◊ (The Pain of Your Lover Is Yours) ◊
∆ (Earth) ∆ - ¤ (2 days later) ¤ - VP: Rukia Kuchiki
I jumped out of the bed and scrambled across the floor, sending myself crashing into Ichigo who had just walked into the room. I, landing on top of him. I smiled. "Sorry Ichigo."
"It's alright Rukia, what are you so excited about?" He asked. "It's just school."
"No Ichigo, the school play." I answered running to my closet to find a dress to wear that day. You see, the high school musical was a big thing at the school. I wanted to be apart of it, and I intended to be. Today, was auditions and I had to do well. That was why I was awake before Ichigo could wake me up.
"What about it? Wait, are you going out for it?" I nodded. "What part?"
"Amy Wyllie." I answered. "Have you heard about it? It's about this girl who has suffered a horrible accident and refuses to talk to anyone, to speak at all. She speaks through her eyes and actions and thus she finds love in a boy who can't understand her words or actions but he knows her heart, having gone through a similar thing, but it never affected him. She takes the advice of another boy who refuses to talk barely, besides on necessary occasions. It's a good story. It takes part in a lot of scenes. It's the longest play they've had in years. It's broken into the scene where she goes to the school, the accident, and her movement toward the future which is a lot of small scenes."
"You think I could do it?" He asked me.
"I don't know. You could try, the audition has a lot of people but I'm sure you could find a part that fits your personality well." He nodded, leaving the room grabbing my script off the desk, and walking off. "Ichigo, I…" 'whatever' I mumbled to myself.
(A/N: This is my personal story line that she is talking about. So you can't use it, it's strictly mine. However once I publish the story you can feel free to read it.)
I changed into the normal school uniform as I made everyone in the house breakfast. I had no clue why I needed a script. She had no lines, she was silent until that last scene. I knew those lines by heart anyway. I finished breakfast and hurriedly went to school with Ichigo and Hitsuguya tailed behind Hinamori and I. She too wanted to be in the play as the girl, Nancy. It was the supporting character, Daniel's lover by the end.
"Are you going to tryout?" I asked Hitsuguya.
"Yeah, Hinamori practically is forcing me too." Hinamori nodded.
"I'm trying out as Daniel." He said. I smiled, that would be good for them.
"Cool, I'm going out for Nate, he sounds cool." I laughed, that was exactly who Ichigo is to me back then, it's a good part for him.
The school day passed fast as soon it was after school and the twenty other girls to try out were there too and twenty other guys. We blended in the crowd, as they split us into sections. "Ms. Hinamori and Mr. Hitsuguya, on stage as Daniel and Nancy."
They were given a desk prop like the ones described in the scene. He sat down at it, on a fake prop laptop, he pretended to work on it. She walked up to him, closing the laptop. He looked up at her annoyed. She smiled. "Don't be all serious all the time." She took his hands and pulled him. "You need to have fun for once." She said with a gentle smile, facing him, as she pulled him off stage.
"Now we have Ms. Kuchiki and Mr. Kurosaki, as… um… Amy and Nate."
I sat at the base of a prop tree, they would have fake trees for props later but this is what we had to do with during auditions. I pulled out a book I had in my bag and began reading. It was one of the things Amy adored. 'Nate' ran up to me. He collapsed next to me. "You must like this tree; it's pretty nice I guess. I know you want to be alone Ames, but I'm not going to let you have your way. You have to speak to me one day. I'll make sure of it." He said. He looked over the book, snatching it out of my hands. "That sounds depressing, you need something cheerful." He handed me a book that he pulled out of his backpack. I mouthed the words. The Next Day Forward. I acted perfectly.
"Fine, very good. Get off my stage." Ichigo and I hurried off.
"I like the play." Ichigo said as we wondered the halls. "It sounds good."
"They said it's not as generic as most school plays." Hinamori mentioned.
"The story seems really sad."
"I don't get it, what was the accident that happened to her. The story never says." Ichigo said paging through the script front to back, back to front, and over again.
"It doesn't matter, all that needs to be said, is." I answered him. "We learn how it has such an effect on her and the results of it; what does it matter what actually happened to her?"
"It seemed important to me." Ichigo said. "How are you supposed to now how to act out the character if you don't know how she feels due to the accident."
I sighed. "It's called The Heartless Reaction for a reason. It's about how she became heartless as a reaction to the accident. The focus of the story isn't the accident or it would be called The Accident." I told him.
"She said she was thinking about calling the story that but everyone agreed since it wasn't really about the accident that it didn't deserve to be called as such. It's more about how if we hide how we feel, we can't be happy. We have to open up which is the main lesson learned by Daniel and eventually Amy by the end." Hinamori explained.
"So what do we know about the accident?" Ichigo asked as we leaned against a wall in a hall we had stumbled into by accident.
"Well… we know that it took the life of her mother and the events were so horrible that it causes those who hear about it to lose their sanity. The only reason that Amy stays sane is by keeping it sealed tightly inside herself, never speaking it. She doesn't talk, afraid that that will come from her lips on someone who doesn't need to be hurt by the events." I said.
"Man… that's sad. I think I'd probably take my life if it was that bad. I'd go insane before I sealed it up in myself. I don't think I could contain it. I'd just loose it, or kill myself." Ichigo responded.
"That's why it's an incredible story. It's a story of healing wounds that someone would think are untreatable. It's like pouring salt into an open wound that is just covered by a Band-Aid so no one sees its horrors." I responded.
"Good example Rukia." Hinamori complimented. "I like the story also. I want to read the book. I'm going to start to as soon as I find the library."
"Can you get me a copy also?" I asked her. "I think it will help me understand my character better, even if I don't get the part, I love it." She nodded and walked off.
"I'll go with her." Hitsuguya said quietly, following her.
"He's protective of her." Ichigo said.
"This coming from you." He looked at me confused. "Aren't you protective of me?" He just crossed his arms, walking off. I laughed following behind him, as he pouted.
"I'm not that protective." He managed to respond to me.
"Yeah you are, don't lie. Moreover, it's fine. Thank you." I said leaning my head on his shoulder. "I appreciate it, since I'm constantly endangering myself. I need you to be. Someone has to be."
He nodded, kissing my forehead. We walked down another hall. This high school was different then the one we had previously attended, by a lot. It was nicer, more expensive and way different. A bunch of kids showed up. "Hey you." Ichigo turned looked at them.
"You want to start something?" Ichigo asked.
"No, as if. We wanted to tell you two congrats on getting the leads for the play. You thought we wanted to fight, as if." The walked off. I hugged him.
"We made it, we made it." I said jumping up and down. He hugged me, holding me tight to him. As I said, the school was much different. They didn't want to start fights as they did at Ichigo's old school.
Hinamori came down the stairs, sliding down the banisters. Somehow I didn't think you were allowed to do that. "We…"
"Made it. I know. These kids came up and congratulated us on making it." She smiled and we hugged.
We both walked into the auditorium. She walked up to us. "Mrs. Annie Partaker, nice to meet you."
I stepped forward and shook her hand, then bowed. "I'm Rukia Kuchiki."
"Yes I'm quite aware. You seemed to be the perfect candidate to play as Ms. Amy as I saw with all of you, it's like you've lived as your character had. It's impressive but how much can you stand of the arts."
"Anything." I answered. "I've had a life, and too many problems. There's nothing you can do to push me farther than that."
"Alright, well we practice everyday after school. You have to memorize your lines and the movements, and acting that takes place." I nodded, understanding everything that had to be done in order to do that.
We arrived home and I began reading the book that Hinamori had picked up. However, I had to set it down as I went to the park and climbed into the tree, with the book. It was more peaceful here.
I sat on a branch and placed my back against the trunk. I looked over onto the branch that connected to mine. I saw a blonde haired teenage, taller than he needed to be as he smacked his head on a branch, loosing his balance. I giggled as he used his hand to grab onto the tree as he fell. I crawled over to him. I looked at him, amused. "You mind giving me a hand?" I sat on the branch and took his other hand helping him up, while instead he pulled me down, holding me with one hand, holding with the other. "Sorry I pulled you down here, hold tight." I gasped, acting as we fell to the ground. I, in his arms as his feet landed.
Ichigo. I said sighing. "So Amy, what book are you reading, I thought I got you a new book to read." I nodded, climbing out of his arms to the food of the tree, leaning against it. I reached up into the tree to get my book. I jumped, still being unable to reach it. He grabbed the book and placed it in my hands. "You're welcome." He said. He then wrapped my arms around my waist and kissed me. I, as normal, melted deeply in his arms. We collapsed, gently to the ground.
"I don't remember that being the script." I said crossing my arms.
"I improvised."
"You don't improvise with plays Ichigo. It's exactly what's on the paper. At least I got some practice with the play."
"As if you needed practice, you're good at conveying your feelings through your body, and climbing trees. It's practically the only thing she does, that and she's very shy."
"Really? Had I known, I would have hid from you."
Ichigo stood up, helping me up. "So what parts do you need work with?" He asked.
"The play is really small, it's not that big. I'm actually quite masterful of it."
"Didn't I tell you?"
"Yeah, but why?"
"I'm just being supportive, caring and most of all. Would you mind accompanying myself and Hitsuguya along with Hinamori, who is Hitsuguya's date for the evening, for dinner?" He asked, taking a formal bow.
"What reason?"
"Our parts in the play of course silly." He said kissing my forehead. "So?"
"Ah, a congratulatory dinner, marvelous." I said.
"Yes, exactly." He picked me up, spinning me around. "It's a fancy dinner place my dad recommended us to. Do you know how to dance?"
"I'm not sure really."
"Hitsuguya and Hinamori both though you would be able to, since they could." Ichigo said.
"I guess we'll find out later won't we?" I asked him with a smirk. I really didn't know the kind of dancing we would do tonight, but if it wasn't anything like how we danced in Soul Society, then it would be a very interesting night. Other than that. I'm not sure how tonight is going to be."
Ichigo let me go as I grabbed my bag, and my book and ran off, toward the house. "Rukia!" Ichigo yelled. I stopped and looked over my shoulder. "Where are you going?" He asked.
"I'm going to get a dress with Hinamori. It's important to look nice."
"Don't go over board."
"Don't you worry about it, that's Hinamori and my problem now isn't it?" I walked into the house where Yuzu was standing.
"Rukia, can you take her with you." I nodded, thanking her and took Karla from her. I went into my room and got her carrier. Ran into Hinamori's room.
"Come on, we have to get a dress for tonight." I said pulling her out the door.
"Bye Hitsuguya-kun." She said quietly.
We ran in the store and I tried on a lot of things, I adorned myself in light pink dress, at the waist it was tied tightly with many ribbons, to my waist as to show my form and since this was a real body I didn't mind as much as that fake one I was in. I was given a white under shirt to match it, and a light pink pair of shoes and pearl necklace. My hair was done up into small curls.
Hinamori was the hard one to shop for, honestly. She left her hair in a bun, par normal. She wore a button up black shirt, and a black skirt with black shoes and a diamond cross necklace with a black chain. Her make-up was done beautifully. The only reason it was so hard was because we had to keep trying stuff on to find exactly what we needed, everything and nothing to satisfy her.
Ichigo and Hitsuguya were sitting in a both in the restaurant as we walked in there. They didn't notice, so we quietly sad beside them. They turned to see us, not expecting us and were awestruck. "You like?" I said with a smile. I held Karla in my arms. He leaned over and kissed my cheek.
"Yeah, I like it. Trust me; you look much better in your own clothes then mine or my sister's." He whispered quietly in my ear. I smiled, kissing his cheek back. He looked at Hinamori. "You like nice also." She smiled.
"Rukia and I tried everything on in that store, with little success. She still thinks this is too basic." She said fixing her skirt.
"You're just not use to the styles here, knowing Rukia, you won't stay like that for long. Especially knowing what they'll stick you in for the play." Ichigo answered.
"I thought the school is strict on dress." Hitsuguya asked.
"I was talking about the other scenes where they can improvise and the before and after scenes." Ichigo said laughing.
"I heard it was a nice selection."
"It is, but not always the most… well whatever. I think we'll all do fine." Ichigo said. "Did you ever decide what you're going to do with Karla?"
"No, not really. I think taking her back to Soul Society and finding a family there is best since soon her body will need things it can't acquire here, and only those in Soul Society can help."
"Maybe when she's older, you could make her a Vizard." Hinamori suggested. "I mean… it was a misfortune for her to be born dead."
"I guess I was lucky to have a Vizard dad, a Human mom and still be living." Ichigo said.
"Yeah, but possibly…" I closed my mouth, resting one of my elbows on the table. "Maybe… you'd think that living genetics are existent where dead ones aren't. So the only one's that could transfer are the living, as if they both were, right?"
"Yeah, that's right. I guess they're real no danger, unless you're completely dead unlike how we altered ours to be more living than we figured." Ichigo said happily.
"So that means, we can live completely human lives with no risks."
"Wait, are you sure that theory is right? Look at Karla. A slight human existence, but it's dead. How did she even have a body?"
"Her mom is human so she has 50 human DNA the rest would be non-existent, it would be a Shinigami, or dead soul. Therefore, she's 50-50 human-Shinigami. I guess she's a hollow really, or a Vizard since she has part human, Shinigami existence. It's still quite confusing." Hitsuguya said, trying to explain the events.
"I'm so confused also. A Shinigami is a Soul, a purified, human less form. A Hollow is a Soul, a faulty, human version. It's a soul that still carries a flesh existence. A human is a human soul captured in a doll form." Hinamori repeated. "A Vizard is a Shinigami, human cross over, with a hollow. It's all three right? Like us?"
"Yeah, I think so." Ichigo said scratching his head. "I'm lost."
I sighed. "We all are. Vizard is all three. A Shinigami that has a human body that is intermingled with it's soul. Hollow is both living and dead. Shinigami is all dead. Human is all alive. Vizard is a human body, intermingled with a soul that has died." I tried my best to explain but it was complicated.
"So what is she?" Ichigo asked.
"Part Shinigami, Part Human she's a… Hollow." I answered. "She has a human shell, as weak as ours are, they exist in this realm of existence, like a hollow can, since we're part hollow. She's a hollow, definitely." Hinamori answered.
"Really?" I asked.
"I guess. She has a physical existence and a soul but…" Hinamori sighed. It was beyond complex. I took out my drawing pad that I kept in my bag I had brought and began drawing. Ichigo and everyone were about to get smacked for insulting my drawings but hopefully, hopefully it would work.
"Don't worry, I'll figure it out later, promise." The waiter came over and took our order.
After our order was taken, Ichigo extended a hand to me. "Since you're dressed very nicely tonight would you like to dance with me?"
"I would be delighted to." I said giggling as I stood up and we walked onto the dance floor. It was a classy place; one that did traditional dances; those I learned of in Soul Society from Nii-san. I took his hand in mine as he placed his hand around my waist, I, around his shoulder.
"Ah. So you can dance, but to what extent?"
"As far as those in the royal family have taught me for such events?" He smirked.
"Play nice." I whispered in his ear. He smirked in response, it was just a lot of normal things, he held me close to him as we spun around a while, eventually we tired and sat down as our meal came. We sat down. We finished up quickly, danced a little more and then we had desert, it was late and we promised we'd be home. Karla surprisingly had been happy with the trade off between Hinamori and me.
I walked home, putting Karla to bed, then returning to the forest with Ichigo. I sat down by a tree, leaning against Ichigo. "I'm not human."
"You have a human form as a result as being a Vizard. You may not be alive, but neither am I, but by having a human form, you exist here." I buried my head in his chest.
"Can I really have a life here?" He lifted my chin so my eyes met his.
"My dad's a Shinigami, he had a family, a wife, he lived among humans and no one even knew he was one until he told us, same with all the other Vizards, like Urahara. I'm sure we can do the same."
"Your dad couldn't be part of the human world, AND have constant contact with Soul Society. He had to give it back, to find love." Ichigo sighed. I know I was being complicated. "I just don't get how he could." I said, tears tailing down my face. He pulled me into his chest and he just held me.
"Rukia… in the end, I promise. We'll be happy." He kissed my forehead. "I'll do anything, I promise you."
"Touching really, but you won't get a chance." The squeaky retched voice of Ichimaru came closer. He held me tight as he stood up. "Hand her and the orb over."
"I don't have it." I told him.
"I still need you." In a blink of an eye, I was being held with my arms behind my back, tied. He placed his head on my neck. "So… are you aware that in this form… if I kill you we're not really sure what you'll be made into. You're already just a soul attacked to a human flesh body. Just an authentic Gigai. One that feels like a human." He ran his fingers down my arm. "Yep, you're just a soul in a Gigai, with hallow power rein compassed. That's what I want to be but you can't grant me that, can you?"
I set a blaze sphere around me, I, falling to the ground and he jumped away. "Leave me." I said.
He picked me up, tossing me into the air, as I disappeared from Earth to the Hollow Realm. "She's nothing big, like he could have a problem with you." An Arrancar said placing his ugly fingers under my chin. I turned away. "Ah, you defile those stronger than you. I see. So… if you'd just fix our problems, then we'd be on our way."
"What do you need?" I asked, straggling to stand up. He walked toward me, forcing me toward a wall. Unlimited power, control of all realms of existence. What all want." He said. I collapsed to the ground, crying. "It's alright, you'll die soon enough. You can escape here, no one can come." I pressed my body at the wall, and went through it, running through the streets, not having my legs bounded. I ran through buildings, focusing my energy. I was above the limitations of hollows, Shinigami and humans. I'm a Vizard. I am strong. I have to be.
I ran into something. Something that I couldn't use any of my powers to surpass. I looked up and I was stunned. Aizen Sosuke. "I heard you gave my little play thing all it wanted, and more I see. I'm not happy with that. I wanted nothing much, I wanted her, you, the orb, and the death of all who oppose me. I wanted what everyone wants… power."
"If you're talking about Hinamori, Hitsuguya would never let you have her."
"You may be right. Yet, I think not." I gasped. "If I do believe correctly, Ichigo promised not to let anything happen to you. I do call this something, or doesn't he call this."
"You."
"It would be wise for you to know that I'm stronger, better trained, and overall going to win. Don't defy me; I can easily kill you. It may just turn out to be less problems to find the orb myself and try to override the human connection it has on your soul, then to keep you alive." I gulped. He held me up by the neck, as I choked. "You need to be a good pawn and play your part until you need to be sacrificed for a better part. You are just a pawn to be used and discarded. Any minute now, I could sacrifice you. It would complicate things, but I have that freedom to do so still." He tossed my body at something, and I couldn't catch my breath in time to gather strength to stop him. I felt my weak human form collide with the wall. I bit my lip to stop myself from screaming. My body fell to the ground.
"You…" He walked over to my body and kicked me. I bit my lip harder. "Eh."
"Be a good little girl and stay alive, but obey me." I wanted to contradict him, but I don't have the strength to. "Ichimaru, come take her somewhere, but off the streets, she's a guest of honor. She doesn't belong here." Ichimaru appeared with a evil smirk-like grin on his face.
"Ichigo." I mumbled as my body left consciousness into a dream realm that I had never had.
I slowly opening my eyes scared what I would find there. I saw nothing, there was just nothing; I was covered in wood and steel. My body ached, more than normal. How long had I been unconscious. "Hello?" I managed to say through my pain.
"Rukia, you're alive?" A voice said. It was Hinamori. "We all came to get you but we couldn't find you. The fight blew up everything. We though we had accidentally killed you in the fight. I'm so glad you're alright." She said pulling the collapsed stuff off of me. I looked under me to find a dead human being. I jumped back. "They were trying to take you out of here. To Soul Society but we stopped all exiting. I'm sorry we hurt you."
"I was in much worst condition before, trust me."
"What happened?"
"Um… let's just say Aizen Sosuke is an abusive person. Not just mentally, but physically as well." I said standing up. "Walls here are hard when you're not trying to make it through them."
"I'm sure they are. He… hurt you?" She asked kneeling beside me. "I thought…" She began to cry, I hugged her.
Hitsuguya appeared. "Is she alright? And you?" He asked.
"The truth about him hurts her still." He nodded, understanding my statement. He picked her to her feet and hugged. "Is Ichigo alright?"
"We were looking for any survivors."
"What happened to those who die here?" I asked.
"They're gone."
"What…"
"Like if a quincy out-right kills them; they're gone. No longer existent." He said adjusting her weight against him, leaning her slightly over his shoulder. "We have no proof either of them are gone for good, but we have no proof either of them are here either."
"Ichigo!" I screamed as much as my sore painful body could manage. "Ichigo." I said as loudly as I could before I slumped to the rubble beneath my feet.
"Get a hold of yourself, Rukia. We have to return to Soul Society or Earth. Which do you want to do?" He asked me.
"Home, Earth." I mumbled as I stood up, opened the gate and walked through. Even through my physical pain, the pain that I felt for him, this emotional pain hurt worst. He promised that I'd be okay, and I'm sure I will but he promised I would be happy in the end too. How can I do that with out him? He has to be okay. He just has to be.
I walked in the house and sat on my bed as Karla cried. I brought her into my arms. I wonder she knows that Ichigo's gone, can she tell? I don't think so. Maybe she just senses my distress. "Sh… he'll be back. He just has to be." I said, sitting on my bed, leaning against the bedpost with her in my arms. "He just has to be. He just has to be." I mumbled until my eyes closed again.
I awoke as the sun entered in a foreign room. "Ichigo! Ichigo. Are you back?" I screamed. I felt a weight pressed against me. I was about to scream. Had I laid on Karla?!
I felt the figure climb on top of me and kiss me, then rolled off of me. I was about so scream, but tears fell first. "Rukia? Rukia. Are you alright?" It was Ichigo. I smiled, hugging him tight.
"Ichigo, it's you. You're not dead. You're not! I knew you couldn't be?" I didn't want to let go. There was nothing anyone could do to make me let go. "Ichigo." I said crying.
He ran his hands gently through my mob of a thing called hair, as he gently got the tangles out of it. "Sh… Rukia. Everything's going to be okay. Everything's going to be all right. I'm here. I'll never leave you."
"Promise?" I asked.
He kissed my forehead. "I can't promise that with the unpredictable way our lives are but I'll try with all my strength to return to you. I wouldn't leave you unhappy but if I do ever leave, just be happy for me. I wouldn't die if it wasn't for a good reason. To protect you or my family or friends, so know that." He said as he rested back against the backboard. I rested my head against his shoulder.
"Oh, Ichigo. Thank you." I said with a smile.
Then an eruption came and something went through Ichigo's heart, and he went lifeless. "Killing him in such a feeble state wasn't a challenge. You made him weak, and for that, you must suffer." The voice said. They came, picking me up and threw me into an empty room. It was small cramped and damp. "You'll die a life, alone and loveless. I, having killed your lover. Good-bye Rukia Kuchiki."
I screamed in horror, waking up. Hinamori ran into the room as Karla also began crying, I, with her. She sat next to me, rubbing my back. "It was just a dream Rukia. You'll be alright."
"I want Ichigo, Hinamori. I want him so much." I said curling my legs into my body, and crying.
"Come on, we have school. I know it's an hour early but you shouldn't sleep." I nodded, understanding as I dressed and prepared for school.
Yuzu, Karin and HIS father sat at the table along with Hinamori and Hitsuguya. "Onee-san, where is Nii-san?" I stopped my movements. Yuzu… he's… - I couldn't bear to even think to tell her.
"MIA?" HIS father asked me.
"Hai." I answered sadly nodding as I continued. "MIA." Missing In Action.
I walked mindlessly out the door, not caring who saw me crying, who saw me in my depressed state. I really didn't care who saw me like this, I just wanted it to be stopped. I finally arrived to class and sat down. "Rukia-chan, where is Ichigo?" Inoue asked me.
"MIA Orihime, MIA." I answered lifelessly. I couldn't bear it. I hid my face in my arms and I laid down on the desk and cried further. I didn't care who knew, or didn't know what was going on. Ichigo, for the moment, was all that mattered.
As I walked to class, everyone talked to me. They either said things to me like good-luck in the play, congrats on getting the part, or congrats, or simple expressions. The other more painful statement of sorts being a question more or less, "Where is Ichigo, Kurosaki-san, Ichigo-kun, Mr. Kurosaki?" How they addressed him didn't matter. I answered with one response, MIA. I tried not to cry, I really did, but it hurt. It hurt so much.
Soon it was time for the play to begin. "Ms. Kuchiki, where is."
"MIA, an accident." Hinamori answered for the teacher. I nodded.
They had a sit-in do his parts. I responded just as she would have. Since we started at the beginning, it was crucial that I show any emotions, and I was just fine that. I looked blank, lost, sad and hopeless. At this time, I was doing the best acting I had in my entire life, which made me sad.
Hinamori and Hitsuguya left while I remained in the tree. I didn't feel like climbing down. Our teacher walked over to me. "We've been dismissed you know Rukia." She said.
"Hai." I hopped from the tree, my feet, lifelessly hitting the hollow stage. Hollow, I shuttered at the word now. I would until he returned. It reminded me not of hollows, but of the hollow feeling that had replaced my happiness since he's been gone.
I walked down the aisle leading to the exit. "Rukia, would you like to talk?" I shook my head and continued on, lifelessly.
I went to the park and cried with the memories of the day before hit me. I collapsed to my knees and cried. Suddenly I heard the gate open. I looked up, with hope. My face fell, to see Renji. "Why the sad, long face Rukia?" Renji said looking down on me. "Did Ichigo…" I began shaking. I couldn't cry, not now. I had to take control, for once. "Rukia, are you alright?" I began crying, tears finally falling that I felt I would never let loose.
"He's gone. I can't find him. No one can. MIA, Renji. MIA. He's Missing IN Action. Missing… IN Action." I screamed, crying. "I want him back Renji, I love him and I want him back. You don't understand. I need him back. Please, bring him back. I hurt so much. It won't stop. It has to. It hurts so much. It's his pain. Emotional pain has never heart so much. It has to be his pain. Stop it, save him, please." I cried. He knelt down and pulled me into a hug.
"I'll do whatever I can to help you." He said, finally releasing me. "I'll find him, I promise I will."
"Arigato, Renji-kun." I said.
"You go back to his house, take care of the baby and try to heal the pain you feel. He's alive; I know it too. Have hope, and Rukia, don't worry." I nodded and walked off.
I made dinner, as lifelessly as I had done it before, and then I went to sleep. Karla, still in my arms. Today I didn't care what people thought of me. I needed Karla; she needed me. She wouldn't stop crying, unless I held her, so I would go to school with her.
I walked into the school. They all looked at me, with faces, so different then the ones they had given me the day before. The rumors had began, it was inevitable, not that I cared. I would be strong, and surpass this problem.
A boy ran up to me. "You're Rukia Kuchiki, aren't you?" I nodded. "Is it true that that's your baby and Ichigo left me? That's why you're so quiet and upset. You're hurt from that?"
"My child. He's missing; he could be dead. I'm unsure. He didn't leave me. I hurt because he may be dead, and that would make me sad. No, these don't have any connection." I answered. "Tell all the others if you wish. I'm not repeating this again."
Orihime came to the rehearsal after school. She held Karla while I acted. I did perfectly, however, my heart wasn't really in it, I was empty. After we were dismissed, Orihime handed me Karla. I walked home with her. Hitsuguya and Hinamori showed up only for rehearsal and school. They disappeared, looking for Ichigo. However returned at midnight with no success or Ichigo to do anything.
I stand here, with nothing to do
Just watching, and waiting for you,
I Hope for something better, something new
You left me, without a clue
For your return I Wish, you would
To remain, you wish, you could
Guide me by your side
Hold me on a line
So as you press forward
I press forward, ever onward
I stay here
Waiting for you
Never moving
Always waiting
I am me
You are you
Not the same
We are two
© Aniecä Sophistica – That's me!
¤ (2 Months Later) ¤
I began to sit on the porch every second that I had free, waiting for him. I wished for him to return to me. I stared up into the sky. "Ichigo, return to me."
I ran up to the park and sat in the highest branch of the tree I could, staring up into the sky. I swung on the branch, as I fell backward. I sighed, too tired to break my fall. Who knows what damage I'll have when I wake up. I still have major damage from before. Maybe I'll… I don't know what happens when I die. I'm just a soul tied to a human body, I guess… I… become… something.
Rukia's slightly mangled body was caught. "Stupid." A voice said through all the trees. "Too tired to even sit in a tree, yet not too tired to climb it. Just like her." He carried her slightly mangled body to a bench below the tree. "Rest easy until another day, Rukia. Bye."
Hitsuguya and Hinamori walked to the park to see Rukia lying on a park bench. He sighed. He carried her slightly mangled body back to HIS house as she slept soundly. Something that hadn't occurred in quite a long time, too long, two months.
A/N: It's a bit short of my normal chapters but you're going to like the next chapter so expect it to be good.