Chapter 53: It Isn't Over
*Hey, look at that I was able to finish this chapter and post it on time. ^. ^ I enjoyed my trip and it feels so good to be home again. How—
*Gin is standing atop a moving small herd of albino squirrels while wearing a Napoleon hat* Onward my minions!
As I was saying how many of you were pissed that Naoko didn't say 'I love you' back to Yumichika? Cut her some slack, she's just starting to get over James's death and realizing that maybe loving someone won't result in them dying immediately.
Dark-heika, I didn't know adorable came in six hundred flavors. ^/^ I've got some fluff planned for the others but not for a while.
SasuTenLuvr, good romance can't be rushed. You must ease into it, build it up and make it more meaningful for when it happens. Okay, so maybe it wasn't straight up fluff but it was an entire chapter on romance alone. Naoko a tsundere? Hmmm... now that I think about it... she totally is! And that was completely unintentional. :D
For those of you who don't know what a tsundere is, it's a character (girl or boy) that acts tough to cover up a kind heart (or vice versa). Tsunderes are strong-willed, independent and determined to do everything right. They have great difficulty when it comes to handling romantic relationships. They tend to blush a lot and cover up their weakness with aggression.
Sounds a lot like Naoko doesn't it? ;D
Please review.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, Ayame or Seirin, only a lot of OCs*
Nemu slid a little deeper into the steaming water as Amanda Charbonneau was busy washing Nemu's long black hair. The water felt lovely on her skin and she could feel herself getting cleaner and feeling better but she couldn't bring herself to enjoy it. Her mind was worrying over Uryu; he was in the bedroom having his arm sewn back together and other wounds healed.
She knew he was in good hands, that wasn't what was worrying her. It was what he knew that she did with Reginald. She had done to buy Uryu some time, to help him but even so, would he see it that way? Would he forgive her? In her heart she knew he would but it only took a small amount of doubt to dash all that away.
"Are you alright, Mademoiselle Kurotsuchi? You seem bothered," Amanda softly probed.
She grabbed a bowel and poured the water it was holding over Nemu's long locks, washing out the last of the shampoo suds. The French lieutenant then grabbed a bottle of conditioner and worked that in next.
"It's nothing. I was just... thinking," Nemu responded.
"Does it involve the prince?" The Lolita clad woman asked.
"Perhaps."
"I will take that as a yes. Care to tell me about it?" Her long fingers were now combing her patient's long hair looking for anymore snarls or missed spots of shampoo.
Before Nemu could stop herself she started telling Amanda almost everything. There were some details the normally quiet lieutenant left out but she could tell the other woman got the gist of what she was saying.
"I trust and love him I really do, so why do I feel like he won't forgive me or he'll hate me?" Nemu asked, she felt a little better after confessing what was wrong.
"Doubt is something you can never get rid of, only ignore. You just need to have faith and trust that he will let you explain everything and that he believe you which I think he will. You two have a strong deep bond and I don't think some meaningless incident will ruin that bond.
"You're both too precious to the other to risk losing each other," Amanda said sagely.
Nemu sat in the bathtub and let her words sink in and realized she was right. That made warmth and hope to cautiously bloom in her chest and push away the gnawing doubt. Amanda could see the improvement and smiled, proud of herself.
"Now let's get you out of the water and fluffed and buffed. I'm sure the prince could do with your company, having limbs sewn back together isn't the most please procedure to experience."
Uryu was doing his best to remain still while the medical captain sitting at his bedside was tending to his arm. The captain had sewn the young man's arm up to his knuckles and was moving on to his fingers. A thin light pink scar was what remained of the ghastly wound.
The prince's hand twitched again.
"Try and remain still, if you can please," Captain Robbinsdale said gently as he kept his focus on reattaching severed nerve endings.
"I've been trying," Uryu said trying to sound calm.
The whole business of reattaching nerves was irritating. Every time one was reconnected it felt like someone poked him with a white hot needle. The medical captain refused to give him any anesthetic for his arm because it would interfere with the nerves and such. Part of Uryu thought that maybe the man was just a little sadistic in denying him the anesthetic. At least he had healed and wrapped Uryu's shoulders and foot, which was propped up on a pillow now.
"And done," Robbinsdale said, leaning back and grabbing a roll of gauze. He started to wrap Uryu's arm, "Your wound will be tender and at risk of reopening, so I'd like to bind it for a short while."
After getting Uryu comfortable, Robbinsdale backed up some of his supplies, "Now if I ask nicely is there a chance that you will stay in bed and rest? You seem t have a penchant for getting hurt right after being healed."
"I can't make any solid promises Captain Robbinsdale but I can do my best," Uryu answered, feeling a little sheepish.
"I suppose that is better than nothing," the older man sighed.
The door to the bathroom opened and Nemu and Amanda walked out. Nemu was now dressed in a pearl colored sundress had her hair brushed out and hanging freely at her waist. The Soul Reaper captain and his lieutenant exchanged glances and Robbinsdale rose from his chair.
"Amanda, how about we check on Princess Naoko and Mr. Ayasegawa?" He asked though it sounded much more like a firm order.
The lieutenant blinked before suddenly grasping the unsaid meaning of her captain's suggestion, "Oui, Captain."
The pair left the Quincy prince and his lady alone. Uryu moved off the bed and slowly stood up. He didn't want to scare her or make her think she did something wrong.
"Are you alright?" He asked gently.
"I'm fine and you?" She asked softly in return.
"Fine, we both know I've suffered worse," the prince tried to joke.
The awkwardness and tension in the air was tangible. Uryu knew he needed to handle this with tact because a slip up could result in irreparable damage. But he couldn't just let this go without talking about it and clearing the air.
"About Reginald can you... can you just tell me about it?" Uryu asked cautiously.
Nemu let out a slow breath and looked at him. He didn't look angry or accusing at all. His eyes and face were soft, concerned with just a hint of curiosity. He looked cute and unassuming though Nemu knew how formidable he could really be. But right now he looked like he just wanted answers and was willing to wait to get them.
She licked her lips, "He had said that if I... satisfied him he would prevent you and Naoko from being executed but exiled instead."
She watched his reaction and he gave none. He still looked patient and calm, she continued. "I could tell that he wasn't lying about you and Naoko being in that kind of danger."
The lieutenant swallowed thickly, "I... I couldn't think of... any way to help without having to... to..."
It became harder to speak and her eyes filled with stinging salty tears. Shame and guilt at her actions with that man no matter how pure their intentions were sounded so awful when she said it out loud. It only took Uryu a few long strides to reach her and wrap his arms around her. Nemu couldn't help but cry; she clutched his shirt and buried her face in his shoulder.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," she kept repeating.
Uryu gently pulled her away and cupped the side of her face. His thumb gently brushed away the tears that slowly trickled down her cheek.
"No, don't apologize. You have nothing to apologize for. I'm the one who should be apologizing. I should've stayed closer to you; I shouldn't have let whatever petty problems that came up keep me from you and I'm sorry."
Nemu couldn't but smile a little and look up at him, "The duties of a prince, the responsibilities he has to his people need to come before the needs of some Soul Reaper."
To that he replied, "You are not just some Soul Reaper. You are my Soul Reaper. My beautiful, compassionate, ingenious Soul Reaper, who has saved me in every way imaginable."
Her tears had stopped and her heart felt light. Amanda was right, he did give her a chance to speak and he really listened. And she was also right about them being precious to each other.
The couple was about to lean in and kiss when an urgent knock on the door was heard.
"Prince Uryu! Prince Uryu, I need to speak with you! It is urgent!" An alarmed voice cried from behind the door.
The prince sighed and Nemu giggled, "Duty calls."
He pulled away and opened the door to reveal a slight servant with frightened eyes and panting. Uryu quirked a brow, silently asking what did the young man want that was so urgent.
"Your presence has been requested in a private office. Two members of the council have been found dead."
Uryu and Nemu both stiffened.
"Who?" Uryu dared to ask.
The servant looked at him as though he were regretting to be the one to tell them, "Seiichi Matsuro and Sophia O'Keefe."
Naoko stood in the office she had been led to by the servant that had just been pounding at Yumichika's door. Mr. Matsuro and Ms. O'Keefe were dead. Their bodies had been found in the second floor of the building where the council meetings were normally held.
They had been found on the floor, surrounded with blood and holding hands.
The princess found that both dark and romantic like a twist ending to a gothic romance. Speaking of romance... Naoko tiredly ran her hand over her face and then threaded her fingers through her hair. Yumichika professing his love to me of all people... totally didn't see that one coming. She didn't need that. It was an extra heap on her already full plate.
I don't know what to do. I don't know what I feel, nor do I want to know. Romance and love are too confusing and frustrating for me. Why couldn't I have been born heartless like my dad or Captain Kuchiki? That would've made things oh so easier. The princess gnawed on her lower lip and looked out the window.
I am such a coward.
At that moment the door opened and her brother strode in looking worried but calm. Behind him was Colette but Uryu didn't know that until the door close and he turned around to see her.
"Well? What do you know?" Naoko asked the orange haired Frenchwoman.
"I think I may have a very strong inkling as to who may have murdered them," she replied smoothly.
"And?" Uryu prompted.
Colette gazed at them both with placid blue eyes that held a compelling secret.
(Half an Hour Earlier)
Philip Martin was gripping the arms of his chair, white knuckled. The servant/spy bowing before him excused himself quietly and slipped out. He knew when to leave his lord alone when he was that angry. The old man uncurled his stiff fingers and tried to breathe deeply in order to control his blood pressure and not pop a vein or artery.
This could not be happening.
Not to him, not to Reginald, his golden haired golden boy. He was the one who was supposed to become king and he would've too if he hadn't so foolishly taken the prince's offer. Now his youngest grandson was powerless, in more ways than one.
Reginald had not only lost his powers but all the titles, land deeds, and inheritance he had in his name all to that damnable Japanese boy!
And Colette... that two-timing little bitch. She should've prevented this devastating travesty from happening! When he got his hands on her there would be hell to pay.
Think Phillip think. Reginald's powers can't be restored unless... He paused and started to really think that method through. That could work, no, it will work and at the same time it will make that deplorable boy pay. As for the lost land and inheritances I'll take care of that at another time. I'll need to act quickly.
Before he could act though two people burst through the door. It was Seiichi Matsuro and Sophia O'Keefe looking livid and deadly. Both people were known to be calm and amiable and difficult for anyone to picture as even possessing anger.
"I knew you were a snake Philip. Doing this is a new low even for you," Seiichi hissed, waving a folded piece of paper in his hand.
"This is the very definition of treachery," Sophia added, her Irish accent showing through.
"And did you two really expect me not to attempt to right the wrong we let happen?" The Englishman prompted. "Those children are not fit to rule over our people."
"But your dimwitted sex driven grandson Reginald is?" Sophia shot at him.
"Don't you dare insult him Paddy*! He is a perfect match for the throne. He has power, strength, and pure clean lineage untainted by peasant blood."
Seiichi bristled when Philip referred to his late good friend as a peasant. "Don't you mean he is a perfect match as someone you can control with ease? Power and strength mean nothing if one doesn't wield them properly and responsibly. Lineage means very little in this modern day and age."
The Japanese man's voice turned hard and serious, "Philip Martin you are under arrest for the plan and attempt to murder Prince Uryu Ishida and Princess Naoko Ishida. If you'll come quietly—"
"You should know I would never give up easily especially to a Jap like you Matsuro," Philip growled. He reached inside a drawer behind him and pulled out a small hand gun. "I have grown quite tired of you and your sickening ideal views on peace with Soul Reapers."
Philip lifted up the gun and aimed it steady at them. Seiichi moved Sophia to stand behind him and used himself as a barrier to protect her.
"Martin, don't do anything you'll regret. Put the gun down and let's talk this civilly," Seiichi said slowly.
"Oh, I've been waiting to do this for a very long time and I will not regret it believe me." The Englishman curled his finger tighter around the trigger and two gunshots rang out, one after another.
(Present)
"First question, how in the hell do you know this?" Naoko asked with a healthy dose of skepticism.
"I had the room bugged. Tiny video cameras, little recording microphones, I've bugged all the rooms key family members frequent. Using technology is much more reliable than human spies. I've even put trackers and microphones on my grandfather's minion, that's how I knew when he knew about what happened to Reginald," Colette explained.
"You are a real mastermind Miss Desrosier. It's impressive," Uryu admitted.
"Merci," Colette said with a slight smile. "Now what are you two going to do?"
"Find Martin, kick his ass and arrest him. Simple as that," Naoko said gruffly.
Uryu turned his attention to the Frenchwoman, "Do you know where he his?"
She smiled slyly and held up a handheld device with a screen and blinking dot on the screen, "Who do you think I am?"
OMAKE: Byakuya Meets Charlie
"You wish for me to watch your pet?" Byakuya asked Mihana slowly.
The short dark haired doctor nodded, "Yes, it's only for a few days and I don't know anyone else who can watch Charles."
"Charlie? What kind of animal is Charlie?" The captain asked. There were likely very few pets that an asthmatic woman could have.
"Wait right there and I'll show you." She disappeared from the living room into another part of her spacious apartment. Mihana returned carrying a black and white fluff ball.
When the creature moved Byakuya saw that it was a rabbit. I should've known, he tried not to mentally groan. The animal had black ears and the top of its head was black. There was a ring of black around one eye and a small patch of black under its nose making it look like it had a mustache. Mihana handed the black and white rabbit to Byakuya who hesitantly took it.
"His full name is Charlie Chaplin because he has the trademark mustache, but I call him Chappy for short. He's sort of a hypoallergenic animal, so his dander doesn't bother me," she explained.
Byakuya eyed the animal in his hands with detachment; cute furry things weren't really his cup of tea. "Why not have Ishida or Kurosaki watch him?"
Mihana rubbed the back of her head sheepishly, "Because they're coming with me to the conference out of town. So do you think you could...?"
The nobleman looked at her then the rabbit, "I think I may know someone who would be a much better pet sitter then me."
A sharp giddy girlish scream suddenly cut through the air in the Thirteenth Division. Rukia's face was lit up like a thousand watt light bulb; her violet eyes were shimmering too. She held the rabbit nicknamed Chappy as though he were a living furry Holy Grail.
"Aren't you just adorable? Yes, you are. Yes, you are," Rukia cooed as though she were talking to a baby not a rabbit.
"Now remember to feed him a balance of baby carrots and lettuce leaves. Give him a bath at least once while I'm gone with this special shampoo—" Mihana went on and Rukia listened religiously to every detail.
Ichigo looked on with an annoyed twitching eye. Great, now it would be impossible to get Rukia to focus on her share of the paperwork. He wouldn't be surprised if she started petting the rabbit while muttering "my precious, my precious".
He glared darkly at Byakuya, "Why?"
"How could you not have seen this coming?" The captain replied haughtily but with some amusement before leaving.
*The term "Paddy" is an ethnic slur used against Irish people. Polack for those who are Polish like me, Kraut for German again like me, Jap for Japanese, Frog for French and so on.
Charlie Chaplin was a famous comic actor and film director during the early and mid 1900's. He was known for his toothbrush mustache and bowler hat.
If the omake wasn't funny at least it was cute right? I hope you liked the chapter, I've been working on it at different points for the past week instead of during my set times for fanficition writing. So to me this feels choppy and not completely strung together.
I ask for reviews as always, I am close to an emotional and mental burnout so I need some encouragement. My semester will end the week after next which is exciting and a relief for me. I'm ready for my classes to end and take a long break. ^.^*
