Date: September 11, 2011
Day: Sunday
Timefinished: 6:00PM
~You Are My Love~
Mari Kia Aishiteru
Chapter 9 – Ja Ne. Our Friendship Will Remain In Our Hearts Forever!
The next day, after the class, they wandered around the mall and in other places. Rukia and Momo seemed happy spending time with their best friends so the two felt so guilty telling them the truth. It was five PM, Toushirou and Momo separated from them because Toushirou wanted to bring her in the clock tower. Momo was so happy with the lights in the midst of the darkness of the sky. On the other hand, Ichigo left early for the shop to prepare for the last performance of them with his cousins, Rukia and Momo didn't know that though. He just created some alibi to go home. Good thing, the sisters bought it.
Meanwhile, the best friends sat next to the river. Rangiku bit her lip. This was the time to tell her now that they were alone but she couldn't bring herself to do it. She knew Rukia will be hurt. Her thoughts were interrupted by Rukia's giggles.
"Whoa, fireflies here are so cute…" she said in awe.
Rangiku nodded. "Yeah…"
"Oh before I forgot, what do you want to tell me?" Rukia asked curiously.
"Um… Rukia I…"
"What is it?"
"You know…" Rangiku began. "…that you're my best friend right?"
"Of course… why are you saying these things?"
"Mom told us already the reason why she's here…" she said quietly. Rukia looked over at her. "What… did she say?"
Rangiku sighed as she stared at the river which was reflecting the light of the moon as she said. "She went in Japan to pick Toushirou and me and bring us back to Korea with her…" She heard her best friend gasped.
"Are you… going to go?"
"Yes… they're my parents. I couldn't do something about it right?"
They both sat in uncomfortable silence, until it was broken.
"I'm sorry, Rukia."
Rangiku felt a hand on her shoulder and she hesitated to look at her. She was surprised to see her smile. "I understand. You don't have to apologize."
"Rukia…"
"And besides, this will never mean that our friendship will end right? We'll still be best friends, always."
Rangiku embraced Rukia tightly as she let tears rolled down her cheeks. It was not tears of sadness or anything negative, it was tears of appreciation, gratefulness and love.
"Thank you Rukia. I'm so happy to hear that from you…" Rukia patted her back and giggled. "Ran, don't ever think that I'll ever forget you… I'll never have any other best friend as kind and as naughty as you."
Rangiku pulled away with a pout. "How mean." Rukia laughed hard. "You're so funny. Haha~"
Rangiku couldn't help but smile and laugh with her.
"Wow… it's so beautiful here…" Momo said in awe as she stared at the view before them. Toushirou looked at her and his head bowed. Momo noticed his childhood friend's behavior. He was seemed to be in deep thought.
"Shirou-chan? What's wrong?" she asked in worry.
Toushirou broke out of his thoughts and turned to Momo. He gave her a reassuring smile. "Nothing."
"I see. Thanks for taking me here. I'm so happy." She thanked him as she stared back before her.
"You're welcome."
"Oh, I remember, let's go here on your birthday!"
Toushirou looked shocked but then regained his composure because Momo might notice that something was wrong. "O-Okay."
"Promise?" she asked.
"P-Promise."
Momo smiled brightly as she went back overlooking the view. "It's so cute..." Toushirou turned away from her.
I'm sorry Momo. I won't be able to fulfill that promise…
"Did you tell them?" Ichigo asked his cousins as Rukia and Momo did something on the counter. Rangiku nodded. Ichigo looked over at Toushirou. "Toushirou?"
He shook his head. "I can't. I can't really tell her. She looks so happy a while ago. I can't do or say something to upset her." He sighed grimly.
"It's okay." Rangiku comforted her brother. Ichigo gave Toushirou a sad smile before they walked out of the room and into the coffee shop.
The last performance finally came and the cousins gave it their all.
Ichigo: Seasons go round again, a dazzling city
Everyone passes oblivious of you
That's it, you shouldn't care
It's ok as long as you're by my side
Rangiku: There's no meaning in lining only kind words
They're merely for form's sake and have no contents
If you try changing a little the balance you feel
You will see how wonderful the world is
All: Love Yourself
Come on, don't overdo yourself
As your heart is, as you are
Realize this love that can shine
I love this you that you hate
This clumsy you is alright
As you feel, as the wind
Dance in the sky just like a flower
I'll embrace this you that you hate
Ichigo and Toushirou: It's love, your love LOVE YOURSELF
It's love, your love LOVE YOURSELF
It's love, your love LOVE YOURSELF
It's love, your love LOVE YOURSELF
Toushirou: If Ur crazy just again If it's like a Paradise, then throw the dice U make me full
The sky is like a horror Don't be shy xoxo kiss the girl
Rukia: Other people are not worth caring about
What's important it's your "here"
Now you don't need something like a customary "Do your best"
Because that's what hurts you the most
Momo: The seventh word is in your color
Because of that, everything will turn into a single dream
All: Love Yourself
That's right, they'll resound together
The little noises we're playing
Raise this love we can believe in
I love this you that you hate
Both days when you're almost crushing
And nights when you're on the verge of fading
They're crossing the sky, you will hear it
Far far away, listen, in this chest
Toushirou: I'm singing my love to you so that you would tell me
that you wanna be with me and I feel like... Ah ah
Ichigo: My love, your love My life, your life
This is the new, it's a new world...
Rukia: It's a new world It starts to shine
As your heart it, as you are
Trust your eyes to me, I love this you that you hate
All: This clumsy you is alright
As you feel, as the wind
Dance in the sky just like a flower
I'll embrace this you that you hate
Ichigo and Toushirou: It's love, your love LOVE YOURSELF
It's love, your love LOVE YOURSELF
It's love, your love LOVE YOURSELF
It's love, your love LOVE YOURSELF
The next morning, Momo was wondering why her childhood best friend was absent. She was worried at what might have happen to him. He never skipped school before. As the classes end that afternoon, Momo met Rukia at the gate as always. "Rukia nee-chan, where is Ichigo nii-chan and Rangiku nee-chan? Did they skip school too, like Shirou-chan?"
Rukia put a hand to cover her mouth. Oh yeah right. Momo didn't know about it.
"Well… you see…"
Momo stared at her sister with narrowed eyes. "You know something that I didn't, do you?"
"Uh… um… how will I explain this to you…" Rukia was having difficulty finding the right words to explain to her. Momo ran out of patience.
"Nee-chan!"
"Alright! Toushirou and Ran's mother is here to pick them up to live with them in Korea. And today is their flight."
"What?" Momo looked shocked. "They will leave today? And they didn't tell me? You didn't tell me?"
"I-I'm sorry Momo… Toushirou should've told you but he couldn't. He's too afraid to hurt you."
"Did he even think that I'm going to hurt more if he hid this from me?" she bit her lip. "What time is the flight?"
"Uh, 2:30?"
Momo looked at her wristwatch and it was 30 minutes before the flight. "That idiot!" She ran towards their car that was already there to fetch them up. "Momo wait!" Rukia followed her and closed the door.
"Mazuki-san, please take us to the Tokyo National Airport! Hurry!" Momo exclaimed.
"Alright ma'am!" the driver immediately replied and drove off. Rukia sighed on her seat.
Retsu excused herself for awhile to go to the washroom which left Rangiku, Toushirou and Ichigo at the waiting sheds. They sat next to each other with Toushirou in the middle.
"Are you two alright?" Ichigo asked his two cousins. He could tell that they were both down. The two sighed in unison very heavily. "I shouldn't have asked that…" he muttered.
"Toushirou," Rangiku called out. "Hm?"
"Why don't you want to come?"
He sighed but didn't reply. "It's Momo." Ichigo said. Rangiku nodded.
"You really love her huh...?"
"Yeah… but now that you two were going away… Momo will never know what he feels for her." Ichigo shook his head in sympathy.
"I hate not being able to see her like I used to… but there's no other choice…" Toushirou sighed heavily.
Silence ensued but was broken by their mother when she finally came back. "Be ready kids. We're going to go in a few." She said.
The two nodded without even a hint of excitement in their voices. "Hai…"
The announcer's voice boomed across the place suddenly. "The airplane to South Korea is now ready. Passengers, please proceed now to the lobby. Thank you."
The three of them stood up and followed the older woman.
At the lobby, they said their goodbyes to Ichigo who volunteered to see them off. "Ichigo, take care of your father alright? Help him with the shop…"
"Hai, Auntie… you can count on me." Ichigo said with a smile. "Take care of yourself too."
"I will."
She walked in the checkpoint first with Toushirou. "Hey Ichigo." Rangiku called out to him. "What?"
"Here for you." She handed something to him which he accepted.
"Letter?" She nodded. "Read it later okay?"
"Okay."
"And here's another one." She said as she handed him another one in a scented stationary.
"Give this to Rukia will you?"
Ichigo smiled and nodded. "Alright."
"I will miss you Ichigo." Rangiku said with a hug to her cousin. Ichigo hugged back. "I'll miss you too Ran."
"Nii-chan, take care of Momo for me will you?" Toushirou asked Ichigo as he pulled away from his sister.
"Sure Toushirou."
"Thanks."
Momo and Rukia finally reached the airport and hurriedly searched for the two. They decided to split up. Rukia went up at the escalator and bumped into someone. "Ow!" she would've fallen but the one who bumped with her held her hand to prevent it. "Uh, thanks for—" she looked up and saw the none other than, "Ichigo!"
"Rukia, what are you doing here?" he asked as he let go of her hand.
"Momo and I are here to see Toushirou and Ran. Where are they?"
Ichigo sighed. "They—"
"Ichigo nii-chan! Rukia nee-chan!" Momo's voice interrupted Ichigo. She panted and looked at Ichigo with hopeful eyes. "Where are they?"
"I'm sorry Momo but… they just left…"
Momo lowered her head. "Why did he have to leave without saying anything? Why do you have to do this to me, Shirou-chan?"
"I told you not to call me with that silly nickname again." A voice said causing Momo to turned around with a gasp. The gathered tears in her eyes freely streamed down on her cheeks as she ran in the arms of Hitsugaya Toushirou.
"Uh, Momo, stop crying. It's okay…"
"Baka!" Momo said as she bonked Toushirou's head. "Ow."
"This is your fault!" He looked at her with guilty eyes. "Sorry." Momo hugged him again tightly. "Don't you dare do this again." She whispered. Toushirou embraced her back and smiled. "I won't. I promise."
Ichigo and Rukia stared at them with smiles but then Ichigo remembered something. "Rukia, here."
"What is this?" she asked as she accepted the letter he had handed her. "It's from Ran. Told me to give it to you."
"Oh, thanks." she said.
"You're welcome." He looked at Toushirou as him and Momo pulled away from each other. "Toushirou, why are you here? I thought you are going to…"
"That's what I also thought nii-chan but…"
~Flashback~
"Toushirou."
"Yes mom?"
"You're not going."
Toushirou looked at his mother in shock. "Eh?"
"You're going to stay here."
"But why?"
"I know you have something to do here. I don't want to be a hindrance for it."
"But, nee-chan…" He hesitated as he looked at his sister.
Rangiku smiled at him. "No worries my dear brother! It's okay with me! And mom's right. Make sure you'll tell her alright?"
Toushirou nodded with a grateful smile towards his mother and sister. "Thank you."
~End of Flashback~
"I see…"
"Now that everything's fine… let's go back." Rukia said.
They all nodded and went back to the shop with Rukia and Momo's chauffeur.
Rukia left for the comfort room as Ichigo was alone in the coffee shop's counter. Toushirou and Momo were currently playing cards again at the farthest side of the shop.
He decided to read the letter Ran had given to him. He opened it and started to read.
Dear my cousin, Ichigo,
First of all, thank you for all of your concern for me. Thank you because you're always there for me, like a friend, like a brother, and like a father. Nice, you're a multi-tasker. Haha~
Well, I want you to always remember what I've told you! Especially about Orihime. Rukia's there. Don't wait to lose her and I'm sure you'll regret it. Always take care of Uncle Isshin, my brother, and my best friend! I love Rukia so much (more than you) so take care of her, as well as yourself.
I hope you'll be happy. I love you Ichigo! Thank you for everything!
Your cousin,
Rangiku.
P.S: Call me when you finally confessed to Rukia. :)
Dear Rukia,
Sorry because I need to go. I need to and I'm so thankful that you understand. I want to thank you for everything you've done for me. I'm so blessed because you're the one God gave me as a solution to all of my problems because you're always there for me. You're the best among my friends and you know that! Even though I'm far away from you, I could never forget you!
Our friendship will remain in my heart forever.
I love you so much and take care!
Your best friend,
Rangiku.
P.S: Even so I'm not there, I'll make sure that you and Ichigo will end up together! :D Call me!
Ichigo closed the letter in hurry and pouted a little. "I hate you Ran."
Rukia blushed a little at that 'P.S.' part but she smiled. "Me too Ran, our friendship will be in my heart forever."
Song Information: Love Yourself ~Kimi ga Kirai na Kimi ga Suki~ by KAT-TUN
Notice: I've posted my newest story, CrossRoad and the 13th Tale of IchiRuki: The Destined Tale. Please read and review those two also! Thank you so much!
A/N: Done again! Thank you for supporting this fic and I'm glad some of you like this. I'm grateful! Thank you so much and keep the reviews coming please! I noticed that this fic registers only little reviews…*pouts* But then, it's just the beginning. Now that Rangiku's in Korea, everything will be in progress. IchiRuki and HitsuHina moments in the next chapter! It will be very long so please bear with me. :(
Next Chapter: Love Triangle? Toushirou forgot something important and he will only realize it when it was presented in front of him by Momo and the others. What could be the reason for this? And what was this important thing he forgot? This would be interesting~
Please Read and Review!
~Mari Kia Aishiteru~