Good day to you! Sorry it has taken me so long to update. I have gotten caught up with school, work and the holidays…I would like to give shot outs to alinda arch, K-power80, Musicgirl1796, CielDoll and su kuchiki (my frequent commenters) Thank you for giving me the motivation I need! As for my other commenters, I love you guys just as much! You are all appreciated in my book! … Without further Ad u…
The Himeji Castle is adorned with a plethora of architectural and defensive elements making it an outstanding Japanese fortress of the medieval era. It features white walls, eaves, and pillars each of which is coated with the white plaster. These plasters with the wooden furnishings make the entire castle fireproof giving it full protection from fire. So, the first reason for making it unconquerable and unbreakable is its fireproof buildup.
Next, the complex's design is like a complicated maze wherein many confusing ways and walls raise the chances of being lost while being on the way to reach atop the hill. This is true even though the routes to the castle are marked. This plan was implemented purposely so that no invader would ascend successfully to reach the castle. This is the second reason why this castle was conquered by nobody. Looking at the standard features that are seen in the other Japanese castles, this strong edifice possesses some typical layout features such as the tall stone creations, stone-dropping niches, and gun emplacements. These special features aided in keeping an eye on the invaders who can then be fired upon. Further, the main attraction is actually its defensive structure wherein all the baileys, gates, and outer walls are positioned in such a manner that one can easily reach several dead ends spirally instead of reaching the main castle. This forms the last and third reason for the castle remaining undefeated.
Byakuya marveled at the huge palace before him. He was in awe! Rukia had run off and found a place that housed the palace's pets. (Go figure…). He walked by the small river that ran by the walls of the castle, this place was so peaceful and elegant. He watched a Koi fish swim by and thought of his own back in the Soul Society. He looked up at the huge structure before him and closed his eyes. In his mind, he was debating whether or not to give up being an immortal being and becoming human in the living world. He was still pestered by the thought that his Rukia wanted to become a singer. That then made him realize she had vanished a few minutes earlier and he went in search of her.
Rukia sat in the grass and played with the rabbits that roamed freely in the gardens. A fluffy white rabbit napped calmly on her lap as she fed another that came to investigate. Byakuya found her, but decided to keep his distance for a minute to watch her interact with the furry creatures. He smiled as the brown rabbit she was feeding then hopped on her lap beside the white one, and then another came. Rukia smiled, but she looked to be getting bombarded by rabbits.
"Are you alright?" he asked from his distant spot.
Rukia looked up and smiled. She had about six rabbits around her now, and they all seemed to want to nap on her. Byakuya chuckled as she tried to push them off but with no prevail.
"Ok, maybe I do need your help…" she giggled.
He strode up to her and took her hand in his, lifting her gently from the ground. The rabbits scattered slowly as the two began to walk away.
"So what do you think so far, Rukia?" he asked brushing off some grass from her pants.
"I love it here! It's so peaceful and quiet…It kind of reminds me of home." she smiled.
He smiled knowingly and also because he knew they were on the same page at that point.
"Rukia, what would you think if we left the Soul Society and lived as humans?" he offered.
Rukia stopped walking and looked at him funny, "What?"
"I'm considering moving to the living world for the time being…." He replied.
Rukia was taken aback and stared at him, "Are you serious?"
Giving Rukia a smirk and a huff he replied, "Well why not? You always spend your time here anyway; I don't see the harm in living here for a while."
She looked away and stared off into the pond. Byakuya slid his arm around her and scooped her into his embrace, "Think about it for a while… Let's go have dinner."
They shared a quiet dinner together on the balcony of the hotel room as the evening sky began to show. Rukia stared off into the bright colors and Byakuya watched with a smile.
"You know Rukia," he broke the silence, "If we had a place like this here you could enjoy sunsets like this all the time."
Rukia smiled in reply, "I don't know if I can let you give up your duty as the head of the Kuchki's."
"As much as I have worked in the past centuries, I think I am entitled to a hiatus." He smirked.
Rukia looked into his eyes and bit her lip, "Really? We could live here for a few years?"
He put his napkin on the table and reached out for her hand, "Just say the word and it is done."
Rukia's smile went from a shy little smirk to a huge flashy smile in a matter of seconds, "YES!"
"Very well then, I will make arrangements for a house and then we can start moving in as soon as we find one." He smiled at her.
Rukia jumped out of her seat and into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck, "Thank you so much!"
"Rukia, for you to be happy and smile like this I would do anything." He said closing the deal with a kiss.
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They went through the city in search of the perfect house that next day. Rukia was more excited than ever and didn't notice the sign outside of a pub.
Open Mic Night Tonight
7:30 pm
Sign in here…
"Rukia, let's go in here…" Byakuya said pulling her into the pub with him.
"Why? It's just a…" her mouth dropped when she saw the stage and the man sitting beside it.
"W-what are we doing here?" she asked nervously.
"You are going to sing, my love." He smiled as he finished signing her in.
Rukia's face turned red and she swallowed. There was no backing down now as the man handed Byakuya a paper with a huge number printed on it.
"It looks like you are number 3…" he smiled as he placed in on her.
Rukia looked up at him as he finished pressing on the tape to her back. She could feel her nerves trembling as the first group made its way up the stage. Byakuya pulled her hand to his lips and kissed the top of her knuckles, "You're going to be fine, Rukia." He coaxed.
Rukia's eyes were large and the size of saucers at this point, and he couldn't help but chuckle.
"You have faced countless hollows, near death experiences and me but something as small as this frightens the hell out of you?" he laughed.
Rukia gently nudged him in the rib, "You would be frightened too if you had to go up there."
He lovingly placed his hands on her shoulders and spoke into her ear.
"I have spoken in front of many people before, Rukia. It's nothing to get worked up about. You will do fine because I have confidence in you."
She sighed as the first group came down from the stage and the next singer was preparing to walk up. Byakuya handed Rukia a bottle of water, "Would you like me to accompany you?"
She turned around and looked at him, "What do you mean? You want to sing with me?" she sounded so hopeful.
He pulled a guitar from a prop stand and slipped into the strap resting the guitar on his chest.
"I know how to play this thing…" he joked as he plucked a string.
Rukia rolled her eyes, "Don't get my hopes up like that…"
He tapped her on the shoulder and smiled as she turned around, "I do know how to play though."
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It was her turn finally. She shook slightly as she made her way to the stage and her heart stopped when she saw how many people actually showed up.
"G-good evening…" she stuttered into the mic.
"Come on! Sing already!" a voice shouted from the crowd.
Rukia cleared her throat but nothing would come out. She made an attempt at a first note, but it came out squeaky causing the crowd to start jeering. Her heart was pounding, she was sweating, her vision was becoming blurry until…
The musical sound of an acoustic guitar began to quiet the crowd. It was a melody Rukia had heard some time ago, but she favored it because it reminded her of Byakuya, who just so happened to be walking up beside her playing it. He gave her a re assuring wink and continued to play the intro when she finally grew the courage to sing…
"Sayin' 'I love you' is not the words I want to hear from you…" she started.
"It's not that I want you not to say, but if you only knew." Byakuya stunned her with his voice.
She smiled and sang her next part, "How easy it would be to show me how you feel…"
At this time, they turned and faced each other, "More than words is all you have to do to make it real, then you wouldn't have to say that you love me, cause I'd already know…"
The song continued as they started to sing to more and more to each other than the crowd, but they didn't care. Couples started to get up and slow dance to the melody the two made up on stage together. Rukia sang her heart out as Byakuya played the guitar like he had played on an everyday basis. Little did they know that some was watching them in the crowd.
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They hurried to the hotel room laughing and chasing each other all the way up the stairs. As they made their way into the room, Rukia scampered off into the room to grab some clothes and Byakuya flopped on the couch exhausted from tonight's activities. He couldn't believe he went on the stage with her and sang. He hadn't done anything like that in ages. He could still hear her humming away as she changed and he smiled to himself. It was well worth it.
"Did you have fun tonight, Rukia?" he called from the couch.
"Yes!" she chirped back.
"I'm glad because that took a lot for me to do as well." He admitted.
Rukia giggled and appeared at the doorway wearing her chappy nightgown. She looked over at him sunk into the couch and she smiled, he looked so comfortable. She walked up to him and curled up on his lap. Surprised by her sudden contact his eyes sprung open and dropped back down again with a smile. He curled an arm around her and cuddled her closer.
"I hope you had fun tonight." He whispered on her head, leaving a kiss behind.
Rukia was so comfortable she had almost fallen completely asleep. She heard him, but only managed to reply with a soft grunt. Byakuya smiled and rested his head on hers and soon fell asleep after her.
Ok so it was short I'm sorry. I was trying to produce as fast as I could but alas… school is getting the better of me. Three essays in one month! I love my 1301 teacher, but I think she is trying to kill us! . I've gotten my job to let me have a "free day" so maybe that will help me finish this story up some.