572 and One
CHAPTER EIGHT
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"Sis?"
Rukia asked, scooting ever closer to her older sister. She wondered what her sister was thinking. Was her sister remembering their parents? Or she was missing Brother, who was away on a business trip? She felt blessed to have her adoptive brother as her brother-in-law and sister-in-law as her biological sister. Life couldn't be more well-rounded and wonderful. However, life would be even better if the big guy hadn't walked into her life and turned it upside down. Sometimes she wondered which pole was north and which was south.
"Hmm?" Her sister finally responded.
"Does your h—" She couldn't bring herself to say that aloud but had to charge ahead. "Does your heart ever get tired from beating? I mean like when we run and our heart beats faster than normally, it tires us out."
Her sister turned over and lay on one side, facing her. "Beating as in beating for the ones you have strong feelings for? Like when you're annoyed by or exasperated with someone's words or deed?"
She was thankful her sister knew her so well. Her sister's deep understanding of her could be scary at times. Like when she was crazy enough to pose a question as she'd done… a few minutes prior. Having her sister observing her wasn't really thrilling either. She'd never been able to hide anything—absolutely nothing—from those knowing eyes. Eyes of the mother she could no longer delve into searching for wisdom.
"Does yours?"
Pulled back to reality but her mind couldn't process the question. "Does my what?"
"Does your heart ever get tired from beating, little sister?"
She groaned and her sister just smiled her gentle smile like always. Her sister always had a gentle smile and warm embrace ready whenever she needed them. Just as her sister was holding her, sharing her body warmth.
"I'm not sure." She paused trying to recall the moment when that big guy had annoyed her. "I think yes. My heart beats so fast that it gets tired whenever I cross path with that big guy."
"Oh?" Her sister said, chuckling. "He's an interesting young man, isn't he? I like him because he's like you." Her sister turned serious all of a sudden. "Like you, he's unique. Both of you are, so don't ever believe others say otherwise."
She had no response to that and was sure her sister had already known. Glad to have someone understand her so well yet confused being put together with that big guy, she averted her eyes. For what purpose, she was uncertain. The one thing she was absolutely certain of was that she'd just opened the Pandora's Box and her sister, gentle but perseverant, would keep on fighting her cause to the very end.
And she was afraid since she was that cause. To what end? She was even more afraid to find out.
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"Sweetheart, you can't go in there."
Rukia and Ichigo stilled, not knowing what was going on but didn't want to let go of each other either. They waited and listened.
"But Mommy, I haven't seen Auntie in ages." Voice of a small girl, begging. "Please let me see her, pretty please?"
"We'll let you see her, but not now." That voice couldn't be anyone else's but the man of the house's. "Be a good girl and go downstairs. We'll be down in a moment for dinner."
He felt bereft when Rukia left his embrace to get the door. Just as the door opened, a little girl ran straight into her waiting arms.
"Aunt Ruki, you're home. You're finally home. I missed you." Not concerned who else was in the room, the little girl showed her affections openly and showered his wife's face with kisses. "Mommy won't be sad missing you and Daddy won't be mad at Uncle for running you off."
"Now, young miss, what do we do when we have guests?"
"But Daddy, Auntie and Uncle aren't guests." The little girl let go of Rukia and walked up to him. He'd expected a hug from the energetic girl but got a big surprise instead. She pulled at his pant legs then hugged him around the neck when he squatted down. "Mommy said you're a good man but often misunderstood. And Daddy, Daddy said you're rotten but always mistaken for good." She turned to her parents, who were shaking their head. Probably in disbelief. "Didn't you say so, Mommy? Daddy?" Eyes back on him, pure and honest delving deep. She studied him then pronounced, nodding her little head. "Uncle, you're a good man."
"How old are you, little one?"
"I'm nine and my name is not little one." Proudly the girl introduced herself. "I am Sakura Kuchiki and I thank you for bringing my aunt back home. You don't know how relieved I'm to have her home. I swear my hair will go grey if she stays away any longer."
Sakura's speech left everyone speechless. He couldn't believe little Sakura was only nine. "Are you sure you're nine and not twenty-nine, Sakura?"
But she didn't notice as her attention was on something at the doorway. Not something but someone. A boy, a bit taller than her. The boy's beyond-his-years intelligent eyes zeroed in on him. Curious, he looked back but the boy only bowed in greeting then took Sakura's hand. They walked down the stairs. The boy listened attentively, silent while the girl kept on chatting, hands moving all directions in expression.
"How old are they?"
He asked the parents, who were standing proud. He would be too if they had been his kids. Someday he too would have kids of his own to be proud of. With Rukia. Only if she wanted kids and they were blessed with some.
"They're nine."
"And twins."
Hisana seconded. "Yes, they're twins and nine years old."
"The boy is a spitting image of you, Brother." The father looked annoyed. What? He wanted to say but couldn't. He needed the man's olive branch. "They're adorable, aren't they?" He asked his wife, whose gaze lingering at the stairs, spaced out. Concerned, he called softly. "Rukia?" No response. He walked around and stood before her. "Rukia, are you all right?"
"Yes. Yes, I'm fine," said his wife, now fully alert. But he was sure there was moisture in her beautiful eyes… and sad. So very sad. Sorrowful even. "They're so adorable. Sis, do you think we can have them for the rest of the day? Brother?"
Her smile was lively and infectious, he could only smile deciding to put off any worry or question. The older couple was slow to respond. They exchanged a strange look then nodded. Hesitantly.
"Of course, they both were dying to get to know their long absent aunt and uncle."
"Especially Sakura." Hisana added and he suspected Byakuya didn't want her to. "Sakura has always been curious about you, Rukia. I think they'll become partners in crime. You'd better watch them, little brother."
Rukia chuckled along with her sister. He too then laughed. "Thanks for the heads up, Sis."
"Anytime, little brother."
"Little brother." Byakuya huffed. If the man even knew how. "Hisana, he's not little. Men his age are made father many times over and have kids already in junior high."
"Not all men." Hisana pointed out, stating the fact but good naturedly. "We're in our forties but the kids are still in elementary."
"I agree, but he married much younger than I did." Somehow Byakuya's reply seemed acidic. "If he'd been as good a man as everyone keeps on saying, he would have been a father already."
Odd. If he didn't know better, he would think the older man was boiling for a fight in the name of justice. Justice on what? And for whom? Also, marrying young didn't mean the couple would—could—have kids early. Conception happened when it happened. Unless science intervened. Even that sometimes science couldn't defy nature and grant desperate couples their wish. At the thought he wished he and Rukia wouldn't have to take that route. If worse came to worst, they would just dote on Sakura and her twin brother. Or they could adopt.
"What did you name Sakura's brother?" Intrigued. "And which of them is older, Sakura or her brother?"
"We named him Satoya and he's the older twin." Hisana beamed. "He doesn't just look like his father. He's like him." Complaining but sounded more like satisfaction than a complaint. "I mean the exact copy of Byakuya."
There was no doubt about that. He only saw the boy once yet could tell father and son were alike.
Lucky Byakuya!
His inner dialogue disrupted when his wife pulled at his sleeve. He knew what she wanted to say. She meant for him to curb his tongue and not speak until he rolled it at least twice. In other words, she asked him to keep his mouth zipped. His slips twitched letting her know he got the message and for her not to worry too much. There would have been blood—or at least a thud here and there—if it'd been ten years ago when he'd been a hot headed teen, out for a good fight with anyone had done him or his own wrong.
Not caring what the brother would say or do, he leaned down and planted a kiss on his wife. Hisana smiled her encouragement while the brother glared daggers at him. Yet he thought—almost believed—the older man was trying his damn best to keep his lips in place. Well, it didn't matter what the other man thought, said or do, all he cared about was his wife. The wife who was blinking nonstop up at him. She was probably thinking he was asking for a death wish.
But when he winked at her, she winked right back.
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Dinner hadn't been terrible as he'd anticipated. The brother—being the head of the household and host—had been courteous. If he hadn't known better, he'd have thought his host had tried to be entertaining.
"You know, I expected to be ran off the property when your brother gave me the look."
"The look?"
"Yes, the look." He searched for the right words. "I don't know how to describe that look but I think you know. You grew up under his roof."
His wife said nothing but laughed. He wanted to act offended but couldn't stop himself from relishing her laughter. Chuckling, he told her. "I know I sounded like a boy. It was exactly how I felt. I mean that's how I feel where you're concerned."
"I see."
Very unlikely. He couldn't see or understand it himself. Yet. Perhaps she did. "What do you see in your crystal ball, fortuneteller?"
"My dear man." She playacted the fortuneteller, hands touching her crystal ball. "I see that you're not alone. There is someone—a young woman—who acts out of character where you're concerned as well. Like the heart she lost to you, she loses her head when you're in sight."
He made eye contact with her before turning onto the street of their block. "Thanks for the fortunetelling." There was no traffic so he risked another look at her. "What's your fee, Miss Fortune?"
Eyes back on the road, he stepped on the brake slightly as their destination was two houses away down the block. He parked his car by the curb and turned to her expecting one of her smart comebacks. None came. What greeted him was a silent Rukia. She was looking at their wedding band and her forefinger caressing it. He understood the mood since he'd experienced the same earlier when they had stood at her brother's door.
Hoping to lighten the atmosphere, he announced releasing his seat belt then hers. "It's time bring Mom her daughter home."
Ichigo said opening the car door for her. Like a robot she got out and walked with him when he took her hand.
Of course she knew she had to come home sooner or later. Preferably later. Much later.
What was she going to say to them, the two gentle souls who had thought of and taken care of her like a daughter? She'd let them down leaving their beloved son the way she'd. Worried, she took one step another—hesitantly—toward the house she'd very briefly called home. Beside her, Ichigo was light on his step, whistling. She wanted to know how he could be so calm whereas her legs turned leaden at every step.
"Ichigo."
His whistling stopped, he turned around. "Am I walking too fast?" His brows knitted with concern. "Are you all right? You haven't said two words since we turned the block."
"I'm sorry." She smiled weakly. "It's my synapse giving me the fight or flight signal. And I suspect the fight is red."
"Let's fly away then," said Ichigo, his hands holding hers.
He was being supportive as ever. And this time he wasn't just being a good friend or protective stand-in brother. He was her husband, she was his wife. And where the husband went, the wife followed. "Let's not." She squeezed the hands enfolding hers. "I really want to see Mom and Dad although my insides are tied up in knots. I missed them. Most of all, I must apologize to them for leaving without a proper goodbye."
"I felt the same when I rang your doorbell."
"My doorbell?" Her eyes narrowed. "So I'm going back there after paying respects to Mom and Dad?"
"Tsk. Tsk." Still on play mode. "Dear Mrs. Kurosaki, you haven't seen Kurosaki men in love. We Kurosaki men protect our own." He winked wickedly. "In other words, we keep our own, we're stuck on our woman. No matter where you go, you'll always see me."
"Yes, I still remember how Dad was around Mom." She dropped her head sighing. "I just hope you won't be like Dad. We women need our breathing space too."
"Yeah. I hope I won't turn into another Kurosaki." A corner of his mouth lifted. "But Mom is perfectly fine with his craziness, so everything is just perfect."
She took a long, deep breath. "Alright, I'm ready." Another deep breath, she confirmed. "I really am ready."
"Let's go home." He squeezed her hand, smiling. "Mrs. Kurosaki."
Her lips curved on their own accord in response to his, she held his hand in both of hers. "Yes, let's go home, Mr. Kurosaki."
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22 JANUARY 2015
Hello again my dear readers,
I apologize for not updating before now. I've been busy and it'll only get more hectic in the coming months. Hence, I'll try and finish this story by the end of the month.
Thank you for your patient waiting. Hope you guys don't find this new addition too disappointing.
***Apologies to native Japanese readers and to those who know and speak Japanese***
I wanted a Japanese name for Sakura's twin brother, so I googled 'Japanese names for boys start with S'. My search yielded a list but somehow I like the sound of Satoya. So once again, I googled to know what it means or at least something positive and nice on the name.
Here is the link www . themeaningofnames . org?n=Satoya&m=1&d=30&y=1993&go=Go. And I really like what I found there. Please let me know what you think of the name Satoya. Thanks in advance.
