(Just reposting the chapters with the paragraph breaks that had misteriously vanished)
Thanks to all my wonderful reviewers! You are the ones who keep me writing!
Somebody asked about a sentence in the A/N in the last chap.:
"I don't care that '''' says Ichigo is alive" . The missing words are 'bleach(dot) wikia' – and I still can't believe fanfiction(dot) net cut it out !
CHAPTER 3
"I'm going out !" Ichigo called over his shoulder as he shoved on his sneakers.
"Please, don't forget to buy the soy sauce on the way back !" his sister called after him.
Ichigo mumbled something that resembled a 'sure', then exited the house slamming the front door behind him, causing the whole house to shake.
Yuzu looked at the abused door with a pout, then turned to her sister, whose eyes where glued to the soccer match on TV.
"Karin, do you know what's up with Ichi-nii ? Lately he's been grumpier than usual."
"Dunno, maybe he broke up with his girlfriend, or something" she replied half-interested "…come on ! That was clearly a fault !!" she yelled at the TV.
Yuzu's eyes widened "Girlfriend ?! Ichi-nii has a GIRLFRIEND !?!"
"Idiotic referee ! Where were you looking !!!" Karin growled waving a fist in the air, then remembered her sister was talking to her "…huh ? Uh, you know, the short one with blue eyes. I don't remember her name, but I think she stopped by a couple times".
Yuzu wrinkled her eyebrows in thought and absentmindedly scratched an itch behind her ear. As her hair locks moved, they revealed a tiny pink circle.
"Oh, I remember now !" Yuzu said excitedly "but she hasn't stopped by in a while now, so maybe you're right" her eyes saddened. "Poor Ichi-nii !"
But her twin wasn't listening anymore, too busy cursing the referee.
Ichigo sat slouched on a bench by the river bank, Yuzu's precious soy sauce in a bag by his side. To any random passer-by he would appear just like a kid relaxing and watching tha sun-set, but if you looked closer, his seething eyes and clenched jaw gave away his inner thoughts.
Two weeks, two fucking weeks and no word from Geta-Boshi. I swear, if don't hear from him by tomorrow, I'm gonna look for him and-
-and cut him like a squealing pig! I like that idea! Hichigo finished his sentence with a sadistic chuckle.
Shut it ! Nobody asked for your imput ! Ichigo spat back.
I'm fucking tired of waiting ! If a bunch of stuck-up shinigami have you shitting your pants in fear, let me out and I'll deal with them! Hichigo half-mocked, half-growled. He really was fed up with this situation and was getting desperate for some action – fighting against his King in his mind was fun, but it soon got old when he couldn't confront a real enemy.
During the War Ichigo had insisted on learning some Hollow techniques, and after much bargainig – read 'beating the shit out of each other' – they had made a deal where Ichigo would let him out from time to time –under strict supervision– to have some of his 'fun', and Hichigo would teach his King the Hollow stuff, like Cero, Bala and Garganta.
Ichigo sighed exasperated. He actually –urgh– understood his Hollow –because he himself hated waiting–, but the last thing he wanted was to go at war with Soul Society, and that meant exercising his'patience', something he'd painfully learned during the War.
It had taken the death of several shinigamis from the 12th during a mission to Hueco Mundo to teach him that if he really wanted to save and protect people, he couldn't always rush in half-cocked.
§I§
In addition to this frustrating state of affairs, going to school now was like entering the twilight-zone. Ishida barely acknowledged his existence, Inoue would just stutter whenever he said something to her, and communication with Tatsuki didn't go beyond a 'Hi' in the morning. There was still Chad, but it's not like they could discuss Hollow slaying techinques anymore.
Ok, so he had known this would happen, but knowing and experiencing something are very different things, and that's how, in the past few days, he'd come to realize how much he'd relied on his friends' support, including freaking Ishida.
Oh well. He sighed. At least for the time they're safe from annoying Hollows.
As if on cue he heard one of the bastards roaring in the distance. His whole body tensed involuntarily, but he made an effort not to show any change in his outward appearance. 12th Division's monitoring system never slept.
His eyes unfocused and his anger was quickly replaced by deep concentration. He could percieve that the Hollow was in the South outskirts of the town. He homed in on Kuramadani Zennosuke's reiatsu. Yep, there he was, running towards the enemy.
He sensed the surge in Spiritual Energy that meant the Shinigami had released his shikai. He felt him strike with Tsuchinamazu, but the Hollow must have deflected and retaliated because Zennosuke's reiatsu was the one to drop. Ichigo felt like rolling his eyes. Come on Afro guy, put a little more effort into it !.
He sensed Zennosuke moving around, evading the Hollow's attacks, then he hit it with Kido, but it didn't seem to be enough.
Keep this up and Yoruichi will have to come save your ass again, Ichigocommented drily in his mind.
If two weeks ago anybody had asked Ichigo to relay this much detail on a fight occurring at a two mile distance, he would have laughed in their faces. Now though, he'd become so good at sensing reiatsu to make Ishida turn green with envy.
At first he'd felt pretty astonished by this sudden improvement, but he and Zangetsu quickly came to the conclusion that it was caused by that combination of Kido-s. Normally his reiatsu was like a thick fog surrounding his body, and he always had to make quite an effort to sense anything beyond it.
Now, courtesy of Tessai and the Kido corps, not a single drop could escape, so for the first time he could 'see' clearly… and it was amazing ! It made him want to find a way to learn to do it on his own, without outside aid.
§I§
Meanwhile Zennosuke had finally decided that he didn't fancy becoming Mr. Hollow's evening meal and was slowly but steadily beating the bastard down. The enemy's reiatsu finally vanished and Ichigo relaxed…
… but not a minute later ten Gargantas opened in the sky above that same part of town, spouting twice as many Hollows.
Ichigo's eyes widened. What the hell is that ?! A freaking Hollow convention !?!
Something like that hadn't happened in a long time, and there was no way Kuramadani could handle that.
The Substitute closed his eyes and focused even harder, trying to track down Urahara and his crew.
Move it King ! There's some Hollow ass to kick !!! Hichigo started pestering him again.
Ichigo clenched his jaw. Not yet.
Suddenly he sensed a Senkaimon opening in the distance. Well, would you look at that, he thought mockingly, for once Soul Society is on time.
He recognized the reiatsu of several shinigamis from the 13th, the ones that usually went with Rukia, which meant… There she is !
That familiar sense of excitement and distress filled him. She was going to fight – without him. Allright, I know she can handle herself, but if things get ugly… He coldn't help the scowl that appeared on his face.
Then he remembered that argument he and Rukia had had over two weeks ago.
He sighed.
So, maybe she was a tiny itsy-bitsy bit right.
He sighed again.
OK then, he told himself firmly, they are just standard Hollows. She is a skilled warrior…
…so why can't this fucking sense of anxiety disappear already !?!
Then another thought struck him.
When she was done, she would probably come looking for him.
Shit.
Kuchiki-fukutaicho's eyes narrowed as she quickly assessed the situation. It wasn't good, but not too bad either.
"Shinichi and Naoko take the Hollows on the right, Rika and the others, you go after the ones heading towards the park" she ordered.
"Yes ma'am !" the shinigamis yelled and run after their targets.
Rukia shook her head slightly. After all these months it still felt weird how her subordinates would follow her orders without batting an eyelash.
When she had been offered the position, she'd wanted to refuse. She hadn't felt worthy of it. But then Ichigo had told her she should take it because she was brave and a great warrior and they would respect her for that. She remembered his heartfelt voice when he'd told her, and his eyes…
They were so warm…she smiled. That memory still made her heart flutter.
Now, as she deflected the attack of one of the Hollows surrounding her while keeping an eye on her squad, she knew he'd been right. She could be a good fuku-taicho.
But somethng with this fight didn't feel right. As she slashed off the arm of her attacker, she knew.
She was in Karakura killing Hollows and Ichigo wasn't there fighting along side her.
A lump formed in the back of her throat. Ichigo…
NO, stop it Kuchiki, she shook her head firmly, things are how they are, and they can't be helped.
After this last thought, she focused solely on her enemies. She had souls to protect and companions to keep safe.
After the last Hollow was purified, the shinigami gathered around their fuku-taicho.
"You did well, and we've reported only minor injuries" Rukia congratulated the group.
Rika, the 14th seat, blushed in embarassment and hid her wrist behind her back. She felt a pat on her back and looked up. It was lieutenant Kuchiki smiling at her. "You fought well Rika". The girl nodded, grateful.
Rukia opened a Senkaimon, but didn't move to enter. She turned to face her squad. "Please, inform Ukitake-taicho that I have some business to attend here. I won't be long."
The shinigamis nodded and some of them exchanged meaningful glances. It was no secret in Sereitei that their fuku-taicho and the Substitute were close, though nobody knew exactly 'how' close.
Rukia watched the last member of the squad disappear inside the Senkaimon, then closed her eyes and focused.
As she'd thought, she couldn't sense him, she was too far. Before she had been able to find him even among the millions of people in Tokyo.
She bit her lip.
She made a decision.
I need to say goodbye to him, even if he doesn't remember me.
But first, she needed to get her gigai.
* * * TBC * * *
A/N:
Ok, so I know nothing much happened here, but I had a busy week and didn't want to keep you waiting any longer. I promise next update won't be that long – since I already know exactly what I'm going to write! ^_^
BTW, and this is important, would you rather I update more often and write shorter chaps (around 1500 words) or longer ones and update every 8-10 days? Please, let me know !
I'd also like your opinion on Rukia: keeping her in character in a romanc-y situation is freaking hard !
And Ichigo being finally able to sense reiatsu ?! The poor guy deserved to try it at least once ! :-D
Uh, and, since I didn't have much time to read it again (and I still don't have a beta – any volunteers?) let me know if you find any mistakes or if anything sounds weird. Thanks!
Next chapter: Stay tuned for some Ichiruki ('cause that's all the romance you're going to get for some time) and for Urahara and Ichigo working on his cover!