You know what they say about dragons. That they are all fire within. Well, maybe they are, maybe they aren't. I personally never met one till I arrive Rukongai. The snow was falling in the dirt, mud floor like white rain. The children, naked children actually if you consider the weather, were playing with the snow flakes, as if they were seeing them for the first time.
Five small facts about Rukongai:
1. The temperatures were always - 6ºC to - 3ºC
2. It was always snowing
3. The people lived in complete misery, except for the so called "rich part of town" - Sereitei
4. The kingdom didn't have a king
5. Most of the people were ...liked to daydreaming
I didn't strange the fact that all their eyes were over me. I tend to have that effect over people. You may say that I enchant them, but that isn't true. Being a medieval sorcerer, well, get real; I don't have all that power. But a stranger is always a stranger in a small kingdom. The message goes on, and now they know who is coming to occupy the previous "All dreams and potions" shop. As I walk down the main street their gaze on me speaks of hopes, dreams, but especially of fear. They are terrified. Maybe the fact that I walk with a nue at my side isn't helping. I say in a low voice to Zabimaru "Smile", but a baboon and a snake smiling seems to make them more frighten.
A woman from the streets approaches me. You can tell by the way she moves her body that she sells it. I see despise in other women faces. Her face is really pretty, but she has this shade of red and gray over one of her eyes.
"Wanna have some fun tonight darling?"
I take a small bottle of oil from inside my clothes.
"Put this over your injured eye woman. Then spread the word and come see me for some tea. I have some business I want to discuss with you".
"My price is something more than a small bottle of oil", she speaks of defiance.
I don't pity her, she likes what she does. But she is a business woman, and I need her. Not for that, you perverts. She may do whatever she wishes out of her free time. As a shop owner I need an employee, one to attend costumers.
" I know ", I tell her, as i blink one eye and grin.
She looks confused. I continue my walk. Let's see if she shows up later. I finally arrive at the shop. There's a small, cosy room in the back with a mattress. It's enough for me and Zabimaru. As for the shop itself I will not have much trouble. The spell the previous owner casted at it was enough to keep the locals from enter and stole the potions. I don't know why he left. Kisuke was always a strange man. He told me, when I meet him four years ago, that here was too cold for him, Yourichi and the kids. Karakura was a nicer kingdom to live in. It sure was warmer. God, I'm going to freeze in this weather. I break all the spells and incantations and the shop is good as new. I put some of my own devices over the balcony, but I'm mesmerized about the resources on the shells. He even had seahorse powder, when we are so far from the sea!
Four facts about Urahara Kisuke and Yourichi:
1. He would never use seahorse powder on Yourichi
2. Yourichi would, when possible, use seahorse powder on Kisuke
3. The one to leave it behind was certainly Kisuke
4. If he hadn't done that, by now he probably would have at least 10 mouths to feed ( he had 6)
I'm in this region for about tree hours now, and they are already knocking at the front door. I finish the soup I was having with zabimaru and I open the door. One after another, all afternoon, their tiny, pretty faces arrived. They speak of a dream, they want me to help them to reach this dream in two days time. I would, if I could. I knowwho they want, I saw him looking at me from one of the castle balconies this morning. It must have been him, because the morning light reflected in his paler skin almost got me blind. The prince Yourichi told me about, the one they call "The moon". Matsumoto is already spreading the word if these girls think I can help them. She will arrive soon. I give the girls something that might or might not work. If it works I'm glad, the one to work will be glad and the others will be disappointed. But at the same time they will feel renew. They will feel the weigh of their youth (which is none) and be strong to look for more achievable dreams.
Other "type" of girls came trough the afternoon. I gave those advices and some tea herbs. I didn't give them the pleasure they were seeking. One of them was still at the shop when Matsumoto arrived.
"Shuu, shuu, go away, he's mine", well that was enough for the other, a middle age brunette, to go away.
"I see I'm getting you some clients" , she says cheerful
"Yes, but not this type of clients, please", I say to her grinning.
"Oh, too bad, I bet these women would pay well for your ass", she laughs as I turn red, "Have you seen our men? What's the point to have one inaccessible moon to look at; when all the men that want to fuck you are werewolves or something? At her age not even they want to fuck her".
About Matsumoto:
1. She's a bitch
2. She likes being a bitch
3. She talks a lot
4. She talks dirty
5. She's my new employee about two hours now and she is already speaking of a raise
6. I just adore her
I'm explaining to Matsumoto some of the names of my potions when a stern knock hits the door. I know that it's no woman at the other side. I open the door to get notified. Kuchiki Byakuya, the heir prince, TheMoon, demands my presence at the palace, for formal introduction. I freeze, the words are simple and formal, but there's a coldness attached to it. I was afraid of this. I bet he is gently asking me to leave his kingdom. I knew it the moment I saw him standing at that balcony. They ask me to follow them. I ask to go inside grab my fur. As I walk inside I ask Matsumoto what to expect. She makes a light movement with her shoulders but she looks worried.
"They say that he doesn't have a heart, that he killed his wife with his bare hands when she couldn't give him an heir", it's all that she can mutter.
I heard that before, that he was married, Yourichi told me. But not such a creepy story. Neither she or Kisuke wanted to talk much about him, they just said I should make my own opinion. I'm making an opinion right now and I shiver. I put the fur over me and I walk vigilant to my faith.
***
I saw him arriving in the morning. He is a strange man. Here we are all brunette or blonde, most brunette, but his hair is all crimson running from root to rest on his back and shoulders. He is wearing a pink shade fur around his shoulders, over a black tunic. He doesn't wear any hat, but the staff in his right hand gives him away. He's a wizard and I can't help but be mesmerized to the contrast he brings with him. If not for the tan in his skin, if not for his height, that crimson sea under the snow kept us all looking at him.
Two colours that day
Red and white
Then I saw it! The strange yet familiar chain fixed to his chest, coming out from the fur. It was about a meter long, and it was swinging as he was moving. I looked for the rest of it. The chain was fading at some point but I knew at some point it would get intense, well defined again. He grabbed it with his left hand as he muttered something that looked like
"Stay near me"
And there it was! A nue, a huge magical creature, body of a baboon, paws of a tiger and tail of a snake was walking proud at his left side. At some point both baboon and snake smiled. I could see the people were terrified yet mesmerized. A blond street girl start talking to him and them he smiled and offered her something. He kept heading for Hurahara shop. He will not come here, but I need to know what his intensions are. I need to know if he is really a threat.
****
The palace is huge and cold. There's no richness in it. The walls are straight and empty and the columns merely supportive. There's no space for decorations. The sky is getting darker by the minute and I hear some of the guards speaking of a storm. Thru the open doors I take a faint glimpse of a library, in there the walls are covered with books from the floor to ceiling. A servant closes the door before I can see more of it. I walk to the throne room. Kuchiki Byakuya is sitting in one of the chairs, alone. His alabaster skin his glowing in the dim light as is his white robes. The black hair is adorned with the symbols of his power, the kaseikans. Why doesn't he wears a crown is a mystery to me. Kisuke told me that he only can be a king when he marries again. That was the king, his father, last will. But for all effects he is the king. That's why I kneel before him with my head raised, looking in to his eyes. He looks at me with silver eyes, cold light emanating from them. No wonder they call him The Moon. I'm getting lost and mesmerized when he breaks the silent.
"Get up and speak you name wizard"
"Abarai Renji, your majesty"
He nods, still no emotion coming thru his façade. He seems to be wearing a white skin mask.
"Tell me sorcerer, why do you kneel before me when your soul over there does not?"
I freeze for seconds. Did he just? He is still speaking
"Doesn't your soul think that she is herself a king? I can see by the way she stands proud, I could see it in your raised head when you kneeled. What's her name?"
"Wow do you know what she is? Wow do.", I can't speak. He knows. "Baboon king Zabimaru" I whisper.
He looks straight at them and nods. It's all he does. Zabimaru nods back. He looks at me again.
"Abarai Renji, you don't see many people separated from their soul these parts. I'm not going to ask you what you did to deserve that. It must hurt when she goes too far away from you. Just tell me, do you also carry your death around?"
I smile. I knew a person once who did it. I get luckier. "Every person carries his death around", I grin looking into his eyes. He doesn't move a muscle.
Tree things you carry inside your mortal body:
1. A spirit (if you are lucky only yours)
2. Your soul
3. Your death
"Why are you here? " the question that was missing. The true thing he wants to know. I better tell him the true.
"I'm here because of the White Emperor"
Something passes in front of his eyes. It's getting dark outside, so I can't see what is. When I get a clear view of him the mask is again on his face
"The White Emperor? What is that?"
"You know, it's curious that your majesty didn't ask me who is he, but what is that. The White Emperor is the last of the White dragons. Some rumours say that he his hidden somewhere in this kingdom, your kingdom. "
Kuchiki Byakuya eyes widened. He could feel surprise after all.
"And what his so amazing about the last of the white dragons that you want to kill him?" he asks, voice sharp as a steel blade.
"Oh not kill him", I smile, "I intend to tame him"
"Tame him?" now a disdain look over his face, "you think you can tame a dragon? I heard about them, they are ferocious creatures, made of fire that will devour you in a second if you go near them"
"That's not what the legend tells about this one. It is said that the White Emperor is a gentle and shy creature to those pure of heart, ferocious and cold as ice to those with dark souls. He is rarely seen, but some people claim that he his white like the snow and that his scales shine in the night sky brighter than the moon. It is also said that he protects the people who live near the place he makes his nest, so he is no threat to this kingdom"
I'm sure I can see a faint smile in Byakuya lips.
"And the meantime? "he asks me, changing subject "What are you going to do? I bet you had already have a few costumers at your shop today"
I nod in agreement and then I smirk "Well, I heard your majesty is throwing a ball so I have a lot of requests"
This time the smile is less faint. He rises up from his chair and goes to the near by window looking outside. The moonlight is now totally reflecting on his face.
"What sort of things can they use?"
"Ah, you see, women like perfume. They are going to wear fragrances that you can not resist, or so I told them. The most I could do was create a potion that when inhaled would make you feel desire for the bearer of such fragrance. Their hopes would be that you sleep with them and got them pregnant. At least if you didn't want them the day after they still would have some rights over your child. "
"Women? Have you look at their faces? They are still children. Do you really think I'm going to take such a creature honour? If what you say would happen I would marry her. "
I feel my eyes open. Is this the same man Matsumoto was speaking about? He must have read my thoughts because he looked at me, a somewhat sad look in his face.
"You can try your best desire spell with them, it won't work on me. Not because of the rumours you will hear about me, but because I was trained to resist most potions, poisons and incantations spells. You better leave your love potions for the street ladies who I'm sure are already paying you visits"
My face goes all shades of red. Does he know that people say he killed his wife? What is he talking about? But he is offending me now.
"I didn't sell them that strong potion I was speaking about, I sell them a different thing, that will make them happier than to be with you. About the street ladies they just need someone to talk to, at least is the best I can offer them. Besides, you are not immune to all poisons, I could poison you, but I won't", I burst out. When I realise to whom I'm speaking he already has a blade pointed at my neck. I grab my staff and the chain of Zabimaru. I don't want to go that way.
"Poison me now if you have the courage, I demand you or I will cut thru you"
I blink, unaware of what he is asking. He wants me to poison him? To try my poisons out? Maybe he thinks that if he shows me that I can't kill him things will be under control. But I know I can kill him. He is not immune to this new kind of poison. I reach into an inner pocket and I handle him a small bottle with a black fluid in it. On the label is written "first love".
He steps back still looking at me and he drinks it. He suddenly moves forward grabbing my vests. His mask has fallen. Now I know he has a heart, because it is breaking. I can't look at such pain in his eyes "Bastard, what have you done to me?" he whispers, as his knees approach the ground. I quickly grab another bottle from inside my vests and pour the liquid inside his mouth. I feel him get calmer and the pain disappear "Hisana", he whispers. I know his secret now, he loved her. If he killed her as they say, I don't even want to think what the poison would have done to him.
He looks at the second bottle. On the label is written "second love". He rises in his feet and turns his back towards me.
"Why did you save me?", he asks me, panting. But he doesn't know. I merely tell him "I didn't want to kill you, that's not why I'm were for"
"Now my enemies will look for you"
"I don't have anything more powerful than this. Now I can't kill you", I assure him.
He turns to look at me.
"I believe you. You may stay. Just tell me, what was this poison?"
"It's not a physical poison", I explain, "this poison searches for your heart, and once inside it bust open the doors that are closed. It's like reopen old wounds that bleed thousands more"
"Why do I feel like this now? Why do I feel…happy?"
I see the bright light in his eyes, he is at peace now. I almost feel ashamed of what I have done to him, but I had to save him. I tell him half truth.
"The second poison gets ride of the other and helps you seal that door, this time close it for good, so you can look back and don't feel pain, only the good memories"
He looks at me and nods again, I guess it's his way of thanking me.
"I have a request for you. You may stay here at Rukongai, but you must make people happier. Look at them; they look full of hopes and dreams in this misery. They deserve a little peace of mind like the one you brought me. Now go."
I nod at him. I can't do it right now. The kneeling I mean. I must know if the things they say about him are true. I need to know what else they say about him. Now that I had a glimpse of the man behind the mask… that I saw The Moon cry…