Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for all of you who read and reviewed. I love reviews; I can't wait to read them. Please continue reading and reviewing I promise awesomeness!
Just to let you all know I will be changing the rating of my story after this chapter to accommodate the many upcoming lemons. I hope this won't be an issue for anyone...I'm just bored with keeping it so clean Don't worry I will re-categorize the story with an M rating when the time comes just wanted to give fair warning.
~Pixiewolf
CHAPTER 8
ICHIGO
Ichigo waited on the grounds of the school far enough away from the windows not to be noticed by any curious window gazing students, sipping a drink thoughtfully. He liked the peace and quiet that this place seemed to offer. After a few peaceful moments he spotted a lone figure running towards him at a distance. He glanced around hurriedly making sure he was still alone. Moments later a dishevelled looking Renji stopped in front of him slightly out of breath,
'Hey Ichigo, long time no see,' yawned the red haired man as he closed the short distance between them.
'He must've just gotten up,' thought Ichigo trying and failing to keep concern for Rukia and her sleeping habits from creeping their way into his thoughts.
Ichigo gave the area one more sweeping glance since he knew that meeting Renji at school was dangerous even if he didn't have a choice. Besides, Renji had said it was urgent that they meet that morning. Urahara's shop nor his house offered much in the way of privacy during the day plus with increased number of hollow activity there weren't many opportunities where he was alone. He was impatient to get this meeting over with. Class had started so he was unlikely to be seen but he still didn't want to get caught by any of his friends and be forced to explain why Renji was there.
'Renji we need to make this quick. If Rukia sees you-'
'Oh no problem, I have been spending loads of time with Rukia, actually she's expecting me after school,' exclaimed Renji nonchalantly before Ichigo could finish.
Ichigo relaxed a little trying to ignore the fact that Renji's relationship had become much closer in the past few weeks. He put the unpleasant images conjured forth from Renji's statement from his mind and continued on. He couldn't allow himself to lose control again.
'So I gather everything has been going well?' Asked Ichigo, trying to keep the bitterness out of his voice. Renji remained oblivious to Ichigo's growing frustration and continued into his version of the previous nights' events.
'Sure, Rukia went out again last night and I thought I might have had to step in but at the last minute she beat the Hollow.' Ichigo caught his breath at Renji account of Rukia's dangerous encounter.
'I mean I didn't even feel it and she was after it so fast. For a moment I thought I had messed up and she sensed me, so I took off hoping to get far enough away that she would lose my trail but when I turned around and searched the area but she was nowhere near me. That's when I sensed the Hollow. It had been heading in the direction I had come from, towards Rukia. I don't think it noticed me so I got the jump on it, oh and don't worry I was careful, besides when I back tracked to find Rukia that's when I found her fighting in the empty lot with the same type of Hollow. It looked more powerful than the one I found and it sure was giving Rukia a hard time. It was small but fast. Faster than any hollow I have ever seen. I almost rushed in to help, but at the last moment she killed it.' Renji lowered his voice at the end of his story,
'I'm glad I was there Ichigo, if that other Hollow had made it to her I'm not sure she could've dealt with 'em both by herself. I mean I barely noticed the other one, and well,' he let the rest of the sentence drop. Ichigo was glad to finish this conversation, the idea of a second close call in less than a month had him on edge. He felt a dark foreboding feeling wash over him, like he was missing some important pieces of the puzzle when he had only started to piece together the outside. Renji gave him an appraising look,
'Yah I thought so too. Something's seriously wrong. There have been way too many attacks lately and there different somehow."
'Yah I noticed too. Are you still okay with keeping an eye on her? You look tired,' asked Ichigo his voice grave. Renji's smile faded his features becoming more serious,
'Like I tell you every time, I will keep her safe while she goes out on these night-time whatever this is.' He leaned closer lowering his voice forcing Ichigo to strain to hear him,
'You know I can maybe talk to her Captain about getting her some backup or at least have us accompany her. He should be concerned by now considering all of her reports she must be making to him about these strange hollow attacks. And you know since he's the one that has her going out like this.'
Ichigo froze,
'He couldn't tell Renji that Rukia had most likely gone off the deep end and was actually going out alone because of what he said to her. Besides forgetting the fact that the soul society frowned on this sort of thing and that he thought this was quite possibly the most dangerous thing she had ever gotten herself into, there was a small part of him was proud of her. She was getting stronger; he had already done so much to her he would not be the one to take this away from her.' He looked at Renji determined to make sure Rukia's secret was safe even if that meant going to Urahara about the hollow attacks rather than the soul society.
'You know better than I that it is unwise to get involved in another squads' business.' Ichigo could tell right away that he had picked right in choosing Renji to follow Rukia. He would never risk their friendship or her reputation as anything but exemplary shinigami. A small pang of guilt made itself known as Ichigo watched Renji struggle with his loyalty to his friend and his fear for her well being.
Lucky for him Renji's loyalty won.
This time.
RUKIA
Rukia walked briskly towards the school, glancing down at the clock in her phone and groaning, 'First bell was 10 minutes ago.'
Even though the human school had no bearing on her soul reaper duties she still felt obliged to be on time and have all of her homework finished. Involuntarily she remembered something Ichigo had told her about why she needed to continue to go to school with them,
'You know Rukia school will help you better understand the humans you shinigami fight so hard to protect. Besides you could use a few more lessons on acting like a human, you suck somethin' awful at it.'
She had remembered vividly that her reaction had been one of embarrassment. It had been only a week after she had met Ichigo and the others, so her awkwardness in social situations had been mocked relentlessly by Ichigo. But in the end it had been that moment when she felt the gap between herself and the human world somehow become much smaller and it had made her happy. Her heart fluttered with pleasure at the fond memory. Groaning at her mental slip Rukia sped up her pace until she was jogging briskly towards the school, which she could now see in the distance.
5 minutes later she neared the front gate, slowing her pace as she walked through. Relieved to find no teachers or students lurking around she began walking in the direction of the front doors when she noticed the striking red hair of one Abarai Renji half concealed behind a bush.
'What's he doing here how, I thought we arranged to meet me later after class,' she thought back to her conversation with him the day before.
'He must've made a mistake; I had better go and tell him to meet me later. He's not the kind of person who messes up meetings like this. Maybe I should ask him why he's been out so late at night.' As she began walking towards him, she carefully picked her way around several large plants.
'What an odd place to wait for me. If it hadn't been for the hair I would never have seen him,' she joked to herself as she neared him.
Her amusement at her friends' strange actions died the moment she saw Him.
'Ichigo!' His name was out of her mouth before she could stop it. Realizing her mistake she darted around the corner pressing herself as close to the wall as possible. She didn't know why she hid from them, she could have greeted them but it had been a gut reaction.
'Why am I hiding? Renji is my friend, and Ichigo is-,' her train of thought was mercifully cut short when she heard their voices.
It had been so long since she heard the sound of Ichigo's voice that she almost missed their words. They were speaking so low; it was difficult to make out most of what they had to say,
Sure, Rukia went out again last night and I thought I might have had to step in but at the last minute she beat the Hollow-
That's Renji why is he talking about me to Ichigo?' She strained to hear more but their conversation was muted,
For a moment I thought I had messed up and she sensed me-
Oh and don't worry I was careful...I almost rushed in to help-
Are you still okay with keeping an eye on her?-
Rukia could hear no more of their conversation she didn't think she could have handled anymore anyways. The thought that she was being spied on for who knows how long, like some sort of child, had almost been enough to send her out into the open. He rage had frozen her to the spot so she stood and waited until long after both Ichigo and Renji had gone their separate ways. She stood and she thought about the conversation she had overheard and one thing was for sure.
She hated Ichigo.
Mercifully the rest of the day had come and gone and Rukia paced her room like a jungle predator ready for a fight. She had never once considered her friends would stoop to spying no matter the reason. She shivered at the thought of her privacy being violated. Above all it disturbed her to know she had not once sensed it. How long had this been going on? She agonized over the question as she searched her mind for clues of these intrusions. Then a realization hit her.
"They really do think I'm weak. Both of them."
Ignoring logic and common sense, Rukia's mind latched onto this idea, fully convinced that this was the true reason for Ichigo and Renji's spying.
"What else could it be?"
A small part of her frenzied mind screamed out its protest to her conclusion,
"They care about you, you have been reckless."
Rukia shoved the thought aside almost immediately, telling herself that shinigami routinely fight stronger hollows with no problem, she is only performing her duty. Rukia unprepared and unfamiliar with the emotions of betrayal and rage felt herself being swallowed by despair.
She wanted nothing more to go talk to her friends, but she couldn't, she wanted to fight hollows with her friends, but she couldn't, she want to go back to when everything made sense, but she couldn't, she didn't want to feel...
Rukia's head snapped to her open window and the setting sun. She may not have much control over anything but she could fight. She could fight until she forgot. She could fight until she was no longer weak.
She went to get her chappy dispenser, switching into her other form with long practiced ease. She walked to the open window and, focusing all of her energy and concentrating on sensing the locations of Ichigo and Renji. Now that she knew who to look for, she had a better chance of sensing them out of the millions of other souls. It only took a fraction of a second to recognize the overpowering essence of Ichigo. His energy invaded her consciousness; before she could shut it out she felt an all too familiar warmth flood through her body. Her body reacted willing and ready to do whatever he required.
Whatever he required.
She began wondering about the softness of his lips, the smoothness of his skin. And she remembered the incident in the washroom, when he'd been trying to help her – for her own good. Except now, she almost wished he wasn't just trying to be nice.
With a sinking feeling Rukia snapped out of her daze.
"But of course, that's all it was. He was being nice."
She felt herself flush red and regaining herself, pushing against Ichigo's energy with alacrity.
Satisfied that Ichigo was nowhere near her, nor could he spy on her, Rukia took a few breathes to centre herself before attempting to locate Renji. Where Ichigo's energy had been overpowering and aggressive, drawing her in, consuming her, Renji's was subtle, only lightly flitting across her consciousness. Rukia knew Renji had been trained to mask his energy but he was not anticipating someone actively looking for him. It took a great deal more effort on Rukia's part until she was satisfied Renji was not in the area.
Satisfied with her efforts, Rukia took to the sky just as the last of the sun's rays dipped below the horizon.
ICHIGO
Ichigo walked slowly home from Urahara's shop. It was late and he hated getting home after dark. He looked at his watched and groaned. It was well past supper time and he was starving. It had been a strange day all around plus he now had a strange unexplained foreboding feeling. He wondered mildly if Rukia was at home and then hurriedly dismissed the thought when he recalled how strange she had been acting earlier that day. It was becoming harder and harder for him to stay connected to Rukia, they were almost strangers now. A small part of him cried out at the loss of his best friend. Despite that small part of him he felt relief that his plan was working, Rukia was growing stronger, if not more risky. He was confident that when the time came for her to make a difficult choice she would be ready. Like on that night when she had made him a shinigami, no hesitation. She merely did what needed to be done to save lives. But that had been a life time ago, they had been but strangers, and she. His thought trailed off as he attempted to avoid the unasked question.
"What had she been? A strong, intelligent, independent women? No. She was still all of these things and more. Then what? What has changed since then?" Asked Ichigo, as if posing his question to the universe.
The question hung in the air unanswered like a dead thing.
Ichigo forced himself to move on, to shove the questions away and to forget about the past and the way things were before.
He glanced again at the lowering sun and then in the direction of his house. Sighing he walked up to the front door and let himself silently thanking the gods for his absent family. The moment he opened the door to his room he felt the urge to leave. It came on suddenly and with intensity he couldn't explain. Grabbing Kyon, Ichigo slipped into his shinigami form, and without any thought or plan he slipped out into the waiting night. Ichigo, hovering in mid air, closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath, letting the day's tensions flow from him. He let himself feel the presences of those around him and without thought he let himself move in the direction his body decided to take.
He had just felt like moving. He had no particular destination in mind; it was only that he wasn't standing still that mattered. He just let himself wander, his mind wander and let his control slip.
Just a little.
It hit him hard and fast. A hollow was close by and it was a strong one. He had never been very good at sensing reitsu but even he could sense the unmistakeable prescience of this beast filling the area with its raw energy. He wondered if he should call the other's for backup briefly before he was overcome by a second, equally as powerful reitsu. Any thought of getting back up flew out of Ichigo's mind when he caught sight of the two enormous beasts.
"What the-?"
The larger of the two beasts spun to face a surprised Ichigo and attacked with a long curved talon. It was a crow shaped creature with hundreds of long pointed teeth, wings black as night. Ichigo dodged the attack easily unnerved that he had been caught off guard by a hollow. As the second creature turned its massive overpowered body around Ichigo seized the opening and attacked, dispatching the hollow. A spray of the creatures' foul blood sprayed the air as it let out a terrifying death scream. Ichigo covered his ears futility trying to block the horrible noise. Without warning the second creature attacked with such force it sent Ichigo into a nearby building.
Dazed, Ichigo struggled to his feet nursing a long ragged gash that ran from his shoulder to his navel. Ichigo held his sword out blinking rapidly trying desperately to clear the fog from his vision. The living creature let out a long bellow before charging Ichigo.
Ichigo stood completely still as he waited for the creature to get closer. He could hear as the huge thing lumbered towards him, its feet shaking the ground with every step, its heaving breaths souring the air.
He waited.
Without warning a blast of acrid warmth exploded across his face. He swung.
The beasts' horrible screams filled the air forcing Ichigo to his knees as the world spun around him. He felt the earth shudder under him as the hollow took its dying breath and fell to the ground.
Ichigo sat on the ground leaning on his sword trying to make sense of what just happened. As his vision began to clear, Ichigo began to get a sinking feeling. Something about all of this seemed horribly familiar. As he looked at the empty street before him he had the unsettling feeling that somehow Rukia was involved. As he stood he searched his brain trying to recall every hollow they had faced in the last few months. None of them even remotely matched the description of the two overpowered winged behemoths he had just fought.
Ichigo sheathed his sword, wincing as his wound send pain flashing down his torso. He inspected the wound carefully as he had been taught by his father. Once he determined it was suitably clean and surprisingly shallow, Ichigo let out a sigh of relief and relaxed a little. He still felt uneasy about the whole situation but nothing was going to be accomplished by him standing there. Deciding a walk to clear his head was in order, Ichigo made his way slowly home as the sun finally dipped below the horizon. An hour later he was home. At first Ichigo began heading around to the back of the house to where his window was. He stopped dead in his tracks and turned around when he remembered he had the whole house to himself. His sisters where both on an overnight school field trip that his father was chaperoning. Ichigo walked into the house and shut the door behind him a smile on his face. Switching bodies he went directly to the washroom where he dressed his shallow wound and cleaned himself up. Not bothering to button his shirt Ichigo walked out the washroom feeling better than he had in a long time. Stopping at the door to his room he glanced down the hall at the closed door to Rukia's room.
The two soft thumps of Rukia entering her room through the window, which normally would have gone unnoticed, sounded harsh in the otherwise silent house.
He froze.
That's when he remembered.
Who had seen those hollows before.
