CHAPTER 2: SEA

"You can go upstairs but no funny business, remember last time you tried to escape" growled in defiance Ichimaru Gin opening the dark cell. The pirate had slit evil eyes, his voice was light yet strong. At the beginning of her imprisonment Rukia had being mislead by his simple frame and tried to scape from his guardian. She shivered inside at the memory of the humid isolated cell, the deep pain from tore muscles and hunger, outside, she only shrugged and her chin was kept high and proud. "Wouldn't be something new now"

"Ha! That's what you say now but we'll see when we can't get you a proper owner and captain gives you to me," Ichimaru's dark chuckle pulled hard on her chest, schooling herself not to stop she kept on moving slowly upstairs. "Ah..." the air, cold and salty prickled her cheeks and the afternoon sunlight hurt her eyes. "Three months inside there and I already forgot how the sky was" thought Rukia blinking many times to help adjust her vision while walking towards the forecastle of the pirates ship. By now she knew like the palm of her hand the ship and the crew inside. It had being 10 years since the beginning of her trial, over the time of course some man had being replaced, killed or gone, others remained like Ichimaru Gin, Coyote Starrk, Tier Harribel and Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. Each one of them worst than the last before. And because of his recurrent stay she had being working under the pirates command getting to know almost every place, from the lower cells, the cannon and gun rooms, the crew berths, the captain's chamber, the kitchen and storerooms.

She breathed in slowly enjoying the warm weather, the sea line always made her feel small and lost, land so far away in directions she could not yet understand or control. Rukia let go for a second, her hands on top of the wooden surface, lifting her face she closed her eyes and breathed out. Like a lover the air surrounded and cradled her in a tight embrace, the cold breeze calming her soul, the sound like a calling giving her heart strength. When the wind moved away and she opened her eyes the sky was broad and bright, reminding her of her freedom.

"Brother in heaven, I'm turning 17 in a week, will you let me join you now?..." She mumbled resting her body against the wooden rail again. From her spot she could see the man hurrying to complete the captain's orders, the name of a city was repeated excitedly. "Karakura..." she repeated too but her voice was a whisper laced with regret and wrath, promises and dreams she had learned to vanquish from her mind. "Brother, It's being so long, too long... I wish I could remember Him, I wish I could become his wife, or at least dream about it for I'll have a reason to carry on but I can't even remember his name..." Looking at the sky above her she felt the air strongly pulling her away from the wooden rail, for a moment she thought but easily discarded jumping it. Many times had she tried in land and sea to run away or kill herself, her audacity had earned her nothing but pain and the passionate hate from her guardian Ichimaru. It seemed life was not going to giver her peace, not letting her live happily or die at least.

"Hey! Puppet!" called a raspy voice and Rukia's brow furrowed, her lips twitching. "What do you want now Grimmjow"

"You're time is over, go back to your cell we're about to land." Grimmjow growled more than normal so Rukia decided it was best to behave for the moment, it had taken her 2 months to recover from the last escape, and it was still painful to breath in deep, in land at least her possibilities were better. "And don't you even dare think about running away this time, I'm sick of you causing problem with our customers," Rukia passed by Grimmjow's side with her eyes fixed on the floor, when he was behind her she grinned barely containing her laugh.

Oh they had taken away from Her her brother and her future, they had stripped her from her rights and treated her like shit, but she knew her brother in heaven was proud of her, cause every time she was given to someone she proved herself useless, problematic and was always able to run away. The pirates dispersed like a plague always found her, but the damage was done, and they were not able to give her back. But then, like reading Rukia's mind Grimmjow grinned evilly turning softly to see her back stiffen at his words "But this time sweet child, we'll be giving you to a good client, this time he's going to chain you to his wall like a trophy and nothing you do is ever going to work again, he's warned and prepared, and he's ohh so much waiting for you"

Slowly, Rukia returned to her dark cell, down in the pits of the ship, the sound of the rusty bars, the humid air and the pressure in her chained ankles did nothing but increase the power of Grimmjow words, the sensation of calmness the air had given her completely disappeared. She had being lucky before, because the men had desired her, wanted to keep her as a pet so they never intended to chain her or anything, but if this "client" wanted something different, what could she do? Running about that matter thoughts lead to memories of the training she had suffered since early childhood. Ichimaru had tried very hard indeed to tough her the proper manners and behaviour of their property. "Brother I won't make it... I promised I'll try but I'm not gonna make it" her words chocked in her throat, troubled and worried, the lonesome sensation pinning her tight against the cellar's walls.

- o -

"Ichigo come on! it will be fun!" beamed a young redhead man walking down the street. Ichigo Kurosaki, direct successor of the Kurosaki household was now 18 years old and could do nothing but sight in disagreement. "Man, I already said no! I hate the way the pirates treat people like merchandise, you wanna go, go! But leave me out of it"

"Oh please! This is not about the pirates! This is about girls!" responded Ichigo's friend turning at the direction of the great market, a long ensemble of small stores and kiosks where you could by from common groceries like meat and vegetables to household needs as in furniture, maids and slaves. Renji, grinning at the sight of the left corner entrance turned again towards his friend, "Just think about all those beautiful woman waiting for you..." he purred, his own eyes closing at the pleasurable thought, "No, how long do I have to..."

"Oh man, don't tell me you're still thinking about that little girl!"responded his friend exasperated causing Ichigo to pull him by his collar and growl dangerously, "Shut it Renji or I'll close it for you... you're a dear friend of mine but one word about her...!" Ichigo's voice was like velvet soft, sharp as broken glass.

Now in normal circumstances Renji would back off and wait until his friend had calmed down, but in the middle of a mission you don't waver, so he regained his composure and pulled a paper from his coat to place in the hands of his friend. "Come on, I beg you just look at them! I'm sure there's at least one to your likings" he said and Ichigo felt something inside him break, turning over his heels he prepared himself to beat the crap out of Renji when the picture in his hand stopped him. It was a girl, approximately 16 or 19, short blueish black hair with dark blue irises, her skin although pale looked fresh and tender. There was no innocence on her expression and no toothy smile on her lips but he could barely stop his heart from pulling out of his ribcage. "I'm going out to the market!" Ichigo declared taking his coat from his friends hands, "Perfect! Finally you came to your senses" laughed Renji following him.

"Please let it not be her, please let it not be her" Ichigo prayed moving each step faster. It had being 10 years since the day he lost himself in the forest and was rescued by a young girl with the brightest smile he had ever saw. He was just a boy back then and the promise they made could mean nothing in the end but after that day he thought everyday about her, he tried to search for her, but it was to no avail, even when they found a house in the middle of the forest it was abandoned. Thinking of the reports he read his lips tightened in thin line. There had being a corpse in that house, bandits, possibly pirates had attacked, the house had being inhabited before by the man lying dead and a girl for sure, but at that time he chose to believe it was not her house, that it was not her older brother, he wanted to believe she was still free, growing in to a beautiful woman he could marry. It was the promise and her memory that kept him working hard to be the perfect man for her.

Now the market looked quite clean and neat from the outside, but when you entered it was a complex arrangement of small shops, forming lines and passages to create a sense of a labyrinth. The closer to the center was the black market. Inside that place the words hushed down, there was barely any light and a sense of death pressed like gravity against the hearts of people waiting to be sold. Ichigo had mentioned, warned and fought about destroying the market, but his father always rejected him, it was a matter of political contracts, a sickening need, not only for the economic prosperity but to keep peace in the lands.

Ichigo moved around searching for a name, re-reading from time to time the paper on his hand, his desperation clear. "Come on and see her! A pearl of the ocean!" called a man to his audience and Ichigo instinctively turned to see, the girl by his side was petite and the thin clothing she was wearing left little to imagination, her hands and ankles chained, a stiff black leather collar around her neck attached to a leash for when his master wanted to show her off. "Her name is Rukia and is barely 17 winters alive" The people gathered interested. Ichigo paralysed looked directly to the girls eyes. "She's being educated in the common arts and duties but her wild nature leaves room to desired training if wanted" called Ichimaru earning laughs and calculating stares. It was then that a man came through the crowd and claimed the girl, "1,000,000" he said and the crowd moved one step away, Ichigo recognizing him as Aizen Sousuke, he was known for his educated and calm ways, no one had seeing him reacting with anger or frustration earning respect from the society yet Ichigo could see deeper inside him, his manipulative and cruel self, his soft-spoken voice was only a tool to keep his subjects in line by intimidation or mind games. Ichigo knew enough to fear the results of that negotiation.

"I'll double any amount he gives you" Ichigo said moving through the crowd in long secured strides, hands in his pockets, his eyes never leaving Ichimaru's, he acted cocky and like he didn't care, this was a moment of entertainment, every movement controlled, it was only in the tightness of his jaw that you could understand the anxious and desperation growing inside him.

"Oh Hello there, what were you saying?" asked Ichimaru turning his interested in the new arrived customer, Rukia didn't turn to look, her eyes fixed in Aizen's reaction.

"I said I'll give you a shit loads of money now, are you in to it?" he asked back showing a small black stamp in his right hand, Ichimaru glanced quickly at the legal seal, clearing his throat he smiled widely, "Of course, I'm always in good mood for a bargain"

"How can you! You little brat..." growled a young man beside Aizen but was soon cut off by him, Ichigo paid no attention, Renji who was arriving chuckled darkly, "You kiddo I do believe you're not stupid enough to not know who you're speaking about"

"Of course we do," purred Aizen smiling gentlemanly, "please do enjoy your new merchandise, Kurosaki-sama," his follower expression changed and could do nothing but cast his eyes down, when Aizen turned around to leave there was fear in his eyes. Ichigo too felt fear in the pit of his stomach, like needles and pins.

"Thank you very much," responded graciously Ichimaru receiving a note with the Kurosaki seal, Ichigo closed his eyes and sighed, his expression immediately changing, "You can come and pick up your money anytime you want"

"As you wish sir," replied Ichimaru looking around for another man to release the product from its chains, Renji in high spirits took the leather-bound of Rukia and pulled her closer, she moved never showing her expression, her eyes staring at the floor. "Hey Ichigo, why don't we walk a little, see if you want something else... It's too rush to run in to the first object you see"

Finally letting go of his senses Ichigo moved his hand to his friend neck and hold it tight, "She's not an object and you can start talking about her as a lady or I'll kill you"

"Okay okay..." Renji replied lifting his hands in surrender, turning to see the girl he eyed Rukia shocked by Ichigo's protection, there was confusion in her clouded blue orbs, smiling he turned back to see his friend, "Hey man, why don't you return to the fortress while I take your cutie out of here and prepare her for meeting you, I think I can help you with that" he said taking his friend away from her to speak in a lower tone, "But I have to speak with her"

"Don't worry I'll take her to you"

"But... I have to see if she's okay"

"Ichigo, don't worry, everything will be just fine, you have just freed her from 2 bastards in one go, I'll change her outfit, ask some maids to give a warm bath, you know..." explained Renji, licking his lips. Ichigo doubted for a second, he still had work to do for his Father, seeing this Renji pushed his friend away and beamed, "see you at home!"

After a long row in his to do list, he returned home with an even longer to do list for the next day, between managing public property, import and export permits and communication between local ministries there was also the guarding Rukia from Aizen, "His not one to easily let go..." thought bitterly Ichigo, he had doubled the guards around the manor and sent a few to guard Aizen's perimeters, and still he felt Rukia's life was in danger.

"Inoue-san!" he called as always entering the fortress, maids hurrying to take his coat and serve him a refreshment, "Sir, Inoue-san has gone to the high marked again, she said she'll be back late in the night"

"Oh, that's fine then, thanks" he smiled and the girl stayed there watching his lord move towards his chambers, a sigh escaping her lips.

Entering his bedroom chambers Ichigo throw his bag and papers, taking off as well his clothing. The day had being long and hard and before Renji came back unannounced he wanted to take a bath and calm himself. The warm water washed away most of his worries, little by little drowning away from his mind, leaving only the lost expression in Rukia's eyes. "Rukia..." he called in a whisper closing his eyes, remembering her strong voice when leading him out of the woods, how long had she being with the pirates? Why? Where? There were too many question and no answers, he dare not to question her yet, the wounds still open and hurting.

"God I'm tired..." he sighed leaving the bathroom with a tower clad around his waist and a small towel over his head, moving his hands against it he tried to dry his hair when a constricted movement in his bed made him stop and see, noticing in separate seconds what was happening. 3 seconds... there was a creature most probably a human in his bed, 5 seconds... She, for "it" was a woman, was bound, 7 seconds... It was actually Rukia laying on top of his bed with nothing more than a black nightgown with golden embroidery. "Fuck Renji! I'll kill him!" his brows furrowed darkly but he breathed in and out to calm himself hurrying to untie his unwanted prisoner, taking the gag over her lips first. Rukia using the opportunity, bit down Ichigo's right hand and tried to move as far away as possible from him.

"Ahh! Why did you do that?" screamed Ichigo pressing his right hand in his lefts, small beats of blood oozing from round teeth marks. "Get away from me! Don't come any closer!" she screamed trying to untie herself and find a way out.

"No, its okay, don't you remember me?" asked Ichigo confused, Rukia looked at him for a second, was he another pirate? Had he being one of her last clients? Rukia felt troubled and confused trying to understand the hurt and hopeful expression in the young man eyes. "I'm sorry but I don't remember meeting someone as gross and repulsive as you!" she screamed back at him moving her body farther away, "Someone who buys people for his own desires" Ichigo, who was trying to move closer to her stopped midway, what was she saying? She doesn't remember me? More over, she think I'm the same as those bastards... Ichigo chuckled, anger and frustration colouring his voice, of course she didn't remember him, they had only met for barely half an hour, in the middle of the woods, so late in the night, all dark when they were around 7 or 6 years old, how could she remember him? Specially after living so long with pirates.

Rukia kept her distance and her disgusted expression, but seeing the raw emotions playing in Ichigo's eyes she couldn't help doubting her words. But moving her arms she remember the situation she was in, there was no way to untie her arms but having no options left she decided to still go for it. "Onii-sama I might see you soon..." she thought jumping out of the bed, and fighting to keep her balance she run towards the door.

Ichigo turned to see her but did no movement to stop her, that is until he saw her loose her balance and dangerously fall against a sturdy wooden chest. "Wait! Be careful!" he called instantly standing up to receive her falling frame. Ichigo looking at her worried even more, she's terribly underweight... "Let go of "Let go of me you bastard!... Let go! I rather die than you..." Rukia's shock lasted only a few seconds going back to fighting against her captor. "So you'll prefer to be Aizen's new toy? Do you actually know how many women have he jailed and murdered?! I don't care at all what you think I was trying to do but I HAVE help AND saved your fucking life!"

Rukia stopped in shock at Ichigo's anger, even thought his eyes were a darker brown color, his shoulder tensed and square, his hold on her never grow until painful, just enough to keep her from touching the floor. She closed her mouth and breathed in deep, pursing her lips, she was about to say something when there was a knock and rough voice was heard. "Young master is everything alright?"

Shit! Rukia had completely forgotten the fact of the "Kurosaki" line she heard in the market. Even if she had being able to get out of the room outside would be plagued by guards, Grimmjow was right, He has being warned...Waiting for Ichigo's replying Rukia closed her eyes and breathed out, shivering. Ichigo sighed and laying Rukia body in the bed stopped holding her and moved away. "I'm fine, thanks for coming. I'm just having a conversation with someone else, no problems"

"You sure Sir you don't want that person to visit the high tower cells to cool its head?" asked another voice, softer but indignant, Ichigo furrowed his brows lightly at this, No, please not again, I wont take it, I can't... cried Rukia in her mind, I rather die than go back to the darkness, Brother please... "No need, thank you, I'll be resting now so you can go back to your positions and if you see Inoue-san please, do tell her I need the room beside me to be cleared and arranged to hold our new guest"

"Yes Sir" both man replied in one voice and moved away hurriedly noticing their young masters irritation at their words. Looking back at her horrified expression Ichigo breathed in long and hard, sitting down beside her. "Rukia I'm sorry, I shouldn't have shouted at you." taking her hands in his Ichigo undid the knots and moved down to undo her legs. "You will stay here in the fortress for your own protection, until Aizen's desire for you wears out all I find another place for you to live in peace. Doors will be closed all the time, exceptions will be done of course depending on your behaviour and you'll be escorted in and out all the time" Once free of her bounds he moved from the bed to ope the wooden chest and pull out a long, thick wool shirt. "Tomorrow you'll meet Inoue-san, you can ask her anything you need, she'll bring you some new clothes but for now you can use mine, we're still in summer so you wont feel cold in this and under the bed covers." He said passing her the clothe, feeling awkward he scratched his head and looked away.

Rukia felt dumbfounded and confused, many thoughts running across her mind, she still didn't trust him, yet there was still no proof that he was indeed a bad person. "Thanks..." she mumbled deciding to play safe, "You're welcome" Ichigo answered back smiling warmly at her, "I know you must have passed trough a lot. I'm not asking you to serve me or tell me what happened but I'll do what I can to help you"

For a moment their stared at each other, neither of them moving, then Rukia walked towards the nearest corner and started changing her clothes without a word. Ichigo slamming his face with his hand choked out, "Rukia, you can use my changing room if you want, the bathroom is also free when ever you want..." Turning at him she noticed a light red shadow over Ichigo's cheeks, "Thank you" she said smiling herself and moved in to the changing room. Finished on changing Rukia walked out of the room and followed Ichigo to lay down on the bed, she was still conscious and ready if he wanted to force her. Ichigo, without caring of Rukia's attend glares picked up Rukia's nightgown and throw it in to the garbage. "You won't use that kind of clothes ever again." He said when Rukia looked at him confused.

"I'm sorry if I don't trust you not moving but I'll sleep for today in this room, I won't move, I promise" he said placing several glass vases and ornaments forming a circle around the door and him. "Have a good night Rukia" He finally said sitting down on the floor and closing his eyes. Rukia stared at him confused again, nothing she had expected had happened so she couldn't figure what to do next. Tired and restless she let her frame rest against the soft mattress and pillows. "Brother in heaven I'm so tired I wouldn't mind being taken by him I guess... he's not such a bad person, maybe, and he's not as ugly like the other clients. I wont stay thought...

"Rukia..." there was a soft whisper in the air, and she opened her eyes, a few seconds later there was a sight and her name again was called with desperate need and worry, "Rukia..."

Why is he calling my name in his sleep? Is he THAT worried about me? Fuck! I don't care anymore... I'm tired... She closed her eyes again and before she could count to 3 she was already asleep and dreaming for the first time in a decade.

- o -

Author's Note: Sooo 3 pages transformed in to 10 pages... and I there is a small fraction waiting for chapter 3... yeah, that happens when you check shitty work you did like 5 years ago.. wait, I think it's eve more time... whatever! The thing is, I'm sooorrrryyyyy! O for taking so long, I had so many things all at the same time... part of it was procrastination, but not all of it, so... hope you forgive me, hope you like this chapter, and wait for the next one. OH! And read and review please, I do love reading when you review my chapters.. : )