Chapter 7
A week passed before Sakura saw Byakuya again. 'It's amazing how this house can swallow people up!' she thought as she settled herself in what she called her practice room. She pulled out a mirror that she placed on the floor in front of her and slowly removed the black crystal pendant that she wore around her neck.
The crystal hovered in front of her while she manipulated the energies reflecting off of it with her two hands. She found a rhythm to circulate the energy and held it all in place with a hand on each side. She closed her eyes in concentration.
Byakuya entered the room and she opened her eyes. She didn't take her eyes off the crystal, but greeted him kindly. He came and sat next to her and told her "If you do not use your hands while you train it will help you later on if you enter into a battle by increasing your speed."
He gently pushed her wrists with his finger tips and instructed her on keeping the crystal where it was. It was very difficult for her, but she managed with his support. When she was finished she was a bit fatigued. She turned her head and looked him deep in the eyes. "Thank you, sire."
There was a tension in the air between them. He leaned in pausing momentarily to check her openness to his approach, and kissed her. Sakura felt it was a wonderful kiss. She wanted him to do it again. He backed away ever so slightly and she touched his cheek with her delicate fingers. He kissed her again, holding her head in his strong hands.
Sakura's mind was whirling. She adored him. She adored this man who suddenly revealed himself to her. His warmth when he chose to dispense it was more comforting than nearly anything she had ever felt. His strength, when used to support her, made her feel safe and strong. His purpose and independence was refreshing to her compared to the few men she knew growing up who mindlessly bowed to anyone with power. 'He is so kind but hides this side of himself! Why?'
They managed to move aside the complicated clothing she wore and made love. It was imbued with passion and they clung to each other. The room was empty and the screens did not open to the outside. Light came in from the ceiling and poured down on the couple who lay in nothing, but a pile of silk and in each other's embrace.
After their exertions
Sakura swiftly fell asleep. Byakuya looked at the very young woman in
his arms and a small, but sure smile curved his lips. Her cheeks were
rosy and her eyelashes fluttered. She seemed like a doll in his arms;
A perfect little doll. Little did they know that on the far side of
the Seireitei someone was plotting a move that could very well
destroy the peace they finally
found.
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"If I were you, sire, I would kill her now" said the advisor.
Byakuya was shocked, and after finally getting closer to his wife, something like this had to happen. "That will not be necessary."
"I know you have been enjoying her company as of late, sire, but this is no time to go soft on the enemy."
"Her family is not the enemy" he stated, trying to clarify the situation.
"Her father has invaded the neighboring clan's land expecting you to support his move because you are now family. Though this is not unreasonable it was simply, well, wrong."
"Her father was mistaken. Her family is not the enemy. I will send emissaries before military action." Byakuya gave instructions to a soldier nearby and then said "Sakura is not to be disturbed until I receive a response."
The advisor sighed and said "Who is to say she is not already party to it?"
Byakuya narrowed his eyes with both anger and question. The advisor continued "Convenient, isn't it sire, that this invasion comes just as both you and she bond."
Byakuya was not convinced Sakura was in support of her father's raid, but he could not deny her blood ties to her family and it was surprising timing. He called the soldier who was composing the message to be sent with the emissaries back over. Byakuya said "Remind her father that she is under my supervision here and anything that befalls her will be of his doing."
Sakura was now a hostage.
---------------------------------------------------
Sakura
was called to her husbands offices in the Kuchiki house, and not to
his personal quarters where she had been meeting him lately. They had
played games, and composed poetry. They had sampled different wines
and enjoyed their meals together.
Today however her instincts told her she was not trying any exotic wine. She did not feel safe. Her husband stood near an open screen and did not turn around to greet her. Two guards suddenly grabbed her elbows and nearly dragged her closer to the lord. They pushed her to her knees.
Byakuya told the two soldiers "You are to keep watch over my wife until further notice. She is not to leave the grounds, she is not to send any correspondence with anyone unless I approve the recipient and review the correspondence itself before it is sent. You will watch to make sure she does not ingest anything which may cause her harm. She is not allowed to visit her practice room, or to remove her pendant." In other words Sakura was a prisoner and was not allowed to use her spirit power.
She realized she was being held prisoner in the Kuchiki house though for what reason she could not yet fathom. She watched the servants leave with their orders and remained kneeling in front of Byakuya-sama. She then stood up and straightened out her kimono and smoothing out a few hairs that had fallen out of place.
He finally turned around to face her, his face was angry and stern. He was no longer the loving husband she had come to know. "Your father has invaded the Tosa clan. I do not support this move and have sent emissaries with a message stating so."
"Yes sire. I see…I…understand. Excuse me, sire" she said trying to gather her dignity and some idea of what to do with herself in captivity. 'Was our love that fragile? How could my father do this? Did mother know this was his plan? I don't understand at all.' She looked at Byakuya again and bowed. "I'll retire to my quarters for now."
She bowed and turned to leave, but he caught her wrist. Fear pounded her heart. He tugged on her arm and she turned to face him. She didn't meet his eyes. "No, I called you here for a reason" he said calmly in his deep smooth voice.
"Sire, I hardly think that under the circumstances that—"
"I am your husband" he said cutting her off. He hooked a finger into her obi and drew her closer. He gently tugged at the fabric trying to find the right place to pull.
'I'm not helping him unless he asks! I can be patient and—'
"Undo this thing" he ordered.
Sakura said "I can't. I require help with such an elaborate knot."
Byakuya turned her around and she felt him pull at the fabric. Gently at first and then she felt his frustration in harder tugs. The obi went slack and fell to the floor. He slid off her outer kimono. He saw more elaborate underclothing and rolled his eyes. 'I should have waited until this evening' he thought. 'At least that way this part would have been simpler.' "Lie down on the futon."
Sakura did what he told her. Byakuya sat next to her prone body and more patiently undid the knots holding her more personal clothing together. Sakura looked away from him. 'Little does she know I was advised to kill her instead of create this hostage scenario. I could not kill her. She has dedicated herself fully to me and deserves better.' He stroked her limbs unsure if he was doing the right thing.
Byakuya did not deny he had grown fond of Sakura since the day of the Vice Captain exhibition. He opened her under kimono and succeeded in undoing her personal wrappings. Her arms were rested across her face, hiding her expression. He caressed her skin all the way down to her socks. He held her feet as he unbuttoned her socks. She had told him, and he believed her, that he was the only person alive who had ever seen her feet aside from herself, since she was a mere child.
The noble women took great pride in their ivory feet. It was completely forbidden for anyone but their husbands to see their feet. No exception was ever made, not even for medical purposes. Being caught barefoot with man or woman was more harshly punished than sex before marriage. During the later case the girls reputation was ruined, but she would still find a second class man to marry. Showing her feet on the other hand was a totally barbaric and unforgivable act.
He unbuttoned her socks and slid off the soft fabric revealing perfectly white feet. Her toes were pampered, clean, and soft. The skin was smooth and supple. Her feet carried no odor except for the feint scent of gardenia water, in which she bathed. Byakuya was enraptured and found himself glad that he had finally married a noble woman. Though Hisana was beautiful and unique, there were things he had heard about from his father and advisors about noble women which he was curious about, but would never admit it. There feet was one of them.
He was entranced by her feet and took one in his hand. He kissed the instep of her right foot and was only shook out of his spell by the sound of her sniffling. 'Is she ashamed to show them to me in the light of the dusk?' "I am your husband. There's no reason why you should feel shame" he purred before he stole another kiss.
"I...I can't help it sire…" she whispered.
Byakuya smirked enjoying the smooth skin of her feet against his cheek 'They're like silk!'
"I can't…" she was really shaking at this point and Byakuya narrowed his eyes at her. "You just said… and now you're…"
Byakuya, though a noble and a fairly intelligent strategist, was still only a man. He thought that even though he was fighting with her father, that he could continue to love her. He would convince her of his love by continuing their love making. He had miscalculated. "I did not mean to be cruel" he said.
"Sire" Sakura sat up and gently with drew her foot from his grasp. "I'm afraid. My family is in danger. I'm your hostage—"
"You are my wife" said Byakuya, his irritation beginning to mount. "It is still your duty to provide an heir which we are still lacking."
Sakura hung her head in defeat. 'He needs an heir. I need to give him one. At least while I carry the child I will be safe, but how can I do this if he suspects me of betrayl? Or at least potential betrayal?' "Yes, sire, I understand."
Byakuya had the urge to keel down and comfort her. She was possibly plotting against him and he could not forget this. Instead he dismissed her and just before she left he told her "Though you are hostage here do not forget you are still my wife." 'Does she understand what I am saying?'
Sakura said "Yes milord" but her eyes held a weighty sadness, not the relief he was trying to give her. She left and returned to her rooms as ordered.
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