Author's Note
this took me way too long for this to come out so sorry about a lot of things happened to me when making this book so yes btw this is a blech mix little of Naruto and yay I'm glad I was able to finish this please do enjoy... My ideas are not good enough so it took me even longer than necessary
Love come and go's
"It's about time, Spike ." One of the Kuchiki's eldest henchmen said. "You need to get another bride to maintain the Kuchiki clan stable." He walked slowly towards the captain who kept looking at him blankly. "We all know that you cared about the previous lady deeply, so deeply that you broke the rules for her sake, but this time that's not going to happen."
Spike clenched his fist as if trying to control his invisible anger. "And why is that?"
"We've already found you a very suitable bride, she has a reproductive ability, so a bloodline heir is highly possible!" The old man sounded amused, but it was comprehensible. Reproduction in Soul Society is a very rare gift. "Besides, she's from a high-rank household or at least, her grandfather."
Spike remained silent, he didn't recall any woman in Soul Society with those traits, at least, not the nobles he knew. Either way, he still felt forced to marry, against his own will. He wanted to pray for Hisana every afternoon for as long as he lived, there wasn't even the thought of having another wife because Hisana was his one and only Lady.
"What if I refuse?" Spike looked defiantly to the elders.
"You're not going to refuse, Spike." His grandfather, Ginrei, former Kuchiki head spoke lowly. "You already tainted our clan with the previous lady, this time we are making the rules to maintain this household as noble as it must be."
Spike closed his eyes, there it was again. Rules, duties, and honor. The only things that were important for the household. He wouldn't say that the elders had a point, but his own opinions didn't matter?
Of course not. If it was a clan related issue, then all he needed to do is consent, blank and obedient. He had to make a sacrifice of his freedom for the clan's honor, but there was absolutely no way that he was going to accept this willingly.
"I will remarry for the clan's future," Spike stated. "I will produce an heir that will make this household proud." And with that, he left the silent room and walked back to his headquarters.
Meanwhile, in the meeting room that he had just left, Ginrei Kuchiki made a small smile while writing an official document to be sent to his longtime friend.
On the order side of Seireitei, at the squad one barracks, Genryusai Yamamoto, head captain of the thirteen squads, was drinking his Oolong tea amusingly when his office door was brutally destroyed by none other than his granddaughter's hot-tempered servant, Hana. As he thought, she looked enraged.
"WHAT'S THE MEANING OF THIS, GRANDPA?!" She yelled at him. "WHY IS ORA GETTING MARRIED?!"
"Young girl, Rarity has age enough to marry, her future husband is just a few years older than her." Genryusai continued to sip his tea.
"But Lady Rarity is just doing this for your sake!" Hana hissed. "She's not happy!"
"That's where you're wrong, Hana." He placed his teacup on the table. "She's quite happy."
"Why you say that?" Hana asked a little bit more calmly.
"She knows who her husband is going to be, she had already seen him," Genryusai explained. "He's good-looking, noble and I'm going to make sure he doesn't hurt her."
"Who is he?" Hana sounded curious.
"Spike Spark's." (hey i don't know want his last name is god haters)
Hana sighed after a long moment of silence. "That's why she's happy." Hana simply nodded. "What about her shinigami duties? After all, she's still a lieutenant."
"They're going to be postponed, she can still do some paperwork, but her full activities as a lieutenant are going to be suspended," Genryusai stated.
"Very well, sir." Hana bowed and left the office.
"Now then, let's write another letter to the construction officers." The captain sipped his tea calmly. "It's the fourth time this month."
Rarity Yamamoto, granddaughter of Genryusai Yamamoto, lieutenant of the thirteenth squad, the next Lady Kuchiki.
She was happy. The day had finally come - the day that she would be united with her hero. Indeed, she never thought that she would be ending up marrying him, but she couldn't stop smiling every time his name came to her mind.
Her grandfather informed her that Spike Sparkl had accepted the offer, so it was probably because he remembered her. As a madly in love teenager, Rarity spun around the room in delight.
"Rarity, may I come in?" Someone asked.
"Yes, come in." She smiled as she saw her childhood friend get inside the room. "What is it, Hana?"
"Are you sure about this?" Hana looked concerned at her. "I've heard rumors about him Rarity, he's an icy dude."
"Don't be silly," Rarity giggled. "I'm sure that he's just like that because he's a captain and needs to show authority."
"But your captain it's not like that, he's always smiling!" Hana complained.
"Captain Ukitake is a very generous man," Rarity smiled gently. "Even though he's unhealthy all the time."
"Well, as long as you're happy." Hana sighed. "I'll go to visit you often."
"I'm sorry you cannot attend the wedding." Rarity looked at her apologetically. "My grandfather stated that it's going to be a private ceremony."
"I understand, it's nobility stuff." Hana chuckled. "Do you have a wedding dress?"
"I do, since Kuchiki is a traditional household, I'm going to wear traditional wedding attire." Rarity smiled gently. "It's for a good reason and it's best if I need to impress the elders."
"You're known for being the old man's grandchild, I'm sure that they would be pleased even if you were wearing your sweaty training suit!" Hana smirked.
"Don't need to bring that up." Rarity laughed as she remembered the nostalgic days of hard training with her grandfather.
"Sooooo, when is going to be the wedding?" Hana asked as Rarity walked to the huge mirrored closet. Her blonde wavy hair flowed around as she opened the closet and shown the attire for the ceremony. +
"Tonight."
Through the silent halls of the Kuchiki mansion, only servants were being heard with trays of food and bottles of the finest alcohol.
Spike remained in his headquarters office until it was time for the ceremony. He didn't want to do this, getting married to another woman beside Hisana was unthinkable until that morning. Below all that, the woman was a stranger to him, the elders didn't give in any additional information about her - age, occupation, family members, basically something that could aid him to unfold the mystery around that woman.
The servants became louder and Spike presumed that the bride had arrived. Preparing for the worst, Spike walked to the main hall, where the elders and his grandfather were waiting for the guests.
Soon, the doors slid open and people walked in. The first one was immediately recognized by his long beard and calm face. Genryusai Yamamoto walked to the left side of the room followed by his lieutenant and a few servants while the girl walked towards the center.
The girl was applauded by the small audience, except by Spike. He stood next to Ginrei Kuchiki observing the girl he had already seen on a few occasions. He didn't know her name, but he knew that she was the lieutenant of the thirteenth squad. Maybe her identity was kept a secret, but Spike couldn't care less.
Feeling the eyes of the elders on him, Byakuya walked towards the girl but never made eye contact. When he was positioned next to her, the ceremony began and both of them sat down on the red cushion.
Every word that came out of her mouth made Spike feel anger. She swore to be by his side regardless of the matter. She promised that she would run the household as perfect as demanded. She giggled when Ginrei Kuchiki called her granddaughter. When it came to the final vow, Spike apologized to Hisana. The kiss he shared with that stranger wasn't even a kiss, he just lightly touched the girl's lips, not even bothering to look at her face for once. He didn't even notice how red her cheeks were or how soft her lips felt. He didn't care, he just wanted that ceremony to end as soon as possible.
Rarity was her name. Short, pitiful and uncommon name. From that night on, she was going to be his new Lady. Formally of course. There was just no way that she was going to be accepted.
When the ceremony ended, Spike left the main hall and walked to his room. The moment he was avoiding had come. For the ceremony to be complete, the consummation of the wedding needed to be done, in other words, Spike and Rarity needed to have fleshy intercourse. He didn't want to touch another woman's body, Hisana was the last one. Her small body who fused perfectly with his, her small figure that he embraced every night. Her gentle smile while she brushed his hair.
All those thoughts gave him the strength to get out of his room and head to her temple. There, he prayed for her and apologized for not taking care of her properly.
"You would still be here if I didn't put my duties first," Spike said to Hisana's photo. "I'm sorry."
Rarity sat on the empty mattress of her shared room. She wasn't ready to do what a couple needs to do, but somehow she calmed down when she saw that Spike wasn't in the room. Perhaps he was getting too shy. Rarity giggled at the thought.
She had changed her attire to a white simple long-sleeved kimono, the end of the sleeves had orange patterns which were flowers. Her hair was combed into a bun, but soon would be uncombed - or so she thought.
Spike opened the door and froze for a second. He didn't look at her, he just felt her presence inside. He closed the door behind him and grabbed a futon under the bed.
"You're going to sleep on the ground tonight," Spike stated blankly. "Tomorrow you'll be given room to sleep."
"I thought that we were supposed to-" Rarity was interrupted by the sound of the futon get thrown to the ground away from the bed.
"I will not touch you." Spike's voice sounded as cold as ice. "I will not share a bed with you and we'll not act like a couple in private."
"A-As you wish." Rarity bowed to Spike and soon she got everything set up to sleep. The kimono that Spike was supposed to undress was neatly folded next to the futon. The hair that Spike was supposed to untie was combed into a long blonde braid.
She didn't understand the reason why Spike acted like that. For the whole ceremony, he didn't look at her even once, the drink they shared felt bitter. The kiss that she dreamed wasn't even a kiss. The shyness that she thought he had was just a failed theory. He was acting like that because he didn't want to make any type of contact with her.
Turning to the other side to stop facing the bed they were supposed to share, she felt like the most wonderful day of her existence wasn't wonderful like she thought.
"Have a good night." She said to him.
She waited for his response, but it never came.
"Good morning, Lady Kuchiki." The maids bowed to Rarity. "We have your breakfast ready on your table."
"Thank you, I was planning to make my breakfast, but I fell asleep." Rarity looked apologetically to the maids. "I'm sorry to have you burdened by this matter."
"Not at all Lady Kuchiki!" One of the maids bowed once again. "We're honored to make you breakfast."
"Call me Rarity, there's no need to be so formal." Rarity giggled. "Then, I shall eat all that you had prepared for me."
It passed two weeks since Rarity has been married to Spike. Of course, it wasn't a full-fledged marriage because he refused to get intimate with her. Frankly, Rarity hadn't seen Spike since that night. He was a captain and she knew how busy captains could be, but she also knew that Spike returned home every day before dinner and yet, she eats her meals alone. There was no way that they could cross paths because Spike chose a room for her that was placed in the opposite way of his own. The positive side of it, Rarity's room was in front of a beautiful garden that she started to admire every day.
The elders of the Kuchiki clan left the mansion days after the ceremony. There were documents to be signed by Rarity and duties that she must fulfill, such as running the household while Spike is away. It wasn't difficult for her because she already did that at her grandfather's place. The servants became used to have her around helping them - even though she wasn't supposed to.
The elders couldn't be more pleased with their choice. There was no other option, they needed Rarity in the Kuchiki clan. She was the only way to continue the bloodline.
At that moment, Rarity was in the kitchen alone after she sent some maids to buy ingredients that were running out of stock. She wasn't tired she wanted to have more action. She thought of going to her squad and see how was everyone going, but then an additional idea came with that.
Grabbing some of the cookies that she baked and placing them in a safe jar, Rarity wore the black kimono that she missed so much and placed her zanpakuto on the helm.
Dropping by the sixth squad first, Rarity wanted to surprise Spike with the cookies. Soon, she would be spotted by none other than her good friend and colleague Renji Abarai, lieutenant of the sixth squad.
"What are you doing here Rarity?" He asked in confusion. "Shouldn't you be enjoying your honeymoon vacation?"
"Got bored and decided to drop out to see how's everyone going." Rarity lifted the bag of cookies. "And came to give some of these to Captain Spike."
"Why are you using honorifics with him?" Renji seemed confused. "You're his wife."
"Nobility stuff." She lied. There was just no way that Spike would be pleased if she called him just by his name, even though they don't talk since the wedding.
"Right, do you want me to deliver those or do you want to go yourself?" Renji smiled.
"Just tell me where his office is, it's a surprise." Rarity giggled.
Renji left Rarity when she just needed to walk straight to a wooden door because Spike would sense his reiatsu sooner or later. As for Rarity, she was already using a Kido spell that cleared up her presence. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
"Come in." She heard her husband command.
When she closed the door and Spike noticed her presence, his eyes widened for a short amount of time before assuming a cold gaze.
"What are you doing here?" He asked with indifference.
"I was passing by and decided to come here." Rarity smiled. "Renji told me where your office was."
"Is there something you wish to discuss with me?" He asked bluntly.
"N-No, not at all." Rarity grabbed the bag of cookies. "I just wanted to give you some of these." She placed the bag on his desk. "I baked them myself." She smiled at him.
However, her smile faded when the cookies fell on the floor, destroyed. Spike had tossed them out of the desk as if they were some kind of filthy object.
"I do not need you to bake food for me." He continued. "Just fulfill your duties as Lady Kuchiki."
"You didn't need to do that." Rarity picked the bag, thankfully there were a couple of cookies that survived. "You could have told that you didn't want them."
"From now on, do not offer me your food." He stated while reading his papers. "It must be poisoned."
"As you wish." Rarity bowed to him and walked towards the door when his voice stopped her.
"You're forbidden to visit me unless I call for you."
She said nothing and just left the office. That day couldn't go worse. Spike was a total jerk to her. It was infuriating because he didn't have a reason! Rarity just looked like she couldn't do anything properly in front of him.
Sad and angry, she flash-stepped to the north. All the daily duties were done and since she had a lot of free time for a couple of days more, she must use it well. A half-hour later, she landed in that nostalgic small lake where her mother and she used to go. Next to the shore, there was a small wooden boat, made by herself and her mother.
Rarity climbed up the boat and rammed towards the center of the lake. In that silence, Rarity laid on the bottom of the boat and stared at the clouded sky. Things weren't going as she thought they would. They were going to the total opposite. By that moment, Spike and she were supposed to visit each other, have dinner together, take walks through Rukongai, but none of those were happening soon.
"The future looks very dark, mother," Rarity said. "I don't know if I can find a way to melt the ice around his heart."
Every time Rarity made a mistake on her relationship with Spike, she had promised to go to the lake and write on her hidden notebook - that she had been using as a diary for a very long time. For the safety of her secrets, she placed a seal that the diary could only be seen by her and her mother.
With a pencil, she started to write that day's events.
Here I am again, five days after the incident happened, I couldn't come here because lieutenant and household duties together are taking too much of my time. Lord Spike is (again) mad at me. I've already written here that he had forbidden me to visit him unless he called for me, but that day was different. Spike got injured during a fight with a strong Hollow. Renji assured me that it wasn't a deep wound, but I still insisted on visiting him.
Rarity sighed as she paused for a moment to recall what happened. She was so worried about him, she couldn't care less about his rules. She needed to make sure that he was okay.
Entering the fourth squad barracks, she spotted Isane, one of her most loyal friend, and asked to lead her to Spike.
Once Rarity got into the room, she spotted a sleeping Spike in front of her. He had a piece of cloth on his arm, blood was still tainting the bandages. The wound couldn't be that superficial either. She pushed a chair and sat next to him, admiring his sleeping figure. The way that his chest slowly went up and down, the way that his black hair crowned the pillow below it. The way his face looked peaceful.
He groaned in his sleep but didn't wake up. To calm him down, Rarity held his hand. His hand was bigger than she thought, his fingers were long and thin. She had the urge to entwine her fingers in his, but she wasn't allowed to. Frankly, she wasn't probably allowed to care about him.
"I'm going to always care," She whispered. "Because you're my hero."
The next morning, Spike was feeling better. The wound must have closed while he rested. A reiatsu was inside the room with him, a reiatsu that he had gone used to sense around the mansion. There she was, sleeping soundly on a chair next to him. Her blonde hair covered half of her face, but she was evidently in that rooms for hours, maybe the whole night.
Spike then noticed her hand holding his. He retracted his hand as if hers was the fire. The warm feeling of her hand didn't leave too easily. There were waves of her reiatsu around his hand, she must have healed him throughout the entire night.
Both surprised and angry, Spike got up and left the fourth squad barracks. She was way too dangerous to be around at that moment.
When Rarity finally got home, a servant came to her.
"Lord Spike wishes you to join him for dinner."
Full of hope, she got dressed neatly for the occasion and walked towards the dining hall, where she spotted not only Spike but also Ginrei and her grandfather.
"Ah, Rarity." Ginrei Kuchiki started while they were eating. "I'm so thankful to have you around this mansion. The servants couldn't be more motivated to work, the gardens look amazing and all the duties are made on time."
"There's no need to thank me, I'm simply doing what I need to do." She smiled towards the elder.
"But you must take care of your health, overwork isn't a good thing," Genryusai stated. "I don't want you to work to the limit like you always do."
"I'll try to work less hard." Rarity looked secretly at Spike. He was hearing all of those compliments, with a little bit of faith, he would compliment her too. "I'm just trying to release Spike from half of his duties, it must be tiring to do all of these things alone."
Spike didn't even react. He just continued to eat his meals as if she hadn't spoken.
"Well, we now have some matters to discuss." Genryusai looked at his granddaughter. "You can go now."
"Certainly, enjoy the rest of the night." Ora bowed to the elders and left the room.
She went back to her room, where she started to polish her zanpakuto. Its name was Sesshoumaru and it was an acid-type of a sword. Its Shikai name it's different from its Bankai name, but since she hasn't mastered Bankai yet, she prefers to only call it Sesshoumaru.
Rarity was polishing her blade when she sensed someone near her room. By the person's reiatsu, she could recognize who he was. Spike stood in front of her room and slid the door without her permission, not as it mattered to her.
"Cleaning your sword when you haven't spilled blood is a weak way to act," Spike stated.
"I'm not cleaning, I'm sharping the blade," Rarity told him.
"Let me just say this once." She could feel his cold eyes on her back. "You do not need to go to the hospital whenever I'm injured. I do not want your pity and I do not wish to have your company unless it's necessary."
"I understand." She replied.
"You can charm the elders, but you cannot charm me." He said. "With those tricks of yours."
With that, she didn't feel his presence anymore. She let out a long sigh before putting her blade inside its sheath.
Why can't he understand that I'm just trying to help him? All I wanted from him was a smile. Is that too much to ask?
Rarity placed the pencil inside its case and leaned back from the boat's bottom. The sun was already setting, but she didn't want to leave just yet.
She was kind of scared of going home. Spike already noticed that she goes out whenever she has time to do it, but getting home this late can mean problems.
"It wouldn't hurt to sleep here for the night." The wind blew softly, making the water wave. "I still have that blanket that we used on our picnics, mother." She smiled gently. "I just wished you were here to share it with me."
Rarity got home before the servants woke up. There was no sound around the mansion, it was the perfect timing for sneaking into her room - or so she thought.
Right after she landed in the garden in front of her room, a cold feeling of a blade against her neck stopped her to go further. Spike blade was ready to cut her throat if she moved a single inch.
"Such a naughty woman," Spike said. "Going out at noon and only return home at dawn. I cannot describe how much disgusted I am right now."
"Why would you be disgusted?" Rarity asked him. "You don't even know where I was."
"I couldn't care less, but this household has rules and one of the rules is the curfew."
"I apologize, I'll be more careful." Rarity stood in that position as long as Spike didn't put his sword aside.
"Those empty words mean nothing." He said bluntly. "I'll let you go this time, but the next, my blade is going to cut your throat, are we clear?"
"Yes, I understand."
Inside the room, alone and sad, Ora did not cry, for as much as she wanted to. That day was her mother's birthday.
"Well, happy birthday to you, mother." She watched the sun rising while Spike's words filled her mind.
It became a routine to go to the lake after lunch. Spike and Rarity married eight months ago, but they were still strangers to each other. Spike stopped calling for her, stopped going to her room and Rarity made sure that she was at home at the time of curfew. Dinners were lonely, nights were lonely. Rarity admired the stars from her room since she couldn't do it from the lake, it didn't have the same feeling, the stars looked empty and sorrowful from the mansion.
Rarity felt empty too, those eight months weren't very pleasant, Spike would make harmful comments every time she made a mistake. He would call her useless and pitiful. He would say that she's a disgrace to Kuchiki clan. Rarity learned how to bear those comments, they wouldn't hurt her as they did before. She only felt sad because her hero wasn't the one that she remembered. The one that took care of her when an Adjucha invaded a side of Rukongai, the one that fled with her to a safe place while the captain took the monster down. The one that told her that everything was going to be okay.
"Well, people change" Rarity muttered as she kept doing her paperwork at her office. Her lieutenant activities were back to what they were, so she took care of the household matters early in the mornings before going to the thirteenth squad. Everyone respected her for being hardworking, but like her grandfather said, overworking was not good for her health.
Like that day, Rarity was unwell. She had a high fever and her vision was blurry when she woke up. The servants noticed her unhealthiness and advised her to rest for the day, however, she didn't want to face Spike's negativity. He would insult her when he had the opportunity, she was not going to give him the chance.
Some paperwork needed to be sent to the other squads regarding the sudden dryness of certain areas of Rukongai, Captain Ukitake suspected that a Hollow was the cause. The paperwork was already given to the majority of the squads - except for the fifth, the sixth and the twelfth.
Sighing, Rarity got up from her chair and stumbled a little before recomposing. The sixth squad was the only one she started to avoid the most, she would send the documents through the third seat officer, but she was taking care of the captain's health.
She walked to the twelfth squad since it was the one near her squad. Rarity gave the documents to Nemu, the lieutenant of the twelfth squad. She gladly accepted and walked back to her captain's office. Thankfully, Rarity didn't have to face Captain Mayuri.
The fifth squad was the next stop. There, she spotted Momo with papers in her hands. She called her and gave her the papers for her captain. She thanked her and walked away to fulfill the remaining duties.
Rarity didn't have the luck to see Renji around when she arrived at the sixth squad. She got nervous to face Spike, it passed weeks since she last saw him - he scolded her for not watering one of the flowers.
She knocked on the door and she heard Spike tell her to come in. Once again, he froze for a second when he saw her. "I told you not to visit me unless I called for you."
"It's not personal matters, Lord Spike." She bowed to him. "There's paperwork that I've been giving to all squads."
"Leave it there and get out." He turned his back to her.
"C-certainly." Rarity was feeling a little light-headed and stumbled a little on the way to his desk. He must have noticed the irregularity of her steps.
"You're getting excited to get out of your duties." He said. "Who's the man you had charmed today?"
"What are you talking about?" Her voice sounded weak. She pinched the bridge of her nose.
"The servants are gossiping around the house, you go out once you're done with your duties. Every day." His voice became colder. "They are saying that you meet with a lover." He turned around and walked towards her. "I must say that you're more naughty than I had thought."
****THIS HAS ADULT THEMES AND SITUATIONS, SMUT, TABOO THEMES****
"Stop it," Rarity whispered.
"As if you could order me." Spike leaned and whispered in her ear. "You're not my wife, to begin with."
"Stop it, I don't want to hear this." Rarity stumbled back to the wall. The pain inside her head was getting worse.
"Why?" Spike walked to her either way. "Do you perhaps wanted me to accept you as my wife? You're a fool." He grabbed her chin, making her face his cold and arrogant eyes.
"You're not going to be my wife, not in private. Do you know why?" He whispered in her ear. "I despise you for coming into this household, I was forced to marry you because the clan needs an heir."
She closed her eyes violently, the pain was getting unbearable.
Her breath became irregular, the sweat on her forehead started to get visible and her face paled. She needed to get out of that room, she needed to be away from him. She tried to get up, but Spike put her down.
"I'm not done." He grabbed her neck. That's when he noticed. Her body was burning and sweaty. He looked at her face and saw that she wasn't fine. Visibly shocked, he retracted from her.
"Are you done?"
Rarity weakly managed to get up. "I'll take my leave then."It was raining outside his office. She must have soaked herself in this rain. She was not healthy. She must have overworked, that foolish woman. He should not care, she was probably at home or in the fourth squad. Probably.
He got out of his office and walked down the headquarters, he needed to put himself at ease. Just see if she was resting.
Then he froze. Rarity was on the floor, soaked, panting. It reminded him of Hisana in her last years of living.
She was too weak, high fever, she would faint on the floor. His body acted on its own will, he ran to her, but he was soon stopped by an arm. His lieutenant, Renji Abarai had stopped him to go closer to the woman."Captain, return to the office." He said. "I'm going to take her to the fourth squad."
"No need to do unnecessary things." Spike pushed Renji's arm out of the way and walked closer to Rarity. "I'm going to take responsibility."
"Why would you do that when you're the one who put her in this state?" Renji asked while grabbing his captain's arm. "Don't hurt her more, she's not in the condition to take more of your insults."
Spike looked ridiculous alone in the rain.
Renji took Rarity to the fourth squad one hour ago and yet, there he stood looking at the puddles of rain. He felt horrible for what he did, but he was just saying how he felt. "Hisana, it's for you that I'm doing this." For some reason, the rain poured even harder, as if the skies were saddened. Rarity rested for the next days at home, she didn't have paperwork or household duties. That made her even more pitiful. She had nothing to occupy her mind, only Spike harmful words floated.
You're not my wife.
You're useless.
You're a disgrace.
I was forced to marry you.
She was interrupted by the sliding sound of her door. There he was, the man that she wanted to avoid the most, the man she was supposed to hate, the man that did nothing but hurt her feelings and break her heart. Spike looked at her with those indifferent eyes.
"So you're awake." He closed the door.
"W-What do you want, Lord Spike?" She forced a smile. He shoved a piece of wood to her futon. In the piece of wood, her name was engraved next to a small painting of her mother's hand. Her mother graved her hand mark on the side of the boat next to Rarity's name.
Mother, why are you doing that next to my name?
To remind you that mom is always with you, my butterfly.
"How could you?" Rarity's hands clenched into fists.
"One of the servants followed you one of these days. He saw you in this boat." He turned his back. "You should thank me for not destroying the whole thing, it was a very pitiful looking boat."
Suddenly Spike was shoved to the ground with a very powerful punch. He could have reacted to the action, but he let himself get pinned to the ground. Rarity's blade was vertically stable against his throat, Rarity was on top of him with teary eyes.
"Why did you do it?!" She shouted. "Do you have any reason?!"
"You're unfocused because of that silly boat." He closed his eyes. "I simply cleared you from nuisances."
After a long moment of silence, Spike felt warm drops of water on his face. He opened his eyes only to find a very sad woman. He thought that she would be enraged, but sad... he didn't expect that.
"That was the last present that my mother gave me." She whispered. "And you took it away from me." Spike's eyes widened in shock.
"Your mother?"
"You took it away from me!" She sobbed. "Why are you so cruel to me?!"
He stayed in silence watching the female with sadness. It was hurting him to see her like that.
"Why are you so cold to me?!" She continued. "It's been eight months, we weren't supposed to be this way! I just want to befriend you, is that too much to ask?" Her grip on the sword loosened.
"Why do you always call me useless? Why do you always have to point fingers at everything I do wrong? Why do you hate me so much?!" She sobbed.
"You're not Hisana, that's all." He continued with his eyes closed. "You're not going to replace her."
"That's your excuse?" She looked enraged. "That's why you're always avoiding me?"
"Precisely."
"You're still focused on the past, you're longing for a dead woman, she's not coming back!" Rarity shouted.
In the next moment, a painful feeling hit her. Eyes widened and full of tears, Rarity touched the slight pink cheek that Spike just slapped. He, on the other hand, looked fiercely at her, anger filling his beautiful face.
"Do not ever recall my wife." He said lowly. "You have no right for that, you're just a baby producer. You have no right to say a thing about her."
"I'm done." That's the only thing said while grabbing her sword.
She passed by him with her head low.
"Where do you think you're going?" He stopped her by grabbing her arm.
"Home." She said.
"This is your home, you no longer are a member of the Yamamoto family." He looked at her head.
"I'm not a Kuchiki member either." She got free from Spike grasp. "So I don't see the problem."
"If you go, you're not setting foot in this household again." He closed his eyes.
"That's what you wanted right?" She looked at him. "To get rid of me?"
The next morning, Rarity was no longer a Kuchiki member, at least in her heart. She explained to her grandfather that things weren't going smoothly and she needed some time alone. Genryusai Yamamoto apologized to Ginrei Kuchiki in a private meeting.
"Spike sure didn't give her any chance to befriend him, it's not her fault." Ginrei sipped his tea.
"She's going to be sent on a mission to watch a town in the world of the Living," Genryusai explained. "It's a way to clear her thoughts."
"Seems like the best option for this matter." The old men sipped in silence their tea.
"Karakura town, huh?" Rarity read the scroll that contained the details of her mission. "Seems like I'm going to watch over for any paranormal activity." Rarity had been in the world of the Living when she was young, it was similar to Soul Society, but humans were way too different. They had needs that most of the souls don't have.
"Are you sure about this, Rarity?" Captain Ukitake asked while placing a hand on her shoulder. "It's going to be a whole year without visiting Soul Society."
"Don't worry about me, Captain." Rarity forced a smile. "I'm going to need this time."
"What about Spike?" He asked. "Did he agree on this?"
"Lord Spike doesn't care about what I do, he must be happy for not having me around," Rarity said sadly. "Well, off I go." +
"Take care, Rarity." Captain Ukitake waved her.
It passed over a year since Rarity left Soul Society and watched over Karakura town. It was quite the city, she had loads of fun exploring the places. That town also had a particular amount of people with a high rate of spiritual pressure many people could see ghosts and spirits compared to other cities.
Rarity had befriended some spirits hanging around, spirits that were still reluctant in parting to Soul Society. She always told them that they should pass over, but they say that their time is not over. Some of them desperately wanted to set free from the world of Living and came to her for that purpose. She gladly passed them over, after all, it's her job.
Recently, she had been killing more Hollows. It was a strange amount of those masked beasts to appear so numbered in one single city, perhaps they were attracted to the spiritual pressure of the citizens and spirits floating around. But every single one was taken down by Rarity, she was the guardian of this city after all.
She didn't receive any letters from Spike in the meantime she was there. Only some officers and her grandfather would contact her from time to time. She felt great, the pain is her heart had slowly faded, even though that some days she cries over the fact that Spike had destroyed her most treasured gift from her mother.
Shaking her head to push away the lingering sadness, Rarity made her way through the city to watch over spirits. One of them was a little girl who died days ago near a quiet neighborhood. She didn't want to pass over because she had a friend who placed flowers for her every week.
Rarity couldn't do anything but be touched by her friend's actions. Even though the little girl was dead, she still had someone in the Living that cared for her.
When Rarity arrived at the block that the little girl always plays around, she couldn't sense her presence. That was weird, she usually stood in this area at this time to talk with Ora. Feeling uneasy, Rarity looked around to find her little reiatsu. Then, she spotted it, a couple of meters away from the main streets of the city, the little girl's spiritual pressure and an evil reiatsu.
"A Hollow" Rarity said when she flash-stepped to the west.
There, a giant Hollow was destroying the buildings he passed through. The little girl was running away from it, but she stumbled over something and fell. Not to mention, there was a very high reiatsu around, Rarity assumed that it was coming from the Hollow because humans couldn't have that much of spiritual pressure.
In a flash, Rarity took out her sword and sliced the Hollow in half. However, high reiatsu didn't fade. She was certain that she had slain the Hollow, then why was the reiatsu still around?
Throughout the day, she kept following the reiatsu trace. It passed by the little girl's block, but she could only see a couple of humans walking by that area. She spotted an orange-haired boy placing the jar of flowers offered to the girl in its place, but Rarity didn't pay attention to him, he was probably just picking it up because he was a good person.
However, the more the spiritual pressure followed the boy, the more she became suspicious. She followed him to his house and waited for the night to fall. She needed to know where that reiatsu came from.
As the night fell above the city of Karakura, she silently opened the window of the boy's room and entered. The reiatsu was higher in here than any other place in the city, she could feel another reiatsu in the floor below, but it wasn't as high as the one she was feeling inside that room.
"Perhaps it's just a ghost mocking me," She mumbled. "Perhaps it's Urahara pranking me with one of his inventions again." She sighed. "I'm going crazy."
Then her head was smacked.
She turned around in annoyance and saw the boy looking at her. The orange-haired boy had brown eyes and sharp facial features, he was good-looking too, thin body but strong.
"What are you doing inside my house?!" He asked her.
"C-Can you see me?" She was surprised, it was rare for a human to see her.
"What are you, some kind of crazy-ass ghost?" He told her. "I've already warned you guys to say out of my house."
She scoffed. "As if I am a lowly spirit. I'm a death god."
His eyes widened. "You're what?"
"Death God, Shinigami." She looked at him amused. "Please remember it."
"What are you doing in my room?" He asked. "Are you here to take me?"
"Don't be stupid." She chuckled. "Shinigami only take spirits to Soul Society."
"Soul Society?" He tilted his head in confusion.
Rarity sighed and grabbed a piece of paper and a pencil on his desk. She then started sketching all the explanations to tell him. As she showed him her drawings and explained to him what Soul Society was - along with those who can and cannot enter it - he criticized her drawing skills and called her crazy.
Ora was getting pissed, so she simply performed a restrain Kido spell on him.
"What did you do?!" He shouted. "I can't move!"
"It's a Kido spell." She said. "You cannot get rid of it."
Then she felt it. A Hollow was right in front of the house. She felt the boy stiffen as he felt the Hollow's presence. It was impossible, a human shouldn't be able to feel Hollows. She darted off the room hearing the boy complaining about her spell.
She didn't have time for that, she needed to slay the Hollow. Once outside, Rarity saw the masked monster grabbing a young human girl with black hair, she somewhat resembled the orange-haired boy. Rarity blamed herself for not sensing the Hollow sooner.
The beast noticed her and laughed evilly. "Look what we have here, a shinigami. I'm honored to have you here while I eat this appetizer." It shook the girl in his hand.
"So you have a tongue to speak?" Rarity said. "Guess that you're stronger than the ones I've been slaying these days." She unsheathed her sword. "But it's no use, you're going to die here."
"Says who?" The monster mocked. " If you approach me with that sword, this little human is going to be crushed."
"Damn it." She mumbled under her breath. She needed to think quickly on another plan, she didn't want the girl to die.
A blurry image of orange emerged in front of her and her eyes widened in shock. The boy was free from her spell. He looked exhausted, but in his eyes, there was determination and bravery. The boy jumped towards the beast, but it was soon shoved aside as if he was some kind of fly. But that didn't stop him from charging again towards the monster. Who could have thought that the boy could have such a strong reiatsu?
Rarity grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pushed him aside. "Don't interfere in this matter, human." She grabbed her sword. "Your attacks are useless to the Hollow."
"I can't let my sister die!" He shouted. "I need to save her!"
"You are brave, but you cannot win this match without a proper weapon." She continued to attack the Hollow. It was strong, but it had the girl on its hands.
It used her as shield and Rarity stopped her attack, as soon as she did that, the Hollow used his claws to strike at her and one of them managed to cut her. She felt her wound, it was deeper than she thought.
She retracted for a couple of seconds and charged up again, this time aiming for the Hollow's arm. She cut the arm in half and the girl was set free. The boy grabbed his sister and placed her in a safe spot, next he joined that stranger that risked her life to save his sister. She was wounded, she couldn't destroy the masked beast without help.
"Let me help you!" He told her. "Tell me what to do!"
"There's only a way to help me." She said while resting against the wall. "Boy, do you wish to protect your family? Do you wish to save those in need?" She grabbed her sword once again.
"More than anything." He said.
"Then you need to become a shinigami." She raised her blade towards the boy. "If you let yourself get pierced by my sword, I can transfer some of my powers to you and you will have the powers to protect people from Hollows, boy."
"The name is Ichigo Kurosaki and I'm counting on you, shinigami." He held the end of the blade and placed it right on his chest.
"I'm not shinigami, my name is Rarity." She smiled at the boy as she pressed firmly her blade against the boy's chest.
It happened in an instant. Her spiritual pressure was almost taken completely by Ichigo, he changed into a shinigami, his sword's blade was huge, it shocked Rarity. +
Ichigo slew the Hollow without effort. He had talent, bravery and the will to protect the others, indeed the right traits of a
death god.
____
Ichigo Kurosaki became a substitute soul reaper after that. He did the job that Rarity was supposed to do since he had drawn out almost eighty percent of her spiritual pressure, Rarity couldn't do much. She got a gigai, a method used only in cases of emergency or lack of strength. She kept herself inside the gigai almost all the time, she had enough energy to only perform small Kido spells. Her reiatsu was restoring slower than it should, probably because she was in the world of the Living.
Rarity became somehow a human. She started to attend Ichigo's school to warn him in case if Hollows showed up. Ichigo's friends soon became comfortable with her presence, after all, it was not usual to have a foreigner transfer student - like their teacher had introduced her as. She didn't have a family name, Rarity didn't want to use her grandfather's name, much less Kuchiki's. People thought it was weird, but soon the topic dropped low when she entered the classroom. The boys wowed by her physical appearance, she was indeed a beauty. Blonde wavy hair that flowed until her waist, average height and curvy body, dark lavender eyes, and soft facial features. It made her look like she came out of a painting of a goddess.
Ichigo also thought she was pretty, but he didn't think of her with any other interests unless friend.
At that moment, Rarity was having lunch with the girls of her class, Inoue Orihime was the friendliest with her and soon Rarity and her turned friends. They were having lunch when a girl with red hair and red glasses - that Rarity didn't remember her name - looked at her and smiled.
"Do you have a boyfriend, Rarity?" She asked mischievously.
Spike came into her mind for a long second, but she shoved though of him aside. "Not quite."
"You and Ichigo are always together, I thought you guys were lovers or something." She laughed.
"Don't be silly, Ichigo and I are just friends." Rarity tried to open her juice, but it had some sort of mechanism that Rarity couldn't decipher how it worked.
"Here, you put the straw in this plastic and pierce it." Inoue showed her how it worked. "Now you drink the juice for the straw."
"Thank you, to my house, there's not something like this." Rarity giggled, it was true, in Soul Society there wasn't something similar to that invention, humans were amazing.
"Are you rich?" She red-haired girl asked.
"Well, my grandfather is some kind of ruler in my hometown" Rarity stated.
"Oh, a president?" Her eyes twinkled. "A CEO? A king?"
"Just stop." Tatsuki knocked her head.
Rarity laughed at the girl's behavior, they seemed like they were good people, but she just couldn't understand what they were talking about. Rarity looked up to the cherry blossom tree above them, it reminded her of Spike and Soul Society, the place that she belonged to. She was an outsider here and soon she needed to come back, but how was she supposed to return when she didn't have reiatsu to open the gates to Soul Society?
It passed a week, Rarity's reiatsu was still the same as it was. She felt helpless and useless, it hurt her pride as a lieutenant to let Ichigo do her work. And she was sure that Soul Society knew about that by now. She had an ominous feeling that something was about to happen, something bad.
She clutched Kon against her chest. Kon was a mod soul that took care of Ichigo's body while he was on his shinigami duties. Kon became one of her companions when she was feeling down. He listened to her and - like a stuffed toy - comforted her. She knew that Kon was a pervert mod soul, but she couldn't help to embrace him.
"Something bad is going to happen Kon" Rarity whispered.
"W-Why do you say that?" Kon was flustered by the girl's behavior.
"I don't know, I just feel it." She sighed. "Don't talk to Ichigo about this."
"Alright, I won't." He was lying, he was going to tell Ichigo.
When the night fell, Rarity took a walk around Ichigo's neighborhood. The feeling of uneasiness never left her, it was like it was following her. It was almost unbearable, she knew that feeling because it was engraved on her for months - eight months to be exact.
She came to a stop when a sword almost sliced her arm. She retracted a few steps, scared and surprised. When she looked up, she saw Renji crouched down, looking at her with an arrogant smile.
"So you were in a gigai, that's why it was difficult to find you." He scoffed. "Your reiatsu it's so weak that I can't almost sense it."
"Why are you here, Renji?" Rarity asked still in shock.
"We are here to take you back of course, by Captain General's orders." He smirked.
"We?" It sounded like a whisper. She didn't want to see him, she didn't want to go back.
Spike came into her view in the next second. Oh, he looked as handsome as she remembered. His sharp facial features, his black long hair, his thin but strong body. Her traitor heart skipped a beat at the sight of him, he still had that effect on her and she hated it.
"Rarity Kuchiki, we are here to arrest you," Renji said. "For transferring your powers to a human."
It was her fault, she knew that she was going to be punished as soon as she pierced her sword through Ichigo. But getting arrested was too much.
"You don't understand the situation, I'm sure that Captain-General will hear my story!" Rarity said.
"So you can manipulate him?" Spike cold voice echoed. "Having an affair with a human is forbidden."
There he was again, insulting her pride and dignity. She clenched her fist. "I did no such thing, I would never get so low."
"You weakened by that human, we must kill him," Renji said.
"You wouldn't..." Rarity gasped. "It's against our nature."
"We have permission to fatally harm the human who stole your powers, Rarity." He continued. "Where is he?"
Rarity kept silent, they wouldn't hurt Ichigo, if they clashed sword's with him, he wouldn't stand a chance. Fearing for her friend's safety, Rarity drew her sword, she was weak at the moment, but she needed to buy some time and space between Ichigo and them.
"Oh, so you're going to betray Soul Society?" Spike raised an eyebrow. "For a lowly human's sake."
"I don't have a choice, I must protect the innocent." Rarity raised her eyes to look at her husband. "As a shinigami, I cannot let you hurt the Living's souls."
"Then I'll be your opponent, Rarity." Renji charged up towards Rarity, she managed to dodge his attack, but she was too weak to handle him. Usually, when they fought in Soul Society, Rarity had always the big hand, because of her sword's abilities, however, with such reiatsu she couldn't summon her sword's powers. She dodged and dodged, getting their attention away from Ichigo's place.
It was almost a successful plan until Ichigo showed up. He was in his shinigami form, with his enormous sword on his shoulder. Rarity looked horrified, she tried to avoid that moment, Kon must have told Ichigo what she said.
"What are you doing to Rarity?" Ichigo pointed his sword at Renji.
"So you're the one that stole her powers," Renji said enraged. "We are here to arrest her because of you!"
"I won't let you take her," Uryu Ishida - a guy that proclaimed himself as the last Quincy and Rarity and Ichigo has had a duel against - appeared out of nowhere. "She still owes me a fight."
"Please, stop this." Rarity whispered, no one listened to her. If they continued like that, Spike would take action and she knew how merciless he was.
Spike kept looking at them, a few meters away from the match. Rarity knew he was waiting for Renji to take care of the nuisances first. If he joined Renji, blood would be all over the place.
"Stop this!" Rarity shouted and stood between Ichigo and Renji. She grabbed their swords - Renji's was in its Shikai form. She was injured deeply by his sword, but she didn't care. She needed to stop that match.
"Rarity, get out," Renji said enraged. "I will kill you if you don't move."
"I will return to Soul Society, stop this!" Rarity said with a trembling voice. She was speaking to Spike. "Please."
"Very well, you know your place." Spike turned around to open the gate, but Ichigo charged against him. The moment after, Ichigo was on the floor with a huge cut across his chest. Uryu was injured by Renji, but he was conscious.
Ichigo tried to get up, but Rarity's voice stopped him. "Don't get up, stay on the ground. Appreciate Captain Kuchiki's kindness to let you live." Her voice was trembling. "Just live your human life."
"I'm sorry, Ichigo," Rarity whispered as Ichigo read her lips in shock.
The gates to Soul Society were open, Rarity followed her friend and her husband. Soon she was returning home, but she didn't feel happiness.
"You are to be executed in a month." The eldest man of Central 46 above her declared. "Even though you are a Yamamoto and an amazing shinigami, what you did is unforgivable."
"But if let me explain.." She mumbled.
"Your excuses will not affect your fate." He said.
"I-I understand," Rarity bowed towards the elders, the main rulers of Soul Society. "I-I will accept my fate."
"You're going to return to your cell in squad six. Dismissed."
Rarity was followed by six guards, she was still recovering from the lack of reiatsu for the past weeks, but soon the elders ordered to conceal it with a red collar device. As a prisoner, Rarity could only receive visits from the judges, the servants, her grandfather, and Spike - the latter never came into her view again.
Leaned against the bars of her cell, she admired the moon through the tiny window of her new room. It was her fate to die, she had to accept it. There was no reason to refuse, no one will come to save her. Tears flowed through her pretty face, she wanted to see the lake one more time. She wanted to be with her friends once more and grave their smiles in her mind. She wanted to have a match with Uryu, she wanted to train Ichigo, she wanted to tend Captain Ukitake's illness, she wanted to bake cookies for her grandfather, she wanted to see Byakuya for the last time.
Hanataro came in without her noticing. He was the caretaker assigned to her, he healed her injuries, gave her meals, cleaned her cell and watched over her when she took baths. He was the only one in the past days that visited her, he often asked her how the world of the Living was like, she spoke to him with nostalgia.
A commotion was heard outside, but Rarity paid no attention. In fourteen days before her execution, she was moved to Senzaikyū, the Palace of the Remorseful Sin. The white tower that was connected to the Sōgyoku's Hill, the place where lies the blade that would end her existence. Rarity didn't beg for her life, she accepted her fate. One of those days Renji told her that Spike was having a meeting with the Central 46 to withdraw her execution, but Rarity simply smiled to Renji.
"We both know that he won't do that, Renji." Rarity's smile broke Renji's heart, she had given up her life for a human. "He's not that kind of man."
"You don't know that!" Renji tried to cheer her up. "Your life can mean something to him."
"As a baby maker, I mean something," Rarity stated. "But as his wife, he would prefer to rescue a Hollow."
"Rarity, don't joke around," Renji forced a laugh. "Even when you're sentenced to death you still make fun of yourself!"
"Right?" Rarity giggled. "It's not something to be saddened about."
Renji's forced smile faded completely. "It's not something to be saddened about, you say?" He clenched his fist. "Rarity, how can you-"
"Do me a favor and go shape your eyebrows." She laughed. "Their ink is fading on one side."
"Fine!" He shouted. "Do whatever you want then!" With that, he left the giant tower.
She was alone again. The palace was empty, no other prisoner was sentenced to that final punishment in years. She climbed the stairs to the last floor, it had the best view of her final destination, but she could also see Rukongai and some parts of the capital. People looked like ants from there, but she watched them as they lived their lives without having to worry about noble duties and responsibilities.
Five intruders invaded the capital, one of them with Ichigo's physical features. Rarity got that message through Renji, who came to drop her meal. She widened her eyes in shock, Ichigo came to save her. Once again, he's risking his life to protect the others in need.
Rarity wished that he didn't come to save her, she hoped that he had given up. He didn't have to do this, she was already dead. There was nothing he could do.
The fights kept happening, the captain of the fifth squad, Sosuke Aizen was murdered and Momo was captured for attacking a lieutenant and a captain. Things kept happening around her world and she couldn't do anything.
The door of the palace opened and Hanataro came into view, he brought with him a man she had never seen before. He was a tall muscular man with chin-length black hair and partially missing left eyebrow. He wore a vest, scarf, bandanna, and a pair of goggles. Hanataro introduced him as Ganju Shiba.
"Excuse my manners, Miss." The man Ganju put Rarity on his shoulder and ran out with Hanataro following.
"Put me down!" Rarity shouted. "Who told you to do this?!"
"I owe Ichigo a big one, so I'm helping in rescuing you." He said while he climbed down the stairs.
"It's impossible, you'll get severely punished for helping a Ryoka. Please put me down!" She shouted.
"Ichigo had already defeated Kenpachi Zaraki, his third seat, and Renji Abarai." He stated. "Uryu injured that weirdo captain from the twelfth squad. I managed to defeat a weird dude from the eleventh squad, so shut up!" He shouted. "We are strong, we can rescue you, all you need to do is stay pretty."
Rarity was astonished. Ichigo defeated Captain Zaraki, Renji, and Ikkaku? Uryu severely injured Captain Kurotsuchi? It couldn't be possible, they weren't that strong when she last saw them. Ichigo was on the verge of dying! They were doing this for her sake, but she couldn't let them get hurt anymore.
Her predictions were right when she saw him. Spike sparkle stood in the middle of the only way to get out of the tower. He blankly looked at Ganju.
"Put me down," Rarity stated. "This instant."
"I can fight him, he's just a little captain." Ganju laughed. "Let's see what you got, fancy pants."
"You wish to die helping the sinner?" He drew out his sword.
"She's your wife!" Hanataro said. "You should be the one trying to rescue her!"
"My wife is dead, she's merely a womb," Spike stated. "She's nothing but scum right now."
"How can someone be so cruel!?" Rarity heard Ichigo shout. No, he was going to be killed.
"I told you that I wouldn't forgive you came here, Ichigo!" Rarity said. "You're an idiot!"
"Don't forgive me then, but I'll save you from this coward." Ichigo drew out his sword. It had a strange shape, it was completely different from the one that Rarity saw.
"Coward?" Spike scoffed. "You're a fool to mock me."
"I'm saying the truth! A coward that hides behind his duties and does nothing to save his dear ones!"
"Stop it, Ichigo!" She covered her face. "He's not like that, please stop it."
"Enough of insignificant matters, let us finish this." Spike placed his sword in front of him, with the blade pointed to the sky.
He was about to do what Rarity feared the most. "Run, Ichigo!" She shouted.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura."
The thousands of blades never had the chance to dissipate, the reason why Ichigo's life was spared. A woman that Rarity hasn't seen in years, those golden eyes, that ponytailed hair.
"Yoruichi Shinōin," Spike said the dark-skinned woman's name before Rarity could do it.
"It's been a while, Spike." The woman grinned. "Former commander of the Stealth Force."
"Yoruichi, I appreciate that you came here to rescue me, but I want to step aside so I can defeat this coward." Ichigo looked at Spike.
"Defeat him?" Yoruichi chuckled. "You don't know what you're saying."
Yoruichi knocked Ichigo out in the next second, she introduced some kind of drug inside his wound which led him to get unconscious. She grabbed him and placed his limp body - which was a lot heavier than hers - on her shoulder.
"You're not getting away from here, Yoruichi," Spike stated. "I'll kill you and the intruder right here."
"Oh, will you?" Yoruichi smirked. "If I remember well, you've never been able to catch me."
"Shall we test it out?" With that, they entered on a flash step battle, neither of them let their guard down. Spike was fast, but Yoruichi was faster. He thought he got her and sliced her body with his sword, but the only thing he cut was paper.
"Three days," Yoruichi said at the top of the building. "In three days, I'll make this boy stronger than you. Until then, your little play is postponed." She fled away from that place while carrying Ichigo.
Spike sheathed his sword and walked away without paying attention to the intruders behind him. Captain Ukitake - that was watching the scene from the building - appeared in front of him.
"Aren't you going to place Rarity inside the cell again?" The white-haired male asked.
"I don't want to touch the likes of her." He said. "Besides, she's your officer."
Captain Ukitake didn't say a thing and let him walk away. Spike was undecipherable at the moment, Ukitake knew him for a very long time, however, he couldn't say what was on Spike's mind or heart - since Rarity left for Karakura town that Spike silence was even more usual, in important meetings. Rarity had affected him in some kind of way, but her efforts weren't enough and she gave up.
Walking towards his poor lieutenant - who has at the moment collapsed in Hanataro's arms - he could tell that she had been through a lot of psychological pressure. She had become prettier and more elegant physically, but those weeks kept in cells made her look paler and thinner than she already was. She had dark bags under her eyes due to the lack of sleep.
"Don't worry Rarity, I will not let them kill you." He patted her head.
"S-Sir?" Hanataro looked at the captain. "What do you plan to do?"
"Talk to the Central 46 once again." He told the boy. "To retake the judgment."
Δ
Captain Ukitake's pleads weren't heard by the ancients. They decided to settle the execution one day earlier than expected.
Ukitake rushed to the sixth squad, he needed to bring Spike to his senses, he was one of the ones who could persuade the Captain-General.
"Spike, this is bad!" Ukitake said. "She's going to be executed sooner!"
Spike simply looked at him blankly - although that he spotted a hint of surprise in the male's eyes.
"There's nothing we can do." Spike closed his eyes. "I will not plead as you did, I have a household to honor."
"She's your wife!" Ukitake grabbed him by the collar. "You're the one who could stop this nonsense!"
"What she did is forbidden, I will not bother with her sins," Spike stated.
Ichigo was still fighting against his zanpakuto when he and Renji - who was training to master his Bankai - received the note about Rarity's execution.
"So that means..." Ichigo's eyes widened.
"The execution... is today at sunrise," Yoruichi stated what they feared the most. "You better defeat Zangetsu quickly if you want to save her."
"Damn it!" Ichigo shouted as he charged once again to his zanpakuto. "I cannot let her die!"
The guards led Rarity towards the Sōgyoku's Hill, where her life would end. The sun was rising beautifully on the horizon, enlightening Rukongai slowly. It was a pretty day, at least she could that her death date was well chosen.
Reaching the end of the hill, there was the blade that would take her life, sealed. The captains and lieutenants were in a line a few meters away from the blade, some of them were missing like her captain. He must have collapsed, he was dealing with a lot of pressure. She spotted Spike, elegantly standing in the middle of the captains. Her heart skipped a beat, how beautiful was that man even though he didn't care about her death. Pain stung her heart, the fact that she would never see him again slowly swallowed her rest of the heart that she had.
I guess I loved you, she thought as she walked to the wooden platform.
Her grandfather was right in front of her, sadness filled his eyes to see his only grandchild being executed and he was the one to give the orders to start the execution.
"Any last wish?" He asked her.
"I'm not in the position to make requests, but I beg you to let the Ryoka return to the World of Living." She smiled gently. "I wish for them to forget this place."
"Very well." He turned around towards the captains. "Let the execution begin!"
Moments after, she was facing a giant flaming bird, the materialization of the sealed blade. Rarity looked fascinated as the elegant bird swung its wings.
"So this is the end." She smiled gently. "I hope that all of my dear ones find happiness throughout their lives. Inoue will become a great cook, Uryu will stop to brag about his Quincy skills, Chad to be more talkative, Urahara to be more honest with his clients, Grandpa to take some vacations, Captain Ukitake to heal completely from his illness, Renji to be more cold-tempered, Ichigo to live his life protecting the ones he cares about and Spike..." Rarity looked at the man below her, he was staring into her eyes. She smiles at him and let a teardrop from her eye. "I want you to be free and happy." He read her lips and his eyes widened in shock.
He didn't want her to wish him that, he was not free, he was not happy. He only obeys orders and duties. He couldn't be happy and free, for as much as he wished to.
Foolish woman, he thought while looking at her, just rest in peace and stop caring about those who have hurt you.
The bird charged up to her, soon it would end. She waited for the flames to engulf her, but they never reached her. +
"I-Ichigo?" Rarity's eyes flinched at the light in front of her, but she could see the boy who had stopped the flaming bird with his sword. He was wearing a long cape, probably provided by Yoruichi. He looked stronger, she could sense his strength but still, she had her worries.
"Hey, Rarity." He said.
"You idiot!" She shouted which made him flinch. "Did I tell you to rescue me? Did I tell you to come here? You don't stand a chance against Lord Spike! I will only get yourself killed! GO AWAY!" She kept yelling.
The captains below them watched in horror as a single Ryoka had stopped a force of a hundred zanpakutos only with his sword. It was unbelievable, they had never seen someone who could do that.
"Heh, looks like the Ryoka saved the day after all." Captain Kyoraku said.
The bird charged against him once again and Rarity feared for his life. She almost screamed his name, but the bird was soon held back by two strings coming from the ground, they entangled around the bird's neck and kept it there. Rarity looked down and saw her captain holding a large wooden shield. With the help of Captain Kyoraku, both of them charged their zanpakutos against the shield, which resulted in a huge explosion coming from the strings around the bird. It dissipated moments after.
"I-impossible.." Rarity whispered. "They destroyed it..."
Rarity kneeled next to Ichigo, weak and confused. She was rescued, her life was saved. She could see all the commotion below her - the captains arguing to others, her lieutenant colleagues waiting to receive orders, her grandfather looking disapprovingly to Captains Kyoraku and Ukitake, Spike staring at her with coldness.
"I-Ichigo?" Rarity called for her savior.
"What?"
"What do you plan to do next?" She smiled nervously at him.
"I don't know, I just planned on rescuing you." He laughed. "So from now on, we are going to improvise."
"I-Improvise?" Rarity didn't like the sound of it.
"Yeah, and it looks like I got an idea." He grabbed Rarity by the hem of her kimono and held her high. "Hey, Renji!"
Renji stood weakly below them, he fought with Spike - Hanataro told Rarity. He mastered his Bankai in a short period, just like Ichigo did. There were a lot of wounds covered by bandages on his body, he must have given his all while fighting Spike.
"What do you plan to do, Ichigo?" Rarity asked with a concerned voice.
"Hey, Renji!" The orange-haired male shouted. "Catch!"
Rarity was thrown off from meters above the ground, scared and enraged by Ichigo's improvise. Thankfully, Renji caught her in his arms - which led him to fall to the ground.
"Are you crazy?!" Renji shouted.
"Take her away from here!" Ichigo shouted back. "You must protect her, you understand?"
Renji's face softened as he held Rarity closer to him. "I get it."
Rarity did nothing more than watch everything happening before her eyes. Ichigo knocked out three lieutenants with his sword unsheathed. Renji trying to take her to someplace safer than here, Spike clashing sword's with Ichigo in a battle that looked more intense than everything she saw until that day. Even though both of them were surrounded by samurai Bankai, she could feel the rise of both reiatsu.
The battle came to an end with Spike and Ichigo injured. Rarity's heart sank as she saw her hero covered in blood and yet conscious. She sighed in relief, at least they were alive.
"Lean back on the table and spread your legs for me ..."
Being a doctor in New York City has never been easy. Especially for someone like me, who has a private practice and an incompetent staff who insists on leaving me to fill in for them.
Over the past six months, I've performed one too many pap smears, three too many "breast exams," and scrubbed in on several reconstructive surgeries. (This would be acceptable if I was still interested in general medicine, but I'm not. I'm supposed to be a goddamn therapist ...)
When my team finally came to their senses and decided to bring someone more competent into the practice last month, I was elated.
Until I realized that our new "doctor" was none other than the man I was supposed to meet for dinner two weeks ago. The same man who stood me up with nothing more than an "I can't meet you anymore, sorry," after we agreed to move our online talks into reality.
I haven't forgotten any of the filthy fantasies he told me about, and I never deleted our dirty messages. And if he thinks that I'm going to act like a "professional" and pretend like that shit never happened, he has another thing coming...
"Why didn't you stop the execution?" Ichigo weakly asked Spike. "You owe me an answer."
"Very well, I shall tell you." Spike slowly walked away from the battlefield. "In Soul Society, we must obey the law. Feelings such as love and friendship are weak, even though I was never bothered by those. The law is what rules Soul Society and the Kuchiki clan is one of the fourth clans that must follow the law at everything."
"I'm sorry, but I still don't get it," Ichigo spoke. "If I were in your position, I would fight the law!" Spike stopped in his tracks. "To protect the ones dear to me!" Ichigo continued.
"Fight the law, you say?" Spike looked at the sky. "You're a fool, Ichigo Kurosaki."
"I may be a fool, but thanks to me, an innocent life was spared from the law!" Ichigo said. "Rarity protected my family, gave me her powers because I wanted to help her. She taught me how to fight Hollows and how to send spirits to Soul Society. If that's a crime, then Soul Society is nothing like I'd expected."
"She did something against the law, she knew what she was doing." Spike closed his eyes. "She's nothing more than a fool."
"A fool that never stopped thinking about you and Soul Society!" Ichigo said. "Tell me, Spike, have you ever wondered how Rarity might be feeling? Have you ever talked to her and tried to see how incredible she is?" Ichigo walked closer to Spike. "Have you ever looked at her or called her name?" He grabbed Spike's shoulder. "Tell me, Spike."
Spike flash stepped to a nearby cave, where he could rest. He was badly injured and yet, Ichigo's words never ceased inside his head.
What do I do, Hisana?
Rarity got better after a few minutes, the spiritual particles that had been taken away from her slowly restored her reiatsu, she could summon her sword if she wanted although she couldn't release the first stage of transformation. Ichigo was being healed by Orihime, who had appeared along with Uryu and Chad. Rarity was amazed by her healing abilities, as well for Chad's powers, they couldn't even see a Hollow! They came that far for her, it made her feel grateful, humans were not that bad nor different from what she had learned. Spike was nowhere to be found and that made her feel uneasy.
"Is he okay?" Rarity asked weakly at Ichigo. "Is Lord Spike hurt?"
"You still care for him, even though he called you scum and insulted you?" Ichigo looked at her. "Do you not get hurt by his words?"
"I do," She replied. "Because he means a lot to me."
"Then why?!" Ichigo shouted. "Why are you married to him yet?"
"He's my hero", She whispered. "If I can devote myself to look after someone if it's him, it's more than enough." Rarity smiled gently at Ichigo.
"Seems like a very interesting and emotional story." A voice echoed.
Rarity turned around and saw the same man that was supposed to be dead, Captain Aizen applauded while walking towards them. Behind him, there was Captain Ichimaru and Captain Tosen. A heavy atmosphere surrounded the hill and Rarity felt weaker with every step they took.
Captain Aizen stopped in front of them and held Rarity by the choker, he let a gap of a finger distance to let her breathe. She heard Renji shout her name, but it looked like she was too far to understand what was happening.
For Rarity's horror, Captain Aizen slashed both Renji and Ichigo as if they were nothing, he was too strong. Stronger than everyone present on that hill. She was scared, she wanted to run away.
"So you're back, Rarity." Captain Aizen spoke. "I must say that I've miscalculated the fact that the Sokyōku would be destroyed, but it matters not." He looked at her. "Now, I can use my second method to extract the Hōgyoku from you."
Rarity eyes widened. The Hōgyoku was a project made by Urahara when he was still in Soul Society, she knew about that object because her grandfather used to talk about it with her mother. Urahara wanted to get rid of it, but its powers were too immense. So he deactivated it and placed it on a soul that could calm the sphere down. First, it was Rarity's mother that offered to do the task, but after she died the sphere was passed onto Rarity's soul in secret.
"H-How?" Rarity struggled with a lack of air.
"It's a device that separates the soul from an unknown object, created by Kisuke Urahara himself." Captain Aizen grabbed a purple device, no much longer than a pencil. "Shall we test it out?"
After he pressed a button on the device, large green blades erupted from the ground and surrounded Captain Aizen and Rarity. The air became thicker, almost unbearable to breathe, Rarity kept looking in fear to the man.
"You're not Captain Aizen," She whispered. "He was a kind man, he would never do something like this."
"I'm sorry to inform you," Captain Aizen's hand turned sharp and scaly, just like the blades around them. "That Aizen never existed."
Rarity's chest was violently pierced by Captain Aizen's hand, however, no blood came out from that wound the only thing that came out from her body was a small purple sphere, the one that Captain Aizen was looking for, the one that Rarity's mother protected.
"Finally, it's in my possession." He looked at Rarity. "And your soul is still intact, I must say that it's a very wonderful technique." He once again grabbed Rarity by the choker. "You have no more use for me." He smiled as he stretched his arm.
"Gin, kill her."
Gin's sword pierced through a person's body that didn't belong to Rarity. Horrified and shocked, Rarity looked at her savior as he knelt while embracing her protectively. He had a deep stab, his blood splattered on the ground and formed a large red pool.
"L-Lord Spike?" Rarity's eyes were widened. "Why did you do this?"
"How touching," Captain Aizen said. "You protected your wife, but you should have gotten here a while earlier." He walked closer. "Don't mind me to kill you both, do you?"
"Don't touch him." Rarity lowly said.
"Oh, your reiatsu is rising fast." Captain Aizen smirked. "Are you mad at me for wanting to kill him?"
The ground crumbled as Rarity's reiatsu became higher and higher. It was unbearable for those who couldn't handle strong spiritual pressure well, such as Inoue, Chad, and Uryu. They fell unconscious by Rarity's spiritual pressure, but the others present just watched as she stood up.
"With the Hōgyoku out of your soul, your reiatsu is released at its full capacity." Captain Aizen said. "I must say that you have quite the power inside of you and I've never noticed."
"I will not let you hurt the ones that are dear to me." Rarity raised her hand to the side, where it was suddenly absorbed by an invisible void. "Melt, Sesshoumaru." A slender wavy green sword appeared from the void as Rarity took out her hand. Her zanpakuto couldn't be released like others swords did, she needed to be careful when taking the sword out of the void or else the person next to her - in that case, Spike - would have irreversible wounds. Pointing her sword towards Captain Aizen, Rarity made a distance between her and Spike.
"I always liked your sword, Rarity." Captain Aizen spoke. "It's so different from the others, you can instantly kill someone if the venom touches the skin."
"Then avoid my sword, or else your going to die in seconds." She flash-stepped behind him, as if she was going to stab him from behind, however she was stopped and shoved to the side by Spike himself.
"What are you doing?!" Rarity shouted.
"Look at the sky." He simply told her.
A huge dent shattered the sky above them, it was so huge that it could reach the captains' barracks, on the other side of the hill. Three columns of yellow light fell from the dent and landed on Captain Aizen, Captain Tosen, and Captain Ichimaru. They elevated in the sky towards the dent, which was slowly opening, revealing almost a dozen of Menos Grande - Hollows created by hundreds of other Hollows. It wasn't the first time that Rarity saw one, but it still could send shivers down her spine.
"Come back here, bastard!" Lieutenant Tetsuzaemon shouted.
"Stop!" Rarity shouted. "There's nothing you can do once they are surrounded by that yellow light - Negation. Menos use it to help others of their kind." She explained. "They cannot attack and we cannot enter."
"Correct." Captain Aizen spoke.
"Have you gone so low that you joined their side, Aizen?" Captain Ukitake asked. "What's the reason for that?"
"I'm going to seek new heights, Ukitake. From what I believe, there's no one standing in Heaven controlling this universe." Captain Aizen took off his glasses. "Not you, not me, not even God. However, that vacancy in the throne will soon end." He broke his glasses. "Because I'm going to stay in Heaven." He looked at them from above. "Farewell, Death Gods. And Rarity," He looked at the woman. "I hope you survive." With a smirk, he disappeared into the dent, that closed off seconds after.
The pain that hit Rarity was the most unbearable that she handled in all of her existence. She dropped on the ground, screaming and crying over the pain she was feeling. It felt like someone was dismembering her little by little. It felt like she was stabbed by her sword and the venom was making the effect. It felt like someone was stabbing her without stopping.
The reiatsu around her was dense, heavy and almost too powerful to stay near. Some lieutenants fell on the ground unconscious while there were others - along with the captains - that struggled to face her spiritual pressure.
You were a huntsman-in-training and went to the infamous Beacon Academy. You were strong on your own, and you led a strong team with teammates who could handle themselves. Unfortunately for you, however, you never discovered your semblance yet.
Arthit Rojnapat was happy with everything, he had good friends and a sweet girlfriend, but everything turns in to a mess when his girlfriend suddenly breaks up with him.
The characters belong to BitterSweet, I own nothing but the plot of the story.
"There's no doubt that the Yamamoto clan has super powerful fighters." Captain Kyoraku said.
"That's why we sealed sixty percent of her spiritual pressure inside the Hōgyoku." Genryusai Yamamoto walked towards his grandchild. "She is like her father, he too produced too much reiatsu." He took out his sword, the most powerful sword ever made, and pierced Rarity's chest with it.
Everyone - including Spike - looked shocked as the Captain-General enchanted a spell while Rarity slowly calmed down. The old man's arms turned pitch black as he kept enchanting the spell until Rarity's conscience faded.
At the hospital, Spike and the other injured ones were healed and cleaned. Ichigo was healed by Inoue's abilities, Chad and Uryu were being treated by the fourth squad.
Spike was resting in his room when the Captain-General walked in with his lieutenant. Byakuya tried to get up, but the elder stopped him.
"You need to recover." The Captain-General said.
"How's her condition?" Spike asked.
"She is being watched by Captain Unohana, we are trying to find a way to seal her reiatsu again." The elder said. "She cannot handle that amount of power for too long."
"Why is that?" Spike genuinely wanted to know.
"Since she is a prime soul, there are some risks that might occur," Genryusai explained. "Like you, she was born here, not in the world of the Living. What happened was that her parents' powers were passed to her while she was still inside her mother, it accumulated inside of her little body and if we didn't do something, she would not survive." Captain-General looked to the window. "We had to seal her powers in a little sphere that her mother had."
"The Hōgyoku." Spike closed his eyes.
"Precisely." The elder nodded. "But now that it was taken out of her, we need to find another way to conceal it."
"About that, I've found away." Captain Unohana walked into the room.
Rarity looked around the unknown room for minutes. She was covered in tubes and bandages, her hands were handcuffed by a temporary sealing technique. She felt dizzy and feverish, what happened at the hill confused her. Three captains betrayed Soul Society, Ichigo rescued her from losing her life for nothing, the ancients from Central 46 were dead. Byakuya rescued her, took a stab for her, embraced her in his arms protectively.
Her heart was a mess. "Calm down." She took long breaths.
"Lieutenant Kuchiki, you stay in bed!" The nurses outside her room gasped when they saw Rarity weakly making her way out of her room. "You have not recovered yet!"
"I need fresh air, I'm not feeling well inside that room." She rested her back on the wall since she couldn't use her hands to help her. She needed to get out of that headquarters, she needed to go out and breathe.
There was a little garden that she spotted from her room, it was a simple garden, with few flowers, but it was the best place to stay at that moment - she didn't have the strength to walk further than that.
She sat below the tree that gave her shade, it was sunny outside yet a sweet breeze flowed around her. It was refreshing, she took deep breaths and let her lungs recover the oxygen they lacked. It was peaceful, the sound of the wind, the smell of the grass, the clouds passing by.
"You're here." A voice that she knew well said behind her. She didn't turn around to face the person, there was no need for that, besides, he would probably forbid her to look at him.
"It's quiet here." She said in a whisper.
"And those?" He was probably mentioning the sealers.
"They are going to be removed once I recover, then I'll be moved to squad twelve to seal part of my spiritual pressure," Rarity said.
"As long as you've recovered." He replied. "There are things we need to discuss."
"You're going to scold me again, right?" She scoffed sadly. "What have I done this time?"
"That's not it." His back was facing her. "It's related to our wedding."
"Ah, you're going to tell me that it's time for an heir." She looked down. "I'm not interested, my apologies."
"It's not that either." He turned around and faced her. His eyes looked at her in a way that they haven't for a long time - there were emotions in his gaze, not negative emotions like she had witnessed before. "We need to discuss is."
What does he want to talk about?" Rarity mumbled. She had returned to her plain room at the fourth squad moments after being with Spike. He escorted her to her room, let her support her body against his. It was beyond imagination for that to have happened, he was always so cold towards her, insulted her, made her cry. But that morning, he was different.
"Something is wrong." She said. "He must be planning something."
"Lieutenant Kuchiki, we are going to transfer you to the twelfth squad now." Captain Unohana announced. "We have found a way to deal with your issue."
"Thank you, Captain Unohana." Rarity smiled.
It was like she was an experiment in Captain Kurotsuchi's hands. He put her in a cylindric case made of glass, engulfed in a purple liquid that smelled unusual. She had tubes connected to her chest, hands, and feet. Her eyes were covered by a metal blindfold.
"Will this work, Captain Kurotsuchi?" Captain Ukitake asked, concerned about his lieutenant's health.
"Don't offend me, if this wasn't supposed to work, I wouldn't even state it." The captain of the twelfth squad scoffed. "She's going to be healthy."
"Do what you need to do." The Captain-General said.
"Certainly, Nemu, bring over the thing." Captain Kurotsuchi told his lieutenant.
As she came back, the present people looked at what she had in her hands. It was a sphere, similar to the Hōgyoku, however, it was empty, at the eyes of someone, it looked like a simple glass ball. Captain Kurotsuchi walked towards the tube in which Rarity was placed and deactivated the connections of the tubes around her, making the purple liquid slip away from her figure. She was placed on a mattress, with the upper part of her white kimono opened slightly - after all, she was a married woman.
"This sphere will work as a replacement of the Hōgyoku, it will store around only forty percent of her spiritual pressure inside of it, unlike the other sphere did." Captain Kurotsuchi explained. "Plus, I gave it the ability for her to use the stored reiatsu in cases of emergency."
"That's is a good idea, although Rarity is strong, there might be opponents that she might need more strength to defeat." Captain Kyoraku said. "And now that Aizen betrayed us, we will surely face some problems."
"For how long is she going to stay here?" Captain Ukitake asked.
"Until her body adapts itself to the new sphere." Captain Kurotsuchi looked at the blonde girl. "I'm sure I could do some research regarding her reproductive ability in the meantime."
"You're forbidden to touch Lieutenant Kuchiki's body!" Captain-General Yamamoto said. "Have control over yourself, her husband is present."
Spike nothing said, he kept on looking at the blonde woman in the mattress, sleeping peacefully. She must have been tired from all that ache, he heard from Renji that she faced a lot of pain while she was being healed. He was concerned about her, genuinely concerned. His eyes never left her, the whole process of implanting the sphere inside her chest, the sealing spells, the black marks that appeared on her pale skin and slowly faded as the enchantment ended.
"She'll need someone to stay overnight on the watch." Captain Ukitake said. "I'm a little worried about letting her alone."
"I'll stay." Spike gained shocked expressions from the present people.
"T-Then we'll leave it to you, Captain Kuchiki." Captain Ukitake was taken aback by Spike's decision. He never showed interest in Rarity's matters, not even when she was around. According to what some close people said, Spike only treated her with coldness and indifference. So why? Was he feeling regret from treating her like that?
As the captains left, Spike walked towards Rarity. He admired her peaceful face as she slept. He had never contemplated her in the past because he had sworn not to do it - it would be a dishonor towards Hisana as well. But at that moment, alone in that giant room with Rarity, he couldn't stop himself to properly look at her in a way he never did. Indeed, she was a beauty. What fascinated him the most about her figure was that blonde wavy hair she had, it looked so soft and pretty, he wanted to touch it and see for himself. Gently, he grabbed a lock of her hair and felt its softness through his fingers.
Rarity moved a little and Spike let the lock go instantly, truth to be told, his action startled him since he had never touched Hisana's hair like that.
Rarity's eyes opened slightly. She woke up due to the pain she was feeling on her side, perhaps it was from the position she was in. Her eyes soon spotted Spike's hands a few inches apart from her face, she was confused about his presence there.
"Lord Spike?" Rarity reluctantly tried to get up. "What are you doing here?"
"Someone was needed to watch over you for the night, I've volunteered for that task." He closed his eyes.
"There was no need, I would have been okay." She averted her gaze elsewhere. "You probably have more important things to do instead of staying here."
"Indeed, I have plenty of other issues that require my presence, but that can wait until you recover." He said. "After this, you'll be moved to your room at the mansion."
"I'm not going." Rarity's statement made Byakuya open his eyes in shock.
"Pardon?" He asked.
"I'm not going back to that mansion," She repeated. "I hate that place." He saw her fist clench.
He couldn't blame her, after all, he was the one who made her hate being a Kuchiki member. There was no doubt that she was still hurt about their wedding. And Spike regretted his actions, due to his argument with his clan, Spike felt so angry with himself.
"I wanted to apologize for what I've made you go through." Rarity's eyes widened. "I was revolted with my clan for making me remarry. I had no opinion or whatsoever in the matter and that infuriated me so much that I've ordered myself to despise you and make you want to divorce." Spike kneeled next to her mattress. "I pledged my love for Hisana when she was still alive and I will always love her."
"I didn't want your love from the start." She lied to him. "I just wanted a friend, I knew about the previous Lady from the servants, I know you loved her very much." She smiled sadly.
Seeing her sad smile, Spike felt his heart squint for a slight second. The reason was unknown, however, he would not try to figure it out. When the source of those unknown feelings was the woman before him, the best option was to shove the thoughts aside.
There was nothing wrong with being friends with her, Spike knew that from the start. The things he did in the past were awful, he would not forgive himself for that. However, if his friend was what she wanted, then he would accept it.
"Very well, from now on, we are no longer husband and wife," Spike stated. "We are friends."
After days of recovering at the twelfth squad, Rarity's health was better. She started to move around the laboratory with Nemu and doing minor exercises. She felt better, but she needed a few more days to be fully healed. She was moved to her old bedroom, at her grandfather's mansion. She didn't want to go to Kuchiki's house, it would bring awful memories. People around Seireitei started suspecting about Lady Kuchiki's option, after all, she was married to Byakuya Kuchiki. Regardless that, Rarity paid no attention to those people if they only knew what happened to make that choice.
Spike agreed on letting her rest at her previous home, it was the least he could do. He was comprehensible to think about her well-being, which was something that Rarity found very unusual.
Despite all the attention the Kuchiki couple was getting, things turned back to normal very slowly after Captain Aizen's betrayal. Central 46 was reestablished with new members, the buildings that collapsed or were damaged along the fights were getting repaired and the injured ones were fully healed and ready to work again.
Ichigo stayed in the fourth squad's barracks for a couple of days, since his body suffered many changes, he was exhausted - after all, it was a tough training to save Rarity from death.
Regardless, he left Soul Society after seeing Rarity condition.
Weeks passed after Aizen's betrayal - he was no longer named as captain - it brought serious reunions about the holes of his spot, alongside with Captain Ichimaru and Captain Tousen. Three captains left Gotei, there was an urge to refill their spots, as fear started to spread around the barracks.
At that moment, Genryusai Yamamoto gathered all captains - Spike and Kenpachi's wounds were healed completely - to discuss the matter.
"In my most honest opinion sir, we should lookout for new captains as soon as possible." Captain Ukitake stated. "We are vulnerable to more attacks, the squads need instructions from a captain."
"I agree with Captain Ukitake." Captain Soi Fon said.
"As much as I want to name people suitable for the spots, there are not many people that obtained Bankai," Captain-General stated. "It would be too risky to open another exception like I did with Captain Kenpachi."
"What about Lieutenant Kuchiki?" Captain Kyoraku suggested. "I heard rumors that she had already obtained Bankai, she's quite the opponent to have a match with."
Silence surrounded the room as Genryusai Yamamoto reflected about his previous pupil's words. Rarity achieved her Bankai form during the time she trained with Genryusai - who even assisted her in the process - but she couldn't fully control it.
"It's too risky." Spike adverted. "She's still recovering from the past incident, it's not safe for her to do any type of massive combat."
"I agree with Captain Kuchiki, to Rarity become a captain, she'll need to prove her strength in front of three captains, she's still too weak." Captain Ukitake said.
"We can't do anything without Rarity consent on the matter." Captain-General Yamamoto said. "It would amaze you how Rarity can handle big challenges, after all the training she did."
The captains looked to their superior in awe and surprise, the Yamamoto clan was true, full of surprises.
Wayo Panichayasawad is in love with his senior, the badass high school heartthrob Phana Kongthanin. Born with a face fit to match the beauty of the gods, the shy, timid boy only has his eyes laid on that guy ever since he first saw him. From then onwards, he was tailing on him far from his sight until his obsession reached its farthest ebb.
Much to everyone's surprise, Phana decided to sign up for the military right after graduation. Wayne, being desperate at that time, somehow managed to sneak into the camp to pay his man several visits sending him food and snacks and finally telling the guy his feelings on one of these occasions. Much to his dismay, he only ended up being rejected by a disgusted Phana and told him never to show his face again.
Broken and shattered, Wayo tried as much as he could to forget the older guy and move on with his life. He even pursued college and tried to gain friends. However, a remarkable incident inspired him to join the military himself and became one of the members of the Royal Army. Soon, Wayo found his true happiness, his true calling by serving his countrymen in the military.
He finally bloomed from a shy and timid boy to a handsome, valiant serviceman, and is considered to be the most beautiful military personnel Thailand has ever seen for the past hundreds of years.
On the downright side, looks like fate is playing on its cards with our wonderful boy when one eventful incident will lead him to cross paths with the one and only man he loves. And from the looks of it, there's no way he could escape the wrath of Phana Kongthanin.
But what if he was wrong after all? What if since the very beginning, there was something wrong with Phana's reaction towards his confession many years ago? What if Pha also has the same feelings for him? Will he be able to accept him back? Will he give him another chance to win his heart despite all the pain he had caused him in the past?
Rarity's presence in the meeting room was needed almost immediately. She got herself in her black robes and headed towards the first squad barracks. She received a message that her presence was vital in that meeting and all the captains would be present.
She smiled sadly at the thought that she was going to see Spike after weeks. Rarity was still adapting herself to the fact that they were going to be friends, she couldn't ask for more even though she wanted much more - her love for Spike would not correspond. It broke her heart for the time she spent in the world of the living, the wound reopened as he talked with her about his previous wife.
"No more thinking about that Rarity, you have to be strong." She mumbled to herself while she walked the hall that directed her to the meeting room.
When the door was opened, Rarity's eyes met with Spike's. He looked blankly at her, like some other captains that were present. Captain Ukitake and Captain Shunsui however, smiled at her kindly as if reassuring her that was nothing to fear.
She walked towards her grandfather and stopped when she was just a few feet away from his spot. He looked at her with a glimpse of concern, but it was soon replaced by his authority.
"Lieutenant Kuchiki, you've been summoned to discuss a matter which you're involved." Captain-General Yamamoto stated.
"Yes, sir." Rarity bowed ninety degrees. "I'm listening."
"You have been chosen to take a role as a temporary captain of one of the squads three, five or nine." He announced. "Due to the present circumstances AND until we find a suitable person for the role, you are to be in charge of one the barracks."
Rarity's eyes widened in shock. She couldn't possibly be good enough for a captain role. She didn't have the experience the others had, not mentioning the fact that she hadn't mastered her Bankai. "But sir, I'm not qualified to be a captain." She said. "I can't be a matter of debate."
"You can, Rarity." Captain Kyoraku said from his spot. "Not only you have the power to stand high in that role but also you have a strong sense of justice." Captain Ukitake smiled. "You're more than enough for a captain."
"B-But Captain..." She looked at him anxiously.
"Be confident, Lieutenant Kuchiki." Captain-General Yamamoto told her. "Your abilities are more than we seek."
Me... as a captain?
Rarity wasn't sure of what to do if she could only be a captain with the terms that her grandfather proposed, it wouldn't be a problem, however, she felt like she wasn't just good enough for it.
"I... need to think." I sighed. "C-Can you delay the matter for a couple of days?"
"That won't do." Captain-General denied. "I'll give you until sunset."
"Sunset?!" Captain Ukitake gasped. "That's a very short period, Captain-General!"
"No more discussion about this!" Captain-General shouted. "Lieutenant Kuchiki, you have until sunset to decide, there are a lot of responsibilities within the acceptance of the role, but some of us believe in your capacities. You're dismissed."
"Yes, sir." Rarity bowed. "I'll deliver you my response before sunset."
With that, Rarity left the meeting room, she needed to think in detail about being a captain. She would go to her mother's garden - since the lake had no longer the boat. It was quiet and soothing, she would find her resolve within the peacefulness of that place.
Meanwhile, at the meeting room, the captains were arguing over the rush of the subject. Captains Ukitake and Kyoraku found the time too short. Spike didn't say a thing, but in his mind, there was a conflict - he didn't see Rarity's true potential yet however he admitted that she was a strong fighter due to her training with Captain-General Yamamoto that his grandfather told him about. She was just not ready, she would need a lot of help.
"Sir, you seem certain that she's going to accept the task." Captain Sajin spoke to the elder.
"She hadn't let me down for once, if she's willing to, she's going to be the permanent captain of the chosen squad afterward," Captain-General said. "I want you all to support her in the future."
"Yes, sir." The captains said in unison.
"What do I do, Hana?" Rarity asked her childhood friend. "It's not like I want to disappoint my grandfather, but I feel very insecure."
"Don't be like that, you know deep down that you're strong enough to be a captain." Hana held her hand. "Besides, you're going to be closer to Byakuya!"
"Spike and I are just 'friends' and you know that." Rarity sighed.
"Well, you can deepen your friendship with him while being a captain," Hana suggested. "It's just an opinion, but you two didn't start with the right foot. Perhaps a friendship can let show you another Spike."
Rarity pondered her words until Hana left to do some errands. Spike was cold and distant when they lived under the same roof, he would insult her and never, for once, complimented her. He had already confessed that it was a strategy to make her hate him, but it was foolishness. She would never hate the person who saved her - the person she was in love with. She wanted him to notice her strength, to compliment her when she did something great, to talk to her about his issues so that she could help him solve them.
"Perhaps I'll take another try." She said to herself while feeling the softness of a flower petal. "We surely didn't start well, but a friendship sounds way more possible than a romance at the moment."
She went to her desk and grabbed a pencil, she would do that to conquer Spike's heart.
'I, Rarity Kuchiki, Lieutenant of the thirteenth squad, shall accept the offer that you proposed to me. Being a temporary captain to fill the gap. I will return my squad into its daily activities and run the headquarters alongside the lieutenant in charge.'
Rarity became a temporary captain in the following week. At the time, she was chosen to be placed on the ninth squad, which she gladly accepted. Regardless of the confident and chilled posture, Rarity was very nervous about that new task. She knew how captains were important to Gotei and every single one of them was responsible for different tasks and roles in Soul Society. Her grandfather was certain that she would make a good captain, after all, she was his granddaughter. There was nothing to worry about, Rarity was a splendid shinigami.
At the ninth squad's headquarters, Rarity was greeted by her new comrades, who welcomed her with mixed emotions. Some greeted her politely, others greeted her with comforting smiles and others didn't even look at her for too much. These specific shinigami emanated hostile vibes at her as if they didn't accept her as their captain. Rarity knew those gazes very well, it didn't affect her anymore with much intensity, instead of getting sad, she smiled to the rest of the small crowd in front of her and bowed.
"Starting from today, I'll be assigned as the new captain of this division," Rarity explained to the crowd. "It's a temporary role so you won't have me around for too long, I promise." She chuckled, followed by the crowd. "I'm sure that you guys won't notice me, so just do your regular tasks as usual, hmm... dismissed?"
"Yes, ma'am!" The crowd dispersed in all directions, probably returning to their duties. The ninth division was a particularly busy one since they were running the Seireitei News Maganize and the security forces of Seireitei. However, that was only the tip of the iceberg of duties that Rarity observed outside the division's walls. She was used to reading the magazine next to her grandfather, she found it boring when she was little. But at that moment, it was fascinating the amount of work that only ONE squad handled.
In the captain's office, Rarity was given a small guidebook - provided by her grandfather - with a bunch of duties she must memorize. She looked around the office, it was neatly clean and organized, somehow it resembled the former captain's personality.
I can bring some flowers.
She sat on the captain's chair, it was too stiff for her liking, it looked like she was sitting on a piece of wood. She would change that chair. For the moment, she would handle the uncomfortable feeling and read the book her grandfather gave her.
The contents of that small book were crucial for her, she learned that the ninth squad usually worked with the twelfth squad to protect Seireitei from outside influence. She also learned that her current squad prevented classified information from leaking to Rukongai. Finally, she memorized that the ninth squad was responsible for tactics and warfare against rebellions and massive hollow gatherings, as well for memory replacement on the innocent.
"So interesting how this squad works," She mumbled. "I'm enjoying this already!"
Someone knocked at the door twice with a very stiff knocking. The person outside that door should be nervous, which made her chuckle silently. "Come in." She ordered.
The person opened the door and bowed to her. It was none other than her lieutenant, Hisagi Shuhei. He was a tall and lean-built man with dark grey eyes, short black hair and three scars straight over his right eye that lead down his cheek, perhaps from a hollow attack. On his left cheek, there was a '69' tattoed - which intrigued Rarity for its origin or inspiration. Rarity knew who Lieutenant Hisagi because he often spends time with Renji, but she had never spoken to him.
"Captain Kuchiki, I'm Hisagi Shuhei, your lieutenant." He remained curved and didn't face her. "I'm here to help you with the squad's tasks. If you have issues with anything, do not hesitate and as-," He cleared his throat. "And ask me."
"S-Sorry Captain Kuchiki!" He became as stiff as a statue, he seemed very nervous.
"Would you like a cup of tea, Lieutenant Shuhei?" She asked him gently.
"N-No need Captain Kuchiki! I was about to leave!" He said.
"I won't take a no for an answer." She smiled at him.
"A-Alright then, I accept your offer." He sat on the sofa stiffly.
"Here, drink it while it's hot!" She handed him a cup of tea and sat across him. "So tell me, why the nervousness around me?"
"S-Straight to the point," He mumbled. "Well, honestly I'm not the only one who's a little nervous in your presence, Captain Kuchiki." He sighed as he took a sip. "The officers are quite nervous to come here, the reason is that they might think that you're as strict as the sixth squad's captain."
Rarity burst out laughing, almost dripping her tea on her clothes. "My, you guys are hilarious!" She wiped her tears. "Me, strict? Not in a thousand years, that I promise you."
Shuhei looked at his new captain astonished, she was laughing! A member of the Kuchiki and Yamamoto clan laughing! It was surreal and frustrating because he let himself get surrounded by rumors about her. Hastily, he kneeled on the ground next to her and bowed.
"I'm deeply sorry, Captain Kuchiki!" He shouted. "I've ashamed my captain by believing such rumors!"
Rarity kneeled in front of Shuhei and patted his shoulder. "No need to bow in front of me, I do not wish for my squad to fear me while I'm here." She smiled at him. "I just want to keep things stable as long as I'm here."
"Captain Kuchiki..." Shuhei looked at his captain, she did not look like a cold person. "Thank you for those words, Captain Kuchiki."
"It must be hard, to lose your captain that way." She looked apologetically at him. "I know you deeply treasured your captain."
"Yes, but we'll get him back!" Shuhei looked at Rarity with determination. "We'll make him come to his senses again!"
"That's the spirit!" Rarity smiled at him. "Let's do our best, Lieutenant Hisagi!"
"Yes, ma'am!" He seemed to want to get more comfortable with her, Captain Kuchiki was nothing like her husband.
As the days passed, Rarity got more comfortable and confident with her role as captain. She conducted the posture required as a symbol of authority within the barracks of her squad, but at the same time, she would gladly give a hand or two to those that looked troubled with something.
Somehow, she became a companion, a colleague. Some of the officers looked forward to greeting her in the mornings or deliver her some papers - not to mention that her beauty was also a fact of such admiration. She would end up the majority of her days in her office - now fully decorated with flowers and some paintings - reviewing content for the Seireitei Bulletin, archiving old documents and sending some info to the twelfth squad. At the end of the day, she would return to her chamber inside the barracks because she didn't want to go to the Kuchiki's manor.
"I still don't dare to stay in that house..." She mumbled in her futon.
"Who could write this?" A shinigami whispered to a colleague. "It's horrible!"
"I know, if I were the captain, I would hunt these people down." The colleague whispered back.
What they had in their hands was some sort of a magazine, full of gossips about Seireitei and Gotei 13. That magazine started to appear in the same spot every two days. At first, the ninth squad thought it was some kind of silly prank by some officers of the Seireitei Bulletin, even Rarity had fun reading in secret some of their jokes about random incidents, however, the gossip magazine soon became darker, with genuine information about the officer's private matters.
Not even the captains were sparred, as the magazine dissed Captain Kyoraku for his lecherous attitudes with his officers, insulted Captain Komamura for his horrendous appearance and even blurted some pictures of Captain Soi Fon and tenth division's lieutenant, Rangiku Matsumoto, in their privacy. Rarity needed to put an end to that matter, or else that magazine could make a bomb explode and the ninth squad was going to take responsibility and, consequently, deemed as the culprit.
Two days passed since the last mysterious bulletin and like always, Shuhei would come to his captain's office to deliver the newest parchment. Rarity kept a blank expression while reading the bulletin - that day was her time to be exposed:
The newest captain of our lovely Gotei 13, Rarity Kuchiki - if she is married to the almighty stone face Spike. Who could have thought that two spoiled brats would unite? Ah, so romantic scenes between the two lovebirds, our reporters took special attention and researched every corner of that sweet relationship and guess what?
They are married for over that a year, yet no children running around the Kuchiki mansion! It's disgraceful alright, perhaps our Cold Face man cannot handle such a pimp. But let's not keep our readers bored, because we know what you want to see! A special and exclusive photoshoot of the new celebrity among captains, Rarity Kuchiki!
Below that paragraph, there was a picture of Rarity in her office, sipping a cup of tea with Shuhei. That was the day that Rarity arrived at the ninth squad. Rarity looked in disbelief at the caption below the picture that had written: If Captain Rarity wasn't married and all faithful, I would say that they were trying to be secretive... how suspicious.
"This is outrageous!" Captain-Commander Yamamoto shouted in his office, hours later. "This can't go on!" He tossed the bulletin aside. "Bringing shame to my granddaughter like that, I'll have their heads!"
"Calm down, Grandpa, I'm already pulling my strings to find out these scammers," Rarity said calmly - even though she was enraged. "As I predicted, they must have access to all random information inside my barracks, but something tells me that they are not alone in the matter," Rarity spoke. "For playing safe, I have one condition to make."
"Go ahead, I'm all ears." Captain-Commander Yamamoto sighed.
"I want to shut the doors in my headquarters for a few days, no one comes in, no one goes out." She announced. "If the bulletin keeps being published, then my thoughts are correct."
"Permission granted, as long as you can find the culprits, I will not assist you." Genryusai Yamamoto looked at his grandchild. "Consider this matter as a test, if it makes you more enthusiastic."
Rarity smiled at her grandfather, he would always say that any obstacles were a test for her to pass and indeed, it made her more fired up. "Yes, sir!"
After protest and nags of some members of the squad, soon things smothered as Rarity explained the reasons. They were allowed to notify the families about the sudden enclosure, but after that, all the members of the ninth squad would be confined to those walls. Rarity called for the high-ranked officers for a private meeting.
"This is drastic matters, but to find the culprit I'm going to need your assistance." Rarity started. "I want all of you to keep a close eye of suspicious behaviors, we are going to patrol the barracks in turns, if you find anything out of ordinary, you are to report it instantly."
"Yes, ma'am!" They shouted and left the office.
Rarity and Shuhei were the only ones allowed to leave the barracks, but Rarity had no intention to leave the barracks. She was sure that the culprits were inside of the ninth squad, she only needed a small clue. Even though she reported her confinement to Spike, it was just a method of formality.
She would eat with her subordinates in the dining area and sleep inside her office, even though she was permanently awake to keep an eye out for suspicious moves. For the passing two days, no one from the officers saw a thing that could be suspicious, it was nerve-wracking not only for Rarity but also for the members from the ninth squad. They couldn't see their families, have a drink with other barracks or even have a date - there were some couples formed within the headquarters. Some of them kept asking Rarity if she found something or if they could help in anything, however, Rarity just told the ones she could trust to keep an eye for certain people - the ones that were dramatically too reluctant with her.
She was wandering around the barracks again, patrolling the grounds. She had searched a few rooms for possible clues, but still to no avail. That didn't stop her from searching though, every night she would investigate a room or two before returning to her office. That night was no different. She stopped in a room that an officer described as an old storage room designed for archived mundane issues in Rukongai, like minor assaults and reconstruction fees of buildings. She went inside and searched some folders, drawers, the old wood desk, and yet there was nothing that would light up her instinct.
As she walked through the narrow room, she noticed that the floor below her sounded strange, as if there was a void where she was stepping. Silently, she crouched down and tried to move the piece of wood, which moved with almost no resistance. As Rarity peeked over the hole, she spotted a box and an old printer. Feeling extremely concerned, she took the box and printer out of the hole and cautiously returns to her office. As she predicted, the box contained the clues she was missing: an old camera, drafts from the bulletin and confidential information that gladly hadn't been exposed. She called for Shuhei, who appeared in her office a few moments later.
"I want you to go to the twelfth division barracks and ask them to investigate the fingerprints of these." She ordered. "I'm sure that we can finally solve this mystery." Suddenly, the window shattered as something was thrown. Shuhei quickly ran outside to find the culprit, but soon returned with nothing.
"I'm sending some men to find the person!" He shouted.
"No need," Rarity said as she handed him the paper attached to the rock. "They already predicted that."
Shuhei's eyes opened widely as he read the note quickly written.
'Come meet us in the hill, Captain Kuchiki.'
"She smiled and went to go meet him"
Now this will be fun
(I'm not very good at endings are coming up with themso I'm really bad at doing that I can come up with a cool story I can't come up with a good ending same with one(
THE END
