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Bleach Star

Chapter Ten- The Day After

Everything was spinning, blurring and buzzing. Rukia was convinced she was never so disoriented in her entire life. Clutching at the wig, Rukia slid it off and looked at it in bewilderment. Nothing was making sense. Looking from side to side, she tried to figure out where she was and why it was so noisy.

"My head…" with a groan she held over weakly and sucked in some air.

"Where am I?"

"Are you ok?"

Looking up Rukia jumped and clung to the bench she woke up in. The person that addressed her was a woman dressed in black from head to toe. Even though it was late she wore sunglasses, she looked quite threatening and Rukia already didn't trust her. The woman was smiling and looked a little tired or drain but she stood tall and erect waiting for an answer.

"Who are you?"

"Just Yo. You?"

"I'm Rukia Kuchiki."

The person appeared taken aback and looked around as if hoping no one heard.

"Are you sure?" she pried,

"Yes I…I…" Rukia ran her hand through her black hair and wondered what she meant, of course she was Rukia Kuchiki. Last she remembered, she was at a ball dancing in a lilac gown, her hair on top of her head as her father wanted. Everyone was bidding her farewell on her trip around the world and giving her their best wishes. While they did all of this, she was smiling secretly to herself. She wasn't traveling around the world but allowed to go to a public school under a concealed identity in different country. And that identity was Rukia Yastiro.

The last thing that Rukia Yastiro remembered was dancing at a concert that she realized she still currently was at before…

Rukia jumped up from the bench snatching and placing the wig on her head. She grabbed her bag and stepped further back from Yo.

"Who are you really?"

"Who are you?" the mysterious person asked,

"Rukia Yastiro. That is who I am."

"You didn't say so a few minutes ago, might want to be more careful who you say stuff to."

"You're mistaken, I'm Rukia Yastiro. You don't know me."

"You're right, I don't."

"Who are you? Answer me!"

"In this country your orders mean nothing, Princess, like I said be more careful and get home safely."

With that said Yo waved and sprinted away in the dark. Literally.

Rukia looked around and began to amble towards the light and the crowd. They were a few people outside buying food and just chilling. She looked in her phone mirror making sure she was a Yastiro and not a dark hair princess. When she was satisfied, she decided against going back in and called Omaeda, she wasn't sure if there was a way for her to explain her sudden disappearance, though leaving now was only delay it till school tomorrow and seeing the thirteen miss calls that will be mightily difficult. Ignoring them, she was about to speed dial Omaeda's cell when she realize she had promised to meet him back at the school and not at the mall. At the mall, he'll know it was a concert, he wasn't that dumb. Sighing, she slid the cell in her pocket and preceded for the bus shed.

"Rukia! Rukia!"

Rukia pretending she didn't hear she walked quicker hoping to disappear. It sounded a lot like Renji.

"Rukia! Wait up."

With his long strides Renji, caught up to her and placed his hands on her shoulder turning her to face him.

"Where did you disappear to?"

Rukia looked up slowly with a weak smile.

"I had to go."

"Just like that, you say bye you know, not that hard."

"I… know."

Renji breathed in allowing the air he used up running up and down to return to him normally. He stared at Rukia and couldn't help but wonder what was going on with this girl.

"Wassup, why the hurry?"

"I have to go, I have to get home."

"How are you getting home?"

"The bus I have to get to the school, someone will pick me up."

Renji shook his head, "It's late you can just disappear and then travel on your own at night, we have to take the train too."

"But I have to leave now, you don't understand."

"You right I don't, she so weird." Renji thought.

"Look, I'll go with you."

Rukia wanted to refuse the offer but after tonight she didn't want to go anywhere on her own.

"Sure?"

"Yea, I'll just call the others and tell them I found you and that I'm leaving."

"Ok."

Dialing who Rukia guessed was Ichigo, she silently waited except when Tasuki wanted to speak/shout at her for leaving . When that was over, both she and Renji headed for the train station.

Tonight for Rukia was divided, bliss and utter terror; a cruel reminder of who she is and always will be no matter where she was and knowing that gutted her. Her father won even though he wasn't there. If attempts like this keep up, she'll never be able to live long in Kankura or anywhere away from home for that matter.

The walk to the train station was fairly short and silent. Renji walked with his hands in his pockets slightly ahead of Rukia. They both boarded the train and sat the same way they walked; Renji in front of her. The train was fair quiet like everyone was in a little world of their own. Rukia rested her head on the window and sighed. She was always going to be Queen. That was her one and only definition.

"Wassup with you?" Renji asked without turning around,

"Nothing." Rukia said after a long pause.

"You're a sucky liar."

"I know."

With that said the ride continued in silence till Rukia said goodbye and waved to Renji when the train came to her stop.

Ichigo ended his conversation with Renji. He and Tatsuki ventured back inside where Sun and Moto were still performing. They told the others that Rukia was found and safe.

"Ishida, Sado what did we miss?" Tatsuki asked,

"Sun awesome yea but well couldn't really enjoy with...well... you know."

"Yea, not much of a night, Inoue left in a hurry and Rukia just disappeared, they are pretty weird."

"Maybe."

"Well. it was always us so let's enjoy." Tatsuki said throwing her hands over Sado and Ichigo, with the help of her toes of course.

The others smiled in agreement and turned towards the stage.

Sun was exhausted. Moto was still going with the same energy that they both started with but Sun wasn't felling the vibe after she saw her friends left. Though they didn't know it was her she felt a bad after they disappeared. It was an hour now and they were finally performing their last song. It was a song of Moto's and Sun was basically just singing the back vocals. She was sure Moto picked up on her mistakes she made during and would address it as soon as they were off the stage. But she wasn't in the mood to hear. Being two people, she decided, just wasn't meant to be. As she danced she kept looking where she last saw Ichigo and the others, it was distracting but the crowd didn't really notice. The last song was almost over when she saw them again without Rukia. They were close, knitted like they friends forever and just looked normal and she was looking down on them. She was a star and that life was demanding enough, she didn't know if she'll be able to ever fit in or if she'll have the time to.

Moto ended the song and they both bowed to the response of a resounding applause.

"Thank you again! We hope to see you both at the concert. We're out and goodnight."

With the light dimmed Sun ran off stage as quickly as she could.

"Sun wait up!" Moto said close behind.

"I have to go."

"Sun, Sun!"

"I'm not Sun." Inoue whispered hastily.

The next day, Rukia entered the school gates and Tatsuki was next to her in an instance.

"Where did you disappear to last night? You freaked us out!" she asked annoyed,

"I'm sorry, I …I…had to…do something."

Tatsuki looked at her in disbelief, "You had to do something, would it have killed you to just say bye."

"I'm sorry, but I just had to go."

"Well, whatever, next time just say bye."

With that said Tatsuki walked on up ahead to class. With a sigh, Rukia walked on behind her. She was almost kidnapped last night. That meant people knew who and where she was. But she was saved too. Two sets of mysterious people knew her real identity, she had no idea who any of them were and her bodyguards weren't even aware of what was going on. She had to live with that over her head alone. She just got here and if she told anyone she would have to go home immediately, again without saying goodbye much like last night and her father would be right. It was that or deal with this all her own, she knew there were mysterious people on her side, well she hoped they were, so that was one thing covered. She knew it was a risk from the very beginning, but she had no idea this big but now the reality finally hit her. And regards of that she was still willing to risk more to have the bit of freedom she never got at home after her mother's death even if it was only for a while.

"Hey."

Rukia turned to see Ichigo, he was walking normally, but with his long strides he was next to her soon enough.

"Oh, hi."

"Whassup."

"Not much."

"Well about last night, next time just say bye, Tatsuki means well."

"I know, I'm sorry."

"It's cool, later."

With that said he was walking ahead of her to bump into Tatsuki purposely, which resulted in her slapping him along the head. That was all Rukia wanted and seeing she came this far, she wasn't about to let her title get in the way.

"Hey, you guys wait up!"

I found you and you found me and together is what we'll be, forget the maybes

It was now lunch, and that particular line refuse to stay out of Ichigo's mind. He wasn't exactly into the band, but the words they sang fit perfectly into the little moment he and Inoue shared. He didn't understand and wasn't about try, but why couldn't he get the song out of his head.

He didn't run into her at the lake this morning and she wasn't at school. That didn't really bother him, but the fact that he noticed did. And that wasn't the only thing he noticed. Her eyes were really gray but she covered them and she seems to like singing but says she doesn't. She was hiding something but then again so was he and who was he to pry.

Switching his focus he tried to listen into the conversation the others were having but he found he could not. Before he could stop himself he was thinking about his mother. Her hair, her smell, her smile, there she was smiling, waving and leaving.

"Oi, Ichigo, wassup with you?"

Ichigo jumped slightly and turned to Tatsuki, "Nothing at all." He said smiling.

"Uhuh."

Ichigo welcomed the distractions and embraced it by trying to keep track of the conversation. Rukia was on good terms with Tatsuki again the way they were speaking. Rukia was obviously not afraid of her like most if not all people were. He honestly could not keep up with the emotions of Tatsuki but he did know she was quick to forgive.

"Well, it is that time soon again!" Tatsuki said,

"Yip." Renji confirmed,

"What time?" Rukia asked,

"Oh yea you're new, the school production is going to be in December, but the school usually start preparing all now. It's like a huge thing." Tatsuki replied,

"Oh, sounds cool."

Inoue was too beat to go school today, she wanted to but she had her Inoue/Sun limits and today was one of them. Matsumoto wasn't home she had to leave for an interview at of the most popular radio shows and later a charity show, so the house was all Inoue's. She slept in till very late, fix herself a quick breakfast and decided to watch some TV. Since she was home, she wore no short black wig but allowed her long bright hair to fall to her back. Wearing an oversize T and shorts she walked in to the entertainment room. She gently shooed the maid and sat with the remote flipping through the channels.

The rush of the concert certainly wore her out, she was exhausted but this concert in particular was different, like special different. She never really had friends and she got to see the concert from the other side of the stage.

And there was that moment, when the crowd was not her friend and she was struggling to get out, the song was singing about being lost and maybes and Ichigo was looking for her. She could not understand the way she felt or why but it was new and she wasn't sure what it meant or if to explore it. What she did know was she liked it and was curious but she shouldn't get too close to people. She knew Matsumoto means well, but eventually she will have to leave and fully return to the life of glam she lived it.

Sighing, she left the TV at some random channel and watched. The narrator was talking about royal families around the world and right now it was showing a lily white palace in aerial view. The grounds were vast and countless lavenders out shone the other flowers in the castle's garden.

"In this beautiful country of Seirei, is this utterly timeless and beautiful palace. One of the most developed countries, it remains humble and hidden. Rich with natural flora and fauna and many diamond mines. Many some believed to be still untouched. The Kuchiki line has ruled Seirei for many years and continues to do so. The current King, King Byakuya and his Queen, Hisana, have been reigning for ten years. However, death struck the Royal family and the entire country was thrown into mourning."

While saying this image of The King and Queen Hisana came up, she had long jet black hair, style in loose waves; however there was a long wavy lock of hair almost in the center of her face. She wore a pearl white dress, where the skirt of the dress was made of nothing of white roses. Her crown was also on her head and she smiled beautifully as a Queen should. The King in white robes and his crown of gold by his wife's side.

"Leaving to inherit the country was their daughter, Princess Rukia Kuchiki, who is now preparing to take the role as Queen when she comes of age. She was ten when she lost her mother and is now sixteen. Princess Rukia's life was threaten many times and all the pictures of her were banned all over the country by the Council; as a result no pictures of her today are seen. However, some on the internet cannot be destroyed. The only one we have to show you is the one with her at the Queen's funeral, when she was ten. Currently the Princess is said to be travelling the world to explore it before she returns home to reign."

Then they showed, a picture of a small frame in a black organza dress, the white hat she wore shadowed most of her face. Her eyes were rimmed with tears. Her white gloved hands held a basket of lilies and lavenders and her father's hand. Her hair was jet black and fell the same way her mother's fell.

"Rukia, hmmm that's funny." With that said, Inoue flipped the channel.

Thanks for Reading.