Chapter Fifty: A Letter of Apology (A Prologue)

I have never started a poem yet whose end I knew. Writing a poem is discovering.

-Robert Lee Frost

It was slowly when Kagome finally stirred, there was much that she had gone through and she only vaguely sensed someone there. It wasn't until she felt a brush on her cheek that she opened her eyes slowly and smiled a little at Byakuya. Even if he was his usual unemotional self it was somehow good to see him there.

"Oh the wedding." She started to hop up before he held her down as gently as he could. "What happened?"

"It is fine." He reassured. "No one was injured and your friends and family remember it as rather a grand party."

She blinked a couple times. "Can you do that?"

"Yes." He offered a smaller smile he seemed to reserve for her. "Your demon friend is recovering well last I heard and the Prince left you a letter for you before he returned to his home."

"Sestran did?" She blinked a little curiously and still somewhat tired at the captain settled at the side of her bed.

"Yes, it's there." He nodded lightly toward a letter on one of the stand tables of the bed where she was resting. She didn't recognize it but she knew the walls were the same as the ones of Byakuya's manor. "I'll ask the servants to retrieve you something to eat now that you are awake."

He left her to read then and she smiled a little after him...considering him her husband was still such a alien thought. Instead she opened the letter to look at it.

Dear Priestess Kagome,

I wished to thank you for your aid in the manner of removing Aizen.

By the time you read this I figure you will have realized that much of what happened was a ploy to draw him out. It is a pity he ruined your wedding but I hope you'll understand that catching him and procuring the aid of your demon lord friend to kill him was a needed way to end the reign of destruction and death he wished to spread to many others.

In the end I wasn't going to force you to remain with Byakuya if I felt either of you would be unhappy. However, it is my observation that the two of you prefer things as they fell. It may not be everything you've dreamed of but it is pleasant. If you hate me for this, I understand and expect it. Stay well Priestess Kagome, I wish you the best.

Sincerely

Crowned Prince Sestran Shizuke

Kagome ruffled as she slowly read the letter, she could even almost hear his calm perfect voice not really caring that he'd totally turned all their lives upside down just to catch some madman. She was almost giving off a angry heat by the time that she finished it.

"Oh that manipulative golden haired bastard...next time I see you I'm so going to punch you in the nose and all the consequences be damned. Be lucky if I don't just kick you in the man parts you little silver tongued snake." She was all but cursing by the time the servants arrived with her breakfast.

They hurried to leave things and get out. Byakuya returning shortly after they offered her a slightly raised brow at her continued muttering. "I take it you realize what the Prince was doing?"

"He told me yeah sorry but it worked so you should be happy! That snobbish little hate inspiring imp!" Yep, Kagome was very unhappy about it.

"What would you prefer to do?" Byakuya asked seriously, sipping at his tea as she finally moved to push the eggs around on her plate with her fork. "Nothing was made into law. You are able to return home Kagome. I can continue to teach you there as the original agreement and everything can be the way you prefer."

She blinked at him in surprise when he said it, she hadn't really considered it but it was true, they'd never gotten an actual marriage certificate. She could return to just being a high schooler and finally concern herself with graduating and getting a job and having a normal family and regular life.

...but still...they'd said the vows hadn't they?

She stared at her eggs as her stomach rumbled at her in protest.

"What do you want?" It seemed best to ask.

"Kagome...it isn't very safe for Priestess's or Priests in soul society. I made the research squadron receive all the records we had on other ones that were here and survival rates were grim. I don't want to see you burn yourself out." He answered as straightforwardly as he could.

"I want to be near you." She said after he explained himself. He was looking out for her again...perhaps the Prince was more right than she knew. "Regardless of the world it's in. Even if it was all some big ruse to that jerk it was all real to me."

It was difficult to lay her heart out there, she had a lingering worry he would turn her away even after everything they'd been through. To her delighted shock he moved and held her, she couldn't help but smile at the gesture. Perhaps actions were going to end up better than words in Byakuya's case. She leaned up and hesitantly offered him a kiss...though she still had to work on that blushing thing if they were really going to be together.

End Story Arc

Yes it's short. Prologues tend to be that way with me. The Prince was a crafty little bastard ya know? After 50 chapters (basically) Kagome and Byakuya finally realized they really do care about one another and the main villain has been vanquished! Therefore this piece of the story is at it's end. It's been a long strange trip but it's been awesome. I do plan on writing a continuation so have no fears there. However, this part of the story has indeed come to an end. I do not yet know what my second installment of the Kagome/Byakuya story will be (sorry) but if you keep an eye on my works I'll get it up when I have the chance. Thanks to all the reviewers and readers and I hope you continue to enjoy my writing.

-Aura

P.S. Please still review even if it's at the end cause I'd like overall thoughts ;)