MIST
A/N:
Hye, guys!! Long tyme no see!!
I've been busy nowadays--i've been writing this one, though..
And it was already in the 7th chapter..
But it was going to be longer than that, i presume..
However, i'm going to give my best to finish it, no matter what!
Please keep your support by reading this story..
DISCLAIMER: No owning of bleach anywhere
PART 1
Timeline: after the Winter war.
"Let me out.."
Rukia awoke with a jolt. The air was mugged with her hard breaths. She put her hand through her bangs and felt the damp skin below. Her whole body was shaking at the thoughts running through her head.
She got up slowly, afraid of waking Renji up; he's been through a hard day today. They had just moved into a small house, quite far from the Kurosaki's—where she used to live. It was too many things to pack—not that she had lots of things with her, but she loved the house to be clean, neat and tidy; a habit inflicted by his brother.
It was hard enough for her to actually convince Isshin that she'll be able to take care of herself with Renji's around. The old man looked so hesitant and frowned lightly when this issues being brought up before he finally gave her a nod, though a certain orange-head who didn't know anything glared daggers at the poor Renji who seemed to stuck in her 'problem' right now. Rukia took a deep breath before she got off of the bed, glancing Renji on the couch—apparently the man was just too tired.
She needed to get some water. All the nightmares she'd been having these past days really interfering her sleep—not to mention all the voices she kept hearing; she might as well thought she'd be going crazy before she finally able to do something about herself. Even Urahara was blank—he said he was going to find a solution; guess that it needed more time, she thought. It better be quick before she lost control like a few days ago..
There was a sound of tapping footsteps. A sound of flowing water. It was dark in the small kitchen, which during daytime, filled with many different sounds. All Kuchiki Rukia could hear now was her own sounds.
Now she heard Renji's grunt from upstairs. Well, Renji didn't use to be a person who woke up easily. Perhaps he just turned around in his sleep, falling down from the sofa or was dreaming something.
She leaned against the kitchen sink for a while. She crossed her arms. She rubbed her eyes and looked out through the little window, at the half moon outside. It beautifully shone in a white colour, right in her face.
When is this going to over, she thought and was just about to leave the kitchen when she accidentally bumped into the kitchen counter, hitting some cutlery that apparently had been left by the dishwasher, to later get a wash. The cutlery fell to the floor with a clinking sound.
"Rukia?" Renji's voice questioned.
Rukia sighed, bending down to pick up the cutlery. "Yeah, it's me,"
She heard how Renji tottered down the stairs. "What happened?"
"Just some cutlery.. They fall down.." Rukia sighed, when gathering all the knives, forks, spoons and chopsticks whatever there was.
She couldn't see him, but she felt his presence in the room. And she heard him perfectly too. His heavy, tired breaths that came closer and was now right in front of her. He was also bending down.
"You are having those nightmares again, are you?"
Rukia was silent as she continued to gather the cutlery together. Renji slowly grabbed her arms, helping her up to her feet. Renji lifted up the cutlery and placed it up on the counter again.
"Answer me, Rukia."
"You know the answer Renji. Every single night of it." Rukia sighed and wobbled her feet in the dark to find the switch to open the lights.
When the light was on, all Renji could see was a clearly distress Rukia as he placed a sit on the chair. Rukia just sighed and heaved a heavy breath as she too, slumped on the chair in front of Renji, propping her head with her elbows..
"It might be a connection between the waterbearer you found few days ago."
"Probably. But the voice I heard.. ." Rukia bit her lips as she continued. "I get the feeling it's getting closer."
"What's getting closer?"
Rukia shrugged and she still wore the worried mask on her face. "I don't know. I can feel that there's not so much time anymore."
Renji smirked, "....before you go berserk and kill me?"
"I'm sorry for that, it's beyond my control," Rukia's voice dripped with bitterness and pain that the red-haired idiot took as some sort of mockery.
Renji panicked, "H-hey, I didn't mean that.."
Renji sighed; the girl's getting more serious day by day, he thought. "Look, I'm sure Urahara-Taichou would have something to stop it from taking over your body,"
"I hope." Was all the thing she said.
The red-haired man yawned. "Why didn't you just tell that orange brat about this?"
"And let he do what? Scarce the whole family and kill himself?" Rukia shook her head. "It was bad enough that you tell Nii-sama about this, I'm not letting anyone feel troubled because of me anymore."
Renji howled, "And if Taichou doesn't know about this, how come I can stay here for a longer time and get the hell out of Soul Society to be with you here? Like you can give a better excuse."
"Well, maybe he'll believe you if you said that I asked you to!"
"Hah!" Renji jabbed his finger onto her forehead. "Like that's going to avoid many dirty thoughts from Matsumoto!"
"W-what?! We're not doing anything!"
"Says you!" Renji humphed. "Matsumoto will not leave me alone if she ever finds out that we're staying together. It's nice to have Taichou's backing us up after all."
"Still, I hope you will never tell Ichigo about this. He has other thing to concern, like.. a certain people who clearly not me..?." Rukia eyed the man, wanting him to keep his promises so badly.
"Yeah, like you're having some sort of shiny-pearl-long hair doesn't matter. And the thing that controlling you in the first place doesn't suppose to be his concern? Plus, there's a firestarter hunting you! " Renji recalling Rukia's feature when she attacked him non-stop on the historical day.
"What's more important than that?"
"His life, yes. Renji, please."
"Fine, do what you want. Like I care."
Renji got up as Rukia grabbed his arm to stop. "I'm sorry I caused you this much trouble." That made Renji facing the petite raven haired shinigami.
"If it's not because you caught me transforming the other day, I will never involve you, Renji."
Renji smirked. "Guess it was my bad luck, then. I don't mind though.." Rukia just smiled a little. At least a talk with her best friend made her feel better.. "Well, you're lucky to be my friend then, Rukia."
"I know." She looked down.
"You are as much as important as he is to me, Renji. All of my friends do." Rukia looked up and craved a bigger smile. She really meant what she said.
"I wanna see how long the lies can hold." Renji smirked.
A WEEK AGO..
"ICHIIIIIGOOOOO!" Isshin yelled as he gave his son his daily dose of rapid flying kicks—to which Ichigo retorted with his own dose of thrashings and curses.. So much of a beautiful morning, Rukia thought.
"Just shut it, goat-face!!" Isshin flew across the house, a dent clearly marking the wall he hit.
"Morning, Onii-chan!" Yuzu greeted from the kitchen.
Ichigo grunted a reply. Rukia and Karin arrived at the same time at the dining area. Karin, however seemed to ignore Rukia's presence. But that seemed fine to Rukia, she was grown used to it ever since she stayed in this house.
Yuzu came out of the kitchen and served their breakfast.
"Sooo...Onii-chan, Rukia-nee, does dad said something about his plan to both of you?" Yuzu asked with a smile.
Rukia glanced at Ichigo, who just shrugged back at her, and confusedly asked Yuzu, "What plan?"
"Oh, that plan-" Isshin grinned as he continued. "The great father was going to invite Abarai-kun for dinner tonight."
Rukia choked on her food.
"What the...?! What for?! It's not today is a big day anyway— " Ichigo grunted, for once that morning, the wall was not hit by the projectile named Isshin.
"Uh, oji-sama.. why would you want to invite Renji for dinner? Has anything been wrong?" Rukia asked.
"No. Nothing's wrong, Rukia-chan," Isshin grinned. "Someone says he misses you, that's why I invited him for dinner," Isshin winked to her.
Rukia, being as oblivious as always, just grinned together with the spastic dad of Ichigo's. Ichigo just grunted hearing that, so much of a great day he wished today would be—now with the red-pineapple it would be just a day with full of brainless arguments.
"He he, Abarai-kun really cares for you, Rukia-nee." Yuzu smiled to her ears. "I'm sure that no one will ever help themselves to like Rukia-nee. She's beautiful, and smart..."
"Except for onii-chan." Karin added. Yuzu paused hearing that. Ichigo widened his eyes..
"I'm waiting for onii-chan to bring home someone of Orihime's level, not some unsightly looking dwarf. "
"That's rude Karin-chan!" Yuzu rebuked her twin sister.
Karin smirked as she glanced at the raven-haired woman sitting across fro her. After everything that had come to pass, she still couldn't help to bear a grudge against this woman who actually brought the shinigami matters to this house. She just wished a normal life like other kids. It's bad enough to have a spastic dad going around flirting with her classmates every time he picked her up from school. Her only purpose was to piss this woman off until she finally leave this family. That's all. She knew that this woman had a really short patience, and from the looks of it, Karin was doing well in pissing her off.
On the contrary though, Rukia is far from pissed. She was hurt. She couldn't help but to feel unwelcome…. Under the fake smile which instantaneously displayed on her face, Rukia was actually being very guilty, and her heart was wounded.
"That's right, Karin-chan.. I'm actually wondering why Ichigo hasn't brought home a girl like Inoue yet.."
Ichigo, who was quietly observing the exchange, scowled. He didn't like the way Karin treats Rukia, and he needed to talk to the dark-haired girl about that later. It was rude. He never mind Rukia staying here, really. She just stepped into the family like she's already grown in this family somehow.. That's her gifted ability. She was able to make him feel comfortable to walk with her even it was full of silent then was followed by stupid aggressive opinions minutes later. She was.. friendly.
Ichigo suddenly frowned. He really didn't know how the minds of his family worked. He scowled even harder as he thought of the impending disaster that was tonight's dinner.
"Don't worry, oji-sama." Rukia interjected. Her jolly facade still on. "Tonight is going to be great."
"I can't wait until tonight.. I'll be cooking great dinner for tonight!" Yuzu exclaimed.
Ichigo stood up. "Whatever. C'mon Rukia, we'll be late for school."
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Their walk to the school was nothing but full with painful silence. Ichigo glanced at the petite woman beside him to find the cheery façade was already dropped. He knew that she was hurt. Karin's word was lingering through her head as she slowly opened her lips to say something.
"Why you never bring home a girl after all?"
Ichigo was taken aback by her sudden question. "What? I don't have interest in asking some prostitutes hang over my house.."
"I don't say you can bring a prostitute, stupid. A normal girl would be enough.."
"Why would a girl followed me home?"
"I mean, at least you can bring Inoue to your house sometimes.." she ranted.
"Why would I bring her home? Like I don't have anything else to do except for asking people to come over my house,"
Rukia smirked. "That's why Karin is so affected about it.. You never take this matter seriously."
Ichigo rolled his eyes, "Seriously? Hey. What is so serious about it anyway?"
"Well, a part of it probably that she want to have a big sister, I guess.." Rukia glanced towards the orange head.
"A big sister? Does she already have a big sister?" Ichigo sighed. "What else does she want anyway.." he grunted.
"Yuzu is her twin. Not her big sister.." Rukia puffed out a sigh.
"I'm not talking about Yuzu." Ichigo suddenly stopped walking which made Rukia raised her brow of his sudden action.
"I'm talking about you." He said. "You're older than her. Even than me, or my dad.. And we live in the same house.. Don't you like the 'big sister' of the family?"
"I'm the 'big nanny'. I'm not even in the family anyway.." Rukia whispered to herself, looking down.
"Karin doesn't even like having me around."
Ichigo continued to walk. "Just forget about her. You're just fine the way you are."
Before they entered the school gates, Ichigo, upon seeing the same aggrieved look on Rukia's face, grabbed her by the shoulder and turned her around.
"Karin is still young. When you get to know each other really well, I'm sure you'll be good friends."
Rukia blinked a few times before her mind finally registered what Ichigo just said.
"I hope." She smiled and made her way inside the school.
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"Kuchiki-san!!" Asano Keigo stormed towards Rukia as he was being punched by Ichigo before he could even lay a single hand on her.
Keigo cringed in pain. "As lovely as always, Kuchiki-san.." receiving a thank you from Rukia, he fainted.
"Ohayou, Kurosaki-kun!!" Inoue Orihime cheerfully greeted the orange head, he was in a bad mood today and didn't seem to care, but he replied anyway. "Ohayou, Inoue."
"Ohayou Kuchiki-san!" she greeted the raven haired female. "Ohayou, Inoue."
"Ne, Kuchiki-san," Orihime waddled towards Rukia and stood beside her. "I wonder if you would like to come over my house for dinner tonight,"
Rukia grinned, but refused as she remembered that they were supposed to have dinner with Renji later. "I'm sorry, but I had something planned tonight.."
Orihime's face saddened a bit. "It's okay." She glanced to the orange head as she looked sadder.
Rukia didn't want to say it, but she actually felt the need to talk with the auburn head about this. But then again, this time was not a right time. As she threw a quick glance to Ichigo, she placed a sit and propped her head with her elbow. She knew the girl had a crush on Ichigo. She knew it the first time she saw her. And it didn't even bother her anyway. Except for the part in her heart that ache when the orange idiot showed a little too much attention to the buxom girl.
Maybe I'm just feeling jealous, Rukia thought. Orihime Inoue is one nice girl, and everyone loves her—even Ichigo's little sisters, not to mention his dad. Rukia continued to drift in her own thoughts when a sudden thump hit her head.
"Ouch! H-ey!!!" Rukia cocked her head to see Ichigo was standing beside her, folding his arms. Rukia sighed; she didn't want to kick his butt just to reveal to the whole class the real her. Crossing her arms, she coldly asked him, "What is it?"
"Can you just forget about that thing already?" Ichigo sounded serious. When Rukia looked straight upon his eyes, she could see the guy was scowling even more than usual. "What thing?" She innocently asked.
"You know what I mean, Rukia. Stop playing dumb."
"I'm not thinking about anything, Kurosaki-kun." Rukia spoke, stressing the dub. And just before Ichigo could say anything else, the teacher came in.
Great time, I must say. Rukia sighed, saved from another pathetic argument with Ichigo.
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"Hey, guess what, I'm sensing some odd reiatsu around town." Urahara Kisuke informed his companion about the current situation he'd been tracking.
"Odd? How many?" Yoruichi yawned. "Just three. They're not even strong." Urahara glanced to the woman beside him.
"Can it wait until later?" She groggily rubbed her eyes. "I'm tired." She said as she hugged his waist from behind and buried her face in the soft clothes her husband was wearing.
"Next time, don't even try so hard catching the chicken." Urahara said, eyes still on the monitor.
"I'm just being independent. No more 'shunpo'ing.."
"You don't have to kill some people's chicken." Urahara chuckled. "Wait until we rear one."
"It doesn't matter. I'm just making some soup for you, that's all." Yoruichi let go of her husband and pouted slightly.
Urahara turned back and smiled brightly.
"Okay, okay.. Next time, I'll accompany you catching some people's chickens. Satisfied?"
Please Read and Review!!
N oh yeah,
Since i've been quite busy,
I only get the chance to upload this thing
in a week's tyme..
so, the next chapter is..
the next saturday..
thank you!!!!