Title – Then run away with me
Disclaimer – I still haven't talked Tite Kubo to signing his rights over to me… but I'm working on it! Lol.
Summary – AU. Ichigo catches Rukia packing her stuff the day she runs away from his home.
"Where are you going?" "I have to leave. Thank you for everything." "Don't go." "Then run away with me."
Author's Note – I don't know why I had this idea for this story, but It seems like it'll be fun to write. So enjoy the new lives of Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki.
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Ichigo threw his book bag down on the couch and wiped his brow looking around the Kurosaki household. It felt like four hundred degrees outside so he was rather eager to make it home to the air conditioned house. He had finally made it home, He told Rukia he'd be out for a few hours but that time was cut short when Keigo got sick. He wasn't upset, in fact he was glad and now that he was home he was even happier especially since Rukia had been acting weird all day long. He looked around once again, nobody was home.
He sighed and started to walk up the stairs. He wondered if Rukia was even at home. She had been secretly living with the Kurosaki's for two months now. She came and went as she pleased much to Ichigo's displeasure. Her presence wasn't unwanted, but at times it was annoying. He started to get used to the bratty midget shinigami.
She was commanding, dominating, annoying, childish, blunt, mean, and yet he couldn't get enough of her ways. She intrigued him. She was, he was forced to admit but never aloud to anyone, his best friend.
He heard shuffling around in his room when he reached his door. He cocked an eyebrow and listened through the door before opening it. There were series of drawers being opened and closed along with the shuffling sound of what sounded like clothes being thrown in a bag. The noises stopped suddenly.
Ichigo raised an eyebrow in confusion and opened the door slowly. Rukia was sitting at his desk writing something. Her brow was furrowed in concentration and her cheeks were red. She looked ruffled and frustrated. He looked on his bed and saw her small back pack laying on it, it was open and he could clearly see clothes in there. Some of her stuff was in it also.
She sighed out loud and slammed the pen down on the desk and stood up leaving a folded piece of paper on his desk. She still didn't notice Ichigo at the door and turned to pick up her back pack. She zipped it up after shoving her cell phone in it and swung it over her back.
"Where are you going?" He finally asked breaking her out of her concentration.
She stiffened and slowly turned around to face him, their eyes met and for a moment he swore he saw pain there but it was gone as quickly as it came, "I have to leave Ichigo… thank you, for everything but it's time that I go on my own." Her voice was quivering.
"Bullshit, something's wrong. You're shaking." Ichigo pointed out looking at her fingers. They were shaking, she was terrified. Something was causing her to be this way and he wanted to find out, was it him? Was it something he said?
"Nothing is wrong; I just need to leave for a little bit Ichigo." She was stepping back, away from him. He was confused. Why was she acting this way? Was she planning on running away without telling him?
"I don't want you to go." He said knowing that he wouldn't be able to focus without her by himself, "We still have hollows to fight. I need your help Rukia, don't go." He sounded foolish, he knew he did and if this weren't so serious he'd punch himself in the face for being such a pussy.
She looked at him with that sparkle of hope he's seen before. Only sometimes is he lucky to see it, and today he saw it for a just a moment.
"I can't stay here Ichigo… it's too dangerous. I'm putting you and possibly your family in danger." She took another step back frowning; her eyes were wide and full of regret.
"Then let me come with you." What was he thinking? Where was she going? Was he that stupid to say things without thinking? He had school, and his family would worry like crazy.
"No. You can't come Ichigo, you need to stay here with your family, this isn't your problem." One look at her terrified shaking body and he knew he had to go, wherever she was going.
"Please Rukia, if you won't stay then let me go and protect you. I'm not sure where you're going but I'll go there with you. My schooling can be continued in college and I have plenty of savings that can get us by for the time being. My family will understand… please Rukia, don't go." He was fucking spilling his heart out to her, his best friend. She better except his offer or he'll go ballistic. Then he saw it, that flicker of hope return to her eyes again.
"Then run away with me." She whispered moving her arm towards him, the tiniest smiles was on her face.
Ichigo took her hand and smiled, "I'll run away with you." He knew he sounded like a pansy but that look in Rukia's eyes, that hope, that flicker of hope and happiness was what told him that he couldn't let her leave by herself, especially since she was practically dancing with happiness as Ichigo began packing clothes in a bag for himself. He grabbed his laptop, cell phone, clothes, wallet, some mangas, digital camera and a map.
"How are you fitting all of your stuff in that tiny back pack of yours?" He asked writing a quick note to his family.
"I don't have anything to bring, only some clothes and a bottle of water." She said looking outside.
Ichigo looked at her and picked up his bags. He knew he was going to regret taking his laptop, but he knew it would come in hand sometime in the future.
"We must hurry Ichigo…" Rukia said loftily, it sounded as though she was trying to give him a warning, one last shot to back down and let her go by herself. He would be strong for her. He already decided that. School was no problem for him, after all Ichigo was practically done with school, since he knew everything, it was just finishing the classes and getting that damn diploma. Sure he was leaving his friends and family behind, but it wouldn't be the end.
"What about Kon?" Ichigo asked sitting on the window ledge.
"He'll be fine here. Much safer then out where were going." Rukia answered jumping out of the window and onto the ground, "Now please Ichigo, we have to hurry!" The urgency in her voice made him jump. He took one last longing look at his house and took off with her running down the street not giving his house a last look.
He continued to follow her trying not to think about to consequences, and every once in awhile he'd watch her head turn as if she was looking for someone or something to jump out and grab her. He couldn't wait until he was away from this town so they could relax and focus on what was going on…
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Ishiin Kurosaki set the paper back down on the desk and looked at the doorway where his two daughters were. One of them was crying hysterically while the other had a frown and depressed posture. Their older brother upset them again. But this time he knew Ichigo had to go. He knew that Ichigo was strong, and would protect his family and friends even if it killed him. That's just how his son was, strong willed and determined. This was something his son felt he had to do.
Dad, Karin, Yuzu,
Please understand when I say I love you all. I need to go for a while, I can't tell you where. A friend really needs my help right now so we're leaving. Please do not worry. This is something I chose to do.
Love, Ichigo
Yes, his son knew what he was doing.
"Good luck on your own son."