"Can I have your name, sir?"
Ichigo looked at the man who was checking the guest list to the noblemen's party he got 'invited' to. "Kurosaki Ichigo," he replied.
The man ran his finger down the list and after a few seconds smiled back at the orange head. "Welcome, Kurosaki-sensei. Please enjoy your night," he said while stepping aside for Ichigo to pass.
Ichigo still couldn't believe his father and Urahara were able to put his name into the guest list so quickly and without trouble. He was no noble so he must have been identified as one of the wealthy men of Japan also invited to this party.
Ichigo weaved through the huge crowd, making his way to the grand hall where people were gathering and dancing to the music being played. He noticed that even if he wanted to, it would be impossible to look for Rukia in this huge party.
Why does she have to be so damn short! Ichigo scowled.
Noticing the bar at one end of the massive room, he walked over. "Can I get some brandy?"
"Yes sir," the bartender replied.
Ichigo received his drink and turned around, leaning his back against the bar as his eyes scanned the room. He thought it'd be more likely to find Rukia if he just stood in one spot instead of moving around so much. And if he couldn't find Rukia then he could just look for Byakuya since he was pretty tall for a Japanese.
"Have you heard?"
Ichigo slightly turned his head to his right where several noblemen seemed to have gathered.
"Aizen-sama is apparently engaged!" the same man announced.
Another man nodded his head. "I know. One of Japan's most eligible bachelors finally found a woman! I never knew this would happen with that man being shy and all."
Ichigo tuned out the rest of their conversation as he drank his drink. Aizen…where have I heard that name before?
"Would you like another glass, sir?"
The orange head turned around to see the bartender looking at his empty glass. "Sure," he said, handing back the glass. Soon, another half-filled glass of the strong alcohol returned to his grip.
Ichigo quickly gulped down another glass of brandy as he scanned the room. And as soon as the strong drink burned down his throat, his eyes caught the very person he's been wanting to see for some time.
Rukia.
She was standing in a large crowd, wearing a beautiful black dress with a low-cut back that fitted well on her waist. Just seeing her in such an extravagant outfit enraged Ichigo, not liking the fact that other men would have seen so much of her exposed skin other than himself.
Before Ichigo could make a move he stopped, spotting Byakuya standing next to Rukia, casually talking to a man with brown hair and thick-framed glasses. But what was most disturbing was the fact that the said man just placed his hand on Rukia's exposed back and started to move his thumb in circles. Ichigo felt pure disgust and angry pouring out of him.
How dare that bastard touch my Rukia?
With eyebrows furrowed even more, Ichigo slammed down the empty glass, leaving a crack in it, and was about to take a step forward when an arm grabbed him. The enraged orange head turned around to see who would dare stop him when he came face-to-face with none other than Urahara Yoruichi.
"Y-Yoruichi?" Ichigo gasped, "What are you doing here?"
The dark-skinned woman, who was wearing an elegant gown like the rest of the women in the party, grinned as she dropped her arm and Ichigo fully turned to face her. "Oi, Ichigo. I saw you this afternoon rushing over here so I decided to follow."
Ichigo looked at her, millions of questions running through his head. But not wasn't the time to wonder about her logic. "Nice to know, but there's something I have to do, so if you'll excuse me—"
Before Ichigo could return to the task at hand, Yoruichi grabbed him again and quickly dragged him outside.
"Hey! What are you doing Yoruichi?"
"Trying to save you from humiliating yourself," she replied calmly, shoving him to the side.
Ichigo regained his balance and glared at the woman who had practically been his aunt since birth. "Look, I don't know why you're here but I have to talk to Rukia—"
"And I'm saying if you just walk up to her like that then you'll get nothing out of it," she interrupted, crossing her arms in front of her chest, "So why don't you just chill out and let me help you."
"How can you do that?" he asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
Yoruichi grinned as she turned around to walk back inside. But before getting too far ahead, she looked back over her shoulder. "My maiden name was Shihouin Yoruichi. I was also a noble before I ran away to elope with Kisuke," she grinned, a hint of pride mixed into her tone.
With his mouth agape, Ichigo watched on as the wife of the insane shopkeeper gracefully walked back inside the party.
Knowing there really wasn't much he could do but wait, Ichigo slowly walked down the small path before him, getting further out of viewpoint from the party. If Yoruichi can really get Rukia then he needed to be in secluded place to talk to her without a chance of getting caught.
The backyard of the mansion was gigantic. Statues, ponds, koi fishes, flowerbeds, trees, etc. An extravagant lifestyle that Ichigo knew Rukia hated. Finding a nice spot hidden behind the trees, he walked over and just rested his back against the tall plant, waiting for Yoruichi to return with his love.
After what seemed like days, Ichigo heard footsteps coming closer from behind him.
"I still don't understand why you're here, Yoruichi," asked the voice of Rukia, "And what is it that you have to talk about?"
Yoruichi chuckled, stopping as soon as she noticed the orange hair sticking out from behind a tree only a few steps in front of them. "Look, it's not me who wants to talk but him," she pointed towards the tree.
Rukia turned her gaze to where the woman was pointing and was shocked to see Ichigo stepping out from behind it.
"I-Ichi-Ichigo?" she stuttered, joy and sadness mixed in her violet eyes.
"Rukia," Ichigo breathed out.
Thankfully Yoruichi left at that point, leaving the two alone as she decided to go and steal a few drinks to share with her husband later at home. But not much changed as the two kept staring at each other after not having seen one another for so many days. Suddenly Rukia snapped back into reality. Ichigo notices this when she quickly turned to walk away.
"Rukia!" Ichigo yelled out as he grabbed her wrist, "Stop!"
Rukia tried to pull her hand away but Ichigo held on even tighter. This was not good. If any of the nobles sees them she knew he would get in trouble. "Ichigo, please leave."
He only held on tighter. "No, not without you. Rukia!"
"Ichigo! You have to let—"
"Mai is sick!" he quickly blurted out, hoping this information might get her attention.
And it did. Rukia suddenly stopped fidgeting and 'worry' spread across her face as she turned around and looked up at him with teary eyes. "W-what?"
Ichigo pulled her closer to him, using his thumb to wipe away a tear that fell down her eye. "Mai needs her mother. She's been missing class and my dad has been keeping her in bed these past few days. Takeshi is also silent and barely eats… Please, if not for me, then for our children—"
"She will stay here."
Ichigo turned around and found Byakuya standing a few feet away from them.
"Let go of her, kozo," the nobleman glared.
Ichigo could feel every muscle in his body twitching to move towards the older man and beat him to the ground. "You fucking bastard. I thought we had a deal: Rukia could stay with me and—"
"You no longer have a say in Rukia's life. Our deal has been terminated—"
"What do you mean 'terminated'?" Ichigo yelled back, "Why are you trying to separate our family—"
"Rukia will be in grave danger if we allow her to live with you!" Byakuya raised his voice, making the final interruption between them.
"Wh—what?"
Rukia looked at the shocked expression of Ichigo and slowly slipped her hand out of his loosened grip. "Ichigo, I'm sorry," she whispered.
Byakuya slowly walked towards them as he continued to speak. "The elders in our clans decided to marry Rukia to another family. Although they do not know that she is no longer a virgin and is actually young mother of two, this marriage will continue. For the sake of our name they thought it'd be best to use Rukia in strengthening the clan. But if she does not comply with what they say, not only will she be in danger but so will you and your children when they find out."
"I can protect them!" he yelled.
"That will not be enough to stop powerful men like the Aizen's and the Kuchiki's," Byakuya snapped back, "In the end you'll accomplish nothing and lose everything."
Ichigo was about to say something back but Rukia whispered, "They did it to Hisana." Ichigo froze in his spot, those five words slowly sinking into his brain. He knew exactly what she meant by that.
"You can't be serious," he breathed out, looking at Byakuya.
"Kozo, I do NOT lie," Byakuya raised his nose into the air and looked down at him with an air of superiority.
"But…" Ichigo looked at his fiancée, his eyes begging for some reassurance but she wouldn't give it to him, "There has to be a way…"
Rukia shook her head as tears fell. "I'm sorry," she sighed.
Ichigo looked between the two siblings with utter disbelief. At that moment he wanted to wake up from his bed to find Rukia safe in his arms and his kids healthy in their room. This nightmare was getting too scary.
Byakuya looked at his sister who was still silently crying. He sighed and walked up to her. "Rukia, return to the party and greet the rest of the people. I shall follow shortly."
Rukia nodded but was still looking at the ground.
"Rukia." Byakuya grabbed her shoulder and gave it squeeze.
The raven head wiped her tears before looking up at Ichigo who was still in total shock. She took a step forward and placed her hands on his chest.
Byakuya knew very well what Rukia was going to do. And for some reason he didn't want to stop her so he turned around and left them to hide behind the trees to give them some privacy.
"Ichigo," she whispered, placing her head against his collarbone.
Ichigo's arms instinctively wrapped themselves around her body and hugged her tightly against him. "Rukia…"
Rukia lifted her face towards him to try and give him a reassuring smile but instead it turned into one of regret and pain. Ichigo looked at her with concern, hating to see such an expression on her beautiful face.
He slowly lowered his head and gently closed the gap between them, kissing her as sweetly and softly as he could. Rukia didn't stifle a moan. It always amazed her how much Ichigo could affect her body effortlessly that even such a light kiss made her weak in the knees. Ichigo deepened the kissed, pulling her closer to him as they explored each others' mouths, by know fully etched into their skulls.
Rukia let out one last moan before pulling away, breathlessly looking into Ichigo's eyes. She gulped and took a step out of his embrace. Ichigo wanted to grab her back but knew there was nothing he could do.
Just then Byakuya stepped back in and let out a small cough to get their attention. "Go back inside, Rukia," he ordered.
With teary eyes she bowed to her brother and walked away, never looking back at Ichigo the entire time.
The orange head wanted so badly to go after her and never let go but that would mean trouble. Even though Rukia didn't give him the full detail, Ichigo knew that she was doing this to protect him and their family, once again leaving Ichigo to look like the biggest jerk in the planet. She was chained to those damn nobles and what they did to Hisana was all he needed to know that this was serious. There was nothing he could do by himself.
Byakuya turned back to Ichigo and took several steps closer so that they were directly facing each other. "Do you love her?" he asked.
Ichigo glared at the man he's been despising for the past several years. "Of course."
"Then are you willing to do anything to get her back?" Byakuya suddenly spoke in a whisper as if afraid others might hear.
Did I hear him right? Ichigo thought as his eyes widen. "Of course!" he exclaimed with some hope.
Byakuya nodded and whispered, "Then help me save her."
A/N: Dun dun DUN! How'd you like that ending? I personally LOVED it! the chapter wasn't as great but I loved the sudden shift in Byakuya's character here.
Find out what happens next...right NOW!
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