Everything he wanted
An alternate universe Bleach fanfiction.
Chapter 1
A/N: I do not own Bleach and its characters.
13 July
To: Kuchiki Rukia
What do you mean you've got something on? I thought you have that date blocked every damn year.
From: Kuchiki Rukia
I'm sorry, okay? It's a last minute thing.
To: Kuchiki Rukia
What last minute thing?
From: Kuchiki Rukia
I can't tell you.
To: Kuchiki Rukia
That's bullshit!
From: Kuchiki Rukia
C'mon, Berry. It's just this once, all right? I promise I'll make it up to you.
To: Kuchiki Rukia
And that's one time too plenty!
To: Kuchiki Rukia
You know what? Just do whatever the hell you're supposed to do. I don't care.
From: Kuchiki Rukia
Aww... Don't get mad. I'll tell you all about it when it's over.
To: Kuchiki Rukia
Whatever, Midget.
The tall, orange-haired man flung his phone across the carpeted floor of his room. To say he was pissed off would be a serious understatement. He couldn't believe that his best friend wouldn't be celebrating his birthday with him this year. It was their annual thing – just the two of them going off somewhere to spend time with each other. It didn't matter what they did; just as long as it was 'just the two of them' the whole day.
They had been doing this for the past seven years ever since Kuchiki Rukia helped him escape a surprise party thrown for him by a classmate named Asano Keigo. Even when they were dating other people, they would reserve that day for each other. Their partners were forced to understand. Sure, they had encountered problems explaining this annual 'special occasion' before – especially on Ichigo's part because his girlfriend would want to celebrate his birthday with him – but they had never failed to make it happen year after year.
This year, it just so happened that both Ichigo and Rukia were not seeing anyone. It would be the first time they were both single at the same time in six years. It had always been either one of them attached to someone else. And that was why Ichigo was so angered by Rukia's 'last minute' excuse to not be able to do something with him. 15 July was not only his birthday. It was also the day the two of them became best friends as a result of the rescue from Keigo's stupid party.
"What could be so damn important that she can't forego for my birthday?" Ichigo grumbled to the empty room while fisting his hands in his hair. He was no longer in the mood to do his assignment, which he was initially rushing to finish off before his birthday. For that damn outing he was supposed to have with that short-as-hell woman he dubbed 'best friend'. Dropping his lanky body on the bed, he threw an arm across his eyes as he recalled what happened seven years ago. "Best friend, my ass..."
Ten minutes after entering Keigo's house, Ichigo found himself sitting and sulking at the corner of the living room with a scowl so deep, it was scaring away all the girls who were ogling him. It was all it took to frighten them from approaching him to make small talk.
Surprise birthday party, my ass… he thought. Ichigo was more than certain that Keigo had used his birthday as an excuse to get the girls to hang out in his apartment while his sister was away. Keigo knew very well that Ichigo hated parties. He had never attended one and didn't see himself ever going to one because he just hated being in places with lots of people.
Despite how scary he looked, Kurosaki Ichigo was one of Karakura High's hottest guys – both teachers and students included. A girl would give anything to be near him. Most of them would be sent away crying when he shot them with his deadest glare but some girls couldn't take 'no' for an answer. They just kept coming back to bat their eyelashes at him.
Other guys who were jealous of him would spread rumours of him being gay because he kept turning down all the girls. He was not one to care about what people said about him, though. Otherwise, he would've dyed his hair black. That naturally orange hair had always been trouble for him.
Ichigo growled for the umpteenth time when someone decided to take a seat next to him. "For the love of Kami, I am not interested," he muttered without seeing who it was.
When the person kept silent, he turned to his left to see a very tiny raven-haired girl who had narrowed her eyes at him. He recognised her as his chemistry lab partner from last year. Kuchiki Rukia was her name. And she was definitely not one of his fangirls. He knew that much because he could still recall the countless times she had assaulted him when she didn't get her way during their projects. Boy, was he glad when the semester was over. He was about to apologise when her glare at him grew intense. Funny how he was on the receiving end of such expression all of a sudden.
"As if I'd be interested, Kurosaki," she snapped.
In reflex, he lifted both his palms up to shield his head in case she was about to hit him. It earned him a smirk from the petite girl.
"I see you've learnt your lesson," she said in a smug tone.
Ichigo rolled his eyes and sank deeper into his chair. "Give me a break, Kuchiki. It's been one girl after another since I came in."
Rukia chuckled. "What do you expect, hot stuff?" she spat sarcastically. "You're Kurosaki Ichigo, most desired guy in Karakura High. Hell do I know what they see in that scowl of yours."
The birthday boy decided to ignore her remarks. "Why are you here?"
"Here, as in the party or here, in this corner hiding away?" she asked, her eyes seeming to stare at nothing in front of her.
"Is there a difference?"
Rukia shrugged. Ichigo didn't bother pushing for an answer and they both went into a comfortable silence for a good ten minutes before she spoke up without looking at him.
"I received an urgent call from a strange number. I was told to come here immediately," she said, air-quoting the word 'urgent'. He thought he heard a scoff before she continued, "Found my boyfriend sucking off the face of another girl in Keigo's bedroom."
Ichigo furrowed his brows as he stole a glance at her from the corner of his eyes. She was still staring up ahead, her face void of any expressions. He later found out it was a Kuchiki thing to mask their emotions. At that moment, he didn't know what to say to her. She didn't seem too upset about it that he should apologise. In fact, it looked like she had expected it all along.
So he just kept quiet until a girl, who was evidently tipsy, came by and tried to throw herself at him. The eighteen-year-old boy instantly got up from his chair, causing the girl to fall awkwardly on the floor beside Rukia. Both she and Ichigo couldn't help the snicker that emitted from them. The girl, however, was furious as she got up, toppling over her ridiculously high platform shoes while dashing away from the two in embarrassment.
"Man, I've had enough of this," Ichigo said after he had recovered from his fit of laughter. "I don't think Keigo even has a birthday cake for me."
Rukia snorted, "I don't think he even cares if you're here."
"And I think you're right." He nodded, catching sight of the host who was at the other side of the living room, trying to pick up a girl who was at least a head taller than him.
"I'm going to look for food. You want to come along?" she asked, gathering her jacket and sling bag as she stood up.
He shrugged. "Sure. Where are you going?"
"Urahara's burger stall is just around the corner."
"Lead the way, Kuchiki-san" he said, gesturing for her to go first with a playful bow as he followed behind.
They were almost at the main door of Keigo's apartment when a blur of black ran past Ichigo. He almost punched the guy for being rude when he recognised him as his cousin Shiba Kaien who was also a teacher in their high school. "Kaien?"
The taller man with ebony hair turned around a bit at the sound of his name. "Oh hey, Ichigo," he greeted mindlessly and returned to the girl he was desperately going after – Rukia. He grabbed her elbow and tugged her back towards him.
"Ru…"
"Let go of me!" Rukia's eyes slightly narrowed at the man.
"Kaien, wha-?"
The couple ignored Ichigo, with Rukia staring heatedly at Kaien.
"Could you please let me explain?" the teacher begged.
Rukia tried to pull away but his grip on her tightened. She winced before returning her expression to the stoic one that she always wore. "I don't need your explanation, Shiba-sensei. I've already seen it," she said, her voice not the least bit giving away that she was not as calm as she looked. However, Ichigo thought he could see a dangerous spark in those violet eyes of hers.
"But I can't let you go without…"
Rukia shook her head and slowly slipped her arm off his hold. "It's okay. I understand. Please go back to Miyako-san." With that, she exited the apartment.
Ichigo followed but paused his steps when he reached the door to look back at his cousin's distraught face. "I don't know what's going on, man. But I think the person you should straighten things out with is Miyako-nee and not Kuchiki. What the hell were you doing with another woman when your fiancée was away studying?" he asked quietly – disgust evident in his voice, as he left the party.
Urahara's stall was indeed just a few blocks away. Ichigo found Rukia sitting at one of the makeshift tables, munching away at her burger as if the incident at the apartment didn't just happen. There was already a crumpled burger wrapper by her elbow and at least three uneaten ones on the table in front of her. It was not uncommon to him, though, as he used to see Keigo's sister binge-eating like that every time after a breakup.
Ichigo pulled a stool out from under the table and took his seat. "I'm sorry about Kaien," he muttered.
Rukia shrugged. "It happens. People cheat all the time," she responded with her mouth full.
At any other time, he would have laughed at the sight of a petite girl with round cheeks trying to talk without spilling food from her mouth.
"For all that's worth, Miyako-nee was the one he cheated on," he explained before he could stop himself. Shit! Why did I say that? It's none of my business and now I'm making her feel worse about the whole thing. Of all the times to have a big, fat mouth, Ichigo! he cursed inwardly.
Rukia gapped her mouth. He couldn't tell if it was out of shock or she was just in the middle of taking a big bite of her burger.
"I'm sorry…"
"Miyako-nee? She's your sister?" she gulped, a tinge of guilt flooded across her face.
Ichigo immediately waved his hand in front of him. "N-no…" he stuttered. "Kaien's my cousin and Miyako-nee is his fiancée of four years. Our families are quite close. Hence, the honourific."
Rukia chuckled bitterly. "He's been engaged for four years," she repeated. "I must look so stupid." She shook her head and then continued munching her burger… with renewed vigour.
The orange-haired boy in front of her sighed. "Look, I'm really sorry. I didn't even know you were seeing him."
She shrugged again. After swallowing, she replied, "It's not your fault. We kept our relationship a secret because it was not appropriate to have a teacher-student affair. I've seen pictures of Miyako-san before but he told me she was his ex-girlfriend. Technically, I guess he didn't lie to me. She's not just his girlfriend anymore because they are engaged."
Unwrapping her fourth burger of the night, she waved a hand dismissively and smirked. "I'll get over it. Let's talk about something else. I'm sure it's uncomfortable for you to talk to me about you shithole cousin," she said, pushing the last burger across the table towards him.
Ichigo chuckled and shook his head as he took her offer. He was amused by this odd character sitting before him but he had a feeling she's not such a bad person to be friends with. That night, Kurosaki Ichigo and Kuchiki Rukia became partners again. Nothing romantic, though. Pfft… Just really good friends who trusted each other with their lives.
Here's a three-part countdown fic for our beloved Strawberry's birthday. Tune in again tomorrow for Chapter 2.
