Thursday.
One Day till Friday.
Another Thursday.
"Rukia. I believe it's getting worse."
Her eyes shoot to the invisible pair of legs she stood on.
"No shit Sherlock."
He growled and jumped excitedly onto the shinigami.
"Hey now, don't play harsh with me, baby."
She was stuck, non-escapingly, between his thighs.
He bite the tenderness of her skin, receiving a whimper from the girl beneath him. The purple of her pajama shorts were starting to be peeled away from the boys eyes, until a sound magnetized them away. It was Ichigo's cellphone. The caller ID read Renji. That bastered could wait, he was a busy man in the morning. Unfortunately, his mate didn't agree. Pushing him off completely, she threw him a glance of victory, skipping off into the bathroom.
Smiling, he picked up.
"Hello? Renji?"
"Yo! Kurosaki, you free today?"
"Why?"
"I wanna talk to you about Ru-Ru"
"Don't call her that."
"Ok, Rukia. Meet me at the dock at 4:30pm"
The Dock
4:30
The red strands of his comrades ponytail shown in the dim sun. She hide behind the trunk of a tree, biting her lip. Ichigo had asked her to not come, but the curiosity was overwhelming. Her eyes traveled from one man to the other as the silence hugged the air. The sound was harsh. A fist colliding into the others stomach. The amount of blood that oozed with each shot. The cracking, like whiplash, on the bones. Joints disconnecting. This was hell.
The Abarai's mouth hung open, shouting. His knuckles were splattered in the liquid. A emotionless face, blank with rage. What confused the girl was his motive. Him and the substitute were friends! Why was he doing such a cruel act. Her last resort, without her Zanpakuto, she formed a kido.
" Bakudo #62! Way of Binding Hyapporankan (Hundred Steps Fence)"
A light wave shattered into millions of shreds, pinning Renji to the park gravel, immobilized and shocked , Rukia stepped toward him. Her fist raised and trembling.
"WHAT THE HELL?"
Slap.
"RENJI WHAT HAS GOTTEN INTO YOU?"
Slap.
"HOW DARE YOU LAY A HAND ON ICHIGO!"
Slap.
A foot away, said boy struggled to get up. He crawled to the Kuchiki and placed a heavy hand on her head. His wounded body raised with a breath. His smile was visible and she found her eyes watering. His fingers, dunked in blood, danced on her cheek. Stroking away any fear she had of him or the vice-captain being injured.
"Why w..would you...do this?"
"I...I...Ru-Ru..."
She laughed at the nickname, but kept the focus on her question.
"He loves you, too." the human whispered.
"Kurosaki's right. Rukia. You were my savior. You were always near and in reach, when all my other dreams were as far as the sky. I loved you like a friend. I loved you like a sister. I loved you like a lover."
Widening her eyes, astonished at his comment, she fell to her knees. Placing her head on the mans chest. She had no way to take this to heart. She loved, no adored Renji. But he was a family member. A close companion for life, but not...not what Ichigo was.
"I love you like a brother. I'm sorry. I don't deserve your desire."
Both males chuckled. One patted her hair, the other placed a kiss on her cheek.
"That's okay Rukia. I know you belong with this orange-haired buffoon."
"Thank you. You will fall for another, a true soulmate."
"Yeah, hopefully."
With a light squeeze on her hand, he vanished into the dark gates. She turned, lifting her left arm, but it was to gone. Both legs, one arm. But this was not important. His gashes were deep, so she grabbed the skin and leaned down, kissing the scar to heal it for now. She placed his hand in hers and hurried home to tend to the hurt.
"So Ru-Ru.."
"Don't call me that"
Her grumble was so cute, he couldn't stand it. He kissed her with a lightheaded feeling inflodding his brain with happiness.
