Sweet! 7,000 words! I am proud of myself. I really hope you'll enjoy this chapter. It's full of suspense and emotion (At lease I tired to fill it with emotion.) Please enjoy, chapter 3!
"Yoruichi, where is my brother?" Rukia asked the tall girl. Yoruichi hesitated. She knew exactly where Byakuya was, but she remembered what he told her. She had to cover for Byakuya until he got back, otherwise, things will go horribly wrong.
Swallowing her bite of food, Yoruichi smiled uneasily. She cleared her throat and thought of a quick cover-up.
"Oh, he went out for a while. He said something about... flowers! Yeah, he was saying how he was going to get you flowers to make up for the herb loss." Yourichi started to sweat. Rukia was speechless. That didn't sound like Byakuya, especially with the way he acted last night. Something was off.
"But he would be back by now, right? The florist is only a mile away from here." Rukia suspiciously. Yoruichi's eyebrows rose.
'Damn, this girl is smart!' Yoruichi thought.
"That's because he went out of town. He wanted to surprise you, but oh well! Surprise ruined!" Yoruichi hoped she wouldn't catch on. She'll have to call Byakuya later and tell him to pick up flowers for Rukia. Why must she be so jittery when it comes to lying?
"Oh, I'm sorry... what town did he go to?" Rukia asked her. Yourichi wanted to groan miserably.
"He didn't say! He just up and left. You know Byakuya, always rushing off like that." Yoruichi had to stop talking so fast. She shoved her fork full of salad in her mouth and started chewing frantically. Rukia found this all odd. Something was a little off about this whole thing. Byakuya wouldn't have an outburst over Ichigo and then immediately leave out of town just to get flowers... on top of that, Rukia didn't know where he even was. She'll have to call him later.
"Ooo! I wonder what kind of flowers he's going to get you, Rukia!" Allison suddenly chimed. She looked to Ichigo once again with bright eyes. "What's your favorite flower, Ichigo? What's your favorite plant in general? It could be a tree, or a bush, or grass, or even something underwater!" she said excitingly. Ichigo's eye twitched as he tried to swallow the large spoonful of rice. He gulped down hard and panted slightly.
"Uhh... I don't really have a favorite type of plant..." Ichigo said. Allison frowned pathetically.
"Nonsense! Everyone has a favorite plant! Like Renji likes Water Lillies, Yoruichi loves Chamomile, and Rukia... well, Rukia gardens, so she probably has more than one favorite plant!" Allison smiled. Ichigo was surprised at this girl. Did she ever get tired? She seemed so endlessly happy, as if nothing could dampen her mood. "My favorite flower is the white Calla Lily! They remind me sort of like and ice cream cone. Oh! What's your favorite ice cream! I love mint chocolate chip! It's so good!" Ichigo stared at Allison like she was a horror movie.
"Allison, chill. You're scaring him..." Yoruichi face palmed. Allison only laughed. Ichigo looked to Rukia with a confused expression. Rukia nodded.
'Answer her. Don't be rude!' Rukia mentally screamed. Ichigo looked back at Allison.
"Well, if I were to choose a plant... I'd chose a Forget-Me-Not." Ichigo said. Everyone's eyes opened. He knew flowers like that? That was a tad scary. Ichigo gulped and sat backwards in his chair at the sudden stares.
"I don't think I've ever heard of those before..." Rukia said. "What are they, Ichigo?" she asked him. Ichigo cleared his throat and swallowed hard. He wasn't used to talking in front of strangers.
"Why do you like them? They sound nice!" Allison smiled again. Ichigo thought for a little bit.
"Well, I like the flower mainly because of it's name. To never forget something, or someone. Nobody wants to be forgotten, especially flowers." he explained. Everyone's jaw dropped and Ichigo felt uncomfortable once again.
"That was wonderful, Ichigo. I'm impressed." Renji commented. Ichigo smiled at him gratefully. Looks like making new friends was easier than he had expected, but he didn't want to get too attached. Not just yet.
"Yay! Renji learned his manners!" Allison teased, crushing Renji's spirit.
'If she wasn't a woman, I'd totally treat her differently...' Renji said internally as Allison snuggled his arm.
After lunch, Allison and Renji said their good byes and departed. Rukia closed the door after saying farewell and walked back to the living room. She was about to head upstairs to change when she noticed Ichigo lying on the couch on his back with a painful grimace on his face.
"Ichigo?" Rukia called to him, walking over to the couch. Ichigo winced, letting out a groan. "Ichigo, what's wrong?" Rukia asked worriedly, stroking his cheek. Ichigo jerked his head away and moaned once again. Rukia should've known not to touch him. He isn't used to that kind of physical contact yet. "Ichigo, what's wrong? Are you okay?" she asked him once again. Exhaling painfully, Ichigo turned his head towards her.
"I... I think I... ate too much..." he groaned. Rukia blinked. She didn't even realize that he ate nearly all of the food Yoruichi put out. His stomach did look a little distended...
"Oh, Ichigo..." Rukia put her hand to her face. He must be bloated to capacity. Ichigo let out a whimper as his stomach made a beastly noise. Rukia sighed. She knew the major problem was he hasn't eaten a big meal like this in God knows when. She knew that when feeding an "emaciated" person they should start out with very little and not a buffet like Yoruichi put out. She knew Ichigo's was thin and his stomach was probably having a hard time handling the amount of food. After all, the boy did eat nearly half the spread. Rukia then got an idea.
"Hey, Ichigo." she spoke to him. Ichigo cracked an eye open to look at her. "When's the last time you've had a bath?" she asked him. Ichigo raised an eyebrow.
"Why?... do I stink?" he asked. Rukia giggled. His innocence made her laugh.
"No, silly. I mean a hot, relaxing bubble bath." she explained. "The warm water may help settle your stomach." she smiled. Ichigo opened both of his eyes. When was the last time he actually took a bath? Besides the time he fell into the pond of a few cities back, or the time he went fishing in he stream almost six months ago when he was fishing. This question actually made him think hard. It was starting to hurt... "I'll go run the bath. You stay right here and don't move." Rukia said before running up the stairs. Ichigo watched her the whole time until she disappeared. He sighed and let his head fall back on the cushion.
'Why the hell did I eat so much!' Ichigo yelled at himself. He should've stopped after his third plate... Ichigo's stomach gurgled again and he gagged rather loudly. He covered his mouth and winced. He had to keep this food down, otherwise he may get in trouble for puking on the floor.
"Here." Ichigo's eyes snapped open when he heard the feminine voice. It was Yoruichi. She was holding a very tiny bottle full of a translucent, green liquid. Ichigo gave her a horrified look. Did she really expect him to drink whatever was in there? "It'll help your stomach. It's a special tea I learned how to make. I thought you might have needed it." she said. Hesitantly, Ichigo sat up and took the small glass bottle gingerly. He looked at it and twirled the bottle with curiosity. It looked like a poison... perhaps it was. Maybe she was trying to kill him secretly. This is the kind of stuff that was going to put him to sleep and kill him within minutes and- "Will you just drink it! It's not poison. I'm not murderer." Yoruichi snapped. A second later, the bitter liquid was running down Ichigo's throat. Once he was finished, he stuck out his tounge, which had turned green, and coughed.
'That was horrible!' Ichigo screamed silently. He winced as the bitter after-taste took control over his taste buds. Yoruichi giggled. Seeing Ichigo like this was comical, but not as funny as Allison torturing Renji. That should be a television show.
"Now, c'mon. It wasn't that bad. Just think of it as a medicine." she said. Ichigo scowled. He didn't like medicine either. Always gave people weird and unnecessary side effects and tasted terrible. Just like that supposed "tea" he just gulped down, but he had to admit, his stomach was feeling a little better. "Next time, don't eat so much. Too much of a good thing is bad, don't forget." Yoruichi said, smirking before getting up and leaving to the kitchen once again. Ichigo was left with wide eyes. What did she mean by that? Now he was scared.
"Okay, the water's ready!" Rukia said happily as she came down the steps. Ichigo turned his head to look at her. "Oh, good to see that you can sit up. Get up and follow me!" Rukia motioned with her hand for him to come upstairs. Ichigo dawdled for a moment. He wasn't all too sure if he wanted to take a bath... not that he didn't want to, just not in someone else's home. "C'mon, Ichigo. I have some clothes for you to wear." Rukia said. Ichigo reluctantly got up and followed Rukia up the stairs. Maybe a bath would do him some good. And maybe help his stomach like she said it would. Plus, it has been a while before he bathed. He'd like to smell nice for once.
Upstairs, Rukia showed Ichigo the bathroom. inside, there was a large, white porcelain tub with a faucet above it attached to a long steel pipe, filled with steaming water. Ichigo had to admit, it was a nice bathroom. "Here are your clothes." Rukia said, handing Ichigo some new clothes to wear. He guessed they were from Byakuya or Renji. "Here's a towel, the soap and stuff is on the shelves, and when you're done, just turn the knob at the base of the tub and drain the water." Rukia explained. Ichigo nodded briefly before Rukia shoved him into the bathroom. "I want you to relax. This is supposed to be nice and calming." Rukia smiled at him. Ichigo nodded again. "Well, if you need anything, just call me." Rukia said before closing the door. Ichigo was left standing in the middle of the bathroom. He did was he did best: looked around like a newborn baby studying it's new surrounding.
The bathroom was typical; toilet, bathtub, sink with a large mirror, cabinet for holding towels and such, a bright light hanging from the ceiling, cabinets, and nice sandy-colored tiles. Ichigo liked it. He walked over to the toilet and placed the lid down, putting his clothes on top. He then began to strip of his sweater, pulling the article off his boney body. He tossed it to the ground and removed his pants and boxers. Ichigo had caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and sighed. He hated his body. He stood up straight and looked at himself. He looked so thin. He could see his ribs and collar bone. He turned around and could see his spine and shoulder blades poke through his skin. It made himself feel disgusted. Then there was the large, discolored scar down his torso. How it stretched from underneath his left nipple and all the way down to he right side of his hip. He winced as he looked at himself, how everything said something about him. The scar told the story over and over and over again. It replayed in his mind endlessly, making his head spin. He wished he could forget it, but it seemed impossible.
Finally breaking his gaze from the mirror, Ichigo walked over to the tub. He lifted his leg to dip it in the water.
"Aye!" Ichigo yelped. The water was hot, very hot. He backed away slightly, shocked at the temperature. Was it the water? Or was it him not experiencing a hot bath for so long? Well, it looks like he was going to have to deal with it. Inhaling deeply and biting his tounge, Ichigo slipped into the tub and sank himself slowly into the hot water.
Downstairs, Rukia fiddled around at the kitchen table with a pen. Yoruichi was busy washing the dishes. Rukia was a little worried about a small problem. She had to go to work tomorrow, but she didn't want to leave Ichigo here alone. She didn't know what to do and it was stressing her quite a bit. She sighed loudly and Yoruichi noticed.
"What the problem, hun?" she asked, starting to stack the clean plates. Rukia turned to Yoruichi.
"I don't want to leave Ichigo alone, Yoruichi." Rukia told her. Yoruichi wiped her hands on a towel and sat down next to Rukia. She pondered with her for a minute. She understands why she wouldn't want to leave Ichigo home alone by himself. She even understood if Rukia didn't want to leave him here with just herself. She was pretty freaking scary. If only they had a... sitter. Yoruichi came up with an idea.
"I have an idea." Yoruichi said, smiling deviously. Rukia looked to her. "Why don't you let me and Allison watch him? She works late afternoons, so you'll be home by the time she has to leave, and I'll be here too. I'll even make sure she behaves herself." Yoruichi winked. Rukia's eyes lit up.
"You're a genius, Yoruichi!" Rukia cheered. Yoruichi smiled proudly.
"I know I am." she gloated, sticking her chin in the air.
"This'll be great! And Renji gets out around the same time as me, so I can wait for him. This is going to work out better than I thought. Thank you so much, Yoruichi!" Rukia threw her arms around her friend. She was grateful she was willing to help, and getting Allison around Ichigo may break, no shatter his shell and get him to talk more. That, or scar him. Either way, Rukia still thought this would be a good idea. It'll also soften Byakuya's suspicions of him. Since he works constantly and is rarely home long enough to eat, he can relax just a bit more about Ichigo.
"Oh, but do you think Allison will be okay with it?" Rukia asked. She didn't want to make the girl she just met practically babysit.
"Are you kidding?! She'll be ecstatic when she hears the news! If it's one thing she loves more than Renji, it's making new friends, and I think she's taken a liking to Ichigo already." Yoruichi's known Allison for a few years now, so she knew her like the back of her hand. Rukia smiled.
"Are you sure? because, I won't make her do something that she doens't want to do. Especially since I hardly know her." Rukia said. Yoruichi waved at hand at her.
"Trust me, she won't mind. Spending days with me will keep her occupied. I'll teach her how to bake, make sure Ichigo gets some meat on his bones, and hopefully find Kon. That fat little troublemaker. I hope he didn't get affected by the storm." Yoruichi finished worriedly. Rukia sighed. When it came to Kon, nothing else could get into Yoruichi's mind.
"Don't worry. I'm sure Ichigo will help find that cat, and when you do, you better put that thing in a crate in the basement!" Rukia said sarcastically. The girls laughed. Rukia was grateful she had friends like Yoruichi. Looks like Allison is going to become one as well. She laughed harder at the possible thought of her torturing Renji. That's a sight to see. If only Byakuya would lighten up. If only he could see that Ichigo was trustworthy and not a bad guy. If only there was a way.
In the large building so many miles away from his home, Byakuya sat in front of Isuzu, who was typing on his computer, running a file on Ichigo. There was just one problem Byakuya had stupidly not thought of.
"Yo, Kuchiki, I'm all up for doing a search on this guy, but it's kind of hard to do such that when I don't have a last name!" Izuru almost blew up. Byakuya smacked his hand on his face. How could he, one of the most skilled investigators make such an amateur mistake? It was unforgivable.
"I apologize, Izuru. It was just in the heat of the moment. Plus, Rukia only told me his first name. I'm not even sure if that kid told her his last name himself." Byakuya said. Izuru sighed and sat back in his chair, feeling frustrated. It's been a few months since he's done a case, and almost two years since he's done a case with Byakuya.
"Well, I have over 3000 Ichigos in this system. Without a last name, this search will take a while." Izuru's words made Byakuya's eyes widen. 3000?! That was over the top.
"What's an estimation on how long without a last name?" Byakuya asked. Izuru sighed and thought. Cases like this are a slow process, and searching for just one person with hardly any clues won't be quick.
"Well... to get an exact match... probably a month." Izuru said. Byakuya couldn't belive this. A month?! If he did it himself, it'd probably take a little under two days, but he wasn't an investigator anymore and he had other responsibilities at home. Damn, this was irritating.
"Damnit..." Byakuya growled. He sighed heavily. He didn't trust this Ichigo guy. Nobody just shows up out of nowhere from the middle of the woods without a motive... an evil motive. And he couldn't just interrogate him like a normal person. Ichigo wasn't "normal" like Rukia told him. He was skittish, and cornering him would cause him to probably run. Asking for a last name would make Ichigo feel threatened, so Byakuya was left with what he only had. "Are you positive there are no major files on any Ichigo in the system?" Byakuya asked seriously. Izuru shot him an irritated look.
"Your version of 'major' is in nearly all of these files here. As for things like murder, manslaughter, theft, and arson, it's 562 of these cases. This is going to take time, Byakuya. You'll just have to deal with it." Izuru said sternly. Byakuya wanted to snap back at him, but he knew as a professional just as much as everyone else in the building that Izuru was right. This kind of thing will take time. Rushing a process like this will end up in confusion and possibly chaos. Byakuya wasn't going to chance it.
"I understand..." Byakuya answered. Izuru sighed once again and flopped back in his chair. Working with Byakuya wasn't exactly a walk in the park. When Byakuya worked here, he was somewhat pushy and overbearing, but damn did he know how to solve problems. That's why everyone respected him. He was serious about his job, and knew how to get it done. It was a rush and a thrill. That's what everybody needed in this building, but it seems like that wasn't going to come back ever again.
"By the way, Izuru..." Byakuya suddenly spoke. The blonde looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "How did you know it was me at the door?" Byakuya asked. Izuru hesitated before chuckling.
"Isn't it obvious? The way you knocked. Remember the 'Kuchiki Knock' when you worked here?" Izuru asked, crossing his arms. Byakuya raised an eyebrow. He really couldn't remember petty things like nicknames and such when he was working here. "Everyone knew it was you, Byakuya, when you'd knock twice, but hesitate on the third knock. Then, one day when I asked you, you said you didn't realize it because you were always busy reading files and failed to knock the third time. So, when everyone noticed it, we all called it the Kuchiki Knock." Izuru finally finished. Byakuya was speechless. He never realized that people knew who he was so easily by a simple knock on the door, then again, now that he thought about it, he did do that at a lot of places other than here. Was it because of his job? Or did he always do that?
"Sorry for the off topic question... I was just... curious." Byakuya looked away. Izuru laughed. He really did wish he had Byakuya as a partner again. Going solo wasn't very fun. At least with Byakuya he had some company. What really bugged him was why he quit in the first place. He never told anyone the reason, and never wrote it down on the resignation papers. No one questioned it, and left it at that. After that day, rumors spread about Byakuya, and seeing him here was a total shock for everyone. Even Izuru.
"Hey, Byakuya..." Izuru started. Byakuya looked at him. "Just between you and me here... why did you quit?" Byakuya didn't answer. "I mean, you loved this job. You were so lively, now you're just... gone. I can keep a secret. What was your reason?" Izuru asked. Byakuya didn't say a word. He stood up from his seat and threw his coat around his shoulders before making his way for the door. Izuru was shocked. Even Byakuya didn't say anything.
"I'm afraid that is none of your concern, partner." he said sternly, turning the knob. "I will be calling in a few days. I expect a progress report. Good day, Izuru." Byakuya said, closing the door and departing. Izuru was left speechless and flustered. He groaned and tapped his fingers on his desk.
"Still the overbearing bastard I know..."
Byakuya walked out of the building, but not without receiving so horrified expressions. He shrugged them off and walked to his car. He sighed as he fumbled with his car keys and unlocked his car. As soon as he sat down, his phone went off. He reached in his pocket and dug it out. He looked at the screen and noticed it was Yoruichi. That's something he wasn't expecting. He pressed the button and put the phone to his ear.
"Hello, Yoruichi?" Byakuya answered, a little worried. He told her to call for any emergencies, so of course he was a little concerned.
"Hey, Byakuya! Listen, I need to stop at a florist there and get some flowers!" she said hurriedly in a whisper. Byakuya's face scrunched up in confusion.
"Flowers? Yoruichi, what kind of sick joke is this! This is no time for games!" he nearly yelled.
"I know that! Rukia got suspicious and almost squeezed the truth out of me this morning!" Yorurichi said. Byakuya's eyes widened. Rukia was catching on. This wasn't good. "I told her you went out to pick up some flowers in another city because you didn't like the shops here! So I suggest you better get the most expensive ones you can find to make it seem legit!" Yoruichi was talking so fast it made Byakuya's head spin.
"Hold on, where's Rukia?" he asked.
"She's upstairs with Ichigo. She 's giving him some new clothes and will be down here any second. That's why I'm whispering like an idiot!" Yoruichi yelled, or at least tried to. Byakuya face palmed. If he didn't love Rukia so much, he'd tear his hair out. "All right, all right. I'll be home late because of it, but just make sure Rukia doesn't find out what I'm doing." Byakuya said sternly.
"I gotcha! Oh, gotta go!" Yoruchi then hung up without another word. Byakuya turned off his phone and sighed. This was so much stress on him, but he wasn't just going to let strangers in his home. Not without a background check, even if it is without the person's consent. Byakuya started his car and drove out of the parking lot, searching for the nearest florist.
Ichigo lied on his bed, red-skinned and panting. The hot water was too much for his body to handle. He didn't complain to Rukia because he didn't want to seem picky and a wimp, but he was regretting it. He felt hot and loopy. He wasn't really good with high temperatures.
"You dummy..." Rukia grumbled as she fanned Ichigo with a thin book she found in her room. Ichigo only groaned miserably.
"Sorry..." he managed to say. Rukia smiled sweetly at him.
"It's okay. If it was too hot, all you had to do was put some cold water in it." Rukia said. Ichigo looked away from her nervously.
"I didn't want to touch your stuff... I'm a stranger in your home." Ichigo said. Rukia furrowed her eyebrows.
"You aren't a stranger. Stop saying that!" she scolded him, making him shut his eyes and shiver at the sound of her voice. Rukia sighed and continued fanning him. She told him to take off his shirt, but Ichigo refused, so she didn't try to make him. "Ichigo, you're welcome in my home now. My home, is your home, and you're allowed to stay here as long as you'd like." she said softly to him. Ichigo opened his one eye and looked at her. She smiled again at him. Ichigo still didn't think all this kindness from everyone was real. He feels like it's some sick joke and they're going to kick him out like the last time it happened to him. The voice inside of him was still screaming, telling him to run and get out, but his heart was telling him otherwise. Ichigo never listened to his heart, until he met Rukia.
"Are you okay, Ichigo?" Rukia asked him. Ichigo blinked back to reality. He had spaced out. When he gets hot, he tends to get very sleepy, and this comfortable bed was making him feel drugged.
"Y-yeah, I'm just tired." Ichigo shook his head, rubbing his eyes. Rukia giggled.
"Well, don't let me keep you awake. Why don't you sleep. You have a busy day ahead of you tomorrow." she said, standing up from her seat and beginning to walk away. That's when Ichigo's eyes bolted open.
"Woah, wait! What do you mean by that?" he asked, a little panicked. Rukia turned to him.
"Well, I have to go to work tomorrow, so I'm leaving you with Yoruichi and Allison." Rukia explained. Ichigo's jaw dropped.
"B-but... you're leaving me?" Ichigo felt heartbroken. Rukia's own heart started to ache as well.
"Not forever, Ichigo. Just for the day." Rukia said, feeling a little sad. 'He just like a toddler... who doesn't understand why his parents are leaving for the day.' Rukia thought sadly. Ichigo's always been alone. Being this close to someone for two days and then having them leave abruptly isn't the best feeling in the world, and it's never the same even if you are with a friend.
Ichigo frowned and looked away. Rukia felt terrible, but she couldn't just not go to work, as much as she wanted to stay with Ichigo. At least Yoruichi was going to be with him for the day.
"Ichigo, I promise you, I will be coming back. I'll be leaving around nine tomorrow and be home around two. Yoruichi and Allison will be here to keep you company." Rukia explained. Ichigo sighed turned his head. Rukia felt crestfallen. She sighed herself and left Ichigo alone to sleep.
Ichigo lied on his bed, thinking about what Rukia just said to him. He felt like a little child. He knew he couldn't take up all of her time. He felt selfish, but its not his fault. He's never depended on anyone like this before since... the incident...
"I'm such a moron..." Ichigo wanted to punch himself in the face. He didn't need to act like that. Anxious and confuse, yes, but not in the way he did. Not to make her upset. Ichigo felt tears stream down his face and he sniffed loudly. Why was he crying? This was starting to confuse him. "I'm sorry, Rukia..." Ichigo sniffed. He took a deep breath before calming his nerves. He'll have to apologize to her tomorrow morning. For now, he'll try to get some sleep.
Rukia flopped down on the couch next to Yoruichi, who was dressed in her pajamas. She had a bowl of popcorn in her lap and one of her favorite movies was on television. She noticed Rukia's sudden discomfort and turned to her.
"What's the matter, munchkin?" she asked. Rukia whimpered.
"I told Ichigo about tomorrow, and he seemed really upset about it." Rukia said, supporting her head in her palm and her elbow propped up on the arm of the couch. Yoruichi frowned.
"Oh, so he doesn't want Allison over?" Yoruichi asked in a disappointed tone.
"No, it's not that. He just doesn't want me to leave. That's all." Rukia said, still frowning. Yoruichi nodded.
"I see. I don't blame him. He's grown attached to you like a puppy." Yoruichi said, shoving more popcorn in her mouth. Rukia knows that. She's grown attached to him too... maybe... a little more than she's realized. He was kinda cute... unconsciously, Rukia smiled and a blush came to her face. She wouldn't mind dating him. Not at all. "I called Allison and told her about tomorrow." Yoruichi suddenly said, making Rukia break from her daydream.
"And? What did she say?" Rukia asked anxiously. Yoruichi's gaze was glued on the television, but after she was done chewing her popcorn she said:
"She said she'll be here with Renji nine o'clock sharp." Rukia's eyes brightened.
"I'm so thankful you guys are helping me out." Rukia said. Yoruichi smiled.
"No problem, Rukia. I am your tenant after all." Yoruichi said. Rukia shook her head. She hated seeing Yoruichi as a tenant. She was a good friend who was allowed to stay here as long as she wants. Just like Ichigo.
Rukia was about to tell Yoruichi not to see herself as a maid when a loud screeching was heard. The two females whipped their head to the door. They saw through the glass bright lights and rain pounding down on the house. They weren't even aware it was raining. As for the lights, they only guessed who it could've been.
A minute later the door flew open and stood Byakuya. He had an irritated look on his face and he was soaking wet. Rukia and Yoruichi stared wide-eyed at the man. Byakuya looked pissed. He looked like he was about to snap someone's neck.
"B-Byakuya?" Rukia stuttered. Byakuya's eye twitched before he held up his right arm. Yoruichi gasped loudly, for in Byakuya's hand was Kon.
"Doesn't this thing belong to you?" Byakuya growled. Kon mewled pitifully. The poor thing was wet and covered in mud. Dropping the bowl of popcorn, Yoruichi leaped over the couch and ran straight to her precious tabby. She clenched him tightly in a hug, getting a painful yowl from the cat.
"Oh, Kon! Kon, my sweet little kitty! I've missed you, you naughty little cat! Where have you been all this time?! Oh, thank-you, thank-you, thank-you, Byakuya! Where did you find him? Oh, I don't care! It's just Kon! He's here and I'm never letting him leave again!" Yoruichi squealed and she ran upstairs to her room to do God knows what with the cat. Byakuya ignored the purple-haired cat lover and walked over to Rukia, shoving a huge bouquet of flowers in her face.
"These are for you." he said bluntly. Rukia took the bouquet and gave Byakuya a confused look. "I went through hell to get those for you, so you better not let that ginger idiot eat them." Byakuay grumbled, walking away and up the steps. Rukia was left speechless and sat on the couch, holding the beautiful bouquet of white roses with pink edges. They were beautiful, wrapped in a velvet pink ribbon. She loved it.
"I guess he went to go get flowers after all." Rukia said to herself. She smiled at how kind her brother was. She stood up after turning off the TV and headed upstairs to her room. She'll have to put the flowers in water tomorrow morning.
The next morning, Rukia woke up an hour before having to leave for work. Byakuya had to go in early so Renji was left to driving her. She sat at the kitchen table, drinking her normal morning tea when she sensed someone's precense. She turned her head to the doorway and saw Ichigo. He looked sad and scare.
"Ichigo..." Rukia said. Ichigo looked away. He was still so skittish. "Ichiog, you can come sit next to me." Rukia invited. Ichigo looked at her, hesitating to move. But after a few moments of uncomfortable stillness, Ichigo took a seat next to Rukia. "You're up early. Are you hungry?" Rukia asked him. He shook his head and looked at her with sad eyes. Rukia looked back at him, almost feeling his depression.
"I'm sorry..." he suddenly whispered. Rukia was taken aback.
"Sorry? For what, Ichigo?" she asked him. Ichigo gulped, trying to keep back his tears.
"I'm sorry for acting so childish last night." he finally said. Rukia was speechless. "It's not that I don't like your friends, it's just that..." he hesitated again. He wanted to tell her. He had to. "It's just that... I-I want to be around you. I'm grateful you won't leave me entirely alone, but I... like to be with you, Rukia." he finally said. Rukia gasped slightly. Yoruichi was right. He had gotten attached. She smiled at him and lunged forward, wrapping her arms around him. Ichigo panicked slightly, his body became tense and he almost threw her off of him, but when he experienced her closeness for the first time, he actually... liked it. He liked it. This... hug! She was hugging him! He couldn't remember the last time he was shown affection. Slowly, Ichigo wrapped his arms around Rukia's frame. He then smiled, feeling tears come to his eyes. He tightened his grip slightly, not wanting it to end, but Rukia released her grip and sat up.
"That means a lot to me, Ichigo. Thank you." Rukia smiled. Ichigo smiled back at her and nodded, wiping his tears away. Rukia began to giggle slightly.
"Aww. You didn't have to cry, Ichigo." Rukia said, reaching for his hands. Ichigo kept a glossy gaze with Rukia's and didn't part. "Don't you worry, Ichigo. I will never leave your side so long as I'm still walking on this earth." she promised. Ichigo nodded. He still wished she wouldn't leave, but he'd get over it. He just hoped she wouldn't be gone for long.
It was almost time for Rukia to go and Renji's car just pulled up. Allison hopped out and ran right up to the door.
"Good morning, Rukia!" she piped before running right past the woman. Rukia regained her balance and gave Ichigo, who was sitting on the couch one last "good-bye glance" before leaving. Ichigo sighed and frowned that she was gone, but if he kept telling himself that she is indeed coming back soon, he just might make it through the-
"Ichigo!" Allison yelled behind Ichigo, making him fly off the couch and on the floor. Ichigo hyperventilated, trying to calm his rapid-beating heart. "Yoruichi is going to teach us how to bake today!" she chimed. Ichigo nodded like an idiot. He didn't know what else to do. This girl personally scared the hell out of him. "We're making cupcakes today! The old-fashion way! I'm so excited!" Allison was practically bouncing in place. Ichigo stood up and backed away slightly.
'I wonder if it's too late to run after Rukia...' Ichigo thought, but Yoruichi walked behind him and put her hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, Ichigo. She'll behave." Yoruichi smirked. Allison suddenly stopped bouncing in place and gasped.
"I almost forgot!" she said, digging into her back pocket. She pulled out a pack of cigarettes and Yoruichi gasped.
"Allison!" she yelled. Allison cocked her head to the side at her friend. "I didn't think Renji would get you into smoking!" she yelled. Allison narrowed her eyes.
"Are you nuts! I would never smoke! I stole this from Renji's car!" she yelled back. "Help me get rid of them. I don't want my Pineapple-Head smoking" she said sternly. Ichigo suddenly bursted out laughing.
"Pineapple-Head! That's hilarious!" Ichigo doubled over, grabbing his abdomen. Yoruichi laughed too. Allison never ceased to amaze her. Allison was perplexed at why they were laughing. It wasn't that hard to realize how much Renji looked like a pineapple with his hair up like that, but she didn't care. She loved him like that.
A sudden meow caught everyone's attention as Kon came slinking down the steps. Allison gasped and ran right over to him, scooping the fat cat in her arms. Kon meowed in protest and started struggling.
"A kitty!" Allison exclaimed. "I forgot you had a kitty, Yourichi! He's so cute and fat!" Allison smiled brightly. Kon was not having a very happy morning. Yoruichi laughed. Serves him right for running off like that and giving Yoruichi a heart attack.
"Well, before Allison kills Kon, let's head to the kitchen shall we?" Yourichi said, walking towards the kitchen. The thought of cupcakes jerked Allison's mind on the lesson she was getting today and she dropped Kon on the floor and followed her friend to the kitchen, leaving the cat to meow pathetically on the floor. Ichigo was still trying to recover from his laughing fit. He hasn't laughed this hard in a long time. He hasn't done a lot of things in a long time!
"Oh, Ichi! Aren't you coming?" Yourichi called. Ichigo straightened up.
'Ichi? I guess that's my new nickname now.' Ichigo thought as he walked into the kitchen. Ichigo wasn't much of a cook... or a learner for that matter, so he sat on the chair in the kitchen and happily observed after convincing Yoruichi that he preferred to watch. Allison was doing very well, minus the many spills she made, at learning how to make the batter and pour it into the cups, That is until... someone got a little combative.
Just as Yoruichi was going to pour the next cup, a handful of flour was thrown in her face, turning her skin bright white. She scrunched her face in surprise and placed the bowl of batter down, spitting away the flour that got into her mouth. Allison laughed had Yoruichi's reaction when she too got a face full of flour. Yoruichi clapped her hands together to rid of her flour and smirked.
"I've been in the kitchen for a long time, honey. Don't mess with the master!" she smirked. Allison returned her smirk and grabbed another handful of flour. Ichigo's eyes went wide.
"I'm a quick learner, Yoruichi. Don't underestimate me!" she yelled before the two ended up throwing all the flour they could get their hands on, both of them yelling, screaming, and laughing like maniacs as the kitchen soon turned into a battle scene. Ichigo was motionless, frozen with shock as he watched the two throw flour and batter at one another. When a large amount of flour hit his face, he spit it out and ran to take cover in the living room.
'Those chicks are NUTS! Damnit, Rukia, come home soon!' Ichigo thought as he rubbed his face, which was now ghostly white.
Rukia's shift was finally over and she hopped in Renji's car, closing his door. She buckled herself in and sighed contently, anxious to get home to Ichigo, as Renji drove off. She noticed he seemed a little disgruntled.
"What's the matter, Renji? You seem upset." she asked him. Renji scoffed.
"I think Allison took my cigarettes..." he grumbled. Rukia giggled. "It's not funny! It was my last pack I hid from her! I didn't think she'd find it under the driver's seat..." he frowned. It was true, every other pack Allison found, she confiscated. Now, Renji only had one left, and it was tucked under his mattress, the last place she'll look... for now.
"Why don't you just quit?" Rukia suggested. Renji shrugged his shoulders.
"Smoking was all I had before Allison. It's hard now. It's not as easy as people make it seem." Renji said. Rukia understood. She knew how hard it was "giving up" her brother to his new attitude. Thought, the flowers he gave her made her have hope again. She smiled.
"Well, you love her, right?" Rukia asked. Renji laughed out loud.
"That's a dumb question! Of course I do, midget! I wouldn't trade her for the world." Renji said proudly. Rukia chuckled.
"The world? What about cigarettes? Would you trade her for them?" she asked. Renji grumbled.
"Of course not! What do you take me for, an idiot?! I'd throw away every cigarette in the world for her! Every cigarette, cigar, pipe, and tobacco product in the world!" Renji yelled.
"Then quit if she means that much to you." Rukia said sternly. "She's going out of her way to make sure you have additional seconds added to you life, now you help her by not smoking." she demanded. Renji gulped. Great... now he has two girls down his throat about smoking. Looks like he'll have to give in. It would benefit him after all. Internally and externally.
"Hey, uh... do you think leaving Allison with Yourichi was a good idea?" Renji suddenly asked. Rukia raised an eyebrow.
"Uh, well, yeah... why do you ask?" Rukia wondered. Renji shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"Well, uh... Allison tends to get a little... squirrely..." Renji said. Rukia gave him a confused expression.
"Renji, just what the hell is that supposed to mean?" Rukia sometimes had no idea what he would talk about. Renji cleared his throat.
"Allison's like a... ferret. She gets very curious and playful and that leads to... trouble..." Renji said. Ruka's eyebrow twitched.
"I'm sure she's fine. Let's just get home." Rukia ordered. Renji rolled his eyes. They both silently prayed that nothing was going wrong.
Finally, the two were home and Rukia hurried into the house. She walked in the house and was surprised to see Ichigo on the couch. She took off her coat and boots and walked over to him.
"Ichigo!" she called. Ichigo turned his head to look at her and Rukia gasped. The entire right side and part of the left side of Ichigo's face was powdery white. "Ichigo... what the hell is this!" Rukia yelled. Ichigo shivered and gave Rukia a nervous look as she took a finger and wiped his face. Renji walked behind her and scowled.
"I told you..." he groaned. Just as Rukia was about to speak, there was a crash and loud laughing that caused all of them to flinch. Rukia and Renji ran to the kitchen while Ichigo ran upstairs to his room, Kon right behind his heels.
Renji skidded to a halt in front of the kitchen and gave an unimpressed look. Rukia stopped right next to him and gasped loudly. Yoruichi and Allison were covered head to toe in white, frozen in place with Yoruichi holding an empty bag of flour and Allison holding a wooden spoon. The entire kitchen was white, covered in flour and vanilla cupcake batter. It was everywhere. On the walls, the table, the fridge, the windows, the ceiling. In the sink and on the floor. It was a disaster. The girls exchanged glances and dropped their weapons, smiling nervously at Rukia and Renji. Renji and Rukia growled in irritation.
"She started it!" The two girls yelled simultaneously, pointing at one another. Rukia growled louder.
"I don't care who started it! I want this place cleaned up!" Rukia yelled. The two girls only stood in fright. This was going to be a long day...
I'm gonna stop right here! Yes! Oh, this story really had my imagination going! What will Byakuya find on Ichigo's file, if he finds one? Will Rukia grow deeper feelings for Ichigo? Will Renji quit smoking for Allison? Will the girls get in trouble? And what does Ichigo's scar have to do with his past? More important, what is Ichigo's past? So many questions, so little time to answer XD hope you like this chapter! Chapter 4 is on it's way!
