I don't own Bleach and I have no interest in doing so. Well here is the third chapter to my little fic. I don't have much to say other then the fact my Betareader BeccaBaby is like the best beta reader I've ever had. She rocks!
Rukia had been waiting behind the gym for nearly 10 minutes now. As she checked her watch she wondered if the shinigami wasn't going to show up. Then again it had been his idea to meet in the first place so she sat there and continued to wait, already building up the speech she was going to give him once he finally got there. Rukia had no clue why he had shown up at her school for most of the shinigami that she knew seemed to mostly keep to themselves not wanting to meddle in the affairs of the living. Rarely did she ever get a chance to talk to one, let alone meet one at school like that. There was something different about the shinigami she had met last night, something that she didn't know if she should fear or adore.
Folding her arms across her chest, Rukia made a frustrated noise as she once again checked her watch. Time seemed to have slowed to a standstill as she waited. It seemed impossible, but her watch registered that it had only been 30 seconds since she had last glanced down at it. Sighing, Rukia tapped her foot against the ground in an aggravated matter before finally seeing the obnoxious orange hair of the shinigami appear from the gym doors. He looked a bit disoriented, but as his eyes finally found her, and she let another frustrated noise escape her chest.
"Where were you?" Rukia asked in an accusing tone.
The shinigami gave her a passive look before glancing around as if he was getting ready to divulge a secret that could put the whole school in an uproar. After he double checked his surroundings, he straightened up to his full height. This was something that only served to aggravate Rukia more because the shinigami had almost a good foot of height on her. Not that Rukia was overly sensitive about her height; it was more so that she didn't like being looked down upon.
"I got lost." The shinigami replied honestly.
Rukia rolled her eyes. "You could have just followed me out of the class room." Her tone sounded annoyed.
He glanced down at her, a brow slightly cocked. "I'm sorry, next time I won't care what the other kids say." He replied with a bit of a scoff.
Rukia might have been more appreciative of this gesture if it wasn't for the fact that she really didn't have must of a school life. Her concern of what others thought was near zilch, mostly because she only had a few friends. Airi, Rukia's sister was more of the social butterfly then she was, and Rukia often got dragged along by said sister who thought her unsocial. Let the other kids think what they wanted to think; maybe it could be a good game to play on the social order of the school. The unsocial short girl snags the handsome new exchange student. Oh, Rukia could almost see the preps' faces at the notion which in turn put her in a much better mood.
"You act like you've been in high school before, Shinigami." Rukia said, letting her folded arms fall to her side.
The shinigami gave her a strange look as if recalling something before he quickly turned away, his eyes down cast upon the ground like it had suddenly become the most interesting thing in the world. "You have no idea…"
"Umm… So anyways what are you doing here, if I may ask?" Rukia decided to get her most pressing question out of the way first instead of skirt around the issue.
The shinigami's eyes lifted from the cement underfoot and once again looked at her. His face became a lot more passive even with the weird way his brows were always knitted together, giving him an angry look. Taking a deep breath, Rukia could see in his eyes he was trying to find a way to explain things to her. After letting him linger in his thoughts for a moment or two, Rukia shot him one of her classic "just spit it out" look which had its intended effect.
"I'm following you," he said.
"Great, I have an undead stalker." Rukia replied in a flat tone.
His scowl intensified but Rukia didn't know if it was directed towards her or towards himself when he spoke again. "I didn't mean it like that!" The shinigami snapped before attempting to continue in a calmer tone. "Look, last night I gave you my shinigami powers." He paused and only continued after he got a nod of confirmation from Rukia. "And because of that, I don't have shinigami powers anymore; so you need to take my place and become a shinigami."
A wind picked up blowing though the back lot of the gym as Rukia stared at the shinigami before her with a look of shock. He didn't have his shinigami powers anymore? Clearly someone needed to hit the rewind button, because Rukia had no clue what this idiot was talking about. How can she possibly take over his job of being a shinigami? Sure she turned into a shinigami last night, but she had figured that to be more of a onetime thing. Up until he had appeared in her classroom she had honestly thought that last night had all been a dream. Opening and closing her mouth several times, Rukia tried to find acquit words to express her utter confusion at everything that was happening.
"Woah, Woah, Woah. Slow down Shinigami…" Rukia put her hands up effectively silencing the man before he could spew any more nonsense. "Let's take that one from the top. How did you lose your shinigami powers?"
The shinigami sighed. "To be honest, I'm not completely sure. But what I do know is that what remained of my powers where transferred to you last night and thus they are inside of you… Well they are in your soul now."
Rukia raised her eyebrow. "So something zapped your powers last night and what little powers you had left were given to me?" Rukia said, making sure she was following what was going on.
"Yes," he started. "Something attacked me last night before you met me and whatever that thing was it took away most of my powers."
"That doesn't surprise me after seeing how beat up you were last night. Granted, it couldn't have been that bad, because you look okay today." Rukia stated.
As if to empathize her point, she reached out to poke the shinigami in the side where she knew he had been hurt the night before. Instantly, he squirmed under her touch and his face contorted in pain. Rukia just then realized that he had been hiding his pain all along. He shot her a look as he rubbed the spot where he had been poked.
"Yeah I look okay." The shinigami almost growled.
"Sorry…" Rukia replied bashfully. "You should have my mom look you over, I'm sure she'll be able to heal you."
"I don't think your mom would be able to help with my injuries." He scoffed.
"You'd be surprised… Come on let's have her look at you." Rukia turned and motioned for him to follow her.
The shinigami gave an aggravated groan. "I don't think your parents should meet me"
"Why not? They are cool with Shinigami, even if Dad's a bit more anal then Mom. Quincy pride and all he states." Rukia explained.
She started to walk off before she realized he wasn't following. Couldn't this guy just listen to her for once? He had a bit of a dumb look on his face as Rukia reached over and grabbed his hand. Without much of a fuss the shinigami followed after her as she tugged him along. A few of her fellow students still lingering on the school grounds gave her a strange look as she toted the boy behind her, but she couldn't bring herself to care about their reactions. Rukia had succeeded in dragging him almost halfway towards her house before he finally slipped his hand out of her grip and moved to walk next to her.
"What are your parent's names?" He suddenly asked.
Rukia glanced up at him instantly wondering if this shinigami knew them. After all, he knew what a Quincy was and as far as she knew there were only like four Quincys left in the world and all of them were blood related to her dad. Also the name Ichigo did ring a bell, but from where she really wasn't sure. Maybe he was an old friend of her mom and dad. Giving him a good hard look once again, she suddenly realized how familiar he looked. Clearly Rukia hadn't seen the shinigami, whoever he was, in ages, that is if she had known him at one point.
"My mom's name is Ishida Orihime, and my dad's is Ishida Uryu." She replied watching his face, carefully judging his reaction to the names.
There seemed to be a spark of recognition in his eyes before he stopped and looked at her. The shinigami seemed to study her just as she was studying him for a moment before he quickly turned away again as if unable to face her for some reason. Rukia was beginning to realize there was something about her that made the shinigami unable to look her in the eye. He really couldn't be that shy could he?
"I know them both…" The shinigami said looking down the sidewalk they were currently traveling on. "Why is your last name different from them if you are their daughter?"
Rukia didn't answer right away, letting the question hang in the air a moment as she wondered if she should really tell him. "Ah I see. If you must know…I'm adopted. My real parents died in a hollow attack. Apparently I've had high spiritual pressure since I was a baby and I was a magnet for them. Uryu, who is now my dad, saved me from becoming lunch for those monsters. They let me keep my family name, but they changed my first name…"
Rukia really didn't know why she had just willing divulged such personal information about herself. Normally, she would just ignore a question like that. But there was something different with this shinigami, there was something different with Ichigo, and once again she couldn't put her finger on it. Whoever he was, she knew she liked him, so the idea of playing shinigami for a while with him didn't sound like such a bad idea.
"Okay my turn for question. How do you know both of my parents" Rukia decided to ask.
The shinigami glanced at her again refusing to look at her outright before he spoke. "I've known them for a long time; they use to be my trusted nakama." His dark eyes seemed a little distant. "But something happened and, well, we lost contact."
"What happened?" Rukia asked, almost automatically.
The shinigami's eyes remained distant before glancing at her once again out of the side of his vision. "I believe it's my turn to ask a question. What can I do to convince you to be a shinigami in my place?" His tone seemed to hint that he didn't wish to share with her what had happened.
A small smile appeared on Rukia's lips. "I've already decided to help you. I live with a bunch of Quincys and a mom who can reject things. I've wanted a way to beat up hollows for a long time now."
That was true. Ever since Rukia had learned that her birth parents had died in a hollow attack, she had trained hard so that she would be able to stand up against hollows. She couldn't be a Quincy no matter how much she trained herself in its arts. There was just something about her dad's blood lined that made them able to absorb the spiritual particles to form the bow. Still, even without Quincy abilities, her skills with a Seele Schneider where quite advanced as were her skills with Gintō. It didn't help much though since she normally didn't carry many silver tubes on her and her dad didn't normally let her just walk around with one of the Seele Schneiders.
"This isn't a game you know." The shinigami seemed to warn.
Rukia looked at him with a serious look. "I know that… You almost died last night because of a hollow. I have my own reason for wanting to do this, so be thankful I decided to help you." And with that said, Rukia started to walk again.
Hearing his footsteps echo behind her, Rukia smiled. After a few more strides, the shinigami managed to fall in step next to her, his attention taken up by the cell phone he had produced from his pocket. They walked in a comfortable silence the rest of the way home, reaching the front door only 20 minutes later then Rukia normally did. Rukia wasn't one that normally stuck around after school. Being in only one after school club was more than enough for her and she enjoyed her time spent at home. She only hoped her parents weren't worried about her. Her mom had a habit of worrying over some of the littlest things when it came to Rukia and her dad didn't worry so much as control. He wanted to know what, where, when, why, and for how long, not that Rukia minded so much, but it did get a bit annoying.
Opening the door, she walked in, taking off her shoes at the entrance before pausing as she looked back at the shinigami that lingered in the doorway. He seemed hesitant to come in for some reason and as Rukia rolled her eyes she grabbed the front of his shirt and dragged him across the threshold. He didn't protest or resist the action, but he still seemed strangely stiff as he stood there.
"Mom, I'm home and I brought someone with me." Rukia yelled into the house as she gave her shinigami friend a look. "Well take off your shoes. If you do know my mom, she should be happy to see you."
The shinigami took a deep breath before reaching down and undoing his shoe laces as he pulled his shoes off. He remained strangely silent as Rukia heard footsteps echo from the front room and approach the entry way. No doubt her mom was curious about who she had brought home. After all, she wasn't normally one to bring friends home. Most of her school friends weren't people she brought home very often. That was more her sister's thing. Her mom appeared in the entry way a second later and had her normal welcoming smile on her face, but it wasn't a look that lasted long. As soon as she saw who Rukia had with her, her eyes instantly filled with shock.
"Kurosaki-kun…?" The confusion in her voice was evident as her smile faded.
"Hello, Inoue…" he replied as stoned faced as Rukia's mother was.
A second or two of silence passed. Rukia could have cut the tension in the air with a butter knife; it was that thick and suffocating. Glancing between the two, Rukia was quick enough to pick up that whatever had happened between the two, it had caused a lot of stress. Slowly Orihime's eyes fell to her daughter then shot back to the man she used to know before she turned.
"Come into the living room…" Orihime quietly said, motioning for both of them to follow her.
The shinigami stared after Orihime with a look on his face that belonged to someone who had just lost something dear to them. His shoulders lost all of their tension as his fists clenched at his side and he muttered something that Rukia didn't catch. Rukia watched him anxious to know what had transpired between this shinigami and her mom, but knew better then to ask about something that was obviously painful for both of them. After a moment or two, his gaze finally turned towards her and looked at her with a look that made Rukia's heart jerk painfully before he walked past her and into the living room. Slowly she followed after him, feeling a bit like she was treading on some private part of his world that she had no business knowing about.
Orihime had already sat down upon in one of the armchairs and quietly motioned Ichigo to a seat on the couch. Rukia glanced at the two before deciding to give them a private moment. Whatever had happened wasn't her business. As she turned to leave she was surprised when a hand shot out catching her before she could make her exit. Her eyes followed the hand slowly to the face of the shinigami before looking into his sorrowful eyes.
"Does she know?" He asked suddenly and Rukia knew the question wasn't directed at her but was about her.
"No… Soken knows not to bring it up and Airi doesn't know either. I wanted to tell her but Uryu doesn't think it's wise." Orihime quietly said.
What was this thing that had the shinigami's eyes filled with such sorrow and what did it have to do with her? Apparently Soken knew something, but her older brother pretty much seemed to know everything. Soken not only was smart but had a calm head about him that made him excellent to get advice from. Rukia really loved her older brother but he was in 20 and in college now. It was rare to see him except when he came home on holidays. Airi, Rukia's sister, was also someone great to listen to too and she knew how to relate better being only a year older. It was just the many things that Rukia didn't see eye to eye on with her 16 year old sister that put a kink in their relationship.
The shinigami released her before turning away again. "I see."
"What are you guys talking about?" Rukia asked looking at her mom. Rukia wouldn't deny it; the way that the conversation was going was seriously starting to freak her out a bit.
Silence was her only reply.
"You both know something that you are clearly keeping from me." Rukia rebuked.
Slowly Ichigo's gaze swung around and looked at Orihime. His face was placid, as if he was trying to hide all of his emotions behind the angry look he wore. As for her part, Rukia's mom just looked sad as she turned to return the shinigami's gaze. Their lingering silence only served to aggravate Rukia even more as her eyes suddenly held a venomous look.
"She is your daughter; I have no right to tell her." His voice was solemn as he spoke, and he slowly rose to his feet. "But if you don't, I will."
Orihime closed her eyes before shaking her head. "Maybe this is all fate, Kurosaki-kun…" A humorless smile passed over her lips. "After all, you gave her your powers last night just like Kuchiki-san gave you her's. Rukia, go upstairs and under your father's and my bed is a grey photo album. Go get it for me please"
Rukia paused trying to piece together her mother's almost cryptic words, but by the way her mom had said please Rukia knew it would be wiser to do as her mother had asked. Whenever she had that tone, bad things normally happened. When any of the kids disobeyed, it was that tone that had always instilled a healthy fear in Rukia to not upset her mother. Turning, she darted upstairs to follow her mother's instructions and quickly found the book her mom had asked her to find deep under her parent's bed. As she dusted off the thick layer of dust, it was apparent that the book hadn't been touched in a long time. Getting up, she quickly returned back downstairs and handed the book to her mom.
The shinigami in her living room didn't say anything as her mother took the book. He merely sat there, watching quietly and passively as Orihime opened the old album. The book was made up of old pictures, a bit discolored from age, of her parents at a much younger age. Her mom didn't look bad for being 45, but when you compared her with the pictures of her back then her age really seemed to shine through. Orihime slowly flipped through the old album and paused on one page in particular before she reached forward and pulled a picture free and handed it to her daughter.
Rukia took the picture from her mother studying it carefully. The picture had a bunch of people in it. Some of the people from the picture Rukia knew, like her mom and dad. The giant standing in the background was who Airi always called Uncle Chad. Her mom's childhood friend, Tatsuki, was there too. What really surprised her was to see Ichigo in the picture next to her dad wearing an annoyed look on his face. She glanced at the picture then back at the shinigami on the couch realizing that he hadn't aged a day since this photo was taken. That was amazing since, from what she could tell, it had been some time ago. Rukia's eyes returned to the photo scanning over the faces before she stopped on the petite figure next to Ichigo in the picture. A small smile was aimed up at the ever scowling Ichigo, making it look like she was the one that caused the look on his face. What surprised Rukia the most was how much the girl in the picture looked like her.
Glancing up at her mom with a confused look, Orihime took out another picture and handed it to her. It appeared to be in the same place as the picture before, but the girl that had caught her attention was sitting in Ichigo's lap pointing towards her mom. Everyone had smiles on their faces including Ichigo who had his arms wrapped around the girl's waist in such a way that it appeared the two were dating in the picture. Rukia's eyes lingered on the photo a moment longer before looking up at her mom and Ichigo.
"Who is she?" Rukia quietly asked, handing the photos back to her mom.
"Her name was Kuchiki Rukia," Orihime got kind of a sad smile on her face and Rukia noticed Ichigo eyes had fallen to the floor once again. "She was my best friend for many years," A few tears threaten to spill from Orihime's eyes. "She was also Kurosaki-kun's wife before she died."