Disclaimer: I don't own them.
Pairings: Ichigo/Rukia…
Raitings: T for language
Genre: Romance/General
Summary: a letter, a misunderstanding, an argument, a little fluff and Chaos ensues.
Thank you very much for the positive responses and thank you for waiting. I'm so glad people are still reading this. Much love to those who appreciate himegoto and my efforts. You keep me going! here's the 10th chapter.
Chapter 10+
To silence the uproar+
Your words burn through my heart with the fire of unfathomable tears. The tongue of the candle dances ardently amidst the melancholy of your fury, you are screaming, screaming silently with a frozen glare, don't you know…..
These flames…..
It's hurting me……
He gave her a cold glare, one she never thought of receiving.
"Ichigo..that letter…." She could not muster a complete sentence, overwhelmed by his intent gaze. She meant to subdue him, to explain. She walked towards him almost shaking.
Ichigo swung the paper in front of her face, crushing it in his death grip even further, "this is what you came to soul society for?!" he could almost snarl. He pushed the letter further to her. "is this what got you so preoccupied even as to endanger your life?! Was it this?!" he barked, his amber eyes glowing fiercely with indignation.
She held on to his trembling hand, "You don t understand Ichigo, listen to me." Rukia struggled earnestly to maintain her cool despite the flamed atmosphere. "Calm down," was her failed attempt to soothe him.
"is it that important to you? Huh, Rukia?!" his uproars could be heard even down stairs and he didn't even give a damn. He threw it squarely in her face.
She was shocked beyond reacting of his rude gesture, the letter now on the floor beside her bare feet. "Listen to me!" she now screamed her own urgency, unable to restrain her emotions.
"Che." He grunted while scowling severely, clearly disinterested of her explanations. "was it me you were trying to protect last night, or was it that fucking letter?" he retorted, not even minding if reasoning was appallingly bent. He only cared to release his flaring emotions, nothing more.
"what…?" A mixture of confusion sent her eyebrows to furrow even deeper, what did the letter have to do with the hollow last night? "would I risk my neck to fight your opponent if I didn't care?" yet still she gave her heated reply to prove her concern.
"so now you're saying that I made you fight that thing! Bullshit! You were the one acting like a hero!" his logic was apparently growing unreasonable. The grounds of his argument straying much further to his real awareness.
"let's stop this." She reckoned he was too unsettled to have said that, and somehow she herself was at fault for not telling him. She had sworn to Hitsugaya to tell no one about it after all. She breathed deeply in the attempt to calm herself, "this argument is pointless." She said between gritted teeth, understanding that aggravating the situation wasn't beneficial for both of them. "think what you wish." Rukia responded coldly turning to her heel to leave him alone with his accusations. If she should stay a bit longer, world war three would probably break out.
But before she could turn her back at him, he pulled her uncaringly by the wrist, she immediately turned to his direction as her frail body could not withhold his strength, much resilient than hers "I'm not done talking," came his low growl in her ear. "don't screw with me, Rukia." he stated coarsely to the extent of hurting her in her currently weak state.
With all the force she could muster, Rukia pulled her hand albeit weakly from his grasp yet gave him an unkind glare of her own. "you have nothing to do with that letter, don't judge things beyond your context." She said equally firm, still in a struggle to contain her anger and remain standing despite her vulnerability. She was still injured after all.
"right…"Ichigo muttered full of sarcasm, He couldn't believe how insensitive she was, how could it not concern him? It annoyed him to the ends of his temperance that his restraint went past the limit. He could feel his hands tremble as they curl tightly to fists.
"Go ahead, bitch and moan! If that makes you happy! Not that I care!" he suddenly blurted loudly in a fit of anger. Not too sooner he felt a sharp hot sensation burning his cheek, his eyes widened from the impact. He himself was treading insensitively.
It was too much for her to hear.
Rukia glared, she held on to her hand that made contact with his now reddening face, her eyes bore through his soul, as he in return, could almost see through her agony, "Is that how low you see me?" her features were visibly angered but hurting. "is that all I'm worth?"
He only looked at her intently with the same kind of remorse, remaining steadfast and indifferent. He wouldn't give in to her words, not this time.
"you never understand…do you..?" her tone was soft and dismissing. She gradually walked towards the door, not even looking back to meet his gaze and the wooden door closed behind her callously with the same emptiness from within.
This time Ichigo only stood there, frown still evident, face as hard as unforgiving steel; he was too stubborn to amend and these arguments have perturbed him too many a time. He was growing weary of these diatribes and he'd go far enough to not stopping her even if guilt was blaring inside him.
He made absolutely no move to follow her; deep down within, he was bleeding as well. He cast her away even as frail as she was. He was torn between leaving her to be because of his pride and following her before she strains herself. He'd regret it once something happens to her.
Now, the letter lay forgotten on the floor, its contents remained a cursed riddle covered in blood.
Could a heart never cease from breaking though it's dead?
……………….
"what happened last night, surely, I know it reached them." Yoroichi said while twirling her tail beside Uruhara as they sat on the wooden floorboards outside the shop.
"of course, it will only take a matter of time before they take some measures, and I doubt they'd miss our presence." The store manager answered the black cat while adjusting his stripped hat.
"hmm, former captains…? I wonder if we must heed their requests once they've decided." Her golden eyes sharpened while eyeing a pigeon that glided through the sky.
"Soul society has their stratagems well planned and they would use anything that favors them, even 'traitors'…" he was talking in riddles.
Yoroichi smirked, "I suggest then that we ready ourselves Kisuke," she stretched while shaking her fur, "these, traitors you say, would be expecting a knock on their door sooner or later." her golden orbs glistened.
"well said." Uruhara chuckled and he gazed at the same pigeon taking flight.
"Isshin would be irked to hear this…"
………………
A knock on the door and his insides boiled with annoyance. So much interruptions adding to his goddamned problems.
Ichigo sluggishly rose up from his seat in the living room couch to answer it, he opened the door. "what is it?" he almost growled while staring at the doorway.
"Kurosaki Ichigo." came a cold voice straightly to his face, he was taken aback to see a black haired noble with a redheaded companion garbed in shinigami uniforms.
"nani?" Ichigo regained his composure once again, his scowl in place. "Byakuya…" he also eyed Renji indignantly, by his judgment it would have made sense if he was the one who gave Rukia that stupid letter.
Byakuya frowned slightly from the sound of his own name, peeved that this delinquent called him in such a casual manner but he allowed it to pass just once, "where is Rukia?" he bluntly interrogated, Renji's expression was no different to the captain's
Renji was getting bothered by the orange-head's glare towards him but reconsidered for Rukia's sake. "Ichigo, we're here to see her." The lieutenant remarked behind his superior.
"she's gone." The orange haired boy muttered almost wanting to slam the door in front of them. He didn't really want to talk about anything that was related to her, but it was rather obvious, the only thing Byakuya would fuss about was probably his sister. And mind you, he was down right annoyed to see Renji's face.
"gone?" Renji muttered leaning forward, eyebrows arching upward.
"I don't bloody know where the hell she went." He gritted irritated, "now if you'll excuse me, I have a life to fix." He nearly closed the door when Byakuya swiftly stopped him, unsheathing Senbonzakura.
Byakuya's eyes sharpened dangerously, "where is my sister?" He hissed pointing the edge of his blade to Ichigo's neck, barely touching him from a centimeter. "Or should I let my blade do the probing?" Senbozakura's blade glistened from the light.
Ichigo didn't waver the slightest. "I told you, I don't know." He retorted in a low voice matching the captain's glare.
"taichou…" Renji attempted to hold him back, but instead he turned to the substitute death god "Ichigo, what the hell's wrong with you?" he was growing perplexed on how Ichigo was acting and where the hell was Rukia? Just last night the two were sentimentally clinging to each other and now this. How fast the winds have changed, too fast for him to even comprehend.
"nothing's wrong with me," he bit back reopening the door only slightly for them to see his countenance. "she left by her own." He gave the two death gods a last look before finally closing the door ahead of them. He had no time to entertain guests today. Though as livid as he felt towards Renji, he contained himself, one spat was enough for this day.
The wooden door sealed before them, "Taichou, we should look for her, it looks like it's going to rain again." Renji stated while closing his eyes for a moment, he could feel the cold blowing of the wind as the sky shifted its visage to an ashen horizon.
"unforgivable…" the noble hissed in displeasure.
Walking towards them was an old man, twirling the car keys in his finger while whistling.
Byakuya's eyebrow slightly rose at the newcomer in a doctor's white coat seemingly recognizing him..
It was Isshin, he opened one of his eyes that were leisurely closed, ceasing on his tracks, putting down the keys and burying them in his pocket, "you've outdone yourself, haven't you Byakuya?" he grinned while complimenting the white captain's robe the noble was now wearing.
Renji eyed both men, looks like there were things he was unaware of. 'taichou knows him…?' he thought silently.
Byakuya retained his stand, "and you're sharper than I remember Kurosaki Isshin." He said flatly.
"hmmm…is that how you greet an old senior….?" Isshin's grin grew wider stepping closer towards the front entrance only a meter away from the two death gods; something in the past slowly lifting.
Byakuya started to walk, "I didn't come here for reunions." he answered coldly while brushing past the older man. "ikuso, Renji…" he called for his lieutenant who followed.
"Mind how you go…" Isshin motioned to the door to enter his home.
Renji looked behind to glimpse at Isshin, what ties did that man have with his captain?
…………….
"Kuchiki-san?" Orihime had a second thought if what she saw was real. "Kuchiki-san!" he called much loudly confirming her doubt, from her place while carrying the groceries she could see the ebony haired shinigami walking about the sidewalk.
Rukia turned to the direction of the sound of her name, "Inoue…?"she mumbled while staring at the exuberant girl waving her hand in large gestures at the other side of the street.
Inoue smiled, "Kuchiki-san wait for me, I'm coming to you!" She sprinted across the street towards the other girl.
Rukia was surprised at her sudden actions, her eyes slightly widened in surprise though as minimal as the luster in her eyes may seem. "where did you come from so suddenly?" she asked.
The auburn haired girl giggled, "I went to the grocery," she remembered the events last night and how badly the shinigami was wounded. "are you alright now, Kuchiki-san?" she placed down he groceries.
"ah, I'm fine now thanks to everyone." She smiled half-heartedly not wanting too look so down in front of her friend, there were things she would rather keep to herself. "arigatou…"
"yokatta," Inoue said relieved, she then clasped Rukia's hands. "we were so worried, most especially Kurosaki-kun." Her face turned to a worried expression.
"Ichi…go…" Rukia mimicked, she recalled their argument earlier and could not stop to place herself accountable for such fight. If she had said the truth, will he believe her? though she did swear to Hitsugaya she would be discreet. Was she wrong to not tell Ichigo the nature of that letter? And why did he react so violently towards it? She's into another mess she never intended to step in. She was just doing the captain a favor in the first place. Why did it come to this? Ichigo, utterly misunderstood her. But part if her hated the substitute death god, how could he say such unruly words to her without knowing.
Orihime could vividly notice the uneasiness in her face. She rarely did find her in such an apprehensive position, often times she was on top of things whether or not it was too high for her to scale.
It started to trouble her as well, "Kuchiki-san, what's the matter? you really seemed troubled today." her hold on the pale porcelain hands grew firmer sensing her anxiety. "maybe you should rest some more…should I call Kurosaki-kun for you?" she asked worriedly as she bore her concerned eyes to the other girl. Ichigo probably be worrying about the girl and she could not stop a part of herself for being hurt.
"Iie…daijobou, no need to bother him." she shook her head and smiled to reassure her, though as weak as she could muster one. "really Inoue, it's nothing."
Orihime released her hands gradually, even unwillingly. She could clearly see the already faint glimmer in Rukia's eyes. "so desu ka…?" somehow she was not convinced of her answer.
"ah…" Rukia slightly nodded, "I'll be going now." She said while gradually turning to her heel to head off.
"ja ne…" Inoue bowed in courtesy while gazing intently at Rukia's back but felt it was completely wrong to just let her go. She lifted her hand barely in a gesture to stop the petite girl, "Kuchiki-san!" she called out.
Rukia spun to face her, "nande?" she asked the sudden interruption.
Inoue fumbled with her hands as she spoke, "ano…ano sa…" she didn't know what to say nor to have any means of completing a coherent sentence out of what she felt. In some way she could guess that the reason for Rukia's disposition was Ichigo with the way the she said his name earlier.
Rukia looked at her, waiting for her to say something, "Naze Inoue…?" the shinigami called her attention noticing that she was too focused on a thought while staring at her clasped hands, she signaled her to continue.
Inoue inhaled deeply while making up her mind. "Sometimes," she started while meeting Rukia's gaze in the same leveled bearing. She gathered all her courage. "Sometimes people needlessly hurt… even those they love." She said kindly, seemingly empathizing with her; though she was naïve and clueless of some other aspects in life she could definitely recognize a heartache when she saw one, after all, she had her own shares of unhappiness.
A small genuine smile crept Rukia's face, relieved that somehow a lone soul could understand her in a time of weakness. "arigatou Inoue, I'll remember that." a part of her heart was lifted, thankful of the empathy she was given.
Inoue watched Rukia's back as she left, thinking to herself that she did something right, though her heart felt a hint of bitterness deep inside, hurting was inevitable she thought but there was no way it would be good to place a grudge towards a friend. "Kuchiki-san… look after Kurosaki-kun for me…." She closed her eyes after lifting her groceries once more, ahead of her was a path towards home.
…………
"onii-chan…?" Yuzu peaked at the couch where Ichigo slumped in. "what's the matter?" she asked, noting the awful expression on his face.
"nothing, I was just thinking of something." He replied while folding his arms to his chest.
"honto?" she held her chin and thought, "where's Rukia onee-chan?" she hadn't seen her since this morning and she wanted to ask her how she was doing.
"she went out." He bluntly answered disinterestedly, eyebrows furrowed deeply they almost knitted.
Yuzu wondered what went on between the two high school students.
"Sometimes you're too easy to read Ichii-nii…" Karin's voice suddenly interjected she knew the feud between the two, she did hear their fight even from the first floor earlier.
Ichigo did not react at all.
"Ichi-nii…If you have things to settle, do it quickly, before you lose hold on them completely." The black haired girl advised wisely and he wondered why that line sounded too familiar before he realized Tatsuki said those exact words to him long ago.
Yuzu stood there still unaware of what they were both talking about.
"go after her…" she stated sounding as if it was almost a command, in some ways Karin acted more mature than him and he couldn't blame her.
Ichigo sighed as he rose up from his seat, "everyone's troublesome." He dug his hands inside his pockets and motioned towards the door. It looks like all the nagging got through his thick head after all.
Yuzu watched him as he left, "Karin-chan what was that all about? I just asked where Rukia onee-chan was…"
……….
Inside the dark closet, wriggling amidst the shadows, "nee-san!!! nee-san!" was a shouting Kon with his stuffed toy arms bound by several layers of duct tape. "Ichigo! I'm gonna kill you for this!!!!" he whined while crying, still in the attempt to get lose.
……..
Ichigo ran through the streets, he was still angry but he had to do this. When he finds her, he's gonna haul her sorry ass in the clinic, no matter what kind of protests she shouted. There were things that needed clearing and he'd get the answers now. "Where the bloody hell did she run off to this time?" he cursed while panting; just as he was about to turn left to the next street he stopped dead in his tracks.
His eyes widened….
What exactly did he see?
……………
Note: Ending with another cliffhanger… there you have chapter 10…I hope you were satisfied, I planned to put more scenes in here but I just couldn't string them all together in just one chapter. Hopefully more things will happen in the next installment of himegoto.
the conversation Byakuya and Isshin had, I only inferred that from what I remembered Byakuya told Ukitake in Soul Society, something like Ichigo had no relation to his former 'senior'…I think he was implying that it was Isshin…oh well that's what I understood.
If you wondered why Ichigo suddenly brought up the hollow thing the night before, it's just an impulse or something, he was just getting screwed up, it was really off the topic. I just thought that people kinda get out of context when they're mad. And thought it doesn't really show that much, he's pissed at Renji. But I guess he's holding back, because, well…they are still good friends than worst enemies.
What would happen now that a lot of characters have entered the stage? Next chapter would be unpredictable I guess... but I'm 'predicting' major IchiRuki moments….hehe…
Japanese Terms
Yokatta – that's good/great
Naze- why
Nande- what
Ikuso- let's go
Ano/ ano sa- ummm…
Iie- no
Daijobou- I'm fine, it's alright
Honto- really?
Jan ne- see you
There….thank you very much for reading and reviews are always welcomed!
Oh!… and I'm really happy with the current manga chapters of Bleach though Rukia's having minimal appearances! I really missed Rukia and Byakuya's really something! I suggest you guys read it!!! There are really up-to-date scans in Onemanga(dot)com haha..i just felt like informing you people about it….. a lot of great manga there…!
Take care!
Love,
Amerie