Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. Never have, never will. It is all Tite Kubo's (that lucky manXD)
About this chapter: In this chapter something really happy happens, and by really happy I mean really sad!
XDXDXDXD
I brace myself before getting out of the car. I take in a big breath and hold it, then let it out in a long exhale. I look out and see my large group of friends, all of them staring at the tinted windows of Byakuya's car as if they're trying to see through.
"Are you okay? Are you feeling sick?" Asks Byakuya, absently putting a hand on my forehead. He's done this so many times this weekend that it's not surprising that he can check my temperature and tell if it's gone up or down without really thinking about it. Ichigo's dad, Kurosaki-sensei, called Byakuya and Hisana as soon as he could, even with the early hour. They have been fussing over me all weekend since I got home on Saturday morning. It's nice to know they care, but they should understand what happened to me; it happened every night for a year after my parents died, so they should really be used to it now, even if it hasn't happened in over two years.
"I'm fine." I say brushing away his hand gently. "I just really don't want to face my friends. What if they think I'm weird?" I ask. I hear the bell signaling the beginning of school ring, and I move to open the door, but Byakuya stops me.
"Rukia, they won't think you're weird. I haven't met them yet, but with the way you talk about them they all seem like good friends. If it's really bad, then consider telling them your story. They'll listen, and then they'll understand." He hugs me tightly, then hands me my bag. "I'll see you later, Rukia." I get out of the school, already thinking of things to tell my teacher about why I'm late.
I look up and am shocked to see the whole group standing there. Everyone else went inside so not to be late, but all my friends waited for me.
"What are you guys doing?" I ask them.
"What does it look like we're doing?" Asks Ichigo. "We're waiting for you, so you'd better hurry your butt up this second. Idiot."
I smile a small smile, then I change my face to that of someone extremely irritated and exasperated.
"Well, that was stupid." I say, walking forward. "Who ever said that I wanted to walk with you people?"
Everyone laughs, and Renji ruffles up my hair, letting me know that our former stiffness towards each other is gone. Then, Ichigo does something that shocks me to the core: he grabs my hand, and holds it the whole way back to the classroom; I don't resist him.
XDXDXDXD
"Where have you all been?" Sensei asks, getting mad at us. Her eyes pause on mine and Ichigo's hands, but then flashes angrily back up at our faces.
"Chill. We were just waiting for Rukia to get to school. No need to worry." Renji says, scratching the back of his head lazily.
"Oh." She says, the anger draining from her eyes. "That's fine then. Go ahead and take your seats." Our sensei doesn't really care too much about lateness or school skipping. Her anger in the beginning was actually most likely an act. We all take our seats while the other students look at us, whispering slightly. Ichigo and I keep our hands together until we sit down, at which point we split apart. I smile to myself and take out my calculus homework, handing it to our sensei while she walks by.
XDXDXDXD
School has gone by, the first periods gone and done, and I haven't been paying attention at all. I've been thinking about what Byakuya said in the car before school about telling my friends about my parents. They have all by now, without a doubt, heard about what happened Friday night, and as they all seem to still accept me, I think they deserve to know about my parents. The only question mark is on whether or not I will be capable of telling them. I haven't talked about it to anyone. In nine years, I haven't told a soul.
While I think about this, the lunch bell rings, and I try to rush my choice. I'm about to make my final decision when Matsumoto, Tatsuki, Orihime and Chizuru walk over.
"Upsy-daisy, Rukia." Matsumoto says, pulling me up while Tatsuki goes through my bag, pulling out my lunch.
"I won't be needing that." I tell Tatsuki; if I'm going to tell everyone about my parents—which I'm still not sure I will—then I won't be able to keep down a drop of water, let alone a whole lunch. She shrugs and puts it back into my bag.
We walk up to the roof slowly, not saying a word. I feel awkward for the first time in a while when in their company, but I still don't try to break the silence; I can't think of anything good to say.
We get up onto the roof and I see that—for once—everyone is on the roof before us. This is strange, because usually our little group of girls is the first to get up here. I look around and see that everyone is looking at me expectantly. They all know, after my scene at Matsumoto's house, that there is something about my life that I'm hiding from them, keeping secret from my friends. Everyone is sitting around, and Matsumoto, Chizuru, Orihime and Tatsuki go and join them, leaving me standing by the entrance alone.
I sigh, and sit down. In a rush, I make the decision to tell them everything. I look around at everyone, but they avoid my gaze for some reason. All except Ichigo. He holds my gaze, and then, after about a minute of us looking at each other, he gets up, scowling deeply, and moves to sit next to me, taking my hand again.
"When we were about six, there was a serial killer at large." I say, starting my story. "They nicknamed him 'the grater', because when he was done with his victims, their skin looked like it had been grated and then stuck back on them. Do any of you remember hearing of him?" Some people—including Ichigo—nod, telling me that they remember, while other people shake their heads, telling me they don't know of 'the grater'. No one talks.
"When I was six—it was actually only a few weeks after my birthday, February 4th to be exact—my parents were killed by 'the grater'. I came home from the store one day with Hisana, my older sister, and they were there, sitting in their chairs, their bodies shredded to pieces."
I gasp, a memory suddenly coming to me—their skin scarcely sticks to their bones. Blood is dripping from their millions of cuts, flowing everywhere. It's still fresh, the blood still completely liquid. The television is paused, stuck on the news, flashing a picture of the killer-at-large, 'THE GRATER'. It says his name in large, capital letters. I look back at their faces, and can't even tell if it's them. The only thing that resembles my parents is the hair. It is matted in blood, but it is, no doubt, their raven-black hair, the hair that I have, the hair that Hisana has; the very same.
I come back to the present, looking up to see everyone looking at me, worried. I feel Ichigo squeeze my hand reassuringly, and I give it a squeeze back, flashing him a small smile.
"After that," I say, continuing on with my story after a moment in which I take a few calming breaths. "Hisana and I moved in with Byakuya, her boyfriend-now-husband. We've lived together ever since. They're my legal guardians, so they're sort of like my parents and my siblings." I try to make it obvious that my story is over, but no one says anything. I wasn't expecting applause or anything, but I expected someone to say something. The rest of our lunch period goes without anyone talking and without anyone eating another bite—everyone throws away what remained of their food. It also goes without Ichigo letting go of my hand. Not for a second. If he'd tried this three days ago, I would've tried to push him over—most likely without success. But now, now that we know each other's stories, I feel like we're closer, and like us holding each other's hands is just a way to let each other know that we understand.
XDXDXDXD
The end-of-school bell just rang, and I'm starting to collect my things and put them in my bag. Before I can move, everyone—Renji, Matsumoto, Keigo, Mizuiro, Chizuru, Tatsuki, Orihime, Chad, and Ishida- come over and hug me, enveloping me in a huge group hug. When they dismiss, they don't say anything, but they really don't need to. I understand from the unspoken words that they feel my sorrow, and the burden I carry, and I feel as if they're all willing to take part of that burden and put it on their own shoulders.
They each leave one at a time, the teacher and other students having left before the whole group hug, until the only people left in the classroom are myself and Ichigo, the only person who didn't hug me with the rest of my friends. He sits on his desk, hands together on his lap, and looks at me for the longest time. I'm about to ask what his problem is when he opens his mouth and starts talking.
"I want to go out with you." He says bluntly, and—surprisingly—without embarrassment.
"Excuse me?" I ask, looking at him, trying to tell if he's joking or if he's serious.
"Will you go out with me?" He asks again, and I can tell that he's serious.
I think for a minute, looking at him. I think of Byakuya—there's no way he'll agree. I smirk to myself—well then, I'll just have to make it so that he has no time to say no, I think.
"Will you be there?" I ask, making it seem like the idea disgusts me. I want to say yes, but I also don't want to seem too eager.
"Of course I'll be there, shorty. It's a date, there has to be more than one person." He says, and I can tell that he understands what I'm doing, and that I've practically already agreed to go.
I sigh dramatically. "If I have to." I say. "When were you thinking? I don't want to wait too long."
"Oh, and why is that?" He asks, and I realize what I said, and how it must sound in his ears.
"Don't flatter yourself. I just want to have this date soon so I can get it over with." I say, turning around and putting the rest of my things in my bag. I hear him chuckle, and I smile myself.
"Okay, soon, soon, soon." Ichigo says in a thoughtful tone of voice. "How about tonight?" He asks.
"Tonight?" I ask. "On a school night? Is that really okay?" I think of my homework, and then I think about being on a date with Kurosaki Ichigo. Okay, the date wins without a fight, but I'll still have homework when I get back. "Okay." I say, and he seems surprised, almost like his plans for asking me out are going a lot smoother than expected. "When and where."
"I'll pick you up, and, hm…" he goes off into silence, thinking, and I laugh at him.
"You mean to tell me that you asked me out without knowing where you're going to take me?" He looks down at me—I notice that he's right; compared to him, I really am a shorty—and he nods.
"Well," he says. "I don't want to take you somewhere too special." I scoff at this, but don't say anything to interrupt his thinking process. "I could take you to that yakisoba place a few blocks away from Matsumoto's. Have you been there?" He asks, and I shake my head.
"No, but I love yakisoba." I say, hinting that it's the type of place I'd like to go, hoping he doesn't change his mind.
"Okay. When should I pick you up?"
XDXDXDXD
The whole way home from school I'm worried that Byakuya will be able to tell that I'm nervous, jittery, even a little flustered, but if he notices, he doesn't say anything.
"How was your day?" He asks after a little while of silence, and I'm actually surprised that he hasn't asked sooner.
"Fine." I say, my voice cracking, thinking about my date with Ichigo.
"Are your friends still talking to you?" He asks, and I nod. "Well, that's good." He says, I can tell he knows there's something I'm not telling him, but he doesn't question into it, and I don't give him information.
When we get home, I run inside, ignoring Hisana's greeting and questions on my day. I go into my bedroom, throw down my bag, and open up my closet, ignoring Kawaii, who's sitting there, wagging his tail. I throw open my closet door and start rummaging around, and I hear my door open.
"Rukia?" Comes Hisana's voice. I take a second to pop my head out of the closet to show that I'm still alive, and then I go back to work trying to find the perfect outfit. I pull out a pink dress and try it on in front of my mirror. I decide it's too skimpy for a first date, so I hurry back into the closet, pulling it off, all the time being watched by Hisana. I next pull out a red dress and try it on in front of the mirror, but this time it's far too formal; it's the type of dress I wear to work parties Byakuya and Hisana's bosses might hold. I go into the closet again, this time pulling out a dark blue dress. It hugs my body but it's not too tight, it's casual, but not sloppily so, and it's cute without being flashy. In other words, it's perfect. I go in and pull out some black knee-high boots and start pulling them on when Hisana straightens up suddenly.
"You're going on a date!" She yells loudly. "You're going on a date!" She starts chanting this while dancing around in circles. I hear something heavy being dropped downstairs, and then Byakuya's footsteps running up the stairs.
"Byakuya!" Hisana says excitedly when he gets up the stairs. "Rukia's going on a date!"
"Not my dau—not my little sister." He says, frowning. "Why didn't you tell me?" He asks, and I can tell that he's hurt.
"Because I didn't want you to say no." I say quietly, looking down at my feet.
"Who is it?" He asks.
"Kurosaki Ichigo. He's my friend." I say, looking up at Byakuya and Hisana.
"From school?" He says, and I nod.
"I have to meet him first." He says, and I nod vigorously. "And he has to tell me where he intends on taking you." He leaves after he says this, and when she's sure he can't hear us anymore, Hisana starts to squeal.
"Oh my gosh! Is he cute? Does he have a nice body? Is he a bad boy? Or is he more calm and intelligent? Is he a nerd? A jock? How'd you meet? Is—" I try to answer each question (yes, yes, sorta, not so calm, but pretty smart, no, not really, at the bookstore…) until she's content.
"Okay." She says. "Let's get you dolled up!" She helps me put my hair into two loose buns, one on each side of my head, my bangs falling down naturally, and then helps me pick out a necklace to wear. It's a silver chain, and on it is a silver crescent moon with a star attached to it.
I hear Ichigo knock on the door, and try to run and answer, but I don't get there in time—Byakuya reaches the door before me. He opens it up and steps outside, closing the door behind him. I run back up to Hisana, who's sitting on my bed, petting a dejected-looking Kawaii. I suddenly feel nervous—not just because I'm going on my first date, and with a really cute guy, at that, but because I have no idea what Byakuya is saying to him right now.
"Help." I say to Hisana. She looks up at me questioningly. "Byakuya's outside with Ichigo, and—" before I can say anything else, Hisana rushes out the of my bedroom and down the stairs without a word. She is obviously as worried as me. I hear the door open and then close again, and I hold my breath until it opens again a few minutes later.
"You can come down now, Rukia." Byakuya calls from down the stairs. I let out my breath and check myself in the mirror. Seeing that I look fine, I walk down the stairs. I see that Ichigo looks normal—at least, he's not bloody and bruised, and he doesn't seem black-mailed—and I see that he actually looks really good. He's wearing jeans as usual, but he has a white button-up long sleeve shirt with thin pink and purple stripes. He smiles at me and I hurry up, ready to go.
"Good job, Rukia!" Hisana says when I reach the bottom of the steps. "He's really cute!" She smiles and gives me a thumbs-up, while Byakuya scowls and Ichigo and I blush.
"Okay. Bye!" I say, trying to run out of the house.
"Not so fast." Byakuya says. I stop and turn around, worried. "You have to be home by ten." He says, and then he lets us go reluctantly. They see us off down the driveway, waving, Hisana's arms wrapped around Byakuya's waist. They go back inside when we're at the bottom of the driveway, and I let out an audible breath of relief.
"Thank god they're gone!" I say, then I turn to Ichigo, who smiles at me brightly. He seems to have dropped the irritated attitude for our date.
"We're walking to the restaurant. Is that okay?" He asks me, and I nod.
"That sounds fun!" I say. We walk for a while in silence, though it's not an awkward silence. At some point he grabs onto my hand, but I'm not sure exactly when. After a few minutes I realize that we're walking away from the area Matsumoto's house is in, and he's said that the restaurant was a few blocks away from there.
"Where are we going?" I ask.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you." He says, scratching the back of his neck in an embarrassed way.
"We're going to the park to kill some time before dinner." He says, and I smile. The park sounds really nice, though I have trouble picturing the two of us walking through it hand-in-hand.
We walk to the park, and when we get there it's empty. I haven't been to a park in years, so when we get there I feel a childish excitement. Ichigo seems to notice this because he suddenly runs towards the playground, pulling me with him. He then puts me on the tire swing and proceeds to spin my around until I'm dizzy. I get up and start to fall back, but he catches me.
"Whoa there!" He says, straightening me up. When the world stops spinning, we walk around the park, talking about homework.
I ask him how long Tatsuki and Ishida have been dating, and he says that it's pretty recent.
"You can imagine how surprised we were when we found out!" He says, laughing at some old memory. "It was even more of a surprise than Chad and Orihime." After the topic of dating has come up, we go into an awkward silence.
"So," we both say at the same time.
"Please, go ahead." Ichigo says, motioning with his free hand.
"No, you." Say motioning back at him.
"I was just going to say that we should head out to the restaurant now if we want to beat the crowd." He says.
"Okay." I say, and we start walking out of the park and in the direction of the restaurant.
"What were you going to say?" He asks after a moment.
"Oh, nothing." I say, blushing.
"No, tell me." He says, and I nod.
"I was just wondering why you asked me out." I ask quietly, embarrassed.
"Well, because you're cute, and I like you." He says without thinking, and we both blush.
XDXDXDXD
The yakisoba restaurant is really small and cute, and it really only sells yakisoba. Ichigo orders his favorite one, getting one for both of us, and I go into the bathroom to make sure that my hair still looks good after all of the spinning. When I get back out, I sit across from Ichigo and look around. I soon become completely lost for words seeing the other people eating at the restaurant.
Our whole group of friends from school, it seems, decided that they wanted to be there to see our first date play out.
XDXDXDXD
"I can't believe them." Ichigo says as we walk back to my house after a filling meal, still hand in hand. "I didn't know they would do this. I'm sorry." Our group of friends didn't say a word to us the whole time. They tried not to acknowledge us at all, but it was still weird being surrounded by all of our friends on our first date.
"It's okay. It's actually kind of funny." I say.
"I'm going to kill Renji next time I see him." Ichigo says as if he didn't hear me.
I smile, but don't try to tell him it's okay again. I'll just let him cool down.
It's nine thirty, and we're reaching my house fast. I'm actually really upset that our date is over. It was really fun. I haven't had so much fun since a month before I moved to Karakura Town, which is a long while.
When we reach my street, I stop, making Ichigo stop. He turns around and looks at me. "I don't want to go home." I say.
He raises his eyebrows and laughs.
"We only have half an hour, and it's already dark. There's not much we can do." He says, still chuckling.
I frown, trying to think of something we can do in less than thirty minutes.
I'm standing there, thinking, when Ichigo walks up to me and grabs my hands. Suddenly, he bends down—oh how far he has to bend down!—and kisses me. I don't even need to think before kissing him back, wrapping my arms around his neck.
I'll spare the details, but the kiss becomes quite intense, and we only break apart when we need air. Yes, I think I'll keep those details for myself, thanks.
"Let's get you home." He says, grabbing my hand and heading for my house down the road.
XDXDXDXD
"How was your date?" Hisana asks while Byakuya looks at me.
I smile dreamily and reply.
"It was lovely." I say, and then I walk up the stairs and into my room, where I get ready for bed, brushing my teeth last of all.
Narrator's Point of View
"Did she just say lovely?" Byakuya asks his wife, taking a sip of hot tea out of a mug.
Hisana shrugs, then smiles to herself.
She just had her first kiss. She thinks, and her smile widens.
Haha, in case you hadn't figured it out, I was lying about the sad, and was telling the truth about the happy. I mean, it's sorta sad when Rukia tells everyone about her parents, but still, I mean, come on. The happy way overdoes that amount of sad, at least in my mind.
This is going to sound totally dorky, but, while writing this I wondered 'Where do Ichigo and his friends eat lunch when it's rainy, or what about when it snows?' These are the types of things I think of. All. Day. Long.
I'm sorry if there weren't too many details about what they talked about on their date. The chapter was getting long, so I wanted to try and end it soon. If they go on another date then I'll try and make more conversation.
I must tell you, my readers, that school starts soon for me, so I won't be able to update nearly as much. I'm very sorry; just know that I'll write as much as I can.