Chapter 10: Second Class
Upon the explanation to Inoue about all the confusion, Ichigo dragged his fatigue body along the way and walked home. He was half expecting Rukia to be in her little closet when he got back. Ichigo wanted to apologize to her for leaving her behind. But when he finally summed up the courage to knock on the closet door, he received no reply.
"ICHIGOO!" Kon ran over to tackle the orange hair teen, "WHERE'S NESSAN? GIVE NEESAN BACK!" Annoyed, he pushed the stuff animal aside and slid open the closet door slowly. Kon muffled under his hand and pushed against it with all his might.
"What is this?" Ichigo found books falling out, picking them up, he examined them closely. How to be the Best Dancer, How to Attract Him While Dancing, How to Pretend like you can Dance, just what is this? "Neesan's been reading those books every night," Kon said when he finally managed to escape. "She even dances on her own sometimes just to practice! Ichigo! Are you listening?" Never realizing how much the dance meant to Rukia, Ichigo sat down in the closet. Let's give her a surprise when she comes back, thought the boy. With that he slid himself into the closet and closed the panel. The teen lay there silently, thoughts running through his mind. Then he realized something on the ceiling of the closet. It's letters that glow in the dark. The last time he went in that closet, he didn't recall seeing anything on the ceiling at all. But there it is, glowing brightly in the dark.
It says R Heart I.
R and I, thought Ichigo. R… someone's initial whose R… RENJI! Renji loves… with some difficulty, Ichigo tried to think of names that start with I. Renji… Renji loves… ICHIGO!
Ichigo shudder in fear. But wait, that's not right, he finally came to. Since this is Rukia's closet, then R must stand for Rukia. All of a sudden, he ran out of the closet and ran out the door while accidentally stepping on Kon on the way out. It must mean Rukia loves Ichigo. "I really am a baka, how could I not know?" he said to himself while running outside. Where could she be?
Then Ichigo knew, he has always known, that Rukia would be there. He ran at the fullest speed to the path where they walk together everyday. To the path, where everything started.
The tall shinigami found his girl nearby the water bank. Stepping closer slowly, he saw Rukia sitting on the grass, head buried in her lap. He did not want to wake her, so he sat there along with her. The night seemed so peaceful to him that all those events seemed like they never happened.
After almost an hour passed, Rukia finally woke up. She wiped the remaining tears away, and when she looked up, she saw Ichigo. He stood up and stretched out his left hand, inviting her to dance. Startled, she first looked at his hand, then at him. Carefully, she placed her tiny hand into his. The two dwelled into a dance soon. With Ichigo being the lead, he swung Rukia out and back in again. Watching her step carefully, she danced in sorrow. They never talked until the very end. Leaning closer and closer to Ichigo, Rukia wanted to rest her hand on his shoulder as Inoue had. But it just seemed so awkward to Rukia, but that did happen without Rukia intending it to be. Tripping something on the bare ground due to her high boots, she stumbled forward into leaned tightly against Ichigo. Catching herself quickly, they danced again.
The dance began to slow down and Ichigo found himself placing both his hands on Rukia's waist. Pulling her close, he felt his heart pounding faster and faster. Finally he clumsily hugged her into his arms. His frown deepened every second. He would never let go again.
Rukia, burying her face in Ichigo's shoulders, began to say something quietly.
"I would never be perfect. I can't be like Inoue," she looked up with her delicate, tear-stained face, "I will always be second-class. No matter how hard I try, I can't even keep you by my side…I…"
"Rukia," he said looking deep into her eyes, "it's alright. Then I will just stick with this second-class angel of mine."