HEY DEARS! Please give me 10 reviews!! 251 reviews:D 250th reviewer can pick a theme for the next story in for awesomes :D
Numb
Chapter 17: Execution: That morning
Dark clouds hung low, ominously drifting about the area where the shrine and execution ground was situated.
It was not a very pleasant day for those who knew of the little Kuchiki. Many of them, especially those in the thirteenth division shifted in their seats uneasily as they thought of their comrade's death approaching. It was even worse for the heads of the three remaining great noble families. Unohana could be heard sighing softly as she pulled on her haori. Then, tilting her head, she smiled at her lieutenant gently.
Isane bowed her head as she spoke. "Taichou, I know it is not my place to say so, however, I must remind you that while there is a rule that says all captains have to witness the execution, most captains will not be attending today's execution."
Unohana smiled lightly as she turned around fully to face her bowing lieutenant. "Isane."
Lifting her head up, Isane replied. "Taichou?"
Unohana continued. "There is only one reason as to why I am going to be present. We are going to send Rukia, on her way. We are not sending a what most elders refer as a 'street rat' away, neither are we going to send an adopted Kuchiki head away. We are, in actual, going to send the princess of Soul Society, the esteemed Kuchiki Rukia-hime on her journey. While it is my duty not only as a captain, but also as the head of the Unohana family to send a princess on her way, it is my duty, as her servant to accompany her on her last bit of journey." Pausing slightly, she seemed to hesitate slightly. "That is all I can say."
She turned back, Isane following her. Unohana knew perfectly well that every word she said was the truth; however, it was not the total truth. She knew perfectly well the real status of Rukia, and respected her master's decision to remain silent. Yet, she could not help but feel slightly fearful. There was only an hour left before the actual execution. It was the last hour, the last chance that Kuchiki Byakuya had. She knew that once Rukia died, Byakuya, would fade slowly away, becoming even more untouchable by anyone.
She turned at a corner, only to meet another woman. She smiled as she spoke, "Rena."
Rena fell in pace with Unohana. "I came here to look for you."
Unohana replied, "I assume as much, sister, that you will be coming here to look for me and weep at the injustice of actually having your mistress executed."
Rena sighed, "I only served her for a few short years. I was still hoping that when she came back from her three months spent in the material world, I could show her the newly designed sitting room. Yet, she ended up in the shrine of penitence that was not even supposed to be used for Shinigamis under the rank of lieutenant."
Unohana spoke softly, so that Isane, who was following behind them, could not hear. "Was there some information that the secret service did not find out?"
Rena replied her with a sigh. "These days, it seems that nothing can be done, nothing goes smoothly. The Kuchiki elders seemed to have realized that the placing of Kuchiki Rukia in the shrine was not such a simple affair. The motive of the name of Kuchiki Rukia appearing in the death roll was orchestrated by the Kuchiki elders. However, the King, whose permission they had to get had allowed the process without even making a single comment. It is indeed hard to believe that Kuchiki Byakuya will even allow this."
Unohana's eyes flickered to Rena's face. "Are you implying…"
Rena nodded.
Unohana spoke, "In that case, we have to trust that Jyuushirou will arrive in time to stop everything."
They continued walking towards the execution ground…
-ßЯ-
Kurosaki Ichigo calmed himself down when he exited the battle ground. Closing his, he breathed in the cold, crisp morning air. He knew that he had only one chance, one shot at this. He needed to time everything perfectly, hope that the chess pieces that he had never even seen before were present. That was the one and only shred of hope for his king and being the knight, he knew that perfectly well.
He waited silently for time to pass as he leaned against a large rock. Shuddering slightly as the cold air hit him, he remained still. He could not afford to lose any more energy than he already did in the battle with his king. Although Kuchiki Byakuya had surprisingly gave him all his energy when he was putting on his robe, Ichigo had a dreadful feeling that it might not be enough to last the fight.
A deep voice in his head commanded. "It is time."
Opening his weary eyes, he picked up his sword. Amber eyes surveyed the area tiredly. Biting his lip, Ichigo started to flash step. He needed to get there at the exact time as the pawn did. It would be useless to reach before the pawn and even more worthless if he reached after the pawn.
He needed to get there, not only for the sake of her, but also for him.
-ßЯ-
Yoruichi and Jyuushiro, jumped, one after another, from building to building. Both of them knew that what they were doing would mostly likely land both of them the death sentence also, yet they carried on traveling towards their destination. Both of them knew that it was worth their lives for the exchange of two young lives.
They stopped for a moment on the tower of the central 46. The execution had already started. They looked at each other, a deep understanding formed. Nodding their heads, they gripped on tightly to the seal as they continued their way to the execution ground.
-ßЯ-
Rukia turned around to face the few captains and lieutenants that had gathered to witness her execution. Inwardly, she thanked all of them for being present. She had not seen a single person other than Hitsugaya Taichou since her sentence.
Looking around, she observed that both white haired captains were not present. Neither was… Nii-sama…
Yet, that might be a good thing. She knew that she could not control herself if Nii-sama made his presence at her execution, with his white and silver haori, a slightly green-tinged scarf billowing.
She forced a slight smile on her face. As she stepped on to the platform, the world was oddly silent. All she could hear was the quickened pace of her beating heart, and her breathing, the two things that showed that she was still alive.
She could hardly see except for pixilated black and green dots. Every breath took was one breath closer to her death. Hadn't she prepared herself for this for the days, hadn't she already given up all hopes of living? Yet why was she still panicking now?
She felt something sour in her nose. Blinking her eyes hurriedly, she tried to see something, but to no avail.
Suddenly, a calm, soothing voice and distinctly feminine voice spoke. She somehow knew that voice from somewhere, but she could not think straight. "Prisoner Rukia, from the house of Kuchiki shall thereby be executed today. Before her execution, she has one last wish." A rustling sound could be heard, as though someone folded a piece or parchment. "Can you state your wish please, Kuchiki Rukia?"
Rukia squeezed her eyes shut. It wasn't like opening her eyes to see the pixilated vision help her very much. She wanted to speak, but it seemed like her tongue or mouth was not working very well at the moment.
A sudden chill swept through her body as a strong gush of wind wafted. Rustling leaves could be heard. She could almost hear the steady breathing of the various captains and the muttering of a captain.
She needed to think. Her last wish… should she act like a spoilt Kuchiki and demand that a huge monument be built at the spot of the current Kuchiki manor? It was her last chance to do something that did not include death.
Her mouth seemed extremely dry suddenly. Tongue-tied, she mumbled. "I…I…"
The woman spoke again. "Rukia-san?"
"I want to… want to…"
She heard a captain sneer. "Spit it out, kid. Being a Kuchiki does not mean you have the liberty to waste my time when I could have been doing some experiments."
She shuddered. "Iwanttosee… Nii-sama."
"Rukia-san? I am afraid that is not possible…"
She suddenly felt the strength to open her eyes. She noticed with some comfort that her vision had become clearer. She looked into the blue eyes of Unohana-taichou. "Nii-sama… I want to see him."
The twelfth division captain mocked, "Nii-sama? He has not even been appearing for more than two weeks."
The eighth division captain silenced him, before speaking. "Please proceed, my lovely Unohana- Taichou."
While the sentence was meant to ease the tension, anyone could tell that the tension was rising.
Unohana turned back to Rukia, choosing her words carefully. "Is there anything else that you might wish to have?"
Slowly, Rukia shook her head, not trusting her voice.
As she was lifted up agonizingly slowly, she looked at the captains as they became mere dots far below her.
She did not know how long she stayed there before there was a sudden burst of flames. It morphed into a phoenix slowly. Biting her lip, she stopped herself from screaming as the phoenix lazily raised its head to crow.
It was then when she realized that it would not be that easy to cut off all her emotions. She thought back to when she lived with her okaa-san, and with Renji and Kira, those days that were filled with hunger, cold, but were yet so filled with love.
When she lived with Nii-sama, everything that Rukia once was, the little girl who screamed curse words at the top of her voice while running away from the store-keepers, the little girl who loved to splash and dive into the river, all disappeared. The day that he brought her back to the Kuchiki manor changed her life.
Days in the Kuchiki manor passed without any hunger, she had a roof over her head, food that could feed an entire street for a year, and clothes that were spun from fine thread. Yet, it was still so cold, even when fire roared from the hearths.
Yet, she still loved the days now; she loved them and embraced them more whole-heartedly than the days she spent in Rukongai. She now know it was of Kuchiki Byakuya, it was because of her never dieing love for him.
She will take this love with her away.
Smiling slightly as tears fell, she whispered, "Thank you and goodbye, Nii-sama."
A/N: Next chapter will be the heroic rescue :D
THANKS TO:
skyblueocean
JollyBigSis
AWESOME
Itachi Ni San
Paris x2
I'mtheBrideofByakuya x2
-illusionlove
Haru-Chan
Haruhi-Chan