Chapter 2

10 suits? Yami scoffed. Like he could afford it, He might as well does as he pleases. The mission was going to take forever anyway. He at least wanted to work comfortably in his own clothes.

Although it had been common for the wizard king to pester him about owning a suit, the problem was that he keeps outgrowing them very quickly. He was dismayed by the fact that he could only get to wear such an expensive type of clothing on a such a short period of time. And so, After the following years, he just never came around to buy a new pair again.

He didn't have anything against suits. It was just awfully a painful investment, and it was nile against practicality.

Still, He did feel quite bad about it. He at least wanted to make an effort for once and dress formally for Charlotte's wedding.

"Guess there's nothing I can do about it."

Yami muttered under his breath.

Packing up his necessities and clothes, a knock on his door interupted him from his work.

"Captain! The Wizard king is here to see you again!" Finral said from outside his door in a frantic tone. Among the other Cpatains and Vice-Captains in thw brigade. Finral was one of the few who knew of The Wizard king adolescent appearance.

"Huh? The hell does he want?" Yami shouted from outside. He just talked to that old geezer this morning. It was odd for Julius for having to visit him personally when he could have just summoned him in his office again.

Upon hearing the captain's response from outside the door, the wizard king invited himself over to Yami's room without as much regard to the captain's permission.

"Ah.. I see..." Julius said as he glanced at the minimal clothing that Yami was packing for his travel. 5 sets of winter clothes, Travel clothes, his usual dailies and toiletries and that was it ,yet the formal attire was nowhere to be seen.

"I thought I told you to bring suits." Julius said condenscendingly.

"Keh, if that's all you came here for, then you wasted your time." Yami said as he zipped his luggage and went to face the young wizard king whom was leaning against the closed door.

Julius already knew of Yami's disagreement with the suits, so he didn't dwell on the matter for longer. He was a busy man after all.

"Well, that, and some other additional confidential details i'd like to cover about the mission. But i'll make it quick."

"Huh? you could have just summoned me. We just covered it this morning. The heck are you talking about? "

"Well, to simply put it, it's not the whole entirety of it. I have to be discreet you see. I'm being tailed."

Julius said calmly as if it was never a bother in the first place. "Some spies are having their suspicions of my involvement with the wizard king after all. So I just came here.

Henry's magic protected the base so it made sense.

"I'm in my weakest form yet. And as much as I hate it. I have to be extra cautious." Julius said wearily.

"Anyway, that's not the point why I came here."

Julius sat on the bed nonchalantly. While Yami stood boorishly in the room waiting for Julius' words. He huffed a sigh signaling for him to get on with it already.

"The king insists that the wedding shouldn't happen." Julius said.

"He what?" Yami reacted. The room was quieter for a while, save from the noises coming from downstairs.

Julius sighed. His boyish features seemed to mature with this heavy burden in his shoulders.

"The King intends for you to double cross Bellarose. He's going to pay you double."

The big captain had a gist of what was truly happening behind the intentions of this wedding. As it turns out, that the mission had a lot of things in toll with it.

Well, anything that involved politics and the monarchy usually did.

"And if I refuse, I'm dead?" Yami continued for him as if he wasn"t surprised by the notion.

"Well, yes that's mostly the gist of it." Julius said chuckled sheepishly.

"What do you want me to do?" The captain scoffed as he crossed his arms. "Steal her away from her very own wedding? That sounds very controversial if ya ask me." Yami chuckled. That issue would probably be the talk of the town for decades. Her, the most beautiful woman in the country, with a brutish foreigner whom runs a brigade full of misfits? The task in itself was tedious.

And just the very thought about snatching her away was downright ridiculous.

What if she really did want to get married? He didn't want to be in the way of her pursuit to happiness.

"That's actually what i'm trying to figure out. The King's intervention to this wedding is still very messy. But I don't want to drag you into it yet after I find out why Charlotte accepted the proposal in the first place."

"Her intention's are still unknown. But should things go haywire, I trust you with whatever decision you make." He continued.

The smell of the ocean and the breeze of the early morning was what first greeted Yami as he neared the Harbor. He was already late by ten minutes. But never gave it any bother. They could wait for all he cares. It was going to be a troublesome mission, He might as well make the most out of it and give himself some time before he goes through hell again.

He decided to let Finral teleport him a hundred meters away from the docks so he could feel the pleasant breeze of the ocean as he walked towards his destination.

From afar, he could already see the ships sailing at this very hour. The loud sound of heavy horns, signals it departing. The flocking of birds decorated the sky, And the crowd of people was minimal, which was a refreshing sight to start.

He walked aimlessly, dragging along his luggage with him until he finally reached the docks. And from there, he could see two people from his peripherie.

Their backs were against him. Both were dressed in a light and casual attire. But something seemed off. That guy with Charlotte didn't seem to be the Bellarose guy.

"Oh Mr. Sukehiro. You're finally here. I'm Chris Belt, I'm the attendee of Lord Bellarose, He apoligizes in advanced for not seeing to you today."

Yami didn't have it in him to react against it. He knew Bellarose was busy trying to keep an eye on the wizard king.

The attendee introduced himself and offered Yami his hand to shake.

Chris had a pleasant appearance and Ki around him. He felt like he could get along with him. The guy seemed pretty decent and was probably the type to compromise a lot. He liked guys that compromised a lot. They rarely give headaches.

Yami took it and gave a curt nod. "What's up." He said, with a ciggarette stick hanging between his lips. Nodding along his response, Belarose's assistant as he claimed himself to be explained why Bellarose couldn't attend today.

"He'll be teleported at the ship a day before the engagement party." Chris said.

That would make it 3 more days before his face finally arrived in the crowd.

"Oh and both of you work together so I guess introductions aren't needed?" Chris gestured to Charlotte as if almost forgetting to introduce each other.

"Good morning,Yami." Charlotte stepped in front and acknowledged him in her usual steely disposition, she nodded along his direction while looking at him. Her Ki felt grim, and he couldn't have it in him to ask it himself. Not when he didn't know anything about her decision yet.

He glanced to her, and For a bride, she didn't seem to be very happy upon the situation.

Put that aside, for once, Yami was seeing her wearing something light and casual, which made a few differences in her appearance. And oddly enough, she looked more laidback and feminine than in her usual combat attire, where she looked so serious and impassive most of the time.

The dress that she wore before from the dinner that she invited him however, didn't seem to be her in her usual taste in fashion, and she didn't look to be comfortable in it.

Today, she was wearing a cotton summer dress that elongated her neck, the neckline didn't seem to cover her shoulders, but the sleeves covered her arms. The bodice hugged her figure like a glove. And the length of the skirt fell just above her knees. The color of the material however, matched her eyes.

Somehow, she looked to be very comfortable in these clothes.The sight in itself was relieving. And he couldn't help but think that it would have been pleasant to see her more in this type of clothing.

"Mornin' bride to be." Yami greeted with a smug smirk.

Charlotte fought a blush forming on her cheeks and regained her composure, somehow forgetting the reason that she was in here in the first place. Her blonde hair that was rarely down, swayed from the breeze of the ocean.

Still, enough seeing him turned her knees into a puddle. What did he think of her now? Now that she's currently engaged to someone?

"So, you getting married?" He asked with that smirk on his face. He put a hand on his pocket unconciously as he stared down at her.

Charlotte's face flushed pink.

"Perhaps.. " She said shyly as she looked away from him. She put her hands behind her back to ponder. It still really hurt to be perfectly honest, How easy it was to run away from things. From her feelings.

This has probably been the ultimate move from her to banish everything that involved every aspect of him in her life. But it wasn't intentional. She didn't know the situation could go to such extremities. But it did. She'd fight for her love to him. She's give up everything to keep these feelings for him. But she was in a situation where it didn't allow her to.

Even the girls were outrageously against it too. But they didn't know the complete reason why, and she'd rather keep them out of the blue before they could get involved in such diabolical matters such as this.

"Ya guys... y'know? Ever dated?" Yami asked. Sure the bulky captain asked this so he could know of Charlotte's intentions, well mostly because of the mission, but he was particularly curious about it himself.

She didn't know why he would ask her the details about her realtionship with Greg. Well, It was rather complicated.

It felt bittersweet discussing these things to him. It just felt...wrong, it was almost as if she was- She quickly shook the notion away.

No, they never had such a relationship. She shouldn't keep herself tied to him.

Still, she couldn't help but feel a certain way.

"...Kind of?" She said unsurely.

Yami's brows lifted at this.

So it meant they dated? It came off as a surprise. She didn't seem to be the type to participate herself into dating.

Now he was more intrigued. Just Who was this Bellarose guy, to even be graced by Charlotte's attention? Sure, The Greg guy was filthy rich and powerful. But she was had never swayed by wealth and powet among other things by a man.

Eitherway, Charlotte was an adult, she can do anything as she pleases. And Yami had absolutely nothing to do with her dating life as far as he was concerned.

"I was introduced to him by my family, and well- there wasn't really a proposal involved like it usually did. But you know, the intentions were still there." Charlotte crossed her arms as she looked out across the sea.

"Greg courted me properly, and we got to know each other for the past 4 months. And then, he proposed to me, and I...accepted."

"Huh, sounds pretty simple." Yami mumbled outloud. He didn't mean to say it vocally, but well, now it's out in the open.

"What do you mean by 'simple'?" The blonde woman looked at him pointedly.

"Well, you date and get married I guess. I thought you'd at least give the guy a hard time." Yami chuckled.

"I wasn't particularly easy on him you know?" she argued.

"Oh? How so?" Yami crossed his arms and leaned forward in her direction, staring at her daringly.

Embarassment filled her cheeks. She fummed as she uncrossed her arms.

"I'll have you know it took him months of my beating before he could even hold my hand or kiss me."

It slipped right out of Charlotte's mouth. She didn't want to discuss that part of situation she was in at the moment. She wasn't per se lying, but everything that she said was the half-truth of everything.

Yami suddenly didn't seem to want to dwell on the subject any longer. She thought he'd at least have more remarks about this, maybe more teasing will be involved. But he was suddenly uncharacteristically silent about it.

And he had this expression on his face that she couldn't read.

Yami had his quiet moments sure. She knew the man was only loud when the situations overwhelmed him. Especially when he was happy, frustrated or angry. But most of the time, he was usually stoic and quiet.

Still, It was a bit out of character even for him to stay silent to such issues regarding her love life, especially when he could see an opening to tease her. It was right under his nose. so why isn't he saying anything?

"So... I-I presume you're fully set? I heared you came back from a 3-month mission before this." Charlotte awkwardly changed the topic to break the sudden tension between them. Stepping away from him to get a much needed air.

Chris coughed nonchalantly, feeling the tension swell between the two. Was it really a good thing to hire the Bulky Captain as their bodyguard? They seemed to have unresolved tension between each other. Were they past lovers? Because it seemed rather likely.

Yami sighed nonchalantly, as if nothing bothered him. "I'd be lying if I said that i'm in tip top condition. But no, I barely feel like i've rested enough." He complained as he yawned from the early hours of the morning.

Charlotte felt a bit bad about something in regards to their earlier discussions. But she felt that she should be more kinder to him. Even though he was hired as their bodyguard, he was still a guest in her party. Besides, she was a powerhouse herself. She could take on the few hours by herself.

"Alright, I'll make sure the maids tend to your room first. Use the few hours while the guests pile up and get some sleep."

They had to be 3 hours early before the ship leaves, the final preparations and other details had still yet to be refined during those times.

"Woah, really Prickly Queen? You're letting me sleep of the job? For the very first time, that's pretty decent of you." Yami joked. He chuckled at the said notion. It wasn't her per se to be very laid back as well today. She was always the strict type, so this was very refreshing coming from her.

"I've always been decent." Charlotte retorted back as she crossed her arms.

"So far, I just believe that we won't be facing some trouble for a long period of time, so it's fine. Still, I expect you to be alert on your feet whenever the unexpected happens."

"C'mmon Prickly Queen, when have I ever doubted you?" Yami boasted with a cigarette hanging between his lips.

"Always." She deadpanned.

"Aww c'mmon, you couldn't have lied through your breath for a sec?"

And just like that, the situation was back to normal.

Even tho he reassured her, Charlotte couldn't help but doubt Yami most of the time. His reputation as the God of destruction preceeds him, and running a notorious brigade known for causing trouble and inflicting the most property damage on missions was what they were known for.

That was just part of how truly rumbunctous he is. Although he wasn't always acknowledged in such a positive light. His strength and wit was something that she believed to be truly admirable aspects from him. He wasn't all talk, he truly put his actions into words.

"Just be on your best behavior." Charlotte sighed. Deciding not to expect too much from him.

"Eh? You don't seem to be very convinced. You're breaking my fragile little heart here." Yami said. It hurt a bit that she didn't put her full trust in him. Still, this was Charlotte he was talking about. She didn't like relying on people that much.

Charlotte blushed yet again that upteenth time that morning. it was so frustrating how easily flustered she could get just by his careless words.She didn't understand why he had to say all of those things in such a manner.

"But how can I, when you cause havoc everywhere you go?"

Well, that sums up their argument. He couldn't disagree with it either.

Chris suddenly felt awkward by the exchange between the two. They felt like two old married couple arguing instead of colleagues who talked about the weather like decent people.

There was silence for a while, as the ocean waves crashed the shore, it's sounds could be heared in the distance and set a tranquil silence between the three people. Until Yami broke it again.

"So I take it, you're going to have an engagement party on a ship. But why aren't we getting in?" Yami asked as he looked around the docks. The ship looked luxurious that was to say, he wasn't surprised by that at all. The design looked unique too.

"It's running a little bit late under maintenance, and they're checking the weather intently. But it's better to have a delayed travel, than an unprepared ship." Chris said.

Yami chuckled remembering something of his past.

"Couldn't agree more. The last time I chose to ride a boat with poor weather, I ended up on this continent."

Charlotte knew how Yami ended up ashore in Clover. But she had never heared of this side the story before.

"Hmm... why does such carelessness from you not even surprise me anymore?" The blue rose captain commented.

"Well, I was 14 and I didn't know any better. What's your excuse?" Yami replied.

"Well..." Charlotte breathe calmly, and pointedly looked at him. The gloss of her pink lips seemed to shimmer from the light of the sun. "You're already 29 and you still don't know any better." She shrugged as she took a step ahead of him. But just before he could retort back, The ship had already signalled that it was ready to be boarded.

"C'mmon prickly queen, what's up with the usual attitude? and here I thought you'd at least be nice today." Yami shouted and grumbled underneath his breath as he tried to catch up with them, his sole luggage in tow.

Yami arrived in his lodging and carelessly dropped his luggage by the door as soon as he came in. He didn't feel like picking it up yet to unpack some of his stuff. He felt like resting first before he could tinker away with his things.

Upon seeing the bed, he immediately decided to fall from it. Face first to feel the sheets in his wake.

He yawned, rolling through his back, feeling the soft matress in his body. It was such a luxurious bed alright. The sheets were crisp and white. It's scent clearly indicated it to be freshly laundered and ironed.

He 'll make sure to enjoy it while it lasts, unfortunately.

But just as he was supposed to doze off Someone knocked on his door. "Christ's sake, do you know how hard it is to build up sleep?" He muttered under his breath. unamused by the sudden interruption of his short tranquility.

"Who is it?" The bulky captain shouted as he stood up by the door of his room.

"It's me." A stern yet feminine voice replied, it's sound was muffled by the wooden door. And judging from the familiar Ki, it didn't take a second for Yami to know that it was Charlotte.

He was expecting her, but not as soon as this. Not when they could both be spotted by auspicious novelties that like spreading false rumours against the star of the event. Charlotte seemed to attract these types of energy around her. Probably because of her status, or how pretty she was. People always liked to be beneath others. Such superiority was a common trait among any human being with unhealthy insecurities.

She may probably want to go over the details of the mission. But he badly wanted to get some shut-eye first.

Still, who was he to decline the request of a lady?

Yami opened his door and looked at her in question.

"You know, if you just wanted a hook-up before your wedding you should have just told me so." Yami joked, causing Charlotte to fluster profusely, heat soaring through her face.

Her heart beat erratically with his words.

Just why did he have to say that all of the sudden?

"Wha- What are you even talking about?" It felt like steam was coming out of her ears. She marched inside of his room as her voice shook. Her imagination ran wild from his words. "You know that's not what i'm here for.Y-you stupid boorish man!"

She retorted back, Which caused Yami to stiffle his laughter while he closed the door behind him. Seeing her get so riled up when he teased her was always such a treat to him. She just gets so easily flustered and embarassed and it was just so fun to see.

"I know, But if you look at it from strangers point of view, what would they think?" Yami conspired, as Charlotte continued to glare at him through her lashes. "The sole heir of the Roselei house, indulges herself in infidelity activities, Oooh... so scandalous." Yami cooed half-heartedly.

"Could you please stop? I still have a lot of preparations to do." Charlotte's arms crossed over her chest, and her feet tapped on the ground impatiently, indicating her irritation. "And a wedding to plan, if you please." Her voice shook with anger as her head tilted in his direction.

"How could I when you disturbed my sleep? Do you even know how hard it is to build up sleep? It's horrendous!"

Charlotte sighed clearly irritated by the said man's antics.

"I'll make it quick and see to it that i'll never set foot in your lodgings ever again. Much less, let you see my face during the duration ofthis mission."

"Woah there, Prickly-Queen. Calm down, jeez, you couldn't take a joke?" He said as he rose his hands in defense.

"Then please, take this more seriously." Charlotte said more desparately. She almost seemed hurt, and Yami sensed it in her tone. Her sudden outburst had seemed to be very unlike her. Silence surrounded them for a while.

But before he could say anything about it, Charlotte had already composed herself. She was running away again, from the true facets of her feelings.

"Seriously, telling that to an engaged woman, you truly are a shameless man." Charlotte muttered underneath her breath. And turned around to school her features.

What did he think she was? some subject to fulfill the role of his amusement? Was this some sort of joke to him too?

She was hurt, and this whole situation had brought down upon her. He didn't understand, she had no where to go.

Still, his words took her heart soaring, and crashing down against the tide. What if she said yes? She badly wanted to agree with this scheme of his even though what he said wasn't even true. She just wanted a reason to escape from here. The lavish surroundings, the extravagant dresses that were nearly impractical to walk on, the obnoxious novelties who never understood and haven't for the life of them worked hard in a day during their lives. It was all suffocating.

Charlotte's Ki had always been a dissaray of emotions but Yami could sense that she felt upset and weary. Something that unusually enveloped the the prickly-queen.

"Alright, i'm sorry." Yami said as he backed away from her, hands up in clear surrender. Apoligizing in an almost earnest tone she thought he wasn't capable of saying.

Charlotte heaved a sigh this was definitely going to be a long day.