Tell Me You Love Me

Tell Me You Love Me 6

The Queens of Dawn

So, Kyuzo thought as he entered the house that was now his, this was a home. He remembered the simple abode he had shared with his parents, a small smile on his face. Kyuzo ran his hands over the grain of the hardwood walls. The furniture was well made, sturdy and simple in design. He could see none of Gorobei's flamboyant style. The large house that had belonged to his parents had been full of large, bulky furniture with elaborate designs and tapestries. Kyuzo saw this as a secluded haven hidden as it was behind the trees. He could just make out the glimmer of the water in the fading light of evening. Sounds of waves breaking upon the shore performed a soothing duet with the birdsong that floating through the wavering sound of wind through the trees.

The bedroom was simple, yet elegant plenty of room for clothing, a large futon a chest and...Kyuzo stood in front of the polished glass. He ran a hand over his fluffy blond locks. It had never behaved, his hair. So he had long ago given up allowing it to cover his face as it would. With a shrug he turned away and paused, he could see so clearly Kureha standing in this room with him, in this house. “After so much death, life can be invigorating.” Kyuzo pulled his weapon free as he turned facing Kambei. “Come along then.” Kambei smiled leaving the house he walked over to the beach the moonlight highlighting the pristine sheen of his white garments. “Let all things settle before a new life begins.”

“First blood,” Kyuzo set the terms giving up his claim on the older man's life. Kambei nodded as he drew his blade. The beach rang with the eerie sound of ringing metal and the grunt of sweat drenched male adrenaline. Kyuzo stayed out of range of Kambei remembering plainly their first battle. Kambei had claimed that he could not defeat him, yet clearly he had captured Kyuzo's hand leaving the other blade useless in its position as far as he could harm the samurai. He had lost that fight and Kambei had been too kind to admit it.

“You will be at this all night Dono,” Gorobei called. He had heard the unmistakable sound of battle and went to investigate. He had found his two friends on the beach and stayed to watch. The level of skill displayed had entranced him. He saw the sweat glistening on their faces. Kyuzo's hair flopped over and he moved by instinct alone for he could not see his opponent. With a swipe of his hand he pushed the mop aside catching Kambei with his sword just as the samurai master pressed his blade home drawing blood.

“Draw,” The said in unison both breathing heavy in the stillness of the night. Kambei smiled and touched the spot on his forehead as Kyuzo brought a hand to his cheek.

“I thought I recommended rest Kyuzo,” Gorobei laughed as the blades were put away. Kyuzo walked to the waters edge, he dropped to his knees and splashed his face. “Big day tomorrow.” Gorobei waited, Kyuzo said nothing. “I am glad you two finally have that settled.” Kyuzo got to his feet he shook the water droplets from his hair. “Come, there is much fitting to be done,” Kyuzo frowned as he looked at Gorobei. “Since you seem to favor red, I will find something appropriate in that shade.”

“Excuse me,” Kyuzo hung back when Gorobei tried to lead him back to the small house through the trees.

“You want to wed in that?” Gorobei asked indicating the heavy red canvas coat. Kyuzo was silent as he shook his head. “Well come on then.” Kyuzo followed after Gorobei. They entered the house and Gorobei headed for the room that Kyuzo had not explored. He stared at the large trunks that lined a wall. Heihachi, was already there rifling through the articles of fine clothing. Kambei entered the room pressing a cloth to his face.

“It was not my intention to cut deep.” Kyuzo said by way of apology.

“Only a fool foreshortens his ability.” Kambei's solemn words silenced Heihachi's mumbling.

“Come on then, let's dress this fool,” Gorobei laughed his good nature shining through as he clapped Kyuzo on the back. Kyuzo worked to suppress a laugh as he was none too gently pulled from his coat.

-

Sakura watched as Kureha went into her parents bedroom. The girl had seemed to glow since the moment her brother announced that she was to wed at Dawn. “I like that,” Sakura complained with a smile. “Here I have been engaged to be married for almost a year and you will be wed before me.” Kureha laughed with her friend. Kureha went into her parents closet, she allowed her fingers to trail over the soft fabrics of her mother's clothes. “Your mother was indeed beautiful. I miss her singing. She was always singing. She sang when she cooked, when she cleaned,” Sakura's words trailed off when Kureha pulled a white trunk from the back of the closet. Air stilled in her lungs as the trunk was opened and Kureha pulled yards of cream colored cloth.

“It was my mother's,” Kureha announced setting the garment on the large futon. Sakura picked up the satin purple ribbons and large yellow bows. “She always used to tell me that when I wed I would wear this.”

“You will be beautiful.” Sakura whispered she could already see her friend in the elaborate outfit. “Kyuzo is lucky.”

“You mean that?” Kureha asked her bottom lip tucked between her teeth. “I am rather clumsy and I always seem to get him dirty and... I don't know what will please him.”

Sakura turned as Lady Akane's laughter was heard in the room. “Young girls...” Akane laughed again. “No woman knows what will please her husband. But,” Akane took Kureha's hand and set her next to the beautiful clothes. “It is our duty to be prepared to do as our husbands want. I can only tell you to relax and do as he says.”

“He will take me, I know,” Kureha blushed looking away from Sakura. “I heard some of the village girls talking, after Namina was married... They noticed me and grew silent.” Kureha gulped squeezing Akane's hand. “Will it hurt?”

“No... Well, maybe... Not if he is kind and gentle.” Akane sighed pulling Sakura beside them. “Ah to be a young bride. Both of you so beautiful. I worry Ku-Chan, I worry for you. He has been alone for so long, a warrior, rough and untamed, there might not be any gentleness left within him.”

“There is,” Kureha smiled. “When the villain tried to kidnap me, he held me in his arms as if I were precious. He doesn't mind when I stumble and he catches me...” Kureha trailed off a dreamy smile on her face. “He smiled at me and I think I saw the sun...”

Lady Akane laughed, “Oh my. She's in love.” Kureha and Sakura burst into giggles. “To bed with you both.” Still giggling the girls were shooed off for an early night.

-

“Gorobei-Dono,” Kyuzo's voice was soft as the other men drank and laughed. Gorobei stepped from the house. He looked around the woods surrounding the house. “What does the ceremony entail?” Kyuzo wanted to do everything correct. Kureha deserved a beautiful day, he wanted it to be beautiful.

“Well,” Gorobei smiled his white hair shining in the moonlight. “At the hour before dawn...”

-

Kureha grumbled as what appeared to be every woman in the village stormed into her bedroom. “Come on,” Sakura urged pulling her from the futon. “Your bath is ready, we mustn't keep your groom waiting.” Groom... Kureha rolled over snuggling deeper within the covers. The women waited, within moments Kureha threw off her covers scrambling to get out of bed. After a long soak in the tub, being scented, powdered and brushed Kureha sat in front of her mother's glass mirror. Lady Akane arranged the last ribbon tying her hair in place. “I am so happy, you look so lovely.” Sakura clapped her hands in delight. “Come on... they are waiting for you.” Kureha looked at herself not recognizing the young beauty staring back at her with wide eyes and flushed cheeks. Swaddled in her mother's wedding ensemble she took several deep breathes.

“You look beautiful,” Sakura kissed her cheek. Kureha stood to her feet the folds of her dress falling to the floor. She was not used to wearing such an elaborate kimono, even her dance clothes were not this fussy.

“I don't even feel like myself,” Kureha whispered taking in the jewels that were sewn into the hem and along the ribbons in her hair.

“Come on, he's waiting for you.” Sakura patted a pin in place. She smiled having purposefully left her friends hair loose. She had seen the enamored look on Kyuzo's face when the sable waving mass had come tumbling down around him.

Kyuzo straitened the crimson robe Gorobei had made him wear. He was uncomfortable in the soft clothes, they afforded very little protection. The one thing Gorobei had not parted him from was strapped to his back. Only death would part his father's swords from his hands. “One could wonder,” The village clerk said venom in his voice as they made their way to the mansion on the beach. “At the rush of this wedding. She was with them for a little more than a month.” He snickered, “Perhaps we should all count the months until the first child is born...”

The clerks voice ended on a gulp as he stared down the shiny length of both of Kyuzo's blades. “Besmirch my lady's honor again and it will be your head.” The words were few and simple to understand. Kyuzo's eyes bored into the clerks, the man gasped for air, then turned on his heel and stomped away. This was one wedding he would not attend.

“Du-an, the entire village is to show honor to the family of...” Chief Li quieted as Du-an stalked away. “His jealousy will shame us all.”

“I will hold no fault with you.” Kyuzo re-sheathed his blades he entered the house to find Gorobei sitting in a large chair in the common room. Gorobei watched as the red kimono, secured to Kyuzo's slim frame with black ties, seemed to float with his graceful movements honed in the heat of battle. “Gorobei-Dono,” Kyuzo clasped his hands in front of his body and bowed. “You have honored me greatly.”

“I entrust you with the care of my female kin, sister, friend, Princess of dance and song in a long lineage of greatness. Do you vow to protect this future queen of Dawn?” Gorobei recited the words as his father would have feeling a pang of regret that his father had not lived to see the man who now claimed his daughter.

“With my life,” Kyuzo changed the solemn vow of “As long as I live.”

Gorobei smiled nodding his approval of the young man before him. “Claim your bride, she awaits.” Kyuzo got to his feet and looked in the direction Gorobei pointed. He recognized the room as the one Kureha had vanished in with his coat. He opened the door and blinked in shock at the many vibrant colors that assailed his senses and giggling women moved aside.

“Kureha,” Kyuzo called looking around his eyes widened as he found the elegant beauty swathed in cream colored silk and deep purple, jewel encrusted ribbons. Her hair piled high with pins and flowers highlighted her eyes. She lowered her lashes as Kyuzo stood staring at her. “You are beautiful,” Kyuzo's wonder momentarily clouded his memory of the words he was to say to her. Kyuzo blinked and shook his head. “I am here with the blessing of your brother to claim you as my own.”

“Gladly do I go with you Kyuzo-Dono,” Kureha curtsied. “I am yours,” She announced taking his extended hand. Kyuzo lead her down the hall with the town women trailing behind whispering and giggling. The cavalcade ended at Gorobei's feet.

“The start of this day is the start of your life together. Live it well.” Gorobei moved to kiss his sister's forehead. “Let us enjoy a feast in your honor.” Gorobei motioned for the town to follow him into the large dining hall where a feast that the women had spent all night preparing waited. Kyuzo lead Kureha to a seat at the head of the table beside the place set for him. Was this it? Kyuzo wondered. Was it really this easy? Kureha was his wife...

Heihachi laughed sitting beside the stunned looking Kyuzo. “Look to your bride, she serves you.” Heihachi laughed again as Kyuzo turned to see Kureha pouring wine into his glass and filling his plate. Finally, the moment that Sakura waited for arrived. The weight of Kureha's hair defeated the efforts of the loosely attached pins and came tumbling down around them both. Kyuzo gathered the pins from his lap and the table then he ran his hands through her hair taking several of the small metal pins with him. Kureha peered through the cloud of her mass of hair. Kyuzo was silent as he got to his feet. He was conscious of the eyes of the town on him. Kyuzo walked over to the open window overlooking the shifting sands that spread out to the rolling waves. Kyuzo looked down into his hand then threw the offending pins out far away. With out a word he returned to the table.

Kyuzo speared a piece of sweet bread then placed it on Kureha's plate. “You like this?” Kureha pushed her hair behind her ears a bright smile on her face as she nodded accepting the food. Kyuzo was glad for Heihachi. In that moment he began a lively conversation that kept the entire assembly lively and entertained.

Gorobei leaned over after a while the crowd was laughing enjoying fine meal. “How long do you intend to stay here?”

“What?”Kyuzo asked he looked to Kureha to find her watching him.

“How long do you intend to stay here?” Gorobei asked again causing several men to laugh aloud and the women giggled. Kureha blushed. “You did not have to stay to finish the meal, no one here expects the couple to last beyond the appetizers.” Gorobei smirked then continued. “They are soon to serve dessert. Would you rather have sweets or...” Gorobei's words ended as Kyuzo got to his feet pulling Kureha behind him. He bowed stiffly the silk of his kimono rustling. Kyuzo took his bride ignoring the laughter of the village and his fellow samurai.

Walking through the afternoon sun Kyuzo thought Kureha glowed brighter than the shining sun on the pale sand. “Are you frightened?” He asked when he noted her heightened color.

“Only of...” Kureha paused looking at Kyuzo. She took heart in the warmth of his large, callused hand holding hers. “I do not know what will please you, what is expected of me. Lady Akane fears that you have no gentleness left within you, but I know...”Kureha paused a smile on her face as they continued their walk and their home became visible through the trees. “They way you held me in your arms, when your lips touched mine, “ Kureha lost her voice. “I love you Kyuzo, I want to be and do whatever it is that you wish of me.” Kyuzo shut the door of the small house. He lead Kureha into the bedroom a smile on his face as calm and quiet he shut the door.

To be Continued

Authors notes: Ever wonder about the story of Alera and Daphnus? Why does Dae look different everytime we see him?

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