Chapter 05.
The day of the trial.
Ichigo and his friends were there to defend Rukia. They would argue civilly first, but then they had their weapons in case that didn't work. The captains had warned them to respect the system and that fighting isn't always the answer. And coming from captains, that's pretty surprising.
Perhaps it was because they knew if things went wrong and they caused a riot they would sentence Rukia to death without hesitation. For now everyone was to keep calm if that meant there was a chance for Rukia to get a different sentence.
Rukia entered the elevator to take her up to the trial level. As it reached the correct floor she exited, being escorted by security of course, and waited outside the court doors until she was announced. She had lost all hope and stood like a ghost of her former self. The others might not even recognize her. She had used all of her time when she was imprisoned to come to terms with death.
Next to her, about ten feet away stood another group waiting. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Captain Toushiro, along with at least five other men all in black. Protection? In the center she saw blonde hair.
"They're all out there you know." Toushiro and the other men stepped out the way to clear her path of sight to see who it was. The guards around her moved as well.
"Your friends. From the human world."
She kept looking straight ahead as if she was being watched and didn't want anyone to know she was conversing with the prisoner. All of the guards looked straight ahead as well, almost as if to ignore this exchanged.
"But you've given up, haven't you?"
Rukia hung her head in shame. After a moment she looked over again to find the blonde staring back at her now. Her hair was in a tight bun. From temple to temple she had a smokey black stripe across he eyes similar to that of the statue of justice. She was justice. And so she wore a blindfold of black powder. Her lips were a solid blood red, and her face a porcelain masterpiece without imperfections. She wore solid black heels and short black skirt. She wore a tight black shirt with a heart-shaped top bodice and straps that went up and around her neck. A thin black strip of cloth hung around her neck twice; it was a feminine replacement for a tie. Her shoulders were exposed, and she wore black gloves that went up to the crease in her arm at the elbow. She looked, so serious. For some reason Rukia felt frightened. She had never seen her like this. It was a dramatic change from the flowery bright kimonos Ayeka usually wears.
"They are risking everything for you."
"I don't deserve it…"
Ayeka looked forward angrily. "Stop it."
Rukia looked taken-aback.
"You can't give up. You don't know what they've been through. What he's been through. Things have changed. You can't walk into things thinking you'll fail. Failure is not an option."
"But…"
"Sometimes we have to break the rules to do the right thing."
Rukia looked shocked. That's what she said to Ichigo when he signed the contract.
"How did you…?"
"I've been watching you Rukia, I've always been watching." She smiled at her.
"Now get in there and show them you're someone worth fighting for."
The doors open and Ayeka is announced. She winks at Rukia and walks in and takes her place at the highest throne of the council. Rukia enters and her eyes go to Ichigo, standing tall, smiling at her. Tears begin to form.
He's here. It doesn't matter what happens now. He's here.