She's Like the Moon Chapter 12: Back to School, a bleach fanfic

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She's Like the Moon, an xSilverWingsx fanfic

Can't figure out the way you are, it's like I'm chasing after stars.

–Johnny Yong Bosch

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The twenty-sixth of August came faster than any of the students had anticipated, and Rukia was no exception. A milky white complexion had replaced her pinkish sunburn, and everyone seemed to compliment her on it… Even Ichigo, who had said, 'I didn't know you were an albino. It's cool.'

Said amber-eyed person was accompanying Rukia to the station, and as she waited anxiously in her bedroom, she wondered if he would show up at all. Toshiro leaned quietly against the wall, his white hair impossibly spiky and his matching brows furrowed.

"I don't see why Kurosaki needs to take us," he said icily, blinking slowly.

"Because Kurosaki has a car," Rukia explained, eyeing herself in the mirror. The students of Karakura High School had differing uniforms, depending on the Team they'd been sorted into. Rukia was on the Green Team but her uniform consisted of a white blouse and gray skirt, paired with black stockings and brown dress shoes. The small lapel on her shirt was bright red, and she had been mailed a long gray trench coat for winter. All emblazoned with the school's logo, which was a blue and green eagle.

Toshiro had also been placed on the Green Team, wearing the gray pants he'd dubbed 'absurdly skintight' and a similar shirt to Rukia's, except it was a crew neck instead of a V and included a blue and green tie.

"…Let me see your schedule." Rukia passed him the piece of paper that had grown worn because she'd folded it. "We have… English, Math… and… an Elective course," he finished, looking melancholy. "Home Economics."

"Cooking…" Rukia smiled faintly. She'd always been rather apt in the kitchen, unlike Akamori, who had trouble making cereal. "It's not so bad…"

"Fine." Toshiro's lips tightened and he appeared to be on the verge of ripping the schedule. "I don't see why I needed to be put into such a class."

"My mom picked your classes," Rukia reminded, "and it was very random. So… you get what you get." She grabbed her purse from the coat rack and smiled at her cousin, hearing Ichigo's car out front. Hisana and Byakuya were still under the impression that he was a girl, but… even though they would be at the station Rukia intended to keep her friend and her parents separate. She and her petite cousin strode out onto the dewy lawn, the wee-morning black sky huge above them. The train boarded at five thirty, so they were leaving quiet early.

"Hey, munchkin," Ichigo said, his tone surprisingly jovial for someone who was beginning a new school year. Rukia felt intensely relieved when she saw him in a white shirt, but his tie was absent.

"Skyscraper," she said, sliding into the passenger seat. Toshiro sidled grumpily in the back. "You're on the Green Team… whew."

"What, are you already prejudiced against the others?" he said with a dark look, his eyes on the gas level. "We need to stop at Sheetz here in a few minutes, it's running on fumes," he informed.

"As long as I get a smoothie."

"You sound like a married couple," said Toshiro sardonically, flicking his lighter aflame and sliding the cigarette into his mouth.

"Open the window," Ichigo said immediately, his frown deepening.

"Your father smokes," Toshiro reminded him, taking a drag. His facial features relaxed immediately.

"I know, but Rukia's here, and Byakuya doesn't."

Rukia looked up, incredulous. She didn't know what she should be more surprised about: the fact that he knew such a thing, or that he cared enough to bring it up. "How do you even know that?" she tried to pull the stiffness out of her uniform, which Hisana had ironed attentively the night before.

"I have sources," he said, pulling into the Sheetz parking lot. "I know everything."

"How's that?" Rukia frowned. If Ichigo had cameras in her house, Byakuya probably would've had them burned by now, and they lived in a private neighborhood that could only be entered with an intricate sequence of numbers, so he couldn't have hired a private investigator."Your sister," Ichigo said, looking at her as if she had suggested a second Virginia Tech killing. "What did you—damn it Hitsugaya, put down the window!"

"Profane ruffian," Toshiro nearly smashed the button in but the window went down just as well. Otherwise, he seemed unruffled. Ichigo exited the car and left the keys hanging from the ignition, and in her peripheral vision Rukia could see him gassing the car up. "Are you thinking what I happen to be thinking?" he said, a hint of mischief coloring his voice.

"Ichigo had better get me a smoothie?" she asked, confused.

He rolled his eyes. "We drive off and go home."

Rukia scowled. "I wouldn't do that! I owe too much to Ichigo."

"Oh, you're pregnant with his child?" Toshiro flicked the used cigarette out the window. Rukia's cheeks flared immediately and she nearly smacked him.

"I don't understand how you can be so rude sometimes," she said, the thought stuck in her mind as she slammed the car door behind her a wave of chilly air nearly overcame her.

Shaking her head, Rukia raced into the store.

There were many inhabitants this early, rushing for their coffee and donuts. No wonder this place is usually so deserted… bunch of workaholics. After poring over some yummy-looking bunny shaped candy, Rukia noticed her red haired friend punching something in on the LCD screen.

"What are you doing?"

Ichigo grimaced but didn't look up from the screen. "Ordering that damn smoothie you wanted so bad, and some food."

"We don't have time for that now, I was just being playful," Rukia said matter of factly, still staring at the bunny candy. "I'm gonna go sit in the car." He ripped his freshly printed receipt from the printer, smudging the ink a bit, and slid it across the counter to the cashier with a ten dollar bill. "Don't spend that much!" her voice was uncharacteristically high, but Ichigo ignored that fact and stood to wait for the food as sunset approached. Irritated, Rukia stomped back out to the car, where Toshiro waited, smoking a fresh cigarette.

"And how is the child's father?" he said dryly, exhaling the smoke.

"Be quiet, midget!" Rukia said, shocked by how much she sounded like Ichigo. "For the fifty six thousandth time, Ichigo and I are NOT A COUPLE!!!" she was seething right now.

"Fifty six? Is that the magic number?" he said as Ichigo approached with a large plastic bag in hand. He struck an oddly impressive figure in the skinny gray pants and button up shirt, his white shoes illuminated by the many overhead lights.

"Why are you so prissy this morning?" Rukia knitted her eyebrows and stared into the back seat, where her cousin held a cigarette as innocently as a small child would hold a lollipop. "All you've done is complain the whole time!" Toshiro said nothing, but Ichigo had a lot to say as he entered the car.

"Damn line! Some ancient old woman cut me and I had to wait even longer!" he began to pull many things out of the bag; among them was the tall, transparent cup that was filled with an icy pink liquid and topped with a generous dollop of whipped cream. "I wasn't sure whether you wanted it or not, so I put it on there anyway."

"It's… self serve?" Rukia was surprised at how innovative gas stations could be, and even more so when Ichigo shoved something in her hand. Looking down, she saw a tiny rabbit figurine with a huge head. Its tag read Chappy. "Oh! Thanks, Ichigo…" also on her lap was the rather large bag of bunny candy. "Geez, it isn't Christmas."

"I figured you'd bug me the whole way there if you didn't have some entertainment." Ichigo shrugged and pulled out of the parking lot, whipping a small white object into the back seat. "That's for you."

Toshiro eyed the pack warily. "…"

"You're welcome."

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"Rukia…" said a voice. Rukia ran toward the grinning bunny, which was standing on a hilltop holding a daisy. It had big, pretty amber eyes and a nice face… except it didn't look happy. "Rukia, you have to get up."

"No…!" the bunny seemed to be getting more and more irritated. "We're at the station, get up!"

Like a rubber band being let go, Rukia snapped back to reality. Feeling the leathery fabric of the car seat beneath her behind, she fumbled for the door handle and found it. Lucky for the familiar hand of her cousin Toshiro, who caught her just before she smacked her face on the pavement.

"Oh…" Rukia leaned against the BMV, catching her breath. "I was dreaming…" maybe she'd said something funny… hopefully it was nothing about her undergarments. "Well… uh… let's go!" donning a happy face, Rukia smiled eagerly and strode ahead, enthralled by the endless amount of people and their families.

Where was hers? Maybe they had skipped out. With a father like Byakuya, it was something you had to get used to. When Rukia had been younger, the family had been poor and Akamori got as much attention as she saw fit. Rukia felt that her father's high paying job had robbed her of her childhood. After pondering this for a moment, Rukia jumped when addressed.

"Rukia!" she turned to see the blissful Orihime Inoue, wearing a dark green blazer with a blue blouse under it. Her skirt was forest green, and she wore black stockings and shoes. Obviously she was on a different team. "I've missed you so much, you need to call more often!"

Rukia blushed. What with readying herself for the school year and her bitterness toward Tatsuki, she'd neglected the redhead. "Uhm, some things…came up." The shorter girl smiled nervously and changed the subject… "What team are you on?"

"Blue," she said happily. "Tatsuki's on… Red, I think… have you talked to her? Since his birthday?" they both remembered the spat Tatsuki had started.

"No," Rukia replied flatly as Ichigo approached, Rukia's purse and the Chappy candy in tow. "Why hello, Ichigo! So nice seeing you here!"

"…What the hell? I drove you here." Damn, she had hoped he wouldn't say it that way. Orihime's gray eyes widened quietly, and her mouth quivered a little. This wasn't the expected reaction; it had been more like a jumping-and-screaming-about-Ichigo-and-Rukia moment, since she was prone to have those whenever they hung out. But no. Silence.

"…" Rukia smiled quietly and stepped back, taking the Chappy candy from Ichigo and biting into one of the sugary rabbits. "I hope you have a good year, Orihime. Maybe we'll be in some electives together, right?" she was trying to make it right with Orihime, who was of course Tatsuki's closest friend, and so far…

"Yeah." Orihime gave a pained look and turned away, slowly striding off into the sea of people. Rukia stood awkwardly for a second.

"Uhm…" she turned back to Ichigo, whose amber orbs were focused on the retreating Orihime. "What train do we board?"

"Fifty six," he said.

"Where's… Toshiro?" the short young man was absent from the group, and even though they were enjoying it Rukia felt Byakuya would have a fit if she lost his nephew.

"I was hoping you'd forget about him," Ichigo shrugged. "He was by the phone booth a second ago." Maybe Ichigo wanted harm to come to Toshiro—after all, Rukia's cousin had been less than kind to the redhead. Maybe it was his habit to treat everyone like crap… then again, he'd never been granted such mercy. She followed Ichigo across the small plaza and back to the car, near which stood a small glass booth and a pay phone, with her cousin sandwiched uncomfortably inside. Even though it was soundproof, she could tell easily that he was yelling. Currently, Toshiro was trying to knock the door down with his foot, his face colored scarlet with frustration.

"Toshiro!" Rukia wrenched open the stubborn glass door. "What happened to you?"

"Infernal contraption," he muttered, glaring at it with steely green eyes. "Your mother is here."

At the word 'mother', Rukia turned immediately to see her wistfully present mother, wearing a loose fitting blue dress and silk ballet flats, looking like a diamond in a pile of earth. Her opaque skin was illuminated by the overhead lights, making her look like the ghost of a little girl. Her hairstyle closely resembled her daughter's, but she seemed tired and woebegone.

"Mother!" she said, kissing her on the cheek and smiling. "I didn't know you'd be here." Actually, she had… she had just expected Byakuya to be there, too. Sensing a presence behind her, Rukia hastened to introduce him. "This is Ichigo Kurosaki."

"Hello there," Hisana smiled and extended a hand to Ichigo, one that wasn't even half the size of his. "How do you do?"

"Fine and you?" Ichigo wasn't very elegant, but there was something about him that exuded a fine childhood.

"I am well," she replied. "I do hope you'll take care of my Rukia."

Rukia reddened deeply. "Mother, Ichigo and I are…"

Ichigo smirked. "Go on and tell her then."

There was really nothing to tell… Rukia knew he always wanted to tease her.

"Ichigo and I are just friends, that's all there is to it!" donning a wide smile, Rukia turned away and felt like elbowing the orange haired man. Toshiro stood against the brick wall, his hand in his pocket. She knew he was guarding the cigarettes from Hisana's view.

"Your other things were mailed," she reminded, taking Rukia's hand. Ichigo went over toward Toshiro at that moment, striking up a conversation about the weather. "Rukia, I have something I'd like to give you." Her lips formed a nostalgic smile as she reached inside her purse and pulled out a long silvery chain with a huge pendant on the end, its face covered in a thousand miniscule diamonds. The younger girl's eyes widened as Hisana placed it around her neck and held it in her fingers before opening it to reveal two small photographs on each side.

The first was of Byakuya and Hisana on their wedding day. They were both smiling; Hisana was in a sleeveless white gown, her hair high on her head. A pearl tiara rested within the black tresses, bringing the light out from within her deep navy orbs. The elfin young woman was in the arms of her new husband, his mouth curled in a soft smile and his grey eyes sparkling.

The second was of Rukia and Akamori seated on the porch swing; she looked to be about six or seven, her hair in a bob on her cheeks. On her little frame was a blue and white gingham dress. Her face was, if possible, a lot smaller, but she was still cute. Akamori was in the early stages of adolescence, her body somewhat disproportionate to her face and stance, but her eccentric prettiness remained.

"Oh, Mother… thank you…" she embraced her nearly identical mother and felt nostalgic. "I'll miss you."

Hisana sighed and caressed Rukia's hair. "You compare a tree to a forest." She let go slowly and murmured, "work hard, and be smart. We're waiting for you at home." Her indigo eyes were quiet and unwaveringly wise as they looked at her, but then her eyes turned to the large clock near the phone booth Toshiro had been trapped in. "I love you, Rukia. Good luck." She smiled one more time and then ambled away quietly as the train began to whistle.

Rukia found herself staring after her mother for a very long time before Ichigo's voice pulled her away.

"Rukia, it's leaving!" he bellowed from his fleeting spot near the train's door. With one last glance toward the retreating Hisana, she ran to the door just as it automatically closed them both inside. The inside of the train looked more like a high-tech school lobby than a train hallway. The compartment doors were glass, rimmed with steel, and inside the closest one was Toshiro. His expression was black.

She pulled the door open, sighing. Finally, they were on their way! It had been way too long since the end of last year, a time when she hadn't known Ichigo and Toshiro had lived in Shimomura. Rukia settled on the semi-firm seat and relaxed, letting out a deep breath and hearing Ichigo plop down beside her.

"Hey," he said, rifling through his bag. "You have your schedule?"

"Mhm!" she had placed it in the pocket on the lapel of her shirt. But when she looked, there was nothing. "Uh-oh. Toshiro?"

"Yes?" he didn't look up.

"Where did you last see my schedule? I let you look at it…"

"You took it back," he announced in a flat, icy voice. This was annoying. Rukia would need that schedule to get into her classes, her locker… she didn't even remember her dorm number!

This was always happening; she lost every official paper people gave her. Akamori did, too, but somehow she never managed to get in trouble – she was always cunning enough to forge a paper, to sneak uses of copy machines. Rukia wasn't that lucky. "Get another one from the office," Toshiro suggested.

Rukia nodded, because there were no other options, but took Ichigo's schedule:

"NAME: KUROSAKI, ICHIGO GENDER: M GRADE: 10 DORMITORY #: 423B. DIVISION: GREEN

Course Title: Literature/Language 10. Instructor: Madarame, Ikkaku. Room: 244.
Course Title: Algebra II. Instructor: Ise, Nanao. Room: 327.
Course Title: World Cultures. Instructor: Ochi, Arane. Room: 942.
Course Title: Chinese Language. Instructor: Fon, Shaolin. Room: 574.
Course Title: Physical ED, Health. Instructor: Shiba, Kukaku. Room: Gymnasium.
Course Title: Lunch/Study Hall. Instructor: Madarame, Ikkaku. Room: 244.
Course Title: Chemic Science. Instructor: Hisagi, Shuuhei. Room: 392.
Course Title: Home Economics. Instructor: Shihoin Yoruichi. Room: 1000."

Having a photographic memory, when she compared the two, they were exactly alike. Her mouth fell open, and she shook her head. "Ichigo, how are you in all my classes?"

He shrugged and tucked the schedule away in his shirt pocket. "I dunno." Ichigo let his eyes glaze over, laying back in his seat as she continued to marvel over this fact. Ichigo? In all her classes.

Ridiculous. It had to be some kind of mix-up. She couldn't have to deal with him all day! That was … inhuman!

Toshiro sighed deeply. "Apparently, I … hm…"

They both seemed surprised. Rukia spoke up first. "Uhm, Toshiro? What's with you?"

He blinked spastically. "That was odd. Someone ran by the door."

Rukia craned her neck to see the phenomenon, but it was gone. "Okay…"

Ichigo was intent on it, too. "There they go again," he mused quietly. "Someone's hyper this morning."

Toshiro shook his head and opened his school map. "It's huge, of course. I should've known." He looked up at Rukia. "I'm not going to save you when you get lost, Kuchiki."

Said Kuchiki's nostrils flared. "Shut up."

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Okeydokey then! :D I hope you liked this rather short chappie, but finally they're on their way to school! Toshiro got stuck in the phone booth -- surprising for him, but still priceless. No Bya/Hisa or Ren/Mori in this chapter, because… well, now that I have the canon chapter, they'll be on hold for just a little while. YES, A NEW LAPTOP CHARGER AT LAST. And I didn't have to wait for a certain gift-giving holiday for it. Anyways, I'd like some good ideas for next chap, and yeah, I'll give you credit where credit is due – three reviews if you give me a good idea, and five if it's absolutely amazing. I even might tell my lovely friends to R & R your stories!

Much love, SW

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