Part 6 "Truth and secrets"
Rayna was so mad she could not stand herself. She had been ordered around by that man one too many times. The bothersome Captain Kuchiki seemed to be intent on making her life miserable. He oversaw her every action, and filled the last couple of days with numerous inane tasks. Rayna defied him every chance she got. If Yarinju had not been there to mediate she is certain that she would have dishonored herself. Taking the sparest of minutes she had only just slipped away.
Being a 'guest' in the Kuchiki house meant the captain took interest in every aspect of her life. Several of her first days were spent with a stuffy, straight backed, man in glasses, teaching her how she should behave. The self righteous man told her, "It would not be good to offend 'His Noble Lord." Annoyed by his presumption of her lower class, Rayna purposefully made the man think she was inept. After the second day of her fidgeting, bowing awkwardly, and spilling food the man had not returned. That was the same day the dark haired captain had come in to find her reading one of his many books. Noticing his presence to late, she fumbled with the book and said "there is no pictures," before laying it back down on a nearby table.
After that a team of men was sent in to groom Rayna. Yarinju quickly put a stop to that by appealing directly to the captain but not before she was forced to threaten the men with her Zanpakato. Rayna was sorely tempted to tell the captain 'bathing is not something I need to be ordered to do.' She was glad she didn't, because the room she was assigned to had a bathtub at its disposal. Pride would not allow Rayna to admit she appreciated it. Even if she hated being in the Kuchiki house.
The near breaking point was when the high handed noble had ordered her things taken from her, including her Zanpakato. Rayna still fumed at that order. "Street urchins cannot be trusted with such an honor," he said, looking down at her. Again her companion had to step in. Lucky for the captain she still had it sheathed across her back. It would be disrespectful to rummage through his house as a thief. Thankfully she didn't have to.
Rayna fumed with anger. Did he really think she was so untidy that all of her own clothes should be taken away? She was now wearing the standard clothes for the Kuchiki house. It was not the hand me down clothes, or that they were boy clothes that disturbed her. They were in fact quit nice and of fine quality. It was that he had taken her new cloak which meant that she had to ask Yarinju to find her something to bind the curvier parts of her figure. The bindings hurt and dug into her skin. She had been allowed to keep her green cap so thankfully it was not yet necessary to cut her hair but for her own comfort she needed to find her cloak.
Yarinju had looked for it without any result. He searched everywhere that was respectable and even asked the sour captain. It was to no avail. That left the one place she would not ask him to go for her. So now she was forced to do the unthinkable. Rayna stood knee deep in the Kuchiki house trash looking for her missing cloak.
It was a very slow process because she didn't like touching anything. Holding her nose with one hand, she carefully used a stick to sift through trash with the other. She was going to need a bath when she was done. New clothes would be nice too. First thing, when she found her cloak she was going to submerse herself in a very strong cleaning solution.
"We have plenty of food if you are hungry." There could be no mistaking that infuriating voice. Rayna looked up to find 'His Noble Lord' standing there watching her.
"I am not hungry," Rayna said simply.
"We have plenty to drink, even tea if you wish," Byakuya questioned.
"I am not thirsty." Rayna kept digging.
"We don't throw away money." The captain said still in his standard monotone.
"I didn't think you did." She said stepping over a very nasty looking unidentifiable pile of putrid smell.
Unfortunately, trash was unsteady footing and slippery. Rayna suddenly found herself sitting in the offending pile of muck. Quickly righting herself, it was too late. Her eyes began to water the smell was so foul. Resisting the urge to hold her nose, she stood there looking at him with tears welling up in her eyes.
"We have plenty of soap and water." He said and turned to leave.
The noblewoman grew so mad now that she was about to lose control of her Reiatsu. Rayna had taken all the punishment she could take for one day. The tone she used was deceptively sweet tinged with anger. "Lord Kuchiki, I feel compelled to make certain things clear. First, I do not need your protection, or your subjugation. Secondly, Lord Captain it is not your right to take away what is rightfully mine." Rayna began marching toward him meeting his gaze. "Finally, you should be aware that I do not want to be her even more than you don't want me here."
Rayna had marched herself directly in front of the captain. One more step and she would be threatening his personal space. Unfortunately, as fortune would have it she miss stepped again and this time she fell hard on her butt. So hard in fact, that her hair came tumbling out of her cap. The tell tale clue that transformed her gender spilled down her back and over her shoulders.
The look of shock on his face was unmistakable, even if it passed quickly. In an instant so much became clear to Byakuya. This was a full grown woman not a teenage boy. Her protector, abilities, and masked intelligence, were all just clues he refused to see. And, she was the same one from the shop the night he had been injured. The usually attentive captain admonished himself for not seeing it sooner.
When he talked to the head captain the afternoon Byakuya took her from her cell. The orders given, had been to increase the court guard presence at his manor to protect the boy. Those same orders included explicit instruction to train the boy and make sure that he kept his Reiatsu under control. The only other information given to him was that the boy had the power to attract the Arrancar and other creatures of Hueco Mundo. Discovering he was a she was irksome, but realizing that there was a much larger political web to navigate was absolutely annoying.
Then there was the girl herself. Byakuya didn't even know her name. He had never bothered to ask. For her part, she had argued with him every time she spoke. She pushed the limits of his patients every chance she got. Even now, with this new information he found the situation taxing. If he had not been ordered to protect the girl he would probably have killed her himself. Even now she defied him by going through his trash looking for her things.
The cold captain noticed the tears that were about to spill over. He had not meant to take away her things he just thought that she might appreciate finer clothes that were not used up rags. At first Byakuya thought she was ungrateful, but then he noticed the bindings that were now peaking through the over sized Shihakushou. The womans' white haired companion had previously asked him to return her cloak. It was part of her disguise. That is why she sought it.
Byakuya looked down at her covered in muck with massive amounts of golden streaked auburn hair falling all around her. Her hazel eyes pierced him and her soft features made him think of sleeping next to her. She was a very pretty for a woman sitting there covered in trash looking up at him. And part of him would give almost anything to be wrapped in her Reiatsu lying next to her again. In fact his thoughts had often drifted back to that night. Byakuya stopped his train of thought. He would not dishonor his wife.
Fighting back tears, Rayna did not miss the next emotion that crossed his face. It was fury. She did not get long to register it though, because he was gone with the blink of her eye.
"I will not stay here." Rayna said from behind a screen as she tossed her clothes at Yarinju. "The first chance I get I am leaving. I will go hide in the living world if that is what it takes but I will not stay in his noble house for one more moment." Her tone was very dry and Yarinju knew that meant trouble he had better talk fast or the girl was going to do something extreme. The irritated woman would not leave necessarily because she could do that easily, but her current attitude meant trouble for the captain.
Yarinju heard her stepping into the water and sinking down into the tub. The sigh that fallowed was expected. The knock at the door several minutes later was not.
The gentleman walked over and slid the door open. He found himself faced with a dark haired girl with large eyes. "Hi I am Rukia. Captain Kuchiki is my brother. And well, he asked me to return this to you." She held out the dark orange cloak for Yarinju and he took it gladly.
Bowing graciously, he said, "Thank you Lady Kuchiki." There was a very genuine smile on his face. Now, maybe his mistress would be less irked and easier to protect. Unfortunately the bath did its job all too well and suddenly an all too familiar Reiatsu escaped the room. "Get it under control," he growled. It was too late the lady of the house had felt it and what was worse she recognized it. It was written all over her face.
"My apologies Lady Kuchiki," Yarinju said then he grabbed her arm dragged her in the room and slammed the door.
"What exactly is going on here?" Rukia yelled. "I know that Reiatsu I am one of the few on the Shinigami who have ever had the honor to protect it." She had a stern look but she also had a look of awe that was unmistakable.
"Then you know how important it is to keep our secret," came another voice from behind her.
Rukia turned around and fell to her knees in a deep bow. "My apologies my lady I didn't mean to intrude." Rayna stood before her in the most unflattering male kimono her wet hair tussled all around her.
"Please my honor is not worthy of such a gesture." She said bowing down to Rukia herself. Rayna hated the customs of the noble houses and the courts. She was just one more soul in the soul society. Bloodline should not be an issue. Especially, since she was an outcast from her family.
"I am sorry my Lady I did not know." Rukia said not looking up she was afraid she would disgrace herself and her house. The girl certainly did not act like royalty so it was hard to determine her own behavior. She did not want to dishonor her house if she did her brother would never forgive her. Then the thought occurred to her, "does he know?" she asked.
"No one does, or, as few as possible are told." Yarinju growled his anger finally subsiding over his mistress spilling their secret.
Rayna sat in front of the girl. "Please I would much rather call you friend. Allow me to be one?" She hated this part. Either she had a friend or someone that would only see her bloodline.
Rukia's smile widened and it warmed the depths of Rayna's soul. She held up a hand to Yarinju and said "don't worry I got it."
"I was not about to say anything in fact I am impressed you usually have a hard time controlling your Reiatsu when you meet someone new that you like." Yarinju said smiling down a the two woman.
Rukia's smile took on a whole new meaning. Rayna was genuine, and Rukia could sense the goodness in her. This heir to the Kings bloodline was nothing like Rukia would expect and she was already starting to like her.
"Rukia, I hope I can call you friend because I am about to burden you more than I want to." Rayna bowed her head. "I have to ask you not to tell anyone even your brother the great Captain Kuchiki." She rested her hand on Rukia's. Sorry, because she had to ask her to keep her secret and begging her for forgiveness.
Rukia looked down at her hand as the woman's Reiatsu spread through her. "I will keep your secret if it means protecting Nii-sama but, why are you here?"
Yarinju reached down and helped the two women up, and directed them to a comfortable set of couches. "Well, your brother came highly recommended." He said smiling at Rukia. She beamed back at the white haired man with her pride for Byakuya showing on her face. "We are sorry to have to impose upon your house but the Arrancar have sensed my Lady's presence." Yarinju sat down. He began to explain, this was one of those rare situations that called for the truth. Well at least some of it.
Looking at his lady, he waited for confirmation before he began. The slight nod of her noble head gave him the answer he sought. "My Lady Kuriraynas' mother is a 4th descended cousin to the king. Her name is Hiran Sharu Maruza, She fell in love with the head of house Hirosasuke and chose to disobey the king and left the protection of the royal court to be with him. Her blood was not pure because she was only half of the royal family's bloodline. So the court decided to let her have her heart's desire and she was allowed to marry the nobleman she had fallen in love with. Her punishment was that she was forever banished.
"Lady Hiran bore three children to the nobleman two sons and one daughter. But her bloodline trait only flowed within that daughter." He motioned to Kurirayna. "I would like to introduce my Lady Kurirayna Ishume Hirosasuke." He looked up at Rukia to find her stunned.
"I am sorry" Rayna said.
"Why?" Rukia replied confused.
"Because being my friend, and knowing the truth, may be a burden that will put you in danger."
"I don't understand," Rukia said confused.
"My Lady, allow me." Yarinju said with that annoying know it all look that he got. Rayna hated that look sometimes. "As you felt the bloodline of the Royal family has a very pure Reiatsu, and it's very powerful. My Lady's Reiatsu has the power to heal the spirit the soul itself. This is cause and effectual for my Lady because her heart is attracted to the wounded soul because she can heal them. But, the depraved souls like the Hallows are attracted to her. They want to consume her spiritual pressure, and they pursue it unwillingly and uncontrollably. What they don't know is that in consuming it, it will destroy them."
"Then why does she need to be protected? It sounds like she can defend herself." Rukia asked.
"I would agree she could probably handle three or four hallows at once even ones as powerful as the Espoda." Yarinju looked at his lady with pride and love. "But it would cause frenzy."
"Frenzy?" Rukia said, tilting her head questioningly.
"One or two would burn up under the pressure but several at once could with stand it. As they fed on her soul they would become more powerful. Instinct would take over and her spiritual pressure would increase to limits yet unknown. That kind of release would attract thousands no matter where she was, except in the protection of the royal court.
"Many could withstand her purity. When the finished consuming her soul they would have an insatiable lust for more. They would frenzy and be capable of destroying the Soul Society or even the living world. Just the sense of her pressure is enough to drive them to risk their lives to come to her.
"Even more to the point it is dangerous for her It is like containing a very powerful explosion inside a small space. If she does not balance the two at any given moment they will come or she will self destruct and burn herself up"
The three of them just sat in silence. Then Rukia said. "Why not stay at the Gate of the court guard surely they can offer more protection?" Too her it seemed like a good idea.
"My Lady would refuse to put in danger the only means of defending the Soul Society. Her pressure can draw thousands of Hallows and the sheer number could wipe out the entire court guard." Yarinju hoped the lady believed the partial lie.
Rukia nodded in response. Thinking back to the time she had been assigned to escort one of the royal class through the soul society. Few were chosen for the mission and Rukia was certain the only reason she was allowed to join was because of the Kuchiki name. Soi-fon had led the mission because their royal guest would only allow women in their presence. None of them actually saw what they protected, but they could feel the powerful Reiatsu that came from the small caravan. It was the same as Lady Hirosasukes'
"I chose the Captain for now because of his absolute control over himself and his Reiatsu. Above all else my lady needs to learn to control the immense power that flows within her. The head captain agreed, so it was decided that she would be trained by Lord Kuchiki. We did consider prison but as you know only another noble can place her there. So the Head Captain recommended that she live under Captain Kuchiki's protection while he trained her."
"It was not my choice. Trust me, and had I known how little freedom I would have I would have begged for prison." Rayna said getting up she walked behind the screen and disappeared.
"Also, you can imagine how hard it is to protect a stubborn female that has a knack for causing trouble wherever she goes." Yarinju said raising his voice. He added, "it is a shame we can't execute anyone of the royal bloodline."
Rukia smiled to herself. There were many who had been infuriated by Lady Rayna.
Yarinju and Rukia were interrupted by a squeal of delight coming from behind the curtain. "You found it Yarinju you are a miracle worker." She waived the cloak for him to see. "Ah comfort by thy friend," Rayna said with relief in her voice. The aging man did not have the heart to tell her that the captain had sent it back to her.
Rayna came back around the screen wearing the standard house clothes and the dark orange cloak. The clothes were still too big despite her height. They swallowed her. The layer of the cloak, made her look more like the teenage boy she wanted to portray. She pulled her hair up and set her cap and tucked it underneath. Lady Rayna looked nothing like someone descended from the royal bloodline.
Then Rukia asked "Where did you get my brothers old clothes?" Raynas expression turned stormy. The tantrum that followed could be heard by the guards outside.
Across the Seratie in the Hokutan district Grimmjow and a familiar companion. Sat on the roof next to the house where they had last sensed the spiritual pressure. "What a boring mission." The black haired boy said. "I don't think the boy is here. Can we go now?"
"You are too impatient Saezu." Grimmjow said "If he does not show up soon we will bring him to us."
Saezu noticed that his master was staring intently at two very talkative girls that where sitting outside on the step of the house. His smiled broadened, "Oh I see you have some fun planned for us after all."
OK that is today's chapter. Sorry it was so long but... ewww lots of background. I know, still no smut.. and in truth I love it.. Yeah honestly it could be a while.. but hang in there it is already written... I just hate editing, and the Mac is still in the shop.. Sorry for any errors (I am not PC compatible)
Today's background noise included... the never cliche 'Ladyhawk' movie.. and the musical stylings of 'Utada Hikaru'.... Girl is freaken awesome...
As always I do not own Bleach... that is Tite Kubos'.... But thanks for letting me play in his world... (I do not seek profit from what I do)