Wings of a Butterfly

[Birdie]

"Good afternoon," Brigantia said, understanding that her friend was only upset by something. She did not know exactly what but she feared it was by her. Instead of initiating more conversation, Brigantia instead began to help with the hanging, making sure each sheet and piece of clothing was neatly placed across the line with out a single wrinkle. As time passed and most of the clothes were hung out, she finally spoke, "Are you alright? I am sorry if things got uncomfortable for you."

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Makoto pouted, puffing out her cheeks as she considered her options. It wouldn't have gotten so uncomfortable if...argh! She turned quickly, going to the dryer clothing and tugging it off the rope. "Do you trust me?" she only paused slightly for an answer while she folded the clothes. "If you do then why didn't you listen to me?" She glared at the ground, not having the nerve to glare at the little butterfly.

"Huh? If you had just waited to introduce that Take-...or whatever, and just took the small steps out of that section than...than none of this would have happened." she scowled, hugging the folded pair of pants to her chest. "Why couldn't you have just listened to me?" It just made no sense. Didn't Brigantia trust her? Didn't she usually obey her orders with a nod instead of lingering on and babbling? If she had just said 'ok' and gone with her...and then said what she had wanted. Sesshoumaru wouldn't have...

She kept her head down, clenching the cloth tightly to her before realizing what she was doing. She quickly went back to work, just to keep herself busy as the butterfly said something...anything! She just had to! Why didn't Brigantia trust her? After all this time?!

[Birdie]

Brigantia was a bit surprised by the question. "Yes, I do," she replied tentatively. Then came the string of sentences which caused her to pause and simply listen. She did not know how to placate her friend or assure her that everything was completely unrelated. The butterfly crouched in the grass, her slender fingers brushing through the blades as she stayed quiet. She had to pick out her choice of words carefully.

"I honestly did not think it would matter as much as it did. I was given a room in that house. I was told to work that garden. I only wished to speak with him in a place I felt most comfortable. Takehiko-san is so very kind and gentle. He looks at me with eyes unclouded by the prejudice directed toward my kind. Even in the beginning you did not like me much. It took time and hard work to get well on with you. And from there harder work with everyone else, because none are so wonderful as you. I was safe there, I thought, to be just Birdie and no one else. And I was viewed as just Birdie. Not the 'hanyou who does everything she is told'." She sniffled as she felt tears come on. She tried very hard not to let herself cry. In the end she won the battle, her fingers continuing their caress to the ground.

"It is not that I do not trust you at all. But for a while I was in a happy dream. I did not want to leave." After a pause she asked, "How do you like Takehiko-san? Have you had the chance to speak with him much?"

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Makoto frowned, keeping her eyes averted as she worked. As much as she was guilt tripping the tanuki, not on purpose of course...it didn't change how she felt. She just wasn't seeing things the same way. She sighed, realizing the problem quickly and knew there was nothing to do to fix it. The two girls had taken things personal from completely different and even opposite perspectives.

She scoffed at the question and threw a large bedding sheet over the rope. "Of course not! That's just silly." she action strained her body and she turned to grab another sheet from the basket. She wanted to talk more on the issue that was bothering both their hearts but she could only see them going around in circles. Thinking on the guy just made her agitated and a little queasy.

With things settled the mood became lighter. But something shifted and she knew immediately what it was. The aura was definitely not as intense as yesterday but there was no mistaking it. She didn't dare turn away from her work and could only glance from the corner of her eye as Sesshoumaru made his way to them. The thought of Lord Sesshoumaru in the servants quarters made her queasy stomach to flips that was close to making her hurl. No one else was in sight but every servant in the building would know of his presence and shared the same feelings.

He didn't mind the extra person and walked straight up to Brigantia, nostrils flaring and eyes scanning over her body rather quickly. "Hn." Satisfied with what he saw and smelled he turned on his heel and left just as casually as he had come.

Makoto stared wide eyed for a moment, shocked and confused before blinking rapidly at Brigantia. "What was that!?"

[Birdie]

Brigantia stood to help out with the next bath of hanging. Her emotions were well in check now and she felt as if she were in no danger of breaking down. Her fingers worked at the edges of cloth, shaking out wrinkles and smoothing things on the line. She was little disappointed that the pair would not take an immediate interest in each other. It would require much more work on her part to get them to interact. She wondered why her friend was so insistent on staying away from members of the opposite sex.

As she began the process of pulling down laundry that had dried from earlier, she felt his presence. Curiously she peaked around a sheet to see his figure coming toward them. She turned a confused eye on her friend, but Makoto looked equally baffled if not more so. She decided to continue on with her work and treat it as if it were nothing strange. When he did come to a stop before her, she kept her gaze lowered as she held a sheet tightly against her chest.

He spoke no words. In fact, he hardly seemed angry at all. Her antenna lowered (similar to a dogs ears when frightened) and her wings fluttered anxiously. Just as quickly as he came, Sesshomaru left. Brigantia finished folding the sheet as Makoto asked her the question.

"He was worried, I think. I can not be completely certain." She smiled and placed the folded sheet in Makoto's basket of dry things. "I think I might go to see Takehiko-san later when I have finished all of the chores, if you would like to join me?" She hoped Makoto would say yes!

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Worried?! The whole statement seemed so ridiculous absolutely imaginable. Maybe Brigantia was making things up to make herself feel better? But...what other reason could their be? She didn't know, but she didn't like other servants picking up on Brigantia's assumption and using it in their gossip as proof for one thing or another. She was so distracted with what had just happened that she nodded before the question truly sunk into her brain.

Makoto quickly tense. Wait, she said Takehiko! But it was too late, the action was done and she couldn't take it back as she groaned considering taking longer on chores than usual to delay such a meeting as long as possible. Either way she would suck it up. It's not like it would be bad, what could go wrong?

[Birdie]

She folded a few more things, thinking back on what Sesshomaru just did. It was strange that he should be worried for her. "Maybe," she said to Makoto, "He thought it was possible I was a shapeshifter or some such and wanted to make sure it was really me and not some sort of enemy..." She trailed off, forgetting that this part of the conversation had already been completed. When she had filled a basket with clean, dry things she bid her goodbyes to her friend and promised to meet up with her when daily chores were completed.

She managed to get herself pulled into a little mending circle. It was a group of the older type youkai who had worked at the castle for a very long time. They invited the little hanyou to join in, wanting to hear little tidbits about her life that they might then share with the other household staff. They also loved to see the looks on her face when they told her all sorts of stories. A few of them were not true, but this did not stop Brigantia to always react to their tales.

On this day they decided to speak on the tanuki. As Brigantia threaded a needle and began to work sewing together a kimono. She listened to them talk about the few past lovers Makoto had managed to gain. It seemed that they had been stolen away from her by Fumiko. Brigantia perked up at this. How could Makoto and Fumiko still be so close if the geisha did such horrible things. Remember that Fumiko's love was of the 'tough variety' Brigantia guessed that perhaps Fumiko gave those men tests to see if they were worthy of Makoto. Those men had been found wanting. Happy with this spin, she listened as they spoke more on Fumiko and her lifestyle before they went on with other servants in the castle.

She had helped mend and resew a lot of things before she decided to gather up Makoto and visit Takehiko. She found the tanuki rather unwilling to go on the visit. Brigantia hoped it was just nerves about seeing a prospective mate. She had always wanted to feel those so called butterflies herself. So many young women who had come to pray to her for love guidance described the feeling and it sounded utterly fantastic.

Brigantia made small talk as they walked toward the dojo. Luckily enough Takehiko was sitting outside, leaning against the building as he relaxed from a long day of training. He had no trouble with it and had become renowned for his fierceness in battle. It was hard to imagine such a relaxed man as a brutal fighter. As he saw the two girls approach he brightened. Bowing deeply to them both he said, "Good afternoon Brigantia-san, Makoto-san. You are both looking well today."

Renturning the bow, Brigantia replied, "Like wise, sir. It is a pleasure to see you again."

"I hope you did not get in too much trouble on my behalf. I just want to say how much I appreciate everything you have done for me." Brigantia blushed a little, unsure how to answer this. She did not much want to talk about what happened between herself and the lord.

"It is a fine day, is it not? The sun is so warm and it seems the world is smiling."

"Aye, absolutely wonderful..." He caught on and would not press the conversation any further. "I also wanted to thank you, Makoto-san, for taking the time out of your busy day to help me here properly."

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Makoto wasn't sure if she dreaded it or not. The whole thing would probably be short and affect her very little. Still she followed after her friend, her tail twitching from her nerves. It wasn't usual that she made her way to the Dojo. She wasn't the type to wander about. Fumiko always came to find her, not the other way around. But still she played along, bowing in introduction with a stiff nod of her head.

She had hoped to maybe stay in the background and listen to them chat, but somehow she had been included. She flushed, caught off guard as she looked away. "I was just doing what I was told." she muttered, feeling the gratitude was highly wasted.

[Birdie]

He inclined his head slightly, considering what she said, "Yes, this is true. But you could have simply pointed me in the direction of the dojo. You brought me all the way inside. I appreciate your dedication." He offered her a small smile. "How long have you been here?" He inquired of both of them, glancing between the two.

"I have not been here more than a a month or two, I think. I do not quite remember. Makoto-san has been here much longer than I! She is quite the veteran and lead me in everything I do. She is so kind and smart, she knows the answer to almost all of the questions I have." She hoped that singing her friend's praises (all of which she felt were extremely true) would perhaps get Takehiko more interested in the tanuki.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Makoto wasn't used to such praises, but made it worse for her was she knew that Brigantia was speaking from her heart. It was easy to shrug off compliments when they meant nothing. But they meant something. Her face quickly heated up and it was a comical red. Sadly, it also gave her a headache as she fumbled for a response to such words. She had nothing.

Instead, she decided to go back to the conversation before the compliments were given. "I was pretty much raised here." she explained, not wanting to go into particulars on how a young girl ended up working at the Western Fortress.

[Birdie]

Takehiko nodded at the replies. Each made sense and certainly clarified certain behaviors from each. He wondered for a few moments why such a delicate and lady like creature as Brigantia had ended up no more than a housemaid. It was not his business though so he did not voice his thoughts. "That is wonderful." He did not know what to say then. They all stood about rather awkwardly in silence. The only one who seemed to be unaware of this was Brigantia who looked between her friend and himself. "Well, I should get back to training. I wish you both well." He bowed deeply to the two girls and went back into the dojo.

Brigantia bowed back before turning toward the tanuki. "That was pleasant, but now what is it we should do? Are there more chores to be done yet? It is strange how agitated I get when I find no work for my hands, considering the stagnant and relaxed sort of life style I used to lead." She said with a small laugh.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Makoto was still slightly irritated with the whole thing. Things were never easy when it came to males. And why Brigantia was trying even though there had been nothing to talk about. She combed her claws through her hair thinking on any other chores that needed to be done. There wasn't really anything that the others weren't already on.

"Why don't you go see if your Lord needs something?" she asked slyly, a toothy smirk coming across her face. "Didn't you already say that he was worried about you?"

[Birdie]

Brigantia shifted uncomfortably. She wished that Makoto had not mentioned the lord. She did not wish to see him just yet. She shook her head vigorously. "No, no... I mean, I might have translated the tunes wrong. He might have thought I was some sort of enemy. Or maybe I just smelled a little strange and he was curious. Sometimes curiosity and worry are a little of the same." But she knew that perhaps Makoto was right. She should go to him and... and what exactly? After a moment she sighed and bid her friend good bye, going to do as she would ask.

Tentatively she sought him out, taking her time to walk across the grounds until she reached him. He stood in the front hall with Jakken. She shyly made her way towards them, bowed low, and opened her mouth to say something but her voice caught. She was very embarrassed about what had transpired and she was not sure how to speak to him. She clasped her hands tightly together as she stood there, shaking. Her insides told her to just run away. "Please forgive me for interrupting, but please, is there anything I might do to assist you?" It was directed at both and neither of them as she stared intently at the floor.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Things indeed needed to be done. Soon the servants would be hustling about busier than before. Jaken had given the news rather urgently and before Sesshoumaru could start the process he turned his attention on Brigantia. Tilting his head to one side, he eyed her thoughtfully. Although there was a slight intensity in his aura that gave away his disatisfaction.

Assist? Jaken huffed, about to send the little butterfly on her way before he spoke up. "The Eastern and Northern lords will be visiting with their generals. He gestured at the large opened room that welcomed their guests much less was used for get togethers with a larger number. "Everything must be wiped down, the floors polished, plants repotted, and relics cleaned." With the long list of jobs to do in such a large room, Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"This must be done by tonight." With that said he turned away, even Jaken doubting the ability of one little hanyou. The swords and shields that hung as decorations were out of reach, and there were many large pots of plants and vased flowers in the room. This is what she'd get for forcing him to stay up late for her return. Not that he needed sleep, but...

Still.

[Birdie]

Everything he said, every note that dripped from his voice and all the things he felt that intertwined with it made her feel sick. She wanted to run away from him again. Perhaps to never come back, but the weight of her debt was much too heavy to do that. She would come back. She would always come back until it was repaid. Glancing at the room, she bowed deeply again to Sesshomaru. "As you wish my lord. I shall get started on it right away." She straightened and headed off to gather her supplies as quickly as she could.

She had to carry buckets across the estate, find the polish used for the swords and such, locate new pots and soil, and towels for cleaning. Her list of supplies seemed endless, but she was determined. Once she had gathered everything she could think of, including a rather rickety ladder, she set about her work. Letting the music of the world bathe her, she hummed happily. It felt good to work, to forget a lot of things that went on.

---

Takehiko had seen Brigantia go back and forth between places with an assortment of cleaning supplies. He had attempted to help her carry buckets of water but she shot him down. It was then he went in search of Makoto. Finding the little tanuki, he bowed to her. "I am sorry, but is Brigantia-san all right? She's been taking a lot of things and she will not allow me to help her. She will not tell me what is going on either. Do you know?"