Dark Nights

Chapter 9: Ditch, Stitch, Miss.

Rukia's POV:

I turned around at the sound of my name. My reaction was on total instinct, but once I saw Orihime dashing down the steps towards the garden I suddenly remembered I was face to face with a maybe-sorta-hoping-Toshiro, and turned back around only to find nothing in the figures spot.

"Uh..." I sighed out, disappointed.

"Rukia!" Oh I'm so glad I found you!" Orihime tapped my shoulder already making it down to the garden. "Oh! What's wrong? Where you just with someone?" She asked looking behind me for any trace of life.

"No..." I muttered forcing a small smile. "Just wanted to catch some fresh air out here." I said.

Orihime gave me a bright smile. "Oh, I'm glad! I wanted to talk to you in person about something!" She said putting her hands together in a prayer-like motion and bowing her head down low. "Will you please to me the favor of letting me travel with you?"She asked keeping her head down low.

"Huh? Whaddya mean?" I asked clueless of what she was referring to as 'travels'.

"Well... I heard that Kurosaki-kun and you where making a department to this realm to look for your other friend, but... I guess... I sorta-kinda wanted to go to, is it okay if I do?" she asked rather unsurely and barely making a move to look into my eyes.

I relaxed my furrowed eyebrows and gave her a sincere smile. "Of course it's fine!"

"Oh! I'm so relieved! For a second there I thought you say 'NO GET OUT' but then I started thinking 'No! Kuchiki-chan isn't that mean!' so I just got so nervous and..." blah...blah...blah... she was in happy mode right now and there was no stopping Orihime's babbles.

Although I just nodded and smiled, wondering if Ichigo was already on the prowl for me and if the hooded guy... was actually Toshiro. "Excuses me, Orihime." I said stopping the babbles and hiding my face. "I have to do something really quick." And with that I left the dumfounded girl in the garden and I left up the stairs.

'That had to be Toshiro... and he was about to say something! Something with an 'R'... Rusty... reckon... remove... rodent... err...' As I fried my brain over such a petty thing I started to fear... 'What if Toshiro... really won't return when we find him... what if he...' I closed my eyes at the disgust of the thought, and ended up giving a small chuckle to myself, putting a hand to my forehead. "Stupid." I said to myself.

"Are you thinking about something amusing miss, or refereeing to yourself, as the stupid one?" I looked up at the tall, furious figure towering above me and gave him a small, painful smile.

"Hey, you found me, Ichigo."

XXX

"Ok Rukes," Ichigo started, and since he started with 'Rukes' I knew the news was something I wasn't going to like. "You see the prince wont spill, and he has asked to meet you." Ichigo said, and that was enough to let me know that if I don't control my temper with this so-called "king" and his foolish games, I was going to lose the only chance I have of taking a lead onto Toshiro.

"I see..." I said raising my head.

Ichigo furrowed his eyebrows and shook his head in disbelief. 'I have a feeling this isn't going to go well...'

XXX

"K-K-Kaien!" I yelled at the top my lungs, dumbfounded, and staring at the figure sitting so contently in the grand size chair. 'T-this is absurd! What is Kaien doing in the Prince's chair! He can't be him!'

At first, I didn't even recognize Kaien since he was all gussied up with an off-sided crown and the dead-beat black cloths that he wore. It wasn't until I saw the light in his eyes sparkle, that's when I recognized him.

"Ruki-Ruki-chawn~!" Kaien said happily, practically jumping off the chair just to embrace me. "Don't make that face~ it's like you're not even excited to see me!"

I pushed Kaien away. "How?" I shouted in disbelief. "Y-You're a prince! That's not right! I mean... you never mentioned...-"

Kaien broke Rukia sentence with a painful, yet crafty, smile. "And how do you suppose I say that I'm a Vampire, let alone a Prince?" He asked as if he was trying to make me feel guilty.

I gave him an apoligetic look. "You're right, I'm sorry..." I admitted. "I shouldn't have made a big deal about it." I said with a smile.

Kaien smiled back, and then his mood simply dropped, along with the atmosphere. "And what the hell were you thinking coming here to the realms without me! And at that you came to look for that filthy mutt with the orange hair soul-sucker." he said pointing to Ichigo, who was grinding his teeth in the corner and focusing on ways how to kill Kaien. (And this started about the time when Kaien made his move to embrace our heroine.)

"Well, look who's talking, you're not all that different you life-leech." Ichigo said with a smirk.

I just sweat dropped in between the two, wondering when and where all the guys got off on the wrong mood. "C'mon Ichigo, Kaien's just joking, and seriously, this isn't what we came here for." I said.

"Tsk." muttered both men in defeat.

"Kaien, I know you aren't at good means with Toshiro... but... I think he got in some real shit and I want to know the exact type of shit he's gotten into." Rukia said with a stern look directly used for Kaien.

Kaien smiled. "It's not a crime to care for someone." he said. "But I swear, if something happens to you I'm gonna be the first to blame that insolate, naive, large head, big mouth, midget-like, mutt."

Even though Kaien held a smile as he said that, I wondered if he was struggling the words on the inside.

As Kaien explained the happenings of Toshiro I sorta-kinda dozed off, thankfully Ichigo was one to listen closely before rushing into stuff... but that depends on the matter. Although I did get that in the land Eclipse, the highest population is werewolves, and every year, once the double night has come to an end, the red moon will show itself. That's how the werewolves survive. But this year there was a mishap, and the red moon isn't going to show, that is, if it doesn't have a sacrifice.

Kaien said that there was a legend, that the purest blood of the werewolves, ended up cursing his very pack (for reasons unknown) and killing himself for the one he loved. The lover of the one who took his own life found about this and cursed her soul to the moon, becoming the so-called 'red moon.'

Honestly, I thought the story was a bit clique but-

"Rukia, I still don't think you get this." Kaien said making me blush from embarrassment. "As much as it doesn't look like it, Toshiro is one of the last pure-bloods in the world, he's their prince so to speak, and in order to save his pack he must-"

I felt my body tense; Kaien didn't need to finish his sentence to know that I got the picture. "T-that idiot!" I shouted feeling my heart burn and ache. I tried to block the warm tears from steaming down but... 'He didn't even bother to tell us... aren't we his friends?'

"Damn it!" Ichigo cursed; already absorbed in theories and strategies to save Toshiro, but they all led to dead-ends.

How can you compete with giving one life for many?

I didn't want to understand it though; I didn't want to get the reason why he was doing this...

"Rukia..." That was Orihime's soft voice. She must've overheard our conversation. I heard the sound of her mouth open, but when no words came out I knew she had no idea what to say.

So I decide, right then and there, that I was going to save Toshiro.

No matter what the cause.

He is my nakama after all.

And I was positive, that Ichigo, and Kaien and everyone else felt mutual towards my feelings. Although, even if it was a hopeless cause, I was figured that I had a chance at calling Toshiro, after all, he still had his phone didn't he?

"Kaien, do you want to come with us? It would suit you better that staying all summer in this palace." I said feeling Ichigo's dark aura kicking in behind me, practically dragging me away.

"Nah," was Kaien's reply, which made Ichigo relax. "I still have some stuff I need to take care of, but of course if you need any help, you can count on me." he said with a wink and a toothy grin.

I smiled back and with a small gesture of goodbye, we left, crossing the vast realm ready to go anywhere.

"Hey, I know of a small place where we can stay the nights." Orihime said. "We can think up a strategy there and buy a map so we can travel to Eclipse." she said.

Ichigo and I looked at each other and agreed.

But I still had to make my call.

When night came, Orihime had already put us a spot at the place she mentioned, Ichigo on the other hand, wouldn't dare leave me alone again. 'damn,' I thought 'at this rate Ichigo's just gonna keep on starring at me all night!'

Orihime noticed this too, and made a quick gesture for him to pay mind to her. "I-Ic-Kurosaki-kun," she sputtered, not able to say 'Ichigo'.

Ichigo turned his head with hesitation. "Yes Inoue?" he asked my head down but my eyes on Ichigo who was talking to Orihime but glancing from time to time, towards me.

"I don't mean to be a burden to you or Kuchiki-san, but may I... well I want to know why you are acting so protecting of Kuchiki-san... We are in the lobby, after all." she said.

Ichigo cringed. "It's 'cause she already got herself in trouble, we don't need a re-"

"I need to go the restroom." I cutted, getting up from my seat and walking away, Ichigo doing the same. I gave him a dirty glance back. "What?" I asked in a rotten tone. "Planning on taking a piss with me?"

Ichigo twitched and swallowed hard choking down a curse. "See to it that you don't fall into the toilet." he spat back the mood between us growing horrid.

I was the first to turn around and walk off, searching for the restroom sign with fast pace. When I finally found it I went in, locking the door behind me and reaching into my pocket, dishing out my cell phone.

After going through my contacts I waited for the phone to start its hum's.

RING

RI-

"We already said out farewells, let's keep it that way."

I felt the phone tremble in my hands the finishing beep sounded.

Toshiro... How long had it been since I heard his voice?

XXX

"Damn it," Toshiro panted, sweat running down his forehead. The pain in his chest seemed to grow more and more, spreading like a virus, leaving stings and burns inside his body without any mercy. His lungs seemed to strain and his legs grew weak as he fell to the ground, his body, like a magnet to the soil. How painful and ironic were his transformations, especially their knack for picking the most worst of times and places.

'Somehow... I blame Rukia for this...' he thought managing to crack a smile.

XXX

I sneezed.

And sneezed.

And sneezed.

The hairs in my nose tickling the inside cavity and making my head feel light and dizzy. "Better get out of this shit-hole..." I muttered kicking open the bathroom door, letting the dog-boy words echo in my head as it crept up into the surface of my thoughts.

How nourishing to see that he still cared enough to keep me away. But even so even if his exact words weren't what I wanted to hear, I still somehow found relief in his voice.

Which I dare say, brightened my mood by a bunch.

"Ichigo~" I echoed across the lobby, my hands on my hips, and all eyes-monster or not-on me.

On his face I could see a grimace of irritation, yet beneath that, the dread of eagerness boiled his core, he was curious to see which move I dared to make next.

And I wondered what to do next as well. "Promise me everything that you owe!" I said with a smirk placed on my face.

Ichigo gave me a blank look, as well as Orihime, but when he finally realized what I meant, he gave me the same childish grin he gave me so long ago. "Since when have I ever broken a promise?" he replied with a question that was to remain unanswered.

You see Ichigo owes nothing to anyone, yet by giving me his smile, and the burning amber in his eyes, he said to me that he would take me to the ends of the earth only to take the fall instead. Yet those exact words weren't needed to be spoken, at least, I didn't needed to hear them.

"Then, Kurosaki Ichigo," I said staring him straight in the eyes. "let us strip back the happiness that was stolen from us." And I walked over to him and Inoue, my back straight and my nose up high. "Now what are we waiting for?" I asked keeping a soft smile towards Orihime while at the same time shoving Ichigo out the door.

Ichigo protest and struggled, cursing my name half heartedly. Orihime left to laugh in the background.

Already out the doors was waiting the next step towards our destiny, a puny dog, not realizing what a mess he got himself into.

"Kuchiki I think Kurosaki-kun has had enough!" Orihime panicked Ichigo already on the floor, tired from my commands.

"It's ok Orihime!" I cheered. "Ichigo is a strong guy, he doesn't-" I glanced towards my side, a white furry ball curled up into a ball. The grass almost seemed stained at how pure the ball was; it almost seemed crime to just leave in there to rot. So I unconsciously walked over bending down to examine the small specimen.

It wasn't long before I realized that that small snow-like pile was the fur of an animal, a dog no less. It was small, the size of a puppy, and asleep inside its cocoon.

"Aww..." muttered under my breath waking the dog up un realizing how peeved Ichigo was at me now."What's a cutie like you doing out here?" I said as I crouch down and slowly put the dog into my arms.

That's when I got a really good look at him. It was small -and most defiantly was a "He"- but his face outline the figure of a real wolf, and his arms and legs where heavy compared to that of any other pup. Then he started to wake up, his body fixing itself into my arms as his eyelids revealed the heart stopping emerald eyes that he owned.

I didn't even realize I was holding my breath until I felt my lungs burst but even so, just as I got a good look at the pup the pup got a good look at me, and suddenly he tried to squirm away.

Being me though I just held on tighter "shh" ing the dog and trying to console it. "There, there, poochie." I muttered. I guess the dog figured there was no way to get out of my arms, and just stop squirming all together, but not only did he stop resisting but he started licking my face and getting closer to my chest as I carried him over to Ichigo and Orihime who were both waiting for me with opposite reactions.

Ichigo's: "RUKIA WHERE THE HELL DID YOU FIND THAT THING! PUT IT BACK RIGHT NOW!"

Orihime's: "OMG! That puppy is so cute~ Rukia I want one where did you get him. Ohh~"

Personally I liked Orihime's reaction better, but still it was a common motive for me to convince Ichigo that I was right and he was wrong once again. So I walked up to him, a smirk plastered on my face, and said flatly. "We're keeping him."

"Rukia you can't just decide that on your own!" Ichigo scolded.

"I just did." I said turning my back on him and getting a supporting bark from my puppy. "

"Rukia..." Ichigo muttered my name that sent chills down my back. "You do remember what we came here for, right? And so far we haven't made any progress!" He grabbed my shoulder and turned me around. "Rukia! Listen to me!"

I was. And it was painful to keep on listening, but I knew it was the truth. "I know."I said. "And it seems like we don't have much time left." I muttered. "but, even so it's not going to stop me Ichigo! And I'm going to keep this dog."

"Rukia!-"

"Come on, just look at him, he cute! And he doesn't bite!" I shoved the dog into Ichigo's arms, and he carried him for a while until the dog jump out of his arms and back into mine.

Ichigo grimaced. "Ya, looks like he likes to bury his head in you flat chest instead." he said flatly.

"What?" I shouted, taken back.

"I mean come on! It's even blushing!"

"Shut up Ichigo!"

"So what are you planning on naming him Rukia?" Orihime asked walking next me.

I smiled "I haven't thought about that yet."

Ichigo smirked in the front. "What about Shiro-Chan~" he said mockingly. "That sure brings a good ring to it."

"Ichigo, I swear if you don't shut your trap right now I'll kick your ass."

"Well he is white Rukia, and he does have a freakishly resemblance to Toshiro." Orihime convinced noticing the obvious. It was just something we didn't want to point aloud.

"I-I guess..." I muttered looking at the pup in my arms. "That's it, on behalf of my promise to save Toshiro I will call you Snowflake #2 the "Toshi" " I said kissing the top of his furry head.

"Well I'm sure you just turned on that dog Rukia." laughed Ichigo.

"Looks like someone is jealous."

"Nah, I'll grab whatever I want from you whenever I want." he said without thinking, then suddenly regretted his mistake of words. "Wai-"

"ASSHOLE!" I shouted punching the back of his head.

He grabbed it in pain. "SHIT!" he shouted. "Damn, how can a midget like you jump so high?"

"ICHIGO!"

Orihime laughed at our child play slowly realizing something that would change our course of direction. "Oh! Rukia I almost forgot to ask!"

Ichigo and I both looked and Orihime, me being on Ichigo's back bending his arm in the wrong direction and Ichigo almost at the break of tears.

"Do you want to go on a double date?"

The area stayed silent. "Orihime... we don't have time, I mean..." I looked at Ichigo for help, getting off him and putting Snowflake #2 in my arms. "Orihime, I don't have time to go on a double date right now.

"Ohh... but Rukia~ You see I had a huge crush on this guy a long while back and when I was at the dance he came up to me about right after I finished talking to you and he ask me on a date. But then his friend whined about leaving him out and then he asked me to go on a double date. Now I thought about asking Momo to go with me but considering the circumstances now, I... I... I don't have anyone else to go with and... and... Rukia I really like this guy and I've waited so long so I can't miss this thing!"

The long speech of Orihime actually made me feel bad for her, after all she was all obsessed of Ichigo and now that a guy she likes actually asked her out I was sure she was excited so how could I say no? "Ok Orihime, when is this 'double date'?"

"Tonight!"

"WHAT?"

"Oh please, please, please! I know this is short notice but I really need you to go through with this for me!" She was already on her knees.

"Alright, I guess one lousy date won't hurt."

"I love you Rukia~" she hugged me.

Ichigo had nothing to say.

"I'll take care of you Toshi-poo" Ichigo waved me off just as the dog was trying to break of his hold.

I gave Ichigo a wave back. "Well Goodnight,"

Ichigo's jaw dropped. "'Goodnight'? Come on Rukia it's not like you gonna sleep with the dudes! Don't say that!" he scolded quickly trying to recover.

I gave him a smile. "Don't worry, the only dude I'll be sleeping with tonight is Snowflake #2" I said crossing my arms. "I'm even thinking in changing his name to Snowflake #1!" I said holding up my index finger.

"Heh, I'm the only Ichi here!" he said pointing in triumph.

I laugh, giving him credit for his name play. "Well, see ya Strawberry." I said waving him bye.

He smiled back, "Bye, midget..."

...

And we stood frozen waiting for the other to break.

"You break first." Ichigo started, annoyed.

"No, I insist, you break."

"Damn you!"

"My thoughts exactly!"

I don't know how we manage to part ways, but it seems likes it's becoming harder to let him go. And I wouldn't be able to imagine the pain I would go through if Toshiro left me right in front of me. Maybe that's why, in consideration, he left me the note as the goodbye.

I must admit, I give him props for making it easier on me.

But I still won't forgive him for the fact of even doing such a thing.

Asshole.

Just wait, I'll bring you back. And I'll make you pay for letting me go through such a thing, especially after you comfort me for a whole year, and manage to get in my head that you would never leave me. We'll paybacks a bitch, snowflake.

Allrighty~ there's the chappy that took so long to make! I was on a serious wall and I couldn't seem to get any ideas, also the fact that my stupid computer crashed and I had final exams to take all month.

Thank gosh summers already here. I can't believe what I would do without it.

:)

I promise I update faster and make the chapters better I just need to get back my rhythm.