The Nightingale

Chapter 60: Powerful

Summer — x493 / June 24

Rukia looked at the board of that war game she used to play with Ichigo some afternoons. He always beat her, but he really taught her how to play it and taught her that life in the castle was just like that game. Furthermore, just like that war game, the game in the castle was something she couldn't play alone.

"Here we know what the function of each piece is, that's why it's easy to play when you learn it, but in the castle we have to create our own pieces. Use the power that our marriage will give you, be a bad person or be a good person; threatens, buys or demands. Create your own pieces." Ichigo had told her a long time ago.

And that's what Rukia had done.

When Yuki wanted to enter the queen's court, Rukia met Loly and Riruka for tea one afternoon, and she had a feeling that they agreed to go to that meeting only because they couldn't turn her down because she would become the next princess.

They weren't friends, they weren't allies, and they might never get along under other circumstances; but Rukia had the idea that maybe, and just maybe, if she showed them that they would be rewarded for heeding her words, she could at least move the threads of that huge web a little.

The beginning of that meeting was quiet and tense, until Rukia cleared her throat and Tatsuki brought her a couple of pieces of hair jewelry, which were quite beautiful and really expensive, and placed them in front of Loly and Riruka.

"I know we don't have a good relationship, and I really don't know how this started, but I wish it wasn't like that anymore. Take this gift as a token of goodwill on my part; I do not ask that we be great friends, but at least I hope to have a cordial relationship with you." Rukia spoke waiting for those girls to take the gifts.

The first to do so was Riruka, and Rukia could see how happiness at having something like that shone in her eyes. Both Loly and Riruka were the daughters of high-ranking military leaders, but even if they had a comfortable life, they had probably never had something so expensive on their hands.

Loly took a little longer to accept the gift, but she did anyway and Rukia was sure that of the two of them, the relationship with Riruka could be easier.

"Why didn't you invite Senna?" Loly asked, with the piece of jewelry in her hand, doubting this show of good will.

"Because I think Senna doesn't really like me at all." Rukia replied with a nervous smile, omitting the fact that Senna's father had gotten her family into trouble and more details that shouldn't be known.

Both girls left that room after saying that they would consider her peace offer, and a couple of days later, Riruka appeared before Rukia assuring her that she accepted that peace. Riruka didn't apologize, but Rukia didn't need it, she just let the intention settle and solidify.

The evening before she left on her honeymoon trip, already with the title of princess on her, Rukia walked up to Riruka and placed a rather pretty and very expensive hairpin in her hair as she asked her to do her a favor. The idea was simple, that they show Yuki a little of the affection that they had shown her when she arrived at court.

When Riruka questioned why she wanted that, Rukia replied that Yuki was her cousin and she had been mean to her because she thought life wasn't fair and that she deserved more too.

"Just a little bit, because she thinks everything is easy." Rukia had told her and Riruka agreed.

When Rukia came back from her honeymoon, after the confrontation between her and Nelliel in the hall, they were joined by Loly; and when it was time for the queen to decide the fate of those girls, it was Rukia who spoke kind words about them with the queen.

That was how Loly went to study at Entabeni to become a teacher, and Riruka became Kahya's apprentice.

When the news was made official and the girls notified their families, Rukia had the pleasure of reading the response letters sent by the girls' parents. Kahya's position in the castle was really important and Riruka's father was really pleased and proud that she would be Lady Retsu's successor.

Any family with enough money could afford to have a Kahya, who was basically a housekeeper, but being the Kahya serving the queen was a completely different position. She was the queen's trusted woman, her right hand, her left, her eyes and ears, and even her feet; that was how important it was to be the queen's Kahya.

Loly's father was also pleased and happy with the fate chosen for her, teachers were paid by the royal house to work in public schools, but if their instruction was really favorable, they could become private teachers for nobles and wealthy families. .

In either case, both girls had a promising future ahead of them.

Rukia had moved a couple of the hidden pieces inside the castle in a subtle way, as if she was playing a war game, and her master piece was Yuki. Orihime, before leaving with Ulquiorra in exile, told her that Nelliel was a spider spinning a web in the castle; but Rukia didn't see herself as a spider because she wasn't weaving a web, she was simply pulling the threads that were already there.

— Your highness, it's time. — Riruka, who had entered her room after Tatsuki opened the door, spoke up. — Everything is ready.

Rukia moved one more piece on that board and fixed her attention on Riruka, who was nervous even though they had the explicit permission of the queen to carry out this punishment. The future crown princess had to be, above all, respectful of the rules and know her place before it can be given to her.

— All right, let's go for the Cifer girls. — Rukia whispered nodding, though those words were more for her than for Riruka.

"When you become queen, if the Shadow allows it, you will have to manage the court of ladies, the Inamoratas, the Queen's Favorite, whether to be the wife of your son or the lover of Ichigo, and the bastards. You will have to watch them and punish them if they misbehave or offend someone, and you will have to make sure that the rules are followed. I know perfectly well that you remember your first punishment, or am I wrong? There are no empty threats, if you say it, you fulfill it." The queen had said.

And indeed, Rukia remembered it. The punishment for sneaking out with a prince had been painful. However, the rules were sometimes in shades so gray they couldn't be distinguished, and she understood that too.

When they entered the Queen's Court Ladies' bedroom, they all immediately stood up and bowed to Rukia; all but the Cifer girls, who were sitting in their places, as if no one had entered. As if they believed that Rukia had threatened them in vain the day before, as if they believed that Rukia really had no power at that moment; as if they believed that they had something of value there.

That detail did not go unnoticed by Rukia and again, that woman with power that resided within her, appeared with a very subtle smile drawn on her face; that kind of smile that is prior to making your opponents know the true terror. Rukia was not an enemy of the Cifer girls, the Cifer girls chose her as their enemy.

— Guards! — Rukia yelled, still staring at the Cifer girls ignoring her on purpose, and a couple of Queen Masaki's female soldiers entered the room the instant Rukia called for them. — Escort the Cifer ladies to the designated area for punishment. Their irreverence must be punished, and they must learn some manners or they will not last long in this castle.

The Cifer girls looked at the female soldiers, arrogance was drawn in their faces and they got up from their seat, but not to go with them, but to threaten Rukia with accusing her to the queen for that treatment; claiming again that she did not have the power to punish the daughters of the Cifer family.

— You! You will really regret it! We will write to our family! — Threatened the oldest of them. — We will ruin your reputation!

Rukia simply looked at them and motioned for the queen's soldiers to grab their arms and escort them to the area that had been prepared for their punishment. Rukia had no intention of talking, she had already said what she had to say and those threats, although they caused her some fear, she tried not to show it at that moment.

The Cifer girls ended up reluctantly going where the queen's guards directed them. They both had that expression on their faces that indicated that everything seemed ridiculous to them, but undoubtedly that expression changed when they discovered that they were being taken to the cliff where there were two cushions waiting for them.

The edge of the cliff was dangerous, everyone knew that, and the place where those cushions were placed was too close to the edge. One wrong move, one little push, and they would end up waving closely at the bottom of that cliff.

— We got it, we got it! — Said the oldest of the Cifer girls with a certain tone of fear in her voice. — We'll look down, we'll do it!

— Oh! That makes me happy! But... you two will still get the punishment anyway. — Rukia spoke looking at those girls who were trying to free themselves from the guards' grip. Rukia couldn't deny that she was enjoying this, because she really was. She knew it, power seduced people. — Kneel them!

And the queen's guards did so. They made the Cifer girls kneel on those cushions near the edge of the cliff, looking at the sea and resisting the midday sun, knowing that as the afternoon progressed the sun would hit them directly in the face. That pair of girls were going to learn to lower their eyes one way or another.

— Don't think I don't know, because I do and the queen knows. — Rukia spoke up a few moments later, standing behind those girls and putting her hands on the shoulders of those two girls. That subtle threat that she might throw them over the cliff right now and make it look like an accident made them shiver. — I know that one of you hurt Yuki, you are lucky that she is generous and does not press charges for an offense; but I'm not, so while you learn to lower your eyes, think about what could happen to you if Prince Kaien finds out that one of you hurt his friend. Not only would you receive this punishment, but you would be returned to your home in less time than expected and your reputation would truly be ruined.

Rukia let go of those girls' shoulders after saying that threat, and walked away from them to sit on a chair while Riruka handed her an umbrella to protect herself from the sun. The queen's soldiers left after a few moments, and only Rukia and Riruka stayed there, watching over the punishment while Tatsuki brought them a glass of juice of the day to mitigate the heat a bit.

The punishment wasn't meant to last long, it was just to make them have a precedent that Rukia wasn't talking about in vain and, one way or another, she had to punish those girls for what they did to Yuki. Yuki was her masterpiece in that game, and Rukia couldn't let something bad happen to her while that game was going on.

Before Rukia decided to move to lift the punishment from the Cifer girls, Kaien walked up to where she was, with that determined step he always had and a look of confusion on his face that he hardly used to show. It was obvious that someone had informed him of what she was doing, and Rukia braced herself for a conversation that might be awkward.

Rukia stood up from her seat and bowed to Kaien, then very subtly picked up her fan and began to fan herself nonchalantly with it.

— Your Highness, what has brought you to this side of the cliff? — Rukia asked politely, looking at him with as much innocence as she could have.

— Little sister, I'm beginning to believe that you have something against the Cifer girls. — Kaien commented in a tone that mixed humor and claim, but without turning to look at Rukia; all his attention was on those girls.

Rukia perfectly understood that comment and used her fan to cool down a bit before speaking. She had to be careful with her words because despite having the support of the queen, Kaien was still the crown prince and the resentment for what happened with Nelliel and the Kuchiki was still there.

— I have nothing against the Cifer girls, on the contrary, it seems that the Cifer girls have a preference for picking on the girls from the Kuchiki family. — Rukia commented, still moving her fan gently and refocusing her gaze on the punished girls.

— Do you believe? As far as I know, those girls haven't done anything against you. They are only here for me and the dream of being a princess. — Kaien paused. — Or does that bother you?

Rukia stopped fanning herself and was silent for a moment. That last question she didn't like at all.

— I like to punish people under any excuse, your highness. Now the excuse I'm using to punish them is that they didn't bow down to me when they saw me. You know, after a while, people get used to that kind of thing.

The nonchalant tone Rukia used caused Kaien to burst out laughing at that moment.

— You have a point. You are a princess and they owe you respect, but you do not have the power to punish the daughters of the Great Families just for not respecting you. — Kaien explained calmly, looking at her with that superiority that Rukia hadn't seen in him. — Respect is earned, it is not demanded, and it is even less obtained through punishment. My brother has put too much power in you and you don't know how to use it, that happens when you don't grow within the Court and don't learn your place properly.

Rukia nodded without feeling offended, although evidently the comment was meant to make her feel bad. The anger for everything that happened was still there and Rukia had the impression that this anger was against her and Ichigo, because Kaien seemed to have a very good relationship with Yuki.

— Growing up in the Court is also not a guarantee that one learns one's place. I am in charge of the Queen's Court, my job is to ensure that the future crown princess is a fit woman to sit on the throne by your side when you become king, your highness. — Rukia paused and then added without taking her eyes off Kaien. — Almost dying at the hands of the last one gave me that privilege.

The anger on Kaien's face at reminding him of that detail was really remarkable but Rukia held his gaze steadily. Rukia knew that this topic was too dangerous and sensitive to be discussed in such a way, but she was not like all those girls who could scare with an angry look. Kaien was right, Ichigo had really given her that kind of power that not everyone could develop, and she was really enjoying it, although a part of her was still a little scared.

— Take the punishment away from them. — Kaien ordered with that serious and authoritative voice that he possessed when he wasn't smiling.

— No.

— No? — Kaien stared at Rukia, but she didn't look down. — Rukia, you are exceeding your limits. Take the punishment off those girls.

Rukia could tell Kaien a lot about pushing the limits, but she chose to ignore that comment and talk about something else.

— I told you it was an excuse, Your Highness. — Rukia looked at Kaien and then pointed at both girls with her fan. — One of the two hurt Yuki. The queen is aware of this, and even though Yuki can't tell which one it was because she was really scared that night, you know, those old traumas, she's pretty sure it was one of them that hurt her.

— Expel them from the Court, then. — Kaien spoke with a tense jaw.

Rukia could see that although Kaien looked like Ichigo, when Kaien was angry he looked completely different than how Ichigo looked angry. When Kaien got angry, all that beauty and charm that he projected vanished in a second.

— What privileges does Yuki have, Your Highness? Hurting her that way doesn't warrant the expulsion of those girls, just a punishment with a letter to their parents. — Rukia explains looking at Kaien's disbelieving face. — Besides, they obviously won't confess to hurting her, and if Yuki doesn't accuse them directly, there will be no way to carry out the punishment.

Kaien stared at Rukia, his expression bordering on anger and disbelief, and then looked at those girls.

— Give them another half hour of punishment. Let them know that it was me, and since you are in charge of the Court, I want them as far away from me as possible. — Kaien ordered and withdrew from there.

Rukia bowed to him and then sent Riruka to tell the Cifer girls that Prince Kaien ordered the punishment to be extended for another half hour.

—

By afternoon, the Cifer girls were already in the room, their skin reddened and their maids applying ointments so that their skin would not be further damaged by that punishment. They cursed Rukia out loud, complaining that she was a tyrant and that what she did to them wouldn't stay that way; besides that she invented lies about the prince to make them suffer more.

Yuki just listened to them and avoided laughing at the ridiculous things they said, and she thanked the Deities that Rukia was really supporting her, because she didn't want to have her against her.

That Rukia that Yuki had met in Maranni was definitely gone.

The Cifer girls seemed like they hadn't really understood who Rukia was here. They were hoping to be the next crown princess, which was nothing more than the promise of being the queen in the very, very distant future and that her only function would be to give an heir to the throne; an heir that was preferably male or Rukia's children would rise to the throne without any impediment.

But Rukia, she was married to the man who moved the soldiers, the man who was charged with protecting the kingdom and, by Rukia's words, the man who would kill if any offense was directed at her.

The Cifer girls didn't understand that, if Rukia wanted, the city of Uzker could run out of soldiers capable of defending it against any type of attack, or even reduce the security in the city. The Cifer girls didn't understand, that Rukia had become dangerous.

Summer — x493 / June 27

Summer was getting hotter than usual even though it was still starting. Kaien was upset, he was in a bad mood and he couldn't find the peace that his mind was asking for. Ichigo used to tease him by telling him that he needed to be with a woman, that he should look for one to remove that grumpy face at Council meetings.

And Kaien didn't want to admit that Ichigo was right, but it was definitely true.

He hadn't slept with a woman since he got back from Visnia and masturbating wasn't helping him in that situation.

Kaien wanted to fuck Rukia, who he hadn't stopped thinking about since he heard that moan in Ichigo's office, or at least, fuck Yuki who was similar to Rukia, just to have a good time and get that idea out of his head. The only problem there was that Rukia was married and Yuki had been avoiding him since the dance.

If Yuki hadn't left that night, he would have taken her to bed without hesitation.

He stopped tossing and turning that night and got up. It was late, surely everyone would be sleeping; so he could use the bathrooms and take off the heat with cold water while he thought if it was a good idea to go with the girls from The Weaver and find a woman to warm his bed or choose one of the girls who worked in the castle.

He was thinking about that last one, about the fact that there were very pretty maidens in the castle who might not refuse to warm his bed without all the commitment of the Inamoratas or future wives, when he got to the bathroom and found that there were indeed no servants and the place was relatively dark.

He started to undo the buttons on his shirt so he could enter where the king's bath and water jars were, when a moan reached him. Kaien recognized that moan, it was the same one he had heard when he went to Ichigo's office that time. Kaien cursed the Deities, because hearing Rukia moan was the last thing he needed tonight; he needed the bathroom and they could go fuck somewhere else, that's why there were enough rooms.

It was no secret to anyone that the king's bathroom had heard more moans than all the rooms in the castle combined, he had been there many times with Nelliel, and the king and queen also spent time there; Kaien had a trauma with that last one that he preferred not to remember. Even when he was with Miyako, he had spent those kinds of moments there with her. Not counting all the mistress of the king.

He did not intend to leave there, so he approached that second door, which was the entrance to the jars and the king's bathtub, with the intention of running them away from there, but when he looked through that door he froze.

The scene in front of him was nothing like he would have expected to find them.

Rukia was sitting on the edge of that bathtub that was at floor level, with those thin clothes that they used to bathe stuck to the body because of the water, with her hands resting on the floor and with her arms tense so as not to end up lying down; she had her head thrown back, her eyes closed and her mouth open letting out rhythmic moans; her legs were on Ichigo's shoulders, who was inside the bathtub with the water coming up to his abdomen. Ichigo had her leg held with one hand while his face was buried between those white legs pleasuring her with his mouth, and whose other hand was moving rhythmically under the water pleasuring himself.

Kaien turned around as quickly as he noticed that scene, and decided that it was better to get out of there. He definitely needed a woman in his bed.

Summer — x493 / June 28

They had made love from the king's bathroom to the bedroom, even when they woke up they had done it again until they were told it was time to get out of bed because they were expected for breakfast. This time, Rukia stopped Ichigo from getting out from between her legs and they were almost late for breakfast. Ichigo hadn't put up much resistance to that either, so he too was to blame for that delay.

Rukia still didn't have enough of that feeling, and she thought she never would. She really loved making love to Ichigo, she loved feeling him inside her in any way possible and she loved when she made him succumb to the movement of her hips or her mouth. She liked that look on his face, and she liked hearing him plead when they were both in the throes of pleasure. She liked to subdue him and she liked to be subdued.

She liked that dangerous man who took her mercilessly and bit her and then spoke in her ear reminding her that she belonged to him and only him.

Tatsuki used to tell her that it was because they were newlyweds, although that had been almost a year, and that eventually the unbridled passion would calm down and they would find another type of love that was calmer and sweeter. Rukia hoped that it wouldn't happen so soon because at that moment she was enjoying all the passion that burned between them without any qualms.

They had breakfast with the royal family, as a way to mark the princesses' farewell as they would be going to Vayalat for some time. They talked and laughed a little, the queen got a little sentimental because it was the first time that the twins had gone to Vayalat, and the king consoled her saying that they would be fine there.

For a moment, that scene seemed to be that of a happy family.

By the time it was time to leave, the farewells and promises of letters had already been made. The queen kissed her daughters' cheeks, and Ichigo kissed her mother's hand and bowed to his father; the king hugged his daughters, Kaien said goodbye to his little sisters, and Rukia revered them all.

Rukia was excited for this trip, the queen had instructed her in court etiquette in Vayalat and had chosen the clothes for her to wear there. Rukia was aware that the queen did it because the summer in Vayalat used to be hot, and because she still remembered that Rukia used to wear old comfortable clothes too often.

"You have to look good, you are a princess and you are the wife of a prince; you represent the kingdom of Avanta. They will talk about you, in front of you and behind your back. They will evaluate you and they will test you. You are wearing my family's generational ring, the one that only passes from queen to queen, Kirio was supposed to be the next bearer, but not anymore. Be careful with her, it's obvious that she doesn't like you, don't provoke her, don't argue with her... but above all, don't let her take your ring away. That ring, for some reason I can't explain, communicates with you so it's yours." Queen Masaki almost had a panic attack when she had that conversation with Rukia, and Rukia, too.

She was a mere human about to enter what was truly a wolf's lair. Everyone in that family could use that kind of magic, therefore everyone in that family could kill her in her sleep by sending a shadow spider. Rukia had a chill down her spine at that conclusion, because Ichigo wouldn't be able to protect her in this place.

The carriage left the city and the landscape turned green, Rukia stopped looking out the window and looked at her ring again. The ring was awake but Ichigo wasn't wearing the ankh, the ring was just awake like those times when it communicated with her through dreams.

Rukia caressed it for a moment, she knew the sensation that her ring was giving her at that moment, and she knew what she had to do, but she didn't want to cut her finger. She looked at Ichigo, who was looking out the window, and settled in next to him, resting her head on his arm for a second before Ichigo hugged her and placed a kiss on her forehead.

— What's wrong, my love? — He asked curiously. There was only them in that carriage, so they could talk freely about whatever they wanted. — Is it for the ring?

Rukia nodded and hid against Ichigo's chest, feeling that scent of citrus and wood that he always had and that she liked to breathe. Ichigo took her hand and gave it a small kiss, caressing her ring and taking it off very gently to put it on himself.

— Better? — He asked making Rukia lay her head on his lap, gently stroking her hair. — Are you nervous about what they can tell you about this ring? Had I known it was going to affect you like this, I wouldn't have given it to you. It was supposed that because you didn't have the blood of Vayalat, it would just be one more ring. It's my fault you have those dreams.

Rukia reached up to gently caress Ichigo's face.

— I'm not scared of the ring... not much, actually. — Rukia confessed with a slight smile. — It's a little weird, but it doesn't scare me. I'm curious to know why this happens. Perhaps I'm a descendant of a lost daughter of Vayalat and that is why I have this kind of power in me. — Rukia teased a bit and Ichigo smiled slightly shaking his head before giving her a small kiss. — Besides, it's my ring and I'm keeping it. Now let me sleep, I'm sleepy and it's your fault.

Ichigo laughed a bit and stole another kiss making Rukia blush.

— Who wouldn't let me get out from between her legs? Huh? Huh? — Ichigo asked tickling Rukia.

— I didn't see you refusing to stay there, my love. — Rukia replied between laughs.

Ichigo gave her one more little kiss, and stopped tickling her. Rukia settled on Ichigo's lap and inhaled that aroma that emanated from him again, because there she felt comfortable, happy and protected.

— Rest my love, I will watch over your sleep. — Ichigo whispered and Rukia felt so happy, she undoubtedly fell asleep there.

Special regards to: diah77, jobananasan and Nikkiebelles

Did I post this chapter too soon? Could be. I already had it ready, so I said to myself, why not?

The next chapter, next week... or sooner if I finish it earlier. Kisses for everyone who reads this crazy story.