Title: Four
A/N: I've had this idea for a while now.. I just had trouble writing it (Final Fantasy X-2 (As lame as it seems)) is actually really good for writing... or at least watching people play it) Now It's written and i can bring you a second chapter based from this one :D But for now I need to know your opinions. It's not really fluffy, and it's just a lil Ichiruki, a little RenRuki, and a little KaienRuki...
Special thanks to my dear beta Charming.Murderess who saved my butt :D I'd never make nicely edited chapters without you :p...
On with the story then... I suppose. OH Quick lil question.. I seriously would love to know what you'd like to see in chapter sixty!! so yeah... just tell me random things and the best ideas (Or the ones easiest to work with) will make it in.
Another one as well. This story is becoming officially AU... to expand my horizons in the feild of IchiRuki so if you have any suggestions for me to write about... don't hesitate.. :D
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Rukia had heard, once before, that there are always at least four people who effect your life the most. Be it a parent, a friend, a sibling, or even a lover. Four people would always make the greatest differences. She knew from the moment she heard Inoue proclaim it, who those four people were, and it was no secret either.
She first met Renji when she was just a scrawny starving girl living in Hanging Dog fighting for the right to live. It was he who made her feel like she was important... like she had a place in the big empty world. She knew that after Renji had helped her out and she had helped him that the only thing she wanted to do was stand up for those who couldn't themselves. It was then that she had the idea to become a soul reaper. It was an idea that grew each day as she and Renji became for spiritually aware of who they were. It was a taboo thought, because of the other friends in her life. Renji had been the one to make the final suggestion after all their friends had passed. It was a bittersweet day in her life, the day she left Rukon and her friends' graces for the Sereitei. She would feel alone in the world, and at the time she thought that Renji would stick by her side. Classes started and they were torn from one another. Little by little they grew apart until her adoption split them. She wanted him badly to tell her to stay. She loved him at the time, something the thick headed dope never got. She wanted him to sweep her up and tell her that she should stay; a foolish dream of a foolish girl. She was relieved, years upon years later when Renji had been the one to come get her, Renji and her brother. They were two of the three people that she would willingly follow, Ichigo being the third. She felt anger and sadness but over all joy when she saw him again. Not because he was there to take her home, but because he was there and he was strong. Then came the day he nearly gave his life to rescue her, and then the Soktuoku where he ran with her in his arms, like she had imagined so many years ago in her girlish dreams. It was then that he took the world from her shoulders and shared the burden, something that only intense friendships could bring about. It wasn't her fault, in his eyes; the only thing she was at fault for was making him stronger. For those words she'd forever be in his debt.
After she met Renji it had come to the point where she was adopted by Byakuya Kuchiki. He hadn't picked her for any real reason, other then to raise her. He had loosely said, one morning, that she looked like his late wife, Lady Hisana. After that she was rarely mentioned again, and Rukia became a silent puppet in Byakuya's eyes. She would get on a squad and she would get strong. She never knew that the reason she could never get a seat was because deep down, Byakuya loved her. He wanted her safe, because the woman he loved wanted her safe. She would never know of the arguments between Ukitake and her brother; arguments to seat her. She had always sought his approval; she walked like a noble, talked like a noble, and spoke like a noble, all for his happiness. Byakuya only wanted to see the fire in Rukia's eyes that had once burned in the eyes of Hisana. She would never know that Byakuya had fought with the elders over many arranged marriages they had planned for her. She would know, however, of the sad story between her brother and Hisana, and of course the story of Rukia's life. She would hear of the years Byakuya searched for her, all to make Hisana happy. Byakuya had broken the law time and time again to secure her live and happiness and Rukia would always love him for that. He was more than a brother to her, he was her savior. He had plucked her from the glum existence of schools and thrown her into a squad telling her to get a better rank, all the while keeping her safe. Every time she would express her joy at mastering a new skill he'd seem to brush it off, but deep down he cheered inwardly. She was like the daughter he and Hisana would never have. He had, in the end, shown her to fight for what she believed to be right. To fight for those you love, even if it means betraying those you respect.
Then she met Kaien. She had, at first, felt a friendly affection towards him. He was brash and loud but understanding. He had the face of a God and the gentleness of a man. He had treated her like everyone else, no one special. She loved that about him, he never wanted to please the Princess of the Kuchiki clan. He pushed her to get stronger, told her that the only way to get better is to get stronger. She idolized him, and over time her simple friendly affection grew to something akin to love and adoration. At times she had imagined his arms around her telling her all the things she longed to hear. She was young and foolish and nothing seemed more inviting than a handsome Fukutaicho who treated you with respect because of who you were, not because of your last name. She found out, it was because he had lived the same life as she had. He was a member of the Shiba clan, and because of that he had been treated like a prince. He fought against the words and became strong on his own. He hated the whispered rumors of his cheated success. So he knew that all Rukia wanted was to be normal. It was that treatment that made her blush, he liked her because she was her, and for no other reason. He treated her like some one special because she was some one special to him, and for no other reason. She had never loved anyone more at that time than she had before. The best part and most admirable was his love for Miyako, his unwavering love for her. He only saw two women in the world; Miyako and all the other girls. But deep down in his eyes she knew he was learning to see her in that light. Which was why he gave her the greatest gift of all, she had left his heart in her care. He taught her that each person contains the pieces of others hearts within them, he would leave those fragments with her. He wanted her to use that heart and grow stronger. Above all else he wanted her to move on and see him each day as the man he was, not the man he had become.
Last there was Ichigo. The pig headed stubborn boy who had taken her sword into his body and saved her and himself, putting aside the fact that he had caused the problem. He had trusted her, and he barely knew her, and that amazed her. He had taken her into his home on countless occasions, had helped her with school, and of course taught her the fundamentals of being a normal human girl. His face had been painful too see at first. The same goofy smile, same spiky locks only a brighter hue, same attitude, and the same devotion to his duty. He even had the same look in his eyes when they fell on hers from across the room. It was no wonder that she would fall so fast and so hard for the stupid human boy. Sure he was rough around the edges but he proved to her time and time again that he could protect his loved ones and that he could get stronger. She stayed by his side through most of it. The whole time she thought she had burden him with the powers but she found out that he loved her for them. That way he could protect them. He was crazy too, coming after her and facing not only Renji and Kenpachi but also her brother, more so, he had won. She would never forget that feeling that bubbled in the pit of her stomach when he floated before her, keeping her from her painful death. She would never forget the slicing of the butterflies when he smiled at her when she told him she was staying. In her head she screamed for him to make her come home with him, the way she had once wished Renji would. And the clench and unclench of his fists did not go unnoticed, like he was burning to yell for her to stay. She always came back though, she wasn't sure if it was an addiction or just a desire. It was easier, lying in his closet, to picture a future with him. Over time she knew he loved him more than she had loved anyone before. Kaien could never meet Ichigo on her love scale. Ichigo was everything she needed; strong, brave, dedicated, irrational, stubborn, smart, handsome, funny, kind, dear, and above all others he was changing. He went to hell and back to get better, to change, so that he could see her again. She only wished he would loan her that strength he held so easily. He gave her that strength, over time, just being next to him made her stronger. He was the worst and the best person to love. She would never deny that, and she would never give him up.
As she reflected those things she realized how much she had let slip by. All those years fearing that she would be turned down, mocked, or snubbed. It was then she discovered that in order to move forward she needed to step back and cast aside all her fears. All her fears meant nothing in that single moment as Orihime chatted away.
"So what do you think?" Orihime asked, grinning. "Those are my four. Sora, Ichigo, Chad, and Ishida are the four most important men in my life!!"
Rukia smiled and nodded. "Sounds like a good list."
"Who are yours Rukia!!" Orihime asked, grinning.
Rukia smiled and turned her back. "My best friend, my brother, my-could've-been-lover, and the rest of my life."
Orihime looked confused for a moment. "What are their names silly!!"
Rukia smiled and walked on. "Just people of consequence."
Orihime smiled as Rukia walked away. "I told you!"
Tatsuki smiled. "Fine, fine, I believe you! So little Rukia has a thing for our Ichigo?"
Orihime nodded with a bittersweet smile etched into her painfully soft face. "Yeah, me too."
