Ichigo strides from behind the privacy screen around Rukia's bed and stops at the sight of Karin and Yuzu both grinning at him. It only takes one look at Yuzu, whose arm is wrapped with bandages, and the knowledge of Rukia unconscious behind him, to reignite the rage inside of him.
He pushes it down and clenches his hand around the fire that wants to form there. "Yes?" he asks a little sharply, and wonders how much of the conversation they heard. The privacy screens are supposed to dampen sound, but he knows the magic is easily compromised given how much they are moved around.
"Do you and Lady Kuchiki have an understanding now?" Karin asks from her chair beside Yuzu's bed.
The question punctures his rage, and Ichigo can't stop the little smile that comes to his lips. "It's not formal," he prevaricates.
Yuzu rolls her eyes. "Does that mean we still have to have all these other women running around the palace?" She scowls at him when he laughs reluctantly. "Don't laugh at me, I've been injured!"
Ichigo sobers up immediately and steps closer to gently ruffle Yuzu's hair. "I'm not laughing at you. I agree, it's time to stop pretending that I want to have an understanding – as you put it, Karin – with anyone except Rukia."
Footsteps echo through the large room again and Ichigo straightens up at the sight of Hitsugaya running into the room, Lady Shihouin and Junior Advisor Yamada behind him. "Highness! We heard about the attack. Are the princesses alright?"
"Yuzu was injured but she will recover," Ichigo says, but his eyebrow raises as Hitsugaya barely avoids pushing him to get to Karin. They don't touch, but there is something soft in his younger sister's expression as she looks at him.
"You aren't injured, Crown Princess Karin?" the cerulean-eyed advisor asks quietly. "The report from your guards was brief."
"I'm fine, Advisor Hitsugaya," Karin says formally, but Ichigo catches the furtive look she casts in his direction, and he scowls.
"Lady Shihouin, do we know who did this? Lady Kuchiki told me what happened before she passed out." Ichigo's scowl deepens. "I want to know who attacked my sisters and my—and Lady Kuchiki."
Shihouin's lips are set in a thin line, and every muscle in her slender body looks tense. "Lady Kuchiki and Lieutenant Arisawa killed all but two of the attackers. My people are interrogating the one we caught. Arisawa said there was a mind mage involved, but we haven't found him. What did Lady Kuchiki tell you?" Her lips quirk suddenly, and Ichigo can hear the pride in her voice when she says, "Arisawa said she was damn good out there, and killed more than half the intruders herself."
Ichigo can't resist the similar feeling of pride that thrums through him despite his anger. "Well. You did train her," he points out. He summarizes Rukia's story briefly, leaving out the part where she blamed herself and he kissed her. The memory still makes his cheeks flush slightly. "I want this mind mage found. Coordinate with Ishida. Have the dampening spells on the gardens taken down – I won't have anyone else put at risk just so that they don't have to hear noise," he orders.
Hitsugaya and his sister are still looking at one another, and Ichigo snaps, "And what are you doing staring at my sister?"
Karin just rolls her eyes. "Calm down, Ichigo. Yuzu and Rukia will both be fine. There's no reason to snap like a wounded animal."
But Hitsugaya bows and says, "I am sorry, your Imperial Highness. It was inappropriate of me to show such…regard for the Crown Princess."
Karin rolls her eyes again and glares at Ichigo when he huffs.
"We'll discuss this later," Ichigo decides, and turns his attention back to Shihouin. "I want this mage found, and guards here in the healing halls until both Yuzu and Rukia are released by the healers. Assign a guard to Rukia at all times."
Yoruichi smirks. "I've already assigned Lieutenant Arisawa to Lady Kuchiki. She'll be in safe hands, now that Arisawa no longer has a…" She glances at the princesses. "Any doubts about Kuchiki's skills. We'll take care of it, your Imperial Highness."
Ichigo nods briefly and turns to Yamada. "This matchmaking farce," he says, and Junior Advisor Yamada hides his expression behind the papers in his hands.
"Yes, Sir?"
"It's done. Start arranging for the other women and their families to leave the palace."
"But, Sir, didn't we say that doing so would be a…" Yamada lowers his voice, "a show of weakness?"
Ichigo grunts. "The next attack could be on them," he says. His eyes dart once more toward the privacy screen hiding Rukia from him. "Send everyone but Lady Kuchiki, Lady Inoue, and Lady Matsumoto home." At that, Yamada brightens and scribbles something on the paperwork in his hand.
"Matsumoto?" Hitsugaya blurts out.
Ichigo smirks at him. "She's entertaining, and friendly with Lady Inoue and Lady Kuchiki."
Yamada bows in agreement. "Yes, Sir. I'll arrange for alternate quarters as well. Perhaps Lady Inoue and Lady Matsumoto can be moved nearer to the princesses, so that the women's guard isn't as spread out." He glances up at Ichigo and scribbles on his paperwork again.
Yoruichi nods her thanks. "We were spread thin with a guard assigned to nearly every one of your brides." She just smirks again when Ichigo glares at her and waves a hand as she strolls out of the healing space.
"Send for Lord Kuchiki as well," Ichigo says a moment later, and grimaces. "He'll want to know that his sister was hurt." He looks back toward Rukia's resting place again. "Alert me when he has arrived, I want to be here when he sees her."
Yamada nods again, and bows before scurrying away, leaving only Ichigo's sisters and Hitsugaya, who casts a warning glance at Karin when she opens her mouth.
Ichigo drops a kiss on the top of Yuzu's head. "I have some…other matters to take care of," he says, and there is a low note of warning in his tone. He can feel his magic writhing beneath his skin, and his hand clenches around a lick of flame. He nods as three members of the women's guard step into the room, Lieutenant Arisawa in the lead.
"Your Imperial Highness." All three bow to him, and Ichigo gestures impatiently for them to rise.
"Has Lady Shihouin given you your orders? Good. Arisawa, I understand you're assigned to Lady Kuchiki?" he asks.
Arisawa nods briefly. "She fought like one of us, Sir," is all she says before stationing herself near Rukia's bed. The other two guards, at Arisawa's gesture, station themselves close to Yuzu and Karin. One slips the younger girl a book with a wink before her expression becomes impassive once more.
Ichigo nods to all three and sweeps from the room, Hitsugaya following behind him. "Stay here and help guard the princess and Lady Kuchiki," Ichigo orders the two guards stationed at the doorway.
"Yes, Sir," they intone. The second, a somber younger man with blond hair whose uniform is smudged with the evidence of magical burns, unbends enough to say, "Lady Kuchiki fought well, Sir. It's a privilege." Ichigo just nods.
Four other guards fall behind him.
"Sir," Hitsugaya begins.
Ichigo doesn't even glance down at him. "I said we'll discuss this later. Coordinate with Shihouin and Zaraki. I want this mage caught before they can do anything else." He turns left down another hallway before Hitsugaya can respond.
His magic is roiling. For a moment all he can see is Yuzu lying injured and small on white sheets. He can picture Rukia, bleeding and flinging attacks at assailants she can't see. Fire springs up in his hand this time and Ichigo swears, startling all four of the guards around him.
"Your Imperial Highness?" one asks. Ichigo glances at him. The guard is a little taller than him, but obviously muscular, even through the dark uniform he wears. Tattoos spread from the man's eyebrows and work upwards toward his hairline into two v-shaped patterns, where crimson stubble grows from his scalp.
He shakes his hand and the fire snuffs out. Ichigo has a vague thought of sparring with one of the guards to settle his magic and turns again, down the hallway leading toward the magic-proofed sparring room at the far end of the palace.
There is no one else in the sparring room when he reaches it, and another guard hurries forward to push the door open.
"Ah, Sir, by your orders the sparring room was to be closed during the mourning period," the redheaded guard says hesitantly, and Ichigo turns to him.
"Yes, it was," he says, and unceremoniously pulls the heavy black robes from his body. He drapes them on a bench to one side of the room and strips off his belt and Zangetsu with it. His boots and socks are next, and Ichigo leaves them lying on the floor. All four of his guards stare at him as he strips off his shirt.
There is a mirror along one wall and Ichigo catches a glimpse of himself: muscular but still thin, with shoulders he has just barely grown into. His hair is bright as a flame and the longest it has ever been, reaching nearly the middle of the space between his shoulder blades. "You," he says, and points at the redhead. "Can you shield?" At the guard's nod, he orders, "Spar with me. Before I set fire to the palace."
Four jaws drop open and Ichigo barely resists the urge to roll his eyes at them. He wants to shout: Rukia and my sister are injured and I couldn't protect them! They nearly died and I wasn't even there! Instead he rolls his shoulders and waits.
"Ah – yes, your Imperial Highness," the guard says, and as the other three watch he strips off his boots and sword, and then the dō, sode, and kote that make up the top half of his uniform. He pulls his shirt off next, and Ichigo raises an eyebrow at the angular tattoos that work their way outwards from his chest and down his arms. There are more forming a frame around his abdomen and disappearing into his trousers.
"And your offensive magic?" Ichigo asks as he steps away from the bench and into the center of the room.
The guard follows him, still looking unnerved, but he straightens up. "Fire, like you, Sir," he says.
"Hn. Begin," Ichigo calls. When a blast of orange flame roars towards him Ichigo's hands move and a shield of light, curved and glowing, snaps into place and deflects the flame. His own flame follows in retaliation, a slithering thing of orange and red that finds the guard's hastily-cast triangular shield. The flame hits the ceiling instead and dissipates.
Ichigo steps closer and his hand curves. The very air around the guard twists and pulls, sending the man falling to the floor before he can shield. "Ah – I don't only have fire," he explains as the guard leaps back to his feet. This time when the fire leaves his hand it is a whirl of flame, and the guard leaps out of the way, shield growing larger.
"Hn. Good to know, Sir," the redhead grunts, and sends more fire in Ichigo's direction.
This blast is stronger, and Ichigo grins as he dodges it and deflects it. He hasn't sparred in over two months and using his magic like this – pouring it into the air, feeling it move through his veins – is energizing. He traces a shape in the air with his fingertips and the guard barely dodges a lasso of air that whips around him. "What's your name, by the way?"
"Renji Abarai, Sir." He sends another blast of fire that Ichigo dodges, bobbing lightly on the balls of his bare feet.
Ichigo nods to him and his fingers move again, sending another whirlwind of fire and air. They are both sweating already from the heat in the room, but he drops his shield in favor of ducking and dodging again with Renji's next attack. His fingers pull the air to him and take Renji off his feet, so that the guard has to scramble to get up and shield from the next blast of fire.
Renji grins at him savagely, and Ichigo has to roll to avoid the next attack. They exchange magical blows for a time, fire and air blasting against shields of light. Renji's fire catches the hem of Ichigo's trousers and he shakes off both the flame and the guard's apologies. The other guards watch silently, occasionally fanning themselves because of the heat, as the room continues to heat up.
Ichigo pulls more of his magic to do his bidding and Renji rises into the air until he can snap himself out of the charged air around him. He lands on the ground with a grunt and retaliates, sending fireballs flying at Ichigo from every direction. Ichigo's shield rejects them, sending several bounding toward the taller man, who shields frantically to defend himself. His shield flickers and dies as Ichigo watches. "Are your reserves exhausted?" he asks, fire forming in his hand.
"Yeah, that's all I've got," Renji admits.
Ichigo shakes the fire from his hand with a grunt. His magic sits easier inside him, and so does the rage, banked and under control instead of burning. "Thank you, Guard Abarai," he says formally, and accepts the other man's bow with a brief nod.
One of the other guards hurries over with water for them both, and Ichigo waves a hand, sending a cooling breeze into the room. When they are both cooled down, Ichigo dresses once again. His hair is still damp, and when they leave the sparring room he turns towards his rooms.
Yamada finds him partway to his destination instead, however, this time with Lord Byakuya Kuchiki in tow. "Ah! Your Imperial Highness," Yamada calls, both men bow to him. "You asked me to alert you when Lord Kuchiki arrived."
The older man straightens up at Ichigo's gesture. "Your Imperial Highness. You asked to see me." The words are calm and uninflected, but there is a line of tension in his frame and when the man sniffs delicately Ichigo flushes with embarrassment – he probably stinks of sweat.
But Rukia is more important, and Ichigo nods in acknowledgement. "I did. Your sister, Lady Kuchiki, has been injured," Ichigo explains calmly, and watches the shock move through the noble's eyes before the stoic expression returns to his face. "She was defending my sisters from assassins."
Byakuya stares at him. "My sister has very little magical ability," he says after a long moment. "She has no talent in the material arts, and only the slightest ability in mind magics."
At that, Ichigo sighs and thinks, I'm sorry, Rukia. "Come with me." Byakuya bows and soon enough they are in the healing halls again. Karin is reading quietly to Yuzu and the privacy screen is still drawn around Rukia, but Ichigo steps around it just the same.
"Ichigo?" Rukia asks when Byakuya appears behind him. "My Lord Kuchiki." She tries to sit up and Ichigo hastens closer to help her, an action that has Byakuya looking at both of them speculatively.
"I had to tell your brother that you were injured, Rukia," Ichigo says apologetically.
"Did you—" When Ichigo shakes his head emphatically, some of the tension leaves Rukia's body.
"I see there is something you are not telling me," Byakuya observes. "How did you defend someone from an assassination when you have so little magic, Rukia?"
Rukia's hands clasp together tightly. "I am sorry, brother," she whispers. "I know that it is the pride of the Kuchiki clan to be talented in mind magics, and that my stunted abilities do the clan no honor."
Ichigo looks toward Byakuya, a scowl on his face. "Did you tell her that?" he asks accusingly. "That she is stunted?"
"No! No, it was the clan elders who said it," Rukia says quickly.
"But you aren't stunted. What the hell, Rukia?" Ichigo's words are nearly snarled.
Byakuya watches them carefully, eyes shifting between the two as they speak. "I would like one of you to tell me what is going on," he comments.
"I have battle magic," Rukia blurts out, hands clenched together so tightly together that her knuckles are turning white. Ichigo's hand finds her shoulder and rests there, lightly. "Strong battle magic."
Byakuya's jaw drops open, and he clears his throat. "I see. Why did you hide this from me, Rukia?"
"She seemed to think you would be angry," Ichigo says, and his hand squeezes her shoulder lightly.
"I was a member of the elite women's guard before you found me," Rukia says quietly. "I left the guard after the Adachi incident, because I…" She glances between them. "Something that Adachi did hurt my magic."
"I see." Byakuya looks between them again. "The Adachi incident. The guard involved saved the Crown Princess' life and was badly injured."
Rukia clears her throat. "Yes," she agrees. "I am sorry that I did not tell you, I knew it would be a source of dishonor to have a soldier in the clan…"
"Like hell," Ichigo swears, and he stares at Byakuya, daring him to say otherwise.
"The Emperor's choice of words is crude," Byakuya says instead, "But not inaccurate. There is no dishonor in battle magic, or in being part of the women's guard, Rukia. There is great honor in saving the life of a member of the royal family. Why did you think you couldn't tell me that?"
Rukia just stares at her hands. "The elders made it clear that only mind magics were acceptable in the clan, and when they tested me, they called it stunted."
Ichigo's glare is almost enough to set something on fire, as though he hasn't just spent half an hour getting that out of his system, but he takes a deep breath and when his hand squeezes Rukia's shoulder again, she reaches up and rests her hand on his. "You are not stunted," he says quietly.
"Indeed. Clearly the elders were incorrect," Byakuya agrees. "You have brought only honor to the clan since joining it, Rukia."
"She's saved my life and the lives of my sisters," Ichigo adds. "Rukia is a jewel of the Kuchiki clan."
Rukia's cheeks are flushed bright red and she hides her face in her free hand, but Ichigo just smirks.
Byakuya eyes their joined hands. "You have clearly gotten to know one another," he observes.
"We have. That is the other reason I asked you to come to the palace," Ichigo says. "I would like to court Lady Kuchiki formally." His cheeks flush slightly and he adds, "I hold your sister in extremely high regard."
"And the other women who were summoned to the palace?"
Ichigo shakes his head. "They are being sent away. Lady Kuchiki is the only woman I wish to court."
Rukia's face is as red as a tomato, but she manages to squeeze his hand in return.
"I see. We will need to negotiate terms, your Imperial Highness," Byakuya points out.
But Ichigo just nods. "We will," he agrees. "As I said, I hold Rukia in extremely high regard."
"And how do you feel about this, Rukia?"
"I…have told the Emperor that his courtship would be welcome," she murmurs, and looks up at him shyly. Their eyes meet and the rage of the last few hours, the worry over her, falls away for a moment as he loses himself in her amethyst-hued eyes. He wants to kiss her again – it's suddenly the only thing he wants, even though her brother is standing right there. Her hand squeezes his, bringing him back to himself, and Ichigo squeezes her shoulder gently in response.
"Very well. Your Imperial Highness, will you allow me a moment alone with my sister?"
Ichigo looks at him a touch suspiciously, but his hand falls away from Rukia's shoulder. "I'll be just outside," he tells her, and steps away.
The siblings' words are muffled by the spells on the screen, but Ichigo still hears Byakuya tell her, "I am sorry that the clan elders have so mistreated you. It will not happen again. They have dishonored the clan by making you feel less-than. Your sister—"
"I have a sister?"
Ichigo frowns and steps away, instead choosing to sit by Yuzu's side until Byakuya once more comes out from behind the screen. "My sister is asking for you," he tells the younger man.
When Ichigo sees her again Rukia's eyes are red-rimmed. "Did he make you cry?" he demands.
But Rukia just laughs a little and holds her hand out to him. "No! No, it's fine, Ichigo, I promise. My brother just finally told me the reason I was adopted, and it's…sadder than I expected."
Ichigo's hand slides into hers and he perches on the edge of the bed, facing her. His free hand comes up to brush a stray tear from her cheek. "I see." He leans forward and his lips touch her forehead lightly.
She sniffs lightly, and Ichigo draws back, cheeks flushed. But Rukia doesn't look disgusted – she looks… Well. Ichigo isn't quite sure what to make of the way her pupils dilate slightly.
But Rukia shakes herself of it and explains, "Byakuya was married to my sister. She…abandoned me when I was very young, because she couldn't take care of me. But she looked for me, after she married Byakuya. Her dying wish was for him to find me and take me into the clan."
"I'm sorry, Rukia." He says the words softly, and his arm slides around her when she leans into him.
"I wish I'd been able to meet her."
"I do too. But she would be proud of you, you know. The same way your brother is."
Rukia chokes on a laugh and brushes another tear away impatiently. "I'm not normally this much of a…a waterworks," she excuses herself.
Ichigo chuckles softly and kisses her forehead again. "You've been injured and had both healing and a pain potion," he tells her. "And I don't mind, anyway. You're strong, not an…automaton." When he pulls her away just slightly so that he can lower his lips to hers, Rukia sighs into his mouth and her hand drifts to his shoulder, pulling him closer.
"My brother is just on the other side of the screen," she whispers when they have parted.
"I know. And you need more rest." But he kisses her again before he can disentangle himself, and their hands are the last to part.
Later that afternoon, Aizen strolls casually through the hallways of the palace. Amidst the sea of black robes and equally dark dresses he manages to blend in. He observes with interest the number of wooden trunks being carted off by servants and the disappointed noblemen who follow them. Eventually, however, he reaches an area of the palace where there are no crowds and no guards.
"You were unsuccessful. Again. Even with my help."
"You told me she had some kind of foresight, ya didn't say that she was an experienced battle mage," the silver-haired man protests. "She and that lieutenant killed eight of my best men."
Aizen sniffs and the silk of his robes whirls around him as he paces the length of the small, out of the way room in a little-used wing of the palace. "A battle mage? That little creature?"
"She has blue fire and she tracked my men using their own magic," the other man claims. "We hit the younger princess, the pale-haired one, and one of my men injured the Kuchiki girl."
"But they are both expected to recover fully, and there are too many guards in the healing room for you to sneak someone in," Aizen comments. "And now they will be on alert."
"Well, what do ya want me to do?"
"I will make the next move in this little game. Be at the ready for my signal. It looks like the Emperor is dismissing many of the women he called to the palace for this marriage nonsense."
"That could make things harder," the silver-haired man points out, but Aizen just smiles.
"Don't worry, Gin. They won't all be gone for another few days, I'm sure."
Gin slips away before Aizen this time, and in his servant's garb he strolls, false paperwork held in his hand to create the appearance of a servant. He dodges the dark-clad women – some of them saying bitter things about the tiny Kuchiki woman – and their fathers easily, until he runs into a tall, busty woman in a baby blue dress, a bright spot amidst the sea of dark clothing.
"Gin?" The expression on the blonde woman's face is one of shock as the other nobles and their storage trunks stream around her.