And here's another chappy from Arei-the Peridot Dragon. Of course, neither of us own Bleach or HP... tears. Enjoy!


Chapter 9

Honeymoon

It had been an amazing day so far.

Things started off early in preparation for the big formal wedding held in the Seireitei. Guests from every Division and Noble family had been in attendance. Through mutual agreement both Ichigo and Rukia decided to catch a nap during the main part of the ceremony and Head Captain Yamamoto was kind enough to flare his energies just enough for them in a signal so that they would be fully awake for the ritual sharing of sake.

They had two surprises at the end of it.

First was that they had surprise guests at the wedding: Three individuals who had invited themselves. Members of the Royal Guard, or Zero Squad. When he thought about it later, Ichigo thought it made sense, as they had all guessed that his father had been a member of the Royal Guard. They had certainly greeted him as if they had known him. And known him well.

First was Kirio Hikifune. A unique, purple haired, plump woman who absolutely loved to cook, had a great respect for hard working and loyal individuals... and who after cooking a massive feast for all the guests, showed back up slender and buxom with a wedding gift of a magical cloth that when lain out would call forth a meal fit for a king.

Next was Oetsu Nimaiya. He'd swiped Zangetsu from Ichigo after a grandiose greeting and then not minutes after disappearing into a back room, returned and handed the sword back to Ichigo with a stern warning to take better care of 'both of them' and to hold tight to his courage. When questioning his Zanpakuto about what had happened Ichigo had been surprised to clearly hear the voices of both Zangetsu and Tensa Zangetsu which had only happened once before when he'd put on the Sorting Hat several years ago. Even popping into his spirit world for a moment showed an 'older' Zangetsu and a 'younger' Tensa Zangetsu who both just shrugged at Ichigo in equal confusion as to what the Zero Squad member had done to 'them'. Hichigo didn't look happy with the arrangement...Ichigo shouldn't even be seeing them, not since he'd leveled up again and they'd merged… it was too confusing for him to contemplate, so he didn't.

Last was Senjumaru Shutara. Ichigo and Rukia couldn't decide if Senjumaru was a man or a woman but they decided later not to care or even think about it. The multiple limbs freaked them both out but apparently this particular member of the Zero Squad had been a master potioneer while in the Living World (the extra arms helped to work on multiple potions at a time). A single limb held out a small vial to the newlywed couple. Rukia took it hesitantly. This gift was poison to any living being, a potion in which the main ingredient was Basilisk venom. But for Shinigami, who rarely had children and were already 'dead', it acted as the ultimate fertility treatment for those who called the Seireitei home.

Unohana joined the group then, greeting the other three like one would old friends before giving Rukia her own wedding gift, a thin silver tiara with a blue sapphire before moving to join Kirio in watching as Oetsu and Senjumaru got into a shouting match, though from the grins on both faces the argument was more out of fun then out of spite.

Ichigo never was able to convince Rukia to tell him what the older woman whispered to her before she went to join Kirio...

The last, and in Rukia's opinion, greatest gift came when they started for the gate to the living world to hold the second, more laid back, wedding. Byakuya had drawn his Zanpakuto and said, calmly (he never shouted) 'Bankai. Senbozakura Kageyoshi.' At first Ichigo was worried he was about to be attacked, but the swords of Senbonzakura Kageyoshi rose in a path leading to the gate before shattering into a million shards. They formed a perfect arch leading up to the Senkai Gate. Not a single 'petal' hurt anyone in the gathering and Ichigo had to help Rukia, crying in joy from her brother's approval/acceptance of the wedding, through the Gate to the Living World.

The second wedding was mostly just their friends and family, and included everyone from Hogwarts. A subtle mix of eastern and western for the wedding, they held it at the small, but very unconventional Hikawa Shrine. The Shinto Shrine Maiden, an older black-haired woman, oversaw their wedding with two crows upon each shoulder as she issued her prayers for a blessing on their marriage to the Shrine's flames. The two crows took wing at the end, their crow-song not the harsh caws that one usually heard, but an almost harmonious song that lifted everyone's spirits. Silver butterflies took wing at the end, looking like hundreds of glittering little stars.

With all worries of Aizen and Voldemort gone from everyone's mind both weddings went smoothly and without any incident.

Ichigo and Rukia bid farewell to the others briefly before Ichigo stopped Rukia and gentle blindfolded her. He then picked her up and Apparated to the destination he had been dreading, but knew that she would love.

The location he took them to was a small island within the city of Takehara, an island which was perfect for their honeymoon. He had a hotel room booked a little ways away where they would be able to visit this small, rodent infested island every day if Rukia so wished, and if he knew his lovable midget, she would want to visit every hour of every day.

For this, was Bunny Island...

The place was the perfect habitat for the wild rabbits. Hundreds of the little critters hid in every possible nook and cranny of the place. Keeping a hold of Rukia's hand he carefully paid for their entrance onto the island, signaling for everyone to keep quiet with a finger to his lips. One of the workers was kind enough to hand over a bucket of treats which he carefully had Rukia take hold of.

"A bucket? Why are you handing me a bucket?" Rukia asked in confusion.

"Just hold on tight to it okay? No matter what don't drop it," Ichigo answered, humor lacing his tone.

Ichigo had to bite back his laughter as he led his blind-folded wife (WIFE! That actually filled him with warmth at the thought) along the path. Small bits of food spilled from the bucket on occasion and a sudden furry blur would dart forward to grab the tidbit before darting off. Several times the small forms darted over Rukia's feet causing her to jump and squeak adorably at each brush of fur.

"Ichigo! What is going on?! What is that brushing my legs?!"

He laughed, picking her up and setting her on one of the boulders. He glanced around and then nodded to himself before pulling off the blindfold. Rukia blinked in the sudden brightness. Slowly everything started to come into focus and Ichigo felt his grin widening as her eyes soaked in the sudden sight.

Rukia was sitting on top of a boulder in the middle of a sea of rabbits of various sizes and colors, all of them eagerly watching her every move. The bucket started to slip from her nerveless fingers and a bunch of food slipped out of the container. The rabbits surged like an incoming wave and swarmed over each other to get at the food. Rukia yelped and stood up, holding the bucket up and watching the little critters as they started to settle down and come to a halt, each one watching her carefully or to be more precise, watching the bucket she held.

"Welcome to our Honeymoon spot, Bunny Island," Ichigo said with a grin.

Tears came to Rukia's eyes. The next thing he knew he was glomped by his darling midget and food from the air-tossed bucket was spilling around them as they hit the ground. The next thing the two newlyweds knew, they were being swarmed by the rabbits at they hunted for the food that had spilled. Laughing, they each tried to carefully push the rabbits off of them without hurting them.

The next thing they knew the sense of a powerful and twisted Reitsu pushed over them and they both yelped as the small rabbits clawed them in their haste to make it to their hidey-holes. Ichigo and Rukia looked up to watch as a crack appeared in the sky and a Menos Grande shifted through into the real world.

Ichigo started when he realized that Rukia... was growling as she stood up.

"How dare you?" came her voice in a cold whisper as she drew Sode no Shirayuki.

Ichigo gulped when he heard her tone of voice.

"HOW DARE YOU!?" Rukia shouted as her Reitsu flared. "YOU ARE NOT GOING TO FUCK UP MY HONEYMOON YOU BAKA! SAN NO MAI, SHIRAFUNE!"

Moisture gathered at the tip of her sword and she lunged forward suddenly. The Zanpakuto stabbed straight into the Menos Grande's mask and in a flash the Hollow was frozen solid. One round-house kick later and bit of Hollow fell to the ground before disappearing in puffs of smoke.

Ichigo stared at his wife with wide eyes.

-Holy Shit King... that was HOT!-

~Shut up you!~ Ichigo snapped back... though he didn't refute Hichigo's statement.

He stood slowly and made his way to Rukia's side. She was panting softly as she tried to rein in her formidable temper and he carefully drew her into a hug. She latched onto his shirt and started crying softly.

"It... was... going... so ... perfectly!" she said between her tears.

"It still is," Ichigo said softly. "You were beautiful just now, my fierce wife."

-Lemme out! Lemme 'talk' to the Queen!- Hichigo called in a lecherous voice.

Not a moment later there was the sound of several 'thuds' and a glance to his inner world showed that both versions of Zangetsu had knocked his inner-hollow out cold and were glaring down at him. No need to rabbitize him – yet.

"R-really?" Rukia asked, calling his attention back to her.

"Of course, and look," Ichigo glanced down as he felt a furred form push against his legs, "you saved them. See how happy they are?"

Indeed, they were surrounded by hundreds of rabbits, all wide eyed and noses twitching as they looked up at the two Shinigami. Rukia laughed at that and cuddled in against Ichigo before turned her head up to look at him.

"You hate it here don't you?"

"Yup," no use denying it, she'd know he was lying.

"But you brought me here anyway."

"Yup," he smiled.

"I love you, koibito, " Rukia whispered as she stood on her tiptoes.

"Love you too, midget," Ichigo said as he leaned down and gently kissed her.


And here's how this scene developed… we both agreed that this would be the perfect honeymoon spot: www. onegreenplanet news/ man-feeds-bunnies-on-bunny-island-in-japan (as always, take out the spaces to view the webpage)