Thanks for the favs: The forever observing/Bunny 177/emmi rukichi/ imaprodigy. And to those of you following this fic too.
Disclaimer: Kubo owns Bleach. Credits to my cousin Ninya.
Chapter Six: The engagement party
When she was five, Nelliel's parents died in a tragic accident and because she was the only child and no relatives wanted to keep her, she was adopted by her father's business partner Isshin Kurosaki. At her age that time she was afraid of what would happen to her and the traumatic experience change her much more than she could remember. But Isshin helped her recover, welcomed her into his family, loved her like she's his own flesh and blood. That's when Nelliel promised to protect this family, no matter what it takes.
Since childhood Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, now Kurosaki, was known for her intellectual gift. She's smart—very smart. But there was a time she allowed herself to be stupid.
It was Christmas and she was twelve and his name is Grimmjow Jaegerjaques.
Ichigo was the eldest child older than her for five years and she always saw him to be wiser and more worldly. Nelliel remember those times she pestered him, wanted him to come play with her, tell her stories, take her places. And being a softie, he often did -Ichigo cared for her just as much as he cared for Karin and Yuzu- And often, Grimmjow, his best friend, tagged along as well. He wasn't an orphan like Nelliel but some days, he almost seemed like one based on the amount of time he spent with their family.
Around the beginning of December, just before everyone took themselves off to the holidays, their parents would throw two Christmas parties—one for the adults and another one for all the children. Nel was at a stage when she felt like she were getting too old to attend but still wanted to. There were pretty little cakes and gifts for every single kid that she wanted to miss out.
That time, she'd gotten braces with pink stones on them and her hair had grown long enough since its last trim to have developed softer, wispier ends. She was feeling pretty good about herself then—until one of the girls from her class deliberately spilled soda on her dress after she'd refused to swap the mini make-up kit she'd gotten as a present. That girl told Nel to keep the make-up kit because she obviously needed it if she didn't want to look hideous.
Nel wore a stony expression, bit off the girl's head and told her to leave. She continued to wear it as Mom tried to tell her to not take the taunt personally. Nel shed no tear or made any sound as the evening wore on and everyone came together for a small family dinner. She snuck outside behind the kitchen where the large garbage bin was located and shoved the make-up kit into it, knocking the metal lid to the ground with a loud clang.
The door opened and Grimmjow stuck his head out, frowning when he saw her in the middle of picking up the lid. He already heard about what happened.
She didn't say anything as she calmly replaced the lid but Grimmjow fully stepped outside and closed the door behind him.
"You know what the difference is between girls who are already beautiful and girls who only care to be that and nothing else?" he asked as he leaned a shoulder against the doorway.
Nelliel raised a brow. "Destiny?"
Grimmjow raised his own. "Well. That wasn't the answer I was expecting."
She wasn't in the mood for Grimmjow's or anybody else's humor. "Then answer your own question so I can go back in and go to bed."
For a second, she thought he'd smiled but he pulled the serious expression back on his face quickly. "The difference, Nel is that girls who are already truly and completely beautiful inside out, don't need to hurt anybody to make sure no one could compete. They know there is no competition. They're not bothered by it. They know they've got it. The girl who hurt you tonight clearly knows she doesn't have it all."
"Sounds like bullshit."
Grimmjow's brows drew together into a scowl. "Where did you learn to talk like that?"
Nel shrugged. "I'm not a baby anymore Grimm. I can read and hear things. And you and Ichigo don't always notice I'm around when you talk."
He dragged a hand down his face, looking a little exasperated. "This is what I get for trying to be a nice guy."
"You don't have to be a nice guy," She told him. "You definitely don't have to lie to me just to be one."
Grimmjow was visibly frustrated. "Still. What she did wasn't right."
"I know that."
"Then why are you sulking?" he demanded.
"What she did was wrong but she wasn't lying," She told him bluntly even though it stung her to admit it. "I'm not beautiful and I'm okay with that. I didn't keep the make-up kit to try to be different but now I'm not keeping it because it just reminds me of nasty memories."
His expression softened. "Nel, listen. Beautiful is just one word with so many meanings. You don't have to be everything that the word means. You just have to find how it already perfectly defines you."
She wasn't sure if Grimmjow was still aware that he was talking to a twelve-year-old but something in what he said cracked a big piece off that chip she'd worn on her shoulder.
She believed him that night.
Worse, she fell in love with him right after he'd said those magical words.
When Valentine's Day came a couple months later, Nel gave him a letter to tell him exactly that because a happily-in-love, totally-feeling-beautiful Nelliel wasn't a smart one. A smart Nel wouldn't have sworn eternal love and promised a grand wedding in a big church.
She waited quietly as he read it, trying to figure out his softly smiling expression. He gave her a broad grin after he lowered the paper and put a hand on top of her head.
"You're a sweet girl," he said, still beaming. "But you're still much too young for love. You'll have to give it several more years before you can really learn what it means."
Nel wasn't sure exactly what he was saying but her heart was thundering too wildly already to back away at that moment. "Okay. I can wait. Will you wait?"
He laughed and really, when Grimmjow laughed, the world grew brighter. It just did.
"For a beautiful girl like you, any guy with a brain would wait," he said. His hand ruffled her hair before he cupped her chin with it. "And if you still love me years from now, when you're old enough and I still have a brain, will you still marry me in that big grand church?"
Like an idiot, she happily nodded and went her merry way, dreaming of the day when she would become Mrs. Jaegerjaques.
It was an illness Nel was going to suffer in the five years that followed, only to be culminated in one quiet devastation.
Nelliel was a very impatient seventeen-year-old the morning she decided to surprise Grimmjow after his trip back from Los Angeles where he'd spent his 22nd birthday. She knew work had him trapped there because he would normally have a small dinner with his parents on his birthday and then brunch with her family the next day.
She'd spent the night trying to call him but it kept going straight to his voicemail. She was already a day late in greeting him so she decided that there was no better way than to greet him first thing in the morning. Conveniently, it was going to be the same morning she'd decided to finally ask Grimmjow straight up if he would date her now. Nelliel was turning eighteen in a couple of months. She wanted to remind him of the fact because surely, eighteen would be old enough to pose no problem with Grimmjow or Ichigo. There would be nothing in his way now.
She was going to give him her journal—the same one that contained a few hundred lovingly written entries from the last five years, each capturing a moment with him that she felt was special. He would have enough time to read it before her birthday and realize that yes, several years later, Nelliel still loved him and it was time he loved her back as promised.
She'd waited a solid five years, tolerated the boys at school who tried to get into her pants and dismissed stories she'd heard about him going out with other girls as nothing serious.
It was, finally, their time.
The driver took Nelliel to Grimmjow's's condo after she told him she was dropping off her late birthday present. She dashed up the elevator and cheerfully greeted Edrad, the head of Grimm's small housekeeping staff, when he opened the door for her.
Usually, the old man was very cordial and friendly to her and her family when one or all of them would sometimes descend on Grimmjow for a quick visit.
But that day, he was looking a little uneasy while telling her that Grimmjow was still jet-lagged and resting. But she couldn't leave just yet either. So she'd told Edrad she'd like a glass of water before she left. The moment the man disappeared into the kitchen, Nelliel bolted from the couch and tiptoed down the opposite hall to Grimmjow's bedroom. She wasn't planning on waking him up but she wanted to leave her diary on his pillow so it would be the first thing he'd see after waking up.
Nelliel quietly opened the door. There was already quite a bit of light in the room that it wasn't hard to locate Grimmjow in the heap of sheets on the bed. She saw his bare foot sticking out, his rumpled hair over a light gray pillow, a muscular arm stretched across the billowy covers.
She smiled and stepped into the room—only to stop short at the rest of what she saw on the bed.
Long, black hair in tangles that still looked sexy around a pretty face, an elegant shoulder peeking from under the covers and a slim hand with French-tipped fingers lightly resting on Grimmjow's bare chest.
Grimmjow was still sleeping, alright—sleeping with the socialite-turned-model Loly Aivirrne.
Nelliel wasn't sure which one she hated more—the brutal truth as it hit her or her lack of control when tears spilled down her cheeks.
She stood there, motionless for a long moment, the guy she'd loved and adored for years changing before her very eyes. The shining armor was gone and all the sweet, gentle words he'd told her all this time started to ring hollow in her ears as she recalled them.
She backed away and out of the door without making a noise to disturb the sleeping lovers. She ran and ran until she nearly slammed into Edrad on her way out.
"Miss Nelliel, are you okay?" the man asked in alarm as he clasped her by the shoulders to keep her from staggering to her knees.
She nodded, gasping through a surge of tears, humiliated even more by what she was about to say next.
"Promise me, Edrad, that you won't ever tell anyone I was here," Nelliel pleaded with the man even as she swiped away at her tears with indignant anger. "Definitely not Grimmjow. Promise me, okay?"
The man murmured his reassurances and that was all she had time for. Still hugging her journal to her chest, Nelliel pushed her way through the main door and rushed to the private elevator.
She'd wasted five years of her life on Grimmjow—she refused to waste another second when he deserved nothing of her time.
On her way back to the car waiting for her, she paused by the trash bin and without a second glance, tossed her diary into it. It was an appropriate ending to what the whole thing finally seemed to be—a total waste.
Smart Nelliel came back right around. And she never left again.
.
.
"How's Bangkok?" Nelliel tried to match her expression to her flippant tone as she inspected herself in the full-length mirror. The struggle was real when she heard in the phone his all-too-familiar voice infused with warmth and humor.
"Beautiful but busy," Grimmjow replied. "Five seconds after arriving home though, I find an invitation to Ichigo's engagement party. I repeat—it's an invitation to his engagement party. Am I losing my mind?"
She grinned and smoothed her hands down the skirt of her dress. "Grimmy. Don't tell me I was right all this time."
"Right about what?"
"That you're really secretly in love with my brother."
A raspy laugh escaped him. "I totally dig your brother. Don't tell him. The other girls are just distractions."
Her smile disappeared at the mention of the 'other girls' because Grimmjow was acquainted with a tremendous amount of them. After finding him in bed with Loly Aivirrne about two years ago, the blinders came off and she saw the extra-long trail of women Grimmjow had been involved with. It was much, much longer than the line-up at the girl's bathroom at a house party but everyone looked about the same—restless, snappy and ready to pee their pants off.
"Well, you're just going to have to nurse that broken heart because from the looks of things at brunch, Rukia's got him hook, line and sinker," she told him, forcing a lighter tone to her words.
"It's a little fast, don't you think?" Grimmjow asked, all serious now. "Who's Rukia anyway? Is she pregnant? What do you know about her?"
"Why don't you interrogate Ichigo?"
"Do you think a guy marrying someone he's known for a week is going to give me a unbiased answer?" he retorted. "If he's getting played so well he can't even think straight, I need to figure out how to help him."
"Just come to the party and pass your judgement then," Nelliel told him, feeling self-conscious all of a sudden.
"Are you coming?" he asked.
"Of course," she said. "No matter what I think of my brother and his recent choices, I'm going to be there with the rest of our family. They're going to need all the support they can get if they want to weather the talk. There's bound to be some considering how fast they went from zero to a hundred."
"You're an amazing sister, Nel. You know that right?"
The tenderness in his words did nothing to stop her grimace.
Sister—the last thing she wanted Grimmjow to see her as for as long as she could remember.
"You know I'd do the same for you," was her gruff reply.
She could hear him smiling as he answered, "Will you, really? You'll smile and cheer for me if I'm about to have my own shotgun wedding?"
Nelliel knew he was teasing because he probably didn't even remember her asking to marry him one day but she still bristled at the joke. "I'll bring the shotgun and deliver you myself to the girl you're going to turn into a miserable bride."
Grimmjow burst out laughing. "Fine. I'm not allowing shotguns to come near you and I'm going to stay NOT married for a good long while to keep the peace."
"Don't try to make up some noble reason for your staying a bachelor," She scoffed. "Everyone knows you're doing it because matrimony means monogamy in this side of the world and that's just not your style."
"You make it sound as if I'm not capable of being exclusive with one woman." There was an almost petulant tilt to his voice at that protest.
She shrugged, smiling a little. "The question is not whether you're capable or not. The question is if you're even willing to be exclusive. Your mantra's always been the more, the merrier."
"You know, Nel, you're a great sister but you're a terrible friend," he complained.
Great. First, sister-zoned. Now, friend-zoned.
"Someone's got to be honest with you, Grimm," she said. "And I can't help it that I'm always the one around when you're making mistakes." She took a deep breath. "I'm going to hang up on you now because I have to finish getting ready. I'll see you at the party."
But Grimmjow sometimes just didn't know when to quit it. "Are you bringing a date?"
She smirked. "Nah. Couldn't find a guy small enough to put in my pocket."
He huffed out a laugh. "That's my girl. Wait till someone's worthy of you."
She laughed, said her goodbyes and hung up. Nelliel stared on her phone for a very long time.
- Well, that definitely won't be you, Grimm, because one, I'm done waiting for you and two, you're not worthy of me.
.
.
It was the big day.
No. Wait.
Not that big day. Just the engagement party.
It was the first official and public event that Ichigo and Rukia were attending even though they've only invited around a hundred people or so—ninety-five percent of which she have never met before.
"Do I look presentable?" She asked as she moved away from the mirror and faced Inoue, Rangiku, and Yumichika who were clustered around as they made the final touches to her look tonight.
"Don't insult us by calling yourself presentable, Rukia," Yumichika chided, patting the tip of her nose with the fluffy end of his powder brush. "You look absolutely gorgeous. Am I right, girls?"
The two women nodded their approval and assured her that she was going to take everyone's breath away.
Rukia glanced back at the mirror, studying her reflection.
Yumichika had tweaked the dress, taking it to the next level when he lengthened the skirt to a slim, floor-length A-line shape, overlapping the old rose-colored tulle with a layer of a pale, burnished gold version. The beadwork remained but he'd cut out the back into a deep V that stopped just at the small of her back and he removed the cap sleeves, displaying her shoulders and collarbone with the boatneck cut in front. Her hair was swept up in a mix of messy braids pinned together in low bun.
Her cheeks were flushed, her eyelids dusted with a pale, pinkish gold shade, her lashes maximized with dark, brown-black mascara and her lips dabbed with a tinted lip balm. Rangiku insisted they kept her make up minimal for a barely-there look. He said it kept her looking young and elegant without trying too hard.
The doorbell sounded.
"Oh, that would be Mr. Kurosaki," Inoue said as she hurried to the door. "Let's wrap it up."
"Here you go, Ruks," Rangiku said as she handed her a white, flat leather clutch studded with pale gold beads. "Now, lift your chin up, square your shoulders and look down on everyone else."
Rukia wrinkled her nose. "I don't look down on people, Ran. Let's try a different mantra. I'll lift my chin up, square my shoulders and think..."
Yumichika, Inoue and Rangiku looked at her expectantly.
"That after the party, I'm making Ichigo get me a cheeseburger with fries after I starved myself today to fit into this dress," Rukia finished with a smug smile. "No one will suspect that while I seem to be nibbling here and there, I'm looking forward to my fast-food treat."
Rangiku groaned and smacked her head. "You are the weirdest girl, I swear. Savoureux is catering your party and you're fantasizing about cheeseburgers."
"Who's fantasizing about cheeseburgers?" Ichigo's voice drifted into the room as he strode in, sharply dressed in a sleek, dark brown suit with a cognac-colored tie.
He looked so perfect it hurt to stare at him.
Rukia bit her lip. "Me. I told them you'll need to take me out for cheeseburgers and fries later as a reward for my restraint in not eating more than just crackers today."
His hazel eyes lazily appraised her as he stopped a foot away, his lips curving in an admiring smile.
"I'll get you as many cheeseburgers as you want just for looking the way you do right now," he said, his eyes crinkling . "For now, I hope this will do."
He pulled back and lifted a long, jeweler's box he'd been holding and opened it for her.
She could hear the gasps from everyone else in the room.
"Do you like it?" he asked as he lifted the chain out of the box and held it up for her.
It was a necklace with a short white gold chain, encrusted with alternating pink and clear round diamonds in slightly varying sizes.
"It's lovely," Rukia croaked out through the emotions stuck in her throat as Ichigo smiled and moved behind her to secure the necklace around her neck. "You shouldn't have, though."
"Yes, I should have," he said sofly as he turned her gently to him, his fingers cupping her chin. "It's our engagement party."
- For a marriage of convenience, yes, except that the damn lines are blurring.
"Thank you," She said, smiling back at him. "I'll take care of it, make sure it's safely returned to you later tonight."
His brows shot up and he glanced around to make sure everyone was busy cleaning up to pay too much attention to them. He leaned in, his lips brushing the sensitive skin just before her ear as he whispered, "It's a gift, Rukia. I want you to have it."
"Okay," She mumbled out faintly, awkward all of a sudden with her conflicting emotions. She placed her hand on his chest though, and looked up at him with another smile. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," he said before taking the hand she'd placed on his chest and using it to wrap her arm around his as he turned to all the people assisting her. "Thank you again for all your help. We have to get going now though. We'll see all of you at the party later."
Rukia beamed at everyone and gave them a little wave as Ichigo escorted her to the door. He had easily agreed to her suggestion to let her style team come since she didn't really have a lot of friends invited to this party.
Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the venue. Ichigo helped her out of the car and camera lights were already flashing before she could even straighten herself up. There was a small area corded off for the media and reporters were craning their necks to get a better view of them.
"I promised them ten minutes tonight before we go in," She told Ichigo before she slowly made her way to the paps, taking care not to trip in her four-inch strappy gold sandals. "Come, Ichigo. It won't take long."
He looked uncertain for a moment but he nodded and walked with her. Ikkaku was already there, stepping away when Ichigo and her arrived.
She heard Ichigo mutter under his breath as they got barraged with questions but he stayed by her side, his body angled toward her in a protective stance.
Rukia smiled at him, touching his jaw reassuringly. "Don't worry. You don't have to say anything. I've got this."
He glanced down at her with a raised brow. "You're not used to this, Rukia."
"Used to it enough in the last few days," She told him before she stepped forward and beamed at the reporters.
For the next ten minutes, Rukia rambled on in easy, upbeat conversation with everyone. Ten minutes later, Ichigo practically dragged her away.
"I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing that you talk to the paps like you're all buddies," he murmured, slipping an arm behind her waist.
She shrugged. "I got to know them pretty well. Spending all day running around trying to take photos or talk to people who have no interest in dealing with them is a diffcult job so I try to make it easier for them. It's a good system. They leave me alone when I ask them, and I give them something back so they can do their job. We all get along that way."
Ichigo's hold on her arm tightened and kept her in place just as they were about to walk through the front door. His other hand rested on hers hip and his forehead touched hers.
"I really shouldn't be surprised anymore but I am," he said with a smile "Come on. Everyone wants to meet you."
The doors opened and her hand on Ichigo's arm gripped harder.
A voice boomed through the PA and announced them with a lively congratulations on their upcoming wedding.
Rukia swallowed hard. Her heart might have possibly relocated somewhere in the vicinity of her throat but there was nothing to be done about it now.
"You're going to do great, Rukia," he murmured under his breath while gracing the crowd who turned to them at their arrival with a brilliant smile. People started applauding.
She nodded slightly, glancing up at him. "Cheeseburgers and fries later, okay?"
He looked at her, his hazel eyes crinkling at the corners in humor. "Cheeseburgers and fries."
He took her hand and gently led her forward just as Isshin stepped out and greeted both of them with a hug, smiling and laughing.
"Rukia-chan, look at you! You're exquisite!" he said as he leaned in to kiss her on the forehead. "Isn't she, son?"
"She is," Ichigo agreed with an indulgent smile.
She smiled. "You're looking good too, Isshi- I mean Dad." Rukia finished with a sheepish smile.
The old man had a healthy flush on his cheeks and his eyes were bright and clear.
"If I didn't know better, I would suspect you're out to break some girl's heart here tonight at our party," She told him teasingly.
He chuckled. "Not an old man like me. I'm just here to wish you well and make sure you have a grand time." Then his expression sobered up a little as he added in a lower voice. "Frankly, I thought I'd better damn make sure no one gives you any problems, Rukia-chan. I doubt though that anyone could get away with any of that crap with you."
"No, they couldn't," Ichigo answered in a firm voice, pulling me in a little closer to him. "I'll take care of her, Dad."
Isshin smiled at his son. "I know you will." Then he punched Ichigo on the shoulder -who winced in pain- and winked at her. "Well, you two now make your rounds and put everyone out of their misery. They can't wait to meet Rukia-chan. Program's starting in half an hour and then dinner. I'll see you two around later. Rukia-chan, go knock 'em out."
And just like that, they were dismissed as Isshin strode away.
"Your father is such a weirdo, sometimes."
Ichigo scowled. "You have no idea." He took a deep breath then smiled at her. "Now, what would you like to drink?"
Rukia grinned and peered at the offerings on the server's tray. "Um, I can't drink any of this stuff."
Understanding dawned in Ichigo's eyes. "Right. You're only nineteen." He turned to the server. "What's your name?"
The young man blinked nervously at Ichigo. "Um, Hanataro, sir."
Ichigo smiled at him. "Hanataro, my man, I'm going to ask you to personally see to my fiancee's drinks tonight. Can you please ensure she's supplied with whatever she would like from the bar?"
Hanataro nodded and glanced at her. "Of course. What would you like, miss?"
Rukia decided to take pity on the poor guy. Ichigo was very nice in asking but he was naturally intimidating to anyone with a softer spine. "Any kind of fruity mocktail will do. Thank you, Hanataro."
"You're welcome, miss. I'll be right back with it," he said with a slight, awkward bow.
They turned and found a tall man with spiky dark blue hair and turquoise colored eyes walking up to them and smiling broadly.
"I come home from Bangkok after a two-week business trip and find an invitation to my best friend's engagement party and wedding," he said as he stopped in front of them and clapped Ichigo's shoulder, his gaze focusing on her with appreciation. "I thought someone was playing a prank on me but then I see the bride and completely understand why Kurosaki here is stumbling over himself to get shackled."
Rukia glanced up at Ichigo who was rolling his eyes. "You have a best friend?"
The other man laughed. "She doesn't seem nearly as impressed with you as you are with her. What's wrong, man? Losing your touch?"
"Rukia, this poor excuse for a friend is Grimmjow Jaegerjaques," Ichigo introduced. "Grimm, meet Rukia Kuchiki, my fiancee."
Grimmjow took her hand and kissed the back of it. "A real pleasure to meet you, Miss Kuchiki. You look stunning tonight. If I'd known about you, I wouldn't have left. I would've done my best to steal you away from Ichigo."
She relaxed. Grimmjow clearly didn't know about her arrangement with his friend.
Rukia gave him a cheeky smile. "I don't know about that. I can't say that a consummate flirt is a better choice over a brooding tyrant."
Grimmjow's brows shot up in surprise for a moment before he burst out laughing. "Oh, boy. I can see that you know my friend pretty well here and I don't believe I'm going to fare better than he did in your opinion."
Ichigo let out a near growl, his arm wrapping around her waist possessively. "No, you aren't,Grimjoww, so stop flirting with my fiancee."
Grimmjow gave him a challenging look. "I will if you stop monopolizing her. You've been in the party ten minutes and she hasn't met a single guest other than me and Isshin. With all the headlines Rukia has been making in the past week, everyone's getting impatient to meet her."
Rukia grimaced. "Oh, no. I should've done my best to stay under the radar."
Grimmjow shook his head. "No, you shouldn't. And I'm sure you wouldn't have succeeded anyway. Ichigo was an eligible bachelor, Rukia. Everyone will be curious about the woman who snagged him all the way down to the altar."
"Hmm, sounds like I need to find some rope to drag you to the altar on our wedding day, Ichigo," She told Ichigo with a mock-serious expression. "That's the only way we're going to convince people."
Ichigo laughed and murmured, "I can think of other more enjoyable uses for the rope on our wedding night, babe."
She flushed and Grimmjow just laughed and shook his head. "You two better make your rounds, sit through the program and dinner, and get the hell out of here."
And so they spent the next twenty minutes moving around, meeting one guest after another.
The announcement for the short program before dinner had just been made when Ichigo caught her by the elbow to draw her out of her conversation with a Greek socialite and environmental activist.
"Hey, there are some people who wanted to see you," he said to her with a mischievous grin just as he led her past a few tables to a small group waiting for them just at the outskirts of the ballroom.
"Kisuke! Yoruichi-san ! Nanao-san! Isane! Kiyone!"
Rukia must've looked incredibly silly with her jaw hanging open as she surveyed the group of guests Inoue was ushering toward then.
A half a dozen of her friends and co-workers from Urahara's were there too, all prettily-dressed and looking in awe of the whole event.
"Inoue, did you get them all over here?" She asked her assitant who looked lovely in an emerald green dress. "How? Why? Wha—"
"Mr. Kurosaki arranged for all of it," she answered, nodding at Ichigo. "It was a surprise."
Rukia turned to him and found him grinning down at her. Her heart couldn't take it as it tightened with a ridiculous sense of happiness.
"Thank you!" She gushed at him and before she could think better of it, she practically leapt into his arms, wrapping her own around his neck as he easily caught her and lifted her off the floor. "Thank you, thank you!"
"You're welcome," he said as their noses touched. Then his eyes closed as he cupped the back of her head and kissed her forehead. Then He smiled and nodded at the rest of her guests. "Come on, everyone. Let's get you all seated. Appetizers are being served and dinner should be ready after the short program my father insisted on."
Rukia stayed behind the group as Ichigo led them to a table close to ours, chatting easily with some of them when she didn't think he'd met most of them before.
"I have a stupid grin on my face, don't I?" She said to Inoue who stayed back with her.
She laughed. "You do but it looks good there. I can see this is a total shocker."
"It is," Rukia admitted, watching as Ichigo turning to speak to her previous boss, extending a hand to the man. "It's an amazingly sweet, totally welcome, absolutely mind-blowing shocker."
Inoue laughed. "Well, Mr. Kurosaki is quite besotted with you so this isn't that out of character."
- Isn't it? Ichigo's only obligation is to marry me, keep me for a year and pay me a million. Him being sweet and thoughtful isn't part of the bargain but he doesn't seem to mind. Maybe he isn't as mercenary or cold as I thought he was.
With a broad grin, she sauntered to Ichigo who held out a hand to her, waiting patiently, his hazel eyes sparkling.
It required little effort to forget their secret when he was smiling at her like she was the only girl in the room.
- Maybe, just maybe, neither of us were just pretending anymore.
.
.
The program was short but sweet.
Isshin had gotten up the stage to speak, thanking everyone first for coming tonight before turning eyes to Rukia and Ichigo who sat back, their entwined hands resting on his lap.
"There are many things I could say why I'm happy that the two of you are getting married," he started solemnly that for a second she worried he was suddenly going to blurt out that he'd blackmailed Ichigo into marrying her.
Her tension eased when he smiled. "But I won't burden you with my reasons. I'd let you find them out on your own and cross my fingers that you will understand one day."
Isshin wins the cryptic award. That sly old man.
Rukia just smiled back at him, aware of Ichigo's fingers squeezing hers gently as his father backed away from the stage and called up a performer. Dinner was announced and although Ichigo was as polite and attentive as ever, she could feel the strange shift in his mood. Before she could ask him about it after they dined, he excused himself to talk to some people about business.
Business, when he did promise he wouldn't do any of that tonight.
He reappeared when the dancing started, sweeping her around the ballroom just right before other couples joined them.
"Everything alright?" Rukia asked, observing his inscrutable expression. "You've been quiet."
His lips tightened into a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm fine, Rukia."
And that was the end of that conversation.
Rukia got distracted from it after more people came up to her in greeting and Ichigo remained stiff and formal. She was growing irritated but before she could drag him into a corner and demand what his problem was, Grimmjow showed up and claimed her next dance.
"I was warned you had a fiery temper," he said conversationally, his turquoise eyes sparkling with mirth. "Looking at you right now, I could tell it wouldn't have been an exaggeration."
Rukia sighed, some of her annoyance draining away. "Sorry I'm poor company. It's been a long evening already."
"You should probably get some fresh air or something like that after our dance," he said, concern replacing his humor. "Or maybe Ichigo should take you home if you're not feeling well."
"I'll be fine," she assured him. "I'll probably skip the next two dances and freshen up and I'll be back to normal. It's a great party. I don't want to spoil it for anyone."
He studied her for a long moment that she began to worry he was seeing more than she wanted him to.
"I don't really know who you are, Rukia, and how you and Ichigo came to be," he said in a serious tone. "If you'd been a different kind of girl, I'd ask a lot of questions knowing Ichigo and how determined he was not to marry quite yet. But after meeting you tonight, I've decided my friend is quite sane and damn lucky."
She laughed and rolled her eyes. "Grimmjow, if I'd been a differnt kind of girl, I'd swoon and declare my undying love for you right this moment but I'm not, so I'll say thank you instead."
He laughed and she joined in but as his eyes moved to something behind her, his easy expression darkened and his hold on her tightened.
"Grimmjow?"Rukia asked uncertainly, trying to glance over her shoulder at whatever caught his attention.
"Now would be a good time to freshen up, Rukia," he said as he smoothly but hurriedly moved her out of the ballroom. "Sit out the next couple of dances and put your feet up or something."
He led her to the small hall that led to the restrooms.
"Are we by any chance escaping from a girl whose heart you broke or something, Grimm?" She asked as he practically dragged her to the door of the ladies' room.
He pulled up short and exhaled a sharp breath, managing a strained smile at her. "Something like that. Sorry, Rukia. I just had to get off the dance floor."
Rukia tsked at him teasingly. "I guess being a ladies' man isn't always a fun, convenient thing. Good to know. Maybe fewer guys would try it."
He chuckled, lightening up. "I definitely wouldn't recommend it to every guy. Alright, I'll see you later, okay? Maybe fifteen minutes or so?"
"Yeah, yeah. Go scram into your hiding place," she told him with a roll of her eyes.
He turned and walked away and she continued into the ladies' room. Rukia halted when she heard familiar voices inside.
"You should go home, Karin. I don't know why you'd want to stick around for that skank's engagement party."
"It's also Ichi-nii's engagement party and that skank is his fiancee so I'd choose my words carefully if I were you. What I'm wondering is what you're doing at this party when Nel-chan specifically requested you not to come. Here you are, skulking around in the ladies' room."
Rukia smiled, still pressed up against the door listening.
"I do as I please, Karin, and not even Nelliel can boss me around," Senna snorted. "Besides, I wanted to see how Charity Kuchiki doing. I'm sure she's in cloud nine thinking she's snapped up your brother but I know just how deluded she is if she believes that."
"Don't make trouble, Senna-san," Karin muttered. "You may not care about what Nel-chan say but if you cause Rukia-chan any kind of distress, Ichi-nii will toss you out and my father will be right behind him to shut the door in your face."
"They wouldn't," Rukia said out loud, walking into the room, startling both girls.
Senna was clad in a short, clingy, purple dress, her endless legs showcased in sky-high, dominatrix-inspired black leather heels. Her face was fully painted on and her long, purple hair was put up in a sleek, ponytail. Her eyes narrowed at her.
"I wouldn't want either Ichigo or Isshin-san to get their hands dirty by tossing her out," Rukia said breezily as she came to stand next to Karin in front of the mirror. "Just in case there's a new strain of STD now that can be transmitted through the merest touch. After all, if there is to be one discovered, Senna here would be the first candidate for patient zero."
Karin's eyes rounded in shock and Senna's lips curled down into an ugly pout.
"Charity Kuchiki," Senna sneered, standing up to her full height. "Do you think that just because Ichigo is marrying you, you could act like you're better than me?"
Rukia glanced at Karin and then back at Senna in puzzlement. "No. I've always acted like I'm better than you because I am. There's nothing new about that. You prove it over and over again."
Her eyes flashed furiously. "Why, you little bitch. Don't think I'm afraid of you because you're engaged to Ichigo." She lifted her chin up, smiling smugly. "You're not the only one intimately acquainted with him. He's had a soft spot for me since I joined their ski trip last year. It was cold and we'd come up with ways to get the heat on."
Rukia wrinkled her nose and glanced at Karin who looked disgusted. "While neither of us want to particularly imagine your brother and Senna here getting it on, I say we just agree and forget about it to discourage any more details. I only hope Ichigo got himself tested to the hilt because it will ruin our wedding night if he'd caught anything from her."
"We just kissed, okay?" Senna snarled, her cheeks flushing a deep red. "We made out a few times and it was hot as hell but we decided not to get weird about it because I was friends with Nelliel. But it was so good while it lasted and this is why I know that no matter how sweet and affectionate Ichigo is being with you, it means nothing because he can turn it on and off like that with any woman if he chooses to."
Her temper flared. "If he can have any woman he wants, anytime and however he wants her, why the hell do you think he would bother getting married and saddling himself with one particular woman?"
- I know the answer to that question but Senna doesn't and she can torture herself with it for the meantime.
Senna's mouth twitched as if she was about to snap back at Rukia but she couldn't muster a word as her question echoed around the room. With a frustrated growl, she stormed out and left Karin and Rukia in the defeaning silence.
"That went well," Rukia finally said, giving the girl a rueful smile. "I admit I don't have a lot of practice dealing with former flames of the man I'm marrying but it could've been worse, don't you think?"
Karin's eyes were unreadable as she studied her for a moment. "If Ichi-nii made out with her, it's only probably because she threw herself at him."
Rukia sighed and turned to the mirror to tuck back a few strands of hair that escaped her braids. "Yes, well. Senna would throw herself at anything with a penis. But whatever Ichigo did before we met is his business. It doesn't bother me."
Karin turned back to the mirror as well. "We both know it does but you don't have to admit it."
It was time for a change of topic.
"You ready to go back out there?"
Karin nodded. "I think so. How about you?"
She shrugged. "I just need to freshen up and then I'll be right out. I'll see you there, okay? Go dance some."
The dancing was in full swing when Rukia arrived back at the ballroom.
She spotted Kisuke dancing with Yoruichi and she grinned, about to make her way to them when Yuzu appeared out of nowhere and grabbed her by the arm.
"Rukia-chan, stay with me," she said, barely concealing the urgency in her voice.
She frowned and stepped to her side. "Okay. What's going on, Yuzu?
The young woman shook her head and led her slowly away from the dance floor. "I thought we should hang out."
"I was just going to say hi to my friends and then find Ichigo for one last dance before we head out," Rukia told her gently, craning neck around to look for her fiance. "I'm beat and I'm ready to call it a night."
Yuzu tugged at her arm almost as if to drag Rukia's attention back to her. "Not yet. I saw Grimm-nii and he said he still wants another dance from you."
Rukia groaned. "My feet are killing me and I only have enough energy left for one dance. I should have it with Ichigo, don't you think?"
Besides, she wanted to patch up with him. He seemed stressed and despite her inital irritation, she realized that this couldn't have been an easy night for him, parading about a fiancee he didn't really want in the first place.
Rukia caught a flash of blue hair and smiled. "Oh, look. There's Grimmjow." She watched him stride along the edge of the dance floor, looking grim and determined. "He doesn't look too happy."
Rukia's brows furrowed in surprise when she saw him approach Ichigo who was tossing back a glass of something. Ichigo turned and glared at his friend and they both seemed to be exchanging pretty serious words.
"What the hell is going on with those two?" She muttered in confusion. Just earlier, they were ribbing at each other good-naturedly.
"Nothing, I'm sure," Yuzu insisted. "Come on Rukia-chan, let's find a seat somewhere in the back."
Rukia shook her head. "I think I need to go over there and break up the two before they start shoving at each other. They look pretty mad."
She started walking when Yuzu yanked back my hand. "Rukia-chan, no! Please, just stay here."
"Yuzu, what the hell is going on?" She demanded, turning to glare at her. Her violet eyes were large and anxious. "Something must be if you're acting like this. What is it?"
"She's just trying to spare you from the painful experience of being introduced to your fiance's real love interest."
Senna appeared out of nowhere, smiling haughtily at her, gesturing to the dance floor with her hand. "Why don't you take a look at the stunning Riruka Dokugamine? She's a former fashion model before she opened her own organic food business. Rumor has it that she and Ichigo have been involved in a torrid affair in the last six months although they've kept it on the down low. She's probably here to make it very clear as to who owns Ichigo's heart."
Rukia followed Ichigo with her eyes as he stalked away from his best friend and walked up to a tall, glamorous, breathtakingly beautiful woman dressed in an elegant red Grecian-inspired column dress that accentuated her impressive height and perfect figure. Her light pink hair was swept into a sexy updo.
Something churned inside her—like she ate something bad and she quickly realized that it must've been her heart which had sunk into her stomach and started getting eaten away at by the acids.
No one had ever mentioned that woman to her before but it was clear from the smile on Ichigo's face and Riruka's intimate hand on his chest that they knew each other very well.
"They already danced earlier," Senna added, relentless in her determination to cut Rukia up into pieces. "Grimm already told Ichigo off in your defense. Maybe if it doesn't work out with Ichigo, Grimmjow can comfort you. He probably won't mind Ichigo's sloppy seconds."
"Senna, you are way out of line here," Rukia heard Nelliel's familiar voice say from behind her."You shouldn't have come, You should've listened to me."
Senna scoffed. "And miss all this drama? Not for the world. Just imagine what everyone here who knows is thinking. Ichigo dances and holds in his arms the real woman he's crazy for during his engagement party to some lowly diner girl who fancies herself Cinderella."
"Don't listen to her, Rukia," Nelliel said, falling into a step beside her. "I'm sure Ichigo has a perfectly good explanation for having her here."
"I'm sure he thought he could get away with it after he brought in Charity Kuchiki's friends to distract her," Senna added with a snort.
Hot tears were stinging Rukia's eyes eyes but she quickly blinked them was nothing Senna said that hadn't already run through her mind in the last thirty seconds but she didn't need the bit-h to further hack her heart apart.
Rukia whirled around to her and said in a low, cold voice. "Get. The. Hell. Out. Of. Here."
Senna's smug smile faltered a bit as she got a good look at her but then she tossed her head up and smirked. "I will now. I've seen all that I wanted to see."
"Forget about Senna," Nelliel said after Senna left. "She's just a raging bitch sometimes."
Rukia laughed hoarsely, hearing the bitterness in her voice. "What great taste you have for friends then."
She forced herself to tear her gaze away from the dance floor where Ichigo had led Riruka to dance once again. Blue eyes caught hers from across the room, concern clear in them even from a distance. She gave Grimmjow a weak smile before turning to the sisters.
"Can you please make sure your Dad doesn't see this?" She asked in as calm a voice as she could manage. "If he knows about them, he's not going to be happy. I don't want to upset him."
Nelliel looked at her for a moment. "He went home with Karin half an hour ago. He didn't want to disrupt your dance and Karin was already bored."
Rukia smiled even though she suspected it looked pretty brittle on her face. "Good. He doesn't have to know. Can you promise me you won't tell him?"
The sisters glanced at each other.
"Rukia-chan, are you sure?" Yuzu asked gently. "Maybe you should talk to Ichi-nii about this first. It's probably just a misunderstanding—"
"It's none of my business really." She just sighed "I'm just going to get Ikkaku to drive me home. We have to drop off some of my friends. Have you seen Isane and Kiyone?"
"Ikkaku-san already drove them home." Yuzu answered.
Rukia groaned and kneaded her temples with her hand. She was so distracted, having a grand time being Ichigo's fake fiancee that she completely took her own friends for granted.
"Rukia, hey."
She turned around and saw Grimmjow walking toward her, his handsome face etched with concern. He stopped and glanced at her and the sisters and realized that they all knew.
"I'm going home," She told him.
"I can drive you home, Rukia," Grimmjow said, drawing surprised looks from the sisters. "I've only had one glass of wine to drink. I don't speed."
The anxious, serious look on his face was a hilarious contrast to her current situation that she laughed. "Just what a girl needs to hear to take you up on your offer."
He smiled sheepishly. "Well, I wanted to reassure you as much as possible considering you only met me tonight."
Rukia turned to the sisters. "Can you guys vouch for him not being a total psycho?"
Yuzu smiled. "Is Grimm-nii a heartbreaker? Yes. Psycho, no."
Nelliel though didn't look like she approved. "Ichigo isn't going to be happy to hear that Grimmjow took you home."
Rukia snorted. "Ichigo can go f-ck himself. Pardon my language."
She turned to Grimmjow and grinned at him as she looped her arm through his. "Can we stop by for some cheeseburgers and fries on the way? I'm starving?"
And they did.
me: Ichigo's side of the story will be in the next chapter, be sure to read it. What do you guys thinks about this chapter? About Nel's past and Ichigo's assumed betrayal? Hate it/love it? Be sure to leave a review, we love reading your thoughts, guesses, complaints etc.
-.-
emmi rukichi: Hi! Love your enthusiasm! Welcome to this fic! And thanks for reading, and reviewing as well. :)
Guest: Thank you. You'll know about that when you read Ichigo's side of the story. And same.. Isshin is a good man here, but he always is right. *winks
RukiYuki: Ohh, your wish is granted. What do you think about this chap? And GrimmIchiRuki interactions. :)
Jo Terry: Ooh, so you're a grimmnel fan too. Glad to read that! And yeah, I cannot stand Senna, I hate her to the point of wanna strangle her whilst watching that movie. Don't worry as well, just like I said last chapter, Nelliel is one of the main character here. She'll come around soon. What do you think about her past?
Sara1991: Thank you. Ninya blushed while reading your review so was I. Thanks for reading!
Guest: Ichigo seems to have some sort of feelings towards her eh, or not. Hehehe Thanks for reading.
Guest: Thank you for being honest about what you feel. *thumbs up* That kiss last chapter was Ichigo's way to convince his family without too much talk. But you do have a point, they'll know each other more soon. Thank you!
Cc: Oh, no worries. You'll read it next chapter. Ichigo is really hard to read no? Thanks for reading!
Guest: So happy you love GrimmNel! You'll get a lot from them soon.
anonymous 2234: Thank you for sticking around and for leaving a review as well. I think so too, they are going deeper than planned. :)
Inverse L Reena: Hi! Welcome back. I thought I lost from boreness or something. *scratch head sheepishly* I think they will, they are sisters in laws after all. Fake or Real. Thanks for reviewing!
Star fire girl 788: Hi! Glad to hear/read from you! Wow, I'm overwhelmed knowing our fic could excite you like that. Thanks so much!
Ichiruki4vr: Its okay. I don't mind, since it means u like reading this fix so much. That's makes us very happy.
Bleach power: Wow you guessed right but I won't tell you who it is. Hehehe. I'm happy you like GrimmNel as well. And no worries, I think it will be a long one. Thanks!
I just want to answer those reviews I haven't replied. It'll be quick.
1. No, Inoue will not be paired to anyone.
2. No I am not a guy. Hmm, wonder you asked that? :)
3. And yes, definitely there will be a lemon. But since this fic is rated T the lemon won't be very detailed. No worries, we won't miss to write the important part. :)