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Prize of Victory 2
By : NovaAlexandria
Category: Bleach > General
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Chapter List
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The White Queen�s Ultimatum
Ichigo�s legs were asleep. The numbness began at his bended knees and included everything below them. If he tried to get up from his kneeling position, he�d end up flat on his face thanks to a lack of circulation.

How, he wondered, could his brother-in-law sit like this for hours on end? Like anyone born in Japan in the last eighty years, Ichigo had grown up with chairs, sofas, benches and other wonderful, modern seating apparatuses that kept one�s feet from losing feeling. Kneeling wasn�t something he did on a regular basis, or at least, he hadn�t had a reason to sit seiza since he�d stopped going to the dojo as a kid.

At this moment, he�d gladly trade some of his raw power for the flexibility he�d had when he was nine. Ichigo sorely missed his toes.

Thankfully, he wasn�t alone, though he had no idea why Kuchiki Byakuya, clad in something more dignified than just his Taichou�s haori and a few leather straps, sat to his left instead of consorting with the rest of his noble clan. The dark grey kimono he�d donned was nicely understated and probably more appropriate for the occasion, whatever the hell this was, than Ichigo�s shihakusho.

Of course, focusing on his physical discomfort helped keep Ichigo�s mind off of his uneasiness about spending the night in the house of his in-laws for the first time. They sat on the opposite side of the room, like a pack of beautifully dressed geriatric actors in an Edo-era drama on television. For a bunch of people who had just had a huge, smelly, violent rat removed from their property, they didn�t seem very happy. None of them said anything to Ichigo, or to his sister, who knelt with an ease that equalled Byakuya�s, on his right.

Yuzu kept her eyes lowered this evening, her hands clasped in her lap and her face fixed with a polite expression. She still wore the white outfit in which she�d destroyed a wounded and poisoned Aizen and he suspected she�d refused the offer of more traditional clothing, as he had, when the Kuchiki servants descended upon them during their arrival.

Rukia had called a meeting of what remained of the family as soon as she arrived, which was what he guessed had everyone on the other side of the room in bad spirits. An adopted, junior member of the august Kuchiki Clan undertaking such things stepped on more than a few toes. Moreover, no one in the sea of Rukia�s extended family appeared pleased that the prodigal daughter was finally home.

�Of course, that goes both ways. Rukia�s in a foul mood for someone who just handed an Espada their ass and spent the day catching up with old friends,� he silently admitted. �She�s been like that since she and Byakuya had time to �talk� after banishing me to go find Yuzu. I wonder what Karin could have possibly told her to have her this riled up like this.�

His wife had asked Byakuya if he would extend hospitality to him, Yuzu and Hachigen during their stay here last night while they had all still been at the 4^th. Yuzu had demurred at first, saying she needed to return to the Ishida Estate and inform those waiting for news that they�d won and that Aizen was no longer a danger. Hachi had subsequently offered to go in her stead. The large Vizard had taken his sister aside for a private conversation as well. Ichigo had no idea what the two had talked about, but it was evidently something very important� probably involving Hiyori.

After the conversation, Yuzu had bowed low to Kuchiki Byakuya, his little sister promptly greeting the noble diplomatically as a representative of the Ishida family and as an esteemed relation via marriage. The poise and social graces she�d gained after marrying Ryuuken were on full display and Ichigo was never happier to see her use them for his benefit.

His brother-in-law had written out an equally formal greeting that belied the stunned expression on his haggard face. He wanted to snap at Byakuya for staring at his baby sister until he remembered that the man hadn�t seen her since her teens. In that context, his surprise made sense.

He had learned of Soi Fon and Hiyori�s fates during the meeting this afternoon after Unohana had filled them in on what she had learned happened to the two unfortunate souls. Ichigo had never wished Hiyori ill, exactly, but knowing that he�d never see the little spitfire again had taken any pleasure he might have derived from their victory and tossed it into the rubbish bin. He tried to remind himself that they had expected losses, but it didn�t make the hurt any less, especially when he learned that Soi Fon had left a daughter behind to be raised by her Arrancar sire. He knew how hard it was to raise a child alone. All goofiness aside, Isshin had done his best, but the absence of their mother still stung, and at least he remembered her. Soi Fon�s daughter would not have that minor comfort.

Rukia, who had been closer to Hiyori than he and who had never been subject to her psychotic brand of personal training, shed real tears when he�d broken the news to her shortly after their return to the estate, and before she could go into military mode. She had dried them as soon as they had made it halfway down her cheeks, saying something about �Hiyori-chan wouldn�t appreciate crying.�

Hachi had clearly already known about Hiyori and Ichigo figured the guy had to be devastated, to lose the last of his former compatriots. The two had been colleagues and fellow refugees for over one hundred years; one didn�t mourn the loss of such a long-time companion overnight and Ushōda Hachigen was the sort whose waters ran deeply. In addition, he was aware of Hachi�s mixed feelings about coming back to the Seireitei, so maybe that was part of it too.

They had done their best to ignore the obvious damage to the walls surrounding the Kuchiki grounds of the Estate as they�d climbed over the ruins of the main gate when they arrived. It probably wasn�t the �homecoming� his wife had envisioned but it was better than any number of different scenarios Ichigo could picture, such as not coming home at all. Her mouth thinned out into an angry line, her lips losing their color and her expression growing grim. It only got grimmer the more she saw of the place.

Her husband was quite familiar with that look. It did not bode well for anyone. If it had been coldly furious before, now a glacier composed entirely of dry Ice would probably be warmer and more welcoming.

The servants busy cleaning up the mess with variable success had done a double take when the reunited siblings returned home, only to converge on the two in a manner that made Ryuuken�s slick butler seem flippant and inattentive in comparison. Rukia bowed to her �Nii-sama� before he could issue those servants orders and had asked if he would allow her to orchestrate things on his behalf. The newly freed nobleman hesitated briefly and then nodded, effectively putting her in control of the horde gathered around them. She quickly told them to get the rest of their fellows, no matter their station, even if they had to rouse them from their futons.

When he heard her instructions, Ichigo decided it would be for the best if he kept his mouth shut and did whatever his wife told him to do. Byakuya looked as if he had some small idea of what she had planned, but her first order, to keep the rest of her kin in the dark about their presence until the meeting, put Ichigo on edge. The help met her second order, to see her brother properly washed, garbed and fed in a manner befitting the Head of the Kuchiki Family, with unbridled enthusiasm. That glee overflowed and encompassed both Ichigo and Yuzu too. Several servants tried to usher them away, leaving Rukia behind. Ichigo had wanted to stay, but as the Kuchiki retainers herded him towards an undamaged wing of the Manor, he heard her issue a third command.

She told the remaining servants to find all of the dead Espada�s tangible possessions, anything he�d used personally and any clothing he�d ever forced his �pet� to wear. They were to pile those things outside of the gate, at a safe distance along with any scrap wood they could find. The minions had taken one look at her cold, angry eyes and collectively scrambled to comply.

Her hand then fell on the hilt of Sode No Shirayuki as she eyed the last of the servants. The housemaid, a young woman who sported ugly scars on one side of her face, trembled in place as Rukia told the housemaid to bring her a lit torch�

Ichigo let the servants tugging at his clothing drag him towards what he hoped would be a hot bath at that point. However, he couldn�t block out the joy he�d seen in the maid�s tearful eyes, nor could he wish away the vengeful smile on Rukia�s face as the first of the servants returned with a braided whip and an armload of stinking blankets.

Now, here he was, watching as the sliver of sky that he could see through the window darkening with the approach of dusk and none the wiser as to what his wife had up her sleeve.

�Just sit back an� enjoy the show, King. Should start any minute now.�

His irritating head-guest chuckled at his discomfort.

�I hope so. I think the oba-san in the blue and white kimono to the right wants to lop my head off.�

�With what, the fan she�s holding? Look, if Rukia-chan asks ya anything, agree with it, no matter what it is.�

�What the hell are you talking about?�

�I�m guessin� the little ice maiden wants some payback. Play along� and act as if yer a grown man who has some authority for once, okay?�

Before he could reply to the Hollow, the door slid open and the final member of the esteemed Kuchiki Elders swept into the room. A servant closed it behind her. If he were to guess, Ichigo would have put the woman in her late fifties, as long black strands still peppered the growing number of silver hairs on her head. Interestingly, she still wore the furisode of an unmarried woman, rather than a garment with the shorter, more practical sleeves expected of a matron. Her face, like all of the others, could rival that of a Noh actor for its lack of expression, but her carriage indicated she wasn�t pleased about the summons at such a late hour.

This woman, evidently, functioned as the mouthpiece of the Kuchiki Elders. Instead of sitting, her eyes rested on Ichigo and Yuzu, then finally on Byakuya. Lips pursed, she took in the lack of hot water for tea and her brows knit. Ichigo wasn�t much for rules and regulations as far as interpersonal relationships went, but all signs indicated there had been some kind of breach of etiquette here. When she finally sank down in a rustle of thick silk and frowns, she wasted no time in expressing her displeasure.

�Byakuya, what is the meaning of this? Why are you not wearing what Yammy-sama ordered you to wear? Where is Yammy-sama? If he returns to see this atrocity there will be hell to pay.�

Ichigo remembered the skimpy get-up the nobleman had on him when he and Grimmjow had nabbed him and he couldn�t help the flush that coloured his cheeks.

�It�s ash by now, if the servants I borrowed heaped enough kindling on the pile. I�m surprised you can�t smell the smoke.�

Everyone�s attention had been on the haughty Elder�s questions, so much so that no one, including Ichigo, had heard the paper-screen door slide open again. Rukia, eyes dark and fixed on her older relative, stood on the room�s threshold. She carried her sheathed Zanpakuto in her left hand, leaving her right empty but ready to draw it.

None of them had slept well at the fourth last night, it had been very late before his duties ahd been done and Rukia had refused to sleep until she was assured he was safe and sound. His wife was also still suffering from the drainage of using her Bankaii. He knew what she was like when deprived of sleep and part of him wanted to run, very badly.

�As for your second question, Aunt, he�s been purified. Nii-sama and I killed him yesterday afternoon during the invasion.�

Rukia�s appearance was akin to setting off a firecracker in a library. The shocked whispers that rose from the other side of the room created an aural �static� that filled the room without Ichigo being able to discern one particular phrase from another. The surprise was restricted to their voices, however. To Ichigo�s irritation, their features remained frozen and unreadable. The spokesperson�s eyes got a fraction wider, but that was the extent of it. She inclined her head in Rukia�s direction, though her eyes narrowed.

�You�ve returned, Rukia, and with blessed news indeed! You seem well, for one who has been away from the family�s bosom for so long. We are grateful that you remained at large when so many others were enslaved. Please tell us, what transpired yesterday after such a terrible battle and does your presence here mean that Aizen-Kami is no more?�

Gods, he wanted to roll his eyes so very badly. Nothing the old woman said was anything less than politely worded, and yet, Ichigo had to work to keep his face perfectly neutral. Did they truly not know what had gone down at the Palace? Were they so disconnected from the world outside the Manor walls and the wealthy 1st District that they had no idea there had been a wholesale invasion of the Seireitei and the three most inner Districts? Were they unaware of the explosions, the fires and other minor catastrophes that had gone off in the outer Districts? Surely, they had to have recognized him from the wanted posters Aizen had flung up everywhere. Why hadn�t they said anything to or about him?

How, he wondered, had they missed the fact their front gate and part of the wall was missing? Unless, of course, they pretended not to see so as not to shatter the illusion of their perfect, little world.

Rukia, thankfully, wasn�t one to dissemble and she was no longer the hesitant, afraid-to-say-anything-wrong girl when it came to her adopted family.

�Aizen is dead, his existence extinguished. The one who finally put an end to him with her arrow sits before you. I would like to introduce you to Ishida Yuzu, wife of Ishida Ryuuken, M.D. She is the twin sister of Karin Jaegerjaquez and younger sister to Kurosaki Ichigo, son of the late Shiba Isshin, Taichou of the 10th Division and Kurosaki Masaki, a pureblooded Quincy. My brother has extended the hospitality of this house to them for the next several nights, until such time as Ishida Yuzu returns to the Living World.�

His wife, still standing, bowed to the Elders and indicated Ichigo, Yuzu and Byakuya with a sweep of her hand. She still wore her shihakusho and the scent of ash lingered about her person. �Auntie�s� nose wrinkled as she got a whiff of it, but she seemed much more concerned about his and Yuzu�s presence.

�That� is astounding news! That our family is free of the odious presence of the Tenth Espada is most welcome. Rukia, please, lay down your weapon and make tea for your Elders, as is the duty of the youngest family in the presence of guests, while we discuss these matters.�

Maybe it was Ichigo�s imagination, but the tension to his left increased. Byakuya hadn�t moved a muscle, but he could almost taste the anger radiating off of the man, even if he kept his body statue-still. His sister�s mask was just as implacable as the Elders� and Ichigo wondered if Ryuuken had taught her how to keep a poker face along with her archery and medical skills. He wouldn�t put it past the doctor. Rukia�s eyes hardened at the dismissive insult hidden in her aunt�s words, which again, were polite enough but also salted with a reminder of her supposedly inferior status.

His Hollow piped up while Ichigo was busy feeling affronted for Rukia, handing him a timely warning.

�Yer wife�s beyond pissed. Just look at her. She�s going to lower the boom in a second, King. Be ready.�

Rukia drew herself up to her full height and instead of tucking her Zanpakuto back into her sash, she held out the white blade and scabbard before her.

�I�m afraid that�s impossible. I will be involved in the discussion as my brother�s agent and as his voice. I�m sure you�re acquainted with the reasons why he is in need of such representation.�

Only now did Ichigo recognize the nature of the battle underway. Rukia�s aunt actually managed to look down on her niece from a kneeling position and he guessed that the pissing match, if such a thing could exist between two women, was �on.�

�His agent?�

�My brother has given me leave to conduct this meeting in his stead. In accordance with his decision, I will be included matters that pertain to the welfare of the Kuchiki Family. You may direct any questions to me and if I do not have an answer for you, I will relay them to him so that he may consider them.�

The family�s representative finally dropped her refined mask, replacing it with a look of great disdain.

�Such insolence! Who are you to order us about? Who are you to insert yourself into things better left to your elders? Who are you to brandish a weapon in the presence of nobles?�

Ichigo held his breath as the corners of Rukia�s mouth turned up into one of the cruelest smiles he�d ever seen. It was utterly without mercy and her chin rose just a bit higher as she answered.

�A member of the current Royal Family.�

Somewhere, in the back of Ichigo�s brain, his Hollow began to giggle.

Rukia�s aunt blinked.

�We� excuse me, what did you say?�

�Shiba Isshin was the youngest son of Spirit King, whom Aizen assassinated. He fathered three children, one of whom gave birth to the current Spirit Queen, Ajuga Jaegerjaquez. If you wish for confirmation, you may speak with Shihoin Yoruichi, once she feels up to talking. She was there when the girl took the Throne and named Diaemus Cifer as her Consort. They are now in the process of stabilizing the Realms, with the help of the Head of the Shihoin Family. You remember her� dark hair, white fur, big blue eyes� she told me that she thinks quite highly of my brother and that she�s grateful to him for taking time out of his day to instruct her in the calligraphic arts, often at great risk to himself.�

Ajuga-chan might be thankful for Byakuya�s teachings, but Ichigo derived some satisfaction from the gob-smacked looks on his in-laws� mugs. The older woman at their head opened her mouth, but nothing came out except a choking sound that he was sure wasn�t the sort of thing one heard often from one of the Kuchiki. She did her best to recover and if there had been tea prepared, he could see her trying to regain her composure by guzzling a few cups.

�You said that you�re a member of this��

�By marriage, yes, to Kurosaki Ichigo. He has the privilege of being Ajuga Jaegerjaquez�s maternal uncle.� She held up the back of her left hand for the rest of the Kuchiki, displaying the golden ring on her fourth finger. �I can produce a copy of the marriage certificate we signed in the Living World, if you desire. I have several of them. It�s always good to have duplicates.�

�Auntie�s� face went beet-red, though she did her best to come up with a suitably scathing retort.

�We did not give you permission to marry, Kuchiki Rukia,� she whispered hoarsely and for the first time, she really looked at Ichigo, eyes wandering down his kneeling form and lingering on his infernally orange hair. �As such, you�ve disgraced the Kuchiki name, beyond forgiveness!�

If Rukia cared at all about her aunt�s condemnation, she showed no sign of it.

�I did not feel the need to endanger myself or those who remained free of Aizen�s shackles, by coming back here to beg your indulgence as to my choice of spouse. Pray, tell me, how is marrying a member of the Royal Family, an honourable man with Taichou-class reiatsu, a �disgrace�? I�m curious.�

�Hoo! She�s got the old bag where she wants her!�

At this point, Ichigo was more than ready to get up and walk out, but he suspected that Rukia hadn�t brought up the true purpose of the meeting yet. He was somewhat fuzzy as to what that was, because the facts as Rukia presented them were things that that the supposedly well-informed Kuchiki Elders ought to have sniffed out by now, despite the chaos. Where was the web of informers Rukia had told him they employed?

�Buried under th� rubble, dead or scattered. Th� rest are helpin� burn th� last �o th� Tenth�s crap.�

Lifelong lessons in comportment kicked in and Rukia�s aunt gathered up as much of her tattered self-possession as she could manage.

�With respect to your� husband and his sister, we are glad to make the acquaintance of this newest Noble House. Of course, you realize that everyone born into one of the Four Great Noble Houses carries some Royal Blood in their veins. If memory serves, Shiba Isshin would have married into that Clan, had he not abandoned his post and disappeared. The Royal Family, down through the centuries, has occasionally sent its younger, non-inheriting children to strengthen the nobility. The only one in this room that lacks such blood is you, Rukia. Therefore��

�... therefore, I won�t be guilty of slaying my kin when my adopted brother gives me the word to turn my Zanpakuto on the lot of you for your betrayal of his person.�

Ichigo couldn�t help himself this time. He turned his head, jaw dropping, as she reached up and pulled Sode no Shirayuki halfway from its snowy sheath. Yuzu and Byakuya stayed as they were, though he thought he could see his sister�s hands clench in her lap.

The Elders, including their leader, could do nothing but shrink back as his wife finished baring her blade and took a ready stance. Her eyes shifted back and forth, going from Elder to Elder, as if she were deciding which one to behead first.

�We had no choice! Aizen-Kami installed that horrid creature here and there was nothing we could do about it, not as long as the Claim on Byakuya��

The tip of Rukia�s sword suddenly materialized beneath his aunt�s chin and she fell silent in mid-squeal, bug-eyed with fear.

�You will address my brother as �Kuchiki-dono� until he gives you permission to do otherwise. The next time you refer to the Head of the Kuchiki Family in such a familiar and disrespectful manner, I will cut you a new smile. Do we understand one another?�

The hush that fell over the room was oppressive and thick. What stunned Ichigo was that Byakuya hadn�t put a stop to this yet. Instead, he watched diffidently, as if this were some play staged for his entertainment. Only the tight set to his shoulders betrayed his true feelings and Ichigo wondered just how far Rukia would go with this before her elder brother decided to intervene on his extended family�s behalf.

�She�s only gettin� started King. Relax and watch. Seriously, I wish we had some popcorn. I�m starvin�.�

�I spoke with a number of the servants upon my return t Soul Society, as well as others in the know, and I have a very good idea of what went on within these walls while I and the others were on the run. I will concede you could have done very little to prevent the crimes Yammy Llargo perpetrated against Nii-sama, under the circumstances. However, you could have lent him your support or tried to ease his suffering afterwards with a few words of comfort. Yet you did nothing to help him endure his trials. You berated him and tried to remove him from the succession.�

Rukia shook her head in disgust and tightened her grip on Sode no Shirayuki.

�As for what occurred earlier yesterday during the now deceased Second Espada�s visit to this house, I expect the young woman who was brought here to be returned to the Kyoraku Manor immediately, if she has not left already. I will tender our apologies to her tomorrow in person and ask for her forgiveness as well as make financial restitution.�

�You have no right to��

�Nii-sama has given me leave to deal with you. Ergo, I�m going to give you four options. You may choose which one you prefer. The first is to place your heads on the tatami mats in front of you, after which I will remove them from your bodies. I will make your deaths as quick and as painless as possible, a courtesy you do not deserve, but one to which my brother would probably want, because he is honorable.�

Ichigo wanted to spring to his feet, grab her and stop her before she said anything else. His Hollow and his numb appendages kept him rooted where he sat.

�The second option is for you to pack a change of clothing and leave this house for the outer Districts of the Rukongai. You will only be able to take with you what you can carry. I suggest food, water and a decent pair of sandals. You�ve spent the last fifteen years living in luxury at my brother�s expense. I believe it would do you lot some good to gain a fresh perspective.�

She paused to take a deep breath before continuing.

�Your third option is to keep your name, your home and your wealth. What you won�t keep� is my brother.�

�Hah! Here it comes!�

�The Kurosaki Family is willing to adopt the current Head of the Kuchiki Clan and offer him our name and our protection. He will be free of any obligations to you, including providing you with an Heir. I�m certain Ajuga-chan will be quite happy to welcome �Bya-san� into her family, considering how worried she�s been about him. As there are no women of childbearing years in the Kuchiki family and I heard often enough how demeaning it would be for its men to make a wife of a commoner, such a thing will leave the Clan with no future. Husband, would such a thing be acceptable to you?�

�Yer on King. Answer her or you�ll look like an idiot!�

Rukia hadn�t looked at him while she made the offer. Ichigo had one, terrifying vision of Byakuya in a schoolboy�s uniform calling him �Tou-san� before he suppressed a shiver and replied as quickly as he thought prudent. He hoped that it looked as if he�d been sagely contemplating the merits of such an undertaking rather than trying to keep his jaw where it was and not in his lap. At this rate, he�d have to tie it in place with his sash to keep it where it was.

�Hai,� he said and then added, ��if he�s okay with it.�

�There,� his Hollow chuckled, �was that so hard?�

Throughout all of this, Byakuya showed no sign of wanting to let his relatives off the hook, or mitigate the conditions that dripped from Rukia�s lips. She widened her stance, shifting her balance to her front leg and the next words out of her mouth were so cold and harsh that Ichigo thought a few of the Elders near the back showed signs of swooning.

�The fourth option is that you cease all talk of replacing my brother with someone else as Head of the Kuchiki. You will not speak to him unless he speaks to you first or indicates you may speak. You will not badger him about anything more important than what he wants for breakfast. Moreover, starting today, you will help the servants, who have shown my brother far more consideration than you have, scrub every inch of the undamaged portions of this Manor, on your hands and knees. They will report to me if you don�t and in that event, I will fall back on the first option.�

His wife spoke the next through her teeth and there was no mistaking her resolution. Any fear she might have had for her lofty, adoptive relatives was long-gone. Anger and outrage had burned it away.

�There is no one who will care if I execute you. Central 46 and the nobles that ran it are long dead. The Spirit Queen won�t have an issue either, once I tell her how you used my brother as a means to preserve yourselves. The Seireitei is in chaos and the Divisions have their hands full with what to do with the Arrancar who did not join in the coup. The only person who might come to your rescue sits behind me and so far, I haven�t seen or heard one reason why he shouldn�t let me send you to your next lives.�

�That�s our girl! Let�s see what her brother has ta say �bout his crap-tastic pack now that �e�s back ta bein� an Alpha.�

If Ichigo closed his eyes, he could envision his Hollow poised on its haunches, its yellow eyes full of excitement at the possibility of bloodshed. What he hadn�t expected to feel, other than his own worry that this whole situation had spiraled well out of anyone�s control, was lust. The masked bastard inside of him had a bloody hard-on and he didn�t have to wait long for the jerk to explain.

�Imagine bein� able ta feel what she�s feeling at this very second� all �at wrath an� righteousness at puttin� a buncha schemin�, useless fucks in their place! Fuckin� nectar o� th� gods, I tell ya!�

He couldn�t believe it. His Hollow was bringing up the issue of a Claim on Rukia now? It took every ounce of patience on Ichigo�s part not to give in to temptation and descend into his inner world to castrate one third of his messed up psyche. Acceptance of his power was one thing. Tolerating its perverted antics was something else entirely.

A hand on his right forearm dragged him back to the standoff in the middle of the room. Looking down, he saw Yuzu�s fingers on the sleeve of his uniform. Her pale, well-manicured digits almost glowed in contrast with the black fabric. She stayed quiet, but it was enough of an admonishment to make him abandon kicking his Hollow�s ass in favor of paying attention to his spouse. Then he heard a �clicking� sound he thought he�d never hear again. The last time it filled his ears, he�d been in high school, staring at a chalkboard full of kanji and their English equivalents. Ichigo immediately looked to the left to see Byakuya, a stick of chalk in one hand, writing something on his slate. The man must have fished it out of his kimono. His expression remained blank while he jotted something down on it.

Another bout of thick silence permeated the air once he finished and Rukia, using the tip of her sword, raised her aunt�s chin a fraction of an inch, so that she could look straight into the noblewoman�s eyes.

�Make your choice.�

A few moments passed, in which everyone appeared to hold his or her breath.

�F� four. We� we will submit� ourselves to� Kuchiki-dono�s mercy. Please�� the woman whispered haltingly, her withered cheeks pale and her faded eyes filling with tears. �He will� have absolute authority over this family. You have� our word� Kurosaki-dono!�

As if on cue, Byakuya passed the slate to Ichigo, who barely kept from fumbling and dropping it.

�What does Nii-sama say?� Rukia asked him, keeping her eyes squarely on the Elder. Her sword tip remained where it was and the human took that to mean his in-laws� choice would require his brother-in-law�s blessing before their would-be executioner backed off. He read the dusty words on the slate twice to make certain he had it right and cleared his throat.

�He says that is acceptable, with one� uhm� caveat.�

Ichigo swallowed as he waited for Rukia to say something.

�What is it, Ichigo?�

�Ah, well� he says he�s exiling the woman in front of you. She�s the one �responsible for the �Kyoraku girl�, whatever that means� I think I missed something.�

�Spit it out, husband�� he heard her growl.

�She gets option two. She�s to leave tonight.�

The woman�s face crumpled at what amounted to permanent exile from the Clan. Ichigo wanted to be appalled, and he wasn�t up on the incident in question, but if Byakuya was this upset about it, it had to have been bad. He wasn�t exactly in a position to say anything about the sentence either.

Rukia finally removed her blade from her relative�s throat and curled her lip at the terrified, weeping woman. He guessed that his wife knew something he didn�t. While the Elder before her sniffled at her feet, she raised her head and her indigo eyes slowly made their way around the room. In turn, each of the Elders displayed the sort of submissive posture Ichigo would have expected of a whipped dog.

�I will yield to my esteemed brother�s decree. Consider yourselves fortunate.�

A thin, wail rose up from the mouth of Rukia�s aunt.

�You ungrateful cur! We have suffered too! The Espada killed and consumed many of us in his rage! Where is the consideration for us, who have tried to maintain the dignity of this Noble House, despite the perverted display that foul monster made of our Head?�

Ichigo had to hand it to the old lady; she wasn�t a complete pushover.

Suicidal, maybe, but not a pushover.

Rukia abruptly sheathed Sode no Shirayuki, reached out and sank her fingers into the old woman�s elaborate hairstyle. Then she yanked her aunt up and leaned over, until they were eyeball-to-eyeball. A hair comb and a few ornate pins fell out of the salt-and-pepper tresses, landing on the tatami mat.

�For fifty years, all I heard from the Elders were words emphasizing the importance of this family�s pride. I will tell you now, Aunt, that I would cut my own throat before I would allow monsters such as Aizen or Yammy Llargo to use me against my brother. Claim or no Claim, I would have taken my own life, rather than have that happen. You�� and here Rukia actually shook the woman, causing more ornaments to fall, �chose the way of the coward and your own comforts, instead of doing the right thing and removing yourselves as hostages with the edge of a blade, as honor dictates. You are not worthy to carry the name of �Kuchiki�, as none of you were willing to die to preserve its integrity. While you Elders were weeping over your wounded dignity, I wept for my brother. It�s a pity none of you understand the difference.�

It was hard to put a name on the emotion swelling in Ichigo�s breast. It consisted of admiration, a little fear and a lot of awe at her audacity. To his consternation, he found that as he regarded his wife, her eyes blazing with contempt for the intimidating family that had always left her feeling as if she were a lesser being, he found the sight� stimulating.

�See� you agree with me King! Damn, I�ll bet she�d taste delicious right about now��

Maybe he would have a talk with Old Man Zangetsu and see if the two of them couldn�t come up with a muzzle for his Hollow, to prevent it from sharing this kind of information with him at the worst possible times. Yes, that was a fantastic idea. Ichigo vowed to follow through with it at the first opportunity.

His wife opened her hand and dropped the woman in a heap. She then clapped her hands twice and the door opened. Two servants stood there, their expressions uncertain. One carried two trays of sweet mochi and some small, savory tidbits. The other carried a kettle full of boiling water. Evidently, they�d been waiting for her signal and hustled into the room, putting their burdens down and vacating as quickly as they�d entered.

Ichigo didn�t blame them at all.

�Therefore, as Nii-sama�s agent and as the wife of the Head of the Kurosaki Family, I would ask that you, as the youngest of the unmarried Kuchiki women, do your duty�� Rukia said scathingly as she turned on her heel and proceeded to kneel next to her brother. Placing her Zanpakuto with care on the mat next to her in the same position as Byakuya had placed Senbonzakura and Ichigo had placed Zangetsu, she at long last smiled for real.

��and make your guests and the Head of this House some goddamned tea before you leave.�

Some of you may have noticed I reuploaded the last chapter, this was due to posting a wrong version of the chapter and the new one has an addition scene and the correct title. I have been very sick lately, made worse due to the fact I can�t take anything since a lot of drugs are not pregnancy safe. I feel like more poor ribs have been bashed in by a several 2x4s I have been coughing that much. There are now only two chapters left.

Have a Happy New Years everyone.
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Prize of Victory 2	By : NovaAlexandria Category: Bleach > General Views: 56255 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 5
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach nor make a profit from this story

Prize of Victory 2