The Nightingale

Chapter 78: Reckless

Autumn — x493 / October 11

— As everyone knows, in two weeks it will be Prince Kaien's birthday and it is customary within the royal family that this day is a day of rest for the prince, it is also customary to hold a private dinner for him. — Rukia commented, sitting at the head of that long table in the marble garden.

That day, she had invited the queen's court ladies and Yuki to lunch. She didn't want to have to repeat what she had to say because she was tired with all the training she had, and with a meal she managed to have a moment with those girls and say what she had to say to them.

Yuki was sitting at the other end of the table because she was Kaien's lover, but Mila was sitting to Rukia's right.

— Does that mean we won't see him that day or be able to congratulate him? — One of the court girls asked.

Nobody, apart from Mila, had gone on a date with the prince and that had them a little anxious, but the prince had a very busy schedule and he didn't have enough time to go out with someone at the moment.

— That's right, all of you can send him gifts with Riruka or Mrs. Retsu, but you won't be able to hang around the king's area or bother him on that day. — Rukia clarified as she wrote something down in her small notebook. — But we could do something for him, for you to personally congratulate him if you wish.

— Privately? — Asked one of the Cifer girls, who did not lose hope of achieving something.

Rukia looked up, saw the girl and felt sorry for her, for all of them except Yuki. The reality of that game was big and heavy, like the crowns that they put on their heads, and although there were things that could really be changed, they were not done for comfort. Rukia didn't want to admit that she was being sucked into that kind of life and that the fear of not recognizing herself when looking in the mirror was coming true, but she had chosen it that way.

She had chosen to change.

— No, but I could talk to him and set up a time on that day for all of you to go and present your congratulations to him... together. Do you all agree with that?

The girls murmured among themselves, encouraged by this proposal, and then nodded in agreement.

Yuki didn't look happy, and Rukia guessed that she planned to monopolize the prince for the day. Yuki was the mistress but although she could suggest things by sharing Prince Kaien's bed, Rukia still had more authority than her.

— The queen also asked me to remind all of you that in the Celebrations of Souls you will be included. Being the daughters of great families and living inside the castle, it is important for all of you to be nice to people. — Rukia explained getting everyone's attention. — Last year we had a crown princess, so she and I, as well as the princes, were sent to distribute food to the people in the temple of the Deities. It is the same that some of you will do, you will distribute food on the first day to those who visit the temple of the Deities and others of you will be in charge of the candles the first day and the last day.

Again, the girls began to talk among themselves, some excited about it and others dissatisfied with doing an activity that apparently they had never done. At that moment, Rukia asked Tatsuki to come to the table and offer the girls some small pieces of paper that were inside a wooden box. Everyone took one, understanding that it was the way the jobs would be distributed that day, except for Yuki.

Rukia didn't want to get into an argument with her right now, so she let it go.

Each of the girls commented on what was written on the piece of paper they had chosen, and again some were happy and others were not; they even exchanged pieces of paper among themselves so that each one was satisfied with their activity.

Rukia knew it was better to do it this way than to give them the opportunity to choose for themselves what they wanted to do because that might lead to a lengthy debate and trigger accusations of favoritism that she didn't want to hear. Serving food was more tiring than taking care of the candles, but serving food was only for one day and the candles were at the beginning and end of the celebrations.

As Rukia wrote down in her notebook what each girl would do on what day, Riruka approached, followed by a servant carrying a huge bouquet of red roses. The murmurs between the girls began again when they saw those flowers, which were so red that they could easily seem made of blood and whose aroma was so exquisite, that Rukia took a moment to enjoy that essence.

Rukia knew what those flowers meant and smiled like someone who has won something smiles, because that bet on how long that trip would last, she won. That father-and-son trip lasted less than two months, which meant that the king couldn't bear to be with his own son after everything he said.

— Your Highness, Prince Ichigo sends you this. — Riruka handed her a folded piece of paper and then pointed at the flowers.

— Take them to my room. — Rukia asked after petting the flowers, which were the most beautiful ones Ichigo had sent her since he went on a trip with the king.

She kept Ichigo's letter in the pocket of her dress, she would read that letter in private. Riruka nodded and left with the messenger and Rukia continued answering the questions of the ladies of the court about what they would do in the Celebrations of Souls.

— More guilt flowers? — Yuki asked not being able to keep her own mouth shut any longer.

Rukia knew what Yuki was saying about the flowers Ichigo sent her, and although it might look like that kind of flower, nothing was further from the truth. Abysmally far from the truth. Rukia took a deep breath to calm down and looked at Yuki.

The other girls stayed silent, as if that way they could go unnoticed and could see a fight between the two of them in the first row.

By that time, everyone already knew that between Rukia and Yuki, there was some kind of rivalry, but before Rukia could say anything to defend herself, Riruka arrived again, this time accompanied by a man who wore the colors yellow and black along with the emblem of the spearhead.

— Your highness, this messenger from Jetaiya asked to see you personally. — Riruka commented, looking annoyed at the guy who obviously hadn't gotten "no" for an answer.

Rukia waved her hand for the messenger to speak, and the man handed Rukia a metal tube containing a letter. That seemed a bit strange to her but Rukia took out the letter to read it at that moment due to the way the messenger asked to see her.

Koga's letter was something she didn't expect to read.

What he had captured there made her blush because that idea was too scandalous and dangerous, considering the position they were all in, but at the same time it seemed sweet and cute. Rukia put the letter back inside the metal tube and handed it to Tatsuki, she looked at the messenger and the man took out of his bag a beautiful wooden box carved with images of flowers and birds.

— His Royal Highness Prince Koga of Jetaiya, first in line to the throne, sends this gift to Princess Rukia. — Saying that, the man opened the box and revealed a beautiful necklace of yellow and black stones mounted on black steel.

The colors of the Jetaiya emblem.

Rukia hadn't expected that as a gift, but considering what was written in the letter, it was something that suited the situation well.

— Does Prince Koga expect an immediate response? — Rukia asked without looking at the messenger. She was caressing that jewel, knowing that if Ichigo didn't kill Koga for that proposal, it would be a miracle.

That made her smile. Making Ichigo jealous pleased her.

— No, your highness. Prince Koga just wanted to make sure the gift was delivered to you personally.

Rukia nodded slightly and took the box to put it on the table. She would really have to thank Koga for that gift later, because it had come at just the right time.

— Later I will reply to Prince Koga. — Rukia commented before turning her attention to Riruka. — Please Riruka, ask Renji to attend to the messenger and notify Queen Masaki of his presence. Later I will make an appointment to speak with the queen.

Riruka nodded and left with Jetaiya's messenger. Rukia turned her full attention to Yuki and made the box, which was still open and showing the necklace Koga had sent her, the center of attention on that table.

— Do you think those are guilt flowers? — Rukia asked with a wicked smile on her lips. — Do you think my prince would send me flowers of guilt when I have the future king of Jetaiya sending me an emblem jewel of his kingdom? Do you have any idea what this jewel means? My marital affairs are mine, so don't let your imagination run wild and think about other things instead, because if you want to know what guilt flowers are, I can make you know them.

— You don't even dare! — Yuki got up from her seat, quite upset and pointing a finger at Rukia. — I forbid you to even think about it.

The other court ladies fell silent at the way Yuki was speaking to Rukia, and Rukia only let out a very soft laugh before getting up from the table. Tatsuki immediately closed the box with the jewel and held it tightly.

— Yuki, who do you think you are to forbid me something? — Rukia stared at Yuki at that moment. — Don't forget your position, my dear Yuki, or you could end up the same way the last person who made that mistake did. You know better than anyone what I am capable of doing if I have enough motivation.

—

Rukia going from Princess of the People to Queen of Jetaiya was something Kaien didn't like for several reasons.

The first was for politics, Rukia was married to Ichigo and Kaien didn't know how much she could know about the kingdom to allow her to leave the castle and go to Jetaiya if Ichigo separated from her. Which in itself was worrying because it only showed that Rukia had more power than everyone believed.

The second reason was because Kaien was jealous.

His desire to possess Rukia was threatened by the future king of Jetaiya and that bothered him greatly. Kaien not only had to get rid of Ichigo, he now also had to keep Koga from getting his hands on Rukia before he could. It was more exhausting than he expected, because he had always had what he wanted and not having Rukia, who he wanted, made him cranky.

"Rukia put a spell on them the way women do." Kaien thought at that moment, remembering his mother's words, and that made him angry because his mind flashed the image of Rukia in bed with Jetaiya's heir. His own mind, along with what he saw of Rukia, made him hopelessly want her more and more.

The love potion that his mother had left him, with which she had managed to make his father only think of her, was a complicated thing to do and, although the steps were quite simple, getting the right ingredients and conditions was what made it difficult to have it on hand at the time.

If he had that love potion, he would have already given it to Rukia to drink, taking advantage of the fact that Ichigo wasn't in the castle. If his mother's book had arrived earlier, Rukia would be in his bed right now and he would get rid of all that damn obsession with her.

His jealousy made him walk to the queen's area in search of Rukia and, knowing that she was talking to the queen, Kaien decided to wait for her in that distance between the door of the queen and her room. He was starting to get impatient when the door opened and Rukia came out, who seemed to have been laughing earlier because he could see a smile that still lingered on her lips when she got to where he was.

— Little sister, I see you are very happy. — Kaien commented, hiding the jealousy in his voice and putting that usual smile on him making her pay attention to him. — Is it because of the gift that Jetaiya's heir sent you?

Rukia's smile faded and a surprised expression appeared in its place.

— How quickly things are known in this place. — Rukia said that with a slightly nervous smile. — Is it a sin that I'm happy because a friend sends me a gift?

— It is, if that "friend" is the heir to a kingdom that was fully prepared to attack us just a year ago. — Kaien moved closer to her and stopped his impulse to grab her arm. He couldn't touch her and hurting her was completely forbidden. — It is, if you say in front of all the ladies of the court words that make them think that the prince of Jetaiya has feelings for you that goes beyond friendship.

— Would there be a problem if the prince of Jetaiya had feelings for me other than friendship, big brother? — Rukia took a step closer to him. With that closeness, Kaien was able to get a little of that mint scent from her in his nose. — Whether or not he feels about me is not something I can control, but it's nice to know I have a friend. It is difficult to find a friend in this world.

— How can you think that man is your friend if you have seen him only twice? — Kaien asked, not resisting the urge to get closer to her.

Rukia didn't move away, but just stared at him with a look that bordered on anger, clearly marking a position where she wouldn't be intimidated. The strength in that look made him want to actually touch her.

— I'm not going to answer that question. My personal relationships are none of your business, Kaien. — She said his name in such a serious way that he wanted to hear it one more time. — The only one I have to explain to is my husband, not you, and instead of worrying about me, better worry about Yuki, who becomes more and more unbearable just because you wake up between her sheets.

Kaien noticed Rukia's eyes on him and for a moment he wanted to draw her to him and kiss her, even if it was by force, to know if she kissed with the same fury with which she looked at him.

— Neither Yuki nor the court ladies matter to me right now. If you want to be queen so much, then divorce my brother and marry me, we were meant to be married, remember? I'll give you whatever you ask for, Maranni's independence if you want, the end of the Accords if you want. — Kaien said that without even hesitating. — Marry me and I'll make you queen of this kingdom so you don't have to look elsewhere to give you a fucking crown.

Rukia fell silent, still looking into his eyes, and took a step back to get away from him.

— You insult me by thinking that my personal relationships are only for power. I don't want to be queen, all I want is to be with my husband and live as peaceful a life as possible by his side. — Rukia bowed to him and turned her back on him, intending to leave. — I'll pretend I didn't hear what you just said and this talk never happened. Have a good night, big brother.

Kaien didn't resist and took her by the arm with some strength preventing her from moving away from him. He felt a slight tingle in his palm at that moment, but what surprised him was that Rukia froze in place, her eyes truly wide as if she didn't understand that he was touching her. Kaien approached her back, without the prudence of the forced distance, and could strongly feel the aroma of mint that emanated from her hair.

She used mint oil to comb her hair.

— Ichigo's trip with the king is for Ichigo to be with more women, and Ichigo isn't having any qualms about indulging the king in that regard. — Kaien whispered in her ear in an all too intimate way and felt her tremble. — Ichigo is not who you think he is, he is worse than me and everything you have seen is just a very well-rehearsed facade.

— Kaien… — Rukia whispered in a small voice. — Release me or I'm going to scream because you're hurting me.

Kaien released her at that moment but didn't move away from her, he really wanted to touch her in every possible way a woman like her can be touched. Rukia seemed frozen in place, not saying anything and not moving beyond the movement of her chest as she breathed. Rukia's scent would linger in his nose for a long time.

— Think about it. — Kaien whispered, keeping that reckless distance from her. — If you want to be the queen so badly, I'll make you the queen, I'll give you whatever you want and...

— I have nothing to think. Better get those ideas out of your mind that are not good for you. — Rukia answered, who seemed to be recovering from that shock. — I'm not interested in your proposal, I'm not interested in you and don't touch me again. I'm not like the ladies of the court.

Rukia walked away after saying those words so fast that Kaien couldn't hold her arm again.

—

Rukia was trembling when she entered her room, and the first thing she did was lock the door and put a chair so that no one could enter. She had never felt so much fear in her life when she was close to Kaien as she did at this moment and she hoped never, ever to feel something like that again.

The way he looked at her and how he spoke to her while holding her, made her feel chills that still lingered on her skin. Her heart was pounding so hard she felt like it might burst out of her throat and her breath was faltering for fear that he wanted to talk to her again. It was irrational and primal, but she couldn't control it because she had never been in such a situation before.

Rukia knew that Kaien was interested in her and it became easy to see once Ichigo confirmed it to her, but she never expected him to make such a proposal. Rukia was afraid that he would approach her like that again, because what she had once thought to defend herself if someone touched her, didn't seem to work with Kaien.

She sent streams of magic over her own skin for Kaien to release but none worked. Kaien didn't even have any kind of injury, and the fear that he was immune to the gift made her shiver.

Her mind didn't help either, because a very small part told her that if Kaien was really interested in her, he could hurt Ichigo in some way so that she would give in to that proposal or whatever he wanted with her, and that scared her even more.

Rukia let out a scream when someone knocked on the door, she was completely scared, but Tatsuki's voice from the other side of the door made her relax a bit and carefully opened it. Outside was Tatsuki and her other maid, both of them wearing worried expressions from that scream she had given a few moments before.

Both girls entered the room and it was Tatsuki who asked her what was wrong, but Rukia didn't want to talk. She didn't know how to say that because it was something scandalous and she didn't want it to reach Ichigo's ears in the wrong way that could unleash something that no one could control. He was already chaotic enough with what was happening to him to add another dose of chaos.

— I… I need to go talk to the queen. — Rukia whispered after her nerves and fear calmed down, as well as her heart, and she could think a bit clearly.

Keeping that talk with Kaien private wasn't wise, not when she felt threatened in a way she couldn't explain. The queen had to know, she could tell her what to do and how to handle the situation.

—

Kaien was between Yuki's legs, shaking off the bad mood Rukia's words had left him with, while the girl begged for a moment to rest. He wasn't being considerate of her at that moment, neither with caresses nor with kisses, and he had blindfolded her so that he could let his imagination run wild and thus think that the one who was pleading under him was someone else.

He had covered her mouth with one hand when he grew tired of her moans and he only released her when he felt Yuki's nails digging into the skin of his arm as she struggled to breathe. Kaien didn't apologize but made her lie on her stomach and entered her again making her complain about the discomfort of the moment.

He insulted her a couple of times while Yuki resisted that kind of treatment and he didn't leave her until he was satisfied and his anger had subsided. Yuki lay on the bed, blindfolded and breathing so hard that Kaien realized his mistake when he had already put his pants on.

He finished dressing and approached Yuki to cover her with the sheet, he took off her blindfold and he could see the fear in those gray eyes that had not deserved such treatment, he also felt her tremble and saw her try to move away from his touch.

Kaien had been too aggressive with her.

— I'm sorry, my dear Yuki. This won't happen again, I promise you. — Kaien assured her, smoothing her disheveled hair and noticing that the fear did not leave the girl's eyes. — Get some rest, my princess.

He gave her a kiss on the head, Yuki closed her eyes with force and fear, and he left that room. In the hall, before going downstairs, there was the queen with a rather annoyed expression waiting for him.

— Dear mother, do I have to guess? — Kaien asked, not faking a smile because in the dark they were both the same.

Masaki didn't answer, but instead she held out her hand and Kaien saw for the first time how the shadows gathered in the queen's hand until it formed into a whip. A part of Kaien knew that he was in trouble and another was surprised to see that kind of magic for the first time.

The queen held tightly to that whip, which seemed to become as tangible as anything, raised her hand and dropped it with such surprising speed that the pain in Kaien's right arm came several seconds after hearing the lash.

Kaien held his arm to calm the pain, which at first had been searing but gradually subsided, and gritted his teeth, feeling the fury boiling inside him. A second and third lash brought him to his knees, but like the first, the initial pain was intense but it disappeared faster than he thought possible.

Kaien looked up at the queen.

— You know exactly why you deserve the punishment. — The queen spoke, looking down at him, her gaze so charged with anger that for a moment Kaien thought her eyes were shining. — We allow you many things because you are the heir and future king, but don't forget that as long as the king lives, I'm still in charge of the safety and protection of the women who live in the castle.

— When I become king...

— There's a lot of time left for that. — The queen interrupted him. Kaien's jaw clenched so tightly, his teeth snapped. — Tomorrow you will apologize to Rukia for the reprehensible behavior you have had with her. She is your brother's wife, you shouldn't even look at her, much less touch her. From today, the only place you can access in this area is your lover's room and you will always be watched by a guard.

— When the king finds out about this...

— Of course he will find out! There are things that the king does not tolerate, and what you did is one of them. Now get out of here.

Kaien got up from the floor and left that place, reminding himself that he didn't kill the queen at that moment just because he wanted to make her suffer and beg for her own death.

Autumn — x493 / October 13

The traveling cloak covered her white hair that had been styled with metallic trim, like the ones Tatsuki used to wear when she still worked at the brothel. It was late, night had just fallen, and Rukia was still waiting for Ioana to return to the room at the Crossroads Inn, where they had stayed while they waited for the king's caravan to arrive.

Rukia had used the queen's offer to have a few days to herself, to ask her permission to go on this trip. The queen didn't seem convinced, but Rukia insisted that it was necessary for her to make this trip, and in the end the queen relented. The lie they used to cover her absence was that she was indisposed.

What had happened with Kaien still scared her a little, but she told herself that she had to get over it so it wouldn't become a weakness. She would eventually tell Ichigo, she just had to know how affected and chaotic he was, and find the right time to talk.

— Your highness, the king and his entourage arrived, I was watching the house for a moment and the prince left there quite upset. I discreetly followed him and saw him enter a tavern. — Ioana explained when she returned to the room.

The girl seemed nervous and Rukia could understand, Ioana was her shadow, she was supposed to take care of her but she also had to learn to keep her and Ichigo's secrets.

And they both had a lot of secrets.

— It's okay. Let's see what my dear husband does. — Rukia commented and got up from the bed where she had been sitting.

Rukia didn't take off her travel cloak, but adjusted it better so that her clothes and face weren't visible, although it was certain that no one would recognize her with that wig.

There were several taverns in the Crossroads, some better than others, but Rukia didn't know about quality in those kinds of places, so she just followed Ioana, who was also wearing a travel cloak, until they entered the place where Ichigo was and sat where they found a place.

Rukia could feel her tattoo moving with Ichigo's anger, so she knew he was there before she even saw him, and when she saw him, she found him sitting in a dark corner with a truly annoyed expression and a pint of beer on the table.

The place was full of noise, drunken laughter and women's voices, there were even moans from women who were publicly serving men with the gall of being a prostitute. That was perhaps the worst place Ichigo could have chosen and she didn't want to know if it was similar to all the ones he had entered during his journey.

Rukia knew that Ichigo was not well and the only letter he sent her, the one that came with the second bouquet of flowers, told her everything.

"[…] I'm pathetic. My father breaks my heart and I sink into the abyss. What kind of man am I? I'm supposed to be strong, I'm supposed to control my emotions, but my heart cries like when I was still a little boy. I can't resist it. I'm not strong. I don't have control of anything. I'm lost in the dark. […]"

That letter was an epitaph to the child who died inside him.

Reading the suffering of her Sun and not being able to do anything to help him was the worst thing in the world. Many times she wanted to escape from the castle to go with him but the queen prevented her, telling her that she had to trust him and let him overcome what was happening to him because that would make him stronger.

Those words were cruel, but life was cruel.

"You are the most important thing to him, if he made you a promise, he will keep it." The queen had told her.

Rukia told herself that she had to trust Ichigo because he was strong and could handle the darkness that covered him. Rukia knew that Ichigo had scratched the abyss in search of something that would keep him as calm as possible to withstand this trip that had added pain and disappointment, and alcohol was the answer.

Ichigo in the past had problems with excesses but in those moments, as she watched him drink jar after jar of beer, along with the feeling of anger and loneliness that was born from the tattoo on her ribs, she knew that in truth Ichigo was suffering from the death of the child inside him. It was the death of hope and she felt she couldn't entirely blame him for choosing alcohol as an escape route.

The flowers he sent her told her that he still kept his promise not to touch a woman other than her and that was why those flowers were so precious to her. Ichigo was following the plan, to which sadness and alcohol had been added, and Rukia felt that she hated the king and Kaien more every day.

Her revenge list appended two more names: Isshin and Kaien.

Ioana left and came back with a couple of beers even though Rukia had never had a beer in her life, plus she felt completely out of place there. She didn't know why men liked those places with little light, a lot of noise and smell of everything except clean.

When Ichigo had ordered a new pint of beer, a waitress got too close and put her hand on his shoulder, but Ichigo refused her causing the girl to let go of him and stormed off.

Rukia saw that scene every time he ordered a beer.

A prostitute approached him suggestively, but Ichigo just looked up, looked her up and down as if he were appraising the merchandise, smiled at her and snapped his fingers. The prostitute immediately left and grabbed the first man she saw to take him away to do what she knew how to do best.

That image was as described by Uryu in the letter that came to her along with the red roses, Ichigo was using the gift to control the environment and the wills of the people, and thus be able to deceive the king. Uryu described all those nights in great detail in that letter, as well as Ichigo's behavior and discussions with the king.

The description of the scream was what worried her the most, but she knew that this was the moment the inner child finally died and Ichigo surrendered to the abyss.

The letter was intended to warn her of Ichigo's emotional state before he arrived at the castle, but she wanted to see it with her own eyes and prepare to receive him. Reading it was not the same as seeing it, and she was worried about her husband's emotional state.

Ichigo was fighting his own internal battle and Rukia, although she wanted to interfere, she couldn't. She wasn't supposed to.

Still, seeing him reject women was something she liked to see because Kaien's words made her reel a bit regarding Ichigo's fidelity. Damn Kaien. She blamed herself for this moment of weakness and comforted herself by telling herself that she was imperfect.

— I've seen enough, let's go back to the inn. — Rukia said as another waitress brought one more beer to Ichigo, who was still in his dark corner and seemed to be playing with the commander's ring. — We will leave for the castle early in the morning and we must prepare ourselves.

— I thought you would go with him, your highness. — Commented Ioana, who hadn't touched the beer in front of her either.

Rukia looked at Ioana for a moment, considering those words. Ichigo didn't know she was there and Rukia didn't know how he would react to her presence if she got close to him, but a very small, reckless part of her wanted to get closer and taste the man who was there. She wanted to see him without the pressure of the castle, to know if he would be aggressive with her or treat her as usual.

After a brief moment of careful thought, Rukia came to the conclusion that she wanted to meet the man in that corner, because when he got to the castle, she might not be able to see him again in all his glory like that night.

— Ioana, wait for me outside. — Rukia whispered before getting up from her seat and heading over to where Ichigo was.

She dodged several drunken guys pacing back and forth, ignored the prostitute they were fucking on a table, and approached Ichigo, in the same way as those women who had tried to seduce him with the intention of taking him to bed.

— I told you I'm not drunk enough yet. — Ichigo spoke without looking up from his beer, ignoring everything and everyone.

Rukia smiled at that. That must have been the phrase with which he rejected them and that's why they kept bringing him beer.

— I think you're already drunk enough for me. — Rukia brought one of her hands to Ichigo's head only to grab hold of the hair that was growing on the back of his neck and pull it so that he looked up and looked at her. — You have long hair. I leave you a time of freedom and I find you with long hair and in a seedy tavern, my love.

Ichigo was slow to recognize her because of the hood but when he did, he smiled in a way that Rukia had only seen once before: when he let the gift control him. Maybe that was how he really dealt with his first massacre and he wasn't entirely aware of it.

Ichigo grabbed her by the waist and forced her to spread her legs so she could sit on him. The treatment was rough but somehow, she liked feeling him so aggressive even though a part of her was alert because she didn't know this man who smiled at her like he was a real bastard.

— A seedy bar and whorehouse, my love. — Ichigo put his hand under her travel cloak and caressed her waist until he held her buttocks while looking at her with that smile. Rukia was still holding his hair and when Ichigo tried to kiss her, she stopped him.

— A whorehouse, just what you like, right? — Rukia asked still holding his hair. She moved closer to him as if to kiss him and felt Ichigo's hands on her buttocks pulling her in as much as possible to make her move on top of him slowly. — With how many prostitutes have you tarnished my reputation, my love?

— With no one. — Ichigo responded over her lips without taking his eyes off her before bringing one of his hands to her head and pulling back her hood only to expose her white hair. — I like the woman I have on me. My Goddess of the Moon, do you come to bless me with your presence or to punish me for my sins?

Rukia moved her hips following the orders of Ichigo's hands, ignoring the people in that place but noticing that little by little everything became darker. Ichigo was once again using the gift to give them privacy among people, and the adrenaline of that moment made her want him a little more. She liked how Ichigo looked at her, how he touched her and how he made her feel how hard he was under his pants.

All the alerts went down at that moment and the desire for him went up like foam.

— I came to meet this face of my man. — Rukia answered, feeling her legs trembling from the desire that Ichigo's gaze reflected. Ichigo smiled at that answer and tried to kiss her, but Rukia stopped him, again, and that only made him smile.

— You could wait until I got to the castle, but now you're here, so let's play, my Moon Goddess. — Ichigo put his hand between her legs and his smile got bigger when he found out that she wanted him.

Rukia gasped and closed her eyes as all her skin prickled at that touch. At that moment, she felt Ichigo's lips on hers initiating a kiss that soon turned obscene and she could taste the beer in Ichigo's saliva.

— Make them ignore us. — Rukia gasped, feeling Ichigo's fingers entering her in a cheeky way. — You have the door open, is not it? Make them ignore us.

— I don't need magic for them to ignore us, this is a whorehouse, my love. — Ichigo gasped causing her to touch him through his clothes. — We are neither the first nor the only ones.

—

Ichigo kissed Rukia's bare shoulder and had to restrain all his urges to settle back between his wife's legs to make love to her again that night. Rukia seemed really exhausted and he still had a lot of energy. That wasn't even remotely fair to him, who had saved all the lust and all the desire for his woman, and the only thing he wanted was to make her moan his name while reminding her that she belonged to him.

In those moments he was grateful that Rukia had reserved a room in an inn because he did not intend to make love to her in such a deplorable place.

— You shouldn't have come to this place. I was already close to the castle, you just had to wait one more day. — Ichigo whispered as he placed kisses on his wife's collarbones and allowed himself to caress her some more. — Why did you come, my Moon? You could have seen something you wouldn't have liked, you could have seen me lead someone into a room or do other things a married man shouldn't do. What you would have seen you would not have liked.

— I know you wouldn't.

— What if I had done it? Before this trip I warned you. — Ichigo made Rukia sit a little better on the bed only to get between her legs and start kissing her chest. He needed the taste of his woman's skin right now. — There is always a possibility.

— I was willing to pay the consequences for my own mistakes. — Rukia began to stroke his back, running her nails over his skin in such a gentle way that Ichigo felt like he might purr in pleasure. — Would you be able to taste another skin that is not mine? Would you trade the paradise between my legs for someone else's hell? Would you be willing to lose me just for a moment of pleasure?

Ichigo smiled at those questions and placed a kiss on Rukia's navel before looking up. His wife had that look that he liked, the one that told him that she knew what she had, and which had him completely submitted to her.

— Your skin is the only thing I want. I would kill if anyone dared to touch you and I would die rather than betray you. — Ichigo started kissing her abdomen before moving back up to her chest and her collarbones. — Now some may think that if I did, that I changed paradise for hell.

Rukia brought one of her small hands up to his face and gently caressed his lower lip with her thumb.

— It's a price I can pay for the king to leave us alone. — Ichigo kissed her fingertip which was followed by several more kisses until he reached his wife's lips and kissed her again until breath was needed. — Now, you have to redeem your sins before me, my Sun.

— Only if it's between your legs. — Ichigo whispered kissing her chest again until he heard her moan.

— It is the only place where you will find redemption, my love.

Ichigo kept kissing her some more, leaving little red marks on his wife's skin that he found charming, before licking her lips.

— You still haven't told me why you came to this place, my Moon.

— I came because Uryu wrote to me and told me everything.

— Gossipy guy. — Ichigo kissed her shoulder, knowing there was no point in getting mad at Uryu for that. — He just had to let you know we were on our way back. I will not allow him to send letters in my name again, I have a reckless wife who travels in disguise, and that is dangerous.

— Why would he have to do that? — Seeing her with her eyebrow raised and that slight tone of annoyance in her voice, made him smile.

— The king locked me in my room, as if I were a small child, and did not let me out until the next day. I thought Uryu told you everything. — Ichigo said that with a slight smile and an animated tone of voice before nipping her earlobe gently. — It was liberating to tell him what I thought, now he's just the king and not my father.

Again, he allowed himself to kiss his wife's shoulder and leave more kisses on her neck as his hand moved down to caress her legs. Rukia entangled one of her legs with his.

— He didn't tell me that. — Rukia whispered, taking one of her hands to his head so that he wouldn't stop kissing her neck while he very gently moved his hips against her but without entering her. — I was curious to see what the man you pulled out of the abyss was like. At first I was worried about your heart, but I had to slow my feet and trust that you would know how to get out of this on your own.

Ichigo didn't resist and left a soft bite on his wife's skin. Rukia's gasp made him smile, he was hard again and he wanted to go back inside his woman, but he wouldn't until she asked him to.

— The man from the abyss? — Ichigo asked before sitting on the bed, on his knees, and placing his wife's legs on the sides of his hips to start touching her in that position. Rukia closed her eyes and clung to the sheets of that bed while biting her lip. — That man is morally questionable, selfish and enjoys chaos, brothels and taverns. The hunt is what motivates him, setting a trap and seeing the victim fall into it.

— The hunting? — Rukia's question came out on a gasp as he touched right where he knew she liked it. Rukia squeezed him between her legs. — I didn't see you hunting, I saw you reject them all.

— It's because it wasn't that kind of hunt… I was hunting the king and debating whether to kill him on the journey or kill him at a time when he has absolute happiness. — Saying that, Ichigo saw Rukia's eyes widen in surprise before closing again in pleasure. — And because no woman in the world awakens what my wife awakens in me. I didn't know I needed your skin so much, until I felt you on me and smelled your mint scent.

The talk was left unfinished when Rukia began to ask for more of everything and more of him, and Ichigo pleased his wife until he felt her fingernails mark his back.

The man of the abyss could easily trade the pints of beer for what his wife had between her legs and still be mired in excess.

Autumn — x493 / October 14

The only reason it was almost mid-morning and they were still at the Crossroads house was because Ichigo hadn't come from wherever he was. Isshin couldn't understand how Ichigo could get lost in a place like the Crossroads, but that was exactly what had happened.

Ichigo had left the house as soon as they arrived, saying he needed a beer, and Isshin couldn't do anything to stop him. No matter what he threatened his son with, it seemed like Ichigo didn't really care about his fate because the answer was always the same: I'll take my wife with me and give you what you've always wanted, a kingdom without me.

Isshin couldn't divorce them as punishment like he did Kaien and Nelliel, because the marriage between Ichigo and Rukia was stipulated by the Agreements of the Fall and separating them would only cause more problems in the kingdom. Ichigo had executed his role as Second Prince perfectly well and Isshin had never thought that this could be dangerous for him and for the kingdom.

The soldiers obeyed Ichigo in an amazing way, he taught them new fighting techniques brought from beyond the sunset sea and paid them well for their service. He had good communication with the Military Chiefs in the cities and even had a spy in the Holy City of Entabeni keeping an eye on the Representatives of the Deities.

The private group that Ichigo had founded and taught with some fighting techniques that he had brought from Vayalat, was incredibly good, the best in the kingdom, and they only obeyed him.

Isshin could command the military to do what he wanted as king and there would be no doubt that these men would obey Kaien, but Ichigo had the military in his hands, in every possible way. The lock that was supposed to keep the second prince of the kingdom alive and protect him from the heir to the crown, was what at that time gave Ichigo the power to rebel against the crown if he came to say that he had been insulted in some way.

Ichigo was becoming really dangerous to the kingdom and he had to find a way to stop him.

Special regards to jobananasan and diah77

The author feels the tension in the castle right now.