godsend
east
:
Sunlight pierced through the gaps of rustling curtains. Through half-lidded eyes, Orihime watched the small particles of diamond-patterned light floating in the space between the bed and the curtains. Her eyes drifted close. With a deep breath, she rolled to her back.
It was silent, except for the passing wind. Everything was motionless, except for the rising and falling curtains.
In the bed, Orihime was sleeping again, peacefully, deeply. Red hair framed her pale face. Halfway covered in sheets, her shoulders were bare, her right foot exposed.
Standing in the doorway, Ichigo watched her, the rise and fall of her chest, the brightness of red hair against the sheets, a pale thigh sticking out of the blankets.
One, two, three, four, seconds ticked by.
Then the doorway was empty.
:
As Orihime entered, her husband was already leaving the dining table, conversing with a thin man with dark hair and eyeglasses.
Ichigo paused in his movement before turning to face her. As if on cue, Orihime blushed and lowered her gaze, bowing timidly as she greeted him with a quiet 'good morning'. His footsteps started again, now going towards her. As he came closer, she fought the urge to step back and maintain the distance between them. Distance was good. Distance was safe. But he was quick, and he was now standing in front of her.
"Orihime." As usual, the sound of his voice elicited a stirring somewhere in her lower body. Orihime wondered if this was normal. After all, only he could say her name in the way he did and make her feel strange.
"A doctor will come today to check on you."
His statement distracted her from her musings. "But I'm not sick," said Orihime, bemused.
Ichigo elaborated for her. "The Imperial Household Agency wants to make sure the marriage is consummated."
Her first reaction was to put her face in her hands. Instead, she gaped at him, the blush now covering her neck and face, matching the color her hair. "I-I…!"
Looking vaguely amused, Ichigo smirked, looking at her in his sort of aloof way: withdrawn, guarded, polite. His gaze, flickering, fierce amber. How could a mere stare make someone's heart beat so fast that it hurt to breathe? Orihime decided it was unfair.
"It's protocol."
Still embarrassed, Orihime nodded, avoiding his eyes. "I u-understand."
Ichigo put his hands inside his pockets. "Ise Nanao is from the Imperial Household Agency." He gestured towards a dark-haired woman with eyeglasses. "She will be in charge of your training. If you need to talk to me about something," he paused, his scowl deepening thoughtfully, "you can tell her and she'll give the East Palace Chamberlain," he nodded in the direction of Ishida Uryuu, "your message."
"Can I tell you myself?" He gave her a curious look which caused Orihime to wave her hands in embarrassment. "I-I'm sorry! I-It was very impolite of me."
Ichigo shook his head. "Don't apologize. I don't mind if that's what you like. I also want to inform you that starting today you will live in Tōgū with me." He scratched the top of his head, an annoyed expression flitting over his face. "My father wanted us to move here in the Imperial Residence permanently, but I'd rather continue living in a smaller and more modern building."
Then Ichigo surprised her by reaching forward to adjust the ribbon around the collar of her white blouse. It was an innocent gesture, but upon seeing his long, strong fingers, Orihime remembered last night, and how his fingers left imprints in and on her, to the very core of her being. To hide her embarrassing thoughts, she kept her lashes lowered, biting her bottom lip, terrified that her eyes will betray her.
Turning to Nanao, Ichigo said, "Take charge of the move this afternoon." Without as much as another glance in her direction, he sidestepped Orihime and left with Ishida.
:
He was a handsome man with thick walls around him. He was gruff but polite, a gentleman despite his rough countenance.
These were Orihime's observations.
After their wedding night, though they shared the same suite of rooms at Tōgū, her husband had not touched her again. He'd look at her, talk to her, and ask her if she was well, but he'd keep his distance. They ate breakfast together, and only during breakfast she was able to see and talk to him.
Theirs was a one-sided conversation, but there were instances when he'd contribute to the discussion. As the Crown Prince, her husband had many commitments and was often travelling. This explained why she woke up in the morning and went to bed at night without her husband on the other side of the bed. She was not even sure if he slept next to her or if he slept somewhere else. After all, their marriage was already consummated. Despite the physical distance, Orihime found herself drawn to him.
All Orihime had was tedious routine. Everything she did was strictly monitored. Different instructors were sent to her to teach foreign languages, current events, international relations and matters of the state, table manners, etiquette, history and traditions. Her education also included the proper way to walk, proper standing and sitting posture, how to handle reporters, and answer interviews. Learning all of these had been grueling, even for her who enjoyed learning new things. To complete her education degree, it was decided by the Agency that instead of going to the campus regularly, she'd only go for exams and important meetings with teachers.
On top of the challenging materials and demanding hours, most of the members of the Crown Prince's household were stickler for traditions, and therefore, had displayed disapproval over her lack of pedigree. Even so, they were not overtly unpleasant towards her. It still bothered her, though. She felt unworthy, insignificant, a trespasser.
A vivacious, blue-eyed blonde named Rangiku was one of the instructors sent to her. She was sweet and funny, and Orihime instantly liked her. She was, perhaps, the only carefree member of the household. Rangiku often teased Nanao for being controlling, uptight and strict, characteristics which were commonly associated with the Imperial Household.
However, there were times when Nanao would often give her an afternoon off on Sundays. Those free afternoons were spent touring around Tōgū with a blueprint of the palace and its grounds in hand which she had 'borrowed' from the library. This will help her plan her escape strategy once she completed her mission.
Despite the amount of people surrounding her in her new home, Orihime felt more alone than ever. She could not blame Ichigo; she knew how busy he was. She was not a stranger to being alone, but she often found herself longing for companionship.
One night, feeling more exhausted than ever, Orihime flopped in bed and stared up to the ceiling. The master bedroom was airy, square-shaped, sparsely decorated with thin, gentle lighting. The walls were cream, brown and beige. On the wall above the large, white bed was a black and white painting.
Connected to the bedroom by vertical rectangular sliding panels were the bathroom and walk-in closets, both of which few times larger than her old bedroom. The one allocated to her overwhelmed Orihime the first time she saw it. The quantity and worth of clothes had shocked her, causing Rangiku to laugh at her reaction.
"Orihime."
Recognizing the voice, Orihime sat up quickly. Her husband was leaning against the doorframe, watching her beneath his lashes. For a long moment, she stared at him, mouth opened.
Ichigo shifted and put his weight on both feet. "Are you done staring?"
She blinked. "Oh!" Orihime turned bright red. "I-I'm sorry!" She hurried to get off the bed, shoving her skirt to cover her knees. "G-Good evening!" she said cheerfully, a warm feeling blossoming inside her, radiating from her chest where her heart was to her limbs, sinking in her bones.
Ichigo nodded. "I have something to tell you." He walked further into the room. "We will attend a social gathering tomorrow evening."
Orihime's lips formed a curious o-shape.
"This is our first time to appear in public. Be ready."
She gave a firm nod. "I'll do my best!" Ichigo stared at her, and Orihime felt she was being analyzed. Then he glanced around the room while loosening his tie.
"…Is there something wrong?" asked Orihime worriedly. Ichigo shook his head with a small smile.
"How was your day?"
Orihime blinked, surprised. "…I'm sorry?"
Ichigo cleared his throat and looked away, running a hand through his hair. A few locks stuck up at odd angles while some strands fell over his forehead. "Are you adjusting well?"
"Oh." She rubbed the back of her head, smiling sheepishly. "It's a little difficult to navigate around but I'm learning as fast as I can!"
"You can ask someone to accompany you so that you won't get lost."
"Oh, it's fine!" she chirped. "I can manage. All of them are busy and I don't want to bother them."
He unbuttoned the first three buttons of his shirt, distracting Orihime. "You're not a bother. It's their job to look after you."
Blinking to collect her scattered thoughts, she gave a small shake of her head and smiled. "I-It's okay. I enjoy looking around all by myself. I'll be all right."
"I see." The corner of his mouth tugged upward fleetingly. "One of these days… when I'm not busy, I'll show you around."
A wide smile spread over her face. "T-That would be nice. I'll look forward to it!"
"All right." He dropped his hands. "You should go to sleep. It's late." He turned to leave.
"W-Wait." Ichigo stopped and faced her, arching a brow inquiringly. "Wh-What about you? Aren't you tired? You've been working for the whole day."
He seemed to study her for a second, taking in her sincere curious expression and the faint hint of worry in her eyes. "I still have tons of paperwork to study," he answered slowly, as though carefully choosing his words. "I won't take long, though. I have an early appointment tomorrow."
She wanted to ask him where he was going to sleep, but that would be too bold for her, so she smiled simply.
"O-Okay… Good night."
His frown melted a little, his mouth twitching in a small smile. It was quick, fleeting. But for Orihime, it was enough.
:
"This is your first time to appear in public," Rangiku said while helping her decide what dress to wear. "You have to look absolutely perfect. But of course, we want you to appear perfect without trying so hard. The secret is to be all natural." She held up a long, blue silk dress, wrinkled her nose and tossed it aside. "Not good enough. Next!"
After several dresses, Rangiku finally found the one she liked best and excitedly instructed Orihime to try it on. When she reappeared, Rangiku made a pleased sound and uttered how the color brought out Orihime's complexion.
Orihime fidgeted, fighting the urge to cross her arms to cover her chest. "R-Rangiku-san." The blonde woman lifted an eyebrow at her. The blush deepened. "I-I… Isn't this too much?"
"What is?" asked Rangiku, confused.
With a tinge of panic, Orihime waved at her own body. "T-This!" she stammered. "I-I feel so e-exposed." Rangiku's expression shifted from confusion to amusement, and then she laughed.
"You're so cute," cooed Rangiku. "You look absolutely perfect! Am I right, Hinamori?" She turned to the younger woman with black hair.
Hinamori smiled. "You look beautiful." The compliment caused Orihime duck her head. She was not used to compliments, especially coming from people she barely knew. Nevertheless, she thanked Hinamori for her kind words and tried again to convince Rangiku to let her change into a more conservative evening dress.
Rangiku had chosen a deep scarlet gown with a floor-length skirt and shawl neckline. It was beautiful, very much so; however, Orihime felt oddly out of place, like it was not right for someone like her to wear such an extravagant dress.
"No," Rangiku replied firmly, the playfulness in her tone was now gone. "You look stunning. Did you already forget? Confidence! You're the Crown Princess – you have to dress up like one." Then she winked at her mischievously, making groping gestures in front of her own chest. "Besides, you've got to flaunt those assets!"
"Rangiku-san! Don't talk to the Princess like that!" Hinamori chided.
Rangiku waved a dismissive hand. "It's all right! They've already done the deed, so I'm sure she knows what I'm talking about." She gave another wink in Orihime's direction. Sputtering, the princess covered her face with her hands while Hinamori gave the snickering blonde woman another round of scolding.
Minutes later, Rangiku and Hinamori ushered her out of the room and down the hallway. They hurried down the lit corridor until they reached a stairway. Waiting in the middle of the landing below was Ichigo.
Orihime felt her breath hitch at the sight of him. His tuxedo emphasized the strong built of his body, making the color of his hair more prominent.
Upon hearing their footsteps, Ichigo looked up. Her heart rate sped up, thrumming erratically against her chest. She feared losing her footing because of how nervous she was. Determined not to let him know how a single glance from him affected her, she thrust her chin forward and held his gaze.
Despite her vow to maintain a composed façade, her face reddened brightly at the attention she was receiving. Thankfully, she did not stumble as she stepped down the stairs, remembering her past lessons on proper gait and posture.
When Orihime reached the second step, Ichigo met her, offering her his hand which she gratefully accepted.
"I'm not overdressed, am I?" she asked shyly, brow furrowed and the corners of her mouth turning down in an expression of uncertainty.
He gazed at her for a while. "It suits you," he said before turning away from her to accept the coat being handed to him.
:
"What are you fidgeting so much for?"
Orihime tore her gaze from the tinted window to look at him. "I'm n-nervous," she admitted and laced her fingers together.
Ichigo glances at her briefly. "It's going to be all right."
"But… I don't want to embarrass you," she said quietly. "I'm not very elegant and I'm clumsy too! I don't think—" She stopped and smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry. I should not be complaining."
"It's normal to feel that way. It's your first time to appear in public after our wedding."
She glanced up his profile.
"You're my wife." He craned his neck to meet her gaze steadily. "I'm going to be there with you."
His words brought warmth to her heart. Regardless of the circumstance of their marriage, she knew she can rely on him. However, she knew that it was dangerous for her to feel attached to him. She should not worry about it, though. Time is needed for feelings of attachment to grow. And time was one thing that they did not have enough of. Soon, she will complete her mission, get her brother back and forget Ichigo.
The last thought caused her heart to ache, but Orihime gave herself a hard shake; there was no reason for her to feel sorrow at not seeing Ichigo ever again after her mission.
Remember, you're doing this for your brother.
After taking a deep breath, she smiled and nodded firmly. "Thank you. I'll do my best to do what is expected of me."
"Good." The vehicle soon stopped in front of a hotel. Outside, a crowd of reporters and photographers had gathered.
"These people have no lives," Ichigo grunted, eyes narrowed. The windows were tinted, providing them short-lived privacy. When he turned to her, a small smirk was tugging at the corner of his lips, softening his stern face a little. "Let me help you relax."
"Eh?"
Surprising her, Ichigo leaned forward, cupped her cheek and kissed her. It was slow, teasing, his lips moving against hers lazily, but it stirred something passionate in her.
He leaned back slowly, watching the color fill Orihime's cheeks. "Ready?" he murmured, his eyes dark.
Blushing, Orihime licked her lips and gave a small nod, smiling. "Yes."
Ichigo moved to unlock the door, but she stopped him with a tug at his sleeve. "W-Wait!" She reached up and wiped his lips stained with lipstick. A strange look flitted over his face at her gesture, and then he turned his face away and opened the door.
:
The social gathering was a private dinner party to celebrate the success of the fund raising project of Kuchiki Byakuya. When they arrived, guests turned to watch them, cameras flashed, and conversations halted. Feeling the eyes of numerous people on them made Orihime more nervous, causing her to grip Ichigo's arm tightly. Feeling her grip, Ichigo glanced down at her briefly.
"Your Highness," a stoic voice said, tearing Ichigo's gaze from his wife. Approaching them was Kuchiki Byakuya. "It's an honor that you are able to grace us with your presence."
Several high-profile personalities stepped forward to greet them as well. Standoffish as ever, Ichigo received the greetings, maintaining his aloof but polite countenance. His answers were brief with politeness, his face set in a scowl, which she found very endearing. The write-ups about him being aloof, scowling and blunt were true, but he was well-mannered despite his unfriendly visage.
After the pleasantries, they moved toward their table, much to Orihime's relief. Standing in high heels was quite uncomfortable. As they made their way, Orihime felt Ichigo's demeanor change. As discreetly as she can, she glanced up to his face; he looked as though he'd heard a distasteful joke. Curious, her eyes flitted around the room, hoping to find what set his temper off. Her gaze fell on a pair of men— a pale-skinned lanky man with silver hair and smiling face and a darker man with a handsome, familiar face, tousled brown hair and dark eyes — both of whom were watching them approach.
"Good evening," the brown-haired man said cordially. Ichigo merely responded with a nod. Calculating brown eyes then met hers, fixing her with an admiring gaze. The man bowed his head, eyes never leaving Orihime's.
"Good evening, sir." Orihime had expected him to be handsome, but she could not help but notice that Aizen Sousuke looked more charismatic in person. He had a pleasant demeanor that drew anyone's attention. Aizen – the Minister of Foreign Affairs – was well-known for his looks and intelligence. His father Aizen Suigetsu served as a general under Kurosaki Engetsu and engineered unsuccessful mutinies during the previous Emperor's regime.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I've heard many pleasant things about you," he said, his smile not leaving his handsome face. "I must say, you're more beautiful and charming in person."
"Y-You're too kind," Orihime stammered, a blush blooming in her cheeks.
Aizen fixed Ichigo an amused gaze. "She's a wonderful addition to your family, Your Highness."
A small smirk lifted the corner of Ichigo's lips. "I'm glad she meets your standards," he replied in a deadpan tone. "You'll have to excuse us. Dinner is about to be served."
Aizen smiled at Orihime, causing her to blush again. "Go ahead, then. Forgive me for taking much of your time." With that, Ichigo took her hand and escorted her to their table. Even with the increasing distance between them, Orihime could still feel Aizen's gaze on her.
"Ain't that interestin'?"
Aizen simply smiled. "Is it, Gin?" The other man grinned back.
Ichigo assisted her first before seating himself. "Are you all right?"
"It's just a little overwhelming," she said shyly, relieved that they were no longer under sharp scrutiny.
"You'll get used to it."
She shifted her gaze to the side. "I hope so."
"This is just the beginning, Orihime. Things will get more tiring in the future for you. A Crown Princess has many responsibilities." She flushed and looked down at her hands.
"I'll be ready," she said quietly before glancing up. Ichigo regarded her briefly, their gazes connecting. He put down the wine list and raised a hand. A waiter arrived and Ichigo asked for a bottle of wine. The waiter then left their table.
"Nanao-san often tells me it's not going to be easy. But she said that with proper education and guidance, I'll be able to properly perform my duties."
"That's right." He nodded. "You look fragile." At this blunt, abrupt comment, Orihime blinked at him. "But I'm sure you know what you're getting into when you agreed to marry me."
Uneasiness twisted her stomach into knots. Orihime cast her gaze towards the table, choosing to examine the soft surface of the tablecloth. The waiter returned with their drinks and Ichigo took a careful sip.
"I take it you know our history well," said Ichigo after a long silence.
Curious, Orihime looked up from the table.
"I'm the first member of the Imperial Family to marry a commoner. And that makes you the first commoner to have entered the Imperial Family. Many think that this is an odd arrangement."
"Odd?" she repeated cautiously.
Ichigo shrugged, deadpan. "Do you know that you're the only commoner in the list of royal brides?"
"There are fifteen candidates, fourteen of which are members of former noble families. Despite your plain family background, you have suitable credentials…"
Her employer had told her the same thing. Ichigo had noticed the oddity, hadn't he? This left Orihime feeling even more apprehensive: was it possible that her husband was aware of the conspiracy? He was an intelligent man after all. It was too early to tell. Still, if he knew, why did he marry her? She was certain he would not risk his family.
"I've heard those comments before," Orihime admitted, her wide-eyed stare belying her erratic, nervous heartbeat. The conservative pencil pushers from Imperial Household Agency were upfront with their disapproval and skepticism at her being chosen and had made it clear she was not fit for her station.
"Have you seen the news or read the newspaper?"
She shook her head. "Nanao-san said newspapers will only distract me. Um…" Orihime's eyes were round with curiosity as she asked, "Did… Did I do something they didn't like?"
"Not yet. But the press will do anything to get info about you and exaggerate them."
"Oh, Nanao-san told me about them. She said they are awful and cruel and what they say should not be taken seriously." The media was notorious on their savage, almost-obsessive fascination on royals.
"I hate them." Ichigo said with an edge in his tone, his scowl deepening. "I hate them the most when they harass my sisters." He leaned back in his chair. "I'm certain after tonight, you will be caught in the eye of paparazzi storm. This is why I need you to be careful and prepared. You're an easy target because of your background. They'd dig around for stories to sensationalize."
A frown wrinkled her forehead. "Stories about me?"
He arched an eyebrow at her worried expression. "Why do you look alarmed? Have you done something?"
She furrowed her eyebrows, a finger to her chin. "Ah, um… Oh!" Her face brightened. "I brought home a jackhammer before."
Ichigo's eyes widened. "What, a jackhammer?"
Orihime grinned. "Un! I saw it in an abandoned warehouse. I thought no one would look for it and I brought it home and…"
"What?"
"I tore it down to pieces."
He looked stunned. "…Why?"
"I was curious!"
"You were?" Ichigo sounded unconvinced, still looking bewildered.
"I wanted to know how it worked so I… I know it's weird but I couldn't help it!" A sheepish giggle slipped from her lips. "I saw it on TV once and I've never seen anything like it before so when I saw one in real life, I brought it home! It's not stealing, right?"
Orihime frowned at her husband's expression. The corner of Ichigo's mouth was twitching; at the same time, he was biting his lower lip. He grabbed his wineglass and took a long sip, emptying the glass.
"Are you all right?" asked Orihime, her eyebrows knitted in worry.
Clearing his throat, Ichigo arranged his expression into a neutral one. "Yeah." He shifted his gaze to the side, and muttered, "This is the weirdest conversation I've ever had with a girl."
Around this time, Kuchiki Byakuya had climbed up to the small stage, microphone in hand. The small crowd listened to his brief speech, ending it with thanking the project's sponsors and his colleagues. After a round of applause, dinner was served and conversations in the dining hall resumed.
When their dinner arrived, Orihime's eyes widened at the sight of their food. She had never seen such an elegant food presentation before.
"Is there something wrong with your dinner? Do you want another…?"
Orihime looked up at Ichigo and waved her hand. "Oh! No, it's fine!" She gave him a broad smile and laughed. "I'm just a little surprised… It looks too beautiful! It feels almost wrong to eat it…"
"Wait." She looked at him, puzzled. Ichigo reached over, took her plate and cut the meat into equal, bite-sized squares. Then he returned it in front of her.
Taken aback by gesture, Orihime gaped, her heartbeat going haywire again. A strong, almost-forceful feeling engulfed her like a night sea. It was something she had never felt before, something that was beautiful and just as terrifying.
"Orihime?"
She started, then, realized she was still in an important public social engagement, surrounded by members of upper class, and social norms must be observed.
Quickly putting on a proper, practiced smile, Orihime beamed at him, concealing the sudden surge of emotion she was feeling. "Thank you!" Ichigo studied her for a while until he nodded, tucking into his own meal.
notes:
(1)Tōgū Palace – East Palace or Crown Prince's Palace is a real place. This is a fictional representation and will be inaccurate.