The King's Death

Chapter 4:The Kuchiki Mansion

"Nii-sama, why do these things happen to me?" I sob out dropping the letter addressed to our family from the Spirit King. It appears that I was chosen as his bride-to-be. Tears cascaded down my cheeks and into my brother's robes drenching them with the salty water. My hands clutched around his shirt as I literally sprawled myself across him trying to find some comfort from the dull throb of pain starting in my chest. I loathe the man that would dare to steal me away from Ichigo and all that I have grown to love. No man...no being would ever compare to Ichigo in any way and I realized that long ago. No one would sway me from my belief they didn't then and they won't now.

"Rukia I assure you that you will meet him first and after you realize he tried to talk to you before all of this happened you will not be half as angry please just go and meet him to tell him you do not wish to marry him. He is away visiting his family as the letter stated. He will surely choose another bride if you turn him down. Please just calm your tears." My body stills at his soft and tender voice. I look up at him through red rimmed eyes and nodding my consent.

"Okay Nii-sama I will meet him. I'm sorry that I've brought shame on our family because I am in love with someone who you deem unfit to wed. Please find it in your heart to forgive me." He half smiles down at me the pity clearly written in his violet eyes. He nods forlornly and stands slowly before touching my forehead with his hand and walking away. I slide onto the floor and read through the note slowly looking for clues as to who this man is.

Dear Kuchiki Clan,

The Spirit King has chosen Kuchiki Rukia to be his bride deeming her as the best suitor to stand by his side unconditionally. The King has also asked you to allow him to spend the afternoon with Kuchiki Rukia tomorrow upon his return from seeing his sisters. He will meet her behind her barracks in the far field for a picnic lunch. It is understood if she does not come but he is truly looking forward to it. He also apologizes for not being able to write a letter of such importance to you himself but he had urgent family matters to attend to.

-The Palace of the Spirit King

"The jerk probably made up the story about his sisters to get out of writing a pointless letter." I mutter tossing it onto a table and turning out every light aside from a small lamp near my bedding.

I finger the ears of the bunny Ichigo won me at a fair last year and think about him...it's hard not to. His hair comes to mind when I look out at the setting sun and see the orange hues of light reflected there. It's what I love most about his appearance other than his body. Yes I've seen a lot of him over the amount of time we've known each other. Good, bad, or other he always looked nice. He wasn't huge and goofy looking like Zaraki but he wasn't sickly skinny and without muscle tone either. As he got older his face became more defined and gave his jaw line a roughness that always drew my eyes to trace it. His chest was finely carved with smooth ripples but it wasn't stony and rough either. His arms were well proportioned with the rest of his body and had clearly defined strength in them. The muscles would flex as he hugged someone of if he carried me after getting injured in battle. They showed the most when he moved with a sword. Ichigo never realized it but when he fights it is like he is dancing around his opponent with so much speed and grace. It's bad when Nii-sama says he has a certain grace about him when he fights. Ichigo was born to wield a sword. Just that fact is what brings me to my knees mentally when I watch him. He's smooth and powerful in his movements and fights with such knowledge that you would think he has spent nearly a millennium training. He's smart when he's holding a sword; he notices each movement precisely and counters it with his own. It's truly a dance between him, Zangetsu, and their opponent. It's not just that in itself that makes it amazing, he does it because that person threatened or did something to someone he cared about. Ichigo is so selfless sometimes and he tries to take care of everyone around him. He'd make an amazing father one day. Sure sometimes he broods and is too closed off but who wouldn't be with what happened in his life. I'm sure he blames himself for his mother's death. You can see it written on his face every time he talks about her. Some may say that's a weakness but it's also a strength because he gets stronger, faster, and more agile when someone he loves is in danger or threatened.