A/n: The story takes place several years after the main story line. I thought it might be fun to deal with an older Ichigo, and mess around with the college atmosphere (and let me tell you, college is AWESOME!). We'll just assume that Ichigo and company are still kicking by this time.
I don't own Bleach.
ONE:
The Point of Origin
There was gum on his shoes.
"You don't get tired of it?" Rukia asked, sitting beside him on the curve. "Getting beat up, I mean?"
He pulled the gum off the toe of his shoe, stretching the dirty pink blob into a long, sinewy strand. His fingers were still cut and swollen from yesterday's fight. Ichigo shook his head. "Nope."
Rukia watched him thoughtfully. "Not even a little?"
The strand of gum snapped and coiled around his fingers. With his other hand, he tried to detach the sticky strings, but the goo clung to his sleeve too. He glared at the mess.
"You should know me better than that," he said, looking at her sideways, clenching his bruised fists. The goo squished between his fingers. It felt disgusting. "It doesn't matter how much they beat the crap out of me. I don't give up."
She smiled. "I didn't think so."
A moment of silence passed. Several cars drove by. Life drifted on peacefully without disturbance. What a boring day.
"Your father proposed to me," Rukia said suddenly. "Again."
Ichigo rolled his eyes. Why was his father such a moron? Ichigo could make his own decisions. After all, he was going off to college soon.
"Crazy bastard. That's the second time this week," he said. "Sorry. You beat him up, right?"
Rukia laughed. "No, Karin did. That little girl packs quite a punch!" Then her expression softened. "You're family's happy, but I think they're getting anxious for you. You'll be leaving for college soon. It'll be a big change for everyone."
Of course his family was anxious. Hell, he was anxious. Graduation was in a week. High school would be over, which meant a new chapter in his life was about to begin. Yet despite all he had been through as a Death god, the uncertainty of what was to come seemed a bit frightening. Well, it was just a little bit frightening.
Unable to admit his tiny fear, he looked around for something to clean his hands with.
"I don't care," he said. "It's not an excuse for him to beg you to marry me. There's no reason to act so…immature."
Rukia took a wet wipe from her pocket, grabbed his hands, and gently wiped the gum away. "Do you always carry those with you?" Ichigo asked. He didn't even flinch as Rukia ran the cold cloth over his battered hands.
Rukia smiled. "It's a girl thing."
- - -
It wasn't eavesdropping. Not really. They were just crouched behind a dumpster across the street, listening to Ichigo's conversation with Rukia. Okay, so they were eavesdropping. Well, it was more like spying, but as friends and fellow Death gods, they were supposed to be caught up on each other's lives. Weren't they?
Besides, if anything it was Ichigo and Rukia's fault for keeping their relationship so subtle. The romance was present in the most silent, imperceptible way. Matsumoto was more than positive. What was it Ishida had called it? Oh, right, it was the 'phantom romance.'
So naturally, Matsumoto was just dying to know the truth. After all, Rukia had been living in Ichigo's house for three years. What other reasons did Rukia have for remaining with the humans?
"Rukia is watching over the town. After all the trouble we've had here, we felt it was necessary," said Hitsugaya, as if he had read her mind. "And we shouldn't be spying. It's rude."
Matsumoto waved him off. "Oh, honestly, we're their friends, and as friends, it is our duty to be there for them. We can't help sort out their problems if we don't have the inside scoop."
"That's an idiot's logic," said Hitsugaya. "If they wanted us to know they would have said something already—"
"Be quiet, I can't hear!"
She had to strain her ears to hear what Rukia was saying, "Your father purposed to me…"
Matsumoto's mouth dropped open. She sucked in a lungful of air. She whirled around to her captain. "Did you hear that? Tell me you just heard that!"
"It is odd," Hitsugaya admitted hesitantly. "But we haven't heard the whole conversation. We can't jump to conclu—"
"Be quiet!"
Rukia went on, but unfortunately, Matsumoto could only catch fragments of the conversation: "You're family's happy…but they're getting anxious…you'll be leaving…it'll be a big change for everyone."
Matsumoto heard Ichigo scoff. "I don't care…marry me."
The whole universe came to screeching halt.
"Oh. My. Word."
Hitsugaya frowned. "No way," he said dubiously. "There's no way Ichigo just—"
They both watched as Rukia reached over and took a hold of his hands. She said something, and Matsumoto could just barely make out the line of a smile on her lips.
"What did she say?" Matsumoto hissed. "What did Rukia say? My word! Did she say yes? Did she say no? Could it be an unrequited love? But no, look they're holding hands! Oh my word, it's a love triangle! HolyShin—"
Hitsugaya suddenly clapped a hand over her mouth. "Shut up, you idiot or they'll hear you!" he whispered. He dragged her behind the dumpster and out of site. "Now, listen to me carefully. I forbid you to say anything to anyone about what we just heard. Do you hear me? Matsumoto, you are to pretend like you didn't hear anything. You have heard nothing!"
"But—"
"Matsumoto this is serious! If you go telling people about what we just heard, it'll start a whole mess of rumors. Think what'll happen if Byakuya hears about this! We don't even know what's really going on so just leave it alone!"
Matsumoto hung her head. "How terrible," she said. "Poor Rukia. A young girl caught between a father and son!" She buried her face in her palms. "And I can't even be there to help!"
"Rukia isn't exactly a child," Hitsugaya said. "She can take care of herself. If she has a problem, she'll handle it on her own. That much I have faith in."
A/N: And so, seeds of a rumor have been planted. I loved writing the second half. I am having so much fun. I apologize for any misspellings and typos. I need to contact my beta reader…next chapter. Review please!