Keep Lying
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The morning air in Silbern is cold and frosty. Rukia wraps her coat tighter around herself, frowning as she tries in vain to tame her hair from the strong winds whipping at her face.
To call it a garden would be an exaggeration. They are standing in a courtyard, a quarter of the size of the training grounds of the Thirteenth. The trees here are bare and gnarly. Hints of green are just barely there, like blades of grass hidden under the blanket of snow, growing against all odds in the cracks and corners of the faded brick wall. Flowers are nonexistent. It makes for a stark contrast to the Kuchiki gardens where flowers of all manners and colours bloom, carefully tended to by the dutiful team of gardeners employed by the clan. Rukia heaves a sigh, wondering to herself what she was expecting to begin with.
This is Silbern, a castle, or rather a fortress in the air, suspended miles above Seireitei and yet nothing like the city below it. Like her, life struggles to make something of itself here.
Perhaps to give her space and grant her reprieve from the feeling of constant surveillance, Masaki retreats to a safe distance away. Rukia shuts her eyes, feeling the warmth of the sun on her face; smiling as she flexes her wrist, pretending for a second that she is free, that freedom is just within her grasp.
She inhales sharply, her eyes turning skywards. The harsh light makes her squint and she instinctively brings her hand up, shielding her eyes from the sunlight. She almost forgot how blue the sky was.
Rukia can feel her hand shaking as she reaches to touch the mark on the side of her neck. It still hurts. She barely ate or slept since the day Ichigo left. The bruises he left on her are already fading but the mark on her neck is unusually stubborn and slow in healing. Ichigo must have done something to it. The wound refuses to scab and sits just over her jugular, unconcealable under any item of clothing; mocking her every time she looks into the mirror. This is Ichigo, through and through, refusing to relinquish his claim on her even in his absence.
The line between love and hate is dangerously fine and her feelings for Ichigo tiptoes just over it on a good day. She is hurt, her heart and trust damaged so badly that she does not think she can ever find it in herself to forgive him.
Does Ichigo know how much he drives her mind restless with worry when he left the morning after without a word of goodbye?
Does he know how much it hurts her to be left behind like that- waking up alone in bed, her body bruised and aching, like she's some common whore, used for a moment's pleasure only to be casually discarded the day after?
Does he know that she can barely keep any food down, her stomach churning and making her physically sick at the thought that the result of his mission in the Human World would either bereft her of her brother or a lover?
If he knew—
A sudden gust of wind suddenly heaves, tugging at her hair, causing it to whip against her face. She frowns, holding back the long strands of hair as she brushes them away from her face. Her hair has grown so much longer. It used to frame her face, the ends of it teasing at her collarbone. Now, it trails several inches past her shoulders. She picks at the ends of it. She is due for a haircut. The realization interrupts her train of thought.
She turns just in time to see a black-haired man rushing towards her. She recognizes the burst of reiatsu, but it still shocks her when Uryu's hand clamps itself around her wrist, tugging her away from the courtyard.
"I-Ishida?"
The dark-haired man is breathing hard. His normally slicked back hair is tousled and his eyebrows are furrowed deep. He does not answer Rukia, choosing instead to look at Masaki, tilting his chin at her and motioning her to follow as he ushers them away from the courtyard.
The corridors in Silbern are a maze and Rukia does not know where Uryu is leading them. She does, however, recognize that this is not the way that they came by. If anything, they seem to be moving further and further away from the inner sanctum of Silbern, towards an exit of sorts. She swears she can see a glimmer of light coming from up ahead.
Uryu's pace is brisk and his strides are long. He is moving fast enough that Rukia struggles to keep up. Behind her, she sees Masaki sprinting to keep up with them. The other woman seems to be just as confused as she is, but the click-clacks of her heeled boots do not falter. Rukia tries to wrestle her hand away, but his grip is ironclad.
"Where are you taking me?" she hisses. Feelings of unease tug at her. The way that Uryu is behaving makes her nervous. "Why are we running? Who are we running away from? Did something happen?"
"No time to explain. Quickly," said Uryu. "We must go now! Quickly before—"
It is too late. There is an ominous shadow cast before them, blocking the path ahead and stopping all three of them dead in their tracks. Rukia feels Uryu tense next to her before letting go of her hand abruptly.
Rukia looks at the dark-skinned man standing in front of them. She has only seen him once before, but the memory of that encounter is still fresh on her mind. She instinctively takes a step back. Her body drops into a familiar defensive stance. Her hand reaches to grip at the hilt of Shirayuki before remembering that the sword is nowhere near her vicinity.
Uryu straightens himself, his expression schooled into a look of indifference, giving away nothing even as Lille quirks an eyebrow at him. Lille's good eye roves from Uryu to the two women standing next to him. He makes a face, glaring at Rukia when he finally sees her. The very presence of her disgusts him. If he could, Rukia knows he would not hesitate to end her then and there. Her hands clench at the material of her dress. She feels Masaki stepping closer, the warmth of her palm steadying her as she drapes an arm protectively over her shoulders.
"I wasn't expecting you," says Uryu as he coolly steps in, his body blocking Rukia and Masaki from Lille's line of sight. His voice is cool, but the words cut deep, reaching their intended effect as he casts Lille a pointed look. "It is nice to know that your ribs have finally healed. Your absence has been noted."
Lille scowls, his face colouring at the mention of his old injuries. He glares at Uryu. It is a sore subject. Beyond the pain from the slow healing wounds, it is his pride that still stings. He has not forgotten the very public punishment he was dealt in front of his fellow Schutzstaffel members. He does not appreciate the insinuation that he had been remiss, abnegating his duties and responsibilities to The All Father and the Wandenreich.
Lille grits his teeth in response, snarling as he replies, "I appreciate your concern."
It has taken all that he has not to react. He bites the tip of his tongue, reminding himself that he has been sent here by The All Father's orders. He knows better than to question His judgement, but it does not quell the rising burn of indignation at the thought. His snarl deepens and his voice is strained.
"I have been asked to escort Lady Masaki and the Shinigami to the throne room. The All Father has requested for them specifically."
Rukia's heart begins to race. She is naturally wary of coming face-to-face with Yhwach again after their disastrous first encounter. Though, in hindsight, being shamed and publicly ridiculed, was not the worst thing that could have happened to her, the memory of it made her feel dirty and uncomfortable. Ichigo destroyed a ballroom to defend her honour, bringing the roof down on those who ridiculed and jeered at her- a wordless yet nonetheless, powerful response to the accusations.
Rukia clenches her fists tightly. She cannot shake off the feeling that something has gone horribly wrong with Ichigo's mission. She chides, telling herself not to jump to conclusions, but her instincts will not be quelled. Yhwach would not have requested for her and Masaki's presence in the throne room without a good reason. Something terrible must have happened to Ichigo in the Human World.
Did he find Nii-sama?
What about the rest of the Gotei 13? Surely they will not sit idly by as the Crown Prince of Wandenreich engages one of their own in battle?
Did Nii-sama—
Masaki's grip on her shoulders tightens, breaking her from her spiraling train of thoughts. The two women share a look, feeling the same ominous feeling of dread. Uryu's response is a subtle arch of his eyebrow in their direction, but he quickly recovers.
"It seems that we are all heading towards the same direction then."
Uryu turns away, sidestepping to clear a path for Lille. His movements are purposeful, keeping the women behind him firmly out of view as he gestures at Lille to lead the way.
Lille grunts as a response as he pushes past Uryu, glaring at the black-haired man before he leads the group back from to where they came from.
The touch of light and the promise of freedom slips further away from her grasp with every passing minute. Her heart mourns for the loss as she turns her back to the light, venturing deeper within Silbern, with Masaki's presence lingering close by as comfort. She links her hand with the older woman, who squeezes at it tightly, offering Rukia a small smile before they are herded deep into the maze-like corridors.
The corridors are dark and damp. The walls in Silbern do nothing to retain heat and the deeper they venture, the more obvious the drop in temperature becomes. Rukia tugs at the front of her coat, wrapping it fuller against herself. Her exhales appear as puffs of white smoke and she is ever so grateful that she has chosen to wrap herself up in warmer clothes for the day.
The four of them make their way in terse silence. She sneaks a glance at Masaki, who walks beside her with her head held high, her expression giving away nothing of her discomfort. Rukia sighs, knowing that Masaki's projected appearance of calmness is only a façade. She can feel the older woman's hand slightly trembling in hers. Just like her, Masaki's hand is as cold as ice.
"We're here."
Rukia lifts her head up when she realizes that they have all come to a stop before an ornate set of double doors. They look forbidding and heavy. The reiatsu seeping out from behind it tells Rukia all that she needs to know about the occupants in the room. This time the chill that runs down her spine has nothing to do with the cold. She squeezes at Masaki's hand, desperately tamping down her urge to turn and run.
Sensing her unease, Masaki squeezes back as an encouragement, a gentle reminder that she is not alone, but the knowledge does very little to comfort Rukia. The dread of having to see Yhwach again pools at the pit of her stomach, making her hands clammy. There is no Ichigo beside her this time. She feels his absence acutely. A part of her wishes that he was there holding onto her hand.
The doors in front of her are suddenly pushed open. Rukia averts her eyes instinctively at the sudden glare and the dramatic change in lighting. There is no time to think as she finds herself being pulled inside the room with a sharp tug.
All eyes are on them as they enter the throne room. She nearly misses a step, but Masaki's hands steady her, preventing her from making a spectacle. Rukia raises her head upwards, squinting slightly at the light. Every step that she takes seems to echo in the otherwise silent room.
Trailing behind everyone else, Rukia quietly takes in the layout of the room, marveling at the size of it and the number of Sternritters crouched low, bowing their heads at Yhwach. Their subservient stance speaks of their reverence for their Emperor and God, their eagerness to give up their lives for the Wandenreich and Yhwach at the snap of his fingers. The thought nearly makes Rukia sick.
The throne room is vaulted. Unlike the glittering ballroom that Ichigo destroyed, this room boasts nothing of golden filigree or crystal chandelier. It is however, by no means, any less breathtaking as everything, even the throne itself, appears to be carved entirely out of ivory and white marble, echoing the haunting sentiments of Silbern. For the near-blinding whiteness that she is surrounded by, Rukia dubs it the White Room.
White is clean, pure and simple. It is untainted, unblemished, and utterly unforgiving.
The throne may look impressive, sculpted entirely out of a single slab of stone, but it does not look comfortable. Good, Rukia thinks to herself darkly, she hopes it freezes Yhwach's ass off.
Daylight suffuses the room through the giant glass window placed directly behind the throne and the raised steps leading to it, but that does nothing to soften the brooding feel of the sterile room. If anything, the harsh flood of light forces all those who are brought before the throne to avert their gaze, to avoid looking directly at the man on the throne. Rukia stands a little taller, raising her back straighter instinctively as a response. She must not show any weakness.
Rukia wills herself not to tense even when she feels Yhwach's gaze falling on her, wordlessly trailing after her as Lille leads them to the front row. She is standing in front of every Sternritter in the room, feeling their dagger-like glares dig into her back, but that is nothing compared to the threat that Yhwach poses.
Yhwach is an impending doom on the horizon. He levels a calculative gaze at her. Rukia feels a tug on her arm by Masaki. The woman is mouthing at her to kneel, but she refuses still, choosing instead to straighten herself to her full height and stare Yhwach dead in the eyes.
She hears dissatisfied murmurs stirring in the background. Their harsh whispers are angry and she chances a glance at a tall blond standing to the right of Yhwach, fixing her with a glare sharp enough to kill. They are clamouring for her to be punished for the disrespect shown to their All Father. Rukia stands her ground, pretending she heard nothing.
Ichigo may not be here, but nothing has changed. Her feelings for Ichigo aside, she is still the same woman she was before- Shinigami, warrior, captive behind enemy lines.
That thing is not her king. She will not kneel.
Yhwach's response to her defiance is a lazy smirk. He waves his hand flippantly at Jugram, telling him to stand down. Rukia turns to see a strange man, tall like all Sternritters, but wearing a strange-looking helmet that covers his face. This Sternritter edges closer to the throne, but his movements seem slow and impeded. He makes his way gingerly over, hobbling on one foot and cradling what seems to be an injured arm. Rukia wrinkles her nose in distaste when she notices the ripe smell wafting from him. There are dark stains and smudges on his clothes. Some of them appeared to be dried blood.
Rukia looks to Yhwach, arching an eyebrow, unsure of where he is going with this.
Yhwach breaks into a grin. The poor thing still has no idea. He wonders what sort of face the Shinigami woman would make when she realizes. He is almost a little excited to find out. "BG9, tell them the news."
"Y-Yes, All Father."
Rukia watches as the Sternritter drops to one knee, bowing his head so low it touches the marble floor. Even without looking at his face, Rukia feels his fear.
"T-The Crown Prince, Ku-Kurosaki Ichigo is dead."
The room descends into a cacophony of harsh whispers and urgent murmurs. Pointed looks fly across the room as the Sternritters that kneel before Yhwach engage in heated discussion amongst themselves. They were all there when The All Father gave Ichigo the mission. They all remembered. Kurosaki Ichigo was deployed to the Human World to return with the head of the Shinigami captain, Kuchiki Byakuya.
There must be some sort of mistake! Surely not Silbern's very own monster? He is the Sternritter A: The Anomaly, second only to their Emperor in terms of raw power and abilities! They can scarcely believe that a Sternritter of that caliber can be bested in battle and killed.
Having a Gemischt Quincy as their crown prince may be controversial and divisive, but Silbern burns and seethes as one, when one of their own is cut down. They may not like their crown prince when he was alive, but they will not allow the pride of Wandenreich to be trampled upon. For better or worse, Kurosaki Ichigo is one of their own. Their very own crown prince cut down in battle, defeated by those pesky Shinigamis in battle?
All of Silbern is up in arms, roaring in outrage at the slight!
It must not have been a fair fight. It is all that those despicable Shinigamis know anyway, fighting with underhanded tactics. They are honourless and conniving. They will pay dearly for the murder of the Crown Prince of Wandenreich! The All Father will see to it!
"You lie!"
Rukia all but screeches. Her voice is tight and verges on breaking. Her chest feels tight and she forcefully reminds herself to keep breathing. Numbness gives way to her disbelief and the shock melts into pain. There is a lump lodged at the back of her throat- a grief so thick and potent that she is rendered speechless. She is shaking, seized by the urgent need to snarl and scream, to grab at the front of BG9's coat and shake him like a ragdoll until he admits to lying.
He has to be lying. It must be some kind of sick, twisted joke that Yhwach is pulling on her to make her bend and break. Ichigo cannot be dead. He is simply too stubborn to die.
She looks to Yhwach, but the mad man has the audacity to smirk in her face. There is no remorse from him. The mad man does not feel even the slightest bit of sadness at the loss of the heir apparent to his empire.
"It's true. I love all of my children. I am connected to them. My blood flows through the veins of every Sternritter for they receive a portion of my soul when they accepted their schrift. It is my blessing to them."
Rukia growls, bundling her fists so tightly that her knuckles turn bloodless. Yhwach is a monster of the worst kind. He does not think twice about harming his own people, using them for his own selfish gain, going so far as to trick them into thinking that a curse is his blessing.
It makes her sick. The Sternritter's schrifts are nothing more than glorified tracking devices, a failsafe that Yhwach installs on his minions to keep them in their place, to ensure that the Sternritters who serve him- his soldiers would never betray him. There is nothing to stop Yhwach from collecting and retrieving the fragments of his soul whenever he wishes.
"When my connection with Ichigo was severed some time not too long ago, I had my misgivings. I doubted, though I had considered his death as a possibility. I was too reluctant to accept it. It saddens me greatly to have my crown prince and heir, die before me. A father is not meant to bury his children, to see them die before their time."
Jugram falls to his knees, crying out loudly as he lays himself prostrate, nearly kissing Yhwach's feet- no, perhaps even the very ground that the mad man walks on, in reverence. "Your benevolence knows no bounds, All Father. We follow You and the Path of the Light! Until the very end!"
Sternritters in the room eagerly take up the chant, following suit. Rukia nearly gags at the display. Yhwach's insincerity and his hypocrisy aside, it sickens her more to see the Sternritters throwing themselves at his feet, placing their misguided faith in this mad man playing God. How brainwashed must these Sternritters be to accept his words at face value?
Do they even know what their holy schrifts, these so-called blessings from their All Father, can do to them? Have they ever thought about the hidden risks that comes from serving him?
Are all Yhwach's Sternritters simply brainwashed victims of the Wandenreich regime, zealots ready to lay their lives down for the glory of Wandenreich and Yhwach?
Rukia balks, suddenly seeing Ichigo in a new light. Unlike the Sternritters she has seen, Ichigo does not show the same fanatical devotion and deference to Yhwach. He even openly defied Yhwach, destroying an opulent ballroom to defend her honour. He stood up against the Schutzstaffel who want her dead. He even killed Äs Nödt for her.
Ichigo is a lot of things- insanely possessive, dangerous, but he is not a mindless grunt. She refuses to believe that Ichigo would have thrown his lot in with this bunch of fanatics without a good reason. What would have prompted Ichigo his schrift, to accept Yhwach as his emperor and God?
Did he know about the dangers that came with his schrift?
Did he want to serve Yhwach?
Was he ever given a choice?
Was he forced into accepting the honour?
The blood that stains his hands, how much of it existed because Yhwach demanded it to be so?
Could it be that Ichigo did not want to kill Nii-sama at all?
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"Rukia."
It took Masaki's cool hand touching the side of her cheek for her to realize that she is crying. The older woman's touch is unbelievably gentle and her voice is soothing, afraid of upsetting her even more. Yet, Rukia cannot bring herself to look Masaki in the eye. Ichigo has- had his mother's eyes. The older woman's warm brown eyes would only serve as a reminder of her loss. The grief that grips at her makes her choke.
She clamps a hand over her mouth, desperate not to let her cries be heard as she hides her face in Masaki's embrace. The two women crumple to the floor, holding onto each other for comfort.
It hurts.
It hurts to just breathe. She cannot believe it. Ichigo- her Ichigo is dead.
He promised her that he would always be there for her, but he broke his word. He left her. And she—
She didn't even get to say goodbye.
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"As for you, BG9—" Yhwach suddenly rises to his feet, making his way down from the raised steps. He stops just in front of the shaking man, who immediately cowers, too scared to even mouth off a word of protest as Yhwach puts his foot on his shoulder. Yhwach does not even bat an eye as he kicks the Sternritter solidly in the chest, knocking him over.
BG9 cries out in pain, falling onto his back. He shields his injured arm, instinctively cradling it against his chest. He whimpers, pouring forth a string of broken pleas. Yet, Yhwach seems to have heard nothing as he proceeds to place his foot over the man's shoulder, digging it in sharply over the spot and crushing it under his heel. The crunch of broken bones is unmistakable, as is BG9's high-pitched screams. Yhwach fixes him a withering look, resisting the urge to grimace.
What a pathetic weakling!
"Tell me everything. Who was there? What did you see?"
"W-We were ambushed by a S-Shinigami! S-She's strong! At least a Captain! B-But none of us recognized her! She's not on the list!"
The last statement alone earns more than its fair share of hushed whispers and nervous chatters. All Sternritters were made to memorize and familiarize themselves with the information and intel gathered on the existing Captains and Vice-captains within the ranks of Gotei 13. The sudden appearance of a nameless woman whom none of them recognized made them cocky. BG9 even laughed in the woman's face, chiding her for having a death wish at taking on all three of them at the same time. Of course, that was before she made needles appear like wildfire across their bodies at the snap of her fingers. The needles stabbed through their Blut Vene like a hot knife through butter, turning them pin cushions. The battle was over in the blink of an eye.
Yhwach frowns, his brows furrowing. "This woman, what does she look like?"
"T-Tall, dark-haired. She- She has six arms behind her!"
The six arms are hard to miss. Yhwach knows the woman from that description alone. Yhwach draws himself back, hissing under his breath, "The Royal Guards!"
The Royal Guards- the legendary keepers of the Oken, the guard dogs of His Father's palace and realm, the Soul King's personal bodyguards. If one appears, the rest are usually not far off. He was wondering when the fools would make their appearance. It has been far too long since they last crossed paths with one another. He has a score to settle with them.
"What happened after she defeated you?"
BG9 gulps, swallowing nervously at the dark look that he receives from Yhwach. He hastily averts his gaze, continuing his story. "S-She thought we were all dead- and- and dragged us over to Ichigo."
"Who did you see there? Who killed him?"
BG9 shakes his head. "I-I don't know. I-I didn't see. Ichigo was already dead when I got dragged over there."
Yhwach's frown becomes even more pronounced at that. BG9 nearly bites his tongue as he hastily adds to his statement, eager to elaborate and explain himself. The All Father has no use for fools or those who He has deemed useless. To live, his existence must be regarded as useful. The intel that he supplies must prove indispensable to The All Father's plans. It is the only way.
"There were two men standing over his body. One of them- the blond man, he's the one who spared me, so- so that I may act as messenger and return to Silbern."
"And the other?"
"The other—" BG9 hesitates, unsure of how to describe the scene without coming across as delusional. He does not want The All Father to think that he is lying.
"Speak!"
Yhwach's harsh voice jerks BG9's attention back to present as stomps on BG9's arm. BG9 screams, feeling a burst of pain shooting through his lower wrist. As a cyborg, he has his lifespan and capabilities artificially enhanced, but he still feels. He still retains his pain perception, dulled to a certain degree perhaps, but nonetheless still present.
"A head!" BG9 all but shrieks. He is pinned under Yhwach's foot and his chilling stare. His body curls and spasms from the pain. "The other one's a talking head!"
Yhwach eases the pressure exerted, lifting his foot off BG9. His expression changes as the thinly pressed lips twitch, slowly stretching to a wide grin. "I see. Does the head belong to a bald man?"
BG9 can barely muster the energy needed to nod, but Yhwach is no longer interested in continuing the conversation. He already has all the information that he needs to know.
Yhwach says nothing as he returns to his throne, the ends of his black cloak fluttering as he turns his back on the whimpering BG9 and the audience gathered before him. His expression is pensive. For a while, there is only BG9's noisy breathing that fills the room, but louder still is the terse heartbeats of the Sternritters gathered as they keep their heads down and hands tucked firmly by their sides.
The eerie silence from their Lord and Emperor is anxiety-inducing. Beads of cold sweat dot their brows, sliding down their backs, but they hide their discomfort, trying their best to appear serene and unbothered. They cast surreptitious glances at BG9 still writhing in agony on the floor. It is not pity or even mockery that they direct towards the cyborg. There is instead aloofness, but also curiosity showing in those eyes as they bear witness to the fate that awaits him.
They are not interested in the end result. BG9 is already a dead man walking. Death is the only plausible outcome for him. It is known that the consequences of displeasing Yhwach will always be dire and His wrath will not be easily appeased. The All Father does not believe in meting out second chances to the unworthy and undeserving. Even if they were given, chances of survival would still be slim. Their late crown prince bears testament to this. Such is the price of penance and repentance.
The 'how'- the manner of his demise though serves a source of morbid entertainment for the masses. To see Yhwach's punishment of BG9 enacted before their very eyes, it is both a cautionary tale and a cause for much weary relief. Better him, than them.
At length, Yhwach finally unclasps his folded hands, his expression unbearably solemn.
"You disappoint me, BG9."
BG9 raises his head weakly. He is immediately on his knees, stammering as he begs at The All Father for clemency. Yet, a stern look from Yhwach silences him. The sight of wine-red eyes boring down at him quickly makes him realize his faux-pas and he quails, gulping nervously as he keeps his gaze downcast. The All Father is not done. It would have been blasphemy to interrupt him mid-sentence.
"How long has it been since you were spared the fate of your fallen brethren?"
"A-All Father, please! I-I tried. B-But the Royal Guards- the attack left me weak. I-I had to recover my strength before I can teleport—"
Yhwach splays his hand and the occupants in the room immediately notice the drop in temperature. The air in the room thins and none feels it more acutely than BG9 as he feels an invisible hand squeezing at the base of his throat. He cannot breathe, let alone speak. He looks at The All Father fearfully, his body desperately trying to inch away, but to no avail.
"I will not repeat myself, nor am I interested in hearing your excuses. How long, BG9?"
"A-A week."
Yhwach shakes his head in disapproval. "You should have returned to Silbern sooner. The appearance of The Royal Guards in the Human World should have been brought to my attention sooner. You were the first to encounter them and live to tell the tale. Honour was bestowed upon you, for you to make something of the opportunity and warn us, so that we may prepare ahead of time.
"Yet, when the time came to prove your worth to the Wandenreich, to me, you foolishly chose to squander away the opportunity. Time that the Wandenreich could have used to prepare against the enemy you have selfishly wasted, leaving the bodies of your brothers-in-arm to rot in the hold of the enemy."
BG9 clenches his fists. "I-I tried, All Father. The reishi in the Human World is much weaker than that of Silbern."
He cannot activate Shadow and manage the teleportation without first gathering sufficient amount of reishi and unlike Ichigo, his reiryouku is not limitless. If anything, it is impressive that he managed to return to the Wandenreich within a week. Gathering enough reishi and reiryouku within him to make the journey even remotely feasible with his injuries is nothing short of a miracle. Yhwach knows this, yet he still shames him for not doing more.
BG9 gulps, swallowing thickly. He wants to live. He will do anything and everything to be given a chance to prove himself. As the choking hold on his throat vanishes, he crawls towards Yhwach and touches his head reverently at the foot of the throne. His good hand reaches out to grasp at the ends of Yhwach's cloak, his voice rasping and cracked. BG9 tugs at the cloak weakly, giving Yhwach an imploring look.
"T-There must be something I can do to make it up to the Wandenreich, to redeem my honour. All Father, please! I can still be of use!"
Yhwach arches an eyebrow at BG9's hand on his cloak. He tugs the cloak away with a flourish when BG9 does not immediately withdraw his hands. Wine-red eyes narrow at BG9. The Wandenreich has no use for incompetent fools.
BG9 panics when he feels the wave of killing intent radiating from Yhwach. The tremor in his voice is unmistakable. "All Father, p-please! I can still serve the Wandenreich. I can still fight! For the glory that is You, there is nothing that I will not do! P-Please, allow me a chance to redeem myself!"
The repeated thud of his forehead smacking against the marble floor is hard enough to make a dent on the floor, but Yhwach remains unmoved. He does not hide the disdain on his face as he gathers the reiryouku within him.
"Then, die!"
With a snap of his finger, BG9's head suddenly explodes. The audience closest to the explosion shriek and duck in surprise at the sudden scene of carnage, immediately clearing a wide berth for the headless corpse that falls limply to the ground.
Blood spews high and wide, hitting the ceiling of the vaulted throne room and the immediate vicinity. Sharp jagged edges of the metal shrapnel are glinting in the light as they embed themselves on the walls of the room, while the organic remains splatter and stain the walls and the ground.
.
Amidst the chaos and tension, Masaki is unprepared for Rukia to suddenly go limp in her arms. She catches the woman just in time so she does not fall to the floor. Masaki grimaces when she notices Rukia's slow breathing. Her skin is deathly pale and her hands feel unbearably cold against Masaki's. She urgently shakes the unconscious Shinigami by the shoulders, shouting for her to wake up.
"Rukia!"
Rukia's reiatsu is too wild and chaotic, reflecting her inner turmoil and her fragile emotional state, still reeling from the news of Ichigo's death. The effects of reiryouku depletion are long-lasting, with Rukia's spiritual energy still struggling to stabilize itself weeks after Äs Nödt's attack. There is something of Ichigo's miasmic touch mixed in within Rukia. That in itself, is nothing new. All of Silbern knows that Ichigo is possessive over his Shinigami, going so far as to infuse his own reiryouku within her to mark her as his, but this is different.
Something feels off. Masaki cannot quite put a finger to it nor fully explain it. Although masterful, she cannot quite boast the level of precision or sensitivity for reiryouku as Uryu can. Masaki frowns, her grip on Rukia tightening. She swears there is something else lingering.
Edges and lines turn corporeal, solidifying into something gilded when Masaki focuses her full attention to it, but then in the blink of an eye, it disappears; making her doubt that it was ever there to begin with. Masaki wants to attribute this strange phenomenon to the consequences of reiryouku depletion, but her instincts are screaming at her.
This is not something so simple.
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Yhwach winces, turning his head towards the source of the high-pitched scream. He is surrounded by weaklings; he thinks to himself darkly. The sudden rise in the reiatsu of the room must have proven to be too much, finally overwhelming the Shinigami, causing her to faint.
Perhaps it is time to get rid of her. His Schutzstaffel, especially Lille have been vocal about her removal from Silbern. Her actions challenge His authority, upsetting his Sternritters. Yhwach would be the first to admit that he finds it amusing at first, but now with Ichigo dead, she is of no use to him any longer. Her blatant defiance is getting tiresome. Yhwach does not tolerate insubordination.
Yhwach gathers the reiryouku within him yet again. A snap of his finger, a clean swipe across her pale neck. It will be over in a matter of seconds. He will be merciful and grant her a quick death. It is for the best. The only good Shinigami is a dead one.
At the first step Yhwach takes towards the two women however, he feels a burst of golden reiatsu pulsing from the direction, surging as though it had sensed Yhwach's malicious intent. Yhwach frowns at the pitiful remnants of Ichigo's reiryouku left inside the Shinigami. The reiatsu that it exerts is entirely laughable, much weaker and fainter than the presence that Yhwach had sensed from the night of the disastrous ball.
He sneers, remembering how Ichigo intended it to act as a form of protection for his Shinigami. How like Ichigo his reiryouku behaves, marked by the same brand of arrogance as it surges in response to the powerful threat that Yhwach poses, wrapping itself around the woman protectively.
Yhwach's reiatsu is overwhelming and insurmountable, determined to bring down all those who would dare to stand against it. The tiny spark of light that blinks within Rukia though perseveres. When Yhwach raises his reiatsu, exerting his dominance over it, the reiatsu does not shirk away or attempt to flare, instead it reacts by boldly brushing against the tendrils of Yhwach's reach, curious and inquisitive, tentative and shy as though this is a first encounter against a foreign reiatsu, as though Ichigo's reiatsu does not recognize him. The move is almost playful and decidingly harmless against Yhwach's molten swirl of spiritual pressure.
Taken aback by the response, Yhwach's reiatsu begins to flare threateningly, turning menacing. The collective audience senses a shift in the reishi in the air. Yhwach's reiatsu solidifies to form a wall, pressing down on them uncomfortably. Ichigo's reiatsu is evidently alarmed as it retreats, pulling away from contact like a hand from open fire.
Yhwach arches an eyebrow, intrigued by the reaction. His reiryouku unfurls again, tendril-like towards the reiatsu. Ichigo's reiatsu recoils from him, like he is personally offended by the audacity of Yhwach to approach him again after their exchange earlier. It flares warningly, like a cat puffing up to appear larger and threatening.
Yhwach snorts, seeing through it. The act is entirely too childish to be taken seriously and this sort of behaviour—
He suddenly stills. It is not often when The All Father finds himself to be in the wrong.
The Shinigami's reiatsu is too weak, causing him to dismiss it, and his experience with Ichigo, his familiarity with his adopted son's reiatsu made him careless. The nuances of the spiritual pressure are strangely similar but upon scrutinization, Yhwach realizes that they are not entirely the same.
Ichigo's reiatsu is not faint nor weak, in fact this is notIchigo's reiatsu at all.
Yhwach lifts his head up to see Uryu and Jugram both directing looks of incredulity at the fainted woman. They must have realized it too. There is another reiatsu coming from the Shinigami woman, overshadowing that of her own. As Yhwach 'pushes' harder against it, Ichigo's reiatsu folds, fleeing from him. It fades to a soft, almost translucent glow centered at the lower abdomen of the unconscious Shinigami.
He has seen enough to know what is going on now. Yhwach's lips twist into a smirk. Things have just gotten interesting.
"Get her to the infirmary! Immediately!"
The Sternritters are confounded, but it does not stop them from springing into action. The All Father's word is their law and they fall over each other to be useful. Jugram however is the first to react. Despite his personal disdain of Shinigamis, he nonetheless obeys Yhwach's order. Mumbling an apology to Masaki, the blond disentangles the Shinigami from her grasp and easily lifts Rukia up, keeping one arm under her knees and the other on her back as he carries her away.
Masaki is confused by the turn of events. Without even seeking Yhwach for his approval, she turns, fully intent on following Jugram, but a hand wrapped around her elbow stops her in her tracks. She looks up to see Uryu frowning at her.
Yet, some things are worth risking open defiance from Yhwach.
Masaki pries his hand off her, mouthing him an apology before taking off in the direction of infirmary, chasing after Rukia. No harm will come to Rukia, not on her watch. She made a promise to Ichigo. Her son may be dead, but she will see this through.
As he watches the retreating figure of Jugram, speeding away with the use of Hirenkyaku, Yhwach's mood is considerably lighter. He lets the slight from Masaki go unpunished, motioning for Uryu, who intends to give chase to stand down, while he leans back against the throne with a smile. The Sternritters in the throne room slowly straighten themselves and heave a collective sigh of relief, finding it much easier to breathe.
Perhaps the Shinigami woman is not completely useless after all.
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Rukia releases a shaky breath, willing herself to acclimatize to the bitter cold quickly as she opens her eyes. Her inner world is not so different to Silbern with the ice and heavy snowfall, but she distinctly remembers it being warmer and hospitable on her earlier visit.
She looks up to see the gates to Shirayuki's ice castle towering over her forebodingly with its arching gables, turquoise shingles polished to a fine glimmer, winking at her over the curved roof. Its ornate architecture stands out against the barren wilderness- blanketed entirely in white, but Rukia has no time to marvel at the design.
The drop in temperature causes her to shiver, her teeth chattering. Her neck grows stiff and she hunches her back, wrapping her arms around herself. The snow crunches beneath her feet as she takes a step closer to the heavy armoured doors, eager to be out of the cold.
Two sets of lifeless eyes stare coldly at her from the snarling dragons inlaid in the door. A heavy golden ring hangs from each of their mouth. She grabs for the ring of the ornate door knockers, hissing at the feel of icy cold metal biting into her flesh, but the doors refuse to budge no matter how loudly she knocks and how hard she pushes at the doors.
The howling wind drowns out her shouts of frustrations. She should have known, she thought, chewing at her bottom lip. Shirayuki's nature is that of ice- ruthless and cutting. Her frosty reception says it all. Rukia has always known that she would not be one to forgive easily, especially in the reckless fight with Äs Nödt, where Rukia has come so close to dying, saved only by Ichigo's timely appearance, but this has gone on long enough.
Rukia growls, eyebrows furrowing at the sight of the gates- sealed shut and immovable, despite her best efforts.
"I said I was sorry! Shirayuki, stop being unreasonable! Just how much grovelling are you expecting from me before I am finally allowed an audience and allowed within the keep?"
It has been weeks since the attack. Yet, she has barely recovered a tenth of her original reiryouku. If she were stronger, then maybe she would never have been captured by Ichigo in the first place. If she were stronger, she would never have to know what it feels like to fall in love with the enemy, to doubt and question everything that she has ever known as a Shinigami. If she were stronger, she wouldn't have needed Ichigo to fight her battles for her. He wouldn't have killed Äs Nödt, wouldn't have been sent on a suicide mission by Yhwach and he—
Rukia chokes. She is done with being powerless and weak. She is done with waiting and she is tired of Shirayuki's silence.
She wants answers and she wants them now.
A sudden blast of cold wind hits Rukia in the face, making her hiss. Yet, her hands grip the metal ring with a vice-like grip. If Shirayuki wants her to scram, the woman can come out and tell her in person. Rukia will not let go even if her fingers grow numb and black, falling off from frostbite.
She loses track of how long she is left there, standing in the cold until she felt like a half-frozen statue, half-buried under the snow, so cold that she can no longer feel her toes and fingers. Her lips turn blue and her grip on the metal ring is frozen tight. She cannot unclench her fist now even if she wanted to.
When the metal doors are suddenly pushed open, Rukia finds herself moving along with it, leaving a trail trudged through the deep snow. Her body is ridiculously sluggish and her brain almost mush. She does however lift her head up towards the light, squinting and nearly crying when she sees her zanpakutou spirit face to face.
"S-Shira-Yu-u-ki."
Her tongue is thick and the syllables that come out of her mouth sound disjointed. Her zanpakutou's power within the parameters of the inner world is absolute. A single touch from Shirayuki against her cheek lifts Rukia out from the deep-piled snow, melting the ice and snow that had weighted her down. Shirayuki's gentle tap on her forehead sends a surge of warmth coursing through her, revitalizing her. Water that is left behind from the melting ice evaporates, leaving her dry and warm.
Rukia lets out a sigh, feeling in control of herself again. She opens her eyes to find herself standing on a small patch of dry land left untouched by the heavy coverage of snow, wearing mercifully dry clothes. Shirayuki is standing in front of her, facing her narrowed eyes unflinchingly. The yuki-onna is still as beautiful as always but there is a softness to her edges today. Her clothes are cut looser somehow. The material of her kimono is flowing and silky, the heavy and elaborate ornaments in her hair largely absent.
"Why have you been so distant, Shirayuki? What must I do to make amends?"
The woman does not immediately answer. She instead walks closer towards Rukia. Her stern mien makes Rukia a little wary. Has she still not been forgiven?
"Tell me! What do I have to do before you will teach me bankai?"
Rukia remembers the conversation she had with the man in Ichigo's inner world. Ichigo is, to the best of her knowledge, the first and only Quincy capable of possessing a zanpakutou spirit, but Rukia is sure that his zanpakutou spirit, Zangetsu had not lied to her. Shirayuki can teach her bankai. She just needs to convince the yuki-onna and show her that she is worthy.
When Shirayuki lifts up her hand, Rukia steels herself, half-expecting to be hit or issued with a challenge to fight. The only way to grow stronger is through combat and training. Zanpakutous are proud creatures who will only concede and impart their secrets to their wielders once they have deemed the latter worthy.
Rukia readies herself. She may be at a disadvantage due to her weak reiryouku, but she will not let that stop her.
Yet—
Rukia's eyes widen in surprise when Shirayuki presses a hand protectively on her lower stomach. Her mouth grows dry and her own hand instinctively presses down on Shirayuki's hand, holding it down flat against her body. Her hand is trembling and she is rendered speechless when she feels it through Shirayuki's hand. A small pulse of reiatsu sparks, roaring to life in response to Rukia's tentative touch, as if to answer her, reassuring her that she is not alone in this. There is another presence stirring there.
A life growing within her.
.
How?
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Rukia gulps. She feels a little sick as the reality of her situation begins to sink in. She realizes now the need for such tight measures of security in her inner world; the reason why she felt so horribly ill in her own plane, why her reiryouku recovery has been so slow and painful. She does not know whether to laugh or cry as the full gravity of the news hits her.
Shirayuki's lilac eyes regard Rukia. There is no judgement from her, no seething glares or disappointed sighs. The smile that she gives her is bittersweet at best as she whispers to her wielder.
"Later, Rukia. Bankai can come later. We are expecting."
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The ceiling in the infirmary is white. Rukia blinks blearily at her surroundings. Masaki is there, sitting at the side of the bed, stroking her hair gently.
"Ma-Masaki?"
With her help, Rukia is propped up, seating upright as she leans back against the pillows. Instinctively, her gaze falls to her lower stomach. Her hand lays flat against it, smiling softly when she feels the glow of a new reiryouku brushing against hers. The reiatsu exerted by it is still weak, but she feels traces of Ichigo in it. Her soul would know it from anywhere.
Half of hers, half of his.
Tears slide down her cheeks. A sudden flush of emotions course through her vein. This is their baby- a son or a daughter that Ichigo will never know or meet.
"Masaki—" Rukia licks at her lips, unsure of how and where to start, but Masaki deserves to be the first to know. This is not just her child. This baby is also part of Masaki's family and bloodline. This is her future grandson or granddaughter.
"I know," Masaki says as she squeezes at Rukia's hand.
Rukia frowns, her eyebrows knitting in confusion. "How?"
"Did you know that your child is part Hollow?"
Rukia's head snaps towards the newcomer. His gleeful voice sends chills down her spine. The Arrancar's reiatsu feels slimy, permeating the room with every breath that he takes. This time, there are no rattling noises from the scraping of the heavy metal chains against the floor. Granz walks into the room with his feet unbound, his head raised.
Rukia is seething, hackles raised as she turns towards the Arrancar, glaring murderously. His appearance in the infirmary is unwanted and has her growling, her arm shielding the barely-there bump protectively, shifting her body to keep it hidden.
"Leave!" she hisses. How dare this crackpot scientist show his face! "Your so-called contraceptives didn't work. You're the reason why I'm in this mess!"
Granz does not even have the decency to look embarrassed. He crosses his arm, sneering. "My invention is perfect! Even those pesky humans cannot claim to guarantee 100% effectiveness with their contraceptives."
He maintains that he is still not at fault here. He certainly didn't force the two to copulate at gunpoint and if anything, the princeling was the one who came to him, requesting for his help. Granz agreed even if he felt that his genius is better utilized in other scientific pursuits because the princeling had promised to grant him a favour in return.
As for why the contraception failed, Granz can come up with a few explanations. The simplest explanation would be that their reiryouku might have been too compatible with one another. While it is important that the female's reiryouku does not reject the male, Granz had yet to explore the consequences of combining two reiryouku- two souls who resonated so strongly that it became almost impossible to separate one from the other once they were joined.
The other synergistic possibility, one that Granz was more loathed to admit: Kurosaki Ichigo is part Hollow. Any child of his would inherit the trait and Hollows are beasts who go after their own kin where the attachment is the strongest. Blood calls to blood. Once formed, the embryo implanted itself in the womb and readily devoured the source of reiryouku offered, taking its place. The process is slow and because it still features, or to a certain degree, resembles Ichigo's reiatsu, most people would not have been able to tell the difference, unless they knew where to look.
Granz shrugs off the angry glares from Rukia, ignoring her completely as he continues unperturbed. His tone is not without pride. "There is an undeniable part of the child's genetic makeup that is Hollow. It ate and consume the remnants of Ichigo's reiatsu left within you. You can say that it is in some ways, a miracle baby, the first and only one of its kind- a Shinigami-Quincy-Hollow hybrid. I would have liked to study it."
The smirk that he gives Rukia fills her with the urge to pummel him. Rukia clenches her fists, bunching the thin blanket draped over her. Her baby is not a science experiment for him to cut up and conduct tests on!
"Over my dead body, Arrancar!"
Granz sighs dramatically. "It is most unfortunate that The All Father denied my request to conduct tests on your foetus. He is most pleased by the news. His heir did not die without issue."
Rukia's blood turns cold. The knowledge that her baby is safe from the clutches of Granz and the fate of being cut up and held in a petri dish does not give her much respite.
Yhwach knows too?
They all know?
Rukia chews at her bottom lip, her mind whirling. The baby is hers. She wants to keep it. There was never any doubt about it. But how is she going to protect her unborn baby from the likes of a monster like Yhwach?
Her body tenses. Her own breathing sounds impossibly noisy and loud, but she does not seem to be taking in anything. Her chest feels tight. She keeps both arms draped over her front, physically shielding her unborn baby. Her reiatsu, weak as it is, flares, cocooning her baby's reiatsu in a heartbreaking display of protective maternal instincts that tugs at Masaki's heartstrings. Shock and stress are not a good combination for the mother or the baby.
"Rukia, shh—" Masaki sidles close and begins to pat her on her back. Rukia is hyperventilating. Masaki worries that she might faint again.
She turns to Granz, chastising him angrily, "if you can't talk without upsetting her, I suggest you leave. Now!"
Granz shrugs, turning on his heel. There are some concessions that he is willing to make in the name of science. He wouldn't want the Shinigami woman to miscarry and rob himself of the possibility of studying the hybrid up close.
Rukia releases a shaky breath that she didn't know she has been holding as the door clicks shut. She can feel her clothes clinging onto her uncomfortably, drenched in cold sweat. She breathes a little better knowing that Granz is not in the immediate vicinity, releasing her grip on the crumpled sheets.
"Why was he here?"
Masaki purses her lips. "The All Father sent for him. You- You fainted in the throne room. The All Father was concerned and summoned Granz to conduct some tests on you."
Rukia's frown deepens at that. Masaki quickly adds, eager to reassure her, "I was here the whole time. He didn't have the time or chance to try anything. According to the test results, you're about five weeks along."
Rukia's mind blanks at the new information. Her hand hovers protectively over her lower stomach. Her time in Silbern passes on without a calendar to mark them by. Her capture from the ruined streets of Seireitei seem as distant as a lifetime ago, and yet in some ways, stains her memories as vividly as if it had only happened yesterday.
She winces. Masaki must think that she is such a terrible and irresponsible mother. "I'm sorry, how long was I—" she gulps, willing herself to breathe and relax— "how long has it been since I first arrived in Silbern?"
Masaki's eyes soften, her hand reaching out to grip at Rukia's. "A little over two months now." Her voice lowers to a barely audible whisper. "Do you- Are you going to keep the baby?"
"Y-Yes."
Rukia pretends not to notice the visible relief on Masaki's face or the way she squeezes her hand. She sniffs. It is perhaps a selfish decision on her part and she can only hope that her child grows up without resenting her for its heritage. As an orphan, Rukia knows what it is like to grow up unwanted. The same fate will not fall upon her baby. She vows to do right by them. They may not have a father, but Rukia promises to give them all her love. She tears up yet again at the thought of a child she has yet to meet, but she knows. She will love them all the same.
The resolve burns within her. The ache and grief of losing Ichigo nearly cripples her, but she pushes it aside. If she lets them take hold of her now, she does not think she can ever be rid of these feelings. The temptation to sink and wallow in a pit of self-pity and despair would be too great to endure. Instead, she swipes at her tears, pulling herself together. She is a mother now. She will be strong for her baby. There are battles to be fought still and for the sake of their continued survival, she must win.
Rukia barely flinches when Yhwach steps inside the infirmary, gracing them with his presence and that of his loyal Schutzstaffel. The monster does not mask his reiatsu and Rukia prepares herself accordingly when she sensed his approach. She will never let him see her cry.
As the Schutzstaffel file into the room, crowding the infirmary with their presence, Rukia remains seated on her bed. She makes no attempts to get up from bed or bow to show deference to Yhwach or their presences. She forces herself to make eye contact, looking directly into the eyes of any member of the Schutzstaffel who would be bold enough to meet her stare, daring any of them to say or start something to her face.
Uryu is the last to enter the room, shutting the door behind him. Rukia's eyes trail after him, wondering if he feels anything at all for the death of his cousin. Come to think of it, her eyes narrow, where was he trying to lead her and Masaki to before they were caught up by Lille?
Is there something that only Uryu knows, something that he is keeping as a secret from herself and Masaki?
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"It gladdens me to know that both you and the baby are well."
Yhwach's voice redirects her attention to the tyrant before her. Rukia resists the urge to snort at his false compassion. He is looking at her expectantly and Rukia belatedly realizes that he is waiting for her response.
She meets his gaze levelly, gritting her teeth. "Thank you for your concern."
Yhwach turns to Masaki next, frowning. "You should have let me know that the Shinigami was with child."
Masaki bows her head. "My sincerest of apologies, All Father. I simply have not realized. I was not withholding the information on purpose."
"Do not blame her for this," Rukia cuts in, speaking up in Masaki's defence. "Neither of us knew. I just thought that I was tired and recovering from reiryouku depletion. Even Ichigo didn't."
Rukia trails off, swallowing the lump in her throat. Ichigo's paranoia and possessiveness over her only worsened after Äs Nödt's attack. He was loathed to have her out of sight and kept her sequestered within the confines of the apartment. They received no other visitors when Ichigo was recovering from his injuries and Masaki's visits did not last long for fear of arousing unwanted suspicions. Rukia doubts if anyone could have noticed the changes to her reiryouku under those circumstances.
Wine red eyes bore into hers, pinning her into place. "You will be assigned a Sternritter for your protection. Not the Schutzstaffel, they are far too busy, but someone—" Yhwach gives his second-in-command a look, receiving an imperceptible nod from the blond immediately— "a woman preferably, will be assigned. They will be reporting for duty shortly after and escort both you and Masaki back to your apartments when you are ready to leave the infirmary."
It is a tone that brooks no discussion. A chill runs down her spine though Rukia tries her best to appear nonchalant. "Protection? What would I need protection from? Silbern is safe, isn't it?"
Yhwach's expression is grave. "Not safe enough, I am afraid. Even now, there is a risk of us being attacked by the Royal Guards and the Shinigamis. This child is Ichigo's. I fear that they may attempt to use the baby against me. Ichigo has fought bravely. He gave up his life for the cause. I would have failed him if I cannot even ensure the safe delivery of his child into this world."
"I don't—"
"I insist! Think of it as an added layer of security and an additional set of helping hands, I have been told that babies can be a handful. I want to be the first to be notified if anything were to happen to the baby."
Rukia bites at the tip of her tongue. She grips at the edges of the blanket, resisting the urge to snap. There are no grounds for her to refuse Yhwach's unwanted gift.
That sick fiend!
This is just an excuse to have someone planted by her side, to spy and keep surveillance on her and Masaki. No one in their right mind in Silbern would dream of harming her if Yhwach were to forbid it. Seething, she lets Masaki do the talking as the older woman expresses her gratitude, thanking Yhwach on her behalf for the care and forethought shown to the baby.
"Now, on to more pressing matters—" Yhwach clasps his hand behind his back, clearing his throat— "The death of a crown prince is a messy business. There is much to be done. Even if we are in times of war, decorum must be maintained."
Rukia arches an eyebrow at that.
"The funeral will be held a week from now. All of Wandenreich will grieve as one. All Sternritters and Quincy soldiers stationed in Hueco Mundo and the Human World are to return so that they may pay respect to their fallen prince. Silbern will enter a period of mourning five days after the state funeral."
"A state funeral?" Jugram splutters. "The boy is undeserving of such honour, All Father! H—"
Yhwach holds up his hand, silencing him. "I know you have your differences, Jugram. When Ichigo was alive, he was brash, unruly, but he had the interest of the Wandenreich at heart. In death, he will be made a martyr. He died for the cause, Jugram. His child carries his legacy. They will grow up proud, following their father's footsteps, serving the cause and carrying the banner faithfully."
Rukia freezes. She does not pay any attention to the conversation that follows beyond what Yhwach has just declared. It is fear that coils and grips at her, not for her own life, but that of her baby. She is not stupid. She knows what Yhwach wants now.
He cannot have her baby.
Yhwach, the indoctrination at Silbern, the suffering that they put him through— it broke Ichigo. There is good in him, Rukia knows, but too much of it has been tainted. History cannot be allowed to repeat itself. She refuses to let it happen. The monster cannot sink his claws into her baby too. She will not allow it.
Ichigo is not here to protect them now, but she vows to do her best or die trying. She will not stand by and watch her child be indoctrinated into a life of servitude and violence that Ichigo had.
Rukia grips at her dress, pressing a hand protectively against her lower stomach. She must escape Silbern. She already has a time and date set. She will make her escape on the day of Ichigo's funeral. With the massive outflow of people leaving Silbern after the funeral, surely no one would notice the presence of a lone Shinigami among them?
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Author's note:
And the chapters just keep getting longer.
Anyway, happy birthday Vero!
Also, who do you think Yhwach assigns to Rukia as her guard? No, Giselle is out of the question.