Disclaimer: I dont own anything!
Dark Nights
Chapter 5: Count
Toshiro cringed. "That stupid midgit hung up on me!" He shouted to the phone slamming it to the phone stand. "The freak'n nerve!" he muttered under his breath.
But how could he stay mad at her if he was about to leave her for the rest of his life?
Toshiro let out a large sigh, his back crashing to the cold wall, and he threw his head back against it. "Damn... Everything is so srewed up..." he said closing his emerald eyes and hearing the silence that filled the room.
How was it that, he was so effected by this girl? And still, it was his last day on this world, after sixteen painful years. So why did leaving her feel so horrible? After the hell he was put through.
Even though he denied himself any feeling towards her from the school year, why was it that every time she cried over Ichigo, he would feel his heart rot and find it difficault to find comferting words? Truth be told, he somtimes wanted to shout at her and tell her to get over it and she still had him, but how strage would that be.
It was as if she couldnt see what was right infront of her, and Toshiro was aways the sweaper. Picking up the leftovers. Even till the end, he dragged her off the ground, as painful as it was, watching her cry over another, he still brought herto safty, even if it wasnt him that she was crying over.
So why was it that he felt so empty? Leaving this world, with no satifaction. Now Toshiro wouldnt be Toshiro if he did that. So Toshiro did what he usually did and decied that if it was going to be his last day in this world, or the last day with her, he would live it to the fullest.
And thats were the trouble starts.
Rukia hummed a soft tune, making up the noise as it went on and on. Walking around her bedroom, picking up her dirty cloths and tosing them into her laundry bucket. She felt like today was going to go easy and smooth.
How wrong she was.
The door bell rang and it eachoed through the mansion. Rukia could even her Ichigo yell from the restroom. "Get the door Rukia!" While she past by the restroom.
Rukia rolled her eyes. "Who else will?" she asked sarcasticaly. It was probably the UPS dude or the mail man. Maybe, to her luck, it would be a girl scout selling Thin-Mints and the carmel covered coconut cookies that Rukia couldnt remember the name of.
She oped the door and wanted to shut it right when she saw who it was.
And so she did.
"Ru-"
BAMN. Right on the face.
"OWWWWWW!" Rukia heard Toshiro scream in pain as he rubbed his nose with one hand and opened the door with the other. "Damnit what was that for Kuchiki?" He shouted recovering fairly quickly, making Rukia wonder if she should've slammed the door harder.
"It came from love." she said sarcastically putting a hand to her hip.
"Hmph, and this is why, no one in their right minds would fall in love with you." He said. Though, he knew he was lying through his teeth.
"That's what you think." Rukia said with a satisfied smirk and turned her back to him, plomping herself on the couch and setting her hand to her cheek. "You crazy mutt."
"Haha." Toshiro said. "Make the dog jokes, you midget." he said rolling his eyes. Then the most uncontrollable thing happend, his ears wiggled and he heard the sound of water running, but all this thoughts were broken when Rukia couldnt help but break out laughing.
"Y-Your ears!" She laughed grabbing her stomach with one hand and pointing to Toshiro with the other. "they wiggled! haha!" she quickly leaned over next to Toshiro and pulled on his ears still laughing. "How cute." she said.
Toshiro couldnt stop the blush that came to his cheeks, half of it coming from how embarresed he was and the other half on how Rukia was treating him. Damn that werewolf sense of his. "S-Stop it Rukia!" he said slapping her hands off. "Its not my fault its the super werewolf hearing shit," he said clearly annoyed. "And the water is running." he said.
Rukia thought for a second. "Water? Oh! Thats simple, it's 'cause-"
"Rukia! How do you expect me to wear this cloths when you forgot the freak'n underwear!" Ichigo shouted stomping out of the hall with nothing but a towel and anger on his face.
Toshiro cringed.
Rukia just laughed. "Oops. Sorry." she said. "I'm not used to breaking into brothers underwear cabnet." she said. "and I was in a bit of a hurry," she admited.
Ichigo sighed and scratched his head. "Well whatever, just point the way and I'll get it myself." he said.
"Last room to the right." Toshiro said before Rukia could even open her mouth. "And its the third drawer."
Ichigo and Rukia staired at Toshiro with worry Ichigo more confused and Rukia a bit dissapointed in the way he spoke. "Toshiro..." she muttered softly, her frown ruining her lovely face.
Toshiro sighed and scratched his head. "Sorry, that came out a little ruff." he said, knowing it was the memories of before that caught him off guard.
Ichigo was the first to speak. "Hey, it's no big thing, right Rukia?" he said.
Rukia though, didnt give him an answer.
"Right... uh... i'll go get Byakuya's undies."
Toshiro felt horror and greatly uncomfortable to Rukia's dagger-like stairs. He knew it would mean the end if he even dared to look at her, but if he didn't he would still suffer the same fate. So he gathered what was left of his courage and drowned honor and looked up at the young Kuchiki, giving her a weak laugh.
To his shock, Rukia wasnt even looking at him. Instead she was staring at the carpet. "Toshiro." she said. "I probably made things uncomfortable between the three of us..." she muttered. "And I'm sorry for the trouble I've cause, but honestly I have one messed up life, so the crap that comes my way I wouldnt be able to make it out with the both of you, so... I dont know... what I'm trying to say is..."
Toshiro smiled and shook his head. "Crazy..." he muttered. "You don't have to say anything," he said so desprately wanting to put a hand to her cheek. "If anything, my life is more messed up than yours." he laughed off.
Rukia sighed and fell to her side, grabing the couches pillow and shoving it into her face. "I feel like such a shithead." she said into the pillow.
Toshiro laughed and gave her a symathic look. Wondering how many more seconds he would have in this whole day, just to be so relaxed. "Well I can't say anything against that." Toshiro's said.
Rukia throw the pillow to his face without even looking and glared at him. "Once Ichigo gets ready, lets all go out and do something, or maybe just drive around town, or go shopping, I know! Lets go to the beach! We can bring Rangiku, and Renji, and Kaien!" she practicaly begged.
Toshiro gave her a concered look. "Rukia..."
She stood up with excitment. "Come on Toshiro it's summer! We're teens! We're supposed to go to the beach and break arms!" she said happily dragging him up by the hand and not letting go. "Please!" she begged.
Toshiro sighed, it was his last day after all. "Fine, we'll see what Ichigo and the others say."
"Great! I'll call up Rangiku and them right now!" Rukia said rushing to her room and slipping on the wooden floor only to quickly slide back up. "Imalright!" she spoke all togethor.
Toshiro just shook his head in, the weird feeling she gave him was so hard to explain, no words could fit it. Simple nor complicated. He was absoulutly sure that, Ichigo felt the exacts same way. "Baka..."
Ichigo came out of the hall scratching his head. "What's up with her?" he asked.
"The midgets says we're going to the beach." he said to Ichigo with a smile. "We can't say 'no' now huh?" he asked.
Ichigo sighed. "Guess not, sounds like she already made up her mind." he said. "So... "
"I call shot gun!" they both said toghethor.
"But I dont wanna drive!" they both whined.
Then the room was filled with silence, and the two boys watched each other with childish smiles and laugheter. "We'll make Kaien drive." Toshiro said.
Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Poor dude." he muttered. "What's up with the hatered other than the fact you're Lycan and he's bloodsucker?" he asked sitting down next to Toshiro.
"Eh... it's fun to have an enemy." Toshiro said shurgging and leaning back against the couch.
"Dont'cha mean Rival?" Ichigo asked.
Toshiro smiled. "No, you're my rival Kurosaki, Kaien is me enemy." Toshiro said enphesizing 'rival' and 'enemy'. "There's a difference." he said with 'guy talk' attituede.
Ichigo gave him a small smile that slowly faded. "And where does that put Rukia?" he asked.
Toshiro also, felt his happyness die down. "Rukia..." he muttered facing Ichigo, both teens with a serious look on their face. "Rukia is excactly we're you put her." he said. "I feel the same way."
Ichigo flashed a half smile and Tohsiro did the same. They didnt neeed words to know that, no matter what happens, who ever Rukia ended up with, they both would protect her till the end, even if it destroid them. But that was the fun part.
Rukia came running out, jumping over the couch and landing in between the two guys with a happy smile on her face as she looked at both of them. "Get ready boys, sunburns and salty-water here we come!" she said wrapping her arms around their shoulders and bringing them closer to her.
"We're gonna have a blast!"
"This is the most boringest day ever..." Rukia whinded rolling the window up and down as she stared mindlessly out the window of Ichigo's car. Traffic was building up and Ichigo had to get some stuff from his house, not to mention he also had to pick up Rangiku since, her car had 'broken down'.
Toshiro glanced back at her. "Baka, we barley get in the car and your already dissapointed, this is why we never do what you want." he said.
Rukia stuck her tongue out at him. "Bakabakabakabaka!" she said.
Ichigo laughed, "C'm on now, don't be so childish Rukia." He said. "And plus you know it's not that far of a drive to my house." he said, "and it would be quick, I swear, it would be the last thing I wanted if I spent more than a minuite in the place."
Rukia nodded. "I know." she said.
Ichigo got out of the car, streching his arms and back and then looking back and Rukia and Toshiro. "Whish me luck." he said and soluteded them off.
"RUKI-CHWAN~" Isshins voice was unmistakeable as Rukia saw him push through Ichigo tossing him to the floor and trying to break through the glass window. "OH MY THIRD DAUGTER YOU HAVE RETURNED!"
Rukia laughed nervously and looked at Toshiro who was completely and untterly shocked. "This is why I wanted to make things quick." she said opening the door and helping up Ichigo who was plotting revenge on his old man.
"DAMNIT DAD!" Ichigo cursed. "YOU ALMOST KILLED ME AGAIN!" he shouted his fist in the air ready to attack.
"Oh son, you're to weak for Rukia-Chwan~, she needs a man!" Isshin enthusiased. He grabbed Rukia's hands and held them up infront of her. "Rukia." he said. "Tell me what you need- no want- and it'll be yours, if my boy isnt treating you correctly just say the word and I will put him in his place!" Isshin said.
Ichigo and Rukia blushed the color of Ichigo's name. "M-Mr. Kurosaki!" Rukia said. "I-Ichigo and I a-aren't... w-we..."
"CUT IT OUT DAD YOUR MAKING HER UNCOFERATBLE!" Ichigo said swinging his fist up a blasting his father to the sky. "hurry Rukia! For and old FAG he recovers quickly!" he said taking Rukia inside the house and locking the door.
Toshiro wondered if he should've gotten out of the car or not. But he was happy he didnt.
Yuzu and Kairin came running down the stairs, Yuzu giving Rukia and open armed hug and Kairin giving her the usual 'hey'. Truth was, Ichigo's sisters both adored Rukia.
"Rukia, it's been a while hasnt it?" Misaki said coming out of the kitchen. Rukia smiled and went up to hug Ichigo's mother. "How's Ichi-kun been doing, he's not being mean to you is he?" she asked brushing away Rukia's stray hair.
Rukia smiled. "Ichigo..." Rukia glanced towards him and he was already sending her 'I will kill you' singnals. "Ichigo hasnt changed much." she said, and Misaki laughed.
"Now that's not good-"
"ICHIGO!" Isshing broke through the cieling. "HOW DARE YOU TRY TO TAKE AWAY MY THRID DAUGHTER!" he said already sparing with Ichigo in the living room.
Misaki sighed. "Isshin, leave the poor boy alone, I'm sure Ichigo just came to do something fairly quick." she said.
Ichigo smiled, his mother alwasy knew what was going on. "Ya, some friends of ours are going to the beach, so we're heading out too, I came by just to get my stuff." Ichigo said messing up Kairin's hair as she protest.
The door opened and Toshiro walked in with a sigh. "What's taken you guys so long?" he asked.
Isshin started to send strange vibes to all over. "I see it now... Its a love triangal, THE TWO MALES COMPETEING FOR THE HEROINE, WHAT A HEATEDROMANCE!" he said steam coming out of his notsrils and blood trickleing down his nose at the perverted images crossing his mind.
"DAD!" Ichigo blushed.
Misaki pulled Isshin's ear and dragged him outside ruthlessly. "That's enough Isshin, I thinkg you've caused enough trouble." she told him in a dark tone.
"Oh~ how cold..."
Ichigo gave Rukia a full hearted apoligy look, making his face seen wierd since he rarely gave those out. "Sorry Rukia, you know my family, there a whole bunch of crazies."
"Sounds familiar." Toshiro said clearly looking to Rukia.
"And what is that suppose to mean Hitsugaya?" Rukia shot back.
"Oh nothing~"
XXX
Ichigo's family waited outside, Yuzu and Kairin talking to Rukia from the window and Toshiro pretending not to really care but still focused on the conversation. Some how it ended up going from a new romance Anime to Chappy, and that's about whe Toshiro blanked out.
He was also getting stared at by the black-haired one, Kairin was her name, and he tried to ignore those.
Ichigo walked to the car, tossing his stuff to the trunk of the car and getting in the drivers seat. "Sorry for the wait guys," he said to his friends and then turned to his family. "Bye Mom, Kairin, Yuzu!" he waved. "I'll be home by... uh... I dont know... I'll be home!" he said and drove off.
"Bye Rukia-nee-chan! Ichi-nee! Uh... Snowflake!~" Yuzu's voice echoed.
Rukia laughed and Toshiro shot a 'I'm pissed off' glare towards her. "Say a single word, and your dead." he warned.
Rukia blew him off. "I like your family Ichigo," she said. "There never boring that's for sure, and they all care a lot about eachother, it's so unique to me." she said knowing her family was all buisness and no fun, well except for Shiryuki. But she is a bit too fun.
"Ch. My family was defected from the very begining, how do you think I ended up with this orange hair." He said as he pointed to his head.
"Yeah, your right." Rukia agreed. "Your family is messed up." she said. "Now to Rangiku's!"
And the boys felt a sunden sense of dread as she said that.
Rangiku didnt take long to get in the car, but she did attract the most attention from her perverted neighboors. And when I called Kaien, he said he was already at the beach waiting for us. Renji though, he ended up riding with Kaien since his car broke down.
"Aya~" Rangiku complained faning herself. "Kurosaki cant you turn on the air it's burning up in here." she said.
Toshiro and Ichigo looked at eachother, then Rangiku. "It's not that it's hot in here, it's just that you tried to run from ten guys, in your (too small) bikini, and ended up in the car hunging Rukia making it look like some Yuri manga." Toshiro said plainly.
Rukai slapped him. "Like you know what that is you perverted old man!"
Rangiku hugged Rukia again. "Ruki-chan you understand!" Rangiku said. "All men are horrible! Never date perverts! Especially the white hair ones!" Rangiku said with a hiccup.
"Hey!" Toshiro protest.
"She's not talking about you," Rukia said. "She's talking about her ex-boyfriend, Gin, they broke up yesterday." Rukia said. "So she refills herself with saki."
"Refills?" Ichigo and Toshiro asked.
Rukia just gave them a cute, innocent, smile. "Don't judge."
XXX
By the time the friend s arived to the hot beach Kaien and Renji were chilling out in a shack house resturaunt waiting for tham. Rukia, as always, was the first to get out and stretch her numb limbs.
"Ahhh..." she said with relief. "Finally the beach! I love it!" she said and started running for the water.
Ichigo grabbed the excited girl by the hoodie, " Slow down Rukia, we have to meet up with Kaien and Renji first, plus you can't go in the water like that." he said refering to the jeans and T-shirt she was still wearing.
Rukia blushed in embarresment. "Tch. I knew that." she said turning her back towards him and crossing her arms.
"RUKIA!"
Everyone turned around to the two shirtless men waving and running their way. Renji was unmistakable with that funky hair color of his, but it took a while for Rukia to realize Kaien was running next to him.
A smile blew up on Rukia's face as she waved back. "Kaien-dono! Renji!"
Ichigo glanced down towards Toshiro. "No suffix for Renji?"
"Thats not a good thing." Toshiro said in disgust. "She respects Kaien more..." he muttered.
Kaien ran up to Rukia picking her off the ground and hugging making everyone almost fall to the floor, well, Rangiku was already on the floor. "Kuchiki!" He put her down messing up her hair. "You get cuter by the second." he said.
Toshiro and Ichigo's jaws dropped.
Rukia slapped Kaien's hand away. "Oh stop it Kaien-dono, you flattery is useless." she said turning around to face the others. "Now, I'm gonna go change, I'm not waisting a second of my vacation." and so she walked off the the nearest restroom, the boys putting up the umbrella and ice-chest to were they were going to stay.
But once Rukia came out and greeted her friends once again, all eyes went to her, the beautiful smile she hand on her face, it was all so damn cute for those guys. "hiya!" she said.
Rukia wore a two piece blue bikini, outline in purple, and a white jacket that seemed to belong to her brother since there were cherryblossoms and in was fairy big on her body.
"Let's get in the water," she said and dragged Rangiku by the hand. The salt water was nice and warm, and the two girls played with beach balls, gettign eyeballed from all over.
Though the men who were stairing at the girls were also recieving glares from the guys in the gang.
Rukia looked around to her friends, none of them were in the water besides Rangiku. "What's wrong guys, the water isnt cold." Rukia said saddened by the looks on their faces.
Ichigo sighed stepping in the water first, "I swear if anyone touches you somewear wrong, I kill that basturd." he said glancing at the drooling men know turning their attention to Rangiku.
Kaien fallowed passing by Rukia and putting a hand to her head. "We've got your backs dont worry."
Rukia sweatdropped. "But why would I need to worry in the first place?" she asked then faced TOshiro and Renji who were still sitting under the shade. "And you two?"
Renji said. "I dont like the size of the waves, I'll just build a sand castle and watch the babes." he said with a childish smile for making a ryme, Rukia though was still deeply unimpressed.
Rukia's eyes met Toshiro's. "And what's your excuse?" she asked putting a hand to her hip.
"It's to hot, and I don't like water." Toshiro said simply and the more he showed his casual face the more Rukia wanted to hit him. She walked out to the water, picked Toshiro from the sandy floor and started to pull on his shirt.
"Hey! Wha-what are you doing?" He shouted being forced out of his shirt and being dragged into the water by Rukia. "I told you I dont want to get wet!" Toshiros said struggling to stay on the sand.
Rukia glared at him. "Come on don't be such a wimp Snowflake!" She engouraged. "It's just water!"
Toshiro blushed a hard deep red realizing Rukia had just stripped him out of him shirt and was grabbing his hand. "Rukia!" He begged. "You know dogs don't like water so what makes you think I would?" he shouted.
Rukia then did something unexpected, she put a hand to his cheek and looked him dead in the eyes. "Baka." she said. "I don't see you as a dog! I dont see Kaien as a leech and a don't see Ichigo as a killer." Rukia said her hand dropping from his face. "I see you as my nakama, my friends!" she said.
Toshiro suddently felt bad, didnt he swear to make Rukia happy today? Didnt he say he was going to live it to the fullest? "I would watch who your calling baka. Baka." he said.
Rukia looked up at him and only saw a smile on the young man's face, and she couldnt resits smiling as well.
"But do I really have to get in the water?"
"Yes."
Toshiro sighed and did as he was told. "Happy?" he asked wet from the waist down.
Rukia smile not saying a word.
XXX
"Urgh I'm so hungry!" Rukia said stretching on the beach. Ichigo walked by her dropping a towel on her
head.
"You're so forgetful Rukia," he said as she dried her hair. "Honestly if I didn't pack the stuff we wouldn't have anything." He said crossing his arms.
Rukia rolled her eyes. "Whatever I don't care about that, I'm just hungry," she said looking around counting her friends. "And where's Kaien, don't tell me he left early?" she whined putting the towel around her shoulders.
Ichigo wondered for a second. "He's probably looking for a place to eat." He said.
"Well not exactly," as if on cue Kaien appeared in back of the two, with a childish grin on his face and a brand new volleyball in his hands. "Who's up for a game?" he asked.
A smile came across Rukia's face and she completely forgot about the hunger in her stomach. "Alright!" she said excitedly . "I wanna serve first!"
"How? You're so short Rukia." Ichigo said without thinking and soon enough he started to regret that. "W-wait I didn't mean that… uh… crap…"
Rukia didn't do anything though, she just smiled at Ichigo, and walked away, pulling Kaien by the swim shorts. "Let's go practice Kaien-dono…" she muttered darkly.
Soon enough the game began. The teams were split, Kaien, Rukia, and Rangiku on one team, and Ichigo, Toshiro, and Renji on the other.
Rukia smirked towards the other team, already in serving position. "Be ready." She said.
"Tch. How tough can that midget be?" Toshiro asked, not paying attention to the game at all.
Rukia cringed, holding the ball with one hand under it and the other over it. She tossed it up without spin and let's say everyone felt bad for the ball. It went hard and fast crossing the net nobody was able to see is and it was heading straight for Toshiro's head.
Now you'd think Toshiro would dodge but the slow poke got his face plant right with the volleyball and one point went to Rukia's team.
"What the heck was that!" Toshiro shouted still on the floor with a burn mark on his forehead. Rukia though, just stuck out her tongue and gave him a snicker.
"Next one is for you Ichigo," she said with a wink.
Ichigo never thought he would be scared of a wink (especially since it came from Rukia) in his whole life, but he actually felt his life was on the line.
Rukia served a killer ball again, and Ichigo held out his hands in front of him and surprisingly it bounced off, going over the net.
Rangiku bumped it and since she jumped her boobs did too which distracted Renji and he missed horribly.
Rukia sighed. "I don't even think this is considered a volleyball game…" she muttered in frustration and whacked the ball again. "Morons…"
Basically Rukia creamed the other team and they were all left to where they started, very hungry. "Urgh…" they all moaned.
"I'm going home it's already getting late." Kaien said. "You coming Renji?" he asked heading straight for Rukia and messing up her hair greatly. "Stay cute Kuchiki." He said and left Renji not far behind.
"I swear I'm gonna kill him…" Toshiro said in anger only to be stopped by Rukia's smile. "Hey Rukia." He said confused. "What's up with you? You seem… happy?" he asked.
Rukia shook her head. "I'm glad we went to the beach today, even though it was a bit boring I still appreciate you to taking you time to have fun with me." Rukia said.
Ichigo and Toshiro gave Rukia a warm smile. "You don't have to thank us," Toshiro said.
"Because we are friends and friends…" Ichigo continued.
"Never leave each other." They both finished.
Rukia grabbed both of them by the arms and brought them closer to her. "Then, I'm glad I'm your friend." She said with a cute smile.
The three friends, thought that they would share that happiness forever, but, how could they when their lives separated into different paths?
Once the trio got to Rukia's house, Ichigo gave her a quick farewell since Yuzu and Karin were alone, but Toshiro deiced to stay a bit longer.
"Rukia." he said sitting on the couch without grace. "I was wondering if I could sleep with you?" he asked.
Only to recieve a head on slap. (I could have told him that) "Of course not you idiot! Who the hell do you think I am?" Rukia shouted awith furry and blush, almost about to kick him out of her house. "I swear you have some nerve-"
"Let me finish you baka!" he said. "What I ment was, I was lonely so I wanted to sleep in you room, I could even sleep on the floor, I dont care." he said blush running across his cheeks.
Rukia relaxed just a bit. "Fine, but one wrong move Hitsugaya and your dead." she said getting up and walking to the corridor. "I'm going to be dead if Byakuya finds out...''
Toshiro smiled. "The last thing I would want to do was hurt you Rukia..." he muttered to himself fallowing her to her room.
When Toshiro stepped in Rukia was already on the bed and pointing to the floor. "Down." she said.
Toshiro raised a brow at the creative bed-thing that was made out of blankets and pillows. "Well it's better than nothing." he said and got down on the floor.
He closed his eyes and heard Rukia turn off the lights. "Goodnight Toshiro..." she said.
"Night, Kuchiki Rukia." And that night Toshiro didnt sleep, instead he counted the breaths Rukia took, and the seconds he had left with her.
There guys! Ch5 up and ready! thnkx for the wait and I hoped you like reading it ^^