Hey folks!
Merry belated Christmas and Happy New Year in advance.
I apologize for the lack of update this month, but as the North hemisphere is cold, the South, where I live, is hot as hell.
Jesus. I could barely do anything this short period of holidays besides lying under the air conditioning or fan. My city is like 40ºC the entire day, then there is a tempest and then there is no light in my neighborhood. Where I live there are many trees and it's not unusual when one or two fall and cut off our energy.
Welcome to just a usual day during summer in São Paulo. If I almost dying, you can all imagine how my husky feel every. fucking. day.
I also have to say I had no ideas how to continue this chapter. You know, I'm good with actions scenes and plot development, but not with romance. Blame all my years spent reading and watching action stories and not the romantic ones.
I felt that if I carried on with plot in this chapter, I'd be rushing things. So, this is a total ByaRuki focused chapter. Hope you like the ending.
Also, I had no pc for a few days, so… you know, no pc, no writing.
Well… I'll let you with the chapter.
Happy reading!
EDIT 31/12: Sorry, seems to like to piss me off by erasing some parts of my chapters. If you pass by here, now that I completed some of the sentences erased. Thank you very much and have a wonderful New Year's Eve. It's not even night here in Brazil, so... it's also not new year yet. See you in January, 7.
Chapter 11. Safety
"Dear Diary, I wish I could despise him today as much as I did yesterday."
It was no longer cold when Rukia woke up in the middle of the night. On contrary, it was warm and comfortable. A little too much comfortable. Dizzily, she noticed a strong pair of arms around her waist and a hot breath caressing her neck.
For a few seconds she waited in silence, afraid of moving even if just a little bit and wake up whoever was behind her. Her mind was almost panicking, however, she tried to control her reactions as better as she could.
She tried to put her thoughts together and erase the bad memories from reaching her. Preventing them from eating her alive. It was not the right time to panic. Nevertheless, it was easier saying than doing.
Breathe, Rukia. Everything is fine. Just fine, she told herself more than once. Slowly, she tried to move her face to look at whoever was with her in that bed. If that was really a bed to begin with.
Last time she found herself in the same situation it was not a pleasant one. It was one of the scariest moments of her life. It was horrid, bloody and just disgusting.
It was also a cold night like that one and the place where she was hiding was no longer safe. She was out of home the entire day and when she came back it was all dark. The household seemed haunted and when she finally found a match she was greeted with one of the worst visions of her entire life.
For someone as young as Rukia at that time, she surely would need more than the fingers of her two hands if she were to count all of them. Which was pretty ironic, she reasoned. Children were supposed to see beautiful and peaceful things, not the horror that only War can bring to a country and the very souls that make it.
They were all dead. The owner of the farm, his wife and his children. Blood was spread everywhere. In the bodies, in the light walls, in the wooden floor.
But it was not all, she quickly noticed. There was that sound. They were still there. The murderers. Waiting.
Unable to think of anything else, Rukia grabbed the first corpse and by soiling her fingers, she painted her face and arms with their blood and threw herself at the bed in an odd position.
She almost panicked when she thought of reliving the same situation.
But… It was not possible, she realized. That person was breathing, which meant he, or she, was still alive.
She finally managed to turn around and instead of shock, which should be a more fitting reaction, she released a deep breath of relief.
It was the Duke.
She was safe.
###
The last she could remember was the sensation of being pulled to his strong arms, her small wrists trapped within his big hands. She gasped and held onto his shoulders for dear life. They were so close. As close as a man and a woman could ever be. Her petite breasts were crushed against his definite, broad chest. Her nails grazed his shoulders as she thought of escaping, but remained in the same place, strictly held by him.
She could feel all his manly body pressed against hers. See the intensity on his slate-gray eyes and count all his eyelashes. Why was she not moving? What was she expecting? He would…
His lips were so close, so close, so close, she could feel his ragged breath and her wild heart beating so fast she could swear it was welcoming it as much as her body.
It is not real! It is just a dream! Just a dream, she told herself as their lips moved against one another. Her mind screamed for her to break apart, to tell him to stop, to do anything to prevent that moment.
"Rukia."
The deep voice called her name. And it was when she realized something she could not before. Its intonation. It was far from the sensual calling she heard before. It was not ragged, nor filled with need. It was just deep, cold and emotionless as ever.
"Rukia. Wake up." The voice called again and this time she could distinguish a bit of impatience in it.
Her eyes flung open for good. Looking at the environment, she found the Duke already up and ready for the day. His figure was still a bit smoky, so she decided to sit down on the bed and rub her eyes.
The next the noticed was the lack of light. If not for the candles, the place would probably be immersed in the darkness. Looking at the windows she concluded it was somewhere between five and six in the morning.
"Huh?" She rubbed her eyes once more, now able to see everything perfectly. Shifting her attention back to the Duke, she saw him arranging his scarf around his neck. "What time is it?"
"Almost six," he replied not looking at her. His feet guided him to the door. "I shall wait you downstairs."
There was something omitted in his speech. Get ready fast, Rukia deduced, finally able to move from the bed. He was already closing the door behind him when his voice reached her eyes.
"Do not try to run away, Rukia, I will know if you think about it."
It was a warning.
A dangerous one.
She gulped and an unusual red crept in her cheeks. It was like a child being scolded and she hated it. No one likes being scolded and if it comes from someone you don't like that much, it is even worse. Being scolded by the Duke was worse than death itself.
"Humpft! What a bossy," she muttered to herself washing her face with the already tepid water in the basin. She seized the opportunity to rinse her mouth.
When she was drying her face with a towel, it came to her mind. Did they sleep together? Did they… Sleep in each other's arms the entire night?
Her eyes grew bigger as saucers at the very thought.
Oh hell no!
Shaky, she managed to call out for him. Part of her really expecting he was already gone, so she would not have to ask.
"Huh… Your Grace."
As expected, he had not left yet. Byakuya looked at her as she looked at the floor.
"You may speak," he ordered, holding their belongings.
Rukia narrowed her eyes. It was not like she was waiting his authorization to speak, she was just choosing the best words to start that conversation.
"Did I sleep here?" She pointed to the bed, omitting the "with you" from her sentence.
Her heart was beating so fast she thought she would die at any moment. It took him a while to reply and at each millisecond, her expectations eating her alive.
The kiss.
If they had really slept together it could not be only a dream.
It could be a memory.
Answer quickly!
"No."
He held the doorknob when she asked again.
"Then how? When?"
This time there was no answer. He merely turned around and closed the door behind him.
Finally able to breath, Rukia threw herself at the bed and for the first time in that day, she smiled.
It was just dream.
Just a dream.
Really, just a dream.
The implications of dreaming about the Duke and such circumstances she could deal later.
A small laugh escaped her lips.
"Make sure to get ready fast. We do not have time for you to mess around."
Holy shit, he heard it.
###
Byakuya was caressing one of his horses when Shuuhei approached him with bread in his hand and a piece of cheese inside his mouth. He chewed it quickly and greeted the Duke.
"Good morning, Your Grace," he made a small reverence.
The innkeeper was right behind him, bringing everything Byakuya had asked of him. Enough food for breakfast and, if possible, for the lunch too. He was not willing to stop before sunset, unless it was extremely necessary. The old man was holding a basket with breads, cheese, hydromel and some apples. There was also warm milk for them to drink right away.
"I wish you a great travel," he said, handing the basket for Shuuhei to hold. The coachman placed it in one of the seats. The innkeeper also handed a pair of patched blankets, one of them, at the behest of the Duke, was for Shuuhei to use and the other one for Rukia.
It did not go unnoticed by him how she shuddered from the cold last day. As for him, well, he was used to lower temperatures and was sure he would not need a blanket at least until their next stop.
"Is everything ready?" Byakuya asked Shuuhei.
"Yes, Your Grace," he replied walking to arrange the horses at their right place. "If it was not for the strong snowstorm this night…"
"Continue."
"I'm afraid we must take another route."
For some reason, Byakuya already expected this answer.
He nodded and turned around to see Rukia approaching followed by the wife of the innkeeper. She curtsied and expressed her gratitude so many times the Duke forced himself not to say how tawdry it looked and sounded.
When she was close enough he outstretched his hand for her to take. Once inside the carriage, he placed the blanket over her legs and took his place in front of her. The horses whinnied and started running, leaving the inn behind. By the window, Rukia could watch them waving their hands in farewell.
"How polite of them," she muttered chewing a piece of bread. It was still warm and practically melted inside her mouth.
"They are always polite when you are wealthy enough," the Duke replied, sarcastic.
Startled, Rukia moved the milk away from her mouth and looked at him taken aback. Was it sarcasm? There was really a hint of smile, or happiness, in his intonation or she was just dreaming again?
At the thought of dream, her violet eyes immediately followed the line of his nose to his thin lips.
She gulped.
"I think…" She bit her bottom lip, looking away. "Well, I think people can be polite even when the other person does not have anything to offer. I was treated…"
"They thought you were my Duchess."
The words my and duchess in the same sentence made Rukia's stomach move uncomfortably. This, coupled with the dream about the kiss earlier was making her uneasy.
"Yet, I think they can be polite whenever…"
"The fact they can be polite does not mean they are always polite. There are always interests at stake."
Rukia sighed. She could not understand his need to always disagree with her. Or was it her need? And why suddenly she needed him to agree with her, when she was always the first to defy him and take the other route?
Now I know what it feels like.
Somehow she knew he was right. This time he was not being the spoiled guy that does not trust anyone, he was realistic. It just that it was painful to live in a world where you believe everyone is after their own interests without considering their brothers and sisters.
A few seconds passed by in reasonable silence. As soon as they finished their breakfast, Rukia placed it all back in the basket and closed the curtains by her side.
The sorrowful landscape was driving her insane and to know they were taking the longer route to Plymouth was even maddening. It meant two things: more days (and nights) spent with the Duke and the impossibility of stealing the damn notebook.
According to the Duke, the direct route would take them a few more days to arrive at their destination. This new route, however, would probably take almost ten more days.
Ten more days!
It would not do. How many days until she could steal the notebook and run away? Because if there was something she was sure the Duke would never forgive, it was betrayal.
Her stomach sank at the very thought.
What if she could steal it in the meantime?
I know a method to recover your memories.
His voice played in the back of her mind. Her eyes flung open at the remembrance.
How?
###
Byakuya felt tired.
He could not sleep the entire night. At first because Rukia's question would not leave his mind.
If you did what was right, why do you still follow the Queen's order? Why do you dream of them?
He did not know what Shinji told her, but he was sure as hell Shinji would not have told her this. It was too secretive. Too painful to deal with.
After the very first days in the War Camping, Byakuya thought he would go insane. The smell of blood, rotten corpses and cries of pain. The sound of homemade explosives, the clatter of swords clashing and cannons shattering the ships. The sight of corpses falling to the unforgiving and always hungry sea to never come back. The smoke of cannons and guns, the incredible speed in which men threw themselves at one another to just die. The tiredness, the lack of sleep, the lack of food and water.
It was what War meant.
It was not comfortable. Easy. Beautiful. Not even glorious.
It was plain painful. Ugly. Cowardly.
It was too much to a spoiled rich boy to deal with. It was different from the stories told by his teachers back in Eton. It was not alike the fantasies every boy come up with when it comes to War.
The nightmares, however, did not begin with those shocking and initial events. They came later.
Far later.
When he killed those man by himself. A hero. He felt like smirking when people spoke those words. A hero would have found another way. He did what was fair. He did justice and justice is not what a hero does. A hero prevents the wrongdoings before they even happen. They do not mend what was already broken.
However, even knowing that he did what was right, his conscience would not leave him in peace.
Monster.
They called him when Byakuya hanged them.
It did not affect him. Why would it? They were the real monsters. They did not have the right to rape those women and children, to kill them and treat those people the way they did. They were civilians. Innocent people.
He did not remember the exactly reason why he started having those dreams, but the fact is that he became rather violent during them.
Afraid of showing these signs in front of Rukia, he decided not to sleep. It was a part of him he was not willing to share with just anyone in his life. Shinji was aware of this because he witnessed one of the episodes himself.
And knowing Shinji, he was sure he did not tell Rukia this, which meant she found it out by herself. Which lead him to wonder if he was sharing too much of himself with her, or if he was too obvious or if she was smarter than he thought.
Still on the couch, he took a nap for a few minutes, but was fully awake when she tried to escape. Her expression was amusing when he caught her. He decided to give her a few minutes, but went against it and prevented her from escaping for good.
He knew his offer was not something she could just say no to. He knew how appealing it was. And already knowing she would not go anywhere, not anymore, he decided to punish her by taking the bed.
The Duke did not expect her to sleep with him and she did not disappoint him when she chose the couch and settled there. Which was surprising was the fact she was also having nightmares.
He was aware of how traumatic her entire life had been, but for someone as bright as Rukia, he did not expect her to have such a troubled sleep. In spite of the lack struggled sounds, she could not stop her entire body from trembling. It was very similar to the night where he found out she was his promised bride.
Walking towards her carefully, Byakuya did his best to carry her to the bed with him without waking her up. He knew how noisy she could be and the truth is that he was not willing to fight in the middle of the night.
It was like magic.
As soon as he placed her on the bed and joined her, covering both of them with the blankets, she grew quiet. The uneasiness seemed to have left her being.
While it was comforting for her, it was quite inconvenient for him.
Yes. He lied.
But she did not need to know he actually helped her when the only thing she could do for him was to disagree with him in every matter and run away from him.
Then he spent almost the whole night staring at nowhere, thinking about business and not the warm body hugged to him. In the middle of the night he felt her tensing by his side and thought she would wake up. However, it did not happen. A few seconds later she opened her eyes, stared at him and went back to sleep.
With her head resting on his shoulder and her arms circling him, Byakuya thought he would not be able to sleep. But her cadenced breath on his chest and the softness of her body entirely pressed against his brought him something he was quite unused.
Peace.
When he last expected, he was also fast asleep.
###
No.
That was his answer earlier that morning when she asked if she slept in the bed, with him.
However, it was not what she recalled now. Previously, her mind was still dizzy for being awake rather abruptly. It was different later that day.
She could remember how she felt when she woke up in the middle of the night. The fear, the dread and then, when she recognized who was by her side, the relief.
Rukia felt a bit ashamed now.
Relief was not a good feeling. Not when it was related to the Duke.
The more she recognized how comfortable she felt around him, how safe she felt, more dangerous the whole situation became.
It opened the gates to other sensations she was not willing to acknowledge, but was more and more aware of them at each passing day.
If that dream indicated something…
She bit her bottom lip as she caught herself looking at his once again. It was if she was curious to know if kissing him felt the same way that in her dream. A crazy thought because she already knew how it felt.
Since their very first encounter.
Shaking such thoughts, Rukia shifted her attention to the windows. By looking at the weather outside, she would dare to say it was already past three in the afternoon. If they were to head to the next inn until night, it meant at least three or more hours confined within that carriage.
She tried to concentrate on something else.
There was also the fact he knew how to get her memories back. It made everything complicated. Because apart from feeling safe by his side, she needed him.
If she was smart enough, she would seize the first opportunity and run away. No matter how easily he could bring her memories back. No matter how much she wanted them back.
Did she really want them back?
"Speak."
Startled, Rukia's eyes grew bigger. She focused her attention on him and blinked a few times.
"I was just thinking of…" She smiled. "Nothing. It's nothing really important. I was just looking at nowhere."
"You were ogling," he corrected her.
She furrowed her brows. If she could, she would have reprimanded him. But now, however, she felt like treading on eggshells. He looked back at her as if expecting her to defy him.
He knew very well where they stood and that, for what matters, he had the privileged hand at that game.
Damn.
"Fine." She gave up. "How do you plan on recovering my memories?"
Rukia expected him to take his time to answer as he usually did. She expected a few seconds, even minutes, of total silence. But she did not expect him to reply it right away.
"Patience. In the due time you will know."
Byakuya was not wont to games, but he knew that in order to win, he could not, never, show all his cards. He sensed the fear in her question and if she thought it was an inconvenient way, she could run away.
He was not willingly to let that happen.
The Duke watched how she bit her bottom lip and tried her best not to yell at him or do something worse.
A few seconds passed by in silence. None of them dared to say anything, but he knew better. Rukia would come up with a solution or, at least, something to make it better for her.
"I just wanted to know what I should do to pay Your Grace back."
"Worry not," he replied as if it was obvious. "I will not charge more than you can afford."
"And how much is it?" she asked a bit impatient.
Now the Duke took his time. He looked at the window and watched the plain landscape turn into some kind of small village. Then, when he shifted his attention back to her, she could swear she saw a small smirk on his lips.
"You will also know it in the due time."
###
Rukia was in a bad mood.
The Duke's mood, however, was the best in a long time.
While Shuuhei walked to the only inn in the small village where they stopped, the Duke took Rukia to the local Courier. He wanted to let his employees know where they should send their messages for the next month.
Although he knew his presence was expected in Bath, he was aware it was no longer possible. Not when people were chasing Rukia and when he was closer than never to find more about the notebook.
As soon as they left the Courier, the Duke asked where she wanted to go before confining themselves in the inn. Even though the only thing she wanted was a hot bath and some rest, she decided to go to the small bookstore nearby.
Not really able to forgive him for his foul game before, she barely talked to him as she chose a few books and a small notebook. He followed her closely, not really letting her pay for anything as they left the place. Rukia did not like him paying for anything that would be hers, but she thought that was a way of avoiding another pointless discussion.
In the end, that money would make no shortage for him.
When they arrived at the inn, Shuuhei had already booked a room and asked for a hot bath for both of them. Or, at least, that was what one of the maids told them when she opened the door.
Rukia was ready to ask her to help her with the clothes, but the Duke dismissed the girl before she even had the opportunity to ask.
Indignation filled her being as she looked at him. Of course he did not even apologized as he walked to her and commanded.
"Turn around."
Sighing, Rukia looked at their reflex on the mirror as he undid the fastening of her dress. The maid could have done it faster than him and without leaving her so bothered.
After what seemed an eternity, he was finished. Rukia held the dress in place and when he did not back away, she ordered.
"Look away!"
In silence, the Duke walked back and sat on the armchair close to the bed. Rukia's jaw dropped at how unconcerned he looked.
"Are you not leaving the room?"
"I ordered the bath for both of us, lady Rukia." His intonation was somewhat teasing. "So when you are finished, I will also bath myself."
It took her a while before she should respond to his bold statement.
"If you are not leaving the room, at least have some modesty and turn around!"
When the Duke did as she pleaded, she let her dress slid from her body as well the slip. Although she was aware of how scandalous it would sound if anyone knew she had bathed naked and close to a man, she had no choice but to do so. Apart from not carrying more than three slips in her bag, she knew she would not have the opportunity to let that one dry before the next day.
Placing one leg inside the wooden bathtub, she inhaled the smoke flowing out of the hot the water. There was some essence she could not quite identify, but that appealed to her senses.
"Is it of your liking?" The deep voice startled her, causing her to sink in the bathtub splashing water all over the room.
Her arms flew to cover her breasts. Her breath came in short gasps.
"I am not looking," he guaranteed and when Rukia craned her neck to see where he was, she saw he was back turned to her.
Relief filled her being.
Even though the water was too much hot for her liking, Rukia did not complain. It was her first bath in days and only God knew how happy she was.
No answer came from her lips though. If the Duke could always leave her waiting, she could do the same. That was a game that two could play.
She washed her arms and then her legs. For a brief time, she tried to forget that she was not alone and took her time to wash herself. The hot water also helped undo the stress points in her back and when she last expected she was almost sleeping in the bathtub.
"Rukia."
The shock was so great as she heard his voice all of sudden that Rukia sank for good. When her face came back to the surface, she found the Duke looking at her face, his hands holding the towel around her shoulders. Slowly, he helped her to get up.
"Are you fine?" he asked.
Spitting water, she found the force to yell at him, "Go away!"
Trembling, she held the towel fiercely with one hand and with the other she slapped his hand away from her.
"Go away," she said once again.
When she heard his footsteps driving him away, she started to dry herself as fast as she could. Her body was still trembling a little, not for the little drowning, nor for fear. Fear of him. Another kind of fear took over her.
The fear of being that close to him. No because she feared him, but because she feared her reaction.
###
As the Duke started bathing himself, Rukia had no problem to look away. She quickly entertained herself with the notebook she had bought.
At first, she did not know what she should write down and as she placed the slip of the pen on the paper, she removed it and bit her lips in indecision.
However, as she thought of the man in the same room she had no doubt.
Dear Diary,
I hate the man I am traveling with.
I hate his arrogance.
I hate his coldness.
I hate his nonchalance.
Before she even knew, she did not listen to the water noise and forget his very existence so close to her.
I hate how he thinks he can mess around with me.
I hate the fact he knows how to help me, but does not tell me how.
Patience… he says. Patience... Patience my ass!
But what I hate the most is how he affects me.
I hate how his fingers feel when he touches me.
I hate how I feel when he touches me.
Dear Diary, is there a way of hating him le…
"What are you writing?" he asked for over her shoulder, causing Rukia to cross her arms over the notebook, covering her careless calligraphy from him.
As expected, her arms where completely stained by the fresh ink. Nonchalantly, the Duke grabbed the sponge from the bathtub and by pulling one of her arms, cleaned it.
"If you hate me so much, why don't you curse me instead?" he asked drying her skin with the towel.
"Did you read it?"
He took his time to reply. It made Rukia realize he did not read what she wrote, he just guessed and she gave him the answer right away. Like a fool.
"How did you know?" she asked with a sigh.
"You were furiously writing something down. I thought it was somewhat related to me."
Cocky.
He then stood up and threw the sponge back to the bathtub. There was a knock on the door and both of them knew it was the servants that came to remove the bathtub from the room.
The Duke did not let them close the door and by signalizing to Rukia, they also left the room for the dinner.
Differently from the other inns, this one had a bigger hall and also a small winter garden. The dining hall was full. There were people everywhere, from entire families to couples and unaccompanied men.
And there were them.
As the Duke talked to Shuuhei and left to check upon his beloved horses, Rukia sat on their reserved table and waited for him to come back.
She took her time observing the people around her and enjoying the music played by a pianist nearby. The comforts of being at a village instead of an inn in the middle of nowhere were too great for her to list at the moment.
It did not take too much for the food to be served. And while she decided to wait the Duke, she did not think that it was too bad if she drank the wine by herself, right?
As soon as she proved the wine she realized it was not a national one. When she asked the maid what it was she was greeted with poor spoken French for Cabernet Sauvignon.
It was funny that while people died at War to protect their countries and fought and even hated each other, the wealthy continued to enjoy stuff from these said hated countries.
How ironic, she thought.
She took her time with the wine. The unique flavor made her drink too fast and also get dizzy even faster.
And no signal of the Duke.
Rukia would have found that funny if she was not too self aware of her surroundings. From her place, she could spot more than two men looking at her. Ogling her. And there was nothing sexual about their looks, which drove her even nervous.
Most of men looked at women with second intentions and never approached them.
However, it was different.
It was exactly like the last time where they attacked her and broke the whole inn.
One of them was blond and she wondered if it was the same man of last time. It was not possible, she reasoned. He was still recovering, right? The other had black hair and one, far away, had dyed blue hair and his skin, unlike the other two, was tanned.
As she did not want to cause commotion in the dining hall, Rukia rose to her feet and walked towards the winter garden, bottle in hands. Once the bottle was not empty yet, she drank it all without giving it much thought. Such wine could not be wasted.
He followed her rather quickly.
Not thinking twice, Rukia smashed the bottle against the nearby wall and pointed it to the man.
"Why are you following me?" she demanded as he walked towards her. She did not walk back. She remained in place, ready to fight.
He did not reply.
"Answer me!" she yelled at him.
"I am not paid to talk to you," he said after a while. "But you must know that you pissed off many people when you should be dead a long while and is still alive."
"Who? Who is it?"
There was no answer. And this time there would not be any answers for a good time. Behind him, the Duke stood with blood all over his face and jet black hair. Dust and hay also clung to his clothes and hair.
He held the unconscious body of the man and laid him on the floor.
"You must knock them down first and then you ask the questions. The other way around they never answer."
She walked to him and took a good look at the unconscious man. How could he be so silent and fast that no one saw him attack?
There was no much time to think about it, for she was suddenly pulled towards his embrace. She yelped in surprise, but did not walk away from him.
Without much thought, Rukia let go of the bottle and wrapped her arms around his waist. She knew how dangerous that single action was, but she could no longer deny how safe she felt.
Byakuya slid his hand up and down her back and felt how she buried her head on his chest, sighing heavily.
A foreign, alien alike sensation filled him.
Some would call that bliss. Others would call relief.
The Duke was not good naming things, so he decided to not think about it. He was just satisfied he found her in time, before anything horrible happened and he could not forgive himself for letting her go once again.
Rukia then felt him move uncomfortably and tried to break away. "I'm sorry," she said unable to look at him. "I was just…"
She could not finish her sentence, for the Duke lifted her chin and kissed her fully on the mouth. Unlike the first time, Rukia could not do any other thing besides kiss him back feverously.
EDIT 31/12: Sorry, seems to like to piss me off by erasing some parts of my chapters. If you pass by here, now that I completed some of the sentences erased. Thank you very much and have a wonderful New Year's Eve. It's not even night here in Brazil, so... it's also not new year yet. See you in January, 7.
A/N - I know you must be mad at me for letting Byakuya play the hero once again. The truth, however, is that the action isn't even started yet!
So, next chapter, you'll see a badass Rukia in action.
I'm also aware that it is my shortest chapter. I'm sorry, but if I placed the action of next chapter here, it would get like monstrous and Jesus, I don't know how you like such big chapters!
Thank you for each of you who reviewed my last chapter. I appreciated your reviews very much. I must say there is no spoiler for anyone, because NONE of you guessed right who the new character is. And I will not ask who are the character this time cause you're horrible at it hahahaha
I'm just kidding, people. Actually, I want you to be surprised with that character, because it's a very important person. And I knew that if I gave you many details it would too be obvious. And I really want you to read it and be like WOW, I didn't see it coming. Let's see if I can make it.
For those who expect a M rated scene, (hey, this fic is rated M for violence people hehe) everyone, I know, it's coming. But if I placed it in this very chapter I think it would sound fake and too rushed. Unlike Byakuya and Rukia. Honestly, I felt unsure about the kiss at the end…
Also… I will reply your reviews this year. I promise. I didn't do it because you know I had no pc for a few days this month. But I'll do it.
And did you see? We reached more than 100 followers. Thank you very much! It's all thanks to you!
Well… I'm planning on updating once a week until February, because once my classes are back, I will have no time to update and I'll probably leave you with no news from me until June.
I hope your 2016 is a wonderful year. I hope the New Year's Eve is also a wonderful one and thank you very much for making my 2015 brighter!
Love you all,
Velvetsins.