Author's note: Sorry this is short, or is it???? Anywho, there's no rulers YAY!!! anyway, back 2 da story!
Ichigo stared at the piece of paper. He had read it over four times now, the words were branded into his brain. He couldn't believe how selfsih he'd been. He had no right to treat her that way, Rukia didn't deserve it. And he didn't like seeing her hurt or angry and yet that was all she'd been feeling over the previous days - and he hadn't even noticed. He'd spent so much time treating her badly that she'd grown closer to Ishida - and Ichigo didn't like that. The thought of them two together; he didn't know what they were doing, thinking, plotting. Well, not so much for Rukia; Ichigo knew that she would refuse to do anything she didn't want to. But that Ishida, he was clever. Ichigo could easily imagine him pressuring her and persuading her to do things she was uncomfortable with.
His stomach flipped. Everytime he thought about them two, especially Rukia, he was almost doubled over in pain. This surely was the worst stomach bug he'd ever come down with.
I wonder if this is what Rukia suffers when she thinks about him. Or me? Damn it must be annoying...
She hadn't come back yet. School had finished, yet she wasn't home. He wanted her home. Safe and dry. She was bound to catch a cold in that terrible weather. He didn't want her getting sick. He didn't want her to have any contact with Ishida in that weather. For Ichigo could just imagine him acting all gentlemen like, letting her into his home, getting her a little drunk, one thing leading to another and...
Ugh! That's just too gross to think about. I seriously doubt that Rukia is that stupid, and if she claims to love me, then I don't see why she'd go running off to him...But, then again I can't really blame her for confiding in him. I wish she would confide in me instead, though. But I guess it's difficult for her or something. I don't know. Why are things always so complicated?! If life were a bit more simple, we'd have this thing all sorted out...
"Ichigo..." He heard as his window was whacked open. "Ichigo..."
"Rukia." He replied softly, rushing over to her side. "Are you alright?"
He helped her down of the ledge.
"Fine. Just a little wet." She smiled, glancing at her drenched clothes.
Rukia sat down on his bed.
"Oh, um, wait I'll go get a towell."
I'm really glad I came home. Ishida made me feel welcome and everything, but I know that it's here I belong. I've gotta tell Ichigo what happened. I've gotta tell him how I feel. I need to get this off my chest.
"Here." Ichigo returned, throwing a towell at her head. Lucky she caught it before it made contact with her face. She sniffed it, breathing in the beautiful essence of lemon washing powder. The sweet scent of home. She began drying her head.
Ichigo was surprised. He wasn't angry that she'd ran off, he wasn't annoyed that she'd made him worry like that, he wasn't even bothered that her clothes were forming a huge wet patch on his clean quilt. All that mattered to him at that moment was that she was home with him, and that she had a smile on her face. Seeing her happy made him feel warm inside. Made him relax.
Rukia removed the towell, exposing her dark messy hair.
"Love your hair!" Ichigo pointed and chuckled.
"I don't know what you're laughin' at. Your's is worse!" Rukia giggled.
It felt good to laugh together. Just her and him. It made her relax.
"Ichigo. There's something I need to say." Rukia watched his cheerful face lose it's energy.
Oh, this is so hard. He's gonna be really pissed. But I gotta say it or it'll kill me.
"Ichigo...I...Last night, when me and Ishida were out...at the beach...we...we um..."
Oh, no. Ichigo thought. Please don't say you two-
"We sorta...kissed."
Rukia suddenly felt so small. A tiny child at the mercy of a devil.
Wish I hadn't said anything.
"You...ki-kissed him?" Ichigo could hardly breathe. It was so tempting to hit her. His stomach tightened and went through the same odd process it had over the past days. The thought of them two burned his skull. It hurt. Strangely.
Ichigo stood up, glaring at the window. He didn't want to see her, hear her, smell her. "I see..." He mumbled, spite in his voice.
"But Ichigo," She leapt to her feet and embraced him tightly. "It is you that I like. Ishida is a friend. He kissed me! I didn't stop him although I wish I did but I couldn't. I don't know why I couldn't I just-"
"Did you kiss him back?" Ichigo interrupted, a little calmer than Rukia expected.
She shook her head quickly. "No. I don't love him. I love you."
Ichigo felt his body tremble inside, that butterfly feeling returned and kicked him. He knew how she felt - thanks to her diary - but he'd never heard her say the words out loud. Never heard that sentence. I love you...
"But," He said softly, feeling the anger drain away. "I-I...I don't feel the same...way...sorry."
Rukia held back the tears that were dying to be released. "That's ok..."
I know you're lying...
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