Miracle – XVII
Rukia could only stare as she, along with all the others, was ushered through the double doors of the small building. It seemed like such a quaint little place. When Rukia looked at it, her mind conjured up images of an old, white-haired woman, holding a plate of cookies. Who would have thought it was used for something so depressing?
"Rukia?"
Rukia rolled over, shifting under her covers. "Go away," she grumbled, wondering why her mother was waking her up so early on a Saturday.
"There's a phone call for you"
"Tell 'em to call back"
It was probably Ichigo. She'd kill him later.
"It's Hitsugaya-kun"
Rukia made a face. Hitsugaya-kun? What the hell did that white-haired little freak want? Rukia was going to murder him.
Somehow, Rukia ended up standing next to Hitsugaya was the waited to be allowed to go into the room. He was staring straight ahead, his hands shoved into his pockets. He looked very out of place in a suit.
"You all right?"
He squinted his eyes at the floor. "Yeah. I'm fine."
"What do you want, Toushirou?" Rukia grumbled into the phone. "Do you have any idea what time it is? I'm gonna murder you."
There was silence on the other end. "Hey, hello? You called, now what the hell do you want?"
More silence. And then, "It's...about Hinamori."
Rukia eyes widened. She was awake now. "What? What is it? Is she okay?"
More silence. "She...she died last night, Rukia."
The floor started spinning under Rukia's feet. "No," she whispered. "No, that's not...you...you're lying..."
"I wouldn't lie about something like this, Rukia."
There was too much truth in those words. Rukia's hand shook on the receiver. She wondered for a second if maybe she was still asleep. But she knew she wasn't. If this had been a dream, it wouldn't have hurt as much.
Rukia could barely breath as she took her seat next to Hitsugaya. She'd already spoken to Hinamori's parents, and soon found that she could barely even look at them. There was too much pain in their eyes, too much guilt, too many overwhelming emotions. Rukia had muttered a word of apology before darting back to Hitsugaya, the only person there that was closest to her age, who she was on friendly terms with.
"You all right, Kuchiki?" Hitsugaya murmured, casting Rukia a side-long glance. "You look kind of pale."
"I'm fine." Rukia muttered back, sliding down in her seat a little.
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
"Hello!" Rukia looked up from the book she was reading. A girl with dark brown hair and even deeper brown eyes was watching Rukia with a smile.
"Erm…hi?"
The girl laughed at Rukia's confusion. "Sorry. I think I'd better start at the beginning. My name's Hinamori Momo. You're…Kuchiki Rukia, right?"
"Yeah…" Rukia was confused. Why in the world was this girl even bothering to talk to her? "Is there…something you want?"
"Just saying hi." The girl ― Hinamori ― smiled. "I heard you were going to be here for awhile ― you'd be amazed how fast news travels around here, it's almost gossip central. And ― being a long term resident myself ― I thought I'd drop in and say hello. So hello!"
Rukia just stared.
"A light in a dark place…touched everyone she came in contact with…" The words rang in Rukia's head. She didn't bother paying attention. Nothing some…some stranger said would give a person the true essence of Hinamori Momo. Rukia knew Momo. Hitsugaya, who was now blinking furiously, trying to block out tears, knew the real Momo. But the man standing next to the coffin? He didn't know a damn thing.
"Kuchiki-san, what are you doing?" Rukia jumped as Kotetsu Isane, one of the nurses, walked up behind her. She had, in fact, been spying on Hitsugaya and Hinamori, who were eating together in the cafeteria.
"Catching the show." The raven-haired girl said unconcernedly, waving a hand at the two fifteen-year-olds. Isane followed Rukia's gaze. A small smile played on her lips.
"Aw…young love. So sweet."
"He's pretty cute." Rukia said. "Hinamori's got fairly good taste, I'll give her that. But his hair color's pretty weird, isn't it?"
Hinamori's laugh reached Rukia's ears suddenly, and she looked back just in time to see a small, solemn smile cross Hitsugaya's normally serious face. Rukia smiled. Of course. How could anyone not be happy when Hinamori was around?
"She's always so happy." Isane said, cocking her head at the brown-haired girl. "I wonder how she does it."
Rukia smiled a little, remembering the one thing that Hinamori always talked about.
"Hope."
Hope. What a strange, stupid word. Hinamori had been filled with it. And where had it gotten her? Into a coffin, with some stranger talking about her like he knew her.
What a joke.
"She just got back from her best friend's funeral. How do you expect her to be?"
Hisana sighed. She'd just commented that she was worried about Rukia, who had been acting strange since she got home. The comment led to a logical comment from Byakuya, of course, who didn't seem overly concerned about his only daughter.
"Really Byakuya, act like you care."
Hisana and Byakuya had been on thin ice ever since the former had found out about the latter's meddling in their daughter's personal life. Hisana just couldn't believe how far Byakuya would take interference (and hypocrisy, for that matter). Byakuya couldn't figure out what Hisana was so upset about (actually he could…but he wasn't about to admit it). Rukia had become a touchy subject between her parents.
"Hisana, do you remember attending Masaki's funeral?"
Hisana shuddered. She did. She wished she didn't. "I'll take that as a yes. And Rukia's younger than you were. Imagine how much worse she must feel. And Hinamori was even younger. It's not easy."
Hisana sighed. Her husband presented a good point, as always. But that didn't stop her from worrying. "Maybe I should just―"
"Leave her be. She needs time to herself once in awhile, without you getting involved―"
"Well isn't that ironic." Hisana grumbled, slamming her book shut and walking out. Byakuya sighed as he stared at her back. He'd walked right into that one.
"Um…Rukia?"
Rukia didn't look up from the book she was reading. Miyako was standing over her, shifting from foot to foot.
"Rukia I know you're not deaf. At least look at me."
And she did. "What do you want Miyako?"
The girl sighed. "Look…I'm sorry about your friend. Renji told me―"
"Renji has a big mouth." Rukia huffed, slamming her book shut and standing up. She wished Ichigo was there, but of course, he was out sick that day. "He should mind his own business. Same with you, Miyako."
Miyako went right on the defensive. "Well excuse me. I thought I'd try and be nice, what a mistake that was. I forgot, you're too good for sympathy."
And she stormed away. Rukia stared after her, tempted to call out, to apologize. It was the first time in months that Miyako had so much as spared the raven-haired girl a glance. Out of respect for their past, Rukia could have at least attempted to be nice. But she wasn't in the mood. Her mind was still back with Hinamori's funeral. Time had stopped there.
"Hope." She muttered as the bell rang. She shoved her book into her bag. "My God, that's such a laugh."
She threw a glare at the sky. Remember what you asked me, Hinamori? You asked if I cared. You asked if I had hope. Remember my answer? I don't care. See where hope gets you?
Against her will, tears welled up in her eyes. She rubbed them away, but more came. "Damn it." She muttered, rubbing harder still. But the tears won in the end. Part of her was saying she should start heading back to class, she was going to be late. But she didn't care anymore. She didn't care. She ran off the school grounds, not sparing a second glance, and not noticing a certain brown-haired girl watching her the entire time.
"A-A-Achoo!"
"Bless you." Yuzu said with a laugh, setting a bowl of soup in front of Ichigo. "Eat up. That'll make you better."
"Be careful." Karin added. "Dad added something to it."
Ichigo pushed the bowl away at once, muttering something under his breath about crazy old men.
It was a little after seven, already mostly dark. The days were slowly starting to get longer, and the weather was getting weirder. Hot and cold, hot and cold. The weather was what was making Ichigo sick. He hated it.
Ring-Ring
"I'll get it." Yuzu said quickly, sweeping across the kitchen and grabbing the phone. "Hello?" She listened, then said, "Ichi-nii, it's Kuchiki-san."
"Rukia?" Ichigo said hopefully. He'd been kind of hoping she'd stop by, but then again she didn't need to be hanging around him when he was sick. He'd settle for a phone call though.
"No, her mom."
A little disappointed and a little confused, Ichigo stood up and grabbed the phone from Yuzu, jumping up on the counter as he said, "Hello?"
"Kurosaki-kun?" That was Hisana all right.
"Yeah."
"Have you seen Rukia?"
Déjà vu. "No." Ichigo said, shaking off the familiar-ness of the conversation. "Why, shouldn't she be home by now?"
School had been out for hours. "She's not." Hisana said, obviously worried. "And the teacher from school called ― she never went back to class after lunch."
Ichigo sighed. God that girl was infuriating. "So you haven't heard from her at all?"
"Not since yesterday, no. Sorry." The orange-haired teen shook his head. And suddenly a thought struck him. "I have to go, Kuchiki-san. I think I might know where she is."
"What―"
"'Bye." Ichigo didn't give Hisana a second thought as he hung up and jumped off the counter, grabbing his jacket and shoes.
"Ichi-nii you can't go out!" Yuzu protested.
"Sorry Yuzu, this is important." And he left. Yuzu shook her head at him, muttering something about irresponsible boys.
Ichigo shuffled down the streets of Karakura Town. His destination? The park. A couple of weeks after her birthday, Rukia had introduced him to a special spot in the park that she had fallen in love with when she was twelve. It was, she said, her place to go when she wanted to get away. He was the first person she had shown it to.
Ichigo knew that was where he'd find her.
Byakuya walked through the streets, knowing full well he wouldn't find Rukia. When she didn't want to be found, she wouldn't be found.
"Kurosaki-kun said he hasn't seen her either." Hisana informed Byakuya when she called him.
So she hadn't even gone running to her orange-haired boyfriend. She must have been really upset about something. "He said he had an idea where she might go though." Hisana went on. "Where do you think he meant?"
Byakuya had a vague idea. Rukia had a special spot in the park, a place she thought no one else knew about. But Byakuya did. He'd followed her there once, wanting to find out where she went when she disappeared. Knowing that she hadn't wanted anyone to know about the place, he hadn't said anything to her, content to letting her have her secret.
"Byakuya?"
Had she really shown it to Kurosaki though? Did she trust him that much? "Never-mind, Hisana. I'll call you back in a little while."
Hisana sighed as Byakuya hung up on her. What was it with males and hanging up on her today?
"Found ya."
Rukia, who had sitting under her tree with her legs curled under her chin, chin resting on her knees, looked up and found Ichigo looking down at her.
"Thought you were sick." She said dully, looking away.
"Word travels fast in this town. I heard a certain midget went missing, and I figured I'd try to be a hero and find her." Rukia snorted, unable to stop herself.
"Some hero. Don't you at least need a weapon?"
"Well, let's talk weapons then. I, for one, would be happy with a giant sword. Sound good?" He wrapped an arm around Rukia's shoulders. "All kidding aside, what's up? S'not like you to skip out on afternoon classes."
Rukia didn't answer. "Are you still thinking about Hinamori?" He guessed. She'd called him as soon as she had hung up with Hitsugaya and told him the news. Ichigo had felt a stab of pain for the energetic girl he had briefly met at Rukia's birthday party. And he knew the two of them had been best friends. He knew it would effect Rukia badly.
"Miyako said something to me today." Ichigo blinked in surprise. "It's the first time she's talked to me in months. And I bit her head right off. I even managed to rip Renji up a little, and he isn't even around. And I knew I should have felt bad, because Miyako was actually being sincere…but all I could think about was Hinamori."
That didn't surprise Ichigo.
"It's not fair." Rukia was talking more to herself now. "She was the most hopeful person I'd ever met, she was that small point of light in that damn hospital, and where did it get her? She's dead now. She's dead!"
She was crying now. Ichigo sighed and held her a little tighter. "What good is it, any of it?" She went on. "We're all going to die eventually, right? Some of our times just have to come sooner than others, is that how it's going to be?"
Ichigo didn't like the sound of that at all. "So what are you thinking? That you're going to be next? Rukia―"
"If you'd asked me eight months ago," Rukia went on as if Ichigo hadn't spoken, "I might have said I don't care. I didn't. Hinamori asked me once if I cared about living, and I didn't. But I do now. It's stupid and illogical, but I care more now than I have in years." She bit down on her lip, almost to the point where it bled. "I want to live."
Her voice was low and tortured. It tore Ichigo apart. And, forgetting he was sick, forgetting it wouldn't be a good idea to get her sick, he tucked his hand under his chin, turned her head so she was facing him, and kissed her.
When he finally pulled away, he saw the shock in her eyes (still filled with tears), the surprise. "You can live." He said quietly. "There's no one saying that you can't except you."
Rukia looked away, her eyes closed. "And the cancer."
"Screw the cancer." Ichigo said harshly. "Haven't you ever heard of a miracle?"
Miracle. The word rang in Rukia's mind. So much like hope. "They're the same."
"What?" Ichigo sounded confused. Rukia shook her head.
"Never-mind."
Byakuya stood about a hundred feet away, hidden behind a tree, watching Rukia and Ichigo intently. He'd wanted to storm over and tear the orange-haired teen's head off when he had kissed Rukia. But she hadn't seemed to mind so much. In fact…she almost looked happy. In ten years, Byakuya had gotten used to the hopeless look that was always reflected in his daughter's eyes. A look even Hinamori Momo hadn't even able to get rid of. But Kurosaki Ichigo could.
Byakuya turned away. No known force could make him like Ichigo. But if he really, truly cared about Rukia…then Byakuya would accept the relationship.
But he would never like Ichigo.
Author's Note: Bit of humor in the end, thought I'd make it fun. All and all it was a sad chapter, kind of hard to write. But I managed. Hope you like it. Anyways, riddle me this ― who would like to see one or two spin-offs to this story? I have a couple in mind. Not sequels, exactly ― more like side-stories, about different characters. Here are the ideas:
Title: Chocolate and Vanilla
Rating: K+
Summary: ―Miracle Spin-Off, Hitsugaya/Hinamori― They only spent two months together. But they were the best two months of the young teens' lives ―AU―
--00000--
Title: The Twist of Love
Rating: K+ or T (undecided)
Summary: ―Miracle Spin-Off, Byakuya/Hisana― They were complete opposites in every way. And they were the ones that lasted ―AU―
If either (or both) of those sound any good, let me know. I've been toying with them for awhile, I actually already typed the first chapter of Chocolate and Vanilla (which takes place during the summer before Miracle, in case you're wondering). And I'm just playing with The Twist of Love (which takes place during Byakuya's and Hisana's high school years). So…let me know. Review! ― Sam