Here's the third chapter! I'm not going to write a novel here, but...well, just enjoy!
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Chapter Three
Rukia searched the hallways for a few minutes but gave up. She'd have to ask someone. She bumped into someone.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she apologised.
"S'all good," the guy said in return.
Rukia took the opportunity to ask about that guy. "Hey have you see a guy with bright orange hair?"
"Seen him? How can you miss him? He's probably outside again. It happens everyday," he said before running off.
Rukia wondered what he meant by 'It happens everyday.' She decided to continue her search outside. She walked out the front doors and took a deep breath.
"Ahh, fresh air. That school smells like sweat," she commented. A loud cheering sound was heard coming from the back of the schoolyard. Must be a game going on, she thought. I'll go check it out, see how good this school really is.
She jogged to the source of the sound and found dozens of people gathered. She pushed her way further into the circle. A small gasp escaped her lips.
She watched as the orange-haired guy from earlier was punched, hard. He didn't seem to be fighting back. She looked on in horror as blood dripped off his chin. There was a deep gash on his head. She saw a knife in the other guy's hand. She recognised him from her last class. He was that guy...Aizen.
"I told you man. Talk to another hottie and you'll pay," he said mockingly.
Ichigo felt like saying, 'I didn't talk to her.' but he knew if he did that it would get him in even more trouble. The gash on his head wouldn't stop bleeding and he was having trouble seeing out of his left eye. He was getting weak from blood loss, even if it was just a little. Black dots played in his vision.
Rukia watched as the orange-haired guy wobbled a little. The other guy took advantage and kicked him in the stomach. He fell to the ground but was too weak to get back up. He took all his strength and pushed the offender away. Rukia ran out of the circle as she saw Aizen ready to stab.
Ichigo saw this and was prepared. He knew what getting stabbed was like. He was stabbed once before in grade 8, last year.
He waited but the stab never came. He looked up to see the Kuchiki girl from earlier blocking Aizen's path.
Aizen looked shocked, "Hey baby. Move a little. He has to pay for talking to you."
Rukia didn't budge. She held her breath, scared of Aizen's next move. She let it out when he turned around.
"Auuugh, looks like the fun is over for today," he said to the crowd. He turned back to Ichigo and Rukia. He looked at Rukia first, "See ya tomorrow, baby. Then he turned to Ichigo, a dangerous look in his eye, "You, you little shit. I'll see you tomorrow. Looking forward to it."
The crowd split and soon the two were left alone. Rukia knelt down to Ichigo and touched his arm lightly. It flinched. She removed her hand quickly, fearing that she had hurt him. She saw him looking up weakly at her.
"Why?" he said softly.
He spoke. She loved his voice. It was soft and kind sounding.
"Huh? What do you mean why?" she said trying to help him sit up. His face made a grimace so she knew he was in pain.
She remembered that guy's words once again, "It happened everyday." She looked at him. This happened everyday? She knew now that she had to be there for him. She would become his friend even if it put her in danger. It really sounded like he needed someone.
"Why did you stick up for me?" he asked her again.
"Why wouldn't I?" she asked roughly.
"Because..." Ichigo responded. He didn't know what else to say. He weakly got to his feet but fell back down. Rukia steadied him. She opened her book bag and pulled out bandages.
Ichigo looked at the girl who had just pulled medical supplies out of her bag.
She looked at him and saw a weird look on his face. She knew why, "I keep them there just in case. You never know. Lucky for you, I was going to leave them home today."
Ichigo continued to stare. She moved closer to him to clean his wound. It was still bleeding, not as bad as before so she put gauze over it and smiled in satisfaction.
"There! All better," she said smiling widely.
"Thanks," he said getting up. He began to walk away only to almost fall over again. Rukia ran up to him and helped him keep his balance.
"You don't need to," he said trying to push her away. "I can walk fine."
She watched as he struggled to even take five steps without wobbling.
"Right," she said. She grabbed his arm and put it around her neck. She put an arm around his waist to keep him from falling over. She felt him lean on her ever so slightly. Unknown to the other, they both carried a small blush.
"Now where do you want to go?" Rukia asked him, recovering over her embarrassment.
"Home," he said to her like she was dumb. Now noted that he didn't have much emotion in his voice.
"Oh, okay," she said back. "Where do you live?"
"Kurosaki Clinic," he said simply.
"You're joking right. You don't get hurt that often do you?" she questioned with seriousness.
"No, my dad owns it. By the way, watch out for him. He's a little crazy," he told her. Rukia noticed a little smirk appear on his face when he said that but it was gone sooner then it came.
"I'll remember that," she said back.
They walked in silence. They finally reached the Kurosaki residence. Ichigo pulled a key out of his pocket and tried to put it in the lock. His hand was so shaky he couldn't get it in the lock.
"Here," Rukia offered. She reached a small hand out. The moment their hands touched Ichigo looked away in a blush and she looked down. She finally got the key into the lock. It turned and she heard the lock click. She gave Ichigo his key back and he opened the door. She waited until he entered. She watched him check behind the door for some reason. This Kurosaki guy sure was weird.
"Alright coast is clear," he motioned her to come in. They walked through the dinning room. Rukia noted that it was very clean. Everything was in place. No dust. Nothing. She turned around to inspect the rest of the room.
The house was so silent until a voice was heard. "Heeeyaaa!!"
Rukia turned in time to see a man kick Ichigo in the head. She let out a small yelp. He crashed into the wall but stood back up again.
"You're crazy!" he yelled. Rukia looked at Ichigo as he finally spoke normally. She thought he looked cute when he was angry.
"Once again son, you weren't prepared!" he scolded.
"How was I supposed to know that you're home?" he questioned with a frown on his face.
"This is where I work, Ichigo. I thought you would know that by now," he said shaking his head in shame.
Ichigo, Rukia repeated in her mind. That means "one who protects."
"Are you calling me stupid?" he demanded. The frown hadn't once left his face. But Rukia noticed that he seemed more alive here.
"Uh-huuuh," the older man said before trying to punch Ichigo again. She watched Ichigo dodge with great speed and kick his father's feet out from underneath him.
"That's my boy," he said happily even though he had just smashed his face on the ground.
"Whatever," Ichigo said before walking off.
Rukia was about to follow when his father noticed her.
"Hello there," he said getting up, wiping some dust off his black pants. He held his hand out for a formal greeting. She gladly took it, though scared that he would try to flip her over his back or something.
Ichigo noticed the girl didn't follow him so he went back. He stood in the doorway leaning on the doorframe.
"I'm Ichigo's father. But that's not my name so..." he started.
"Dad, don't be an idiot," Ichigo said looking bored by the entrance.
"Ichigo, that hurts," he said like a child. "As I was saying, my name is Kurosaki Isshin."
"I'm Kuchiki Rukia," she said smiling back at him.
Rukia, Ichigo thought. So that's her name.
"Nice to meet you Miss Kuchiki," her father said respectfully.
"Please just call me Rukia," she begged. She hated it when people called her by her last name.
"Alright, Rukia. I'd like to have a word with my son for a moment. You think I could borrow him from you?" he asked looking at Ichigo.
Rukia blushed, "Uh...of course."
"Alright thank you," he said as Rukia walked out of the room. She stayed nearby though. Not knowing if this was the kind of family where you have to get permission to do things or the kind where you can do anything and they wouldn't care. She could hear the conversation going on between father and son. She didn't want to eavesdrop but she couldn't help it.
"Ichigo, you have to stop getting into fights," Isshin demanded.
"If I could, I would, dad," she heard him respond.
"I don't want to lose you like I lost your mother," she heard Isshin say. Her heart jumped, Ichigo didn't have a mother.
"Enough, I'm tried of you bringing mom into this," she heard Ichigo's frustrated voice say, "You might as well be saying if I didn't get in as many fights, she would still be here. It's not my fault my hair is orange. It's not my fault people hate me for it. You might as well be saying that it was my fault that mom died."
She heard Ichigo stomping toward her direction so she made a distance between her and the door. He came through looking thoroughly upset.
"Come on, let's go to my room," he said walking up the stairs. Rukia looked up after him. She wanted to cry for him. He had lost his mother. She didn't know how long ago but he shared the same pain as her, if not worse. She had never known her mother, never really got attached. But he, he grew up with her, learned to love her, and lost her. And he blamed himself.
A lone tear escaped as she walked up the stairs after him. "Ichigo..."
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Ahh, there's my next one. I'm almost positive that most of the characters are totally off, personality-wise, but I'm really, really trying. Please read and review! More cookies are available. Future chapter rewards are double-chocolate cookies, milk, and ice cream (any flavour available). Only chocolate chip is available at the moment. It takes time to think up the perfect cookies. I'll have the double-chocolate done by next chapter!
Eva-miko