Chapter II:

Whispers in the Dark

The next moment, the door of the room opened without being knocked, revealing the face of the last person Shuurei wanted to hear her say those words.

"Se..Seiran!"

Shuurei's jaws tightened at the sight of her retainer suddenly appearing at the door. She wondered how long he had been there and whether he had heard of any of their conversation. She saw an incomprehensible look on his face as his brow furrowed and his eyes seemed to cloud over in thought; a myriad of emotions seemed to manifest in his atypically tempestuous eyes. His expression was stern but calm, which made the Kou princess self-conscious of her actions as a consequence of which she stared back at him, her eyes wide, scared and guilt-ridden. Never before in her life had she received such a look from him. However, when she saw his gaze shift upwards by inches and something flash in his eyes she realized that he was actually looking past her, to a place over her shoulder.

She glanced over her shoulder, following his line of sight to the far corner of the room. Seiran's eyes were focused on the wall opposite to him, his teal blue eyes sharpening at the window. A slight movement in the room caught his attention and he looked at the figure that was now partially blocking his view.

"Pardon me," he said, now clearly looking into her eyes. His gaze softened as he faced her and he said in a gentle voice, "I didn't mean to bother you."

Perplexed by this unexpected response, she looked at him incredulously, her shock melting into bewilderment. When he took a half-step forward her stomach clenched. If Seiran moved any further forward, he would immediately witness the evidence of her crime as it was just the heap of the books on the table next to him that was hiding the Ran princess.

Jyuusan, on the other hand, was analyzing the situation. While her position kept her well hidden, it also prevented her for seeing what was going on. However, judging from Seiran's reaction, she could tell that it seemed as though he didn't register Shuurei's voice earlier and had just noticed her presence. Could it be that he entered the room with something else on his mind?

It didn't take her long to figure out the answer when the clank of his sword and the sound of his footsteps broke the stillness in the room, indicating that he was still clad in his formal dress. Something outside must have caught his eye and he rushed in immediately to confirm if everything was all right. If that was the case, there was still a way out.

The Ran princess slightly pulled the table cloth, enough to let the lamp that was sitting at the corner of the table stumble, making it appear as though Shuurei had accidentally hit it and caused it to fall. The thin, delicate glass sheathing the fire shattered, its shards scattering in the path of the intruder, thereby preventing his entry. The room was almost entirely dark now except for the patch of white light where the night sky was framed in the window.

"I... " Shuurei said in an attempt to apologise him.

"Never mind. It was my fault in the first place for suddenly entering the room. Let me clear this mess."

He walked out of the room then, leaving her alone, her head bowed low with feelings of guilt. Her eyes were blankly staring at the broken pieces on the stoned floor. She felt crestfallen for pushing Jyuusan for answers and for talking about him behind his back. What had happened to her? How could she let her emotions get the better of her?

"Don't hold back," said Jyuusan as though reading her mind. "Or you might just have deeper regrets later," she whispered while leaving through the other door which led into the garden.

As the wind whooshed inside the room, the window clattered in its frame but the silence in the room was absolute. The wind gently ruffled her dark locks and stroked the nape of her neck while flurries of snow danced around her and landed in her soft strands of hair.

She kneeled onto the floor while picking a fragment of the glass. A very slight rustling, a faint and prolonged movement, disturbed the silence. It came nearer then stopped, indicating his approach. Before Seiran could utter a word, she asked, her voice barely a whisper, "Why is it that the broken cannot be fixed?"

Her question surprised him a little; he wasn't sure how to answer, though something told him she wasn't referring to the lantern.

She kept her eyes firmly on the piece of glass in her hands while she spoke. "Everything you treasure is so fragile that it eventually seems to shatter and it leaves a void behind, leaving you to wonder if it was illusory."

Sensing that she was in a strange mood, he inquired, "Ojou sama, is there something bothering you?"

Shuurei looked up at Seiran showing an expression that spoke at how uncertain she was about continuing her speech. And yet she did proceed, her words bitter-sweet.

"The pain of losing something precious is greater than the joy of possessing it... but how does it feel when you know that you are the sole cause of its devastation?"

"...Why are you telling all of this?"

She got to her feet and made her way to the window. Keeping her back to him, she raised her head and began to stare vacantly at the sky.

Her sparkling brown eyes darkened into pools of black before she said in a tone of finality, "Seiran, I can't accept this decision of yours."

Shuurei received no response for that and a painful silence hung in the air, as thick as tar and every bit as unpleasant. She didn't turn back to see him, well aware of the magnitude of pain her words must have caused him.

"I know that taking this step wasn't for your personal gain," she continued.

A slight frown of suspicion etched into his flawless features. There was no way she could really know the truth.

"Do you think, Seiran, that I'll ever be happy with my desires fulfilled this way? I can't... There is no way I can let you sacrifice your happiness, your desires and your life at the cost of protecting my dream."

He was struck with a sudden realisation at her words, his initial shock dissolving into disbelief and finally understanding.

"So according to your theory, I traded my life to the Ran clan to preserve your place in the court as an official," stated Seiran in a startled voice, reflecting the thoughts that were plaguing her mind.

She turned completely around to face him as she was taken aback to see Seiran taking her statement so easily. No matter what the reason, how could he react so casually and manage to pull out that amused expression?

"Well... for a moment let's consider that. But why would the Ran house be against you being an official?" he asked.

A million thoughts ran through her mind all at once, yet not one of them coherent. His thoughts resonated with her earlier doubts, but the extreme situation forced her to come to what she considered the only possible conclusion; that she was the reason for this marriage.

"But Seiran, the basis of your decision has something to do with me, right?" A shaky murmur was all she could muster. Her hands were trembling as she tried desperately to justify the thoughts running through her head while her mind ached with distress and confusion.

He walked towards her watching the quick play of emotions across her face. As he reached her side, he raised up one hand to cup her cheek and lowered his eyes to embrace hers in a tender gaze. She stood there in silence, staring into those eyes that had always comforted her and made her feel safe with the knowledge that they are always watching over her.

"Ojou sama. Do you really think that I'm that easy to be manipulated? Someone who listens when threatened?"

Shuurei stood there in disbelief, uncertain how to react.

"Even if something of that sort were to happen, I would never interfere, as I believe in your capability and strength to fight for your rights as an official," he concluded.

"So are you telling me that you were the one who proposed this marriage?"

Seiran closed his eyes while sighing and the next instant he unhesitatingly drew her closer to gather her in his arms. How should he make her understand? Shuurei felt a slight shiver as he took her by surprise but later she leaned in to surrender to his calming warmth.

Though he was aware of her disheartened state from the past few days, he was forced to turn a blind eye and act insensitive. He cursed himself for making her so depressed and was frustrated for staying behind when she needed him the most. Had it not been for those Censorate bastards standing outside spying on them, he would have already explained it all to her but…

"I know you can't really understand everything that I am saying to you now. But, just for now, all I can tell you is that things aren't always the way you perceive them as the things you see might not always speak of the truth," he said trying his best to put across his point.

"I can understand why you had... " he broke off, struggling over what he meant to say.

"I apologise for making you believe all of this... but I don't understand the reasoning you are using to justify what I had done... what makes you think that I... " he trailed off, her silent state discouraged him from continuing any further. He let out a breath and initiated a different approach to elucidate what he wanted to say initially.

"I had a choice to turn back but I solely chose this path with no regrets, and this has nothing to do with you," he declared.

Shuurei pulled back slightly to meet his emerald eyes. She wanted to further question him but the look in his eyes told her that he knew what he was doing. Maybe his reason was indeed much deeper than she had anticipated.

"Seiran, I am sorry," she said shaking her head. "I have dragged you through so much… I know that it's not right for me to do this but... I need to know this… Are you happy?"

His eyes widened for a moment as the light of understanding dawned on him. So that was what that had been bothering her all this time and was the seed of her troubles. Though he hated to be the cause of her depressed state, he couldn't help but be touched at her concern for him.

He looked into her eyes which were clouded with apprehension for the possible answer she would receive."Whatever happened isn't significant to add up to my pleasure or despair," he answered in a serious but gentle voice.

Shuurei returned a look which was still filled with a degree of bewilderment.

"I appreciate your concern but I'm perfectly fine," he said trying to convince her.

She searched for any hint of regret, anger or pain but couldn't find a trace of them in his eyes. He unwrapped one of his arms from around her body and brought his hands to her face.

"Trust me," he said. His beautiful eyes reassured her that everything would be fine, and that lightened her mind and unburdened her heart. She finally smiled.

"I do believe in you, Seiran, but... it's just that I..."

Her gaze lowered in embarrassment as she confessed hesitatingly, ''Well, I didn't mean to, but... I overheard your conversation with Father in the morning and..."

Seiran felt his breath catch in his throat as he looked at her with an uncertain expression planted on his face.

"I don't deny the fact that it was hard to digest, but right now I feel a part of me gladly accepting it," she admitted.

"Well, I didn't intend to keep you in the dark but I... I didn't know how to... It's still tough for me to bring it up in front of you," he sighed as he spoke in a saddened tone.

"For how long more will you be staying here with us?"

"All I can say for sure is that I'll be staying here tomorrow as well." He felt an inexplicable tug at his heart at the thought of leaving her now, but it was essential as he couldn't risk to involve Shuurei in this mess. "But there is something I need to ask you, Ojou sama."

"Huh?"

He removed one of his hands from around her back and brought it to her face, gently moving a strangle of her hair which had fallen across her face. "Give me your word that if you need me, you won't hold back."

Shuurei's perplexity soon turned into fits of laughter. "So you are still willing to do your part time job as the retainer of this house, General? You must be the first one ever."

Seeing her light up always worked in causing all his worries to fade away and making them look trivial. It ached even to think that he wouldn't see her for a while, feel the warmth of her presence and the essence of her kindness. He looked into her beautiful crystal orbs and smiled, a smile only she could bring out of him.

"Everything will return to normal in no time,'' he said with a lighter tone in his voice as he embraced her. "I won't let you down."

Author's Notes- Well, here goes my second chapter. Sorry for the late update but I was really busy with the University stuff.

I'm afraid nothing happens much in this part but the next chapter should be much better!

I would love to know what you think about this chapter. Your views did and still do encourage me to improve the plot and my style of writing.

Finally, I thank everyone for reading this chapter and also to those who added this story to their watch lists, and for all the wonderful reviews! It means a lot to me.

Merry X-mas and Happy Holidays!