Moments of Love
La Destinée
Rukia dons a dark-blue kimono with higanbana flowers printed on it while Ichigo also wore the same color but a plain one.
"What kind of festival is this?" She asked just like a new kid in town.
"This is the Obon Festival. It is a Buddhist event and is the period of praying for the repose of the souls of one's ancestors. Japanese people are very fond of this tradition."
"Oh," She looked down. "It's the same as your–"
"Yeah," he answered with a grimace and scratched his head. "My Birthday. Dad thought to let the celebration be quite different this time."
"I think this is better. No doubt you're family is very interesting!"
"Shut up." Ichigo scolded her so softly so as not make such a ruckus.
"Sheesh," Rukia sighed and did what she needed to do. "Come on," she grabbed his hand and dragged him along to the center part of the place. "You should at least enjoy, okay?!"
"What –! Oi, Rukia! What the –?"
They both lined up – Rukia still holding his hand – with the others in a circle around a high wooden scaffold called the Yagusa. They danced around it, moving towards to it and then backwards. Afterwards, they ate sushi with his dad, Isshin and his sisters, Yuzu and Karin.
As they're finished, Ichigo noticed that the midget was not with them. "Ichigo, if you need to look, you can always leave." His dad told him with no hesitation, merely hiding a smile about to form on his face. He looked at his sisters and they seemed to agree with the old man. Ichigo didn't say a word and started looking for her. The background music somehow read his mind in a familiar way…
Fairy tale was gone, my memories run away,
I won't touch them…I'll just see them off…
I said regret mind, I drown in my nostalgia…
If they melt it'll be fine…it'll probably be fine…
Such a sorrowful liar…
On the day a flightless bird sings for freedom…
Let's go look for your figure
that isn't here right now, let's search until the distant future.
Jump to your heart
The glittering dream I chase within this time is
a future where both you and I are together,
I'm sure it'll come true.
My heart dances proudly and strongly,
time is waiting for us, it's calling for us,
"I want to see you now"
Blue Sky, True Sky
Blue Sky that has no need for tears.
Silent days had you, if you lose someone you'll understand.
In time, there will still be love.
I can't call your name, "It won't reach you" I grieved…
Rather than giving up…I'll feel the
flier of the sky's height.
Our wings haven't disappeared, try closing your eyes,
With the hot feelings that seem
to lead me towards you, I
Take off! Myself
The person I search for, even if I'm separated from her,
the awaiting magnetic fore that pulls me in is
destiny!
The wings I spread more and more
try to look for you, they want to catch you and
embrace everything.
Birds eye, birds eye…Hi sky!
True Sky!
The glittering dream I chase within this time is
a future where both you and I are together,
I'm sure it'll come true.
My heart dances proudly and strongly,
time is waiting for us, it's calling for us,
"I want to see you now"
Blue Sky, True Sky
Blue Sky that has no need for tears.
"Rukia!!!"
Damn it, I can't find her. I've looked everywhere. Where could she be? You're always leaving, why can't you stay in one place?! Fool!
"Oi, Ichigo!" He suddenly became attentive despite being tired after all the running. He growled and came to the destination of her loud voice. She was beside a river, preparing for the next event to be done.
At last, he arrived beside her, panting really hard, "Shit Rukia! Why did you do that? Leaving without my permission?" She turned and looked his orange hair, "What?! I don't need you looking out for me! Besides, you should know where I would be since I'm always telling you about the river earlier! It's your fault that you didn't listen, as expected from you!"
Ichigo furrowed his eyebrows even more, "What did you say? And you're saying it's my fault?!" He was about to scream from whatever he's feeling but he just let out a long breath, "You know what, never mind. Do you have them?"
Rukia looked at him with disbelief but ignored it anyway, "Right, uhm… here. What they're for?"
"These are Toro Nagashi. It is a custom during the festival. People send off ancestor's spirits with a paper lantern, lit by a candle inside and floated down a river to the ocean," he answered while preparing the said items. Rukia continuously watched him as he organized everything.
Ichigo and Rukia was on the right side of the river, each carrying their lanterns, while his family went to the other side making sure that they're alone. Ichigo even had the nerve to yell at them as they left him with her there. He didn't seem to care with the other people around him. Rukia, on the other hand, simply ignored it, barely knowing the reason behind it.
As their candles inside the lanterns were lit, they placed it at the water's surface and watched it float further.
"Is it alright that I'm here?"
"Huh?" Ichigo looked at her confusingly.
Her eyes were in deep agony, "I mean, I don't even know if I have ancestors or any such things. I'm not even from this world –"
"Stop that."
Rukia finally stared at him – this time, she was the one who's confused.
"You shouldn't say that, Hell, I don't even know my ancestor but if it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be here. You lived here once, didn't you? And now, you're here again in this world as a human, at least. Just be thankful and enjoy the whole thing for awhile."
Ichigo, behind those words, remembered the moment Rukia left and had gone to Soul Society. His mind had lost the capacity to think. She was fading away into thin air. However, he believes that she had a place here. She was here. That's all that mattered to him. That's why she wanted her back so badly.
"Ah, thank you..." Rukia curled her lips into a sincere smile.
"Tch."
As they walked by the river, they had still managed to see their own lanterns. There was an orange mark on Ichigo's while Rukia had a chappy drawing on it.
"Hmm, they didn't separate," Rukia observed seriously.
"That's quite odd, I know that I floated it a couple of minutes after you…"
Ichigo replied softly, "Maybe they won't."
"Excuse me?"
"Nothing."
"Oh yeah, another thing…" She grabbed a piece of paper and formed a boat with it, then gave one piece of a card to Ichigo. "Here, write your wish or something on it."
He growled. "Why's that?"
"It's your birthday right? Just do it, would you?"
He followed after she said it without complaints. Then, he placed the card to the paper boat and Rukia placed a candle on it firmly so as not to lose balance and lit it. She took a deep breath and said, "Happy Birthday…"
She looked at opposite direction from him and continued, "I know that this isn't an ideal gift but you, letting me participate the Obon festival screwed my original birthday plans; don't ask! Anyway, to put the final touches of my gift to you, please do the honors on letting the boat float on the river with the other lanterns."
That was surprising… nevertheless, He thought.
"You don't beat around the bush, do you? You could've also said it to me straight and not a long speech like that..." Ichigo smiled widely as he took the "gift" and let it float, joining the other lights heading to the ocean. But his expression faded and was transformed into an ache as Rukia punched him on the side.
"Even so, it doesn't really matter. The fact that you are here already is enough. And also, it's not what I expected of you to give to me." He grinned at her.
"What do you mean? What do you want?" She was in a defense position but still rather bewildered.
"This," without further ado, she grabbed her lithe body, placed his hands on her soft cheek and pulled her into a kiss.
Rukia was in a state of shock but did not backed out somehow. They continued kissing each other like there's no tomorrow or the tiny detail that his family could actually be waiting somewhere right now or wondering about their actions. No one cares. Each of them loved every minute, every second, that they kissed each other tenderly, passionately and lovingly, especially Ichigo.
It was the birthday gift ever.