This is a short chapter again I'm sorry to say but I was kind of stuck for a long time with this fic. Wrote myself into a corner so to speak… then I started reading some fics by a talented author named Faery's Delight (to whom this chapter is dedicated)who has continued to chat with me back and fourth making my cats a permanent fixture under the cedar chest (which is only a couple inches off the floor) because of my screeching laughter… I also would like to thank Cutsycat and Cheetahfang (for their friendship and laughter) this is still only semi-beta'd and I'm sorry for spelling/grammar errors.
This chapter may seem a bit odd but hopefully it will make sense soon. I have the next chapter half written, it's a time jumped one to move the story along and two to add a bit of yaoi flair. Fair warning I write both het and yaoi if you don't like it tough nookie you know where the back button is. I will post a yaoi warning in chapters or stories that have it from now on.
DISCLAMER: I do NOT own them Ami is my intellectual property but the rest belongs to Tite Kubo and the various companies that distribute and handle the Bleach Manga and Anime. I make no money off this work of fan fiction and mean no offence if I have missteped with any customs or legends in the cultures mentioned in my fan fictions.
Feedback is appreciated, Flames will be used to heat the plot bunny nursery and/or brew decent cups of tea. If anything in my stories offends you please remember you have the option of using the back button.
There was beautiful music playing in the fancifully decorated ballroom. Fine gentlemen and Ladies were wearing beautiful costumes with ornate masks everywhere she turned.
She wove her way thru the crowd of partygoers, skillfully and carefully, avoiding some of the longer skirts sliding across the tiled floors as she neared her goal a tall, distinguished gentleman dressed in silver and black. His full-face mask was shaped like a dragon, with only his eyes and mouth showing. He was talking to another person so she waited until there was a lull in the conversation around him and shyly approached.
"Would you care to dance with me, Milord?" she asked, her quiet voice had a musical quality about it that the nobleman seemed to like.
"Certainly M'lady" he said gently taking her hand and leading her out onto the dance floor.
The bird mask she was wearing was a truly wondrous creation of crystals and feathers. Strings of glass beads in a mixture of crimson, gold and the occasional hint of blue with matching feathers flowed down from the points at her temples to the beak, a carved piece of cloudy amber. It was uniquely suited to her costume. She also had beaded feathers on ribbons in her hair to add a finishing flare to the ensemble. The beads made a musical counterpoint to her movements in the dance. Strangely enough the colors didn't fight with her hair, which was a beautiful mixture of red and gold, almost like fire itself.
Her dress was a beautiful creation mirroring the colors of the mask. It was layered almost feather like in the differing colors of silk and lace. The neckline of the gown was modest, the sleeves of the gown were held close to her upper arms with bands of beaded feathered ribbons to the elbows. The rest of the sleeves flowing out to a jagged bell that when her arms were down covered her fingertips with the bottoms of the sleeves reaching the floor.
"What name shall I call you little bird?" The gentleman asked as he swept her out onto the dance floor.
"Phoenix, Milord." The young woman replied with a smile, as her silvery gray eyes sparkled.
"Well my little Phoenix, is this your first ball? You don't seem familiar to me," The dragon masked gentleman said as he guided her around the floor.
"It is my first time at this ball but not my first ball, Milord." She said, matching his rhythm easily. "And what shall I call you my fine regal dragon?" she asked smiling shyly at the taller male.
"Yours eventually my dearest Phoenix." He replied with a growl, tightening his arms around her as he swung her around into the dancers.
"Mine?" she asked, her eyes widening and looking hopeful, her hand reaching up for his mask.
"We have some time before the unmasking so let us enjoy this time together my little Phoenix; you will know me in time," he said, his hand grasped her reaching hand and bringing it to his lips to gently kiss it. "I will never let you go now that I've found you." His eyes flickered golden for a moment and she heard the chime of bells as the dream began to fade.
"No, let me stay please," she begged clinging to him. "Don't go my dragon…"
Ami woke with tears running down her cheeks and a bell clutched in her hand.
In his quarters Kenpachi startled awake his arms felt strangely empty. He looked down surprised to find he held a ribbon with a single beaded crimson feather. He quickly came to the decision to never drink that brand of Sake again as he got up and got ready for the day not noticing one of his extra bells was missing from the box on his dressing table.
Music for this
As the World Falls Down David Bowie (Labyrinth Soundtrack)
Iridescent Linkin' Park