Thanks to- Icicleriver22, phoenixfire3473, Asagiri, Sakurakitty2
Crystals of rainbow and white shining over head in a dome of gold and silver, angels and demons painted- frozen in place, for all to see the epic battle of life. Dark blood red pillars of silk and velvet fell from the ceiling covering the large transparent glass windows.
Gold and yellow glittered the walls, mirrors dancing along the paintings of men and women of old- vases and statues, fountains of cascading waters crisp and clear resounded throughout the palace.
People danced and swayed together and alone along the music of the musicians, all in masks. No one knew- no one cared.
Smells of rich perfume and grandeur surrounded the living space of the dance hall, doors of intricate silver metal closed to the outside world- shutting in this place of beauty and wealth.
Rukia stood in awe, frozen not a thought process passed her mind. Such magnitude of exquisiteness and finery was ungodly- no words could be uttered in the human language to explain such splendor.
Taking a step forward Rukia forced her mind to work, her eyes to wander on its people. Nobles, Royalty, princesses, princes, kings and queens, aristocrats- people of power and affluence, dressed in flowing gowns of pale winter colors.
Rich silks aligning the women, soft velvet on the men, masks large and small colored and full hiding it's wearer from the world, Rukia looked for only one person.
One man whom she didn't know look like.
"The King would sit on top of the throne looking over his people" making her way through the bubble of laughter, no one knew she didn't belong. No one saw she wasn't Noble or like them- she was poor, middle class and had no right to be here.
Rukia knew that herself- but the fear of getting caught fell short to the temptation of going back home, and so she pushed through till she stood at the edges of the white marble glistening staircase large and wide, held by gold railings cool to the touch. No one stood above her.
He wasn't here.
"No one…so where would he be, should I ask" if she did would it give her reason to be thought of less than the rest? Would that question give her away?
"Only one way to find out" looking across the mass of people, the raven haired beauty looked for a child someone she could relate too, someone her own age but finding no one Rukia looked for the next best thing; an elder.
Someone kind looking but with the masks on everyone looked the same- unrecognizable and just when she was fed up with looking to ask, trumpets sounded throughout the grand hall. The music stopped, the people stared up at the white marble staircase towards two men standing on top.
A tall thin pale man with short straight black hair and large green eyes spoke a dark black hole at the base of his neck drew attention to him he was clearly used too- it was only when he spoke did the crowd look.
"Pronouncing his Royal Majesty: King Sousuke" a man in long robes of diamond white and a crown of pure gold on top of his head cascaded down the steps, light wavy brown hair hugged his head, showing large kind brown orbs underneath a crystal golden mask. His smile glowed as his tall well build body made its way to his throne.
The thin pale man spoke again introducing the other.
"Pronouncing his Royal Highness: Prince Toushirou" stark white hair combed back a single bang over his left eyes, equally white mask enhancing his bright green orbs as they shined against his lightly tanned skin. Dressed in silver and white, his face stone cold to all he made his way to the throne, beside the King.
…it was Toushirou.
Drowning in applause men and women took their masks off and bowed before the Royal family, a single hand motion stopped it all; a voice spoke booming and commanding over all.
"Thank you everyone for coming to my annual winter celebration, in hopes of a snowy white winter" cheers followed.
"May we celebrate and cherish this year and pray the following years are filled with peace" applause followed.
"May Soul Society prosper for I have invited special quests this night" looking over to his left, the crowd of royalty and aristocratism watched as a couple descended the stairs gasps of horror and hatred filled the hall.
Rukia clutched her breast for air- looking up at the stairs the couple standing over all, pale and proud stood….her parents.
"Lord Byakuya and Lady Hisana: King and Queen of Hueco Mundo" the crowd stood silent unable to comprehend what was happening, why were the king and queen of the kingdom most hated by their own country be here! What purpose would they need to be here unless-!
"Yes Lord and Lady have come to us in a truce between our two kingdoms, no longer do we hate but together we shall share!" raising up from his throne the King stood arms spread out as the Lady and Lord stood beside him, silence at first but a brave soul clapped slowly like a heartbeat the crowd began to cheer and praise. Joy engrossed the room and entered everyone's mind.
Were their two kingdoms finally at peace?
No one noticed the celebration was minus one raven haired girl.
Steps on the unforgiving marble floors, resounding throughout the empty hallways of high pillars and glass domes, Rukia ran out of that room- away from it all.
I-impossible! It- it wasn't…no! t-those people they couldn't be her! Twisting and turning Rukia ran further and further into the castle, until finally her legs gave under her and she fell to the floor; laying broken.
"T-they couldn't be….they're not….mommy, daddy" fallen to the ground, not bothering to get up Rukia remembered that day perfectly….they day her family finally broke.
A young girl of pure black hair covering her face, a single bang in the middle of wide purple orbs looked up at the woman she was currently sitting on.
"Mommy"
"Yes Rukia?"
"Does Cinderella really find her prince?"
"Of course, they live happily ever after" looking at the bright picture book her mother was reading to her goodnight,
"Mommy is daddy your prince?"
"I would think I am" both pairs of deep purple orbs looked up at the deep voice coming from the child's white doorframe, a tall well build man stood there smiling
"Daddy!" jumping off her mother's lap Rukia ran to her father as he took her up in his arms and laughed
"Aren't you suppose to be asleep Rukia?"
"Mommy hasn't read me my bedtime story though!"
"Cinderella again? How many time have you read that book" putting his only child down onto her mother's awaiting lap, Rukia clutched the book and grinned
"Hundreds of times!"
"She loves it too much apparently"
"I can see that" smiling at his wife, the three Kuchikis sat comfortingly as Hisana began to read when Rukia asked a again
"Mommy is daddy your prince?"
"Of course Rukia, he's my prince and king" smiling at her daughter the woman patted the mane of midnight black and looked at her husband, who in turn placed a hand on her shoulder
"And your mother here is my princess and queen"
"…hmm then what does that make me?" looking up at the two with curious eyes her parents grinned
"You're our slave!" and the two attacked the little girl with fits of giggles and laughs, tickling her sides as she rolled on her mothers lap, the woman's arms protecting the child from falling as the man tickled his daughter.
Laughter and joy filled the room, taking hold of the large house as the three enjoyed this time of peace…when the fits of laughter began to tremble in one voice and took hostage her breath.
Hisana held Rukia tightly placing her on the floor as she held herself, coughing into her hand; in a moment's heartbeat Byakuya ran to his wife's side holding her and patting her back to open her lungs.
The smell of blood filled the room and the comforting light of her small lamp on the side table didn't seem so comforting now…. Casting her mother's face into shadow and light, cutting her face and shimmering her blood red hands.
Rukia shed tears that night, and many more to come for soon after that night Hisana fell bedridden and no longer could she and her daughter read each other goodnight.
Years pasted and Hisana fell ill, her sickness never letting up her body's hold. Rukia grew up but still her childlike behavior continued into her age of eight.
"Daddy?"
"Yes Rukia" looking at the child who looked just like her mother, he stopped his paper work
"Is mommy going to get better?"
"…I'm not sure Rukia"
"…can't we do something for her?"
"I'm trying my best, I've hired the best doctors to look at her even come to the house during the day"
"Will you protect her"
"What?" looking at the young child with eyes now stone cold glancing up at him, she stood by his side where he sat, pulling on his sleeve
"Will you protect mommy! She's your queen right?"
"She is, and I'll do all I can to protect her" picking the young girl up and holding her close, Byakuya's light grey-purple orbs looked into dark ones of the same color
"You promise to protect her right?"
"Yes Rukia, I promise"
"You won't let her die…will you"
"Never" hid on the crown of his child's well placed head, on his shoulder blade into the crook of his neck she laid her head, Byakuya swore he would never let his wife die.
Years pasted and the Kuchiki family said goodbye to one of their own. Since then, everyone changed.
Rukia no longer a child at the age of eleven became cold and heartless. She cared little for the world around her own day to day existence and matters of friends and family were dirt under her feet. Her friends pressed close to her and stood their ground- inevitably becoming people she cherished above all but…. In the process, the spot in her heart for her family; disappeared.
Her father, Byakuya closed his heart as well. He stood by his company- always at work and never at home. He would vanish in the morning and never return at night, weeks on end turned to months when Rukia realized he'd leave on business trips. He had no time for her anymore, what did she care.
When her mother died, she took all the love and the care they had, now…the Kuchikis stood divided against each other. In one house, called the same name, identical blood and a past together as father and daughter, what did it matter anymore.
Her mother was gone, her father abandoned her…. What family did she have!
Rukia picked herself up slowly and in a daze, her dark purple eyes faded- streaks of stagnant bitter tears aligning her cheeks, the teen of sixteen stood up.
Her raven black hair covered her face, mask uncovered, she placed it back on in place and perfect- hiding from the world. She headed back into the ballroom, where the man and woman were, with each step she took Rukia muttered to herself a small chant.
"Mother is dead. Father is gone"