A/N: As many reviews as possible :D
Numb
Chapter 14: Control
Ichigo looked at his body with pure satisfaction. Clenching his fist as he tested out his strength, he smirked cockily. Both he and Zangetsu had waited for this very day ever since the king of Soul Society had started, sparked off the use of the third release.
Two hours, five sessions? This rule, this restriction no longer applied to him, Kurosaki Ichigo, the new owner of this body. It now applied soley to the proud, undefeatable Kuchiki-sama. Ichigo knew himself all too well. There was no way he was ever going to let his guard down. There was no way he was ever going to use the third release, even in dire situations. There was no way Kuchiki Byakuya was going to escape from the dark inner world.
Even if Kuchiki Byakuya escaped, would it matter? Kuchiki Byakuya was now totally at his mercy, powerless, kneeling. Ichigo used to think if the proud Kuchiki Byakuya had ever bowed; it was pure exhilaration for him when Kuchiki Byakuya kneeled humbly in front of him.
Ichigo smirked as he thought of the number of people that Kuchiki Byakuya had rendered powerless.
It was highly unbelievable to Ichigo that Kuchiki Byakuya did everything just for a single, lone female Shinigami. He really ought to thank the King's little sister. If not for her, he might never be able to see the inner world dominated by black, without a single speckle, without the slightest hint of pink.
-ßЯ-
Hitsugaya Toshiro frowned deeply as he had once again, stumbled upon an empty office for the whole week.
It had been seven days, seven days since Kuchiki Byakuya, the complete workaholic stopped appearing to work in his office totally.
HItsugaya took a further step into the dark, empty office. He could sense nothing amiss in the office, yet instincts, raw instincts told him that something was not right, in fact something had gone wrong, horribly wrong.
He ran a rough, calloused hand slowly over the smooth mahogany tabletop. The tabletop was totally empty, so empty that it seemed depressing. The emptiness struck Toshiro as loneliness.
Kuchiki Byakuya's table was so different from every other single captain's in the whole of Soul Society. Soi Fon's had pictures of black cats, and grains that looked suspiciously like rice cracker droppings thanks to a certain lieutenant. Ukitake's was filled with potted plants, while Kyouraku had framed pictures spanning the entire table top. Even his own desk was filled with sweets that Ukitake had so eagerly pressed into his hands.
Everyone's desk was so special, had such a homely feeling. Tables were always an expression of one's self and many captains painstakingly decorated their table beautifully.
Kuchiki Byakuya's sleek, dark mahogany desk was simply just empty.
There was no sign that a person had once spent long hours in the room. There was no sign that a prideful King had once sat in that high-backed chair, pondering. There was no sign that Kuchiki Byakuya had ever existed.
Toshiro remembered that even after Kuchiki-sama left the office, the room always had a faint whiff, a faint scent of cherry blossoms. Toshiro breathed in slightly. Even that scent had disappeared. It was now replaced by another smell, a darker, much more dangerous scent. Toshiro did not like it.
Walking over to the window, he narrowed his eyes when he saw the towering shrine of penitence. He could faintly make out a female clad in white, back leaning against the small gap that could never qualify for a window. It was Kuchiki Rukia.
Kuchiki Rukia was always a source of headache for him. He could never figure her out. He remembered, when he first met her in person when he was not wearing his haori, she had said, "Give me some help, will you?"
She was carrying a stack of paperwork that was much taller than her. He remembered fondly the way she introduced herself. "I am Rukia, just Rukia."
He knew all too well who she was but opted to remain silent about the topic as he took most of the stack and replied, "I am Toshiro, just Toshiro."
He watched as she smirked. He remembered the happy sparkle in her eyes when he introduced himself. Yet, he could feel it from her. She was just like Kuchiki Byakuya, yet, at the same time, so different.
Kuchiki Byakuya always remained silent, and never tried to strike a conversation, introduce himself, and certainly never asked for help.
Kuchiki Rukia appeared to be cheerful, friendly and helpful.
Both were lonely.
When Kuchiki Rukia had found out, a week later, she had bowed her head, in such a graceful manner, no doubt drilled into her, when she met him. "Hitsugaya-taichou."
Kuchiki Rukia always remained a mystery to him, he could never figure her out. On the surface, she appeared so happy, yet, if one even cared to look into those violet eyes, they will learn a totally different story.
Kuchiki Rukia was a mystery to him. But now Toshiro learnt something about her, she was afraid of being a Kuchiki.
Hitsugaya frowned as he remembered what Kuchiki Byakuya had suddenly said to him more than a week ago. "Have you spoken to Rukia?"
He had nodded stupidly, not understanding where the conversation was leading to.
"If anything happens, will you help her?"
He had simply replied, "Yes, Kuchiki-sama."
Kuchiki Byakuya then fell silent. As Toshiro turned to leave, Byakuya had murmured softly, "Thank you."
He stopped appearing to work the very next day. Hitsugaya frowned as he tried to piece everything together. As Kuchiki Rukia caught his eye again, everything became clear.
He needed to get to the shrine of penitence. It was what Kuchiki Byakyua wanted him to do. He needed to get Kuchiki Rukia out of the shrine, and take her away to a place where enemies, whoever they were, will never be able to find her. He needed to protect her, in place of Kuchiki Byakuya, It was an order, and order he would never defy. He will protect her in place of Kuchiki Byakuya.
-ßЯ-
Rukia turned to face the window as she heard the guards shouting outside. She watched as each of them were taken down by someone with such speed that it seemed like an invisible force was attacking them.
Hearing the gate to the tower bang open about one mile below her, Rukia tried to calm herself down as she turned to face the door. Rukia knew perfectly well that any resistance would be futile. She had been trapped in the energy consuming shrine for so long.
As the door banged open, violet eyes widened in shock. "Hitsugaya Taichou…"
-ßЯ-
The white haired captain moved to stand over her, before speaking, "We are leaving, come with me."
Without waiting for a reply, he hauled her to her feet, lifted her agilely, before heading for the door.
He will obey Kuchiki Byakuya, not because Kuchiki Byakuya was his superior, but because he respected Kuchiki Byakuya's orders. He was willing to give up the title that he fought so hard for, his captaincy.
He gathered spiritual energy to his feet before pushing himself out of the dark shrine, as he heard a gasp from the female who he was holding in his arms, the female that he will protect and the female, who he knew, Kuchiki-sama had come to love and adore.
Kuchiki-sama was tied down by rules so strict, that he became tired, tired of fighting for freedom. Until he met Rukia, the little girl who grew up into a violet eyed beauty, the little grew who crept into his heart. If anyone could give Kuchiki Byakuya a reason to fight on, a reason to live on, it had to be Rukia.
For Kuchiki Byakuya, Hitsugaya Toshiro would do anything.
-ßЯ-
Rukia looked on forlornly as towers and hilltops flashed past her in less than a second before she looked into the face of the tenth division captain, whose white brows were furrowed in concentration.
Rukia had wondered what important message was to be relayed to her for them to send a captain to her cell.
As she was hauled to her feet by a pair of calloused hands, it had yet to register that they were leaving, they were going away, and he was breaking her out of the shrine of penitence.
She had felt happy, and clung on to his arm like a little child would cling on to their lifeline, when she realized she was going to be free.
Yet, it did not last for long; the sense of euphoria; the sense of ecstasy lasted no longer than the time taken for the whole picture to sink into her brain.
She looked at the tall, forbidding, and lone tower that rose higher than others, even higher than the shrine she was in seconds ago. It was the first division headquarters. It was where he should be at.
His office was empty, desolated, yet that did not stop her for reaching out for it, trying to grasp hold of something, what she did not know, perhaps she was trying to reach for his window still?
Yet, when her fist tightened as she grabbed, it was just thin air, and the first division headquarters was already far behind them
She knew, that he was not in office for more than a week. She hated him for that, she hated him for letting her worry, she hated him for allowing her to be her, the Kuchiki princess, she hated him for not showing emotion to anyone. Most of all, she hated him for not being himself. Ironically, she hated herself for hating him.
Ever since she entered the shrine, there was a feeling, a sentiment that Rukia could not quite place her finger at. Yet know, as the tower of the headquarters grew smaller and smaller, Rukia gasped in shock as she realized what the feeling was. It couldn't be… love?
Rukia knew exactly what she should do. "Stop… stop, please Toshiro, STOP!"
Toshiro landed perfectly on a hilltop, so high that Rukia shivered in cold. Hitsugaya spoke, "Kuchiki, don't look back."
Rukia looked up at Toshiro from her kneeling position. "I cannot do it."
Hitsugaya frowned. "I don't understand."
As tears, something that she had tried her best suppressed ever since she became Kuchiki Rukia, started to, for the first time in years, flow freely, Rukia spoke softly, "I won't disappoint Nii-sama, I can't disgrace the Kuchiki name further."
Toshiro lowered himself to kneel beside her. "That is why you must not look back."
Lifting her tear-streaked face level to his, she whispered, "Bring me back, Taichou, bring me back to Sereitei, bring me back to Nii-sama."
Hitsugaya closed his eyes. Kuchiki-sama, I am deeply sorry. I cannot fulfill your wish.
-ßЯ-
Abarai Renji gripped his sword tightly. He needed to work harder. He knew that the days before him would not be easy. He should never have entrusted Rukia, the little girl that he looked on so fondly as a sister to the cold Kuchiki family.
Ever since, she never smiled, she hardly laughed. While she had food to eat, she couldn't eat under all the amount of stress placed on her. While she had beautiful clothes to there, there was no brother there to praise her beauty. It was useless.
He needed to save her from his Taichou. He hated his Taichou.
-ßЯ-
Ichimaru Gin strolled leisurely within the grounds of the third division, his faithful lieutenant by the side. Coming to an abrupt halt, he turned around to question Kira.
"Ya finking bout' stuff, Kira?" Ichimaru spoke.
Kira seemed to awaken from his stupor. "Ichimaru- Taichou, I apologize for not paying attention! I was just slightly distracted. Do you have orders for me?"
"So ya aren't finking bout anytin in particular?" Ichimaru towered over his lieutenant, opening his eyes to look at Kira.
"Na… Nothing Taichou."
"Great!" Ichimaru said cheerfully as if nothing had just happened between them as he turned away, continuing on his stroll.
Kira shivered as he walked behind his captain. Those crimson red eyes pierced through every part of Kira, scrutinizing, as though he knew exactly what Kira was thinking about.
These few days, Kira had a lot on his mind. There were images of Rukia, grown up and clad in Shinigami robes in his mind. Although he knew that Rukia was now really a Shinigami and was in fact locked away, as far as he remembered, he never saw her in Shinigami robes before. Yet, the Rukia in his blurry memory stood out, crystal clear. It could not be a mistake.
-ßЯ-
"It seems tat little Kira is gettin' so memory back." Ichimaru said, his usual creepy grin on his face to his superior.
Aizen smiled, almost benevolently. "Find the right time and dispose of him, Gin."
Ichimaru's grin widened further. "Yep, Tai chou."
-ßЯ-
An eyelid fluttered open to reveal a shiny gray eye. A little tuff of black hair was present on the little baby's head. Slowly, another eyelid fluttered open. The two eyes looked around at the dark world around them questioningly.
As the little baby began to cry, he did not know that he was Kuchiki Byakuya, and he was going to relive his life's darkest moments.
A/N: Sorry for not updating last week! Was very busy T.T
So here is a super long chapter to make it up :D Do you think I should update once a week, shorter chapters, or twice a month, longer chapters? Please let me know:D
Anyways, I gotta go and like reply your reviews and send the omakes :D I love omakes!
And for those who sent in reviews to tell me to post quickly, I love you guys for reminding me!
Next Chapter: Frozen
Will be on Kuchiki Byakuya's past plus a lot of other stuff. I kind of think that this arc will end like soon, really soon.
So when it ends, you can tell me if you want me to continue, or you can say that I am a horrible writer and should end it as soon as possible so as not to spoil your eyes :D
Anyways, the lucky 200th reviewer shall be rewarded :D. Don't ask me how, I have yet to think of it :D
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