Yay! My first fanfic! Okay so this is an IchiRuki story with some other pairings (because I can't help it). This story does not follow the Bleachstory line although I do try to keep the characters from being OOC. I hope you all enjoy it and please review whether to say you like it and I should keep doing what I'm doing or to say that it needs work because I doto get better. Thnx!
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
Rukia was laying on her new couch that she and her friends had just laid out in the new living room. She was reading the latest book of her favorite series which she considered better than that Twilight one. It was also by her favorite author who had several other books she liked. She is about half way through the book now. Looking at the time she clapped the book shut and placed it on the couch. Standing up she straightened her clothes and walked out the front door.
Rukia was tired of unpacking her things into the new home and watching her friends do the same. She quickly snuck out of her and her friend's new house into one of their two new cars. She dressed for the late fall weather by wearing some comfortably tight jeans, a t-shirt, and a fitted jacket. She pulled her silk black hair back into a high ponytail. Slowly starting up the black Jetta she pulled out of the drive way leaving the quiet suburban area.
She was already fed up with being forced to leave her wonderful photography career and her spacious loft, telling everyone back in Osaka that she was just gone on vacation and didn't quite know when they'd be back. Yeah Right! Rukia was a successful photographer for the most famous models. Her, Rangiku, and Momo were a team and the best around. Rangiku did hair and make-up, Rukia took the pictures, and Momo did the digital editing afterwards. They were the perfect team... but now they are moving into Momo's hometown, Karakura. Well Rukia knew she shouldn't complain since they were allowed to go to a place where at least one of them had family or friends.
Rukia Kuchiki was born and raised in Tokyo. When she graduated from college in photography she moved to Osaka and started shooting models just coming into the business. There she met Rangiku Matsumoto, a hair and make-up stylist who was also starting out. Rangiku liked Rukia's photos and suggested they team up and get someone to do the digital effects and editing. They put up ads for a digital effects artist and when Momo Hinamori offered they became a team. They soon became very wanted in the modeling and fashion career. People paid a lot to get all three of them for photo shoots and even paid more than the normal cost that was called for. Now 25 years old, they are in trouble and have to hide from the big cities or any kind of attention. The only person from her work who knew what was really going on was her boss, Mr. Ukitake.
But still, all she could think was why such a small place like Karakura? Now to be honest Karakura was not a small town, it was just more quiet and low profile. But Rukia had always been someone who loved life in the fast lane. The big cities and crowds of people everywhere you turned was very calming to her. 'So why does this place have to be so damn quiet?'
Rukia mindlessly drove around the small town in the mid-November cloudy weather. 'Looks like its going to rain soon...' she thought to herself. She was shocked to see not too many other cars driving around, but then what did she expect from a small place like this. She let out a long sigh and continued to explore her new home for who-knew-how-long.
"Well, I better look around and figure out where everything is since we'll be here for awhile." she said to herself with disappointment and anger mixed into her statement.
()()()
Ichigo was out taking his usual walk around the few neighborhoods near his own. It was his only way to really think during the day and it relaxed him. Time to think has always been very important to Ichigo since his mother died.
He walked down streets in the cool breezy climate. With his hands in his jacket pockets he walked with his head tilted down. He was about half way through his walk, as he began to feel trickles of ran fall on his head. Ichigo looked up at the sky and wrinkled his nose as his face was pelted with fat drops of water. He furrowed his eyebrows even more than usual, annoyed that he was caught in the heavy rain and was about an hour's walk away from his house.
"Dammit." he mumbled to himself as he pulled his hood over his spiky orange locks. He continued on his stride as he let out a sigh of frustration and relief. The slight irritation that he felt now was not enough to over come the relief he has had for the past month and plans on it to continue for awhile. Even though he does get bored of not having a job at the moment he's definitely not complaining.
Ichigo was fairly known writer. He was no Steven King bout his books were good and well known. Ichigo is best known for his Bleach series, as he just released the third book a month ago. Everyone tells Ichigo how lucky he is to have become this successful so young although he doesn't really take that as a compliment.
Ichigo Kurosaki was born in Karakura and has lived here all his life. He never thought of being a writer until he was in his senior year of high school. He had to write a short story for school, his teacher liked the story and suggested he consider a career in writing. Ichigo still hadn't decided what he wanted to do for a living and so he chose writing. Of course he never thought his books would become as popular as they are. Now he is 26 and after his books became best sellers he lives by himself in his condo, very eager to move out his father's house.
Still walking he came up to a three-way intersection with no stop lights or stop sign. Across the street he saw some little kids playing on the side of the road. 'why the hell wouldn't they have a stop sign on a street kids play on?' He thought to himself as he looked up at the sky and noticed the rain was letting up. He began to walk across the wide road.
()()()
Rukia slowed down the car slightly when she noticed how it was beginning to slid on the road. She was getting more and more frustrated and depressed every passing minute at what she saw. There was literally nothing that interested her about this town. It said 1:42pm on the Jetta's radio and reminded herself she needed to make sure she was back home by 3pm. Momo wanted her and Rangiku to meet her brother today around 3:30pm.
Rukia made a turn onto the next road when her cell phone went off. Quickly she rustled through her purse in the passenger seat trying to find the small device. Keeping one hand on the steering wheel she turned her eyes off the road to look into the bag when her hand couldn't find it. Finally after a struggle with her purse she found the phone. Taking it from her purse, a figure in front of the car caught her eye. Rukia's eyes widened as she cursed and slammed her foot on the breaks as fast she could.
But it was too late as the wheels slid on the wet asphalt and Rukia's car hit something. Whatever or whoever she hit was now on the ground out of her view but not before it left a huge crack around here windshield.
"Oh my God..." was all Rukia could whimper out as she processed what just happened. With shaking hands she quickly opened her car door. Standing she saw there were little kids starring on the side of the road and her heart sunk even more than happened too fast and she couldn't tell what she hit. 'Oh please tell me I didn't hit a kid! Anything but a kid!' she inwardly prayed as she began to walk forward to get a view of what she hit.
"Fuck" a male voice grunted.
Rukia couldn't imagine she could feel this much relief knowing she just hit a person. Not only did she not hit a kid but whoever she hit was well enough to speak.
()()()
Ichigo began to walk across the water covered road. About half way across he sees a car coming but pays it no mind, its still kind of far and will slow down when it sees him. So he continued walking instead of speeding his pace. Big Mistake.
By the time Ichigo notices that the car was not slowing down it was too late. His ears shut out everything the moment he felt himself being thrown onto the hood of the car. His back hit the windshield which made a big crack on it. When the car stopped sliding on the asphalt his body was thrown back into the road, scrapping his face in the process.
He laid there one his stomach for a few moments as he tried to comprehend what happened. His ears began to work again as he heard a car door open. Clenching his eyes and jaw he muttered a curse word as he pushed himself off his stomach and turned to a sitting position.
Ichigo looked back at the kids on the side of the road starring at him. He gave them a quick grin and then turned his head back down. 'Figures. I worry about the kids playing on the side of the road and I'm the one who gets run over!'. His snapped out of his thinking when he sees someone walking up to him.
The injured man looked up at the person who hit him as she came near. He was expecting it to be some senile old person who should have had their license taken away ages ago, but instead saw a young woman around his age.
Looking at the woman he was immediately drawn to her oddly yet beautifully violet-blue colored eyes. He then looked her up and down noting the proportionate curves of her body. She was very short and petite with silky white skin. Back up to her head where she had raven colored hair in a ponytail, exposing her elegant facial features.
He quickly snaps his mind back to the situation as he locks his eyes with hers. On top of his scowl, Ichigo gives her an intense glare.
()()()
Rukia walks slightly closer to the man as he turned himself over. She was caught off guard by his bright orange colored hair with spikes that seemed to look natural. As the man turned his head from the children on the side of the road she got a look at his right cheek and saw it was scrapped up pretty badly.
From what she could tell he was around her age and was in good shape. Lean but toned, broad shoulder, a natural, and was a good looking guy. His orange hair as odd as it was complimented his brown-auburn eyes. The man had a stern face that looked rugged and yet boyish at the same time. He had an easy going look about him.
Rukia felt a little awkward when she saw how he was studying her. Then he brought his auburn eyes back to her violet ones and then gave her a hard glare. She inwardly scowled 'He practically eye rapes me, then glares at me. What the hell is his problem?...Oh wait, I did just hit him with my car...'
"Are you ok?" she asked, concern clearly in her statement. As she was now kneeling beside him yet not touching him or in his space bubble.
"Yeah. Where the hell were you looking?" he yelled sounding more annoyed then angry. But his furrowed eyebrows and piercing scowl were saying otherwise.
"Um, I'm so sorry! Its mostly my fault."
"Mostly?" he questioned, his voice beginning to match his face "What do you mean 'mostly'? This was clearly all your fault."
"It is mostly my fault but you should have noticed my car coming." she quickly retorted.
Instead of replying, Ichigo got onto his feet and wiped himself off from the dirt and water. Rukia then stood up as well but was shocked to see how much taller he was than her. He checked his pockets then looked around on the ground looking for something. His keys had fallen out his pocket and was in the street. When he walked over to get them Rukia felt even more guilt at the fact that he was limping. Ichigo bent over to pick up his keys and quickly placed them in his pocket.
"Do you need a ride to the hospital?" she asked trying to ease the tension.
"No." he replied coldly.
"You can't just walk there, you're limping."
"I don't need to go to a hospital." this time facing her with his reply.
"Don't be such a stubborn ass." Rukia said some what irritated that he trying to be tough guy about it "You should at least get checked out."
Ichigo let out an exasperated sigh "Look. I don't need a hospital or your help."
The young woman narrowed her eyes at him. Then let a small smirk grace her face, while putting her hands on her hips. She continued to talk knowing it would probably piss him off if she insinuated he couldn't handle something as simple as walking. From what she can see he is the kind of guy who takes pride in his 'macho' persona.
"You say that now but in a few minutes you'll be sore like hell when the shock wears off and wish you weren't stuck out here walking. So you might as well at least accept a ride home if you won't go to the hospital."
"Thanks for the advice but I'll take my chances." he commented void of any emotion making it hard for Rukia to read him, even though he was looking her dead in the eyes "And you don't have to try and be a 'Good Samaritan' its not like I'm going to report you or anything if you just leave me here."
"It wasn't completely my fault so don't even talk about reporting me you asshole! If anything I should make you pay for busting my windshield with your hard-ass-head." she snapped back bitterly crossing her arms over she chest.
The man turned his head back towards her car "Wow you're a bitch..." he mumbled but still loud enough for Rukia to hear. Her eye twitched at hearing that statement but before she could counter he continued.
"I mean first you hit me with yourcar, then you are threating to make me pay for your cracked window, and now your adding insult to injury. Let me be the first to tell you that you are a pleasant person." his words soaked in sarcasm.
After hearing that, Rukia had to admit that she did sound like a bitch. Frowning she began to walk back to her car deciding to just leave since he is ok.
"Oh and just so you know it wasn't my head that hit your windshield." he called back to her as she slammed her car door shut, pouting she just ignored him.
Rukia quickly turned around and drove off back in the direction of her house. Ichigo stood there smirking when he looked over to see the children still standing there. He gave them a small smile and then pulled out his cell phone from his pant pocket.
After about a minute of debating whether or not to call his friend to pick him up or just limp home he finally let out out an irritated sigh and dialed the number. Holding the phone up to his ear making sure not to get blood from his cheek on the cell, he just knew he would regret calling him.
"Hello?" the person on the other line answered.
"Hey Uryu. Are you busy right now?" Ichigo greeted hesitantly, while scratching the back of his head.
He heard a loud sigh from the phone. "What do you want Kurosaki?"
()()()
Rukia put the car to a stop. She twisted the key turning off the ignition and looked at the windshield. Still sitting in the car she let her head hit the steering wheel not caring that she will soon have a big red patch on her forehead. 'Second day with the new car and I already fucked up the window. I'll call to have it fixed tomorrow.'
She opened the door and slugged her way out of the black Jetta and walked slowly towards the front door of the house. 'I wonder if its ok that I left that guy there. Oh well... he was being a jerk. Besides, he refused my help so there was nothing I could do.' She tried to reassure herself that it wasn't her problem anymore.
Unlocking the door she walked into the house and headed straight for the kitchen. In the kitchen there was a wall cutting it off from the living room but had a window-like square in it. The first thing Rukia did was go into the fridge and pulled out a 700mL (about 23oz) bottle of premixed Black Nikka and began to chug it back.
Rangiku and Momo who were in the living room looked back at her through the widow with a questioning look on there faces. Rangiku sat casually on the couch with her long strawberry-blonde hair resting on her shoulders and her ice blue eyes watching the TV. She was wearing typical Rangiku wear, a short skirt or tight skinny jeans which she had on right now and blouse that showed a lot cleavage from her large breasts, clothes that showed off her perfectly shaped body.
Momo sat on the floor with her back against the couch Rangiku was on. Momo was sitting in nicely fitting jeans and a sweater. She has gray eyes and was wearing her long dark brown almost black hair in its signature bun with that cloth she always wears around it. Momo was more petite like Rukia but still slightly taller than her. She was watching the TV as well until they heard Rukia storm in and both Rangiku and Momo turned there gaze towards her.
"What happened? You didn't answer your phone and now your drinking whiskey at..." Momo paused to look at the clock "2:28 in the afternoon."
"Oh nothing." Rukia took another gulp "I just hit some asshole."
"What do you mean hit?" Rangiku asked this this time.
Rukia took in a deep breathe then released it. "Like hit him with the car."
"What?!" this time both Momo and Rangiku yelled simultaneously "You ran the guy over because he was being a prick?" Momo finished.
"No. He wasn't an ass until after I hit him." she said hesitantly.
"No wonder." Rangiku said "is he ok? I mean you didn't kill him right?"
"He was well enough to walk or rather limp. I offered him help but he declined so I just left." she finished as she put the rest of the bottle back in the refrigerator.
Before anyone could comment any further the house phone went off. Momo quickly jumped over the couch and answered the phone. She seemed excited when she found out who it was. She talked for a few minutes while Rukia and Rangiku both sat waiting for her to hang up so they can get going.
"Oh and I forget to mention this earlier but bring your girlfriend." Momo said giddily.
"Because I haven't seen her in a while." she continued after his response "Don't be such a baby Shiro!"
After a few more minutes she said good bye and looked up at her friends.
"Okay lets go. We're meeting Toshiro and his girlfriend at a cafe downtown."
"Um, ok..." Rukia replied grabbing her jacket as they all walked out the door. Rukia and Momo flinched when they heard Rangiku scream as she walked out the door in front of them.
"Rangiku, whats wrong?!" Momo yelled in concern.
"What the fuck Rukia! You had to hit the guy with the Jetta? Now we're stuck with the Malibu." Rangiku whined as she walked up to the car "I'm driving from now on." she stated irritably.
Rukia ignored the comment as they all got into the car and headed downtown.
()()()
"So let me get this straight. You got hit by a car, then she offers to give you a ride so you call her a bitch and you refuse, then you turn around and call me from the other side of town to pick you up?" Uryu clarified annoyingly.
"Shut up." Ichigo replied shifting around in the passenger seat with his usual scowl "And she was a bitch."
"And just when I thought you couldn't get any more idiotic, you reach a new level." the driver stated smugly.
"Fuck you."
"Sorry, I already have a girlfriend but I'll let you know if things don't workout." sarcasm filled his words.
Ichigo began to shift in the seat again. He didn't want to admit it but the woman was right. His right leg and back were killing him and it didn't help that Uryu was kind of a green person thus he had a small car.
"Damn, you couldn't have gotten a hybrid if you wanted to help the environment?" he complained.
"Quit your bitching Ichigo. Be happy I decided to pick you up at all." Uryu retorted keeping his eyes on the road "So what was her name?"
"I don't know and I don't care." the writer hissed coldly "Besides, I'm not going to press charges or anything."
"You sure?" Uryu asked his friend.
"Your a hell of a lawyer Uryu but I don't want to even think about this ever again." he reassured as they turned into his neighborhood.
The car pulled to a stop in front of Ichigo's condo. He opened the door and stepped out of the small Audi. As he began to limp his way to his home he stopped to hear Uryu's statement.
"I hope you know that I don't plan on keeping quiet about this." the lawyer said with a sly smirk.
Ichigo simply turned and walked to his front door while flicking his friend off. He walked into his home and started to kick off his shows and threw his jacket onto his stylish black couch. Walking up to his phone he turned on the answering machine which he couldn't believe he still had.
Beep
"Hey there Ichigo. This is the bestest agent in the world, Urahara. I need you to stop by my office tomorrow around noon to go over a few things so I'll see you then."
Beep
"This is Tatsuki, and I'm just calling to remind you that you are going to help Chad move into his new place on Wednesday. And you better show up this time, Ichigo."
Ichigo scoffed once he heard the messages. 'Since when does everyone tell me what I'm doing instead of actually asking?' he thought, pissed at how everyone overbooked him. He walked into his kitchen to get something to eat. Relaxing for the rest of the day sounds good since he'll be busy tomorrow.
()()()
The three girls walked into the cafe. Rukia and Rangiku continued talking to each other about idle things while they just followed Momo to a table. Of course they didn't notice there were people already sitting at the table until they got there. Rukia and Rangiku were surprised to see a young man, a few years younger than themselves with silver hair. 'Does every guy in this town have strange hair?'Rukia thought to herself.
The young man was short but still not as short as Rukia. She noticed his strangely colored eyes as well which looked to be teal. He was different looking but not in a bad way. It was clear how young he was but the way he held himself made him look much more mature than a normal person his age. When Momo greeted him, he seemed to look very indifferent and yet he some how greeted her back happily while keeping his face passive. This puzzled both of Momo's friends though she seemed used to it. She then turned to the girl sitting by her brother and said 'hi' as the girlfriend greeted her in the same manner as the young man.
The young woman looked to be around 21 or so. She just sat there drinking her coffee not looking too interested in anything particular at the moment. She had black hair that didn't quite reach her shoulders and gray eyes. She was a pretty girl with hard features. And from what they could tell under the table were her long athletic legs.
Finally Momo introduced them all as everyone took there seats at the table. "Rangiku, Rukia, this is my little brother and his girlfriend." she announced proudly, then pointing her thumb back at her friends "And these are my co-workers, best friends, and roommates, Rangiku Matsumoto and Rukia Kuchiki."
Both girls gave a friendly 'hi' to the couple.
"Toshiro Hitsugaya, pleasure to meet you." he said with no particular emotion indicating nothing.
Momo and Toshiro had the same mother but different fathers. Unfortunately by the time they were 13 and 10 all three of the parents were dead. Momo raised her little brother until he went off to college a few years before her and then when she graduated she moved Osaka.
The girl next to Toshiro finally looked at the two girls for the first time.
"Hi. Karin Kurosaki" she said in a bored tone "Nice to meet you." she finished with a small smile.
Rukia's expression quickly changed at the mention of the Karin's last name.
"Heh. So I take it you've read my brother's books, eh?" She said with a simple smirk looking at short woman sitting across from her.
"Ichigo Kurosaki is your brother?!" Rukia exclaimed almost standing up from her seat with her hands now flat on the table. Looking around she saw people looking at her from her outburst and quickly settled down ignoring them.
Karin gave her a questioned look. Then turned to Momo who just gave the waitress her order. "Momo. You didn't tell her?"
Before Momo could respond Rukia cut in almost yelling at her dark haired friend.
"You knew relatives of Ichigo Kurosaki?" she said loudly but not angrily.
Momo opened her mouth to explain but was beaten to the draw. This time it was Toshiro who spoke, keeping Momo from talking again.
"Pft, knew his relatives? She's been friends with Ichigo since high school." he said as if it were common knowledge, which at this moment seemed to be the case.
"What!" she yelled, this time completely standing giving Momo a deathly glare "You were friends with him in high school?"
"Not were, still are. After I moved I still stayed in touch with all my friends including Ichigo. I'm pretty sure I told you this." Momo said finally able to speak without anyone cutting her off. At this point Rangiku, Toshiro, and Karin were watching the two woman with much amusement.
"You told me you still talked to your friends from Karakura, but not that Ichigo Kurosaki was one of them! God Momo, you got me here looking like an idiot!" Rukia scolded her friend.
"Sorry." she replied though it didn't sound too sincere.
"Lets talk about something else!" Rangiku said trying to change the mood.
Rukia let out a sigh and placed her elbows on the table as she rested her chin on her intertwined fingers.
"Fine." she muttered in defeat.
"So what brings you guys down here?" Karin asked trying to start a normal conversation.
"Oh well we decided to take a break off of work and Momo suggested we move here for awhile." Rangiku replied, a little too quickly as the couple gave her a suspicious look.
"So are you guys still in college?" Rukia asked bringing their attention away from Rangiku's rushed answer. The strawberry-blonde was making it hard to just keep quiet about their situation.
"Well I'm in my last year of college, I major in sociology. But Toshiro is the head surgeon at The Karakura Hospital." Karin said as if it were nothing special.
Rukia and Rangiku were awestruck. Their gaze turned from Karin to the silver haired man.
"How old are you?"
He seemed a little irritated by the question but still answered. "22" he said flatly.
Toshiro graduated from college with a masters degree when he was 19. He only had to do residency for one and a half years and is now the leading doctor just under the hospitals head doctor for 20 years, Dr. Unahona.
"I told you Shiro was a genius." Momo said bragging. Karin made a small chuckle at Momo's nickname for him. The two woman just nodded 'I didn't know she meant literally...' they both thought to themselves.
After a few moments of awkward silence, Karin placed her arms flat on the table starting up a conversation again.
"So I take it you guys are running away from your guys?" Karin stated with a smirk. Rukia, Rangiku, and Momo all tensed at the words that came out of her mouth so slyly. They all sat there staring wide eyed at the short haired woman not making a sound. 'How the hell did she know?'was all they could think. Toshiro looked at their expression and thought about what Momo had told him before they came out here. Karin looked confused at their reaction and rephrased her comment.
"I mean did you guys leave any boyfriends or husbands behind since you came here?" she said this time more cautious of her words.
The three let out a breathe in relief. "Oh uh..." Momo stumbled to get her words right and let out a nervous laugh. "...Um no. We didn't really leave anyone like that."
"Non of you? Wow, you girls need to have some fun." Karin said sarcastically.
"Girl you don't have to tell me! I just got out of a divorce and am ready to get back in the game." Rangiku cheered happily.
"Well its good to know that you aren't going to let that get you down." Rukia said coldly.
Suddenly Toshiro's cell went off. He answered it and talked for just a few seconds before hanging up and turning to back to everyone.
"They need me at the hospital." he said sounding quite urgent. Karin nodded and turned to Momo, Rukia, and Rangiku.
"Sorry we have to go." She said as her and Toshiro stood up. "But how about you guys come to the park tomorrow 5pm. My family is having and my sister would love to have more people to cook for." she encouraged as she began to walk away. Then she stopped and turned back on last time.
"And Ichigo will be there."
Okay so there is the first chapter! Hope you like it so far. I like to go into other peoples backgrounds a little so you will learn more about everyone later on. As far as the Hitsugaya and Karin pairing, it was a little thick on this chapter but this is probably the most it focuses on them because this is a IchiRuki fic.
Please Review! Help me to make your reading more enjoyable by letting me know how I'm doing. Luv ya!
