First Time-All Over Again
Chapter 5
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A/N: Yay! Aren't you excited that the people came back! I wasn't happy that I had to put Orihime in the picture but hey, there has got to be some love for the Quincy..oops did I just say that? Oh well. This is a fluffy and cute chapter and will be the last quick update you will get! The next update probably wont come out until Sunday, just to warn you all. As always, thanks again for your reviews and taking the time to do so!
This chapter is named "Your Guardian Angel" by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Disclaimer: life's not fair!
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Ichigo had to not look down at the pipsqeak the whole way there or he would flip. Even though this was the same girl he had fallen in love with so long ago, he still had the same insecurities that made him immature in the ways of love. He sighed as he noticed how uncomfortably quiet they had gotten and they both mentally agreed to the same thing as they pulled their hands away and stuffed them in their pockets.
"What's your family like Ichigo?" Rukia gazed up at him, inquiring of him.
Ichigo narrowed his eyes. "They aren't exactly your Kodak family." Rukia was about to ask what he meant by that but they were already at the door to his house. He knocked on it. It took less than a few seconds when the knock was responded by the door opening ajar slightly, to reveal a young adult with medium length blond hair. At once, she looked between Ichigo and Rukia and screamed as she bawled her eyes out, "DAD, KARIN, COME QUICK, OH MY GOD!!!!" The house almost shook with the girl's screaming.
Said people came rushing in, assuming the worst. Well, Isshin being who he was, "What is it Yuzu-chan? Come to papa bear, he will protect you!" Karin still, at age of 22, despised his father's emotional immaturity. It was a wonder that the family was relatively stable with what him and Yuzu crying a river. Isshin glanced at the doorway with a wide grin on his face. It fell for only a minute as he was shocked to see who they were.
"It is no other than my son and…" Isshin looked startled to see Rukia and mimicked the facial expression that Ichigo had upon realizing who Rukia was. Rukia shuffled her feet amidst Ichigo's family's staring eyes. Karin just stood there looking at Ichigo and Rukia without saying anything.
Ichigo was getting annoyed with everyone treating them like aliens. "Yeah, yeah we're here. Now can you let us the hell in!" Isshin snapped out of his stunned state and sent a parallel kick right to Ichigo's face as he came inside.
"What was that for?!!!" An angry shinigami screamed from the kitchen. Rukia felt a sweatdrop form at her temple as she watched the father-son moment happen.
"For not warning us of your arrival!" Isshin yelled back with just as much force.
Yuzu walked over to Karin, still emotionally overwhelmed. She whispered in her ear, "How is Rukia-chan still alive?" Karin just shrugged, apparently not wanting to express what she was currently feeling.
Yuzu sighed and walked back to her spot in the kitchen. "Lunch will be ready soon. Ichigo, Rukia, are you staying to eat or are you just stopping by?"
Ichigo shook his head. "Na, we're hungry all-right and I havn't had some of your home-made cooking in so long Yuzu." The blonde sister was very happy to hear this, considering when her brother was alive, he did not want to eat with the family a lot.
Ichigo grabbed Rukia by the wrist and made his way upstairs. "We will be up in my room until then!"
Isshin smirked. "Use protection!"
"Shut-up you old pervert!" It was crystal clear that his father has not changed in the least bit.
Rukia had to admit though, The room was an odd place to go alone with a guy who just moments ago was holding hands with her.
Ichigo opened his room only to be attacked by something small and plushy.
"ICHIGOO!!!!" He was knocked off his feet and onto the bed. Ichigo sat up, furious at the small attacker.
"Kon, the hell is the matter?!" Ichigo left kon with his sisters after the war against Aizen, finding no longer a purpose for him.
"So mean of you making me live here all alone with that blond haired devil! She still plays with me you know!" Ichigo chuckled at this. Yuzu had a soft spot for stuffed animals ever since she was a little kid. Even now, Yuzu would keep kon close to her heart.
"Not my problem!" Ichigo took him and threw him in the closet and closed it shut.
Rukia looked at kon with wild eyes before it got chucked in the closet. "That thing just talked…but how?"
Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Come on, you will believe in shinigami but you don't believe in mod souls?"
"Mod Souls?" Rukia repeated what Ichigo just said.
"Yeah, they serve as substitute souls when shinigami need a quick way to get out of their body but unfortunately these types of souls were sent to death because of the threat they imposed. Each mod soul is given a unique ability or set of powers but some mod souls ran off with their bodies given to them and they created havoc. This one escaped and got packaged with the other good pills by accident. I have been stuck with him ever since."
Ichigo stood up and became to rummage through his room, feeling in a nostalgic mood. Rukia followed him around, while feeling chills up her spine as if reliving a dream. 'have I been here before? I couldn't have, I only met Ichigo yesterday!' Ichigo opened the closet again. Kon didn't come out this time, afraid of Ichigo's wrath. He found something that brought a smile to his face.
"I can't believe she forgot this…" Ichigo meant to say this to himself but Rukia heard him.
"Forgot what?" Ichigo turned around, surprised as if just remembering Rukia was with him the whole time.
"Oh, this…" He opened his hands to reveal a chappi bunni. Rukia's eyes lit up at the bunny and she squealed in delight.
"You have a chappi collectable?! They are so hard to find these days!!" (When Rukia died in HC, in the living world, they stopped the production of chappy memorabilia)
Ichigo gave it to her. "You can have it if you want." His face turned a little bit red again.
"Oh my god, thank you Ichigo! This is the best gift anyone has ever gotten me." Rukia stroked it softly and clutched it in her chest.
'It was always yours to begin with anyway.' Ichigo looked up at the spot where Rukia's bed once was and felt around it. It hadn't been touched since she left. Then ichigo found something beneath the mattress. It was a piece of paper. He quickly pulled it out. It had his name on it.
Dear Ichigo,
Byakuya Nii-sama has ordered me to return home. He found out what we did last night and is not pleased. I don't care though, it was worth it. We don't even know what will happen to us in Hueco Mundo and you are my whole world Ichigo. I hope you get this letter soon. I hope to return soon. Tell Isshin and your sisters that I am ok as well.
I love you,
Rukia
Ichigo remembered this letter. After Orihime was kidnapped and before Ichigo set off for hueco mundo, Ichigo and Rukia made out on his bed. They were overwhelmed with so many different feelings like betrayal from the soul society from thinking Orihime was a traitor and for Orihime leaving simply without saying goodbye. It seemed as if both of their worlds were splitting apart. It was also the night that Ichigo had sung a song to Rukia. It was the only song Ichigo could sing and play on his guitar. This was the same night that they confessed their feelings of love for one another so it was like the turning point of their lives for both of them.
Rukia couldn't help but be nosy as Ichigo just stood there, reading a small piece of paper.
"What are you reading?"
Ichigo looked over his shoulder, a look of calm was plastered over his face. "This is just a letter from a friend."
Rukia loved to pry especially when Ichigo looked not like himself, or atleast not the Ichigo she knew for the two days they knew each other. "Was this the friend you mentioned yesterday?"
Ichigo fell silent and did not look back at Rukia. She at once, felt his overbearing sadness and was ashamed herself for bringing it up. "Ichigo I…sorry, I mean..I didn't want to pour the salt into your wounds and make it worse. My deepest apologies."
He shook his head. "No its fine. I actually like thinking about her." Ichigo walked over to his guitar and picked it up.
"I-ichigo?" Her voice was soft.
"I made a song for her the night I asked her to go out with me. Want to hear it?" Ichigo didn't care if Rukia heard it, seeing as it was for her anyway even if this Rukia did not know yet.
Rukia sat down on the bed and nodded, intrigued.
Ichigo cleared his throat and tuned his guitar, fingering the cords. When he was comfortable, he closed his eyes, picturing the scene perfectly and put in just as much emotion in his voice as before.
"When I see your smile
Tears run down my face I can't replace
And now that I'm strong I have figured out
How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul
And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one."
Rukia felt her body tingle all over as Ichigo was singing to her. He was a completely different Ichigo like the day before. Ichigo's voice was tender and passionate and it made her heart melt listening to him.
"I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to heaven."
Ichigo sang louder now, feeling the lyrics with his heart, mind and soul.
"It's okay. It's okay. It's okay.
Seasons are changing
And waves are crashing
And stars are falling all for us
Days grow longer and nights grow shorter
I can show you I'll be the one."
Rukia inched closer to Ichigo, feeling compelled to be even closer next to him. His lyrics shook her very core and suddenly she did not want to go back to her apartment alone.
"I will never let you fall (let you fall)
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all (through it all)
Even if saving you sends me to heaven."
Ichigo suddenly felt Rukia's hand touch his arm. He was too much into the song though to care.
"Cuz you're my, you're my, my true love, my whole heart
Please don't throw that away
Cuz I'm here for you
Please don't walk away,
Please tell me you'll stay, stay!!"
Ichigo was lost in his own universe now as he imagined Rukia long ago brimming with tears at that very moment. He was in a trance. That song and memory was buried deep and now it was dug back up with just as much feeling and Rukia could not bring him back to reality. It was almost scary.
Ichigo remembered feeling so vulnerable and frightened that he would lose Rukia to Aizen or Rukia would leave again because she thought she was doing what was best for them.
"Use me as you will
Pull my strings just for a thrill
And I know I'll be ok
Though my skies are turning gray
I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to heaven"
Ichigo finished the song strongly and opened his eyes again to look into Rukia's violet ones. Rukia was enchanted by Ichigo's song and she felt that Ichigo was pulling her closer and closer by strings like a puppet. She had no willpower left in her. They were about to lean in for a kiss when Yuzu called up to them.
"Ichi-nii! Rukia-chan! Lunch is ready!" Both of them felt extremely awkward now. Ichigo got up hurriedly to open to door. Rukia followed suit and both of them proceeded downstairs not uttering a word.
They sat down to their lunch of miso soup and rice and both scarfed it down. Isshin noticed how little each other spoked and had to break the silence. "So Rukia-chan, is my son good in bed?" He winked with a twinkle in his eye. Ichigo was closest to him and used his foot from under the table and kicked his father in the shins making Isshin fall backwords. Isshin cried and crawled up to the poster of their deceased mother.
Rukia sighed and gulped down her last bits of Rice. Ichigo was already finished and got up to find his jacket. "Rukia, want to make the last few minutes of school or should I walk you home?"
She thought about it for a good minute before deciding on school surprisingly. "I need to get the homework from all the classes we missed." Rukia turned to Ichigo.
"Do you always miss this much school?" Ichigo scratched the back of his head uneasily.
"Well only when there are a lot of hollows and I am the only shinigami around." 'I already graduated years ago.'
The two shinigami partners went back to school and made the last ten minutes of homeroom. Ritsuka-sensei was fuming at them both but instead of writing them up, he made them both stay after to clean up while everyone left.
"Atleast he's gone now.." murmured Rukia. Ichigo laughed.
"I had a teacher once who was a hardass too but she was easy on me. You got it rough."
Rukia took an eraser and threw it Ichigo. He coughed and glared at her. "Hey! Don't throw erasors at your mentor!"
"My mentor ne? Since when? I don't recall asking you help on how to kill a hollow. I don't need your help and I certainly don't need a teacher." She responded by kicking him in the groin. Ichigo moaned in pain all the while cursing at the shorty.
"However if I ever need advice on how to lose my manhood, I will ask!" Rukia smirked. This started them splashing each other with water and marker wars. It ended with Ichigo having a purple mustache and Rukia sitting on top of him. They really didn't get any work done like they were supposed to.
Suddenly, both Ichigo and Rukia felt like they were being watched. They looked over their shoulders and to the doorway to see Ishida, Orihime, Chad and Renji, all of which were gaping. They weren't so surprised to see a girl sitting on Ichigo but moreso who it was.
"RUKIA!!!!!!!!" This voice belonged to Renji who ran over to her in both shock and happiness. Ichigo wanted to stop Renji but seeing him get Rejected by Rukia would be even funnier.
Renji picked her up and gave her the biggest bear-hug ever. Yeah this was an ooc moment for Abarai-san.
"Who the fucking hell are you and why are you hugging me freak?!!" Rukia shouted at the top of her lungs, being choked to death. She took a free arm and punched Renji hard in the face, sending Renji flying out the open Window. OK, maybe that was a little harsh but he totally invaded her personal space.
Ishida, Orihime and Chad watched the little scene with surprise and learned from Renji's mistake. This obviously was not the Rukia who died in their arms years ago. Ichigo broke out into a fit of laughter. Rukia stared at Ichigo suspiciously. "Do you know these people Ichigo?"
Ichigo stopped himself and wiped a lone tear from his eye. "Yes, these are my friends from the Soul Society." All of them sweatdropped at not being properly introduced.
Ishida walked out of the group to Rukia. "It's a pleasure to meet you Rukia-san. My name is Uryuu Ishida. Let me help you with getting to know everyone's names since Ichigo obviously already forgot ours. The one with the hair color similar to Kurosaki is Orihime." Inoue bowed and smiled big for Rukia, glad to see her old friend again. "The one who is really tall is Chad and the one who you sent flying out the window is Abarai Renji." Rukia suddenly felt flushed at hurting one of Ichigo's friends. She certainly did not want to start on bad terms or anything.
Renji came back limping in the room, with his hair messy and bruises everywhere. "What crawled up your butt?!" He directed this question to Rukia. The group of shinigami friends huddled over to Renji and whispered in his ears the situation.
Renji blushed in embarrassment. "Of course I knew that." He stuck his head in the air. Rukia walked over to him and outstretched a hand to him.
"Truce?" Rukia smiled to Renji, hoping he would forgive her so they could be friends.
Renji smiled back. Even if Rukia did not remember him, she was alive which he could settle with.
Ishida walked over to the front of the room. "Now! The main reason we are here is for you Ichigo. We have orders from head captain Yamamoto. The Soul Society is skeptical of your activity in Karakura and wonder why you have not returned when your reason for coming was clearly finished weaks ago. They have sent us since we are closest to you and would be able to return you so you can answer some questions. Ukitake-taicho is also worried about you."
Rukia looked over at Ichigo, her eyes widened. Ichigo lied to her, he said that his mission was not complete yet. Why was he still staying around?
Ichigo crossed his arms defiantly. "Tell the old geezer he has nothing to worry about. I am only a little weak is all. I want to regain my strength before returning to the Soul Society. Besides, I think I have some business to take care of first," his eyes shifted over to Rukia who remained oblivious to the conversation."
Ishida sighed. "I wish I could Kurosaki but I am not leaving empty-handed, you must come with me or Yamamoto might suspect you of betrayal."
Ichigo turned his head away. Renji looked at him for once sympathetically. He knew that he did not want to leave Rukia alone or bring her to the Soul Society. They might question her or Mayuri would want to use her as a test subject.
"NO! That is my final answer! Ishida, its ok this once to cut ties with the Soul Society. I don't want them finding out…something, not yet." Ishida peered at Ichigo closely, trying to see his motives but could not find anything.
The quincy sighed. "Fine, but we aren't leaving either then. There is no way I want to report to the old man that you won't come back." Ishida looked back at Chad and Orihime who had been quiet for a long time. Orihime walked over to Ishida and stood beside him.
"Whatever you do is fine with me Ishida-kun!" Orihime said cheerfully. Ishida's face turned as red as a beet and Ichigo raised an eyebrow.
"Has something been going on between you two I should know about quincy?" Ichigo's voice was full of amusement.
Ishida shot a cold look at Ichigo. "Go to hell Kurosaki." Then a few seconds later, "Where can we crash?"
Ichigo shrugged. "Not my house though, its already packed enough with me and Rukia."
Orihime smiled. "Ishida-kun you can come and stay at my apartment." Ishida looked away so Orihime would not see just how uncomfortable the question made him. Ichigo snickered. Rukia slapped him on the arm.
"Stop laughing at them." Although Rukia herself found it hard to contain laughter looking at how insecure Ishida looked.
Renji just took his arms and placed them behind his head. "Me and Chad can stay and Urahara's place again. Cool with you Chad?" Chad only nodded.
Every one of the friends separated again, leaving the school. By the time Rukia and Ichigo made it to the door of Ichigo's house, Rukia suddenly had a pulsing headache. She gripped her head as a stream of memories pulsed into her brain. They were coming at such a fast speed, it made her break out into cold sweat. Ichigo looked down at her concerned.
"Rukia! Are you alright?" His amber eyes flashed with worry and as soon as the feeling came, it was gone.
"I'm ok! It was probably nothing…" Rukia turned her head just in time to see two golden eyes looking out at her in the darkness. In a blink, they were gone. Ichigo and Rukia went inside shortly after that.
Everyone was asleep in the Kurosaki household which meant a peaceful night. Ichigo made his way up the stairs and into his room with Rukia following him close behind. It just dawned on him that Rukia had been following him around for two days. He wasn't going to send her home now, especially since she lived alone anyway.
"I get the bed, you get the closet." Rukia looked like she wanted to argue but she decided that it wasn't her place, besides, the closet bed looked comfy anyway. She took the pair of Pajamas that was rested on the bed that she assumed was for her, changed into them and dived in under the sheets. The closet was small and tight but it had a certain charm to it that Rukia liked. Her head ached a little bit from the headache. The memories she had received were foggy but were there, all of which were of Ichigo. The headache troubled her but she was tired, and Rukia went to sleep with ease.
The black cat outside that was watching Rukia closely finally left, jumping into the night.