Title: Courting Darkness
Authorial Notice:
I must apologize to my reviewers for the lack-of and/or late response. And sadly, it will probably continue happening. But that doesn't mean I do not see and love your reviews, just that my time has become limited.
Anyway, I might still be able to sneak in a few updates, but I wouldn't expect anything for around two or three months.
Chapter Ten
A week after Ichigo had given her the library, Orihime decided that she couldn't bear being trapped in the castle any longer. The rain over the past several days kept her inside, but upon the first opportunity, she took a horse out to see Ichigo's family.
She truly enjoyed their company. And Orihime could honestly say that even with the occasional violent quirk, she had never seen a family that so obviously cared for one another. It always sent strange pangs of longing burrowing into her heart.
It would be difficult to part with them after Ichigo married.
Orihime sighed, shivering in the heavy air.
It was going to rain again.
She had always loved the rain, ever since she had been little. The sky filling with water, falling from heaven and bathing the world, leaving everything new and beautiful again. Rain had always seemed so magical as a child.
She wondered what her parents were doing.
Probably fighting, she mused, or not. They did try to avoid each other whenever possible.
Sighing again, Orihime reached down to drag her palm along the mare's neck, giving the gentle creature a loving pat.
Maybe they had finally discovered she was missing. Orihime certainly didn't envy Aunt Matsumoto if that was the case. Her parents still seemed to have some notion about Orihime marrying into wealth, or maybe they simply enjoyed bickering with her aunt. But she supposed, she would never know. It would be far too dangerous to try to contact her family, if she wanted to talk to them at all.
Orihime bit her cheek, ashamed at the path her thoughts had taken.
Of course, she cared about her father and mother. They were all she had, and she was the only child they had left. Surely, that had to mean something.
Before she knew it, the temple emerged from the forest, parting moist foliage with thick grey stone. Dismounting, she tied her mare to a stone figurine, making certain there was plenty of lush grass within easy reach then began climbing the length of stairs to the top while straightening the wrinkles from her kimono.
Lady Shihōin was scheduled to arrive in five days. Even with the poor weather, the castle had been buzzing with activity.
Orihime changed formal lessons with Ichigo into more practical things, like preparations. The castle was cleaned top to bottom, food menus set, guest rooms arranged and waiting. He had even managed to find her a chaperone that would arrive in a day or so. Then, after everything was finished, Orihime would be free to leave.
Everything would be exactly as it should.
That's what she kept telling herself.
Now, if only she could get herself to listen.
Orihime crossed the temple's courtyard, taking in the gentle tinkle of bells as the wind stirred the shine. Clasping her hands, she made the customary bow before offering a small prayer for her brother.
She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't notice she was no longer alone.
"Come to make an offering?"
"Eep!" Orihime spun, spotting Ichigo's father and quickly bowing again. "I'm very sorry Houshi-sama! I-I didn't see you there."
"Hmm…?"
She stood, startled, when he looked over his shoulder as if searching for something.
"Oh, right…" Orihime blinked as he scratched his neck with a sheepish smile and jovial laugh. "That's me. Please, call me Isshin. So what brings you here, Lady Inoue?"
Orihime returned his smile. It would have been nearly impossible not to. "The castle was so busy… I think I was just hoping for a bit of quiet."
"Well, we have plenty of that around here."
He turned, moving toward the temple's portico, and she followed. They were barely under the covering when rain began to fall.
"I never liked that place, myself. Too big. Nearly got lost every time I tried to find the dining room."
Orihime laughed, covering her mouth at the last moment. "It is large. Is that why you live here?"
He looked at her before smiling again.
"You're sharp. That son of mine must be in trouble."
"Eh? W-why do you say that?"
Orihime watched him carefully from under lowered lashes. Had she unintentionally given something away? Did he know?
Isshin snorted.
"Ichigo's strong and he's got good instincts, but the boy can be downright slow sometimes. Especially, when dealing with matters of the heart."
"The… The heart?"
"Any woman that marries him will have to be gifted with a great deal of patience."
Her eyes closed on their own and a lance of pain flashed through her chest.
She swallowed before finding her voice. "I'm certain Lady Shihōin will be glad for such wise advice."
Orihime realized she had stopped walking when he paused, waiting for her.
"Mmm… Perhaps." He laughed, the noise so sudden it startled her all over again. "Let's find the girls, they always get excited when you come to visit. Right, Orihime-chan?"
She blushed furiously at his use of her name, but her mouth drew into the first genuine smile she had felt in days.
"Right."
Orihime followed, glancing back over her shoulder to the rain dripping from the curved roof.
She truly was going to miss this.
()()()
It was another sunless afternoon.
Ichigo stood looking toward the window as Ishida Uryu finished knotting his tie and stood back with a critical eye. More rain. That was all he needed. And today of all days, when his fiancée was scheduled to arrive.
"Think it will rain before this afternoon?"
Uryu turned him back, making small, frustrated noises in the back of his throat. "I don't doubt. Now stand straight and let me fit you properly."
Ichigo turned to Chad who was holding a tray of pins at the ready.
"Remember your promise. No taking any of her things."
"I remember. You can trust me."
He sighed as Ishida turned him again, but couldn't find the energy to complain. "I know I can. Have you seen Inoue?"
"Lady Inoue is awaiting you in the sitting room with Lady Arisawa."
Ichigo frowned for a moment before the confusion cleared and he realized Chad was referring to Tatsuki. His frown turned into a scowl as Ishida began attacking his jacket with a lint brush. "Alright, already. Go harass someone else."
He watched his tailor's eyes narrow behind thin framed glasses before he complied, moving away.
Tatsuki had been a last minute addition. A precaution in case Lady Shihōin wasn't satisfied with his sisters' presence. She and Inoue had gotten along seamlessly. Too well almost.
He'd been forced to endure sneaky taunts and looks for the past several days. Particularly in any area where Inoue was involved. And his father and sisters had temporarily relocated to the castle, which had only succeeded in making the time until his fiancée's visit nearly unbearable.
But by far, it was his own thoughts that were causing him the most misery. He wasn't looking forward to meeting the woman as much as he'd thought. And he knew why.
It was Orihime.
He couldn't even be in the same room with her anymore without wanting to touch her.
Which wasn't new, it had been that way since they had first met on the rooftops of Rukongai. She had tried so hard to get away from him, was still trying. And he couldn't figure out why she wanted to get away so badly. He knew she desired him, wanted his touch as much as he wanted hers, but it was as if she hated herself for it.
He supposed that made sense. Despite her words in the library, she still knew what he was. It was stupid to think she would willingly subject herself to Hichigo.
She had seen the darkest part of his soul and it repulsed her. He should have known. Inoue was innocent. A fairytale princess. Only, this princess didn't want to be rescued. She was determined to save herself and in the process, run as far away from him as possible. How could he have thought she would lower herself to being with someone like him?
She might want him, but she could never love him.
And still, even though he knew that, she kept him awake at night. Pacing his room, resisting temptation. Barely. Once, he had even found himself outside her door without remembering how he had gotten there. Only the thought of how she would look at him afterward kept him from going to her.
Never had he had so much trouble resisting a female.
But Inoue wasn't any other female.
What was it between them? What did she feel for him? What did he feel for her?
No… Dammit. It was too late for thoughts like these. It didn't matter. His fiancée would arrive within the hour, and after that— after he and Lady Shihōin had reached an agreement, he would never see Orihime again.
Ichigo groaned, closing his eyes and tilting his head back.
"Dammit…"
"What are you babbling about, Kurosaki?"
He frowned. "Nothing. Am I finished?"
Ishida narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing his form with an intensely absorbed look until Ichigo squirmed. "Quite. There are, I believe, very few lords as well fitted. Straight shoulders. Narrow waist. The jacket is cut to set off the appeal of your figure—"
"Stop." Ichigo scowled as he made his way to the door, ignoring the way his skin crawled under the expensive cloth. "Enough about my figure. I can do without you talking about my figure. Ever."
"Kurosaki."
"What?"
"Shoving your hands into your pockets will ruin the line of your suit."
Ichigo cursed.
"I'm never going to get this."
Chad grunted, looking thoughtful until at last, he spoke. "Once Lady Shihōin sees you, she will forgive any lapses."
Ichigo blinked before flushing all the way to his roots. "I don't want you two talking anymore."
()()()
Orihime folded her arms in front of her to hide their shaking as she gazed out the window.
Her companion had left to accomplish some personal business, and Orihime hoped she would return soon. For some reason, talking to her took away some of the anxiety over the upcoming events. Lady Tatsuki was… unusual. Orihime had never heard another lady curse.
Other than her aunt, of course.
Hearing the door open, she turned, preparing a smile for the other girl only to have it fall when she realized it was Ichigo, not Tatsuki, who had entered.
He froze in the doorway.
Orihime licked her lips, opening her mouth to speak when there was a commotion from the hall.
They stared at each other, the only sounds were these of the front doors and servants hurrying out to the drive.
At last, and with all her effort behind it, Orihime smiled. "She's here."
He frowned, but she continued before he could say anything to make it harder.
"You should be there to greet her."
His family and Tatsuki chose that moment to burst into the room, bubbling with last minute questions.
Ichigo barely managed to keep them from hurrying after him in an undignified mob.
Instead, Isshin escorted Orihime and Tatsuki led the girls, and they proceeded in a stately manner down the drive to greet their guests.
They arrived just in time to see the footman open the door and hand out a woman with an impassive expression. Her lips pressed into a firm line, glossy black hair pulled back and cut straight across her forehead. From the information Ichigo had given her, she imagined that this woman was Lady Shihōin's chaperone, Suì-Fēng. As soon as she had exited the vehicle, she turned back and retrieved a sleek black cat on a pillow.
Ichigo looked startled by its appearance before he schooled his expression into polite indifference, and reached back into the carriage.
Orihime tensed, fingers curling into Isshin's arm as a new hand came into view before it transformed into the shape of a woman.
Lady Shihōin emerged and everyone stared.
She was stunning. Orihime thought that she could easily be compared to Aunt Matsumoto who was famed as one of the most beautiful women in Japan. Her features held an exotic edge, purple hair swept back and up, held away from her bronze face and golden eyes by long jeweled pins and combs.
As soon as she had descended, she turned, issuing a complicated set of instructions to different servants. When she finished, Suì-Fēng stepped forward and gestured to Ichigo. The Lady seemed to notice him for the first time.
Orihime felt her nails sinking deeper into the arm at her side.
Yoruichi blinked before a playful smile curved her lips and she extended her hand.
"Shihōin-sama, I present the Lord Kurosaki Ichigo."
The smile on the woman's face deepened, taking on a wicked quality. "Kurosaki-sama."
"Lady Yoruichi."
Ichigo shifted under the woman's gaze. It traveled all the way down his body and back up, finally coming to rest back on his face. To his dismay, he fought the urge to blush under her not-quite-subtle appreciation.
She mumbled something in a strange language under her breath. Her companion's face flushed and somewhere close by he thought he heard Inoue choke. When he turned, Yuzu was slapping her back as his family looked on in concern and he remembered that he was supposed to introduce them.
He made no mistakes— to his relief— introducing his father first and then Inoue and Tatsuki, then his sisters all according to rank before leading the way inside.
Ichigo had to work to keep his customary scowl to a minimum.
Whenever he had walked with Inoue, he had always had to relax his gait, slowing in order to keep with her unhurried pace. Escorting Lady Yoruichi was like being a servant scurrying after a monarch. She strode briskly, walking ahead of everyone except Ichigo, who had to extend his stride to keep up.
He released her into a chair by the fire, watching as his family took up opposite seating. The servants brought tea and Ichigo blanked when the lady's attention once again came to rest on him. He glanced at Inoue, relieved when she mouthed his next line.
"Uh, how was your trip?" Ichigo had only Inoue's slight panicked expression and the dark-headed, companion's glare to tell him he had done something wrong. He went back over his sentence and barely stopped a curse as he amended himself. "Lady Yoruichi."
Damn titles. They expected to marry. Why the hell was everything still so formal?
"Long and dull. The man that invented those contraptions clearly didn't have such an old lady's posterior in mind."
Ichigo had moved to stand by the fire, and was vaguely aware that his mouth had fallen open. He closed it as his eyes met Inoue's. They hadn't discussed any sort of polite response to a comment like that.
She stared back, wide-eyed. Even his father seemed to be at a loss, something Ichigo would have sworn was impossible.
"O-oh?"
He realized a second too late that he had left an open-ended invitation for her to continue, and relaxed tense shoulders when she merely nodded, opting instead to contemplate his physique.
Her disconcerting eyes flicked back to his. "I find it's always best to place these things in the open, so I will be blunt."
Ichigo felt himself growing bewildered. Did she not consider her earlier comment blunt?
"I am here to see if we will be agreeable in marriage. I plan to inform you of my thoughts and opinions, and then… we will see."
He blinked.
"So, I might as well tell you that I approve of your appearance."
This conversation wasn't at all what he had been led to believe. Ichigo threw Inoue another desperate glance, only to see that she had gone pale.
Lady Yoruichi gave him another cursory examination, and he half expected her to run her hands up his legs and check his teeth.
"Yes." Her gaze shifted to Orihime. "Lady Inoue, you may show me to my rooms. Come along, Soifon."
Ichigo stood in a daze as she swept from the room, trailing Inoue and her companion behind her.
He stumbled as his father slapped him on the back.
"What's wrong, Ichigo? Too much woman for you?"
Ichigo sunk into a chair.
"She's… nice, Oni-chan. Don't you think she's nice, Karin?"
Karin gave a non-committal grunt.
"See? We like her…"
He didn't bother to respond. He was too busy adjusting, and then readjusting, his thoughts.
Because until that moment, he hadn't realized exactly how much, he had expected Lady Yoruichi to be like Lady Inoue Orihime.