Author's Note: This takes place right after the battles with the Fullbringers and was inspired by the recent manga chapters. I'm writing this to pull me over the drought of Ichi/Ruki interaction that has been going on for the last couple of months in Bleach. It's finally not sucking but we still have to wait until the Fullbringer vs. Shinigami battles are done. My goal is for this to be an Action/Adventure/ Romance story.
This is an update of Chapter 1. The mistakes I made in this chapter is now corrected. Thank you DameM for being my beta. You made this chapter better!
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. Mr. Tite Kubo et al owns it.
Chapter 1: I Remember
"What a waste of time," Ikkaku remarked. "I thought I was going to die of boredom fighting that guy."
"Troublesome," Toushiro commented.
"Che, took all of you long enough. Hey Kuchiki! Why didn't you switch with me?" Kenpachi shouted.
Byakuya Kuchiki responded with a just a hint of a smile. Inwardly he grimaced. It was way too easy. I need to update the soutaicho and all the captains as soon as we get back to the Soul Society. "The battle would definitely have been a bore to you. I doubt you would have had the skill or patience for it."
"What did you say, Kuchiki? I'll kill you!" Everyone sweat dropped. Those familiar with the two captains could see through their rugged interaction to the obvious "friendly" camaraderie between the two.
"Hey, you're pretty quiet Renji. Was your battle crappy like mine?" asked Ikkaku.
Renji glanced at his oil stained hands. The expression on that woman's face before the explosion flickered through his mind. I can't believe it. She blew herself up to get me out of that place.
"Hmph," was the only response uttered from his lips.
"Where's Ichi and that arrow guy?" popped the pink haired vice-captain from behind Kenpachi.
"Watch your back Kurosaki!" Ishida yelled.
"Getsuga Tensho!" shouted Ichigo as he dodges an attack from behind. "Thanks for the warning!" I need to get this battle over quickly. That little midget has a lot of explaining to do. He deepened his scowl and shunpoed behind Ginjo.
"Achoo!" Rukia rubbed her nose absently while she went in circles in the cushioned playroom.
"Where are you...?" Rukia shouted. "Don't think you can distract me with all...this!" This wasn't the type of battle she thought she would be thrown into, especially after all the training she'd been doing. Just as the thought passed through her mind, she quickly moved her head to the side. A heart tipped dart zipped passed her left cheek, missing it by only a few millimeters.
"Oh, so you are paying attention."
A girl with pig tails, maroon hair and a cute bunny cap emerged from the confines of the playroom. I must ask her where she got her cap. Rukia quickly shook her head from side to side. Baka, now is not the time to think of things like that. A memory of Ichigo handing her matching rabbit ears he bought while they were at a festival entered her mind. Now is definitely not the time to think of things like that.
"Oi! You still there? Should I shoot again?"
Before Rukia could respond, the girl with the bunny cap continued. "I don't want do this stupid fight. I didn't want Ginjo to give me powers he stole from Ichigo Kurosaki. Stupid Ginjo! He never listens. I hope he gets his butt kicked."
Stunned, Rukia asked, "Why are you here? What's Ichigo to you?" The latter question could be taken many different ways.
"Ha! That's something I want to ask you! You guys look way too suspicious. There's no way a hottie like him would be involved with you like that."
Rukia smirked back at the pig-tailed girl. This girl was obviously attracted to Ichigo. Ichigo, you better be okay. Annoyed, Rukia let out a huge huff at the distracting thoughts of concern. Focus, there's plenty of time to think of him later. Ironic, as that was exactly what she had been trying not to do for the past seventeen months.
Focusing back to the girl in front of her, Rukia retorted, "Like what? What Ichigo and I are to each other is none of your business. Let's end this and find a way out of here. I don't want to be stuck in here forever."
Just as the words passed Rukia's lips, the cute stuffed animal filled room began to break down and the outside world came into view. Quickly, Rukia grabbed the nearest stuffed bunny and caterpillar just before they disappeared with the room.
"Oh, ho! Took you long enough," Renji greeted. However, his demeanor quickly changed as a girl emerged from behind Rukia.
Noticing the changed expression from Renji had everyone's hand on their Zanpakutous, she responded quickly to him. "Idiot. Can't you see that she's obviously not interested in fighting us?"
Renji looked at the girl with the maroon hair holding a toy… gun? It's a gun, right? I think I remember Shuuhei showing me pictures of guns that shoot water and various other things. "What the heck, Rukia? We're supposed to defeat our enemies not play with them."
"Shut up. She's coming with us. We can hold her for questioning later when we get back to the Soul Society."
"I'm not going anywhere with you! Not if you're going to talk about me like that!" the maroon haired girl shouted. But maybe I'll go if that red haired hunk asks me. She stared at the tall red haired Shinigami and glared at the short haired girl that acted so friendly towards Ichigo Kurosaki.
"Like hell you're not!" Renji shouted at her.
Close enough. "Fine, but I demand to be treated like a guest and I won't say a word till I speak with Ichigo Kurosaki."
A big boom suddenly shocked everyone. Two figures were seen shattering through the final game room created by the kid with the video game themed Fullbring powers. Left standing in the air was Ginjo. "Ha, the battle stops here. Next time we meet all your powers will be mine and I will scatter the remains of your destroyed body in front of your friends and family!" With that clichéd statement, a rip opened in the sky and Ginjo disappeared into what appeared to be Hueco Mundo.
Ichigo pushed a big piece of cement off his chest. Ugh. That sucked. Ichigo slowly opened his eyes, trying to blink the blurriness out of his vision. He felt someone pull him out of the rubble. His vision finally cleared and in slow motion Rukia materialized over him and was shouting at him. He saw Ishida hobbling while being supported by Renji out of the corner of his eye. Good, he seems okay. He grimaced as waves of pain passed through his body. Flashbacks of the winter battle seventeen months ago rushed through his mind. Ginjo, I won't let you hurt my friends again. I won't let this turn into another Aizen battle. Chad, Inoue, Ishida, I promise I will be strong enough to protect you from ever being hurt again. He remembered Rukia's sad expression as she left through the Senkaimon. And I will never hurt you again...Rukia.
"Ichigo! Ichigo! Are you okay? Idiot, say something!"
That voice. I was unable to hear that voice for the past seventeen months. "Ouch! Shut up, midget! You're too loud." Ichigo grabbed her hands from where they shaking his shoulders and clasped her small hands between his.
Rukia. This is Rukia that's yelling and shaking me. He gasped at the sudden flash of memories that rushed through his mind at her touch. Oh, you are not getting away this time. Ichigo pulled Rukia down centimeters away from his face. Her soft black hair slipped towards his face from behind her ears, tickling his checks.
"I'm not letting you go again, Rukia. You will never use that memory modifier thing on me again." Eyes pierced deep into hers and he fought against the black fog clouding his vision. In a whisper he said, "I remember."
Next Chapter: Remembering Hurts. Please R&R. -_- Y.