The King's Death

Chapter 17:The Ceremony

The soothing beat is created to relax everyone so when the two release their spirit pressures it doesn't completely stop the guests from moving. I walk out in my full black garb that matches my Bankai outfit completely. Rukia moves forward in a completely white kimono that resembles the color of her blade. We release our spirit pressures at the same time with a soft gust of wind. I feel my sword change at my waist turning from my sealed state to my Bankai and Rukia's forms out of her sealed state. The Head Captain steps up to us completely relaxed under our spirit pressure.

"Now in front of all those witnessing draw your blades." The Head Captain says softly. We both draw our unsealed blades. The Visords don their masks as I don my own. "Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki I challenge you to draw each other's blood. This is the true test of your love for each other."

I push my blade against hers and hers pushes against mine. Blood drips from our hands and down to the floor and puddles around us before spreading into a pool at our feet. The dark liquid fluctuates between a dark black and a bright white before swirling together into a bright silver. The circle of color moves up around us in a bright light and surrounds us growing smaller so we have to step closer to each other to stay in it. Our zanpakuto push against each other until they are parallel to each other. Our faces draw closer until our foreheads are touching behind our blades.

"I love you Rukia." I murmur staring into her eyes deeply.

"I love you too Ichigo, I always will." She replies softly her violet eyes gazing at me with a soft heavenly love.

"The spirits have agreed their love is pure; it was not deceived, so I give to you the will of one to kiss your bride and allow this ceremony to be done." The Head Captain crones in his old voice before hitting his cane against the floor in one solid motion. Our zanpakuto disappear and reappear in their sheaths and our lips touch and everything fades around us leaving us to ourselves for a moment in our now joined inner worlds.

"Ichigo we are now together forever, no one can ever tell us to do anything or stop doing something." Rukia murmurs pulling away from me and hugging me tightly. We move back out of our inner worlds and are hugging each other tightly.

"You are now Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kurosaki King and Queen." The crowns are placed on our heads and nestled perfectly in our hair as we turn to the crowd. Each person stands and bows to us quickly. We return the bows with a soft incline of our heads.

We are ushered to our after party where everyone is partying without sake. Yeah I totally got my way and we all sit down anywhere we please except the Visords sit with Rukia and our family. Byakuya sits beside Rukia and my father sits beside me. We speak and eat talking and laughing with each other. Halfway through the meal Shinji shoots me a look and I return it with a nod. I stand pulling Rukia's up with me and we begin to dance with the other guests.

"Rukia we are leaving tomorrow morning for the world of the living they are planning an attack against us. Quite a few people are coming with us; Hachi has already prepared everything for our stay and returned. Tonight is going to be our first and possibly only night together until all of this is over." She nods slowly and kisses me softly.

"I understand Nii-sama relayed Shinji's story to me very quickly already. No matter what happens I love you." I nod and kiss her again. We sway around the wide open area to our own beat away from everything for some time. Her eyes connect with mine and I get lost in them, they are so happy and joyful. Her violet eyes are so wide and emotional that I don't think I'd live if she'd ever hid behind that mask of hers again.

"Don't hide from me anymore Rukia." I murmur bringing my hand to her cheek and running my finger over it softly. Her eyes turn confused and she nods slowly. "Don't put on your famous Kuchiki mask Rukia, I don't think I'll ever be able handle that again."