Part 2 of Chapter 10.
Warning: Contains coarse language, violence and implied sex. Bit Canon/but mostly OOC. Rated M for suggestive themes.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, but this story is my own.
X - ii
Rukia's eyes began to shut as she fought to breathe. Her throat burned and her vision swam, slipping dangerously into unconsciousness. "NO!" a voice inside her screamed. Was it her voice? She wasn't sure, but regardless, she had to try and fight. Blinking hazily at blood-red eyes that she had originally thought was a luminescent clear-green color, Rukia's will plummeted. "A vampire...?"
Bearing his fangs, he seemed to waver and his hold on her lessened enough for her to suck in rapid gulps of air. "You're human...you can't be a Kuchiki..." he said hoarsely. Tilting his head to the side he coughed up a spurt of black blood forming a pool on the forest floor.
"I c-can...get...help..." Rukia choked out.
He loosened his grip around her throat and his eyes turned back to green for a moment, then he sniffed the air. Envy seemed to look down on himself with disgust and back again at Rukia, "Not...strong e-nough," and staggering on the spot, he gruffly shoved Rukia away. Rukia doubled over in a coughing fit as her lungs rapidly refilled with air. When she glanced upwards in a haze, the mysterious man was gone.
"RUKIA!" Ulquiorra raced over to her and lifted her up with one arm while he brandished his sword with the other. "Are you alright? What happened? How could you just leave like that? Did you get hurt? Who was here?-"
"Ul-quiorra, that's a-lot of ques-tions...I-I'm...okay..." Rukia managed in between coughs.
The Shifter looked down at her sharply. Though the color was beginning to seep back into her face, the imprint of the perpetrator's stranglehold flared visibly on her skin. "You're not alright. Forgive me my Lady, I'm so sorry," Ulquiorra's scowl disappeared into sadness.
"There's nothing to forgive, and it was my fault, so I'm sorry-" sucking in her breath once more, Rukia finally felt well enough to stand upright.
Just then Byakuya showed up. Taking Rukia from Ulquiorra's hold, he carried her bridal-style and sped back to their home.
Left behind, Ulquiorra dipped a fingertip in the auspicious black liquid and rubbed it between his fingers. The aroma of sulphur hung in the air...
"Bya-"
"-Don't speak," Byakuya growled, his steel-grey eyes blazed with a burning fury and his face set in a stony mask. Rukia gnawed on her lip and clammed up, not daring to speak a word. Bounding back up over the balcony and through the bay window doors of their bedroom, Byakuya dumped Rukia unceremoniously on the bed. Then he locked the doors and window shutters tight, nearly snapping the lever in the process.
Rukia involuntarily flinched and tried to suppress a tickle in her throat that was threatening to erupt into another cough. She had never seen her husband so angry before. Byakuya noticed this and went to fetch her a glass of water, but in his anger the glass shattered in his hand. Rukia bolted upright to help, but Byakuya stopped her in her tracks. "Stay there!" he ordered and scooping up the broken glass shards up with his hand, he dumped them in the bin.
Meanwhile Rukia shifted uncomfortably back onto the bed. "Why are you mad?" she asked quietly.
"I told you never to go out alone," Byakuya said harshly.
"I know- I'm sorry- I didn't mean to-" Rukia stammered.
Byakuya's mouth drew a thin tight line, which told her he wasn't appeased. "That's not good enough."
"Yes but I saw this man-"
"-What man?"
"He looked hurt- and he was- he asked for help- so I went after him- I didn't think, I'm sorry," she rambled.
"Is that all you can say? I'm sorry?" Byakuya said coldly.
"I'm sor- Wait, why are you being so mean?" Rukia scowled.
"Mean? Do you really think I am being mean? You carelessly go help some stranger, nearly get yourself killed in the process and you think I'm being mean? How many times do I have to tell you to stop acting so recklessly, and to think before you act! Once again you disobeyed my orders," Byakuya reprimanded.
Now that got Rukia riled up. "Your orders? I'm not someone you can just order around! Don't you dare talk to me like I'm some underling, I'm your wife!"
"Exactly, so start acting like it-" he broke off as he hadn't meant to say that, he was just so angry.
Jumping off the bed, Rukia stormed over to Byakuya with her hands balled up into fists. "Oh, so I'm not living up to your expectations, am I? Not good enough for you, is that it? I'm not being the model Lady Kuchiki! Well you asked me to marry you remember, or did that part slip your mind? Maybe you should've thought about all that BEFORE you married a human!" she was seething.
"Rukia-"
"-And our wedding night...I didn't even know it was our wedding night until Renji told me- What, an hour or so beforehand...! You've got to stop treating me like this! You don't tell me what's going on!"
"Rukia-"
"-Or am I nothing but an incubator to you? Because if that's really all we have, then tell me right now-"
"-Rukia, enough!" Byakuya cut in, and grabbed her by the wrists, pulling her into a firm hold. Dropping his voice to a more quieter level, he continued, "Look around you..."
"What?-" Rukia stopped and surveyed the scene. She had been so busy ranting and raving that she hadn't even noticed their bedroom now looked like the epitome of a frozen tornado wasteland, save for the bed which was miraculously relatively intact. The effect was instantly calming. "Oh..."
Still holding her, Byakuya gazed down at her, his piercing grey eyes hard as stone. "Is that really what you think? That you are nothing but the bearer of my child?" he asked in a low voice.
"I don't know, I want to hear it from you," Rukia replied honestly.
Byakuya sighed, "You are unbelievably stubborn."
"Is that a good thing?" she asked now, blushing a bit.
"Yes," he murmured as he leant down to kiss her full on the mouth.
Rukia forced herself to still his advances. "Byakuya, please..." she pleaded.
"...I'm afraid to lose you."
"Don't be afraid, you're not going to lose me," Rukia cupped Byakuya's face with one hand and ran her fingers over his smooth marble skin.
Slipping the strap of her dress down, Byakuya leaned in and kissed her shoulder, then scooping her up he laid down with her on the bed. Cupping her breast Byakuya kissed her mouth and over her chin and down to her neck, then pulled away abruptly. Tracing a finger over the strangle marks around Rukia's throat, Byakuya felt the anger rise in him again. "Who did this to you? I will find him and carve him into a new Hell."
"Let's not think about it right now," Rukia whispered. Sliding her hand down, she fondled him to hardness. "Make love to me..." whimpering in his ear as she tugged at his shirt, ripping the buttons to reveal his lean toned chest. Shrugging it off, Byakuya unzipped his pants and discarded them. Then pulling Rukia's dress up and over her, he let the garment was pushed to the side to fall in a pile on the floor.
Laying on their sides, Byakuya plunged into her wetness while kissing and sucking the soft porcelain skin of her back and shoulders. His arms wrapped around her as he thrust deeper, harder and faster. Rukia moaned and cried out as waves of other-worldly titillating bliss ripped through her, and she nipped and sucked his fingers, driving grunts and groans from his mouth.
Byakuya's fangs slid out as his excitement heightened, yet he didn't want to hurt her. Rukia could feel him pull back. Her violet eyes glazed over and her raven-colored hair clung damply to the sides of her face. "It's okay," she breathed. So casting his inhibitions aside, Byakuya pierced the flesh above her right elbow. His face buried under his long ink-black locks. Their bodies locked together in a passionate embrace. Rukia's eyes momentarily flashed as they orgasmed together.
Later on in the night Byakuya dressed in black satin pyjama pants, stood looking out over the balcony with a blood goblet in hand. Wanting to be cautious, he had only taken a small portion of Rukia's blood, but it wasn't enough.
Thinking back on Rukia's brief description of the man she thought to help, Byakuya stared intently up at the sky as if the moon had the answers he sought. There was only one person he could think of who fit that description, and he was supposed to have been killed three hundred years ago...
Then his left arm began to twinge. Looking over with worry at Rukia in bed, she stirred and shivered slightly at having kicked the blankets off. Byakuya went back inside and smiled in spite of himself, pulling the blankets back up over her. Gazing down at his beautiful wife's face, he could see that she was smiling. Despite his curiosity, Byakuya knew better than to try and wake her up.
Leaning down, he nuzzled her hair. It had grown longer and now fell way past her shoulders. "I love you," Byakuya whispered in her ear and kissed her softly on the cheek. Rukia's smile subconsciously deepened.
Byakuya quickly got dressed, locked the shutters again and left the room. From now on the Manor would have a full team of guards arming the place and he made up his mind to train Rukia how to better defend herself against Vampires. For he would do everything in his power to never run the risk of her getting hurt ever again.
Renji, Rukia and Ulquiorra were lounging around in the living room. Ulquiorra was trying to teach Rukia how to play chess well enough so she could finally beat Byakuya for once. While Renji, who was usually out on the town sucking on some poor woman...or two, had his nose stuck in a magazine that Rukia had given him - mainly intended as a punishment for the way he viewed women as either sex objects or food.
"You chicks like WHAT?" Renji exclaimed, flipping the magazine upside down and shaking it like that would make a difference.
Distracted by the outburst Rukia moved a chess piece. "Checkmate," Ulquiorra said flatly.
"Dammit!" Rukia scowled and folded her arms across her chest in annoyance. "For a start, women are not 'chicks'. Chicks are baby chickens, and do we look small, cute and fluffy and chirp all day long to you?"
"Well...in your case two out of four ain't bad," Renji grinned and patted the top of Rukia's head.
"MORON," slapping Renji's hand away, Rukia's temple pulsed. "Keep it up and I'm officially taking you off my birthday gift list!" she threatened.
"What birthday gift list?" Renji asked dumbfounded.
"Yours of course..." then Rukia stopped and thought for a moment. She now realised that she didn't know any of their birthday's. "Wait, when is your birthday? And yours Ulquiorra, or Byakuya's for that matter."
"Eh we don't celebrate birthdays," Renji said nonplussed.
"What, never?"
"Never," Ulquiorra chipped in.
"Why not? Birthdays are the best," Rukia remarked.
"What's the point? We live for hundreds of years. In Byakuya's case, thousands," Renji shrugged, completely oblivious to the pained look that flashed across Rukia's face.
"Imbecile," Ulquiorra said in a low voice, shooting the tactless vampire a cold look.
"Eh sorry Rukia...wanna kiss and make up?" Renji apologised with a sly grin.
Rukia rolled her eyes. "No thanks, I'm good. It's true though..."
Ulquiorra could've killed Renji and his big mouth. "What if we started a new tradition?" the Shifter piped up in the hopes of making Rukia feel better. He was well aware that Byakuya had no intention of 'turning' Rukia.
"Where would we start? I lost count of my age after ninety-nine," Renji said.
"You're two-hundred and fifty-eight," Ulquiorra said dryly.
"Shut up," Renji retorted, "That makes me feel old."
"That's because you are," Ulquiorra bit back.
"Yeah and how old are you?" Renji wasn't even sure if Ulquiorra was right about his age or not, and he definitely didn't know the Shifter's age.
"Alot younger than you."
"Which is how old?" the vampire really wanted to know now.
"A real man never reveals his age," Ulquiorra smirked.
"Why you! I'll beat your dragon-ass into the next century!"
Ignoring the banter, Rukia mused, "You know that's a really good idea Ulquiorra."
"Pfft, what's so good about birthdays anyway?" Renji still wasn't convinced.
"Well you throw a party, get gifts and all the people you care-"
"-You had me at party," Renji interrupted, "Let's do it."
Rukia laughed while Ulquiorra just shook his head, "Typical."
"Okay, since Byakuya's the oldest let's throw him one first," Rukia said cheerily.
"Ha no favoritism huh," Renji mussed up Rukia's hair again, earning him a punch on the forearm. "When?"
"Um how about tonight? We'll have to move fast though..." Rukia got up from the lounge room rug and grinned, "He won't suspect a thing."
"Uh-oh she's got that weird crazy-look in her eyes," Renji dead-panned.
"This is all your fault," Ulquiorra said in a withered tone.
"Hey I wasn't the one who said we should start a new tradition," the vampire shot back.
"If you thought before opening that big mouth of yours, I wouldn't have had to."
Having left without the two men noticing, Rukia came back into the lounge. "I drew up a plan," she proudly displayed her mock-up to the duo.
"How did you have enough time to do that? And what is that?" Renji asked flabbergasted.
"I'm almost afraid to ask..." tilting his head from side-to-side, Ulquiorra was having a hard time making it out as well.
"Agh! That's us-"
"-Us? I thought it was a rabid bunny-cat hybrid doing a rain dance," Renji quipped.
The Shifter's emerald green eyes narrowed in distaste. "Huh... Oh my head..." Renji burst out laughing at Ulquiorra's facial expression.
"Clearly, that's not what it is," Rukia huffed.
"Clearly, your drawings suck," Renji remarked.
"No comment," Ulquiorra said in an expressionless tone.
"Fine! forget the drawing, we're wasting time, and we still need to get a present," Rukia stated.
"Okay you two go and buy a present and I'll take care of the rest," Renji was grinning from ear-to-ear.
"I thought you didn't celebrate birthdays?" Rukia questioned.
"Yeah, but I know how to throw a party," the vampire replied.
Oblivious, Rukia nodded and smiled. "Great. Ulquiorra let's go," and she headed out the front door, grabbing her jacket off the coat-hook on the way.
"Bad idea," Ulquiorra muttered under his breath as Rukia streamed ahead.
...
At the shop, Rukia was verging on panic. "What do you get someone who has everything?"
"Something meaningful, like a personal token," Ulquiorra offered.
She sighed exasperatedly and her brow creased into a frown. "Okay, I'll try. Let me know if you see something..."
...
An aisle away Ichigo snapped out of his reverie. Somehow he'd let himself get suckered into accompanying Nel in shopping for her new apartment. After becoming Operatives, the pair were relocated to the 2nd Level apartments of the Academy. But now he thought he'd heard a voice from long ago. "Rukia?" automatically moving in the direction of the distinctive tone.
"Hey, where do you think you're going? You're supposed to help me pick which color cushions to buy," Nel cut in, holding up a cushion in each hand.
Flicking back and forth between the two, Ichigo was hard-pressed to tell them apart. "Ah...that one?" he offered, choosing the one on the right.
"The blue one?"
"That's blue? They both look the same to me," he was starting to get a headache.
"If they look the same then why did you say this one?" Nel said in exasperation.
"Does it matter?"
"Yes it matters. The one on the left is more green," Nel said like it was supposed to be obvious.
"Yeah I'm not seeing it..."
"Itsygo!" she was verging on 'tantrum-mode'.
"Quit whining and get both if you can't decide!" Then Ichigo heard that voice again, and he stalked off, rubbing his forehead...
...
"Agh I can't think of anything," Rukia crinkled her nose. She hadn't thought it would be so hard to find one gift. Ulquiorra looked at her thoughtfully. He knew how much she wanted to find the right present, and truthfully there wasn't anything that really stood out for him either. At least this shopping experience was alot less painful than the unfortunate experience he had had with Renji.
Spotting the racks of photo frames and ornaments, an idea formed in his head. Ulquiorra recalled an Artist whose studio was not far from here. Getting her attention, he told her, "Rukia, I think I know just the thing," one corner of Ulquiorra's mouth turned up - that was as close to a smile as he got.
"Really? That's brilliant Ulquiorra, thank you," Rukia brightened considerably and followed behind as he led the way out. "Good thing too, we shouldn't stay out here for too long in case someone recognizes us..."
...
Ichigo rounded the corner to see the aisle empty. "I must be going crazy..." He thought to himself as he shook his head. In the pit of his stomach he felt an indescribable disappointment. Was he hoping for so much? "Don't forget she's with someone else!" But still, as far as Rukia knew, he was dead. "Agh stupid idiot. Stop it! Rukia is gone, so get over it!"
"There you are!" Nel exclaimed, startling him again.
"Quit doing that!" Ichigo grumbled.
"Quit spacing out!" she shot back, then turned sheepish. "Here, help me with these," shoving a mountain of shopping bags into his arms.
"Geez did you buy the whole bloody store or what?"
"Well I couldn't decide, and you ran off on me," Nel pouted.
"Whatever." he grunted, heading for the exit.
Running a little to catch up to Ichigo's brisk pace, Nel's expression became concerned. "Were you looking for something?" she asked.
"More like someone..." "Nope, it's nothing."
"Okay, if you're sure. Should we grab a bite to eat before heading back? I'm starved," the Shifter looked like she was about to start drooling.
"You, starved? That's a new one," Ichigo smirked and earned him a rib in the gut, to which he threatened, "Hey do you want to carry these bags yourself?"
"Stupid jerk..."
Renji paced the entryway impatiently. Byakuya was going to come home any minute and Rukia and Ulquiorra still weren't back from shopping. At the sound of a car pulling up in the driveway, Renji freaked. "Fuck!" then thinking of nothing else to stall the vampire Lord, Renji quickly got Byakuya's sword and sped out to greet him before he could enter the house.
Byakuya stopped and stared at Renji suspiciously. "Yours is not the face I wish to see," he commented dryly.
Doing his best to remain casual, Renji let out a short laugh, "I'd be slightly worried if it was."
"That is an understatement," Byakuya went to walk past him.
Holding out his master's sword, Renji stalled him again. "Byakuya, you're needed..."
"What is the situation?" Byakuya inquired and took his sword, though he was still suspicious of the younger vampire's weird behavior.
"Ah...trespassers on the border..." Renji said weakly, hoping that Byakuya would buy it.
"Which border? There is more than one," he arched an eyebrow and his eyes narrowed.
"Ah...the Western one...?"
"Very well," Byakuya left to do his duty.
After the vampire Lord was gone, Renji mentally kicked himself. "I am so fucking dead!" he groaned, and said aloud, "You'd better have a fucking awesome present, Rukia..." A short while later, Rukia and Ulquiorra finally returned home. "Where the hell have you been?" Renji practically pounced on them.
"Sorry, it took longer than we thought, but we got something really good," Rukia was flushed from dashing back as fast as she could.
"Okay, okay, just hurry up and change into something sexy!" Rukia rewarded the request with a filthy look, nevertheless continued upstairs to get formally dressed. "The sexier, the better! My life depends on it!"
"Ohh...what did you do?" Rukia sniggered.
"Just do it. Thanks to you two, I sent Byakuya to chase some phantoms to buy you slackers some time!" Ulquiorra just looked at him blankly, while Rukia kept strangely quiet. The minutes ticked by and Renji was becoming impatient. "Now isn't the time to act all girlie and take forever," he called out from the bottom of the stairs.
"I'm going to ignore that," Rukia said as she descended down the stairs in a red satin full-length strapless gown. This dress had caught her eye the first night she was here, and like all of the other garments in her wardrobe, it fitted her petite-frame beautifully. Wearing red strappy low-heels to match and a white rose choker (to hide the bruising around her throat), her hair was loosely swept up with a white pearl hairpin.
"Yeah, I'm saved!" Renji aimed to slap Ulquiorra a high-five, but the Shifter just looked at him like he was an insect. Unfazed, Renji dropped his hand and went back to ogling Rukia as she made her way over to him. "You look drop-dead gorgeous Rukia," the vampire winked admiringly.
"Thanks," she smiled. "Um is everything ready?"
"Yep, I even got a cake," Renji grinned.
"Why? You vampires don't eat cake."
"Tch it's not real," he rolled his eyes as if Rukia should've known better and sped off to change himself.
Shaking her head after him, Rukia sighed. "That makes no sense..."
"Rukia-" Ulquiorra started then stopped.
"Yes?"
Ulquiorra was going to compliment her on her appearance, but changed his mind. "...Byakuya's present is in the lounge..." the Shifter said instead.
"Alright, thank you," she smiled, then observing his slight uncomfortable behavior, added, "You can get changed if you want. I promise to stay put and not run after strange men for five minutes." He gave her a brief nod and disappeared.
Both men made it back in four minutes. Renji's long crimson-colored hair swayed silkily down his back and in a black and white high-collared suit, the vampire looked rather dashing. Ulquiorra meanwhile chose a white military-style suit with green links that highlighted his exquisite emerald-colored eyes. "Wow, you guys look amazing," Rukia complimented.
"Yeah I know," Renji winked.
Just then the trio was startled by the ring of Renji's cellphone. It was Byakuya, who informed him, "I am walking through the door in two minutes. If you wish to surprise me, you had better make it quick."
Renji gulped to hide his nervousness. "So Byakuya had known all along... Figures." the vampire surmised in thought. "Ah, now's not a good time. It's cool, I'll call you. Bye Baby." and he clicked off in a hurry. "Baby?" The three of them said in their heads without the others knowing. Rukia and Ulquiorra had identical weirded-out expressions on their faces. "Did I just call Byakuya 'Baby'?" Renji shuddered. "Ah forget it, let's just do this," and he ushered them into the ballroom, switching off the lights along the way.
Rukia gasped in awe when she saw the wonderful transformation. The most outstanding feature was the circular blood fountain in the center of the room. Three marble statutes of Nyx, the Goddess of Darkness stood grandly in the middle, and out of her mouths blood flowed into descending pyramids of crystal cocktail glasses lined along the base.
A hoard of perfectly dressed vampires stepped out about to pounce. "Nope, not yet," Renji waved them off back into their places.
"OMG, this is incredible! And are all vampires so beautiful?" Rukia whispered. Renji just grinned and moved to the far side of the room.
Ulquiorra linked his arm through hers. "Just this once, please. It would put my mind at ease," he whispered in her ear.
"Thank you Ulquiorra, me too." Rukia gave his arm a squeeze to let him know she felt safer too, and they went to stand in their position.
In the darkened room, Renji called out again. "Oi Rukia, what do we say again?"
"Surprise."
"Pfft Byakuya hates surprises."
"Too late now! That's just what we're supposed to say," Rukia hoarsely whispered back.
"Alright, whatever you say..." Then there was a shush from the crowd. "Did you just shush me?" Renji again.
"Renji, shut up!" Rukia raised her voice.
"Eh this isn't going to work. Rukia, go out there and strip."
"Dammit, I'm warning you!" Then everyone fell silent when they heard the front door opening and closing...
...
Byakuya suppressed the urge to laugh. His keen observational skills aside, it was apparent to him from the beginning that something was going on, and Renji's attempt to get him out of the way was lame at best. Still he knew that this had to be Rukia's doing and it made him happy, and he'd used the time to formally dress.
The vampire Lord detected the scent of forty-five vampires, his wife and Ulquiorra, also the fainter scent of another human female he didn't recognise. Turning the doorknob of the ballroom, he stepped into the dark room to the chorus of "SURPRISE!"
Illuminating the room by lighting all of the candles and sconces spread out around the room, Ginrei was the first to greet the guest of honor. "I am told the correct term for this occasion is 'Happy birthday'," the vampire Elder said kindly.
"Thank you grandfather," Byakuya bowed respectfully and smiled.
"The real thanks belongs to your wife. Interesting Human fancies..." Ginrei mused.
"Indeed," Byakuya replied as he searched the group for the face he really wanted to see. Though upon seeing Rukia, a rush of jealousy shot through him when he saw Ulquiorra's arm linked around hers. "If you'll excuse me grandfather."
Byakuya made it halfway there when Renji wheeled out a massive-sized cake. The whole room went deathly silent as none of the vampires knew what to do next. So Rukia started up the first verse of the birthday song, and the vampires slowly joined in. When the song ended a scantily clad buxom blonde burst out of the cake. Once again the room went quiet, and was thick with tension.
"Traditionally the birthday person cuts the 'cake' first..." one vampire in the group whispered to another.
"Oh goody, she looks tasty. I think I like birthday parties..." the other replied.
"WHAT THE HELL?" Rukia thundered at Renji. The latter just looked at her haplessly. Storming over to the female in the cake, she spat, "Get out! And nobody eat her!" Instantly freaked, the woman forgot all about her payment and hot-footed it out of there. Feeling remorseful, Rukia whirled and fled out of the room, with Renji right behind her. "Renji, you stupid sonofa-" at slamming the patio doors she broke off and plonked herself down on the steps.
"Rukia I'm sorry, I thought that's what you did at birthday parties," he apologised.
"Bachelor parties maybe, but not birthdays!"
"Ah woops...not that Byakuya had one of those either..." Shooting him a death glare, Renji instantly regretted his words, "Sorry..."
Rukia buried her face in between her knees and groaned. "Just leave me alone," she sniffed.
"Yeah okay," Renji said quietly and left.
Soon thereafter Rukia heard someone approach and assumed it was Renji who had more to say. "I thought I told you to leave me alone," her words were muffled by her knees.
"Rukia." It was Byakuya.
Jumping up, she came to an abrupt stop before him. Gazing deep into his eyes, Rukia's lip quivered. "I'm sorry for my outburst," she apologised, feeling a mix of emotions. "I only wanted to do something special for you and I've ended up ruining everything," she sighed.
"No, you haven't ruined anything," Byakuya soothed, and folded Rukia in an embrace, "Besides, I'm not attracted to blondes."
"That does NOT make me feel any better!" Rukia shot him the filthiest of looks and struggled to break free. "Let me go!" she hissed when it became clear to her that he wasn't going to let her go.
"No."
"Byakuya!" her tone became pleading. She was still all worked up over the cake-girl incident.
Pulling Rukia in closer Byakuya breathed in her ear. "I learned something tonight..."
"What's that?" Rukia murmured. A part of her hated that he had such a mind-numbing effect over her.
"You're sexy when you're jealous..." Rukia uttered a small moan as Byakuya showered her with kisses. "However you should also know one more thing..."
"Ahh..."
"I also feel jealous when other men touch you." and ripping the side of her dress, Byakuya slid his hands under and around her butt and lifted her up. Locking lips in heated, passionate fury, an overwhelming urge consumed Rukia and she bit his lip hard enough to draw blood. His eyes widened in surprise as she licked his blood with her tongue.
"You shouldn't do that," Byakuya said huskily.
"I want you..." it was such an insatiable need, and Rukia tried to bite him some more. At the edge of his control, Byakuya gave in and under the moonlight they made love...
Lying next to each other on the soft garden grass, Rukia rested her head on Byakuya's outstretched arm and gazed up at the bright full moon. Then she turned to study her husband's handsome face who was silently peering up at the night sky. Slowly, silent tears trickled down her cheeks as her mind raced through snatches of memories of their time together so far.
Sensing Rukia's eyes on him, Byakuya cast a sideways glance and saw her tears, the moonlight making them glisten like small crystals. Shifting himself to lean over her, Byakuya spoke gently, the worry etched in his voice, "Did I hurt you?"
"No."
"Something is the matter," he said and brushed her tears away.
Rukia gnawed on her lip as Byakuya remained silent and waited for her to speak. "You're missing out on your party," she said at last.
"You are not crying over that," he cocked an eyebrow.
Truthfully, Rukia didn't know why she was crying, she had just become so emotional. "You think you know me so well," she quirked.
Byakuya wittingly smiled. "I know you better than you think."
"Really...then what am I thinking right now?" her violet eyes danced playfully as she twisted her fingers through damp strands of his hair falling forwards.
"I am not a mindreader..." Byakuya replied a tad defensively. Enjoying his slight discomfort, Rukia laughed. "We are getting off the subject," he added.
"Maybe," now smiling and hugging him, Rukia whispered, "Happy birthday. Don't forget to open your presents."
"I was only interested in yours," the edge of a smile playing at the corner of his mouth.
"Was?" instantly picking up on the use of the past tense.
"It will look very good in my office," Byakuya smiled fully now.
Rukia rolled over to lie on his front. "How did you know?" she gasped.
"I told you, I know you better than you think..."
"Vampires..." Rukia chuckled and Byakuya laughed. Resting her head on his chest, they stayed there a little while longer in peaceful quietude.
Sitting in his office, Byakuya cast a quick glance at the clock on his desk. He had one more appointment before he went home, and he couldn't wait. With five minutes until his appointment was due he buzzed his receptionist. "Yes Mr Kuchiki?" Nanao answered.
"What is the name of my last appointment?"
"One moment. Miss S. Phinx...?" Nanao read from her planner.
Byakuya instantly scowled. "Cancel it."
"I'm sorry Mr Kuchiki, she's already here."
Even as Nanao spoke the words, Yoruichi slunk into Byakuya's office with an unmistakable twinkle in her eye. "If I didn't know better, I would think you're ignoring me," the Headmistress pouted and perched herself on the vampire Lord's desk, crossing her legs.
"With good reason," Byakuya said curtly, not looking up from his work.
"Aww Byaku-bo, now you've made me come all this way to see you. Did you miss me?" shuffling along to directly face him, she spread her jeans encased legs apart and leaned in. Her well-endowed cleavage coming within inches of his face.
"Hardly," Byakuya said thinly as a dark look formed across his face. Knowing the Shifter's tricks, he didn't dare move.
At his refusal to take her bait, Yoruichi sat up straight. "Hmph, nothing? I'm hurt."
"I doubt that, and I don't do Beasts," he said icily.
Then the shiny glint of a ring on Byakuya's left hand caught her attention. Yoruichi did a double-take and gushed like a schoolgirl. "Did you get MARRIED?"
"How astute of you."
"HA! ...Never in a million years did I see that coming..." and she jumped up off the desk and poked her head back into the reception area. "OH you didn't marry her did you?" indicating to Nanao.
The receptionist bared her fangs and hissed, "I can hear you Shifter!"
"Did you come here for a reason, or just to annoy me?" Byakuya remarked.
"Both," Yoruichi smirked at Nanao, shut the door again and sat in the chair opposite with her arms folded behind her head and hers legs crossed again over the armrest.
"Then get on with it, She-Lion."
Spotting the portrait on the wall of a beautiful raven-haired, violet-eyed young woman, Yoruichi wondered how she missed it in the first place. "So, how is my former student doing? Adorable feisty thing," she smiled from ear-to-ear in delight. Byakuya simply glared at her without bothering to reply. "You know it wasn't very nice of you to kill one of my Operatives, not to mention thirty-odd guards," Yoruichi continued.
"Your people threatened mine. Be grateful that that was the least of the damage."
"Which I had no prior knowledge of...which you already know, or else you would've voided our Treaty," Yoruichi said flippantly, then straightened up in the chair. "So then you wouldn't happen to know how his body up and disappeared, would you? Some new vampire ritual I'm not aware of?"
"No," Byakuya replied. He opted to keep whatever matters he could to himself.
To anyone else they wouldn't sense the slight change in the vampire Lord's demeanor, however the Headmistress wasn't just anyone else... "Hm 'dead man walking'...whatever is the world coming to..." and she also sensed that there was more to this development than Byakuya was letting on, but it would be pointless trying to fish for information.
"Well as much fun as this is..." bursting out with laughter, her sentence died off as she stood up. Byakuya eyed Yoruichi warily. Knowing her, there was more to come, and sure enough, "Does Rukia know that Ichigo is alive?" the death glare was unmistakable and all of the small objects in the office began to shake. Yoruichi's face turned mischievous. "Aha, but you know, don't you.. I can just see that coming back to bite you, if you ask me."
"I'm not asking," Byakuya growled.
Standing upright with her arms folded across her chest, "By not telling her you're only going to hurt her more. These things have a way of coming out, and when it does... let's just say that right now I don't know who I feel sorry for the most... You weren't there to see it - 'them', but doesn't it make you wonder?"
"Leave," he said menacingly. So with a sigh and a shake of her long purple pony-tailed head, Yoruichi raised one hand in a wave and disappeared.
Relaxing his tightly clenched fists, he watched as the blood faded away and the nail marks healed perfectly. If Rukia ever found out that he knew all along, she would never forgive him, yet unwillingly to admit to the wisdom of the Shifter's words, the vampire Lord pushed it out of his mind. The fact that dead men were refusing to stay dead was really beginning to irk him. Cursing in his head, Byakuya went to the one good thing in his life that he was determined to hang onto at all costs...
Rukia woke up to pitch-black darkness and the space beside her in bed empty. Sitting up with a start, a wave of nausea hit her and she lurched over knocking the side of her head on the bedpost. "Argh!" crying out in frustration.
"My Lady are you alright?" Ulquiorra called out from the other side of her bedroom door.
"Please stop calling me that, you don't have to be so formal with me," Rukia answered.
"Is that an order?" he asked jokingly as he entered the room. Then upon seeing Rukia clutching the side of her head and appeared to be in some pain, he rushed over worriedly. "Rukia, what did you do this time?"
"You don't want to know..." Rukia snorted and peered up at him sheepishly.
Ulquiorra tilted his head to one side and gave her a look that said she was probably right. "Are you hungry?"
Rukia thought about it for a moment, but the idea made her feel queasy. Making her mind up, she decided to take a nice dip in the hot tub. "Maybe I'll eat later, but thanks anyway. I think I'll wait in the spa for Byakuya to get home."
"Very well, I will stand guard at the door."
"It's okay, have the night off. With all the guards swarming the place, there's no way any outsiders will get in," came the reply.
"Rukia, on this I cannot obey you," Ulquiorra said firmly.
"Really, I don't mind. How much trouble could I get into in a hot tub?" Rukia reasoned.
"No comment," Ulquiorra smirked. "I would prefer not to tell Byakuya on you," the Shifter added.
"You wouldn't...?" Their first real argument had been over this very subject, and Rukia didn't fancy going down that road again. So at Ulquiorra's straight-faced expression which told her that he in fact would tell, she caved. "Fine, you win." Giving her some privacy, Rukia got changed into her swimming suit and a white cotton robe and headed off.
Rukia loved the hot tub. It was situated outside where she could gaze up at the moon, and on a night like this when the moon was full and bright, only added to the distinct beauty. Lighting the tall lamps that surrounded the tub in a circular shape, Rukia disrobed and hung it on the standing trellis near the sliding door that led back inside. Climbing up the few steps, she sat down on the edge and dipped one slender foot in to test the water and jerked it back because the water was too hot. "Ah what did you expect Rukia, it's a hot tub," she muttered to herself while shaking her head. With a cunning thought, Rukia summoned her power inside of her and blew out a thin icy cloud to settle over the water, cooling it to a more comfortable degree. Smiling to herself, she settled in and closed her eyes to allow the feel of the water wash her cares away, not noticing a figure had crept in and was watching her intently.
"Lalalaa laa la..." Rukia sang to herself in what was probably the wrong key, but she didn't care. Then giggling to herself, she moved to the deeper end and relaxed.
The figure sped around the perimeter to face Rukia's back once more. As soon as he was certain that the woman in the tub was relaxed enough he snuck up behind her and blindfolded her with one gloved hand around her eyes while the other hand silenced her mouth.
Rukia's eyes flung open to see nothing but dark leather and her body jerked upwards in alarm. The man's grin disappeared when Rukia bit down on the hand covering her mouth and the barrel of a pure-white gun rammed up against his neck. "Touch me again and you die, then my husband will drag you back from hell and kill you again," Rukia threatened with deadly calm.
"Is that so?" the man teased, letting Rukia go.
At the sound of his voice Rukia spun around still aiming her gun at him. "Byakuya! That was mean!" she spat, "I should shoot you right now just for that."
Grinning that wicked half-smile of his, Byakuya's eyes lingered over her wearing a white and red bikini. "Yes, you should..." he murmured. Rukia knew that look, and it stirred feelings of passion and excitement in her. "Though I should warn you...I'm still faster than you," as he pried the gun from her hand, placed it on the steps and pulled Rukia closer to the tub's edge.
"Not always..." Rukia breathed and splashed Byakuya with water, making him laugh. Her face was flushed from the steam and her skin was hot to the touch. "Now are you just going to stand there, or would you like to join me?" smiling impishly.
Byakuya recomposed himself and forced himself to say one word, "Training."
"Um right now?" Rukia asked in a uncertain voice. Byakuya nodded while resisting the urge to jump her right then and there. Though a little disappointed at the rejection, she nevertheless agreed and started to climb out of the tub. "Okay, let me get dressed first. I'll just be a minute-"
"-No. Stay like that," stopping her by grabbing her by the arm.
"Huh? In my swimsuit?" she questioned again. Getting another nod, Rukia had to run a little to keep pace as he near dragged her to the middle courtyard where they trained. Once there Byakuya spun around and crushed her sweet lips with his, causing her to swoon instantly. "Ah no fair...I'm not going to get much training done if you keep this up..." Rukia breathed.
"Who said I play fair..." And then before she even knew it, Byakuya stabbed her thigh with his katana. Rukia's breath whooshed out of her in shock and she was speechless as blood poured out from the wound. The look of pure hurt and betrayal on her face pained him, but he forced himself to stand still and wait.
Rukia transformed before his eyes and what he was waiting for presented itself. "Bad, bad husband!" Resurgere/Rukia's voice cried. Anima Vastator slid out of her thigh and crashed to the ground.
"It was the only way I could think of to summon you."
"Still, that's terrible!" and then taking notice of her attire she freaked. "Agh what am I wearing?" trying in vain to cover herself up with her hands.
"Rukia is, not you," Byakuya corrected her, looking none to pleased at the remark.
The relic poked her tongue out at him and muttered crossly, "I'm sure fashion used to be alot more dignified."
"Resurgere Mortuis, I called you here for a reason."
"What is it?" she asked in a distracted tone while pulling on her bikini bottom string in the hopes of making it stretch out. Which turned out to be a mistake, since it snapped. "Oh god, bad idea." Turning his face away, Byakuya took off his shirt leaving him bare-chested and held it out for her to take. Accepting the garment, Resurgere/Rukia stared openly at his nakedness and blushed. "A vampire with shame?" she giggled, though the misty look in her eyes belied the fact that she liked what she saw.
This was the first time that Byakuya had seen Rukia wearing his shirt, and he thought it made her look sexy. But pushing those thoughts aside, he set his face in an expressionless mask and continued. "With you residing in her, is it possible for Rukia to be turned into a vampire?"
The question surprised her greatly, and she chose her words carefully. "No, that cannot happen at this time."
"Tell me why..." the vampire Lord was well-practiced at hiding his emotions, and the relic didn't particularly like this attribute of his.
"My power will reject the change. Anyway, it's not what she wants, and you wouldn't go against her wishes...Mind you this is coming from the man who just stabbed her," Resurgere/Rukia babbled grouchily.
Byakuya then posed another question of a different nature. "Who possesses Cadent Viventium?" (Fall of the Living).
At the mention of Resurgere Mortuis' direct counterpart, she scowled. "I do not know."
"You cannot sense its presence?"
"No."
Byakuya inched closer. He could smell the fear rising in her. "You're hiding something..."
"I really don't know who has it now, but I do know that centuries ago, before he was exiled, it used to be in the hands of a Pure-blood vampire Lord of absolute incredible power," Resurgere/Rukia reluctantly admitted. "Vampire, I suggest you do not summon me again. Not only is it cause for spousal abuse, but each time you do it runs the risk of my whereabouts being discovered," she added, the contempt thick in her tone.
"Very well," he concluded. Byakuya was regretting his action as it turned out to be a high price to pay for so little. Thankfully, Rukia would have no memory of it all...
"Before I go, would you mind?" the relic requested and pointed to Rukia's thigh. A flicker of puzzlement flashed across Byakuya's face, but he did as he was asked. Filling his mouth with his blood, he began licking the wound and consequently healing it. "That tickles," she giggled.
"Stop that, it's disturbing," Byakuya growled. Picking up on the relic's heightening senses, it made the vampire Lord distinctly uncomfortable. As soon as the cut was healed, Byakuya distanced himself as far as was politely possible and waited for the return of his wife.
Admiring him one last time, Resurgere/Rukia smiled and said, "My offer still stands... It could be fun."
"If you were to be combined with Cadent Viventium, what would the result be?" Byakuya already knew the answer, but it was confirmation he sought.
"Immortality." and without a moments further hesitation, the relic disappeared.
Scratching his way out of his tomb of rotting soil, Envy stood above ground and shook the dirt from his weak body. For several days and nights he had lain there, and yet he felt no better. Then he doubled over as another spurt of black blood erupted from his mouth. It was getting worse. His body seemed to be decaying and on top of that, he had no recollection of how he got to where he was. "What was he? ...How did he get here?"
Running his fingers over and through the stab wound on his chest, a snippet of memory flashed through his chest. "Kuchiki...Kuchiki..." That young woman had claimed to be a Kuchiki, but she was human. And even as he tried to choke the life out of her, she still wanted to help him. No... It was that vile clan of vampires that he detested... "Wasn't he one once? ..."Was he even a vampire?" Clutching his head in his hands he jerked back when noticing his skin color was now the color of pale ash.
Then a rectangular-shaped portal appeared much like a door sliding upwards and a cloaked figure stepped out, beckoning to him. "Come Invidia, we have long awaited your arrival," the deep, smooth male voice called, and went back into the portal. Compelled by an invisible overwhelming force to obey, Envy followed and the portal closed behind them.
A/N: Alot of dialogue in this part, and relationships are starting to fray as sins of the past come back to haunt. I ended up having to clip some parts so it wouldn't get too long again.
Invidia = Latin for Envy. Their are Four Ancient relics in total. Three have featured so far: One weapon; Anima Vastator - Destroyer of the Soul. Two seals; Resurgere Mortuis - Rise of the Dead. Cadent Viventium - Fall of the Living. The fourth is also a legendary weapon.
An extra special thanks to; AkuRokuTurkTrainee; Thank you for your reviews. You're the best! And I really like how you get this story. Also I'm glad you think Latin was the right language to use for the relics. CielDoll, PAMILA DE CASTRO, quietreaper, YuzurihaNoRyuu, and ANF-Byaruki; You are all so great! Please know that it is your reviews that keeps this story going. So thank you all for your constructive feedback, especially in regards to the love scene in chapter 9 (and the fight scenes in 6,7 and 10). As my first attempt to write one, I was pretty nervous about how it would come across. JessicaTrueBlood; Thank you for your feedback and for the vote of confidence in my writing. Even though this is my 2nd fic, it's essentially my 1st as I've never written anything as indept as these stories before. I'll definitely be happy to write an Ichi/Nel fic for you after I've done this one. KunoichiDoll, lobsterstarfruit, BexBlueDragon, XLightningX, diana, pigsinthesky, and BlackAngel'sWrath; All of your reviews are greatly appreciated. Just knowing that there are people actually reading my fic makes this so much more worthwhile. Thanks again for reading and for taking the time to review! MUCH, much, much appreciated. I read and take into consideration each and every one of them.