Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
Reminder: Please pardon my grammar errors and typographical errors. :)

—You Are My Love—
A Bleach AU Fanfic
Written By: Mari Kia Aishiteru

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Last time in You Are My Love…

Kaien and Senna left for New York for Senna's treatment to regain her voice.

Chapter 16
The Rival's Attack: Execution

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Renji walked inside the bar. It was a long day at work and he thought he should have a short break. He sat down at the bar counter and ordered a glass of vodka from the bartender. He thanked him and proceeded to drink his vodka.

He smirked a little to himself. He had accomplished quite a lot today, and aside from that, he finally thought of a strategy to get Rukia. If that plan of his succeeded, he would surely get her back. But, there was one flaw in his plan...

He needed someone to lure Ichigo.

He didn't know if there was someone like him who had the same feelings as him who could help. For instance, someone who loved Ichigo just like him to Rukia. But he couldn't remember someone like that.

He was in deep thought that he didn't notice that someone had sat next to him, until he heard her voice.

"Oh, isn't it Abarai-san?"

He turned his head towards beside him and came face to face with the long haired auburn girl.

"You are..." And then, something clicked in his mind. That was right. The model who was Ichigo's friend the first time he came in the coffee shop.

"Inoue... Orihime."

"This is our second meeting isn't it?" she asked, smiling at him. Renji nodded in agreement and returned her gesture. "Yeah."

Orihime called the bartender and ordered for a glass of sherry. Renji observed her as she drank her drink. He was curious as to why she was here and drinking with him.

"Hey—"

"You love Rukia, don't you?"

Renji's eyes widened in surprised, as she stared at him with mischievous eyes.

"How did you..."

"Well, aren't you going to ask me something aside from that?" she inquired.

The red haired man stared at her smirking lips and he suddenly chuckled in recognition. "I see." He spoke. "You're in love with Ichigo."

Orihime smiled. "Hn, very much."

Renji drank and smirked. There it was... His plan flaw disappeared into thin air.

"I have a strategy to break them up. You have to help me."

The long haired model took a sip from her glass and gazed at him with a sly smile. She realized that he wasn't asking her. His voice became demanding to her ears.

"You are that desperate, huh?"

He scoffed, "I don't care whatever you want to call me but I don't want to give up. I am not a saint."

"Well," Orihime leaned her head on his arms as she stared at him seriously. "Me too."

"I looked like one...but I'm not."

Renji slyly smirked. "I'll take that as a yes."

Orihime offered her glass towards him and he smirked, understanding what she meant. He raised his glass and bumped it towards hers, creating a clank noise as they both stated, "Deal."

"Now... let's hear your plan..." she asked him with a smile.

"Alright... so this is what we are going to do..."

Ichigo and Rukia passed by a new opened amusement park from their usual grocery shopping spree. Rukia looked on in curiosity as people fell in their lines with their family and loved ones. She stopped walking and smiled as she stared at the people with smiles and grins on their faces. Children were running around excitedly as they waited to come inside. Ichigo, noticing that his girlfriend was no longer following him, stopped as well and turned around to look at her. She had a longing look on her face hidden within her smile. He stepped closer to her and nudged her with his arms since his both hands were full of bags.

"Do you want to come too?"

The raven haired girl looked at him. "Hmm?"

"I said, do you want to go inside too?" he asked, staring at her.

Rukia shook her head and turned her gaze towards the people in front of the said amusement park. "Ah, no. I'm just glad that people enjoy themselves."

Ichigo nodded in understanding. "I see." He gazed towards the people at the amusement park and then, to her. "Rukia… come on. Let's go back."

She turned to him and nodded with a smile. "Okay."

They continued to walk and Ichigo noted to himself to save his school expenses and allowances for a ticket for two in the amusement park.

He grinned inwardly at his idea while glancing at his silent girlfriend next to him.

"So, are you ready?" he asked at the other line. Silence greeted him but soon, her voice filled his ears.

"Yes. Let us begin this."

"Alright, you know what to do."

And he hung up on her. The red haired man smirked slyly as he dialed her number. Everything would be starting and there was nothing they could do. After that day, those two would be nothing but history.

He put the phone on his ears as the ringing of her phone was heard. Soon, a click was heard and her voice reached his ears.

"Hello?"

"It's me."

"Why did you call, Renji?" she inquired, a little quizzical. The last time they met was hurtful for him, she knew. It was also hard on her but she couldn't anything about it but to wait for his pain to subside. And maybe now, he contacted her because he finally came to accept her feelings towards her boyfriend. She was hopeful that their friendship would go back to the way it was before.

"Nothing. I just want to have some company tonight. We're friends right? So, can you come in the restaurant we had gone before?"

"Hm… I don't know." She looked at Ichigo who was raising his eyebrows. She covered the mouthpiece of her phone and stared at him.

"What's wrong?" Ichigo asked.

"Renji wants to meet up with me tonight. Is it okay?"

"Hmm… where?"

"At the Tokyo Mall."

Ichigo nodded. "Do you want to come with him?"

Rukia stared up at him. "Ichigo…"

He smiled at her. "If you want to, it's okay with me. I don't want to interfere with your decisions." He told her, reaching for her hand and squeezing it softly. "And because I trust you in this."

She smiled at him. "Thanks. You're so kind."

He scratched his cheek as he turned away his gaze. "Well, I just want you to be happy."

"Well, I'm happy." She returned his gesture. "Very."

They shared a giggle and Rukia turned around again from him. "Hello?"

"Oh! Are you done asking your boyfriend for permission?" his voice asked.

"Ah, well yes. And I can come later."

"Great!" He sounded ecstatic to see her. "I'll meet you here at 7."

"Sure."

"See you later."

"Okay, see you later."

And they both closed off their phones. Rukia sat down again at the counter as Ichigo busied himself serving at the customers who sat by the counter like Rukia. At this time, which was late afternoon, different people came to sit and chat and do their homeworks, paperworks and such. Their regular customers were very glad to promote their coffee shop to other people so that was why the business was growing much to Ichigo's father's happiness.

Meanwhile, Renji snickered back at his residence. "Your trust to one another will be your own downfall." He muttered as he prepared himself for the best moment of his life.

After their performance for the night, Rukia left the coffee shop, saying something about meeting with Renji.

"I have to go now." She stated. "I'll be back before closing time."

Ichigo nodded. "Alright. Take care." He told her and leaned down to give her a peck on her lips.

Momo stared at the both of them. "Rukia nee-chan. Is it okay if you don't come?" she asked, stepping closer to her sister.

Rukia raised an eyebrow. "Momo?"

"Well, I have a bad feeling."

Toushirou furrowed his eyebrows. Whenever Momo say something like that, bad things really happen.

"I think so too, nee-san." The white haired boy agreed.

Ichigo stared at the both of them and sighed. He looked at Rukia who shrugged and embraced her sister. "Momo, look, I'll be okay. It's just Renji. I'll be back before you know it."

The younger sister nodded and embraced her sister tightly. "Take care, nee-chan. Be back okay on time okay? And call us if anything happen."

Ichigo raised his hand. "Oh, you can call me so I can pick you up. That would be good."

Rukia nodded. "Alright. I'll do that."

"Well, I'm off now."

They waved at her as she walked towards the city.

"Come you guys, there are still customers inside."

"Hai."

Ichigo stood still as he stared at Rukia's back. Somehow, a different feeling was creeping in his heart. Soon, he shook his head and walked inside.

It's probably nothing. He thought.

Renji sat by the counter of the bar, drinking slowly. He was excited of what would happen that night. He couldn't wait for her to come.

And as expected, Rukia came towards him as soon as she saw him by the counter. She tapped his shoulder, causing him to turned to her. "Oh, Rukia. You're here. Thank you for coming."

"It's nothing."

She sat down next to him and smiled. "How are you, Renji?" she asked, observing her with her violet orbs.

He grinned at her. "I'm feeling alright. Just tired from endless work in the company to the point that I study inside my office." He ended with a chuckle.

"Hm. That sounds so hard."

"Yeah, but I can manage, no worries." He waved his hand in front of him. He called a bartender and asked Rukia what did she want to drink. She told him she only wanted an orange juice.

"What about Senna and Nii-chan? Have you heard from them?"

"Yeah, he said that my sister's operation will be in two weeks."

"He also told us that when he called last night."

"Hm."

"So, Rukia, I'm glad that you manage to come here. What did Ichigo say about you meeting me?" he asked, a little curious. Of course, he was glad that the orange haired teen let Rukia meet up with him.

"Ah, he said I can go because I want to." She said with a little smile. "He trust me so much. Isn't he so kind?"

Renji returned her gesture. "Aa, he's so kind. You're so lucky to have him."

"Yeah, very much."

He turned to his side without her looking and let out a small hiss.

The bartender came and put the glass of orange juice in front of the raven haired girl.

They both talked about various things and Renji continued to distract her.

His phone rang and he saw the caller id. He hesitated if he was going to answer or not. He sighed and decided to answer it. "Hello?"

"Ichigo?"

"What do you need?" he could hear a shuffling noise. "Orihime?"

"Oh, I want to talk to you about something. Can you meet me?"

He bit his lip, looking over at his crewmates who were staring at him curiously upon hearing the auburn haired model's name.

"Uh… where?"

"The usual bar."

"Alright. I'll go there now."

"Thanks."

"No problem."

Their turned off their phones as Orihime smiled to herself. That was one step towards the succession of their plan. The night was still young.

"Nii-chan, is that Orihime nee-san?" Toushirou asked. Ichigo nodded.

"Yeah, I'm going to meet her right now." He looked at his wrist watch. "And I'm going to pick up Rukia after that so you guys can close the shop and go home afterwards alright?"

"But…"

"No worries Momo." Ichigo patted her head. "I'm going to take her home safely."

"O-Okay. Take care, nii-chan."

"Alright."

And with that, the orange haired son of the owner of the coffee shop left the two youngsters alone by themselves.

Momo pouted. "I have a feeling that something is happening that we don't know."

Toushirou nodded. "Yeah, and I know you hate being left out."

She nodded in agreement. "That's the thing, Shirou-chan. That's the thing."

Rukia excused herself to go to the washroom as Renji looked around him. Making sure that no one was looking and was busy with their own businesses, he put out a small plastic with a white powder in it. He poured it on Rukia's orange juice and stirred it carefully and urgently. He put the plastic inside his bag and noted to himself to take off that trash when he reached his residence. After few minutes, Rukia came again and sat down next to him. She smiled at him as he returned the gesture and she sipped the orange juice again.

Renji tried to hide the smirk that wanted to creep up on his lips.

Ichigo reached the bar and found Orihime already drinking. "Orihime, what is it that you want to talk about?"

"Ichigo, straight to the point are we?"

"Well…"

"You just came in, why don't you have a drink first?"

He looked hesitant. "But…"

"We'll talk while we drink, okay?" With the smile on her face, he gave up.

"Okay."

He ordered water and drank it. "So, what now?"

"Ichigo… I need a favor."

He furrowed his eyebrows. "Favor?"

"Yes. It seems like the next modeling place I've been assigned is Korea. I don't have any contact on Ran so I want to ask you to please contact her and tell her that I'm coming over to her."

He sighed in relief. He almost thought that something would be… well… it didn't matter. "Oh, is that it?"

"And well, if she can pick me up at the airport, I'll be happy."

"Sure. I'll do that." He replied. "When do you want for me to contact her?"

"Um… is it okay if you call her now?" she asked. "That way, I can talk to her too."

"Sure."

Ichigo dialed his cousin's number and he smiled when she answered, "Hello, Ran?"

Rukia could feel her senses failing her. She didn't know why. She couldn't think straight. And well, she also couldn't remember where she was, where she was with or what was she was doing.

Renji could see the effect of the powder already. She was swaying left and right and he had to leaned her on his shoulder just to prevent her from falling from the stool.

The time for the climax was about to come.

"Rukia?"

The raven haired girl looked up at him, blinking her eyes.

"Let's go. I'll take you home."

She didn't even nod as she was suddenly dragged out of the bar.

"Thanks Ichigo, for calling Ran." Orihime said as they left the bar.

"It's okay. We're friends so it's no problem."

Orihime smiled at him but couldn't hide the hurt that flashed in her eyes. "Thank you."

"So, Ichigo," she asked, walking next to him. "Are you going home?"

He shook his head, rubbing the back of his neck. "Ah, no, I still have to pick Rukia up, and take her home."

Orihime nodded, and tried to hide the smirk that was making its way on her lips. "I see."

But, as they rounded the corner, they saw two people coming out of a bar. And Ichigo didn't expect that he would see something that would make this night the worst ever.

Renji saw the two people at the corner of his eyes, stopping in their positions as they saw the both of them.

Alright… the plan's going well. Time for the final touch…!

He grabbed Rukia's face and made her stared at him and as much as he could muster, he whispered her name in a sweet voice. "Rukia."

The raven haired girl, in her condition, saw a taint of orange in front of her, so she whispered. "Ichi…go…"

And the two official couples didn't expect and realize that this night would be the start of their first obstacle ever.

Renji leaned down on her and kissed her lips and Rukia, thinking that it was her orange haired boyfriend, kissed back with much intensity as he was. He smirked against her lips as she wrapped her arms around the red haired boy.

Ichigo couldn't believe it.

She was there… with Renji just like she said. But, the point was they went out of a bar, instead of the Tokyo Mall that she had told him. And also, he… kissed her… and she… kissed him BACK…!

He stood frozen at his spot just staring. The pain in his heart was unbearable. The two continued to kiss as if nobody was in there. Just them.

He remembered having that moment with her. But now…

"I-Ichigo?"

Orihime's voice became his trigger to move and as he was able to, he thought to himself that he couldn't look anymore. He couldn't look at her the same way anymore.

And so he did one thing that would save him from the pain.

He ran.

Orihime ran after him but now without looking at Renji, who looked at her. Letting out a small smirk that meant that they did their roles wonderfully, she let her feet ran towards the orange haired boy.

Renji pulled away from her and without any warning, raising her in his arms. He carried her as she drifted off to sleep. He smirked, staring at her.

"You're mine, Rukia. You're mine."

The coffee shop closed for the night and Toushirou walked his best friend towards her mansion. He didn't use his motorcycle and just walked. But as they walk, the rain suddenly came from above.

Momo hissed in annoyance. "Why does it have to rain tonight?" she complained as Toushirou opened the umbrella he had brought.

As expected from her best friend, always ready.

Toushirou looked at the falling rain uneasily. Something was wrong and he could feel it.

Noticing the uneasiness of the boy next to her, Momo looked at him.

"What's wrong, Shirou-chan?"

The white haired boy shook his head. "No, it's nothing. Let's hurry." He told her. "It's getting cold."

She nodded with a small smile.

Ichigo stopped running and leaned on the wall of the street. He didn't know how far he had ran. But, the only thing that remained in him was the memory of his worst night ever.

Orihime stood next to him, eyeing him worriedly.

"Ichigo?"

"I'm sorry… Orihime."

The girl was surprised with his voice. It sounded so… broken.

"Can… you leave me alone?"

"But…"

"PLEASE!" he screamed, without raising his head up. "Just… please."

The girl couldn't do anything but to respect his wish. She didn't expect his reaction. He was in pain so much that she couldn't bear seeing him like this. She loved him and so she couldn't take it.

"Alright." She replied, "I'll see you."

Ichigo didn't reply as she walked towards the path she just came from.

The orange haired's body trembled soon and he couldn't take it. The image of them kissing couldn't be erased from his mind.

His innocence had been tainted.

He faced the wall and punched it hard. Not noticing the pain and the blood on her knuckles, he let his tears fell down from his eyes. He didn't make any noise, he just… cried silently as his body continued to shake.

The pain seemed to shake his whole being. He felt like the rain had come again.

And thus, the rain had come that night, washing away the evilness of the town.

And he was sure, this time, it would never be stopped.

Song/s Used: None.

A/N: Done. Yay! I hope it's good. Sorry it's late. XD I just got the urge to update here in my school's office while doing these lesson plans and all. :D

Please Review! R&R.

Next Chapter: Ichigo and Rukia's first trial in their relationship. How will they fight this? The conlusion! "You don't believe me?" The Rival's Attack: Conclusion

Yours Truly,

Mari Kia Aishiteru.
04.23.2014. 3, 371 words