Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Mistaken Identity ❯ Magic and Madness ( Chapter 14 )

 

Ichigo was not aware of how long they have been dancing. All he knows is that in his hands was the most enchanting creature he had ever laid eyes on and he was not going to argue if the song would go on all night. Was it minutes? Seconds? And yet he can't tear his eyes off her. He could not mistake the question in her eyes. The confusion and uncertainty was there. But there is something awfully familiar with those eyes. It's as if he already knows her. Why? Who is she really?

 

Rukia felt as if he was looking straight into her soul the way he was staring at her. She felt so exposed, yet safe at the same time. Why she asked. Why doesn't she feel threatened or trapped? Why was it that she feels almost safe and protected in his arms? Why? Why does it all seem familiar? Where have I seen those eyes before?

 

The music hushed into its last notes but the two barely noticed it, lost in each others eyes and each ones thoughts. Everyone in the ballroom waited in quiet anticipation for the final curtsy that would signify the end of the dance, yet the two still held on to each other, still lost in their own world.

 

“I advise that you unhand my sister this minute Kurosaki” The two jumped apart from hearing Byakuya's words. Ichigo was scowling at the intrusion, but Rukia was beet red from embarrassment. She heard her brother cough and regained her senses, she quickly curtsied to her partner and let him place her hand in the crook of his arm.

 

“What know?” Ichigo whispered to the princess. He doesn't really know what to do next. The prince was looking at him as if expecting something. What ever it is, he sure hope it isn't about handing the princess back to him because he sure as hell won't.

 

Is he for real or what? Rukia didn't expect him to be so ignorant of common etiquette. She looked at him, but was met with a blank stare. Man! He really doesn't know! “Ah, we mingle with the crowd” she said lamely. Man, how stupid can one get anyway?

 

Ichigo saw her look “Hey not everyone is born with sticks up their assess you know!” so what if he didn't know how this things exactly work out? Not everyone does. What is her problem anyway? He was extremely pissed at the way she looked at him when he asked about it.

 

He was still peeved at her reaction when he saw her blanch, her hand tightening unconsciously on his arm. He followed her gaze and understood. There, before them where hordes of people, looking like vultures, waiting for their chance to congratulate them, or better yet, get the inner scoop on things. Nosy, meddlesome, prying hypocrites.

 

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“Thank God! I didn't think I could have endured much more of that” Rukia said as they were locked themselves inside a private study. She removed her hand from his arm and went to the other side of the room. She needs distance. She couldn't think straight when she was within his grasp. Ichigo was just looking at her, watching, waiting.

 

“Why?” she finally asked.

 

He understood what she was asking. And he racked his brain for a plausible explanation for his actions, but no matter how much he tried to think up of reasons, there was none that he could offer her. He put his hands in the pockets of his pants and looked straight at her. “I don't know” he answered honestly. “I… I wasn't planning anything” He could tell that she wasn't convinced. “Look…” he said with an exasperated sigh “I honestly wasn't expecting that things…things would belike this. Heck, I even tried to stop the whole thing.”

 

She felt as if he had just slapped him. Oh god, he didn't want her. She hung her head, shame washing over her. The last vestige of her pride was just as easily trampled by this guy.

 

“Hey” Ichigo said “I didn't mean it like that” but she still wouldn't look at him. Damn! “It's just that, there is, well… what I mean to say is, there is this girl…” Damn! Communicating is definitely not one of his stronger points. She still hasn't said anything. “What I really mean is that, for a while, I thought that I was, have fallen for this girl. She's really a character and quite a handful…” he sat in one of the chairs, elbows on his knees “she's strong and well, she got this beautiful blue eyes, just like yours.” He waited for her to say something, but when she remained silent, he continued on “but her brother had betrothed her to someone else, and, I was engaged as well. Then I saw you and, it, it just happened.” He looked at her, arms turned upward, pleading for her to understand, only to be met with a large, hard, leather bound book. “oomph, whadafuck???!!!”

 

“You!” Rukia couldn't contain her anger anymore. She was now standing over him a finger pointed at his face “Baka!” she said while kicking him repetitively on the shin. My god! If he could have just told her and her brother sooner, then they wouldn't be in such a fix. “It's all your fault!”

 

“What?!” he was clutching his battered leg while hopping to the farthest side of the room. “Look lady, I tried to prevent this, I really did!”

 

“Yeah, you tried to ditch me. Yey! Such a sweet thing to know” she said sarcastically, her hand on another leather bound book. She didn't know why the hell she was upset. She doesn't like him. uh-uh, no she definitely does not like him. But the things he said, wanting to break off their engagement, liking somebody else, it just, makes her want to smack his head over and over again.

 

“I didn't mean it like that!” he said while taking cover behind one of the chairs. Christ! She's a raving lunatic! It was understandable that she be upset. But violence what not something he expected from the supposed to be well bred young princess. Dammit, she hits just like Rukia.

 

“Whatever. There is nothing we can do now.” she said as she slumped in a chair. The engagement was already announced, and breaking it off now would just mean embarrassment for her clan and kingdom. Suddenly feeling tired of everything she closed her eyes and removed her mask, her finger pinching the bridge of her nose. Her head was pounding and there is nothing more that she wants than to curl up in her bed and forget.

 

Ichigo just stood there. For the third time that day he felt as if the wind has been knocked out of him and found himself totally unprepared and speechless. He tried to talk, call her name, but his voice seemed to have left him. His heart was thumping wildly in his chest, his head spinning, his legs softening to a jelly like state. He called her name, but all that came out was a small croak. Then everything went black.

 

 

 

 

 

[A/N]

 

whew! Damn! I totally lost it. Got to go and buy imagination from the supermarket again. Anyone who knows where I can get it on sale?

 

Sorry if there wasn't much fluff, but this chap is basically a transitional chap. Hope I didn't disappoint you guys.

 

And please, I'm begging you all, review. Tell me what you think.