Another Bloody Banquet Chapter. To Blitch – I changed the name of the characters in Bleach to adapt them to their new vampire roles. But as you see, their first names are the same. (Except for some whom I used the surname because they are far cuter than their first names in my opinion) So, this is it. There are many new characters but I won't be using them that much, so don't worry about the confusion.
That's all.
Chapter 4
Steep and Cold
The feast went on for hours. One could barely register the tension going on within the room. The nobles, though relaxed, seemed to be anticipating the next move of the two rivaling clans. And also there was a question that lingered on everyone's minds.
Where was the Kuchiki heiress?
If the petite, raven-haired girl wasn't that person but instead the Kuchiki head's sister, then who the real deal?
Ichigo wandered about the hall, his mind preoccupied by inquiries about the enigmatic Kuchiki girl. He was oblivious in fact that he bumped into a laughing Xiao Yu Jen.
"Ichigo-sama," she said in surprise.
Ichigo was awakened from his trail of thoughts and gave a distracted smile towards the beautiful vampire in front of him.
"Uhm… can I ask a favor?" she asked.
He half-listened. There was something about him that was so drastically single-minded. If he wanted to know things, he wanted to know them quickly. He just learned to be coolly objective about it and learned to hide whatever extreme emotion he was feeling, that's why for most parts, he looked detached.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Can you give me the honor of taking you for a dance?" Jen asked.
Ichigo was mildly surprised. It was rare of Jen to be straightforward about things, let alone ask him straight out for a dance.
"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that question?" Ichigo asked.
Jen blushed. "I just think that Ichigo-sama has never taken interest in dancing with anyone in any gathering."
Ichigo thought about it. He really didn't like the fuss the girls made.
"Many men would love to dance with you," he said.
"Yes," she said, eyes looking hurt. "But I want you."
Ichigo gave her a soft smile. Might as well.
He said nothing and took her light body in his, motioning her to the dance floor in one swift movement.
The vampires present watched in expectation as the two purebloods danced in the middle of the floor. Everyone's attention was on them – some jealous, others happy, and a few curious.
Aizen Sousuke and his wife watched on approvingly. They had been thinking that Jen might be the one selected by the Bloody Diamond Rose.
Xiao-Yu Shin watched proudly, his mad wife, Soi Fong, not saying anything of the matter and looking aloof as usual.
This was somewhat an assurance for all that the bloodline will again be preserved.
The opening ceremonies ended, and the parents left in haste. But still no one saw the Kuchiki heiress.
No anticipated brawl between the Aizens and Kuchikis happened. And still no one saw the Kuchiki heiress,
The Lilith students went back to the Gehenna Dorm, along with the other noble students. And still no one saw the Kuchiki heiress.
Ichigo sighed to himself as he went up to the Lilith exclusive common room. He still haven't seen the Kuchiki heiress.
"Rima?" he called out.
Shiki Rima appeared instantly. "Yes, Ichigo-sama?"
"Have you seen the Kuchiki heiress yet?"
"No, Ichigo-sama," Rima replied. "I have been trying to pinpoint her location, but no sign of her. The barrier she had put around herself is so strong and is still not lifted."
"What is she playing at, not making herself known?" Renji grumbled.
"Yes. The Dorm welcome party is about to start, and still no sign of the main celebrant," Jen said gently. "Do you think she's alright?"
"I hope so," Ichigo said. "Her father mentioned that she was sick. But I think she's strong enough to handle her own."
"Has she reached her full potentials yet?" Ishida asked.
"Yes, she has," Toushirou piped in.
They all looked at the usually silent and passive Toushirou.
"And this information came when?" Ichigo asked.
"I overheard Xiao-Yu Shin talking to Kuchiki Byakuya," Toushirou said. "Apparently, it was last August."
Renji laughed. "So we have three fully-capable purebloods in the school now."
Jen giggled. "Yes. Renji, Kuchiki-san, and I."
"Can't wait for November," they heard Hinamori mumble.
In the corner of his eye, Ichigo was sure he saw something white float near the huge glass window overlooking all of them.
"I sensed something," Jen said.
"Me too," Hinamori said in agreement.
"Kuchiki?" Ishida asked.
"Most probably," Toushirou said.
"I think you have the ability to summon her, Ichigo-sama," Ishida said. "Your powers are greater than her."
"No. As of now she is more powerful than me," Ichigo said.
They all stared at him in shock.
"What?" Renji asked.
"The Kuchiki clan is second to our clan after all," Ichigo said. "A full-fledged pureblood and an heir at that in their family surpasses an undeveloped member of our clan. But when I come of age, I will be more powerful than her – more than she can ever imagine."
"How much more powerful is she?" Hinamori asked in fright.
"It's only a bit," Ichigo said. "I have more special abilities, but my summoning techniques does not work on her. Not now."
They all nodded in understanding.
"I guess the party would begin without her," Renji said.
"I guess so," Toushirou agreed.
"Shall we go?" Ichigo asked, getting up from his seat.
They all agreed and left.
She flew in the darkness, wandering about the night sky of Azulith Academy.
The feast was over, but the Gehenna Dorm lights were still ablaze.
She was the Kuchiki heiress and right now, she felt at home.
She wasn't ill as her father conceived her to be in the gatherings. She simply refused to attend such social niceties.
And she refused to see the Aizen clan.
Like all her forebears, she had inherited the deep, seething sense of competition and wrath towards the so-called most powerful vampire clan.
But she did not see her absence as a sign of stepping down. Let the whole vampire world know that the Kuchiki heiress was a weak, sickly girl.
But they wouldn't know what hit them when they saw her.
She wouldn't go now – she refused to go anywhere but high above the earth.
She wanted to observe in peace. She had already assigned Netopyrs to fix her very own room in the dormitory. Menial tasks weren't a matter to her.
Her only mission is to strive and be the center of Azulith's limelight.
And she would prove that the Kuchiki clan wasn't a dead family.
After all these years.
Finally.
The party started with delight. The upperclassmen welcomed the newcomers with much delight.
The Lilith watched over them all, set up high above on top of the stairs leading to the mansion-designed dormitory.
Laughter and music filled the room with no sign of meals, for they were all stuffed from the previous banquet.
Ichigo cleared his throat, and everyone was silenced.
"A wonderful evening to you all," he said, standing tall. "I, Aizen Ichigo, as the Supreme Student Government President and Dormitory Leader, it is with great honor that I welcome the old students, once again, and the new students to the new school year of Azulith Academy."
Applause covered the open air.
"If there is anything that you find inconvenient in this institution, let me know and I shall be glad to help," he added. "Though I am certain that there wouldn't be many problems since this school is always dedicated to perfection. And I am always dedicated to perfection."
He sat down and everyone clapped merrily.
Not too far away, hovering above them all, a figure clapped along.
"So, you're the Aizen heir?" she mumbled. "Haughty as always."
She glided over and landed softly on the grass behind the dorms. She snapped her slender fingers and in an instant, she was transported to her magically-sealed room that no one from the outside could find.
Not even members of the Lilith.
For that was the expertise of the Kuchiki clan – seals and secrets.
Her luxurious hair fell to her back and merrily by her sides. Her beauty was unearthly. It was electrifying.
She opened a crusty book from the trunk that she brought along. She specifically ordered her servants not to move the trunk for when it comes to her books, she wanted to be the one to fix it.
The book was entitled, L'Ancien. It was a French, historical book about vampires. She particularly valued the past for she believed that one cannot move forward without knowing the past.
That was why she followed in the league of her ancestors – forever warring with the Aizens.
She smiled contentedly to herself as she nestled on the spacious silken bed. She sat there like a glorious princess reading an aged book.
Satisfaction enveloped her.
She was home.
"I'm bored," Toushirou said with a yawn.
"I'm hungry," Jen said.
"So?" Renji said, glaring at her.
Jen looked up at him with pleading eyes. "Let me have a bite," she said. "Just one."
"No way!" Renji complained. "I already gave you three hours ago. Your appetite is not a woman's."
Jen grumbled. "Haruka-chan!!!" she called out.
Jen's Empusa assistant appeared in a flash. Everyone knew that each Lilith has a noble-class student vampire that worked as a servant, a rank that matches Netopyrs in the view of purebloods.
Yadomaru Haruka appeared beside Jen. "Yes, Xiao-Yu-sama?" she asked formally.
"A bite," Jen said. "Just one."
Haruka consented and exposed her neck. Jen bit it down instantly.
"Bloodlust," Ishida said. "Common for our age."
"Only you don't have it," Renji said. "Abnormal as usual."
Ishida glared at him. "An Adze family specialty."
"Of abnormality," Renji teased.
Then, he felt his hand bleed.
"HOI!" he yelled. "No using of powers!"
Ishida grinned. "Couldn't resist."
Ichigo watched on, disinterested. He had been feeling power fluctuations from a strange source within the vicinity. He was sure it was the Kuchiki girl, but she didn't seem to be fond of crowds and she may be watching from afar.
Ichigo bared his eyes, still looking interested with the party but actually looking around for signs of a pureblood.
One knew a pureblood from other classes of vampires. Point one was they had paler skin. Point two was that they all had golden flecks in their eyes. Point three was they were the most beautiful. Point four was that they had an extraordinarily alluring scent that was unique to every family, and as Ichigo noticed, the Kuchiki family smelled strongly of sakura. And point five was that even when calm, the purebloods exuded a different level of spiritual pressure.
Because the ability of vampires came from the tampering of their spirits.
Where are you hiding?
Done!
"If mystery is what keeps humans apart, then there would come a time, even by a smallest fraction of a second that people will come together. For no secrets last forever."
- directX07 –