The Haunting Hour

The Haunting Hour

Ichigo's amber eyes traveled up the milky white plains of Rukia's bare back as she fiddled with her wrinkled maroon dress. She was so beautiful, sitting there in the light dawn glow that filtered into the room. "When will I see you again?" he asked lovingly, sliding his naked body closer to hers across the bed.

She looked over her thin shoulder with a soft gaze, reaching back with her hand and gently caressing his cheek with her tender finger tips. But Rukia said nothing as she turned back to her dress, trying in vain to rub the wrinkles out.

Frustrated with her lack of answer, Ichigo knelt on the bed—letting the blanket slip from his uncovered member—and encircled his arms around her neck tenderly, bring her inviting body back to his. Rukia took a deep breath of him, smelling his scent; the scent she had come to love.

"Come away with me," he whispered into her ear, blowing a heated breath down her exposed neck. Rukia's skin puckered as he nibbled on her ear lightly. "Come away with me," he repeated after a long pause. "Come away with me and bare my children," Ichigo began to press kisses to her jaw line. "I will build us a good life and we will find happiness."

"And you're family," she muttered barely above a whisper. A sense of melancholy had befallen Rukia when Ichigo began to speak of a life no one in the village would allow. She was never a woman to break rules, being with Ichigo was breaking every rule she had ever been told; leaving with him would surely condemn her to burn. "What of them?"

Ichigo pulled Rukia back to the bed, swiftly rolling on top of her—pressing his stiffening member to her dark curly bush of hair. "I will make a family with you," he answered, suckling on the cords of her neck.

Rukia moaned from deep within her chest only to catch it on her lips as her body began to respond to him. Her nipples began to pucker the way her skin was as Ichigo ran his fingers down her side like she was molding clay, kneading her bosom and bottom with his large hands. She was ready for him, like she was most mornings she would sneak out of her wooden house to crawl into his bed, but she knew she couldn't dally in his sheets much longer.

"Brother will notice my absence," she whispered when her hands caught Ichigo's head to still the lips that suckled her breast.

With that she slipped away from him, pulling her disregarded dress up from the bed along with her nude body. Her legs felt weak from him—more than they usually did. Ichigo had been particularly demanding and desperate that morning, Rukia loved it but now she could feel the damage he had caused in her womb. He had been desperate with her lately; desperately kissing her, desperately gentle with his words, desperate with his touch. But she could not stay to satisfy his desperation, Rukia had to return to her home—to her brother—before anyone noticed her absence.

Turning back to Ichigo's saddened eyes—fully clothed—Rukia knelt before the bed, pulling his hand forward to her chest. She smiled as she played with his fingers before placing Ichigo's palm flat over her heart. "I will come again," she whispered, kissing his finger tips.

"Tomorrow?" he asked desperately, taking her hand firmly in his.

Rukia smiled sweetly to him, brushing his orange locks with her fingers. "The morning after that," she answered. "Today is All Hallows Eve, love, I would not come out in the dark hours."

"Come to me then," Ichigo sighed, taking her soft, pink lips with his.

~8~8~

The heavy wooden door to Rukia's cabin opened with a long, sickly squeak when the hinges cried out as the rust was rubbed off in all places. Without a second thought Rukia walked past the threshold into her home, closing the door behind her. Most mornings her brother didn't hear the squeal of the door as she came back from Ichigo's bed and when he did she could easy lie; saying she swept out the dust incrusted floor boards.

With a sigh, Rukia rested her brown riding cloak on the coat hanger near the door. The days were growing shorter and more bitterly cold, so much so that Rukia had to take her riding cloak out to walk the village. No matter the warmth of Ichigo's arms the sensation he left on her skin dissipated by the time the frigid morning assaulted her face.

Rukia walked further into the living room as the embers of last nights fire cracked and jumped as the last bits of its light and warmth escaped into the room. "Where could you have gone so early in the morning?" a cold voice sliced through the silence of the house, freezing Rukia mid step, her eyes gliding over to the tall chair her brother would usually sit upon.

"Brother?" the word slipped from Rukia's lips before she could think better to not say anything at all.

Said man stood from his seat and turned to her. "Where, Rukia?" he asked sternly. Though the dark haired man kept his face rather placid and uninterested Rukia could tell he was furious with her.

He knew; Rukia was sure of it, so there was no reason to lie other than to keep her name from being dragged through the mud by the townspeople. But she knew her brother would never let this get out, if for nothing else then to save his own reputation. "F-for a walk, brother," she answered as his cold eyes pierced her.

"On All Hallows Eve?" he questioned skeptically, looking down his nose at her. Rukia dipped her chin to her chest in shame. Seeing that she had resigned to his anger and would tell no more lies, Byakuya continued, "Who is marry you now, Rukia? Who?! No man will touch you now after being with that Kurosaki brat."

Rukia's head popped up in utter shock. "How did you know-"

"Don't count me a fool," he cut in angrily. "I've seen the two of you in the market place. I've seen the soft caresses, the guarded glances, the hidden smiles. I've known, dear sister, but I had no knowledge of you whoring yourself to him." There was a long pause as Rukia's chin fell once more and Byakuya looked coldly on his sister. Finally he spoke, "You will go to the council today and inform them it is your humblest honor to be the sacrifice for tonight. As your brother this is the best I can do to save your reputation. Be grateful."

Rukia could feel the tears build up in her eyes. She thought she was careful. She thought they had been secretive, that no one saw. But her brother had. What could she do now but take her brother's kindness and report to the council?

Byakuya brushed past her in the direction of the door Rukia herself had just walked through, but she stood motionless not even looking after him. The only thing Rukia could do while her eyes welled up in tears was think of Ichigo. He would fight for her. He would fight to spare her life. He would fight to keep her. Of that Rukia was sure.

Her brother dawned his riding cloak, turning back to Rukia who was seconds away from collapsing to the floor in tears, "Go to the council, Rukia, redeem yourself at least that much." The door shut quietly behind him.

Still Rukia stood, trembling in fear. Not fear of losing her life but fear of losing Ichigo. If he were to try to stop the sacrifice the village would kill him without batting an eye lash. The death of one to save the village was nothing to the council members, they sacrificed every All Hallows Eve to the hollow of the forest, one more life would be nothing to them.

~8~8~

Rukia stood idly looking into a shopping stall. The council had accepted her request to be the sacrifice and so instructed her to buy a white gown—a color no woman wore, not even on her wedding day. White was supposed to represent the pureness of the selfless decision to die for the village, but there was nothing pure about her request. There was nothing pure remaining in Rukia.

So she stood, blankly looking into the stall as women around her bought fabric to bring to the tailor; most likely for dresses or trousers for their husbands so they would be warm this winter. The way the priests read the sky, this winter was suppose to be a hard one. Rukia pitied the woman around her, scrambling to buy the warmest of fabric before there was none left, they would live to see their loved ones die if not this bitter cold winter but the next or next after that.

A calloused finger gently weaved its way up Rukia's open palm. "Good business today, Orihime?" a voice rang out as a presence brushed against her. Still Rukia refused to react, if she was cold to him he would stop groping for purchase in her limp hand, he would step away from her taking his loving warmth with him, he wouldn't fight to keep her.

"Very good," the orange haired stall keep replied, racking her eyes over Ichigo's lean form hungrily. She had loved him since their younger days when most still thought of each other as playmates and nothing more. A woman however bold she was would never openly pursue a man—and Orihime was anything but a bold woman—so she patiently waited for Ichigo to return the feeling she held, though he never would. "The priest announced today the sky read of harsh weather," she said with a smile as Ichigo playfully feed into her flirtations though he was still running his fingers along Rukia's side.

He arched an eyebrow, "Oh?" he chuckled, his hand beginning to search desperately for Rukia's subtle reaction. "Maybe I'll buy some as well; Yuzu would love these new patterns. Are they from the city?" the desperation was starting to seep into his voice as he stared ahead at the shop keep.

Rukia could feel her will slowly breaking and tears began to well up in her eyes. So she would run—run from him—if only for a short while. She stepped back away from the stall and quickly made her way down the dirt road, Ichigo looking after her as she stumbled away, tears blinding her when she bumped a few villagers.

How could she do this to him? Rukia stumbled into the corner of a building catching herself from falling as her knees gave way. She gasped out, releasing the breath she hadnt known she had been holding in, tears streaming down her face.

A hand took hold on her upper arm, pulling her around the corner she was leaning against and into the small alley way between the houses. Rukia hadnt had the presence of mind neither to resist nor to wonder who it could be because she knew. She just allowed herself to be pulled into the tight alley way not meant for two people.

"Is something wrong?" Ichigo asked, placing a tender hand on Rukia's cheek so she would look him in the eye, something she had been avoiding until this point. She remained silent, biting her bottom lip to keep her mouth shut and tears from her eyes. "Is it your brother?" he questioned peeking out of the alley way to see if anyone was near, then looked back into her eyes. Still Rukia remained silent; if she were to speak she would find herself bundled in Ichigo's strong arms in tears. But against her will, a small tear skidded slowly down Rukia's cheek, landing on the hand that still held fast to her cheek. "He knows…" it was more of a realization than a statement, that much Rukia knew, but what she hadnt known was what would come next from his soft lips. "I will go to him then; I'll ask him for you."

Rukia's lips parted slightly. Ichigo would often whisper sweet nothings like this into her ear while they lay together in the after glow of love making, but she never counted it more then that. Rukia didn't think herself as a cynical woman but she never believed him when he said that. She always thought one day they would part ways when they were forced by the council to marry—marry other people.

"I will go now," Ichigo mumbled into a kiss on her forehead. "If he knows then he can't possibly deny us." He stepped out of the alley and back onto the small side road leading into the main square. "We-" his words faded when Rukia caught his arm.

She shook her head slowly, dipping her chin to hide her tears. There was nothing in the world that Rukia wanted more then to be with Ichigo without having to hide from the world. But she was destined to die tonight, to be sacrificed to the hollow of the forest for protection, to be parted from him for the rest of eternity.

"What?" He asked with an airy laugh, stepping back to cup her cheeks in his hands.

Rukia took in a shaky breath pulling his hands down away from her face. She wasn't quite sure what she wanted to say or how to fraise it when she did. "I…" she started breathlessly, swallowing any emotion that began to creep up her throat Rukia started once more. "You can't. He would never allow it." This was true but not why he couldn't.

"Then we'll go to the council, it will all work out. I promise," he smiled.

She shook her head again, rolling her lips into her mouth. "They would not allow it either." Rukia could feel it, the light headed feeling she got before she collapsed to the floor after Byakuya had left that morning, the same feeling she felt before she stumbled into the house for support. She had to get this out before, well, before she lost her will. "I-"

"Why?" he asked before she could say. There was an obvious confusion on his face, a desperate need to know what was going on swan through his coffee and honey brown eyes.

"I…" she started, feeling her eye want to roll back into her head and knees begin to shake. "I…" the air around them seemed to refuse to be pulled into her lungs. Rukia's whole body just wanted to die looking into his loving eyes knowing that what she was about to say would break his heart, get him killed, or both. "I…I'm…the...th-the sacrifice," she final whispered.

Rukia watched as the blood drained from Ichigo's face and his body want to curl into a half beaten, defeated ball. At first he just looked at her as if he thought she was lying or he didn't hear her right. Then he slowly began to shake his head as if he was telling her that she was wrong.

"No," he stated firmly, pulling Rukia to his chest. "No, I'll go to the council and tell them you withdraw. You can't, Rukia, you just…" his words stopped when she pushed him away.

With saddened eyes she said, "I am the sacrifice, Ichigo. I'm sorry," she finished breathlessly, stepping past him and back into the main square and into the crowd.

~8~8~

Ichigo watched in the shadows wearing the costume Yuzu, his sister, had made him as men from the village bound Rukia's hands above her head against a pole. The sun had long set and the only light illuminating the streets was the large bonfire in the main square and several scattered torches.

He looked on absolutely disgusted. How could they do this to her? Ichigo had gone to the council against Rukia's warning, demanding they release her from the contract and find another woman to sacrifice. They refused however, sending him away as if he were a lunatic.

Having seen enough, Ichigo pulled his Paper-Mache master down over his eyes. He took one last look at his love, bound to a pole wearing a white gown a kin to that off a princess', before turning away his black cape following behind him as he disappeared into the shadows.

The entire village had gathered to watch the last minutes of Rukia Kuchiki's life. As she looked out into the crowd Rukia recognized every face having grown up seeing them everyday her whole life. But through all the faces, some more kind and sympathetic than others, there was one she longed to see though was not present.

Yamamoto, an elderly man with a long white beard and head council in the village, called the crowd to order. Tapping his large wooden cane on the wooden platform he stood upon to quiet the last of the whispers he began, "The Haunting Hour is upon us," he called into the crowd, his voice laced with seasoned age. "Dawn your masks to protect against the monsters of the forest. Our sacrifice is ready," he turned to Rukia who stood bound to a wooden pole, her back to the forest, stepping toward her to place a blind fold over her eyes. "Great beast!" he called into the woods regaining his place on the wooden stage, "Great Hollow, we offer you this woman as penance for the wrongs we commit against you and pray to return to your good favor. Please protect us," Yamamoto bowed, as did the rest of the council on the platform and crowd behind them.

A vain clenching scream rang from the forest. Rukia's heart began to race. Would dying hurt? Would the hollow devour her quickly or would he tear her apart? But despite the possible death that raced through her, Rukia's thoughts once more turned to Ichigo.

If only she had known that that morning would have been their last together. She would have cherished every moment spent with him that much more. Rukia wished for one last chance to set eyes on him, though she knew she never would. The last thing she would see was Yamamoto's masked face, one a kin to the mask of a hollow.

The sea of trees parted as a large masked beast erupted from the shadows. "Great Hollow," Yamamoto called over the sounds of its screams. "Take this woman!"

The screams died as it approached the pole Rukia was bound to. Her knees began to buckle, the only thing keeping her up right being the pole, as the fallen leave rushed near her. A large gust of wind pulled the air from Rukia as it smelt her stomach. Rukia gasped out, tears streaming down her cheeks, as she trembled.

Just then Rukia felt heat gust past her, licking the ends of her hair and cheeks. The giant Hollow reared back a cry of pain being released into the otherwise silent night. Someone patted out the flames that singed her hair and began to hack at the chains that held Rukia upright with a sword, the clang of metal on metal deafened her.

"Kurosaki!" Yamamoto called out in fury as Ichigo repeated chopping at the chains as the links slowly broke one by one, the Hollow trashing about clutching at its burnt face.

At the sound of Yamamoto's voice Rukia turned in the direction on the motion. "Ichigo?" she questioned. It couldn't be. Ichigo wouldn't risk his life against a monster or the village to save her. As much as she loved him and he said he loved her Rukia was in denial that he would risk it all to save her.

"When the chains break," Ichigo grunted out, swinging his sword as hard as he could—taking more out of the wooden post she was tied to then the chains holding her there. "Run."

Rukia could barely hear the audible sounds of the townspeople calling for swords and axes to stop Ichigo with. But none of that mattered to her. He had come for her. And that was the only thing that mattered now. Tears began to roll out from under the red blind fold that kept the sight of Ichigo away from her, "I won't say thank you…idiot," she muttered quietly. There was a slightly hesitation in Ichigo's next swing. Recovering, he smiled lightly while he finished the next slice but remained silent as chaos raged around them.

"Yeah," he whispered back.

The righteous clang of breaking chains shuddered through the crisp night air when Rukia's arms dropped. Without a break in motion Ichigo pulled her still blinded body to his. Rukia relished in the warms of his body and the scent she loved more than any other; he had come for her. "Now," he breathed, mumbling his words into her hair, "Run. Run to the stables."

Rukia ripped the blindfold from her eyes, taking the back of Ichigo's neck in her hand and pulled his lips down to hers. The kiss they shared at that moment was like none other before it; harsh and rough, as if testing the existence of the other on their lips.

Without another word she released him and ran in the direction of the stables, her lungs burning from the smoke created by the fire that plunged the village, her legs weak from terror, her heart willing Ichigo to come to her again. She pushed through the crowd of people who would have tried to stop her if not for Ichigo's fiery stare. Until he turned back the now vengeful beast.

Though it matter little if Ichigo's eyes were still looking after her because the arm that caught her belonged to the only person not frightened by the fact he just injured a Hollow.

"Rukia," the usually cold and emotionless voice rang out, this time in clear unadulterated anger. "What do you think you're doing? You must die for this village, your home, your people. You must die for the sins you have committed!" he bellowed, tightening his hand on her wrist painfully.

"Brother!" Rukia screamed out in pain as she scratched at his tightening hand. "You're hurting me!" she cried, this time trying to pull her hand away before he broke her thin wrist. "Please!"

Byakuya snarled at her in anger, "You're hurting innocent people! Why shouldn't you feel their pain?" he growled, "For what? Kurosaki?"

"Yes," Rukia cried, tears running the length of her face once more while she still struggled for freedom, "I love him. When I was a child I watched the love you had for Hisanna, I watched the way you were together, I watched you cry when she died. All my life I wished to feel a fraction of what you felt for her. I feel that way for Ichigo. Brother, I love him more than anything. I would for sake this village for him!" Without warning Byakuya released her wrist—his bangs shading his eyes with cover—causing  Rukia stumbled back onto the ground, "It killed me not to tell you. But I love him and I will be with him, with or without your approval." By this time Rukia at regained her footing and was slowly backing away from him. "I'm sorry," she whispered before pushing through the crowd once again.

Rukia ran as fast as her legs would carry her through the dirt streets when she broke the crowd. He asked her to run there so she would without question. If he would have asked her to run bare foot over burning coals to get there she would have. The only thing keeping her from collapsing from smoke inhalation was the image of Ichigo half masked face. She could only see his mouth and chin with clarity and barely his amber eyes, but she could see the love she felt in them. Please let him come to me.

She burst into the barn out of breath, tripping over her feet landing heavily on the stable floor as she began to slow. Rukia lungs stung as she tried to breath, clutching at her heaving chest. The run here began to catch up with her when every part of her body began to tremble.

"Rukia," a gentle hand came to rest on her shoulder. Her purple eyes turned up to find her cousin, Toshiro Hitsugaya, looking back at her. She tried to call out to him but her voice escaped her as air raced in and out of her lungs. "Come. Kurosaki has arranged for me to take you away."

Rukia's eyes widened, pushing his hand away from her. "No!" she shouted, finding her voice. "What about Ichigo? I can't just leave him!"

Toshiro out stretched his hand to her, "Please, Rukia, let me get you to safety like he asked of me. Kurosaki wasn't sure what would happen after he saved you but he wanted to make sure you stayed alive. Don't make his final wish of you made in vain." His voice sounded soothing but the things Toshiro had said stung deeply in Rukia's heart.

Her breathing became erratic again as sobs racked her body. Why had she thought Ichigo would be able to escape to her without problem? Rukia couldn't find it in herself to move, yet didn't pull away this time as Toshiro reached out to her.

Sighing the white haired young man scooped his dear cousin into his arms, pulling her up from the barn floor and placing her on a pure white horse mounting it after her. With clothing, food, and water tied to the back of their horse, Toshiro led the stallion out of the barn—Rukia sobbing into his chest.

~8~8~
(Alternate Ending)

"You were stupid," Rukia mumbled, wringing the watered down blood out of a towel. "What were you thinking? That the dog wouldn't bite you if you threw rocks at it?" she shook her head in disapproval, dabbing the wet cloth at the teeth marks.

Amber brown eyes looked down at the cut as it began to burn. He wasn't quite sure what was in that water but it hurt every time Rukia would clean out a cut or wound. "I didn't not think it would bite me, I just thought I would be faster then it. We all kind of did…"

Rukia let out an airy laugh, reaching for the bandages. "I suppose we learned our lesson didn't we?"

"We did," he answered back as she wrapped the white roll of bandages around his leg. His amber eyes watched her hands, "Hey mom," he paused, "Where's dad?"

Her hands stopped their work, "Gone," she said quietly beginning her work once more.

"When will he be back?" the boy with brown eyes asked. Rukia shook her head in response, really having no answer for her son, she never did. All the times he would ask when his father would return she would have no answer.

There was a knock at the door, "Will you go get that, sweetie?" Rukia asked tucking the end of the bandage into itself. Her son nodded, hoping down from the wooden chair and running to the front door.

"Welcome back," the young boy with brown eyes smiled, taking a basket from the hand of the man at the door, walking back into the living room leaving the door open. "Mom, he's here."

Rukia stood from her chair, which was a chore harder then usual these days, and smiled as the man entered the home, "Welcome home," she said placing a hand on her pregnant belly. "He's been especially restless today."

The man placed the basket remaining in his hand on the floor, kneeling at her feet, placing his hands on either side of her stomach. "Shh," he soothed, "Your father is home."

"Daddy!" Rukia's son called from the kitchen, "There's a dead chicken in this basket!"

Rukia looked down at her husband, "You gave him the basket with the chicken in it? Ichigo, you amaze me sometimes." She rolled her eyes and turned to enter the kitchen her son was having a panic attack in.

"I try," Ichigo called after her with a chuckle.