Chapter 7
- Much later that evening: around 11 p.m. -
After dinner, Byakuya went out for a long walk. He had a lot on his mind and needed some time for quiet thought. Myssa was consuming his thoughts. She had been under his roof for only a few days, but she was stirring something in him that was making him unsettled. She made him smile and laugh – she made him want to smile and laugh. He wanted to be near her all the time. He wanted to spend time talking about everything and nothing, to research the relics with her, to touch her, to kiss her, to make love to her. He wanted to make her feel all the wild things he was feeling; all the wild things he had to keep under control because Lord Kuchiki, Captain Kuchiki wasn't allowed to be that free…but Byakuya the man, he could be wild and free, with the right woman. The most frightening aspect was how fast all of this was happening. He was always in control, always the master of himself. She was a bolt of lightning into his life, zipping right past all his defenses, and he was struggling to recover.
The moon was high in the sky when he returned home. He was nearly to his room when he heard soft singing. He rounded the corner. Myssa was sitting on the engawa outside her room. The moonlight shone silvery on her skin. She was dressed in a dark teal, silk tank top and matching shorts.
Byakuya walked over to sit down beside her, "You have a pleasant voice."
She looked at him. "I'm sorry, did I wake you?"
"Not at all. I was out for a walk. Why are you still up? Trouble sleeping?"
She nodded, "Nightmares."
"Are you anxious or upset about something?"
"No." Her hand unconsciously strayed to her shoulder, to the edge of her scar. "I'm haunted by memories."
He watched her touch the scar. "Were you injured in battle?"
"Huh?"
"Your scar."
He eyes held his, she didn't hesitate. "I was tortured, Byakuya."
"What?!" His eyes were wide.
"As I said, my family history is messy."
"Who did that to you?"
"Some faceless monster carrying out my mother's orders." She sounded tired. "I remember her voice during most of it. I lost focus and time from all the pain. But, she was always there while I was being healed so it could start all over." She drew her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. "After the final session, she had them heal everything except the deepest wound. That was left to fester while I was locked in the dungeon. I spent two years down there." Her voice was almost a whisper, "It felt like forever."
Anger was simmering hot in his stomach. "Why did she do that to you?"
"That is a long and complicated answer." She looked over at him. "Are you sure you really want to hear all of it? It's ugly."
He wanted to reach for her very badly, to offer comfort, but he held back. "Yes, I want to hear all of it."
She nodded and turned her gaze back out into the garden. She was quiet for a few moments, deciding where to start, then she began speaking, her voice even. "When I was born, my mother kept me for one reason: to have a weapon against my father. According to my sister, Maren, my mother's plan was to wait until I was born and then present me to Xanthan in the hope that he would return to her. However, she couldn't wait. She went to my father to tell him that she was pregnant. He told her that she would stay in Dragon Realm, give birth, then be sent home without me. He had seen her true nature and refused to allow her to keep me. She told him she would rather terminate the pregnancy than give him her child and walk away. Xanthan wasn't going to allow that. He put her under round-the-clock guard, intent on keeping her until she gave birth. My mother bribed one of the healers attending her to tell my father that she'd had a miscarriage. He had no reason to believe otherwise, so he sent her home believing that the matter was over. It would be many years before he learned of her lie." She paused slightly. "As a small child I never saw my mother. I grew up in the palace nursery with my sisters. Maren was an adult when I was born and Mariel was six years old. Maren was more like a mother to me those early years. Then it all changed very suddenly."
"What happened?"
"I was about 8 years old when my birthrights began to manifest. My mother had me collared."
"Collared?"
"A device that blocked me from my powers. It also forcibly suppressed the manifestation of my zanpakto. I still remember it." She shivered, "It was like someone had cut my brain in half. I began to have terrible headaches that would drive me to the ground screaming. After I was collared I wasn't allowed to see my sisters except on holidays or during royal functions. As I got older I started to draw attention at court. Men wanted my hand in marriage, but my mother refused. Then, when I was about 18, an assassination plot against my mother was uncovered. Someone at court planned to uncollar me and use me to kill my mother."
"Why you?"
"My mother is very powerful. The conspirators believed that since I would wield two birthrights I would be powerful enough to slay my mother, leaving an open path for a new queen to take the throne. My mother wanted me put to death when she found out."
"What stopped her?"
"The Soul King. I was not involved in the plot. I had no contact with anyone at court. There was no way for me to know of anything that was happening. He forbid her from destroying me. Instead, I disappeared permanently. I was taken to the dungeon. The torture started the next day."
"Were the conspirators all caught?"
She shook her head, "Two were caught. The mastermind behind the plot was never identified. I'm sure my mother still looses sleep over that fact."
"How did you get out?"
"After 8 months or so, Maren figured out that something was wrong. She tried to find me. When she learned where I was she went to my father and told him everything. He came to court and demanded my mother hand me over to him. She told him that if he brought her the star jewel, she would hand me over to him. It took him, my brothers, and Tamor fourteen months to find it and return to court with it. One night, I'll get Tam to tell you the tale." She smiled at him. "He's a great storyteller and the quest was interesting."
"Did your mother honor her word and release you?"
She snorted derisively, "Of course not. She finally had Xanthan right where she wanted him. She seized the star jewel and used it to try to kill him. However, she failed. The star jewel was nothing compared to my father's power. He shattered the jewel and took her hostage. My brothers and Tamor nearly tore down the palace looking for me when she wouldn't tell them where to find me. Rygar found me in the dungeon. I had been in the dark for so long I couldn't tolerate any light. I screamed and fought so hard he had to blindfold me. It took six months for my vision to return to normal. I had to be gradually adapted back to light." She looked up at the moon. "I spent a lot of time in moonlight. It was the only light that didn't hurt."
Tamor spoke up from the flowerbed, "And 57 years later, you're still nocturnal." He hopped up onto the engawa next to her and sat down. "Show him the scar, princess, let him see the mark where your strength was forged."
"Tam, I don't think people here honor and cherish scars the way dragons do." She said.
"Show me." Byakuya's voice was quiet.
She turned her back to him and lifted her shirt to reveal the scar. He was silent as he reached out to touch the pink, ravaged tissue. He expected her to flinch or stiffen under his touch, but she didn't. "Captain Kotetsu may be able to remove this for you."
She put her shirt down and turned back to him. "Byakuya, where I come from I am called Ironspine Starjax because of this scar. I wear it with pride."
He smiled slightly, "As you should." He wanted nothing more than to carry her to his bed and explore every inch of her. He wanted to write memories of pleasure upon her skin to erase the horrors of the past. "What happened when your father took you to Dragon Realm and uncollared you?"
"I don't remember anything about being uncollared. The backlash was so violent I was knocked out for almost a week. Tam can answer that question for you."
"When the king had her collar removed she nearly killed the healers treating her." Tamor said. "The blast from her birthrights combined with her reiatsu was so immense it levelled everything within a mile. Thank the stars the king had the foresight to isolate her at a remote hunting lodge." He paused crawl into her lap and fixed his gaze on Byakuya. "The first 20 years were cruel. It was the next 20 that forged the woman you know now. And it was not easy. She had to learn to control her birthrights and reiatsu so she wouldn't harm herself or anyone else. Her father and her brothers were her saving grace. They taught her what love is. They taught her to be proud of who and what she is. They showed her that the world isn't always cruel."
"You were a big part of all that too, Tam." She said.
He yawned, "I suppose."
She scratched behind his ear and his foot thumped on her leg. She smiled, "Go back to bed."
He bid them both "goodnight" and returned to her room. Myssa caught Byakuya's gaze. "Will you promise me something?"
"If it is in power to do so, yes."
"Please, don't treat me differently. I'm not a victim, I'm a survivor. I am not someone to be pitied."
He now understood why she had not wanted to talk about her past. "I promise I will not treat you differently."
She kissed his cheek, taking him by surprise. "Thank you, Byakuya." She stood up. "Goodnight, sleep well."
He was staring at her, willing himself not to stand up and kiss her breathless. "Goodnight, Myssa."
- The Next Day -
In the morning when Byakuya got dressed, he found another note from Myssa hidden in a pocket of his haori. This one read: "Our friendship is now rooted deep, for your name is now written upon my heart." He smiled and added it to the other note and ribbon, putting them all in an inner pocket.
At breakfast, Byakuya found Rukia and Myssa drinking tea and giggling like schoolgirls. Tamor was rolling his eyes dramatically next to them.
"Did I miss something?" Byakuya asked as a servant put his breakfast on the table in front of him.
"Yep." Myssa poured him a cup of tea. "All sorts of girlie stuff like trading make-up tips and the Estrogen Brigade's secret handshake." Handed him the cup of tea, "You're just in time for truth or dare."
He took a sip of the tea. "Did I miss the mani-pedis?"
Rukia looked stricken. Myssa snickered. "Rukia, is something wrong?"
"My brother – made a – a joke."
"Is that unusual?"
Rukia nodded. "Very."
Myssa took a sip of her tea. "Hmm. Must be some new bad influence. Must be Tamor." The dragon threw her an exasperated look. Byakuya chuckled quietly. She did too as they shared a quick look across the table.
After breakfast, Rukia left to go to work. Byakuya walked the gardens with Ginrei. He left specific instructions with his grandfather to keep an eye on Myssa and to keep her safe.
An hour later, in the courtyard, Byakuya took his leave. It was time for him to meet with the head of the Fujiama clan to see that Haiko Fujiama was punished for his crimes. Before he left, he kissed Myssa's hand and told her he would return soon.
