When she woke, it was in an unfamiliar room, and she felt the lurch of her heart as she stood from the bed she had been laying on. Before she could call forth her blade, a woman stepped from the shadows, surprise on her face. Rukia eased at seeing Shirayuki, but there was still a tenseness to her. After all, they were in Seelie lands, and she had been unconscious for how long? The question seemed to be on her face, because the yukionna let out a breath and gave a small smile to Rukia.
"Only a couple hours, Rukia. Hitsugaya carried you the rest of the way when you fainted before we could reach Karakura." Rukia flushed slightly at that, embarrassed at the sudden weakness. She sat back on the edge of the bed, sighing and running a hand through her hair. Thankfully, she was still in her own clothing, but she knew they would probably be stuffing them in Seelie clothing soon enough. "What happened out there?" the woman's question was soft but probing, and yet Rukia really didn't have an answer. She shrugged, not willing to meet the woman's cursory gaze.
"I don't really know Shirayuki. I was fine. And then I was unconscious." The yukionna nodded at her.
"Perhaps it was the heat." At the dry look sent her way, Shirayuki covered a smile. "We'll figure it out Rukia. In the meantime, you should join me. I have already met with Kurosaki-ouji's family and youngest sister." Rukia stood and turned to her friend, only to see her grave face.
"Will she be okay?" Shirayuki sighed.
"She shows no outward signs of any infection, but there is the beginning of something, if you know where to look. I'm afraid we might need to bring her back to Seireitei." Rukia only nodded to the woman, trusting in her judgment. Glancing her over, she could see something else bothering the snow woman. Rukia was apprehensive.
"What else is wrong?" the woman gave a tight smile.
"I wouldn't go so far as to say…wrong…but it seems that the Seelie Prince forgot to mention one thing." Rukia took a step towards her friend.
"And that would be?"
XxXxXx
Rukia cursed the ginger haired prince as Shirayuki led her through the hallways and out one of the many open doorways from the manor. She didn't notice any of the lower fae scrambling out of her way. Shirayuki apologized profusely to them, while trying not to laugh at how terrified everyone seemed of the Unseelie Hime. Rukia noticed none of it, only trying to hunt down the prince she risked her ass for. All around them, Seelie fae were getting ready for a celebration, with today marking the Summer Solstice for them. She knew he purposely kept this from them, knew that her brother and sister wouldn't have allowed the Seelie prince to take their princess during a holiday in his people's honor. Her gaze roved over tanned, smiling faces, searching out just onein particular.
She was so wrapped up in her search that she didn't see the guards coming to catch up to them, no doubt coming from the manor after Shirayuki and she had left. Before Shirayuki could step in or give a word of warning, the man gripped Rukia by her arm. She spun and ripped her arm from the hold, a sneer on her lips. The guard looked shocked at her reaction, and a dark sort of satisfaction took her when she thought of how he'd look if she flicked her blade to existence. A knowing look from Shirayuki banished the thought and had Rukia mollified. Despite her irritation with him, Kurosaki Ichigo had allowed them kindness and entrance into his lands. She couldn't repay that with bloodshed. The Unseelie Hime took a step away from the guards, inclining her head slightly, with Shirayuki mimicking her.
"Apologies." murmured Rukia. The guards flushed and bowed to her.
"No, we are deeply sorry, Kuchiki-hime, I should not have grabbed for you in such a manner. We were just worried that we would lose you on such a large crowd before the young lord could find you." 'Young lord?'it was an interesting title, and made Rukia wonder how close the prince was with his people. Giving the guard a small smile, Rukia glanced them over. They were all dressed for the weather, with tan, linen trousers, and deep red sleeveless shirts. All of them wore leather vambraces and flat boots, almost matching the ones Rukia wore, but they also wore chest plates that seemed to wrap around their back as well. They also bore the Seelie crest, a filigree sun that seemed to be the other half of the Unseelie's filigree crescent moon with its design. She resisted the urge to look at her leathers.
Before she could continue the awkward encounter, she felt magick brush over her skin, feeling like a warm caress. The guards must've felt it as well, because they all dropped to a crouch at her feet, and she realized, rather belatedly, that they were kneeling in respect. Glancing around the open lands, she saw that the people that were finishing last minute errands before the Solstice had also stopped to bow or kneel. When she finally settled her gaze on the Seelie Prince, it was to see that he had changed his clothes, and that two younger women were with him, along with a woman that had to have been his own age. It was foolish, she knew, but to see them all in fine clothing and dresses, she couldn't help but wish that she would've had the thought to change her clothing, rather than to be dressed like a boy who couldn't even address someone properly.
When they finally made their way to meet Rukia and Shirayuki, she watched, dumbstruck, as he bowed his head to her. She bit her cheek when she saw the amusement in his tawny eyes, and just wondered at what he found so amusing.
"Hello, Kuchiki-hime." He raised a hand to his side, to the younger women. "These are my sisters, Yuzu, and Karin. They're twins." Yuzu curtsied, and Rukia found the girl adoring. She was wearing a pale green dress that offset her strawberry blonde hair, and was sleeveless, with an empire waist and several layers of gossamer for the skirt. They blew softly in the wind and Rukia was tempted to run her fingers over the fabric, if only to be able to capture the dress later on. Karin, however, is the one who Rukia felt she would be able to fully enjoy herself with, brash attitude and all, because unlike her twin, the black haired girl was in a pair of deep red, fitted trousers, and a white kimono top. She didn't bow or curtsy to Rukia, only looked her over, and Rukia had to grin at the girl. She could see amusement spark in her brown eyes that quickly turned to shock when Rukia fully inclined her head to the girl.
"Hello." She murmured softly to them, a soft smile taking over her face. When she stood and met Ichigo's gaze once more, he was looking at her, as if he were trying to figure her out. She nearly snorted. 'Good luck with that, young prince.'She thought to herself. He held his hand out to the girl on his other side, and Rukia remembered why she felt so stupid for not having changed. She was stunning, to put it simply. She had long, pale orange hair, and her skin was slightly tanned. The dress she wore was a pale cream color that had a high neck and fit over her rather ample chest and waist, before it flared out in a pale gold silk that Rukia saw had two slits up the sides when she walked. The fullness of the skirt let it become playful, rather than risqué and Rukia knew she could never pull it off. So lost in her thoughts, she inclined her head once more, before realizing she could feel Shirayuki's presence more than normal, and that they were speaking to her. When she raised her head, the woman was bowing to her, and speaking of how much she heard about Rukia. It took Rukia aback, to see how open and happy the woman was with meeting the Unseelie princess, and if Hitsugaya hadn't appeared, literally out of thin air, Rukia would have. She could see surprise flash over everyone's face, with the Prince's eyes narrowing, but it was disregarded when her guardian touched her forearm and he leaned in to her ear.
"I just spoke to Hisana. Something is happening to the animals on our lands." She pulled back, and couldn't control the shock skittering across her face. Anyone who knew the Unseelie hime knew that she could project her awareness into animals, as well as feel emotions or intentions. It wasn't the same as her sister's ability to read and speak into minds, but her sister had argued that in a way Rukia had the stronger ability. Why her sister contacted Toshirou instead of herself wasn't making sense. Pulling back and looking at her cousin, she tried to figure out what he wasn't saying. Just as she was starting to piece it together, she felt something like worry brush over him, solidifying her thoughts. Her sister was worried they might be trying to lure Rukia out. If that was the case, she would be safer in the Seelie lands. But whythey would want to lure her was still a mystery for all of them. Now wasn't the time to think of it. Toshirou knelt before her, his hand brushing her boot. She reached a hand out, touching his hair in acquiesce.
"Go." Hurry back.She didn't know if she'd ever be able to project her thoughts to another, but it was worth a shot. He shimmered out of existence. Just as he disappeared, she remembered the Seelie prince. She turned to him, bowing in apology. "I apologize." She offered no explanation, and although she saw the curiosity on his face, he didn't push it. He nodded his head to her, but whatever warmth he had, had disappeared.
"Of course, hime. I hope you'll join us in the festivities tonight." It was a farewell, and Rukia didn't respond before he left, with the women trailing behind him. Rukia turned to Shirayuki finally, and knew her worry matched the woman's own.
XxXxXx
"So they expect you to stay here while they deal with whatever is going on?" the yukionna demanded. Rukia only nodded, pacing back and forth while Shirayuki sat on one of the beds in their room that the prince had given them. The yukionna was pissed, if the lowering temperature in the room was anything to go by. Rukia glanced to her.
"I can understand it Shirayuki." The woman looked up at her in surprise. Rukia took a step towards her. "Obviously it's a lure. Everyone knows about my ability with animals, hell even Ichi-the Seelie prince does." Rukia glared at the knowing look on the yukionna's face, feeling déjà vu. The glare didn't seem to stop the woman from reclining onto her hands and grinning at her.
"You can call the prince by his given name Rukia, I'm not going to stop you." The Unseelie princess rolled her eyes and strolled away.
"Like I was saying, it's probably a way to get to me. For what reason, I have no idea, but we'll contact them tomorrow to find out what's going on. We need to bring Yuzu back to our lands to have Unohana help her as soon as possible." The yukionna gave her a hard look.
"At the risk of you?" Rukia glanced back to her, tilting her jaw up, and daring Shirayuki to argue it further.
"Yes." The woman stood, still wanting to argue it, but Rukia whirled and took a step towards her, her voice coated in ice. "Do not fight me on this."A knock on the door, broke them from the fight, and almost immediately the room thawed. Rukia glanced down at the outfit she was stillwearing and sighed. Shirayuki went to answer the door, before she took a step away, reaching for Rukia.
The hime saw that it was Yuzu, with a set of guards behind her waiting. The young princess was in yet another airy gown, but this color was a deep navy that Rukia realized was in respect to her. It was strapless and like Inoue's earlier gown, it was fitted from her chest to her waist, but the rest of the skirt was as light and airy as her previous one. She smiled and inclined her head to Rukia.
"I'm here to escort you to the ballroom, Kuchiki-hime." Touched at the young girl's thoughtfulness, Rukia bowed, while a gown fell upon her body with half a thought. When she stood, she saw how amazed the young girl was at her magick and Rukia couldn't helping smiling.
"Please, call me Rukia."
XxXxXx
He could tell that he was restless with the way Karin kept glancing at him. If he didn't stop soon she was going to-
"Stop your pacing Ichigo, you're irritating me." Her voice was gruff, completely at odds with the gown Yuzu forced her into. Like her twin, Karin was wearing an Unseelie color in respect to the hime, her gown the color of mercury. It flowed to the floor, over her skin, and shimmered with her every step. He glanced at her face, holding her gaze.
"You look nice, Karin." He said softly. She snorted slightly, but he could tell she appreciated the comment. She opened her mouth to speak, but her gaze flicked past his shoulder and he saw surprise take her features. Thoroughly curious as to what could catch his indifferent sister's attention, he turned around, only to see Yuzu walk through the ballroom's double doors, the Unseelie hime following behind her, as if she were floating across the floor. She was glancing over her shoulder, speaking to the yukionna that traveled with her, before she sent her gaze around the room, searching for something. The prince didn't register her eyes finding him, as awestruck as he was, staring at her gown.
It was clear to him that while his sisters and he dressed in the Unseelie colors to show respect to the hime, she had the same idea. Her gown had fallen to her feet in a rippling gold from her shoulders, with a neckline that dropped to her stomach in a point. Beneath her breasts was a champagne colored band that held the gown shut, and was embroidered. It had exposed the Unseelie Hime in a way he doubted any ever saw, and yet she was easily the most beautiful woman here. The dress didn't diminish her in any way, and it took Karin jabbing him in the side to make his realize that he was: 1) staring, and 2) not breathing. He blinked and glanced down at his sister, who was giving him a dry look and he tried not the flush red. The hime was walking their way, and he heard Karin mutter 'Here comes Inoue.'
The three women and his sister converged at the same time, and he glanced over the rest of them. Inoue had been dressed in a pale blue gown that had sheer sleeves that were opened periodically along the outside of her arms, Yuzu was in a midnight gown that was strapless, and the yukionna had been dressed in a pleated short-sleeved top that fell off of her shoulders and was pure white, with a deep red skirt the flared out from her knees in a scalloped hem. It was odd to see a snow woman in anything other than a traditional kimono, but it was a good look for her. Her pale lavender hair was up in a bun and for some reason she seemed to be looking at him as though she knew exactly what he was thinking when they first walked in. She grinned at him like she would eat him, and he forced himself to look away. His gaze landed on Yuzu. He smiled at the girl.
"You like nice, Yu." He said softly, and she grinned at him.
"Thanks Ichi-nii."
XxXxXx
She listened to him give the same compliment to Orihime, and could hear the adoration in the girl's voice, but couldn't stop glancing at him. The midnight suit he was in looked like it was crafted exactly for him, and offset his features handsomely. He wore a golden tie in representation for his own people, and Rukia slightly reddened at the implication that they were matching. He turned to her finally, and from behind, she felt Shirayuki pinch the back of her arm. She refrained only barely from flinching and turning on the woman, but only because the Seelie Prince was bowing to her. She felt her eyes widen as he rose.
"I appreciate your respect for my people, Kuchiki-hime. You look lovely." It was a safe compliment, cloaked in formality, and she bowed her head and intoned the same respect back, if only to hide the feeling of foolishness in thinking he would said something else, something dangerous. She had seen the way Orihime looked at him, hell, she could feel it from the girl. She knew she had to distract herself, and turned to Shirayuki, if only to stop herself from looking at that auburn gaze, but found the woman missing. Feeling a brush of magick, she glanced to the right of the room, only to see her off dancing with some brunette fae that didn't seem to realize the Yukionna would devour him. She laughed as he spun her, but sent a look Rukia's way that had the hime smirking. Poor bastard. She's already stolen his heart and she doesn't even know it.
"What's so funny?" it was spoken by Karin, who had made her way to Rukia's side, and murmured only for the hime's ears. She glanced over, slightly surprised, before relaxing and pointing to her friend and her companion. She opened her mouth to answer, only for it to get stuck in her throat as Toshirou materialized a few feet from her line of sight, covered in blood and dirt. She was in disbelief that he stood in front of her, but his eyes were burning a bright teal, completely worried. She couldn't hear him but she could read his lips just fine, and the one word that fell from them.
'Run.' He collapsed forward then, and she heard someone scream. Shirayuki met her gaze, having sensed Toshirou when he first appeared, and was trying to get to Rukia, but people were panicking. They were all trying to find exits, but when Rukia heard the doors slam and the windows get blown in, she knew something had come. She knew it had come for her. It was quiet all of a sudden, and she heard the Seelie prince move, taking advantage of the lull in the chaos.
"Anyone without training, go find shelter! If you can fight, if you can use magick, protect those who cannot!" she could hear the unspoken demand. Protect the Unseelie hime. She gritted her teeth. She wasn't helpless. She continued her way to Toshirou, Shirayuki meeting her, and they both bent over his body.
"Still breathing." Rukia murmured. She looked up to Shirayuki, whose gaze had hardened. "We need to move him." The women nodded, lifting him and dragging him towards the opposite side of the staircase they originally descended down from. There, Yuzu, Karin and Orihime were, with the Seelie prince a few feet away, trying to calm people. The girls looked relieved to see her and Shirayuki, and Rukia went to nod at them before a warning zipped over her skin. She glanced over her shoulder, to see the center of the ballroom cleared out, and watched something land in the shattered window. It was followed by several others, and Rukia clenched her teeth at the Tengu demons that were laughing at the destruction.
There were only 6 of them, a small group, probably only sent to terrorize and leave a message, but she knew they had a lenient definition of 'terrorize.' She could feel her own anger swirl with someone else's and turned, only to see the Seelie prince staring past her head at the same demons, his anger materializing in a wave of heat. She could understand. These were his father's lands, soon to be his, and they dared to show up and make a mockery of it. She knew they were here because of her. Her home's winds couldn't be bypassed by them, but here there was no such barrier. She clenched her jaw. They would be leaving by morning to take Yuzu from here, no arguments. Before she could be stopped by the prince, she stood up and made her way to the center of the room, easily catching the demons' attentions. The shrieked and leered at her, but didn't step forward. The eldest one, a man with black hair and eyes, skin tanned like wood, was the only one to move towards her, a small smile curving his lips, a jagged scar pulling tight down the left side of his face.
"How polite of you to step forward Kuchiki-hime, so that we didn't have to drag you from your hiding place." She only smiled at him, and knew he saw the sickle in it. She could see it in the way his brothers quieted.
"You of all creatures should know exactly how polite I am." He chuckled at her despite the way his brothers tensed, all of them seemingly leaning forward to lunge. She raised an eyebrow at them, hoping they would save her the chase and come to her.
"I know all of your charm as well, Kuchiki." It was poisonous on his tongue, and it only made Rukia's fingers twitch at the disrespect. She smirked at him then, and glanced over her shoulder to look to the others. The Seelie prince seemed to have taken a few steps her way at some point, fury tightening his features, but she watched his eyes widen, and he took a step forward, reaching for her, it seemed, and her name was on his lips.
"RUKIA!" she was surprised at her first name coming from his mouth, but she turned towards the demons once more, to see several of the youngest lunging for her while her back was turned. The scarred one was holding the remaining 2 back, a warning in his eyes, but it was all engulfed in blasting winds and freezing temperatures, in a wide split grin.
XxXxXx
When the air cleared and everyone could look, they were dumbfounded with the scene that met them. In the center of a white covered room, where all of the fae could see their breath, stood a woman with pure white hair and the palest skin anyone had seen. In the back of her hair, a diadem of ice curved upwards and out, glistening. She wore the same gown as before only dyed deepest black, and diamonds twinkled from under her chest. Only inches from her, three Tengus were reaching for her, claws sharp, and weapons being drawn. Their faces were frozen in their screams, as was the rest of them. Incased in pure white, several fae could not help but step from their safety to get a better look. The three remaining tengus did not move, did not look anywhere else but at the Unseelie Hime's face. And it was a terrible thing to look upon indeed. Her eyes were glacial, her fury painting her beautiful regardless. She was one of the furies brought to life, a god looking for retribution. She took a step forward, towards the remaining demons, and as she brushed one of the frozen Tengus, he shattered and fell to the ground, becoming snow.
"You will listen to me." Her voice was soft but ice, and it carried through the room like rolling thunder. "You are not as foolish as your brothers, and I am not as foolish as they took me for." She kept walking until she was only a few feet from the demons. The scarred one said nothing, just looked at her with soulless, black eyes, but one of the younger ones nodded. The other one, who just glared hatefully at her, dared to spit at her feet. She only smiled at him as his brother gripped his arm, but he refused to relent. He bared his teeth at the Unseelie hime but she only smiled. Slowly, she raised her right hand to him, and as she did, a pure white katana materialized. If possible, the room dropped several more degrees. "Whatever warning you came here to give, forget it. You will be my warning." In a move so quick she became a blur, they only watched the hateful tengu shriek in pain as she dug her blade through his left shoulder. Slowly, they watched ice eat at his wound, surely turning him into his frozen brothers in time. "Leave. Tell your brethren about me. Tell them I will be coming." The room burst in a brief flare of heat and the hime smiled languidly. "Tell them the Seelie Prince is coming, and he is going to burn your kingdom down too." The demons said nothing, only backed from the hime until they reached the lip of the window and leaned backwards, allowing themselves to disappear into the dark night.
XxXxXx
When they left, Rukia felt the atmosphere shift. Shirayuki yelled her name, and Rukia turned her way, breathing a sigh of relief. Throwing a hand towards the frozen tengus, she watched the remaining 2 shatter and felt Shirayuki slam into her and hug her.
"That was insane, Rukia!" she scolded, pulling back to look at the girl. With her skin so pale, it was easy to see her blush. "You had us all worried." She pulled away to allow the Seelie prince and princesses, along with Orihime to see her. The prince was glaring at her, and part of her wanted to tell him off, but before she could even open her mouth, he stepped right into her personal space, towering over her in a way that made her feel dizzy. He looked like he was about to raise his hand, but decided to forgo the decision, and she watched it drop back to his side harmlessly. She wondered if he even realized what he was doing. In some moment of coherency, he met her gaze and she found his gaze molten. He looked confused at his actions, but still he trudged on.
"Don't do that again…Rukia." His voice was deeper than she remembered it being, and she cursed herself for reddening, but was thankful Shirayuki had herded the others away. She could see them off to the side, watching herself and the prince curiously, but Rukia couldn't bear to meet anyone's gaze. She tried to shake off her imbalance of the situation and scoffed.
"I am more than capable of taking down a few birds…Ichigo." She said it with a slight bite to her words, but at the mention of his name, his eyes flashed and Rukia felt her chest clench. He stepped closer to her, if it was even possible, and Rukia didn't know how to feel about the way her heart stuttered. He smelt of warmth and forests, of spice and something wild, and she bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from leaning into him. "Don't you think this is inappropriate?" she muttered, not sure what was wrong with her. If Renji got within hitting distance, exactly that happened. Rukia Kuchiki didn't do personal space, because no one ever lacked enough brain cells to understand the danger of getting that close to her. She never allowed herself the luxury of getting that close to someone, especially not someone like Ichigo Kurosaki who was turning out to be extremely dangerous himself. She couldn't find it in herself to look back up to him, she was terrified of what would happen, but luckily she didn't have to, because for the second time in exactly as many days, Rukia Kuchiki fainted.