Standard disclaimer : I do not own Bleach.

Turning right, turning left

Chapter 10 : Right here waiting

I had a dream.

I dreamt that he was here.

I could sense his reiatsu radiated behind me.

In my dream, I was lost in an unknown place. The fog surrounded me is so thick I could barely see anything except the shades of white and grey. I couldn't see him but I could felt that his reiatsu getting stronger and stronger as he approached. It felt so real that I wasn't sure anymore whether it was just my dream or was he really here. I struggled to open my eyes but they were as heavy as lead.

He was so near yet he halted at a distance from me. He simply stood there in silence. Then I suddenly felt his finger trailed over my hair. His warmth seeped through my hair and sent a light shiver to my skin. I stirred and turned but he immediately curled back his hand.

I stumbled forward and I turned my head in every direction to search for him but I couldn't see him. The fog was too thick. I cried in vain, "Ichigo, is that you?" There was no answer. Only my trembling voice echoed in the empty space. A tear escaped the corner of my eye and slid down my cheeks.

Where are you?

I thought it was just a dream, until Renji tells me otherwise. It was real. He was here. It wasn't my dream. But my mind refuses to accept it, the fact that he was here. It doesn't make any sense. It can't be true. He is living with his family and friends in the real world, where he belongs. Why had he come?

I stagger backwards as I try to steady myself and the glass slips from my grip. It shatters into pieces as it hits the floor.

"Rukia... I didn't mean to..." I look up and meet his gaze. Guilt and sorrow ooze from his eyes.

He thinks that's his fault? But he did nothing wrong.

"Thank you for telling me, Renji." I murmur softly and step forward to embrace him. His body stiffens for a second but he doesn't pull away. He must have understood. We stay like this and let the silence descend before I pull back.

"Ma... you'll have to step aside so that I can clean up the mess." I kneel down and start picking up the pieces of glass. One of the pieces cut my fingers and it begins to bleed.

"You are bound to cut yourself by picking it up with bare hands, stupid." he chides but I know he isn't really angry. He is never good at showing his concern so he always masks it with irritation.

"It's nothing, just a scratch. If you can't help, you should at least shut up and let me do my work." It's just an old habit of mine to fight back his words and we all know that old habit dies hard.

"Fine, I'll leave." He turns away and hobbles towards the door.

Some things never change – my antics never fail me.

It's only after he left that I allow myself to muse over what he said earlier – Ichigo was here.

"Nii-sama, can you hear me? There are so many things I wish to tell you. Please wake up soon. You have slept for a long while." I whisper near his ears.

I never leave nii-sama's side these days except going to the washroom once in a while. I wait, wish and pray that he'll awake everyday. But he didn't. His eyes are still tightly shut. Occasionally other captains or some of his subordinates will drop by to visit him but other than that, the room is rather quiet.

I speak to nii-sama whenever I can. Captain Unohana said it might help to stimulate his consciousness. I begin to tell him many things that I've never told him before. I told him about my childhood in Rukongai. I told him about those weird customs that I encountered in the real world. I told him how grateful I am to be adopted to the family and having him as a brother. Most of all, I told him how much he is loved.

Despite reading some books that Ukitake taichou kindly brought me, most of the time I do nothing much except staring out the window. Sometimes I would turn abruptly when I hear some footsteps approaching the door. Yet often to my disappointment, most of them just happened to pass by. That personthat I waited never come. He never comes again.

It wasn't news to me that some troops from Gotei 13 will be sent out to hunt down those Arankaru. So I didn't bother to pay much attention to those gossips among other shinigamis in the 4th division. Only one grips my attention.

"Is it true? I heard that the substitute shinigami from the real world will also join to hunt down those Arankaru."

Maybe I should have expected it. Ichigo is probably only staying because he is required to hunt down those Arankaru. Nothing more. He wasn't coming back for me. I'm an idiot to think or hope otherwise.

I hear that they are leaving by dawn today. I lean by the window sill and gaze out as the first ray of daylight shines through the clouds.

Ichigo, please stay alive. You have people who are waiting for you to go home.

I'll be waiting for you here to return safely.

Right here waiting...

Author's notes : Rukia still cares about Ichigo a lot despite the fact that she constantly thinks that Ichigo had moved on. Sometimes girls tend to think too much, especially on the negative side (sigh).

amwong88:

You got a point there about the 'what if'. But that's what makes a story interesting, don't you think: ) And I kind of feel bad for Renji too. He always has the wrong timing when it comes to Rukia.

ruukii :

Ha...ha... and I love the word you use to describe it – dramatic.

rukiaprincess :

It's very sweet of you to say that I'm your most favourite bleach author (blush). I know I'm certainly not the best bleach author around but I'll try my best to deliver my best in my work. As an author, this is the least I can do for you.

YL :

I'm not sure of what you meant by "You told me Rukia grown wiser. And I think her last reaction to Renji's news of Ichigo reflected that exactly." But thanks for reviewing again. I appreciate it very much.