A/N: I don't own Bleach

All I have is my creative mind

We meet again – HITSUKARIN

There are always threes sides to a story…. HERS, HIS, and what really happen

Present time… (Manga Spoilers)

Chapter 37: Her side… Ni Sama Arrives

Facing the truth

Yuzu sits in her dream state.

It is her favorite place, the beach.

The sand is soft as it rubs against her skin.

She stretches as she baths in the warmth of the sun.

She looks over to see Shinobu looking at her with concern in her eyes saying, 'How long are you going to hide in here?'

Yuzu closes her eyes and ignores her.

Shinobu's wings open and she takes flight soaring in the sky as she says, 'Yuzu you must face what has happened'

She swoops down and with her beak she gently picks Yuzu up and throws her into high into the sky.

Yuzu, falling, screams at the sudden actions of her Zanputkou saying, 'Shinobu you crazy dove what is wrong with you!'

Shinobu glides under her causing her to land on her back, saying,' you think I would allow you to ignore me …. Please…in order for us to survive we must talk about what has happened!'

Yuzu, knowing Shinobu is right, looks down at the beautiful white feathers and gently strokes them, as she starts to cry saying, 'What I have done is terrible…I killed a man.'

Shinobu glides across the sea, saying, 'Yes I know… and tell me why you do feel it is terrible, when the man you killed tried to kill you?'

Yuzu, holding her head down in shame says, ' I have always wanted to save lives, not take them… and I took his life over my wedding dress… something precious but something that can be replaced, unlike that man's life'

Shinobu replies saying, 'Yuzu, they meant to kill you, by them destroying your wedding dress caused the trigger that saved your life.'

Yuzu still looking down replies saying, 'but I don't understand they did not know I am the Shiba Princess…why would they want to kill me?'

Shinobu, replies saying, 'I don't know …we need to talk to Akrina she can probably help us to understand what is going…but you must get pass this, because something tells me you will be faced with killing again, and unless you take action we will die.'

Suddenly Yuzu's dream state shakes violently, causing Shinobu to land on the sand hard.

Yuzu looks up saying, 'Ich-Nii!'

Akrina

Shiba and I lay together in darkness.

The pain we were experiencing was great.

Shiba touched my hand saying, 'We will survive this and we will kill them for attacking Yuzu.'

I did not respond to her, because my thoughts were still on the words that Toushirou had said to me, 'I cannot be your protector when you play games with me and those I love.'

Shiba knowing my thoughts then joking said, 'We will have to confront that man before he kills us.'

Her words, as funny as they sounded, were the truth, and I could only chuckle saying, 'I know… this is starting to get ridiculous…Ouch it hurt when I laugh.'

I then felt my body becoming warm, I looked over to Shiba saying, 'Do you feel that warmth…It is Inoue San.'

Shiba then said, 'Yes and if Inoue San is here then!'

Suddenly a strong wave of resitua struck us both…

Feeling the pain from the wave we each screamed, 'Ich-Nii...he is here and he is freakin out!'

Calm down Please!

One powerful wave after another, hit both Yuzu and I, each time causing more damage to our inner worlds.

Yuzu stood on the shore, threw her head back and concentrated on me, calling my name over and over. 'Akrina...Akrina…where are you.'

I could not move, with each wave, the pressure of the wave would crush my already bruised body further into the ground, the pain was unbelievable.

Suddenly, I heard Yuzu's calling my name, I responded by saying, 'Yuzu I am here, I was attacked by the Shadow while coming to assist with your healing…are you alright?'

Yuzu now feeling guilty, because her injuries were not at the point where, I needed to reveal myself, became quiet and unresponsive as I called out to her.

Shinobu sensing Yuzu's feelings says, 'Stop feeling guilty…now it not the time!'

Yuzu again starts to concentrate saying to me, 'What can I do to help you.'

I replied, 'Please reach out to Ich-nii…Calm him down before he kills me!'

Yuzu nervously says, 'How... I never reached out to him before…'

I was becoming weaker as I said, 'Yuzu…concentrate… he and I have the same blood as you, we are no different.'

The pain was so great; I suddenly screamed saying, 'Please Yuzu hurry!'

I then fell deeper into unconsciousness.

Reaching out to a hollow

Yuzu concentrates all of her power on her Ni Sama; she feels his emotions, Hurt, pain, and confusion.

All of sudden she finds herself standing in another world, she looks around everything is upside down, buildings and clouds.

She looks and sees a dark haired man with dark glasses quietly looking at her, she turns and comes face to face with a person who resembles her Ni Sama, but his skin is a pale white, his eyes are a terrorizing gold.

She steps back with fear, because she knows it is Ichigo's hollow Hichigo.

She then looks down at his feet and sees lying on the ground the body of her Ni Sama Ichigo, and he is unconscious

She quickly recovers from her fear, bends down and checks on Ichigo while saying, 'Hichigo… stop this NOW… your actions are killing me and Akrina!'

Hichigo stepped to Yuzu, saying, 'How dare you enter into our world … who are you!'

Yuzu looked up him, her voice trembling with fear saying, 'I am your sister… Yuzu!'

He looks at her saying, 'you are lying, my sister Yuzu is dead…I saw her bruised body …My sister Karin is dead…I saw her body, her chest covered with blood…They will die for taking them from me!'

Then he screamed and another wave of reisatu, shot out from his body and hit both Yuzu and Akrina.

Yuzu staggers; she maintains her concentration and stays in his dream state.

She slowly walked over to him, stood inches from his face and then struck his face while saying, 'look at me...I am your sister Yuzu, and if you don't stop this behavior and calm down…both Karin and I will die!'

Hichigo pulled back his hand and as he was about to strike Yuzu, the dark haired man stepped up, catching Hichigo's hand in mid-air saying, 'Stop!'

Hichigo looked at the dark haired man saying, ' Zangetsu...why have you stopped me!'

Zangetsu looked to Hichigo saying, 'I have a question to ask her.'

Zangetsu stepped closer to Yuzu saying, 'how did you enter into this world?'

She looked at him saying, 'My power is to communicate with my siblings, Karin and I always talk, this is the first time I have tried to communicate with Ich-nii, let alone enter into another's dream state…'

She is becoming weaker and stumbles into Hichigo's arms, she looks into his gold eyes saying, 'I am getting tired…you must stop …your reisatu is killing us, normally we could take it but we are too weak!'

Hichigo holds Yuzu close, looking into her eyes he says, 'are you really Yuzu… my sister?'

Yuzu smiles weakly saying, 'Hai'

Hichigo feeling her start to fade from his world, looks into her weak eyes saying, 'Please …don't forget me!'

Yuzu smiles and kisses him on the cheek then fates out of his dream state, saying, 'I promise…I will not forget you!'

Once in her dream state, Yuzu is tired, but she can sense that Hichigo is calming down, now she calls out to Ichigo.

When she hears her Ni Sama's voice, she is relieved.

She then tells him, she and Akrina will recover they just need time to rest; once they have rested they will tell him everything.

She too passes out…

The Clan leader faces her Ni Sama

I did not know how long I was unconscious, but when I awoke, I found not only Ami, sitting by me but Inoue San, Yuzu and Hiyori.

As I looked at their faces I could tell that I had to face my Ni Sama, and it did not matter that I had just awaken from a near death experience.

I had to face him.

I pulled myself up and looked around, I saw the training room was trashed and the Vizards were all on guard.

I carefully stood and started to walk upstairs toward my room to shower and change.

Out of nowhere, he stepped in my path, saying, 'Karin, we need to talk!'

Hearing those words all thoughts of a shower left my mind as I dropped my head.

I walked over to a huge rock and sat down, saying, 'I know Ich-nii'

He sat beside me saying one word, "Why"

I looked at him saying, 'you know why, I told you months ago why…nothing has changed, I am the Shiba Clan leader, you are not just a member of the Shiba Clan you are its Prince, just as Yuzu is the Shiba Clan princess and it is my job to protect you even if you don't feel you need it!'

He looked at me hard and again he said, 'Why'

I just looked at him, my eyes now serious as I smirked saying, 'Okay… I will tell you why!'

Why…Karin...Why

I held my head high as I said, 'I take my position as Shiba Clan Leader seriously…it means everything to me!'

I looked at him, saying, 'All my life I have been you baby sister, all my life you have protected me even when I did not need protecting… you even felt you had to protect me from Toushirou …and I love you for that, but I needed to prove to you and to myself that I could do this on my own!'

He looked at me listening to my words as I said, 'tell me if you had known it was me who was attacked at the Shiba Manor, what would you had done, would you had allowed me to continue as I did, would you had made me return to the human world or would you had made me come to live with you in the 5th division?'

He looked at me, his voice becoming louder as he said, 'I don't know, what I would had done but I would have done something other than just standing at the Taicho's meeting listening to the report!'

I looked at him saying, 'Ich-Nii, it means a lot to have your respect not as my Ni Sama, but as your Clan leader, and that can only have been accomplished by letting me make decisions concerning me and my clan regardless of the dangers… If you had known who I was, you would have ensured the things that had happened did not happen.'

He looked at me saying, 'Damn Straight!'

I grinned at him and then with conviction in my voice said, 'The things that occurred to me as the Shiba Clan Leader needed to happen, it made me understand what it takes to be successful …I could not and cannot have you protecting me to the point I cannot do my job!'

I could see in his eyes he understood, but that did not take away the fact he was still pissed about it.

I looked him in the eye saying, 'Enough about the past, it is done … what about our future.'

He looked at me saying, 'the shadow, tell me everything…

Byakuya Kuchiki

While Akrina brings Ichigo up to speed on the situation with the Shadow Organization, Byakuya sits in his 6th division office thinking about the wedding which is scheduled to take place in a week and a half.

He looks out the window; he sees and hears the elder's wives as they sat with Rukia talking about her upcoming wedding.

He looks at his little sister and sees she is being brave about the whole situation.

He too is still concerned about this mystery man he was forced to marry her off too.

He has sent several people to include Jaen into the human world to find out about the Shiba Prince, and they all came back without any information.

It is like the man was a ghost, no one had heard of him, Akrina Sama, or Shiba Taicho.

The fact the family was so far off the Soul Society radar also had him concerned.

It was then, a knock was heard at the door, and Byakuya looks at the door saying, 'enter'

To Byakuya's surprise it is Utkiake Taicho, he motions for him to have a seat while saying, 'Utkiake Taicho to what do I own this visit?'

Utkiake walks in and takes a seat saying, 'Kuchiki Taicho, I came by to visit my vice captain, but I see she is talking about her wedding so I decided to stop by to say hello to you before returning to my division'

Byakuya just looks at the man and nods

Utkiake then says, 'so how are you adjusting to the idea of Rukia Sama marrying and moving into the Shiba Manor?'

Byakuya sat straight and with an emotionless look into his eyes said, 'It is her duty as the Kuchiki Princess, and she will do fine.'

Utkiake knowing Byakuya all of his life, looks at him and smiles saying, 'she will do fine…it is just a shame … I always thought she would have married Kurosaki Taicho …given the young man has proven himself as a fine Taicho and he loves her…but you already know that.'

Byakuya just looks at him and says nothing in response.

Taking Byakuya's silence as a hint Utkiake stands and excises himself, leaving Byakuya alone in his office.

Byakuya looks back out the window at Rukia; now thinking how he would much preferred it was Kurosaki Taicho that Rukia was marrying instead of marrying a stranger that he knew nothing about.

An agreement we can live with

Several hours later….

It had been decided that in order for me to fully recover in a shorter time I need to revive my reisatu in my private bath back at the Shiba Manor.

So as I was preparing to walk through the gate, I stopped and started to think about the conversation I had with Ich-nii and the agreement on how we would work together in Soul Society…

Flash back an hour ago…

Ich-Nii had made it clear to me, that as my Ni Sama, he would now take on KuKaKu's responsibilities as my guardian, which would only last until my 18th birthday which was not too far off.

He had agreed to allow me to continue to make decisions concerning the Clan, as long he was kept apprised of anything dangerous that would cause me or our people harm.

He then told me he intended work closer with Toushirou on capturing the Shadow organization.

Hearing Toushirou's name I became concerned and told him I was not ready yet to reveal to Toushirou my identity.

He did not ask me why, he just looked at me saying 'as the 5th division Taicho and the Shiba Prince's confidant I will assist the 10th Division Taicho with the issue of the Shadow organization.'

Hearing him call himself the Shiba prince's confidant, I starting pointing at him laughing saying, 'I told you Kurosaki Taicho… you and my Ni Sama would hit it off!'

He shook his head then looked at me saying, 'Yes … that reminds me …we need to discuss the marriage between the Shiba Prince and the Kuchiki Princess'

My eyes became large, because I knew he loved her, but I did not know how he would take being told he had to marry her.

I swallowed hard then said, 'What about it?'

I could not read his eyes as he said, 'Is it truly a binding contract?'

I looked at him saying, 'Yes …sort of… there needs to be a marriage between the two clans, it would be best if it were between the two of you…but if you truly do not wish to marry Rukia, we can release her from the marriage contract and find other ways to bridge the gap between the two clans.'

He hugged me than said, 'Let me think about it and I will let you know my decision.'

I nervously looked at him saying, 'Ich-nii, there is not a lot of time the wedding is in a week and a half.'

He looked at me saying, 'I know, don't worry.'

I dropped the subject, and then we both walked in the room, where my father, Yuzu, Jinta, Ururu, Ami, Hiyori and the rest of the Vizard sat waiting.

That is when my dad told Ich-Nii I had to return to the Shiba Manor, and revive myself in the reisatu spring bath I had in my apartments.

Ich-nii, then looked over to me saying, 'Karin, go and rest, because we will leave for Soul Society in a few hours.'

It was then to everyone's surprise, I stood there looking at my dad then to Ich-nii saying, 'after talking with my Ni Sama, I feel it is safe to reveal to everyone the existence of the other Shiba Princess.'

I then turned to my sister saying, 'it time for you, Yuzu to accompany me home to finish the preparations for your wedding, which will take place the same time as Ich-nii's.'

She responded by hugging me and smiling, saying, 'I was coming anyway!'

I then turned to Hiyori, Ururu and Jinta saying, 'I would like you to come to, but you presence there will have to be kept secret until the wedding.'

Ururu and Hiyori just grinned, but Jinta who walked and took hold of Yuzu's hand replied saying, 'As long as I am by Yuzu's side it does not matter.'

End of Flash back

I stood at the gate, and out of nowhere I was hit with a strange feeling of dread that something bad was going to happen.

I looked over to my sisters, My Ni Sama, and my closest friends then shook it off while thinking to myself, "whatever it is that is going to happen, I can handle it because I am not alone."

I then turned and walk through the gate…

A Bad Feeling

We had been home for a day, after reviving myself in my bath; I now sat talking with Ururu, Hiyori, Jinta, Yuzu, Ami and KuKaKu in my private dining room.

We were making plans to take Yuzu and the others on a tour of the Manor and Seritieri, when I looked around and saw Ich-nii enter the room.

Seeing him, Yuzu and Ami sitting with me suddenly I felt at peace.

As he approached us, I smiled, saying 'Ich-nii, what a surprise… we were going to come to your division and see you later.'

He walked over and kissed me, Yuzu, and Ami on the forehead saying, 'I have a meeting in a few minutes in the library'

I looked at KuKaKu, who just looked at him and nodded; I then looked at them both saying, 'What is going on?'

KuKaKu, grinned saying, 'Your Ni Sama, has decided to confront his wife'

My eyes jumped out of my head as I turned to him saying, 'WHAT, before the wedding ceremony!'

Ich-nii looked at me sternly saying, 'Karin, I know you mean well, but don't interfere!'

I nervously said, 'What if the midget tells them who we are.'

Ich-nii understanding my fear walked over to me and hugged me saying, 'don't worry she won't…and if they do find out, I am here to protect you… so please relax.'

He then sat down and looked at me saying, 'When are you going to confront Toushirou?'

Again my head whipped around as I said, 'HUH…What!'

Yuzu then spoke saying, 'Akrina, It is time you talk to him and tell him all that is going on!'

I looked at her saying, 'What!'

Then Ami got up from her seat, walked over to me and stood in front of me saying, 'Akrina Ne Sana, Taicho has proven he loves you…what else must he do before you trust him?'

I just looked at her, and then all of them with a look of shock on my face, as a bad feeling started to take over me.

I closed my eyes then shook it off, saying, 'I know he loves me, that is just the point, he does love me…I need him to respect me as the Shiba Clan leader, respect the decisions I have made and the decisions I will make which at times will put me in danger!'

I looked to Ich-nii saying, 'It is the same reason that I did not tell you.'

Ich-nii sighed saying, 'I understand Karin, but time is running out, you must confront Toushirou.'

I looked at him saying, 'What do you mean time is running out?'

It was then a knock was heard at the door and one of the servants said, 'Kurosaki Sama, you have a guest waiting for you in the library.'

He stood up and started to walk toward the door, I then said, 'Ich-nii, please answer my question, what do you mean time is running out?'

Ich-nii walked out the room, without answering my question.

KuKaKu then looked at me saying, 'Actually, Akrina time has run out.'

I just looked at her, saying, 'What are you talking about?'

She calmly turned and looked at me saying, 'today, we have guest coming … representatives from the Gotei 13, and all of the noble houses.'

I jumped up from my seat, I felt she was about to tell me something I did not want to hear, as I said, 'what is going on, why are they coming, why are you telling me time has run out for me to confront Toushirou?'

She turned then looked at me calmly saying, 'Today, we will announce your marriage and introduce you to your husband.'

I shocked, as I said, 'What do you mean…. My marriage …I am not married.'

She stepped up to me, her eyes very serious as she said, 'as Shiba Clan Leader it is your responsibility to marry and provide an heir."

My mouth dropped open as I stood there listening to her as she said, 'as of a month and half ago since you had no fiancée, by the laws of the Shiba Clan the standing contract of your marriage became valid was brought forward!'

I stood there screaming, 'WHAT HELL DO YOU MEAN!'

Rukia Sama meets her husband

As Akrina, spoke with KuKaKu and the others about her marriage...

Rukia, dressed in the garments of the Kuchiki princess stands nervously in the Shiba Library looking at the collection of Shakespearian books on the shelf thinking, "how much Ichigo would have loved to read these books."

She looks out on unto the gardens and sees the children of the manor playing, and smiles as she tried to convince herself that she could be happy living here, in this world with a stranger as her husband.

She feels emotions in which she had locked away start to surface, she drops her head as she whispers to herself, 'Ichigo and I are nothing but friends.'

She then hears a familiar soft voice say, 'Are you sure?'

She quickly turns around to find Ichigo standing there looking at her.

She starts to run towards him, and then stops herself, she breathes deeply and transforms into the Kuchiki princess.

She stands tall saying, 'Kurosaki Taicho, I am surprised to find you here… I did not know that you had returned …how are the twins?'

Ichigo watches her closely, while hiding a knowing grin on his face as he motions for her to sit on the sofa saying, 'Karin and Yuzu are fine, they look forward to seeing you again.'

She walks over and sits down saying, 'I am so glad they are alright and yes I hope I will be able to visit them again… Ichigo, why are you here.'

Ichigo looked down at her saying, 'I had business with the Shiba Prince, and I asked if I could speak to you before the two of you met.'

With a questioning expression on her face, she tilts her head up at him while saying, 'Ichigo you have met and talked to my husband?'

Ichigo now sits on the Sofa, looks her in the eyes saying, 'Yes Midget, I have.'

Rukia is concerned as she says, 'Ichigo what is it that you wanted to discuss with me that you felt you needed to ask permission from my husband?'

Ichigo takes a deep breath then says, 'Rukia, if things were different, and the Shiba prince did not exist and I stood before you asking you to marry me.'

Rukia's eyes become large as she listens to him.

She starts to fight the tears which are building in her eyes, as she says, 'Please don't do this to me.'

Ichigo sighs as he looks to her saying, 'I don't mean to hurt you, but I love you …I have loved you from the first battle we fought together midget… Please midget just this once, answer my question.'

Rukia sits tall, she closes her eyes as she says, 'I don't understand what good it would do for me to pursue this conversation with you, I am promised to someone else….you and I must accept it.'

Ichigo looks at Rukia, he know the words she has said to him, are words that Byakuya had instilled in her over the years, but he wants to hear her words, the words from her heart.

He shakes his head as he then says, 'Rukia why are you so willing to marry someone you don't even know?'

Rukia is getting upset as she looks to Ichigo saying, 'Please strawberry, don't do this…I am not only a Kuchiki...I am the Kuchiki Princess, a title I take seriously.'

Ichigo looks at Rukia and remembers Karin as she said, the same thing, again he shakes his head this time saying, 'midget… do you love me?'

Rukia looks at Ichigo, he can see the tears in her eyes she is fighting hard not to shed, as she says, 'Strawberry, Please don't do this to me… just know you are special in my heart, … I have been given so much from the Kuchiki family and this marriage is my way to repay them for all that they have done.'

Ichigo drops he head in defeat.

It is then that there is a knock at the door, Ichigo says, 'enter…'

A servant walks in with a tray of tea and bows before Ichigo saying, 'Shiba Sama, I brought you and your wife some refreshments.'

Rukia sits in shock as Ichigo says, 'thank you, just place them on the table.'

Once the servant leaves Ichigo turns handing a shocked Rukia, a cup of tea saying, 'Yes Rukia what you have heard is correct I am the Shiba prince, and you and I are to be married.'

A husband's Plan to keep his wife happy

As Ichigo explains to Rukia the connection between Akrina and Karin, meanwhile in Junrinan…

Guenon, sits in the back of the inn drinking a cup of sake, thinking about the events that happened in the real world.

He is grins, as he thinks about the possibility that Akrina Sama may have been killed by Jaen Kuchiki's men.

He knows she was gravely injured and it is a matter of time before he receives word of her condition.

However, he is not concerned if she still is alive because his other plan was already in motion.

He now also thinks of his son Shoin, and how he now thinks he and Akrina Sama will be married.

The plan was easy, He really did not want to do it, but the thought of having to deal with his wife's wrath over the killing of their first born, was not worth it.

So he selected a young woman from the villagers who live on the Kasumioji lands in Junrinan.

To ensure Shoin did not doubt that it was Akrina, he made arrangements to have the woman working at the Shiba Manor as a maid where she observed the real Akrina, and her interaction with Shoin.

The plan was perfect, to point the couple unexpectedly to Guenon's surprise, consummated their relationship that night.

Guenon now laughed thinks of how Shoin, on his own, to make sure Akrina would not deny him, had pictures taken of the two while they consummated their relationship to use as proof that she was his.

Pictures that Shia now had possession of, and was ready to use in order to get what she wanted... Shoin married to the Shiba Clan Leader and in control of the Shiba Clan.

He sits drinking with a smirk on his face saying, 'If the Shiba Witch is still alive she will marry Shoin, and on her wedding night she will die; therefore, leaving Shoin as the new Shiba Clan leader and if she is dead that is even better… either way my life at home with Shia will not be impacted.'

I will not marry you

As Guenon drinks, Akrina and KuKaKu are in a full blown argument concerning her marriage, and Ichigo and Rukia are still sitting in the library talking.

Ichigo has explained everything to Rukia about his family's connection to the Shiba Clan, leaving Rukia sitting nervously looking up at him with a look of disbelief on her beautiful face.

He reaches over and moves the all too familiar strand of hair from the front of her face, as he moves the strand of hair from her face he says, 'Rukia, I do love you … but I will not marry you.'

Rukia looks to him, her heart starts to break as she says, 'What…WHY'

Ichigo looks at her saying, 'I will not be made to feel that you are being force to marry me.'

Rukia sits there stunned as Ichigo looks at her saying, 'I want you to freely chose if you wish to be married, and I want a woman who loves me and wants to be my wife…so I have decided to release you from this marriage.'

Rukia's eyes are large with disbelief as Ichigo stands, walks over to the desk and sits saying, 'I will release you from the engagement, as soon as I can convince Karin to reveal her identity.'

Rukia feels her heart drop hard, as he sits at the desk saying, 'I only ask that until she does… please do not share any of this with anyone, other than Ukitake Taicho who has apparently known Akrina's identity for some time.'

She looks in his eyes and sees the sadness he is feeling as he says, 'Midget … I am sorry you had go through this.'

Rukia's mind screams, 'Strawberry don't do this, I love you …I had always loved you!'

Before Rukia could response Yuzu and Ami knock on the door and enter.

Seeing Yuzu, all doubt that she may have had concerning what Ichigo said to her disappeared.

Yuzu walks in saying, 'Ich-nii… Rukia Ne Sana, I am sorry to interrupt but Akrina has run off, she was very upset about this afternoon's announcement.

Ichigo stands and runs out of the library, leaving Rukia brokenhearted thinking about his words…'I will not marry you'

Heart Broken

I ran out of the manor, trying to digest what had been said to me.

My head was swimming with emotions that I was trying hard to control.

As I ran, I felt my heart, it was heavy with despair.

I had no idea where I was going, I just ran.

My veil softly flapped across my face, as I passed the gardens, I could smell the sweet the blooms of the Magnolia trees I had planted in the gardens to relax me when I got upset over issues of the Clan, but that could not calm my heart.

My mind spinning with pain so much that I was unaware of the people I passed who greeted me.

I just heard in my mind, KuKaKu's words, "Akrina you are engaged to be married… the announcement will be made this evening and the ceremony will take place in a few days!"

I felt my and Shiba's heart tearing apart inside, I suddenly stopped running, fell on my knees, and looked up at the beautiful sunset.

I brought my knees to my chest and could no longer swallow my tears, they started to fall.

As my tears fell I started to quietly sing.

'When the rain is pouring down…And my heart is hurting….You will always be around….This I know for certain….You and me together…Through the days and nights….I don't worry cause….Everything is gonna be alright….People keep talking They can say what they like…..But all I know is everything is gonna be alright.'

As I sang the tears continued to fall and in my mind I kept saying, 'I am the Shiba Clan Leader and I have responsibilities to my Clan…'

'No one, no one, no one….Can get in the way of what I'm feeling…No one, no one, no one….Can get in the way of what I feel for you...You …you….Can get in the way of what I feel.'

As I sang, I remember saying to Yuzu, I willing to sacrifice my life for the clan, so it is not a question as of whether or not I would sacrifice love ….but never did I think I would have to do this… marry another man … a stranger and have his child.

'I know some people search the world To find something like what we have….I know people will try….Try to divide Something so real….So till the end of time I'm telling you there is no one.'

As I sang I started to cry harder, I never realized until now as the Shiba Clan leader all that I had to give up, and it hurt…it hurt…because I loved him, and I now belonged to someone else, a stranger...I knew nothing about.

'No one, no one, no one….Can get in the way of what I'm feeling….No one, no one, no one….Can get in the way of what I feel for you...You …you….Can get in the way of what I feel.'

I was so lost in my thoughts that I did not notice, that I was on a grassy hill that sat between the Manor and the 10th Division and Toushirou was sitting beside me staring at sunset, his face held no emotion while his teal eyes were cold staring straight at the sky.

I gasped then scrabbled to stand when he suddenly reached over and grabbed my hand and held it.

He did not say a word to me; he just sat there staring at the sunset.

I was thankful he was there, quietly holding my hand.

It was like he knew what I was going through.

After several minutes I heard Ganju's concerned voice loudly calling, 'Akrina Sama…Akrina Sama...Where are you?'

I turned and looked at Hitsugaya, bowed slightly then stood took a cleansing breath and walked around several trees toward Ganju's voice saying, 'I am here…'

He ran up to me, saying, 'Are you alright?'

I just stood there shaking my head, he then gently took me in his arms saying, 'Come it is time for you to prepare to meet your husband.'

My heart sank as I softly said, "Hai, Ganju Sama.'

How could you do this to me!

I was dressed in the traditional dress of the Shiba Clan Leader, showing off the muscular tone of my body, my hair was entwined with the beautiful headdress of the Shiba Clan Leader, on my face a beautiful silk veil.

I stood in my bedroom staring at myself in the full level mirror, holding the dragon clash on necklace Toushirou had given me in my hands.

As much as I knew I had to remove it, I just could not, suddenly I heard, 'you are so beautiful…I wish your mother was here to see you.'

I swung around to find my dad sitting there grinning at me, I pulled my veil back from my face and stormed over to him saying, 'How could you do this to me!'

He pulled back from me with a look of shock on his face saying, 'What do you mean…"

I just stood there on the verge of killing him saying, 'don't play dumb… how could you not tell me I was betroth, how could you keep that from me!'

He stood saying, 'If I had told you, would it have made a difference.'

I looked at him, my voice cracking as I said, 'YES…I would not have fallen in love…'

He stood in front of me and pulled me into his arms.

His eyes reflected sadness as he said, 'I am sorry, Akrina…truly I am, I so wanted you to be happy, but this betrothal is one that was written long ago and you as the Shiba Clan Leader must stand by it.'

It was then I heard a soft knock at my door, and a voice saying, 'Shiba Sama it is time.'

He took my face in his hands and kissed both of my cheeks saying, 'I am proud of you', he then covered my face with my veil and stepped back into the shadows as the door opened and KuKaKu Sama, Yuzu, Ami and my ladies in waiting walked in.

The announcement

I now stood in the doorway of the Shiba Manor great room, they were all there, all of the Tachios and vice captains of the Gotei 13 and all of the Clan leaders, princes and elders of all the Noble Houses.

I took a deep cleansing breath, and then walked down the aisle toward the front.

As I walked everyone bowed with respect.

As I took my place in the chair of the Leader, a chair I cherished but at this moment a chair that I resented, I prayed that I would wake up from this nightmare.

As I sat I looked to my left and saw the clan elders to include KuKaKu, on the right stood Yuzu and Ami who were dressed in the traditional dress of the Shiba Clan Princesses and on their faces a veil.

It was then KuKaKu looked to Ich-nii saying, "Kurosaki Taicho, Shiba Sama is unable to attend due to some unexpected business back in the human world and he asked me to have you conduct the ceremony and all activities dealing with Akrina Sama's engagement in his stead.'

I looked over to Ich-nii and I saw in his eyes mischief as he stood before everyone saying, 'I am honored.'

He then looked at me…

I swallowed hard and nodded giving him the signal to proceed.

Ich-nii carefully picked up an old parchment and started to read…

"I, Hison Shiba, first Taicho of the Tenth Division of the Gotei 13th, do here by write in the laws of the Shiba Clan and that of the 10th Division, that ever a time that a Shiba is not in the position of the tenth division Taicho, and a female sits in seat of power as Shiba Clan leader; that the two would marry providing a heir which would inherit both positions of Taicho and Clan leader"

Hearing Ich-nii's words, everyone gasped in shock, my head quickly snapped around to Hitsugaya who sat there, his cold teal eyes staring at me.

My mind quickly said, 'He knew about this …and he didn't tell me, why… NO… this is not happening…not like this… I will be not married to anyone like this!'

Then my attention turned back to Ich-nii has he said, 'This is a binding contract, between the 10th division Taicho and the Shiba Clan, if it is not full filled the Taicho and the leader would both lose their positions. The marriage will take place two days after the reading of this contact… It is signed by both Hison Shiba and Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto Sotaicho of the Gotei 13th.'

Again everyone gasp with disbelief as they all now look over to Sotaicho who gives a nod showing the contract is valid.

I looked to Ich-nii, the look on his face told me it was revenge, revenge for what I did to him and Rukia.

I suddenly became pissed and he knew it.

He also knew unless I was ready to reveal who I was I had to take it.

It was then Matsumoto, who was recently released from the 4th division and Hinamori, they both looked up at me then looked to Hitsugaya saying, 'Akrina Sama, this is not right…do something, you are Karin Chan's friend!'

Hearing their words, I again looked to Ich-nii who now stood arrogantly looking back at me.

Toushirou, his eyes never leaving me suddenly spoke saying, 'Matsumoto …Hinamori silence!'

He then stepped forward and quietly took his place at my side, never saying a word to me, but I could feel coming from him resentment which was on the verge of hatred.

It was then Shia Sama abruptly stood up and approached Toushirou and me yelling, 'this cannot happen, you are my son's woman…I have pictures providing this.'

I turned quickly toward Shoin who now stood with his mother, my tone was full of irritation as I said, 'What is going on Here…What is she talking about, I am your woman and pictures!'

Before I could get an answer, Shoin quickly pushed Toushirou aside, pulled me into his arm, push back my veil back and kissed me while saying, 'You are my woman!'

A/N…...

I hope you enjoyed it…

Music:

'No one … Alicia Keys'

As always please review...

Next chapter: His Side… Feelings

As always please review...it is not hard just push the button and tell me your thoughts about the chapter you just read. (Be nice)

LeRukia

I am sitting in the Denver airport ...bummed I just arrived from Ontario Ca, on my way home and between going from one gate to another my designer...BMG jacket was taken… Man, I don't have many things…I just hope who ever has it really needed it…I am cold and pissed…I just want to go home…

LR