Onto another gala! But first let's get a different point of view. We'll start to learn about Yuzu's ailment, don't worry guys, and as for Rukia's confession...well...we'll just have to see what happens. ;)

The Unseelie lands were far colder than she had expected them to be, but perhaps it was the sickness her people's shamans had spoken to her about. For as long as Yuzu could remember, compared to her older brother and twin sister, she had been the most delicate. She was not a burning wildfire, not an active volcano. She was a warm breeze, the warmth of a loved one, and she was okay with it being that way. When she had started her bleeding, a year later than her sister, however, their shamans had started to speculate. First they thought it was her size, the fact that she was so much smaller than other girls her age.

But then their magick had manifested, and with them, they saw the Unseelie blood in Karin shining through. Yuzu could tell that the others feared it, feared the raw power the girl held, along with an ability that counteracted with their people. They feared it more so than their burning Prince. So they turned their hope to Yuzu, hoping that the Seelie magick would not stop with her brother. And so she tried and tried to muster any sort of flame, and in the end she had succeeded. But it had been only a spark compared to Ichigo's inferno. Still, her people had eaten it up, so proud at having a Seelie hime; she could hear very plainly what they whispered when they thought she was not listening. Her people seemed to had forgotten that their King was indeed an Unseelie fae, and Yuzu couldn't help but wonder if Karin and her had unknowingly split their magick so that they had each became a different fae. Her people never seemed to say as much and Yuzu didn't think asking would help Karin's case.

She lived quietly for years this way, and before long, whatever weakness her body seemed to have finally reflected on the outside. She had been outside with Karin and Ichigo, one of the few times the siblings spent time together, all of them relaxing under a large oak tree while she had been playing with a few foxes that she had helped raise a few summers prior. They were playing tag, chasing after her, and she could only remember feeling fine between one heartbeat, and then meeting the horrified faces of her sister and brother as her body seemed to lock up of its own volition and she plummeted towards the earth and into unconsciousness. When she woke, it was to Karin asleep in one of the Shaman's mats with her, her body freezing without even touching, as if she were a barrier between Yuzu and the world. Just as she thought that this was the most terrified she had ever seen her sister, a familiar magick brushed her thoughts.

Are you okay Yuzu? though her breathing was even, Karin didn't open an eye as she communicated with her twin. The lighter twin sighed lightly.

I am fine now. What happened? Karin snorted but made no outward sign of opening her eyes any time soon.

We should be asking you that. None of the shamans can explain it. I felt your magick lash out before you collapsed. Did you push yourself too hard? she started to shake her head before she stilled and looked at her sister's features, a mirror opposite of her own, dark hair and lashes, pale skin, but the same hidden brown eyes.

No. Everything was fine, I was only playing with the kitsune, something I've done time and time again. Why this time was any different... she couldn't understand it, and it seemed that no one else here did neither. The room stilled for a long moment, and only once Yuzu heard Karin's words did it make sense, she didn't know how to broach the topic.

Ichigo left for the Unseelie Lands. Yuzu shot upwards, her shock chilling her to the bone. She had heard rumors of the Unseelie fae, what they could do to him...

"We need to stop him! Is he crazy?!" it was the loudest she ever yelled and she knew it shocked Karin by the way the girl pulled back and opened her own eyes. She watched Yuzu for a long moment, not saying anything at first.

"You've been knocked out for a while now. He left yesterday Yu...after you fell unconscious and the shaman couldn't figure anything out. He's most likely halfway there by now." whatever energy she had mustered had immediately vanished and the light-haired girl found herself laying back down, facing the ceiling of the hut. What was she going to do? There was no way that Karin would willingly let her leave their home, especially not to travel to the Unseelie lands. For the next couple days, she could not stop thinking about it, even when the shamans had finally given her permission to forgo her bed rest. Her mind had become a fog, filled with worry for Ichigo, worry for herself. It wasn't until she had been out and about with her sister and people were all gossiping about some dark-haired hime that Yuzu had even started to pay attention to her surroundings and pull away from her thoughts. It was then that she had seen who she would later learn was the Unseelie hime, unconscious, in her brother's arms, the look on his face one that she had rarely ever seen from him.

XxXxXx

She had instantly liked the Unseelie Hime, regardless of the words of terror and warning her people had hissed of the woman. Yuzu could feel how kindhearted she was, and the respect she had, to incline her head towards her sister and herself convinced Yuzu that if Rukia was as evil as people claimed, she would have simply slaughtered them all like her people were rumored to do, not humble herself by doing what she did. Not only that, but Yuzu could see the way Ichigo's gaze could not help but gravitate back towards the alluring hime, even though she was not catching his eye on purpose. She could also see the way Rukia watched her brother when she thought no one was looking. She did not get to dwell on it long, however, as they had to prepare for the Summer Solstice that night, and even then, it seemed fate had other plans in store for them.

Seeing those Tengu appear so casually in their homelands sent fear into Yuzu. This whole time they could have easily snuck in at night and attacked their people, but she knew they only came now as a warning to the Unseelie Hime. She prayed to Amaterasu that she would not rise to their bait and get injured, and in hindsight Yuzu knew it foolish to pray to her own Goddess for an Unseelie, but it seemed that someone was listening when she watched Rukia bathe the room into a hoarfrost that made Karin's magick seem like a cool breeze in comparison. Her magick reminded Yuzu of her brother, and when she looked to him, ripping her gaze from Rukia when he screamed her name, she could see something anciently familiar slipping into place, something she didn't want to be the one to name, but her bones could place it. Her brother had always burned so brightly, so hotly, but she could only describe the look it shifted into on his face as true fear. True fear for an Unseelie fae he barely knew, and a highborn at that, she would soon learn they were called.

Rukia wasn't only a hime, she was heir to the Unseelie people, and it was only her birthright. Whereas Ichigo, Yuzu, and Karin were the children of the current Seelie King, that power could easily change hands to one of the other princes in their lands as opposed to their brother. With the Unseelie, no such thing existed. The Kuchiki's were the pinnacle of Unseelie Highborn, the Unseelie fae and had been for thousands of years, through absolute control and power. Shirayuki had told them one night, as they were traveling back to Rukia's home, exactly how the hierarchy in the Unseelie lands worked. No other family's magick could rival theirs, and with the abilities Rukia had laid claim to, Yuzu could not see anyone rivaling her. Rukia was the apotheosis of fae, and Yuzu hadn't realized how true her thoughts were until Shirayuki had then told them about the Goddess, Skadi.

Just when Yuzu hadn't thought she could be anymore amazed, they had set foot into Unseelie territory, and she had laid eyes on Tsubaki, the young doe that she instantly felt a connection to. Something in her told her not to leave this deer behind, to keep pace with her, and never let her go, because she was important and Yuzu had learned early on to listen to that voice, when it had told her years ago to travel into a part of their homelands she hadn't ever traveled before, only to find a trapped pair of foxes, the same ones she had raised and became companions with. So they went together into the heart of Unseelie territory, all in the fool's hope of finding a cure for whatever was ailing her, to get help from the woman who was rumored to have existed when the first Unseelie had been created.

XxXxXx

Unohana Retsu was a kind looking woman, but that did nothing to dull the sense Yuzu picked up that this woman was ancient and not to be trifled with. Everything in her body begged her to run, and Yuzu wondered if it was some sort of animal instinct she held, because neither her sister, nor brother, nor Rukia-hime seemed to sense it. It did not stop her from smiling to the woman who looked to be only in her thirties, and it allowed Yuzu to hold still as she felt the woman's cursory magick brush over her. She could see surprise brush the woman's eyes, but just within the space of blinking, before she continued looking her over. She couldn't help her curiosity at what the woman must've seen. Her face must've said as much, because the woman spoke, her voice soft and motherly, putting her at ease.

"I am simply surprised that your twin's and your's magicks had the cognition to become two separate, mature abilities." Yuzu stilled at the information, at how she had thought the exact same thing for so long. She was hesitant to speak.

"So...what you're saying is..." Unohana had looked at her sharply, as if knowing that Yuzu had already thought of her words years prior. The words died in her throat, but thankfully Unohana spoke.

"I am saying that except for a small amount that I am sensing, you are essentially a Seelie fae, and your twin is an Unseelie."

XxXxXx

Yuzu was embarrassed to admit that she had run from the room upon hearing that. For years she had thought the exact same thing, but in her mind it was just a question, just a thought. To hear it spoken and confirmed surprised her more than she liked to admit, and she wasn't sure how to handle it right now. She hadn't even found out what was supposed to be wrong with her, but she couldn't face Unohana just yet. And so she aimlessly wandered the halls, learning her way around, and trying to avoid any of the Kuchiki's or her family for the moment. She knew that sooner or later she would have to deal with it, but for now...she would gather her strength.

It was as she was making her way through the kitchens when she finally stumbled upon her brother and the Unseelie Queen. Her brother looked so simultaneously surprised and relieved to see her, causing him to pull her into a hug, and Yuzu felt her eyes burn with tears as her stomach flipflopped in worry. It was only feeling the shaking of her brother's body that caused her to take a deep breath, wrap her arms around him, and ask:

"What's wrong, Ichi-nii?" thankfully her voice didn't waver, and she felt him give a heavy sigh.

"Ah nothing Yuzu. Just glad to see you." she might have been over a century old, but her brother would still see her as his little sister, and still try to shelter her from as much as he could. Before either sibling could dwell on it, Hisana had leaned over with a smile directed at Yuzu, and she had to admit that it was infectious. Smiling back to the woman, she nearly jumped when the Queen clapped her hands together.

"Alright Yuzu, Ichigo and myself were just starting preparations for a gala in your honor in light of your health and that you will be back on your feet in no time." the words were a surprise to the Seelie hime, but before she could even think of what Hisana was insinuating, she already had Yuzu's wrist in her grip and nearly dragged her down the hall with her. "And as such, this gala is going to be a surprise, so you cannot see what it will look like at all, and must have myself or Ichigo chaperone you any time you need something." All too quickly, Yuzu found herself back in her shared room with Karin, sitting on her bed, with Rukia's lookalike smiling at her again, albeit more softly. "We are so thankful for you and your health Yuzu, and we hope you will like this." they were uttered softly, and Yuzu was so touched by the emotion behind the Queen's words, along with what her initial words had meant about her health, that the tears burning in the back of her eyes started to fall. She couldn't find the words to speak, could only stare into the Unseelie Queen's kind face, and touched a hand to her own heart, before lifting and placing it against Hisana's. Emotion flickered so quickly across Hisana's face, Yuzu couldn't hope to read it, and before she could react, a gentle voice touched her thoughts. Sleep.

And so Yuzu only knew of darkness.

XxXxXx

When Hisana had demanded to see Rukia in the middle of the night, the hime had to admit that she considered freezing her sister on the spot. She still felt raw for her earlier admission to Shirayuki and Karin, and did not wish to deal with her sister's teasing. Surprisingly, her sister stayed for no longer than a few minutes, relaying the message of the gala to be thrown in Yuzu's honor. Rukia was to deal with the weather, considering where they were going to have it, and Hisana wanted her to also craft the young girl's gown. Nodding, if only to be rid of her, Rukia quickly found her comfort in her bed once more, before waking early the next day.

She had awoken long before any others, perhaps except for her sister and brother, and quickly made way to their outer courts. As if reading her thoughts, her brother and sister were already there, clearing away any snow, and giving a touch of life into the plants. Rukia smiled to them, but said nothing, only continued on, moving through one of the open archways to the hallway that circumferenced the outside courtyard. She had more important things to ensure right now, and she could save the weather for last. This area was far enough on the outer skirts that no one could spoil the surprise for Yuzu, but she was uncertain of how long it would take for them to arrive, and so Rukia concentrated, and she prayed to the Gods.

When the sun lit the sky entirely, but it was still too early for midday, Rukia finally breathed a sigh of relief. She had done all that she could, it was up to them for now, and all that was left was to prepare the barrier. Moving back towards the center of the outer yard, she stopped at its apex and stretched out her neck and shoulders, allowing the simple kimono she had worn to shimmer into a slate sweater and a pair of fitted leather trousers. Her brother and sister had left a while ago, and so only the sun was her witness to the unfurling of her magick, as though in her sigh, it had expended, and grown out, out, out, before settling over the courtyard, a barrier against nature. Her magick had become an extension of herself, causing her to sense the previously hidden male that was behind the archway across from her. When she opened her eyes, unaware that she had closed them, she couldn't stop the small smile curving her features, fully aware that Ichigo Kurosaki had no idea she had found him out.

XxXxXx

As if someone had a sense for it, the exact moment Ichigo had woken, a knock sounded at his door. He thought, for exactly half of a second, to ignore it until he realized that he was no longer at his home, and then in the next few seconds he simultaneously shot up out of the bed, pulled on a pair of pants and a shirt, and asked whoever was at the door to wait just a moment. They didn't speak, just hummed an affirmative, and the Seelie Prince didn't mind admitting he was trying to decipher whether it was male or female as he ran a hand through his hair and went to open the door.

In hindsight, he should've known it would've been the Unseelie Queen. She smiled up at him as though she knew his secrets, and without preamble, reached upwards and touched his forehead. He was embarrassed at his flinch, but when the images of an outside courtyard on the Unseelie lands flashed in his mind, he couldn't help but admit how surprised he was at the Unseelie Queen's strength and ability. It must've taken decades to learn that kind of control to traverse another's mind, and for her to do it so easily was awing. Blinking away the image, the last one to come to him was a pair of light violet eyes, different than that of the Queen's before him, and he knew in his bones that it was Rukia. Before he could question Hisana on it, she had disappeared, leaving him to finish getting ready and going in search of the Unseelie hime.

When he finally found the outer courtyards, he was in awe of their beauty. The winter had no bearing on their floral and fauna, and so the lands were awash in white, with bursts of color everywhere. And in the center of such beauty stood the Unseelie hime, clothed in a sweater and pants, yet still easily the most stunning thing he laid eyes on. The Seelie Prince found he couldn't move from his spot behind one of the pillars, frozen to the spot, whether by some god's work or his own, he knew not. In the next moment he felt her magic wash over the lands and himself, swallowing him whole, seemingly teasing him. We found you Prince, you're ours.

The thought warmed him, regardless of if these words were the manifestation of his thoughts only. The Unseelie hime enraptured him, he would admit it, and the thought of having her, or being hers, swirled through his thoughts more than he should admit. He wasn't sure where it stemmed from, like called to like with their kind, and although they were of different races, something in him could not help but be drawn to her. He was unsure of if her power was what spoke to him, and he was terrified that that was all it was. Most fae were drawn to their equals, people to complete and balance them, but there had been a few who could not help but have a pull towards the strongest of their kind, regardless of if they were a good match in other places. These were disgraces amongst his people, and Ichigo didn't dare think that he would be one as well. If this attraction was one-sided, if this pull only called to him, he was in some serious trouble.

So lost in his thoughts, he never sensed the Unseelie hime making her way towards him, before something seemed to whisper once again to him. Here you are. When he turned in shock, it was to Rukia standing only a foot behind him, a smirk curving full lips, and a delicate eyebrow raised.

"Are you following me, Ichigo?" the lack of his title, and that she was the first to be informal with him caused a chill to run through him that had nothing to do with the temperature. She was watching his face, seemingly curious as to what he was doing here, and he found an echoing smirk curving his own features. He couldn't stop himself from leaning forward and slightly invading her space.

"You think I would do such a thing Rukia? How rude." his tone could barely conceal it's amusement but it still seemed to do the trick when he watched her eyes widen and she took a step backwards, the lightest of flushes turning her cheeks a light pink. It pleased him on a deep level that he could make her blush, and so wrapped up in his victory, he didn't see her lift her leg, only felt the connection of it slamming into his own.

"Idiot!" he nearly crumpled at her surprise force, and he swung his gaze up to hers, seeing defiance and slight shock? So this hime was more than just her biting winds then? Despite the pain he was in, Ichigo wanted to smile; it seemed every new thing he learned about Rukia would be fated to endear him even further to her, regardless how unwise a choice it was for him. Renji flashed through his thoughts and seemed to sober him. The male was already endeared to her, Ichigo could've been blind and he would've seen it, and yet something in him disregarded that for whatever reason and kept finding itself drawn to her. How loathsome a male he was, regardless that he was a prince of his people. Did he have no honor, to admittedly be attracted to another's woman? Nevermind that he did not act on it, just feeling it was enough. He was in a place where they could glance into his mind, and the hime herself was somewhat of an empath! If his feelings were to slip out while he were around her, what would happen? Renji would most likely try to gut him if Byakuya did not get to him first, and the Seelie Prince did not doubt that he would. Even Rukia would probably murder him, considering how willingly she tried to take him out at the knees. No, he was not supposed to act on this at all, and he needed to stop thinking of her in that way.

As though she could sense some sort of change in him, when he fully stood upright, he could see the mask of politeness fall back over her features as she hesitantly took another step backwards. She daintily cleared her throat. "I apologize, Kurosaki-ouji, I do not know what came over me." the formality chafed at him, but then she held a hand out and for a stupid moment Ichigo thought he was supposed to hold it. Then he realized she wanted him to start walking. "Please, if you would, we should get back to the manor to get ready before Yuzu's gala." it was the evenness in her voice, how unlike the Rukia he had been starting to learn that he listened almost immediately. He found that he couldn't say anything to her the whole walk back, and even parted from her without meeting her gaze, opting to bow lowly in silent apology.

XxXxXx

Perhaps it was the fact that he was bonded to her that Toshirou had sensed that odd flush of heat run through him that he knew belonged to his cousin. This didn't happen often, feeling her emotions, only when they were strong or she were taken off guard, and he had never actually told her what the bond did to him. It was a way of keeping an eye on her, making it easier as her protector to find her and know if she were okay. This bond was why he had made comments about the Seelie Prince towards her in his burst of annoyance in the library. He could feel what he knew was her attraction towards him and though he hadn't spoken to anyone of it, the information was starting to weigh on him.

It only dug on him more so when he realized that she thought the Seelie Prince was taken, despite this not being true. Toshirou had seen the way Kurosaki Ichigo watched his cousin, and he was not a fool. However, he had also know Renji for a long time and he could see the way he watched Rukia as well, knew of his feelings for her. He knew that the Seelie Prince could as well and it left both parties stumbling around one another, unsure of how to proceed, but something in them demanding they do so. Toshirou could not hold in his sigh. The fates seemed to enjoy making things difficult for promised pairs didn't it?