...I'm so dead, aren't I? I promised to update sooner, told people I'd try to make it before the year ends, and this...I'm a disgrace!
On another note, HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE! I hope everyone had a terrific Christmas and an even more amazing New Year! Here, there was a real windstorm that lasted for days, people didn't have electricity, trees fell on roads and power lines, there were small floods on the coast...it was a different Christmas compared to the usual meter-deep snow and -25 degrees Celsius xD
I'm not kidding you, I was almost moved to tears when I saw how popular this story is: 112 reviews! More and more faves! Oh, I LOVE YOU PEOPLE! Thanks for sticking with me! T.T
A round of well-earned thank yous to: Zubattack, Ayjah, Koatan, Neil (Yah, Kamui's awesome! In all honesty, even I have no idea if he predicted Kyo's actions or not, but he probably did. I'm so glad you liked the OK parts in last chapter, they are always really hard to write. It all works in my head, but when I have to write it...oh well. Oh, such things as love confessions aren't really their thing, or that's what I think, so it'll take more than that to happen! And as said before, I have no idea what Kamui's thinking of, so don't ask me xD Love your long reviews!), Oxenstierna D. Yuki-Rin, C.A.M.E.O.1 and Only, Shinichi's Lover, ayaka chi, Cherryde4th, Alice P e a c h e s, yiseunggi, peep (Well, not resistance, more like stubbornness xD Thank you~), domo-chi (*hugs* I might make them cute, but reviews like yours make me want to continue writing! Revenging isn't really a Yato thing, I think. A personal decision like that, plus it was against both Umibouzu's and Kamui's will, wouldn't be likely to stir up such a reaction), Diclonious57, IchibanCupRamen, Rosefriendships(Hopefully I didn't make you wait too long...), delilahsauuurus and arkee! All of you deserve a big hug and a slice of cake!
Maybe I'll let you (who actually bothers to read my shitty ramblings each and every time, thank you for that) go on and read the new chapter now. Enjoy chapter 11! ^.^
When plot bunnies run away authors are left with no choice but to write a load of crap to save their asses from bloodthirsty readers waiting for an update
It had taken quite a while for Sougo to return to full health after his duel with Kyo. The doctors wouldn't let him even sit up without help for a month, never mind the fact that Sougo sneaked out of bed for a walk alone whenever he could, and after they allowed him to walk around a little he was to always have someone accompanying him. Guess twice if he listened to them.
While Sougo was stuck in bed and slowly dying of boredom, Kagura used her time on socializing with everyone in the palace. She quickly befriended a maid called Otae (who was actually Mitsuba's main informant coughrumourmillcough on the engaged couple, but Kagura didn't need to know that), spent quite a lot of time with Gin (they would try to out-annoy each other and sometimes even spar a little), went out of her way to embarrass and frustrate a kitchen helper called Shinpachi (who was actually Otae's brother, though Kagura didn't believe it until she witnessed his sister-complex), even sat with Sougo to keep him company (yelling at him for not listening to the doctors' orders, force-feeding him his medicine, wrestling him back to bed if she saw him wandering around etc), but most of all she spent her time in Mistuba's company. Kagura really enjoyed having girl-time with her future-sister-in-law, whether it be chatting, dressing up or even drinking tea, and it seemed like Mitsuba rather enjoyed her company, too. The only thing that Kagura didn't like as much was how every single time they talked Mitsuba would somehow weasel in questions about Kagura and Sougo. Here is a very typical example on such conversation:
Mitsuba: "Yes, I love those flowers, too. I actually had them in my wedding bouquet. Speaking of which, what flowers would you like in yours?"
Kagura: "Umm, I don't know, I haven't-"
Mitsuba: "Oh, these would suit you, don't you think?"
Kagura: "Isn't it too early to-?"
Mitsuba: "Have you talked about the date yet? You have been engaged for what, four months already? Isn't it about time to start planning the wedding?"
Kagura: "I-I just remembered I promised to go to town with Otae! So sorry, Mistuba-san, see you later!"
And just like that, Kagura always managed to escape such conversations, but Mitsuba's questions did grow roots in her thoughts. Kagura actually found herself wondering those exactly same questions quite often as of late. The reason for their rather long engagement period was obvious enough to everyone, but hadn't they improved their relationship lately? At least Kagura didn't want to kill Sougo whenever she saw him, and that's saying a lot.
Kagura knew that there was no way in hell she would be the one to bring up the topic of a wedding. No way was she volunteering to open the Pandora's box, no sir. She also knew for a fact that Sougo was one damned stubborn brat of a sadist and would probably never take the initiative. He would most likely put it off until the very last goddamn minute and even then it would probably be Mitsuba who got him to work on the plans. Was Kagura ever going to become a real bride?
Three months passed by, and late summer turned to late autumn. Kagura and Sougo, after the doctors finally let him return to his duties after nearly three months, went back to their normal everyday lives at last. The first step was Kagura's return to their room, since she had been sleeping in a room of her own ever since the duel (she was considered a health hazard even in sleep). Eating meals with Mitsuba and Hijikata (read: consuming food while having a rare chance to act civil by ignoring each other), studying together (read: Sougo studying and Kagura snoozing in her seat), bickering (read: aiming to injure each other while shouting insults and destroying furniture) and sleeping together (read: Sougo dragging Kagura to act as a pillow for random naps in random places inside the palace since it was too cold outside; falling asleep for the night after a more or less vicious exchange of words (it is worth mentioning that the distance between them in the bed was gradually decreasing little by little)) were all part of their routine again. The only thing that was different was the notable drop in maliciousness in their interaction, which had Mitsuba grinning and practically purring happily. Hijikata was a little spooked by her wide grins at times...
That morning was, from the very beginning, not like any other morning. For one, Kagura was the first to wake up and pull away from Sougo. The nights were getting pretty chilly in the huge stone building, and even with a constant fire in the big fireplace the bedroom was freezing cold, so the two naturally snuggled close in their sleep (or when they pretended to be asleep...). The act wasn't mentioned, since snuggling kept them both warm and talking about it would be awkward for both of them, but they never once tried to avoid the act either. A maid who sneaked in to put more wood in the fireplace in the middle of the night would always, without a doubt, see a heartwarming scene in that room. No wonder those shifts were practically fought over.
So, as Kagura silently pulled away from Sougo and out of bed, facing the rush of cold air, she had to seriously fight the urge to dive back under the covers and snuggle back into the warmth of her fiancé's body. Instead, she rushed to the fireplace, threw in more logs and sat on the thick carpet in front of the flames. She just sat there, humming a random tune, hugging her knees and swaying slightly to her own rhythm. It was when she happened to glance outside that another unusual thing was brought to light.
It was snowing.
Big, white flakes of snow were slowly falling to the ground outside. Kagura scrambled to her feet and ran to the closest window, her blue eyes shining with childish delight as she saw the grounds. Everything was covered with a thick blanket of snow, untouched and clearly begging for her to jump outside and play to her heart's content.
'But it's no fun to play alone,' Kagura thought with a slight frown. 'But who can I ask? Everyone's busy with work, I don't want to put Mitsuba-san's health at risk, Gin-chan wouldn't give a shit...'
And so, ever so slowly, Kagura's eyes traveled to the bed where a sandy-haired young man was peacefully sleeping. Her wide grin returned as she ran and jumped on him, scaring the living daylights out of the poor guy.
"What the -!"
"Get up! We're going to play outside!"
Sougo stared blankly ahead at the whiteness as Kagura, giggling like a little kid, ran off and started jumping around. He was still half-asleep, had been forced to get up, get dressed and skip breakfast and was now thinking how the hell it had all happened in a matter of minutes. 'Seems like she can be efficient when she wants to,' he thought idly and yawned. "China, why the hell am I out here freezing my ass at this hour?" he asked the young woman who was currently making a snow angel.
Kagura sat up and grinned, her cheeks red with cold and excitement. "You're always cooped up inside these days, doing paperwork and sleeping, you need to have a little fun! Stop moping and enjoy the snow!" Having said that, Kagura jumped up, lost her footing and face-planted brilliantly.
Sougo raised an eyebrow. "Is getting a face-full of snow supposed to be fun, China? If that's the case, I'd rather go inside and -" SPLAT
Kagura smirked victoriously and wiped the snow off her hands. "It depends on who gets a face-full of snow," she snickered.
Sougo wiped his face and answered to her smirk with one of his own. The war was on.
Snowballs were flying left and right as the crazed couple fought to death – no, wrong wording, sorry – fought valiantly to make the other admit defeat. Which just wouldn't happen. So I guess they really were fighting to death in a way. Anyway, after half an hour of dodging, throwing and scrambling in the snow, it became clear to them both that they would never get anywhere like that. What do you think they wordlessly agreed?
It would be an all-out, whatever goes battle until one of them gave up.
Kagura went first, jumping forward and aiming a kick to Sougo's face. Thanks to his reflexes, Sougo was able to grab her ankle and, using her momentum, throw her away. She had been prepared for this and thus managed to hit Sougo's shoulder with a hidden icicle even though her kick didn't connect. Sougo soon retaliated by tackling her down and shoving a generous amount of snow down her back before getting thrown off by a screeching Kagura. The on-looking people inside the palace (the two had unknowingly gathered quite a crowd) were divided into those who sighed tiredly at the royal couple's antics, those who laughed and cheered them on and those who giggled, "kyaa"ed and "awwww"ed. They were all given the disappointment of their day, though, as the currently furiously wrestling couple suddenly disappeared from sight.
Sougo panted a little as he held the struggling Kagura still. He had successfully locked all of her limbs, never mind the fact that he had to practically lie on top of her to accomplish that. She was, after all, rather strong for a woman.
He smirked down at her scowling face mockingly. "Now this is something worth freezing my ass for. Having fun down there, China?"
Kagura glared at him, her cheeks flaming (from anger, cold or embarrassment, no one knows). She looked like she might spit on his face. "In your dreams, jerk! Get off, you're heavy!" she complained and tried to struggle free. When Sougo just added more force to his hold, she knew it was hopeless. He wouldn't let her get away until he got bored.
"I'm not the one who's trying to drive the cooks insane with their appetite," he commented and tilted his head thoughtfully. "You know, I could get used to seeing you like this: helpless, at my mercy, beneath me..."
"Quit your dumbass ramblings, sadist!" Kagura shouted and, with a very tired sigh, relaxed her muscles. "Fine, I give, now get off me, my butt is freezing," she whined.
"Weren't you the one who wanted to have fun in the snow in the first place? Why are you whining now?"
"Cos it's too cold and you're too heavy and I'm hungry!"
"You're also the one who insisted we skip breakfast."
"Come on, sadist, get off me and let me go raid the kitchen."
"Nah, don't feel like it."
"Get off."
"No."
"Get off!"
"No."
"GET OFF, YOU JERKFACE!" Kagura finally snapped, wrenched her right leg free and kneed him, full force, in his side. A sickening crack echoed in the air as he hit the ground.
They both laid still, Kagura frozen in shock for letting her truly violent side slightly slip past her guard, and Sougo gasping in pain and holding his side.
"China," he practically growled.
Kagura flinched at his menacing tone.
"Thanks to you I'm going to spend another month in bed. As punishment I order you to spend every waking moment as my servant for as long as it takes for my ribs to heal again."
Yeah, it's back to the master-servant setting from chapter 4. This time I think Sougo won't be as nice, though...
Learning from experience, I won't be promising a faster update. You should know by now that I wouldn't be keeping such a promise anyway...
Still, I hope you enjoyed this brief chapter that was painfully squeezed out of my dying brain! ^.^
~poakkis