Chey no own Bleach…

Truths Beyond My Mask

Chapter Thirteen

~~~~~~~~~~~~O tanoshimi kudasai~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today is the day that they are all leaving…every single shinigami would be leaving my palace and I would be obligated to see them off. As much as it pains me to allow Rukia to slip away from me I must do what makes her happy and if she feels that she must return then I will allow her that because I strive only for her happiness. I would not want to force her to stay and have my fiancée hate me. Yes, Rukia agreed to marry me after the war is completely over and now wears my ring on his finger. No one knows really but they will realize sooner or later I suppose. I asked the day after my mother was brought back to life.

~Flashback~

Her figners gripped tightly to my own as we walked through the halls of the nearly silent east wing…this wing was built when my grandfather became Omo after marrying my grandmother the Josei. It is formally known as the Yuyake Wing or sunset wing. The rooms are kept in perfect order for guests now but paintings are hung beside each door depicting the original occupant. I smile at her and we reach a room. Outside of the door is a picture of my mother as a young girl. I enter with a short bow and tug Rukia allow. She follows silently until we reach the back balcony. The east wing is on ground level and my mother's room is attached to a garden…the same garden that Ulquiorra and I had spoken in a few nights before. Rukia's eyes widen at the luxurious and peaceful garden sprawling out before her. She releases my hand and moves along the walkways with me following shortly behind her. She reaches the center where seats are set up around a small water feature.

Aizen was stupid to think he could even halfway control how Hueco Mundo works every hollow knows that without the true Omo in power nothing functions properly. Our power influences everything to work. Aizen added a few things to Las Noches but it was previously there. By Ulquiorra and Grimmjow walking the area the palace was accessible because, like Chi no Gyokuza, it was hidden away due to no one of the line of old walking upon these sands. Las Noches is a powerful and lively place when a true heir walks the floors of the palace…otherwise it is cold and nearly desolate and when no one of the old dynasty walks the floors it is simply sand.

Her fingers wrap around my hand bringing me from my own mind and into a sitting position at her side. "What is this place and how come no one is ever around here?" I grin and wrap an arm around her while leaning back against the seating and basking in the warm sun. A cool breeze blows through all of Las Noches as it has truly become the cold season in Hueco Mundo now.

I close my eyes while thinking on a way to answer my mate. "Rukia we are currently in the wind known as the Yuyake Wing…it is very rarely entered as it is among the older parts of the Palace that only appears when the true Heir walks the floor. It is rather difficult to explain but when someone of the blood of the old dynasty enter into these sands the entire palace comes alive at their touch and the areas that were once unavailable and hidden, as the Chi no Gyokuza is, will appear once again. The garden we are sitting in was both my mother's and my grandmother's place of refugee. When my mother became human her hollow self returned here to live while being connected to her soul as my hollow self had done until I recognized it and tied it to myself. When the old dynasty fell all of this seemingly disappeared from Hueco Mundo…of course there wasn't any sun in the times before me and Aizen but not much has changed." She nods and cuddles into my side wearing a red and gold version of her everyday attire from yesterday while mine outfit is a white version of my normal attire without my shoulder plat and wrist plate.

"This place is truly amazing…" I nod and watch as she closes her eyes before opening them and shyly looking up at me. "Do you think they could build a garden near our rooms for when we have children after the war?"

I chuckle trying to reason that out…our rooms are on the fourth level and reside over a rather large ballroom however there will never be a wing built above our rooms so I suppose I could create a garden above our rooms…no if we have children it will be dangerous perhaps and double story garden off our balconies and just expand the ballroom or even place another garden outside of the ballroom…yes that will do I'll start the building of the areas soon but I suppose I could let Rukia design our personal garden. "How about this Rukia…I'll teach you how to control the area around you and tomorrow we'll begin to build a garden right off of our balconies that wraps around the western wing. Of course I'll be creating another garden on the ground floor of the same design right off the ballroom." She grins and places a bright kiss on my lips. I chuckle and she pulls me up to walk around and look at flowers. The sun was setting meaning that it would soon be getting colder and if I was going to ask her it would be now of never seeing as I have to leave for two days on a trip to meet with two clans of hollows.

Rukia picks at a flower looking down at it and plucking one from the stem. I kneel behind her and dig my hand into my haori pocket only to pull out the slim silver band with a pure white diamond on the top. Beside the diamond are two grey jewels formed from the trees of Hueco Mundo. "Ichigo isn't this flower beautiful?" She whirls around and drops the flower to the grass covered ground while her mouth drops open in shock. Her eyes begin to water and her figners rise to cover her mouth as she lets out a soft sob.

I clear my throat and reach forward to take her hand in mine. "Rukia I know that I'll have to wait until after the war and yet I wanted something to signify that I hold enough love for you that I would make it out of this war alive so…will you marry me?" She nods and I slip the ring onto the fourth finger of her left hand and she jumps at me hugging me tightly. I chuckle and press a king to her lips. "So is that a yes?"

"Of course I'll marry you bakayaro…" I chuckle and her fingers grip my cheeks tightly as she smashes her lips against mine kissing me for all she was worth. She pulls away from me and grabs my hand tugging me toward the western wing. We reach my chambers and her figners knot in my hair as her lips find mine and we stumble backward into my bed.

~End Flashback~

That night also turned out to be our first night together sexually…well not our first ever but as a couple I suppose you could say. Drunken sex is never fun but let's not go into details about the first time shall we? In any case Rukia and I still haven't told anyone about having sex together but we're pretty much married in our customs and the wedding is just for show for the shinigami. We've spent every night together since and some of the days…actually I'm pretty sure we've spent some amount of time together every day I mean I just can't get enough of how enticing she is.

I tighten my top and run my hands through my hair before hesitantly touch the headpiece my mate wears. She had, pretty much, moved into my room and most of her belongings are in here including her head piece. I walk from my onsen and onto the balcony to look out over the slowly building garden as the sun rises. The black curtains to my chambers are still closed as my mate is still sleeping. I move through the gardens silently and find the fountain, which Rukia had just put in yesterday, before sitting down along its edge. No matter how much I don't wish to admit it I will truly be upset when Rukia leave me this time. In the thirteen days she's spent here we've pretty much been what could be close to a married couple. It feels like so long ago that I showed Byakuya and her to their rooms. Of course my family is staying here with me now that my mother has returned to life…but still it will feel odd sleeping along in my bed now.

"Ichigo…what are you doing out here all alone?" I turn toward the sound of Rukia's voice to see her in only one of my under haoris and a pair of, barely there, lace panties.…she looks sinful but that's what she's been wearing for a while now…maybe that's why I can't keep my hand off of hr in the mornings or maybe it's because I wake up with her naked body pressed against mine.

I smile and motion for her to come over to me. She obliges and I pull her down onto my lap where she snuggles into my chest. "I couldn't sleep and figured I'd sit out here for a bit before I have to see everyone off." She nods her head against my chest and I tighten my arms around her before releasing her and tickling her sides lightly. "You should probably go bathe and get ready to go…I'll be waiting to see you off alright?" She nods and stands. I walk at her side onto the balcony before stopping and kissing her forehead and leaving my chambers entirely. I walk silently down the winding hallways and toward the throne room where shinigami are likely to be gathering already. My hollow sword is at my hip because I plan to train for a bit after seeing them off so that I can go about my daily schedule.

The doors come into view and I lean against the wall with my head down waiting until the last possible minute so that I may be able to catch Rukia before she leaves. Sadly the time comes and Rukia still hasn't arrived so I walk inside and settle into my seat where my family stands behind me. Karin has her head bowed and tears are in her eyes. The doors slam open and everyone gasps upon seeing my mate enter dressed, instead of in her shihakusho, in her everyday outfit here. "Kuchiki Rukia, explain why you are not in uniform!" The Sotaicho looks at her with closed eyes while playing his old man act. I'm pretty sure he was sleeping before this. He stayed with the group who originally came here and allowed Ukitake, Unohana, and Kyoraku to go back with the other group to be in control.

Rukia moves toward the front of the room and toward my side where she stops and reaches with her left hand to lay it on my shoulder. "Gomen nasai Yamamoto-Sotaicho…I do not believe that my biggest duty lies in the Seireitei any longer. My duty, as of the celebration, is by Ichigo's side as queen. I must think of the best interest of those around me now especially my fiancé as I have come to find that it would be extremely hard for either of us to be apart." Gasp girls around the room at her statement about us being engaged and the girls in the room crowd around her staring at the ring that everyone has just noticed.

As they step back, in a movement only my eyes catch, Toshiro lunges forward and grips the hilt of my blade in his hand. Ulqui's eyes widen as I stare at him meeting his gaze with a hardened one of my own. "Have you chosen then Hitsugaya-taicho or are you merely playing games with my blade?" His eyes fall closes as he touches the blade before rotating it to point at his own chest.

His eyes flutter open and he meet Karin's wide eyed gaze. "I've known of only the Seireitei for so long…I've known of being a taicho and continuing to do my duty as a taicho. I've known of all my paperwork, my responsibilities, my day to day troubles, and so much more for as long as I can remember but not once in all this time have I known…have I known what true fulfillment is. I've found fulfillment in you, Karin…and despite what I may lose by doing this I am willing to discard all of it to be able to be recognized as your true mate." Eyes widen at his deep voice ad people rush at him including the sotaicho however they are all too late because he plunges my blade into his chest and falls to his knees as his eyes fall closed peacefully. They are pushed back by a sheer white light and Rangiku and Karin watch with tear full eyes as my own eyes open wide and turn bright gold.

"Gomen nasai Hitsugaya Toshiro…" I gasp out before placing my hand on his forehead and feeling my neck snap back as pain racks my body. My knees buckle and I hit the cold stone as the screech or a hollow can be heard. A hollow that appears to be of dragon origin circles the dome and drops to the cement. I can see it as if I am the hollow myself. The cement opens at the last seconds and the hollow rushes toward us. I vaguely hear Toshiro scream in agony as my eyes fall closed and blackness sweeps them I hold on as tight as possible as I see the hollow entering his body and merging with the pure white that is his soul. He doesn't even resist…even Hyourinmaru accepts the hollow as if it were a sibling to himself. My hand falls limply to my side as my head lolls forward and Toshiro falls into my lap unconscious. On the left side of his nose is a long icy blue 'v' that runs from his forehead to his nose and then back toward his jaw line. Between the icy blue 'v' is white bone that connects like frost forming an eyehole and that branches out around his eye into what appears to be five icicle points. The points grew from short onto the outside to being the tallest on the third point.

His eyes open and he groans as I help push him up into a sitting position. His lips part and he breathes deeply reaching up to touch his face as the mask crumbles away leveling onto the five points and a slim band of the frost like white bone. His head piece was truly part of his soul. My mother's voice whispers delicately across the crowd silencing everyone. "The dragon master…" Toshiro's gaze meets hers and he bows his head softly in acknowledgement. "Then I have not lost my gift it seems…I welcome you to the family…"

His eyes turn quizzical until everyone's eyes turn to my sister, Karin, who is staring down at Toshiro as if he is the very sun she revolves around. It is as if she sees no one but the white haired vaizado in front of her. I pick up my blade, which had fallen from his body and drops to the ground, and replace it in its sheath. I stand and retreat back to my own mate as my sister rushes forward and grips his shoulders in a bone crushing hug. He hugs back just as tightly murmuring nearly silently in her ear. I suppose I too am blessed with the gift of knowing just as my grandmother was.

The shinigami stare at the pair in confusion no understanding what has happened. "What you have just seen…is by no means something that I cannot say will ever happen again although I may be wrong." Rangiku falls to her knees hugging her shoulders tightly while she bites her lip.

Her eyes dart up to me and her lips part releasing the shrillest scream I have ever heard. "This is all your fault! If you wouldn't have touched him or even allowed your damn sister near him he wouldn't have done this to himself!" Her voice cracks and then the temperature in the room drops several degrees as Toshiro's hard eyes land on Rangiku. This isn't good…my mother must have known as well because as soon as it gets cooler her hand snaps forward and Kenta lunges forward. My figners follow suit and Ulquiorra hits Toshiro at the same time as Kenta. They hold him to the ground as the whites of his eyes begin to turn black.

My eyes meet her heated gaze and they narrow. I glare into her eyes and rise from my seat on tired legs. "This…by no means is my doing. I cannot change a shinigami into a hollow if they are not completely willing. Your taicho came to me a asked if it were possible for such an occurrence to happen and I said what I knew. I cannot start this the only way is for the shinigami to stab himself with the royal blade and then I am forced to comply in turn and bring the hollow best fit for the shinigami to them. I could not have stopped it after my blade broke skin…gomen nasai…" I roll my hands into first as I hear a low growl vibrate through the floor. I snap my head around and allow my eyes to flash silencing the hollow that is inside Toshiro with that simple gaze. "If you do not control yourself you will be punished do I make myself clear…as it stand Matsumoto-fukutaicho I will warn you never to speak badly of a hollows mate. While I and others are more in control of our hollow side Toshiro has yet to master that control and had it not been for my guardian and my mother's guardian you would have been seriously injured in repayment for insulting my sister." Her eyes widen as Ulqui and Kenta jump away from Toshiro and he rights himself grumbling slightly about the indignity of it all. I chuckle and glare harshly at the red head who is still glaring at me.

"Matsumoto…" Her gaze snaps to her taicho who has a leveled glare on her. "I will say this once I chose this for myself because I didn't want to go through every day not knowing if my Karin would find her mate and leave me for him. Do you know that fear…no certainly you do not…do you understand that if she were to leave me I would kill myself?" Rangiku nods and Toshiro nods once before wrapping a tight arm around Karin and nuzzling her neck…it seems he's still running on a few baser instincts.

"Hitsugaya-taicho will you be returning to the Seireitei to continue training your squad or will you be remaining here?" The Sotaicho's powerful voice wafts over the room silencing everyone in one shot. His eyes are open and staring at the taicho with something akin to curiosity.

Before Toshiro can talk I speak effectively cutting him off. "Hai…he will be returning to his duties until the end of the war. At the end of this war he will return to Hueco Mundo and remain a prince here as well as a general in the arrancar army." I fold my hands under my chin and stare into the elderly eyes of the Sotaicho. Everyone gasps and Karin glares at me.

"Ichi-nii how could you do something like this to us?" Karin allows a few tears to spill down her cheeks before I raise my hand and continue ignoring her comments.

The Sotaicho raises an eyebrow as I silence my own sister. "Accompanying Hitsugaya-taicho will be his mate Karin, Yuzu, Pesche, Dondochakka, and Kiyoshi. I will assume that they will be treated with the utmost respect and if I find out otherwise all of them will be removed from the Seireitei promptly." I pause and turn my gaze to the wide eyed group behind me and smirk softly. "However, above being a taicho Toshiro is a prince and should it come up that his mate is needed in Hueco Mundo for any problems he will be obligated to return as well. Do we have an agreement Yamamoto-sotaicho?"

The elderly man nods and Toshiro bows at the waist in pure respect for me. Yuzu and Karin hug me tightly and Karin kisses my cheek. I return their hugs and shoo the toward the shinigami. "Baibai itoko…" I grin lazily at my cousin and offer my signature wave to them as they leave following Pesche and Kiyoshi through the rip whom are right behind Yuzu. Karin, Toshiro, and Dondochakka are the last three to leave and they all grin back at me before disappearing. I sigh and lean back hitting my head of my throne a few times.

"I swear nobody listens long enough to actually hear what I have planned. I knew he would do that at some point but i didn't think he'd do it so publicly…speaking of when in the hell did you decide to stay you little minx?" Rukia giggles softly and captures my lips in a tender kiss before hugging me just as tightly.

Her lips find my ear and she begins to whisper softly into them along her lips to just lightly rush against my ear. I would be so turned on if it wasn't for the words coming from her mouth. "I decided to stay when I felt another reiatsu with me this morning after you left…it's weak but much stronger than any other baby's reiatsu I've ever felt." She pulls away and smirks down at me with joy clearly written in her violet eyes. I feel my own widen and I drop my gaze to her flat tummy before flashing it back up to her eyes questioningly. She nods her head and I stand and grab her around the waist before spinning her around.

My mother gazes at us knowingly when I put her down. Her lips part to reveal her teeth and she tilts her head to the side. "Don't worry everything will be fine by the time the war will start actually everything will be okay in about six months." My father just stares at us perplexed until his eyes light up and he begins to grin like an idiot and tears form at the corners of his eyes.

"I…CHI…GO…" He lunges for me and begins chasing me around the throne room crying his eyes out. "You've made me so proud son I can't believe I'm going to be having grandchildren! Oh you're all grown up!" I turn and punch him in the face sending him sprawling to the floor. I walk over and kneel in front of Rukia to press my lips lightly to her stomach. She giggles lightly as a small flutter of reiatsu can be felt.

I grin and kiss it again trying to feel more for the reiatsu to see if it's going to tell me anything about its gender. "There you are…" The reiatsu flutter strong and I grin lightly. "Daddy's little girl…" Rukia giggles again and shoos my hand away when I chuckle and the reiatsu flutters again this time much stronger. I stand and wrap a protective arm around her shoulders.

I notice then that Lisa had not left with the others and that she is leaning against the wall hidden partially under Ulqui's arm which is tighten around her shoulders. She smiles lightly at me and Ulqui nods before offering a small smile. "Congratulations Shin'yu on your first child." I smile at him and eye Lisa lightly looking for anything on her.

"Should I not be congratulations you on the very same thing it seems you two have been up to no good lately but I suppose it does run in your family to be guardians doesn't it shin'yu?" His eyes widen as Lisa blushes silently. I chuckle as he turns star struck to his mate. She nods once and he grins before assaulting her mouth with his.

"Ichi, how did you know?" I turn my head to look at him over my shoulder and wink lightly at him. My mother chuckles and shakes her head before tugging my still unconscious father from the room. I guide Rukia toward the door and chuckle over my shoulder.

"Let's just say I know things…now go enjoy some time with your mate bakayaro…" I shut the door behind me and guide my mate toward my room and back toward our personal garden. She grins lightly and settles onto my lap while placing her hands over her tummy and rubbing it soothingly.

"I love you Rukia…" She nuzzles my neck lightly and I tighten my hold on her while placing my hands over hers and feeling the light flutter or reiatsu again. Rukia sighs and shakes her head softly.

"That is really odd if it keeps happening you're not allowed to touch my belly damn it!" I chuckle and nuzzle her neck as she laughs sweetly. "Why is that happening anyway?"

"She just wants you to know that I'm her father and that she wants to protect her mommy to the best of her ability." Rukia laughs and kisses me lightly on the lips but lovingly none the same. We sit in silence watch as the sun catches the water of the fountain. "I'm glad…despite the timing…I'm glad that we're having a baby together Rukia."

~~~CxB~~~

MUST READ |/

A/N: Okay so here's the chapter I actually am writing this to say that I know some of you will be extremely upset with me for not putting Toshiro's thought into the chapter before he does this however I realized while writing this that I couldn't really have any way to flow into Toshiro and that his thoughts would be way too long so I've decided to do a one-shot of Toshiro's thoughts leading up to the moment where he and Karin meet gazes for the first time and realize they are mates…it will be called Thoughtlessness and it will be up asap…don't say I don't love you!