Disclaimers: No money involved.
Note: This chapter was about to hit 5k words so I decided to split it up and post the first half first. Since the scene that comes after that can work on its own without distracting everybody from the first scene. Thank you for reading! I can't believe so many people read this crossover XD and actually like it!
Before the story tho... let me reply to a few people who had questions/concerns.
to fimayc: Hmm, you have a point with Byakuya actually. I had to rewrite a few paragraphs in part 11 to portray what I had in mind more clearly. That panel in the manga (or was in anime) where Rukia reports to Byakuya on her first day as a shinigami comes to mind, just that here Byakuya asks more details than simply dismissing her. And also, the less unfeeling part is because it's written in Byakuya's POV XD he does care (too much, even) and it's a given. He just has a very different and stiff arm in showing it. And as for Rukia's concern for Ichigo... remember she went to Karakura High on the first day the Kuchiki are back in Karakura :D She knows he's alive when they left and when he showed up, she's now sure that he is healthy. There are bits and pieces scattered everywhere on Rukia's part, but not as blatant as Ichigo's since I still don't plan on writing in Rukia's POV (if you've noticed).
to gadez: XDDD Yes. I've always wanted Sodeno to be a boy because of this one scene I have in mind (which I will put in here someday) that I've always wanted to see. But everywhere I've seen, Shirayuki's always a girl and it's not as fun with the scene I wanted.
to rukiafan00: Don't worry. Even if Ichigo and/or Rukia are not in the scene, everything that's happening is about them and any scene that happens elsewhere will always lead back to IchiRuki :D.
LAST: If you want, you can download the song for this chapter. Just copy and paste without the spaces:
http : // cugami. com / temp / mp3 / lostones. mp3
Chapter 12: The Lost Ones
Nothing ever looks the same in the light
Nothing ever seems to quite turn out right
But when you realize that you have been loved
You will never be alone
Where the Lost Ones Go ~ Sissel and Espel Lind
Yamada Hanataro is a timid young boy who has lived in the Kuchiki manor in Karakura since he's been born. His ancestors have served the noble family since the time of the feudal period and though the system has changed and their clan is 'free', his grandfather and those before him have stayed in the employ of the Kuchiki. Everyone has had their reasons, from simple comfort and security to honor-bound loyalty.
The Kuchiki House has provided the Yamada clan a roof, food on the table, education for every child and employment to every adult all based on merit. It is not surprising that there is a Yamada who's shown promise found in Kuchiki properties in every part of the world.
Hanataro is not one of those promising Yamadas. He is studying in one of the nearby high schools and hopes to take up medicine in the future. Despite such a dream, he simply wants to stay at the manor and be its caretaker, and care for those who live in it – particularly the young mistress, who's returned finally. Even though she's been in Karakura City all this time, she has stayed with her guardian's humble home and only visits the manor once in a while.
He's seen her as a child whenever the siblings visit their grandmother for the summer and often, being the only other child in the entire manor, she'll ask if he wants to play. He will always run away from her and hide until her sister or brother will call for her. They stop visiting when the grand lady has passed away.
It's almost winter once again and Hanataro always remembers those simple days fondly. So many things have changed.
"Good morning, Hanataro-san."
He jumps out of his skin with a yell. He turns and stutters a greeting, "G…good morning, Rukia-sama. You're up early today."
"I won't be taking the car from now on, so it's best that I wake up earlier." She walks over to the shelf where her school bag is. Some papers are still scattered on the desk and she begins to fix them, much to Hanataro's horror.
"Ah! Please let me!" He runs over to her and immediately grabs all the papers from her hands. She stares at him and he begins to feel the sweat trickling down his nape. "It's my job. Please let me do it."
Her lips thin and he worries that she might reprimand him. Instead, she says, "Thank you." Then she picks up her bag and phone. She checks for any messages or missed calls that came in while she's left it here to charge the night before. It doesn't take her long and she slips it in her blazer.
On her way out of the door, she glances outside the large windows as if deep in thought and Hanataro has the privilege of watching her closer. He usually cleans her study early in the morning before he leaves for school, and before she wakes up so he never really meets her.
She's always been unreachable.
"Is there something wrong, Rukia-sama?"
"Autumn leaves," she answers. "It just reminds me of something." She turns to him and nods. "Have a good day, Hanataro-san."
He bows low to her and waits until she is out the door before straightening up, papers still clutched tight to his chest. He only has a glimpse of her back, and as the door swings shut he sees both Renji and Sodeno-san outside to greet her. Sometimes, he wishes he can be just as close.
He sighs and looks down at the stack in his hands. This is the closest he can be and he doesn't mind. He sighs again and returns to his task. He walks over to the desk and takes the rest of the papers on it to fix. He notices a pattern to these papers once he's already stacking them to order.
Ah, his lady is drawing a storybook! Maybe that's what she wants to become in the future. He grins at the knowledge few are privy to and adoringly attempts to put the pages in chronology. He laughs as he reads the adventure of a lion and a rabbit, the unlikely friends.
"Are you going to continue training during Winter break, Ichigo?"
Ichigo tilts his head to look at Tatsuki. "Likely. I don't know." He rubs the back of his head in discomfort. In truth, his training's gone to a premature halt while all his other friends are given the basics for karate. Only Tatsuki's been allowed to do basic Shunpo since she's already a black belt and Chad has a different form entirely. He doesn't know what that is, but it's not karate.
He's been told to rethink his decision. Even if he insists that he wants to continue, neither Urahara nor Yoruichi seem to believe him. He doesn't know what kind of dedication they still want but they still think that he isn't serious enough.
"You don't seem so sure, Kurosaki-kun," Inoue leans forward so she can see him from Tatsuki's other side.
"It's not me. It's Urahara and Yoruichi." He snorts. He doesn't want to talk about it so he hastens his steps towards his school. There is something they haven't told him. He isn't looking forward to the meeting this afternoon when it's obvious that his trainers have something else planned other than training.
He turns the corner and easily sidesteps the body squatting on the ground on instinct. Then he stops short.
Seems like she's been there for a while. She stands up, straightening her coat and dusting it from the accumulated dirt.
"You look well," is what she greets him with.
He is still staring.
"I'm glad."
"Rukia…"
"Kurosaki-kun," she cuts him off, "I would like to apologize for all the troubles I've caused you. I can't…" she looks down at the bag in her hands, and Ichigo follows with his gaze. She's very pale; he can almost see the veins on her tiny hands gripping the handle of her bag. "I don't know how to make it up to you."
He still doesn't talk, too preoccupied with simply staring. It's really her. And she's talking to him. She still looks the same. Still short, if a bit paler but it's probably because of the approach of winter. Sun's hardly out these days. And he's asked the café, even the ramen house, if they've seen her whenever he makes his daily rounds. They haven't, so during the time that she's been missing, she really isn't in Karakura or not allowed to go out. Otherwise, he should've at least seen her there.
Five minutes pass by, maybe longer. She doesn't flinch from his stare. She lets him gather his thoughts and maybe she's waiting for something, but he doesn't know what.
"Rukia, let's go." It's the first time that Ichigo notices she's with someone so he lifts his head to look. Cold green eyes meet his, a wordless warning that Ichigo can't understand. He has the same dark hair as Rukia's, perhaps darker than her slight midnight blue shade but Ichigo doesn't see the family resemblance and wonders who this is.
He wants to ask her but the words fail him. So this is what people meant when they say 'petrified'.
"Rukia," he says her name again and Ichigo has to wonder why the guy's being familiar. "Say your goodbyes. We have to go."
Her brows furrow and much to Ichigo's surprise, she doesn't hit the guy for irritating her. Her shoulders just drop that tiny inch as she lifts her head up to finally look at Ichigo. "I'm glad we've met, despite the pain you had to endure during those days," there is a slight grin as she says this. It's enough to bring him back to their self-appointed save-the-world-one-step-at-a time missions. And she sobers up just as fast, "Goodbye, Kurosaki. Ichigo. I really am sorry for getting you involved." She bows down to her waist again, which Ichigo really hates seeing. She even lets the boy pull her away.
She is not this meek little creature.
Far from it.
He'll be damned to let her keep thinking like that.
Ichigo's hand is faster than his brain as he grabs her wrist. "I don't accept that," he manages to say as soon as everything finally registers.
"What?" she asks, her eyes wide at his statement and the boy she's with says, "Let her go, boy."
"I don't want your apology. You don't need to apologize!" Ichigo's voice rises in vehemence. And if the world can do him one favor, it can stand still for just this moment and let the second last longer. Because even now, he can see her going away despite the fact that she's in front of him and her wrist is still in his grasp. "Let me save you this time."
She's changed his life from the mundane existence that it once has been. She's given him purpose, forced his hands to reach out to everyone and everything and help, no matter how simple an objective. She's shown him that he can do more; that he can affect people and that he can protect them. She's shown him what true strength is.
And it hurts to see her so weak.
Her arm is limp in his and she looks at him with emotionless eyes. "From what, Ichigo? I don't need saving."
"Yes, you do," he insists. He will save her from everything that dares to put that look in her eyes. If being a Kuchiki will slowly kill her, then he will take her away from the Kuchiki if he must. His grip on her wrist tightens as he moves forward.
Again, his hand is faster than his brain and even eyes can follow. He finds his arm up and against a blow that might've sent him to the ground before he realizes what's happening. The other boy does succeed in blocking Rukia from Ichigo's view, and in turn loosen his hold on her wrist.
"We are leaving, Rukia," the tone has no room for debate. "I've given you enough time with this troublemaker."
Ichigo strikes at the opening but it never reaches his mark. The boy deftly slaps the incoming punch with a roll of his wrist, changing its angle which forces Ichigo's stance to go wide and unbalanced. Suddenly, a long leg's gone through Ichigo's defenseless side. The kick hits his kidney point blank and Ichigo winces.
All his training and he is still bested by yet another person. "What's your name?" He needs a name for his hit list.
"You are not worthy enough to know." His stance is relaxed and very open, but Ichigo now knows not to be fooled. The hit he's received doesn't hurt, but the threat behind the blow is very apparent. It's clear that the boy's priority is not to hurt or incapacitate Ichigo, but to simply separate Rukia.
On that, he's succeeded remarkably.
Ichigo's focus has shifted to attack the threat in a heartbeat in that split second and he's let Rukia go in the process. And that's all it has taken to put a good five feet between them. Less than a second, Ichigo bitterly recalls. He doesn't even manage to put some dirt on that pristine white coat.
To add more insult, the boy actually turns his back on Ichigo to check on Rukia's wrist. She shifts a bit to glimpse at Ichigo with unmasked worry but it disappears as soon as she sees he isn't injured and his eyes are instead boring into hers.
"It's best that you forget about her," the boy tells him without turning around, as if he's not worth even that.
Ichigo doesn't listen. Instead, he looks at her. The truth will always be in her eyes.
And she looks resigned.
Again. Unacceptable.
He can't do anything yet. But that will change. He swears to his very soul that things will change. He slams a fist against the first thing it comes in contact with, frustrated and angry. The number of times he's seen her walk farther away from him is accumulating. This simply cannot go on.
His friends have stayed silent all this time but it's Inoue who gasps and runs to his side. She tentatively reaches for his bleeding fist still embedded in the phone booth's broken pane. "May I, Kurosaki-kun? This needs to be seen to."
He only nods and mutters a distracted thank you while he watches the fading couple in the distance.
The rest of the day is a blur of nonsense to Ichigo. They have class, then there's lunch and next thing he knows, he's ready to go to Urahara's with or without his friends. The morning's events weigh heavily in his mind; the identity of that new person, his closeness to Rukia and the implied threat that Ichigo should forget about Rukia. Twice now that he's received that warning. He honestly doesn't know if it's concern for his well-being or that they simply do not approve that someone of Rukia's class associates with him.
None of them are his friends, so he has to believe on the latter. It's something he can understand, somewhat. If he accepts that she's a Kuchiki and forget that she's Rukia, too.
But, he won't. He refuses to.
"Ichigo!" Keigo jumps from his seat towards where Ichigo is, "We're going out to eat and then maybe start to round up dates for the Christmas party before we run out of girls! I hate Christmas parties. It's so much pressure!"
"I'm busy." Ichigo finishes packing up his things and moves out of Keigo's way. "Have fun with Mizuro."
Keigo scowls and blocks his path. "Come on, Ichigo. Rukia-san is also our friend, but you're going overboard with this. I thought the bodyguard thing was just you being weird… but the orientation yesterday is pretty extreme." Keigo looks to Mizuro for back up, and is given one with a simple nod.
Ichigo's eyebrow twitches. That orientation is just an introduction to basic karate exercises, far from even lesson one. He looks at Tatsuki, and she shrugs. "I'm perfectly fine. I like the Shunpo philosophy, but I have to agree on the 'pretty extreme' part. Yoruichi-san explained to me the history of Shunpo and it's… really extreme for lack of a better term. Just this once, Keigo, and back off." She glares at Keigo when it looks like he's about to jump her in celebration of mutual agreement.
"Don't get us wrong, Ichigo," it's Mizuro's turn to placate him. He's ready to bust his way out of this little encounter before he's pissed off at any of his friends. "We're with you and we'd like to help Rukia-san any way we can. But… it doesn't look like she's in any danger, from this morning. And that boy can be her bodyguard for all we know…"
"I've heard enough," Ichigo raises a hand to stop anymore of their talk. "I don't…"
"Don't misunderstand, Ichigo!" Tatsuki snaps at him. "We are not abandoning you or anything. We're together in this. We just want you to…relax a bit." She looks pointedly at his bandaged hand.
"I understand what you're saying," Ichigo starts, scowl ever present. "But, I'm sorry. I can't stop for a breather. I owe her too much." Before any of them can say something else or ask questions he's not prepared to answer, he leaves.
Orihime watches all of their friends corner Kurosaki-kun after the bell has rung but has kept her silence. She has nothing helpful to add and sincerely does not know who to side with. All of them have gone with Kurosaki-kun to this house he goes to train with gusto, all with the need to help a fellow classmate. Even though none of them are close to Rukia-san, they all remember her presence; some more than others.
She is surprised, at first. Surprised at the size of the house, the strange people in it and their methods but more surprised about Kurosaki-kun than anything else. She has watched him since the first day of high school and liked him gradually the more she sees of him. But in the last few months, she's seen him change and grow into someone more, someone she can admire and look up to… aspire to become. His strength is admirable; his indifference can be so sweet. She doesn't know what Rukia-san has done to him, but it's heartbreaking to see so much happen in the span of a few months. And all because of a girl they've hardly spoken to.
"Uhm…" Everyone is still arguing, blaming each other over Kurosaki-kun's abrupt leave. She doesn't know how to stop them. They all want to help, after all. "Please don't be angry with Kurosaki-kun."
"No one's angry, Orihime," Tatsuki-chan huffs. "We're just worried about him. We're his friends after all."
"And Rukia-san?" Orihime bites her lip as she waits for an answer.
"Rukia-san is…" Tatsuki-chan trails off, searching for a word.
"Of course she's our friend!" Keigo-kun pumps his fist in the air and scowls at the same time. "It's just that… it's really weird the way Ichigo's acting. I know he's stubborn but this is too much, you know. That drop dead gorgeous woman called Yoruichi made me do push-ups and damn, she said that's not even an inch of work she makes Ichigo do. My arm's about to fall off after five counts!"
Tatsuki-chan rolls her eyes.
"I am not exaggerating!" Keigo-kun bellows. "You're always so mean to me!"
"I didn't say anything!"
The shouting escalates and they are back where they started. Orihime looks at the silent person left in the room, Chad-kun. Ishida-san's opted to learn his family's martial arts and according to him, it's for personal investment and not to help anybody. Orihime smiles at the memory of how that conversation went. Ishida-kun is so nice but refuses to let anybody acknowledge it, much like Kurosaki-kun in a way just without the scowl.
Chad-kun knows something, she thinks. He's always silent, of course, but there is something different. "Ah… Chad-kun?"
He looks at her without a word.
"What do you think?"
"Rukia is different."
And that is that. Orihime bites her lip once more as she thinks about it. The more she does, the more it feels as if her heart will cry bloody tears. "Yes… she…" Orihime swallows thickly, "she is the one who changed his world." And she's still changing it, without her being present.
Orihime looks at the empty doorway and then out the window. She tries to get a glimpse of Ichigo's back but he's long gone to prepare on what's to come.
To be continued...
