Bound by Duty
Light of 1000 Stars
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. Just write about it.
Warnings: None.
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Chapter Seven
It was beautiful, Rukia noticed. Fingering the cold silver of the locket, she closed her eyes and sunk deeper into the warm, soothing water of her basin. Lost in the steam, she slowly opened her eyes once more, and tugged the locket off of her thin neck.
It really was beautiful. The beaded chain worked its way down to the charm, which was shaped into a silver, metallic rose. Rukia felt a sad smile fall upon her lips.
"This must've cost Renji a lot of what he can save up." She spoke to herself, her voice bouncing around in the small bathroom. Rukia had not been able to examine it so closely the day Renji had given the gift to her; she was overwhelmed with separate emotions to notice the appearance of the locket. She wondered what Renji had to go through to give her such an expensive gift.
She sighed. "It's only been a few hours and I miss him already." Rukia put the locket back on, letting it fall onto her bare chest.
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Ichigo sighed for the millionth time. "Look," he said firmly. "She'll be out in a few minutes. All the while, just stay put, alright?"
Isshin grinned. He began pacing again. "I can't stay put, son. I'm much too excited. She has grown into a wonderful woman." Something made Isshin stop and look down at his son kneeling below him on the floor. "You're mother would've been proud. Very proud."
This startled Ichigo and caused him to look up. Isshin caught his gaze with his own, relaxed one, and smiled down at his son. Ichigo, recomposing, grunted in annoyance and looked towards the shoji door of his room.
Isshin finally sat down before Ichigo, crossing his legs and straightening his gi. "Ichigo," his tone was serious, like it always was when he gave a lecture about Ichigo's marriage.
Ichigo looked at his father with a scowl. "What?"
"Tell me." Isshin searched his son's eyes. "What do you think of her?"
Ichigo looked away, breaking from his father's gaze. "Why does it matter now?"
"I want to know," his father said lowly. "I want to know if you will be able to learn."
"Learn to what?" Ichigo asked, irritated. "Learn to wait for women while they take a bath?"
"Learn to love her." Isshin said, his voice faint. Like a wind. "Be able to care for her. Protect her."
Protect her.
"Of course I will." Ichigo felt angry all of a sudden. "I'll be able to protect her. Are you saying I can't?"
"No matter what." Isshin continued. "Even if you risk your own life. Will you be able to watch over—"
"This is stupid." Ichigo stood, holding his urge to hit something. "I won't let her die, if that's what you're worried about." He walked towards the kitchen. "I won't leave her side; even though she's still a stranger to me. I know the answer you're looking for. You want to make sure to never let that woman die for my sake. Yeah, it would look bad if a Kurosaki couldn't protect his own wife. I'll do it. You have my word."
He hated his job…but that was all a Kurosaki could do. Hold up the family name. There was no love in anything he did, except for the love of his own name.
Isshin closed his eyes once his son was in the kitchen. He wasn't sure what to say or tell his son, because half of what Ichigo had said was true. But the other half…
"I want to know. Will you learn to love her?" he whispered. "Your mother and I…we did."
"You deny change in your life. And so, act careless. Son, this is not just something you can throw over your shoulder. A marriage—you have to cooperate with your wife to hold a successful marriage. As a Kurosaki, you have to carry—"
"on the family name through the birth of a son." Ichigo finished. He looked at his father without blinking. "I know that. Inheritance. Got it."
"Inheritance," his father echoed, standing from the wooden floor of the dojo. "My son, you will learn that your place in this town is not only to live and breathe. Not to make your sons Kurosakis. You will learn, life is so much more."
Life is so much more…
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Isshin came home, soaked to the bone, with a bundle in his arms. Masaki, Ichigo, Yuzu, and Karin went to their father, half curious and half afraid.
"What is it?" Yuzu asked, poking the bundle. Isshin chuckled, pushing back his wet hair and placing the bundle onto the ground. Masaki took her husband's shoulder, eyes curiously questioning.
"See for yourself," were the father's words.
Karin boldly unwrapped the blanket to reveal a young girl of five years, long flowing orange hair falling to the floor.
"A girl?" Yuzu asked, her eyes growing wide. "Can we keep her?"
"She's not a puppy, Yuzu. Show some respect," tiny Karin spoke.
Ichigo blinked at the young girl. "Did you rescue her?" he asked his father. Isshin nodded. "Poor girl. Her brother died before I could save him."
The girl opened her eyes, revealing light brown orbs that met Ichigo's own. Ichigo gave her a smile.
"Hi."
"Hello," the girl squeaked back, blushing and wide-eyed. Masaki took the girl by the hand, asking her for her name. The three children followed their mother, excited by the new presence.
"Orihime."
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"Oh! Lord Kurosaki!" Orihime bowed. "Would you like something to drink?"
Ichigo's scowl was confused and angry. Orihime could read that much. Her smile faultered into a questioning frown.
Ichigo looked at the tiny tea kettle hanging above the fire in the corner of the kichen. Sighing, he ran a hand down his spiky hair.
"No, Orihime. I'm fine. I just need a bit of time to think."
Orihime studied his face; he was definitely angry. He kept his thoughtful gaze on the floor, which was another gesture for Orihime to not further question him. Politely, she bowed and left the kitchen, full of wonder of her lord's depression.
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"I'm terribly sorry!" Rukia bowed. "I didn't mean to make you wait, Lord Kurosaki!"
Isshin chuckled lightly, motioning her to sit down before him. "It's quite alright, Miss Kurosaki."
She took her spot, watching him. "Is there something to tend to?"
"No, not at all." Isshin smiled. "I just haven't gotten to speak to you directly since the wedding—since you were five, for that matter."
"Ah…"
"Are you comfortable here?" Isshin dove for the point, all the while keeping his casual smile.
"With no disrespect, sir." Rukia kept her gaze on the floor, taking interest in the specks of sand that lined the wood. She had always been taught to do so. "It has only been a few hours."
She could almost feel him stiffen.
"But," Rukia quickly recovered. "I am quite happy here. I'm sure the life I will share with Ichigo will be a nice one."
Ichigo appeared from the kitchen. "Oh. Rukia. I didn't know you were finished."
"Quite alright Lord—Ichigo." She mentally cursed. Stop messing up!
She felt Ichigo sit beside her, crossing his legs. "I see you've met my father," there was a gruffness in his voice, and Rukia absently straightened at this.
"Yes." Isshin stated. "And it seems that she is still not comfortable here. Or maybe she is uncomfortable with my presence."
Isshin stood. Rukia shot her head up, wide-eyed. "No sir, I didn't mean to offend—"
Isshin smiled at her. "I don't take it as offense. Just normal nerves. Please, if anything goes wrong, don't be afraid to tell me." With that, Isshin bowed and left the dojo, shutting the shoji behind him.
Rukia could feel her heartbeat still going. Why was I acting as if he were Byakuya?
Lord Kurosaki. A noble unlike any I've known. She smiled. He didn't want my submission; something Hisana had told me to always give to higher-ups.
"Eh, Rukia?" Ichigo's voice broke her train of thoughts. Startled, she turned to her new husband in question.
"Are you afraid of my father?" there was amusement in his eyes.
"No, I'm not afraid," Rukia tried to hold in her voice to keep from snapping at him. Her blood boiled at his insulting, degrading comment. She forced out a smile. "I'm not afraid."
"Good. Because he's nothing to fear." Ichigo stood for a moment, rubbing his neck. "It's getting late. We should go to sleep, shouldn't we?"
She could hear the nervousness in his voice. She was too. And it felt a little better to be able to share the same feelings with him.
"If it makes you more comfortable," Rukia offered politely. "I can sleep on another mattress."
Ichigo's lips deepened into a frown. "All of the other mattresses are taken by the maids and servants."
"The floor," Rukia patted the wood around the splash of her kimono.
Ichigo sighed in irritation and wiped his face with his hand. "No I can't have you doing that."
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::I can sleep on the floor. There's no problem with that.::
Author's Notes: Um…another IchiRuki chapter, a bit revealing Orihime's past. I wasn't sure how this was going to turn out, but I guess I could live with it. As you can see, Rukia is still ill-tempered but she is able to hold in her words. She also is having a hard time letting go of her old life; hence the mention of Byakuya and Renji. As with Ichigo, he's trying his best to break the ice with her and make her more comfortable—doing her some justice, I guess. C'mon, he couldn't let her sleep on the wooden floor!!
Note: Ichigo's peavenot being able to protect. Which will be shown in the next chapter.
Review if you would!
