Things weren't supposed to end this way. They just weren't. He knew, Kurosaki Ichigo knew how things were supposed to end; after all, he was the head of Kurohime Publishing, the biggest publishing house in Tokyo. But seriously, who was he kidding? He hadn't even realized that throughout all those years, they had been writing their own story, but maybe that was the problem. He was an idiot. He really and truly was.
A blur of orange.
A loud thump.
Kurosaki Ichigo's mop of unruly orange hair came crashing down onto his mahogany desk, quickly followed by his clenched fist. He was stirred from his self-pity when he heard the turn of the doorknob to his office. An anguished sigh escaped his lips before he looked up to glare at the petite figure leaning against the closed door.
"You know, this is all your fault" he huffed out. She gazed at him silently for a moment before narrowing her deep violet eyes. Her piercing gaze bore holes into his already shattered soul. "It's your fault. It's your fault she left." Her lips quirked into a smirk. She raised a single eyebrow against his accusation.
"No, it's not. It's yours. And also, you're an idiot." He groaned loudly before letting his head fall to his desk once again.
"I know. I know, Rukia Believe me, I know. But what do I do now?" He raised his head pathetically and reached out for the photo framed on his desk. She was there. She was right there in that framed photo, her long auburn tresses, her deep expressive gray eyes, and her brilliant smile. They were there together. In fact, she wasn't even smiling at the camera, but she was smiling up at him. His tall frame stood protectively behind her small curvaceous body, left hand placed lightly on her shoulder while his right rubbed the back of his neck. His unruly hair was shorter then, standing up in all directions as if to defy the laws of physics. But despite his messy hair, he was grinning down at her, greeting her smile all the same. It was she who had chose this photo and placed it on his desk. She said it had captured their "essence" and he agreed.
Rukia walked tentatively over and peered at the photo from behind his chair. "It's a great photo" she whispered.
"No." he murmured. "It's more than that. It's our 'essence'. It's us together. Rukia, there isn't suppose to be an end. We were supposed to be together, always." he paused an inhaled deeply oblivious to her small smirk of triumph. Was the idiot finally realizing his mistakes? Was he finally realizing his feelings?
"Together." he whispered through clenched teeth. "Don't partners stay together?" Her eyes twitched in annoyance as he began to raise his voice. "Aren't friends supposed to stick together？ Weren't we best friends? We built this publishing company together. How could she leave this? How could she leave me? I don't understand!"
Rukia had had enough. Her tiny fist collided with the back of his head sending it flying into the desk once again. "You fool! Is that what your 'essence' is? Is that all you see? His head rose from the table. He stood abruptly, anger emanating from every pore of his body. But Kuchiki Rukia was not one to be easily intimidated.
"What the hell are you talking about!?" he roared.
"No, what the hell are YOU talking about? Partners? Tch. Don't make me laugh." She glared up at him and did not miss the look of hurt that passed through his eyes.
"What do you mean?" The words passed from his full lips as a hollowed whisper. She sighed as she watched his strong, broad shoulders and dark chocolate eyes lower in defeat.
"Ichigo!" He looked up in surprise as she gently called his name. "You and I are partners. She, she was not your partner. Look at that picture again." His eyes softened as he silently gazed at his treasured photo. "Look closely at the two of you. Last month, while I was in the hospital, you told me that I had stopped the rain. But can't you see? She is your sunshine! She is the one that can bring a smile to your face. You idiot! You two were more than partners, more than friends. Ichigo, you love her," his eyes widened as the meaning of her words began to sink in. "And anyone with eyes could see that she was madly…"
"Shut up!" His glare was back and fiercer than ever. All his inner anger and betrayal was channeled through his heated gaze and Rukia felt a shiver run down her spine." If she l… if she lo… if she felt anything, then why did she leave This? Why did she leave Me?"
"Your ambition, Ichigo, you were always looking forward, at the things ahead of you, but never at what was right beside you. You were ignorant of it all, and now, its gone. Do you see it? Do you see it now, Ichigo?" His body slumped back into his chair and she looked upon his defeated form with sympathy.
"Rukia, you should leave." Her body took an involuntary step backward at his harsh tone.
"Wh...what?" She willed herself to reach out and touch him, comfort him, but he jerked away.
"Now! Please," His voice changed suddenly. It was hoarse. It was pleading. "I think I need to be alone."
"Okay…" Resigned to give him the space he needed, Rukia headed towards the door, turning back to spare one last glance at her grieving friend. She opened her mouth again, but closed it again in hesitation. Maybe this wasn't the right time, but she gave her word that after 2 weeks of putting it off, she would finally tell him. She took a deep breath before calling out to him. "Ichigo…" She continued only after she saw him nod in response. "Ichigo… I… that is, Renji and I. We are getting married in three months and we were hoping if you would be the best man. I know it's sudden, and not the best time, but please, just think about it, okay?" She turned the knob to his office door and walked out quickly whispering an apology as she exited the room.
As he heard the door shut, he let his head sink back to his desk, cradled between his well toned arms. 'They are getting married huh? Well that's great!' he thought to himself. Childhood friends finally tying the knot, the typical happy ending to the hundreds of cliché romance novels passing through his office. Renji and Rukia, they deserved their happy ending, but where was his. In truth, he didn't think he deserved a happy ending. In fact, he didn't want a happy ending. He was really selfish. He thought things could go on as they were. In truth, he didn't want an ending; he wanted to spend forever with Inoue Orihime, forever writing their story. But somehow, he turned into the fool of this unwritten tragedy.