Chapter 41
Later that night Tsunade gave birth to a girl. She was so disappointed by the fact that she burst into tears in front of Hideki and started apologizing and promising that her next one will be a boy. This ruined some of his happiness holding his first child into his arms. The girl was healthy and beautiful and he did not even feel disappointed that his heir was not born. He was in no hurry for one. When the other members of the family came inside, she forced herself to stop crying, because her pride was something she cherished more than anything else. Yet, Airi's sweet words and smiles towards the baby got on her nerves. Then she suggested the name Eri for the baby and Hideki agreed, making her the baby's godmother. Tsunade was furious.
"Oh, she is so cute! My beautiful niece and goddaughter!" Airi spoke to the baby in her arms. "I wish I have a child that will be as cute as you!"
Toushiro raised his eyebrow.
"Do you want to have a child already, Airi?"
She turned to her father and spoke without thinking much.
"Oh, yes, father! I really want to get married soon!"
Toushiro threw a playful look at Momo, who was more worried than anything. Then, he congratulated the couple again and went outside.
"Tsunade, you don't have to be disappointed at all! This little girl is a better present than all the boys in the world!"
Airi was sincere in her words, but Tsunade could not hold back anymore.
"Of course, Airi! Because you secretly hoped that I will give birth to a girl! That is why you are so happy now!"
Airi looked up, offended.
"What are you saying? I am happy because she is my niece."
"As if I would believe that!"
"Tsunade, stop!" Hideki raised his voice.
Momo took the baby from her daughter.
"Tsunade, I am sure that Airi is sincere in her happiness. We all are. There is enough time for boys later on."
Tsunade always tried to treat the Empress more politely so she was about to stop, but Airi was not.
"She can't really understand what true happiness is! If it was my child, I would treasure this moment with all my heart!"
"Airi!" Momo looked at her daughter accusingly.
"Because it does not matter if your child is a girl or a boy. They won't inherit the throne anyway!" Tsunade thought this would hurt her sister-in-law.
"Yours also, if we trust the words of the old lady!"
This was the last drop for Tsunade. She was about to start shouting.
"You little!"
"Tsunade, shut up!" Hideki shouted too and his wife looked at him in shock.
"Are you defending her instead of me?"
Momo took Airi's hand and forcefully dragged her out of the room.
"What was that about?" She asked, handing the baby to the milkmaid.
"You heard her! She started first!"
"You know what I am talking about." Momo spoke calmly, but Airi knew to fear her especially in these moments. She had to explain everything about the fortune teller.
The young man was trying to hold back his tears, as a girl held his hand tightly. Her red hair and violet eyes captured attention. It was really quiet all around, only the birds were singing. Finally the time came when he stepped in front and took a shovel together with his father and Renji, throwing dry soil on top of the coffin. When he returned to his place, he was no longer able to fight the pain as tears started running down his cheeks. The red haired girl took his hand and they moved away.
"Just pour it all out, Kazui!" She said and embraced him.
He rested his head on her shoulder.
Rukia was watching from the distance. Renji and Ichigo took their places beside her.
"I am so sorry, Ichigo. Inoue will be greatly missed." She put her hand on his shoulder.
He nodded his head.
"It is all my fault. My father told me that another pregnancy would kill her, yet I…"
"It's not your fault. She wanted it that much. She always told me how much she wanted to have one little girl."
Ichigo put his hand in front of his eyes. Renji held his shoulder tightly.
"We will always be here for you, man."
Renji and Rukia exchanged looks with each other.
"Actually Ichigo, we were thinking that it will be better for you to change the atmosphere for some time." Rukia started. "Ichika and Kazui are also really close friends, so we will be glad if you came to stay with us in the Sereitei."
"No." He shook his head. "We are staying here."
"Ichigo, think about it. If not for yourself think about Kazui. If you stay here just the two of you, it will be bad for him." Renji added.
"Just for a little while." Rukia spoke too.
Ichigo looked up in the direction where his son and Ichika stood. The boy was still crying on her shoulder. His son was different than him. He was more sensitive and vulnerable. He had always been close to his mother and her loss really hit him hard. Ichigo knew how painful it was to grow up without a mother, but he had lost his, when he was still a little boy and he managed to learn to hide his feelings. For 19 year old Kazui that would be much harder. Knowing just how attached he was to Ichika, he nodded his head, wanting to give him some comfort and time.
Takashi made a few more visits to his sister during the week. It turned out that Deiji spoke three languages, wrote poetry and sang beautifully. The last he heard accidentally, because she did not want to sing in public. The other things he learned from Airi, who was determined to expose the best traits of her friend. In the end of the week, he asked his sister to let him take Deiji in his harem.
"Of course you can!" Airi smiled and took his hand. "I hope she makes you happy…and you make her happy." She winked at her brother.
Then unable to hide her own romance from him she spoke again.
"I know what love is, brother, and I hope you experience it too."
He laughed.
"How do you know?"
She felt a little offended and pulled her hand from his.
"Because I am in love!" Her expression was meant to show him how dumb his question was.
"In whom?" He asked, still finding it funny.
"Captain Kira…" She whispered and a slight blush appeared on her face.
Takashi widened his eyes.
"Is that a joke?"
"Of course not!" Airi exclaimed loudly.
"Then you better forget about him as soon as possible."
"Takashi, don't tell me that he is too old for me! I've heard it enough from Deiji. And don't tell mom and dad, because they will freak out!"
"I won't. Because I know that this is not love, but delusion. He saved you from that accident and you see him as some knight on a white horse."
She looked at him with anger.
"What do you know about love anyway? What do you all know about love? Hideki had an arranged marriage and you have so many concubines, yet you love none of them."
Takashi stood up, annoyed.
"Then why don't you ask mother? She certainly knows what love is."
Airi did not answer. He was about to walk away, but then looked back.
"Don't do anything stupid, Airi! I love you, but if I hear that this is going too far, I will stop it."
"You won't hear anything, because you don't want to listen to me! And I thought you knew me better than anyone." Her eyes filled with tears.
"I do. Don't start crying. It won't help you. I am just thinking about your happiness."
"That's what everyone says when they are about to hurt someone." She said seriously.
He sighed and walked out.
"What? I am leaving with the Prince?" Deiji sat down, feeling upset.
"Don't be so disappointed! Takashi is the right man for you! He is a gentle soul. Well, Masaru is the most romantic one, but he is too much for you." Airi cheerfully explained.
There was no trace of smile on Deiji's face.
"You promised to let me leave and go back to my family, but instead you are throwing me into a harem full of one-night girls, conspiring to rule the world." She got up.
"Deiji! You will be happy, you will see! Besides, there is no man waiting for you back home." Airi moved closer to her.
"Did you even tell him about my scar?" Deiji asked.
This was a really painful subject for her. When she was Airi's age and they were choosing girls for Hideki, they turned her down because of a scar on her left arm, just below her shoulder. She had gotten it, when she went inside a burning building to help a small child out. She burnt her arm badly and the spot never healed correctly – it remained red and disfigured.
"No." Airi had really forgotten about it. "But it is not a big deal!"
"Not a big deal?" Deiji raised her voice. "They don't accept women with scars as concubines!"
"Look, Deiji. This is not an official selection. My brother likes you. If he tells them to take you, they will."
Deiji looked to the side, still looking upset.
"Come on, Deiji! Who knows? You might become a princess one day! Every girl dreams of being one!"
"Life is not so romantic, Your Highness. I had to go through a lot to learn it, but you will surely understand that too one day." She bowed before leaving the room.
Airi took the closest pillow and threw it on the floor. No one understood her at all. Now because of her mother and the incident with the fortune teller, she had to be really careful for a while, which meant not meeting Kira at all.
Tsunade recovered quickly from the birth of her daughter, but she was still unwilling to take care of her. Lady Cao tried to make her change her mind, because she saw that this hurt her relationship with Hideki more than anything.
"Maybe this old witch was right. I will have only daughters just like my mother." She said.
"Of course not, Your Highness!" Lady Cao ran closer to her. "This woman only came here for the money. You will give birth to many children and some of them will surely be boys."
"You know that king of England who only had daughters. He killed all his wives, because they failed to give him a heir."
"We are not England. And you are no ordinary woman! Your mother and father are important people from big noble families! You are no worthless concubine!"
"I wish they come to me sooner. What is taking so long?"
"State affairs."
"The State was always more important than me. I grew up responsible and determined. While that little spoiled bitch Airi is showered with love all the time and she knows the price of nothing."
Her dislike of her sister-in-law had only grown bigger.
"She will surely get married soon and you will see her even rarely."
"I doubt it. Uncle is so attached to her. He won't get her married that soon. He will probably even allow her to choose her husband."
"Does it matter? You will rule this Empire one day and she is just one Princess."
Tsunade scratched the sofa with her nails.
"It matters to me. No one will humiliate me without paying for it. I want you to pay close attention to her every action from now on while we are here." Even the older woman got scared by the dark look in her eyes. "Did you understand?"
"Yes, Your Highess." She bowed.
When she reached the Green palace, Deiji was taken for examination. She was ordered to strip naked, which was extremely uncomfortable and humiliating for her. Two old ladies carefully looked at her body and face going as far as to check her teeth. When they spotted the scar on her arm, one of them shook her head quickly.
"She can't enter with that scar."
She knew it even before coming. Now she was going to be sent back like an unwanted item. She had to wait for 30 minutes wrapped only in a towel, before one elderly man came inside. By his looks she could tell that he was important.
"You will take her."
"But Nobu-san! You know the rules." The old woman exclaimed.
"The Prince sets the rules here. You will keep quiet about that scar. Both of you." He handed her a bag of money.
The woman took the bag and made a short pause.
"I really don't understand, sir. She has a pretty face – that is true. But her body is not worthy of a concubine. She is flat-chested and this ugly scar…"
"It is not for you to understand!" He scolded her. "Proceed with the exam as quickly as possible."
Then he turned his head to see Deiji sitting in the corner of the room. He knew she had heard them. She was looking at him with a scared and unconfident look, but there was also a strong spirit underneath. Like she was full of pride and self-respect. Spending no more time there, he left.
"You! Come here! The midwife will check your virginity!"
Deiji stood up and forced herself to oblige them.
Nobu came inside Takashi's room and bowed politely.
"Your Highness, it is all ready."
"Good." Takashi smiled.
The old man wondered for a moment before saying.
"I don't know why you took her. You have so many beautiful women and none of them are damaged."
Takashi raised an eyebrow. Nobu realized that he had gone too far.
"But the maids said that she has beautiful soft white skin and that she is…as untouched as a woman can be."
Takashi kept quiet and Nobu only bowed before stepping back. Before he reached the door, the Prince spoke again.
"I want her tonight."
"As you wish, Your Highness."
Deiji was surprised to learn that Fei and Saiko were also part of the Prince's concubines. Fei in particular was a favorite, who had a separate room. These girls used to bully her back in the palace school. She never knew the reason why. Was it because she excelled in the studies and they never did? Was it because the teachers liked her more? But they were both full of happiness when she got selected for a maid of the Princess while they were sent as concubines. Fei was boasting how she will be an Empress one day. And she was on her way to do it, it seemed.
Later that night, Deiji was called to spend the night with the prince, much to everyone's surprise. She was not enthusiastic to go, but went through the beauty procedures. Fei was quick to take precautions, as she sent Saiko to warn her "If you spend the night there, you are dead!" When Deiji went inside the room, she was shivering. In Takashi's head the only thought was how beautiful she looked, with her brown flowing locks, and widened innocent eyes. Accordingly, the maids had chosen a white dress for her, that was not revealing in the slightest. He smiled.
"Come closer!"
Deiji made a few steps, but she was not really as close as he wanted her to be. He smiled and moved instead. She had her head down and her heart was beating fast inside her chest. He put his hand under her chin and made her look up. The look in his eyes only made her more scared. She knew what it meant. She knew it before coming inside, but now it had gotten real. His hand moved to her cheek.
"Your highness, forgive me, but I want to go back to the common room." She said suddenly and stepped back.
He was shocked.
"What?"
"I want to go back to the common room."
"Do you think this is your decision?" His pride was hurt.
He could see the hurt in her eyes.
"No. I don't have the right to decide anything. Because I am just a servant. Whatever you or your sister says, I do."
He got angry at her.
"You can go! Guards! Open the door!" He shouted and turned his back to her.
She quickly walked away, trembling. She was feeling humiliated and scared and angry. She could not understand if she refused him, because of her hurt pride and lack of opinion, because of her fear of intimacy or because of Fei's warning. She had developed some sort of a fear during the times they bullied her. When she reached the next turn she moved behind the wall and exhaled, sitting down on the cold floor. Her rejection had ruined her life here. No man forgave that, especially a Prince.
A few weeks after Tsunade had given birth, Airi could not stay still any longer so she arranged another training session with Kira. As soon as she saw him in the stables, all her worries disappeared. Her mother's warning to be sensible, her brother's disapproval – they meant nothing to her.
"Captain Kira!" She exclaimed and a wide smile appeared on her face.
Kira couldn't help it but smile too. She was just like Momo, all that years ago, when she came to watch him train with Renji and Hisagi.
"Your Highness!" He bowed to her. "I hope you are well."
"Oh, yes. I just had to spend more time with my family during this special moment." She replied nonchalantly.
"Congratulations on the birth of your niece!"
"Thank you. I am going to be her godmother." She was really proud of herself.
"This is wonderful."
They were barely a few steps away. Airi was looking at his face and her heartbeat increased. Then he offered her his hand and she took it. He pulled her closer and she knew it. The moment had come when he would kiss her.
"Your Highness!" He repeated for the second time and she finally heard him. "Are you going to get on the horse?"
"Oh…oh yes." He was just helping her as usual. Feeling a little disappointed and stupid, she used his support to jump on the back of her horse.
From the distance, lady Cao smiled triumphantly.
"Let's see how cheerfully you will explain that, Princess!"
It seems that both Deiji and Airi are in trouble! The younger generation all have troubles on the path of love. Who will get their happy ending?