The Nightingale

Chapter 95: Winds of War

Spring — x494 / May 16

Letter from Rukia to Orihime. Received by Orihime.

―

My dear friend,

It makes me so happy to read that your life is brighter and happier every day, and that you have found a path to walk without so many difficulties. Congratulations on your new home and the prosperity of your business, I hope it continues to prosper and become better known day by day.

When I visit you again I will taste your bread, I will make the tea and we can talk about everything we have missed in all this time.

Kaito must be charming! I can't stop imagining him taking little steps behind the chickens. The last time I saw him, he was so little that he got lost in the blankets but now he walks and explores. Surely when I see him again, he will talk.

I hope you had fun at the spring festival and the performance about Queen Vayalat, although I don't think it's that fanciful. There are things that go beyond our own understanding and we can only bow before them.

Interesting things have happened here, like Princess Karin married a prince of Jetaiya and is now in Verihan's palace planning the wedding ceremony in that kingdom.

Spring week was supposed to be a week of tranquility but the king of Jetaiya arrived and everything became one preparation after another. The queen had to advance all the plans and thanks to the Shadow that everything turned out well, the only sad thing is that Princess Yuzu is alone and is going through a kind of depression because of the separation.

I understand it because they were together all their lives, but the queen is worried because she no longer usually goes out and eats little. We have tried to cheer her up but it is not the same. I think it will be a while before Princess Yuzu gets used to being without Princess Karin.

For now everything is quiet in the castle.

We live a calm life and I like it because it's similar to what I wanted, although I know it won't last because at some point Kaien will make his move to become king and everything will turn into chaos and a power struggle.

I don't want to involve you in these conspiracies now that you lead a peaceful life and have a bright future ahead of you. I wish you were here, but I know that you have fought for the life you have and that you are happy, so that brings happiness to my heart.

Have a good life, dear friend, and accept the gift I send you for your new home. Give Kaito a kiss for me, too.

I hope to see you soon.

With love, Rukia.

―

The dressmaker, who was not the queen's dressmaker but a prestigious designer from the city, was busy taking Karin's measurements and making notes in her notebook with the help of her assistant.

The woman was delighted to have the opportunity to make a wedding dress for a princess, but at the same time she was nervous about not having enough time to make it the way she wanted.

Karin was aware of the lack of time to make a dress as important as a wedding dress, which had embroidery and beading, but she had no choice but to trust that they would provide her with a decent dress for the ceremony that would take place in less than two weeks.

The dress, the one she was supposed to wear at her second wedding to Toshiro, was completely ruined beyond repair. Toshiro was not happy because it was clearly blatant sabotage, but he had no choice but to trust the dressmaker his mother had recommended to make the new dress for Karin.

Toshiro wanted to make someone pay for that mistake, but with everything they did, that retribution was impossible to collect.

― Your highness, that's all for today. ― The dressmaker spoke while her assistant put away the things they had used to take Karin's measurements. ― We're just waiting for the fabric to arrive, but...

The dressmaker hesitated and Karin could sense what was missing from that sentence: "but it is very little time to make a dress."

The representatives of the Deities did not care about the color of the dress that the brides wore when getting married, it was something known in all the kingdoms that professed that religion, but in Jetaiya they maintained the tradition that brides had to get married dressed in red.

That tradition meant that the red fabric was only used by brides and the royal family, who could wear red regardless of the occasion, and that it was prepared only to order. That became a problem if a situation like the one they were in arose.

― Alright. Do your best. ― The maid helped Karin get off the stool she was standing on and helped her adjust her dress. ― But while you wait for the fabric to arrive, I want you to make me a black dress to wear to the meal the day after the wedding.

― A black dress, your highness?

The dressmaker was a little surprised by that request, since black was generally not worn at weddings. Black was an exclusive color for mourning and for the celebration of souls, but that event was still many months away and it was unusual for someone to order a dress of that color so long in advance.

Karin had a slight idea of what the dressmaker might be thinking so she hurried to speak again, although the dressmaker's idea might not be so wrong.

― It doesn't have to be a very flashy dress, I want it simple and elegant. ― Karin explained as the dressmaker's assistant hurried to take notes on the specifications. ― I want you to bring it to me as soon as you have it ready.

― We have black fabric that has recently arrived, your highness. So your order…

The dressmaker did not finish her sentence because Karin's maid placed a small cloth bag with coins on her hand. The dressmaker was supposed to be paid by the royal family, so there was no need for Karin to give the woman money unless it was a private order.

A secret order.

― I don't want anyone to know about this, understand? This is just a part, the rest I will give you when you bring me that dress. Don't forget, no one has to know that that black dress is for me.

The dressmaker, still holding the small bag of coins in her hand, nodded to Karin's words and swore on her own heart that she would keep that request private. Karin agreed with those words, because if the dressmaker was intelligent she would know where to place her loyalties, and allowed her to leave.

― Your Highness, it is a pity that the Queen's dressmaker became so depressed after the dress was ruined that she is in no condition to make a new dress. ― One of the maids at her service commented while tidying up part of the room.

Her maids, those who had traveled with her from Avanta, had already finished their training and had returned to serve her. Karin was grateful that the girls passed their training quickly because she didn't like being waited on by the queen's servants.

― The dress was really beautiful. ― Her other maid spoke as she prepared some tea. ― I heard from other maidens that the queen herself had praised the dress and the embroidery done. I still don't understand how it could have been ruined.

― I know the reason why the dress was ruined, but there's no point in talking about it. ― Karin sat on a sofa and picked up the book she had been reading before the new dressmaker arrived. ― What matters now is that we were able to quickly resolve this complication.

The maids agreed with those words and, after putting the room in order, they left it to give Karin privacy. They wouldn't go anywhere, they would just stand outside the room in case the princess needed them.

Once she was alone in the room, Karin put aside the book she had been trying to read and thought about the next step to take.

Her wedding dress, the one she only wore once so the dressmaker could make the necessary corrections, was mysteriously ruined a couple of days after her argument with Hinamori. It was evident that the concubine had spoken to Queen Ravna and that this "little incident" was simply proof that the queen was supporting Hinamori.

When the dressmaker informed the palace that the dress had been ruined and appeared at the scene with the evidence of her words, everyone was able to witness the deplorable state of the wedding dress.

Karin didn't know how they had done it, but the dress looked like it had been attacked by a flock of hungry moths and was beyond salvage. She wanted to cry at that moment, but she held back the tears with all her willpower because she was not going to give the queen the satisfaction of seeing her affected by her actions.

Queen Ravna had the decency to appear saddened by the loss of the dress and lamented the situation, but at the same time, at the meeting where the ruined dress was presented, the queen suggested that in order not to postpone the wedding due to the loss of the dress, Karin could wear one of the dresses she had brought with her.

The idea seemed to be a good one, since this way they would avoid a delay in the wedding and they would not go through the embarrassment of having to send an apology to all the guests along with a new date, but Karin knew she couldn't trust the queen's words because it was clear that the queen didn't have good intentions for her.

Karin knew that if she got married wearing one of her own dresses and not the traditional Jetaiya dress, it would ruin her and Toshiro's reputation. She was a foreigner and it seemed like the queen was hell-bent on making everyone keep that fact in mind on her wedding day.

Rumors would spread like wildfire and the last thing Karin wanted was to be on the lips of others for longer than necessary.

Toshiro was upset and rather than demanding that the dressmaker remake the dress, he wanted her to be punished for not delivering the dress as soon as it was ready and allowing it to be ruined.

"Perhaps it is a design of the Deities, we do not have to lose our minds because of the way in which the Deities send their messages." The queen said when she saw the dressmaker kneeling in front of Toshiro.

Those words made Karin feel a growing disgust towards Queen Ravna, more than she already felt for her, and she decided that she would show the queen what was a true design of the Deities and not foolish power games.

When the situation at that meeting was about to get out of control, King Aizen spoke up and said that from the moment Karin married Toshiro, she had become like his own daughter and that he would not allow one of his daughters to get married wearing just any dress.

That same afternoon, Aizen sent a letter to the spinners to send a new batch of their best red fabric to prepare Karin's dress. The queen didn't seem happy.

Karin suspected that the fabric for her dress wouldn't arrive in time, but that was something she couldn't control. Nothing was within her control and that bothered her.

―

Hisana was against what her mother did to Karin's dress, not because she had great appreciation for her new sister-in-law, but because she had realized the support her father was giving Karin. Only a blind man would not see King Aizen's obvious favoritism for the foreign princess.

Her father first took Hinamori out of the harem building and then he himself wrote the letter to request the best fabric for Karin's new wedding dress. He even hired the most prestigious dressmaker in the city and gave her a generous amount of gold so that, no matter the cost, the dress would be on time.

The only thing her mother had accomplished by destroying that dress was giving Karin more importance than she should have.

Hisana wasn't going to deny that she was afraid that Karin would retaliate against Hinamori if she found out that they were the ones who ruined the dress. The girl would be left alone with Karin when they traveled to the city that Toshiro ruled and only the Deities knew what the princess would be capable of.

When she arrived at the entrance to her mother's room she was surprised to see that Karin was standing in front of the door, with her gaze fixed on the wood of the door. That was quite surprising but understandable because Queen Ravna did not usually receive strangers in her private room, and for the queen, Karin was an intruder.

― Princess Karin, I didn't expect to see you here. ― Hisana spoke to get Karin's attention when she was close to her. Karin jumped a little in shock, which told Hisana that she didn't even hear her coming. ― Did you come to talk to the queen about the wedding?

― Oh! Princess Hisana... ― Karin turned her back on the door and focused her attention on Hisana, without bowing because they were equal. ― No, that's not why I'm here. I came to visit Prince Toshiro's mother and she told me that the queen was not in good health. I wanted to greet her but the maids at the door aren't there, so I preferred to stay here until someone arrived.

Hisana did not know that her mother was sick, in fact no one had informed her about that detail, but Toshiro's mother did know. They all lived in the harem, it was impossible for the queen to be sick and she not know it.

― They must be attending to the queen. ― Hisana spoke, as if that news had not caught her off guard. ― Maybe it's best if you visit her early tomorrow, Princess Karin. My mother is a proud woman and she doesn't like people to see her in her moments of weakness.

― You are right, your highness, it was reckless on my part. ― Karin moved away from the door and Hisana stepped aside for Karin to pass. ― I'll be back tomorrow. I hope the Deities protect Queen Ravna.

Karin's words made Hisana feel a chill down her spine, as well as the strange feeling that there was something watching her from the shadows, and she forced herself to say a short goodbye. The hairs on the back of her neck were standing up and she didn't understand why.

Hisana did not move and waited until Karin took the hallway that led to the exit of the harem.

She knocked twice on the door of her mother's room and one of the maids opened the door for her, letting her in at that moment.

The first thing Hisana noticed was the maid's worried expression, but before she could ask about her mother's health, the voice of the queen's doctor caught her attention.

― Your Highness. ― The woman said as she bowed to Hisana.

― Doctor, what's wrong with my mother? ― Hisana asked, alternating her gaze between the doctor and her mother, who was lying on the bed with a wet cloth on her forehead to reduce the fever. ― How long has she been like this?

― Her Majesty the Queen has been in bed since last night, but she did not send for me until this morning, when the fever did not subside. ― The doctor explained before the inquisitive look of Hisana, who was waiting for an explanation as to why the queen was still in bed if the doctor had visited her in the morning. ― I have checked her thoroughly and it seems that her majesty contracted mosquito fever.

― Mosquito fever? That's impossible. We are not in the rainy season and they burn repellent incense in the afternoons to scare them away, how did she get sick?

― There are rare occasions where this happens. ― The doctor seemed nervous. ― I have left the queen the medicines to reduce the fever and relieve the pain, and in three days she should be fine. Her maids have a list of things that the queen should eat to get better soon and the illness does not get worse.

If the disease worsened, the queen's chances of recovering were slim because mosquito fever sometimes caused hemorrhages that were difficult to stop. She knew well how terrible these hemorrhages were because she saw her little brothers die that way, as well as some servants and concubines when there was an epidemic in the palace.

Hisana looked at her mother for a second before speaking.

― Tell the king that the queen is sick and prepare what is necessary so that the minor princes and princesses do not get sick. We don't want another epidemic.

― As your highness orders.

The doctor bowed to Hisana and the queen in bed, and left the room after one of the queen's maids paid her for her service.

Hisana watched her mother sleep so soundly that she felt a chill run down her spine. Something inside told her that it was not normal for her mother to be so still.

― The doctor gave Her Majesty the Queen the drugs to calm the pain and fever, Your Highness. ― One of the queen's maids explained. ― She says that Her Majesty will sleep for at least a couple of hours before waking up.

― I understand. ― Hisana stared at the queen's red cheeks, proof of how intense the fever was, and approached the bed. ― Go prepare what is necessary so that she can eat when she wakes up.

The maid nodded at Hisana's order and left the room.

Hisana took the damp cloth from the queen's forehead, which had become warm, and wet it with cool water before placing it back on her mother's head thinking that perhaps it was a punishment from the Deities for tearing a wedding dress.

―

Rukia loved it when her husband made her sweat, especially when he used his tongue to wipe away that sweat, but right now Ichigo was just using his tongue to make her upset and frustrated.

He was standing at the far end of the Cliff Hall, with both hands inside his pants pockets and a relaxed posture, while she was at the opposite end, breathing heavily and her hair disheveled as she tried to stay standing.

They were supposed to be training the use of the gift, hers, although in reality she was trying to survive Ichigo's murderous attempts and she was losing. If it weren't for her ability to regenerate minor injuries, she would be covered in cuts on her arms and face.

No matter how quickly she reacted when creating the shadow shields, she knew that if it weren't for Ichigo whistling before launching the attack, she wouldn't see it coming and would receive the attack squarely.

The children of Vayalat did not usually make grand gestures or shout the name of the attack before carrying it out, they manifested a shadow attack at will just by thinking about it because that was what shadows were like: silent and fast.

― We have practiced enough for today. We will continue in two days, you need to rest.

The echo of Ichigo's voice was repeated throughout the room as he advanced towards her. The stipulated time for training hadn't even ended, but Ichigo looked upset.

― One last time.

Rukia heard her own voice in a gasp and understood why Ichigo seemed upset at that moment. She was at her limit, but she didn't want to finish that day's training without at least feeling like she had made notable progress.

― You are tired. If I attack you one more time, you might faint. ― Ichigo adjusted the lock of hair that fell in her face and the expression of annoyance relaxed, giving way to a worried grimace. ― You don't have to overexert yourself in this, you are not training to go to war.

― But I want to learn.

― We train this way because it sharpens our instincts in battle and thus we detect murderous intent before the attack, but the chances of a son of the Shadow attacking you are very low.

― Unlikely but not impossible. ― Rukia corrected, refusing to end that day of training.

They were playing a power game against Kaien, and at that time Kaien had targeted the kingdom of Gardelia as a target in his future plans.

The chances were minimal, the king could die long before the armies prepared to invade Gardelia and no one would support a war in a time of mourning; but still, if they moved against Gardelia, Vayalat might find the excuse needed to move against Avanta.

The alliances were just a written paper that said that both kingdoms were friends, but just like children when they fight over their favorite toy, that friendship could end and give way to a war. Peace has always been fragile and ephemeral.

Ichigo sighed.

― If you can take ten steps in a straight line, we will continue with the training. ― He pointed to a straight line that he had drawn on the stone floor since the first day of training. ― But if you can't...

― I know, I know, training will be over for today.

Rukia was beginning to hate having to walk in a straight line because it was Ichigo's way of checking if she still had the strength to continue, but she still did it. She stood at the beginning of the line, took two steps, and wobbled a little.

Ichigo immediately caught her so she wouldn't fall to the floor, making her frustrated at her own weakness.

― That's it, training is over.

Rukia wanted to protest, but Ichigo took her in his arms and started walking with her out of the Cliff Hall.

― My revenge will be terrible, when I can think of one. So enjoy your victory, Lord Kurosaki.

Ichigo just smiled at that, without letting go of her and without taking his eyes off the road.

― Then I look forward to that moment, Lady Kurosaki.

― Hey! You're supposed to be scared, not anxious.

Ichigo just started laughing and gave her a small kiss on the forehead. Rukia gave in to her husband's arms, closing her eyes along the way and allowing herself to relax a little.

She wasn't asleep, she just had her eyes closed because she was really tired and because she knew that once she lay down in bed, she would fall so deeply asleep that she wouldn't wake up until the afternoon of the next day.

Spring — x494 / May 17

―

Your Majesty King Kisuke of Vayalat, I write this letter to you on behalf of my brother, King Yushiu of Gardelia to request your support on behalf of the alliance that unites our kingdoms. In these last months our kingdom…

―

The letter explained in detail what had been happening in Gardelia since Chika arrived to claim the throne that belonged to him for being the eldest son of the late Lord of the Desert and begging for help so that they could keep the throne and Chika would die, appealing to the friendship and mutual interests that existed between both kingdoms.

A request for help that Kisuke predicted would arrive at any moment and that would inform them of the situation in Gardelia so that they could move the troops and finish the conquest.

A quick conquest, Kisuke had said.

Kirio saw the letter and then the messenger, who seemed to have run from the capital of Gardelia to Vermist, and kept the letter in the metal tube where it had arrived. It was practically a miracle that the letter was in her hands, because according to the messenger, of all the men that Princess Yoruichi sent, only he was able to escape the siege alive.

By now Chika must have known that Yoruichi had asked for help, he must have investigated how the messengers left the city and he must have been planning his next move.

If by now Prince Chika had not invaded the capital of Gardelia, then it was almost time for him to do so, and if things were as Yoruichi explained in her letter, they would soon run out of food completely and people could attack the palace.

Either situation would be good for Kisuke, because no matter who sat on the throne, they would conquer Gardelia.

Kirio assured the messenger that she would discuss the request for help with the king and called one of the guards at the gate to escort the messenger to a place where he could rest. She knew she had to kill him but it was not yet the time because it might help them to have a man from Gardelia with them.

Kisuke's instructions had been clear, as soon as a request for help came from Gardelia, whatever the time and situation, she had to send the armies to take the nearby cities under the false flag of help and establish a base there.

Kirio wanted to help Yoruichi escape from the possible massacre that would be unleashed inside the White Palace, either by the hand of Chika or by the hand of Kisuke, but Kisuke had promised her that he would protect Yoruichi and take her to Vayalat with him, so Kirio forced herself to trust her king.

She had to trust her husband, for this was her last chance to keep her crown on her head. Kisuke wasn't bad, but his limit was something no one wanted to see.

―

Ichigo knew that Rukia still needed a lot of training for her body to withstand the use of the gift, so it was not strange for him to find her fast asleep on the bed when he entered her room. He liked to see that she was getting faster when it came to summoning shadows, but he was worried that she was overexerting herself when it came to training.

His wife was improving, there was no doubt about that, but she had to be careful in training. Rukia was not a soldier and never would be, so there was no need for her to train as much.

She was not born with the gifts of the Shadow but acquired them, which meant that she could not have training like all the children of Vayalat had, but rather had to be slower and more conscientious so that her body did not collapse from overexertion.

He took a couple of steps into the room and the rabbits came hopping towards him, preventing him from moving any further. Natsu, the little black bunny, was smaller than Haru, so it would take a while for them to have babies or so he hoped because with rabbits it was difficult to know that.

― Kana, when Tatsuki returns ask her to prepare some tea to prevent this pair of bunnies from having bunnies. ― Ichigo ordered as he took Natsu into his arms. ― And prepare the basket, I want you to take this pair to a different place.

Rukia's maid was scared by what the prince said, but after Ichigo explained why he wanted the bunnies out of the room, the girl relaxed and quickly hurried to carry out Ichigo's order.

― Your highness, the princess is going to be scared when she doesn't see the bunnies. ― Kana spoke when both bunnies were in the basket they used to use to take them out to play in the gardens.

― I know, but don't worry. ― Ichigo approached Rukia's desk, where there were several books stacked on top of each other and a box with several cards. ― If you see Tatsuki, tell her to stay with you and order the king's kitchen to prepare food to share. Hanataro will understand it.

Kana nodded and left the room carrying the basket with the little rabbits. Ichigo sat in Rukia's chair and took one of the cards inside the box to read the contents, letting out a slight smile at what was written there.

"A kiss on the shoulder."

Rukia was preparing the cards with the actions they would do at night.

The game was simple, between the two of them they would take three cards and they would have to fulfill what was written on them and nothing more. They both agreed that they would take things slowly, like when they started their relationship, and playing with cards was the best idea they could think of at that time.

"Kiss on the thigh."

"Lick in the belly."

"One finger with honey."

Ichigo wrote three more cards and kept them among the ones already written so that Rukia wouldn't notice, he took one of the books on the table and lay down in one of the long armchairs in Rukia's room to read it. The back of that chair hid him almost completely and only left his boots visible.

The book was about economics, which meant that Byakuya was preparing Rukia for the economic events that were about to occur between the kingdoms.

The idea of finishing unifying the economy was good, that could not be denied, but Ichigo felt that there was more behind that proposal on Aizen's part. Even so, he had not stopped to think much about it because until all the kings had the meeting to talk in person about that economic unification everything was speculation and nothing more.

What really had Ichigo worried was Kaien and his idea of declaring war on Gardelia to make the kingdom bigger.

Kaien had never shown interest in conquering Gardelia, in fact he had always aimed his ambitions towards Kuvar and had supported the king's ideas about a conquest when it was proposed at the Dome meetings the previous year.

The soldiers were training to attack Kuvar when the king ordered it, the ships were almost finished and the spies were sending reports about the terrain so as not to be taken by surprise. It made no sense for Kaien to change his mind just because he saw a "weakness" in Gardelia's kingdom.

Something inside him told him that he should be careful with Kaien and his idea of conquering Gardelia, because nothing that came from Kaien or Gardelia was a good thing.

―

The bells of the temple of the Deities woke her up, but the last thing Rukia wanted was to get out of bed at that moment because her body hurt. Ichigo used to tell her that over time, as her body got used to the use of the gift, she would stop feeling the adverse effects, but Rukia felt that day was too far from coming because she still slept for a long time after training.

She sat up in bed after her stomach protested the lack of food and noticed that she was wearing a white nightgown that she didn't remember wearing the day before, although she didn't remember anything from the day before other than the warmth of Ichigo's arms.

Rukia stretched her body, moved her head a little to relax her neck, and noticed that the room was too quiet. Tatsuki and Kana were conspicuous by their absence, even the pair of bunnies, who had found it fun to climb on the bed and play on it, were absent.

Her stomach growled again, reminding her to eat, and she got out of bed to call her maids, but when she was about to open the door, she noticed a pair of boots sticking out of one of her armchairs and immediately abandoned that idea.

The only man who could enter her room was Ichigo, which made her smile because he was there, waiting for her.

Rukia approached her husband trying not to make noise with the intention of scaring him, but she found him asleep with a book over his face.

She knew he was asleep because his breathing was slow and soft, and because she had watched him sleep for a long time, so she decided to let him sleep for a while longer and go to her wardrobe to look for a comfortable and pretty dress.

Staying in her nightgown was a tempting idea because then she could stay in the room with him all afternoon until night, but she had to change her clothes because sometimes Ichigo had plans that included leaving the castle.

She liked it when that happened because it was fun to go with him to walk around the city and eat sweets in the central square while they watched people go from one place to another.

― Now will you sleep in my armchairs? ― Rukia asked as she approached Ichigo, noticing that he was already awake. Maybe she had made a lot of noise when she was getting dressed and that woke him up.

― I thought about lying next to you, but I preferred to let you rest. ― Ichigo placed the book on the tea table and sat down while suppressing a yawn. ― How do you feel? Are you hungry?

Rukia's stomach made a rather loud noise, preempting what she was about to say and making her face turn completely red with embarrassment. Ichigo started to laugh at that as she felt her cheeks burn. It seemed that if she didn't eat, her stomach would eat her.

― Would you like to have lunch in the garden? ― Ichigo asked with a smile as he stood up from the couch. ― Today there is good weather.

Rukia nodded at that idea and took her fan before leaving the room in the company of her husband. If she saw Kana or Tatsuki on the way, she would ask them to take the bunnies to the garden for them to play.

―

Vayalat's elite group, the Shadows, were the best soldiers there could be within the kingdom. They had been trained since childhood and had received the mark of the Deity when they were ready to wear the black uniform and hide their faces.

The best of the best, the secret group that infiltrates the soldiers to ensure victory.

The previous year, when Prince Ichigo had visited Vayalat, Ulquiorra received advice from him after Kaito's baptism ceremony: become a Shadow.

"The salary of the Shadows is similar to the salary of the generals in Avanta, they also have more free time and are usually the ones who stay in the castle and the city. They only obey the king and the immediate royal family." Ichigo had said that time.

Ulquiorra understood what Ichigo had implied with his suggestion, staying in the castle allowed him to be with Orihime all the time because he would hardly be removed from his position unless there was an emergency; so after considering that idea for a while, he decided to take the test to become a Shadow.

The most difficult part of the entire process was the night training sessions led by Jugram, the king's younger brother and right-hand man. They did not deny him the possibility of entering the late selection process for one simple reason: if he died, then he was not worthy.

Ulquiorra had a theory that his trainer waited every day to see him die, but in the end he managed to survive to take the final test and receive his mark that accredited him as a Shadow.

He was assigned as the castle's stationary soldier while he adapted to the Shadow's blessings and honed a skill, and that was fine with him until that afternoon when he was called to an emergency meeting.

The reason was simple: they were at war against Gardelia.

According to the orders of the Kingdom Commander, Prince Jinta, half of the elite group would move along with the bulk of the soldiers destined for conquest, as well as several gift-bearing Shadows as support, and the other half of the elite group would stay to protect the city and the castle in case Gardelia had the strength to defend herself.

Ulquiorra would be one of the soldiers who would leave under the command of Prince Jugram to reach the capital of Gardelia and take the White Castle. The other soldiers, led by other commanders, were destined to take the nearby cities to prevent the lords of Gardelia from moving their troops.

Under other circumstances, Ulquiorra wouldn't be so worried about going to battle, but right now going to war meant Orihime and Kaito would be left alone, and that made him more anxious than he wanted to admit.

Furthermore, he still had to tell his wife that they would no longer be able to buy the new house and that it was better that that money be used to cover the expenses that might be generated in his absence.

The pay of the soldiers who went to war was good, quite good, but it was only given once the conquest was a fact and they returned home. The only good thing that Ulquiorra saw at that moment regarding money was that because he was a Shadow, part of his weekly payment would be given to Orihime for at least three months.

If they still lived in Avanta, Ulquiorra could send Orihime and Kaito to Sora's house, where they would be well cared for and protected, but they were no longer in Avanta and he doubted Orihime would want to leave there. Not because she had great affection for the city, he knew she missed home, but because of him.

Orihime was the type of person who did not abandon the one she loved, and she loved him to the point of exiling herself to be by his side. She had given him her heart and her life, and he had to take care of them because it was the most valuable thing he had.

―

Orihime placed the cup of tea in front of her brother and sat on the couch in front of him. She hadn't seen Sora in about a year, since he visited them when Kaito was born, and she couldn't deny that she was surprised by her brother's appearance.

Sora had lost a lot of weight and his clothes were too big for him, he also had big circles under his eyes and his skin had that paleness that the disease gave.

The last few years, since she entered the queen's court, her brother had been getting sick with occasional colds, but she always thought it was because he used to work a lot, not because her brother's health was really that delicate.

― I'm dying, Orihime.

― Don't say that, brother.

― I say it because it is the truth. ― Orihime felt her heart break as she heard those words come out of her brother's mouth and her eyes burned with the tears she refused to let out. ― Please come home with me. Take your son and come home. Our mother will not be able to handle all the responsibility that the title has, she does not have what it takes to take charge.

Orihime clenched her fists on her knees, crumpling the fabric of her skirt. Sora had been insisting that she return ever since he learned about Ulquiorra's exile, but she didn't want to leave her husband alone.

― I can't. Ulquiorra…

― That man doesn't...

Sora raised his voice but a coughing fit prevented him from finishing his sentence. Orihime could see how her brother's handkerchief was filled with blood and although she tried to help him, Sora prevented her from approaching him.

It wasn't a brothel illness, her brother didn't frequent those places, but he still didn't let her get close to him. That hurt too.

― If you want, don't divorce him. ― Sora spoke again when the coughing fit passed and he had taken a sip of the tea in his cup. ― You can keep the last name Cifer if that makes you happy, but please come home with me.

― Brother…

Orihime didn't know what to say because it hurt her to see her brother in that state. It seemed like he would faint at any moment while they were talking.

― Orihime, I don't have much time left. You're the only one who can take my place. ― Sora covered his mouth and paused, somewhat mitigating the coughing fit he was having again. ― You are the heiress of our family's legacy.

Orihime looked at her brother as he tried to hide the blood in his handkerchief and her heart contracted painfully.

She wanted to help him, she wanted to do his will because that's what she had been educated to do, but at the same time she didn't want to leave there, not without Ulquiorra. I loved him too much to leave him.

She didn't know what to do, she felt selfish for wanting to stay with her husband and at the same time wanting to fulfill her brother's will. If the king hadn't exiled Ulquiorra because of Kaien and Nelliel, none of this would be happening.

― Go back to your house, Orihime.

Ulquiorra's voice caught her off guard and she looked up at that moment to realize that her husband was standing at the door of that small living room. She hadn't heard him arrive, since he joined the elite group she rarely heard him make noise, and she was still getting used to it.

― Ulquiorra... why do you say that?

Orihime's voice trembled a bit. She didn't know how much of that conversation Ulquiorra had heard, but it pained her to hear that he seemed to agree with Sora for her to return to Avanta.

That had always been her fear, that Ulquiorra would regret having chosen her and take advantage of his exile to get her to return home. Orihime trembled because it seemed like that fear was materializing in front of her.

― The kingdom will declare war on Gardelia. ― Ulquiorra explained as he approached her. ― I was assigned to the troops that will go to the capital of Gardelia.

― There is… war?

Ulquiorra nodded in response.

The news didn't calm her one bit because the mere thought of Ulquiorra having to go to war made her tremble more. There were so many things that could happen to Ulquiorra that just imagining them made her feel desperate.

People died in war.

― You better go back to Sora. ― Ulquiorra turned to look at Sora, who had remained silent with the handkerchief over his lips. ― With him you and Kaito will be safe.

― And you? Who assures me that you will be safe?

Orihime stood up from her seat because she felt like she couldn't sit still any longer.

― No one. I am a soldier, I always have been and this is what I do.

Ulquiorra said that and Orihime felt her eyes blur with tears.

A soldier.

She knew it when she married him and she hoped he would never have to go to the call of war, but war was calling him. It was not fair. They had gone through so much to be together and it seemed like they could never really be together for long.

The Deities were punishing them for something.

― It's not fair. ― Orihime murmured with tears running down her cheek. ― You know it's not fair.

― Nothing is ever fair. ― Ulquiorra wiped away her tears with his thumb as he spoke. ― You will be safe and well, that's the only thing that matters to me.

Orihime knew that this was a farewell and it hurt too much because she knew she would never see Ulquiorra again. The uncertainty of the war, exile and knowing that if Ulquiorra returned to Avanta they would kill him, made the chances of seeing him again minimal.

― We will leave early tomorrow. ― Sora spoke, getting up from his seat and heading towards the exit. ― I'll pick you up tomorrow, Orihime.

Orihime didn't respond, but Ulquiorra did in her place, assuring Sora that she and Kaito would be ready first thing in the morning to travel back to Avanta.

Can you feel it? It's near.