Author's note: Ugh, sorry guys I never wrapped this up quickly. I finally found time! Whee! Let's get it on.
Chapter 24: Assassinated Love
"So, my flight's coming in about nine in the morning. Will you be there to pick me up?" Rukia asked as she shifted her phone between her ear and her shoulder as she picked up a box, moved it to her room, and dropped it on her bed nearby her clothes sprawled there too.
"Of course, your apartment is being furnished right now. It's a great view of Shanghai." The deep voice rumbled in the background.
"At least Shanghai's a shopping district – I'll enjoy the shopping there." Rukia mumbled as she folded up her clothes and began putting them in the box neatly.
"Yes, I'll see you in a week. Goodbye Uncle Komamura." Rukia took the phone away from her ear and pressed the end button as she heard him mutter a goodbye into the phone as well. Rukia pocketed her phone and looked behind her to the living room and saw a sprawl of boxes everywhere.
Rukia felt her phone ring again as she picked it up – seeing it was Matsumoto calling.
"What's up Rangiku?" Rukia asked as she bent down to go pick up a shirt she had dropped. Rukia could hear Rangiku filing her manicured nails.
"I'm having a little get together in two weeks, do you want to go?" Rukia rubbed her cool hand on her forehead and sighed sadly.
"I can't make it, I'm sorry." Rukia sat down as she picked up on Rangiku drop her nail file and listen into the phone more.
"Why not? I was looking forward to getting drunk with you again!" Rangiku whined softly and Rukia clamped the back of her neck with a free hand.
"I'm actually moving to China in a week." Rukia spoke quietly as she gripped her blanket to play around with them.
"What, why?! You can't leave good ol' Japan!" Rukia laughed bitterly as she held in the tears.
"I need a fresh start, I can't stay here. I feel like shit for hurting him, he's the only man I've even considered marrying. I need to get away from everything." Rangiku sighed as she shrugged.
"You know, even the sun on the worst days set." Rangiku said, Rukia breathed deeply and exhaled loudly.
"I don't want to stay; I'll talk to you still. I'm going now, I have to finish packing. Goodbye." Rukia heard Rangiku call out for her to stay on the phone, but Rukia hung up anyways. Rukia let a solemn tear drop silently as she began packing again.
Meanwhile:
Rangiku stared at the screen of the disconnected call, sighed, and then exited out of the call. Rangiku looked at her calendar slipped under the glass of her desk and saw that Rukia was leaving in five days.
Matsumoto got up swiftly and peeked into the small window that connected her's and Hitsugaya's offices. Rangiku saw Hitsugaya toying with the small box that held the diamond ring that would've been on Rukia's finger. He rubbed his face in distraught, rubbing at his eyes to keep himself awake from the lack of sleep he had been enduring lately.
Rangiku looked back at the calendar; she took out a sticky note, grabbed a pink pen, and wrote neatly on it. Walking out of her office, she walked into Hitsugaya's and held the folded note in her fingertips.
"You didn't knock." Hitsugaya muttered as he never looked up at Rangiku as he continued toying with the small box.
"You wouldn't have let me in if I did. You feeling okay so far?" Rangiku asked as she shifted around uncomfortably in her position in front of him. Hitsugaya looked up at her, showing tired eyes shot with red from lack of sleep.
"I feel like shit. Thanks. I'm not sure if I should even try to talk to her or not. All I know is that I love her, but I don't know if I want to forgive her." Rangiku shrugged as she stepped forward so she was facing him. She put the note on his desk and slid it towards him.
"Well if you want her to still be around for you two to talk to each other, you might want to read this. But if you don't want to see her again, just crumple the note and move on from her. I thought of all people, you deserve to know what she just told me. I'll bring you your lunch." Rangiku nodded her head and turned on her heel to walk away and give him privacy.
Hitsugaya saw Rangiku leaving his office. Hitsugaya stared at the sticky note that honestly made him feel nervous. Hitsugaya wanted to crumple the note so badly, but he knew his heart yearned for him to go and open the stupid note. Hitsugaya put the box on his desk and leaned forward to take the note in his hands. It couldn't hurt to read it. Hitsugaya opened up the note with shaking hands.
'Rukia's moving to China in a week. You want her? Go get her. If you don't, you deserve happiness then. She misses you.'
Hitsugaya sucked in his breath as he folded up the note and put it into his pants pocket.
From the small window, Hitsugaya had failed to notice that Rangiku had been watching the whole time, smiling in hopes of her favorite couple coming back to life.
Next day:
Renji sipped on his beer as he wiped the sweat off his brow. Renji sighed as he watched Rukia stack another box full of stuff into the corner where four big boxes were already stacked on top of each other.
"You don't have to go, you do realize this right?" Renji stated to her as she dropped the box in the right place, turned around, and rested her hands on her hips.
"I don't want to be an assassin anymore. I think it's time for a fresh start. It'll be good for me. I'll never have to be an assassin ever again in Shanghai." Rukia saw Renji roll his eyes.
"You already quit the business, and Yamamoto promised to leave you alone. Your brother and your sister want you to stay. I don't know what else you want; you basically got rid of your old life already!" Renji yelled, looking for anything to make one of his best friends stay in Karakura. Rukia shook her head as she gestured for him to come into her bedroom.
"I'm not trying to run away from the business. I need to stop thinking about him." Rukia and Renji picked up the heaviest and largest box together and transported it to the living room.
"You're ridiculous if you think moving to another country will help get rid of your problems. Why don't you go talk to him about it or something? Get some closure." Renji suggested, Rukia and Renji dropped the box as they collapsed on the couch together.
"We already talked, he hates me, I still love him. We gave each other our stuff back. There's nothing left for me here. I know I'm running away, but I don't really have anything left in my life here in Japan. Sorry Renji." Renji sighed tiredly.
"If that's what you want," Renji extended an arm and wrapped it around Rukia's shoulders to bring her closer so she would lean on him. "Then I support you, as your best friend, I'll support you." Rukia smiled against him as a tear fell down her face.
"Thanks Renji." Rukia said as Renji turned on the T.V.
-Meanwhile-
Rangiku stared out of her doorway that led to her balcony, enjoying the sunset in Karakura. She heard her bed sheets ruffling, instinctively she pulled her robe closer to her body to keep her nude body warm.
"I'm surprised you're up." Her husband's voice sang as he laid naked in bed, leaning on his side with his hand propping up his head.
"When's Rukia leaving?" Rangiku asked as she saw an airplane lifting off into the air. Gin shrugged as he stared at his wife of five years.
"This Saturday, so I guess you heard about her leaving too?" Rangiku sighed sadly as she turned around to face him.
"I don't get it, they both love each other. They're just running away from how they really feel." Rangiku pouted as Gin shrugged again.
"She thinks it's good for her. No one can stop her but herself from going to Shanghai." Rangiku sighed sadly.
"I wish things weren't so difficult between the two." Rangiku saw Gin rise from the bed and wrap the thinnest blanket they had around his hips. He walked over, slipping his hands around her waist, facing her to the balcony glass doors again, and placed his chin on her shoulder.
"We can only hope that both of them realize that they're meant for each other. All we can do is watch. Some of us in this lifetime aren't so lucky with love. I'm just glad we found each other." Gin muttered as he placed a light kiss on her bare neck. Rangiku placed a hand on his face and kept it there.
"I guess so; do you know what airport she's going to?" Rangiku asked, Gin raised his eyebrows as he thought about the location of the airport.
"Karakura International Airport, it's the only airport that flies out to other countries." Rangiku only nodded.
Rangiku breathed as she finished her text, arousing her husband awake from his slumber after they had fooled around again.
"Turn off the damn phone honey; you've been off of work since closing time today. Go to sleep." Gin muttered as he dug his face into a pillow.
"Alright honey, I'm almost done anyways." Rangiku saw her screen turn black again as she saw the "Sent Message" sign fading away.
'Rukia's leaving in 2 days at the Karakura International Airport in the afternoon. If you want her, go get her.'
Author's note: Like I said, I apologize for the wait. I've just been busy! I'll see you guys soon to finish this up!