SUMMARY — Led to become one of the Emperor Soujun's concubines, a man twice her age, Rukia could not expect to find solace within the cages of the imperial palace.
MATURE CONTENT.
ANGST, HURT/COMFORT, SLIGHT NON-CON, ROMANCE.
Please don't read if you're not comfortable with any of these themes.
I apologize for any grammar or spelling mistakes. Bear in mind that english is not my first language.
Disclaimer — I do not own Bleach or its characters.
Torment
Prologue
A small shadow was cast across a garden brimming with flowers at full bloom. Glazed eyes stared at the dawning sun. The sky had been slowly painted with strokes of bronze combined with shades of a flaming red, covering the eminent blue that prevailed until just a few moments before. A youthful girl stood beneath the cherry blossom trees, with her fingers clutching softly the cloth of the long sleeves that covered her hands. She was dressed in an exquisite teal green kimono tied with a white obi. The girl's expressionless mask gradually transitioned into a bitter smile as she recalled her prevailing situation.
Rukia carried the name of the Kurosaki Clan, one of the most distinguished merchant houses in all Nation of Seireitei.
The Head of the clan's wife had always had a weak body, and despite her condition, she was able to birth him a male son after several miscarriages. Ichigo, as the boy was named, had limited time to see his mother, due to his early studies and training to succession. And Isshin, as her husband, couldn't be by her side for he had constant clan duties to attend. Seeing his wife's health slowly deteriorate, and knowing she could no longer bear any children, he decided to adopt a child to occupy her time and loneliness.
Rukia had been adopted into their family at a very young age, and was taught to be a lady ever since. The girl was deemed to be beautiful. She had knee-length, raven black hair and a pair of vibrant purple eyes with thick lashes framing them. Her fringe hung slightly above the tip of her nose, with a rebel section which occasionally fell between her eyes. Her pale ivory skin contrasted her dark strands and her lips were naturally tinted with a shade of the lightest red.
As the eldest daughter of a distinguished house, she was expected to be wed to a man whose name held similar affluence to that of her family, and at the age of fifteen, she had already received plenty of marriage proposals from suitable partners, all of which she had convinced her father to delay, claiming she was too young to marry and had yet to tend to her mother.
Shortly a year after, the Kurosaki Clan collapsed. A miscalculation ruined them, and they were forced to sell most of their properties in order to pay for their increasing debts. The Head had reluctantly accepted to give his daughter as one of the Emperor Soujun's concubines, an idea of which his wife had been completely against, for she knew of the Emperor's reputation. He was said to have become ruthless after his beloved Empress died at childbirth, and ever since then, he held hundreds of concubines in the palace in order to appease his lust, using them as he pleased to comfort his delusions.
But Rukia didn't comply. She accepted it as the best decision. The sovereign had presented her family with enough funds for them to reestablish themselves, and she thought offering herself for their sake was a fitting gesture to express her gratitude. Furthermore, she couldn't deny that being a concubine to the Emperor was very prestigious, and despite how cruel he was presumed to be, she had prepared herself to endure it.
A/N: This is my first fanfiction, as well as my first writing experience. Please let me know what you think, and whether I should continue it or not.