The Nightingale

Chapter 86: Chocolate chips

Winter — x494 / February 14

The first thing Ichigo did when he got out of the carriage in front of the castle gate was to order the queen's bath to be prepared and to call the doctor. They had no time to waste, as no female doctor came to check on Rukia while they were at the Deity temple and Ichigo figured if they waited any longer, no one would show up.

Riruka, who had reached the gate before the carriage stopped due to Renji arriving at the castle just a few minutes earlier, only managed to say a slight "yes" before running off to the queen's area to comply with the order given.

Ichigo immediately picked up his wife and carried her through the corridors of the place towards the queen's area as fast as he could. Rukia was trembling with pain and sadness, and he could only repeat over and over again that he was with her, that he would take care of her and that she shouldn't be afraid because he wouldn't leave her alone.

Ichigo felt his wife so fragile and vulnerable that all he wanted was to hide her from the world so they wouldn't hurt her again.

By the time they got to the baths, Riruka had already made the maids leave and only she along with Mrs. Retsu were there.

The Kahya of the castle, who had arrived because of the ruckus, didn't seem particularly happy at that moment, nor was she worried, rather she was annoyed by Ichigo's presence in that forbidden area for men.

— Your highness, you are not allowed to be here. — The Kahya's voice made Rukia cling to him and hide between his chest and arms.

— Only the princess can enter this area and her maid will attend to her, so you don't need to be here.

— I'm not allowed many things, Mrs. Retsu. — Ichigo pushed the Kahya aside and entered the bathroom still holding his wife. — But I'm sure that this time an exception can be made.

— There is no way to make exceptions...

— Yes, there is! — Ichigo raised his voice to the woman for the first time. Rukia was still clinging to him and just because of that, Ichigo was trying to stay calm. — Ms. Retsu, could you call the doctor? The drug she gave my wife is taking effect.

Ichigo didn't even want to say that word but Mrs. Retsu seemed to understand what he was saying because she walked out of the queen's bathroom and left them alone.

It was at that moment that Ichigo made Rukia sit on the marble bench in one of the cubicles furthest from the door so that Tatsuki, who had arrived with them in the same carriage and ran after him through the corridors of the castle, could help her bathe.

— It will be quick, my Moon. — Ichigo squatted in front of his wife so he could look into her eyes as he spoke. It hurt him to see her like this, it broke his soul to see her suffer. — The doctor will check you and Tatsuki will help you bathe. I'm not allowed to be here, but I'll come get you when you're ready and I'll stay with you.

Ichigo didn't want his wife to spend more time than necessary in that place, not after Rukia tearfully told him what she had discussed with the queen when they stayed in private; but he knew that it was necessary for her to bathe and be attended by the doctor before he took her to the king's area.

— I promise.

That word made Rukia let go of his hand so he could get out of there, but Ichigo only took a few steps before he heard his wife start crying again. Ichigo retraced his steps, brushed aside Tatsuki, who was trying to comfort Rukia, and hugged her.

Rukia wouldn't stop crying, even though she calmed down for a moment, the crying inevitably came back to her and that made everything more painful. He needed comfort too but the tears refused to come out of his eyes because the only thing he felt at that moment was anger.

Ichigo was only able to get out of that bathroom when the doctor arrived and made him move away from Rukia.

The Kahya, who returned with the doctor and escorted him out of the queen's area, tried to give him a few words of comfort that Ichigo considered useless and worthless. He didn't know how the Kahya could be able to comfort him when the woman probably had her hands in what happened to his wife.

— When my wife is in her room, let me know. — Ichigo ordered the Kahya and headed to the king's area to fix a few things in his own room.

—

The only thing Rukia wanted at that moment was for Ichigo not to be separated from her, he was her safe place and her comfort, and staying in that bathroom together with the queen's doctor was the same as being alone in the dark. Her heart and soul ached in ways she couldn't explain, and all she wanted at that moment was to lie on a bed, mourning the loss of her son and feeling Ichigo's warmth.

— Your Highness…

Isane's voice made Rukia look up at the woman, who surely had given her the drug so that she would lose her son on the queen's orders, and she felt like getting away from her. Rukia didn't understand how Isane could have that expression of guilt and pain on her face, as if she was the one being torn apart from the loss, when she was the main one to blame for everything.

— Since when did you know?

That was the first question that came out of Rukia's mouth as she looked the doctor in the eye. Isane simply looked away and was silent for a moment.

— Your Highness, I need to check on you. — Isane didn't answer the question but got down on her knees in front of her and grabbed the edge of the skirt of the dress with the intention of lifting it up. Rukia put her legs together preventing her from doing her job. — Your Highness, please...

— Tell me. — Rukia felt her eyes burn again and she couldn't stop the tears from running down her cheeks at that moment. — I need to know because it was your prince's son that you killed.

Isane, who was still on her knees, lowered her gaze to the floor and was silent again. Rukia wiped away her tears again although it was useless, saying those words only made the moment more painful.

— Since you fainted. — Isane confessed without looking up. — The queen asked me to give you a pregnancy test and I stole the sample the next day. As soon as I had the results I gave them to the queen and she asked me to prepare the drug. We gave it to you a few days ago but it didn't work until today, we don't think that today… your highness, the rules are the rules.

Rukia never expected that answer. She never expected the queen to know it for so long and to be able to execute her plan without even giving her a choice.

The queen was ruthless and cruel.

After a moment, Rukia spread her legs to allow the doctor to check on her and she simply stared at the bathroom ceiling while Tatsuki was holding her hand giving her support at that moment. Her heart was broken, but all she could do was let things take their course and let the tears roll down her cheeks.

Isane asked her a couple of questions regarding what she had felt and Rukia answered them without taking her eyes off the stains on the ceiling and without letting go of Tatsuki's hand. Remembering the pain in her belly and the way her own insides contracted, until she felt something too big to be a blood clot come out, made her eyes burn again.

— It seems that everything is over, but you will continue to bleed for a couple of days. — Isane spoke, making Rukia stop looking at the stains on the ceiling and focus her attention on her. — I'll give you medicine for the pain and so you can sleep. You will be a little swollen, but it is normal.

— Normal. — Rukia whispered before getting up from the marble bench she was sitting on. Tatsuki immediately moved to help her walk.

Normal.

What had happened to her was not normal, she would understand if the loss of her son had been normal, if it had been "the will of the Deities", but it was not. What happened to her was not normal, it was the queen's will and anger.

— Your Highness, I should have told you about…

— Thanks, you can get out of here. — Rukia interrupted what Isane was trying to say, but the doctor spoke again.

— I should have told you about your pregnancy but the queen didn't want you to know about it. You know you can't have...

— Enough. — Rukia raised her voice. She didn't need to be reminded of the damn castle rules because from the day she got there, they had made her learn them. — Get out of here, I heard what you had to say and I don't care about the rest. What you say won't change how I feel right now.

The doctor mumbled an apology that didn't make sense to Rukia at the time, and walked out.

Little by little, Tatsuki began to undo the knots of the dress that Rukia was wearing until it fell to the floor and Rukia could see her own thighs covered with fresh and dried blood. She stared at her body for a moment until Tatsuki took her hand so she could finish getting out of that blood-covered dress.

— Burn it. — Rukia whispered as Tatsuki picked up the dress from the floor. — Burn it and throw the ashes on the cliff.

Tatsuki nodded to what Rukia said, put the dress aside and picked up a bowl of warm water to start washing her. Her belly still ached and she kept cramping, her eyes burned, and she tried not to think about what had happened, but it was impossible not to.

Again, tears slipped down her cheeks without her being able to stop it.

—

— Was what happened to the princess very serious?

Mila's question made Kaien lose sight of the corridor where the king and queen had left the Deity temple moments before. They were supposed to be a loving and united family, and they had to behave as such even if it was a lie, so staying to enjoy the events would not be well seen by the people of the town.

— Rukia has just lost Ichigo's child. — Kaien turned to look at Mila as he said that.

He was angry at what was happening to Rukia and his expressions betrayed him at the time. Worry, anger, and the desire to go after Ichigo to find out if Rukia was okay were evident on his face.

Kaien for a moment, a very brief one, thought that Rukia wouldn't be going through that if that child had been his. If she had accepted his proposal and chosen him, the queen would not have hurt her like that.

Mila was silent, with a hand over her mouth from the shock of that news, until she found her words.

— The queen… is she responsible?

— It's something complicated that we can't talk about here. — Kaien turned to see the main door of the temple of the Deities. — The carriage will be ready any minute, so I'll do something before we go.

— What will you do? — Mila asked, but Kaien headed for the main gate of the Deities Temple without answering her.

Kaien hadn't realized how much people loved Rukia until that moment when he could see all the people outside waiting for news about her. Two of the soldiers who were keeping people out of the place stepped aside, and Kaien waved the crowd for silence.

He didn't speak until silence covered everything.

— I know that everyone is concerned about the health of our beloved Princess Rukia. — Kaien started talking, making everyone pay attention to him because if there was something people liked it was to talk about gossip, so he had to be careful with what he was going to say. — So I ask all of you people to pray to the Mother that our dear princess recovers from the terrible loss she has suffered today. It is in these moments that Princess Rukia's heart and soul need the comfort that the Mother offers.

Kaien's words were simple but it was all it took for people to start wondering what really happened with Rukia. He wasn't brazen enough to air what really happened to Rukia, and asking people to pray for her wasn't a fault; besides, if people came to any too accurate conclusions on their own, it wouldn't be his fault but the queen's for making a show out of Rukia.

Kaien returned inside the temple of the Deities and was met by Nnoitra, who informed him that the carriage was ready for him to return to the castle. Kaien motioned for Mila to come with him, and the two of them also left the city in a chaos of rumors.

—

When Ichigo finished preparing what was necessary for Rukia's stay in the king's area and returned to the queen's area, he discovered that the queen had already returned to the castle and given the order not to let him in because Rukia needed rest.

Ichigo didn't have the patience to deal with such nonsense, he was so angry with the queen that he only had to look the pair of guards in the eye for them to step aside and forget that they had seen him pass by. His control of the Gift had improved and snapping was no longer necessary for him to accurately mind fuck the person in front of him.

He walked with a firm step through the corridors and stairs until he reached his wife's room, only to discover that the queen was standing in front of the door of Rukia's room.

Ichigo didn't know how long the queen had waited for him and he wasn't interested, all he cared about was getting Rukia out of there to relieve her of the stress of being in the same place as the queen.

— Go back to your own room. She needs to rest after everything that happened to her today. — The queen spoke as Ichigo tried to approach Rukia's bedroom door to open it.

Hearing those words, Ichigo felt an unrecognizable urge to laugh and couldn't stop a bitter laugh from coming out of his mouth. The queen's serious expression changed to one of complete anger.

— Your Majesty, do you think my wife will be able to rest close to the one who has hurt her?

Ichigo was so angry that at the time he didn't mind disrespecting his mother.

The Queen.

The queen hissed Ichigo's name in a tone that was clearly a warning, but Ichigo just looked at her and again tried to go to the door to open it. The queen blocked him again, standing between him and the door.

— From today it is forbidden for you to enter this area. Now get out of here and let the girl rest.

— The girl? — Ichigo savored the word as if it were something new to him. Rukia had stopped being Rukia to become "the girl". — The girl.

The queen's gaze relaxed in a gesture that was meant to be sympathetic but that only made Ichigo alert. At such times, he no longer trusted the pitying looks or the words that might come out of the queen's mouth. In those moments, Ichigo only knew that his mother had betrayed them and that whatever she could say would only be excuses to justify her actions.

— Rukia needs to rest. — The queen tried to get closer to him, but Ichigo stepped back to prevent her from touching him. He didn't want to be touched by his mother right now or she might lose her hand. — You know I did it to protect both of you, I didn't want you two to be accused of treason or to flee to Vayalat because they wouldn't receive you there. I didn't want you two to be hunted down and executed. You know that rules are rules and I didn't want to lose you my son.

His mother's words only infuriated him more, she was hiding behind the rules when she knew that they intended to flee the kingdom if Rukia got pregnant. No, what his mother did was not by the rules.

What his mother did was out of revenge, to have her retribution for Nelliel's death.

— If my son's blood was necessary for my wife to have your pardon, how much of your blood is going to be necessary for you to be able to buy mine? — Ichigo's words were so sharp that the queen could only widen her eyes in surprise. — You mourn the loss of Nelliel. You punish us for the death of a woman who made an attempt on my wife's life and who would not have hesitated to make an attempt on mine in order to put on herself the crown that you look so proud on your head. But no one is seeing that, right? I thought you were different from the king but I see that I was wrong.

Immediately the queen raised her hand but stopped before completing the action.

Ichigo just looked at the queen waiting for her to hit him or move away, because he didn't mean to keep wasting time with her. The queen lowered her hand, not hitting him, and Ichigo spoke again.

— I will take my wife from here to the king's area and when she recovers, we will leave the castle. With what you did, with your desire to "not want to lose me", you have lost me. Keep mourning Nelliel's death because after all, she was more your daughter than I ever could have been.

Ichigo could see the queen's look of pain at those words, but at that moment he felt no pity for the queen; maybe he was being too cruel to her, but he couldn't help it. His mother's betrayal hurt too much.

The queen stepped aside and he was able to enter his wife's room, where Rukia was waiting for him. She seemed to have stopped crying and that calmed him down a bit, even so he felt that he couldn't leave her in that room near the queen. He didn't want to get away from her.

— Come on, my winter princess. I will take you to rest.

Ichigo took his wife in his arms and left the queen's area towards the king's area, if the king refused to allow them entry, then he would take her from the castle that same night.

The kingdom could go to hell at that time.

—

When Kaien entered the castle with Mila, the place was silent. Not the usual silence that used to be some afternoons, but one that made his spine bristle. He accompanied Mila to the queen's area, he still couldn't enter that place but it didn't stop him from approaching the door and saying goodbye to Mila with a kiss on her hand.

— I would have liked to give you something on this day but I think that will have to wait, my dear Mila. — Kaien apologized as he held her hand.

— You give me your attention, that's enough for now. — Mila answered with that charming cheekiness that Kaien liked. — I'll see you later, your highness.

Mila approached him and gave him a soft kiss on the lips, then she crossed through the arch guarded by guards and Kaien saw her get lost in that corridor guarded by gardens.

For a moment, he considered asking the guards in the queen's area what had happened to Rukia, but that idea was discarded as the Kahya arrived with him from inside that place. He immediately asked the woman about Rukia's state of health, and Mrs. Retsu told him what had happened since the queen's arrival.

He was surprised to learn that the queen had kicked Ichigo out of that area, but he was more surprised to learn that Ichigo had taken Rukia to his own room. He didn't expect that, but he was pleased to see Ichigo rebel against the queen.

Kaien thought that if this rivalry for the throne did not exist between them, the temporary alliance they maintained could become a true brotherhood.

He returned to his room and lay on his bed, he had nothing to do that day and his plans to take Mila to bed had been ruined because only Rukia was on his mind. He closed his eyes and settled down to try to get some sleep, when he heard the door to his room open and saw as four of the king's private guard men approached him.

Kaien got up from the bed and tried to get away from them but one caught him and made him kneel on the floor, the other two held his hands so he wouldn't fight and the third wrapped a rope around his neck.

— Uncle…

The word came out in a gasp as Kaien tried to get him released, but the king's men held him tight.

Every second it was getting harder for him to breathe, they were executing him in his own room on the king's orders and they would make it look like a suicide. Kaien never thought his father would do that, kill him like that.

— So you don't forget that you are like me and that the king still controls your life. One more mistake and the Shadow will take you with it.

Kaien couldn't say anything anymore, the lack of air was making him unconscious when he felt the rope loosen from his neck and his lungs hurt when he breathed.

Then everything went black.

Winter — x494 / February 17

"The tragedy of the Day of the Roses."

This is how they had titled the article that came out midweek, which was not part of a regular edition of the newspaper but a special chronicle. The sheet was large enough to include an engraving of Ichigo and Rukia, along with several columns of printed text.

The news was only about them.

The text began with a few words of thanks from the reporter for having had the opportunity to be the one in charge of following the Second Prince and his wife that day, and then followed a small interview that he had done to them before starting the tour through the streets of the festival.

The reporter narrated the happiness he saw in Prince Ichigo and Princess Rukia, the games, the looks and the words. Even the way they communicated with each other and how they seemed to not need words to understand each other.

The reporter emphasized how in love the second prince and princess looked, and how lucky the people were to have a princess who loved them as she loved her husband.

Rukia's generosity was known among the people of the city, even beyond the capital, due to the fact that she was responsible for various charitable causes that she personally attended. Princess Rukia was well-deserved of the title of People's Princess, in the reporter's opinion.

When the reporter got to the part that interested everyone, he gave a detailed description of the events that occurred that morning. From the way the princess went from happiness to fear to the way the princess held her belly as if she wanted to protect something, without forgetting to mention the small blood stain on the floor right where she had been standing before the prince held her in his arms to get her out of there.

The efficiency of the soldiers in response to the orders given by the prince while running with the princess in his arms, were praised. The reporter mentioned that he had never seen soldiers move with such precision with a single command, which showed how well trained they were getting.

The reporter narrated the waiting time outside the temple of the Deities, mentioned the concern of the people, and quoted Prince Kaien's words verbatim asking them to pray to the Mother for Princess Rukia.

In the end, the reporter made a reflection with his own conclusions.

He ventured to say what could have happened that day with the princess and how strange it was that, despite the fact that the Second Prince and the Princess of the People had been married for more than a year, they had not had an heir or had given the announcement of a pregnancy, which would be the happiness of the people who loved the princess.

The reporter also mentioned that a close informant told him about the fact that the children of the heir were always born first and then the children of the other princes.

The question "Was it really the will of the Deities?" ended that note in an overly dramatic way that would only make people's tongues loose uncontrollably.

—

Ichigo watched his wife sleep, stroked her hair and cradled her in his arms where she fit perfectly. She had stopped crying and had fallen into a silence that was overwhelming, but he could understand it because he was suffering too.

They had both cried and both had comforted each other as much as their own pain allowed them.

He still didn't understand how that loss could hurt so much, he had only known it for a couple of hours but it had been enough for a whole future to unfold in front of him. It was a perfect couple of hours that ended in tears.

The servants at the entrance knocked twice on the door before opening it and Ichigo focused his gaze on the door. He could see Tatsuki, who was carrying a pitcher of water and a large bowl, and Rukia's other maid, who was holding a basket of clean clothes.

— Your Highness, we need a private moment with the princess. — Tatsuki spoke in a whisper. — And what you ordered is almost ready.

Ichigo nodded and moved slowly so he could wake his wife. It took Rukia a while to open her eyes but she finally did and Ichigo could see the sadness inside those violet eyes that he loved so much. The only thing he wanted at that moment was to erase the sadness from those eyes.

— My princess, Tatsuki is here. — Ichigo said those words and gently caressed Rukia's cheek. — I have to do something.

— You have work? — Rukia's voice came out soft and concerned.

— Nop, I just need to do something. I'll be back soon.

Rukia nodded and let him get up from the bed without really wanting to. Ichigo gave his wife one last kiss, this time on the forehead, and told Tatsuki to take care of her in his absence.

The girl nodded and he left his room in the direction of the king's kitchens.

—

Rukia had changed her clothes, it was still a nightgown but it was a clean one, she had also changed the cloth pads that were used to collect blood and she had washed her face and teeth.

Everything still felt unreal and painful, and her heart continued to mourn the loss but her tears had stopped; it was as if she couldn't cry anymore. Every time she remembered the queen's words, those that were so cruel and inhuman, Rukia felt a deep hatred and rancor rise up in her.

A part of her understood the rules, but another part still felt the bitter taste of betrayal and demanded retribution.

— Today an article was published about what happened on the day of the roses. — Tatsuki commented as she braided Rukia's hair in front of the mirror.

— Do they talk about me? — Rukia asked with a soft voice but that touch of sadness that burned her soul.

She knew she had to get over it, but she still felt lost.

— Yeap. They leave in doubt that it was by the will of the Deities. The people are talking. — Tatsuki used the ribbon to gather the braid into a small bun. — Flowers and letters have started to arrive for you, they are all in your room; some come from the noble families and others from the townspeople.

Rukia didn't expect people to react that way and was surprised to learn that they were sending her things. She didn't know how to feel about it because at that moment her emotions were still settling inside of her.

— I still don't feel ready to go back to my room. Here I feel safe. — Rukia whispered before taking Tatsuki's hand and feeling her squeeze her hand gently.

— At some point you will have to come back. — Tatsuki looked at her from the reflection. — Princess Hisana has been asking about you. She's not allowed into this area on the king's orders, but she and Lord Byakuya are worried about you.

— Hisana. My brother.

With everything that had happened, Rukia had completely forgotten her brother and Hisana, they surely must have already known what happened to her and that's why Hisana was trying to talk to her.

Rukia wondered how long it would take for the news to reach her parents, and if they would say anything about it. Maybe they would say something like "with Koga, this wouldn't have happened".

Her parents couldn't blame her for choosing Ichigo, he was everything she had ever wanted. He was a gift from the Deities to her. Their destiny was to be together.

They were each other's eternity.

— Can you tell her that I'm fine? — Rukia spoke after a moment of silence and considering what she should say. — Tell her that when I feel better I'll go see her, but that I'm fine.

Tatsuki nodded to what Rukia said and helped her up from that chair. Rukia thought Tatsuki would lead her back to the bed, but Tatsuki directed her to the balcony where a huge pair of cushions were propped up.

— The balcony?

— The evening air will do you good, you are paler than usual. — Tatsuki replied with a smile.

Rukia complained about that joke, even though she found it funny. Every day, Rukia reaffirmed the feeling that Tatsuki was also a gift to her.

—

The cookies were perfect.

Tatsuki had made them to Ichigo's specifications and Hanataro had been watching them so they wouldn't burn. Ichigo didn't know the recipe because the last time they made them was on their honeymoon and Rukia had prepared the dough; he had only been in charge of kneading it and forming the cookies.

The only problem was that they were still too hot and Ichigo had Hanataro fanning them to cool them faster.

— Your Highness, my hand already hurts. Why not let them air cool? — Hanataro asked as Ichigo checked that he was fanning the cookies well.

— Because I need them now. So keep fanning them.

Hanataro grumbled but didn't stop, instead using his other hand to continue cooling the cookies.

Ichigo could wait for them to cool naturally but he didn't want to, he wanted to be the one to bring those cookies to Rukia, so he took pity on Hanataro and he took the fan to cool them himself.

Hanataro was grateful for that and rubbed his sore hands together.

— Wow, you finally get out of your room. For a moment I thought I would never see you again.

Ichigo recognized Kaien's voice but noticed that he was hoarse, as if he had a cold, which made Ichigo stop fanning the cookies and look at his brother. Kaien walked up to him and tried to steal a cookie from the tray, but Ichigo hit his hand with the fan to stop him from doing it.

— Hey! They are not for you!

— Ouch! — Kaien complained about the blow, took Ichigo's fan and ran Hanataro out of the kitchen so that they would be alone. Almost automatically, he too began to fan the cookies. — I didn't know you knew how to cook, little brother.

Kaien tried to taunt him, but he grimaced painfully and put a hand to his throat. He was wearing a turtleneck shirt and it wasn't lost on Ichigo that his brother had something red around his neck.

— There are many things you don't know about me. — Ichigo snatched the fan from his brother and began to cool the cookies himself. — What happened to your neck?

Kaien looked at him and unzipped the top buttons of his shirt so Ichigo could see what was on his neck. The skin on Kaien's neck was a mixture of purple and red that covered the sides and possibly the nape.

Ichigo knew those kinds of marks and he knew they were the bruises left by a rope from those who tried to hang themselves, but Kaien wasn't one to commit suicide so he immediately suspected that wound. His brother wanted the throne, and an attempt on his own life was not something that was compatible with the crown.

— The love of our father? — Ichigo asked as he touched the bruises on his brother's neck.

He could heal Kaien's wounds but he didn't because he didn't want to give him more knowledge than he needed to know about the gift. The alliance between them did not include that kind of information.

— Our dear father was kind enough to remind me that he is still the king and my life is in his hands. — Kaien buttoned up his shirt again so no one else would see those bruises. — I'm still the heir, but I bet it won't be for long, so how are we going to kill him?

Cooling the cookies had taken a backseat.

— Do you know who he is going to name as heir? — Ichigo asked, knowing it definitely wouldn't be him.

— I bet it will be our dear cousin. I have seen him around the castle many times and he meets privately with the king. — Kaien paused, tried to steal a cookie but Ichigo stopped him again. Kaien was frustrated. — He is one of the Generals of the kingdom, you could send him to a distant city and we get rid of him in some "mission".

Ichigo raised an eyebrow at that, but shook his head slightly at the idea.

— Right now I'm not thinking about how to get rid of people and even if I were, we can't lift a finger without looking like we're to blame. — Ichigo took a special metal container for cookies and placed kitchen paper inside. — Have you thought that he is using it as bait? If we go after him and kill him, then the king can blame us for something we can't escape. Remember that it won't be the first time he's done it, he used you as bait to catch the King's Seal thief.

— I have thought about it, yes, but equally the king could be thinking of a new heir.

— Yuzu is next in line for the throne. If anyone is going to reign instead of you, it's her.

— It applies if we give up our Blood Right or if we die. — Kaien finally stole a cookie and Ichigo chose to ignore that fact and continue arranging the cookies for Rukia. — And you are still a candidate for the throne.

— You're going to kill me? — Ichigo asked calmly.

They were both at that point where they could and couldn't trust each other. Alliances between enemies were fragile and they knew it.

— It depends, if you become a problem I can consider it.

They both looked into each other's eyes for a brief moment, knowing that the answer was honest and that they would eventually kill each other.

— If the king gives the throne to Yuzu, I would have no problem serving her as her Commander, you know. — Ichigo finished arranging the cookies and put more paper on top to cover them. — Anyway, even if I wanted to kill the king, I wouldn't do it right now because I have more important things to occupy my mind.

— I already want to see you worried when the king names someone else as the heir and you have to think how to kill him. — Kaien muttered taking an aggressive bite of his cookie.

— He will not name anyone else as his heir. — Ichigo took the box of cookies and headed for the kitchen exit. — Your mother made sure that the king loved you more than anyone.

Hearing those words, Kaien walked over to Ichigo and grabbed his shoulder to stop him from leaving the kitchen.

— What did you say about my mother? — Kaien asked causing Ichigo to stop and look at him. — Who told you about her?

— Our grandmother. — Ichigo said that with a certain amount of nonchalance, as if it were something obvious. — It is not difficult to assume, from everything the Queen Mother told me, that your mother put a spell on the King so that he would prefer her and you. So don't fear for your throne. You will be the king, Kaien. I'll put you on the throne if you want, but for now let me spend time with my wife.

—

Rukia had her eyes closed, she wasn't asleep because she had already slept a lot, but was enjoying the cool afternoon breeze. She had been thinking about what she should do after she finally decided to leave Ichigo's room, but she couldn't come up with any answers.

Ichigo had told her that if she wanted they could leave the castle and live wherever she wanted, and that was quite tempting. Living away from the castle, in a nice house with a garden that was just for her, was an idea that she liked a lot.

Everything depended on her.

If she said yes, Ichigo would give it to her, but what did Ichigo want?

That question came to her mind almost as quickly as the idea of the two of them living in a house far from the castle.

Ichigo had his job, he trained the soldiers and he had his own projects and ambitions which he told her with emotion at night when he managed to achieve something. She also had her own projects, her work that went hand in hand with those projects, and her ambitions that went beyond putting on the queen's crown.

Rukia wanted to see the children she had taken under her wing grow, see them enter the school in Entabeni, and show why she had chosen them to support their education. She wanted to learn about everything she could learn in the castle beyond the duties usually given to noblewomen, and she wanted to prove to herself that she could handle whatever was thrown her way.

Rukia wanted to see Ichigo become king, she wanted him to have what was rightfully his, and she wanted to be by his side.

Ichigo could give up everything for her but it made her think of Orihime, who had given up everything for Ulquiorra, and what her letter said.

Orihime's feeling of wanting to leave everything and return home, of not resisting living away from her family anymore and feeling like the worst person in the world for missing what she had before despite loving her husband and family, they made her think about what could await her and Ichigo.

Rukia didn't want Ichigo to feel that way because living outside the castle meant that she and Ichigo would have to go back and forth to the castle to do their work, not every day but most of the time. There would be days when he wouldn't come home for doing what he had to do and there would be days when Ichigo would have to choose between his own wishes and her.

Ichigo always told her that if he had to choose between her and the kingdom, he would always choose her, but Rukia wondered how long that would last. She wondered how much frustration Ichigo could take just because of her before he blew up, before he hated her for taking him away from his destiny and he hated himself for that very reason.

She could feel Ichigo's emotions because of the moon on her ribs, and she knew that she couldn't resist seeing him deny a feeling that she felt as her own.

It would be too much for her own heart and soul.

— What are you thinking about, my winter princess? — Ichigo's question took her by surprise because she didn't hear him walk into the room or sit next to her.

The thoughts vanished and Rukia decided that she liked her life the way it was, she wanted to continue having what she had at that moment because her son's blood paid for her stay in the castle.

If she couldn't have him, at least she would use him as the strength she needed to survive in there.

— You move with the silence of the shadows. — Rukia murmured before placing her head on her husband's arm in a welcoming gesture. — You took too long, what were you doing? Did you have problems?

— No, I just went for this. — Saying that, Ichigo showed her a metal container with paper in it and Rukia immediately smelled the freshly baked cookies.

Rukia stepped away from Ichigo a bit and realized that he had brought a cookie tin box with him. That made her smile with true happiness for the first time in four days, and Ichigo smiled back.

— Did you make cookies for me? — Rukia asked as she took the box of cookies that Ichigo was handing her.

She felt happy.

Ichigo scratched his head and looked away guiltily, like a child who didn't want to confess to a mischief.

— My Sun... — Rukia whispered as she looked at him with narrowed eyes.

— Tatsuki was the one who made them. — Ichigo confessed with some guilt. — I don't remember what the recipe was, so I asked Tatsuki to make them.

— So you cheated! You're supposed to do it yourself! — Rukia pointed a finger at him as she smiled. She was actually smiling because it was fun to see Ichigo embarrassed.

— I ordered them to be made, which is almost the same. — Ichigo defended himself before taking the tin of cookies from her. — So eat one.

Ichigo took one of the cookies and brought it to Rukia's mouth, who pursed her lips and shook her head. Ichigo tried to get her to eat it but Rukia shook her head to avoid the cookie, getting up from the cushion and starting to walk away from him.

— Your punishment for not having done them yourself will be to catch me. — Rukia clarified so Ichigo wouldn't misinterpret her refusal to eat the cookies.

Ichigo got up from his seat, put the box of cookies on a table, and began to chase her around the room. Rukia would run away from him and taunt him only for him to keep running after her, and when it looked like Ichigo was going to catch her, she nimbly dodged away from him again, until Ichigo finally caught her in his arms.

They were both laughing like a couple of children.

The pain had been forgotten for that moment.

— Now I don't know if I have a wife or a bunny in my arms. — Rukia patted him lightly on the arm for that comment, but Ichigo gave her a very light kiss on the lips. — Now, will you eat the cookies?

Rukia nodded and opened her mouth for Ichigo to bring the cookie closer so she could bite into it. The cookie was delicious, it had gotten cold from all the time they'd been running across the room, but it was still soft and she could feel the chocolate.

Rukia remembered what Ichigo had told her when he gave her the Winter Diadem, how special it had been the day she made cookies, and how much she had helped him with her words when he was feeling weak. Ichigo wasn't particularly good with motivational speeches, but him making cookies for her was all Rukia needed to make her smile at the moment.

Those cookies meant that he wanted to give her the same kind of support that she had given him that morning.

— Do you remember the song? — Rukia asked as he held her in his arms, feeling like crying again because of all the meaning those cookies had. — They can't be perfect without the song.

— I don't remember it. — Ichigo whispered, still not letting go of the hug and with the cookie in his hand.

Rukia didn't believe him but tried not to let her voice betray the feeling.

— Life without you is like a chocolate chip cookie without the chocolate chips, it's just flour.

— Everything is better with chocolate chips. — Ichigo whispered and Rukia could only hug him tighter, taking refuge in his chest, feeling his warmth and listening to her husband's heartbeat.

Ichigo was right, everything was better with chocolate chips.

Hi everyone!

I wish you a Merry Christmas, or the holiday you celebrate or a happy day if you don't celebrate anything, and a wonderful new year.

Thank you to everyone who has followed this story this year, you are the best guys and you deserve your own chocolate chip cookie.

See you next year, if The Shadow allows!

By the way, the cookie song belongs to Tubby Nugget on Tiktok. It's the first pinned video, in case you want to see it.

Sessrin: Hi! I didn't know how to contact you and hope you can read this. I just wanted to tell you: Thank you! Thank you for reading this story and for coming this far. It may not seem like it has a happy ending, but it does. A lot of things happen, terrible and painful things, but in the end everything turns out for the best for Ichigo and Rukia. So, thanks for reading.

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