Double digits is cool you know? Thank you to all who reviewed :D and for those gave me good luck wishes for finals... I thought I'd let you know that they went… better than expected so THANK YOU ALL!
Beneath the Penumbra: Chapter 11
I was there, 12 o' clock sharp. The gates had been conveniently left open and I walked up to the large house before me. I stood staring up at the top window, could that large window be hers? I was waiting for a few minutes, anticipating for a sign. I got it when the window unlatched and a girl, not Rukia, peered out. She had deep emerald eyes, or deep blue, that I wasn't able to make out in the darkness of the night. Her face was unreadable but she stuck her hand out to give me a thumbs up.
Her head disappeared just as fast as it had appeared. Leaving me to wait once more, I just kept looking at that window, waiting for something. The moment he saw those familiar shocking violet eyes, I couldn't suppress a grin from widening across my face. Relief was the first thing that washed over me followed by overwhelming joy. My chest heaved at the release of the tension. Her face was gaping at me, almost as if she didn't expect for me to be here. She hadn't changed in all this time.
Her face was still so innocent it was perfectly round in the right places and narrow in her chin. Those doe like eyes were wide and wonderful, thoughtful, anything you could imagine. Deep… I let out a chuckle, "Yo."
Her face was priceless. Almost like a child staring at a candy in a candy store. My smile widened even wider at the thought, but was quickly wiped away at the actions that followed. It started with her foot on the windowsill. My eyes widened and the smile retracted. She jumped and I ran to catch her.
I made it barely on time as her body came in contact with mine. The force was enough to knock me off my feet and down on my butt. Her face was pressed tightly onto my chest and her arms wrapped firmly around my torso. The rest of her body lay sprawled across my legs.
"What was that?" I couldn't hold back my frustration.
He eyes peeked up from their hiding place in my shirt, they were wide and wondering. "What?" was her innocent response. Her voice mumbled and was muffled by the cotton; I could feel the heat from her breath.
"What was that recklessness? What would have happened if I hadn't caught you?" I couldn't hide the worry in my voice. I forced my body not to tremble at the possibilities.
Her face lifted a little more, revealing a straight face. "Are you saying you wouldn't have caught me," she asked.
I froze and tried to hold in a very non masculine blush and scratched the back of my head. I would have made sure to have caught her. I could tell there was more than just a literal meaning in that statement and my will power to hold in my embarrassment. That coy grin that spread across her face just loosened it all up and I felt the heat rise up my neck.
She buried her head back into my chest and I felt her body begin to shake. The warmth of fresh tears began to soak my shirt. Panic washed through me as I started to try and pat her hair in comfort. "Oi, Rukia, and look I'm sorry… I uh-," she gave me a slight slap and raised her head to show her tear glazed eyes.
"No you stupid," she laughed through her tears, "I'm crying because I'm so happy." I was bewildered and a little confused. Her soft hands found their way around my neck as she pulled herself up higher and gave me a hug. My body tensed up at first but slowly relaxed and molded itself into her's. They seemed to fit perfectly. "Thank you," she said under a breath.
I patted her hair soothingly, "Hey, there's no need for that." We stayed like that, just trying to share our warmth with each other as if our own wasn't enough to please the cooled wind as it blew. When I felt her shiver, I pulled her closer and tried to pull her up with my own body weight.
I placed her back on her feet but when she collapsed to ground, I caught her once again before her whole body was able to make contact with the ground. Her face was in the form of a scowl that did not suit her soft features while one hand grasped her ankle. I bent down in worry and lifted her tight hold. There was her ankle, swollen and red. Without a second thought, I bent down in front of her and crouched, hands outstretched behind me. "C'mon, get on."
There was a hesitant pause and I coaxed her by flicking my fingers, "C'mon, you're not that heavy if that's what you're thinking." I turned my neck so she could see the grin on my face. She slowly slid herself onto my back and wrapped her hands around my neck. I chuckled as I got up and started to walk out the gate.
"Come back before three!" I heard a voice call out. Turning, the girl from before was still stood looking out the window at us. Her impassive face hard in place keeping one hand hoisted in a wave. I gave her a salute in thanks before turning, my direction headed back for my house.
Ichigo's back was completely warm and comforting. My ankle was sore and burning but it didn't really seem to matter as he walked down the street. We made several turns here and there till we reached a familiar building. I vaguely remembered it that night that I met Ichigo. Despite the pain in my ankle, I couldn't help but smile at the thought of that fateful night.
He opened the front gate and walked up to the front door. I wrapped my legs around his waist tighter as he let go to open the front door. There stood a man, slightly shorter than Ichigo, with dark brown hair and wearing a white lab coat. He was in an awkward position that had his leg half lifted in the air, foot flexed. His hands were flying about trying to regain balance.
I could feel Ichigo's tense body tighten under me, "Quit it old man, I've got you a patient."
Ichigo walked over to the white leather couch that was set in the middle of the opening room. He squatted down to let me slide off his back and fall lightly on the soft cushions. He walked out and came back again with a pack of ice in hand. He bent down and gently placed it against my swollen ankle and stayed there.
"And how did you come across this little lady? Eh, Ichigo?" The 'old man' said, raising a suggestive brow and I couldn't help but hide my incoming blush.
I saw as Ichigo rolled his eyes and gave me a smirk. "She fell and I need you to wrap up her injury."
Ichigo's father let out a booming laugh that echoed through the room. His eyes tear up from pure happiness as he patted his sons back. "I knew you could get someone to fall for you!" the laughing continued as Ichigo rubbed his head in embarrassment.
"Shut up old man!" he shouted at him. But Ichigo's father kept his laughing. He disappeared up the stairs before coming back down with some bandages. His face still had that amused expression painted on it. He walked over to me and squatted down to inspect my ankle. He poked and prodded it here and there, his face intensive.
"No worries," he said smiling up at me. His smile was much like Ichigo's, mischievous with a hint of pride, "No fractures, just a small twist and irritation of the muscle, you should be fine to walk and run again in less than a month."
As he looked away to grab the bandages, his toothy grin was still present. I looked up to see Ichigo watching intently as his father began to wrap up my injury. He didn't notice my stare at first and kept looking at my ankle. His face was solemn and I couldn't help but cringe.
"It's not your fault," I found myself saying. His eyes caught hold of mine and they stared blankly into me. I shuddered a bit at how unfamiliar it seemed. "It was my own actions that caused this," I paused to flash a smile, "so no need to worry."
He looked back and forth between my face and ankle, each time pausing to inspect the situation. I kept my smirk and looked at him with genuinely happy eyes. Finally, I saw that trademark smile take hold of his face and I relieved a breath that I had not realized I was holding. Relief washed over me to see his smiling face again.
We were currently sitting on his roof, looking up at the stars that shined on Karakura town. It was breath taking, especially tonight. Tonight, it seemed they shined brighter than usual with them gleaming at ever blink and sparkling with ever outtake of breath. The moon smiled down on this little city and I just smiled back.
"What are you smiling about, midget?" I heard Ichigo ask. His voice was soft as not to interrupt the crickets in their chirping song.
I just laughed as a response and stared up into the sky. My smile did not fade as a passing car with yelling teens zoomed past. They had broken the silence of the moment, but it didn't seem to affect the little world that Ichigo and I had created.
Ichigo stood up in front of me and jumped down to the floor. He had landed a little lopsided with one foot sticking out behind him and arms outstretched in front. He hopped a few times, regaining the balance he had lost with the impact of his landing. I let out an amuse giggle and smiled down on him. He turned his head back and gave me a sheepish grin, "You didn't see that…"
I let out another laugh and shook my head, "Didn't see a thing."
He laughed and gave me that toothy grin once more before turning. He held out his hands and looked down at the. He then looked back up at me and smiled confidently, "Slide down, I'll ca-"
Before he could finish his sentence, I slid down the roof. I felt the air rush past me as I fell. The sensation of wondering what was going to happen next didn't last very long. Soon enough, I landed in Ichigo's arms. He looked a little bewildered at me. His mouth opened to scold me about how dangerous that was but shushed him with a finger to the lips.
"I knew you'd catch me," I said confidently with a big smile on my face. I could feel the slow intakes of breath coming from Ichigo's calming body.
"Do I have to take you back?" he asked me with sorrowful eyes. My heart caught and I tried my best not to cry. Tears brimmed the edge of my lids and the horrible tugging feeling my heart would not go away.
I looked at him and did my best not to waver, "I'll see again right? Tomorrow?"
He gave me a slow nod and lifted me back onto his back. I carefully wrapped my arms around his neck as he lifted my legs to hold. I pressed my cheek to the nape of his neck and just sat there, listening to the slow pounding of his heart. I could hear it, that and his steady but shaky breaths. As he walked, I heard him humming a tune, something I had never heard. I would have asked, but I didn't feel it to be worth it. I would just enjoy his company as long as I could, without any disturbances.
End Chapter 11
I'm done with this chapter! Yes! I really am grateful that I've gotten this far without giving up xD and it's thanks to all of you so please review and keep reading. We're over half way through and I pray you'll like the ending… sorta? Maybe?