Hello everyone!
I'm back with chapter Two. And oh my god, thank you for your reviews! They absolutely made my day! Now, I have decided to take some of the questions I receive and answer them here if they're something I feel a lot of people might have trouble with, because I don't want to leave anyone with a bad taste in the mouth. So sorry if this is a little long, but bare with me.
One such question says:
you write really well! loving the story so much! What i dont understand is the use of the song "amazing grace", which is a christian american hymn from the 1800s or 1900s, yet the story is set in medieval japan when samurais were still around. a japanese folk tune would make more sense. otherwise this is off to a really good start!
My reply: Let's study a little history, shall we?
The song Amazing Grace was composed in the years 1779-1806. At this time, Japan had boycotted all foreign relations and trade. Now, the Americans arrived in Japan by the year 1846, forcing them into trade. There even was one American official that was remembered to say, "It was almost as if we had walked back into the medieval ages. " So technically it is the feudal ages, but Japan, which had no exposure to the outside world loved in their own pace, hence the medieval.
A writer doesn't as much as "say" as they drop hints. The role I needed this song to play was to set a time and date for the readers. Samurais in Japan were around till 1868, so this story is placed between that time frame(1846-1868). The second role, I cannot tell you as of yet, you'll read it further into the story.
Yes, you're right, I could have used a Japanese folk tale, but I didn't. That has a reason too. Well, I can't really tell you that either, but let me drop a hint for you. The history of America's pleas to open trade with Japan caused a lot of uproar among the then dominating Samurai class. America became an enemy in the eyes of the Japanese. And this is a bleach fanfic,I'm not just creating romance, I'm almost rewriting parts of the story from the Canon plot into this AU (as I've explained before). I'm sorry if that was too deep!
Anyway, I hope that answered your question! Thank you so much for commenting! And I hope you keep reading !
Now, let's get started!
Chapter Two : Her fate
"Rukia," a gentle voice said, pulling the little girl closer to her. She looked up at the woman, her large onyx eyes reflecting the respect and love that she felt for the older woman.
"Do you want to hear a story? "
The little girl nodded furiously, eliciting a chuckle from the dark haired woman.
"A long time ago, a man in a foreign land was forced into slavery," she started, rocking the child on her lap back and forth.
"Having no other choice, the man had to follow through it, for he was poor. He went through a lot of hardships, and without question, even nearly died on some occasions."
Rukia was mortified.
"But," the woman said, holding the little child's hand, realising how scared she looked. "On one such occasion, when he was sure he was going to die, in desperation, he called out to God, asking Him to save him."
"So was he saved?" Rukia asked, hoping she was right. She didn't want anyone to die.
"Yes, he was. He felt as though the heavens had heard him and that's where his faith was born. He continued on to teach the love of the Gods to people, and in all his teachings,a song stood out."
Rukia sighed. Thank God he was saved.
"Do you want to hear that song?" The woman said, while combing the little girl's hair. Rukia nodded, enjoying her private time with the woman. Nobody else was allowed in whenever she was here and maybe, Rukia liked it that way.
Her hair all ready and done, she turned around to face the woman, a large grin on her face. The woman smiled, raising her head and closing her eyes, her mouth opening slightly to let words flow out.
BAM!
Rukia's eyes snapped open. She raised her head from the table it lay on, her feet folded in seiza position on the tatami matted floor.
Scrolls fell off the table, creating an enormous amount of noise, waking her up from her little nap. She groaned, rubbing her eyes.
She had skipped sleep for many days; work had been piling up for her.
Hoisting herself off the floor,she slipped out of her loose white yukata, into a black kimono.
Rukia stood in front of the mirror, looking at her tired form.
Just when she was about to resume her work, a light knock was heard on the door.
At this hour of the morning ?
"Come in." she said, lifting the scrolls and putting them in their previous positions.
The door slid open, and in came a man, long silver hair flowing down his back, highlighting his sharp and elegant features.
"Commander Ukitake," she said, without even looking up. The man, bowed ever so slightly, that if Rukia hadn't known him for all this while, she wouldn't even have noticed it.
She had seen him as the commander of a squad, leading samurais into battle with unimaginably skillful planning. However, after being affected by a chronic disease, his body had become weak, his power now down by a good half. So having retired from his position, he was now a guide to young newbies. His contribution to their family, however was never forgotten, his tittle remaining, "The Valient".
"What brings you here?" She asked, dipping her pen in the ink, continuing to sign some important documents.
"The board of ministers demand your presence." He said, looking down at her with pitiful eyes.
He had always felt very sorry for the child, who was forced to do something that no one would should ever have had to. Her secret was known to very few, her entire reality being a lie.
Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she put her hair into a bun, covering every part of her body that would declare her a woman.
For in the eyes of the world, she was a man.
She stepped out of the door, turning around to look at the former commander, who stood lost in his thoughts.
"What's the matter?" She asked, or more appropriately, he asked.
"Let's get going."
Ukitake stood by the door, watching Rukia, or the 'Young Lord' as she was called, deal with family business.
Having to shoulder so many responsibilities at that young an age was no easy job and the reason she had to keep her gender a secret just annoyed him all the more. He had always hated the elders because of that.
"Young Lord, request for more recruits has arrived from our base in the East." One of the ministers said, looking at the young heir of the family with judgemental eyes. Everyone disliked the fact that a young person was the head of such a renowned family.
"Then prepare to dispatch a quadrant," she said, modifying her voice to make it sound more convincing, looking up at the minister from the scroll she had in her hand.
"But we'll then have a shortage of our own soldiers. That would make our headquarters vulnerable." Another challenged, outright snickering.
What decisions could a child make?
"You needn't worry about that," she said, standing up, considering the conversation over.
"I will request one of our allies, the Daimyo of the Northern villages to send me his best men Protecting the family is my duty, after all. "
She walked out, the long sleeve of her kimono disappearing through the door.
"They only called you here to waste your time." Ukitake mumbled.
Didn't she already have enough of her own problems to deal with?
Rukia looked up at the taller man, her lips curving into a smile. He had always been like a father figure to her, also being one of the few people who knew she was no man.
And he worried about her in all situations.
"Stop it." She said, her voice regaining it's normal tone, something she always had to mask in front of other people.
"I cannot shirk my work."
"It shouldn't even be your work in the first place." He said under his breath.
Rukia was born of the second wife of the head of the family, who had died soon after, accompanying her mother and why she was treated specially, everybody knew. When Rukia was to be born, the shrine maiden's had received an Oracle that said,
"The child born on the first night of spring will be the next successor."
When Rukia was born, however, she was a girl and a female heading a family was unheard of. So, the elders that knew and a midwife who had helped deliver the child, kept their finding a secret, announcing her a male. And the child was brought up like a male, her only respite being him and another female caretaker whom she had loved very much.
"Not this conversation again.." Rukia said, sighing. He sure liked to bring up old issues!
"I'm right, aren't I?" He said, stopping their journey to the inner palace, where only high ranking officials and members of the nobility were allowed.
"The next head should have been-" Ukitake stopped midway after looking at the person in front of him. Rukia followed his gaze, only to share the same expression of surprise.
Raven locks flowing down his back, a stoic expression and an elegant posture.
"Lord brother.." she whispered softly. He looked down at her, his penetrating gaze nearly shattering her confidence.
"Byakuya.." Ukitake said, pulling his trailing kimono to the front unconsciously, a habit that meant surprise, Rukia had noted.
He didn't say a word, simple walked past them, almost as if they were nothing but air.
Rukia shut her eyes and bent her head downwards in agony. He has always hated her though she didn't understand why, avoiding any conversation or even contact with her unless very very necessary. He was a brilliant general and warrior, something Rukia was very proud of.
And he was her elder brother.
"Rukia..." Ukitake said, noticing her pain filled expression. She simply shook her head and continued walking,with him following suit.
She had no time to worry about silly things.
By nigtfall, Rukia concluded her work, the last documents placed neatly on her table to dry. She got up from her position on the floor, heading over to her closet. Rukia fished for something inside it and having found it, pulled it out.
In her hand was a beautiful kimono, unlike her usual ones.
Mainly because this one was not for men, but for women.
Woven from Japanese silk by the best weavers in the country, was a violet flowing robe, it's entire body filled with beautiful flowers. The waist belt was satin-like, a shimmery white in colour. Rukia donned the kimono and raising a hand to her head,pulled the hairpin off, careful so it wouldn't be misplaced. It was given to her by someone she had loved very much.
Dark black strands cascaded down her back, some stopping at her neck and some reaching further down. Thin,delicate sandals lined her feet that were custom made to keep her small feet from making too much noise. The kimono hugged her body in all the right places, revealing her hidden beautiful feminine figure.
She heard a knock, and went to the door, pulling it open. She had no need to worry,because till today, there had only been one person who came to her room at that hour, and for a valid reason too.
Ukitake looked down at her. No matter how many times he had seen her like that, he had never failed to admire her beauty. From the eyes of any man,he was certain she was one of the most beautiful women, if not the most beautiful. But he was biased, he knew, after all, he loved her most in the world.
She moved aside, leting him enter her chambers.
"Go." He said, smiling at the girl, coughing slightly due to his condition.
Ever since she attained adulthood, he had helped her escape into the forest, using the hidden route only he knew of. In order to be her substitute, he would wait in her room, in case anyone ever came to look. Rukia jumped out into the darkness from the window at the back of her room, ready to head into the wilderness.
"Rukia!" Ukitake whispered, drawing her attention to him. She raised an eyebrow in question.
Ukitake put his hand out of the window, handing something over to her. She looked at his hand, in which was a black netted veil.
She sighed, grabbing it ,putting it on and covering her face. Smiling at him one last time, she walked into the forest.
Rukia walked ahead, her footsteps soft and low. Nobody ever came here, she was told. Nobody ever took this path since it was dangerous and opened in the middle of the city.
She loved the mixing fragrances that surrounded her, the path created by the trees almost guiding her to her desired destination.
The dark haired girl stopped walking, having reached where she wished to be. In front of her was a large lake, it's waters shining in the moonlight, giving it the appearance of a vast constellation. The trees bordering it were at a distance, making it look like a stage with the trees as an audience. But what made Rukia come here again and again was another reason altogether.
Standing alone across the lake, was the last remaining Sakura tree that was now bare, since fall had just passed.
Rukia shut her eyes, the memories that pulled her here playing in her mind.
"Do you want to hear that song?"
Rukia nodded her head. She tried so hard to hear, but the memory faded away. There no longer was any woman holding her. Instead, there was a body.
An unmoving one.
"Wake up!" The little girl said, shaking the body. "You were supposed to tell me another story, weren't you?"
Ukitake pulled the girl away, hugging her, softly patting her head.
She had cried into his arms that day, reality hitting her for the second time in her life.
She had been alone since then, not even the company of her favorite commander soothing her shattered heart.
And one day, when Rukia had gotten lost in the large forest, scared and terrified, she had heard a soothing voice humming something.
That tune!
She raced to find the source, looking here and there, falling down, standing up, just chasing the sound.
It was that song!
She came back!
Rukia hid behind a tree, noticing someone standing across the large water body she saw.
And his song filled the air.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I'm found,
Was blind, but now I see.
T'was grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believed.
The song was beautiful, the tune making Rukia close her eyes and sway along with it, but there was something else in it.
Unbearable pain.
Rukia slowly walked closer, moving from behind tree to tree, to take a closer look.
And when she was at the closest she could be, she looked up at the person and froze. There, touching the trunk of the beautiful Sakura tree, was the one person she had looked up to the most.
Kuchiki Byakuya, her elder brother.
He sang the words, his voice going lower and lower, until it ended in him choking.
Tears fell down his face, his eyes squeezed shut in pain. Soft sobs escaped from his half open mouth and along with it was one word.
"Hisana..."
Rukia slapped a hand over her mouth that was about to let out a surprised gasp.
Whenever Hisana had disappeared into the woods, Rukia had been curious to know where she went.
And now when she knew, she wished she didn't. That night, she had cried, realising that she was not the only one in pain.
Since then, Rukia sneaked out almost everyday to see if he was there, but he never came back.
He never returned to the place that held their memories.
But Rukia did. She swore she would never let their memories be forgotten, just like she had treasured her own.
So every night, once she grew up, Rukia would go there, singing the same song and the same lines over and over, tears dripping down her eyes in memory of the one person she loved the most.
Hisana.
And one night several months later, she went there as usual. It was a normal night,like any other, until suddenly she heard the trees rustle.
Rukia turned her head in the direction of the sound, seeing a man stumble out of the woods.
She was about to run away, when she noticed him fall downwards. Running to where he was, she rolled him over, resting his head on her lap. His eyes seemed to be half open, but it didn't look like the surrounding conditions were registering in his brain.
She went to the lake and with her hands, carefully took some water, walking over to him and pouring it slowly into his mouth. Though most of it fell out, the few drops that went down his throat bettered his condition, seeing as he visibly relaxed.
He looked exhausted and malnourished. She rested her head on his forehead, checking for a fever. It didn't seem so.
Rukia slipped her hands through his bright orange hair, her fingers entangling in a few of the free strands. His eyes fluttered a little and then, just stopped moving.
He looked so calm, like the waves of the sea during a low tide with a long face, and beautifully shaped eyes, almost like they were carved by a sculptor.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
She sang, softly caressing his hair.
I once was lost, but now I am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
She felt him move a bit, squeezing his eyes in visible pain. She softly blew on his face, watching as he calmed down.
T'was grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved,
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believed.
She sang, holding his head over her lap on place.
He mumbled undistinguishable words and she simply smiled.
"Name..." he said, cracking open his eyes slightly. She looked up at the sky. It was soon to be day break. She looked at the boy,before leaving him leaning against the tree trunk, the fruits she has picked kept next to him.
"Name..." he called out again.
Probably a lost villager, she thought, smiling at him one last time, before disappearing across the lake.
Little did she know, that soon there was to be a massive change in her life, soon a person would be more important to her than anything she had ever known.
And soon, the person that was to come, like a storm in her life, wrecking havoc, but leaving a new foundation to build, would be this very man.
And that day was nearer than she could have ever imagined.
Thank you so much for reading! I really hope you liked it and I didn't disappoint you! Looking forward to your comments in the reviews! I love y'all!
