A/N: Thank you for all you reviews and thanks for sticking with me this far
I've been really busy and I have so many projects coming up but I really wanted to do this chapter, because it's amazing.
Rukia and Ichigo sat back to back in their shared room. She wore a white kimono while he had on a black kimono, such opposites they were. And yet they were the same in many ways.
"Reno…he reminds me of Kaien." Rukia said with a soft laugh.
"Eh? Who's Kaien?" Ichigo was compelled to ask.
"He…was my mentor before Shirayuki." Rukia said quietly, the rain was hitting the windowpane and with each drop she felt her heart get heavier.
"Ah…" was his response.
"He died…roughly two years ago…" Rukia spoke softly, as if her voice would break at any second, the tension was thick in the air. She wasn't comfortable talking about this but Ichigo had to know. She had to open up to him at least a little bit right? He was her guardian and she trusted him completely.
"Rukia, you don't have to tell me any of this." Ichigo said crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"Idiot!" Rukia said with a scowl, "I'm not telling you because I have to. I'm telling you because I want to, now shut up and listen."
"Hot-headed midget." Ichigo grumbled and Rukia elbowed his back, which earned a grunted curse from the strawberry.
"He died protecting me…if I was stronger…I could of protected both of us…he told me to run but…I…then he… and it was all my fault." Rukia said her voice faltering and her head dipped low. The lightning crashed outside as the rain came down in buckets. Rukia lifted her hands to her face and her shoulders shook slightly, she hated feeling weak especially in front of Ichigo. She had to be strong and yet here she was, crumbling before his very eyes.
Ichigo moved and crawled to face her. He reached out and gently pulled her hands away from her face that caused Rukia to stare at him with wide eyes. The sliver of moonlight casted down upon her delicate face and Ichigo felt his heart rush, he remembered that night of her birthday, the look in her eyes before he blacked out. They were so hurt, glazed over with pain and worry. He and Kaien were connected somehow. 'Can't you see King? Kaien and you are one in the same. You both had the 'Hollow' virus…and that will take you over…and you'll kill her.' A hissing voice said in the back of Ichigo's mind, if it weren't for the look of worry running across Rukia's face at that split second, Ichigo would have blacked out again. He could feel dark hands clawing around his line of vision but they quickly faded away when he stared into Rukia's piercing violet ones.
It made sense now, why she was so frightened at that time but also why she refused to run away and instead fought him. He had to get stronger and not just for her but for himself. He was going to beat this thing...so she wouldn't have to re-live a haunting memory .Rukia's lips formed into a small smile, "Thanks for not dying Ichigo." She said softly, the rain was just background music. Ichigo let go of her hands and chuckled, "I'm too stubborn to die, remember?" He said scooting next to her and crossing his legs.
"Yeah…" Rukia muttered as they both watched the rain hit the windows in front of them.
&3&3&3
Reno passed the bottle of sake to Hisagi as they both sat outside on the porch. The rain dripped from the roof and formed puddles in front of the two friends. "Remember when you almost beat that guy to pulp cause he said you looked like a girl?" Hisagi said with a loud laugh, Reno joined in and nodded. "Remember when that guy asked what your 69 tattoo meant? And you told him it was how many women you've slept with." Reno said pouring yet another glass.
"Hey Reno…did you love Soi Fon?" Hisagi asked and the redhead became uncomfortable.What a random question and yet Reno was suspecting it. He rubbed the back of his neck, using his free hand to pull out his package of cigarettes. "I…" Reno gazed out into the pouring rain and Hisagi stayed silent. "I can't say. If I did, that would change my memories of her." Reno said holding his hand out for Hisagi's lighter.
"Then why'd you beat yourself up so much after her death?" Hisagi said as Reno lit his cancer stick.
"You know me, I hate loosing." Reno said with a half-grin. Hisagi chuckled and their conversation continued as if Hisagi never asked the question.
"Do you remember that petite blonde who used to work at that café?"
"Oh yes I do." Reno said with a laugh.
"Man whore." Hisagi said narrowing his eyes but a grin was still on his face.
&3&3&
Urahara set the tray of tea down, "Well…we must keep Ichigo's family safe." Zangetsu said carefully taking a cup and Shirayuki nodded.
"Don't worry." Yoruichi said taking out a map, she spread it across the table. "The blue dot is the Kurosaki clinic. The red dots are where 'Death Gods' are hiding, I have informed them to keep watch on his family." She said pointing out to the spots. "This green dot is Yuzu and Karin's school. I added extra security there because they walk home, you never know when Aizen will strike." Yoruichi explained and the group nodded in approval.
"My lovely Yoruichi! You are so smart!" Urahara said with a large grin, Yoruichi smacked him before taking her own cup of tea.
"Our next issue…is Ichigo." Shirayuki said her ice blue eyes narrowing. "That 'Hollow' virus could go off at any moment. Urahara what have you learned from the blade I brought you?" Shirayuki looked towards the stripped hat man.
Urahara cleared his throat, "It can be controlled, although it is very sophisticated…the blade was black before correct?" Shirayuki nodded.
"Now it is white, meaning the virus is now in Ichigo's blood stream and we have to find a way to either get it out…or have Ichigo control if completely." Urahara explained.
"We knew that! What can we do to help him?" Yoruichi said with a frown.
"I can train him and we'll need Rukia's help. He is strong, he should be able to control it and his body will destroy it on its own." Urahara smiled and pulled out his fan waving it in front of his face.
"Can he release it on his own?" Zangetsu asked and Urahara rubbed his chin, "hmm…I suppose so…yes…he could." Urahara said still with a smile on his face.
"We've done all that we can, now it's up to those two to work together." Shirayuki said reaching out and clutching Zangetsu's hand.
"Don't worry you two! Yoruichi the great has many plans!" Yoruichi said with her signature cat-like grin.
&3&3&
Rukia had never felt so warm in her whole life; someone must have placed a blanket over her or something. She never slept this good in her whole life, even with Nii-sama's fancy expensive beds. Rukia's whole body relaxed and she felt herself drift off into 'la-la' land. Little did she know that warmth was coming from a certain orange-haired guardian who had his arm wrapped around her waist, and how they got into this position, he would never know.
A/N: Ugh, I can't wait for April vacation! Maybe I'll actually get some really good chapters out. Also, if anyone has suggestions for my one-shot collection White Moon, that would be lovely. School is killing my brain and so I've lost so much creativity.
So please review so I'll keep writing and hopefully get my creative spark back.