Disclaimer: I would never ever ever ever own Bleach and its characters. If they were mine, Rukia would be with Ichigo by now.
Summary: Ichigo and Rukia are married with two children. But, when one day, Rukia's son, Kaien, asks Rukia for her past, would she allow it? And, her diary is nowhere to be found too.
Notes from author: In the previous chapter, I forgot to put this. Anyway this is my 'N' times trying to write an IchiRuki story. Well, every time I try to write one, I always give up in the middle. Hope this fic can maintain my record. Anyway, enough babbling and let's get started!
Back to Ichigo and Rukia…
Rukia: You are too bold…
Ichigo: They asked me.
Rukia: And, you were not scared I would kill you after that?
Ichigo: You wouldn't bear.
Rukia: Try me.
A comfortable silence immediately formed between them as nobody spoke anything. Just then, Rukia took notice of a bag and tears immediately formed inside her eyes.
Ichigo: You know, it has been a total of 7 years.
Rukia: Yeah, how time flies.
Ichigo: And, you still aren't able to forget him.
Rukia: Urrusai, Strawberry.
Ichigo: WHAT DID YOU CALL ME, MIDGET??
Rukia: WHAT ELSE BUT ICHIGO, STRAWBERRY?? AND, NEVER EVER INSULT MY HEIGHT!!!
Ichigo: I TOLD YOU BEFORE AND I WILL TELL YOU ONCE AGAIN, MY NAME MEANS…
Rukia: 15?
Ichigo: No.
Rukia: Strawberry?
Ichigo: Rukia.
Rukia: All right, I got it. 'The one who protects', right?
Ichigo only nodded his head as an acknowledgement.
Rukia: You know, my name has another meaning too.
Ichigo: HA! AS IF! R-U-K-I-A! THIS NAME HAS ANOTHER MEANING?? DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH MY HEAD OFF!!!
Rukia: WILL YOU LET ME FINISH MY FREAKING SENTENCE BEFORE YOU POST YOUR DAMN AND DUMB COMMENTS???
Ichigo: WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT, MIDGET???
Rukia: I SAID BEFORE, DON'T CALL ME MIDGET!!!
Ichigo smirk to Rukia's display of anger.
Rukia: A ray of light.
Ichigo: What's with the mood swings all of a sudden?
Rukia: None of your business. Anyway, my hidden meaning of my name is 'A ray of light to others'.
Ichigo couldn't help but was amazed by the meaning. It was such a… Beautiful meaning.
Ichigo: The meaning sounds beautiful.
Rukia: It is, isn't it?
Ichigo was silent, knowing that if he were to interrupt at this point of time, Rukia wasn't going to say anything more.
Rukia: Nii-sama told me once, that my name meant 'A ray of light' to others.
Ichigo looked at Rukia closely. It seems that there were tears formed in her eyes now.
Rukia: My name meant 'A ray of light' to others, yet I couldn't even protect him. I feel so useless.
Ichigo: You can't blame yourself. You weren't there for him. He was in the battlefield.
Rukia: But… I…
Ichigo put his arms around Rukia.
Ichigo: Come on, a smile for me?
Rukia smiled.
Rukia: Satisfied?
Ichigo: Yes.
Rukia walked over to the bag and used her smooth fingers to stroke, as if remembering something. Sighing, Ichigo walked over to Rukia and kneeled down beside her.
Ichigo: Look at me.
Rukia did so and looked at Ichigo.
Ichigo: His. Death. Wasn't. Your. Fault.
Rukia: Ichigo, there's no use trying to lie to ourselves, right?
Ichigo: Yeah. And, what's done cannot be undone.
Rukia: But, I couldn't deny the fact that it was me who brought him to his death, right?
Ichigo: Rukia…
Without knowing, Ichigo's face leaned closer to Rukia. Before any of them knew what they were doing, Ichigo's lips landed on Rukia's.
'I ought to feel happy that Ichigo's kissing me. But, why do I not feel so? Is it because…'
Ichigo: Rukia?
Without thinking, Rukia pushed Ichigo off her.
Rukia: Gotta go check on Kaien and Masaki now.
And Rukia stood up hurriedly and left the room. Before closing the door, she spoke.
Rukia: And, I know where my diary has gone to.
And, the door closed, leaving Ichigo to wonder about what the hell did Rukia meant.
Meanwhile…
Rukia opened the door of Masaki and Kaien's room, hoping to find them asleep. Indeed, they were asleep. She smiled and closed the door when Kaien stirred.
Kaien: Mummy?
Rukia: Kaien, did I wake you up?
Kaien: No, Mummy. I felt your presence, that's why I woke up.
Rukia: Good. Now, get back to sleep.
Kaien: Hai.
When Rukia turned to leave their room, Kaien called to her.
Kaien: Mummy.
Rukia: Hai?
Kaien: I want a bedtime song.
Rukia: Bedtime song?
Kaien nodded his head eagerly.
Rukia: I'm not good at singing songs, you know, Kaien.
Kaien: But, Mummy, You were a singer, right?
Rukia: I'm going to kill Daddy for giving you the diary.
Kaien pouted and Rukia smiled.
Rukia: I'm joking.
Kaien: So, about the bedtime song…
Rukia gave up on convincing her son not to let her sing.
Rukia: All right, what song do you want to hear?
Kaien pondered for a moment.
Kaien: The song which you sang to Daddy.
Rukia: How did you know about that song?
Kaien: I just know.
Rukia pouted at her son's mysteries.
Kaien: Mummy?
Rukia: Yes, Kaien?
Kaien: Why did you name me Kaien?
Rukia flinched upon hearing Kaien asking her that.
Kaien: Mummy?
Rukia: Kaien, it isn't important why we named you Kaien, right?
Kaien: But…
Rukia: Come on, I will sing the song and you sleep after that, okay?
Not to upset his mother any further, Kaien didn't talk anymore but nodded his head.
Hontou no tsuyosa wo, mitsumeru yowasa ni
Hibiku subete wo misukasu koe
Shizunda keshiki wo, kono sode de nugui
Koe wo nazotte, arukidashita
Rukia looked down only to find Kaien sleeping. She smiled a weak smile and and put Kaien back in his bed before walking back to her own room.
'Should I get the diary back from Kaien?' Rukia thought in her mind before finally closing the door and making her way back to her own room.
Unknown to Rukia and Ichigo, both Masaki and Kaien had a glance of their parents' past.
Ending note from author: I'm really glad that someone added this story to their favourites. At least that's a start... Well, I guess one step at a time then... So, remember to R&R!!!
