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Falling Together
Chapter Ten- April Fifth: A Hidden Secret
NOTE: The whole page is a flashback, and the italicized ones are present. Sorry for the confusion thingy. I'm too tired to write it all in present while she speaks about the past. L
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She stared at the building. Flames danced around it happily while the rain embraced it trying to stop it's foolish act. Rukia's eyes had tears in them, but no one noticed as the raindrops hid it for her. "…Kaien-dono…Miyako-dono." She whispered, her voice croaking with hurt. A figure stood beside her, and rest his palm on her slender shoulder.
"…Rukia…you mustn't mourn for them." Byakuya whispered into her ear, as cold as ever. "…We can not afford to show such weakness in front of the others." He added, and left her. But she couldn't help but whimper. The feeling in her heart, burned with anger and regret. She stared at her brother's back. His shadow leaving the area, and he disappeared through the crowds of shocked nobles and peasants.
"SHIBA-SAMA is DEAD!" The news roared through the crowd, and the people mourned. Yes the people mourned…but the nobles seemed to be not interested in their friend's death. They were too interested at that lurking figure behind the flames and standing in the rain. "It has been confirmed that Miyako-sama is dead as well!" A dirtied man shouted bringing in the burnt corpses.
Rukia raced through the crowds, pushing the people out of her way and faced her previous crush and his wife, closing their eyes peacefully. They seemed at peace, but their bodies were bloodied, cut neatly in every limb. "…No…" She cried to herself, kneeling down and touching Kaien's pale face. Tears strolled down once more, and she didn't care if the nobles saw her in such a pathetic state. She closed her eyes, and put her head against his chest crying. "…Why?" She cried childishly.
Byakuya sighed, staring at his little sister bawling and expressing her emotions to everybody. He didn't detest it…but it obviously showed weakness and fragility in the Kuchiki Clan, and he could not allow that to continue. "Rukia. That's enough." His voice murmured through the crowd. The small girl wiped her eyes and found her brother standing in front of her. "Time to go." He muttered holding out his hand for his sister to hold. She willingly took it, but ignored the once-in-a-lifetime kindness her brother was giving her. Instead she stared at the bodies of her friends.
It didn't anger him, only annoyed him. To see her in such a state. Honestly, she was sixteen years old. She was practically a woman, and she knew her position in life. His grip tightened around her hand, but she did not realize it. Her mind was wandering away from reality, she was hoping it was only a dream. But once after staring behind her she knew it was real. What a tragedy. A catastrophe. Everyone remembered that day.
They walked back, the kingdom was quite close to theirs. "For personal reasons", her brother would tell her as she asked him that question. It was either some stupid excuse to not talk much, or the strange truth. She couldn't keep a finger on why Kaien had lived close to her.
It seemed at peace after five minutes. Most people left, but the peasants who had greatly admired their ruler were still there shocked and torn apart. Rukia and Byakuya were near the castle gates, almost entering. "Remember to tell Hisana what happened." Byakuya spoke as the gateway slowly opened. Rukia nodded, ready to confront her sister-in-law and tell everything.
Of course, she had to make it quite simple and clean or Hisana would seem to be upset. She had a weak heart, and couldn't bare any loss of friends. Lately she had been diagnosed with a disease that even their family doctor couldn't cure so Byakuya wanted nothing to harm her feelings or her body. "Hai…Nii-sama." Rukia replied quietly.
Suddenly the kingdom exploded. The towers falling easily like a leaf being blown by the wind. Rukia's eyes stared at a shadowy figure but it soon left. Byakuya at that moment was too surprised and shocked. His body froze. "That was…" He spoke to himself and disappeared from Rukia's side. So many screams erupted as the building slowly fell. Rukia trembled, not knowing what to do. Byakuya, for the first time, was panicked.
"H-Hisana-sama!" Rukia shouted, realizing what had happened.
"She was sleeping peacefully in that tower…That was her favorite place, and suddenly someone or something destroyed it." Rukia muttered pathetically talking to the sleeping Ichigo. Unbeknownst to her a small smile crept up that man's face.
The rubble from the tower blocked her path. She could not go anywhere, and she saw no one. All she heard were shrilled voices and terror. "Nii-sama…where are you?" She shouted running around with fear. No one noticed her, no one even bothered to reassure her that everything was fine. The servants too busy crying, while the people too much in horror. Just like the people in the Shiba Kingdom. The nobles were there as well…pointing at a strange shadowy figure.
"What the hell is that?" Renji shoved through some terrified citizens and gazed at the evil being. Eyes glowing yellow and a mask covering up his face. Renji froze up, fear played with him for once. His riatsu was strong. Incomparable…even to Byakuya. "…RUKIA!" He shouted, hearing a panicked girl's voice sobbing. He dashed towards her direction and immediately found her sitting on the rubble crying for someone to care for her. He grasped her arms gently and embraced her. "Don't worry Rukia…everything will be fine." He murmured in a promising tone. She closed her eyes and clutched onto his dark robe.
A laugh echoed throughout the atmosphere. Everyone gazed at the masked man with hatred and countless mixed emotions. "So much delightful faces…" The voice whispered crazily to himself. Rukia could feel her heart beat. The pain swelling in and the fear casting inside. She closed her eyes trying desperately not to see him. It scared her. Renji's grip grew tighter as well.
"My, my…what a pretty face we have here…." The voice whispered and the sword pointed directly towards her. Rukia buried her head against Renji's chest. She whimpered, feeling so pathetic. She couldn't move at all. "Hey…red-head let go of her!" The voice laughed, and mimicked the tone of a hero searching for justice. Renji growled and pulled out his sword.
"Don't." Rukia murmured clutching onto his sleeve. "Don't use that weapon now…" She whispered. Such power shouldn't be used carelessly, she knew that.
"BUT RUKIA! WE NEED TO USE IT-"
"Senbonzakura…" Her brother's voice erupted with rage and a strange depressed feeling. She turned around finding him with a flurry of Sakura petals twirling around him. He held a clothed body close to him, and for once tears actually strode down his pale bony cheeks. Nii-sama…Rukia murmured finding it hard to see a single tear flow down from his eyes. The petals were directed by his hands, and cut a few of the maniac's clothing. But it did not give him any fatal injury.
A laugh exploded from the masked figure, and it quickly vanished for an unknown reason. Rukia stared at her brother who calmly placed the covered body on the ground. He seemed quite disturbed as he looked away immediately. Rukia raced over to find Hisana dead.
"And there she was…dead…Though it seemed like she never knew such a thing occurred. It seemed like she never knew she died.." Rukia smiled a little and wiped some of her tears. The smile grew wider, and his heartbeat raced with intense speed.
"Kuchiki-san…How could you use such a forbidden power?!" Some nobles were in an uproar during one of the meetings. Byakuya ignored their complaints and tossed a strand of his hair away from his face. They were clearly agitating him as he stood up and walked away, disrupting their conversation. Rukia followed.
Walking out of the room, Byakuya faced his little sister. "…Listen very carefully…" He muttered in a low voice. She stared at him intently. "…Use the weapons our ancestors gave us, only when we find him." He whispered. "We do not want anymore commotions such as this." He added and disappeared. She nodded and looked at the red carpet below her feet. Nii-sama.
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Renji entered the room with a bright red face. He was obviously nervous, and was seen shivering from head to toe. Rukia stared at him with slight amusement, but her eyes returned back to Ichigo's silent body. "…R-Rukia…don't go near him." Renji responded taking her hand away from the man. Rukia quickly pushed the red-head away and snapped at him.
"I WILL DO AS I PLEASE!" She shouted with fury. "Anyways…he's my husband…so what if he is an evil spirit…I couldn't' care less."
"Y-You…" He couldn't bring up any words, and she cried silently to herself. "Don't you remember what he did?" He asked, his voice croaking. Rukia didn't dare stare at him. Her body froze and it had a strange feeling of anxiety. "DON'T YOU REMEMBER what HE did to HISANA-SAMA!?!" Renji shouted staring angrily at her.
"Don't you dare bring her into this!" Rukia gritted her teeth and stood up hastily. "JUST GET OUT! YOU'RE BEING A NUISANCE AS USUAL!" She lied, but it was the only way to leave her alone. Renji backed away and stared at her like she was crazy.
"…I-I can't believe you…" He replied and turned around. "I don't understand at all…" Renji whispered and left. Rukia silently apologized and looked back at Ichigo. Her violet eyes shimmered with dissatisfaction and confusion.
"…Gomen Ichigo.." She murmured quietly, closing her eyes. Quickly she sat down next to him. "I don't know what to do…" Crying she placed her head against the end of his bed. Her tears visible and her hands cold. "…It's my fault…I shouldn't have been driven by brother's words." She smiled weakly and stared at Ichigo once more.
Because…
"After that small command from my brother, I've done my best to train with that sword." Rukia murmured gently caressing Ichigo's strangely pale cheeks. The smile faded with disinterest. …"Shirayuki…will be the last thing you will see…" Tears flowed down and she stood up. "I'm sorry…but for my brother's trust…and for Hisana-sama's vengeance…I will have to-"