33:Less Said Easily Mended
"Of all the earthly music, that which reaches farthest into heaven is the beating of a truly loving heart."
-Henry Ward Beecher
Kagome wasn't sure exactly when she finally got to asleep, her body and eyelids still felt heavy though the muffled sounds of people speaking and activity of things moving were tugging her consciousness back from the misty realm of sleep. The bed was sinfully comfortable and she was highly tempted to ignore it and just let herself pass back out and get the extra rest while she could. Though Byakuya's deep tone pulled at her on a deeper level and when an image of his cool hazel gaze came into her mind she popped her eyes open to look around the now well lit chamber.
"How long was I sleeping?" She pondered as considered the brightness in the room. The windows above her were now covered but there was still enough rays of sunlight coming through the side windows and from the main area that it had to be the afternoon.
Her nose picked up smells of a freshly cooked breakfast and her stomach let out a gurgle and whine of protest after her long rest. She stretched out and tugged the smooth sheets and downy blankets closer to her, nuzzling them on her cheek appreciatively. It was great to let go of her troubles for a time and the new day was promising. Being able to just wake up on her own and not be rushed by attendants wanting to dress her in finery was a nice break as well.
As her tummy released another groan she sent it a glare before getting herself up. Pushing hair from her face as she padded around the corner where a lovely breakfast had been set up in the open area where Byakuya had slept the night before.
His makeshift bed was gone, cleared away with the pillows and blankets returned and in their place a simple table had been set, all sorts of items were laid out for food as well as juices and teas…there was also a single pink rose settled in the center of the table. Byakuya was seated on one side and reading the book Kagome had nearly destroyed with her playful splashing the day before. He wasn't fully dressed yet, he didn't have his scarf, captain's cloak, or kensaiken on. She hadn't seen him without the scarf sense the first day they met and she dried his clothing for him and it was still odd to witness his hair hanging in his face without the separation of the hairpins that marked his station.
"Hey." She smiled a little sheepishly when he looked over, reminding herself not to stare again as she approached the table. "Good morning."
"Good afternoon." He replied with his usual indifference back in place. Just because he looked different didn't mean he'd become any less cold. "Did you manage to get some sleep? You seemed restless last night."
"Yeah." She sat down and looked over her options before picking out a little of everything to try. "I have troubles sleeping at times. I actually used some of the meditation techniques to help me finally calm down enough to pass out. That's what I figure anyway cause the last thing I remember is trying to do that. You could have woken me up."
"I wanted you to have the chance to relax, that is the idea behind all this nonsense." He replied, pausing to mark his place in the book and glancing up to her. "I wanted to show you how to put in Kensaiken…at some point when you finish your training as a priestess you will be given some as well."
"Oh…" She paused as she chewed some of her food, thinking about that for a bit and swallowing before continuing. "So priestess's are considered nobles?"
"They have always been thought of in the highest regard." Byakuya commented seriously, sipping at his tea. "It is something they will expect me to teach you as a future member of a noble house. I cannot say if they will not consider our deception so it is the safest course to teach you basic things that would be expected."
"That is logical." She smiled lightly and continued to eat as her thoughts started back up in earnest. "He wants to teach me how to do things if I really did become his wife? I understand why and it is something I should agree with but…why do I feel guilty again?"
"I am going to wash my hair and clean up in the meantime. Enjoy your breakfast." His words pulling her gaze up and all she could manage was a light smile before he wandered off and closed the separated full bath area.
"Man, at least Ayumi and the others haven't had a chance to talk to me in a while." Kagome thought as she continued to eat in silence. "They would have a total field day at me being interested in a new guy. More or less if they ever saw Byakuya…"
She had to smile as she imagined the gossip that would ensue, she missed her old friends…after the move she hadn't gotten to see them nearly as much as she would like to be able to. They were both busy with school and with them now a year ahead of her it seemed like her old life was steadily alienating her.
"And mom…I'm sorry it's like this…that I'm always making you worry so much about me." Kagome sighed a little and picked more slowly at her food…at least in the feudal area she got to go home and visit, the weeks she'd been here felt like months.
Byakuya returned and interrupted the circle of dark thoughts. She offered him a light smile, having no reason or want to worry him over her silly concerns. "He's sexier with wet hair."
She cursed her treacherous mind and blushed as he glanced over to her. "Are you ready?"
"Sure." She nodded and jumped up, she was curious about this doing his hair thing. It seemed more like something she'd do for her friends back home than the noble soul reaper. Eyeing the kensaiken on the table and then his smooth damp hair. Picking up the brush bravely and starting to brush it for him before he could instruct her or protest. "You have really nice hair. I've always thought the way you wear it is handsome."
He was quiet as she began to brush his hair, he wasn't going to ask her to do that but she seemed a littler somber today so he didn't want to pause her either. Her fingers were soft and the brush strokes gentle, he normally didn't like other people to groom him but he would make an exception as he didn't explain to her in more detail what he'd meant. It was a moment before he caught up with the compliment she'd offered him.
"Thank you Kagome…."
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"He requested time for her to visit home?" Ikkaku eyed the story they'd been given by Renji skeptically.
The group of four soul reapers sat around the table passing liquor around, it was becoming a common event for them as a way to relax when they weren't working constantly with all the issues still lingering after the battle with Aizen's small army.
"Well, that's what the letter read." Renji shrugged. "Isn't there some sort of holiday coming up in the mortal world?"
"Christmas." Yumichika commented, adding when he got a bunch of strange looks. "I took a course in school as to mortal history…I skipped most days but I was there during the session on holidays."
"I think it's sweet that he is speaking for her." Matsumoto interjected. "Makes him actually seem like he has feelings."
"Probably just some other plan." Ikkaku snickered and took a long drink. Wiping his mouth with his sleeve and passing it on to Renji. "Sides, it's not like they'll allow him to take her back to the mortal realm while Aizen is still at large. After the attacks on her and all…"
"I dunno." Matsumoto smiled in a 'I know something you don't know' sort of way, though immediately spilled the beans. "I heard that they're nervous about angering that guy that killed Captain Kurotsuchi. He seemed to know her and he did say he'd check on her if he didn't see her in the next few months."
"Like the general would be intimidated by that…you did see him during the fight right?" Renji commented with a shrug. "I guess I can't say for the higher ups though…he did state it would likely help her to have a break and be able to see her mortal family. From that standpoint they might allow it. Just more work for me."
"Taking over the paperwork…you are a sucker of a subordinate." Matsumoto snickered as the flask was passed back around to her.
"Not all of us are as lazy as you Matsumoto." Renji snapped back with a frown. "I actually do stuff to help my captain."
"Yeah…" was all Ikkaku muttered.
"You are a sucker." Yumichika put in with a smile.
"That guy was something though wasn't he?" Matsumoto's eyes seemed somewhere else as she recalled the fight. "Sesshomaru they said his name was…he was a sexy demon."
"He looked like a cross dresser." Ikkaku shrugged to the large breasted woman. Then coughed and tried not to choke as she hit him mid drink, sending a dirty look her way.
"I thought he was quite beautiful." Yumichika commented in agreement. Accepting the flash from Renji, who frowned a bit.
"I dunno about all that…whatever he did thought was spiritual pressure on at least the level General Yamamoto." the red haired man commented. "He just wiped Captain Kurotsuchi away before he had much of a chance…I don't think all of us together would last a few minutes."
"Speak for yourself." Ikkaku snorted. "I think it would be a blast…Captain Kenpachi would definitely enjoy it…if we hadn't been ordered specifically not to tell him about the guy."
"More trouble than it would be worth." the only woman shrugged. "At least while we're still recovering and all."
"Dammit Matsumoto you drank it all again." Ikkaku snapped, pointing at the woman accusingly. "You know you are suppose to get the next flask if you do that!"
The redhead just blinked at the bald man innocently and more fighting broke out…
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Kagome had managed with instruction to finally get the three pronged kensaiken correctly on his head and was blushing horribly as she worked with the one on the right side of his head. She didn't want to do this anymore…she was sure she'd pulled his hair a few dozen times and he was just being nice by not stopping her. She was hesitating and needing to glance in the mirror to do it right but not wanting to look at him out of guilt for her lack of dexterity.
The knock on their door was like being saved by the bell during a awkward moment in class. Making her relax and put the second of the two kensaiken down on the desk before moving toward the door and grateful for the distraction. "I'll see who that is."
Byakuya glanced after her…so it hadn't been the best plan to have her put the kensaiken in…his scalp felt a bit raw from all the times she'd tugged to try to force the locks of hair into place. The tender moment of her brushing his hair replaced by something he didn't want to repeat anytime soon. He was as thankful for the interruption as Kagome was and took the chance to put the mark of his station on himself to avoid any further punishment.
"Forgive me for the interruption lady." The man at the door was bowed and not looking at Kagome directly, nose to the floor as he held up an envelope with two hands. "I have a pressing letter for Captain Kuchiki and was ordered to give it to him immediately. If you will pass it on to him my lady priestess then I will give it to you and beg my leave."
She blinked at the formal talk, bending down to take the letter. "Uh…sure…thank you."
"Of course." He closed his hands and didn't move until she closed the door.
"That was weird." She commented, walking back over to the desk and setting the letter down for him. "Doesn't all the formality seem a little unnecessary sometimes?"
"It is expected of one of station to react in a noble way. We will have to work on your reactions and proper addressing for people of various rank." He replied as he eyed the placement of his kensaiken in the mirror. "Uh, is not an appropriate part of speech."
She blinked at his attitude, very much wanting to sit him in that moment. "You don't have to be so rude about it you know. It's not like any of this is familiar. Sorry if I don't live up to your high-class standards as just a lowly commoner."
Kagome tossed the letter in front of him and stormed out of the room to take a walk and get away from him for a while. "Dammit, why is it whenever things are okay he has to go and be such a pompous jackass?"
He paused to blink after her temper tantrum, he'd just finished his hair and knew enough of her by now that time to relax would help her. However, he didn't trust the staff enough, the pressing letter would have to wait. He got up with a sigh to follow after her again.
"Kagome…wait." He spoke clearly and seriously, and it wasn't like when they were in the mortal world. There was a defined 'you had better listen' to me tone in his voice she hadn't heard before and it made her pause, doing her best to ignore the other onlookers. A few people had started to linger to watch the strange sight but a death look from the captain of the sixth squad got them scattering like roaches under a light bulb. "Come back inside."
She wanted to argue, she wanted to walk back and slap him for acting that way…but she knew it wouldn't do any good, that it could harm his reputation longer than this argument would last.
"Less said is easy mended." The phrase her grandfather used to recommend but failed to follow himself rang true and she sighed before turning around and walking back into the suite they were sharing. She still didn't talk to him though, moving over to sit on the bed and look out the windows…she was starting to realize just how controlled her existence here was.
"I did not call you a commoner." He said after closing the door. "I would appreciate if you would cease to put words into my mouth in the future. I realize that you are still learning, I am the one teaching you. Perhaps I've allowed this to become too friendly when we should have more of a separation but I am trying to be considerate for you in the situation you are in."
It was a lousy apology, it wasn't even really an apology at all. The lord of the Kuchiki clan wasn't practiced in saying he was sorry for his actions and it showed.
"Read your letter and leave me alone for a while okay? I'm sure I'll be safe in the room alone…" Kagome didn't even look at him but she sounded almost heartbroken. There was moisture in her eyes when she glanced back. "Please?"
He knew he should have done something else…even he wasn't so emotionally deprived to know that leaving her was wise…but he couldn't argue with the sadness in her eyes either. He, the lord of the kuchiki clan, the noble captain of the sixth squad of the court of pure souls, was leaving his own quarters because he cared for the reaction of a mortal priestess…
He ignored the passing of other people staying at the resort styled business and instead opened the letter that he'd picked up as he left her inside to have time to herself. Raising his brows as he looked it over…the royals had actually accepted his request to take her to her family and home for a time. Once their trip to this place was finished and given a few days to prepare a return trip to Karakura town they were fine with a trip so she would be able to take a break…
"The demon creature she knows." He resisted the urge to frown. "They want her to speak to him so that he won't cause any further problems. Best to not tell her…the extra politics would only stress her further…"
Meanwhile inside…
Kagome waited until she heard the door close to let her tears fall.
"What if this person isn't found before the engagement date? Even if he is the way some people talk I don't know if it would matter. Do these people expect to control my whole life?" She wiped at her tears and shook her head. "I'm not some noble, I'm not even a good priestess…I can't cast magic without burning down buildings…why in the world would they even want me?"
"I just want my life back…my family…I want time to finally get over Inuyasha and not to be Kikyo's less than capable incarnation." She thought as she hugged one of the soft pillows to her face. "I want to help Byakuya but…he doesn't even want me as a friend. He's just trying to be nice because of this crappy situation we're in. He couldn't ever like me, I'm just a job to him…a duty like the paperwork…"
She sobbed into the pillow, it wasn't just the thoughts about him now. It was nearly a year of being separated so harshly from the feudal era and from her first love. It was being forcibly returned to a life of fantasy and then fully plucked from her mortal life by people she would probably never meet. It was having such a deep crush for someone that she didn't understand at all. There was a lot of pent up emotion in the teenager and it was being let out in tears.
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Byakuya waited outside for a while before deciding he'd better go back in…if rumors of them having disagreements reached the nobles her trip home might be rethought. Though it had been long enough that she was in the separated room cleaning up by the time he re-entered.
He didn't really know how to apologize but he was well practiced in feeling guilty for his actions…something he was getting to put to use now. He rang a bell that would bring a servant once he noted the table was still covered, letting them know upon their arrival to clear it and settling back at his desk to consider the afternoons events.
Not long after the servants had finished clearing Kagome returned from the separated room seeming in far better spirits than the tears he had left her in.
"Hey, sorry I sort of kicked you out." She apologized, blushing some and sitting down on one of pillows on the floor. "Do they have any other plans for us or are we just sitting in this suite the whole time?"
"I wish to continue teaching you." He replied, ignoring the implication that he'd been kicked out of his own room. "Also, I had the twelfth squad working with the old Mental Instruction program and they are still working with kinks but it is not something I would like to use unless it is proven as safer than before."
"Yeah, I'm still not sure about it myself." Kagome smiled. "I think I'd rather keep my thoughts to myself. I have a busy enough mind without needing extra ones in there. If it's fixed though I guess I'd rather not burn down anymore of your home."
"You only guess you'd rather not?" He considered that comment with a bit of irritation. "Thankfully you will not get too many chances for a time. A few days after we return from this weekend we will be traveling back for a short while so you will be able to visit your family."
That made Kagome pause in whatever she'd originally thought about saying and break into a wide smile. "I get to visit home? Really?"
"Yes, I sent the letter out yesterday and today the delivered missive was in answer." He answered with a neutral tone. "It should be coming up on your world's holiday celebrations so it was likely one of the reasons they made the exception."
"Christmas…really? I didn't realize we'd been here so long already." She was still beaming. "We'll all go back to the shrine then…I can't wait to see Grandpa, crazy old man."
She continued to make comments, her day turned right back around by the news that she would be able to see her family and old friends.
End Chapter
Christmas chapter upcoming, I hope to actually have it done in time to post it before Christmas. If not maybe I'll do a new years thing? Bah. Yes I realize most people don't celebrate it in japan but dammit I wanna write one so I am going to! There, bah! Bah I say!
-Aura
P.S. Your reviews make me all happy. I less than three them.
Boundbydeath - Souls with spiritual energy eat food. It's why they showed the kid captain eating watermelon and why Rukia was delivered food when she was in her holding cell. Ichigo was getting hungry as a normal soul because he was slowly turning into a hollow. But they state a bunch of times that people in soul society with high spirit energy need to eat food. It's why Rukia and Renji used to steal it and why he talked about her enjoying great food once she was adopted into the Kuchiki clan - wow I'm sad for knowing all those examples…