Disclaimer: Tite Kubo owns Bleach.

Chapter 9: The Blessed and the Accursed (Part 2)

" You're not busy anymore?" Rukia asks Kaien as the two sit side by side to have some lunch by the lake beside the forest trail leading to the grand priestess' Shrine of Reflection. Rukia bites in the rice ball that her mentor has shared with her. Taking into account the neatness of the finished product, they are obviously made by his betrothed, Miyako-san who is a priestess serving under the grand priestess. It is not a known fact for her until today that the grand priestess is the one who cannot marry, everyone else in the temple can create a family and even choose to live outside the Temple grounds so long as they can effectively carry out their duty—aside from the grand priestess, it seems that the rules of the temple does not differ from that of the kingdom's own government.

It has been nearly two years since she's entered the temple. Bishop Shiba Kaien, one of the highest ranking officials in the Temple, serves as her temporary guardian until she is officially assigned to a post as a Templar Knight when she comes of age in four years' time. Due to her special circumstance as an acknowledge owner of the holy sword, she is admitted to the temple before adulthood. He's the one who brought her here and the one who has been attending to her and teaching her everything she needs to know about the temple. She puts him in a special place in her heart.

" Well, we've had a tough time since last year." The bishop admits. " I know I'm acting as your teacher but I can barely find time to teach you anything."

" It's alright!" Rukia harps happily. " I've still got a lot of time to learn everything I need to know before I get the official post. I can just study by myself if you're still too busy. I get to play a lot too." She grins at him playfully.

Shiba Kaien laughs at her words. " How nice to be young."

" You're not that old yourself." Rukia reminds him as she takes another bite off the rice ball.

" I'm old enough to get married and have a family of my own. And I have my work as a bishop." He answers her. " But you're still young so don't rush too much to get any responsibility. You need to enjoy your life first. To go out and explore a lot of places while you're still free of responsibility."

The young girl ponders upon his words for a moment. " Is being a Templar knight the most difficult job then? You're making it sound like that."

" What do you think?"

" It's the most difficult maybe." Rukia admits. " But it's not the loneliest job in the temple. I'd choose the most difficult job over the loneliest job." The girl declares easily. The bishop wears a confused expression on his ways as though her words do not make sense. Thus, she elaborates, looking afar into nothingness. " I think the loneliest job is that of the grand priestess…living a very very very very long life all by herself…she becomes an orphan but it's a repeated cycle for her until she herself vanishes. She's lucky that despite being ordained by the goddess, she isn't made immortal. I think her twisted mortality is the greatest gift the goddess can give her. I really don't want to be her."

Her words shocks the older male and he does not hide it. However, his expression betrays him as he wears that sympathetic look on his face revealing how he agrees to the words of a merely fourteen years old girl. " That's such gloomy thoughts you are having. You're too mature for your age."

Rukia says no more but instead hums as she glances towards the grand priestess' shrine. She can actually feel the mysterious energy coming from there. She originally thought it is just the concentration of holy powers inside the temple grounds but dismisses the thought as it did not feel different when she first arrived her. It only began right after Kaien's busy year ended and the energy started to gradually grow as days went by. She notices it getting stronger and stronger, like a well on the verge of overflowing. But she learns to ignore the pressure as she gets accustomed to it. " Are they doing something in the Shrine of Reflection?"

Kaien ruffles her hair without warning, distracting her from her thoughts. " It's something you don't need to know."

The comment causes the young girl to pout. " You all people just keeping everything a secret." Then she grumbles while hugging her legs and resting her chin on her knees, " Then don't blame me if I start snooping around."

Her mentor does not seem to hear this as he is suddenly distracted by the blond-haired bishop who approaches them coming from the direction of the temple. Kaien stands up and meets the other man half-way. " Urahara-san, how is the search for the receiver going?"

" Not very good." Rukia hears the man called Urahara reply to her mentor. " We've tried all of the priestesses and some of the female knights but there's been no reaction from the orb so far. We'll try to get the members of the other units. The transfer seems to be nearly complete but we don't know for how long the orb will be able to hold on."

" I heard the frequency of the grand priestess fainting in increasing since last month." Kaien tells the other guy, worry evident in his voice. " I'm worried about her. Maybe I should pay her a visit."

" Why not go now?" Urahara suggests. " She nearly fainted a minute ago and Isshin-san insisted she takes a break. I was sent away because my presence is riling Isshin-san up."

" Hmmm…so I guess right now is the best time, huh?" Kaien scratches the back of his head then glances towards the young girl biting the last of the rice ball in her hand.

" Just bring the kid with you." The blond bishop tells the dark-haired male, understanding his sudden worry.

The idea surprises Kaien and with big eyes, he asks his senior. " Am I allowed to do that?"

Urahara shrugs at him and takes a peek towards the young girl looking at them curiously. " Why not. She's a known wielder of a holy sword so she'll deal with the grand priestess officially when she grows older." Then he adds. "Besides, it's good for the grand priestess to see fresh innocent faces from time to time being coupe inside those walls for nearly a year now." He looks back at the shrine where he comes from and grins back at Kaien and gives him a thumbs up. " I give you permission as the leader of this mission. Maybe Isshin's mood will also lighten up to see pretty young girls."

The dark haired girl feels a shiver in her spine as she watches the blond man's grin. She then sees the two males say their goodbyes and her mentor approaches her.

" Rukia-chan, do you want to come with me?" Kaien asks her. " I'll pop in to see the grand priestess for a moment."

The young girl blinks at him for a moment and then wears a confused look on her face. " Am I allowed to go in there with you?"

" Urahara-san, the man from earlier, says it's alright so I guess so." Then the bishop presents her with a wide grin. " You should take advantage of this. It's not every day that you see the grand priestess herself."

Convinced by his words, Rukia trails behind Bishop Shiba as the two heads towards the Shrine of Reflection. The young girl is immediately intimidated by the sharp question look that the Templar Knights guarding the shrine is giving her when they are stopped for a quick verification but they are permitted entrance thereafter after the bishop explains to the guard about Urahara's permission.

The moment the shrine doors opened, the familiar smell of burning wood and incense infiltrates Rukia's nose. Along with that comes the sudden burst of the same mysterious energy pushing against her then circles around her, much stronger now than how it feels from outside. It is heavy and imposing at gradually becomes gentler, warm and soothing. She immediately glances towards her mentor but he does not show any indication of discomfort nor does he notice anything amiss with her as he keeps his eyes up front as though nothing is happening. Though weird out by the unfamiliar sensation, Rukia decides against telling the male beside her, not wanting to unnecessarily trouble him.

Following the direction where the bishop is looking, her eyes immediately fall upon the occupants inside the room both seated in thin cushions in the center of the shrine who looks up and stares back at them. Her focus is immediately drawn towards the beautiful woman, with wavy chestnut hair flowing down her shoulders. Fatigue is evident on her pale face and the dark circles under her eyes yet she sends them a small welcoming smile. Rukia assumes that she is the grand priestess, Masaki.

" Kaien?" It is the dark haired male beside the grand priestess that says this. Rukia vaguely recognizes him from their brief meeting two years ago when she is first brought in the temple by Kaien. " What brings you here?"

Her mentor does not answer but she feels his hand tap her from the back before the bishop moves forward to approach the two. She follows behind him.

" I thought I'd come to see how the grand priestess is doing." Kaien answers the question and then turns to the grand priestess. " I heard from Urahara-san that you are taking a short break at the moment that's why I've come." He explains. " I've also brought Rukia-chan with me." He tells them and moves aside to give them a full view of her.

" I-im Kuchiki Rukia." She introduces with slight hesitation. " It's a pleasure to meet you, grand priestess." The young girl then bows and keeps still, maintaining the posture.

" Ara," A feminine gentle voice enters Rukia's ears. " Lift your head child. No need to be so formal."

Rukia obeys this and meets the grand priestess' eyes gazing at her gently and finally getting a clear view of the grand priestess' face. The fatigue that is obvious from the distance earlier becomes more evident up close. It looks like she is barely hanging on to life itself. ' How pitiful.' She thinks to herself.

" R-rukia?"

She hears Kaien call out her name in confusion and disbelief. She does not realize how or why but she finds her hand caressing the grand priestess' face without permission. Her amethyst eyes widen as she gasps in surprise at her sudden action as well and tries to immediately pull her hand back. " I-I'm s-sorry. This, I—"

The grand priestess catches her hand midway. " It's fine. Your hand feels cold, it's refreshing. It feels nice." She tells the young girl with fondness in her voice. " Is it alright if I hold your hand a bit longer?"

" If…if that's what you want then by all means." The dark-haired girl answers. She sees the grand priestess pat the space between her and the other male who moves and makes way for her. Rukia glances at Kaien who nods at her in affirmation. " Thank you." She shyly murmurs before sitting beside the priestess. The older female gives her hand a weak squeeze and sends her a grin.

" I didn't expect you two to get along well." The bishop comments, looking at the two of them with an approving look. " I should have brought Rukia much sooner to meet you then."

The grand priestess lets out a soft laugh. " It can't be helped. It's been a busy two years for all of us." She pauses then adds. " Shiba-san, why don't you take Kurosaki-san for some fresh air? He's been cooped here with me since morning and I can't really take a walk at the moment."

" I can't leave you alone!" The man called Kurosaki declares as he looks at the grand priestess in distraught. " The moment I take my eyes on you, yo—"

" Don't be stubborn, Kurosaki-san." The grand priestess interjects his objection. " I'm keep on resting, I promise. And I've got Rukia-chan to accompany me. So please…" She trails off.

The older male looks at the grand priestess before letting out a sigh of resignation. " Fine. I get it. Stop worrying about me and worry about yourself."

The hazel-haired female lets out a chuckle. " How about you get me something to eat while you're at it? Anything is fine."

The man called Kurosaki sighs again. " Alright. Anything you want." He turns around and heads towards the shrine doors. " Let's go Kaien."

" Then, Rukia-chan, take care of the grand priestess while we're away." Bids the bishop and without waiting for a reply from the young girl, turns around and runs after the other male.

" Sorry for making you accompany me, Rukia-san." The teen hears the grand priestess tell her.

The apology greatly surprises the young girl as she does not expect it coming and she profusely shakes her head. " P-please don't say that! It's my honor to keep you company!"

The grand priestess laughs at her reaction and frees her hand. She then pushes herself up with much difficulty. Rukia offers her a hand which she accepts and thanks her with a smile. " You must be wondering why the Grand priestess is this weak when I should have the strongest holy powers amongst everyone here." It is the grand priestess herself who brings up the subject.

The dark-haired girl does not answer but realizes that the question did not exactly come across her mind as she is more preoccupied by the ongoing surge of mysterious energy that keeps surrounding her and poking at her skin the moment she entered the shrine.

" Can you help me to there?" The older female points a slender finger towards solitary square figure standing in front of the Temple Mirror.

Rukia nods and assists the Grand Priestess towards her desired destination, taking slow careful steps as the older female seems to have very little energy to her.

They come close to the object and the young girl finally sees a clear picture of what it was- a thick block of solid marble as meter tall. Above it lies a velvet cushion nesting a round shiny object resembling a pearl the size of a cherry glittering despite the dimness of its location. Rukia finds it mesmerizing to look at.

" Do you want to touch it?" The grand priestess asks her, staring directly into her eyes. The young girl hesitates but then nods at the grand priestess who then wears a pondering look on her face. " Well, nothing happened to the others who touched it so I suppose it should be fine." She mumbles to herself then puts a finger on her lips. " Don't tell anyone about this alright? Otherwise, we'll both get scolded."

Rukia nods again then looks at the said orb with determined eyes. She clenches her hands on her side before carefully reaching out towards the object. The moment she feels its shiny exterior at the end of her fingertip, the object glows brightly until it explodes into a blinding whiteness.

" R-rukia-chan!" She hears the grand priestess scream her name in alarm and the voice becomes distant as white turns black.

-000-

Rukia hears muffled voices beside her but she is unable to identify the owner of the voices now the words they speak. She feels her body heavy and even lifting a finger proves difficult. Frustrated, she lets out a groan.

" She's stirring awake!" She finally identifies the words said by a masculine voice. She tries to match the voice with a face but her impaired focus prohibits her from getting an answer.

She hears another familiar male voice laced with worry calling out her name. " Rukia? Rukia, can you hear me?"

Unable to move her body according to her wish, Rukia decides to move one part at a time and chooses her eyes. She flutters open her heavy eyelids with much difficulty. Her vision is hazy at first and it takes a while for it to gradually improve for her to see two bishops, Urahara Kisuke and Shiba Kaien, hovering over her.

" Rukia! You're finally awake!" An obvious wave of relief floods over Shiba Kaien's face looking at her awake. " We were all so worried!"

The young girl shallows an imaginary lump in her throat as she opens her mouth and with a hoarse voice, barely manages to speak. " W-what happened?"

This time, it is Urahara Kisuke who speaks while looking at her intently with curious eyes. " You don't remember anything?"

Rukia is silent for a moment as she tries to recall the series of events that has happened. " I…the grand priestess wanted to see the shiny pearl. Then I touched it and-and it exploded." She tells them as tears begin to well in her eyes. " Is it my fault?Is…is the grand priestess alright?"

" That…" Shiba Kaien hesitates as he averts his eyes from her. This reaction troubles Rukia and upon notice, the bishop immediately adds. " …Masaki-san is fine. She's slowly recovering at the moment. However…"

Rukia sees Urahara Kisuke place a hand on the younger male's shoulder. Shiba Kaien nods and backs away. " That pearl that you are talking about is a special project by the Temple. It acts like a sturdy container for holy powers for the purpose of transferring from one person to another in an artificial way, like transferring titles or ownership of an item in simpler terms. After its completion a year ago, Masaki-san has been injecting her holy powers into it, every single day until that day when Shiba Kaien brought you in there."

Fear overcomes Rukia upon hearing his explanation. In a panicked voice, she asks him. " Am I…am I going to be punished?" She regains some of her energy and manages to clench the sheets on which she lays. Only then thus she fully realizes that she is currently lying in a soft bed and is no longer inside the shrine.

" On the contrary, we are actually thankful for what happened."

The bishop's words certainly surprised her. It is the last thing that she expects to hear from him. " R-really?" She reconfirms.

" Yes." Urahara answers immediately, reassuring her. " That incident proved out project successful and you were the unexpected solution we were looking for."

The young girl certainly feels relieved and accepts the explanation happily. " I'm…glad to be of help, I suppose?"

" Certainly." The blond bishop begins but there is ambiguity in his voice.

Rukia looks past him and towards her guardian but Shiba Kaien, upon noticing her stare, looks away. The action makes the girl's heart sink in depression. She then shifts her attention back to the other bishop.

Urahara Kisuke lets this exchange pass and addresses her again once her attention is back to him. " On that note…" He begins. "...you must be wondering what exactly happened that time with the orb."

" Yes!" The girl immediately answers him. " All I did was touch that orb but then it suddenly went off. That explosion was so strong, I thought I was going to die that time."

" It wouldn't have happened if it were someone else." The blond bishop tells her. " However, for unknown reasons, the orb found you most compatible to wield the holy powers it was containing."

Rukia blinks for a moment as she process the implication of his words. " But you said the grand priestess was the one…" She trails off and stares at the bishop in disbelief.

Urahara Kisuke gives her a curt nod." You seem to finally get the meaning of my words…Grand Priestess."

A/N: Have a blessed Christmas and a happy new year everyone! Keep safe!