the loss.

    Once the commotion died down, the mother deer and fawns poked their heads back out of the undergrowth. Tepidly, they stepped forward, returning to their midnight grazing, unconcerned with Ai’s presence.

    The rogue sighed to herself and spoke aloud, “I don’t think she has a favorable impression of me.” She turned to address her only remaining company for their input. The doe returned her gaze with a neutral expression that somewhat resembled disappointment. Ai scoffed. “Well, what do you know anyways,” before pulling her hood back up and vanishing from the scene.

    Junko paused before slipping away the next time she was in the mood for a nighttime ride, but after a moment she scowled and headed out to the stables anyway. That rude thief wouldn't keep her from the one thing in her life that still gave her any real happiness. And, she couldn't help remembering, the rogue had been true to her word, and not lifted so much as a finger to harm her.

    Unlike the previous nights, the weather above had taken a foul turn. Gray clouds filled the sky, blocking out the stars and steeping her usual route in gloom. They weren’t heavy enough to bring rain tonight, but the season’s summer storms would surely begin shortly. Thankfully, Dancer knew the way well enough to navigate on her own, allowing Junko the time to sit alone with her thoughts in a place she felt safe and undisturbed. At least, that had been her plan.

    As her horse slowly plodded forward, her gaze fell to the ground. She traced the outline of bushes and flower patches as she passed, steeping in her feelings like over brewed tea, until suddenly her view was blocked. Her hair had somehow come undone and fallen into her eyes. It took a moment to brush it out of the way and regain her sight. Even then, she was unable to find her silver hair pin to put it back in place. When she finally located it, the accessory was no longer in her possession

    Strolling casually onto the pathway in front of her, now adorned with her pin, was the exact person she hadn’t wanted to see. Ai whistled to herself a familiar tune — one that struck the back of Junko’s memory as well; although she couldn’t quite place it — before cheekily pretending to notice Junko for the first time. “Lady Konno, out for another evening ride?”

    Junko frowned down at the impertinent rogue. How on earth had the woman been able to remove the hairpin without her noticing? "What do you care? You've got what you came for, don't you?"

    At that, Ai's smile faded a bit. "I suppose I'm just greedy." She shrugged. Meandering over to the far side of the path with a complacent expression, she kept pace with Junko's horse as they went. "You look nice with your hair down. Perhaps you should keep it that way."

    "It's not ladylike. And I've nothing else to steal tonight, no matter how greedy you may be."

    Ai hummed thoughtfully, “Is that so? I’m guessing sneaking out at the darkest hour isn’t quite ladylike either?” She posited curiously, her charming smile returning with mischievousness.

    Junko found herself blushing at that playful smile, and with no idea why it should cause her to do so, it only made her grumpier. "Never you mind whether my rides are or aren't ladylike, I'll not let you ruin them."

    “I have no intention of doing so,” she assured her. “Lucky for you, I don’t see any gentlemen around to impress right now.” She gestured to the dim, deserted garden. “Not unless you count the gophers giving the landscapers trouble, but I don’t think they’ll mind, so we can keep this our little secret.”

    Junko huffed indignantly, preparing a white comment in return only to find her unwelcome companion temporarily missing from her side. Spotting something of interest a small ways away, she had briefly defected from their walk to retrieve it. When she returned, she was slipping a pocket knife back into her belt and carrying something small and delicate. Approaching Junko, she held out a neatly cut flower for her to take. The elegant bloom had a plethora of circular petals surrounding a faint yellow center. “Here, a camellia for a camellia,” she offered.

    Junko stared, her blush deepening. "W-why are you giving me a flower?" she stumbled over the words.

    “Never you mind,” she parroted with a chuckle.

    Junko frowned. "Now you are just mocking me. Is this some game you play with all those you steal from?"

    “Don’t be so envious, precious,” she replied, getting back into step with Dancer, who was thankfully walking leisurely. “Most people don’t appreciate that sort of thing; it’s best to stay out of sight of course, so it’s just you.”

    Junko looked pensive. "I suppose most thieves probably run away once they've stolen something. Why don't you? Why am I different?"

    Ai lapsed into a quiet pause, waiting for her to finish her barrage of questions. “You were hardly this eager to have that honor a moment ago.” She wasn’t very tolerant of being interrogated it seemed. Perhaps it was simply the common attitude of criminals. “What’s a little bit of company during a solemn ritual? You could probably do with the camaraderie. Let it be another secret we keep together. After all, that’s why you didn’t alert anyone of my presence like you threatened, isn’t it?”

    Junko found herself blushing again. "I merely forgot! I was tired by the time I arrived home, and the morning was so busy."

    “Is that what troubles you, camellia? Long days and ill sleep?” she asked, once more disregarding Junko’s warnings.

    Junko shook her head. "The days merely feel long. The nights are the only time I can -" she stopped short, wondering why she had been about to explain to this random thief how the night was the only time she could be herself. "Well, what does it matter?"

    “The night can be a soothing mistress, absent of presumptions or expectations. I much prefer it that way. The secrecy and seclusion is appreciated. There’s no better time for a thief than that without prying eyes or judgment from others.” She observed the patterns of the sky above as she went along.

    Junko bowed her head, letting her newly loosened hair fall down around her face and hide her struggle to hold back tears. How did this thief understand so well? Junko herself could never have put her reasons into words so well.

    A break in the cloud coverage allowed for a thin ray of light to shine down. It caught in the lady’s unbound locks, reflecting their pale white tone. The vitality she showed earlier waned, leaving her thin frame drooped in the saddle. Junko resembled a specter, a hollow approximation of the woman she’d been only a few moments ago.

    Ai felt the same aching in her chest as the first time she saw it. “Perhaps I’ve said too much?” she hazarded a guess.

    "It doesn't matter," Junko said softly. "It's not as though I have a say in any of it."

    "You sound like a captive sent to the gallows," Ai commented presumptuously. "You should flee from your prison while you still can."

    "It's not a prison," Junko said reflexively. "Not that it matters. Where would I go? How would I live? I'm only valuable because I'm pretty and wealthy and titled."

    "It’s a fate I would not envy." Ai put out a hand in front of Dancer to stop her and addressed Junko seriously, "There are other ways to live, ways much freer than this, unbound by anyone or anything who tries to hold you." Her expression was grave and unyielding and perhaps even a bit desperate. She urged her words to take root.

    "Like the life you live? Stealing trinkets, hunted by the law, unable to show your face in front of anyone?" Junko asked, shaking her head. "That is no life for me. I should be getting back," she turned Dancer, heading for home.

    Ai held her tongue before saying more. At this moment there was nothing she could do to move her from where she was. "Think what you will about experiences you've yet to have."

    But her persistence was not lost yet. From the edge of the treeline, past which she could not follow, she called out to her, "I'll see you another night, Lady Konno. Until then."

    Junko paused, wondering why her breath caught a little at the idea, but continued on without saying anything. She thought about it as she rode to the stables, as she untacked Dancer, as she slipped inside and prepared for bed. She told herself she was not looking forward to it.

    Junko’s weather forecast had been spot on. The next week was marked by a downpour of rain that kept her hostage inside. Even the lighter showers muddied her beloved garden and made it impossible to sneak anywhere without leaving an easily followed trail. More than that, the precipitation heavied the air with thick humidity. No matter what she wore, it clung to her unpleasantly. She did her best to subdue her hair into something refined, but frizzy strands frayed out relentlessly.

    She’d been coming to her family’s summer home since she was small. She was well acquainted with the pattern of the season, but that didn’t stop her from hating it. It was too cold outside, but too hot inside. There was no winning with it. After several attempts, she could only huff to herself and drop her brush in defeat.

    Perhaps she would simply leave it down. Someone had told her recently it looked nice that way. Pausing to listen to the gentle tapping of raindrops against her window, she idly wondered how Ai was handling the weather.

    She caught herself immediately and shook her head until the idea was driven off. She didn’t know how that petulant thief kept ending up in her thoughts but she wouldn’t tolerate it. That brute, that ruffian, a scoundrel and a rapscallion. She had too much on her mind already to worry about her.

    Nevertheless, her hair wouldn’t allow itself to be tamed anytime soon. She’d wear it down, but only out of necessity and nothing more. With the matter settled, she stood from her vanity to attend to the rest of her day. Yet the moment she turned away she was accosted by the same nuisance.

    Perched on the edge of her windowsill was a peculiar bird, looking into her room with a vacant stare. It’s stiff demeanor unsettled her until she observed closely enough to realize it was fake. Moreover, the counterfeit fledgling seemed to be nesting something. The corner was just poking out from underneath it.

    Braving the ongoing drizzle, Junko cracked her window open just long enough to retrieve the decoy. The figure fit perfectly into the palm of her hand. The craftsmanship was crude with jagged edges forming around round shapes. It was distinctly different on one side than the other. The rain also hadn’t done the wood any favors either. Even still the blank expression it held was endearing in its own way.

    Tucked just below the bird to shelter it from harm was a frail, folded note. Junko didn’t have to guess who it might be from. Her brow furrowed as irritation welled inside of her. Without even opening the letter, she tossed both it and the bird away. They landed haphazardly near the end of her bed, but they could have landed on the floor for all she cared. Junko didn’t have much influence over things in her life. Often she felt more like a spectator than an active participant in it. But this was one affair she would exert her control over. No such brazen burglar would get the best of her and she wouldn’t reward such tricks with her attention. She was above foolishness.

    She steadfastly ignored the gift until she went to leave her room for the day. She paused, looked back at it, then returned to sweep the carving and note into her bedside drawer where the staff would not see them. She trusted them not to go carrying tales to her parents, but best not to invite even kindly questions about where the items had come from.

    Stepping out into the hall left like stepping off of a pier and into the ocean. Anxiety pressed heavily against her chest as if she were breast stroking through water, yet she continued forward. Putting one foot in front of the other, by force if she had to, she made her way to the front foyer to join the others who were already present. There was an important visitor coming today and she was to be there to greet him.

    Junko's mother took one look at her and gasped, hurrying out of her seat and hustling Junko into a side parlor. "Junko dear, what were you thinking coming downstairs with your hair loose like that?! You look like some cheap hussy!" she scolded, pulling Junko's hair back, mercilessly taming the frizz into a strict, tight bun. "You know you can't look like that in front of company, I've told you a hundred times! You shouldn't look like that outside your bedroom at all! You're not a child anymore, Junko, you're a woman now and you need to start acting it! We've tolerated this nonsense for far too long as it is, your father and I won't have you shaming us and your good name!"

    Tears stung at the corner of Junko's eyes as she endured her mother's pulling. "I couldn't get it to look nice…" she mumbled dejectedly. Somehow this felt more demeaning than when she tried and failed to do it herself.

    "Well of course not, when you spend all day mooning about instead of attending to your appearance. I try so hard to educate you on how to be a proper young lady, and you can't be bothered to mind me at all. What do I have to do to get you to listen, Junko?"

    To that Junko didn't answer. There wasn't a point. There was nothing she could do to move her from where she was. "Sorry," she relented quietly, accepting whatever came next. She knew persistence would not be rewarded.

    "Don't be sorry, dear, just don't do it," Junko's mother patted her cheek. "You know I only want the best for you, don't you? That's what mothers do."

    “Of course,” Junko responded. Despite her protests, she knew her mother was right. She may not like the society she existed in but family made it easier. At least she still had someone to look out for her. Her mother cared for her and did her best to guide her. She’d gone to an awful lot of trouble arranging this meeting as well. She ought to make a good impression and appreciate the opportunity they were providing her.

    Junko's mother stepped back and eyed her daughter critically. "Well, you'll do, I suppose. It would be better if you didn't look like you absolutely dreaded this meeting. Do at least try to smile, won't you?"

    Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Junko recomposed herself. “I will be on my best manners,” she agreed with a small smile. It was far from genuine, but her mother wouldn’t know. Noble etiquette was all about concealment and she was an excellent performer.

    "Good. See that you are. Now, dear, come along and let's be ready to welcome our guest."

    Following her mother’s lead, Junko rejoined the others in the foyer just in time for an incredible loud banging to echo through the room. Everyone’s attention was drawn to the front door, which was suddenly thrown open in a dramatic display. In stepped a tall man in a peculiar stance. He was done up in formal attire, a quality pair of britches and matching waistcoat. However, this tailcoat was left open with the cravat hanging out and instead of wearing it with his arms through the sleeves, he had it fastened upon his shoulders with the tail ends flapping behind him like a cape. This was not how the outfit was traditionally worn…

    Trying to focus her attention somewhere besides his outfit, Junko examined his face, only to find that equally difficult to discern. He appeared to be a handsome man. He had a strong jawline and beautifully coiffed hair. However, she couldn’t be sure because of the spectacles obstructing his face. They seemed to be composed of smoked glass, completely obscuring his eyes and making his expression impossible to read.

    The gathering was left in absolute silence as everyone tried to make sense of the man who’d just broken down their door. He remained static in his pose as everyone waited for him to say something, but the moment simply dragged on eternally. It wasn’t until the point that staff were about to ask him to leave and make way for their incoming guest that he finally spoke at a deafening volume.

    “Good morning, esteemed Konno family,” he all but shouted to the heavens. “I am the infamous noble gentleman, the amazing Kotaro Tatsumi and I am here to meet with my prospective fiancé!”

    It took everything Junko had not to wince. This? This was her suitor? How were her parents even considering this mannerless buffoon? What could possibly excuse such behavior?

    As the only one to recognize him, Junko’s father stepped forward enthusiastically to greet him. “Ah, Lord Tatsumi!” He held out his hand to shake, patting the odd man on the shoulder familiarly. “It is a pleasure to see you again. Thank you for paying us a visit.”

    Kotaro returned the gesture, shaking hands firmly with a short bow of courtesy. “Thank you for the invitation. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss our dealings together.”

    “Yes, yes,” Lord Konno continued. “We have much to converse over. However, introductions are in order.” Pivoting to the rest of the room, her father led their guest through the line up. “This, of course, is my wife, Lady Konno.”

    The woman in question lifted her dress in an expert curtsey, “Good morning,” She said loudly and confidently. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

    Once again, Kotaro met the gesture with one of his own. With a hand over his chest, he bowed with great depth, as was more proper for a first meeting. “The pleasure is all mine, my lady.”

    She beamed at him brightly as if she were genuinely elated to be in his presence. Not even Junko was able to guess her sincere thoughts.

    From there, they moved on to her. “And this our eldest daughter, Junko.”

    Junko mimicked her mother's curtsey and her words, a smile frozen in place. She hoped desperately that her true emotions were hidden.

    Kotaro began to repeat his own greeting with a bow somehow even lower than before, but paused in the midst of it. From his awkward position, he looked up to scrutinize her for an uncomfortable length of time. He slowly righted himself with a serious air and once returned to his stiff posture, he accosted her without warning. “GOOD MORNING!” he yelled thunderously. Evidently, she had not sounded assertive enough for his tastes and took it upon himself to show a proper example.

    Despite her best efforts, Junko quailed as the strange man yelled in her face. She'd be scolded for it later, she knew, but how could she not?

    And yet much to her distress, her father found the situation quite laughable. “Oh ho ho!” He guffawed joyfully. “Always a stickler for manners, Lord Tatsumi. Please pardon our young dear. She is of a more timid disposition, as I’ve told you before.”

    “Certainly,” Kotaro turned away from her, no longer interested in consulting her. “I simply wished to encourage her as a supportive spouse.”

    “Well perhaps that is something that can change in time,” her father suggested. Leaning on his walking stick, he strayed away from the entrance hall and towards one of their drawing rooms. “A strong hand to guide might be exactly what she needs. I can recall the man I once was before my wedding. It is no longer the man you see now.” He chuckled again. “Such is the influence of a compatible partner.”

    “I am in full agreement.” Kotaro strutted to his side self-assuredly. “I think a courtship between our two houses would make for a legendary coupling.”

    “Come along now. The help will take care of your carriage. Come, come,” her father bid, waving his hand for the gentleman to accompany him as they all reassembled somewhere more fit for hosting.

    Junko struggled to regain her composure as they retired to the parlor. A strong hand to guide her? Is that what her parents wanted for her? A man who would scream at and abuse her? How could they not realize that such a man would never make her less timid? That such treatment could only break her? Junko eased the creases that had formed in her brow before trailing her mother into the drawing room.

    Unfortunately for her, the night progressed downward from there. It was the usual affair of entertainment. They enjoyed conversation, horderves, and other amusing activities meant for them to become familiar. And she tried to engage with Kotaro. Truly, she did! But no matter what she tried the interaction ended somewhat bewilderingly.

    During a quiet moment, devoid of miscellaneous chatter, she approached him and made an attempt at talking.

    “So tell me Lord Tatsumi, what is it you do as a profession?”

    “I have many endeavors. There are multiple arrangements with a diverse array of especially legitimate businesses in the pursuit of advancing the kingdom’s notoriety.”

    “Oh.” She nodded her head sagely as if she understood. She hadn’t any idea what any of that meant and frankly, she felt discouraged from prying further. “What of your unoccupied time then? How do you prefer to spend the day? I’m partial to literature myself.”

    “I am never at rest. All of my being is dedicated to that which I have forsaken my humanity for. Nothing shall prevent me from reaching my goals.”

    “Uh…” To that she hadn’t a response. Was… Was the man involved in something of an unsavory nature? Was it illegal? Was it worse??? She merely sat speechlessly and casually redirected her eye contact as the conversation trailed off. Not that she could tell where he was looking anyways.

    Again later, she utilized a more mundane topic. She took note of her partaking in the nibbles prepared by staff. “Lord Tatsumi, how are you finding the provisions?”

    “Exquisite,” he had replied while consuming another generous helping.

    “That’s lovely to hear,” she cheered, believing them to be making some progress. But she was quickly proven wrong as he went on.

    “They remind me of the time I spent adrift at sea.”

    “Oh dear. I didn’t realize you were a mariner. Is that one of your um, ‘especially legitimate businesses’? Did something go wrong?”

    “Gods, no. I would never set foot on anything as luckless as a ship. You see, I was brooding over a cliffside one stormy evening when a monstrous wave grabbed hold of me and washed me out to sea. It took me several days to be returned to the beach shore, unscathed of course. After which I stood and trekked my way back home to the mansion by foot. It was hardly appropriate to swim after all. However, it was a wonderful experience. The squid I feasted upon was nearly a delicacy. Although you can hardly be surprised due to its freshness.”

    Junko listened to the entire story with a soft, attentive smile on her face. She withheld her questions until the end, at which point they all bottlenecked into one inquiry. “You…. you what?” She meekly asked

    “Yes, of course,” Kotaro proclaimed, despite it not being an appropriate answer to what she said. “That is why I always keep a ration of preserved squid on my person at all times; excellent for keeping the sharks at bay.”

    She conjured no additional thoughts in her mind at this point. Instead, she merely turned tail and walked away. Despite her best attempts to immediately forget the story in order to prevent herself from losing sanity over it, she dreaded to hear him bring it up more than once, as if it was a quaint dinner party tale. She swore that she even saw him take a bite of the fabled ration of squid from a chain on his shirt pocket she had mistakenly assumed to be a watch.

    It went without saying that Lord Kotaro Tatsumi was an eccentric individual. In theory, this would be an acceptable, or even attractive quality. The reality on the other hand, was a perplexing experience she was not able to make sense of.

    In the afternoon, she was asked for a dance, just as she had fantasized of only a small while ago. Her expectations were met and surpassed really. Lord Kotaro was a fantastic dancer. His sense of rhythm and agility left the entire party astonished. It was only met by the speed and momentum by which he swept Junko along. Each spin felt like a horse ride she hadn’t any control of and the entire ordeal left her with a case of vertigo that bound her to the wall for safety.

    Her family loved him. He was charismatic and articulate. His knowledge of the world was extensive and taste for luxury twice so. He was the perfect regal gentleman when loosened with champagne to expound on his profound ambitions and the earth-shattering effect they would yield. But these were not traits that Junko aspired for in a suitor. To her, Kotaro Tatsumi was a man she could not find the words to describe.

    It was with deep relief that she found the evening finally winding to an end. She was unbearably eager for her suitor to take his leave. Though she had not physically exerted herself much over the day, she felt exhausted nonetheless. Thankfully, her father excused her early, explaining that they would be taking the rest of their time to focus on matters that didn’t concern her. She resented being excluded from her own engagement, but gratefully accepted any excuse to escape additional social obligations.

    Rushing away as discreetly as she could, she took refuge in her room and shut the door behind her. She pulled out the pin holding her hair in the severe bun her mother had made, so tight it had long since given her a headache, and tossed the unwanted ornament in the drawer of her bedside table.

    The metal accessory rattled around noisily in the compartment. Yet instead of the usual empty clanging she anticipated, it knocked against something upright and fell onto a soft surface. Momentarily diverted from her woe, she reached inside and pulled the objects in question. The wooden dove and letter from this morning. She’d completely forgotten about them until now.

    Wanting a distraction from her catastrophe of a day, she unfolded the note.

    "If ever you should want for an escape from cruelty, you know where solace waits for you. Don't let them clip your wings, mourning dove."

    Junko found tears welling in her eyes, and buried her face in a pillow. How was it that this thief, this lawless and shameless rogue, was so much kinder to her than her own flesh and blood? She didn’t understand. All this time they had promised her they knew best for her, that they’d find her someone who’d take care of her. He was supposed to be someone nice and gentle and desirable in some way. But nothing had been like she imagined!

    Was this the kind of person they’d thought she’d appreciate? Is this how they thought of her? As some raving buffoon, constantly going on about nonsensical things, who professed to know great important things, but really knew nothing at all? She wasn’t so outlandish and capricious was she? Such a queer child?

    Or perhaps they hadn’t even tried at all. Maybe this was a man who suited only their tastes with no consideration as to hers, the one who was to coexist with him from then on. Surely they weren’t so callous as to pawn her off on the first stranger who came knocking? Or might this have been the only one idiotic to come at all? Was she so unpleasant that she’d been stripped of even the token value she once had?

    She didn’t understand. She didn’t understand how things wound up this way. She’d trusted them, relied upon faith when everything else seemed illogical. And now here she was, made a fool out of. A pretty toy too dull to even recognize the cage she’d been trapped in. Some flightful dove she turned out to be. Perhaps that was why Ai had given this to her, to mock her like the dummy she was.

    She didn’t understand. And the more she didn’t understand, the more it hurt. And the more it hurt, the harder she wept. Clutching the torturous gift in one hand against her chest and the upsettingly compassionate note in the other, she hiccupped and wailed pitifully. Junko cried, alone in the darkness, with no one to hear her but her shadow.

    As soon as the rain stopped, Junko escaped from the manor grounds to find solace. She could barely stand to keep to a quiet walk, urging her mare into a gallop as soon as she disappeared under the forest's eaves, her loose hair flying in the wind. The trees still dripped and the plants that occasionally brushed her legs were covered in raindrops. Water splashed from the many puddles along the trail. Junko was soaked, but couldn't bring herself to care, even as the night quickly grew chill.

    It took more time than usual for Ai to appear. Long after the point when she'd feel something go missing from her person, she was left untouched. It was unclear whether the rogue vagrant would show up at all. However, just past the halfway point of Junko's route, a disturbance could be heard close by. Ai dropped out of a nearby tree, her cloak fluttering behind her like the wings of a bat. Landing stable on her feet, she met the familiar rider with an untrained bow and a clever smile. "Another lovely night for a walk, isn't it, Lady Konno?"

    "Oh, you needn't be so sarcastic, I'm really not in the mood for your mockery," Junko said, half miserable and half angry. "Just take what you want and go, if that's how you're going to be."

    "There really is no way to greet you that you'll approve of, is there?" She commented idly, taking up stride next to Dancer. At least the friendly equine was happy to see her. "What's soured your temperament today?"

    "You wouldn't understand," Junko told her bitterly. "I'm sure you think people like me have nothing to be sad or angry about. How could we? We're wealthy and titled."

    Now that was an ironclad comeback. Ai could only press her mouth into a hard line and jokingly nod her head as if she'd been found out. "I will admit the idea has crossed my mind once or twice," she gently agreed. "Although you often seem to prove me wrong, dearest."

    Junko flinched visibly at those words in spite of Ai's mild tone, hearing the unwitting echo of her mother. It ripped into the heart of Junko's pain and she found herself struggling to breathe as it immediately overwhelmed her.

    Ai waited through the silence, eventually made curious and impatient by the lack of a response. Without initially recognizing the danger that was posed, she glanced back at her company and called out to her, “Junko?”

    Junko didn't even hear her, too lost in fighting the desperate need to scream or cry or flee, or perhaps all three. All she could do was silently gasp for air. Dancer felt her shaking and planted her hooves in a stubborn stop, tossing her head and snorting anxiously.

    Swiftly, Ai took a step backwards towards Junko’s side. She grabbed Dancer’s reins and kept them steady to ease the horse’s nerves. More importantly, she took hold of Junko’s hand and squeezed it firmly. She called out to her again more seriously than before, “Junko?”

    The contact managed to draw Junko's attention but she couldn't answer, her chest too tight to allow more than quick panicked breaths barely enough to keep her conscious. She clung to Ai's hand, her wide eyes dark and pleading.

    With a deeply worried expression, Ai grew tired of having to reach up to the rider to get to her. Carefully, she grabbed Junko’s waist and lifted her off of the horse. Once her feet touched the dewy grass, Ai slipped her arms around Junko and embraced her. She hadn’t any idea if this would provide comfort but it was probably the best console she could offer. “You’re okay,” she began speaking softly. “It’s alright. You’re safe and nothing is going to hurt you.”

    Junko managed a little whimper, burying her face in Ai's shoulder. She could imagine what her mother would say if she saw her now, and it only made things worse. She wept in Ai's arms, tears falling to wet the bandit's cloak, but Ai only held her closer.

    She wrapped her cloak around Junko — it would prove warmer than anything else — and kept talking to her. “It’s okay. Everything is okay. There’s no one here but you and me, no one to say anything, no one to see. Everything is alright. It’s just us.” She continued on in a similar manner until Junko started to come back to her.

    Slowly, the warmth and contact and comforting words eased the crushing tightness in Junko's chest and soothed her frantic mind. She gradually relaxed, her breaths coming more easily until she was able to manage a deep, shuddering sigh.

    As Junko calmed down, Ai slowly retreated away from her. Once she was more cognizant of the world around her, Ai got the impression Junko wouldn’t want her so close. Nevertheless, she stayed near enough proximity should the lady need anything more. She averted her eyes, both to give Junko some semblance of privacy and to portray some sense of indifference. It wasn’t very becoming of a supposedly hardened criminal to get so, well, touchy feely all of a sudden. Although despite her best attempts, concern was still evident on her face and her gaze kept sneaking back to the lady.

    Junko couldn't help feeling disappointed when Ai drew away, the loss of her comfort leaving Junko cold and bereft. "I'm sorry," she whispered, barely audible.

    “Don’t be,” Ai stated back. She made sure to give Junko her space. Fiddling with one of her golden earrings, she surveyed the girl stealthily to confirm that she was back to being alright. Once it seemed like a good time, she half mumbled a nervous question. “Did I um…. Did I do something wrong?”

    Junko shook her head, her loose hair scattering the moonlight. "No, it wasn't your fault. I'm just a useless mess, I'm afraid."

    With a small nod, Ai sighed to herself, finally able to calm her own nerves. After a quiet moment, she let herself fall to the ground for a rest with a muted thud. “Well, aren’t we all?” she commented casually from the grass. “There’s no shame in it. I don't think there’s really anyone who can claim elsewise, least of all me.”

    "I don't know about everyone being a mess, but there's nothing but shame in it for me. Even if we are a mess, people like me aren't supposed to show it." Junko folded herself into the wet grass. Her dress was already soaked and probably ruined, and she'd be punished for it anyway.

    “Perhaps not, but if that’s the case then you’re still in the clear. After all, the only person who’s seen it is, you know, a nobody. Surely, you’re allowed to show some things when nobody is around?” She gave her a reassuring smile before producing a handkerchief for Junko should she want it. Although the noblewoman might find it quite familiar since it was, in fact, hers as evident by the embroidered initials of JK. “I don’t have my own…” Ai explained with chagrin.

    Junko was already reaching for it when she did a double take as she recognized it. She stared for a moment then laughed softly. It was a tired and somewhat sad sound, but it was laughter nonetheless. It was certainly enough to brighten Ai’s grin.

    “That’s much better to hear,” she praised. “I was beginning to wonder if laughter was ‘unladylike’ as well.”

    "It is," Junko admitted, dabbing at her face with her handkerchief. "But I'm already a complete failure at being a lady, so what does it matter?"

    “It is?” Ai gawked. She was understanding less of this etiquette stuff as she went along. “...I’m not sure I see the value in being one if I’m completely honest. Where is the joy in a life devoid of laughter?”

    "Joy has nothing to do with being a lady. A lady's purpose is to marry well and bear her husband's children, to oversee house and home for him, to be quiet and obedient and lovely and nothing else."

    Ai listened to her attentively while watching the stars above. “And… this is something you want to do?” She tried and failed to hide the skepticism in her voice.

    Junko gave her an odd look. "What does that matter?"

    Ai gave her an odd look back and took a minute to find her wording. “Because if you don’t, then you probably shouldn’t do it?”

    Junko only looked more confused. "You speak as if a husband is some piece of jewelry, that I can choose whether or not to wear."

    “Is it not? To my knowledge, marriage is still an agreement between two parties. If you are not interested, can you not simply decline? Your family seems wealthy enough, surely not desperate for any resources. What is there to be lost?”

    "Marriage is an agreement between the husband-to-be and the bride's father," Junko protested, still confused. "Those are the two parties, not the bride and groom. Why would a young girl be entrusted with such an important decision?"

    “You say that as if you’re incapable of making important decisions,” she laughed with exasperation. “You’re as competent as anyone else and hardly any older than me. Most of the rest of us do not wait for someone else to choose our lives for us. How do you think I ended up where I am?”

    “It is your life, mourning dove. You’re the one who has to live it. Surely you have some opinions on the matter. Are you not the ultimate say in what you would find favorable or not? Or are your feelings simply not a concern of anyone’s at all?” She didn’t want to be harsh on the girl. Far be it from her to lecture anyone about anything, but goodness! She didn’t know how else to try and explain to her that she ought to be a factor in all this. Had no one ever told her as much?

    "My parents know what's best for me," Junko said sadly. "So they always told me. I trusted them."

    Ai mulled something over in her head before eventually asking gently, “Have their decisions been for the best? Have they set you up with a good life and made you happy?”

    "They promised they would," Junko said, and there was no hiding the hurt and betrayal in her voice. "They promised to find me a good man, someone kind and worthy who would take care of me. They told me over and over, 'we only want what’s right for you', and I believed it," she was starting to sniffle again.

    A similar suffering was mirrored in Ai’s expression. “I’m not so certain they’ve been completely honest with you, precious. Whatever they’ve given you does not seem to have brought about the best.”

    Junko closed her eyes and whispered, "I’m beginning to feel like the ghost you first mistook me to be."

    Ai frowned. “You’re not a phantom,” she corrected her. “Your soul is still living, present here besides me.” Taking a lock of her angelic white hair, she brushed it behind her ear and held her fingers there for a moment. “I can see you just fine.”

    Junko shivered a little - only because it was so cold, not because of the soft touch, of course. She stayed still, her eyes closed. Her heart started to beat in her chest as she heard Ai stirring nearby. Kneeling next to her, she felt the thief repeat the movement on her other side, similarly letting her fingers linger on her.

    The moonlight really did flatter Junko. It shimmered in her hair and caught in her eyelashes. Her rosy tear-stained cheeks reflected a heavenly glow. Ai couldn’t help but notice how the shadows softened her lips as she continued to pout sorrowfully. How much sadness could one wealthy young woman exude, she wondered, and how might it all be taken away?

    There was a long pause where the only movement came from the wind blowing past them and the chirps of nighttime musicians. Junko sat waiting, unsure for what, but longing for it with all her being until Ai finally pulled away from her and backed up some distance.

    “You must be tired,” her voice eventually spoke. Junko’s eyes fluttered open to see Ai standing before her and offering her hand. “It’s getting late, even for rebellious nobles who like to sneak away when it’s dark. How about we get you back on your way home before you end up having to spend the night here with me.”

    Junko felt her breath leave her in a disheartened sigh. "I suppose that might be for the best." She let Ai pull her to her feet and made a meager attempt to straighten out her dress. Her horse, who had been investigating a patch of rather expensive flowers while they were talking, was led back over begrudgingly. Ai held the mare in place as Junko climbed back into her saddle and handed her the reins.

    Junko looked down at the thief pensively. "Why are you doing this? You don't have to be kind in order to steal from me."

    Ai let her eyes wander away from Junko with a coyly apathetic expression. “Oh you know what they say. You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar.” She shrugged one shoulder nonchalantly. “I can’t have you running off on me and deciding to take a different route for your midnight rides now, can I? How would I get ahold of your pretty jewelry then?” She smirked light-heartedly at Dancer as she gave the mare one last pat on the head.

    Junko wasn't convinced, especially since she had yet to see any possessions of hers disappear tonight. Perhaps the thief had started to turn over a new leaf, but she said nothing and simply took her leave to head home. It wasn’t until she was trotting along the path a little further on that she noticed. Absentmindedly, she put a hand to the side of her face where the memory of Ai’s fingers had been. The bandit really did have a delicate touch. It was then that she realized her earrings were missing.

    She shouldn’t be surprised really and she knew the culprit was only a short ways back, snickering to herself as she watched the scene. All through the ride back she felt Ai's eyes on her, and it should have unnerved her but instead it felt oddly comforting.

    Things never did recover from Kotaro’s first visit. Junko’s potential suitor had stopped by numerous times since then. On each occasion Junko steeled her nerves and tried to find some way to understand him and each time she failed. Whenever she felt like she had grown accustomed to his quirks, she was proven grossly incorrect.

    The lord drove his peculiar horse carriage like a madman. It was reckless enough that he’d nearly run her over. He spoke in riddles that were hopeless to decipher since he refused to answer any reasonable questions. He was sometimes followed by the strangest kind of dog she had ever seen in her life. He had a penchant for alcohol that concerned her, she’d yet to ever see what his eyes looked like, and she was fairly certain she once heard him make reference to killing a young woman!

    But it wasn’t just the eccentricities that put her off. If Lord Tatsumi was simply a difficult man to get to know that would be one thing. Much could be excused if there were something beneath it all to connect to, but she couldn’t even find that. In quieter moments when the man was easier to deal with and more human, the person she found was just far too removed from her to ever be compatible.

    There had been an afternoon where they were managing to enjoy their time together. The lord was minding a book from their library as she made progress on a sewing project. Peacefully, she had begun to sing to herself quietly as she worked. It was a simple melody taught to her by one of her tutors to help the day pass. And yet only a short ways in, she was interrupted by a noisy coughing.

    “Pardon me,” he had said over his shoulder without looking at her. “But could you please stop singing? I find music to be very bothersome.”

    Her jaw dropped in aghast and she was left speechless. What sort of man—no, what sort of person didn’t enjoy music? And how could such an individual ever pair well with a songbird such as herself!

    The irreconcilable differences between them astounded her. To the best of her ability, she attempted to discuss the matter with her mother and father. Over and over she mentioned her unease and discomfort to them. Delicately, she prodded into their reasoning and offered up any excuse she could think of to explain their actions. And yet their answers were never reassuring.

    At first they merely encouraged her to give it more time. “It’s only been one day, dearest. Allow yourself to get to know him. Appearances can be deceiving.”

    Then it was a lack of perspective. “You’re only focusing on the negative. Everyone has their flaws. Try to look on the bright side and see the positive.”

    Next they wanted her to be more reasonable. “These suitors are not grapes on a vine for you to select or dispose of as you see fit, Junko. You’re not a child anymore. You need to be more realistic about your future. Would you rather become a spinster?”

    Until finally they grew irritated and simply told her to be quiet. “We've despaired of trying to get you to ever seem happy about it, but fortunately for you he has remained interested. Your father has nearly finished negotiations with him, so Lord Tatsumi will be formally proposing before long. You will not embarrass us by refusing, is that understood?"

    And despite the unsatisfied rage inside her heart, she had no choice but to agree and keep her mouth shut. “I understand.” She had to dig her nails into her palm to get the words out completely.

    "Much better," Junko's mother nodded briskly. "One must be practical, after all. I can't imagine where you got this notion that you can pick and choose. As if love has anything to do with marriage - what a ridiculous idea! I don't believe I've ever known any woman who even liked her husband, much less loved him. Husbands provide for their wives, wives provide children for their husbands. If you don't like him, then simply grit your teeth until you've given him a few brats and he loses interest in you."

    Her mother’s remarks went in one ear and out the other. She couldn’t help but let an indignant glower come to her face. She was no longer interested in heeding her advice. “I’m sorry to have been such a burden then,” she muttered with clear hurt. Apparently a brat is all she’d ever been and she was appealing to the wrong person. So be it. She wouldn’t waste her breath any longer.

    Junko's mother slapped her. "I didn't raise you to be impertinent. You'd do well to remember that you'll get worse if you act like this with your husband."

    She reeled from the shock more than the quick sting of pain. Her gaze was forced to the side with the turn of her head. She opted not to turn it back and look at the woman. Instead, she bit her tongue, quite literally, and fell into silence. She had nothing else to say.

    "Now go and put some ice on that. You mustn't be blemished when Lord Kotaro proposes," Junko's mother instructed, and swept out of the room.

    Once permitted to leave, Junko did so quietly and swiftly. However, it wasn’t to pursue any ice. If she developed a welt then so be it. If that bothered her mother then she’d have no one to blame but herself. She didn’t want to see anyone right now. She just wanted to be alone.

    Junko’s unhappy mood persisted for days after she gave up trying to bargain with her family. She only came out of her room when she was told to and hardly spoke when she did. Although her family seemed to regard this as a positive change. Even her midnight rides were held off, no longer holding any interest for her. What use was it to pretend to be able to leave at this point? Perhaps she should just finally become accustomed to her cage.

    Unfortunately for her, there was one other person who wasn’t as fond of the change and didn’t take well to being neglected. Despite her attempts to isolate herself away from everyone else, there came an evening where she once again noticed something perched upon her windowsill. It was only visible by the way it blocked out the light of the distant stars and this time it was much bigger than a bird.

    Junko squeaked in alarm and held her breath, wondering fearfully what was at her window. To her surprise, the shadow perked up in response. She watched as the vague silhouette of a figure finished ascending the wall just outside her room and used the window to sneak inside. Slowly lowering herself down onto her bedroom floor, her form was disrupted by the graceful gliding of a long cloak. With a small tug, the intruder pulled her hood down revealing a familiar pair of golden earrings and a devilish smirk.

    “Lady Konno,” she called cheerfully, sitting herself on the window’s edge with casualness. “You haven’t come to see me in quite some time. You leave me no choice but to visit myself.”

    "Ai!" Junko breathed, wide-eyed. "What are you doing here? It's dangerous, you'll get caught!"

    “You left me all alone,” she pouted. “It was very rude if I’m being honest. I was expecting you after all.” She kicked her feet nonchalantly and only continued to grin. “But you needn’t fret over me, precious. If I was bad at sneaking into places then I wouldn’t still be around to talk to you. No one will know I’m here. That is, not unless you tell them, of course?” Her voice trailed up at the end with an inquisitive tone.

    "You can rob them blind for all I care," Junko said bitterly. "But you must resign yourself to my absence. I won't be here much longer."

    “Is that so, mourning dove?” she asked somewhat sadly. She stood to begin roaming around the room idly. She’d never seen it after all. The lady must have plenty of fine possessions worthy of her attention. “I don’t suppose that’s because you’ll be flying off to something new and exciting?” She procured a book from one of Junko’s dressers and paged through it curiously.

    Junko snorted, a very unladylike sound. "I'm being packed off to a husband. Or perhaps I should say sold off."

    Ai closed her book with a soft snap and a terse expression. “Are you really letting yourself go through with that?” she commented while moving on to riffle through more of Junko’s things. “I would have thought the courageous noble lady who went out in the dead of night and told off robbers she met would be a little more assertive, especially in circumstances as dire as this.” She next found her lute and childishly plucked on the strings in a distinctly tuneless series of notes.

    "What do you mean, letting myself?" Junko frowned. "I've tried telling my parents I don't want this marriage, but they won't listen! They've made it very clear I'll be marrying this man no matter what I think. The last time I tried to protest, Mother slapped me. See?" She turned her face to show Ai the red mark on her fair skin.

    Delicately putting the instrument back, Ai walked closer. Stepping from the outskirts into the light of Junko's room, it was likely the first time the lady had seen her fully. Glinting off of her earrings and sparkling in her eyes, the firelight complimented her much more than moonlight. It illuminated the concaves of her visage that were typically covered by shadows. The extra volume filled out her face revealing how handsome her features were. The sharp line of her jaw contrasted with the round curve of her cheeks. Little details divulged themselves: a faded scar on the bridge of her nose, a fresh bruise just below the corner of her eye, a scattering of freckles, and spots of dirt. She was far from the well bred and perfectly poised men Junko had been presented with all her life and yet despite the imperfections that roughen her around the edges, she stood out among them all.

    In the same vein, Ai slipped a couple fingers under Junko’s chin and tilted it up to better examine the mark. A stern frown forced itself upon her. “That isn’t right.” She stated simply.

    Junko felt herself blushing at the soft touch and the intense scrutiny. "It is reassuring to know I'm not the only one who thinks so," she admitted. "I don't want this, but I don't know what else I can do. If Mother can do this merely because I tried to voice my objections, what more will she do? Lock me in my room? Withhold my meals? Have me whipped, even? This house may have always been a cage I was too blind to see, but now it feels like the prison you said it was. And if this man will marry me against my wishes, how can he be anything but worse? I may be sheltered but I've been told what to expect on the wedding night and…" she shuddered. "Oh Ai, I can't bear it!"

    The thief felt her trembling. Carefully she used her other hand to wipe away the lady’s tears before they could well up too much and fall. “They don’t know your worth.” She sounded as if she were talking more to herself than Junko truthfully, but the sentiment remained. She took a moment to sigh deeply, before picking up her mannerisms in a way that showed less pity and more resolve.

    “Junko, there is more to the world than just what you find within these walls. You’ve seen it, haven’t you? On our evening strolls, you know that there are beautiful things out there just beyond your reach.” She caught Junko’s eye and made sure she was seeing her as she spoke. “You are a strong, brave young woman with a whole life ahead of you. They might need you desperately to comply with these things, but you do not need them.”

    Junko's blush deepend and it took a moment to collect her thoughts, lost as she was in those dark eyes. "I want to believe that. But even if I could simply walk away - and I greatly fear my family will not make that easy - then what? There's nothing here I'd regret walking away from, aside from Dancer, but being without a home or any means…where would I sleep? How would I eat? I have no value to anyone save as a bride, and if I walk away then I lose even that."

    “You needn’t be useful to anyone. You can get by like the rest of us.” Breaking their gaze to glance around the room, she went on. “Granted, it won’t be anything quite like this but it might be better still? Something you’ll appreciate more and perhaps not as bad as you may imagine. In the very least it would be your choice and you wouldn’t have to answer to anyone. Surely that’s enough.” It had always been for her. Well, nearly…

    Junko looked doubtful. "I don't think I'll find my freedom much consolation when I'm sleeping on the streets with an empty stomach and no way to keep warm."

    Ai’s composure faltered. Her mouth was pressed into a hard line and her brow furrowed. She seemed as if she had more she wanted to say but she couldn’t quite find the words and ultimately abandoned the thought. Instead she huffed quietly to herself in defeat.

    Her fingers fell away from Junko’s jaw, but before leaving her entirely, they touched the necklace worn tightly against her neck. Redirecting her attention, she observed the piece with less enthusiasm than she typically regarded expensive items. Her hand lifted the large ornament hanging just atop Junko’s chest, brushing lightly against the skin underneath as she did. Holding its weight in her palm, her thumb glided over the smooth gemstone as it reflected multitudes of colors in a fascinating display. “It’s a heavy burden, isn’t it?” she judged with a disinterested tone.

    Junko's heart stopped at the feel of Ai's hand against her chest. She nodded, unable to muster words when all of her senses were focused on that small spot of contact. The rogue only spared a peek up at the lady. Junko's eyes fell closed as Ai's clever fingers slipped under the band and followed it around to the back of her neck, the faintest sound escaping her throat. Meticulously and methodically, the pickpocket undid the clasp with practiced expertise and ease. Junko felt as though her skin caught fire in the wake of even the slightest touch. The necklace fell loose in only a matter of seconds, right into Ai’s waiting hand, leaving Junko breathless in a way she couldn't explain.

    Ai studied the newly acquired jewelry with a discerning eye. Yet despite its clear value and rarity, she didn’t appear to find anything of notability. Once again addressing Junko, she offered her a slight, trying smile, “Then bear it no longer.”

    Junko opened her eyes as Ai's touch left her, feeling an inexplicable urge to lean towards the thief for more. She smiled weakly, feeling off balance and confused.

    Already having tucked the necklace away in some unseen pocket of her cloak, Ai stepped back from Junko. “Does no one ever ask where these lost items go?” She inquired lightheartedly.

    "Ah," Junko sighed a bit, clearer-headed for the space Ai had put between them but missing it already. "So far only one. Mother asked about the bracelet, I told her I had lost it on one of my evening rides. She was quite angry about it."

    Ai’s smile widened to her eyes. “Did you really?” She placed her hands on her hips, delightfully surprised and impressed. “That must have been a difficult decision for a prim and proper lady such as yourself and all for little, ol’ criminal me,” she snickered, or really giggled almost girlishly, reading into Junko’s motives and being amused at the result.

    Then she paused for a beat and reconsidered the issue. “Or wait.” Suddenly losing her mirth and having it replaced with apologetic concern. “You didn’t get into too much trouble for that, did you? Nothing uh, painful, right?” She gestured to her cheek suggestively. Worry and slight chagrin now showed on her face.

    Junko smiled softly. "It's sweet of you to worry so. But not that time, no. I got sent to bed without supper for a week, is all."

    Unfortunately, this did not satisfy Ai, who gasped in offense very sincerely. “A whole week! That’s hardly fair. You’re thinking about how you’ll eat if you leave home when they’re not even feeding you here!” She folded her arms over her chest and grumbled on in objection. “I bet it wouldn’t be hard to nick something from the kitchen, especially this late…”

    Junko dared to put a hand on Ai's arm. "It's fine, really. I never eat much anyway, and I wouldn't want you taking extra risks for something so slight."

    The face Ai pulled couldn’t quite be described but resembled some mix of irritation and dismay. She was in fierce disagreement. “Couldn’t even call it a risk...” she muttered to herself as if her capabilities were being questioned. Nevertheless, she placed her hand over Junkos and relented. “But if you say so. Next time I’ll just bring you something then. I’m not keen on letting her control what you do and don’t have.”

    "She's my mother; of course she does. She controls everything about my life," Junko shrugged. "Don't worry about me. I'm used to this sort of thing."

    “Well she doesn’t control me,” Ai stated confidently. “I say that I’m bringing you food when I come see you next and she can try and stop me.”

    Junko regarded her warmly. "You know, for a thief and a rogue, you're really a very kind person, aren't you?"

    The vagrant in question raised an eyebrow at her. “If that’s what you think then I’d respectfully say your standards are low,” she responded facetiously. “What I am is someone who doesn’t like to follow the rules, so I don’t. Whatever comes after simply comes.” She turned away so her cloak swept behind her dramatically. Although, the impression it left was more dorky and silly than it was majestic as she intended.

    Junko chuckled quietly. "Thank you, Ai," she whispered.

    If Ai heard her, she made no indication of it. Becoming stoic, she let herself stare out the open window she had entered through. “I suppose it’s about time I leave you alone though.” This was about how long their meet ups usually lasted when Junko was dictating their length. She didn’t want to overstay her very tentative welcome.

    "I suppose you must," Junko said sadly. "It is selfish of me to say, but I am glad you came. It was nice to be with someone who sees me as a person and not a commodity." She wanted to ask, 'will I see you again?' but she knew she could not - even if Ai were willing, to ask her to put herself at risk would be unconscionable. "I… I don't suppose I'll see you again. In three days I'll be engaged; in a fortnight I'll be married and gone from here forever." She managed a brave smile, in spite of the tears that threatened.

    Ai, however, made no attempt to accept her goodbyes. “We’ll meet again,” her conviction stated definitively. “You’re too valuable to leave behind and really, you couldn’t get rid of me if you tried, precious.” Which evidently, she didn’t. The dashing rogue shot the lady one last suave wink.

    She made her way to the exit and seated herself on the ledge with one foot hanging out. With a quick pull, her hood flipped back over her head. The shade it provided concealed her face in darkness, but Junko could still see those striking red eyes peering over at her just under the brim with unknowable intentions. “Wait for me,” was all she said before she was gone; disappeared back into the shadows she came from where Junko couldn’t reach her.

    Junko gave a deep sigh, feeling comforted by the promise. But why, she wondered, was that comfort accompanied by a quiet little flutter in her chest that grew every time she thought of Ai saying 'wait for me'?

    He took her to the garden, the beautiful outdoor landscape she spent so much time in during the day and the night. It was a special place to her, the perfect setting for something wonderful to happen. But somehow, even though she’d spent her whole life preparing for this moment, it didn’t feel very wonderful.

    She didn’t hear the words he had spoken. She didn’t see the looks on her family’s faces. She didn’t feel the warm solace that her sanctuary usually gave her nor the happiness and exhilaration of a big change. There was only the smooth cold metal of the ring on her left hand. The polished silver band held to her finger tightly, the exact size it needed to be to stay in place. Affixed. Unmoving. Everlasting. Permanent. It seemed a constant attachment, always in the corner of her vision, noticeable whenever she used her hand, persistently felt on her at all times.

    It only truly dawned on her in that moment what she was agreeing to. Reality suddenly struck her like lightning and pooled like dread in her stomach. It would be a life away from everyone and everything she’d ever known. A life forever chained to someone she neither knew nor liked. A life without moments of respite or escape. A life without laughter or joy or music. A life without…

    She hadn’t seen Ai yet. There had been some sparse signs of her. In the morning she’d found a small meal left for her, just like she promised. She recognized the bread from a local baker and the fruit was likely taken from some of the trees on the property. It was a welcome surprise nonetheless and probably the most she'd managed to eat in some time

    Another day it had been a flower with five small yellow petals cut from a bush with a note wrapped around the stem. It held an excerpt from the book Ai had looked through the night she visited, a poem about a golden sun and a silver moon paralleling each other. They were caught in an endless orbit, chasing after one another, but happy to dance together forever. After all, even the stars in the sky remain beloved and admired despite their long, celestial distance.

    Yet another night she was awoken by the sound of a thud on her balcony. Hurriedly, she jumped from her bed and rushed to the window, but no matter where she looked, her midnight caller was nowhere to be found.

    She had gone longer periods of time without seeing Ai. Ordinarily, their interactions did not come again so soon and yet she felt the absence so much more now than she had before. Her thief had said they would meet again, promised she would see her, yet here she was alone with no one around and no one to talk to.

    The evening found Junko tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep. The moonlight coming through the window seemed to call to her, stirring her to restlessness with wild thoughts of defying her mother, of running away, of things she could not even know or name. Her troubled heart beat away brokenly in her chest until finally she heard something.

    “Junko?” a voice murmured close by.

    Junko sat up with a gasp, looking wildly around the darkened room. "Ai? Is that you?" She could scarcely dare to dream...

    A shadow stood at the end of her bed and met her with a broad grin. Taking her response as an invitation, she stealthily advanced to the side of her bed to greet her. “Of course, camellia. I said that I’d come, didn't I?”

    Junko let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "Oh, you're here, you're really here. I know you said you would be, but I didn't see you day after day and then the engagement…"

    “Yes, I… saw that,” she admitted as her gaze fell to the side with slight remorse. “Listen, Junko. Don’t do this.” She picked up the lady’s hand and held it between her own pleadfully. “You don’t want it.”

    Junko covered Ai's hand with her free one. "I don't. I don't want to. I hate this, every time I think about it I want to cry. I know I'm selfish to ask, but please, Ai. Please help me. I don't even care what will happen to me. I don't want to marry him. I can't. I just can’t!"

    It was difficult to watch the girl crack like this, but she pressed on. “Let me take you away from here. You can blame it on me if you want, say that I snuck in and kidnapped you so you don’t get in trouble. We can hide out nearby until this all blows over. I can keep you safe.”

    "Oh, would you? Would you really?" Junko asked sincerely, hope dawning in her wide blue eyes.

    Ai squeezed her hand tightly. “Just say the word.”

    Junko leapt to her feet. She hastily put out her left hand and offered it to Ai. "Yes, Ai. Please, I want to go with you."

    Kneeling before her, Ai took her hand into hers. With unmatched care and delicateness, she gently seized the ring and removed it from her lady’s finger, relieving her of all that came with it. She kept a hold on Junko’s hand and looked up with a potent expression of elation and relief. Junko smiled back at her, and though her eyes shone with unshed tears, her smile was soft and sweet and more genuinely happy than Ai had ever seen her.

    With the proposal accepted, Ai stood wordless for a moment. Regarding Junko warmly, she bid, “Let’s go,” and pulled her away. She moved towards the balcony and worked quickly to retrieve a bundle she’d tossed up there only the other day. She threw it over the railing where it rolled out into a rope ladder reaching down to the ground.

    “I figured it would be easier than climbing,” Ai explained. Stepping gallantly onto the banister, she went on. “Let me go first so I can hold it steady for you.” It didn’t take long for her to slide down and hit the grass with a hushed thump. “Whenever you’re ready,” she called back up quietly.

    Junko rushed to the ledge, ready to leave everything behind, then paused as she thought of something. She descended a moment later, her feet hastily shoved in unlaced shoes and a small bag looped around one wrist, grinning merrily.

    Raising an eyebrow at her, Ai asked, “Something important?”

    Junko giggled. "Oh, just the rest of my jewelry. I thought it might come in handy."

    Ai snorted, a very undashing sound. “Now you’re getting into it. All the better to set the scene.” She took Junko’s hand again and ushered her along. “Come on, we should keep moving.”

    It was difficult to make out anything in the dark, but Ai was certain she had left something around here somewhere… Aha! Just a short ways away from where they landed, on the outskirts of the property, Ai pulled back a pair of shrubbery to reveal their method of getaway. The horse hardly looked up, content to continue grazing on the hedge Ai had parked her by.

    "Dancer!" Junko exclaimed softly. She took a moment to pet her beloved mare and kiss her velvety nose before swinging into the saddle easily in spite of her loose footwear.

    Ai watched her with genuine delight. Junko perched on Dancer's back as naturally as a bird on a branch. She supposed she shouldn't be surprised. Nevertheless, she set her hands on the saddle and hopped up behind her. Her arms reached out on either side of the girl, holding her in place as they rode. "Hang onto me if you need." She kicked the horse into a trot.

    Junko didn't need to - she'd learned to ride nearly as early as she'd learned to walk. Dancer had been born when Junko was a baby, and had been Junko's first birthday gift. She leaned forward and whispered in Dancer's ear, urging her into a canter even without the reins.

    The jump in speed caught Ai off guard. She did not share Junko's experience frankly, but she found her rhythm and balance again soon enough. Starting out on their usual route, Ai diverted them from the path toward a deeper part of the forest surrounding Junko's summer home. Off they went, slipping away from sight into the place that held all of their other secrets, where no one would be able to find them.