A/N: 15 reviews too! 163:D
Numb
Chapter 11: Exchange
Rukia looked up as a male from the fourth division entered with her meal. Introducing himself as Hanatarou, Rukia smiled miserably as she all too fondly remembered the days eating with her brother.
Rukia found it extremely odd indeed, that she, like her nii-sama, had an extreme fondness for spicy food. Dismissing it with a small shrug of her shoulders, she forced herself to smile at the male. It was strange; the muscles on her face seemed to have deteriorated. It was hard to smile now.
Rukia noted Hanatarou's appearance. He was thin, shoulders slightly hunched, with short dark hair, his features were weak, and on top of that those blue eyes showed no sign of bravery as his hands shook as he placed the tray on the table top.
Rukia smiled sadly. In conclusion, he was nothing like Nii-sama. Nii-sama was not thin. Thin was a word to describe the weak. This was what all Shinigamis believed in. To be thin was a great insult. No, Nii-sama was not thin, he was lean, every part of him, perfectly strong and muscular. Rukia blushed slightly as she remembered meeting him when he was only in his sleeping attire. Shaking her head slightly, she narrowed her eyes as she contemplated. Why was she even thinking about him?
Looking around her cell, she sighed slightly. There were no windows, none at all. She was unable to see the sky anymore. She was unable to see the moon at night, the faraway, untouchable moon. Usually, she could not touch the moon, but she could see it. But now, she was caged. There was no chance of escape. None at all.
-ßЯ-
Byakuya narrowed his eyes. "I will not take up your offer, Senbonzakura."
Senbonzakura glared at him. "You really do not care, do you?"
Byakuya replied carefully. "I am unable to do so, Senbonzakura. The elders wish to meet. The chess pieces are not complete."
Senbonzakura snarled. "They will never be complete. Kurosaki Ichigo could be the knight you are looking for."
Byakuya replied, "I put in ninety-nine percent of my strength, for a knight, for something that might not work, and most likely will not succeed."
Senbonzakura snorted softly. "You forgot to add in the fact that, you might never be able to regain whole procession of your body. I am sorry to say, Byakuya, but that is all the third release is about. That is the only way, and only thing I am able to do for you."
Byakuya challenged, "You will not fight?"
Senbonzakura whispered ominously, "Senbonzakura can only fight for those who love."
-ßЯ-
Byakuya considered the light, slender scroll in his hands. It was ironic, really, that such a small document should carry such weight in her life. Closing his eyes, he mentally rehearsed himself for the unpleasant interview that he was going to. It was already a week since she had returned. In a week, his world had been thrown into a mess yet once again.
He had told himself again and again, he did not care. Why would he? She was just a girl from Rukongai. Since when had he started to care? He had always managed to remain impassive in any issue. It was something he had to do. It was something that allowed him to remain invincible. Opening his grey eyes, he decided. He did not care. Not at all.
-ßЯ-
Rukia looked up in shock as she felt someone strong enter her cell. Instinctively, she knew that it would be her Nii-sama. She frowned inwardly as she heard something that sounded suspiciously like cutlery drop. She watched as Byakuya frowned as Hanatarou scurried to clean up the mess. It seemed to be one of his special traits, to be able to give orders without even speaking. He had absolute power in Soul Society, a single nod, a single glare, meant so much to everyone.
Turning her attention back, she greeted softly, "Kuchiki-sama." She knew all too well. It was no longer her liberty; it was no longer right for her to call him her brother. She had disgraced the Kuchiki name. She had utterly disgraced the Kuchiki name. In a short span of four months, she had killed her superior; she had defied the orders of the King. It was just so like her, it was just so Rukia, to be able to disgrace something precious, to be able to spoil something good in a short time.
She watched as the lord unrolled a scroll. She knew her sentence would not be light. It would be probably the stripping of her position as a Shinigami, which was what she deserved in the first place. Her lord had pardoned her from punishment when she killed one of his lieutenants. She had repaid him by further disgracing a name that she was not worthy of.
Violet eyes widened as Rukia heard her punishment. She never would have thought of it. Smiling bitterly, she thanked him. She thanked him for being the one to announce her execution. It was an honor.
-ßЯ-
Kuchiki Byakuya made his way down the corridors of the first division. His ribcage felt oddly tight. He felt a sense of déjà vu. He stopped when he recalled when he had felt this feeling. The fateful day, the day that changed his whole life, as Senbonzakura had predicted. The day he met Rukia, the little girl, whose white yukata was stained with bright red.
Continuing, he clenched his jaw as he saw the shock in her eyes when the punishment was announced. The way she kneeled as she thanked him, the way she tried to smile as he left, he would never forget. He knew he had an excellent memory, but he was, for the first time, afraid. He was afraid that he would forget that a person named Rukia ever existed. He wanted reach for her hand, hold her and never let go. But he could not. He was a Kuchiki, he was Kuchiki Byakuya.
It did not matter the type of silk she wore. It did not matter the number of layers of makeup she put on for show. It did not matter even if she controlled herself from running. To the elders, even to other nobles, she was just a street rat, a street rat who tried to disguise itself in finery.
No one, he knew, would stand up for her. No one would want to be associated with a street rat that was going to face execution. That would only be asking for trouble.
His office directly faced the shrine of penitence. Every small window, every small crack that allowed a single ray of light to shine in, he could see. It was designed this way. For the King to be able to see his prisoner at all times. He watched as several men lead Rukia into the tower. It was forever moving downwards, each day it went closer and closer to the exit. Each day, it was closer to her execution. It was not meant for repentance, it was meant for mental torture.
To him, Aizen mattered no more. He needed a way, he needed to show her that her Nii-sama actually cared. Most of all, he did not want to let go again. He had let go of too many things. The moment those bouquets of flowers touched the river water, he had let go of everything he had, everything that might potentially cause him heart break.
He did not want to force Rukia into being his bride; he just wanted her to be happy; he wanted her to live on.
Upon entering his office, he went straight into his inner world.
He said, "Senbonzakura, I am willing."
Senbonzakura frowned, concerned. "You must be sure. It is extremely dangerous."
Byakuya clenched his fist, "I am sure. Even if it meant that I will lose all but one percent of my strength, even if it meant that I will be taken down easily, even if it cost my life, I am willing."
Senbonzakura asked. "Why are you doing this?"
Byakuya replied. "Why do you ask? I was under the impression that this was what you wanted all along."
The lady swathed in pink said. "Byakuya, I do not want you to be in danger. I want you to be with Rukia, I want both of you to live. That was the only way I could think of. You most likely will not come out of this alive. You must know that."
Byakuya did not reply.
Senbonzakura felt her heart wrench.
"You really do love her, don't you?" She whispered. "You really are willing to do anything in exchange for her life."
Kuchiki Byakuya still did not answer, but Senbonzakura knew the answer.
The next person that exited Kuchiki Byakuya's office had bright orange hair. He was called Kurosaki Ichigo.
-ßЯ-
Kurosaki knew his mission well, "Two hours, five sessions. Take down all of the Shinigamis and nobles who get into your way to the shrine. Grab the girl, bring her back to the Kuchiki."
Smirking, Ichigo was made his way down the streets quickly, however, when he came to a narrow street, he was blocked by a shiny bald head.
Scowling, the man snarled, "Get out of my way."
Ichigo smirked back at him. "Make me."
A/N:
I will still be updating weekly:D Thanks for those encouraging reviews:D
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