Author's Note: Hey everyone! Long time, no update! I can't believe it's nearly been a year since I last updated this story. So much has happened since then! More importantly, our ship became CANON! I am still not over it and I adore every piece of fanfic and fanart that includes Kazui in it. Anyway, despite my lack of updates, I just would like to say "hello" to the new readers who are following this story. In addition, thank you for those who have stuck with me since the beginning. The summer has started since I ended my semester a few weeks ago and hopefully I can work on more chapters for this story. This is a long one and a lot happens, so please read, review - and most importantly - enjoy!
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Tite Kubo.
WARNING: There is some sensitive material covered in this chapter.
Chapter 23 – His Sins to Bear
Urahara Kisuke was a man who enjoyed talking in front of large groups of people, and at the moment, he currently had the platform to do so. When his name was announced as the next witness, the aristocrats in the gallery were perplexed. As Yoruichi's soon-to-be-husband and son to a well-known king, many were baffled as for the reason of his appearance in the courtroom. Furthermore, to add to their confusion, the scientist was taking the stand in defense of the accused criminal Ichigo Kurosaki. The situation that was about to unfold certainly caught the attention of all that had attended the historic hearing.
Once the aristocrat took the stand and was sworn in, the first person given permission to question him was Nanao Ise. As with Toshiro did with Isshin, the detective instructed Kisuke to state his relationship in regards to Ichigo. The man with the shaggy blonde hair admitted he had been introduced to the teenager through his father when they collaborated together almost ten years ago. He also confessed to preforming experiments on Isshin's son. Consequently, much of what his old colleague had said about the past was already exposed and discussed. Nonetheless, there was still much to be examined pertaining to Urahara's involvement with Ichigo's demise.
"Kisuke-sama, what is your purpose for being here today?" the woman inquired as her opening question.
"I am here to prove Kurosaki-san's innocence," the scientist firmly declared for the detective as well as for the courtroom.
Nanao remained behind her table with all of the evidence she had gathered since the first day she was hired by Uryu Ishida. However, she did not intend to use her findings unless she deemed it was necessary. At most, she thought Urahara's bold statement was rather vague and needed to be dissected first before she rattled off her own thoughts on whether or not the seventeen-year-old was guilty.
"What makes you believe he is innocent?" she countered the allegation.
Yoruichi's groom leaned back in his chair and offered a grim smile, "I know he's innocent because I'm the one responsible for Princess Inoue's attack."
As soon as those scandalous words were spoken, the people behind the bar began to whisper to their neighbors. The aristocrats were appalled by the man's own admission. Why would he want to cause harm to a girl who's already experienced plenty of hardship at a young age? Sora's sister was sheltered from the spotlight for many years, and once she made her formal debut, it seemed as though people had taken even more interest in her. Apparently, the surge of attention had brought about a certain kind of twisted negativity—in more ways than just one.
Nanao silently shook her head, unable to digest the information which was being introduced before her. How was this possible? How could Urahara Kisuke have remained undetected in her extensive research? His name did cross her mind once or twice during her investigation of Ichigo's father, but his overall involvement did not seem likely in the matter.
Rising from her seat, she placed both of her hands on the surface of the table and argued, "How can you claim to be accountable when you were not even in the palace at the time of the incident?"
Isshin's former associate did not refrain from sparing any valuable information, "I may not have physically been there, but I did have a part in what ultimately resulted in a horrible crime."
While his words from earlier had troubled her some, his new statement had caused her even more distress since she had no clue what was going to come out of the scientist's mouth next. He was only complicating things further. Before he took the stand, she had been confident in her ability to convince the people who mattered that Ichigo was guilty. However, the conviction she had built up over the past few days seemed to dissipate in a matter of seconds from the aristocrat's confession.
As she remained unmoved in her position, Nanao struggled to formulate the question she desired to ask, "Could you…please elaborate on…what you've just shared?"
Before he proceeded, Urahara lowered his head in shame, clearly expressing sympathy over his actions.
"A few weeks ago, two men paid me an unexpected visit in the dead of night. I agreed to meet with them and have a conversation. After they threatened to blackmail me about my past, I questioned their motives. In the end, what they wanted from me was the serum that I had injected into Kurosaki-san all those years ago," the engaged-to-be-married man explained his account of the matter in greater detail.
Regardless of the small bits of information the scientist was offering, the lead detective was still lost on the events that had transpired prior to the raping of Orihime. With the mention of two new suspects thrown into the case, it had been her previous belief that Ichigo was ultimately the culprit for all of the mishaps at the Inoue Palace. However, as a result of the material that was being brought to her attention, it may no longer hold any ground.
"Did you give these individuals the formula?" Nanao prompted.
He expected she would ask him, and even if she hadn't, Urahara was ready to confess to everything that had occurred that night.
"I'm ashamed to admit this," the blonde-haired man voiced his regret, "but I had no other choice. I could not risk my fiancée and her family being placed in harm's way."
Immediately upon sharing this, the detective narrowed her eyes at the man seated directly across from her. She could not help but be under the impression that the scientist did not care about damaging other people's lives—as long as it was not his very own. Consequently, this frame of thought caused her to become slightly agitated. The colleague of Isshin could have easily prevented the tragedy concerning the two teenagers involved. Instead of being responsible, he handed over the formula willingly. Although she was unaware of the exact nature of what was said during his interaction with the unknown assailants, she still could not sympathize with the man.
As she stepped away from the table that had her papers neatly organized in several piles, Nanao approached the podium where Urahara was positioned. With her arms folded behind her back as she held a firm pose, she confronted the scientist with a valuable question, "Do you know the names of the men who threatened you?"
Kisuke simply nodded his head, but did not offer anything else for the detective.
His silence admittedly irked the woman, since the individuals he seemed to be protecting were notably liable for putting several lives in danger according to his own admittance.
"Could you please share with the courtroom their names?" Ise urged on.
"Sorry, not possible," the man deadpanned her efforts for the truth.
His response left the sophisticated woman speechless. He simply did not have the authority to deny her the answer she desired. It almost appeared to her as though Urahara was being purposefully aloof. Nevertheless, she was not going to let the man make a fool of her. She would not allow herself to stoop to his level of classlessness.
As her patience began to thin, Nanao attempted to try a different approach, "Are you lying about this entire encounter?"
The unshaven scientist raised an eyebrow at her question, yet answered earnestly, "Absolutely not, I know who they are, but I'm afraid saying their names might cause an uproar in the courtroom."
Unable to control the annoyance that had formulated over the course of her interrogation with Urahara, the detective darted her eyes over to the Emperor of Japan. The ruler's expression remained unfazed by Kisuke's attempt to feign ignorance. Was he even aware of what had just unfolded?
"I beg your pardon Your Royal Highness, but this is completely outrageous!" the educated woman exclaimed with rage.
The powerful aristocrat looked to his side of where Urahara sat. The matter of being truthful was the first step to living a fulfilling life. Unfortunately, Urahara seemed like the type who lied through his teeth most of his life to get by. Despite not personally knowing him, Byakuya sensed the man had even more secrets he was not letting onto even as he confessed to his crimes. Therefore, it was all the more necessary for the identities of the suspicious characters be revealed.
"Kisuke-san, may I remind you that you are under oath. With that being said, would you please tell us their names?" the Emperor requested in his monotone voice.
Urahara lifted his head up to meet Byakuya's eyes from his elevated position. Although he did not care to admit it, the heir of the Japanese throne intimidated him. If he truly wanted, Kuchiki could have him killed for withholding significant information that was pertinent to the case. Even with that ominous idea looming over him, the man from the Kurosakis' past was not going to verbally say the names of the men out loud. After all, certain people in the courtroom did not need to be further entangled in the web he had unknowingly created.
When the eyes of the two men connected, the hungover individual was the first one to speak, "I apologize if I am overstepping my boundaries Your Royal Highness, but would it be acceptable if I wrote down their names instead and handed it over to you?"
The unusual request caught the Emperor by surprise. Kisuke was willing to share the identities of the men through a note, yet he denied the thought of verbally communicating it to a room full of strangers? When the head of the Japanese empire turned away from Urahara, he studied the faces of the others in the courtroom. Detective Nanao was prepared to chew the scientist out at any moment. Meanwhile, Toshiro Histugaya and his client were having a short conversation with each other over something he was unable to hear. Regardless, the countless other nameless bodies were intrigued by what the Emperor's next move would be. They probably wanted to know just as much as he did involving the masterminds behind everything.
Exhaling through his mouth, Byakuya faced Urahara once again and said, "I will allow it. After you have given the information to me, I will review it and decide whether or not Histugaya and Nanao should be made knowledgeable of their names."
The nearly forty-year-old man jumped out of his chair after Kuchiki's chose to accept his proposal. Without saying anything further, Rukia's sibling slipped the scientist a blank paper and a feather pen. Quickly, Urahara jotted down several Japanese characters and then folded the note. At that moment, Byakuya leaned over his desk and grabbed the paper from the man's fingers. When he placed it in front of himself, the aristocrat glanced up through his raven hair and then shot his eyes back down. Without wasting additional time, Byakuya lifted the paper that was folded and scanned the two names written in Urahara's handwriting.
"Sousuke Aizen…Gin Ichimaru"
The first name was unfamiliar to him, but there was no denying who the second person was. Gin Ichimaru was the Navy's General Commander. What was his purpose for threatening Urahara Kisuke and his fiancée's family? It did not add up and it certainly needed to be investigated as a separate matter. In addition, due to this new discovery, he needed to meet with Shunsui and Yamamoto privately. Unfortunately, this was currently not the time nor place for the discussion. Consequently, Rukia's brother made the decision that the names of the men were better left to remain a mystery to the lawyer and the detective—as well as to the general public. If word got out about Ichimaru's involvement in the scandal, everything would be called into question.
"Kisuke-sama, is there anything else you would like to add?" Byakuya offered before he made his own remarks to the court.
The scientist titled his hat down as he formed a dismal expression, "I believe these individuals used the formula I gave them to inflict harm upon Princess Inoue. They were aware of Ichigo's participation in the tournament. However, I have nothing left to say on the matter because as Detective Nanao stated, I was not in the palace at the time of the attack."
"Very well," the Emperor acknowledged the man's honesty, "You may now step down."
"Your Royal Highness!" the lead investigator objected Byakuya's dismissal of the witness.
The aristocrat raised his hand to silence her. He understood her anger of not being allowed to question Urahara any longer. She wanted to gather all the evidence possible that would incriminate Ichigo. Despite the Emperor's decision, the detective was not going to press the issue and embarrass herself in front of the leading figures of the country. Therefore, Nanao retreated to the table on her side of the room and became quiet. If she was to remain level-headed, she would have to let the names of the mysterious men go unresolved for the time being.
"Since there is nothing that can currently be discussed publicly without serious repercussions, the interview is now concluded with Urahara Kisuke. I would now like to proceed forward with the next witness, Princess Orihime Inoue," Byakuya announced with more power in his voice.
The moment Orihime lowered herself into the seat that overlooked the courtroom, her heart raced unsteadily. Although she had participated in the mock trials privately with Toshiro, she could not easily predict what Detective Nanao would ask of her to divulge. She would be completely honest about what had transpired between Ichigo and herself, but there was doubt in the back of her mind. While she wanted to protect the man she loved, the princess felt she was betraying him by revealing what had been done to her by his alter ego. By allowing herself to be so open about the traumatic experience, would she unknowingly put Ichigo's life in danger?
Even if she was frightened, she knew better than to show her true feelings to the people before her. If she succumbed to their judgment, Orihime could never forgive herself. Ichigo was innocent as far as she was concerned. She knew it in her heart. However, she first needed to convince Byakuya Kuchiki of the teenager's innocence.
The task certainly did not come without its fair share of challenges.
The first person to interview her was Toshiro Histugaya. At the beginning, Orihime was relieved when the lawyer was given permission to step forward and question her. Even if she did not know the man well, she felt comfortable with him since they had rehearsed beforehand the topics he would address between Ichigo and herself. One of the first things he had asked of the aristocrat was if she recalled the first moment she met the seventeen-year-old boy.
In Orihime's recollection to the courtroom, she discussed the day of the Masquerade Ball. It was difficult to believe that Sora's birthday celebration was just a mere few weeks ago. It had seemed as though months had passed between now and then. The princess excitedly babbled on about Isshin introducing Ichigo to her and how the orange-haired teenager reluctantly agreed to take part in a dance. While everything in which she described did occur, the ball was not the first time the two had met. Their very first interaction had been at the flower stand in the village. It was at that moment when their story truly began.
As much as she wanted to mention their brief time together on that humid summer day, Toshiro advised her she needed to leave certain things out that did not pertain to their relationship. In his professional opinion, the day that the two teenagers initially met did not hold any relevance to the current situation. Since the Masquerade Ball had spurred Rangiku's husband and friend to extend an invitation to Ichigo and Renji to partake in the tournament, the lawyer felt it set up the scene of what was to come.
After Orihime concluded her story about Sora's extravagant birthday party, Ichigo's legal adviser appeared satisfied with the princess' rehearsed answers. She did not change any part of what they had discussed prior. Nonetheless, everything she had said was the truth. She was not going to fabricate lies and cause more hurt towards Ichigo in the process.
Following the Masquerade Ball conversation, Detective Nanao intervened and asked the Emperor if she was able to take the floor. The woman's rigid expression indicated to Orihime she was anxious to begin her own line of questioning. The teenager had inadvertently placed her trust in the hands of Ise, praying the investigator would not be confrontational about Ichigo and his misgivings. She wanted nothing more than to free him of the possible execution hanging over his head.
Although Histugaya was not finished with his own questions, he decided to put his own interrogation to rest for the time being. He would let the law official take a chance at trying to convict his client. However, her efforts were going to be in vain.
"Inoue-sama, that was a lovely story about Kurosaki-san and you dancing together," Nanao noted the previous conversation with a smile presented on her thin lips, "Would you feel comfortable in saying that at that point in time, you had started to develop feelings for the defendant?"
"Of course not, we had barely known each other," the princess responded quite plainly.
The investigator wanted to believe in the aristocrat's earnestness, but she needed to dig deeper into Orihime's heart before she could safely formulate a solid conclusion about Ichigo Kurosaki as a person. In truth, the ruler of the Karakura kingdom did not have a long history with the criminal. They had known each other for less than two months when the rape occurred. Regardless of the short time span, the two teenagers emitted an aura as though they were close friends—maybe even as close as lovers who had been involved with each other for some years.
"After the tournament started, you experienced a terrible fall. You were pushed in the middle of the night by someone. You were even injured from it. As a result, your butler, Uryu Ishida, reached out to me for help. At this point in time, did you begin to feel unsafe?" the older woman shifted the focus.
Despite having healed from those injuries, it was impossible to erase the pain she suffered from someone's twisted idea of a prank. It took her nearly three weeks to heal from the spill. When the accident occurred, it definitely rattled the princess' close friends and advisors. Dr. Hachi and the others refrained anyone from visiting her for several days—although Ichigo's secret visit managed to keep her spirits lifted during her isolation. At the time, the tumble should have frightened her. It would have been sensible. Regardless, her life did not seem in jeopardy. How could she be positive it was someone who pushed her or she simply tripped over her own two feet? The memories from that night were blurry in her mind, so she couldn't exactly be certain herself.
"I wasn't afraid," Orihime retorted.
The forceful woman considered the aristocrat's words for a moment, but she was not giving up in her pursuit for answers.
"Were you afraid when the defendant grabbed you by the throat—causing you to faint—and sexually violated you against your will?" Nanao did not retreat from her previous question.
Immediately, the chair from underneath Toshiro was pushed out as he rose to his feet in anger, "Objection, Your Royal Highness! She is badgering the witness!"
The Emperor locked eyes with the lawyer after his outburst and settled the matter quickly, "Sustained. Detective Ise, ask your next question."
Not wanting to remain deterred by Byakuya's dismissal, the investigator carried forth with her objective still in mind.
"Inoue-sama," she returned to her position in front of the Princess, "Did Ichigo Kurosaki ever discuss the details surrounding his mother's passing with you?"
Orihime shared with the courtroom the private conversation the couple had during their visit to the Karakura cemetery. She admitted Ichigo had confessed to killing his beloved parent, except he claimed to have no memory of the accident. The information she had prior to Isshin's testimony was very limited regarding the nature of Masaki's death.
"Did anything else happen during your visit?"
Sora's sister could not help but to blush at the not-too-distant memory that she recalled. She shyly nodded her head to Nanao's question. The detective motioned with her chin for the young woman to elaborate. Without too much of a choice, Orihime hesitantly obliged.
"Despite the obscure details, I told Kurosaki-kun that I believed he was innocent in the death of his mother. When he heard this sentiment, he embraced me," the Princess confessed with a tinge of red color present on her cheeks.
Feeling the need to speed past insignificant details, the female interrogator was ready to probe the royal aristocrat about the night she was assaulted. Although it was a sensitive issue in their society, it needed to be discussed in order to pave the road for other potential victims. Being a woman herself, she did not want the subject of rape to be ignored by the Imperial court.
"I want to talk about the incident that has brought us all here today. Can you tell me what transpired?" Nanao set forth with diligence. She did not plan on interrupting the princess as she told her story. Every single word she was about to say needed to be heard by the entire courtroom.
Before Orihime could speak, her timid eyes traveled across the room to where Ichigo was seated next to his lawyer. Since she had taken the stand, the disheveled teenager had hung his head low to avoid making eye contact with her. However, that was no longer the case. Ichigo was finally looking directly at the aristocrat with eyes of obvious sorrow and regret. As much as it pained Orihime to share the details of the night she was attacked, it was just as agonizing for Isshin's oldest child to listen to something he had no control over.
Not wanting to linger, the troubled aristocrat focused her attention back to the detective.
"After we got back from the village, Kurosaki-kun and I went our separate ways for the evening. When I went back to my bedroom, I washed up and headed to bed. Then around two in the morning, I was awoken by loud banging on my door. Since I had guards posted outside, I thought it was one of them," she carefully explained.
Orihime took a brief moment to gather her thoughts, then continued, "When I opened the door, I saw a figure standing there. He did not say a word to me. Instead, he grabbed me by the neck and pushed his way inside. Once he was underneath the light, I could see his face. Although he appeared physically different, I realized the person who was suffocating me was Kurosaki-kun."
The last statement alarmed Nanao. The princess mentioned the defendant's look was physically altered. What exactly had she seen?
"Inoue-sama, if I may," the detective intervened, "What did you mean by when you said Kurosaki-san's appearance was different?"
The teenager tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she responded, "His hair and skin color were as white as snow. And his eyes…they were also altered from their original color. I could tell it was not Kurosaki-kun. Rather, it was the demon that inhabited his body."
The prosecutor silently nodded her head as Orihime clarified her words. She had heard of all of this before, during the morning after the attack. Nonetheless, she wanted the high-ranking officials of the council to envision for themselves the event that unfolded behind closed doors.
"Once this entity had a hold of you, what happened next?"
"I...passed out," the shaken teenager recalled vaguely.
Obviously, there were still vital information that was left to be said. However, Ise could visibly see Orihime struggling to gather up the courage to reveal her account of what happened.
The princess fell quiet for the time being. She understood she had sworn to tell the truth, no matter what her own feelings were for Ichigo. Although, she soon began to realize the embarrassing details she was about to share with the ruler of Japan and the country's elite citizens. Furthermore, it would be the first time Ichigo would hear of the actions Shirosaki forced upon her. Sora's sister was naturally hesitant to continue forward.
When some time had passed in silence, the detective approached the stand and offered a reassuring smile to console Orihime's nerves.
"You're doing a great job, Inoue-sama," the dark-haired woman whispered to her.
"I'm not sure if I can do this," the teenager admitted as she glanced over at Ichigo again.
Nanao stepped in Orihime's line of vision, "You have to tell the court what he did to you. Otherwise, it will haunt you forever."
She wasn't worried about the guilt. To be more precise, the aristocrat was more concerned about hurting Ichigo. Once the specifics were exposed, her significant other's life may never be the same. Rukia had sworn to her that Byakuya assured his sister that Ichigo would not be killed. Nevertheless, there was a hint of panic that the Emperor may have been lying. No matter how she perceived the situation, the outcome would be damaging for the peasant.
"Is there something wrong?" a deep and monotone voice inquired.
Princess Inoue felt her heart stop beating for a second. The person the voice belonged to was Byakuya. It was odd, but the seventeen-year-old could not find the power within herself to look at the Emperor's stone-like face.
"Everything's fine, Your Royal Highness," Nanao reassured as she retreated to the center.
"I'm sorry," Orihime apologized with tears brimming from her eyes.
Everyone had their attention on her as she dapped at her wet face with a cloth. At that moment, she wanted to crawl into a hole.
Once she managed to momentarily compose herself, the detective politely requested of the princess to explain what happened after she lost consciousness.
"After I fainted, I woke up in my bed with my face in the sheets," she uncomfortably remembered.
"Was there anything else that was strange?"
"There was…there was a very warm sensation that entered me and I could feel calloused hands on my waist. Immediately, I looked over my shoulders and I saw the demon. He was…naked…and he was jerking his hips back and forth as he forced himself inside of me from behind. I was really scared so I pretended to be asleep until he finished and left my room. The next thing I remember was Tatsuki-chan finding me tangled in the bedsheets," Orihime hurriedly concluded her story describing the events of what unfolded.
When the last part of the assault had been shared, Nanao was finally satisfied with her interrogation of the princess. Not soon after the young maiden finished, the woman excused herself from the stand since she no longer had any further questions.
As Ise hurriedly returned to her respective table, the Emperor of Japan received the gavel in his hand once more.
"The Imperial Court now calls Ichigo Kurosaki to the stand!" Byakuya commanded as he brought the gavel down.
The near hundred observers in the pews were now restless in their seats. The time had arrived at last and Ichigo Kurosaki would be persecuted for his crimes. To them, the trial was a mere attraction for their amusement. His life held no bearing on their own lives.
Nevertheless, Orihime could not shake the feeling that the storm that had been brewing was nowhere near over.
Once Ichigo was settled in at the stand, Toshiro was ready to dive into questioning. The first topic of interest he wanted to bring up was the night Ichigo's mother was murdered. Although most of the information had been shared concerning what took place, the lawyer needed his client to reaffirm that he had no recollection in taking part in Masaki's death. If his memory failed him time and time again, it would prove to the royal court that the peasant had no control over his body—let alone his own actions.
"It happened many years ago, but during the night your mother was killed, where were you?" the silver-haired man inquired.
Without faltering, Ichigo explained with composure, "I remember being at home with my mother and baby sisters."
"Do you recall anything else?"
"My mother wanted me to watch the twins since she needed to finish cleaning up dinner. I went into the bedroom and saw that they were sleeping. From that point on, it becomes a little blurry in my head. The last thing I can recall clearly is taking Yuzu's blanket in my hand," the teenager proceeded.
Since the last statement was rather ambiguous, Toshiro pursued, "What did you intend to do with the blanket?"
Ichigo closed his eyes for a moment in an attempt to conjure the missing memories, "It looked like Yuzu had kicked it off in her sleep. I didn't want her to catch a cold, so I think I was going to cover her up with it."
The lawyer's eyebrows furrowed together, "You think? Are you implying you can't say for certain?"
"Objection!" Nanao jumped up from her seat with a stern finger pointed at Histugaya, "He is leading the witness!"
Rukia's older brother motioned his head to where the lawyer was standing and remained expressionless, "Sustained. Please refrain from repeating the same mistake again, Histugaya-san."
The small man bowed his head and took note of his indiscretion.
Retreating back to Ichigo's side, the qualified prosecutor charged forth in the cross-examination, "Since you claim to have no memory of murdering your mother, there is nothing left to discuss any further. However, our real purpose for gathering here today in court is to sort out a more pressing matter. What are the charges brought against you, Kurosaki-san?"
The peasant felt his skin break out into a cold sweat. Orihime had bravely persevered through questioning during her time at the stand. She answered honestly, just like he knew she would. He could tell she tried to hold back for his sake concerning the more intimate details, but in the end, he was grateful for the ultimate strength she displayed. Consequently, he needed to do the same. His life was on the line. More importantly, Orihime was waiting for him to return to her side. He was not going to let another man take his place, especially not after they expressed the same sentiment of desiring to be with each other if he made it out alive.
"I am accused of raping the future Queen of Karakura," Ichigo announced with a pained look on his face.
"What do you remember from that night?" Toshiro challenged.
The aristocrats behind the bar eyed the teenager with obvious disgusted expressions. He hadn't even begun talking, yet he knew that regardless of his explanation, those who were born into money and wealth would never believe him. The only thing they wanted to see was a hanging or a beheading. As far as they were concerned, his testimony was a waste of their time.
"As Inoue…sama…mentioned earlier," he faltered in his words since the honorific felt foreign on his tongue, "We had visited my village during the day and we returned to the palace at a late hour. After we parted ways for the night, I went to bed in my chambers. I'm not sure when I fell asleep, but when I woke up I noticed that my clothes had disappeared."
Toshiro was quick to react, "Why were your clothes not on your body? Didn't you go to bed with them on?"
Ichigo sat more forward in his seat, "I did because I had taken a quick bath and needed fresh clothes to change into before I headed off to bed."
"So your clothes were missing, but was there anything else that seemed unusual to you?"
There were two particular things that immediately came to the forefront of his brain. However, his tongue went numb at the thought of speaking out about it. How could he say it without embarrassing Orihime?
"I…had blood on my torso," the teenager confessed sheepishly.
The lawyer moved closer to the stand and prodded for a deeper explanation, "Were you injured?"
"No, not that I was aware of. I looked for any open wounds, but I was unharmed."
The peasant's testimony appeared to be earnest. Nonetheless, there was still much left to be determined. Why was there blood on Ichigo? Where had his clothes gone during the course of the night? These questions needed answers, but the court may never know the extent to what happened considering Ichigo had no memory of the event.
"Did anything else occur at that time?" Histugaya urged for more details.
Isshin's son kneaded the back of his neck uncomfortably, "After I noticed the blood on my body, I heard a loud noise coming from the closet. I ran back into my room and saw that Renji was missing from his bed. The noise continued as I approached the door and when I finally opened it, Renji fell onto the floor. Someone had apparently tied him up, but he said he never saw who it was because he never woke up during the night. I think the both of us had been drugged."
Although the possibility was not unlikely—considering Shinji had suffered a similar fate before his ultimately death—no one thought to test the two teenagers for drugs following their capture from the guards at the palace. Instead, they were apprehended and brought to Orihime's bedroom for questioning. Neither of them mentioned the unusual circumstances that surrounded their morning when they appeared before Nanao. The woman was more concerned with getting a handprint to match the mark forming around the Princess' neck.
"At this time, the defense has no further questions for Ichigo Kurosaki," Toshiro admitted to Byakuya.
The Emperor nodded his head silently and dismissed the lawyer with his hand. As the small man retreated to his side of the courtroom, Nanao pushed her chair away from the table and rose to her feet.
"May I proceed, Your Royal Highness?" the eager woman asked for his permission to approach the defendant.
The ruler of Japan granted her a look of mute approval.
Before she went forward with the more important questions, the detective withheld herself from berating Ichigo right at the start. Instead, she decided to ask a simple question that did not pertain to the case at hand.
"Kurosaki-san, are you student?" Nanao challenged.
"No, I am not. I dropped out of school when I was thirteen," Ichigo replied.
"Why did you drop out?" she proceeded.
"I needed to help support my family."
There was no pause, "Do you have a job?"
The sound of a bottom of a chair screeching across the floor drew attention in the silent courtroom.
"Your Royal Highness, what is the relevance here?" Toshiro objected to Ise's line of questioning.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes from the podium, "I agree. Detective, make your point or move on."
If the lawyer had given her a little more time, she would have arrived at the argument she was trying to convey to the royal court.
Turning back to the defendant, a fire ignited in Nanao's heart. She was determined than ever before to finish what she had started. All she had to do was continue to push forward in her pursuit for answers. The end of the trial was nearing and it was her duty to ensure that justice was served.
"Kurosaki," she sighed, "How did you become aware about the tournament for Inoue-sama's hand in marriage?"
The teenager spoke with a tone of precision, "I was confronted by two men as I was leaving the Masquerade Ball with my father and friend. They extended the invitation to both myself and Renji. I assumed they were relatives of the princess."
"What was your first response to their proposal?"
The redhead slung his arm over the back of his chair and scowled, "I didn't think much of it. I just blew them off, more or less."
The detective folded her arms across her chest, growing a tad impatient. She needed more evidence that supported her theory if she was going to make a solid case.
Nevertheless, she did not back down.
"If you were against participating in the tournament, what eventually changed your mind? Was it the slim possibility that Inoue-sama would chose you as her husband? If that were true, you would have all the money and power you would ever need to take care of your family. What were your real intentions?"
The woman's allegation certainly struck a nerve with Ichigo. She was trying to paint him as an opportunist. He was a lowly peasant who had a history of a violent past. By entering into the tournament, he had a chance of winning a royal title. Once he won over the princess, they would marry and he would have an entire kingdom under his control.
Of course, none of what the detective speculated was true—despite what she wanted the court to believe! His purpose for being in the competition was strictly on the behalf of his father. Everything else that followed was unpredictable. Most of all, he never would have imagined that he would have fallen in love with Orihime.
"I was pressured by my father to join the tournament. Although he wouldn't say it himself, I think he felt guilty for making me work so young to support the family. He probably feels as though I missed out on being a kid by dropping out of school. However, I never viewed it as an inconvenience to help take care of my sisters," Ichigo earnestly replied.
His heartfelt response caught the educated woman by surprise. The notion that his father was the reason behind his son's involvement in the competition did not come into her sphere of thinking. She was aware of his presence at the Masquerade Ball because several witnesses placed him with Ichigo and his friend. According to the defendant, his father convinced him to take part in the battle for Orihime's hand in marriage when the invitation was extended by two unknown men. If Ichigo was against it, why had Isshin been so enthusiastic about his child joining in the tournament?
With this new information, her mind began to spin. How should she continue her interrogation? Would it be wise to ignore what he just said and deflect it with actual evidence instead of possible hearsay? Everyone had been sworn in to tell the truth, but who could really separate truth from lies?
It was at that moment when Nanao decided to proceed as planned.
"Even if that may be true about your father forcing you to attend, why did you stay? You could have walked away from the tournament any time you pleased," the detective pointed out.
The answer to the question was a complicated one. At the start, Ichigo had no intentions of being involved with an aristocrat. In fact, he never even aimed to win the small events in which the rewards were dates with the princess. As days passed, the teenagers began to form a relationship as a result of the time they privately spent with each other. While it would have been easy to drop out and return to his family, Ichigo sensed Orihime needed him like he needed her. They were two lonely souls who had finally found an undeniable connection.
"I don't have an explanation for staying as long as I did," the peasant admitted.
As soon as the defendant was done speaking, Nanao moved in the direction of her desk and reached for a document she had prepared for the trial. She lifted the piece of evidence in the air for everyone in the courtroom to see for their own viewing. The image was of Orihime's bruised neck, with a visible handprint clear in the photo.
"Did you not want to leave because you wanted to cause harm to Inoue-sama?" the detective taunted Ichigo.
"Of course not!" he snarled in his seat.
The woman narrowed her eyes behind her glasses at him. Was he really denying the existence of the photo? However, she was not through with him just yet! She retreated to the desk once again and grabbed another photo.
"Before I continue, let me ask you this. Are you honestly telling me that you had nothing to do with Inoue-sama's attack?"
Ichigo looked towards his lawyer for any facial movement that indicated to him how he should respond to the inquiry. Regardless, he had a sick feeling in his stomach about the other photo Nanao possessed in her hands. If he denied the allegation, he certainly would appear even guiltier for trying to hide his wrongdoings from the royal court. Although he did not remember the details, his father and Renji both told him he attacked Orihime in front of everyone the day following the assault. There were witnesses and therefore, he could not feign ignorance on the matter.
"I did wrap my hand around her throat for the picture you asked for—everyone did—but then I blacked out," Isshin's son professed in a low whisper.
The answer was exactly what Nanao wanted to hear. She finally had him accountable for something!
She raised the second picture for the others to stare upon in horror. The image revealed Ichigo's hand holding Orihime's neck in place with the lines perfectly matching with his hand shape and finger length. Needless to say, the proof that he was responsible for leaving behind a handprint on her body was the one solid lead that Nanao had against the defendant.
"Kurosaki-san," the woman emphasized his name, "Are you admitting to raping and attacking Inoue-sama?"
He had no choice. The evidence spoke for itself, as well as everyone's testimonies. He had hurt Orihime in unimaginable ways. She had forgiven him for the actions of Shirosaki, but who could be certain that the demon would stay tamed? Orihime didn't deserve to have someone unpredictable and dangerous as him at her side.
In the end, he would be doing her a service by disappearing from her life.
"Yes, I'm the one who did it," Ichigo confirmed the detective's suspicions.
Upon his admission, the audience in the pews all began to break out in an uproar. The Emperor seized the gavel in his hand and slammed it down on the podium to calm the courtroom. The response was something he had predicated, but he thought the aristocrats would possess the ability to maintain their composure.
A moment later, Byakuya addressed Ise from his chair, "Detective Nanao, do you have anything left you would like to ask?"
The woman shook her head, pleased about the outcome of her interrogation, "No, Your Royal Highness."
"Very well," Rukia's sibling wore on, "We will begin our closing arguments."
The end of the trial was near. After Toshiro and Nanao presented their final statements, Byakuya and the other two men he entered the courtroom with left to discuss the evidence and testimonies that had been shared over the last three hours.
For the time being, everyone had been allowed to leave the room if they so desired to stretch their legs. Many of the people who had attended the trial to merely spectate had exited to use the restroom facilities and catch a breath of fresh air. The few individuals that remained inside the courtroom were Orihime, Rukia, Tatsuki, Rangiku, Isshin, Urahara, Toshiro, and Ichigo. Detective Nanao, on the other hand, was preoccupied getting updates from fellow police officers who had dropped by with news on other cases.
"What are his chances?" Isshin wanted to know his son's likelihood of survival as the group were swept up in their own private thoughts.
The small man representing Ichigo was uncertain as to how he should answer the concerned parent. The issue which kept Toshiro on edge was the peasant's truthfulness about the rape. While remaining honest typically resulted in a favorable outcome and a lesser punishment, they were in the presence of the Emperor of Japan. The head of the Kuchiki family had a reputation to maintain as a fearless leader. If he showed mercy to a teenager who committed an illegal crime, the country would revolt.
No matter the conclusion, the father deserved an answer.
"We talked about this, Kurosaki-san. You know we have to prepare for the worst," Toshiro implied the likely prospect that was crossing everyone's minds.
Orihime's eyes began to water at the thought. Despite trying her best to protect him, the princess could not lie in the Emperor's court about the sexual assault. If she had tried to cover up the entire ordeal, her kingdom would be placed in jeopardy. With her inauguration quickly approaching, she wanted to put everything behind her.
However, now that Ichigo's sentence was a mere moments away, she wished there would have been more she could do for him.
"Oh, Ichigo-kun," the princess murmured his name as her gaze settled upon the peasant's back.
Not long after the court had dismissed for break, the bailiff entered the room again through the side door.
"Please return to your seats and remain standing," he grumbled.
Within seconds, the pews filled with people once more just as before. The princess nervously glanced around at all the faces of the men and women who had no connection to Ichigo or herself. All they desired was to see an execution.
For the sake of her beloved, Orihime hoped that their malicious wishes would go unfulfilled.
"Welcoming Emperor Byakuya Kuchiki, Prime Minister Genryusai Yamamoto, and Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyoraku," the court officer announced as the three men strode down the aisle and pushed past the bar door.
Once each aristocrat took their rightful post, the ruler of the country allowed everyone to sit in their seats.
Although he said very little since his return, Byakuya had the courtroom's focus. Regardless of whatever words came out of his mouth next, it would not matter in the end. The lives of those involved were going to be changed forever.
"Will the defendant please rise," the head of the Imperial Family commanded.
In an instant, Ichigo and Toshiro were on their feet. The conclusion to an exhausting day had reached the tipping point. The only thing left to be said was whether or not the orange-haired teenager would receive a fatal punishment. In the hearts of the individuals who cared for Ichigo, they prayed the outcome would not be deadly.
Needless to say, anything was possible.
"In the case of Ichigo Kurosaki versus the People of Japan, the royal court finds the defendant guilty," Byakuya revealed the decision with a rigid expression. The people in the front row all jumped up from their seats in an outburst of rage. On the other hand, the majority of the room rejoiced at the Emperor's words.
At that moment, Orihime's heart broke into a million pieces. She had remained optimistic throughout the trial, despite the subject matter that was being discussed out in the open for strangers to hear and pass judgement. In addition, Rukia had reassured her that the discussion with her powerful sibling concerning Ichigo's life had ended positively. No matter the evidence, Byakuya would spare the peasant of the death plenty. However, now that the court determined Ichigo was not innocent in the rape of Orihime, what came next?
The Princess immediately turned to her caretaker with panic present in her eyes, "Kuchiki-san, I thought you said that your brother promised nothing would happen to Ichigo!"
The ashamed aristocrat swiftly grew solemn as she met the concerned gaze of Orihime, "The only thing he assured me was that Kurosaki would be spared from a quick death. For this, I apologize if you were under the impression that he would be found completely innocent. In the end, I have no control over what my brother says and does."
Suddenly, a muscular arm wrapped around Inoue's shoulders. She glanced in the opposite direction of Rukia and discovered Isshin looking down at her in a consoling demeanor.
"Stay calm," he uttered and gave her shoulder a squeeze.
She silently nodded, understanding she needed to remain collected under the circumstances. The punishment was not yet announced, and ultimately, would decide her beloved's fate in the world. As she clasped her hands together in front of her chest, the seventeen-year-old prayed Ichigo would continue to stay at her side and not be taken away from her and his family.
"Quiet, quiet!" Byakuya raised his voice over the chattering, "I will now hand out Kurosaki's sentencing."
The noise level quickly dropped to a murmur as everyone waited in their pews for the Emperor. The time had finally arrived and Orihime stayed on edge. As much as she wanted to see Ichigo's face, she was not confident she would be able to withhold from crying. Consequently, it was better that his back was the only thing visible to her.
When Byakuya had the attention of the room, he directed a formidable look at Ichigo and his lawyer.
"Ichigo Kurosaki, since you have been found guilty by the court, you will be rightfully punished for your crimes. Do you have anything you wish to say before I announce your sentence?" the aristocratic leader entertained the idea of last remarks for the teenager.
The orange-haired peasant dipped his head down as he spoke with sincerity in his voice, "I deeply regret my actions and the pain it has caused both my family and Princess Inoue. No matter, I will accept whatever punishment you have decided for me."
Ichigo's honest words hung in the air for a brief moment as Emperor Kuchiki observed from his podium. The next step was to make the announcement and end the tiring trial for the day. He was prepared to go ahead and do what needed to be done. However, his eyes drifted over to his sister sitting among the crowd of people. His thoughts rushed back to her unexpected night visit to his bed chambers. Rukia had pleaded with him to not kill Ichigo on behalf of the princess and after many years of being apart, he did not want to lose her again. Although their relationship never had been close to begin with, building her trust was the most important to him. When the time comes that his life is one day be lost in battle or he simply passes away from old age, Rukia will inherit the kingdom of Japan. Therefore, he must maintain his role as her brother and someone with whom she can trust.
Regardless, he could not delay the trial a moment longer.
"After much consideration, I have made my decision," Byakuya proclaimed.
Orihime's sensed her heart start to pound out of chest once more. If something wasn't said soon, she may pass out from the anxiety she had been experiencing all day!
"Ichigo Kurosaki, for your punishment, you will receive 40 whip lashings. Afterwards, you are free to go," the ruler of the country declared as he slammed his gavel down to indicate the end of the day.
As soon as his ruling was vocalized, the double doors to the courtroom swung open. Everyone's heads turned in the direction of the noise and mouths immediately went ajar from surprise. A muscular man had entered the room with two large chains in his hands. When he moved further down the aisle, the back of a stranger walked through the center of the doorframe. He was carrying one end of a large wooden post as another man held the other side. The new faces marched past the pews and into the well of the courtroom. However, one more individual sauntered down the aisle and he frightened Orihime the most out of all of them.
He wore a black hood over his face that had two slits for his eyes. The rest of his outfit were rags with blood stains splattered across the cloth. Not only did he have an intimidating mask, but the man held a unique object in one of his hands.
"Is that—is that a whip?" she practically blurted out at the sight of the torture device.
With a sinister smirk on his face, the bailiff from earlier grabbed Ichigo by his arm and pulled him over to the center of the room. The henchmen had started to configure the whipping post by chaining it to the hooks in the walls. Once everything was secured, the bailiff pushed Ichigo's face into the post with great force.
"Arms up, you piece of shit!" he spat at the peasant.
Not having much of a choice, Isshin's eldest child obliged the officer's demands. He lifted his arms into the air at once. Quickly, the brute individual shackled Ichigo's hands together around the whipping post. At that moment, the teenager could only move his legs freely. As much as he wanted to look over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of Orihime and his father, Ichigo knew the expressions on their faces would only further complicate his emotions.
If he showed weakness, then the people who came to merely spectate at him had won. No matter what, he was not going to allow them the victory. In the end, his life was not being taken from him. Consequently, he could endure what was handed to him.
When all the pieces had fallen into place, the Emperor made the first move.
"You may carry out the punishment," Byakuya ordered in a neutral tone.
Although he could not see anything, Ichigo heard the whip drag across the floor. As best he could, the seventeen-year-old braced for the pain he predicted would come at any given moment.
On the other side of the bar, Orihime had closed her eyes. It hadn't even begun, but the princess knew she was not prepared to witness Ichigo be disciplined for something he had no recollection of even doing. She just could not bear to see the man she loved be tortured as a source of entertainment.
However, it was no longer her battle to fight. The leader of the country had listened to every person who had taken the stand during the course of the day. And yet, the evidence presented in court obviously casted doubt in Byakuya's mind.
There was absolutely nothing more she could do.
Without warning, the masked enforcer flicked his wrist with the whip in his hand. The leather strap at the end of the device connected with Ichigo's skin. The resounding crack of the whip shook Orihime to her core. She continued to keep her eyes shut.
The second time the torture device struck the teenager, it was too much for Ichigo to handle. Despite for the thin shirt on his back, it offered little protection from the immense pain he felt spread throughout his body. The area where the flogger had belted him with the whip burned with intensity. Not wanting to appear defeated, Orihime's significant other bit down on his lower lip to restrict any noise that might escape from his mouth.
Everyone in the room watched from their seats with bewilderment. On the other hand, for the people who personally knew Ichigo, the scene was difficult to consume quietly. Rukia had never seen something so horrific and barbaric in her life. When she lived in the Royal Palace, she was protected from the low life criminals who carried out everyday crimes and were tried by the royal court. She, on no occasion, was allowed to watch people be flogged or hung from a rope. Her brother was caring in that regard for shielding her from the harsher realities of life.
"I can't look," Orihime cried as she buried herself in the crook of Rukia's neck. Admittedly, the caretaker of the princess did not blame her for turning away. She was struggling herself to maintain her focus against the uncomfortable atmosphere.
By the fifteenth time the enforcer had cracked the torture weapon against Ichigo's back, the remains of his shirt had fallen into several pieces on the floor. Now, there was no form of protection against the whip. Ichigo attempted to ignore the sores that had begun to bleed. In addition, he could smell it. The scent of copper wafted upwards into his nostrils.
Regardless, with each slash of force against his back, the peasant felt his body begin to grow weaker.
The flogger was not going to show mercy.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
However, it was about halfway through the punishment when the world started to spin. Orihime's significant other was slowly losing consciousness and his urge to fight it off was minimal. His entire body felt heavy as the relentless whipping continued.
"Please, Ichigo!" an angelic voice sobbed.
The teenager yearned to hear it once more. Unfortunately, he did not know how much more of the belting he could take.
"You have to stay strong! It's almost over!" Orihime encouraged Ichigo with her trembling voice.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
He couldn't lift his head to see her, but the peasant pictured the princess with tears streaming down her beautiful face as she called out. Moreover, the fact that she was crying did not sit well with him. The last thing he wanted to do was to make her upset. He had put her through enough already.
"Thank…you…Hime," the words managed to slip out from Ichigo before he slumped over and fainted.
Finally, the sounds of the whip had ceased.