Chapter 10

- Two Days Later -

Byakuya watched two servants as they carried baskets of courtship gifts that had been left at the front gate for Myssa. It hadn't taken her admirers long to figure out that she had changed locations. She was always polite and kind when declining their advances without hurting their feelings or their pride. He always felt a surge of smugness when he saw the flowers, gifts, and letters riddled with praise and poetry. Forget it, gents, she's not for the likes of you! But, he was still growing to hate it. One day he feared that a man would come courting and she would say 'yes'. The thought of any man other than him touching her made his stomach clench and the heat of jealousy creep up the back of his neck. He hated feeling jealous, it made him angry. Deep down, it made him angry at Myssa for making him feel that way even though he knew she had done nothing intentional. He had worked so long and hard to master control over his emotions only for her to breeze in and wreck that control with the ease a child kicking over building blocks. Add that to the list of maddening qualities that drove him crazy where she was concerned and he was beginning to seriously toy with the idea of moving into the barracks until he could get back his control.

The front gates opened a few moments later and the next potential bride stepped through with her entourage. Again, the household was gathered for the formal greetings. Byakuya noticed that this time Rukia had joined them. She stood with Myssa, both women giving him the stink-eye. He tried not to grin and chuckle. I must be cautious at dinner tonight.

After lunch, Byakuya walked the gardens with his guest. He saw Myssa sitting on the engawa outside her room with books open and laid in an arch before her. He steered his guest in that direction. He felt her glare at him as they approached. Making sure to look amused, he had smiled and laughed softly when his guest made a joke that was mildly funny. He was rewarded with seeing fury creep over Myssa's face. He wondered if she knew how openly her emotions played out in her expressions.

Byakuya lifted the noblewoman's hand to drop a light kiss. Myssa made a strangled sound and he was sure he heard curse words before she stomped into her room and slammed the door. That's it, princess, let me see how much you care.

Byakuya's guest never made it to dinner. She left about half an hour after she finished her walk with him. She said that she had decided to accept an offer from another suitor and then quickly left. She had look terrified.

Byakuya marched straight to Myssa's room. She was gone, but Tamor was laying in a flowerbed reading a book. "Where is she, Tam?"

"She went shopping with Rangiku. I don't expect her to be back any time soon."

"What did she do to Lady Akari?"

Tamor lowered his book to meet Byakuya's gaze. "She didn't do anything to Lady Akari. She merely answered some questions the lady asked her."

"What questions?"

"Lady Akari wanted to know who Myssa was and her relationship to you." He rubbed his chin, "In fact, she didn't ask, she demanded an explanation. She's very rude!" He huffed a small puff of smoke. "The princess told her who she was and that the two of you were friends."

Byakuya's eyes narrowed, "And?"

Tamor hedged, "Well, she may have mentioned something about the lady's safety."

"Such as?"

"Her exact words were, 'If you are not out of this house within the hour, I will cut you into tiny morsels and feed you to my dragon.'" Tamor shivered, "As if I'd ever eat a person, especially such a rude one! Disgusting!"

Byakuya started laughing.

Tamor was confused, "Aren't you angry with her?"

"Not at all." The mirth wound down to a grin. "However, it seems our princess is quite angry."

"I've seen her in full dragon rage and I can tell you, she's was skating pretty close to it." He narrowed his eyes to pin Byakuya with a knowing glare, "You're enjoying this!"

"Hn." He turned and walked away.

-Later that evening-

After some shopping therapy with Rangiku, Myssa went to Shunsui's house. Her anger had given way to self-pity and she needed a place to lick her wounds. Shunsui had the best shoulders to cry on.

Myssa told him everything, from her first day at the Kuchiki estate all the way to how she had dispatched two brides back to their clans. When she detailed her antics, Shunsui had laughed hard. She had laughed too, but it dissolved into sobs and tears. He pulled her into his lap, wrapping his arms around her to let her cry as much as she wanted. That's when all her emotions came tumbling out. What she felt for Byakuya, what Ginrikku had said to her, her anger at everything, her fears about her powers and her inability to control them – every bit of it all was rushing out and she couldn't stop until it was all spent.

Once she hit the empty mark, she relaxed in Shunsui's arms. Her body was shaking a bit from post-cry hiccups. "I am utterly pathetic." She sniffled and accepted the handkerchief Shunsui held for her.

He gave her a squeeze, "No, you're just having a tough time." He shifted her so he could look her in the eyes. "Don't worry so much about your powers. Kiske is a smart guy. Between him and your father, you'll get some answers." He paused slightly. "Now, as for Byakuya, I don't think you really know how he feels. Which is why I think you should start accepting dates from the men that court you."

"What? You're serious?" She didn't like that idea one bit.

"Trust me, if Byakuya sees you with another man he'll let his true colors show. If he doesn't care, then you'll be right, he's not interested in you. If that's true then you need to move on. However, what I think will happen is that he won't be able to stand the thought of another man touching you. It might take some time for him to do something about it. He's a thinker and doesn't make rash decisions." He smiled at her. "One thing I can promise you will never change about Byakuya Kuchiki, that man will do anything to get exactly what he wants."

She shook her head a bit. "I don't like the idea of using those men when I have no intention of real courtship. It's lying."

He chuckled. "Myssa, you're young. Go out and have some fun! You'll make some new friends. A few dates with a guy doesn't mean you're on the path to matrimony. They'll be glad to be out with a beautiful, charming woman they admire. All their pals and co-workers will envy them, they'll love it."

She sighed, "Why do men have to be so weird?"

He threw back his head and laughed.

-Later, nearly midnight-

When Myssa got back to the Kuchiki estate, she found Byakuya waiting for her outside her room. There was no getting by him, he was leaning against her the wall near her door. "Did you enjoy your day with Rangiku?"

What do you care? She wanted an argument so bad, anything that would let her tear into him. Instead, she spoke evenly. "Yes, I did. I also spent the evening with Shunsui. I haven't seen him since I came here."

"We should discuss Aunt Ginny's garden party. It is being held this Saturday."

"I won't be going."

His voice was soft, hopeful. "I had hoped you would."

Her anger flared and she let him see it. "Talk to your aunt. She has rescinded her invitation and told me in no uncertain terms that I am not to show up on your arm at her party or anywhere else." His eyes rounded in shock. She sneered, "I guess she forgot to fill you in on that."

His expression darkened, "What else did she say to you?"

She shook her head, "What does it matter? Nothing is going to change." She tried to walk past him.

His hand on her wrist stopped her, the hint of a plea in his tone. "Myssa, wait…"

Her eyes lifted to his, unshed tears shimmered in the dim light as she spoke softly. "Byakuya, we are friends, let's just leave it at that." She gently, but firmly pulled away from him, entered her room, and shut the door.

Inside her room, she curled up on the bed. Biting a pillow to stifle her sobs, she cried. Outside, standing in stunned silence, Byakuya felt like something vital had just been ripped out of him.

-Three Days Later-

Byakuya had tried once more over dinner to get Myssa to tell him what Ginrikku had said to her. She had flatly refused, saying that Ginrikku had spoken her mind, then she had spoken hers. She'd given him her best I'm-royal-don't-question-me look and told him she didn't need him to fight her battles for her, she was more than capable of handling nasty nobles all on her own. He had wanted to snatch her across that table and kiss her until she begged for something more.

The next noblewoman arrived. Myssa was absent from the welcoming. Byakuya, as always, took the new lady for a walk in the garden after lunch. He spotted Myssa under an oak tree. She had spread out a blanket and had a lot of books open all around her. Her hair was up in a messy, floppy bun secured with two pencils. Stray strands escaped down her neck and around her face. He took one look at her and felt something squeeze in his chest. He wanted to free her hair and run his fingers through it before easing her down on that blanket to kiss every inch of her.

He stopped to introduce his guest and Myssa to each other. Myssa was kind, smiled, and welcomed Lady Yumiko who was polite in return.

"This looks like a lot of work." Byakuya said. He really wanted to be on that blanket with her, even if it was only to help with her research.

"Just tracking down a rather elusive translation."

"Maybe I can help." He held his hand out for the notebook on her lap. She handed it over then watched Yumiko roll her eyes while he scanned the notes. "Have you tried the Kuchiki archives on the computer?"

"It's password protected. I couldn't find Ginrei, so I'm trying the library books." She said.

He tore out the page from her notebook. "I will look this up for you."

"Thank you, that means I can focus on the other translations."

Yumiko looked and sounded like she was trying to seem interested even though she wasn't. "Don't you have servants or assistants to do that for you?"

"Well, I tend to subscribe to the idea that if you want something done right, you do it yourself. Relic hunting is 90% research, 10% recovery and details are everything." Myssa replied.

Yumiko's face twisted and her voice dripped disdain, "You're a relic hunter?"

Byakuya saw a flash of anger in Myssa's eyes, but her voice was even, her smile was tight. "I like using my brain for more than embroidery, tea ceremonies, and household management."

"Those are very important skills for a lady." She gave Byakuya a coy look. "A woman's duty is to make her husband's life easier." She slid her eyes back to Myssa. "Taking care of his home shows proper respect."

Myssa fought the need to roll her eyes. The woman sounded like she had just read from a script which made the coy look all the more painful to witness. Myssa sighed, pity replaced the anger. "Lady Yumiko, if that is how you were reared, then there is nothing wrong with your opinions or choices. My life, however, has been vastly different. I value different things than you do. It does not make me right or wrong, it just makes me different."

Byakuya wanted to kiss Myssa – so much so, he nearly gave in. Senbonzakura pulsed like a beating heart at his hip. I know your heart, Byakuya. Stop denying what your heart already knows.

Tamor chose that moment to jump down out of the tree above Myssa. Yumiko screamed and shuffled back. "What is that?!" She didn't wait for an answer, she ran toward the mansion, losing a shoe on the path.

Myssa was trying not to laugh. "That one is skittish."

Tamor chimed in, "Don't forget rude."

Myssa nodded. "And vapid. Better call in the next one, Byakuya."

He said nothing, just gave her a smile before he walked away.

-Later that night-

Lady Yumiko stayed. Myssa didn't. After dinner, Byakuya went searching for her only to be informed by Tamor that she was out on a date. Byakuya was not pleased at all. He spent the evening catching up on clan business to keep his mind off of where Myssa was and what she was doing.

Around midnight, she returned with a pack of people that included Rukia, Renji, Shuhei, Ikkaku, Yumichika, Rangiku, Momo, Nanao, and Izuru. He watched her at the front gate with the group and tried to discern which one was her date. There was no way to know which among them was her date because she was hugging all of them 'good-night', ladies too.