Strawberry Maid; Butterfly King Eleventh Flight: I Care
No matter how cold the exterior is, the interior is as warm as a fire
Rukia rubbed her head again in agony, closing her eyes and trying to keep calm.
"What's wrong?" Ichigo asked as he walked up behind her, making Rukia turn around.
"A-Ah... it's nothing just a headache, and a neck ache... I think I slept weird last night and that caused my neck to hurt which is causing a headache."
"Ah, I bet some ice will help."
"Mm maybe but I'm freezing." she replied, rubbing her arms as she walked towards the kitchen, he stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist and whispering in her ear.
"Mmmm, I could warm you up if you come upstairs with me..."
"Nice try but no thanks." she replied with a frown, trying to get out of his grasp.
"Naughty girl, that's not what I meant." he chuckled in reply, gesturing for her to follow him. She reluctantly went up the stairs after him and he lead her to her room where Rosie was sleeping on the bed. He walked over to a small space in the wall by the door that had a small curtain covering it and pulled the curtain aside, revealing a fire place, "I had no idea that was here..." she mused, he chuckled, "With all your curiosity you sure don't know much about your own room do you?" he said, grabbing some matches off of the mantel, tossing it into the fireplace and watching as fire lit.
"You stay right in here and warm up, I'll be back with some ice for your head, and uh...just come down later and make dinner if you can." he said as he left the room.
"Thanks..." she muttered, blinking with uncertainty.
Ichigo had been acting... different lately... less like a lustful pervert and more like a loving husband. Ichigo didn't just want to sex with Rukia anymore, he wanted to make love with Rukia. Things had changed and it went from overwhelming lust to overwhelming affection, the kind of love that makes one want to coddle with their lover, and Ichigo NEVER would have thought he'd be one of THOSE guys...
~W~W~
"Ah Master Kurosaki!" Riruka said happily as Ichigo passed her and walked to the kitchen.
"Have I told you how handsome you look today Sir?" he grunted in response, dead set on his mission for ice, she cleared her throat.
"Um, Master, where is Rukia?"
"Upstairs, she's got a headache." he replied robotically.
'It's no wonder she's cold, she's the size of a twig,'he thought.
Ichigo grabbed some ice and wrapped it in a cloth.
"Will she be down later?"
"I don't think so, just to cook dinner, I want her resting for the day." he replied, walking away.
Riruka growled turning to see a knife in the cutting board and picking it up, stabbing the cutting board hard enough to make it pass through the board.
'Damn her! He would've taken right here on the counter before she came!' she thought with a loud snarl.
'She's gonna pay.'
~W~W~
"Where's Ichigo?" Rukia asked as she walked downstairs, Rosie in her arms.
"Oh, he's outside with the horses, he should be in in just a moment, why?" Orihime said, doing her chores.
"Well, I think Rosie is hungry and I was wondering if he knew what she'd..." she trailed off.
"Oh well I'm sure he'll be right back soon." Orihime replied with a chipper smile as Rukia pulled her robe more around her.
"Orihime... can I ask you something?"
"Sure~"
"Does Ichigo usually give his staff so much time off?" she asked, before Orihime could answer her, the doorbell rang, "Oh um, I'll get that." she offered, bouncing to the door with Rukia close behind her.
"Yes?" she asked, opening the door, "Hello there, I'm looking for Rangiku Matsumoto." Rukia heard.
That voice. That voice that made shivers go down her spine and she hesitantly peered over Orihime's shoulder, "Oh, well if it isn't little Rukia-chan, didn't I'd be the one to find you. And so easily too."
"Gin..." she muttered quietly, holding her rabbit closer to her chest and shaking slightly, "Rukia...?" Orihime asked, Rukia ran up the stairs and into her room before she could finish her question.
~W~W~
Rukia had barely hit the bed and let Rosie down on the floor when the door burst open again and Ichigo walked in, shutting the door behind him.
"Please go away..." she whispered, hugging her knees to her chest and putting her face in her arms.
"I..." Ichigo started, walking over to her and sitting on the side of the bed.
"I just wanted to tell you that... if you need someone to talk to I'm here to listen." he said quietly, she looked up at him for a short moment at his sincere face before scooting over slightly, signaling him to stay. He smiled, swinging his legs over so that he was laying on his side.
"I never thought I'd see him again..." she whispered, "I left with the idea that I would die, never again would I have to see the disappointment on my brother's face or the frustration from our staff or ... GIN... and now here he is... and he saw me here with.. with a bunny and standing there in a robe and slippers looking like I've made myself right at home... what will he tell my brother? What will he think?"
For a moment all Ichigo got from her was that she was happy.. she was happy here, with him.
"And to think that all this time he was here, in this kingdom, having an affair with the enemy! And with Rangiku no less! It was one thing, not knowing who it was... but now that I know...I... it's not like I want anything to do with him but still... he's still part of MY empire, he's still an enemy to this kingdom...and then for him to see me this way!" she screamed.
Ichigo just watched as she let out her anger. She was noticeably hurt by this...
Rukia sighed for a moment and looked up at him, "Where is he?" she whispered.
"Downstairs, two of the guards are watching him, I asked to deal with him personally."
"Why?"
"I want to take his head myself, for making you feel this way." he replied in a snarl, getting up.
Rukia opened her mouth and reached forward, grabbing his hand, "Wait..." she whispered, "I... I... don't know why... I want you to stay... but-" he grabbed her chin, kissing her gently on the lips, "I'll be right back, just stay here, I'll come back in a minute with some food for Rosie." kissing her cheek lightly, she looked down.
"Alright..." she said as he pulled away.
She couldn't believe how sweet he was being, how gentle... that he hadn't attempted to make a move on her yet... "Ichigo!" he turned around again, "Thank you." he smirked, "Yeah yeah, don't mention it..."
~W~W~
'Treasure; never to be touched by unwanted hands. Hidden from other; only these eyes know where you lay.'
"Let me make something abundantly clear." Ichigo said as he leaned against the door frame, "I will make sure you are nowhere to be found if you ever so much as breathe here again." Ichigo threatened as he stared at Gin, the silver haired man just grinned at him, "I know that you don't exactly like seeing me here... and I really didn't expect Rukia-chan to be here... but Rangiku and I-"
"I don't care, I don't want your kind on my land, need I remind you of the cold war?"
Gin raised his eyebrow, "I came to warn you young prince, Lord Kuchiki planned a striking day."
"A striking day?"
"Yes, it'll be the twenty-third of this month."
"The twenty-third...? That's when the moon is at it's weakest.."
"Exactly."
Ichigo looked down, sweat coming down the side of his face,"Send me a messenger bird from now on, I don't like your smell in my kingdom." he growled. Gin smirked at his gratitude, "Of course young prince."
"Then take your leave, I have a mess to clean up."
"One last thing...tell Rukia...that I shall miss her...company. " Gin said, his smirk never leaving his face. Next thing he knew, Gin was on the ground with a bruised cheek with blood coming out of his mouth. Ichigos' bangs covered his face as he tried to control his breathing.
"You're lucky I held back." with that Ichigo turned and walked away, leaving Gin to his injury.
~W~W~
Deceive me, and you will pay with your life
"So is it done?" Gin looked up at the cold stare of Lord Kuchiki himself and nodded, "Yes Sir, he was given the wrong date, he was told the last day of the month so he won't be on guard." Gin lied.
"And Rukia... did you see her?" the lord asked, Gin thought about it for a moment.
"Gin?"
"Oh... no Sir... I didn't see her."
"...I see... very well, you may leave." the silver-haired man stood and walked out of the throne room.
If Byakuya found out that he had told Ichigo the correct date and was actually a double agent, there would be no doubt that he would be killed without second thought.
~W~W~W~
Is your own mind such a terrifying place that you cannot bear to stay inside it without tears?
He hadn't expected her to be asleep when he returned to her, but there she was, flat on her back in bed, eyes screwed shut and hands over her stomach as she dreamed. Ichigo sighed, wondering if he should disturb her just to tell her he took care of the problem. He felt his heart ache looking down at her. Quietly he went into his library and grabbed his notebook(which he had moved to a new hiding spot) and opened it to a blank page, grabbing a pen and writing as much as he could scribble out.
'How can I say this without sounding cheezy of stupid;
I guess I can't.
With all that you are, all that you do;
I can't help but feel like an idiot around you.
Grace and beauty are hideous words to describe you;
because there are no words to describe a goddess such as yourself.
But if I had to sum up beauty in one word it'd be-'
He stopped suddenly when he heard her stirring and tossed the notebook aside.
Never in his life had he wrote a word of poetry, that's what kind of power she had over him.
Ichigo walked back into the main room and stared down at her as she tossed and turned in her sleep, whimpering and sweating, "Please..."she whispered. Ichigo tilted his head, walking over and looking down at her, "Please..." she whispered again, he frowned.
'If I can't even protect you from your dreams, what good am I?' he thought to himself, setting a hand on her shoulder and shaking her lightly, "Rukia wake up, you're having a nightmare." he said, she was quiet... still and quiet.
He pulled back, about to leave, when she whimpered something else, "Don't leave..." her eyes were still closed so he wasn't sure if she was awake or not, or even if she knew it was him, but it didn't matter, he wasn't going to leave her when she begged him not to, even if she didn't know she had. He laid down next to her and wrapped her in his arms, cradling her tiny body in his big, strong arms.
Two people never meant to be together, natural enemies, curled up together, and it made him sick to think that her kingdom wanted her to loath him. He knew that this was all manipulation, they needed an excuse to end the cold war and start a real war. No matter how much it disgusted him, he had a feeling that her kingdom was using her as bait. That was why he had to protect her, but he had to wait until she let him. If she didn't love him, he could never protect her, and they would both die at her brother's hand.
And yet another update for you guys!
Happy New Year to you all as well!
Hope you have a wonderful start to the new year.
And now on to the story, don't you guys worry the lemon will come sooner than you think. I promise! X3
Review and we'll love youuuuuuuuuu! 3
