Popcorn: Yes! Thank you soooo much! Here's the chapter I promised!
Note: This is still a HitsuRuki fanfic, but there will be one-sided IchiRuki. My sincere apologies to IchiRukia fans...
Rukia's POV:
I cried for the first time in years. Hot steamy tears ran down my cheeks and dropped down into the clear stream below me. I missed everyone- Renji, hinamori-san, Rangiku-san, Nii-sama, heck, even Ichimaru-taichou.
Did Nii-sama know where I was? Did he even care that I was actually missing and not on an extended mission? Did Renji know? What did he see in Hitsugaya anyway? Sure, his Bankai was impressive, but other that that, I couldn't find any other good qualities about him.
'But he is a quite handsome man.' Sode no Shirayuki teased.
'What?! Don't tell me you've become like Renji too...' I pleaded
'I, as a zanpakuto, would never look up to a Shinigami. But in your heart, dear, you havea already fallen in love with that young man. I talked to Hyorinmaru and I figured that he is a suitable candidate. If you want my appr-'
'No! I am NOT in love with my kidnapper! Hitsugaya isn't even my type to begin with!' I retorted, but Sode no Shirayuki was still convinced. Rule #1 when communicating with your zanpakuto: never get in an argument with them, you'll never win.
"Oi! Rukia!" I turned around and saw Ichigo running towards me from the house.
"Ichigo?" He reminds me so much of Kaien-dono. But somehow the pain I always feel when Kaien-dono was mentioned was not there.
Back then, Ukitake-taichou told me that in order to move on, I had to forgive myself first. Arigato Ukitake-taichou. Arigato Ichigo.
"What's with that stupid look on your face like you're gonna die right now?" He frowned-if that was even possible with the usual scowl.
I wasn't in the mood for his insults. "Nothing." I replied monotonously.
Ichigo's face grew into a worried one and turned serious (for once).
"Hey, Something wrong? I saw you looking depressed. Thought you could use some company." He sat down beside me and gently wiped away the tear marks on my cheek. I looked down, remembering how he cupped my face as he leaned in to kiss me. 'No! I will not think of that!'
"-kia! Rukia? You in there?" Ichigo yelled, shaking my shoulders.
"W-What?" I snapped back to reality.
"You totally zoned out for a bit. I thought we needed to get you to Squad 4 or something." He said, arching a brow.
"Sorry. I was thinking about something else." I really wasn't in the mood to chit chat, so I hoped with all my heart that he would take a hint and leave me alone. But Ichigo was not a person to easily turn away.
"Rukia. You can talk to me. We're friends right? I don't like to see you all depressed and stuff. It's not like you at all. Sheesh, all those years next to Byakuya must've rubbed on you." I looked at him, troubled. Telling him wouldn't hurt, right? I didn't want to keep myself bottled up anymore, so I told him what Hitsugaya-taichou had been doing with me and how I truly felt about his sudden 'romantic' action.
I kept the story as short as possible. I couldn't bring myself to tell him that at one point, I actually enjoyed Hitsugaya-taichou's presence and his arms around me.
At the end of the story, Ichigo had a really bored expression and was kind of gagging. I guess guys don't really take interest in this stuff. If Rangiku-san was here, she would listen with complete interest and most likely spill the beans to everyone, and I mean everyone, about my secrets.
I signed, 'I hope he at least understands what I'm saying. Maybe Ichigo will go and talk to Hitsugaya and possibly, he would listen and let me out of this hellhole.'
"Midget. You really are dense."
"Huh?" I'm dense? What did I do? I have been called a lot of things, but never dense.
"If you an remember everyone of his actions towards you. He did leave an impression. I guess he wasn't good for nothing. I'm pretty sure that deep in your heart, you do have some feelings for him. Maybe not romantic ones, but they're there for sure...but..." He trailed off, unsure of whether he should continue or not.
"But what?" I pressed. I was thankful that he gave me some advice, but I hated it when people left me hanging off the cliff.
"Nothing. It's not important." I didn't believe him at first, but chose to let it go.
Ichigo was wrong. I don't have any feelings towards Hitsugaya-taichou. He's just my superior and I'm his subordinate. This whole situation of me staying at his house was absurd. Besides, there was no way in hell that I could be in love with him. I only remembered every one of his actions because no one had ever came close to doing that with me. Plus, they were so intimate.
Yes, Hitsugaya-taichou may be hot, but I don't think there was any chemistry between us. I know I didn't love him, but did he love me? He repeatedly said he does, but...
"Rukia." Ichigo said, his face serious. I turned my face towards him, curious of what made him so serious.
"Yeah?"
"I know it's already too late to tell you this, but... I love you, Rukia. I think I have ever since I met you when I delivered your clothes. I'm sorry if you are even more confused not but I just had to tell you. I couldn't live with myself if I kept it all in." I froze right on the spot.
I couldn't speak. The last thing I needed was to have two guys trying to win over me. No no... Ichigo was my friend, I never even considered him as an option.
"Ichigo..." I finally breathed out, my eyes glued to his chest. I couldn't bring myself to look him in the eye knowing that I would reject him. But why were things so awkward between is now? Was it because that I was scared that I will hurt his feelings? Or did I like the feeling knowing that I have captured the attention of two guys?
My heart thumped against my chest like an uneven drum beat. I could hear it in my ears, and I was almost sure that Ichigo could too.
Roughly, he grabbed the back of my neck and crushed his mouth against mine. I pushed against him, but he just wouldn't let go.
I could feel his hot, steamy breath in my mouth, his tongue asking for entrance. I pulled back, "Ichigo, stop-" he took advantage of this and shoved his tongue down my throat, making me whine. He explored my mouth, much to my displeasure, and was about to-
Bam! A fist came out of nowhere and and replaced the spot where Ichigo's face had been a second a go. I looked up, and saw Hitsugaya, his eyes so full of fury and rage that they turned into a dangerous hue of dark turquoise.
They looked so inhuman that I backed away from him. I've seen people being slaughtered inches before me, seen Zaraki-taichou impale thousands of hollows, but I have never seen such a horrifying expression.
A dark aura surrounded Hitsugaya. He turned and his angry eyes glared down at me and I flinched at their hardness. His eyes stared at me, long and hard before returning to their usual gentle teal.
"Rukia. I'm so sorry. Are you alright? Did he hurt you?!" I shook my head furiously, trying to clear my head of his expression. I felt a tear escape my eye; not because I was frightened, but was scared for Hitsugaya-that he would do something stupid and regret it later.
I reached for him, but didn't want to make him attack me. Hesitantly, I put my arms around him, crying.
"shh, it's okay. Everything's going to be alright. Don't you worry." He coaxed, rubbing my back. It was only then did I realize that my knees have given out on me and I was being fully supported by Hitsugaya's arms.
I leaned into him, and pressed my hand on his perfectly sculpted chest, comforted by his warmth. However, the moment did not last long.
"Hey! Toshiro! That was quite a punch for a midget! How 'bout we spar for a bit? I still wanna see how strong the soutaichou is!"
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