Chapter 9

"Yuji..."

Seems like I've been calling this name for quite sometime now.

"Yuji, please don't cry..."

I don't understand. Who is he? Why is he crying... for me?

The feeling of being drifted from a certain place indulged within my body as I slowly regaining my consciousness from my sleep. I opened my eyes and the light from the sun beaming inside my room welcomed me to a new morning. I looked around and saw Mei-chan preparing my kimono for the day. I pulled my body up from the bed and looked at her with a slightly furrowed brow greeting her. Seems that she noticed  the my unusual mood today upon seeing my confused face as soon as I woke up.

"My lady, you had those dreams again?" She asked me with the sound of worry in her soft voice.

I couldn't answer, instead I tried to remember each episode that I just dreamed. My face looked so tensed with the sense of irritation on it. Why am I dreaming something-- someone who I don't even know? And why am I dreaming this same episodes most of the time? Who the hell is Yuji?

Mei-chan brought me a glass of water to help me calm down. Her kindness and how she takes care of people always saves me especially in these scenarios. Good thing I have her by my side.

"Is it the same thing again?" She finally asked, perhaps she really can't wait.
"I don't know why." I replied. I clenched my fist on the blanket. "I've been seeing these dreams ever since I talked to Hamada-san a month ago."
" Hamada-san? You mean Nozomu-sama's swordsmith?"
" I have a feeling that I should see him again."

I jumped out from my bed, grabbed my kimono and started changing my night clothing. Mei-chan helped me to fix my clothes as usual, gently wrapping my body with such a great luxurious silk.

"I am afraid you can't do that today." Mei-chan carefully blurted those words.
"Why can't I? This is important."
"Your advisor arrived today" She replied. "Nakama Junta-sama is here within the castle to help you with the preparations of your wedding with Ryusei-sama."

Ah right. I forgot about that. In a month, I will be married to Ryusei even though obviously we don't love or even like each other. But of course we don't hate each other either. It is the matter of the romantic ideal.

"Just call Nozomu today, I'll head out of the castle before my advisor comes here."
" You can't my lady." Just as soon as Mei-chan finished my kimono, my advisor Nakama Junta-san actually went inside my room.

"We have a lot of things to learn before your royal wedding my Lady. In 3 weeks, our great Shogun will be visiting these grounds together with his wife for your wedding at the same time for the ceremony of your father as the future shogun of our holy land." He added while wearing a stoic face and standing stiff and still on the frame of the door.

Aren't he so talkative? Well, I survived how talkative Nozomu is, but I don't think I can't handle this type. I looked at him straightly and gracefully walked hoping to pass from where he is standing, trying to get away from him. I am the princess right? I know this might sound so bad, but I should at least use my title for now to bypass the decisions of the castle.

"I cannot Nakama-sama." I talked as I walk pass him. "I have more important things to do. You can have a break today."
" No way I'll do that." He turned his body to face me. Now I can feel his look from my back. Wow, this guy is actually intimidating. Advisors are somewhat scary and this is my first time meeting mine.

"This is a request from the main castle. It is to prepare you for the biggest ceremony of the Ashikaga clan."

-----

For three weeks, all I did is to study girly things. What I mean with girly things are those things that a usual wife should do. Apart from that, I am studying about the different clans, countries and their goods and trades, histories and even the names of my ancestors. The whole thing is just boring for me. I never thought that at this moment, I'll be wishing to see Nozomu in an instant.

I shouldn't do these things now. I got something more important to do. I got to see Hamada-san and read the book that he had that might be related to the things happening to me. What really does "reincarnation" means?

As I was sitting on my bed thinking all of these, a soft knock landed on my door. It is very unusual to me since no one actually tried to disturb my rest, at least in this situation of incoming ceremonies.

"Lady Rin?"

Is that Ryusei? He sounds so gloomy.

"May I come in?"