◊ (When You Left, Part 2- Ichigo) ◊
∆ (Rukia's Room) ∆ - ¤ (After the Dream) ¤ - Kurosaki Ichigo
That happened after Rukia woke up was the most surprisingly I had ever seen her do. She woke and burst into tears and apology. I was confused as to what she had done wrong. She was perfect, made no mistakes and what helpful but she went on.
"Rukia…?" I asked.
"Yeah?" She said refusing to look at me.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"I left," Was all she said.
"Yeah you leave and go places a lot. It's kind of part of life." I said patting her on the back in a confused sort of sympathetic way.
"I left you," She said continuing to cry.
"Yeah, that happens to. We can't be together 24-7, it's not allowed in most countries seeing as we're not married."
"I left you, for a long time." She said.
"What in the world are you talking about?"
"I left you." She cried.
I sighed; it would be a while until I got anything of importance, out of her. "Calm down Rukia, it's alright. I don't understand but I need to."
"I…" I put my hand over her mouth.
"Left me, yes, I know you said that a lot of times. What are you sad?" She cried and I held her close to me. "Rukia, you alright?" I needed to smack myself, hard.
"I'm worried."
"Why?" I asked.
"Because of the future."
"Ah." I answered. "What about it?"
"It doesn't seem that good." She said.
"Why not?" I asked.
"Because I left,"
"Could you fill me in a bit more here, Rukia?" I begged her.
"In the future…" She stopped. "Wait a sec." She was quiet and nodded. "Okay, well in the future we have a kid." A kid? Like when in the future.
"A kid, are you serious?" I asked.
"Yeah," I nodded. "Two." She answered. "I don't know where the other is though."
"Alright, so how many years in the future are we talking?" I asked.
"Not sure?" She answered.
"Well I guess we'll find out eventually, but why were you upset."
"Because I left." She said.
"How long?" I asked. Rukia isn't one to explain the extent of something, but time is something she would explain.
"2 years," She answered.
"Why?" I asked.
"Our second child," I went quiet, and she sighed. "The first pregnancy was extremely painful to both me and the child, Marie. I almost disappeared for good." For good? That wasn't good.
"Rukia, I'm…"
"Don't apologize, it hasn't happened yet."
"I know but I'm sorry that it happened that way."
"We can change it when we get there but that isn't why I'm sad."
"It isn't, then why?" I asked her.
"Because I left," She answered.
"Ah," I said.
"Rukia, I promise it'll all be okay. We'll fix anything. It hasn't happened yet, we can change the future. You'll be fine, I promise." I said holding her. She seemed so weak and vulnerable. It was completely different that how I use to see her. Sometimes I wish she would see herself, so she'd know how strong she really is. After all, she's fine the way she is.
"Ichigo…" She said smiling. I stayed with her until she fell asleep and then went back to my bedroom. Everything was going around my head. The last time she left was it that bad. I'd have to ask. It didn't seem so but yet again, I choose not to look back on that. I want to forget not having her with me.
I walked into Yuzu and Karin's room and Yuzu had just put Karla to sleep. "Ichigo, you need something?" Karin asked.
"Yeah, I need you to remind me of something." I said blankly.
"Oh, what?"
"How things were this summer, when Rukia was gone."
"Oh, you mean your sulking period. You were depressing." Karin said.
"I think he wants more details then that Karin." Yuzu said.
"Yeah, that would help."
"Well, you didn't want to leave your room, you were upset, and you weren't really hungry. You were all in your own world, sulking." Yuzu said.
"Yeah, you were mean to Yuzu and ignored your family as much as you could. You were overall a jerk."
"Sorry about that…" I said looking down at the floor. "I was…"
"We know. You were depressed and sad. It was obvious." Yuzu answered.
"You were in love with someone and they were taken away from you. We all understand because of… mom." Karin said quietly.
"Yeah, except it wasn't as bad when Rukia left. She said she'd be back, mom couldn't. What hurt the most was that there was a chance it could be a very long time. And…"
"You missed her. It's as simple as that. We understand. Don't worry about it. Why did this come up?" Yuzu said.
"She blames herself." I said in the quietest tone I could muster.
"For what?" Yuzu said.
"For me sulking."
"It isn't her fault." Karin said. "It's not like she had a choice did she?"
"Sort of yes, but sort of no. She wasn't allowed to come back again because of her previous treason but she had a chance to come back. She just wanted to wait." I said.
"So she'll really committed treason now?" Yuzu asked concern.
"No, she's an important diplomatic figure because of her endeavors. She's safe anywhere now."
"That's good." Karin said.
"Yeah, that's why the trusted her with Karla because Karla is an important evidence to a major crime. Karla is important to keep safe. So take good care of her will you?" I asked.
"Of course Ichigo," Yuzu said.
"You can trust us, can't you?" Karin asked.
"Yes, I know I can. Thanks for forgiving me." I said.
"Of course, we understand Ichigo. And Ichigo…" Yuzu said.
"Yeah?"
"Do you need anything else from us?"
"Actually if I could ask you another small favor that would be great." I said.
"Alright." Karin said.
"I know in addition to forgiving me and asking you to watch Karla, which is a lot. I have one more thing to ask of you two."
"Sure what is it?" Yuzu asked.
"If you could maybe explain to Rukia that she didn't do the most horrible think in the world by leaving me for less than a month, some way. I would be extremely grateful." I said.
"Leave it to me, I can handle this." Yuzu said.
"Your favors tend to be things that you're unable to do but anyone else could. It's kind of funny." Karin said.
"Well thanks; it's really important to me. Just like you guys."
"Don't get all mushy on us Ichigo, go to bed because if you don't dad will get you in the morning." I smiled.
"True and night Yuzu, Karin." They nodded and I returned to my room.
I returned to my room and I realized that what they said was completely true. I really didn't ask much of them compared to normal things. Moreover, definitely not compared to what I ask of Rukia. It seems that I ask a lot off her and she doesn't seem to care. Just like Yuzu and Karin. Maybe all girls are just easily satisfies with helping others. Just like mom was.
When She Left, how did I feel… (He fell asleep)
- Dream –
There was a loud knock on the door. "Who is it?" I asked.
"This is your father. Yuzu is in a cooking contest and won first. Karin's team just won the championship. We're going out to dinner to celebrate. Come on out." I sighed.
"No, I'll stay here. Tell them good job and what not. Bye." I said lying back in the bed.
A ghost that looked like Rukia showed up coming out from my closet. She stood there, leaned against the closet. "That sounds fun, going out somewhere to dinner. So it seems that your sisters are extremely talented aren't they?" She said.
"I guess going to dinner is fun. I know I should but I really don't feel like it. My sisters are both talented in their own ways I guess."
"You're useless just sitting home all day. You're pathetic you know that Ichigo. You are?"
Pathetic, that's how I was when she isn't here. When she left, she took away the usefulness and life that I had been given when she came here and made me a Soul Reaper. She gave me all the tools to undo the mistakes of my past. Without her, who was there to keep me from reverting to my old ways? That was what happened when she left.
When you left Rukia, you took away the meaning and usefulness of my life. I can't blame you though, because without you I would have never had the chance to be useful in the first place. You changed me to a way that made me seem like I had meaning, that I could do anything I wanted if I tried. You were everything to me; you made me how I am today. I can't blame you for wanting your own life for a while because you had done more than enough for me. I can't blame you for taking away you're part of me and allowing yourself to live. I'll always forgive you.
- Dream Over -
(He wakes up) "You alright?" Rukia says sitting in the chair beside my bed.
"Huh, yeah why?"
"Because you're sweating horribly and making a racket that Yuzu and I could hear from the kitchen." She said.
"Oh, yeah I'm fine. It was just a dream that I really needed."
"You needed a dream like that, weird. I don't get dreams so I don't know but if you wake up like that I don't think I want dreams." She said.
"Well that dream answered all my questions."
"Wow, dreams do that too, that's cool. Well you have to wake up, go to the kitchen and eat." I smiled. I grabbed her face kissed her and walked over to the dresser. Grabbed a change of clothes and took a shower. I walked into the kitchen.
"Morning Ichigo," Yuzu said feeding Karla her bottle.
"Morning Yuzu, where's Rukia?"
"She said she was going to get doughnuts." I sighed.
"You let her?"
"Yeah, why not?" Yuzu asked.
"Do you figure that's even healthy?" I asked.
"It is once in a while, it's not like she does it everyday." Yuzu said.
"Where'd she get the money from?" Karin asked walking in the room.
"I don't know." Yuzu answered.
"She has a grant because of watching Karla. She has money to take care of herself, and Karla now."
"That's great. This will make things on her a lot easier." Yuzu said happily.
"Yeah, she will be able to take real good care of Karla this way. You'll have to take her shopping at a baby store for Karla today, Ichigo." Karin said.
"Man, that doesn't sound interesting at all?"
"Sure it is Ichigo, it's exciting." Yuzu said.
"I agree. Shopping for babies isn't fun."
"It's easy and quick though. They can't argue with you over what they want because they're too young." Dad said, coming from the room. "I remember shopping with you guys after you were a week old. It was fun, there were all these people saying how cute you were."
"That sounds like really fun." Yuzu said.
"Why don't you take Rukia then, I don't know what to shop for you. Do you?" I asked.
"No, not really." She said.
"It's easy. Get a book on it, read it, then buy everything."
"Right." I said.
"Rukia should be able to handle it, Ichigo. She has maternal instincts. Just accompany her, and keep her happy. Just like if you were taking her shopping or anywhere." Dad said.
"Alright, I can handle it. I just can't believe we're eating doughnuts for breakfast." I said sighing.
"Really, that doesn't sound healthy." Dad said.
"Dad, Ichigo, doughnuts are okay for breakfast on occasion because they count as a serving of bread." Yuzu said.
"Yeah, even Yuzu isn't this strict when it comes to breakfast meals. Neither is Rukia." Karin said.
"Alright but knowing Rukia, she's never had one and will be extremely happy and hyper for a while. Who suggested it?" I asked.
"She was looking through a cookbook and found a picture of one. She wasn't sure if we had all the ingredients to make them so I told her she could just by them at a store."
"Oh, well I guess that's okay. It'll be fine." I said.
"Yeah, we need to lighten up and prepare for Rukia's return." After a few minutes, Rukia came back in with a large variety of a dozen (12) doughnuts. Orihime and Ishida walked in the room. They had returned late last night to secure Orihime as a basic level Shinigami since she couldn't defend herself and they didn't want her hurt. Ishida decided to accompany her.
"Hey guys, I bough doughnuts for breakfast." Rukia said sitting down happily at the table. Orihime was happy to and they went on talking crazily.
"Is this healthy?" Ishida asked.
"Not exactly but one time won't hurt." I answered. "Now eat." I said tossing him a doughnut. He adjusted his glasses and ate while the girls talked. "Oh yeah, Rukia." She turned to me.
"Yeah?" She asked.
"I'm taking you shopping today stuff for the baby." I said.
"Really, thanks Ichigo." Rukia said smiling.
"You're welcome."
"Where'd the baby come from?" Ishida asked.
"It's a special diplomatic baby that Rukia and I were sent back with to protect." I explained.
"Ah, that's interesting."
"No, she's adorable. Can I come with you guys to go shopping?" Orihime asked.
"I guess you could, I really don't know what I'm doing so I guess you guys are welcomed to come, right Ishida?" I asked enjoying torturing him.
"I guess since you can be clueless some of the time." He said. Rukia raised her hand.
"This is going to be great. Do we bring the baby with us?" She asked.
"I don't know." I answered her.
"Well since she isn't yours and you aren't exactly sure her size and such. It would be intelligent to bring the child along." Ishida said.
"Wow, this is even more fun." Orihime said. Ishida sighed and so did I. I wonder how Chad's doing.
"How was Chad doing when you guys came back?" I asked.
"He was doing absolutely great. He was training very well when we saw him training." Orihime said.
"Yeah, he's getting along great. He decided to stay in order to make sure he is at full strength when we return or the war breaks out. Which ever comes first?" Ishida said.
Rukia closed her eyes and looked at her lap. I saw her and smiled. I put my hand on hers. "Don't worry, everything will go smoothly." I said. There was a knock at the door. "I'll get it." I said out loud. I opened the door.
"Ichigo, we were told to take you, Rukia, Ishida and Orihime to an apartment complex along with everyone else." Hitsuguya-taichou said.
"Everyone else?" Rukia questioned.
"All the other girls are here to be protected as well." He said opening the door farther.
"Hey everyone." Rukia said waving. "Well bye Yuzu, Karin, Mr. Kurosaki; Ichigo have to go with the other diplomats from my country." He nodded. I took the baby from Yuzu, handed it to Rukia who held it gently and we walked out of the room.
"I don't believe that everyone is here, isn't Earth amazing?" Rukia asked.
"It seems, larger then I remember." Unohana said.
"Yeah, it's extremely large. Larger than anything I've seen before. You can live millions of lives and never see all of it." Rukia said.
"I'm sure you could." Unohana said.
We all arrived at the apartment complex. Hitsuguya stopped us. He held up a list. "Here is how all the rooms are split up for living."
(1) Kukaku - Orihime (2) Nemu - Ise (4) Isane - Matsumomo (5) Yoshiro - Hinamori (7) Unohana - Rukia (6) Kurosaki - Hitsuguya (3) Abarai - Ishida"Understood?" He asked. Everyone nodded or showed some sign of agreement. He walked up to the desk we need living quarters for 14 people, two singles for each room, and 7 rooms.
"Alright, payment?" The man asked. Hitsuguya laid down an envelope and we took the keys and walked to our rooms. The rooms were separated a male room down a hall so in case of emergency there was a male rooms across the hall from them or next door. One side of the hall was rooms 1, 3, 5, and 7. The other side was 2, 4, and 6.
"Are we allowed to leave the complex?" Orihime asked.
"Yeah, everyone is free to wonder around but you're not allowed by yourself, understood?" Orihime nodded. "Abarai, Kurosaki, and Ishida we have special orders so come to mine and Kurosaki's room for orders."
"Hitsuguya; Orihime and I need to go shopping for the baby. Is that alright?" Rukia asked.
"Why don't you get settled in and I'll send Ishida and Kurosaki with you to take you two." Rukia nodded and went to her room which was across the hall at a diagonal from mine.
I walked in my room and we sat on the couch. "The only orders we have different is that since there are 10 girls and 4 of us. 1 of us has to be here at all times if there are more then 3 of them here."
"Alright, that's it. Oh yeah, and under special orders Rukia and the baby are not to be left along at all. This excludes when they're in there room which in that case one of is nearby." Everyone nodded. "Alright, Ishida and Kurosaki you to stay with Orihime and Rukia as they go shopping and whatever." We nodded and left to go shopping with the girls. I knocked on Rukia's door knowing that it was inappropriate to walk in when there were other girls in the room. Rukia answered the door holding the baby in her arms.
"You ready to go?" He asked.
"Yeah, let's go." She said walking down the hall to Orihime's room. Rukia walked in and then Orihime came out with her. "We're good to go." She said.
"Where's Ishida?" I asked.
"Here." He said standing by the elevator.
"Alright let's go." Rukia handed me the baby and began reading another one of her novels that explained stuff for her. This one seemed to actually be a manual for childcare. She might actually learn something useful from it.
We walked to the nearest baby store and walked in. "What does your book say?" I asked Rukia.
"There is a lot of stuff we need. A carrier, a stroller, baby food, baby bottles, baby toys, a crib, and that's about it. The major things and that take care of it, along with normal stuff like blankets and pillows and stuff." I nodded.
We walked around for a bit. "Where do we begin?" I asked.
Rukia raised her hand which had become a natural way for her to ask questions. Everyone looked at her, it works but it's weird. "Can I have someone help me here?" She asked. A woman smiled.
"You're a new mother aren't you?"
"No, I was left to watch this baby for a few months and I wasn't really given any directions. And I'm kind of lost." Rukia explained.
"Her mother left you with her?"
"No her mom's dead, and yeah, I'm left with her but my friends at the agency are trying to find someone to take care of her but until then I'm in charge of her."
"Ah, so these people are here to help." Rukia nodded.
"Well let's begin with a baby carrier so you don't have to carry that little one around." Rukia nodded. "Or he does in your case." She said to me. Rukia and the lady whose name is Diane got everything that Rukia would need and they said that they'd even deliver it all at the apartment complex.
"Thanks a lot for your help!" Rukia said.
"You're welcome. I have to of my own little ones and I remember my first time buying stuff for them. I was just as if not more lost then you were. You seem very experienced with this."
"That's strange because this is my first time being near a baby in my life." Rukia said.
"Then I'm sure this is an extremely happy and exciting experience for you." Diane said.
"Yeah it is. I'm enjoying it. Thanks for all you help today, bye." Diane bowed and walked off. "See, now we're done Ichigo." Rukia said happily.
"Yeah we are, let's go home before the stuff gets there." She nodded. We walked home and Ishida and I set up all of Rukia's stuff along with Renji's help.
I decided to take Rukia out to dinner and Orihime volunteered with Ishida to watch the baby which was fine with me because I needed to talk to Rukia about last night. We arrived at the restaurant and we were seated.
"Rukia… about last night?" She nodded trying to keep in normal spirits.
"Yeah?" She asked.
"Well I wanted to tell you something."
"Alright, go ahead." She said sadly. I took her hands in my own.
"You have no reason to be ashamed off, at all Rukia. Before you came along I was useless and had to purpose and meaning to life. I was not really living my life like I should have been with my family."
"But when I came."
"When you came you gave me a purpose, it was to protect my family. You changed my whole life around. You gave me a purpose, one that I hadn't had for a while. You made me stronger gave me morals and a reason to go on with everyday."
"So when I left…"
"When you left… I figured that my life was over. I figured that without you, there was no use in doing anything else. There was no reason to. I was wrong, and I suffered because I relied a little too much on you. I realized in that dream that I rely a lot on you and that's what caused my life to seem to end because you were gone. I should used what you showed me about appreciating the simple things like school, friends, eating and life all around, to better myself. But without you, I fell apart."
"But I still caused all those problems." I brought her close to me and kissed her.
"Without you, I'm a mess. When you left, I was a mess. I needed you Rukia; I still do and probably always will. So you can't leave my side." She smiled. "When you left, I suffered. When you returned, it was just as if the rest of me was back. It was perfect."
"So, you forgive me?"
"There is no reason not to. I can't blame you because you wanted to take the part of me that you touched back. It's your life to live. Whatever you want to do it is fine with me, Rukia. It's not your fault that I fell apart without you." I said pulling her close to me and I smiled.
"But if I never…" I put my hand gently on her lips.
"If you never came and met me. I would be as if I was without you forever and there would be nothing but you, to make me happy ever again. I would have suffered much more and had no hope for the future." I said.
"Thanks." She said shyly. I smiled.
"You can leave me whenever you want, as long as I can go to you, and take you back, or you can come to me. I know from now on, that it will be all right. Rukia, I love you." She blushed and I held her hands in mine. She smiled.
"I love you too, Ichigo." She said shyly.