A/N Not so many lols this time around. it's a little dark. It is a murder mystery. I'll try and keep the humor in it, in future chapters.
Chapter Three- At First there were Eleven
The table had been cleared. Glasses, bowls and silverware gone. The table was silent. Not a word was spoken. Even the pink haired girl Yachiru was quite. Yoruichi starred at where her ice cream bowl had been. Everyone wanted to leave. No one wanted to be the first.
Why? No one was sure. It could be because no one wanted to be the first one to be rude and get up and leave. Or maybe they thought that whoever was the last one in the house got all the old man's fortune. Or maybe because at one time, they had all been a family, despite everything. And leaving here tonight would completely end what had once been and no one wanted to do that.
Yet sitting in this dark atmosphere wasn't helping anyone or anything. Her yellow eyes glanced around. She felt a little bad for Aizen's guests and for his date. She bit her lip.
"It doesn't have to end like this."
All eyes upon her.
"Once we leave here tonight that's it. The remnants of our past life are gone forever. And I understand that a part of us would like that. But I couldn't throw away the life we had together, ups and downs, away so easily."
"What do you propose we do?" asked Shunsui leaning back in his chair.
"Go to the ballroom and have one last blast," he gave her a grin in which she returned. "The old man's room is far enough away from there where he wont hear us, and if he does? So what, he hates us all anyway, might as well go out with a bang!"
Shunsui nodded in agreement. "I like your thinking," He stood up. "Shall I, prepare the drinks?"
The table was silent.
"Sounds like a great idea," growled Kenpachi approval in his voice.
Aizen and Byakuya exchanged glances.
Unohana stood up. "Well lets put the kids to bed first."
Yachiru and Toshiro shared crestfallen expressions.
The kind woman ushered the kids out of the dining room.
The pink haired girl grabbed onto Toshiro's hand. "Don't worry," she whispered into his ear. "Were goin' to their party,"
His blue green eyes filled with intrigue.
"Kisuke and I will set up the ball room," Yoruichi said happily dragging the man out.
"Why?" groaned Kisuke once they were out of earshot. "Why did you do that?"
"What?" she asked dragging him down the hall.
"This! Why?"
"Cause I can't let it end like this,"
"Why not?!" he demanded. "Were not a real family!"
She stopped. Her yellow eyes locked into his gray ones. "I know that. But were all we have,"
"You need to stop trying to push everyone together. Were just a bunch of brats that the old man took in. And being the brats we were we turned against each other and started competing for a fortune long before the old man was even close to dying. He's right. None of us deserve anything."
Yoruichi looked away. "Now that money is out of the picture we should get along now."
"It's not that simple and you know that." Kisuke sighed. "You know Shinji and Hiyori will never forgive Aizen. And Byakuya will never forgive you. What your doing is just going to get everyone drunk and then everyone's going to start fighting."
She began walking towards the ballroom again. "I know, I know what I did to Byakuya was terrible. I know he loved that girl. But I did it for the money. Aizen did what he did for the same reasons. Mayuri as well. Now there is no money. I just don't want us to hate each other anymore."
"I know," Kisuke catching up to her and taking her hand. "But you can't fix people so easily,"
She looked away sadly. "Lets just try and have a good time,"
XxXxXxXxXxXxXx
"I'd rather not stay," he whispered in the dinning room.
"This is ya family ain't it?"
"Well yes, but as you can see, we don't really get along,"
The silver haired man smiled at him. "Yes, well regardless their ya family."
"Listen, I'd much rather just go to bed. I'll talk to Yamamoto tomorrow morning and try and get him to change his mind,"
The silver haired man stood up. "I wanna go to the party,"
Aizen's dark eyes watched him carefully. "Why?"
"I just want to." Closed eyes opened just a bit, revealing scarlet irises. "I wanna spend time with the family ya have."
"That's foolish." Aizen also stood up as well. "I'd rather just have you to go to bed. Yamamoto would be upset to know you were wandering around his home." Scarlet eyes narrowed and the bi-speckled man. "Your room is right next to mine, I'll-"
"I'm in a separate room?"
Aizen sighed. "Only to please Yamamoto,"
The eyes were squeezed shut again. The smile still in place. "I'm going to the ballroom." He began to make his way out of the dinning room.
The dark haired man sighed. "Very well, you never listen to me anyway. However," his voice was cold now. It even stopped the silver haired man. Gin looked over his shoulder. "We do need to talk about something. A little problem you have that is quickly becoming a very large problem."
Gin still smiling turned away from Aizen completely.
"Mr. Aizen," The pale skinned man with the large green eyes walked up to what was supposed to be his employer. "You promised us jobs,"
The man's glasses flashed in the dim light. "There will be jobs. I promise you that. I just need more time,"
"The solution you realize is to get rid of your little toy," the man with the pink haired adjusted his glasses, his eyes not daring to meet Aizen's. "The old man will forgive you, you get the school, we get jobs. Problem solved."
The girl with green hair frowned. "But Mr. Ichimaru will be so, so, so sad."
Aizen frowned. His little fox would be deeply hurt by him doing this. He was already displeased at the fact that they weren't sharing a room. Since they had first made love they had never not shared a bed.
Though in his defense he had warned Gin that this might happen. That Yamamoto would not take kindly to him. It was his own fault to have even introduced him to Yama, but he had never thought that he would have been seen like the others. Hated just like the rest of them.
He had just wanted Gin to meet the man who had treated him like a son. Wanted Gin to feel what is like to have a family.
Aizen walked past his staff and left the dinning room.
They had been together for some time, but even Gin's past was a bit of a mystery to him. It wasn't a topic he had ever pushed or asked about. While Gin had always pressed for more details about Aizen's life at the manor. While the times had not always been the best, he had been better off then the others that had lived there had been.
What he had managed to find out from Gin was that he had no family. That he had grown up on the streets.
Aizen himself seen the faint marks on the pale skin of what kind of life he had lived.
Perhaps, if he was a better person he would of asked more about the hard life Gin had lived. If he asked more questions maybe he would understand his little fox better. But he was a man that always looked after himself first and foremost. So it had never dawned on him till this moment that maybe he should ask Gin about himself, sometimes.
It wasn't until recently that he had noticed Gin's problem. How long had he had this problem? He wasn't sure. From the moment he had met Gin? After? Before? That would a problem that he would rectify after he dealt with Yamamoto first.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
"And the cooks won't mind working a little extra?"
The maid with the bun shook her head. "Not at all. They don't get to cook to much anymore. They'll be more then happy to!"
The dark haired girl nodded. She felt a little out of place but she felt for a party there needed to be snacks. So she had taken it upon herself to get things rolling in the food department. Maybe the others would think a little better of her if she did this. Not many seemed to care for her brother and that seemed to pass to her as well.
"Okay Ms. Kuchiki," said a gruff voice. "What do ya want us to cook,"
To men in white cloths walked up to her. She blinked a couple of times, both had tattoos, one with bright red hair and tattoos along his forehead. The other cook had wild black hair and a long gray tattoo along his nose, and a sixty-nine tattooed on his cheek. On his other cheer a nasty looking scar, three lines going from his eye to his chin.
Rukia took a moment to stare then quickly came to her senses. "I'm sorry,"
The red haired one smiled at the flustered girl.
"I really don't know what they would like. I don't know any of them to well."
The dark haired one nodded. "Basic appetizers then,"
"They'll take a bit, but we'll have them out as soon as we can," the red head gave her a reassuring smile.
Rukia nodded. "Thank you," she turned back to the maid. Feeling more confident as each second passed. "Now I know it's sudden but when can we do to spice up the ballroom?"
Hinamori thought for a second. "I bet we can get roses!"
Quickly Hinamori led Rukia threw the house. The went down a flight of stairs to where the young Kuchiki had to assume where the servant's quarters. There were cleaning supplies pushed into corners. A white chief hat hanging on a door hook. A maid apron hanging to dry on the door knob.
"Here we are,"
Gently the maid rapped on the door. "Kira!" she called.
Slowly the door opened a sleepy looking blonde appeared. "Ms. Hinamori?" he rubbed his one visible eye. "What's wrong," The other eye covered by his long blonde bang.
"I need you to do some flower picking."
"What for?"
"The guests are having a late night party in the ballroom, just bring some of your best flowers that I can put in the ballroom so it looks a little less gloomy."
"A late night party?" Kira frowned. "The master wont like this,"
"Please Kira," begged the maid. "No one knows that garden better then you. I'll never find the roses plus you always find the best flowers. Please," she clasped her hands together her brown eyes sparkling.
A pale pink appeared on the young gardeners' face. "All right. I'll pick some. I'll bring them by soon,"
"Thank you Kira," said Momo happily.
"Yes thank you," Rukia smiled.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Yoruichi had found a dusty old CD player and some not so bad cds. With a little help from the others they had gathered a not so terrible list of songs.
Shinji had some old jazz cds in his car. Kisuke and some oldies stuff, Yoruichi had some pop.
Shinji had insisted that they listen to jazz, so Yoruichi had quickly got out of there. Once Shunsui showed up with the drinks she would change it to something more modern. Kenny would be sure to have some rock or metal, and Aizen and Byakuya had to have some classical stuff if the mood ever hit.
Until then she walked the familiar path to what had once been her room. She slowly opened the door unsure of what she might find.
Her yellow eyes peeked in. "Oh,"
Just as she had left it. Her black plush cat still sitting on the bed, still waiting for her to come back. Her bed hair brush still on the dresser, a few violet hairs still ensnared in it. All the same. Just a bit duster then she had left it but that was all.
Byakuya's room was next to hers and Kisuke's across the way. She closed her eyes tightly. Memories of the past floating threw her mind.
Of how she had burst into Byakuya's room, seeing him with that young girl, no older then fifteen. Their red faces. Quickly gathering up the covers to cover themselves. And her wicked smile as she ran down the stairs to tell the old man of what she had witnessed. Ratting them out would save her own skin.
The two had been thrown out not an hour or two later. It had been a harsh winter that year. And that girl, Byakuya had cherished so deeply, and loved so purely, died in that cold winter that year.
Yoruichi pressed her hands to her face and feel backwards on to the bed. Dust flying up around her.
Her fault. That poor girl. She was dead because of her. Poor Hisana.
It was all her fault.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Unohana watched Shunsui and Ukitake get the drinks together. The two with friendly smiles and laughter. As if the past never happened. At least that was what it looked like to the untrained eye.
She knew better. Fake smiles and broken laughter. The once great friends could only now fake it at best.
She wished that this house contained more happy memories. But only betrayal and hate lingered in these hallways. The stench of despair and hopelessness still stained the walls.
She closed her eyes sadly. At one time they had all been grateful to be taken off of the streets, or poor excuses for homes, or orphanages. Happy to have a real family. Yamamoto was a strict man and there were many rules to follow, orders to obey and expectations to meet. Punishments were severe if any of those things were not followed threw.
Yet as long as they had a roof over there heads and a warm bed and three meals, then who really could complain?
Of course it had taken others time to adjust. Byakuya and Yoruichi had come from once wealthy families that had lost everything and abandon their children. Aizen had been rescued from an abusive home. Kisuke and Kenpachi had been found on the streets. Shunsui's family had been killed in a tragic accident and he had no one left. Mayuri was rescued from a fire that had killed his family and scarred his body. And her and Ukitake had both been in the same orphanage together. They had always been together.
Yamamoto had rescued each and every one of them. They owed him their lives.
When did that all change?
When they were old enough to realize just how wealthy the old man was. Aizen had realized it first. He had the keenest intuition of all of them. And that's when things began to spiral out of control.
Shinji and Hiyori were the last to join the family and the first to be removed. Shinji had been found wondering the streets and Hiyori's mom had just left one day and never came back. The story was that the young girl had been waiting on the porch for a month for her mother to come back.
They were the last two, and so they took to each other never really talking to anyone else other then Kisuke, who was friendly to everyone.
Aizen had never liked them, although you wouldn't have noticed it if you didn't know him. He was always lurking and listening to them. The details are mostly unknown to most of the other family members. But whatever Shinji and Hiyori were doing, whatever group they were in, angered the caretaker and he threw them out.
All Aizen's doing.
However no one cared. That was two people out of the running for the fortune.
Yoruichi was becoming dangerously close to being thrown out as well. She had made out with one of the maids and was not shy about sharing her bed.
Kisuke was one of the ones she had shared her bed with. Of course, Aizen had found out.
Of course Yoruichi wouldn't go down without a fight. She dragged Byakuya threw the mud, before she left. Saying he was sleeping with a fifteen year old.
Yamamoto, had thrown Byakuya and the young girl just hours after the news. Yoruichi was also thrown out only a week later. She had gotten an apartment and offered Kisuke and the young girl Hisana a place to stay, but Byakuya was a proud man and would never accept the help from the woman who was the cause of this. He declined Yoruichi's offer. Hisana died in the cold a few weeks later.
Kisuke too was removed after the accident in the basement, Mayuri's doing, though very few were aware that, that incident was his doing. Mayuri left weeks later saying that he no longer cared about the money. He still came to visit now and then, a young girl with him, his daughter he told them. He was caught in bed with her and was never invited back.
That left only five.
Aizen being the favorite. The best at everything. The remaining few were desperate to beat him.
A few weeks after Kisuke's departure from the house, Shunsui got very drunk, and raped his best friend. The already sickly man, was torn to pieces because of the incident. Both men were thrown form the house for homosexuality. And she left with Ukitake as well, for we had never been apart and now would be no different.
That left only two.
Aizen and Kenpachi. Of course anyone could figure out what happened next. Kenpachi was never one for following the rules or obeying what ever Yamamoto had to say. It was very likely he just left after we did, no longer carrying about the money or the struggle for it.
That left only one.
Aizen Sousuke.
Of course it seemed his own heart betrayed him. He feel in love. With another man. And then his own head betrayed him. Instead of staying quiet about his love, he told Yamamoto. Hoping that the older man would no longer hate, because of things like that. Or maybe Aizen hoped that, because he was the only one left that it didn't matter what Yamamoto thought anymore, he was the only one left to get anything.
Aizen was wrong.
And then there were none left.
No one was getting anything.
He still saw them all as sinners, still placed labels like homosexuality and whore upon them.
And he hated her healthy child. Why? Because Ukitake and her weren't married?
'I will always be grateful to Yamamoto for taking us in, and carrying for us. But I thank him for nothing else.'
Unohana opened her eyes again. The men were placing the filled glasses onto trays to take down to the ballroom.
Even in a sea of alcohol the past could not be forgotten. Scars will always remain.
XxXxXxXxXxXx
To Yoruichi the whole night was a blur. She remembered fighting. Yelling. Laughing. Dancing. Kissing.
When she opened her eyes she was lying in a bed half clothed.
She sat up and looked around. The room was only slightly spinning.
She looked around the bed. "God," she whispered. "I really am a whore," She had no idea who she might have slept with, or if she slept with anyone at all.
With a sigh she stood up and put her dress back on properly.
Walking was harder then she first thought. She stumbled to the door and opened it.
The manor was silent. Her yellow eyes squinted in the darkness. Though, she couldn't quite place where she was it was best to keep walking, see if she could figure out where she was.
She ran her hands along the wall, helping to keep her balance.
The only way to go was threw a door.
Carefully she opened it and made her way in.
Ah, the library. Threw the fairly large windows she could see the sky becoming a pale pink. Just enough light to see, not enough to hurt her eyes.
Her yellow eyes were fixed to the window. Thoughts running threw her head like, what had happened last night? Who was still here? Were they still partying?
Her foot hit something soft.
Doing her best to keep her balance she looked down and gasped.
Her yellow eyes wide and fearful. She stepped back quickly.
There in what she assumed was his own blood was none other then Yamamoto!
