Thanks for the reviews and the favourites, as always it means a lot and keeps me motivated to write.
Here's the next Chapter and it will be the last in 2012! I hope you enjoy it as it's in a different sytle than usual.
Disclaimer: Nope, don't own Bleach and it wasn't one of my Christmas presents either.
Rukia had never been so glad to see her quarters in the 13th Division in her entire life as a shinigami and she wanted to cry in relief and happiness at the sight of her futon. She had just returned from a 10 day trip into the outer eastern regions of the Rukongai after the 13th Division had been assigned to investigate the disappearance of practically an entire village. Her team and she had headed out the day after Ichigo's welcome party and it had quickly become apparent when they had reached the almost abandoned village that something inhuman had been attacking the residents.
That night they had got their first glimpse of the hollow.
It had been the most powerful hollow she had encountered since the Arrancars and its power was almost as great as an adjuchas. For 10 days they had hunted and attacked the hollow to no effect, but last night they had finally managed to capture it, and thanks to the combined efforts of her team and Sode no Shirayuki, it had been defeated. But not before it had claimed the life of one of her team - their 6th seat, Hidetomo Kajomaru . It had been the first time she had lost a team member whilst she had been in charge and the responsibility and guilt she felt was almost overwhelming. As soon as she had bathed and changed into her formal uniform Captain Ukitake and she would return Kojamaru's body to his family and assist them in making the funeral arrangements that was befitting of a seated officer.
As the commanding officer at the battle she also had to collaborate all of her colleagues statements and present a final report to both Captain Ukitake and Head Commander Yamamoto. Kajomaru's death was the first in several years for the 13th Division and she knew the investigation would be thorough. There was also the issue of appointing a new 6th seat whilst handling a Division in mourning as well as attending to the other injured members of her team who were currently in the 4th for treatment. She felt all the more guilty that she had escaped the battle with little more than cuts and bruises and a strained shoulder.
But selfishly all she wanted to do right now was bathe, sleep, and collapse into Ichigo's arms.
She had missed him greatly over the past 10 days and she had felt none of the insecurity she had the morning after he had arrived in Soul Society. She had always prided herself on being able to handle any situation and not needing to rely on anyone for support, but as much as she hated to admit it, right now a small part of her just wanted the comfort of Ichigo's arms around her, to feel his warmth envelop her and to inhale his manly scent, but alas it was not meant to be.
Tiredly she peeled the dirty and ripped uniform off of her body and entered her small bathroom, thankful not for the first time that her quarters came with its own private bathroom, as she could not face anyone right now. The warm water soothed her tired muscles and washed away the dirt and blood that had accumulated on her body over the past 10 days, but she knew she would not be able to relax fully until she had returned Kajomaru's body and faced Captain Ukitake and Head Captain Yamamoto. She also wondered apprehensively about what her brother would say about her failure to protect her team adequately. With a sigh she heaved her body out of the bath and wrapped a towel around herself, trying to ignore the cuts and bruises the latest mission had left on her body, and returned into the living area to read through the stack of post that had accumulated whilst she had gone.
Picking up the stack of letters, her brow creased in consternation when she didn't recognise the hand writing on one of the envelopes. Carefully she undid the seal and pulled out the sheet of paper:
Dear Rukia,
I've just stopped by your barracks to see you but was told by Sentaro that you've been sent on a mission and he doesn't know when you'll be back. I hope you are ok? For some reason I can't find your reiatsu (or anyone elses for that matter?) and I hate that fact. I hate that I can't be with you but it motivates me to be done with this place as quick as I can.
Seeing as you're not around and my bank account has not yet been sorted out by the Academy I've been catching up on my studying. Boy does Soul Society have a lot of history and ancient laws! At least I won't have to worry about insomnia whilst I'm here with all these books to read!
I meant what I said yesterday, we'll make this work. Maybe we can't text, or e-mail, or Skype like we could in the living world, but it appears that good old post seems to still be working in Soul Society and I could do with practicing my handwriting again after all these years using a computer!
Thinking of you.
I.
Rukia's eyes filled with tears as she read his letter and she wiped them away quickly before they had a chance to fall. She would not cry. She was a Kuchiki for goodness sake! But the knowledge that even when Ichigo wasn't with her in person, he was thinking about her and worrying about her welfare was almost too much. Quickly she scanned the rest of her post and she realised there were 9 letters in total. He had written to her every day that she had been away and she had never been so grateful that Soul Society law mandated that an officer of the Gotei 13 had to have their personal quarters address listed in the Seireitei Address Book. Quickly she ripped each of the envelopes open and assembled the letters in date order so that she could read them.
Dear Rukia,
Weekend life in the Academy is so boring when you have no money! I've spent this morning scouring the grounds trying to find a way that I can sneak out and see you, but to no avail. It looks like I may be only actually physically be able to see you at the weekends, but rest assured that I will be seeing you at any opportunity I get and thinking about you in the interim.
Apart from that there's not much to do here, so I've spent the day reading. I feel like I'm 15 years old again! Classes start tomorrow and I'm trying to catch up as much as I can before then. It's a pretty big task and at the moment it feels insurmountable, but I have no choice but to do it.
I still can't feel your reiatsu and I hope you are ok?
I
Rukia sighed as she remembered the boredom of Academy life. The pupils lived for the weekend and if Ichigo didn't have any money he would probably be stuck there alone and she felt her heart ache a little. How she wished to see him right now.
Dear Rukia,
First day of classes today and as soon as they were done I just had to get to the gym to work some of the frustration out, but that was a mistake! Students (and teachers!) kept challenging me to zanjutsu fights as it has quickly spread round this place that Yamamoto passed me out as a zanjutsu expert. Eventually I ended up just going for a run (by run I mean an extended shunpo expedition around the Academy grounds) and I'm pretty sure that I could keep up with Byakuya now.
At least I found out today why I can't feel anyone's reiatsu. Apparently the spiritual pressure of this place is hidden by kido to stop hollows attacking. Good for the students, but it does mean that students can't feel the reiatsu of the people outside of the Academy. I'm still worried about you though and I hope the mission is going well.
I
Rukia could just imagine Ichigo being challenged to fights in the Academy as it was a competitive place to be, the fact that it appeared he had walked away surprised her though.
Dear Rukia,
Spent most of the day stuck in history and law lessons today and the stupid law professor decided to conduct an impromptu test on us all. Luckily all the reading I had done at the weekend paid off as I managed to scrap a pass (by 3 marks, but a pass is a pass!). It sucks being at the bottom of the class though, because as you know, when I was at school I made pretty good grades. I suppose it is to be expected given that I've started part way through the academic year. More reading for me tonight though...joy!
Hope the hollows aren't giving you too many problems?
I
She smiled yet again at reading of Ichigo's exam success. If he could pass a test now then it boded well that he would complete the Academy in record time.
Dear Rukia,
Today I feel mentally and physically exhausted as a good part of my day was spent either shunpoing around Soul Society as part of my Geography lesson (and having to shunpo students with me who can't shunpo themselves), or practicing suppressing my reiatsu. I thought I'd gotten pretty good at hiding my reiatsu but after today's class exercises I've realised I've got a lot to learn. Kami it is exhausting having to suppress it for hours at a time! I'm completely ready to pass out but I still have some history and strategy homework to compete...
Tried searching for your reiatsu today whilst we were outside of the Academy and couldn't find it. Hope nothing bad has happened to you or I will have to kick that hollows butt?!
I
Rukia rolled her eyes as she read the last sentence of Ichigo's letter, although a small spark of indignation and anger ignited within her too. Even after all this time and with her appointment as a Lieutenant he still thought he had to protect her. Although she rationalised that Ichigo's desire to protect was not just limited to her.
Dear Rukia,
How do you make kido look so easy? Today I had my first lesson and completely humiliated myself when I not only blew up the target, but the wall behind it too! I've now been scheduled for extra lessons with the Sensei and I'm not sure my reputation with my fellow students will ever recover.
News of my little accident seems to have spread around the school like wildfire and I can see and hear everyone talking about me again. Just as everything was starting to settle down and I was beginning to be treated as any other student, this happens. Grrr!
Still can't believe you're not back yet.
I
Rukia had to bite back a laugh as she thought of Ichigo blowing up a wall. The guy had so much spiritual pressure that if it wasn't controlled properly then he would be dangerous. She hoped the extra lessons would help and maybe she could tutor him a bit too if they got time.
Dear Rukia,
The weekend at last!
I've finally been paid (hooray!) and I'm off with some of the fellow students tonight into the Rukongai - after this week I definitely need to let off some steam!
Starting to worry that I still haven't heard from you. Are you still out hunting hollows or are you ignoring me?
I
Rukia smiled at the thought of Ichigo going out with his fellow students, and she had to admit a small part of her was relieved too. She'd not made many friends in the Academy as she had been so focused on beating Renji and a part of her regretted that. Many weekends she'd watched longingly as large groups of friends would go out drinking, but her friends had been the "geeks" and they had spent their weekends in the Seireitei tea shops studying or practicing their skills in the school grounds. Renji had invited her out with his friends a few times and she'd gone drinking with them if only to spend time with her old friend, but she had never really felt like she'd belonged in his group. She was glad that Ichigo was making friends.
Rukia,
Alcohol evil. Head hurts. Stomach sick. Never drinking again.
I
Rukia chuckled as she read Ichigo's hungover letter. She remembered her first taste of Rukongai alcohol and the resulting hangover. She hadn't been able to move for two days afterwards and she was surprised he's been able to focus his eyes long enough to write a letter. She picked up the last two letters and continued reading.
Dear Rukia,
Kami is Rukongai alcohol toxic! Still not feeling 100% today but I couldn't afford another day in bed.
Returned Renji's kimono to him today (he lent it to me the night of my Welcome Party as I didn't have any clothes to wear) and he told me you're still on your mission. He didn't have much information, but said it was something to do with villagers going missing? Be careful.
On the way back I bumped into Rangiku and she dragged me shopping when she realised I was wearing my Academy uniform. Boy can that woman shop! Mind you, seeing as I was still hungover it was pretty good not to have to think about what clothes to buy and to let an expert like Rangiku do it. Have to admit I'm impressed with what she chose, although I'm pretty sure my bank balance took a nasty hit! At least I have something other than my Academy uniform to wear now even if they are stupid kimonos and hakama. Why can't Soul Society just import some jeans and tee-shirts from the living world? Don't they know how much more comfortable they are?
Well better get back to studying. Not being able to move yesterday set me behind and I have a feeling I will be pulling an all nighter tonight.
I
A small smile lifted Rukia's mouth as she thought of Ichigo wearing kimono's. She remembered when she was in the living world and staying with the Kurosaki's how much Ichigo hated wearing them for formal occasions. He would have to get used to it now though as traditional outfits were still the norm in Soul Society even after all this time.
Dear Rukia,
I'm so tired. Ended up pulling an all nighter to get all my work done and managed about an hours' sleep last night. How I stayed awake during history and law today I'll never know! This afternoon was spent in hakudo and hoho lessons so at least the activity kept me awake.
I can't believe you have been gone for 10 days already. I guess whatever it is you are investigating is nasty? I wish I was out of here so that I could help you.
Stay safe.
I
Rukia was overcome with emotion as she finished reading his letters. She could sense Ichigo's reiatsu from the paper and even that tiny amount was filling her with warmth and comfort, and try as she might, she couldn't stop the tears from forming in her eyes. Yet again she reminded herself that she was a Kuchiki and Kuchiki's do not cry. She was beyond exhaustion, she was upset about Kajomaru, and truth be told, she was scared about what would happen to her now as his death was ultimately on her shoulders. There was no way that she could see Ichigo until at least the weekend, so there was only one thing she could do.
Dear Ichigo,
I'm back.
I wish I could say the mission went well, but it didn't. We killed the hollow, but we lost our 6th seat...I lost our 6th seat. It's the first time one of the 13th's soul reapers has been killed whilst I've been in command and I feel so responsible. Logically I know there was nothing more that could have been done, and he died doing what he loved, what he trained to do, but I keep thinking that if only I had done something different. Would it have changed things? Would he still be alive if I'd given a different command? Now I have to notify his family of his death with Captain Ukitake, help his family with the funeral, report the circumstances of the battle and his death directly to Captain Ukitake and Head Captain Yamamoto, and find a new 6th seat. It's all so overwhelming...and I wish you were here.
Finding your letters on my return made me so happy. The past 10 days have been horrible and knowing that you were thinking of me that whole time touched me. Thank you Ichigo.
Perhaps you are right when you said in your first letter that we can communicate with good old Soul Society post. I meant what I said the last time we saw each other too. I'll try.
I have to go now, but I won't hide my reiatsu this weekend so you should be able to find me once you are outside of the Academy.
Thinking of you too.
R.
PS: Your kido sounds as good as Renji's!
PPS: Yes, Rukongai alcohol is strong but you'll get used to it.
PPPS: Listen to Rangiku, the woman know what she is talking about!
PPPPS: Congratulations on passing your test.
Carefully Rukia placed the letter in an envelope and addressed the letter as per the return address on Ichigo's letters, noting with interest that he seemed to have been allocated one of the single rooms at the Academy. She dressed in her formal uniform and placed Ichigo's letter in her jewellery box that was kept in her private safe and was also heavily protected by kido spells. She picked up her letter before shunpoing to the Division Headquarters where she was due to meet Captain Ukitake, remembering to deposit the letter in the Division's post box along the way.
For the first time in a long time she simply could not wait for the weekend.
Happy New Year everyone! Next update in 2013...
