sIncandescent Rapture

Chapter 2

He looked around, before settling down on his bed feeling lighter than he had in ages. Almost as if the haze was beginning to lift. He noticed how nothing in his room had changed in the past few months. Almost as if nothing had happened since he lost his powers. True nothing had—but shouldn't there have been something? He then decided to go out… a run in the park would be nice. God, when was the last time he thought to do something as little as that?

Shrugging because he couldn't remember he moved to his drawers and began to pull out a muscle shirt. Slipping it over his shoulder he began to look for his iPod. When was the last time he listened to music? He looked around his desk, before finally succeeding in find it. He noticed it was still in the shoulder strap, and winced realizing that the battery may be dead. Powering it on, he was surprised to see there was still some juice left in it.

He strapped it to his shoulders and began looking for a pair of socks while putting the headphones on. Finding a pair quickly, he jogged down going through the kitchen—he paused staring at the plate and glass. He blinked… had it really happened? Moving closer to them, the chopstick were laid in the plate, the glass half full. He felt a relief filter within him.

Slowly, ever so slowly his lips began to move. He remembered her, how she had just sat there, quietly making sure he was eating. How she had forced him to eat the first bite. He hadn't realized how long it had been since he remembered tasting the food he ate. Before he knew it, a gentle smile had stretched over his lips. His eyes soft at the memory… before he began to move through the rest of the house and wearing his shoes.

He put all his songs on shuffle and felt a zing of warmth shuffle through as the theme song of Chappy began to play. He couldn't help it. Really, the song was too much. His lips trembled before a laugh escaped him energizing him. A few stretches later, he began to lightly jog to the nearest park.

His thoughts moved to his hands. Still wrapped, and slightly red… what a reminder. These hands could have the cause of his death. Had he been so blind? Never again. He was sure that never again would he do that. How would have his sisters reacted? After losing his mother and coming to terms with it, he had learned how important it was to value life. Losing his powers just meant he was slightly handicapped. Not much else. If he was able to see Rukia, even if it had been for but a few moments meant that it was all still inside of him. He just needed to get to it.

Hadn't she said that she had visited him?

If she continued to do so, meant he had a chance of seeing her again. Even if it was a glimpse of her reistu or just the feel of her. He needed it.

His run continued as he began to solidify his resolve for changing for the better. He was also beginning to realize just how much out of shape he had gotten. Seriously, his lungs burned with the need of oxygen while his legs and stomach stiffened with pain. Deciding it was time to get back home, he slowly jogged letting his body try to cool itself down.

Finally in his street, he noticed that the car was in the drive way. He must have been really gone if he hadn't noticed his family leave. Being continuously surrounded by silence really had thrown him off. He slowed to a walk, taking his headphones off and wiping the sweat from his brow. He felt sticky and gross, he needed a shower. His bandages felt scratchy as well.

Opening the door, he called out, "I'm home." With a sigh he continued up to his room to grab some clothes for after a shower. He was quick to clean up and re-bandage his hands. As he sat on his study chair, he found his eyes not leaving the wounds on his hands. Had he really done something so stupid? It was the voices that had caused them too. But, whose voice were they? Was it his hollow or his Zangestu? Would they taunt his to such a degree?

He took a think about it and decided that yes, they may have if they thought it would help him out of the hole he had dug for himself. If that were the case, was he a lot closer to recovering his powers? The though alone brought so much hope into him. Finally looking at the bandaged hands he decided he would wear the wounds the proudly. They were meant as both a reminder of his idiocy but also as his breakthrough. That was the key.

If Rukia hadn't become visible at that point, the consequences would have been horrible. He didn't even want to begin to think how much it would have traumatize his sisters, let alone how his mother—wherever her soul may be—would have reacted.

Shaking his head slightly, he turned to walk downstairs. The run had caused a fierce hunger for food in his stomach. Rukia… ever since the first day he met her she changed everything. Like a tornado she caused both destruction to normalcy and a new beginning. For someone so tiny, she sure held quite the punch. Both literally and figuratively. He found himself chuckling, of course only Rukia would be able to come off as the most innocent girl and well… be one of the most brusque girls he knew. She had more balls than most guys in high school.

Yuzu came running out to him, surprising him as she tripped on the edge of a runner. Moving quickly he caught her. "Nii-san!"

"Yuzu careful." He helped her straighten up. By this, the rest of his family had come into the stairway.

He scowled at them, his eyebrows knitting together, "What?"

Karin watched him with wide confused eyes. His father's expression went from shock to an amused relief. Yuzu jumped and hugged him around his waist.

Caught off guard he hesitantly hugged her back, "You alright there Zuzu?" What the hell was going on?

"You're laughing!" She smiled up at him. It's so nice to have you back Nii-san!"

He released her from the hug, dragging his hand into his hair, "Was I that bad?"

Yuzu didn't reply pulling back, but smiling largely at him. Karin too smiled, "Took you long enough Nii-san."

"I knew you would pull through Ichigo!" Isshin began in his normally boisterous voice before pulling him into a headlock.

"OI!" Ichigo called, struggling to get out of the stronghold.

"So weak! Try and beat your wonderfully strong father!"

In the background he could hear his sisters laughing, the strength of his father's support and if he squinted he could almost feel Rukia here smiling at him. Tranquility entered him, happiness after so long of being numb was so freeing. Taking a small breath, he grabbed his father's arms pulling him over him onto his back before settling his foot on his chest. His arms hurt from exertion, knowing he did too much but finding he couldn't find it in him to care.

Looking down at his father, he noticed though his father was protesting and claiming him a horrible son, the affectionate smile and his eyes slightly misty with pride for him. Ichigo couldn't stop the smile that graced his lips.

How had he gone so long without besting his dad?

It felt good to be a part of something again.

That night he had a dream, so different from everything he had dreamt in a long time. Rukia met him in a park under a large oak tree, waiting for him. Dressed in a simple blue summer dress she had smiled at him calling him to sit so they could talk. Like a man in a trance he followed, sitting beside her.

There she smiled at him and then proceed to tell him about her day. She had complained about her positioning, smiled about her brother and felt a sense of relief to see him. She played with her hair, asking if she should cut it or change it to a different style. She then moved to kneel beside him, taking his hand gently in her lap and began to heal the cuts with kido. He had closed his eyes at the sensation of the cool reistu in contrast to his burn of the tender skin and then he began to tell her about his day. How he went for a run and spending time with his family. After a while, she had begun to hum a tune and he drifted to sleep—only to wake up in his own bed.

In his cold bed he awoke alone, with the haunting memory of her scent, her touch, her voice and especially her eyes. Her eyes were the color of violet only unique to her—a soft blend of the perfect amethyst to the hues of a new day to brightest of stars and the most beautiful of gems. He wanted to see the slight crinkling of her eyes that would smile, the way she would scowl at him, or her laughter at her Chappy.

He sat up to lean back against the headboard of his bed, sweeping his hand through his hair. What a dream… remembering it with clarity—he smiled. At least she hadn't seemed upset. He paused looking out the his window, though it was completely dark, with the moon out lighting up the sky… he felt an odd connection to the dream and reality. Moving out of the bed he made his way to the window, pulling it open he stared up into the sky.

Maybe just maybe the dream was in fact the connection with Soul Society.

The thought brought a snort from him, yeah, a little exposure to his Dad and Yuzu had turned him into a sap. Rolling his eyes, he looked up into the brilliance of the moon. The sky didn't change no matter what happened in the world. The one constant that was truly all he needed to feel some sort of connection.

Where the hell had his balls gone?

Leaning on the sill, he decided he would go see Urahara tomorrow to see if there was any training he could begin with in terms of strengthening his body.

And yet, as he continue to watch the moon, he felt oddly as if he wasn't alone. Almost as if Rukia was watching it too. His psychotic, bunny loving guardian from everything, even himself.

Author's Note:

I realize this is short. It's actually about a third of what I was going to write for this chapter. As it turns out, my crazy retired academic parents have decided to take my brothers and I to Australia. I live in Canada and school just finished. My flight is actually today, in about 4 hours. So I kinda have to book.

But fear not. I shall finish the rest of the chapter and post it by Friday.

Also, I think I need to change the summary. Any suggestions?

Oh! Thanks for the reviews, you guys are so damn sweet and made my day :D