Disclaimer: All Bleach characters belong to Kubo Tite.
Rukia: My Life As A Rabbit
Chapter Eleven –Application of Logic and Reason
Rukia: I'm so sorry, Ichigo…
The rabbit stared at its reflection in the full-length mirror. It was the perfect height for the tall boy lounging on the bed. But, Rukia's reflection only took up a corner of it –the last few inches at the bottom, her mind told her wryly. There was something sad about Rukia's eyes today.
Like routine, she idly tugged down her soft black ears and began combing them with her paws. Ichigo watched her antics from his bed. Sometimes, he found her more interesting than his manga –especially when she hopped around to admire her own tail. The boy snorted.
Ichigo lowered his manga and called out lazily, "In love with your reflection much?"
The boy really wasn't expecting a reply of any sort. But, what he didn't know was that the rabbit was fully capable of understanding human speech –and even answering. Albeit, in her own silent way.
Rukia shot a sarcastic look at the boy reflected in the mirror. Why not? I've never been cuter!
Ichigo studied her. "You still don't have a name. How about Narcissus?" He gave her a rare smile, "Hey, Narcissus –get away from there. Don't you know you get uglier the more you stare at your own reflection?"
Rukia gave him an offended look. But, she stopped her preening. It wasn't fun when someone was making fun of you about it.
The rabbit hopped off –determined to find something of his to chew.
oooOooo
The manga slipped from Ichigo's hands and fell with a soft thump to the floorboards. The boy stretched out on the bed didn't make a move to retrieve it. Ichigo's mind was far away –replaying the events of his dream restlessly. All he could do was lie in bed and stare at the ceiling.
Rukia. Rukia. Did he have it so bad that he was hallucinating visions of Rukia just because it had been a few days since he last saw her?
And it wasn't even the first time either, he told himself crossly.
A vague impression of her silhouette against the evening sky. Nothing more than an obscure feeling in the haze of his memory. Could he say for sure that he had seen Rukia? He wasn't absolutely certain, was he? Well, getting bitten by poisonous beasts would do that to you.
Perhaps his shadow of Rukia then had merely been a side-effect from that anesthetic administered by the resident Hollow.
And yet, there was something… Ichigo was sure of it, something that did not fit in the entire picture. He was overlooking some detail.
But, then again, it could be that he was thinking too much. It wasn't good to do that. Nowadays that was a potentially fatal mistake.
Hearing voices, hallucinating… His mind was playing cruel tricks on him.
Ichigo walked over to the rabbit snuffling at his bookshelves. The bunny paused and returned his stare with large, dark eyes.
Ichigo had warily placed his CD collection on the higher shelf out of reach. Having a rabbit that knocked things down (whenever he didn't pay enough attention to her) and happily chewed on CD's was a hassle at times. But, he was glad that she appeared perfectly unscathed by her meeting with the reptilian nightmare which had fully intended to make a meal out of her that evening.
Ichigo's fingers froze a hairsbreadth from her.
Hollows don't eat rabbits –no matter that they look like monsters that would devour every moving thing in the path.
Ichigo replayed the scene in his mind again. The Hollow's head snaking out after him. Sweeping his zanpakutou back in preparation, only to have the monster suddenly twist back and dart after the rabbit.
Hollows don't abandon high density souls to go after defenseless bunnies.
Rewind. Replay.
Ichigo's brain made a few intelligent connections and gave the voices that screamed about rationality a kick in the ass. Ever since Rukia had alighted in his room, she had given his perception of logic and reason a sharp twist on the head.
The line between possible and impossible was no longer clearly defined. Ichigo's eyes widened. He stared at the rabbit with dawning horror.
His throat had gone very dry. He said in an incredulous voice, "Rukia…"
Then louder and with more conviction, he picked the rabbit up and brought it face to face with him. "Kami-sama! Is that you in there, Rukia?"
Oh, your brilliance astounds me, Ichigo! Do you speak "rabbit" perhaps –no? I didn't think so. But, maybe you expect me to waggle my ears in sign language? Or send a morse code with my tail?
Ichigo's eyes looked a bit wild. Rukia wished he would put her down. It wasn't pleasant to be shaken like that. She would most generously give him 3 seconds before she sank her teeth into his finger as a wake-up call.
"How did this happen?" the boy said at last. Then he set her down on the floor, stood up and held his hands, palms out, towards her. "Stay! Stay right here!" he ordered, towering over her from above.
Rukia gave him a very evil look. Do I look like a nice doggie to you now?
Ichigo slammed his bedroom door open and ran down to the clinic, socked feet sliding crazily across the floorboards. The noises that floated up the hallway suggested that Ichigo was crashing into a few walls on his way there.
Rukia sat down with a soft thump.
Finally –it hits him on the head…
oooOooo
A blur of Ichigo's profile zoomed past Karin in the clinic's reception hall. The younger girl scowled in annoyance as she clutched her paperwork. "You're causing a draft, Ichi-nii! Baka!"
Her brother never heard her challenge to his intelligence. He skidded to a stop at the consulting room, seizing the doorknob. The boy yanked the door open without knocking. Ichigo yelled, "Dad!"
Kurosaki Isshin turned around in surprise at the sound of his son's voice.
The doctor was in.
Author's Note: I've been waiting a long time for this moment to come. Much thanks to everyone who followed the story up until now. I love reading your comments –thanks for letting me know your thoughts on this fic!
MultipleCyrosis –I'm glad you had fun with the last scene. Hope you'll enjoy the coming antics.
Sousui/Seaplue –The rare angst creeping in. Now that he's had his chance to be moody –I'll be throwing him down the misfortune chute again.
Syneiam –Rukia's gigai.. Urahara has loads of explaining to do. Should he ever return from 'vacation' that is..
rukiaprincess –Ichigo's IQ level took a dip because evil me didn't want him to figure it out so fast. I'm happy you gave this fic a chance –despite the weird summary!
Umi Kanshisha –I hope my mail answered your questions. Yes, poor Ichigo. He's really going to feel that in the coming chapter. ;)
grandmaster p –I hear your calls to update, and obey.
drunkdragon –I'll be working hard to wrap this fic up the best I can!
Procrastinator-starting2moro –I'm glad you enjoyed it. Hope you liked this chapter too.
ShinigamiLenne –Feel like knocking Ichigo's head off too? Oo.. Heh, he'll be screaming about being a victim in this whole scenario. And yes, in a way, Rukia did turn herself back to rabbit form on purpose.
lady milktea –I'm glad you're enjoying this to the point of wanting to wring me neck for doing that! ;)
Ahria –Yes, we're getting closer to the final scene now.
inugrlluvsanime –Gosh.. I just hope the next chapter will make up for that!
cokeboi –I'm glad you enjoyed the fic.
GryphonWonder14 –It's not going to be easy for.. Ichigo. ;)
kittyblah –I could have had her give Ichigo a head butt for throwing things at her closet? ;)
