I don't speak fluent English but I'm trying my best. YOSH! Let's get it on!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Bleach, and if I was I'll be ending up Byakuya and Rukia together :3
"But Byakuya-boo~ you're giving me much work don't you?"
As the head of the covert ops whined when the young emperor give her the authority to do an inquisition for the black figure lying on the ground. She smiled when Rukia caught her eyes, sitting pretty on her silver cushion located at the corner of the room. The petite young raven-black hair consort suddenly looked at her, smiled and bowed a little. Yoruichi grinned and let out a wave.
"She's gorgeous isn't she?"
"If you mock or make fun of her you will know what's coming at you, got it?", Byakuya whispered yet warned his trusted officer and childhood friend.
Yoruichi held out her two hands up in the air feeling defeated, "Whatever, I'll take care what you ask for Byakuya-boo" With this, she rose from her cushion and let the other members to fetch the unconscious figure on the ground and shunpo-ed to their barracks. Their leader, however shunpo-ed behind Rukia and whispered something. The consort blushed in scarlet and bowed. Feeling satisfied, she smirked at the couple and followed her other members to do her job.
Rukia blushed when Yoruichi approach her in a great speed just to whisper the words, "Don't make Byakuya full of himself ne? You made a lot of progress. Even though I don't see it, I can feel it".
"What does Yoruichi-sama thinking? Does she already know our agreement?", Rukia is in her deep thoughts when Byakuya seated down beside her and pinched her arm. She shrieked in pain and punch Byakuya in his shoulders, "What was that?!"
"You're in your own bubble again, my dear consort", he mocked.
"Jeez when I'm with you alone, cut off the consort thing"
"Whatever oujo-sama", Rukia rolled her eyes.
Silence engulfed the two, feeling each presence. Thinking who had just sent the black figure to kill the young emperor. Sure, Byakuya knows how to defend himself from danger. Even though he's young for his position, still his skills as a fighter never failed him. Rukia looked at him using her peripheral vision. He's still calm despite what just happened earlier. Does it mean that he's already got use to it? The assassin was just a piece of cake to be terrified for? She doesn't know. But in the corner of her heart, she knows that if you mess up with this man, you will be reincarnated to the human world in an instant.
"Hey Byakuya", She moved her head to look at the man beside her.
"Yes?", His eyes are shut but his ears are open and working like a radar.
"Do you always get threats like that?", he knows what she's talking about.
"Yes, but it is the first time that someone attacked me inside my own palace. Once I set my feet outside the palace walls to take trips and to visit very important people, they're ecstatic to send their greetings personally."
"Oh", that's the only word that escaped in her lips. Honestly speaking, having a foreign feeling towards him makes Rukia worried.
"Do you suspect anyone?",Rukia asked. She was quite shaken at Byakuya's statement. No wonder he never go out in the palace once more. It's too risky for him and for his men to handle fangirls and fanboys who is in their violent mode.
"I already told you.. When you're appointed in the throne, earlier than expected, younger than expected, stronger than expected and wiser than expected; you should take precautions on the people whose surrounding you. Y~"
Rukia finished it, "You never know what will happen.. I get it."
Byakuya curved the side of his lips a little, "good".
Rukia felt something strange. Suddenly she stood up, brushed her kimono to straighten it, and looked at Byakuya, "I should be taking my leave now your Highness", then she bow her head down.
"Why in a hurry Rukia?", Byakuya looked puzzled.
She let out her best smile in him which made him stiffen a little, "My family's back! I can feel them already!".
"You felt them?", hiding his amusement in his monotone voice.
"Yes, I know I sound stupid and all. I also don't know how I do it.. I just.. know it", looking for words that best describe what she just felt.
"No wonder they never let you take your own battles", he stood up and also bow his head to her, giving respect. Byakuya never bowed down to anyone except his close family members. Rukia just joined on the list of Byakuya's exception list. She earned it.
Rukia's taken aback of Byakuya's weird doings, "Why would an emperor bow down to someone like her? This isn't right". But somewhere in Rukia's mind, she also wanted to be respected as well as notice her as a noble woman. Hey she still have her last name you know! She smiled, "What a gentleman"
Byakuya smiled, "Thank you, let me take you to your chambers". They both walk towards the door.
She shook her head and wave her right hand in the midair declining the emperor's offer, "I can manage your Highness". She just don't want to hear her brother's and fathers rambling about this. They approve to become his highness consort to teach him and earn money, not coming back home to tell that she had just become the Empress of the whole Soul Society because of love. What a jealous, annoying yet sweet and protective family.
Byakuya let out a heavy sigh, Rukia added, "You know my family".
He chuckled, Oh he knows her family alright."Yes, I know". He felt a stab of pain in his heart when they stopped at the door.
Rukia twirl to face her special friend and pinched him in the cheeks, "You can do that, just.. Not today alright?" She bow down again and walked away. Her battle earlier didn't affect her at all. She's not in a mess, her hair is still perfectly intertwined in her beautiful hair dress and her kimono is still outstanding as ever.
Waking towards her chamber, Rukia smiled to herself. Every single time that she meet-up with Byakuya something strange yet fun happens. He brought more colors to her trichromatic world, which consist of her two brothers and their father. Rukia hummed her favorite pop song while going back to her chambers. "Rose-niisan knows good music. I want to see them already.", Rukia grumbled.
After a few seconds, someone embraced the petite princess behind her back. Her body stiffen as the chest of the unknown man pressed behind her back. She smiled at the known spiritual pressure, suddenly she stab it with her right elbow and kick him on his chest. Luckily, the man back flipped when Rukia twirled around to kick him.
"Nice reflex you have there, imouto", He smiled.
"Whatever Rose-niisan, if you want to hug me just tell me jeez.", she chuckled, run and hugged him. With her height 4'8 1/2 and Rose's height of 6'1 ½, Rose needed to bend just to hug her more securely. "Welcome home, nii-san".
"You like my present?", Rose asked.
Rukia twirled her brother and released him. She put her hands up in the air while jumping like an idiot. "I love it! But where's father and Renji?"
"Looking for us?", a deep yet sweet voice reached her ears. Another two distinct spiritual pressure suddenly appeared out of nowhere to greet them.
"Father! Renji! Welcome home!", energetic as ever, she greeted the two man with their noticeably long white and red hair, a warm hug.
"The family's back, 'ol right!", Renji exclaimed punching the thin air.
"Idiot!", Rukia kicked him on his knees, making him clutch his knees and groan in pain. "What was that for midget?!"
Rukia ran behind Juushiro to become her human shield. She giggled as Rose hold Renji to keep him in his place. She just love to make fun of her family. One of the perks of being the only female in the Ukitake noble household.
"Alright, alright children. Let's go to Rukia's chamber. We've got a lot of things to catch up", exclaimed by the head of the Ukitake Clan.
"Yoooooosh!", the three screamed in excitement.
"Hold up princess", Renji walked infront of Rukia to start a lecture. "You must not on your crazy side when you're here. You must be gentle, soft, be LADY like!"
"Excuse me! I don't care. As long as you're all by my side, I can't stop being ME. You must be thankful. I'm still the sweet, kind, little sister you have!"
"Tch! Whatever.", Juushiro and Rose both laughed at the conversation of the two. These kind of small things makes the strong bond of their family. The sun is ready to set on the Soul Palace. This caught Juushiro's eyes. He sat on the edge of the walkway, giving signal to his dear children.
"Come, before we go to Rukia's chamber, let's watch the twilight".
Rukia, Rose and Renji smiled to each other and sat on the walkway. Rukia and Rose on his left side and Rose on his right. He flung his arms on the shoulder of his children and compress them to his side, wearing his best smile ever. Cold wind caress their happy and contented faces as the sun sets, sending its beautiful colors across the skies. Making it one of their best days ever since Rukia finally got herself inside the palace walls where her family mostly stay because of their work. But does she really know how REAL things happen inside? What is the truth behind this tall walls? She knows deep down that she's being protected by these people seated beside her, and the one who's seated on top with his misty grey eyes.
Hello everyone! Sorry for the late update. I kinda feel crappy with this chapter. I don't know maybe I'm just too busy doing school stuffs. But even I'm busy as heck it doesn't mean I'll leave this sweet thing behind. I named this "TWILIGHT" because Rukia managed to know and interact with the REAL Byakuya yet, people inside and outside the palace want to put an end on the young Emperor's light, leading him into darkness. How will the two manage? That's the trick! Haha. There's a lot going and flying inside my head, I just need to write them down. LOL Anyways, Thank you for reading! Many thanks to those people who reviewed, follow and favorite this story. I'm working on another BYARUKI fic (writing them down on my handy dandy notebook) but still thinking if I can manage to update two fanfics. Give me your thoughts awesome people! ;)