A/N: It has been too long that I didn't write. Real life is preventing me to do so…and so does lack of inspiration and laziness…and a new fandom **laughs**
This is for a Halloween giveaway in IR FC at BA, please enjoy!
Well, reviews are deeply appreciated.
Noirceur
Kurosaki Ichigo wants vengeance for his family.
They died as they were attacked by witches when he was away for duty. He lost his sanity almost completely as he saw the house ruins with their bodies lying coldly on the ground, if it wasn't for a warm embrace by the high priestess of the palace where they reside, Kuchiki Rukia. She wasn't shedding tears but he can feel her sadness for his loss. She had grown closer to his family, after all. He was simply staring but thanks to her, his rage grew low now than what it was beforehand. Unfortunately, the enemies had gone away and chances of finding them in the middle of the night will be useless.
He closed his hands in a tight fist and murmured, "I promise, I'll get stronger; I'll avenge all of you for sure."
As the priestess continued to pray for his loved ones in silence, he gazed up at the full moon, with the resolve to fulfill his promise as soon as possible.
Few years have passed…
Rukia had just finished praying inside the sacred room of the castle and walked outside to find Ichigo. He was still performing his duties as her personal guard and as the head of guarding and maintaining the solidity of the fortress' physical barriers – besides the spiritual barriers Rukia is providing – but she was worried about something else. Every night he would always go to the cemetery where his family's graves lie and then disappear. She presumes that he's looking for them.
However…
"Do you want to avenge your family?"
"Yes I do, Rukia. That's why I'm training hard." He said as he just finished his own training.
"Ichigo, you don't understand. Witches that killed your family are quite powerful, not only you need swordsmanship skills but also the choice of your weapon."
Ichigo was a bit perplexed. "Why?"
She sighed as she answered, "Mere swords won't work with witches in a high level."
His voice was hoarse as he pleads, "Then, tell me! Is there a way to gain such?"
The holy woman turned around and walked in an opposite direction, allowing him to follow her to the room of her late brother, Kuchiki Byakuya, the former priest of the palace. Ichigo was amazed at how wide the room was and almost nothing was inside except for several bookshelves, a table and a chair with some writing materials on it with a portrait of his wife and Rukia's sister, Hisana displaying beside them, "Why are we here? You said no outsider should go here."
"I trust you more than everyone. Ever since I met you, you changed something in me and my relationship with my family, especially nii-sama. Your family had been very kind to me and I'm truly grateful to that."
"Rukia…" He shook his head, "No, I should be saying those things, you idiot!"
She simply smiled and shrugged his usual insults and took something from an old stash in the center. She began to unfold the cloth, revealing a black sword with series of chains attached at the end of the hilt.
"This is one of nii-sama's treasures. Its color is caused by the black blood from a powerful goblin, which can defeat those creatures with ease. You can win against them but you will not go alone. I'm coming with you."
"Eh? You can't!"
"You may be my guard but I am not so weak that I can't go with you. Besides…they also killed my brother and my mentor a long time ago."
Unknowingly, Ichigo's feet approached Rukia's form. He kneeled beside her and hugged her tightly.
"Ichigo…"
"You're one stubborn priestess so I can't stop you but allow me to protect you still. I can't…afford to lose another one who has become precious in my life." His words are sincere, no doubt. She saved him many times and he was supposed to be doing that. She was his light. He may seriously lose it if she'll be gone in his life forever. He can't have that.
Steps were cautious as they walked through the woods. She fears that she may get lost but with him on the side, she's fine. "You seem to know your way around."
He was using a dagger to cut the thorny bushes that may harm him and the priestess, "Yeah, I always look around here and try to find their hideout."
"And you found it?"
He only smirked as he went ahead of her. If there'll be attacks, at least he'll be the first to strike upon. Rukia was wearing a light kimono, an outfit different from what she would always wear inside the castle grounds. She was holding a white sword, in contrast with his. He couldn't help but be amazed at her beauty and fierce atmosphere swarming around her. And at last, they have arrived. "It seems like a normal cottage but don't be fooled; they're all inside."
"Looks like it but you did a good job, the place isn't secured much as I would expect."
"I guess you could say this will be a "surprise attack"…" he said, giving a small proud smile.
She did the same in reply and hid under the bush for a look of her own.
Abruptly, a group of screaming witches with their brooms swooshed down, flicking their wands with black energy emerging from the tips. Just by looking at it, an immense aura of dark power can be felt.
Truly dangerous.
Rukia used her sword to gather a group of witches to lure them to the weapon's trap. A circle was formed around them, ground and sky, making everything, everyone in the vicinity be frozen and be broken into pieces.
Ichigo, on the other hand, continuously slashed and stabbed, one after another. After that, he took all his spiritual power into his blade and released it towards them in a more powerful form, the colors white and blue taking them all down.
Both of them were exhausted, but a sense of accomplishment is gained. Now all that's left is the one who stands before them all.
However, as they entered inside, it was empty.
"That witch is not here." Rukia announced with disappointment, a flat line forming her lips.
"Eh? What's going on?"
"I also don't know. Still, I need to seal this place so that it won't be occupied by them anymore; there's no more place to hide." Rukia closed her eyes and swiftly scattered pieces of parchments with prayers written on it. She began to do her silent incantations next.
Ichigo can feel something else is going on. What are they planning exactly? He doesn't know. For now, sealing this place would be better since it would be impossible for them to hide. They can disguise as humans but he can sense it well. Just as Rukia said, they can defeat them in entirety from now on.
Or so he thought.
Two days have passed by peacefully. Rukia continues to perform her duties as the priestess and Ichigo guards her as always. It's all ordinary.
Too ordinary.
He approached her as she got out of the consecrated room, "Rukia…"
She knew what he was going to say, "Ah, I can feel it too. Great danger is heading onto us. I suppose this should've been surprising. The one behind it all must be saving it all for this."
"You're right."
"Ichigo, order everyone to evacuate as possible. I think the prayers to maintain barrier within the castle are not enough to hold them off," Rukia said, her confidence losing.
"What are you saying? You are strong! I believe in you, everyone believes in you!" he replied in determination and faith.
She stared at him in awe murmuring his name. His encouraging speech somewhat flows through her body; his confidence also serves as her strength. This guy is certainly something. He wasn't just a guard…
He was a special person.
Someone who holds a special place in her heart.
Rukia avoided his gaze, "Fine. But tell them to be in a secure and safe place. We must reduce the casualties, if possible."
Ichigo nodded and ran off to give the warning. She started at the horizon: it was previously forming the colours of orange and a bit of purple, it was a rare sight. Unfortunately, a blanket of darkness is beginning to cover the said scene. She went back inside the sacred room and prayed. White aura emanates from her, making the barriers surrounding the castle grounds secure from their incoming dreadful attacks. With much focus on the will to protect everybody, she didn't notice a crawling creature behind her.
In the middle of getting the people to their respective homes, his heart almost stopped for a second. Something's wrong.
Frightful.
It's the same sensation he felt when his family were killed. Only, it felt heavier.
Could it be…?
"Rukia!"
He rushed back to her location as fast as possible. Too many people getting in the way but it doesn't matter. His feet would always lead to her form…smiling to him that has become an exceptional sight to everyone…her sapphire eyes cooling his heated amber eyes.
As he slides the door to the blessed prayer room, his mouth gaped. His legs shook and won't even take another step just after seeing her before his eyes.
Her eyes are filled with blackness. The usual shine is lost. She is different…
She's not Rukia.
"Finally, I've taken hold of the priestess, the dark forces have won over this castle!" she spoke, her voice now with a high-pitched, creepy one, sending chills to his spine.
"Get out of Rukia's body!" he went near her and grabbed her shoulder gently, "Rukia, it's me Ichigo! Fight the witch within you!"
A spurt of blood dropped on the floor.
The witch slashed Ichigo using Rukia's sword but he managed to dodge it not letting it continue to a serious injury. Though a deep cut was unavoidable.
"To think that you have a soft spot for this woman makes you weak! Now that have control, I can summon all my minions to destroy the whole palace without the barrier stopping us!"
A purple black energy emerged from the priestess' body, a signal for commencement of assail. All kinds have entered with ease, starting to attack the people outside and the other sentinels trying to protect them.
Ichigo needed to save the palace.
Save Rukia.
This is not only a matter of vengeance anymore. He can't let everyone…especially her to be gone from his life. He needed her…seeing her like this is breaking his heart and the worst part is that she is now the foremost enemy.
"Are you the one behind this?" he asked.
"Why yes. I planned to disappear from our territory to sneak inside and hide near at where the priestess lies. It looks like that she has decreased her concentration and focused on you instead. What a fool she is."
"Shut up! You are the fool!"
As he tried to hit his sword into her, he would hesitate causing him to be counter-attacked by the witch. "I would say otherwise, boy. You really care about her, don't you? She'll never return!"
She attacked him robustly and aggressively, aiming to kill whilst Ichigo isn't fighting back at all. He would step back and take her attacks, he can't lay a finger.
Even if he's wounded…even if he's bleeding…
He just can't.
"Give up. Soon enough, we would conquer the whole palace. All of the humans here will be killed, including you…and her."
"Damn it." he was shaking in confusion. How would be able to defeat the enemy when the one he cares might be killed as well?
Out of the blue, a certain memory appeared in his mind.
Before their sneak attack in the forest, Rukia was wiping his katana when she told him, "Ichigo, if something happens to me, I want you to save yourself."
Her words panicked him, "What was that all of a sudden?"
She chuckled lightly but turned serious, "Nothing, it's just that…I don't want you risking your life for me. I've already put a lot of burden on you."
No, you didn't! You...
Ichigo opened his eyes and he positioned himself ready. He knew who she was in his life. "Rukia…changed my world…there's no way…I'll lose her now. She valued my life over hers…that's why I promise to protect her with all my life!"
A sudden surge of power came out from the hilt to his blade; he has made a resolution.
"Kill! Kill Kurosaki Ichigo! Kill Kuchiki Rukia! Kill everyone!"
The witch ran from her spot to carry out her one goal. Ichigo did the same with the intention to kill the witch…
He just knows that Rukia is still there. He just needed to call her name…
Then, in one stab, Ichigo had done it, faster than the witch.
"Rukia."
He would have to apologize for the fatal wound he had caused in her chest or suffer the consequences if he fails to save her. Subsequently, a bright light grew bigger surrounding them and the whole palace. The said light destroyed the demons in a flash and the barrier began to build back. There were damages and other casualties as a result; nevertheless, the orange-haired warrior didn't care much at the moment. What was important is the woman in his arms. His sword laid limply at the side with blood on it. The witch has lost the power to control and even tried to escape but it was too late and as it got out of the priestess' body, it burned into crisp.
The great light began to decrease its size and this healed Rukia's supposed cause of death. Later, she opened her eyes slowly. The orbs' gleam is back.
"Ichigo."
He soothed her hair and smiled at her, with tears almost coming out of his eyes, his brows didn't furrow as much, saying one word that emphasized his numerous feelings to her.
"Yo."