Hello everyone! Today I come bearing the 6th installment of The Fallen, hope you enjoy. Again finding clothes to be an awkward to work in, here's our wardrobe of the day~.
Rukia- A white V-neck blouse, underneath a turquoise jacket.
Ichigo- His Nice Vibe T with dark denim jeans.
Isshin- Formal white button up with black slacks.
Karin and Yuzu- their usual. (I swear, they're always wearing the exact same clothes. XD)
The Fallen
Chapter 5: The Rain
OutlawEX
Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki made their way down one of the halls in Karakura High School, their fingers interlaced with one another. Every student turned their head toward them as they walked past, many of them whispering to the person next to them.
"Ichigo!" Keigo Asano shouted, as he ran down the hall. He stopped in his tracks as reached a close distance with his friend. His jaw dropped upon seeing his and Rukia's linked hands. He then slapped himself, then shrieked. "It's not a dream!" He ran over Mizuiro Kajima. "Did you know about this?!"
"Know about what, Mr. Asano?" He replied casually.
"Would you stop it with the 'Mr. Asano' stuff?" He shook his friend by the shoulders.
"Stop what, Mr. Asano?"
He then ran down the hall shouting, "I've been left out again!"
"Hey Ichigo," Mizuiro greeted, as usual much more composed upon seeing something unusual than Keigo.
The orange haired student waved as he passed by. "Hey," he replied, with a rather awkward grin.
Rukia looked over toward him, with a confused expression.
"Is something wrong, Rukia?" He asked, his face still retaining the ever so strange grin.
"It's nothing," she answered him quietly.
As they walked into the class room, they released each others hands and took their desks, adjacent to one another.
Ichigo was unusually social on this particular day, saying hello to everybody, and positioning himself into most everybody's conversations. All of his friends seemed to notice, as they all frequently glanced over at with confused expressions.
Rukia looked over to the empty seat where Chad usually sat, it was very unlike him to be late to class. "Ichigo, where's Chad?"
"He went back to his hometown in the southern part of the United States, a few months ago."
"Oh, I see," she spoke sadly.
"Don't worry, he'll be back to visit during the Summer break," he assured her.
She nodded, her face shifting back to it's normal expression.
The teacher, who was a tall red headed woman wearing glasses and the teacher's uniform all the female teachers were required to wear, then walked into the class room. "Hello class," she approached the chalk board and began writing the days assignments, followed by the date.
Rukia's eyes widened. Everything suddenly became so clear. The date was June 16th, a date that she would never forget the significance of. Her face became pained, as she looked over toward Ichigo, who sat watching the lesson with a wide smile. It was all just a big mask to hide his true emotions.
After showering, brushing her teeth, and getting changed for bed, Rukia made her was toward Ichigo's room. As she passed the living room, she noticed the television was still on, which was the only thing illuminating the room.
"Rukia," Isshin's voice called, catching her by surprise. He rose up from the couch, and walked toward her. "Hey."
"Hello Mr. Kurosaki," she greeted him, warmly.
He studied the woman for a moment and then spoke, "I know that look. You're worried about Ichigo, huh?"
"What?" She tried to play off the fact that he actually guessed her thoughts.
He grinned. "Don't worry, he's a tough kid," he nodded, thoughtfully.
"I know."
"Sometimes the tough need someone to comfort them," he spoke after a moment. "Take care of 'em, okay?"
"Me?" The girl blushed.
"You bet," he winked. He raised a remote control and turned off the TV. "Good night, Rukia," his voice spoke from out of the darkness.
The woman felt a hand pat her on the back. "Good night, Mr. Kurosaki."
When the girl entered the boy's room the lights were still on, however he was already asleep. Even Kon seemed to be worried about him, as instead of sleeping in his usual spot under the bed he slept on the window sill overlooking Ichigo's bed. She couldn't help but smile at this a little bit. As much as they seem to hate each other, he's very much like a brother to him, she thought. She walked up to the bed, and worked her way into the empty space next to him, turning the lamp out as she did so.
She lay facing the boy. She examined his face, upon her eyes adjusting to the lack of light. She was able to make out a tear that flowed down his cheek, to which she held out a finger to catch it on. Ichigo, I absolutely can not come to understand how you get so worked up over something that you aren't at fault form, she shut her eyes, and after several hours finally managed to fall asleep.
Ichigo, Rukia, Isshin, Karin, and Yuzu all got out of the car parked in front of the the mountain that over looked Karakura Town. All of them strapped on their back packs, and set route up the mountain trail.
"Come on guys, are you tired already?" Isshin, who was back peddling his way up the path, called after some time walking.
"Dad, be careful, you're going to trip and fall like on our trip here two years ago," Karin sighed.
"That would never ha..." The father tripped, and went tumbling down the trail. Everyone in the family let out a simultaneous sigh, except for Rukia who's face was one of shock.
"Should we go make sure he's okay?" The woman asked, worried.
"Leave him, he's never going to learn if we encourage him," Karin answered.
When they reached the summit, there were several grave stones. By this time Isshin had caught back up to the group. The Kurosaki family all stood over Masaki's memorial, offering prayers and stories of how their lives had been since she left them. Their father had lit his yearly cigarette, though he had long since quit, as a memorial of her last complements to him. Rukia sat on stone wall, near the memorial, watching from a distance, and trying to keep out of the way.
"Ichigo, we're going up to eat at the lodge, you staying here?" His father inquired, with a hand on his son's shoulder.
"Yeah," he replied flatly, without raising his head.
The man nodded and went on. Upon passing Rukia he asked, "You're staying here too, I take it?"
"Dad do you really need to ask?" Yuzu teased.
Rukia smiled, and gave nod.
"Alright then, we're off. Meet you two at the lodge," he waved, as he walked away with his two daughters.
The woman watched as Ichigo stood in front of the grave stone. His body didn't move an inch. If she didn't know any better, she would think he was a statue. After a while the sky began to grow gray. She felt a rain drop fall on her head. Several minutes later, rain was pouring down from the sky. She began to walk toward the boy, who still remained motionless. She stood beside him and spoke, "Hey."
"Hi."
"Should you be standing out in the rain, like this?"
He shook his head. "I'm used to it. It's rained every year on this day, ever since she died."
She leaned her head against his shoulder. Though she didn't know the woman herself she said a little prayer in her head, introducing herself and such. An arm wrapped around her waist.
"You ready to go?" The boy finally asked.
"Don't rush yourself on my account," she told him
"I was done, don't worry about it."
They began walking away, when they were overwhelmed by a dark spiritual pressure. "Well aren't you two cute together," spoke a slurred voice. The two turned around to find a tall, cloaked man behind them. He pulled his hood down. He had long, messy, unkept hair; he was not clean shaven; his green eyes were blood shot; and between his neck and chest was a hollow hole.
Ichigo instinctively knocked his spirit out with his badge. He stood in front of Rukia taking a defensive pose.
"Now, now, calm down," the man rambled. "I ain't after your lady," he grinned. "Or at least not until I kill ya'."
"Rukia," Ichigo called in a tense voice. "Make sure Karin and Yuzu are okay."
"Got it," she took off without another word.
"Now, just what is it your after, pal?"
"Just followin' orders, good sir," the man replied, with a grin.
"Who's orders?!"
"Well, I wouldn't be a vury good assassin if I told ya', now would I?"
The Soul Reaper clenched his teeth.
"Now, let's just get right down to business, shall we?" The mysterious enemy pulled a Zanpakuto from beneath his cloak. "Swerve madly, Borracho," he released his blade. It took the form waved blade, curved in many places like a longer going "S."
Ichigo's vision began to blur, and his knees felt week. "What's going on?" He shouted.
The man snickered. "That's the power of my Zanpakuto. It impairs all the senses, ya' see?"
"That's a cheap little trick," the boy muttered.
The man came at Ichigo, slashing him several times, the boy completely unable to defend. He lay on the floor, his blood filling the cracks of the brick paved walkway.
To be continued...
Personally, I'm pretty happy with this chapter. Edgy with some fluff and meaningful conversations in between. Anyway, the unnamed assassin's Zanpakuto, Borracho, is Spanish for the word "drunk," just for the record. Well, that's all I have for now.
Questions, comments? How's my grammar? Let me know in a review please!
Update: I hate FF sometimes. I apologize for the misplaced line breaks before, sometimes it moves them from the places I put them sometimes. _ Anyways, sorry again.