Hey y'all! This is a light chapter this week! I hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
Chapter 32
Rukia dashed over to Kuchiki Manor. Inwardly, she made her decision, but she really wanted Byakuya's approval before she talked to Ichigo.
"Brother, where are you?" Rukia called out to an empty house. She couldn't feel anyone's spiritual pressure inside, but she wasn't too shocked since it was close to midnight when she arrived. Then she felt it a slight flare of spiritual pressure.
Flash stepping off to his location, Rukia found Byakuya hidden among the cherry blossoms on the edge of the property with a familiar figure. Her eyes narrowed instantly.
Screw talking to him! Rukia would rather face an army that her brother and Yoruichi. She started to vanish as quickly as she appeared, but Byakuya was there when she turned around. His grey stormy eyes starred to penetrating her skull.
"Mh…Hello, brother." Rukia told him nervously. She wasn't quite sure how Bykauaya would take her request, or the news that she was considering Ichigo for her husband.
"Rukia, what did you need?" He asked. Rukia looked down bashfully as a blush stained her cheeks.
"We should talk about what happened back there with the elders." Rukia began. Maybe addressing this issue first would lead into the other better.
"We will after you make your decision on your future husband." He stated.
Well, I guess I can work with this then…
"Speaking of that, I need your permission to go to the World of the Living."
"So you have chosen Ichigo Kurosaki as your husband then?" He asked without any emotion. Rukia wished that she could read his face at that moment.
"Brother, I just need to talk to him before I make my decision, but it is limited to two people now."
"Very well then. You have until midnight tonight to make your final decision then." Byakuya told her.
"But brother, what that doesn't give me much time." Rukia pleaded.
"Rukia, the damn elders will not let you out of this, but I refuse to let you marry who they wish. He is a snake, and I refuse to speak his name." He told her with disgust.
She sighed heavily. They were going to have to do something about the 'damn' elders as he put it shortly, but not yet. "Then if I'm not back in time, brother, I wish for you to choose the suitor for me." Rukia told him. She had complete faith that Byakuya would have her happiness at heart.
"Rukia, you have to understand that once I make that decision it can't be undone. Do you really want me to hold your future in my hands?" He asked her cautiously.
Her heart soared for second time in two days. Byakuya Kuchiki broke his normal cold mold yet again for her. Their relationship has grown so much over the year. Rukia couldn't be happier.
"I trust you, brother. But let's hope that I'll be back before you have to make the decision." Rukia replied as she headed towards their private senkaimon. This talk was a few years past due.
Rukia arrived discreetly in Karakura Town. She didn't want the elders to get wind of her stunt in case they sent soul reapers after her. The last thing she needed was for them to drag her back before she could talk to Ichigo.
In her mind, visiting Ichigo was her main priority. Everything else could take a back seat, or so she thought.
The first sight to greet her when she arrived in town was a large, green hollow. "Hello, little soul reaper. You smell delightful!" It screamed at her.
"Be gone, hollow. I have no time to deal with you." Rukia replied coldly. Dealing with this hollow would only take up her precious time with Ichigo.
"But you're so delightful to pass up!" The hollow replied as it charged at her.
"You are stupid for challenging a soul reaper, but I shall make this quick. Dance, Sode no Shirayuki. Some no mai, Tsukishiro." Rukia called out as the hollow screamed in pain. The ice column froze the hollow in its spot.
With a satisfied glance, Rukia proceeded towards Ichigo's house until she was stopped yet again by more hollows.
Eleven damn hollows! Where were they all coming from, and just where the hell was Ichigo when I needed him?
Rukia took out every single one of them as quickly as she could; yet, no help ever arrived. She questioned this, but she was too tired to think straight. She used up a lot of her spiritual pressure because each of the hollows kept getting bigger every time she fought.
Finally arriving at the Kurosaki residence, Rukia snuck in the window only to find Ichigo's bedroom empty. Since he wasn't there and she didn't feel like dealing with Isshin, Rukia walked over to her old closet and opened the door.
A broad smile crossed her tired face. Ichigo left everything the same. He kept her bedding, drawings, manga, and even her favorite Chappy the Rabbit. He must have been waiting for me to come back. He's always full of surprises.
Suddenly, all the bone weariness hit her at once. I'll just rest my eyes until he arrives. The Rukia climbed in her old bed to a deep, dreamless sleep.
In the middle of the night, Ichigo arrived from fighting hollows. He was going to just pass out on his bed until he felt a very faint, familiar spiritual pressure. How could he ever miss it? Her power was in him, and his in her. They were two sides of same coin – the black sun and the white moon.
Opening the closet door, Ichigo starred down at the beautiful sleeping figure. He wondered why she was here. Did the Soul Society send her to investigate the increase in hollows, or was it something worse? His heart pounded in his chest just thinking about her answer.
Ichigo bent down to place a kiss on her forehead only to notice cuts and dried blood all over her shihakusho. Her eyes held black smudges under them, and she was paler than normal. Did all this happened when she fought hollows earlier? If so, why didn't he sense her then? He glanced around the room to see if her gigai was hidden somewhere. Just where the hell was her gigai? Ichigo could feel his blood boil.
"Is Byakuya slacking on his promise?" Ichigo asked quietly.
"We can kill him." His inner hollow replied. Ichigo rolled his eyes at the voice in his head.
"Rukia would never forgive us. Besides, he's not so bad, especially now that we are on the same page." He replied causing the hollow to scoff at his answer.
"Then we need to protect her. Something isn't right. These events weren't normal tonight, king."
"Do you think all this happened because she came here?" Ichigo growled.
"Who knows, but I wouldn't put it past her family. You know all the trouble that she went through with them. Do you think they are just going to hand over the leadership to her without a fight even if the great and mighty Byakuya Kuchiki tells them too?" His hollow pointed out. Ichigo surprised himself at missing his hollow's insight.
"Byakuya would kill every single one of them for attempting to hurt her, and so would I." Ichigo stated with a grim look on his face.
"He's not here to stop them, King."
"Then we will protect her. Let them come after her. I'd like to see them pry her from my cold dead hands." Ichigo said with clenched fist. He was trying to repress his spiritual pressure from calling the hollows to the house.
"I'm with ya, king."
Ichigo stepped out to warn his father of increased hollow activity and possible threat to Rukia. Isshin was more than happy to them tonight, especially if it helped secure Rukia as his official third daughter.
"With dad on guard, we can sleep peacefully. Then we need to tell her in the morning." Ichigo told his hollow who nodded in agreement.
Then in that moment, Ichigo grew braver than he's ever been. He scooped Rukia up out of the closet and brought her to his bed. Then, he climbed on the bed with her and held her close. Whatever came in the morning, they would face it together.
Bleach Power: Thank you for the review my friend! I appreciate all the kind things you've said! Yes, the previous chapter is part of Rukia's defining moment for her to step up to the plate. The elders and everyone else knows not to go against the Kuchiki siblings now. As for Rukia's heart felt talk, I thought it was a lovely way to show her love for her mentors. They meant so much to her, and I think if she cant talk to anyone about an issues, she'd go to them!
That 1 Person: Girl, sometimes I wish you had where I can message you a few story ideas I am working on since you always love my crackships! Thanks for the other review for The Only Thing I Know For Real. I do like Hichi/Ruki as well so you're good ha! I'm glad Matchmaking has been keeping you on your toes! Yes, the Kuchiki siblings are awesome and a deadly team when they are together!