Well, I had ideas for this before hand, but I'm changin' stuff up a bit. The last chapter was mostly of development of the future story, so this chapter will progress a little, romantically and plot wise. We'll see how it turns out.
I've also thought of a sequel, but a normal Adventure/Action fic. Rather just like this is the starting point for an alternate universe type story. Or I dunno. Yeah, whatever. The chapter, I'm sure you're waiting on.
[Karakura City – Ichigo's Roof, Third Person
Ichigo stared up into the sky above. It was the sunset. The scarlet glare shot through the trees, like something trying to escape from it's prison. The sun was truly shining with a radiance of no other this evening. The rest of the city lie below it's glow. Everything metal close by, reflected a light like never before. The chain to Ichigo's wallet shined brilliantly, just as the nearby windows. The sound of rattling came from the nearby window, as a figure came onto the roof. Jumping up, Rukia stood next to him where he was sitting.
"It's started." Rukia began.
"What has?" Ichigo asked with a calm aura.
"The sun's rather bright tonight, don't you think?" She asked.
Ichigo looked around to him to see a very strange glow.
"In the atmosphere...there are spirit particles. With the upcoming war, there is a great gathering from both sides from this town. Though they are invisible, they are very similar to Dark Energy. You cannot see it, yet it warps the area surrounding it. But that's not the case." Rukia continued.
She sat down next to him, resting her arms on her knees.
"These particles actually create somewhat of a fog. Very faint, but the small glare that it's receiving is no longer there. It's also why there might be slightly warmer temperatures as of recently. It also may be why you've felt your Spiritual pressure's endurance is lower. The area is not near as nurturing as Soul Society" She finished.
Ichigo looked to the sun, as it still shined over it's peak. The nearby mountains, though small, began to eclipse the sun's light.
"How long do you think we have, Rukia?" He asked.
Rukia looked down, and her eyes grew heavy with thought.
"Soul Society has provided me with the information that we have until Winter. Sooner or later. There is no definite date nor answer." Rukia said gently under her breath. "There's only about a little over 3 months."
Ichigo sighed, while watching the sun set completely over the mountain top. Right before it left, it glares an amazingly sharp red glow, lasting only for a few seconds. The sky grew darker as time passed, giving the sky it's amethyst shine.
"Ichigo." Rukia asked, while looking up to the sky."The dark inside you...how are you doing against it?"
"I'm not." Ichigo shook his head. "I'm avoiding sleep of what I can. It's beginning to manifest my thoughts, my control..."
Rukia looked to him from the side of her eye. Gazing, gracefully yet secretly.
"I talked to Urahara-san today." Rukia explained. Ichigo looked to her, making eye contact."He told me that..."
"A Hollow." Ichigo cut her off. "It's inside me."
Rukia closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Urahara said to beat it, you have to conquer it. However..."Rukia said. "...it's different for everyone."
Ichigo shrugged his shoulders, which almost went unnoticed.
"Every time I use my Bankai...no, anytime I use Zangetsu at all." Ichigo admitted. "He taunts me. I feel him growing stronger. He can stop me from moving completely, and take over, with no fear."
Rukia lifted her eyes, to reveal the dark of the night grow thicker then it was but a moment ago.
"We have work to do Ichigo." Rukia whispered, with a gentle voice. "And with Aizen's rebellion soon coming, we need you to be able to fight."
Ichigo slammed his right hand against the roof's shingles, making a thick, blunt sound.
"It's useless. I can't fight right now, much less against a monstrous power like that." Ichigo replied."I couldn't do anything to him in Soul Society, and he's stronger!? And now I cannot even break in to the level I was at when I was in Soul Soc-"
"Ichigo!" Rukia yelled. Ichigo stopped. Rukia stood from her position, looking down upon him. Her eyes filled with passion, strength. Even though it was dark, Ichigo could see her glowing in front of him.
"You're not this weak. We will find a solution through it. Together we'll make sure nothing gets in the way of our duty." Rukia said, straightforward. She looked into his eyes, and they had lost the luster they once burned brightly with. "Wherever this dark feeling may lead..."
Ichigo eyes widened, and he almost gasped with surprise, as he heard Rukia speak.
"I will follow." Rukia explained. "Because you are not the kind of person who would give up so easily. Whatever it may be that faces you...destroy it. Move forward. Because that's the kind of person you are."
Ichigo remained breathless, speechless.
"I'm right behind you. And I won't give up!" Rukia exclaimed.
[Karakura City – Ichigo's Room, Third Person
Ichigo knocked on the closet door, calling out to Rukia.
"Hey, Rukia." Ichigo called. He could hear ruffling inside. He raised an eyebrow to it, curiously knocking again. The door swiftly opened, before he could finished knocking. Rukia leaped out, casually dressed.
"New clothes?" Ichigo looked to her, puzzled.
She wore a navy pullover, with tiny white rose stems on the forearms, and a small pin on the left wristband. She also wore a a pair of tan pants, extending just past the knee. Rukia looked to her arms, and then to her legs.
"Yes but..." Rukia started, with a serious expression. She looked up to Ichigo, asking. "Does it look good?" Rukia continued. "I'm not much of a pants person, but I figured since it was under operations funding I could try it out..."
Ichigo looked away, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't pay attention to that stuff. Why did you need new clothes anyway?"
"Because" Rukia began, folding her arms."I'm going to be here for awhile. It's not a good thing that your sisters clothes disappear and reappear in the laundry. I only have the school uniform and pajamas otherwise."
Ichigo shrugged, glancing back at Rukia. The pin on her left sleeve caught his eye, and he raised an eyebrow at it.
"What the hell is that? A Rabbit?" He asked cynically.
Rukia frowned angrily. "It's Chappy!" She exclaimed. She pinched the pin, and showed it closely to Ichigo. "It was cutest thing in the catalog from Soul Society. We need all the help we can get."
Rukia animated the small pin to nod, while imitating a playful voice, yet still retaining the serious expression. "Dat's wight!" Ichigo was startled with confusion.
"You hold such a serious expression, and say stuff like that." Ichigo started. "No one ever sees it comin'."
Rukia glared back, but didn't reply.
"Oh, are you hungry?" Ichigo asked, seeming to have forgot.
"No. Soul's nor the faux bodies ever grow hungry." She replied.
"No, then?" Ichigo asked.
"I wouldn't mind something to eat, though." Rukia said, delving her hands into the pockets sewn on the sweater."
"Alright, then I'll bring you a plate." Ichigo shrugged, and began walking towards the door.
"Wait." Rukia stopped him, and he looked back. "Is it okay if I eat with you and your family?" She asked. Almost regretting halfway through saying it.
"Eat with us? I don't think they'd approve of me inviting the girl who lives in my closet to dinner." He started. "Besides, they'll just act stupid in that way."
Rukia walked to the window, and leaped up on the windowsill.
"You're right. But if I'm someone else, who just happens to be passing by, they shouldn't know about it." Rukia said, leaping out. Ichigo panicked, and ran to the window.
"What?!" Ichigo yelled, as she walked on the roof.
Rukia looked back, and smiled. "Five minutes. Answer the door."
[ Downstairs, 5 minutes later..., Third Person
"Dad." Ichigo started, with a reluctant voice. "I'm having a friend over tonight, so save another pla-"
"ICHIGO!" He yelled, thumbs upping Ichigo as Ichigo blankly looked at him. "Is it a GIRL?!"
Yuzu clapped in the background once, and cheerfully laughed. "Ichigo is inviting a girl to dinner with us?"
"Our little Ichigo is taking interest in-" Isshin began, only to be punched in the face.
"It ain't like that." Ichigo said, blatantly responding. No sooner than he finished, did the doorbell ring. Ichigo sighed. "More trouble than it's worth..."
As he turned the doorknob, it revealed his 'guest' for dinner. She walked in, and embraced Ichigo with a hug. He blushed lightly at first.
"Rukia." He said quietly to her. His siblings and father looked attentively as the guest made her appearance.
She bowed before them, as they introduced themselves.
"And what's your name?" Isshin anxiously asked the petite guest.
"Ruki. My names Kuchi Ruki." She happily said, with the usual facade voice that she used often.
[Later at the table..., Third Person
The Kurosaki family ate the freshly prepared dinner, along with their guest, 'Ruki'. They continued a conversation, everyone except Ichigo. He quietly sat and ate.
"Oi! It's so different to see Ichigo bring home a girl!" Yuzu started. "Tatsuki-chan was the only one for awhile there, and..."
Rukia almost dropped her fork as she heard Yuzu speak, and then regained composure.
"Oh, is that so?" Rukia played off.
Ichigo glared at Rukia as she drew it out.
"Tatsuki-chan doesn't count." Karin stated. "She's too much woman for Ichigo. He couldn't control her."
Rukia laughed playfully at the sisters Kurosaki continued.
"So, Ruki-chan, how is yours and Ichigo's relationship going?" Isshin asked, as he put his chopsticks aside.
Ichigo stood from his chair, and snapped.
"What kind of question is that?!" He yelled.
Isshin nobly rose from his seat, and looked Ichigo eye to eye.
"It's a father's duty to wat-" Isshin started, only to be cut short by Ichigo's fist once again. Isshin rose again, playfully taunting Ichigo. "Don't deny it, Son! Be it true you must be together with her, love, live, flourish!" He announced with hope filled in his eyes.
Yuzu attempted to calm the two Kurosaki's, to no avail as they quarreled over the usual nonsense. Rukia laughed lightly, covering her mouth. Karin looked to Rukia with a suspicious gaze, as she placed the bowl on the table.
[Later, at the door, Third Person
"I must be on my way." Rukia said. "The food was good!"
"It was nice having you, Ruki-chan! I hope to see you again very soon!" Isshin exclaimed, thumbs upping Rukia. She nervously laughed in response.
"Hey, I'll walk you out." Ichigo stated, yet in an unexcited tone.
Isshin joyfully snickered as Ichigo walked to the door, and lightly hit Ichigo on the arm. Ichigo looked back, only to his father animating a kissing form. "Don't be afraid to put a little tongue in it!" Isshin exclaimed only to be acquainted by the annual fist.
"Dumb ass!" He yelled in response, closing the door behind him.
Ichigo walked down a ways, around the corner where Rukia lay against the building's side. She quietly waited, with her eyes closed and her arms folded.
"I'm right here." She said, almost surprising Ichigo.
Ichigo had somewhat of an angry expression, as he tucked his hands in his pocket.
"Did you eat good?" He asked Rukia, bluntly.
"Yeah." Rukia nodded happily. "Your family's...unique."
Ichigo walked and leaned against the wall, standing next to her.
"Sorry about that." He murmured, gritting his teeth with a slight anger.
"Ichigo." Rukia said quietly to him. "I enjoyed it. I wanted to meet your family properly." She replied to him, with the same serious expression she always had.
"They're anything but proper." Ichigo said, looking to the ground.
Rukia walked forward a few steps, and stretched widely in the moonlight. Ichigo gazed at Rukia, and how her hair brilliantly shined.
"Ichigo." She said, looking back to him, making eye contact. Rukia seemed to almost blush afterwards to find that he was looking toward her.
"Yeah?" He asked, as they both still were locked in eye contact. Rukia couldn't be seen in the dark to be glowing a dim red, but inside she was.
"N-nothing." She replied, looking away nervously.
[Soul Society – Ukitake's Residence, Ukitake
The breeze blew gently, brushing against the grass and trees around. The great moon above, glowed with a bright shine, lighting the ground and area. The field itself was a small area that was given to fabled 13th division captain. In the middle of the field, a small structure stood. Inside, the smell of incense waved away with the wind. Jushiro took a drink from the small, traditional tea cup.
Three Months. That's what the Investigations Division has stood on. All soul reapers dispatched should have been notified by now.
Jushiro placed the cup on the table, and opened his eyes. A whir of the air sounded, as a figure flash stepped nearby. The figure stood next to the open structure, windowless.
"You requested my presence, Captain Ukitake?" Toushiro asked.
Jushiro smiled, and stood to greet him.
"Captain Histugaya!" Jushiro happily exclaimed, pulling a tray of candy treats from his sleeve. Toushiro held the tray with a bewildered expression. Toushiro placed the tray on the wood floor, and sat with Jushiro.
"I've been reading many of the reports that Aizen was researching." Jushiro explained, as Toushiro took a sip of the tea in the tea cups. "I've found some startling results." Toushiro placed the cup down and looked to Jushiro attentively.
"Aizen was researching information on an old Emblem called the King's Key." Jushiro explained. "However, considering the King's Key's location is only known by the 1st Division Captain, he also was looking into the King's Key's creation. Which causes me to believe he desires to create one himself."
Toushiro's eyes widened to Jushiro's findings.
"The King's Key? Why does he want that?" Toushiro asked.
Jushiro sighed, and looked out to the fields. "I believe he seeks to overthrow the King."
This chapter was fun to write, for the most part. I guess maybe I wanted to blend Rukia's character a little more, considering I've only written the emotional, unmasked, personal side of her. Other than that, I'm still developing as I go. Things look good in chapters to come. There will be some interesting bits as it goes on, and I hope that everyone continues to read!
Thanks reading, please Read and Review!