AN: I AM SO PISSED OFF RIGHT NOW. i forgot to add kensei and mashiro! D: oh well. they make an appearance in this chapter. this chapter took a long time writing because i was fangirling over ikuto from shugo chara =A= lol sorry this chapter's kinda boring and kinda short =A= so anyway, enjoy~
Both Yoruichi and Kisuke ran frantically to and fro in the kitchen, screaming at each other. "Princess Yoru! Please, please, please calm down!" Kisuke begged as he chased Yoruichi around. There was that odd name once again. I watched from the tall stool, stroking the black fur on Mister Yoruichi. He purred as he watched alongside me, Yoruichi turning to scowl at Kisuke. "You blasted fool! I told you not to call me that here!" She hissed as she threw another pot onto the floor. I hadn't seen what the problem was; we had no ingredients. Why was she so angry? They both turned to me as I winced slightly by their sudden gaze, both of which pointing a finger at me. "M-Miss Rukia..." Kisuke began, "Will you go down into the cellar and ask the blacksmith if he has anything?" Yoruichi finished through her teeth as I nodded quickly. The cellar? The blacksmith? I swallowed hard, leaving the kitchen frantically, rounding the corner into the Young Master's arms. He grunted in frustration, his hands around my arms as he pushed me aside. "Watch where you walk, woman." I glared at his back as he walked away. Here was my bloody moment to ask where the blasted cellar was! "Master Kurosaki?" I began as he continued to walk away. "What?" He said rudely with his hands in his pockets, looking over his shoulder slightly. "Where is the cellar, may I ask?" He stopped for a moment before laughing sarcastically. "The cellar? Why must you go to the cellar? I hadn't asked you to go to the cellar." The Young Master said, finally turning around to face me. He had a snide smirk, his eyes narrowed slightly.
"If you do not wish to eat lunch, then I suppose I will not have to go." I said, crossing my arms as his eyes widened slightly. He regained his composure quickly, and began to walk away as he spoke. "The cellar is past the kitchen, down six halls, turn left and on your second right. Who lives down there is Father's blacksmiths." The Young Master rounded the corner as I went back to the kitchen, peering in for a moment. The two had their backs towards me, whispering something as they bent over to touch it. "Princess Yoru~! What is it?" Kisuke whispered, as Yoruichi's shoulders shrugged. "Why must you call me that?" She whispered back as they both looked at the mysterious object in front of them. "Because! I had forgotten about it, but when we went to meet them, Gin reminded me. Now, Princess, what is it?" Kisuke pressed again as I pondered the thought for a moment. Princess? What did that mean? I shook my head vigorously, leaving the kitchen and going past the kitchen, walking the six long halls, turned on my left heel and looked to my right to see a large door.
As I knocked on the door, a loud shriek came from the kitchen, followed by, "Princess Yoru! Mister Yoruichi had kittens!" I shrieked as well, the door opening as I fell in, tripping down a few steps. I had fell on my bum, rubbing my head and side as I heard somebody laugh manically, sending shivers down my spine. I walked slowly and surely down the long, spiraling stairs, hoping not to slip and fall once again. I listened carefully, the sounds of a person hacking away stupidly against a metal surface starting to annoy me. I heard mindless shuffles of another, and the soft giggles and near silent snarls of irritation. Closer and closer I had gotten to the bottom, the color of fire licked the walls gingerly, warming my face and hand as it guided me down the slippery stairwell. Three steps to the bottom, the thrashing had stopped, as well as the giggling and shuffling. "What's wrong, Kensei~?" The giddy voice sang as a question. "Shut up the hell up, Mashiro. Don't you hear it?" A more husky voice asked, snarling.
After another moment of silence, the thrashing of the metal began once more, a childish singing beginning as well. I finally stepped onto the flat ground of the cellar, large boasting flames shattering against the metal that surrounded it. Around the large cellar that was engulfed in the light of flames was one large bed in the middle of everything and many racks with broken swords and whatnot. Steam hissed, catching my attention as I yelped in surprise, the loud thwacking beginning as the steam subsided. "What do you want?" Asked a rude snarl as a gray-haired man looked up from beating a black, long sword that glowed slightly. His body build was different from the Young Master; far more muscular and he seemed more rough. The girl standing behind him had an odd color of bright green hair, an orange bow around her neck as well as a tight white dress.
"I-I uh... Miss Yoruichi and... Kisuke were... wondering if you had anything to use for lunch?" I stammered, staring at my feet as I heard no answer. I looked up to see the girl gathering things in the dark, humming as the man known as 'Kensei' picked the sword up once more. "Your name." He demanded, looking over the sword carefully. "Kuchiki Rukia, newest maid to Master Kurosaki." I answered as the girl came back with many things; breads, jams, nonperishables. Kensei pointed the sword towards me as I took the food cautiously, "Newest maid? Are you one of us?" He asked, pulling to sword up into his view once more. "Kensei! Kenseiii! You don't ask her that!" The green-haired girl screamed, her hands on her hips. "Shut up, Mashiro. And judging by that confused look on your face, I don't think you're one of us. Take this and give it to your master. He requested it to be fixed." Kensei said, tossing a sheathed sword at my empty hand as I caught it, fumbling. I looked at the dark sheath, the black handle with red diamonds and the intriguing guard. A chain rattled on the end of the hilt; it looked like the opposite of my own.
"Thank you." I said curtly, turning away to ascend the spiral steps once more, hearing behind me, "Kenseiii~! Do you think she's one of us?" There was that odd grouping yet again. I looked at the sword in my hand, feeling a surge of energy ripple coarsely through my veins. So he did have a sword. It looked very nice and seemed to suit him quite well. I walked quickly and carefully up the stairs, making sure I hadn't dropped anything as I opened the door and entered the light once again. I walked swiftly to the kitchen, seeing Kisuke holding six kittens, three in each arm, as he cooed to the each them.
I entered the kitchen to see Yoruichi gathering small blankets from the back room, setting them onto the counter as Kisuke set the six kittens onto them. They noticed me quickly, taking the items from my hand, their eyes slowly eating the sword. I held it tightly as they both stared, their faces contemplative. "Miss Rukia, you acquire a sword from the blacksmith?" Kisuke asked, stroking his furry chin. "N-no, this is the Yo- Mater Ichigo's sword. The blacksmith had informed me to give it to him, for he requested one." I answered quickly as Yoruichi swiftly took it out of my hands. "Hm, I see, he had requested this. He must've chosen the design himself. I knew he was one of us." Yoruichi murmured to Kisuke who nodded intently. So the Young Master was apart of this rubbish as well? I must know, now. They two turned to face me once more, Yoruichi returning the sword to my hands, looking over her shoulder slightly to Kisuke. "Shall we tell the Young Miss now, or wait, Princess Yoru?" He murmured into her ear as she shook her head. "She has only come, we shall tell her when the time is right." She murmured back as Kisuke nodded, smiling towards me.
"Young Miss, deliver the sword and hurry back, we shall prepare Master Ichigo's lunch." He said cheerfully as I nodded slowly, leaving the kitchen once more to hear him speak quietly, "We must tell her soon, Princess."I rounded the corner and entered the slightly opened doors to see the Young Master sitting in the study, looking over some books. Is that all he did? Look at books? He didn't looked up quickly, taking his time finishing the last page of whatever he had read, and when he finally looked up, he glared. "Who had given you permission to touch my sword?" He growled as he stood up abruptly. "The blacksmith had sent me here to deliver your sword!" I barked at him as he flinched slightly. The Young Master scoffed, smoothing out his tie as he sat back down in the large chair. I walked towards his desk, setting the sword down and began to walk away. I heard the sword be picked up gently, the unsheathing and the sounds of the chain rattling.
I hurried back to the kitchen to see Mister Yoruichi -or Misses Yoruichi now that she had her kittens- sitting on the counter, lapping at a saucer of milk. I took a closer look at the kittens - many had white spots in the black fur, vice versa, and two different eye colors that were all different shades. From a blazing green, to a pale greenish-yellow and a bright purple to a soft lavender. Many kittens meowed as I touched each of their soft, warm heads. Mister Yoruichi came and licked my fingertips when Kisuke and Yoruichi emerged from the back room with six equal ribbons. "What are you going to do with them?" I asked, genuinely curious. I had remembered once when Brother had found kittens. He hadn't let me keep one; instead, he had given them all away. I had hoped they were not going to give them away.
Yoruichi picked one of the kittens up, tying a blue ribbon around its neck. She then handed the kitten to me as I took it gingerly. "We're going to keep two; one for you, and one for Kisuke and I. We cannot take care of six kittens and Mister Yoruichi at once while dealing with our kitchen duties." I nodded, stroking the kitten's white and black spotted fur as it purred. "We're going to give the kittens to Gin and Rangiku, Shinji and Hiyori, one to Toshiro, and the last one to Kenpachi and Yachiru. I think they need some thing sweet in their hectic lives." Kisuke said, finishing another bow on the last kitten with green eyes. They picked the one with a stripped green bow that was black with purple eyes, setting it next to Mister Yoruichi as the others were put into a small shoe box. Kisuke set the box in the back room as I set the small kitten in a large pocket that was on my skirt. It poked it's head out, Yoruichi handed me a plate that had what I supposed to be the Young Master's lunch on it.
As I left the kitchen, I pondered a name for my new kitten. Looking at its droopy eyes and watching the little kitten yawn as I walked down the hall. He seemed tired. Tsukareta was the name I chose for this little piece of joy. I liked the name; it suited this black and white kitten perfectly. "Your name... your name is Tsukareta. Do you like it?" I asked the little, tired, furry face in an equally little voice. He yawned, sinking a bit deeper into the pocket as I absentmindedly walked past the Young Master's slightly opened door. I walked back to see him leaning against the desk, holding a paper as Kon scratched at his legs. I opened the door gently, seeing his face look up from the paper to my face then at the plate of food.
"Rukia, my lunch I presume?" He asked as I handed him the plate. He didn't even thank me as he looked at the desk. Tsukareta meowed loudly as the Young Master looked at me oddly. I smiled weakly at him, watching him peel the meat from the sandwich, hanging it over the nose of a hungry Kon. I pulled out the sleepy kitten, holding him out to the Young Master who scoffed. "Where did you get a kitten?" He asked, taking a large bite out of the bread and lettuce. I shrugged, setting the small cat onto my shoulder. "Mister Yoruichi had kittens." The Young Master choked on his bread for a moment, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "You mean that dirty, stray cat that eavesdrops on Kisuke and Yoruichi. It had kittens?" He asked as Tsukareta clung to my blouse. "She isn't dirty and she isn't a stray! She's a nice alley cat!" I persisted as the Young Master laughed sarcastically. "Yeah, yeah."
I glared at him, leaving to my room, and as I opened the door, the Young Master called after me. "What?" I answered rudely, the Young Master throwing a balled up piece of paper at me. "Learn manners, you loud, tiny witch." He said, finishing the rest of the sandwich. I scowled at him as he wiped his hands on his pants. "I need you to reorganize my papers and my clothing in the closet. Before, pick that piece of paper up." The Young Master was getting on my nerve as I picked the paper up and threw it at him. The ball hit him in the head as he growled at me, picking it up and tossing it into the waste basket. Entering my room, I walked quickly to my bed, twisting the blankets up into a small bed-like circle and put Tsukareta into it.
Leaving my room, I had seen that the Young Master had picked up many more boxes from the back room and set them on his desk. I gaped at him then scowled as he put his hands on his hips and looked at the large mess. "Ah, well have fun. Organize it by date and if it doesn't have a date, then toss it out." He instructed as he grabbed his coat. "Wait. Where are you going? And how does someone like you acquire this much paperwork?" I yelled after him as he slipped an arm through the coat. "I am going for tea. My father is a renowned doctor, therefore he is visited by many people a day. He acquires all of this paperwork that I must organize." The Young Master explained, wrapping a scarf around his muscular neck as Kon hopped into his arms. If he was supposed to file his father's bloody paperwork, then why do I have to do it? "Why in bloody Hell do I have to, then?" I asked him as he smiled snidely. "You are my personal maid, and you shall do as I say. Have fun. I'll bring you back a slice of cake." He said sweetly before setting Kon down onto the floor and leaving through the large doors.
Blasted fool. I sat down in his large seat, looking at the bloody papers. Damn him. And then I must clean out his rotting closet. I sighed loudly, Kon perking his ears as he laid down on the floor. I begin organizing the Doctor's large amount of files.
Two bloody hours and I still wasn't done. I cursed loudly under my breath as the door opened, the Young Master coming in with a plate in his hands. "Eh, Rukia? Not done yet, I see." He said with a smirk, setting the plate with a beautiful piece of cake on it. I see he hadn't gone back on his word. The Young Master put his coat up on the coat rack, taking an apple from the fruit bowl that sat underneath the coat rack. The Young Master came and leaned against the desk, watching as I fumbled with the sheets of paper. "This is bloody hell." I growled at him as he bit into the apple loudly. "You had signed up for this job, it is your duty. Hurry up, you must clean out my closet as well." I stood up quickly, taking the Young Master by surprise. "That bloody closet smells awful! Do you expect me to sit in that foul hole and clean out your closet?" The Young Master scoffed, smirking as he chewed slowly. "Stubborn, are you? If you wish not to, then you are free." He said, throwing the core into the waste basket. Did he just dismiss me from my duties? "Why?" I asked as he shrugged, "If you insist you do not want to, I do not have to force you. You are a woman, are you not?" He asked with a smirk as I scowled. He was being too kind. Scowling, I pushed from the desk, walking swiftly past the Young Master.
What was it with his... his sweet demeanor all of a sudden? This morning he had nearly snapped my wrist and threatened me and now... now his bloody saccharine behavior was sick. Was he toying with me? Damned fool. He sat down slowly, looking over what I had done, his lips set straight. I closed the door behind me quickly, nearly fumbling over my feet as I strode to the kitchen. Yoruichi and Kisuke both stood with their backs to me, the pair standing over the stove. "Did you find it, Princess?" Kisuke asked as Yoruichi shook her head. "You, Kisuke?" She questioned as Kisuke shook his head this time. "What are you looking for?" I asked as the two jumped out of their skins, turning to me slowly. "We lost Maneko." He admitted sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "That's a nice name." I said as he nodded in agreement, continuing to look around. "Oh, Miss Rukia. Would you ever be so kind to take these kittens to our friends?" He began as he and Yoruichi tried to pry the stove from the wall.
Me? By myself? No way in bloody Hell am I going to see that blasted, insane baker! "B-by myself?" I managed to say as Yoruichi shook her head. "No, no. Of course not. You and Master Kurosaki. And I advise you to ask him to bring along his new sword." She said as Kisuke gasped from pulling away to stove, then hissed as soot attacked his face. "M-Maneko! Oh dear, Maneko~! Where have you gone?" Kisuke sang angrily, swatting the soot out of his face as he coughed gently. "Oh blasted Hell! There you are!" Kisuke yelled, pulling out a black kitten that coughed near silently. The striped green ribbon around its neck was slightly dirty as Kisuke hugged it to his face. "Oh Maneko~! My pride and joy! Never, ever run from us again!" He said, kissing its tiny nose as it licked his in response. "Kisuke. You talk as though it is one of your own." Yoruichi said, washing her hands as Kisuke smirked. "Why yes, yes I do. Unless you feel as though we need a child, then-" He was cut off by Yoruichi hitting him in the head gently with a pan. "Eh, Princess! Why so rough, now?" He asked, rubbing his head gingerly. "Do not talk that way, Kisuke. We do not have room for a child."
"Aw, Princess Yoru~! Children are so sweet!" Kisuke cooed as I took the box with the remaining kittens and left quickly. I walked to the Young Master's room, entering without knocking. He looked up from his filing, eying the box in my hands suspiciously. "Rukia, what is in the box?" He asked, continuing his files. "Kittens. Miss Yoruichi wants you and I to deliver them to a few friends in Karakura." The Young Master looked perplexed for a moment before nodding. "Hm, I see. Why must I go?" He asked stubbornly as I sighed. "Because they do not want me going alone." He scoffed, raising an orange eyebrow. "Is that all they said?" He asked once more as I scowled in frustration. "They said to bring your sword." This time he looked up. "Why?" I shrugged as he stood up, brushing imaginary dust from his pants. "My sword, you say? Hm, interesting. Okay. Come, we shall go."
The Young Master grabbed his coat, waiting for me to get mine. As I exited my bedroom with the remaining four kittens. His sheathed sword hung from his waist, barely visible from the long trench coat. He wore a light orange scarf around his neck, hands in his pockets as he waited. I on the other hand, wore a short jacket with no scarf. I held the box tightly, making sure to keep it up right. I heard soft meows sing from the brown box as I followed the Young Master out the door.
"I still do not see why I need to go with you to deliver a few bloody cats to people I do not know." He grumbled, arms crossed and sitting in the opposite direction as me. I smirked. I see he hadn't met these people quite yet. "We are going to deliver the four cats to Gin and Rangiku, Toshiro, Shinji and Hiyori, and the last to Kenpachi and Yachiru." I said as he furrowed his brow. "And yet, I do not know these people by you telling me their names." He snarled, looking out the small window. I laughed sarcastically as he rolled his eyes.
"They are interesting people." I said. The Young Master raised an eyebrow, "Whatever you say." And that was when our idiotic journey had begun.