Chapter 37: Strawberry Meets Death
YAYYY, thank you all for reviewing. I'm trying my best to remember who I haven't responded to; if I didn't respond, please let me know, lol.
With the past two chapters taking care of the major information, this chapter is literally an easy-flow, happy one :) The next few will be with only bits of AH! So enjoy :)
ANs at the end of the chapter! OH and in the last chapter, when Yuzu and Ichigo were at home at breakfast, I have hopes you remember Yuzu is usually an early riser, so please think of it as REALLY, flippin' early :) This is the day after!
I don't own Bleach! Here is Chapter 37!
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"The hell did you do to my tub! This stupid, over-sized Tupperware killed it!"
Shuuhei pouted as he stood in the bathroom, his tub replaced with- "A shower, Shuuhei; get used to it."
Ichigo leaned against the small dinner table, his eyes following the shinigami as they explored their home, the apartment they once lived in.
"I don't care what it's called; I want my tub back!"
Rukia ran her fingers over the drapes, the bright sunlight filtered by the white cloth. She turned from the window, smiling as Shuuhei pushed Ichigo from the table, sitting down with a frown.
Ichigo stumbled from the push, laughing as Shuuhei glared at him.
Catching his breath again, Ichigo caught Rukia's eye, a gentle smile gracing his lips; "What do you think, Rukia?"
Crossing her arms, looking about the apartment again, Rukia opened her mouth to answer the young male, but couldn't find any words to say.
No more than hours before, Ichigo had explained to them how Urahara had bought the apartment from the owner, giving Ichigo the keys and liberty to make any changes.
The past fourteen months, Ichigo used the apartment to escape his father, friends and lengthy training; the past fourteen months resulted with a completely different apartment.
Rukia first noticed the new cabinets, their glass pane fronts revealing the loss of her Pop Tarts, replaced with what she believed to be "real food," as Ichigo had often called it.
Their small table was still the same, but now had a plain table cloth. A couch and side table made the new living room, a rug filling the empty floor.
Her room was still the same, small additions as drapes making it feel more welcoming.
What had shocked them both was the addition of a bedroom and small office directly above them, connected into their small living room with stairs.
The bathroom simply taunted Shuuhei with the loss of the tub.
"I-I never thought we'd even still have the apartment, but for you to have made it completely different… it's amazing Ichigo…."
"No, it's not! My tub is gone!"
---
Tatsuki quickly ascended the stairs to Inoue's apartment, her bag slung across her shoulders.
She was barely knocking on the door when it was swung open, a blur of orange hair and breasts plummeting into her; "Tatsuki!"
"O-Orihime!" Laughing, Tatsuki peeled the girl off her, playfully shoving her inside before slamming the door behind her.
The friends wanted to have their last night of fun before school started, martial art movies piled high in front of the television.
"How was lunch with your group, Tatsuki? Celebrating the medals?"
"It went fine; they wanted to head to the movies, but I've got all the movies I want to see right here!"
Ruffling Inoue's air, Tatsuki dropped onto the couch, exhausted from the day out.
"Well, you came early enough that we can make dinner rather than take out. What do you think of red bean paste and noodles-?"
"Eh, I actually already placed an order, Hime! Sorry…."
"Oh, well, that's fine then!"
Sitting beside her closest friend, the busty girl sighed as she relaxed into the cushions, her eyes locked onto the framed picture of their graduation, Ichigo's scowl gracing his features beside their smiles.
"I'm excited to start the university with Kurosaki-kun and Sado-kun…."
"Hime, I'm glad Ichigo forgave you, in his odd, silent way, but I hope you haven't put hopes into winning his heart…. Rukia may have suddenly left, but he still cares for her…."
"And I know that, Tatsuki." Shifting her body to face the tomboy, Inoue grabbed Tatsuki's hand, her eyes bright.
"We're not kids anymore, though, and Kurosaki-kun has to move on eventually… maybe, just maybe, he can change his feelings towards me."
Before Tatsuki could speak, Inoue pulled her into a hug, pulling away to look her in the eyes; "I know he may not, Tatsuki."
And I accept that."
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They sat together against the wall on the bed, the last rays of the sun making his hair glow, the wall across from them sporting an orange hue itself.
They had been sitting there for quite some time, Shuuhei out taking care of the Hollows, stretching out his muscles after months of imprisonment.
Confusing the new stationed shinigami by eliminating the Hollows before they could reach them, then quickly leaving the scene, only added to his entertainment.
Their silence continued on, broken when Rukia's soft voice reached his ears; "It's strange, being back. It's strange how to me, it seems like just before yesterday, was when Fisher attacked us…."
Ichigo bit his lip as he thought back to the night she was taken from him, the feel of her blade running through him again, his hand reaching up to his scar before he could notice.
Seeing his hand cover the scar just under his shirt, Rukia shyly reached over to it, placing her small hand upon his own.
Ichigo wasn't sure if Rukia heard the hitch in his breath, his hand moving to intertwine their fingers, his body immediately moving closer to her side.
Urahara had pulled him from her side after they first talked just the past afternoon, demanding to let her recover further.
Having the chance to just hold her hand, sit right against her, seemed enough for the male. Enough wasn't enough, though, when her slender leg clad in jeans swung over his own, her small body leaving his side to straddle his hips.
Ichigo struggled to keep still as he felt Rukia's hands run through his hair, brushing his bangs back, running down along the sides of his handsome face.
Rukia was mesmerized by change in his appearance, though nothing truly changed. His hair was slightly longer, his bangs teasing the top of his eyebrows; just below them, his honey-brown eyes seemed exhausted behind the glint of excitement, his eyelashes defining them perfectly.
Her thumbs traced his cheekbones before running along his jaw, smiling at the smooth angle.
Ichigo stayed put as Rukia leaned up to touch her forehead to Ichigo's, wrapping his hands around her waist, pulling her closer to him.
Amber eyes looked into violet, Ichigo's low, husky voice breaking their silence; "Rukia…."
I remember now, the reason why I wanted you back so much…."
The last of the sun's rays peered through her window, her eyes catching the gleam for a split-second before they closed slowly, their lips meeting gently.
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"No, Rukia, you have to stir clockwise."
"Well, I don't want to! Why can't I stir the other way?"
"Because you simply can't."
Turning from the stove, her small fists on her hips, Rukia glared at Ichigo; "That's not a reason."
Glaring right back, Ichigo stepped up to her, his height towering over her; "Yes it is, midget."
Shuuhei walked in at that moment, stopping short when he caught sight of Rukia, her short form towering over Ichigo, his body sprawled on the floor by her feet; "Rukia?"
"He just had a small accident."
"Yeah; her fist."
Shuuhei laughed as he closed the door behind him, stepping over Ichigo's body, jumping onto the counter to watch the pots on the stove.
"What's this, Kuchiki?"
"Ichigo said it's 'spaghetti,' I think."
Nodding, Shuuhei stared at the pots, frowning moments later; "Wait, you're cooking? That's new; nobility working the pots!"
Ichigo was sure the lid to the sauce's pot was in her hand when the clang echoed in the apartment, craning his neck to see just beyond his hair as a loud thump landed by him, Shuuhei upside down in his view; "Good seeing you down here, Hisagi."
"Hai; did you change the floorboards?"
"Yeah, I did. Couldn't stand the creaking."
Shuuhei nodded in understanding, their eyes back on the ceiling as they lay on the floor, Rukia finishing the sauce by the stove.
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"Tessai, what do you think of Kuchiki-san's reiatsu, right now? Am I right to let her stay at the apartment, away from your care?"
Kneeling beside Urahara, Tessai took a moment to pick up on the weak reiatsu, humming as he thought.
"I believe she'll be fine. A quick visit tomorrow to let us check her and that'll be enough."
Urahara nodded before snapping his fan open, leaning back against the wall, fanning himself.
"It'll be quite some time before she recovers completely. Shuuhei is doing perfectly fine; he's wrecking chaos amongst the local shinigami, from what I can tell."
"Should I wait to reinforce the barriers on the reiatsu until after Kuchiki-san recovers, then?"
"That'd be fine, Tessai; for right now, they are enough to cover our reiatsu, including Hisagi-san and Ichigo."
You can lessen the one on the Kurosaki residence, though, and put one on the apartment; I have a feeling Kurosaki-kun will be spending even more time away from home…."
Smiling, Urahara poured himself tea, Yoruichi coming around the corner, jumping into his lap; "How are our shinigami?"
"Why, they're perfectly fine, Yoruichi-san! Perfectly fine."
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"Shuuhei, you better get Urahara to look at that bump; looks like you have an entirely new brain growing there."
Stabbing his fork into his spaghetti, Shuuhei glared over to the petite, evil, demented dwarf as he spun his fork, pouting as he raised his small icepack to his temple again.
"It was all your fault, Hisagi, so don't give me that look."
Rukia followed Shuuhei's actions with her food, both of them having watched Ichigo demonstrate how to eat the Italian dish.
Spinning his own fork, Ichigo chuckled as Shuuhei grumbled obscenities, his hand reaching up to his own bruise; "Well, dig in."
Three forks remained still, Rukia's glare set on the males as they failed to taste the food she made, her own fork failing to reach her mouth.
Shuuhei broke under her burning gaze, throwing his icepack down; "Well, you're afraid to try it, too, Kuchiki!"
"SHUT UP, HISAGI!"
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Small bubbles covered his arms as Ichigo washed the dishes used for dinner, Shuuhei complaining back in the bathroom as Rukia treated his bruises.
A small smile pulled on Ichigo's lips as he looked back at the bathroom from the kitchen, Rukia's reflection on the mirror.
She was annoyed with the complaining death god sitting on the toilet, but Ichigo was certain she missed arguing with and abusing them.
Turning back to the last of the dishes, Ichigo felt a weight on his chest as his thoughts drifted to the exiled shinigami some blocks away, his words loud in his memory.
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"We're going to have to be very careful now, Kurosaki."
Kuchiki-san and Hisagi-san are still sentenced to execution, their sentence even heavier now with the escape."
We can't forget that Soul Society is now aware that you live, Ichigo."
"So what, Urahara? Now we're going to live hidden all the time? Stuck in our homes?"
"Oh no, Kurosaki-kun; I believe they'll be just fine in their gigai, as you will be fine in your body. Just blend in with everyone else, and be alert of other reiatsu."
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"Blend in, my ass." Ichigo scoffed as he finished the last dish, wiping his arms with the small towel.
His mood lifted, however, when two smooth arms circled his waist from behind him, Rukia's body resting against him as she nuzzled his back.
"Did you finish with Shuuhei?"
"He's still in the bathroom, trying to figure out the handles in the shower."
"Well, as long as it keeps him busy, let's not remind him it's the same as the tub."
Ichigo could feel Rukia smiling against his back, turning in her arms to face her, wrapping her in his embrace.
"I should head back home; it's nearly midnight. Yuzu is probably ready to kill me."
Ichigo frowned when Rukia's smile fell, pulling her closer; "Hey, what's wrong?"
"I thought you'd be… staying here."
The male couldn't help but smile again, laughing as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her to his chest as she tighten her arms around him; "If you want me to stay with you, I can. Just tonight, though, I should be home."
"Oi, Ichigo!"
Ichigo lifted his gaze to Shuuhei standing by the bathroom, his brows furrowed in question; "Hai?"
"When can we see Yuzu?"
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The youngest of the Kurosaki family sat alone at the dining table, spatula in hand as her brown eyes stared at the clock in the living room, her chin resting in her palm.
Ichi-nii hasn't been home since yesterday at dawn; I know he can take care of himself, but still….
Minutes had past of her counting time before the click of the front door echoed throughout the house, her small body sitting up as she waited to see which of the males had made it home.
Within seconds, Yuzu caught sight of her brother's wild hair, his face weary of her obvious anger.
"Hey Yuzu; I'm home…."
"I can see that, Ichi-nii." The young female gripped her spatula as she glared at Ichigo, her eyes threatening to tear up from anger.
"Look, Yuzu, I can explain-."
"Explain what, Ichi-nii!" Yuzu pushed out of her chair, standing before her brother; "Two whole days since I last saw you, Ichi-nii! You didn't come home to sleep, or-or-or even show up this morning! And now, it's one o'clock in the morning!"
Two days of wondering if something happened to you while dad blabbered on about you just being rebellious like he used to be!"
Ichigo frowned as Yuzu rubbed at her eyes, her glare set on him as she stood there shaking, biting her lip.
"I'm sorry I worried you, Yuzu. It's just that…" Stepping aside, Ichigo reached around the corner, pulling on Rukia's hand to bring her into the kitchen, Shuuhei standing beside her; "I got caught up with these idiots here."
Ichigo smiled at Yuzu's wide eyes, her small hands strangling the innocent spatula in her hands before she dropped it, hurling her body onto Shuuhei; "Y-you're back! You came back!"
Rukia laughed as she held onto Shuuhei as he stumbled back from Yuzu jumping him, smiling as he embraced the small girl, lifting her into a small spin before nuzzling the top of her soft hair; "Hey there, Yuzu."
The poor girl sobbed as she clung onto the taller male, a single hand letting go to reach over to Rukia, holding her hand tightly; "R-Rukia-chan! I can't believe it, you're back! I'm so angry with you, I won't forgive you!"
Her desperate hold on the shinigami proved otherwise, though, as she continued to sob, refusing to let go of them.
"Yuzu, please stop crying. We never wanted to leave you or your idiot brother behind, really."
Rukia's warm hand wiped at Yuzu's tears, brushing her sandy hair from her eyes; "We missed you, Yuzu."
Ichigo stepped further into the kitchen, leaning on the counter as he looked on, smiling as Yuzu finally released Shuuhei, only to latch herself onto Rukia.
Both males laughed at Rukia's obvious amazement as Yuzu hugged her; the young girl was now as tall as Rukia, having grown over the past months; "Yuzu! How did you grow in such a short time? You're going to pass me!"
"Anyone could manage to grow taller than you, Kuchiki."
Laughter erupted from Ichigo as both girls suddenly tackled Shuuhei to the floor, his pleas for mercy ignored as Rukia and Yuzu tickled him, wide grins on their faces.
I think the rain has stopped.
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I enjoyed this one after the past couple of chapters. It was fun, heh heh heh. And yes, Ichigo's quote was changed by a single word to fit SMD :) But the other one is exact. I don't own anything, by the way :)
Hm, so like I said, the next few chapters will be easy-going. I hope this chapter was enjoyable for you.
I would like to know if the draft-chapter of "The Little Things Give You Away" would be preferred on the profile, in SMD, or as a separate story. Let me know!
Please leave any comments, questions, suggestions, or simple love! :)
Take care, KurosakiLove~