The Midnight Prince

[Rokag]

Rokag nodded. "Which is why I should find something more sturdy than a kimono. but you can't act like I'm fragile."

[Shisou]

"U-u-u-u-u-uhmm..."

[Rokag]

"Oh! Plus something to cover my face and arms. Probably would be easy to tell who I was if they could see any part of me clearly." Rokag gave a nod. "Besides, it'll probably be better for me than sitting here and doing nothing."

[Shisou]

"B-b-b-b-but..."

[Rokag]

"I mean, at least till you can get Carbonne back. Xi would probably complain for a while at you going off by yourself against someone that can make summoned spirits appear, right? It'll at least save you that long-ass lecture."

[Shisou]

"I-- I g-g-g-guess...."

[Rokag]

"Good." She gave a content sigh. "That's settled. And since we don't have to steal a sword or anything, it'll definitely go easier than the last time I tried that."

[Shisou]

"J-j-j-j-just... p-p-p-please d-d-d-on't d-d-die..."

[Rokag]

"Been the plan since I was five." Rokag gave a short bark of a laugh. "Besides, I'm pretty sure I'm more used to bleedin than you are and have lived this long."

[Shisou]

Shisou finally pulls free of his fiancee, moving to lay beside her. "Y-y-y-y-y-yeah..."

[Rokag]

Rokag...isn't QUITE sure what happened, but she gave a sigh. "Don't worry. I'll make sure to keep up with you and stay alive, alright? Besides, you better stay alive or they're gonna probably execute me for treason or some crap."

[GamesMaster]

And so, later that evening, the pair break into the vault, stealing not only the items needed to resurrect Carbonne but also a suit of armor with a face mask to protect Rokag's identity -- and, vitally, her midsection, just in case she's already pregnant and doesn't know it. Just at dawn they menage to bring Carbonne back, to Shisou's tearful delight, and the next night, the pair of them go out on patrol together, with Carbonne as their guide.

The next month seems to fly past. Seiya is engaged to one of the Tiger boys, Ryuu; the house feels emptier without her in it, and Tsuki seems despondent without her twin sister. His younger brother stops coming around, instead courting a Crane girl, which just puts Tsuki into a right mood. Finally, about six weeks after she left, the invitation comes to her wedding -- meaning she's already managed to confirm being pregnant.

Something Rokag still... is not.

The wedding is held at the Tiger estate: a lavish party, one that requires Rokag to dress up in layered kimono again, have her face painted and be followed around by a handmaiden in case she needs anything (or, more cynically, in case she falls over and can't get back up). Shisou cuts a dashing figure in his hakama, or at least he would if he made eye contact with anyone; he wears a ceremonial sword at his side, just like Indou does, and part of the wedding ritual involves pretending to try and kidnap the bride back so that she can be defended by Ryuu and his mates, laughing all the while. The ceremony is lavish and perfect -- and Seiya looks like she sees none of it, staring off into the middle distance. Her voice, when she must speak, is quiet, distant.

At the reception, she makes the rounds, and Shisou barely takes his eyes off her. She isn't okay...

[Rokag]

Rokag...hated this. She had kept it to herself, even from Shisou, but the fact that she was basically sold off rubs her the wrong way. She also owed the girl for giving her help when she really had no reason to. Okay, maybe SOME reason. she admits as she watches the whole wedding. Still, she looks...wrong. Something she couldn't entirely place, but it nagged at her like a bad tooth.

Still, she wasn't supposed to talk too much 'lest she bring a mark of shame on her future husband.' So as she was making the rounds, she whispered to Shisou. "Somethin's off, right?"

[Shisou]

Shisou nods; from his other side, Tsuki leans over and whispers, "Something's terribly wrong. Act cool until she gets here."

[Rokag]

Rokag didn't WANT to act cool. This kimono was starting to itch and if something WAS wrong and she could actually fight then..she took a breath. Keep your head or the gard'll cut it off for you "Alright." Still, Shisou could feel a slight draft that seemed to come from Rokag whenever she was distressed or pissed.