I'm so sorry! It took me forever to update, I had a busy weekend! Bows solemnly I'm so sorry, again! I tried to make up for it by making this chapter longer... bows again I'm so sorry!
Disclaimer: usual...
Hollows Haunt Us
Chapter 8
Ichigo gently pulled Rukia back to their house. They had been silent the entire time, with him not releasing his steady grasp on her elbow. Rukia clutched his jacket close to her chest, trying to hold back the unsettling feeling that kept arising to her chest. The voice inside her was silent now, except for the occasional distant snicker.
When they had finally made it back to his room, he sat her down on his bed, and said quietly, "Wait right here."
Rukia obeyed, wondering where this was all going for her. The shock of what was happening was still settling in. I hope I didn't…
Ichigo returned with a wet rag and a clean set of Yuzu's clothes. Without saying a single word, he took his jacket away from Rukia to reveal her bloodied hands. With the wet rag he grabbed her hands, and wiped them off, all the while not looking directly into Rukia's eyes.
Trying to get some kind of idea of how he was feeling, Rukia ventured into asking a question. "Ichigo…do you hate me?"
At the question, Ichigo stopped rubbing her hands, but didn't quite look up. Taking a deep breath, he finally looked into her eyes. Seeing deep feeling eyes on Ichigo took Rukia by surprise. She felt his grip on her hands tighten through the towel.
"Rukia…" He said softly. His face was stern, betraying little emotion to the outside world, but to Rukia, he showed everything. "What's going on? Something's been up with you, and I haven't been able to pin point it. Just tell me, Rukia, why in your right mind did you hurt Inoue?"
Rukia wanted to tell him everything. Tell him about the voice she's been hearing and the things the voice has told her. How she blanked out when she was on the roof of the school building with Orihime. But the voice was holding her back. The words wouldn't form in her mouth. She looked at Ichigo, trying to say words that wouldn't come. Eventually she forced out the words, "I…don't…know…"
He let go of her hands and stood up. "How can you not know?"
"I just don't, Ichigo!" Rukia said, a large part of her feeling indignant. "There's a lot going on in me that you would never understand!"
"Obviously, since I can't figure out why you would hurt a fellow classmate who has done nothing to you."
Her body began to shake with anger. The voice had a reason, jealousy. But she couldn't shout that out. The only words that she could say were, "You will never know what goes on in my heart, Ichigo…EVER."
Rukia turned around and picked up Yuzu's clothes before stomping towards the window and jumping out. Ichigo made a frail attempt to stop her, but no words came out of his mouth.
For a few seconds after she left, Ichigo found himself staring out the window. "What is going on with you, Rukia?"
Rukia walked down the street towards a public restroom where she could change. After she put on Yuzu's clothes, she looked down at her bloodied uniform. Her hands were shaking as she asked, "What are you doing to me?"
I'm not doing anything. You did this all yourself.
"You made me!" Rukia said, anger boiling up inside, wanting to burst.
I made you do nothing. You did this all yourself.
"NO I DIDN'T!" Rukia screamed and fell to her knees as tears began to form in her eyes. "I would never hurt someone I loved!"
There. You said it. You did it because you loved him. Because you were jealous of what him and that girl were sharing.
Rukia sat stunned a moment. "No… I…don't love him…"
Can't erase what you just said.
She looked down at the floor for a while longer before answering. "So what if I did love him? What would that change?"
Everything.
Fear began to rise. "How so?"
This.
Rukia felt herself plunge into darkness inside. It was cold inside herself, blackness never ending. She wrapped her arms around herself only to find she was naked. She shivered.
The girl she had seen earlier appeared in front of her, only much more clearly. Her face was still almost shrouded in darkness, but Rukia could make out a bright, evil smile.
"It's cold in here, is it not? Like what I've done with the place?" Arms outstretched, the smile glowing with joy.
"Who are you?" Rukia stuttered through cold, clenched teeth.
"Who am I?" The arms went down, stepping towards Rukia, her face became clear. She saw a face she knew better than anyone's. Her own. "Why, I'm you."
Quick pulsing cold shot through Rukia's veins. Her eyes had to have betrayed her. But they didn't, even as she blinked to clear them.
"No…" Rukia whispered.
"Yes." The girl said as she walked towards Rukia. Placing a rough hand on Rukia's head, she put her face up close and said, "No need for two of us, ne? That's why you're going bye-bye."
The girl pushed her backwards. Rukia thought she would hit the ground she had been sitting on, but was stunned when she didn't and she kept falling away from the smiling face. Her smiling face. Arms clawed at some invisible ledge until she hit a ground with a thud, almost knocking her out unconscious.
Somewhere far away, a door slammed shut.
The now-possessed Rukia picked herself up off the floor. Picking up the discarded school uniform she went out and threw it into the nearest trash can.
A smile, then words quietly spoken, "Free at last."
Thank you guys for your wonderful reviews! You really keep me going!
Bakageta: I'm so sorry, you had expected a quick update, and I didn't...I hope this chapter balances that out!
Eliza: I confessed some feelings! Thanks for reviewing, it makes my heart shine! lol...
een nihc: I'm really happy I got a review from you! I love your stories...I'm happy you liked mine!
Mitsuno: Your review still brings a smile to my face! I tried to make it a little more obvious that Rukia was sorry about what she did...or, what she didn't do...? hehe, I like long reviews, it makes me feel like I actually was worth someone's time...I hope you like this chapter, I wrote a little by what you told me...
Seaplue: SUPER blush You really make me out better than I am! Brilliant? Ha, I wish. You are so funny, I love your reviews. It's people like you and Mistuno that I continue to write for! Every time I'm late updating, like this time, I think, "Seaplue and Mitsuno will be made at me...pouts" Really! Hope you liked this chapter!
Akemi: Hehe, hollow Rukia thanks you.
mikeee: I didn't mean to make Rukia seem like a bitch. She's really out of control...!
