Chapter Nine

Elle: after finally being able to finish the story I have decided that I am going to update 2-3 chapters every few days. Now that sports are almost done and I have my own computer I should be able to update faster

The third class passengers were having a loud and boisterous celebration in the lower decks. They were playing loud cheery music and many were dancing on and off the beat. Rukia sat at a scrubbed wooden table clapping in time with the music and watching Ichigo dance with a small pink haired girl. The song ended and Rukia clapped harder and Ichigo caught her eye.

"I'm gonna dance with her now," he told the girl and pointing at Rukia. The girl's face fell slightly. "You're still my best girl Yachiru."

Rukia got out of her seat and stood next to Ichigo as the band began to play the next song.

"I have no idea what I'm doing," Rukia told Ichigo. He put his arms around her and pulled her in closer to him.

"That's ok," Ichigo said starting to lead Rukia in a dance. "I don't either, just go with it."

They danced together for the duration of the song. Out of the corner of her eye Rukia saw Renji dancing with a pretty blonde girl. When their current song ended, Toshiro sought out Ichigo and Rukia. He had a pint of beer for each of them. Ichigo took a modest sip and turned to watch Rukia chug half of her glass in one gulp.

"What?" she asked nonchalantly as Ichigo stared at her in shock. "You think a first class girl can't drink?"

They both laughed until some guy stumbled drunkly into Ichigo, causing him to spill half his beer all over Rukia.

"Get outta here you asshole," Ichigo snarled at the man but Rukia was having way too much fun to care at the moment.

Meanwhile at the table next to theirs Toshiro was arm wrestling Kiba, from Ichigo and Renji's stateroom. Kiba slammed Toshiro's tiny fist into the table knocking over several glasses of beer.

"Two outta three! Two outta three!" Toshiro yelled with a cigarette dangling from his mouth. Rukia sauntered over and pulled the cigarette out of Toshiro's mouth.

"So," she said cockily after taking a long drag. "You think you're big tough men? Let's see you do this?" She held up her long black skirt exposing her toned dancer legs covered by black silk stockings and shoved it in Ichigo's face.

"Hold this," she ordered him. In a ballet pose, Rukia held her arms out in front of her and slowly raised all of her weight onto her tip toes. She was able to hold it for a second before she lost her balance and stumbled into Ichigo's arms.

"Oh god," she gasped smiling. "I haven't done that in years."

Ichimaru peered through a crack in the door and saw Rukia laughing, being held in Ichigo's arms.

~*~*~*

Kiyone poured Rukia and Aizen coffee in their suit the next morning. The silence between them was tense.

"I was hoping you'd come to me last night," Aizen said setting down his coffee cup. Rukia stiffened.

"I was tired," she said dryly.

"Surely your extortions below deck were no doubt exhausting."

"So you had your man slave stalk me?"

"You will never behave like that again Rukia," Aizen snarled at her. "Do you understand me?"

"I'm not some disposable pawn at your command Sosuke," Rukia snapped. "I'm your fiancée!"

Aizen completely lost it and flipped the table over spilling the contents everywhere. He advanced on her, trapping her between the chair and him.

"Yes, yes you are," he snarled. "You are my wife in practice if not yet by law and you had better start acting like it and honoring me the way a wife is supposed to honor her husband! Are we clear?"

"Crystal," Rukia squeaked watching Aizen storm off. Kiyone stood frozen in the doorway. She had seen the entire act unfold. The maid raced over to Rukia, who was on the floor attempting to clean up the mess.

"I'm sorry," Rukia sobbed. "We, we had an accident."

"It's ok dear," Kiyone said soothingly as Rukia broke down in tears.

~*~*~*~

Once she had recovered, Rukia started to get dressed for the day. Kiyone was helping her tie her corset when Hisana stormed into the room slamming the door behind her.

"I can take it from here Kiyone," she said ushering the maid out of the room. Hisana took the strings and began to tie the corset forcefully. "You are not to see that boy again Rukia, I forbid it!"

"Oh shut up sister dear, you'll give yourself a nosebleed," Rukia quipped back. Her patience was thin spread this morning. Hisana whipped her sister around and stared her directly in the eyes.

"This isn't a game, our situation is precarious," Hisana explained. "You know the money's gone."

"Of course I know it's gone," Rukia retorted. "You remind me daily."

"Our father left us with a large sum of debt hidden by a good name and that name is the only card we have left to play," Hisana pulled Rukia's corset tighter. "I don't understand you, it's a perfect match with Aizen. It will ensure our survival."

"How can you put this on me?" Rukia asked sounding hurt.

"Do you want me to work as a seamstress?" Hisana asked. "Is that what you want? To see our fine things sold at auction? How can you be so selfish?"

"It's so unfair!"

"Of course it is we're women; our choices are never easy."