"The strong man is not the one who can overpower others in strength; rather a strong man is he who can control himself when he gets angry"- H
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach and anything related to it.
A/N: Names of places are fictional. Enjoy.
The Hairdresser of the Daughter of a Pharaoh
-OPgirl
Chapter 11: Poisoned
"Poor child. You must have gone through so much all your life" she whispered.
A young girl was running away from a person with a blurry face.
"Why are you keep following me?!" she shouted at the person.
"Didn't I tell you, I want you as my sister?" he retorted.
"I said it before didn't I? I don't want to have a brother like you" she answered back. "Go home already!" she shouted at him.
"Why do you refuse? You seem to like the idea before?" the person asked. "And you even accepted the pendant I gave you" he declared seeing as the girl continue to flee.
Huh? Who is that person?
"Rukia-sama?" a voice asked her from nowhere.
"Grrrrr" her stomach growl.
"It seems your very hungry right now, Rukia-sama"
I keep hearing things I could not see. Where am I? Why is it so dark in here?
"Who are you?" Rukia asked the voice.
"Where did you run off, Brat?!" a scary voice rattled above her.
The little girl looked up. Fear and terror creep all over her body. Everywhere she looked is darkness except for the glowing red eyes of someone she could not see.
"I-I.." she started to say in reluctance.
"Now, where is your earning for the day?" a terrifying voice asked. A large palm was held in front of her as if waiting for something to be handover. The young girl trembled in fear.
"I-I did not have any" she said in a trembling voice.
Suddenly a pang of pain shot from her face. The unknown man slapped the young girl.
"You useless Brat! How dare you roam around the market without taking anything?!" the man exclaimed at the girl. The girl shook violently in fear while clutching her bruised face. She refused to cry in pain.
"You won't cry? Huh. Acting tough will not get you away from punishment" the man announced. The girl bit her lip to prevent herself from crying out as she was beaten by the person using an old wooden broom.
"Even if I cry nothing will change" the girl murmured as she was beaten. "Even if I beg you to stop, you would not stop. I want to die now! I have nothing anyway" the small girl cried out as she was beaten.
After a while the person beating her stopped and moved along.
"Next time you return here without anything. I will kill your roommates!" the man announced. The blood on her face seemed to be drained after hearing his threat.
She fell on the floor as pain and exhaustion took over her.
"Rukia-sama?" a voice asked the sleeping girl.
"Somebody get me a cold cloth. Rukia-sama is having a high fever" the voice called out.
Suddenly Rukia felt as though so many people is around her yet she could not see anything but she could hear their noises.
"Rukia" somebody called out to her.
"Grrrr" her stomach growled. The young girl opened her blouse and tighten the rope tied on her stomach to prevent it from growling.
She stood up and walked towards the door that mysteriously appeared. She opened it and saw her roommates. They were group of skinny kids who wear tattered dresses.
"Rukia-neesan!" the kids shouted and run towards her. "Are you beaten again?" the small boy asked her. They hug her until she fell down seating on the cold concrete floor.
The girl smiled at the children around her and tried to disentangle from them. She stood up and approached the end of the room where a small window is located.
"Your 10 years old now Rukia-neesan" the kids suddenly exclaimed behind her.
"We wish, that we could prepare something for you like you did for us but the caretaker took everything we earned today" a boy of her age said.
"Do not worry. It's ok. I brought something for you anyway" she said smiling at the kids.
The children's face lit up as soon as they see a bag Rukia took behind the window.
"Is it going to be another book?" the smallest kid exclaimed happily.
"Yes and I brought some snacks too!" she said to the children.
"Eh? I wonder what type of story are you gonna tell us this time" another young boy said excitedly.
Rukia smiled at them and started opening the bag and took the bread first. She started to distribute foods at the small children first.
When everyone got their share, she started to read a story to them.
"Rukia" the same voice called her.
"Rukia" Rukia opened her eyes.
"Where am I?" she asked.
"Rukia-sama! You're finally awake" a woman exclaimed. Rukia look at the person.
Long wavy hair. Orange? Or is it blonde?
"Who are you?" Rukia asked.
She's the person who opened the door last night. And took care of my wounds. How come I just noticed?
"I am your caretaker. My name is Masaki, Rukia-sama" she announced.
"I will be in charge of your preparations and basic needs" she added. Rukia's brow rose as she observe the voluptuous and beautiful woman in front of her.
"Umm. Excuse me" Rukia started to speak awkwardly. "Can I have something to eat first?" she requested.
"It was already prepared Rukia-sama" Masaki announced pointing at the food on the table near the window. Suddenly the door of her room opened revealing servants who came to serve her.
"Since you were not feeling well last night, I ordered for your meal to be served inside your room Rukia-sama" Masaki informed.
"Thank you"
"Umm. Masaki-san" Rukia started to say.
How can I eat properly, if this people stood in front of me? Are they planning to spoon feed me or something?
Rukia looked at Masaki and saw an expectant gaze from her. Rukia pick the spoon from the tray and started ladling the weird white soup. Some green vegetables were also served.
The plates and bowls were artistic and beautiful. Is it made of silver? I think the tray is gold plated or something. The food was prepared beautifully but I prefer to eat a normal familiar food right now.
Rukia scoop a spoonful of the soup and tasted it reluctantly.
This looks like yoghurt. I wish it doesn't taste like one.
"Spicy" she said after tasting it. She looked at her caretaker.
"It's delicious. Are you the one who prepared this Masaki-san?" Rukia asked.
Masaki smiled at her. "Regularly, I am in charge with cooking foods for the guest but it was not me who cook for you this time" she informed.
"Oh" Rukia uttered. "Can I have seconds please?" she asked politely.
"Of course Rukia-sama" She said as she gestured to the servant beside Rukia to serve her.
I am so hungry right now. I just want eat as many as I could! How many days have I not eaten properly?
"I request to be left alone, Masaki-san?" Rukia asked Masaki after a while.
Masaki smiled at her in a warm motherly way. "You may all leave now. I will inform the Master that Rukia-sama woke up" she instructed as she headed for the door.
The 4 servants who entered the room exited immediately along with Masaki and closed the door behind them. Rukia started to eat normally as she did. She first emptied the spicy soup and then ate every single food served on her tray.
This cuisines were delicious even though it look so alien to me. The soup is the tastiest food I ever eaten, I wonder what type of seasoning and ingredients they used.
"I am full. Thank you for the food" she said. After a while her stomach started to hurt and she was sweating so much.
Am I poisoned?