Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
Chapter 7
Early the next morning, Senbonzakura stormed into Byakuya's study. "We had an intruder last night." He told his brother hostility. "I was checking surveillance across the manor because I just had a weird feeling something was wrong. Then lo and behold, I find a masked man in all black talking to Rukia."
Byakuya ignored his brother so Senbonzakura continued. "I wondered how could something like this happen on the great Byakuya Kuchiki's turf without him knowing about it, but then I thought long and hard. You all along that he was there, didn't you?"
Without looking up from his paperwork, Byakuya replied, "Of course, I knew he was there. The bastard had been observing us for a while, and he probably took pictures as proof to how that Rukia was live. I'm surprised he was idiotic enough to approach her after I left. He had to know that he was risking his life."
"Why the hell didn't you kill him then? He could have hurt her?" Senbonzakura yelled, slamming his hands down onto Byakuya's paperwork.
Finally having enough of his twin's drama, calm, steel grey eyes met stormy, grey-blue ones. "Zakura, I didn't kill him because we needed him alive." Byakuya stated matter-of-factly, like nothing was unusual.
"What are you talking about? Why would we need him?" The shocked twin asked. His blood was still roaring in his ears over the fact that Byakuya didn't take out a threat to Rukia. The man could have killed her on the roof for crying out loud!
"If we kill the chess piece, then he'll never lead us to his master. You have to think smartly, Zakura. We can't go around killing anyone we deem as a possible threat."
Senbonzakura scoffed at his brother's words. When it came to keeping Rukia safe, he didn't mind the "unnecessary" killing.
"Sulk all you want to, but I assume we shall meet this mysterious person's employer later today. I have a hunch who he works for."
"And just who might that be brother?" Senbonzakura asked curiously.
Byakuya braced himself for the Senbonzakura's overreaction at his analysis. "I believe the man was from Rukia's clan informing her relatives or he was working for the Shibas. For all he knows, she is his fiancée, and he'd go to the ends of the earth to find her. She is a worthy bride after all."
"They'll take her over my dead body." Senbonzakura growled. The death threat lingered in the air as Byakuya tried to hide his smirk. Somethings never changed.
"I thought you said this Kaien Shiba was a decent fellow and a friend of hers."
"I don't care if he's decent or not! The man still isn't getting his hands on Rukia. She'd be dead in a heartbeat if that happened. No one can protect her like we can!" Senbonzakura clinched his fist just thinking about the possibility of losing Rukia.
Sighing internally, Byakuya scolded his twin. "You need to calm down, Zakura. You're getting too emotional, and that leads to irrational thoughts and decisions. We can't lose our heads or we will lose her."
"I'm getting to emotional? Byakuya, we had a man come on our home turf searching for Rukia. Someone told him where she was, or they've guessed your involvement when we haven't spoken for 5 years! Someone had to betray us!" Senbonzakura concluded as he watched his brother's grey eyes narrow then look to the left.
"What if I told you that I knew the masked man?" Byakuya whispered quietly. His brother stilled at the other's question.
"You know who he is then?" Senbonzakura demanded. He was trying to reign in his feelings of wanting to strangle his brother. Why couldn't they just go after the man and end him? Their threat would be eliminated. Rukia would be safe, and she would have time to think over their requirement of marriage. It's not like it mattered which one she picked anyway. They both cared for her.
"Judging by the way the man moved, I assume that he is Gin Ichimaru. He worked security outside of the manor for a while, but never in here. I always held him at arm's length because I questioned his loyalty." Byakuya was silent for a moment. If Gin was indeed involved, something wasn't right. The man always remind him of a snake or a fox.
"Then you should have killed him if you questioned his loyalty. What if he is working for that Aizen character? Think of all the chaos that would follow!" Senbonzakura growled without showing a moment of hesitation.
"Rukia will be fine, Zakura. She has both of us." Byakuya told him calmly. This wasn't a type of guerrilla warfare that they were playing but rather a game of chess. He was just kind enough to let the enemies make the first move. His brother hasn't learned that after all these years brashness got you into more trouble than its worth.
"She has me, but I'm starting to wonder why I came to you since you let a potential major threat walk away!" Senbonzakura said as he stormed out to find Rukia. He planned on keeping her within his sights at all times now.
Byakuya ignored his brother's harsh words. Instead he asked his brother's retreating form, "Do you think I would have left Rukia on her own with a man I didn't completely trust?"
Without turning around, Senbonzakura replied, "I don't know, brother. You tell me."
The eldest was quit for a moment before answering. "Even though I let him get on the roof with her, I never did say I went back inside or alone. They only seemed alone."
Without seeing his facing, Byakuya knew that Senbonzakura smiled at his answer. The twin knew exactly where his brother was during the meeting. "You were in our old hid out then?"
"Looking through the scope of old faithful." Byakuya told Senbonzakura. The once hostile twin completely relaxed now that he knew the score. The twins silently agreed at that moment that they would have to keep a close eye on Rukia now that people knew she was at the man.
Dark, grey eyes watched his brother exit the study. Sighing softly, Byakuya thought about the problem of all their troubles - Rukia. The petite firecracker, who made the Kuchikis go to war for her, had both of them wrapped around her small fingers.
Today was quite unusual for Rukia. Everywhere she turned, she either ran into Byakuya or Senbonzakura. Neither man would let her out of his sight for more than two minutes.
Did they know about the man on the roof? What am I saying! Of course, they had to know, but why haven't they asked about him yet… unless one of them was there the whole time. That definitely would explain the hovering even thought they were trying to be inconspicuous.
Speaking of inconspicuous, Rukia suddenly caught a flash of navy out of the corner of her eye. It was like just thinking about the twins made them appear out of thin air; although, in this house that probably was possible with all the secret passages that she accidently found.
Now, where are you going and which one are you…
At first, Rukia thought the person was Byakuya since he walked so gracefully and at least he had other things to do rather than check on her all day. But she couldn't get a good reading off of them like normal, but today was an off day for her. Their constant hovering didn't make distinguishing either one easier, especially since they both had navy shirts on earlier.
Following her instinct, Rukia silently closed in on the figure to realize the hair was off. To some, it wouldn't be noticeable, but she was around Byakuya and Senbonzakura a lot. The hair looked fake. Even the clip was not very Kuchiki like. This should have been her sign, but she was determined to see who this person was. Maybe it was a poor family that the men forgot to mention.
She was about to call out to him when he whirled around and shoved her in a room nearby. Rukia looked around frantically for something to clobber the man on the head with, but he shoved her against the wall pinning her arms about her head. Amethyst eyes stared in horror at her attacker before she finally recognized the sea green eyes before her. "Kaien?"
"Miss me?" Kaien said with a smirk. Infuriated, Rukia kicked him in the shin causing him to release her arms, but she noticed that he had loosened his hold once she realized who he was.
"What the hell are you even doing here, Kaien?"
He ignored her question as he checked over Rukia for bruises or any sign of torture. Byakuya Kuchiki was known for many things, but patience and kindness wasn't one of them.
"What are you doing!" She asked as he raised up her sleeve. Jumping backwards, she swatted at him. "Quit! I'm perfectly fine!"
"Is it true? Have you been here the whole time?" Kaien asked her quietly.
"Do I look like I've been out on the streets?" An exasperated Rukia asked. "Now tell me, what are you doing here!" She commanded.
A black eye brow arched at her. "Didn't the man tell you last night that you'd be rescued? So I am rescuing you!" He stated proudly like he had won a trophy.
Rukia thought back to the masked man's smile. "You sent him!" She yelled. "I thought that bastard was there to kill me, dumbass!" The petite woman smacked Kaien upside the head.
"Dammit, Rukia! Calm down." He said as he grabbed her arms and pinned them to her sides, but she kept trying to shove him off of her. "Rukia, I am not going to do anything to you for crying out loud!" Kaien growled. The hint of earnestly and annoyance ran though his voice.
"Kaien?" She didn't even have to ask. He knew what she wanted to hear.
"I had to make sure you were in one piece. Do you realize how worried Ichigo and I have been? We thought everyone died that night. Hell, you almost gave me a coronary when we found out that you sought refuge with the Kuchikis since Senbonzakura died. Why didn't you come to me or Ichigo for help? You know we'd do anything for you!"
"Kai, I don't know who informed you, but Zakura is alive. That's why we've been here the whole time." Rukia told her friend. His face held nothing but shock. Did her beloved bodyguard kidnap her then? Separately, the Kuchikis were bad enough, but together they were an unbeatable team.
"She does have a point, Shiba. I am quite alive." Senbonzakura said as he walked into the room. A sigh of relief escaped Rukia lips knowing that she wasn't alone now. She liked Kaien, but he was freaking her out with the cloak and dagger stuff at the moment.
"I must say, nice touch dressing like us even to that ugly false hair of yours to lure Rukia to you, but don't think for a minute that you're leaving with her." Senbonzakura growled.
Kaien's hand wrapped around Rukia's upper arm, earning a him a glare from the petite woman. "You and what army, Kuchiki? We both know your injured if you survived. Rukia doesn't have a scratch on her so at least you did your damn job!" Kaien stated.
"I'd watch your mouth, Shiba. I vouched for you, but I didn't realize you'd be such an ass." Senbonzakura glared at Kaien's hand on Rukia.
"She doesn't deserve to be your prison or your brother's! She needs to be with her friends and family!" Kaien retorted.
His haughty tone cause Rukia to see red. She brought her heel down on Kaien instep instantly making the man release her. "Ow! Rukia! What the hell?" He asked as the petite woman made her way over to Senbonzakura.
"Kaien Shiba, you are to be nice to the Kuchikis! They have been protecting me with my consent! This isn't a prison, but a sanctuary." She growled at the shocked man. His sea green eyes searched hers for the truth, and that was all he found.
"Rukia, it doesn't matter. You are my fiancée; therefore, you can't be in a house with two men who aren't married!" Bright amethyst eyes greeted his. " You look so confused now. Why are you backing away from me?" Kaien asked.
. Senbonzakura placed himself in front of Rukia in case the unwanted man decided to lay his hands on her again.
"You need to leave, Shiba." Senbonzakura said.
"Ah, there is the cold and calculating look of the Kuchikis." Cold blue-grey eyes hardened on his target. "But I'm still not leaving without my fiancée even if you try to throw me out. I'll come right back for her because she is my friend. You, on the other hand, are just a glorified bodyguard – title or not." Kaien hissed.
Before Senbonzakura could answer, Rukia pushed him out of the way to face Kaien. "Fiancée? I'm not marrying you, Kaien! You and I both know that you were forced into that marriage contract so leave! Marry Miyako and forget about me."
"I promised your father that I'd protect you at all cost." Kaien stated as his glaze held her amethyst one.
Rukia knew that he loved her but only as a friend. She laughed at the irony. Wasn't she looking at the same exact marriage with one of the twins?
"Kai, I am protected." She told him, hoping that her nickname for him would provide some comfort with her decision. "You've seen me with your own two eyes. Tell Ichigo that I am fine and whoever else that is looking for me. I promise I will make my reappearance to the clan soon, but right now I need time." Rukia told him calmly, hoping that he could see past his prejudice of the Kuchikis.
Taking the hint, Senbonzakura said, "Leave, Shiba. Please don't make me escort you off Kuchiki property for Rukia's sake."
"You don't have authority to command me. You gave up being a Kuchiki long ago." Kaien replied. He was still dead set on leaving with Rukia no matter what his heart said. Kaien prided himself on keeping his word, especially to the dead.
"Come on, Rukia. Ichigo and I are waiting for you like always." Kaien murmured as he bypassed Senbonzakura and wrapped his arm firmly around Rukia's shoulders holding her in place. The younger Kuchiki made no move to interfere. He just stood there watching the two with a cat ate the canary type of grin as his glaze was on the petite woman.
"Let go of me…" Rukia whispered in a deadly voice. "I'm staying here, Kaien."
"Over my dead body." Kaien growled.
"That could be arranged, Shiba." Byakuya said from behind him. The man froze on spot. His veins filled with ice as he now realized why Senbonzakura didn't make a move to stop him. Byakuya must have been there hiding the whole time waiting for the perfect time to strike.
"I am in my rights to want my fiancée back." Kaien stated as he faced off with the fearsome Byakuya Kuchiki.
"Actually, Rukia should decide who she wants to marry." Kaien looked confused for a minute until Byakuya's glaze landed on Rukia's. "Wouldn't you say that's right, Rukia?"
"Byakuya…" Rukia growled a low warning earning her a look of reproach. Basically, he said shut up until this is over with then they'll talk.
"What do you mean, Kuchiki? As far as I know, Rukia is engaged to me." Kaien stated.
"I proposed to her last night. I'm in love." Byakuya replied with a confident smile and said everything with a straight face He watched as Kaien's face fall and Senbonzakura was trying his hardest not to laugh at his brother's tactic. "So the question is, who is she going to choose? You or me?"
Kaien looked down at Rukia. "Is this true? Did he propose to you?"
She turned to smile shyly at him. This bluff had better work…
"Yes. It is, Kai." Rukia stated with large dreamy eye as she channeled her inner lovey dovey princess. "I'm sorry but, I agreed to marry Byakuya last night. Being here just made me feel complete."
Damn, I'm going to make myself sick if I keep this up.
Rukia snuck a look at Kaien's face, and he was just not buying it. She had to take it up a notch when he asked, "This is some sick joke. They had to have brain washed you did, Rukia! Don't you see this place is getting to your head! You're not even acting yourself." Kaien told the petite girl with worry evident in his voice.
Rukia walked up to the man to the twins' dismay, and she placed both hands on the side of his face. "Kai, take this way out for you. Go marry, Miyako, like I know you want to do. I'm not blind. You love her. I am not holding you responsible for trying to do what's right by me. I'm already in the best of hands there are so go court that wonderful woman! Be happy!" Rukia pleaded.
But her words had the exact opposite effect. Determination filled Kaien's features as he placed a kiss on her forehead. "I'll be back for you. I'm not leaving you in their clutches because you deserve better than that. You deserve to be happy as well." Kaien made his promise then headed to the door.
"You better take care of her or there will be hell to pay." Kaien told the brother as he exited the door.
Rukia watched in shock as he left her with the twins. Just what the hell did she get into again? Was all her friends insane? Most importantly, did she just agree to marry Byakuya Kuchiki?
And so the plot thickness! Thank y'all for reading, reviewing, following, and favoriting!