A/N: I've been so busy I forgot about posting the new chapter! This one is very focused on Ichigo and Rukia and their second encounter of each other.
Disclaimer: Bleach by Kubo!
Enjoy, everyone!
Chapter three: Laws
Ichigo went on through the day as he usually did; greeting his friends and staying out of any trouble at school- walking back home alone.
But he couldn't stop the image of the angel popping into his mind. Despite the memory of her only lasted for a few minutes, it stretched in his mind to all day.
Before he knew it, he was walking down that same barren street, passing the same shop.
'An angel wouldn't stay in one place for so long…' He thought, but he still craned his neck to look around the shop, into the yard behind. He froze in amazement at that site before he hurried over to the tree when he had seen the same figure again. He came in closer, as the sight of her became clear enough to see her back was on him.
The wings still lay on the ground only being held by her back, but the blood from before was gone.
He could now see the pure white feathers perfectly.
"Those blood stains are gone." He commented out loud, gaining her attention. At first he could see the slight surprise when she turned to see him, but quickly relaxed again when she saw it was only him.
"The rain actually washed it out." She said, sounding cool.
It had started raining when he left her and went home, not stopping until late that night- Ichigo remembered. It only reminded him of the day his mother died, where it was raining heavily.
"…Why do you just sit here, don't angels have important things to do?" He asked, starting a conversation. He didn't know much of angels, not trusting of the information from the books he had read now.
"I have no duties, so I'll just sit here." She answered.
"Angels have duties? What are those?" He asked, becoming interested.
"Angels serve as soldiers for souls- living or dead- throughout the world and outward. One specific job an angel will do is come down to the living souls, and guides the dying away." She explained.
"Do all people see angels when they're dying?" Ichigo asked. He leaned onto the tree as he continued listening.
"Not necessarily- We will help any peacefully dying soul to where they are to go. Most souls go to the Realm of the Dead, but some souls are special where we will personally take them up to a place called Society Above, if they are qualified to become angels. Some living souls are just able to see angels-like you can- when they are nowhere near their deathbed." She stood up and looked up at him with indifferent eyes. His warm amber eyes could have fooled her.
"And what if you don't die 'peacefully'?" He asked in a low voice. She looked a bit hesitant, but stood her ground.
"There… are some occasions we cannot do anything about in helping souls. If they do not die in a peaceful manner, we cannot do anything for them." She answered. They remained quiet, until she broke the silence.
"Why did you come back here?" She finally asked. Ichigo looked away as he folded his arms.
"I just was passing by again, and saw you were still here. It's not every day I see an angel- although shorter than I ever expected." He said. Rukia's face turned red at the insult.
"Excuse me, how many angels have you seen to compare me to one?" She glared up at him, her voice dangerously low.
"…Jots in the books." He muttered, looking away so he didn't have to see her triumphant smirk- "You actually look different from every illustration in a book. Angels always are-"
"Tall with flowing golden hair and a halo. That's because angels alter a living soul's memory. Humans have always documented a demented image." Rukia explained. Ichigo stared in shock at the information- all the paintings were based on memories of meeting angels. He could draw what the real angel look like, or she'd change his memory to meeting an angel completely different from the one that actually stood in front of him.
"…Why haven't you altered my memory?" Ichigo asked, a bit nervous.
"Would you like your memory altered?" She offered. She had closed the gap between their bodies in a flash and lifted her hand and pointed her two fingers toward him. Ichigo, alarmed, snatched her hand. Her eyes widened at the sudden movement, staring up at Ichigo.
"No, I don't." He answered. They remained holding hands until Ichigo released hers, flustered. "S-sorry."
"Kurosaki Ichigo." She said. He stared at her in surprise, hearing his name. He was sure he had not told her his name.
"How did you know that?" He demanded.
"My fingers touched your skin- although I can't alter your memory, your spirit can still be read, and especially how yours seems to announce everything about you." Rukia explained. In her hand, a torn piece of red thread appeared in her hand.
"…Amazing." Ichigo muttered. Her last statement was left unheard as he looked up to see her staring only at the thread, looking like she was opening the greatest book she had been waiting to read its words.
"…Then do you have a name? Or is that something angels do not do?" He asked her. She looked up at him. Her hand closed on the thread, and nodded. The thread disappeared, no proof of it existing.
"Yes. Kuchiki Rukia." She said. Ichigo nodded, and looked over at the hazy sun for a few moments. He mentally cursed about his father would go crazy if he came home late and missed dinner.
"I better get going…" He muttered. He glanced back at Rukia, looking at her. She was wearing what must have been a pure white dress that flowed to her knees. It would have looked beautiful, if dirt wasn't matted on the fabric, unless that's what angels wore with their heavenly attire.
"Don't you get cold out here in just that?" He questioned. She shook her head, sitting back down. Despite her wings looking heavy enough to throw her off balance, every movement she made was graceful.
"It's always cold as an angel. That's why sometimes we're called shinigami." Rukia answered.
"…Ah." He wasn't sure what to say, so kept quiet. They remained silent for a couple of minutes with Ichigo staring at her. He could get used to an image of a short-haired angel. He opened his messenger bag and took out a sandwich he left from lunch, and bit a piece off.
"Do you not have to eat or are you starving yourself?" He asked her. She shot a glare- even he could see she was perfectly healthy and not looking starved of hunger. He was making fun of the difference she had to the curvaceous and fuller figures in the fake images of angels.
"It's not necessary. Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of being dead?" She asked him, but he only shrugged his shoulders. It was a good question to ponder on.
"Maybe, does it matter?" He took out a small box carton and held it out to her, as she looked at it with curiosity.
"What is it?" She asked, accepting the offer, but only stared at it.
"It's juice." He told her. She looked at him confused, so he simplified it even more. "A drink."
"… I see." She commented, but still stared at it. She glanced up at him with a questionable look, and he sighed.
"Jeez, let me." He crouched down and took out a straw that appeared from the side of the box she hadn't even noticed. He noticed she didn't flinch or anything when he covered her hand over his as he held the straw in his left, punching it into the box.
"It's delicious." She said after taking a sip of it. He could only smirk at her as she continued drinking the juice.
Despite the curfew, he didn't leave until later that night.
---
"You have quite a collection of books there on… angels?" Kurosaki Isshin looked up at his only son. "What's all this about?" He asked. Ichigo only glanced at him before going back to the book.
"It's just a …interesting topic. Even in history in Europe, they held similar appearances for so long." He answered, wary of his father. At least the old man wasn't pestering him with his stupid face and boisterous attitude.
After spending that night questioning Rukia about angels, Ichigo had borrowed several books on them, looking to see what information was similar to the information he received from a primary source.
All the books failed to mention several key parts of an angel's life he guessed was unnecessary to tell humans- Society Above, the place where angels lived, an in-depth explanation of their duties, and the rules for angels. He heard his father let out a sigh of nostalgia, and glanced back at him.
"I remember when Yuzu had suggested your mother was now an angel, watching over us. It's such a nice thought, to think Masaki is still with us." Isshin muttered, a small smile spreading on his face in nostalgia. Ichigo stared at Isshin for a silent moment before he spoke out. Ichigo hesitated, as the thought of his mother popped into his mind.
"…Do you really think she is an angel?" His question floated as the room remained silent. His father turned toward him. His face was serious once more, staring back at his son.
"I believe, angel or not, she'll always be watching over you three. Is it a sin to love as an angel?" Isshin asked, as he turned and left Ichigo's room. Ichigo stared at him, silent in shock at the question.
"It's always cold as an angel. That's why sometimes we're called shinigami…"
-
During that night
"Angels have a set of rules they must abide to and never violate those laws. If an angel did defy what was to protect both humanity and angels, the outcome is always fatal." She explained as Ichigo sat by her, entranced by this life as angels.
"What is one of the laws?" He asked curiously. She stared at him with what looked like downtrodden, somber eyes. She did not answer until a few minutes of silence.
"Angels must not share feelings with a living soul. All relationships they had before with the living world are to be dropped with all ties severed. This will not cloud an angel's mind with useless emotions that distract them from their new life." She finally answered. Ichigo could only stare at her as they remained in silence under the tree.
-
Ichigo clenched his fists, fighting not to show any more emotion about it.
His mother couldn't be an angel. She would never leave them and sever ties, when they thought of her all the time.
She'd rather become an ordinary soul, and watch over them.
But where was she now? Maybe… maybe Rukia knew the answer.
He stood up abruptly and walked out of the house into the gray sky, towards that tree where he would see her figure sit peacefully- and where his heart was bit lighter.
A/N: I would understand if this chapter wasn't as interesting as you wished it was. If it wasn't, next chapter you'll get a nice gift for the action that has yet to come! Please leave a review, anyway so I know you're at least interested in where this is going! I'd very much appreciate it.
