Heart's Desire Chapter 11
By C. LeShay
Genre: Romance, AU
Characters/Pairings: IchiRuki, etc.
Rating: T
Disclaimer: Me no own Bleach! I don't profit from writing this fanfiction, just so you know.
Many have expressed wanting to see IchiRuki 'action.' I confess that this leaves me… confused, as the fangirl in me was already screaming 'LEMON! LEMON!" while the writer in me shakes her head saying that it was not yet time. To reconcile these two opposing forces, I came up with this chapter. Yeah it has fluff but its still tame enough for the T-rating.
Summary: In the middle of the war against the Arrancar in Seiretei, Kurosaki Ichigo laid siege to the district of the noblest of all nobles. The mission: to capture and take as hostage the sister of his enemy, Kuchiki Rukia. The problem: the hostage herself.
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Recap of previous chapter:
"I'm fine." Rukia assured him, "I just want to get out of here."
Ishida wanted to say that she had sense to realize just how much in danger she was in meeting Aizen alone, but he figured the first thing on the agenda was to get her either to the 13th or 14th. Apparently, no one bothered to inform her yet about Ukitake taicho's condition because she made n o move to head to her division and glean information.
All that was important right now was to make she was safe, or Kurosaki would skin him alive. "Let's go; I'll take you to the 14th." He said as he walked beside her.
Rukia shook her head. "No, I want to go to the 10th. I want to see Ichigo."
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From the window of his division, Aizen could see the forms of Rukia and Ishida fukutaicho make their way out. A small frown wrinkled his brows. "My my, Rukia-chan." he said as he smirked "I didn't know you've grown to be an expert liar."
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There was merit as to why people generally did not wish to end up in jail, Ichigo thought wryly as he glanced at the dust mites flying overhead. It was because boredom was sure to happen, and the idea of not doing anything was maddening for him.
If he were in his division around this time, he probably would have spared with all of his ranked shinigami by now. Ichigo wondered what everyone was doing and if they were functioning properly. Tatsuki was supposed to be training the new recruits (or torture them, as thought about how the woman would conduct it) and Sado was on patrol duty. He was glad that Mizuiro already destroyed the reiatsu amplifier from Urahara (considering it still carried traces of HIS reiatsu when the other used it at the 6th, it was pretty much a damning evidence), or else Keigo would be pestering him to use it to make a mass of women go out with him. And what about the paperwork; was Ishida even doing it?
Ichigo snorted in disgust at the situation. His old man better be doing his job properly in making sure that his sisters and Rukia did not do anything stupid.
Especially Rukia. Come to think of it, he wondered just how she found amusement while she was imprisoned. Surely the dust in his division was more interesting than at the 10th, because the times he visited her while she was imprisoned, she looked like she was comfortable enough to be bored. Then again, she was a Kuchiki; she probably had a way of coping with all sorts of scenarios without losing her composure. What do rich noblewomen do to pass time anyway? Plan a party mentally? Think of a charitable foundation to support?
Ichigo snorted in disgust, Rukia had probably been imagining 100 ways on how to torture him.
God, he sighed mentally, he was SO bored. Why didn't anyone give him something to read in here? At this rate, he'd go crazy with just the company of eerie silence that was deafening. Any distraction would do right now. Hell, even his annoying new wife would be welcome. Rukia the cold noble or the shrew may drive him to kill, but at least he was sure that there was no dull moment in her company. And the damned woman was attractive, for crying out loud! That would be enough compensation for him to suffer her presence.
His hormones of course, were another story.
To his surprise, he heard the cell guard came down to check on him. It wasn't time for meals or something, so the only logical conclusion was that he had visitors. If it were Aizen once more, he'd really break his neck even before he could step closer this time. However, the guard brought in a guest that was completely what Ichigo did not expect: Rukia – with Ishida nonetheless. "What are you doing here?" he snarled. Didn't she remember what he told her? She was supposed to stay put.
Wasn't she supposed to be at Byuakuya's? She was all too excited to get home, considering the magnitude of the escape attempt she made previously. So what was she doing here?
"Well hello and good morning to you too, dear." Rukia said frostily, as she gave him a cold stare that was not seen by the guard.
Ichigo ambled over and grabbed the bars "So nice to see you, love." He grated out in fake cheer. "What brings you here today? If its problem with the plumbing, I'm afraid I can't help right now."
"Worry not about it… sweetums, we'll just have a swimming pool indoors – much better and cheaper than installing a new one." Rukia said, her voice so saccharine sweet it bordered on disgusting. "I believe that visiting my husband was better than being concerned about the plumbing. Your father could be wallowing in the water as we speak, trying to heat it with Keigo's zanpaktuô to make it a hot spring."
Years of being a fukutaicho in the 14th taught Ishida to have well-honed instincts. Thus he faced the guard and gave him a good glare telling him without words to leave and give the couple privacy to talk.
Against the orders given to him by his commander, the guard left in a hurry, muttering about forgetting something outside. This alone told Ishida that he had what it takes to make a grown man piss in his hakama. Satisfied, he then turned to face Ichigo and said without preamble "Kurosaki, your wife went to Aizen's office." After all, he never forgot her snide 'Orihime's Stud' reference. At Rukia's incredulous glare he told her "Well, you never said I can't let him know. Besides, he ought to."
"Traitor." Hissed Rukia inaudibly, promising herself to make his life as hellish as she could in the future.
"What?" bellowed Ichigo, giving his wife a scary scowl "You went to the 5th? Why the hell did you do that? Are you stupid or naïve?"
"Says the man who is currently in jail for being both!" retorted Rukia, a high flush of anger showing across her cheeks.
Ishida sighed. Right; like he wished to be part of this. "Excuse me. I'll just wait outside until you two lovebirds sort this mess." He said as he started to walk out.
"And just where are you going?" barked ichigo.
"To make sure no one hears that there's trouble in paradise, what else?"
As soon as his fukutaicho was out, Ichigo immediately focused his attention to Rukia "What the hell do you think you're doing?" he hissed lowly, considerate of the fact that anyone might overhear them if they weren't careful. When she made no reply, he decided to give her a venomous glare. "Out of all the stupid things you can do, you just had to go to Aizen."
"Oh, so it was stupid?" challenged Rukia in a likewise quieter tone. "Unlike you, I happen to have morals and a conscience. I owe Aizen taicho an apology. That may not sit well with you, but I certainly wanted to make my peace with him!"
Ichigo leaned as far down as he could "Really? And would your conscience save you if he decided to kill you – right then and there? Damn you woman, use your head for crying out loud, why the hell would you make a social call to your husband's enemy?"
Anger made Rukia's eyes flash. "Listen here, moron, if it gets my idiot husband out of jail, I would do it – got that?"
Obviously both were shocked to hear her say that she wanted to free Ichigo that for a moment, no one spoke.
"Have you forgotten your pride that you had to beg?" he accused, looking like she committed a crime more severe than his.
Rukia sighed in exasperation. This stupid conversation was making her head ache "I most certainly did NOT beg! I told him I wanted the charges against you dropped. Apparently he said no, as you are still in jail. So I left with Ishida and headed here."
"What would you have done if he didn't just let you go?"
"Defended myself, of course."
Ichigo looked like he wanted to strangle her for her misplaced confidence in others and herself. But he said nothing as he stood there studying her carefully. "Did he hurt you?" he finally grumbled out the question.
"Of course not." Rukia said, but she took care to look at him carefully, while avoiding his eyes. Ichigo seemed to buy it, and she felt relieved. But –
"What did he do to you?" came his snarl, his gut telling him that she was, once again hiding something. The look she had in her face was familiar… he had seen it before. It was the kind of look one had when caught in the middle of a crime scene, standing in front of a dead body, with a smoking gun in their hands. Yep, that was it. "Tell me, Rukia."
"Nothing!" she countered just as fiercely, wanting the conversation to go another direction.
"Don't think for a moment that you can lie to me!" he snapped, before he reached out and grabbed her by the chin. Rukia tried to struggle against it, but another hand snaked out to pull at her wrist. This brought her even closer to Ichigo and if it wasn't for the metal bars between them, she would definitely be held against him in close proximity.
Was Ichigo capable of violence? She thought in a rush of unexpected discomfort.
But Ichigo did not do anything else, aside from look into her eyes. "Rukia, please tell me." He asked; this time is calmer tones, deliberately sounding non-threatening. "I have to know. Did he do something that he shouldn't have done?"
It was all too convenient to lie, but Rukia knew that she had to trust this man as he had already brought her into his plans – making her a part of all of this mess. In her opinion, he didn't seem to be untrustworthy. Besides, it wasn't like he was hurting her. If anything, he was being extremely gentle holding her chin that way – as if he was afraid he'd break her. However, telling him the truth might cause potential disaster as well…
Resisting the urge to sigh, Rukia raised her eyes to his. "He tried to kiss me."
For a moment, Ichigo's amber eyes hardened. To his surprise, he felt jealousy stir in him as the idea of men trying to claim his wife assailed him. He would very much prefer to bash and break someone's face in anger, but the murderous light was soon gone as he looked over her again "Don't worry, I'll deal with him soon." He promised gravely.
"You will do no such thing!" Rukia said heatedly, her face a mask of haughty indifference. At his disbelieving and angry look, she glared at him "I can fight my own battles Ichigo. If he went way out of line, I would have done something. Honestly, Aizen isn't the first who attempted to act inappropriately with me. I've met men who were more enthusiastic and disgustingly worse."
"Did you break their arms Rukia?" he asked in an unexpectedly composed voice that belied the insane urge he felt to hurt someone. Ichigo wanted to say that those men better hope he never finds them, but at the moment he was too preoccupied to do anything else. He was too busy looking into Rukia's eyes as if hypnotized. All he wanted to do was make a point, to get her to get her to see his logic; but he found that it was almost impossible to pull himself together as he looked down at her violet eyes that were so dark and knowing that he felt like drowning in them.
Without breaking eye contact, Rukia smiled, unaware of the thoughts warring in Ichigo, she moved closer and whispered confidently. "Their arms AND a leg."
"Oh good," Ichigo said as his thumb moved on its own across Rukia's full lower lip, as he unconsciously skirted a line that was not meant to be crossed, "you left something for me to break." He said dangerously yet with apparent humor. "Byakuya better be sure you're safe in his home, or he'd hear from me."
"He doesn't have to do anything." Rukia insisted, her voice strangely lower and breathier than usual. She could feel a fluttering in her stomach, making her nervous. She wanted to bolt; uncomfortable with the obviously intimate position they were in – yet she she found herself unable to move. "I'm staying at your home." It was tempting, all too tempting to lean into him even more.
If he were the kind of person who smiled, Ichigo would have done so. The old man would make sure, as well as Ishida and the rest that no one would ever dare to even THINK of laying a grimy hand on his wife. He really didn't expect her to leave her brother and go to his family, but she did. Rukia's loyalty and trust had to be gained; he hoped he succeeded. As it was the only way he could protect her.
"Rukia. You lied to your brother and Aizen."
"Yes." She said simply, knowing what it was he was talking about. "I had no other choice… I know we didn't talk about it, but at the time –
"It's fine." He assured her, knowing that she was probably thinking about his family.
"I thought it would help get you out of jail." She told him in a whisper. "Well, I thought of your family too." She added, a blush staining the fair skin of her face.
Ichigo was surprised. "Thank you for watching out for them." He said, voice hoarse. He didn't expect her to go out of her way to think about his father, Karin, Yuzu, and everyone else – but she did.
"They're my family now, Ichigo." She confided with a small, amused smile. "Families are supposed to take care of each other, right?"
Families are supposed to take care of each other. His mother often told him that when he was younger. Despite his earlier misgivings and assumptions regarding her character, Rukia was a woman who had so much to give and she opened her arms to his family, despite the circumstances that brought in that need. Was it really that long since he thought that he wanted to strangle her because she infuriated him to no end?
Or was he just mad because of the reactions she brought out in him? Ichigo had resigned himself to vengeance a long time ago. His single-minded vendetta against Aizen taught him to be harsh and unyielding, to bury emotions other than anger in order to make himself stronger. How long has it been really since he had been this intrigued and interested in a woman that his carefully planned revenge was taking a drastic turn? Why was it that with Rukia he yearned for a future… any future where the stigma of blood did not follow him?
Giving in to what he wanted to do for so long, Ichigo's other hand let go of her wrist to cup the back of her head and pull her up for a kiss.
Her lips were just as soft and warm as he imagined. She made no protest nor moved away as his lips moved against hers. Instead, she raised herself on her toes and tentatively kissed him back. Hell, if he had known she'd respond to him, he would have done it ages ago.
Ichigo used his thumb to carefully massage her jaw, helping her to relax and lean more into him. In the back of his mind, Ichigo could feel the cold bars of his cell dig against his skin, but he made no move to remedy it and instead focused on the here and now. On Rukia.
By all that was holy, now her scent was taking control of his senses! It was that same jasmine scent as before and it was still as intoxicating as the first time he smelled it. Ichigo promised to get her a large bottle of jasmine-scented perfumes – which was entirely for his benefit, not hers.
What would he give just to have the thrice-damned metals bars disappear so he could pull her against him? To feel for himself the modestly soft curves that she had unconsciously tempted him with? Ichigo stifled a groan as his hand decided to slide down her back to rest above the swell of her backside, the movement only making his arm muscles scream from exertion, yet served to pull her as close to him as possible. Damn, this woman was driving him insane!
As Ichigo's other hand encountered a particularly ticklish spot below her ear, Rukia was torn between giggling or gasping. She couldn't think straight; only feel. Her hands were hanging limply against her sides, idle. She knew that they had to do something instead of just being useless… but for the life of her she couldn't even make her brain come up with a rational thought to command her body to move!
Breathe! Ordered her burning lungs, and she complied. As she inhaled, taking in as well the usual citrus-y smell she associated with Ichigo. She definitely had to thank Hitsugaya taicho for allowing Ichigo to be given personal artifacts and toiletries instead of the standard shinigami cell ones.
When she was younger, Rukia heard and believed that kissing someone was an exhilarating experience, where you would see fireworks of different colors burst into the dark sky. Of course, as time passed and she experienced it for herself, she came to accept this as a metaphor – as such things were not possible, unless someone really did set off fireworks at the exact same moment. The fireworks were supposed to be emotions, warmth, and perhaps giddy excitement. But now… she wondered if a kiss was supposed to feel like this. Like a burst of kidō ran through your veins – from the tips of your toes to the top of your head. Was a kiss supposed to make you feel like you were burning up and freezing at the same time? Were you supposed to feel like all your nerve endings were bursting with electricity?
There was no gentleness, but rather need – a disturbingly hungry need that she never felt possible. Was she supposed to NOT feel shyness but passion?
If it did, it only meant two things; either Rukia had been unfeeling for quite a while, or Ichigo was just a damn good kisser – perhaps even the best she ever encountered.
Deciding to the hell with it, Rukia's hands moved up to weave themselves around her husband's wild orange-colored hair, wanting to feel more of the flame. Eagerness, gentleness, and reserve she knew – she was no means completely clueless with kissing; but this… this swamping emotions that made her hazy was a novel experience.
As Ichigo angled his mouth to kiss her more deeply, Rukia instinctively parted her lips, trying her best to hold back a whimper as she felt his tongue slide to touch hers in an intimate caress.
Damn, it felt so good, she thought giddily as she felt him groan in approval at how she matched his ardor.
"Ahem." There was a sound of someone trying to get attention by clearing his throat. "Ahem, excuse me. I know you're newly married, but you're not supposed to do that here."
As if struck by lighting, Ichigo and Rukia sprang apart from each other forcefully. Just in time to see a red-faced Hitsugaya looking pointedly at them. Beside him, Matsumoto's eyes were wide and her jaw was almost on the floor. On the other hand, Ishida was looking decidedly smug about something.
Despite being embarrassed, Ichigo bellowed, "Out Toushiro, this isn't for kids to see!"
For her part, Rukia threw him a dark look for bringing more attention into the… incident. Stiffening her spine, she looked at Ishida "I believe I should be going home now." She said in a strangled voice, her face crimson. "I'm sure Yuzu has cooked something good for dinner."
Ichigo nodded to his fukutaicho who stepped down to escort Rukia. "You will not go anywhere without Ishida, do you understand?"
Rukia opened her mouth to retort when she saw the look Ichigo was giving her. It was possessive and it promised that the 'unfinished' business would be addressed soon. Her face flushed even further as she recalled just how improper she behaved – in public even! Where has her Kuchiki breeding gone to? "Fine, as you wish." She found herself muttering as she followed Ishida out.
"Wow!" Matsumoto said as soon as Rukia was out of earshot. "They were making out in jail!" she said with glee.
"It was only a kiss, Matsumoto." Ichigo said angrily at the two, as if blaming them for interrupting a very rare moment he had been fantasizing about for so long. "Stop being so excited over seeing one. And I forbid you to tell anyone about it, either."
Matsumoto gaped at Ichigo "Wow! If that was a kiss, I wonder how the sex must be like!" she said in an impressed tone as she looked at the taicho of the 14th carefully. "I must refresh my sources and ask your former lovers if you really kiss that good to render a Kuchiki dazed even for a moment."
"Matsumoto!" Hitsugaya barked, face still sporting a tell-tale blush. "Do you mind?"
His endowed fukutaicho looked at her taicho uncomprehendingly for a moment, before understanding bloomed in her face "Oh… sorry… minors, right." She said dismissively.
"MATSUMOTO!!" Hitsugaya burst out "Don't you have paperwork to do?"
"But taichoooooo…" she complained, "Paperwork is SO boring. Unless…" she trailed off as if just getting to a brilliant idea "Well unless Kurosaki taicho plans to file forms for conjugal visits –
"Matsumoto!" both taichos called out sharply.
"Oh my word." Matsumoto said in indignation "All I was trying to do was help. Fine! I'll go now, happy taicho?" she said as she walked, not even waiting for Hitsugaya's reply; muttering about taichos, particularly two ones, who should get laid.
As soon as his fukutaicho was out, Hitsugaya turned to Ichigo. "Exercise discretion for once, Kurosaki." He said snidely "You're in jail not on vacation."
Indignant, Ichigo glared at the other man "You're the one who interrupted the honeymoon! And tell that fukutaicho of yours to keep her mouth shut on this. Rukia's had enough rumors about her as it is."
Hitsugaya returned the look with equal measure "Does the name Urahara Kisuke ring a bell to you, Kurosaki?" he asked, changing the topic effectively.
"The old pervert sandal-hat?" Ichigo asked incredulously. "Yeah, I know him. What about it?"
"Do you know where he is?"
Ichigo raised an eyebrow "Me? You're asking me?" he snorted in amusement "Toushiro, I'm the LAST person he'd inform of where he is." Ichigo told him. "The old fart did something really bad and he has his arms full of the shit he's still cleaning. He knows it's a BAD idea to let me in on his hiding spot."
Because if it wasn't for Urahara, he wouldn't be in this mess at all. Therefore Ichigo claimed it as his right to give that pervert a good bashing the next time he saw him. Wherever he was, he better be grateful he was far away from Ichigo as possible.
Hitsugaya was silent as Ichigo made his bitter denial known. Why was it that Kurosaki Ichigo still acted like he was lucid and had full control of his faculties if he had gone to the deep end as what Aizen theorized? He had never known Kurosaki to be the type who lied in wait for many years before striking back. Neither did he seem to be the kind of person who could be swayed by another's ideas easily.
Was Kurosaki a pawn or the mastermind? Hitsugaya's thoughts raced to come up with a viable answer. Was he played into this drama by the hand of Urahara Kisuke himself, or was it by his own machinations that Kurosaki Ichigo was in this predicament? There were so many questions, the most important of which was what will happen next?
Could Seiretei really be under a hidden threat? If Kurosaki Ichigo was part of it… Hitsugaya's eyes turned flinty; comrade or not – he was going to bring him down.
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"OH! I am so happy that all of my daughters are here to enjoy this lovely evening with me!" Isshin cried out as he attempted to hug the women all at once. "Father is definitely happy!"
Karin rolled her eyes as she tried to squirm her way out of her father's grasp "Oh joy." She deadpanned "I brought you happiness; now my life has meaning."
"Father…" Yuzu said hesitantly, as she patted Isshin on the back in a reassuring way "I think we should eat now, right? Rukia-nee must be hungry after all that excitement."
Rukia's face flushed "What?" she blurted out nervously as she too tried to worm her way out of Isshin's arms. Was there any way that Yuzu found out about… Oh. Her brows knitted together in anger. She was so going to kill Ishida for telling them that… that…
"I haven't really been to any other cell, except for the one here. It must be a tiring and scary experience." Yuzu said soothingly as she continued to disentangle her father's arms around her.
Rukia felt a feeling of intense relief. Ishida never told anyone.
She completely missed the interested and happy gleam in Isshin's eyes as he appraised her.
"Well then!" harrumphed Isshin pompously "Shall we go and have our fill of what the Kurosaki kitchen has to offer?" With this he led 'his girls' over to the dinning table, which was groaning with the weight of nearly a hundred dishes.
When Kurosaki Yuzu was worried or nervous, she often cooked to relieve stress.
Obviously, she was under extreme pressure with her brother in jail.
The presence of Ichigo's ranked officers was sorely missed. They were still busy with affairs of the division and they asked to be excused from joining them. Even Inoue was absent, asking Rukia beforehand to allow her to dine with Ishida instead.
Before they could all dig into the feast, Isshin raised a hand. "Wait." He said somberly. "Let us take time to think of Ichigo. He may not be here with us now physically, but I am sure that his spirit still goes with us." To everyone's surprise, Isshin tacked up a photo of a scowling Ichigo on the table (Isshin remembers how Ichigo threw him out the window when he ambushed him to take pictures using a device from the living world labeled 'Polaroid'), beside Rukia. With impressive speeds, he lit a few incense sticks and placed a plate full of the dishes that was on the table in front of it.
Rukia's eyes almost popped out in horror as she stared transfixed at the 'shrine' of her husband.
Karin immediately kicked her father, sending him sprawling on the carpet "Idiot, he's not dead! What are you doing giving offerings?" Beside her, Yuzu started to tear up, apparently thinking of what she would do if her brother died.
"But Karin!" sobbed Isshin, "I was only thinking that Ichigo wanted to eat these delicious food too!"
"Then pack him some leftovers and send it to him!" she shouted "You crazy old goat-chin!"
"MASAKI!!" cried Isshin as he made a run to his wife's portrait "Oh! Why is our Karin so cold to me? All I'm doing is being concerned about our stubborn son and she's not appreciating my efforts! Masaki, my love; I told you Karin didn't get your sunny disposition!"
"Will you do us all a favor and get a hold of yourself!" shouted Karin, as she proceeded to kick her father several times.
To Rukia's amazement, Yuzu sniffled and started to heap food on her plate "Eat, Rukia-nee," she said, "You're getting thinner and thinner. Ichi-nii wouldn't want that to happen."
"Yes… he… wouldn't…" seconded Isshin brokenly, in between kicks from Karin "Frail women… have… difficulty… carrying and… giving… birth!" He then raised a thumb to salute his daughter-in-law "So eat… up… Rukia-chan… You two… still owe me… ten grandkids!"
Rukia didn't know if she was going to laugh or cry.
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Burning the midnight oil was a phrase the 10th division was familiar with. This was something that they heard often, though of course in polar degrees of meaning.
For Hitsugaya-taicho, this phrase was almost revered. For him, burning the midnight oil was their way of showing their commitment to Seiretei – to put duty above all else, to sacrifice personal time for their job.
For Matsumoto fukutaicho, this phrase was a blasphemy. For her, burning the midnight oil was a sacrilege of their personal time – an aberration that must be removed immediately.
Unfortunately to hear them both say it one after the other meant anarchy.
"Taicho!" whined Matsumoto "Can't that stupid paperwork wait tomorrow? I mean, its not going to disappear if we leave it alone for one night!"
"It may not disappear, Matsumoto," Hitsugaya replied calmly, though a vein was appearing on his forehead "But it doesn't mean that it won't duplicate itself and become more of a hassle the next day when we get work piled on us."
"But-
"Matsumoto, you said the EXACT same thing about last week's reports." Hitsugaya muttered darkly "Have you finished the backlog yet?"
"Can't I do that tomorrow?"
"No; tomorrow is when you'll finish TODAY's reports. So you really have to stay and burn the midnight oil."
Matsumoto pouted, even if she knew it wouldn't work with her stiff and laced taicho… it was the principle of the thing, you see. "But taicho, I don't want to burn the midnight oil."
Hitsugaya looked at her as if she blurted a profanity. He opened his mouth to berate her once more, when the appearance of a hell butterfly interrupted them.
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Later, Hitsugaya carefully walked down the stairs to Kurosaki Ichigo's detention cell. He did not allow the guard to introduce him as he stood there looking quietly at the man who was accused of turning traitor against Seiretei.
Kurosaki Ichigo sat there, relaxed yet somewhat tensed. He was looking out of the window despite not seeing anything but pitch-black skies. A thin shaft of moonlight was able to escape and get inside the cell, casting a pallid light on the other man.
Something twinkled and Hitsugaya realized that it was the ring on his finger, catching the weak moonbeams.
Frowning, Hitsugaya walked grimly, thankful that he wasn't the one to break the news to the other taicho's wife.
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Everyone stared at the unmoving figure of Ishida.
The hell butterfly had been sent out after delivering its message, but still the fukutaicho of the 14th made mo move to say what was in the report.
Tatsuki gave up asking him to tell it to them minutes ago. Ichigo's family - his father and sisters, as well as his officers stood on one side of the room, mindful of the blank look on Ishida's face and the tensed figure of Rukia who stood behind him, waiting. The people in the room all came in together, dashing after hearing the news that a hell butterfly was sent to Ishida. Logically, it meant that this message was about Ichigo.
Slowly, Ishida turned to face his taicho's wife. "Rukia-san…" he trailed, slightly wincing for reasons still unknown.
"Did they pass judgment already?" she asked him calmly, though her hands were fisted close to her sides. At Ishida's slow nod, she pressed on "What is it then?"
"Kurosaki… Kurosaki Taicho has been found guilty of treason and is hereby sentenced… to death."
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(TBC)