A/N: Chapter 3! Thanks for the reviews guys : it really keeps me going.
I awoke; everything was fuzzy and far too white. The bed, the walls, and what in the world was that beeping noise? My phone? Wait no…I'm in a hospital. Why? Why am I here? Did I get into a car accident? No…no I got home and then—"Ah!" I yelped jerking upwards and holding my hand to my head. I could feel the bandage. Along with a sheering pain echoing through my skull.
"You're awake…" A soft voice from beside me said with a silky calmness. At first, I thought it was Byakuya. No such luck. It was Ichigo.
"What are you doing here?" I growled he was the last person I wanted to see. Strange that just this afternoon I wanted so badly to speak to him and now I want him as far away from me as possible. Seeing him brought back the images of those monsters…the demons.
"I brought you here stupid."
"How?" I asked looking over at my classmate and he was scowling. Big surprise.
"I found you at your driveway with a gash in your head." He answered me keeping his voice calm, but I could sense that he wasn't calm. Something was bugging him.
"Was anyone else there?" I asked quietly, the vivid image of the man with the black eyes flashing before me.
"Ms. Kuchiki! How are you doing?" A nurse came in, her hair short and it looked dyed. It was a strange color…lilac maybe?
"I'm fine." I answered; the throbbing in my head was just a dull pain now.
"Good. Good." She said looking over my charts before setting them down again. "Your sister and Grandmother will be in to see you soon."
Oh great. I thought sarcastically. "Okay thank you." I said very sweetly and the nurse left the room without another word.
"Rukia…I…" Ichigo began about to reach out to place his hand on the bedside, but it quickly retreated as the door opened again.
"Rukia! We heard you were attacked!" Hisana rushed to my side and hugged me tightly.
"I'm fine." I said again as she looked at my bandages.
"Who would do such a thing?" Hisana said smoothing my hair with her hand, "Don't worry Rukia…we will find them and bring them to justice." Hisana sat next to me on the bed and kept one arm around my shoulders. Grams was standing by Ichigo, who was sitting down, and she had her hand on his shoulder.
"Hisana, may I have a minute with Rukia?" Grams asked kindly and Hisana nodded, dabbing her eyes with her sleeve of her sweater. My sister left the room and I looked at Ichigo, expecting him to leave too. He didn't. Damn.
"Rukia…who attacked you?" Grams asked sitting were Hisana was just a few seconds ago. She placed her hand on my shoulder and as always, her hands were warm.
"I don't know." I said my eyes not moving from Ichigo and he kept staring right back. "All I know is that he was conveniently there to pick me up and take me to this place." I said with a slight venom in my voice. I was hoping to drive him out so I could speak privately with my grandmother. The words replayed in my head of what Gram had told me.
This boy, Ichigo Kurosaki, he was placed here for a reason. I have spent many nights dreaming of you Rukia, a world in black or a world in white. You, hand in hand, with this Ichigo.
"I was coming over your house to give you this." Ichigo growled taking a slip of paper from his pocket and tossing it onto my lap. I lifted the paper carefully and opened it, it was neatly folded.
Dear Hisana,
My son is going to give this letter to your sister. Then you'll get it. He's such a good boy! Doing things for his dear old father and I would bring it personally but I have been so busy as of late. My address for the dinner party we're having is…
I set the letter down and looked at Grams. "I'm sure whoever attacked me was just some crack head or something." I lied and I knew Grams could tell. But her lips stayed in a thin line and she kissed my forehead.
"I will always be here for you Rukia." She said before she left and I felt my heart tug. I looked away and out the window near my bed, I felt ashamed. For storming out on her like that, not believing her words even though I saw the demons with my own eyes. I heard the door open and then click shut. Leaving Ichigo and I alone.
"Rukia…" I heard Ichigo say but I couldn't bring myself to respond. I didn't want to talk anymore. I just wanted to sit here on my bed and—"How's your head?" He asked abruptly. I turned and gave him a questioning look before focusing on the pain that was supposed to be there.
What the hell? I thought with a frown. I lifted my hand and touched the bandages, I pressed on the spot were I knew the scar was. I was glad all my hair could cover it. No pain. "Thank your grandmother." Ichigo said standing.
"Wait!" I practically yelped, "Ichigo explain to me what's going on! I demand to know!" I said slapping my hand onto my lap for emphasis.
"Saturday…we'll talk." He promised and I pouted; "Why not now?" I asked crossing my arms in front of my chest.
"Saturday." He repeated and then the door opened. Again. Hisana returned and this time with Byakuya by her side, with his arm around her waist. I watched as Ichigo left the room and I felt disappointment. Ichigo was the only one who knew. I could feel it. He knew who that guy was…or what he was.
&3&3&3&3
September 5th 2008
So it's Friday, they released me only a few hours ago. Hisana was happy that I got to go home a day after the attack. Byakuya wanted me to stay for surveillance. The doctors told me to take it easy. I wanted to go into school for the last few hours but Hisana said no, so here I am. Sitting in my bed with so many thoughts rushing through my head. I think I'll finish my Biology report and have Hisana bring it in for me or something so it's not late.
&3&3&3&3&
I climbed out of bed, my alarm clock showed 3 am, but I was wide-awake. I caught up on all my homework and in 15 hours I had a dinner party with the Kurosaki's. I rubbed my eyes and sat down at my desk. My dreams were of blurred faces, dark eyes and a certain annoying orange-haired boy calling out my name. There was no way I was going to fall asleep.
I picked up my pencil and doodled on some scrap paper. That got boring quick though. I couldn't get my mind off it. I opened up my desk drawer and pulled out a light blue notebook, my dream diary Gram got me for my 15th birthday, and flipped through till I found a blank page. If I can't stop thinking of it, might as well interpret it.
I'm running and hands are grabbing my arms. I scream but I have no voice. Then everything turns bright and I see Ichigo standing there—dressed in black. I rush to him and reach out for his hand and he pulls me into an embrace. He speaks but I can't hear his words. The demons are flying around us. Faces look at us with sorrowful eyes, but that's all I can see. The rest of their face is blurry. Then the hands grab at me again and pull me away from Ichigo. He calls out my name and I can feel hot tears rushing down my cheeks. Then I wake up.
I couldn't count how many times I replayed the dream in my mind and read the description I wrote in my book. None of it made sense. Dreams mirrored your wants and fears. Did I fear being taken away from Ichigo? I blushed at the very thought. Tossing the notebook back into its rightful drawer before pacing the length of my room several times, nothing made sense.
At some point I grabbed my hoodie and threw it over my pajama shirt. Grabbing my house keys and just leaving for the sake of getting out of the room where my dreams resided. I walked along the sidewalk and my breath came out in puffs in the brisk September air. I could hear them screaming. I could feel their claws against my skin. I could sense their hatred for the living. "Oh god, what is going on?" I said stopping and holding my face in my hands. "Why must those demons torment me?" I whispered trying to block out the images.
"Why are you crying?" I looked up to see a little girl's spirit. She couldn't be more than five or six.
"I'm not crying." I said holding my head high.
"Oh…well why do you look so sad?" She asked and I debated whether to tell her or not.
"I'm just very confused." I said and the girl nodded, as if she knew what I was going through. It hurt my heart every time I had to do this, but I had to send her. She was an earthbound spirit and I had to convince her that she could move on and go off into the after life. "Where's your mommy?" I asked kindly and the girl pointed up to the night sky.
"Why aren't you there too?" I asked, "I bet she misses you." The girl nodded and then dissolved into tears. I crouched down to my knees and wrapped my arms around the girl. Grams and I were unique. We could actually touch spirits. It came in handy.
"I'm scared the monsters will get me if I go up there!" The girl said as she cried onto my shoulder.
"They can't get you. Your mommy will protect you from them." I said softly and I looked down to see the girl smiling.
"I see mommy!" The girl suddenly cried out, her hands reaching upwards. I pulled away and took a few steps back; the girl hugged the air before fading away into a little light. The light went upwards to the night sky before I couldn't see it anymore. Gram used to tell me that the stars were millions of souls watching over us.
Maybe getting out of the house was just what I needed. "Thank you." A voice said by my ear, but it could have been the wind. I turned on my heel and began walking back home, I wouldn't think about Ichigo or the demons. I would focus on the little girl and how happy she must be. To finally be with her mother once again. I however would not think of my mother.
&3&3&3&3&
"Rukia! You better hurry!" Hisana yelled from downstairs.
"I'm coming!" I yelled back smoothing out the wrinkles of my white dress. I had managed to fall back asleep last night or rather early this morning. The rest of the day was mostly Hisana and I cleaning the house. Then she helped me with my hair and found a dress that was hidden in the back of my closet. I couldn't complain. It was a pretty dress. It was sleeveless and wasn't too tight. I hate tight clothes.
I checked my appearance once more in the mirror. I brushed away some loose hairs from my face. Hisana had put my hair in a bun and clipped back that one strand of hair that's usually in front of my face. I reached up and un-snapped the clips and tousled the strand back in its rightful place. I liked it because it was different even though Hisana hates that I purposefully have hair in my face.
"Rukia!" Hisana called out again. I rolled my eyes before rushing out of my room. Hisana was at the bottom of the stairs with her arms crossed. "Sorry!" I said quickly before she led the way out of our large home.
"We don't want to keep Mr. Kurosaki waiting." She lectured while we drove and I rested my head against the glass of the window. "I know."
"He's been very kind to invite us to his home. Byakuya was telling me that he and Mr. Kurosaki were college roommates." Hisana was talking to just fill the silence. I folded my hands on my lap and focused on her words, in hopes to get rid of the butterflies in my stomach. I have no clue why I was so nervous. It's just a stupid dinner party. "I thought Mr. Kurosaki wanted you to call him Isshin." I said and Hisana laughed, her laugh was so sweet and kind.
"You have a good memory Rukia…I forgot he said that." Hisana said glancing at the letter from Isshin. "Byakuya was going to school for business and marketing while Isshin was going to be in law. It amazes me how they got thrown together." Hisana said before turning onto a street and up ahead I could see the house that I just knew was Ichigo's. How did I know? It was obvious. A giant banner across the front read 'Welcome Kuchiki's!' I had a feeling it was going to be a long night.
"I thought Isshin was a doctor." I said suddenly with a frown. Then again, Hisana was never that great at re-telling stories, she had the memory of a fruit fly.
"He is. But at the time he wanted to be a top dog lawyer…"
"I wonder what made him change his mind…" I said softly and Hisana shrugged. She may have the memory of a fruit fly but her hearing was that of a hawk.
I got out of the car with Hisana and Byakuya pulled up behind us a few seconds after. I saw two little girls in the window and then they quickly ran off. Byakuya knocked on the door and Isshin quickly answered.
"Byakuya! Hisana! And the beautiful Rukia! Welcome to our home!" Isshin said with a wide grin. I saw standing behind Isshin was none other than Ichigo. My heart jumped. I followed Hisana inside and the two girls from the window threw flowers on us.
"Welcome!" The one with light brown hair said with a big smile.
"Welcome." The one with the dark hair said with a frown. That one was defiantly related to Ichigo.
"Hey." Ichigo greeted, mainly to myself.
"You clean up well for a big oaf." I stated casually and I could feel Byakuya's eyes burning a hole in the back of my head. He never would say it aloud but he hated me being impolite. True be told, I was only rude to Ichigo. Maybe he thought I'd be the reason that would ruin his chances…I had forgotten why we were here in the first place. Something about Byakuya helping Isshin with his clinic. Ichigo, I must admit, did look presentable. I wouldn't give him as much credit to say that the orange-haired fool looked nice.
He wore a white button-down shirt with a blue tie and dress slacks. His father wore a red dress shirt, blue pants and a bright pink tie. Talk about polar opposites. Isshin looked like a rodeo clown standing next to Byakuya with his crisp black suit. Hisana, beautiful Hisana, her dress was black to match Byakuya but it had a white ribbon around her waist. Her hair was all pinned back, not a strand out of place. "Welcome! I really do thank you Byakuya…your donation will save my family a lot of trouble. After all, we were thinking of canceling the 'late night' stations, I had ordered when my son turned 15." Isshin explained with a grin.
I couldn't help it. I bursted out laughing and Isshin laughed with me. Ichigo, who was standing on my side, had turned a bright shade of red. "You know I don't use those stations you perverted old goat!" Ichigo yelled at his father, Isshin wiped the tears out of his eyes.
"Well…I can see why with such a beauty standing next to you. Aren't you two in the same class?" Isshin's comment made me blush, ever so slightly, but I nodded.
"Dinner's ready!" The brown-haired girl said with a smile, her pink dress had a white apron around the waist. Wait. How old was she? And she cooked dinner? This truly was an odd family. I idly wondered how Ichigo kept his sanity…
&3&3&3&3&
I learned that the two girls, Yuzu and Karin, were twins. Yuzu was really nice and she seemed to have taking a liking to me. Karin didn't seem to really care. Isshin and Hisana did most of the talking, which was a relief. Everyone else put in their two cents when it was needed except Byakuya, he put in one cent.
After dinner, which was delicious, Ichigo motioned for me to follow him. My heart sputtered. Finally, I was going to get some answers. "We're going to go for a walk." Ichigo said and Isshin nodded. Byakuya however gave an icy glare to Ichigo. What was he thinking? That Ichigo was trying to make a move or something? Relax Byakuya, Ichigo isn't the type to try and sweep me off my feet.
The night air was cool and comforting against my skin, I breathed it in deeply. "So go ahead, attack me with a million questions." He said while walking, placing his hands in his pockets.
"How did Grams fix my head at the hospital?" I asked and Ichigo was looking at the moon for what seemed like ages before he answered.
"She's a healer. With her touch, she can heal people…it's a nice gift to have." He answered and I just nodded. That explained why whenever I or Hisana was sick, Grams would always say that her hugs made everything better. I can't believe I never noticed it before.
"The man who attacked me…who was he?" I asked moving closer to Ichigo as a car sped past us. I already got hit once this week, no need for a car accident too. Ichigo stopped walking and turned to look at me. His brown eyes were burning and it made his scowl look even unfriendlier.
"I….don't know who he was. But I can tell you what he was…" Ichigo said and I nodded. How could this guy, who was the same age as me, know so much while I lived in the shadows for years?
"He was…Rukia look out!" Ichigo suddenly lunged forward and wrapped his arms around me; we both fell to the ground. The sidewalk met my back and it hurt. A lot. I saw a ball of fire hit a chain-linked fence, if Ichigo hadn't…my hair would have been on fire! Scratch that, my whole face would have been singed off.
"Close your eyes." He instructed and at first I just stared at him, his features in the moonlight, his eyes were still burning but this time…even harsher. I tried to look up past my forehead, by rolling my eyes back to see who attacked us. I couldn't.
"Rukia. Close your eyes." He said again and this time, I did. I heard a yell and then, I smelt smoke, then I felt Ichigo's weight lift off of me. My eyes reopened and I quickly scrambled to my feet…a pile of ashes sat on the sidewalk.
"Ichigo…" I looked at my classmate and he returned the gaze.
"He's just a pawn…there's someone out to get you. I don't know who but…" Ichigo shook his head and I just looked back at the ashes.
"He was a demon." I said very softly and I saw Ichigo nod from the corner of my eyes. I didn't know how I knew this, I just did. Like it was knowledge stored away inside me for years and it finally decided to show up.
"Let's head back…" Ichigo said before walking ahead of me, I followed my orange-haired classmate.
As I figured…this was going to be a very long night.
A/N: Review please?? Hehe. I hope everyone is enjoying the story so far…I don't plan on it being a really long like 30 chapter story. Hmm I'm not sure how many chapters I want…oh well. Time will tell.
Thanks for reading! :insert smiley face:
