Sorry for such a long wait! I just didn't have the drive to write
Chapter 25: Gallery Party Part 2
"Ichigo, what the fuck is going on?" Rukia asked as she looked the people before her. Grimmjow, Ulquiorra, Nel, Senna and Byakuya all together as if they had been friends for years.
"I don't know Rukia" Ichigo said as he was looking at Senna. She was pretending not to notice him now; she just looked to Byakuya mostly. Yumichika was looking stupefied. He couldn't believe he had allowed his greed to blind him from seriously knowing the company before inviting them. Rangiku who was at the bar noticed Grimmjow and felt slightly happy to see him.
Rukia's anger was beginning to get the best of her. Ulquiorra had lied to her. She refused to believe that they chose Karakura just because it was on the rise.
"That bastard lied to me" Rukia said gritting her teeth. Ichigo looked at her confused.
"What? Who lied to you" Ichigo asked. Rukia took a deep breath knowing this was something Ichigo was not going to want to here but she was so pissed that she didn't care.
"I saw Ulquiorra and Grimmjow a couple of weeks ago in Karakura" Rukia admitted. Ichigo who was slightly surprised by the news, wondered if that was what was making her upset this whole time.
"Why didn't you say anything, you know they work for your bother"
"I know Ichigo, but Ulquiorra said-"
"Well he lied" Ichigo cut her off. He couldn't believe Rukia would fall for anything that man had to say. Rukia looked back to them and felt slightly upset at herself .How could she let herself get into something like this. She knew Byakuya was sneaky but this was just underhanded.
"Rukia, I think we should try and leave" Ichigo suggested. Rukia would have loved to find out how Nel got involved in this too but she realized the ball was in Byakuya's court, he had the power now so she would have to just make her escape.
"You're right, let's go" Rukia agreed. Ichigo took her hand and they slowly tried walk behind the crowd. People were beginning to get back into the regular party mood, while a few people rushed to meet the CEO. Ichigo and Rukia made it pretty close to the door, then a loud female voice caught their attention.
"Oh Istygo, Rukia!" Nel said waving to the couple as they desperately tried to sneak their way out. Ichigo mentally cursed as him and Rukia stopped to see the busty beauty running towards them.
"Oh hey Nel" Rukia said putting on the fakes smile she could. Ichigo gave Nel a head nod, looking towards the door, to see that it wasn't too far to just run out.
"What are you guys doing here?" Nel asked.
"Shouldn't we be asking you the same question?" Ichigo asked defensively. Rukia elbowed and frowned at him.
Nel noticed this and began to wonder if she was missing something. "Uh Nel" Rukia said as she now faced the woman, "I work at this gallery, I'm working this party"
"Oh wow, small world" Nel commented. Rukia and Ichigo both began to realize that Nel probably didn't realize who she was with right now.
"How do you know Ulquiorra?" Rukia asked wondering how they could come to her job together.
"Oh well, he's this guy I met recently" Nel said as her cheeks became bright red. Ichigo then raised his eyebrow, "He's the guy you like? You're dating Ulquiorra?"
"Hey not so loud Itsygo! We aren't dating, I just like him…wait, how do you two know him?"
Rukia had a bad feeling about this. This couldn't all be a coincidence. "Nel, never mind that"
Rukia looked to Ichigo, "I think we should go. Ichigo realized the urgency in her voice, he nodded and turned away to leave but was stuck when he saw Byakuya Kuchiki and Senna Takahashi standing there. Byakuya had an emotionless look and Senna had a smug smile on her face.
Rukia noticed the way Senna was looking at Ichigo and got angry. Ichigo seemed shaken up by her presence. He couldn't be still in love with her?
"Hello Rukia, Hello Kurosaki, it's a pleasure to see you guys this evening." Byakuya greeted. Ichigo glared at Byakuya, while Rukia looked at him blankly.
"Oh Rukia, you and him have the same last names, isn't that crazy?!" Nel commented. Rukia and Ichigo looked at the woman so confused.
"Go get some food deary" Senna suggested. Nel's face lit up once she heard food, she left the four for the awkward situation.
Once Nel was far enough away, Ichigo pulled Rukia's had as he attempted to leave. "Where are you going so suddenly?"
"It's late, Rukia has to get home" Ichigo answered before Rukia could.
"I believe you should let the woman speak for herself" Byakuya said with his perfect poise. Although he hated Ichigo, he would keep his composure.
Ichigo frowned then looked at his wife who seemed slightly confused. Rukia wanted answers. She should leave for the sake of her sanity, but she had to know why was all this shit happening.
"How do you two know each other" Rukia asked bluntly. Senna was slightly shocked at the question but remained with the smug look on her face.
"I work for Mr. Kuchiki" Senna decided to say.
"You work for him, I thought you decided to be independent" Ichigo questioned.
"Well, Mr. Kuchiki here made me an offer I couldn't refuse." Senna said smiling, she decided she would wipe some imaginary dust off Byakuya's shoulder. Rukia couldn't help but glare at the woman. She was trying to piss her off and it was working.
"Rukia, I would like to speak to you alone" Byakuya boldly suggested and Ichigo stepped in front of her protectively.
"Like hell she is!"
"Ichigo" Rukia snapped. Ichigo looked at his fiancée confused. "You don't have to defend me"
"But-"
"I want to speak to my brother" Rukia said, then glanced at Senna. "Alone"
"Then I can keep Ichigo company" Senna said as she removed herself from the arm of Byakuya and stepped forward towards Ichigo.
"I'm sure you will" Rukia said as she narrowed her eyes at the woman. Rukia looked to Ichigo who seemed annoyed but mostly worried. "I'll be back, Ichigo" Rukia said to him, she gave him a slight smile of reassurance and he decided to let her go talk. But he would keep an eye on the conversation.
Byakuya put out his hand for Rukia to take. Rukia wasn't too sure how to feel about the gesture but she put her hand in his. He closed it gently and led her to a different side of the party. Ichigo had watched the whole interaction. He watched as Byakuya walked with Rukia. Where they stopped wasn't too far, but it was probably quieter than the rest of the party.
Ichigo noticed how Byakuya was the first to speak, while Rukia just listened, he could see she was getting annoyed and began to regret letting Rukia to speak him.
Senna, who was going unnoticed by Ichigo, began to tap her foot repeatedly. She noticed that Ichigo was so focused, that he didn't care that she was there.
"Leave them be" Senna said. Ichigo was surprised by her comment. "She is an adult, speaking to her brother, she doesn't need you to save her"
Ichigo turned his view away from Rukia and Byakuya to glare at Senna.
"Senna, what are you doing with that guy?" Ichigo asked referring to Byakuya. Senna couldn't help but feel elated after words Ichigo just spoke.
"Jealous , Ichigo?" Senna questioned
Ichigo raised an eyebrow at her. "We are not together anymore, Senna"
"Then why is it a problem if me and Byakuya hang out" Senna made sure to use his first name to try and make Ichigo upset.
"I don't care who you hang out with, but I'm not dumb Senna, there is no way that you just happen to work for him." Ichigo argued.
"Why because he is the brother of the chick you knocked up" Senna spat
"Don't talk about Rukia, like she is some whore" Ichigo defended. Senna was slightly taken back. Why was he so defensive about a woman he was marrying out of obligation? Ichigo then turned his attention to Rukia and saw she was now talking to Byakuya, her face looked so sad, he made a move to try and end her conversation with Byakuya but Senna grabbed his arm.
He looked back to see an upset Senna holding him back. "Senna let go of me" Ichigo said firmly.
"No" Senna said with an unwavering determination.
"Senna, you have no idea, what Rukia and Byakuya's relationship is like"
"That's her brother, keep your nose out of their family business" Senna snapped.
"You have no idea what he has put her through Senna" Ichigo said to her. "I know you don't because then you wouldn't play along with this game of his."
Ichigo tried to make his move again but Senna held on firmly.
"Ichigo don't you walk away from me" Senna screamed. The music was pretty loud so not too many people heard her scream but the people around them heard her. Ichigo looked back at Senna slightly surprised at her outburst. He could see tears forming in her eyes.
For the sidelines, Ulquiorra watched Senna, she was losing her cool, and he was not happy. She was going to ruin the plan.
"Senna, are you-"
"Are you going to ask me if I'm okay Ichigo" Senna asked as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"All I ask is that you don't go, after being with you for seven years and you up and leaving me, the least you could do is stay for a few minutes."
Ichigo could feel his heart breaking, looking at Senna like this. He never saw her cry like that when he broke up with her. She had always liked to show she was strong. Today he was seeing her cry, cry for real. He didn't know what to do.
"Senna, I'm sorry"
"You're always sorry Ichigo"
"I really am, but I have to get Rukia"
"Don't you say her name!" Senna yelled. The tears were coming faster and she knew she was supposed to remain cool but seeing how Ichigo was so worried about another woman made her sick to her stomach. She knew that Ichigo was probably worried about his child that the woman was carrying but she knew Ichigo too well. He cared for this woman more than he led her to believe.
"After seven years of being with me, you can give a woman those loving eyes after a year." Senna said to him. "I wanted to get married Ichigo, I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. I don't understand how you can just say you don't want to marry me"
"Senna, I told you already I wasn't-" Ichigo tried to finish but Senna cut him off. "You weren't ready but magically seven months later you are engaged to a woman you got pregnant."
Ichigo kept his mouth shut. He didn't know how to keep Senna calm without showing that he was a liar and cheater.
"Ichigo tell me the truth, I know it was something more when you ended things with me that night. After loving you and taking care of you for years can you at least tell me why you really left me?" Senna pleaded. Ichigo didn't know what to say to her. He did love Senna. She was one of his best friends and he trusted her. There was a point where he thought he may have been in love with her, but what did he know? He just knew that he wanted Senna to be happy and she was happy with him. Realizing he wasn't in love with Senna that day made him realize, he couldn't be with her, when he was in love with someone else.
Ichigo looked in to Senna's tearful bright eyes, "I don't know what to say to you" he said above a whisper. Senna closed her eyes as more tears fell. She took a couple steps back from him. "I truly must have meant nothing to you Ichigo" Senna said. That caused a pain in Ichigo's heart hearing that. He was going to say something but before he could Senna ran away from him and out the gallery door. Ichigo called out to her but she kept running.
Ulquiorra clenched his fists as he saw Senna run away from Ichigo. He couldn't help but be annoyed that the woman let her emotions get the better of her.
Ichigo cursed as he saw Senna run away. He looked to Rukia who seemed to know look more confident as she spoke and Byakuya had a more or less shocked looked on his face. Ichigo realized Rukia was finally standing up to her brother. Ichigo decided he would do the right thing and go after Senna. It was the least he could since she had been by his side for so long.
Ichigo turned to the exit and went after Senna.
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During the time Ichigo and Senna talked, Rukia and Byakuya came to a huge bay window, where the music wasn't as loud and not as much people. The view of Karakura was looking great.
"I see that you are now showing, it is probably too late to abort that child" Byakuya said. Rukia looked at him as if he was a madman, how dare he say something like that to her. But she wasn't surprised. They weren't surrounded by people listening in, so he didn't have to hide who he was.
"Whether you like it or not, I am having this child" Rukia said.
"Rukia, I suggest you watch your tone. I think you may have forgotten that you are a part of the Kuchiki family and I am the head, so you will do as I say"
"I will no longer be a Kuchiki once I marry Ichigo"
"I don't think you fully understand, the power I hold over you. You will marry who I SAY YOU WILL MARRY!"
Rukia got nervous as she heard him raise his voice. Never had she ever heard him speak like that. Why was he so angry? He didn't even care about her. He should just let her go.
"You were a poor orphan, when I found you; I took you in because your sister was my wife! As a Kuchiki, you attended the best schools and had the best clothes. And how do you repay us? Sleeping around like some whore with a married man and having his child"
Byakuya's words stung her; she couldn't help the tears that were forming. He really thought that low of her.
"What would your sister say to me if she saw what you had become?" Byakuya finally asked her. Rukia then realized what this was truly about. She wiped her tears as Byakuya went on. How could she let this man talk to her like this? She didn't need him. She ran away and was able to provide for her son without Byakuya's money. She was happy with a man who loved her and her son. She didn't need the Kuchiki money to happy, she was happy without it.
"You are lucky that Ginrei has asked me not to disown you, I suggest you board the next plane back to Tokyo with me tonight, so we can figure what to do about your little problems-"
"I'm not going" Rukia whispered.
"Speak up, what did you say" Byakuya asked stoically.
"I said I'm not going" Rukia repeated herself with much more confidence and volume in her voice.
"How dare you speak like-"
"Like what? Like the way you have been speaking to me?" Rukia snapped, "Well I will not allow you to speak to me that way ever again"
Byakuya looked at her in disbelief.
"I let you speak to me this way all my life, telling me what I can and cannot do. No more Byakuya" Rukia said.
"Rukia, you-"
"I'm talking now" She said firmly, "I am not your charity case. I appreciate everything you have ever done for me. No words can express my gratitude for giving me a home but the charity stops here. I probably shouldn't have run away when I found out I was pregnant but how could I tell you. You had always been so cold to me."
Rukia dried the last of her tears and continued. "Although I didn't have any money except the money Kaien gave for an abortion, I raised my son, with the help of Renji. I moved to Karakura, found a job and found the man I want to marry. I did this without your help. I am happy without your money!"
"And what would your sister say?"
"To me? If my sister, is anything like Ginrei had described, she would be damn proud of me. Can you say the same?" Rukia asked him.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"If my sister was here right now, do you think she would be happy with how you have been treating me?" Rukia asked Byakuya. For the first time in his life Byakuya, didn't know how to answer. He looked wide eyed as he realized the truth and depth of her words. He remembered his wife Hisana. How sweet and warm the woman was.
Rukia realized she had struck a chord on his heart. She looked at him with a small smile. "Thank you, but I don't need you to keep your promise to Hisana, I'm already happy" with that Rukia walked away from Byakuya leaving him to reflect on her words.
Rukia walked away quickly and noticed Ichigo wasn't were she left him. She quickly looks around the party can finds a hard time locating him. She sees Tatsuki and Orihime enjoying Shuhei music. Rangiku is by the bar, Nel is with Ulquiorra who keeps glancing at Rukia. Grimmjow was fondling his date then she saw Yumichika who was the closest distance from her.
"Yumichika!" She called out. Yumichika jumped up surprised then a sad face on. "Rukia, I am so sorry" He said as the woman quickly approached him.
"I had no idea it was your brother's company that wanted to party here. I would have said no! I bet you think I have such an ugly personality." He cried,
"Yumichika, I don't blame you, my brother has always been sneaky, I just want to know where Ichigo is"
Yumichika wiped his fake tears "He went outside just now". Rukia thanked him and began to make her way to the door. She began to feel great about everything. She had finally confronted her brother. Things could only get better. She was stopped short when a pale hand grabbed her arm. Rukia turned to meet Ulquiorra's green eyes.
Rukia glared as she realized he was stopping her from leaving.
"Rukia, don't go"
"You have no right to ask for anything when you lied to my face again!" Rukia growled.
"You have to listen to me" Ulquiorra attempted to defend himself.
One the other side of the party, Rangiku observed the interaction between Ulquiorra and Rukia. She saw the upset look on Rukia's face and decided she would break up this little party. She knew she was slightly drunk but she didn't care, she had to save her friend. Rangiku started walking over to Rukia briskly but was spun around and held tightly by a pair of strong arms. Once Rangiku recollected her thoughts she noticed she was swaying back in forth. She looked up to see a teal eyes and electric blue hair.
"Grimmjow?" Rangiku questioned.
"Hello Miss Rangiku" He said seductively. Rangiku could feel herself wanting to melt into his arms, he was so very sexy. "Why are you in such a rush?"
Rangiku remembered that she was on her way to Rukia, she tried to wriggle out of his grasp but it wasn't happening.
"Just leave them be" He said to her. Rangiku frowned. "No, he lied to Rukia"
"Yeah I know, but he cares about her, shit he loves her at least he think he does." Grimmjow said as he glanced over to a now lonely Nel.
"If he loves her then why does he lie?"
"Love makes you do crazy things" Grimmjow smiled as he said this. "just let them talk and dance with me"
Rangiku slightly smiled as she realized that she was really dancing with this man, "Where's your date?"
"She's making sure her boobs look real, plus I wanted to dance and talk to you"
"And how did you assume I wanted to do the same with you" Rangiku replied smirking.
"Well, you might not want to, but let's just make people jealous" He whispered the last part, Rangiku smiled and glanced over at Shuhei who seemed to be staring at her. Rangiku held Grimmjow tighter as she decided she would have her own fun tonight.
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"Rukia, please just listen to me" Ulquiorra begged. He hated doing this, but he was sure that Senna wasn't successful in seducing Ichigo so his plan was over.
"Ulquiorra, I want nothing to do with you, I want you gone and out of my life completely!" Rukia declared. Ulquiorra felt his world crumble. He used to be the man who defended her. When did he start hurting her?
Rukia saw that he couldn't speak; she wanted to cry so bad because she did care for this man but she didn't want to be lied to. She walked away from him and he watched her.
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"Senna please!" Ichigo pleaded as he finally stopped her in front of the building that housed the gallery. He had chased her all the way down the stairs. He called her name the whole time. Begging her to finally listen to him. Once she reached outside she realized it was raining hard and halted.
She knew it wasn't smart to go out into the rain when her ride wasn't here but she didn't want to speak to Ichigo but she had to stop.
Ichigo took deep breaths as he was thankful that she had finally stopped.
"Ichigo, I would rather not talk to you" Senna said her voice dripping with venom.
"Well it's too bad, Senna, I want to talk to you"
"Now you want to talk, about what Ichigo" Senna said as she turned around the face him with her tearful eyes.
"I want to give you the answer you deserve. You deserve the truth" Ichigo admitted. Senna looked at him slightly surprised. Ichigo realized that Senna had been there for him for years as his lover and friend. She deserved the truth.
"Ichigo, I just want to understand this mess. First you leave me and tell me you don't want to get married. Then I find out your engaged to another woman several months later then you tell me she's pregnant!" Senna exclaimed, "I don't believe you anymore, I thought you were marrying this woman out of obligation but I should have known better. You would never throw yourself in a life of unhappiness. You really care for her!"
Ichigo wasn't surprised that Senna could read him. They had known each other since high school.
"I do care for her Senna, I won't lie to you, I'm in love with her" Ichigo confessed. Hearing that confession made Senna's heart ache. She still very much loved Ichigo and now he was in love with someone else.
"You love her more than you love me?" Senna asked with sadness in her voice. "Did you ever love me?" She asked more to herself.
"Senna, I did and I still do"
"You can't sit here and say you are still in love with me!"
"I won't say it because I was never IN love with you" Ichigo admitted. Senna looked at him shocked. After seven years, he never loved her?
"I love you Senna as my friend but I don't think I was ever in love with you. Being with you was all I knew and I assumed there was nothing more I could find past being with you. But then I met Rukia and realized-"
"What?" Senna said. Ichigo stopped; he didn't know what Senna was confused about.
"You realized you weren't in love with me when you met Rukia? So you knew her when we were together?" Senna asked. Ichigo realized his wording but could do nothing to change it. He didn't want to lie to Senna. Senna however took his silence as a yes.
"Ichigo Kurosaki, did you cheat on me with Rukia?" Senna asked. Ichigo tried to find the right words to say at that moment.
"Senna, I don't want you to-"
"Ichigo just answer the fucking question! Did you sleep with that whore while you were engaged to me?" Senna screamed.
Ichigo looked at her, he didn't want to hurt Senna further but he promised he would be truthful.
"I'm sorry" was all Ichigo could say, his voice broke. Senna turned away, to keep him from seeing the pain in her face. Her heart was falling apart. It was almost too painful to think about. Without looking back at him, she began to question him.
"How long?"
Ichigo sighed. "2 months, while you were in Australia"
"You were having sex with her for two months out of the seven years we were together and decide to throw it all away?" Senna turned to him and questioned.
"When I realized I was in love with Rukia, I ended things with you the next day" Ichigo admitted.
"The day you picked me up from the airport?" Senna said.
"That's why you had to leave that morning?" Ichigo and Senna paused , hearing the new voice. Ichigo could feel his world crumbling as he turned around to see Rukia behind him.
Rukia had looked so betrayed. She had heard everything. She couldn't believe her ears.
"Rukia, I…I don't" Ichigo could think of what to say to her.
"You had a fiancée the whole time?" Rukia asked with a shaken voice. Senna was surprised to hear the uncertainty in Rukia's voice.
"She never knew, did she?" Senna asked Ichigo. Ichigo looked to Senna, stuck between two women he cared about.
Once Senna realized Rukia was an innocent person in the situation, she looked to Rukia. "I'm so sorry Rukia, for thinking the worst of you, I understand now, that I just fell in love with a terrible man" Senna said. She gave Ichigo one last look before she entered the rain and walked down the street.
Ichigo looked back to Rukia who was looking at him with tears in her eyes. "How could you lie to me?"
"Rukia, I'm so sorry" was all Ichigo could say before Rukia walked away from him and into the rain, walking the opposite way that Senna walked.
"Rukia, please!" Ichigo said walking after her. Rukia just walked in the rain, allowing her hair and dress to be drenched. Ichigo was afraid she would get sick. He grabbed her and turned her around to face him but as soon as he did that, he felt a slap to his face.
"HOW THE HELL COULD YOU LIE TO ME LIKE THAT?" Rukia yelled. Ichigo touched his now aching cheek. "To think, I thought that woman Senna had actually hurt you"
"Rukia, there is no way I can even begin to explain what I did"
"You're damn right Ichigo, you made me fall in love with you, while you promised to marry someone else!"
"Rukia, I didn't do this intentionally, I fell for you so quick, that I couldn't stop it."
"And you made love to me, and then left the next day to be with her?"
"I went to end things with her, because I knew I loved you"
"You lied! I asked you what your relationship with her was!"
"I didn't want to cause the baby any harm, I was scared" Ichigo said, he was about to lose it. He was scared out of his min at the moment.
"Fuck you Ichigo, you took away my right to trust you. You were engaged to Senna. You were going to marry her. This whole time I was ruining another woman's life." Rukia barked, "You are no better than Kaien"
Ichigo looked at her slightly shocked. He couldn't believe she said that to him.
"I'm nothing like him, I would never leave you"
"You lied to two women you are supposed to care about, You and Kaien are the perfect twins!" Rukia said, "I can't even look at you."
Rukia ripped her hand away from Ichigo and kept walking on. Ichigo went to follow her and called out to her but she shouted back at him. "If you follow me, I will never forgive you. Stay away from me."
"Rukia, you are the mother of my unborn child. I'm not letting you-"
"If you ever want to see your child I suggest you don't come after me right now before I say something I regret" Rukia said coldly. Ichigo flinched at her cold demeanor. Rukia gave him one last cold glare and walked away in the rain.
Ichigo watched her retreating figure, fighting not to go after her. He loved Rukia, she was his everything, now the woman he loved, the mother of his child was walking away and he was afraid that this would the beginning of the end.
END OF CHPATER 25
Finally, the next update will probably take a while but I love all the reviews I got! You guys are amazing and so supportive!
So yes Rukia finally knows. And the drama just get better. The rest of the story takes a couple surprising turns. The people who were the bad guys may just switch sides.
Preview of Chapter 26: (Rukia is saved by friend) (A pairing happens) (Someone get arrested)