Hey guys! Got temporary access to my computer. YAY!

Anyway, I'd like to give a big thanks to people who take the time to read the story and even review. You guys are (searches through thesaurus for a different word) fantabulous! Betcha you didn't see that word coming. Anyway enjoy the chapter and...

Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo. (And the manga is kicking ass)

Chapter 13:

The difference.

ICHIGO

"You're strange. You know that right?" I told Rukia as she sped through the mall parking lot, her gait fluent and smooth against the invisible ice. We arrived in Quebec City a few hours ago and already we'd done so much walking, all the way to the Place Fleur De Lys.

"I have rarely found occasion to visit shopping malls when everything I require I already possess," she answered opening the door. That may have been true, Kon could make anything with the clap of his squeaky paws, that didn't mean he didn't take self-appreciating liberties.

We entered through the main entrance under a grand arch, greeted by Christmas decorations everywhere we turned and a majestic interior beauty. A large white banner hung off the ceiling's metal arch and had 'Bonnes Fêtes!' printed on it in red cursive ink. The floors were tiled with classy crème and brown shades and the ceiling decorated by thin dark metal arches. It was only December 21st and the mall was still packed with late coming shoppers, desperate to find the perfect gift. "Are holidays important in your family?" Rukia asked analyzing the stand alone mall map, the directions in both French and English.

"I guess. Religion is kind of lost on our family, the end of year holidays have become more of an excuse to shower each other with gifts," I answered and she nodded her head. The whole idea of the perfect holiday gift was the most successful marketing scheme to date apart from Valentine's Day. "What about you?"

Rukia shrugged turning right, "We don't exchange gifts in my family, not often. A card or verbal acknowledgment is usually sufficient."

"So holiday gifts are a no-go?"

"They are impractical for a vampire, if I got a gift for every holiday or birthday I have lived through, my bedroom would have been converted into a storage facility some time ago," she joked. I understood why but that didn't mean I had to like the 'Immortal' way. "You will understand soon enough, a moon child will begin to age slowly a year or two after reaching full maturity."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked and she glanced up at me.

"I'm not quite sure, I have only heard of this term from it being thrown around loosely," she admitted. "From what I understand, to reach full maturity is to have a body that is conditioned for an eternity of transformations."

There was a crowd up ahead; we weaved through the masses of people meeting at the end; a large multipurpose store called Zellars. She tightened the violet scarf around her neck and pointed to the large clock in the centre of the mall. "We meet back here in two hours. We will be moving on to the States in a few days, if you think there is something you need, please pick it up," she advised turning around.

"You're not coming with me?" I asked and she shook her head.

"There are things I must do that are of greater importance," Rukia replied walking away.

She was so different, if Yuzu was at this majestic mall right now I know she would be going crazy, bursting at the seams over new cooking equipment and on-sale sundresses for the summer. But Rukia was the opposite, similar to Karin, she seemed to only come for the bare necessities. Be in and out as with a specific goal in mind. It still bothered me that Rukia hadn't gotten a gift for a while, when filling that enchanted bag of hers the majority of the junk inside was mine. She was a light packer so I guess she only found value in things that were practical, that would make finding a gift hard...

x.x.x.x.x.x.

RUKIA

I made my way to the nearest park bench, taking in the view around me, I slipped the pendant from coat pocket into my hand for good measure. There was a slight jolt as someone joined me, an elderly lady whose aura was most certainly not human, a light spiritual veil that calmly hummed with energy and patience. I observed from the corner of my eye, a witch with a dark pallor and thin white hair curled neatly, her eyes a dark murky brown surrounded by prevalent lines of age. She could quite possibly be older than myself.

"I have been aware of your presence for some time now," was my casual reply and the elder witch's lips twitched into a peaceful smile.

She placed a brittle hand on my shoulder and turned to look at me. "As I have been made aware of your intentions." I let the stone seep into my palm though I knew she was an unlikely threat. "You need a witch's aid and I in return ask for yours."

"You wish to strike a deal?" Her wisdom was unsettling.

"I have known about you for a long time Rukia Kuchiki," she answered side stepping my question. "And I know what you wish for above all, those trivial needs and those pathological desires." Her dark eyes were probing and with that simple contact of a hand on my shoulder she had entered my mind without my noticing. I shifted back to the other side of the wooden bench. "I was never well received with my bedside manner," she laughed quietly but I couldn't agree more.

"What is it you want?" She wasn't sent from my coven, that much I was certain. I could only wonder what she wanted in return.

Her expression was soft, almost regretful. "As a vampire I doubt you have experienced the woes of aging. I am no longer able to do the things I want to, what I want is something I am afraid I cannot accomplish." Her expression was serene and composed but her demand was not. "I need you to hunt some vampires in town, a cult."

"I don't have that authority," I responded and she smiled, as if she was anticipating my words.

"You may not have the authority but I know you've been taking the law into your own hands recently." I crossed my arms over my chest, allowing the infamous Kuchiki poker face to set in. "I have no plans of telling anyone, I know that you have an innate sense of justice. One that drifts between the Scabbard Hunters and Immortal laws."

If that were the case then the cult's execution was most likely warranted anyway, what intrigues me was her information. I don't know how but she must have been watching Ichigo and I for some time, at least for the past two weeks where we managed to put an end to a total of three rogue vampires. This witch requested something of great risk and controversy, she must have something to offer that is equal in value. "Tell me, if I do this for you, what will you do for me?"

"I will let you see your future; take the risk with you," the old witch smiled but her eyes were worrisome by the severity of her offer.

"You cannot be serious."

"Oh but I am Rukia, and I know how much you crave to know it too. To know if one day this war will stop or if you'll be free. I have what you want and you want what I have." She moved closer to my side on the park bench grasping my hand in her warm boney fingers. "Child you have a grand future ahead of you but your time is short..."

Her words were not heavy, I knew my death was soon, it was the direct result of my choices, and I was content knowing that. "I have accepted that my time on this earth is shorter than most Immortals, you and I both understand my life would become even shorter if I accepted your offer."

A wind blew between us, filling the silent void. The witch let go, her eyes questioning my own. "I will try to reason with the cult and if words are not effective I will resort to force. Are they on the Scabbard's list?"

The elder witch smiled and I watched as relief filled her dark eyes. "Yes, I reported them several months ago but no hunter has come by to deal with them. They have already robbed nine people of their lives; I can't stand to see any more innocent people suffering."

Pity welled in my stomach at the helplessness she must have endured. "Your eyes have seen many things," I whispered and she nodded solemnly.

"As have yours my dear," she too admitted. Our vow was silent, a mutual understanding. "There's five of them. You'll find them at a nightclub called Ennemi Public, that's where they pick up their victims."

I stood up taking her information in, "They will be dealt with if not by the supernatural enforcers than by myself."

"Thank you," the old witch beamed. Her hand dug into her worn leather purse, pulling out a small blue book with a golden insignia; Ichigo's passport! How did she- "I thought I told you, I understood your trivial needs, sticking him in that bag of yours would be awfully uncomfortable." She smiled and I accepted the passport tucking it into my bag. The witch stood up collecting herself. "My offer still stands Rukia Kuchiki, until the day I die. When you're ready, come find me."

She hobbled on her own, disappearing in a gust of snow. I didn't know her name so contacting her would prove to be difficult but I had a feeling deep down I would see her again.

x.x.x.x.x.x.

ICHIGO

I waited inside the mall by the entrance to the Zellars, I was kind of happy Rukia had let me pay for my things this time. I caught it, her scent as she entered the mall, her short form visible through the crowd. She was over in ten seconds offering me a steamy cup of hot chocolate. I accepted it standing to greet her.

"You look like you bought quite the stash," she commented pointing to the bench full of bags. I moved them aside and she sat down.

"Everything I need." She looked contemplative as she stared at the people bustling by from store to store. "Thanks for the hot chocolate."

I took a sip and it tasted good, not as good as Yuzu's or Mom's but it was a close second. She nodded glancing down at the bags between us, she reached a hand to one of them about to look inside when I quickly grabbed the plastic bags sticking them onto my lap. "What's inside?" she asked genuinely intrigued.

"Haven't you heard, curiosity killed the cat?" I retorted.

Her bantering defences rose seamlessly. "My friend Renji informed me that it was the car that killed the cat, not curiosity."

"Either way the cat is dead and you can't look." She was oddly silent, probably plotting ways to sneak a peek when I was asleep or something.

Rukia stood up reaching her hand out to take some bags, "There's something I wish to do while there is still light out." I stood following her through the crowds. It was nearly five o'clock and the sun had already set, dark purples and blues filling the sky as street lamps turned on. Rukia walked ahead and it wasn't until we passed the familiar sign that I realized we were heading into a forest trail, one we walked by earlier today. She trekked down the snow infused gravel path, taking us both deeper to the forest until we were met by a pond surrounded by white coniferous trees. The quiet trickle of moving water and the low whistle of the winds greeted us. Rukia dropped the bags onto the ground, fishing into her coat pocket for that stone pendant of hers. There was a pop and Kon appeared, shivering at the cool breeze.

"Did you create them?" Rukia asked and Kon pointed to her black bag.

He jumped inside, lifting out ice skates one at a time. "I would never let you down!" the plush lion gushed wrapping the sides of Rukia's bag around his shoulders like a jacket. A thin white pair lay on the ground for Rukia and a thick black pair for myself.

"Thank you Kon," Rukia grinned patting the lion gently on the head. He stepped out of the bag in a small pair of black boots, clapping his hands together creating a matching black parka. "Is it safe?"

"Yes," Rukia said taking off her jacket, "Go have some fun." The stuffed animal took off leaving small foot prints in the snow, yelling something akin to 'Thank you my beloved goddess of kindness!' Knowing that perverted plushy he was probably going off to peep at ladies. "Don't go too far," Rukia called out, most likely thinking along the same lines as myself.

I picked up the right skate, taking off the guard to be met with a wide metal blade. "So you want to skate?" I turned around to see Rukia with a skate on already lacing up the second.

"Of course, it is one of the few sports I enjoy. Can you skate Ichigo?"

She had both skates laced up and I was still scanning the one in my hand. "I can." But not well. I was never good with things that required delicacy or precision, only raw power which is why sports like martial arts and track worked for me. "I'll meet you on the ice."

Rukia taking it as a sign, rushed onto the ice as I sat back into the snow taking off my boots. She glided on top of the ice like she was born for it, speeding both forwards and backwards, gracefully raising a leg to the air as she spun in circles. The way she moved was so elegant and beautiful, I felt like I should have applauded every time I saw her land a jump. She was a pro.

I tied up my skates, determined not to look like a complete fool on the ice as I wobbled from foot to foot testing the ice. It was stable and I pushed off letting the skates take me forward. It was dark outside, only the half-moon and stars filled the sky with light. I ambled forward till Rukia stopped a few feet away, amusement in her navy tinted eyes.

"I thought you said you can skate," she teased with bemusement in her tone.

"I never said I was good at it," I challenged back and she shrugged casually at my wobbly pose.

"Do you want me to teach you?" I would probably never be close to as skilled as Rukia but if I watched her long enough I could figure out to skate and at least appear calm. She waltzed over gracefully, wrapping her smaller hands around my forearms; her very presence and touch creating a low burn where her fingers gripped. "You won't fall."

I seriously doubted that, but then her legs started moving us back, pulling us along the rink. My hands tightened around her arms as she manoeuvred us over the pond, my skates like wheels smoothly cruising over a road. "The ice can't hurt you unless you let it." She began accelerating but I wasn't tripping. "If you fall, it is not the end of the world. You just need to pick yourself up again," Rukia answered slowly releasing my arms. I refused to let go knowing I would fall if I did. I let my hands drift catching her cool hands in my hot ones and she held on. She tilted her body to the left and we swayed, slowly gliding from side to side. Swaying along with the breeze to music we couldn't hear, my lips curling up in a smile at the sight of Rukia's rosy cheeks. I didn't know when Rukia let go but I was skating, following her movements with my own. I was skating!

She grinned at my acknowledgement, skating towards me and then turning so she was by my side. "I thought you said you couldn't skate well," Rukia said.

I matched her pace, turning left. "I've always been a fast learner." I felt comfortable as we skated side by side, the breeze cooling us down.

"Or perhaps you have an excellent teacher," she answered haughtily.

"Aren't you giving yourself a bit too much credit here?" I joked and I tipped my head down to see amusement dance in her navy eyes. My focus shifted for one second and I felt my leg accidentally hit the other knocking me off balance, my arms flailed and I fell back onto my butt.

Rukia stopped in front of me with a wide stance. "Perhaps it's a bit of both," Rukia conceded with a smile offering me a hand. I accepted her hand and was back on my feet "Although I firmly believe it is definitely one more than the other," she clarified with a palpable arrogance. I reached for her but she skated out of reach, daring me to come after her and prove her wrong. I took after her initiating a game of tag on the ice, something I always wanted to do. For a game of tag with only two people, it was a hell of a lot of fun.