Story Title: Lovesick
Rating: T
Summary: Because of a single instant on his rescue mission, Ichigo finds himself trapped between his heart and his mind. Will he follow his heart, or be guided by the world's standards? Ichi/Shuu and Ichi/Ruki (one-sided). Yaoi fanfic.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Bleach.
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Chapter 2 – Trust
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I wonder what it meant? Rukia thought as she lay on the bed in Ichigo's closet. Ichigo was at his desk doing homework. "When he looked into my eyes like that, and said that he was worried. What did it mean?" she whispered to herself. Suddenly the closet door opened and she almost jumped out of her gikai.
"Are you talking to yourself again, Rukia?" Ichigo asked with a smile. "What are you saying? Maybe you're plotting to take over the world, or possibly you're coming up with a new muffin recipe! Do they have nuts in them? If not, I strongly advise to add some."
"None of your business!" Rukia snapped. "And I don't like nuts in muffins, thank-you-very-much!"
"You don't like nuts in muffins! That's inhuman…or inshinigami! Jeez, Rukia, how can you not like perfection?" Ichigo laughed. As they were goofing off, they heard Rukia's pager beep.
"A Hollow," she said dramatically though that fact was overly obvious. Ichigo hurriedly jumped out of his human vessel and through the window, his baggy black outfit ruffling in the wind. Rukia wasn't far behind him, but she didn't have to tell him which way to go anymore. Ichigo could now sense most of the hollows without the help of Rukia's cell phone, except for the really puny ones.
The hollow was quickly dealt with, and they took their time going home. The sun was setting, melting the vibrant colors of orange and red into the normally blue sky.
"Its such a beautiful evening, isn't it, Ichigo?" Rukia said to him, but no answer came from the tall boy clad in black. She had to gasp in awe as she looked up at him. His face was highlighted from the light of the sinking sun, making his masculine features stand out so that Ichigo looked more beautiful than Rukia had ever seen him. The stern and concentrating look on his face made her heart melt as she longed for him.
Oh my God! She thought to herself, glad that Ichigo hadn't noticed she had spoken to him, because she was certain her face was as red as the sky. I think I'm in love with…Ichigo! In love! She looked up at him again and her eyes widened further than ever before.
"'Sup, Rukia?" he looked at her slightly confused. "You'll stare a hole in my skull if you keep up like that."
"Ah! Sorry Ichigo, I was…just noticing how much you're thinking. I was going to ask you what has got you working your brain so much." With this comment Ichigo's eyes turned to the ground in despair as he stopped walking.
"Ichigo…" Rukia stopped beside him.
"It's nothing, Rukia. I just have a few things on my mind, that's all." It was plain as day that he was hurting, and she wanted to know why. But he wouldn't tell her.
"You can trust me with anything, you should know that, Ichigo. If you need help, no matter what kind of help, I'll be there to assist you in every way I can. There is no reason why you can't trust me with something."
"That means a lot, Rukia, really. But it's more than anything that you can help me with. Sorry," his figure passed by; to Rukia it was a brilliant blur. She watched him as he walked down the street into the sunset. Soon he vanished altogether, but she could still sense his spiritual pressure in the distance.
It hurt Rukia that he didn't trust her and that he had left her alone. He had apologized; was that supposed to make it better?
"Ichigo," she said as tears began to run down her face, "I have never met someone like you in my entire life, and I think that I may be falling in love with you. Why do you insist that you must walk alone? If only you would allow support from those around you, maybe I could understand you. Maybe you would tell me what gave you such a painful look. Why, Ichigo? Why do you push me away?"
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"Rukia, do you think that something is wrong with Ichigo?" Orihime asked Rukia the next morning.
"Wrong with Ichigo?" Rukia thought back to the night before. Even though it was an awkward risk, Rukia slept in Ichigo's closet like normal, and like she had feared he hadn't said a word to her. "Yeah I think so too, Orihime."
"Really? So it's not just me. Do you know what's wrong?"
"No I don't. I asked him but…"
"Oh…" Orihime felt guilty because in spite the sadness she felt because Ichigo wasn't himself, he had rejected Rukia, which gave Orihime a glimmer of happiness and hope. She made a promise to herself that she would never think like that again, though she knew it would be hard to keep.
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"Ichigo," Rukia called to him as she plowed through his door to get into his room.
"Rukiaa?" he lifed his head off his pillow and looked towards the now sideways Rukia. "Do you know what time it is?"
"Ten in the morning on a Saturday!" she exclaimed. "Ichigo, there's a hollow, and it's much stronger than any of the weaklings that you've fought before."
"But I sense it's spiritual pressure and it's not that big," he replied still half asleep.
"No, it's not," Rukia replied with a smile, "but up until now you've been fighting mosquitoes. Though this current hollow is still quite weak, it's quite a bit stronger than those others."
"So in other words, no rush," Ichigo responded with a yawn while he stretched. Rukia hurried him along, but before he could even get out of his body the signal and spiritual pressure alike disappeared. They hurried to the site that the hollow was only moments before, only to find none other than Uryu. "Uryu you jerk! That was MY hollow to kill! My God, man, get a bloody life!" Uryu couldn't help but laugh.
"You did take your sweet time, Ichigo," Rukia pointed out.
"Hey Ichigo," Ichigo stopped his playful ranting at the change of Uryu's tone. "I can't help but notice you're not quite yourself. What's up?"
"Damn it! Can't you people leave a guy alone? So I've been musing over something a little more than normal, that such a big deal? Seriously, man!"
"Ichigo, what I'm trying to get at is it happened right after we returned with Rukia from the Soul Society. It's just kind of worrying." Uryu tried to explain calmly.
"Ichigo!" Rukia said so emotionally it surprised both of them. "You said that I had to tell you where I was going because you were worried! Now I'm worried that something might be wrong with you because of me, and you tell me it's nothing. Ichigo…"
"Why would it be because of you?"
"Because, just like Uryu said, you've been acting different ever since you came back from rescuing me! It's only natural to draw such a conclusion!"
"It's not because of you, Rukia. Trust me."
"How can I trust you if you cannot trust me?" Ichigo shook his head and turned to leave.
"Stop, Ichigo," Uryu demanded, and Ichigo did as he was told. "Look at Rukia; she's almost in tears. You can't run away from your problems, not ones with me; not ones with Rukia; and not ones inside yourself. By running away from us here you've shown me that you're likely running away from whatever is troubling you, too. You won't feel any better running, Ichigo. This time you trust me."
"I can't, my whole being is against it. But I can't tell you what it is, either. Something I want more than anything but know I cannot have, and even if I could, I shouldn't. I cannot tell you what pain I'm feeling, Uryu. You demand to know what's wrong so you can help, but believe me, you can't. Nobody can help. I am doing this alone." They let him go, thinking it best to leave the subject for the time being. Ichigo would come to them sooner or later, and if he didn't he would break. Rukia swore she wouldn't let that happen as she called out to him telling him so. He didn't respond, and he didn't look back, but she knew he heard her.
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Wow, that took forever to write. Seriously, I don't like homework :P
Oh, and I'd like to quickly thank darkangel1992 for reviewing. Much appreciated!
Maybe everyone else can follow in the same direction? hint hint nudge nudge .
In other words, please REVIEW! xD
