Mandate of Heaven

~Chapter 2~

Eni stared out the window and watched the rain fall in the courtyard. The storm had been raging for almost a week now, and showed no signs of letting up any time soon. She sighed. It wasn't that the castle wasn't nice or anything, but she was getting a distinct idea that she wasn't welcome there anymore. Well… Ketan seems pretty happy that my stay has been so extended, but his parents are quite a bit less cheerful about it. Oh well. Her thoughts were cut off by the sound of approaching footsteps.

"Hey." It was Ketan, thank the gods. She didn't think she could stand his parents yelling at her one more time about how she had over-stayed her welcome. As if it's my fault that it's raining…

"Hey."

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing, really. Just watching it rain, I guess."

"Oh." He seated himself next to her on the window seat.

"I'm surprised your parents haven't begged their Water Angels to make it stop yet."

He smiled thinly. "So you've figured out that they don't like you."

"It's a little bit hard to miss."

"Sorry."

"No, it's not your fault. I'm just wondering how you turned out to be such a nice guy with parents like that."

"My nannies were nice, and my parents didn't have much to do with me before I could speak coherently." Eni nodded.

"Well, I guess you should just be glad you have parents at all…"

"Are you kidding? They make me wish I was an orphan every now and then."

"Really? But… then you wouldn't be rich, or live in a nice, big house, or wear really nice, expensive clothes. You'd be… like me."

"Exactly. Eni… you're a great person. You're pretty--gorgeous!--and smart… and you're really, really nice… and you put up with my parents… and…" He trailed off, blushing.

Eni looked down, trying to hide her flaming red face from him. No one's ever talked to me like that…

Ketan put his hand under her chin and lifted her head up so that he could look her in the eyes. Leaning towards her, he barely brushed his lips against hers, the whisper of a kiss. Placing his mouth beside her ear, he whispered "I love you, Eni." He seemed to wait a moment, as if wondering whether or not she would reply. After that barest of pauses, he stood and walked away, leaving Eni stunned. Slowly, she returned her gaze to the window and watched it rain.

---

Is she avoiding me? Or am I avoiding her? Is she afraid to tell me that she doesn't love me, or am I afraid to hear it? Ketan stared out the window and brooded.

Do I love him? She sipped her tea and pondered. Do I love him? Eni sighed. I've never been in love before, so how can I know?

Take a chance, Eni. Take a chance. He's a nice guy.

But I don't want to hurt him!

Is that really true?

Yes!

Are you sure you're not just afraid of hurting yourself?

…

Take a chance.

With new resolve, Eni stood up and set about trying to find Ketan.

I don't care if she's avoiding me! We need to talk! Ketan stormed out of his room.

Eni had finally made it to the wing in which Ketan's bedroom was found. She braced herself before turning the corner.

Ketan had barely set foot outside his room. He was racing through the hall and practically flew around the first corner.

Eni found herself on the ground. What…? She looked around wildly. "Ketan?"

He looked just as surprised. "Eni."

"I-" they both began.

"You first," said Eni.

"Nonono, ladies first."

Eni sighed. How to begin? "Well… umm… about your… statement the other day…" She stopped. What do I say?

Ketan stood up while waiting for her to finish. When she didn't continue, he assumed the worst. "Oh. I understand." He began to trudge slowly back towards his room.

"Wait!" Eni jumped up and ran after him. "That's… that's not what I meant." He stared at her.

"It's not?"

"No! What I meant was…"

He didn't even bother letting her finish trying to stammer out something coherent. Leaning so far towards her that he could feel her warmth radiating, he whispered, "Do you love me?"

Eni closed her eyes. Do I love him? "Yes." With that one word spoken, any wall that had previously stood between them was knocked down. Ketan captured her lips with his own and did not release them for a very long time, pausing only for air.

---

Eni pulled the sleeves of her robe over her arms, trying to protect her skin from the biting cold of the morning. She glanced at Ketan, still sleeping. Sighing softly, she brushed a lock of hair from his eyes and kissed his forehead before leaving the room silently.

---

Ketan rolled over to put his arm over Eni. Startled to find her gone, his eyes snapped open. Where…? His eyes came to rest on a note written in a neat, practical hand.

Ketan,

I thought it would be best if your parents didn't find you and I in the same bed. I love you.

There was the mark of a kiss at the bottom.

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