"Ichigo-Sama, you should really get ready, you know!" Lettuce, shy and quiet, stood stiffly at the door's entrance as she hoped to help her mistress dress for bed.
"No, I'm fine, Lettuce, just a while longer is all that I need for this project. Don't worry, I'm still energized enough to work!" she insisted innocently, having resorted back to her naturally bubbly self.
"Alright then, I suppose I have no choice..." she muttered dejectedly, spinning from where she stood at the door. "KISH-SAMA, ICHIGO-SAMA REFUSES TO GO TO BED!"
Grinning uncharacteristically as she went her way, Lettuce could faintly make out the expression of mild shock and strong annoyance running across the girl's tiny face.
From over her shoulder she could swear, in all sureness, she had seen her mistress mouth the words 'you traitor' before turning and going back to her sewing.
Little had she realized, however, exactly how fast Kish was, and how accurate those ears of his really were. In less than about a minute he was looming dangerously over her tiny form, fingers clutching the sides of the deep red chair in anger as he glared down at her, his unnaturally cold golden eyes met crisply with her pooling chocolate brown ones.
Gulp "K-Kish, hi." She muttered in fear, scooting further down into the cushion of her chair, inching away from the man.
His lips parted silently, the light from the fireplace before her illuminating his ivory sharp fangs as they neared her. The warmth of his body grew and grew with every moment that passed his face now mere inches from her shaking gaze.
"Yes… Kish?" she mumbled silently, realizing he had offered her no chance of escape.
"What have I told you about the rules, Ichigo?" his voice oddly calm as he spoke, he allowed one hand to loosen from the side of the chair, only to meet with the side of her face in a sort of light, stroking motion against her cheek.
"Umm…" playing dumb, in hopes that he did not catch her fear, Ichigo was hoping to draw it out till he got tired.
"Let me remind you then, my dear." Leaning over slowly, so as to not scare her too much, Kish brought his lips gently down onto her own quivering ones, allowing his mind to tap hers.
'You're very weary, my dear Ichigo… You want to just fall into my arms and sleep peacefully there till tomorrow comes… Ichigo, don't block me out, it's futile to try.' He soothed tenderly with his mind, meanwhile wrapping her in his arms while she was yet unaware.
It was then that they parted, much to Kish's great dismay and Ichigo's relief.
"Kish… On second thought, I do feel a bit drowsy… carry me?" she spoke innocently, gazing up at him with her soft chocolate eyes.
"As you wish, my princess…" he chuckled in amusement, wrapping her up in his arms as he lifted the girl off the chair, into his arms.
'It's a shame that something has gotten in my way of Claiming her… but then again, there's always tomorrow…' he thought to himself, clutching her to his chest as he made his way slowly down the hall, and finally to the door of his bed chamber.
"Don't go getting all cozy with her, just because you've put her into a trance… You can't control her with charms for long…not with how much power she possesses. Do you honestly think she'll let you do this when she comes into her full powers? If anything else, cousin, she'll kill you for it." That voice, as cocky as ever, rang out like nails on a blackboard for Kish as his hand reached the knob.
"That's really none of your business, Kei, now is it?!" he growled darkly, handing Ichigo silently over to an awaiting handmaid while he dealt with the intrusion.
"No, I think it is, cousin… more than you realize. For, you see, I don't intend to let you have her all to yourself. I don't believe you quite realize just how stifled you've made her lately. She's a free spirit whom you're breaking by doing this, and you know it." He accused angrily, eyes near red.
"What do you know?! You're just jealous because I've got a bride before you… she's mine, got it?!" he growled angrily, eyes burning with hot embers as he stepped in front of Ichigo's sleeping form protectively.
"I know that I can give her a lot more freedom than you can, cousin. Just let me have her and I'll leave you be, deal?" he insisted, holding out his hand for an agreement he knew would not be agreed upon.
"Like hell I will, you idiot! Ichigo's mine, and there's no two ways about it!" he growled, stepping steadily forwards, fists clenched tightly at his sides.
"Oh, and what might just happen if she were to wake up to you saying that, hmm?" cocking a single brow, Kei stepped forward to meet his cousin head on, obviously plotting something.
"What are you babbling about, idiot?!" now he was really mad.
"Nye… What's going on here?" that voice… it was so sweet, innocent as it rang out throughout the corridor. "Kish, what's happening?! I'm scared… Kish."
"I-Ichigo, just go back to sleep, ok, and I'll come tuck you in, in a little bit. Okay?" turning towards the girl, letting his guard fall, Kish was terrified. If Kei got to her and tried to brainwash her, who knows what would happen.
"Well, Miss, you're fiancé here was just telling me how much he loves you." His voice was sickly sweet as it rang out, clearly sarcastic and mocking.
"Oh…Love you too, Kish!" her tiny eyes closing, her soft, fair cheeks flushed brightly in sleep, she was swiftly drawn back into her sleep, leaving the two to quarrel on.
"Why did you say that, Kei? I thought you'd want to ruin me, right?" turning back silently to the man in front of him, Kish's eyes held new fire within them, his lips twisted up into a dark sneer.
"Oh, I do, no doubt. However, I can't have a depressed bride, now can I? I plan to take away all of her memories of you, so that she sees only me!" he boasted evilly, knocking the man to the floor.
"The hell…? You wouldn't dare take her, Kei! I won't let you, no matter what?!" leaping back up swiftly to face the man, Kish was easily in striking distance of Kei's jugular vein, which he could use to kill him. Truthfully he was about to, ready and waiting to, kill him.
"I'd look behind you before you do that though, cousin. Who do you think poor Ichigo is scared of right now…? Me, being strangled by you, while at the edge of life, or you, the one about to kill me… Might want to back off, your eyes are red."
"Who the hell cares about that, you bastard? I don't intend to let you go this time, Kei!" looming dangerously close to the man's neck, Kish was still blissfully unaware of the tiny presence behind him.
"Kish, please don't do it!" a pair of tiny arms wrapped around his waist, a mysterious force pulling him back before he could do any harm.
"Let go, damn it!" he growled, swinging backwards quickly with his elbow, knocking the intruder away and down to the cold hard floor below.
"Kyaa!" shortly after the figure could be heard falling to the floor did the voice ring out, soft and shrill with pain.
"Congratulations, idiot… Is this honestly how you treat your one and only bride? You're pitiful, you know that?!" shoving the man away from him, Kei passed him easily, stooping down silently beside the figure, his hands moving tenderly and gingerly across the person's exposed skin.
Sniff, sniff… "K-Kish, that really h-hurt!" wiping away a stray tear, the figure's tiny hand made its way slowly upwards on their arm, brushing their hand across the exposed bruise across their shoulder.
"ICHIGO!" quickly dashing over to the girl, he went to bend down and comfort her. However, realizing what'd just happened, he halted midway, a terrified look replacing that of rage within his deep honey pools. HE had been the one to hurt her… HE had been the one to lose his temper and not be able to control it.
"Don't you dare touch her, you bastard, or I'll have you removed! You've done enough harm, so just get lost…" was Kei's mutter of anger as he scooped Ichigo up into his arms, not bothering to face Kish at all.
"But-" he began, but was cut off abruptly.
"YOU scared her… YOU are the reason she's hurt… She'll stay with Serenity and me for the time being. I don't think she's quite up to spending another night beside you right now…" then turning to Ichigo, he whispered gently. "Come on, honey, let's go. I'll tuck you in, ok? Would you like something to eat, some ice for you wound?"
"No, I'm alright… Thank you, Kei." She muttered, burying herself deep into the warmth of his chest as she dozed off.
"Ichigo… I'm sorry, Ichigo…" clutching his chest tightly with both hands, tears streaming from his eyes, he couldn't hold back the rush of hot tears that spilled.