A/N: All I just want to say is a big THANK YOU for the reviews! 25 reviews in the first chapter - you seriously have no idea what that does to my FF author heart! I didn't think that my story would get so much attention - so thank you to ALL who reviewed! I read each and everyone of them guys~ *glomps*
A big thanks to all: zero09q, Thornspike, Saverina, MockingBirdxSxG, Kia'a, Anya x2, vivian, Sasha, Titania, Lady Scarlet, zombiegirl22, Juvenilliare, allylalina, garu23(twice!), (another! xD) Anya, soinlovewithbleach, Hef'Rani, xwhitemoonx, cAprEe, SexYNaughHTyBIchYmE, BITCH OF LOVE, Ashezo 3 aaaand last but not least, iLOVE and to any others that I have missed on here - CHEERS!
Your comments and reviews were extremely motivating. So thank you ALL and to those who read but didn't review - it means alot!
Anyways, carring on, Chapter One is down and posted and onwards to Chapter Two! *twirls* I'd like to give you guys a heads up.
So, Under the Red Umbrella will still have the main Bleach themes in it. For example, Shunpo, Kido and all other forms of Shinigami fighting techniques are present. Reiatsu is also something that is common with a lot of the people in this story, but like Bleach, not all people have the ability to use it. We still have the Gotei 13, Soul Society (though we won't interact/see them until we go through a few more chapters). Zanpukoto's and Bankai's still exist. All the works.
I also really want to express the interaction between Orihime and Rukia as sisters. Some of you were finding that Orihime was suspicious about Ichigo and Rukia in Chapter One and I would like to point out that I apologize as an author that I gave you that idea. So far, and will be for a while, Orihime will not know anything in the slightest about Rukia and Ichigo's relationship. That F-bomb won't be dropped in the mean time.
I noticed in most reviews that you asked if Ichigo was a two-timer. Again, I apologize. That was not my intention to write it that way either. Of course, Ichigo was going to get close to Rukia because A) it's a Ichiruki story ;) and B) he never knew that Rukia was Orihime's sister. Hence why he pretty much exited left of stage when Rukia went to her room. He actually felt extremely -
Wait.
You'll just have to read on to find out ;) fufufu
|future apologies for grammatical|awkward wording|mispelling stuff|
|||Song of the Chapter Live for What I'd Die For, by Jess Mills. Haven't heard of it? LISTEN ON YOUTUBE THEN DOWNLOAD LEGALLY SO I DON'T GET SUED FOR TELLING YOU GUYS THE WRONG THING|||
Keep calm and Ichiruki ❤
"Throughout life you will meet that one person who is unlike any other.
You will be able to talk to this person for hours and never get bored.
You will be able to tell them things and they will never judge you.
This person is your best friend, your soul mate.
Never let them go."
-Anonymous
2
The next morning when Rukia woke up, the first image in her mind was Ichigo.
She got up and dressed for school. Yellow pleated skirt and tie with a cotton short-sleeved, white shirt. She combed out her hair and brushed her teeth. Her eyes were slightly puffy and pink, so she dabbed a little concealer to hide what the sleepless night had given her. Flattening out her perfectly creased skirt, she threw on her black tights and slipped on her school shoes.
She tried her best to avoid Orihime that morning. In fact, she didn't even look at her at all, who called merrily after her, "have a good day at school, Rukia!"
Rukia took the bus to school. She sat quietly in the back row, staring unseeingly out the window.
Their noses touched and his warm, sweet breath fanned over her lips. His hair prickled her cheeks as curious fingers moved to grip her arms gently. His touch set her skin on fire, mesmerizing and tantalizing. He had the grip of a man but the caress of a lover. Rukia's eyes slowly closed as he nudged his nose playfully against hers before leaning lower and-
The bus pulled into the shelter and Rukia got up, gripping the back of a seat as she waited for the back doors to open. She lifted her hand up to the driver in the rear-view mirror and gestured a silent 'thank you' before stepping out. A few other students from her school got off too, chatting as they stepped off behind her. Rukia huffed and mentally prepared herself for boring classes, teachers and subjects. And break times that consisted of lighthearted jokes and plans for the weekends.
Yesterday Rukia had met Ichigo.
She walked the two blocks alone to school, headphones in and eyes down.
"Rukia." He repeated, his smile widening as he started to like the way her name rolled off his tongue. It just felt…right. His bronze eyes were now liquid gold, filling Rukia with hope and desire. He nodded once, to himself as he gazed back to the horizon in front of them. "Your name suits you."
She reached the large iron gates of her school. It wasn't the greatest school, but it was the only high school that Karakura had, so it was very large. There were more than two thousand students that attended the institute, which meant everyone knew everyone by their names. The city did have several junior highs, spread around in the four main districts of Karakura. Orihime and her college friends attended the Karakura University across the road.
You would've thought with a school that had so many students that Rukia would have more friends.
She wasn't a charity case; she wasn't friendless because everyone suddenly made her the school outcast. Rukia knew plenty of people. But she was also far from being popular. Out off all the people she knew, only a select few were her close friends. Yet even out of that circle, she had her best friend, Momo Hinamori.
She walked along the large school grounds of freshly cut lawn, outlined by several large willow trees. The school itself had very well kept gardens. On the left wing, they even had a Green house. Behind the building were the gym and the racetrack.
Students mingled in the grounds before classes started every morning. Most of them just went to their designated homerooms but because the weather was so nice the majority stayed outside. She recognized faces and raised her hand back to those who waved at her.
"RUUUUKEEEEEAAAAAH!"
There was a flash of a uniform before Rukia was tackled sideways onto the path. Staggering, she gripped the cotton sleeve of her attacker to keep her balance. If she was going to fall, she will be taking them down with her.
But they remained upright and Rukia took her chance to look sideways. She couldn't help but to chuckle, taking an earphone out. "Good morning, Momo."
"Morning!" Momo replied in a singsong voice, releasing Rukia's body from her death grip and looping their arms together. "Funniest thing happened this morning. I was trying to look for you and all I see was this black cloud! So I followed it and behold my amazed eyes, there you were!" She plucked Rukia's iPod from her hand and placed the spare earplug in her ear. She nodded to the beat absent-mindedly. "Mmm. I know this… it's 'Live for What I'd Die For' by that Jess chick. Good song~!"
"It's Jess Mills," Rukia conversed. They headed towards the stairs arm in arm. Momo exchanged waves to a group of girls standing on the bottom steps. Rukia added stiffly, "and I don't have a black cloud over my head."
Momo was only half-listening. "Whatever you say," she replied offhandedly. She tugged Rukia's arm lightly and added, "Oh! Did you do the homework sensei asked for us to do over the weekend?"
They side-stepped a group walking down the steps. Yes." Rukia sneaked a peek at Momo. "…Please tell me you did too."
"Ah…" Momo looked away sheepishly. Her eyes fixated on something down the hall. Rukia clicked her fingers impatiently for her friend to answer.
"Momo. You did remember, right?"
"O-Of course I did!" She gave a belt of awkward laughter and she slapped Rukia lightly on the arm. "You're so funny, Rukia. I swear you come out with the funniest things…"
Rukia looked away. "Alright. But it's not my ass that's gonna be grilled by sensei."
Momo paled and swallowed thickly. She squeezed Rukia's arm to herself. "She – she wouldn't do that!"
"Oh, I don't know…" Rukia continued, casually waving her hand around to make her point melodramatic. "Didn't you hear she writes the names of any of the students that didn't do their homework on the 'Blackboard of Shame'?"
They glided through the sea of students in the corridor with ease. Momo, horrified, scrunched her face up. She turned to her best friend and pleaded with large saucer-like eyes. She gripped both her hands together in front of her face, never unlinking their arms, as if she was praying. "Not the board of shame! Okay, I didn't do it! I was super busy with work and my boss made me work overtime-"
Rukia couldn't help but to laugh. "Momo, you don't have a job."
Her face turned from white to red as quickly as the change of a traffic light. "Y-You know how busy I am over the weekends!"
"Yes. I'm sure being lazy is a really, really hard thing to do. I just don't know how you do it~"
Knowing she was getting teased, Momo sniffed sourly, "It's my head on the chopping board, Rukes. Fine. Don't care that I'm going to suffer! I hope you feel really guilty when you look at the Blackboard of Shame!"
Rukia broke out into a fit of laughter. Momo stopped walking, instantly confused. "What?" she cried out. "What did I do?"
Catching her breath, she replied, "Momo, there's no such thing as the 'Blackboard of Shame'. I made it up." She chuckled and shook her head, sighing happily. "Did you seriously believe that there was such a thing?"
Beet-rood red and unable to think straight Momo stammered, "Sh-shut up!" And gave Rukia's arm a deserving pinch.
"Ouch! You're such a child, Momo!" Rukia complained, rubbing her arm. She gave Momo a look before turning her nose into the air.
"Rukia! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Momo apologized quickly, "Please forgive me, 'kay?" She rubbed the spot where she pinched Rukia tenderly. She hated it when Rukia didn't talk to her! They were best friends! "I'm sorry for hurting you, Rukia!"
Rukia smiled and gave Momo's moving hand a small pat. Her eyes softened. "Baka, I was just kidding also."
They arrived at Momo's locker first.
The brunette unwound herself from Rukia's side and started to swivel the metal digits on her lock to their opening combination. Rukia stood behind her, hands wrapped around the thick strap of her bag as she waited for her. Morning light streamed through the windows and warmed her back. "So…apart from not doing anything. Did you do anything over the weekend?"
Momo gave Rukia a mock scowl as she unlocked her locker and opened the metal door. A knowing smirk brushed over her pretty features, "Oh, same old, same old. I just happened to meet a guy."
"Oh," Rukia raised a small raven brow, matching Momo's mischievous smirk with her own. "Details, Momo."
Her friend sighed, grabbing her textbook and spiral notepad. "I met him at the park, actually..."
She closed her locker and they made their way through the crowd again, heading towards Rukia's locker around the corner. Momo was just about to open her mouth when a female shriek and a bang resonated in the hall ahead.
One second everyone was minding their own business, then the next, Rukia and Momo were getting pushed and shoved out of the way as students raced past them to assemble at the end of the hall. People cried out, shrinking into the lockers. Other's stayed back trying to peek from a distance. But most ran past with big, fat grins on their faces and shouted tauntingly for others to follow, "a fight! A fight!"
Rukia and Momo spared a glance before they ran down the hall.
It was in those few seconds that the corridors were blocked off either side. The crowd was so thick and restless that no matter how hard the teachers tried to shove through the gathering, none succeeded. Both sides thickened as more students arrived from outside. The corridor was filled noisily with shouting. Rukia couldn't believe it, they were actually rooting for the fight! Without a second thought, she took her bag off and flung her iPod to panic-stricken Momo. "Stay here," she said in a tone that meant no arguing.
"Wait! Rukia!"
Rukia tried to squeeze through the crowd but was instantly pushed back. A few students turned and glared at her, as if she was disturbing their entertainment! There was no other way. She gritted her teeth and dived down through the sea of legs.
She was bumped and pushed as she crawled on her hands and feet through the crowd. More than a few times her hands got stood on. She was pretty sure that she tripped over half a dozen pairs of legs. Some students tried to move out of her way, other's just complained. Rukia dodged and squeeze through as fast as she could, her tiny body whizzing through the forest of legs.
Momo was panicking, bouncing up and down on her feet as she lost sight of her friend. She could of gotten herself trampled on! Momo tried to follow Rukia, but the ring of students on the outside pushed her back. "Rukia!" Momo knelt down, trying hard to find her best friend. "Rukia!"
Hands red and scraped, from shoe marks and kicks, Rukia finally made her way to the front of the crowd. She wriggled herself up and gasped in horror.
All around her, where the jeering was heard loudest were students with their phones out. Some belted out hoots and other's spat insults as they pushed each other around to try and get a better angle. A tenth grade boy snapped at Rukia for being in his way and pushed her head to the side so he could get a better view with his phone. Rukia was about to knee him in the crutch and tell him to 'go fuck himself' when a distressed cry rose in front of her.
The fight was between two girls. Both had mascara running down their faces, their hair torn out of their ponytails. Shirts were ripped and neckties were pulled loose. One girl was on the floor, holding her face – obviously the one that was losing the fight. The buttons on her shirt had been ripped apart, exposing her black lacy bra to the crowd of savage eyes. One of her long pink pony tales had been almost pulled out of her head, with a clump of pink hair left on the floor in front of her.
The other girl was standing above her, a victorious smirk on her smeared lip-gloss lips. Down the length of her cheek was four red claw marks from where the other had scratched her. Long, blond hair hung loosely in a lop-sided ponytail as she bore her eyes hungrily to the girl on the floor, her chest heaving. In her left hand, a small spark of pink Reiatsu warped in her open palm.
"Serves you right you whore!" she screeched and gave a heavy kick to the girl's side, flashing her white panties to the crowd. Boys roared into cheers as they eagerly pushed their phones forward into the ring. Hearing the sound of ovations from the crowd the blond-hair girl grinned.
"Y-you bitch!" hissed the pink-haired girl, squirming in pain on the floor. Her voice was broken and desperate. She clutched the side of her stomach. There were burns to her abdominal from where the blonde's Reiatsu had hit her. The blond haired girl glared down at her.
"What the fuck did you call me?" she shouted and swung to kick her again. The crowd cheered. She began to kick harder, her face turning feral. The girl on the floor cried out but was drowned by the cheers.
"Holy shit! Look at her ass!"
"Fight her! Kick her HARDER!"
"Look at these two sluts go at each other!"
"KICK HER FACE IN!"
The blond was about to give one devastating kick to the girls crumpled face when she was suddenly shoved back in retaliation.
Rukia stood in between the two, her arms spread out to her sides as she stood protectively over the girl on the floor. "That's enough!"
The blond stumbled back in surprise and quickly caught her footing. She glared at Rukia with eyes that could burn. Her Reiatsu was flickering and uneven. "Who the fuck are you?"
Rukia wasn't the least bit intimidated. The girl may have been a head taller than her, but she wasn't scared. She met the gaze with equal force – if not more threatening and with her own Reiatsu to match. "This fight ends now."
Behind her the pink-haired girl cowered on the floor, sobbing quietly in pain as she clutched her ribs. The crowd went quiet as the two girls stared each other down, the excitement heightening. Whispers began to circulate around them.
"…who's she?"
"…that's the Rukia girl from Class B3…"
"…what's she doing in there?"
The girl's eyes flickered up and down Rukia's physique, assessing her chances to winning against the newcomer. She smirked, her calculations done. "Move before I break yourbody next, dwarf."
Rukia's eyes hardened. The crowd was restless and began throwing insults. This time, projected towards Rukia. Rukia ignored them and remained cold and indifferent, "I don't know what happened, but the fight between you two ends now."
The girl laughed. "What the fuck?" Her hands tensed into talons, wanting to slap Rukia across the face. "This has nothing to fucking do with you! Move outta the way so I can kill that slut!"
The pink-haired girl behind Rukia finally spoke up. "Shut it, bitch…" she gasped in pain, her eyes hidden under her choppy pains. "You're the one who's the slut in this story. You went after my boyfriend… D-didn't anyone tell you it's rude to go back for seconds, dog?"
Blinded by rage at the girls taunt, the blond-haired girl dodged forward, claws out. Rukia immediately shadowed her action and sidestepped to block her. The blond whipped her crying blue eyes to Rukia and hissed, "MOVE BITCH!"
She swung her hand at her but Rukia dodged. Rukia then wrapped her arms around her waist and tackled her backwards. She tightened her grip around the torso and twisted her leg around to snag the back of her knees. With a sharp jab of her hand to the gut, the blond doubled over. Rukia swiped her leg under the blonde's body and the girl came crashing down to the floor, winded.
The fight was over before anyone could say anything. Rukia straightened herself out.
The crowd was silent as everyone stared on in disbelief. One of the males eventually broke the silence, "Holy shit, did you just see that? She got her in that one move without using any Reiatsu!"
The blond was gasping, trying to regain her breath in her paralyzed lungs. She coughed and squirmed, but remained pinned to the floor, defeated. Rukia walked up to her slowly, her eyes ice cold.
"S-shit…" the blond rasped, panicking. "I – I can't b-breathe!"
Rukia rolled her eyes. "Don't be dramatic. You're merely winded. Try not to speak otherwise recovery time will take longer."
She turned and walked away from the blonde. Feeling the spirit of the fight quickly end, students began to part ways. Some stayed, still staring at the scene in front of them as if they couldn't believe their eyes…or hoping the blonde would get up and start the fight again. But she didn't. In tears, her clique ran to their fallen friend one calling out to a teacher.
Rukia approached the pink-haired girl who managed to prop herself up on the lockers. She was bent forward in pain. Rukia was going to ask if she was alright, but at that time, Momo and several teachers raced to the scene.
"Rukia! Rukia! Are you alright?" Momo gasped, quickly searching her friend for any signs of injury. Her eyes fell on Rukia's swollen hands and panicked. "Oh my god, Rukia-"
"It's fine," Rukia told her as the crowd dissipated to their respective classes. Several students were getting their phones confiscated off them. Teachers shouted at teenagers to leave the scene immediately. She flexed her small hands and flinched at the pain that shot up her arms. She looked away, hoping her best friend didn't notice, but Momo was even more alarmed.
"Rukia, you need to go to the nurses office!"
"It's fine, Momo!" Rukia sighed.
"No, it's not!" Momo huffed and grabbed Rukia's wrist, dragging her to the nurse's quarters. Rukia's eyes darted back as she saw a couple of teachers flock to aid both of the girls. She stumbled but her reluctance turned into tolerance as they walked. Momo dropped her grip when she felt Rukia following. The two walked together down the hall, receiving stares as they went.
Rukia scowled as she watched students look at her then quickly away. And so the wheels of the rumor wagon had already began to turn. If rumors spread like fire, then gossip spread like lightning. She caught a group of girls huddled around a friend's phone – obviously watching footage from the fight. Rukia suddenly wanted to grab that phone and snap it in half.
"Holy shit," Rukia breathed after receiving a mixture of looks. Some were wary, some smirked. Other's just turned their backs and begun whispering, which pissed Rukia off even more. She wanted to demand what their problem was but didn't want to draw more attention to herself. She just needed to get to the nurses office as quickly as she could and forget that this morning ever happened.
"It passed through the school quickly," Momo commented cagily. She peeked over at her friend.
Rukia just shook it off. "Whatever. Let's get this nurse business done with."
It didn't take very long for the gossip to spread. By the time it was lunch break, almost everyone knew about the fight that happened that morning. And if you were the few students that didn't know, then you were either told or secretly shown the footage. Even all the teachers knew about it. The principal himself had made an announcement over the speakers during second period that fighting in the halls is absolutely out of bounds and any student caught in the act of fighting would be immediately suspended.
But that never stopped the students from talking about it.
The fight was even sent to a small amount of students who attended the university across the road and no later everyone over there at least had a copy of the fight on their phone. Teachers were almost pulling their hair out of their heads, trying to get the footage under control but soon gave up. Like it was the word of God, it spread to almost half the population of Karakura by lunchtime.
Rukia was trying to eat her bento box but the bandages that the nurse wrapped her hands in were stiff and thick and gave her no flexibility to use her chopsticks. Her group sat under the large willow tree next to the school gate. Rukia was constantly being bugged by everyone for the details of the fight. Notes had been passed to her in class, with questions or endorsements. She was sick of it already.
"Rukia! Seriously! Tell us what happened!"
"I can't believe that Rukia Inoue actually knocked that bitch on her ass! She deserved it!"
"Woohoo, Rukia-chan! I didn't know you could fight like that!"
Rukia was too busy trying to use her chopsticks to even bother listening to them all. She bent over her bento but eventually gave up before one of her friends interrupted her, "hey, Rukia! Show us your hands!"
If she knew she was going to be harassed all day, she wouldn't have bothered breaking up the fight. Not true, you still would have. Annoyed, but keeping her tone polite, she replied, "you can already see my hands from over there, Chizuru-san."
After receiving pouts and disappointed looks, Rukia sighed, irritated and raised both her tiny hands – now wrapped by thin, white, hospital bandages to her friends. That started up her friends again. Rukia quickly dropped her hands, wishing she could be left alone. She hated being in the spot light. It made her feel uncomfortable.
"Woah! That's so cool!"
"Ohmigod guys! Did you totally see the move she made on Kira-san? Rukia's a fucking ninja!"
Rukia's jaw ticked and she pouted down at her bento box. She just wanted to eat, but it was impossible to eat with all these questions and her bandaged hands. Defeated, she closed the lid on her untouched lunch. "I need a break," she murmured to Momo about to leave
"RUKIA!"
Rukia's heart almost dropped out of her chest as she heard her name being called. A familiar Reiatsu prodded hers. Before she could stand up or respond, Orihime tackled her to the ground from behind.
"Ack! Hime!" Rukia cried in embarrassment, wincing as her face squirmed in the grass with her sister on top of her. Several students in the group recognized the older sister and chimed in a greeting. Rukia clawed at the grass. "Hime! I c-can't breathe-"
Orihime pushed herself onto her knees beside Rukia. She was about to question what she was doing here, but Orihime pulled back, rubbing the tears that fell from her eyes with her back of her hand. Rukia suddenly stopped feeling mad. She was suddenly concerned. "R-Rukia I saw what happened-" stuttered Orihime.
Oh no. Not you too.
Rukia's eyes softened at her upset sister. She lifted her hand to rest gently on her shaking shoulders, "Hime, it's really not that bad-"
Orihime pulled Rukia's hand off her shoulder and looked at it for a moment, her eyes watering up again. She flipped Rukia's bandaged hand over and back again, like she didn't believe her eyes. "Oh, Rukia! Your hands…" she said with a wobbly voice.
"…are fine," Rukia finished, gently tugging her sore hands from her sister's grip. She rested one on Orihime's thigh and patted it soothingly. She looked up behind Orihime to see two of her university friends standing awkwardly behind them.
One was Tatsuki, Orihime's child-hood friend. She was dressed in shorts and a singlet with white canvas shoes to match the attire. Her ebony mullet ruffled in the breeze, choppy bangs tickling her elfish features. She nodded her head to Rukia in greeting, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Heard about the fight, kiddo. Apparently you clocked a good one on her."
Rukia smirked. Classic Tatsuki. "It was really beginners luck."
Tatsuki rolled her eyes at her modesty. "Psht. I saw the footage, Rukes. You totally knew what you were doing."
Rukia chuckled, shrugging. "Each to their own."
"You're way too humble like your sister."
Rukia's eyes gazed over to Orihime's other friend. Her stomach curled inside of her, twisting angrily. She tensed and narrowed her eyes slightly as she stared coldly up at Asano Keigo.
Tatsuki looked over at Keigo. "He tells the truth," she agreed reluctantly noticing the hostility Rukia gave to Asano. She cleared her throat and looked away.
But Keigo was indifferent to Rukia's antagonizing gaze and controlled Reiatsu. He just smiled and waved politely as if none of her pride mattered to him. "Hey, long time no see Rukia!"
"Keigo," Rukia acknowledged rigidly.
He chuckled and leant down behind her, ruffling Rukia's hair, knowing it would piss her off. She immediately stiffened under his hand and he laughed at her reaction. "Geez. Still have a heart of stone!" he teased.
It was when Orihime interrupted them. "Oh!" she brightened considerably when she remembered something. She pointed between Rukia and Keigo. "You two should go out!"
Rukia's face reddened in horror. Keigo's mouth opened slightly so he looked like a gaping fish. Everyone in their group was staring at the three of them. "Yeah!" Orihime clasped her hands together, unaware of Rukia's desperation. "I know the perfect place! There's a little café just a few blocks from here-"
Stop talking. Right now.
Orihime grinned ear to ear joyously. "-it's called 'Echo'! I heard that the food is really good there~"
Rukia's eyes burned into her sister. Her hands were fists in her lap.
"-What do you say? Seven-thirty this Friday?" Orihime asked politely to Keigo. He was speechless for a moment, collecting his thoughts. Apparently Orihime's idea of going out with Rukia was something they never talked about. Yeah, Orihime knew Keigo had a thing for her younger sister, but dating her, he never dreamed of it! Of course, he would skip the whole dating thing and rather fuck her sister in the back of his car, but Orihime didn't have to know that. He smiled warmly at Orihime, heavily patting Rukia's head like she was a dog. If that's all he had to do to get between Rukia's legs – count him in. "Yeah. I heard about that place. I think that's a good idea, Orihime-chan."
"Brilliant, Asano-san!" Orihime beamed at him, then turned to her sister. "Well, Rukia-chan? What do you think?"
She was staring at Rukia with such big puppy eyes – how could she say no? She hated knowing that she would let her sister down. She was cracking under pressure with all the stares she was getting. "Yeah…" Rukia replied through gritted teeth, her features stone-like. "Brilliant."
A teacher observing the grounds noticed the College students under the tree. With a shout, they hurried over to kick them out.
"Damn, witch," muttered Tatsuki darkly. They weren't allowed on the grounds during school hours and always got an earful whenever they were caught. She wasn't in the mood to have a 'chat' with one of the teachers. "C'mon, Hime. Asano. Time to leave."
Orihime pouted. Her time with her sister was cut drastically. She sat up hesitantly, wishing she could go on about the date. Guess I'll have to wait until Rukia gets home. "Alright, Tatsuki. I've got to go, Rukia. I'll see you tonight and then we can discuss the arrangements!"
"Later, Rukia-chan," Keigo murmured smoothly. He stood up and dusted the knees of his jeans before standing alongside Orihime and Tatsuki. "Guess I'll see you Friday."
The three of them fled the scene before the teacher made it to their tree. Tatsuki had managed to poke her tongue out at them across the street. The teacher scowled at them, the scowled at Rukia before departing and muttering under their breath. When they disappeared, everyone erupted into fits of laughter.
Rukia groaned and threw her head in her hands.
The last bell finally ended classes that afternoon. The school resonated with chairs scraping back along the tiles and students chattering. Rukia got up from her seat and closed her textbooks. She sighed, carefully putting her volumes in her bag. Momo quickly appeared at her side, helping Rukia pack up.
Rukia smiled tiredly at her friend, "thanks, Momo."
She just shrugged. "It's been a long day, let's walk home together."
They departed from the classroom and walked their way through the afternoon rush in the halls. Rukia didn't have to go to her locker, after all, the only homework she had was history and that was last period. They walked out of the school grounds, ignoring the looks and cat-calls from other students. Rukia rubbed her temples stiffly.
"You want to grab a bite somewhere?" Momo offered. "Ice cream?"
Instantly Ichigo's face flashed through Rukia's mind. "No. Not really."
Momo looked slightly crestfallen as they continued walking down the block. The sun inked the sky in dusty gold and blues. Soon students began to scatter to their respective ways home. Momo glanced at her best friend. "Are you sure?"
Rukia nodded and lifted her head to the sky so she could trace the clouds with her violet orbs. "Yeah. I'm really tired. I haven't been sleeping properly in the past couple of days."
"Yet you still manage to get your homework done on time," Momo commented wistfully. The two girls shared a look and laughed lightly.
"It's called 'time management'. You should try it sometime."
"Hmm, I heard it's called "Brown Nose' Syndrome. You should go see a doctor."
"Fuck you."
"Please, don't flatter me," Momo replied sarcastically. The two girls giggled again.
They stopped at the corner of the block, ready to part ways. Momo glanced nervously around. "You sure you don't want me to come with you?" she asked Rukia quietly.
Rukia smirked. "I can hold my own."
Momo sighed, "touché, dear Rukia. Touché."
The hugged each other and departed. Rukia watched Momo as she crossed the street towards the subway, waving to Rukia. She smiled warmly and waved back at her best friend before heading over one more block to her bus stop.
She took out her phone and looked at the time. She sighed. Yep. She missed her bus. Defeated, she placed her phone back in her bag and dawdled towards the shelter. She turned the corner of the block, her eyes following as a car drove past her.
Waiting at her bus stop was none other than Ichigo.
When Rukia saw him, she instantly smiled. She had to stop walking to actually get her bearings right. It wasn't until he grinned back did she find the courage to walk up to him.
He was donned in his Captain's uniform, propping himself from the bus shelter with his hands in his pants pockets as Rukia approached him.
Rukia craned her head up to him and asked with a knowing smirk, "Are you…stalking me?"
That deserved a laugh and her afternoon brightened significantly. Ichigo pulled out one of his hands, balled it into a fist and playfully nudged her forehead with his knuckles. "Tch, don't flatter yourself, midget."
Rukia rubbed her brow with the back of her hand and pouted, "you still didn't say why you're here."
She dropped her hand and looked up at him only to meet his carefree gaze. "I'm here to escort you home."
"Are you sure you're not waiting for my sister, instead?" Rukia asked carefully, making sure her tone remained even.
Ichigo's gaze moved to the street around them. Satisfied with their privacy, with the exception of passing cars and a couple walking across the street the other way, he gave her a halfhearted smile. "Your sister, Orihime…she finishes her classes at lunch on Mondays, doesn't she? No. I'm not here for her. I was waiting for you."
Rukia's heart was hammering in her chest as she followed Ichigo's gaze. When they turned back to her, they were warm and welcoming. "Well you definitely sound like a professional stalker," she replied thickly, adjusting the bag strap higher on her shoulder. Ichigo shrugged.
She looked over at the bus shelter and sighed. I've missed the last bus out of here. "The walk home is eleven blocks away – and that's passing through the park."
"Well let's get going then before Orihime starts freaking out."
He began to walk down the street. It wasn't until he noticed Rukia wasn't following him did he turn around, confused. "What is it, Rukia?"
She hesitated. She knew she would be sounding like an idiot, but she didn't want to force this pain on herself if she avoided asking it. She made sure that her eyes didn't give away what she was feeling inside. Her hands tightened on the strap of her bag, wincing as her bandaged hands stung. "Kurosaki Ichigo…can I trust you?"
The silence was short. A summer breeze passed between them. His confusion settled down into a light scowl, his face absent from any mischievous grins or wicked eyes. In a serious tone, he replied, "of course you can, midget."
She studied him hard to see if he was lying but Ichigo remained passive and thoughtful. She was anticipating for him to comically burst out in laughter and point at her saying, 'I got you good, didn't I?' But instead Ichigo walked up to her, so the distance didn't bother both of them and said in a very low voice, "Rukia, you can trust me. I swear I wouldn't do anything that you didn't want me to."
She was shocked at his promise. It rattled her soul to the very core because she believed him. Rukia instantly knew that Ichigo wasn't like any other boy that she met. He was special – a flame in the dark that gave Rukia the sight that was rarely given to anyone.
She pulled back and chuckled nervously, breaking the thick tension of his gaze as she said, "I believe you, idiot."
He smiled; gratified that Rukia had made up her mind to trust him. The last thing he wanted was to make her scared of him. "Come on, let's get going."
They walked together side by side on the pathway in silence for a few minutes. Rukia was chewing the inside of her bottom lip, trying to think of ways to start up a conversation. They crossed the road together and received a few stares. Ichigo was unaware of it all while Rukia took in everything that happened around him.
She wanted to ask him about Orihime.
They neared the park when Ichigo finally decided to speak first. His gaze remained straight ahead with a scowl to match. "What happened to your hands, Rukia?"
She felt like an idiot when she looked at her hands. The tone of his voice almost made her want to hide them. "It's nothing."
"It doesn't look like 'nothing'."
She sighed. "I broke up a fight at school today."
"Eh?" Ichigo was taken aback. Rukia couldn't help but to smirk.
"Not the cliché teenage delinquent you thought I was?" She snickered, amused at his expression. She puffed out her chest proudly.
His tone remained smooth, though his lips curled upwards. "I never knew you were such a badass, midget. Already breaking up fights in high school. You would make a good Shinigami."
She was going to retort to his 'midget' comment but stumbled when he complimented her. Her cheeks reddened – slightly. "It wasn't… I mean I didn't get this-" she rose her hands up in front of her. "- From the fight. I, uh, I got trampled on…" she replied sheepishly.
Ichigo burst into uncontrollable laughter, sending several looks from the inhabitants of the park their way. Rukia's face went fire truck red as she spluttered, "idiot! How else was I meant to stop the fight? I couldn't go any other way through! Those assholes were just standing there!"
Ichigo tried to calm himself, even though he was on the verge of another way of hysterics. "Okay, okay." He took in deep breaths, snorted and belted out another laugh.
Rukia was pissed. If she wasn't in jeopardy of hurting herself, she would be pummeling his ass into the ground. All she could do was growl beside him, her arms twitching to wrap around his neck. "Asshole," she hissed and stalked off.
"Wait! Wait, Rukia," Ichigo appeared beside her in a flash, face flush from joviality. She gave him a look and turned her nose up, ignoring him. How she wanted to wipe that damn smile off his face!
He caught up with her easily again. "Hey, hey, hey. I'm sorry. I struck a nerve. I didn't mean it, Rukia. It was just…the way you said how you got your hands that way…"
"You're digging a bigger hole for yourself, Kurosaki," Rukia snapped.
"I'm sorry! Look, I won't mention it again. It would've hurt," he replied, taking a step in front of her. Seeing the upset look on her face – or the way she avoided looking at him, he did the only thing that he thought was logical. Ichigo hugged her.
Rukia instantly stiffened. To be suddenly engulfed by him, by his arms, by his scent, by his will, was overwhelming. The warmth of his jacket pressed lightly against her cheek as she swelled against his rock-hard chest. His arms encased her body protectively, strong and firm. And his wild Reiatsu. It was like tea and earth combined with a hint of something dark. Rukia's eyes almost rolled into the back of her head.
He bent his head down, so his mouth was nearly muffled by the top her raven locks. "I'm proud of you, Rukia. Not a lot of people would do what you did in that type of situation."
She closed her eyes, her bandaged hands inching towards his jacket.
They stayed like that for a moment. Seconds, minutes, hours. They didn't care. The night would have passed and they wouldn't have minded. They didn't hear the distant sounds of birdcalls or traffic. They didn't notice how the summer air was cooling slowly or that the sky was giving birth to twilight stars. In the shadow of the willow tree, Rukia thought she just didn't care.
His mouth touched the top of her head and then reluctantly pulled away. Rukia's eyes blinked open as the warm breeze rushed over her hot face. She glared at the ground in front of her, jolting up when she felt Ichigo wrap his hand gently around her wrist.
He tugged her gently to follow and Rukia's legs jerked to trail his. He took them to one of the park benches, hidden from wandering eyes along a small trail. He coaxed her to sit, and sit she reluctantly did. She looked up at him in question as he helped her take her school bag off. "What are you doing…"
He ignored her and sat down next to her on the bench. Rukia watched in wonder as he unzipped her bag and began ransacking. Curious, she leant over, their knees brushing. "Idiot, what are you looking for?"
He pulled out her untouched bento box and opened the lid. "As I thought," he murmured to himself and Rukia blushed. He slid her bag under the bench and pulled out Rukia's chopsticks (which she blushed even more because they had little Chappy heads on the top of them) indifferently. He took out a piece of food from the Bento between the Chappy chopsticks and asked, "Open up."
Rukia was now beyond red with embarrassment – her hands were trembling. "I-it's okay…" she pathetically stammered. Oh God. I can't do this.
Ichigo gave her an unintentional sexy smile. "Please, Rukia, I know you're starving. Open your mouth."
The food was hovering inches from her face. Unable to talk, she complied. She opened her mouth wide enough for Ichigo to slide the chopsticks in. She closed her mouth over the rice ball, teeth biting gently down on the chopsticks as Ichigo pulled them out gradually. She chewed, savoring the taste and swallowed hungrily as Ichigo got another piece and held it on front of her. She leaned over and took it more confidently. She moaned and closed her eyes. Ichigo smirked.
"I thought you were hungry."
"Shut up."
He fed her all the food until the bento box was empty. Satisfied, Rukia leant back on the bench, swallowing the last portion happily as Ichigo placed her bento back in her school bag. She rubbed her full belly gently as he fished out a chocolate bar from his jacket. He ripped open the aluminum and paper packaging from the top and snapped apiece off. He held the small chocolate block between his fingers and offered, "regardless if you're hungry or not, you are going to eat all of this."
"Why?" Rukia frowned.
"Because you gave away my chocolate bar to some kid yesterday."
Rukia's eyes narrowed. "Yet you gave it to me, so technically it was mine."
"Exactly. It was for you. Just for you, Rukia."
"But I-"
The chocolate and his fingers were suddenly in her mouth. Her tongue instantly lapped the treat away, sucking it to the back of the confinements of her throat. Her teeth grazed his finger as he leisurely pulled them out. His eyes looked like pools of liquid gold as his gaze burned into her. Rukia turned away, but not quick enough to see him lift his fingers to his mouth and lick off the remaining melted chocolate. He snapped another piece off and held it up to her.
Her cheeks sketched in red, Rukia tried to take the chocolate with her fingers. Ichigo raised his arm higher and Rukia glared at him. "You're a jerk."
He gave her a lazy smile. "All your arguments are invalid, as long as you have those bandages wrapped around your hands."
"I'm not a charity case."
"Humor me."
He lowered the treat back down when Rukia crossed her arms against her chest. She pouted. The chocolate was delicious and she did crave the entire bar, but she just didn't want to give Ichigo the satisfaction. She reluctantly caught the treat carefully in between her white teeth and pulled back, nibbling on it in her mouth. Ichigo snapped off another piece, it was when he was looking down at his hands did he speak.
"So…don't take this the wrong way, but you are Orihime don't look much alike."
She slowed her chewing before swallowing. Ichigo looked up at her, only to see her face set into a perfect mask. "Well…we're not blood-related. Any fool could point that out. But I still look up to her as if she was my blood sister."
Ichigo's gaze remained burning into her. "When were you adopted?"
"When I was twelve, the Inoue's took me in."
"Do you remember much of your childhood?"
Rukia looked away, her eyes glazed over. "Enough…" she whispered quietly.
Ichigo was so fascinated by her amethyst eyes that he didn't notice the chocolate melting between his fingers. He quickly pulled out of the conversation. It was obvious she didn't want to talk about it. So he'll wait until she was ready. He can't tear his gaze away from her. "Do you like Orihime as your sister?"
Rukia smiled sadly. "Of course I do. She's the best older sister anyone could ever ask for. She's kind hearted and happy all the time and not to mention very protective. I kind of think of her as the Earth. She draws everyone towards her and when their in her reach, they bloom."
Ichigo was quiet for a moment as he studied her tenderly. "If your sister's the Earth. Then you're the moon."
And you're the sun, she mused.
They fell into a comfortable silence as Ichigo took a bite of the chocolate. Rukia turned to gaze around them, wishing she could just say something. She quietly studied the scowl on his face, wanting to know more than anything of what was on his mind.
"Listen…" Ichigo said. "About yesterday…I'm sorry for what happened. I didn't know Orihime was your sister. We met a few weeks ago by the river-"
"I know," Rukia interjected, feeling her chest tighten. "You didn't know. You don't have to explain anything." It meant a lot that he was talking about this to her.
But Ichigo wasn't finished. "I'm – I just want to apologize if I've…upset you."
"Please don't. My sister's been telling me quite a lot about you recently. And I think-" Rukia was about to say that she didn't mind them being together, but the words formed like a hard lump in her throat. "So, do you have a lieutenant? It's not like you run an entire squad by yourself."
"Yeah, I have a lieutenant. Shiba's currently closer at the War though. He should be back in a few days."
"It's getting late. I should start heading home."
"Sure," he replied slowly. "I guess we should head back before nightfall."
Rukia scooped up her bag and stood up. Ichigo gave her the last portion of the chocolate bar and they both headed out of the park. It wasn't until they were a block away from the park did he speak again. "Rukia, your sister and I were never serious, I can tell her that-"
Rukia whipped her head up to him. "No!" Rukia exclaimed. A person jogging past them both gave her a quizzical glance. She lowered her voice. "No, Ichigo. It's impossible. You don't understand. She's my older sister."
No matter how much she wanted to stop walking and just talk to him, she couldn't. They continued walking, crossing a street then up an alley and all that time, Ichigo couldn't stop staring at her.
"She's my only sister," Rukia spoke fondly. "And she's serious about you."
Ichigo finally looked away, scowling harder than before. It was obvious he was unhappy about Rukia's point. She squeezed the strap of her bag nervously. "Orihime has gone through a lot and no matter what the cost is, I will always be there to protect her. She is my only sister, Ichigo. I can't lose her."
When Ichigo didn't reply, Rukia started, "you do like Orihime, don't you?"
Quietly, Ichigo replied, "Of course I do, but-"
"Well, it's settled," Rukia interrupted. "You like her and she likes you. There's no more to discuss."
Displeased, Ichigo sighed dejectedly, "No. I guess not."
It all felt a bit too much for her. They both crossed another intersection, arriving just outside of Rukia's neighborhood. Rukia wished she knew what men like Ichigo were thinking. But that was just it, Rukia didn't know. She didn't know what men were like at all. She wished she had experience with boys, wished she was as confident as her sister. Rukia just didn't want to be herself.
"So, Rukia. Are you interested in anyone at the moment?"
Rukia chuckled dryly. "No. Though my sister is trying to set me up with one of her college friends."
Ichigo frowned, "You don't seem too pleased." His hands curled into fists at his side.
"I don't really like him."
"Why's that?"
She bitterly looked down at the road under her feet, "we have our differences."
"It seems that you two aren't meant to be."
"Orihime said for me to give him a chance. What do you think?"
"No," he replied at once.
They arrived at the corner of Rukia's street, a little out of sight from her apartment. They both stopped and turned to each other. Rukia didn't want Ichigo to leave already. She was afraid that she would never see him again, especially when she had rejected him. She felt like an idiot. She didn't want to be alone again.
"Ichigo… do you have a family?"
He looked down at her. His eyes pouring into her soul. "I have a father, two younger sisters and a twin brother."
"Do they live near Karakura?"
"No," he replied. He ran a hand through his auburn bangs. "God, Rukia. I want to tell you so many things but I can't."
"Just say it then," Rukia asked quietly.
Ichigo stepped a shade closer, so his body blocked out the setting sun. "Just remember – what's happening in the War right now – both sides equally matched, the years of killing and suffering. It's going to get worse, much worse, Rukia. And it will come very quickly."
Rukia stood still. "I don't understand what this has to do with your family."
Ichigo gave a small, sad smile. "My family is in a very powerful, but compromising position because of the War. I lost my mother seventeen years ago. I've got to go, Rukia, okay?"
Rukia's eyes cast downwards onto the cracks of the pavement. Ichigo slowly leant over and tugged her stubborn bang affectionately. "Don't worry. No matter how we wish that things were different, they will never really turn out the way that we want them to. Yes?"
Rukia knew he wasn't just talking about his mother. She nodded slowly. "True."
"I need to head back to the Barracks," he said. "I'll see you, Rukia."
Rukia didn't want him to leave. She wanted to ask him when they'll meet again. Will he still come and meet her after school by the bus stop? She felt like an idiot.
"Bye, Ichigo."
Rukia didn't want to go home. She didn't want to be back in the hall, in the kitchen, in her shared bedroom. She wanted to be back at the park, to be fed by Ichigo again, or at the bus shelter where he promised her, or even at the grocery store they both went to yesterday. She just didn't want to go back home without him there.
She mused at the front door for a bit, playing around with the hidden key before sighing defeated and slipping it into the lock.
Orihime was home. She was sitting at the coffee table, her study books spread all over the place. She had the TV going in the background and dinner sitting on the stove.
"Rukia! You're finally home," she said.
"Yeah…I missed my bus."
Orihime frowned. "You didn't walk all the way here alone did you?"
"No. I had a friend drop me off at the corner."
Orihime smiled warmly. "You're so lucky to have friends that care for you, little sis."
Rukia slipped off her shoes and took of her bag. Orihime went back to her study, shouting as Rukia walked down the hall, "there's chicken and broccoli soup on the stove if you're hungry! I bet you didn't eat you're lunch."
Rukia was feeling full – both in body and soul when she remembered only an hour ago Ichigo was feeding her. She declined gently, "Thanks, Hime. But I already ate on my way home."
Rukia went into her room and changed out of her uniform. She slipped into Orihime's hand-me-down faded t-shirt and shorts before walking back down stairs. She took her schoolbag and ventured to sit down next to Orihime. She moved her large textbook over to give Rukia some space to place her homework.
After a few goes of trying to use her pen, Rukia gave up. Her hands were too thickly bandaged. If she couldn't use her chopsticks, there was no way she could use a pen. "Hime, can you change my bandages."
"I'm a little busy, sis," she replied, scrutinizing her Biology and Medical Procedures book. She finished writing down a note – looping her 'l's and hearting her dots before sighing and placing the pen down. "Alright. Let me have a look."
They undid the nurse' bandages, washed Rukia's hands and rewrapped them. Orihime was careful, placing a little bit of ointment on the swelling near Rukia's knuckles. It was only them, the open window and the quiet sounds of summer and the TV. "You know…this brings back memories."
Rukia sat quietly in front of her, offering her hand for her sister to wrap. Orihime was gentle, clipping the wrapping in place before starting on her other hand.
"You were so silly when you were a kid. You always climbed trees and ran around with no shoes on. Daddy would get so mad at you," she whispered. "And you used to come up to me with bruises all over you after you got in trouble by him. You would come back into my room and I had to pull out my stash of butterfly band aids."
Rukia remained silent.
Orihime continued, her eyes glazing over, "and I'd always asked if you were okay and you know what you'd say? You'd say 'I'm fine, Hime. There's nothing to worry about'."
She looped the wrap twice around Rukia's palm before she spoke again. In a quieter voice than before. "And I'd tell you that I was sorry that Daddy had hit you and that he wasn't mad at you, but at himself. We used to hide underneath my bed every time you came back from his room. We'd make a tent with the sheets and pillows…"
Rukia closed her eyes.
Orihime tightened the wrap before clipping the end of it closed. She kept Rukia's hand in her own for a while. Her face was bowed and her eyes were hidden by her summer bangs. "You would-"
"Hime, please stop," Rukia croaked, opening her eyes again. Orihime's grip on her hand began to tremble. Rukia raised her other hand to press it gently against Orihime's cheek. "There's no need to bring it up."
Orihime nodded, tears slowly falling down her cheeks. She giggled nervously, her voice cracking. "You're right. Silly, old me…"
She looked up to her younger sister, her smile warm but wobbly. "O-of course, Rukia." She wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. She gives Rukia's hand a gentle squeeze and she gave Orihime a small smile of her own.
"I love you, Rukia," she whispered, casting her eyes downward. "As my little sister, I would do anything for you. It's my turn to stand up for you. It's my turn to protect you. I'm going to study hard so I can graduate and become a nurse. And then we'll go somewhere. Even Kurosaki-kun can come too…" Her eyes were warm and gentle. "And it will be the three of us. We could start a new life together."
Rukia gave Orihime a soft smile. "That's a nice idea, Hime."
Rukia brought their heads in until their foreheads touched. It was a calming method she had learnt when they were kids to relax the other. They sat there for a few minutes until both of them were feeling considerably better. Rukia spoke first. "Come on, there's assignments to do."
They went back to studying. After Orihime had read through most of her textbooks and written down enough notes to satisfy the upcoming test, she went out. Rukia didn't ask where, she suspected it was to see Ichigo. Rukia refused to feel self-pity and forced herself to finish her Monday night homework. Tired and drained from a big day, she gave up on her History essay and went to bed.
She woke up at two seventeen in the morning to a sound she never heard before. It was a shrieking siren piercing through the Karakura night outside. Scared, Rukia stumbled out of her sheets and called for Orihime. But her sister still wasn't home. Terrified, Rukia crawled to the corner of the room and wrapped herself up into a tiny ball. The siren went on for almost fifteen minutes. Were the Espada attacking already? Rukia hid her head under her hands, shaking. Being alone with the sound had petrified her.
Rukia couldn't go to sleep after the siren faded and the night had settled. How could she when her sister wasn't home?
A/N: OMG I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE SHIBAAAAAAARRRRRGGGHHHH-DONNNNOOOO 3
Ichiruki - EAT YOUR HEART OUT!
Rukia: *pokes head around my bedroom door* Uh~I think you need to stop writing. The story is going to your head.
Me: What? WHAT? NEVER! *noodle dances* How can you say that Rukia-chan! After all I wrote about you! *cried a river and sailed down it on a boat*
Rukia: *backs away behind Ichigo* She scares me.
Ichigo: *haunted face*
Me: I have so many scenes to write! Not to mention to try and think of a perfect scenario of how you two are going to share your first kiss! OH! And I'll need to add in everyone else too. Toshiro, Aizen, Grimmjow, Ulquiorra, Nel, Ishida, Isshin, Shirosaki, Ukitake, the milkman, someone's OC, Gin, Rangiku, Old Man, Urahara-
Ichigo: -_-'
Rukia: o_e
Me: *frolics around* OH! And if any of the readers have suggestions for songs, let me know! I always love listening to a song to get me motivated for IR chappies! See you in the next chapter!