Let the Battle Begin
Departing
"Okay class in five minutes it will be Spring Break! I have a few words to say since we have been studying poetry for quite some time. 'Dance like nobody is watching, sing like nobody is listening and love like you'll never get hurt.' Remember class, due to the school needing to be remodeled there will be an extra week off." RING-RING-RING "Sayonara! Be safe!"
Everyone quickly rushed out the class screaming, "Schools out!" as if it was summer already. The hall ways were filled with hundreds of students screaming, laughing, running and squeezing through. Ichigo lost site of Rukia, little did he know that Rukia was so small she was one of the first to get off school grounds, as she waited for Ichigo. Ichigo was worried that she may have been trampled over, when he saw her standing at the corner he grew in rage.
"RUKIA! Why'd you leave like that? I was worried that you—"
"Oh my Ichigo, you were worried that I ... humm?" She smiled gently teasing Ichigo.
"SHUT UP BAKA! Forget it"
They walked in silence for a few minutes, both gazing in the surrounding around them, for they took the long way so they could pass by the river. With every step they took, they took in the beauty around them, as they passed the river their pace slowed down.
"I wonder exactly what was he worried about me for? Did he think I was left behind?"
"Why can't I just tell her? Yes Ichigo, tell her your deep desires. (His inner hollow whispered, although he defeated his hollow and was able to control it, when it came to Rukia, he ALWAYS managed to voice out an opinion, for it was his so called 'Rukia-chan') Shut up!"
They continued walking and their thoughts were cut off by the sounds a few people behind them. They glanced over one another trying to read each other's expression before looking back at their friends.
" Kurosaki-kun! Kuchiki-san! What are you guys going to do for spring break?" Orihime smiled, excited to tell them what she was going to do.
"Not much, just hang around the town, maybe visit Byakuya or something. Right Rukia?"
"Umh, yes, maybe a visit to nii-sama would be nice. "
"Ichigo, Ichigo, Ichigo... There's something you guys have planned and decided to hide it from us?" Tatsuki asked, as Ichigo's cheek turned tinted pink.
"I'm sure there's nothing hidden, or I would know."
"Poor innocent Rukia. You have no idea." Uryuu added, while Chad grunted.
"Well what are you guys going to do?" Rukia quickly added trying to break the awkwardness.
"Well Kuchiki-san I've been waiting for you to ask! I and Tatsuki-chan are going on a trip together to visit her relatives, then when we get back… I'm going out with Uryuu-san and Tatsuki-chan is going out with Sado-san (Chad.)"
"Wow! That's wonderful you guys are all going out!"
"It's just a matter of time, Rukia." Orihime said smiling mischievously.
Everyone turned over looking at Ichigo as Ichigo began to turn crimson red. They all knew about his feelings, yet Rukia, a very smart girl still remained clueless to it. Before splitting up at the corner like they always did, Chad put his arm around Tatsuki's shoulders and Uryuu placed his arms along Orihime's waist. Orihime was still in love with Ichigo (for the 6th time) and had a hard time getting use to seeing Ichigo being with Rukia although she was very happy with Uryuu. Orihime couldn't blame Ichigo for falling for Rukia, she lives in his house, is strong, and beautiful, heck he even fought off Soul Society to save her although he's only known her for barely a month. There was something there and she knew it, and she was very happy to see that Ichigo was now able to smile more and be more content.
As they started walking different directions, Rukia thought to herself. What exactly was Spring break? What did it have to do with having no school?
"Ichigo, Whats spring break?"
Ichigo slammed his palm into his forehead and sighed. "Spring break is a short break during spring that gives students some rest since the second semester tends to be more hectic before exams. It's like Winter break, basically."
"Oh… Ichigo?"
"What now?"
"Will we really visit nii-sama?"
"I guess we can since 9th division is taking care of Karakura and that Hisagi fuku-taichou will be patrolling with them. And it is something to do that may just be interesting, since nothing out of the ordinary has been happening."
"Eek! That's wonderful! Oh how I miss the Kuchiki manor and nii-sama and I haven't visit Ukitake-taichou since I we saved Princess Lurichiyo." She said twirling around like a child.
"Yea I haven't seen anyone since either. We should visit Agamai as well, he did help us."
"Actually Ichigo we should visit EVERYONE!! Most of them al fought to help us, and we should see Hisagi-fukutaichou before we leave, as well… Remember they all fought among each other knowing we had a reason for our actions." She said as she stopped twirling and began walking backwards.
"Yea and I remember how they said if they found out what we were doing was right they would help us… and then what we were doing was wrong, they would KILL me themselves."
"See, most of them had fate in us to help us like that."
"Where's the faith when they said, 'If he's flipped, I'll kill him myself.' What's your defense now?"
"You have an inner hollow! Who knows, maybe you lost control and you manipulated me into this scheme with you."
"But I didn't. And I've had control over it since Hueco Mundo."
"And they don't know that." She turned around walking straight ahead.
Ichigo gave up trying to argue with Rukia, he knew aside from her powerful Kidou and her Zanpaktou, the one thing she'll never lose is a verbal war. He knew that even if she was wrong, she would never admit it and would keep fighting believing that she is right.
On the rest of the way home, none of them were speaking. Rukia was staring at the sky above thinking that it was finally over, Winter Wars, Aizen and saving Orihime, and saving Princess Lurichiyo. It was her turn to have a break, after all she did just return to the human world. Ichigo thought to himself of how happy he was that Rukia was safe and survived all her battles and most of all was back with him; he glanced over to Rukia only to see her closing her eyes while walking along side of him.
'What is she thinking, she might trip!'
"Nature is more beautiful when you use your other senses to 'see' it." She said knowing he was looking at her.
"What are you a poet all of a sudden? Sheesh… You know you might fall… and I won't help you if you do. Heh. I'll point and laugh at you instead."
"Ichigo I trust that you won't let me fall"
Ichigo slowly sighed just enough for her to hear, 'No I won't let you and I can't let you fall even if I wanted you too. Of course you wouldn't, if you let MY RUKIA-CHAN get hurt, I'm coming after you!'
"If you trip, I'll help you. If you fall, I'll catch you. No matter what, I'll be by your side to help you stand…"
"And you called me a poet? What was that?"
"What was what?"
"What you just said, 'If you trip--" suddenly being cut off.
"It was just some poem I remember reading in class." 'I can't believe I said that out loud. I can though. SHUT UP, I didn't ask you. But you did ask yourself and I am a part of you. SHUT UP… My Rukia-chan is staring at us.'
"Why are you staring at me?"
"You suddenly stopped when we got in front of your house and you won't move… I was trying to figure--"
"It was nothing, I was just thinking."
He started walking towards the door, with Rukia following. Her concerned looked made him weak in the knees, he bit his tongue from making a fool of himself. 'My Rukia-chan is so cute when ever she is battling a hollow, sparring with us, worried, hurt, and happy. Everything about her was appealing. My, My Ichigo you actually admit. Don't tell her. How can I? Just saying.'
"Oi! Old man we're home!"
Suddenly Isshin runs to the door kicking Ichigo in the face, and stopped right in front of Rukia to sweetly say, "Oh my lovely children!" Looking over at Ichigo then back to Rukia he stated, "My idiot of a son and my lovely third daughter, spring break has arrived. Have any plans?" he asked with a wink.
"I'm not an idiot, she's not your third daughter and we do have plans you perv!" He shouted while punching his father in the face. Quickly Isshin threw Ichigo to the wall so he could speak.
"Oh plans have already been made? What are you gonna do first? Make lov--"
"Shut up you perv! It's nothing like that!" Isshin and Ichigo were glaring at each other ready to beat one another. Rukia was feeling the tension and quickly cut in.
"Ichigo told me that we would go visit my nii-sama in Soul Society."
"Oh that's a wonderful idea, never stray too far from family. It is wonderful! Alone time just for you two! It is going to be you two, right?"
"Yea and then there's her stuck up noble brother, Renji, and her Captain."
"Ichigo you almost forgot all the servants too." She said to tease Ichigo.
"Oh yes, young Byakuya. He use to be so stubborn as a child. Be safe and remember not to get caught by him!"
They both started walking towards the stairs and suddenly, Ichigo understood, 'Be safe and remember not to get caught by him!' He began to blushed and walked even faster dragging Rukia behind him, trying to avoid anything more embarrassing that she might catch on. Lucky for him, Rukia was completely clueless, she was just overwhelmed to be able to go home and see the people she loved.
They both began packing their clothes, although there wasn't too much to bring because they would mostly likely be taking shifts around Soul Society, or be drawn to hollows and were aware they would most likely be in their shinigami outfits. Ichigo packed some unspeakable items, and a pair of Pjs, while Rukia couldn't help but bring her yellow sun dress, a pair of Pjs, her unspeakable items and of course a Chappy stuffed animal Ichigo had given her.
"Oi, Rukia. Are you sure that your brother wouldn't mind me staying at your place?"
"It would be fine, you did save me. Just remember to hold your tongue and address him as Kuchiki-Taichou."
"Why? He calls me Ryoka all the time."
"Because you address him, a CAPTAIN of the Gotei Thirteen, HEAD of one of the four NOBLE families, the Kuchiki, and my BROTHER as Byakuya."
"FINE! But if he poisons my food or harm me while I'm asleep, I'll kill him."
"He would never stoop so low as in doing those actions; he'll just Senbonzakura your ass. You know you couldn't kill him if you wanted too."
"I can sure as hell try. How can you even put up with him? He's so unemotional and was going to let you be executed."
"ALMOST! But he didn't. He's noble, no rather that he's a Kuchiki. Kuchiki's have family rules; we are not to show emotions for it show weakness, no crying, loving… not in front of others, or they can use to emotions to attack you and those emotions are your weakness."
"That's crap you're ALWAYS happy and laughing here!"
"Yea that's HERE, and it's funny how you tend to get hurt out of the blue." She quickly paused and glanced at Ichigo wondering if he noticed what she said. He wasn't looking at her but rather out the window acting as if he didn't catch on to what she said, but he did. He thought to himself, 'I'm her weakness, to cry over, to love… her weakness… it's me. No reeeally? Should we ask her what she meant? Shut up'
"Besides nii-sama has been a noble all his life, he isn't entertained easily. He is rather stoic, and sometimes talking to a brick wall would be easier and a lot nicer, but he helped me become who I am today."
Under his breath he mumbles, "Yea, well Byakuya is a brick wall, you're better off talking to a tree, at least you know it's alive."
"Don't worry too much; I won't let him harm you. You can sleep in my room."
"Ano…well ok I guess."
"Ok then lets go!" she said grabbing her bag smiling.
Ichigo followed Rukia down the stair with a sigh, afraid of running into his crazy father again. Surprisingly Urahara was in the living room, he claimed that he came to help open the gates to Soul Society for them, but Rukia was fully capable of doing so herself.
"It's more of a formal way of greeting you guys off, then having her open the gate, my son"
"Urahara-san, thank you for coming and being so considerate of a formal goodbye." Rukia said smiling innocently; everyone could see that she was excited to go home.
"Oh it's nothing Kuchiki-san, we're just making sure all goes well, and so Byakuya won't come here to behead me later... we're just going to see the happy couple off, right Isshin?" Rukia smiled at the comment and Ichigo turned pink but before being able to respond his father cuts in.
"Yes of course. We want to make sure everything goes well for their trip."
Rukia said goodbye and started off walking, holding her bag in front of her in a respectable manor. Ichigo merely said "Later," and walked off as he held his bag over his shoulder like always. They kept on walking and suddenly before the door shut behind them they heard Isshin say, "Remember do not go where the path may lead, but rather go where there is not a path and leave a trail." Urahara quickly added, "Walk through the world and know it's beauty all of the moments in your life." And the door was now completely shut.
"Ichigo? Why are they giving us such strange advice?"
"I don't know, maybe the poetry is just getting to us. It seems as if we were moving out or getting married or something." He was now blushing. She merely smiled at him and brushed off everyone's weird behaviors and weird comments for she was finally going home. 'That was a good one my king. I wonder if she even cares… does she even realize it. No she doesn't she seems overwhelmed. Oh you seem sad at that.'
