A/N: Without much further ado .. here's chapter 4 ! Im too excited too publish this already ..
Disclaimer: I dont own Bleach :)
Late
Chapter 4: Here I Come, Wait for me
Rukia woke up to the sounds of birds chirping merrily outside and the light tapping of the wind against the wall. She slowly opens her eyes and let her gaze linger at the ceiling for a moment before getting out of her futon.
Did nii-sama really let her go to Ichigo?
The events from last night are still pretty shocking for her although she is very excited to see Ichigo again. Her thoughts ran wild in her head as she made her way downstairs for breakfast.
As she enters the dining hall she sees Byakuya sitting down and writing something. She wasn't exactly expecting this since she usually would come down in the morning and find no one else except for her and the servants that carried food to the table; Byakuya would've been long gone to his office even before she woke up.
"G … Good morning nii-sama." She bows her head.
There was a pause and then, "Take a seat."
She quickly walked over to a chair and slowly sat down on it. Shortly after sitting down; the servant that'd usually bring food came and placed her breakfast before her. She started eating it as soon as the servant placed the plate down, focusing her eyes on the food and never at the person ahead, Byakuya.
As she continued on eating, silence fell around the whole room and she suddenly felt his eyes on her but again, she didn't dare look up to meet them.
She suddenly felt him stand up from his seat and so, everyone in the room, the servants and herself stopped whatever they were doing and bowed.
"Eat up well Rukia. Report immediately to Ukitake-taichou to start this day."
She noticed that he was carrying a paper in one hand and was about to ask him about it but he quickly flash stepped out of the hall and vanished. As soon as he was gone, everybody continued on whatever they were doing, she sat back down and continued eating once again.
He walked quickly but gracefully to Ukitake-taichou's office, clutching the paper in his hand even harder. As he entered the office, he saw him busily filling out reports that are all piled on the table.
"Ahh … Captain Kuchiki … Good morning!" Ukitake greeted him lively even without looking up from the paperwork.
He nodded and said, "Up so early to do the reports I see?"
"Ahh yes, yes. I have to catch up on these since I've been absent and sickly these past few days," He paused. "But you're not here to talk about these reports, what is it that you want me to know?"
He slid the letter on his desk, "This."
Ukitake, in return, stopped writing and looked at the letter, opening it but looked at him quizzically, "Oh? What's this?"
After a few minutes of silence, Ukitake put the paper down and eyed him but then shortly started laughing.
"You really aren't good with direct communication aren't you, Kuchiki-taichou?" Ukitake half asked and half teasing in between laughs.
He, in turn, didn't say anything and just gave a look with those eyes.
"You could've just told me that personally instead of writing it down and be so formal."
He ignored the last statement and said, "Well?"
Now it was Ukitake's turn to look at him with a confused look and then started to laugh once again.
"Oh that. Well of course! I was actually expecting you to ask me that personally, and when I say personally I mean actually talking but," He sighed. "I can't expect that much especially from person like you."
Once again, he ignored Ukitake's remarks. "So she's allowed?"
"Of course! Besides," his tone changes. "She's been spacing out too much lately."
He accidentally let worry flash through his face, only to be laughed at by Ukitake.
"But not to worry, she's probably just missing him."
His eyebrows furrowed at this.
"Although I must say, I'm quite surprised. For you to actually let her go AND ask me like this is a huge …. let's just say …. step," His eyes turned into teasing looks. "Becoming a brother now eh?"
He didn't say anything back and remained silent.
Ukitake put his chin into his hand and leaned over, "It took you 200 years to get used to this?"
This time, he shot him a cold look that seemed to have pull yet another laugh from Ukitake, obviously not scared of it unlike most people.
"I was just joking around!"
He, all of a sudden, turned to the direction of the door and said, "She's coming."
Ukitake nodded in agreement, "Yeah, I know."
"Well now I better be off to my squad office. Please tell her all the things she needs to know before she leaves, I leave it all to you."
"Gee Kuchiki-taichou, relax, I'll do it."
He nodded, turned around and walked out of the office.
She run out of the house as quickly as she possibly can to Ukitake-taichou's office; luckily, she didn't bash into anyone in particular. As she was nearing his office, she saw Byakuya got out of Ukitake's office; he didn't look back so he didn't notice her coming.
What was he doing in there?
Although curious questions started to burst into her mind, she continued on running. She was too deep in thought that she past through the office. She stopped abruptly, turned around and run back to the office. As she walked in, she stopped to catch her breath and looked ahead, seeing Ukitake's bewildered face.
"U … Ukitake-taichou." She said breathlessly.
"…I was just wondering what just went past by my office so quickly so early in the morning." He slowly said.
"Ahh," She bowed her head. "I'm sorry."
"No, no, no, don't bow your head!" He waved his hands frantically.
She raised her head up.
"That's better!" He smiled. "So anyway, why are you here so early?"
She gave him a confused look.
"Nii-sama, I mean, Kuchiki-taichou told me to do so before he left this morning."
"Oh? He was just here a minute ago asking my permission to let you go to the real world and to acknowledge your absence for awhile."
Asked? Nii-sama asked someone?
The surprise must have leaked out into her face since Ukitake-taichou started to laugh.
"Yeah he did ask. Trust me, I was also surprised, who could've ever thought that Kuchiki Byakuya can ask someone? I'm guessing that only happens only once in a blue moon heh?"
She started laughing at the statement he said.
"But anyway, concerning this whole thing, I'm okay with it. You can go to the real world and spend as much time as you want there, although I prefer not 100 years if you please. You have my permission to go."
She felt even more excited and very happy because of this.
I can finally see him again!
"Thank you so much, Ukitake-taichou!"
"No problem," He said, grinning. "I was actually thinking why you haven't asked me in the first place. I've noticed that you've been spacing out lately and I know that's it's about Ichigo."
She bowed her head and looked at the floor, as if it had the answer to that question.
Why didn't she ask anyway? She missed him terribly and wanted to go back but she was somewhat scared although she doesn't know why. Was it because of the pain that she gave him 5 years ago and he's still probably carrying up until now? Yes, it's exactly that.
She started to feel the tears leaking out of her eyes but she didn't try to brush them away.
Ukitake looked at her with a concerned look since she hasn't said anything for awhile now since she asked the question.
He tried to hide the concern with a laugh, "Ahh I see, you don't have to answer the question I underst – "
"No. I know why I didn't ask to go. I … I … I was scared to see him again because I might see him in pain like 5 years ago and … and seeing Ichigo in pain is …. too unbearable for me." She said it so low that it was barely a whisper.
Ukitake's eyes softened with emotions and he smiled.
"Well then what are you still doing here? Go already!"
She raised her head up and looked at Ukitake in front of her.
"Thank you …. Ukitake-taichou."
He grinned widely and gestured for her to go.
She turned around and headed for the door. She was about to get out when Ukitake cleared his throat.
"Oh and Rukia … brush those tears away, people will be very curious if they catch you with those in your eyes, it's not normal for them to see Kuchiki Rukia with tears in her eyes right?"
She laughed, brushed the tears off, "There? Better?"
She heard him laugh behind her, "Yes. Much better."
A/N: How was that? Their reunion is getting nearer :) Kyaaayyy !!! yehey ..Please Review ..