Sorry for the late update!
Here you go, chapter three of Promises and the awaited entrance of Kurosaki Ichigo. )
Chapter 3: The Absence of Strawberry and Death
"My, my adoption has been revoked… An-and a marriage proposal from the Kuchiki clan!?"
Rukia stared, wide-eyed with disbelief at the Kuchiki council elder.
So they are kicking her out. But they are MARRYING her in? Just what the hell is going on!?
"The council expects an answer from you in seven days." The Kuchiki elder stated coldly, choosing to ignore Rukia's distress. "In the meantime, you are allowed to remain in the Kuchiki manor."
"But, but to whom?" Her voice was shaking. I don't understand…
The elder peered down at her, "Kuchiki Byakuya."
Rukia's eyes widened. "Byakuya Nii-sama!?"
"Kuchiki Byakuya-sama."
Rukia blinked.
"You," He drawled, his voice thick with condescension. "No longer hold the right to call him brother."
She heard an angry growl and caught a sudden movement from the corner of her eyes, Cursing silently, she whirled around and stopped an irate Renji in his path.
"No." She mouthed, shaking her head as she held onto him. He did not budge, his blazing eyes fixed upon his target, the Kuchiki elder.
"Please." She pleaded. "Let me handle this, Renji. Please." His eyes met hers and softened visibly with defeat. She released her grip when she felt his tense body relaxed.
Unfazed, the Kuchiki elder raised an eyebrow at the redhead, briefly snorting. "Rukongai dog."
Renji's jaw clenched and his fists shook at his sides, but he took a step back. Rukia nodded gratefully at him. Thank you, Renji… He grunted his recognition and looked away as Rukia turned to the Kuchiki elder.
"Does Nii-sa…no," She stopped herself. He is no longer my Nii-sama… She clenched her fists and swallowed that rising lump in her throat. "Does… does Kuchiki-sama know?"
"Of course. He proposed it."
"Wh-what!?"
"You heard me. He proposed it. For you to marry him." Displeased with the marriage proposal, he made no effort to conceal his discontentment. Rukia could see that the elder was almost at the verge of spitting out his words.
"That's all. I'll take my leave now." He straightened himself and turned away, seemingly glad to leave them; the company that he deemed to be too lowly for his clan. "Remember, seven days. The clan awaits. And-" He paused in his footsteps. "Rukia?"
"Yes?"
"Think about it very carefully." Rukia blinked in surprise. For a moment, she thought he might have cared but she waved that ridiculous thought away. She knew all too well. "With the possible exception of Kuchiki-sama, we do not welcome you."
Rukia flinched slightly at the elder callous words and bowed stiffly as the Kuchiki elder took his leave. Wordless, she stood rooted to the ground, her eyes glazed as she stared ahead of her, lost in her own thoughts. Renji stared at her silhouette and was surprised to see how small and frail she looked at this very moment. Molten sunlight washed over her like a flood, threatening to envelop her from his sight. Unsure, he walked towards her with an outstretched hand, shakily reaching for her.
She was leaving again, to somewhere he could not go and this time, he wanted to hold her back. This time, he would not let her walk past him.
This time, he…
"Rukia… I…"
"Renji…" His hand froze in mid-air, inches away from her. "Renji… what should I do?"
"I… Rukia, I…" Her voice was soft and feeble, and he wished he could say something. He wanted to answer her, to comfort her, to pull her into his arms and say to her what he couldn't say years ago. He could laugh with her, talk to her, piggyback her, steal with her, run barefooted in the streets with her, be with her her and do anything for her.
Yet his chest contracted when he curled his outstretched hand into an angry fist and let it drop to his side.
He knew those days were gone. They were gone fifty years ago, from the moment she gently caressed her arm as she brushed past him, whispering a final goodbye to the childhood that they knew and share.
He did not hear it then. But it was deafening him now.
The stray dog in me is dyed into my bones… All I do is howl at the moon. I ain't got the guts to leap at it.
Rukia's eyes wandered to the edge of the horizon, glazed and confused as she watched the sun sinks slowly into the earth, dying it orange.His memory hit her like a bolt of lightning and she snapped her eyes shut. She could feel the pain twisting and wringing in her chest, mercilessly tearing her up from inside.
"What should I do…" She whispered, to herself… To him.
What should I do…
Ichigo…
Propped on a table by the window, Ichigo watched with disinterest as the student body of Karakura High School streamed nosily into the campus. He darted a brief glance at his watch and made a quick scan around the classroom.
Chado's massive body was rooted to his seat as he impassively listened to an animated Keigo complaining about the "latest paradise escapade" of Mizuiro. Nearby, Ishida pushed up his glasses with a condescending smirk while mumbling something that made Mizuiro laughed and Keigo shouting vehemently in objection. Near the classroom door, Tatsuki was swearing hotly as she attempted to peel a wailing Chizuro off Orihime's ample chest.
A normal, everyday classroom scene, complete and picture perfect with his friends who used to be his nakama in battle. However, the battle was long over. They survived the war and were sent back to their normal lives, to how they used to be, to how they could have been, to how they should be.
Picture perfect. Peaceful. Normal.
…and empty. Thought Ichigo as his gaze landed on the vacant desk in the middle of the bustling classroom. A few chappy hollows carved onto the table grinned evilly at him as an orange hair shinigami chappy waved a huge sword after them, scowling.
Ichigo scowled and caught his reflection on the window. His eyes drifted back to the scowling chappy shinigami on the empty desk and his lips curled into a rueful smile.
Stupid midget…
Ichigo quietly pushed the sliding door open and peered into the dimness of the room. The amber light of the setting sun trickled in, casting his shadow over the silhouette of a small figure lying asleep on the futon, engulfing it. He wondered for a moment if he should enter but decided against it and stood, rather awkwardly, at the doorway, his eyes drawn to the sleeping figure.
Gazing at her, Ichigo was surprised to find himself painfully aware of how tiny and fragile she seemed. She might be small to him, and he had always enjoyed teasing her about her child-like height, but it had never ever occurred to him that she was frail. That tiny midget, who could have known that her little fist could deliver one hell of a punch? Who could have known that she was able to deliver militant like orders and threats, which he knew she would not hesitate to execute?
He chuckled upon the memory of their second meeting in school, the most unlikely place of all places. It seemed surreal, even now. He thought of her oh-so-innocent school girl smile and sickly sweet voice with the kun-suffix and all (oh how he shuddered at the thought of that) when she first greeted him with the death threat written all over her palm.
Fragility. How inapt to mention it along with her name. Even when she hovered before an execution blade, waiting for the strike that would rip her soul apart; even when she was held up like game to be pierced by Ichimaru's zanpakutou, even when she lie bleeding after Grimmjow brutally thrust his hand into her; even when she was held shivering under his death-like talons that threatened to crush her skull, Rukia was never ever frail in his eyes.
Till this very moment.
Her face was frightfully pale and disturbingly serene, as she lay death-like in her white kimono. Fear gripped him when the image of his mother, white and tranquil in death, merged with the motionless body before him, only to be dispersed when he caught the rhythmic movement of her chest rising and falling. Cursing silently, Ichigo hung his head and shut his eyes.
"I thought you left."
His head snapped up in surprise when he heard her voice. Brown eyes met dull violet. "I thought you were sleeping."
"I heard you." She said simply and struggled to get up. She groaned when pain shot through her body, and she doubled over, her hands pressed against her chest.
"Rukia!" He cried and took an anxious step forward, but stopped when Rukia held up a hand. He watched nervously as her body shook violently while she struggled to draw in quick rugged breaths. Her vigorous movements caused her loose kimono to slip off a shoulder and Ichigo caught himself staring at a long jagged scar, peeking from under the bandages. Her eyes caught his and he hurriedly shifted his gaze away as she pulled up her sleeve.
That scar… When we first met…
"How did you come in?"
"I walked."
She scowled, "This is the Kuchiki manor."
He grinned, "I am the Kurosaki Ichigo."
She couldn't help but chuckled, "Don't be arrogant just because you saved Soul Society twice."
"Thrice." He corrected and she blinked at him. His grin became wider.
"You forgot about the Bounto hitch? That makes three. I saved Soul Society's sorry ass thrice."
Rukia stared at him incredulously and shook her head in defeat. "Sure, whatever. I am sure you didn't come to gloat about your achievements."
"What if I am?" He smirked. "You know that Soul Society-"
"Ichigo, enough of all these nonsense. Why are you here?"
She grimaced inwardly at the harshness of her words and shifted her gaze away quickly to avoid seeing the smirk fading from his face and the darkening of his eyes. She knew she was being cruel, as cruel as she was when she kicked his hands away from her brother, insulted him and left him dying in the rain. But she knew she had to be cruel. To be kind, as she was when she first saved him and his family, was to ruin him. She had ruined him once. There could not be a second.
"Why didn't you leave?" She steeled her face when he didn't answer, her voice laced with deliberate malice. "Ichigo, why are you still-"
"I had to see you."
She froze. It was almost inaudible, but she heard him and his candour had caught her completely off guard. She stared at her trembling hands and clenched them in defiance.
"Just what the hell do you think you are saying?" She said quietly.
"I had to see you, Rukia."
"Bakemono!" She snapped, the intensity of his voice was driving her crazy. "Haven't you seen me when we were retrieved from Hueco Mundo!? What the hell-!"
"Not like that!" Ichigo roared in frustration. "Not when you almost killed! Not when you were carried back on the verge of death! Not when I- oh dammit Rukia! Look at me!"
Rukia yelped in surprise when Ichigo came rushing into the room and grabbed her by the shoulder.
"Look at me Rukia!"
She tried to be defiant and she struggled, but she soon found herself staring helplessly into intense brown orbs that bore into her soul.
"Ichigo, please…" Ichigo's eyes widened when he saw tears welling up in her eyes as she struggled to hold them back.
His grip softened when the first teardrop rolled down her cheek. He cursed at himself when he saw her hastily wiped the offensive teardrop away, only to be mortified as more welled up from her eyes.
"You stupid midget…" He let his hands dropped to his side and could only stare at Rukia as she struggled to hold back her tears. "I couldn't save you. I am-"
"Just leave."
"Rukia…"
"If an apology is your purpose for coming, I am telling you, don't. I don't blame you. You did no wrong."
"Rukia-"
"Just leave, please… I'm begging you. Leave."
"That was really a stupid way to say goodbye, Rukia…" Ichigo mumbled angrily and tore his gaze away from the empty table. He growled in irritation as the memory of his last meeting with the midget surfaced again in his mind, clear and vivid as if it was merely yesterday.
But it wasn't. It had been half a year since they parted their ways and Ichigo was infuriated to no end that every trace of Soul Society was wiped clean along with Rukia's sudden departure. There were still wandering souls that he could see in Karakura Town, but their numbers were dwindling rapidly. Ichigo's initial suspicion was hollows, but Ishida had commented that he felt little traces of hollow reiatsu and even if one were to appear, it would disappear almost as quickly as it appeared.
What perplexed Ichigo the most was however the absence of shinigami in Karakura town, and as much as he hate to admit, it was notably the absence of Rukia that was bothering him the most. Out of desperation, Ichigo had even tried to track down abnormal reiatsu activities by doing patrols.
Rukia would have been so proud, Ichigo mused, and a bitter smile playing upon the corner of his lips as he remembered his initial reluctance to be involved with Rukia's substitute Shinigami business. How ironic…
However, to Ichigo's immense frustration and bewilderment, his patrols had reaped no results. Soon he came to realized that he was always just a step too late, that split second that could make a world of a difference to the Shinigami representative was repeatedly denied to him.
No hollow. No shinigami.
Just faint cold traces of their reiatsu fading into the air.
It did not take long for Ichigo to figure out that Soul Society was determined to leave the humans out of their affairs and they were succeeding. He was furious that he hadn't realised Soul Society's plans earlier when Ukitake Taichou asked for the return of his Replacement Shinigami badge. He had Kon, he thought. And even if things were to take a downturn for the worse, he still had Rukia and her glove. He guessed he could endure a couple of brutal soul ejecting using that midget's method. If all else fails, there was always that shady Urahara Shop to go to for help and guidance. He thought it wouldn't matter much.
He was so wrong.
His last card vanished as mysteriously as it had first appeared, leaving nothing but a plot of land for sale where Urahara Shoten used to stand, and a gaping Ichigo who had just released his school bag onto his foot.
He clenched his fist. Rukia, you knew… you bloody hell knew then! Just what the hell did they make you do this time!?
"Good morning, Kurosaki kun!"
Ichigo was pulled out of his thoughts when he heard the sudden outburst of his name. He unclenched his fists and smiled briefly when he saw Orihime bounding cheerfully to his table.
"Ah Inoue."
"What were you daydreaming about, Kurosaki-kun? I had to call your name three times before you could hear me!"
He scratched his head, "Uh nothing really…"
"Yeah!" Ichigo grimaced when Keigo's voice ringed obnoxiously and his face popped out over Orihime's shoulder, grinning stupidly as he wriggled a finger in Ichigo's face. "Too early for dirty thoughts, you pervert! Hahaha… some girl? Some girl? Hey Ichigo," His voice suddenly dropped to a suspicious whisper. "You wanna go to the washroom or something? I have some fantastic-"
"FOOD!" Chirped Orihime as Ichigo grabbed a pencilbox and without so much of a doubt, brutally slammed it into Keigo's face and sent him hurling across the classroom in lightning speed. "Kurosaki kun, if you are thinking about lunch, I made Onigiri with red bean paste and curry sauce. Do you want some?"
Ichigo gagged as the image came into mind and started to laugh nervously, "Um, but I brought my lunch today, thanks."
Thanks Yuzu….
Orihime's face visibly dropped in disappointment but quickly lit up, "It's all right! We still have tomorrow, and tomorrow's tomorrow and tomorrow's tomorrow's tommorow-"
Yuzu, sorry to trouble you for the next few days, but your brother's life is at stake. Ichigo thought darkly as Orihime chattered on happily, oblivious to his face turning greener with every mention of her latest recipe.
"-banana sushi with vanilla sauce… Oh, Kurosaki-kun! You have to tell me when Kuchiki-san will be back! Ishida-kun made new garments for us when we came back from Hueco Mundo! He said he was inspired by the desert theme and-"
"Inoue. I don't know."
"Eh?"
"I don't know when will she back." His eyes darkened. Or if she is ever coming back…
Orihime felt her chest contracted when she caught his eyes flicked briefly to the empty desk, an unreadable expression on his face.
"I'm sure she will be back soon, Kurosaki-kun." She said cheerfully, forcing a smile despite the aching in her chest.
"Ah, maybe." He replied with a rueful smile and she grimaced when she saw his gaze lowered. She knew what he was thinking about every time he stared blankly into space, every time his eyes lingered just a little too long at that empty desk, and every time he unknowingly lowered his gaze when he talked to her, just a little below her shoulder.
The eye level of Kuchiki-san…
She quietly slipped back to her seat when Ichigo's eyes glazed over, and she placed her hand upon her chest as she willed her heart to be still. Still, she couldn't help but to steal a glance at Ichigo.
He was staring out of the window with the same unreadable expression on his face and she instantly regretted her decision. She could only wished that she hadn't looked for she knew all too well who was on his mind.
Rukia…
This update is kinda late, I really apologize! I've got it done quite some time ago but till I edit it to what I deem presentable, I couldn't bring myself to update it! This was a pretty intense chapter for me and I really try to bring out the tone of "Strawberry and Death", the relationship between this two characters. I hope nobody would find Rukia's crying scene OOC cos I fashioned the scene after studying 3 scenes in Bleach
1) Rukia almost crying when she left Ichigo dying in the rain. (Tears in her eyes, not really crying yet.)
2) Rukia's crying when Ichigo rescued her.
3) Kaien's death (did she cry or was that raindrops? Kubo Tite was pretty vague about it but the gist was there.)
And I found out, Rukia pretty much cries alot! Not the bawling kind, but the silent, I-must-not-cry-but-I-can't-help-it kind. All right, next chapter will be up next week hopefully. ) Thank you for your reviews and encouragement!