RUKA

Her gaze swept across the wide, open throne room lined with large marble columns. During the winter, the interior walls of the chamber were covered with extravagant tapestries and the floors with carpets, but now they were a bare, unwelcoming grey in the rapidly warming season. Today a multitude of nobles thronged the room, clustered before the large, elaborately carved throne of wood trimmed with gold and precious gems. The princess' smaller chair had been removed and instead the assassin Seiren stood silent watch in its place. At the base of the dais ringed the chosen guards of Lord Kuran, standing at rigid attention. Ruka imagined they must be dreadfully bored. She noted as well that the lord's close companion Takuma Ichijou seemed almost apprehensive, and Kaname had not turned to acknowledge his friend even once. She wondered briefly if something had happened between them, though the thought dwindled quickly.

Before long, her eyes had refocused once again on the young lord seated on the throne. It seemed to Ruka that Kaname had grown even more handsome now that he was within her grasp again. His eyes glowed, his hair shone; his whole figure radiated brilliance. She was dazzled. Let Yuki stay lost. Ruka was the woman more fit to be queen and, more importantly, to stand by Lord Kaname's side. She had been among the first to step forward and announce her intention to support his claim for the throne in the aftermath of the trial and subsequent disappearance of the princess and her knights. Many others had done the same, but Ruka prided herself in being the true first, at least in her heart if not in actuality.

Today marked the passing of a week since the princess had fled the capital and, despite Kaname's efforts to locate her and bring her home, she had not been found. Today, many undecided members of the nobility were coming forward to pledge their loyalty, among them Akatasuki Kain, who had confessed to her his deep-seated fear and reluctance about the matter. He had asked her not to be so hasty in her decision to follow Kaname, as he felt ill at ease with the situation and disliked the turn of events, but Ruka assumed this had more to do with his preoccupation for his cousin than anything else. However, Ruka had little thought for traitors, which was what Hanabusa had become now, and refused to listen. She only wished to pursue perfection, and that was Kaname Kuran.

The red haired knight stepped forward now, kneeling and offering the lord his sword. She could see the reluctance still glued in his eyes, but he uttered the words all the same. "I, Akatsuki Kain, pledge my life and my sword to your service. I swear that I shall serve you until my death or until I am dismissed from your service."

"Thank you," Kaname repeated the words that he had given to every courtesan. "I humbly accept your vow and your service."

Akatsuki rose, sheathing his sword and returning to his place among the nobility. As he did so, his eyes flicked to hers momentarily, solemn and unreadable. She looked away, back to the dark-haired noble that reclined in the throne. She had already heard the knight's words of warning and had already chosen her own path. In the end, she would be the one to have stood by Kaname's side from the very start.

The pledges droned on. Ruka preoccupied herself with alternating between staring at Lord Kuran and examining the apparel of the other noble women. She always prided herself on her wardrobe, and in order to remain at the top it was important to investigate the competition. This afternoon she was wearing a gown of light saffron chiffon that clung to her curves with a near transparent shimmer, accentuating the lines of her hips and breasts. She had chosen the outfit with the intention of being a figure that demanded attention, and she had succeeded. Many of the noble men had already displayed signs of interest in her. Her only goal now was to draw the beautiful Lord Kuran's attention. At the moment, though, there was no way for her to gracefully achieve this.

When at last the nobility had ceased coming forward and Ruka had finished critiquing the hairstyles as well as the dresses of each and every visible noblewoman, Kaname finally stood, signaling his preparation to leave. She blew out a short breath. She had worn this gown for nothing if he did not see it.

"My Lords, my Ladies," the young lord addressed the entire hall, "I thank you all sincerely for your trust and your loyalty. I pray that I do not disappoint you in the days to come. I also pray that your confidences will not be needed and that the princess will soon be home…" His face reflected the appropriate amount of sorrow. She frowned internally. Yuki was a week gone, and she, Ruka Souen, was right here in front of him in a stunning masterpiece of clothing.

Those dark eyes seemed to stare straight through her, over the crowd. "I have a second piece of news to share," he continued. "To make her own personal pledge, the Lady Shizuka Hio will soon be arriving in the next few weeks. I hope that she will be received well during her stay here."

Once he had finished relaying this information, he bowed formally to the court and exited the throne room. As he passed, Ruka feigned a cough to draw his attention. She would not allow him to merely walk out without a second glance at her. To her glee, she saw his eyes dart over to her, but they were brewing with thunderclouds that instantly burned through her momentary joy. Rejection threatened to rise up again, hot and fierce in her chest, but she fought it down. This was nothing. Nothing. Even the trembling of her lower lip meant nothing at all. She shut her eyes as the lord vanished from sight.

The nobility began to file out around her, but Ruka remained rooted in place, despondent. Even without Yuki here, perhaps her endeavor was hopeless. Worse, her parents had been sending her letters recently, and it seemed they were growing impatient for her to enter an engagement. And now, just when she had finally monopolized Kaname as the most eligible woman at court, Shizuka Hio was arriving. If Shizuka pursued the young lord, she would assuredly make an excellent match for him. Ruka was certain that, as with the disappeared princess, Kaname would see the benefits to it. She was powerless. She wasn't an heir, nor held a claim to the throne… She might have been rich and beautiful, but beyond that, what did she have..?

"Ruka," Akatsuki's baritone voice broke through her depression, and she opened her eyes. The two nobles were among the last ones left in the room.

"My apologies," she murmured, casting away her train of her thoughts and putting on a smile. "I was lost in thought."

"Lord Kaname?" His face was an impervious mask, neutral and composed. She hated that. Even with all the years that she had known Akatsuki, he could still shut her out whenever he chose.

"What if it was?" she demanded, irked. Immediately, she brushed him aside, making for the doors to the chamber.

She heard him give a small sigh, though she refused to turn to acknowledge him. She wanted to be alone. His footsteps hounded her, however, and finally he said, "I pledged my loyalty to him, but… Please, Ruka, be cautious. I don't trust him."

"You already told me this." Her shoes clicked against the smooth stone floor, marking out every second of her time that the knight wasted with his futile worrying.

A beat of silence. She had delayed whatever he was going to say. Then, "With the king, the princess, and my cousin gone, I have no purpose here other than you. My brother may wish for me to stay, but if you were to leave the capital I would return home."

She heaved a sigh of her own, pivoting to face him now. "What are you trying to say?" A hand moved to perch itself on her hip.

Something ignited in his eyes. An emotion, at last, even if she couldn't decipher it. She thought perhaps it might have been frustration. Well, let him be frustrated. She was, too, with the whole situation.

"I'm trying to say that my sword serves you first and foremost," his tone was flat.

"I don't need your protection, Akatsuki." Abruptly, she was completely exasperated. Was this how all of the court viewed her? A helpless little girl? What did she have to do to prove her worth as a woman? She could protect herself.

His eyes were unreadable. She understood implicitly that he was disagreeing and hissed out, "I don't need anyone looking out for me. I can take care of myself."

"I know you can, Ruka." A sad smile overtook his lips now, confounding her. "I only don't want to see you hurt."

Confused, she pursed her lips and said, "Well…thank you… But, honestly, just leave it alone. At some point you'll have to trust in Kaname and accept him as the king. And, hopefully, with me as the queen!" She tossed her hair and felt a surge of confidence after this assertion. "I will make Kaname Kuran see me, whether he likes it or not. This is a declaration of war." She smirked. "Just wait and see, Akatsuki. I always get what I want."

"That you do." The traces of melancholy lingered around the edges of his features. Fortunately, Ruka had long ago given up understanding his sudden bouts of downheartedness.

"Let's go have some tea and cake," she suggested on a sudden whim. "I feel like celebrating."

"Celebrating what?"

"My early victory, of course," she replied smugly. "And, I suppose, Kaname's imminent crowning as the king to the Nine Kingdoms."

The honey-haired noble didn't await the knight's response. Instead, she immediately headed off in the direction of the kitchens in search of a servant to attend her need. Shizuka Hio was a threat, just as Yuki had been, and if Ruka let a mere threat impede her then she truly was the lesser woman and undeserving of a man as flawless as the Lord Kaname. None of these other noble women mattered. She, Ruka Souen, would be the victor in the end. She was sure of it.

A/N: LALALA What was that? You wanted Yuki and the knights? WELP. -SHOT- Jk they're coming next week -spoiler alert!-

Ruka is right. Kaname is perfect. If by perfect she means...perfectly awful... =P But I guess Ruka also doesn't realize all that's going on either so I'll cut her some slack. Anyway, review! 3