a consequence of desire | urayoru

i

Gold gazed back at yellow in the mirror.

Her hands gently smoothed down the folds of the robe of pearl silk as she blankly stared at the white cloth.

Her bronze skin was clean and fresh; her shiny, violet tresses were twisted up and back into a full bun, a band of opal blossoms placed neatly in front. A gossamer veil attached to the string of blossoms draped over the elegant twist and fell down her back into a long train. The soft light shone on her lovely form and made her features and garments glow, creating the perfect vision of a bride.

But the mirror told her otherwise.

All she saw was a stern dark face surrounded by the untidy purple bangs that couldn't be held back by the headband of plain flowers. Her white outfit was a little too big on her slimmer form and even felt a little heavy. Plus, the sleeves were long and wide and practically swallowed her arms and hands, the skirt of the robe did the same with her legs and feet. She had always felt that even normal clothes were restricting, but these were like weights on her entire body.

In short, she didn't feel like she looked much like a bride.

It was ironic. She was she that this is what she wanted, yet she was upset because of her undeniable certainty. Knowing this didn't make things any better.

She was lucky.

The groom was a man she dearly loved. The wedding guests were her friends. The ceremony and reception had been well planned and arranged, guaranteed to run smoothy. The weather was behaving wonderfully.

She looked beautiful.

Pretty.

And she was clad in everything that was required.

A white kimono outfit that had belonged to her mother.

Old.

The headband strung with fresh spring flowers gathered and put together by Orihime.

New.

Pearl strands that Rukia had lent her around her neck.

Borrowed.

And Uryu's sewn under-robe of pale aqua just barely peaking through the upper folds of her pale outer attire.

Blue.

Everything was perfect; and yet, everything was ruined.

Yoruichi wasn't a fool. She knew the way things worked. She understood that precautions always had to be made in every situation. She accepted that every action had a consequence, whether it be bad or good. And she recognized that every consequence had to be acknowledged and dealt with in the best way possible.

These were the rules she was taught; that was how she lived, but consequences can be miscalculated and rules can be dismissed.

Sometimes by a instance of ignorance.

Sometimes by a period of panic.

Sometimes by a flash of frustration.

But this was a case of desire.

She had neglected a rule, just one rule, and now the consequence had to be properly acknowledged and dealt with. She knew the facts and had gone over them many, many times.

Love.

Desire.

And Precaution.

She believed that she had been careless, she had fallen for her best friend and acted on it. It had eventually led to this. It had been difficult, but she had made her decision. Becoming Kisuke's wife, taking him as her husband, was for the best, she knew it and determined it was the right choice.