Chapter Three: Thunder on the Horizon
Where love rules, there is no will to power; and where power predominates, there love is lacking. The one is the shadow of the other.
-Carl Jung
Renji had been wise enough to let the girl mutter curses without comment when it came to the crowned prince of soul society. He wasn't of the mind that he wanted to be on the bad side of either of the two parties. It was a little odd to not speak up for one of the men he was sworn to protect but neither did he want the ire of his captain's fiance' by a poorly chosen word of defense.
Good in his case cause as they were on their way back to the Kuchiki estate he felt the edge of spiritual power that accompanied his superior even if he was holding it back. He turned and still widened his eyes a little. Byakuya was standing next to a much more surprised Kagome and Renji had only sensed him. It was amazing and frustrating still that the captain seemed so far beyond his reach.
"A monkey and the moon." The thought was sobering.
"Captain Kuchiki." He spoke before the mortal girl had a chance. "We were just on our way back. Should I leave Priestess Kagome with you now?"
"Is there anything to report Renji?" Byakuya was in what Kagome had lovingly nicknamed 'business mode' and she waited calmly glancing between the two men. She didn't often get the chance to witness interactions Byakuya had with his underlings but it was interesting.
"Nothing I believe the Priestess will fail to inform you of Captain. I was not allowed to watch the lessons as they proceeded with the Prince Shizuke." Renji bowed as he said it. Waiting to be dismissed, hopefully before the woman started a new line of colorful descriptions of their next ruler.
"That is all then Renji. You may go." Byakuya turned to Kagome then and she smiled at him even if she knew he'd remain all business until they finished the walk to the manor. She didn't think it was that much further.
"Thank you Abarai." Kagome called just before he vanished away to do whatever it was the soul reapers did when she wasn't around to watch. "I'm sorry it ran so late. I thought you would be busy so it seemed like I should practice more."
"I was on my way out when I sensed Renji." As way of explanation of him coming across them. "Come."
Off he went, a little slower than usual as Kagome was wearing her kimono and it would be difficult for her to keep up otherwise. She'd already vented a lot of her frustration to Abarai about the prince though she was still pretty livid.
She waited until they returned to the manor to really explain what had happened in a general sense and repeat many of the insults she'd previously given as well as a few new creative ones she'd come up with in the short walk back.
Byakuya was vaguely amused and somewhat concerned for her after the story. "I am glad that you refused to give into him. He is far less honorable in things than his father, I will be worried for soul society when he takes the crown."
She was already aware of his feelings on the matter. If she willingly gave the prince a kiss it would be considered a sign of obeisance and she would be bound to his word and will far more than he was already able to effect her. It was something she was beginning to dread herself now that she'd had more time to fully consider it.
Though she'd agreed to do so in return for having the wedding in her world, the wedding had all been a cleverly laid trap to catch and finish off the Traitor Aizen with finality. It wasn't as if she was even really married yet so she was going to continue to fight the ruler on his unjust decision.
"I'm just glad to be back here and have a day or so of you all to myself." She offered a wry smile as she pulled at him to sit next to her on one of the couches there. "You finish what you needed to?"
"I completed enough that I don't have issue with Renji taking my place for a day." The reply was as close to a compliment as most people came with him. "You think the lessons with him will work then?"
"Well, I'm doing better than I was. But like I said. He knew that the normal way soul reapers are taught wouldn't work for me." She had explained the story but felt the need to reassure him it wasn't his fault. "Though I think I'd rather fail to control them than work with him."
That made a bit of a smile quirk at the side of Byakuya's face, he watched her animated nature in enjoyment. As much as he would never admit it, she was a fresh breeze compared to most of the people with which he surrounded himself. He listened to her insult the prince for a while before settling a hand on hers and shaking his head.
"You should be careful Kagome. The prince might tire of the novelty of you insulting him so freely." Byakuya reminded her, watching her flush pink at his touch. "I don't like the idea of him teaching you but if there is no other way then that is that. You must learn to control your powers."
"I know." She got quieter once he'd touched her hand. It was always the gestures that many might consider small that she was starting to understand meant much more with the captain sitting with her.
Watching his eyes the stress of the day with the prince was cleared away, the regal slate gaze still managed to make her heart skip a beat. More so now when he softened his noble poise than whenever she'd watched him glare at someone. Even the edge of his spiritual ambience retained a indisputable sovereignty. He didn't need some mystical 'love me' spell around him to make him a man that was absolutely majestic. She was fairly sure she wanted to get lost in those eyes every day for the rest of her existence.
Part of her heart sighed when he looked away and out the window, another glorious view from the shared room connected to both of their quarters. It was still a very traditional engagement, they had their own bedrooms but lived in a sort of suite styled series of rooms that made it easy for them to interact with one another. The view over the back part of the estate was literally a forest of cherry trees and other foliage.
"Something is troubling you?" Kagome guessed more than anything, still enjoying the soft warmth of his partially gloved hand.
"There is a possible threat to soul society." Byakuya answered without glancing to her, smiling when she intertwined his fingers with his a little further. "A squad of our students in the real world was attacked by an unknown source similar to the arrancar. We are not yet certain if they are survivors of Aizen's time or some sort of new problem but the only survivor of the attack remains unconscious at this time."
Kagome frowned at the story, she never wanted to hear about people getting killed and she still could remember the pale masked creatures that they had fought on rare occasion. None of them had seemed horribly strong but she'd also had exceptionally powerful friends around her at those times. Byakuya was a captain, one of the strongest of the soldiers here, and Sesshomaru wasn't exactly a demon lord to be sneezed at.
"Why would they attack a bunch of students?"
"We are not certain at this time. We should get more information from the survivor once they have recovered enough to speak." Byakuya replied with his usual calm. He didn't add that they and all of the other dead victims had had their tongues, hands, and feet removed completely. It seemed a detail too gruesome for the empathetic girl.
"I hope they're found and stopped sooner than later." Kagome didn't like the idea of hollows or any sort of evil spiritual creature preying on people that usually weren't even able to see them in the mortal world. Her family was fairly safe with Sesshomaru living so close and keeping an eye on them as Rin's descendants but many people did not have that unique luxury.
"We will resolve it and the culprits will be brought to justice." Byakuya was cool, calm and collected. The fact that she'd realized something was wrong at all was just a testament to her natural ability to read people. "What would you prefer to do tomorrow?"
His hand was removed gently from hers when a knock at the door heralded the arrival of their late dinner. "Enter."
He was silent as they set things up and Kagome couldn't help but smile a bit at the immediate return of 'business mode'. "Oh my favorite. What's the occassion?"
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The scene was amazingly clear of debris or much of anything. A blank void of shadows except for a single pair of figures nearly impossible to make out in the blackness.
"How do you plan to deal with the eleventh squad captain?" The voice was a mere whisper of a sound, neither male nor female recognizably. Barely reaching into the darkness and echoing lightly on a empty wind.
"The way in which the Prince so conveniently dealt with Aizen." The second tone was definitely female and soft spoken. "It would not at all be difficult to leak the correct information to his squadron. Kenpachi would leap at the chance to fight with someone that killed other captains with nearly no difficulty."
"That resolves him, but the others?"
"There aren't many others left that are a true threat to us. The first squad captain will listen to anything that the royalty orders him to do, the second isn't far behind him in that the majority of the time. I wouldn't consider the seventh, tenth, or thirteenth captains threats to our plans at all. They have yet to replace captains for the third, fifth, ninth, and twelfth squads at all."
"Which leaves you four, six and eight. As well as numerous non captains with strength that is still incredible."
"Four will be too concerned with resolving wounds to do much damage. Six will be taken elsewhere once we manage to get a hold on the priestess. Eight might cause a bit of trouble but likely it will be too late. By the time he realizes anything has occurred the soul society will be overrun."
"Do not fail us Koridomi, do not underestimate them."
"As if I would ever let them forget." She wasn't given a chance to reply before the shadows withdrew and she was left in the dark alley in which she'd begun the contact. She glanced around sensing for any spiritual beings before moving along her way again. The dark haired woman otherwise seeming to stick to the cloaking shadows as she walked away from the short report.
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Dinner had been nice, it had cheered her up to have her favorite meal after the stressful day with the prince. Byakuya was considerate in ways she didn't predict, it was a sweet change from her only other relationship that could have been considered similar.
"It's late." She commented after she'd already thanked him for the thoughts on her behalf. "Too bad it looks as if it is going to storm, I would have liked to have a chance to look at the stars. They're so beautiful here."
"Storm?" Byakuya questioned her comment curiously, moving to look out the window at the growing clouds even as thunder rumbled deep in the horizon. "Hmm."
"What..." Kagome blinked a little at how close he'd gotten when he went to look. Sure they had been engaged for some time but it wasn't too often that he got within a foot of her face. The closer she was the more flawless he seemed to become. "...do you mean?"
"Nothing." He shook his head once and let a eyebrow raise just a hint at the expression she wore on her face.
Kagome was beautiful, she had a softness to her face most of the women in the sereitai lacked completely. Almond shaped chocolate eyes so commonly filled with virtuous conviction or innocent wonder had a burning within them today. He saw her leaning in and couldn't react past letting his eyes widen just a bit. It was the first time that she willingly kissed him sense they had agreed upon their engagement to one another.
End Chapter
Woot Kagome Byakuya kissin'! I don't know why I adore this pairing so much. I just do. The plot thickens! Woot, new enemies. If anyone figures out who it is, you get a cookie.
-Aura
To my reviewers:
Kathy - Yes, atm the Prince is suppose to be pretty vague so I'm glad I'm succeeding there. Though information will come out for him with some more character history and such as the story progresses.
Nasuki - Hehe, well, he is a tad more spoiled even than most royalty as most people just want to do whatever he says even if they aren't bound to serve him in any way.