AUTUMN HUES

~Tensai - Teki Kuroneko~

Chapter 2~! Thank you for the excellent response. I was really glad by the number of people who reviewed and added this into their watch list. I would try my best to keep the story up to their expectations. So, here goes...

Date published: 8th May 2012.
Interval: 13 days.

No. of reviews: 4.
No. of people who opted for Story Alert: 4.

It was early morning. Rukia was one of the first people to arrive at the school, almost an hour ahead of time. She strolled through the corridors, walked up the stairs, opened a sliding door, sat at her seat by the open window and looked down at the scenery. It was breezy, and her tresses were softly blowing. The absence of a single soul besides her was making her slightly uneasy. It was to escape a greater intensity of this same anguish that always made her leave for school earlier. No matter how she tried to tell herself that she did that because she enjoyed morning weather, which was true to some extent, she knew that she wished to remain outdoors as much as possible. The tension at her home was making it unbearable.

After her sister had died, the atmosphere changed for the worse, as though her sister was the only flickering flame that made the house warm enough to be called home. Her nii-sama tried his best to make it comfortable for her, for she was the only living memoir of Hisana he had. But, his uneasiness couldn't stay hidden. They had both lost someone valuable and irreplaceable in their life. After years, they had finally got used to it. Somehow, they had wordlessly agreed upon protecting the warmth that Hisana nee-san had left, or whatever fragments that were left of it.

It was finally now that the topic of dread arrive, Rukia's career. It was her final year of High School, and she had to stop running from the topic and decide what she would do. Nii-sama did not pressurize her, but asked her a question. She knew that he would expect her to take suitable business courses to earn a good reputation and position like he did, but he never expressed his choice. Either way, if she were to choose some other profession, nii-sama would never openly show dislike. This was what he felt was the best he could do to avoid discomfort. It was backfiring, badly.

The only person who could have helped her in selecting the best alternative was long gone.

Rukia stood up, and leaned on the window frame, looking down. A few groups of students had started coming. She was relieved. The start of the day's lessons would finally distract her from her predicament. The students began arriving in the class. A few of them greeted Rukia, and she returned the gesture. The last bell brought her only intimate friend in the class.

"Ohaiyou, Rukia!", Arisawa said and smiled.

"Ohaiyou Tatsuki!", Rukia returned the greeting with the same warmth. This short exchange of greetings was by the entry of their homeroom teacher, Ochi sensei.

"Hey guys, settle down. We have a new student in the class today!"

She slammed the books down on the table and said, "Hey Kurosaki, why don't you introduce yourself on your own, rather than making me look like an escort?" The entrance of a bright haired young man with a scowl was followed by snickers across the classroom, both due to the remarks and the looks.

"But that is your job."

A quick glare made Ichigo regret his previous statement.

"Alright. I am Kurosaki Ichigo. You may not know me because my previous class is in the opposite corner of the school. Due to certain circumstances, I could not concentrate on my studies for the last two years, and was a student of class II. This year, things were finally getting back to normal... sort of... my grades went up, so I was transferred here. Please take care of me."

"Kurosaki, would you mind telling them why you were absent for a month?"

"Ah. Umm... Something happened."

"You are a pain! Kurosaki had participated in the National Literary Olympiad. He won the second position, we are proud and all that stupid crap. Now, the only spare seat is adjacent to the window behind Kuchiki. Hey, Kuchiki, help him and give him the class notes. Run off, Kurosaki, don't waste my time."

Ichigo looked around to see who was this 'Kuchiki'. His eyes travelled to the seat which was occupied by the same raven haired girl he had met in the park the previous day. Even today, her eyes had the same angelic glow. He thought of taking advantage of this previous acquaintance, approached her and said,

"Ohaiyou, Lucia san."

"Excuse me?"

Tatsuki, sitting three benches away, shouted, "Hey Ichigo, mind greeting your friend here? You know I detest getting ignored." This was followed by a menacing stare.

Ichigo looked towards her, and said, "I didn't mean to, you know?"

Before Tatsuki could reply, Rukia sprang up taking advantage of the situation, shook hands with Ichigo and said, "Nice to meet you. I am Kuchiki Rukia."

Ichigo was visibly confused. She was 'Lucia', right?

Ochi sensei's shouts broke his thought process.

"Kurosaki, settle down."

...

Later that day, in the break, Tatsuki came to his desk and said, "So, Ichigo, long time no see?"

"Yeah."

"You know Rukia?" She replied, pointing to the empty desk in front of Ichigo.

"Yeah, probably. I met her yesterday in the park. She was sketching."

"One of her horrible bunny drawings, right? She loves them."

"Wait, what? No..." At this point, Ichigo was cut off by Rukia, who just arrived. She said, "Want to see my latest masterpiece? Here!" Rukia pulled out a sheet of paper. There were multiple comic like bunny figures. They presented a carelessly drawn autumn scenery, with a black haired bunny girl with a typical flower in her hand. It was safe to presume that this black haired girl was Rukia. Honestly, it looked the work of a five year old!

Tatsuki chuckled. "See that? Rukia, why do you even draw?"

Ichigo did not reply. This girl was the same. She had the same features. She had this same calm, composed, innocent face. But the drawing skills? How could a talented artist like the girl he saw yesterday in the park make such clumsy sketches?

Despite his dilemma, he did not miss the forced expression she had put over her face. It didn't display the magnitude of warmth showered on him the other day.

Just who... who was this girl?

Second Chapter done. I hope I improved. This one is longer, since I didn't wish to extend this scene into two chapters. I guess, I should say, the inspiration from this fanfic was also this manga, "Taiyou no Ie" by Taamo. Sometimes, sweet stories are much more alluring than dramas. I hope you like it!

And, please review? That means a lot!

Till Next Update,

Nyaaa~ ne!

TTK