Sorry, haven't updates for quite some time. School has been busy and stuff. Anyway, I make up for it to upload two chapters at one go. So hope you'll enjoy the story.

Standard disclaimer : I do not own Bleach.

Turning right, turning left

Chapter 8 : Watching Her

I'll be leaving home again. I really have not idea how long it'll be - maybe for a few days, maybe for a week, maybe longer than that... But I didn't pack anything. Where I'll be going, it won't be any use. I glance at my room for one last time before I leave.

Everything is in order. Kon will take over my body while I'm gone. Besides, Orihime has promised to help me to watch him. If he ever dares to do something outrageous like jumping from roof to roof around the Karakura town or flirts with every girl he meets, I'll make sure Orihime reports it to me and he'll get it from me when I'm back. So it shouldn't be much problem.

I leap to the windowsill and jump off. Kon or rather the fake Ichigo waves at me by the window and shouts, "Remember to bring back nee-san this time."

What an idiot, he could've waked everyone up with that shout.

I arrive at Urahara's shop at 9.00 a.m. although he already warned me not to be too early. I wait anxiously in the guest room before he finally shows up after an hour.

"Yo, Kurosaki san. Good morning!" he greets me cheerfully.

"What a lovely morning it is today, don't you think?" he asks as if I would care whether it's a lovely morning or not.

I roll my eyes and ask impatiently, "So, what's the plan?"

"Be patient. Before that, I have news for you, both good and bad, depending on how you view it." The smugness in his smile suggests something is more to what he's going to tell.

"What's the news?" I hope it has nothing to do with Rukia.

"Captain Kuchiki's squad is attacked by a mass number of Arankaru yesterday. He is injured severely and he is still under coma now."

I chew his words over for a moment. Captain Kuchiki, that's Rukia elder brother. His ever cold and expressionless face appears in my mind as I recall how he looks. He is a strong captain, so strong that I almost got killed in our last fight and I merely scrape above him to win. It is hard to imagine him being defeated and lying in coma.

And Arankaru, I thought they are all supposed to be eliminated during the war. How the hell did they resurrect? This is disturbing. My mind shifts back to Rukia instantly. How will Rukia cope with this?

"And the good news will be...?" I ask warily.

"Well, I just told you the news." Urahara's eyes shine with a strange glint.

"How the hell is this a good news?" I yell at him in disbelief. I can never understand his bizarre mind a bit.

"Chill down, Kurosaki san. You already have the reason you need to enter the Soul Society." He smirks.

"So what are you suggesting? That I use an unconsciousness man to justify my entry to Soul Society?" I ask sarcastically.

He remains in silence as a clever retreat.

"That's what you meant, wasn't it? Answer me now." I press him further.

"Ah... looks like your mind is getting sharper. That's close but that's not all. As you suspected, Arankaru attacked his squad which is not a normal coincidence. Of course you can choose not to go if you detest this idea. It's up to you to decide."

I don't like this idea of taking advantage of someone's suffering one bit but it doesn't seem like I have any other options.

"Okay. I'll go," I sigh and give in at last.

"Good. Don't worry, I'll be going with you so it shouldn't be too bad," he pats on my shoulder. "This way."

Urahara makes me wait outside while he talks with Captain Unohana in her office and asks for her permission to visit Byakuya. When he comes out from her office, he nods to me and beckons me to follow him to Byakuya's ward.

I can't help but keep wondering whether I'll be able to see Rukia there on our way to Byakuya's ward. Thousands of possible scenarios keep flashing through my mind like a kaleidoscope and occupy my mind completely that I barely aware of the surroundings and those weird glances tossing our way.

At last when we reach his ward, Urahara pushes the door open slightly and peeps into the room. Then he put a finger in front of his lips as a signal to be quiet and gives me a gentle push to urge me enter the room.

With a deep breath, I push the door to open wider and walk into the room. I hold my breath for a second when I see a familiar, petite figure fallen asleep by the side of Byakuya and resting her head on his stiff body. That stupid girl... She must have worn herself out by staying up overnight to be able to fall asleep in such uncomfortable posture. I approach her quietly, not wanting to awake her.

I have seen many faces of hers – the annoyed face when I criticize her drawing, the plastic face she wears in school, the amazed face when I showed her how to use a straw to drink juices from a packet, the sorrowful face when she glanced back at me before she left with Renji and her brother to Soul Society... But I have never once seen her face during her sleep. She used to sleep in my closet. There's no way was I going to slid open the closet door in the middle of the night just to peep at her sleeping face like a pervert.

She looks so fragile and innocent in her sleep, like a child. When she sleeps, she transforms into someone completely different, someone soft and warm; unlike the hardened and cool person she is when she is awake. I'm content to just watch her in silence because it is a rare moment that I can stare at her wholeheartedly without her staring back at me and asking me what or why.

I trail a finger over her silky, raven hair lightly, feeling her warmth seep through my skin. Then she suddenly stirs and turns, causing me to curl my hand back at once. But she doesn't wake up. She murmurs some words in her dream and I catch the glimpse of a tear slide down from the corner of her closed eyes, leaving a wet trail on her cheeks.

Please don't cry, Rukia.

I retreat from the room and shut the door quietly. Urahara doesn't ask anything. He doesn't want to pry and I don't want to offer.

"I want to stay to hunt down those Arankaru." I finally say.

He turns to look at me. Then he nods with a knowing glance. We are about to leave the hospital when I notice a red-haired shinigami staring our way at the corridor – Abarai Renji.

Author's notes : I hope I didn't spoil the long waited scene where Ichigo met Rukia again, in her sleep. Do let me know what you think of this chapter.

ruukii :

This is chapter 8 for you. Hope you'll like it!

Cagalli Yula Athha Fangirl :

Yeah, Byakuya is too hot to die. Opps... did I slip anything?

rukiaprincess :

Thanks for trusting me! - And yes, it's a big compliment that you gave. Thanks for that too.

Miko-Ceres :

You are the first who tell me that you hope it'll be Ichigo x Orihime pairing! Don't worry, I'll still write about other characters besides Ichigo and Rukia. Thanks for enjoying my story.