Firebird's Song Chapter Seven: A Long-Awaited Union
"How about a song, lass? Your man said you're the best flutist ever heard." one of the crew asked Haru as he tied a sail down. She turned to Baron.
"Are we still in sight of land?"
He looked for her.
"No, and the palace shouldn't be sending anyone after us for another few hours."
"What makes you so certain?"
He smiled wickedly, making her blush again.
"Let's just say I paid an unorthodox visit to the stables. Trust me; they won't be able to follow us for a while."
She giggled, thinking up several ways he could have delayed the emperor's men. She slipped her flute out of its bag, Baron taking the fabric encasement for her. Smiling gratefully at him, she raised the instrument to her lips. Her joy of living something new poured into the flute, the previous shackles of near-enslavement falling from her heart. The sailors performed their work in time with the music, the song working its magic on them. Even the captain looked more relaxed than the crew had seen him in years.
Baron had released Haru so that she could play, but he didn't stray from her side. He closed his eyes, soaking in the beautiful sound. He had been well aware of all the complications of marrying her long before she tried to warn him, but he didn't care about them beyond dealing with the problems, determined to make his relationship with her work. He pulled off the cloak and large black over gloves, unintentionally stopping the song as he put on his top hat.
"Baron," Haru said worriedly, wondering how the sailors would take him. One of the crew soothed her, put out that she had stopped playing.
"Don't worry Miss; as long as his gold's real, we don't care about his looks."
The others nodded their agreement, some turning away to hide their knowing snickers. It wasn't the only secret he was paying them well to keep, everyone on board being Alonian except for Haru. The captain drew her attention away from the strange sailors before she got suspicious.
"Why don't we get the show going, Milord?"
Baron nodded and placed Haru's hand over his arm, her other one holding onto her flute. She was a little startled that he was planning to marry her that minute, but didn't object. He was still a better prospect than Ryuichi, even if he wouldn't tell her his real name. She turned to her fiancé.
"Can he marry us?"
He smiled at his bride.
"Of course. All sea captains can perform legally binding marriages on the open water."
She grinned at her groom.
"How convenient."
The captain coughed politely, refocusing their attention to him. The crew centered around the couple, intent on watching history in the making.
"We are gathered here today to witness the union between this young couple. Milord Baron, do you take this woman to be your wife?"
"I do."
"Miss Haru, do you take this man to be your husband?"
She nodded.
"I do."
"Then since anyone that would want to object isn't present, I pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Haru blinked, not being familiar with this part, being a Kalmian. Her culture just tied the couple's hands together, symbolizing a bond that couldn't be broken. Blushing again, she nervously turned toward Baron, and placed her hands on his firm shoulders, careful to keep her flute out of the way. He leaned down to meet her lips, his arms wrapping around her. As they kissed, the sun sank into the sea, lighting it on fire.
It would have been more of a touching moment if the bride didn't start giggling helplessly into her new husband's mouth. He pulled back to look at her curiously.
"Haru, are you all right?"
She nodded, still trying to stifle her laughter. Wasn't he kissing her good enough or something? No, she was smiling at him…
"I'm sorry, but your whiskers were tickling me!"
The crew does an anime fall, and a stunned Baron sighs.
"Out of all the problems I thought we'd have, I didn't think about that one." How were they supposed to get in a romantic mood if she started laughing every time he tried to kiss her? His worries were silenced when she firmly wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed; a content smile on her lips. Her flute was still in one hand.
"Don't worry; I like a guy that can make me laugh."
He blinked twice. Well, in that case… He leaned her head back with one hand and tried again. This time, his wife's giggling was controlled; the first time apparently being more surprise than actual tickling. The crew sighed with relief, and went about their chores in the fading light. From behind a barrel, slitted eyes continued to watch the couple.
"Humph, I better approach her in the morning. She'll probably be a little preoccupied until then anyway."
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
It was nearly midnight by the time Ryuichi came into the closest seaport to the imperial palace. He questioned everyone he could, and then got smart and went to the trade office. He burst in on the sleepy man, who nearly fell off his chair from the loud noise.
"Clerk! I need to know where Ocean's Breeze is headed immediately!"
The man looked at him curiously, and began to sift through the paperwork.
"Did you need to speak with Captain Hones?"
"If I must, but I'm more interested in two of his passengers."
The old man blinked again.
"That's strange; usually Hones refuses to accept them. Says it doesn't work with his cargo."
"Well, a young boy told me that the two I seek are on that boat, and it's the best lead I've got."
The clerk blinked his eyes again, and rifled through a few more papers.
"Ah, yes. They're heading back to Alon. Said they got an urgent message to deliver."
"When does the next ship to Alon leave?"
"Oh, not for another week."
Ryuichi shook his head angrily and slammed down a fist onto the desk.
"You don't understand; if I don't find the man that stole my bride, I cannot regain my honor!"
The clerk looked up.
"Well, if he was planning to marry her, than you're probably already too late."
The samurai looked up, the horror evident in his eyes.
"What do you mean?"
About eight seconds later, a deafening shriek awoke everyone in the seafront. When investigating the source of the scream, the officials found the old clerk dead by a katana, and a small fishing boat was reported missing soon after.
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Baron signed his freshly composed letter with his old name, not daring to take more chances than he had to. As he waited for the wax to melt for the seal, he watched the morning sunbeams climb over his wife, still asleep in bed and smiling contentedly. His gaze softened again, love continuing to grow for his Haru. At last, the wax was hot enough; he poured it onto the flap of the envelope, and removed a signet ring from his neck. He pressed the crest firmly into the wax, the signal he had arranged with his mother when he first left home. Baron slipped out of the room Captain Hones had set aside for him and his bride, and made his way to the captain's cabin. He found it difficult to ignore the smug grins the sailors kept giving him, especially with a smile on his own lips. Hones looked up from his paperwork as the cat man knocked and entered. He greeted him in Alonian, everyone speaking Kalmian the day before for Haru's sake.
"Ah, Milord! Good morning."
Baron smiled and slipped him the thick envelope.
"Good morning Hones. Think you can get this directly to my mother?"
The captain picked up the letter and locked it inside his special drawer.
"Consider it done. Are you sure you don't want to skip the side trip? The people miss you terribly, even with the, uh, elder Baroness's guidance."
The orange cat smiled at the near miss, knowing how close the captain came to losing his promised bonus.
"Very certain, I'm still looking for a cure."
The captain's eyes softened, nearly to the point of tears.
"Your people will love her, you know. Just for her flute and sense of humor. So will your mother."
Baron nodded sadly.
"The way things stand now, I may be able to return home in a year or two, but it would be cruel to tear Haru away from everything she's known so abruptly. There will be time for reunions later."
The captain smiled again.
"Just for the look on your face when you hold her close, I'm tempted to thank that rogue."
Baron glared a little.
"Not too tempted, I hope?"
The captain quickly assured him, scared of speaking his mind too freely to the cat-man.
"Of course not. We should be arriving at your drop-off point within an hour."
"Thank you."
He slipped out of the cabin. He only made it halfway to his room when a gruff voice spoke to him.
"Is your wife awake yet? I have a message for her."