The Nightingale
Chapter 45: Dawn
Summer — x492 / September 14
— He didn't, but it's not something we should talk about now. — The Lord of Visnia removed his sack and handed it to Ichigo in a nonchalant manner. — We will discuss it in the Palace of the Sun, together with the Queen Mother.
As he reached out to hold the coat his uncle gave him, Ichigo realized that his clothes were stained with the archer's blood; the blood on his skin had dried leaving that sticky feeling but he hadn't noticed. Ichigo was still angry, the idea that Kaien was behind that attack fluttered in his mind but he couldn't do anything to prove it; he had no evidence and had already killed the archer.
In the same way, that archer was useless because he would end up being executed without saying something that would serve to find the culprit; the man seemed genuinely convinced that the king had given the order to kill Rukia.
— Okay, we'll talk about it at the Palace of the Sun. Ichigo used the Lord of Visnia's coat to cover his bloody arm and not raise any more commotion in the House of Justice, he had enough with the soldier who had seen him like this; stir the soldier's mind so that if he spoke about what happened he would confuse everything, it had been difficult.
Ichigo didn't know he could do something like that, but that magic was so ancient that there were mysteries that had been lost over the years.
The Lord of Visnia nodded, and they both strode out of the dungeons.
Ichigo couldn't stop thinking about Kaien and how he could have sent such an order, assuring that Rukia was the daughter of a traitor without even having proof of that betrayal, and even if he had them, he could not execute a princess as if she were an animal. Orders against members of the royal family are carried out according to protocol to avoid more rumors than necessary.
Again the anger took hold of him, but he had to calm down and think with a cool head what he should do next; he couldn't allow Rukia to be a target for Kaien. Ichigo didn't doubt Kaien's killing intent, but there was also the possibility that he was just doing that to scare him; Kaien was reminding him that he too had power over life and death.
They entered the office where Rukia was, and she immediately approached him hugging him tightly; Ichigo was surprised but received the hug feeling a calm that made him smile Rukia had not taken any damage, and that was the only thing that mattered.
— I will prepare everything to go to the Palace of the Sun. — The Lord of Visnia commented a few moments later. — We will talk there.
Ichigo nodded at those words and pulled Rukia a bit away from him, just enough to be able to see her face.
— Are you okay? — He asked caressing Rukia's cheek, completely ignoring his aunt who was still in that office but hadn't spoken since he entered.
— Now I'm ok. — Rukia smiled, although that shadow of fear had not completely dissipated and that smile was not completely happy. — Are you ok?
Rukia pulled away from Ichigo by asking that question and began to check his chest with her hands, as if she would find something out of place by doing that, until she took off the coat he was holding and saw the dried blood staining his skin and clothing.
— It's not my blood. — He said calmly, and had a dejavu of the time they had been in Zhilen. He smiled at that but didn't let Rukia touch his hand. — I did what I have to do. From the moment someone thinks of hurting you, they have signed their death warrant.
Rukia nodded and covered Ichigo's bloody arm with the coat again.
— You killed him. — It was the first sentence Kukaku said. Ichigo looked up from Rukia and focused on his aunt, who had her eyes wide open.
— I did it. — Ichigo didn't bother to tell a lie. — I did it because he tried to kill Rukia. You know the punishments for anyone who tries to raise his hand against the royal family, it shouldn't surprise you.
Kukaku nodded, surprise still on her face.
Ichigo wasn't telling lies, the punishment for trying to kill someone from the royal family was death; perhaps what surprised his aunt was that he hadn't followed protocol. Ichigo knew he could get in trouble, but he would find a way to keep the king from getting angry because he killed an archer.
—
— This is unacceptable! — Queen Mother Raiza exclaimed, when Kukaku and the Lord of Visnia were at the king's office in the Palace of the Sun with her. — How could they have the audacity to do it?
The Lord of Visnia was standing behind the chair where Kukaku was sitting. The Queen Mother was completely furious, walking around that room trying to control herself, but it was impossible.
— The temple of the Deities was supposed to be a safe place! — Raiza exclaimed.
— Mother, please remember your heart disease. — Kukaku asked but Raiza ignored her. She wasn't going to die for a nonsense like that; what she was worried about was that they had attacked Ichigo and Rukia in the temple of the Deities.
— Your majesty, the temple is a safe place. Personally, I sent the most competent and loyal soldiers to be in charge of the protection of the prince and his wife. The place was checked before they entered, there was no way that something like that would happen. — The Lord of Visnia explained, slightly altered but modulating his tone of voice.
— But it happened! They almost killed the prince of the kingdom! — Raiza, who was pacing back and forth in the room trying to understand what had happened, sat down in one of the armchairs. — I would not bear one more death in my family.
There was silence in that office after those words.
It was no secret that her heart had begun to fail after the death of her minor children, and one of the reasons why she had moved to the Visnia palace was so that she could have the peace of mind that was not found in Adelaar.
Raiza put a hand to her forehead, pressing it lightly with her thumb and middle and ring fingers, trying to ease the headache that hadn't left her since she found out what had happened in the temple of the Deities.
— Ichigo said it was Adelaar's archer; the man had the insignia of the kingdom's archers, perhaps that was how he managed to reach the balcony. — The Lord of Visnia took a folded and crumpled scroll, which he had inside his trouser bag, and held it out to Raiza. — We also found the execution order, and it does have the king's seal on it, but the orders are ridiculous. Whoever did this wanted it to be fast and at the same time public.
Raiza took the note and read it.
"I, Isshin of Avanta, King of Avanta and the Blue Mountains; I find Princess Rukia of Avanta guilty of conspiracy and treason to the kingdom. Crime committed by secretly supporting Lord Kuchiki, along with a group of conspirators, who seek to destabilize the kingdom. Her immediate execution is ordered."
And yes, it was an execution order.
Someone who did not know the rules or who thought that killing a member of the royal family would be easy; still, there was only the king's seal, not his signature or that of the Three Great Councilors. The stamp by itself was worth a lot, but for an execution order of a member of the royal family the signatures of the councilors were needed and Rukia was the daughter of one of them; in any case, an arrest warrant would have been issued since Rukia was a princess.
— Although I don't want to admit it, the one who gave this order was not Kaien. — Raiza folded the note and placed it on the table next to the chair. — The one who sent this is someone who has access to the king's office and knows where the seals are kept, but it was not Kaien.
— How can you be so sure, mother? — Kukaku asked completely confused. — Kaien wants Ichigo out of the way to the throne.
— Exactly. — Raiza looked at her daughter. — If it had been Kaien, the order would be to kill Ichigo. Killing him with a shot, not attacking Rukia on the premise that she is the daughter of a traitor. Also, now princes can't kill each other, they both know it, not openly.
— If Kaien kills Ichigo, he could face a rebellion. Ichigo is the Commander-in-Chief of the Kingdom, and so far he has been doing a good job. — The Lord of Visnia sat next to Kukaku. — The fact that he has suspended his honeymoon and is doing the tour of the cities with his wife, is putting him in a position highly esteemed by the people, not to mention that the opinion of the people about Rukia is quite good. If Kaien kills him now, everything he ever wanted could be affected because he knows we would support the rebellion.
— One of the twin girls would reign better than that woman's son. — Raiza commented contemptuously. — But the last thing I want is for Ichigo to die, my grandson must have what is his by right.
There was a momentary silence after Raiza's words until the Lord of Visnia rose from his seat with a sigh.
— I promised Ichigo that we would talk about this here, however I think it's better if only the three of you are in the conversation. — The Lord of Visnia looked at Kukaku and held out his hand for her to rise from the seat. — There are many things to take care of with all this, including the rumors that must surely be spreading among the people.
— You're right. — Raiza looked at her daughter, who had been silent most of the time. — Kukaku, take care of spreading rumors in the city. No one should know that the archer is dead, not yet; have the women say that the one who shot in the temple of the Deities was a man who wanted to kill the Priest and the prince and princess were at the wrong time and place.
Kukaku nodded.
— So shall it be, mother. I've been thinking about that since we got to the Palace. — Kukaku clarified with a neutral tone and then she smiled nervously. — Ichigo is terrifying, I can still hear in my mind the screams of that man being tortured. We don't want people to know that the future king has no compassion when it comes to protecting his wife.
Those words surprised Raiza; she hadn't noticed that Ichigo and Rukia were so close, but she had only seen them at breakfast and their demeanor had been slightly formal. Kukaku could say that about them because she had seen them in a dangerous situation, and in those moments it was when the value and interests of each one were really seen.
The Kahya entered minutes after Kukaku and the Lord of Visnia had left that office; Raiza felt the headache increase and thanked the Deities that the girl had entered.
— Prepare the medicine. — Raiza asked closing her eyes.
The Kahya nodded to the command and poured a couple of drops of an amber liquid into a glass of water. Raiza watched the medicine slowly dissolve in the water before shaking it a bit and drinking it. This water was tasteless, but the effect of the drug was almost immediate. Within minutes of drinking it, the pain had started to subside.
— Thanks. — Raiza whispered and leaned back on the couch waiting for the pain to go away completely. — Tell Prince Ichigo and Princess Rukia that I am waiting for them. Also bring some tea.
— Yes, Your Majesty. — Kahya answered and left the office.
Raiza was left alone in that place again, where she had been with her husband so many times when they were young and spent the afternoon talking about anything; that office was her favorite place in the Palace of the Sun.
In that office the crown prince had proposed to her.
They knocked on the door moments later causing her to sit down again; the headache had passed and she gave the order for them to enter. Ichigo entered the office holding Rukia's hand, in such a natural way that Raiza for a moment remembered herself entering that office holding the ancient king's hand.
Her story was similar to that of Ichigo and Rukia. From being the nanny of the prince's first child to the crown, she went on to be the crown princess and then the queen. It was just like Rukia had said at breakfast "nothing was as it was supposed to be", and yet it had been.
— My dear grandchildren. — Raiza said, holding out her hand for Ichigo and Rukia to kiss her before they took a seat on the couch across from her. — How are you? Rukia, are you calmer?
Raiza knew that Ichigo and Rukia had headed to their room as soon as they arrived. Kahya had informed her that the first thing Ichigo had asked was that the bath be prepared and that the clothes they had worn be cremated.
— That's right, Your Majesty. I'm better now that everything has settled down. — Rukia replied with a nod. Raiza could see that Rukia was not letting go of Ichigo's hand and she was not surprised by that gesture. — I thank the Deities that both Ichigo and I are safe and sound.
Raiza nodded and looked at Ichigo, who still seemed to be upset; she couldn't blame him, they had tried to kill them. The Kahya came in with the tea, poured it, and left that office; all without making more noise than necessary, giving them a moment of forced silence.
— My uncle said we would talk here, where is he? — Ichigo asked, going straight to the point after the Kahya had left there.
— He's finishing doing some things, just like Princess Kukaku. They will be in charge of making what happened today be diverted to another objective. You will be some unfortunate victims who were at the wrong time and place, attacked by an archer who has no aim.
— Why? — Ichigo asked, obviously annoyed. Raiza supposed something like this could happen.
— Because we cannot say that the archer brought an order to kill your wife, because we can't let them know that the future queen of Avanta was accused of treason to the kingdom, and because we don't want them to see a crack of weakness in the Kingdom's Commander-in-Chief and future king. — Raiza explained staring at Ichigo. Ichigo was silent looking at her, as if searching for the words to say something. — There is an execution order for Rukia.
That information didn't surprise Ichigo; Riaza guessed it was something the archer had told him when he questioned him. Raiza handed the paper they had found among the archer's clothes to Ichigo, and waited a few moments for him to read it.
Raiza could see Rukia reading next to Ichigo, and Rukia's expression went from curiosity to surprise, ending with a gasp that was choked with her own hand before looking at Ichigo in panic.
— They know! — Rukia whispered, perhaps her intention was for only Ichigo to hear her but she couldn't modulate her voice enough.
Something in that execution order was true: Rukia was conspiring and apparently Ichigo was aware of it.
— They know? — Raiza asked, in a tone of voice that made it clear that she needed an explanation for that expression. — I want to know too.
Rukia tried to speak, but couldn't seem to find the right words to begin that explanation; Raiza just looked at her and Ichigo kissed his wife's hand before speaking.
— It all started with Emiko's death. — Ichigo started that explanation and Raiza, at the name of that girl, felt transported to the past, to that night when Ganju's wife asked permission to go to Maranni for a few days to visit Soujun. — From that day on, Lord Kuchiki did not stop thinking about his sister.
Ganju was the first child she lost; he and his wife were killed in an assault on the caravan they were traveling in and it was still painful even though many years had passed.
The memory was painful, but the Queen Mother did not have time to be saddened by the fate of her prince or to wonder why Ichigo had started with that phrase. Ichigo began to relate about the rumors that reached the king, about his own trip to Maranni to investigate the rumors, and about the way that Rukia's father was conspiring with the help of Jetaiya. The way they planned to use the mercenaries and their war machines to attack the castle, all for the purpose of killing Isshin and gaining independence.
— Why against Isshin? — Raiza asked not fully understanding what Ichigo was saying.
— My father believes that King Isshin had Prince Ganju and my aunt killed, all because he knew that my aunt was pregnant. — Rukia replied, who seemed less nervous and more focused on what was being said at the time. — He believes that they were fleeing to save their child.
Raiza felt that it must be crazy.
She didn't know that Emiko was pregnant and, knowing that information made Raiza find herself at a crossroads regarding her feelings. The rules were the rules, everyone knew them, but between the anger that they had not followed the rules and the sadness of knowing that Ganju wanted to flee the kingdom to protect his wife, Raiza felt her heart clench at the tragic past.
Isshin would not kill Ganju, they were brothers, they were friends and they were confidants. Isshin was the first to support Ganju's marriage to Emiko even though the rules stated that Ganju had to wait for Isshin to marry. No, Isshin couldn't have had Ganju killed.
— No. That is infamy. — Raiza looked at Rukia; the pain in her chest began as a twinge. — What evidence does your father have to blame the king for something so heinous?
— None. — Rukia was calm, but Raiza saw Ichigo squeeze Rukia's hand at that moment, as if trying to calm or prevent her. — They are only my father's suspicions; there is nothing to prove it. I stopped Jetaiya from attacking.
Raiza was silent, trying to assimilate those words.
— There was no attack, nor will there be. Jetaiya withdrew. — Ichigo explained. — But Rukia's father continues with the idea that King Isshin was the one who killed Princess Emiko. I know that the king sent spies to Maranni, I have no doubt that even Kaien went to Maranni just to see with his own eyes what is happening. I have no idea what they know and what they don't know; I have no idea what the Kuchiki have been doing in Maranni, I just hope that what they are doing has not influenced the incident today.
Ichigo was upset and this time it was Rukia who squeezed Ichigo's hand to calm him down. Raiza could tell that they were too involved with each other; it was as if they were a single being divided in two.
That impression frightened her. The anchor and the sail at the same time; each exerting some influence on the other to keep the ship moving.
Raiza took a sip of her tea, which had grown cold after that talk, and sighed; the pang in her heart faded. She knew that she had to control herself and that day she had had too many emotions that did not help to keep her heart calm; luckily the tea had that flavor that reminded her of the medicine she was taking and she mentally thanked the Kahya for being so far-sighted.
— The execution order was not given by the king. — The Queen Mother commented after drinking her tea and setting the cup on the table. — It was also not given by Kaien.
— How are you so sure, Your Majesty? — Ichigo asked with an annoyed tone that was very noticeable.
— It's easy; you have the note in your hand. Tell me, what's missing in is wrong with that execution order? — Raiza spoke staring at Ichigo. — You are the Commander of the Kingdom, you were raised to be a king. Tell me what's wrong with that order?
Ichigo read the note again silently for a moment.
— The note only has the king's seal on it. — Rukia replied, who was also reading that note again.
Raiza nodded making a gesture for her to continue speaking.
— They cannot give an order of execution to a member of the royal family like that, it must have the signature of the king, the signature of the councilors and it cannot be an order of execution because she is a princess. — Ichigo replied.
The anger in him was noticeable by the way he clenched his fist and tried to control his breathing.
— Perhaps Kaien had a hand in this execution order, but not the king. Kaien is the only one who enters the king's office and has access to the king's things because he has been declared the crown prince; he could have taken the seal and used it, but the order did not come from him. — The Queen Mother explained.
— Are you defending him? — Ichigo asked getting up from his seat, annoyed and incredulous.
— No. — Raiza replied without moving from her place. — Now sit down; I'm teaching you to conspire. — Ichigo didn't sit down. — If Kaien had sent someone to kill you, we wouldn't be having this conversation; you would be dead. You, Rukia, and the Temple Priest would be dead; the death of the priest would only be to divert attention and make you look like one more victim. It's always about making the murder an accident; this is how deaths that do not carry an official order are prepared.
Ichigo sat down after those words and Raiza realized that Rukia's father's suspicions about Emiko's death had that quality; yet she refused to believe that Isshin had been responsible for those deaths. Raiza put aside those thoughts, it was not the time to plunge into that spiral of past events that had begun to fade over the years.
— Someone walked into the king's office, used the seal, and made that silly assassination order. The charges could even be false, but a soldier who is loyal to the king would carry out the mission only because he would believe the king gave it. — The Queen Mother looked at Ichigo and then at Rukia. — This is how soldiers who are blindly loyal act. They do not question anything, they do not think if what comes to their hands is true or not, they simply comply believing that it is what their king orders. Soldiers who are truly loyal and trustworthy receive information directly from the king, not through poorly written scrolls.
Ichigo crumpled that note between his hands, with a gesture of anger so familiar, that for a moment Raiza remembered the old king; Rukia took that note from Ichigo in a subtle way so he wouldn't destroy it.
— That is the only proof that someone inside the castle tried to kill Rukia. — Raiza spoke breaking the momentary silence that had formed in that place. — Showing it to the king is up to you. The note itself doesn't prove anything, there's nothing linking it to Kaien or someone else; furthermore, there will always be someone who receives the punishment and Kaien will know how to find someone who will pay the price if her name becomes involved in an accusation.
Again there was silence behind those words; Raiza had the impression that Ichigo was getting lost in his own memories at times.
— You are right, grandmother. — Ichigo spoke with a sigh, holding Rukia's hand again.
There was no longer anger in Ichigo's voice, but a kind of sadness and resignation that hurt the queen mother's soul; again she remembered that past inside the castle, when Masaki left Adelaar, with Ichigo sick and with a blow to the infantile face of the little prince.
— The king believes Kaien. He feels too obvious a preference for him; if I say something against Kaien, he will have no weight and he will know how to get away with it. I don't know why my father loves Kaien more than me. — Ichigo sighed, with that expression of sadness and resignation that has been present and hidden at the same time for many years.
Ichigo's words made Raiza have chest pain again, but that pain was not from illness, but because she knew why Isshin didn't love Ichigo as much as he should. For a moment Raiza thought about telling him the truth, no matter how crazy it was, but she considered it better; they had already been through a lot and deserved a break.
— Let's stop thinking about this. — The Queen Mother got up from her seat and walked over to where Ichigo and Rukia were, who had also got up. Raiza once again caressed Ichigo and Rukia's cheeks with a motherly gesture. — My dear grandchildren, I have enough love for both of you. — She said with a smile and kissed their foreheads, even though Ichigo was taller than her. — And I'm grateful to the Deities that you two are okay and this hasn't turned into something bigger that we had to regret. Tomorrow you will not go to work, we will spend the day here as a family.
Raiza smiled as she said that and removed her hands from Ichigo and Rukia's cheeks, but not before giving them a new maternal caress.
— But we have work to do… — Rukia started to say.
— I'll take care of everything, tomorrow we'll spend the whole day together. — Raiza turned away from them and smiled seeing them confused. — I know, you two need to clear yourself from all of this. I'll make arrangements for you to go to the springs tomorrow.
— But we… — Ichigo tried to speak.
— But nothing, go to rest, prepare your things that tomorrow after lunch you will go to enjoy a couple of days in the mountains. — Raiza practically pushed them out of the office. — Have a good dinner and see you tomorrow. If you can, make me a great-grandson, I want to meet him before I die.
— Grandma! — Ichigo exclaimed, completely red from that.
Raiza started to laugh, but she made them leave and called the Kahya to start preparing everything for the trip to the springs.
Summer — x492 / September 16
From the window of that cabin in the mountain, Rukia could see the sky that was tinged with those colors of dawn, those pinks, purples and oranges, which make the sky look like a painting; again it was too early to be awake, but she was no longer sleepy.
Rukia had not been able to sleep the night of the attack, the nightmares made her wake up agitated and sweating, and all those nightmares were about an arrow that hit Ichigo in the chest causing his death.
Rukia was not afraid of dying; she was afraid that Ichigo would die.
Ichigo had noticed it that night and, even though he used to give her space for her mind to work, this time Rukia decided it was better to talk. Rukia told Ichigo everything that was going on in her mind, from who was possibly responsible to the deep fear she felt and that it had nothing to do with her own death.
The conversation with the Queen Mother had left her thinking, and although the possibility that Kaien was not directly involved in that attack was present, both Ichigo and Rukia agreed that Kaien had his hands in the matter; they had no way to prove it, but they would still report it to the king since a crime had been committed.
There was no point staying silent, they both knew that they would try to kill them if they did not finish with Kaien soon and they had to use all possible resources to buy time. Rukia wasn't worried about Nelliel getting pregnant, she had solved it with those cookies; Nelliel might never be able to have children and that gave them two years to figure out how to kill Kaien without raising so much suspicion.
Rukia knew the guidelines of Nelliel's wedding contract and the descendant's clause because Queen Masaki had told her so; they were two years old before Kaien could have a chance to divorce Nelliel or have a mistress to bear him a child.
That reminded Rukia that she needed to know how things were in the castle, she couldn't get to Adelaar without knowing what had happened in her absence.
— You couldn't sleep again? — Ichigo asked from the bed.
Rukia turned on her heel and walked slowly to the bed, still looking at Ichigo and that expression of concern that did not disappear from his face. He was worried about her too, Rukia knew it, and she wanted to do something to make all that worry go away from both of them.
— No, this time I had a good dream. — Rukia confessed and settled into Ichigo's arms; they both covered themselves with the sheet. On the mountain the morning air was slightly colder and that made her wish to be snuggled with Ichigo until the sun warmed up. — Did you sleep well?
— As well as possible. — Ichigo replied, staring at her. Rukia looked at him worriedly. — You talk in your sleep, you were fighting last night over who could eat a turkey leg faster. Who are you dreaming of, huh? — Ichigo asked feigning annoyance before tickling her.
Rukia started laughing and tried to defend herself until she felt Ichigo's lips place a kiss on the skin on her shoulder. Ichigo was smiling just like her.
— In which we should have a food competition, my love. — Rukia teased before stealing a kiss from him. — I think it was not a dream, it was more like a memory in a dream. Once I was fighting with Yuki over who would eat the fastest; she won and was bugging me for a week with it. Then I asked her for revenge and lost again; she teased me for the rest of the month until she forgot about it.
— Yuki. Did you already forgive her? — Ichigo asked giving her a very soft kiss on the lips again. — Because when you return to the castle you will have to see her very often.
— She wanted to be me. — Rukia let out a sigh and settled into Ichigo's arms that hugged her. — I'm not generous enough to forgive her, what she said hurt me, just like what my father did; but you are right, I will see her very often in the castle so I must make my peace with her.
— Give her gifts. — Ichigo whispered after a moment of silence. Rukia stared at him blankly and Ichigo kissed her on the nose. — Give her gifts, give her sweets, jewelry, precious stones without much value. Give her fabrics to make clothes, shoes; invite her to spend evenings with you; make her your friend even if it's a lie.
— Why? Do you think she is of any use to us? — Rukia asked. — She is very ambitious, I feel that if I have her around and I make a mistake, she could use it for something. She has been at the queen's court since we went on our honeymoon, and if she was able to lie to me all these years, I don't know what she would have done in my absence.
After saying those words, Rukia reaffirmed the idea that she should know how things were in the castle, because to enter Adelaar was to enter directly into hell. Lies and conspiracy everywhere.
— That is something that will happen whether you are close to or not, we cannot control what others do, but we can influence them. — Ichigo replied with a smile and kissed her neck. Rukia bit her lip, Ichigo's hands slowly caressing her and making her blush. — But the reason I want you to have Yuki around, especially when you leave the castle is so that they mistake her for you. Yuki is just like you, she's just a little taller and her eyes are gray.
— You want her to be a decoy! — Rukia whispered surprised by that suggestion, forgetting the desire to make love with Ichigo that was beginning to arise in her, when she understood what he meant. — But if they attack us again... What if it happens as the queen mother said? What will we do if they send a murderer? — Rukia was a little nervous.
— If they send an assassin then the target will possibly be me, not you. — Ichigo tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. — But it is something that I have lived with all my life, I know that they will always try to kill me, as a prince, as a commander and as a king; it is something that goes hand in hand with power.
Rukia was silent for a moment, thinking about what Ichigo had said and how he wanted her to use Yuki. Yuki was not a trustworthy person, unless she knew she was going to win something, and Rukia had to think of something that Yuki really wanted so that she wouldn't refuse to be on her side.
She didn't like the idea of a murderer being sent to kill Ichigo, the very idea terrified her but he was right, there was nothing she could do to prevent it.
— Can I lock you inside the castle forever? — Rukia asked biting her lip.
Ichigo smirked and stole a kiss from her.
— No my love, you can't; just like I can't lock you up in the castle. — Ichigo sat on the bed and made her sit with him. — You are free, my love. I would like, and you can't imagine how much, to leave you locked in a tower so that no one can harm you, but I can't do that. When birds have been free all their lives and then are locked up, they die of sadness.
— This is all too dangerous. — Rukia whispered and got out of bed a little frustrated; Ichigo got up with her.
— Life is dangerous, my beloved nightingale. — Ichigo approached Rukia and kissed her very softly on the lips. — You know we can run away.
Rukia looked at him and kissed him again, smiled and hugged him tightly; she had liked him to call her that, like Vayalat's nightingales that are one of a kind.
— No. We're not running away, this has really gotten personal, my love. — Rukia looked into his eyes and felt Ichigo's hands on her hips, pulling her closer to him. — They tried to kill me and that can't stay that way, you also promised me that you would make me the queen, and I want to be the queen.
— Oh yeah? — Ichigo took her in his arms and lifted her off the floor to carry her back to the bed. Rukia gave a little cry and started laughing. — Queens are cruel, ruthless, people with hearing their name, tremble. Do you want to be like this? — Ichigo asked before laying her down on the bed and starting to tickle her.
Rukia started laughing, trying to defend herself and tickling Ichigo, or at least trying, until they were both lying on the bed trying to calm their laughter.
— No, I really don't want to be queen; although the idea is very tempting. — Rukia confessed when that funny moment passed. — I just want to be with you. I like being a princess and the more I like it, the less I want Maranni to be independent. I want there to be no more Accords of the Fall, at least the arranged marriage clause, and I want you to be king. — Rukia turned to see him. — I want you to have what is yours, what you deserve.
— What if I don't deserve to be king? — Ichigo asked and Rukia saw the doubt in his eyes. That question was not part of the game, it was a real fear that came out of him. — Everyone wants me to be the king, they say I should be the king but... what if my destiny is not to be the king? Maybe that's why the king doesn't love me…
— No! — Rukia exclaimed sitting on the bed, preventing him from finishing that sentence. She sat on Ichigo's belly, putting her hands on his chest, and he immediately put his hands on her hips. — No. You deserve to be the king. There are rules and they have told me ad nauseam. Since I arrived and they made me part of the Queen's Court they have not stopped telling me the rules and even so they have done what they wanted. No. You deserve to be the king, by birth you are the heir to the kingdom; the Deities and everyone knows that your birth was blessed by them.
— The Deities don't listen to me. — Ichigo whispered that phrase without taking his eyes off her.
— No! — Rukia said again. — I don't know much about life like you, my whole life was away from court. My whole life was decided from the moment I was born, but the Deities do listen. I asked that they avoid my marriage to someone I did not know, I asked that they let me choose who to be with, and the Deities listened to me. The Deities listen; maybe they did hear you, but they are only taking a while to respond.
— Rukia… — Ichigo's voice cracked slightly.
— If this is a test of the Deities to prove that you deserve the throne, then you are going to overcome it; If you need strength, I will give it to you; and if you need a place to rest, then I will lull you so that you have a comfortable rest. — Rukia stared into Ichigo's eyes, and for the first time saw how they filled with tears; she felt her voice break slightly. — I love you Ichigo, and only the Deities know that I cannot put into words everything I feel for you because the love I feel for you is as immense as the sea or the sky.
Rukia paused to clear her throat and felt Ichigo's hands press on her hips. Ichigo didn't seem to know what to say and his breathing was heavy.
— We have changed since the day we met on the road, I like to think that we have matured a bit… that I have matured a little... and I know it, and I see that the love you expect from the king is nothing, and you don't need it. The king's love is not worth waiting for, because if he does not see what we all see in you, then he does not deserve you as a son.
Rukia made an effort not to cry, perhaps the same as Ichigo did at that moment because she saw him blink and turn his head to one side to wipe his face; Rukia did the same, wiped her cheeks and got off Ichigo to lie beside her silently.
— I love you Rukia, I love you more than I can express, and now I love you a little more, if that's possible. — Ichigo whispered, his voice was affected by the feeling, and he hugged her gently.
Rukia felt the warmth in that hug and snuggled into Ichigo's arms silently; she let out a sigh and closed her eyes for a moment more, after wiping away the tears that had treacherously escaped her eyes.
The dawn was still decorating the sky, they could still sleep a little more.
Author: Thank you all for your messages and comments. Everyone has been very kind. The story reached 16k views and that makes me very happy, so in the next chapter I will upload a mini-fic to celebrate both the views and the comments. I'm still not entirely clear about what it will be, but what I do know is that it will be from an event that has already happened in history; if anyone wants to make a suggestion then it will be welcome.
That's it, I hope you continue to enjoy the story and the next chapter is on Friday.