Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, Kubo Tite does because if I did, ByaRuki would be canon.
EDIT 03/02/17: Several scenes have been deleted for specific reasons I'll address on my next update.
The Eastern Gardens
He had seen them.
Ichigo and her—together, alone—in a room.
She watched him turn around gracefully with his eyes closing in the process and leave as if it had never happened. She stood there—shocked and mildly offended by his response to her as if he didn't need any explanation regarding what he just saw. Regardless, she still tailed behind him in an attempt to clarify everything he just witnessed.
But the diamyo appeared impartial to her attempts.
"Diamyo Kuchiki..." She said slowly as she hastily tailed behind him to catch up with his speed. "What you just saw...it's not what you think at all. Ichigo is just a—"
"I do not need any clarification regarding your relationship with the warrior." He interrupted smoothly before she could even finish her last sentence.
"My deepest apologies, Diamyo Kuchiki. Lord Kurosaki just wanted to disc—"
"I said, I do not need any clarification regarding your relationship with the warrior." He interrupted (again). "It is of no concern to me about what you do in your spare time."
"But the Kuchiki Elders...I do not want them to misunderstand what you saw." She said slowly in hidden trauma. "It is my reputation at stake." She explained in a very serious tone.
And he stopped. "If you truly valued your reputation you would not be fooling around with peasant warriors from the lower class. As a woman with the highest noble-ranking status in the country, you have disgraced the honor and pride your family has so carefully acquired in the past hundred years."
"I'm sorry, but making assumptions about me isn't going to solve the issue that you clearly have misunderstood. Forgive me, Diamyo Kuchiki but you have no right to comment about my reputation when you're basing it on facts that are far from true." And although she was upset at his senseless assumptions, she remained respectful to uphold her own respect and honor.
"I don't believe we have an issue." He said with his eyes closed and back facing hers.
"We do." Empress Shiba-Auris said shortly."The issue is, that you're making assumptions based on what you saw before asking for clarification or even listening to what I have to say."
"As I said before, I do not need any clarification regarding your relationship with the warrior. As for your accusation I never assumed that you were romantically involved with the warrior in the first place."
"Again, forgive me, Diamyo Kuchiki but you clearly stated that if I truly cared about my reputation I wouldn't be fooling around with warriors from the lower class—which I am not."
"You misunderstood my intention. I was simply using the warrior as an example to display your lack of nobility and leadership. As a woman of a high-ranking status such as yours, you have disgraced yourself with your incapability of ruling without a husband."
She stepped back.
His ludicrous assumption instantaneously prompted an uncalled reaction.
"How dare you accuse me of being incapable of ruling without a husband? I was never in favor of this marriage from the beginning." She fired back.
"If you were truly capable of ruling without a husband you would not have spent thousands of yen just to have an Emperor rule by your side. The absence of Shiba Kaien has truly displayed your true weakness."
Bastard.
"How dare you mention my husband's name when your family name has never been suitable for the role?" She grew angry. "And how dare you accuse me of wasting money to obtain someone as powerless as you? Your assumptions, alone are disgraceful."
Byakuya silently growled before reopening his eyes that burned from silver to charcoal as he turned around with silent anger. His hand flew to clutch her wrist and tighten his grip on her hand as he stared down at the petite Empress.
The predator caught its prey.
"I strongly advise you to watch what you say to the Head of the Kuchiki clan. Your actions, alone may cost you your life." He warned with a serious tone that caused her to flinch momentarily.
"Are you threatening to kill me?" She questioned. Her small wrist remained tightened within his grasp.
"I am not implying anything of that sort, in fact I am simply warning you that your assumptions and actions are meaningless in this fight as you are in no position to argue with me or make comments about my clan." And she didn't reply. But deep down even she could admit that a small wrench of fear flowered inside of her as she gulped nervously to hear the continuation of his own words. "Let me make myself very clear, I do not tolerate any comments regarding my clan and family name as it is of no concern to you nor will it ever be. As for your disposition, I strongly advise you to choose your words wisely as you will soon become the holder of the Kuchiki name and if you truly value your reputation as you claim, you will prove it with dignity and honor instead of involving yourself in petty arguments that are irrelevant to your family name."
He released his tightened grip and turned around. Her eyes shoned with defeat at his words but her mind refused to believe that she had lost anything. If she could, she would erase their entire interaction and resume to the hopeful state that she had once possessed before.
But she could no longer be hopeful, because Kuchiki Byakuya was everything the servants had depicted him to be.
An arrogant, cold, and senseless bastard that visibly cared about nobody but himself and family name.
Rukia felt like laughing. Laughing and crying at her own stupidity that had shined so brightly to the point where it had burnt her into dust.
But now she knew. She was marrying a man who was more arrogant than the Elders and clearly based everything he saw on assumptions. Assumptions that weren't true...assumptions that could be resolved...assumptions that could be lies.
Drawers and desks were opened and scattered as the mischievous consort searched the old study—belonging to Emperor Shiba Kaien—in search for the files of the division backgrounds that were tucked and hidden away from the palace's walls. After several minutes of searching, the files she had claimed she would possess by the end of the night were nowhere in sight.
However, the consort did not lose hope. They were hidden somewhere else...but where or with whom?
The door of the study remained shut, but from time to time footsteps would saunter up and down the secluded hall—inspiring an alert of panic inside the stomach of Consort Jiahao. Her finger left the edges of the last wrinkled file before closing the wooden drawer and standing up in frustration at her failure.
The consort moved her location towards the bookshelf that was placed in the corner of the room. Hundreds of thick books were placed side by side on the grubby shelf and had visibly been unused after the passing of Shiba Kaien. She inquired the shelf carefully before pulling out a book and flipping through the thin pages of old battle plans and scattered thoughts.
She was finally losing all sense of direction as she placed the book back into its spot before pulling out another and whisking through the pages. She furrowed her eyebrows in chagrin as she placed the book back into the shelf and pulled out another.
They were simply files based on the background of each division, why were they so heavily guarded? She pulled out another and then another as a new pair of footsteps entered her ears.
"Lord Kurosaki! Are you taking the night shift?" Yelled a voice that made her jump. And in her off-guarded state, she carelessly dropped the thick red book that remained in her right hand—earning the unwanted attention of the Lord outside.
With the fallen book and the rushed footsteps to the door, the consort had nowhere to run too and frankly, the unwanted help she wished Byakuya had endorsed during their meeting was more than needed and wanted in her current position.
She froze in her spot as the door flew open and the armed Lord Kurosaki entered the room with a deadpan glare.
"Lord Kurosaki." She acknowledged tensely with her hands forming the formal aristocratic position and a nervous smile. She bowed respectfully before meeting his eyes that expressed curiosity at her presence in Shiba Kaien's study.
"Consort Jiahao," He acknowledged in return before bowing. "Aren't you suppose to be with the Empress?" He questioned shortly after causing the consort's face to nervously forge a reply.
"Well—yes, I am. However, Empress Shiba-Auris requested me to retrieve something for her in Shiba Kaien's study." Consort Jiahao explained nervously, inspiring even more intrusiveness at Consort Jiahao's presence in a forbidden area.
"Oh, well you're not suppose to be in here so I suggest you get whatever Empress Shiba-Auris wanted you to get and leave before we both get in trouble." Ichigo suggested to the woman who smiled in return.
"Yes, I agree. However..." She trailed off causing Ichigo to raise an orange brow. "I'm having trouble finding the files Empress Shiba-Auris wanted, do you mind helping?" She asked with a smirk causing Ichigo to feel a tad bit uncomfortable.
"Yeah, sure. What kind of files did Empress Shiba-Auris want?" Ichigo asked as he walked to the center of the room.
"She wanted me to retrieve the files regarding the thirteen Divisions background checks." She said before pausing. "For Diamyo Kuchiki." She finished with a smirk.
Ichigo scoffed at the mentioning of his name before scanning the room that once belonged to his late cousin. "Well, you won't find them here. When Kaien died, Rukia moved all the files regarding the thirteen Divisions to her own private study. And I don't think you have permission to go there, Consort Jiahao."
"You call the Empress by her first name?" Consort Jiahao inquired. The files were irrelevant, or at least now they were. Now that she knew where exactly they were placed, she could retrieve them tonight and disappear out of sight before anyone could notice they were misplaced.
"Um—yeah, sometimes." He said as his hand touched the back of his neck.
"I didn't know you and the Empress were that close." She said before tilting her head.
"It's not like that, she's a...friend." Ichigo said in response. "A very important friend, that's all."
"Companionship with a warrior? I never expected that out of Empress Shiba-Auris. You both must really share a very important relationship." She teased.
"Um—yeah, I guess. " Ichigo said in discomfort. "We should get going before we're convicted for trespassing." He said before turning around to escape out the door and he had truthfully not expected the next few words that flew out of her mouth as he opened the door.
"But isn't the diamyo, outside already trespassing your territory?"
Ichigo tried his best to suppress a growl. "We should get going." He repeated again before walking out the door, and she smiled.
She had always had a miniature suspicion that the Lord possessed something more than friendly feelings towards the Empress of Japan. His actions alone, had proved his dedication to protect her from the arms of danger, countless of times and his feelings...were at a whole other level. And now she wondered, had he ever disclosed such a thing to the Empress, herself? Or was this just a silly collection of feelings that the Empress remained unknown to?
She couldn't bother herself to ask. It was not like the truth would ever escape his mouth. Perhaps he was still in denial of his feelings or was unsure if Empress Shiba-Auris felt the same. Either way, Consort Jiahao couldn't help but nose her way into his tale of unrequited love. It was ludicrous—disgraceful even, that the cousin of the Emperor would fall in love with the Empress of Japan, the Emperor's wife.
But it was also interesting...interesting enough to have her write a mental reminder to inquire about it later. Because if he indeed had romantic feelings towards the Empress, what did that mean for her wedding?
Did he plan on stopping it?
Intruding it?
The consort didn't know, but she most definitely, cared.
The wedding would be ruined.
Empress Shiba-Auris would be disgraced.
And the entire Shiba and Auris family would fall apart. Again.
Her eyes lit up as she walked out of the old study, contemplating the imaginary scene in her mind.
The morning was warm and bathed with an early peach colour as they prepared for the early dawn wedding.
It was so quiet...so peaceful...so undisturbed.
If only the refreshing and beautiful morning could be treasured as a gift from mother nature instead of a beautiful gift to commence a miserable wedding.
She braced her petite frame against the parted shōji that connected her to her garden. She was defeated. Defeated by her fate. And how cruel and dishonorably did she die in the hands of it.
She turned away from the parted doors and re-entered her newly designed chambers, a soft knock came from the door. It was her Ladies and maids—ready to prepare her for the wedding.
"Empress Shiba-Auris?" Called a voice as Rukia sighed.
Scattered pieces of glass from bottles covered every inch of the floors belonging to Kurosaki Ichigo's room from the kitchen to his connected twin bed in the room. Armor torn apart from his attire rested messily beside the pool of sake and sharp tips of unshaped glass that were stuck between the rugs pointed upwards. His muscular body rested on the small twin bed with his eyes shut tightly and mouth parted open.
Inoue Orihime, a nurse from the medical quarters stared worriedly at the man with spiky orange hair. A single drop of tears spilled silently over her face as she picked up the sharp pieces of glass that covered the rugs. She gulped thickly as she tried not to make any loud noises that could wake him.
The wedding was happening in less than two hours and the intoxicated man known as Lord Kurosaki remained asleep with regret.
Orihime placed a golden tray with tea leaves and clean China onto the small counter as she cleaned up the remaining shards of glass. She scanned Ichigo's figure intensely as she deposed of the last piece of glass and walked closer to his tired body.
"Kurosaki-kun?" She asked barely above a whisper as her hand timidly touched the broad muscles on his clothed shoulder. "Kurosaki-kun?" She repeated again and shook him lightly with a single teardrop dripping off the edge of her oval-shaped face.
His eyes never opened...and she could slowly feel her heart weight itself.
"Kurosaki-kun...please...wake up." She whispered as she scanned his neutral features and gently touched a short fringe of his orange hair. "Please...wake up." She whispered again.
It was painful enough to have him place himself in this position, but the reasoning behind this placement was what bothered her the most.
She gently let her fingers softly trace his skin before removing them slowly and turning away to make tea. Perhaps she'd let him sleep for a while until the wedding was about to commence when he was needed. She pushed herself away from his body as she lit the fire to put the water to boil.
Her eyes landed on the window in the process where a very small garden was placed and cried for the taste of fresh water from the sky. It was enclosed by four grey-stone walls (one being the wall where the window was placed and the three others enclosing the sides). She instantly allowed herself out of Ichigo's shōji to enter the small door at the end of the corridor that served as the entrance to the dormitory's garden.
She untwined the rope that held a bucket of fresh water and poured it among the lush green bushes.
Kurosaki-kun has been so sad these past days...he must be going through something really painful, she thought as she watered the green plants.
"I hope Kurosaki-kun gets better soon." Orihime said to herself as she bathed the leaves with cold water.
And as she showered the garden with the water it needed, the tired eyes of Kurosaki Ichigo's finally cracked open at the sound of showering water.
His vision remained blurry as he stared outside the dirty window to see a figure happily watering plants in the dormitory's small garden. And in that small moment of hope and belief, it was Rukia standing there—watering his plants because he was too lazy to water them or care. But as the image became clearer and the woman proved herself to not be petite, it was Orihime standing there in happiness inside a different world.
He could already hear the sound of thumping pound against his skull as if it dared to crush it right open. He pushed his body up to see the iron pot boiling hot water for green tea leaves scattered on a tray.
He stood up hurriedly to smother the fire before Inoue came in.
"Good morning, Kurosaki-kun." Orihime said as she walked in with dried tears and a wide smile.
"Morning Inoue." Ichigo said kindly to the woman with auburn hair and a kind smile as she entered the connected kitchen with the tea leaves in her right hand.
"D-Did you sleep well, Kurosaki-kun?" Orihime asked as she carefully removed the kettle with water from the turned off stove and poured the water into the teapot.
"Huh? Oh—yeah, how about you, Inoue?"
"Oh I slept great! I actually dreamt of a new recipe I could try to give Empress Shiba-Auris as a gift for her wedding! It's a curry-leaf, banana, and strawberry smoothie with crushed ice and a hint of carrot juice—do you think she'll like it?"
"Yeah, of course Inoue. Just don't serve it to the guests or Elders." He warned with humor as she smiled. "Wouldn't want to destroy the wedding." He muttered bitterly causing her expression to slightly fade.
"Of course! I want Empress Shiba-Auris to have the best wedding ever! If the Elders or guests got too excited over my cooking, Shiba-san's wedding would be completely ruined because everyone would be too focused on my smoothie!"
"Changed my mind, maybe you should serve your smoothies as free samples to the Kuchiki clan. I'm sure Empress Shiba-Auris would be delighted to have your help."
"Really? I'll have to ask her to make sure though. Plus, I might not have enough time! I'm Shiba-san's flower woman and all the flowers I've decorated for the event are still locked up in my room and I still need to get ready!"
"How about I deliver the flowers and you go get ready for the wedding?" Ichigo suggested as Orihime poured him a cup of tea.
"Oh no, Kurosaki-kun! I can handle it myself." She said kindly before sliding the cup to Ichigo's hand.
"Are you sure about that Inoue? What if you don't have time?"
"Don't worry! Uryū and Chad have already volunteered to help so don't worry about it."
"Alright." He said with a smile before sipping the hot tea from the cup. And it was well deserved after a night of senseless drinking and the dry taste of sake still left on his tongue and lips. Orihime poured herself a cup of tea and sipped it quietly as silence engulfed the pair that stood near the counter of the kitchen.
"Kurosaki-kun?" Orihime's voice called shortly before Ichigo voiced a 'huh?' and averted his attention towards the auburn-haired woman.
"Is everything...alright?" She asked with concern and quietness as her expression expressed uncertainty.
"Yeah, Inoue. Everything's fine." He lied as he allowed his expression to avoid deceit. "Things have just been...busy, that's all. I haven't really had time to visit my dad or sisters with all the work the imperial palace has been loading on my division."
Kurosaki-kun is finally opening up to me...she smiled.
"O-Oh well, why don't you talk to Empress Shiba-Auris to revoke some of your division's duties so you can visit Mr Kurosaki and your friends? She was here a few days ago...correct?"
"Empress Shiba-Auris is no longer in control of our division's work, Inoue. The new Emperor will be sworn in tomorrow." He said in a bitter tone.
"Oh right, I completely forgot! Kuchiki Byakuya, right? I don't think he'll be too hard on you since it's his first day."
"I highly doubt that, Inoue. This Kuchiki Byakuya isn't friendly, trust me."
"O-Oh well I kinda assumed he was since Shiba-san likes him so much!"
"You talked to Rukia about him?"
"W-Well no, but on the other day during the tour they seemed to be getting along just fine. Shiba-san even took Diamyo Kuchiki on a small private tour around the bridge near the Eastern gardens and picked him some plum blossoms for his tea!"
His body tensed. "Oh really?" He clenched his teeth as his expression went neutral. "Is there anything else Empress Shiba-Auris and Kuchiki Byakuya did that you know of?"
"Well no - not really. After Uryu finished giving the tour of the Eastern side of the palace, Shiba-san and Diamyo Kuchiki departed privately so she could give him a small tour of the gardens before he left with the Kuchiki Elders and his samurai division."
"By any chance did you see anything else?"
"No, I'm sorry Kurosaki-kun, that's really all that happened. And all yesterday Empress Shiba-Auris was in the fitting room with her Ladies so I wasn't able to talk to her. Apparently she was refusing to eat the meals the servants were providing her."
"Refusing to eat?"
"Yeah, Lady Rangiku told me that she wasn't feeling too good so she tried to stop eating for a while and ended up eating nothing all day. I went to her chambers last night to look for her but...she wasn't there."
"Dammit, Rukia. It must be the wedding or something she ate." Ichigo theorized in concern. "Did that bastard Diamyo give Rukia anything to drink or eat yesterday?"
Orihime stared at him and shook her head in confusion. "I don't really remember...Kurosaki-kun."
"She picked plum blossoms for his tea, so does that mean she had some too?"
"Hmmm...let me think." She said as she gazed up at the ceiling in remembrance as the flashback came rushing back.
Flashback
"This is the imperial palace's central training grounds – specifically designed for the Emperor and his most trusted subordinates to train in for battle or regular use. It contains some of the most common and complex swords that are used in the art of swordsmanship and are mastered by the Emperor, himself. The history of these swords date back to over two hundred years ago when the Auris family's youngest child became a prodigy in the art of swordsmanship." Uryu explained to the group as they peer into the large training room containing a huge dark forest green rug designed with two large gold symbols meaning 'the reign of the Emperor'.
The soon-to-be Emperor examined the large training room as the Empress and her Ladies remained at the back of the large group in quietness and peace. After their infuriating encounter, Rukia decided to keep her distance from the arrogant man and indulge in her own serenity as the tour of the palace came to a concluding end.
The entire Eastern side of the palace was finally known and discovered to the Kuchiki clan, leaving only the Eastern gardens (where the wedding was to be held) left for Kuchiki Byakuya and his clan to see.
And as they departed from the central training grounds – also known as their last stop on the tour, Rukia felt a sign of relief wash over her since the Kuchiki departure was long overdue. But as the group came to a sharp and unexpected stop, Rukia truthfully did not expect the next words that flew out of her great aunt's mouth.
"Empress Shiba-Auris, why don't you give Diamyo Kuchiki a small tour around the Eastern gardens? After all, you are to be wed there very soon." Sarumi said with a voice that left no room for negotiation.
"That would be really nice however, I think Diamyo Kuchiki would prefer to leave for now since it is very late and he must return home." Rukia said quietly to the Elder woman.
"That will not be necessary." Said a voice that she had not expected to even make a sound after her respectful reply. "I would like to visit the gardens once more before my recession and leave with the Elders."
During the process of his response he had turned around to face her as the watchful eyes of her great aunt Sarumi pounded through her skull. It was only then when she nodded her head and slightly bowed to the Elder woman and lead Kuchiki Byakuya away from the crowd.
The walk away from the group of Elders was peaceful...quiet...silent. The pair entered the entrance of the Eastern gardens through a parted shoji and exited away from the area where their wedding was to be held. Rukia decided to lead him to the outer border of the garden where a small bridge and lake were visible under the presence of growing plum blossom trees.
But Rukia—being his trusty tour guide—decided that shattering the silence would help her feel more comfortable around the man set to be her husband, since she was his soon-to-be wife.
"It's quite beautiful, don't ya think? The moon...the trees...the lakes...the peace. I've always loved the Eastern gardens for being so peaceful and relaxing, it's always been the most beautiful place in the palace to view the moonlight in the spring and the sunrise in the morning. Most of its light belongs to the fireflies but the scent belongs to the sakura trees we grow in the palace's gardens. You—um...like sakura...correct?" She asked to confirm Uryu's research.
She looked up at him to see his face nod with a grunt to assure that she was correct. "My favorites are the white plum blossoms that bloom in early spring. Mainly because the petals resemble the sun and moon."
And he did not ask for her favorable blossom. But he replied regardless of her unwanted interest. "If you are fond of sakura petals that resemble the white moon, you would do well by knowing that the apple blossoms can offer you the same kind of favorable liking as well as the pear blossoms. There is no drastic difference between the three."
"I disagree." His eyes averted to hers shortly but she wasn't looking. "White plum blossoms are different than others because unlike other blossoms, they can bloom both in the winter and the spring. They exemplify contrast between two objects or things and how beautiful they look when they come together."
He hadn't asked for an explanation. But her opinion was truly an interesting one and her analysis was something he'd never bother himself to go into depth to for.
And after a moment of silence and peace, she parted her lips to speak once more in an attempt to have him speak more than four sentences. "How about you?" She asked with her eyes looking up to view his pale face as they passed by a stream filled with water.
And he was silent for a moment. He mentally contemplated whether speaking was appropriate in his current position or if he should just shrug her away. But with such little time, he spoke to reply.
"I truly believe that all sakura are exquisite in their own way. To choose a favorable one would be an insult to the beauty each and every one of them contains." He spoke with his deep and baritone voice as he viewed the sakura trees she had mentioned as they slowly headed towards the small bridge arched over another stream.
She was quiet again. Mainly because she didn't know how to continue a conversation with him when he was so unsociable and evidently very displeased with her presence. Even she could sense his discomfort of being with her, so why did he insist on having her tour the gardens with him when he could've went home?
She mentally sighed at their predicament as neither one dared to talk and interrupt the silence. And by now, she could tell that after they were married, she would be the one doing all the talking.
"Empress Shiba-Auris?" Called a small voice that averted the pair's attention and body to turn around and see a tall servant girl with a tray of teapot China and leaves. "Your Elder, Lady Sarumi requested me to bring this tea set for you and Diamyo Kuchiki. You may use the extra tea leaves if the flavor is not suitable enough to your liking."
Rukia nodded her head as the servant lady rested the tray onto the round table ahead of them. She bowed respectfully to the figures before disappearing into the night and allowing both, Byakuya and Rukia to walk further ahead and sit (uncomfortably) in their seats.
Rukia was the first one to grab the teapot and pour the scorching liquid into the teacup of her liking. But after realizing he wasn't going to make an attempt to speak at all, she poured a cup of tea for him to avoid asking.
And as she distractingly made his tea, one eye cracked open to view her insert a plum blossom petal in her tea.
Then suddenly—a figure, with too-familiar orange hair found a way to reflect in her violet eyes behind bush not too far away from her. She felt a gleam of hope shone in her eyes at the thought of Ichigo being the one that was there. But no—it couldn't be. And even if she wanted it to be, she knew that she had to let him go. She had to come to terms with her own agreement and yet...she wanted it to be him.
She placed down her teacup before giving the diamyo one last glance to see that his eyes were still closed. She took that as an invitation to leave and investigate the orange fringe she had spotted shortly. She lifted her petite body up and muttered an 'I'll be back' in the event he ended up following her and discovering Ichigo and her—together—again.
Her eyes scanned the atmosphere before meeting the same orange fringe she saw before. And as a glint of hope consumed her eyes, she quickly jogged behind the bush and parted her lips to say his name.
"Ichi—Inoue." She acknowledged in surprise at the presence of the nurse who stared in embarrassment at her discovery.
"S-Shiba-san!" She smiled. "I was so not stalking you and your future husband from the beginning of your tour!"
"I lost something on the way here and I thought I'd find it here." Orihime finished.
"Oh, no worries Inoue. I'll help you find what you're looking for." She smiled at the auburn-haired woman. "Just tell me what it looks like and I'll start searching."
"Oh no, Shiba-san! I-It's okay! I can definitely handle it. And besides, aren't you suppose to be returning to your future husband?"
"He'll be fine without me. So, what's this thing you were looking for?" Rukia asked to alter the subject away from the arrogant Kuchiki.
"O-Oh well it's—um—small...and um...very fragrant and it's—her eyes adverted to the sakura petals dangling above their heads—very pretty! Yes, very pretty! And...white."
"What is it?" Rukia asked.
"That's the thing, Shiba-san! I don't know. And I was hoping you could help me find it."
"You're searching for a thing you don't know?" Rukia asked.
"Uryū told me that thinking about something that you don't know or understand is good for both the male and female brain and body."
"Oh, I see. Well, um—how can I help?"
"That's the thing, no one can help you figure it out except yourself."
"Oh...well then I guess I'll go." Rukia said sadly as she took a few steps back. She didn't want to return to the strained silence she shared with the diamyo, she wanted to talk to someone—to converse, like normal human beings but perhaps, the diamyo was different from them and that's what she hated the most.
"I'll get going too, Shiba-san! Nice talking to you." Orihime said before bowing respectfully and disappearing into the bushes and trees. Rukia watched her go as she sorrowfully traced her eyes to the white plum blossoms that dangled above her head. She had thought twice about mentioning her love for stark white plum blossoms and their portrayal of contrast. But in an attempt to get him to talk, her explanation was necessary but she had later figured out that the diamyo shared no interest in talking.
She sighed as she outstretched her hand to cup the blossoms in her right hand. And before she knew it, she was picking the white blossoms off the tree and placing a few of them into her hands before departing back to her seat of loneliness.
Walking back into the view, the arrogant diamyo remained in his seat with his eyes closed and tea left untouched.
With the plum blossoms in her hand, she returned to her seat and placed a few on the tray before slipping one into her tea.
And with both of her eyes opened, she noticed that the liquid in his tea was still untouched and unbothered—much to Rukia's annoyance. But in an attempt to notify him of her displeasure, she slipped a white blossom into his cup of tea and returned to enjoy her own.
"Diamyo Kuchiki...earlier today, I think we suffered a bit of a small misunderstanding and I was hoping...we could clear the air now before our wedding." She said quietly with the rim of her teacup pressing onto her lips.
"There will be no need for that as there was no misunderstanding as I stated before." The diamyo finally said after a long pause.
"There was a misunderstanding...and to end it I just wanted to apologize on behalf of the Auris clan for my rude behavior and comments regarding you and the Kuchiki clan." She said. "It was very rude of me to accuse you of being powerless when I was unaware of your skills, my deepest apologies, Diamyo Kuchiki for my negligence."
"There was no misunderstanding. Your apology is excused."
Why can't he just accept my apology for once?
And why can't he speak more than two God damn sentences per ten minutes?
At this rate, we're going nowhere. And frankly, I can't stand being here any longer.
"I have matters to attend to, I will take my leave." He said before standing up—which the Empress shortly followed.
"I'll walk you out." She said kindly as she rested her teacup onto the table and smoothed out the creases of her kimono.
"That will not be necessary." He interjected with his voice filled with authority and power.
"But Diamyo Kuch—"
"I said it is not necessary." He repeated again with a dangerous intonation and something about the way he said it told Rukia that he was not the type of man who liked repeating his words.
Flashback end
"Nope. She gave him a cup of tea with sakura and he didn't drink it." Orihime said as she met Ichigo's eyes again after her remembrance.
"Of course he didn't." He scoffed. "He's a diamyo, nothing's ever good enough for them."
"Ah well, I have to get going now Kurosaki-kun. I have to get ready for the wedding and make sure all the flowers are ready for Shiba-san. See you at the wedding!" Orihime said before bowing and departing through Ichigo's shōji—leaving him alone to ponder about the Empress and her sudden urge to not eat.
He wasn't the best chef in the world, but even if he had no intention of going to the wedding, Rukia needed to eat. And it was obvious that her arrogant-ass fiance was the only one capable of causing it in the first place. But even so, risking himself to enter the Western side of the palace was not something he wanted to do.
He wasn't going to the wedding, but he was going to see Rukia one last time.
I will find you.
"Good morning, Sir." Said a member of his division as he walked past the men in speed, he managed to slip out a 'good morning' as he escaped through the dormitory's metal door and entered the next bridge that separated the 3rd from the 2nd.
He wasn't going to miss her.
He would catch her before she entered that carriage. And no one was going to stop him.
Not even her.
And not even you, Rukia. Not even you.
That photograph.
That shrine.
That face.
That smile.
The prestigious and handsome samurai warrior feared his own second wedding more than he feared his own death.
He couldn't bring himself to meet her eyes again because of the disgrace he weighted so heavily on his shoulders. The woman was too identical—too similar to the woman he loved and seeing that woman draped in a kimono and call herself his wife drove him more angry than he was used to being.
She was not his wife.
And no marriage, blood, or family could determine that personal title, but him.
And he made a vow...a vow to protect Hisana's legacy by distancing himself from his soon-to-be wife and ruling majesty. Her face was too painful, too hopeful, too yearning for him to even look at, let alone be in the same presence in.
And in his current state, he couldn't bother himself to worry about such trivial matters such as feelings or possibly ruining the girl's mentality for life. All he knew was that he had to stay away, for the sake of Hisana and most importantly, for the sake of himself.
He took one last look at the painting of her face before turning around and walking out of her shrine for one last time, because Hisana's memory would stay. It would stay for the sake of her and most importantly, the sake of himself.
And with those final thoughts, the soon-to-be-married man slipped away from the scene—with his black-coloured groom attire and a face as cold as the Eastern gardens' leaves.
Shiba-Auris Rukia & Kuchiki Byakuya
Invite you to celebrate their imperial wedding at the midst of dawn on the seventh day of the new monthly year in the Eastern gardens of the palace.
If you've received this letter of celebration, please be aware that your attendance is an absolute must or else severe consequences will be issued and executed by the imperial court on the very next day.
With regards, The Shiba-Auris Imperial Palace
Her thin white veil bathed her figure with a pure white light as it lugged behind her petite figure with her Ladies—so beautifully draped in a pale peach kimono—holding onto the tips of it.
She sighed heavily as her guards surrounded the group of noble beings and the white carriage appeared on the smooth stone-grey road.
Her two consorts—Sung-Sung and Haruna lifted the edges of her long kimono as they stepped down the cold grey stairs with their heads lowered and voice silent.
And as she reached the bottom of the final last stair, her eyes averted straight to the carriage that was awaiting her presence to fill the empty space until the familiar voice of her warrior love soon reached her ears and unfortunately for him, she couldn't help but want to hear.
A stern expression graced his face as his right hand held out something in her reach. He bowed respectfully before uttering her name—the wrong name, the formal name—Empress Shiba-Auris.
"Empress Shiba-Auris." He acknowledged during his bow.
"Lord Kurosaki." She said in return with her voice sounding too hopeful, too sad, too happy for his sudden arrival. "W-What are you doing here?" She added shortly to bring seriousness to her previous emboldened tone.
"Omaeda wanted me to bring you this." He lied before handing her the black box that she accepted. She looked down at the box before looking back at him.
"Omaeda wanted you to bring me this?" She asked in surprise at the Head Cook's generosity in such a moment.
"Yeah, he—uh—heard you weren't eating so he thought that you shouldn't be starved before the wedding."
"Didn't Omaeda leave an hour ago to prepare for the wedding?" Lady Iri questioned, earning a glance from all the Ladies at her state of oblivion.
"Oh—um yeah he did, he gave this to me yesterday night and told me to give it to you in the morning." Ichigo explained to Rukia who still held his gaze.
"O-Oh well um, tell him I said thanks."
"I will, Your Majesty." Ichigo reassured before looking up to notice the 5th Division guards watching him seriously.
"Lord Kurosaki, Empress Shiba-Auris must take her leave now before time runs out. We're suppose to be circling the palace." One of the guards said with a thick black mustache and squinted eyes. Ichigo mentally nodded his head in response before looking down at the Empress.
"They're right." Rukia said with a grieving tone. "Thank you for bringing this to me. I'll surely eat it on the way there."
"Make sure not to spill it on your dress." Ichigo said before releasing a heavy breath and staring at her as she slipped away into the carriage.
Her figure disappeared into the isolated carriage with her Ladies and consorts left to ride the next. He watched the carriage disappear with Rukia inside trying to calm himself down.
This wedding wasn't for her, it was for her life.
And Ichigo had to understand that. But why did he have to lose her as his future wife?
Ichigo didn't know. But certainly fate was planning on creating a devious battle for Ichigo to fight. And regardless of the amount of casualties, lives lost, bloodshed, and sins, Ichigo was going to win.
For the sake of Rukia, he would will win.
She opened the box to reveal vegetable egg noodles and set of red chopsticks.
It's still warm...she commented as her petite hands felt the sides of the black box before grabbing the red chopsticks to devour the meal she knew Ichigo (sneakily) prepared. And with that thought in mind, a memory came rushing back.
"Ichigo, you cook?" She had asked before jumping off the counter in his kitchen after curiosity had gotten the best of her.
His lips had tugged at her interest before a faint crimson blush had graced his cheeks. "Yeah, a little. My sister—Yuzu—usually makes my meals."
"What do you cook?" She had questioned before leaning closer to peer at the kamado.
"It's a surprise." He had said.
"Ichigo!" She had raised her hand to hit his shoulder but he had casually moved away and smiled.
"Don't worry, you'll get to taste it. Just give it a little while. I'm sure your taste buds can wait a little longer to taste commoner's food, Rukia."
"Can I have a few guesses?"
"You can only have three."
"Three?"
"And each one you get wrong means you have to stay back with me for one extra hour per day."
"Deal."
"Go ahead."
"Hmm...alright, how about that spicy curry we ate the other day in my chambers for lunch?"
"Nope—Yuzu made that, I shared that with you because I knew you'd like the pickles and rice. " He had smirked before looking down at the kamado.
"Umm...how about rice balls?" She had exclaimed with brightened eyes at the thought of her favorite food with a smile.
"You're wrong again." He had smiled with his eyes still lowered on the burning kamado.
"Give me a hint." She had asked.
"Rukia, that'll give it away."
"That's the point." She had smirked.
"Fine—think about eggs."
"Eggs?"
"I won't tell you what kind of dish though."
"Fine, okay umm.... how about, omurice?"
"And it looks like you owe me three hours of your time, Ms Shiba-Auris." He had smirked with satisfaction.
"Ichigo! What is it?" She had asked.
"Close your eyes." And she had followed.
Her eyes were shut tightly and the anticipation had slowly began to kill her as the scent engulfing the air could definitely be classified as a delicious one. And when she had felt a hot plate settle in front of her, she couldn't help but open her eyes, but Ichigo's warm hand had covered her eyes before she could even take a glimpse and she hated him for it.
"Ichigo."
"Not yet." He had whispered with his hot breath near her ear. "Open your mouth."
She had parted her lips slowly so that the chopsticks he brought to her mouth could fit in and soon, her taste buds had erupted in delicious pleasure to the food she was devouring in her very mouth. She had opened her eyes after his hand slid off her face to see noodles—egg noodles made by Kurosaki Ichigo to perfection.
"How is it?" He had inquired after analyzing her features.
"Ichigo...this is...amazing." She had said before shoving another mouthful of the noodles into her mouth. And at the time, she didn't even know what egg noodles were but when Ichigo had displayed them in the most appealing and promising away as possible, she could not resist the taste.
"What is this?" She had asked with the chopsticks placed in between her fingers.
"Egg noodles."
"Egg noodles?"
"Made specifically for the Empress by yours truly."
"Oh really?" She had laughed. "You should make them for the Empress more often, I'm sure she wouldn't mind having a taste."
"I think I might take you up on that offer after the Empress fulfills her promise."
"What promise?"
"You owe me another hour, Shiba—so let's not put it to waste." And that was the end.
Rukia pulled herself back to reality as the chopsticks remained placed in between her fingers as she slowly entered the food into her mouth.
And as her eyes traced the box, it landed on the cover she had gently put aside that contained a note.
A note.
Addressed to her.
Rukia.
In small black ink that couldn't go unnoticed as Ichigo's messy penmanship.
The box was quickly discarded to the side as her hand flew to the note to unfold it immediately. Her eyes scanned it thoroughly before reading it once out loud before a thousand times in her head. But no matter how many times she read it, she only ever had one response.
Remember me. Remember us. And never forget, I love you too much to ever let you go.
Ichigo.
She felt her heart weigh with pressure as she stared at the pathway she was set to walk upon, with her Ladies at the back of her and her consorts waiting at the very front of the aisle that was beyond the pathway she was set to walk on.
The longer edges of her kimono were upheld by the slender fingers of her Ladies as she stood in front of them. Her eyes and mouth remained silent until Lady Rangiku unexpectedly spoke.
"Um Rukia? I...about Ichigo, are you sure you want to do this?" Rangiku asked in a quiet tone after a long while of silence.
"Rangiku." Nanao warned.
"I'm fine, Rangiku." She lied. "I'll make it through this."
"But Ichig—"
"I know." She said in a saddened tone. "But I let him go for a reason and...he's letting me go too."
"He let you go?"
"Hai." She lied. "We both want what's best for each other and this wedding is the only thing that will benefit me and the thirteen Divisions, greatly. It's really okay..."
"And Ichigo's acceptant of this?" Momo asked in a soft tone.
"Hai—he agreed." She said with her eyes still focused at the end of the path. "Now all that's left is my acceptance of this wedding." She muttered to herself.
She stopped in front of a clustered tree to take a few deep breaths and rid herself of her constant anxiety.
"You'll be fine, Rukia. I know you can do this." Rangiku said with a reassuring smile and a hand on her left shoulder.
"Y-Yeah Rukia. We'll be right behind you." Momo assured.
Nanao gently smiled.
Iri nodded her head.
And Rukia knew she wasn't going to be alone at this wedding, for sure.
Rukia turned around and gave them one last final smile before she began to count down.
Seven.
Her breathing heavied.
Six.
Her lungs clenched.
Five.
Her pulse quickened.
Four.
Her body quenched.
Three.
Her heart hastened.
Two.
Her eyes cried.
And one.
She couldn't breathe.
The priest and the priestess were located directly parallel to her current position with a umbrella held to shade them as well as the groom and arriving bride.
Guests were perfectly placed in a surrounding circle with their heads turned to face the walking bride.
She had only paid them a quick and unnoticeable glance because the first person's eyes her two flowers of wisteria always seemed to the meet, were the only things worth watching in the morning light.
But there was something different about those silver eyes. Something new. Something strange. An emotion or feeling that couldn't help but inspire a little confidence in her stance as her vision caught something the prestigious Kuchiki Byakuya never seemed to have.
Shock.
That glint of shock that had detonated in his silver eyes had caused them to widen at the sight of her covered face as her petite figure walked in a straight line towards him with grace.
And when the glint finally faded away, his eyes inserted a more serious and common emotion to reclaim his facial features as her body reached closer to him and shyly looked away before she reached the stance where they were both required to stay.
Her Ladies and Orihime made a bow, before disappearing to the side with petals for the crowd.
The Head priest of the nearest Shinto temple stood in the middle of the silent pair as the audience made themselves seated after the arrival of the bride.
He didn't look down at her.
Instead his eyes were focused on the priest and priestess as her eyes gazed up at him.
Nervousness took over her features as the final words finally escaped the Head priest's lips before their bond of marriage would be sealed forever.
"Do you, Kuchiki Byakuya take this woman right here to be your wedded wife?"
Silence.
Breathing.
Wind.
Anxiety.
Air.
And he didn't even look at her when he uttered the very words that would seal them together for life and for death.
"I do." He said with his deep and baritone voice as a sigh of relief breathed from the humongous crowd.
The priest and priestess turned.
"And do you, Shiba-Auris Rukia take this man to be your wedded husband?" The priestess asked and she gulped with fear.
He'll throw you under the tables before you can even step on the floor. He'll have mistresses, visit brothels—even bring one of them into your room. Is that really what you want, Rukia? Do you want to be discarded as a toy all your life or mean something like you've always deserved?
Ichigo.
And besides, whether he's willing to make a commitment or not, you only need him as an ornament, not a man to love.
Nanao.
Help me, please.
"I..."
His eyes narrowed.
Listen, if you and Ichigo are truly meant to be together, life will find a way to make it happen. For where there's sun, you'll find a moon, and neither one could ever be forsaken.
Rangiku.
You've been so absent from the moonlight that you've forgotten every time a flower blooms, it grows.
Nanao.
Remember me. Remember us. And never forget, I love you too much to ever let you go.
Ichigo.
"Empress Shiba-Auris...?"
"I..."
She knew she was going to regret this later, but with all the worried eyes gazing at her, it had to be said.
It had to be done.
"I..." The chests of each guest came to a rise as the words finally articulated in her mouth.
You're getting married, Rukia. You're getting married.
This is it...this is finally it. This is my fate—standing right here, this is the man I'm suppose to learn to love.
But then...why does it feel so wrong?
Why do I feel so defeated?
"I...um..."
I'm suppose to be happy. I'm protecting my clan and family, what more could I possibly want?
Ichigo will let me go. It will take time, but he will.
Forget him. Forget him please...
This man is suppose to be everything I want.
"I..."
Now all I have to do is let go—feel free.
I have to let you go—my regret, my pain, my suffering.
I have to...so why won't you let me free?
Let me go, please.
Let me go.
Kuchiki Byakuya is my fate...so please just set me free.
"Empress Shiba-Auris...?"
"….don't."
End Note
And that's all we have for today! It only took me about nine days to complete this chapter which is strange because I usually take an entire month to write, edit, and revise so congratulations to me! As for the next chapter of TEHH, I fear that it might have to be delayed since I haven't updated my other story TIM (The Iced Moon Arc) in almost two months due to writer's block and now I've finally found my TIM planner to write the next chapter. So here's the deal: if TEHH can get 7 reviews and 3 follows I will try my very best to update the fourth chapter as soon as possible. Perhaps on July 15th or earlier. As for my TIM readers, I will start working on the new chapter tomorrow!
Note: Please check Images For This Chapter to depict scenery, clothing, characters etc.
Images For This Chapter (View kagomesangos Tumblr and click The Emperor of Her Heart)
Ichigo's window (2)—There are two pictures regarding his window. One regarding appearance, one regarding length. The first one is appearance the second one is length.
Outer border of Eastern gardens (night)
White Plum Blossoms
Vegetable egg noodles
Rukia's white veil (Taken from Yang Mi's—also known as the beautiful Qiao Fei in Les Interpretes—wedding)
Rukia's Ladies' kimono
Rukia's wedding kimono
Eastern gardens (morning) pathway
- NairaRains/kagomesangos
