Chapter I: The Crash
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, but if I did, ICHIRUKI FOREVER!
It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and everyone was in a good mood. What's a more perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon than to have a picnic with all of your friends?
Umm, no. The skies were actually hanging low with dark gray clouds, rain threatening to fall. All the animals were in hibernation, not coming out for another three months. And Rukia was cooped up inside with a banging headache. Ichigo had invited everyone to his house for some type of entertainment and dragged Rukia away from her Chappy drawings to participate with them. What was there to participate with?
"I'm telling you!" Ichigo waved his arms around, nearly hitting the petite girl next to him. "Zangetsu is better than bow and arrows!"
"Kojaku is superior to any shinigami weapon," Uryuu argued, pushing up his glasses. "The Lone Sparrow can fire 1,800 arrows per second."
The two were endlessly bickering over who was the strongest, even though that topic should be off-limits. They're friends, or at least at a truce. There is no doubt in Rukia's mind that Ichigo was better than Uryuu, but if she got involved with their debate, the two would be even louder. She turned to Tatsuki and Orihime, hoping for female support, but judging from how Orihime giggled every now and then, face slightly blushing, Rukia decided that joining them would be bad, too. Chad was silently sitting in the corner, sipping from a red cup filled with who knows what. Heaving a big sigh, she stood up and walked toward the stairs, hoping no one would notice.
No one look at the girl leaving, no one look at the girl leaving, she mentally chanted.
"Where are you going?"
Of course, she groaned, Chad would see me. The tall boy was conviently placed next to the stairs, lightly leaning against the railing.
"I don't feel so well," Rukia admitted. "It's like I'm sick."
"Are you okay?" Chad asked, concerned for his friend. She doesn't get sick very easily.
"I'll be fine, just a tiny headache."
"Okay," He nodded and went back to watching everyone else.
Rukia's vision slightly blurred before returning to normal. Weird...
Hand on the railing for support, she made her way upstairs and into Ichigo's room. She tried to slide open his closet door to get into her space, but exhaustion rolled over her and she had just enough strength to go over to Ichigo's bed before she collapsed, falling into a deep slumber.
"Rukia..."
She could faintly hear someone call her name.
"Rukia."
There it goes again.
"Rukia, wake up."
This time, the voice was followed by a gentle shaking.
"Rukia, you little midget, I swear if you don't get up..."
Her eyes cracked open at the word midget. The forbidden word, never to be used against her or else you'll get an earful. If you're Ichigo, you get an earful, fistful, and kneeful. She prefered the term 'vertically challenged'.
"I'm up, I'm up," She grumbled, shifting into a sitting position. After a few moments of stretching and yawning, the girl looked up with dull violet eyes. "What do you want?"
"It's dinner time," Ichigo said, brow furrowing. "Are you okay? You look kind of pale. And you didn't attack me for calling you a midget."
"It's dinner time already?" She rose to her feet, shivering at the cold. "I've been out for three hours?" Purposely ignoring his other questions, she walked to the door before turning back. "Are you coming or what?" She dragged herself to the dining table, trying not to visibly tremble.
"Hey Rukia!" Orihime chirped, fork posed near her mouth. "It's dinner time!"
"I can see that," Rukia laughed, taking a seat. "What are we eating?"
"Rice and curry," Yuzu said and setted a plate in front of Rukia. "I hope you like it." Smiling, she sat down again.
"I always love your cooking! Who d- ow!" Rukia shrieked as something hit her from behind. Whirling around, she glared angrily at the culprit.
"You were suppose to catch it," Ichigo shrugged before plopping down onto the seat next to her. Rukia, glare still on him, reached up to snatch the item off her head. It was a jacket with the words 'Karakura High School' stitched on the left.
"I don't need it," She whispered, trying to pass it back to him under the table. Instead of answering, he just grabbed his glass of water (with ice, of course) and lightly touched it against her arm. Immediately, goosebumps traveled all along her arm and she gave an involentary shudder.
"I think you do," Ichigo whispered back. Turning to the rest of them, he said, "Hey guys, it's a bit hot, don't you think? I should turn on the air conditioner." Reluctantly, Rukia shoved her arms into the coat and wrapped it around her.
"Don't turn it up," Tatsuki said. "We're about to leave anyway, right, Orihime?"
"Right! No boys allowed either because it's an all-girls sleepover!" Orihime winked at Rukia. "Tatsuki-chan's things are already at my place."
"Okay," Rukia gulped down the last of her food. "Just let me pack. And Yuzu, I forgot to say before: itadakimasu! Thanks for the food. It was delicious." Her chair scraped the floor as she stood up. "Excuse me." She placed her dirty plate into the sink and turned on the faucet, but Yuzu's hand blocked it.
"No!" The brown haired girl shook her head. "Go get your things. I'll finish here."
"We can handle some idiots while you're gone," Karin grinned.
"Actually, the only idiot here is Ichigo," Rukia said, running upstairs before said boy could chase after her.
"Yuzu-chan, Karin-chan," Orihime dropped her filthy tableware into the sink as well. "You are invited, too! So you don't have to watch them."
"My sister are not going to a girl's high school sleepover," Ichigo growled and was met with several puppy eyes. Resisting Yuzu's gaze, he said, "I'm not changing my mind."
"Oh, come on," Karin crossed her arms defiantly. "Don't you trust Orihime-chan, Tatuski-chan, and Rukia-chan?"
"I do, except for Rukia, but-"
"But, if you don't," She grinned wickedly, similar to when her brother is about to kill a Hollow. Or when he knows he is about to beat Rukia. "I know how to force you."
"What?" He swallowed his rice, confused. "How?"
"Secret weapon," She walked to the stairs, Yuzu behind her.
"Gomenasai, Ichi-nii," Yuzu smiled apologetically at him, bowing slightly. "But..." Cupping her hands around her mouth, she called up to the second floor. "Rukia-chan! Ichi-nii is being a meanie!"
"Yuzu..." Karin sweatdropped. "You were suppose to make him sound worse, like-" She was cut off a footsteps thundering down the stairs.
"What did he do to you?" Rukia skidded to a stop in front of the twins. "What happened?"
"Ichi-nii won't let us go to the sleepover, but Orihime-chan and Tatsuki-chan said we can," Yuzu and Karin broke out the puppy eyes again. "Can we go?"
"Of course," Rukia patted their heads affectionately. "Why not?"
"Of course not," Ichigo countered.
"Yes, they can," Rukia glowered at him.
"No, they can't." He stood up and scowled down at her.
"Yes." She stomped her foot childishly, frustrated at how he was so much taller than her. But, she was not backing down.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
They stopped arguing, staring daggers at each other instead.
They're like an old married couple, Orihime giggled. Who are deciding whether or not they will let their kids go to a party. She whispered that to Tatsuki, who told Uryuu, who laughed about it to Chad, who informed the twins about the inside joke. Watching in amusement, the six smirked, knowing who was going to win the fight. Ichigo's defenses were cracking. Only a matter of time now...
"Fine," The taller boy sighed. "BUT, you don't ruin them, got it? I expect them to come back unscarred. Physically and mentally."
"Yay!" Yuzu and Karin hugged their brother and Rukia, then ran upstairs to get their things.
Rukia smiled proudly at where the two disappeared, hands on her hips. Ichigo rested his elbow on her head and said, "I blame you for this."
"I know," She answered. Simultaneously, they turned back to their friends. Tatsuki, Chad, and Uryuu were snickering softly and looked at the two knowingly. Orihime was...well, we all know what happens when she tries to stifle her laughter. Her face swells up like a balloon and she bangs her fist against her leg, trying to hold it in.
"Why don't we go first?" Tatsuki offered, directing a gaze at Orhime that meant, You run outside as fast as you can. Do not laugh in here.
"I'll clean the dishes," Rukia said.
"Okay."
"Ah-ha-ha-ha!" Orihime had ran outside as soon as she could and now the air was echoing her hysterics. "Did you see that?"
"We were in the same room," Karin said, but was faintly smiling, arms behind her head. "I wish Rukia-san would teach me how to talk my brother into doing stuff." Yuzu ran by, coat in hand and twirling in the falling snow. "Oi! Get your jacket on, Yuzu!"
Yuzu, in only her usual pink dress, pouted at her sister, but followed the orders. She slipped into her caramel colored trench coat, pink backpack dropping to the ground. Karin, in a darker shade of her sister's jacket, sighed as she picked up Yuzu's things.
"Ne, Tatsuki-chan," Yuzu called. "What do you think of Rukia and Ichi-nii together?"
Tatsuki put a hand on the brunette's head. "We promised to bring you back unscarred. Can't have you thinking about that stuff. He'll kill us."
"Nah-uh!" She shook her head. "Rukia-san promised! And she's not here."
"Fine," The purple haired girl chuckled. "I think that they are a perfect match for each other."
"Me too!" With that, little Yuzu ran to join her sister, who was far ahead of them.
"I wonder what's Rukia doing?"
"When are you leaving?" Ichigo sighed as he leaned his chair onto its back two legs.
"Soon," was her curt answer. Dishes clinked as Rukia finished washing the silverware. "Actually, now."
After drying her hands on a nearby towel, she took off Ichigo's Karakura jacket and put on a pink winter coat, given to her by Yuzu. Hastily putting on her earmuffs and grabbing her bag, she waved at the boys.
"Don't wreck the house while we're gone!" The door shut behind her as she stepped out. Then she opened the door again and her head popped in, eyes glaring accusingly at Ichigo. "Or go through my things or else..." She left the threat hanging and left, this time with finality.
"So," Ichigo proposed. "Wanna go through her things?"
"No." Chad and Uryuu said, both getting up to put away the remnants of the dinner.
"Sleepover?" Chad suggested.
"Sure," Ichigo said, shrugging. "Dad's away, but he won't care." His eyes wandered around the room until it landed on the coat rack. A white scarf similar to Byakuya's was draped across two pegs. Rukia's scarf. And she was sick.
"Hey, guys," He stood up and put on his jacket. "I'll be right back." Snatching up the muffler on his way out of the house, he began walking to Orihime's house.
"It's beautiful," She murmured, face raised toward the sky. Walking to Orihime's house wasn't far, but after about a block or so of walking, Rukia's vision blurred and she had stopped to rest in the snow. She hadn't seen the magnificence of snow in quite a while. The back of her pants were getting damp from sitting for a while. Her neck was freezing.
"The sooner I get to Orihime's, the better," She said, getting up and dusting herself off. She took a step and immediately felt dizzy.
What is wrong with me? She shook her head silently and willed herself to take another step, even though it made her head bang mercilessly.
"Rukia!" A voice called from behind her. "Rukia!" With her blurring eyesight, she could barely make out a tall figure with a blob of orange with their hair should be. Ichigo. Something vibrated in her back pocket.
Hey, what's taking you so long? :) -Orihime
A text message. From the girls. How long was she out here? Her head was hurting again. Chad taught her a technique if anything like this happens. She has to focus on one thing and one thing only.
The phone.
Ichigo, Yuzu, and Karin gave this to me, She began rattling off about her phone mentally. It's white with a Chappy charm and snowflake pendant hanging on a light blue string. My contacts are Orihime, Tatsuki, Chad, Uryuu, Karin, Yuzu, and...Ichigo...
Ichigo. The person who had her back. The person who she knew she could trust. The person she pledged herself to after she turned him to a shinigami.
Focus! She told herself.
"Rukia, get out of there!" He yelled, more urgent this time.
Get out of where?
Two bright lights came into her peripheral vision, coming at her with blinding speed. The lights were connected to a hood...then a windshield...then a car. Rukia was in the middle of the street with a silver car headed straight for her. Frozen with terror, she could only watch as the tires slid on the slushy snow, the driver wide-eyed as he struggled to maintain control on the wheel.
"Rukia!" Something hit her from behind and she flew onto the sidewalk. The next events were a blur. A heavy thud was heard as the silver automobile hit Ichigo's side. How'd he get there? He had pushed Rukia out of the way and was guarenteed a crash collision.
"Hopping jelly beans and exploding bunnies!" The driver yelled, getting out of his car and wringing his hands. "Kid, you okay?"
"You're such a nuisance," Ichigo chuckled as he looked at Rukia, oblivious to the blood running down his forehead. Turning to the man, he said, "Take care of her." The man gasped as Ichigo fell unconscious. Then, he directed his gaze to the Kuchiki girl, who was staring in horror at her friend.
This sickness, Rukia thought. It's not...natural.
"That's a good boyfriend you got," The now pale man muttered.
"Not...my boyfriend," was all Rukia could say.
Her body sore and face stinging, Rukia felt her eyes slide closed.
"Not another dead kid!" She heard the man say before she fainted completely.
I might not continue this...Depending on the feedback...
I hoped you enjoyed it!
~Rikato Tojidofukuto
