Disclaimer: Characters are owned by Tite Kubo

A/N: I would really appreciate some reviews...thanks for bearing with me :)

Chapter 2: Of Deceit and Strangers

I've reminded myself every night before I sleep, that right now I live for Nozomi's happiness. I will do everything to make her happy even if I have to sacrifice my own. This is the least I can do to for her, to ease the guilt of my sin even for just a little.

" I'm really tired!" Nozomi said as she jumpily walked beside me.

We were currently heading home after another 'fun trip' with Riruka's gang. It had been like this for quite a while now. Despite that fact, I could still feel the unsettling feeling whenever we're with them. Perhaps, it's just that I can't blend in well with their group unlike Nozomi.

I looked at Nozomi, halting in my tracks. " Are you happy?"

She stopped and looked back at me. " With Riruka-san's group?...Yeah." She answered without a second thought. " I enjoy being with them." She smiled as she resumed walking.

True, I've never seen her this lively as before. Perhaps, I wasn't enough to make her happy after all. Still, my vow remained unchanged. I will live for her happiness which is the only way I can atone. All I can do now was to sigh and push back all my uncertainties at the furthest part of my mind.

That was a mistake.

" Kuchiki, Nozomi's not with you?" A classmate told me.

I thought it was just nothing. " She's with Riruka-san, I think."

" Really? You two used to be inseparable when the term began. Did you fight or something?" She wondered.

With widened eyes, I forced myself to utter something. " W-we didn't fight." I blurted out.

She gave me a curious look and told me skeptically. " If you say so."

I was speechless, flabbergasted. It wasn't until now that I've noticed the change in Nozomi and in the relationship we share. We were drifting apart. The distance between us had been subtly increasing that I haven't noticed until now.

The sound of the classroom door opening made me look up to see Riruka and her group entering, Nozomi followed behind. Definitely, she was different than before in a whole new level. I followed her with my eyes.

" Rukia, good morning." She greeted me as she walked over her desk.

I spoke nothing. It's not that I didn't want to respond but I can't respond to her…not even a small smile like I always did.

She looked at me with the slightest hint of care. " Neh…can I ask you a favor? Can you take my place on cleaning duty later? Riruka-san invited me over for some sort of victory party I don't know what for but I'm sure it's going to be fun so I don't want to miss it." Nozomi explained.

" Nozomi, are you really happy?" I asked her instead of giving her an answer. If she's happy, then I can be at ease.

Her eyes were questioning but she gave me a direct response. " Of course. Why wouldn't I be happy? Riruka-san is a really fun person."

I gulped first before answering. " Then make sure you have fun later."

" Thank you, Rukia!" She hugged me.

If she's happy, then this is the right thing to do.

~000~

I was barely with Nozomi aside during class hours. She had been spending most of her time with Riruka while I remained watching over her from afar. I felt a little bad for myself, now totally alone. I didn't like Riruka but I didn't hate her either. If I hated her, then I'm just jealous of her but that was not the point. What's important was Nozomi's happiness.

' That's right! If Nozomi's happy, then nothing's wrong.' I told myself over and over gain as I head towards the restroom. The door was left slightly ajar. I was about to enter when I heard a conversation from the inside.

" Arghh…Nozomi's rather clingy. Don't you think?" My eyes widened. I can tell it was Riruka who was speaking.

" Yeah. It's irritating with her around. It's only good when she's the one paying for our bills in the bars. That's the only useful thing about her." It was one of her minions.

Then there was laughter.

" We have to be nice with her. Kurosaki-san likes people who are friendly with those nobodies. I can't ruin my image now." Riruka declared.

I was taken aback with their conversation. I ran back towards the classroom and found Nozomi sitting in her chair. I marched towards her. " I want to talk to you right now, on the rooftop." Without waiting for her response, I started leaving the room and headed towards the rooftop.

" What is it Rukia?" Nozomi asked behind me. She finally arrived. " Maru-sensei will scold us if we skip his class you know."

I heaved a sigh before turning around. " Riruka is just using you, Nozomi!" I told her without hesitation.

She gasped as she looked at me in disbelief. " What are yo—"

I was filled with remorse that I had to tell her everything. " I heard them talking about it. They're just using you for money and show!"

Nozomi's eyes widened, her anger flared. " Rukia! How could you speak like that to them?! They were the ones who reached out to us, the people who wanted to make friends with us!"

" But with motives!" I exclaimed. " They wanted to take advantage of yo—"

She didn't let me finish. " Enough!" Nozomi looked at me grimly. " I never knew you were this kind of person Rukia!"

The sky began to turn gray. " Nozomi, listen to me." I pleaded.

She remained adamant as tears began streaming down her face. Her eyes full of hate. " You've taken away my brother from me! Now you intend to take away my happiness again!"

I froze. So did she. Both of us were clearly shocked with her outburst. She had never blamed me of her brother's death before...not once. I've always known it was my fault and I've lived with that sin even since then. But hearing it from her…I never knew it was extremely painful and heart shattering.

Tears threatened to fall from my eyes as well. I clenched my hands, my face full of remorse as my body trembled.

She gasped as took a step back. " I-i-I'm sorry." Her voice was wavering as she ran back inside.

I fell sitting on the ground and closed my eyes as devastation drowned me. It was definitely terrible, the feeling inside of me. Drop by drop, the rain began to fall…so did my tears. I let myself get soaked in the rain, hoping that it can wash away my agony.

" You'll get sick if you stay here like that." An unfamiliar baritone voice dawdled, disrupting my solitude.

I fluttered my eyes open to see a pair of legs clad in the school uniform pants standing in front of me. I didn't dare look up to see who it was. I wanted solitude at the very moment and he was depriving me of it. Thus, I chose to ignore him and hoped he'll live me alone soon enough.

" Oi, didn't you hear me? You'll get sick if you stay here like that." There was a touch of irritation in his voice. " Here." He offered a hand.

This guy was persistent. Couldn't he read the atmosphere? Besides, wasn't he doing the same thing, soaking in the rain as well? I turned my head sideways to show him my defiance.

He clenched the hand he offered. " Why you…" He growled but heaved a heavy sigh in the end.

I felt something being draped over my head. Then hauling me by the arm, he carried me over his shoulder like a sack of potato. I yelped in the process and struggled, pounding his back with all my might. " Let me go! Let me go!"

" Aww! Stop it! It hurts!" He told me as he walked back inside the school building.

I continued struggling. " I said let me go!" I demanded.

" Stop it or I'll toss you out of the third floor!" He threatened, making me stop. " Good girl."

" Where are you taking me?!"

" To the infirmary." He answered as he continued walking down the hall of the third floor where the classrooms of the senior students were located.

Who is this person? I asked myself, still hanging over his shoulders. " I'm already behaving so could you please let me down already? I know how to walk." I told him. It was really embarrassing. I could see the students from inside their classroom watching us in amusement. Good thing my head was covered with something. I'm guessing that it was his jacket since he was currently wearing his white undershirt.

He paused for a moment, making me think he was going to put me down. Then he continued walking. " Nope. Who knows what you'll do if I put you down? You have to dry yourself first." He told me nonchalantly.

" Kurosak—what are you doing?! Who is that?!" Another unfamiliar voice spoke. It was coming from behind me.

" Ishida, what's up?" This person told the other who must be his friend as he continued walking.

" Don't 'what's up' me! Where are you going?! Class is about to start. We're supposed to give our report today. And who is that anyway?!" The ' Ishida' said exasperatedly. I now heard him beside me. He must have walked along with us.

" Really? I guess I'll have to stop by the classroom first." My carrier decided.

Ishida heaved a sigh. " Weren't you listening? It's our report today…our report!"

" I heard you. I heard you." Was his only response to his classmate/friend's desperation.

This guy was despicable and hopeless, I decided. I felt us taking the flight down the stairs and taking a sharp turn when another new voice dawdled, only this time it was a girl. I felt like I was listening to a radio program. I was getting tired hanging in his shoulder as well.

" Kurosaki-kun! Ishida-kun!" She was approaching us.

" Inoue-san, what is it?" It was Ishida.

" Ochi-sensei was looking for you two. We're about to start the reporting." There was a pause before she spoke again with a curios tone. " Kurosaki-kun, what's that?" I can feel her staring at my butt, giving me chills.

There was silence before my carrier who was named Kurosaki, answered. " Someone who needs help." Was his simple answer. Then moving on a little further, I heard a door being slid open. " Ochi-sensei!"

" Kurosaki, you're late." It must have been a teacher.

" Sorry, sensei. I have to go to the infirmary to dry myself. Can you let Ishida report alone?"

Of course, she wouldn't, you idiot! I wanted to tell him how ridiculous he was being.

" Okay." The teacher responded. " Kurosaki, you're not suppose to carry someone around in the hallway." She reminded. I was definitely dumbfounded. Who are these people?

~000~

" Why did you two let yourself get soaked in the rain?" The infirmary nurse asked as she handed the two of us towels.

I've find out the guy who carried me was the same guy I met at the vending machine some time ago. How can I forget if he had a uniquely bright orange hair? It was a surprise to find out that he was the Kurosaki Ichigo everyone was so fond about, especially Nozomi and Riruka.

" You shouldn't let yourself get sick, Kurosaki-san." The nurse was rather trying to be alluring, voice almost glazed with honey. Then she shifted her eyes on me, giving me a sharp look. " And you are?"

" Kuchiki Rukia." I answered as I let the towel drape over my head. I'm not in the mood for questions.

" Neh, Kurosaki-san, is she your classmate?" The nurse was using the same flirty voice.

" She's strawberry." Was his vague response. I didn't know if he was trying to be funny or what but I'm not amused at the moment.

I sighed and stood up from my chair and let the towel hang over it. " Thank you very much." I bowed and started walking towards the door.

" Oi, you're leaving already? You're still soaking wet." Kurosaki Ichigo asked.

" Please leave me alone." I bowed at him and took my leave. I know I'm being rude but I could care less right now. I ran as fast as I could, with no definite direction. I'll know where I should go when I get there.