Chapter 14: Framed Memories

January 14; Today's the Day

BAMM!

I felt (and heard) a hard metal object smack against my head which caused me to wake up in the middle of the freezing cold. I wondered where I was for a moment, then remembered the previous night's occurrences.

I rubbed my head and looked around me to find out where whatever it was that hit me was, but I couldn't find anything. I then got up and turned around to find none other than Kukaku Shiba standing right behind me with her pipe in hand and her metal arm on her hip. Oh...That's probably what hit me. Her robotic arm.

I jumped back from being surprised. "K-Kukaku? What are you doing here?" I asked as I rubbed my head a bit more. "And what did you hit me so hard for?"

Kukaku laughed. "I tried so many other ways but you seemed to be knocked out cold! I had no idea the Kuchiki Princess was such a heavy sleeper!"

I made a pouting face. "W-Whatever. Just tell me why you're here!" I said as I looked at my once more visible breath.

"I heard about your little coming-of-age ceremony thing! I figured that we could come, considering you knew Kaien and all. We can come, right?" Kukaku asked slyly. I guess I forgot to invite her and Ganju. Oops...

"Oh, yes, of course you two can attend! Without question! I'm sorry I didn't invite you earlier."

Kukaku hit me on the head with her robotic arm again, same spot as she hit it the first top. It definitely didn't help it feel any better. "Hey! I TOLD YOU TO STOP WITH ALL THE FRICKIN APOLOGIES, DIDN'T I?" She shouted angrily.

"I'm sor-, I mean, yes! Yes, of course! I'll stop apologizing!" I said loud and proud.

"You don't seem like yourself, Rukia," Kukaku said out of the blue. I was a bit shocked and stepped back for a moment.

"What... What do you mean?" I asked. Talk about sudden mood change.

Kukaku sighed. "I think I know what you need to get you back to your old self," she said with a smile. "But first I think we need to tell your older brother and Old Man Yama that you haven't disappeared off the face of the Earth."

"Huh?" I asked, confused.

"Well, you've been out here all night and it's the day of your ceremony and the Kuchiki Princess is no where to be found. Don't you think they'd be at least a little worried?"

I looked down at my feet. "I... I guess they probably would be."

"Yeah, they would be. Besides, our birthday gift for you is back at my house and I want to be the first one who gives you a present!" Kukaku said proudly.

I opened my eyes widely. "Y-You and Ganju got me a gift?"

"Well, I just said that your birthday gift is back at my house, didn't I? That usually means that someone got you a gift, am I correct?"

"Oh, you didn't have to do that!" I said nervously, shaking my hands back in forth.

"Listen you!" Kukaku shouted as she put her hand on my head, giving me a noogie. "Stop with all this innocent 'Oh, you don't have to do that!' crap! Say thank you and accept it. Don't act like some sort of lost child!"

Nodding, I finally stood up and joined her. We walked for a while, making small talk every now and then. Eventually she asked why I was outside all night in the first place.

I sighed. "It's... a bit of a long story," I began. "Last night I found out that Byakuya had arranged for Renji and me to be married and it would be announced tonight. I felt like I had no say in it and I sort of... well, broke down a bit."

"Seriously?" Kukaku questioned. "How insensitive! Who told you this anyway?"

"Renji actually told me the situation and then he formally proposed to me because... well, he loves me."

Kukaku made a grin and said, "Well, we all know that's obvious."

"I didn't find out till then. I guess I'm just so blind to people's emotions." I said, starring off into the distance.

She patted me on the shoulder. "I wasn't good at that for a while when I was young as well. But after you go through a few lovers here and there, you start to get the hang of it," she said in a bit of a snobby way. "Besides, everyone has their flaws, am I right?"

I nodded. "Yeah, that's true." Thinking about the situation again, I decided I didn't really want to talk to Byakuya again. Being around him would probably just make me feel awkward. "Hey, Kukaku? Can we, uh, not go to my brother right now? I'm fine with talking to the Head Captain, but talking to Byakuya right now would make me feel kind of... You know, out of place."

Kukaku smiled. "Yeah, I know what you mean. Alright, let's hurry up and go tell 'em. Race ya there!"

xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Back in the Squad 4 barracks, Ichigo finally woke up around 11:30. He stayed up late looking for Rukia, but was deemed unsuccessful. He sat up, rubbed his eyes, scratched his head, and yawned, what people usually do when they wake up. Then, Uryu walked in.

"You're finally awake, I see," he said in a smart-mouthed tone. "Took you long enough."

"Well excuse me for being used to being awake at the crack of dawn unlike you."

"Yeah, yeah," Uryu said. "By the way, if you were wondering about Rukia, she's safe."

Ichigo's eyes opened wide in realization. He flew out of bed and ran up to Uryu. "How did you know she was gone? And how do you know she's safe?"

"Jeez, calm down, lover boy. Rukia and Kukaku stopped by this morning and told the Head Captain that she was going to take Rukia to visit the Rukongai district for a while, most likely to calm her nerves and visit some old friends."

Ichigo let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank goodness. I was worried something bad had happened to her."

"Ichigo," Uryu began.

"Huh?"

"I heard about the arranged marriage between Renji and Rukia, and how you were enraged by it."

He put his head down. "How much of it did you hear?"

"All of it, I assume. But listen to me, Ichigo. You can stop this all."

"What do you mean, Uryu?"

"You've seen it in the movies, haven't you?" Uryu chuckled. "If they can do it, so can you. Rukia can't be all that happy about it either, so it shouldn't be too hard to stop."

"You make it sound all too easy," Ichigo said, shaking his head.

"You've stopped Aizen, but you can't stop an arranged marriage? Pathetic. Just pathetic..." Uryu teased.

"Now listen, you! I never said I wouldn't at least try!" Ichigo said angrily, grabbing Uryu by the collar of his shirt.

Uryu smiled. "Calm down. I know you can do it. And you better, because if Renji gets Rukia, then you get Orihime, and we just can't have that, can we?" Ichigo's eyes widened again. "Just wait until she gets back from visiting Rukongai. You should talk to her about the matter before tonight." And with that, Uryu walked out of the room.

xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

"Ah, the fresh air of Rukongai! It feel so nice to be here again!" I said stretching my arms. Looking around me, I was back in my old home town, District 78. Certainly not the nicest places to live, but it was what we called home. I wanted to go pay my respects to my friends who had died up on the hill, but Kukaku dragged me away to her house before I got the chance.

"You can visit plenty of graves later! But we need to go back to my place so I can give you your present! And to make sure Ganju hasn't completely destroyed the house doing something careless again."

I smiled and laughed. Yeah, Kukaku was right. This is definitely what I need.

When we arrived at the Shiba House, it was as big and obnoxious as usual, with the huge arms holding up the infamous sign. I followed Kukaku inside.

"Ganju?" Kukaku called. "I'm home, and I brought the Kuchiki Princess along with me!"

"You can just call me Rukia," I insisted.

"I can, but Kuchiki Princess sounds more fun, doesn't it?" She laughed, and I sighed in return.

Kukaku went downstairs and opened a door which lead to what looked like a training room, where Ganju was in the middle. He seemed to be doing something, and whatever it was, he was trying to make it quick and hidden.

"You fool! Did you not finish wrapping it yet?" Kukaku yelled.

"No, that's-, well, I-I couldn't find the wrapping paper and I-I, um, was looking for a while and when I finally found it, it was too late, and, well, uh-" He was cut off by his older sister hitting him in the head with her pipe.

"You idiot! Why didn't you just look for some kind of bag?" She ranted. "Ugh, it doesn't matter now, I guess. Rukia, come over here."

I followed her directions, not wanting to get hit in the head. She patted the floor signaling for me to sit down with them.

"Here you go, Rukia. Happy Birthday, from all three of the Shibas," Kukaku said as she handed me a framed picture. It was of Kaien and me.

Kaien was patting me on the head, like he always used to do, and I was giving a weak smile, while his was as big as could be. Studying the picture, I didn't realize the tear that was jerking down my face. "You guys, this is an amazing present. Thanks so much... It really means a lot to me."

"No problem, Rukia," Ganju said with a smile. "And quit the crying - Do you really think he'd wanna see you like that?"

"Rukia, you should probably go visit his grave, don't you think?" Kukaku suggested.

I nodded. "Yes, I probably should. And I will." I got up and thanked the two of them sincerely. "I'll see you two tonight, okay?"

"Of course! Bye, Rukia!"

Visiting his grave... This'll certainly bring back memories.

A/N: Well, I liked this chapter better than the last one. This one's atmosphere is much lighter, don't you think? Anyway, I'm sorry I couldn't have gotten it up earlier. I just wanted to get one more chapter up before school starts again. It starts in one week for me. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! Anyway, thanks for reading all the way up to this point! Thanks for reviewing, too!

-RozenPitch, A.K.A. Bree