Welcome back everyone to another chapter of Ballad of the Strawberry! Due to technical issues with this website I am unable to read your comments so if you sent a comment for last chapter, please, PM me what your comment was so I can respond to your comment next chapter. Since we have no comments, let's hop right into things and get on with our feature presentation.
Ichigo sat in class as it droned on. Occasionally he would glance at Rukia for orders but none came, today was a rather quiet day. Watching Ishida out of the corner of his eye, Ichigo eyed the bandages. He didn't get the full story on what happened but apparently his body started to freak out, something about taking in too much energy without releasing it. Ishida had saved his life. Didn't make up for all the wanton destruction he brought to the town but it was a start.
The bell rang and lunch had started as students filed out of the classroom. Keigo rushed Ichigo only to get a fist to the face, while he cried in the corner while being comforted by Mizuiro, Ichigo strode up to Ishida.
"Hey, you wanna join us on the roof?" Ichigo chose to ignore the loud complaints of Keigo. Everyone already knew why, everyone saw Ishida save Ichigo. So everyone watched in surprise as Uryu turned the offer down.
"I'm not interested, Kurosaki."
"It's on Keigo." Uryu adjusted his glasses and responded with tightly controlled emotion.
"Then I shall accompany you." Ichigo grinned at Keigo's expense. Maybe they could get along after all. The group of friends slowly made their way up to the roof. Rukia, Orihime, and Tatsuki went their separate ways too.
Ichigo stared at Keigo.
"Say something funny, the mood is too tense for my tastes." Uryu nodded sagely.
"Indeed, Ichigo tells me you have some funny stories." With the spotlight thrust on him Keigo started to panic. What if his story wasn't funny, would he get beat up, what he have to go to that stupid sewing club?! Ichigo just glared at Keigo and that seemed to work as he started to tell a long elaborate story about some cabbages and a door to door salesman.
"About yesterday-" Ichigo didn't let him finish that statement.
"I'm not going to forgive you but it's behind us, we won and nobody got too hurt. It all worked out so let's forget it." Uryu just nodded, half paying attention to the story when Mizuiro would provide his input.
"Agreed. You get the half of Karakura with your dad's clinic and I'll take the half with my dad's hospital?" Ichigo grunted in return as Keigo's story came to a close.
"Agreed." The two sides came to a compromise. Ishida starred as the clouds passed overhead. He was one step closer to achieving his grandfather's goal. One step closer to forgiveness. Ishida twisted his head. When did Tatsuki become a Shinigami?
The rest of the day went past without issue, again, no Hollows. This had Ichigo on edge, there was never a day off before today. Maybe taking down the large Hollow scared away the smaller ones? He shook his head as he walked home. He'd sort those thoughts out later. It was time to check on his family before bringing some food up for Rukia.
"Welcome home Ichigooooooooo!" Ichigo merely grabbed Isshin's face and threw him to the other side of the room.
Ichigo grinned, Karin's spiritual pressure had increased. He heard about her encounter with the Hollow from Chad and that seemed to be the trigger if he could guess. He did feel stronger after all this fighting as well. Ichigo then realized that Isshin had spiritual pressure. He reached out with his senses and felt it. It was shinigami. Shaking his head he sighed. Isshin would tell him when he thought the time was ready, if he hadn't yet then he had a reason. Even if it was misguided, it wasn't his place to force his father's hand.
Moving up to his room with a plate in his arm he waved off Yuzu's concern that he would get fat from eating all that food. He scoffed. It was good that he wasn't eating the food then.
Walking into his room he called out to her. No answer, once more. No answer. Maybe she went out and didn't come back. Kon appeared to be gone so maybe they are out doing something. Either way, he'll just wait till she gets back.
Rukia ran down a back street. Slightly out of breath she stops under a streetlight. She needed to get as far away as possible before they came for her. What she hadn't told Ichigo was that the transfer of power she had done was illegal. They would come for her and she would probably get executed if not imprisoned where nobody would be able to find her. She shook her head. She wouldn't allow Ichigo to get caught up in that, not when he had so much to live for. He had his family, his sisters, his friends. What would they do if Ichigo died because she was selfish? No, she wouldn't let him die for her, for her failures. She cursed herself once more for not using Shikai on the Hollow and being stubborn and prideful.
"Well if it isn't the princess of the Kuchiki herself?" Oh no. Rukia felt a breeze behind her. "Why don't you leave that fake body and at least attempt to put up a fight. I was sent here to kill you after all." Rukia jumped and just glared at her attacker. She froze. Red hair, ponytail, tattoos. They all pointed to this being one and only one person. Abarai Renji.
"Surprised to see me after so long Rukia? Or would you prefer Kuchiki-san? Maybe I should ask your brother? He is here after all, isn't that right Kuchiki-Taichou?" Rukia's body refused to move as she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Brother?" A heavy weight settled onto her shoulders. Renji charged at Rukia and swung his zanpakuto. Rukia was thrown out of her brother's grasp as she hit the ground and rolled. She caught herself though as she felt the soft trickle of blood from the cut she had received.
"Say something Rukia! It's so boring to capture you if you don't say anything! FIGHT BACK RUKIA!" She wouldn't though. She knew she wouldn't. There was no point. If her brother was here then there was no escape. Her best chance was for Ichigo to stay home and let her die without his involvement.
Meanwhile back in the Kurosaki house, Ichigo was yelling at Kon.
"Either you allow me to use you and turn Shinigami or Rukia is screwed. I'm not going to have the power to prevent whatever she's afraid of and not do anything!" Kon, however, was adamant about not going anywhere near Ichigo's mouth.
"It would appear you are in quite the situation Ichigo Kurosaki." Both turned to find Urahara in the window, lazily swinging his foot back and forth. He lifted his cane, revealing the insignia that was also on Rukia's glove. "Maybe I can help with that?"
2 CHAPTERS TILL THE DIVERGENCE!