Disclaimer: All characters of Bleach belong to Kubo Tite.
Author's note: Timeline of this story is set after the Soul Society Arc.
PA system Blues: The second Monday morning
After the disaster last week, Kurosaki Ichigo and Kuchiki Rukia were given warnings that they were not to air private matters over the public-addressing system. The amiable school principal of Karakura High decided that punishment was unnecessary since all the sniggering, and whispering of the other students would be punishment enough. And truly, from open-eyed staring to hidden glances, buzzing talk followed in the wake of Ichigo and Rukia's path in the school hallways.
They were the talk of Karakura High. The school gossips were practically exploding with excitement while spreading and artfully elaborating on the juicy details of the relationship. It was breaking news! The unattainable fighting bad-boy in town had been tamed by love in the arms of the mysterious transfer student. Romantics sighed.
Kurosaki Ichigo had never been under so much pressure to just run up to a wall and knock himself out into blissful oblivion. As for the star who had declared her feelings on air, Rukia could only wonder why the big, black proverbial hole did not open up to swallow her whole in her time of need. It was hard to say who was more embarrassed about the whole scenario.
oooOooo
The second Monday morning arrived to pull sluggish students from their beds back to school. Ichigo and Rukia carried out the Monday morning announcements more carefully than usual. They could have finished the announcements without further incident. They could have just completed the task so ordinarily that the new week would erase their last escapade.
But, it was not to be.
Ichigo heaved a sigh of relief as Rukia signed off on the PA system in that saccharine-sweet voice of hers that often set his teeth on edge. He leaned back, propped his feet up onto the table and asked, "So, Rukia, what news from Soul Society?"
He failed to notice when the heel of his shoe jammed momentarily into the transmission button. Rukia hopped up lightly on the table, preoccupied by the mobile phone in her hand. She did not notice Ichigo's mistake, nor did she realize it when her elbow knocked the microphone switch to life.
"Things may seem calm after the uproar when you stormed the seireitei, but the trouble is not over. There will be no rest until they resolve Aizen Sousuke's hidden agenda. How dangerous they must be, for just three to so easily overcome the seireitei," Rukia's voice trailed off. "When they return.."
How close they had all come to danger, at one time or another during that chaos, -her own sentence to execution, Ichigo's perilous journey to save her bringing him time and time again to the edge of an opponent's sword. Renji pushed to his limits, Byakuya nii-sama stepping into the path of Ichimaru Gin's sword.. Would they be so lucky the next time?
Ichigo's eyebrows furrowed together as he watched Rukia quietly bury herself in her endless possibilities of bad-endings. Why did she chain herself to fears and doubts so much that the people around her became burdens instead of companions to lighten the load?
"You have it on your face again," Ichigo said.
Rukia looked at him inquisitively. He leaned forward to tap her forehead lightly. "Look, it's there as plain as day – 'Big Worrywart'. Maybe that's why you cover it with a lock of hair?"
"I have no lumps on my head!" Rukia protested.
Ichigo's finger traced a path from her brow to her chin. He tilted her chin up firmly in his grip and met her gaze unwaveringly.
"Listen, you hear my words. But, you don't hear what they mean. You see the people around you. But, you don't acknowledge us. We are by your side, and yet you refuse us."
Rukia was held still by the force of his words.
"When the time comes, I will save you again. Not just me, Renji and your friends here too. Don't take everything onto yourself. You're not alone. Understand?"
Then, he released his hold on her, sat back in the folding-chair, and grinned, "Now, tell me that wicked story about your brother and his noble-house of Kuchiki. Who was your sister?"
oooOooo
As Ichigo and Rukia walked down the hall to their classroom, students began peering out at them. The noise of incessant whispering rose in volume as they passed by.
"You think it's true, then? She's from some sort of underground Mafia clan?"
"Have you heard? Saehara from the 3rd class says that he's a member of that Soul Society."
"You bunch of fools actually believe that? It's obviously a story they just made up! Ch'! Calling themselves Death Gods? This ain't the freakin' Kabuki theatre, man!"
Suddenly, the school secretary approached them, high heels clicking smartly.
"Form 3, Class 1's Kurosaki Ichigo and Kuchiki Rukia. Follow me to the principal's office now."
oooOooo
Ichigo's face had turned a sickly green that clashed horribly with his bright orange hair. Rukia looked as if she was going to faint dead away to the office floor. They were in so much trouble.
They had not.. Please, someone say they had not just broadcasted highly confidential details of Soul Society on the school PA system. Ichigo tried to look over his shoulder imperceptibly for black uniformed Shinigami's brandishing arrest warrants with the names 'Kurosaki Ichigo' and 'Kuchiki Rukia' on them.
The principal coughed and continued, "As interesting as that little tale was –Death Gods and Spirit Societies, heheh.., the PA system is school property and not for your own personal amusement. Please, try to stick with the program. Do I have your agreement in this Kurosaki, Kuchiki?"
How much had they said? Oh, just Rukia's death sentence, Shinigami duties, the internal affairs of Soul Society. And.. Kami-sama, please have mercy upon us, an account of Kuchiki Byakuya's private family matters.
Ichigo's throat ran dry. He wondered what alternative method of execution Soul Society had managed to come up with since the sealing of Soukyoku. Maybe he would find out soon.
oooOooo
Rukia didn't know if it was proper to laugh at the current state of affairs. Surely it wasn't right to do so. But, every time one of her schoolmates came up to her gushing about the brilliant broadcast on the PA system, she found it so unbelievable that she nearly dissolved into tears and laughter all at once.
They thought Soul Society was some underworld organization akin to the Mafia. They believed that Kurosaki Ichigo of class 1-3 had gone through life threatening obstacles to save her from certain death in the hands of the men in black. It was surprising how close and yet so far to the truth they could be.
They thought it was so dramatic, was it not? That whole tragic tale of her aristocratic guardian and her older sister, the journey of one hero to save the day and rescue the fair maiden -it was beautiful.
Such romance! Girls would be crying in their pillows at night. Boys were suddenly besieged by tempered demands to proclaim their love in some grand medieval fashion. -Would you lay down your life for me the way Kurosaki did?
Rukia surveyed her surroundings, amazed by the variety of behaviors displayed by Ichigo's schoolmates. There –a group of girls waving at her, possibly because of her near-celebrity status. Here –a girl passing by while darting a look of skeptical disbelief at her back, and yet hurrying to step out of her path. And of course, that group of boys smoking by the fence. Some stared at her impassively; others gave her a once-over, assessing her.
If there had been a banner blowing above their little mob, it would have read 'Yakuza' –possibly written in the crimson dried blood of their enemies. She'd heard of how a territorial horde of them had passionately charged Ichigo, waving metal rods, 'cuz this town ain't big enuf fer Soul Society and one of them lousy Death Gods.
Ichigo had given them a devilishly evil grin. He had been suffering a lot of indignity and pent up emotions recently. Come over here boys, and let the Death God teach you a lesson in crime and punishment. Prepare to atone for your sins, so let me show you hell-on-earth.
In 10 minutes, the trees around school had acquired new ornaments that seemed to cry 'Mummy!' and occasionally whimper in pain. Since then, the remorseful members had even climbed vertical walls to get out of Ichigo's way.
Author's Note: The word 'Yakuza' refers to the Japanese version of gangsters. And to Makino114, Shi-Sha Hariken, SHiNiGAMiLENNE, me-go-syco, rukiaprincess, Zefrn, flOofymikO, aliof1873, ShinakaStar and IIscorpioII.. thanks ever so much for the first reviews to this new story!
Next chapter: The Third Monday Morning.