Author's Note: Hey guys! Thanks for the reviews and everything! You lot keep me sane. Anyways, It's longer than the last one - yay. Hope you like it. Once again, I apologize for any typos and stuff like that - I checked it a million times so hopefully there isn't any but hey...ENJOY!!!
Arrgh! This freakin' weather! Won't it ever lighten-up? He thought solemnly as he trudged down the muddy, slippery path. He had no idea why he was taking the short cut, it wasn't as though he was in a rush to get home. Ha! Home...A place he didn't care to think about at the moment. Why can't people jus' get the message that I wanna be left alone!? Is it that difficult to understand!?
He suddenly stopped. "This damn weather! It's jus' gettin' darker n' darker!"
Ichigo pulled out the flashlight from his pocket and switched it on. I wonder if Rukia made it home ok. I bet it's long past the time when school finishes by now. I shouldn't have run off like that I guess - she might be lost or something. Oh well, I'm sure she has the oh-so-lovely Ishida to take care of her! I hope she isn't round that fuckin' Quincy's house! Ooh, I swear if I see that lil' shit I'll kick his ass all over the street!
He stumbled."This friggin' path - they gotta sort it out! It's a shittin' health hazzard!"
Ichigo was momentarily still, shining the beam of the torch around, catching various objects in it's light. First a tree, then the earth, then a bush, then the ground again. He sighed, picking up his feet - about to press on when his flashlight caught something in the center of the trail.
"What the-?" He frowned, afraid to come too close to the object that resembled a pile of clothes from where he was standing.
A muffled voice came from it, and Ichigo breathed a sigh of relief. It's just a person...
"E-excuse me?" He asked. Probably a drunk that collapsed from the cold. The male Death god rolled his eyes.
Silence. Other than the pitter-pattering of the rain on the leaves and grass.
"Sir? Ma'am? A-are you alright?" He raised his tone a little, fearing he hadn't been heard.
There was still no reply.
"Jesus! Are ya completely deaf!?" He yelled, aproaching the body quickly.
Upon arriving at the person's side, he aimed the torch right at their face.
"I...chi...g-go..." The voice was faint, but unmistakably familiar.
I-it can't be!
"R-Rukia?" He bent down in an attempt to confirm her identity.
He squinted at her.
Yep. It was her, alright. That straggily black hair, those jaded violet eyes...
"Holy shit! Are you ok? Are you hurt!? W-what are ya doin' out here!!" He inquired urgently.
"S-s-so...c-c-col-d..." Her frail voice pleaded.
"Rukia..." He touched her arm. She was stone cold, he could see her whole body shake. "Geez, you're so cold! Look at what you're wearing! You're gonna get sick!"
Ichigo removed his jacket and wrapped her up in it. He placed the flashlight in his mouth as he lifted her up; hooking one arm underneath her knees and the other just below her shoulder blades. It seemed she had enough strength to bury her head into his chest.
Don't worry, Rukia! I'll get you home - I promise. Just hold on...
Rukia gripped tightly onto his shirt. "I-I'm s-s-so...s-sor-ry..." She shivered.
Ichigo desperately wanted to say something comforting in return but he was held back by the flashlight. Damn this! Just what the hell were ya doin' out here all by yourself? You idiot...
"Dad!!" He kicked the door open. "Dad!?" He spat out the flashlight that had been giving him jaw-ache for the last half an hour.
"What is it, Ichi-nii? Who's that?" Yuzu came out of the kitchen, holding a huge bowl of cake mix.
"Where's Dad!!?" Ichigo exclaimed, ignoring her questions.
"Deary me, what's all this racket about?" Karin yawned. "Who's that you're carryin'?"
"Have either of you seen Dad!?" He was growing impaitent. "Please, it's important!"
"Is she dead?" Yuzu asked.
"He's out back." Karin gestured towards the back door with her thumb.
"Can you go get him for me, please!?"
Ichigo ventured into the living room, placing Rukia gently down on the couch.
"Oh! Why don't you go get him? You want him!" Karin groaned.
"For God's sake, Karin! This is very important - can't you just go and get him?"
"No." She folded her arms and walked off.
"I'll go get him, Ichi-nii." Yuzu said, rushing off towards the back door.
"Thank you."
His attention was quickly drawn back to Rukia. Her eyes were closed and her grip on his shirt had gone ages ago - long before he had reached the street. She hadn't said anything in a long time. All she seemed to do was shiver and cough. He gripped her lifeless hands.
"It's gonna be alright, Rukia. I promise."
"What's the matter?" His father suddenly appeared, wearing his rainmack and huge boots. "Is she alright?"
"No, I think she's sick."
"My, she's cold! How long was she out in that weather?"
"It's hard to say...When I got to her, she was laying in the middle of the trail in the woods."
"Does her mother know where she is?" Isshin inquired.
"Er..." Shit! What am I gonna say? That she has no mother?
"H-her mom's away on vacation. Only...her mom can't afford a cell phone so...there's no way of contactin' her..." He said after a short pause.
"O...k..." Isshin pondered for a moment. Awwww, Ichi just dosen't want her to leave...how sweet...
"Do you think her mother would mind if she stayed here until she recovered?" Isshin played along even though the plot was heavily flawed.
"No, no, I think her mom would be fine with that." He smiled nervously.
"Where is she gonna stay, though? It's too crowded in the girls' room, and there's no way she'll be warm enough on the couch-"
"She can sleep in my room." Ichigo stated.
"But...where are you gonna sleep?"
"I'll sleep on the floor."
"Ichigo...wouldn't it be better if you slept down here - she might be uncomfortable with you there."
"Whatta'ya tryin' to say!? That I'm a perv!!?"
Yes. "No. But, you know what girls are like, they need their space an' all."
"Yeah, but, I'd rather be near her. I wasn't there before when she wanted me - I might as well be here now. When she needs me."
"Ahhh, I see." He winked and nudged his son's arm.
"W-what do ya mean by that?"
"Could this be a girlfriend of yours that you just don't wanna tell Daddy about?"
"H-hell NO!!"
Isshin giggled immaturely in respsonse.
The orange-haired boy frowned "So...what is wrong with her?"
"She has a fever. It's not too serious, but it will take a few weeks to be cured."
"Are you sure she's gonna be alright? I mean, all this time she's been dead silent and she's still so cold - even though Yuzu changed her clothes and everything."
"Ichigo, don't worry so much. She'll be fine as long as she stays in bed, gets lots of rest and keeps warm and dry. I'll fix her up some medication later when she wakes up."
"...Okay..." He replied doubtfully.
He closed the bedroom door behind him. Ichigo placed the bowl of boiling soup on the desk, before wandering over to the window.
The sky was still pitch black, and the rain just kept coming and coming - falling at full-force. It felt strange to be inside, nice and warm instead of outside in that terrible weather, cold and wet.
"Mmm..." A little voice uttered.
Ichigo turned around. "Rukia?"
She shifted a little. He quickly made his way over to the bed.
"Rukia, are you alright?" He gripped her hand once more.
She shuddered before coughing loudly.
"Are you cold? Is that it?" His tone grew desperate again.
He pulled back the sheets, and climbed in bed. It was something that happened without him really...noticing. It was an automatic reaction - which was pretty strange because he wasn't in the habit of behaving like that.
He embraced her tightly.
"You know, my Dad says that I should give you some space but..." He blushed as he felt her tiny arms hug him back. "...i-if you're cold then it's ok, right? I mean, can't just let you get cold, can we?"
This is stupid...He thought angrily. I'm talking to a friggin' corpse! Well, that's what it feels like anyway. C'mon, Rukia. Just say something - anything! Even if it's that you hate me, I jus' wanna hear it!
"Even if it's that you hate me, I jus' wanna hear it!" He repeated aloud, his grip on her body intensifying.
He closed his eyes.
"Ichiggooo!!!" A small hand slapped him hard across the face.
"R-Rukia!?" He screamed in shock, automatically letting go of the Death god.
"Are ya tryin' to freakin' kill me!!!??" She yelled, her placed her hands on her hips and sat up.
"..." He sat up also, rubbing his sore cheek.
"Well?!!!" She folded her arms.
"Y-you're awake?"
"I am NOW! Thanks to your bloody squeezin'!"
"You bitch!" He snarled. "If you had just said that you were alright - then I wouldn't have held you so damn tight!"
"Oh, shut up! I need my sleep." She stated happily, proud that she had the right to do so.
"You coulda' least told me that you were alright!! Instead o' makin' me worry like that!"
"So...the short-tempered, non-caring Mr. Ichigo Kurosaki actually worried about little ol' me...?" Rukia grinned mischieviously, cupping her hands together and fluttering her eyelids.
"T-that's not what I meant!" He stammered. "Stop it! That God-damn face is so scary it's gonna give me nightmares!"
He pushed her head away gently with his hand - glancing away in disgust. She turned towards the window and giggled.
"So how did you manage to convey an entire sickness so...well?" He inquired, thinking that was some damn good acting she had done.
She wacked him over the head with a rolled-up manga on the desk next to her. "Idiot!"
"W-why did you do that!!?" He rubbed his crown similar to how he nursed his cheek moments earlier.
"You think I'd fake a whole fever? What type of person do you think I am?" Rukia huffed.
"Well...ya seem pretty fine to me at the moment."
"It dosen't matter what it looks like! I may look well, but inside I'm a wreck. Anyway. You're too busy thinking about Ishida that you fail to see that I am a very contagious, very sick individual."
"Yeah - sick in the head...H-hey! I thought we dropped that whole Ishida thing! Why the hell d'you bring it up again!!??"
"Oh...This weather is awful. I wish it would quit raining so heavy..."
There was the sound of soft footprints on the rain-soaked conrete. The orange-haired girl turned around slowly to see Ishida approach her with a brightly-colored umbrella, his school bag slung over his shoulder.
"Oh, Ishida-kun."
"Hello, Inoue-san. What are you doing out here all alone? Isn't Tatsuki-san around somewhere?"
"Um, no. Her mom picked her up and I want to get home but...I misplaced my coat and I have no-"
"Have my umbrella, Inoue-san." We held it out to her, smiling comfortingly.
"Ahh-I-Ishida-kun, I-it's your's. I don't want to t-take it if-"
"We can share, then." He said. "It's better than nothing, right?"
"Y-yes, I suppose." She couldn't control her cheeks turning red with uneasyness.
They began walking.
"Okay, you'll have to guide me to your house - it's been a while since I've been there."
"S-sure."
I wonder if Kurosaki-kun's ok. What if he got sick? Oh God, please let him be alright. And Kuchiki-san...
Ishida looked at her thoughtfully. "You're worrying about him, aren't you?"
"A-a-wh-what? Who?" She stuttered, her cheeks growing redder and redder.
"Kurosaki..." The Quincy ajusted his glasses knowingly.
"Oh..." She glanced down.
"I'm sure he'll be alright." He linked arms with the orange-headed girl.
"Mmm." She replied, close to tears.
"Why is it girls find him so...irresistible?"
"What do you mean 'girls'?" She inquired, shocked. Could he mean...Kuchiki-san?
"N-nothing." He pushed back his glasses again, remembering Rukia's secret he'd promised to keep. "I-I wonder if Kuchiki-san is safe..."
"You like Kuchiki-san, don't you?" Orihime asked.
Ishida blushed also. "Uhhh..."
"You don't have to deny it." She stated simply. "It's easy to see. You never used to be so...open with each other - but now. You always smile when she walks in the room, you always rush over to talk to her - you're always there to pick up the pieces when her and Kurosaki-kun have an argument."
"..."
"Am I right?"
"I...guess."
"Well, I think you two would make a sweet couple." She turned to him and smiled. "Does she know how you feel?"
"Y-yes. I've told..." kissed "her many times. But...she...likes someone else...And, I think that no matter what I do - she'll never return my feelings."
"Awww, Ishida-kun." She threw her arms around him. "I never thought of you like this; all...lovey!! And so open about it all!! It's so cute! You shouldn't give up, m'kay?" She beamed.
"Inoue-san, you won't tell, right?"
"Awww, Ishida-kun!"
"I can't believe you feel so much better - already!" Isshin double checked the thermometer.
"Hmph!" Ichigo grunted, leaning on his palm - giving Rukia evil looks across the room. Rukia poked her tongue out at him in response while his father wasn't looking.
"Okay, then. You shouldn't need too much medication. Just a little remedy for that nasty cough of yours. Still, get plenty of rest and keep an eye on Ichigo."
"W-what!?"
"Oh yes." She nodded politely, shortly finishing the sentence with a deep, hoarse cough. "Thank you very much, Mr. Kurosaki."
"No trouble at all." He smiled, winking at Ichigo as he exited the room. Ichigo muttered something under his breath before hastily closing the door.
"You're such a faker, ya know that!?"
"Ssshh. Kuchiki-san needs her rest, you heard Mr. Kurosaki!" She grinned triumphantly, laying down.
"Bitch!"
"Smelly bastard!"
"Hmph!" He removed his shoes and chucked them across the room. "So...Do you want me on the floor or what?"
"Nee-san!!" Kon gasped, leaping out of the closet. (Where he was this whole chapter, I do not know!) "He's making sexual coversations at you!!!"
"Shut the hell up!!" Ichigo stamped on his head. "Conversations at you? That's terrible english for a start!"
"Shut up!" Rukia ordered, raising her head. "Do you want Ichigo's dad to come in?"
"He dosen't seem to mind all the other times when we make a lot of noise." Kon said.
"Shut up, Kon." Rukia sighed.
"Never mind." Ichigo began. "Kon, get back in there!"
He grasped the stuffed animal and threw it in the closet once more and closed the door.
"Nee-san!! Nee-san!! Nee-san!! Get me out!! I have a fear of the dark!!! Nee-san!!!"
"I said; shut the HELL up!!" She ordered.
"Nee...San." Kon sobbed quietly.
"Ahh. Thank God for that!" He stretched. "Do you want me to keep you warm or what?"
"It's up to you." Rukia shrugged, turning over to face away from him.
"Uhh...I'll stay in here with you tonight." He climbed under the covers and switched the light off.
"I-Ichigo? For real?" She whispered, she rolled over to face him.
"Yeah...why? Is somethin' wrong with that?"
"No, no of course not."
OMFG!!! Jus kidding! Wanna R&R? Good, you go do that! (Not too mean, damnit!)