I am Your Slave Wife
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN BLEACH…
A/N: SORRY… I AM REALLY AM SORRY… Easter week caught up with me, then summer fun, making handmade bags for cram school, ball games, and beach too many activities for the past month but I am still alive. Lol THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR REVIEWS!
CHAPTER 13: I am Your Slave Wife
Ticktock the clock counts down. Ichigo was lying on Rukia's bed, curled into her warm comforters, breathing her scent steadily on her soft pillows. He was sound asleep, dreaming that when he wakes up he is going to try harder. Reaching her now was like a faded pieces of dreams, you're so close of grasping the missing scenes but ones you're about to touch it. It slips into your hands like a melted abstract painting of different murky colors. He wishes every minute to be rewind but he has so much to do and so much to say. Their relationship was inside an hour glass. He can't waste his time dwelling in the past any longer because he needs his future otherwise tomorrow will be too late for him. He'll let himself dream for now but when he wakes up he is going to make his dreams come to reality. And right now everything he was dreaming of was Rukia beside him.
….
Renji was starring into nothing. He had received a call overseas from Rukia. She had left Ichigo as well as him. Renji sighed he was feeling down, Rukia left without seeing him. He wanted to at least properly bid her goodbye and say his best regards for a new beginning. But that's not really what's bothering him; she had asked him to let Ichigo meet Inoue Orihime. "For what fucking reasons?" He had asked but he merely hear her gently chuckled on the other line. She sought for peace she had told him but Renji knows well. She wanted to set Ichigo free from everything, from the past, from his guilt for not being able to stand before Inoue Orihime in times of serious needs. They can never change the fact that just then she was Ichigo's girlfriend and it was his responsibility to protect her. The reason why he had become bitter to everybody must maybe because of the fact that he was not able to protect his fragile girlfriend with dual identities to his own powerful and influential family. It was on his name after all "the one who protects" thing or "number one protector" crap.
Renji sighed again and dialed Ichigo's number. Inoue Orihime and her boyfriend were in a safe house provided by their captain. They can stay there as long as they are going to be useful in the investigation. One's Aizen's case ended then they can kiss the safe house goodbye and spend more time in the prison before their trials ended. Their captain was not just a beast but he was also an absolute sadist. Renji sighed for the third time dealing with criminals was far better than dealing with old friends having affairs in the past.
"Hello, who's this?" A grumpy voice of Ichigo answered Renji's call. Renji shook his head in irritation.
"Oi, bastard it's me Renji." He impassively said. Ichigo still pissed him off. He had never liked the guy after what he did to Rukia. It's a common reaction since Rukia was very close to him. He always had a soft and reserve side for her.
"What do you want?" Ichigo rudely asked.
"The nerve of this guy." Renji irritably thought. "Same old grumpy and ill-mannered strawberry, aren't you?" Renji's voice was dripping with sarcasm.
"Don't start baboon. I am not in the mood today to fight a monkey like you. I need to get some rest-
"You still have the time to rest when Rukia just left you? She really didn't mean a thing to you, did she? You fucking retarded. It was really right for her to leave a son of a bitch like you!" He roared in the phone.
"Watch your mouth asshole. You put my Mom into this again and I swear I'll crush your stinking mouth and make a fucker like you bleed to death." Ichigo furiously threatened. There was a short pause between the two lines, trying to gain some self control to make their conversation work.
"I am going after Rukia. I'll find her and patch things between us." He said the tone of his voice was becoming closer to normal not letting Renji backfire him.
"I don't understand you." Renji coldly said. He didn't want her to come back to him. "I don't want her to come back to you. You'll just hurt he aga-
"Not this time, I came to realize how important she is to me and I will admit I am a bastard for being cruel to her but I am willing to do everything just for her to forgive me. It won't be easy but I will fight and will never surrender because I LOVE HER." Renji was speechless for a while. He didn't see that coming. Ichigo just said he love Rukia.
"Don't fuck with me Kurosaki." Renji was now furious. It was too easy for him to realize those things. "Easy for you to say that bastard, realization? Fight for her?" He mockingly laughs on the phone. "After the things you did to her you still have the guts to think that she'll forgive you? That it is ok for you to love her? Leave her alone, Kurosaki. You don't deserve Rukia's forgiveness." Ichigo was silent for a while Renji's words slap him hard and it stings.
"I know but even so I wanted to try. Rukia had endured too much for me; it's time for me to do the same. Right now, it's all about making her happy I won't let anybody manipulate us, manipulate her not even myself. And one more thing Renji I won't listen to what you are going to say so stop wasting your breath. No matter how right you are Rukia's thoughts and opinions are the only thing I'll consider from now on." Ichigo said. Renji's face contorts in disapproval as well as astonishment. Ichigo's words just now make sense to him.
Renji sighed for the umpteenth time. Again he sucks dealing with friends having serious affairs in the past. "Hurt her again Kurosaki and I'll kill you." Renji warned him. Ichigo quietly nodded on the other line.
"I'll come to you myself to be slain if I screwed up again." Renji lean on his office chair. He suddenly didn't want to bring up Orihime Inoue in the conversation.
"Is that the only reason why you called?" Ichigo asked. Renji reach out for the files of the Espada and scan for Inoue's papers.
"Ichigo, I want you to meet someone." Renji began.
"Who?" Ichigo nonchalantly asked. He was about to step out of Rukia's bed but when he heard the name of the person Renji wanted him to meet he was suddenly frozen in place.
"Inoue Orihime." There was a pregnant silence between the two lines. Renji was waiting for Ichigo to recover.
"We have nothing to talk about everything is clear to me now." He coldly said.
"Rukia asked me to tell you where you can find your ex."
"Do you know where I can find Rukia? Tell me anything you know where she is right now Renji." Ichigo rapidly bombarded him with questions.
"Ichigo why don't you settle everything first before starting all over again." Renji heard Ichigo sigh.
"Is that what Rukia wanted? If so then I'll meet her." He said. Renji shook his head and smirk.
"Ichigo, you are a whipped ass." He said taunting the berry head.
"You want to die?" Ichigo impassively said. Renji just roared laughing.
…
Paris was so welcoming. The people greeted her with smiles and kisses even though they just met in the streets. French women giggled and cuddled her as she bought bread and flowers. They say she was so cute like a pale, flawless porcelain doll. They just want to display her in their shops. Rukia can't help but blushed at the attention they were giving to her that makes the women squeal even more in delight. Rukia smiled for herself, she felt warm hearted, and Paris had welcomed her whole heartedly.
Byakuya was in London he had asked Rukia to enjoy herself first in Europe before entering the business world again. He knows Rukia needs sometime for herself and he was more willing to give her whatever she needs to find healings for her broken self. It's the only little thing he can do for her and he had wished he can do more.
Rukia walks on the brick pathway of Paris to her hotel. The place was beautiful and the title "City of Love" well-matched the place because every corner, every building, trees, fountains and the doves emit this aura of romanticism. The first time she had arrived in Paris, she saw the Basilique du Sacre-Coeur inside the taxi and it was spectacular, gratifying. She had always wished to travel in Paris with Ichigo. Rukia's excited steps, slow down and her boots softly halted. She observes the early sunrise; it was still chilly in Paris. Rukia adjusted her brown knitted scarf and brown knitted semi-sailor type hat as she walk closer to the Romanesque styled bridge. Overlooking the Seine River, Rukia felt nostalgic.
"Today I'm going to learn how to forgive and forget. Time passes by I want to make a change. All the things I regret the most I won't regret them anymore I don't have long so make the most of every moment. I am Rukia Kuchiki and I am here in Paris to learn how to love myself." Rukia said smiling for herself. She started walking again and saw a blue strapless dress displayed inside a very feminine boutique. The dress reaches just above the mannequin's legs. It fits perfectly on the waist then flows fully down. Under the mannequin's feet was a silver close shoes type high heel, with a cute diamond ribbon on top. Rukia had fallen instantly at the dress.
"A makeover will surely make me feel even better here in Paris." She said and proceeded inside the boutique to buy the dress and heels then went to the salon for her make over.
….
After talking with Renji, Ichigo had talk to his assistance to prepare the minor things he needed to find his wife. He will do anything to find her, use his wealth, his power, his influence and even confront Byakuya if he had to. He will find a way; there will be options in everything. This is just the first step in reaching her the rest will be up to her and how strong their love is. He had never wanted something so bad, the way he had wanted her back in his life.
"It sucks to be me right now." He whispered as he dried his hair with a white towel. He just finishes his shower in Rukia's room. He will meet Inoue Orihime this afternoon as what Renji had said Rukia wanted him to do. Ichigo walk to her bed wearing only a short towel secured on his waist. He sat down and takes the picture of them. A ghost smile emerges on his face. The feeling of happiness in their younger days was slowly coming back to him. That's when he notices a ring on his pinky finger. He immediately checks on it. It was Rukia's wedding ring.
"I almost forgot how small and fragile you are. Look at your ring it only fits on my pinky finger." He said with humor and sadness on his voice. He then remembers his own ring and almost knock out the door as he run to his room to look for it.
"Where did I put it? It was just here… Fuck!" He cursed messing his room more, throwing and turning things upside down. Adjusting his towel that was now dangerously low on his waist his eyes spotted the window. Ichigo's eyes widen in realization, he had thrown it out of the window with its box. He immediately again run outside wearing only his towel.
In a flash he passes by Hanatarou who almost yelp in surprise. The maids are blushing seeing their Master clad only in his towel, running his way to the garden. Hanatarou immediately called for Shuuhei keeping the thought that because of being left alone again he had lost it.
"Shuuhei-san, I'm afraid Kurosaki-dono had lost it." He sadly said.
"What are you talking about?" Shuuhei asked stopping what he was doing, and that is wiping the wine glasses to perfection.
"He runs out to the garden wearing only a towel. Come see it yourself." Shuuhei immediately followed Hanatarou and was really surprise to see his Master. Kneeling like a dog beside the bushes. He was digging, looking up and under the bushes and plants. He suddenly felt pity on him despite what he had done to their mistress. It must be really painful to be left again.
"Master, I know it was painful and all but you can't do this to yourself." Shuuhei dramatically said. Hanatarou was getting teary eyed all over. Ichigo look up to them from the bush, his hair has green leaves sticking up from his already unruly hair and his freshly shaven face had mud on it. He was scowling, totally pissed that they were just looking at him, not helping him find his ring.
"What are you babbling and standing in there? Help me find my ring. Its looks like this." He raised his hand and shows them Rukia's rings. "It was inside a green box. I had thrown it somewhere in here. I need it right now." He said as dive back in the bush to continue his hunt. Shuuhei sweat drop and look at Hanatarou warily. Hanatarou just rub his head in embarrassment. He jumps again into conclusion. He can't help it their Master never behaves this way before.
"Oi, are you going to help me or get fired?" Ichigo impatiently asked.
"Hai, Master." They both said and help him look for the ring. After ten minutes of their search Ichigo finally spotted the green box. It was tangled with the stems of the healthy bush. Ichigo tried to break in the walls of the strong stems but it won't move or lose a bit. He got pissed and stands up from the ground, position his strong legs on both sides of the circular bush and pull it out of the ground.
"Heh, stubborn bush, you think you're tough. I show you tough." He said smirking and dumps the poor bush on the ground after taking his box with him then went inside his mansion, triumphant. Shuuhei and Hanatarou sweat drop, looking at their Master as he disappeared inside his house.
"Poor thing." Hanatarou said kneeling on the fallen bush.
"Hey, that's creepy don't cry over a dead bush!" Shuuhei shouted at Hanatarou. "Can this day get even weirder?" Shuuhei asked to himself.
….
Ichigo's car stops in a highly guarded house. The guards were well equipped with advance weaponry. He saw Renji went out of the guard house, cigarettes dangling on the side of his lips. Ichigo's eyes wander around the place the walls were too high to even see the roof of the house inside. The top of the walls were bedecked with barbed wires and huge pieces of broken glasses fix on the concrete wall. CCTV camera's are in every corner.
"Kenpachi has over done this place again." He nonchalantly said. "It's more like an execution place to me than a safe house." Renji blow smoke in the air before answering Ichigo.
"Watch it Kurosaki even if our captain was your old mentor you can't address him like that." Ichigo shook his head and walk his way closer to Renji then mockingly pat his right shoulders.
"You've really become a cop." Ichigo said putting his hands on the pockets of his black hooded jacket. "Crap like that matters to you now."
"We had long ago passed our teenage years Kurosaki. We need to become useful to the society before society dumps us themselves." Ichigo followed Renji as they enter the safe house. He saw well trained canines everywhere and the house wasn't half bad it was a typical house with tinted bullet proof windows.
"You think we are not useful back then? We beat up quite a lot of bullies. We also serve justice back then in our own small way." Renji stop walking and look back at Ichigo who has a very impassive expression on his face.
"I didn't say anything like that. What I am trying to portray is that-
"I get your point pineapple head. I got a better brain than you back then until now." Renji insulted was about to retort back when Ichigo got ahead of him. "But you've become a better person than me at this moment." He said. Renji stare at Ichigo for a second and realize what he was trying to say. He had regretted what he had become.
"You take care of my family while I'm gone. I leave their safety and protection to people like you." They locked eyes for a while and a silent oath was made between the two men, safety for his family and Rukia's happiness.
"We are working on it. Aizen is a stubborn ass." Renji said as he opened a door that lead them down stairs. "You go on your own from this point onward. I don't want to meddle anymore in your affairs." Renji said.
"Got it." It was Ichigo's short answer as he walks down the stairs hands on the pocket of his pants. He was inside a green house, pretty impressive.
"No violence Kurosaki, cameras are everywhere here. You'll be charge for hurting a witness." It was Renji's short reminder. He heard Ichigo scoffed.
"I won't be long. It's a waste of my time." He said without looking at the red head and continues his way. Renji inaudibly chuckled and smirk at Ichigo's retreating back.
"Rukia didn't have to do this at all. You have totally gotten over of your guilt for not being able to protect her back then." He said to himself and went out of the house.
Orihime was feeding some snack to her first child Schi when she heard footsteps coming to her. She thought another cop again trying to get some information from her. Grimmjow was sent to the headquarters not too long from now to confirm something. She was left alone with Schi and the guards in the safe house.
"Can we have the interview for a while Sir, I am still feeding my-
"I can't waste anymore of my time here." A very familiar voice came to Orihime and when she turns her head to the source of the voice. She felt her body lose its strength and at the same time loses her grip on the plate she was holding, spilling its contents on the green carpeted floor and some on the white couch in the mini living room of the green house.
"Ku-Kurosaki-kun." She felt her throat dried and she can feel her palms sweating. She was still not prepared to face him. She had regretted all the things she had done to him. She wanted to touch him and apologize, beg for his forgiveness.
"Stay where you are." Ichigo coldly said, halting Inoue from moving any further.
"Let me explain Kurosaki-kun." Orihime beg to him. Her eyes started to water, she had been through a lot in life. She lost her brother and was used by a mad man for his plans of revenge. This person in front of him is the only person that treated her as Inoue Orihime and makes her feel very special. She had loved him truly but under many circumstances and secrets. She has to leave him because that was what things supposed to be back then.
"You don't have to. Everything is clear to me. I wouldn't be here in the first place if it wasn't for Rukia's request. Despite all the things we had done to her, she still wanted us to make peace. You don't know what we've been through because of you people. It's just the beginning we still have an extensive struggle to overcome." He remorsefully said. All the chances to make himself and the people around him happy, he let them all slip in his hand. He wasted them and let it past him by.
"I see you are doing well. I really thought you are suffering somewhere, struggling in life because of my family. The guilt is sometimes unbearable you know? I wanted to help you back then but I don't know how and where to start. I was powerless against my father's influence and you just left me hanging somewhere leaving me with hatred inside. I was a fool to believe you. You are indeed a good actress, Inoue Orihime. You had played the role of a helpless victim in front of me very well." Orihime's tears started to fall in her eyes. She was right he'll definitely hate her and it hurts. He was important to her.
"Kurosaki-
"No hard feelings from now on Inoue. All we had in the past was scripted after all. You didn't have a hard time to move on. And right now at this moment I can finally say to you that I am now free of the guilt and self-loathing for not being able to protect you. I am now free from all the ties I had with you. It's time for me to forget you and look forward for my own future." Orihime started to sob. He had finally ended what little they have in the past. From the very start she knows he wasn't meant for her.
"I had truly loved you back then Ichigo." She said looking him straightly in the eyes. It's been a long time, those intense amber eyes that held so many emotions. They haven't lost their intensity, still held the strong authority, beautiful and fierce. Ichigo's eyes sharpen that's seems to pierce right through her.
"Love is worth fighting for. You never fight for me Inoue. You had run away. Love builds a bright future but you plan to destroy me Inoue. I learn to hate and destroy someone who truly loved me because I thought you're worth it. I drive myself right into the pain and all it turns out was me being alone and broken!" Ichigo's voice started to rise up. He started to lost control in his emotions.
"But we learn from mistakes Inoue. I bet you know what I am talking about. For Rukia I forgive you. Rest assured I let go of hatred to anybody from now on. All I wanted was Rukia to also forgive me. Brand new start, live your own life even if you still have to pay from the past. You have important people with you now. It's time to be happy with them." Ichigo said and with that he turns his back to her and started walking away. Inoue collapse on the sofa crying, her daughter Schi walks in front of her clutching her doll. She just stands there and stares at her mother, emotionless. Orihime look up to her daughter with tears in her eyes, engulfing her with her arms as she kissed her forehead. "Ichigo was right it's time to be happy with what I have."
….
Rukia's new hair cut shows her flawless neck and creamy white shoulders. She cut her hair short and she liked it. Her dress too seems to give more color to Paris. She was beautiful, elegant and sophisticated. People look at her with smile and appreciation as she walks her way to the Eiffel Tower for sightseeing.
Rukia's cute shoes clatter as she half run closer to the tower, with wide eyes she gape with owe of the 984 foot high iron tower of central Paris. The beauty of the said work of art was spectacular; she had finally seen it up close. Rukia immediately dug inside her bag and take out her pink camera with a bunny printed strap on it. She took picture of the Eiffel Tower in different angles without noticing a man that was gently smiling at her and watching every graceful move she make.
He knows it was odd, this is what people called stalking and it's not a good mannerism but he can't help it. She caught his undivided attention especially now that she had transformed into a more beautiful woman every man is dreaming of. He had observed her since the time they both arrived in Paris. She was kind hearted and was loved by many French women and men. He wanted to talk to her but he didn't find a good chance that won't make him look suspicious. This was important to him; he wanted it to work in a right time and right place.
"Am, Mr… How do they say it in French?" Rukia talk to herself and dug again inside her bag to look for her book of Japanese to French translation. She scans the leaves of her book and started reading it. "Bonjour, monsieur." Rukia began. "Can you please take a photo of me with the Eiffel Tower if you don't mind?" Rukia asked in French. She almost bit her tongue, French is hard to articulate. She just hope he understand what she was saying.
He was frozen and daze for a minute. He didn't see her coming, she was now in front of him talking and asking a favor from him. He finds it really cute, seeing her forehead crease in concentration trying to find the right words to say to him in French.
"Sure, no problem." He said in Japanese. He saw how her eyes widen in amazement that he can speak her own language. They were beautiful those violet crystal orbs. He can't take his own steel blue eyes off her.
"You can speak Japanese! Wow, nice to meet you. I am Rukia Kuchiki, Paris is really beautiful ne?" She said bowing at him with a beaming smile. He doesn't know where these feelings will take him but he was sure he can't let her slip of his hands nor off his eyes.
"I'm half Japanese, Ashido Kanou. It's pleasure to meet such a beautiful woman like you in this wonderful place." Ashido said not averting his eyes on her. Rukia just gently chuckled and smile at his compliments then hand her camera to him. She walks away from him and stop a few steps from Ashido. She put her arms at her back then poses and smiles gently at the camera. Ashido position himself a good distant in front of her and observe her closely by the camera. He can see how the gentle wind kisses her beautiful face and rustle her hair.
"You are even more beautiful than the Eiffel Tower." He said to himself and clicks the camera, leaving her smile forever tattooed in his mind and especially in his heart.
"THANK YOU FOR READING"
"ALWAYS FAITHFUL"