I am Your Slave Wife

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN BLEACH…
A/N: YOH, I APOLOGIZE FOR THE LATE UPDATE. I GOT A SUMMER JOB. I THOUGHT MY DAD IS GOING TO CRY… MY LIFE HAS CHANGED… I CAN NOW WRITE THINGS LIKE THIS RATHER THAN MINGLING WITH THE BAD CROWD. SO, AGAIN NO BETTER EXCUSE BUT "I'M BUSY" NOTHING NEW… I APOLOGIZE AGAIN AND THANK YOU FOR THE REVIEWS…
I APOLOGIZE FOR TYPO. OR GRAMMATICAL ERRORS

CHAPTER 15: I AM YOUR SLAVE WIFE

From Charles de Gaulle Airport Ichigo traveled more or less 30 minutes to Central Paris. His tired eyes soften as he glances at the Basilica of Sacre Coeur from the window of his car, driving steadily in the slowly awakening city. Lack of sleep was visible on his face. He looks so tired and his cheeks somewhat shrunken a bit. He wonders how long will it takes to reach her again. If so, how long will it takes to reach her heart again.

Now that he had a chance to reflect peacefully his life the past 5 years. He understand how lost he had become. "How blind can a man like me, become? Why did I forgot who can truly make me smile and can stop the rain? Why did I blame everything to my innocent, pure hearted, unselfish best friend who did nothing but to love me?" He thought feeling the pain inside his chest. "Why did I choose for us to suffer together when I have the best choice of being happy with you?" Ichigo can't help but asked and blame himself all over again. No matter how many times he tells himself to forget it and start anew. He can't stop his regrets; it keeps hunting him like a nightmare.

"I don't deserve your tears. Nobody is enough to make you cry. But please forgive me again; you're the best thing I ever have that's why I can't just let you go. Come back to me Rukia, come back to me soon. I don't know how long I can hold on." Each day Ichigo was slowly becoming pessimistic. His heart and soul was restless.

Ichigo's car made a sharp turn from the Av. Montaigne to Av. Bosquet crossing the Seine River. He was now closer to the Eiffel Tower. He pass many architectural buildings, they were indeed spectacular.

"This place suits you at its best. You are like the City of Paris, beautiful, extravagant, one of a kind and most of all full of love." Ichigo thought. He was slowly driving away from the Eiffel Tower when he notices a young woman inside a Department Store with glass windows. For Ichigo everything seems to be in slow motion. At first he was hesitating if it was her because her hair was cut short and her back was on him but when he had a slight peek of her face in side view. He knows it was her, he immediately maneuver his car at the side of the street. Not caring if his expensive car bump into something and ruin its plating. He had found her his head was screaming and his heart was pounding. He never felt so happy and alive despite the tiredness and hopeless he had felt a minute ago. He was like a lost ship, sailing on the vast ocean looking for the light house. He had found his light. His feet felt like he was stepping on a bed of white feathers that flutter up in the air every time he step closer to her.

Ichigo went inside the store with hurried steps. His head was stretching up, looking left and right. He wanted to feel her breathing beside him. He wanted to feel her skin on him. He wanted her warmth and scent on him. He wanted to feel her everything on him. That's why when he spotted her reaching something so eagerly he can't help but surround her, pull her body towards him, and inhale her scent, recharging his own starving self, deprive of her affection.

"I finally found you." He huskily said. He felt her whole body stiffens. His hold on her tightens afraid that she'll run away from him again.

"I-Ichigo?" He heard her say. He buried his face more from her hair to her neck. Rukia's whole body shivered as she felt his hot breath on her neck, giving her butterfly kisses. "I-Ichigo, what are you… Why are you here?" Rukia stuttered she can't find the right words to say. Ichigo's hold on her waist loosens a bit and she yelps in surprise when suddenly he turns her to face him. She saw the intoxicated look in his eyes. The next thing he does was too much for Rukia to take in; she felt her mind went blank. Ichigo bend slowly forward and kiss her on the lips. She was frozen for a while. Rukia's already wide eyes started to form tears when the shock gradually fades away.

"Why did he have to show up now? She was starting to accept everything. She was starting to truly move on." Rukia weakly pushed Ichigo away from her. She was confused. Her expression was between devastation and hesitation, shadowed by the hopelessness to control her emotions towards the man in front of her.

"Rukia." Ichigo called. "I've been looking for you. Don't leave me again, Please. I'll die…" Ichigo agonizingly beg, pulling Rukia towards him again. Rukia's tears are now falling from her eyes. She didn't want to surrender into him again. She made a promise to herself that it will be all about her this time. Rukia put both her hands on Ichigo's shoulder pushing him again.

"Ichigo, look at me." She said. Ichigo obeyed and that's when Rukia fully saw how tired and worn-out he had become. It put more tears in her eyes. "You have to leave. This is for the better, there's nothing left for us to return to. We need to move on, you need to move on. That's for the best, for the both of us." Rukia firmly said not letting Ichigo to speak anymore with emotions struggling to burst out of her chest, Rukia run away from him out of the store, leaving her goods.

"Rukia, wait!" Ichigo shouted running after her. "We need to talk, Rukia please." Rukia was ignoring him. She just keeps running away from him. Ichigo was very desperate; he saw an alley between two tall buildings ahead of them. He quickens his pace all the more and with both his strong arms, he captured Rukia lifting her up a bit then quickly turning his body to that alley, slamming his back on the stone walls. For Rukia everything was blurred it happened so fast that her brains can't work the details.

…

They were both breathing hard with Ichigo's arms tightly holding Rukia close to him. Their figures were shadowed by the tall building only her bare legs and his black slacks were reached by the sunlight. Ichigo's hand gently moved from her waist to her back, crossing them on her back.

"I didn't sign the divorce papers." He said. Ichigo heard Rukia begun to sob. "I didn't sign anything that was given to me by your brother. I am still your husband and you're still my wife. Let me show you how much I love you. Please Rukia give me a second chance. I will make you happy. I promise to make you happy. I promise… " Ichigo's voice was cracking. He was shaking because for the first in a very long time. He cried. He was so afraid of losing Rukia again.

"I'll treasure you; I'll treasure you this time Rukia. I promise…" He sincerely said. He was repeating those words all over again. Hoping, determined to reach and make her understand his resolve and more importantly his heart. Rukia covered her mouth to suppress her sobs. He said those words a very long time ago when he invited her to his world.

"Midget, I will make you happy. I promise to make you happy if you come with me outside this place. I'll teach you how to fly and I'll open your eyes of what freedom really looks like." Rukia remembered those words said by a 13 year old, young heir of the Kurosaki Clan. He had always offered her happiness. Rukia's arms slowly wrap around his neck.

"Your promises always break me in the end Ichigo. What's the difference this time?" She asked. Ichigo was wordless. He just buried his face on her neck and cry his self out.

….

After their sudden display of emotions, the long outburst of hurtful feeling and grief. Ichigo had followed Rukia to her apartment without letting go of her hand. Rukia let him she was too tired for arguments. It's already past her breakfast. She just wants to go home, cook food, eat then take a long shower. They walk their way to her hotel room with Ichigo holding their hands together. When they were at her room door, she can't take her keys because Ichigo is still holding her. Rukia sighed and face the orange head.

"I need my keys." She shortly said. She saw the hesitation in his eyes but he obeyed, letting her hand go. Rukia opened the door and went inside. Ichigo was following closely to her, too close for Rukia but far from enough for Ichigo.

"Stay here, I'll make something to eat." She said and walk to the kitchen. But she heard four footsteps going to her kitchen. A vein was slowly popping out of her forehead. "Will you stay in the living room? I-I can't, I don't feel comfortable." She scowled pointing back the direction of the living room. A hardly visible smile emerges from Ichigo's face. He gently holds her hand that was pointing at living room then plant a soft kiss on her forehead. Rukia become red instantly.

"Can I stay at the dining table? I want to see you cook the food." He said hesitant to say "cook our food". Rukia felt her neck and ears heat up. She angrily turns away from Ichigo.

"What's up with this atmosphere?" She asked herself. With heavy footsteps and rigid body she continues her way to the kitchen. She started taking out ingredients from her fridge then put them into the sink. When she was washing the vegetables and fruits, she saw from the corner of her eyes the Eiffel Tower. She felt nostalgic the tower and Ichigo near her was hard to comprehend. She didn't know what to feel, how to take this situation in her life positively. She was confused and the will to surround a wall around her was greater than the feelings of happiness for her long awaited dream is at last coming true. Many had change, she had change, and he had change. All the hurt and wounds she felt in the past was still fresh. She refuses to bleed again. Rukia sighed for the umpteenth time. "Why did he have to show up now?" She asked herself irritated and baffled.

For the next few minutes Rukia occupied herself cooking their food. She made a western style breakfast and fruit salad for desert. She takes out plates from the cabinet and walk to the dining table when her steps suddenly halted. Their on the table was Ichigo slumped on the table, peacefully sleeping. Rukia's eyes soften, with careful and light footsteps she walk to him and sit beside him. Observing his peaceful sleeping face, she knows he was very tired, she can see the dark circles around his eyes and his sudden loss of weight. She was hesitant to touch him at first but she surrendered. She caringly touches his orange mane, and then lightly brushes her fingers on his cheeks. Her wide eyes were only staring at his sleeping face, intently, tenderly. She continued to caress his face and when her eyes spotted the wedding ring on Ichigo's fingers. She can't stop her tears from forming again in her eyes. The wall seems to suddenly become transparent.

"Strawberry." She whispered and gently connects her forehead to him, her nose barely touching his.

….

A soft voice talking to someone awakens Ichigo from his slumber. His back hurts because of sleeping in the same uncomfortable position for too long. His still blurry eyes wander around and when his brains started to process the memories before he'd fallen asleep. He almost knock his chair, panic was carved on his handsome face.

"Rukia!" He shouted startling the freshly showered Rukia at the living room. She immediately apologizes to Ashido and bid him goodbye on the phone then hurriedly walk to the kitchen. On her way she heard the harsh opening of her bedroom, and then hurried steps to the room next to it.

"Ichigo, will you stop your tant-

Rukia was not able to finish her sentence when Ichigo rush to her in a flash and tightly hug her. Rukia was hell surprise by his odd behavior. "What is wrong with you?" She asked.

"I thought you left me again." He said with difficulty. Rukia's rigid body relaxes on him. In her life with this man she had never seen him be anxious like this. His hold on her seems to say that he'll never let go. Hesitant to show any compassion, Rukia awkwardly pat Ichigo's back and soothe him, trying to make him relax.

"Ca-calm down, Strawberry." She said trying to make her voice coarse. Ichigo slightly pulled away from him.

"Rukia." He began. Rukia felt the lump in her throat difficult to swallow because of the look that Ichigo was giving her. He was serious, determined, focus and a single doubt, fear or hesitation was indiscernible. "Rukia Kurosaki, marry me again." He said. Rukia's eyes widen in surprise. "If you want us to move down to the process of being boyfriends and girlfriends then I'll do it. I will do anything you want Rukia, just don't push me away anymore. Please, give me a second chance to prove how much I change and how much I love you." Ichigo sincerely said holding Rukia's hands.

"I won't ask for your forgiveness because I know it's too much to ask. I will never forget what I did to you and I will always carry that in my heart as a punishment. No matter how hard I try, it won't be enough for your forgiveness. I've always thought that I'd always be together with you. Always… Even if both of us have a boyfriend or girlfriend, got married, have a family and even kids. We'd still be together always." Ichigo repeated what Rukia said a long time ago when they were still teenagers. It was in his dreams, in his memories and specially tattooed in his heart.

"Oh, God… what should I say." Rukia thought asking for strength to make the right decision once again.

….

In the end Rukia was not able to say anything. She walks away to him and went to the kitchen put food on the table and ordered him to eat. Ichigo feeling the depression from her lack of reaction or emotion towards his confession. He helps himself to the table and eats. Rukia quietly walk to the living room and turn on the TV. She may seem to be staring at the television but her mind was somewhere, somewhere between herself and Ichigo's love, somewhere between the risk of more heartaches and the security of unbroken self.

She felt Ichigo's presence coming to her then sitting beside her on the sofa. He didn't speak anymore, he just lie down making her lap as his pillow. He grabs her hand and put it on his forehead then the other one was between his hands right next to his heart. Rukia sadly look at his troubled expression, she knows behind those close eyes were pain and agony.

"How did you find me?" She asked. Ichigo's thumbs gently caress her soft hands.

"I had a dream." Ichigo said. "A piece of memory we had during our teenage years. You told me how much you love to come to Paris… together."

"I made that wish to the Ichigo I'd known before but he's gone now." Rukia coldly said. Behind the compassion she felt in her heart, bitterness tends to manifest towards him.

"I'm back, Rukia. From the long dark journey, I had returned… the Ichigo you'd known before." He said.

"I promise to breathe on my own from this day forward. I promise to learn how to love myself the moment I step in this place, Ichigo. Most of all I promise to slowly forget and forgive what you had done to me." Ichigo was about to open his eyes and look at Rukia but she delicately covered them with her hand.

"If you really care for me, leave Paris and let me heal." Rukia firmly utter biting her lips after speaking those words." Ichigo become motionless, no one dared to move. He felt lost, he told and promise himself that he'll obey whatever she ask him to do but this one is difficult, very difficult. She seems to ask him to die.

"I love you…" He said not knowing what the right words to say. Those words hurt; she had asked him to die and at the same time made him break his promise to himself.

"I'm sorry, I don't know if I can do that…"

"Thank You for Reading"

"Always Faithful"