Chapter 8.
"Cause we belong together now, yeah
Forever united here somehow, yeah
You got a piece of me
And honestly
My life would suck without you" –Kelly Clarkson.
A cellphone was ringing.
Ichigo groaned.
He was sure that it was his cellphone; probably the midget was calling him. Only Rukia could wake up early after yesterday's party, his memories were a little bit blurry and he was totally blaming the beer but he didn't worry about the fact that he couldn't remember anything after getting into the pool; he knew that his memories would come back sooner or later. Without opening his eyes he reached for the annoying cellphone, guided only by the sound he found it and without looking at the screen he answered.
"Whoever is calling…" he said "it's Saturday and you should be sleeping."
Ichigo was expecting something like: "carrot top wake the fuck up" but instead, the words he heard made his blood freeze and an impending sense of doom settled in his stomach.
"Kurosaki Ichigo" a deep voice said "why are you answering Rukia's phone?"
Ichigo sat down immediately and opened his eyes.
He was in a living room, Riruka's living room to be specific, and Rukia was nowhere to be found. She was probably sleeping upstairs in Riruka's room. With trembling hands he checked the cellphone screen just to make sure that he wasn't having a nightmare, hell he definitely wasn't that lucky because the name that was showing on the screen was: Nii-sama.
Ichigo gulped.
He knew what he had to do. He had to say something clever; "good morning Byakuya, how is Hisana-san?" or "Hello Byakuya, nice to hear you" yeah, that sounded better; he had the words at the tip of his tongue. It wasn't that hard; unfortunately his brain wasn't working properly; perhaps it was due to the fact that he was hungover or the fact that he was so goddamn afraid at whatever Byakuya would try to do to him for answering Rukia's phone when she was supposed to be at her female best friend house that the first thing that came out of his mouth was:
"I swear that I didn't steal Rukia's virginity last night."
HOLY FUCK!
Ichigo waited for Byakuya to explode.
"I would hope so" the Kuchiki heir said calmly and Ichigo started to plan how to get the hell out of the country to work somewhere far away from Kuchiki Byakuya's influence.
"Fucking kill me." Ichigo cursed under his breath, which wasn't a good idea considering that he was on the phone.
"Don't worry Kurosaki Ichigo, I will" Byakuya said and Ichigo bit his tongue so he wouldn't mess the situation even more "but first explain; why are you answering Rukia's phone?"
Ichigo inhaled and exhaled once to relax.
"She forgot it at school yesterday and I'm keeping it for her." He lied lamely.
"Do you really expect me to believe that?" Byakuya asked.
"No" Ichigo said and then added quickly "I mean yes! You should believe me!"
Ichigo heard Byakuya sighing.
"Could you please give Rukia her phone?" Byakuya asked "I need to talk to her."
Ichigo didn't know how to explain that Rukia was probably hungover hugging one of Riruka's plushies so he decided to keep talking with Byakuya.
"Well… I would but I'm not with her."
"I'm trying to be patient with you boy" Byakuya said "where are you?"
Ichigo frowned.
"I'm not going to answer that; it's not like you're my dad."
Ichigo didn't understand why he just didn't hang up the phone. Was he a masochist or something? Although he had to admit that he was better than Renji at handling awkward conversations with Byakuya; the redhead would probably be sweating already.
"Kurosaki Ichigo…" Byakuya said angrily.
"Who are you talking with? Isn't that my phone?" Someone asked and Ichigo turned around just to find Rukia, already dressed up with a sundress to start the day. She smiled at him "Good morning carrot top."
Ichigo gaped.
"I knew that you were lying" Byakuya said and Ichigo paled.
"Why the scary face?" Rukia asked.
"Rukia…" Ichigo said as calmly as he could "your brother wants to talk to you."
He handed her the phone and her smile faded.
She was going to kill him if Byakuya didn't kill her first.
"You know..." Riruka said while walking downstairs with a mean smile "I was expecting you to have at least breakfast done; instead you two look like you saw a ghost or something."
Ichigo and Rukia were sitting on the couch, side by side, with pale faces and widened eyes.
"What happened?" Riruka asked while taking a seat in front of them on the opposite side of the living room.
"Ichigo answered my phone and told Nii-sama that he didn't steal my virginity." Rukia answered seriously.
Riruka looked at Ichigo with an amused and confused look.
"Uh? Why would he say that?"
"Because he's an idiot" Rukia said trying hard not to panic.
Ichigo wasn't talking. He was having flashbacks of last night; one second he was jumping into the pool with the midget on his shoulder and the next one they were both, soaked to the bone and laughing hard. That was the reason why he never drank alcohol; he couldn't handle it well. The next thing he remembered was how after that fireworks exploded, literally speaking; the Shiba family was famous for their successful fireworks business and apparently Ikkaku found their stockpile yesterday.
He could picture perfectly how Kukaku Shiba stepped into the garden yelling death threats to Kaien for making a party without permission and how everyone, including himself, ran away from the house. Riruka threw him the keys of the car and with Rukia he drove away from the Shiba residence.
That's how he ended up in Riruka's house.
"What happened to the others?" Ichigo asked and Rukia punched him on the shoulder.
"Nii-sama will kill me because of you and you're worried about the others?!" she asked angrily.
Ichigo huffed.
"He wouldn't want to kill you if you hadn't gone to that party."
Rukia huffed.
"So, why don't you run away?" Riruka suggested.
The raven haired girl huffed and crossed her arms.
"Nii-sama already sent a car to pick me up."
Riruka nodded. She was sure that otherwise Rukia would be already looking another house to stay or something.
"You'll be grounded for the rest of your life."
Rukia groaned.
"I know!"
Ichigo sighed. He knew that he would regret doing this but after seeing the midget so frustrated he guessed that he didn't have a choice, besides he was the one who answered the phone.
"Tell you what midget; I'll go with you and explain Byakuya."
Riruka raised an eyebrow surprised and observed with curiosity how her best friend looked at the carrot top with sad puppy eyes.
"Really?" she asked.
"Yeah" Ichigo said nodding "we'll have to find a suitable story to tell him though."
Rukia nodded; she didn't know what to do.
When Ichigo stepped out of Riruka's house; he was expecting to see one of Byakuya's employees in a fancy car; but today wasn't his day. Instead of a random guy he found himself face to face with Ginrei Kuchiki. Rukia's adoptive grandfather.
"Grandpa!" Rukia said happily and ran to hug him.
Ginrei Kuchiki was a kind old man and the owner of the Kuchiki fortune. Ichigo met him at Rukia's six year old's party; Rukia had never been fond of old people but when she met him, for some strange reason, she liked him. It was a matter of time before he became attached to her and with her charisma it wasn't hard, besides Rukia was her grandchild… sort of. The midget was born to be a spoiled brat, that was for sure.
"What are you doing here?" Rukia asked him.
Ginrei smiled and patted her head.
"I wanted to have breakfast with Byakuya and when I asked for you he told me that you weren't home" he explained "so I decided to pick you up so we could eat together."
Rukia smiled.
"Kurosaki Ichigo" Ginrei greeted with a smile and Ichigo bowed respectfully.
"Good morning Ginrei-san"
Ginrei grinned.
"There's no need to be so formal boy" the old man said "come, you should join us too."
Ichigo paled.
Breakfast with the Kuchikis? No freaking way! Byakuya would probably tell the maid to poison his food and knowing the midget she wouldn't even care.
"I don't think that…" Ichigo tried to say but Rukia gave him a look that clearly said he shouldn't refuse. "I mean… sure, why not?"
Ginrei nodded and the driver opened the passenger door for him. Ichigo sighed while getting into the car next to the midget on the backseat; this was going to be a long day.
"Byakuya told me that you were at your friend's house because of a sleepover" Ginrei said casually "I didn't know that boys were allowed to be at sleepovers with girls."
Rukia was about to say something but Ginrei kept talking.
"You didn't have a pajama party last night, did you?" The old man asked with a smirk.
Rukia blushed. This was something that she would never understand; when it came to her sister and brother she was able to lie about anything, really. After all, it was Byakuya the one that taught her almost everything and she really admired him so it wasn't hard for her to follow his example and conceal her emotions perfectly. Unfortunately, her grandpa always had a way to know that she was up to something… she couldn't lie to him.
"You have to help me." Rukia said suddenly and Ichigo looked at her with widened eyes.
To his surprise Ginrei nodded.
"I'm listening." He said "as long as you're not pregnant." He added while eyeing Ichigo.
Rukia blushed and Ichigo coughed.
"I'm not! It's impossible I'm…"
Ginrei chuckled.
"Don't worry Rukia I was joking" he said although Ichigo doubted it "what is it?"
Rukia took a deep breath and started to explain.
She told him everything from the beginning; how the girls planned to go to the party, how she drive the whole way to the Shiba residence, ignoring the fact that she didn't have permission, how she drank one or two jelly shots "I swear I'm not an alcoholic grandpa!" and how Ichigo ended up sleeping in Riruka's house due to the circumstances "I couldn't let him go alone at midnight grandpa!" and then she told him how Ichigo ended up answering the phone and saying something completely stupid.
"And now Nii-sama is going to kill us." Rukia finished.
Ginrei kept looking at the road for a few seconds before laughing; his laugh sounded authentic so Ichigo assumed that he wasn't mad at Rukia.
"I'll talk with Byakuya." Ginrei said finally and Rukia smiled.
Ichigo couldn't believe his luck. When they were almost getting to the Kuchiki residence he felt his cellphone vibrate on his pocket.
From: Monkey
"Dude, are you alive? You disappeared last night; please tell me that you didn't have an accident."
The orange haired teenager sighed and wrote a reply.
From: Carrot top
"I'm fine, well sort of… I'm on my way to have breakfast with the Kuchikis. SAVE ME!"
Renji chuckled at the message. He knew Ichigo would tell him everything about how he ended up having breakfast with Rukia's family later. The poor guy was probably hungover.
From: Monkey
"Good luck dude, I'll go back to sleep."
Ichigo huffed and the car stopped. They had arrived.
"Promise me that you'll behave…" Hisana said sweetly.
Byakuya didn't say anything.
"Byakuya-sama…" Hisana said warningly.
The Kuchiki heir sighed and nodded.
Hisana smiled and kissed him softly on the lips before going to greet his visitors.
"Ginrei-sama" she said bowing.
"It's good to see you Hisana" he said kindly "good to know that so many years with Byakuya hadn't turn you into someone bitter as him."
Hisana chuckled and then she noticed two figures stepping into the house.
"Ichigo?!" she asked surprised "what are you doing here?"
Ichigo blushed.
The main reason why Ichigo and Renji didn't like to come to Rukia's house too often was because of Byakuya but the second reason was Rukia's sister. When they were little, they used to spend lots and lots of time playing around the Kuchiki mansion with Hisana supervising of course, and in a matter of time the two boys developed a silly childhood crush. Rukia's sister was kind and sweet and always smiled, so whenever she was in the room Ichigo and Renji couldn't look at her straight in the eyes without blushing like mad. She was too goddamn cute. It didn't help that she looked a lot like Rukia.
How she ended up marrying a stiff man like Byakuya was a mystery for them.
"Hisana-san I'm sorry to come so suddenly but…"
Hisana smiled and Ichigo thought that everything would be more bearable with Renji around.
"Oh don't worry!" she said "I'll just tell the maid that we have another guest, breakfast is almost ready!" and with that she excused herself to go to the kitchen.
Ichigo sighed.
"Yeah, I missed you too sister!" Rukia said annoyed at Hisana but she didn't hear her "why she always ignores me when you're here?!"
Ichigo couldn't answer her because Byakuya was there looking at him with murderous intent.
"Byakuya" Ichigo said and gulped "I swear I can explain."
"What are you doing here Kurosaki Ichigo?" he asked with an icy tone.
"I invited him" Ginrei said "don't worry about it Byakuya."
Byakuya frowned.
"I thought that you were going to be with your female friends." The Kuchiki heir said looking at Rukia.
Rukia nodded with a huge smile.
"I was" she said "but Ichigo decided to go to a senior's party and when he noticed that it was too late to go back to his house he texted me to ask if he could stay at Riruka's house."
Ichigo was already planning how to make Rukia pay for all this.
"And you were okay with it?" Byakuya asked.
Rukia nodded again.
"Of course Nii-sama! He's my best friend it was the least I could do!"
Byakuya looked at Ichigo.
"Is that true?"
No, it wasn't and while he was annoyed he couldn't exactly tell him that the only reason he went to the party was because Rukia wanted to go. He also couldn't tell him how Rukia was sort of in love with jelly shots and how he decided to jump in a pool with a tipsy Rukia on his shoulder.
"Yes, it is" he answered and shrugged "it's not like as if I'm interested in girly pajama parties."
"Come on Byakuya, breakfast must be almost ready" Ginrei said and started to walk towards the dining room "I'm hungry and we have to talk about business."
Byakuya sighed and followed his grandfather.
Breakfast wasn't half bad; Ginrei did most of the talk. He asked about school and Ichigo and Rukia answered his questions. When the old man asked about joining clubs Ichigo mentioned soccer and Hisana told him how it totally suited him, she still remembered how Ichigo and Renji tried to teach Rukia to kick a ball, although she was useless at it. The food was also marvelous, Ichigo seriously needed breakfast so he enjoyed it and he thanked God how Byakuya kept a cool mood most of the time. Ichigo really liked Rukia's family and he could tell that they didn't dislike him.
Byakuya tolerate him enough at least.
He looked at the happy midget sitting next to him and smiled; it was great to know that after her years on the street she had a good home.
He didn't notice Ginrei's curious eyes watching him smiling at Rukia.
"How are you going to explain this to your dad?" Rukia asked him. He had already said goodbye to her family, it was time to go home.
"I texted Karin last night" he said "so they know I'm fine."
Rukia sighed.
"Great" she said "oh that reminds me! Tell Yuzu that I'll see the Chappy special with her this Friday!"
Ichigo nodded.
"I'll never understand your love for the stupid rabbit midget." He said and decided to go but before he could leave Rukia pulled him by his arm and kissed him on the cheek.
"Thanks for yesterday and for today carrot top" she whispered on his ear so no one inside the house could hear her.
Ichigo's eyes widened and Rukia got back into the house laughing.
"Girls are freaking crazy" Ichigo whispered and started to walk towards his home ignoring the funny feeling on his stomach.
Yui looked through the contacts on her phone; she knew that his number had to be there. Her green eyes widened when she found his name and without hesitation she pressed "call"
"Hello?" the voice at the other side of the line asked.
"Hey there! Remember me?"
She heard a sigh.
"Yui, we study at the same school, I obviously remember you."
Yui smiled.
"Great, listen I know that this is sudden but I need a favor."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah, I'll pay you of course."
"How much are we talking about?"
Yui huffed.
"Considering that you're going to have fun… not so much, but I can reconsider depending on how well you do this."
"Fine, then start talking."
Yui smirked.
The plan to destroy Kuchiki Rukia's life was about to start.
On Monday morning Ichigo decided to go earlier to school; he knew that the new members of the soccer team were already published on the list so he wanted to see it before the ruckus of the other students. He wasn't disappointed when he read the list.
New soccer team:
Toushiro Hitsugaya
Shiba Kaien
Kurosaki Ichigo
Abarai Renji
Madarame Ikkaku
Hisagi Shuuhei
Yasutora Sado
Kano Ashido
Ichigo smirked.
"Well, aren't you happy?!" someone asked and put an arm around Ichigo's shoulders "we'll be playing together!"
Ichigo rolled his eyes.
"How come you're alive?" the orange haired teenager asked "I thought that Kukaku-san was going to kill you for throwing a party at her house."
Kaien sighed.
"She was going to kill me" he confirmed "fortunately Miyako was there and she explained; I swear Ichigo my sister loves my girlfriend more than she loves me."
Ichigo nodded.
"Tell me about it" he said "dad was mad because I didn't sleep at home but when I told him that I had spent the night with Rukia he congratulated me, he doesn't care what I do as long is with the midget."
Ichigo mentally punched himself.
What the fuck did he just said?!
"Oh Ichigo" Kaien said smirking "you spent the night with Kuchiki-san?!"
Ichigo blushed.
"Not like that idiot!"
Kaien laughed and started to walk towards his classroom.
"You'll have to tell me the details later; see you at practice."
Ichigo sighed.
He hated his cousin.
Without thinking too much about it Ichigo decided to go to his classroom and when he got there he noticed that almost no one was inside, except for Ishida and some other random students.
"Hey Ishida" He greeted.
"Kurosaki" he said "you woke up earlier."
Ichigo nodded.
"I wanted to see if I made it to the team."
"Oh, that" Ishida said "congratulations."
"Thanks…" Ichigo said and then remembered "Hey, where did you go after running away from the party?"
"Why do you want to know?" Uryuu asked while trying hard not to blush.
Ichigo shrugged.
"Just curious I guess."
Ishida was about to tell him how it wasn't his problem when a senior stepped into the classroom. Ichigo frowned confused and Ishida couldn't help but notice how the orange haired teenager tensed.
"What are you doing here?" Ichigo asked.
"I was looking for you."
Ichigo scowled.
Kato Ashido was a senior; he had pale skin and dark hair. Ichigo had known him ever since he was ten years old; he was a bully and considered himself better than everyone else. Ichigo didn't like him, at all. He used to tease Rukia because she was too short. When Ichigo read his name on the list of the soccer team he paid no mind to it, after all most of his friends were there too, but he didn't like the fact that now he was looking for him.
"What the fuck do you want?" Ichigo asked.
"I just need to know" Ashido said smiling sardonically "are you dating Kuchiki Rukia?"
Ichigo looked at Ashido extremely confused.
"Not exactly" he answered "why do you care anyways?"
Ashido shrugged.
"I just thought that she became really pretty, don't you think? And I just wanted to make sure that she wasn't dating anyone."
Ichigo clenched his fists.
"What for?"
Ashido smiled.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm interested in her."
Ichigo thought about punching the guy right there but people started to get to the classroom and everyone was watching the scene with curiosity.
"Touch her and I'll kill you." Ichigo whispered threateningly.
Ashido smirked.
"Is that a challenge?"
Ichigo didn't answer, instead Ashido said goodbye and left the classroom.
"What was that?" Ishida asked.
Ichigo ignored him; he didn't want to know. There was just no freaking way he was letting that loser get close to Rukia.
No fucking way.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE REVIEWS, FAVS AND FOLLOWS! Guys you rock!
Gosh, it took me a while to get the chapter out of my head. Now I have to go to study, tell me what you think about this chapter. All I know is that if the soccer team of this fanfic was real I wouldn't mind to go to the matches. Don't you love overprotective and jealous Ichigo? I know I do. I needed to write an Ichiruki scene because the manga is driving me CRAZY! By the way, do you remember Ashido right? He was the one who saved Rukia in Hueco Mundo, I like him but I needed him for this. Sorry not sorry.
Guys, seriously your reviews keep me going so tell me what you think. I LOVE YOU ALL!
Btw... I apologize if you find grammar mistakes.
