Shirayuki Hime

Chapter 10

Yumichika set down his mirror with a sigh, and rested his head on his hand in anguish. "Missed again," he murmured.

Kenpachi laughed. "I guess that kid was born under a lucky star."

"It's not funny!" Yumichika cried, slamming his fist on the table. He ran a half through his hair to calm himself. After a moment, he sat back, folding his arms. "Have you seen Komamura today?"

Kenpachi shook his head. Ikkaku said, "One of the servants said he's almost fixed up, apparently."

Yumichika's head whipped up, and his brothers looked at him quizzically. "Oh," he murmured. "I see."

"You seem awfully keen on him, considering he's everything you despise," Ikkaku commented absently, leaning his elbow on the table.

"Watch your mouth. How could I possibly been 'keen' on that monster?" Yet Yumichika's eyes as he said this betrayed him.

Kenpachi and Ikkaku exchanged a glance. Kenpachi smirked. "What if you used your magic to make him pretty?"

To the surprise of the other two, Yumichika blushed and turned away. "That's not feasible. It's almost impossible to maintain a spell like that. Especially considering the size of the job. For it to be permanent, it would put a constant strain on my own body, I'd probably be unable to use magic ever again."

Kenpachi shrugged. "So don't then. Find yourself some happiness instead."

Yumichika stood up abruptly. Despite already knowing the situation, even his brothers were surprised at the anguish on his face. He turned and began to walk away. "Fuck you. Don't talk as if you understand."

…

Rukia slowly opened her eyes. She felt like hell. She closed her eyes again for a moment and then hesitantly opened them again. A moment later, a blond head appeared in her peripheral vision, and then a relieved face.

"Oh, she's back with us," said Rose, with a soft smile.

A moment later, her whole field of vision was filled with worried faces. "Ruki-Ruki…" said Yachiru, showing a rare amount of sadness.

"Moron!" Hiyori cried, looking pale and a little scared. "Two men in the house and you still manage to end up like this! What's wrong with you?"

Hitsugaya sighed, and was soon out of her field of vision, though she heard him say, "Leave her be. They were here, but they weren't much use."

Nova grabbed Hitsugaya's arm, and for the first time since Rukia had met him, he spoke. "Hanatarou saved her."

Hitsugaya sighed and touched Nova's hand. "You're right, my bad."

"I swear to God!" Hiyori roared, spinning on her heel and yelling at the ceiling. "What is that gigantic pylon for anyway, if not to stop something like this?!"

"Excuse me for being a gigantic pylon," said a deep voice.

All the children jumped and Rukia managed to lift her head. Byakuya walked in, set some firewood next to the stove and placed some herbs on the table.

He loosened his cravat, which Rukia was amazed he had kept on all this time. "I fetched the herbs Hanatarou asked for."

"Oh, my mistake," Hiyori said, grandly. "Clearly he can be used to fetch and carry."

"Hiyori…" Rukia murmured, and at the sound of her voice, the room went silent. Rose turned to her and clasped her hand. "It was my fault. You can get angry at me, if you like."

"It was a little bit Ruki-Ruki's fault," Yachiru said. Then she grinned at the rest of the room. "It's not stupid people's fault that they're stupid, but it is their fault if they don't learn the first time."

Rukia laughed. "I can't deny that. But you said Hanatarou saved me…" she glanced toward his cot, which was still occupied. "How could he do that in the state he was in?"

Byakuya had been watching her but now he looked away, turning to the stove and putting on a couple of new logs. His expression had reverted back to the emotionless face he had when he first met her.

Ishida said quietly, "Apparently, he was able to wake Hanatarou in time. Though he's hardly spoken since then, except for what you just heard. And Hanatarou is out of the game for a while again."

Rose patted her hand. "We all saw the note. Nobody really blames you, except Yachiru," he added, rolling his eyes. "We all might have made that mistake. A poison comb, huh? What weird taste that queen has. Although…Prince Byakuya on the other hand…"

Rukia felt a flush of shame come to her cheeks. "He does blame me."

"No, no, my dear! Quite the opposite, unfortunately for him." Rose sighed, watching him. "I don't envy him right now."

Rukia followed his gaze again, watching Byakuya's back as he silently tended the fire. Then she hesitantly sat up.

"Wait, I don't think you should…" Ishida began.

Rukia nodded. "My head hurts a little, but that's just what I get for not being cautious. Otherwise I feel fine. Actually…a little too fine…"

She lifted up her (ruin of a) skirt, and saw that, apart from some bruising and cuts on the surface, her leg was back to a normal shape again.

"This is incredible…how could he do that while curing me of the poison?"

"According to him, that was the easy part," Hitsugaya said, becoming a part of the conversation again, as he and Nova sat down after having apparently some sort of silent discussion. "Healing a leg is just fusing fibers and reconnecting tissue. A poison is more complicated."

Ishida nodded. "Yes, that's true. In normal medicine, a broken leg only takes time. Your body already knows how to do it. Poison is impossible for your body to handle on its own. It affects your whole system, and there are so many types, it would be impossible to treat if you didn't already know ahead of time." He nodded to the fire. "Fortunately, this time we did. Now of course, it's on the fire."

Rose addressed Rukia softly, "Prince Byakuya wouldn't permit it to be in the house. But it would be irresponsible to throw it away. When the suggestion came up, he was happy enough to burn it." He shrugged. "Bone takes a while. In fact, it'll be half the night, I'm sure."

Rukia's eyes passed from Byakuya to Hanatarou, then once again she lowered her head in shame. "My life isn't worth all this," she murmured, so softly she could barely hear it herself.

Rose turned back to her. "Did you say something?"

Rukia was silent for a moment, and hesitantly brushed her hair back out of her face as she was deep in thought. "I just want this to stop. Is it cowardly of me to say that?"

Ishida sighed. "No. I think we're all just wishing you had someone better to protect you than one semi-useful man and seven children."

She saw Byakuya's back twitch at being referred to in such a way, but he said nothing, continuing to tend the fire. She didn't notice, but Nova got up at that point and was absent in the kitchen with Byakuya for a while.

"That wasn't really…what I meant," Rukia murmured darkly. "If Renji were here, he'd slap me, for what I'm thinking." She felt a sudden chill in spite of the warmth in the cabin, and tucked her legs up to her chest. "But I don't know how better to protect you all. If my birth is an excuse for repaying all your kindness with suffering, then…I don't…need it…"

Ishida, Rose, and even Hitsugaya and Yachiru, were taken aback when they realized what she was implying. They all got ready to berate her for it, but then Nova appeared. He stood over Rukia until she looked up at him. He lowered his hands, proffering her a cup of tea. She hesitantly accepted it, and her line of dark thoughts was somewhat interrupted.

Nova sat beside her, and to her disbelief he murmured in a low, soft voice, "Two times a day. So Hanatarou says."

Rukia gazed in wonder for a moment. She felt her eyes sting with tears she wanted to hold back. She met Nova's eyes. "Thank you, Nova."

He tried to hold her gaze, but his will broke and he glanced aside with a blush, then he disappeared back into the kitchen again.

"I…thought he was a mute…" Rukia murmured after he was gone.

Hitsugaya snorted. "I doubt we'd call him 'Bashful', were that the case."

"You also didn't speak to me much before either, Hitsugaya-kun."

Ishida and Rose startled chuckling mischievously, while Hitsugaya gained a soft blush too. He scratched the back of his head. "It's normal to be a little distant with uninvited guests."

For some reason, Hiyori returned and whacked him on the head.

"Ow! Jesus!" he cried, holding his head. Rukia was surprised at the childlike expression on his face; it was the first time she'd seen him this way.

"Che!" Hiyori snorted, blowing a misbehaving piece of hair out of her face. "What are you blushing for, you little munchkin? You think she fancies you?"

Hitsugaya's whole face went red. "Who asked you, monkey woman?! I never said anything like that!"

"Oh ho ho!" said Rose, gleefully. "His true feelings at last."

Ishida and Yachiru were both (badly) hiding their giggling.

"What true feelings, Rose, you bastard?!" Hitsugaya now directed his rage at him.

Rukia's eyes were wide. They were all acting so much more vibrantly than before, and she hadn't thought they were dull. It almost seemed like…they had relaxed maybe? Though of course there was little change in Ishida or Rose, who had always been pleasant with her. But they both had less effort written on their faces.

Rukia sighed. "I'm…sorry if I scared you all."

Only moments after she had said this, Hiyori grabbed one side and Yachiru grabbed the other, and they both began pulling at Rukia's hair in opposite directions.

"Ow ow ow!" Rukia cried, a tear forming in one eye.

A moment later, Yachiru jumped in her lap and Hiyori rested her elbow hard on top of Rukia's head. She glanced away in disinterest, picking her ear. "What was that? I didn't quite hear you. Did you say you'd do all my laundry and give me extra meat at dinner? That's what I heard."

"I heard 'candy'!" said Yachiru, grinning.

"I think I heard a ki-" Hiyori's feet squashed Rose's face before he could finish this sentence.

Ishida coughed. "In other words, Rukia-san," he said. "I think I'm speaking for most of us at least when I say, we don't need to ask each other favors or apologize for protecting each other."

"Does that mean…I'm one of you?"

There were some general smiles and embarrassment, and then Hiyori's elbow came down hard on her head again.

"Ahhh...no one's ever done that to me before…it hurts so much…"

"I hope it does, you whiner," said Hiyori with a huff. "If you're up and about then can you please do something about the little coal fairy over there?" She thumbed backward at Byakuya, who seemed to be successfully tuning them all out. "All he's got is his pretty face, and at this rate it's going to be permanently stained in the shape of the grill over our stove. Not that it matters to me." She paused for a moment, glaring at him. "Also, as time goes on, he's sucking all the joy out of our lives."

"That part is true," Hitsugaya muttered.

Rukia nodded hesitantly. Though even as she did so, she wasn't sure she knew the first thing she could say to him to make him feel better. She imagined what it would be like if it was her name that poisoned him. Even if she had done nothing wrong, she might never forgive herself.

She started to get up, but Nova came back over, planted a hand on her shoulder and pointed resolutely at the tea. She smiled up at him gratefully, and obediently finished it before she went to talk to Byakuya. She bit her lip, hesitating before she entered the kitchen. The aura around him was indeed stormy.

Softly, she came up behind him and leaned a little on the sink. "Can I help?" she asked him.

"I would rather you didn't."

She took a breath in through the heavy atmosphere. This was not going to be easy. "You saved my life again," she said.

"That's questionable," he returned.

"What is? You found me on the ground, once again, and even thought to wake Hanatarou, didn't you?"

He suddenly stopped what he was doing. Though his expression remained the same, she could see his jaw muscles working. "That's not exactly how I would put it," he said darkly. He paused a moment, then added another block to the fire. "Perhaps, if I had been woken by you falling, there might be some truth in what you say."

"What did wake you then?"

He shrugged. "Chance. I shifted and the blanket they gave me fell to the side. The cold woke me. I don't know how long you were laying there before I found you."

Rukia had to admit that sounded pretty bad, though of course she didn't say so. She tried shrugging casually. "Why does it matter what woke you?"

He slammed the furnace shut loudly, then stood and brushed his hands casually as if he had had no outburst of anger just now. "Why? Good question." His voice and face were still calm, but his whole body was tense, and there was a hidden bite in his tone. "It shouldn't have to matter at all. If I had had a life of hardship, or even one of honest humility, and was able to rise without a servant waking me, it wouldn't have mattered. Because in that case, your life would never have been in danger in the first place. And much though I admit most of the blame in this case," he slammed his fist on the cold metal, producing a resounding clang that stopped all other noise in the house, "Princess, there is a limit to how trusting a person can be."

He turned to her, and his eyes were cold, as if they didn't see her at all. "If I had something to give you, I would have given it to you. I'm not the sort of romantic who delays giving gifts until they are emotionally significant. I spare no such consideration for anyone, lover, friend, or family." Now his tone took on a note of cruelty. "You seem to know so much about me. Did nothing about that seem strange to you?"

Though Rukia had not had much contact with men her own age (and in truth Byakuya was older), she was very used to passive aggression. In this case, it was not his anger that was saddening to her. It was that she was surprised by it. Perhaps some part of her had believed he was more like her father than he was like Yumichika. Had she simply been dazzled by his beauty? She didn't think she was the type to be deceived by appearances. But maybe that's what she was. Much good though it did her to know that now.

And yet, she could not break down at a time like this. After all, he was right. And crying did not work to diffuse anger like this. Even if it did, she would feel like a coward for letting her own feelings dictate someone else's. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, but she kept her head lowered in case she lost control of her emotions.

"There is no error in what you have said. Your accusation is well-founded, and I do not have words to apologize for the trouble I have caused you." Though her head was down, she saw one of Byakuya's feet slide minimally backward, away from her. "It is unfair to ask anyone to look after someone so careless with her own life, and I should never have imposed upon you. Your Highness…" she took a deep breath, knowing this was going to hurt her a lot. "…of course, it is still your decision, and I would not presume to suggest you leave before I can return your kindness, but perhaps…it is too much to ask you to stay any longer."

Byakuya took a step backwards. He didn't move again for a time. "I…" He paused for a time, and she could just see his fists clench at his sides. "I see. Then, would you prefer it if I were gone?"

Rukia wasn't sure how to answer. "I can't ask you to stay," she said softly.

"You never did in the first place," Byakuya murmured. He turned his body halfway toward the door. "I do not…intend to abandon a duty that I have accepted. But perhaps I can better serve you as a prince than as a protector. If you would prefer that, then I will leave tonight."

Rukia gasped, though still unable to lift her head. "But…riding at night is…"

"Sakura is familiar with it, and very obedient to me," he murmured. He picked up his over shirt and sword, which he had placed in the corner of the room. He slid the sword in place. Then he was still for a long few moments again. "I wish…for your sake…that I were a better man."

Finally, Rukia had to look up. He was already turning away, but she was stunned by the emotion visible in his face. Compared to a normal person, it was still very subtle, but Rukia could see that his thoughts were written right on his face. She gasped and moved to follow him, but he was already gone out the door.

She stood there still for a moment. Then the tears she'd held back finally made their way down. She covered her face with her hands. "What have I done?"

Surprisingly, Yachiru came in and hugged her around her waist without a word.

"Yachiru-chan…" she murmured tearfully.

The others came to stand in the doorway as well, obviously able to hear everything that was said just then. Hiyori scratched her head.

"Well…you were both wrong just then. But he still acted like a dick, so I think you're okay."

Rukia sniffed. "You think I shouldn't have asked him to leave?"

"A real man would have stayed without being asked," said Rose, proudly. "Think of your redheaded friend, for example. Would he have left if you asked him to?"

Rukia thought and then shook her head. "I suppose not. Well then, when you said I was wrong, you meant…"

"Earlier!" Hiyori cried, waving her arms. "The thing earlier." She sighed. "The truth is, we all think you ought to have been more careful. Even I think a romantic gift from that lummox would be suspicious."

"I see…"

"Thus, you were both at fault," Hitsugaya said.

"Though that was no excuse for a temper tantrum," Ishida added, pushing up his glasses. Hiyori huffed and folded her arms and Rose and Nova nodded.

"So…what should I do?"

Most of them shook their heads. Hiyori threw her hands up in a shrug. "What can you do? How 'bout just wait for the…other one to come back," she blushed here, "and in the meantime, try look a little bit less pathetic."

Rukia started tearing up again, almost comically. "Do I look pathetic?"

With sighs, almost the whole room nodded. Yachiru added brightly, "Yup! Just like a plow-horse after a long day!"

Rukia actually chuckled a little. "I've never had such good friends that they could be so honest with me." Then she started to cry again. "I'm so glad I found you all!"

This prompted some more sighs and some more hugging, and finally they made her get in bed. They didn't tell her, but Hiyori had been lending her hers, and the person herself took up a position in the rocking chair. As things were quieting down, Hitsugaya got up, saying he was taking a leak.

He came outside, then closed the door and leaned against it with a sigh. Without even looking, he said, "You heard all that?"

Sakura nickered, though of course Hitsugaya had been addressing his rider, who was clearly still just around the corner. "Yes."

"You still going to leave?"

A long pause.

Hitsugaya sighed, scratching his stomach. "Well, I'm not going to stop you. Just wanted you to know where you stand. Glad Nova got the message to you."

A sigh. "I'm not quite sure how he did that, by the way, he didn't seem like he was speaking to me out loud."

"He has his ways. You would too if you were too shy to talk most of the time." He pushed off the door. "Right. I'm going back inside then. You have any message you want to leave behind?"

No answer.

The boy yawned. "Suit yourself. We'll hope to see you again. Give our regards to the redheaded rhubarb." With that, he went inside. Byakuya was silent for a moment, and gripped Sakura's reigns tighter in his hand, mounted, and was gone.

…

The next morning, Rukia was amazed to wake up and find that the children had already left for the day. The kitchen was a disaster of course, much worse than normal. She gathered that having someone else cook for them meant that they had already forgotten what little they knew. So she started cleaning up.

She jumped when she heard a knock at the door. She stared at it for a long time. "Hey, Bonehead, I forgot something."

"Hiyori!" she said happily, and hastened to the door.

She opened it to find Hiyori holding something out like it was dog poo, and with a similar expression on her face. "Here. It's not a present."

Rukia held out her hands and accepted it. It was a beautiful, delicious-looking red apple. She smiled happily. "Is this for me?"

"I said it's not a present, dumbass! We found them, and I thought you'd make a stupid, sad face if you didn't get one." She folded her arms in a huff.

"That's so sweet," she said, holding it close. "Can I eat it?"

"Che," Hiyori scoffed. "None of my business."

"Thank you."

Rukia took a bite. She chewed. She swallowed. And she could not believe how foolish she had been. Hiyori had turned back around with a wicked smirk, and stuck out her tongue with a flicker of azure light. Then she started to grow taller.

Rukia tried to scream, but couldn't. She backed into the house out of fear, but the fake Hiyori only followed her, as her unruly blond hair became silky black, and grew out past her shoulders. Rukia stood shaking with terror, as Yumichika and none other stood there before her.

"How does it taste, Rukia?" he asked her in his soft tenor.

She tried to speak, but found she couldn't even open her mouth. She could barely move.

" 'Born under a lucky star', huh?" he commented, turning around and picking up the apple Rukia had dropped. "I suppose you must be, to be so gullible and yet to escape me at least three times. Four, if you count Komamura." Rukia was vaguely surprised to see a flicker of some uncharacteristic emotion there, but it vanished in moments. "I hesitated using this spell, since it's very effective, but unfortunately can be easily broken, under the right circumstances. However, it's nice that you'll be having trouble speaking by now but you can still hear me, since there's something I really wanted to say to you."

Yumichika leaned down to speak in her ear, elegantly sweeping his tresses off to one side to do so. Then he murmured, "I could give a rat's ass if you're beautiful or not."

Rukia's eyes widened.

Yumichika withdrew slightly to look her in the eyes. "I had more than enough reason to hate you before that." His jaw tightened and suddenly he grabbed her by the throat. She tried to gasp, but could only breathe through her nose. Yumichika forced her onto the ground, still holding her throat. "For having his love…" Yumichika whispered to her. Rukia felt a drop of warmth hit her cheek, though she could not see his face from this angle. "…for having his love, and for abandoning him before he was cold. For that, I will never forgive you." He sighed with a shaking voice. "Now go…"

He slowly released his grip on her, and gracefully he rose to his feet, although she couldn't really see well any longer. "Go and sleep a dreamless sleep. Stay an object of beauty, unable to touch, or see, or love, for the rest of time. Goodbye, Rukia."

Rukia's consciousness faded.