Hi, there! Neeeeew chapter! Thank you for your support, reviews, messages etc. :).For me, every opinion counts.
I wanted to add this. i received a review from :Barbarossa (i guess that's his/her name) that it really made my day ( in a good way). I couln't answer in a message to i'm answering here:
"Dear Barbarossa,
I can't promise Byaruki, nor Ichiruki ... and together happily ever after sounds like a cliche for me... i will just try to make this story as realistic as it can get( i'm not sure that's grammatically correct, but i hope you understand what i mean) and of course, i will that do that with the risk of being an insensitive writer ( by the way i really liked that :) )
Cordially,
The insensitive witer"
Now, once again. Please be indulgent with my grammar/ spelling :D... And Enjoy!
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'Shit! This house it's so big that you could raise a whole village in it!' thought Ichigo as he was circling the Kuchiki manor in order to find Rukia's room. It was already night and the whole house was asleep so he was moving silently, careful in order to no wake anybody… especially Byakuya. He did not wanted to see man's face when he would discover that one of his less favourite acquaintances had barged into his house, seeking for his sister. No matter how he tried to put it, a midnight visit in a girl's dorm was not something that Byakuya would have called "appropriate".
'This must be!' he told himself relived as he stepped on the porch and slid the exterior door. He found Rukia sleeping on her futon with her blanket on and a childish expression on her face. He smiled and leaned over her.
"Wake up!"
"I don't want…" she mumbled, half-asleep.
"Wake up! It's me, Ichigo!"
Hearing that name, she instantly got up with a scared expression on her face:
"Ichigo?!" she shouted. "Are you nuts?! What are you doing here?!... What if Ni.." but here Ichigo put his hands over her mouth with a worried expression.
"Stop yelling!" he whispered. "If Byakuya finds out that I'm here, I'm dead!"
Annoyed she started to protest as he was covering her mouth. He couldn't distinguish a word from her mumbling, but she was obviously asking him to free her.
"Ok…ok…I'll take off my hands… But you promise not to yell?"
After she rolled her eyes annoyed, she nodded, so he slowly let go.
"Are you crazy?!" she snapped immediately with a whispering, but reproaching voice. "What are you doing here, at this hour?"
"I… wanted to see you" he replied with a simple and natural air.
Her eyes widened.
"You could have waited until tomorrow…"
"But I wanted to see you now…" he added with a wide grin that made her smile involuntarily. "I have some news that I wish to share with you"
"News?..." she asked curiously.
"I spoke with old man Yamamoto… and he agreed to let continue being a substitute shinigami for the moment!"
Her eyes widened.
"Really?" she hissed.
He nodded with a wide and self pleased smile.
"You mean… really, really?" she repeated, her violet eyes glowing from happiness. "Well…that's just…"
"Great!" he completed her sentence. "Now we can go back to the real world so I can start training with Urahara… and then we can catch those prisoners! We can go back in the morning!"
Here, her smile suddenly disappeared, making place for a serious glare.
"Oh, no, Ichigo!... I can't go back to real world tomorrow!... Saturday I have a party that I have to attend." She said.
Ichigo looked at her with a straight face.
"Really! A party!" he replied sarcastically.
"It's not what you think… It's a family obligation…It's given by the Ryoing family and i…"
But Ichigo frowned.
"Wait a second…" he stopped her and pulled out of his kimono a folded paper. "You mean this party?"
Rukia took the paper and after she read it, her eyes widened surprised.
"Ichigo, you're invited too!" she said.
"Am i?... " he replied. " I received this today but I didn't paid attention to it since I didn't know who the Ryoings were and what they wanted"
"They're a family that belongs to the Kuchiki clan…But why would they invite you to their party?"
Ichigo shrugged his shoulders in response.
"Well, if you are invited you could also come …" she concluded.
"You mean… we could go together, right?"
"Oh…not exactly, because I'll have to go with Nii-sama…"
"You mean that you'll bring your brother as your date?!" he snaped.
She instantly blushed.
"No! It's not like that!" she shouted.
But his eyes widened as he approached her worried.
"Rukia… I believe you're blushing…" he said confused.
"What?!" she shouted and started to rub her cheeks.
"Why would you blush when I mention Byakuya?… I mean it's not like he's a hot prince charming or something… he's just… your brother…"
Her eyes widened and the next second she hit his face with her foot.
"How could you even think of something like that?!" she shouted as she took the pillow in her arms hiding her face.
"Well… it's not me the one who blushed, Rukia…" he replied, still confused.
"Well of course I blush when you are thinking of such embarrassing things!" and after she said that she hit him again.
"Ok! Ok! I got it! Now stop hitting me!"
"That was because you were insulting Nii-sama!"
"What?!" he snapped. "Ok, Rukia… if you are starting to act like this and become violent again, I'll leave!" he said and got up, heading to the door. In that moment, she put down the pillow and looked at him with wide puppy eyes.
"So, you don't want me to leave …" he said with a pleased smile.
She instantly frown her eyebrows and turned her face away from him.
"You can do whatever you want! I care not!"
"Indeed, Rukia… it can shows clearly how much you 'don't care' " he replied and he approached her again. "But even if you want me stay …I can't sleep with you! Imagine what Byakuya would do if he finds out…"
"Stupid! Who said something about sl…" she begun so say but suddenly she remained speechless as she saw him leaning over her and kissing her forehead.
"Good night, Rukia! I'll see you tomorrow!"
With wide eyes and red face she remained still as stoned as she watched him leaving the room.
" That was close!...I can't believe I did it! I can't believe she didn't kick me! Now I have to get out of here before Byakuya notice me!' Ichigo told himself as he closed the door of her room and stepped on the porch.
"Kurosaki Ichigo…" a grave voice was heard behind him.
Ichigo's blood froze in his veins. After he had what in human world would have been called "a heart attack", he slowly turned.
He saw… Byakuya…in his night yukata… holding Senbonzakura!
His face turned blue as he started to think of all the things he could have done while he would have still been alive. He could have taken that Phd Degree on IT engineering… He would have assisted his sisters' graduation… Maybe he would have become a fulltime shinigami… He would have definitely married Rukia…and have a child…or two… a boy and a girl. The girl, he would have named her Masaki… he would have also…
"Kurosaki Ichigo…" began Byakuya with his coldest voice. "I don't recall having a midnight appointment with you…"
A guilty smile appeared on Ichigo's face.
"Actually… the appointment was not with you… but with Rukia…" he replied.
Byakuya grabbed his zanpakuto.
"Ok…Ok…I'm good! I'm sorry!...Lovely house! I'll see you later!" he added and the next second he disappeared with a shunpo.
From inside of her room, Rukia who heard all "the conversation" put a blanket on her and closed her eyes pretending she was asleep.
'Stupid Ichigo!' she thought… but then put her little fingers on her forehead. The place where he kissed her was still burning.
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The next day she tried to be as late as she could to her breakfast. Until the last moment she hoped that Byakuya will eat quickly and head to his office.
"Good Morning, Rukia"
'Crap!...It's Saturday! He's staying home!'
"G-g-ood m-morning… Nii-sama…" she replied, trying to fake a smile.
"It was a quite eventful night…" he said with his impersonal voice. "Did you sleep well?"
She blocked in front of the table.
"Well, have a seat… the food it's getting cold" he added, this time only with an apparently impartiality. As she knew him very well, she noticed a slight irritation in his voice.
"Y-yes…" she answered and took her seat, starting to eat fast, even though she wasn't hungry. She just wished to finish quickly so she can retire.
"Rukia…" Byakuya spoke.
She instantly choked with her food. Unimpressed with her reaction he continued:
"What I saw last night will not happen again. I do not care for the reason he come, but if he wants to visit he'll have to make an appointment during day like any other visitor at the Kuchiki manor!"
She bowed her head.
"He can't barge in your room , in the middle of the night like he's some sort of a secret paramour!" he added, this time visibly annoyed.
Rukia's eyes widened. Byakuya remained silent waiting a reaction from her part. As the reaction didn't come, his eyes widened.
"Or is he…your… lover?" he finally asked, his lips startling as he spoke the last word.
Her mouth opened for a couple of time. His eyebrows cocked as he waited for her answer…
"N-no… of course not!" she finally said.
"Good!" he concluded and took a bite of his food. "Because I would never agree with that sort of relation between the two of you!"
Rukia had the impression that she choked again with her food.
"Now, that I clearly stated my point on this matter… I have to remind you that today we're attending the Ryoings' party and right after the breakfast is finished, we will begin the preparations."
'Oh… the party...' he hissed in her mind.
"Ichigo it's coming too…" she suddenly said.
Byakuya turned to her with an obviously unpleased expression.
"Is that so?..." he commented.
"He's been invited…too…" she added with a low voice realising what a bad move was from her part to mention Ichigo again.
"Lovely!" Byakuya concluded sarcastically and put aside his plate. "I'll be in my room preparing…"
When she remained alone she gasped thinking of the "the preparation" ' torture : long bath, then treatment with moisturising creams and floral oils, choosing clothes, choosing slippers, getting the hair done, choosing jewelleries, choosing make up… This was going to take her more than half of the day.
These noble parties! She hated them! …
But then she got up from the table with a worried expression as she remembered Ichigo. She suddenly realised that he never attended to a noble's party before and he was obviously not aware of their exigencies. She was sure that Ichigo would dare to appear dressed up in his shinigami robe.
She gasped almost scared at the thought of it. She needed to do something! She exited the room wondering where she could find Ichigo.
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Renji entered his apartment, carrying some shopping bag filled with food. He put the bags on the table and then noticed something strange on his bed. He approached and discovered an ultra expensive kimono. On the top of it, he found a note:
"I hope you haven't forgotten about the party. Haruna"
He took the kimono and gave it a second look.
"Wow… This must cost a fortune!" he whimpered. "Still… I'm not so sure about it, Haruna…"
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Rukia arrived at the 13th Division's headquarters, hoping that she might find Ichigo there; instead she came across with her captain.
"Ukitake Taicho…"
"Oh, Rukia… you also thought of coming to office today?"
"I was looking for Ichigo…"
"He was downstairs with Kotetsu a few minutes ago…" he replied and headed to his office.
Rukia stopped for a second with a frown.
"Why would Ukitake Taicho would be at office on Saturday?" she asked.
"Well…I took a second look on your report… and after that I came to gather more information on those 15 Prisoners Urahara mentioned…" Ukitake replied with a smile. "Ichigo it's planning to go back to the real world soon and we need a plan until he leaves…"
"I see… May I help you?" she asked.
"I was about to finish, besides I have to…" he answered but he was interrupted by a third voice:
"Here you were…"
Rukia turned and saw Ichigo approaching.
"I was just about to come to your place…" he added as he was looking at her.
"You are not to come to my place without appointment anymore!" she replied stiffed.
"Oh… so Byakuya got really angry last night!" Ichigo said with an amused laugh.
"Ichigo, could you stop talking so freely about these things? My captain it's here…" she replied annoyed.
"Well, don't mind me… I was about to leave anyway" Ukitake replied with a mild smile. " I guess I'll see you tonight, Rukia. At the party…"
"Wait! You're coming too, Ukitake?" Ichigo asked surprised.
The captain looked at him confused.
"He's been invited too…" explained Rukia.
"I see… Then, we'll better to get ready. There's not much time left…"
"We have the whole day…" Ichigo commented.
The two nobles gave themselves a meaningful look.
"Ichigo never attended before a noble's party before…so he doesn't know the meaning of "preparations" " Rukia explained.
Ukitake smiled amused.
"I guess you'll have to teach him then. Now I'll leave the two of you, because I still haven't picked up my clothes and the present for little Haruna…"
"Indeed, clothes are also a problem for Ichigo…" Rukia said thoughtfully.
"What?!" Ichigo snapped confused. "What's wrong with my clothes?"
The two nobles gave themselves another meaningful look.
"Ukitake-sama…I think I just had an idea…" Rukia suddenly said. "Do you think you could help me out?"
Ukitake scanned Ichigo's body with a thoughtful expression.
"I believe we are about the same size…" Ukatake said in response.
Half an hour later, the three of them were in Ukitake's house. The captain promised to borrow Ichigo some clothes for the party. On the beginning he didn't agree with it, but when Rukia intervened with a menacing glare, he found himself speechless. Now he was alone in a room, waiting. After a certain time, Rukia entered holding in her arms a bunch of festive kimonos.
"Wohow!...Wait!... I'm not going to try all these!"
Rukia rolled her eyes with boredom, as she was sorting the clothes. She found a brown kimono sewed with golden threads. She frowned as she put over It an obi painted in the colours of autumn.
"These will match his eyes…" she whispered with a warm smile.
"What did you said?" he asked as he approached her.
"Nothing!" she replied stiffed. "Just put these on!" and she gave him the clothes.
Ichigo scanned the clothes with curiosity then without saying a word he started to untie the cordon of his shinigami robe.
"What are you doing? I hope you're not undressing in front of me!" she shouted.
"Well… if you don't want to look, then you should just turn around!" he replied.
With a red face she made a pirouette on her heels and headed to the door.
"Where are you going now?" he asked.
"O-out…"
"And if you are leaving who will tie my obi?" he asked untroubled.
"I will ask a servant to help you…"
"Why call a servant when you are already here?" he replied.
In front of the door, she suddenly stopped as she heard the sound of his clothes falling helpless on the floor… the sound of his soft skin that was revealing itself. Pushed by an inexplicable curiosity she suddenly turned. Her eyes widened.
"Why are you looking like this?... It's not as if you see me top naked for the first time …" he said.
Pulling herself together, Rukia tried to act cool and approached him. She took the kimono and helped him to get dressed.
"All those times when we fought and I was injured…and my clothes were ripped of…you remember? It's not the first time you see me half naked… then why are you acting so strange now?" he asked with a deep voice as he was trying to face her eyes… the eyes who were avoiding him so much. "Is it because this time… It might be different?"
"Ichigo… what are you trying to do?" she asked with a frown, suddenly facing him.
A slight smile appeared on his lips.
"This…" he whispered and leaned over her.
Seeing where all this was heading to, she suddenly turned her face. For a couple of seconds they remained still… Rukia had a serious gaze, while Ichigo clinched his fists, thinking that it was the second time she was rejecting him.
Then, as nothing had happened, Rukia continued to fix the kimono.
They both remained silent… and Ichigo thought in that moment of how Rukia was knotting his obi. Somehow, her gestures reminded him those memories from childhood when his mother was tying his old man's necktie. That memory made him think that Rukia's gestures were warm and careful just like the ones of a… wife.
His eyes widened. The craziest idea crossed in him mind in that second…
"Rukia…i…" he began.
"That's it Ichigo… You're good to go!" she said as she finished.
For the second time he swallowed his words…
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It's been more than an hour since he was waiting in the Kuchiki garden. At a certain moment a servant approached, asking him if he wishes to enter the house.
"No thanks" he replied stiffed. "I don't have an appointment…"
After that, another two hour passed and it was slowly getting dark. He was hungry. He was thirsty …He was bored …He was annoyed.
"What is she taking her so long?!" He told himself exasperated.
In the end, he decided to enter to house, just to look for her and ask her to hurry… or better, he thought of dragging her directly to the party without any additional questions. But then, as he put his first step in the main room, he encountered Byakuya's intimidating glare.
"Kurosaki Ichigo…" he intoned.
Ichigo remained still.
"I believe you have come here to apologise…" Byakuya said.
"What?!" replied Ichigo half confused, half annoyed. Then, as he remembered the scene he made last night, he ghasped. "Uuuuuuh!... Fine!" he growled irked and made a bow. "I'm very sorry for what I did last night…It was improper, illegal, impolite…and so on."
But Byakuya didn't even look at him, his eyes focused on the other side of the room.
"Are even listening?" Ichigo asked and he turned his eyes to the direction on which Byakuya was looking. Instantly his mouth opened wide.
A little princess appeared in the main room. She was wearing a violent and black kimono that was matching perfectly her eyes. Her hair was arranged in delicate loop at the top of her head, over which amethyst jewelleries were arranged.
With graceful and small steps she approached.
"I'm ready, Nii-sama…" she said.
"Oh…my!...It's Rukia!" Ichigo hissed in his mind.
"I suppose he is riding with us?" Byakuya asked looking Ichigo.
"Only If it's alright with you, Nii-sama" she replied.
Without answering Byakuya went ahead and left the room.
"Close your mouth! You look like you've seen a ghost!" Rukia whispered annoyed as she passed beside him and followed her bother.
'Certainly, that's Rukia!' Ichigo added to himself and left the room.
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Riding with Rukia and Byakuya was a strange experience for him. Rukia was next to him… but she was different… She looked like a miniature of Byakuya. She had the same distinguished and cool air. The same superior glare… The same immeasurable beauty. He watched her chatting with her brother… he watched her smiling to him… and suddenly something felt wrong! …He slowly started to feel that he was no longer part of her world because her whole world was slowly occupied by… Byakuya. Ichigo frowned. Something was indeed wrong. He couldn't name it…he couldn't indentify it… Maybe was the way she was she looking at him…maybe was the way he didn't lose track of her not even for a second. He suddenly felt… excluded!
When they arrived at the destination, in front of the entrance, Ichigo continued to follow the couple but then, someone put a hand on his chest:
"Please be patient. Let the Lords pass first!"
Ichigo frowned as he turned his gaze to Byakuya and Rukia.
"Make waaaay for Lord Kuchiki and Lady Kuchiki!" announced the servant.
Ichigo's eyes slowly widened as he kept looking at the noble couple. They marched, entering the house as if the whole world was bending at their feet. That was a fact not far from the truth, because all the guests made a deep bow as they appeared.
It was an awkward moment.
For Ichigo, Kuchiki Rukia never existed. For him Rukia was enough. For him, Rukia was the person he had been in love with all these years. Now, for the first time he encountered her Kuchiki side. He suddenly felt a gap…a distance between them.
He thought of the day he met her… He thought of the day he saved her. He thought of the day they spent planning the wedding of one of her relatives… He thought of how she was helping him to get dressed this afternoon… He thought of that question he wanted so much to ask her…
And then, he looked at her brother…
He suddenly realised…
He suddenly asked himself…
How could he ever marry a Kuchiki?
I know i promised you the party... but then i got these new ideas ( if i can call them like that). Uh! This story it's getting longer than i expected (and it's not even half way written)... Oh! i just noticed... I'm quite communicative today! I think i'll just stop here...
So...
Thank you in advance for reading, and until next time, R&R! Each opinion counts!