Hey guys. Pls enjoy this new chapter.
Chapter 36: Sunday, Journey with him
"Alright is everyone here?" Rangiku asked once everyone got changed and met outside the house.
"Yeah, so what's the deal with you dragging us out here?" Ichigo asked.
"We're gonna have a little scavenger hunt." Rangiku beamed a smile. Everyone, but Orihime just stared at her.
"Rangiku just how old do you think we are?" Renji groaned.
"Don't worry. This isn't gonna be an easy hunt." That's not what he meant… As I groaned in my mind, I felt a sudden force push me down to the ground. I yelped as it pinned me down. When I looked up, I saw a giant Saint Bernard looking down at me and licking my face.
"Wha?! Who is this?!" I cried out, trying to get away from his death grip.
"Oh that's Chibi, our guard dog." Rangiku plainly answered.
"Chibi?! I don't see anything chibi about him!" Rukia exclaimed as Ichigo helped pulled him off but Chibi still kept licking my hand.
"Anyways, what is this scavenger hunt about?" Kuchiki sensei asked.
"I've set up ten stamp stations around the forest. We'll go in pairs and whoever finds all the stamps win. This still seems like a children's hunt. "Ok, we'll decide on the pairs by rock paper scissors. Everyone get in. Rock, Paper, Scissors!" we brought out our hands and saw Kuchiki sensei and Orihime putting rock.
"NO! I want a replay!" she cried.
"Sorry. We have to be fair for this game." Rangiku said. Orihime started pouting while I heard Ichigo sigh in relief behind. We continued and Rukia and Renji became a pair.
"Good luck Renji." Ichigo smirked.
"Shut up." Renji shot back.
"Hey! Don't talk like I'm bad company!" Rukia complained. We started again and Hitsugaya and Rangiku got paired up, leaving me with Ichigo.
"Let's do our best ok?" Ichigo told me and I smiled in reply.
"Alright. The Kuchiki sensei and Rukia's teams will get the dogs, the others will get the map." Rangiku explained while passing us the maps.
"Hey Rangiku. I can understand that Chibi can find his way back, but how will Hoshi know?" I asked.
"Don't worry. I set up some treats outside the house so Hoshi can follow the smell. Who knew your dog was such an eater." She replied and I sweat dropped.
Moments later, in the forest:
"I don't know why Rangiku wants us to always do these sorts of things?" Ichigo grumbled as we walked through the rocky path.
"She just wants us to bond. No harm right?" I smiled and said, making him look away. I thought I could see a tinge of red on his cheeks. "Ah! There's one!" I cried out and ran towards the stamp which was tied to a tall branch. "Urgh! Can't reach. This is why I need to grow an inch more." I could hear Ichigo chuckle from behind as I struggled to grab the stamp. Soon I felt something step behind me and I turned to see Ichigo easily grab the stamp. After he stamped it, he just looked down and smirked. I blushed as his body stood close to me.
"Come on, let's keep moving." He said and walked ahead and I went to catch up.
Other side, Hitsugaya POV:
"Why do you always have to make us do these stupid things?" I groaned as we walked on with Matsumoto on my right and the giant dog in front.
"Come on, you have to admit this is fun." She said.
"Oh yeah, I'm overwhelmed with joy." I replied sarcastically. Then we stopped when Chibi started growling and barking. "What's wrong?" We turned to the direction he was facing and saw a sign, 'Beware of Bears'.
"Bears?!" Matsumoto said in shock.
"You mean you didn't know about this?" I asked.
"Hehe, I may have left that out." She chuckled nervously. I gave a liud groan. I just hope Kurara will be fine.
Kurara's POV:
The two of us continued to find the last stamp but then I tripped over something, causing me to fall face front. "Kurara! You ok?" Ichigo ran over to me and asked.
"Yeah, I just tripped over…this…" both of us were looking down at the large thing on the ground. "Is that…a pawprint…" I stammered as we continued to sweat.
"A bear?!" we both screamed.
"This is bad, we gotta get out of here now and…!" as I kept stepping back, I didn't realize I stepped over a ledge and gravity was pulling me down the hill.
"KURARA!" Ichigo screamed as he shot towards me and pulled my hand, grasping my body close to his as he fell down the hill.
Back at the mansion, Byakuya's POV:
"That was actually really fun!" Orihime smiled once we got back to the mansion. Only she and Matsumoto would like something like this.
"Big brother, you're here." I looked up and saw Rukia with Hoshi and Renji drinking a soda. "You guys are second. Good job." I wasn't really interested in all this.
"Hey guys!" we all turned and saw Hitsugaya and Matsumoto walking in. "Guess that means we're third."
"You mean Haruno and Kurosaki aren't back?" Hitsugaya asked and Rukia shook her head. "That's strange."
"They did go first so I guess that is strange." Renji inquired. Everyone started to get worried.
"Let's wait for a while more. They may be having trouble somewhere." I said and everyone agreed.
Kurara's POV:
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!" I repeatedly apologized to Ichigo. We managed to survive the fall but now our clothes are tattered and a little torn and Ichigo got a few cuts from protecting me.
"It's ok. Just be careful next time." He said.
""I'm sorry." I whimpered.
"Looks like we fell quite deep." Ichigo said as he looked up at where we were just a few minutes ago. "And it's getting late, we better get going before Byakuya gives me another lecture again." Ichigo started to get up but then fell to his knees.
"Ichigo!" I looked down and saw a bruise on his ankle. "Oh no! You're hurt."
"It's just a sprain. I've faced this all the time. No biggie." But he was still having trouble getting up. I sighed and pulled his arm over mine and tried to carry his weight on my shoulder. "Hey, you don't have to do this."
"And leave you here for the rest of the night?! I don't think so." I answered and slowly walked forward. "Don't worry. I'm sure there's a path here somewhere."
…..
I was wrong. There wasn't a path anywhere. And it was getting dark.
"You know I can walk by myself now." I heard Ichigo ask in a worried tone. He must have seen me panting a little.
"No worries. You helped me. So now's my turn to help you." I smiled at him and continued walking. As we continued, we heard a growl and we jumped in fear. "Hey you don't think that's…"
"No way! I'm sure it isn't." Ichigo stuttered. Then I heard a rustle in the bushes and froze. I slowly turned around to see glowing eyes from there. I shrieked in fear and grabbed on to Ichigo for dear life. As I felt his arms wrap around me protectively, I heard a bark. A bark?! "Chibi?" I heard Ichigo say and turned to see the giant dog wagging its tail at us.
"Chibi!" I cried in relief, letting myself go and making Ichigo fall down. "Oh Chibi, you don't know how happy I am to see you." I snuggled my face against his furry one.
"There you are." I looked up and saw Hitsugaya crossing his arms looking down at us.
"Hitsugaya! Thank goodness you came!" I got up and hugged him and I could feel him shaking from the sudden action.
"Ok, ok, enough already." He stuttered and I saw his face turning pale pink. "Do you even know how much trouble you caused all of us?"
"Why do I feel you're putting all the blame on me?" Ichigo muttered.
"Nevermind that. Let's just get back." Hitsugaya sighed but then turned around to see Ichigo still on the ground. "Why are you just sitting there?" Ichigo chuckled and explained the whole thing.
Back at the mansion:
"OH KUROSAKI-KUN! You don't know how worried I was!" the minute we got back home, Orihime rushed to the living room and hugged Ichigo like there was no tomorrow, which made him unconscious.
"You really have to stop doing that." Reni silently commented.
"And you should stop getting yourself hurt like this." Rukia complained to Ichigo as she bandaged his ankle.
"Don't blame him too much, I'm also to be blamed." I said.
"Well I guess we'll be staying in the mansion for the next day." Rangiku sighed with a smile. Guess the activities are gonna be at home.
Thx for reading. Sorry for the lame ending. Will do better for future chapters. Also I like to thank all of my supporters for this fanfic. You're the reason I keep writing. Keep supporting and more chapters to come.