第14章: The Crown Princess
Kisuke led the group back to his shop and Ashido placed Erza gently and neatly on her bed as Rukia changed her clothes to a comfortable one and left her to get some rest.
Tessai prepared the round table for then in one of the empty rooms as they sat on the floor gathered around and shared some tea. Ichigo was the first to break the silence "So what's your story?" He inquired at Kanō "I am not obligated to tell you" he answered stoically "I'll hang around until Erza err my lady wakes up, I hope you don't mind" he told Urahara "what did you just call her? Who do you think you are?" The angry Kisuke answered grabbing the collar of his shihakusho in annoyance "you clearly don't have any idea of who she is and how am I connected to her" he said before letting out a devilish grin. "Spit it out already,will yah?" Kurusaki insisted "I will, when she wakes up" he said picking up the cup and sip his tea.
Erza's eyes opened, her eyelashes faintly batting against her lids when she blinked. There she laid on her bed, debating whether or not she should get up. "Wait, I'm back to Urahara's place? What the hell happened?" She said inwardly as she tries to recall her memory. Her muscles felt weak, just like her energy. She let out an exasperated sigh, groaning as she rolled off of the bed. "What time is it? How long had I been asleep? How did I get into Kisuke's clothes?" All of these questions shot through her mind as she let out a loud yawn, then she remembered "shit, I almost forgot" she ran out of the room almost tripping because of her weak legs as she held unto the wall for support "Kenji!!! Where are you?" She called out.
The man knelt down before her. "My lady" he greeted "stand up" she commanded "how are you feeling?" He asked gently rubbing and massaging both her shoulders as he looks at her eyes with passion. She shrugged his hands off "I'm fine" she walked past him towards the table where everyone else is waiting for them watching. Kanō grabbed her wrist and wrapped his arms around her and rested his head on her shoulder while she has her head tilted up eye wide in circles lips formed into an O "I am glad that you are okay Lady Erza" she pushed him away and looked at his eyes before saying "uhm yeah me too" then he leaned forward closer to her face, Erza tried to move away but was frozen and her face started to heat up at the thought of Kanō going to kiss her and she closed her eyes but what she felt was just a light flick of his finger on her forehead before he took her hands and led her to the table where the rest are and he giggled thinking "she really looks cute".
Everyone sat quietly around the table and waited eagerly for him to talk "I am a Shinigami of the Ryū Order, formerly of the Gotei 13, who had once been entrapped in Hueco Mundo. I led the Order's operations within Hueco Mundo and answered directly to Kusaka Kori, whilst employing Naibu Shizuka as my second-in-command" he started with seriousness.
"The order was formed four hundred years ago when the Seireitou with Wing Bind Agency from our west branch reverse London collaborated with Gotei 13 to protect the dragon princess. The dragon queen Eileen Belserion is pregnant with a female child but then many enemy targeted her afraid of her powers being a dragon we had to protect them." He continued looking at Erza "The queen disappeared and we learned that she fled to Fiore and ruled the kingdom of dragonof together with mages. The queen is a master enchantress so she was able to keep Lady Erza in her womb secretly safe by bathing and feeding her with magic." He said with a sigh.
"When you were finally born the order decided to let you be under the soul king's orders since your identity was hidden when the queen left you at a monastery in Rosemary Village at the care of an old shaman monk who happens to also wield magic and was a famous protector of soul society" Erza interrupted "Grandpa Rob!!" She said before feeling a sting in her nose and her throat started to tighten. Her bottom lip quivered, She opened her mouth to let in a small breath as tears welled in her eyes. She fought with everything she had to keep them from falling but still a single tear rolled down her cheek. She looked down to hide her tear and wiped it discretely and smiled back at them as she nodded to Ashido to continue. It didn't go unnoticed by Kisuke so he stood up and walked towards her, he sat beside her and grabbed her left hand with is palm perpendicular to hers and wrapped his fingers around the back of her hand. It was big and soft and warm. He eyes never left hers, he smiled and rotated his palm parallel to her and interlocked their fingers as they link hands. His hands reassured her that her world was safe and comforted her without ever opening his mouth. Ichigo stared at them his eyes were filled with jealousy. There was something in his eyes, a pain behind it so he went and sat beside Erza opposite from where kisuke sat and he saw him holding her hand. Once again his emotions turn jagged and his insides tight. He took and hold her free hand and without looking at her he said with a warm gentle voice "Hey, tomato head" full or sincerity and she hummed and faced him "carrot head" she acknowledged "I see you. I do. I see pain in those eyes. It has sat there for your life time, trapped in the confusion we all carry. I see love too, the love you would have given were it not for the scars. So let me join you in that pain, walk with you, feel the same torture I know you bare. I am here for you" Ichigo said looking away to hide his red face, still holding her hand tighter than before. Erza was shocked for a moment before she finally said "Thank you. Thank you all of you" and smiled.
"My lady, the soul king had a son, your older brother, Yhwach. The soul king has the ability to see into the future and knew that he will kill him so he decided to have you as the crown princess to inherit his seat and become the soul queen but your brother inherited the same ability and wanted to kill you so no one can hinder his plans to become the soul king that is why you were hidden far away from him. When he learned that Irene was pregnant he killed her not knowing that you were already in Rob's care." Kenjie continued and Erza nodded tightening her grip on Ichigo and Kisuke's hand. "How did you know it was me? I mean how sure are you that I am the one you're looking for?" Erza tries to disagree "You have the sacred seal behind your left ear, the dragon mark by your mother sealed with the soul king's power, you haven't unleashed your true potential yet, you'll be surprise to what you can do" he said before forming a smirk "So you'll stay with me then?" she asked "No" he said confusing everyone.
"I am the only survivor of the Ryūnokori I should stay away from you to protect you. Enemies will suspect that you are the crown princess since I am with you, they know that it is you by just having me around, so I will go back to Hueco Mundo but if it is a matter of life and death this seal on my arm will bring me to you" he explained showing the dragon mark on his arms. "I told you this in front of your friends so they can protect you in my absence, please take care of my lady, I leave her to you" he said bowing to Ichigo and Kisuke. "My lady can I have a word with you privately" he asked sheepishly "sure, jut give me a minute" she stood up and went to the bathroom and cried. "Erza, pull yourself together, you're strong, you can do this, you have friends, you're not alone" she said to herself in the mirror, washed her face and wiped the tears and smiled, she took a deep breath before going out.
"Kenjie kun?" she called the man alone in the room still sitting by the tea table. When Erza walked into the room, Ashido's whole world slowed down. He look up and lay eyes on the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Perfect crimson hair that flows behind her and chocolate brown eyes that could swallow galaxies. Her perfect skin that looked so fragile yet so soft, Cheeks the colour of pink roses and eyelashes longer than anyone's he'd ever seen. And her out-of-this-world body caught his attention, a small waist hidden under an over-sized loose shirt and curvy hips that fit so perfectly in her dark washed blue shorts. This was the girl, the girl that he knows will change the way he looks at life. "uhmm Ashido? Are you okay?" she asked him waving her hands in front of his face trying to get his attention "Oh, I'm sorry was caught in a thought" Erza giggled "That's okay, you spaced out, are you sure you'll be okay alone in Hueco Mundo? I am willing to take the risk if you stay with me" she said with a warm smile "My lady" he said with tears welling up his eyes "When we're alone please call me Erza, no formalities, just friends, that's an order" she said with a nod.
Her words like nails and hammers breaking his heart apart for he knew he can't stay for her sake. He took her hands "Erza promise me that you'll keep yourself safe and be stronger. Master your power so no one can hurt you. I promise you that in the time that you needed the most, I will be there by your side until the time comes that I can freely walk alongside you." Erza smiled and nodded and threw herself to him into a tight hug "Erza, the pain I carry in my chest is inexplicable. Seeing you get away from me hurts a lot. Even though I want to hold you and keep you by my side for a longer time. As much as I know it's the best for you and for everyone.Thank you for everything. Promise me that you'll take care of yourself, okay?" he told her in a sad tone Erza just tightened her arms around his neck and he wrapped his hands on her waist. Erza pulled away and smiled she leaned close to his face, he blushed thinking that she'll give him a kiss, he closed his eyes but he felt a small pain on his face, opening his eyes he saw Erza pinching his cheek "You're so cute" she chuckled. Raising her right hand balled into a fist with her little finger out "Pinky Swear" so it is done. "Goodbye Erza, remember my promise" she hummed in return and he opened Dangai and traveled through Garganta back to Hueco Mundo.