Author's Note: After a rather stressful day at work last night, ideas floated down. I'm aiming at uploading two chapters a day so all good :)
Thanks for everyone who's reviewed :)
Chapter Nine
Previously-
He watched as the small sparkle that was alight in her eyes faded away and he realised that all he wanted to do right then was hold her close and as tightly as she had held him. He wanted to tell her that there was plenty more fish in the sea. He wanted to reassure her that everything was going to be alright. He wanted to make everything better.
He kissed her.
Morning light streamed into Rukia's bedroom and she moved deeper within the quilts. So warm, so comfortable, so-
A loud blaring of music and strangled vocals burst from her cell phone and she groaned as she let her hand out from under the quilt, and groped around until it hit her beside cabinet and eventually closed around her cell phone.
"Hello," she groaned into the speaker, not even bothering to register who it was that was calling.
"Hi," she heard Grimmjow's voice reply. "You alright?"
"No. You woke me up," she answered and chuckled to herself.
"I'm sorry. Just wondered how you were".
"Grimmjow, I'm fine, ok? What about you?" she asked, turning on her side and poking her head out from under the quilt.
"I'm great. I... Err..."
"Err what?"
She wriggled out of the quilt and stretched her small legs.
"Do you... I don't know... Wanna hang out today or something?" She didn't miss the apprehension in his voice. Yet she couldn't resist a smile. He had come to her in her hour of need and held her close in silence, after a kiss that was out of the blue and so stimulating to her senses.
"Sure".
"Great! Well I'm outside now-"
"Grimmjow!" she admonished and headed to the window. Unlatching it, she leant out and saw him leaning against a shiny silver and red bicycle. She clicked the off button and called his name. He looked so handsome the sun reflecting from his blue hair and sparkling eyes.
"Let me get sorted alright. Just knock and my brother will see you in, alright?"
"He won't be mad, will he?" He narrowed his eyes.
"Shouldn't be. And why would he? He doesn't want to murder you!" She paused, then laughed again. "He only wants to murder Ichigo! See you soon".
And she pulled the window shut, immediately heading for the en suite shower room.
Grimmjow swallowed his pride and knocked sharply upon the door. He didn't have to wait long before a tall, stern looking, powerful bodied, black haired man wrenched it open, wearing a pale blue tank top and black sweat pants.
"Yes?" he asked, as if staring down a door-to-door salesman.
"Hello... Err... I'm Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. Rukia's friend from school".
"Ah yes, I've heard about you Mr Jaegerjaquez. You were there when that bastard decided to... commit an adulterous sin". He watched as the elder Kuchiki's grey eyes shifted angrily. "What may I do for you?"
"I'm here to call on for her. We're going spend the day together. She said to come in..."
"Then I guess you can come in. I'm Byakuya, by the way".
The elder Kuchiki stepped aside to let Grimmjow in and it was in that brief passing instant that Grimmjow noticed the family resemblance- the long dark hair, the eyes full of pain, the tall proud exterior, which encased a vulnerable interior.
Grimmjow stood in the hall, amazed at the pure beauty and class of the place. It was like a museum in places, with samurai swords protected by glass boxes. On a side table was a pale pink flowerpot, in which held a majestic ochre coloured orchid. Three silver photo-frames were stood in a neat arrangement.
Grimmjow edged nearer and looked at the first. In the left hand frame, there was Byakuya. He was stood straight and proud, wearing a smart suit and a weak smile on his face, surrounded by falling cherry blossoms, in what looked like an elegant garden. He had a diploma in his hand. Underneath was a caption engraved into the frame:
Byakuya Kuchiki: Senbonzakura
In the middle frame, was what at first he thought to be Rukia. It looked just like her but the face was longer with age. The black hair hung about her face in waves and she was smiling into the sun that was beating down upon her, a wide smile on her pale face. She wore a light blue dress that swirled around her ankles. Underneath was a caption engraved into the frame:
Hisana Kuchiki: Remembered always
In the last frame, was a very familiar figure. Here was Rukia. Her hair was pinned back with a large cherry blossom clip and her violet eyes were hypnotic. Her smile was entrancing. The sun beat down upon her in the shot. Wearing a white and blue checked shirt and denim shorts, she was perched on the side of a water fountain. Underneath was a caption engraved into the frame:
Rukia Kuchiki: White Ripple
Grimmjow felt eyes in the back of his head and he turned to face Byakuya.
"Curiosity killed the cat," he grinned sheepishly.
Shaking his head, Byakuya headed into a shining room, and sighing Grimmjow followed. He was in a kitchen and the older man was filling a blender with fruit, while some pointless television advert blared loudly. On the bare table top, was a kendo shinai.
"You're learning kendo?" Grimmjow asked, nodding toward the shinai.
Byakuya nodded. Grimmjow watched as he held the lid onto the blender's lid, hit a button and gave it a whirr, drinking it down in one when it was done.
He smacked his lips and reached for the shinai. He held it to his forehead and moved to stand in front of Grimmjow.
"To mould the mind and body. To cultivate a vigorous spirit, And through correct and rigid training, To strive for improvement in the art of Kendo-"
"To hold in esteem human courtesy and honour. To associate with others with sincerity. And to forever pursue the cultivation of oneself-"
"Thus will one be able: To love ones country and society; To contribute to the development of culture; And to promote peace and prosperity!"
The men looked at each other and began laughing.
Rukia was shocked as she entered the kitchen, freshly dressed in a comfy hooded yellow top and ankle length black leggings. The two men were laughing at something and when she noticed the shinai in her brother's hands she knew why.
"Didn't know you were a kendo fan, Grimmjow?" she commented.
She watched the younger turn his face towards hers and his eyes sparkled.
"Yeah I am," he grinned. "So what do you fancy doing today?"
"I dunno," she shrugged and headed to the fridge, taking a small orange juice carton from the door slot and shutting it with her hip.
"Just don't go near that Kurosaki boy, I'm sure you won't!" her brother warned and kissed her forehead. "I'll be back around six". And off he went, slamming the door behind him.
"So..." Rukia leant on the table-top and pierced her carton. "What do you want to do?"
"I dunno. What do you want to do?" he asked, straight back.
The burst into fits of giggles. Rukia laughed so much, tears of happiness spilled from the corners of her eyes.
"I wanna..."she thought for a moment and her stomach rumbled, making a decision. "I wanna make cookies," she said childishly, and pouted.
"Well I don't know how but let's make cookies!" he laughed back.
She made to move across the kitchen, but hands settled on her waist and pulled her into him. She cuddled into his warm chest and smiled to herself. He had been a good friend, yes, but she imagined him to be an even better boyfriend. She smiled, a wide and true smile, and his lips made contact with hers.
Author's Note:
Hope you enjoyed the fluffy-ness here :) Point of interest, the photos' and flowers have been lifted from my living room. We do have my mum's ochre orchid in a pink pot, but the photos' are different. On the left is my older sister, the right is my older brother, and me being the youngest is in the middle :)
Reviews are welcome :) Much love, ZeeZee the Dreamer xx