LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE
SUMMARY: Rukia hates everything about Ichigo – because it makes her fall deeper in love with him. Set in the earlier part of the series.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own bleach and its characters.
01: Rainy days
The splatter of water on the glass window was what woke Rukia from her brief slumber. The thick comforter was not able to shield her ears from the annoying sound and the cold wind that blow through the small gap on the window. She lazily opened her eyes and scanned the expanse of the room - at least how much the very little light would permit her to see around her. She could see the form of Yuzu sleeping soundly at the corner of the room and could hear the faint snores that Karin makes.
She stretched her small arms over her head before lazily standing up close the window tight. It seems like the twins were not even bothered by the brewing storm outside. She looked at the clock on the corner of Yuzu's desk and saw that it is already 8 in the morning. Yes, another restless night. And she blamed the rain for her sleeplessness.
Instead of going back to bed, she decided to take a nice hot bath while the rest of the household is still sleeping. It's useless to try to sleep. Both the rain and her innumerable thoughts are drowning her inside out.
She sighed before standing up to grab her towel and walk outside, still scratching her teary eyes as she yawned widely.
The next events happened too quickly for her sleepy brain to process. First, her body hit some sort of wall and she bounced back expecting her bottom to hit the floor. However, just as she was about to fall, her right wrist was pulled forward and her left foot was kicked backward causing her to fall forward instead. Her left shoulder was also pulled forward causing her to fully lose balance and fall face front. She was expecting her face to hit the hard floor, but to her surprise she landed on something warm and ummm...hard (?)
She laid there for a few more seconds because her head was still spinning. She lifted her head and was somewhat unable to make out what's in front of her due to her hazy vision. All she could see was orange. Not a good sign.
She reached for her nose and felt relieved that it is not broken. Also she noticed that none of her body parts actually hurt, except for her head.
"Do you mind getting off me now?" she heard a voice say.
She placed bother her hands on the floor and slowly pushed herself up. She also brought her legs to a kneeling position before sitting down. She brushed her hair away from her face and looked down on the thing that cushioned her fall – not actually surprised to find Ichigo beneath her. What was surprising though was where she was currently sitting. And she was getting more and more uncomfortable by the minute.
When both her blood and the realization reached her brain she jumped off a little too quickly causing her to lose her balance and fall on her bottom. She tried to get up but she felt a stabbing pin on her leg. So she vent out her anger to person that ruined her already bad morning.
"What the hell just happened?" Rukia said with a stern voice. She had the decency not to shout - at least not yet - knowing that everyone else is sleeping.
"You just appeared out of nowhere" Ichigo said as he stood up and wiped the blood off of his nose.
He didn't hit his head when they fell. But the way Rukia looked at the moment was what knocked him out. She had one of Yuzu's short shorts and a tank top that cut low over her modest chest. She was not wearing anything else beneath the revealing top with one side dangling sensually off of her shoulder. And the killer blow was, while on top of him, she pushed herself up causing the tank top to drop and reveal her unprotected assets dangling in front of him. At that time, he had to muster all the self control that he has to push his eyes back to its socket and turn his head away from the alluring sight.
Upon remembering this, he felt more blood rush down his nose.
"Damn it" he cursed under his breath.
"And now you're the one whose angry?" Rukia said when she was finally able to stand up, with the help of the wall for support of course.
"I just want a quiet morning for once Rukia. Stop blabbering already" he was feeling awkward and just wanted to get away and drop the subject.
"I will not blabber if you are not such an idiot"
Well, he knew she wouldn't just let this go...but at least he tried. "Just drop it okay?" he tried again.
"No idiot. Just promise you will put a stop to your stupidity and say sorry"
"Hey! You're going too far. I am not stupid and I will not say sorry since it is not my fault"
"So you're telling me that it is my fault that you tripped and even dragged me down with you?" Rukia retorted still leaning against the wall.
"Yes. It is your fault for being such a midget that I didn't even notice you standing in front of me. Next time, walk with your arms stretch over your head so that people would know you're there."
"Shut up! It's your fault that my leg now hurts!"
"And you're the one to complain? Who was the one comfortably lying while I fell down hard on the floor? If I didn't know better, I'd say you find me cuddly and huggable looking at how you snuggled at me just a while ago" Ichigo teased.
Rukia felt blood rush through her cheeks, she clenched her fist and said "who would be comfortable on top of you with your...your..." she contorted her face trying to say the word she dare not say.
"My what?" Ichigo was really puzzled.
Rukia's gaze unconsciously fell onto Ichigo's middle. She was about to avert her gaze when she noticed the bulge on his boxers. Her knees weaken and leaned harder against the wall for support. She felt dirty at the next stream of thoughts that passed her mind (which I will not elaborate anymore) and pushed herself to look away.
Ichigo followed her gaze. His eyes widened when the realization finally dawned on him and his hands involuntary grabbed his hardening (ahem) muscles.
"You're such a pervert!" he exclaimed.
"N-n-now I'm the p-p-pervert?" Rukia stuttered, her eyes falling onto his middle again and she scolded herself for doing so.
"Yes you are! Where do you think you're looking at?"
She knows Ichigo is right, but she might as well accept being hit by Tensa Zangetsu rather than accept that she can't avert her eyes from his you-know-what. So she became more defensive and decided that she will win this debate – she will make it look like he is the pervert.
"You answer that! I didn't do anything wrong!" she said playing innocent.
"So there is no issue with looking at other people's body?"
"No. What specific part of your body do you think I'm looking at?"
Ichigo knows what she is trying to do and is determined not to fall to her trap. He raised his hands in surrender, "okay fine, you are just looking at my body. Nothing's wrong with that right?"
"No. Nothing's wrong with that" she said feeling triumphant for escaping the tight situation, not knowing that it's too early to celebrate.
"So it means that it's okay when I saw what's inside that sexy little tank top while you were straddling me" Ichigo said with a smirk.
Rukia's eyes widened and her jaw dropped. Blood rushed to her face and with a clenched fist landed a solid blow onto Ichigo's nose she shouted "YOU PERVERT!"
Her anger made her forget that her injury will not allow her to stand up without support. After her fist made contact with Ichigo and she landed onto her feet, the pain rushed through her body making her off-balance. She is about to fall yet again when strong arms caught her. She looked up and saw Ichigo's face full of concern – the argument totally forgotten.
"Are you okay?" he asked sincerely.
She averted her gaze to hide her embarrassed face, "you are an idiot aren't you. Of course I'm okay. Now let me go"
Rukia tried to push him away but his hold on her was strong. "Stop being a bitch and just hold onto me" he said and carried her like a princess.
Ichigo brought her to his room and gently laid her onto the bed.
"Some of your nerves must have been strained when you fell. Just rest for a now and let's ask dad to look at it when he wakes up. Oh, and next time be careful, okay?"
Rukia shifted and faced the wall. She can't stand looking at Ichigo's face because it makes her feel uneasy.
"Idiot...have you forgotten that this is not my real body and that this is a gigai? I'm dead...remember? The fall must have caused it to malfunction somehow, who we need is Urahara" she said with a voice as low as a whisper.
"I never for once thought that you are dead. Except for when we first met" he said, a small smile grazing his lips.
Ichigo's eyes looked out of the window and stared at the rain drenched street. The thick curtain of rain makes everything hazy and blurry, thus limiting his ability to see the view outside. He hated the rain. That's why he was not able to get a decent amount of sleep and when he can't stand it anymore, he decided to start his day early rather than chase the sandman. Not thinking that anyone is already awake, he absent mindedly walked to bathroom to take a hot shower and that's when he walked into Rukia – literally.
His expression softens upon realizing that the few moments with her made him forget about his sad memories and about the rain.
Rukia wasn't able to see the smile on Ichigo's face, but it was evident in his voice and she hated him for it. She hates everything about him. She hates how secured she feel when she is in his arms. She hates how safe she feels whenever he is around. She hates how much he makes her happy with his sweet little gestures. She hates his hazel brown eyes that seem to see through her mask and know all the fears and insecurities that she tries to hide. She hated his scowling face and how it becomes unguarded in countless times when they are alone.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt Ichigo pull the comforter on her shoulders before settling himself down on the floor beside the bed.
"I know you hate rainy days as much as I do, but please try to get some sleep. I will just be here beside you." He said and reached under the sheets to hold her hand. Ichigo rested his head on the bed and closed his eyes while still holding onto her.
Rukia closed her eyes and slightly tighten her grip onto Ichigo's hand. It is not the rainy days that caused her to have sleepless nights. It is the mixture of confused emotions, the resentment and agony caused by the unending denial of her feelings. She is not as ignorant as she willed herself to be. However, awareness and acceptance two different things. There will be a lot of complications when she accepted the truth and she can't risk it – because she may not be able to hold it in. Her feelings for him were wrong in every way, so she tries to push it away and erase it.
Ichigo is doing nothing to help. All the things she hated about him are the very things that are making her fall deeper in love with him. She sighed, she really is hopeless.
She shifted onto the bed and looked at his sleeping form. Her eyes soften, but pushed away the urge to touch his face. She felt sleep finally claiming her. She will succumb to it for now, and leave the thinking to some other day.
A/N: The rainy season is a bit too early this year...and like Ichigo and Rukia, I don't like rainy days either. *Sigh* Though it is romantic to have someone to hold my hand while sleeping in this cold weather.
