Chapter 11

-The Next Day-Saturday-

The day of Ginrikku Kuchiki's garden party had arrived. Every year it was the event to attend if you were aristocracy.

Since Myssa wasn't going, Byakuya was left with Yumiko as his date. The event would be long and boring, it always was. Yumiko wasn't fun or interesting. Byakuya had wanted to stay home to help Myssa with research or lay in the garden with her so they could talk as they watched the clouds float by. Hell, sitting in a room watching her read a book would be preferable to spending time with Yumiko and a garden full of stuffy nobles. But, Ginrikku had something to answer for and Byakuya was going to sort her out once and for all.

At the party, he made polite conversation when necessary. He was a gentleman with Yumiko even though she seemed to find something wrong with almost everyone gathered. He tuned her out after she launched into another critical review of the fashion choices of a few young noblewomen.

About an hour into the party, Byakuya left Yumiko with a group of her friends. His great-aunt had invited him into a private room in her house. She had wanted to know how he was liking the selection of noblewomen she had picked and if he had found one he would like to wed. He didn't answer her. He asked, "What did you say to Myssa Starjax the day the first betrothal party visited?" The authority in his voice was a clear warning to Ginrikku.

Her lips tightened, a sign of distaste. "What did she tell you?"

His eyes narrowed, "Only someone with something to hide answers a question with a question."

She began to explain what she had said to Myssa, trying all the while to cast herself in the best light possible. The more she talked, the angrier Byakuya got. He could feel rage rolling over him in waves. "You called her a 'bastard' to her face? And you made her believe that I approved your parade of breeding stock?" Ginrikku had sense enough to say nothing and cast her eyes down. His control slipped and his anger leaked out. "I am the head of this clan! You seem to have forgotten that. Not only have you overstepped your bounds, you have insulted a princess."

Her eyes whipped up to his, "A bastard, Byakuya! She is…"

"Silence!" He roared. Ginrikku's eyes were round. Byakuya never raised his voice. A muscle in his jaw ticked, his voice was low and lethal. "You will never use that word again in reference to Myssa. Do so and you will find yourself the newest resident in the Zaraki district."

"You wouldn't dare." She gasped.

"Try me." His grey eyes were cold. "Lady Yumiko will be sent home tomorrow. You will contact all the clans and cancel any arrangements you made for eligible brides to be sent."

"Lady Keiko is from a far province, she is already on the on her way."

"Then she will be the last. I will host her for a week to allow her to recover before she makes her long journey back home." He held his great-aunt's gaze, "I will only say this once. If you ever meddle in my affairs again, I will view it as an act of treason and react accordingly." He didn't wait for any acknowledgement of his statement, he turned and left the room.

Byakuya retrieved Yumiko and went home. In the carriage he tuned out Yumiko's idle prattle and thought about Myssa. She had been lied to and had no reason not to believe Ginrikku. On top of that, he had kissed her and gods only knew what she thought of him now. He understood now why she was distant and waging her own little war against him and his guests. She wasn't just angry, she was hurt.

- Later that evening -

Later, at dinner, Myssa was absent. But, she had payed a visit to the kitchen before she cloistered herself in her room. She had chatted with the chef while he made dinner and learned that Yumiko was a picky eater. The chef groused that he had to make special dishes just for her. Myssa couldn't resist. She tossed in some herbs while the chef was in the pantry. Yumiko was going to have a very gassy surprise later.

The moonlit walk in the gardens with Byakuya ended with Yumiko farting so louds and so much he was stunned. As Yumiko ran for her room, ripping and roaring as she shuffled, he heard Myssa's muffled laughter. Then, she made up a song about farts to serenade Yumiko who reached back to slap her hand over her butt as one loud bark from back there sounded just a bit too wet.

It was all too much. The scene before him, the silly song in Myssa's silly-girl voice – he had to sit down on a bench. He was laughing so hard he didn't think he was going to be able to stop any time soon. He heard Myssa's door slide shut as "Everybody Farts" came to an end when Yumiko disappeared into the house.

-The Next Day-

Lady Yumiko and her entourage left at sunrise after a quick meal in their private rooms. Byakuya saw Myssa watching Yumiko leave the estate. She had a smug grin on her face. She believed that she'd run off another bride. He let her have the victory. It was worth it to see her smile.

He was surprised that she joined him and Ginrei for breakfast. She was cheerful, chatty, and even graced him one of her dazzling smiles before she went to the library to work.

About an hour after breakfast, Yoruichi arrived at the estate with a stranger. Byakuya greeted them in the courtyard.

Yoruichi was all smiles. "Good morning, Byakuya! This is Xanthan Starjax, king of dragons and Myssa's father."

Byakuya went down on one knee, "Sire, welcome to my home. I am…"

Xanthan interrupted by pulling Byakuya to his feet and gripping his forearm in greeting. "Never kneel, proud Kuchiki. Many tales have I heard of you." He smiled, "I am pleased to find the man more impressive than his legend."

"Thank you. Your daughter has told me good things about you." He could easily see how much Myssa was like her father in both manner and looks. There was no denying this was her father, she had his hair and his unusual green eyes. And that smile, Byakuya wondered if it was a Starjax trait to have an amazing smile.

Myssa had felt her father's reiatsu the moment he arrived. She ran through the house and out the front door. "Father!" She launched herself into his arms.

"Aleris!" Xanthan caught her, hugged her tight and kissed her face – lips, cheeks, forehead, eyes – he left nothing un-pecked. Byakuya smiled at the sight. It made him happy that she was so loved.

Xanthan set Myssa on her feet. "I see you are still the most beautiful creature in all of creation." He tweaked her nose when she rolled her eyes, "And, still my favorite daughter."

She swatted his hand away, "I'm your only daughter!"

He grinned, "Alright, you are my favorite child – just don't tell your brothers." He looked at Byakuya then spoke to her in dragonspeak, "Yoruichi tells me you have fallen in love with this man, is this true?"

She answered him in their language, "It's complicated and not open for discussion."

He chuckled, "I see. So, that's a yes." She scowled.

Byakuya spoke softly to Yoruichi while father and daughter kept talking, "What language are they speaking?"

"Dragonspeak. It is an antiquated language only used by the royal houses of Dragon Realm." She answered.

Myssa's voice drew their attention back. She was angry, hands on her hips and practically snarling at her father in dragonspeak. "Don't spout the law at me! I haven't shared his bed, nor do I plan to!"

Xanthan started laughing which ramped up her anger even more. He spoke again, but not in dragonspeak, "Do not look worried, Captain Kuchiki, dragon blood tends to run hot in all things – passion, creativity, love, hate, and as Aleris is demonstrating, anger."

She made a sound of frustration and marched back into the house. She loved her father, but he knew how to push her buttons.

Inside, Byakuya led them to a room where they were seated comfortably and served tea. Xanthan sat down across from Myssa, pulled a small box from his tunic, and put it in front of her. "Kiske and I have finished your reiatsu restraints." She opened the box to find two, small gold oval bracelets. There were runes carved on the surface of the bracelets which laid snug against her skin when Xanthan put them on her. Both pulsed white, her birthrights pulsed too, before returning to normal. The relief on her face was instant. She felt like a huge weight had just been lifted off of her and that for the first time she could really breathe. Xanthan reached over and ran his finger over the runes carved in the surface. "The day we brought you home from the Royal Realm, I began working on these. I knew one day you would need them."

"You've known my powers would grow beyond my control? Why didn't you tell me?" She couldn't believe he'd held back something so important.

"I didn't want you to live in fear of this day. I didn't know how the dual birthrights would behave. This is uncharted territory, Aleris. No one has ever been born with more than one birthright." His thumb was rubbing her wrist, trying to offer comfort.

"What exactly is happening to me?"

"You have entered the final stage of maturation." He grinned at her, "Welcome to puberty."

"Pu – Puberty?" The look of horror on her face made both Byakuya and Yoruichi snicker. "Please, tell me you're joking."

"Afraid not. Dragon blood is powerful, Aleris. During puberty all half-bloods eventually go through a phase where their dragon half becomes dominant. Right now, your birthrights are growing, stretching their limits."

"Are they at war? Will they reach a balance? Am I going to have to wear these bracelets forever?" Her mind was running down a multitude of possibilities and none of them were reassuring.

"I don't know." Xanthan's hand cupped her cheek, thumb stroking, trying to give his child what she needed. "You are singularly unique in all of creation. All I can do is advise you like I did your brothers when they hit puberty. Be sure to use your powers. The more comfortable you are using them, the easier they will be to control. Train your body and keep it fit. Train your mind. You already know the pitfalls of dragon rage and how all consuming it is. If you can train your mind to focus it then it can become a mighty weapon instead of your greatest weakness." He paused a bit. "I want you to start training with Yoruichi. She will be able to challenge you and perhaps teach you something new." He turned his gaze to Byakuya. "Captain Kuchiki, I understand that you are a sword master without peer in this realm. Your fighting style and swordsmanship are very different from what Aleris was taught. Would you be willing to train her?"

He didn't hesitate, "It would be my pleasure."

Myssa's whole world was shifting and spinning. The room suddenly felt very small and too full of words she didn't want to hear. She had to get away. "I need some air." She nearly ran from the room.

Byakuya stood to go after her, but Xanthan stopped him. "Let her go for now. She needs time to process all this. She'll be all right." Smiled at him, "We don't call her Ironspine Starjax for nothing."

-Over an hour later-

Byakuya went looking for Myssa. He found her deep in the estate's forest sitting next to the river that cut through it. She didn't look at him as he sat down next to her. "Your father and Yoruichi are going to stay here tonight." She didn't say anything so he kept talking. "You are much like your father. Are your brothers like you too?"

"My brothers are maniacs." She replied, still gazing into the water.

"So, they are exactly like you." There was amusement in his tone.

She snickered and gave him one of her gentle shoulder bumps. He'd come to see them as an affectionate gesture, her way of saying 'Good one, you made me laugh.'

After a few moments, he spoke. "Myssa, I want you to know that I am here for you."

Her response was a bit cold, "I don't want or need your pity."

"I do not pity you." His brows drew in, selecting words, "I…care for you…we are friends."

Anger crept into her voice. "Wow. Those words sounded carefully chosen and rather painful for you." She threw a pebble into the river. "I learned a long time ago to accept and adapt. I can't change what is happening to me. The only thing I can control is how I react to it and deal with it. For now, I've indulged in my own private pity party long enough." She stood up and finally looked at him, giving him a look of resolve. "Thank you for your friendship, Byakuya, but please understand, I don't need anyone to hold my hand."

She walked away. He watched her…Ironspine, indeed.