~Painful Path to Eternity~

By: Mari Kia Resha Aishiteru

Prologue – The Promise

"Take care now, I'll see you later." She said with a smile at him. A lady with long blonde curly hair kissed his chubby cheeks as she waved affectionately and walked off.

The four-year-old little boy with orange hair and amber eyes walked in the preparatory school for another day of learning stuffs for children like him. He sat down at the back side of the room with no one near him. He was bullied by his classmates because of his hair and he couldn't do anything about it. He would always cry but when he saw his mother's smile, his cries was no more, as if it wasn't there in the first place. He loved his mother. And he promised to himself that he would protect her as what his name meant.

One who protects…

He has always wanted to protect his mother. So he needed to be strong.

The little boy's thoughts were stopped when he heard the voice of their cheerful teacher telling them to settle down so the class may start. She has dark long hair and green eyes. Everyone called her Mayu-sensei because she told them to do so.

When the children have finally settled down, she smiled at them and announced something that made Ichigo excited for some reason.

"Kids, you're going to have a new classmate for today!"

The children murmured among themselves happily as they spoke of the new classmate as Ichigo mused to himself.

I wonder if he's a he or a she. I wonder if he or she will bully me too like any other children here. Ichigo pouted sadly at that thought. Or maybe he or she will be my first friend! He smiled dreamily.

"Here she is!" the teacher happily declared as she ushered the new kid to show herself.

Oh! He's a she!

A kid with raven hair and amethyst eyes came into view. She was beautiful. Her eyes roamed around the room until it fixed on certain ambers. Ichigo smiled slightly at her and she unexpectedly returned the gesture. He was surprised.

"Now this is Kuchiki Rukia-chan. She will be with us starting today." The teacher grinned at them. "Be good to her, alright?"

"HAI!" the children roared.

"Great! Now Rukia-chan," the teacher searched for a vacant seat until she found one. "Go sit in there, near Ichigo-kun. He's the kid with orange hair." She said turning to her gently.

The new kid, Rukia, smiled widely and nodded. "Hai!" she said energetically and trudged to her vacant seat.

Once she settled, little Ichigo offered his hand to her. Rukia stared at it and turned to his face. She looked confused so Ichigo smiled toothily.

"I'm Kurosaki Ichigo. Call me Ichigo. Nice to meet you!" he introduced happily.

Rukia reached for his offered hand without hesitation. "I'm Kuchiki Rukia. You can call me Rukia too. Nice to meet you!" she grinned.

"I'm glad that I made a new friend, Rukia." Ichigo chuckled.

"Me too!" she replied cheerfully.

"Ne Rukia, how long have you been in here? I never see you here before…" Ichigo wondered as he ate his onigiri courtesy of his beloved mother.

"You're right; I'm not originally from here. My parents had a job here so we moved." She replied as she ate her bentou too.

"Hmm… I'm glad you moved in."

"Really? Why?"

"Because I got to meet you!"

Young Rukia blushed. "Me too actually."

"So we're friends now?" Ichigo asked hopefully.

"Of course." Rukia replied with a wide smile.

"Yatta!" Ichigo jumped in happiness. Rukia laughed at him.

They continued to eat as they talked about their family and got to know each other when they were interrupted.

"Oh? The brat is talking to the beautiful new kid." A kid with gray eyes and spiky hair said as he hovered between the two kids. He was taller and bigger to say the least than the two. He had two kids behind him, hovering at them too.

Rukia turned to them with confused gaze. "Who are you?"

"Oh pretty Rukia-chan. I'm a classmate, call me Baru." He said with airily smirk.

"And well? What do you want with me?" Rukia asked. "And why the hell you are calling Ichigo brat?"

"Because he is. His orange hair is something that normal kids shouldn't have." He declared with his chest puffing out.

"That's right!" the one of the kids behind Baru agreed. "He's abnormal."

"And his name is so feminine. I bet he's a gay!" the last one declared.

Then the three of them chanted while laughing at poor Ichigo, "Ichigo is gay! Ichigo is gay! Ichigo is gay!"

Rukia looked at Ichigo and found him near to tears. He sniffled and lowered his head as if in shame. She glared at the three and without a single thought, she had buried her fist on Baru's stomach.

Baru floated in the air and fell down the ground with a loud thud not that far away from them. The sound caused all of the other kids to turn to their direction. All of them stopped what they were doing.

Rukia paid them no mind though as she glared at the two friends of the kid she had just punched. The two kids back away scarily at her as if she was some sort of ghost in a horror movie. "YOU! If you ever say those things about Ichigo again, I swear that's not the only thing I'll give you! Got that?" she asked with a dead glare. Ichigo was very shock as he stayed still.

"H-Hai…" the boys answered as they trembled. Rukia growled angrily. "I couldn't hear you!"

"Hai!" and they all scampered towards the room quivering in fear.

"That's what you call a beating!" one of the kids said.

"Yeah! She defeated the scariest kid in here! She must be our savior!" another one said gleefully.

"Yes!"

They all cheered for Rukia as she smiled. She turned to Ichigo with the shock in his face still present. Rukia laughed at him.

"I-Ichigo! What's with your face?" she asked between laughs.

Said little kid flushed. "I-I was just surprise that you… that you…"

"That I actually punched the kid?" she giggled. "That's nothing. I often do that anyways."

"Really?" Ichigo asked with wide eyes.

"Yup." She nodded.

"You're great Rukia. Thank you for saving me." Ichigo said as he fiddled with his small fingers.

"You don't have to thank me. I did that because we're friends. And I promise from now on, I'll protect you from the people who want to hurt you Ichigo. I'll be your protector!" she declared as she grinned happily.

"Eh? Wait! That should be my line!" Ichigo pouted.

"You couldn't even handle yourself a while ago so entrust me that job okay?" Rukia laughed.

Ichigo smiled. "Okay! But when we grow up, I'll be the one do the protecting! Deal?" he asked as he offered his hand again.

"Yeah!" Rukia replied as she grasped his hand and they shook hands gently while they laughed.

And the path to eternity began.

.Prologue Ends.

Author: My 5th IchiRuki fic. Finally! Well, what do you think?

Read and Review please!

-Mari ^.^