Chapter Ten
A mass service was offered on Sunday and Byakuya led the first class passengers in a hymn. Rukia, Aizen and Hisana were in the congregation singing along with the captain.
Ichigo ran down the Grand Staircase, paused to say good morning to Jushiro Ukitake, who kindly returned the favor. Ichigo was back in his third class attire and was about to walk into the service when the guards at the door stopped him.
"You're not supposed to be here," he told Ichigo.
"I was here last night," Ichigo argued. "Don't you remember?"
Hearing the conversation and commotion outside Aizen's man slave Ichimaru left the service to see what was going on. Ichigo saw him coming.
"Look, he'll tell you!"
"Senior Aizen and Seniorita Hisana continue to be most appreciative of your assistance, they tell me to give you thirty pesos for your troubles senior," Ichimaru said in a bad Mexican accent. Somebody had too much tequila last night. Ichimaru handed Ichigo two twenty dollar bills and Ichigo refused them.
"I don't want money," he said firmly.
"Oh Senior, I would like to remind you that you travel in class tres, and that you can no longer be present in class Uno," Ichimaru said. The steward was starting to get annoyed by Ichimaru's fake Mexican accent and slapped Aizen's man slave across the face. Ichimaru recovered.
"I need to talk to Rukia," Ichigo begged. "Please, only for a minute!"
"Please escort Mr. Kurosaki back where he belongs s'il vous plait!" Ichimaru said taking on a French accent. He handed to money to the steward and the steward grabbed Ichigo under the armpits and dragged him off.
"Come along you."
Ichimaru turned a deaf ear to Ichigo's pleas. In the Service Rukia had looked up from her songbook to see Ichigo being dragged off by the steward. Crestfallen she looked back down.
~*~*~*
Ukitake was giving Aizen and company an exclusive guided tour of the steam liner after the service. Ichigo was determined to talk to Rukia and would stop at nothing. He was crouched below the upper deck with Renji and Toshiro.
"You're crazy," the white haired midget said.
"He's in love," Renji said as they both gave Ichigo a leg up to the upper deck. Once up top Ichigo moved catlike through the people. On the deck a father was watching his young son and his coat and hat lay forgotten on the bench. In one swift motion Ichigo walked past the bench, picked up the coat and put it on, slicking back his hair so now he blended in with the other passengers.
Rukia was in the control room listening to Ukitake explain what happened at various aspects of the ship. It was like listening to a proud father show off his son's (or in this case daughter I guess) accomplishments. First officer Uryu Ishida walked right past the group to where Captain Byakuya Kuchiki was watching the water fly past them.
"There's another berg warning sir," he said.
"It is nothing of my concern," Byakuya said. "This time of year they're quite common. Put in the order to have the last four boilers lit."
"Yes sir," Ishida walked past them as Ukitake led them out onto the deck.
"Mr. Ukitake," Rukia said. "Pardon me but I did the sum in my head and the number of lifeboats times the capacity you mentioned, forgive me but I doubt that there aren't enough for everyone on board."
"About half," was Ukitake's response. "You don't miss a thing Miss. Rukia. I did have in the original plan an extra row that would fit a few more boats but it was decided that the deck would look too crowded and alas, I was overruled."
"It's a waste of deck space as it is," Aizen said smacking a boat with his rich bastard cane. "This ship is unsinkable."
"Sleep soundly Miss Rukia," Ukitake said. "I have built you a good strong ship, she's all the live boat you'll ever need. This way please"
As Rukia turned to corner a man grabbed her arm and dragged her into the nearby exercise room, a man with orange hair peaking out of his hat.
A man named Ichigo Kurosaki.
"Ichigo, this is impossible we, we can't do this!" Rukia sighed. Ichigo grabbed her by the shoulders.
"Rukia, you're no picnic, a spoiled brat even but you have a good heart and you're the most amazing…"
"Ichigo, I…"
"No, let me finish. You're amazing. I know I have nothing to offer you. But I'm too involved now. I can't walk away without knowing you're going to be alright."
Rukia could feel the tears welling up behind her eyes. Unlike Aizen, Ichigo was so honest and so real. He was unlike anyone she had ever met before.
"Ichigo," she begged. "You're making this difficult. I'll be fine, really I will."
"I doubt that," Ichigo said. "They've got you locked in a glass jar and you'll die if you don't get out. Maybe not right away because you're strong but sooner or later you will die."
"You can't save me Ichigo."
"Exactly only you can do that."
"I have to get back, they'll notice my absence." And with that she left.
Later that evening Rukia was having tea with her sister and her sister's friends. Hisana was babbling on about the wedding plans and other nonsense. Rukia wasn't paying much attention and was watching a younger girl trying to act proper to impress her prissy mother.
~*~*~*~
The dusk colors were vivid in the sunset and Ichigo was back at the bow leaning against the railing letting the wind whip across his face freeing himself of all though.
"Hello Ichigo," said a voice behind him. Rukia was standing only ten feet away. "I changed my mind, Renji said you might be…"
Ichigo shushed her and held out his hand. She took it and he pulled her to the front of the boat.
"Close your eyes," he whispered in her ear. Rukia did so. Ichigo pulled her in front of him and gently pressed her in between the rail and his own body. He spread her arms out like wings and held onto her waist to keep her steady. "Ok, you can open them."
When Rukia opened her eyes all she saw in front of her was open ocean. The navy Atlantic unrolled underneath her.
"I'm flying!" she gasped.
"Come Josephine, in my flying machine," Ichigo said softly in her ear. She leaned back into him and let him press his lips into hers. The kiss was genuine and passionate.
Up in the crow's nest the lookout Ikkaku Madarame and elbowed his mate Yumichika Ayasegawa.
"Wish we had them bleeding binoculars now."
