A good news and a bad news for you guys. BAD NEWS: I'm going to be away (without my faithful laptop) for the next week so there will be no updates! GOOD NEWS: I decided to upload my latest chapter before my flight so I won't starve you guys too much.
I made some minor corrections to the last chapter. But that has no effect to the plotline. On another note, for those who are confused, I'm using British English, and that could be inconvenient for those who are used to American spelling (sorry :p).
Anyway, hope you enjoy the KING OF SPADES and give me some reviews! =]
Cheers.
CHAPTER 9: KING OF SPADES
"You love your sister, but do you love her as a brother?" Yukina questioned confidently.
And the hall exploded with exclamations.
Don't disappoint me now, Byakuya. Don't back down. All I need is a proof. "Well?" she pressed on. Prove to me that a love so trodden on, so cursed with the pain of the past, the resistance of the present and the uncertainty of the future…can work!
The hall seemed to magically become very alive, more so than it ever was. People were running from one end to the other to noisily discuss the current predicament. Predictions and guesses were loudly proclaimed as the raspy voices of the Elders chorused together. Byakuya felt his head pound against his skull and majestically let out an order, "Behave yourselves!"
His eruption brought a temporary peace but soon enough the other occupants of the room roared with curiosity once more, their shouts mainly directed at him.
"No," he finally said, a poker face perfectly displayed. It was a plain and simple statement, but it silenced the entire hall with much efficiency. He did not want to further elaborate, overwhelmed by tremendous worry. This unforeseen confession could be one of two things: the key to successful negotiation, or the bomb that sets things awry.
"This revelation provides another prospect of consideration in this meeting. We shall revalue the validity of the engagement," Yukina announced. Whisperings were heard right after.
She sat in her seat, satisfied with the new development, and smiled at her nephew. Father was right. You have something Kouga could never have—the will to be yourself, despite…everything.
"For a bride-to-be, you don't look very excited," he spoke softly as the two of them sat on the foyer steps, the sounds of the spring echoing just enough for them to hear in the otherwise still and silent night.
"You're one to talk," she smiled playfully at her fiancé, "looking more like a man ready for war than a man prepared to wed."
"Loving you is very much like a darn battle, you know," he smiled too, but his eyes were distant and pained. He was not looking at her.
"Kou," she laid a hand on his, sadness touching her youthful features, "don't speak like that." Slowly, she followed his gaze and spotted a silhouette at the corner of the yard. "Byakuya's practising again. The boy sure has perseverance, hmm?"
"He gives that kid more attention than he could ever spare me," his voice rang too bitterly for her liking, and she cringed. "I can do no right in his eyes. This isn't about our wedding anymore, Yukina. I'm tired of being spat on. Even if you and I never met, I want to get this over and done with—I want him to see how awfully wrong he was for not recognising my power."
"Father does see you," she lowered her head, staring down at her unoccupied hand, "I just know. I understand that this isn't really about us anymore. The engagement has been made and nothing can possibly go wrong for us, after all." She was having a hard time convincing herself and she knew it. "And I suppose it's alright for you to prove yourself but…"
"But you think it's never possible?"
"No! I… I think Father values you as an individual, not just because you are my fiancé. Perhaps he can never provide you his care and teachings the way he does for his grandson," she paused to search for his eyes only to find nothing in them, "but he will always give you his patience and understanding. It's just that… he doesn't tell you much."
Kouga was silent. She didn't know if he was swallowing her words in forced acceptance or merely reluctant to retort any further. They both looked out to the yard, watching quietly as the next Head of the Clan fell limply to the ground in exhaustion.
"Kou?" Her hand nudged his for a response. "Promise me something?"
"Hmm?" His hard expression rearranged itself into one of gentleness for a split second, but quickly disappearing to form a withdrawn and stoic face.
"Don't change."
He looked at her questioningly. What does it take for a man to understand a woman in love? "I don't want to change. I've come so far for you, from a commoner to someone who has the right to wear a kenseikan. I had to change."
"I'm not talking about the past. We've got what we wanted now, so there's no need to be like that anymore." Her eyes watered for reasons she didn't know. "So don't change. Not for Father; not for me; not for yourself… or your desire for recognition and power."
Once again she was greeted with eyes that shut her away from his world. He didn't say anything in return. She lifted her hand to brush his navy hair. This… is real. We are real, can't you see? You are the reality I believe in, so don't take that away.
Moments later she was up on her feet, ready to retire for the night. 'Worry and disappointment can wait till morning', she thought foolishly and perhaps deceitfully. "Goodnight, Kouga."
"Goodnight," he said smoothly.
As she slid the shoji door open to enter, her back towards him, he spoke the little words she could never forget. "I love you, Yuki."
She was glad that she couldn't see his face. She was more than afraid to find hollowness and not endearment on it. She was glad, for until forever she could always choose to believe that he meant every single syllable of his declaration. "Love you too."
The promise she wanted was never made, and the wedding they spent their dreams and hearts on didn't happen.
She had no regrets, nevertheless.
He didn't have the time to even think about regrets.
She saw it coming.
He changed.
Ichigo and Renji arrived as promised at night. Renji, of course, knew of Byakuya's return, but a fool could tell that the wedding was not off—decorations were still all over the place and the maids hushed each other as they gossiped about the wedding of the century. The two walked stealthily along the dark corridor that leads to Byakuya's chambers. They knew she would be in there.
They also knew the Sixth captain was expecting them the moment they set foot on Kuchiki property. If Rukia was awake, she would be ready to open the door for them too.
Ichigo thought the corridor stretched on too long for his liking. He flinched as he overheard female giggles and the excited whispers about "Oh the true love! I heard they kissed…" "This wedding will be epic!" "Did you see Rukia-sama's kimono? It's…"
Nearing Byakuya's door the two men put their training into practice. Hands on the hilt of each sword, they moved in a battle stance. Disappointingly, the door did not open for them dramtically to reveal Byakuya with an unsheathed Senbonzakura, so they resorted to knocking.
"Renji, Ichigo," Rukia's voice came from the other side of the door. She cracked the door open to reveal the room finely lit and Byakuya depressingly absorbed in his paperwork. The two shinigamis stepped in, with Renji bowing politely and Ichigo clearing his throat before addressing the captain, "Byakuya."
"Brat, you do realise you are trespassing."
"Well, nobody bothered to stop me from doing so."
"That's because I have no intention of sending my men out to die for your idiocy," Byakuya gave both redheads a cold stare.
Rukia stood in between the men, unsure of what to say or do under such circumstances. She could sense both Ichigo's and Renji's reiatsu spiking between intervals. They were more agitated than the night before.
"Taicho, please forgive our intrusion. But you know our intentions. You have but four days left!"
"Correction, Renji. After tonight, only three days," Ichigo moved as he spoke, and on his best behaviour he stood in front of Byakuya before slamming a hand onto the desk. "Nobility bullsh…"
"Ichigo!" Rukia exclaimed in worry.
"Out of my sight," Byakuya glared unmovingly at the teen, "Brat."
Countdown to the wedding: Ichigo says it!
COMING SOON: SHISHIO FIGHTS BACK AND... A LETTER FROM KUCHIKI GINREI!
THIS CHAPTER ISN'T AS LONG AS MY USUAL UPLOADS, BUT I HOPE ITS QUALITY IS STILL UP TO YOUR STANDARD YEA? THE BIT ABOUT YUKINA AND KOUGA IS OF COURSE A BRAINCHILD FROM THE ZANPAKUTO REBELLION ARC. THOUGH NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE MAIN STORYLINE, I THOUGHT IT WAS QUITE NECESSARY TO EXPLAIN YUKINA'S STRANGELY HELPFUL BEHAVIOUR. REMEMBER TO REVIEW, PLEASE AND THANK YOU. I SHALL SPEND MY HOLIDAYS PLOTTING SHISHIO'S COMEBACK... (EVIL LAUGHTER)