Hello people! This chapter is going to be short. It's the 1st half of my two-part finale for this fiction and I hope you'll like the ending. Thank you all for reviewing the previous chapters. Sometimes I get really interesting comments but I didn't quite have time to reply all the time or couldn't reply because the reviews were anonymous. I was quite taken aback by the recent feedback - I didn't expect my writing to be a tearjerker... =] and for those who were upset by Byakuya's surrender...
Well, read on! And of course, please review. =)
CHAPTER 13: DOOMSDAY (PART 1)
Things feel so wrong. I'm getting married to the woman I love.
So very wrong.
I hear the footsteps, the whispers, and the joyous music that floated through the corridor outside my room. I'm really getting married.
And I know she, probably nearing the mansion right now, must feel this too—this foreboding fear of losing something dear.
I am prepared to lose her any second soon. A suicidal bride, maybe? She does wield her katana well… Perhaps a last minute runaway act, fighting off all my best men to escape before the ceremony is over…
She is prepared to lose the love of her life by wedding me. I know that must be true. How hard was it for her to leave Kuchiki Byakuya, I wonder?
The elderly maid is calling me. "Time to proceed to the main hall, Seiryu-sama," she says.
I take a brief look at myself in the mirror. At least I look happy.
And what was I talking about? Losing Rukia?
I never even had her in the first place.
So to hell with it! Fear or not, this is destiny. Destiny decided this wedding must come to be. Maybe the gods pitied me. Maybe she could learn to love me.
To hell with it.
Rukia fidgeted in her carriage, almost tearing Byakuya's letters to shreds. Why is he doing this? If Ginrei-sama wasn't the problem, why didn't he save her? Why! Just giving me a note so that I know he loves me?
It matters not another gets to keep you. It matters not that you let him. You will always have my forgiveness, for this is the amount of love I have for you. 'So be it', I would tell the rest of the world. Because, even when I cannot have you, you will always have me.
She read it again, wiping off her tears before folding the note neatly away.
Byakuya-sama always does things with reasons, does he not? She asked bitterly. She couldn't understand his intentions this time. Did she break him so badly that he no longer held rationality as strongly as he used to?
No, he's unbreakable. He's Kuchiki Byakuya. And I'm his sister. His sister. His sister-in-law.
This is how things should be.
My story is suddenly making perfect sense. No dramatic romance, no unexpected turn of events, no happily-ever-after.
I did not wake up with my face buried in his neck. I did not see him with that pained expression resembling a boy in need of care. I did not hold his hand under the cherry blossoms that night when his tall shadow covered the path in front of us as we walked away from the moon.
He's Nii-sama.
I did not kiss his cheek in the morning and placed the kenseikan in his hair. I did not hear his rage when he defied the Elders for my sake. I did not hear him whisper he loved me in my ear when no one else was around.
He's given me up. He is sending me away. It's my last day as Kuchiki Rukia, his most beloved sister.
Tomorrow the Lady of Seiryu will not remember who she is today.
Silently Rukia placed the note on the side of the carriage seat. Then, just a little bit hesitantly, she dropped her Senkai Blade on top of it.
"Kuchiki Rukia, you are not coming with me," she declared, staring at the lifeless blade and the piece of paper. "You are dead, now and forever."
Renji and Ichigo sat next to each other. The lieutenant had a constipated look on his face while the substitute shinigami sighed for the umpteenth time since their arrival to the Seiryu grounds.
"I really want to say 'I told you so' but I'm just so… So freaking depressed right now!"
"Be quiet Ichigo. We're not alone you idiot…" Renji looked away from his friend, for once losing all fighting spirit to retort at all.
Renji's attempt of silencing Ichigo obviously did not work and attracted the attention of another shinigami present. "I'm sure it will work out the way you want things to," a voice joined in the two bickering fighters.
"Ukitake-taicho?" Renji lifted his fist off Ichigo's jaw and turned to look at the long-haired captain, who smiled in greeting before sitting down in an adjacent seat.
"I was banking on her to be my next lieutenant," Ukitake said absentmindedly. "Ahh, I see that 'Important Someone' is not showing up… yet."
"Chh, Byakuya? That bastard… I can't believe he let this happen," Ichigo huffed in annoyance.
"Who else is coming, really… This is… quite a wedding," Renji commented while looking around the hall, trying to spot other familiar faces. Well, Kuchiki-taicho and Kurotsuchi-taicho aside, all Gotei 13 captains and lieutenants were present. There was Kyouraku who had quietly slipped into the seat next to Ukitake, followed by his lieutenant Nanao. In front of them sat Hinamori and Hitsugaya who was glaring at the empty seat next to him. Rangiku-san must be alcohol-hunting.
"Seeing that the old man himself is here—he's concerned about the building crisis after all—the rest of the Gotei didn't want to miss the fun," Ukitake gestured towards the Soutaicho who was seated in the middle of the first row.
"What did you say about things working out again, Juushiro?" Ichigo asked.
"Let's just say I have faith in my kohai (junior)."
"Yeah, Byakuya-bo better make me proud!"
"Yoruichi-san!" Renji and Ichigo turned to look at the woman simultaneously. With Urahara on tow she sat in the row behind them… right next to Kurosaki Isshin.
"God it's sooo good to see old friends here!" Isshin went into a crying fit. "My son over here refused to talk to me ever since I got here! Kisuke, it's you isn't it? The one who has been such a bad influence to him that he…" he stopped, almost in utter shock as he stared.
"I can't believe we are both here. Sometimes I wonder why I even bother listening to Uryuu."
"Ishida Ryuuken," Isshin smiled goofily.
At this Ichigo gasped in surprise, but was denied the opportunity to speak when Inoue, who was standing behind his Quincy friend, glomped him. "Kurosaki-kun! Chad can't come today… He said he doesn't want to be a part of urm, a sad event! What's going to happen? Do you have a plan? Will I… Will I get to see Rukia-san again?"
"Ryoka, shut the hell up. Trying to sleep here," a gruff voice made its way through the group's chatter.
"Kenpachi…" Ichigo swallowed.
Together with Ikkaku, Yumichika and of course, the pink furball, Zaraki sat in the far end of the row in front of them with his eyes closed. Unohana-taicho, Kotetsu-fukutaicho, Hanatarou, and the twin third seats of Squad 13 sat behind the members of Squad 11.
"Ichigo," Yoruichi leaned towards the carrot-top's ear and whispered, "Just so you know, Kisuke and I…"
Ichigo was still busy scanning the crowd, spotting Kira, Hisagi and Komamura entering the hall.
"…got Soifon to do us a favour. She's out there with her team—security control. She'll let Byakuya-bo through when he comes, and more importantly, when he leaves."
"Wha… What if he doesn't come?"
"Disappointment kills the cat," the woman replied lamely.
Quite a wedding indeed.
She stood up and half-ran to him, and he readied himself for a hug. Upon contact, Rukia buried her face in the crook of his neck, his scarf soft against her cheek.
The carriage had stopped. Rukia forced the flashbacks out of her mind. Panic was slowly ebbing through her conscience. And the face of her 'brother' still haunted her.
"Rukia, this is definitely a good start but when I said 'allow the annulment' it doesn't necessary mean a guaranteed termination of the engagement. What we have now is the simple consent from the Gotei and Central 46 to break the agreement of marriage, not direct intervention. In other words, we will still have to deal with the Elders."
She remembered that day he gave her hope of getting out of this mess. Now she wished she could hate him and the Kuchiki Elders. If only if she was shallow enough to do that.
"We're here, Rukia dear," Yukina's hand held hers as she was guided out of the carriage. Her veil blocked the view of the Seiryu gates, but Rukia knew it would be a sight to behold. She felt the air tense. The people around her must be in awe and fueled with anticipation. The gate creaked open and the guards of Seiryu bowed and shouted "The Kuchiki Princess has arrived" in unison. She could only cringe.
"Nevertheless you would be happy to know that in view of our family's loyal services and the fact that he wishes to keep you as a shinigami, Yamamoto Sou-taicho has accepted my personal request, if all else fails."
Bothered by the unwelcomed memory, Rukia drew a long breath to calm her nerves. Wait, what personal request? He never got to tell her. What request?
OKAY FOLKS! IT'S OBVIOUS NOW, ISN'T IT? WHAT'S BYAKUYA PLANNING TO DO?