Here you go~
Chapter Eight: Lesson
One week. Kurosaki Ichigo gave himself a week to wait for Kuchiki Rukia to come back and apologize for her attitude last time. He thinks that what Rukia just showed him was very inappropriate for a person who has been living for more than a hundred years. Where was the maturity? He was actually hoping that Rukia would be able to sense and understand why he was acting like that the past few days. He thought that their bond was enough to make Rukia understand what he wants to tell—what he was afraid of. But it turned out to be nothing. After all those months when they're together, this is what he get from her? Strawberry sighed.
For a while, Ichigo let his mind drift off somewhere else. The thought of Rukia not going back torments him. For sure, Kuchiki Byakuya is laughing at him at this moment. He did not have to go and make him answer his question.
Yes, that question. It was the start of this problem, right? If Byakuya didn't come and ask him that question, he wouldn't be facing this kind of problem. Rukia would not be angry at him. Rukia would be beside him now. It's that Byakuya's fault.
"Hey, ICHIGO!"
Ichigo turned to look at his door. It was his father again.
"Ichigo, are you still alive?!" he shouted.
Ichigo groaned. Why can't he just leave him alone? "Shut up, old man!"
"Oh, I'm glad you're haven't killed yourself yet!"
"As if I would do that!"
"When are you planning to go out of your room?"
"Like you care!"
"Of course I care. I'm your father after all!"
"Then, act like one!" Ichigo threw a pillow to the door. "Stop bothering me!"
"I am worried about you!"
"Well, you're not supposed to be worried about me!" he spat. "I don't have any problems at all."
"Oh? Really?"
"That's right!"
"Then, why am I seeing 'Rukia' written all over your reiatsu?"
Ichigo blinked. Was that even possible? "Like that makes sense! And I'm not thinking about her at all." He gritted his teeth.
Isshin laughed mockingly. "At all?"
The sarcasm was all over the place and the short-tempered strawberry couldn't take it anymore. He stood up and slammed his door open. Isshin feigned a shock but Ichigo didn't care. He gave his father a kick in the gut that made him fly down the staircase. Isshin muttered something he didn't get and walked away. It means another thirty minutes of peace before he comes again. What the Substitute Shinigami needs is the rage of Kuchiki Byakuya with his girly flower petals all over the place. Yeah, right.
His bedroom window opened, which made the Kurosaki teen jump literally. The thought of Rukia coming back just like that isn't a good thing to think about. He still can't face her after what happened—after what he said. But to his disappointment and relief, it was the noble Kuchiki captain and his flying flower petals. Ichigo made a mental note not to be sarcastic when the Kuchiki Clan is involved. They tend to ruin the sarcasm every time.
"What the hell, Byakuya?!" Ichigo shouted at nobody in particular. The Kuchiki noble disappeared the moment the pink petals entered.
The pink wave continued to chase after him inside his small box.
"H-hey! Stop ruining my room!"
Another wave.
"Damn it," he muttered. Ichigo fumbled for his Shinigami badge in his pocket and immediately turned into a Shinigami. His body fell down with a thud—face first. That would surely give him a bruise afterwards. A third set of sakura petals hovered around the Shinigami and poised to attack.
"Stop ruining my house!" Ichigo jumped out of the window and the sakura petals followed him. Where the hell is that Byakuya?! The search was on.
Ichigo jumped down the riverbank and saw Kuchiki Byakuya standing beside the waters. He was about to approach him but the wave of sakura petals blocked his way. "Getsuga Tenshou!" The wall of pink collapsed, which gave the Substitute Shinigami way towards the Kuchiki.
"Hadou no Rokujuuichi, Rikujokoro!"
But that kind of Hadou is not effective for someone that is used to being stopped by a certain midget. He's way past that stage. Ichigo shunpo -ed near Byakuya but the 6th Squad Captain moved away.
"Hey, stop running away!"
"I'm teaching you a lesson," Kuchiki Byakuya said. The wave of pink petals ran towards the Kurosaki brat and tried to give damages, but the brat has improved and he could now easily dodge the simple attacks of his Senbonzakura.
"What the hell?" Ichigo huffed in between attacks. This has been going on for almost half an hour. "I don't want a teacher like you!"
"And who said that I am willing to be your teacher?" A cold gaze was sent to the brat.
"Then, stop doing this!"
"No."
"Why on earth are you wasting your time on me?!" Pant. "Nobles like you have better things to do!" Pant. "Like paperwork!" Jump. Slash. "Like the peace of the family!" Ichigo couldn't believe that he was actually saying those things.
"You're right." The wave of pink petals paused and somehow, floated around the orange-head. "But…" Senbonzakura gathered around the Captain. "This is part of my job," he said. "And it's important enough to make me use…" He paused. "Bankai, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi."
"H-hey!" Ichigo panicked. He knows he has improved in fighting but the fact that he barely defeated this Kuchiki at the Soukyoku Hill still remains etched in his mind. And undoubtedly, he has also improved a lot after the war against Aizen. "What's your problem?!" That's too much! What had he done to be worthy enough for a bankai—to top it off, Kuchiki Byakuya's bankai? And out of the blue? This isn't like the 6th Squad Captain.
"You."
The number of sakura petals multiplied and poised to attack the Substitute in front of him. A hundred swords gathered around the two, the intent to punish is nearly tangible.
"Me? What on earth did I do to you?! We barely even talked!"
"But to my younger sister, yes," he answered but his usual calm was gone. It was pure cold venom leaking out of the Kuchiki leader.
This is Byakuya-nii-sama.
A rare sight, indeed.
"R-Rukia?" Ichigo stopped. He didn't know what Rukia told his nii-sama. She isn't the type of person who would open up to this cold being just because of a misunderstanding between the two of them. She knows better than that. So, how did Byakuya find out about this? And, why is he very angry at him? "What did she tell you?"
"So, it's true," he said. "It's about you."
"What? What are you talking about?"
The wave of petals stopped attacking him, but instead, hovered around the confused Kurosaki.
"You already know it, kozo," he said. "You are well aware of why I am doing this to you. You upset my younger sister with those foul words of yours. You didn't care about her feelings when she was emotionally vulnerable."
Kuchiki Byakuya did not really plan on going to the Living World just to teach this brat a lesson. However, due to how his sister, Kuchiki Rukia, acted when she came back to Seireitei a week ago is a reason enough to make him move. He vowed to Hisana that he would protect her sister—physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. And this Kurosaki brat stepped on the line.
Kuchiki Byakuya focused back on the Shinigami in front of him. "I shouldn't have given you the chance. If only I have known that this would happen…"
Kurosaki Ichigo inwardly closed his eyes. He knows, deep inside, that he is to be blamed about the situation. If only he was brave enough to tell her what his problem was, this wouldn't have happened. But, this Byakuya is half to be blamed too. If only he didn't ask the question that way, he wouldn't have been depressed about it. Also, it's Rukia's fault. She kept on repeating that they're nakama even though it was obvious that he's uneasy with the word. She was even implying that he likes Inoue, despite his constant denial about the lie. Now, with all the damage done, he doesn't know what to do to get Rukia back. Why can't he just tell her how important she is for him?
Coward, he told himself.
"W-wait!"
"What? Are you going to explain, kozo?"
"I am not the only one to be blamed about this!"
"Are you saying that Rukia is also to be blamed?"
"Right! She should have felt how problematic I was back then!"
"Problematic? Why should you be problematic? Because of the question? That was the easiest question for you, kozo. People have asked you about that, I'm sure. Why are you having a hard time now?"
"Because…" Ichigo paused. "It's because… I'm afraid."
Sometimes, Ichigo lets his thoughts slip. It helps even if it hurts to admit.
"Afraid?"
"Y-yeah…"
"Afraid that Rukia might reject your answer?"
Sometimes, Byakuya gets it right. He nodded.
"Then, why don't you answer the question now? She isn't here."
"If I answer you, will you let Rukia stay here?"
At least, he was seeing hope.
"That depends on Rukia's answer as well."
But Byakuya just ruined the light he was seeing.
The Kuchiki noble waited. But, Ichigo was too slow for a reaction. He commanded Senbonzakura to attack the dazed Shinigami.
"H-hey!" Ichigo went back to his senses.
"You're too slow in everything, kozo. Too slow to answer my question. Too slow to react with my attacks. Too slow to realize that Rukia is not a friend for you."
Light secretly streamed out and a certain raven-haired Shinigami emerged behind the tension of pink and blue, with an expression mixed with shock and regret.
I think this is the longest chapter in this story ever! XD
Thank you for those who reviewed the note I uploaded. You relieved the stress XD
darklover - thanks! :D It's good to know that I'm just paranoid and the quality is not really getting low XD
bleackteaplease - That hurts *cries* But thanks for the smack and the choco advise! :D
headyzest - Oops for being emo. XD I guess that's the aura emanating from me :O but your reviews really made me feel better
BleachLovergirl - thanks for the support *thumbs up* Don't worry, I'll stop by your profile and look at your story!
-- I think the note really helped me to let those bad vibes out --
Anyways, thank you for reading and don't forget the review! :D
