I'm gonna warn you all now. It's cliche. Very cliche. So cliche, that I have no idea why in the hell I wrote it.. Anyways. I would like to think My friend Sammy (Ina Sama) for reviewing, and also my lovely friend, ShioriHououEmaku. thank you so much!
WARNING: Fluff and lots of Cliche things.. you have been warned...
Why 'Four Flowers'? -grins- You'll find out soon enough...
Anyways.. I do own dirty white shirts... but no Bleach. -cracks up- I'm so funny...
Four Days
It was a new day. The sun was shining happily with not a cloud in the sky. It was perfect for everyone. Everyone but a certain noble who just wished to lay in bed forever and never leave its safe confinements. Only four more horrible days would pass before she was handed off to a pig of a man. Oh wonderful, she thought with a groan and slipped from the soft sheets of her futon.
Tale stood, cracking the small creaks in her back, and let the sun wash over her naked body. She had somehow lost her robe in the night, most likely from being over heated. It was the summer, and the nights could get quite hot.
She turned to grab her uniform, and was surprised at what she found. A small blue cluster of flowers rested on her personal desk, along with a small folded white note. She picked her silk robe and wrapped it around her slim body, before walking over and picking up the bloom. It smelled sweet, like freshly baked taffy, only sweeter.
The noble picked up the note from the desk and unfolded it letting her eyes rest on the words.
As the name of this blossom is, Forget-Me-Not.
With Love,
J
She smiled at it, and placed the note back down. Tale brought the flower back up to her nose and took one more whiff. She decided to place it in her hair, letting the bud rest behind her ear. Her hair was already pulled up into a tight ponytail by a leather strap, and was still quite alright, instead of the usual bed-head she had every morning.
Once finally in her uniform and ready for the day, yet not the one to come in only half a week, Tale stepped from her quarters and watched as her subordinates bustled around getting everything tip top and in shape. After standing for a few moments, one of the lower seats finally noticed her and greeted her formally.
"Good morning, Shihouin-taichou!" the others stopped what they were doing and said the same, followed by a low bow. She only chuckled to herself and waved a hand, telling them to go back to work. After the hallway began to clear up from the many shinigami, only she and one other were left.
"How are you on this fine morning, taichou?" Tale turned and smiled at her old friend.
"I'm quite fine, Zenai-kun. How was your night?" He nodded back to her, but did not grin or smile. She'd never seen him show any type of happy expression, it was always serious. The two soul reapers walked side by side toward the main office of the 2nd Squad's barracks, and began to get ready for the hours of paperwork that lay before them.
When the two entered the office, seeing that they didn't have as much paperwork as they thought, Tale noticed yet another blossom was placed with a note. What was going on? What was with the sudden showering of flowers?
Tale picked up the light pink flower and took a small whiff. It was a soft and gentle, not as sweet as the blue flower in her hair, but still beautiful in its own little way. Tale picked up the small folded note and reads its contents.
Even though it is beautiful for such a small size, it still cannot compare to you, my Sweet Pea.
With love,
J
She smiled once again, placing the small pink flower beside the blue one, and hid the note within the folds of her shihakushou. Tale sat in the wooden chair that was behind her desk, and grabbed one of the many pens that was in a small drawer. Taking the first paper off the large stack, she sighed and began to sign.
Avaya awoke the next day to find an empty bed. The spot was beginning to lose its warmth, meaning Ryu has left some time ago. Although it was the snow-white flower that caught her eye. She slowly sat up and lifted the bloom off the pillow. Her pale-yellow gown clung to her curves as the early morning sun bellowed through her window.
"Avaya, darling, are you awake?" the bar mistress quickly hid the flower and small note with it under her sheets and stood from the bed. After unlocking the bedroom door, she smiled at her father and nodded.
"Good morning father, how was your trip?"
"It went splendidly! I'm sorry I had to miss your birthday, but how about we make it up today?" Ava smiled at the middle-aged man, but shook her head.
"No thank you papa, I'm not feeling so well today," it was a lie. She truly wasn't feeling good today. The little one was moving around a bit more than usual, and it was upsetting her stomach.
"Oh, I'm sorry for that, my darling. We'll delay the celebration for now, and wait until you feel better to go. I'm sorry for awaking you, please do rest," she nodded to him and was given a kiss on the forehead. It was his good luck charm: a kiss on the forehead. She smiled at him weakly, before closing the door and slipping back into bed.
After Avaya was in bed, she pulled the white flower (maybe a carnation?) back out and note. She smiled at the smell, and placed it on her bedside table.
The fair haired girl opened the small piece of paper and traced the lettering with a thin finger.
How words cannot describe how beautiful you are in the morning sleeping in my arms.
So peaceful you are that this flower cannot compete with the beauty that you hold.
I do not deserve your love, but you still give me your heart.
I am honored to call you my lover, my future wife, and the holder of my child.
With all my heart and soul,
Shihouin Ryu
The young woman couldn't help but swoon at Ryu's words, and hold the note close to her heart. He always had such a way with words. Why he would pick a girl like her to court, she would ever understand…
Tale continued to read and sign papers as the day passed by. Her haori had seemed to come off sometimes around noon when a lower seat brought in lunch for both her lieutenant and herself. The mid-afternoon sun blared down on the late summer day, and Tale finally looked up from the paperwork, only a fourth of it was left, to see her lieutenant passed out and taking a nap.
She silently laughed and bowed her head, shaking it in mock disappointment. The noble went back to the few papers in front of her and continued on.
Sometime after the sun finally reached the horizon, Zenai awoke to find his stack of papers gone, and an empty office. He sighed in defeat, and stood. The night sky was coming closer and closer as he made his way to his barracks, and was suddenly caught by a hand. The soft skin gripped his wrist, and out of surprise, he was pulled around a corner.
"Era?" Zenai asked in confusion as the short third seat placed his hands on his own hips, and gave the lieutenant a deathly look.
"What's going on with Shihouin-taichou, Zenai? She's not acting like herself. I've become worried," the stern look turned into one of confusion, and the lieutenant chuckled, ruffling up Era's hair.
"Don't worry 'bout it kid, when the time comes, she'll tell ya," Zenai stepped away from the wall he had his back pressed against, and walked back down the hall to his barrack. The short dark haired shinigami only sighed and ran a hand through his short hair. After taking a few minutes to listen to the silence of the twilight, he twirled to return to his own room for the night.
Tale sat in the middle of her futon, with the usual silky maroon robe wrapped around her body. Her long dark violet hair was pulled down, and a thick brush ran through getting out every little tangle. Her dark gold eyes were closed as she inhaled and exhaled in peace, watching the sun sink lower from behind her eyelids. Her head bent forward, her chin resting on her chest, and her hair hid her face.
Times like this, she just wished to sink into a dark hole and hide there.
Her hands gripped themselves in her lap, and she looked up at the soft flutter of wings. She stared at the black and purple Hell Butterfly that flew only a few inches from her face. She slowly put out her finger and it landed, giving the needed information.
Tale's lips twitched at the corners as they made a smile at the familiar voice. Once the dark moth was finished giving its message, Tale gave the insect a small nod, before flashing away, in robe and all.
She twisted around corner after corner, getting closer to her destination. The air around her was chilling, but she ignored it, and raced past the few remaining shinigami that roamed the streets. Those few left, only seeing a flash of maroon and dark violet.
Tale soon came to a familiar gate, jumped the fence, and raced to the back of the barracks. There would be the small wooden bridge that led to a small home, made specifically for the sickly captain, in the middle of a small pond. The noble soon flashed in front of the bridge to see a few ripples in the mirror-like water. She smiled at the peace that surrounded her, and quickly stepped across the light colored wood.
The sliding door came quickly, and she slid it open, stepping in and closing it behind herself. Tale also pushing down the small latch that locked out any nosy people.
"Juushiro?" she called out, but was answered by silence. Tale knitted her eyebrows together in confusion and stepped through the small home, and into the even smaller bedroom. No one was in the home, except for herself.
Although, there was a surprise waiting for her that sat nestled into the covers of the low futon.
Tale smiled as she saw the red petals glow in the early moonlight, and she kneeled to pick it up. Beside the fully bloomed flower was another folded night, this one was quite bigger though.
She picked the flower up first, examining the way the petals flew over one another, and how they stayed so close together, and yet gave off a wonderful smell. The other two small ones had wilted over the day in the heat, but this one seemed to stay just perfect, and was much larger than the other two ones.
Tale placed the flower back done on the sheet, before picking up the note. It was folded three times, meaning it was supposed to be originally in an envelope, but never got there. Slowly, the noble unfolded the creases, not noticing that something fell out, and began to read the lettering.
I'm sorry I could not be here tonight to see you off to sleep, but I have been put to a mission that will take a few days. I am quite sorry to say that you will not see me in a few days time.
Each flower that I have sent you today has had a special meaning, as the first: Forget-Me-Not. The second, the Sweet Pea means departure, being prefect for this situation. The last, the red lone flower that you found along with this note, is a Camellia. The crimson shows the flame that you put in my heart every time I see you.
I do apologize if you think I'm being a cliché lover, but I do mean every word.
Infolded in this note was a small key. Take that key and use it to unlock the small wooden box that rests in the bottom drawer of the cupboard just right of my bed. In that will be another small box and another note. I would like your answer once I return…
With Love,
J
Tale quickly dropped the note and searched the sheets for the fallen piece of metal. Her hand touched something cold and smooth, and gripped at it bringing the object up. The shiny copper shined in the moonlight, as she quickly turned to the cabinet and opened it up pulling out the fist sized box. She pushed the key in, finding that it felt perfectly, and turned it sideways.
After it did so, she pulled out the piece of paper, along with the small box out, and read the note.
Golden eyes widened as she dropped the piece of paper and slowly opened the box. Her breath caught and she couldn't help but squeal in happiness.
That night, Tale slept soundly in her lover's bed… a small gold ring resting on her left hand…
I told you it was cliche! anyways... Going to bed now... Night~
-Bri