DISCLAIMER: I am in no way claiming Bleach as my own, it will never be my own, and is currently under ownership by Kubo Tite.
The closet was her space, her own room, smaller than a room of course, but then again it was her space where no one could touch her. That one place she could escape and block out all people and emotions, sit and think. She liked that frequebtly. Even if she could not escape the sound of Ichigo, right through the wood closet doors, she could simply close her eyes and disapear to a different place, dream of anything she wished. In fact she could never quite remember her dreams, only the important ones, which rarely occured, but they did on some occassions. The aroma? Not it was not great in fact it smelt of Ichigo, the faint smelling spice and other unidentified scents. It was semi comforting, he in fact had always been there for her and in a way. She thought back to the time of her scheduled execution, which was not completed, thank goodness for her. Even after the harsh spoken words she said to him as he laid on the street, helpless and on the brink of death, he still came to rescue her. "Like a true friend," she mumbled "Hm- what a interesting person."
"Rukia?"
"Ichigo?"
"Your talking in your sleep again."
She smiled to herself, Ichigo had sworn she talked in her sleep amongst other things that he was rather content keeping to himself. Yes, she put on an angry front, it was funny to irriate him actually. He was a short tempered fellow, but nothing could be done about that. "Forget about me, I do not talk in my sleep, goto sleep. School tomorrow, early."
She could here the shuffling of his bed sheets as he moved around in his bed, the bed creaked. "I just can't get to sleep, its like the bed is rejecting a comfortable rest." He spoke slowly, almost like he was listening to something.
"The feeling must be mutual, it's like a bad spirit is lingering around. Strange, yes." She thought to herself, it obviously wasn't a hollow, or a bount for that matter. She would have sensed those instantly, but this was more of a mood, an emotion. She racked her door just a little and peered over at Ichigo.
"What are you looking at? Nothing to see here." He laughed lightly, then cast it aside as his attemptive sexual implacation was pointless.
Rukia continued to stare down Ichigo and ignored his comment, he has been rather depressed lately, she had noticed but there was nothing she could do, there was no point. He was a stubborn boy, that was a fact and whatever the phase he was going through, he would get through it on his own. Curosity did irk her however, what could be bothering him? Should she ask him straight forward? No he would come forward eventually. "Ichigo, goodnight." With that she closed the door and moved back into her comfy position that was practically molded into her small mattress.
"Goodnight Rukia."
Beep. Beep. Beep. Smack. Crash.
The alarm clock startled Ichigo as he lept out of bed, and smashed the alarm button, knocking off it's nightstand. The remains sprawled over the floor, appearing unrepairable.
Lazily he layed back down on his mattress and stared at the ceiling. The Light was quite boring on the off white ceiling. How many times had he observed this on an ordinary morning before school? Too many times, thats for sure. He could hear Rukia moving around in her closet space. He sighed, it was hard for him to hie all his clothes to make it none suspicious to his family, since Rukia disguarded them all from "her room". Eventhough they were close, he didn't know much about Rukia, even though he wanted to. She was such a mysterious girl, or women per-say. He felt himself drifting off to sleep again, he did need to get up before he did. He had already been tardy for school many times, so this couldn't occur again.
He opened his eyes again and looked over to see Rukia just climbing out of the closet, already dressed in her school uniform. It was nice to have her back and attending school with him. Itwas better with her there, and he appriciated her presence, even if she did make him look like a fool most of the time.
"You are going to be late again you know. Hurry now, we've already missed Orihime. I'll wait." She sat on the edge of her bed flapping her legs,
He stripped himself of his shirt, replacing it with a new one. He looked over his shoulder, Rukia instantly locked eyes with him with big, almost seeming guilty looking eyes. She looked at the floor, and the pink flushed her cheeks. He laughed, "Rukia haven't you ever seen a man half naked before?"
Rukia looked up, her face restored to it's normal tint, "Well no, not before, not now." She put on a innocent and teasing smile.
"Whats that supposed to mean!?"
"What does that mean? I'm yet to see a man of course!"
He looked over, irritated at the sly little smile she had on her face. What do he have to prove anyways? It was just Rukia after all. Pulling the white collared shirt across his shoulder span and put it on, buttoning the front quickly. School would not wait for him nor Rukia, but atleast he was passing. It was hard at first balancing school work, Hollow related cases and the real life.
"Rukia, ready now?"
"Hmm... Yes, I have been ready if you haven't noticed!" Rukia slid off the side off the bed, and walked towards the window, "Lets go! We are going to be late at this rate!"
School let out at 3; It went by quickly for Rukia, who sat in deep though throughout the day, pondering over the decrease in Hollow attacks over the past few days. It was strange- yes, but it was also good for her and Ichigo. Once again they were nearly the end of another school year. It was strange to think that Rukia had been in the real world that long, time had seemed to have flown by. She walked down the paved steps in front of the school past the bushes and plants. The wind brushed past her legs with an erie innocence, skirt flapping in the wind, she could hear the girls coming out of school behind her, looking over her should she turned the corner before they called her name asking her to participate in one of their little friend sleepovers. Modern real world girls were something she could never understand.
Boys, friends, popularity, drama. What a waste of time.
"RUKIA!"
She stopped and turned, Ichigo was jogging after her, school books in hand. He looked in a surpirsingly good mood, smile on his face, "I finally caught you, way to be a friend and wait!"
"I'm sorry, I didn't want to get caught up with everyone."
"Understandable I guess," He looked around then back at Rukia, her eyes concentrating of what he was about to say, but he lost the thought all together and replied with a quick annoyed, "What are you looking at?"
"You were going to say something! Say it!"
"I can't remember quite right now, must not have been important though."
"Oh- well I think i'm going to go see Urahara, I think my phone may be broken. I haven't gotten a call all day, even a beep at all. Strange..." Rukia continued walking, staring down at the little black phone in her hands, one that the Soul Society had given her to track, locate and help in the destruction of Hollows along with the communication methods. It wasn't the first time the phone had acted up, but Urahara would know for sure. He was an odd figure thats for sure, Urahara, he was also a cunning man however, many of his inventions have suited Rukia and Ichigo throughtout many of their struggles. His store was on an odd street, with rickety houses, a very empty neighborhood. The mans merchendise was generally the items that would aid a person with a high spiritual connection like a shinigami or a death god.
Urahara was sitting out on his porch, companion Yurchichi at his side, in cat formation. He removed the pipe from his mouth, black lined eyes gazing at the two approaching customers, his his hat shadowed most of his face, hiding his features. "Ahh Rukia-Chan, Ichigo, what can I do for you today?"
Rukia held the phone out, "It's broken I think. Can you look at it?"
"I can look at it yes, hand it here."
Rukia walked over the the man, handed him the phone. He took the phone from her, oberserved it, opened it up, and pusheda few keys that emitted quick little tapping notes. He looked up, black circled eyes on a friendly face, "It doesn't appear to be broken, it functions all right. When was your last signal?"
"I would say since yesterday, but it was one call, and the beast was nowhere to be found. It's quiet, strange."
"That is indeed quite strange. Come back tomorrow, I will examine it overnight. These damn inventions the Soul Society comes up with are sure odd."
"W-what? If it signals overnight?" Rukia stammered.
"Don't you worry, I can take care of it." He smiled.
"Rukia, it's fine." Ichigo turned, backpack over his shoulder as if hinting he was ready to leave.
Rukia look back at Ichigo, Urahara, "Fine then, I will be back tomorrow morning, until then I put that responsibility in your hands. I'm ready to leave Ichigo." She stalked off down the street Ichigo at her side.
Ichigo is always so damn impatient. What an idiot he is sometimes. Does he not realize the signifigance of that phone?
"Maybe I can get some sleep tonight now..." Ichigo started, hope conversation would start, most of their conversations were very monotone, but atleast it would be better than a silent walk home. It seemed like they were close to the outside world, and maybe they were a little. People assuming they were dating, but that was very untrue as well. Unlike most highschool boys, he had more than enough on his hands than girls.
"Yes, we could both do some sleep, some resting time will be good." She looked over at Ichigo who seemed lost in thought, "What are you thinking about?"
He blushed lightly and covered up quickly, "Just thinking about stuff."
Not suspicious at all.
Rukia smiled to herself, observing the chance to embarrass her companion, "You aren't sneaky you know" She stopped folded her arms over her chest, grin on her face. "Honestly, in you mind, how do I look naked on a scale from one to ten?"
"W-what did you just say!?" Ichigo faced Rukia, blushing at the thought, but none the less affected by her joking words. "You little prick! Just because I didn't tell you what I was thinking doesn't mean I was picturing you NAKED!"
"Then why are you blushing profusely?" She stated, with a proud feminine look on her face. She resumed walking, they were almost to his house now.
Ichigo was stubborn, as usual, "That is none of your business, so don't bother asking."
"Fine you little prick."
"Rukia- hungry at all?" Ichigo tramped into his room carrying a plate of steaming food he had just savaged from his kitchen. It didn't look to appealing, even for his little sisters cooking but it was alright, enough to get by from, for now. When Rukia didn't respond right away he knocked on her closet, or rather his closest door still without a reply. "Oi! Rukia, you there?"
Silence.
He opened the door and peered in at her perfectly folded cot, folded clothes along the side. How could she honestly stand to stay cooped up in a such a small area? Maybe it was a little more reasonable for a person of Rukia's small stature versus his own frame, but who only knew? She was so mysterious, and she blantantly acted like she was high and mightly around him, just all the more strongly stating her being of the female sex. He knew deep down she cared just a little for him, the look she gave him above the Sougyoku as he deflected a blow intended for her, with a killing intent.
With a sigh he laed down the plate on her bed, "Kon, where is Rukia?"
"Ne-san? She left after you went for dinner. Didn't say much, but I did get a good swift kick in the face."
Kon puffed his chest out proudly, "But thats Ne-san for you..." He pondered with his paw under what he somewhat had of a chin, thinking expression on his face.
"Alright, well than I'm going out on a walk, maybe I'll find Rukia. Things sure are awefully quiet without that damned cell phone."
Ichigo left through the window landing swiftly on the grass below. He started walking down the street at a brisk pace wondering were the hell Rukia could have wandered off to. It wasn't usual for her to do such things and leave without notice, but he had always been a little concerned. It's not like she had things to do or people to see. Atleast people she wanted to see generally speaking. She was a strange girl that was for sure.
His legs carried him down to the park, the plain old boring Karakura park where everyone remembers growing up and riding on the tire swing and when they all fell off when their parents over did the spinning. Or, atleast Ichigo remembered that park. His father... was needless to say a little extreme on his parenting tactics.
On the bench ahead of hi layed Rukia, staring up at the sky above her, as if in her own little world. In fact she didn't even hear Ichigo approach until he spoke to her, "Hey Rukia, what are you doing here?"
She turned her head sideways looking at him sideways, her pale cheek against the woodbench, "Thinking. What are you doing?"
"Looking for you of course." Hands in pocket he shifted his weight back on one leg and stood cooly.
"You worry to much you know that"
"Your telling me this? I seem to recall the time at the Sougyoku when I was in the process of saving your ass and all you were ready to die up there, yet you were worried about your saviors versus yourself." He give her a slyful grin, "You remember that- dotcha?"
"Hai, of course I do. Was a day I'll never forget." She sat up, sitting crosslegged on the bench, "I'm- huh? Kira?"
At the sight of Rukias eyes widening, looking at a figure beyond Ichigo, he spun around and standing near ten feet away with the shinigami vice-captain Kira Izuru, with a nonchalant look upon his face.
TO BE CONTINUED.
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