Chapter 5 healing the soul

"Is something troubling you Rukia?" Ichigo blurted. Rukia snapped out of it and looked at Ichigo, "uh wha?"

"you were staring off into space. Is something wrong Rukia?" Ichigo added.

Rukia replied, "oh sorry, just a thought came to mind."

Rukia looked over at the clock and noticed the time, "Its getting late Ichigo, even soul reapers need their sleep you know."

Ichigo grinned, "yeah I hear yah, but hey if you want I'll drive you to school tomorrow, how does that sound?"

Rukia smiled back at Ichigo as she left, "Sure, ive never gotten to ride in a car before."

Ichigo was slightly startled, "really?"

Rukia shook her head, "I took a bus down to buy the house and back, but never a car."

Ichigo watched Rukia leave and walk back to her house from his window. He continued to watch until the lights were out in her house. He whispered, "good night Rukia." And Ichigo changed into a pair of shorts and began to fall asleep, doing so with a smile.

Rukia, changed into her pj's and looked out her window towards Ichigo's house, " What a day, I needed this, we both needed this."

On that note she crawled into her new queen sized bed and fell asleep. Both slept soundly, as if they have achieved peace of mind.

Morning. 6 30 am.

Ichigo sprung awake with a strong positive vibe he hasn't felt in many years. He turned off his alarm clock, did a set of push-ups and stretched. He went through his usual morning routine and walked to his closet, when he opened it he stared blankly at his closet, the memories of Rukia flooded his head, both good and bad, the while he picked out a Red Polo and a pair of boot cut jeans, its Tuesday, everyone wears red to school. Hmmmm maybe I should head over to Rukia's to tell her that she needs to wear red today to school I don't wanna be a Dick to her on her first day back to school, Uryu and Orihime will flip a lid. Ichigo finished getting dressed, grabbed his things and bolted down stairs for breakfast.

Rukia was just getting up she sat in her bed stretching when her soul pager started ringing, she grabbed the phone and saw the id was her captain Ukitake. Ukitake? What would he possibly call for at this time? She flipped the phone open and answered, "hello this is Rukia."

"Rukia, this is captain Ukitake, how is everything in Karakura town?" Ukitake said in a positive tone.

"uh sir, how do you know im in Karakura town?" Rukia asked

Ukitake responded, "besides the fact your new soul pager has gps, letting me know where you are, Its probably the one place id expect you to go, any ways down to business, last night, you were in the vicinity of a severe spiritual energy spike, what happened?"

Rukia choked on the question for a minute nervous on how he will take the truth, "Uh, sir, would you believe me that the spike came from Kurosaki Ichigo?"

"So, your saying Ichigo was the cause of that spike?" Ukitake asked in a serious tone.

Rukia responded, "Yes, as you already know, as of seventeen months ago, he lost his shinigami powers,but are you aware of his quincy friend Uryu?"

Ukitake replied, "yes I am aware, what about him?"

I believe Ichigo is going through a similar process, but at a much sooner time span, last night his spiritual pressure spiked out of no where because of his anger, so I believe that intense emotion will set him off." Rukia explained.

"hmmm, I see, this is sort of troubling, if the hollows catch wind of that spike, they will be crawling all over Karakura town soon, be on your guard, miss Kuchiki, I know your on vacation time, but be very cautious." Ukitake said with a very serious tone in his voice, he isn't joking around. Rukia thought for a second and said, " alright thank you sir for letting me know,"

Rukia hung up the phone and thought to herself, no kidding, a sudden spike like that, it's a wonder he hasn't been attacked yet.

Ichigo sat at the table with his two sisters and had a good breakfast of eggs, toast, and ham. He looked at both Yuzu and Karin and smiled a bit while chewing his food, "hey Karin, Yuzu we will be leaving early ok, so after were done with breakfast, grab your stuff and lets get going." Ichigo blurted. Karin and Yuzu looked at each other with their mouths full and swallowed then looked at Ichigo, "were going to pick up Rukia aren't we?" Karin implied.

"yup, she lives just down the road so its not that big of a deal, but the thing is she needs to know of the high school festivities." Ichigo replied.

Ichigo and the girls finished up and proceeded out the door to the challenger.

Rukia was just finishing getting ready when she heard the loud roar of Ichigo's muscle car pulling into her drive way. She looked in the window and saw Ichigo getting out of the car and walking up to her door. Rukia rushed to her room to grab her soul pager and her shirt when she heard Ichigo knock on the door, She quickly finished and opened the door for Ichigo. "oh hey Ichigo, ready to go?" Rukia said, as she tried to walk out the door, Ichigo put out an arm and stopped her, "Woah there shortie, you cant go to school dressed like that."

Rukia cocked an eye brow, "What do you mean, isn't this the school uniform?"

Ichigo shook his head, "yeah it is but this week is spirit week."

Rukia looked confused, "spirit week? Explain."

Ichigo sighed, "Spirit week is a week of school where everyone shows their school pride by dressing up according to the theme of the day, yesterday was costume theme. Today we are supposed to wear red. Plus on Saturday we have that Homecoming dance where we have drinks, a Dj playing top hit music, and all kinds of stuff like that. Catch my drift?"

Rukia looked a lot less confused, "I-I think so, so today im supposed to wear red, what about Wednesday through Friday?"

"Wednesday is white, Thursday is blue and Friday is yellow or gold." Ichigo explained, "now hurry up and get dressed."

Rukia laughed, "yeeeah about that, I don't have any red shirts right now."

Ichigo snickered, " your lucky, I brought one of my red polo shirts for you." Ichigo dug out the shirt, "here try it on."

Rukia took the shirt into the kitchen and she swapped shirts there, she came back wearing his red polo. Ichigo smiled, "yeah it's a little big but it will work, here."

Ichigo reached over and flipped the collar up around her neck, Ichigo smiled, "there you look great."

Rukia smiled and said, "thank you Ichigo. Now lets get to school, we will be late."

Ichigo and Rukia walked out to his car. Ichigo leaned in the window and said, "hey Karin, can you let Rukia sit in front."

Karin obliged and sat in the back with Yuzu while Rukia sat in front. They pulled out of the drive way and drove over to the middle school to drop the girls off, after dropping them off Rukia looked at Ichigo as they left the parking lot, "you know, I never told anyone this, but I really miss you guys after all this time, I'm sorry I didn't come any sooner, I wish I could have ya know, if I knew that you were in the condition you were in I-"

"Rukia don't worry about it, from what I can tell you weren't much better off than I was. And don't say you weren't, I can see it, I can feel it radiating from you." Ichigo blurted.

Rukia looked at him with soft eyes as he continued. "you're here now and that's what matters most. To be quite frank, I meant what I said at the park."

Rukia smiled a soft smile, but changed into a serious mood, she looked out the window and saw a hollow charging after them sitting at a stop sign, "uh Ichigo."

Ichigo looked at her, "what is it?"

"there is a hollow chasing us, DRIVE STRAIGHT NOW!" Rukia yelled.

Ichigo, smirked, "don't have to tell me twice."

Ichigo put the shifter into first and stomped the gas pedal, the large V8 motor roared loud and the rear wheels spun furiously producing smoke as the car accelerated down the road, the Hollow still chasing them roaring furiously as the car continued to roar through the streets, Ichigo shifted the car from first to second, then to third, by then they were going at least 80 mph.

Chapter 10: transfer student

Ichigo and Rukia pulled into the school lot, parked the car and noticed the Hollow didn't give up and is now coming into the parking lot. "uh Rukia, it followed us here, can you kill it."

Rukia nodded "yeh, but how do you know its here."

Ichigo rolled his eyes, "Oh I don't know, maybe it has something to do with the huge footprints it's putting into the grass!"

Rukia slipped out of her gigai and got out of the car drawing her sword, but before she could attempt to swing her zanpankuto at it, a blue arrow pierced it and it dissolved before them. Both Ichigo and Rukia looked over to see Uryu wielding his bow. Ichigo yelled, "URYU! About fuckin time man."

Uryu pushed up his glasses, "glad to see you too Ichigo, no need to get testy now."

Ichigo laughed, "yeah but hey you would be the same if a monster was aiming to smash up an expensive car."

"I guess so." Uryu added and then looked at Rukia. "R-Rukia! Is that you, wow its been quite some time now."

Rukia slipped back into her gigai and exited the car "Yes it has been a while Uryu, glad to see your alright."

Uryu, Ichigo and Rukia walked to class talking about what has been going on lately. Ichigo looked over his shoulder hearing, '!" Keigo yelled. Ichigo dodged as Keigo tried to tackle him, "oh hey Keigo how was your relatives place?"

Keigo got back up and dusted himself off, "ah it was alright, not much to do there, since its October, but the beach view is nice."

Ichigo nodded and looked at Rukia, then Keigo shifted his eyes to Rukia, "Oh wow! Rukia where have you been all this time! Ben busy with all your soul reaper stuff?"

Rukia cocked an eyebrow, "Ichigo he knows-"

Ichigo interrupted, "Keigo was there when I fought and defeated Aizen, I told him everything from soul society and what not."

Rukia nodded and Keigo spoke again, "glad to see you again now don't we have class?"
Ichigo and the group walked into the room and noticed a group of girls standing in a circle. Ichigo noticed Tatsuke and Orihime towards the center of the circle and listened to the girls conversation while he walked over. "OH MY GOD! Did you see the California transfer student, he is HOT! Id do anything to date him. Tatsuke have you seen him." One girl gossiped. Tatsuke shrugged and said, "nope, didn't see him, and to be quite clear im not big into that kind of stuff so leave me out of this."

The girl looked at Orihime, "how about you Orihime have you seen him?"

Orihime looked up from her notebook and said, "oh! Um no I haven't, I hope he is a nice guy though."

Tatsuke then got up, "well Orihime lets get out of here and find Ichigo."

Orihime got up with Tatsuke and left the circle, and found Ichigo with Uryu and Rukia, Orihime gasped and smiled while she yelled, "Rukia!"

The whole group looked over as Orihime ran to Rukia and hugged her, "oh my I missed you so much its unbelievable. How have you been!"

Rukia smiled and replied, "ive been good Orihime, long time no see!"

Chad walked in and noticed Rukia as well. "Rukia, welcome back!"

The whole Group was there, laughing as they talked about the things they used to. The bell rang for class and everyone took their seats. The teacher stood at the front of the Podium as the class door opened and a taller guy, athletic build, with Blue slicked and spiked hair, and blue eyes stepped through the door, he wore slightly torn blue jeans, a red button up shirt and a gold chain with a number 6 pendant. Ichigo was still turned around talking to Rukia and Orihime and didn't notice when the teacher spoke. "Class, we have a new student today, he transferred here from California."

Ichigo looked at Orihime, and noticed something strange, she looked like she was shaking with fear, he could tell something wasn't right when she looked at the new guy, Ichigo looked at the front of the class and looked at the new class mate, Ichigo's eyes widened as the teacher continued on, "sir would you like to introduce yourself?

The man smiled, looking towards Ichigo and Orihime, and said, "sure, id love to, my name is Jack…. Jack Jaeger. Glad to be here"

The teacher continued, "We're glad to have you Mr. Jaeger, now if you please find yourself a seat so we may get started."

Jack looked over and smirked when he saw an open spot to the right of Orihime and began to walk over to the spot, Orihime became so nervous she shook badly. Ichigo's heart pounded in his chest thinking, That face! That possibly cannot be who I think it is, theres no way in hell he is here right now! Rukia glared at the new student, for she also knew what secret this man hid, she knew all too well, That's impossible, I thought we defeated them all! Jack took his seat next to Orihime and leaned over to her, "hey there, my name is Jack, glad to meet you, whats your name?"

Orihime couldn't stop staring into his eyes, shaking, she finally spoke nervously, "M-My-My name is Orihime Inoue…."

Jack smirked almost sadistically, "Orihime, a nice name, say whats the matter?" Jack chuckled, "its almost as if you've seen a ghost or something."