T he Eve Project

Ichigo is just your average, smart, healthy, young, virile male college student. Besides having a part-time job and three horny friends who's always after their hot and sexy neighbours, all seems normal. Until the fateful night he decided to help a girl he found naked on a dumpster who insists that she was sent from the future to search for a healthy human male and save the human race.

Disclaimer: I don't own bleach :P (but I want to haha)

Chapter 10: Extra Special II

Once the trash was already taken care of, all the mess, spills and junk were cleaned up, everybody's all tucked in, he took a moment to congratulate himself for a job well done. Yes, even from the very beginning he knew that he'll be the one to tidy things up when everybody's too drunk to even sit up. Though he didn't make much effort in moving their sleeping bodies, he did however give them blankets to at least add some comfort to their apparent slumber. Plus, he was pretty sure that everyone would wake up with full hangovers tomorrow so the aspirins are readily placed on the coffee table.

Again, congratulations.

Truth be told, he really didn't mind doing all those stuff even though he kept mumbling complaints about how irresponsible everyone was the whole time he was doing it. And he can never stop his good guy instincts from kicking in during times like this and lots of other times too. Remember the girl he found in the dumpster? The girl who's now staying there, the girl who wanted him to have sex with her, the girl he just kissed a few moments ago for reasons he still couldn't figure out and the girl who is probably in his room right now asleep... or maybe waiting for him?

He sighed.

Again, congratulations.

Ichigo took one last scan of the room and when everything was in place he proceeded upstairs to take a bath. And boy did he need that bath. He didn't care how late it was, the bath was a must. Mostly to drain out a lot of thoughts and clear his head before going to bed in order to avoid having weird dreams... or maybe wet dreams...

Better take care of all the necessary business in there. He reminded himself.

The moment he finished his really long bath, he went inside his room. In there, he found the sliding glass doors of the balcony open with the petite girl standing outside staring at the moon. She was still wearing her yellow sundress but her body was cloaked with a blanket. The young man slowly began to approach her but she made no attempt to move. The closer he got, the more he tried to figure out the expression that she wore on her face.

Not too serious.

Not sad.

B ut definitely in deep thought.

He took this chance to speak, "Kon's right, you know." And as though she were awakening from a trance, she finally turned to look at him. "...although he was a bit dramatic at saying it, the point really is as long as you're staying under our roof, you're sort of part of the family too... you know? So don't hesitate to tell us if there's something wrong."

She smiled at hearing those words, as though they're the ones she's been waiting to hear. "Thank you," she spoke with all sincerity. "You guys have been so wonderful to me..."

But I could never allow something bad to happen to you or any of you... were the rest of the words that she couldn't bear say.

I can sense that Xephilin and he is very close. She told herself in worry and it made her heart race. But the frantic beating wasn't caused by fear of the impending danger but by the course of action laid out for her to choose.

Should she leave? This beautiful place? These wonderful people?

Rukia felt torn about the idea. If she stayed, it might attract the Xephilin here but if she leaves, who would protect her new family if the Xephilin decides to go here while she's away?

New family...

Her heart skipped a beat at that thought but then again, this was only temporary.

"Rukia?" Ichigo called out, pulling her back to reality... to the present... to now. Then she felt the weight of his hand on top of her head and his face inches from hers.

"Y-yes?" she stuttered in surprise.

Ichigo eyed her for a moment and scowled. "I take back what I said, I like it better when you're all giddy and hyper compared to your serious face."

"I was just thinking—"

"Well stop thinking and go to bed. Geez, kids like you shouldn't even be staying up this late," he teased as he went over to the bed.

Rukia pouted and marched angrily towards the bed. "I am NOT a kid! How dare you address me as such!? May I have you know, I am a hundred times more mature than—" and the rest of that statement was muffled by Ichigo's hand.

"Alright, alright, geez... I just wanted you to go to bed and rest for god's sake. Your mouth didn't need to go all energetic on me or something." The mumbling stopped. The boy retrieved his hand and the girl sat down on the bed in defeat.

The room was enveloped with silence. It was the perfect environment for those who seek a good slumber but none of them seem to be interested in sleep right now.

"Hey Rukia?"

"Mmm?"

"Back in your time, do you think I'm one of those brainwashed zombies right now?" he asked trying to start a conversation while he rested his head on his palms.

"You mean a Zero? Maybe..." she replied with a shrug.

" So that's a few years from now huh?"

She nodded. "But don't worry, I won't let that happen." This time, she faced him. "I'll make sure you guys will be what you worked hard on to be... mmm... what do you want to be anyway?"

"Me? I... want to be an architect," he replied looking straight up at the ceiling as if imagining himself as one.

"Hmm... the one who constructs buildings?"

"Yeah."

"Why that?"

"Well," he sat up but he wasn't really facing her as he told his story. "Since I was a kid, I've always been fascinated with infrastructure but we weren't very rich so my mom and I simply lived in an old house in the suburbs."

"Your mom and you? Where's your dad?" She asked with her head tilting to the side in curiosity.

"My mom and dad are separated. It's complicated but the gist is my dad took my little sisters half-way across the globe and I was left with my mom. Maybe if I become richer, I'll finally be able to see them. My sisters, I mean. That is... if they know that I exist."

She felt as though there isn't much left to say except for a low "Oh..." that escaped her lips. She didn't want to pry on his personal business.

" But then again," Ichigo continued. "A few years ago, it was my mom's turn to leave." There was a slight pause. "She passed away due to a terminal illness and since we had no money, there was pretty much nothing we could do about it."

Rukia felt her heart clench as she listened to this young man's tale. "I'm so sorry to hear that..."

He smiled at hearing her concerned tone but then he felt responsible to show her that there was nothing to worry about. "Hey, it's fine though. Aunt Ikumi, my mom's sister, took me in from then on. She's kind but scary when she's angry. And because of that, now, I'm stuck with her son, my annoying cousin, Kon... in this house. I work part time because I pay for college. Although, they did offer to help pay the expenses, I couldn't possibly let myself be that much of a burden to them. So you see, I get by and I try not to linger on the past too much, or else I won't go forward. Besides, before my mom left I promised her that I'll become an architect—"

"Then I promise you that I'll help you become one!" She yelped with conviction which surprised him a bit. "I won't let the Xephilins ruin that promise, but you have to keep working hard, okay?"

He blinked twice at seeing her raise her pinky finger at him and it made him smile. "Okay," he replied as he wrapped his little finger around hers signifying a promise that's been made.

"Oh and thank you... for sharing that..." she said blushing lightly. Indeed, she didn't think that she had any privilege to hear that story and so she felt really grateful.

"Thanks for listening," he replied. "I'm not really sure why I told you this but... I figured... since you'd be staying here and I know stuff about you, you might as well know a little bit more about me. Anyway, what about you? What do you want to be? After all of this is over, I mean?"

Suddenly her face let out a sad smile. "I don't... really know..."

It hurt him, seeing that face. "Hey, no need to be so bummed about it. Most people older than I am still don't know what they want to be in life. Don't pressure yourself too much."

She tried to chuckle but her face still emitted unhappiness. "It's not that. Truth is, compared to the future I've known, I've always been more afraid of the other future."

"Why's that?"

"Remember... when I told you that... I was special?"

"Yeah?" At that time he thought that she was special because she could time travel but there seem to be more to it than just that.

" You see," Rukia began still pondering a bit on whether or not to tell him but then again, the thought has always bothered her so it might help if she told someone about it. She's just glad that it's Ichigo she got to talk to. And so here goes...

"You see... I was... born..." She bowed her head down so that her hair covered her face. "...dysfunctional." She paused. "Simply put... most of my brain had lost its functions from the very beginning. That is... I... couldn't feel... or move... or make a sound... They actually thought that I was dead if it wasn't for the fact that I was... breathing. I sort of felt pitiful but then... because of Project Eve, I have this little chip in my head, that all the greatest minds that I know, worked hard on to put together, that helps me do things—incredible things," She sat up straight as if emphasizing the thrill of being able to live and move freely. "I'm special," she repeated looking at her palms but sorrow graced her face once again. "...but in that other future, I'm scared... that I... might not be... special anymore."

Then the silence was back. Even Ichigo couldn't find the words to say after everything he's heard. Surely she wasn't kidding. No matter how unbelievable her words may seem. She did it again—rendering him speechless.

All of a sudden, Rukia quickly lied down and covered herself with the blanket. She turned to position herself facing away from Ichigo. "Okay, I think I've said enough. I feel really tired now. Good night!" She spoke in the best quirky tone that she can muster but her voice still cracked at the end. After a few seconds, she felt the other person on the bed lie down as well. But what she didn't expect was for him to wrap his arms around her and hold her close from behind.

He felt her flinch a bit in surprise but then relax to his touch. Ichigo was never good with finding the right words of comfort. He was never the one who comforts people. It was others who always come to comfort him throughout his devastating experiences in life... but this time it's different. This time, someone else needed the comfort. She was the exception to the norm and he decided to give her the one thing that's always helped him pull through with everything he's been through and that is...

...to make her feel that she's not alone.

Rukia jolted awake with so many thoughts bombarding her head. A nightmare? Perhaps. She didn't want to remember the details but she was well aware of what it was about. It's always been the same thing over and over. She sighed. Just then she noticed that she had woken up in the arms of the young orange head who, she thanked the heavens, didn't even flinch or awaken at her movements. She figured that he was probably too tired right now to let even a single disturbance interrupt his slumber.

She rubbed her temples a bit then rested her head once again on the sleeping boy's chest and watched the peaceful expression on his face. She felt the arm that was wrapped around her, tighten in a protective manner.

"Strange," she whispered. "Even in your sleep, you're still trying to comfort me huh?"

She lightly ran her finger over his lip. "I wonder if I should make you dream of me again?"

She sighed in defeat.

No. Not tonight.

Tonight, you'll dream of what you like.

And me...? I'll just remember this.

H er eyes begin to glow.

The night the boy I barely knew told me his story and I told him mine. And surprisingly, we found comfort in each other.

She blinked her eyes a couple of times until the golden glow disappeared.

So that whatever happens to me from here on, I'll never forget this night. Finally, she closed her eyes and let a single tear escape to run down her cheek.

Rukia...

She was wearing a blue kimono...

She smiles... and everything just stops...

I... couldn't keep my eyes off her... It was as if just a blink would make her disappear... forever.

Was this a dream again?

But it feels so real.

I'm holding her hand... small and soft wrapped in mine... but she's walking ahead.

I can feel myself talking to her but I couldn't hear what I just said.

I see her turn around. Her face was angry—no... worried...

"That doesn't make me happy at all. Don't say that!" She reprimanded and I begin to speak again. I don't know what I said but she looked more hurt now. What did I say!?

"Then love... with all your heart," she steps closer and places her hand on my chest. "Like how you loved me."

KRIIIIIIIING! KRIIIIIING!

He gasped in surprise of the sudden noise and groaned loudly when he realized where it came from. It was already morning when the sound of Ichigo's phone ringing woke him up. He mumbled curses on his pillow for a while before blindly grabbing the annoying little device from the bedside table.

"What the fuck do you want?" He asked groggily answering the call.

"Kurosaki? Ichigo Kurosaki?" The other person called out.

I chigo's already furrowed eyebrows furrowed some more, if it were possible, at the unfamiliar voice of his caller. "Who the fuck are you?"

"It's me. Kisuke. Kisuke Urahara."

His mood changed to being half annoyed and half curious at hearing that name, "How the fuck did you get this number?"

"Your cousin gave it to me."

"That bastard—"

"But listen," Kisuke immediately cut his sentence off. "There is something I have to tell you regarding that item you wanted me to look at."

"What about it?" now Ichigo was just curious.

"I'm afraid I have some bad news. You see... How do I explain this... Let's just say that some of its parts are toasted, which renders the item useless. Do you understand?"

"I..." The boy tried to process what his caller just said.

Kisuke then summarized the situation for him. "Your friend can't go back to her time."

"B-but isn't there a way to fix it!?" He growled then tried to lower his voice down as he looked at the sleeping girl beside him.

There was a sigh from the other end. "Well, unless we find new parts to replace the ones that don't function, there is no other way to fix it. You can come by later and have your friend decide on what to do."

He gulped, "alright." And with that, the phone call ended. He placed the device back down on the side table and stared at the person sleeping peacefully on the bed, cuddled by the blanket and completely oblivious of what just happened.

Rukia... can't go back. He repeated in his head as he tried to assess the situation.

Is it bad that half of him was glad that she'll be staying, especially after what she's told him?

He clenched his fists in frustration.

But he had to remind himself that it wasn't right. These feelings... are not right.

Then I promise you that I'll help you become one! I won't let the Xephilins ruin that promise, but you have to keep working hard, okay?

He wanted to punch something or someone—mainly, himself for thinking that way. Where were his good guy instincts when he needed them?

He leaned closer so that he could observe her face clearly and it was evident from there, the trail of tears on her cheeks. He sighed heavily while he drew away the stubborn bang covering her face.

Midget from the future, if only you knew. You're the first person to have me question the laws of physics and everything I've ever known and believed in.

For that, you'll always be special, to me. Which makes you even more special, don't forget that.

A/N: Wahoo! Here's a little background about our main characters! Though these may not seem much, they are very essential by the way in telling how this story would go. Was I a bit OOC? If yes, I'm so sorry. I tried to imagine the characters in the situation but then again I sort of incorporated what I feel too to make them more human. I don't know... something like that. Anyway, originally chapter nine was supposed to be up to this part (now you know why this one was short... I think it's short :D). I cut it in half because I was too lazy to continue with this other half but I decided to write it now as it was still fresh from my mind and you guys have been so supportive of the last chapter. Besides, this one already had some sort of skeleton writing that I could follow so it was easier for me to go on and write it. I hope you continue to spread your love throughout this work of mine. This is my New Year's present to you guys! It's been fun 2014! I'll try to update my other stories too... next year hahaha. And it might take awhile before I update this one because I'll be shifting back to busy old me again. But I won't give up! Thank you for reading and reviewing and making me feel so loved. ILY guys and God bless :P

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