WARNING! Spoilers for Bleach manga chapter 181+ (latest)
Author's Notes: Wow, a miracle. I had written "Scenarios" back to the time when 181 was released, but I was never content with it. I made an edition when chapter 195 came out, and now with the release of 198, I think I'm finally satisfied with the results, more-a-less. I honestly didn't think author's block could hit me this hard…! Here's ficlet 21, nonetheless.
Scenarios
19.09.2005/06.10.2005
Sometimes Ichigo woke up in the middle of the night and glanced at the closet before drifting back to sleep. He always kept it slightly open to remind himself…
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Ichigo had already foreseen the end of this nightmare in his mind. He had played the scene in his head over and over to the point where he'd memorized everything he would do when the journey into Soul Society was done and over with. In his imagination, he'd battle against whoever stood in his way to save Rukia (no matter how strong, no matter how hard) and he'd win, he'd gather his friends and companions, and he'd get back home with all of them. Simple enough, he'd often think, beat the bad guys and return to his world as soon as possible.
And then, in this little sequence of his, when they were finally safe and sound on Earth, he'd lock Rukia back into his closet where no one would take her away. Yes, he'd take her home and pretend nothing had happened. Yet, he had failed to remember that his home was not hers…
Thus, when it did finally end, Ichigo couldn't be more surprised by the turn of events. There he was, leaving the raven-haired, small woman without much but a goodbye and her sincere gratefulness. (Though he knew her gratitude couldn't be as big as his own; in the end he'd owed her more than she could even begin to imagine). But at that time, he had seen that smile on her face that at last reached her dark blue eyes and made them twinkle. That one smile had somehow made everything alright, convinced him that it was okay to leave. Rukia was home, she was safe, and she was alive. Rukia was happy.
He had had to ignore the furtive, questioning glances from everyone wondering if that had been it, if their story would end with that feeble goodbye. Ichigo knew better.
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It had been only later that day when he walked into his room through the window that he'd realize something during a stinging silence. He'd realize that of all the things he had had gone through in this odyssey, letting go of her was probably one of the hardest of all. It wasn't that he didn't understand Rukia's reasons, because he did even when she hadn't voiced them; but rather that he had always hated everything that was bound to change his routine.
Ichigo could cope with some of those changes, of course. Like that time when a black-cloaked shinigami popped into his room out of the blue, changes weren't all that bad in the end (and Rukia had done her share in convincing him of such thing). Yet, that didn't mean it was easy for him to adjust to them. Rukia staying behind at Soul Society had shaken his solid routine once again. As if one time wasn't enough.
He would have to get used to this silence.
But maybe it was okay for things to end this way, for now. After all, Rukia was the kind of person you never really get rid of. They'd meet again someday, on the most unlikely circumstances like that first time, Ichigo was positive about that.
Someday for sure…
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There were a few moments when loneliness was to terrible to bear. But what was worse were those moments when he couldn't even believe in himself and there was no one to beat up the crap out of him and 'get some sense into his head'.
He would never admit he missed her.
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The day Rukia finally came to meet him, it was surprise after surprise. Ichigo stared wide-eyed at the girl jumping through the window while Rukia was smiling confidently, calling him an idiot, and lecturing him all at once. Ichigo had been right all along, because, hell, the cocky bitch was definitely back.
Another scenario he had not predicted.
"Long time no see, Ichigo," Rukia's smirk could have almost made him shudder.
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Rukia started waving at Renji vigorously. Ichigo glanced at her from the corner of his eye, and deep down knew what it meant long before the girl informed him that she'd be taking her place in his room. '"There's no other option" my butt.' He thought to himself, still only half-aware that she really was back, with him.
(Not to mention that the incessant waving a while back was starting to creep him out).
But then he remembered how she stood her ground as he 'fought' against the hollow, how her mere words shook him up and brought him to his senses (with added bruises and slap marks). It seemed as if a bucket of cold water had been poured down on him and he had awoken from a rather bad dream. As if though those weeks without her had simply... not been.
Ichigo smiled slightly to himself, not quite admitting the reason for his lips suddenly pulling upwards. Oh well, to hell with routine, he thought as he scratched the back of his neck. It seemed he'd have to clean that closet place sooner than he expected, too.
He turned around to gaze down at the short-sized woman...
Wait a minute... was that bitch marching back into his house...? Through the clinic's door? The hell...!