~Nineteen- We Stand at Crossroads~

AN:

Well, another chapter is here. I can't believe that this story is almost over, and soon, the True Will of the Heart will be realized.

…but we all stand at crossroads at some point in our lives.

I got the inspiration of this chapter from a poem by Robert Frost, which my brain can't seem to remember the title (DARN!)!

All I know is to say that you can listen to any song you'd like with this chapter, preferably something by Boys Like Girls called 'Love Drunk' during Rukia's half (you'll see why XD).

ICHIRUKI FTW!

-Fanatic99

Urahara Shoten

4:35 PM

Six Days Before the Wedding

Told in Ichigo's POV

"Hmm… that's very interesting."

Urahara grinned at me and tipped his hat. "You want to save Kuchiki again?"

I nodded. Orihime, Uryu, and Chad nodded behind me. "Yes."

"I knew this would happen," Urahara laughed. "I just knew it. You ARE Ichigo Kurosaki, aren't you?"

I nodded. "I just need you to open the Senkaimon on the day of the wedding. You can do that, can't you?"

Urahara stopped laughing and turned to me. "I have a question, Kurosaki."

I blinked. "Ask away."

"Why did you choose to save Rukia now, when you could've saved her when she was still here?"

My throat felt dry. "Well… um…"

"Not even a kiss?" Urahara pressed on.

"Yeah… but it was more like she kissed me."

All the eyes in the room glared at me in anger.

Uryu and Chad started beating me excessively.

"W-what the hell?" I yelped, feeling them step on me.

"You idiot, Kurosaki!" Urahara laughed. "If SHE kissed YOU, that means that she was still considering!"

Oh.

Orihime's eyes were scary. They were filled with death.

"You didn't think that maybe Rukia loved you back?"

Oh!

I felt so stupid.

"That's quite enough," Urahara said, settling down.

"I will help you."

I nodded and bowed. "Thank you."

Urahara stood up and dug for something in a shelf. We all inspected him for a while.

"Ah!"

He pulled out a scroll. "I thought I still had this."

He blew some dust off of it and opened it.

Urahara cleared his throat some, and started to read.

"You are formally invited to the wedding of Kobayashi Takeo and Kuchiki Rukia. You are invited to see them fulfill the True Wills of Their Hearts."

I blinked. "The 'True Will of the Heart'? That's BULL!"

Urahara nodded. "But it seems to be what everybody thinks now that Takeo's #1 competitor has backed down."

"Who is that?"

All the eyes turned to me.

Uryu and Chad started beating me up again.

"It's YOU, YOU BAKA!"

I let it settle in.

"So everyone thought I would try and get Rukia from Takeo, but I didn't?"

"Yup. You let everyone, including yourself and Rukia, down." Said Urahara.

"Shit!"

"You know very well that you are at crossroads in your life," Urahara said. "You are standing before two very different paths: One With Rukia, and One Without Rukia."

I looked at him, unsure of what to say. "Hmm?"

"What path do you want to take?"

I thought. "The one with Rukia?"

Orihime punched the back of my head. "Why are you so unsure?!"

I nodded and sat up straighter. "I WANT THE ONE WITH RUKIA!"

Urahara smiled. "Then you are ready."

"…ready for what?"

"Do you have any idea what you are going to do when you get to Soul Society?"

"…"

Everyone had their eyes on me again.

"Not really. I was just going to get there and burst in at the middle of the wedding, like the way they do in the movies."

Urahara laughed and leaned in as if to speak a secret.

"Do you have any idea what happens before the groom kisses the bride?"

I listened closely.

--

Kobayashi Manor Garden

6:34 PM

5 Days Before the Wedding

Told in Rukia's POV

The Kobayashi Garden was beautiful.

There were greens and blues and purples and whites, and oranges and yellows and different shades of red. The flowers were all numerous and in the middle of it all was a beautiful sakura tree, standing tall.

That was the one thing I loved most about the manor. The people weren't really my type, including my own fiancé.

Takeo was always busy partying with his friends so much that I don't remember the last time he kissed me, or the last time he took a bath.

Tonight was the night of the Bachelorette Party, which was to be held right here in the garden.

The guests were already pouring in. I spotted Matsumoto, Vice Captains Nanao Ise and Yachiru Kusajushi, Nemu (Who scares me a little), Hinamori, and many other ladies from the Gotei 13.

Soon we were all laughing with each other, eating great food, and having a good time.

This would be the second to the last time I would see them. I would no longer be a shinigami in 5 days.

As I sat there friend after friend of mine congratulated me, commented about how they were surprised Ichigo didn't do anything, and left.

Soon the food was gone, and the sake went out.

I don't remember the last time I drank.

I thought about Ichigo and how I broke his heart. One swig of sake down.

I thought about how soon I would be married to Takeo, not knowing what he might do to me. Another swig.

Soon I drank 1 Cup of sake for all of my problems, and soon I was drunk.

When you get drunk, the world spins around you like it revolves for you. All your problems melt like butter, and soon, your sadness is replaced with nothing but happiness.

Soon I found myself on the rooftop (I don't know how I got up there!?), singing at the moon. I was surprised to find Matsumoto up there with me. She wasn't giggling and walking as bad as I was, but she looked pretty stoned.

"Hey, Rangiku!" I hiccupped. "How do you like my Bachelorette Party?"

"I-it's been really fun," Matsumoto hiccupped back, spinning on her heel a little. "How many bottles of sake have you had?"

"Maybe… three?"

"I've had seven and I still don't think I'm as drunk as you."

I nodded and smiled, slamming myself down of the roof as to sit.

"Is something wrong, Rukia?"

"No," I croaked, feeling the tears rise up.

"Something is."

"Nothing is," I insisted, holding the tears in.

"Tell me or I'll do something very painful to you."

"O-okay!" I yelped.

Matsumoto sat herself next to me. "Well, speak up."

"…I don't think I'm in love with Takeo."

Her eyebrows rose. "It's five days before the wedding, Rukia! Isn't this an insanely bad time to realize this?"

"Yes. I'm such a bitch."

Matsumoto looked really concerned. "How could you think of yourself like that?"

"…because… I think… never mind."

Matsumoto glared at me. "Tell me."

"…I think I love Ichigo."

There was silence for a while.

"I knew it!" Matsumoto declared. "I knew it, knew it, knew it!"

"Huh?!"

Matsumoto smiled and shook her head. "Any one in their right mind would've seen that you and Ichigo have a thing for each other."

I looked at her in shock. "It's that obvious?!"

"Yup."

I started crying then. I sobbed, fully fledged.

"There there, Rukia," Matsumoto said, grinning. "You can cry into my bosom."

So I did. For 15 minutes, there was nothing but tears coming out of me.

After my tears died a little, Matsumoto started to speak. "What's the True Will of Your Heart, Rukia?"

"I don't know anymore."

And with that, I cried into Matsumoto's bosom again.

AN:

In this chapter, I made Ichigo realize, I got Rukia 'love drunk', and I replayed that whole Matsumoto comforting Orihime thing, only with Rukia.

…it's almost over. I can't believe it. : (

~Interview with Fanatic99… Matsumoto!~

*Dabs tears from eyes*

F99: You are really nice.

M: Yes I am.

F99: Okay, a few questions. One: how did you grow your boobs so big?

M: Ah, it was simple! Just some TLC and they had growth spurts!

F99:…okay… question Two: Did you know that people pair you up with Hitsugaya?

M: OMG, that would be cute! *Giggles stupidly*

F99:Um, this is kinda weird, but… I have a little problem, Rangiku.

M: Speak it up or I will hurt you.

F99: Well, there is this guy I like, who I will refer to as 'Dude'. I think he likes my friend!

M:There there. Cry into my bosom!

Well, there it is, Chapter 19.

(P.S. I don't really have that problem I discussed with Matsumoto. Don't tease me!)