Note: Pardon the huge chunk of replies before the actual story to those who prefer not to see them. There are some stuff that I have to answer to XD Thanks for the honest reviews! They really do help me improve on how to portray the following chapters. I'm so happy this series got as much reviews as it did D: it's unbelievable.

to jenniferevans17: Ooh, thanks for your detailed review! Will reply more through PM as I want to wibble about ShinKumi also XD lol

to UchihaD'Kid: I'm sorry to hear you didn't like the Ichigo-Renji end fight. It's Orihime's POV and I actually tried several POVs before I finally decided to leave it as Orihime's. It's been mentioned at the start that the rest of them aren't able to see through Shunpo, so to her, the fight really is as abrupt.

to giada: Thanks for the interest XD there'd still be several explosions but it's already at the point where the highest peak is about to take a turn for the resolution. Hence I'm thinking I've less than 10 chapters left.

to gadez: lol Thanks for the enthusiasm. I do wonder how some of you knew I'd update on New Year's Day tho lol I wasn't out all day on New Year's and particularly glad about that (so was able to post).

to Reader: Was actually reconsidering whether poisoning her was too overboard lol but I'm glad it did fine.

to ElusiveRaid: Thank you~ my chapters are inconsistent in terms of length, but I'm happy to know that the pacing is good :D I want to finish this fic before my brain dies out or lost interest. My long fics in the past sometimes don't reach the end because I become too busy or get attracted to other things lol so I'll keep updating this as often as I can before all the distractions.

to Jiaime Manga and FERN-CY: hee, thanks! I'm relieved that at least some people liked how the Ichi vs Ren fight ended. Was worried that it came out real abrupt and lousy writing (based from another review) instead, but I really can't choose another POV who will be able to portray that end match the way I want as well as Orihime can.

to catherinevellis: I still want to put in the summary about Domyouji Tsukasa but there isn't enough space. And when I reread this whole story, I realized the bulk is on Rukia's World which Domyouji's a mere dot in lol so I chose the bodyguard role instead. Oooh and thanks, Now I wish all the chapters are action packed lol

to berry girl: lol your enthusiasm makes me grin. And yes, you got the jobs right XD but Rukia didn't get the drawing skill from Sodeno (I still think she got it from Byakuya, after I read the Bleach omake that involved Byakuya's seaweed ambassador lol Byakuya's inner dork shows). As for Zangetsu's expensive shades and cloak lol remember they're employed by the imperial court even though they don't have court duties (but ooh, more of this later) and Senbonzakura = so true lol Renji's afraid of her. I wouldn't be surprised if the grocer does know Kendo ;p

to PureIntentions: :D Soon soon but I'm glad you noticed the cameo. Thanks!

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Chapter 20: Collateral

It's the biggest news all over Japan. The grand ball itself is noteworthy and has been on broadcast live in several pop media shows but the attack has brought it to prime time news and has interrupted some regular shows for a special report.

The collapse of the Kuchiki heiress is played on repeat, continuously cycling in several networks as background to the news caster reporting live and awaiting further updates. The guests all have something to say, first about the party and then about the tragedy. Everyone has a theory, and no representatives from either the Domyouji or the Kuchiki have come forward to quench the thirst of the media.

There are frozen shots of a limp Kuchiki in the arms of the Hitsugaya heir, and zooms of her deathly pale arm that dangles lifeless. Speculations arise from all angles, from a possible incurable disease that has befallen the heiress as the reason behind her lack of presence in the public eye for years; to a possible relationship with the concerned Hitsugaya heir, who was first to reach her. Some say that she might have been allergic to the last dish given to her and that the Domyouji chef will be fired for such negligence. The more cynical ones say that this has been an assassination attempt, an attack against Kuchiki Byakuya, who sits alone as Lord Council to the Imperial Court when there should be four. The longer it takes for a public statement to be released, the more the masses welcome outlandish speculations; the more dramatic, the better.

And in the mean time, biographies of the high nobility are being discussed, debated and dug out of archives. Old records of previous Lords and Ladies of the Imperial Court are shown which all lead to the inauguration ceremony of a very young Kuchiki Byakuya, which leads back to the tragedy five years ago.

Lady Shihouin has abdicated her seat of office and has disappeared since. Lord Hitsugaya has died of heart failure while on vacation. Lord Hinamori's plane has crashed on his way back from a meeting in France. And Lord Kuchiki has been shot while making his speech in the public ceremony for Lord Hinamori's funeral. There have been wild speculations that the deaths and disappearance are all connected, no matter how many times the theory has been dismissed by the official representatives. Only Lord Kuchiki's death has been accepted as a terrorist attack and no culprit has been apprehended.

The Imperial Court has lost its leaders in a single year and all the heirs are missing. The Chamber Lords have opened a public hearing with the Prime Minister to dissolve the Court but it has been met with disapproval, both from the public and the Prime Minister. The Court has brought peace to the country and the Court will stay.

However, the country will be paralyzed without its four nobles to meet and negotiate with world leaders or to lobby proposed laws for the approval of the Prime Minister. The country simply cannot function without its limbs.

Amidst this chaos, the Chamber Lords have proposed to open the four seats of the Court to well-respected people from the Chamber by nomination and vote. It will break the one law that hasn't changed for more than nine hundred years but it's inevitable, they've said. And since there is no one in Court to contest the proposal, the amended law can pass by majority vote.

It is to this that Lord Kuchiki Byakuya has turned up. A mere three days later after his father's untimely demise, determined to take office alone despite the unfavorable public opinion to have one so young. His appearance has taken the world's attention and he's held it since.

And though his handsome face has graced societal and news magazines alike, there is nothing about him that is not about work. No one has heard of the Imperial Court since then, nothing of interest for the gossip mongers at least.

Lord Byakuya leads an austere life.

But the curtains have lifted and now the missing heirs have turned up, confirmed by some youngsters in the ball that the future council members have been around all this time in Eitoku Academy. All eyes and ears are now on these young ones and the country waits with bated breath whether the future court will lose its first tonight. There is also a question that lingers, where is the Lady Hinamori?

It's a tragedy. It's a mystery. People love it.

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Byakuya takes a moment inside the bedroom assigned to Rukia. She hasn't woken up once since his arrival. It's disturbing how she's grown up to look so much like Hisana. He can only hope Rukia doesn't follow Hisana's steps in dying at the young age of seventeen.

Her vital statistics are now stable and she's only asleep, recuperating from the blood loss mostly. It's taken an entire hour of careful but primitive blood-letting and her neck and shoulders are scarred for now, but she's never come close to death in that short time at least. He's been told as much by Suzumebachi and Soifon, with her head bowed in shame for the misjudgment.

This shouldn't have happened.

They would've simply tightened security once Rukia's body language reveals that she's a capable girl. That revelation would've only forced the mastermind to take another step back and attack more carefully, which is more manageable than what they have now. Several covers have been blown, particularly those of the three escorts.

There is a knock on the door and Byakuya doesn't turn his gaze away from the sleeping Rukia.

His public relations officer doesn't bother to enter and simply stays by the doorway. "Have you decided on a statement, Byakuya-sama? The speculations are getting out of hand and they've already dug up the incident five years ago. Not close to the truth, but it's only a matter of time before they find another couple of deaths."

Byakuya closes his eyes. "I will speak with Domyouji Kaede first."

The slight shuffle of feet indicates that his officer has left to search for the Domyouji. While he waits, he ponders on what possible mistakes he's committed to have things end up this way. Perhaps he should've let Rukia know of the entire plan with Toushiro and Soifon and maybe she would've been more aware of her own actions. But at the time, she's hardly responding to anybody and her wounds have been too fresh.

He frowns. Having her knowledge limited to general things has been perfect to maintain the illusion of vulnerability around the three of them. Toushiro and Soifon unconsciously move like trained soldiers half the time but Rukia's naiveté softens the hard edge of the two. He supposes he needs to reevaluate things.

Sounds of incoming footsteps are muffled on carpet but Byakuya hears nonetheless. He turns his head to acknowledge the new visitor, "Kaede-dono."

"Byakuya-dono," Kaede tips her head in greeting. She stops by the side of the bed next to him, her calculating eyes on his sister. They have no choice but to allow her some truths. It's inevitable at this point with Domyouji Tsukasa and his loud attitude at close proximity. "Your sister is too kind."

And coming from Kaede, it might as well be an insult. It is a weakness, he knows that very well. But Rukia is also a soldier and she knows what is required of her. "She is young," Byakuya dismisses without agreeing outright. "I trust you've been told of the situation."

"Most of it," Kaede nods. "The situation in Eitoku has been disclosed as well. Tsukasa-san and Rukia-san have been explosive."

It's hard to have Kaede so involved and knowledgeable. Everything to her is an investment, including this friendship they have between old money. The Domyouji are not as old as the Kuchiki, not even part of the lesser nobles when aristocracy ruled Japan completely. However, the Domyouji are one of the first entrepreneurs when the country embraced capitalism a couple of centuries ago and they are good business partners in terms of profit, if less honorable in practice sometimes. Byakuya refuses to make an enemy out of such an important ally, and he knows she feels the same. They can both cripple each other if forced to do so.

"A statement to confirm an assassination attempt tonight will put everyone in your guest list under public suspicion. On the positive side, the most public and influential will go out of their way to clean their image by all means necessary."

"Mostly by charitable institutions and new business partnerships and establishments to regain public trust," Kaede nods, following his train of thought. He has to admire that in a person. "On the other hand, it will imply that my security measures had been breached and all the important people will feel less inclined to attend another high profile gathering for a long while if I am to host it."

Byakuya nods, glad that he doesn't have to say as much. "A hole in the security is easy to mend. And you are known to be a perfectionist." Which means the entire security personnel of the Domyouji Hotel will be replaced. A lot of people will lose their jobs in the morning, but the new establishments will be able to open new employment to mitigate this. He'll have to make Renji see to the list of personnel in the next few days to see how many they can provide work for.

"That is true." Kaede steps closer to the bed and brushes the stray strands of hair off Rukia's face like a mother might. "There is also the matter of redirecting the media off tonight's chaotic mess. We must give them something else to talk about."

Byakuya calculates this new proposition to what is currently happening in Karakura, and sees the advantage. "Rukia's birthday is in a few weeks."

Kaede sits on the bed and smirks at him.

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"Why am I being kept here?!" Renji screams and starts coughing. He clutches his bandaged throat and turns all his pain to a glare and directs it at Ichigo. That last throat stab almost killed him, it's a good thing the kid uses a bamboo sword and it slid sideways off his throat after the initial hit. "I need to get to Tokyo damnit!"

"And I'm going with him!" Ichigo slams his fist on the armrest of the couch. He's not as heavily wrapped up as Renji is, and that's another thing to make a grudge about in Renji's book.

"No you're not! You're not hired yet, boy!"

"It's Kurosaki Ichigo, goddamnit. You sore loser, at least remember my name!"

Yoruichi calmly walks behind the couch and slaps both of their heads. "Boys, shut up. And Renji, you can't go there half-mummified. What'll Rukia say? Moreover, what will you say to Rukia if she asks what happened."

"I'd like to have that option still available when I get there," Renji replies seriously. The TV's been on the entire time since they finished bandaging him and Ichigo up so they can keep tabs on what's going on out there. It's been several hours and still no updates from the Tokyo News Report. So much dirt has been dug out already but he's relieved that no one's come close to the truth.

"Rukia's alive," Ichigo insists next to him.

"And how do you know that, huh?" Renji whirls around and gets in his face, still pissed off that he's lost to this brat. The barrage of attacks came out of nowhere during that last leg of the match, he hasn't had the time to blink when the first one came before he's felt another strike. If the kid opened the duel with that speed and ferocity, it might've ended faster. Obviously he needs to have a long word with Zabimaru and raise the difficulty of his training. A rookie just beat him. Impossible!

"She's not allowed to die," Ichigo glares back. "And she's tough, so she shouldn't die that easily." He turns away and watches the boring biographies of Court Lords and Ladies of long ago already rotting six feet under. Even the dead can't rest in this society.

Renji scowls at him. The kind of skill this kid has shown can't possibly have been the same as the one when they've first met. There's been some training there that sharpened natural instinct and talent to what it has become tonight. "Give it up already. She's way out of your league."

"I don't give a fuck what you have to say!" Ichigo snaps in Renji's face. "You're done. I won. What you say means nothing to me."

"Look, Ichigo, just get your head out of your ass for a bit and look around you!" Renji's face turns red, suddenly furious. He throws a hand towards the huge screen of the TV where ancestors of the Kuchiki, Hitsugaya, Shihouin and Hinamori are being discussed. "That is Rukia's world! Do you even understand her world? Who she is? What she is?"

"She's Rukia. I don't see what the fuck's up your ass and you're bitching at me nonstop," Ichigo snarls. "Rukia is over there," Ichigo points at the news which hasn't given them any update on what's happened still, "and I'm stuck here and I am going to make my way over there if I have to run YOU through again, then Sodeno THEN Byakuya. And whoever else is in the way." Ichigo picks up his bamboo sword from the floor and leans over Renji, ready to make that threat a physical one.

They both receive another whack from Yoruichi who apparently hasn't moved from her strategic spot.

Renji glares at Yoruichi, "Okay, stop that! It's annoying!"

She just shrugs then turns to Ichigo. "Stay put, Ichigo. You're not running through anybody to get your ass in Tokyo anytime soon. Let the media do their job."

"The joy of modern day technology," Urahara calmly comments as he reclines against his leather la-z-boy. He yawns and stretches, "It's incredibly late, though. The news kept everyone up, I bet."

At least the other kids already went home. Renji doesn't think he can handle any more noise, particularly those of congratulations towards Ichigo. "Why don't you go home like all your little friends, Ichigo?"

Ichigo yells in frustration and clutches his hair. Then he punches Renji.

"Fucking A!" Renji grabs his nose and tests it if it's broken again. Damn this kid!

"Do you want a round two? Because I'm going to beat you again and then I'll make sure you can't talk anymore after!"

"Damnit," Renji tips his head up and holds his bleeding nose. At least it's not broken. "I can take you anytime, bastard!"

"Game on!"

"And game off," Yoruichi says as yet another whack hits them both. So much abuse in this damned house. He certainly doesn't miss that part of his life.

Urahara laughs at them as Yoruichi makes her spot a permanent one by swinging one leg over to slide between Renji and Ichigo. "Let's be one big happy family and watch the news, why don't we?"

"One big happy family, my ass," Renji mutters darkly. "Which dump did you find this freak of a kid, Urahara?"

"Wasn't me," Urahara grins at him. "Rukia did, too."

Renji huffs and crosses his arms. He winces in both physical pain from his ribs and from the implication that he has something in common with the kid. "So what did Rukia do to you, Ichigo?"

"Just stop talking to me, will you?"

"What the hell? I'm asking a decent question here!" Kid has serious issues and needs anger management.

"She saved me," is the eventual reply.

Renji can't see Ichigo's expression because of Yoruichi, but he doesn't have to. He knows that feeling and he's probably seen the same expression in the mirror once upon a time. He looks down at his hands then up to see Urahara and Yoruichi carefully looking away from him or Ichigo's side of the couch. Their eyes set on the television screen instead.

"Yeah, she does that."

He still remembers the violet kimono she wore that day. It looked expensive so he's dismissed her as one of the many rich brats taking a tour in Karakura for some unknown reason. They've both been staring outside a bakeshop, drooling at the huge cakes on display. And then she's asked him if he's hungry. Of course. He's an orphan who has to make do with what he finds. Hunger is all he's ever known before he's met her.

"Wait here!" She's gone inside, bought a cake and shared it with him out in that cold winter evening. Apparently she's lost her way and doesn't remember at all the streets she's been to. She gets distracted by everything and has this tendency to follow anything that catches her eyes. She's become hungry and found herself outside that bakeshop with a riffraff like him.

She's tailed him since and he's taught her how to steal. He's stolen simple clothes for her and they sold the one she's worn for a week. It's brought in some money and they've lived on it for a while. But what can two kids do in a big city like Karakura? They've joined with other kids, have stolen with other kids and have lived with other kids under bridges and inside alleys. And if it's got too cold, they sneak inside the city library and squat in the basement with the warm machines. Nomads, that's what they've been and it's been one hell of an adventure for children. They've often joked that they're the lost boys and she's the manly Wendy.

He still doesn't know how the hell they survived that.

One day she's told them that she found someone who gives free lunch. They've followed her and ended up meeting Urahara.

Renji snorts to keep himself from laughing. He glances at Urahara off to the side, half asleep in his leather chair and can't believe this is the same guy who's opened his door to a group of lost children asking for free lunch. He's an eccentric geek who's spent more time hacking computers than with actual people. It's been a good and simple life, where the children tell Urahara of the world outside and he feeds them, and lets them help him with his inventions and trinkets in his odd house. Urahara's often said they're his little helpers. Two years where they've lived in a world of their own make.

Up until a haggard fourteen-year-old Byakuya's shown up with Yoruichi outside Urahara's humble shack. So many lives have changed since. One little act of kindness has brought Renji this life of privilege and status. Sometimes, he wishes he's done more for Rukia than to watch her from afar.

He's tried so hard to please his betters he's lost sight of her. And now he wonders if it's too late to stand by her like he used to as a child.

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It's almost six hours since the report of Rukia's collapse before the newsbreak flashes back for a special report. Everyone in the living room has already fallen asleep so Yoruichi first shakes Urahara then grabs the remote to crank the volume up. Renji and Ichigo predictably snap awake at the sudden blare of sounds.

Urahara straightens in his chair when he sees the imperial house doctor enter the function room dedicated for the media. The entire room is silent as the doctor makes her way to the podium, taking her time in doing so whether to torture the crowd or just for dramatic effect.

Yoruichi has known Unohana Retsu as a child and is glad to see the lady doing well, and looking good, too. She still looks the same with that motherly demeanor and long braided hair. But to have the undisputed medical authority in all of Japan involved means Byakuya needed to convince the public and to have as little doubt as possible directed towards the people directly involved. After all, Unohana is the one who announced Lord Hitsugaya's heart condition and has made the entire society believe it's a natural death when the diseased Lord's been the prime example of a healthy man all his life.

"I would like to extend my sympathies to the Domyouji family that this has to happen during an important gathering." Unohana bows her head slightly and allows a short silence before she continues, "Kuchiki Rukia has been poisoned tonight. She has absorbed a type of neurotoxin and the test shows it as Batrachotoxin, which causes almost instantaneous nerve paralysis if injected. However, there are no visible marks on the young lady and the only other way to infect her is thru absorption by skin contact or food intake."

There are gasps all over the room and the questions flare up. There have been over a thousand guests in the Domyouji ball who have likely eaten the same food. Unohana raises a hand for silence and she refuses to speak until the whole room quiets down.

"Thank you," she says when they finally comply. "Continuing, rest assured that the kitchen and prepared food have already been investigated on the moment we found out the type of toxin. The food in the kitchen are cleared, which means only Kuchiki Rukia has taken it if it was the food. It is more plausible that she's absorbed it through skin contact. I will only accept questions that concern the toxin and Kuchiki Rukia's health."

Again, the reporters all raise their arms or scream the question. There is one that is loud and clear from the back, "Is there an antidote?"

"No, there currently is no effective antidote. However, I am glad to impart that the heiress has not taken a lethal dosage, which is why I am more inclined to believe that this is from skin contact. Her paralysis isn't immediate and the toxin had the time to fester and be absorbed by the body's natural sweat before it finally affected her late in the party."

"Are you implying that one of the guests who kissed her hand or cheek… or danced with her did this?" asks another one from the back.

Unohana is every inch the professional and doesn't falter when she says, "No comment."

"Is the heiress going to survive this?"

"She is fighting for her life at the moment but we are confident that we can treat the poison by modeling it after similar batrachotoxin poisons."

At this point, Yoruichi mutes the television which has earned protests from both Renji and Ichigo. "We've heard all we need to know. Rukia is safe and sound."

"What? Where'd you get that? She just said that Rukia's dying!" Ichigo stands up and gets pushed down by Yoruichi's hand.

She shakes her head. "The questions thrown at her are planned. There are a lot of reporters in front of her who she could've answered, but the ones she did always came from the back. Didn't you notice?" She looks at Urahara for back up and is given one then she peers at Renji who has stayed silent. "What do you think, Renji?"

"It's a cover. So something else happened… and someone needs to be blamed, so they're directing the blame to a guest no one will be able to pinpoint…" Renji's brows furrow as he mumbles his train of thought, "… which means they either don't know who did it or they do and they're redirecting attention…"

She nods in approval.

"But we still don't know what really happened," Urahara finishes for Renji.

Ichigo doesn't look satisfied with all this, "What are you all rambling about?"

"Only two things are real in all that: Rukia has been poisoned and they have it treated already. Unohana-san will not say they can treat it if she doesn't already know its outcome," Yoruichi tells him. It's the art of public speaking, hide the truth in excessive information and then direct public opinion by appealing to the emotions of the audience. And now, the media has an entire guest list to discuss and be suspicious about. "She just built up enough room for the masses to speculate on."

This certainly will occupy the media for a while. Attention has been parried, but from what? She glances at Urahara who tends to see these things better than her. He looks thoughtful, as always, as he stares at the screen to read Unohana's body language – what little there is to show.

"So Rukia's safe?" Ichigo's glares down at his fists on his lap, his whole body is trembling.

"Yes," Yoruichi sighs but she doesn't say what follows after that in her mind. For how long is the question. This is just a reminder that some things are out of their hands and even Byakuya's overprotective paranoia isn't full proof. They're already down one heir. If last night's been a successful assassination, they might've lost another.

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To be continued…