The Nightingale

Chapter 36: Intentions

The night before, after he hit Rukia and she left without saying another word, a soldier knocked on his door and handed him a scroll; Soujun didn't know if the Deities were helping him or he was very lucky at the time, but Koga was right; Rukia controlled the second most powerful man in the kingdom, and surely she hadn't realized it.

That thought was the only possible answer to why someone would send him a scroll with what he had to say in the meeting he would have in front of the king.

— We come to a wedding, you pray to the Deities that there is no funeral too. — Soujun told Nadeshiko before heading to his meeting with the king in the Dome.

Soujun was not going to lie to himself, for the first time he was afraid of being in front of the king. The years of anger and resentment had given way to the fear he felt at that time because he was certain that if something went wrong, not only would he die, but also his family would die. Nothing assured Soujun that this meeting could not be a trap and that in those moments there could not be an assassin on his way to Maranni to kill Byakuya and his family.

Rukia had said one thing, the note that arrived said another, but the king always had the last word, and if the king believed that he was lying then there would be nothing he could do. He walked with a firm step through the corridors of the castle until he reached the Dome and, before entering the meeting with the king, he prayed to the Deities in silence and put his life in their hands.

When the doors were opened and Soujun entered, he could see the king and the two princes sitting in their seats at that long table where affairs of state had been discussed and occasional jokes had been made for so many years. Soujun bowed to the king and sat in his place; There were only two other councilors there, the War Councilor and the Money Councilor; the two of them were the king's most trusted men, his personal advisers and friends.

— Councilor, I'm waiting for an explanation as to why you had not told me about what you were doing in Maranni. — The king was serious when he said that, he was obviously not happy. Soujun nodded silently, ordering the ideas and thoughts on which his life depended.

Prince Kaien seemed curious and Prince Ichigo was upset; the councilors, on the other hand, were drinking coffee as if it were just another council meeting. Internally he was grateful that only they were there, the presence of the other members of the Council could cause rumors that would affect his own family and consequently the royal family due to Rukia's future wedding with the Second Prince.

Rukia hadn't saved her family's life because she loved them, Rukia was doing all of this out of her own interest; Soujun concluded that perhaps her daughter not only had power, she also wanted more power.

— As your majesty knows, — Soujun began to speak with all the calm that was in him; with the tranquility of someone who has not done something wrong, even if that is a lie. — My trips to Maranni have been more consistent in the last year and therefore I have noticed things that I had not noticed before because I was serving in the Capital. There have been many reports of damage and looting in some areas, nothing really alarming that would put crops and supplies in great danger, but it couldn't be left unattended, so I authorized young recruits from the various affected villages to be trained; I consider that in the long term it would be good for the kingdom to have them, they defend their own lands and if at any moment we need soldiers, they will be available to go to battle in an emergent way. I intended to make it known to you, Your Majesty, once the soldiers were in their own villages.

— And your visits from foreign people, of which you had not informed me either, what do you have to say?

— My son has traveled extensively, he did it before he got married and he forged a friendship with the Jetaiya heir. When Prince Ichigo arrived in Maranni, the Prince of Jetaiya had already left the Great House. It's just that, Your Majesty.

— Can we trust that it's just a friendship? — The king asked totally serious.

— Yes, your Majesty. My family would not be stained with the dishonor of betrayal and my son knows it. — Soujun looked at the king, who seemed attentive to what he was saying. Prince Kaien was writing down something, but Prince Ichigo was still angry.

— Very good, councilor. I will trust your word for the years of loyalty you have had towards the crown, consider yourself lucky, another in your place would have already died. — The king did not seem to convey any emotion beyond seriousness and Soujun was sure that the king was doing all this just for the Second Prince.

— Thank you, your majesty. — Soujun rose from his seat and bowed to the king before leaving the Dome; he no longer had anything else to say and the king had given the verdict on that situation.

Only Soujun left the Dome, the princes and councilors stayed inside along with the king, and Soujun could hear them speak about what he had said but he did not stay to listen to anything else; he knew perfectly well that they would talk about it until they reached a decision, and it was a very simple decision: to know how they would kill him to make it look like an accident.

Soujun knew it because he himself had been in those kinds of meetings, only that those times he was on the side of the judge and he had been the executor of those accidents. The Peace Counselor was the executioner of the kingdom, he executed the death orders given by the king, and made sure that everything was at peace with minor matters that had to be settled. His father had done it, his father's father had done it, and he did it; they were the ones who stained their hands with blood to preserve the peace of the kingdom in times of peace; even if one of the princes broke the rules, the Peace Councilor would be the executor.

He did not know how long he had been thinking about the meeting he had earlier with the king, but when he returned to the Lord's Rooms of Maranni, he found a note from Nadeshiko telling him that the queen had invited her and Yuki to spend the day with her. Soujun didn't know how to feel about it, he didn't know whether to be happy or worried, but he expected Rukia to behave with her mother when in the presence of the queen; He stared at the note for a moment and suddenly noticed that the place was very quiet.

— Lord Kuchiki. — A man's voice made him stop seeing the note in his hand. There, in front of him, was the Second Prince's red-haired guard, the one who was always with him.

— What is one of the prince's dogs doing here? — Soujun asked while still looking at the red-haired man in front of him; Renji was his name. He didn't like that, he knew it wasn't good that one of Ichigo's private guards was there, and he didn't like the way that man was smiling.

— If there's one thing you should know, Lord Kuchiki, it's that dogs don't hunt alone. — Behind him he heard the voice of the other Second Prince guard; he was the one who had gone to Maranni with Ichigo; Uryu.

— We are here to deliver a message to you from the Second Prince. — Renji said approaching him. Soujun noticed that the man was cracking his own knuckles in preparation to hit him.

— Which message? — Soujun asked, but Uryu, who was still behind him, grabbed his arms tightly, immobilizing him completely. Soujun did not resist, and even if he had, the guard's strength was considerably greater than his and he would be easily subdued.

— Prince Ichigo sends you a warning: don't ever hit or harm Lady Rukia again; If Lady Rukia feels hurt again because of you, it will be taken as an offense to the crown. — Uryu spoke in Soujun's ear.

Soujun was distracted by Uryu's words, that when he felt the blow to his stomach it was so surprising that he lost his breath and the strength in his legs; Uryu held him tighter so he wouldn't fall to the floor.

— The prince does not want Lady Rukia's father to suffer an accident days before the wedding. — Renji gave him a second and third blow to the stomach so hard that when Uryu released him, Soujun fell to the floor out of breath. — One blow for every offense the prince has received from you, Councilor.

—

Yuki was really excited to be inside the castle, Rukia hadn't told her what it was like inside, she didn't usually talk about her stay in the Castle and when she did, it was as if she didn't like being there; That's why Yuki was so happy to see the interior of that place with her own eyes. Yuki was too young to belong to the Queen's court when Rukia was called to go to the Capital, although they were both of a similar age; Rukia was the daughter of the Councilor and future princess, that's why she had been taken to the castle, and that's why Yuki had to wait until next year.

She had put on her best dress and put her hair up in an elegant way, as Rukia used to do when visiting Maranni. Yuki had to accept that Rukia had changed since she was in the queen's court and was only waiting for the moment to apologize for what she had said that night in Maranni; she was hoping that Rukia would forgive her because deep down she Rukia was naive and forgiving easily.

Yuki knew that when Rukia became a princess she would need a lady-in-waiting, and they used to be chosen from among the daughters of the great lords of the kingdom; ladies-in-waiting had privileges ranging from a salary to the possibility of a marriage to someone important.

And Yuki wanted that; Rukia owed it to her at least.

The queen had invited her and her aunt Nadeshiko to spend the whole day there, and although they would see some things related to Rukia's wedding, Yuki knew that if she did her job well, she would have the favor of the queen; and everyone knew that the queen was the one who ran the castle. Rukia would be there, she was basically the queen's shadow, and Yuki knew that Rukia would talk to her whether she wanted to or not; also, Rukia had to behave in the presence of the queen and not be rude as she had been the night before with her father.

The guard escorting them led them to one of the inner gardens, which was really beautiful and surrounded by bushes and flowers; the servants had arranged everything so that the comfort was absolute, there was even a table with fruits and water to drink. The more she watched, the more Yuki liked the idea of being there; everything was pretty and bright.

— Please, sit down. The queen will be here in a few more moments. — Said the guard when they reached where the chairs were placed.

Yuki and her aunt sat down and the maids served them some juice in a glass while they waited. Her aunt began to talk about the time she was in the Queen's Court, how beautiful everything was and how incredible the parties that were held were; all of which only made Yuki want more and more to be the Rukia's lady-in-waiting.

— Attention! Queen Masaki is here. — Said one of the servants who was in the garden.

Yuki stood up next to her aunt upon hearing that and they both bowed to the queen. The queen entered with a smile on her lips and an expression so joyous that it radiated happiness; Yuki thought the queen was perfect.

— Sorry to keep you waiting, I had some issues to attend to. — The queen apologized and Yuki was delighted with that soft tone of voice she had. — I hope you were not bored. Rukia sends her apologies, she has business to attend to today that cannot wait, but at night she will visit them.

— No, your majesty. We are grateful that you have set aside a day to be with us. — Nadeshiko spoke kissing the queen's hand. Yuki imitated her.

The talk led to various topics, from Maranni to the arrival trip. They talked about the wedding and everything that was being done to make the party go smoothly. Yuki didn't say anything, she just listened attentively to the conversation between her aunt and the queen; she was upset that Rukia wasn't there and every time they brought up the subject of the wedding and everything would happen that day, they just made her feel like life wasn't fair to her. If Rukia had not been born, at that time she would have been one of Koga's wives and Maranni would be fighting for its independence.

Yuki was playing with a napkin when she heard her aunt ask the queen to make her Rukia's lady-in-waiting and Yuki knew it was time to speak when she noticed the surprise in the queen's eyes at such a request.

— Your Majesty, Rukia and I have always been together, we have grown up together. I would like to be Rukia's lady-in-waiting, I know that would make her happy. — Yuki hoped that argument would be good for the queen to accept her because it was the only argument that came to mind at the time.

Yuki knew her request sounded like a plea, but the queen just smiled and shook her head, setting aside her glass of juice.

— Unfortunately I cannot interfere with the choice of lady-in-waiting of the princesses, Miss Yuki; so if Rukia wants you as her lady, she will call you herself. — Explains the queen with a soft voice and a kind smile.

Yuki was about to say something else when a woman approached the queen and whispered some things in her ear causing the queen to rise from her seat with that classic elegance that she possessed.

— Sorry I can't stay for dessert, a problem has arisen that requires my attention. — The queen apologized. — But enjoy your dessert, I hope you like it. The guard who brought you will escort you back to your rooms.

That was the last thing the queen said before leaving followed by the woman who had arrived. Yuki stared at the door where the queen had gone and then she looked at the dessert, it was a sweet vanilla cream covered with meringue and a cherry on top. The guard was going to escort them, which meant they couldn't walk freely around the castle, and Yuki didn't like that either.

— The woman who came is the Kahya; she is the right hand of the queen. It must be something very important if he had to come looking for the queen. — Her aunt said before eating the dessert they had been served. — Eat your dessert so we can get out of here, the queen is not coming back and Rukia is too busy to see her mother.

Yuki noticed her aunt's anger as she said those words. What was Rukia thinking? She first she disrespected her own father and then she did not attend lunch with her own mother. Yuki definitely thought that Rukia needed more than one hit to get back to behaving like a lady.

—

Nelliel was tired from the journey from Visnia to Adelaar and all she wanted was to sleep in her own bed for days; Kaien had left her sometime between night and dawn, a messenger had come to where they were resting with an important message from the king for Kaien. Nelliel didn't want Kaien to leave her, but he had to because those messages had to be answered as soon as possible.

— I will leave Aaroniero and Nnoitra with you, my dear Nell. They will protect you, I have to go now and you must rest. — That had been Kaien's farewell before he mounted his horse and addressed Adelaar in the company of the messenger.

They were supposed to arrive the next day at night, but making the trip on horseback was faster, so Nelliel was sure that Kaien would reach Adelaar at dawn. Kaien had things to do and she would surely have things to do too when she got to Adelaar. The honeymoon had ended early, but it had been a good month, she had spoken with Kaien and they had both reached an agreement on their relationship.

She arrived at the castle in the afternoon, almost at night because the torches were starting to light, and Nell was surprised to see that Kaien was waiting for her.

— You took your time, my dear Nell. — Kaien said with a smile as he helped her get off the carriage and offered her his arm for her to hold and walk together. — There are so many things to tell you, my dear Nelliel, that I hope you feel like spending a lot of time in the king's bathtub with me.

Nelliel smiled at that, she liked that part of being married to Kaien.

"Yuki, I'll wait for you in my room today to have lunch together. Rukia."

It was the only thing that said the message that the servant gave Yuki that morning while she was having breakfast with her uncles; there was nothing else written, not a message for her aunt Nadeshiko, not an apology for her uncle Soujun.

— If you want to be Rukia's lady-in-waiting, then you have to be nice to her. — Her aunt was still upset, but Yuki could see that there was also sadness in Rukia's mother's expression.

— I won't go, if Rukia wants to talk to me, then she should come see me. The queen said that Rukia would come the other night and she did not, and I have tried to look for her but they do not let me enter the castle and they always tell me that she is busy; now it's her turn to come get me. — Yuki was upset and crumpled up the note that Rukia had sent her.

— Go have lunch with her. — Her uncle Soujun's voice made her turn to see him. Yuki was about to reply but her uncle wouldn't let her speak. — I need you to understand one thing, Yuki, if you want your life to be long and comfortable, then don't make Rukia angry.

— Uncle Soujun, what could Rukia do to me? She's only going to marry a prince who isn't even the crown prince for her to become queen. In addition, she betrayed us, abandoned us and preferred the kingdom that has done so much damage to our family, than to rebel against it. What she said the day we arrived was just a way of saying "don't mess with my life, I don't care what you want." — Yuki was upset, but her uncle seemed defeated and it scared her. — Is something wrong, Uncle?

— You are too young to understand. — Soujun started to say but stopped. — No, that was the mistake I made with Rukia, thinking that she was too young. I'm going to die, the king is going to have me killed, probably after the wedding; possibly they will also go to Maranni and get rid of Byakuya and his family. Maybe your father is on his list too, Yuki; the king is going to kill all the Kuchiki so that there is no danger of uprising.

— How do you know? — Yuki asked, her aunt was silent and Yuki assumed her aunt already knew. — Did the king tell you, Uncle?

— The king does not need to tell me what he will do with my life for me to know, because I have done the same when some of the nobles believe that they can be better than the king. Entire families fall from grace because the Kuchiki have taken care of that; everything so that the kingdom does not collapse from within. — Soujun paused. — They will surely make it seem like an accident, possibly only Byakuya's son will "survive", they will bring him to the castle and educate him as one of them, as the "last living man of the Kuchiki Family"; the puppet of the kings, without lands or titles beyond those that the king gives him. Without any danger to the kingdom; and Rukia will believe it, she will believe it because she herself said us that if we have to die, it will be by our own decisions. Rukia did not save our lives or prevent an attack on Maranni, she only gave us enough time to see how she makes her own life before our own actions end ours; Rukia left us Yuki, so if she calls you, then you will go to her call.

Yuki nodded to what her uncle said although she did not believe what he said, Rukia was a good person, a little rebellious and a little naive, but she was not a bad person and she did not abandon her family; Yuki believed it was her uncle's fear speaking for him, and she hoped it was.

She spent the rest of the morning thinking about what she would say to Rukia to make peace; It was true that Yuki was envious of Rukia, but they had fun while in Maranni and had been friends. Yuki thought to remind her of how good friends they were with each other and she would blame what she said that night on the fear she felt.

Fear was always a good excuse.

Her uncle's words were too fatalistic for Yuki, but she had to admit that he was right, if she wanted to be Rukia's lady-in-waiting, she had to be nice to Rukia.

— I'm here to guide Miss Yuki with Lady Rukia. — Said one of the guards when it was time for lunch.

She followed the guard through several corridors of the castle until they came to a huge stone archway on two incredibly large pillars, it looked like an entrance and she was guarded by a pair of guards who were dressed in a different color from the other guards she had seen. The guard who had guided her there exchanged a few words with one of the guards who were standing there while pointing at her.

— Follow me miss, Lady Rukia's room is this way. — That guard who guarded that entrance spoke. Yuki did not know what was happening but she crossed that stone arch following the guard who was walking calmly.

— Excuse me, why didn't the other guard keep advancing? — Yuki asked extremely confused by that changing of the guard.

— This is the queen's area, the queen and princesses live here, along with the Queen's Court Ladies and the Favorite. Only the queen's guards can enter this area, that's why that guard stayed outside. — That explanation seemed incredible to Yuki; she would never have imagined that there was an area of the castle just for the queen and her ladies.

Crossing the stone archway was a corridor that was flanked by two beautifully landscaped gardens; the corridor was divided in two at the end of those gardens, to the left it led to a door and another corridor, to the right it led to huge stone stairs; the guard guided Yuki up that stairway until they reached the free balconies on the second floor and then into one more corridor.

They climbed a few more stone stairs and came to the end of a corridor; the guard knocked on the door a couple of times, waiting for it to be opened.

— These are the rooms of the Queen's Favorite. — The guard told Yuki before a maid opened the door. — Tell Lady Rukia that her guest is here.

The maid nodded and opened the door for Yuki to enter; Yuki saw that the guard closed the door and assumed that he would stay there until she left to escort her back to the exit. The maid guided her through Rukia's room, which was really big, until they reached the balcony there. Rukia was leaning on the balcony rail watching the sea, there was wind and Yuki could feel the sea salt more clearly since she had arrived at the castle.

— Lady Rukia, your guest is here. — The maid said making Rukia turn to see her.

Yuki was surprised to see that Rukia didn't have a single mark on her face from the blow Lord Kuchiki had given her, there didn't even appear to be any scar; Yuki was sure that she had seen Rukia's cheek bleed before Rukia left the Maranni Lord's Rooms.

— Thank you, we will eat on the balcony, the sun is not quite shining yet and there is a cool breeze. — Rukia seemed calm and kind, just like she always had been. Yuki doubted what her uncle had said to her in the morning and attributed it to the fear he felt for everything that had happened in Maranni. — Come Yuki, sit with me.

Yuki nodded and took a seat at the same time as Rukia, they sat facing each other while the maid served food and drinks.

— Isn't that delicious? — Rukia asked. Yuki still didn't understand why Rukia didn't have that hit on her face and was being nice to her, if when they arrived, Rukia had completely ignored her. — The queen told me that I could order whatever I wanted and I ordered your favorite food, onion soup and meat patty; I also ordered grape juice and yellow cheese.

The maid withdrew after serving them and the door of the room was heard closing; Yuki got a chill, she didn't expect Rukia to be nice to her.

— Rukia… — It was the first thing Yuki said since entering that room. Rukia was eating the soup and had a piece of bread in her hand. — I…

— Eat first, we'll talk later. — It was the only thing Rukia said.

That lunch was silent and heavy. Yuki felt the food go down her throat slowly, and she again had a chill, as if she was afraid of Rukia but that was impossible. Rukia was a little smaller than her and weaker; Yuki still remembered when she dragged Rukia holding her arm towards the temple of the Deities; Rukia had bruises on her skin for days.

— I know you've been looking for me, can you assume why you couldn't see me? — Rukia asked calmly, setting her plate aside and taking a glass with some of the grape juice that was in the jug.

— I have no idea, perhaps because you are a traitor and you are more interested in becoming a princess of the kingdom that conquered Maranni, than helping your family. — Yuki said that looking at Rukia, who no longer seemed cheerful or friendly. Rukia had her fingers intertwined on the table and a serious expression.

— Any other reason you can think of? — Rukia asked without losing her cool.

— That you didn't have the courage to see your father after disrespecting him like you did. — Yuki added and Rukia nodded slowly, as if she agreed with what she was saying.

— Was it just to tell me this that you were looking for me? — Rukia asked staring at Yuki. — I thought you wanted to be my lady-in-waiting; I remember hearing you say something like "we grew up together, we are friends, and I know that would make her happy." — Yuki was silent for a moment.

— You lie. You weren't there, you didn't even show up. — Yuki said. Rukia ignored the accusation.

— Do you really want to be my lady-in-waiting? Because I remember that you basically hate me because I have everything you want, and that I deserve everything that happens to me; and being my lady-in-waiting is the fancy way of saying you'll be my personal maid. If I tell you to brush my hair, you will have to do it; if I tell you to prepare my clothes, you will have to do it; if I tell you to taste my food because I think it is poisoned, then you will have to. It will no longer be a kind request like the ones I made to you in Maranni when you were helping me dress, it will be an order that you will have to obey and you will have to do well; because the punishments for disobeying range from whipping to beheading.

— You wouldn't be able to give an order for me to be punished. — Yuki was completely sure of her words.

— What makes you think that? You are my friend? We have a good relationship? Are you the daughter of a Great Lord of the Kingdom? — Rukia put a piece of cheese in her mouth after saying that. Yuki didn't answer. — Why don't you answer, Yuki? Did the food give you a stomach ache? Because I assure you it is not poisoned.

— We are family and that should be enough. — Yuki pushed the glass of juice away from her upon hearing the word poison for the second time at that lunch.

Rukia got up from her seat and leaned against the balcony railing, looking back at the sea. Yuki also got up from her seat and walked over to Rukia, but she didn't lean on the balcony railing.

— You're right, we are family. I wondered all morning if you were sorry for what you had said in Maranni, maybe it was your true feelings but sometimes very pure feelings are usually bad for human relationships. Black and white are not always good, life is measured in gray scales and based on that we regulate our feelings. — Rukia said without taking her eyes off the sea. — But from the two answers you gave me at the beginning of our talk, it is clear to me that no, you do not regret what you said and I am sure that you continue to think the same. So I will be clear with you, I will allow you to be my lady-in-waiting but first you must be part of the Queen's Court; you will not return to Maranni and I will pretend what you said that night never happened.

— But? There is always a "but". — Yuki said knowing that everything was too easy; maybe Rukia was really naive.

Rukia turned to see her.

— But nothing, I'm not a manipulative witch nor do I hide ulterior motives; Yuki, I'm not like you. — Yuki was silent. She didn't want to say anything because she was afraid that Rukia would regret it and change her mind. — After the wedding, the queen will call you, so you have nothing else to do here; you can leave my room.

— Thanks, Rukia. — Yuki had mixed feelings that she couldn't quite define.

— Lady Rukia, for you; after the wedding I will be "Your Highness", be careful with that.

— Sorry, Lady Rukia. I withdraw. — Yuki bowed to Rukia and left the room upset by the last thing Rukia said.

Again her uncle's words echoed in her mind, he had to be nice to Rukia because obviously Rukia did have power.

—

Rukia sighed when Yuki left the room. She was upset with the one who for years had been her best friend and it hurt that Yuki thought those things about her but she no longer felt like crying and that scared her a bit. Ichigo had told her that people reached a point in life that they didn't cry again unless their feelings really overflowed like prey; it was in those moments when tears flowed uncontrollably.

Ichigo went to visit her after the council meeting where her father would declare his actions in Maranni, and Ichigo told her that the king did not trust her father; but that was something Rukia already guessed.

— Kaien arrived at dawn to be present at that meeting, I'm sure that he will also send one of his men. I'll do the same. — He whispered as he stroked her injured cheek. — Someday your father will pay me for all the damage he has done to you, my love. You shouldn't be going through this, your biggest concern right now should be whether you will have fun on our honeymoon, not your family's destiny.

Ichigo's touch was soft and warm, when he finished stroking her cheek, the wound was gone.

Ichigo told her what he would do in the worst possible scenario, he knew it wouldn't be anytime soon, but he must have a plan ready for that moment. Rukia was scared but she didn't regret stopping Maranni's attack, because that had given her family time to fix things; perhaps her family could flee to Jetaiya after the wedding, at least her brother and his little son along with Hisana. She didn't care if they considered her a traitor, selfish or a bad daughter, what she had done kept them alive and gave them hope.

Rukia was talking to the queen a lot; the queen had told her that difficult decisions sometimes took her sleep away, but someone had to make them; sometimes what they had to do went against everything they believed in, but it was necessary to do it to prevent worse things from happening.

— Sometimes a villain is necessary and we are all the villain in someone's life, but we are also the hero in someone else's life. — The queen had told her when they were talking about what happened in Maranni.

The queen knew because Ichigo had told her, and Rukia confirmed what Ichigo had said, the morning the queen saw that wound on her face. There was no point hiding things from the queen, after all, she was their best ally to put Ichigo on the throne.

— Your friend wants to be your lady-in-waiting, and I suspect her intentions are not entirely friendly. — Said the queen when they talked about Yuki.

— She wanted to be me, she thinks that everything is easy; I also thought the same. Your Majesty, accept that she join the Queen's Court; Yuki must learn that not everything is easy.

Yuki should learn that in that castle nothing was easy, nothing was simple and nothing was shiny.

Ichigo entered her room moments after Yuki left the room, Rukia was lying on the bed, her eyes were open but she was lost in her own thoughts; she smiled at Ichigo and stepped aside for him to lie down next to her.

— You're overthinking it, again. It is not like this? — Ichigo asked softly. Ichigo made her lay her head on his chest and hugged her before kissing her forehead.

— I think that's my biggest flaw, I think about things a lot. Three times we almost lost each other because I overthink things; I want to do things well but…

— But life doesn't wait, the kingdom doesn't wait, and decisions don't wait. — Ichigo added and she looked him in the eye. — It is not a defect, maybe if we thought about things more then we would also do the right thing, not only me, everyone; but it is not like that. We make decisions on the fly and we never see what is good, but what is less bad. You have no defects, Rukia; you are perfect.

Rukia blushed and hid on Ichigo's chest, he kissed her head again. They were both silent for a few moments, Rukia enjoying the protection that Ichigo's arms gave her.

— My parents protected me so much from what was happening in the world, that it is difficult for me to assimilate that the world is cruel, that it is full of dangers and lies. — Rukia confessed playing with Ichigo's fingers. — I know I have to be strong, not only at times but all the time, but I'm afraid of change, I'm afraid of changing so much that I cannot recognize myself in the future.

— We are all afraid of change but sometimes it happens without us noticing it, and we don't really change, we just adapt to the life we live; change is part of growing. Besides, I know that you will always be my Rukia, only that you will have created an armor so that no one will hurt you. — Ichigo gave her a little kiss on the cheek and she smiled. — I will tell you a story. Once upon a time there was a little orange haired prince…

— Is it the story of your life? — Rukia asked with an amused smile.

— It is more of a story of terror, deception, lies and death. — Ichigo added with a smile tickling her. — Now let me continue. Once upon a time, there was a little orange haired prince whose only mistake was being born after a bastard…

Thank you for reading.