He was standing there. His tall frame towering over the wooden mahogany table, deeply involved in strategizing his next move. Glancing down, he looked at the map once again while his perpetual scowl at its full force.
Suddenly, the complete silence in the makeshift camp was interrupted by one of his underlings.
"My lord…" the soldier landed on his knees, inclining his head lowly hoping that the gesture would ease the inconvenience of his interruption.
The young lord looked at the soldier. "You may rise, " he commanded. His tone was calm and authoritative, but it showed no wisp of tyranny or dominance.
"What news did you bring for me, Kon?" The young lord inquired.
"Representatives of Ise Kingdom are here, my lord. They wish to seek help from Karakura with the ongoing war against the Los Noches." The soldier replied with his head still bowed in respect.
Minutes passed, the room again filled with deadly silence as the young lord contemplated the message.
Finally, another voice entered the fray. "Shouldn't we bother about our own fights first? Why does everyone want us to clean their shit? " The irritated, second in command growled as Kon cowered in fear
The young lord smirked "If Shunsui gave his kingdom even half as much attention as he gave his harem of women and alcohol, then he wouldn't have come begging to us for help."
"Even then, Ichigo, helping them could leave a severe dent in our finances as well as our armed forces. We cannot do that, especially not when we are planning to strike Tousen," his second in command reasoned.
For a minute, the young lord pondered the assessment as he weighted the pros and cons of assisting the Ise Kingdom.
Then, he made his decision. "Kon, inform them about our concerns in not joining them, and politely decline their request. If they still wished to talk to me, inform General Yasutora Sado about them coming here. I am sure that he would handle the responsibility of hosting them."
Quickly, Kon took his leave, bowing to his master once again. For a while, the deadly silence ensured, followed by the commotion outside the of clinking metal traveled through the air.
Ichigo raised an eyebrow, turning towards his second in command, while everyone in the room took the defensive posture.
The tent was swiftly torn open by a soldier clad in armor dashing at full speed towards them. Any Karakuran who came in his way was knocked to the floor. The intruder quickly dodged any attacks from the other soldiers, and simply countered with one of his own. He delivered lightening fast blows with precision and a slight malicious intent. Oh, but those blows weren't meant to kill, they were meant to harm.
The young lord leaned onto his table, his attention on the warrior in front of him. It amused him greatly to know that someone so small could hold and fight ferociously in heavy armor. He could hear the low growl of his second in command, clearly pissed, with his hand on his sword, ready to take down the assaulter.
The young lord stopped his second in command with his hand, signaling him to move back. Instead, Ichigo took two steps close to assaulter, who fought with a ferocity against the Karakuran soldiers. He kicked him in stomach, quickly bringing the small man down.
The attacker sensed the young lord approaching. Without a thought, he lifted his sword against Ichigo, who was well known for his speed and agility. Quickly, Ichigo disengaged the sword from the attacker's hand by delivering a powerful kick to the attacker's chest. Without any resistance, the attacker tumbled to the ground.
A few Karakuran soldiers rushed into the tent, surrounding the attacker, but the young lord just stood there, observing his tiny assaulter.
His previous, brutal kick removed the gear from the head of the attacker only to reveal dark, long hair falling down past her waist. Then Ichigo met the eyes of the person brave enough, or stupid enough, to attack him. Surprisingly, the eyes that met his were the rarest color on the earth.
"WHAT THE FUCK!" His second in command's shouts fell deaf to his ears. For Ichigo was too lost in those rarest, most exotic eyes that he has ever seen.
They were rarest blue. Like cold amethyst stone .
Ichigo signaled his soldiers to back off. Turning his back to her, he ordered them. "Let her go. Escort the lady back to her home land safely."
Rising from the floor, the young woman spoke for the first time, "The Ise Kingdom is in need of you!"
Still with his back towards, he replied nonchalantly," I see no need for that, when a single woman from Ise Kingdom is capable of taking down more than ten strong men from Karakura. Surely, Shunsui knows how to train his ladies."
The young woman picked up the lying sword, bringing it up straight to his neck, drawing a thin amount of blood from his neck.
The Karakuran soldiers drew their swords without hesitating to cut her down.
But Ichigo raised his hand, refraining them from moving. "Do you know that you could be killed for this little stunt that just you have pulled? " His voice was calm, controlled, with an angry undertone.
"Let it be so. I promised them that I would be returning only with the Ichigo Kurosaki. If I couldn't accomplish this act then dying would be better than to turn empty handed." The young woman shook her head slightly. "Women and child of our country were held captive by the army of Las Noches." She told him.
Ichigo remained silent listening to her words. "We approached you, hoping that you would help us, but it seemed that you are not even thinking like a human, much less helping us," she concluded.
He turned to face her, pinning her with his amber gaze. Grabbing the silk scarf that was tied securely to her neck, he brought it to his neck, wiping the tiny amount of blood seeping through the newly acquired wound.
"What is your name? " he asked her, tending to the wound.
"Rukia Inuzuri," she replied, equally staring at him straight in the eye.
Once again, he was lost in those beautiful, exotic amethysts eyes. His gaze lingered on her face, noting her large violet eyes, a button nose and full red lips. His gaze scrutinized every inch of her face , leaving a burning trail behind.
"Rukia Inuzuri, we accept your request. Karakura will fight alongside the Ise kingdom "
"But, my Lord!" A cry from his second in command began, but Ichigo silenced him with a wave of his hand.
"Father would be pleased hearing that we were aiding other Kingdom. Send him a note regarding the situation." Ichigo commanded. "Rukia Inuzuri, how much time will it take to get back to the Ise kingdom? "
"Five days," she replied.
"Two days are enough," he told her.
"It is impossible" she told him, a hint of disbelief evident in her cold tone.
"Ichigo kurosaki's speed is his identity , Ms. Inuzuri " he tells her, his lips forming a devious smirk
She smirks at him in return.