Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. I just wish I do!
Thank you very very much for the reviews. It made me so happy I jumped around the house.
It ended up this long when I didn't intend it to be. Actually I cut it already because If I didn't it would be way longer than this. So here's the next chap. I hope you like it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 2: Formality
The sun shone brightly enveloping everything under it with its warmth. The fresh air seems to be inviting people to feel its cool embrace. The birds were chirping happily. Everyone outside is busy doing their own jobs. It was beginning to get noisy.
She stretched her tired body and slowly sat up from the futon. She gently brushed her still closed eyes with the back of her hand and let out a yawn. The raven-haired priestess slightly opened her eyes, there she saw something strange by the window, orange. 'Orange?' she thought. Orange…orange…orange…orange. That was all ringing in her head. She shook her head then opened her eyes as big as she can. A man was sitting by the window, and the orange thing was his hair. He was staring at her with a scowl on his face. Panic struck her. What's a guy doing in her room? If the High Priestess knows this what will she do? If this gets to her brother she would be in BIG trouble. So many things were running in her head and all she managed to do was scream.
"Waaaaaaaaa!" she stumbled backwards while doing so.
"WHAT!?!" exclaimed the carrot top.
"Y..yo..you-" she was pointing at him her violet orbs bulging.
"What the-!?! And here I thought I was about to greet you good morning. What's with you? Don't tell me you forgot about last night?"
"Last night?" she straightened up and looked at him as if searching for something.
What does he mean by last night? She thought for a second going back to the things she did yesterday. Then she remembered.
"Oh! Yeah right. Sorry. Ichigo, isn't it?"
"Yeah"
Rukia started to fix her futon while Ichigo went back at staring outside the window. After putting the blankets aside she turned to him.
"Did you sleep?" she asked.
"We don't get to sleep like humans do." He replied without taking his eyes off the clouds.
"I see. Uhm, can you uh, wait for me by the door outside?"
"Huh? Oh, fine." He just looked at her for a second then stood up and headed for the door.
As soon as Ichigo got outside she sighed. She will have to get used to this. Now that they will always have to be together she can't be bothered by his presence. After all she had been wishing this for so long. T o have her own Guardian Spirit so she will be acknowledged as a full-pledged priestess just like her friends.
She quickly fixed herself realizing she would have to inform the High Priestess of her accomplishment. And of course certain formalities should be attended. She would have to show herself and him to the Emperor. She can't wait to tell her friends. And her brother, well her brother as she know him would give her no reaction at all. As of Renji, he would probably the only one who isn't going to be happy that she is now an official priestess. She can't blame him. She will still tell him; after all he is her best friend.
Rukia went out of her room. She found Ichigo beside the door lying at the wall. As soon as he noticed her he stood up to his full height then scratched the back of his head.
"So what now?" Ichigo asked.
"Let's have breakfast first. We'll be eating outside since it's already late so probably they don't serve anymore breakfast here at the temple." She walked past him and started walking. He followed her. She was greeting and was being greeted by everyone who passes by. No one was asking who he was for they seem to understand. Of course they would, they all live at the temple. And Guardian Spirits also live at the temple.
People at the temple are early risers. They wake at five and eat breakfast at six. It's already seven in the morning so to them it's already late.
They can't go any further since she would have to present herself and her Guardian Spirit to the High Priestess at the main hall. The thought of having her own Guardian Spirit made her smile. She decided they would just eat at the nearest stall at the temple that sells hot noodles.
She managed to look at the orange-haired guardian who seems to be musing himself around the surroundings. Rukia noticed Ichigo was always scowling but his amber eyes showed mirth. 'Weird', she thought.
They were now outside the gate. The stall was in sight for it was very near.
"There" she pointed. Ichigo looked at the stall the petite girl was pointing. They walked towards it. The vendor greeted them as they approached.
"What would you want?" Rukia asked shifting her gaze from the vendor to Ichigo.
"Anything" he replied while eyeing the store.
"Two ramen and tea please" she told the vendor then seated herself on the bench. Ichigo sat beside her. The cook was rather quick for it only took a minute to prepare the food.
"Here. Two ramen and tea" the man said cheerfully placing the bowls and cups on the table.
They both dig in. Ichigo sure looked very hungry for he was enjoying himself not minding anything while Rukia stares at him.
"What?" he began to notice she was staring at him when his bowl was about half empty.
"Nothing. Want some more"
"Nah. I'm full"
"Okay" she made herself busy with her ramen.
"How did you know I eat? You know, I mean we don't usually sleep but we do get hungry."
"Because I used my head." she said before stuffing her mouth with noodles.
"Eh?" she smirked with the reaction he had.
"I'm just smart that's why I figured."
"Don't fool yourself" Ichigo replied with a grunt. Rukia's brows twitched.
"Oh, Mr. Strawberry you were asking me so I answered. I never thought you would doubt me who apparently am so AMAZING not forgetting that I summoned you." She turned to face him with a sickeningly fake smile plastered on her face.
"Jeez! Yeah you did summon me! But it doesn't mean you can drag me into your foolishness!" he yelled towering over her closing a good inches between their faces.
She whacked his forehead with her chopsticks then handed the bill to the vendor.
"What was that for?" exclaimed the carrot top that is now massaging his forehead.
"For spattering your saliva on me strawberry-kun" she then stood up and brushed her clothes as if nothing happened.
Ichigo jerked up. "I did not spatter saliva on you! And don't call me strawberry, my name means-" he yelled to Rukia who was now walking back to the temple gate but was cut before finishing his sentence.
"Whatever. Come on." The petite girl said while waving her hand.
"Tsk" Ichigo annoyed followed anyway. He can't believe that a priestess could be a pain in the ass. And he would have to put up with this stubborn petite girl. At least life wouldn't be boring. He grinned but returned to his usual scowl when he caught up to her.
A certain petite priestess and her Guardian Spirit are now facing the High Priestess Unohana Retsu at the main hall. Beside her is her ever so gallant Guardian Spirit Aizen Sosuke. The other priestesses were lined up and with them are their own Guardian Spirits.
Fifty years ago Guardian Spirits are originally Shinigamis or Death Gods that claim the lives of the living. Mere humans cannot see them. Only those who are about to die and the ones with high spiritual energy can. Then came the time that Hollows appeared. These creatures fed up on human souls, living or dead. This left the Shinigamis nothing to do. The Hollows caused imbalance on the world. Thus, the Spirit King granted the priestesses power to summon Shinigamis to help them vanquish Hollows and purify souls. In order for priestesses to call forth a Shinigami that is locked in the other realm they must offer their very life and soul to the Spirit King. In return for the freedom the Shinigami have obtained he must protect the priestess at all costs offering her his own life. Therefore a bond is made between a Shinigami and a priestess.
People fear the Shinigamis because of the fact that they were the former death bringers. The priestesses certainly didn't want to cause any more problems. To avoid uneasiness they started to refer their Shinigamis as Guardian Spirits. The people then accepted and believed that Guardian Spirits are their heroes that will save them from the deadly hollows and turmoil of the land. Then on up until this time Shinigamis known as Guardian Spirits live and mingle with the humans.
And now Kuchiki Rukia have her own Guardian Spirit, Kurosaki Ichigo.
"I and your fellow priestesses are very pleased that you have achieved to become a full-pledged priestess in the name of the Spirit King," the High Priestesses told Rukia.
Everyone was just silent, very formal. Unohana Retsu then turned to one of the priestesses who were holding something.
"Lady Ise please hand over the insignia and the letter to Lady Kuchiki"
The said priestess with eyeglasses did so.
"The Seiretei Temple welcomes you both as official corporate of the clergy. We are glad to have you." Unohana smiled sweetly after speaking.
"I am grateful of your acceptance. My Guardian Spirit and I will do everything we can to fulfill our duties. Arigatou gozaimasu High Priestess." Rukia replied in a serious voice.
Apparently Ichigo was just staring at the woman the whole time.
"You are most welcome Lady Kuchiki. You should head to the palace now. I have sent someone to give a short notice to the Emperor that you are coming." Answered the elder woman still smiling sweetly.
"Hai Unohana-sama" Rukia bowed as she replied.
"If you will excuse me there are things I must do." Then the High Priestess together with Aizen turned to the door behind her that leads to her office.
The other priestesses bowed as she left. And as if on cue they began to act 'naturally'.
"Rukia-chan! I'm so glad you did it! I mean I know you will!" squealed Matsumoto as she hugged the petite girl.
"Wow! Look at his hair nee-chan!" exclaimed Kiyone to her sister while pointing at Ichigo's head.
"I see you got a peculiar one huh." Isane, Kiyone's elder sister, was also musing herself with the orange hair.
"Congratulations Rukia. Just like what is expected of a Kuchiki." Nanao simply stated with her arms folded in front of her.
"Uh, thank you Nanao-san."
"Too serious Nanao-san! It makes you look old." Matsumoto giggled. Her comment made Nanao's brows furrowed.
The other priestesses congratulated Rukia too.
Ichigo was so amused at what he was seeing. 'Priestesses comes in various attitudes' he thought. He didn't notice that the other Guardian Spirits were approaching him.
"Oi" to Ichigo's surprise someone had given him a pat on the back. He turned around to see who it was. The man was wearing a pink coat over his black robes.
"Kyoraku Shunsui, Nanao-chan's Guardian Spirit. Let's drink sometime eh"
"Kurosaki Ichigo"
"Don't listen to that silly man. Komamura Sajin, Matsumoto Rangiku's Guardian Spirit"
A man with a dog-looking face introduced himself.
"I see a kid is added to our bunch" A huge guy came walking forward.
Ichigo was amazed of how big the man was.
"I'm not a kid!"
"Oh, pardon. Didn't think you'd take it that way" the big guy scratched his head and grinned. "Ikkanzaka Jidanbu, Kotetsu Isane's guardian."
Before the orange-haired guardian could answer another man caught his attention. The said man shook his hand while introducing himself.
"Kotsubaki Sentaro, Kiyone's Guardian Spirit. Glad to have you with us"
"Ah, Thanks, I guess"
Then he noticed a certain guardian was glaring at him. 'What's his problem?' Ichigo thought.
Suddenly a little girl showed up from behind his shoulder.
"Berry-chan, fight with Ken-chan!" exclaimed the girl with pink locks.
"Whoa! I…I, I-berry-chan?" carrot-top was shocked.
"I can sense you are strong" the said Ken-chan spoke.
After hearing this someone grabbed his hand and dragged him by the door. It was Rukia.
"Sorry everyone. Let's continue our chitchat sometime. We have to hurry. The Emperor would be furious if we come late." The raven-haired girl managed to say while running to get outside.
The others continued to converse when they left.
"Seriously Zaraki, you can't just ask someone to fight you. It's not very welcoming." Komamura said.
Kenpachi just shrugged.
"Well, that is simply what he asks to everyone since he came" commented Shunsui.
Ichigo noticed Rukia have been sighing for a thousand times. They are currently in front of a large door that leads to the Emperor's throne room.
"Can you stop doing that? You've been sighing for as many times as I can remember."
Ichigo blurted out.
"Urusai! I'm just nervous. I have only talked to the Emperor for two times and my brother is in there, I don't know what he will say." Rukia replied.
"Sheesh! Would it matter? Don't mind them. Just think that you've done your part. And don't forget I'm here beside you. You're not alone."
Rukia smiled.
"Ichigo"
"You don't need to thank me"
"I wont. I'm just going to tell you don't do anything drastic."
He shook his head. "You're so impossible!"
"You may now enter." A voice called from the other side of the large door.
They both walked in. The emperor was there sitting comfortably at his throne. Just five steps on the stairs from the throne stands General Nobunaga Isshin. At the right is her brother Captain Kuchiki Byakuya and Captain Ukitake Jushiro while on the left side is Captain Ichimaru Gin and Captain Tosen Kaname.
They stopped at the center. Rukia bowed and said "Ohayo gozaimasu Emperor Yamamoto. I Priestess Kuchiki Rukia present to you my Guardian Spirit Kurosaki Ichigo." She glanced at Ichigo who was just staring to everyone. She pulled him by his sleeve to make him bow. "I am sorry for his rudeness." The guardian rolled his eyes.
She handed the letter from the High Priestess to the soldier that approached. The soldier gave it to the general who then handed it to the old man on the throne. Rukia didn't want to look up to see their expressions nor his brother's stoic gaze. It would only make her much more nervous. She hasn't let go of Ichigo's sleeve because it made her calm. Then the Emperor spoke breaking the silence.
"Lady Kuchiki like your brother you are now to serve the Seiretei Empire. I believe that you will do your duty with all your might."
"It is my honor to serve you and to work for the grace of the Spirit King. Arigatou gozaimasu your Highness."
The old man is just fond of small talk so he sent them away. "You may now leave."
"Hai Yamamoto-sama" She pulled Ichigo to follow her as she took a few steps backward without looking up before turning around. She was glad it was already finished. And now all she has to do is find Renji.
A/N: Well priestesses are supposed to be soft, polite and gentle. But if I made them to be like that it would be OOC and I really love the characters how they are. So they just act timid when other people are around.
Bickering eh? If they weren't quarreling they wouldn't be Ichigo and Rukia. Actually it was hard for me to think of something considering they have just got acquainted.
I also used some Jap phrases, which I hope you don't mind.
If you spot anything wrong just inform me. Please I beg of you, review. I need them so much. I want to know what you think of this chap is it good, fine, boring or does it suck? Tell me honestly.