Chapter 26: Strawberry Meets Death
Don't own Bleach!
Let me know if I used 'whose' correctly... :P Hehe
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"C'mon, Rukia!"
Shuuhei grunted as he swung his zanpaktou down, steel clashing with a hideous sound; Rukia's legs gave away under his force, his height helping him push down against her blocking stance.
"Shut up, Hisagi!" Rukia flash stepped from beneath Shuuhei's sword, his surprise evident on his face as he fell forward, a weight on his back.
Shit!
Rukia was kneeling on Shuuhei's back, wasting no time in finishing the battle; "Hadou No. 31- shakkaho!"
Rukia kicked off Shuuhei as the red blast escaped her hands, Shuuhei's curses echoing throughout their surrounding.
The small shinigami landed just by the cloud of dust, panting as she stood in stance, waiting for any sign of Shuuhei.
The dust cleared, a groaning Shuuhei in the crater his body created from the impact.
"F-fuck!" Shuuhei coughed violently, blood splattering onto the floor.
He sat up, wiping the blood from his ripped lips; Shuuhei looked up to find Rukia just some feet away, ready to continue the fight.
It's only been two weeks- two damn weeks!
Huffing, he took his gleaming zanpaktou, stabbing it into the dirt.
Shuuhei forced his body to stand with his zanpaktou's support, biting back a groan as his arm smoked from the blow.
Just last week I was able to follow her every step….
"Impressive, Kuchiki."
Pulling out his sword, Shuuhei swung it onto his shoulders, struggling to stay standing.
His eyes narrowed as he looked down to his burned arm, slowly lifting his gaze to Rukia before him.
She had already recovered her breath, her grip on her zanpaktou tight with her revived energy.
"Arigato, Hisagi."
"…Hai."
With a nod, Shuuhei dismissed himself, slowly turning his back to Rukia and walking away.
Rukia relaxed, lowering her sword, her grip loose around its hilt.
Sighing, her violet eyes scanned the immense cave Urahara had unveiled to them two weeks ago, still mesmerized by its size and ability to handle their abuse.
Rukia winced when she took a step, her legs cut up from Shuuhei's various attacks.
"Rukia-chan! Are you alright down there?"
Rukia scowled as Urahara's voice came from above, echoing throughout the cave.
"Hai! Just get Ichigo outside of the shop! I'll be needing some healing!"
"Yare, yare! Don't tell me Hisagi-kun hurt you that badly? Why, I'll cut him up for you in a spilt second!"
Laughing, Rukia used what energy she had left to flash step to the trap door leading into the cave, smacking the blonde shinigami before he headed off into his shop.
---
"Hisagi fukutaichou is due to report Kuchiki's progress today, right?"
Ukitake sighed as he sat down by Byakuya's desk, frowning when the noble captain continued on without responding.
"Bya; answer me."
Sighing, Byakuya looked up from his paper work; "Yes, Jyuushiro. He's reporting tonight."
"How was his last repot?"
"Nothing special. I doubt there will be any difference this week."
---
"Ah, my arm! Leave it, Urahara, leave it!"
Shuuhei kicked at the exiled shinigami, his torso tied down to the floor.
"My, my! I think you'll have to restrain his legs, too, Tessai."
"Yes, manager!"
"No! Just leave my arm alone!"
Shuuhei growled as he struggled to escape, brightening up when Rukia slid the door open, walking into the room.
"What's all the fuss? Ichigo can hear him from outside, he's starting to get paranoid!"
"All the fuss is their brutal treatment of the injury you gave me, Kuchiki! Now help me escape!"
"Aw, is the poor, little shinigami hurt? Do you want a little blanket, a warm bottle of milk?"
"Shut up, Kuchi- AH!"
Shuuhei swung violently once the sudden pain on his arm disappeared, pulling against Tessai's restraints to land a hit on Urahara.
"See, Hisagi-kun! It was quick and painless-"
"Like hell it was painless!"
"-and all it took for you to let me cure it was a small, little distraction! All those restraints- unnecessary! Now your gigai and soul are both healed!"
Rukia smiled as Shuuhei jumped Urahara once Tessai removed the binding spell, the exiled shinigami fending off Shuuhei with his fan.
"Well, I ready to go- I'll see you tomorrow, Urahara. Tessai; thank you for healing me."
"You're welcome, Kuchiki-san."
Leaving the fighting pair to Tessai, Rukia slid the door shut, walking quickly through the shop.
"Ichigo!" Rukia laughed when the boy spun around, a large smile on his face, his hand immediately reaching out to take her large duffle.
"Hey, shorty…."
Ichigo winced when Rukia poked his ribs, pulling her into his arms; "You guys took even longer today. You're not hurt are you….?"
"No. The yelling you heard was from Shuuhei- I had given him a little cut and he was exaggerating it."
"Alright, well, as long as you don't get hurt, midget."
Ignoring his stab at her height, Rukia pushed away to look at him, smiling when a pout flashed across his features before he hid it.
"What about you? How was your time with Urahara?"
---
"Why, Hisagi-kun; that was my favorite fan!"
"I don't care!"
Shuuhei stepped around Urahara, heading to the shop's front.
"Wait, Shuuhei!"
"What?" He turned to face Urahara, shocked to see a serious look about him.
"I made the boy do some tasks today, in hopes of getting some emotion from him."
They mainly resulted with irritation, but still- it got me what I wanted."
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"That crazy, old man! He made me take inventory, sweep the shop, restack his shelves- even though I did it just past yesterday!"
Ichigo scowled as he looked past Rukia into the shop, smirking when Shuuhei headed out; "Heard your ass was handed to you, Shuuhei!"
"Shut it, Ichigo. I let Rukia take a few shots, that's all."
"Ha! Let's see if you can still say that after this weekend, when I bruise you up again!"
"I'd take a swing at you, Rukia, but with your height, I'd just keep missing-"
"HISAGI!"
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"Yuzu, I'm home!"
"Ichi-nii! I'm upstairs!"
Ichigo kicked off his shoes, heading over to the stairs.
Taking two at a time, Ichigo slid off the stairs into the hallway, stepping into Yuzu's bedroom.
"Hey, Yuzu; what are you doing?"
"I'm just cleaning out my room; I'll get dinner started soon."
"Where's the old man?"
"He went to the grocery shop."
Ichigo frowned, sitting on his sister's bed; "The grocery shop?"
"He spilled the milk during lunch, so I made him do the groceries today."
"Only you seem to control that man, Yuzu."
Ichigo pulled at a string on Yuzu's comforter, laughing when she slapped his hand away, sitting down beside him.
"How's summer, Ichi-nii?"
"It's different."
"But you're happy, right?"
"Hai; I'm happy. What about you, huh? I haven't seen you go out."
"I've gone to the mall and parks with Rukia and Shuuhei. Isn't that going out?"
"Yuzu- I'm glad you get along with Rukia and Shuuhei, but what about your friends from school?"
Yuzu sighed as she looked away from her brother, standing up and heading to the window; "What friends, Ichi-nii?"
"What? Yuzu-"
"MY LOVELY DAUGHTER! I HAVE BROUGHT YOU TREASURES!"
Yuzu took her chance to leave, pushing past her door just as Ichigo made a grab for her, heading downstairs.
"Yuzu, wait!"
"Ichigo! Haha, didn't expect you home yet! Be a good son and help daddy with the bags!'
"Do it yourself, old man; Yuzu! Get over here-"
"Ichi-nii, please! I have to start dinner!"
Yuzu gasped when her brother wrapped a hand around her arm, pulling her through the kitchen and living room.
"Hey! Where are you taking my precious daughter?"
"Just put the groceries away, old man!"
Ichigo gave his father one last warning look before heading outside, closing the door behind them.
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"Rukia?"
Shuuhei leaned against the door frame to Rukia's bedroom, sighing as she slowly crawled out from the blankets.
"Hm, Shuuhei? What's wrong?"
"I talked to Urahara after our training. He made some progress of his own, you know."
"What did he say?" Rukia scooted back against her small headboard, patting her bed for Shuuhei to join her.
Shuuhei made his way over, sitting along the edge of her bed.
"Ichigo's reiatsu has grown, Rukia. I can find him easily now, can even sense him while we're in the basement training."
Rukia kept quiet, holding Shuuhei's gaze as he looked intensely into her eyes.
"Not only that, but Urahara explained how… how his reiatsu is a lot like ours…."
"I don't understand Shuuhei…."
Rukia frowned, losing his gaze as he stood from his spot beside her, standing by her window instead.
"We're influencing his reiatsu's growth, Rukia."
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"Yuzu, what did you mean upstairs?"
Ichigo's eyes were furrowed, his lips tight, his back slouched to catch every word from his sister's mouth.
"Ichi-nii…."
"Yuzu, please… what's wrong?"
"I… I don't have any friends, Ichi-nii. I never did, not since mom left…."
"Are you serious, Yuzu? What about-"
"No one, Ichi-nii."
No one."
---
Rukia dragged a single nail across her table top, running it across the same pattern of wood, her nail slowly but surely making a groove in the smooth table top.
Shuuhei was out exploring, his gigai lying in the tub motionless.
Sighing, Rukia let her head drop into her hands, her hair cascading down around them, hiding her tired face from the silence of her apartment.
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"What do you mean it's us, Shuuhei?"
"The contact we've had, especially you from the very beginning, Rukia; we're the reason why it's growing!"
"It can't be though, he's just a human!"
"A human whose-"
-
"Kuchiki!"
Her head snapped up, looking about her in a daze.
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"Ah, Hisagi fukutaichou! It's good to see you!"
Ukitake smiled brightly at the young shinigami, laughing at the surprised look Shuuhei had as he arrived.
"Ukitake taichou, Kuchiki taichou; good evening."
"Proceed with your report, Vice-captain Hisagi."
"Ah, Bya! I want to hear about Rukia and-"
"Proceed, vice-captain."
Throwing an apologetic look at Ukitake, Shuuhei stood before Byakuya, keeping his gaze on the captain's forehead just above his piercing eyes.
"Kuchiki Rukia of the Thirteenth Squad has been training with my supervision and personal participation in her training, today marking the end of the second week."
Ukitake and Byakuya nodded in unison, keeping their silence.
"Since last week, I only have one update to report."
Before the captains could interject, Shuuhei continued; "Kuchiki Rukia took me down this very afternoon."
Silence seemed to suffocate Shuuhei and Ukitake, Byakuya's cold stare adding to its weight.
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Rukia glared at the blonde shinigami by her door, growling as he simply smirked.
"What do you want, Urahara? You scared me to death!"
"Stop being silly, Rukia-chan; you are dead!"
"What do you want?" Rukia sighed as she settled back into her chair, dropping her head into her hands again.
"There, there; I simply came by to check on you."
Your reiatsu seemed very troubled. I took out the Hollows on the way here."
"I'm sorry, Urahara. I'll make sure to take care of them… I was just thinking, too much tonight."
"About Kurosaki-kun?"
"Hai."
Rukia heard him pull out a chair, his reaitsu surrounding her, providing a comfort.
"Don't worry, Kuchiki. I won't let anything happen to him."
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Dinner had been painfully silent in the Kurosaki household, its two siblings avoiding each other, while the father wandered aimlessly about them, respecting their silence.
Ichigo made a grab for his jacket, slipping on his shoes as his father approached him.
"Ichigo…."
"What old man?"
"Is everything alright with Yuzu?"
"I don't know."
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"I take the river to avoid my classmates, Ichi-nii."
I'm sorry I lied to you before. I just didn't want to worry you."
"But you should have told me, Yuzu! How do you expect me to let some punks pick on you?"
"They won't bother me anymore, Ichi-nii. Don't worry about me."
"What makes you so sure they won't bother you again? They're bullies-"
"Just trust me, Ichi-nii. They won't dare bother me again…."
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Ichigo pulled his hood over his wild hair, scowling as he made his way over to Rukia's apartment.
He had a feeling Rukia knew about his sister's problems, furious that she hadn't told him.
He reached Rukia's apartment, knocking as he leaned against the wall.
Hearing a chair drag against the floor, Ichigo sighed, pulling his hood down.
Rukia opened the door, her eyes widening when she found Ichigo; "What are you doing here, Ichigo?"
"I need to talk to you…."
Rukia pulled the door open further, closing it behind Ichigo.
The tall boy stood by her small table, his back to her as he spoke; "Did you know about Yuzu being bullied around?"
"'Bullied'? What does that mean?"
"Pushed around, Rukia!" Ichigo turned to her, his eyes shadowed by his furrowed brow.
"That day she came home late and went by the river, you covered for her!"
"I just knew she wanted to be alone sometimes, Ichigo! I didn't know people were hurting her!"
"She said not to worry about them, that they were taken care of; who else could have-"
"It was by her school when I found Yuzu surrounded by them."
Violet and amber eyes snapped to the bathroom's doorway, locked onto Shuuhei's; "Shuuhei!"
"I went the other days after that to make sure she wasn't bothered again. She was fine, Ichigo."
"Why didn't you tell me, Shuuhei? What damn reason did you think reasonable enough to keep this from me?"
"Her eyes asked me not to, that morning."
Rukia screamed when Ichigo lunged at Shuuhei, grabbing his collar to slam him against the wall.
"The fuck are you doing, Shuuhei?! Protecting her, talking to her, keeping her secrets, even calling each other by name!"
"Ichigo, let him go!"
Rukia pulled at Ichigo's arm, Shuuhei silent as Ichigo stared him down.
"I was fucking stupid to not notice! Just after meeting her, you were already calling each other by first names! You two have been out together, even!"
The fuck are you trying to pull, Hisagi!"
Ichigo tightened his hold on Shuuhei's shirt, Rukia's hands still pulling his arms, her pleas ignored.
"I never had a younger sister or brother."
Ichigo froze as Shuuhei spoke; "What?"
"I always had someone I admired, someone to look up to; my captain, my savior as a child, the couple who took me in just before I went off to Seireitei...."
But I never had someone look up to me."
Ichigo's eyes softened, his hands relaxing their grasp.
"Your sister thanked me when I scared off the kids pushing her around."
She has asked me to play soccer with her, has asked me for opinions."
She has asked for help with her school assignments… has thanked me for being your friend."
Has thanked me for looking out for Rukia when you weren't with her. She sometimes says she pretends I'm your brother, so that she can pretend I'm her brother as well…."
"Shuuhei…." Rukia pulled away from the two males, her eyes glazed as she gazed at them.
"I didn't tell you about her problem because I knew she was fine. I swear I would have informed you, Kurosaki, had she continued being hurt."
Smirking, Ichigo laughed as his hands dropped, stuffing his hands into his pockets; "Baka- brothers don't call each other so formally."
"…Hai."
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Meh.
This chapter was made on my new laptop! Woo!
Anyways, there's the new chapter. Struggling to lead it towards what I want. Grrr.
I hope you enjoyed; I'm working on my attempts to write any battles or energetic scenes.
I'm still learning! =]
Thank you all for the reviews very much!! I've replied to all of them, but no replies back.... So I don't know if you're all getting my messages? :( Idk!
Thanks for the support. I hope it didn't disappoint! Please review after reading, or simply show some love :]
-KurosakiLove