Chapter Fifty-eight
Reception…
On the plane Tatsuki put her headphones on and closed her eyes ignoring the talkative passenger beside her. It was no surprise that Uyeda just happened to be on the same flight and seated in the same area as her.
She was finished with talking and really wanted some peaceful time alone. Above all it started to sink in that she missed Renji. Not thinking of him would hurt less but forgetting him wasn't an option for her.
It wasn't as if she didn't expect him to leave. This was the feeling she came to expect. Feeling she was sure she could control stabbed at her now. The highlights of everything Uyeda said to her nagged at her. She longed for the happiness she felt the past three days.
000
The weeks passed rather quickly and Ichigo found that his wedding day was upon him. Things didn't go exactly as he visioned they would go. Things were fairly normal when he was sure the craziness of the Seireitei would interfere.
"The thing about the sun is that it pulls everything in. The gravity of the sun pulls all things towards its light," Isshin said looking at the Milky Way display hanging from the ceiling.
"Dad please," Ichigo pleaded adjusting his hair in the mirror.
"Yet the sun keeps everything at a distance. The moon is a special case," Isshin spun the tiny moon around, "the moon's beauty is enhanced by the light of this star and not only that she reflects the brilliant light."
"She," Ichigo asked.
"Just go with it," Isshin said.
"So this whole speech has a point," Ryûgen said.
Ichigo turned it was still unbelievable how alike Uryû was to his father. For a moment he thought it was Uryû speaking but his white hair would always give him away.
"Of course it does," Isshin said.
"An astronomy lesson perhaps," Uryû said flipping through a magazine.
"You two are very alike," Ichigo said.
"Go on continue Ichigo Senior," Ryûgen said.
"Anyhow there are moments when the moon blocks the sun…I actually forgot what I was saying," Isshin said dropping his hand from the display.
"Have you been drinking dad," Ichigo asked.
"He's obviously trying to compare you and Rukia to those plastic objects I'd say there's alcohol involved," Ryûgen said.
"Shut up this is a moment between father and son," Isshin said.
"Enough of all this let's get going Uryû," Ichigo said walking to the elevator.
"Shameful," Uryû said and shook his head as they passed by their parents.
"Wait Ichigo the purpose-
"If Rukia worries that I feel the need to protect her too bad. I'll acknowledge her as my equal but nothing will ever stop me from being her protector. She knows all that," Ichigo said stepping into the elevator.
"Wow you actually understood my metaphor my son has made me so proud," Isshin gushed.
"Give it a rest already," Ichigo said.
"Hey, I'm just saying look at you," Isshin said.
"Whatever dad, keep on talking nonsense," Ichigo said.
"Showtime is in less than an hour; so don't make ugly faces like that," Isshin said.
"I've been through it all you know," Ichigo said stepping out of the elevator, "if I hear any more about pride or whatever excuse people throw out to analyze Rukia and I…I think I might go crazy. We're fine now. We understand each other."
"Don't be so dramatic," Uryû said, "you two never cared what any of us thought before so why start. You've always understood each other, nothing new there."
"Yeah," Ichigo said.
"Let me tell all of you, that understanding each other is a continuous process," Isshin added.
"We don't have time for more of your stories dad," Ichigo said.
"I'm enjoying this I've never heard you or your father speak so much-
"We're not alike," Ichigo and Isshin said nearly at the same time.
"This is too easy," Uryû said.
"You're one to talk," Ichigo said as they made their way out the lobby, "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree in your case either."
"No comment," Uryû said.
Ichigo kept silent he didn't mind the comparisons to his father all that much but had the feeling the Ishida's were different. Where Ichigo joked they seemed to taking thing way too seriously. Perhaps it was some Quincy trait to be so strict.
000
The wedding went smoothly and everything this day seemed to flow together perfectly. The guests made their way to the reception and now waited for the toast of the newlyweds. Everything was a larger affair then when they married in Hawaii.
"Rukia, I didn't know how much I wanted to protect and love you. Day after day something was missing…I feel like I breathe and live and exist to love you…," Ichigo turned to the others in the reception hall, "I can't live in a world where she doesn't exist even if I'm the only one who can see her…It's crazy to think of all that we have been through. From the first time I saw her until now words can't do our story justice…I've said enough as I take my seat so have fun everyone."
Ichigo lifted his glass in a toast and took his seat. Rukia smiled and kissed him.
"How can I top that," she whispered in his ear.
"I mean every word if I haven't told you enough Rukia. I love you," Ichigo said.
Rukia stood up to say a few words of her own. She was gorgeous. Her eyes twinkled in the reflection of the lights surrounding them. He sat back listening to her speak.
This was his world now. The humans there would never understand. Explaining things to them was as awkward as putting on two left shoes. How could he stand up and tell them how he was captivated by the woman in the black robes fighting that creature and from the moment he saw her he'd never be the same.
Rukia wasn't sure she knew what to say. She could just say cheers and go back to ignoring the room but that wasn't fair to Ichigo or their guests.
"There is this feeling you can't place. A feeling that you knew this person and that you'll always know this person. I could never clearly explain our friendship. He's so much more than that to me. We're so much a part of each other. I'll always love you Ichigo," Rukia said turning to him.
She'd always love him in any place, time or world. As long as her soul existed it would seek him out.
The guest continued to drink and be merry. Ichigo tried to pay attention to their endless talks about love and happiness but all he wanted to do was spend time with Rukia. With that thought he hung his head in shame as his father attempted to dance.
000
After the wedding party started saying farewells Ichigo and Rukia were surprised to meet a strangely dressed group. The group turned out to be Royal Guardians. Following the brief words of their commander about their mission Rukia calmly accepted their orders to return to the Seireitei.
An astonished Ichigo wasn't as accepting that he had to leave as well. He only backed down when Rukia with composure told him that they were not being separated and to calm down.
In the Seireitei Ichigo was taken to a place his chaperon called the Kurosaki compound. The whole thing seemed like a bad joke of a dream he would soon wake up from. Perhaps he overdid things drinking that sake at the reception.
The madness continued as he met unusual people who called themselves his caretakers. Ichigo was only willing to go along with these people so far because he wasn't being separated from Rukia and her words to him to stay calm. Now that they were apart again he calmly walked away from the compound seeking out her spirit energy.
It didn't take him long to find her where he thought she might be. The Kuchiki compound was tranquil with few people milling around. Ichigo thought it strange he wasn't stopped as he easily walked to Rukia's place.
"Is it pointless to say we were expecting you Kurosaki-san," an attendant said suddenly cutting off Ichigo's path.
"It's just Ichigo. You know why I'm here so where is she," he asked.
"Rukia I suppose you're referring to…well please take a seat you can wait out here," the attendant said.
"You know I'm not going to just sit here-
The attendant just smiled as Ichigo sat.
Some kind of Kidô, I guess I shouldn't fight it.
"How very rude of me I am Quon pleased to meet you. My only job was to make sure you go no further than this room. Perhaps you underestimated me figuring that I was a servant of some kind. Let me assure you I am a master of Kidô," Quon said.
"Relax I didn't come to fight and why aren't you insisting that I call you by a title," Ichigo asked.
Quon released the spell. Ichigo rubbed his arms waiting for an answer.
"What good would that do you never even bother to call my superior by his proper title," Quon asked.
"I guess that makes sense," Ichigo said.
A woman quickly came in with a tray sat it down and excused herself.
"Tea," Quon asked.
Ichigo drank the tea.
"So why did they bring her back here," Ichigo asked.
"You'll find out when they want you to know," Quon shrugged.
"Alright then…you're some Kidô master or something did you teach Rukia," Ichigo asked.
"That's laughable. I guess I mislead you by telling you I was a master of Kidô. Truth told Rukia's much better at that than I'll ever hope to be," Quon said.
Ichigo stared as the room started to fade. He was falling asleep as Quon took the tea from his hand.
"But none of that matters because I am skilled at what I do," Quon said.
Ichigo heard the last comment and cursed as he could no longer keep his eyes open. The guy drugged him. Well he did succeed in keeping Ichigo from going further from this room after all.
000
Ichigo could hear voices in the background murmuring as he woke up.
"I can't lose you again. I refuse to-
A male voice that sounded like Byakuya suddenly stopped. Ichigo looked around. The room was dark but he was sure the voice came from a different room. A second soft female voice made him pause as he headed for the door.
"Byakuya-Sama I'm thankful that it was you. I-
"Well you are up finally," Quon said turning on the lights in the room.
Ichigo wanted to hear the rest of the conversation because he was convinced he had heard the voices of Byakuya and Hisana. Quon continued talking to him but he tuned him out trying to recapture the conversation from earlier but only silence greeted his ears.
000
Byakuya sat at the top of the room and finished going over a list of rules and regulations. Ichigo listened bored as his anger died down long ago. He now knew all the Kuchiki history and rules. Something similar happened to Tatsuki after she married Renji only it was her family she learned more about he was told. If he stayed in the Kurosaki compound things could have gone differently he supposed but it was too late and he patiently waited for Byakuya to finish.
Rukia came in interrupting Byakuya.
"Things are finished Nii-sama," Rukia said.
"Rukia," Ichigo questioned.
"With planning for the wedding taking most of the time I nearly forgot about the Royal guard. I'm ready to go back now," Rukia said as if everything that went on was perfectly ordinary.
Ichigo said nothing and stood to leave. He didn't want to think of Shinigami business any longer but it nagged him that he heard Hisana's voice.
"About your-
"Let's not discuss anything besides where you're taking me on this honeymoon," Rukia said.
Maybe she didn't know about her sister. As they left Ichigo told Rukia all he overheard that day.