The Wife and Her (HerWhisper)

[HerWhisperIsTheLucifer]

She stared up at him with wide eyes, completely frozen. After a few minutes she shook her head, shoving him off of her.

[tsuchimi246]

"wait, wait, Oeyo.." he stammered, trying to grab her hand "it was an accident, i-i didn't-" he groaned, frustrated at himself

[HerWhisperIsTheLucifer]

She pulled her hand away, quickly going to out her kimono on.

[tsuchimi246]

"Oeyo, stay please, I didn't... It was a mistake..." He begged her from where they were

[HerWhisperIsTheLucifer]

"If it was any other 'mistake,' I would stay, but it's her. It just had to be her." She tied her kimono around her quickly.

[tsuchimi246]

He groaned again and threw himself down on the bed, cursing himself

[HerWhisperIsTheLucifer]

She went over to the door, stopping just. Before opening it. "If you love her, do not string me along. You cannot have both." She quickly slid the door open angrily, leaving without closing it.

[tsuchimi246]

He clenched his hands in his hair and didn't move, furious with himself

[HerWhisperIsTheLucifer]

She hurriedly went to Okiku's room, tears spilling down her cheeks.

[tsuchimi246]

Okiku was enjoying some tea at her table with a servant after her dinner had been ruined, when Oeyo came in she waved the girl away and greeted her wet face with a calm smile "hello, miss"

[HerWhisperIsTheLucifer]

Oeyo slid the door closed after the servant had left, her eyes never leaving Okiku's. She came and sat across from her. "Do you desire all that I have?"

[tsuchimi246]

She tilted her head, confused, and took another sip of her tea, "I understand jealously, miss, but you are taking quite a stretch now... I only wish to make Hideyoshi happy"

[HerWhisperIsTheLucifer]

"This is no stretch." She leaned forward. "You cannot look me in the eyes and truthfully say that, deep down, you have a desire to be his only woman. You want to be his one and only wife, since you love him so much. You want this grand house, you want to be able to run things your way. And I bet you think, 'who would be better suited? I can have children, cook, clean, and I'm so sweet it hurts. I should be Nobunaga Okiku.'" Oeyo watched her carefully before leaning back again. "You want it all."

[tsuchimi246]

Her face remained the same "i was told by my mother before I came that I would fall for my suitor, it is only to be expected. Truthfully the only thing I deeply desired was for him to love me, even if he loved you more, but I am not so selfish to expect those desires to come true." Okiku took another sip of her tea,"I wished to make friends with you because he would be happier that way, and since he wanted me gone after the child is born, I would go." Her eyes squinted at Oeyo slightly "Then I realized how cruel you are, miss, and now I think Hideyoshi deserves better than you."

[HerWhisperIsTheLucifer]

"Then he can have you." She took her bracelet and necklace off, throwing them at her. "I worked and worked to ensure he could have a comfortable life, and I said yes to having a consort come so that he could have an heir. That is what a good wife does... But a good wife does not allow her position to be threatened by some woman who's sole purpose is to be used for sex then be thrown away as soon as she produces a child." She stood, "But what use is it all if my efforts go unnoticed? From here on out, I will not be bothered by you. You can have him. Let him moan your name and whisper sweet nothing's into your ear. I no longer desire any of it." She went over to the door, her head held high. "Perhaps when he grows tired of you as well, you will understand." She left the room without another word, going to her own and beginning to write a letter.

[tsuchimi246]

Okiku smirked at the woman's outburst, curious what made her think Hideyoshi had been so romantic with her. Regardless, her cheeks blushed slightly at the picture Oeyo had painted for her, she continued drinking her tea, smiling.

[HerWhisperIsTheLucifer]

(Should we skip ahead a bit? To just before the baby is born?)

[tsuchimi246]

(Yee, I'll let you set it up so ik what the relationship status is)

[HerWhisperIsTheLucifer]

Months had now passed, and Oeyo had stayed true to her words. When she was summoned by Hideyoshi, she would go to him, but besides that she avoided him and Okiku like the plague. She stayed in her garden day in and day out, and she had been writing numerous letters as of late. She took trips outside of the home by herself, enjoying a cup of tea at the tea house or visiting the markets. She still didn't wear the jewelry any longer and she still didn't rely on servants for anything. She no longer cooked meals or cleaned the home. When she was hungry, she would eat simple things that took minimal time to make, such as rice porridge or miso soup. As a result, her already slender body had gotten even more so. She now enjoyed music as well, playing both the koto and shamisen, and she was beginning to learn how to dance as well. It seemed she was preparing for something, but what it was. No one knew.

[tsuchimi246]

Hideyoshi had continued doing his best to keep his thoughts faithful to Oeyo even still, thought he quickly grew frustrated with her withdrawal and refusal to accept his apologies. Okiku had conveniently become the perfect person to lean to now as of the last couple of weeks and they grew close as he finally gave up the idea of Oeyo forgiving him. They were now in the kitchen as she prepared the two of them a meal. She joked about her stomach getting in the way of cooking now that she was nearly due.

[HerWhisperIsTheLucifer]

Oeyo was in the garden, playing the flute. The beautiful melody filled the house, echoing throughout every chamber.

[tsuchimi246]

Hideyoshi sighed at the sound and offered to have a servant help Okiku, which she refused. After a few moments she made a squealish noise and grabbed his hand, "the baby is kicking!" She declared with a giggle as she put his hands on her belly.

[HerWhisperIsTheLucifer]

After a few moments, the flute stopped, and Oeyo walked into the kitchen. Upon seeing the two of them, she gave a long bow (which was unusual since she was equal rank with Hideyoshi and higher rank than Okiku), going about making her rice porridge.

[tsuchimi246]

Hideyoshi pulled his hand away and nodded to her as Okiku giggled, patting her belly again "the food is ready, Hideyoshi," she said, calling him by his first name now

[HerWhisperIsTheLucifer]

Oeyo paid them no mind, humming the same song that she had been playing on the flute as she cooked.

[tsuchimi246]

He helped her set the table, Okiku set up her food next to Hideyoshi's so she could sit next to him, "would you like to join us, miss?" She asked sweetly

[HerWhisperIsTheLucifer]

"It is not my place." She said simply, grabbing her small bowl of rice porridge and heading back out to the garden.

[tsuchimi246]

Hideyoshi hardly ate while he sat by Okiku and her face explained she was concerned about it. About an hour later, she went out to the garden to see Oeyo for the first time in months

[HerWhisperIsTheLucifer]

She had finished her rice porridge and was about to start playing the flute again. She stopped once she saw Okiku, quickly standing and bowing.

[tsuchimi246]

"stop bowing to me, you are upsetting Hideyoshi." She said, irritated, "either be his wife to love or leave so I can take your place, your silent presence is keeping him from any form of happiness."