Disclaimer: Bleach is owned by Kubo.
A/N: Yoh! I know you people asked for a prologue…but I can only give you this. Enjoy anyway!
P.S: No edits done like the usual. Thanks!
-000-
It was actually like living in a dream—when the one who had conquered your heart reciprocates your feelings. Not everyone is blessed to end up with a 'happily-ever-after' so maybe I should consider myself lucky. Come to think of it, those kinds of endings never existed in the first place. As one chapter ends…another begins. So, my love story hasn't ended at all—perhaps, it had only begun.
" Rukia." I was taken out of reverie by my father's monotonous voice. It was breakfast time and a rare moment for the two of us to share a meal together.
I looked up to meet his gaze with my amethyst eyes questioning. " Yes, dad?"
He held my gaze and pointed out calmly. " You haven't touched your food yet. Is in not to your liking?"
True enough, I looked down on my plate and saw the food untouched, both utensils in my hand as I grasped them tightly. Looking up to my father again, I beamed. " The food is fine. I was just thinking about something."
There was a short pause before he spoke again; his eyes were steadied on me the whole time, watching me intently. " I surmise it has something to do with the Gotei Ball last night?"
Alas, a wide smile appeared on my lips without me willing it out and I can't seem to remove it. My father gave me a weirded look indicating that he was genuinely bewildered. In his eyes I was acting strange. And indeed I was. " I-I'm just glad that everything's all back to normal…I mean, everyone's fine and we're together as a family now. You get what I mean?" It came out so rushed from my tongue that it was blatantly obvious of being a lame excuse.
But nonetheless, my father had stopped prodding me after giving me a suspicious look for a second then, closing his eyes and nodding his head in dismissal. " I have to go back to England tomorrow. I trust you will be fine here on your own." He was worried despite the glacial indifference he wore.
" I'll be fine dad." It was the most reassuring thing I could tell him. Besides, I have lived a few years of my life alone.
He contemplated for a moment, almost hesitating before he decided to speak his mind out. " I'm thinking of you transferring in England and continuing your education there." His words shook me. I gaped at him, not knowing what I should say. " Given that Kuchiki Group's headquarters in situated there, it is most convenie—" He stopped midway and his eyes widened a bit when he finally noticed my reaction.
" Good morning Kuchiki-sama." The newly arrived Abarai Renji greeted as he arrived in the dining room, looking posh in his newly pressed business attire. Then he turned to me, about to make a pleasant greeting as well but instead exclaimed with a surprised expression. " Rukia! What happened to you?! You're as white as a ghost."
But of course my mind was filled with alarm and ignored the red-head. I considerably paled as the utensils slipped away from my hands and clashed against the porcelain plate for breakfast. " To live there? In England?!" Oh, the shock in my voice was as plain as day.
" England?" Renji repeated as he looked at his employer, confused.
Kuchiki Byakuya didn't respond immediately, closing his eyes for a moment. " It is just a proposition Rukia. But given your blatant refusal of the very idea, then I think the answer is already no."
A surge of relief came to me. " Thank you." I mumbled as I let out the breath I was unconsciously holding.
How could I even think of leaving Japan? I will leave Nozomi completely alone if I did so…then there are my friends, Masaki-san, Grimmjow, Kaein... I sighed. Okay, I admit it…I don't want to leave because of one major person…Kurosaki Ichigo—my boyfriend.
" Uhmmm…Rukia." I heard the redhead say. " Your grin is creeping me out a little."
-000-
I felt a finger poking mg cheek. " Ru-ki-a." Nozomi Kujo, my best friend, playfully whispered my name in my ear. I tore away my eyes from the window and saw her looking at me with a bright smile on her face.
" What's up?" I asked.
She grinned toothily. " I met Kurosaki-sama along the hallway when I went to get some juice." Nozomi was, up to this day, still enamored with Ichigo. Not that I have anything against it. " He said he has something to talk with you. He wants to meet with you in the rooftop right now."
" R-really?" My heart skipped a beat and somehow, a happy feeling filled me as well as nervousness and anxiety. " I wonder what he wants…" I thought loudly. Ever since we've confessed our feelings with each other during that fateful night in the ball two days ago, I haven't met or talked with him since then, not even over the phone.
" Yeah." Nozomi had sensed something from my reaction. " Rukia…did something happened between you and Kurosaki-sama?" She asked innocently. Thinking that she was already implying something in the lines of romance, I instantly blushed as well. " You look nervous." My dark-haired best friend added.
I blinked several times at her and spoke in a startled way. " H-huh?"
Kujo Nozomi studied my face then shrugged. " Maybe, I'm over-thinking things." Then she beamed.
Laughing nervously, I told her. " Yeah…you're just over-thinking." Then I pulled myself up from my seat. " Well, I'll go meet him. Maybe it's important."
She readily agreed. " Okay."
The hallway was packed with students, most of them chatting with their friends. But the moment I stepped out of the room, all eyes were set on me. It made me feel nervous, the same feeling I had the time I was being bullied due to Ichigo's acceptance of my sudden confession.
It brings back memories…
But then I realized and began to wonder the reason of this sudden shift of focus of the student body's attention on me for the second time. I walked slowly and carefully, making sure that I don't bump with anyone. I could still feel all of them staring at me even behind my back. Much to my relief, it didn't take long for me to reach the door leading to the rooftop. I slowly opened the door and stepped outside before looking left to right. There was no one. Only a strong gust of wind welcomed me.
" Ichigo?" I called out. No answer. My brows knitted together. " I wonder if Nozomi's playing a prank wi—" I stopped speaking and stiffened when I felt a pair of hands snaking their way to embrace me.
" Yoh." Ichigo whispered beside my ear.
Blush rose up to my head, my face heated up. " I-i-chigo." I tried to remove his hands around my waist while I looked around warily, hoping the no one was watching.
The orangette only tightened his embrace around me. " I missed you, midget." Maybe it was meant to sound sweet but it ended up with me having a tic on my forehead and my foot to be stamped on his foot. " Ouch!" He bellowed as he removed his arms around me and nursed his throbbing foot. " What is wrong with you?!" Kurosaki Ichigo was scowling and glaring at me.
" I am not a midget!" I declared, my hands on my hips as I looked at him with defiance written all over my face. But the effect was cut in half because of the obvious blush on my cheeks the instant out eyes met. Thus, I averted my gaze from him. " A-and what's the big idea with the hug? What if someone sees us?"
Ichigo straightened up and sported a smirk on his face, his amber eyes staring directly at me. " You're being shy aren't you?"
It sounded a little annoying. Slowly, I turned my head towards him and declared with irritation. " Shy?! I am not bei—"
And for the second time, he caught me off-guard and embraced me once more. Then he placed rested his chin on top of my head. " Just let me do this. I think I deserve this in the least after I the waiting I went through."
I relaxed my body and savored the hug instead. " You know, you wouldn't have waited if you had just confessed to me immediately." I mumbled on his chest. I can hear the beating of his heart. It feels so warm and its rhythm was in harmony with mine. It was as if it's shouting my name just like mine was shouting his.
" I almost thought we'll never get together that time when you sent me away from your hospital room." I heard him say, his chest vibrated with every word he spoke. " Then, I had to see you with Grimmjow. You looked like you prefer his company more than mine."
Poking a finger on his broad chest, I moved my head and looked up to him, meeting his face. " Don't give me that. I even thought you and Inoue-san were going out." I wasn't blaming him. I was just confessing my wrong assumptions to him.
He looked genuinely bewildered. " Seriously? Not only that you thought I liked Inoue but you also thought that we got together?"
" Well…"
" Well?"
" Well…I did hear her confess to you." I told him.
Ichigo looks more puzzled than enlightened. " You heard? When?"
I was hesitant to tell him but he looked so stubborn right now that I'm willing to wager that he won't take no for an answer. " When she confessed to you here. The day when you and Chad joined me and Nozomi for lunch but you were still giving me a cold shoulder…when you and Ishida went into the infirmary and he asked you if you truly liked me then you answered No..."
" Y-you really heard all that?"
I only replied with a nod and hoped he won't get angry with me. " I really didn't mean to hear all of that. It just so happened that I was in the infirmary as well when you two went there." I confessed which was true. Though I didn't mention about the confession part…
There was silence for a moment before he stretched himself. " Well, I'm glad it's all clear to the two of us now."
I walked towards the railings and leaned on it. " Yeah, I guess." Looking up, the sky was clear and blue. It was a calm day.
The orange head moved and stood beside me. " Tell me one thing."
" Hmmm?" I glanced at him, his face was clear, not a trace of that perpetual scowl was present and looking more handsome, a rare moment that I should save in my memory.
He turned his head and faced me, eyes looking right into mine. Ichigo grabbed my hand and with a smooth baritone voice said. " Why do you want us to keep our relationship a secret?"
Chapter 38: Ofs and Ands [Book II]
-To God be the glory!-
A/N: Short? I know right! Hahaha…well actually my original plans were spoilt so I ended up having a lot of free time. And I kind of miss you guys!
I knew that the last chapter wasn't an ending at all. Of course I knew because I was the one who wrote it haha...so I decided on continuing this story and add more chapters instead of an epilogue (which in my opinion would be hard to do given that there's still lots things that needed closure in the story). Let's just hope that it won't take me another 30 chapters for this second life of my story. I hope you'll support this second season like you did in the first. Well, I guess I'll see you people more often than I had first thought. Give me reviews okay?! See ya on the next chapter ;)