"Rukia? Where did she go, anyway? She usually does not just disappear like this without telling why and where she is. This gives me a weird feeling in my stomach, which tells me that something has happened." Ichigo was sitting in his room and looked out through the open window where the sun's first rays shone.
When he awakened a few minutes ago, he immediately realized he was alone. Again.He did not feel Rukia's energy anywhere and he noticed that the window was open. It was pretty cold in the room, which meant that the window had been open for quite a while. Why had Rukia just gone off like that? Had it happened something urgent, had he done or said something that scared her away?
What Ichigo thought was most odd of all was that when he had stroked his cheek he had felt something wet in his hand. He could not remember that he had cried last night before he had fell asleep. Was it Rukia's tear that now was lying on his cheek? In that case, why had Rukia been crying? Was that why she had left him last night, was she sad about something she could not tell him?
Ichigo shook his head. It was so typical Rukia to take the blame for something she could not do anything about. She always wanted to be there for the people she knew and loved. It could include anyone from the people she knew here in Karakura Town to the members in Soul Society. If one of them got into trouble and she was around she was quick to blame herself. "I should have been more vigilant and known that something would happen" was a sentence that she often used in such situations.
Why she always did like that to herself Ichigo did not know, and he had never had the sense to ask her. He himself knew very well how it felt to be helpless, not being able to help. So, what could he tell Rukia that would not make her mad or sad, when he himself didn't even know how to talk about his own feelings towards Rukia? Another reason why he did not dare to tell Rukia was that you never knew how she might react to things.
She was a woman that was hard to read.
Ichigo walked up to the open window and looked out, hoping to get some clue as to why Rukia had left in such haste. How much he twisted and turned his head, he could not see anything that could help him in his quest for answers. "Probably she has gone back to Soul Society with the help of a hell butterfly. Unless I can get help to get through the gate to their secret headquarters, I must wait till Rukia comes back or she sends for some of the other Shinigamis."
Ichigo changed and went downstairs to the kitchen where his sisters were eating breakfast. "Good morning, Ichigo!" Yuzu said.
Karin waved at her brother and then returned to her breakfast. Before Ichigo could sit down and enjoy a hot cup of chocolate he felt a foot press against his face and how he flew towards the wall. He did nothing to halt the fall, but just left himself smash into the wall like a rag doll.
He heard in the background after the bang how Yuzu cried out and felt how someone bent down in front of him. At first he could not hear anything because of the fog that clasped around him, but when someone shook his shoulder, the fog disappeared from his eyes and he could look up. What he saw was his father's troubled face that looked back down at him where he stood above him.
"Ichigo, what happened to you? Forgive me, I did not mean to hurt you. You usually parry my attacks, and not just let yourself 'go with the flow'. How are you, is it something that is troubling you? You know that you can talk with your old man about anything and everything." Isshin smiled kindly at his only son and Ichigo felt how he got all warm inside when he realized how much his father really cared about him, just as Rukia had told him the night before.
It was touching.
At first Ichigo was going to tell all about his suspicions to his father, but he decided to abstain. Not because he did not trust his father, but more because he knew how he would react. No, this Ichigo wanted to try straightening out in his own way. This was something that concerned him and Rukia, not his father or siblings, even though he knew they cared about him and would gladly help if they could.
"Do not worry, Dad. I'm fine, just a little dizzy. Sorry, I was in second thoughts and just was not prepared for your sneak attack." Ichigo stood up and walked back to the breakfast table. Once there, he sat down and started to drink his chocolate. The drink made him warm and he felt a little better inside.
"Ichigo, are you sure that everything is alright?" Yuzu looked with anxious eyes on her big brother. Recently, she had noticed that something had changed with Ichigo, but whatever that something was she could not tell for sure. "You have behaved so strangely these recent weeks."
"Maybe he met a girl?" Isshin got big eyes at the idea and soon began dancing up and down in the kitchen of happiness. "Finally, our boy has grown up, Masaki! I'll have grandchildren anytime now!" Isshin stopped at a giant poster of his late wife and hugged it. "Oh, if you could still be here and see this now, Masaki! I've never been happier!"
Ichigo shook his head and smiled at his crazy father. Normally, he would yell at him and tell him to shut up, but today... Everything was so strange today. He thought back at Rukia's words the night before and knew what she had meant with that he should be happy of having a family as the one he had. He loved his two sisters, Yuzu and Karin, and yes, he even loved his maniacal father. He did not know what he would do without them, and he knew that they felt the same for him too.
"No, Yuzu, nothing is wrong with me, I promise. Actually, I have never felt better." Ichigo gave his sister one of his rare smiles and then turned to his father who still hugged the poster of his dead wife. "And no dad, I have not met a new girl. You know I never have had a real girlfriend, but I have many girl friends. I'm not so desperate that I by fifteen jump on the first attractive girl I see! Maybe you were like that in your time before you met Mom, but I'm not going to be like you."
"Oh, what is that supposed to mean?!" Isshin looked offended but soon smiled again. "Do not worry, son. I know you are not the perverse kind. You have a lifetime ahead of you, so why take the first best you encounter?"
Yuzu and Karin looked like two large question marks when they realized that their brother and father actually had a normal conversation!Usually they used to yell at each other and fight as if their life was at stake, but today... Today; they felt they really were a normal family who could talk about anything at the breakfast table.
Ichigo noticed that his sisters were sincerely surprised about him and his father's talking, but he just smiled at them. "What? Can't a father and his son have a real conversation without you having to tell everyone in your school?" Ichigo laughed when he saw his sisters become red as tomatoes in the face and hugged them both.
"I'm just kidding with you, don't you get it? I know you do not gossip about me among your friends, it's cool. There, the school is waiting. You better hurry or you will be late. I have to go soon myself, I see, now when I look at the clock."
Ichigo drank up the last of his chocolate before he washed the cup in the sink and went to the bathroom to brush his teeth before it was time for yet another new school day. He did not look forward to it, for he knew that it was always one of his friends who would have seen him with Rukia last night, and rumors spread quickly in a small high school like Karakura High School.
Ichigo shook his shoulders and looked at his own reflection in the bathroom. He had dark circles under his eyes. Probably he had been sleeping too little again, as he had done ever since that day his mother had died. He was always haunted by her in his dreams and it was always hard to separate reality from the dream when he woke up. But more recently, his mother had stopped coming as often as she had done before, and it frightened him. Especially afraid he had been this morning when he woke up after yet another dream of his mother.
In this dream she had told him that it was time for him to let go of her and that it was time for her to move on. She had told him how much she loved him and that she knew she was being missed, but she had died in the knowledge that she was protecting one of her children and that that child was now living a happy life. She had no reason to remain in this world, but she must continue her journey.
Ichigo remembered that he had felt both happy and sad at the same time. Of course he was happy for his mother that she could finally find some peace, but at the sime he was sad that this probably would be the last time he would get a chance to talk to her as if she were still alive.
Just before Masaki disappeared and Ichigo awoke, she told him not to let go of those he loved and that he should not be afraid of showing his feelings. She had smiled at him and stroked his cheek before she turned around and disappeared into thin air.
Ichigo did not quite understand what his mother had meant by those specific words, but he knew that sooner or later he would find out. He sincerely hoped that it would be sooner than later, as he knew from own experience that many times you realize things when it's already too late.
He shook his head and smiled to himself. His reflection smiled back at him. He decided not to brood more on his mother's last words to him, but instead concentrate on the long school day that lay before him. He knew it would be filled with not only the long lectures and homeworks, but also of a long hearing about what was going on between him and "the sexy girl on the motorcycle".
Ichigo quickly packed his backpack with the most essential things and then went out the front door after saying goodbye to his siblings and father. They wished him a pleasant day at school, and he smiled as he walked down the street towards Karakura high school. The sun shone from a clear blue sky and Ichigo had no idea that his life would soon change yet again...
When he arrived at the Karakura High School, he was greeted as usual by Asano Keigo who tried to hug him as if they were the best of friends, which they per se was, according to Keigo anyway. Ichigo said hello back as he always did, by giving Keigo a fist in the face when he walked by.
Ichigo did not see Keigo as his best male friend; it was a giant by the name Yasutora "Chad" Sado. He was born in Spain, but had moved to Japan many years ago when his parents died. It was at least what Chad had told Ichigo and the others. He had lived with his uncle until the day he had become murdered by a gang of teenage boys who thought he meddled in their affairs too much to live.
Kojima Mizuiro as usual greeted Ichigo when they walked through the classroom door and left Keigo bleeding nose bleed on the floor outside the classroom door. Mizuiro asked Ichigo how he was and Ichigo answered honestly that he was feeling really good, which did not belong to the normal circumstances.
"How is that, Ichigo? Has something happened that makes you feel so happy?" began Mizuiro, but couldn't say no more before Keigo came rushing into the room and started screaming as loud as he could.
"I know why Ichigo is so happy! He has met the most gorgeous motorcycle babe ever! I saw them yesterday when she and Ichigo took a ride on her motorcycle. She is really something special, that chick! Very sexy, she is as well. You have found a real super chick, Ichigo! Why don't you introduce her to us so that we can get a taste of her? I am sure she is really good in bed..."
Longer Keigo didn't come before Ichigo's fist hit his nose again. This time he flew away a few meters, instead of just landing on his back on the floor.
All stared at Ichigo with wide eyes. He was all red in the face with anger and he was breathing in short bursts. As soon as he had heard Keigo start talking about Rukia like that it was as if something inside him had snapped. He lost total control of himself, he had never intended to harm Keigo, just get him to stop talking about Rukia in such a condescending manner. He had made her sound like she was a whore who Ichigo had paid to spend the night with.
Keigo was probably the one who was most surprised of all. He had never experienced that Ichigo became angry when he talked about a girl he had seen Ichigo with before. Normally he would just dismiss it all and say that there was nothing to care about, but this time it seemed ike it was different...
"Ichigo, what...?" Keigo began, but was quickly interrupted by Ichigo's angry voice.
"Don't you ever talk about Rukia like that! You hear that, Keigo? Never." Ichigo turned around without apologizing for what he had done towards Kiego and stormed out of the classroom.
The whole class stared at him as he with angry steps stormed out. They had just as Keigo never seen Ichigo become so angry before. No one understood anything. Why had Ichigo been so angry, anyway? Keigo had only joked, as he always did. Could it be that this time it actually was something serious going on between Ichigo and a girl...?
Ichigo was furious. He saw none of his classmates questioning glances or heard his teacher's cries for him when he passed her. He was so enraged that he knew that if he could not let go of some steam soon, he would really hurt someone for real this time. No one said anything bad about his Rukia! She was not the kind of person that Keigo had painted her out to be! She cared about everyone around her, she was helpful, kind, very nice, a good listener and...
Cute.
Yes, Ichigo must admit to himself that she was very cute. He had always thought so, ever since the first time he saw her, but it was not until recently that he had really begun to understand howcute. Not just cute but beautiful, like a new bloomed rose. There was something about her charisma, her character that made you turn around an extra time, when she passed. He did not know how he could in any way describe it, other than that Rukia was not like the other girls he knew.
Ichigo knew that the feelings he had towards Rukia were more than friendly. That's why he became so angry on Keigo when he poured out all those things about Rukia. He knew that Keigo meant no offense, but it hurt anyway, and it was something that Ichigo could not just wash away in the sink.
Without him noticing it, he was at Karakura gym. He used to take his flight there when he was angry or depressed, just because it helped him relax and get rid of all the evil energy that circulated around him.
He went in, stamped his gym membership and went into the locker room where he took off his school uniform and changed into a black T-shirt and a pair of red shorts. He'd always bring an extra pair of clothes since he knew that he could at any moment erupt, which would result in that someone would get in big trouble if he failed to rein in the anger that flowed within him.
When Ichigo was changed and ready, he went to the treadmill, standing in front of the window. He started it and began running. He felt how his muscles immediately began to set up and working, and how the anger slowly disappeared along with the sweat that started to seep from his body when he ran a few minutes. He felt so relieved, as if he just by running could get rid of all the unrest that existed around him.
He let his thoughts wander while he continued to run on the treadmill. He knew that he must try to control his anger before he really hurt someone. It was one thing to just hit anyone one time on the nose as he had done with Keigo, and another to continue beating someone until they passed out or died. Then there was this with Rukia... How could he talk about his feelings with her? Did she even feel the same for him as he for her? If she did not, did it mean that their friendship was destined to be lost? Would she be able to remain friends with someone who... loved her? Who wanted to be with her, kiss her, do things that only lovers did?
Ichigo felt how his cheeks turned red at the thought of Rukia's lips against his own. How many times had he dreamed of her body pressing against his in a passionate dance of desire? He wanted her, but was too afraid to tell her. He did not know how she would react. He did not want to lose her, and that was why he had chose to keep quiet about his feelings. It was better that way, even if it led to that he would have to live unhappily in love for the rest of his life.
A long and deep sigh escaped him. Why should everything be so complicated? Why could not life be like a fairytale where you never had to worry about anything except what kind of clothes you should wear or what to do for food when you came home after a long day at school?
"Maybe this is a test..." Ichigo said softly to himself as he stepped off the treadmill and went to a couple of rugs that was in the other corner of the gym. He lay down on one of them and started doing some sit-ups. "Maybe I am being tested by some higher power who wants to prove something to me by making my life difficult. Maybe it's meant for me to learn something from all this what is happening to me right now..."
Ichigo frowned while he continued with his training. Ever since he was little he had been able to see the spirits of dead people, so why should he not be thinking that there was something more that no one could see? Christians had their God, the Muslims theirs. There was nothing that said that there was one great power that no human or other creature on the planet was able to run over. Ichigo was that kind of person who believed that there were things in the world that could not be explained, and it had proven to be true.
He was so used to always see ghosts around him that he no longer jumped high when an unblessed spirit came up to him and asked him for help. Many times it would have sufficed to that Ichigo made a phone call to one of the Shinigamis that got there and took care of the ghost. Sometimes, he had managed to help the ghosts by helping them with a small matter that they had not had time to finish before they died.
He was happy with his "job". He had never complained about it, but found it very interesting to know that he could make a difference by helping spirits who failed to get over to the other side. Ichigo had always been the kind of person who liked helping other people and he knew he was good at it, so why not help the dead as well?
Ichigo smiled to himself as he lay on the floor, panting hard after a hard workout. It was now midday and the sun shone in the middle of the heaven down on all people who were out on the streets. It lseemed to be a glorious day, and Ichigo did not want to miss a single more second of it. Quickly he stood up and walked into the locker room where he stripped off his workout clothes and got into the shower with a towel wrapped around his hips.
He was alone in the shower; no one else had come into the gym after his arrival an hour ago. The showers hot rays washed over him and washed out the last of his anger that ripped deep in his heart. The first thing he would do after he came out of the gym was to go back to school and apologize to Keigo for his behavior. Ichigo suspected that Keigo would pretend that nothing had happened, as he always did whenever he got into a fight with Ichigo.
Ichigo washed himself quickly, and then shut the shower off. He shuddered as the cold air wash over his wet, naked body. He wrapped the towel around his hips and went back into the locker room. The moment he reached his locker, he noticed a figure standing on the other side of the locker room, where the girls' department was. The only thing that distinguished the women's and men's locker room was a small door that did nothing but to offer the women and men to an innocent little sneak peek. As Ichigo had heard it worked really well with that door, since most men and women who went here were not afraid to show off their narrow and muscular bodies for each other.
Ichigo did not bother with the idea that many women could have seen the outline of his naked body many times, but instead concentrated on as quickly as possible get dressed and go out from the gym. In most cases he would take any of the cabinets that stood in the back of the locker room to avoid women's hungry gazes.
But this time it was something with the woman on the other side of the door that made Ichigo check an extra time. He thought he recognized the woman's figure, but he could not quite place her...
The woman turned around so that she stood with her face turned to Ichigo and that's when he saw who it was. That hair and that posture could not be mistaken.
The woman was Kuchiki Rukia.
"Rukia?" Ichigo asked, staring at the woman he loved more than anything else on this earth. "Is that you?"
Rukia froze when she saw Ichigo's half-naked body on the other side of the locker room. She had not known he was in here when she first entered the front door. She had thought she was all alone, but now she realized the truth. She had promised herself not to see Ichigo any more, that it was best for them both, but the first thing she did was to violate that very promise!
"Ichigo..." Rukia whispered. She did not know what else she could say.
Ichigo did not care that he was completely naked under the towel, but he simply went to the door that separated them and opened it. Sure enough, there Rukia was in a purple top combined with a pair of black shorts and her hair in a ponytail. It seemed that she was prepared for training.
"Rukia, why did you just disappear like that last night? I woke up this morning and noticed that you were gone, without the slightest clue as to where you'd gone! I was so worried about you, don't you understand that?" Ichigo walked up to Rukia and hugged her tight. "I do not want anything to happen to you. You mean so much to me..."
The moment the words escaped from Ichigo's mouth he realized what he just had said. He had just revealed to Rukia his feelings for her, even though he promised himself not to tell her.
Rukia on the other hand stood rigid as a statue with Ichigo's arms around her. She was speechless. Ichigo had just admitted that he... loved her? She dared to meet Ichigo's eyes at the same moment he let go of her and stood a bit away from her so that she could get some space.
None of them said anything for a long time. They just stared deep into each other's eyes while the seconds ticked by. None of them knew what to say to the other to break the awkward silence that had emerged in between them. It was as if they were two strangers who had never met each other.
"Rukia, I..." Ichigo looked away and stared down on the floor at his feet. He felt like the biggest idiot in the world. He knew Rukia was shocked to have heard him tell her he loved her. What was she thinking at this moment? Was it now she would say that they never would be able to be friends anymore?
To his great surprise, Ichigo felt how Rukia's hands found its way in among his and hugged them. He dared a glance up at Rukia, and what he saw in her face, made his heart beat faster where it was nestled between his ribs.
Rukia had a little shy smile on her lips and her eyes twinkled like the most beautiful stars. In her face there was no signs of hatred, no sadness, just pure luck. Without any warning, she went closer to Ichigo and with some hesitation, she pushed her lips against his in a small, shy kiss.
The moment Rukia's lips touched his; it was as if Ichigo's whole innermost exploded in a feeling of complete happiness. All he became hot and a big smile could be visible in his face the moment Rukia's lips left his.
"Rukia, you...?" Ichigo began, but Rukia interrupted him by putting a finger on his lips.
"Do not say anything, Ichigo."
Once again their lips met, but this time Ichigo was prepared. Rukia's lips tasted even more wonderful than he could have imagined in his most intimate dreams. To finally get a taste of some of Rukia felt like he was in heaven. Finally his dream had come true.
Rukia felt the same way as him and wanted to be with him!
Ichigo put his arms around Rukia's narrow body and pulled her closer as he continued to explore her mouth with his hot kisses. He could not get enough of her, and they had not done nothing but kissing. Ichigo could not imagine how it would feel to explore Rukia's whole body with his hands and mouth. He made a bet that she tasted wonderful and that she was as beautiful nude as with clothes.
"Ichigo..." Rukia whispered his name between one of their kisses. She felt her whole body screaming at her to touch Ichigo, to feel his skin against her fingers, and stroke him hot. She had never felt like this for anyone else before, she wanted Ichigo so much and that now.
Ever since the first day she met Ichigo, she knew there was something special about him and that he would grow into something great. Even though he only had been a little scared kid of just nine years she had seen a strength and determination in him that many people never manage to muster in a lifetime. She had been fourteen years when she first met Ichigo, and now, at the age of twenty and twelve years experience in the Soul Society, she knew she had chosen right when she decided to confide in Ichigo.
A sound of a door opening, made them both wake up from the trans that the two found themselves in. Quickly they differed from one another and snuck into the boys' locker room so no one could see them. Once inside, they began to giggle as two teenage girls who have just been talking about a handsome guy who they saw walk past them downtown.
When the giggle attack subsided Rukia became serious and stroked Ichigo's cheek tenderly. "Ichigo, it's so much I want to say. So many words that has never been able to escape my lips until this moment, when our lips met in a passionate kiss. I know that you now know how I feel about you and that you feel the same for me. It will not be easy, and I'll explain everything in due course. The only thing I ask of you right now is that you trust me."
Ichigo gave Rukia's hand a kiss and smiled. "I trust you more than anyone else, Rukia. Let us meet in a more private place later today. My school day ends at 16:00, meet me in the park outside the school when I end. We'll talk more then."
Rukia nodded and headed towards the door that would lead her into the gym. Before the door shut behind her she turned around and gave Ichigo a last smile. "At four o'clock in the park, Ichigo. Come if you want some answers."