The Nightingale

Chapter 66: Mine

Summer — x493 / July 15 [Ichigo, 19 years old — Rukia, 17 years old / Yushiru, 25 years old / Yoruichi, 19 years old]

She gently inhaled the scent of Ichigo's skin, enjoying the scent of citrus and wood in him, and placed a small kiss on his bare chest. Ichigo used to say that she smelled minty, fresh and calm, and the only answer she could give him was that it was because of the mint tea that she used to drink every morning, but she couldn't tell why Ichigo smelled that way.

He used to tell her that it was a secret that one day she would find out.

Sleeping in his arms was like her little personal paradise and she could not appreciate it more than that morning after having spent a night in that distance of uncertainty. Ichigo is hers, he belongs to her; he had chosen her because it would have been very easy for him to leave that house and go find the foreign princess, but he didn't, he stayed with her.

— Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. — Rukia placed a small kiss on his chest for every word she said, and felt Ichigo's arms wrap around her before he placed a soft kiss on the top of her head.

— Yours. Only yours. — Ichigo had woken up and that made her smile.

Rukia looked up and found him with a slight smile on his lips, no longer those dark circles she had seen the night before, and that calmed her soul because it meant that he had rested just like her.

— Mine.

— Mine. — Ichigo gave her a small kiss on the lips after that statement.

Then it was his turn to shower her with kisses every time he said that word. Rukia laughed and enjoyed those kisses trying to stop him but at the same time wishing he would never stop. She felt really happy at that moment.

— Only yours. — Rukia whispered before feeling Ichigo's lips on hers in a kiss as sweet as a caress. — My prince.

— My princess of Maranni. — Ichigo whispered, still next to her, stroking her long, disheveled hair, still looking at her as one looks at what is loved and precious. — You look beautiful like this.

Rukia smiled a little and stole a small, fleeting kiss from him.

— Newly awake and disheveled? — Rukia asked with a slight smile, gently caressing Ichigo's chest, feeling his heart beat hard inside his chest, where she had left her hand, and feeling enormous happiness because she is the one who makes it beat that way.

— No, freshly kissed by me. — Ichigo corrected before kissing her again.

Rukia didn't resist, she closed her eyes and enjoyed the kiss, Ichigo's lips and his tongue that entered her mouth only to fight with hers when the kiss went from sweet to passionate. She wrapped her arms around him, wrapping a leg around his hips as the kiss deepened to the point of breaking just to breathe and kiss him again.

Ichigo caressed her and whispered his love in her ear only to kiss her again, but neither of them did anything to continue beyond kissing.

— Can't we do it yet? — Ichigo asked softly, placing a small kiss on her shoulder from which the strap of her nightwear was hanging.

They hadn't been together since the morning the trip began. During the journey there were too many people and her period came, as always, when it wanted and how it wanted, and when they arrived at Vermist, so many things had happened that being together, in that way, had not been possible.

She wanted him, with her and inside her.

— We can do it now. — Rukia answered moving closer to him to kiss him softly, tangling her fingers in his hair as she settled on the bed so that he was on top of her, between her legs that were entwined in him.

Rukia enjoyed every kiss Ichigo gave her at that moment, every caress and every little bite he gave her skin making her gasp for more. She felt hot and flustered, like she was doing something illegal in a forbidden place, and she liked that feeling.

— Your pants get in the way, my Sun.

— They bother me too, my Moon. — Ichigo answered in a whisper as he kissed her neck and left small bites on her shoulders that made Rukia gasp.

Rukia could feel Ichigo's erection between her legs and those pants were really getting in the way; her body was hot, those kisses made her want to take off his pants so he could be inside her, but Ichigo had her held in such a way that she could only caress his back.

— My prince, I need you inside. — Rukia gasped between the kisses and the caresses that Ichigo gave her, who did not take off his pants or undress her. He only held her by one leg so that she wouldn't move away from him, and he slowly moved his hips making the desire in her increase more and more.

— Beg, my sweet princess. Beg for it. — Ichigo's voice in her ear sounded so hoarse that Rukia closed her eyes and bit her own lip.

— Please… — the plea left her mouth in a very soft gasp before Ichigo kissed her again with that intensity that made her shiver. — Please… my prince… please…

Ichigo bit her chin so gently that Rukia had to close her eyes again, unable to suppress the gasp that simple act caused in her. Ichigo's hand clung to her leg while caressing and holding her possessively, reminding her that she belonged to him, while the other hand wrapped her in a hug.

— Please, what? My sweet Princess. Please kiss me? Please fuck me? You can only choose one and only one. — Ichigo's voice sounded hoarse and with that touch of evil that made Rukia's legs tremble. — My lips or what I have under my pants.

When Ichigo said that, he moved his hips against her, and Rukia dug her nails into his back lightly making him gasp as well.

— Take off your pants, my love. — Rukia gasped without having to think much of her answer. She wanted to feel him inside her at that moment, she needed him as well as each one of the kisses he was giving her on her skin that was too hot.

— As my princess commands.

Ichigo gave her one last kiss that took her breath away, and she felt him settle better between her legs not sure if he had taken his pants off or just pulled them down a bit. Rukia didn't have time to think anymore, Ichigo entered her in such a slow way that it was even torture because her body was ready to receive him even if he hadn't touched her to prepare her.

Ichigo put his left hand in that space between Rukia's head and shoulder, leaning on the bed, and with the other he held her leg tightly while he moved inside her with that pleasant and torturous slowness. He looked at her from above, with that predatory expression that she loved, with the desire in his eyes and the internal struggle of wanting to move faster against her but enjoying that slowness that was too pleasant for both of them at that moment.

It was a torturous pleasure for both of them.

Rukia started begging him not to stop, to be harder, stronger, and to kiss her, and Ichigo did everything she asked except kiss her. She could feel him inside her, with all that strength and pleasure that made her arch her back and dig her nails into his shoulders and anywhere her hands reached, but Ichigo wouldn't kiss her.

Ichigo got close to her face, brushed her lips, ran his tongue over her lips, smiled at her in that wicked way, but didn't kiss her.

He played with her like cats play with their food.

— I'm thirsty... please... — Rukia pleaded again before opening her mouth and sticking her tongue out slightly.

Ichigo cursed at that erotic image and Rukia closed her eyes waiting for the kiss, but the kiss didn't come, she only felt the taste of Ichigo's saliva on her tongue. Rukia drank it down and Ichigo settled back down, leaning all his weight on his own knees, wrapping Rukia's legs around his hips; he grabbed her hips just to lift her a little higher and get as deep into her as he could. Rukia moaned, clutching the bed tightly, arching her back and feeling Ichigo's strong hold on her.

The room was filled with the wet sound of their skin as they came together and the sound of both of them panting, Ichigo's as if he were a wild animal and Rukia's as if she was about to enter the paradise of the Deities.

It was obscene.

— You look beautiful like this. — Ichigo gasped looking at the union between them that was formed with the movements of their hips and then at Rukia's violet eyes that were full of desire.

— Begging for a kiss?

— No, moaning to me. — Ichigo answered before leaning over her to kiss her shoulders and leave a small bite on one of her nipples covered by the nightgown that was sticking to her body with her sweat.

That small bite made Rukia hold him inside her making it difficult for him to leave her body. That made Ichigo curse again only to thrust into her a little harder before snapping out of her.

Rukia quickly took off her nightgown, she was sweating and her hair was sticking to her skin where the red marks from Ichigo's grip and bites were starting to show. Ichigo was just like her, with sweat glistening on his skin and with the red marks from Rukia's fingernails on his arms and shoulders; he also took off his pants and threw them on the floor.

Rukia pulled him in for a kiss, but Ichigo just smiled, ducking the kiss and kissing her on her collarbones and chest, frustrating her and making her want that kiss more and more. Ichigo made her lie face down on the bed and began to kiss her back, from her shoulders and all the way down her spine, from top to bottom, until he kissed her shoulders again.

— It's supposed to be your birthday, I should give you pleasure, not you me. — Rukia gasped, remembering what he told her on her birthday.

— You are giving me pleasure, my love. — Ichigo answered in her ear as he settled in behind her, making her lift her hips to come back inside her with a gasp. — Hearing you moan is the best birthday gift you can give me on this day.

Rukia felt again how hard he was, how strong he was with each thrust and how soft his lips were as he placed kisses on her bare back, shoulders and neck. He made her moan every time his teeth marked her skin and she responded by making him her prisoner inside her.

Ichigo grabbed her wrists and anchored her to the bed before intertwining his fingers with hers and squeezing them with some strength and possession.

— My moon. — Ichigo panted in her ear in that hoarse, guttural tone. — My Rukia, mine. Only mine.

— Yours, my prince. Only yours. — Rukia gasped letting him hear all the pleasure she felt at that moment.

It was at that moment that Ichigo kissed her with all that passion and all the intensity that was there at that moment, playing with his tongue and drinking her saliva in that kiss that took her breath away and made her ask for more.

That kiss was broken when she bit his lip and drank his blood in that kiss.

Rukia pulled him out of her, her legs were shaking but it didn't stop her from moving and making Ichigo lay on the bed on his back. She sat on him, drew him back inside her, and this time it was her hips that claimed him, reminding him that he belonged to her and only to her.

Ichigo caressed her from her belly to her breasts, letting her guide the movement, and when he tried to approach her to kiss her, it was Rukia who stopped him by putting one of her delicate fingers on his lips.

— Beg, my prince. — Rukia spoke moving her hips in that slow and torturous way, reducing the anxiety in both of them and delaying everything, doing what Ichigo had done to her. Rukia leaned over Ichigo and brushed her lips with his before speaking again. — Beg, my love. Beg for it.

They were both panting, sweating and wanting to go back to the frenzy from moments before, but Rukia had vowed to take revenge on him for making her want a kiss the day they arrived, and this moment was perfect.

— Please, my princess… please… — Ichigo's pleading voice was music to her ears. Rukia enjoyed hearing him beg when they were like this, when she dominated him and he completely surrendered to her. — Please, my princess…

Rukia licked his lips, Ichigo opened his mouth in what could be a desperate act to draw her to him, and she enjoyed the look on his face. She settled down, her hips had stopped moving but she still felt him inside her, and she began to move slowly again, resting her hands on his chest.

— Please, what? My beloved prince. — Rukia asked closing her eyes as she felt Ichigo start to move against her again, driving the pleasure in both of them. Ichigo was cheating. — Do you want a kiss? Is it what you want?

— Yes, it is what I want. — Ichigo answered, holding her buttocks tightly this time, making her move faster and faster. — I need a kiss from you, my princess.

— Beg, my love. Beg for it. — Rukia gasped before grabbing his arms for a bit of stability at that moment where her thoughts were once again clouding with pleasure. Inevitably she threw her head back between moans that grew louder. — You look beautiful when you're begging.

— Please… my Moon… please…

—

Kisuke read one last time that parchment with the points discussed in the previous meeting, with the adjustments made between both parties for mutual agreement, and smiled, as he always used to do, before putting his signature as the Commander of the Kingdom. He would be in charge of providing the Shadows that would be stationed in the ports and along the entire Desert Road as protection.

The first time they made that alliance with Gardelia it had been because Ichigo had asked him, because he had spoken very well about the Desert Road and, thanks to the Shadow, Ichigo hadn't made a mistake in his projections.

Ichigo had done his homework well before presenting himself to him with the necessary data for that alliance, and Kisuke doubted that the information presented by Ichigo had been obtained just by talking to Yoruichi during the week that she was going to visit them. In some way that Kisuke still couldn't fathom, Ichigo had researched the Desert Road on his own.

That secretly filled Kisuke with pride.

Kisuke also doubted that Ichigo had done it just because he liked Yoruichi, but because he also understood what could be gained from such an alliance, and one way or another, he was making sure all was well when he sat down with Isshin in the future to talk about making an alliance with Gardelia of the same type or maybe even better than Gardelia and Vayalat's alliance.

Ichigo was too cunning, he knew what he wanted and he knew how to get it. He, being the heir to Avanta, could afford to promise a wedding with the favorite daughter of the King of Gardelia and have her as his lover for a while. But the girl had to ruin everything; she even ruined Ichigo. Thanks to the Shadow that Kouga was with him and was able to help him get on his own way, or they really would have lost him.

Between Avanta and Vayalat they could have dismembered Gardelia and shared the profits, extending their territory, power and influence. If Ichigo had talked to Isshin and told him the same thing he said to him, it was almost certain that Kaien would have stayed as the second prince and not Ichigo; but thinking about what could have been and was not, was of no use at that moment.

Kisuke passed the scroll to Yhwach for him to sign, and then a servant handed it to King Yushiru, who was sitting next to little Yoruichi, who was no longer as little as before. The most difficult princess to fall in love with, the one who had rejected all the suitors for waiting for one who was never going to be with her.

— Let's toast to this new alliance between Gardelia and Vayalat, so that everything continues as fruitful as ever and the friendship continues to be maintained. — Kisuke spoke when the signatures and seals were placed on the parchment of the alliance, and everyone had a glass of wine in hand.

— May the Shadow so permit! — King Yushiru added with a smile.

Everyone raised a glass of wine and toasted those words and that wish for future prosperity.

— I hope you will stay a couple of days with us. Tonight there will be a dance and as our allies, it would be an honor if you would stay and enjoy with us. — King Yhwach spoke when he got up from the table where that alliance was signed.

It was a forced invitation, because it would be rude to dismiss them after Kirio had surely told Yoruichi that there would be a party that night. Neither Kisuke nor Yhwach wanted that alliance nor did they want them to stay there, but they had to maintain their interests and courtesy.

— Like old times. — King Yushiru replied as he rose from his seat, alluding to the times his father stayed for the spring festivities. — It will be my pleasure, King Yhwach.

When that meeting ended, Kisuke and Yhwach stayed in that office, the servants filled the glasses and they began to talk about what they would do with Gardelia in the future. Among the clauses of that alliance, there was one that stipulated "non-aggression between kingdoms", all due to the battle that Kisuke had against Ichigo.

Perhaps Kirio had brought about the meeting between Ichigo and Yoruichi with the intention that they return to what they were, but she definitely didn't think that their meeting would end that way and that they would give the king of Gardelia a free sample of what a gift bearer could do in battle.

Yhwach was not happy.

—

Ichigo placed one last kiss on Rukia's bare shoulder, letting her rest on his chest as she traced random shapes on his skin with her fingertips. They were tired, sweaty and happy, and the last thing they wanted was to get out of bed right now and break that moment of peace.

Ichigo felt happy to be with her like this, feeling her mint scent, the warmth of her skin and the beating of her heart. Having Rukia in his arms was like having his own personal paradise.

His light, his life and his eternity.

After bathing, fading the red marks he had left all over her, and eating breakfast, they both sat in the living room. Rukia sat on a love seat, wearing a nice beach dress, one that served to be inside the house and the beach on a summer day, and Ichigo sat on the floor in front of her, just so he could work on that little tea table there, wearing pants and a soft shirt; they were both barefoot.

Ichigo turned his attention back to the ring, and Rukia began to read one of the books he had brought for her, on one of the pages that was marked with information that he considered important to her instruction in the gift of war. Rukia stroked his hair from time to time before he kissed her hand.

The ring was almost done, he just had to clean it and it would be ready. The stone was a similar color and he had been working on that ring all afternoon the day before after having that talk with Rukia.

His mind, the day before, had been a tangle of memories that mixed the good experiences with the bad, and it took him a while to sort them all out again and put them in their place. His past was his past, and although there were nice things in that past, he was no longer the same. That Ichigo lost in the abyss had grown up and everything that he was, was mixed with what he is at that moment; he kept what would be useful to him and left the rest to be swallowed up by the abyss.

She had once asked him if he would treat her differently if she had been with someone before, and he had given her an answer that was true and undeniable, he couldn't demand anything from her that he couldn't give her; but just imagining that Rukia could meet again with someone who had a past like the one he had with Yoruichi, made his blood boil with jealousy.

His mind was becoming chaotic, and the only thing he could think of was how to get rid of this "someone" so that this "someone" couldn't take her away from him. He was jealous of his own imagination; to think that someone else would have seen her as he sees her, that someone else would have touched her as he touches her, and that someone else would have made her happy.

Jealousy coursed through him in an abrasive, destructive way.

— What are you thinking about? — The touch on his shoulder and Rukia's voice made him look up from the ring and turn his head just to look at her. Rukia was looking at him curiously from where she was sitting, with the book open on her lap just to keep the page she had been reading and with a hand on his shoulder in a subtle way, like a gesture of concern.

Ichigo placed the ring on the little finger of the hand where he wore the wedding ring, got up from the floor, and made her stand up only for him to sit down and make her sit on his lap.

— I was thinking that you are mine and if anyone even thinks of getting close to you, I would kill them. — Ichigo answered, unable to hide the jealousy in his voice that his own mind created from those imaginary scenarios, and hugging her possessively. — Mine, mine, mine.

— You are jealous? — Rukia asked in surprise, hugging him before looking into his eyes with a huge smile on her lips.

— No, I'm not. — Ichigo denied, but Rukia couldn't stop smiling at that moment. — I only remind you that you are mine.

— Yes, yes you are. — Rukia crooned before giving him a small kiss on the lips. A second later, her amused look changed to one of menace which Ichigo greatly enjoyed. — I remind you that you are mine, my love. And if that foreign princess thinks I'm going to let go of what's mine, she's sorely mistaken.

— As if I could see someone other than you. — Ichigo whispered before kissing her again, enjoying that dangerous woman he loved to see, the woman who had ordered the death of a soldier just because that soldier dared to touch her without her permission, and the woman who enjoyed that death.

The kiss started slowly and quickly became more and more intense to the point where he felt Rukia settle on top of him to kiss him better, with a possession that Ichigo loved to feel, in a hug that was interrupted by Tatsuki walking through the front door.

— I haven't seen anything! — Tatsuki yelled, immediately turning on her heel to turn her back on them and not see them.

It was at that moment that Ichigo realized that one of his hands was under Rukia's dress, but he didn't rush to get her out of there. He gave his wife one last kiss before she got off him and they both sat on the couch.

— You can turn around now, Tatsuki, although I don't know why you're embarrassed, it was just a kiss. — Rukia commented matter-of-factly, and Ichigo couldn't help but think that Tatsuki had seen and heard them while they were in bed, and not just once, but many times.

Tatsuki should have been used to seeing them like this.

Tatsuki turned to look at them, without looking up, and Ichigo noticed that she was red. He also noticed that behind her were a couple of maids with some things in their hands, and a servant dressed in white, and Ichigo couldn't help but roll his eyes at that servant.

— Princess Kirio sends you clothes for tonight, Prince Ichigo. — Tatsuki explained making the maids come in and present him with the clothes his aunt sent for him.

It was black dress clothes, the ones he had sometimes worn during his stay at Vermist's Palace when he still lived there; clothes of the princes of Vayalat. The only difference this time is that the sash was not white, but red with black embroidery with themes related to the kingdom. His aunt Kirio had really put in the effort in that outfit.

Ichigo began to wonder since when had his aunt been planning this dance as well as this meeting with Yoruichi.

— It looks like the cloth you used to wear on your head to cover your hair when we sneaked out for walks. — Rukia commented as she took the red sash in her hands, admiring the embroidery and fabric.

— It was a similar one, only this one is red. It is the belt of the princes. The one I wore on my head was given to me when I returned from the battle at the Island Trinity, my grandfather recognized me as one of the princes of the kingdom and that is why I entered the line of succession. It was something that didn't make much sense because I don't really inherit anything here, just this house.

— Does it mean something that the color is red? — Rukia asked, carefully folding the sash to hand it to the maid, who handed it to Tatsuki for her to take to the room along with the clothes.

— That I grew up and I am no longer a child, but a man. — Ichigo replied simply.

When it was the white-robed servant's turn, he introduced himself as one of King Yushiru's personal servants, and presented them with a bottle of Desert Wine, the iconic drink of the Kingdom of Gardelia, as a birthday present for Ichigo.

— King Yushiru sends it for Prince Ichigo to enjoy before the ball, and as a token of thanks that thanks to his help, the Desert Road has remained strong and safe.

— Give my thanks to the king, it was very kind of him to send this gift, and tell him I hope he decides to stay for the ball, I would like to meet him in person. — Ichigo answered with the bottle of wine in his hand, feeling Rukia's curious gaze on him.

The servant in white promised that he would deliver his message and left with the other maids, leaving Ichigo, Rukia and Tatsuki alone in the living room. Tatsuki also left to do her things.

— Isn't it too early to receive gifts? — Rukia asked gently taking the bottle out of his hands to get a better look at it. — It's supposed to be until the dance that there will be a table for the gifts that they will give you, Kirio said it at the tea party the other day. Why is he sending it to you now?

Ichigo gently took the bottle from Rukia's hands and placed it on the table. Rukia was right, it was too early to receive gifts, especially if they were from the king of Gardelia, whom he didn't know and he doubted he had good references for him. Ichigo whistled and Kholtan entered through a window before perching on the back of one of the pieces of furniture.

— Kholtan, bring me a prey, alive. — Ichigo ordered and the eagle screeched and left the room just as it had entered. — Yushiru is Yoruichi's older brother. They really are brothers, they were born from the same concubine. I never met him in person, but he was evidently the strongest son of the late king of Gardelia because he is the king now.

— By strong, do you mean dangerous? — Rukia asked causing Ichigo to look at her.

Ichigo nodded slowly, looking from Rukia to the wine bottle, then back to Rukia.

— How do you get rid of someone without getting rid of someone?

— You make it look like an accident. — Rukia looked at the bottle of wine on the table. — But the servant said that the king sends the wine, there are witnesses, the maidens… Tatsuki heard him. If he wanted to kill you, leaving witnesses would be unwise.

— Maybe... but if I were him, I would also want to kill whoever dared to hurt one of my sisters. — Ichigo was silent for a moment and then leaned back in the chair where they were still sitting, thinking every second that getting involved with Yoruichi was the worst thing he could have done. — Hit me.

— No, because you complain that I hit too hard. — Rukia responded with an angry tone. — And better be thankful I don't have some crazy ex-lover with a brother who wants to kill you or we'd be in more trouble.

— Do you think an ex-lover of yours could even try to harm me? — Ichigo asked, opening his eyes quickly, only to turn to see Rukia who was looking at her nails as if they were the most interesting thing in the world.

Ichigo's jealousy awoke again.

— I have no way of knowing. But if I had an ex-lover, it wouldn't be just anyone, it would be at least a prince. I have high standards, my love. — Rukia answered looking up with that overwhelming confidence a woman possesses who knows she has what she wants.

Ichigo pounced on her, making her lie down on that two-seater sofa, but Rukia didn't relax her gaze or get scared, but she met his gaze with a victorious expression; challenging him. Ichigo moved a hand to caress Rukia's cheek gently, looking at her like a predator looks at its prey, and then smiled. It was at that moment that he could see a slight hesitation in Rukia's gaze, a slight tremor in her lips.

— My love, if you had a crazy ex-lover, no matter if he was a prince, a king or any lucky idiot, I would have already killed him, just to make sure that you will always be mine. — Ichigo leaned close to her ear and smiled as he heard her hold her breath. — The screams you heard at the Justice House in Visnia would be nothing compared to what I would do to that guy. I would drive him crazy, make his mind a mess and make him a human misery before I killed him, just because he dared to touch you. You are mine, my Moon. Mine.

After that statement, they both looked into each other's eyes. Rukia kept holding his gaze, her lips parted in such an adorable expression that Ichigo didn't resist and kissed her, feeling Rukia give in to that kiss that became more and more intense and passionate.

— I'm jealous. — Ichigo confessed, although it was an absurd confession. He was jealous because of his own imagination. — Do you remember what I said I would do to you whenever I was jealous, my love?

— Just do it, my love.

Ichigo left red marks on her skin again and Rukia had dug her nails into his back so hard the marks were sure to stay there for days. They weren't marks he wanted to erase so soon, but Rukia's were something he definitely had to remove.

— You bite very hard. — Rukia whispered as he removed the wounds on her shoulders. — If you didn't have magic, the marks would be on my skin for days, it would be embarrassing.

— If I didn't have magic, I would leave the marks where no one could see them. — Ichigo whispered after kissing her shoulder and adjusting her dress. — Also, you bite harder and scratch.

Rukia smiled at that comment and Ichigo stole one more kiss from her. He had bite marks on his shoulders that he didn't know at what point she had made.

— Kholtan is back. — Ichigo whispered sensing that Kholtan was close to the house.

Ichigo took the things that he had left on that tea table, with which he had been repairing and polishing the ring, and put them in a small cloth bag that he left on a small cabinet. The bottle of Gardelia's wine was the only thing left on the table, and Ichigo took a small plate where he carefully poured out some of the contents.

The desert wine was redder than the usual wine, it had a rather intense fruity flavor and it was really strong, only the men of the desert could drink it without getting drunk with a few sips.

Kholtan screeched and Ichigo sat on the couch again, moments later the eagle came through the window and placed a small gray rabbit on Ichigo's lap. The little animal was injured but still alive, and Ichigo used the gift of war to be able to heal it, because it was useless if the little animal died from the wounds of Kholtan's claws.

— What are you going to do to the bunny? — Rukia asked, looking at him and looking at the bunny that was moving trying to escape. She was sitting next to him, with an anxious expression and holding her own hands.

— Think this bunny is me. — Ichigo replied as he looked at the bottle of wine, then felt a pang of guilt for what he was going to do because Rukia likes rabbits. — If you don't want to see, don't see, it might not be nice, and pray to the Shadow that I'm wrong, my love.

Rukia seemed to want to say something but didn't.

Ichigo brought the little rabbit closer to the liquid to make him drink it, and the little animal drank the liquid before their eyes, in a silence that was too overwhelming.

— Give it to me. — Rukia's voice sounded sad.

Ichigo knew at that moment that Rukia had fully understood what he had done, and handed over to her the little bunny who was no longer struggling to escape. They were silent for a moment until the bunny began to writhe, as if in great pain, and began to screech. Rukia was still holding the little rabbit in her hands, on her lap, as she tried to calm him down and prevent him from escaping.

— Can you heal him? — Rukia asked and Ichigo could see how the tears crystallized in her eyes and her voice cracked. — He is dying, he is in a lot of pain. Can you heal him?

Ichigo wanted to tell her that he could heal him, but poison was the one thing magic couldn't heal or slow down, no matter who tried. Rukia was suffering because of the bunny, he could see it in her eyes. Ichigo never thought that the poison would have such an agonizing and torturous effect.

— No, but I can end his pain. — Ichigo held out his hand for Rukia to hand him the dying little animal.

Rukia handed it to him and closed her eyes avoiding seeing what he would do. The bunny was still suffering, it even seemed that the agony was too long, so with a single movement, Ichigo broke the neck of the little animal that stopped suffering at that moment.

The silence in the room was only broken by Rukia's sobbing as she wiped away her tears; Ichigo didn't know if she was crying for the bunny or for what that wine meant.

— Tatsuki. — Ichigo called and the maid entered the living room a few moments later. Ichigo handed over the bunny's corpse along with the bottle of wine. — Tell Renji to bury the rabbit, and take the bottle to the kitchen. It's poisoned wine, put it in a safe place.

Tatsuki nodded as she took the bunny, but Rukia stopped her just to give the poor little animal that had died one last caress. Ichigo wiped Rukia's tears and kissed her forehead, she hugged him but she wasn't crying anymore, she was just sad and Ichigo guessed it was because of the little animal's death.

— It was a warning. — Rukia whispered after a moment of silence, slowly releasing the hug. — That was why he was so obvious, why he didn't bother to hide the drink among the gifts. The King of Gardelia knew you were going to be suspicious of that wine.

— I know. — Ichigo caressed her cheek gently. — But I am not easy to kill, my Moon. You won't get rid of me that easily, much less when Koga still wants you to marry him.

—

Rukia was in the living room, sitting and waiting for Ichigo to come out of the bedroom. She was the first to dress for the party that night with the help of Tatsuki, who helped her put on everything from her underwear to her shoes, as well as the dress that Queen Masaki had prepared for her under the excuse of "if there is a party, you must look like what you are, a princess".

The dress was really beautiful, Rukia really looked like a princess but not from Avanta, but from Vayalat. Queen Masaki designed that dress to have the emblem colors of the kingdom of Vayalat and the sapphire necklace she wore at the time only did more than highlight the fact that she was dressed as a princess of that kingdom.

Tatsuki combed her hair, gathered all her hair in a beautiful way, leaving her neck free to wear the necklace, and placed the tiara that Ichigo's uncle gave her on her wedding day. Rukia had chosen the Winter Diadem, but Ichigo insisted that she wear the tiara with the nightingale, that beautiful and lonely blue stone in the middle of black and red.

When Rukia asked why he wanted her to wear it, Ichigo only replied "my aunt Kirio is going to love you".

The way he mentioned that sentence, and the smile on his face, made Rukia understand that this tiara was more important than it seemed and that Kirio would prefer it on any head but hers, though it was Queen Masaki's tiara and not Princess Kirio's.

By that time, both Ichigo and Rukia had already come to the conclusion of what Kirio wanted to do and had mentally prepared for anything that might happen at that dance, so Rukia was going to make that dance as uncomfortable for Kirio as Kirio would surely make it for her.

She had overcome a bit of her emotional crisis for everything that had happened and it was time to recover because she couldn't keep thinking about the same ideas all the time. Ichigo used to say that the kingdom doesn't wait, decisions don't wait, and life doesn't wait, so she had to face the situation as prepared as possible or they were going to devour her like a muffin at a dessert table.

Rukia knew that she was at a disadvantage and that Kirio was in control, but she had to find a way to take advantage of that weakness. Queen Masaki had trained her to survive in the court of Avanta and had taught her what she needed to know to survive in the court of Vayalat, so she was not going to allow Kirio to keep insisting on belittling her.

Her little list of revenges already had another name to go with Nelliel's name: Kirio.

Ichigo's servant, the one who helped him dress for such events and had traveled with them as well as many others, came out of the bedroom announcing that Ichigo was about to leave the room. Tatsuki got up from her seat, from where she was accompanying Rukia, and left with the servant to do her own things and give them privacy.

Rukia got up from her seat, anxious to see Ichigo dressed as one of the princes of Vayalat, and waited in silence, with her nerves and curiosity running high because she had never seen him like this, completely dressed in black.

An instant later, Ichigo walked slowly out of the bedroom, adjusting his shirt cuffs into his coat sleeve.

The black clothes really looked good on Ichigo.

From the black coat with silver trim to the red and black sash that was tied at the waist over the coat and whose long tails hung free on her left side, as well as the pants and boots that are also black; all the clothes made him look really imposing. Rukia knew that under the coat was a red shirt that could be seen at the collar and cuffs, but that was irrelevant at the moment.

Rukia couldn't help but smile and blush to see Ichigo dressed like that because he looked so handsome that she even doubted he was real. Ichigo approached her and stole a small kiss on her lips before speaking causing her to come out of that little bubble of fantasy she entered seeing him like that, confirming that he is real.

Ichigo is really handsome.

— You look beautiful dressed like this. — Ichigo commented with a smile, holding her hand gently.

— And you look very handsome. — Rukia blushed as she said it. — Too handsome. Thank the Shadow you are mine, or there would be trouble.

— Only yours, my princess. — Ichigo gave her another kiss before letting go of her hand. — Do you know what would make you look more beautiful?

— What? — Rukia asked curiously as Ichigo took off one of the rings he was wearing.

— To have your engagement ring again. — Ichigo held her hand again, this time with the intention of placing the ring on her. — It's not a magic ring anymore, though I tried to put magic on it. Only the Shadow knows how it's done, but there was nothing to lose in trying.

The moment Ichigo put the ring on her, she could feel the difference between it and the one she had swallowed. The queen's ring felt like life and fire, she felt the magic concentrated in the stone, and the ring Ichigo gave her, although it didn't feel the same as the queen's ring, didn't feel empty either.

Rukia could feel that there was something in the ring, something warm and sweet; like a sigh in the summer or a sunset.

— It's perfect.

Special regards to diah77, jobananasan, and Guest. Thanks to everyone who keeps reading this crazy story.

I'll upload the next chapter as soon as it's ready.