A.N.: Hello! fluffymushroom releases the first chapter of No Regrets! The setting is a mix of the Chinese Warring States/ Three Kingdoms period and Japanese culture (so that I can acknowledge Bleach's Japanese roots). It may seem at first that Rukia is OOC because of what she is, but if you give me a chance and continue to read, I don't think you will think that that's the case anymore.
Enjoy! :]
Warnings: Mild (I think) violence.
Disclaimers: The Bleach characters used in this story belong to Kubo Tite, yet I own the setting and plot of this fanfiction.
The sound of stringed instruments and flutes drifted through the nobleman's opulent manor. Girls swayed to the sweet music and feminine giggles mixed with a deeper chortle. Wine trickled out of a decanter and into waiting cups, bringing drunken delight to the members of the party.
"Here, here!" Lord Suzuki laughed as he pulled a dancing girl close to him. "Let's see who can drink the most tonight!" He tipped the cup to the fawning girl's plump lips. He traced his thin hand along the curves of the serving girl who supplied him with more wine. More laughter and lewd comments.
In the orchestra of talented females sat a girl with raven-black hair. She plucked at her zither, the peaceful music floating across the pavilion, her eyes watching the nobleman's every move. The nobleman laughed drunkenly and touched all the females that were in his reach.
She stifled a sigh. Soon the party would be over and she would have to do her job, something she did not enjoy in the least. Suddenly, the merrymaking stopped at the sound of skin smacking against skin.
"What are you doing, girl?" Lord Suzuki yelled. A servant girl cowered at his feet, her head bowed low.
"I—I'm so sorry..." she begged. "Suzuki-sama... please forgive me- Ahhh!" His palm struck her face and she gasped in pain.
"Like hell I will!" the man raged. He pointed angrily at the broken decanter, the wine splashed all over the floor. "Do you know what this is? This is the most expensive, precious wine I could find. And you just carelessly spill it all over the place! Who the hell do you think you are, woman?" Another slap and the maid rolled on the floor.
The girl at the zither observed the nobleman deals blows to the maid. She really wanted to run and help the poor maid, but she knew she could not. Doing so would severely jeopardize her job tonight with Lord Suzuki. She could not afford for that to happen.
After she finished her duty, the girl would cease to be beaten anyway.
Thankfully, she did not have to watch the nobleman's brutish behavior much longer.
"Give the woman fifty blows with the wooden rod," the man ordered. "I'm finished here." Just before Lord Suzuki strode out of the pavilion complex, he wrapped an arm around the girl beside him.
"You're playing with me tonight," he smiled. The dancer giggled and simpered.
The girl at the zither rose discreetly from her seat and silently walked over to the pair. With a delicate, unseen maneuver, she quietly removed one precious hairpin from the dancer's lush, upswept locks. The dancer did not even realize as she continued on with the nobleman, hanging seductively on his arm. In fact, no one realized that the woman's precious possession had been stolen or that the zither girl had disappeared.
The girl tucked the hairpin into the folds of her robes, concealing it out of sight. She needed it to successfully accomplish her task. Her violet eyes followed the nobleman and his partner and she trailed quietly behind them, mixing herself amongst the other dancers and musicians.
Before long, Lord Suzuki and the dancer were virtually by themselves, with the zither girl skillfully concealing herself as she pursued them. She saw them enter the nobleman's chambers and heard chattering begin from within.
She dropped the jeweled hairpin onto the bushes in front of Lord Suzuki's doors, making certain that it could be easily seen. She hoped that her plan would work. It probably would, since she knew enough about that dancing girl's character. But if not, there were always other ways to go about her job.
The zither girl hurried behind the lord's chambers into the shadowed row of trees. She undid the knots and removed the musician's garb she had stolen, revealing black robes beneath. The girl took a black handkerchief from her pocket and tied it around her mouth and nose, obscuring half her face. She made certain that the vial of liquid was tucked safely in the folds of her robes.
"Ehhhh?" the dancer's shrill voice emanated from inside the window. "I can't find my hairpin. Where is it? I know it was in my hair at the party..." Rustling fabric was heard and more exclamations. Soon, hurrying footsteps were heard all over the manor and the girl in black leapt lightly up onto the roof.
They should find the hairpin, why can't they-
"I found it!" someone exclaimed.
"Where is it?" the dancer appeared at the door of the lord's chamber. "Are you positive that it's mine?" She pattered out into the garden.
The girl in black immediately seized her chance.
I have only one minute to do this.
Swinging herself down to the ground, she slipped a white-handled dagger between the crack of the window, noiselessly lifting the window latch up. She opened the window a crack, just enough to be able to see into the room.
He said that Lord Suzuki always sits up against the window before going to bed.
Sure enough, she saw the long, gray hair of the nobleman just in front of her. She slipped the vial of odorless, colorless liquid out, unfastening its cork.
"My dear, are you coming back yet?" Lord Suzuki drawled lazily, inclining his head further back.
"Coming!"
The girl in black tilted the vial of liquid ever so carefully, ever so inaudibly, positioning it above Lord Suzuki's neck.
A drop of clear liquid fell from the mouth of the bottle and onto the man's skin. Lord Suzuki stiffened, then reached a hand to feel his neck, a frown on his face. He looked behind him, yet saw no one. The window was locked as it should be.
Yet, the girl crouched unseen underneath the window, her ear pressed against the building's walls. She heard coughs, then a gurgle. A thump against the window signified that her job was done.
She quickly leaped back onto the roof of Lord Suzuki's chambers and fled the complex. As she sprang from roof to roof and out of the manor, screams erupted.
"Lord Suzuki's dead!"
As she sped down the darkened, empty street, the dancer's wailing voice echoed throughout the whole vicinity.
"The Ghost has killed him!"
"Otou-san, Otou-san?" the girl in black hurried into her run-down house, the purse of gold coins in her hand. Tearing the cloth from her face, she hurried to her father's bedside.
"Rukia? Is that you?" Ukitake Juushiro rose from his bed, coughing into a handkerchief that lay beside him on the mattress.
"Yeah..." Rukia opened the sack of money she had been paid for assassinating Lord Suzuki. "I got money for your medicine. See? Lord Arata paid lots. He must have really been upset with Suzuki, since he said the man had molested his daughter."
Ukitake smiled warmly at her, but burst into another set of severe coughs. Rukia rushed to pat his back, yet coughs continued to shake his frame. All at once, blood stained the otherwise green handkerchief.
"Is you tuberculosis getting worse?" she asked worriedly as she stroked his back.
Ukitake shook his head. "No. It's actually getting better. The medicine that you buy for me helps a lot, almost as if it is curing me." He smiled at her and Rukia beamed.
Actually, all the money that she had ever earned had gone to pay for her father's medicine. It was not that Ukitake was terribly old: he was merely unlucky enough to be stricken with the disease. His long hair had already gone completely white because of it.
Technically, tuberculosis was not a curable disease. Or so everyone said.
However, through one of her more compassionate clients, she was introduced to a certain Doctor Urahara Kisuke who had found a cure to the fatal disease. But the money the doctor always asked for drained her of most of the earnings she made. Hence, the dilapidated state of their small house.
All the assassins she had heard of were incredibly wealthy, living fancy lives in fancy houses, and eating fancy food. Yet, she was not. In truth, the Ukitake family had been wealthy before, probably during the time of her grandfather and before, all because of a well-guarded secret: they produced some of the deadliest and most skillful assassins in the State of Seitreitei. Long ago, they would have been hired by the rich and powerful to do their dirty, bloody work.
However, when her grandfather was alive, her family had gotten into a mess with a bureaucrat, and the case went to court. Unfortunately, the government official won the case and thereby seized all of her family's estates and wealth. They were reduced to paupers over night.
By the time her grandfather passed away, her father, Ukitake Juushiro, was left to managing what was left of their former grandeur. It was around then that she was born. He raised her by himself, for her mother had died in a carriage accident on her way to visit her parents. She had only been four years old at the time.
"Are you going out to buy medicine now?" Ukitake asked concernedly. "It's so late at night. You should rest."
Rukia shook her head and said, "I won't be able to rest properly until I know that you won't collapse sometime during the night. I have to get your medicine from Doctor Urahara."
Rukia loved her father with all her heart, even though he was the main reason why they were still poor. Ukitake himself was a skilled assassin, but he was very selective with his clients, though he no longer killed anymore because of his declining health. He did not approve of how his father randomly slaughtered people for a fat pay check, vowing not to be so himself.
He had taught her to not accept a deal unless she knew for certain who she would be killing. He always said that it was wrong to kill good, virtuous people, even if a client was offering a whole lump of gold. The only people that should be assassinated were those who had very evil hearts, he said. This severely limited the amount of money she could earn, but neither Rukia nor Ukitake minded.
Rukia still did not like to kill, regardless of how bad the person was. Actually, she loathed it. Every night she would pray for a day that she could earn enough money to stop being an assassin. Yet, she would wake up in the morning, the house almost caving in, her father coughing in his bed, and a new client waiting to call.
But she had to buy medicine for her beloved father or else he would die. This was the only way she knew that could earn enough money to pay for the exorbitantly expensive medicine he required.
Well, she could work as a prostitute, but she would never be able to see Ukitake again. Not to mention, he would die of a broken heart if she had chosen that path. She could never do that to him.
"Rukia? Are you back yet?" Abarai Renji opened the door to the house and hurried in.
"Renji!" Rukia walked over to him and stared up at his face, instantly dwarfed by his tall height. "Why are you here? It's late and you should be sleeping."
"Che. I had to check on you and your Dad, right?" Renji grinned and he ruffled her hair. Rukia swatted his hand away. "Didn't you have a mission tonight? Everywhere I go, people are saying that the Ghost killed the corrupt Lord Suzuki. You've made a name for yourself now, being so elusive and all."
"Yeah."
Rukia had grown up with Renji since they were small children. It seemed as if she could not remember a time when she did not know Renji. He was her dearest friend, standing by her even though he knew the bloody profession she was born into.
"Renji, look after Otou-san for me while I go buy his medicine," Rukia said, stuffing the purse of coins back into her robes. "If anything happens, try to calm him down, then look for me. You know where Urahara's medicine shop is, right?"
"Yup. I got that." Renji raised his hand in the air and she slapped it in a high five. Checking to see if her dagger was strapped to her waist, Rukia headed out of the house.
"Oh, Rukia-san! You're here! I've been expecting you." Urahara got up from the mat he was lounging on, moving behind the counter of his shop. "You need Ukitake-san's medicine, right?"
"Yeah." As Urahara searched around for the medicine, Rukia took in the details of his shop.
He was doing very well by being a doctor and selling medicine. His shop was probably one of the nicest medicine stores in the capital. The other good medicine shop was Kurosaki Isshin's, but then that friendly doctor did not have tuberculosis medicine. She went to his shop to buy other things, as Isshin did not price his medicine as high as Urahara.
Meaning that he was not as greedy.
Rukia glanced up at the intricately carved beams holding up the ceiling. So that's where all my money's been going to...
"Found it!" The doctor popped up from behind a shelf, holding a stack of wrapped paper packages in his hands. He dropped the supply of medicine onto the counter and calculated the cost.
"Now let me give you a baggie to put the medicine in," he said happily after Rukia had paid. It appeared that he was as delighted as a child given candy. He popped the packages of medicine into a bag and handed it to her.
"This medicine will last for about a week before you have to refill," Urahara instructed. "I can do IOU's, but the money still has to come in eventually, got it? Actually, I'm giving you a pretty good deal." Rukia nodded.
"Be careful, okay? I know you can take good care of yourself, but the streets are full of strange and dangerous people at this hour, even in our State. You wouldn't want to carelessly mess with them." He patted her on the back.
"I know." She bowed. "Thank you."
Out of the three warring states, Seireitei was the most prosperous and powerful. The people had a high standard of living, especially when compared to the State of Las Noches. To be honest, however, Rukia did not really know how the Quincies governed their country, but she assumed that their citizens did not have the comforts that Seireitei offered its people.
Seireitei would probably win the war and unify the divided countries it governed. Not to mention, the Duke of Las Noches, Aizen Sousuke was currently allied with the Duke of Seireitei, Kuchiki Ginrei. With the additional help, Seireitei would be able to defeat the foreign Quincy nation.
She certainly hoped this would be the case, since she knew that the Duke was doing a great job of looking after his populace. She did not want anymore innocent people to die on the battlefront.
She walked out of Urahara's shop and closed the door behind her.
Rukia hurried down the road, her bag of precious medicine clutched to her chest, the round moon hanging in the night sky. She stopped and looked behind her, but she saw no one.
It was so strange, it felt as if someone was watching her.
Maybe it's someone from Lord Suzuki's place out to kill me... but then they don't know who I am...
As Rukia continued down the path, her uneasiness grew and she cautiously glanced all around her. Yet, she still saw no one. Was it merely her imagination?
She shook her head and trudged on, her bag tightly held to her chest, prepared to fight if the need arose. Looking ahead of her, she halted in her tracks, her jaw suddenly slack, eyes widened at the individual in front of her.
Rukia stared in awe at his toned, dark body and rippling muscles, her eyes unable to stop themselves as they roved all over his perfect, bare frame. Thick, long locks of black hair flew in the breeze as he fearlessly met her gaze, his eyes the color of the darkest midnight.
His legs were long and powerful, Rukia could distinctly see the muscles shifting as he approached her. His head was fine and elegant, cocked a little to one side in curiosity.
He was the most beautiful horse she had ever seen.
Rukia reached out her hand and touched the horse's black muzzle and he snorted in contentment, rubbing against her hand. She stroked the hair of his mane and coat.
"What are you doing here?" she asked the creature as it whinnied quietly. "You're too pretty to be left alone. Where's your master? Doesn't he care about you? I would." It was then that she finally noticed that the horse was saddled.
Rukia stopped patting his head and examined the saddle. It was very well made, with hints of inlaid gold in the black, lacquered wood. She bent to have a better look at the designs.
There was a prominent golden flower in the middle of the saddle's front flanked by two jade circles on either of its sides. Rukia's eyes widened in shock.
The flower was a cherry blossom, the symbol of the Kuchiki family and associates.
The horse belonged to a member of Duke Ginrei's family.
She shouldn't be caught around the horse, what if someone saw her? But surely one touch wouldn't hurt, though. She would touch the saddle then be on her way.
A silken padding was attached to said saddle and Rukia stretched out her hand to feel it. She had rarely had the opportunity to leisurely touch silk, as her family was far too poor to buy expensive items.
She probably shouldn't be groping the saddle, what if the owner came back and thought that she was trying to steal the prized horse? Considering that the owner was a Kuchiki, that would be very, very bad for her.
Despite the warning going off in her head, Rukia continued to feel the luxurious saddle and leather reins. How would it feel like to sit on it?
When Ukitake had taught her in martial arts, he had given her a wooden dummy of a horse to practice riding. Needless to say, it did not work all that well in her horsemanship training. She gazed longingly at the saddle and sturdy back of the horse.
Oh no, Rukia. Don't you even think of it.
Unable to resist the temptation, Rukia glanced around her. She did not see any sign of the owner. Good. She soothingly stroked the back of the horse when it placidly turned to regard her.
"Be a good horse, okay? I'm just going to sit on you for a little while." The horse snorted, as if answering her. Rukia grinned and placed one foot in the stirrup.
All at once, she felt a sharp pain enter her shoulder. Rukia looked down.
A long, thin, silver needle was embedded halfway into her skin. She jumped off the horse and pulled out the weapon. A bulb of some yellow substance dangled from its point. Her eyes widened.
Poison.
"Who's there?" she shouted, pressing a hand to the bleeding wound, Ukitake's medicine tucked under her arm. "Show yourself!" She spun around, trying to catch a glimpse of her attacker.
She heard a whooshing sound from behind her and dodged as a hand came shooting out. She leaped back a couple of steps and face her attacker.
A man stood in front of her, a handkerchief tied round his mouth, obscuring his face. A coil of rope was held loosely in his hand.
"What do you want from me?" Rukia yelled. She teetered to one side as her vision began to blur. Shoot.
"Don't put up a fuss and just come with me," the man replied. Before she knew it, the rope came hurtling toward her. She escaped it by a space of three inches.
The man twirled the rope in his hand, as he dealt lash after lash at her. His last blow almost tripped her and she stumbled to one side. The horse neighed from the side of the rode.
This was bad.
Rukia could not plug the wound with her and hold the medicine at the same time. She had to unsheathe her dagger, and that required one hand. She removed her bloody hand from her shoulder and grasped the ivory hilt of her weapon, drawing it from its straight scabbard. The man was aiming another strike at her legs. Her consciousness was wavering and she felt the bag of medicine drop to the floor.
Her vision blurry, Rukia leapt up and over the man, her dagger drawn. She saw the heavy rope retracting back to the man's hand, flying upwards over his shoulder as it did so.
This was her chance.
She struck out at the rope, her knife slicing through the coarse material. As she landed on the ground, she heard the thump of half the rope dropping to the ground. The man whirled around, surprised that she had severed the thick rope into two...
And met with the side of Rukia's blade against his neck.
"Give me the rope," she said calmly. "Or else I'll slit your throat." The man obediently did as he was told. Rukia did not know how she would be able to securely tie his hands together with only one hand, but she had to try.
"Put your wrists together."
As she draped the rope around the man's wrist, blackness flooded her eyes for a brief moment and she stumbled. But that was all was needed for her attacker to act.
He rapidly lifted a leg and kicked her to the ground. Rukia gasped as she tried to stand, but was unable to, her eyes unable to focus properly. She could only vaguely see him lunging at her, preparing for another strike.
This time, she really was not going to be able to return home and Otou-san would not get his medicine.
Otou-san...
A hand slipped around her waist and deftly pulled her out of her attacker's way. Rukia's eyes widened and she gazed up at her savior, her eyesight sharpening partially.
The man was clad entirely in black, much like she herself was now and at Lord Suzuki's. He wore a black broad-brimmed hat that left his face in shadow, twin hand guards partially covering his long hands, his long ebony hair swirling in the wind. Rukia felt so small against his tall figure.
His sword was drawn, its hilt wrapped in dark purple coverings. All at once he lunged forward, Rukia still in his arms, the silvery blade of his sword poised.
Blood spurted into the air as he skewered her would-be kidnapper through the chest. The man, still not completely fathoming what had just occurred, choked, blood trickling down his mouth. The man in black whipped out the sword from his body and the attacker dropped to his knees and collapsed to the ground. Deep red poured out from the fatal whole in his chest, staining the dirty ground crimson.
The man in black surveyed his work coolly, then neatly swished his blade to the side, ridding it of scarlet. As he moved, Rukia caught a flash of gold under the brim of his hat in the brilliant moonlight. Her eyes blurry once again, she tried to peek under his hat to have a better look at his face.
A golden mask, delicately engraved, rested lightly upon his face. It covered half of his features from the eye, leaving his mouth and sleek jawline exposed.
"Wh—Who are you?" Rukia managed to ask, her voice weak. Blackness came and left her vision again. She gasped loudly as he swept her off her feet and carried her to the horse she had been admiring previously. He did not bother to answer as he deposited her on the saddle, swinging himself up behind her.
"Don't lose consciousness," he ordered, as if she had the power to do so. The rich timber of his voice sent tingles down her spine. Why am I feeling like this? I don't even know him...
"Hai..." she said softly. She could feel his hard chest pressing against her back and her cheeks flushed red. Then-
"The medicine!" Rukia exclaimed. "I have to find the medicine for my Otou-san!" She tried to jump down from the horse, but the masked man held her tightly in place.
"Do you know where you dropped it?" he asked quietly. She shook her head.
"I—I can't see very well right now... but they're medicine packages in a brown bag..." Rukia struggled some more. She had to get the medicine or Ukitake might die. "Let me down!"
The masked man was still for a moment, before Rukia heard him get off the horse. She tried to climb down.
"Stay where you are," came his voice. "I will retrieve the medicine."
"O—Oh... okay. Thank you." She could barely make out his lean frame as he searched around for the bag. She nearly slipped out of consciousness, but pulled herself together again.
"Is this what you are looking for?" the masked man asked and she felt something drop into her lap. She raised the bag close to her face.
"It is!" she exclaimed happily and held it close to her, but abruptly swayed to one side, darkness threatening to engulf her mind.
She felt his hand steady her as he mounted behind her. The masked man, or gentleman rather, as Rukia remembered that he was a Kuchiki noble, flicked the reins and the horse galloped down the empty road.
"Where are we going?" she asked worriedly. They were traveling farther away from town and Ukitake's house. "I have to get home to bring Otou-san his medicine."
"You must be properly treated," the masked gentleman said as they rode along. "It is best that I bring you to an undisturbed place."
"Why can't you do it at my house?" Rukia retorted indignantly. "Otou-san needs his medicine!"
"Would your father not worry about you if you came home in this state?"
Rukia was quiet. He was right: Ukitake would be so worried if he saw her like this, he might even become sicker. She didn't answer him.
"You need not worry," the masked gentleman said, expertly flicking the reins another time. "I will return you to your family after I have treated you."
He knew how to treat her? Rukia had thought that nobles did not know how to do much for themselves, as they lived a life of complete luxury. She had never heard of such a talented nobleman before. Rukia was amazed.
The horse slowed to a canter, then stopped all together. Rukia heard the masked gentleman alight from the horse. He placed his hands on her waist and lifted her down, guiding her to sit beneath what looked like trees.
She watched him as he removed a transparent vial of brownish liquid from the folds of his robes. He placed it on the ground beside them and moved to kneel in front of her. Rukia stared at him in awe. Even when he simply knelt, he was so elegant. He somehow managed to arrange his robes neatly all in one sweep as he settled down. She could never be like that, she probably would slip and fall while trying. Were all nobles this cool?
Rukia remembered Lord Suzuki and his lecherous pursuits and shook her head. All nobles were definitely not like this person before her.
"Where is the wound?"
Rukia started and stared at him. He had removed his broad-brimmed hat. She had the impression that he was observing her intently.
"It's here..." She pointed to the bleeding wound on the front of her shoulder, a few inches up from her heart.
"Show it to me," he said calmly.
"Wh—What?" Rukia shouted at him. "You want me to show it to you? Like remove my robes?" She instinctively scooted away from him, her arms protectively shielding her body. She swayed to the side again when she almost fainted.
"If you do not let me see the wound, I can do nothing for you," the masked gentleman replied.
"N—NO!" Rukia yelled loudly and she smacked him hard across the chest. She saw his lips turn down in surprise and his posture stiffened. She gasped in dismay, her hands going to her mouth.
What she had done? She had just slapped a member of the Kuchiki clan, a noble. He was going to send soldiers and throw her and Ukitake into jail.
"Oh my god..." she said frantically. "I—I didn't mean to! I was just afraid. I didn't mean any disrespect-"
"Would you prefer not to return to your father tonight?" the masked gentleman cut in smoothly. "I am not acquainted with the poison which currently courses through your system. If we do not remove it, you may not see your father again."
"I..."
The gentleman was manipulating her by mentioning Ukitake. Rukia knew it. Maybe he liked to look at unclothed girls, she wouldn't be surprised in the least. But she understood the gravity of her situation. She herself did not know what the poison could do if left in her body. And she had to get the medicine to Ukitake.
Maybe he was sincerely trying to help her.
"Is your father not awaiting your return?" the masked gentleman pressed. "I recall that you have something important to give him."
That was it. Rukia timidly nodded, telling herself that she would drive her knife into him if he tried anything funny. She hesitantly loosened the neckline of her robes and began to expose her wounded shoulder to him, a bright blush on her face. She looked away from him in shame.
"Go on," she mumbled. "You can apply the medicine." She squeezed her eyes shut.
She heard a burst of movement, and felt his lips brush her bare skin, his teeth biting softly around the wound. Her eyes popped open in fear and she reached for her knife.
"Stay still," he said, his breath hot of her skin. "I cannot extract the poison if you move."
"O—Oh..." was all she could say.
She quietly dropped the dagger, hoping that he did not notice that she almost wanted to stab him. The masked gentleman shifted away from her shoulder and covered his mouth with the silk handkerchief in his hand, delicately spitting the poison into the cloth. After he had finished, he returned to sucking the poison out from her shoulder.
As Rukia remained still, she began to notice many things about the gentleman who had attached himself to her wounded shoulder. The softness of his lips against her flesh... his silky black hair brushing against her... his firm hands holding her in place... his delicious sakura scent... the coolness of his metal mask against her skin...
She felt heat suddenly spread throughout her body like a flame and she flushed in embarrassment. Why was she even thinking about him in this way? It was so, so inappropriate. She didn't even know he was...
The masked gentleman withdrew from her and walked toward what she figured to be stream. He stooped at its bank for a few seconds, then returned to her. He picked up the vial of brownish liquid and removed its cork. He sat very close in front of her, his knee just touching hers.
Rukia frowned. "What is that?" she asked suspiciously.
"This is a general medicine for those who have been afflicted by poison," he said. "It should help your body subdue any remnants of the poison."
"How do I know that you aren't trying to kill me with that?" she said.
"Because I myself would perish if this were truly poison."
"Huh?"
She watched confused as the gentleman drained the contents of the bottle into his mouth. Her eyes widened in shock as he moved in close. He slipped his long fingers into her hair, gently tilting her head backwards.
"Wha-" she gasped and he took the opportunity to press his lips over her open mouth. He parted his lips and she felt the medicine trickle down her throat. The masked gentleman paused, making certain that he had given her all the medicine, then backed away.
She coughed, unable to get over the fact that he had just mouth-fed her medicine.
He contemplated her for a moment, before saying, "This medicine requires human saliva for it to release its benefits. Do not misunderstand my actions."
"I know... I was just taken by surprise." Rukia coughed some more, then sat up. The desire to faint was disappearing and her eyesight cleared. She lifted her head to regard her benefactor, hoping that she could have a better look at him than earlier.
The bottom half of his face that was not obscured by the golden mask was very nice to look at. Really beautiful. Rukia wondered if the rest of his face was like his jaws and lips. He had a very nice figure, too. The gentleman was lean and sculpted, with broad shoulders. His hair fell over his eyes when he bent over, almost seductively.
But Rukia liked his mask. She noticed that there were three engraved sakura petals where the mask covered his temple. The rest of it was slightly plainer.
His clothes were very nice and stylish also. His black robes at first glance seemed plain, but upon closer examination, Rukia could see faint designs in the inky silk. The robes were topped off by a sheer black overcoat, likely also made of silk, that was held together at the front by a golden chain.
Seems like all the rich people like to splurge on clothes in particular...
"Thank you for saving me," Rukia said gratefully, bowing. "Could you tell me your name? I would like to know who my benefactor is."
The masked gentleman was quiet, then replied, "It is unnecessary for me to give you my name. It is sufficient enough that you are grateful."
He has a terrible, stuck-up attitude, doesn't he? Like a stick in the mud.
Rukia shook her head, undeterred. "Well, I would like to at least have some idea of who you are. It would mean a lot to me. I already know that you're related to the Duke, so you can just tell me your name. I promise I won't tell anyone, not even Otou-san."
His fine lips compressed into a thin line. "That cannot be done."
Rukia sighed. Well... if he wants to be that way...
She beamed up at him. "Okay! That's fine." Rukia walked toward him, her smile still plastered on her face. As she was about to pass him by, she jumped up and whipped out her hand.
The golden mask fell to the ground and Rukia found herself face to face with the most handsome man she had ever seen. She stared at him, her mouth open in admiration.
His upper half of his face was refined, yet masculine, completing the spectacular jaw line and mouth she had been seeing so far. His slate gray eyes were widened, staring back at her in utter surprise. His soft black hair framed his face perfectly, sweeping slightly over his eyes, enhancing his pale, smooth skin and high cheekbones. A stray strand of hair fell into his face, lending him an air of disheveled desirability.
"You didn't want to tell me your name, so I resort to this." Rukia grinned at him. "At least I have some idea of who you are now."
The gray eyes narrowed in displeasure and he scowled. The gentleman tacitly reached down to pick up his golden mask, bringing it to rinse in the stream. He replaced it upon his face and walked over to the horse without another word.
Rukia giggled, then hurried after him.
Some distance away, a pair of large, green eyes observed the pair as they rode away to Rukia's house. He turned to a man in the shadows behind him.
"Do you want me to go after them? We failed to capture the girl."
The shadowed man chuckled, then replied, "No, it isn't necessary." He retreated and his subordinate followed him.
"... because everything is going according to plan."
So what do you think? Rukia has encountered the masked man (wonder if you can guess who it is? hehheh...) and he even saves her. Isn't he sweet? lol. And this is just the beginning of what's to come (you all can sense the potential problems in this chapter, hopefully)! Sorry that I did not give the masked gentleman's point of view here, but he will appear again (with POV) in the following chapter, along with a blatant saying of who he is. This type of story, set in an ancient environment, is actually the kind that I write best (I like to describe the sword fighting :3). If this were not fanfiction, I probably would have emphasized the romance less and the strife more. But since it is fanfiction and most of you guys like romance, I will put in lots of romance. Not to mention Bleach has a lot of action, so focusing on the characters' lives would be more interesting.
Also, why is Ukitake Rukia's dad? Well, I think that he is the most fatherly person to Rukia in Bleach, especially since she does not know who her parents are (the rest of her close guy friends are either like a brother or a potential romantic interest, in my opinion. Perhaps it's because those people are all about the same age as she is). So... Ukitake it is!
Other than Ukitake, there are several other characters who have made an appearance or been mentioned (or even unmentioned) here. And yes, it is true that for some time, TB was incurable. Hence, we cannot be too harsh on Dr. Urahara for pricing his exclusive TB medicine so high, can we? He is a business man after all. :] As for Renji, he will play the same role as in Bleach (per my opinion, of course): the friendzoned, good friend of Rukia. Personally, I do not think that RenRuki is a very possible pairing in canon Bleach, due to the way she treats him (if you compare him with Ichigo or Byakuya). He fits the role of a big brother to Rukia better than a lover. But then, that is what I feel (so don't get mad at me, RenRuki fans! I'm not trying to offend anyone!) and Bleach is not likely to have any mangaka-endorsed pairings, only hints.
I must say that Hisana is not Byakuya's deceased wife in this story. If she does indeed appear, she will not have the same relationship with him and Rukia as she does in canon Bleach. So any relationship angst will not be because of her... and there will be angst with future developments coming very soon. This is the same with future characters who appear: some of them will have different relationships with Byakuya and Rukia, others will have the same. I had also originally intended to rename the warring states, but decided that that would be too difficult. Since all the characters' names are Japanese (except for the Quincies and Aisen's group), I would have to think up proper Japanese names for the countries (especially because this story is in an ancient, Eastern setting, so I cannot randomly think up an English name). And I don't know much Japanese at all, so that would not work. Sorry for being uncreative. :[
Next week, I cannot update because of tests at my college (I mentioned to those of you who read my other story), but I will post a chapter the following weekend. So leave me lots of reviews! I really, really know what you think. :] Until then, good bye!