January 15, Winter, year 36
I'm almost too nervous to eat, and I'm not sure that either of us got enough sleep these past few nights. Skye's pacing, I'm fretting, and there's still a couple of hours to go before this plan of mine gets put into action…
If we're acting like this… Well, I guess it'll help me seem nervous about meeting Dai near the fountain.
"Just remember," Claire's voice was soft as she held onto Skye's hands. "No matter what…"
He pulled her close, kissed her lightly.
"I know," he breathed. "I know. I trust you Claire."
She rested her forehead against his shoulder, hearing and feeling his heart beat as rapidly as her own. The hug was not as close as it could have been; her belly was growing more encumbering by the day with their three babies. Soon enough, she suspected that Miharu would forbid her to walk very far, which was why it was so important that this plan be executed as quickly as possible.
"Skye?" her voice was softy, uncertain.
"Mmm?"
"Thank you for trusting me," she said softly.
He smiled softly down at her, cupped her face gently in his hands.
"Always," Skye whispered.
Silence fell between them for a long moment, blue eyes and sea-green locked in silent understanding.
"Shall I tell you something?" he said.
"If you'd like…?"
Curiosity lit those blue eyes, and despite the tension of the coming event, he chuckled.
"I think when this is all over, I shall shuck the cloak of immortality. I would rather have a short life with you, than a long life without you."
Claire's jaw dropped slightly. Skye smoothed her hair from her face.
"A life that is short but full of meaning and love," he continued as she struggled to process his words, "is a greater gift than a life that is long and would be empty without you."
"Are you… are you really sure?" Claire's voice was worried, hesitant. "I mean…"
He kissed her softly, then pulled back until their lips just barely touched.
"I have had years to see the world," he replied simply. "My wandering has been at an end, and I would rather spend it with the family I had a hand in creating, than the family that had a hand in me."
Claire shook her head wonderingly, and brought her hands up to caress his face.
"I don't think there are enough words in the world that can express how happy you make me," she whispered. "I… never wanted you to.. to."
"I know," he chuckled. "I want to do this Claire. I'll live your life, don't worry about living mine. Promise?"
"I…" she was tearing up now. He was giving up a long life just for her? "I love you so much."
Five words that were so soft and so inadequate for what she was feeling, but Skye just pulled her close again, and cradled her close to him. He would give up the world if it meant staying with her. This world, especially.
"I love you too, my sunshine."
The time drew closer. In the back of Claire's mind, a thought tickled.
"When this is over with, remind me to tell Ten-chan that I need her to pass on a couple of messages for me?" she murmured. "Gotz is going to need to expand the girls room… upwards, I guess. Time for a second story to the house maybe? And another crib…"
Skye chuckled, kissed her again, and nodded.
"We'll get through this," he promised, knowing full well what was on her mind. "And then we really will sit around and discuss baby names."
It earned him a giggle and a sweet smile. Then Claire took a deep breath and squared her shoulders.
"Be careful," he said, lightly cupping her cheek. His other hand went down to rest on her stomach. "Even a nick from that blade could kill you, or one of the babies."
She nodded, her own hands lightly resting on her stomach, as one of the three decided they wanted to move right then. Even in what could be mortal peril, the feel of a kicking baby brought a wide smile to both parent's faces.
Slowly, Skye released her, and made his way out of the room, placing a look of anger on his face. Claire waited a heart pounding five minutes, then slipped out of the room herself.
Now all they had to do was hope that Toshi took the bait.
Hotaru and Yukiko had both agreed to watch the children, not knowing the dangerous game that Claire and Skye would soon embark upon with their younger brother. They had been told simply that the pair had needed some alone time to talk about the babies, and the future.
Jamie and Lauren were, however, far too intelligent to not notice that something was being planned. The stood a little ways off from the play-group, leaning against the railing.
"Do you think they're gonna be okay?" Laurie asked her twin as servants bustled on the paths beneath them. "I mean, there's nothing to that rumor, right?"
"Of course not," James patted her shoulder lightly. "Mom and Dad… they're tough, you know? I'm sure they must've figured out who got Grampa and are using it as bait. Besides, Uncle D's too much of a palace-guy, Mom would never love someone who didn't want to farm with her."
Lauren tipped her head slightly, then had to admit that Jamie had a point. There was nothing an no one that could break their parents apart.
"Just gotta trust em sis," he continued. "Just gotta trust em."
Toshihiro smirked to himself as he watched them leave their room. So the rumor had some merit to it, Claire was walking in one direction, looking nervous and uncertain, and Skye was going the other, looking almost hopping mad.
She was dressed prettily too, for a pregnant woman. Maybe he wouldn't kill her, instead using her himself once she had given birth. After all, a smart woman like her would do anything to keep Skye from learning the truth, wouldn't she?
He followed the blonde from a fair distance, just in case. Something about this seemed almost too easy, too simple. Just when he was trying to figure out how to remove Daisuke from the throne…
Ah, he was over thinking things. Once Daisuke died, there would be only one male that would be able to rule Tranquility Palace, and that would be him. Not his brothers, but him, Toshihiro.
The thought made his smirk get even wider, and he closed the distance carefully as Claire entered the gardens. She was hurrying now, as best her pregnant body would let her.
Maybe he could cut her hair and keep it as a trophy to indicate his mercy…
Claire had felt his eyes upon her the second she had left the sanctuary of the room, and couldn't quite suppress the shiver that ran through her as she moved along the gravel pathway.
It helped to think that Skye and the others would be in position before her, and ready to step in the second he tried to hurt either of them. The binding spells, the trap, and the shield bracelets that Tsuyu had given her went a ways towards easing her mind as well.
But still she was uncertain, despite it all. She had time for a very heartfelt prayer to whatever god or goddess may have been listening to let them all get through this unscathed, and then she rounded the last corner.
She halted for a second at seeing Daisuke, who was clearly as ill-at-ease as she was, swallowed a couple of times, then made a half-hearted attempt as a casual walk. Her hands were trembling just slightly as adrenaline started rushing through her system.
As she mentally chanted at herself to not screw this up, Daisuke spotted her and shot to his feet, as if embarrassed to be caught sitting. Or as if she was his secret and he really was excited to see her.
She looked over her shoulder a brief second, then hurried forward, into a one armed embrace.
"Is he here?" the words were low, almost inaudible even to her ears.
"Yes," she whispered back. "He wasn't too far behind, so he should be coming up in the next minute… or less."
"So staying like this?"
"Probably a good idea… keep whispering too, it'll give off… that impression."
Daisuke made a face, and despite the seriousness of the moment, Claire managed a weak grin.
"What to whisper about though?"
"Anything," She gave a light almost imperceptible half-shrug. "Hell, even babbling nonsense words at this point would probably trick him if he doesn't get too close."
"It's a little hard to get close in this place without anyone knowing…" and Daisuke's voice was dry. "It was the reason we picked it, remember?"
She giggled slightly, and winked. It didn't take Daisuke more than a second to pick up on the cue.
"You know how much trouble we'll be in if we get caught." His voice was low, but not as impossible to hear as his last words had been. "At least with this much open ground we'll be able to spot anyone easily."
"Yes," Claire agreed. Then she added, in a very low whisper, "Here he comes. Ready to get caught?"
"More than ready."
Daisuke hadn't liked hearing this part of the plan any more than Claire had liked saying it, and it had been the part that had made her grateful for Tsuyu's presence and understanding. With a faint sigh he leaned in, and made a great show of pretending to kiss her full on the mouth. In reality, he kissed her cheek, but from the direction that Toshi entered the area, it wasn't too obvious.
His triumphant laugh made the pair jump apart, both grateful for the interruption.
"I couldn't believe it," Toshi shook his head at the pair of them. "My elder brother and the so-obviously-devoted sister in law meeting up behind the backs of their spouses. And yet here is living proof!"
He already had the knife out, and Claire couldn't stop the shiver that went up her spine. It was exact, from the pale white leather wrapped handle, to the three nicks at the top right edge of the blade.
It was almost amazing how automatic it was for Daisuke to step forward and protect her. Toshihiro just smirked a little more as she followed his cue and cowered away from the weapon-wielding Prince.
"What do you want Toshi?" Daisuke's voice was calm.
"What should I do with this wonderful piece of information?" the younger prince smirked in a malicious manner. "You're not so important, Elder brother, I'll kill you here in a moment, but Claire…" Toshihiro's smirk got wider. "I'm sure you wouldn't want any news of this reaching my Eldest brother, now would you?"
Claire didn't say anything, just glared. The younger prince shrugged after a moment.
"Unusual that your tongue fails you now," he mocked. "If you're wise, you'll run away now, and maybe I won't kill you the way I did those two Princesses."
"Try it if you can," she challenged. "You war-mongering moron."
Toshi's jaw dropped.
'What, you thought I was quiet because I was scared?! Not hardly," Claire's scorn was obvious, and the people in hiding had a hard time not snickering at the dumbfounded expression on Toshihiro's face. "Unfortunately for you, Toshi, you're the one who's busted."
Several rustles made Toshi turn, and sure enough he was surrounded by too many people to avoid. Even Kaemon was there, a disapproving from on his face. The now-caught Prince whirled on his brother and the blonde, a sneer crossing his face.
"You can't stop me!"
He was fast, but Claire had anticipated this move. Without preamble she shoved Daisuke hard to the side, in time to avoid the gleaming blue glass-like blade. It bounced off the protections that Tsuyu had given her, shattering both items into fragments. In the next second while Toshi staggered to regain his balance, the pole of blue glass was out, and hit him directly in the chest. It sprang up into multiple blue wires, caging Toshihiro neatly as the guards, and Skye reached the side of Daisuke and Claire.
The blonde leaned gratefully into her husband's hold as Toshi started ranting in the language of the People, only to be silenced when Akio held out a rainbow-hued crystal.
"Toshihiro, for your crimes, it has been decided that you will be stripped of your immortality, in front of witnesses of Vapors and Moisture Palace, to end the threat of war which you caused."
He made a gesture, and the twenty-some guards lifted the cage and Toshihiro, taking him from the grounds. Once he was gone, a sigh of relief was released by all present, and everyone seemed to sag.
"So that's it then?" Claire asked quietly. "What happens when he's stripped of immortality?"
"It's not something you should see," Skye replied. "Trust me love, you really do not want to know what will happen."
She thought about it for a moment, then turned slightly pale.
"You're right, I don't want to think about it…"
It's over. Finally everything is over. Kaemon and Akio sent out the notices that Toshihiro has been caught to the Palaces who need to witness his… death by aging—I don't even want to think about the details of that—yesterday, so they'll all be here by the eighteenth.
I'm exhausted… Miharu says that after this I'm not allowed any strenuous activity. I'm not going to argue either, I nearly fell over when Toshi hit the barrier spell and shattered it.
Sleep…. Good idea. The rest of the story can wait.