Animal I Have Become
Chapter Ten: The Fantasy
Rukia smiled and whispered to herself "I've been waiting, and you've been changing Ichigo for the better good though." Rukia didn't realize he had heard until he answered as they walked down into the school.
"Well Rukia," he said. "We Change, We Wait."
Ichigo listened closely as Rukia explained what school was and exactly how it worked. He remembered running up and down these halls with her, running off to kill hollows or perhaps attending to other business. Ichigo blushed as he had flashbacks of the many times he took care of himself in the bathroom thinking of her. Taking in all the information Rukia was bestowing upon him, Ichigo couldn't help but wonder who all the others were that he seemed to remember being in his class.
"Who are the others?" Ichigo asked sighing when he saw the bewildered look on Rukia's face.
"The others?"
"Yeah. The one's who were in our class."
"Oh you mean our friends"
"If that's what you call them, then yeah."
"That's not what I'm calling them, it's what they were!" Rukia said madly
"Sorry, damn midget what got up your butt?"
"Nothing it's just that they helped you save me too and you should recognize them as allies not enemies" Rukia watched him put his head down in shame, then a sudden realization hit her, did he just call her a midget. Sorry, damn midget what got up your butt?
"What did you just call me?"
"Nothing" Ichigo answered knowing she would let him off the hook. Which she did.
"Okay, whatever lets go!" she said pulling on his fingers which were still entwined with hers.
They walked and walked and walked all around the school and slowly but surely Ichigo began to remember all the fights he had ever been in and the things he had learned in each class. Hell he didn't even know the word Algebra existed until she took him to that class. Ichigo remembered the first time he had ever met the orange head bubbly girl. Um what was her name oh yeah Orihime and the Quinchy or Quincy the one with the glasses and dark hair. Uryu yeah that was it and then there was that girl Tatsuki he remembered her too. In fact he remembered meeting her at this dojo and fighting her. Then he remem…
"Ahh" Ichigo suddenly groaned. His head felt like it was splitting in two. Maybe it was from all the memories coming back he wondered as he yelled out in pain once again. Then a sudden realization came to him. It was something much worse.
"Ahhhh" he yelled again. Rukia was surprised from his sudden outburst of pain.
"Ichigo what's wrong?" Rukia asked as she tried to grab him but was violently pushed away.
"Rukia, you have to get away from me!" Ichigo said through gritted teeth.
"Ichigo tell me what's goin.."
"NOW!!" Ichigo yelled before he fell to his knees.
"Ichigo what's wrong?"
"Rukia.. You have to run…get far away from here…from him."
"From him who's he?"
"Go."
"Ichigo I can't" Rukia said stuttering as she watched his hair begin to go black along with his eyes only there was a long grey lightening mark going down the middle. Then the Ichigo she knew was gone. She looked in awe as his body slumped then rose again but it wasn't Ichigo oh no it was someone else. She watched as the newly formed person before her stared at her. His eyes were squinting and he was tilting his head left to right as if confused as to why she was still standing there. Doubutsu shook his head and laughed a bit. This was going to be fun. This little Shinigami had stayed. Oh what joy it would be to bring her to her knees.
"You're a fool you know" Rukia heard it speak to her.
"He told you to run, to get away from me, but you stayed." Doubutsu said tilting his head again. "How dumb!"
"Who the hell are you?" Rukia asked backing away from him a bit, while he remained still.
"Are you afraid?" he asked as he lifted his head to the sky and began to sniff the air. "I don't smell fear, so you must not be then."
With the lights out it's a little less dangerous
Even with a stranger never gets painless
Don't be afraid (afraid, afraid)
"Where's Ichigo, what have you done to him?" Rukia asked ferocity in her voice.
"Oh my liege? Well he slumbers, while I chat with you."
"And what could you possibly want with me?" Rukia asked grabbing her Zanpakuto hilt. Rukia began to glare at him but was surprised when he suddenly disappeared. She felt her sword slide through her fingers like a wet bar of soap.
"You weren't thinking of hurting me with this were you." Doubutsu stared at her surprised reaction. "Humph I guess so. Too bad you don't have it now. That was possibly the smartest thing to do." Rukia watched as he unsheathed the sword and forced it into the ground.
"Now back to what we were talking about." Doubutsu said taking a step toward her. "My name you asked, is Doubutsu."
"Well Doubutsu what do you want with me?" Rukia asked.
"You're his weakness, our weakness, and being the way that I am well, lets just say I don't like that fact."
"So then," Rukia said. "You want to kill me?"
"Want?" Doubutsu asked chuckling, then suddenly getting serious. "Oh, I'm going to kill you."
Rukia's heart skipped a beat but she wasn't afraid. It wasn't the first time she had been threatened, so why should she be afraid now. He was just a hollow after all and she had killed dozens, even though something in the pit of her stomach told her he was something so much more.
Every time I think I'm gonna change it
(think I'm gonna change it, think I'm gonna change it)
It's driving me (driving me) insane (insane)
"As if Ichigo would let you," Rukia challenged.
"Ha," Doubutsu said enthusiastically. "My liege doesn't have the power to stop me!"
Rukia watched as he began to step forward. She noted that he was ever so slowly approaching her and keeping distance between was probably the only thing keeping her alive even though he could move like lightening. So she decided to back up every time he advanced.
"You think I'm his lowly hollow don't you? Bitch please, I killed him the second I entered my lieges blood stream." Doubutsu said watching as Rukia's face became confused then her jaw dropped as she came to a realization. Doubutsu was one of 'his' experiments.
"That's right I was born in Aizen's lab, of course my liege doesn't know that though, if he did then I'm sure all would fall."
"All?" Rukia asked
"Yes all, you see I know everything. I'm so lodged up into my lieges brain that I even discovered all his memories and infused them into me, so the only way to get them back is through me."
"So in order to make things right I need to kill you?" Rukia asked as he began to walk towards her again, and she began to back up until she ran into a wall and was stuck there with no place else to go.
"Humph" Doubutsu uttered as he finally came to the girl and put his hand on the wall beside her head, while the other hand began to touch her side until he slid it up onto the side of her face his hand caressing her cheek as he continued to speak to her
"Yes, basically. But you see," he said as he leaned over to whisper in her ear. "You won't kill me because it would be putting your precious Ichigo in danger. In fact you would probably succeed in killing him too."
Rukia's heart dropped at this, 'so there's no way of killing him without killing Ichigo' she thought to herself. She wondered how she could possibly save him, how she could even get him too remember everything if he could possibly die from it. Something told her it wasn't possible but something else told her it was a risk she'd have to take. There was no way she could lose Ichigo not to Aizen and definitely not to him. He was just like Ichigo's hollow no matter what he said, but she realized these animals Ichigo had become no, these animals inside of him had made it nearly impossible for her to save him.
Do you live, do you die, do you bleed
For the fantasy
In your mind, through your eyes, do you see
It's the fantasy
"It was all a fantasy, thinking you could save him. I bet you live for that fantasy. Hell I bet you would bleed, die, kill someone for it. But doesn't your mind realized, doesn't your eyes and your heart see there's no saving my liege."
Rukia didn't answer him, it was true. Everything he said was true. It was one of her fantasies to save Ichigo, but it was more then just a fantasy it was a necessity to her. She had to no needed to save Ichigo there was so many things she had to tell him and so little time to do so.
"Your beautiful," Rukia heard Doubutsu say. She found herself once again awe struck at his sudden change in mood.
"What?"
"Don't get me wrong I'm not in love with you or anything, hell I don't even like you ,but your beautiful." Doubutsu said.
"I don't understand." Rukia said as she let the man before her continue to caress her cheek. There was nothing she could do about it even if she wanted too. After all he still was Ichigo.
"You amaze me you know, your fascinating. You're not afraid of me even though you should be. And your scent is exhilarating, but deadly still, no wonder my liege is so fond of you."
Rukia shivered as his cold hand traveled down to her thigh. She heard him laugh happily and continue to talk once again.
"You're shivering but not from fear, only from the coldness of my hand and the wickedness of my scent."
Rukia gasped as he pressed his physique to hers and she swore she could feel every inch of his body.
Maybe tonight we can forget about it all
It could be just like heaven
I am a machine
No longer living, just a shell of what I dreamed
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
She tried to struggle free but found he had Ichigo's strength as well. She looked to him, he looked like a dog sniffing her and smelling her. It was a bit weird. "Still no fear." she heard Doubutsu say in amazement. Rukia was tired of him putting off what he truly came here to do. She was prepared, if not ready to die for Ichigo. She hadn't cared about life since he left anyway, though now that she did once again, she had found that there may be no way of getting all of his memories back and it was killing her.
"Just get on with it" Rukia said trying to free herself from his body's hold.
"Get on with what?" Doubutsu asked confused at the Shinigami's words
"I thought you were here to kill me?"
"No," Doubutsu stated. "I said I was going to kill you, I didn't say when!"
"Then why are you here?" Rukia was too confused right now, first he wanted to kill her, then he wanted to tell her his life story, then tell her she was beautiful all the while never planning to kill her at all. Exactly what the hell was going on here?
"I came to warn you," Doubutsu stated, "to stay away from my liege. This is your get out of jail free card, your one chance to leave us and never have to worry about me coming to kill you. All you have to do is walk away and never I repeat never see my liege again."
"And why am I getting such a special offer?" Rukia asked her curiosity getting the best of her.
"Because I rather you be a living fascinating creature then a dead one! Believe if after tonight you continue to see my liege I will kill you, because you make us weak and feeble and one such as myself will have no such thing."
"No" Rukia answered.
"You'll die, are really prepared to die for him?"
"Yes."
"You're beginning to bore me!"
"What?"
"You passed my test. You weren't supposed to pass, you were supposed to lose. You, little Shinigami was too leave my liege. And the second you said okay I was going to rip open your chest and break your heart. But you passed."
"So all that bullshit about letting me go and not killing me was fake."
"Oh but of course, you didn't think I would let you live did you? If I let you live then there would still be weakness in our hearts. But you do fascinate me."
"Humph figures," Rukia said "you are just a hollow after all!"
Do you live, do you die, do you bleed
For the fantasy
In your mind, through your eyes, do you see
It's the fantasy
Rukia watched as Doubutsu became very pissed and the hand on her thigh tightened to a bone breaking grip. She screamed at the crucial pain in her thigh.
"You may not know this, but to me you're just a toy for me and Ichigo to play with. When I get bored with you, I'm gonna tear you to pieces like an action figure and make him watch."
"You bastard," Rukia screamed out through pain and was surprised when Doubutsu returned with the same kind of pained yell.
"Ahh" Doubutsu yelled. "It seems my liege is awake and he's very pissed off."
"Ichigo!" Rukia screamed, wanting him to come back to her.
"Ahhhh," Doubutsu yelled as his hair began to flash orange and his eyes amber. "It seems I have to go for now, but I promise I will be back to kill you because a kurosaki always keeps his promises." Doubutsu laughed out as he gave out another scream of pain.
"Until we meet again…My Lady"
Then Doubutsu was gone and all that remained was a slump but awakening body pressed against hers as they fell to the ground together. Ichigo was back. His hair was orange and his eyes were that sweet golden amber. Rukia looked Ichigo in the eyes… They looked so full of pain and fear Rukia noted to herself. Was he afraid, or was he just worried about her. Rukia heard a sorry break her thoughts.
"Sorry" Ichigo whispered to Rukia as he laid his head on her chest. "God I'm so sorry!"
"Ichigo it's okay I know you didn…"
"NO!"
"Ichigo?"
"That should've never happen. I should've kept control knowing how he feels about you. I'm so sorry."
Rukia hugged Ichigo to her, she forgot that under that hard exterior he was still just a 17 year old boy. They held each other for a while before Ichigo got up and turned from her.
"I've made a decision Rukia, I'm never gonna see you again!" Ichigo said weakly as if trying to sound hard when the truth was he was breaking on the inside. Rukia jumped up despite the excruciating pain in her thigh and limped to him.
"No Ichigo you don't understand you can't leave…" Rukia uttered
"I can and I'm going too." Ichigo yelled cutting her off.
"You can't Ichigo. Not after all the progress we've made tonight!"
"Didn't you hear Rukia, he's going to kill you, but if I leave he won't."
"You don't know that Ichigo, I'm in way to deep to turn around now."
"Well I'm not Rukia, look at your leg, look what he did to you!" Ichigo yelled trying to get it through her head he was only trouble.
"So… I know you'll become stronger and you'll protect me like you always have."
Say it, say it, say what you believe
Say it, say it, to me
"It's not so damn easy this time. Soul society designed this thing to eat at me until he takes over. And once he does that I'll be dead."
"Soul society?" Rukia asked then realized it was another one of Aizen's lies.
"Soul society had nothing to do with this. Don't you remember Doubutsu saying it was part of Aizen's plan?"
"I only remember what Doubutsu allowed me too remember, he's already controlling part of me Rukia. I don't know if I'll be able to stop him before I'm completely taken away by this thing. All I know is I can't be around you because I can't lose control with you or you'll die."
"Do you think I care about that?"
"You should!"
Rukia sighed she could tell they were both physically and mentally exhausted. Rukia knew what she had to do and so she walked up to Ichigo. She didn't want him to go, she didn't want to be on the opposite side of the battle field, she wanted to be standing right beside him, fighting and killing hollows like they used too. Rukia was surprised at herself, she didn't know where her hard shell had gone, it was as if she was began Ichigo to stay and Rukia Kuchiki doesn't beg.
"Do you trust me Ichigo?" Rukia asked
"Yes I do, I just don't want you to get hurt!"
"I'm not going to get hurt."
"You are, I think it's best that I leave you alone. Who was I too think this would all go smoothly."
"I'm going to be fine Ichigo, really I need this… I need you!"
Ichigo was surprised at Rukia's words. Now he was having second thoughts about his decision. He didn't know what to do. Most of him was telling himself to stay but a part of him was telling himself to go too leave Rukia and go back to Aizen where it was much safer. You know who to trust and you don't have to worry about anything but your family something kept telling him. Rukia looked at Ichigo pleadingly but he was lost in thought. She knew that if he walked away he wasn't coming back this time. There was no second persuasion because when Ichigo had his heart set on something he was always going to do it. All she could do was try.
"I promise If I get hurt in any way you can leave." Rukia stated
"I don't know" Ichigo answered. It was a good bargain but his feelings was telling him there was something more for him here then there.
"If anything happens you have my full permission to leave and go back; I won't try and make you stay as a matter of fact you won't hear a peep from me!"
Ichigo laughed at this the Rukia he remembered wasn't the negotiator she was today, but then again they both have been changing and as she said… For the better good.
"I don't know, if something happens I…" Ichigo said but was cut off by Rukia. Rukia grabbed Ichigo's arm and pulled him down until he was just inches from her face.
"Rukia what are you doing?" Ichigo asked. He could feel her breath tickling his face.
"Reassuring you" Rukia said as she leaned up and pressed her lips to his.
Renji looked at the two before him. No it couldn't be that Rukia, his Rukia had just kissed Ichigo. 'Why?' Renji asked himself again. 'Why was it always him, she risked her life for him , she stayed with him, she loved him. But never me,' he thought. Renji had come to find Rukia to apologize when he just happened to look through the schools window and found that his heart was soon to be broken. Renji tightened his fist. Rukia was his, he didn't care if she couldn't see they were meant to be together, he would make her see it. He knew telling on her would not only put her in danger but break her heart too. 'She doesn't love him,' Renji said to himself trying to explain why she was fraternizing with the enemy instead of him. 'She just misses him that's all. Yeah she confusing love with friendly feelings.' Renji sighed he could only hope that his conscious was right but he had a really good feeling she was in love with strawberry.
'I have to tell her how I feel' Renji thought as he took his eyes off the window. In one weeks time he would tell her how he truly felt. He didn't know that in that one week she would be so sure of her feelings, she wouldn't dare consider his.
Renji walked back into urahara shop only to be greeted by an unwanted associate.
"So the freeloader has finally come back," Jinta said to Renji.
"Shut up kid, now not the time!"
"Aww what's wrong renji did your girlfriend breakup with you or something?"
Something inside of Renji snapped he quickly grabbed jinta by the collar and pushed him to the nearest wall. "You don't know a damn thing!" Renji said as he lifted his fist about to punch the red head boy before him. But instead he unraveled his fist and ruffled Jinta's hair. Renji found that jinta was a lot like a younger version of himself and decided to give the boy some useful advice.
"If there's someone out there you love Kid, then you better hold onto them and never let them go!" Renji said as he let the boy go and began to go to his room.
Jinta was surprised by Renji's actions towards him, he was sure Renji was going to pound on him but instead he didn't do anything. And what could he possibly mean by hold onto the one you love. He was 9 for peaks sake he couldn't be in love with Yuzu… 'Wait what where did that name come from,' he asked himself.
"Whatever Freeloader" Jinta said then accompanied him to their room.
YAY ONCE AGAIN I UPDATED AND I LEFT A LITTLE CLIFF HANGER. WOW THEY KISSED I FIGURED IT WAS THE TENTH CHAP SO WHY NOT ANYWAY PLEASE IM BEGGING YOU PLEASE REVIEW I NEED TO KNOW IF I SHOULD CONTINUE IT. Oh the song is called The Fantasy by 30 seconds to mars
-Swisz Phantom