OUR LOVE TOWARDS THE FUTURE

By: Mari Kia Aishiteru

THREE: Discovery

Ichigo stared up at the ceiling of his room. He was lying on his bed as his thoughts deeply intruded his mind.

Why did I say that?

He remembered what he said to Rukia a while ago.

Don't worry, everything will be alright.

He didn't know why but he just felt the urge to say that to her when he remembered her dull eyes and painful facial expression. He felt that she needs someone who would say those words to her. He sighed.

"Why do I feel like… I am the person that she needs the most right now?" he murmured.

He turned to his side and closed his eyes.

"I think I just need to sleep."

...

"Damn! The little princess escaped!" a man with white cloak said in frustration. "She's really lucky. She always escaped death." He pondered lowly.

"So, you're the one who started the fire?" a voice said calmly but angrily. He stopped jumping from roof to roof when he reached the man he just asked.

The man only smiled at him. "Yes, I am the one who did that. I'm sure the king will be delighted at me if I kill his biggest and strongest threat." he explained laughing.

Nazure gave him a death glare. "There's no way I'll let you hurt her. The king only said that we only have to force her to come in her own free will to the Butterfly Society, not actually kill her!" he yelled in anger.

He couldn't help it. His supposed to be sister-in-law just experienced a near-death situation a while ago. The situation he tried his best to avoid doing to her. But, this stupid general was getting in his way. Who did he think he was anyway?

"Listen to me Sugaru, if you do that again, I'll report this to the King, and he will be the one who will punish you. You know how the King gets mad right? So, if I were you, I will just watch at the sidelines and let me do the mission! Am I making myself clear?"

Sugaru just turned away his gaze from him and nodded annoyingly.

"Go back now. I'll manage this somehow." Nazure said as Sugaru just opened the fusuma door and walked inside without saying a word. When the fusuma door closed and disappeared, Nazure let out a sigh of relief. He looked at the burned apartment in front of him.

Where are you now, Rukia? he thought worriedly. I hope you're alright somewhere.

He closed his eyes and concentrated, searching Rukia's aura everywhere. After a few moments, he felt it. Rukia's aura was stable. She was alive. Nazure opened his eyes and let a small smile slipped on his lips.

Hisana, just a little further, the guardians were moving now. Your sister will be alright soon. He thought as he looked up at the dark, starry sky.

……

Rukia woke up the next morning. She looked around her as she sat on the bed. She saw a tray of food on the table next to her, and her clothes are folded properly on the chair next to it. She reached for it and saw a note. She read it.

Dear Rukia-chan,

You're still tired and I don't want to wake you up so when you do, please eat. I hope you'll like it. I personally cooked it for you. You need to regain your strength so you can go to school again like us okay? I hope you feel better when you eat this. We'll see you later.

-Orihime

She smiled genuinely as she glanced at the food on the tray. She sighed and decided to eat it. After all, she couldn't lie to herself that she was really hungry. After that, she settled it down on the table with its tray. She then suddenly heard some noise outside her door. Out of curiosity, she walked up to the door and opened it slightly to see the people causing the noise. She saw the Kurosaki family in their living room, causing the entire ruckus. She listened to what they were talking about in curiosity.

"DAMMIT OLD MAN! GET OFF ME!!!!" Ichigo yelled at the top of his lungs. His father was hovering above him, refusing to let him go.

"Why Ichigo? Do you hate your father that much?" his father said with tear-filled eyes.

"YES!!!!!!! I REALLY DO!!!!!!! NOW GET OFF BEFORE I KILL YOU!!!!" Ichigo yelled again.

"WAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MY SON HATED ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHERE DID I GO WRONG????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" he whined, fake tears streamed down his cheeks from his eyes.

"Will you two please shut up already?" Orihime asked as she was sitting quietly on the couch, reading manga entitled, Kaguya-sama wa kokurasaretai. She was really hooked on it right now.

"Rukia-chan might wake up upon hearing your ruckus in this house." She explained calmly but her voice showed that she was annoyed.

Really, why did she have a crazy and weird family members in the first place? The most normal in this family was her mother, then her, and the second of being crazy was her twin brother and the craziest was her father.

She sighed deeply. However, even though her family was like this, she was still happy having them. They were annoying sometimes though.

She decided to continue reading the manga in her hands.

"Oh, right! Rukia-chan! I really like her. I was thinking that she should be my second daughter!" Isshin exclaimed as he jump up, letting go of Ichigo.

"Ichigo! You should marry Rukia-chan and give me lots of grandchildren!!!!!!!!!!!!" his father declared as he looked at Ichigo excitingly.

Ichigo, who was still lying on the floor, stared at him in disbelief. "What? What are you talking about?" he asked as he stood up.

"I know that you have some romantic feelings for Rukia-chan too!! I want her for you Ichigo!!! I'm proud of you!! You're a grown up man already!!! I'm so glad!!!" he declared as fake tears of joy streamed down his cheeks.

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!" Ichigo yelled at his father furiously.

"Admit it Ichigo, you have something for Rukia-chan. Just don't deny it." Orihime chimed in.

Ichigo glared at her. "Idiot! Don—"

"See Ichigo? Even your sister agrees with me! You really do like her right?"

"No I'm not! She's just a friend!" he said and glared at Orihime again as he whispered to her, "I can't believe you're selling me off!"

Orihime just giggled. "I guess I just did huh…" she replied.

Ichigo send her a deathly glare. "I hate you." He mumbled.

"I know. And I don't really care." She said sarcastically.

"Evil witch that I called my 'twin sister'…" he said to her, turning away his gaze from her.

Orihime looked at him and giggled silently. She really loves teasing her twin brother.

Ichigo returned his gaze at his crazy father who was still babbling about him and Rukia giving him handsome and beautiful grandchildren soon. He couldn't control himself anymore. He smacked his father straight in the face. Isshin fell over his back first on the floor. There was a loud thud and Orihime stared at Ichigo smiling gently. He didn't seem to notice this because he was looking at his father still after that punch he had just given him. Isshin started to babble about how Ichigo hated him and not loved him anymore. Ichigo felt a vein popped on his forehead. His father was very annoying!

"MOU! Shut up already! I'm not planning on getting a girlfriend you moron!" Ichigo shouted. Isshin, Orihime and even Masaki, who was in the kitchen the whole time, stared at Ichigo with wide eyes. Nobody spoke as they were engulfed with the uncomfortable silence. After what it seemed like forever, Orihime brought up the courage to break it.

"Are you… serious?" she managed to asked, still wide eyed.

"Yes I am… why it is a big deal?" he asked to no one in particular.

"Why?" he heard his mother asked.

Ichigo just shrugged his shoulder as he answered her, "No reason."

His father held his shoulders with his hands so he was facing him. Ichigo was startled by his father's sudden action. "W-what the…" he managed to say.

"Ichigo," his father said sternly. All Ichigo could do was to stare at him. This is the first time he'd seen his father this serious about something so trivial. "Tell me the truth…" his father said.

"What truth?" Ichigo managed to say.

They were quiet for awhile then his father asked him, "Ichigo, are you gay?"

If Ichigo was drinking at the moment, he would have spit it out or was choking to death. He freaked out at THAT question.

"WWWWHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTT????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" he freaked out.

"Woah, Ichigo! You don't need to freak out like that you know?" Orihime commented, looking at Ichigo's still flustered face.

"I am freaking out because of this old man we called our 'father!' How dare he ask me such a stupid question?" he said to his sister.

"So, are you, Ichigo?" Orihime asked him, inspecting him as if he was some kind of criminal.

"OF COURSE I'M NOT!!! WHAT GIVES YOU THE IDEA??!!" He asked, losing his patience.

"Well, you said yourself that you're not planning to get a girlfriend; it does mean that you preferred guys more than girls right? Therefore, we concluded that you're gay!" she explained.

Ichigo stared at her, his jaw dropped at her supposedly twin sister. "Are you serious? It does not mean like that! Is it that bad to not have a girlfriend when you're only fifteen?" he asked, still bewildered.

"Yup. It's bad." The three all replied in unison as they nodded their heads at him. Ichigo couldn't believe this. His whole family was torturing him to death.

He had enough.

"AAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!" He exclaimed yelling as he ran up to the stairs and to his room. They heard it slammed shut rather forcefully. They all looked at each other and laughed at Ichigo's childish reaction.

Rukia smiled sadly. She carefully closed the door and walked up to her bed and sat on the edge of it, closing her eyes as she contemplated deeply.

They were so funny. Almost a perfect family. I'm envious of those two. I wish I could have such a happy family. She thought sadly.

Then she remembered something. I need to get out of here. There would be a possibility that they would get hurt when they found out I'm still alive. I need to find a new place to hide. But, my previous apartment got burned and all of my things were ashes now. What should I do? She bit her lip in worry.

She remembered her wallet and cell phone inside her jeans' pocket.

She opened her eyes and searched as she found her old clothes she was wearing the day before were neatly folded on the desk, next to the bed she was on. She checked the jeans' pocket and grinned when she saw her cell phone and wallet securely place in it. She opened her wallet and gets her bank card in it. She smiled when she found it.

I'm glad that I always have my wallet with me and I always put my bank card in it. Now, I can get money and rent up an apartment again. Maybe just near the school this time. She wondered as she placed back the bank card in her wallet and put it in her jeans' pocket with her cell phone. She didn't even bother to look at it, simply because she had no friends that would actually be worried about her safety.

Well, maybe Ichigo and Orihime were worried about her safety. But, she couldn't get them in her world, they might die and she didn't want it. She never wanted it in the first place. They had such a happy family and she didn't want to ruin it for her own selfishness. So, when the night falls, she was planning on running away from the clinic and the Kurosaki Household for good.

For the time being though, she lay down on the bed again, resting her head on the soft pillow as she closed her eyes.

I just want to rest for now. I'm tired again.

…..

The dinner arrived shortly in the Kurosaki Household. Rukia was invited to join them and she hesitantly accepted the invitation. Isshin and Masaki introduced themselves to her as the twins' parents. Isshin was still babbling about her relationship with Ichigo. She just stared at them as Ichigo charged at his father. The two women, however, just continued eating their dinner like there was nothing going on in front of them. Rukia smiled slightly at them as she glanced at the father and son who were still killing—almost literally—each other on the floor.

Rukia unconsciously smiled sadly as she sat on the bed. She was back in her room after the weird dinner with the Kurosaki Family. However, the weirdness really made her feel warm deep inside. She wanted to spend some time with them but she knew that she couldn't do that. She needed to get out of their home immediately.

Get out of their life forever. She thought bitterly as she stood up from the bed and changed her clothes to her neatly folded clothes a while ago then, left a note on the pillow of the bed.

After checking if her things were securely inside her jeans' pocket, she slowly walked to the window across the bed. She was pretty lucky that she was in the first floor and will be easily leave the house. She jumped out of the window and slowly closed it, not wanting to elicit any noise coming from it. After accomplishing it, she ran immediately, away from the house.

…..

Ichigo was curious what Rukia could be doing.

I wonder if she's asleep already… he thought. He sighed lightly as he stood up from his bed and made his way downstairs. He found himself staring at the door of Rukia's room. He sighed again as he knocked on it.

He got no answer.

He tried again but to no avail.

He started to wonder why so he decided to just come in. "Rukia," he called out. "I'm coming in." he touched the door knob and twisted it, surprised that it was unlocked. He slowly opened the door and found it empty.

"Rukia?" he called again. He slowly walked on her bed and found a note. He read it.

Kurosaki Family,

Thank you for all of your help. I need to go now. I'm so sorry if I didn't say goodbye personally but I want you to know that I'm really grateful of your help. Thanks for accepting me. I'll never forget it. I hope we see each other again. Don't worry about me please. I'll be fine by myself. Well then, take care. See you all again someday.

-Kuchiki Rukia

Ichigo crumpled the letter with his eyes wide and filled with both anger and worry. He walked out of the room immediately and was met by Orihime.

"Ichigo? What's wrong? Where's Rukia-chan?" she asked worriedly as she looked at him.

Ichigo gave her the crumpled note. Orihime read it and her eyes went wide. She looked at Ichigo worriedly.

"Ichi, why did she…" she trailed off.

"I don't know either but, don't worry. I'll search for her now." he said as he hurriedly ran towards the front door.

"Ichigo wait! I want to come with you!" she declared, determined.

"No, you stay here. Tell mom and dad about it and tell them I'm searching for her." He said.

"Okay. She's still recovering from yesterday. Her body would not be able to keep up." Orihime replied.

"You're right. So, I need to bring her back here." He nodded as he left.

Orihime stared at his back. "Be careful Ichigo. I just hope you find her." She mumbled worriedly.

….

Ichigo ran as fast as he could while looking all around him. Damn that girl! he swore against his breath. She's still not in good shape to be lurking around outside! She needs to be resting! He turned the corner.

Where could she be now? he asked himself as he continued to run. He remembered her words back then.

[FLASHBACK]

"Oh, Rukia-chan, do you want us to call your family? They might be worried about you." She offered but noticed Rukia's sudden change of facial expression. Ichigo noticed it too and felt the urge to say, "something wrong?"

"No. I'm sorry for worrying you two again." She replied.

"Why? You have some misunderstanding with your family?" Ichigo asked.

"No, that's impossible."

"Why is that?" Orihime asked innocently.

Rukia turned away her gaze. "Because… I… had no family…" she replied, almost a whisper, but enough for the twins to hear it.

[END OF FLASHBACK]

She said that she didn't have a family. Where would she stay for the night? The street? She's really stubborn! He said again, very annoyed at her. He couldn't help but worry about her though. Something might happen to her so he needed to hurry and find her. He continued to run as fast as he could to find the mysterious girl that he was so worried about and he didn't even know why.

….

Rukia stopped when he felt a strong aura behind her. She was currently at the park. She heard a voice behind her. Some men circled around her, carefully watching her every move.

"Long time no see. How have you been doing, Princess?" the voice asked calmly.

Rukia turned slowly to the owner of the voice. She somehow recognized the voice for it was all too familiar to her. She stared at him blankly.

…..

Ichigo turned his way to the park and stopped around the corner. He finally saw who he was searching for.

"Rukia…" he whispered on his way to her but stopped upon seeing a man behind her. He wondered.

Who was that man? Did she know him?

He decided to walk closer so he could hear what they were talking about. When he was just a wall near the people he was looking at, Ichigo was finally able to hear their conversation.

"Oh, Nazure-kun. I'm just fine. Who would've thought that you can control the fire element now?" she asked sarcastically.

The fire what?! Ichigo thought in disbelief. What was she talking about?

"Princess Rukia, it's not me. It's Sugaru's doing. I'm sorry about that." He replied sympathetically.

She just looked at him. "I believe you then. Apology accepted. Now, what are you doing here? It's been a month since your last attack on me, eh? Are you here to take all of my precious people again to make me join you?" She rolled her eyes and placed a hand on her hips. "Sorry to disappoint you but I don't have friends right now." she said mockingly but at the same time, seriously.

Ichigo looked at them, his face was puzzled. Attacked? What does she mean? Did this man attack her before? He bit his lip. Is this man the reason why Rukia didn't want to have anyone near her? And why did he call her 'Princess Rukia'? Did she belong to a royal family? Ichigo have so many questions. He breathed out and looked over them once again. He chose to listen first to them before searching for answers.

Nazure looked at her. He couldn't believe it. Rukia had changed, ever since the day her best friend and boyfriend died because of the uncontrollable release of her powers. Maybe, she didn't want that to happen again so she decided that it would be better if she didn't have friends at all. Nazure felt guilt again eat him inside. He didn't really want it to be like this. He wanted to make her happy and yet, it would always be the opposite. Her life was a living hell already when she left the Butterfly Society. The burden deepened when her foster family and her friends and boyfriend died because of her. He knew that she was suffering right now. He wanted to help her but he couldn't. He was feeling ashamed of himself right now.

"I'm here for the usual, to force you to join us." Nazure replied calmly, not letting her notice his worry and concern for her.

"Force her to WHAT? Ichigo was really puzzled. He didn't understand anything at all!

"Well, my answer was still the same. I DON'T want to join you." She firmly said, full of confidence.

"We'll need to use force then." He said as he signaled the men around them to charge at her.

Ichigo panicked upon seeing the men charged at her. But, he was very shocked to see Rukia fighting them with just her bare hands against their swords!

Is she really a human? Ichigo asked himself again. He decided to just watch for the time being.

Rukia concentrated at them. Every time they will come for her, she just thought that this was some kind of training. She giggled slightly and used her bare hands to defend one of the men's swords. She concentrated her wind element power in her hands and arms so she won't be able to get injured by their swords. She didn't want to use her sword after all so she thought of using that technique against them. She thought of it when she was thirteen years old, after her foster family's death.

She breathed heavily. Tsch. I'm getting tired again! Damn that water element invisible shield. It really ate almost all of my energy. It would take three days of resting to be able to regain my normal strength again. But, I don't have time for that! I need to defeat them now! I need to finish this and fast! Before they can even lay a single hand on me and before I lost all of my energy! she thought as she started to charge at them this time.

She used her earth element power this time. She put her hand on the ground and stand, like lifting something upward. The ground crumbled and rose, forming a small hill and the men were at the sky, flying furiously after being lifted up by the ground.

Ichigo's jaw dropped. He couldn't say anything right now. He was very shocked to see her doing that, like the ground was just some kind of a ball, easy to throw up and down.

This time, I don't think that she's really a human. Something's different was going on in here! What is she?

Rukia brought her hand down, signaling the ground to return to normal. The other men lose consciousness while the other still stood up to their feet. She saw Nazure was watching from the sidelines.

"Oi, Nazure-kun!" she called out to him. Nazure looked at her, and nodded as if waiting for her to continue whatever she wanted to say.

Rukia smirked. "Let's have a deal! If I defeated these soldiers of yours in one attack, you'll leave me alone already!" she stated.

Ichigo stared at her.

Is she serious? Defeat those men, in one attack only?

Is she kidding?

But, maybe she can, seeing how she used the ground as a weapon. Maybe she had some kind of supernatural powers. But, how did she have that anyway?

I'm really confused right now!

Nazure looked at her. "Agreed. But, only for now." He replied.

"Deal!" she said, smiling.

This is my chance. I'm not strong right now and I'm struggling. So I need to dispose them now when I still have the chance to do it.

She started to concentrate her wind element power around her. Suddenly, a strong gust of wind moved its way to the men and they were holding their throats, gasping for air.

What the— Ichigo started and his eyes went wide as he realized what was happening to those men. She's choking them to death!

He didn't know whether to be surprise or amaze.

Nazure smirked while watching.

I thought you'd do that Rukia. It's your deadly technique after all. The first technique you learned. I know you're tired now so you're making this real quick.

He suddenly felt a strange aura near them. He saw an orange hair hiding against the wall. His eyes widened. That guy…he's a… he breathed out and let out a small smile as his gaze went back to watching Rukia defeat his soldiers.

I see.

After a few seconds, the men lay down on the ground, eyes closed. Probably dead because of the lack of air. Rukia looked at Nazure who slowly walked towards her.

"So, I won." Rukia stated confidently.

"Yeah, I can see that, Princess. Before I leave, I want you to know something interesting." He smirked.

"What is it this time?" she asked annoyingly.

"There's someone here with us right now." he replied.

Rukia stared at him with her eyes wide. She concentrated for an aura and was surprised to realize that he was right. But, it wasn't a normal human. She knew that aura so well. She looked immediately at his direction, still hiding behind the wall.

"Why don't you come out now?" she heard Nazure told him.

Ichigo cringed inside.

I'm dead.

He slowly moved his way out of the wall and revealed himself to them. He saw Rukia stared at him, completely shocked. "Um, h-hi Rukia…" he managed to choke out. He slowly made his way towards them.

"I-Ichigo… w-why are y-you… wait, how long were you there?" she asked nervously.

"Um… f-from t-the s-start?" he answered, stuttering.

"You mean, you… you saw… e-everything…" Rukia said. She couldn't believe this. Another human know about her powers again. Another human who will be dragged in her deathful world again!

Rukia felt a painful head ache and dizziness came over her as she loses consciousness. Rukia was about to fall when Ichigo caught her in his arms.

"Rukia!" he exclaimed worriedly as he stared down at her. He saw her chest heave up and down, stating that she had fallen asleep. He sighed in relief. She must be tired with that fighting that happened a while ago. He looked up at the man in front of them and asked him.

"Who are you? Why are you after Rukia?" he managed to asked. He really wanted to know everything. He really wanted to. Somehow, he felt that he wanted to help Rukia.

"I shouldn't be telling you that. Why don't you ask her? She knows everything you need to know. I can see that you don't know who she really is though." He replied.

"What do you mean?" Ichigo furrowed his brows.

"Rukia was the youngest princess of the Royal Kuchiki Family. That's all you need to know for now. If you want to know more about her, you just need to ask her. I don't want to tell you such an information." He answered.

Ichigo stared at him.

"But, if I were you, I will not force her to explain everything." He stated.

"What do you mean by that?" Ichigo asked.

"She's in deep pain right now. It's hard for her to trust someone again." He explained.

Ichigo saw worry in his eyes. "You're worried about her, aren't you? You know that she's in pain right now but you're not doing anything about it! Why are you doing this anyway?!" he asked angrily.

Nazure sighed. "You don't need to know. All you need to do right now is to protect her. Can you do that?" he asked.

Ichigo was shocked for a moment. He really didn't know how to answer that. Did he want to protect her?

Ichigo closed his eyes briefly and opened it, his eyes held determination. "Of course I can. I'll protect her from anyone and anything and from you." He replied calmly.

Nazure smiled inwardly. Now, he didn't have to worry about her. She had a guardian now by the form of this young man.

"Okay then. I'll be back for a few days. Be sure you'll be ready." He said as he left.

Ichigo gaped as he saw him disappeared into thin air. He looked at the sleeping young woman in his arms and said, "What are you really, Kuchiki Rukia?"

-END OF CHAPTER THREE-

…

Read and Review please!

Thanks a lot!

-Mari, April 30, 2020