Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. It is owned by Tite Kubo.
Upon the Frosted Heavens
Genre: Romance/General
Pairings: Hitsugaya/Rukia and some other minor ones
Rating: M
Summary: A series of one-shots centering on the two ice-controllers of Seireitei and their relationship.
(general) Warnings: There will be cursing, sex, sexual tension, dark moments, humor, AUs, OOCness, and character teasing
Story 2: (based on work by Ravyn) It was supposed to be a low-key evening of party-games and getting drunk by a fire. Now because of a dare, Rukia has to tread into an abandoned village with a haunting past.
Rating: T
Genre: Romance/Supernatural
Warnings: AU, based on another fanfic (Castoff by Ravyn), cursing, seduction, possessiveness, and sexual moments
Dragon's Keep
"I-I can't…I won't." The woman with short-black hair and dark violet eyes whimpered.
Rukia has never been considered a coward. She was a strong, independent woman who every so often was called a stubborn-bitch; a term, while insulting, she took with some pride. But even her courage and rather, as a certain strawberry-moron calls it, manly-pride had its limits. And this was a time where both disappeared and her girly side was peeping out.
"Aw, you're not chicken, are you?" Renji crooned. He grinned evilly at her scowl and flopped his arms and started clucking at her. "Bwak, bwak, bwak! Understand that, Rukia? It is in your language after all."
Matsumoto promptly smacked Renji into the sand, hard.
"Ow!" He yelped, holding his head, worried his skull had fractured. "Damn it, woman! It was just a joke!"
Matsumoto didn't look amused as she crossed her arms under her ample chest. "Leave her alone. If she doesn't want to take the dare, then she doesn't have to. She shouldn't." She stressed, her face twisting into an upset scowl. "This is too dangerous."
"Hmph, it's a walk." He stressed right back. "How the hell is that dangerous?"
She huffed, "You know very well it's dangerous! Don't question me!"
Rukia pulled herself into a little ball as she watched her two friends fight. 'So. Much. Sexual. Tension.' She twitched, knowing the two had it bad for each other. She wiggled her toes in the sand in worry, peeking over her shoulder at the foreboding woods eyeing her with hunger.
'Why are we even here?' She wondered as she pulled her purple jacket closer over her body. 'Stupid strawberry.'
It was Ichigo's twenty-first birthday, and what did he want to do for a party? He wanted to go on a boat ride and have a private party on an abandoned, and probably private property, island.
And what does everyone say?
Bring the beer!
Rukia rubbed her head. One of her 'stupid men and their stupidity' migraines was forming. She didn't like this place at all.
It wasn't as if she wasn't adventurous, but she was pretty good at following rules and wasn't always spontaneous. It felt wrong to be on the island without permission. It was a small island, only about seven miles by seven miles, and it was off the coastline of the city. It was a historical landmark though tours have long stopped.
Which made her think it was bought and owned privately and they were looking at jail time and marks on their record for a party.
It was dangerous too! What if there was a storm? What if their boat ran out of gas? What if they were eaten?
In short, she was against the idea and said they should have the party at somewhere fun and normal. Like Chappy-land.
Sadly, she was the only one with good taste and everyone had whined against her distaste. After all why would she be against it? She would be out in the water and in nature. Maybe she could see an actual bunny instead of a creepy fake one. It wasn't fair! She always ruined the fun.
'Hmph! Just because I don't want to be on an island owned by the government and probably filled with mutant hillbillies bent on feasting on our liver and making pretty ornaments out of our skin does not mean I ruin all the fun!' She snorted, pouting as she glared at the noisy group who was debating on whether she should take the dare or not.
It was almost cut down the middle; half said she should be a brave bitch and do her dare while the other half wanted to throw her back on the boat where it was safe.
'We're here aren't we? So clearly I don't always ruin the fun.' She pouted even more. 'And I took dare when I clearly shouldn't have.' Rukia groaned, remembering her predicament.
What was this controversial dare she had to do?
She had to go into the forest of the island, past a broken down village, go to that abandoned shrine they all had found, and stay in there for thirty-minutes or longer.
Really, the things Renji came up with were dumb, pointless, and completely cruel.
'Then again,' Rukia winced. 'He might be getting back at me for my dare. I really didn't think the lobster would actually pinch his man-junk! I swear! I thought it would wiggle around if he placed it down his pants!'
Apparently Renji didn't care about her failed faith and now wanted revenge.
"It's not dangerous!" Renji snapped, tired of all the bickering. "Look, she took the dare so she has to do it. It's stupid and easy. All she has to do is go straight down that path," he pointed to a path they had discovered while walking around. "And just sit in that shrine for a while then come back. How the hell is that dangerous?!"
"Because there could be predators there and that place is terribly old! What if it caves in on her?" Matsumoto continued, rather protective over the tiny girl. "And even with the path she still could get lost. It's dark out."
Renji glared at the beautiful woman. "You're being ridiculous. You can't play favorites with Truth or Dare, Rangiku. And the shrine won't collapse on her! It held all of us. Hell, strawberry and myself even jumped around and mooned the damn thing."
"And you will be cursed to having a lobster infection and no woman would ever want to touch you." The strawberry-blonde growled.
Orihime giggled at this, "That was very rude, Renji. One should never disrespect a shrine."
Matsumoto nodded in agreement with her cousin, "Besides, as I said before; predators!"
"They'll will run away with their tails between their legs once she begins nagging at them." Renji scoffed only to get hit with a beach ball they had been playing with when it there was light out. The redhead glared at Rukia who glared right back. "Nothing will happen to her."
"But the darkness!"
Renji rolled his eyes, "Even if she did get lost all she needed to do was keep walking straight till she got to the beach and then follow the coast line. She might be tired and sweaty from the walk, but she wouldn't be gone forever. Besides, all paths from the beach lead to that village. It's the heart of the island so it would be almost impossible to get lost."
He crossed his arms over his chest, "I still don't see any reason why she can't do this other than she is a little chicken."
Rukia growled. All her buttons being pushed perfectly till she finally couldn't take all the arguments and insults. Shooting up she stormed over to the boat, hopped in; they all could hear her cursing slightly as she rummaged through everything. She then came back out her katana in one hand and a flashlight in the other.
Renji yelped, eyeing the sword, "I-I-I didn't mean it! You're not a little chicken!"
"You idiot, I'm not using this to slaughter you! I'm taking it with me to the shrine!"
Ichigo raised an eyebrow, "Why did you even bring that thing? I swear you are obsessed with it."
Everyone at the party had met from taking the same martial-arts and kendo classes-Renji, Rukia, and Ichigo all met first at the age of five, then Orihime and her cousin Rangiku the rather odd twins Ikkaku and Ayesegawa, Chad, Kenpachi and his daughter Yachiru, and the meek Hanataro.
Unfortunately Yachiru had caught a cold and was unable to join the party, and in turn her father as well.
"I prefer to be safe than sorry, moron." She snapped back to the birthday-boy. "I'd rather have it and don't need it than need it and don't have it. Besides I feel empowered and secure with it."
"Mhm-hmm." He rolled his amber eyes at her behavior. "You're just a power-hungry control freak."
"And you have weird hair." She replied back instantly. "Well, I'm off!"
Hana looked over at Rukia, "Y-you don't have to Rukia-chan…"
She beamed down at him, "It's ok. Besides if I don't this monkey won't shut up about it for the rest of the week."
"Oh yeah…." The group groaned.
"Hey!" Renji huffed. "Whatever…just go on and get it over with. It will be a lot better with you gone!"
"Uh-huh…" She waved back, not listening.
"Be careful sweetie! You kill any man who gets close to you, ok?" Matsumoto cried out. She then turned to Renji with a growl. "I will get you back for making her do this."
"Me?! What did I do?!"
Rukia snorted over her laughter when she heard a powerful slap followed by a miserable yelp. 'Serves you right you monkey.'
She felt better knowing Renji was put in his place.
Once she got deeper into the woods did she click on the flashlight, keeping it trained ahead of her. She gulped when she noticed that the light was shaking a bit from her hand. The atmosphere was getting to her.
Every time she stepped on a twig that cracked under her foot she jumped and whenever the breeze blew some leaves she almost squealed.
Inhaling she paused in her steps, disgusted with herself and her fear.
"There is nothing out here that should make me this on edge! Erm…I-I think." She actually didn't know much about this location. For all she knew there had been a terrible massacre in this village, which is why it was abandoned and now filled with bloody ghosts.
'That is ridiculous.' She thought as the clumps of huts appeared. 'They all just abandoned the village because of the times or the government. There are plenty of reasons as to why this place is deserted like this. It's an old place. And…why it hasn't been torn down?'
She gave off a small squeak when she slipped a bit on the damp and muddy path.
Rukia caught herself before she fell. She would rather not get herself dirty when she would probably be on the island till dawn. She did wish she had placed on her sundress over her bikini (with boy-shorts as the bottom for the ever modest girl). She felt like she was setting herself up for a perfect horror-situation being so underdressed, even with her jacket.
First rule of any night party; don't dress like a skank, that usually means you were one of the first to be chopped up to bits.
"Stop it! You're about to pee yourself!" She squeaked. "People know this is private property and don't want history to be destroyed. Maybe they'll bring tourist back later or…or something! I dunno! What I do know is I need to be logical about this." She yelped when she stumbled again. "I-If they do make this a tourist hotspot they better redo this path."
Huffing she paused once she was in the middle of the village. The huts were decaying and the doorways lead to a frightful darkness. Many ceilings had caved in and others were leaning against each other, almost making a larger house. Moss and ivy had slowly grown over the once golden, brown, and tan homes.
It still rank of fish.
Gulping, Rukia tightened her hold on her weapon. It made her feel a little better in the situation. But not as much as she had hoped. After all, swords can't damage ghosts.
"Yep, about to pee myself. Stop doing this." She made some popping noises with her lips as she maneuvered her flashlight around to find the path that led to the shrine. "Where is that…ah!" She smiled when she re-discovered it.
She leaned over and pulled her sandals on a bit tighter, remembering that it was small climb, and began her way to the shrine to finish her dare.
"Stupid Renji and his stupid face." Rukia yelped when she fell again and her knee smashed against the stony path. "Ow! Rotten, stinken, fricken APE BOY!" She twitched, ready to turn around and go beat his face into itself. "This is way too slippery!"
Grumbling promises of ruin and misery for her friend, she picked herself right back up and crawled up to her destination.
Rukia almost sang out in happiness when she reached the shrine of the dragon.
She pulled herself up on the wooden opening and took a few moments to catch her breath. The air was humid and too warm for comfort.
"Ha!" She laughed, lunging her body back up. "Ha-ha-ha! I did it!" She jumped up and down and did a small dance of victory for surviving the climb. She shook her butt slightly as she jumped up and down.
Stopping herself she frowned at her immaturity, "What am I doing a victory dance for? I need to save that for when I finish the time!" Huffing she walked inside, taking a gander of her new home for the next thirty minutes.
It was a gorgeous shrine, or at least had been at some point.
It looked as if it had been kept in better shape then the village itself. Walking around she got absorbed in the history of this ancient place.
She approached the walls were a story was portrayed. Rukia couldn't quite get all the details of it from the paintings and other inscriptions but she got the over-all picture.
This village was both protected and ruled by a great dragon that roamed the seas and turned the water into ice during the winter. They built this shrine and gave him gifts in return that he allowed them to stay on this island and make a living from the bountiful fish. She knew this because they had been told when renting the boat that this place had always had an amazing amount of fish.
Everything on this island was at a balance…until it seemed one side got greedy. She couldn't tell which side it was but in the end the villagers somehow locked the dragon within this shrine and on the island: a cruel irony. Imprisoned in the thing that was meant to appease him.
Her eyes gazed over at the picture of the dragon.
It was beautiful: silver white, almost like snow or ice, but as the body grew longer it appeared slightly bluer like water. She could see both eyes, they were a bright blue. They were an electrifying color that stood out amongst the rest of its body.
Her attention then turned to the other side of the large room; it also had paintings, many worn down from the age of time.
It turns out the dragon had the ability to shape-shift. He could turn from a dragon and into a man. From the picture he had spiky white hair and green eyes, on his back a sword.
Walking over to it she gently touched the flat portrait of the man. There was no detail into the face, it reminded her a bit of the Egyptian carvings.
But she grasped a feeling that he was incredibly handsome.
Dark violet eyes continued down the line.
The ice-dragon was asleep within this shrine, as she had learned from the other painting, and the only way to revive was…
Rukia scowled as she wiped some sweat off her brow, "Of course. Blood…I think? Ugh! This is like two clichés in one. The answer to something is always faded off or blood…" She squinted at the final-or what she guessed was the final-bit of painting. She could vaguely make out some dark red splotch, making her think blood, but with how faded it was and how deep the moss had grown into the wood it was difficult for her to be sure.
She picked at the moss, now very curious, but stopped when she realized she was getting some of the paint and wood off as well. She really didn't want to damage this place any more.
"Well that is very anti-climatic." She stated gruffly, feeling sweat pour down her knees, calves, and shins. 'It is way to hot for this…I should've just used my katana and stabbed that monkey.'
Continuing her observation she walked around, poking around in every room she could find. Most rooms were filled with broken pots that were once filled with gifts for the dragon.
It wasn't until she went to the opposite side of the shrine, making good and sure to stay out on the outer porch (she will not be taken to the grave by a zombie, thank you very much!) that she found it.
The little woman almost dropped her items on the floor.
The katana displayed was gorgeous. Almost as beautiful as her own display-sword that she had back at her small apartment: Shirayuki.
This one was used for fighting, or at least had been. The hilt was an icy-blue and the tie that knotted into the hilt was a dark sea-foam green. She could see some dark stains over it. Blood. Its sheath was black with an imprint of a white dragon wrapped towards the hilt. The rest was just a gorgeous sleek marble black.
Ignoring the sweat that was now probably dripping on the floor, she swore it was that stuffy, Rukia placed down her two items on the ground, never taking her eyes off the sword. 'I'm so glad we didn't look around here. The boys might've done something terrible to it.'
And it would be a sin to damage such a spectacular sword.
She stepped further into the room, noticing that the paintings on the wall nearly matched the other room perfectly. But she was too enthralled with the sword to go and resolve the earlier mystery. She would see to that later.
The display was on a small step in the center of the wall furthest from the door. It looked like a pedestal, something of worship.
Swallowing, Rukia carefully stepped on the altar and approached the sword.
"Hm?" She shook off the feeling, for some reason she thought the air shifted slightly. Rukia looked over it before gently scooped it up. She blinked, swearing that it just pulsed in her hands.
'Stop getting lost in your haunted thoughts.' She warned herself, remembering her bladder.
"Nothing happened." Shrugging, she softly stroked it, taking in the perfect detail. People back then really knew how to make weapons into art. "It's perfect."
It was much to heavy for her. Whoever used this was most definitely a man. A strong one.
Smiling, feeling a bit romantic (over a sword, her friends were right, she was weird) and touched the guard up top, it was in a shape of a star. With a click she brought it out slightly, just enough so she could see a bit of the metal.
It wasn't rusted or dull. The metal was as pristine as if it was just created that morning. It was as intimidating as a fang.
'A canine or a talon…' She then giggled slightly at this. "From a dragon I bet."
Grinning, she turned it over, studying all the details while she had the time. There was something hypnotic about the blade.
Pulling it out further, she gazed into the clean metal. 'I can see my reflection. How on earth is it this well maintained?' She cocked her head back and forth, trying to understand the possibility.
"So weiIIIK!" She shrieked, spinning around to face the opening to the outdoors.
Nothing.
Gulping, Rukia looked back down to the blade and quickly sheathed it back all the way. Her arms had goosebumps all over them and her hands were shaking.
She closed her eyes, willing the nightmare away from her head. "Dear gods, I am going to pee myself. I'm scaring myself to the point."
She had seen glowing blue eyes in the reflection of the sword. She had thought they were behind her, like a predator creeping from the woods to feast on her, but she actually thought she saw them within the blade.
"Holy crap. Damn you Renji. Yes, I said it. Damn you. You got me, a fine noble woman, to cursing you've made me so mad." She gulped, feeling nauseated. It was his fault that she was out here and his fault she had been made afraid of the supernatural (who on this fine good earth uses the whole weekend to watch Japanese horror films?! And force innocent girls like her to watch them too!?).
"Nothing is happening! Look at yourself, Rukia." She shook her head. "You're just letting the environment get to you. Nothing got you in the village and nothing will get you now. There were no eyes in the sword." She scoffed. "It was the light of the moon or something."
She scratched her face a moment and then looked around, making sure no one was watching. "I'm sure it wouldn't be illegal to take this sword off here and take it to the painting. Just to compare."
Now the excitement was returning as she shoved the paranoia out of her mind. Wouldn't it be cool to see if this sword matched the one painted on the human dragon's back?
Rukia just wanted to make sure. Turning around she had completely been so wound up in the beauty and fear of the sword she forgot she was on a step.
With a gasp she lost her footing and slammed onto the ground, face first with the sword sprawled under her.
"Holy…crap…that hurt." She moaned as she picked her self up, whimpering in pain. The sword had probably bruised her breast pretty badly. "Aw man!" Her eyes went wide. "I'm bleeding!" Sure enough her lip had begun to bleed slightly and had made a few drops on the floor and on the sword.
Wiping her mouth with her arm she then gave it a lick, hoping that it wasn't too bad. "Matsumoto might really kill Renji if I come back bleeding." And last thing they needed was a murder on the beach. It would really ruin the birthday.
Sucking on her bottom lip she decided it probably wasn't too bad and picked herself back up. Off to her quest of knowledge!
"Hm?" She blinked when she noticed there was a glow. Looking over she frowned. "No…not the flashlight…"
The glow then grew. Her eyes went wide as she snapped her head down.
It was the sword…the sword was glowing.
Gasping she dropped it on the ground, her falling to her butt in shock and surprise. She crawled backwards to a wall and watched in horror and awe as it levitated above the ground. The glow was almost blinding.
"W-what's ha-happening?"
And then it exploded, Rukia gave off a small cry, holding her hands in front of her face to block the light and perhaps any attack, her eyes clenched shut.
Rukia was a trembling mess against the wall but it felt like the glow was gone. She slowly pulled her arms down and blinked away the tears of fright and the brightness.
"What…happened?" She rubbed her eyes a bit, trying to get all the spots and stuff out of her vision. "Ow." Rubbing them a bit more she placed her hands down before she looked around.
Nothing. Again.
"T-that…was…really weird." The tiny woman picked herself, a bit wobbly from the shock. For a brief moment of horror and embarrassment she thought she finally did lose control over her insides when she felt more liquid dribble down her legs.
Looking down she groaned, "You kidding me? Has my knee been split open the whole time? It wasn't sweat?" Well, it was still better than wetting herself. "It must've been when I fell…"
Snorting, she placed her hands on her hips and glared around the still room. "Was that a joke Renji? Renji did you set all of this up? Well, I'll tell you, it isn't very funny! I'll let everyone skin you for this!"
She froze and a tremble went down her spine.
Someone else was in the room.
"R-Renji? I…Ichigo? Come on out already! Face your demise like a man!"
And then her flashlight went out.
Gasping she spun around to face it, and perhaps catch her friends in the act but only saw darkness. The shrine had no light except from the moon outside.
Gulping, Rukia looked around, "You guys! Come…c-come on! T-this isn't funny!"
A chuckle came from the shadowed room.
Rukia's instincts were on high alert. Something wasn't right. Something wasn't right at all.
She did not recognize that laughter. It was amused, but something about it reminded her what a cat would do once he cornered a mouse; it was dark and husky.
She slowly began to inch towards her fallen katana; she had a good guess at where she was in the room and how far away it was from her position.
"Ah…what a pretty little butterfly."
Her body stiffened at the tone. It was divine. Dark, low, husky…like a purr or a growl.
"W-who's there!? Show yourself! Or…or," she gulped, trying to keep sounding tough, "better yet, get the hell out of here before I kick your ass for scaring me!" She hoped that extra bit of cursing drove the point home that she meant business.
Sadly, it seems the mysterious man thought otherwise.
He chuckled from his hidden position, "My, such strong words from such a little butterfly."
She knew that she should just run, she was right at the door. But her katana was on the other side of the room; she couldn't leave it, as dumb as that sounded.
'Wait…can he see me?' She looked around a bit, wasn't she covered in shadows as well? How could he possibly see her? Swallowing her fear she fell into a fight position, her eyes darting around. "Who are you?!"
"Now, don't be rude butterfly." He purred. "You came into my domain…is it not right to give your name first?"
Rukia blinked, "This is your island?"
"Of course."
She paled somewhat, "Oh…" She fell back into a more loose position. It wasn't a mutant hillbilly. It would be terrible if a mutant hillbilly sounded like that. "I-I'm sorry for touching the sword…it was just so beautiful…a-and my friends and I thought this place was deserted and wasn't owned by anyone."
'They did at least…I told them didn't I? Ugh! People should learn to listen to me!' She thought.
"I'm sorry." She gave a bow in her apology. "I will tell them this is private property and we will move the party to somewhere else…"
Amusement just seemed to pour out of this hidden individual.
She bit her lip feeling very uncomfortable. Something still did not sit right within her stomach. "I also apologize f-for yelling at you…you really startled me…"
Some more chuckles, "I apologize then. I did not mean to frighten you."
Rukia scowled, "I said startled. Not frightened."
"Ah, my mistake. Then I apologize for startling you. Now," she could hear him walk around, though at the moment it felt more like stalk. "Would you kindly give me your name?"
Gulping down more fear, Rukia decided that giving out her first name wouldn't be too bad.
"R-Rukia." She needed her sword, she had to have her sword and run for it. Something was terribly, terribly wrong with the situation. "Now if you will excuse me, I will go and explain the situation to my friends."
She made a move towards her katana only for her wrist to be grabbed in a vice grip. She gasped and instantly tried to pull it away, "L-l-let me go! Let me go!"
"Shhh," he cooed, pulling her back against his chest. A nose buried itself in her hair slowly going down to her neck. His free hand fell to her hips, stroking it and her thigh; up and down, up and down, up and down before his arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her even closer to his body.
"Let me go!" She tried to escape. "W-what right do you have to touch me like this?! Get off of me!"
"No." His face finally reached her neck. "I think not…"
Rukia growled, "You don't have a choice! You do not have any right to do this!"
"I don't have a choice?" He sounded aggravated. "I think you are confused, little one. It is you here that doesn't have a choice."
"Y-you're g-g-going to rape me?" She almost sobbed out, trying her best to keep her head up and a brave face on.
"Oh little butterfly, no." He now sounded soothing, his tongue darting out and licking her skin. It was warm, wet, and rough. It reminded her of a cat's tongue, just a bit softer.
"You woke me up, you freed me…you are in my keep and possession now."
"W-what?" Rukia squeaked out. "I did w-what?"
"Hush." He nipped her neck playfully. "Stay calm…it's alright. You have no reason to fear me."
"N-no reason!? You appeared out of nowhere, won't let me go, and n-now speaking in riddles! I find that a perfect reason to fear you!"
That same infuriating chuckle of his escaped his mouth, vibrating slightly on her neck. "Such an amusing thing. You are very strong-willed." She gasped when his hand went to her stomach and then lower, rubbing her sensually. "You're fertile and a virgin…" Her cheeks grew warm. Even at twenty-one she was still a virgin, she was constantly teased about it by her friends.
"Knowledge with fighting," His hands moved back up to her waist. "You seem quite powerful in your own right." His tongue darted out again. "Beautiful…"
Rukia stiffened slightly at this compliment, her body still shaking slightly.
"What a prize for me." His lips curled against her skin. "To think such a maiden would come here so freely and release me from that bindment spell."
"B-bindment spell? B…bu-but…y-you're t-the…" She shook her head. This wasn't happening, this couldn't be happening.
"I am known as Hitsugaya Toushirou, who has been dubbed the Ice-Dragon." He kissed the shell of her ear. "You, my little butterfly, have released me from that imprisonment…I thank you for that." He inhaled her scent.
"If-if you really want to thank me then you will let me go!" The man, this Hitsugaya Toushirou, had an iron-like grip. She just couldn't get out of his hold no matter what she tried. "If you don't let me go I will scream and then my friends will come…" Rukia hated that she would have to rely on other people and bring her into this mess, but she would worry and feel guilty about that later.
Right now she was very desperate to escape the hold of this incredibly strong and powerful (possibly very insane) man.
She could feel that smirk of his grow, "Really now? And you don't think I can take care of your friends? None of them should be hard to get rid of…though I would prefer not to. If you care about I would not want to kill them. But I will if I must. Nothing will separate us now, Ru-ki-a."
She could not control the shaking that had now over-come her body, "B-but…I didn't release you…I-I mean…how?"
"You don't know?" She could feel him turn his head, under normal circumstances this would be a perfect opportunity to escape, but she couldn't. She was trapped.
'Rukia you idiot! How did you wind up in this mess?! How!?'
"It's faded." He deadpanned. "Now, if you didn't know…why on earth did you spill blood on my sword and on the altar?"
She froze, "I spilt blood…" Her eyes flew open wide as she looked down at her knee, a trail of dried blood had made its way to and over her sandal. "I was cut…I tripped…I-I didn't…"
"Hm? So you fell and cut your self…and the blood fell on the altar."
"I thought it was sweat…" Rukia then grumbled under her breath; "It's so hot…I t-thought…"
"And on my sword?" He urged on.
The girl swallowed, unable to hide the truth, "I-I wanted to compare this sword to the one on the picture…the one on the dragon's…y-your back…I forgot about the step and fell on the sword." She swallowed again. This was insane. Surely she had to be dreaming. She had fallen and knocked her head a bit. "I cut or bit my lip…blood fell o-on the ground and on your sword…"
"So all of this was an accident? All of this was just you being a bit klutzy?"
Rukia nodded, unsure what to say.
"Heh…" He chuckled and then it grew and she had a feeling he was throwing his head back as he laughed, one that usually the bad-guys did in movies. It was terrifying and awe-inspiring at the same time. The sound was as loud as a roar yet it still held its sensual waves to it.
Just who was this man?
Finally he began to calm down and his forehead fell against her shoulders, "I…apologize for that, butterfly…" He chuckled again. "But this is too amusing. You poor thing…" The dragon then nuzzled himself deeper into the crook of her neck. "You see, precious…when I was put to sleep I knew that when I woke up I had a few choices on what I could do with who freed me."
Rukia was silent.
"One of the obvious choices was killing them…" He kissed the side of her face, but still remained out of sight. "Don't worry, little one, that is not an option for you."
She almost went limp with relief.
"I could always just leave, wipe out their memory and keep them alive in gratitude."
'Please let that one be me…please let that one be me.' She prayed. Even if he was making all of this up she was too lost in terror to think he could be lying. She just wanted out and back with her friends. Actually she wanted to be back home under her covers with her stuffed animal and all the lights on.
"But that one isn't an option for you either."
This time she almost went limp with terror. "W-what? Then what do you want from me?"
"Well, there was the third option of making whoever released me my slave." She gasped at this and began struggling again. "Now, now, butterfly…that one isn't for you…at least not entirely." Rukia whimpered when his mouth just attacked her neck: sucking, kissing, licking, and nipping up along her throat.
"You, my little one, will be mine…mine to hold," She gave off a yelp when he bit her harder. "Mine to protect," He gave off a groan as he brought her hips back, her backside grinding against him. "Mine to touch," His hand trailed down the curve of her spine. "Mine to kiss." She could feel him groping at her rear. "Mine to take…"
Finally Rukia gathered all her strength and was able to spin out of his hold, only to find, much to her horror and pure amazement the man from the painting.
Needless to say the painting did not do him justice.
His face, his eyes, his hair, his form…everything was sheer perfection. This man could not be real; those dark green eyes, that thick white hair, his perfectly carved face and chiseled form could not be real. There simply was not a male in existence that looked like this.
He was cloaked in a black outfit with a white jacket over it. He definitely looked from an old time period.
"W-who…what are you?" She breathed out, thunder-struck by his sheer beauty.
He smirked and lifted his hand and brushed her cheek before burying it in her hair and combing through the tresses. "The Ice-Dragon, love…and your new mate and master."
"M-mate? M-m-master!? W-what the-?!" She tried to push him back but his hold, as usual, was strong. "I don't serve anyone! You are not my master! And wh-what do you mean by mate?…Never mind! I don't want to know! Let go NOW!"
He sighed, "Now butterfly. You need to calm down…" His thumb brushed against her lip. "You did cut it, you silly thing." Toushirou then swooped down and caught her mouth with his, his tongue darting out and stroked her lips, lapping up the blood.
After a moment his tongue decided it had enough of the lips and pushed forward. Rukia was too caught off guard to clamp down her teeth to prevent him from going any further.
Whimpering, she tried in vain to push him off of her.
His tongue was velvety and coarse at the same time and he knew how to use it marvelously. It twirled around expertly within her mouth, stroking her own to get it to play.
She was so close and so tempted to just give in, her eyes were growing heavy and her body weak.
And then he pulled his lips away.
Gasping for air and from the new waves of emotions that had just been slammed into her. Rukia fell against him limply, unable to find any strength in her legs.
He just chuckled, burying his face into her hair as his arms went tight around her body.
"Poor thing." He sounded so amused by her weakness. "I am so tempted to take you now…to just throw you on this ground and make you scream." He smirked, one hand trailing up and down her spine. "But now that I am free I can take you whenever I so want. And I would prefer if I take you in a bed."
She shuddered against him.
"W-why me?" She managed out softly.
"I don't know. But why question things like that? It will probably never be answered…" Her legs were then scooped up from her under her. "Such a pretty little butterfly…I'm so lucky that you flew into my net."
She whined in argument.
Toushirou smiled almost cruelly at her, "Such a silly little butterfly, it's such a pity that your little whines won't help you." He kissed her again, keeping her comfortable in his arms. His eyes glinted with an unholy light, his black pupils appearing like slits momentarily.
His head then turned and looked up towards the door and outside, "It seems we have company…"
"Huh?" She asked numbly.
"One of your friends here to check on you…how convenient."
"Rukia! Hey, Rukia!"
It was Renji.
She tried to open her mouth, tried to cry out, what she didn't know. But it was either 'help' or a 'don't come closer' but was unable to. Her voice was frozen in her throat.
He pulled open the door and stopped, she watched as his eyes dulled somewhat before concern instantly flew up and he ran towards them.
"Whoa! What happened, man?"
"It seems your ghost stories, followed by that dare, then followed by that prank you performed scared her a bit too much."
'What?' There had been no ghost story, and sure there was a dare, but there had been no prank…and why was Renji talking so familiarly to the dragon?
"Aw jeeze! I'm sorry Rukia! It wasn't supposed to happen like that! Damn it, we all just wanted to give you and Hitsugaya some alone time!"
What?
"It worked slightly. I was able to play hero, but now she is completely wiped out."
Renji scratched the back of his head in an awkward fashion, "Damn it…and I was coming up here to see if you two were finally doing it yet!"
"Stop being a pervert, Abarai." Hitsugaya snapped back.
What was going on? This wasn't supposed to happen this way…why was this happening? What was happening?
"Well…crap. Sorry about this…I'll make it up to you two, I promise!" He swore. "You want me to go on ahead and tell everyone what happened?"
"No. We're going down right now. You might as well stay incase I slip."
"Please. Even if you had the ability to slip you wouldn't with Rukia in your arms." Renji teased. "But alright, let's go off together then."
"Her katana and flashlight are still inside, get them." Hitsugaya commanded.
Renji gave off a mock salute before he ran into the shrine.
"W-what?" Rukia whimpered, her head feeling very heavy. It was then she noticed his clothes had changed. He was in blue jeans and a thin black t-shirt. He looked like a modern man.
"Shhh…everything is alright now." He purred kissing her forehead. "You should just go to sleep, everything is alright now that I am here."
It was like she had been hit with chloroform.
"She had a very small fever, so it looks like it wasn't your prank that knocked her out Renji!" Matsumoto cheered.
Rukia slowly began to open her eyes, her head throbbing slightly. 'Prank? There was no prank…'
"Damn girl. She should've told us that she was sick! We could've postponed the party easily." Ichigo sighed out in a tired manor. "Really, this girl is too stubborn. And didn't you know Hitsugaya? I mean she's your girl and you have those protective issues, you should've know something was up!"
"Shut up Kurosaki."
Her eyes shot open at the voice. She tried to frantically get up.
"Whoa-whoa-WHOA! What the hell girl!? You're sick. Don't make such movements!" Renji cried out.
She felt a hand on her head and looked over to see the kind Hanataro, "You have a fever, Rukia-chan. You fainted in the shrine. Luckily Hitsugaya-san was there and brought you down."
Her violet eyes snapped over to the white-haired male, a smug smirk on his lips.
"W-what?"
"It's ok, we can continue on with the party next week. That way Yachiru-chan and Kenpachi-san can join as well." Orihime stated with a grin. "Now you just go on to sleep. We won't arrive at the shore for another twenty-minutes."
She watched as they all filed out, some ruffling up her hair and stating don't worry them like that.
And then she was alone with him.
Her violet eyes narrowed, "What did you do?"
That smirk of his just grew, "I altered their memories. It was very simple." He easily walked over and sat on the edge of the bed that was made into the boat, reaching over he brought out his sword. "They are quite simple-minded…I easily hid this as well."
"Y-you…"
He reached over and grasped her chin, moving in closer to her. His sinfully green eyes refused to allow hers to stray. "I told you, you are mine. You are in my keep and my possession. I would prefer not to take the lives of your friends, so I altered their memories and placed myself into your lives." He smirked. "We are, what you people call, a couple; boyfriend and girlfriend. In week we will be fiancées and then married."
"What?" She gasped out.
"It will be much easier to move around with you if we were married legally by this time's standards." His lips brushed over her own. "Now, go to sleep. When we arrive home you will find yourself very energetic." The smirk of his just grew. "And I plan on taking advantage of it and you in everyway possible."
"B-but…you…can't-"
"I can, I am, and I will. You are now mine…and I assure you, you will have a comfortable life, my butterfly." He kissed her again. "Sleep, and later on you can even teach me about this new life of ours…"
Darkness once again engulfed the girl, falling limply into the man's, her new master's, arms.
Author: I had this written years ago, even before the completion of Conversing the Dragon. After I read the fic this was based on, I had to make a version with HitsuRuki, while of course making Hitsugaya all twisted and dark.
I must apologize if I didn't catch all my old grammar mistakes. This was written back in the time when I did the miserable "threw/through" mix-up and used "then" for every situation. I also might've missed some "alters" not being changed to "altar", but hopefully they were all caught and edited during the rewrite!
All credit for the original idea goes to Ravyn and her story Castoff. If you like Rurouni Kenshin and dark/possessive stories she is the author to check out.
Please Review!