A/N: 15 pretty reviews, flames will be good for barbequing marshmallows and chicken wings:D
197 reviews :D, and I will update:D
Numb
Chapter 13: Denial
Denial, Kuchiki Byakuya refused to believe he was in denial. He believed that he was not in love, yet why was he standing like a fool, out of all places, the shrine of penitence?
He refused to enter. He believed that it would be a huge blow to pride if he were to place a single foot into that shrine. Yet he knew otherwise. He knew he would not be able to resist himself; he would unable to turn away. He would be unable to control himself anymore, once he looked into her eyes.
Every night, ever since he met her on the faithful night, her violet eyes will appear in his dreams, warming him up ever so slightly, allowing a small hint of humor into his cold eyes.
Ever since she entered the shrine, the eyes turned lonely, desperate, sad, and in the end, empty, devoid of emotions. She was just like him now, devoid of any strand of emotion. The Kuchiki elders ought to be proud of their new machine. They always wanted her to be emotionless, something, perhaps the only thing he could shield her from.
He could no longer protect her from harm; he could not shield her from anything now. He was almost like a fallen King, powerless, controlled by those around him. He was just another object to be pushed around, taken advantage of.
To others he presented a front.
Senbonzakura said he was in denial. He disagreed.
-ßЯ-
"Rukia…" Rukia paused in the middle of her little dance in the midst of falling cherry blossoms and turn around with a smile on her face. The one calling her voice, she loved it his voice, his smell, and most of all, his smile.
"Byakuya-sama!" Rukia called in response.
A gentle smile crossed the handsome face of the man as he watched the girl spiral around before holding up her arms to be picked up.
As the man gathered the little girl into his arms he spoke gently, "Rukia, Aishiteru."
Violent eyes blinked in shock. Rukia moaned softly as she slowly sat up. Not again. She shook her head; why did that dream appear in her dreams so frequently?
The way Kuchiki-sama spoke and smiled, was it even possible in real life? In his eyes, she was non-existent. Yet, she could never forget those eyes, those mesmerizing grey eyes; the smile that tugged at his lips when he pulled her into a warm embrace. It felt so right, yet so wrong.
Kuchiki-sama showed no emotion, he could never love. Even if he could love, it would never be her. He was surrounded by beautiful women, from the voluptuous Matsumoto Rangiku, to the petite and cold Soi Fong. Every single female that existed had much better qualities than her.
She was just a weed, dull compared to all the people she was surrounded by, she had never, and will never be able to bloom. She was the lone weed in a beautiful garden.
Rukia shook her head, feigning ignorance to the tears that were making their way down her face. She should really stop hoping, Kuchiki-sama will never see her.
-ßЯ-
Senbonzakura paused suddenly in the middle of her flash step. Her own energy was slowly, but surely fading away. Looking backwards at the place she was forced from, a single tear escaped her eyes as she saw that her cherry blossom trees had already withered, the place was now bare and barren, a black cloud hovering over it.
She needed to stop it, she needed to reverse the effects, or it would be too late. The moment the last petal touched the ground, it signaled the total loss of control. The effects would be irreversible. Looking at the small patch of pink she still had left, Senbonzakura snarled silently in frustration.
She released her own sword as she whipped around to face her enemy, or was it her ally?
She whispered, "It is time. Resurrection."
As a pink and white mask formed, Senbonzakura gripped her sword tightly. She would not lose, she could not lose. If she lost, Kuchiki Byakuya's life was sealed.
-ßЯ-
"Shiro…" Ukitakte muttered.
The tenth division replied, "Ukitake. I know."
"Yoruichi entered the Soul Society at approximately during the 8th period."
Toshiro looked up at Ukitake. "I understand the issue."
Ukitake groaned lightly. "Keep it from Byakuya, he has enough on his hands."
-ßЯ-
Senbonzakura hissed as she was gashed from her eye to her collarbone. She had already lost the use of her left arm, and now, to her horror, she was unable to see from one eye.
As she turned around to intercept another blow, she realized that she had missed the point of interception totally. She was unable to judge distance accurately, a fatal predicament of any swordsman.
Senbonzakura closed her other eye. She had to fight, based on her other senses. Listen…
Hearing a soft step on the floor behind her, she swung around just in time to fend off a hit. Reaching into her kimono, she felt for her weapons, meant for stealth.
Perhaps, just perhaps, she could win this. If Kuchiki Byakuya decided to let Kurosaki Ichigo out, she would have some time to recover. Yet, the stakes will be too high. A quarter of the land she had left would yet be taken over. This meant only one thing.
Slowly but surely, Kuchiki Byakuya is getting taken over by Kurosaki Ichigo.
-ßЯ-
Byakuya looked at his unsheathed sword, considering the consequences. If Kurosaki Ichigo was his black knight, where was he to send Kurosaki Ichigo to? Who indeed were the King and queen in white? Who was he supposed to fight against?
Byakuya realized that he was fighting against himself. He was the one who brought her into a world of treachery. It was ultimately Kuchiki Byakuya, who ruined the happiness of a young female.
If she were in rukongai, she would still be able to smile, to enjoy, to have fun, just like anyone deserved to. Before Kuchiki Ginrei had passed away, he had always wanted to sneak out into the wonderful world of Rukongai, where people smiled, where children played in.
To outsiders, Shinigamis were fortunate beings, all the souls wanted to put on the Shinigami uniform. Yet the truth was that Shinigamis were not the saviors of souls.
Shinigamis were said to exist for the benefit, to protect those who were in need. Most Shinigamis believed this to be true. Yet Kuchiki Byakuya knew otherwise. Shinigamis were merely a tool of the royal Kuchiki family. Another strong military force to protect the secrets of the Kuchiki family, to ensure that the Kuchiki family had absolute control.
Shinigamis were simply one of the many forces that ensure the survival of a royal family, to cover up the dark deeds of many members of the family. Shinigamis were to obey every single command passed down by any member of the Kuchiki family.
Few people knew this. Aizen were one of the few people. Few people knew that Shinigamis were not what they thought themselves to be. Shinigamis were not that saviors of souls, they were the bringers of death.
Kuchiki Byakuya was the commander of these people. He was the one who passed on the orders; he was the one who made sure that they were carried out. He was the one who set and governed the rules.
This realization sickened himself. He was the reason Rukia was in the shrine of penitence. He was the one who set the rules. He was the one who dragged Rukia down. He would not be the one who will save her. It will be Kurosaki Ichigo.
He was unable to save her. He was unable to do so. Kuchiki Byakuya was unable to go against the rules he had set himself. He was a Kuchiki. Kurosaki Ichigo was the only one who would be able to save Rukia.
He remembered what Senbonzakura had once told him. "Kurosaki can be, and is everything you cannot be."
If Kurosaki were to be the reason for Kuchiki Byakuya's fall, Kuchiki Byakuya would be willing. As long as there was a ray of hope, he would not give up.
Staring at his sword, he spoke with no trace of hesitation. "Third release, metamorphosis."
As Kuchiki Byakuya slowly faded away, he whispered. "Kurosaki Ichigo, do what I cannot do. Save her."
Kuchiki Byakuya once refused to believe in anything. But now, he was no longer in denial.
A/N: I know, I didn't like this chapter at all too ):
Omake will be written again:D
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