Long time no see my fanfiction brethren!
So the Bleach manga is back and I am too excited.
(Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo)
Here is a new story I have been playing with.
Yes, it's rated M for mature, but there is no lemon in this chapter (but there will be one in this story), so stay tuned!
Enjoy!
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Rukia Kuchiki remained with her head held high as her older brother spoke.
He had called her into a meeting with other important members of the Kuchiki-clan.
Byakuya Kuchiki sat at the head of the group, and she sat to her bother's right. The rest of the Kuchiki-family members were surrounding them in two different, long lines.
She was sitting up straight with a blank expression on her face. In her mind, she tried to grasp and comprehend the meaning behind his words.
"It's time Rukia, don't you agree?" her brother-in-law asked calmly.
The question snapped her back to reality.
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"H-hai brother…" she squeaked out.
She blushed, embarrassed by own reaction.
Clearing her throat, she spoke again, this time more refined, "How long do you expect the process to take?"
"That will all depend on the quality of the candidates… It could be soon, in just a matter of weeks, or it could take several months. Do not trouble yourself by worrying; I will make sure that everything goes along smoothly. You are my heir, and I want you to be happy."
"Yes. Thank you brother." The young woman stated.
After bowing respectfully to her brother and to the other clan-members, she slowly walked out of the room. After she had left, she all but bolted out of the mansion.
She ran back to her post as the Lieutenant of Squad 13.
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Rukia retreated and hid herself away.
She felt safe and at peace in her own office.
She hoped to distract herself by doing paper work, but groaned in displeasure when she read the note on her desk.
Captain Ukitake, her captain, wanted to speak with her.
She frowned.
Not Again!
She wasn't sure how much more BIG NEWS she could handle in one day…
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Rukia knocked politely on her captain's office.
"Yes?" the older man asked.
"Um… You wanted to see me sir?"
"Ah, Kuchiki-san! Yes, please come in!" he said cheerfully.
Rukia entered the room and closed the door behind her.
"Please, have a seat Lieutenant."
The short-haired soul-reaper did as she was instructed.
"So… How have you been feeling Captain Ukitake?" she asked, trying to make small talk with her mentor.
"I've felt great lately, thank you for asking. How did the meeting with the Kuchiki-clan go today?" he questioned.
A look of pure panic crossed her features.
"Oh… Don't worry, Captain Kuchiki filled me in because I'm your Captain… There is no gossip going around," He tried to assure her.
The girl relaxed slightly, blushing.
"I'm sorry I brought it up." he said awkwardly, mentally berating himself. He should have known better than to question her, she probably hadn't even had the chance to let it all sink in yet.
"It's alright Captain, I just… have to get used to the idea is all." She assured him with a smile.
Her captain nodded his head. He decided now was as good a time as any to change topics.
"Anyways, I went through your evaluation earlier. I think it may be best if you take some time off-"
Rukia's violet eyes widened in surprise, "Take some time off? But why sir? I haven't done anything wrong!" she protested.
The Captain of Squad 13 laughed loudly and interrupted her, "Calm down Kuchiki, your evaluation came out perfect! I was trying to tell you take a vacation."
"A-a vacation?"
"Yes Lieutenant, a month-long vacation. Might I suggest the world of the living? I hear it's very beautiful during the winter." He suggested.
Rukia tried to mask her excitement. The world of the living? She could go see Ichigo… and the rest of her friends.
"Alright, thank you Captain." She responded. She couldn't contain the large grin on her face.
Captain Ukitake nodded his head and Rukia stood to leave.
"Oh, and Rukia,"
"Yes Captain Ukitake?"
"Have a great day."
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A tall, young man stood in the kitchen of his apartment.
Ichigo Kurosaki smirked as he finished pouring himself a cup of coffee.
The hot liquid filled a black mug decorated with a simple white 'K' on it.
The substitute soul reaper sensed the young woman as she approached his door.
"Oi, come in, Rukia." He called out loudly.
Moments later, the girl stepped inside.
She was wearing a knee-length purple dress with a white jacket over it, and she was carrying a large tote with her. Once inside the apartment, she closed the door behind her.
Setting her tote down on the floor, she pouted, "How'd you know it was me?"
The twenty-three year old man shrugged as he turned back to his cabinet to pull out a second cup for the soul reaper.
It was pink with chappy-the-rabbit on it.
"I sensed you the moment you entered the world of the living." He said truthfully.
Rukia nodded as she slipped off her purple flats and white coat. Once she was done, she made her way into the kitchen.
"Sometimes I forget how powerful your spiritual abilities have become, strawberry." She said, adding the last bit playfully.
Ichigo didn't let the comment faze him, "I admit, sometimes it surprises me too, especially considering how small you are, midget."
Rukia sent a fake glare at him, but she wasn't really angry. She always missed playing around with him…
"So where is Kon?" she asked, looking around for the small lion plushy/mod soul. Usually, he would have run to her by now and greeted her.
"He's been staying at Urahara's shop the past week, trying to convince lend him a spare gigai body."
Rukia chuckled a bit. That sounded like something Kon would do…
"So do you have any plans today Ichigo?" she asked as she took a seat on a stool as he poured her a cup of coffee.
"Sort-of." He said as he reached to hand her the milk and creamer and took a seat in the stool across from hers.
"Oh." She replied softly.
Ichigo sensed the disappointment in her voice. He inwardly smirked at himself.
They drank their coffee in comfortable silence.
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"So how long will you be staying?" he finally questioned.
It was always different each time: sometimes the lieutenant soul reaper stayed months, other times just weeks, or days, or just hours…
The dark-haired woman sighed, "I don't have any pending assignments, so about a month, unless I get called back for an emergency."
Ichigo nodded his head in understanding. When he looked up at her, he noticed the look in her big violet eyes. She wanted to tell him something. He knew it.
"Is there something else?" he asked.
Rukia stuttered a bit, caught off guard by his question, "No, it's nothing."
She turned away from him.
The young man sighed. He knew her well enough to know he couldn't force any information out of her. She would tell him whatever it was when she was ready, and not a second sooner.
Getting up from his stool, he walked to the table underneath his large flat screen TV. There, he picked up a small box wrapped in light blue tissue paper with purple dots on it.
Turning back to Rukia, he held it out for her.
"Here." He said.
She gasped as she looked at it.
"What, you didn't think I forgot today was birthday did you?"
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Rukia smiled as he inspected the small box in her hands and marveled at the silky wrapping paper.
"You remembered." She said thoughtfully. No one in the Soul Society had remembered. Not Renji, not her captain, no one her squad, not even her older brother.
"Why wouldn't I?" he retorted, as if insulted.
She stuck out her tongue at him, "Well it wouldn't be the first time you've forgotten…"
"Give me a break already, that was three years ago!"
Rukia giggled as she succeeded in making him lose his temper. He was still so predictable…
Opening up the box, she pulled out a brand new, limited edition, chappy-the-rabbit plush toy.
"SO CUTE!" she squealed happily.
She brought the small rabbit doll up to her chest and continued to shriek as she crushed against her.
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Ichigo rolled his eyes at her. What was it about that damn bunny that made Rukia and Yuzu act so childish?
"Thank you Ichigo, it's perfect!" she said to him with sparkling purple eyes.
The orange haired man suppressed his blush and rubbed his neck in embarrassment.
"It was nothing. And it wasn't all your present either-"
"Oh?" Rukia asked curiously.
He young man nodded his head, "I thought I'd take you shopping for your birthday too… Go set your stuff down in the guest room; we can leave when you're ready."
The soul reaper didn't have to be told twice!
Before Ichigo could blink she had already disappeared down the hall and into the guest room.
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Ichigo sat on the couch as he waited for Rukia to be ready. Turning on the TV, he flipped through the channels to find something good to watch.
He had graduated from Karakura University before the winter break, and upon graduating he received a high paying job in the University's prestigious research department.
Because of his new salary, he was looking into buying a home, but for now he was still content with his apartment. It had two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a long hallway, a big living room, and good size kitchen.
His second bedroom was supposed to function as a guest room, but in reality was more like Rukia's room.
She stayed with him every time she came to the world of the living. The room was filled with her things, her clothes, her comforter, and her ridiculous chappy the rabbit and ambassador seaweed merchandise.
When Rukia finally emerged Ichigo turned off the TV and stood to stretch.
'Oh well, may as well get this over with….' he thought.
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"Ichigo! I want to go in there next!" Rukia said excitedly as she ran from shop to shop inside the mall.
The orange haired man groaned as he reluctantly followed her.
His arms were full of shopping bags. Shirts, pants, skirts, and shoes.
Man, she really didn't care that she was spending his hard-earned money! He was grateful he was making more money now, he would have never been able to treat her to all this on his college/part-time job budget!
The spikey-haired man sighed in defeat. It was her birthday, and it wasn't like the petite soul reaper had the opportunity to go shopping everyday…
"Hurry it up slow poke!" the petite girl chided as she entered the boutique.
Ichigo growled at her.
An elderly couple walking by holding hands chuckled at the poor youth.
"Your girlfriend is quite excited today. It must be a special day." The old man commented.
"Remember when you used to carry my shopping bags like that my love?" The old woman said to her husband.
Ichigo blushed deeply and wanted to tell them that Rukia was NOT his girlfriend, but they were already gone.
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Just a little teaser chapter, but what do you think so far?
If I made just one person smile or laugh with this chapter, I feel like I've done a good thing.
Constructive criticism is accepted. Please, if I make a super obvious mistake, let me know, and I will gladly fix it!
THANK YOU TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE READ, FAVORITE(D?), FOLLOWED, AND REVIEWED MY OTHER STORY, THE TRADE.
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH I'M WRITING IN ALL CAPS.
Here is a shout-out and big cyber-cookie to all of the lovely folks who reviewed my last story: kuromi123, Emi, Rayne Destiny, avvrilstar, Ecila, vampirelover, RoXas Obivion Oathkeeper, My Name Is Someone, Culebra del Sol, Merikatori,cbeastly, Mistemptress, Mdizzle181, yagami rin, Hekka, FinalReason, Nhn, ritacovarrubias9, erzashea1, kat, Merci, Rukia Heart, and ceiyn.
I'm living the full time college student/full time working life, but I promise to update next week.
Read, Follow, Favorite, Review.