Chapter -10
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Ichigo was following the servant from shihoin clan. Damn, how far does he have to go ? Can't she meet him in the shiba manor? Just like rukia?
Rukia...
She was really back. ... after 200 years. Unknowing to himself, a smile crept through his face.
He felt complete. . There was no gaping hole in his heart.
Finally,he would have a peaceful life with her. ...
For an eternity.
If anyone tried to disrupt that, he would make sure that they would be sent to hell. No one is going to tear midgie away from him.
He was so indulged in the thought that he failed to notice someone's presence on his back.
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The servant who have been leading the path on, heared a muffled sound. Hesitantly, he turned back .
Clearing his throat, kurosaki ichigo spoke to him "How much distance should we travel? "
Bowing his head low,he replied "just a few minutes from here, shiba-dono "
"Alright then, lead the way "
Ichigo followed the servant, silently.
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Shihoin orihime waited in her manor, her heart beating rapidly as the reatsu she knew very well made its way towards the estate she was living in .
She had orchestrated everything perfectly upto now. If shiba clan won't accept their marriage proposal, they knew how it would affect them.
But what she was going to say to him? She did not want him to see this as a political issue and marry her. She wanted to marry him out of love. But he would never do that. As long as kuchiki was in his heart ...
If only she would have known,if only she would have remembered her part earlier, before kuchiki rukia invaded ichigo kurosaki's life as human, she would have been married to him now ,out of love and would have been living a life she have dreamt. ...the one she deserved. ...
Damn you kuchiki. ... damn you to the deepest pit of hell. ..
Why do you always come in between me and him? By doing so you always put our friendship at stake .because of him, you always jeopardise our friendship.
But he was worth it. ...
He was worth the cost of your friendship with me. He was more than that. That was what it made me to fight for him. ..yearn for him...
I would always love kurosaki ichigo. ..with all my heart. ...
Her musings were brought to halt by a knock to her door ...
"Come in.."
The servant bowed deeply to her, "Shihoin -sama , your guest has arrived "
Taking in a deep breath, she ordered her servant "Please escort him to the tea room,I will be there in a minute "
"As you wish, shihoin-sama " said the servant bowing lowly. Saying so,the servant exited the room.
Looking herself in the mirror once again, she ran her fingers through her silky,red kimono that bore golden lily work ,the hem in golden colour,with shihoin clan crest on the obi,her long hair, set up in a half bun,with braids of auburn locks falling down her shoulders up to her waist. ...
For any man ,she would be the woman of their dreams ...
But sadly,the man of her dreams was not smitten by her beauty.
"I am coming for you, shiba-sama"
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Her heart was beating a drum as she approached the tea room. What would his reaction be? Would he appreciate her appearance? No, he had never done that. He would be shocked. He would start questioning her. What answers does she have with her ? A single stare from him would crumble her wall of defence. .. but she was doing this ..all of this, just for him . to be with him. She will try her level best to convince him. Besides, this time, there would be no kuchiki fucking hime to drag his attention from her. ...Where he liked it or not, she will be forcing this on him... eventually he would come around. ..
You've left me with no choice shiba-sama. ...
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At last, orihime reached her destiny. Then she saw him. .. he was wearing a dark green haori with the shiba emblem designed in silver over his black shihakusho. His unruly orange mane,which all the ladies swooned over,was softly waving as the cool air hit .he was standing in the balcony, his back towards her .
"Shiba-sama"
As he turned towards her,orihime felt her breath hitch . Even though she has seen that face countless times, she couldn't help but admire it everytime she saw it.
"o-orihime..? What are you doing here? He asked, the pose of utter shock on his face. ..
"Um. . I am your intended from shihoin clan , shiba-sama "
Ichigo's face turned from shock to utter disbelief
"Non sense, what are you talking about? Orihime? And what is this shiba-sama crap? You are not from shihoin clan. So how could you represent them...unless "
Ichigo's face showed a distinct expression of what they called realisation 9
"They adopted you?" he continued in a low dangerous voice "did they force you to do this, orihime?
Oh no, if he gets angry,he would never listen to her.
"Kurosaki-kun, please, let me explain, there was no force behind this action. It was a long story. Let's talk "
She could see his anger diminish...
he could hear the pleading in her voice, grudgingly, he sat down as she served the tea.
"so,what led you to this, orihime? " he asked, sipping the tea. .
"You know about my zanpactou, right? "
"I know it was a fire typed one, one of the most powerful one known to exist " he said
Slowly she began unsheathing her zanpactou. He observed her scabbard ... it was beautiful. .. it has fire flowers woven intricately . Hi no hana. ... the fire flower
" Kurosaki-kun,look at my zanpactou's hilt " orihime motioned him to look at her hilt
He looked at her sword's hilt, it's colour is similar that of a fire flower with diamonds on its hilt. Beneath it's handle, there was a square shaped symbol. It has four stars with a central diamond in which a crescent shaped moon . It was a shihoin clan crest.
By seeing his face, she know that he was confused .
Sighing ,she began telling him
"Kurosaki-kun, a long back, this sword belongs to infamous fire princess of the shihoin clan. I don't know, how hi no hana reached me ... she never mentioned anything about her past wielder. The shihoin clan members thought that I was her descendant, somehow. Also I don't have anyone here, so I thought, maybe ,
"so, that you may be a pawn in their political game ..."Ichigo finished.
"Kurosaki-kun, I –"
"Enough of it, orihime. I know that you were acting out of your duty. Please, don't do it. " his expression was of pained
"Kurosaki-kun , it was never an act of duty. " orihime flushed, her face becoming red.
Ichigo looked confused by her actions
" I've loved you for a long time, Kurosaki-kun, it was before kuchiki -san had given powers to you. I grew stronger to help you, our nakama. Along with my power, my feelings grew for you, endlessly. I am in love with you "
"inoue –"
"I know that you love kuchiki-san. But Kurosaki-kun, it takes a millennium for the soul to reincarnate again. Make no mistake, I wanted her to return back as much as you wanted to. I just wanted to help you "
Completed orihime,closing her eyes to stop the tears that threatened to spill.
"orihime, i cannot marry you. Whatever the circumstances might be. It's better to marry a complete stranger than to marry a woman whom I treat as one of my sister"
Orihime gasped at the revelation. Tears started flowing from her eyes.
It broke him to see her like that. He took a step front and wiped her tears." Please orihime, i love you like my sisters,as a nakama. But not like how I loved her. I can never love anyone other than her . I can never love you like her. I don't want to ruin your life by marrying you. You deserve better than. Please try to understand "
Saying so, he left the room without looking back. ...
Orihime began sobbing uncontrollably ...she know this would happen. But getting rejected straight on your face is one thing that a girl hoped never to experience ... she had experienced twice in her life. ..just because of one woman. .
"DAMN YOU KUCHIKI-HIME, DAMN YOU THE DEEPEST PIT OF HELL "she shouted,until the wind was knocked out of her lungs.
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He couldn't stay there, not when the love of his life, shared her feelings about his orange haired friend, thinking it was him.
He didn't know where he was. But before he could notice, he fell down on his fours, crying hard
It pained him to see her crying, literally begging him to marry her
It shattered his heart, as she, the innocent girl whom he came to love so much, who couldn't lie without a good cause, was lieing ,just to gain his orange haired friend attention. Yearning for his love. Longing for it, so much that she was in a way of committing something she never thought she would be doing it. At this rate, she might definitely kill kuchiki-san ...
His mind was reeling. . He could hear faint voice in his head,growing stronger as every second passed. .
No...,you could never let that happen. ..you promised your soul to protect her. .. you promised to protect kuchiki-hime. .
Whom did he promise?
He shut his eyes tightly as that voice became more prominent, echoing in his mind.
A cane made its way to the back of his head. Suddenly, everything became a dark. ...
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Sighing, kisuke carefully picked ishida from the ground.
I am sorry ishida-kun... please don't hate me for this. ...
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Kisuke knew this was going to happen. Ishida would be emotionally wrecked. But they have no other choice. If ichigo was sent, he would have revealed that rukia was alive, as soon as orihime mentioned about her. He does not know her intentions. Never in his life would ichigo suspect orihime. Even though isshin warned him not to tell, there is a fair chance, no, perfect chance that he would tell inoue, if she brought up the topic.
That is why, he deviced this plan. ...
Sorry, uryu-kun , I couldn't risk her life. She was the linchpin to his heart. .. the to be spirit king. ...
Even you would do the same, if only you remembered your past life. You wouldn't get hurt like this. Shihoin-hime doesn't deserve you.
But sadly, this is the way how things will be. ... have been. .
45 minutes prior. .
"So, tell me now. What should I do?" ishida asked kisuke irritably
"nothing, uryu-kun. Just swallow this pill. By doing so your appearance will change to Kurosaki-kun. All his actions will be mimicked. His voice,reatsu, everything. You just have to go to Orihime's house and pretend to be ichigo,that's all!" he exclaimed in a dramatic manner. "
Sighing, uryu took the pill into his hand.
"Alright, but if you don't give what you promised earlier urahara, I'll kick your sorry ass"
"point taken" exclaimed the squad 12 captain dramatically.
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Uryu woke up after a good 15 minutes . His head throbing. Damn that urahara
" do you have to hurt my head like that? " he glared at urahara
"well, it seemed the best option available ."
Uryu muttered a string of curses directed at urahara.
" now, uryu-kun, we need to reach shiba manor. "
" why there?"he asked, massaging his throbing head
"Because, ichigo won't be able to wake up upto tommorow and you need to take his place. Now let's get moving uryu-kun "
Ishida nodded, raising to follow kisuke . Straightening any wrinkles on his dress, he began walking towards his destiny.
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Shiba manor
People representing various noble clans, along with gotei 13 captains and vice captains attended the party. All of them were waiting for ichigo to show up.
"Oy karin! Where the hell is that orange head? We have been waiting for him for past 15 minutes! "
"Calm down pineapple. You are shouting as if you have been waiting for hours "
Yeah, thought renji. I've had enough of his sulking from past 200 years. I am going to tell him that rukia is alive
Renji's thoughts were stopped in middle when a bell rang, signifying the arrival of the highest noble.
As a cue, ichigo *Ahem * ishida made his way, imitating ichigo kurosaki to the core, the bastard who was the cause for making his life miserable, yet his most cherished friend, even the Berry head never knew that. Scratch it. He needn't know about how he felt about him.
He heard the girls swooning over him. Sorry, his body. Kurosaki ichigo's.
He heard nobles praise him,for his poise, the way he carried himself. ..
Nobility my ass...
He had no other option.
He made his way towards his friends.
Renji wanted to talk to ichigo badly he was on his way,when he hard yuzu shout for him.
" ABARAI NII-SAN" she came running with difficulty, not minding the wierd looks she was getting from the other noble guests
Her eyes were frantic. In attempt to calm her,renji placed a hand on her shoulder, "what is it yuzu? "
"TATSUKI-CHAN FAINTED. SHE WAS NOT WAKING UP "
Renji's eyes widened. His heart started beating frantically. ...
Tatsuki. ..hang in, I am coming. .
He shunpoed ,following yuzu as fast as he could. ..he know she was upset about something. He shouldn't have bought her. But knowing her, if he tried to do so,she would kick his ass
Tatsuki was lying on yuzu's lap,with isane checking her.
"isane-san,I think we should take her to the fourth squad "
"Not,necessary. Besides, taicho is not there now. Let's take her into shiba manor . she needed rest. I was not good for her to stay around these many powerful reatsus in this state."
By that time, ichigo came to the spot.
"renji, bring tatsuki into the house.."Saying so, he retreated into the house.
Inside the shiba manor
"isane-san, is everything alright with her? " Renji's worry became more prominent as time ticked of "perhaps we should call inoue "
"Relax, abarai san.. there was nothing to worry of." isane smiled . "can't you sense the change in her reatsu abarai-san?"
Puzzled,renji reached for tatsuki's reatsu with his own. ... it seemed blended with something. ...rather than someone. ...
He could feel a faint, second reatsu emanating from her...could it be...can it be? His eyes widened in surprise. ..
By that time, everyone in the room recognised it. Relief washed over them and their faces showed of pure content and happiness. ..
"Congratulations, abarai-san, you are going to be father "
Renji was dumbstruck. The next second, his face lit up like a thousand watt bulb. He just wanted to hug the his wife and thank her for giving him the best gift in his life.
Renji looked at tatsuki. She was still unconscious. "isane-san, why was she still unconscious? "
"she was weak abarai-san, she haven't been eating regularly ."
Renji frowned. This was not like tatsuki .why was she starving herself? They never quarrelled. They just bicker. But he had never done anything to hurt her.
"From now on I will personally take care of that issue "he said firmly. .
What's bothering you tatsuki?
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" ABARAI TAICHO ..." Renji was bought out of his revere, by rangiku
"what is it, matsumotou? "
"LET'S PARTY! !"
Everyone sweat drops. .. we are already in a party. ...
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Early morning, shiba manor. ...
Ichigo woke up from his sleep, past night events coming back to his memory .
Rukia...
Immediately, he opened his eyes, startled. Was it a dream? Is she really back? So many thoughts crossed his mind. If this was all a dream ...then. ..
He began raising himself when he found something moving by his side, rather someone.
Alarmed, he removed the blankets only to find rukia peacefully sleeping, curled next to him.
This wasn't a dream. She was here. ..really ...
She was dressed in a sleeping yukata, her long, black hair falling down to her waist. Long hair suited her very much ...he thought. .. it made her look more radiant. ..like otherworldly. ...he took notice of her ivory smooth skin, her rosy lips, her cute button nose, ...her features were same. But they matured well. She looked drop dead gorgeous. God. ..she was intoxicating. ...
Surely, the death of him. .
Said person started to wake up...
Wide, doe like amethysts met ambers. ..
He smiled gently down her. "hey. ..."
As a reply, she sent one of her smiles "hey, there "
Smiling crookedly, he bought her close to by her waist, burying his face in the crook of her neck,inhaling her scent. Immediately, her hands went into his orange mane, running her fingers through it lovingly.
"Are you feeling alright now? "she asked gently
He removed himself from her,and stared at her dumbly ..His serene expression morphed into one that was of confusion.
Chuckling lightly, she explained, "last night you were so joyous that you were unable to hold the amount of sake you drank . What made you so joyous that you forgot your limit? Hmm? It is me returning? "
" I couldn't remember one bit of anything from previous night, apart from meeting you. After that I went to meet the elder from shihoin clan and after that. .."clutching his head,he fell back on the bed
"Ichigo, I think you are suffering from hangover. Here,take this medicine. Otou-sama had given it to me. He told me that this could cure terrible hangover. "saying so, she placed the medicine in his hand
Ichigo took the medicine without complaint. He could feel the immediate effect it had,calming his nerves.
"ichigo...is this the first time you drank sake? " Rukia asked, trying to stifle the laughter
Ichigo narrowed his eyes. "what made you think like that? "
"well. .the first time you drink it, you cannot remember what happened previous night, for sometime, until the hangover waned . It was thrice strong compared to that in the human world " she replied in an amused tone
" Um. .. I still ...couldn't remember " ichigo smiled sheepishly, trying to ease his embarrassment.
Rukia found it too adorable. Her Berry is too cute. ...
Cupping his cheeks in both of her hands, she kissed him tenderly on lips.
Releasing his lips,she hugged him tightly.
"Rukia. ."
"hmm..what is it Berry "
"I love you "
A beautiful smile morphed on her as she pulled back from the hug. Her smile was intoxicating. Everything about her was...
"love you too, Berry "
The two lovers enjoyed their blissful movement together. ...
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"renji, will orihime turn in to a monster ? She may not be the same person she used to be. .. but she is not a murderer "Tatsuki said in sad voice ,leaning against her husband's naked chest to draw warmth from him to shield herself from the cold truth. ..
Sighing , renji kissed her hair, " none of us know what happened in the past tatsuki. To make orihime turn like that. But you know that isshin-san won't lie to us. Even head captain was there along with kisuke and yorouichi. She was blinded by love .her love for ichigo. But she should understand that they weren't meant to be together. We will prevent her from becoming a monster. But please, don't get upset yourself and starve. You know, junior abarai won't like it a bit "he ended lightening the mood
"yes, how could he? He would follow his father's footsteps in freeloading "chuckle tatsuki at her husband's pouting face
"get some sleep tatsuki, isane-san said you to take some rest "he said,kissing her forehead lovingly.
Sighing contentedly, she closed her eyes in order to get some sleep
Renji couldn't sleep a wink .through out the night, he tried to calm tatsuki who was worried about her long time friend..
The events of last night played in his mind...
Isshin ,after sending the guests and other gotei 13 members, came back to shiba manor.
"we were leaving, isshin-san, today was really a wonderful day " renji told him
Isshin smiled gently, patting renji on his shoulder "yes it is. ."
behind renji, tatsuki was laying on the bed, awake, resting. "but, have you seen orihime?she disappeared all the day. Also ishida made no appearance at the party... do you have any idea where they are?"
Ichigo, who was silently watching, standing behind isshin, tensed up at those names which did not go unnoticed by renji.
Sighing, isshin replied " I need to speak with you people but whatever I say,don't freak out. Got it "
Renji and tatsuki nodded their heads
Isshin called a servant and asked him to inform the others to meet him in the room they are currently in.
"is she safe, isshin-san? Is orihime safe? " inquired a worried tatsuki ...
By that time, yuzu,shuhuie, karin, toshiro, Ukitake, kyoraku, byakuya entered the room. The last one to enter was kisuke and yorouichi along with tessai.
"She is safe ,tatsuki-chan. But what I am going to tell, please, just listen. " isshin said, his eyes pleading
"Uryu, come here "
Ichigo reached his father. Nothing made any sense. Isshin-san called for uryu. Why was ichigo responding to it?
Kisuke stepped infront of ichigo,giving him potion to drink..
Ichigo ,who was infront of us began changing drastically. His hair started to appear black...
At last, instead of ichigo,it was uryu who was standing infront every one.
"What is happening? Where is ichi-nii? How did ishida-nii become like ichi nii? " Yuzu questioned frantically
"Yuzu, calm down. Ichigo is his room. Rukia is there,she was taking care of him. We just put a sleeping kidou on him"
Yuzu's face lit up ."did he meet her !"she asked, excitedly
Chuckling at his daughter's expression, isshin replied "yes. A while ago. Karin told me that she filled in details. We are having a political alliance with kuchiki clan by marrying the clan head's sister."
"But dad, what happened to orihime? Had ichi -nii met her? "frowned karin. she knows that if ichigo meets any of his old friends, he would tell them that rukia was alive. Even to orihime.
"That was taken care by ishida and kisuke. Kisuke created a pill, which when taken, changes the person appearance from Head to toe along with his voice and reatsu. Ishida handled that situation. .."turning to ishida, he looked at him greatfully. .
Shuhuie, renji,tatsuki,toshiro couldn't understand what was happening infront of them.
so , naturally, they lost their cool...
"EXPLAIN ! NOW"
And then,all the hell broke loose. ...
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"So, Rukia's life is in danger? " renji asked,his tone suddenly wary.
Sighing deeply, isshin replied "yes, and we are trying our level best to prevent orihime from learning that rukia was alive. . I know that it is hard for you . Especially, you, tatsuki-chan. But I know that you too, have noticed changes in her, haven't you?"
Tatsuki nodded her head, her eyes downcast ...
"I have already said that kisuke was working on kidou. . It was nearly completed. ...until it was completed, until then..."
"We protect both of them, ichigo and rukia. Our nakama. " Completed uryu,surprising everyone
"Hai. .." chorused everyone in the room. ...
There was no second thought,when it comes to the life of your nakama ...
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Renji sighed. .. if orihime is going to betray them,then the person who would be effected most,was his wife undoubtedly. ..
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Isshin sat in his study, reading one of the kidou books that were rare and probably forbidden for common reach.
No matter how much he had searched, he couldn't find solution to that damned spell .
If only he could find the book. Which was lost. ...
If only he could recover it, then everything would be in order. ..
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Hey guys!I am sorry that this chapter didn't contain much of ichiruki ness . But this was important for you to understand future chapters. Also,if you have any doubts, you can ask me ...do review ...
Love ,
Amethyst hazel.