A/N: Thank you for reading this story. And a big thank you for those who took the time to review, fav, and follow. My apologies for any grammar/spelling error that MS Word and I have overlooked.
To Anya (guest reviewer): This story is purely angst. And I am with you in your sentiment. But people are blinded by love they don't always make the right decisions.
To Shanoko (guest reviewer): Thank you for your kind reviews and I hope you enjoy this chapter.
To Cat (guest reviewer): Thank you. Hope you enjoy this chapter.
To the guest reviewer who didn't leave a name and said, "this is too much OOC for me": there are warnings in the first two chapters that this is story is AU, AR and the characters will be OOC. I do not believe I would need to put a warning in every chapter so that you know not to read it if it's not to your preference. I suggest for you to write stories that YOU want to read.
People change when they are in love, when they are jealous or if a given situation affects them. Kubo Tite may not have written a love triangle between these characters like in this story, but it's clear how Kubo-san shows what being blinded by love of any form would do to a person. You can see that clearly when Hinamori Momo's personality/character change. I'm applying this same theory to this story, but with more drama and angst.
WARNINGS: Alternate Universe. Alternate Reality. Characters may be OOC due to situations being inflicted upon them. In this universe/reality, they are not teenagers but college students already.
' ' denotes thoughts by the character.
Italics denotes dreaming/flashback
Disclaimer: Bleach concept and characters belong to Kubo Tite. The story is mine. This is for pure entertainment and no money is made from this.
Chapter 4
Ginrei decided to check on his granddaughter to see if she was ready to return back to Seireitei. However, he happened to overhear the voice message that Ichigo left for Rukia when she replayed the message the second time.
His heart broke for her hearing her sobbing as silently as possible. He saw her attendant coming back to check up on Rukia after giving her some time alone. He nod to her politely and held up a hand to ask her to wait a moment before going in to check on Rukia.
A few minutes passed and it didn't seem like Rukia was speaking with Ichigo, he gently knocked on the door and then called out to her.
"Rukia, the attendant will be coming in to help you out of your dress if you have not done so. I should take you home now," he told her softly through the door between them.
He heard her blow her nose before stuttering her reply between gasps of air, "Y-yes O-jī-sa-ma."
Ginrei looked at the attendant and gave her a nod indicating that she could go in while he would wait outside her door for her.
While he heard the rustling of fabric, he takes out his cell phone to text two people he knew would help him keep Ichigo from coming to Seireitei. In his heart, he can no longer agree to allow Rukia to marry Ichigo, even if she forgives him. Being over one thousand years old had some advantages. He's learned a lot in his lifetime to know that if Ichigo betrayed her once before they even married, he would most likely do it again. 'Like they say, a leopard cannot change its spots,' his mind told him.
After he sent the texts to his two reliable friends telling them he needs to speak with them in less than 30 minutes time, he then sends a text his grandson next.
"Byakuya, meet Rukia at our Senkaimon gate in 20 minutes. Something has happened. Take care of Rukia and see that she is not disturbed by anyone. I will be back when I am finished here," he tells him in the text.
Within seconds he received two affirmative replies from his friends and then a message back from his grandson that says, "Understood."
One of the many things he admired in his grandson was the fact that he did not need to ask unnecessary questions without thought or reason. His grandson would have understood that if he was sending Rukia back, then it must be urgent and not waste time on gathering the details until he saw her.
Just then the door to Rukia's dressing room opened and she walks out before the attendant.
"O-jī-sa-ma," she greeted him with a broken voice while trying to hold back the tears.
Ginrei didn't need to look at her to see her puffy red eyes and nose to know that she hadn't stop crying since Orihime broke the news to her. If it wasn't for the years of practicing to maintain his calm and composed self, he would have left to tear Ichigo to shreds himself. But if he was allowed to do one thing, it was at this moment where he felt Rukia needed it the most.
He gently embraced her, holding her tightly and told her, "Let's get you home my sweet Rukia."
Rukia was grateful that Ginrei was here and that he didn't need to say anything more. The hug was what she needed for now. She nods in acknowledgement to Ginrei's words and with that, he took her hand and led her out to where everyone else was waiting outside.
As they stepped out towards the front of the salon, Rukia read the empathic eyes of Isshin, Karin, Yuzu and Rangiku. Rukia is relieved that those eyes didn't look at her with pity.
Seeing Rukia's puffy red eyes and nose, Karin and Yuzu approached her and threw their arms around her giving her a big hug.
"You're still our sister. You're still a part of our family," Yuzu quietly tells her as she tightens her arms around Rukia trying to reassure her and on the other hand, wishing Rukia would not leave.
"Don't forget how much you mean to us, even if we have an idiot of a brother," Karin tells her.
Rukia quirks a small smile at Karin's straightforward comment. Leave it to Karin to always call it like it is; who was she to disagree that Ichigo is an idiot.
Keeping her tears at bay, she hugs them back weakly before she pulls back and releases them as she simply says, "Thank you."
As the others observed the three girls embrace, Ginrei approaches Isshin and Rangiku.
"Rangiku-san, would you mind accompanying Rukia through our private Senkaimon? Byakuya will meet you on the other side," Ginrei says to her.
Rangiku knew better to than to question Ginrei why he wasn't accompanying Rukia himself. And if he already arranged for Kuchiki Byakuya to be waiting at the gate on the other side, it must mean business.
"I do not mind at all Kuchiki-sama," she replies.
Isshin asks Ginrei knowingly, "Will you be coming over for a visit Kuchiki-sama?"
"Yes, after I open our private senkaimon and attend to a personal matter before visiting you," he tells Isshin and knows that he has also answered Rangiku's question in her head.
After parting ways at the wedding salon and then sending Rukia with Rangiku home, Ginrei made his way to Urahara Shōten to meet with his friends. He had a favor to ask and one he hopes they will do without fail.
Upon reaching the small convenience store, his friends stood just outside the door way waiting for him.
"Ginrei-dono," his long time family friend from the Shihōin clan and former member of the Gotei 13 greeted him.
"Kuchiki-sama," greeted his other friend whom he has had the pleasure to have gotten to know better now that he spends a lot more time in the human world. He remembers the day he was present at this man's examination to be taichō of the 12th Division. He was then more than a formidable taichō and shinigami.
"Yoruichi-san, Kisuke-san," he greeted back as they all stepped into the store and made their way back into the personal home of Urahara Kisuke. "Thank you for meeting with me on short notice," he says to them.
"Ginrei-dono, you do not need to be so formal with us. You should know that by now," Yoruichi told her long time friend as if the 100 years that she and Kisuke disappeared from Seireitei had not played a part in stopping their friendship.
As they settled down around a small round table, Kisuke inquisitively asks, "Has something happened Kuchiki-sama?"
Yoruichi pours the genamicha for the three of them it seems they are about to begin a serious conversation.
"Orihime announced today during Rukia's final fitting that she is carrying Ichigo's unborn child," he says straight out but with a hint of the icy bitter tone that Yoruichi knows it means that he is angry.
It was not like Ginrei to make jokes or say things without examining the truth. Yoruichi knows Ginrei better than anyone that served in the Gotei 13. So without any doubts, she believes him. But she was internally surprised by how Ginrei did not notice the obvious from seeing Orihime interact with Ichigo. Yoruichi and Kisuke looked at each other when Ginrei told them all that happened prior to him visiting.
If Ginrei was expecting both of them to be shocked, he was in for a surprise. Neither of them seemed fazed by this news and it slightly surprised him. However, upon realizing that they must have suspected something, his eyes narrows in annoyance as he thinks, 'If they knew, why did they not tell me?'
"Ginrei-dono, it's not that we knew a head of time this would have happened," Yoruichi says quickly when she saw Ginrei's eyes narrow. "It's that…"
"Inoue Orihime is an unstable and unpredictable girl. And it has been fairly obvious that she's been in love with Ichigo for a very long time; fawning over him to the point of stalking him," Kisuke adds.
"I see," was all Ginrei could say as he takes a drink of his tea and ponders on the information Kisuke just told him.
"Ginrei-dono, I take it that Rukia has already returned to Kuchiki manor seeing that she isn't with you. Nor would you have left her with Isshin," Yoruichi surmises.
Ginrei nods validating her assumption.
"I take it then you're not just here to vent?" she asks knowingly.
Putting his tea cup down, he says calmly with a very stern gaze, "I want you both to not let Ichigo use the senkaimon for any reason. I do not want Rukia to be hurt further."
As the Kurosakis made their way home, they each were lost in their own thoughts. Ichigo has to answer to Orihime's claim that she's carrying his unborn child. Being a responsible parent and adult, Isshin knew that Ichigo would need to break off the engagement with Rukia and marry Orihime, even if Isshin didn't approve of this. He didn't want Orihime as his daughter-in-law. She had already proven today she had no scruples. And that was a major strike out in his books.
Deep down, Isshin also knew that Ginrei would not want Rukia to be married to his bastard son for shaming her in such a way. He couldn't imagine dealing with the love of his life knowing that out there, there exists a child that your significant other created with another person; especially if that child will have a part in their life. It would be a constant reminder of the betrayal. Not to mention the trust issues that would cause them grief for years to come.
Shaking his head at his thoughts, he could not come up with a resolution that would make everyone happy. Someone will have to be sacrificed and pay the ultimate price. He wishes he could have spared Rukia from this pain.
"Now the question is, "what to do about Ichigo and Orihime?"" he mutter under his breath as he let out a deep sigh.
It wasn't long before they were walking up to the front door of their home. They all had somber looks upon their faces. In their own way, they each knew they would have to see Ichigo sooner or later. It was time to face things head on.
Opening the door for his girls, Yuzu stepped inside first, followed by Karin and then Isshin walked in closing the door behind.
Ichigo comes into the hallway thinking that it was Rukia returning home. He isn't surprised to see his own family. He looks past Isshin thinking and hoping Rukia was standing hidden behind his father. She isn't there and Ichigo couldn't help but looks down in despair.
But the longing, disappointment and mild shock that Isshin saw in his son's eyes told him that Ichigo had hoped Rukia would be with them. And it also meant that Ichigo knew what has happened. He would not have put it pass Orihime to contact Ichigo immediately after she had left then at the boutique.
POW!
Without giving the appropriate greeting that is typical of coming home and saying, "Tadaima," Karin lands a punch into Ichigo's gut.
"YOU JERK!" Karin yells after she surprises him and taking his breath away. She may not be big for a female of her size and height, but boy, could she give her fair share of punches and kicks as any martial art expert.
"Karin," Yuzu says as she pulls her back and away from Ichigo. "Let's…let's go inside. It's too closed up in here," she stutters as she desperately drags Karin away. She wants to rip into Ichigo too once she saw him looking as if nothing happened. But right now, she needed some space between them and fighting by the front door would not solve anything.
Isshin had his arms folded across his chest watching his daughter belt a gut wrenching punch into Ichigo's stomach. He couldn't blame her because truth be told, he wants to do that as well. Hell, there was a line forming behind him waiting for their turn to punch him. He wouldn't be surprised if one Kuchiki taichō shows up before the end of night destroying Ichigo's room. 'I better make myself and the girls scarce by night fall just in case,' he thinks to himself. He knows Ichigo would be fine taking care of himself; a few bumps and bruises would do the boy some good he rationalize.
Ichigo grimaces in discomfort from Karin's blow. He would have expected his father to punch him, but not Karin. He looks up from the floor he was sitting seeing that his dad stood there silently observing.
A few seconds of silence fell between them. Ichigo knew he should say something, but he didn't know what to say. He had planned on speaking with Rukia first. Obviously the best laid plans never follows through.
"Kuchiki-sama will be here soon to see you," he tells him with a stern expression. "And you better have a solution to problem you created," he warns him as he walks by him without helping him up off the floor.
Kuchiki Byakuya taichō walks up to the Senkaimon gate near the Kuchiki manor. His own private guards had already lined up for his arrival. He had a couple of minutes to think about things before the gate opens with his adopted sister returning from the human world. He had to admit that it was on very rare occasion that his grandfather would send him a text message. He surmised that it must have been something of great importance for him to do so. Plus the message itself created a lot of unease within him. He wanted to have asked his grandfather if anything bad had happened to Rukia since he was told to take care of her and to make sure she isn't disturbed. He knew his grandfather well enough to know that if he didn't supply further information, he would only have to wait a bit for the information would somehow supply itself. At least in Byakuya's case, this happens quite often.
With the Senkaimon opening, Byakuya's attention was drawn to the two women walking through the gate. Both women had solemn expressions, but the one he cared most about had puffy red eyes and nose. Byakuya's slate gray eyes narrows as they come closer towards him and he could clearly make out the tear stained trails on her pretty face. Byakuya felt his muscles tighten and his resolve nearly crumbling in its desire to reach out and embrace Rukia tightly. She's his pride and he'll be damned if any one hurts her in any way, shape or form.
"Kuchiki taichō," Rangiku greet as they were only a few feet from each other.
"Onii-sama," greeted Rukia in a monotone voice. Rukia's monotone words sounded strange to her own ears.
Byakuya notices now that there was no life in the words she spoke or in her eyes. He could help wonder just what the hell had happened.
"Matsumoto fukutaichō, Rukia," he greeted them though his eyes never left Rukia's.
As if reading his thoughts, Rukia takes out her cell phone and shows Byakuya the text message she sent to Ichigo. She didn't trust herself to say the words. She did not want to cry in front of him and not be the proper Kuchiki that everyone, including herself, expects her to be.
The climate in an instant changed dramatically. A gust of wind swirled around them encapsulating everyone within 30 yards (27.4 meters) as they felt an imaginary force pushing its weight down on them, oppressing them.
A/N: Thank you for reading. If you would like to know when I update, you can always check the bottom of my profile page to see update status.