Ahaa...Ichiruki healing can now begin :D
About the whole updating and stuff…
kinda rewrote this cause SOMEONE didn't like how something turned out….. not pointing fingers here…
*cough*Liliumlove*cough*
Anyways, R&R makes me a happy cookie!
The song is- Because I love you - Faye wong and Eason Chan
Quietly sniffling, Yuki manages to break free from Ichigo's snug "hug" as she comfortably seats herself next to him, making sure there was a good amount of space between them.
Just because Ichigo apologized for his short comings doesn't mean Yuki automatically forgives him. If Ichigo wants to make up for his short comings, he has to go to through Soul Society where everyone will be waiting for him.
Especially Renji who made a promise with Ichigo.
The quiet lingered between Ichigo and Yuki. He wasn't sure what to say or ask after being apart for so long. So to be safe, he asks the simple daughter father questions..
"Hey Yuki..." He slightly nudges her. "Do you really have a crush on Hanataro?"
Yuki's eye brow arches. Why does he have a sudden interest in Yuki's love life when he was the one that left her?
"What if I do?" Yuki casually responded, "What's it to you?"
A smile formed on Ichigo's face, She's just like Rukia...
"Did you know Hanataro was the one who helped keep Rukia alive?"
Ichigo merely looked at Yuki from the corner of his eye and he couldn't help but notice Yuki softening once she thought of Hanataro.
"Yeah.." Yuki quietly replied, "You saved mom and not much later, you killed inside mom..."
A face palm was what Yuki earned once Yuki rolled her eyes. There's no winning her back with a simple conversation. Not when he left her for Orihime.
"Hey Kurosaki…"
Finally! Yuki reaching out to Ichigo! Is this a new start for Ichigo's and Yuki's relationship as father and daughter?
"Yes Yuki?" Ichigo calmly replied in his loving father voice.
With a devious smile Yuki smugly replied, "Did you know mom gets tons of fan letters in Soul Society?"
"Fan letters?" Ichigo dead panned. Never fif Ichigo thought Rukia would be such a sensation in Soul society-let alone fan letters…
"Fan letters?" Ichigo's eye significantly narrowed as he lowered his voice, "Fan letters from who?"
Hehheehehe….. Certainly not from you, that's for sure….
"Hm?" Yuki mischievously grins., "Why are you so interested in mom's love life when you clearly-"
An unatural mixture of laughter and squeals bursts out of Yuki's mouth as she points the crowd confusing Ichigo. Why would Yuki randomly point at the "ocean" of people who are all dancing with one another.. It's nothing special..
Right?
"Look! Look!" Yuki excitingly points at the dancing crowd, "I'm so going to be a Hashimoto!"
Ichigo's eyes narrowed. His eyes peered through the crowd, looking for Rukis. Though, the moment Ichigo saw Rukia and the content look on Rukia's face?
Memories came rushing back...
-Flash back-
It's early in the morning as the sun rays beam upon Ichigo's room as his alarm clock goes off. Rukia is nowhere to be seen but the scent of food being made was a dead give away.
So, Ichigo decided to surpise Rukia after he finishes up preparing himself up for the day-you know, Ichigo likes to be put together just for Rukia...
Slowly creeping against the wall, down the stairs, he hears her singing,
Only because I love you
I will do whatever you wish
Only because I love you
I don't care about occasional mishaps
Ever since I met you
My eyes have only seen you...
His eyes slowly peer inside and sees Rukia swaying her hips to the sound of music playing in her head. She was smiling and laughing while singing the song from her heart. The love from that song was felt all around her. She'd prances and twirls around when she had the chance while cooking breakfast for Ichigo. After all, this was before Yuki was born.
"Ahh..." Rukia stood before the stove, satisfied with what she made, "I hope Ichigo likes what I-"
Curling his arms around Rukia's tiny waist, Ichigo buries his face against Rukia's neck, kissing it as he mumbles, "I already like what I see..."
A smile was what Ichigo earned as Rukia lightly swatted Ichigo's head, "Not now... Look, I made you breakfast..."
"Breakfast can wait."
-Flash Back end-
-o-
Drowned in the middle of the ocean of people dancing and laughing, Rukia has her arms curled around Takahiro's neck as his arms snaked around Rukia's waist. It was bliss.
Rukia was at first hesitant. But, to be held so warmly and affectionately after denying herself from any form of affection from men?
It was comforting but there was something that was holding her behind. It was her fear of being left behind. She doesn't want to get too affectionate only to have it destroyed in a flurry of betrayal...
Maybe Takahiro can be an exception...
"Kuchiki chan..." Takahiro quietly whispers against her ear, "Have you ever wonder what it would be like if we were together?"
Together?
The thought of being together with Takahiro ran through Rukia's mind.
What should I say?
Well, do I want to be with him?
It's not what I want. It's what Yuki wants...
It's always what Yuki wants. Why can't it be-
No. I can't be selfish and put myself first.
But it's my second chance for happiness...
It doesn't matter... Yuki's happiness comes first...
Enough of what Yuki wants. What do I-
NO! I'm sounding like Kurosaki!
Yuki loves Hashimoto tai chou.. Am I denying Yuki her happiness?
Do I love Hashimoto tai chou?
There's only one way to find out...
Slowly looking up, Rukia looked eyes with Takahiro. Violet eyes meet dark brown. Rukia wants to make sure Takahiro isn't like any other man that would just up and go, or focus his attention on someone else. She wants someone who will commit. Someone who won't back down just because of some problems along the way.
"Hashimoto taichou..." Rukia quietly mumbled, "How did you know about the dance marathon?"
A hearty chuckle was heard coming out of Takahiro's mouth as his calloused hands firmly held Rukia's back. "Yuki chan called me..."
Oh? Yuki called you?
"She told me about the dance marathon and invited me to go."
So this wasn't your idea?
"But I told her I couldn't make it..."
Why are you doing here then?
"I wasn't sure if I should go or not because I had fan letters to reply to.."
You reply to fan letters?
"But Yuki then begged me to come and dance..."
Yuki begged you?
It was settled. Rukia knew where her love lied and where it will always lie.
"Hashimoto Taichou..." Rukia's arms loosen around his neck as she pulled away. She has given up on a nonexistent relationship before it got too serious.
"I'm sorry, but I think Yuki and I are going to be late for a make-up dinner with the Kuro-"
Takahiro pulls Rukia towards him as he plants a firm kiss on the lips, mumbling to her, "They can wait can't they?"
Roughly pulling away, Rukia simply replied, "I'm sorry Hashimoto taichou... But I made a promise to be at the make-up dinner with the Kurosaki family-"
"Why?!" Takahiro roughly grabbed Rukia's arm. He was flustered with anger and confusion with Rukia's ridiculous reply. Why have dinner with the family that clearly back stabbed her? The family that kept such a heinous secret from her? Why would she even consider having dinner with them when she could be spending time with him, the one that loves her?
"Why are you even trying to connect back with those who left you for dead? They never tried to-"
"It doesn't matter if they never tried to connect back with us. It's what Yuki wants." Rukia calmly replied as she smoothed herself out. She was fully aware people around them were starting to watch this "relationship" slowly sink. "If Yuki wishes to have a make-up dinner with the Kurosaki-"
"Yuki doesn't control your life." Takahiro sighed. "Why are you putting Yuki's wants before yours?"
"If I didn't put Yuki's wants before mine, I wouldn't be speaking to you Hashimoto taichou..It's Yuki that loves you. Not me." Rukia slowly peels off Takahiro's calloused hands, "I suppose you have many fan letters waiting for you at Soul Society that are all waiting for your reply..."
-o-
Ichigo's eyes widen the moment Takahiro planted a kiss upon Rukia's lips. He heard Yuki squealing for joy once she saw that too. Does Yuki yearn to replace Ichigo that much? Or is it finally Yuki's wish for Rukia to finally fall in love again.
Yuki sat next to him, watching intently, hoping Rukia will return the kiss and fall in love like planned. But fate doesn't like to go along with plans-especially the moment Takahiro roughly grabs Rukia by her arm. No one touches Rukia like that because anyone who does faces the wrath of Yuki. Though this time-this time Yuki stands her ground. She just intently watches Takahiro-just to see if he crosses the line he shouldn't.
Ichigo however, he watches Yuki. The aura surrounding Yuki was an ominous one. Ichigo wasn't too sure what Yuki was mad about. One moment she was happier than ever and now? Yuki's eyes screams nothing more than vengeance.
Did Ichigo do something wrong?
Did he say something that made Yuki upset?
What was it made Yuki so mad?
"Yuki," Ichigo firmly addressed, "What's wr-"
"No one touches mom like that..." Yuki growled in anger. She wasn't too happy with the way Takahiro handled Rukia and she sure wasn't going to sit back and let him "lecture" Rukia. "I'm going to-"
"No." Ichigo held Yuki back. "Just let them be... They seem happier together..."
Yuki looks at Ichigo stupidly as if he was blind to see what was really happening. Takahiro grabbed Rukia by her arm. Is that what Ichigo considers as love? Being rough with one another?
"Are you stupid?" Yuki's eyes narrows. "He grabbed mom by her arm. How does someone hurt someone they lo- wait." Yuki boinks her head as she rolls her eyes. "You don't know how to answer that question since you-"
"Yuki?"
A smile a beamed upon Yuki's face. Rukia came back un-harmed and it's all that matters. For as long as Rukia comes back unharmed-nothing mattered...
"I was told you spoke to Hashimoto taichou about the dance.." Rukia folds her arms smiling as she stood before Yuki, ignoring the obvious presence of Ichigo, "Is this true?"
Shyly kicking the ground beneath her, Yuki sports a coy smile, "I asked him to come and dance with you..."
"Oh? You asked?" Rukia narrowed her eyes still smiling, "From what I heard you begged him to come..."
"He wouldn't come because he was busy!" Yuki protested proudly with a smug smile on her face, "If I didn't he wouldn't have come to dance with you-"
"Wait!" Ichigo finally spoke up. This is his chance! his chance to dance with Rukia. His chance to relive those intimate moments he had with Rukia that made her fall in love with him.
This chance to win back Rukia's heart...
As he faces Rukia and clears his throat, he speaks. "Since he left...Would you like to dance with me instead?"
"Dance with you?" Rukia repeated quizzically as she stared at Ichigo. "Kurosaki. I told you I do not wish to-"
"Oh my!" A feminine voice quickly chimed as she grabbed both Rukia's and Ichigo's hands, "Hurry back onto the stage before the judges see you! You'll get disqualified if they find you two standing here!"
"Mom!" Yuki extends her hand towards Rukia a little too late as the feminine voice pulls her into the ocean of people along with Ichigo.
With a terrified look, Yuki rushes into crowd only to be held back by one of the dance marathon monitors.
This is not what Yuki planned. Everything was falling apart and in away, Yuki failed Rukia. In her mind, Rukia was suppose to have a magical time with Takahiro and fall in love with him. Filling the empty void where love use to reside in. But no. Everything fell apart.
Was it Yuki's fault for pressuring Rukia into a relationship too early?
Was it Yuki's fault for assuming Rukia adores Takahiro when everyone else does?
Was it Yuki's fault for not thinking about what Rukia really wants?
All this was beginning to run through Yuki's mind as she was being transferred to a "kid friendly" area where the "kids" are safely watching the dance. While Yuki contemplates the mistakes she has made.