The Emperor's Last Consort

Chapter 5

"Your balance is not very good, is it?" Shinji's voice could be heard in the courtyard of the Palace of Eastern Snow.

"Shut up." Rukia countered, her brows knitted in concentration. The young consort had one leg on the ceramic vat placed upside down as she tried to balance herself. A long line of ceramic vats lined the courtyard, all placed upside down as stepping blocks.

"You have to learn to find your point of stability. Go higher, bend lower, wherever you need to go to feel comfortable. Each person has a different point of stability." Shinji yawned.

"Thanks." Rukia commented dryly.

Shinji chuckled. "You will be thanking me soon enough. Balance is very important for your dancing, and also for skills in battle."

"Combat?" Rukia brightened. "When are we going to start training for that?"

"First things first, my dear. Your balance isn't very pretty, you know."

"I know. Madam Kukaku already had trouble with it when I was training to be a consort over at her place."

"Never mind, I will personally make sure you perfect it here." Shinji spoke up, as Rukia promptly fell off the ceramic vat for the third time.

"Can I take a break? Go walk around the palace for a while... and then resume training?" The young consort pulled her kimono skirts a little higher as she stretched her legs in a very unladylike fashion.

"Fine, fine... and then hurry back here. And then we can start planting your watermelons or whatever botanical thing you want to have in your garden." Shinji waved goodbye to his consort as she walked out of the palace.
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Rukia smiled, as she strode forward in the gardens. Today, she was not out to meet the Emperor so she decided to head for the North gardens. The training with Shinji was starting to be rather intensive, it felt like a war camp more than anything now. But the young consort was grateful, she knew Shinji and the others only wanted the best for her.

Rukia turned around as she heard the coordinated shouts of training men in the distance, and she knew the army barracks were nearby. Maybe the next time she wanted to spy on some combat skills, she could make a trip here to the North gardens and see if there was anything worth learning-

"Lady, are you lost?" Rukia heard the somewhat rough voice, and whirled around.

The young consort eyes widened as she caught sight of the tall orange-haired man in front of her.

"YOU!" The man's brown eyes were wide as they looked at her.

Rukia gasped as she immediately recognized him, he was the palace officer who had helped her get away when she had stolen a piece of bread at the market! The young consort immediately smiled, "It's you! From the marketplace!"

The man, whose eyebrows had been fixed in a frown, smiled back. "This is a surprise! You belong to the palace?"

"I do now." Rukia nodded.

"But the last time..." The man cocked his head to one side, and gave her a slightly sympathetic look.

"Oh... Madam Kukaku took me in, adopted me into her family. And then she sent me in for the selection of imperial consorts... and I succeeded in the entry tests. So... here I am." Rukia smiled.

"You are a very lucky woman then." The young man smiled, as he weaved a hand through his orange hair carelessly. "Oh, I am Ichigo, Kurosaki Ichigo."

Rukia smiled happily. "I am Rukia... Lady Rukia now."

Ichigo returned her smile.

"You work here?"