He followed the Unseelie Princess into the gated home of the Unseelie Lord, fully aware that he could be walking into his death. For some reason, however, he knew that she would make sure he was given just punishment for his disregard of their laws. Perhaps it could be that the attraction he was feeling towards the Kuchiki-hime was interfering with his judgment. Pulling off his outercoat and handing it to one of the women standing at the front of the house, he turned to remove his swords and daggers, handing it to another woman, bowing his head to her when he saw worry flash through her eyes. He knew it was because he was Seelie, and that his stature was nothing to scoff at. He tried not to scowl and heard a slight chuckle.

Glancing over, he saw that the Kuchiki-hime was off of the reindeer, which was currently nowhere in sight, and was surprised at how small she truly was. Barely coming to his chest, she looked every bit a faery, but he knew better than to say so. What also surprised him was that her hair had darkened to a deep black, and even her skin seemed to attain a flush of color. Her eyes were also a darkened violet, which he only noticed, because she was raising an eyebrow at his perusal. Flustered, he turned away and threw a hand out, gesturing for her to lead the way. He missed her appraising look, and only looked at the back of her head when he heard the soft click of her geta against the floor, which was muffled from under her furisode.

It was only once they entered the hallway before the throne room did she speak. She stopped walking, still facing away from him, seemingly hesitating, but then turned.

"I know you are aware that Lord Kuchiki is a Seelie, but make no mistake, that does not mean that he will be lenient with you. You better have a good reason for coming here." Her voice was harsh, and he knew that his face matched her tone. He held himself back from snarling, but couldn't help the bite in his words.

"I would fight the gods themselves if it meant fixing what I came here for. However, I can only request help from the Unseelie Lord, and it was urgent." He watched her gaze rove his face, and felt bare for a moment. He held her gaze however, and couldn't help but wonder if she found whatever she was looking for when she tore her gaze from his. It hit him suddenly, that she could be at fault for allowing him entrance without permission, and felt numb for a moment. He didn't even know this woman, and she had already sacrificed so much for him. Was she the Lord's daughter? Would he execute her? He didn't notice her turn away, nor see her silent prayer, but he heard her request entrance, and he heard it accepted. She glanced over her shoulder at him, and walked through the opening doors.

He didn't expect anyone from the Unseelie Court to be there, however, when he entered the room, he counted 15 highborn, 10 soldiers, and the Lord and Lady of the lands. He was taken back by the Lady and how eerily similar her and the hime looked, but she had a more delicate, womanly face. He pulled his gaze away quickly, knowing it would be rude to stare, and instead sent his gaze around the room, as he took a knee in respect. The throne room's floor seemed to be crafted of ice, and greenery clawed up and around the walls and ceiling, nature's opposites seemingly coexisting in one room.

He supposed the Lord and Lady were literal proof of that existing as well. The Lord was as immobile as the ice, and there was no warmth in his face. His similarity to the hime was astounding, because it made the three, including the Lady, look like the perfect, matching family. The Lady seemed to be so much more open, and she looked at him with such warmth, that it reminded him of his own mother. He must've looked gobsmacked, because he watched her raise a sleeve-covered hand to her mouth, her matching violet eyes flashing in amusement. Flushing and mentally berating himself for having made eye contact yet again, he forced himself to look at the floor, and he prayed that the Lord didn't kill him right then and there. He heard a rustle of fabric, and the murmuring of the highborn, before it cut into complete silence.

"Raise your head, stand, and explain to us why you disobey our laws and stand here before us, Ryoka Kurosaki Ichigo." The Kuchiki Lord had a colder tone than even the hime, and Ichigo felt his jaw clench in anger at being labeled a danger. He hesitated for only a moment before obeying. Taking a deep breath, he gazed up into mercurial eyes and steeled himself.

"My younger sister has fallen ill and none of our healers can fix it. Whatever it is, is interfering with their magic, and only an Unseelie healer can help her." A trimmed eyebrow raised at that, an unspoken question. Clenching his jaw once more, Ichigo glanced around the room, not daring to look at the hime. "It is because of her blood. My mother was the Queen of the Seelie. And my father…" he looked to the Lady, if only to quench the urge to glance to his left. Squaring his shoulders back, he threw his gaze to the Lord, knowing he already knew of his heritage. "My father used to be an Unseelie Prince…the only one at the time. Now he is King Isshin of the Seelie. " he heard a few small gasps from the highborn, and refrained from rolling his eyes. They were old enough to have known about his father. He could see the Lord eyeing him critically, before his gaze fell off.

"And do you defend him, Rukia?" it took Ichigo a minute to realize that the Lord had addressed the hime, and glanced to look at her before he could stop himself. The white furisode she wore was no longer, and in its place was an off-the-shoulder lilac kimono. It had a tulip hem that revealed a scalloped, white sheer under layer that also covered up to her neck. He could see a matching sheer obi, and underneath the first one laid a grey diamond patterned one. She didn't look at him, merely bowed once to the Lord before meeting his gaze.

"I do, nii-sama." Her voice was sure, and Ichigo was relieved that she would go to such lengths. He turned from her to look back to the Lord and Lady. The Lord was watching him shrewdly, while the Lady was looking curiously between him and her sister. Worried at what exactly could be going through their minds, he lowered his gaze to the floor once more, as he waited through the deliberation. He felt magick brush his conscious, and immediately shut a wall down on his deeper thoughts. He left his intentions about the situation open, but he didn't trust one of the Highborn to not go digging through his thoughts. He heard a soft laugh and looked up to see the Lady of the Unseelie standing up. Her kimono was subtle in the way that her beauty was: a pale cream, with golden beading along its hems and collars. Her obi was a matching gold, with the embroidery of an eastern dragon that circled her waist. Beautiful and yet dangerous, a soft warning. Her violet eyes were bright and she took a step off of the dais she and the Lord sat on. The other highborn dropped into bows at that, but Ichigo could see the hime step up next to him. The Lady gave another soft laugh, this time to the hime, before glancing back at the Seelie Prince.

"Please stand, Kurosaki-ouji, we've accepted your council." Releasing the breath that he hadn't realized he held, Ichigo stood, a look of shock on his face. The Lord stood as well and moved to stand in front of them. He was slightly taller than Ichigo, and the most powerful figure in the room, but Ichigo could tell that he deferred to his Lady in this situation. If he hadn't, he would have risen and walked down the dais first. He knew that if it wasn't for all of his training, he would've gaped in shock. Instead, he remembered himself, and bowed lowly to the two.

"It is an honor, thank you for granting me this." He felt a small hand touch his shoulder before he could unfold and rise. He glanced up, seeing the Lady being the one who touched him. She had a soft look on her face.

"Of course. Isshin was a very dear friend of mine, our families were close friends for many years." Ichigo didn't know that of course, and wondered what it must've been like for his father to live here. The Lady must've noticed his thoughts and she smiled at him. "He was quite happy during the time he spent here. But of course once he met your mother..." she trailed off, a thoughtful look on her face. "We shall have time to speak. I look forward to talking with you." He nodded and bowed once more to her. She inclined her head in respect and turned towards the hime. "Let us all retire. Rukia, if you would join me please. Kurosaki-ouji, you will go with Byakuya-sama and he will speak with you before you journey home with one of our healers."

Ichigo felt his blood chill, and refrained from meeting the Lord's eyes. He didn't know what the Lord wanted to speak to him about, and he didn't dare glance at the hime and give him something to talk about. The Lord said nothing to him, merely left the room, and Ichigo trailed after him. Before he could leave the room, he could've sworn he felt another brush of Magick, and a soft voice telling him to relax.

XxXxXx

She could see the look in Hisana's matching violet orbs, and refrained from groaning while they were still in the throne room with the highborn. Her older sister said nothing, just breezed from the room, towards the library she spent so much time in. As they were walking down the hallway leading to the library, Rukia felt a brush of Magick and glanced to her right. A Yukionna named Shirayuki, whom Rukia had grown up with her whole life, was quickly making her way towards them. The smaller woman could tell she was excited because she left a trail of snow in her wake that was melting before it could touch the ground. She also knew that her sister had to have told Shirayuki about the Seelie Rukia had brought back, and that they were both going to corner her and question her about whatever nonsense their minds were creating. Sighing, she walked in after Hisana, turning, only to see Shirayuki lock and lean against the door, her pale eyes flashing in amusement. Groaning lowly, she crossed her arms and turned back to face her sister, who had changed into a soft looking, cream colored sweater, and a long midnight skirt. Her lookalike smiled at her.

"You're going to ruin the silk that way." She murmured, sending a meaningful glance towards her kimono. Glancing skyward, Rukia thought the outfit away, another one taking its place in the manner of blinking. Looking back to her sister, she could tell she was pleased, although Rukia admittedly was as well. For her court she would dress up, and it's not as though she completely abhorred it, but she was infinitely more comfortable in a pair of pants. The ones she wore now were charcoal, billowing from her waist, only to be cuffed from her calves to her ankles in a black leather, matching the leather black vambraces that were currently hidden underneath her long white kimono sleeves. The shirt was tucked into her pants, and billowed over her form, hiding the daggers in her vambraces easily enough. Her look was completed in a pair of flat boots that were admittedly Rukia's favorite. Sighing and crossing her arms yet again, Rukia leaned against one of the many tables in the room, keeping both women in her eyesight.

"Well, out with it." Her sister at least had the decency to drop the coyness with her. Violet orbs sparked with knowledge.

"He is attracted to you." It was breathed across the room, softer than snowfall, and yet Shirayuki's gaze swung to Rukia, her body lifting off of the door. Rukia understood the sentiment; in that moment it took everything in her not to lurch off of the table and demand to know how Hisana could make such outrageous assumptions. A snort from the woman in front of her. "They are not assumptions Rukia. I could see it clear as day." The younger sister scowled.

"Stop reading me." She demanded. Her sister only rolled her eyes.

"Oh please Rukia, I don't need to read you. I know you. I have known you since your first breath, and I will know you unto my last." It was such a casual mention that Rukia stilled. It reminded her of why the Seelie prince had trespassed onto their lands. She glanced to Shirayuki.

"Will you be going, or Unohana?" it made sense why Shirayuki appeared to them after the hearing. The yukionna bowed her head slightly.

"It will be me." Rukia could hear the unspoken words. In the very slight chance that he could've tricked them all, they could very well be walking into a trap, and they couldn't risk their best healer, the one fae who had been rumored to be alive for so long that she knew their progenitor, the first fae, crafted from Tsukuyomi. The woman had more secrets than any highborn lady, and Rukia knew that for all her secrets and healing abilities, she was just as dangerous. It didn't stop her anger from how expendable they considered her friend, however. Before she could voice her ire, her sister cut in.

"You are going as well, Rukia." It was soft, but it surprised Rukia. She revealed as much in her glance to her older sister. Her sister bit her lip, but continued. "You are the only fae with magic close to Shirayuki's…well, you and Hitsugaya." At the mention of her Guardian cousin, Rukia's chest tightened. Hisana nodded. "We cannot allow you two to travel with the Seelie-ouji by yourselves, it would be foolish on our part." Rukia nodded in agreement, however reluctantly. She could see where her sister was coming from. Slowly, she was becoming resigned. She glanced between the two women.

"When do we leave?"

XxXxX

It turned out they were leaving at sunrise the next day. From what she had learned from Hisana, who conversed with Byakuya after his own meeting with Ichigo, it would be 2 days travel and there was no more time to waste. Shirayuki had stayed with Rukia in her bedroom that night, the two women content to fill the air with their thoughts until sleep no longer evaded them. The next morning greeted them blearily, with Rukia was dressed in a similar outfit to the one she wore in the library, only in a midnight blue, with a charcoal grey top. Shirayuki was dressed in a simple white kimono that was offset with a lavender obi that matched the lilacs crawling up the hem of her skirt and sleeves. Her pale lavender hair was partially up and pinned by a silver snowflake that had been gifted to her before Rukia had been born.

They stood in the foyer, talking softly with Toshirou, who had shown up not a moment after them, wondering at what the Seelie court looked like and if their people all looked like their prince. As if their words summoned him, he entered from the far hallway. The Seelie prince politely greeted them, bowing slightly at his waist. Rukia felt Toshirou tense slightly next to her and refrained from rolling her eyes. For as long as she could remember, the Hitsugayas had sworn to protect the Kuchiki clan since the dawn of their history books. It was how it had always been in her court, and how it had been between them the day he turned 16. He was only 4 years older than her, but she could remember the scrawny young boy that swore to the gods and drank her blood, promising to always protect her.

Right now, however, the bond between them was extremely annoying, and it was far too early for her to have to deal with his overbearing presence. She could see the lack of questioning in the Seelie Prince's eyes and wondered at what her brother spoke to him about. As if he could sense her train of thought, which he probably could, she felt her cousin place a hand on her elbow, turning her to lead them out the door. She never noticed the Seelie Prince's gaze narrow onto her cousin's action, nor did she see Shirayuki witnessing it all, an amused smile on her lips.

It seemed Tsukuyomi was feeling generous this morning, because their whole journey through the Rukongai and woods was met with only soft falling snow. Rukia was not the only one to notice, because Shirayuki glanced around in surprise, before her gaze settled on the prince. He felt her gaze almost immediately, and looked to her.

"What?" he asked, not understanding their lands enough to know the weather was rarely like this, and Shirayuki told him as much. He chuckled at that. "My lands are quite similar, very rarely does it rain there, although there is always warmth, always heat." Rukia didn't laugh, but was…amused by it, by him. She knew Shirayuki could tell as much, the nosy yukionna, and laughed, for the both of them, because it was easier for her to do so.

"I have seen this weather in our lands only once." Her voice was soft, reverent, and Rukia knew the yukionna had purposefully trapped the prince in it for some reason she could not yet see. When he asked her when, Rukia could see the gleam of triumph in her friend's eyes; could see it, because she transferred her gaze to her. "The day our hime was to be born, the storms howled, louder and colder than it normally did. Even the most seasoned soldier dreaded to be outside on duty that day. No one could explain where the storm had come from, nor control it, surely not any of us Yukionna. It hadn't let up the whole day, not once. It shrieked something terrible, and despite the heat inside of the manor, we could all see our breath."

Rukia had never heard this story from anyone before, and it entranced her. She glanced to her cousin, to see if he knew of this, but he only looked mesmerized as well, so at odds with the cold mask he had worn for the last 60 years. Again, Shirayuki's voice lulled her back in, and she returned her gaze to the woman who was now staring at the Seelie Prince. "We waited that whole day for news of her birth to no avail, but finally, that night, as the moon was full in the sky, she finally arrived. And with her arrival, the howling immediately stopped. The storms silenced themselves, and everything took on a preternatural stillness. And as the snow silently fell, that stillness was broken by the piercing cry of a newborn." Rukia could feel goosebumps at the story, and the chill had nothing to do with the cold. She never knew there was a story of her birth, her sister never told her. Shirayuki looked to her once more. "Not only that, our hime had been born with white hair and skin, with eyes a pale lilac. She had been born looking like a Yukionna. Only once she cried did it shift, looking as it does now. Only a select few of us were there at the birth, only a few of us witnessed this miracle that Tsukuyomi had given the Unseelie." Shirayuki looked away from them finally, to scan the sky above, and Rukia found herself meeting the Seelie Prince's eyes. He was looking at her with what looked like awe and something else Rukia wouldn't define. She cursed her heart for skipping a beat at the look and told herself that it was nothing.

XxXxXx

There were no more stories after that, no more bonding. The Seelie Prince's family was at stake and they quickly made their way from the Unseelie lands within the first day, all of them sensing the shift when they finally crossed into Seelie territory. The snow thinned from the forest, then fell away altogether, allowing a lush green to overtake their eyesight. The second day had started and the prince had told them that they would arrive to his lands by midday. Relieved at how quickly and safely their travels had been, Rukia sent thanks to the gods, then followed after the tall, tanned fae prince.

The Seelie lands were beautiful, she decided, seeing all sorts of flora and fauna she had only read about. There were streams and lakes and it actually felt nice to have the sun beat down on you. She would never voice these thoughts, of course. She knew how the Seelie saw her people, saw her. She was a faery crafted of ice and winds and cold silence; she could kill a man without blinking, with just a thought and it was something she accepted, and she couldn't allow the people who were only a step away from being her enemies see that other side of her: the side that cared and had a passion that could burn cities, that had something aflame in her blood that sang just beneath the surface. The side that mourned for this violence. So she hid it, behind a carefully carved wall of ice, believing it easier to allow them to see her as the monster they believed her to be.

"We're here." So lost in her thoughts, she hadn't realized that it was already midday, and hadn't even sensed the hundreds of thousands of souls beyond these rolling hills. The Seelie Prince turned to face them, and Rukia could see what being back in his element did for him. While he was undoubtedly handsome, even in her realm, the sun did him justice. His skin seemed to glow as if he swallowed the sun, and those tawny-gold eyes were alight with happiness. At what, Rukia couldn't tell, she didn't have her sister's gift, but it lightened her head. Standing there, with her cousin and closest companion beside her, Rukia realized how beautiful the Seelie Prince was. And then she fainted.