Chapter 2: Under the blooming fireworks
IchigoXRukia

A.N.: This is a request by BlueShard20. OC!
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

The Next Day….

Hikaru peeked around the corner and saw her parents talking on a bench nearby. Looking at her list, she saw the first event she had to make happen. Her parents told her that after they'd kissed under the fireworks at the Rukon festival, everything happened on its own, but before any of that, Hikaru had to get them to the festival in the first place.

She peeked around the corner again and saw her father awkwardly standing in front of Rukia. She could tell that Ichigo wanted to ask her something but was unable to find the words. Her eyes narrowed as she deadpanned. "Geez, Papa, way to be such a wuss…."

Ichigo was sweating as he stared at Rukia. After having several very vivid dreams he'd come to the understanding that he was in love with his friend. But every time he tried to tell her how he felt, his mouth would dry up and he was unable to find the words. Fighting hollows was easy; confessing his feelings was a completely different battle.

Rukia stared at Ichigo confused. It was obvious that the boy wanted to say something. "What is it, Ichigo?"

Suddenly, Ichigo's mouth dried up as his heart thumped in his chest. "I uh…I just…well…."

Hikaru facepalmed and shook her head. "Good grief, Papa. This is sad to watch, even for me." She looked around and tried to come up with a plan. "Gotta think fast! If I don't get them to the festival, I can kiss my existence goodbye!" She could feel dread start to sink in as she failed to come up with a plan. "Dammit! Gotta do something!" She looked back around the corner and gasped when she saw her mother, obviously annoyed by Ichigo's lack of response, start to walk away. "No!"

Her hand brushed up against something and she saw that it was a small flyer stuck to the wall behind her. "Perfect!" Ripping it off the wall, she held it up in her hand and said a small incantation. Out of her other hand blew a small breeze, sending the paper flying in Ichigo's direction.

The paper smacked into Ichigo's face, almost causing him to stumble. Pulling it away from his face, Ichigo saw that it was a flyer advertising a fireworks festival in the Rukon District. Seeing it as his chance, Ichigo found his nerve. "Um, Rukia?"

Turning around, Rukia saw Ichigo running up to her. "What now, Ichigo?" she asked, starting to get tired of his beating around the bush.

"Um…would you like to go to the fireworks festival with me tonight?" he asked, holding the flyer behind his back.

Hikaru held her breath as she watched Rukia stare at Ichigo. "Please say yes…please say yes…." She crossed her fingers and hoped that she didn't have to do something drastic like drag her mother to the festival.

To the girl's delight, Rukia smiled at Ichigo and nodded. "I'd love to. Wanna meet at Kukaku's tonight?"

"Sure."

The black/orange haired girl let out a sigh of relief as they walked away, crossing it off her list. "Okay, that was close! Geez, way to stand there like a total dork, Papa…."

She decided to follow Rukia, keeping a safe distance….

Later that night….
Rukon District

Ichigo and Rukia sat on a hill, Kukkaku's house a speck in the distance. They had been walking around the festival, having a blast with each other. On Rukia's lap was the rabbit plushy Ichigo had won her, affectionately named Chappy by the lieutenant.

Hiding behind them in the bushes was Hikaru. She sat down on the soft grass, trying hard not to make a sound. "This is so cute!" she giggled as she watched her parents sit there. When she was small, her mother had sat her on her lap and told her all about that first night together under the fireworks but to see it with her own two eyes was a sight to behold. 'They look so happy together….'

Ichigo was thinking along similar lines as he looked at Rukia, seeing her eyes widen with joy at each burst of color in the sky. "It's beautiful…" she said softly, her lips forming a joyous smile.

"It is," Ichigo said. Gulping, Ichigo put his hand on top of Rukia's, not knowing how to say it. "I'm glad I'm here with you, Rukia…."

Hikaru wanted to facepalm. "Geez, Papa, way to sound so cliché…do you think Mama is gonna say the same thing?"

Rukia turned to her friend and smiled warmly. "I love spending time with you, Ichigo. I'm glad I'm here too," she replied, making her future daughter want to slam her head into the ground. "I love watching fireworks." It was then that she noticed Ichigo's hand on her and she smiled. "Their almost as bright as your hair." She took hold of Ichigo's hand and squeezed it.

Ichigo blushed and turned away, his heart racing when he saw the joyous look in her eyes. "I never really thought of my hair as something special…."

His head was turned when Rukia put a finger to his cheek. "I never told you this, but I always liked your hair color. It's as unique as you."

Ichigo turned to her and slowly touched the hand on his cheek, his reservations melting away. "You really think so?"

Hikaru saw her mother giggle. "Ichigo, you are the greatest, strongest and kindest man I've ever known." She looked up at the night sky. "In a sea of stars you're the moon." She caressed his cheek as her own feeling started to bubble up to the surface.

'Oh get a room you two!' Hikaru wanted to scream, blushing as her parents past selves leaned close.

As Ichigo's lips touched Rukia's, the firework show's finale started, illuminated their act of love with all the colors of the rainbow. Hikaru had to admit, it was quite romantic to watch. "Aww…" she sighed as she watched, still sitting in her hiding place. Reaching for her list, she crossed off the first event on the list and smiled.

"One down, a lot more to go…."

The Next Morning….
Squad 13

Hikaru walked next to her mother, feeling giddy from last night. 'Okay, the next event I have to make happen, Papa getting Mama that stuffed rabbit, shouldn't happen for another few days. So I just have to lay low and chill.'

She'd given the excuse to Rukia that the Head-Captain had transferred her over to her squad recently. Apparently that was something that Rukia was used to since she'd accepted it without further questioning. Hikaru never knew how lively and energetic her mother was; in the future Rukia was so calm and reserved. 'Uncle Kisuke always said I was a ball of fire like my mother. Now I see what he meant….'

Mother and daughter rounded a corner and Rukia's eyes widened a little when she saw a person standing in the middle of the path, talking to a group of Soul Reapers. "Brother!"

Hikaru's eyes widened when she saw the tall, stoic man that was Byakuya Kuchiki. 'Whoa!' Her cheeks instantly turned pink when she saw her uncle standing before her. 'Was he always this dreamy?' When she was little she had a huge crush on her handsome uncle but had managed to quell those thoughts. Now though, she could remember why she was so head over heels for him.

The man dismissed his subordinates before turning to his sister. "Rukia, what are you doing here? Don't you have squad exercises?" Byakuya asked his sister before his gaze turned to Hikaru, his eyes widening just a hair. To Byakuya, this girl…looked very much like…. "And you are?"

"Oh!" Hikaru suddenly snapped out of her dreamy haze and bowed in respect. "I'm Karin Edogawa," she said humbly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Captain Kuchiki."

Byakuya stared at the girl. He couldn't shake this feeling that he knew her somehow. "I was unaware that my sister required a bodyguard," he said abruptly.

Shaking her head, Hikaru quickly gulped. "Oh, nothing like that, Captain Kuchiki. My mo-" She suddenly remembered where she was and tried to backtrack as fast as she could. 'I mean, Lieutenant Kuchiki was showing me around this part of the Seirieitei. I'm new to her squad so I'm not familiar with my surroundings." A bead of sweat rolled down her back as she hoped that her uncle wouldn't put her story under scrutiny.

Byakuya frowned but said nothing. "Very well then." He turned back to his sister. "Rukia, will you be joining me for dinner at the Kuchiki manor?"

Rukia quickly nodded. "Yes, Brother. I'll be there tonight. But…um…" her face turned red all of a sudden.

Her brother looked at his sister with his head cocked. "What is it, Rukia?"

"Um…May Ichigo join us?"

Hikaru could've sworn that she could hear a pin drop a mile away. Byakuya narrowed his eyes at the request and Rukia felt a cold shiver run down her spine. "Why?"

"Well… with all the rebuilding, we don't have the time to open up the Senkaimon for him and…our squad's foodstuffs are stretched thin," she said quietly.

Taking a deep breath, Byakuya nodded. He respected Ichigo, that is without question, but his impetuous attitude was hard for him to deal with at the best of times. "Very well. As long as he doesn't cause trouble." And with that he walked away, though not before giving a passing glance to Hikaru, making her worried a little.

Rukia and Hikaru looked at each other and both let out a loud exhale, though Rukia didn't know why Hikaru was tense. "C'mon," she said, smiling at her so-called recruit. "Let's go and get to the Squad training grounds. If I don't keep Kiyone and Sentarou in check, they'll cause the exercise to go out of control."

Nodding, Hikaru followed her mother, making sure to scratch this event off her list….

Weeks later….
Squad 13 Grounds

Hikaru spied on her parents from atop the room she was sitting on. By now her mission had been successful, with nearly all of the events on her list marked off. Next to her was a small boombox she'd found while searching Squad Nine, finding it in the lieutenant's quarters and squirreling it away for today. "Aww, they're so cute!" she fawned. Right now her parents were sparring but seeing their blushing face as they clashed swords was adorable. "Wow, Papa looks so cool fighting!"

The two Soul Reapers stopped their spar and took a moment to breathe and cool down. Sealing her Shikai, she sheathed her sword and smiled. "Not bad, Ichigo. Even with your hollow powers gone, you're still as strong as ever."

Stabbing Zangetsu into the ground, Ichigo smiled warmly at his friend, having several romantic moments with her. It'd been awkward but he was getting closer and closer to saying those three little words. He wanted to say it, but he just didn't know when was the right moment.

Rukia sat down on the soft grass and patted the spot next to her. "Let's rest, Ichigo. It's been a busy day for both of us." She smiled when Ichigo sat down next to her, scooting closer by just a hair.

Hikaru giggled at their faces when they looked at each other and then looked away embarrassingly. "Geez, get a room, you two…." Deciding that now was as good time as any, Hikaru turned on the boombox, turned it to the lowest setting to not make it obvious, and hit play.

Rukia and Ichigo were both confused when they heard slow, soothing jazz music play. "Must be someone nearby with the window opened," Rukia figured. Laying on her back, Rukia closed her eyes and listened to the music. It was so soothing, so comforting….

Ichigo also listened to it. He always like this music when he needed to unwind. When he was powerless he listened to it because it always reminded him of Rukia; who was graceful, smooth and whose presence relaxed him. Finding his nerve, Ichigo turned to the resting Rukia. "Um…Rukia?"

"Yes, Ichigo?"

"Would you like to dance?"

Rukia opened her eyes and looked at her friend curiously but saw him already on his feet with his hand extended to her. Smiling at his bold move, Rukia accepted his hand and was pulled onto her feet. "Do you even know how to dance?"

"I know enough. You?"

"Ichigo, I'm a noble. Dancing comes with the program."

Hikaru watched as her parents put their hands on each other's waists and started to gently dance, both of them looking deeply into each other's eyes. "How romantic…" Hikaru sighed, smiling at her parent's happy moment. She didn't know how long to keep the music on for but she continued to watch Ichigo and Rukia dance until the battery on the boombox died. She looked up, tired from watching and laying on the hard rooftop and yawned, seeing the sun start to set. She looked back and saw her parents walking away and decided it was best to go and head back to her room that her mother had given her. Reaching into her pocket she marked off the event and smiled happily. "Just one more to go!"

"Just one more for what?" came a voice from behind her.

Hikaru whirled around to see Byakuya Kuchiki standing behind her, his eyes glaring sternly at the orange/black haired girl. "Cap-captain Kuchiki!" She was completely surprised; how long had he been standing there.

"I see you've been taking a lot of interest in my sister. For what, I've no clue but…" he put his hand on Senbonzakura and stared at the frightened girl. "It ends here. I've been checking the squads rosters for the past few days. There has never been a Soul Reaper by the name of Karin Edogawa. I don't know what it is you're planning but you're going to tell me everything."

Hikaru started to sweat underneath her outfit. She knew that her brother, even in her time, disliked Ichigo and if he knew of her mission he would stop Rukia from becoming Ichigo's wife at all costs. "I…can't," she finally said. "If I do it could mean disaster."

She'd hoped that her uncle would be merciful and leave it like this once he realized that Hikaru didn't mean any harm to his sister. That prayer went unanswered as he drew his zanpakuto. "Very well then. You leave me no choice. It is quite clear to me that you're not a Soul Reaper and therefore an enemy." He put both hands on Senbonzakura's hilt and stared at the girl. He didn't know why this girl was so hellbent on getting Rukia together with Ichigo, but he intended to put a stop to it here and now and get to the bottom of this.

"I'll make you talk. By force."

To be continued….