She's Like the Moon,
an xSilverWingsx fanficSo I'm gonna fly, higher than I ever, ever could. --Sydney Forest
"Hey biatch, you're sixteen!" Akamori laughed, grinning at Ichigo as the door opened. She was the embodiment of a Lolita, with her lacy cap sleeves and eyeliner.
"Akamori!" Rukia smiled at her. "How are you?" she felt slightly plain next to her hardcore sister, but realized that her boyfriend was missing from the scene.
"Great," Akamori said with a wink. "Has Dad rented my room out yet or what?"
"...Nope," Rukia said.
"Hey, do you still have that recipe for pudding?" Ichigo questioned blankly, hands in his pockets. "Rukia says you made it out of a can." He turned an accusing eye to the younger Kuchiki daughter.
"And she's right," Akamori confirmed. "Instant pudding mix. Aisle three." She grinned.
"Oh—where's Renji?" Rukia finally asked.
"Renji forgot to get Ichigo a present, the idiot. He's at the store." She rolled her eyes and glanced at a rather scary looking watch that was latched on her wrist. "Am I early?"
"Sort of," Ichigo replied. "You're the second ones here."
"Who's the first?" asked Akamori, confused. Ichigo sweatdropped and pointed at Rukia. "Oh! Right." For a girl of nineteen, Akamori had the attention span of a nine year old. "Anyway, how's your birthday so far, kid?" it was a term she used on everyone.
"Nothing's happened yet," Ichigo informed her, lifting a sheet of aluminum to reveal his finished birthday cake. "We put up the awning already..."
Akamori breathed a sigh of relief. "So there's nothing I have to do?"
"Who is this lovely young lady!?" boomed Isshin's voice; Rukia jumped as Ichigo's father ran into the room. "Such beautiful eyes! My son has amazing friends!"
"Thanks, but I'm Renji's girlfriend..." Akamori shrugged and shook Isshin's hand. "He forgot something VERY IMPORTANT and won't be around until later." Her sunset eyes turned from Isshin to Rukia. "I'm also this kid's older sis."
Isshin looked positively delighted. "A family gathering! How exciting! Ichigo, get the camera for Daddy!"
Rukia heard Ichigo mutter something along the lines of 'idiot fag' and then watched go digging around in the monstrous hall closet, finally pulling a small red camera from its depths. Isshin snatched it up and pushed Akamori and Rukia into the living room.
"Now, you girls sit on the couch! Ichigo, sit between them!" he commanded, looking like a pseudo-photographer at work. Ichigo mumbled some more insults and wedged himself between the two, a grumpy expression on his face. "Ichigo, you're never fully dressed without a smile. No, more. A smile, not a pained grimace! Very good!" CLICK.
Rukia sighed and heaved herself off the couch, glad it hadn't lasted very long.
"I'll send you all copies!" Isshin practically squealed, stowing the camera in his shirt pocket. "Ichigo my son, have you heard from your cousin?"
Rukia wasn't sure about Ichigo's cousins. She didn't even know their names.
Ichigo deadpanned. "Hiyori called not too long before Rukia showed up. They'll be here in about fifteen minutes, she said. She cussed me out after that." He rolled his eyes, and with a burst of delicious evil Rukia realized that she would probably like Hiyori.
Toshiro Hitsugaya knitted his light brows as he perused the store for a pack of decent cigarettes. It was a bit stupid of the cashiers not to keep those locked up, because of under aged smokers like Toshiro. At fifteen, he was only five feet tall but his personality was permanently scarred.
Toshiro spotted a pack of Marlboro Lights and, after making sure no one was watching, shoved it into his pocket. Child's play, he thought coyly as he exited the store. Now, where to next? Trying to avoid the truest option, Toshiro opted for a stray road hidden under a bunch of pines. It wasn't long before he reached a clearing, where, with a jolt, he saw several children at play. Most of them were skinny and weak, with knobbly knees. But the only girl and the one who looked like the leader seemed fit and well for her age. She had jet black hair that stopped at her cheeks, which were pale.
"Jinta, move it! Work on scoring!" she commanded one of the boys, the scrawniest. "Bulk up if you want to win! Get better and set goals!" she had an authoritative voice.
Toshiro lit his cigarette and inhaled deeply, pleased with his stolen box. These kids probably didn't even know what he was doing. Maybe he was intruding, though. As he thought about it, it felt weirder to stand there and watch little kids play with a soccer ball. It showed that he had no life.
As he stood up to leave, Toshiro was surprised by fingers locking around his arm. Instinctively his fingers clenched and he turned, readying for a brawl, but it was only the girl.
"You shouldn't smoke," was all she said. Toshiro tore his arm away.
"Mind your own business, little girl," he snapped.
"Fine. If you ever need a Breathalyzer, my dad has plenty in the clinic. But don't come by today; it's Onii-chan's birthday."
Toshiro inhaled, then exhaled deeply as he thought about this girl and her obvious naiveté when it came to life. She looked six, seven at best; and here she was contradicting Toshiro about his habits. Absurd.
The young man stomped the cigarette out and walked away, heading back to that miserable place he called home.
Finally, Renji came through the door holding an instrument case and a large black box. Ichigo's eyes narrowed as he tried to figure out what it could be. Rukia found herself wondering slightly as well. A book? No book was three feet long... what was three feet long...
"Oh, that reminds me," said Rukia's sister suddenly, yanking the instrument case from Renji. "Ichigo, I'm going to sing and play a piece for your birthday." She smiled. "Sakura Kiss is its name. I've always played it on my mother's birthday, and Rukia's." Suddenly the room was quiet except for the humming of the fan and footsteps from outside.
Rukia knew Sakura Kiss all too well. It was a lovely violin song that synced perfectly with Akamori's velvet voice.
"I didn't know you played the violin," Renji said as she removed the polished wooden instrument.
"Why do you think I had one, Renji? To look at when I felt bored?"
"..." Renji appeared to be at a loss for words.
"Didn't think so." She stood silently in the center of the room for a few seconds, then rose her arm to grasp the bow. "Reminds me of Renji, sort of..." she muttered. She began a soft tone that jumped higher in some areas; it was prettier than Rukia remembered.
Kiss, kiss, fall in love
Rukia smiled as Akamori's arm went nimbly up and down with the bow, guiding it through the music. Renji was dumbfounded, obviously; Ichigo seemed slightly pleased.
I notice that when I'm with you
my heart almost skips a beat
but is it hating? Liking? Or just paranoia?
Rukia had always known that Akamori was the musical one, the one who could dance and show off. But right now her head was bowed and she looked like a professional violinist.
When I can see my feelings clearly
Lady or host, it doesn't matter
The reason for which people fall in love
Is different for everyone but
Maybe you're my love
I want to meet you now
and give you, a sweet person, a sakura kiss
If your heart moves from it
Let's have a romantic love!
More important than the future
Is the present
The delightful spring love is
A blossoming woman's aesthetic!
Hey, maybe you're my love
At the end of the song, Akamori's thin lips formed a small smile. She tucked the violin back within the folds of its box and strode over to Ichigo and Rukia, looking expectant.
"You rock," Ichigo said. "Can you play the guitar?"
"Only electric," she said, grabbing a cookie from the counter. "Renji plays both, but he stinks like a dead fish in August."
"Ugh!" Renji looked deeply offended. "Where do you get these quips from, TV?"
"Most of them," she said truthfully, leaning against the wall near the book case. "Anyway, how does it feel to be sixteen?" she asked Ichigo, who had been staring at the violin case for quite some time. "Having any manly feelings?"
Ichigo jumped. "Uh... freak, where'd you get that from?"
"Teenage boys are supposed to have really bad... you know, feelings."
"None of your business," Ichigo mumbled. That being said, the door creaked open to reveal Karin and another girl, but this one teenage. Her ash blonde hair was pulled up in spiky ponytails and she wore a red lace top with shorts.
"Hey, loser!" she said to Ichigo, smiling wickedly, "Happy birthday." Rukia noticed that the girl's eyes were the same shade of amber as Ichigo's.
"Uhm, Hiyori," he said, pointing suddenly to Rukia, who instinctively stiffened in her spot. "This is Rukia Kuchiki, and Akamori Kuchiki," his finger moved from Rukia's direction to her sister's.
"Ichigo, congrats. You've made your first friend," Hiyori scrutinized with a smile. "Hiyori Sarugaki." She whipped out a hand to Rukia. Rukia shook it softly for a second before the blonde-haired girl pulled away. "Ichigo's dad is my mom's brother," she explained, "and my aunt is Abarai's mother."
Renji's head pulsated. "Terrific..."
Less than an hour later, the Kurosaki residence buzzed with guests wanting to wish Ichigo a happy birthday. Rukia enjoyed the many people, and they seemed to like her too. Ichigo would open his presents at three o' clock, which irritated her slightly because the paper on the CD was making her fingers sweaty. She had spotted Momo on the porch, chatting animatedly with Orihime about some kind of new clock they were selling at Costco.
"Hey," said the voice of Rukia's best friend, Tatsuki Arisawa. She wore a blue tank top and shorts and her hair was in a ponytail for the occasion. Tatsuki was never one to dress up. "I haven't heard from you in two weeks, I was starting to think your dad had killed you."
Rukia was startled to see her friend's face. "Um, no… I've just been…"
"Busy with Ichigo?" Tatsuki mused, glancing at the redhead, who was a few hundred yards away and surrounded by little kids wanting him to play.
"What?" Rukia did a double take. "For the hundredth time, I am not involved with Ichigo Kurosaki!"
"Yeah, I know. But you don't have to blow everyone else off…" Tatsuki's grey eyes were still and flinty. "For a boy you barely know."
"Listen, Tatsuki, if you felt left out you could've told me," Rukia said, defending herself and her new friend. "If you don't like Ichigo then what are you doing here? That's rude."
"He's a nice guy and all, plus Orihime needed a ride," Tatsuki explained.
"If he's such a nice guy, there's no reason to be so asinine!" Rukia snapped suddenly, overcome by her own emotions. Tatsuki did look slightly startled by her friend's sudden explosion, but nonetheless ready to retaliate.
"Excuse me, I don't know why you just up and dumped me and Orihime!" she seethed. "We called you and you hung up on us!"
"You hung up on me!" Rukia amended, "so I figured you wouldn't want a call back! My mistake for thinking that!" she knew she must look angry. She was angry. Who did Tatsuki think she was? Coming to Ichigo's birthday party and harassing Rukia! "Tatsuki, this is Ichigo's day. Not yours. So go home before I get really mad at you." It was a little late for that, but Rukia felt obliged to warn Tatsuki.
"Talk to me like that again and I'll kick your ass!" Tatsuki growled as Orihime strolled up.
"Hi guys!" it only took a second for her happy smile to contort into a worried frown. "Rukia, what's wrong?"
"Tatsuki felt like she'd mess up Ichigo's birthday," Rukia said, and her tone was poisonous. "Because I made a new friend!" now, her teeth were bared like some kind of wild dog.
"And threw your old ones out to dry!" Tatsuki retorted. "I'm out of here!" she gave Rukia one last look, her face contorted in pure loathing. Then the athletic girl sprinted around the fence and out of sight, leaving a confused Orihime and an infuriated Rukia behind.
Toshiro turned on the shower with sore fingers, taking his shirt off first and catching sight of himself in the gold-plated mirror. A muscular young man stared back, but also one covered in bloody bandages. His hair spiked wildly on his head, giving him the look of a derelict. Toshiro's left arm was abundant in bandages that were stained dark brown with dried blood. This was why he wore long sleeved shirts in the summertime. This particular injury had been from a piece of broken glass, and it had happened in the wee hours of the morning when he had forgotten to turn the lights off. The consequences for even the smallest things were severe.
His face was slightly darker than usual, a side effect of the huge bruise on his cheek. It loomed, purple and throbbing, to remind him of the things he had done wrong. Toshiro dropped his pants next and slowly began to unpeel the bandages that lined his arm, his right leg, his chest. On his cheek, not too far from the bruise, was a singed looking grayish circle. A cigarette burn. Even the inside of his cheek stung. He stepped into the shower, letting the hot water rush over his body. The white haired young man moaned with pain, but knew the wounds would soon become infected if he didn't clean them.
Toshiro let the soap drip down his arm in waterfalls; it took a minute before it stung him bitterly. White teeth bore with a sharp breath as it began to sink in, piercing the gash. As soon as the pain subsided slightly, he ran a soap-coated hand down the front of his chest and braced himself for the pain; surprisingly, it didn't hurt as much as the arm had. His leg burned from the inside out as he applied the soap to it. After running his hair through with shampoo and washing the rest of himself, Toshiro turned off the shower and slipped on a pair of boxers, not bothering to dry, then a t-shirt.
The young man scrubbed his teeth with ferocious velocity, making his gums ooze blood. After ridding his mouth of the crimson liquid, Toshiro opened the elaborately carved door that led to his bedroom, which was far from the average teenager's. Toshiro's mother came from an extremely wealthy family, so naturally the home reflected that. However, they had no housekeepers; Toshiro was the only one who ever cleaned.
His cell phone only held one unread voicemail message, and that was from his best and only friend, Momo Hinamori. It had been received at 1:23 PM—when he had been jacking cigarettes from a convenience store.
Hey, Shiro! I'm on my way to Ichigo Kurosaki's birthday party! Yeah, Ichigo! Isn't that wild!? He's sixteen now! Anyway, I was just wondering if you were okay… I haven't heard from you since Saturday and you looked a little upset. Kira says you're okay, but I wanted to hear it from you, Toshiro. If you need me, you know my number! Lots of love, Momo
Toshiro wanted to cut his own fingers off. Why hadn't he picked up when Momo had called, so she wouldn't have to be so concerned? He put the cell phone on his bedside table, next to a picture of his treasured white boxer dog, Hyorinmaru. People thought Hyorinmaru had run off when Toshiro was eleven, but that wasn't the real story.
He stretched out across his bed, feigning a yawn for no one but himself. Toshiro knew better than anyone that he needed to be asleep before his father got home or there would be hell to pay.
"Open ours next!" Renji said, practically throwing the guitar case at Ichigo. Said redhead caught it deftly despite its weight and dropped it on the table, thumbing at the lid of the box with exaggerated apprehension. Then he up and yanked it off to reveal a sleek red and black electric guitar. ICHIGO was written across it in spiky black letters.
"This thing is badass," Ichigo said, grinning up and the two. "Where'd you get it?"
"Online," Renji declared. He jerked his thumb at Akamori. "She wanted to get you a drum set too."
"Well, he would've liked it. Too bad I sent it by mail," Akamori declared haughtily, shooting the shocked Renji a triumphant look. "That's right."
"If you like their present!" Isshin bellowed from across the yard, you'll love mine!! Ha!"
"Okay, so where is this amazing present?" Ichigo demanded, standing up suddenly. "Up your ass?"
"Check the garage, kid!" he said, "and don't forget to thank me! The monthly payment is 670 dollars!" Isshin swung the garage door open for his son and Rukia, who was following close behind. She felt a bit mediocre holding the still-wrapped CD. She felt ashamed that she hadn't gotten him something nicer.
The feeling intensified when Isshin approached a large object under a sheet. It was long, it was wide, and when the sheet was lifted Rukia recognized it as a BMW.
"What the…?" Ichigo looked surprised but somehow pleased at the same time. "Dad, how'd you swing this?" he ran his fingers along the glossy red paint and the CD felt heavier in Rukia's pocket.
"I dipped into some college funds," Isshin said proudly. "Karin picked it out." He gestured to the front. "You have your learners' permit, right?"
"…Yeah, you took me to the DMV like a month ago," Ichigo reminded, whipping a laminated card out from his pocket. "I can drive during any daylight hour, apparently."
"Why don't you take her out on her maiden voyage?" Isshin suggested, dangling a bunch of silvery keys above his son's head. "You know you want to."
Ichigo sighed. "What if I want to continue enjoying my party?"
"Oh! Rukia, I didn't see you there!" Isshin said excitedly. Rukia didn't find this insulting because she wasn't very unique looking. Plus she was small so it was hard to discern her from a small child in crowds.
"I think it's great that you have a car now," said Rukia, "so are you still taking the train to school?" Orihime would most likely sit with Tatsuki, leaving Rukia by herself.
"Probably," Ichigo stated, opening the door to free a rush of the new car smell that made Rukia woozy. "Leather seats, cruise control… this thing is pretty amazing." He looked satisfied enough. "Thanks, Dad."
Isshin beamed. "You're very welcome!"
Orihime's house was relatively silent that evening. Sora had gone off to work, leaving his sister to her own confusion. Rukia and Tatsuki were fighting… but how can that be? It's because of Ichigo, I think. But I thought Tatsuki and Ichigo were friends… oh! Now it all makes sense perfectly. Tatsuki is secretly in love with Ichigo! …that can't be right… I don't like what's going on but there's nothing for me to do about it. Maybe… maybe Ichigo and Rukia love each other and Tatsuki doesn't like that because Rukia spends all her time with… aha! That's it! I, Orihime Inoue, am a junior love guru! There's no love situation I can't decode!
Or maybe Rukia just doesn't like us anymore, murmured a small voice at the back of her head.
Rukia loves us! Go away, Orihime commanded, and then silence ensued again.
When Rukia collapsed on her bed at the end of the day, she usually dished in her diary or snuggled with Chappy. Today she just laid there, thinking of all the things that had happened at Ichigo's. Tatsuki had blown up at her because she had made a new friend. Sometimes she was too defensive, but this had definitely taken the cake. And then she remembered that she needed to be at Akamori's today, but it was eight at night so maybe it was a moot point to think about it.
And then it came back to her that Hisana was pregnant. The fact hadn't really sunk in until now, and what was worse, she had forgotten to tell Akamori about it. A new baby in their already corrupt family. How nice.
She felt the weight of the CD she was going to give Ichigo in her jacket pocket. Maybe he wouldn't want… as Rukia was thinking about this, the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Hey, midget." It was him.
"Hi," she said to him, readjusting Chappy behind her head. "Did you have a nice birthday?"
"It was awesome," he said, and Rukia couldn't detect any sarcasm. "Hey, go look outside your bedroom window." Rukia's stomach jumped, but she wanted to know what was going on.
"Why would I do that?"
"Who knows, maybe there's a surprise there or something… you don't have to," he added.
Rukia, whose curiosity was getting the better of her, strode over to the window and moved the eyelet lace curtains slightly to the left. She gasped. Outside in the driveway was Ichigo and his BMW, its crimson tones bloody in the light of the sunset. He swung a long arm up over his head and waved.
"Ichigo, you idiot! What if my dad sees you??" Rukia shrieked.
"It'd be too late then." Before he could say anything else Rukia raced down the stairs. Hisana and Byakuya were nowhere to be seen, which was absurdly lucky. Rukia heaved the door open and sprinted out into the driveway to meet Ichigo.
"Hey," he said in a casual tone.
Rukia couldn't take how stupid he was. She full on slapped him across the face, leaving angry red marks in the shape of fingers.
"What the hell was that for?" he demanded, rounding on her.
"Why would you come onto private property?! My dad could have you arrested!" she seethed at him, but he didn't seem even remotely fazed by her anger.
"Well, get in the car."
Silence. "What did you say?"
"Get. In. The. Car," he was scowling at her. The usual.
"Why?" to be harangued to enter a car wasn't a good sign.
"Hey, what's that in your pocket?" Ichigo looked curious now.
"Your birthday present," she said, pulling it out and shoving it in his face. The redhead took the CD and pondered it for a moment.
"Sugarcult, eh? Momo tell you about that?"
"Sort of," Rukia admitted. "You like it?"
"Hell yeah, it's my favorite band," he said matter of factly. "Now, get in the car, I'm taking you to dinner."
"Dinner?" Rukia was dumbfounded. "I already ate at your house."
Ichigo rolled his eyes. "You had one lousy hot dog and some macaroni. Big meal." His hand flitted to the car's shiny passenger door, and then he opened it with a flourish. "Where do you feel like going?"
"…Back to bed. Ichigo, go home." Rukia was still getting over the fact that Ichigo wanted her to eat out with him.
"C'mon. It's my birthday," he moaned, faking sadness. "And it'll be totally ruined if you—"
"That's not fair," Rukia snapped, "to make me feel sorry for you." Her eyes became solid blue orbs and she planted her feet firmly on the ground. "Now, Ichigo…"
"'Now, Ichigo' nothing. They serve Blue Bunny Ice cream at Izumi's," he said, and Rukia did feel hungrier by the second. "Nice, bloody steaks… crispy, salty fries… good shakes too—"
"Okay I'll go!" Rukia suddenly decided, shrugging out of her jacket and handing it to Ichigo, who chucked it unceremoniously into the back seat. He slid into the driver's seat and started the car, and Rukia was pleased with how quietly it ran. It took a minute for Ichigo to manage the gearshift, but they were off the property in two minutes flat.
As the car flew quietly down the streets, Rukia remembered that she had slapped Ichigo. "Ichigo?"
He turned left. "Hn?" his tone was soft.
"Why didn't you hit me back?" she asked, turning her gaze on him and hoping he'd return it, and he did.
"What kind of person do you think I am?" he demanded. "I don't go around whacking girls. That's retarded." Ichigo opened up his glove compartment and extracted a tissue. "You have cake frosting at the corner of your mouth."
Rukia went pink and wiped the offending frosting. "So you wouldn't have hit me back?"
"No." They stopped in front of a charming restaurant that looked a lot like a cabin. "I wouldn't have."
"I was testing you," she informed him, "to see if you would."
Ichigo grinned. "I like the way your mind works… munchkin."
Okay! Whew, that wasn't as long as it should have been. It was choppy near the end because I got writer's block but I really wanted reviews… know what I mean? This chapter wasn't very funny, but it introduced a subplot; Toshiro's. I love Toshiro and everything about him so he had to be a big character (he will be later). Anyway, the song Akamori sang was Sakura Kiss, the string version, which you can find on ProjectPlaylist (dot) com. Ichigo was a bit OOC, but… every character needs to have their moments, right? XD I think I've been doing a pretty good job at keeping Rukia in character. Also, I'd appreciate it if you took a look at my other Bleach stories, including Akamori and Chat Rooms, Bleached. I do take requests, within reason, and I'm pretty good with one shots. Anyway, I'm sure you're all very sick of my rambling on and on about nothing. Please review, and be specific!