Even if it breaks my heart into pieces
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach
Chapter 3– You're getting married…
Rukia entered the room with a very odd expression etched on her now tired face. She's neither happy nor sad. Every student inside the room eyed her with curiosity. She looks weird when she doesn't even greet them using her sweet high school girl act. She even ignored Keigo's cry of love for her. They asked her if there was something wrong, but she just shrugged her shoulders and continued to stares at the black board.
It's been 2 years since the winter war, everything turns back to normal. Ichigo begged Rukia to stay here; luckily Ukitake-taichiou gave her a new post as the Karakura town's official Shinigami with the help of her Substitute. She felt grateful, especially when her nii-sama gave his blessing for her to accept the mission. Living with her nakamas, Rukia was very happy beyond measure, but right now there was something inside her heart that tells her that she doesn't belong in here anymore. She felt more depressed upon pondering this stupid kind of thoughts, so she placed her head on her arms and signed heavily.
'This kind of emotion is useless', she thought sadly, not noticing a certain angry strawberry was standing in front of her.
"DAMN IT RUKIA!" he shouted angrily at the raven haired girl. The said girl jumped in surprise ignoring the fact that her classmates were giving them a very suspicious glare. Ichigo was clenching his fist more firmly than usual and staring at her with fury.
"WHY DID YOU LEAVE US OUTSIDE THE GATE WITHOUT EVEN GIVING US A WARNING? DIDN'T YOU KNOW THAT I WAS GETTING TOO DAMN WORRIED WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT YOU'RE MISSING?" his amber eyes were fixed on hers not even daring to blink.
"Why are you so worked out about that? It's not a big deal! Do I have to spell it out to you that I don't need your protection?" everyone gasped in surprise upon hearing her retort, but she just ignored it, she was too focused on this idiot to notice everyone's reaction.
"OF COURSE IT'S A BIG DEAL! WHAT IF THE REASON YOU LEFT US IS TO EXTINGUISH SOME HOLLO…"
"KUROSAKI-KUN!" Rukia shouted with all the force she could muster.
Ichigo flinched a bit upon hearing Rukia shouting his surname. He doesn't know why, but he doesn't like Rukia calling him like that. It doesn't fit her. He was about to retort when…
"Kurosaki, will you please act as a seventeen years old guy and not as a seven year old boy" Ishida gave Ichigo a very disappointed look.
"I'm not asking your opinion, Ishida!" he glared at him.
"And I'm not giving you my opinion, bastard! Aside from that, you didn't change at all; you're still the hot headed Kurosaki brat that easily jumps to conclusion without even giving any second thought." Ishida pushed back his eye glass with an annoyed expression.
"YOU…" Ichigo was about to retort when Ochi-sensei entered the classroom followed by a blushing Orihime.
"Kurosaki, would you please share the topic that you were discussing with Ishida? Is it really important that you have to yell? Your voice carried along the hall way." She placed her hands on against her hips.
Blush started to form on Ichigo's cheek. He saw Rukia sighed heavily while he took his own seat. 'Stupid Ishida,' he thought angrily while thinking hard how to escape this stupid situation.
"Ochi-sensei, Kurosaki-kun was just asking Ishida-kun about the subject we're going to discuss today," Orihime smiled sweetly to their sensei while taking her own seat.
"And how the hell did you know that Inoue? You're with me at the office!" Ochi-sensei scowled at her.
"Umm…err…" Orihime was fidgeting, not knowing how to answer.
"So you're just trying to help your boy friend escape this situation? What a very kind girl friend you've got here, Kurosaki" Ochi-sensei smirked at the newly couple.
The said couple blushed terribly, while the whole class started to whisper something about the shocking news.
Rukia sighed more heavily; this was the reason why she left Ichigo and Inoue along the school gate. She hated being asked by the students how Ichigo and Inoue end up together. She's not ready to answer that kind of question.
"Ochi-sensei, I'm sorry, it's my fault," Rukia stood up and tried her best to use her acting skills. She shed some faked tears and started to wipe it using her handkerchief. "I forgot to tell Kurosaki-kun about the exam which was going to take place today. And because of that he didn't able to study his lessons. Ishida-kun tried to defend me that lead for both of them to argue." Rukia started to sob hard. Everyone felt sorry for her, "It's all my fault sensei, I'm sorry!"
Ochi-sensei started to feel sorry for the raven haired girl. While Uryuu made a face palm, and Ichigo was amazed on how Rukia's perfect acting skills made Ochi-sensei believed it without any doubt. 'That bitch, he tried to sell me again!' he mentally cursed Rukia.
Ochi-sensei wiped away her own tears, "You may take your seat Kuchiki-san, and it's all Kurosaki's fault. I'll let it passed for now kurosaki! But once you do it again, I swear, you'll going to regret being born!" She glared at the orange-haired boy with venom.
Ichigo sighed heavily and ignored his sensei's death treat. He eyed Rukia who sat beside her and watched as she once again placed her head on her arms. He smiled a bit and wrote something on a piece of paper. He crumpled the paper and throws it to Rukia.
The paper made its way to Rukia's head that made the said girl jump a bit. She picked the crumpled paper and read its content.
'Hey Rukia, umm… thanks for helping me, but you don't have to sell me again like that, stupid midget. And I don't need you to defend me like that; I can take care of myself. And about what happened earlier, I'm sorry for shouting at you, I'm just too worried for your own sake; we're nakamas, aren't we? I'm just a very protective type of person, I'm sorry. Please forgive me?'
Ichigo
Rukia stared at the crumpled paper more firmly. 'So that's what am I to you, Kurosaki Ichigo, a mere nakama,' she smiled bitterly.' At least you still cared for me.' She cast a glance at her strawberry. She smiled at him with all the happiness she could muster. He glanced at Rukia and smiled at her too. He knew her too well, that smile means she already forgiven him. That's how their special relationship works.
#####
"AH! ICHIGO, I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT! CLASS IS OVER AND YOU'RE GOING TO LEAVE ME AGAIN!" Keigo cried out with false tears while running along the hallway to give Ichigo a bear hug. But instead of a hug, he was greeted by a hard blow from Ichigo that send him to the grounds.
"That was a great punch you've got there Ichigo, it seems like Keigo will suffer a long time of sleep for a while." Muzuiro laughed silently and stares at the now scowling Ichigo. "I never thought that Inoue would be able to handle a kind of guy like you. She's too fragile for you."
"Shut up, Muzuiro! And it's Keigo's own fault. He never changed at all." Ichigo muttered, while eyeing Muzuiro who tried to help Keigo on his feet.
"So how's Inoue-san?" Mizuiro asked him seriously.
"She's fine, she's fun to hang out with," he answered while blushing.
"Honestly I never thought that you and Inoue-san will someday end up together. I mean both of were not that close."He smiled at Ichigo.
"What makes you think like that?" he asked him suspiciously.
"Never mind," He dragged Keigo along the hallway, "I have to take Keigo to the nurse's clinic." And he disappeared on Ichigo's sight.
Ichigo was about to follow Muzuiro to ask him about what he wanted to imply, when someone grasped his arm.
"Kurosaki-kun," a lovely voice stopped him on his track. There stood his girl friend, smiling at him. He was stunned by the beauty of his sweet girl. He doesn't know why, but he always acts so nice and soft to this woman which he doesn't do to any other girl, even to Rukia. Maybe the reason was she's a very special girl. Her heart was filled with so much sorrow, but she could still smile and help others to recover their own happiness, that's how made her so special.
"Inoue," he smiled at her.
"You're spacing out again, kurosaki-kun," she pouted at him.
"Really?" he blushed a bit.
"Are you ready?" she once again smiled at him.
"Of course I am, wait me here, I have to do something very important," he ran along the now empty hallway.
Orihime watched his boyfriend ran away from her. A small smile escaped her lips.
'I'll wait for you, Kurosaki-kun,' she mentally assured him.
######
Rukia was cleaning her own desk when suddenly Ichigo barged in and stood in front of her.
"Hey Rukia, I won't be able to walk home with you." He suddenly couldn't look straight into her eyes, and he doesn't know the reason why.
"I understand," she smiled brightly at him. "You've got a date with Inoue, right?"
"Ho…how did you…"
"I can read it through your eyes; you look so excited and nervous." She silently laughed at him. "You're easy to read, Ichigo." She pouted her lips in a child-like manner.
"The truth is, it's our first date and…"
"You don't have to explain everything to me; I have no rights to know something so personal to you. And don't worry; I can take care of myself." She gave him an assuring smile.
"Che! As if you can! By the way, if there's a hollow don't hesitate to call me. If you don't, brace yourself, I swear, I'll skin you alive!" He warned her.
"Fine!" She lied. She doesn't want to ruin his first date.
"Deal?"
"Deal!" She sighed.
"Ok! I've got to go! See you later at home!" He shouted back as he left the now empty classroom.
Rukia watched Ichigo's retreating form. She placed her right hand against her chest and slowly bowed down her head. Her dark locks were now shadowing her violet orbs. She once again picked up the crumpled paper inside her bag which was thrown to her by Ichigo. She slowly opened the paper and once again stares at it sadly.
"Nakama," She whispered silently with a little hint of pain. She pulled out a pen and draws a heart around the word nakama. She sighed sadly and clenched her hand firmly against the paper. She just sat there, alone and staring at the paper with sadness in her now darkened eyes which was very hard to read.
'Crazy Kuchiki Rukia,' she mentally scolded herself.
######
A dark cloud started to form in the flawless sky of Karakura Town; it was unnoticed by Rukia who walked along the empty street. She was lost in thought when suddenly she collided with someone that sent her to the grounds.
"Spacing out again, aren't we?" said by a familiar voice.
"Renjie?"
"I thought you already forgotten my name." Renjie held out his hand to help her stood up, but Rukia slapped his hand away and tried to stand by herself.
"Just as expected from a Kuchiki." He teased her.
Rukia stood up and brushed away the dirt that clung to her skirt.
"What the hell do you want?" She sarcastically asked him.
"Watch your mouth Rukia, a noble shouldn't be saying any nasty words." He glared at her.
"For all I know I don't want to behave like a noble, so keep your lectures to yourself Renjie."
She really missed this guy after two years of no communication from Soul Society.
"So why are you here? Just to give me that crappy lectures of yours?" She placed her arms against her modest chest.
"You haven't change at all. I've got some news for you." He said seriously.
"Good or bad?"
"It depends on you."
"So what is it?" She asked curiously.
"You're getting married!" He finally told her.
Once words escaped his mouth, Rukia's jaw dropped open.