Chapter: Second Chances
Shalan's Say:IT IS TIME FOR THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN FICTION HISTORY! NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THIS CHAPTER! NOT EVEN MY BETA WHO WAS NOT ALLOWED TO READ THIS CHAPTER UNTIL NOW… TT.TT OMG we've only got like… this and one more chapter left in the story… TT.TT anyways… this chapter should wrap things up… but it's not the last chapter. Read and Review or I won't post the last chapter until the New Year… I hope you guys have enjoyed the story this far… and I hope that you will finally come to understand some parts of the storyline.
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Ichigo sighed, looking up at the cherry blossoms. He sat on the ground in Washington DC. The place where they had first met… the place where he had first led her by the hand. A hand tousled his hair and he looked up. Rukia stood over him, her blue eyes soft.
"So you came…" Ichigo smiled. She nodded and sat down next to him. "I was afraid you were writing up a divorce certificate…"
"Ichigo I'm used to you lying to me by now…" her eyes grew sad and the magnitude of that statement hit him harder than a boulder down Everest. His eyes widened as she looked away, casting her gaze over the reflecting pool. He swallowed hard. His own wife… why had he driven the woman that he loved to say something… that devastating? Why?
"Rukia…" Ichigo began but she closed her eyes and he stopped.
"Don't Ichigo… just tell me what you wanted me to come here for so I can go back and relieve my babysitter of my children…" Ichigo looked at the ground. Six months… it had been six months since he had seen her. She had shown up at their house, packed her things and took their children with her. They had argued. They had fought to the point that he wanted to slap her… but he hadn't he had restrained himself… and then he had cried, the one good thing that had ever happened to him in his life had left him. And taken their life with her.
"I've killed people in my life…" he began only to hear the grass crunch and her snort of disgust.
"Is that all you wanted to tell me? That you've killed people? ICHIGO! DAMN IT! I KNOW THAT! I know DAMN well that you've killed people…" Rukia stomped her foot. "This was a WASTE of my time…" Tears dripped from her eyes. "Next time you decide to waste my time… like you have done TWICE now… DON'T!" She shouted and turned just before he yanked her down into his arms. She struggled against him desperately, shouting profanities before he gripped her jaw, forcing her to look at him.
"What are you so afraid of? That I'm going to tell you the truth? That maybe I'm not the knight in shining armor that you wanted? That I'm not perfect like you? Are you afraid that maybe… just maybe you still are in love with me? And if you didn't want to hear it then why did you come? Why? To make lowly me feel more worthless than I already do?" Ichigo's eyes were ablaze, his grip tight enough to bring tears to her eyes.
"You've lied to me since the very beginning Ichigo…" her eyes averted and he jerked her head again, her eyes meeting his in a deadlock gaze. She couldn't take her eyes off his. "And I don't like to be lied to… so when you decide not to lie to me anymore tell me… and maybe I won't have found someone else…" She jerked away from him and walked off before he could move. He stared after her and leaned his head against the trunk of the tree.
"I killed them… I killed them all…" his voice trembled as he fisted his hands.
"I didn't lie to you from the very beginning… I just never told you anything…" he closed his eyes against the bright light of the sun. I just never told you anything…
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Rain streamed down her window as she gazed out over the street, her eyes were glazed and nostalgic as she watched a couple in the overhang of the building across from her. She could have been like them… if only she wouldn't have gone to that stupid meeting. If only she had followed her gut and left the rude phone caller to his own devices. Tears filled her eyes as she watched the couple kiss, wrapped in each other's arms.
I've been driving for an hour
Just talking to the rain
She pressed her face into her knees, wrapping her arms around her head. Why had she ended up this way? Why had her life come to this? What had she done to deserve the pain that she had been put through? Her mind threw her back in time. The first time she had met him she knew… she KNEW that he was going to be nothing but trouble… so why had she ended up like this?
"Don't ignore me after you called me babe over the damn phone!" She nearly shouted at him. He turned back around.
"I can call you babe if I want to... anyways… who are you?" He blinked over at her.
"My name is Rukia Kuchiki… your attorney," the woman folded her arms and he looked back over at her.
"You're my attorney… I thought I asked for the best… not the most feminine…" he raised an eyebrow and she felt her anger tick upwards.
"What the hell is wrong with you? It's a wonder that you even became a detective with your people skills!" She glared at him.
"Get me out of house arrest and maybe I'll consider making you my permanent lawyer," he said, still watching the television.
"No wonder no other lawyer would even talk to you! You're a… a… meanie!" He laughed and turned around.
"Awe… now what… are we in kindergarten? So… did you spill your coffee before or after you stepped in the mud puddle?" He raised his eyes up to her.
"I'm leaving," she turned on her heel.
"Wait!" She heard his voice and she stopped. "I need to get off house arrest…" He stood up for the first time and she nearly stared. He was tall, just above average height with muscular arms. He wore a wife beater and a pair of black trousers.
"And… why do you need me to do that?" She frowned from behind her handkerchief.
"Because… I have to solve this murder…" his eyes bored into hers and she found that he had extremely beautiful eyes, brilliant amber irises surrounded by a ring of black.
"Murder? Oh you mean the murder that you committed?" She peaked an eyebrow. He stared her down.
"I didn't kill anyone…" He stated plainly. "Why can't anyone understand that? I haven't done anything!" She backed away as he nearly threw a conniption.
"Fine! FINE! I'll help you…" She shook her head, wondering why she was.
She had wondered since that day why she had helped him. Murder… HA! There was no murder… no crime… no nothing… tears spilled down her face as she sobbed. If only she hadn't fallen for his stupid charms… just like every other woman in the world.
You say I've been driving you crazy
and its keeping you away
So just give me one good reason
Tell me why I should stay
'Cause I don't wanna waste another moment
saying things we never meant to say
Ichigo flicked his cigarette butt away and shoved his hands into his pocket, letting the rain soak his suit. He closed his eyes against the shower and turned his face towards the sky. "Ichigo… tell me you didn't do this…"
"Rukia listen… I…" he looked at the ground and closed his eyes. "Sometimes for our safety sacrifices have to be made…"
"Is that what you think? IS THAT WHAT YOU THINK?" Her tone was disgusted, angry, frightened. "THEN I GUESS IT'S OKAY TO KILL ME TOO? AND OUR CHILDREN? THIS IS JUST TOO MUCH!" He heard her stand up and throw the book on the ground. His eyes snapped open and he dove to the book. Pictures were tossed across the floor, scattered as though a hurricane had just whipped them out of the book.
"Rukia… I didn't say that…"
"THAT'S WHAT YOU DID THOUGH! THEY WERE INNOCENT CIVILIANS ICHIGO!"
"IT WAS FOR OUR OWN PROTECTION! ANYONE COULD HAVE A BOMB STRAPPED TO THEM! IT'S NOT JUST MEN!" Ichigo bellowed in return and she fell silent.
"I refuse to be married to a murderer…" She turned and walked out of the door. "You should have died with them…" The door slammed… and his eyes snapped open. "You should have died with them…" he whispered then looked over curiously as he heard gun shots. The shout of a drill sergeant broke the cold air as a funeral procession looked on.
"You should have died with them…" he flicked his cigarette butt onto the ground, the grave he stood in front of seemed to welcome it. "You hear that buddy?" The grave was marked… but he had been a nameless soldier. A man with not enough left of him to recognize… "I should have died with them…" He laughed sarcastically. He had visited this particular grave often… because he knew whose grave it was. He had watched him be blown away by a suicide bomber… the dog tags in his pocket grew heavier.
And I
Take it just a little bit
I, hold my breath and count to ten
I, I've been waiting for a chance to let you in
Rukia stood up and walked over to her closet and opened it. She suddenly felt anger well up from deep in her belly and she screamed, ripping the clothes from the bar and throwing them around the room, ripping the expensive fabric and popping buttons off the jackets and blouses. It was an emotion she couldn't explain, anger, frustration and sadness mixed into one. An uncontrollable rage that made her want to shred everything in sight. She threw lamps and ripped her sheets from her bed. She ripped the drawers out of her dresser. She threw herself on the floor and sobbed until she couldn't breathe.
"I love you…" he whispered as their lips met. Her mind whirred as his hands unbuttoned her blouse.
"I love you to… by what's going on?" She laughed as he pulled her blouse down. Her hands tangled through his hair as his lips made their paths against her skin.
That night… he made love to her like it was going to be the last time…
"IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE LAST TIME! THERE NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN A FIRST TIME!" She screamed and dug her fingernails into her head. "LEAVE ME ALONE!"
If I just breathe
Let it fill the space in between
I'll know everything is alright
Breathe
Every little piece of me
You'll see
Everything is alright
If I just breathe
A hand gripped his shoulder and Ichigo looked over. "Are you alright sir?" one of the soldiers had come over to check on him. He looked proud, standing tall and straight, like a soldier should.
"Yes, lieutenant… I'm fine… are you doing anything right now?" The soldier looked confused.
"No sir… I was about to leave…"
"Have you been overseas?" Ichigo met his eyes and the soldier smiled, used to these sorts of questions.
"Yessir. One year tour in Iraq…"
"Ah… I see… and do you know who this is?" He looked at the grave.
"No sir…" The soldier looked down as well.
"His name was Gunnery Sergeant Ichigo Kurosaki… I watched him die… but I couldn't do anything about it…" Ichigo squeezed the dog tags in his pocket so tightly blood drew from his palm.
"You were in Iraq?" The man looked back for Ichigo…
Well it's all so overrated
In not saying how you feel
So you end up watching chances fade
And wondering what's real
"Mommy?" Rukia looked up as her three year old daughter toddled over to her. "Mommy?" Rukia's mind registered that her baby was crying. Misaki's tear stained face buried itself in Rukia's shoulder as she lifted her.
"I'm alright Misaki…" Rukia breathed in her ear as they walked down the hall to the baby's room.
And I
Give you just a little time
I, Wonder if you realize
I've been waiting till I see it in your eyes
"Do you think he told her?" The redhead walked up next to him as he stood on the back porch in the rain.
"Do you believe in God?" Uryu closed his eyes, his raven bangs whipping back from his face.
"Of course I do…" She looked up at him as he took in the scent of the spring rain.
"Do you believe in miracles?" His voice cracked and she hooked her arm through his, resting her head against his chest.
"Of course I do…"
"Then do you think he told her?"
"Of course I don't…" She sighed.
If I just breathe
Let it fill the space between
I'll know everything is alright
Breathe,
Every little piece of me
You'll see
Everything is alright
If I just breathe
Breathe
"So he's…"
"Yeah… haven't you ever wondered why he always survived? Even when it seemed the bleakest?" Kisuke leaned on the railing of their back porch as the ocean breeze whipped his hair back from his face.
"I guess… I always thought it was sheer determination… but I see where it becomes slightly impossible…" Yoruichi sipped on her glass of water.
"He's certainly something else isn't he?" The blonde smiled into the dark evening.
"I guess… does she know?" Yoruichi looked over at him.
"Dunno… guess not…" He finished off his own drink.
So I whisper in the dark,
Hoping you hear me
Do you hear me?
Rukia opened the fridge and pulled out the orange juice, pouring herself a glass. She sipped it and closed her eyes. "Ichigo…" did she want him back or did she want him to stay away from her? Honestly she didn't know what she wanted. She half regretted leaving… but the other half of her told her that she didn't need to be lied to… she squeezed her eyes shut. Suddenly something clicked in the back of her mind, all of the pieces of the puzzle fell back together. Her eyes shot open and she dropped her glass. She yanked her coat on and slipped her feet into her shoes, sprinting out the door.
If I just breathe
Let it fill the space between
I'll know everything is alright
Breathe,
Every little piece of me
You'll see
Everything is alright
Everything is alright if I just breathe... breathe
Ichigo stared up at her window, waiting for her to walk by it again… waiting to see if she would notice him there. Waiting to see… if maybe… the door opened. "ICHIGO!" His gaze fell to her as she ran towards him. "ICHIGO I KNOW!" She slammed into him. "I know now…" she sobbed and buried her face into his chest. "I understand… all this time… you never…" she gasped for air as rain lashed at her face and slicked her hair.
"There's one more thing I have to tell you…" their eyes met.
"I know… You're…" his finger graced her lips and she fell silent.
"I have been given a second chance… God sent me back… because I had something else to do…" Tears brimmed in his eyes. "That other task? It was you Rukia… I had to find you…" he whispered. "I know now too… that you're the reason I'm alive… you're the very reason for my being here…"
"You're my guardian angel… the one I've always prayed for…" her hands gripped his face. "You were lying to me because you had to… oh Ichigo…" she buried her face into his chest. "Ever since I was a little girl I have been praying for God to send me a guardian angel… someone to protect and love me…"
"I guess… that's me…" he whispered and guided her lips to his.
I've been driving for an hour
Just talking to the rain
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HANG IN THERE! ONE MORE CHAPTER LEFT! IF I GET A TON OF REVIEWS IT'LL BE POSTED ON CHRISTMAS! IF NOT IT'LL BE POSTED ON NEW YEARS!
Shalan