Ryo: Thank you guys so much for 100 reviews! The 100th reviewer was…
Flopsy95! Have some cookies, Flopsy! Also, since my story reached a 100 reviews, I'm gonna be like LGDW and update not one, but TWO chapters! Enjoy this double update!
Chapter 17: Tales of the SS Soul (Exile)
The next day, Ricky and his group woke up immediately as the sun rises up. Ben, Wall-E and Allen were already at the ship's swimming pool. Will was at the ship's video game arcade while Ricky and Saber are at the starboard of the cruise.
"…and soon I realize, I was actually eating rice with mayo instead of rice with soup." Ricky said to Saber, telling some of his life's moments. Saber giggled after hearing this. Ricky however, frowned a bit.
He could still remember what Ami and Yumi told him about Saber. To him, Saber seems to be a light-hearted and innocent and has a personality that has much like any other caring girl. So how could Saber be a murderer? How could a caring innocent girl kill anyone? He just doesn't know who or what to believe.
"I see you two are having a good time." A voice spoke up. Saber and Ricky turned to the source of the voice. It came from a ship officer named Hakoda. "So, is she your girlfriend?" Hakoda asked Ricky.
"Oh…um…" Ricky blushed. "She's not my girlfriend. We're just friends."
"Yeah…just friends." Saber blushed as well as she scratches the back of her head.
"I see. Sorry I ask because you see, tonight, there's gonna be a ball at the ship's ballroom. Would you like to join us? After all, some fine apparel may be more…than your current rather simple attire." Hakoda asked.
"A ball?" Ricky asked, sounding rather worried. Saber however smiled, liking the idea.
"Sure, why not?" Saber said.
"That would be great. And don't worry, everybody on the ship is invited." Hakoda said. After he walked away from the couple, Saber turned to Ricky and noticed the boy looking worried.
"Come on, Ricky. It will be fun." Saber assured.
"But…I never look good in tuxedos." Ricky uttered. "In fact, I don't think I ever wear one before."
"Oh, don't be silly. I'm sure you will look great in them. If you ever change your mind, see me at the ballroom tonight. Okay?" Saber walks off, leaving Ricky alone.
Later, Ricky enters one of the cruise's hot tub rooms. He removes his clothes and enters the tub naked. Ricky groans in relaxation, as the steamy water in the hot tub soothes him. He was about to close his eyes and take a nap when suddenly, he heard someone else coming in. He turned his head to the door and…
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!!!!!!!"
Why is he screaming? Because at the door of the room is Rukia Kuchiki, now conscious and woken up, and she's seeing him in a hot tub naked!
"No! Don't look at me!" Ricky cried as he wrapped his body with his arms. Rukia lowered her head and giggled.
"Don't worry, I won't." Rukia said. "But you can't look at me either."
"Why not?" Ricky asked. And what happens next? Rukia starts taking off her Shinigami Robes and underwear! "OH WHAT THE HELL?!"
Ricky quickly covers his eyes, not wanting to see her in the nude. He will probably also be tormented with very graphic visual images for at least a month thanks to her. After a few minutes, Rukia finishes stripping off her clothes and enters the hot tub naked as well.
"Okay, stop screaming like a wimp. Only my head is now above the water." Rukia said, rolling her eyes. Ricky removes his hands from his eyes and sighed in relief. "Don't mind if I join you?"
"Yeah sure. Why not?" Ricky groaned sarcastically. The two then remained silent in the hot tub for a few minutes until Rukia spoke up, breaking the silence.
"Sorry I tried to kill you last night." Rukia said, sounding sad.
"Hey, it's okay." Ricky assured. "So, you're a Shinigami right?"
"Yeah. My name is Rukia Kuchiki. What's your name, templar?"
"Ricky Blade. Anyways, why aren't you in Japan?" Rukia gasps as Ricky asks this question. This causes her to lower her head in sadness and tears start forming in her eyes. The horrible thoughts of her past are consuming her again.
Ricky panicked. He shouldn't have asked that! He quickly tried to correct his mistake. "Please, don't cry, I…"
"No, it's okay." Rukia wipes off the tears in her eyes. "I…I can tell you why I left Japan. It's because I'm an exile."
"You're banished?" Ricky said, now calming down. "Why?"
"Because I was tried by the Shinigami Council for murder…"
Flashback:
(Three Years Ago)
(Soul Society, Japan)
It was a few days after the Shinigami's resistance against the Faction. Thanks to their supernatural powers, the Shinigamis easily defeated the Faction and saved their country from the opposing force. However, just a few days later, a certain female Shinigami has to stand trial for her crimes during the resistance.
Rukia Kuchiki nervously stood at the center of a circular room, chained up like an animal. Ten high-ranking Shinigamis sat around her.
The first Shinigami was a bold man with a long grey beard, an 'X'-shaped scar on his forehead and wears a white coat and black robes. His name was Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryusai, the general of the Shinigami Council.
The second Shinigami was an orange-haired teenage boy who wears black robes and a white sash. His name was Ichigo Kurosaki, Rukia's friend.
The third Shinigami was a well-built man with red hair, tied to a ponytail and wears a white headband, black robes and a white sash. He also has black tattoos on his forehead and back. His name was renji Abarai, also Rukia's friend.
The other seven Shinigamis are named Retsu Unohana, Jushiro Ukitake, Kenpachi Zaraki, Shuhei Hisagi, Rangiku Matsumoto, Isane Kotetsu and Shunsui Kyoraku.
"Before we begin, Rukia, can you tell us why we called you here?" Yamamoto asked Rukia sternly.
"I…I was charged for murder of a fellow shinigami." Rukia answered nervously. Ichigo and Renji both look concern. They both couldn't believe Rukia had been arrested and charged for a serious crime. They both felt helpless while watching her and this trial will determine her fate.
"Can you explain what happen?" Unohana asked.
"During a live-fire exercise, me and my fellow Shinigamis were running through the field when all of the sudden, one of them experience a leg cramp. I went over to treat him and I know that the pain is sore and he needs to be sent to the medical division immediately. But when I carried him up onto my back, one of the blasts from the stimulations shot him in the head." Rukia lowered her head after explaining.
"Did he tell you to send him to the medical division immediately?" Hisagi asked.
A few seconds of silence later, Rukia sighed and said, "No."
"Then why did you still carried him during a live-fire exercise? Your carelessness has caused a life of an innocent warrior." Kenpachi said sternly.
"Because I…" Rukia becomes even more nervous. "Because I needed everyone in my side to be healthy. And I wanted to win."
'Poor Kuchiki." Ichigo whispered sadly to Renji.
"I know." Renji agreed. He and Ichigo know that Rukia was just trying to help her teammates but she never thought her carelessness would get her into great trouble.
"Even if you were trying to help your teammates, you know that a warrior like you should have think about what you are about to do and know whether you should do it now or later." Rangiku said.
"Therefore, you are no longer a Shinigami because of your foolish mistakes." Isane added.
"Now then, council, present your verdicts." Yamamoto said to the council.
Unohana sighed sadly and said, "Guilty."
"Guilty," Jushiro said.
"Guilty," Kenpachi said.
"Guilty," Hisagi said. Ichigo and Renji's hearts beat faster as they realized it was nearly their turns. Rukia is their friend since they all join the Shinigami order, but they both had the responsibility to vote honestly, and they couldn't protect her from her own mistakes.
"Guilty," Kyoraku said, tilting his hat down a bit.
"Guilty." Rangiku said.
"Guilty." Isane said. Ichigo and Renji's hearts beat faster. This was it, they had to decide right now whether they would vote Rukia innocent or guilty. As Renji was about to open his mouth however, Rukia cried out to him and Ichigo.
"Please Renji! Please Ichigo! I was just trying to help! I never-"
"Silence!" Yamamoto growled. Rukia shakes in fright, the rattling of her chains that are attached to her can be heard. "Please disregard that outburst. Renji, make your judgment," Yamamoto said to Renji.
Renji looked at Rukia. She was staring at him pleadingly, her eyes brimming with tears. He looked away, unable to look her in the eyes. "Guilty," he said quietly. Rukia's eyes widened as she gasps. She couldn't believe what she just heard.
"Ichigo, what's your verdict?" Yamamoto asked. Ichigo looked at her sadly.
"Please…" Rukia whispered.
Ichigo hung his head and said, "I'm sorry, Rukia. Guilty." Rukia's heart ache and she fell onto her knees and cried helplessly.
"Very well," Yamamoto said, "Rukia Kuchiki, you have been found guilty of your crimes by unanimous vote. You are therefore banished from the Shinigami Council and Japan."
End of Flashback
"After that, I had nowhere to go. So I had to choice but to join the Faction. If I don't join them, I would have no purpose and just let myself die from hunger and thirst. My master, The Brute, treat me well and I served him with loyalty. Even if he orders me to kill somebody for him, I would just obey him and do my duties because without him or the faction, I would have died right now." Rukia sniffed as tears form in her eyes. "But now that I have failed my mission to kill you, why should I return to him as a failure? He will probably throw me out and never come back to him." She struggled to whimper between her sobs. "And…and why…does Ichigo and Renji…do this to me? I-I thought they were my friends. So…so what did they agree with the council? W-why did they banish me? And…I miss my home. First I was banished…from my home…now I felt I can't return to my master…I-I just…" She buries her eyes in her hands and wailed, "I just don't know where to go anymore!"
Ricky just stared back at her wordlessly for a moment, until he splashes some water at Rukia, making her stop crying and looked at him with red puffy eyes.
"Come on Rukia, pull yourself together. I know things don't look good for you. I know you felt betrayed by your friends and I know you are far away from your home, the place which you miss a lot, and I know you failed your master and I know you probably feel alone, scared and frightened about what might happen next…but listen to me," He leans his head closer to Rukia. "You are never alone. You still got me and my friends. So what do you say? Do you want to join me?"
Rukia stared at him momentarily, until she finally make a sad smile as a few loose tears trickled down her cheeks. "Thank you, Ricky. And yes, I will join you…with my life." Ricky smiled as Rukia placed both of her hands together and bowed her head. "From now on, I'll protect you with my sword and my life."
Ricky bowed his head and said, "Thank you…Rukia Kuchiki."
END OF CHAPTER
Ryo: I hope you guys enjoy reading. I tried my best to make Rukia's past more tragic. Onto the next chapter!