A/N:

Kae: Chey-sama is still currently out trying to capture the hunky rokubantai taicho *swoon* but she said that she hopes you enjoy this little chapter as well as the Ichi/Ruki moment for all you reader wishing for their kissing! (I'm the muse that helped with that…I didn't do half bad.)Enjoy! (^-^)

The King's Death

Cheyanne Bourne

Chapter Five-A room in the palace-Ichigo

After falling asleep from completely emptying my stomach earlier this morning and brushing my teeth, I awoke to someone opening and closing my door. Small hands move across my face and down my body. I smile softly.

"Rukia what are you doing?" No one answers and I decide to crack one eye open. I see the tight blond ringlets dancing along my chest. They curl up to a darkly tanned face set with full ruby red lips and dark brown eyes. I open my mouth and my verbal filter completely shatters no doubt waking everyone on the floor and maybe the floor beneath and above us. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?"

I crawl across the room, in a quick crab walk before stopping when my back hits the wall. She smirks in a way that she thinks is seductive and moves toward me on her hands and knees. Her cleavage looks as if it about to fall right of her dress with how tight the fabric is around it.

"You know you want me Kuro-sa-ki-kun." She murmurs tip-toeing her nails up my bare chest. I shudder in disgust and think about washing my skin until it begins to bleed.

"HARUTO…KENSHIN…HELP!" I shout moving away from her again I move to the next wall and she follows. The door slams open with a bang and Haruto draws his sword as Kenshin does. They stare at the woman in shock before Kenshin leisurely reaches down and grabs her by the back of the dress hauling her up off the ground and away from me. She glares at him as if he were the one doing something wrong in the situation is she mad?

"Leave me alone with my future husband you idiot!" She shouts going to swing at him He catches her fist in his free hand and stares at her daring her to try something more. She shrinks away from his heated gaze. Rukia walks to the door rubbing at her eyes and then looks at me before looking to her. The heat residing in her normally heaven sent gaze sends shivers down my spine but not out of desire. She looks into my eyes and sees the shock in them before turning to the woman.

"Who are you?" She mutters darkly her emotions making her usually blissful reiatsu sinister and foreboding. I move farther into the wall, if that's even possible, with each word this woman speaks seemingly unaware of Rukia's mood.

"I'm Kurosaki-dono future wife silly woman. He loves me see he even gave me his mother's engagement ring!" She squeals causing me to flinch at the high pitch of her voice while showing off a pale white diamond that looks pretty cheap if you ask me. Rukia's laughter fills the room and she clutches at her stomach as if she was in pain. The female held up by Kenshin glares and crosses her arms with a pout.

"Really…because I've known Kurosaki-dono for quite some time and I believe his mother's engagement ring was black and silver, am I correct Ichigo?" I look to her and see the humor in her eyes. I finally calm down and feel sarcasm well in me.

"Yeah her ring was black the same one that's on your finger or have you forgotten Rukia, I think all that partying last night got to you." I say rubbing the back of my neck and shooting her a 'help me' look. She flashes me her signature Rukia Kuchiki smile before turning back to the woman and allowing her reiatsu to flare out nearly making the woman pass out.

"It's sad really." She mutters darkly while picking at one of her nails. Rukia really can be scary sometimes I wonder how I haven't ran from her screaming by now…oh yeah I fell in love with the little she-devil.

"What are you talking about?" The woman gasps her eyes searching Rukia's face.

"If you can't stand my reiatsu then how would you ever be able to stand Ichigo's at its highest level, his reiatsu is higher than that of a taicho's level and it literally chokes you with how intense and sinister it is. Don't worry though you're too weak of a woman to be with Kurosaki-dono anyway so why are you here. You are stupid, pathetic, and a useless piece of noble whore that has her head stuck up her father's ass so far that you can't even see your feet. Get out of my sight, get out of my house, and never return. I swear to the Kami and any god available if you ever touch my fiancé again I will allow my blade to freeze you for fifty years and then shatter you into a million tiny pieces to sprinkle in my tea every fucking morning. Do you understand me?" Rukia mutters darkly her reiatsu increasing with each word and nearly choking the woman. She struggles to breathe and Rukia glares with smoldering eyes as the woman tried to gasp out words.

"You bitch!" I stand and wrap my arms around Rukia unnoticeably positioning myself in front of her. I turn to my guards leveling my voice and using as much authority as possible.

"Kenshin, Haruto please escort this woman back to her home and tell her family that if she ever steps foot on my property again I will not think twice about having her killed and for doing so in the first place uninvited they will pay a heavy fine." Her eyes widen at my words and they take her away leaving me with Rukia. (Kae inserts Ichi/Ruki moment)She turns around and stares at me before pressing her lips to mine passionately and in a domineering manner. I allow her to have her moment of dominance to stake her claim and reassure her before I turn us and press her against the walk taking her mouth in a searing kiss while exploring her wet cavern and delighting in her delicate taste. Her fingers knot in my long hair and she moans softly in pleasure. My lips leave her mouth and travel along the side of her neck where I nip the skin there careful not to cause bruising because that would ruin things for us. I sigh knowing it must end and return my lips to hers in a simple yet sweet kiss.

"We must stop…" I grind out pulling away to keep my own control. She stares at me and frowns softly her eyes filling with worry.

"Why…" She whispers her eyes dropping. I move forward pressing against her again and leaning down to her ear. She shivers in delight at feeling my obvious need for her. I begin to speak slowly trying to control myself.

"Ruki…this has nothing to do with you if you cannot already tell I desire you much the same way you desire me but if we were to be found we would not be permitted to wed…as it stands I would like to bathe I smell of alcohol." I nip her ear once and back away from her as she giggles. I chuckle and walk to the cabinet to get towels.

"I didn't see you drinking last night, wait Nii-sama was drinking as well last night…did something happen?" I look at her over my shoulder and she chokes back a laugh at the look on my face.

"Let's just leave it at I swear to all that is good Rukia, we will not have sake at our wedding or after. The Gotei 13 cannot under any circumstances control themselves when it's around. Renji and Tōshirō were the worst. Renji tried to tickle your brother, Byakuya…the head of the Kuchiki clan…when he was armed with Senbonzakura!" I hold my hands out in front of me and shake them for emphasis. She break her control and laughs loudly before we both pause at hearing a load bang almost like some hit the floor. A few moments later Byakuya walks past with his hands in his pockets whistling quietly to himself.

"Nii-sama where were you just at?" Rukia says kindly while watching him as he stops at the doors. He turns and looks at us both without emotion…ah the famous Kuchiki mask. I hate when Rukia wears that damn thing when she fights back emotions.

"Oh me…I was just talking to Renji about the use of sake in any more parties that's all. I'll be in my room, tell me when he tries to find me alright?" As he leaves Rukia bounces over to me and capture my lips in a quick peck before walking to the doors, bowing to me, and shutting them tightly. I lock them before walking into the bathroom shaking my head and get a quick shower. The warm water sooths my head ache from my hang over and soon enough I'm dressed again and preparing for my first outing with Rukia as my intended.

"Hey Ruki, are you ready yet?" I ask in a polite and relatively quite tone from the other side of her door after knocking. She slips it open and walks out in a beautiful dark blue kimono with bright pink flower petals all over it. The obi is the same shade of pink and her hair is pinned away from her face with a dark blue comb with pink jewels on it surrounded by delicate hand painted vines holding them as if they were flowers.

"You look beautiful." I look up and down the hall before reaching out for any reiatsu in distances before pressing my lips to her softer ones in a longing filled kiss. We pull apart and I run my figners along her cheek gently loving the feel of her skin on my hand again. "I missed you." I capture her lips again but this time in a gentle and adoring kiss. I pull away and step back as I hear someone turn the corner. Renji wobbles toward us with a horrible hangover and a huge black eye along with a cut on his forehead.

"Hey Renji what happened to you?" Rukia says poking at his eye. He flinches back and bats her hands away.

"Hey would you stop that it hurts. Let's just say I'm not allowed to drink sake anymore or at least until I can control myself when I do. Do you know where your brother is?" Rukia nods and we lead him to Byakuya's room. Sliding the door open he goes in and I can hear Byakuya speaking to him.

"Abarai if you say one word to me today I swear the Kami-sama that I will make sushi out of you. Now get to the barrack and do the damn paper work that is set out." Byakuya growls and then a red blur rushes pasts us. I hear her brother chuckle and I poke my head through the door. I offer a solid smile and he shakes his head form his spot in front of a table with a cup of tea to calm his aching head I would know I had the same tea earlier before I left to pick up Rukia.

"I wish I could scare him like that, have fun." His eyes narrow and he shakes his head.

"I wish I didn't need him for paper work so bad or I would make that threat a promise." I snicker and slide his door shut. Turning I see Rukia staring at me in stunned amazement. I pull her along with me as she opens and closes her mouth repeatedly.

"Did you two just have a civil conversation?" She murmurs her voice cracking slightly.

"Yeah we found a common irritation last night and drank to that you could say." I look over and feel a smile creep onto my face as I see the silly yet tender smile that was settled on her soft lips.

Her eyes are cast down gracing the ground with the sight of their beauty and allowing it to get lost in their blue and violet pools. Her face is relaxed with a pure mask of joy painted across her skin. Her lips are tinted red and then I feel it…her small hand lace with mine and with a slight tug I pull her close to my side. Her head leans on my arm and she looks up at me with love and innocence along with a passion and tenderness that draws me in. I've seen this tenderness only a few times because it's there when she tends my wounds and when she helps me. Her main link is anger but it's nice to see this side too. Her face is so open that it's almost like a work of art making you feel things that the artist chose. This artist has captured my heart, my soul, my entire being all with one piece and I'm not sure I'll ever give the painting back for fear that she won't return to me.

"Rukia…" Her eyes question my soft sigh of her name and then she laughs before pulling me along beside her. She turns around and almost dances backwards while laughing with me. I follow along with her as people smile and coo at us in appreciation.

"Aren't the King and Future Queen pretty momma?" A little girl says staring at us in awe. Rukia looks to her and then releases my hand. I almost miss her touch enough to reach forward and recapture it but I do not. She moves toward the girl and then bends down to her level.

"Hey sweetheart what's your name?" She grins up at Rukia and I smile at the two. The little child seems so innocent she reminds me of the look Rukia would give me when we'd talk about things she didn't really know about in the world of the living like the first time she used a juice box.

"I'm Sacura…you're really pretty…I want to be just like you. I'm going to go the academy and get into the Gotei 13!" The girl says shyly tapping her toes against the ground but you can hear the pride seeping from her voice. Rukia smiles in admiration and her eyes glisten.

"Hey Sacura I want you to have something…" The little girl nods confused and Rukia pulls the comb from her hair letting her bangs fall into her face. She hands it to the girl and touches her hair softly. "Promise me that you'll never give up Sacura. I want you to follow your dreams and do what you feel is right. If anyone tells you different prove them wrong."

"H-Hai, domo-arigato Kuchiki-sama." She says wrapping her arms around Rukia tightly with her eyes wide in wonder. Rukia smiles and runs her hand over the girl's hair again before pulling away from her.

"I expect to see you doing great things Sacura and when you see me in the future call me Rukia." She nods vibrantly and hugs Rukia tightly. I can see a small bout of longing in Rukia's eyes and remember briefly when she told me she's always wanted children. Rukia stands and pats the girls head before taking my hand again. She waves as we continue on our way.

"Thank-you Rukia-sama and Kurosaki-dono; goodbye!" The little girl wave back and runs over to her mother grinning brightly. I pull Rukia close to my side and rub my figners over her shoulder thinking of how amazing and caring she is. Without her in my life I honestly don't know what I'd do.

"Why'd you do that Rukia?" She sighs and plays with one of my fingers.

"Ichigo when I was younger a woman told me the same thing. She was my sister. I didn't know it at the time but she gave me that comb. Once I found out about her Nii-sama gave me a letter from her. It said that if I ever found a girl that had big dreams and a big enough will to get where she wants to pass the comb onto her. It's been passed around for centuries from random people to perfect strangers. You know exactly when to give it to someone. It's like karma, if you do something good you receive something good in return. Mine just happened to be the other way around because I got you before I gave it away." I look at her before pressing my lips to her hair.

"I love you Rukia." I mumble into her raven locks taking in her scent. She tightens her hold on my hand and I wrap it around her body wanting to never let go.

"I love you too, Ichigo, I always will." She replies staring up at me with her beautiful orbs portraying only pure love, honesty, and devotion. I stop and pull her to me pressing my lips to her forehead in a sweet and innocent enough kiss.

"Come on we should get something to eat." I say smiling down at her. She nods and allows me to lead her into a restaurant for some lunch.

"Here are your orders please enjoy your meals. If there is anything else please just ask." She bows and scurries away. I hate that everyone gets so nervous around me.

"Why do you think everyone is so nervous around me?" I say looking across to Rukia.

"You're the King for crying out loud Ichigo, and it doesn't help that you're Ichigo Kurosaki the man that did the impossible so many times. You killed Aizen, killed the bounts, and you're higher than a taicho's rank in the amount of reiatsu you have." She says smiling and laughing softly before gripping my hand in her smaller one. That look of pure amusement has been one I have received many times but it's a look I love to see on her face because her eyes widen and they glimmer with unreleased laughter and her lips pucker and tilt up just slightly.

I squeeze her hand tightly before replying to her statement as if it were a question but not because she asked…because I wanted her to know. "Yeah but to me none of that means anything to me; if I wouldn't have saved you the first time I don't know what I would have done, if you would have died that day I wouldn't be the same. Rukia you're my reason for doing everything I did. You felt so greatly about everyone here and I felt the same way because it was important to you, sure in the end I made some lifelong friends but you know I'm a loner by nature. You bring out the best in me, and always have, you kick me in the ass when I need to get up and bring me down from my high horse, no pun on my hollow intended, when my head gets too big. You're my everything. Even back, all those years ago, I knew that and that's why I had to save you, I didn't want to be who I had been before I met you. I couldn't go back to that man, I wanted what I had a taste of, and that was you." She stares at me shocked and a smile forms on my face before she looks away and blushes slightly. Her figners twitch and she tightens her hold on my hand before placing her other hand over mine.

"You know Ichigo; I know how you feel, before you I was just empty and then it's like I was blind and then I could see. I'm sorry if it's not as long as your rant but in my mind nothing can beat what you've just told me please understand that you are the one thing I can't live without. If you were to die today so would I. Maybe not in the physical way but I would never be me again…because the only way I can be myself is if you're standing beside me." Her words cut at me and then tie my wounds with such care that they make me stronger and make my heart beat faster and more powerful.

I know why I love her; I can see why it's her, why it's always been her. Sure when we first met I thought it was because she was the first friend I could truly share myself with, but it was much more than that and deep down I knew that. Rukia was my reason…she destroyed the wall I built up around myself inch by inch revealing a new person. After my mom died I didn't have a reason I had a life and myself that was it. Then Rukia showed up and everything was there again, feelings and emotions, duties and most of all love. She's is me.

We eat and fall into a very comfortable lull of silence. Rukia finishes around the same time I do and we order a slice of cake to finish off our meal. I feed her a bite and she laughs softly before doing the same to me. Oddly enough I feel like if one would look at us they'd see that couple you scoff at on television that are madly in love but it doesn't bother me as much as I thought it would.

"Why did it take us so long to get together? To realize we love each other?" Rukia says softly looking out the window and at the crowded streets. People pass by and some stare unabashedly at us while others glance repeatedly before smiling and walking away.

"Maybe the risk of losing each other made us realize how important we are to each other. Or maybe we just weren't ready for one another. There were things you had to discover about your past and things I needed to learn of myself before we could do anything for another person." She nods and looks to me before smiling and stealing the last bite of cake.

"So why don't we go for a walk and then you can walk me home, ne?" I grin and place the money for our meals on the table before walking out with her.

We walk around passing barracks and people but we never notice anyone. They talk and say things but it doesn't matter, we're together and we're getting married in a few weeks then we have to take the crowns and thrones but it will all come when it comes for now I'm content with Rukia's grip on my hand and her head on my arm as she points out people and places around the Seireitei telling me stories about her times in them.

Will this feeling ever leave me; I hope with every part of myself that it doesn't. It's rare that the King and the Horse agree on anything but Rukia is the exception in my world. Hollow, human, zanpakuto, vizard, shinigami; everything agrees that Rukia is everything and we will give every part of our soul, our body, and our power to do anything for her.