Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Your Memory is My Revenge ❯ The Fight ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any Bleach affiliates.

 

(A/N: Once more, a friendly reminder to review! Enjoy!)

 

 

 

Chapter 2

 

“I do not remember all of the wedding, just that the man beside me—forgive me… my husband, Byakuya—was as dashing as ever in his fresh Captain's clothing, his hair styled into those noble dressings, and his traditional Death God uniform, underneath the white coat. He looked so stunning I almost fainted at the sight of him.

 

I was dressed in a pure white kimono, only one of the three I would be dawning that day. It sparkled as if a light snow had fallen onto the fabric and remained, my hair was pulled from my face and placed into an elegant knot and around my head was adorned a crown of cherry blossoms. I did not know how Byakuya managed the blossoms, as it was only very early spring! But I was happy, so happy I was nearly crying when we were pronounced married.

 

The actual ceremony was attended by a very small amount of guests, other men in white uniforms I had yet to meet. Byakuya said there would be time for that later and I agreed, part of me did not wish to even meet these great and powerful men, the other part—the much larger part—wanted to please Byakuya, and I agreed to meet with them later.

 

The feast after the ceremony was a hazy dream. I can barely remember what I ate or who I sat with or what I wore. I was drunk with happiness at my newly found husband, sitting so strong and steady beside me. He did not partake in any of the sake that was offered at the dinner as the other Captains did, but stood by me the entire time, he would even brush his hand against mine from time to time and chills would flow through my spine.

 

I laughed and I spoke and I enjoyed the day as I had enjoyed no other day in my life, and he was beside me, and I was content.

 

Later on that evening Byakuya told me to make myself comfortable in my new home, my new room—his room. I was so overjoyed at the thought of staying with him I stuttered and asked if would like me to change into my final set of clothing, the one—I presumed—he was allowed to remove himself.

 

I could remember his warm smile and soft eyes as he nodded. I had grown more confident in the days since I had been brought to the Kuchiki House, my husband and I spoke frequently, sometimes keeping a conversation for hours.

 

He was so knowing and intelligent it made me feel like a piece of dust all over again, until I began to explain what my duties in Rukongai were, Byakuya simply stared at me, his eyes were filled with confusion.

 

“Laundry?” He had asked quietly.

 

“Yes, of course,” I had answered, my hands playing nervously in my lap. “My duties were to launder and dry things.”

 

His look was still blank and I ventured forward, “You have never done laundry?” I asked, it was a stupid question really—as he was a noble and had probably never touched dirty water in his life… whereas I had had to drink it.

 

“I have never even seen people do laundry.” He admitted honestly.

 

I have to confess, to whoever is reading this journal now, that that is the moment in which my heart was consumed completely by Byakuya. I can remember laughing at his statement and shaking my head in hysteria.

 

“What,” He asked a moment later, “Is so funny?”

 

At another time I might have been afraid of his voice, which was defensive in tone, but I was not, as he had shown me more kindness than any other man had, and although he was noble, he was not cold. I simply smiled at him and replied, “Byakuya-sama, you have limitless amounts of power and knowledge inside of you and you have never witnessed someone doing something so simple as laundry.”

 

He blinked twice and frowned.

 

I continued, “Who do you think cleans your clothes?”

 

“The housekeepers,” he answered automatically.

 

I remember smiling at him even harder and leaning my head over to his shoulder, we were sitting outside on the veranda, wrapped in blankets, watching the gentle pattern of snow as it fell to the ground.

 

“Dear heart, someday, I will show you how to do laundry.” I murmured, my fingers entwining with his.

 

“I look forward to the day.” He replied, brining my hand up and kissing the palm. I simply smiled and returned to watching the snowfall.

 

However on the night of our wedding he was quieter than his usual, I remember dressing and hearing someone calling at the door. I was in another room but could hear everything.

 

The door slid back and my husband spoke first. “Captain-Commander Yamamoto, this is a surprise.” He said coldly, so coldly I practically shivered at the sound.

 

“Captain Kuchiki,” it was an old man, I could tell by the drag and crackle in his voice. My mind flashed back to the vague dinner and I thought of the man bearing the white robe with the number one on the back… the man who exuded more power than my husband.

 

“What do you wish of me?” Byakuya asked.

 

“I wish for you to stop this nonsense.” The second voice said, I crouched low and began to cover my ears, telling myself it was not proper for me to listen, but I did, and I am forever shamed for it.

 

“What nonsense?” Byakuya shot back, the venom in his voice growing.

 

“You know what I am speaking of. It is not to late, do not go to her tonight, save the face of the noble Kuchiki Clan from degradation.”

 

My ears burned at his voice, I knew what he was speaking of, and a piece inside of me died at that very instant. Silently, I pulled my forehead to my knees, determined not to weep, lest Byakuya hear me.

 

“There is no disgrace.” Byakuya replied; his voice as soft and as deadly as his katana had been the day he saved me from the Man Who Paid Me. “I have fallen in love and no one in any Clan, any noble family, or any position of power can stop me from staying with the woman I love.”

 

It was then I feared I began to weep.

 

“Goodnight, Captain-Commander Yamamoto.” He finished coldly and shut the door.

 

Byakuya came back to me and slowly opened the door. He saw me sitting on the ground, my hands covering my face, tears streaming down from my watery eyes.

 

Without saying a word he bent his noble spine once more and picked me up. Cradling me to his chest he murmured words of contentment and consolation.

 

“Byakuya, why are you not ashamed of me?” I remember saying. “I am trash from Rukongai, yet you married me, I love you so much and I must know!”

 

He was silent for a few moments before striding over to our large futon in the center of the room. He sat down first and then cradled me in his lap, I felt like an infant, crying helplessly because I had fallen.

 

“Hisana…” he murmured, I lifted my head and he pressed a kiss to its front. It was the first contact his lips had with my skin… and I craved more. “I am not ashamed of you, and I will never be ashamed of you.”

 

He kissed my forehead again and began to rock me gently. “There are some people, Hisana, who think it is wrong of me to marry outside of my ranking. I do not think so.”

 

I clutched the front of his robes and buried my face towards him.

 

“The first time I saw you, Hisana, I thought you were beautiful, the second time, I thought you were strong, and the other times I thought you were kind.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “I love you Hisana, I love the person you are and not I do not care what or where you came from.” He kissed both of my cheeks. “You are my wife and from now on I will protect you from anyone who would dare speak against you.”

 

Then his lips turned towards mine and he kissed me on the mouth. His lips were soft and smooth and I was frozen beneath them. He pulled back and stared deeply into my eyes, a warm smile of desire formed in his eyes. I saw it plainly and wanted to appease his desire.

 

I pulled my fingers up and entwined them into his hair, quietly I removed the dressing in them. I set them gently on the ground and turned back to him, “I love you Byakuya, more than I thought I could love anyone.”

 

He smiled and lowered his lips to mine. His kiss was hungrier this time and I returned it.

 

I shall leave the rest to your imagination.

 

“Rukia!” Ichigo screamed, barging out into the lunch courtyard. She was sitting by a tree, reading… again.

 

“What?” She asked irritated, looking up from her book and hurriedly shoving it out of sight.

 

“Why did you just run out of class like that?” He yelled, jumping over to her and standing toe to toe. Due to her petite form he had to bend down to scream at her full in the face, her height, however, did not deter his anger.

 

“There was a disturbance.” She answered shortly, brushing him off as though she were flicking a bit of dust from her shoulder.

 

“What kind of disturbance?” He growled, closing in on her from behind.

 

“A small disturbance, sort of empty, and hollow.” She said, smirking at her slight cheek.

 

“Then why didn't you grab me?” He bellowed, grabbing her shoulder and twisting her around. “Rukia, this is the third Hollow you've gone after without me, what am I supposed to do if you just make me sit around all day?”

 

Rukia glared at him and grabbed his wrist; in a swift move she twisted it around his back, holding it at a painful angle. “I figured you had better things to do.” She hissed before putting more pressure on the pained appendage and then suddenly releasing it.

 

Ichigo snarled and rubbed his arm as Rukia walked away from the courtyard, fuming in silent anger.

 

“Rukia, if you would just listen—”

 

“I don't want to listen, Ichigo, I don't want to hear what you have to say, so just stop trying to convince me otherwise and stay out of my way.” She spat angrily, her back to him, her fists were balled and her voice was shaking—with anger or hurt he could not tell.

 

“Why are you so mad at me?” He yelled at her. She stiffened even more and shook her head.

 

Ichigo swallowed painfully and watched as she walked away, her back was so straight and her profile was so narrow, he wondered if she had been eating properly.

 

Other students were beginning to come into the courtyard. Rukia passed them without as much as a single glance in any of their directions. She was almost to the double doors when a cheery-eyed red-head popped through them.

 

Orihime was laughing at something Tatsuki had said, they punched the air in front of them and laughed harder at the imaginary people they were defeating. Ichigo glanced nervously at Rukia and saw a look fit to kill in her violet eyes.

 

Orihime smiled at the sun and turned her face towards its bright rays, laughing a bit more she twirled around and accidentally hit her lunchbox against Rukia's elbow.

 

She didn't so much as flinch at the contact.

 

Orihime jumped around to immediately apologize to the person she had run into. Her eyes opened wide when she saw it was Rukia, her grin grew bigger and her arms opened into a grand hug.

 

“Kuchiki-san! I didn't know you were back! I'm so happy!” She giggled giddily.

 

Rukia fairly snarled and pushed her way out of Orihime's arms. Sulking, she slammed through the double doors and disappeared down the hallway.

 

Outside, Orihime frowned and looked over at Rukia; the aura around her was practically dripping with hostility. Her eyes furrowed in worry and she folded her hands over her lunchbox. Was it a Hollow? Where was Ichigo? Why wasn't he with her?

 

“She's in a bad mood,” someone muttered behind her, Orihime turned and faced Ichigo. She smiled brightly and turned towards him fully.

 

“Oh! If that's the case then today I'll come over and bring Cloud; she can hug him in his bunny form and feel all better!” She cried, raising her arms into the air and twirling once again.

 

Ichigo scowled and shook his head, “I don't think that'll do it, Orihime,” he said quietly. “She's been like that all day, and yesterday.”

 

“She's been back since yesterday?” Tatsuki asked, stepping beside them. “Where'd she go?”

 

Ichigo glanced at Orihime and shook his head slightly. She nodded back and shrugged towards her friend. “I don't know! Isn't that funny? She could have gone to America and I wouldn't have known!”

 

Tatsuki glanced at Ichigo, suspicion written plainly on her face. “Doesn't she live with you?” She asked him.

 

Ichigo glared at her, “It's not like we keep a dog collar on her! She can come and go as she pleases!”

 

With that he sighed and turned away, sulking towards the door.

 

Stupid Rukia, stupid temper, stupid running-off-and-not-telling-me-where-you-were-going! His mind hissed vehemently. Just wait, just wait until you need something, I won't be there to help, I'll just start humming and walk away.

 

Ichigo found his seat and plopped down into it, his eyes wandering to the window.

 

Yes he would, he knew he would… be there to help, that is.

 

He would always come to her if she needed him, she knew that and he knew that.

 

She needed him now though, even though she wouldn't tell him, he knew she needed him. He sighed and continued to look out the window. He wished she would tell him if there was something bothering her; she had never been this secretive before, even when they had first met, hell, wasn't he the one who didn't believe her when she first told him about the Shinigami?

 

She had run off to the Soul Society for a week, a week, and he hadn't known where she was. A whole week of frantically looking, not sleeping, denying dinner, and skipping school. Kami, it was worse than when the Bound had semi-kidnapped Ishida. He had been so worried he had almost choked Renji when he said he wouldn't go to the Soul Society to see if she was there.

 

Then she had shown up, suddenly. She just came through his window, fuming with anger he had most likely caused.

 

Not… not that he cared anyway, it was her problem. He didn't do anything.

 

At least, he was pretty sure he didn't do anything. With Rukia he could never tell, one minute he was in her good graces and the next she was slamming her foot into his face.

 

Only this time the anger was different, this time she was so cold. She didn't hit him, she didn't shove her foot into his face, and she didn't even yell at him. She just didn't talk to him; she was cold, freezing almost. Kami, she was almost like Byakuya.

 

That's probably where she stayed when she was at the Soul Society. Kami, I hope he didn't rub off on her.

 

The classroom began to slowly fill once again and Ichigo glanced casually at the door, Ishida entered with Orihime, Tatsuki was hounding Chiziru, Mizurio was teasing Keigo, and Chad entered alone, deep in thought. Ichigo watched as the seats slowly filled.

 

At the last moment, Rukia entered the room, her face stuck in that book again. Ichigo felt a swift sense of relief as she sat down in her seat, not even bothering to look at him.

 

“Miss Kuchiki,” the teacher, Ms. Ochi, chided when class began again. “Put that book away.”

 

No response.

 

“Miss Kuchiki.” The teacher warned.

 

Ichigo watched as Rukia's brow furrowed and she lightly touched the pages of the book, she turned one of them and continued to read.

 

Ms. Ochi started to walk over to take the book from her, before she could Ichigo reached over and snatched it from Rukia's hands, she yelped in surprise and began to clutch the air in front of her, her hands seemingly yearning for her book.

 

“Sorry,” Ichigo answered sheepishly for her, “She must have not heard you.”

 

“I heard you perfectly,” Rukia hissed, addressing Ms. Ochi but reaching over and seizing the book from Ichigo's hands. “I simply chose to ignore you.”

 

“Miss Kuchiki!” Snorted Ms, Ochi, placing her hands on her hips. “I admire you candor but sometimes it's best to keep your mouth shut.”

 

Rukia glowered at the teacher and nodded sharply. When she turned away she glared at Ichigo, her gaze murderous.

 

“Restrain.” She spat quickly.

 

Ichigo let out a sudden cry as his arms twisted behind his back and his legs buckled at the knees. Ishida, Orihime, and Chad swiftly turned around and gazed stupefied as Rukia held Ichigo in a simple kido spell, one made more painful by the awkward angle he was sitting in. He was gritting his teeth, trying not to groan and her hands remained motionless, her pointer finger and thumb stuck out as she held onto the spell.

 

“Kurosaki?” Ms. Ochi asked, her body twisted as she began to turn, immediately, Rukia let go of the spell and leaped out of her desk. Within seconds, her catlike body twisted and she dove through the classroom door.

 

Ichigo stared, stunned at the space vacated by Rukia. Within a few moments, anger welled up inside of him at the notion she might be going after a Hollow, that she was going without him, that she would be stupid enough to do something like that again… but he knew that wasn't it. He didn't feel any spiritual energy around the school, or even in the entire city.

 

Rukia… His mind seethed. What the hell is going on?

 

As if voicing his very thoughts, Ishida pushed his glasses up his face and muttered, “What in the world did you do, Kurosaki?”

 

Ichigo glared at the doorway and turned sourly back to his seat.

 

He wanted to know the exact same thing.