A/N: Wow... well it has been a while, but here is an update. I'm not crazy myself about the argument between Byakuya and Yumichika, but I decided to try anyway as I felt bad for taking so long and thought that all of you wonderful readers could treat it as a "deleted scene" or something. Look very hard this is a BIG premonition chapter and sad in some respects. So without further ado here also is an over view of what has happened just in case some of us have forgotten some stuff! Previously:
~ 'O' ~
Rukia gracefully descended the wide steps leaving the palace. Her bodyguards, excluding Juzir, stood by her looking something akin to a wall. Graciously, she waved to the gentry that caught her eye, or curtsied to any that dared introduce themselves. Her bodyguards radiated a cold demeanor, despite the warmth of Rukia's character.
The sun was barely coming over the mountains to the west, as the courtyard came alive. The gravel muddled the echoes of horse hooves, as stable boys and servants led the animals to their masters. A tall man led a gray mare towards the Princess of Ogyoku. He smiled. His job was almost finished; a job which had included removing a large, green stain from the mare's rump.
The mare strode towards her mistress, proud and alert. She lifted her head high and snorted loudly with aggression and self-importance. The grey mare knew who she was and knew whom she carried. Laughter rang like a bell, catching the grey's attention. The horse lowered her stately head. With inquisitive eyes and ears that angled forward, she nosed the Princess's face.
Softly blowing into the mare's flared nostrils, Rukia spoke quietly, "Hello, Beautiful. You look wonderful today. Are you ready to go?"
The grey pulled back slightly and tossed her head. Snorting and blowing, she pranced around the handler that held her and showed off before her master at an animated trot. Rukia chuckled, "Nicoletta is full of herself today. She is so very dominant for such a small mare."
Dakotsu smirked, "Only because she is so much like her mistress."
"I have no idea what you mean, sir. I am quite obedient and docile, as you well know." Rukia smiled playfully.
Slowly, Rukia began to forget the early morning and enjoy her time outside. Nicoletta danced about some more, before she felt the pull of her mistress's gaze. The mare stopped and waited for the Princess to mount. Once Rukia was in the saddle, Nicoletta remembered her place as a lady's horse and pranced no more.
Renji patted the mare, and then looked up to his charge. "Stop looking for compliments. And don't do anything crazy. You know how…"
"Yes, I know how Nicoletta loves me to death and would do anything that I ask of her. I know, 'Be a lady and don't over assert yourself'," she mimicked. "I promise I'll be dainty and delicate."
While her words were satisfactory, Rukia's eyes still twinkled with mischief. Renji shook his head and mounted his own steed, the chestnut, Nadan. That morning, more than fifty nobles attended the hunt. The clatter of hooves and the noise from the proud beasts sent the hounds wild. Everyone knew what was going to happen, the animals most of all.
Uryuu also rode a grey, although his was slightly lighter in color. The horse was unshakable. A gelding like Nadan, Uryuu's grey was much calmer and more forgiving. He was a large horse, compared to his small-framed rider. Uryuu guided the gelding towards Rukia and Nicoletta. Some nobles past by and Uryuu nodded, acknowledging their presence.
"Hello, Simon," Rukia said, patting the grey gelding. "So Uryuu, you will be riding with us today?"
He nodded, customarily pushing up his glasses. "Yes, Majesty, I will be joining today."
"Good," said Renji, flanking the Princess, "it's about time you enjoyed a sport with that oversized monster of yours."
"Renji!"
Uryuu turned in the saddle with only one hand holding his reins. "This is no sport! Chasing a helpless fox to its death!" he whispered forcefully.
"Oh, so now they're helpless. You sound like a girl."
"Renji," Rukia's voice became testy.
"A girl! Why you…"
But Uryuu did not get to finish his sentence. Behind him came Dakotsu, on his palomino. One laughing slap to Simon's rump from the heavy handed man, and the horse lurched forward. Uryuu leaned backwards from the motion, then snapped forward again, landing hard on Simon's neck as Simon stopped in front of a tall, long-necked bay. The other horse reared in a display of power and dominance. It snorted loudly and lurched towards Simon. The heavy gray shook terribly in fear and scrambled to get away, slipping on the gravel.
In spite of this, the bay's orange-headed rider handled his irritated stallion well. The stallion screamed, before the young man curbed the creature soundly. The big horse stopped his tantrum, dancing in place and chewing hard on his metal bit.
"Better watch where you're going," he said, his words obviously directed at Uryuu. Then he turned to Rukia, pausing for a second before nodding in her direction, "Majesty." After that, he rode off.
Renji fought Nadan as the chestnut moved about from the excitement, slightly bumping into Nicoletta, who remained impassive over the whole incident. Uryuu brought Simon back in line next to Dakotsu and breathed deeply. There was a small silence, and Dakotsu warily watched his friends. Abruptly, he broke out in laughter, "Uryuu, I am so glad that you are you. I could see Renij hitting me over the head right now! Terrible thought if the world was filled with Renji's," he looked over at Renji. "Do us all a favor and don't have children."
The redhead reached behind the Princess to smack his comrade. Nadan, though, was taking all opportunities and Renji didn't have a chance. Both hands were quickly back on the reins stopping the horse from moving forward. Uryuu boiled beside Dakotsu, who tried to control his laughter.
Amidst all this, Rukia sat atop her mount, reflecting upon the man on the bay stallion, trying to recall where she had seen him before. Her thoughts, however, were quickly interrupted - another rider appeared and stopped before them. A grey- haired, older man about fifty years-old.
"Oh, Your Majesty," elder man said and, despite being in the saddle, he bowed low. "My deepest apologies on behalf of my Lord Kurosaki, it seems Dominion is full of it this morning…"
The man continued on with his one-sided chit-chat for some time. After a while, a blank look occupied Dakotsu's face, Uryuu had begun to braid Simon's mane, and Renji started to fall asleep with his eyes open -his horse was already asleep. Rukia, however, listened to the Ambassador with proper, courtly attention. The Ambassador's babbling was finally cut shot when the orange-headed Kurosaki finally came back. His stallion, Dominion, was covered in sweat and still grinding his bit.
"Goodwin, join me… please," Kurosaki said, stressing his 'please' while sighing lightly.
"Oh! Lord Kurosaki, I was just having a most interesting conversation with the Princess. Won't you join us?"
Kurosaki pointed to his dancing stallion and displayed a look of annoyance. Goodwin shrugged and turned to follow. "I hope we get to speak again, Majesty. Lord Kurosaki is not a morning person. Please forgive him."
Ichigo dismissed the awkward comment, but, from the expression of disbelief on his face, it was clear that that he had wholly heard the Ambassador.
"It's over. Remind me to actually thank that orange-headed kid," Renji groaned as they left.
Dakotsu scratched his head. "That was funny. But no one likes waking up this early. So how it that funny again?"
"It is funny because he was making fun of Lord Kurosaki. Why did you slap my horse anyway?"
"That's what I wanted to tell you guys! Sorry about Simon. Have you seen some of these nobles? They're falling all over the place! They look like they are having the hardest time getting on these horses," he rubbed his chin in contemplation. "I wonder if it is an omen?"
Renji smirked, "It's not just the nobles. So is Uryuu."
"Yeah, huh," the blond laughed.
Rukia enjoyed listening to them, but reality was creeping back upon her. She guided Nicoletta forward for a different view. At least to just move around, sitting had become suffocating. Especially as the early morning events came flooding back to her, just as the sun was rising over the western mountains.
Juzir exited the palace and surveyed the courtyard. At the bottom of the steps was a stable-hand with his steed. The bodyguard mounted from the opposite side and surprised the stable-hand. Without much though he flung the reins over the horse's neck and dismissed the boy.
The bodyguard's mind was full of thoughts. For now, he wished to content himself with finding his comrades and the Princess. As he maneuvered through the courtyard, Juzir memorized the faces and voices around him. Yet a dark feeling beleaguered Juzir - a premonition of things to come. Dakotsu would have called it an omen, although Renji placed such worries beneath him. The redhead would have shrugged such a feeling off until there was an obvious reason for concern.
Then there was Uryuu. The big man smirked. The Quincy would surely find a label for whatever feeling was disturbing him. But Juzir would push the darkness to a corner of his mind. He would not forget it, but he would certainly not become a slave to his fears.
Juzir audibly sighed and let the horse have his head. The horse moved to a smooth trot. At this speed, few would stop to talk to him and he would not upset any anxious horses. It also gave him time to think. A little over a week and he would be home.
"WHAT! No, Brother, you cannot do this. The General is a monster! You cannot send me to him as a recruit. He cares nothing for real beauty! I won't do it! I won't be a…
Byakuya stopped at the door. "Enough. You will accept your punishment. You are a Prince and you will learn act like one."
"But…" Yumichika stopped. His brother's emotionless eyes him in place.
"Come."
"No…"
Byakuya's glare held fast as he watched his brother. Yumichika was scrambling for words, for a way out of a desperate situation. He attempted to stand up to his brother, but the guilt of his deed held him back. Still he tried.
"Byakuya, I am no child! I must certainly pay penance for my actions, but there must be another way. Any other way that I can…"
The King's fist clenched tightly as he listened to his brother's words. 'No child' rang through his mind, as Byakuya tried to make sense at the fact that the man who stood before him was truly his brother. Yumichika was entirely missing the point. A complete fool, unlike their parents or… Byakuya calmed himself and his thoughts drifted. Yumichika was nothing like himself or their brother. He was a disgrace.
"Enough!" Byakuya's hand sliced the air and Yumichika stumbled back, even though the King stood far across the room the intimidation was suffocating. "I am done listening to you. Each word you utter displays your foolishness. You do not even understand the point of my decision."
"Well, what is your point?"
Byakuya's voice rumbled low through the room, "If you do not understand, you are not worthy of knowing."
The eldest Kuchiki sighed deeply and unclenched his hands. He motioned for his brother to follow as he left the room. Yumichika followed behind with a shocked expression. He looked over at Lord Aizen and sent him a pleading look. The man did not return the sentiment. Aizen hid behind his glasses and followed the King as well. Yumichika hung his head. The General was a fierce man and wild. He cared nothing for beauty, even as rare as that of the Prince's.
There would be a way out of this, and Yumichika would find it. Whatever point his brother was trying to make had completely escaped him, and he was too emotionally compromised to think clearly. Understanding would have to wait, if it came at all.
In his brother's presence, the Prince felt wildly insecure and guilty. His world was crashing down about him and even Aizen had left his side. There was really nothing left. Ideas and plans were spent. His life was certainly not akin to the great stories of heroes.
Standing before the palace steps, a thick-crested black stallion glared at his surroundings; occasionally nipping at Toka, the master horseman. The stallion's black tail whipped in the open air and cracked against his leather trappings. In his excitement the stallion whistled a challenge into the open air that threatened to break glass. The great horse tensed and waited for a reply.
Suddenly there came an answer. The black stallion jumped at the reply and nearly trampled the man holding him. Toka strained to keep the black from taking off. He called for others to come. The horse reared and attacked the men around it. People around rushed out of the way and somewhere a woman screamed. The black had drawn blood from a few of the men attempting to control him, and kicked a slow moving servant in the gut. As the stallion fought against the men another fell beneath heavy hooves. The horse was fiercely using his strength and tossed those that dared to control him from the saddle.
Byakuya's temper cooled as he exited the palace. Before him, at the bottom of the steps, was the black stallion fighting off his handlers. The horse was still fighting as Byakuya took the last step, but as the King walked out onto the gravel, the great black horse stopped. Several men sat or stood bleeding on the sidelines. As Byakuya walked up to the horse other servants scattered.
Toka took up the reins again that he had dropped in the melee. He was overly cautious of the horse, especially since even he had not escaped the wrath of the stallion. Toka's left shoulder was bloodied from a bite along with his right arm and numerous bludgeons from his chest down where the hooves had pounded him. Yet, this was the temper of many stallions that had survived war, although Toka was willing to bet that the King's war horse was among the worst.
As Byakuya came closer, the stallion listened intently. This was his master. The horse turned his head away and straightened. As Byakuya stepped lightly into the saddle, the stallion tensed beneath him. The horse's neck curved tightly until his breathing was restricted, ominous and rasping. Then the great horse lightly stepped forward.
The stallion's name was Epic, or at least that was the name the people tended to use. Byakuya had never given the horse a namesake. Yet this was the same stallion that carried Byakuya to victory through all the wars against Hyato, Byakuya's brother. He was well-trained, but always a war horse and always on fire. He respected Byakuya and that was as far as their love went.
Epic's mouth gapped open in defiance of the bit, and he grumbled deeply like the stallion he was. Byakuya touched up the reins and Epic stopped. The hunting party gathered around him and the Head Huntsman blew the bugle. The dogs were let loose and swarmed about searching for a scent. Yumichika appeared behind his brother and waited.
"Where is Aizen?"
Yumichika sighed, trying to seem as penitent as possible. "He said that there was just too much work to do. He did tell me, to tell you… enjoy."
Yumichika's horse foolishly moved up, closer to Epic. He tried to think of something nice to say, but missed the red look in Epic's eye. The black stallion kicked with great aim at the Prince's bay gelding then bared his teeth for a wide bite. The poor horse scrambled for space between them and almost lost its rider. Yumichika screamed and grabbed the horse's neck. His wide eyes were about as large as his geldings and staring directly at Epic with fear. The stallion snorted victory after forcing the unworthy neighbor to move out of his space and looked elsewhere.
A bugle sounded and the chase was on.
:)
Sincerely,
Anynymys1