Chapter 3
A Face From the Past
Weeks had passed since she last felt the thrill of sneaking into a forbidden place. Karakura town was back to its usual state: a dull place for journalists. It was perfect for citizens, though. You can't please everyone.
The only big event planned ahead was Mayor Grimmjaw's party prior to the elections. It had taken a lot of discussion and its fair share of arguing, but Sousuke had finally allowed her to accompany him to the party. He only allowed her to go as a professional, so she would have to leave the minute the official press did. That meant less than half an hour inside, which was not sufficient, but she would not waste her time in pouts. She will get the most of it, even if she had to do it behind their backs.
Ichigo opened the fridge's door. As usual, there were only a few cans and a couple of rotten sausages. He really needed to do some shopping, but at midnight everything was closed. And he was so hungry! Perhaps that little convenience store down the road was still open. He pulled a jacket to protect him from the chilly night and headed downstairs.
He lived in the west side of the city, in a street that had the Rukongai Park on the east, and one of the most exclusive districts on the opposite side of the road. He had been very lucky to get this apartment. He had no idea how his Godfather, Urahara Kisuke, had found it. Not only because of the elegant neighbors in the street, but also for the exclusive hotels, shops and clubs. It was not unusual to spot famous people in this area; even tonight he was seeing many people elegantly dressed. They walked down the street heading to the same place: the Haori Club. He recognized some of them as important businessman, whereas he could not say the same for their escorts. At least some of them were not their rightful wives; he was sure of that.
He continued on his way to the store but he could not stop himself altogether from nosing around the building, he was even tempted to sneak in it for a while by entering the back door. Ichigo almost immediately chastised himself for thinking about crushing into parties like a headless teenager. Nonetheless, the moment he was ready to back out of the blind alley that was on the back of the club, he heard a deaf noise coming out from it. He narrowed his eyes trying to gauge what had caused it, and they widened in surprise when he saw the origin. Kuchiki Rukia was climbing on top of a couple of gasoil cans all dressed up in a tight cocktail dress. She even had her heels on! It looked as if she have had the same idea as him, and was trying to enter the building by a window that was open ajar on the second floor.
-Oi!
She turned around startled with the expression of someone that had been caught in the act. When she recognized him her eyes widened in shock and lost balance. She waved her arms around trying not to fall back, but she ended up landing with her butt on top of some garbage bags, causing a big clatter.
-What the hell are you doing here? – She scolded, then she realized she was trying to be silent, but to no avail, somebody from inside closed the window, which blew off all of her chances to get inside. She groaned annoyed.
-Gawd, I can't get in anymore, are you happy now?
-Very. What is it with you that every time we met you are trying to sneak into some forbidden place?
-Are you going to blackmail me again, Kurosaki? – Ichigo chuckled.
-I didn't thought about it, but now that you say so, what about you tell me why you were trying to get in there and I invite you to dinner in payment?
-You have no idea what is going on? Then no thank you, I have work to do, and it involves no cooperation with you again. – She said lifting her chin arrogantly, but her stomach growled in disagreement.
He smirked cockily. - Come on, your only way in has already been cut; now you don't have anything better to do. Why don't you come to have dinner with me? Maybe I can even help you with your new investigation.
-Of course I have better things to do, for example: mourning my bad luck whenever you are around. Besides, why are you here?
-I live here, remember? – He said pointing at his house, which was not far away. - I was going to get something to eat, but instead I found a hungry beggar to feed. Come on, I promise it will be fun. - He said tugging at her lightly. She gave in begrudgingly and Ichigo took the phone out to make a call.
-And I'm not begging you to do anything; it is more like you always abducting me. Besides, where are you taking me? – She asked as they approached his car.
- Don't be impatient, you'll see.
Ichigo parked the car in front of what he said was the restaurant. She looked at the door warily because there was no signal or placard on top of it. And they were in a very residential district, so it was not to be expected.
-Are you sure it is here? There are no lights and no sign of anybody awake. - Ichigo chuckled amused once again.
-This is not a typical restaurant; I would say that it is in the blurry limit between legal and illegal. –She raised an eyebrow that was barely distinguished in the dim light. - Don't give me that look, I promise it's worth it. – He said knocking on the door with the clapper. She looked up at him, not yet too confident about his place.
The same blond man who greeted them at the restaurant the first time was in front of them waving happily. Urahara, if she remembered correctly.
-Welcome Ichigo. How nice to have you back here at my humble home! - He smiled down to her. – And this pretty lady here?
-Kuchiki Rukia.
-Rukia-san, if you don't mind, - Rukia nodded. - Here we are only a few of us. I remember you from your last visit. Welcome to my special home, please come in. - He said leading them to a table at the back of the place. Seeing her slight hesitance Ichigo gave her a light push placing his hand on the small of her back, and lingered on it for a little longer than necessary.
The place looked like an old greenhouse and the walls were all covered in ivy. The roof was made of crystal and protected the inside from the chilly night, providing them a mesmerizing view of the waning moon. There were only a couple of tables more in the room. In one of them there was the typical family: the father, the mother and a little girl. On the other one there was a group of friends that were dressed in the latest style. And then there were them, such a colored clientele.
Tessai, the chef, served them a couple of sake's glasses as they took seat and left again after greeting them. There were no menus on the table.
-How do we order here?
-Oh you don't, the chef Tessai guesses what you would want to eat and brings it to you.
-Does he ever guess right?
-Every time, and he is a splendid cook too, just relax and enjoy the meal. - Her face transformed at this, her frown had disappeared and now her eyes glowed in anticipation.
-So…why were you trying to sneak in that party?
-I was kicked out of the party. –Ichigo sniggered.
-How is so?
-I went in escorting a friend... – Suddenly she did not feel like saying who he really was. Was it because she was still mad at him? Ichigo noted her hesitance.
-And…?
-But we had agreed that I would only stay until the reception was over, that is, until midnight.
-Why didn't he take you home then?
-He was staying. – Ichigo frowned. – It's because he worries that such environment is no good to me, that it will corrupt me. Actually, it took me several days to convince him to take me with him in the first place.
-It's none of my business; you don't have to explain to me. But it sounds weird, apart from rude. What does he fear of that party? I reckoned it was an electoral event of mayor Grimmjaw.
-Do you not live in this town? Sure it was, but; the problem is that in those parties drugs are a common thing. They are offered as if they were Champaign.
-How can it be? Isn't it illegal?
-It is, but it's socially accepted. It's a social perversion that we cope with. We accept that there are people who like to have fun like that.
-Are all the parties you are invited to like that? He remembered some pictures of her in a magazine coming out from a party.
-Not in the ones I go to, my brother would not allow me. Besides, I don't do drugs.
-So there are drugs in this town. –Ichigo collected. - How is that even possible, there is no criminal organization to provide them in here, and it looks like they are often consumed.
-Paradoxical, right? We live in the most ideal of the places and yet we need drugs to get us out of it. It reminds me to "A Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley. Have you read it? – Ichigo nodded. - I feel a bit like be Lenina Crowne.
-Then I guess I would be the foreigner: John, the savage, then?
Silence fell between them as the implications sank in. Immediately Tessai had arrived with their meals and Ichigo sincerely welcomed the distraction, he was being stupidly bold tonight. The smell of the food was tempting enough to let it stay for a while longer and pray that she would forget his last cock-up. In the end, he broke the ice lightening the mood with a slight teasing.
-So this friend of yours kicked you out of the party, what kind of friend does that? – He asked mockingly. She reddened at first but finally she opened her mouth to make a cutting retort.
-As you said before it's none of your business, Kurosaki. - She said stung. – But just so you don't misjudge my friends I'll tell you that we had an agreement. And he was right, the environment in there was not beneficial for me – She said with apparent convincement. Ichigo raised an eyebrow.
-Who says that, you or your nanny? - She narrowed her eyes.
-My friend, who actually cares for me.
-Aren't you grown up enough to decide for yourself? Although judging what I see, I don't blame him for thinking you are underage; you are unbelievable small, midget! – She kicked him under the table erasing the smirk from his face; still somehow she found the bickering amusing. – Ouch! I just say, you pretend to be an intrepid journalist, but behind the facade you let yourself to be bossed around by some self-righteous prat! - Now she bit her lip uncomfortably, not knowing whether it was for his mocking censure or for his subtle compliments. Her eyes remained pinned on the table. –You really should stand up for yourself!
-I gladly comply because they are older, wiser, and more polite. Moreover they only have my best interests in mind. - She said lifting her chin up.
-Interfering with your job when there is obviously something worthy to investigate. You kicked me the first time we met for a lot less; and that was not polite either. - She chuckled at the memory. - Besides, what is it with the "they"; I thought we were talking about your escort.
-I meant my brother and this friend of his, and mine too of course.
-Two big brothers for your suitors to deal with. Nice. No wonder why you have no boys around. – Rukia found this outrageous – If you don't confront them they will treat you as their little girl forever.
-You don't know what you are talking about. They do not treat me like a little girl. They saved me, and I'm indebted to their kindness. - She was crossed now, her voice turned icy and her gaze was not tender anymore. Oops, he had hit a sensible spot; although he had only wanted to challenge her.
-I'm sorry I didn't mean to offend you. I understand what you meant. - Her gaze softened again embarrassed at her sudden outburst, and she let her guard down again. Shaking her head she answered softly.
-No problem, I should not have let it affect me that much. – She gave a long sigh. –I'm afraid deep down I knew you were right; it's just that is difficult for me to accept it. - Ichigo gave her a reassuring smile.
-You said that he saved you. – She looked back at him warily and he backed off again. – It's ok; you don't have to talk about it. I'm sorry for being so nosy tonight; it comes with the job I guess, although it is a lame excuse. Did you like the restaurant? – She relaxed visibly.
-Yeah, the food was delicious and the place is charming. Thank you for taking me here. It looks like a very exclusive place. I like the fact that you have to be invited at least once to be admitted in, is kind of cool - She was wandering around with her eyes but when she crossed glances with the orange headed in front of her she found herself trapped in his amber ones.
-Yep, that's the idea. – He was starting to relax as well, until he recalled his conversation earlier with Ishida. A shiver went through his spine.
-Surely she's invited to it; you have to make sure she takes you as her escort to that party. It is vital for the case.
-I'm not going to use her like that; she is a person and has feelings. If she is willing to help me then great, but I'm not going to play a trick on her, and force her to do something deluded.
-We are at a dead end, we have no more strings to pull, and she is our last resource.
-Then find another person because I'm not going to drag her into this.
In the end he had felt like a jerk anyway, trying to force answers out of her when it obviously was so disturbing for her. Especially tonight that everything had started out so well. He had only wanted her to open up to him out of trust, but instead he was trampling all over her feelings helplessly. If he kept on like this, their collaboration would not last long.
Rukia was now silently eating a fish' deconstructed roll flavored with a random bittersweet sauce. He was not very confident of Tessai's latest experiments with sushi but it seemed that she was truly enjoying it. He tried to gauge her mood by her body language. She seemed relaxed and her tongue showed timidly as she rubbed her full lips. She had averted his gaze flushed before and still wouldn't meet his eyes back, but from the corner of his, he had caught her stealing glances in his way a couple of times. Whatever, he had never been good at this when he had to do it at work. He reckoned it had been enough for one night and that he had to relax and enjoy the rest of the night.
-I'm sorry I was so pushing before. Here, I'll tell you something I don't usually tell anyone about my past. She lifted her head suddenly interested. - I used to live here as a kid, until my mother was killed. – Rukia gasped in horror and her hand flew her mouth covering it. - I could never cope with it and that's how my errand begun. –he dismissed the story nonchalantly, still it was not his cup of tea to remember that day and less of all if it was to share it. But he had had the impulse to share it with her.
-How did it happen? – She asked with her eyes wide, then recoiled embarrassed. – … Only if you want to tell me, of course. - He threw his head back with a sigh and gave a sad smile.
-I was 12, and I was coming back home with my mother. We witnessed a fight between gangs. They wouldn't leave witnesses, as you can imagine. – He had been looking down as he told the story, but when he lifted up his head to hers he saw her eyes boring on his full of emotion. His chest tightened inwardly.
-Did some of them wear their jackets inside out?
-They did, how…?
-They used to bother me a lot back then; they kidnapped abandoned children to do who knows what.
-How could they bother you then? - Ichigo shook his head disbelieving.
-I used to roam the streets as a kid and this gang had been stalking me forever. Suddenly they stopped waylaying for a few days and it must have been when they encountered this other gang and begun fighting.
-Then how…?
-Aizen found me not long after that and brought me to my brother. That is what I meant when I said he saved me. Byakuya was my sister's husband and he took me in his family as his own sibling.
-You said "was"?
-She had died shortly before I was found.
Thousands of questions swam in his mind, but she was looking down ashamed. Probably about her own pitiful past. He reckoned he should give her some space after she had revealed such a huge fact about herself to him. He looked around and noted that they were the last ones in the room. He felt more at ease knowing that what they were sharing would remain a secret.
-You know, I'm glad they never found you. –He said with a soft voice.
-Who? - She responded equally in a low voice.
-The ones that killed my mother. I'm thankful that you are alive and we could meet.
His eyes bored into hers full of emotion. The queasy feeling of the previous days returned to her stomach. She smiled softly and their gazes locked deeper. When the emotion was too thick to bear she broke their connection looking away.
-I always wondered if you had dyed your hair, you were a delinquent when you were little? - Ichigo smiled relieved for having their camaraderie back; still, he feigned annoyance rolling his eyes.
-I told you it was natural, you don't have to mock me about it every time you see me.
-Was it your mum's hair color? – She was now serious, and her eyes were sincere. He nodded solemnly. Ichigo regretted the mood they were having tonight in spite that he had promised her that it would be fun. Suddenly his eyes brightened with an idea.
-Do you want to see something cool?
She bit her lip. –It's late; I probably should be in bed.
-Aww! Don't be such a bore, it won't be long, and I'll take you home afterwards.
She smiled ruefully. –Where are you taking me?
He gave her a lopsided smirk and remained in a mysterious silence as he paid the bill. After they said goodbye to Urahara, Ichigo took Rukia's hand in his and they headed for the car.
He drove them out of the city. Rukia kept wondering their destination as they left behind the lights of the city. When he pulled the car at the side of the road it was dark and it took her a bit to adapt her eyes. As he opened the door for her, a sea breeze caressed her skin, giving her goose-flesh. They were at the beach. Ichigo helped her out of the car and pulling out his jacked, he slid it over her shoulders. She could feel his warmth on her skin warming her up. She tried to protest, but when she lifted her eyes to him, his gaze was so intense that she didn't say anything further and smiled softly.
He leaded her towards the sea. They walked in the sand close to each other, but they were no longer holding hands as they did getting out of the restaurant. Ichigo had felt a strange flutter when he released her hand and she lingered on his for an instant.
The only light that night was coming from the waning moon which was shining powerfully, being almost full. After a few minutes he halted and pointed at something in the sand.
-Baby turtles! - Rukia squealed in surprise.
-Yeah, they just came out of the eggs. Do you like it?
-Yes, this is so cool. How did you know about this?
-I used to come here with my mother. Did you know that if they manage to reach the sea and not be eaten they are saved? They will become adults and live a long happy life.
She didn't respond anything; actually she remained quiet with a pensive expression on her face. It took her a while to turn back to him.
-Like us? Have we beaten the hard part? - She was looking up at him waiting for his answer with childish confidence. Ichigo wondered again about this unsecure side of her that she normally kept guarded and which was so endearing. He smiled and took a long breath before looking up at the moon. When he looked back at her, she was cowering watching the turtles closely. Her face was illuminated by the pale light of the moon and her lips were intensely red. He felt his body irremissibly leaning towards her, like a magnet. This collaboration was uncovering many hidden emotions. Some of them were old acknowledged pains, but other ones, although they were not achingly unwelcome, were not what he had intended to feel when he first accepted this case.
He cowered down by her side and felt the odd pressure on the pit of his stomach again. His hands trembled slightly in anticipation. When Rukia turned her face back to him, she remained inches from his face with an inquiring and innocent expression. She lifted her eyebrows to punctuate that she was demanding an answer; so he exhaled a breath and smiled narrowly.
-Sure. – Then he looked away. Not today.
Thank you again for reading!
Especially to those following the story and to the ones who left reviews last time: Hellooworldx3 and DinieLuvYunho. You asked me about Aizen and Rukia; although I can´t say much yet, the reason i picked him was because i needed an evil character, and I like Kaien too much for that. Besides, i can't have you falling in love with any other one, apart from Ichigo! On top of that, Aizen's character suits perfectly the things that are going to happen next. I hope you all have enjoyed this chapter, and I apologize because I know I'm not very good at writing fluff, but tried my best.
So...It'll continue next week.