"Everything will happen in the next forty-eight hour," Hitsugaya announced, "The rehearsal dinner is where Aizen is planning on exchanging some major weapons."
Kenpachi used his dagger to point to specific areas on the mansion's blueprint. "I will be outside the mansion, only a block away, monitoring everything. I want Team A led by Matsumoto and Ikkaku to watch this area; we can expect some 'special' visitors to come through here. Team B with Ayasegawa will stand guard here—" he pointed to the upper part of the mansion, "—and keep an eye out for anyone who might escape after we come in."
"Yes sir," Yumichika saluted.
Kenpachi eyed the group of officers in the room. "Don't forget: this is a dangerous mission, mostly likely ending with several deaths from both sides. Aizen's been smuggling weapons to Yakuza groups and several terrorist groups throughout the world, which means he'll have men AND dangerous weapons. Every one of you will have to be cautious of your surrounding."
Everyone nodded, though several people looked extremely nervous.
Hitsugaya stepped forward to continue where Kenpachi left off. "Team C will join me and Kurosaki Ichigo in sneaking into the party as staff members."
"But how can we do that?" Renji asked, "Aizen's pretty strict when it comes to employing new staff and it'd be impossible to just sneak in without anyone getting suspicious."
Hitsuagay nodded at the red head's comment. "True but we don't have to worry about that. Someone, who has close connections with Aizen, is aiding us in this mission."
"Who?" Renji raised an eyebrow.
"You talk too much, Abarai," Kenpachi glared, "Just do as you're told. Anyways, that's all for now. We'll inform you all with more detail tomorrow. Until then, just get ready to party," he grinned.
"Yes sir!" They all saluted to their captains before leaving the room.
Renji was heading towards his desk when he noticed the famous orange hair walking inside the building. "Oi, Ichigo!" he raised his arm to signal where he was.
Ichigo noticed Renji and walked towards him. "Are you coming back from a meeting?"
"Yeah, we finally got some plan going on," he replied, "Toshiro and Kenpachi-taicho are still brewing up some more schemes right now."
"I told you, it's Hitsugaya-taicho!"Ichigo and Renji turned around to see Hitsugaya glaring at the two. "How many times do I have to tell you to address me formally here since I am your superior?"
Renji crossed his arms over his chest and smirked. "It's too hard to kick off old habits; besides, you don't seem to mind it when Momo calls you 'Shiro-chan.'"
An angry vein popped out of the young genius's head. Mumbling small curses, he walked away leaving Ichigo and Renji to themselves.
Renji looked back at his orange-haired friend with a serious expression. "Are you ready to take action? It's going to happen in less than two days now."
"Yeah, I'm ready," Ichigo scowled, "I'm going to kill that bastard that tried to take away Rukia from me."
"How are the kids?" Renji asked, switching the topic away to a less stressful one.
The young father sighed. "Mai's doing a bit better now that I'm back, but Takeshi is still quiet. He only says a few words. And lately he's been coming home from school with several bruises; seems like he's getting into a lot more fights these days."
Renji scratched the back of his hair, while the other hand was on his hip. "He's becoming like you. I'm starting to worry what might happen to those kids if we fail this mission—"
"Don't talk shit like that," Ichigo snapped at him, "We WILL succeed in this mission. There's no way I'm going to lose Rukia. Not after everything we went through."
Renji looked at his friend who had 'determination' beaming out of his eyes. The red head just sighed and nodded. "Yeah, I guess I should stay optimistic as you."
"Whatever," Ichigo rolled his eyes, "Anyways, I have to go pick up Takeshi from school. I'll see you later." He turned around and left the building, waving his hand from behind at his friend.
The Next Day
Rukia looked at herself in the mirror wearing the formal gown that she would be wearing for the rehearsal dinner. It was a strapless, red dress that fitted every curve on her body, with beautiful embroidery that made the dress sparkle and seem more extravagant.
How disgusting, Rukia thought to herself.
It's been almost three weeks since she last saw Ichigo and even more for her kids. She was hoping for the wedding to take place a year later but Aizen seemed determined to get married as soon as possible.
Something's not right… something's definitely isn't right, Rukia sighed. She's been trying to find ways to sneak out of her prison but security had become more strict since Aizen sent over even some of his men to the Kuchiki mansion.
Knock knock
"Come in," Rukia called out to the door.
The doorknob twisted open as Byakuya came through the door. He looked at his sister and paused before saying, "The dress looks good on you."
"…Arigatou, niisama," she sighed.
Byakuya stepped forward and stopped behind her sitting form. He looked at their reflection on her mirror. Rukia was looking really pale and thin. "Do you still have the flu? Your complexion doesn't look any better than it did last week."
Rukia averted her eyes to the ground. "I'm doing much better, niisama."
But Byakuya could tell she wasn't well at all. In less than a month she was taken from her home and was now getting married to a complete stranger. He knew this all too well… but he also knew that there was nothing he could do at the moment.
Hurry up, kozo, he thought to himself.
Byakuya reached into his pocket and pulled out a velvet box. "Rukia, I would like you to wear this," he said, opening the box and pulling out a diamond-encrusted choker. "It was your sister's."
Rukia watched on silently as her brother gently placed the choker around her neck. It looks like a fucking leash, she thought. "Arigato."
Noticing her dark expression, Byakuya sighed. "Rukia, don't look at me like that."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," she quickly retorted.
Byakuya kept looking at her reflection with a criticizing eye. "Rukia—"
"I said there is nothing to worry about, niisama," she snapped back. Rukia slammed her hands on top of the desk and pushed herself up. "Why wouldn't I be okay? I'm getting married to a wealthy man tomorrow and bring more wealth and power to our family name. You should know it's always been my dream to be used as a fucking doll in this family!" she spat out, huffing for breath.
Even though his sister had just raised her voice at him, Byakuya neither said anything nor did he flinch. If anything, I deserve to get cursed at even more… even that kozo has the right to hit me, he thought in silence. Without another word, Byakuya turned around and walked towards the door. He stopped as he grabbed the handle. "I'll be downstairs. Hurry up and get ready; we're leaving in less than half an hour."
Rukia continued taking in deep breaths as she heard her brother leave her room. As soon as the door clicked shut she quickly ran to her bathroom and kneeled in front of the toilet. She started to vomit everything she had in her stomach, which wasn't much to begin with.
Rukia choked back her tears as her nausea slowly lifted. After straining her arms to flush down the toilet, Rukia sat back on the ground and leaned her head against the cool tiles of her bathroom wall.
"Ichigo…" she whispered, drawing her legs to her chest, "Please get me out of here."
For a few more minutes Rukia allowed herself to silently sob against her knees. If she doesn't do this now, she might never get the chance to do this again after the wedding tomorrow. When time was up, she carefully stood up, using the wall to support her as she walked over to the sink to rinse out the sour taste in her mouth.
As she splashed the cold water on her face, Rukia looked at her reflection in the mirror. The makeup she had put on was almost all gone, leaving behind a ghost-like complexion on her face. Rukia kept staring at herself before letting out a pathetic chuckle.
"I look like shit," she said to herself before leaving the bathroom and sitting back in front of her mirror. She picked up her foundation and spread a large amount on her face as she tried her best to fix up her makeup.
In less than twenty-four hours, everything will be over.
As she continued to put on some heavy makeup, something caught her eye. In her jewelry box was her engagement ring, looking lonely but still having that same beautiful sparkle when Ichigo first slipped it on her finger.
Rukia set down her brush and cautiously reached for the beautiful, simple ring Ichigo gave her not too long ago. She held the ring with both hands and smiled sweetly at it. She could still remember how Ichigo got down on his knee and proposed to her with the ring of her dreams. She looked down at the large diamond on her left ring finger, surrounded by diamonds and diamonds. "Ugly…" she glared at it before smiling back at Ichigo's ring.
I shouldn't be here, she thought to herself, I should be home with the kids and Ichigo's family planning our wedding! Rukia's free hand carefully went to her stomach and rubbed it. Ichigo…
Just as tears threatened to fall again, a sudden knock distracted her. "Rukia-sama, Aizen-sama is downstairs waiting for you."
Rukia sat up straight as her eyebrows furrowed. "What is he doing here? Wasn't I supposed to meet him at his place?"
The maid on the other side of the door was silent for a moment. "I'm not quite sure. But Kuchiki-sama asks for your presence downstairs immediately."
Rukia sighed as she dismissed her maid. She looked back at her reflection and nodded. Even though she still looked like shit, it was a bit better. She placed her real engagement ring back into her jewelry box before getting up.
As she slowly descended the stairs, she had to swallow the nauseating feeling forming in the pit of her stomach as Aizen came closer to view.
Upon hearing heels clicking against the marble floor, Aizen looked up and smiled. "My, don't you look lovely Rukia-san." He walked over and held out his arm for his fiancé to hold.
Rukia reluctantly reached out and lightly placed her hand on his elbow, allowing him to escort her to the door. "I didn't expect to see you here, Aizen-sama," Rukia said, "Was it not a hassle to come from your house just to pick me up to return to it?"
Aizen chuckled as they stepped out the door. "Not at all. I just wanted to be the one to walk you in at the rehearsal dinner and show you around. After all, after tomorrow it shall also be your home."
Rukia was about to throw up if it hadn't been for Byakuya who walked up to them. He gently grabbed her shoulder and led her towards his limo. "I shall take my sister with me," he told the other man, "We shall see you at your mansion."
Without another word the Kuchiki sibling got into the car and drove off, leaving Aizen by himself.
Suddenly, his own limo pulled up and a dark-skinned man with orange sunglasses stepped out from the driver's seat and walked up to him. "Should I try and bring them back, sir?"
Aizen shook his head with a smirk. "There will be no need for that, Tosen. After tonight, everything's going to be over anyways."
Ring. Ring. Ring.
Aizen reached into his pocket and grabbed his phone. After reading the name on the screen, he answered it. "Well?" he asked.
A small snicker came from the other end. "Everything is going according to plan."
Aizen finally let out a full-blown evil smirk. "Good."
A/N: Muhahaha! I like how I ended this chapter. There's a different side to Aizen then we thought! Can anyone guess who he was talking to on the phone? And what plan they were talking about? Well, wait until the next chapter where things will start falling into place.
I kind of liked showing a more sincere side of Byakuya. I love that hot bastard (if only he was real...drool...). I also feel bad for Rukia but to those who already know me and my way of ending my stories, then you should know how things will end.
And to the person who asked me about the possible father of that baby... well, I hope you got your answer. There was a small hint here but it should have been obvious from the start.
Anyways, until next time!
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