AH! This will be my second story on here and it is a venture from the "norm". Still I hope you enjoy it! It should have enough twists and turns to stay exciting. There will not be any OC'ness. At least I promise to try. I have decided that this will be a RukiaxIchigo romance, and I do promise that there will be SOME romance! Nothing creepy major or M. And, of course, I promise to not forget the action! Action is important! Check out CHAP 8 of my story "Infinite Whole" to see my fighting style of writing. Anyway, like my story before this one I promise to finish not matter what! BELIEVE IT!
Ok so I just couldn't fit a plot summary that I liked on the summary bit so I am putting it here.
Real Summary: Princess Rukia of Ogyoku is summoned to her brother-in-law's Kingdom of Bucharest, soon after the death of her sister Queen Hisana. But her troubles do not stop there. Presently, tribulations and trials will engulf Rukia and those closest to her, with devastating effects.
Reviews are an addiction for me. Literally. Without reviews I GO CRAZY! So please review. I accept flames, both good and bad. SO if you are having a bad day... read my story. If you are having a good day (or night) read this story! So I am done babbling. Please read and review!
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It had been three years since the end of the Bucharest Kingdom's war, and six months since Queen Hisana's death. Now Princess Rukia had been summoned from her kingdom to her brother-in-law's. She had been asked to care for her sister's infant daughter.
In the carriage, Her Majesty remembered the past several years. Bloodshed had been a prominent theme; only surpassed by the victory of King Byakuya over his brother's rebellion, and his marriage to Princess Hisana of the Kingdom Ogyoku.
Rukia's sister Hisana was beautiful and kind. Quite rare in a cold and heartless world; where masks and deception ruled the hearts of men. Now she was dead, a light blown out by Fate's cruel breath.
"The little babe is all she left this world now," Rukia thought bitterly.
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The carriage, her prison, sped easily over the dirt road. The view concluded of burned ground and dense forbidding forests. At one point Rukia could see the ocean. Its eternal beauty had eased her troubled soul for a little time, but her pains were much deeper. Rukia's heart ached as she remembered Hisana's wedding day. The elder sister had cried then, softly and quietly in her heart. It hurt Rukia then, as it did now.
In turmoil, Rukia passed her time in the carriage. It moved swiftly by day and night. She had never met Byakuya before, except for the day of the wedding; and, that day, right after the wedding, he had left to put down an uprising that his younger brother had failed to suppress. Rukia had exchanged letters with Hisana, after the wedding, and learned much about the King of Bucharest.
Hisana wrote a great deal to Rukia about her husband; Rukia was one of the only people she truly trusted. Supposedly, the man was quiet and very reserved. She praised his wisdom but, faulted him in not trusting anyone. "To receive his trust, that would be a high honor indeed," Hisana had written. That would be her ultimate goal, now that she was married to him.
"An honor," Rukia thought, "to have his trust, only to die without it or love? What life is that? What worth to live for a man and bear his child never to receive love or trust?"
Soon after the baby had been born, Hisana's letters had come with less frequency. Hisana talked mostly about the baby. This child had become Hisana's pride and joy. Byakuya had even begun smiling more, Hisana had reported.
Back then, Rukia had started thinking more kindly of Byakuya since her sister seemed happy. Now everything had changed. Nothing would be the same. Falling asleep Rukia, forgot her sorrows and pains. Sleep was the one place she could escape reality. Yet, it would never last long, sleep only postponed the inevitable.
Before long, she had arrived at her destination.
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Nothing extravagant passed before her eyes. Only a dullness that enveloped the whole city, this dullness was the pain of war and loss of loved ones. Rukia watched out a small window of her horse-drawn carriage, and felt the same dullness. A people, now divided, were on the other side of the pane.
She saw people, with few emotions, who had hardened their hearts; due to the continual strife afflicting their home. This is what she saw, and the images buried themselves deep into her mind. This cause Rukia to abandon any good thoughts about His Majesty, regardless of whether her sister had loved him… or not. _____________________________________________________________________________________
Byakuya stood from his balcony, high in the sky. He could see the ocean from his vantage point towards the East. To the West was forest and mountains, paths to other places and horrific memories. Looking down, he saw her carriage and small detachment. The insignias on the flags stood for the kingdom of Ogyoku. Rukia was finally here.
Byakuya griped the railing of the balcony harder and breathed in deeply.
"How much does the child look like her?" he thought, "Rukia is rumored to resemble Hisana."
A slight pain made him catch his breath, when thinking of Hisana, and warm breezes blew across his neck. He could feel her again, if only for a little while.
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Rukia took each step towards the large engraved doors with a grace and an air that beheld a coming storm. Horns and loud voices heralded her entrance to the court attendants. Nobles bowed with courtier masks in place, as murmurs swept through the long, open corridors.
There was little happiness in the court; Death still enveloped the rooms. It hung in lurking shadows and watched with menacing eyes. Yet, Rukia could still feel the cool gazes from servants and nobles alike.
It was a slow procession that followed as she made her way to the inner court room; where his majesty would normally give audience. As suddenly as she had come, she stopped. A voice, beckoned her elite attention.
"Princess Rukia, how kind of you to grace your brother's court in such a timely manner," the man said.
He waltzed in from the hallway to her left. Amusement lit up his face. Perusing the man, Rukia could see her bodyguard grow tense.
The man's eyes grew wide, "My dear, you so uncannily resemble your late sister! The likeness I could never have expected."
Rukia bowed from her waist. Her face as impassionate as ever, "My Lord, you address me with such ease, but I have yet to inquire of you."
"So true Majesty, I am the King's brother, Yumichika," he bowed, arrogantly.
Rukia nodded. Yumichika's apparent lack of interest in protocol was obvious. Rukia was in emotional turmoil and he acted like a fool.
He took her hand and kissed it gently, "Now tell me of your travels. How was the countryside?"
He moved closer to her and, taking her arm in his, passed out of the hallway he had come by, into a gilded garden. Rukia moved quickly to match his long strides. A string of nobles and courtiers followed close behind; their whispers and eyes drawn to the princess and prince walking ahead.
Looking up at him, a slight touch of impatience in her eyes, "When can I meet with His Majesty, King Byakuya?"
Prince Yumichika looked away, gathering his emotions, and then turned to the princess with a sorry smile. "My dear, his… majesty, is… is busy. That is the reason he summoned you here in the first place, isn't it?"
Rukia burned indignantly deep, down inside. How dare this man call her and not even meet with her?! Be he a king or servant, his manner was incredulous. It hurt. It hurt badly, and although she was still walking with the brother of this man, Rukia wished to be away from all of this. She wanted to see her sister's child.
"If what you say is true, then could you please lead me to Queen Hisana's child?"
"Princess, this I cannot do. Not without His Majesty's permission," he could not stop the faint smile that perused his un-saintly lips.
It was then that a passion took her. Removing her arm from his tightening grip, Rukia planted her feet in defiance. "I demand to see my sister's child. I came here for that very reason, and only that reason. Will you kindly send me in that direction, or shall I acquire the information elsewhere?"
Yumichika watched her, disgruntled that such a fine lady would rise into such a passion. But, he had pushed her to it, and he knew it, he wanted it. Suddenly his expression soured as he looked past her, behind her. The crowd once steeped in murmurs, became silent.
Taken aback with the prince's expression, she turned also to see what the matter was.
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Different, eh? If it's not let me know! REVIEW! If it is... REVIEW! Thankie you!
Yours Truly,
Anynymys1