◊ (The Secrets of Kuchiki Rukia) ◊
∆ (Hollow World, Jail) ∆ Kuchiki Rukia
12 days had passed in this world which meant that only 1.2 days had passed in the other world but it was still quite a long time. I held on to my long forgotten feelings of loneliness and sorrow. It seems no matter what happened I was destined to not be happy.
Everything happens for a reason, and maybe not being with Ichigo and dying is just part of it. I really don't want Ichigo to come save me. "I really do hate him, and people; they don't listen. Why don't they listen? I hate people." I said falling to the floor of my cell. I can't smile if fate wants me away from Ichigo and to die; fate shall always win, and I will always lose, only Ichigo can beat fate.
"Injured with pain and sadness, the you that cannot be healed. Don't say words like you can't smile or you hate people. Everything that happens in the unseen future has a meaning. So stay like this, there'll come a time when you will realize." Ichigo's words said in my mind, I remember that.
Ж (Flashback) Ж
I sat in the floor, sacrificing so much of myself for his was necessary, I had to die, and I just had to. It was how these things go. I'm dying, and now I can be reborn again. Ichigo walked over to me and cradled me on his lap and held me like a crying child. And in many ways I was. "You're not going to die, I won't let you. You're injured with pain and sadness, the you that cannot be healed is just waiting for something to heal it. There is a way Rukia and I intend to find it. So, don't say words like you can't smile or you hate people; because I know for a fact that you don't hate me, I came here to save you and risked my life for you. This, like everything that happens in the unseen future has a meaning; so don't die and give me another chance to make your life better, please Rukia? So stay like this, there'll come a time when you will realize that I can be the thing that you've waited for, the thing that can heal you; until then, just stay alive for me, please?" He said looking down at me.
"What you and I want aren't what faint what Ichigo, if I'm dying then I can't help it; and I think I am." I answered crying.
"Shoulder the burden of the past that cannot be erased; don't throw away your will to live. I need you here Rukia, what would I do without you, come on, don't? You need to; the will to live will keep you alive, so just please, have enough will to stay with me." He begged looking down at me.
"Ichigo, I don't think I can. But to live on, I am willing to try." I tried to get up but I was too weak. He picked up my body and held it close to him and carried it to Hanataro. He was going to take care of me, unlike what I could do for either of them.
Ж Flashback Over Ж
The funny thing is what he said after that. It always had the effect that I cared so much more for him then I did for myself, or anyone else. And of course, this is right.
Every time I'm in trouble I tell him the same vain, meaningless, lies I always do. I'll be okay, I can go on by myself, leave me here to die, and be separate and apart from the whole.
I have no need to worry about myself, and I don't think I ever will, even I become resurrected; my personality is to not care about myself, only others. I will forever be that way.
"Such a yummy looking girl, I want to just eat her up!" A hollow yelled.
"Go ahead, it's not like I don't care."
"A pretty girl with no more hope yet so much spirit energy, how can this be?" The hollow asked.
"Because, I don't need hope, I have decrees of love, and I use to have hope. I use to have hope, a lot of it. I've slowly lost it like my spirit energy will slowly decrease. It is as we speak." I said hopelessly.
"One is born for hope only for a time, then reality is seen and we lose that, how can you still have hope? Your spirit energy is still growing while you say yours decreases. Do you not know yourself?"
"Yes, I don't know myself, but he does." I sat in the corner of the jail cell and sat in the corner looking out the small window.
"Then we'll have to kill you so your spirit energy is even more delicious." I could feel my spirit energy surge, and I took out the bars of the cell and all the hollows out with my blade. I collapsed on the ground that magic field was a lot harder then I thought it would be it really drained me. I fell hard to the ground, and something caught me.
"You're lucky that as a soul reaper we can't anyone be eaten by a hollow and become one of them. Let's take you back to soul society and let you rest there." I heard his voice, but I couldn't really sense his who he was.
"Yeah," I said sighing, and falling asleep.
Abarai Renji
I took a piece of paper and handed it to the 4th chair officer, Danyel who would deliver it to Ichigo. It read: Ichigo, don't worry about Rukia for the time being, meet me in the Soul Society to get her back. As a Lieutenant, I can't leave these two worlds without permission, so come get the foreigner. Abarai Renji.
∆ (Earth, His Room) ∆ Kurosaki Ichigo
Where could she have left all those drawings? I had searched through every drawer and book in my room, where could it be? Where would she keep important documents she uses everyday? Wait, it would be in her room, where she'd always know where it is. It would be in… her diary.
I ran into her room, and picked up her diary. Anything she uses everyday would be in here, even her pathetic drawings she draws for me. I opened it and I turned the pages to the first page.
Dear Nikki,
I'm in a Gigai but this time it's not going to be just for a few days, or a few hours. It could be a while, month's maybe. I possibly could be like this for a while. This is horrible not only because I have no powers but I have to deal with this jerk, Kurosaki Ichigo. He's a temporary Shinigami for me. His family was in danger and I was down, I transferred my powers to him, but instead of one half, he took it all. Now I'm powerless and stuck here. He's not a bad person be he doesn't understand what this means, he needs to see how every life is very important, if he doesn't do this, I'll have to kill his soul and send him to soul society so that he'll understand. If only he did. (I sigh.) He's a real problem. But I'll deal like I do with Renji. Renji, I haven't mentioned him for a while, since we were separated and stopped relying on each other.
Kuchiki Rukia, me!
I wonder how she felt about me a few months later, let's check. I turned like 20 pages of her same journaling and I saw a page with the chart on it.
Dear Nikki,
After living with Ichigo for 2 months, I am beginning to see where he comes from. His life is so complex and quite sad. He's going to be a great replacement for me because he's strong, tons of spirit energy, can fight grand fisher. I think one day, well hopefully many years, he will be a great real Shinigami. I'm worried about his family though, it's falling apart, piece by piece and he needs help to do a lot of things. I am torn up, and I'm not recovering my energy because he is powering himself up to do this. He's quite interesting to be around. I am enjoying being normal again; I think he enjoys my presence, as I do to his also.
Kuchiki Rukia, me!
I took a look at the chart, the sword was the key to the soul society but how do you get to the hollow world. Rukia would of course not put that on a chart, seeing as no one would want to go there. Wait, I think I see a book on her bed.
The Death and Life Worlds- By: Kuchiki Rukia
Of course, Rukia would be the one to have a book explaining everything about both worlds sitting on her bed while I'm going through her diary. Come on Ichigo, you know that she's a obvious person.
Everyone who is of C Rank and better knows that to get to the hollow world you must either die, or enter through a portal called by a hollow when they arrive.
Rukia has a whole chapter on the subject and the first sentence says it all, she should work on her skills of hiding information, she's horrible at it. Of course, the only person who would be able to find a hollow entry portal is Rukia, and she's in the portal. I need a plan.
Wait, doesn't Ishida have a chemical that will lore a hollow here, and I could use that one's portal? I think he does, I'll go check. I walked into his room and sat on a chair. "You need something Ichigo?" He asked.
"Do you have that chemical that allows you to call a hollow to this world?" I asked.
"Yeah, why?"
"A long story, Rukia was kidnapped by a hollow and I need to get her back. She's in the hollow world and the only way to get there is through their personal portal, so I need to get there through there." A giant fog appeared in the room.
"There is no need for that, Lieutenant Renji has sent a message for you." A man said handing over a letter signed by Renji for me.
Ichigo, don't worry about Rukia for the time being, meet me in the Soul Society to get her back. As a Lieutenant, I can't leave these two worlds without permission, so come get the foreigner. Abarai Renji.
"Then it's to soul society." I said. "Can you take me there?" I said threatingly to the man.
"Yes, but of course; key first." The man stated.
"You mean the entrance key?" I asked.
"Yes," He said.
"Here," I held up the key that was tied around my hand, it was a cool key, it was a bit girly but what could you expect from Rukia she was a girl, right? "That's all you need, right?"
"whose key is that; it doesn't carry the same signature as you do?" The man asked.
"This is Kuchiki Rukia's key, she gave it to me. She has mine; you can check it out after I go get her."
"Fine," The man opened a portal and left the world with me to his side.
∆ (Soul Society, Hospital) ∆ 3rd Person
"Rukia, is that really you?" A voice asked her.
"I'm pretty sure I'm me, but who are you?" She asked.
"Rukia-san, it's me, Hanataro. I'm glad to see you again." He said hugging me, and I blushed and smiled.
"How are you?" I asked.
"I'm fine, but why are you here, you seem fine."
"She's here to get a look at her Gigai; I sensed a disturbance in her field of energy. I know you're the only one here she'd trust."
"Not exactly true, I trust you too Renji; well some of the time." She answered.
"Well just get her Gigai looked at. I'm sure Danyel will be back with Ichigo any minute now." Renji answered.
"What?"
"I sent a message to Ichigo telling him you were alright, and where you are? I just wanted to get you checked out before I can let you go." She nodded.
"Okay, so Rukia have you noticed anything different about your Gigai lately."
"Not really, it hasn't fought much since the hollow level is drastically lower and considerably easier to fight. Everyone has said my spirit level is at an extremely higher level now, and then it was." She added.
"Yeah it seems that your body has started to recover all the spirit energy it lost all that time ago, it's rising drastically by the minute, and it's a power that if it got any higher it would rival Ichigo's and Byakuya's energy force. It's amazing." Hanataro said smiling and gently laying her back.
"It seems that your body has been under a lot of stress lately Rukia, it's been stretched a bit beyond its limits for the time, what have you done?"
"I really can't think of anything that would stress it out?" 'Unless that meant dating Ichigo, but that was calming, not stressing' she thought.
"Oh, then you'll just have to relax, take a break and enjoy yourself; like you always do. Where is Ichigo, he's late."
After a few hours and Hanataro had taken Rukia to a massage therapy class to de-tense her muscles they returned and she slept a bit to relax her muscles and slept in a bed set up by them.
∆ (Outside the Hospital) ∆
A gate opened revealing Ichigo and a man whose name is Danyel who stood outside the hospital. "Good job Danyel, you may retire the night." Renji said ordering the man.
"Is she all right?" Ichigo asked seriously.
"Yeah, her Gigai form was weak, something stressed her out but her spirit force is increasing drastically." He informed him.
"That's good; she'll need it for fighting and such."
"Just be careful, the more spiritual energy you have the more unstable you become. Also, you better take care of her or I will bring you back her for abuse of other spiritual beings."
"You kill souls and you call not taking care of her abuse."
"Yes, active souls in this world are like humans in your world, treated with dignity and respect not to be treated any less. You better take care of her." Renji warned.
"What is with everyone doubting me, I saved her life and risked my own, lost my life for her. Like I'm going to mistreat her now!" Ichigo yelled.
"Quiet, she's sleeping. I'll set you up in a bedroom until morning, and then you two can head off." Ichigo nodded and walked off.
Ichigo's Thought Ponderings: How can they doubt I would every hurt her? I love her and I gave my life so I could come save her because she has done so much for everyone else. She is the most amazing person. I wouldn't forgive myself it I didn't treat her with the respect she deserves.
Ichigo needed to retrieve something from the library in Soul Society. It was a book that explained the rules of Soul Society, things you could and couldn't do and details like that. He bought it and set off to read it. All rules in the book except those marked with asterisks are applied to all souls, some only apply to souls in the Society.
"What interest do you have in the rules of Soul Society, Ichigo?" A voice said from behind him, it was Renji.
"I was just seeing what is allowed and not allowed, so I can make sure I obey the rules, right?" It was the complete truth but it sounded like a lie.
"I want the real truth Ichigo."
"I love Rukia, I know that. I just don't want to get her in any more trouble because of my stupidity. I need to act like a Shinigami and protect her, like anyone else so let's begin." He said tossing the book to Renji.
"What do you want me to do with this?" Renji asked.
"Test me on it, I know I can do this."
Renji smirked, "No one in the world has been able to, and you think you can?" He asked.
"Yeah, so go ahead." Ichigo said and they went on testing.
The spend hours and Ichigo had memorized many of the rules but was still missing many that he couldn't get but it was extraordinary for anyone in the last few days to get that far.
"You should return to your room now, get some rest before you two must return. She has to talk with her sensei as well, it's a rule."
"Okay, whatever; I'll go with."
"Ask her first, it's a personal matter, she might not want you to intervene." Renji suggested.
"Okay, I'm going to be, see you later Renji; also, thank you for saving her even though she abandoned you."
"I wouldn't blame, she never got a true chance to live even with all these chances, she never once left. It's truly your fault but no one can blame her. She now has a chance to move on, so I'm not going to be the horrible friend so tell her take advantage of it while she can."
"While she can?"
"The Gigai is like a human body, it needs to be taken care of, she as suceptable to deseases, and death as anyone, take care of her." Renji warned.
"I will, and thanks."
"Never thank me,"
"Why,"
"It's my fault that the hollow attacked in the first place, so don't thank me for rescuing her, for anyone would." He answered.
"Thanks anyway," Ichigo said going to bed.
∆ (The Hospital Roof) ∆¤(Early the Next Morning) ¤
She sat on the roof edge looking over the entire city, and she held her arms to herself to keep warm as she over looked the first place she ever lived. "Here," A voice said from behind her.
She saw it was her old friend, Hanataro. "Thanks, you're always watching out for me aren't you?"
"It was always just an accident when you needed something, running into Ichigo and Ganji. Then now I was here to check to see that you're okay." She smiled and nodded.
"I am, thanks to your help." He said.
"Well It's my job to help people, I was glad to see you; especially when I saw Renji carrying you. Are you staying here for good?" He said hopefully.
"Sorry but I can't stand here, you don't understand but maybe you will if you get a chance to go back, but I wouldn't recommend it. It's saddening and you'll never look at anything the same way again."
"I think I'm going to stay here, but will you visit again sometime." I smiled.
"I wish I had the courage to come back but it's so hard to. Maybe I will, I'll talk to Ichigo about it." She answered.
"You'll be missed." He said to me.
"Thanks," She hugged him, and smiled. 'I could feel myself about to cry though it was hard to here, but I could feel the emotion that I would have if I was on earth. I kept smiling. I just had to move on. I still can't believe someone misses me'.
After a while she returned to her room and sat in the windowsill and sat down and she let her mind wonder about what had been going on lately. Then Ichigo wondered in her room to check on her, seeing her thinking the window he picked her up and set her down in her bed and covered her up and returned to his room to sleep even more.
∆ (Rukia's Sensei Office) ∆
"She's back is she?" Sensei asked.
"Yes, what should we do with her?" Renji asked.
"Nothing, she doesn't have her key on her does she?" Sensei asked.
"No, it's on Ichigo." Renji answered.
"Then she's considered a visitor and should be treated as one, got it." He answered.
"Yes, but they only have a few hours, correct?"
"24 hours visitation periods only," He answered.
"Then they have 12 hours left to stay, then they are our enemies and we can do what we want with them." Renji said with quite a bit of regret.
"Yes, now tell them to leave."
∆ (Ichigo's Room) ∆
"You know you can only stay for 12 more hours, then your considered an enemy." Ichigo nodded in response to Renji's words.
"I'll go get her, she can talk with her sensei, and we can go." Ichigo answered.
"Do you understand her?" Renji asked.
"Sometimes I do other times, no." Ichigo answered.
"She was a girl of extreme strength, she could out do anyone and everyone and was extremely powerful and youthful. But she was abused, attacked, threatened for 120 years here, and that caused her problems and now she fears a lot of things. She's never known anything but being hurt and in pain. She has found a world and someone who can take her away from that, and that's you and your world. Don't hurt her or I will kill you." Renji warned.
"So I don't get a choice?" Ichigo asked.
"Of course you get a choice, but if you hurt her, then you're dead. I spent my whole life protecting her, keeping her happy, making her life better, helping her forget her past, and saving her. If you mess up my work and make her digress, then you're going to be in trouble."
"Trust me, you don't need to worry. Rukia is a fragile girl and flower and anything could tear her down. I've also given the last years of my life to doing the same as you so don't worry."
"Good, glad to hear. I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt so that you are able to take care of her for good."
"Fine, as long as she's happy with me, then I take full responsibility of everything she does and her. Got it?" Ichigo stated.
"Okay, and the first time you upset her; she's coming straight back."
"Give me 5 hours after I upset her to set things right." Ichigo negotiated with him.
"Fine, that's how her life will be protected."
"Okay, bye." Ichigo said walking out and walking into Rukia's room.
∆ (Rukia's Room) ∆
"Rukia," Ichigo asked, gently shaking her to wake her up.
"Ichigo?" She asked, gently opening her eyes to see the pleasant face of Ichigo.
"We have to get out of here."
She jumped up. "Why, what's going on?" He put his hands on her shoulders.
"Nothing, but there is a limit to how long we can stay without key; so we have to get you to your sensei and then leave." Ichigo told her.
"Oh yeah, I have to see sensei." She said happily.
"Let's go." Ichigo said, she nodded and walked beside Ichigo to her sensei's office. She knocked on the door.
∆ (Sensei's Office) ∆
He opened the door and he saw Rukia and he hugged her. "Nice to see, it's been years hasn't it?" He asked.
"Many, 50 years." She was smiling happily. Then she took a step away from the man and took a quite girly and delicate bow. The boys that Ichigo had seen her do were formal and not girly. He must have taught her etiquette through their studies. "And who would this be?" He asked. Rukia smiled even more.
"This happens to me my friend, classmate, and closest friend: Kurosaki Ichigo. Ichigo this is my sensei." She said smiling looking between the two people. Ichigo bowed to him and looked at Rukia, she must have missed him.
"So shall we?" He asked.
"Of course, what be the point of my final visit if we didn't? I want to make you know that you don't have to worry about me." She answered.
"Okay." The walked into a room and had their swords at ready and charged at each other. They were going at each other, she was moving quicker then he had ever seen anyone go, he was also attacking her but not making a mark, but her marks were hitting him, and leaving blood all over.
"Solid Fight Pattern, you're level is much higher, there are no openings, your feelings are weak but they hold strong in fights, your sword and you fight as one with more passion, feeling and a sense of fighting for a cause. That's good." She stopped abruptly and smiled sticking her sword in its spot.
"So I'm much better huh?"
"Your form is perfect, I'm glad I got to fight you. So what changed you so much that your much better because you came to me mere weeks ago and I couldn't train you because you have no skills to use and now you beat me, perfect form and everything, what did you do?" He asked.
"I trained with Ichigo." She said looking at Ichigo and smiling. "He had my energy so I was able to gain it back and then almost quadrouple the amount of power I had and I'm the best they have here, if would stay."
"I'm glad, well bye." He said to her.
They left and Ichigo looked at her smiling face. "Who is he, when did he teach you?"
"When I was fairly young, when I was 120 years ago or 30 years ago, or 3 years ago for you." She answered. She remembered it every little detail.
Ж (Flashback) Ж
"Come on Kuchiki Rukia, we have to take you to your sensei." An older lady said to me, dragging me into a house.
"So he'll teach me to be an even better Shinigami?" I asked.
"No, I will not. I will not teach a girl!" The sensei answered.
"She's a member of the Kuchiki Clan, female or not; she's worthy."
"How about if I can make 3 scratches on you, and blood falls, you train me, if I cannot, they you don't have to." I suggested.
"Fine, let's go." I took out my stupid sword and stood there at the ready.
He made and attack and I avoided and landed on his back and took a mini knife and cut a tiny cut by his neck and flipped to the back of him. Then he turned around and I was already behind him. I ran at him, slid under his feet, and in the split second I was under him, I took out the pocket knife and cut his leg, just a little. Then he stuck his sword down and missed me.
"Stop moving!" He said calmly. I threw my sword and jumped after it and as I brushed the same path of where my sword was going I cut the edge of his arm.
He collapsed to the ground and was breathing hard. Each pass he or I made, I made another cut until he had passed out. Then he charged out me using quick flash and he cut the edge of my long black hair, when I dodged. I didn't have enough energy to use quick flash to dodge.
"You've lost, I made the better effect."
"No you haven't; look at yourself." I said pointing at him.
"But you haven't touched me, other then your jumps." He said.
"Wrong, every time I passed I took a knife and carved your skin next to the main abalone valve. That means that I had 342 chances to kill you, paralyze you or others so don't understand me. I tricked you easily. You thought I'd cut you with stupid sword but it saves me with a lot of energy then releasing my energy."
"You're a smart girl, I'll train you like anyone else." He said smiling at me, and using his spirit energy to heal himself.
"Okay, but I really don't know what can you teach me if I beat you?" I asked.
"You're an indirect attacker; I'll train you to be direct."
"Okay, sounds fair; but I'll come back and beat you again one day with direct attacks; you know that right?" I said.
"I would only expect that from you." He said, "You are powerful, skilled and talented. I wouldn't ever expect anything from the best."
"Good, because that's not even half of what I expect of myself," I said smiling and preparing myself.
Ж (Flashback Over) Ж
"I remember that, and that was the truth, in 6 days you mastered becoming a true Shinigami and passing. Most would take at the very least 20 days even with the most mastered but 6 days, that's professional rate. You should have been a captain for sure."
"Thanks but I'm not even going to be on this team anymore so I just wanted to stop by and prove myself to you again. I always do don't I?" Rukia said smiling.
"Why are you here anyway, I thought you were never coming back again."
"It was a camisado by Renji and a hollow and I was hurt because I was tied up to begin the fight with and couldn't move so I was taken so I couldn't do anything to stop it."
"Then I guess that's a fair reason, well you two take care of yourself, and I hope that you will visit again and let me see your skills stretch again."
"I don't think she can get stronger." Ichigo said.
"You were never taught about the ability skill stretch so I'm ahead of you, that's how I win against you, with stuff like that."
"Bye." She said bowing, smiling and leaving while being pulled out by Ichigo.
"Ready Ichigo?"
"Yeah, you have to open it, I haven't learned how yet?" He said.
"Sure." She stuck her hands out and pretended to be pulling the doors open. Then they slid open for her, and she walked in pulling Ichigo after her.
A/N: A complex chapter but it's a need to know stuff about her ability and power of information. Ichigo needs to know her, right?