Seireitei has fallen. The pre-emptive strike of the Wandenreich takes a devastating toll on the Gotei 13. Vice-captain Kuchiki Rukia leads what remains of her division through the fallen city in hopes of reaching the Kuchiki senkaimon so the Shinigami can regroup in the Human World. But even the simplest of plans can go awry and when she is captured by a flame-haired Sternritter, the three realms will never be the same again.
It is the wedding of the century but wedding-goers soon find themselves lost for words when a someone boldly kidnaps the beloved bride and makes away with her on the morning of the wedding. No one, least of all Byakuya saw this coming.
Truly.
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Seireitei Communications
Breaking NEWS!
Wedding of the Century Turns into Scene of Crime?
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Editor: Hisagi Shuuhei
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It was to be the wedding of the century, a wedding of much grandeur and opulence, the likes of which Soul Society may never see again, for our very own Abarai Renji (the author of Let's Do Shikai, and frequent contributor to the magazine) and Kuchiki Rukia (scion of the Kuchiki clan, the newly-minted Thirteenth Division Captain).
Preparations have been underway months ago. The Kuchiki clan leader, the esteemed Kuchiki Byakuya spared no expenses in lavishing his only sister with the wedding of her dreams, importing goods and incorporating technologies from the Living World for the occasion- including something called an 'eye-phone', a device rumoured to be on par with our own denreishinki, only with what many are claiming to be a cooler, 'sexier' design. (Ahem, take note Captain Kurotsuchi!)
The road to love and happiness has not been easy for the two lovebirds. The soon-to-be Mr. and Mrs. Abarai are childhood best friends (see page 4 for an exclusive interview with Abarai Renji on growing up on the streets of Inuzuri) who grew up destitute and penniless as street orphans before entering the Academy together. As students, they drifted apart due to Rukia's adoption into the Kuchiki clan (see page 6 for a special feature on Kuchiki Rukia- Heroine of the Thousand Year Blood War), but Renji has never forgotten about his childhood sweetheart.
He jumped at the chance of retrieving her from the Living World, accompanying his Captain (and future brother-in-law) on the mission where it was discovered that Rukia has committed felony and broken taboo by transferring her powers to a human, Kurosaki Ichigo (see page 9 for further discussion as experts weigh in on the Substitute Shinigami's mixed parentage and genetic makeup: Is this Ryoka of Noble Stock?), who is unbeknownst to all then, the son of Shiba Isshin (ex-Captain of Tenth Division and now, the very recently reinstated Shiba patriarch after much insistence from his younger relatives).
With a little bit of push from the right directions and help from a fiery bird of death, their friendship is rekindled. In time, fate proves once again that the age-old story of childhood best friends blossoming into something more is indeed a tried and true recipe for romance. And the rest, my dear readers, is history.
For many, the wedding was a much-needed sign that the worst was finally over. Seireitei, and much of Soul Society, was finally ready to be remade into something brighter and better and begin anew. It filled us with much hope and many were eager to be part of history in the making. On the morning of the special day, many, much like yours truly, were up before dawn, hoping to catch the bride and groom in their wedding fineries and offer well wishes on the upcoming nuptials. We awaited with bated breath en masse for the joyous ceremony.
Yet the bridesmaids and close family members were scandalized to say the least, of the crime that took place in the bride's private chambers right before their eyes, minutes before the wedding itself is scheduled to take place.
Eyewitnesses claimed to have seen a man with black hair, bearing an eerie resemblance to the late Shiba Kaien climbing through the window, throwing the Kuchiki bride over his shoulders before making away with her. They were gone before anyone had the presence of mind to alert the guards or draw their swords.
As the groom, Renji was in a separate room when the incident took place and naturally distraught when he received the news. He has since then vowed to find his bride and return her to safety. Close sources say that he has already started training for the arduous task ahead, to which, we can only wish him the best of luck for the journey is sure to be perilous.
This is a sudden turn of events that no one could have seen it coming. The identity of the kidnapper eludes us, but due to the physical resemblance to the late Vice-Captain, many seem to think that the two are related. Others seem to be of the opinion that the kidnapper is none other than the Vice-Captain himself, risen from the dead due to unfinished business. Could there in fact have been some kernels of truth after all, in the unsavoury rumours of a love affair between the then-married Shiba Kaien and his Kuchiki protégé (see page 11 as we delve deep to re-examine the nature of the close relationship of the two in The Kuchiki-Shiba Connection: What Goes on Behind Closed Doors?)?
Neither the Kuchiki clan leader nor the Shiba patriarch can be reached for a comment and no official statements regarding the stance of both families has been issued at the time of writing.
The Seireitei Communications welcomes all anonymous tips on the possible whereabouts of the kidnapped bride and her captor. Who do you think kidnapped Kuchiki Rukia and more importantly, why?
P.S. A re-enactment of the famous Sokyouku Hill rescue scene is being organized by the Shinigami's Women Association (SWA) and the famous Seireitei Acting Troupe (SAT) next month to commemorate the fifth year anniversary of the Ryoka Invasion. Tickets are out for sale now, so don't miss out!
Summary: The thing about actually dating an incubus is that Ichigo still struggles to keep his powers under control when he hasn't fed, and some women are still a bit too susceptible to his mere presence. The best and fastest thing he can do, they’ve discovered so far, is direct everything at her when someone gets antsy near him. But it's hard to focus on dinner when Rukia just wants to jump him.
Fortunately, Ichigo's not one to leave his mate unsatisfied.
Summary: A pledge made as children, left unfulfilled. An alliance broken in a snowy mountain pass. A queen crowned with platinum seeks the Oracle of the Obsidian Mountain and is given a dire prophecy: war comes, and averting it means fulfilling a pledge made eight years ago to the man who would be her consort.
Queen Rukia, last of the house of a thousand blossoms, will do everything necessary to save her people. Even if that means kidnapping the Crown Prince of a sovereign nation.
WIP Title: Untitled; sequel to We are One of a Kind, You and I
Pairing: Ichigo/Rukia
Snippet:
“We have a reservation under Kurosaki,” Ichigo tells the hostess when they step inside. The young, dark-haired woman in a sharply-tailored suit checks her computer before she looks up at them, and stops dead, pupils dilated and mouth dropped open.
That’s the one annoying thing about dating an incubus: even with his wings hidden, Ichigo struggles to control his powers entirely, and some women are still a bit too responsive to his mere presence. The best and fastest thing he can do, they’ve discovered so far, is direct everything at her when someone gets antsy near him. Rukia’s ready when he does it this time and her knees wobble only a little as she leans closer to him and the hostess relaxes.
“Yes, of course Kurosaki-san, I have an excellent table for you this evening. May we take your coats?” the hostess asks as she smiles, pupils returned to normal.
Rukia, on the other hand, just barely restrains a shiver as Ichigo removes his wool coat and helps her do the same with her cloak.
Sunday again? Must be time for @theseireitei Six Sentence Sunday challenge. You’ll see the finished fic this snippet is from on December 13.
