◊ (The Solution for Leaving) ◊
∆ (The Park) ∆ - ¤ (Later That Day) ¤ - Φ (Rukia) Φ
I had picked up a dark red velvet dress that had gold trimming, put it on, and went up to park. I waited in a tree. "Rukia, has anything changes since I've been gone."
"Nope, just me."
"Really, what about you?"
"Well before, I was always depressed, crying and wearing black. Now, I'm back to my normal self. Then there was the play, but that's about it." I said.
"Glad to know nothing changed while I was gone. Are you going to come down?"
"No." I said. He kicked the tree, and I fell. Where I hit him and fell to the ground.
"You're a lot lighter than before Rukia."
"Really?" I asked.
"Yeah because I should be weaker than before, not stronger and the fact that I can tell a weight change is bad."
"So I might have not been as healthy as I should have while you were gone." I said. "Now help me up."
"I can't."
"Why not?" I asked.
"Because you're the one who's on top of me!" He yelled.
"Well fine then." I said, getting off of him.
"Thank you Rukia. Now where is this party."
I took his hand and pulled him after me, running off. He tugged back. I landed on top of him, once again. "I'm getting use to this."
"That's nice Rukia. Where are we going?"
"Come along, we're going to the party?"
"Alright. Can we walk though?" I nodded. I took his hand and snuggled to his side. He rested his head on mine.
"Surprise, welcome home." Ichigo was sure confused.
"I think you messed up the holidays Rukia. This isn't a surprise party."
"But you were surprised right?"
"Yeah."
"So it is a surprise."
"Whatever Rukia. But its birthdays that are supposed to be a surprise."
"We'll do that later. Not now." I said happily pulling him to where the food was and everyone was.
"I'd like to announce to everyone that I have asked Ms. Kuchiki Rukia to marry me." Everyone was screaming happily and clapping.
"Ichigo, I'm so glad you're back." His dad said giving him a bone crushing hug.
"Nii-san, glad you're back. Rukia is more sad and depressed then you were without her last time." Karin said.
"Never leave us again Ichi-nii-san!" Yuzu said tackling him to the ground. "You upset me, and Karin, dad, and especially Rukia. Poor Rukia. What's wrong with you?"
"I'm sorry. Will you forgive me Yuzu?"
"Only if Rukia forgives you." Yuzu answered. He walked over to me.
"Will you forgive me Rukia, for messing up once again?"
"Of course I will." I said, with tears falling from my cheeks. "Your forgiven." He put his hands on my cheeks and kissed me, holding me up against him.
"I'm glad I'm forgiven because I missed doing that too much." I laughed.
"Nice Ichigo. Now go ask for forgiveness from everyone else."
"I think that since you forgive me, that they'll forgive me."
"I don't think you are going to get off that easy."
"Want to make that a bet?"
"Yes I do." Ichigo answered. "Hey everyone, since Rukia forgives me, do you guys forgive me?"
"Of course we do, Nii-san." Karin said. "If she can have the heart to forgive you after what you did to her, why wouldn't we?"
"Yeah, we'd have to be heartless and selfish to be like that."
"See Rukia." He said to me.
"Get over yourself."
"Come on Rukia, you can't be mad at me."
"I'm not mad at you Ichigo."
"Yes you are."
"No I'm not."
"Yes you are."
"NO I'M NOT!" I screamed at him, hitting him over the head. "See, I'm not mad."
"Sure you aren't." I hit him again.
"I'm not."
"Fine, you aren't." I helped him up.
Ichigo was standing there. "Sorry for upsetting you."
"It's okay." Then Ichigo was knocked into a tree, everyone prepared for a fight.
"You stupid idiot, do you know what you did to Rukia. You deserve to be beaten up, and left for dead." Renji said. "I'm tired of you doing this to Rukia. Can't you leave here alone?"
"No because I love her. Do we have to fight about this again? Or do I just have to remind you how this ended last time." Ichigo said standing up.
"I know how it ended up. It's not ending the same way."
"Yes it will. Because I'm still stronger than you."
"No you aren't. I'm stronger."
"Both of you shut up. We're having a kindhearted party. Now behave." I yelled at them.
"Sorry Rukia." They both said.
"It's okay, not enjoy yourselves and stop arguing."
"But Rukia." Renji started.
"Quiet Renji. He's forgiven. It's okay. I know you're mad with him. But if I want to be mad at him I will. If I want him beat up, I'll do it myself later. Okay?"
"Alright but I wanted to."
"I know but you need to learn I can take care of myself."
"No offense Rukia but no you can't. You're a wreck without Ichigo around." Hitsuguya said.
"When it comes to Ichigo I can."
"True."
"I want ice cream." I said.
"What the… Rukia!" Ichigo said. "Can't you be normal?"
"No." I answered. "Cause I was born to be an individual."
"Don't we know that." Renji said.
"Stay here, I'll go get you ice cream." He said as he ran off.
"You're insane Rukia, you know that?" Renji said.
"I know."
I climbed up into a tree. I looked at the sky. "What are you doing?"
"I'm looking at the sky Renji."
"Isn't that silly?"
"No. It's peaceful." I said.
The tree began shaking as I grabbed onto a branch as it shook. "Rukia." Ichigo called. I dropped on top of him. This time, he managed to catch me.
"What's going on?" I asked him.
"The final invasion."
"Come on." I asked, we prepared ourselves for what we hoped to make their last battle.
Everyone had their uniforms on and their bodies were taken over by their mod-souls and we had our Zapakuto's at ready. We took them out as quickly as we could, still with much difficulty.
We were fighting for a while. "Onyx, where is she Renji?"
"Onyx, right… she went somewhere with Orihime."
"Oh no, you were supposed to watch her Renji."
"What, I was?"
"Yes, you were. Come on Ichigo." I called as we ran off in search of her.
All we heart was screaming. It was Onyx. Onyx smashed it with her bare hands but she was hit badly. She was on her side, bleeding. Her human form was weak, she wasn't use to it.
"Onyx, I'm so sorry." Renji said already ahead of us, at her side.
"It's… okay. I'm fine… now." She said. She turned to look at me. "Sorry for hurting you so long ago. I messed up your life then. I can make you human, if you want."
"I'm fine how I am."
"I'm glad. Well… can I merge with you?" She asked.
"No, because we can let you heal so you can stay human, with or without your abilities." I answered her.
"But… I'm weak."
"It doesn't matter. We're all weak. But together we're strong. We'll be okay. Come on." Renji said to her.
I smiled, Renji liked her, even though she wasn't alive but then again, he could have dreams, right? Then again, he wasn't really real either. Renji helped her along. Ishida showed up to help Orihime out.
We went back to the battle front. Onyx was there, staying out of the way. Renji was defending her because we might need him. Or her. They'd go to her wherever she was. That's what they were after.
Then… they arrived. "Ms. Kuchiki. As great a meeting as ever." Ichigo jumped between us. "He's protective but we'll get him out of the way.
"Stop, don't you dare." Onyx said.
'Who are you? A mere human."
"You bet, a girl who knows all about the other worlds. Rukia has enough power right now to turn you into a normal human, with no chance of powers. Diminishing all of your spiritual energy."
"As if she could."
"Yes I can." I said with a smirk.
"Ichigo, step back."
"Rukia?"
"I can and will. It just might be the very easiest way to get rid of them. Making them human again, without spiritual energy."
"Good-bye then." Onyx said.
"You mean you'll be gone."
"For but a while. Don't worry, that's a lot of energy. I'll be fine though. I promise I'll be back. I think that, I'd like to take the form of a Vizard, as my last strength holds. What do you think?"
"I think it's perfect." I said.
"Huh?" Ichigo and Renji said.
"A regular Vizard like us. You'll be of much help."
Onyx stepped over to Renji, kissing his cheek. "Thanks for being there for me for these last mere hours or days or whatever. I'll be back, don't you worry." We focused our energy and they were hit but it wasn't working, they were fighting back. It wouldn't be enough.
"Renji, Ichigo, help." I called.
They focused their spiritual energy into the Onyx's body as well and Hitsuguya and Hinamori arrived to help as well so many people were fighting for this end but it wasn't working. I sighed, it wouldn't be enough for spiritual energy to fight. I transferred my SE back to my sword and attacked him dead on. The explosion pushed me back as I flew across the city.
The explosions in the background, they were colorful as I descended to the ground, I was merely a soul now, it wouldn't hurt but the lack of SE would make recovering a pain. I couldn't even probably return to my flesh-made body very easily.
I closed my eyes, it took all I could to do only that. I knew there was a battle going on but I had taken all I had at pushed it into that head on attack.
Φ (Ichigo) Φ
"Rukia." I yelled as she flew off.
"She'll be fine. Let's finish this." Onyx told me, as we smashed swords against Ichimaru and him for everything they had done to us, they deserved this fate. Well… he had only done things to Rukia but that was bad enough for me.
"Alright. Final Attack." We took the last attack, killing both of them. Returning them to a human form but I don't think we cleansed them of all their SE, it seemed too ridiculous to accomplish so much. I was lying there on the ground, immobile from no SE but it was okay because I didn't need it.
I saw an orb fly away in the distance. Onyx was returning to Rukia so she could be protected until she had reserved enough energy to take on a human manifestation again or Vizard this time.
"Wow Kurosaki, you did it this time." I heard. It was Urahara along with Yoruichi.
"I guess I did, but I had a lot of help."
"I can tell. the bodies scattered about. Then there's Rukia's friend Onyx who is trying to become a Vizard." Yoruichi said. "It's a long time no see thing, isn't it?"
"Yeah. Right. Rukia alright."
"Not exactly. She's too weak to return to her body. She's resting to get her energy back."
"As long as she's existent." I said.
"Yeah she is, don't worry lover boy." Urahara said.
"Why don't you two ever show up when we need you?" I asked, sitting up.
"Because you didn't need us."
"It would have been helpful to have your assistance."
"Nah, you did just fine by yourselves." Yoruichi said. "Come on. So tell us."
"What?" I asked.
"Why we weren't invited to the party like everyone else."
"Ask Rukia. It was my homecoming party."
"Ah, that makes sense. So what's up with the engagement ring on her finger."
"I asked her to marry me." I answered helping myself up.
"Really?" Yoruichi said. "Glad to hear you two are growing up. I remember how you two used to be."
"We're still like that. Just help me get home."
"No can do. We're on cleanup duty. For the remaining souls."
"Humans were killed?" I asked.
"Quite a few. The hollows have been running rampant."
"It's okay though Ichigo." Urahara said. "We'll take care of it. You get back to Rukia and make sure she gets this note." He tossed a huge stack of papers to me. Which hit hard.
"I will, thanks for your help." I said sarcastically.
"You're welcome, night." He said walking off.
"Bye Ichigo." Yoruichi said waving.
I walked home where Rukia, in a Gigai, not her human flesh body was lying. I'm sure that she'd miss her warm flesh body. I covered her up in a few blankets to make up for the lack of heat she would be missing. I began to close the door.
"You don't have to." She mumbled.
"Really?" I asked her.
"Really." She answered.
"Onyx okay?"
"Yeah, she had enough to make a spirit for now, and the Gigai was a given. Like this one. My body is probably a wreck."
"Nah. I'm sure Kon and the girl have it under control."
"That's what I'm talking about. Who knows what those two are doing in our bodies."
"They're fine, trust me. They better be or they're dead, once you're better, of course."
"Yeah, night Ichigo." She said resting her head against my chest.
"You really did miss me didn't you?"
"Yes I did. If you ever leave me again, I'll record it for you but if you do leave me I won't be so forgiving. Wounds don't like salt Ichigo, they don't."
"Quite aware of that, thanks." I answered her.
"I'm just telling you, because I can." She said.
"Night." I said, kissing her and going to sleep.
Everything was back to normal now. The lost souls were guided back to Soul Society. Rukia was back in her body and she was as cheerful as ever. They actually did have a lot of photo recordings of Rukia while I was gone. It was sickening how much I messed up her life. I couldn't stand it.
"Ichigo, snap out of it." Rukia said. I only had two more years to wait before I could marry Rukia. I had to wait but I didn't want to.
"What do you want Rukia?" I asked her.
"If you didn't notice you're drowning yourself at the drinking fountain." She said. I looked down and I was covered with water. She giggled.
"So, your point?" I asked.
"Now you're all wet." I smirked hugging her. She was now all wet too.
It's been a few months and we're back in school, our junior year. Rukia helped me catch up all summer. A whole lot of summer school. We visited Karla with her family, she was overjoyed to see Rukia. Rukia was the same. Apparently all Rukia had was Karla while I was gone. She was like a real mother in school but she did perfect with the child.
"Ichigo." She yelled as she chased me through the halls. I tripped on the water the second time down the hall, she landed on top of me.
"Ms. Kuchiki, off of Kurosaki." The teacher yelled.
"Yes mam." Rukia said as I pushed her off of me. "Ichigo, look what you did."
"See, now we're both all wet." I said with a smirk.
"That's wonderful." She said sarcastically as we walked to our last class of the day.
"Nice of you two to join us, and why are you wet?"
"Ichigo got himself all wet and I tripped in some that he dripped on the floor." She answered without a second though.
"Since you've arrived late, Ms. Kuchiki, care to answer the problem."
"X cannot equal 4, or -5." Rukia answered without a second glance at the problem. Sitting at her desk.
"Right as always Ms. Kuchiki. Thanks for joining us for once." Rukia hated the class, it was so boring but she was taking normal level classes so she could hang around with all of us, no matter what the teachers thought was best.
Rukia most of the time skipped the class and aced the exams, making up for it. During lunch she tutored us and got enough extra credit to only to exams and major assignments. "You're welcome."
"Kurosaki, next problem."
"Uh… which is the next problem?" I asked. The board was covered with problems.
"Quite right, that's all the work left over from the other's problems. I'll get you a knew one."
She wrote an equation up; it was a simplifying equation. Remedial stuff. "X cannot equal -2 or 2."
"Quite right. Continue on in individual work." She said.
"Was I right or is this stuff simple?" Rukia asked as she leaned back as I worked.
"Yes it is, not pretend to work, please?" Rukia finished the paper within a few minutes and went to sleep on her desk. The class was normally entertained by her questioning of the teacher's methods or Rukia sleeping through the class and when called on, always, and I mean always, getting it right.
The bell rang and she happily skipped out of the class. We met up with Hinamori and Hitsuguya. "What class did you guys just have?" He asked.
"Algebra. It was so boring. I slept through it."
"Maybe you should go to advanced Rukia."
"I'm sure it wouldn't challenge Ms. Kuchiki anymore but if it will get her out of my hair, then sure." I turned around to see my teacher.
"But I adore your class." Rukia said as convincing as she could.
"Ms. Kuchiki do us all a favor and just get your last math credit in a class that can challenge you."
"Like what?"
"AP Calculus." She suggested.
"Sounds Challenging. AP Calculus. Sign me up." Rukia answered.
"Alright but normally it's a senior class." She replied.
"Like I care. I can handle it." Rukia said. "After all, you suggested it."
"You're right. Go down to the office and we'll transfer you." She nodded and walked off, leaving me there.
"Ichigo, are you okay?" Hinamori asked.
"Yeah, I'm just use to having here there for me, all the time. It's weird not having her there."
"Ah. But I'm sure she's happy to be getting all those AP credits." I nodded. I walked outside the office where I waited for Rukia.
"Thanks for waiting Ichigo."
"It was nothing, so what's going on now."
"Not much. I just get an AP class instead of a normal class, a lot of college credits, you know."
"You want to go to college?"
"I wouldn't mind, you?" She asked, taking her hand in mine.
"I guess I could go for some basic classes. You're the one who plans to do something with your life."
"Silly Ichigo, what do you want to do?" She asked.
"I'm not sure Rukia. What do you want to do?"
"I want to become a doctor. To take care of people."
"Really, that sounds like some goal."
"Yeah so a few extra credits means less work in the future."
"Then I guess you have a lot less in the future if you can get them now."
"So far I can skip 2 years of college, it is of 6 though."
"But that means only 4 left, and if you do more AP next year."
"Then you can skip 2 more, and only 2 left."
"True." Rukia said with a smile. "But you have to figure out what you want."
"I don't know really." I told her. I didn't know what I was going to do with my life. Should I? I was only a junior. Was I behind?
"You should be thinking about these things. We'll deal with that later, let's go home." She said in a huff. I took her bag because it was extremely heavy for her.
"Heard your transferring to AP." Onyx said appearing in front of us.
"You bet." Rukia said with a smile.
"I like it easy. So easy, I'm not going to High School."
"I'm aware, because you've never gone."
"Exactly."
"How do you think I feel about this?" Renji yelled.
"You need a life, exactly." Onyx said.
"So do you." Renji said. "Appearing out of no where. You won't have any place in society in a few years, just us."
"Anything wrong with that. I'll make up a degree in something. Or I can just start college. Rukia, you can help me, right?"
"Maybe, if I have time."
"Rukia!" Onyx answered appalled.
"I have a life with Ichigo Onyx, and school. I can't help you with that stuff. Ask Ishida."
"Are you saying I have no life?" He asked.
"No. I'm saying that you can hack and get her school files to start High School with us. So do it." Rukia yelled.
"Alright." He said pulling out a laptop which Orihime held as he typed. "All papers have just arrived and you can start tomorrow."
"Great, no freedom. Thanks Rukia."
"You're welcome." Rukia said. "Now what to do for you, well let's go some place."
"Like where?" Hinamori asked.
"The park." Everyone sighed, Rukia loved the park, trees were her favorite things.
Before they knew it she was in the park, in a tree, reading a book. I sighed, climbing and sitting with her beside me. My arms wrapped around me. It was all in good peace that everything should be like that. I couldn't wait to see what the future brought.
"I know what I want to be Rukia." I said to her.
She turned to me, "Really, that's great."
"Don't you want to know what I want to be?"
"Sure, go ahead, tell me." Rukia said excitedly.
"I want to be a Lawyer."
"A Lawyer eh?"
"Yeah." I said.
"Why did you just think of that?"
"I was just thinking about how everything is. I like protecting and defending people, I also like proving people right or wrong. I like be unpredictable and that's just sounds like a job for me."
"A lot of school."
"Eh, if you can handle it, so can I."
"If you really think so." Rukia said with a smile. "Then I suggest you take as many college classes as you can next you, save you 2 years of schooling."
"Good idea. You'll be there with me, right?"
"But of course, maybe."
"What?"
"A doctor and a Lawyer, two completely different career paths. I'm sure we'll have some classes together, like basics. Hopefully we'll find the same school or a school near each other."
"I'm not letting you go not matter what."
"I know Ichigo."
"Now that I think about it, I'm not letting you do anything."
"What! You're being irrational."
"You can't leave me."
"I didn't plan to Ichigo. I just want a good career, like you."
"Oh, so you don't want to leave me?"
"No I don't. Whatever gave you that idea?" She yelled at me.
"I don't know."
"I don't want to hear your ridiculous thoughts Ichigo. Let's go get something to eat." Rukia said jumping into my arms from the tree. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. So you really don't want to leave me."
"Ichigo, you're ridiculous."
"I know."
"But I love you for it. So where are we going?"
"I don't know. We'll know when we get there."
"Right." Rukia said as we wondered into the city.