Accidents
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Bleach characters in this story. The idea for this story belongs to a good friend of mine, who wishes to remain anonymous.
Was this really all…an accident?
"You're what now?!"
The entire room shook as Karin bolted from her seat and shouted at Rukia. Everyone froze, staring at the raven haired woman with shock and disbelief. One by one, Rukia looked around at all of them with a nervous glance.
"Is it really that hard to believe?" she answered, almost regretting answering the question.
"W-Well, not exactly…" Yuzu softly replied, staring down at her food. "I just thought that since no one's been to visit, besides your brother, there wouldn't be anyone special for you."
A heavy silence fell over the table as the information was fully absorbed by all.
For a brief second, Yuzu's eyes looked to her shell-shocked brother.
Even though she had not been privy to her sister's plan, she too had noticed Ichigo's affection for the raven haired patient. It wasn't everyday that her brother went above and beyond for a complete stranger, one that he was almost forced to accompany everywhere and take care of. Not only that, she knew how much Rukia appreciated his help.
Knowing that only made the reality of the situation more unbearable.
Karin noticed her sister's depressed expression and wanted to kick herself. It wasn't supposed to go like this. She, like everyone else in the Kurosaki Family, thought that Rukia would soon become part of the family, officially. Through Ichigo, of course. But there was no hope of that now.
Some sister she was. Not only had she ruined any chance for her brother to share his feelings, she'd inadvertently broken his heart.
Ichigo was far too distraught by this news to register anything for a few moments. He stared at the food in front of him, the scowl on his face slowly becoming deeper and harder. He wanted to scream, to demand answers, but a voice in his mind told him it wasn't right. This event showed him that, no matter how much time he'd spent with Rukia, he didn't know her half as much as he thought.
He clenched his fists around his chopsticks and bowl, slowly turned to look at her.
A heavy frown had settled on Rukia's face. Then, she glanced toward him. However, Ichigo quickly averted his gaze, unable to meet her violet irises. Fear gripped his soul, knowing that if she saw his eyes right now, he wouldn't be able to hide his despair.
Instead, he quickly began shoveling his dinner into his mouth, forcing his body to forget the pain of heartache.
Suddenly, a sorrowful wail disrupted the silence.
"How can this be?! My wonderful third daughter has a love in her life and she neglected to tell her dear Papa! Oh, Masaki! Why do my children hate me so?!" Isshin shrieked, flying from his chair toward the wall, grasping the life-size picture of his wife that the family had grown accustomed to long ago.
Normally, this would be the time when Ichigo or Karin would rise and disable their father through physical violence. But at the moment, no one had enough energy to stop him. It was almost as if he wasn't there.
"But Yuzu brings up a good point," Karin abruptly pointed out, her eyes fixed on Rukia, "If you truly are, engaged, why has this person never bothered to come and see you? And why didn't you mention him 'til now?"
The question collected the attention of everyone, even the wall hugging Isshin. Particularly, Ichigo snuck a glance at Rukia to see her sighing and putting down her chopsticks. She took a deep breath and smiled sadly at them.
"My fiancé is a very busy man. He works almost all day, every day. Still, we've has found time to talk over the phone each night before I go to sleep." Without warning, her smile began to grow warmer. "We got engaged around the time of my accident but we hardly knew each other. Our engagement isn't public because it would draw unwanted attention and that would upset my brother's business. You're actually the first people I've told about it since it happened."
"Well, I can understand your brother's want to keep you out of the spot light, considering that your accident wasn't made public either. He does have the authority and the right connections after all," Isshin concurred, miraculously reappearing at the table, a somber expression on his face.
"Oh, I see. I guess that…makes sense," a disappointed but understanding Karin answered slowly going back to her food.
Yuzu looked around the table and frowned. Her brother, sister and father were all avoiding the most important questions, picking at their food while trying to muster the courage. Her eyes hardening, the brown haired twin stared right at Rukia and asked, "Was this an arranged marriage?"
A spark of interest spread around the table, Ichigo being the first to look to her with hope. He had not considered that option, and it was his only ray of light at this point. As if he was broadcasting his thoughts, all of the Kurosaki Family waited with bated breath, staring intently at their guest.
Rukia visibly tensed at the sudden attention and her warm smile slightly faded. "…No. My brother had nothing to do with this. I chose to spend my life with this man, much to my brother's dismay."
Yuzu's gaze softened and she leaned back in her seat, not knowing what else to say. Karin remained silent as well, fearing that any more 'helpful' advice might tear her family apart. And Isshin simply closed his eyes and nodded, opting not to make a scene for once.
"So, this guy…Does he make you happy?"
Everyone in the room nearly gasped as Ichigo utter his first words since hearing of the engagement. Rukia slowly turned her head to him and was confronted by his gaze. Amber orbs met with simmering violets, locked in a deep bond. They focused solely on each other, unwilling to turn away.
For the two of them, it was as if the rest of the family had suddenly vanished. It seemed like an eternity was passing them, as they sat in silence.
Then, very slowly, the corners of Rukia's lips turned up in a gentle, yet sorrowful smile.
"He's my best friend. And the person I trust more than anyone else in the world. So, yes, he does make me very happy."
Her words were soft and filled with joy, passing through her lips with no hesitation or regret. The care and affection she had for her mystery fiancé was more powerful than anything Ichigo had ever seen in his entire life. Not even his father's obsessive but compassionate love for his mother compared to Rukia's devotion.
Taking in all of her feelings, Ichigo felt something inside of him twist. However, unlike before, he wasn't saddened by this news. Seeing and knowing how happy this person made her, unraveled all his negative feelings. No matter how much it hurt, how much it tore him apart, Ichigo knew that he had no right to interfere with her choice.
Even so, it didn't stop all the emotions that coursed through the orange haired man.
"Good, he'd better! And if he ever does anything to hurt you," Ichigo pointed at himself with his thumb, "I'll have a word with him and straighten him out for you! Remember, I'm always here to help!"
Rukia's eyes widened and her mouth hung open in shock, because for the first time since she'd arrived at the clinic, Ichigo was actually smiling at her. A warm and vibrant smile, one that she had hardly believed him capable of showing.
And she wasn't the only one to be surprised. Yuzu and Karin stared at him as if he was an imposter; someone who they used to think was their brother. For as long as they could remember, Ichigo has always had a scowl on his face, even when he was actually happy. Seeing an open display of warmth from him was almost terrifying.
Isshin looked at his son and he couldn't stop his eyes drifting back to the post of Masaki. Not since his beloved wife's untimely passing had this boy been able to crack a smile. Discretely wiping away tears, the strange father glanced to his third daughter, to gauge her reaction. And he didn't have to wait long.
Before anyone realized it, the rave haired woman suddenly burst into laughter. She roared so loud that for a moment, Isshin was worried about the neighbors complaining. As her amused voice echoed and refused to diminish, Ichigo's smile abruptly faded and his fearsome scowl overtook his features.
"Hey! What's so damn funny?! I was being serious!"
Rukia tried to gather breath to reply but ended up choking on it and erupting into another fit of laughter. Ichigo's teeth felt like they might crack from the pressure as he clenched his jaw. He finally had the guts to make his feelings known and all she did was laugh at him!
"Fine! Whatever!" he shouted, pushing his chair back and bolting up.
He didn't even get a step in before a hand grabbed his arm and jerked him back. Taken by surprise, he barely noticed that he had been forced back into his seat and was facing Rukia. Glancing down, he saw her powerful fist gripping his forearm and almost doubled over. How in the world was someone as petite as her able to pull him back with only one arm?
Only when her delicate appendage left him did he finally look over to see still her chuckling at him, riding out the last of her fit. A joyous light shined in her violet irises as she retracted her hand and leaned against her chair.
"Sorry about that, really. I know you meant every word. It's just—", she stifled another laugh, "The image of you 'having a word' with my fiancé was just too much!" She huffed in laughter, barely containing herself.
However, Ichigo was less than amused and scoffed, "Don't laugh at me like that! Do you really think that I couldn't straighten this guy out if I had to? I'm tougher than you might think!"
"Oh, trust me. This is one fight you'd definitely lose—", she held in her outburst, barely, "—but then again, knowing him, so would he!"
Unable to contain herself any longer, the raven haired woman burst into another laughing fit, pounding her fist on the table from overexcitement. Frustrated and confused, Ichigo was on the verge of screaming at her when she suddenly patted him on the shoulder.
Tilting her head up at him, she smiled and continued, "But I'd expect nothing less from you, Ichigo. And I really appreciate what you said. Thank you."
Not expecting the sudden praise, the orange haired man felt a rush of heat in his ears and he abruptly turned to glare at his innocent bowl of rice.
"Yeah, well…you better appreciate it," he said with a gruff tone.
He didn't notice that Rukia was still smiling at him, effortlessly seeing through his ruse. But at the same time, he was sure she understood anyway. That's just who she was and what made her so special.
Across from them, Karin slowly began to relax into her chair. Although she still felt a bit guilty over causing this, at this moment, she didn't regret it. Even if it hadn't gone the way she'd wanted, at least everything was out in the open. As she glanced to her brother, still shying away from Rukia's laughs, she felt content.
A sly grin slipped onto her lips. Perhaps she wouldn't make any more demands of her brother, at least for this evening.
Suddenly, Rukia's head snapped toward Yuzu and Karin, both of them taken aback for a moment. That is, until a cheeky grin from Rukia flooded their vision.
"Come on, you two! What's with the sour faces?" she asked, making the twins tense for fear of her fabled questioning skills. However, what followed surprised them. "This is my last night here! Let's all just relax and enjoy ourselves!"
Almost instantly, Yuzu's overjoyed smile expanded and she firmly replied, "Right! We'll make this the most unforgettable night of your life! Right, Karin?"
"Sure, why not?" the black haired twin replied, hiding her smile as best she could.
"It's settled then!" Isshin suddenly shouted and leapt up onto his chair, placing his foot atop the table. "Let's finish dinner and move on to the next event! For tonight, we play; Pictionary – The Adult Version!"
Quicker than he realized, the old man flew back into the wall, leaving an indent right next to his wife's poster. Standing where he'd been a moment ago, Ichigo and Karin held clenched fists and where only held back by Yuzu and Rukia, who had almost tackled them. From the floor, Isshin began to laugh heartily, either from a concussion or happiness, no one really cared.
As the evening rolled on, it became the best night any of them had spent for many years.
The festivities lasted most of the night and it was late by the time that everyone decided to turn in. Hours of board games, trivia and loud music took it out of Ichigo and he slumped up the stairs toward his room, a strange feeling of contentment sustaining him.
Oh, how he wished this night would last forever, because it almost did!
For once, he was able to forget his current hardships, let go of his inhibitions, and finally have some real fun with his family and Rukia. He pushed away all thoughts of the future and his unemployment, disregarded how depressing it was that this was the final evening he may ever have with Rukia, and for the first time since the accident, he didn't feel weighed down the proposal he'd made.
Pushing the door open and plopping down on his bed, he didn't bother to cover himself, simply letting his body's exhaustion take over. Ichigo had never realized it until tonight but the things that motivated him so much, also weighed him down.
His want to find a high paying job to support himself was more than a daunting task, considering his ineptitude during interviews. His desire to assist Rukia in any way possible, while a wonderful notion, had run him ragged more times than he could count. And finally, the proposal that always loomed in his mind whenever she was around, tormented him as he did his best to deal with his own feelings.
"Strange how, when I just forget about the whole thing, I feel more comfortable around her," Ichigo mused as he began to drift off to sleep. "Huh, which I'd have figured this out…sooner…"
His head gently laid down on the pillow, his face smooshing into the fluffy accessory. Just then, an abrupt dinging echoed from his pocket. Although he was more than tempted to calmly throw his expensive cell phone against the wall and ignore the frustrating noise, he instantly recognized the ring tone: The Chappy Theme Song.
Pushing himself up and rolling his feet over the edge of the bed, he came to a sitting position and dug out his phone.
"What do you need, boss?" he quipped into the receiver, his tiredness shining through.
"Sorry to bother you and I know it's late but, I could really use some help with something right now. It won't take long."
Ichigo smirked despite his annoyance. "I expect hazard pay for this," he grumbled.
"That only counts if you actually do the work properly. So, are you coming or not?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm on my way."
Ichigo stood and slipped his phone back in its home. He quietly exited his room and moved down the hall to the stairs. His old man and sisters were probably just getting to sleep and he didn't want to disturb them, or have his old man make a fuss this late at night.
Descending the stairway slowly, the orange haired man couldn't help but recall the very first time he'd come to Rukia's aid in this house.
Three Month Prior…
A frustrated Ichigo lay on his bed, glaring up at the ceiling. It had only been two days since Rukia had come to live with him and his family, and already he was going crazy.
He was more than happy to see her again and being giving the chance to really get to know her was almost a miracle. But if he had known she was going to act so rash and foolish, he might have reconsidered!
Even though she was confined to the wheelchair, Rukia insisted that she could take care of herself. She pushed on the wheels of her chair to move herself, even when it was clear that she needed rest to help recover. She fell out of her chair five times earlier that day, each time trying to reach for something she wanted. And then she crossed the line when, the moment he let her out of his sight, she abandoned her chair completely.
Ichigo heard shouting and rushed to the kitchen to find his little sister, Karin, holding Rukia by the collar and shouting in her face. The wheelchair was turned over and abandoned nearly ten feet away from them.
His blood boiled and he was about to scream at Karin to let her go, when his sister began shouting about how Rukia had been climbing the up the counter with her arms alone. As the accusation reverberated off the walls, the raven haired woman frowned and turned her head away.
When pressed about the issue by both Ichigo and Karin, the raven haired woman glared at them and told them that it was unfair of everyone to have to look after her. She said that she felt that, if she could do something by herself, it was better to do it rather than bother anyone.
Just as she was insisting that she wasn't a helpless invalid, her vision suddenly blurred and she found her face twisted away from them, her cheek reddening.
In shock, Rukia slowly turned back to see Karin angrily retracting her hand before shouting how stubborn the raven haired patient was. She began to shake the shell-shocked Rukia and told her that the next time she pulled a stunt like that, she'd tie her down the damn wheelchair and force her to ask for help.
However, this only infuriated the injured Rukia and she retorted that she was capable of handling herself.
It was then that Ichigo had intervened, tearing the two of them apart and getting Rukia back to her chair. The moment she was back in the horrid seat, the raven haired woman pushed him away and began rolling herself toward her room, where she remained for the remainder of the evening. Not even Yuzu's promise of dumplings and cucumbers was able to coax her out.
And so now, at nearly 3AM, Ichigo was rolling around, unable to get himself to sleep.
Just as he felt he was about to doze off, there was a sharp buzzing from his phone. His exhaustion was peaking and he grit his teeth as he threw himself off the bed and angrily stomped over to his desk. Snatching his phone, he looked at the caller and saw that it was Rukia.
"What?!" he practically shouted as he took the call.
For a moment, there was silence, until a weaken voice replied, "I-I'm sorry…to b-bother…you…" she said slowly, as if unable to breath, "But…I think—arrgh!"
The second her cry of pain reached him, all anger and tiredness evaporated. Before he could ask what happened, the line when dead. Ichigo's eyes widened and he tore from his room, charging down the stairs and toward their guest room in the clinic in the rear of the house. He practically knocked the door of its hinges as he forced his way into her room.
There, on the floor at the foot of the bed, Rukia lay on her back, clutching her abdomen tightly. Her phone was still grasped tightly in her hand and she was writhing in agony.
"Rukia!"
Ichigo rushed to her side and immediately elevated her head, getting a good look at her face. She was pale and her breathing was erratic. He scowled deeply and quickly lifted her up to her bed, setting her down carefully. The movement made her grunt and tighten the grip on her abdomen. Red stained her fingertips.
Without hesitation, the orange haired man pulled up her shirt and gasped at her wound. The stitches that held her together had been strained, pulled and had even torn parts of her skin. Blood seeped out but fortunately it was bright red, meaning that the wound wasn't deep.
Quickly grabbing a towel from the bedside table, his hands reached down to clean up the blood but as he did, Rukia's hands furiously slapped his hands away.
"D-Don't!" Rukia groaned, fighting the pain. "I need…my medicine!"
Ichigo's eyes widened as he thought back to the incident earlier that day. Rukia's pain medication was kept on a shelf in the kitchen. It was a precaution so that she wouldn't take too much of the highly potent drug. Was that the reason she'd climbed up the counter? Had she been in this much pain all this time but was simply too stubborn to admit it?
Why the hell didn't she just ask for help?!
Ichigo wanted to scream at her but her face was warped in torment and worse, he could tell she was nearly panicking. As she swatted at him again, he grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently. Gritting her teeth and forcing her eyes open, she glared at him. However, to her shock, she found a melancholy smile on his lips and a soft gaze radiating from his amber eyes.
"Just hold on. I'll be right back. Trust me."
Rukia stared up at him, her breathing slowly beginning to slow, his voice somehow soothing her. Squeezing her eyes shut, she nodded firmly to him. He squeezed her hand tight for a moment before dashing off toward the kitchen. When he returned with the bottle of pills, he found his father already with Rukia, giving her a thorough examination.
Isshin told his son to give Rukia the medication while he cleaned the bleeding wound. Elevating her head, Ichigo helped her swallow the pill before laying her back down. As her wound was being cleansed, her hand flung out and gripped Ichigo's palm. Without hesitation, the orange haired man knelt beside her bed and held her hand until Isshin finished. And when that was done, Ichigo stayed with her until the pain passed and she fell into uneasy sleep.
The next day, Rukia made a full apology to the entire family, telling them she would be relying on them from now on. And for the first time since her arrival, she smiled brightly at them.
"I really was hopeless back then," Rukia chuckled as she and Ichigo sat and folded clothes in her room. "I couldn't even ask for someone to get my medicine before the pain was ripping my insides apart."
Ichigo huffed in amusement and continued to fold and pack away her clothes. Turns out the reason she called him was to help her pack. Her brother would be coming tomorrow morning to get her and it would be better to be ready. Although he should have been upset, knowing that this was his last chance to spend personal time with Rukia, the orange haired man simply expressed mock annoyance as he went to work.
"Yeah, well, you did learn your lesson. After all, you've kinda been calling me at all hours of the night ever since," he retorted, sealing a bag full of items and setting it aside.
"You're never gonna forgive me for that, are you?" Rukia groaned, folding up the last of her outfits and compacting them into a duffle bag.
"What makes you say that?" Ichigo said, an eyebrow raised.
"Maybe it's the fact that you brought up the most embarrassing moment of my life and continue to hold it over my head. As if to taunt me." She smirked as he averted his gaze and laughed nervously, which only made her grin widen. "I mean, come on. It's my last night here and all you can think to talk about is how pathetic I was after the accident? Don't you have anything more interesting to tell me?"
Ichigo abruptly froze, memories of the proposal flooding his mind.
"Sorry," he said with a forced smile, "I guess I'm just not suitable entertainment without having some dirt on you to bring up."
With a heavy sigh, Rukia stood up and stretched. "Damn, that took a while. But it's all finished." She turned back to him and smiled, "Thanks for what little bit you did."
"Hey, I helped!" Ichigo gestured to the one bag of clothes he'd managed to fold, "It's not my fault that I have no idea how to fold women's clothes. And it would have gone much smoother if you hadn't kept stopping to make me fold them right. Besides, I figured you wanted help with your other stuff."
He glanced around the room and took note that most of her belongings were still out: photographs of her and her brother, her stuffed Chappy toy that she smuggled into the clinic, and her desk that was full of paperwork and other business related items. Seeing all of them sitting out actually puzzled him.
"I thought that your brother was coming in the morning to get you. Don't we need to pack all your other junk up too?"
A sudden jab in his side caught him off-guard, knocking the air from him.
"Those won't take more than a few minutes to pack up," Rukia explained as she walked past him and sat on her bed, grinning as Ichigo caught his breath. "Besides, my brother's sending a few movers to collect my desk, since Byakuya was kind enough to have it delivered here when I first came."
"So, I guess this means you're really going, huh?" Ichigo voiced aloud, almost subconsciously.
Rukia paused and looked down. "Yeah, I guess I am. Byakuya's coming in person and my fiancé's will be there too."
The air in the room became still and for a moment, both of them were silent. He snuck a quick glance and saw that Rukia had her head downcast, staring at the floor.
He hadn't realized it until now, but this might be his last chance to tell Rukia what had really happened during the accident. That thought terrified him as much as it did encourage him. Even if this was fate giving him the chance to finally get this weight off his chest, all he wanted to do was keep silent.
After all, it wasn't fair to Rukia. The thought of her blissful expression when she had told him about her fiancé tormented him. If only he could have been the one to make her smile like that.
"Would you like to meet him?" the raven haired woman abruptly asked, making Ichigo's head snap in her direction. "My fiancé, I mean. Would you like to meet him?"
For a brief moment, Ichigo's eyes widened. Rukia was now looking up at him with a hopeful look in her eyes, eagerly awaiting his answer.
A million thoughts ran through Ichigo's mind, most of them painful. An image of Rukia walking out to meet some snobby businessman played in his head, ending with her embracing and kissing him. All the while, all he could do was stand and watch as this man took her from him forever. Forcing the hateful thought away, he clenched his fists and turned away from her.
"I can't. I…have an interview tomorrow morning."
All of the light drained from Rukia's eyes and she slowly let her gaze fall to the floor. It was a bald faced lie and they both knew it. A melancholy smile overtook her lips as she replied, "I guess, there's no helping it then."
"Yeah, I gotta get up early and all that. I should…probably be getting to bed. 'Night."
Ichigo slowly and painfully began moving toward her door. Just before he got to it, Rukia called out to him.
"So, I take it our engagement's cancelled?"
Mid-step, the orange haired man whirled around to see Rukia standing only a few feet from him, a joyous smirk on her face. Her words continually rang over and over in his mind. Absorbing her smug appearance, he took a small step back toward her.
Ichigo pointed at her and said, "O-Our engagement?! Does that mean the fiancé you've been talking about was actually—?" He froze and then everything clicked. "Are you telling me you remember everything?!"
Still smirking like she'd won a prize, Rukia nodded, "Yeah. I remember the crash, you coming to my rescue, and of course, your proposal."
"For how long?!" he practically shouted.
"Three months."
Ichigo's jaw dropped and he stared at her in disbelief. "You mean to tell me you remembered everything right from the start?!"
All at once, Rukia's smug appearance fell and she became serious. "Actually, when I first woke up, I really couldn't remember anything that happened. For me, that felt like the first time I'd met you." She folded her arms and glared at him. "It was only after you left that I remembered what happened."
Although his temper was fuming, the orange haired man couldn't stop himself from asking, "And how did that happen?"
"Dr. Ishida came in just after you left. He asked me where my fiancé was off to in such a hurry," she replied, giving him a suggestive look. "My brother nearly had security tackle you, but I convinced him to let you off easy. You really ought to thank me for that."
Ichigo opened his mouth to speak but quickly shut it. He had almost forgotten that he'd told that to Ryuken to get himself into Rukia's room. But this meant that the entire time that she had been staying with the Kurosaki's, she actually knew all about his cherished secret!
"So you're saying that you knew about our…engagement, this entire time." He watched as Rukia nodded. He took a cleansing breath, only for him to shout, "And you never thought to say anything about it so me?!"
Violet eyes narrowed and stared in deep amber. "I could ask the same thing," she said in a low voice, "Why didn't you mention our engagement to me this entire time? Why didn't you tell me what really happened? You even went so far as to try and cover it up at times!"
Ichigo cringed as he remembered their argument in the car earlier, particularly when he slipped about the bunny swerving.
"That…That was—".
"Why didn't you just tell me what happened, Ichigo?" Rukia asked, her features softening. "Were you ashamed by it or—?"
"No!" he furiously replied, "I'll never be ashamed of what happened! It was the most amazing thing that's ever happened in my life!"
Despite the fact that he was shocked that he'd actually managed to tell her that, he didn't back down from his words. His burning amber eyes stared deep into her shimmering violets as they stood in silence. Very slowly, Rukia's lips turned up into a warm smile and she closed the gap between them in a swift movement.
"I'm glad to hear that," she said quickly.
Pushing herself up onto her toes, she reached up and grabbed onto his face, pulling him down and smashing her lips against his. Ichigo's eyes widened for a moment before he eased into her and kissed back, leaning forward and wrapping his arms around her.
Regretfully pulling back, both of them taking a deep breath. Her hands rested on his chest while his draped over her shoulders. For a time, they just kept gazing into each other's eyes, almost as if they expected this to be a dream.
Then, Rukia smiled up at him, chuckled and said, "I suppose that makes it official. That wasn't as hard as I thought it would be."
Ichigo raised an eyebrow, "Wait, have you been planning this?"
The raven haired woman gave a playful shrug and grinned, "I've been toying with the idea. I had to do something since you seemed too scared to actually make a move on me. Hell, Karin had to practically do it for you!"
Completely disengaging from her, the orange haired man scowled and retorted, "Hey! I wasn't scared, all right! I was just waiting for the right time! And I'm still confused over here!" He threw up his arms in dismay. "So you don't have another fiancé? That was all just an act?"
"It wasn't an act. Everything I said was true," Rukia replied, giving him an incredulous look. "You just didn't know exactly who I was talking about. Honestly, I expected you to figure it out after I told you about calling him every night."
Now it was all coming together. Ichigo almost always got a call from her each night to either thank him for helping that day or asking for a final favor of the night. And then, he suddenly remembered all the wonderful things she said about her fiancé at dinner, particularly about how much she trusted and cared about him. Heat rushed to his head and he knew his face was burning because Rukia smirked at him.
"I still don't see why you didn't tell me that you remembered what happened sooner," he protested, trying to change the subject. He watched her sigh and take a seat on her bed.
"I had actually planned to the day I came here. I was actually pretty excited to talk to you again, and find out more about what happened at the accident," she paused and sighed again, "But then I started to think, 'Why didn't he bring it up in the first place?' and 'Why did he suddenly leave instead of telling me the truth?'. So I began to think that, maybe you didn't want to remember what happened."
Glancing up at him, she continued, "And by the time I got here, I'd completely lost my nerve to tell you. I thought I'd be able to bring it up later, but before I knew it, three months had passed and I was ready to be discharged."
She lowered her head and averted her gaze. It was then that she felt something plop down the bed next to her and she turned to see Ichigo glaring straight ahead.
"It was pretty much the same for me. I wanted to say something but I figured, it would freak you out," his head turned and their eyes met, "And then, whenever I tried bringing it up, you seemed to avoid it. So, after a while, I figured it might be better just to keep it all to myself. And then, maybe, we could just start over and get to know each other as two people instead of having this proposal hanging over you."
A light chuckle escaped Rukia and she patted him on the shoulder before saying, "It's funny. I didn't want to mention the accident because I didn't want you to feel like you had to go through with the proposal. And as I got to know you, I became thankful that you were the one who saved me that day."
"I guess we both kinda screw up, didn't we?" Ichigo chided, give her a melancholy smile. "So, what now?"
"What do you mean?" she said with a quizzical look.
"I mean, where do we go from here? Or did you already forget that you're being discharged in the morning? We won't exactly be together every day anymore, or have you forgotten?" he answered, already frustrated.
To his surprise, Rukia stood up and calmly went to her desk. Opening the top drawer, she reached in and pulled out a piece of paper with writing on it. A smile cracked on her lips as she looked over the document carefully, picking up a nearby pen.
Marching back to him, she held the paper out to him and replied, "Did you really think I wouldn't have this covered?"
"I disapprove," a harsh voice resounded through the morning air, the early sunlight peaking through the drapes.
Byakuya Kuchiki sat across from his sister and the orange haired punk, glaring at the document that was presented to him. Rukia was slightly unnerved by her brother's attitude but kept a cool appearance, not showing any weakness. Ichigo, on the other hand, had an almost smug look to him as he scowled at the intimidating man.
Isshin was out on a call and the twins had already departed for school. It was only the three of them, sitting at the Kurosaki Family's table.
"Brother, I know this may not be what you wanted, but it works out best for everyone," Rukia insisted, pointing at the document. "I'm still not completely recovered. I can't even start my car without getting a few chills. I need someone to drive me to and from work until I'm able to get over my condition."
Byakuya narrowed his eyes and countered, "I fully understand the reasons for wanting to hire a chauffeur. In fact, I had planned on supplying one for you this very day. There is no need for this boy to be given such a task."
"This boy has been taking care of your sister for the past three months," Ichigo interjected, furrowing his brows, "And I would be honored to continue to keep helping her for as long as she needs me."
"She does not need you. Not after today. I have already selected a suitable replacement," the business suited man retorted, sliding the paper back at them.
However, before it reached halfway across the table, Rukia slapped her hand on it and pushed it back toward her brother. Byakuya was almost shocked when she did so, meeting her cold and harsh gaze.
"Brother, it took me months to feel comfortable driving in a car with Ichigo. And if he's replaced now, I will have to take even more time to become comfortable with a new driver." She took a confident breath and continued, "I won't go through the fear of having my life in a stranger's hands again. That's why I want Ichigo to continue to be my personal aid."
Rukia didn't lose heart as her brother's cold glare intensified, his eyes narrowing dangerously. Her violet eyes shone brightly, not giving into the ruthless gaze that was trying to force her hand. Unfortunately for Byakuya, he realized how dedicated she was to this idea and more to the point, he agreed with her needing to be taken care of by someone she trusted.
However, as his gaze slowly left hers and drifted back to the already signed document, the suited man couldn't help but focus on a single clause near the bottom.
"If this boy was to merely be your driver, it might have been acceptable," Byakuya pointed at the clause and turned it around for her to re-read. "But I need you to explain to me why he must live with you in your apartment."
At this, Rukia was tempted to smile but she kept it hidden. "My legs still aren't that strong, Brother. If I fell or had another incident, it would be more beneficial to have my personal aid close by, in case of emergencies."
A light scoff escaped Byakuya as he replied, "If that is all, I can have the finest personal aid come to live with you. Preferably female—".
"It's more than just being an aid, you know," Ichigo interrupted, surprising both of the Kuchiki's. "I've gotten to know Rukia pretty well over the last few months. And if she says she's more comfortable with me being her driver and personal aid, then I more than agree to help her out. Besides—", he pointed to the signatures at the bottom of the document. "—it's already been settled. I'll be the one taking care of her, at least until she fully recovers."
Byakuya gave him a bitter and icy glare, as if trying to will him out of existence. However, the orange haired man met that gaze head on, not even flinching as the suited man narrowed his eyes. In that moment, as much as he hated to admit it, Byakuya was just a tiny bit impressed with the orange haired punk.
"Brother," the suited man hear his sister call to him, making his gaze shift back to her. "This was my decision and I'll take responsibility for it. I assure you of that."
The Kuchiki Head heard her words and slowly closed his eyes, considering this dilemma. Ichigo and Rukia snuck a glance at each other, sharing a brief smile before turning back to face the suited man's decision. Opening his eyes slowly, Byakuya stood from his seat and said, "If this is your decision, Rukia, then I have no right to interfere."
Relief washed over the two of them but the suited man quickly continued, "But know that I will be making personal visits whenever possible. And if I believe that this boy isn't fulfilling his duties to you, then I will have him replaced on the spot. Do I make myself clear?
"Perfectly, brother."
At that time, she smiled up at her brother as a wordless thank you. Byakuya didn't seem to acknowledge her at first but just before he turned to excuse himself, he nodded to her. Giving a final, accusatory glare to Ichigo, the suited man shifted his feet and calmly saw himself down the hall and out the door.
As the echo of the door closing reached them, Ichigo and Rukia simultaneously relaxed and let out the air they'd been holding.
"I almost can't believe we pulled it off," Rukia said glancing to the orange haired man. "I'm glad we didn't mention our relationship to him just yet. I don't know how he would react if he found out we were engaged."
"We can always send him an invite to our wedding without telling him. And if he doesn't RSVP, I can live with that," he said with a wink.
Rukia gave a light chuckle before she lifted herself out of her chair and began heading toward her room. Ichigo chuckled and rose from his seat, following after her.
When he finally caught up with her, she was already placing the last of her belongings in a large box. Just before she leaned down to try and pick it up, Ichigo's hands gripped the sides and lifted it for her.
"Don't wear yourself out too soon. Remember, you're still not fully healed yet," the orange haired man chided as he placed the box on his shoulder, "Not to mention, we're gonna be spending all day packing up my stuff too."
"Can't wait…" she muttered, already a bit out of breath. "Just don't expect me to sit around and wait for you get all the clothes folded."
"That's why it'll be your job," he quickly remarked, leaning down and giving her light peck on the lips. Ichigo turned to take her last box out to her car but just before he reached the door, Rukia's voice called out to him.
"Ichigo…I want to thank you."
The orange haired man stopped and turned back to see a vibrant smile on her face. He didn't have to ask what she meant. All of her feelings were perfectly clear to him and for the first time in his life, he knew exactly what he wanted to do with himself. Returning her smile, the orange haired man readjusted the box and headed for the door.
Just before he was out of earshot, he called back to her, "It's true what they say! Accidents happen for a reason!"
Rukia huffed in amusement before she ran out after him.
The End
Hello again, my beautiful readers! Yes, yes, I know this is a week late but I've been a very busy worker! I've had to work for the last week straight without a day off and that kind threw my writing into the wood chipper, and it was hard to salvage. But now this story is finally complete! :D
I would have had it out sooner but this chapter gave me trouble. I wanted it to be perfect and I actually had a different draft of it that I wrote the other day. However, I re-read it and hated it so I scrapped the idea and really worked hard to bring a better and more IchiRuki ending for you all!
I will be working on more "Long Way Home" and "Chappy Rukia" soon! I finally feel that the writer's block has left me and now I plan to get more writing done in the future!
Leave a review to tell me how the story was or if you think I should have done something differently! Take care and keep on smiling my beautiful readers!