Miracles – VII

"Comeooooon!" Isshin whined.

"Forget it!" Ichigo said angrily, "No way in a cold hell, old man"

"I think you should," Yuzu piped up, "I bet it'd be really nice, ya know?"

"I already told you, no"

The way Ichigo was talking, one might think his father and sister attempting to submit him to some kind of terrible torture, or perhaps asking him to do something terrible, such as eat his arm or maybe dye his hair black. But no, they weren't trying to get him to do any of that. So what terrible thing werethey doing?

"Would you guys just leave me alone about it?" Ichigo grumbled, running a hand through his spiky orange hair. "I will not...I refuse..."

"Come on, Ichi-nii, there are worse things in the world," Karin spoke up at last. Apparently she was just tired of listening to them argue. Normally she didn't get mixed up in her sister and father's idiotic ideas.

"Look, I refuseto invite Rukia to dinner!"

Yup. That was the absolutely terrible thing. Yuzu and Isshin were attempting to get Ichigo to invite Kuchiki Rukia to supper at the Kurosaki house. Okay, so maybe there are worse things in the world then that, but to Ichigo, at that moment, that was the worst. "I'm not inviting her to dinner here," Ichigo repeated firmly, "Forget it"

Yuzu and Isshin both look put down. It had been a week since Ichigo and Rukia had made up. Since then, Isshin had been bugging Ichigo to invite the raven haired girl to supper. But Ichigo wouldn't have it. He wouldn't put Rukia through that kind of torture. No descent friend would put a person through thatkind of torture. "Pleeeease?"

"Leave me alone already," Ichigo grumbled, "You're driving me insane. I am notinviting her, end of story. If you expect me to give in, you'reinsane," before anyone could protest, he stood up, "I'd better get going, I don't want to be late"

"Have a good day Ichi-nii!" Yuzu called after Ichigo as he shut the door. Isshin was still whining about how Ichigo was being a bad son and wouldn't listen to his papa. Idiot

But really, what did they expect? After all, him and Rukia were just friends, for one thing. How weird would it look if he invited her over? It'd be like bringing a girlfriend to meet the family. Which hewasn't! That was just insane.

And anyways, he wasn't that mean. He had to suffer through a Kurosaki family dinner every night, he wasn't about to put an innocent girl through one as well. Plus, Ichigo knew Isshin would be dropping hints about wanting grandchildren, and Ichigo didn't want to hear it. He knew Rukia wouldn't want to hear it either. The future was a touchy subject with her. Everythingwas a touchy subject with her. And after all, they had only justgotten their friendship back on track, Ichigo didn't want to screw it up again. He valued Rukia's friendship too much to do anything that could screw them over.

Ichigo shoved his hands into his pockets and bowed his head against the cruel, October wind. The weather, beautiful the week before, had gone down cold. If it were a little later in the year, Ichigo mighthave said it was going to snow. But instead the leaves were turning colors, and the wind was blowing said leaves away. It gave the street a very creepy, almost haunted look. Ichigo's mind drifted back to Rukia and dinner. No way. No way in hell

"Oi, Rukia!" okay, so he was out of his mind. That was something that had been confirmed a long time ago. But why was he chasing after the girl?

Rukia looked around. "Oh, hi Ichigo. What's up? Didn't see you during lunch today"

"Yeah, I was uh...in the library. Catching up on work," okay, only a half lie. He had been in the library avoiding Rukia. His resolve not to invite her to supper had faded fast. Because the truth was, he wanted her to come. He wanted her to meet his whack-job family. Because if she still wanted to be friends after meeting the place he came from, then that would prove a lot.

Okay, maybe it wouldn't. But he still wanted to invite her. "Er, anyways," he said quickly, "I was just wondering...I mean, my dad's been bugging me lately to invite you over to dinner. Would you like to? It's no big deal if you don't," he added quickly, feeling stupider by the minute. Rukia blinked, obviously thrown by Ichigo's babbling.

"Oh. Um..." she looked uncomfortable, "Don't take this the wrong way Ichigo, I'd love to but...I mean, I dunno. I have to ask my parents first"

"No big deal," Ichigo assured her. In a way he was kind of relieved, but at the same time he was disappointed. "It's all right if you don't want to, ya know"

Rukia smiled in an awkward sort of way. "Let me ask my mom, all right? I'll get back to you"

He scribbled down his number on piece of paper. She took it and started down the street. Ichigo almost smiled as he watched her. That hadn't been so bad.

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"Um...Mom?" Hisana looked around. Rukia shifted from foot to foot, looking uncomfortable. What, Hisana wondered, could make Rukia look so...lost?

"Yes?"

"Well I uh...I mean, I was invited to dinner at someone's house tonight," she spoke so quickly it was almost hard to understand, "Can I go?"

Hisana took a second to absorb the information (it was a surprise, really, she couldn't remember the last time someone had invited Rukia anywhere), then said, "Who's the friend? Anyone your father or I know?"

"Um...Kurosaki Ichigo"

Hisana had to work to suppress a smile. "Well in that case you have full permission to go. In fact, I imploreyou to go"

Rukia's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh...I didn't think you'd say yes...I didn't really plan on going, you see..."

"Oh why not?" Hisana asked, putting her hands on her hips and giving her daughter a stern look, though inside she was laughing.

"I dunno...it'd be too weird...I mean, his family knows, how would they-"

"Rukia you need to take a night off from worrying," Hisana said firmly, "So here's what you're going to do. You're going to go upstairs, get changed, and go to Ichigo's. Sound good?"

Rukia was smart; she switched tactics fast, trying to hit Hisana's soft side. "What about you? Is Dad working late again?"

"Yes"

"Then you'll be alone"

"I think I can handle being alone for a few hours," Hisana sighed inwardly; her daughter sure was a stubborn one.

"Well..."

"Go on Rukia, it'll be fun," Hisana walked over to Rukia and gave the young girl a slight poke in the arm, "Do you remember what fun is?"

"Barely"

"Then try and have some," she poked her again, "Go on, one night isn't going to kill you, is it? Just go to Kurosaki-kun's and try to enjoy yourself"

Rukia thought it over for a second, then smiled. "Yeah...all right. I will. I'll call him right now and let him know I can come"

Hisana left the kitchen to give Rukia some privacy. As soon as she was in the living room, she grinned. She'd forgotten how much fun it was to play matchmaker. When they were in high school, Byakuya had called Hisana a busybody, because she was always trying to set people up. But she hadn't been that bad at it, really; after all, she was the one that had introduced Isshin to Masaki.

"So what'd he say?" Hisana asked as Rukia left the kitchen. She was surprised at how alivethe younger girl suddenly looked.

"Dinner's at seven"

"Well go change then. You don't want to be late, do you?"

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"We get to meet Ichi-nii's new friend!" Yuzu said excitedly as she bounced around the kitchen. She was almost beside herself with delirious joy.

"Friend?" Isshin repeated, "Oh no Yuzu, they're definitely more – ow!"

The older man yelped as his son nailed him in the head. "Ichigo's mean!" Isshin whined. Ichigo sighed; he didn't live in a house, he lived an asylum.

Poor Rukia. She didn't know what she was getting herself into. Ichigo would have felt sorry for her, if hewasn't the one that had brought her into this.

Ding-Dong

"I'll get it!" Yuzu flew out of the kitchen. She got way too hyper when they had company over. She opened the door and said with a grin, "Hello!"

Ichigo sighed as he followed he and Karin followed Yuzu's lead walked out to the foyer. "Hi," Rukia was standing on the doorstep, looking mildly out-of-place, "I'm uh..."

"You're Rukia-chan, right?" Yuzu stepped aside and let Rukia in. "Hi! I'm Yuzu"

"Hey Rukia," Ichigo finally made his own presence known. Karin waved and gave a nod in Rukia's direction.

"Hi Ichigo," now she looked relieved, "Sorry I'm a little late, my dad kind of had a problem with me coming..."

"It's all right, dinner's running late anyway," Ichigo shrugged and at that moment Isshin barreled out of the kitchen as well.

"Hello!" he said enthusiastically. He froze when he saw Rukia, and with a look of mock surprise said, "I'm sorry, I was under the impression you were Ichigo's friend Rukia-chan, but you can't be, Ichigo isn't smart enough to pick up a girl like-"

The rest of his words were cut off by Ichigo's fist connecting with the side of his head. "If you're smart you'll get out of here while you still can, Rukia-chan," Karin said as she watched her brother and father fight, "We live here, we can't leave, but it's not too late for you"

"Oh it's not all that bad here Karin," Yuzu piped up, "As long as they stop soon, dinner's going to be ready in a few..."

She carefully stepped around the wrestling match and back to the kitchen, with Karin following. Rukia, her eyes locked on the brawl, followed the two girls. "Sorry about them," Yuzu said as Rukia entered the kitchen, "They're always like that, I'm not really sure why..."

"Because Dad's insane, that's why," Karin said. Rukia watched as Yuzu set to work at the stove; she was obviously the cook in the family. Rukia moved her hands around, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.

"Do you want any help?" Yuzu looked around in surprise.

"No, that's all right," she said with a smile, "Besides, you're a guest Rukia-chan, you shouldn't be helping-"

"I don't mind," Rukia said quickly, "I like feeling useful"

That said, she set to help the younger girl. She wasn't a very good cook, but she could do enough. "Oh...well, thanks!" Yuzu grinned, "It'd be nice to have some help, Karin doesn't like to cook and we don't trust Ichi-nii or Dad in the kitchen..."

A loud crashechoed from the living room. "And you can probably imagine why," Karin finished what her sister had started. Rukia laughed as she started to help. It was painfully obvious the family was a little...chaotic. But they were all really nice people. That was obvious too.

"So what did you mean before?" Rukia looked over at Yuzu, who was watching her with wide, curious eyes.

"What do you mean?"

"You said your dad had a problem with you coming over," Yuzu elaborated, "What did you mean?"

Rukia looked down at her hands, one of which was currently holding a knife; she was cutting carrots. "Oh that...well..."

----Flashback----

"No," Rukia felt as if the floor had given out beneath her. Her dad was home early, not something she had expected. What she hadexpected, was that he would make it difficult for her to get out. And he was doing a fine job at that.

"But Mom said-"

"No, Rukia"

"Byakuya, be fair," Hisana said reasonably, "She doesn't get out much, and besides, it's only for a few hours"

"If I haven't met him, then the answer is no"

"I've met him," Hisana said firmly, "And I didn't have any problems with him. He seemed like a very polite boy to me. And I already told Rukia she could go"

Byakuya still looked extremely doubtful. "Please Dad?" Rukia wasn't sure why she was begging. She hadn't even wanted to go. But suddenly it seemed very important. She waited, her breath held, for Byakuya to pass judgment. If he said no...

Byakuya sighed. "I want you home by ten the latest"

"I will be, I promise!" Rukia smiled as she darted towards the door before Byakuya could changed his mind. She thought she heard her parents talking as the door closed behind her. But she didn't stop to pay attention.

----End Flashback----

The knife slipped. "Ow!" Rukia jerked back as the metal slid across her left index and middle fingers. Yuzu dropped her own knife at once and Karin jumped up. Ichigo and Isshin, who had both heard Rukia yell, halted their fight long enough to come and see who was hurt and how. "It's fine," she said, holding her fingers tightly, both trying and failing to step the blood. It made her stomach turn; shehatedthe site of blood. "Just a cut, it's nothing-"

"Let me look," Isshin stepped over and carefully pried her hand away so he could see the injury. It was a little worse than Rukia had first thought, it was bleeding badly; Rukia blinked quickly, trying her best not to look like she was going to throw up. Isshin wrapped it up a dish towel then brought Rukia down to the clinic so they could bandage up her fingers. Yuzu and Karin stayed behind in the kitchen to clean up, and Ichigo followed his dad. "Thank you Kurosaki-kun," Rukia said as Isshin finished wrapping her fingers up, "But it wasn't really that bad-"

"Better safe than sorry," Isshin said. Rukia thought this over for a second, then frowned. She knew exactly why they had seemed so worried.

"Well, thanks again," she said, not able to hide all of her annoyance as she left the clinic room. Ichigo, who had been leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets, followed her out. Rukia was determined to ignore him though.

"What's with you?"

"Look," she turned to face him, ready to give him a piece of her mind, "I already havea family that worries about me constantly, I don't need another one. Why'd you have to go and shoot your mouth off to them about me?"

"I didn't!" Ichigo protested, "Not Yuzu and Karin anyway. They don't know anything. The only reason my dad knows is because he's the one who got the information for me...he's friends with your doctor, you see...but Yuzu and Karin don't have a clue about it, I swear. If they do, it's because they overheard my dad and I talking"

Rukia took a second to absorb this information. Yuzu and Karin didn't know? But they had looked so worried...

"You're sure they don't know?"

"They don't know," Ichigo rolled his eyes, "When I said I didn't tell anyone, I meant it. Don't you trust me?"

Rukia was surprised to hear herself say, "Yes. I do"

Ten minutes later they were all seated around the table, digging into Yuzu's delicious meal. "So, Rukia-chan," Isshin said as he ate, "You wouldn't by any chance happen to be related to Kuchiki Byakuya, would you?"

"Um, yeah," Rukia shifted her feet under the table, suddenly feelingveryuncomfortable, "He's my father"

"You don't say!" Isshin looked honestly surprised, and Ichigo rolled his eyes; what a busybody. "So that would make your mother...Hisana, right?"

"Right again"

"Well what do you know," Isshin grinned in a goofy way, "Not many people had much hope for those two in high school, good to know they're still in love though...they're a real opposites attract story. Unless Byakuya's changed, which I doubt...he still a cold sorta guy?"

"That's him in a nutshell"

"Nope, hasn't changed at all"

Rukia was amazed by how much she enjoyed herself. Ichigo's family was...amazing, really. That was the only word for it. They were funny and kind, and they treated her exactly how she wanted to be treated: like she was just another person.

"Thanks a bunch for inviting me," Rukia said as Ichigo led her to the door

"No problem. Thanks for putting up with the madness"

Rukia laughed. "I actually had a lot of fun. You know it's-" she froze, eyes wide. She'd just caught site of the clock on the wall. "Ohno..."

"What's wrong?"

"It's ten-fifteen, I'm late!" she bolted without another word. Ichigo watched her run, wishing he'd had time to offer her a ride.

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By the time Rukia got home, it was almost ten-thirty. She hoped dearly her parents hadn't waited up. But as she walked into the living room, a light clicked on.

"You're late"

Rukia winced as she turned to face not just Byakuya, but Hisana as well. "I-I'm sorry," she said finally, "I lost track of time-"

"What happened to your fingers?" Hisana's voice took on it's usual concerned tone.

"Oh..." Rukia looked down at her bandaged fingers, "I uh...cut them, it was an accident-"

"You said you'd be home by ten," Byakuya cut in, "We thought you were responsible enough to follow your own curfew-"

"I am, really I am!" Rukia protested, "I told you, I lost track of time, I was just having so much fun and-"

"If this boy is going to prevent you from keeping up with your responsibilities," Byakuya cut his daughter off again. All though it was hard to tell, Rukia had a distinct feeling that he was mad. "Then I don't think he's the kind of person I want you socializing with"

Rukia's heart dropped like a stone through water. "N-No...I mean, it was an accident-"

"You should have called," Hisana – surprisingly – was the interrupter this time, "It would have been better if we had known-"

"I'm sorry-"

"Sorryisn't always going to be good enough, Rukia," Byakuya's voice had a 'final' sort of tone to it, "Go to your room"

Rukia did so without argument. She knew she was going to be in trouble come morning, she didn't want to make it worse for herself. But she didn't go upstairs. Instead she took up stake by the kitchen door, trying to listen to her parents, who were talking in low voices.

"Where did she go again?"

"I told you, Byakuya, she went to a friend's house"

"And that friend would be..."

"His name's Kurosaki Ichigo"

Byakuya's tone went frosty. "Kurosaki? He's not related to-"

"If he is?"

"Hisana..."

"Byakuya, he's okay," Hisana insisted, "Even if he islike his father, what was wrong with Isshin, exactly? I happened to like him, I was quite sad with when we lost contact-"

"I wasn't"

"Well you wouldn't be, you never liked him"

"This isn't about Isshin, or you, or me, Hisana," Byakuya said. Now he sounded really upset. "It's about Rukia. I'm not going to let her be around that boy if he's going to effect her-"

"Have a little faith, Byakuya. He's better than you think"

Rukia couldn't take it anymore. She bolted upstairs, careful not to let her door slam when she got into her room.

Author's Note: Well...I liked this chapter. What about you? Review and let me know! - Sam