Thank you for all the reviews for the past chapter, and for all the feedback given for this fanfic. I really appreciate it. 'Demons From My Past' is my current longest-running in-progress fanfic, and I thank you all for the interest.
I would like to give a couple of messages out, but I will leave them for after this chapter update. And as usual, I hope you enjoy.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own the Bleach series or its characters. I own this story, and the plot.
Rukia checked the bubbling contents in the clear container hooked up to various-coloured wires, watching the progress of her research. Apparently satisfied, she turned around to retrieve some notes... only to have her vision blur abruptly.
What is happening-
Rukia hurriedly grabbed hold onto the counter for support, standing still until she was able to regain clear vision in front of her. Her heart thudding fast, she slowly shook her head and then focused on the chair ahead of her. Taking slow steps, Rukia took the much-needed seat.
"Hey Rukia, you okay?" A male colleague swung by the room to collect his coat. "You look pale."
"I am fine." Rukia flashed him a quick smile for reassurance. Her protein gel was almost completed, she just needed to rinse it quick and then maybe get lunch outside with Nel and the rest. Maybe her blood sugar was running low. The last thing she needed right now was to pass out and worry her friends for her overworking.
And worry Byakuya. He would definitely throw a fit, he was now worse than Otousan when it came to her well being. Still, Rukia could not help the smile that curled her lips at the thought of her Incubus boyfriend. She had not seen him for the past week, apparently he had some important missions to attend to. But they had promised to go out for dinner at the end of the week, and then Byakuya had arranged for her to stay over at his apartment during the weekend. Rukia's body could not help but tingle at the last thought, it had been a while since they had been intimate. The last time had been eventful in a strange way, Byakuya had had to protect her from a burst glass lamp and she had almost had a cardiac arrest of sorts.
Rukia sighed, and slowly rose from the chair. Her protein gel was almost done running, she could get lunch in a bit.
Fifteen minutes later, a very cheerful Nel passed through the glass doors. "Rukia!" She sang happily. "Wait till you see what Grimmjow got for me-
The words lodged in Nel's mouth before it opened in a scream, and then she was running toward her unconscious roommate lying on the floor. The container had smashed into the floor, scattering the gel and Rukia's now ruined research.
xXxXx
The wind swirled around the Kiyowara residence threshold, hard and treacherous, as a pair of polished shoes approached.
"Halt! Who goes there?" The two guards at the Kiyowara residence entrance shouted, their poses defensive.
"I am here to see your Lady Hisana. Send her notice." The intruder's voice was deep and commanding.
"Lady Hisana is currently resting, and unfit to receive visitors. If you will leave your name, we will- ARGGHHH!" The guard's eyes widened as a sudden gust of wind swept across his face, opening up a gash on the side of his right cheek. Before the guard had time to comprehend how it had all happened, he was knocked to the ground by a blow to the face.
"What the- ARGGGHH!" His companion's eyes rolled back as a hard jab hit him in the stomach, and he collapsed to the ground.
Kuchiki Byakuya easily stepped past the two unconscious guards. "I am in a rush." His tone was cold. The Kuchiki clan leader stopped at the threshold of the Kiyowara residence, and then calmly took a turn to the right.
Hisana lifted her head slowly as her eyes fixed on the lonely corridor before her. She was seated at the marble table overlooking the serene lake in the Kiyowara mansion. The delicate lace handkerchief in her right hand was dotted with bright crimson dots, which she quickly concealed in folds and tucked away into her dress pocket.
Hisana continued looking out over the lake and then she took a deep breath. "You came a lot faster than I had expected you to, Byakuya-sama." Hisana's voice was soft.
A figure now stood in the corridor before her.
"I am afraid I had to intrude." Byakuya stood before the Succubus who would have become his wife if not for the strength and courage Rukia had had to interrupt his wedding. He knew he had once hurt Hisana but this was no time to be sentimental, he needed to find out the truth. Rukia was all that mattered to him now. "I had previously thought it was strange, but I had not spared it much thought. The generosity that the Kiyowara clan had shown toward the cancellation of the wedding…" Byakuya's face hardened. "Does it have anything to do with Rukia?"
Hisana's eyes widened, but then she smiled again. It was a beautiful smile, but so very resigned, so tame, so defeated. It lacked the burst of energy, that little light of mischief, that expression of true happiness… that came only with a smile from Rukia's lips.
"You are straightforward, Byakuya-sama." Hisana softly gestured to a seat opposite her at the marble table. "I will answer all your questions, all of them honestly. My only wish is that you will not think too badly of me at the end."
Byakuya slowly walked forward and took his seat opposite the Succubus. Hisana raised her head. "Yes, it does have something to do with Rukia."
"How?"
"Before you met me, Unohana-sensei must have done some background checks on me prior. I am the only daughter of the Kiyowara clan's third generation, and famously survived an attempted assassination many years ago."
Byakuya nodded slightly, he could recall the faint details that Unohana had told him.
"When I was ninety years of age, there was a coup within the Kiyowara clan. There were certain family members who were dissatisfied with my father, and planned to seize power by having me, the sole heir, killed. It is the story whereby I, miraculously and heroically, survived the assassination."
Byakuya listened, silent.
"What the story did not tell, was that I survived… with the help of a decoy."
Byakuya's eyes widened.
"They could have easily killed me… I was powerless, and very weak. My health had never been on the good side, my body was but a frail one. I matured physically much slower than an average Succubus. I survived the assassination… because I had never been in danger." Hisana's voice was soft. "I survived… because they went after the one they thought was Hisana."
Byakuya's hands clenched.
"My father, Kiyowara Hitoshi, had a twin brother. His name was Kiyowara Hisashi. My father was the younger of the two, but he was put in power because Hisashi rejected to be involved in ruling matters of the clan. My uncle was very carefree and peace-loving, he disliked the power struggle and cruelty that came with the leadership of the clan. Therefore, he isolated himself and often went off on trips by himself. And then one day… the clan caught wind that he had married a human girl."
A coughing fit interrupted Hisana, and her body trembled slightly. When it had passed, she was able to look up. Byakuya kept silent.
"Of course there were many who objected to the union, saying that Uncle Hisashi had disgraced the clan and was better off dead. My father was torn, he loved his brother dearly but he could not ignore the clan as a whole. My uncle was then caught, and brought back to the house with his wife and child."
"Child." Byakuya's deep voice broke through Hisana's story. "Your uncle had a child with a human?"
Hisana smiled painfully. "Yes. Impossible as it seemed, they had conceived a child together. When they were brought back, I was already ninety years old then. The child was only three to four years of age, but we looked like sisters with just a few years gap due to my nature as a Succubus. Actually, we looked almost… identical."
Hisana took a deep breath, as her voice was suddenly strained. "That child… my Uncle had given her the name which meant 'light'. She was called… Rukia."
Byakuya's slate eyes were wide, but he did not say a word.
"Her parents were locked up almost immediately, but many of the Kiyowara clan members were unable to do the same to the girl, owing to her similarity in looks to myself. I… found myself attached to my younger cousin and had her moved to a room next to mine so we could play together." Hisana's hands trembled in her lap. "I was an only child, so I rarely had a playmate. She was adorable, happy, cheerful, I grew to enjoy her company. She often asked where her parents were… but nobody ever told her the truth. After a few nights of crying and fighting, she told me that she was going to stay strong and keep eating and be happy, in order to welcome them back." Hisana's eyes slowly filled with tears. "They never did."
Hisana stopped outside the door and gingerly put her ears to the wood, listening carefully for any sounds inside. She had heard the soft sniffling sobs every night, as the little girl behind the door cried herself to sleep without any of her usual bedtime stories or the embrace of a loving parent. She wanted to ask Rukia to go out for a walk today, maybe have a picnic together with Hisana's rabbit toy. Little Rukia seemed to love that particular toy, Hisana had caught the young girl looking at it wistfully whenever they played in her bedroom together. Hisana was a little too old for toys, but the playtime with her cousin slowly became one of the things she looked forward to everyday.
Hisana did not know why, but maybe it was the cheerful disposition and childlike insight of her young cousin that had captivated her. The servants fretted everyday about Hisana's health and never let her get too much sun or wind. Rukia, on the other hand, would fearlessly take Hisana's hand and led her to run in the gardens, whilst the servants bellowed behind and tried to catch them. If a coughing fit hit Hisana, Rukia would slow and wait until it passed, before happily offering her tiny hand again so Hisana could once again feel the wind against her cheek, blowing her hair about her face.
But when Rukia cried alone every night, Hisana helplessly stood outside the door and wondered what she could do. Wondered if she could ever tell the young girl that her parents were being held captive and would probably never see her again. Wondered if Rukia would ever hate her if she found out that Hisana's family were the ones who were holding her parents as prisoners.
Hisana knew it was cowardly but she kept silent and only came to Rukia for playtime. Now she gently eased Rukia's bedroom door open and peeked her head in.
"Hisana Onee-san!" She heard the bright cheery voice before she noticed Rukia sitting at a table and devouring a huge serving of breakfast that the servants had brought up to the bedroom. Like Hisana, the servants were slowly drawn to the lovable young girl.
"Rukia." Hisana smiled in surprise as she watched the girl munch on a red-bean bun with much gusto. Rukia had been rejecting food recently due to her homesickness and pining over her parents' absence, so this was a wonderful turnaround.
Rukia nodded and offered some food to Hisana, who politely rejected. "Is it delicious?" Hisana smiled.
Rukia nodded again, before swallowing adorably. "I have decided, Onee-san. I am going to keep eating and get fat."
Hisana laughed.
"Mama and Papa always told me that I have to eat, to get bigger. I decided yesterday…" Rukia's violet eyes were big and steadfast. "… that I am no longer going to cry anymore, Mama and Papa would be cross with me if they found out! I am going to keep eating and be healthy, and then when Mama and Papa come back, they will be happy when they see me happy!"
Hisana's eyes widened, as Rukia happily went back to her chewing. The Succubus did not know what possessed her then to reach over and embraced Rukia tightly.
"Hisana Onee-san?" Rukia blinked in confusion, her mouth full.
"Shhh. Just let me hold you for a while." Hisana closed her eyes as she struggled with the guilt and the tears that threatened to overwhelm her.
Rukia, if you only knew... your Mama and Papa won't be coming back.
"Children borne of a demon and human are a taboo, my Uncle had committed a crime and the clan sentenced him and his wife to death. My father visited his brother on the night before the sentence, and my Uncle made him promise to take care of Rukia when he had passed on…" A tear slowly slid down Hisana's cheek. "… and we failed that, even."
Hisana took a rattling breath. "Because a coup was upon us at that time, my father caught wind that there was going to be an assassination attempt on his family and his own daughter. And that was when… a plan was hatched to prevent the assassination… by fooling them into believing Rukia was me instead."
Byakuya's knuckles were white as his fists clenched.
Hisana put her hands around herself. "The assassination attempt was evil… but what was done to thwart it… was even more so. I did not want to go along with it but… the clan, they left me no choice…"
"Onee-san!" Rukia's large violet eyes peeked into Hisana's room. The little girl was rarely called into that luxurious chamber. As she walked into the room, her eyes were round in excitement, especially stopping to linger on a huge rabbit plush toy on the rack.
"Rukia." Hisana turned around to greet the younger girl.
"Onee-san… why are you dressed all in black?" Rukia frowned. "Is it a special day today?"
"Not… really." Hisana seemed nervous, her eyes were lined with dark rings. She had been unable to sleep since the day her parents had come to her room and informed her of the terrible plan. Hisana had protested, how could they do this? How could they do this to Uncle Hisashi's only daughter, to whom they had promised care? 'Then are you asking me to lose my only daughter?' her father's voice had reverberated emotionally.
"Onee-san?" Hisana was jolted out of her painful thoughts by Rukia's inquisitive voice. She looked at the younger child, who was fixing her with adorable, big violet eyes.
"Onee-san is going to play hide-and-seek with you today. You will have to find Onee-san, because I will be hiding."
"Really?" Rukia perked up happily. She clapped her small hands together. "I love hide-and-seek!"
Hisana felt like throwing up, her stomach was churning horrible. How? How could she do this?
Her voice shook slightly as she addressed Rukia."Yes. So come here. You have to wear something special."
"Perfume?" Rukia laughed.
"Yes, my perfume." Hisana sprayed a lot onto Rukia's neck and clothes, her hands trembling. It wasn't actually perfume, she knew. It was a scent that Hisana usually wore, heightened by chemicals to project Hisana's own body scent.
"Mama and Papa have been gone for a very long time now. I dreamt of them last night."
Hisana gasped and the bottle slipped from her hands, crashing onto the floor and breaking into a dozen pieces of glass.
"Onee-san!" Rukia shouted in shock, jumping back.
"N-No, i-it's okay." Hisana waved her hand. "W-What did you dream about them?" Hisana stepped safely over the glass.
"They told me to stay strong. And that a lot of people will love me." Rukia smiled. "And to eat a lot, and get fat. I did just that this morning." The younger girl's eyes were bright and happy, completely trusting.
"I-I see…" Hisana looked away. "Rukia… w-we are going to start playing now."
"Okay! Er… Onee-san… may I borrow the rabbit for a day if I win?" Rukia looked sheepish, she rarely asked for favours. Her father had told her that it was spoilt nature to do so, but the rabbit was just too adorable for her to resist. It was just for one evening, she would return the precious toy to her Onee-san at the end of the day, Rukia promised herself.
"Take it." Hisana walked over quickly and gave the rabbit toy to the younger girl. "It's all yours."
"Really? Arigato!" Rukia smiled happily and threw her arms around Hisana. Hisana felt like she was suffocating. "I am going now!" Rukia waved and ran off, hugging the soft toy as if it was the most precious possession on Earth.
It was the last time Hisana was ever going to see Rukia as a young girl.
"I hid myself in the secret cellar in the kitchens, with my three bodyguards. It was planned so that the hired killers would target Rukia and give my father's team an opening to ambush them." Hisana's hands were around her body now, tears streaming down her face. "I know it was cowardly, but I did not want to die. The sound of battle was terrifying. There was screaming, so much of it. I did not know… I did not know what was going to happen to Rukia."
"Yet you gave her the rabbit… and made her into one for the hunt." Byakuya's voice cut Hisana off. The Succubus gasped. The Incubus in front of her was cold, and his hands were curled into fists.
"I-I searched the mansion after the massacre was over. T-There were many dead bodies, but none of a child. And then… just near the gardens… I spotted the rabbit toy… all torn up and bloodied."
Byakuya's eyes hardened.
"I collapsed then, and my health deteriorated from that point on. Nightmares, they came and went, of a terrified little girl crying and running away, clutching a rabbit toy…" Hisana trembled. "I spent the years growing up in guilt, searching for her, trying to look for a clue if she survived. We never found any body, so I did not know for sure what happened to her. Until… that day in the church."
"I was shocked to the core, my parents were too. But she stood strong, she stood so very strong… right there. She had survived, and had grown up into a magnificent woman with the very same spirit and determination she had when she was a child." Hisana smiled even as she cried. "It was ironic at the time, I had everything she did not have and took away everything of hers… but she returned, strong and beautiful."
And in your eyes, Byakuya-sama, there was only… her.
"If she returned… can she take back everything that was taken from her?" Byakuya's deep voice was calm but cold. "Can she take back her parents?"
Hisana sobbed.
Byakuya stood up from the table. "I appreciate you telling me everything." His hands remained fisted by his sides."Rukia will probably forgive you when she finds out what you had done to her in the past…" Byakuya stopped, his slate grey eyes cold. "But I… will never forgive you."
Hisana gasped.
"I will not allow any harm to come to her ever again. If the Kiyowara clan plans on having her existence wiped off, then do not blame me if I have to kill your family." Byakuya's grey eyes were cold. "Exactly like you all did hers."
Byakuya started to turn away but then he stopped, his emotionless gaze lingering on the crest of the Kiyowara clan etched upon a pillar by the walkway. The Incubus gazed for a long time upon the clan crest, a single snowflake with six symmetrical arms.
"You might be interested to find out that she has manifested powers that are worth of a Kiyowara clan leader… more than your entire clan put together." Byakuya turned and strode off.
xXxXx
"Is this my retribution?" The old Incubus tilted his champagne glass in his hand, as he sipped the expensive ruby wine thoughtfully. "Yamamoto?"
"Ginrei, what is done is done. There is no need for regret for the past." Yamamoto Shigekuni crossed the carpeted room to settle in one of the white armchairs opposite Kuchiki Ginrei. Yamamoto was an older-looking Incubus with a long white beard and two long scars crisscrossing above his right eye. He had long served the Kuchiki clan, and was Ginrei's right hand man in the clan while the older Kuchiki had been in power.
"She cannot have children with Byakuya, there will be no heirs. Without a successor, the end of the Kuchiki clan may be near." Ginrei downed his wine before reaching for the diamond encrusted bottle to pour some more into his glass. "I have worked my whole life, centuries, to acquire the power the Kuchiki clan now holds. And now… will it all go to ruin?"
Yamamoto kept silent.
Ginrei shook his head slowly. "I could have stopped it, if I had just landed the killing blow. My regret is immeasurable."
"And yet you did not." Yamamoto reiterated. "Have faith, Ginrei."
"Faith? We are demons."
"Hope, faith… these are things of light that are not denied to us creatures of darkness." Yamamoto allowed a small smile to graze his wrinkled face.
xXxXx
The swinging doors burst open as Byakuya ran into the white hallway. There was a small group of people clustered outside a door at the end of the hallway, and they looked up at the loud noise.
"Okay. Here comes the thunderstorm." Renji muttered under his breath.
"How is she?" Byakuya almost shouted as he reached the group. "Where is she?"
"Lower your voice, Byakuya." Unohana motioned to the door with a wave of her hand. "Rukia is fast asleep inside. She will be fine, they put her up on intravenous fluids. Apparently she passed out from lethargy, everything looks okay. Jushiro is inside, watching over her."
Byakuya looked at his mentor, and allowed his breaths to slow. He had gotten the phone call just as he was leaving the Kiyowara residence and a stricken Hisana behind; Rukia had been found unconscious at work. Byakuya had proceeded to speed his way to the hospital, his heart hammering in his chest and the anxiety weighing his body like a thousand dead animals. What had happened to Rukia? Was it because of what Senjumaru had said? Was it because… Rukia's body could no longer keep up with her mixed heritage? Was she… now in danger?
"What did you find out from Hisana?" Unohana's voice was serious. Renji and Matsumoto immediately turned, their expressions serious.
"I want to see Rukia first. Then we will talk."
Byakuya eased himself into the room quietly, as Unohana led a concerned Ukitake through the door. The Incubus walked up to the single white bed in the room, where a small figure was tucked into clean sheets. A single plastic container of clear liquid hung high above her head, connected to a clear tube that snaked its way to her right arm. Byakuya reached over and smoothed Rukia's hair at her cheek, as he took her left hand into his. The Incubus noticed for the first time how fragile she really was, her hand small in his and her lips uncharacteristically pale. Her face appeared untroubled, and her chest rose and fell in calm breaths.
Rukia did not know it yet, but she had been through hell her whole life. Her parents had been taken and murdered, she herself had almost been murdered by those who were supposed to be her caretakers. But she had found her current family and friends… and she had found him.
And I… will never allow anyone to harm you ever again in this life.
Byakuya's eyes hardened in a determined gaze. He leaned over and gently kissed Rukia on her forehead. "Forever… Rukia." His voice was soft, his lips brushing against her skin as he whispered the words.
Then he turned and with as quiet as the wind, disappeared from her bedroom.
"The Kiyowara clan did all that?" Unohana sat back in shock, her hands clasped in Ukitake's own, who was sitting next to her on the couch. The small group were now gathered at the cafeteria on the private hospital's tenth floor, where Rukia was hospitalized. Byakuya had just informed them on all that he had obtained from Hisana, beginning from Rukia's parents' history.
"That is ruthless." Ukitake's face was grim, his heart clenching at the thought of what his adopted daughter had been through.
"That is the norm of demon clans." Matsumoto shook her head. "We eat our own, if necessary. Isn't it?" She shrugged at Renji.
"That means that Rukia is half-entitled to the Kiyowara clan's leadership, isn't it? After all, her father was the firstborn of the older generation, he was the rightful leader." Renji nodded gleefully. "I can imagine if Rukia found out, she would totally faint again!" The Incubus slapped his knees and laughed.
No one laughed with him.
"Sorry." Renji muttered and fell silent, as Matsumoto rolled her eyes.
"Are they going to come after her?" Matsumoto's voice was concerned.
"I am not sure, but I made my intentions clear." Byakuya's eyes narrowed. "I told Hisana that I would kill anyone who dares to get near to Rukia, even if they are her family."
"Good move." Renji nodded in agreement.
"The only thing I am worried about…" Ukitake's voice broke through. "… is how my daughter is going to take this news when she finds out."
Byakuya rose from his seat on the couch. "I will tell her." His voice was deep and steadfast, as he moved to the cafeteria door. "When she recovers, I will personally tell her everything."
I promised her that I would not keep secrets from her anymore.
Byakuya slid the door back, and his slate grey eyes widened.
"I..." Rukia's face was pale as she stood before him dressed in the hospital robes. Her drip stand stood beside her, she had apparently pulled it along with her. "I… heard your voice in my sleep, so... I came to find…" She looked up slightly, and a tear slowly spilled over her cheek. "… I didn't mean to listen in but…"
Her words were cut off as Byakuya swiftly embraced his beloved, his arms tight around her small body. "Why are you always finding out the truth like this… foolish woman?"
Rukia's body trembled slightly, and she closed her eyes as she let the tears flow.
xXxXx
"Egg and bean curd soup?" Rukia smiled gently as she looked at the hot bowl placed on the tray. She now sat in her hospital bed, a day after the truth had been accidentally revealed while she stood outside the cafeteria. She had requested for time alone in her room for that night, and everyone had patiently and kindly given her what she had asked for.
In the morning, Ukitake had been the first to come to see her.
"Of course, it is nowhere near as good as yours." Her father now smiled back. "I did my best, so give it a try. You need to eat a lot," he spoke again, this time, his tone was laced with concern. He looked upon his daughter in the hospital bed, who still smiled despite the pallor in her skin and dark rings under her eyes.
"Arigato… Otousan." Rukia reached out and slowly spooned the soup into her mouth. She lifted her hand in a thumbs-up. "You have been looking through my recipe book."
Ukitake chuckled as he sat in a chair by his daughter's bedside. He watched as Rukia drank more spoonfuls of soup.
"It has been a while since we have been in a hospital, hasn't it?" Ukitake remarked.
"The only difference is now I am the one in the hospital bed."
Ukitake chuckled softly at his daughter's reply but then he got up and carefully climbed in beside Rukia.
"Otousan, if the nurse comes in, we will both be in trouble!" Rukia laughed.
"That's alright, so now we are square." Ukitake chuckled as he leaned back on the bed. Rukia followed suit. They both stared up in silence at the white ceiling.
"Otousan?"
"Yes, Rukia?"
"Do you… regret taking me in?" Rukia's voice was soft. "I am so much trouble for you now. And… I am not actually who I am."
"It might be really terrible for me to say this…" Ukitake deliberated beside his daughter. "… but I really do not regret knocking down a little girl who was running across the road to buy candies." Ukitake turned to look at his daughter. "Because that has brought her to my side."
Rukia's eyes widened.
"You are my precious Rukia." Ukitake smiled. "And may I ask if you regret meeting me?"
"Of course not!" Rukia turned, aghast to look at a smiling Ukitake. "Meeting Otousan… has been the luckiest day of my life!"
Ukitake smiled and reached out to hug Rukia, as she snuggled against him. "As is mine. And no matter what happens, you will always be my little girl."
"Arigato… Otousan."
Rukia walked slowly along the gardens of the hospital grounds, as the cool breeze blew about her. Ukitake was sleeping on the couch in the hospital suite upstairs, she had covered him with a blanket before quietly coming out to get some air.
I had parents. I had parents… they belonged to the Kiyowara clan. My father was an Incubus and my mother a mortal woman, I am a rare product of a demon and a human, and am cousin to Kiyowara Hisana.
Rukia remembered the mirror-like image of Hisana when she had first met her in the church. She tried to search her childhood memory, for any recollections at all, but it seemed as if they had all disappeared. Or repressed, she wasn't sure which.
It also seemed that she was starting to manifest strange abilities connected to ice, an ability that, Byakuya had said, was unique to the Kiyowara clan. And speaking of Byakuya-
"How long are you going to keep following me like this?" Rukia spoke softly as she looked out over the gardens. It was almost dark, but Rukia did not need sight to know that he was near, lurking behind her. She could smell him.
A quiet rustle of leaves announced Byakuya, as he stepped out slowly from behind a tree. "I thought you might want some space on your own." He walked behind his girlfriend. "How did you know I was there?"
"I can pick up your scent now." Rukia spoke thoughtfully. "That's how I figured out you were in the cafeteria before." She turned to face Byakuya. "You are right, some things are changing."
"Are you afraid?" Byakuya spoke as he touched a single hand to her cheek.
"A little." Rukia admitted. "But you all are behind me, so it's going to be alright. Otousan. You. And all my friends." She smiled slightly. "And now, you won't be able to sneak up and ambush me from behind anymore."
Byakuya chuckled as he gazed at his beloved. Both of them knew the unspoken, they did not know if she was going to survive the continuous development within her body as her demonic side continued to manifest. They knew there was nothing they could do, but they knew they both had each other.
His hand returned to his side. "You must loath me." Byakuya's voice was calm, but raw. "You must loath my entire population." It was not a question, how could he expect her not to? Her parents had been murdered, she had been forced to run from killers, her entire life turned upside down by his very own people. Had she finally come to hate his kind… hate him, even? After all, Byakuya had also done similar deeds in his lifetime, he had once used and manipulated other demons, killed with ease whenever he saw fit. What made him any different from those in the Kiyowara clan?
"Byakuya."
Byakuya stilled as he heard her say his name. He held his breath, waiting for what his girlfriend was about to say.
"Can you promise me, that you will kill… only when absolutely necessary? If there are other alternatives, can you promise me that you will choose the better choice?" Rukia finally looked up, and Byakuya saw no tears, saw only that unshakeable determination and strength in those violet eyes he so very loved. "I do not wish the same to happen to any human or demon, to lose their loved ones that way." Rukia met Byakuya's eyes. "I know I am selfish to ask this of you, just because you are the leader of the greatest demon clan. I also know that it might disgrace the clan, if you were to act in a softer way-
"I promise."
The second those words left Byakuya's lips, his arms were around her. He hugged her gently with one arm, the other cradling the back of her head. Byakuya waited, waited for her to resist and perhaps pull away from the embrace. She was still in shock over the newfound truth of her background, it would not hurt him if she rejected him now, he would understand.
But it was her smaller arms that lifted to accept his embrace, as she leaned into his body. "Arigato."
xXxXx
Ginrei looked out over the night landscape of Tokyo as he sat in his office suite in Azaris. Byakuya had not disturbed Ginrei's original office room at all, apparently preserving it for his return. Kuchiki Ginrei never intended to return to Azaris, not when it was thriving so well under the direction of his beloved grandson.
His decision for early retirement had definitely been one of his better decisions. But not many had known that he had silently came out of retirement more than once to perform secret missions to eradicate enemy clans. And then, there was that one time that he had made one of his worst decisions…
Kuchiki Ginrei swiftly strode past the dead bodies around him. There was smoke everywhere, the black mask obscuring most of his face prevented it from directly reaching his nostrils and his dead lungs. There was fire everywhere, his henchmen had tore the mansion down as planned.
The crowd of Incubi was all gathered ahead in the garden and there was loud raucous laughing, it appeared that they had successfully apprehended the heiress, the target of their assassination attempt today. Kiyowara Aoi had sent a secret message to Ginrei earlier in the month to request stealth help to take down of the current leader, which Ginrei had agreed to in return to certain subjugation to the Kuchiki clan once Aoi came into power. The cowardly fool of a Kiyowara had agreed.
Ginrei reached the crowd and they parted respectfully for him. One of the younger Incubus had a crushing hand around the young heiress's neck as he effortlessly lifted her off the ground. But as Ginrei watched, the young girl struggled forward and sunk her teeth into the offending hand. She kicked out with both her tiny legs at the assailant.
Ginrei's eyes widened slightly as the Incubus dropped the little girl and stumbled back in pain. With a loud sob, the little girl started to crawl away helplessly and painfully from the laughing crowd of powerful demons.
"Bunny… bunny…"
It took Ginrei a moment before he realized the young girl was not trying to escape. Her bloodstained hands reached out, trembling, to grasp the fur of a rabbit plushie that had probably fallen from her hands earlier. It was now almost as mangled as she was, the fur was sticking out with grass stains and blood.
She painfully turned around using her hands, turned around to face the group of demons. The Kiyowara heiress had large violet eyes, her entire face was wet, she was crying from fear and pain and her nose was pathetically running wet. There were streaks of blood over all her limbs, and there was a deep wound over her left leg (the Incubi had been having fun scarring her previously). She had obviously been through the carnage as she fled, and Ginrei wondered just how many dead bodies she had tripped over. Any amount was enough to traumatize a small demon child. Yet she kept her grasp strong around the soft toy, as if it might save her from her terrible fate.
"Mama… and P-Papa are gone… I-I know!" The child closed her eyes, trembling. "I-I want… to s-see them, I m-miss them!" She took a deep rattling breath, and slowly opened her eyes. "B-But I need… to… to live… because… they said so!" Her violet eyes were wide, Ginrei found himself intently watching the little girl even as his henchmen took out a sharp blade.
"Hey, she knows what's going to happen to her, smart girl!" One of the Incubus chuckled. He walked forward and viciously kicked the little girl in her stomach. The force sent the young one backward across the grass. The entire crowd of demons roared with laughter as the girl tried to rise from her prone position on the ground but failed. Ginrei noticed she had kept the soft toy in her arms even as she was brutalized.
"Ma… ma… Papa… AHHHH!" The little girl's screams cut the air as another Incubus stepped forward and planted his foot over her back and stepped down hard on her spine. Another wave of inhumane laughter followed this.
"Get it done with." Yamamoto's voice ordered.
A stout-looking Incubus came out of the crowd carrying a curved sharp blade. He towered over the helpless girl and then easily turned her over on the grass. Her lip was bleeding badly now, and she had coughed up blood from internal injuries. She looked up at the blade, her eyes wide.
"Say your prayers." The Incubus bared his teeth maniacally. "And the Kiyowara clan now ends-
The blade hung in mid-air, not moving.
"Huh?" The Incubus blinked in confusion, and then noticed the wrinkled hand holding the weapon back.
"We have got the wrong one." Ginrei spoke as he looked down at the terrified girl. The terrified girl, who now smelled so human without any trace of demonic aura. "We have been tricked."
"Ginrei-sama? She looks exactly as the picture. Why do you-
"Her eyes. The Kiyowara heiress does not have violet eyes." Ginrei turned to the wounded girl. "Is your name Hisana, child? Do not lie."
The girl was so scared she could barely speak, but she shook her head.
There was an uproar in the group of Incubi as Ginrei's earlier realization dawned on them.
"I will just kill her just to be safe, and be done with it." The Incubus who had been holding the blade bowed to Ginrei, but the Kuchiki shook his head.
"There won't be any need."
Ginrei looked down at the little human girl, who had now lost consciousness. Blood was still pouring out of the large gash at her left leg, and bruises were now starting to bloom across the girl's fair and blood-streaked skin.
Ginrei reached down and took the girl into his arms. Yamamoto's eyes widened slightly but he said nothing.
"You have quite a backbone, child," Ginrei remarked coolly at the unconscious human girl in his arms. The sounds of approaching reinforcements from the Kiyowara clan echoed around the mansion. "Call off the assassination mission, it has been a failure. Blame Kiyowara Aoi for not planning this properly, it has cost him the leadership of his own clan."
"What about this girl? It seems she has been purposely planted here by the Kiyowara clan. A suicide bomb." Yamamoto stepped up beside Ginrei.
"This child is harmless, she is but only a human. She's as good as dead by the Kiyowara clan. We will drop her off at a secluded organization."
Ginrei nodded at Yamamoto. The two Incubi easily scaled the wall of the Kiyowara mansion and jumped down onto the streets beyond, as a black car skidded to a halt in front of them.
"My Lord." A masked man emerged and bowed.
"To an orphanage, three districts away."
"Hai."
Yamamoto looked over at Ginrei as they sat in the car. "Will she be a liability?" He did not question the sudden generosity of the previous Kuchiki clan leader, who was known for his ruthlessness and efficacy in assasination.
"She wouldn't ever remember this as she grows up. The minds of children are pliable, in that they will repress those horrible memories forever. Even if she does, the nightmares will haunt her and it will be her undoing."
Towns flew by and soon the car started to slow to a halt. Ginrei nodded to his subordinate and watched as Yamamoto swiftly picked the girl up, exited the car and walked over to the gates of an orphanage. He placed the little child down on the street just outside the gates, and returned to Ginrei.
"That will be all." Ginrei nodded, not looking back as the car roared away from the curb, leaving the little girl behind.
Kuchiki Ginrei sipped the red wine thoughtfully. 'And how fate turns it around, little girl. It is now my undoing.'
And so ends the current chapter of Demons. Let me know what you think, or any improvements (story-wise, writing-wise etc.) that can be done, would really appreciate it :) Demons is starting to take a drastic turn in the plot, and I know the ongoing twists might or might not be in your favour. Do let me know what you think.
I have a couple of messages to give out with this update:
1) I have a new Naruto fanfic out recently, due to being simple inspired by the Naruto Gaiden manga series which just ended a few weeks ago. If you are a fan of Sasuke x Sakura, do have a read :)
2) This is just a reassurance to readers. I have been getting many PMs that encourage me not to be put down by haters or negative reviews. I assume these are mostly from the newer readers who read through the fic recently (and then had to go through the drama around chapter 20-ish). I would just like to say that that is definitely and completely not the reason why I am not updating frequently, but merely due to the fact that I no longer have as much time as I had when I was a student. Now I have a proper working life with long working hours and there are plenty of real life issues as I get older. I am no longer the same, leisurely and narrow-minded person who started 'Demons from My Past' five years ago (wow, five years). I say narrow-minded, because when I go back and read earlier parts of the fic, I see myself being very defensive, egotistical and stubborn over my writing when being hit by critics. As I read back now, I realize there have been much constructive criticism over my ByaRuki writing which I definitely and foolishly didn't take very well back then. I actually realize that those who took the time out to point out the flaws in the story and my writing (and sometimes they take up a whole computer screen in length) were probably those who cared the most about this fanfic and the author's writing.
Trust me, because the ONE most accurate review that described my writing flaws is perfectly captured somewhere in this fanfic by a fantastic reader and critic. :)
That being said, I welcome feedback and constructive criticism all the way, I believe I am way more open than I was many years back regarding any flaw in my writing or story. Reviews are a motivation for authors; also trust me when I say this. I have been writing fanfiction for five years. I don't write for reviews, but a shoutout or a casual sentence or even better, a proper feedback can really do wonders for a budding author. If you like or dislike my story, I would love to know the reason and your opinion.
I fully intend to complete this fanfic so do not worry, it is not because of any negativity that is preventing me from updating. I update as I get time and inspiration (which may not be frequent), but I do hope to complete this story in a way that I will be satisfied with. And of course, I hope by then you will also tell me if you are.
3) I am actually working on an original fiction novel right now. Not much headway has been made story-wise, but I do know where I want to take the plot and the characters. It will be based on some themes from my fanfic "The Emperor's Last Consort", which sadly, is the reason why that fic hasn't been updated in a while. It's because I already have an original fiction planned with similar themes and writing both stories would be like writing the same story twice somewhat (not to mention significantly more attention and detail will go into the novel). I don't know if my novel project will ever get published, but I do hope someday it will (which will be really cool). Here's to hoping :)
evenstar lady