Author's note: As I said in the previous chapter, this is the end of the 3rd season because I will re-adjust the following events. I hope you enjoy it and it is to your liking. The only thing I can say is that it was a nice butterfly effect. Special regards to Guest and Gest 2, jobananasan, Nikkiebelles and diah77, and thanks to everyone who keeps reading this crazy story.
Without further ado, enjoy the chapter.
The Nightingale
Chapter 69: Prelude 2
Summer — x493 / July 18
Rukia was sitting on the bed in that room, watching Ichigo wash his face with the water Tatsuki brought them, and thinking of how to tell him that Yoruichi hit her after an argument between the two of them. The best time to talk to him was right now, because Ichigo couldn't invoke the gift until he ate and recovered, and that would take at least a couple of hours; however, she was still a little afraid of the reaction he might have when she told him everything that happened while he was unconscious.
Rukia knew how Ichigo reacted every time someone attacked her, and Rukia wasn't going to deny that she liked Ichigo's way of acting, but at that moment it was not wise for him to act that way because they already had enough things to think about.
Uncle Kisuke was right, what happened no longer included just Ichigo and Yoruichi, or Ichigo and Yushiru, it included three kingdoms and the possibility of an attack was quite likely. Vayalat was safe thanks to the alliance that they signed and that prevents aggression between Gardelia and Vayalat, but Avanta was a separate issue. Ichigo is the prince of Avanta, the commander of the kingdom, and he had beaten up a fucking king.
Yushiru seemed like the type of man who with just one word could order an attack on Avanta for the blow Ichigo had given him and justify it with any nonsense.
The very idea of seeing Ichigo have to put on the armor and go to war terrified her. Rukia knew that Ichigo was a man of war, he had lived it and he had survived it; he was able to use the gift to fight and she had no doubt that he would always come back to her with victory, but the thought of that future frightened her too much.
— Ok, my Moon… tell me what's going on. — Ichigo asked after wiping his face and sitting down next to her. Rukia stopped thinking about those possibilities and looked up to see him better. — Because the fact that we are here and not at the beach house waiting for lunch makes me think about many things. Who are we waiting for?
Rukia smiled nervously and kicked off her shoes just so she could get her feet up on the bed. Ichigo looked at her waiting for an explanation and Rukia knew she had to give it to him because he needed it and deserved it.
— We are waiting for Uncle Kisuke. — Rukia answered as Ichigo sat in front of her in the same position they would use to meditate. He was barefoot but the clothes he wore were clean clothes. — My Sun, promise that you will not get mad.
— The last time you said that phrase, it was because you thought you were pregnant. — Ichigo reminded her with a raised eyebrow.
Rukia chuckled nervously but shook her head. Being pregnant right now would be the least of all worries, because they both had a plan for when that happened; although they hoped it wouldn't happen and they don't need to use that plan.
— I'm not pregnant, but if I had been, then I would have lost it by now. — Rukia looked away as she said that, playing with her hands that were starting to sweat again, but being careful with her right wrist; it should be bandaged and immobile, but she didn't.
The blows Yoruichi gave her were so many and so painful, that if Ichigo's family didn't have that kind of magic, she would still be in the doctor's room under observation and possibly unconscious.
Rukia thanked the Shadow for that gift, even though there were things it couldn't heal, like her sore wrist. She preferred not to cover it up while she was with him because if Ichigo woke up and saw that bandage, the first thing he would ask would be "who hurt you?", and chaos would break loose again.
— My Moon, don't play with that. — Ichigo's tone of voice sounded quite serious but Rukia smiled nervously; both of them had suffered because of that "possibility" in the past and it was not something to joke about at the moment, although she hadn't meant it that way. — Now, stop diverting the subject. How serious is the problem we got ourselves into?
That last question was no longer imbued with that seriousness, but with concern, and was accompanied by a soft caress on her face. Rukia looked at Ichigo for a moment, and smiled before holding his hand and kissing his palm as she mentally thanked the Deities; because it was to them that she prayed in the past to be able to be with someone like him.
She also thanked the Shadow, because thanks to it, she could live an eternity by Ichigo's side.
Rukia took a deep breath before holding onto Ichigo's hands, just like he did when he wanted her to listen, but only using her left hand. Her wrist had begun to ache from having made so many moves in such a short time.
— Just promise that you won't get worked up until I'm done talking.
Ichigo looked at her for a moment, completely serious, until he nodded slightly. It was at that moment that Rukia spoke.
She told him everything, with every disgusting detail that she had managed to register with all her senses, from the blow from the king of Gardelia to the fight she had with Yoruichi.
Ichigo was the only person from whom she would not hide anything, he is her partner in crime, her partner and her confidant; they really only had each other because even if they trusted more people, only they would be responsible for their own futures.
Ichigo just listened to her in silence, as she had requested, but Rukia could tell by the way Ichigo was holding her hands and the obvious angry expression on his face, that he wasn't happy at all; especially when hearing about the fight with Yoruichi and everything that the princess of Gardelia had told her.
Rukia could see the fury in Ichigo's eyes, she could see the killing intent swirling inside him, and she could feel, just like when she felt his anger before the fight with Uncle Kisuke, how Ichigo's fury washed over her like a tidal wave. It was an overwhelming feeling born from the moon etched into her skin, letting her know that Ichigo was actually holding back from getting out of bed and leaving the room to go in search of Yoruichi.
— It was Queen Aiko who stopped the fight, although I fainted and didn't know more until I woke up in the queen's doctor's room. — Rukia continued cautiously and without letting go of his hand. — I had bumps and scratches on my arms, and my body and head ached, but the queen's doctor gave me something to drink and I went back to sleep. When I woke up again, I no longer had injuries, but my body still ached a little and I had a bandaged right wrist. — She raised her right arm so he could see what she was saying. — The queen's doctor says I must have leaned on it when I fell and it bent badly, but it will heal soon. I'm supposed to bandage it, but I didn't want it to be the first thing you noticed when you woke up and got angry.
Ichigo, who was still upset and who had that look that promised that Yoruichi was going to pay for attacking Rukia, held his wife's wrist with an unusual delicacy, as if he was touching something that was too fragile and gave her a kiss on the skin where there was a small swelling. Rukia held her breath at that point, and then Ichigo got up from the bed in complete silence.
— Ichigo, wait! Where are you going? — Rukia quickly got up from the bed to grab his arm and stop him before he opened the door.
Ichigo was really angry.
— I warned her not to mess with you but she didn't listen. I'm sick of all this! — Ichigo gently took her hand to make her let go of him, but all the anger was there, boiling inside him. — Now she is going to listen to me, she is really going to listen to me, and then I am going to…
— Nope! Don't go, she's not here. I haven't finished telling you what happened. Come back to bed with me, my Sun.
Ichigo stared at her for a moment in silence, and Rukia felt her soul relax as Ichigo agreed to go back to bed with her. They both sat down in the same position they had before, and Ichigo took hold of her right hand and began to caress her injured wrist gently; it was as if he was giving her a massage that felt too good and relieved what little pain she felt at the moment.
— By the time I was able to get out of the doctor's rooms, it was already dark and they would not allow me to come back to this room with you, they sent me back to the beach house, and assigned a Shadow to take care of me. They took a long time to heal the wounds and what they gave me to ease the pain kept me asleep. — Rukia continued narrating while Ichigo eased the pain in her wrist with that gentle touch. — The next day I spent the whole morning with you, I tried to read a little and I tried to organize what we should do for the celebration with Orihime and Ulquiorra, but my mind was not focused on anything. The only thing I could think about was what was going to happen because of everything that had happened. Uncle Kisuke came in the afternoon, playing with his fan and in his usual good mood, and we talked about the ring.
— Did you tell him the ring is a fake?
Rukia realized that even though Ichigo's voice seemed relaxed and calm, even curious, she could still feel that feeling of anger rising from the moon in her own skin. Perhaps because she had swallowed the ring and now the magic was part of her, she could feel it more clearly; she was even surprised at how well Ichigo controlled himself. Rukia envied that self-control and told herself that she must be as good as him.
— I did. On the night of the fight, after the talk with the king Yhwach, it was Uncle Kisuke who walked me back to the beach house, and I think he is quite observant, because he knew immediately that I was hiding things and that I had left out some more about the blow the king Yushiru gave me. — She commented on that last with a small nervous giggle.
Ichigo smiled at those words.
Rukia thought that Ichigo would be mad because she had told Uncle Kisuke about the ring, but he didn't, and that flummoxed her a bit; as well as noticing that the feeling of anger slowly faded.
— Do you have the bandages you need for your wrist? — Ichigo asked at the end of that massage. Rukia nodded and took them out of the hidden pocket she had in the skirt of her dress, and mentally thanked Queen Masaki that all her dresses had that peculiarity, because they were really useful to her.
Silently, Ichigo began to carefully bandage her wrist, trying not to apply too much pressure but keeping the bandage firm, and didn't stop until he tied a small knot to secure the bandage's grip. Rukia noted that it was even more comfortable than the bandage the queen's doctor had made for her.
Ichigo really knew how to treat wounds without having to use magic.
— My uncle has a great instinct for things, and he has a huge cat that spies for him, so he either senses it or the cat tells him. — Ichigo explained as Rukia wiggled her fingers slightly and rested her hand on her own lap.
— A cat like Kholtan? — Rukia asked curiously because that kind of connection was really magical to her. Ichigo nodded again. — Doesn't it bother you that I told him? About the ring.
Ichigo shook his head slightly, making a noise in his throat.
— I was thinking that we tell him about that ring, Uncle Kisuke knows a lot of things and maybe he could help us, but you beat me to it and that's fine. What did he tell you about the ring?
— He said the same as you. No one had ever done it before but had to be careful. He said that you teach me what you know and that I train with you, he also said that he would give me some notes to read and study, and he told me to tell this to Queen Masaki, so that she could also instruct me. He told me that I should be careful not to go through the same thing you went through on the day of the party. Is this how you look when you lose control?
This time it was Ichigo's turn to laugh nervously.
— The truth… — Rukia realized that the anger over what happened with Yoruichi had calmed down in Ichigo, but she knew that feeling was still there, underneath that nervousness. — It's just that the gift didn't really control me like the first time in that cell. Do you remember that I told you that it was a feeling of power that I wanted to feel again? — Rukia nodded. — Well, I've been training it. It would be cheating or something like that, but instead of learning how to master the shadows one by one, I skipped everything until trying to master the ankh. I don't know how to explain it.
Ichigo scratched his head with a nervous smile.
— Are you telling me that you fooled them all? — Rukia narrowed her eyes at him waiting for an answer. — Uncle Kisuke knocked you out for days when it wasn't necessary?
— Technically I didn't lie to them. – Ichigo slowly started to get up from the bed, as if he was getting ready to run away. Rukia looked at him suspiciously, starting to move with him. — They assumed that the gift controlled me like that first time and I have not gotten them out of that mistake. After killing the king of Gardelia, I would have returned to normal, and then I would have been asleep for days. — Ichigo cautiously moved away from the bed, just to be on the safe side. — I was unconscious for days because I abused the gift, not because Uncle Kisuke hit me.
— My Sun… — Rukia hissed, waiting for a more detailed explanation of that situation, more out of curiosity than anger, but it was fun to see Ichigo flustered like that and she wasn't going to miss out on playing with him a bit. — Why do you walk away from me?
Rukia got off the bed and slowly started walking towards Ichigo, who was starting to walk backwards, as if he was afraid of his own wife, and raising his hands almost in defense.
— My Moon… I really didn't know if it would work. — Ichigo began to speak in a somewhat rapid manner, as if he wanted to prevent Rukia from getting angry. Rukia smiled inwardly at that, although she still had a serious expression just for the pleasure of making Ichigo more nervous. — You can imagine that the ankh is like a "thing" that lives inside you and that at the same time is part of you. You... you can use it at will... but first you have to... you have to train it... like when a child learns to speak...
Ichigo stuttered when he spoke and walked away from her slowly, looking back so as not to bump into anything; but Rukia just looked at him with that expression that said "and what else?" as she walked towards him, until at one point Ichigo bumped into the bed, again. They had both walked around the bed and Ichigo ended up sitting on it, looking panicked at Rukia, who at some point had started to smile, as if she had caught him.
— My Moon... don't get mad...
— I'm not mad… — Rukia whispered without stopping until she was in front of him.
Rukia raised her small hand and Ichigo followed her with his eyes, which were full of fear, and he froze when she touched him. She knew why Ichigo was looking at her like that, after all, in a moment of anger and jealousy, she had hurt him. Perhaps it was cruel to play with him like that, but at the same time it seemed slightly amusing to punish him like that for not telling her that little detail.
Ichigo stopped seeing Rukia's hand on his shoulder and looked up with a smile that made her legs shake. It was at that moment that Rukia realized that she hadn't cornered Ichigo, but that Ichigo had led her into a trap using himself as bait. Rukia tried to take a step back, but Ichigo grabbed her around the waist and, in a move too fast, Rukia ended up lying on the bed with Ichigo on top of her, with his hands resting on the sides of her head and his legs trapping hers so she couldn't escape.
— You still have so much to learn, my Moon.
Ichigo whispered to her before giving her a small kiss on the lips, without moving from that position. Rukia just looked at him, trying to understand how Ichigo had caught her off guard, but doing nothing to get up. She liked that position, it was comfortable and Ichigo looked great with that amused expression.
— As I was saying my Moon, I passed that part many years ago, I control my emotions and I can use the gift at will on my skin and on inanimate objects... like when I make torches and candles go out. Each thing is trained separately, the more you get in sync with the ankh within you, the more things you can do and master. It is a slow process indeed.
Rukia felt that she needed a notebook to write down what Ichigo was explaining to her at that moment, because it would be useful to her later, and because looking at him like that made her think of other things that had nothing to do with learning to master the gift.
— And… How come you cheat? — Rukia settled in better, and Ichigo did with her when he felt how she wanted to free one of her legs from that prison. Rukia felt comfortable flexing her leg a bit and just for the pleasure of playing a little more, she tangled it with Ichigo's.
Ichigo smiled and that made Rukia shiver. Ichigo's smile, the one he gave only to her, was too much for her heart that beat uncontrollably every time he smiled like that.
— When I train or meditate, inside my mind I visualize a corridor with many doors, and at the end there is a door that is really big and heavy. — Ichigo gently held Rukia's leg, gently stroking the skin as he explained that part. — The first is a door that is always open, it is the one that makes the gift flow naturally, like breathing or hearing; what is part of us without having to train it. The more I train, the more doors I open and they stay open because it's something I learned to control.
Rukia imagined what Ichigo was saying, but at the same time she stopped thinking about it just to try to control her heart, which seemed like it was going to burst out of her chest if Ichigo didn't stop touching her and looking at her that way.
— There are still many doors that I haven't opened because I haven't trained them yet, but for a while, when I came back from the war, I tried to open the biggest door; the one that prevents the ankh from getting out of control. In my mind, the night of the beach attack, that door opened and it opened all the others.
— And did you open it when you were training? — Rukia's question came out in a whisper that was almost a gasp and Ichigo smiled before placing a soft kiss on her shoulder and whispering in her ear.
— Yes, I did… but I immediately closed it.
Ichigo's tone of voice as he said that seemed too sensual to Rukia, and it made her hold her breath for a moment. Ichigo kissed her neck again before looking back at her face and continuing with the explanation.
— It's like opening something where there is a lot of pressure, something that pulls from the inside to keep the door open while I pull from the outside to keep it closed. I open it and hold it open just a couple of inches, letting a bit of the gift flow and control me so I can open some of the doors that remain closed. The night of the dance I did it, I opened it a little more, because I was angry, and I threw two different shadows at the king of Gardelia.
— Wait… two? — Rukia interrupted the story, which was more like a truly valuable private class than a story, and completely forgot the desire Ichigo aroused in her with just those simple touches. — But they only stopped one. No one saw the other shadow.
Ichigo smiled with the victorious smile that used to excite Rukia too much, and she held her breath as Ichigo leaned close enough to brush her lips as he spoke.
— That was the intention, I wanted everyone to see the bigger shadow and ignore the smaller one. — Ichigo backed away from Rukia just a bit, not losing that smile on his face, and she brought her own slightly parted lips together that had been expecting a kiss. — My queen asked for the head of the king of Gardelia, and my queen will have the head of the king of Gardelia.
The way Ichigo referred to her as "his queen" made her shudder, and Rukia's skin prickled at that moment; her heart was beating fast, and inside her chest she felt indescribable happiness, triumph and emotion. If someone had told her two years ago that she would be thrilled to be called "queen", she would not have believed it.
Rukia moved her other leg and released it, causing Ichigo to be trapped between her legs at that moment, and he gave her a soft kiss on the shoulder that made her feel warm. Ichigo wasn't even trying, but Rukia was about to say "yes" to whatever he wanted at the moment. She hated being so weak in front of her husband.
Ichigo grabbed her leg and they settled back, making her sit on him for a moment before grabbing her face so he could kiss her. Rukia didn't resist and gave in to the kiss that was so sweet for her at the moment. It was just that, a very sweet kiss.
— Did you put a spider on him? — Rukia brushed Ichigo's lips with hers as she asked that question.
— No, the spider kills slowly. — Ichigo searched for Rukia's lips to kiss her again after that sentence. Rukia pulled away from him or she would kiss him again, and looked down at him as he explained. — The spider makes you sick and then you slowly die, like Senna's father and little brother. There is no human cure for shadow spider venom. With us it's impossible for it to work because we're part of the Shadow and it can't harm us, although it would be really painful and make us sick for a day or two, but we don't die no matter how much killing intent there is in that summon. Neither in that type of summoning nor in any other that includes a poisonous animal.
Rukia was silent for a moment, remembering when Queen Masaki had told her that there would be a new lord in Neikel, as well as Ichigo's letters mentioning the death of Senna's little brother and father once she had married Lord Yushima. That child was an innocent victim and she still felt upset about it, but she was also aware that things like that happened, and that they were things that she would have to do if one day it was required.
Besides, her father and brother didn't exactly have clean hands, they would never talk about it, but being the peace counselor was nothing more than being a murderer. Entire families had disappeared by order of the king, treacherous princes had been killed by order of the king, and a Kuchiki had been responsible for executing those murders. All for the sake of peace in the kingdom.
— But you were thinking of putting a spider on Nelliel, you even put one on the princess of Gardelia. — Rukia reminded him a moment later.
— I was not going to kill them, once the spiders had fulfilled their task of making them suffer, I would have cured them. — Rukia seemed to want to say something, but Ichigo spoke up ahead of her. — It's called: torture techniques. It's not only learning to summon the spider, you have to learn to control everything related to it. I killed several animals for not knowing how to control it at the beginning and one or another usurious seller in the market. In my defense, I will say that those vendors deserved it.
Rukia wasn't even surprised by that last and instead focused on what mattered at the moment.
— And what did you send to the king? — She asked with curiosity and with that emotion of knowing that the man who had hit her and sent that poisoned wine to Ichigo would die. Yoruichi should never have involved her own brother, because she really didn't know who she was messing with.
— A shadow that will make him beg to die. — Ichigo seemed very pleased with himself. — Possibly before the end of the year there will be a new king in Gardelia, if there is someone in the line of succession still alive and there is not a civil war. But let's not talk about them, I'm getting angry again and I have too nice a view from here to be angry. Better tell me, what else did Uncle Kisuke tell you?
Rukia smiled at the comment and blushed again as she looked away a bit. Ichigo was actually seducing her without even trying, and that wasn't fair.
— He told me a few more things, but he wants to tell you personally, so we just have to wait for him to arrive.
— Perfect, so I have time to kiss my wife, I have to recover these three days that I was unconscious.
Rukia complained giving him a little poke on the chest, but it wasn't really a complaint, and Ichigo got up a bit just to reach her and kiss her. Rukia wasn't going to deny that she too needed Ichigo's kisses.
—
Kisuke was standing outside Ichigo's room, his fan in one hand, a leather folder in the other, and one ear to the door, trying to hear something. Next to him was Tatsuki, with a tray of food, and behind her was another maid, with a jug of wine, a jug of water, and clean glasses.
— There's no noise in there. Are you sure my dear nephew woke up? — Kisuke turned to look at Tatsuki, who seemed a bit flustered but didn't look up out of respect for the man.
— Yes, your Highness. The prince woke up a short time ago, Princess Rukia asked me for food and some water for him to wash his face. — Tatsuki explained trying to control the nerves in her voice. — I brought the water before... but I don't think that...
— Wonderful! So I can talk to them. — Kisuke interrupted her because the girl had started to babble. He opened the door and entered the room noisily. — Good morning my dear nephew and niece!
The silence in that room was eternal although it only lasted a second.
Kisuke turned his attention to the bed and found Ichigo sitting on it, with Rukia sitting on top of him, both of them with frightened expressions and their clothes slightly mismatched. Rukia immediately moved away from Ichigo and hid behind a wooden screen and Ichigo threw a pillow at Kisuke, who was covering half of his face with his fan and had no problem dodging that pillow.
— Don't walk into people's rooms unannounced! — Ichigo yelled with a red face for being found out like that.
— You were unconscious for three days, and when you wake up you have energy for... this. You are definitely a prodigy, dear nephew! — Kisuke started laughing, covered by his fan like a vermin.
That explained why it was so quiet in the room, their mouths were busy; luckily they were just kisses and not something else. Kisuke found it amusing to find them like this, kissing as if they were a couple of lovers, and that made him remember the old days, when he himself was young and irreverent, and his father discovered him doing the same thing as them but with that girl.
— I thought you two were asleep, but that doesn't matter. Has my dear niece already talked to you? — Kisuke asked before ushering the maids in to serve the food. Rukia was still behind the wooden screen and Ichigo was buttoning up the shirt he had almost lost.
— Yes, she already talked to me. — Ichigo didn't seem happy and that was to be expected.
— Okay, let's eat first.
Rukia came out from behind the wooden screen a moment later, a nice blush on her cheeks, and offered Kisuke an apology for how he had found them. Kisuke just covered his face with his fan, looked at Ichigo, who this time couldn't run away like he had last time in the hall, and motioned for them to sit at the table so they could eat.
Kisuke dedicated himself to observing them while they ate, especially Rukia, and he could see the hand of his beloved little sister on her; the way she talked and the way she carried herself were something she had definitely learned from Masaki. However, the meeting with the king and queen made Kisuke notice a quirk in Rukia that she definitely hadn't learned from Masaki.
Rukia was a calculating person and she was thinking ahead, maybe she hadn't perfected that skill, but she definitely was, and it seemed like she had been practicing with people before, because deciding not to hurt the princess of Gardelia after receiving a blow, when she could perfectly hurt Yoruichi, told Kisuke that Rukia intended to do something with that blow.
While they ate, Kisuke carefully studied the way they behaved, the way they responded to some questions he asked regarding one thing or another, without touching on the subject that had brought him there, and noticed that they exerted some influence on each other. He noticed that Rukia had adopted some of the hand movements that Ichigo did at mealtimes, just as Ichigo seemed to do something similar; they were very simple things that would go unnoticed by anyone, even themselves if they didn't pay enough attention, but Kisuke noticed because he had always kept an eye on Ichigo since he was little.
Or maybe it's just love and what they were doing was the way they complemented each other because of it.
Kisuke knew that truly terrible things were done in the name of love. There were wars and massacres that started for love. That sentiment was dangerous and should be respected and revered.
— After the fight between my dear niece and the princess of Gardelia, King Yhwach and King Yushiru locked themselves in the king's private office. — Kisuke commented after putting the glass of wine on the table, attracting the attention of Ichigo and Rukia, who seemed eager for this talk. — They talked all afternoon, King Yushiru did not admit having sent the wine and claimed that it was disrespectful to doubt him. He also didn't admit hitting my dear niece.
— Dammit! — Ichigo slammed his fist on the table, slightly shaking whatever was on it.
— My Sun… please…
Rukia took Ichigo's hand on the table, and Kisuke immediately noticed that Rukia calmed Ichigo with a single touch. Even Ichigo apologized and grabbed Rukia's hand before kissing her politely.
That was…unusual.
— What he couldn't deny was that his sister hit my dear niece, and that was because the queen witnessed that fight and she was the one who stopped it. — Kisuke opened the leather folder he was carrying with him and allowed them to see the contents as he spoke. — When the princess of Gardelia was called to explain her actions, she said that she was provoked by my dear niece.
Being an official meeting for a matter of aggression, there was a scribe inside that office, and everything that was said and done in that room was recorded on paper; Kisuke's cat was also spying on everything. Kisuke only showed them a copy of what Yoruichi had said to defend herself.
— The princess of Gardelia made it clear that she did not provoke the aggression, but instead defended herself against Rukia's aggression. She added, with a sad and hurt expression, that she was just walking down a hallway when Rukia came up to her and insulted her in many different ways, she also said that Rukia punched her in the face.
Kisuke could see how the anger reflected in both Ichigo's and Rukia's expressions as they both read the contents of that paper and listened to what he said. Ichigo was fighting the urge to do something and Rukia just put the folder down on the table and clenched her fists tightly until a groan escaped her mouth and she clutched her injured wrist.
That immediately changed Ichigo's mood, going from angry to worry in seconds, just to check that Rukia was okay. Kisuke confirmed at that moment that if something bad happened to Rukia, Ichigo was really going to lose his mind, and what happened at the party was just a taste of what he could do.
Rukia had become Ichigo's weakness.
— I can't believe she said that. — Rukia added after assuring Ichigo that she was fine. — That woman is obnoxious! She was the one who attacked me, she was the one who looked for me... it's her fault that my wrist is injured!
Rukia raised her hand to point out the obvious fact.
— Unfortunately your maid was the only witness to what happened before the queen's arrival and although she was called to testify, King Yushiru argued that she could not be trusted because your maid would always speak well of you. — That was something everyone knew and it was unfair.
— And why didn't they call my wife to testify to defend herself against those accusations? — Ichigo was really upset about the whole situation. — She had the right to defend herself!
— Because my dear niece was being treated by the queen's doctor. She was asleep from the pain medication. — Kisuke explained that without losing the seriousness on his face. Ichigo could only clench his fists in anger and frustration, but Rukia seemed to be thinking of something. Kisuke could almost see the gears in Rukia's mind turning to do something. — Unfortunately we couldn't do more. We can't punish the royal family of another kingdom without causing a conflict that could end in a war; we are not an empire and they are not subject to us. In addition, we signed an alliance with a "non-aggression" clause. The problem is that you two belong to another kingdom, therefore the best thing we did to try to prevent Yushiru from raising his hand against Avanta was to take everything as a settling of scores. Ichigo hit Yushiru, but Yoruichi hit Rukia, so the scales were balanced. They left yesterday morning.
— But what… The balanced scale? Are you kidding? — Ichigo was incredulous at what his uncle was saying. — The two of them… that pair… Agh!
— It is what it is. — Kisuke's voice turned really serious. — You were raised to be a king and you know how the world moves, tell me if there would be another way to avoid a conflict, because it is your kingdom that is now in danger. — Kisuke silently waited for an answer from Ichigo, but it didn't come. There was only frustration in Ichigo's eyes. — The king of Gardelia could have sent the wine, but everything else happened because you didn't come to us, so this resolution was perhaps the most convenient, for everyone. And even so, not everything is really your fault... it was my dear Kirio who orchestrated everything, from the beginning she...
Kisuke didn't finish saying that sentence. Admitting out loud that his wife was responsible wasn't nice or easy, admitting that he had the power to stop everything and not doing it, just because he trusted his wife, wasn't either.
— I assumed it, but I didn't want to believe it. — Ichigo got up from the table and turned his back on them for a moment. He brought a hand to his face as if he was trying to calm down or hide a feeling and didn't make a sound. Kirio had been a mother to Ichigo and that must have felt like a betrayal to him. — Now I don't know what to think, she is… was…
— She will be punished. The king has decided on her punishment for plotting against her own blood and causing discord among allies. — Ichigo turned to see him, with surprise on his face because he hadn't expected those words, and he walked over to the table but didn't sit down again. — Sit down, dear nephew, we still have to talk.
—
After the talk with Uncle Kisuke, they had returned to the beach house in complete silence. Ichigo's mind was putting together all the facts and making sense of everything that had happened and the way it had happened; he didn't like to find out that his aunt had done all this to him.
Kirio had ruined his plans in that past, and she was trying to ruin his life in that present just because she felt she had the right to do so. Ichigo would never have dared to distrust or think that Kirio had something to do with all of this, and that was why that truth hurt so much.
Rukia had been quiet on the way back to the beach house, and when he had tried to hold her hand, she had stopped him. Ichigo didn't need a magic ring to know that Rukia was angry, that feeling was easily noticeable on her face, in the way her eyebrows drew together and in the way her beautiful eyes shone with anger in its purest form. Also because the gift manifested itself without her being able to control it, revealing that black mist in her hands.
Ichigo just made sure Rukia got into the beach house and immediately he went back to the palace in search of his aunt Kirio. He needed answers.
— Your highness, I would like to speak with you, I hope you can attend me. — Ichigo used a formal tone when speaking, as if he was talking to someone who was a stranger to him.
At that moment, his aunt was leaving a room and had smiled seeing him awake, she lost her smile. Kirio nodded to his request after a moment of silence and waved for him to follow her. They both walked in silence until they reached a small room where there were furniture, paintings, flowers and vases that decorated everything in shades of yellow, brown and gold. It was a beautiful room, but neither of them stopped to admire the decorations.
Ichigo looked at his aunt and felt that she was really a stranger to him. The more he thought about things, the more chaotic his mind became and the more he felt the ground shake with the imminent truth that the abyss would swallow him up at any moment.
— Dear nephew… I guess my dear Kisuke has already explained the situation to you. Are you coming to say goodbye to me? — Kirio didn't seem happy or sad, she looked disappointed.
Ichigo just looked at her in silence, not really knowing where to start but with so many doubts that needed an answer, that it made the questions swirl in his throat and prevented him from speaking at that moment. It was a tense moment for both of them, until Ichigo was able to find the right words and the lump in his throat allowed the words to come out.
— Your Highness, I came because I have to ask you a question. — Ichigo spoke with the same tone of voice, noticing how his aunt's disappointed expression grew with that question. — Why did you do it? I've been thinking about it, and I just can't find the answer. I don't understand. Explain to me, your highness, why did you do it?
The silence after those words seemed eternal to Ichigo. His aunt was looking at him as if he had just said something really painful for her, but Ichigo didn't take pity on that expression; he needed answers. He needed his aunt to tell him why she did everything she did, and at the same time he needed to hear his aunt say that it wasn't true, that nothing his uncle Kisuke said was true; that what had happened had not been caused by her.
Ichigo needed a little hope.
— Because all I want is to see you happy. — Kirio's voice had that dose of desperation that said she needed to be believed. — I prayed to the Shadow to give you a friend, and then Yoruichi arrived. You looked so happy with her, she did you so much good… when I saw your interest in her, I couldn't help but feel happy about it. My little prince deserved no less than a princess, and that's why I asked her to the dance, that's why I did that dance. When she told me about the marriage proposal, I thought that nothing would unite them more than a child.
Ichigo just listened to his aunt speak, clenching his fists because he couldn't deny those words about his friendship with Yoruichi; she had been a great friend to him when he needed it. Later he had begun to manipulate that friendship to his advantage to have the favorite daughter of the king of Gardelia on his side. The plan was to propose to Yoruichi in Gardelia, use the trip to observe the heirs to the throne, and then get rid of them. He wanted to conquer that kingdom in a relatively "peaceful" way.
Yoruichi saw the dream of unifying the kingdoms in a romantic way, Ichigo saw it as a conquest strategy that he intended to consolidate with the help of his father while Vayalat protected his future interests.
That was the real reason why he helped Yoruichi make the Gardelia-Vayalat alliance. Perhaps his plan could have some flaws, but he was sure that his father would help him with that and they would extend the kingdom ensuring himself the throne of Avanta from the Blue Mountains to the Red Desert.
But that plan was past, it had been swallowed by the abyss along with the friendship he once had with Yoruichi.
— You had no right to interfere in this matter, Your Highness. — Ichigo spoke, clenching his jaw and containing the anger he felt at that moment. — You also had no right to interfere with my marriage. I know that you invited the princess of Gardelia this time and did the dance so that she and I remember "old times", did you also expect my wife to be attacked the way she was? If it wasn't for the queen stopping that fight, my wife would have died. Is it also for my happiness?
Ichigo stared at Kirio carefully, not raising his voice out of respect, but unable to contain the anger that seeped through his words.
— I did everything for your happiness and your future, because you deserve a strong woman by your side! Yoruichi is a strong woman, she is the perfect partner for you. Yoruichi and you...
— There is no "Yoruichi and I"… your highness. — Ichigo clenched his fists to keep from screaming. — You were in charge of breaking the future that you wanted so much for me, if you had not interfered, perhaps now you would have what you once wanted. — Ichigo saw the surprised expression on Kirio's face, and he tried to keep the pain from seeping into his voice as he spoke. — Now I'm happy, really happy, with a strong and amazing woman, and it hurts me that you can't see it.
— Everything I did was because you are like my son and I couldn't let your life be wasted like this, with a simple woman! With the descendant of the man who brought disgrace to the kingdom!
Ichigo stared at his aunt, unable to hide the pain and disappointment in his expression, and truly wishing his aunt had never said those words. He shook his head slightly and took a step back, feeling all the trust and affection he had for his aunt melt away like ashes in the wind.
— Your Highness, I appreciate you taking care of me all those years and I appreciate the affection you've shown me, but if you don't respect my wife, then you don't respect me. I thought your affections would be great enough to share with my wife, but I was wrong.
— Dear nephew… understand…
— I understand well and I have nothing more to say. I wish you a safe journey, your highness.
Ichigo turned around and walked out of there as fast as he could. He heard his aunt call him, but he did not turn to see her or return to that room. He was completely disappointed in her, because of her everything had become a disaster.
Kirio ruined Ichigo's past, and if not for Rukia being a strong woman, she would have ruined his future.
Vermist had ceased to feel like home to him.
—
Rukia was dealing with her own personal demons.
She didn't know whether to thank or hate Kirio at that moment, because it was thanks to Kirio's actions in the past that Ichigo had ended his relationship with Yoruichi, and it was thanks to Kirio that Ichigo was the man he is at that moment. Possibly she married Ichigo, thanks to Kirio.
Rukia felt like laughing just thinking about how Kirio had ruined everything for both herself and Yoruichi, and how her conspiracies only played against her.
It was selfish of Rukia to think about that when surely Ichigo was suffering too much pain when he found out that his aunt was the one who had orchestrated everything, but it was impossible not to feel that way; perhaps she was not as good a person as she herself had always wanted to believe.
The only thing that bothered Rukia was that Yoruichi had lied to get away with it. Rukia only hoped that she would never see the princess of Gardelia again in her life or she was really going to return every one of the blows she gave her in that hallway.
When Ichigo entered the living room at the beach house, Rukia immediately noticed how sad, desolate, and disappointed he was; she immediately got up from her seat and approached him with the intention of comforting him but Ichigo didn't even speak, he just hugged her tightly and stayed there, hugging her as if she was the only thing that held him together with the world.
The hug was eternal.
Rukia could feel the sadness in Ichigo, the need to feel protected and the internal fight he had not to fall into that abyss from which he had come out with a lot of difficulty. Rukia hugged him and comforted him silently, not saying a single word, just hugging him as long as he needed until Ichigo himself broke the hug and grabbed her hands.
— Do you need time to think, my Sun?
— No. Don't leave me alone... I need you with me... please...
That plea broke Rukia's heart, because it was one thing to see him begging for a kiss while they made love, and quite another to see him like this, so weak and sad, begging not to be alone. Rukia wouldn't let Ichigo suffer, she just couldn't; her heart ached to see him like this.
Her Ichigo, her dangerous man… her eternity.
They both sat on a three-seater, Rukia made him rest his head on her lap, and they stayed silent while she gently caressed his hair trying to give him some of the comfort he needed. She laced the fingers of her free hand with Ichigo's, and felt her heart ache as she saw a tear escape from his eyes along with that slight tremor which said how much he was fighting to contain himself and not cry at that moment.
At that moment, Rukia swore to herself that she would find a way to make Kirio pay for making Ichigo feel this way.
Summer — x493 / July 19
Kirio watched as the maids packed her things inside the trunks, from dresses to shoes, as well as the jewelry that Kisuke had given her throughout all the years of their marriage. The rules were clear, she could only take what really belonged to her, so all the jewels that belonged to the royal family's collection would remain in the family vault to be passed on to the next woman who would take her place; either her son's wife or Kisuke's new wife, if Kisuke decided so.
The tiara that they put on her wedding day with Kisuke would also stay in the family vault.
She still couldn't believe that Kisuke had talked to the king and queen, that he had ratted her out like that, because she always thought that those threats were empty words and that he would protect her like he had all those years. Kirio really thought that Kisuke would never betray her like that.
"Everything got out of control, dear wife. The king of Gardelia threatened Ichigo with death and your dear Yoruichi nearly beat our dear Rukia to death. If you can't see all the chaos your selfish desires have wrought in the lives of those children, then I don't know what you're looking at. Where is my dear Kirio, the woman who was supposed to reign by my side? Tell me where she is, because now I can't see her. I don't know what I did wrong. I don't know where I went wrong if I gave you everything. I trusted you and your decisions. I protected you and tried to make you see that what you were doing was wrong. Maybe I should have tried a little more."
Those words hurt Kirio because she was still the woman he married, the one who was supposed to reign by his side.
Kisuke gave her a good marriage. They were a solid marriage.
There was not a single infidelity, scandal or malicious rumor that could weaken their image of a solid marriage. From the day of their wedding, Kisuke took care that harmony reign in that marriage, the only thing he asked was that she not turn her hatred and resentment against his first daughter, that she leave her alone and not worry about her because the girl would not be a match for the children they would have in the future.
And Kirio accepted only because the girl's mother was dead.
The day that woman died was perhaps the only time Kirio had seen Kisuke lose control and let the gift completely dominate him. That day, Kisuke slaughtered those responsible for the death of that woman, the mother of his first daughter, and he could only be calmed down when King Yhwach confronted him.
Kirio often wondered if Kisuke would lose control if she were to be hurt like that woman, but she always avoided thinking too much about the answer because she was terrified to know that the answer could be "no".
Kisuke had only loved one person, that woman, and although he was always affectionate with Kirio, reminding her that he was happy by her side, Kirio knew that Kisuke did not love her with the same intensity that he loved that dead woman.
When the maids finished packing the things into the trunks, she gave the order for them to be taken to the carriage that was ready and waiting for her in the main courtyard.
Kirio walked through those corridors one last time, and it seemed to her that she saw herself entering the front door as a little girl holding hands with Queen Aiko. When she arrived at Vermist's palace, she did so as Kisuke's fiancée because she could trace her family line back to Trozte, the youngest son of Queen Vayalat, and because all heirs to the throne married direct descendants of the Original Mother.
She did the same thing when she went looking for her son's wife, only she looked for her in a different city, and her daughter-in-law would have to do the same when she had to go look for her daughter's husband. Just as Queen Aiko's mother did when she went looking for Yhwach in the city of Antiok.
Her children, her granddaughters, and Kisuke, who wasn't playing with his fan or his coin, were waiting for her in the main courtyard. Only the older ones had been told the real reason why she was leaving the palace, the younger ones had been told that she was leaving because she needed to rest a little and that she would be back soon; but the truth was that she wasn't going to return until Kisuke ascended the throne.
It was inevitable for Kirio to shed tears of sadness for having to separate from her family, her heart ached for losing the lives of her children and granddaughters, not seeing them grow up or laugh or make those drawings where only they understood what they were drawing.
That was perhaps the true punishment for her.
Yhwach had been clear with the sentence, she would return to the palace in the city of Trozte and she would be stripped of all the titles and duties she possessed, relegating her only to being a common wife. When Kisuke ascended the throne, then he would decide whether to remove the punishment and give her all her titles back, or divorce her.
When she said goodbye to Kisuke, he kissed her hand just above the wedding ring and wished her a good trip, asked her to write him a letter when she arrived and promised her that as soon as everything was in peace, her children would visit her in Trozte. Kirio nodded but felt disappointment squeeze her heart again at Kisuke's words, because he told her, without saying too much, that he wouldn't visit her.
Kirio took one last look at her family, and got into the carriage, which soon started down the road to take her back to her birth home. Until that last moment, Kirio hoped that Ichigo would say goodbye to her and he would understand that she had done everything for him and for his happiness, and that she did not deserve the punishment they were giving her.
But Ichigo didn't say goodbye to her.
—
When Ichigo woke up, he did so hugging Rukia's body, as if she were his home and his refuge, and he stayed in that position for a long time until he felt Rukia caress his back with her fingertips. That made him smile but he didn't feel like moving from that position that was so comfortable and pleasurable for him.
— My Sun, how are you feeling? — Rukia asked in a whisper, continuing to trace random lines on his back, as if she were following the lines of the tattoo with her fingertips.
Ichigo didn't have a clear answer to that question, because the day before he felt so sad, so disappointed and with so much pain in his heart, that for a moment he believed that the abyss under his feet would open up to swallow him, but at that moment he felt a kind of calm that he could not explain; it was as if a part of him had been swallowed by the abyss but he didn't know exactly which one.
The past didn't hurt him, it hurt the present where his light had suffered so much damage because his aunt, the woman who felt entitled to choose over him and his own desires, had hurt her and conspired against her.
His Rukia, his light, the woman who keeps him sane.
He knew that he was depositing a lot in her but it was impossible not to, she had become life itself for him and, although it was perhaps dangerous both for his mind and for his heart, he felt that he would not be able to live if one day she was gone.
Without her, the world would not see another dawn and would fall hopelessly into chaos.
— Better than yesterday, my Moon. — Ichigo replied after a moment of silence, not moving and enjoying those caresses. — It will take me a while to recover from this, but it will pass eventually. Thanks for being by my side... and thanks for the lullaby.
Rukia was silent and Ichigo imagined that she was blushing. During the night she had been humming a very soft song, soft throat noises that Ichigo could recognize as a lullaby. That was cute.
— We're leaving tomorrow, I don't want to be here anymore. I brought you to enjoy this place, but…
— But nothing. — Rukia's voice sounded serious and she stopped caressing him, only to place her hand gently on his back. Ichigo immediately got up to meet her eyes and saw that seriousness she possessed when she was upset. That puzzled him. — Maybe not everything has turned out as expected but you said it, nothing has to be perfect. — Rukia relaxed that expression and gave him a mischievous smile. — Also, if there was anything good about coming to Vermist, it was that I found out that the Original Mother loves me, in other words, I'm still the Queen's Favorite.
Ichigo could only smile at that before slightly shaking his head and pulling her to him just to hug her. Rukia hugged him and gave him a small kiss where she could reach, making him smile more. She conformed so well to him that, although there was no such thing as perfection, that hug seemed perfect to him.
— My favorite.
— Your favorite? The only one for you, or I'll start throwing people off the cliff. — Rukia added with her eyebrows together after breaking the hug upon hearing those words, then she relaxed her eyes and smiled. — Also, I became just as magical as you, and got to see Orihime again and meet her baby, so this trip turned out better than I expected. What is life without a little uncertainty?
— Too much uncertainty becomes agony, Miss Kuchiki.
— Mrs. Kurosaki. — Rukia corrected in an animated tone, although they both knew what they meant. A moment later, Rukia began to play with her fingers nervously. — We promised Orihime that we would do the ceremony, can we leave after we do it? I know you're not okay right now, and if you really feel like it's not the time, then I'm not going to dwell on this and...
Rukia didn't finish the sentence.
Ichigo knew she was right, they had promised Orihime and Ulquiorra that they would do that ceremony, and they really couldn't miss it because he didn't know when they would return to Vermist. He was silent for a moment, knowing he couldn't deny Rukia anything, and sighed.
Spending the whole day outside the palace was better than staying there, thinking about things that didn't make sense at the moment.
— Okay, we'll go to the city, organize the matter of our future child and I'll take you to eat. — Ichigo said that getting up from the bed, taking Rukia's hand for her to get up too. — We may not be able to do everything that I promised you, but you are definitely going to try the food at the bazaar.
Rukia's eyes lit up when he said those words, and a huge smile appeared on her face. Seeing her smile made him smile, because her smile was the best thing in the world.
Ichigo reaffirmed the idea that he couldn't deny Rukia anything, no matter what it was, just to see her smile.
—
Ichigo was taking a long time to leave the bedroom, and when Rukia came in to ask him if everything was alright, she found him standing in front of the mirror holding the red sash he had worn on his birthday and that distinguished him as one of the princes of the kingdom. Ichigo was wearing a white shirt, black pants and shoes, the complement was the red sash.
Rukia immediately understood what Ichigo was thinking at that moment, and walked over to him taking the sash in one hand drawing his attention.
— If you're going to put it on your head, I don't think it will look good. You'll look like a pirate from children's stories. — Rukia spoke with an amused smile and with the sash in her hand. — If you wear it, everyone will know that a prince of the kingdom is in the bazaar, if you don't wear it, I would have to change my clothes and this is the simplest dress that our dear mother packed for me, although I could wear the beach dress and…
— Don't even think about wearing that dress. Do you want me to gouge everyone's eyes out in the bazaar? — Ichigo asked with narrowed eyes.
Rukia smiled at that reaction, because Ichigo is just as jealous as her. Jealous, possessive and vindictive.
— I was just saying.
Rukia returned Ichigo's sash with a very soft smile on her lips. Ichigo looked at the sash in his hands for a long moment of silence and then looked up. Rukia was still standing there, seeing that internal debate reflected in his eyes and understanding the question he wasn't asking.
— You can give it whatever meaning you want, you can think of it as a gift from Princess Kirio or you can think of it as part of your origin story. — Rukia raised her hand where the ring with the red stone was and showed it to him. — The original ring was precious to me, because in addition to being a gift from you, it was a family heirloom, but this ring is even more precious to me. It doesn't matter that it was created to supplant a magic ring, you made it for me and that is the value I give it. Also, it doesn't matter if you wear the sash or not, I'll still gouge out every woman who looks at you for more than five minutes. — Rukia hugged him possessively. — You are mine and only mine.
Ichigo smiled at that last comment, and Rukia was pleased to make him smile just a little. It was too soon for him to heal the wounds in his soul, but she was there and she would help him as much as she could; because, if she couldn't do that for the man she loves, then what the hell was she doing there?
— Only yours, my princess of Maranni. — Ichigo hugged her tightly, and Rukia clung to him trying to make him feel like she was with him in every possible way.
In the end, Ichigo left the bedroom with the red sash tied around his waist, the surplus hanging over his left hip, and adjusting his Commander's ring. Rukia grabbed his arm after giving him a small kiss on the lips, and they both headed to the main courtyard where the carriage would be waiting for them.
The first stop that day was the Great Shadow Temple, because if they were going to do something like what they planned to do, it had to be in a big place, and the Great Shadow Temple was perfect.
Rukia thought that the place would be dark, because the word "shadow" was in the name, but she was surprised to see that the place, in addition to being huge and beautiful, was very well lit with stained glass windows that told the history of the Shadow, the kingdom and the Original Mother, and through which the daylight enters painting the ground with colors. She admired each of the stained glass windows as Ichigo told her the story behind each image until Ichigo pointed a finger at the ceiling for her to look up.
Painted, with incredible realism, was Queen Vayalat with her hand outstretched, palm up, receiving a gift from someone who only extended one hand. In the background of the painting there were flowers, birds and some clouds, but the only person there was Queen Vayalat.
— Shadow's Gift. — Ichigo explained in an animated voice. — Thus they believe that the queen was blessed by the Shadow, with which she was able to found the kingdom and establish her domain of peace and blood. Although nobody really knows the origin of Vayalat.
— It's incredible, but Queen Vayalat had golden eyes, not brown. — Rukia commented, looking at the painting on the ceiling carefully. — And her hair was black, like the wings of a raven, and at the same time seemed to shine with the reflection of light. She was beautiful and magical.
— It seems that her highness knows a lot about the Original Mother. — A man commented in an animated voice that caught her attention. Rukia saw that the man was wearing a white robe but it had black embroidery around the edges. — Welcome, Your Highnesses, how can I help you?
— High Priest, we would like to speak with you in private. — Ichigo asked with a calm expression as he held Rukia's hand. The man in the robe looked at him curiously, waiting for him to continue speaking. — It's about a ceremony we'd like to do.
— Excellent, then follow me, please.
Walking out of the Great Shadow Temple, Rukia was really excited. The High Priest had not refused the request, he had explained what they needed and had assured them that the place would be ready for the next day. Rukia thanked the Shadow for such good luck, and the first thing she wanted to do was go buy the things they needed.
Renji and Tatsuki followed behind them, as well as a couple of guards belonging to Queen Aiko, and they walked from the Great Temple to the bazaar, which was so large that it encompassed whole streets of shops and stalls selling everything that could be sold; from food to clothing, animals, trinkets, fake jewelry, furniture and various objects that were used in the houses.
Ichigo knew the place and took her first to the stores where they had to buy what the priest ordered.
Rukia took a while to decide what she wanted to buy, because she wanted it to be something nice and special because in the end, Orihime would keep everything they bought. If Rukia had known that they would do this ceremony, she would have personally embroidered the needed blanket and the queen's jeweler would have made the amulet.
When Rukia finally found something she liked, Ichigo paid for it and handed it to Tatsuki before he led her to the food street. Rukia could see the happiness on Ichigo's face at that moment, and that made her heart beat with happiness as well.
— Welcome to the food street! — Ichigo said, as if he were a little boy showing off a real treasure, as he held her hand so she wouldn't walk away from him. — You will love this place! Before, I used to run away with my friends and we would come to this place, we would buy sweets, sometimes we would buy a chicken with spices and see who could resist the longest because it is really spicy. They also sell fermented water. They use the skins of some fruits and put sugar in them, leave it stored for days and then sell it. They are strange flavors, but you have to taste them.
Ichigo was really happy as he told Rukia all about this big little world, and she felt her heart beat with that same happiness and excitement, trying to imagine a little Ichigo eating spicy chicken with his friends. He took her to every stall he knew of, and bought a few things for her to taste. Some candies were similar to Adelaar's candies, but others were really spiced but still sweet, it was strange.
Rukia tasted the fermented waters, the foods, the sweets, even some fruits, all from the hand of Ichigo who held her, explained to her and made her taste. Renji and Tatsuki also tried all those things, because Ichigo would buy something and share it between the four of them; Renji was the happiest of all, and he bought some things to take away and eat on the way back.
They left the food street and walked through the rest of the bazaar, buying tea and the odd trinket as a souvenir of their visit. Rukia bought Tatsuki hair ornaments, and also her other maid, because they had both been with her for the same amount of time, and she couldn't distinguish between them or envy would start to circulate and Rukia didn't want that.
For the afternoon, when they were tired of walking, they looked for a tea house and stayed there, resting and talking about everything they had seen, and listening to Ichigo's anecdotes in that place. Renji and Tatsuki shared the table with them, and Rukia felt happy for that and for seeing Ichigo so upbeat despite everything that had happened.
She knew he wasn't faking it, she knew because just as she felt Ichigo's anger flow from the moon onto her skin, that day she could also feel his happiness.
Summer — x493 / July 20
Rukia looked beautiful and happy, and it was because of those precious moments that Ichigo felt he was the luckiest man in the world. She kept sadness away in a unique way, he only had to see her smile so that everything else ceased to matter, and the only thing that stayed in his mind and in his heart was her.
— Do you think they will take time to arrive? — Rukia was anxious for the arrival of Orihime, Ulquiorra and little Kaito.
It was almost the agreed time for this celebration, only they had arrived a little earlier to make sure everything was in order with things. They had bought what they needed and had given the "contribution" to the temple so that the High Priest would not put any impediment to make it. Everything was fine, only their friends were missing.
— No, they will surely arrive at any moment. — He tried to calm her down a bit. — I sent the carriage for them so they wouldn't have any trouble getting here.
Rukia nodded at that answer, but still didn't stop playing with her hands as they waited. Ichigo checked the time once more, and a few moments later, the carriage he had sent for their friends pulled up in front of them, who were standing at the entrance to the Great Shadow Temple.
Ulquiorra was the first to get down and helped Orihime down who was holding the baby in her arms. Last came down the maid who was helping them and that Rukia had sent for Orihime. Everyone was dressed according to the celebration, Ichigo was wearing the usual dress of the princes of Vayalat, Rukia was wearing a light colored dress like Orihime, and Ulquiorra was wearing the formal uniform of the Vermist soldiers.
Rukia immediately walked over to Orihime to greet her and the baby, and Ichigo felt something really soft inside his chest seeing her like this. He liked the image of Rukia holding a baby, but he didn't allow himself to fantasize too much, because he knew it wasn't time for them to have children yet.
Ichigo greeted Ulquiorra, they exchanged a few words and then the High Priest indicated that they could enter. This was not a private ceremony, so when they entered the temple, there were people waiting for mass at that time. The only thing that was private were the first places, which were reserved for them and which were right under the gaze of that great statue of a hooded person who represented the Shadow.
— Today is a day blessed by the Shadow, because a little child will have the fortune to have more than one father and one mother who will watch over him. — The High Priest began the mass.
They listened to the words of the man, those that were written in the Great Book and that were referring to filial love, about the obligations and about the blessings that are poured out on those who love children who are not of their own blood. Ichigo felt a small pain in his heart at the High Priest's words, because his mind led him to the memory of his aunt Kirio, and he had to remind himself that the kind of affection his aunt showed him was a selfish affection.
Rukia's small hand slipped into his at just the right moment, and Ichigo smiled because she truly was a light in his life. He entwined his fingers with hers, and continued to listen to the High Priest's words until it was time for them to rise from their seats to perform their part in this ceremony.
Rukia took the embroidered blanket she had bought the day before, which was white with colorful thread embroidery and childlike motifs, and carefully wrapped little Kaito while Orihime handed him over to her.
— It is my greatest wish that this blanket is as warm as my arms and that it reminds you that you have someone who loves you. No matter what, I will take care of you and protect you. Learn from kindness and hope, grow healthy, happy and strong, my dear son of the heart.
Rukia kissed the baby's forehead, who was awake and moving his small hands as if trying to hold something, and she looked up. Ichigo only saw Rukia's eyes sparkle with that indescribable emotion, and again he had to avoid fantasizing too much about the future that would eventually come to them.
— It is my greatest wish that this amulet protects you, just as I will when necessary, and that it reminds you that you have someone who will love and protect you no matter what. Learn about justice and honesty, and learn about all those values that make a person good, my dear son of the heart. — Ichigo mentioned those words as he placed the amulet, which was a series of small coins that symbolized wealth, on the little boy's clothes.
Ichigo held Kaito, who was so small that Ichigo was afraid of hurting him, and smiled very softly. He gazed at him for a moment and brought one of his fingers to one of the baby's little hands, which opened and closed, and caught his finger tightly making him smile. Ichigo gave little Kaito a small kiss on the forehead and handed him to Ulquiorra making the baby release him.
The High Priest placed some flower oil on the baby's forehead and said a few more words to end the ceremony; reminding Ichigo and Rukia that the commitment they had just acquired is for life because from that moment on, Kaito was also their son.
Summer — x493 / July 22 [Ichigo and Rukia's 1st Wedding Anniversary]
Ichigo had promised her that he would take her to see the nightingales, so when the queen's old palace appeared before her, and the song of those hundreds of birds filled her ears, she couldn't help but think that she was in a fairy tale.
Rukia never thought that those birds really lived in a palace in the middle of the mountains of the central mountain range of the continent; she thought it would be in a huge forest or something similar on the outskirts of the capital, she even thought it would be a giant aviary, but not that place.
So, seeing that ancient place, which she had known only in dreams, and seeing those emblematic birds up close, seemed to her something magical and unique.
The place was abandoned, but still it seemed that something prevented the vines from covering it completely, and that only added more magic to the place.
— My Moon, you say that you are Queen Vayalat's Favorite. — Ichigo was smiling, standing behind her and holding her waist. — They say that these nightingales arrived with Queen Vayalat, others say that she created them so as not to feel alone when she arrived on this continent of paper kings, however it may be, these birds are the queen's favorites. So if you really are the Queen's Favorite, raise your hand and call one.
And Rukia did so, with all those good and pretty emotions mixing inside her chest and making her smile. She raised her hand, called to a little blue nightingale that was close to her, and really wished that bird would perch on her finger.
—
— End of the 3rd season —