Perfect Paradise
Disclaimer: Not mine, obviously. Bleach and all its characters belong to Tite Kubo
Summary: Kuchiki Rukia was trying to escape her routine life and miserable love life. Forced to spend the vacation on an unknown island, she soon found that there was life beyond borders. Especially from a certain orange-headed islanders that kept on getting into her nerves, and her… well, everything. Rated M for later chapters.
Chapter 1: The Island
The moment I stepped out from the plane, I realize how ridiculous this whole "escape to paradise" idea was. The sun was literally burning my skin, and the temperature!! Gods, one could cook egg on top of my head. THAT hot!!
How I could make myself come to this so-called heaven-on-earth a.k.a my-personal-hell, is something I would never understand, since I hated sun so much. Hell, I've never even had sun-bathe all my life.
I despise the sun. Don't get me wrong, I grateful for each rays it shone to our beloved earth, for which we have life on earth, but I never liked it when it shone it's rays to ME. Maybe that's why my skin was pale. One could even mistaken me for an albino if it wasn't for my raven hair and my purple eyes – yes, however impossible that is, I do have a pair of purple eyes, an identical purple shade with my beloved sister, God bless her soul.
And at one time my dearly beloved brother has kind enough to point out that maybe my eternal battle with the sun is the main reason why I am what I am now. Yes, I haven't grown even an inch since my 15th birthday. But, he despised the sun just as much as I am, if not more, but still, he's a helluva taller that I am, but just as pale as I am.
I preferred snow than sun. I feel better standing in a bone-crackingly-cold wind than standing under a scorching sun, sweating like a pig. That's just the way it is.
I let out a relieve sigh as I walked in to the air-conditioned tiny airport. It's not as cool as I thought it would be since the airport is crowded with people going in or out – or in the middle of it, whatever that means – that the precious cool air have to be divided evenly.
The woman who checked my papers, a young, black-haired and dark-skinned – well, what are you expect from an islander? As pale as the moonlight? hah – smiled as she asked in a friendly tone, " Business or pleasure?"
"Pleasure, "I muttered, "I hope," I added softly, hoping she wouldn't've heard it.
But, I guess she heard it anyway, because her smile grew wider as she handed me my papers, "Enjoy your stay".
Enjoy.
Hah!!!
If I'm lucky, I would've crawled a few meters from the airport and just drop dead because of heat stroke.
The only reason I come to this so-called-heaven-on-earth was because this was where the only vacant villa that the company owned.
"I'm sorry, but it seems that we can't find a place for you, Ma'am," the woman's voice sounded from the receiver.
I sigh and rubbed my eyes. I was so desperate that I began to consider a possibility of using travel agent, wherever it would took me.
"That's okay, I guess I'll just have to postponed my vacation then, huh? " I laughed dryly to the receiver, ready to end the conversation.
"But…" the woman's voice trailed off, my hand froze mid air before jerked the receiver back to my ear.
"But what?"
"Well, there IS one vacant villa that hasn't been booked, yet…" she hesitated.
"But…?" sensing that this is the reason why she hesitating.
"Well, but it is not in the mountains, AND it's a VIP villa… " she paused before continued "But maybe if you could… ah, get permission to use it, then maybe your vacation shouldn't be postponed at all, ma'am"
I understand her point. I, an associate in this firm, only allowed to use the non-VIP villas, not only that, all associates MUST booked it at least 2 months before their departure, but also they have to give in to the senior associates or partners or clients should they wanted to use it. BUT, as the youngest Kuchiki, who worked at the Kuchiki firm, I could always asked for the permission of my brother, the OWNER of this law firm, to use whatever facilities it has.
But the catch was, my brother considered every activity that weren't profitable – in every meaning of it – would be a waste of his time. And he also expected everyone who worked with or to him, would show the same virtue. Especially from me, the youngest of the Kuchiki clan.
Therefore, I wasn't expecting him to approve when I asked his permission to use the villa. But he is a mystery man. He acted the opposite when you least expected it.
So, here I was. Standing in a god-knows-where island, scorched, soaked in sweat, dehydrated, helpless, desperate, and above all… broken hearted.
And the image of a certain red-headed guy popped in my head.
I shook the image off of my head as I hailed a cab, and slid inside. The driver just nod when I told him where I was headed, and pull away.
Fresh air whooshing from the wide open window, and soft reggae music relaxed me a little so I rested my head to the seat and let my mind wonder to the red-head. The bane of my existence. Well, not until two weeks ago that is.
Renji Abarai.
Friend.
Best friend.
Partner in crime.
Partner in business.
Lover…?
No, not lover.
Partner in bed.
I let out a long sigh and willed myself to not let a moan slipped out of my mouth as I remember how his fingertips used to drew in circle patterns on the small of my back after we made lo… no, after we had sex. And boy, did we had sex.
It was kinda funny how our relationship took turn. I've known him all my life. I trusted him with my life. He's a great partner in courts, in board rooms battle, and in the end, in bed.
True, sexual tension is an ever-present aura every time we were together since we reached our puberty. But somehow we managed to avoid it throughout our entire teenage life, and almost with our young-adult life. Until a year ago.
Whatever tension existed between us, have mounted to a limit. And our self-restrain faltered just in one night, one extraordinary night. But…
"Rukia, we can't do this anymore…"
And a tear rolling down my face. Just a single tear. But since I never cried, not even once, it showed how that sentence had crushed me, shred me to pieces.
"Are you okay miss?" the driver peeked through his rear mirror.
I gave a weak smile and nod, "I'll be fine… "
He snorted, "There is no fine in Karakura. There is only happiness and joy." he let out a laugh.
Hearing his friendly laugh, I laugh with him.
"I hope that goes for me too," I said softly as I watched the crowded parking lot of the airport scenery started to change to the vast greenery, bordered by the blue ocean. The view relaxed me a bit.
"I suppose this is your first visit to Karakura?" he asked again through the fiberglass separator of the cab.
"Uh-huh" I mumble, not sure whether I wanted to continue this conversation or not.
My frequent use of cab made me sure that every cab driver tended to have an undeniable urge towards conversation – one that eventually will end up as a monologue. But this cabby's voice is gentle and relaxing, so I decided to let him monologue-ing as I close my eyes, felt the gentle breeze washed over my sweat-soaked body.
"Well, Karakura is not as popular as any other island in the Caribbean. But I have to warn you, she possessed the most exotic beauty of all," His explanation drifting on the air.
"During the Second World War, it was used as a military base by the Japanese. But after the end of the Second World War, this island was deserted until one group of Japanese merchant laid foot on her. And soon after, more and more Japanese came and settle on this islands, "
Ah, that's the reason why she saw lots and lots of oriental faces… that's when I took a second to observe the cabby.
He's probably on his early 40's. If it wasn't for his soft and deep voice, I might have just ran away the second I cast my eyes on him. His hair was tousled wildly on his head, which somehow I knew wasn't because of the wind. His deep charcoal eyes that seemed pierced through everything he saw, which were shaded under a pair of brown fancy-looking glasses. His ragged clothes just completed the image of an eccentric artist. And I almost believed that he could read my mind.
"Yes, I am also half Japanese. Well, actually I wasn't sure about the half part. All I know was that my mother was a native of this island; god knows where her ancestor came from. But my father was a Spaniard. A proud Spaniard if I may add. He once told me that…" at that point his voice faded away as drowsiness tug my conscience and drove me to the edge of tranquility.
And his face came flooding to my brain once again. And again, I did nothing to stop them.
The image became clearer as I let sleep blanketed me.
His face was decorated with a wide grin, as he came up the steps.
"Look what I had," he said with his finger thrust onto his forehead where a fresh tattoo was displayed. A huge, black, tribal tattoo sculptured to his pink skin.
"What are THOSE!" my voice displayed as much of admiration as well as shock.
"I had these done, Rukia. A gift for myself for reaching adulthood safely and soundly," He crossed his arms and nodded contently.
"One will not reach adulthood until they are mature enough to admit their stupidity, Renji. And for heaven sakes, we're only 15!! Who reached adulthood at the age of 15?!!" I threw my hands to the air. But his grin just became wider that it nearly split his face in two.
"I am," he said. If I wasn't looking down to his face, literally, his tone would've convinced me that he was indeed an adult.
But his childish face, innocent expression, and small figure, I just laughed at him.
At 15, Renji was small. Not "quite small", not "relatively small", just small. He was one head shorter that I am. At that time I was convinced that he was never gonna grew even an inch, just like me. Ah, what a prefect couple we would make. A pair of midgets.
That was when my laugh was cut short. One of the nuns had called me to the office where a handsome gentleman in his early 30's sat on the couch. His legs were crossed. And just by looking at him, I can tell he was a noble. A blue blood. And he just sat there, looked straight at me with his ice-cold eyes.
That was when I first met my brother, Byakuya…
" …it was when the great fire burned down our great hall, so it was rebuild by the late 50's. And it stood proudly up until today," the cabby's voice was once again audible as I regain consciousness.
Of all dreams I could have, why did my brain decided to replay the scenes of the first day I met Byakuya?
"Ah, and this is the Urahara Store, the coziest bar on this part of the island. They served barbeque tonight I think. You should come and try, they're amazing. It's not very far from where you're staying too, in fact," the cabby nodded to the right side of the road where a – what seems to me like – hut, facing to the sea.
"If it's a bar, how come it called a store?" I asked only to receive a giggle in response.
"That, young miss, is the question you have to ask to Urahara himself, should you decided to visit the said bar,"
"I guess I will," I said with my eyes still glued to the hut as we passed it.
"By the way, my name is Raphael Zangetsu. But people called me Zangetsu or just… Zan whichever you like," he glanced at the rear mirror.
I was about to ask why his last name was Japanese when he clearly said that his father was a proud Spaniard. But I bit my tongue when I realize that he might have explained it while I was in a slumber. "My name is Rukia Kuchiki," I said instead.
"Ah, Rukia. What a lovely name, as lovely as the beholder," he smiled. And at that point I'm convinced that he was, actually okay. A bit eccentric, but tame. And I blushed slightly. No one has ever praised about my appearances, not even…
"And, here we are…" Zan's – wow, now I'm calling his nickname? – voice cut my wandering mind short as he pulled to the right in front of the villa.
Well, it was not proper to address something this HUGE as a villa. It was a bloody PALACE!!!
No wonder it was a VIP villa.
But a Kuchiki did not gawked, nor do I. After a glance at the cab meter, I threw a few notes and a few other added notes to the front seat.
"Thank you…" he whistled softly as he gathered the money.
I slid myself out, and stood at gates. Still bedazzled by the grandeur of the building in front of me.
It was an extraordinaire-tropical-type-mansion, with white gates. There was at least 25 windows on each floor. And it was a three-story building. I wonder why my brother hasn't started renting its rooms and place a huge sign in front of it said "KUCHIKI TROPICAL HOTEL".
I snorted and wondered why he built such a huge place in an island. My brother loathed the sun, the beach, or everything that tropical hideouts may offer. If he was taking vacation, which he rarely – and I mean RARELY – did, he preferred mountains area. I remember three years ago he went to Swiss to the company's villa on the Alps. The villa was relatively small, and he loved it there. He wasn't fond of spacious area. He liked to be in a place that he could control. And one cannot control one's surrounding much if it were too big. So why did he built this titanic of a so-called-villa?
"Do you want me to carry it inside?" Zan said as he put down my duffel bag. I wasn't much of a fashionista, so I have very little to carry with me.
"No, it's not that heavy, I can carry it myself, thanks,"
"Very well, have a nice day then…" He excused himself, and drove away.
I lifted my bag with little effort and stroll inside the villa.
I rang the door bell twice and a small, the same size as me I guess, butler opened the door and greeted me. I guess he knew about my visit because he said nothing but a few words of greeting before he led me to my room on the second floor.
The butler, he introduced himself as Kwan, was oriental too. But he was dark skinned. So I figured he came from somewhere on south-east Asia, maybe Vietnam…
"Stop it," I whispered to myself.
But I just can't help it. I always have the tendency to examined people. Their appearances, their origins, their behavior. And, any guesses I might have on the people I examined, I often proofed to be right. That's why at first my brother encouraged me to be a criminal lawyer. I have the ability to place the right jury on the box.
But somehow, I dislike the idea of being the center of attention. I preferred sitting on the corner watching all the commotion. I dislike the idea of having had to performed, presenting the opening or closing statement, but that didn't mean I couldn't do that though. I just didn't like it. And there's nothing my brother could do when I decided I'll handle the foreign contracts and real estate, since I was so damn good about it. So now I just occasionally sat on the defense table in court rooms at the jury selection.
Renji, on the other hand, was a damn good criminal lawyer. He was…
I shook my head. I let my brain wandered around. And I snapped back to reality, where Kwan had led me.
I was raised in an orphanage, so I shared my "room" with 23 other girls. In the Kuchiki house, of course, I was provided with my own spacious room. When I decided to move out, I found a nice apartment and not a small one either. But this, this room I now stepped in to, literally catch my breath away.
The room was not really spacious as the one on the Kuchiki Manor, but definitely bigger than the bedroom on my apartment. It consist of one king size bed (complete with the fluttering white drapes), a huge work table (yeah right, as if there's anyone who wanted to work during vacation… oh, wait, there's my brother), and a living room of its own. It could rival any five-star hotel's suite.
"Dinner will be served at seven, unless you have other plans." Kwan announced as I enter the room.
"Oh, I… uh, think I'll dine out tonight," I answered.
"Very well then. I'm on line 1 if you need anything," he stated, closing the door. I could barely said 'thank you' before it slam shut.
Feeling exhausted all of a sudden, I flopped down to the bed, not even bother to get out of my sweat-soaked shirts, and drifted off to slumber.
---
I woke up with a start, and instantly felt dizzy from the sudden movement, that I flopped back to the pillows with a groan.
Heat + Sweat = Dehydration. Mixed it with jet lag, then you have the finest cocktail of dizziness.
With all the strength left in me, I managed to crawl to the bar and open the fridge, hoping to find something other than alcohol to soothe my thirst and helped me with my dehydration.
To my surprise, the fridge was filled with bottled water.
I gulped down a bottle and instantly felt so much better. I took another bottle and walked out to the balcony. It opened up to an empty beach with its sparkling white sands and green shallow water. I must have been asleep for quite sometime since the sun was already settled on the horizon, giving its surrounding a beautiful shade of purple and orange.
With a cold bottle on my hand, I smiled and think maybe this vacation wouldn't be so bad after all.