Sacrament

Episode 5: Rebirth

….

"Every man dies. Not every man really lives." - Braveheart

….

Rukia pulled Ichigo's warm blanket around her shoulders tighter as if it were his embrace. Her cheeks were still beet red, her lips still swollen from a kiss. Once she was safe inside her estate, she let out a giddy girlish squeal. Ichigo? Really? Never in a million years did she think that Ichigo, her best friend, would end up being… what? A lover?

Rukia had no idea.

Unohana closed the back entry door quietly. She set a basket of laundry down on a bench next to the door and raised her eyebrow at Rukia expectantly.

"I don't even know what happened, Uno." Rukia smiled slightly. "It just… did."

"Just be safe, okay?" Unohana said, crossing her arms. "I don't want the Duke killing the poor boy."

"I know." Rukia said, and sat down on the bench with a huff. She raised her hands in the air and smacked them down on her knees for emphasis. "That's the problem."

"Maybe… maybe the Duke might come around to accept your relationship…someday." Unohana sighed, and picked up her basket of laundry and patted Rukia's head. "I'll bake your favorite snack to celebrate, okay?" And with that, Unohana turned on her heel and walked down the hallway, leaving Rukia to her own thoughts.

It was just so confusing. One day, she and Ichigo are fighting the woods, throwing swords at each other and getting competitive. Hell, Ichigo almost put dirt in her mouth just to get even for a lost fight. And now…

Rukia blushed at the memory. How in God's name did he learn to kiss like that?

Once again, Rukia had no idea. But she wasn't in the mood to find out.

Rukia walked into her bedchambers and stripped off all of her wet clothes and replaced them with a dress that would look acceptable in front of Byakuya. It was a light and willowy white dress with a square neckline that pushed up what little boobs she had into two small –but lovely—crescents at the peak of the neckline. It was embroidered with expensive diamonds at the neck, and a silver satin sash around her waist completed the look. It was her favorite –and most comfortable—dress. Rukia took her long wet hair out of her leather ponytail and French-braided her hair. She was just about to put on a pair of pearl-drop earrings when Byakuya tapped on her door quickly before barging in.

"Rukia." Byakuya nodded, his hands behind his back.

"Hello, father." Rukia nonchalantly kicked her wet clothes under her bed before Byakuya could notice. She really needs to be more careful. What if Byakuya caught her wearing the very clothes she stole from him? He would think she was some kind of lesbian and send her into exile.

"You weren't at the ceremony today. I had expected you to come." Byakuya said, giving a dignified sniff of his nose.

"Oh father, you know I've never gone to one." Rukia put her pearl-drop earrings into place. "Excuse me," She said as she brushed past her father, meaning to go out the door. She touched the doorframe. "And I never will."

Byakuya's eyes tightened slightly as if to say 'Are you sure?' before putting on his Kuchiki mask. "Very well. If you will excuse me I have business to attend to. I'll see you at dinner." He strode past her with dignified grace and poise. Rukia watched her father turn the corner before she breathed a sigh of relief. What she had said was very risky. She was an adult now and had no right to be living under his roof anymore. Rukia was actually quite surprised that Byakuya hadn't arranged a marriage yet just to get her out of his hair.

Maybe he really wouldn't mind if she married Ichi-

Hold that thought. Rukia told herself. You are thinking irrationally. One kiss doesn't mean—oh just shut up. Rukia kicked herself mentally. No, it wasn't just one kiss.

But that was beside the point.

….

Ichigo strolled through the muddy streets of Lorn, thinking about this morning with a blush still speckled on his cheeks. A few lone passersby gave him strange looks, causing his smile to mold into a hardened scowl. He had been in a good mood.

Suddenly, a messenger on horseback rode up to Ichigo, the horse's hooves clapped against the cobblestones. He was a small, dark-haired boy named Hanataro and had known Ichigo for a few years. Since Ichigo became older, he was always getting messages. From his father. From girls. Whoever.

"Hey, Hanataro." Ichigo gave the young boy a nod and a small wave. "What's up?"

"Your father calls for you! He uh, he says to meet him at your home for a briefing." Hanataro stuttered, barely able to hold onto the horse's reigns. "He said it w-was urgent!"

Ichigo's brows knitted together. "I'm on my way."

"You better r-run!" Hanataro called after him. Ichigo had never seen the boy this nervous.

Ichigo nodded and headed for home in a dead sprint.

….

Rukia strolled through the back garden of the Kuchiki Estate, thinking about the ceremony, about her mother… Ichigo… everything.

Byakuya said his business was out of the village and that he would be gone for a few days. That left Rukia to be able to do pretty much anything she wanted as long as Renji wasn't around.

Renji was a knight. He was also Byakuya's second-in-command, and followed her father around like a little lap dog all day. Some days, he was Byakuya's body guard. Other days, he would be his training instructor (yes, Byakuya was aware in the ways of the sword, thanks to Renji), or even his assistant. But, Byakuya had insisted that Renji stay behind to watch over his little girl during his trip, much to Rukia's dismay.

Rukia sighed as she strolled through the garden. Then she heard a branch snap somewhere in the distance. Her head whirled around to the sound, but saw nothing. Just a big hunk of the woods where the garden ended. The girl's eyes tensed slightly but continued on her way, thinking about Ichigo's smile and humming while she walked.

Then a leaf crunched.

Rukia turned around just in time to see a shock of bright red hair disappear behind a tree trunk at the edge of the woods.

She sighed. Stupid men. "Just because my father told you to watch over me doesn't mean you have to stalk my every move!"
"I guess you caught me." Renji Abarai appeared from around the tree and smirked. He was wearing black armor that was shining in the light of the afternoon sun as he held his sword in his hand. A pinkish furry shawl was draped around his broad shoulders, his tattooed eyebrows were furrowed and his spiky red hair was held up with a leather band. Ever the fashionable knight.

"What do you want, Renji?" Rukia asked, sitting down on a concrete bench situated next to a pool full of water lilies. She rested her chin in her hands and glared at him. She just wanted to be left alone with her thoughts and the sweet scent of flowers. Was that too much to ask?

A slight wind picked up, making Rukia's white, feather-light dress twist in the wind.

"Nothing. Just making sure you're safe. Procedure, you know." Renji shrugged as if his stalker-ness was part of his daily routine.

"Go away." Rukia turned her head.

"Ah-ah-ah," Renji shook his head condescendingly. "Byakuya wouldn't like that tone, little girl."

"I'm not a little girl and my father isn't here!" Rukia stood up suddenly, and stormed off. How dare he talk to her like that? She was a Duke's daughter! His only daughter.

"Baby, wait!" Renji caught up with her in just a few long strides. "Don't be mad, I'm just trying to make conversation."

"My conversations with you are not pleasant," Rukia spit and walked faster, her dress billowing around her. "Now leave me alone before I sick Kon on you."

"Oh yah, because I'm scared of your murderous little puppy." Renji scoffed and rolled his muddy brown eyes.

"He's not a puppy anymore! He's a murderous hound, now. You'll see." Rukia threatened and crossed her arms. It was a bit chilly for October 31st, even if the sun was shining the wind still cut through Rukia's skin like glass.

Renji noticed Rukia's slight shiver and pulled the pink furry shawl off of his shoulders. "Here, Rukia…" he began to place the shawl around Rukia's shoulders but she brushed him off.

"I don't need your help." She said. Rukia would rather be snuggled up in Ichigo's blanket that he had given her.

That sounds like a great idea. Rukia thought. At least this idiot can't actually follow me to my bedroom. Byakuya would have a fit! She smiled to herself.

"I'm going to my bedchambers." Rukia sniffed and suddenly turned around to walk back to the estate, giving Renji whiplash and a dumb-struck facial expression.

"But—"

"Shut up, Renji." Rukia mumbled, just low enough for him to hear. She hurriedly went through the back entryway and up into her room. She wrapped herself in Ichigo's blanket. The blanket was a Scottish plaid, made up of dull red, green, and orange, but it was very soft and comforting. She hummed in content and snuggled up on her couch with it, breathing in his musky scent.

Ichigo…

….

Ichigo arrived at his house sweaty and out-of breath. What could be so important that Goatface had to send a messenger to fetch him? Ichigo heard low murmuring in the kitchen, and walked in there, bending at the knees to catch his breath. His father was sitting at a long dining table, surrounded by his co-workers: Urahara, Tessai, and Urahara's wife Yoruichi. They all had somber expressions on their faces

"What is it, father?" Ichigo said between breaths. "Don't tell me I ran all this way for nothing."

"You didn't, carrot-top." Urahara said, and tilted his green and white stripped hat. Yoruichi nodded in agreement, her lips pursed.

"This is very important." said Isshin Kurosaki bluntly. "Please, sit."

Ichigo did as he was told. It wasn't every day that his father was this serious. "What's going on?" the young orange haired man asked, his scowl deepening. He didn't like the tension in the air.

There was a pause. Urahara glanced at Yoruichi, squeezing her hand that was being held under the table, out of sight. Isshin sighed, and closed his eyes for a moment as if he was really, really tired. When he finally opened them, there was a new fire in the man's eyes.

"Hisana Kuchiki is alive."

"…what?"

….

End of Episode Five.

A/N: DUN DUN DUNNNNN! ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS…. REVIEWS WILL MAKE THE NEXT CHAPTER COME FASTER! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! THEY ARE THE ICHIGO TO MY RUKIA, THE BITCHSLAP TO MY RENJI, THE FIRE IN MY EYES. REVIEW AND FAVORITE! GAHHH. SO HYPER. MUST SLEEP.

UNTIL NEXT TIME.hadhad