Chapter 2

Two shadows moving stealthily through the darkness that impregnated an ominous forest, strong winds beating their fleeing bodies, heavy cloaks against the winds.

Kurosaki Ichigo was fleeing through the darkness with the woman he has forever watched from afar, the woman whose existence is a myth to most humans, and even to vampires. She was the only remaining vampire whose blood isn't spoiled with foreign blood. In short, she was the only living pureblood. In their present time, most of the vampires believed the extinction of this rare breed of them, but there was a few of them who had the privilege to possess the knowledge of her existence. And he was one of those privileged ones. He was one of the very few ones who were aware of how the sole pureblood on earth looked.

Purebloods. These are the rarest of the vampires. Their existence traced back from the distant past. They are the ones who had the ability to live forever, close to being immortals. But for some reasons known only to them, their small number died one by one through time. They lived through different lifetimes, and they had the ability to live for another set of lifetimes, but most of them chose not to. Vampires in general age slowly, but purebloods age even slower. So slow that a year to a vampire would seem like a minute to a pureblood. They lead a very, very long life.

He glanced to the pureblood running through the night beside him. She was clad in a black cloak, with the hood on her small head. She was enigmatic in his point of view. She was looking ahead, and she seemed to be just dancing with the wind as they ran. And she was beautiful. But then, he has always known that. He happened to belong to a group whose purpose is to record the lives of the purebloods, the lives of those whose existence is a taboo to most of them. This is why even their job isn't known to everybody. A job bequeathed to only one in each generation. And in this generation, he owned that job.

He has always looked up to her since the day his father acquainted him with Kuchiki Rukia's existence. He was so young when he first saw her. And now, she still looked the same. Exactly the same. He admired her as a child, he admired her from afar, and now that she's so close, he didn't know just what to feel. He was overwhelmed with a strange feeling that even the peril of their current situation couldn't curtail.

He threw her a few glances every now and then, as they continued to flee. She had a very tranquil face, a face that wouldn't be thought as that of a vampire's. She looked very frail, which he knew was so much in contrast with what she is capable of. He knew the strength she possessed, which was hidden in her deceptive frail body. She had a very small stature; she could be mistaken for a regular adolescent even, except that she is anything but regular. Anyone who encounters her would know that there's something different in her. She exudes a very mysterious air, which wouldn't be taken lightly.

"Hey, Ichigo. How long are you gonna watch me, huh?" He was taken aback. He didn't know this side of her. "If I'm right, I think you're the one that records my every move in this generation. That's the only reason I know why you knew I am a pureblood. Isn't that enough reason for us to hurry even more? The sun is almost rising. If you are indeed of the bloodline that is tied with our existence, then you can burn in the sun. Now, stop staring at me and hurry up."

The years of watching her didn't let him know of this side of her, this bluntness. But well, he rarely saw her talk in the years that he watched her. But then, she didn't have anyone to talk to most of the time. For some reason, she lived her life in seclusion, rarely getting in contact with other vampires.

He averted his gaze from her and casted his eyes instead on the darkness that was ahead of them.

"Right. Turn right. Hurry." She commanded him through the raging pre-dawn.

His sense of direction is telling him that they were headed to where Rukia lives. He could already see the east beginning to reveal the first light of the day; and it wasn't the right time for him to question her, so he just followed what she directed.

It wasn't long before they were in front of an enormous, intimidating, dark castle on top of a mountain. It was located at the very edge of another ominous forest. He has already lost count of the forests that they've passed through. And he has long forgotten about the hunters that were supposed to be chasing them through the night. The mighty castle stood impressively on the mountain, looking down at the vast expanse of forest that was below it.

They ran towards the castle, as they raced with the rising sun. It didn't take them long before they were sheltered by the eerie darkness that was enveloping the whole castle. Ichigo looked around him, and he felt the heavy air; he felt strange, even as a vampire.

"You should be safe from the sun here, Ichigo. Make yourself comfortable," Rukia stated as she began to climb the grand staircase that was just before the front door.

"Wait a second. I think we have to talk."

"Can't it wait? My night has been long, and I want to rest."

"Well, if you may excuse my rudeness, I want to at least know why I am here."

He saw her sigh before she answered,

"You're stubborn, aren't you? It could wait. And you should rest too. You need it more than I do. And the sun is already rising; you know better than anyone that you have to avoid it more than anything. So, if you may excuse my insistence, I want to rest. You do, too." She was beginning to turn her back on him when she remembered something. "By the way, my chamber is the one at the far end here, you can choose any chamber but that," she said pointing to the landing of the right wing of the grand staircase.

He just stood at the foot of the stairs, watching her retreating back. Despite of him, he knew that she was right. They could talk later, and it seemed like she would allow him to ask her anything. He sighed as he began to climb the stairs. He didn't know what got to him but he took the right wing of the stairs, leading to the room that Rukia indicated. He stopped in front of the door of the room that was directly adjacent to the room at the far end of the hall. He chose the room that was adjacent to her room. He wasn't sure why he did that. Well, maybe, just maybe, it was because of this protective instinct that Rukia awakened inside of him. Yes, he wanted to protect her. Perhaps, he has long wanted to do that. But Rukia didn't know him before, so he didn't get the chance to do it. And now that she already does, he would want to protect her, especially that she mentioned that she would be needing his help. For what, he didn't know. But whatever it is, he would surely help her. Even if it wasn't a condition to her helping him.

He turned the knob of the heavy oak door and he pushed it to enter. A wide, old-fashioned room greeted him, which was illuminated only by a single candle that stood on a bureau that was directly opposite the king size bed. The bed looked very inviting; and just then, he felt the exhaustion that resulted from his escapade. He headed towards the bed, and he allowed his weary body to finally rest. He stared at the ceiling, trying to figure out what does a powerful pureblood need his help for. And more than that, he was trying to convince himself that he indeed had a journey with Kuchiki Rukia. That he had drank from her pure blood. The shame that he previously felt began emerging again. He had to find a way to live with that fact, and he wanted to overcome that shame. And besides that, he felt guilty for feeling happy about the adventure with Rukia, regardless of the nature of that adventure, and all the perils that came with it. It was hard for him to believe that it was true. He had a lot of questions on his mind, but like Rukia said, they could wait. For now, he had to give in to the weariness that was slowly dragging him to sleep. He closed his eyes, and it wasn't long before his breathing deepened as he plunged deeper into his slumber.